Quest for the Surf Scoter

When we were on our "Bird Race" we spent time sea watching on the Moray Firth.
The last time I had seen a Surf Scoter was on the Moray Firth. Not one had been seen there this winter.We did see 110 Common Scoters and several Velvet Scoters.
110! 110 yes that number and very close views too.(As far as my year list went I had already seen both Common and Velvets but certainly not as close views!)

On the third day we went on an exbirdition up the East Coast north of Inverness -
to go onto the Black Isle to look at the other side of the Moray Firth and to wend our way to Dornoch.



Saw this animal and was amazed at its face - not sure if its caught in this pic though- appeared deep in thought!


Not so much snow about here!

We birded our way up the East Coast to Dornoch.What a absolutely stunning Town this is and what a location.





The Cathedral so its a City?
I love to look at Churches where ever I go and sometimes when we are birding it isn't possible so a photo opportunity was not to be turned down!

On to the Target bird of the day!

We got to the coast and the car park to sea watch, at first there appears to be nothing there, then as your eyes get used to the sea and glare and the lumps and bumps you begin to see ......yes black dots and these became Scoters hundreds of them! A velvet but mainly commons and more velvets and mixed up lots of Long tailed Ducks which are a really lovely and striking bird of its own! But we were after a rare a rarity.....search and search and scan and scan....
"Whats this?" No I think I saw it and its gone!

What to look for with a Surf scoter - well you might think its the bill or beak...but in lumpy sea best bet is to look for the white circle on the back of its neck.

We were there scanning...John, Peter, Paul, Bryan (I don't like sea watching)and moi.

When Bryan says I think I have got it...."help" to Peter ...now if you were there you would appreciate this "look in my scope" (Bryan is over 6foot and Peter well he is smaller shall we say!) How Peter managed to look in the scope, see anything and be able to confirm it we dont know but he did!

Where? Eventually we were all on the bird and enjoying views of it.

How did Bryan spot it? Well as often with birding a bit of luck...many birds took off and flew while he was watching them and in the midst a white circle on a neck!

Bryan (I dont like sea watching) was the hero!

NB By the end of the week Bryan was loving it!

Target bird found we could have lunch!

Interesting birds.....well inquisitive and hungry birds well just plain get in there and get their food birds!
Rooks, Hooded Crows and Jackdaws.

One very brave or stoopid Rook pictured here!


On to Embo

This is Tulloch Moor.


How I wish I had been able to get into blogger while I was in Scotland and I could have done a daily blog - its so easy to post every day and not leave it until one returns!

We met a lovely working dog called Millie in the woods in Nethybridge. She came up to me carrying a large piece of pine which she had dug up or found! She was wearing her Save and Rescue gear (green and white) and had been working all the previous night in the Cairngorms where they were trying to find a man who was missing.
She was full of beans! Her owner rather tired!
Millie was up for fun and we had some!
It was a privilege to met both her owner and Millie!
Millie is a collie with one ear up and one ear down!

I did mean to keep a dog list but somehow it got forgotten!
But I do remember a Soft coated Wheaten terrier, a Weimeraner (sp?), a Labrador cross and something, who was a real gorgeous beast!
Cairns, Scotties and Westies as one would expect! Dachshunds and Labs and Retreviers.
Plenty of Heinze 57's and rescue dogs.

What do you expect on bird feeders?
Why these......







Ok so its Scotland and Red Squirrels are to be encouraged!
There were 3 of these delightful creatures coming to the feeders and it was really fun to watch their antics!

The pics are records and taken through glass windows!

Where to now?

This is "Brave Bryan" altho I am sure this was before the surreal experience but maybe not!



The feeders at our Hotel.

Surreal experience

We stopped further down the valley on our way out to see if the Golden Eagles would put in an appearance.Conclusion drawn was that it had been too wild and windy and the pair had flown further down!

To the surreal.Bryan spotted a tree trunk and said it looks like a German Officer- see if you can see it? We could!



shortly after this 2 Spitfires flew across the valley. Weird or what?
And I looked across the valley and it looked just like the Russian front where there was a valley and it looked for all the world like the Panzars would come through with their tanks!

It could not go on!

Hahaha - it was like a parallel universe!

White out

Well lets see if blogger lets me post some pics today...it gave up on me on Monday!


Looks like it is working. The pic is of a near whiteout we sat through!
Glad John knows the weather around here! A trifle scary! Winds blowing small tornado's past us, really exciting to watch on the TV but I think not from a minibus!

Still we are all explorers at heart and so we ventured out after the snow and wind died down.

