Shetland

A few random pics from Shetland - most are from Unst -

the 3 birds in my scope are Two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and a Common Redpoll!

The bird on a wire fence is an Arctic Warbler (that was on the Mainland)

A "Gull" for Paul!








A seal at Sumburgh watching a dog on the beach!



Well they may be noisy but they love one another!

Marine and Coastal Access Act

Today, 12 November 2009, is the day the Marine and Coastal Access Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes law. The UK's marine wildlife above and below the waves surrounding England and Wales, and in offshore waters around the whole UK, should now be afforded the level of protection that it so desperately needs.

Under this new law, the UK Government gains exciting new powers to protect marine wildlife and manage our seas effectively. These include:

* The creation of new Marine Conservation Zones, to ensure important areas for our marine species and habitats are properly protected
* A new marine planning system that will allow Government to take a strategic and co-ordinated overview of the range of human activities in our seas, and ensure that we are not pushing the marine environment to or past its limits
* In England and Wales it also allows for improved management of inshore fisheries that will consider the needs of our sealife, and marine conservation

Fan-tailed Warbler in Kent

Finally the FTW, I do prefer "Zitting Cisticola" as this is how I was first introduced. In Espana in 2005.
However the UK list and Kent list were begining to be an embarrassment.
Leaving home later than I intended I didn't get on site until after 9. Worried that the pager had said "showing well at 8am" would I dip?

Well the bird then proceeded to show briefly with quick hovers which I managed to miss!

At this point I decided that I really ought to look at the waders on show. I then recommenced attempting to connect with the FTW. I spied a birder further away from the assembled twitchers.
A nice chap (who had informed me where the bird had shown prior to my arrival) pointed out that said birder was "a local". A loudmouth "tw**" then proceeded to annoy me with his loud voice whose contents hardly added to anyones knowledge. Concentration ruined, I joined the local birder checking that I was ok to do so. Sensible Corinna - he turned out to be friendly, helpful and informative. I enjoyed the Merlin spooking the assembled waders several times, Dylan (for it was he) pointed out a small flock of Twite - which whilst I had seen dozens in Shetland recently are a bird I love to see.
Then after about 30mins, Dylan suggested moving towards the hide and as we did so the FTW decide to fly out of his previous hiding place into some cover - result! Then again after a little while, a longer flight into the bank close to the seawall.Good bin sights.

Dylan went into the grassy knoll and I stayed with 2 other quiet birders searching (with bins!) in the reeds and salt marsh. We noticed there were many passerines about in the small trees and bushes that surround the "GK", when Dylan indicated he had the bird, not using any path I walked across the grass careful not to disturb the bird along with the other 2, but the dudes almost used the path but were stopped by a quick call and arm waving!

The FTW had again dropped down but I knew where and it flew up and perched on the Tree right in front of us! Dylan made sure everyone was on the bird.

This time I had scoped brilliant views.

I turned to thank Dylan for his help and he was grinning, he finally had his photo and not a bad one at all.

It was now 11 and a cupof tea and bacon roll were calling. A happy "Eagle" left the GK - as D went off home.

Not a bad priced breakfast at the Dog Walker's Cafe.

Photo is here on Dylan's blog

Shetland Wildlife

I went to Shetland for two week at the beginning of October. (If you have been reading my blog you know all this anyway...and my friends do!)
When I booked I was hoping to see migrating birds and some rarer birds as well. Maybe even a mega! I decided to go with a birding(wildlife) company as I hadn't been to Shetland before and I wanted to glean as much info as I could from the experts!
I have been following a few blogs from birders on Shetland for a while now and realised it was very different birding - it is different!
I had been with Hugh Harrop on a Company of Whales trip - from Portsmouth to Bilbao - 4 days watching for cetaceans and birds from just below the Bridge on a special platform at the bow- spectacular views.(if you have been- just above the helicopter landing deck).I had a great time.I went to the Guggenheim Art Gallery when we got to Bilbao as I had done quite a bit of birding earlier that year in Espana.A culture vulture!Think this was 2005 - ???????? (i will date this later!)
Hugh's Company Shetland Wildlife is obviously based in Shetland (locals always know best places and would have a network of other birders who might find good birds).

I went full of expectation and hope and returned and booked again for next year!
Yes - it was that good! Loved Shetland, loved the locals (Shetland people are warm, friendly and welcoming)loved the birding and loved being near the sea - almost all the time!I might add that Hugh ensured that everything went as smoothly as it could and we got to see the best birds in the best way. Our guide for the two weeks was David(Dave)Fairhurst - tip top birder and a top bloke. He went out of his way to seek out our own birds- Hornemanns Arctic Redpolls and the Unst birds.(another post for these). He also got us quickly and safely to any rare, scarce or mega that anyone else found!
We also looked at the local resident birds - Starlings(defo bigger here) well I did in case of a Rosy (none)I expect he did too but didn't say.Bonxies, Fulmars (I looked closely at a lot of these!)and Gulls - Dave spotted a Little Gull(I think he said it was the first he'd seen since moving up to Lerwick)which I was able to get onto quickly.
Common gulls were everywhere which was good as we dont see as many down south,oh yes and the Wrens - Shetland Wren and Fair Isle Wrens are sub species and do look different to our usual (English)Wrens.

Thanks to David and Jon Dunn (who also works for Shetland Wildlife but part-time
along with other job - the Local Council and runs his own croft!)we enjoyed a special day on Whalsay on our first full day. Two lifers - Pechora Pipit and a Veery. (see below)Nothing was too much for these guys.

David managed to put up with my stream of questions about the birds,whether it was what was usual here, specific ID questions, Shetland questions,he even managed to answer them all!

We had a great time birding and we laughed a lot as well.

Criticisms....well I never did see an Otter or an Orca but then neither did most of us!LOL! My fault for not getting up and going out on our first morning at Balta Sound Hotel,they (Otters)are there but not when I looked later in the day!
My tired legs - kicking through lily plants and walking miles on Fair Isle, getting mizzeled out - cant see through glasses when it mizzels - it was the combination of wind and mizzle!Dont mind the rain you can see through the raindrops!
Did I mention the wind?

Going out birding now...may go and see the Brown Shrike again...I need to see my local patch!

Another view of the Veery

Another view of the Veery - one I didn't get except in secs - then 20 sec bursts as it merrily hopped its way around the Ferrymans garden - feeding as he went! I didn't even try to get a record shot - I saw Jon was shooting, H was as well - pointless with the compact - tooclose for digi scoping or quick.
So with Hugh Harrop's permission here are a few shots taken when the Veery performed like the star he had become.

Ducks landing gear down!

My friend Pat took this image - which made us laugh! Thought I'd share it.

Fair Isle October 2009

Thursday 15th - in the afternoon one of the Assistant Wardens stopped the van and told us he had trapped a Blackpoll Warbler and was taking it to Chalet to be ringed and measured.
Fortunately is was not far and so we sped off on foot.A Fair Isle twitch then took place - Holly appearing with a car full of kids and parents(hers), "who else is there on the Island who we should ring?" - "anyone staying at the South Light?" -

Tommy, Liz and Henry arrived full of enthusiasm.(I was staying with them so no surprises there!)Several crofters including an ex Warden of the Obs.Two other birders who had been on the Island for a while.Everyone excited and swept up with the moment.
Eventually the beauty was brought out so we could all see him and pics were duly taken!

Then he was taken back to the area of the trap - good sycamores and other trees and shrubs there so he could rest and feed up.

Dave asked does anyone want to go and see him released? Yes I certainly did - no tick unless he was free! "Go on then", says Dave "Go"
Tommy said "I picked up a scope, is it yours- its in the car" "Great - thanks" I said
"I'll pick it up there", then one guy got out of Tommy's car into another car - Tommy said "Hop in with us" so I did!We whizzed up to the nets, in time to see the bird released and then settle on a twig to get its bearings.
I managed a good spot to watch and when I was able I got a couple of record pics hand held through the scope.
Liz had her video camera - pic of her in action another time! Henry aged 8 desperate to get a good view!
Much photography took place!

Then the others arrived - they had walked up - oh no I hadn't realised they were coming to as they had seemed hesitant. Felt better later when I arranged for Tommy to take D back to Auld Haa when they went home.

Eventually only Dave, H and I remained.We stayed until it got so dark we couldn't see the bird anymore.45 more mins. H trying to get that perfect photo! Pretty impossible with fading light and a mobile bird who perched with twigs in front of him.

We knew that Diner would be later that evening so were happy to take our time.Everybody was happy that evening. Our last Dinner at Auld Haa that night was asdelicious as ever, but the others said the Sticky Toffee Pudding was the best desert - I not having any disagreed as I thought the Carrot Cake of the night before the best!

Slept well that night.


We refound the bird next day opposite Auld Haa - and H was able to take much better photo's- as was everyone else(not me). More pics later of people taking photos!
Eventually BW flew into the neighbouring croft field and snuck away to the Beach were it was relocated much later that afternoon feeding on insects.One top lister on mainland Shetland was unable to get on a plane that afternoon(being full) so missed seeing it having been told no sign first thing(I think he was booked on the am flight but didn't travel) until Dave relocated it while chatting to Tommy outside, while waiting for me to collect my scope from Tommy's car. Misunderstanding here - car not locked so Tommy didn't realise I was waiting for a key!Only when the cry went up "Blackpoll Warblers here" did it dawn on me that Tommy was outside and not getting the key for me! So I was happy that my delay I caused us to see the bird again otherwise it might never have been seen again!

Pics are of The BW, A happy Warden and the 2 AW's. Diagnostic back, wingbars and tail "spots".The BW - after release.

Where to begin?

I will be blogging later - probably tomorrow as the weather will be aweful!

So much has happened since I returned from Shetland.But I will be retelling my tales and adventures there soon, just how good was it well I am going back in June for Seabirds (a week) and again late September/October for two weeks. So I have caught the bug which states you dont ever only go to Shetland once!

Since then I have caught up with our long staying Brown Shrike locally - been for a trip oop North for a couple of days(yes, I did see the ECW - in fact on two occasions!), so I am pleased! I have also been to Norfolk for a day or two and been down to Kent.BWof a change!

Some record pics - some no pics as bird (s) were too far away /batteriues failed, the usual excuses- generally its that other people take better photo's or there are better ones on the net!

For Paul some pics to come of gulls and Fulmars!!!!!

Brown Shrike on Staines Moor

Yes one of the local Kesrels!


9th day twitch makes it all so quiet. A couple of these local guys have seen the bird before.


Record shot.




I first heard about this bird on my local patch whilst on Fair Isle. Would the bird stay until the w/e?
I expected to go on my return on Saturday afternoon. On arriving home I heard my neighbour had died and all thoughts of the bird vanished.

So it was first thing Monday morning at just before 8am that I found myself on familiar territory.Bob a local surrey birder I know was there and had been since 6.30am.2 other chaps from Redhill - deliberately missing the w/e Twitchand a couple over near the bridge. That was the total until Franco arrived.

No sign of the bird anywhere.I searched bushes and tree with my scope and thats when one of the local birds - a Kestrel was spotted perched up.

It was some time about 90 mins after I arrived that the Brown Shrike decided to get up and have his Breakfast - mainly of wasps!

He showed clearly (not that you guess from my hand held digiscoped views!)
At least they look alright whe in the camera...if not on the pc or here!

Lovely to watch the bird perching, flying to catch an insect then eating it, coughing up a pellet and then repeating it all again.

Off to walk Zeta the Dog now!

Will be blogging about Shetland and Fair Isle as soon as I can - with some record shots! I am hoping that I will have some clear photos to post when Heather sends her's on to me!

update

There will be a full update on my return - probably Sunday eve at this rate!

Just to say Shetland went birding crazy as I arrived and continued for the first week - even Fair Isle caught the bug....and we ended with a Blackpoll Warbler!

On our return to Shetland - Hugh transported us up to Queldale (sp?) and I had brilliant views of a Spotted Sandpiper washing and preening!

Further details later but I think that adds 20 to the year list!
5 lifers and several more UK lifers!

Sunday - Shetland mainland

In the garden of the Hotel I found a Greenfinch!
Yellow browed Warbler nr Sumburgh Farm.


We walked across to the farm and up to the quarrie - then around back to the hotel. We then returned to compass hill and then back down to the farm track where there had been a GSwoody! No sign of woody but Dave found a Little Bunting.

more later soups ready!

Bonelli's Warbler

Yes - a lovely little bird. Clean, bright and very lovely!

Do you get the impression its a lovely bird!

There are hundreds of Redwings arrived...and apparently the local quarries are full of newly arrivedmigrants. Just what we will be looking at tomorrow who knows!


Went over to see the Hornemanns Arctic Redpoll again!

For photo's of the Bonelli's see here (it may not be there yet but try again!)

Destination Unst and back!

This will be updated later- with pics.
Briefly on route to catch the ferries to Unst - 2 are necessary - we swung around to Muckle Roe where we saw a lovely adult male Surf Scoter amid the flock of Eiders, much more rewarding than the female surfer in Devon earlier this year!


A brilliant cafe is at the ferry terminal on the end of Yell - the Wind Dog Cafe. Great coffee and delicious home made cakes.

On Unst I stayed at Balta Sound - thats way north!
Snow Buntings, Hornemann's Arctic Warbler(s), Barred Warbler, Bluethroat - nice and showy, Lapland Buntings, Rosefinch - oh and I havent mentioned the Yellow-browed Warblers...by saturday I must have seen 20 of them!

Just a taste!

The Shetland network is a great help to knowing where the migrants are!
We aided it on Friday when we found an American Golden Plover in with a great flock of GP.

Then another lifer - 2 Olive-backed Pipits - I managed to refind one on the ground sneaking along then it came out a posed a couple of times in the sunshine(!) and then flew up into a tree and was joined by another both pumping their tails madly!


Oh forgetting the Red-breasted Flycatcher - I think that was thursday - must check my notes!

Saturday and birding Shetland style on my own - another YBW - about 12 Redwings which must be newly arrrived overnight.Great views of seals today in a bay...one watching the antics of a dog on the beach!

Being picked up at 4 to go and see if a Western Bonelli's is still performing well in a garden.....photos on Hugh Harrops blog site soon!
The weather is not at all good at the mo- raining in all directions and that wind!
If not today there is always tomorrow!

Monday 5th October

Well a lovely clear sky greeted us this morning - would the target bird have flown overnight?

Well we set off for Fetlar anyway! As we journeyed it was the flat calm as we ferried our way to our destination. We met up with other birders and the twitch was on!
6 guys crammed into one car looked a bit keen - but they were staying for a week.

On route we watched a Yellowbrowed Warbler in a garden with chiffchaff(s)and a chaffinch, along with the numerous Shags. oh for Pauco - Great Blackbacks (GBH), Commons(lots), Herring(need to be searched well) and a few BH Gulls - We spotted one Kittiwake today as well - most have left.

News came through the the bird had been seen, what a relief.

Three ferry stops later we reached Fetlar,and on went the convoy. We all parked up and as we approached the garden the bird had been favouring, it hopped out into the road and would have stayed there except we were all walking towards it, surprised us and itself!.Birders mainly went over the fence and set-up opposite.
The Taiga Flycatcher showed wellon occasions,but was flitty to say the least but some birder even managed photos.(from a distance)
There were Merlin around as a tiny distraction.
Then on to see if the Blyth's Reed Warbler was still in the field,no but we flushed up Twite and Snipe, oh and another YBW was seen along with 2 in the TF garden!
H and D stayed with the Taiga and got much better views than I had had.

Back on mainland, it was off to find an Arctic Warbler.Once located(took a while) was photographed and even I managed a hand held digiscoped shot! Well one that was presentable! What a supercilium! Another really lovely bird.Here we also had great views of our first Brambling of the trip!

News had broken earlier of a Hornimanns Arctic Redpoll,on route for our Hotel we diverted and arrived there to find the finder and various local birders, a Shetland Twitch!
What a confiding bird, probably we were the first humans it had ever encountered.
Fab pics taken and I got a couple of nice shots! What a little stunner!

We finished by watching a large flock of Twite feeding in a field.

Throughout today news was reaching us of Fair Isle birds,please stay til next Monday when we arrive! Oh more birds may land but none to leave please!

Gales forcast for the next two days at least!

Shetland - Two World Lifers and a UK Lifer.

First day - travel.

Arrive and whisked off to a field near the airport at Sumborough by Hugh Harrop - walk around field full of skylarks and mipits and yes eventually after much searching by Hugh - H,D and I helped enormously by walking around searching with our eyes(!)not used to this Shetland Style birding!
Hugh delivered aUK lifer- Short-toed Lark!
Great start and after booking in the hotel. I went for a walk on my own.
Beach and Garden at Grutness and then a couple of quarries(full of Fulmars) through an open access farm and back to the hotel. Almost all in sun!
It grew dark and the wind blew,but then it does that naturally on Shetland.

Slept through the gale force winds!Sea air having its usual soporific effect on me!


2nd day- off to seek out some recently arrived migrants.

No sign of a Pechora Pipit on the Mainland - but we did see some Common Redpolls.
On to the passenger Ferry(only)to Whalsay.No transport then, but Shetland Wildlife think of everything and there a little after we arrived was the local birder - Jon Dunn. Who proceeded to search a local garden (which the bird had been favouring) decide the bird was not there so went to search another garden where - hey presto - was the Veery! Brief (seconds) view and it was off. Disappeared again and was refound briefly.(Then re-read Jon's blog see below for the tail of the misssed ringing opportunity!)The bird then disappeared.

Jon then offered to take us up near his house - to the northern part of the Island to see a Pechora Pipit. Nearly there a mobile went off - as son as we had left (into a black hole for mobs)they had rung to say the Veery was showing stunningly! Damn!
Jon whizzed us back - defo a twitchy ride!
Bird had relocated they knew not where by the time we had returned!
However the bird then re appeared in a completly different place(after magnificent searching by Dave and Jon) and some record flight shots were taken(not by me!)I had waited not so patiently by the wall in the garden.The owner we met on the Ferry (working) who said " Please go into my garden for better views if you want."The attitude of the Shetlanders is magical, they look at you strangely for asking "May we?" -to them its a given. Dont think tho that I could ever not ask, indeed the two guides do/did everytime!
The bird returned to its original garden! This time via the roof!We waited very patiently and after what seemed an age it hopped out into view for some good if brief views!

First impressions?What a lovely place!
Yes we had rain and it was windy but I also saw two lifers - VEERY and a PECHORA Pipit. Both were stunning views, even of the less than showy Veery. (I think there were a lot of twitchers there yesterday and I think it had had enough!)
The last views enabled Jon to get some brilliant photo's which can be seen on his blog "Bitter Bonxie"...there will be a link later.

Then it was to the north of the island for the PP, oh and coffee and cake at Jon's - but that was promised and delivered later after the birding!
Again we were driven there in two goes by Jon. I was left to refind the bird with two of our group.We failed! But met the woman who lived there going out with her young son."Please go round the back of the house thats where the bird has been showing." We were reluctant.I did walk up and down the ditch the bird had been favouring. No sign. But when Dave and Jon arrived it was straight round the side and "peep carefully round the wall" - there hopping about near the pipes was a beautiful large Pipit!
The Pechora Pipit showed beautifully.
Braces brilliant - in fact this is when the sun came out!


A walk around the plantation drew a blank except for a few Blackbirds, a Wren and I forget!
On the way to Jon's I chatted to him about his croft and the animals.
The welcome Coffeee and Cake was delivered in Jon's fine kitchen/dining area with stunning sea views.

We then were transported back down the island - again in two batches!
We walked to the ferry and meet a stream of birders arriving - 26 hours from Aberdeen!The Boat across had not left due to the gales.So birders who had travelled up on the same plane from London as H,D and I, but opted for the Boat instead of the plane had had a torrid time!
They all got to see the Veery and several got to see the PP too- again thanks to Jon and a couple of other local Whalsay birders ferrying all that wanted up to the PP.
They had much more limited time than us.

A big, huge, in fact, thank you to Jon for all his efforts. It was his day off!

Two stunning birds, a lovely island, great birding and fantastic hospitality.

A great day.

Some pictures are here

And another dip!

Well I didn't really expect that the Leach's Petrel would still be on Staines Res - but you have to give it a go dont you?

So I was there at 6am complete with large Costa Coffee - and so too were a couple of other Birders - one who is a patch birder who saw said bird yesterday!

By 8.30 my hands were cold (forgot gloves) I needed a pee and I had interviewed all 6000 other birds to see whether the smug looking BH Gulls had actually eaten him for supper or he had merrily gone on his tour of inland reservoirs!

Still rather nice Linnet and Mipit flock contained at least one Whinchat!

The Pied Wags were and there was a Grey Wagtail.

oh yes and a couple of Black-necked Grebes but since they are locally known to be about it was not so exciting as it might have been - altho they are a lovely bird!

That must be all my badluck out of the way - along with the fact I cant now go to seek out the Zitting Kent bird tomorrow am as I have a committment first thing!
So Kent birders who still need it get down there tomorrow - you are bound to see it!

So fresh climes - the thermals and fleeces will be packed in readiness for the gales I am expecting on Shetland - please some Easterlies - and a couple of calm nights...

I might even have to buy a Fair Isle cardy when I am there!

No pics didn't take the camera - the canon 100-400 is on loan to a friend...but here is a little bird I saw on Stanwell Moor this week -no prizes for guessing the id.

A Spotted Crake

Finally spotted!

Got to the hide with coffee by 10am sat in desired spot - scope sorted and watched...bloke thought he saw it...on the island (but it had been reported in the usual spot..looked I saw Snipe(s) and a wisp of Water Rail!

Back to watch spot and there it was briefly - told people and one woman with scope managed to see the spot and a bit of bird - few mins later and it was there again and several were able to look in my scope and see it!

All now knew where...I vacated spot and finished my coffee on the way back to the car!

3rd time lucky.

This evening pager goes off mega on Shetland (will disappear in a day or so) - it begins!

Willet (?) anyone - altho I am not fussy really I am not - there are lots of birds that would be good - year list - Life list or - Shetland list (which is on none - so I must get some!)

A holiday and a dip plus a few birds for the year list!

Well its been a bird hunting week....dipping Spotted crake - twice - going to go again on Monday (3rd time lucky - now I know where it hides and where to sit in the hide...)LOL!

But I have seen White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex and Glossy Ibis in Kent and a Yellow browed Warbler at Barnes so not all bad!

Another trip out to Kent tomorrow. Will report back later.

I am getting very excited as I go to Shetland or is it I go to the Shetlands(?)next Saturday - for 2 whole weeks! I will be visiting a few of the different islands as well as a few days on Fair Isle! Hoping the winds change direction by then and there are lots of rare or scarce birds to be found as well as the usual local wildlife. Talons crossed for some cetaceans to be seen from the shore.

This is my first real holiday this year and I think it will be brill - its my first visit there and I am looking forward to all aspects of the culture as well as the wildlife.

Excited I am!

New Forest

Saturday was a day spent with friends - including one from Derbyshire down for a w/e.

Meeting at 8am - 8.10 I finally ring I am in the Car Park.....so am I. Now we discover there are two car parks!

My friend has been watching a Treecreeper and I a variety of woodland birds including a noisy Jay!

We go for a walk where there are dozens of Stonechats and a few Dartford Wrblers. My friend has only ever glimpsed a DW before on a twitch (they are very rare in Derbyshire!) Now she is happy having seen one in my scope - so much so she now finds another one of her own!

We also have good views of Wrens and one Woodlark - which I get in my scope but as it doen't ave its crest up and its its back view with stuff in the front I am not convinced that friend will count it!


All 5 friends meet for coffee then go to Keyhaven to look at the sea - watch out for any birds - and see the Needles and a large lump that goes for the IOW.

Not a lot about - it was by now hot....august type hot andlots of locals and others...less birds - altho some Little Egrets were nice.

So it was off to the Smugglers Inn where we had a good lunch.Dragons by the stream....


A drive through the New Forest - ponies to the right , ponies to the left, ponies in the middle of the road!


I returned home by 5.30 having had a loely day in the sun...seen some birds but more importantly seen friends again.


(now where is that camera cable....?)

Beddington Farmlands and Beddington Bird Group

Thought I'd do something useful whilst waiting for cat to stop being sick.
So I surfed the net and discovered the Dip or glory had another site (see above)
here
click on the word here! it was't working should be now!

so I thought well I dont get there often but these guys deserve all the support they can get - real urban birders...alth on a good day it can feel like the countryside!

So a bit more advertising for a great bunch of birders - read about their work - cheers.

Oh and yes they get lots of gulls!

Tufted Puffin in Kent

where was I going this am?
Shellness/oare ....didn't get up as was awake most of the night! so decided Barnes -i am there dipping a spotted crake when the pager goes off.....Tufted Puffin --where (?)
Oare!