After the whiteout

across the bridge

Paul and Bryan

Paul and "Eagle"

It was very cold as I think you can see. Salutary lesson watching the weather change so very quickly from sunny to white out to sunny!

Day 2 Findhorn Valley (B)

We had a coffee stop and another scan and then on towards the top of the valley.

There is a bridge that goes across the River Findhorn (its private) but there is a good area to park. We watched the weather here as the snow arrived - we sat through bit of a storm - a whiteout- on being asked by a wary Bryan "will the road be alright to go back on" John's response of "It will be fine".
Were they really reassured? Well I was knowing Johns reputation as something of a weatherman.
Still watching small tornado's of snow pass by us and the hills disappear was a trifle scary.
Next the sun comes out! Bryan and Paul intrepid as ever walked over the bridge tothe other side. Despite John saying "well I wouldn't cross that bridge" I needed pics so I followed the guys. The bridge did look a little less solid than it had in the past and as it sighed and creaked as I walked over it - I wondered what I was doing! It was a relief to reach the chaps!
It was vvvvcold and the wind gusted at us and it was vvvvcold!

Pics to follow I am with Paul on the bridge and Paul id with Bryan. We had a laugh taking the pics I even had to take my glove off to attempt a photo with Pauls camera.
Frostbite almost set in!

Day 2 Findhorn Valley

Well after the Bird Race what could be better than a trip to the Findhorn Valley.

Its my favorite valley in the Highlands!
There was a deep frost this morning on awaking.

First a trip via Tulloch Moor where yesterday we had distant views of Black Grouse. Nothing showing this morning.
Then Findhorn.
We drove up the valley and played overtaking with the recyling lorry and coal delivery lorry!We stopped a couple of times looking for Golden Eagles. We found Red Deer, Stags on one side of the valley and Hinds on the other.Two pics - the hinds were a very long way away on the other side of the valley.

Scotland Birding!

Yes I'm in Bonny Scotland.

Took the train up here.
Sunny in Edinburgh and lovely till just before the Cairngorms. They are full of snow and it was wet and miserable. Not too bad when I got to Aviemore or Nethybridge where I am staying.

Birds seen on route (in Scotland) Rooks hundreds and hundreds, Pink feet geese, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard - Gulls galore now just checking on a white winged species - will let you know what it might have been!
Chaffinchs around feeders outside a station in the Cairngorms.
Wood pigeons.
Robin singing here!

It will get better!

Brief report on Sunday (full details plus any pics I can rescue!) will be on the blog!
Woke to real snow! Made the trip out magical in the forests and across the moors!
The Bird Race two teams competing against each other in fun! Racing around the Highlands and up(or down?) the Moray Firth!
There should have been a big race with lots of teams but the guy who organises it was away. We didn't mind!

There are 5 of us staying here this week. So its quality not quantity!
Our Team with John P saw 81 species in the day and the other team with Jonny saw 86 species grand total of different birds seen 98!
Highlights?
Scenery! I forget how beautiful the Highlands are!
110 Scaup - I kid you not! Females and males on the Moray Firth.
Eider (year tic) and Long tailed Ducks on the sea
Black and Red grouse (year tics)
and Black Guillemot in scopes from Lossiemouth sea watching!A rare at any time!

Dipper (another year tic - which I had forgotten I hadn't seen this year!) Gannet- way in the distance.
Flocks of mixed finches with brightly coloured Yellowhammers amidst them try as I might I couldn't see a Brambling (must all be down south!)

oh and Pine Marten footprints in the Snow...and a red squirrel!
more later!

The blog will have pics on when I return to London. Some little local technical difficulties here!

Wild Boar

Hi
More pics taken from the Gloster Birder


So thanks to Andrew Carey and Gloster Birder.
Wild Boar in the Forest of Dean.

A Mammal Lifer!

Went to the Forest of Dean and saw a Lifer - a mammal lifer and then there were two adults and 6 Babies!


see a video here


That was taken last Tuesday so they appear to have lost one baby as we could only see 6.

Meant to post more photos.....

but life got in the way!

Tetrads needed to be completed.They have to be done by the end of the month and the results need to be in before I go to Scotland next week.

I had a couple of birding trips planned. Bob and I needed to return to Rye to try again for the Shorelark that has been there for 7 weeks is it or 8 now! Last time it was a w/e and a very sunny day and too much disturbance.

We went on Friday morning to arrive about 8am and hopefully get the bird feeding and few people about.