I go home to sort out cats and go....when I look and see - seen for 15mins and then flew west....ok have time to sort myself out...and then a cat is sick!

so - I dont go.
Twitch all day at home hoping cat will be ok...(probably will but have to see!)

still no sign of bird....thats why they call it twitching.

Local Birding

Having been down to Kent to catch a Dotterel - and over to Dunge to see GWE and Red-backed Shrike. I wondered where I would go on my birthday!

I decided against Stodmarsh and a Glossy Ibis for local patch birding in the hope I might just find something special!

So Stanwell Moor and Staines Res were the two local patches picked today.

Well no rare finds however I was pleased with spotting a juv Whinchat perched high in a tree on my way out of the Moor. This was followed by finding a juv Whinchat at Staines as I arrived!

The trees and bushes on the Moor were full of birds.
A delightful Tit flock kept me amused for ages as I spotted Great, Coal and Long-tailed before finally finding a couple of Blues! Amidst this flock were half a dozen Linnets who flew off together into an ajoining bush.There were Willow Warblers a plenty as well.

In another part of the Moor a Green Woodpecker was calling and a Kestrel was hunting.

Then on the way back a Kingfisher flew low above the river flashing brilliant blue!

On the path just over the first bridge on the route back were Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds calling and appearing in bits! It took a while before I saw a whole bird. Then it was the turn of the Reed Warblers and yet more Willow Warblers flitting in the trees.

On arrival screeching RNParakeets had greeted me - not seen any for a week now.
There were dozens of House Martins stocking up on insects over and near to King George Res....the odd flyover Mute Swan and then the noisy Canada Geese.

On the way out I spotted a bird high in a tree and once the scope was on the bird a juv. Whinchat.


Off to Staines I was struck by the number of Great Crested Grebes with some juvs.
Wigeon a plenty as well....I searched for a nice wader or two and had to settle for Lapwings!

The weather was cloudy and overcast - with intermittant showers. I think I counted up to 35 species seen this morning.

Only person I saw on the moor was actually arriving as I was looking at the Whinchat.
The Staffie decided my trousers smelt exciting (cats and dogs I expect!) and the Rottweiler arriving later looked interested in my tripod! The bloke with them turned out to be a nice young man who was quite interested in birds - "dont know all the names but there are nice birds of prey here" he then went on to ask what are these?
"House Martins - look at the white on them" ....then it was all about the swallows gathering in August and September...

Off to Staines were there were Pied Wagtails entertaining as ever lots of Canada Geese and assorted Ducks....oh and the juv. Whinchat.


I did think about Barnes but decided against it today.

Kent birders are getting excited at seawatching this week - so Thursday looks like the day to go - Shellness? Reculver? or will I make Foreness early enough...looks like an early rise! Next w/e I plan on a couple of trips into Kent - I need to call in on friends in Maidstone on the way home Saturday and hopefully see a neice on the Sunday after a little light birding!



Looking forward to a fine dinner tonight at a local watering hole in Chiswick!

Really cant do this on a regular basis

Keep saying - must do better!

Lovely juv Dotterel in Kent yesterday. Sandwich - havent been there for a long time. I think this is my first for Kent - certainly since 2004 - cant remember seeing one anywhere in Kent in my early birding years - stil to find those school diaries!

I think that next year -as the first 4 months will be busy for me - that I will concentrate on Kent/Sussex and Greater London birds - with only lifers/UK lifers outside of the area with a foray or two with my mates to Norfolk/Forest of Dean.

I have to do my tetreds (4) for breeding birds early and late season BTO.

I know that there will be the KF project to help my friend get good photo's of posing fishing Kingfishers!

Well I have to do some seawatching soon- perhaps Thursday and the w/e will bring the right weather - I shall be studying the magic seaweed to see when the conditions are likely to be favourable!I want to spend some more time in Kent anyway.

Sabine's Gull here we come!
(Yes I know there is one inland- but I do want to see one at sea!)

I am miffed that I didn't see the Sabine's that was spotted on a pelagic in Canada in 2004 - mind you it would have been a terrible sight - seconds!So on reflection probably better I didnt!

Sun is out finally today so I think it is time to go out and about and see whats about- Staines perhaps?

England regain the Ashes!

Boy how good does that sound!

In 2005 it was we have finally WON the Ashes.....that felt totally amazing!

Yup we was blitzed in 2007 in Oz .....

but to win the Ashes again in 2009 was brill!

I was lucky enough to get tickets for Lords and had a brill day there - just do love Lords.

Yesterday I dodged in and out of the house - dogs need to be walked when you are looking after them (especially in their own home) and managed to watch most of the day.

This time it was a real team effort but I have to congratulate Strauss and his batting and captaincy ...I had my doubts about him but he proved me wrong!

Lots of memories including just how big a unit Freddie is - in real life as opposed to TV!
Stuarts fiver at the oval - the fact that Swan did himself proud...he is a lovely bloke....and Prior is getting it together as a WK!

Credit to the Aussies fought all the way!

I ought to have gone out birding but it was tooooooo tempting to see the Cricket!

Ruff at Rye Meadss I see and a friend I might have bumped into at Barnes!

Now to sort out those KF at Rye Meads!

Here we go again

Another attempt to catch up on my bird blog - shant worry about other things -life goes on!

KFP (Kingfisher Project) part 2 - went to Rye Meads saw the breeding pair and y friend got a flyaway photo.

KFP part 3 will be next week on my friends return from Sicily!
July
A Caspian Tern turned up in Welney on 4th July - as I was in the Brecks/on route for seeking out a Ruddy Shelduck.
Having seen the Tern late morning -I aborted Ruddy shelducks and went to Otmoor to spy a Marsh Warbler.


Scottish visit involved seeing the River Warbler (cant believe I missed the South coast bird last year!) Applecross - both very nice! Across to Skye for Golden Eagles, Twite and Black Guillimots - and an Otter!

West Coast for a WT Eagle -Sea Eagle rules!

A whizz into Abernethy Forest for Crested Tit and Parrot Xbill and once again no Capers capering or otherwise!
Across a moor or two for Red and Black Grouse - "go-back" and"grousing"

Couldn't face the climb up in the Cairngorms for Ptarmigan and Dotterels -so will have to hope to see young D's on route back to their wintering quaters.

August

A world lifer and another couple on the year list! This time I did go to Norfolk proper!

Blue-cheeked Bee- eater in Kent

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Kent and where am I?
No not in Kent, unfortunately owing to a pulled back muscle could not drive there!

But if you look here you can see photo's taken by Tony Morris. The bird was found by a local patch worker and they id it together!

Grrr would have been a great bird for my Kent List as well as UK life list!

That was yesterday!

Will now make myself a little happier by filling in my Bubo list for the year as I can add some birds!

Looks like episode 2 of the hunt for a photographic session with kingfishers will be happening on Monday!
I shall also be cross examining every wader seen just in case!

Cricket Lovely Cricket

I went to Lords on Saturday.Brilliant day all round and great company. I will post a few pics later. I will also comment then, dont want to put the mockers on it!

The pics from Saturday will have to wait!


brilliant, well done ENGLAND -74 years of waiting a victory over Oz and at last!

Well done Freddie -what a way to sign off at Lord's a fifer!
Lovely bowling Swanny.

The team wot did it - every one of them including the busiest sub ever!

Freddie joins an illustrious band of Cricketers to be on both batting and bowling Honours Boards.

I T Botham.
Gubby Allen.

Garfield Sobers.
Keith Miller

Hopeless!

Just been reminded that I havent blogged for ages!

Brief note -I will put more details on when i have some time, interviewing all day today so will be another day!

1. Nightjars and a roding Woodcock in Surrey
2. Twitching - a visit to Norfolk / Brecks involved a slight diversion to Welney for a Tern
3. A Scotland visit which turned into a couple of twitches - and a collection of specialities - not the clean sweep but hey not bad for a long w/e!
4 Zip into Kent

Still wondering where that Royal Tern went......

Search for a photogenic Kingfisher

Having promised to take my friend to seek out a Kingfisher to photograph today I could not go to North Wales to dip or otherwise a Royal Tern.The uk life list will have to wait!

Promises are promises (eeek) still I think it is on its way North so Lancs is relatively easier to get to than NWales coast! Talons crossed for Seaforth!


So to Little Marlow GPs via M40 - lots of Red kites to cheer me up!
A long walk around the Little Marlow GPs....seeing lots of Tern activity including a first for my friend young Terns(unable to fly yet), beautiful water lilies and finallyafter armies of Canada Geese (mixed ages) Lapwings a plenty - several GC Grebes including one busy building a nest, Coots various ages, Mallards similar, lots of woodland birds including a Garden Warbler that would not show! Finally I spy a KF land on a branch in the distance - and manage to get Pat on it before it flew landed on another branch on another tree and then fly over the water and away!

We decided on a walk beside the Thames as we could not go where te bird had gone and it didn't return.....

An angler had tod us of a Farm with a lake where there were 4 KF.at White Waltham....well we tried to find it without any real directions ( if we had the name of the farm we could have found it,I have now on the net!) and failed. There is always Lavell's Lake I thought - yes 2 years ago daily KF but now - nope.
However I ran into local patch worker Alan and that was pleasant and Pat got photo's of GCGrebe pair and one young another first for her - the 2 week old stripey headed beauty being fed fish by the parents!

When we were at the local country park enjoying cold Pea and mint or Watercress soup she showed me a small wabler she had taken a lovely photo of...yes a Sedge Warbler ...Alan had said he had seen Reed Warblers and Buntings today but no sedge well there it was!Another new bird for pat!

I will post up pics when I receive them.

Thinks one really needs a nest site with fledged young for KF photos.....its really a tricky assignment! Maybe we will have to return to Wakehurst.

Come on Royal Tern I need you to show somewhere accessible for a trip on Wednesday early morning.....

Reached the 250 Year Birds

Just been sorting out the lists!

Kent and Sussex still need to be entered at some point on Bubo Listing.

256 for the year so far.....missed some really obvious birds....like Dotterels - some i will have to wait for on their return from their breeding sites....and some I need to seek out like the Spot and Pied Fly's - Wood Warbler, so a trip to the Forest of Dean called for I think...doesn't help that i am not planning on a Scotland Highland trip this year (may change my mind as I do love it up there!)


some sea watching is on order!

Some Waders also to be sought out!

Looking forward to two weeks on Shetland in the Autumn...might find a rare or two!

I have enjoyed watching the Garden Birds in my garden this year as the feeders are a defo attraction for busy mum and dad birds! At the moment my tree gets filled with fledglings.The Swifts continue to scream over my house daily and its lovely watching them feeding.

(Wonder if that Ruddy Shelduck off Crossness counts or not?)

A twitch that wasn't

On Monday - Royal Tern on the pager! Couldn't go on the Tuesday. Awaited news with a slight tremor. All geared up for a long trip to N Wales - on Tuesday the bird didn't show, so I didn't go -a twitch that wasn't!

Mates of mine on their way back from birding in Northumberland via Norfolk for a raptor or two were having bets on when I was leaving and when arriving and having a laugh at my expence - so when we met up last night for a spot of Roding Woodcock and Nightjar hunting the laugh was on them!

Weather a slight factor as it decided to rain before we left and then as we arrived...nowt to stop the Nightjars! Nice healthy numbers churring and several flying - one right over us. A reasonable sight of a roding Woodcock but one of us dipped apart from the tail from in the wood !

Nice pint in the Red Lion.

A bit of a breather blogwise.

Long time since my last blog...well its been busy - between birding, electioneering, having hassles with the pc.....

I have seen Polecats in UK - not far from London!
Been collecting lifers of the Pratincole kind.
Visiting Kent, Sussex, Surrey and the Home counties with a trip to Norfolk, Devon and a very brief visit to Lancs (sorry Pauco but I didn't know we were going to do a diversion from Yorkshire!)

No time to blog!

Oh and a half term Friday visit to Wakehurst Place - on a day that turned into a scorcher -
secret target bird - a Kingfisher for my friend who had never seen one and wanted to photo one..which we saw and she got a record shot of...before we really admired the gardens...if you havent been Trish you'd enjoy it!

the day that the M25 ground to a halt and we had to go cross country to get home -a feat of navigational skills that I was proud of!

All pics are Pats.

A brilliant piece of prose!

Well by any other name.......


here

apart from being an hilarious blog its interesting too!

I am still elated by yesterdays happenings altho cant add the full story yet!

Must go again!

A superb day!

Well I am very happy to say that I am glad I didn't go for the Black Winged Pratincole yesterday. Bob and I went to Kent today.