We spotted a birder plus small well behaved dog right by the hut sheltering from the wind. Boy does it wind there!
There was the Shorelark posing on a rock ! So simple it was laughable. We watched the bird for quite a while as it disappeared in and out of grasses and up and dowm slopes. I even managed a record shot but they still have to be down loaded and they might be so bad they wont be posted!
Bob spotted a Common Seal hauled up on the shore and later with gentle waves washing it!
The scope kept wobbling and it wasn't til saturday that I realised it wasn't the head at fault but when I had put the scoipe back on I had put it on backwards! One of my birding friends discovered this on Sat when we were in the Forest of Dean!

We went on to Dungeness via Denge Marsh Road where the ARMY mod were firing, lots of red flags about. Surreal scanning through bins with gunfire in the background!

We spotted some geese but could only see Greylags and Canada's.

On to the RSPB centre and a welcome cup of hot chocolate.
One of the guys working there was on his day off and had just arrived. He informed us of the 3 Caspians that had been seen there the day before, we were already looking for Caspians...so good to know some were about.

But real wild Barnacle Geese had flown in recently and he told us where they were usually seen from...yes they were on Denge marsh but had been seen from the viewing ramp...so round we went! Blowin a hooly as only Dunge can we battled our way around!

We spotted "our" geese no Barnacles and as I said "there may be another group", Bob spotted them...really close to the Denge Marsh Road so must have just flown there.

We had time to look watch and put a party of older birders onto them(many looking through our scopes) and there was rapid gunfire and as the Lapwings went up so the Barnacles took off and flew away.

Back at the Centre I found a 2nd winter Caspian! Finally quest complete!
Bob had actually spotted it but said nothing so I had had the opportunity to find it for myself! Satisfaction! We went through all the id points. Back at the car later I showed Bob an article I had found on the net describing text and photos the same bird going through its 2nd winter cycle!

We also saw a possible near adult but it was a long way away and we couldn't see all features so gull sp. Later we saw the young man again and learnt that they had had a 2nd and 3rd winter bird with an adult.

There were plenty of ducks about the best being a Male Smew and 4 Redheads and 2 Goosanders.
We also saw Cetti's flying across our path.
Earlier on the road from Denge M to Dunge we had close views of a Little Owl as it scowled at us!

More Espana Photos

Well Jules is off to Morocco on the 22nd...I want to go but it is the wrong time for me as I have an important AGM on the 27th and i have to organise it.
Hopefully they may go in March next year. Talons crossed.

To make myself feel better I shall post some more photos by John Moon (who is going to Morocco - groan!)of our trip to the Pyrenees last June.


Audouins Gull


Little Tern


Whiskered Tern

Now that feels better!

Thetford forest

What a lovely place. I say this every time I visit.

On Sunday a planned visit to the Brecks lived up to its reputation.

There was a full on frost minus 3 almost all the way from West London to the Forest.Just occasionally it went to 0!

We walked miles around Lynford and ended up with one fly by Hawfinch! Chaffinches by the barrel load in fact almost every other bird was a Chaffie!

Blue, Great, Coal and LT tits abounded.

Blackbirds and Robbies.Canada Geese, Mute Swans in fact 7 decided on a fly past nosily and then back. Coot standing on the ice looked comical.

Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes and Dunnocks....plus ducks.....
No Crossbills!

On to Wayland Wood- where we heard and then saw Nuthatch and on the same tree a surprised Treecreeper. Surprised by the Nuthatch who may have landed on it!
No Golden Pheasant but scraping and heard again.Oh and Marsh Tit to add to the tits seen today.

On to another place in the Forest nr Brandon...St Helens?
Looking for Crossbills and Lesser Spots....not a sound from a LSW! Perfect weather for singing.
Siskins,Chaffinch and Goldfinches along with the Tit squads the cones were cracking open in the sun and all the birds were up in the canopy eating!

Great Spotted Woodpeckers everywhere including Lynford.

Heard and saw Green at Lynford too.

Bob heard a Brambling at the car park but we couldn't locate it (wished I hadn't known!)

Then to Mayday....the sun was full on but there were still patches of ground with frost on from the morning and this was 3.30!

We walked to the water trough and birds flew every which way.
We retreated away from the track and set up scopes and

in the sun 2 Crossbills posed then flew away! and
....a Brambling! Looking beautiful! The orange really orange, the white shining brightly and his head nearly black! My first of the year!Then 2 in another tree and then another 6 flew over our heads the orange and white like flags!

Then some more and by the time we left we must have seen 20!

We then went on a Woodlark hunt and eventually Bob spotted one perched up who then promptly flew down as I looked!
We eventually saw 2 well!