Full details later as I must have a bath - creaking old limbs - well knees and have something to eat as well as dry the old boots out!

Dungeness - called in at Info centre see Melodious down nr the patch....on route 100plus Swallows over the road with Sand Martins and a few House Martins.
Saw a Tree Pipit(YR tic 1)on route
Find a Subalpine Warbler!(yr tic 2) We saw it together and Bob id it immediately as he sees lots in Spain.I managed to take a record shot (to be posted later!)This was at 11am.
Saw 10 Black Terns (Yr tic3)on the patch
Went off to the Old Lighthouse Garden to seek out very elusive Melodious Warbler (Yr tic 4)

off to Grove Ferry for Black-winged Pratincole (lifer! yr tic5 ) and then Temmincks Stint (yr tic6) along with a Little Stint - brill to compare!

Yes I got wet through but very happy! Celebrated in the Grove Ferry Inn with a Pint of Early Birder!

Where to today?

After a chat with Bob yesterday - I followed his advice and decided to visit Otmoor (RSPB) nr Oxford a nice little run out on the M40/A40 (Any excuse to see Red Kites!)

Just before I was leaving I saw the Black winged Pratincole had been relocated to Stodmarsh (it was found at Reculver at the w/e) what to do...a longer trip than i had planned on or what?

Its a lifer....its not been in Kent for 20 odd years - its not been in UK...

I changed my mind -ok Kent.

Got to car - a soggy tyre...its a puncture I thought...the nearest Kwiqfit is very near so off there....88 quid later its a new tyre...

weather clouding over whats it going to be like in Kent?

No if Bob wants to go we can only go tomorrow as he is busy today. OK stick to Plan A.


60 Red Kites on the journey there with 4 Buzzards and a Kestrel!

Otmoor is well hidden and I managed just one wrong turn into avillage rather than bypassing it but found the place . A helpful volunteer and I had a chat.

off to find see able Groppers...Grasshopper Warblers....notoriously skulkers first class...and a Cuckoo - target birds....

well the firing range wasn't today so I could walk there- lots of singing but non seeable birds due to the winds.

Back to the bench nr the feeders.Be patient -well rewarded was I!

A Gropper popped out and showed well and then vanished!

A REd Kite flew over my head and stayed for a secong or two giving fab views. I found the camera and tried for some shots of the flying beauty- shouldn't have bothered! Went back and sat down and immediately stood up again - A HOBBY! flying in that same field and then vanished. A little while later scaning with bins and I found him sitting in a tree and watched him for 20-25 mins as he swayed in the wind perched and then flew to capture an insect and back!Brilliant.

Heard the Cuckoos and on walking back up to the bridle way was rewarded again with a flyover Cuckoo!

Wow 3 year ticks - and one I was not even looking for!

Plenty of other birds about including Lapwings a very nosy Rook, Crows and Magpies as well as a wide variety of smaller birds- Reed Warblers, Long tailed Tits and Chaffinches with Greenfinches and the usual garden birds!All looking at their best...also lots of fledglings- Blackbirds and two Swallows on my way up Otmoor Lane.

I was quite happy with my day!

On the M25 - (after 38 seen Red Kites on route back!)thought should I go to Kent bird still been seen up to 2.17 and it was three ish-- no I really ought to wait in case Bob wants to go too.....( I hate the M25 in the rush hour and at other times too like today I didn't fancy it one bit!)

then it had flown off by 2.40 and I was glad!
But it was back by 3.10...reported at 3.34.

I hate this twitching lark it plays havoc with your brain! Better to be at work i think then you cant go!

Well you cant see them all says Kite!

Still I think its a phone call to Bob re tomorrow as I think I would like to go!

WWBT

A couple of photo's here

you need to scroll down to see

There has been a bit of a discussion as to age....I didn't think it looked as clean black/white as adults I had seen before - but then i know not a lot about WWBT!
A birder there yesterday wondered about 2nd summer and this seems to be the considered opinion at the mo.

A local twitch

Well I arrived home after helping in my local school with the yr 6 SATs (reading).
On the pager (dont take it to School in case it went off in the exam!) was White-winged Black Tern at Staines Rservoirs - my tetrad for the Bird Atlas and a local patch.
But the bird had been flushed by a Marsh Harrier ...which is quite an uncommon bird here anyway.

Eating my chicken and sweet corn sandwich I realised there was another message seen at 1.12 - so that was it....scope into car and off I went.

Friendly bunch of birders on site as I arrived and there it was -great year tick and patch tick!So from 1.50 to about 4 I spent time watching the bird - first on the South basin then on the north -flying over the causeway nearly over our heads! Stunning!

I rang my mate Bob;s house and heard he had gone to his allotmentas the bird had been flushed - tell im I am watching it now -I said to his wife...later Bob phoned and he was on his way. Eventually (despite the traffic) he arrived and soon picked up the bird...several times we had had close passes and now the bird perfomed brilliantly - so close had I had my camera I might have even got a pic!


At one time the wind was gusting a hooly and the birds were battling against it!

Nice to have a local twitch which was with friendly birders!

I'll see if I can find a good pic for those of you who dont know what a WWBT looks like.

A cool rescue on the Scillies

My birding mate Danny the Pirate resides on the Scillies at the moment and was involved in a great rescue recently - a dolphin was stranded and he helped refloat it!

read hear for the tale

My Swifts are back!

Now I have seen Swifts over the last week passing over my house at first light and also when woken up and looking out of the window.But these are the "local" Swifts.
In the middle of the day screaming over the house and catching flies.

I shall have to go to see whether they have started building their nests at a local site....not too far away and in the middle of houses....all the way from SA...lovely.

Now they do outshine the Savi's Warbler.....altho from a rariety viewpoint not.
A very early visit was necessitated to see the said bird but you would have had to be deaf not to have heard it! A very elusive bird! oh it was in the Lea Valley and a certain non twitching birder went to see it with a more twitching friend but they heard only.They got there at 7 am and I think breakfast got in the way of them staying all day plus they wanted to look at said non twitchers local patches.....

A lifer and a UK lifer.

Well what an exciting week -a trip to Portland for the lifer -a Collared Flycatcher which conveniently came out of an inaccessible garden so we could see it and a Crested Lark at Dungeness which was mobile but seen!


Great sea watching as well those days but I had to turn up at Staines o my way home to see a Common Tern (well 40) and my first Swifts of the year - must have been 50!

Think it will be Norfolk this w/e but which day? Not Monday - never go anywhere if i can help it other than local on the bank holls! Not sure where else - but why is there another good bird down at Portland?

no pics not even record ones my long lens is being borrowed by a friend. Typical!

Just to say I have updated my South Africa tales

on Bird Forum in the local patches area....my adventures in SA (last October/November)
almost finished...just updated St Lucia and the Drakensberg MOuntains....totally awesome birding up and down the Sani Pass!

oh there are afew typos as I was scurrying along - this new notebook keys dont always pick up the letters! Strange.

Heavens how time flies!

I cant believe it!

So much time gone and so many opportunities for viz mig and I just havent had timeto blog!

So here are some photos taken by Pat - in Norfolk and at Barnes I am hoping that she gets some goodies over the bank hol w/e as they will bein Devon and she has borrowed my 100-400 lens!

I hope to do some sea watching in the next week or so and seek out any rares that might arrive...a very nice Purple heron turned up in east london and then went to erith marshes which I found so much easier...alth I should have gone on the friday and bought ba permit as they were only £1.

Over the weeks there have been Velvet and common scoters on Staines...some interesting visitors to Barnes and locally the migrants are arriving.

For a laugh you might try to id all these birds and the mammal! No prizes just the satisfaction of being right!

Another Yank Sparrow

This time in Hants and has been there for ages - could have had it on the 2008 list!

Tale to be told = footy is on!

Osprey over my house!

Gets better and better!

Standing by my back door this am and I was looking up at the sky doing a little viz mig and this large bird hove into view.....too big for......


its a bird of prey..............OSPREY! yes indeed!

I discover later that a birder had reported it in from Isleworth Station at 8am - so beat me to it! Just before 8 - I am a couple mins walk from the station!

I also saw that an Osprey was reported from Beddington at 7.30am!

Thought the Honey Buzzard last september was the tops.....from my front bedroom window...

but a flyover my garden!

A Swallow!

Finally a Swallow!

I decided to go to a farm I know in Stanwell Moor (where Swallows and House Martins nest each year) to se if any had yet arrived.

Well one House Martin was spotted on my arival and eventually one Swallow flew in and perched chattering on the wires.

So that was it - whether there are others who were higher up (it was avery cloudy morning) I dont know only the one I saw.

Good news as well there were several greenfinches about - wheezing -cant call that singing! but in lovely plumage...hope that viral infection might be over ?


203 Year list

Hopefully will be seeing other migrants over the w/e
.

Andy Rouse and the drunk Gorilla's.

This may not work for long --see here


Amazing!

Past the 200 year list!

Well I finally finished my year listing on Bubo and I have seen 201 species this year so far!

I have had a little flurry of birds that have been tricky this year - Dartfords Warbler on a site in Sussex , a Grey Partridge or 5 in Sussex as well and finally a seen LSW rather than heard in Nonsuch Park on Sunday.

A pair of Garganey in Barnes, a Bonny Gull and a Chough or 4 in Wales with alittle trip to Leicestershire for an uncounted Kumliens Gull(I await the split) and a Green-winged Teal.

Thinking about a trip to Devon to try for the American Herring Gull which whilst has been there for a while it only appears to get seen on a Friday afternoon - this is when the finder is back in the hide! Altho someone saw it last Sat morning briefly and again seen today. May haveto leave it until other good birds are about to justify the long trip, or for my mates to accompany me!I see from RBA that the gull hadn't been seen on the sat or on Wednesday- they were reports saying someone had looked for the bird but not seen it!
Perhaps I willsee if the finder sees it again and then contact him and find out when he is next going! Or perhaps not!(edit)

There are migrants in bound but where the LRP was at Barnes at lunch time - I imagine curled up in a nice roost while the wind howled and the rain pelted down!

Stil the birds are arriving ad its such fun to see them again- a lot on their return from Africa!

I feel a trip to Scotland cant be far away!

South Africa

Well I have been posting my SA tales over on Birdforum - in the Southern Africa local patch area.It starts at post 588.

The guys and girls in SA were so very friendly and helpful before I went - it seems curlish not to post my adventures there!

I seem to forget to keep the blog up to date tho- as I really cant spare the time to be in three sites and get on with the work I need to be doing!

However since I didn't get a pic or photo of this I have borrowed it with permission from one of the SA peeps.

Spotted Eagle Owl by Martin Hobbs.

Saw a couple of juveniles outside Pretoriouskop Camp - not a chance of a pic!

Lovely!

Oare

Oare has to be one of the sitein Kent I love!
When the wind blows it blows! When the wind drops all the little birds on site spring up and sing!

Finally put to bed a couple ofbirdswhich were becoming bogeys this year!

First Little Stint on the shoreline(phew!) and then Bearded Tits - typical when you want one none come along but once seen they are like buses and come in threes!
I defo had 3 different birds but there may have been more.

Tetrad week ahead now to complement the 2nd winter visits.

Now for the tricky bit nesting birds!

194 for the year .


Oh Shifty I see there is a Bonaparte's Gull been seen in Cardiff Bay. Wish t had been there when i went for the Lesser Scaup!

Looks like a Welsh trip is on the cards for the w/e?

Top of Surfbirds!

Well for a few minutes!

LOL!!

6 New Year Ticks today with a visit to Dorset with Bob.

Portland Bill for 2 Puffins and a Rock Pipit for moi, Shag and Puffin for Bob. Breakfast at the Cafe for both - lovely!
Also 7 Purple sands which are always great but I fear for them as 2 GBB Gulls appeared to be eyeing them up!
To Radipole for the Hooded Merg in his fancy clothes- Bob not seen him at all, he played fast and loose with us for a while but he is a very frustrated boy duck, chasing everything - shame he cant be leant a girlfriend from a collection and their babies can be half plastic! We also saw our first Sand Martin of the year.
Radipole has so many Cettis- exploding all over!!
On in the rain to Lodmoor where Bob found the Spoonbill (with help from the friendly RSPB girl at Radipole) and I saw the Greensands- unfortunately Bob had gone off to find some low water areas and missed them flying in with Snipe - oh Snipe at least 20 , but then I think again and there may have been 30! Then I told Bob on his return what I had seen and then a while later he was elsewhere and I saw thm flying away from Lodmoor towards a Crane!