At this point we retired to the car and our journey homewards!

6 woodland birds nicely added to the year list!

Some Espana Photos

No I havent been on a short trip to Espana!

I received a CD from John Moon who was on our Pyrenees trip last June.
We went with Jules and Ken Shaw of Oliva Rama Tours

We had a terrific time and its been lovely to look at the photos and remember the holiday all over again!

Extract from Jules Birding diary
Friday 1st - 9th June :- This was my second week away to the Pyrenees & N/E Spain and was ever bit as fantastic and bird-filled as the week before, with most of the species being seen again with one or two additions or exceptions. During our eight days we saw many excellent birds including :- Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Squacco & Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Marbled Duck, Crested Coot, Lammergeyer, Egyptian Vulture, Golden, Short toed & Booted Eagles, Audouin's & Slender billed Gulls, Caspian Tern, Black bellied Sandgrouse, Black Woodpecker, Dupont's Lark, Ring Ouzel, Western Orphean Warbler, Penduline Tit, Wallcreeper, Alpine Chough, Citril Finch, Alpine Accentor, & Ortolan Bunting plus much more.


I will add that Tony, Brian and John who were also with us had a good time as well altho where their photos are I dont know!


I shall post several of John's photos here.
Mine were record shots mainly and not worthy!(Might just have another look at them again?)

This Night Heron was intent on his prey!



The Crag Martin's nest was on the end wall of our Hotel in Hecho.

The wonders of modern science

Well now here we go...an Eagle has had her sight restored by an operation on her cataracts.
Full story http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7239793.stm

I like stories like this!

Sunny Sussex

Last week I went to Bedfont Lakes CPs to do a tetrad return for the BTO Bird Atlas.
It was a lovely if cold day and the birds were in spring mood with lots of singing and flying about!

Of note were
Kingfisher flashing across a lake.
Lesser Redpoll among a small flock of Siskins.

Several Green Woodpeckers "Yaffling" and GS woodies hammering.

One of the Scaup's from Staines Reservoirs was here this morning (later went to Staines and saw the other 2!)
Decided to do tetrad for Staaines res another day.
Thats not sunny sussex.

Still on the quest for a Caspian Gull!
Visited Queen Mary Reservoir on Saturday afternoon and watched gulls flying into the roost.Will have to go earlier with a torch in order to get closer to the birds and then walk out safely!Its enormous!
I will need to explore Queen Mother (Berks) next!


Sunday frosty start to a gloriously sunny day.

To Shoreham - first the Southwick Canal and find Cemex Cement. Opposite on piles of sand, ballast and other stuff were gulls, gulls, gulls.

We were joined by two other birders one who admitted he would need help spotting a Glaucous (target Gull)as it would be a lifer and the other a very experienced local birder.
We looked at the Power Station chimney and there outside the nesting box was the female Peregrine she is so much larger than her mate (who we saw late last year).
Having gone through the flock...on water and the quay. We were discussing the whereabouts of a Black Redstart and I looked through my scope and saw the suspect!
I waved my hands in the general area and said "of course he may be in this area and the local birder said "THERE IT IS!".

This is the same Glock we saw end of last year (see post below) but it seems to be getter lighter....so is it a first winter getting ready for 2nd Summer or a 2nd winter bird after all?

Off we went to the Old Fort to seek out a Black Redstart and perhaps see a Purple Sandpiper or two.
We walked about but the bird was not about, we heard Rock Pipit but could not see them. Eventually Bob and I spotted the slim shape of a Black redstart on top of the roof of a nearby house after hearing him singing(!) and scoped views confirmed it was indeed.
To the sea....arm of the harbour walked and scaned opposite arm Turnstones but no Purple Sands.But over our heads finally 2 Rock Pipits flew!

So on to Newhaven Harbour and the pier where as predicted by Robert a Purple Sandpiper was seen!
We walked out to the end of the pier and wondering if the tide was too high I wasn't confident! On the way back I saw a little bird below me, who promptly flew under and off across the sea calling as it went!

On the way back to the car I saw another Black Redstart and a flock of Linnets.

At this point I had 4 new Year ticks and Bob had 5.

Then the long journey across Sussex to Rye. (some frustration here as posted below...struggle through Hastings....and on)

Eventually we reached Rye Harbour and down on the saltmarshes to a Red roofed Hut....
in a flock of Skylarks was a reported Shorelark. As this is one of the few reported this year it was high on our "see" list.
Well people had been there hours and seen the skylarks no sign of the Shorlark.