Bob is off soon to Espana where he will see lots of Greensands and Wood sands so he is not bothered!Plus other loverlies - which I am bothered about!
To Wareham for Bob and a possible Cattle Egret - nope in the field where the desstructions said it was - was a Little Egret!Either mis id or its a popular field!

On to Arne where the sun came out but so did the wind and the Dartfords were no shows (seen yesterday) - do we blame them not a bit!

But we did find one Spoonbill feeding on an island and then 5 in a channel opposite the hide.
Also Ringtail and 2 Little Egrets.
Oh I did see one small bird a Dunnock feeding on the floor in the sunshine = he didnt appear to mind for ages at being watched!- I would rather he had been a DW!

Bob spotted a Roe Deer and I found a host of Sika deer on our way back as I crossed the car park overflow field I came eye ball to eyeball with Mum...and last years young one...so I retreated behind the gate and they fled back to where others were = eventually they decided they would cross the field but all the time keeping an eye or two on us. Eventually they got to where they wanted and we crossed the field after them!

pics later...need food!

Long eared Owls!

Went for a visit today to beddington to meet Johnny Allan of Dip or glory website fame.

You wouldn't know you were in London/Surrey there - cant hear the traffic or see any houses!

Very impressed - I have only been there only once before for a Spotted Crake in 2006 - I believe - that was a flying visit.

The Tree Sparrows were all over the feeder at the hide very nice close views and I will have to take my Canon there when next I visit.

Thanks Johnny I will return!


Then I went to a undisclosed site nr to Beddington, with Johnny to see a Long-eared Owl - in fact there were two fairly close together. One was sitting well out in the sunshine and occasionally glanced in our direction with his ears up! Not at all phased! The other well I couldn't see his/her head! Just the fabuously well camouflaged body and wings!

Lovely year tick! Dont think I would have found them without Johnny's guidance.

A week of year ticks!

There's the perched Buzzard!

So it was a trip to the New Forest, one to the Forest of Dean, a local trip to Staines and a visit to Kent! 10 year ticks in all! Began with a GWE at Farlingham Marshes on Monday,onto Ravens,Grey Wagtail,Willow Tit and Dipper - a Lesser Scaup in Wales.
Local Fudge Duck and Common Sandpiper and then Black Redstart and 25 Snow Geese in Kent!
Missed / couldn't find - any Lesser Spots, Bearded Tits or Little Stints!

Unfortunately I had a funeral to attend on Thursday which prevented me going to Norfolk for a massive miss! But was it really. Overall now I think I am glad I didn't go up but did wait as I could have gone on Friday.

Some recent record shots!

You have been warned!
Oh heck they will come out the wrong way round! I forget!

So we have Salthouse, Snow Buntings (those little white things on the ground), a view towards the SB and how close the photographers were - there was seed on the ground keeping the flock there but you could see by the activity they weren't really happy as every 30 seconds they would take off and fly around until they landed at the seed again. I am off was the Buzzard taking off from the perch dur to loud mouthed dog walker! Hawfinch at Blackwater Arboratum a little while ago...see below. Thanks Seth for your help! Directions and advice! Widerscope help again!

Another Gull!

Some gulls for a friend!

New Forest and a twitch!

Lovely day monday - so after a lete start Bob(day off)and I found ourselves in the New Forest looking out for Gos - again - raptor lovers both!

First bird seen? Crossbills!
Second bird a Buzzard who very conveniently flew into perch right in front of us giving lovely close views - I had the compact with me- the Canon of course was in the car!
So it was hand held digiscoping!
We watched the Buzzard until a loud mouthed dog walker disturbed the bird! Shame was a very nice dog walker and well behaved dog were close by for ages - then idiot walks in and not so obedient dogs hared over to good dog!

One Gos had been seen 30 mins earlier by one chap and another different bird by another birder!

I went for a walk into the trees and flushed accidently 3 Roe Deer - our own native breed with their lovely velvety antlers! 3 birders were very pleased as the deer made off down the side of the valley and up the other side giving great views!

Hawfinch were also about.

On to Blackwater Arboratum (third visit) to look for Lesser spots....heard very clear Firecrest calls along with many Goldcrests. Goldcrests seen - Firecrest (much to Bobs friustration kept his head down! A flash of white - 75% certain but not a good enough view for Bob! We continued to hear Firecrests but not seen em except for a flash here and there! I did try - even though I do have a year tic already - but I love those feisty little birds! Of the Lesser spots? Well we heard long drilling but no calls- I did see a small bird flit off through the trees with a jerky woody flight but so brief and very quick no chance of bins on it!Now I really like BA but another frustrating time.

Bob says well its off to Farlington then...what we were supposed to go to Keyhaven and also see if we could find any Dartfords....what?

Great White Egret has turned up there - ok at least we would gain a year tick for the day and maybe that LEO was still about?

Off up the M27 quite good in the afternoon.....in true twitching fashion I hadto drive quickly now didn't I....arrived to park and see a warden(?) go through the locked gate to the Information centre by the time we arrived he was watching the GWE.
With a Little Egret in the same field and in the scope view for comparison!

Is the LEO about? Well I dont know as I havent looked today and I have just arrived says the warden(?) He then directed us to the seawall.

Once there were the bushes to the right or left o well lets look here. We searched one set of bushes - you wouldn't elieve how many LEO's I saw! ON 60x zoom though they were all leaves/twigs and stuff! LOL!
Bob had seen the Splatt Bridge one on Sat but searched hard for this one.

A local birder eventually walked by and I asked him about the LEO- oh I saw it last week over there and took me towards the bushes/trees nearer to the car park!
It was there- but not today! Bob had gone in totally the other direction and found another local birder who took him towards our bushes/trees and I joined them. of the LEO well another birder who knew every inch of this area had been here earlier and said he hadn't seen the LEO at all!

Thats it lets get back to London as I ad an evening meeting to go to!

A lovely day in the sunshine, some fab scenery, some nice birds and a twitch and a miss or two- thats a birding day!

Record shot!

Buckinghamshire for a duck!

Yes this afternoon was a little(!) long way through Bucks for a famous Ring-necked Duck. This young man has been coming from the States to spend his winters with his British cousins- Pochards at Foxcote Reservoirs for ages now...a fully mature stonking beauty.

Now some of you like ducks...this is a duck to be respeced. he is way bigger than any tufty and that head shows so big but its his smart attire that takes the biscuit! So elegant. Nearly as lovely as a Smew or a Marbled but not!

Well the chaps had a brilliant day yesterday....and Bob enjoyed telling the tale. I shall have to pop down there on Wednesday! Cant bear the thought of Dipper and Grey Wag and Raven and LEO being missed. They even saw a bunch of Waxwings on their arrival in Frampton village - they had only been there ten mins!
Geoff clawed back quite a few birds today and so did Bob - only just ahead of them - I am!
LOL

Raptors in Surrey

Well having had to cancel going on our annual pilgrimage to the Forest of Dean at 6.45 on Saturday I went to sleep until 10.30.

The weather looked great! The birds were singing in the garden and the feeders were covered as was the tree!
How do I feel? Better.

A little later I thought about my mates watching Ravens and Goshawks at New Fancy and then the penny dropped. Thursday I had seen a report of Goshawks on Thursley Common on birdguides.Well why not? Not very far at all. So off I went down the A3 to Thursley armed with OS map. Now I dont know Thursley so I had a plan, start at the Car Park at the pond named The Moat and then walk to Pudmore Pond and thence to follow the path that leads to the highest point where I can scan around.

On arrival I heard Woodlark great, and then Coaltits and Greats and Blues and all these sounds became reality!

I had a scan of the Mote not much of note there, so on to walk towards Pudmore and as I was walking I spied a Buzzard and then another and then three! At least some raptors.
I turned to look towards the highest point and then my eye was caught by another bird of prey...and there were two soaring up higher and higher and they
disappeared before I could get them in my scope. OK,looked like Gos but need to be sure, so on we go..... another 10mins and there were two BOP flying, no tumbling in the skies....and as I watched two Goshawks became closer and closer until they were in my scope and they were displaying!

Exhilaration! Not only was I in Surrey not far from home but I was watching what I had been hoping for today but somewhat earlier in the day! February and Gos displaying! What a treat!

Now for a Raven!

Nope no Raven.....

I watched the Goshawks for another 20 mins and then once more they soared higher and higher until they disappeared into the ether!

I continued walking across the Common and looking for birds but no sign of the Dartford Warblers that Bob remembers so well being here.

About 3.30 I got myself in a nice position and decided to watch the skies...scope set bins alert and scanning.....

two Buzzards flew by no idea if the same birds but I guess so and then the unmistakeable male Hen Harrier flew magnificently into view - wow! They do take my breath away!

I am always in awe of Raptors as they hunt and fly!

A very satisfactory half days raptor birding.

Wonder how Bob and Geoff got on? Did they get to see the LEO? Bet they did and the Ravens. Cant have it all! Actually the Gos make up for missing the trip!

A Sunday in Norfolk

A planned trip to Norfolk put off by a week and a day due to weather.
We planned to work our way from Hunstanton to Titchwell with a visit to Salthouse likely.In the event we changed that slightly to call in on Dersingham Bog for Bob's bogie bird of the year Great-grey Shrike as he and his mate had not found the Pannell Valley bird on Saturday! Obviously this involved a trip around Wolfendon Triangle for the elusive Golden Pheasants which proved elusive!
However Dersingham Bog proved much better and we were soon listening and watching Crossbills and hearing Woodlarks! The Great-grey Shrike was a harder bird to locate! We were joined for a while by the local Warden who was armed with his camera - hoping to get some nice shots of the bird. He hadn't though counted on the hoardes of birders who descended on DB today. Fortunately we were the first there with him! Bob located the prey - as I was busy looking for the Woodlarks.Son both scopes were on the showy bird
and two happy older women were looking in our scopes!Sisters - one local birder was taking her sister to see the GGS - but they lacked a scope - as the bird had been showing very close the other day.

We were informed by the local birder where she saw Woodlarks and that was on the way back to the car - there was a stream of birders (some in groups) flooding the place. We fortunately both saw one or two Woodlarks and beat a hasty retreat!

To Hunstanton to watch Fulmars and there were lots to watch. Bob was keen to find a Velvet Scoter and a small flock of Scoters were happily bobbing about right in front of us altho a little way out - so scopes up and find the 2 Velvets that were present!

The tide looking like it was on its way out decided our next stop- not to Salthouse but Titchwell to the Beah to see what we could find of the usual birds our year lists were lacking. On arrival one bird I saw on the first feeders was a male Brambling and I guessed that Bob would be pleased and stop and watch them. So I ordered the Teas and a bacon Bap for one and awaited his arrival - which wasn't to much later. We knew we had to get to the beach! Spotted 'shank in a field, followed by Black Brant (nonBOU) with Dark bellied Brent Geese and then Avocets - three nice year ticks altho only 2 to count! From the beach we soon picked up Knot(lots) and at last Barwits! Bar-tailed Godwits - not one or two but dozens!

The tide was out a distance and so were any birds!
(titchwell was heaving with people....I really prefer to be here early mornings or late afternoons...still we then heard two or three Cetti's Warblers and at the far Car Park I heard another and finally saw my first of the year!
Birds of Prey - few and far between today, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks and a couple ofMarsh Harriers were the best we could do.
So it was off to Salthouse for my Snow Buntings - such a delightful winter visitor.
As we drove towards the cr park a flock of Snow Buntings wheeled in the air!. Coffee from the friendly guy at the Beach taken to do some sea-watching.
Of the Gluocous gull there was no sign - but then we didn't really want to see an injured bird.

Back to Cley to walk the East Bank - more seawatching...this time stonking views of the Black-throated Diver which had by now drifted to us again! More Red-throats and Seals.We were on our way back to the car and a decision as to what to do next, visit the Cley Visitors Centre? - and we looked at the pager - I saw it flash up -Cattle Egret .....Norfolk.That was it Bob needs Cattle Egret. Study map and off we went.

Today had been very easy birding - each target bird seen and ticked in good timing.
(except the elusive Golden P)
However the cattle egret was to be the bird to prove once again that birding aint that easy! It was not in the field we scanned - a local couple pulled up and said 15 mins ago it was - over there on that bank. Thanks - a brilliant sighting of a Barn Owl then ---off we went to see where the Cattle Egret had gone after 15 mins of driving around and stopping and scanning (found some beautiful Snowdrops) we returned to the same field. Bird has gone to roost we decided!
Another birding couple had been off for a walk in the other direction now returned and no show either.