One couple we meet up with had been looking earlier and a older birder had sen the bird while they had gone off to look at Greylegged Partridge(grrl not about we still need to tick them!)it was repoorted on the pager at 2.30 whilst we were on route- so that gets your interest up further!

We arrived at 3.30 and left 2 hours later on first name terms with 6 Skylarks passing aquaintence with another 8 and nodding terms with another 8 or so!

The idiot people and their dreadful stone throwing kids grrrrrlllllll! Nature Reserves are for Nature and people who want to run on pebbles and throw stanes Please go to a beach!

The 100plus Curlews which flew over in a flock, the Golden Plover and Lapwing flocks were no real compensation! They helped!


The birders and locals who spoke to us were lovely.

The sunset was another matter beautiful, the setting wonderful.



(camera in the car boot as I thought I might spook the bird...that didn't work -usually does!)

A moan in Sussex

What amazing weather!
Only problem...people!
In the winter one of the joys of birding is arriving at your destination and finding few if any people around.
The ones that are are either walking the dog (good and bad behaviour from owners here) or out for a proper walk!
Out comes the sun and what?
People who understand little or nothing about Nature and the accompanying children. Now I dont know whether the lack of knowledge about wildlife correlates with lack of child discipline but I observe it all the time!
Oh other moan with the sun out come people who clearly dont drive often or very far usually!We observed some of the more bizarre behaviour driving yesterday than usual.
I will comment on one 20 something driver (the fact she was a woman is irrelevant)we had stopped at Sever sisters CP so I could use the loo and Bob could consult the map as to which of several ways we would continue across Sussex to Rye Harbour.
Out of a very packed car park and up an admitted narrowish country road...and behind scared of sussex. Was she a new driver...no signs. Was she actually scared to be driving? Stop and use only large roads have another driving lesson or walk!
I am glad it wasn't me driving behind...after applying brakes in places where there were no reasons to do so and practically climbing the hedges when another car came in sight all at under 20mph! in a 30 mph area...we came to the A27 and relief we thought. No on a Sunday in the sunshine the powers that be had closed both lanes of a major road and no sign of any work going on!
Cross country to reach another main road unfortunately all the time behing said nervous driver.
By the time we had reached the main roan and had to turn left our relief was still being tested as yes we waited and waited and waited for her to decide to turn out into two lanes in which almost all the traffic was in the outside lane!!

Anyway once we were out RELIEF!

I do not know what posesses people to drive at 20 mph take ages to decide to turn out into any road clearly does not understand the highway code,when there is nothing to see except hedges...there are laybys to go into which are not used....grrrrl!!


I expect I will moan about the behaviour of some people in the Nature Reserve at Rye Harbour in my next post but mainly we did have a good day! Oh for overcast skies for the rest of February and keep non nature lovers inside their doors!!

What is this gull?

This could be a quiz?

So what is this gull?

On the Thames this January.

The Black-headed Gulls are there for size comparison.
Paul its your turn!



Janice's Gull (she refers to in Comments)

More pics from West Wales

Starts with Llys-y-fran, the Pacific Diver(!)and then to LisvaneReservoir. Whilst I was waiting for the Spotted Sandpiper to show, I watched a pair of Great Crested Grebes and the beginnings of their nest.In between them leaving the nest, a Coot would come and stand on the nest. It soon abandoned the nest when the GCG returned! Struck me as funny at the time, as it happened quite a few times.I did not get a pic of the Coot on the nest, as either I was laughing, or it wasn't long enough or something else happened!

Some pics from my birding wanderings!

Most are record shots hand held to a scope with my Leica compact.

New bird in Nepal

A previously unknown sub-species of bird has been discovered in the southern grasslands of Nepal, scientists say.

The bird is a warbler with a very long tail and slender beak and has been named the Nepal Rufous-vented Prinia.

Scientists say the bird provides an important geographical link between previously-known varieties in Pakistan and India.

But they warn its tiny population means the sub-species is endangered.

Trip to West Wales

I shall be writing this w/e birding up later...the summary of it!
I have a couple of record shots to post as well!
Later!


This w/e joined by Bob's birding friend (becoming mine as he always brings good luck) Geoff on Saturday.

We went to West Wales target birds

Pacific Diver

and a Spotted Sandpiper


Well we did see both plus a Black Throated Diver

a Yellowhammer on a wire on route (nearby) to Llys-y-Fran.

3 Red Kites (and 6 Buzzards)and 3 Ravens

and a Grey Wagtail at the Lisvane Reservoir.