We stayed for a while longer watching a second Barn Owl doing its hunting circuit which fortunately for us involved flying down the road we were on and over the car!
Fab views and made up for Bob's dip!

A good days birding in great company.


Its always easier here, once the eye is in! So Red-throated Divers by the score and Common Seals kept bobbing up! There was one Black-thraoted Diver. I then watched the Snow Bunting flock for a while and then back to the sea and there were two large divers flying- Great northern Divers!

Birding tales

Briefly last w/e I went to W Sussex and Hants with my birding buddies -
on Sunday I just had to go and see the King Eider in Kent this time!

During the week I had a little trip to Devon and Cornwall!


added quite a few really nice birds to my year list!

No sign of the American Herring Gull unfortunately - that would have been a lifer!

Off to Norfolk tomorrow.....

A year tick, Barnes and a Bittern

Well the sky was blue and I thought I've had enough of sorting out the study. I'm off to Barnes.

Possibility of a couple of year ticks.

I went first to Dulverton Hide - usual Tufties, Shovellers, and there a Snipe (Common) ok and on to the pool between D and WWF and lo and behold a Woodcock (tic) then it was off to the Peacock hide and more Snipe and Water Rail and - a Bittern but tricky sightings. Must be good from the WWF hide...hot foot back and right in front of me...a Bittern. Now there have been 2 Bitterns at Barnes but none seen this winter here by me.

Seen Bittern at Dungeness and Burton Mill Pond but not here, and what views brilliant, first it raised its neck to giraffe height then it walked about in the reeds at the waters edge and then it came right out. Typical I only had the little compact so I tried a few digiscope shots - well records they are!

Then off to Wildside to see if I could finally nail the Water Pipits- nope!

Still the Bittern was good.

Oh and I did say hallo to the Cranes - of course!

Australia and those fires

I have been aware of the Aussie tragedy unfolding as I expect you have been too. Here is a little story that shows the hope and human kindness that can come out of such a tragedy.


Animals have suffered too but firefighters are caring - click on firefighters

I have just received this in an email -

Simon's blog

Well didn't go to Devon or anywhere else today - possibly Barnes tomorrow!
Sussex and Hampshire on Saturday.

Now where to go?

I was hoping for a trip to Devon tomorrow but then I saw this has been reported from
Cumbria

and now the bird is sw of Castle Douglas - so it looks like its on its way north to Mull and west Scotland. I'll leave that to later when hope to go up to Scotland for the specialities!

So Rainham and those Pen tits! showing today - but maybe I #d be better going down to Devon where there are other nice birds for my year list?

Another trip into Surrey

Well I mention this to prove that going to new places with vague directions is a lost cause!
Bookham Common has been recording Hawfinch frequently. It was an afternoon trip and the traffic was heavy. Everyone off to Auntie Flo.So took a longer time than anticipated to get to BC station.We went across the bridge scanning as we went and then a wander through the trees. I spied a small flock of Redpolls a long way off and searched through them for any Mealies or even an Arctic! No all Lessers.

No sign of Hawfinch. We met a couple of people with bins and a dog. They have seen the Hawfinch on many days -but not today.They told us of a place where they have been seen a lot, so we went there and no sign either!

We were running out of light and it started drizzling. Home we went.

Bob muttering about how he (the driver) really would have preferred to go to Barnes as he hasn't seen that many Jack Snipe over the years! (I saw one the other day there!) Bob doesn't like Barnes and only goes there when something is about! I wonder if I might see one of the Water Pipits there this week, they are elusive!
Oh yes and Staines was also mentioned - Scaup there again!

Well you win some you lose some!
Better directions as to where on the vast area of Bookham Common the Hawfinch preferred would have helped!We will go to the places we know in the Forest of Dean or to Suffolk/Norfolk where we have seen Hawfinches before!

What a miserable morning it is today, as I look out of my window. Looks like a sorting day and working on the pc!

gull fest!

So off to Hampshire- we thought leave later as the weather forecast was dire. We get to Portsmouth - have they seen any snow?

Surrey we came through and whilst the roads were good - you could see the snow everywhere. Hampshire, well it didn't do what the forecast said. We could have left earlier and had longer birding there.

Still first to Southsea and to see an Adult Glaucous Gull - my first adult, all the others I have seen were 1st or 2nd winter.Well he was bobbing about in the sea - no pic any good as the gull was in the sun! Then a Rock Pipit flew up and I heard it but missed it and Bob who saw it couldn't say where it had gone and it wasn't seen again. While Bob went to find another Red-necked Grebe, I watched the gulls and then suddenly I saw a Med Gull, full adult.


Then it was off to Gosport for Gossie the Ring-billed Gull. Who was hiding in a channel in the creek and suddenly popped up for a while and then disappeared down the channel again!

Bob found a Med gull here, oh and our first Ringed Plover of the year! We thought we might have a Barwit but it was another Blackwit! Where are these Barwits?

We then drove over to Blashford Lakes - where we learnt the GWE had flown back to France on the 18th January but they had a showy Bittern. We also discovered where Blackwater Arboretum was, from the helpful Warden. Wr drove across the New Forest to a spot where Crossbills had been seen but we didn't, but heard lots of tits and other passerines and then on to BA. A lovely drive, BWA looks a good place and here we saw 3 male and 2 female Bullfinches in a tree and another male Bullfinch further on!

No sign of Hawfinch!

On the drive back to London we had a Tawny Owl fly in front of the car!

A gull fest indeed.
Havent mentioned the Herring, Common, Blackheaded, Lesser and Greater Blackbacked....who were all around!

So a pleasant 5 for the year list for me!

Have a go at iding the gulls above!

News on the Garden list front!

Three Goldfinches on the feeders at lunch time plus the usual Blue and Great tits and Blackcap(male) plus a lovely displaying Wren quite whom he was displaying to I'm not sure. A good way to answer a phone call watching out of the upstairs window at my garden!

Tried a couple of shots through the window...have yet to see if they are any good.

South Africa Trip 2008 Oct-Novemember

I have managed to begin my SA exploits as I cant copy and paste quickly all the details, I have uploaded the posts to the Southern African Forum - the posters on here are a lovely bunch and were very helpful to me before I went and when I thought I had lost all my pics...so its there and I will post a link every time I post on the new Thread. Entitled Birding with Sea Eagle from the Kruger to Drakensburg. here

Interesting posting now with the snow melting but still very cold ...thinking about 28 degrees!!

Barnes on Sunday.

I mentioned below that we went to Barnes on Sunday originally to take a couple of non birders - one of whom enjoyed our visit a couple of years ago to Dungeness.We were all atayng at Greatstone so it was a good opportunity. Well the non-birders couldn't make it in the end.Having booked Sunday "lunch" - we went about 12 as it was very cold and the traffic was so heavy - we went to long way round via Hammersmith Bridge as there are road works on the journey by the Thames.

Once on site it was off to the Cranes....Demoiselle Cranes. Good photographic opportunities and I really like Cranes!
They appear much more settled into their new home now.Apparently when they first arrived every plane on its journey to Heathrow caused all three heads to peer skywards. Well they still do a fair bit of peering skywards and head turning. Seem very alert.


After the Cranes it was a wander around. Did I say it was cold?
Pat was trying out my compact camera - which appeared to have a problem...well it did and it was me! On the zoom when it goes past a particular point you need a tripod or to support it firmly on something. Problem solved.

We were in the reed beds area keeping an eye out for the Bittern (well I was)and I spotted this chap.



He was just diving as they do..and the up he came with afish which he dropped again and dived to retrieve it and after struggling to get it into position he dropped it again! Finally he won and gulped the fish down! Good protein there.

After a really good Carvery lunch. We went out again and came across this bird.
My friend Pat really likes Grey Herons.....so



While she wandered about taking photos I went off to the Peacock Tower in an attempt to see a bird for the Year List.
Having successfully found the "Jack Snipe" hidden in reeds...but fortunately bobbing up and down I returned to find Pat still taking photos.

Back to the centre to look for fat cake (birds) none easy to hang in trees tho unless you buy another cage!

Had a look at the Peter Scott book that has been republished to celebrate the Centenary.Interesting looking.

All photos by Pat Simmons

and from another visit......

Osterley House in the snow

All the photos ought to be the other way around! Why is blogger such a tricky software?







I couldn't find these photos yesterday! In a different folder!

Compact camera - that I thought had broken...learnt a little about close ups and now realise that at a certain zoom you need to steady the camera..ie bean bag or tripod!

After these pics!

more birds

Ducks ,coots and gulls!

Osterley in the snow.

Snow!

We were warned but this much?
Brilliant soft snow...just right for snowball fights in the street!


First to get some snow off my feeder tree and see that the feeders are full!

Mr Blackbird was defending his territory from everyone even chasing off his other half much to her surprise.

Out to my friends to collect my camera.
Quick diversion to have a snowball fight(!) with the little boy across the road and his mum and dad, well the dad and I threw at each other across the cars, me catching most before they hit me!

We are all big kids at heart.

Friends ringing up - got the day off school.


Pictures later - oh and my very first Goldfinch (in my garden) on the feeder just now - get camera out and gone!
Battery flat - that was quick couldn't have charged it properly!

A visit to Barnes and a Jack Snipe!

Report to follow with (talons crossed) some photos by my friend Pat - stunning Mandarine - Cranes and Grey Heron!

I think I might have at least one ok shot of the Cranes!

But I did get me a Jack Snipe! and a lovely Sunday dinner!

East Norfolk (31st Jan)

Report to follow

Taiga Bean Geese,Cranes and Pinkfooted Geese - the target birds seen...with some unexpected goodies and a couple of dips for "extra birds" on route!

Staying local today.....

Big Schools Bird Watch

Well its that time of the year again.
So on a couple of mornings found me with year 4 at my local primary school - engaging in a little counting and id birds!

Both mornings were good - Monday brill as we were relatively warm and the sun shone....thursday not so good but it didn't rain!


I love the kids eyes they spot stuff!

Best birds have to be the Goldcrests - a pair..now are they over wintering or are they here for longer?
The 4 long tailed tits caused a stir and a Lesser Black backed gull was a good find...we have them flying over to and from the Thames.

Mainly though the usual local birds...and we actually heard and saw RN Parakeets flying over and once in the trees!

Why do they do this - go away when they are being counted?

Osterley Park flier

This is a lovely flight shot by my friend Pat taken recently at Osterley Park.

What do you think?

RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

Well having guilt tripped my neighbour into filling her feeder (small) - I felt so sorry for my residents birds (no visitors for my Big Bird watch!) that I decided as my cats are elderly (will be 13 in April x3 plus the other one seems more interested in watching birds than catching them aged 11 appro) I would take the plunge and put out some feed.

On Thursday I started with water and some soaked bread in water and some seed in a tray - as I have Blackbirds - who dont tend to use feeders...well they liked that!

But on Saturday after the count found me in Pet Smart - and buying feeders that are squirrel and RN Parakeet proof oh and a suet cake as I also have some Starlings - i know they like suet cake!

Well the local birds have quickly taken to an extra stay in my garden.

First thing sat morning
8 House Sparrows
6 Starlings
6 Blackbirds
3 Wood Pigeons
2 Blue Tits
2 Robins
2 Great Tits
2 RN Parakeets
1 Dunnock
1 Blackcap
1 Magpie (who never stays long but generally perches watching from the rooves of the neighbouring houses)

None of the special recent visitors passed through on Sat (or even Sunday)
S'funny as flyovers aren't counted - Carrion Crows - lots of them
Feral Pigs, a variety of gulls....BH, LBB and Herring with the occasional Common
Grey Heron (daily),RNP by the hundreds and the Geese - Canada's, Egyptian and Greylags! Which gives a more rounded snapshot.


On Monday its the Big School Bird Watch at my local Primary School - we usually get a much wider variety in the School Grounds.

Sunday - gulls,gulls and a mega duck. (continued)

That post was becoming toooooooooooooooo looooooooooooong!

Off went Rocket Man (Bob) up the slope at speed. I followed more gingerly.

Bob had scooped a look into a friendly womans scope and seen said bird. Nowt said to me as I attempted to connect.....but the friendly woman who might be Penny Green - a guy Paul Jones on SOS has suggested....he said she stayed on the bird until he got there so perhaps he wasn't the boyfriend after all!

With some directions I finally saw a very dark blob pop in and out of my view as the waves were large! Eventually I was able to follow where the duck blobbed....it was quite distant and I was able to see the front of the duck and then a squint and the bill appeared - I zoomed in to 40x and then 60x and did my eyes in! Watering they were.

Birders appeared from the left, right and it almost felt like from above!
Soon there were desperate birders calling where is it how far out ....
Bob said lets move to the left as the sun is about to do my eyes in.....we went left and onto the beach the friendly woman and a bloke came along.
We were all looking straight out when someone spotted the duck again and soon all our scopes were on the duck and yes he was travelling towards us.....until we had splendid views.
A birder Bob knew was put on the duck in Bob's scope. But there were a few "famous" or infamous birders - well one in particular who had been getting very twitchy as he couldn't find the duck! We had a little snicker!

Time to be off to look for a Scaup on Scotney. Well we didn't find that duck but we did find a female Scoter sleeping and a Ruff with the lapwings.Best of all Bob spotted a Red-necked Grebe a self found as no had reported it before! Brill!

I look at my pager...we were on our way back to Dunge as the Birder Bob knew - wish I knew his name....had told us there was another gull found - my pager told me an
Iceland juv...now this is a lovely gull...the juv in particular!

So off we went a bit speedier than originally.Into the centre -look at the board and Iceland from Makepeace..."lets go"..."no need for that love" called the woman volunteer it was visible from in here...soon Bob had picked up the gull with a little help from another birder (complete with very small child) and I was soon looking at the lovely creamy colour of an Iceland juv...I even got an elderly lady onto the gull in my scope while we attempted to get her husband (who Bob had let see the gull in his scope) onto the bird with his scope...just as we-----and all the birds flew!

Thats birding!



This is a similar bird - taken in Ireland by Rich Bonser - I am seeking permission to post this...I will remove if asked.

See his website here



Very satisfied with our days birding we realised we were starving...nope just very hungry as we hadn't eaten since breakfast...Bob a large bowl of cereal, while I had managed a half bowl .......so off to the Little chef at Brenzett....

on route we stopped to seek out a Liuttle owl and whilst we saw it fly we were both hoping to be glared out by its superior eye! As we left the LC we both saw a Barn Owl fly up from the roadside.

Then it was too dark for anything other than the motorways to home.

A trip to Sheppey

Two year ticks
Hooded Crow which was very elusive! and a distant Short-eared Owl.
(There will be a few pics - just have to download them- laters!)

There were many flocks of different species who appeared really flighty. Yes there were lots of Marsh Harriers and at least two Hen Harriers but what really was spooking these birds? Was it a Peregrine or Merlin as neither were seen at all by two people who were scanning keenly!

There appeared to be hundreds of Golden Plovers and a few Ruff in there as well. Flocks of Lapwings. all very flighty - just when were they supposed to eat?

Teal were examined with a fine tooth.Never got the chance to scrutinese the Goldies!
There were several Common Buzzards and late in the afternoon talking with another birder they had sen the Rough leg on a pile of manure/straw earlier in the day....perhaps when I was asked to scope the second straw bale/pile that was were the RLB was - I didn't realise I was looking at a wrong place and couldn't see one straw bale. But we were in an incident at this juncture so perhaps it was inevitable something would go wrong...more re this later when Seth has had a chance to blog!
I'll add an internal link here for his tale! I did find Seth- Skylarks whilst he was engaged in car antics.

We went up to Harty Church and a walk through the field to the gate scoping as I went for the Hooded Crow. We had to get right to the gate before we were able to even have a 30 sec blast at him! Seth managed to find him but he was off within 30 secs so only a little look -thankfully seen lots of these before!

Of the Avocets (lots seen yesterday at Oare in morning - which is where I wanted to start - still Seth had gunned the car to sheppey before I could squeek!)there were none showing from where we were opposite - saw they were in the creek which is tricky from Harty ! The 15 Great Crested Grebes were seen but later at Harty Inn we didn't spot the GNDiver that was reported in the Swale by the Oare guys.Dont think the pint in the pub had anything to do with it!

Back to the Fleet another frustrating search for the RLB...a Barn Owl was called across to us by some birders on the mound - we were at the bend probably round it by now!

Good call as a lovely ghostie was flying and there was interaction with a Kestrel.
In fact there were at least a dozen Kes seen on the Island today!
Reminded me of the bird of the week on Birdguides -
there is a sequence here

Well done to Damian Waters.






Seth spotted a distant Short eared owl which was picked up in my scope quickly!
Well there was no sign of RLB so we walked to another vantage point and scanned again. No luck this time.

Seth had a meal in Southampton for 7 so we really had to leave...thats a tough call when you cant stay until the light has gone!

Still a very enjoyable and interesting day - not just cos of the incident but also due to the very exciting possible project Seth may be involved in very soon!
(all very hush hush at the mo!)

Happy Birthday, Seth for Wednesday! Enjoy your special birding treat on Sunday and here's to the next mega! Happy Hunting.

Purple Sandpiper a lovely little wader

Peter sosbe trying to contact for perm to publish. if you object please tell me and I will remove photo.

An amazing birding day.

Sometimes you get them - a day that is meant to be picking up bits and pieces with the possibility of a mega that turns into a top birding day!

Well on Sunday thats what happened to Bob and me! After a quiet Saturday when as the weather was so nice in the morning (after the rain!) I went out to seek an American duck which was fortunately a male.So off down the M4 and nearly to Greenham Common(that brought back memories of the early eighties!)I was able to arrive at Lower Farm GP's and spy the bird an American Wigeon add see a real rariety(after all the culling) a couple Ruddy Ducks. Later the pager said that a Green Sandpiper was also present but I didn't see it! Yet more Red-creasted Pochards. Where have they all come from this winter I wonder?

OK on to the day!
SUNDAY
Having arranged with Bob for a catch up day for him. A whatever birds I see, I see day for me with the possibility of a mega on the sea plus if we looked carefully a few new species for the year for me.
I thought it would be an appalling day- it wasn't so I must trust Bob's judgement and not look at my weather forecasts!

Off to see the long staying Night Heron at Hythe - well Lympne really!
We arrived a bit later than I had meant, met some birders along the track who Bob recognised from West London.We laughed they were down "in case" the King Eider was relocated so were seeing the local "sites".
They said the Heron was in the reeds in the main canal opp the bridge. That was a shame but the canal was free of ice so bigger fish available I reckon! It was showing better than pics from the night before year tick for Bob. I think he added about 26 today! over the ton as well.
Bob had an idea and we went cross country to Hythe proper to the beah where we picked up Purple Sandpipers - lovely little waders, worth a closer view so we staggered down the pebbley beach and up again this time with an occasional helping hand from Bob as I soon discoved my knees were not working so well today!
On to Walland Marshes were a large flock of Bewick's had been reported. Well fields full of Murte Swans kept us wondering where they might be as we weaved our way across the marshes. Spotted just round a bend a lot of Mutes with one interesting swan...scopes out...I saw behind us a flock of.....yes Bewick's and I promptly forgot about the "interesting one" and concentrated on countingthe Bewick's - I have a real soft spot for these elegant swans. Lots of youngster's in with the adults- a great sight.
a good place to read up on Bewick's (these are the Swans that Peter Scott first drew at Slimbridge and discovered that owing to their beak patterns you could tell one from another) is on WWT website - here Bewick's Swan Diary

I counted 79 - and Bob 81 - one missing as there should be 82!
We then drove to a farnm we know where there are lots of passerines.....and there were two flocks, one mainly Corn Buntings (18) and one Chaffinches - I never managed to count them all as they were very flightly , more so than usual. 30? 40?
No Yellowhammers and a couple of Tree sparrows this was worrying as usually there are lots more! Eventually we had great views of a lovely male Yellowhammer who had flown down to drink from the puddles next to the car. Why dont I have my camera on the back seat of the car when I need it?
Got to sort out the compact camera...maybe get it repaired if thats what it needs?
All the birds go up as we see a Hen Harrier explode out of a field and fly up! Brilliant we watched her for a while untilshe flew away....
A local birder than pulled up and after a chat we went further down the road to the next farm and outside there were lots of House Sparrows with several more Tree Sparrows....this is were they were as this farmer has put up feeders and nest boxes...no further sign of Yellows tho but bingo...a Fieldfare calling and then YES finally for the 2009 year a Fieldfare and then another! The local birder had told us that all the Redwings had left in the cold snap earlier and just about 100 fieldfares had stayed...last we see of the Redwing then til October.
This was getting good!

So on to Dungeness and a loo stap! Lets see whats about. Well the Black-necked Grebe was still at Christmas Dell and the Slav had moved to Denge Marsh - but the variety had lessened not so cold today no iced up ponds so birds able to feed anywhere.

Off to see if we could spot a Ruddy Duck for Bob...few and far between but yes there were two! In the hide and a quick look around two Coots and two Tufties and Black neck grebe - were all the ducks in the reeds probably...aware of time on we went to Arc pits to seek out Firecrests and maybe a Red head?

Pager would have bleeped but on solence except for megas - but sense it and
Caspian and Yellow legged Gulls - where? on ARC! bit faster movement.
Bob's off mets birder coming the other way and speeds off - must still be here great!
(Meanwhile I am trying to see whats on the mob as it rang with with-held on...I am expecting calls but work related not on a sunday so I dont answer than its a left message...I leave it can see this later.)

Arrive at hide- blokes been there 5 mins tells us where a Caspian is - Bob is on it - here Corinna...yes! 2nd Winter and a lovely bird.
Back to my scope find bird....what's the difference between 3rd winterYLG and adult I ask clever gull man...structure...and then we have a short discussion , while everyone goes through the hundreds of gulls....

Yellow leg - describes where - oh I think I have it..got to be...check whats happening with other gulls around it yes on same bird.

I decide to ook at other end to have a break from gulls and so does another birder we call about the same time Redhead and yes goood for Bob...

I have the Adult Caspian and soon all on that as well! We look around and no new birds....come on says Bob lets go find the Firecrests....on way back I ring 123 - its Seth in Devon do I have a half decent Fieldguide? They were on a female poss surfscoter....ring Seth not with me ....have a chat...(I'd had texts already of
Pen Tit, Cirls etc!) reach car - seth says King Eider as Nick (in Devons pager has bleeped) - I look at pager Jury's gap - very close great...Seth hears me say
"King Eider - jury's gap LETS GO NOW! bye Seth must go!....

Spring into car knees fine!We droive safely but quickly to Jury's gap. Arrive birders on top...scopes to the west...slight delay with my parking owing to local oldies divering with trolleys...s***. Go Bob....and I follow.

Heathrow Expansion

Well despite local cross party objections to any expansion of Heathrow - Geoff Hoon announced this week that it would go ahead. Well it aint over until it is over!
So Greenpeace, Alistair Mc Gowan, Emma Thompson and Zac Goldsmith have bought a field in the middle of the planned site for expension.They are the four legal owners.
see here
Airplot

If like me you are against this expansion you can become a beneficial owner as well.
As a beneficial owner you'll be included in a legal deed of trust and are represented in any legal fight for the land by the four purchasers of the land.
It wont cost you a penny but you can donate to Greenpeace and/or Airplot.

Local man beat Galileo to see the moon first

So for all the Galileo fans out there....


First Moon Map made in Syon Park

Thomas Harriot made first observations of moon through telescope

On July 26th 1609, several months before Galileo, an English scientist, Thomas Harriot, carried out the first observations and drawings of the Moon made using a telescope at his residence in the grounds of Syon House, West London.

There is very little public recognition of Thomas Harriot in the UK and no lasting memorial to his very considerable achievements in maths, physics, engineering as well as astronomy.

He collaborated with some of the most brilliant scientists of his time. He was a close friend and in the service of Sir Walter Raleigh, with whom he sailed to Virginia as a scientist/explorer. His lunar observations were remarkable for the time. His very detailed observations and drawings of the Sun and sunspots may also have been the first. He also recorded the motions of Jupiter’s satellites. Read this biography of Harriot, specially written for this event by Dr Allan Chapman of Wadham College, Oxford.

Articles at Bad Astronomy, Royal Astronomical Society and Telescope400 give further details of Harriot's life and larger images.


* There will be a celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the first ever telescope observations of the Moon - made by Thomas Harriot at Syon Park in Middlesex on July 26 1609 on Sunday 26th July 2009.
Telescope 400 will draw attention to the importance of the telescope in astronomy today and in the past and highlight the unique contribution to UK astronomy made by Thomas Harriot (1560 - 1621)

Sunday in Sussex

Well we motored to Sussex...hardly anything on the roads...Ivy Lake - to spy Tundra Bean Geese (good sussex ticks) and on to another lake nearby for Whoopers Swans Pair.