Plus lots of other birds.

The BTD and PD (also had a Black necked Grebe there as well as GC and Little Grebes plus 2 Kingfishers!) were easy to spot ....as were most other birds but

the tale of the Spotted Sand...well that will be on my blog tomorrow!

UK year list 150 (Pacific Diver not counted by BOU - yet!)
I had the best sleep that night I have had for ages!


Sunday was Bob's turn to drive and we had 2 target birds again.

Ring neck Duck and Lesser Scaup - both long staying birders overwintering here.....so to Buckingham and then to Abingdon...



same Ring necked Duck - should be ring billed!

on the way to the RBD we saw a Bullfinch now we had heard these in several places this year and not seen them!A lovely radiant bird!

while looking at the Lesser Scaup a Kingfisher flew across!
Far from struggling to see KF as I usually do this year we seem to be seeing them everywhere!

and just where we had parked our car were two Mistle thrushes proving like buses when you have seen one three come along! LOL!!


So after today

UK year list 155


Another very successful w/e birding.

Cool
_________________
C

Eagles Rule!

Experimenting

An experiment.

I have been given a set of instructions on how to add a link with the body of the text rather than the only way I have worked out to do it in the title!

I usually write the title and then put the website I am referring to underneath the title where it says Link that then means if you click on the title you go to the website>


So now I have a set of instructions to follow -

I shall put up photo of the year

Lets see if this has worked!

If it has thanks to Digibirder. If not then its blame me/my pc/whatever...

Grey Phalarope Photo by Peter

The Waxham Grey Phalarope as taken by Peter Simpson....yes the winner of the Birdguides Photo of the Year 2007.
(He has graciously given me permission to post here!) Thanks Pete.

Captured the bird as well as being a beautiful photograph!

Update on that Sparrow!

Jo Dale presents her pastel painting of White-crowned Sparrow to the Bendings who "found" the bird.

I think it looks as if they quite like it! LOL!

£3500 raised so far for the local church.


Year List 143 UK

A day's birding in East Norfolk.

Well armed with local info from Tim Allwood (see links for Tims website)
Bob and I came to East Norfolk with our visitors knowledge and pagers at the ready!(yt = year tic)

We had this day planned ages ago - target birds Taiga Bean Geese and Cranes.
Then it was whatever might be around.

After a terrific days raptor watching on Sheppey on Saturday, we were not focused on raptors for once!

On route we saw 3 different Tawny Owls (yt) (M25 nr M1 turn off) and two up the M11.

We were at Wayland Wood before 9.00 (breakfast at the Walkers Cafe in Thetford
Forest)-
we heard Lesser SW, Nuthatch,Treecreeper,Bullfinch and Golden Pheasant at least two in quite different parts of the Wood. On one occasion we heard the call (strangled pheasant described Bob!) and saw something fly across but it was in a hollow so we just got the flurry or flash. Most frustrating not to see the bird when we clearly heard them!
Well no showing birds (it was quite gloomy and vvvcold) until the calling Marsh Tits (yt) were finally seen and then they got showy!
Usual tit flocks, Gioldcrests and other woodland suspects.

But I must admit we left there feeling down! 5 only heards! All required for the year list!

On to Cantley Marshes.A long search across the marshes from the bridleway nr the village....we scored Mistle Thrush (yt!) finally Bob spotted a Bean Goose. There they were Taiga Bean geese to go with our Kent Tundra's! Good top be able to really compare the two having only recently seen the Tundra.

I had spotted that a Ross Goose had been reported with Pink feet nr Acle so a change of plan....divert across...arrived to see another birder parked in layby what a dreadful road.(fast cars no supersonic!)no time to enquire so on to
next lay by we scanned and scanned the geese.....Chinese Water Deer (Lifer for me!) and a very nice young birder arrived (from the other layby) all three of us scanned and scanned/ not helped by text from Pete(Duxon) and Deboo who had seen a Ross (after or before seeing the WCS!) -We discovered we were all heading out to see the Grey Phalarope and decided to leave...
I am wondering now whether the very nice young man may have been Kit Day?Up from Suffolk and his Mother driving him ?

We then drove to Waxham and parked as instructed- good spot Tim.
We were all the time stopping to see if there were any Cranes in any of the recent places...dip!
After an exhilarating walk along the tops of the Dunes (don't fancy taking a buggy there Postcard!) looking out again for Cranes we eventually saw birders around a puddle!
No wonder you got good photo's John! Grey Phal (yt)
We didn't go as close - 3 Camera's were really close to the bird - we looked through the scope what a lovely bird!