Then we realised Bob had lost his wolly hat so to Pulborough B to buy new one!
We travelled mainly through back roads and spied a variety of birds...including Sprawk,Red legged Partridges and Buzzards.

We saw Marsh and Coal Tits on the feeders at PB and Nuthatch.

We went to a lake in Arundel to look for Mandarins and dipped out. Then we sought out Bewick Swans. We dipped these too!Bob said we ought to go to a certain place but then we didn't - guess what- later speaking to another birder waiting to see the Burton Mill Bittern- he had gone to this place and after a very carefull search had seen 20 Bewicks there! Drat!


We went back towards Chichester to go to Church Norton....lots of lovely birds here waders of a wide variety. With a bit of extremely rough sea watching!
(list to follow!)

Then it was on to Burton Mill Pond with a definite lack of birds.....

however we did get Goldcrest and Kingfisher and finally the Bittern popped up to the top of the reeds and was still there when we left!

A good days birding that finally brings my Year List to over a 100!

Peregrine,(my second of the year) Buzzards,(lots!) Sprawk, Kestrels(a few of these) - a nice little raptor fest!
With Red Kite yesterday as well!

Cold yes but not as bad as yesterday.

A Winters Tale.

Today Bob and I had agreed to meet at 11am - to go to the Chilterns to see Red Kites and some other birds!

Awoke to a severe frost and snow! well 2mm???

It was cold and I had quite a few "things" to do. Anyway we meet as arranged and oft to Chilterns we went......it got colder and colder and by the time we were on the M40 we were wondering what we had let ourselves in for - we saw a Red Kite - later we realised we ought to have turned around at the next exit and gone to Stockers Lake!

We persevered ....some one had a giant icing sugar container and emptied it all over the tress and everywhere in the Chilterns...decided lack of any birds!

One place with running water...some birds...all very pretty and no camera!

We did have a lovely Brazilian Coffee in Henley!
We visited Stockers Lake and suddenly there were birds including 12 Red crested Pochards!

Several other birds as well and squealing Water Rails with Grey Herons after them!
A brilliant local patch if you live in Rickmansworth!

We arranged to go to Sussex on Sunday. 8am start.

An amazing gull or two!

I couldnt believe it = GlaucousWingedGull nr Stockton on tees- where i have a very dear friend - we go back years!

I ring how about a sofa for the night? a weekday? well I will be vvvquite when leaving

I get up there... have to go for the bird and bingo! we spy a grey winged gull...
guess what... woweee and the Glock was spotted soon afterwards

glad i couldnt do the mega twitch altho if Seth had rung me I probably would have gone!
better with fewer birders... and a good nighs sleep whizz back friday as lots to do...


very happy Eagle!

sorry Sneaky aka Pauco aka Paul....


for some flight shots see here

http://roblaughtonbirdphotography.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html

there is a good photo here

Night Heron sequence

The local Grey Herons clearly were wondering what all the fuss was about!
Bare with me as this is a long sequence and I have only just got the hang of posting the last pic first! Strange.

Setting the scene

At the Maidstone service station at 07.30am minus 5!

At Hythe this was the scene that greeted me.

A Night Heron fishing and a trip to Dungeness

Well I now know why the Night Heron has remained at Lympne since 22nd November.
If the fish are here then why move?




I will finish this later as a friend has just arrived!

Rainham Marshes 2nd Jan

Well I have decided that I must put the clock radio alarm on on Sunday or I will not drag myself out of bed early.
Meant to be there (RM) at early opening....nope so didn't worry!

Left just before 10 and arrived at 11 - knew Penduline Tits had showed this am
- serin 1 had been seen early -

well short story I dipped again! The birds PT had been seen, then they flew away but had not been enough time for most to take pics and certainly not the fantastic ones from the 1st!

Then there was no sign again...we looked and we searched and searched I met up with Paul Jnr and Paul (Dad)...we birded together in companiable silence and occasionally conversation...but often - Snipe son...where? or did you say a Pintail? where? (me)
Theres a raptor up there(Dad) - I got on it with my scope - a Peregrine!
They had light weight travel scope...so my scope was jolly useful and birders all around were sneaking a peek!
Got my pintail.(thanks to Dad relocating it!)
..wonder if Paul jrn ever saw the snipe...they kept flying but where he wasn't looking!

saw all sorts of little reedy birds....including this delightful Chiffchaff!

no PT....

so when a dip is on what do you do go look at gulls and Rainham has planty!

Soon Common Gull added and Yellow-legged gulls as well....seeking a Caspian well if there was one it was amidst 1000's !


Very cold now and light falling.....its about 1...or so...cuppa tea? good idea...
well we got separated as you do and I found some siskins merrily singing or calling away!

Then hallo we met up again and shared coffee/tea and cakes!

Some Essex birders chatted away all very friendly.

They decided to go back for another hour (but no more reports of PT were on the pagers!) I changed my mind and headed home!Saw PT reported at 11.20 - couldn't have been then as we were looking then!

Great driving conditions today...home just over the hour...

I think total today was 21 new birds.

Thats about 60 in two days....not the 200 some wag text me today! got your 200 yet?

haha obviously quality birding over speedy birding!

Bird of the Day on the first - Rough-legged Buzzard
the second - Peregrine

A new year means I look again at usual birds that I see often. The first Reed Bunting, a female but you look again. Lesson for this year if seeking my own rares look once twice and thrice at each bird!

This is going to be a busy year - politically this year and next! So I shall have to ration the birding selectively.
Bob is back from Espana by end of next week so we will have to think where we go birding over the next few weekends.....Sussex,Kent,The Home Counties and longer trips to Norfolk,The Forest of Dean and I think Dorset and West Wales....
perhaps even Cornwall? Who knows .....depends on time and what birds are about as well as finding our own!
Local patches need to be watched as well as the BOU tetrads......oh and that garden needs to have some more wildlife friendly shrubs added.

2009 1st January

Well the best laid plans of mice and corinna went well wrong today. So the drinks will be on me Seth as you must have gotten more year ticks than me today!

Forget the plan...out the window when i didn't get to sleep as early as planned on New Years eve and therefore didn't get up and be at Oare for first light! Another day!

So once that all went wrong other things conspired!

So a Garden list that I didn't expect to be doing...first birds seen and heard fly over BH and Herring Gulls and oh yes a couple of LBB - then a bunch of starlings over the back garden then crows and wood pigeons. Whats the hurry birds none stopping!
Oh yes in my tree an unfamiliar sight a Dunnock! Not the expected bird at all!
Then oh yes Mr. Blackbird - hear and see RN Para(greenrats)keets- and a bunch of Feral pigs. Great list eh?
Magoie heard first and seen later
Finally the House Sparrow gang - great and the Blue Tit pair then Robbie Robin and yes there is the Mr Blackcap! feel much better now! 15

of to Kent - through Bushy Park and spy
Coot
Canada Geese
Egyptian (count for now until I go to Norfolk and great the real McHoy!
Jackdaws a plenty and yes there is a BGreater Black Backed and he is sperched on Diana's head!

on through Esher and Oxshott nothing added! M25/26 and 20 - tho gloomy grey weather affecting all except Feral pigs and Woodies!

To Elmley and Kestrels great....up the long drive to the toilets....almost nowt a few Mute swans....
over the wall at the T block no Little Owl...but zillions of whistling Wigeons feeding frenzy
and Teal, Moorhens and Tufties.

Brent and White fronted Geese......

on way back - Stonechat (Mrs) and a Little Egret
out to Harty Ferry Inn Road and yes Cornbuntings on telegraph wires!
then a flashing Merlin
lots of fiels full of Dizzies- whoops Lapwings to most of you!

At Capel fleet - birders...now pager had already reported the presence earlier of RLB
- I asked is the RLB about? Yes said a friendly Kent birder!
Parked the car and scope in hand rushed to the birders.
You wont see it - have a look in my scope...its well hunkered down.
Yes there was a bird....but at that distance and a shape. Well thats not good enough -yet.

We loked around I got my scope into the correct position and checked on the landmarks.
Now to see what else is around a Grey Heron huddled on a metal fence!
A very white fronted (chested) Common Buzzard and Marsh Harriers harrying.
Oh yes Mallards! Looking daper.

It was cold and grey and grey and cold..but not as biting a wind as usually is the case here.

The RLB is strtching "her" wings called a birder....on straight away and there she was flapping wings and off she lifted and flew showing off that broad white rump against the tail! Great.
Then she sored a little and flew some more showing the under and upper sides to her wings and her massive head..pwerful birdthen she flew along beside a fence and down!

Wat time is it I asked to be told after 2...quick phone my neice I'm late! no answer at least I tried...I dallied a little thanked the Kent birders - dragged names out of the most helpful two to discover one of the Kent Recorders there!

Thanks must fly! Off I was ---gone!

In my neices road to greet me was a Song Thrush......

yet more starlings perched on the wires as ever but no Pheasant or WP ...no matter!
I was warm and able to change out of the birders gear into smart comfortable gear!
Cup of tea most welcome as was the greetings of my great-neice!

Lovely scrumptious Christmas Dinner and I was full!

A lovely day made better as there was not a lot of traffic on the motorway and coming back it was travelling smootly!

Total birds seen 40

not the soughtful nearer 100! That would have been possible if I had got up earlier and started at Oare!

So drinks will be on me next time Seth and meet up...help I feel a bank loan coming on!

To Rainham for the Penduline Tits 31st December

Well I had to go. I have dipped these before so I need to end the year on another high!

Well it came on the pager they were there in good views. I went and I didn't dip it was after 2pm but they were showing! Great a lovely bird and these were well stonking!

(No camera --- but plenty of good pics on the net!)

In the New Year I shall return with camera.

2008 UK Year ticks 306 - great over the magic 300.
Help I have to sort out the Western P total...trip to Picos - where did I put that list?

World total seen this year well 306 plus extra Espana birds plus SA birds which was at least 300+ .....303 I think - 609 + picos over 600 birds well!

Sunday and waxwings!

Trip to Folkestone.
Waxwings and coffee at friends who are so struck by the pretty waxwings they will be seeing them tomorrow on the way to work!

The above is a cropped pic, I will need to look at the others....

Christmas Birding!

Went to Cornwall to see a Snowy Owl!
Stayed over just outside Penzance and returned on Boxing Day via a Hooded Marganser.

Two lifers (if the Hooded is recognised as a wild one!)...302 year list!

(further details to follow)

Tuesday 23rd December

A trip to Barnes, nice quiet day as far as people went!

Birds were a bit quiet too - still we went primarily to take photos, I had a little surprise up my sleeve for my friend...some newly arrived birds. Ok so they are in the collection...but what birds! Brilliant!
Here are 3 Demoiselle Cranes - they arrrived from Martin Mere and will spend the next three years at Barnes - going back to breed as part of the captive breeding programme.They arrived on the 26th November - this was the first time I went to see them- thinking Pat will really enjoy these. She did and took lots of photo's _ I didn't take that many - Pat had my 100- 400 lens - I had her - up to 300 lens which ius brill but you can get as close!
Sometime in 2009 Barnes may also get some Eurasian Cranes...I prefer to see them in Norfolk!

Well I went on a dip today!
Non showing Penduline Tits at Rainham Marshes!
Yes I really wanted to go round the M25 today - still what we do for our art!

So to cheer myself up I had a look at my SA pics and thought ahh dragons....so i give you




Later this week I will visit Barnes to see what might be about with cameras and friend...who wants to see a Kingfisher. We never see one - altho I have seen them at Barnes when she isn't with me and there are other local places where I see 'em and guess what? Yup they hide when she is around.

So lets see.

Oh yes Waxwings are on their way to West London (I hope!! Talons crossed!)

Swan at Slimbridge in December

Well lets have another go!

I took this Swan at Slimbridge about 4.20pm on Saturday 6th Dec in the last rays of the light.I have cropped the swimming swan as I was trying for reflection.
The flying swan was just lucky - a bird just happened to flying in from the fields and I tracked it I took two shots, this was the one I liked best.
As ever I forgot to start with the last photo so these are not in the right order...I will do better next time.
I have a couple of Goldeneye photo's but I need to do something with one of the male as it is too dark. Have to wait until I can sort out photoshop! (Thats scary as I usually only crop!)

Anyway any good shots and its thanks to a few helpful hints from Andy Rouse (in the seminar) any rubbish shots thats down to me!

A couple of Swans

Well there will be when I can sort out my pics...arrrghhh!

They wont load on blogger at mo...so i edited the post.

Will be back soon!

There will also be more SA photo's!!