Walked back with another birder and we were all on route for Stubbs Mill (if we couldn't see a Crane in a field!) Drove through Se Appalling (thought of you Tim!)and to the Visitor Centre.As I came out the loo, I heard Cranes!
At this point we both said oh no! Would we really dip seeing these?By now we had decided to be on a Bird Race so we could at least count the heard only!!

At the lookout there were lots(people) but we had been warned by the presence of a Coach in the car park!
All we wanted was to see a Crane!

Marsh Harriers, Ringtails, Merlins and a Sprawk - still early (no wind there-great) when a Chinese Water Deer was spotted and CRANES!
6 Cranes(yt) flew from right to left across us (not to roost) beautiful!

Happy we walked back saw two Chinese Water Deer in the area.

Time for the Barnacle Goose....or back to Acle?
It was getting late and we decided to go to seek the Ross. (Lifer for me even if I couldn't count it on BOU!) On route Bob spotted Egyptian Geese (wild) (yt) made a change from our local ones altho' they are self sustaining they all came from Kew !

This was now 6 (yt) same as on Saturday so we began to feel better!
it wasn't the lack of birds we hadn't seen that was frustrating just hearing them and not seeing them! If we hadn't heard them I think we could have lived with that!

We past some birders on that road, stopped and I ran back to see what they were looking for...in case it was our Ross. No the Dark breasted Owl....on we went..
back to our lay bye but that supersonic road had gone ballistic - drivers in our boot....needs a 40 mph speed limit! So we ended up in the Parking lay bye (the other lay byes were actually gate entrances!)


But it was better now as the Pink feet had moved across a field and were nearer...it didn't help we still couldn't spot the little Ross!
But we saw a Chinese Water Deer...then another and another...until we had seen 12!
Plus a fox eyeing up a Goose dinner but deciding there were too many!
A few Pink feet began flying off can we wait until they fly and perhaps have a last chance? Too dark so we left and guess what? Yes they decided to fly....
fabulous sight but we were on that mega fast road so had to be content with descriptions from the passenger seat - me!
Thousands of Geese in the sky is one of the sights of Norfolk!

We decided that it had been a thoroughly worth while day.

I ended up with a Lifer that I didn't expect all be it a mammal!
http://www.worlddeer.org/chinesewaterdeer.html

Forgot...saw Muntjacs somwhere?
Again thanks Tim for the local info.

142 - 2008 Year List
__________________
Eagles Rule!

Raptor day

Trip to Isle of Sheppey

Little Owl at Elmley in the tree from the toilet block.

on to Capel fleet

Rough-legged Buzzard flew from a hay bale onto carrion...think it was a Hare.
Merlin over the car

Hen Harrier (Ring tail) at least 2 females.

then on to search for the Hooded Crow and any Geese!

(Marsh Harriers male and females everywhere)
no sign of Grey legged Partridge
Long search for the Hooded Crow! Triumph!

Still no Geese apart from Canada (1) dont get many here and Greylags.

Having searched about........
on way down from the top of the hill as I drove down the Harty Ferry Inn Rd Bob and I saw at the same time GEESE!
stopped in the layby and there they were White Fronted Geese all 37 of them! Flying into their roost at Elmley.

6 new year ticks....then to the Raptor Mound to search for a Peregrine for Bob...saw the RL Buzzard again, a Buzzard and Harriers Marsh and Hen...

then a Barn Owl hunting lovely sight
Start the day with an Owl and end with another! Very Happy

Weather dry and some sun but the wind!! Still it was Sheppey!
I love Raptor watching!(and I include wols with this!)

136 Year List 2008


Just discovered that I hadn't added Mandarin seen 2/1/08 at Osterley Park
If Seth can count Mandarin seen in Bushey Park well !
I was going to wait until the Forest of Dean Trip.

Eagles Rule!

Chiswick House and Gardens

http://www.chgt.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1


Yesterday it was a lovely afternoon and I dragged myself away from working at home and went for a walk.

I often pop into Chiswick Gardens (I think I call it Chiswick Park!) but usually its with Zeta dog!
Today I walked around at my leisure and looked at the birds and squirrels.
Squirrels- dont think I have ever seen so many in one place!
All busy eating of course! I stood about 10 feet between two trees each with a Squirrel on the tree trunk watching me. Just like an equilateral triangle.

I stood still and after saying something stupid to a squirrel watched.They both came down their tree and found nuts or whatever and ate them in front of me- obviously keeping an eye on me but as I didn't move they seemed happy enough to carry on eating.
Then a dog barked and they pricked up their ears and carried on eating.

I did leave them alone after that!

Plenty of Garden and woodland birds about. Noisy RN Parakeets, a charm of Goldfinches chattering about the days news, BH Gulls so close and I found 3 1st winter birds....improving my gull id! Magpies rattling, Woodpigeons balancing on twigs so tiny as they look likely to break! Robin and Blackbirds singing......Finches lots of Finches in the area....Greenfinches looking dapper, Chaffinches looking pink!
Usual ducks...Mallards and hybrids and Canada's and lots of feral pigs.

Best was the quiet...even tho the odd dog barked and the odd kid chattered.
Quiet in between the planes and birdsong!

Dunnocks and Blackcap male back in my garden again today and an Old Dog Fox visited my garden at 11 as I was making a coffee.He soon went.


Today first Chaffinch in my garden for the year....

Secrets of bird flight revealed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7205086.stm


In 2003, Professor Dial and his colleagues published a paper that revealed birds utilise their wings when running up steep inclines.


Wings may have evolved to help birds move over obstacles

He explained: "This was an important find - birds exhibit a behaviour we really didn't appreciate before.

"Birds don't just use their wings when they fly or just their legs to run on the flat; in fact, they recruit both wings and legs for them to scale steep inclines, whether it be a boulder, a tree or a cliff."


Read on there is more!

A lovely gesture

As a follow up to the Tales of the White-crowned Sparrow.
As a memory and a thank you to the people who found the bird and have been kind enough to park their car elsewhere in the village rather than use their drive!

An artist has suggested she gives her pastel painting to them! Jo Dale thank you from us birders who could only give money!
Oh and the collection is now over £3000.

I have her permission to reproduce her painting here with the photos she based it on.
One is Steve Gantlets.
A lovely gesture and I think the people will treasure her painting!

Bubo listing

I am now keeping my lists on Bubo.

www.bubo.org/listing

I have only added the UK year list for 2008 so far but I shall keep my lists there!
Its a great site as you cant duplicate a bird species!

A sussex day

Well really a Hants and Sussex day as we planned to go to Gosport to see our friend the overwintering Ring-billed Gull. Its such a trek out to Gosport!
Still we were pleased to find that we parked and didn't even have to get out the car as "Gossie" was right in front of us a bit windswept but all in order!
We looked and bins as well (not needed really but you felt well we better had and with a little walk around he took off and flew towards the sea bit! Glad we arrived when we did or we would have taken ages to find him!

To Hayling Island where there were REd breasted Mergs...and plenty of waders but it was blowing a hooly straight at us and the waves were really high so we left!

On to West Wittering where as we arrived in cp and set up scopes the Brent geese were not too far away. We started to work through the flock and Bob got the RBGoose in his scope I looked yes there was the bird who before Christmas was a lifer for me...now a year tick! With that the whole flock took off and flew away by the time we had returned from the loos the flock was along way away...again luck was with us!

Then it was the search for the Cattle Egret. The instructions on the pager turned out to be incorrect so Bob trusted to his own local knowledge and after an extra circuit around the venue we were looking at 2 miserable looking Cattle Egrets...nice bird...
miserable as they were all hunched up in the wind...did I mention the wind?

So to Selsey Bill for some sea watching....a short while later having been blown nearly off our feet and little to see apart from RB Mergs...we went to the other ens of Selsey and I saw a Med Gull (not a year tick - but a nice bird...)we retired out of the wind into a local cafe for all day breakfast for under a fiver! the tea was extra a bit...brilliant service from the school aged girls we even left a tip!

Church Norton to find yes eventually for me a Slav Grebe...bob spotted 3 different ones before I got onto one...but the Great Northern Diver was nice to see.In fact its more sheltered at Church Norton so not as windy.

To West Dean....too windy for the birds but a Mother Roe Deer with last years foal was a lovely reason for being there. What a fantastic potential for Birding here...
we heard a Marsh Tit....2nd heard only MT....no Willow Tits or Yellowhammers...or anything else except Robin and Blackbird....
Crows and or Corvids and Buzzards...in the sky then a trip to the farmyard and lots of bits finches....no Brambling they must all be at Banstaed!

Of over country to Burton Mill Ponds..realise when we got there I had been before!

and a Bittern watch....Kingfisher dazzling..(oh besides the wind it was so dark at WD but now it was a better light)....Siskins in flock and then a huge finch flock flew over...
As we arrived a Mute Swan flew over our heads...very low not just hear those wings but felt the water drops from his body...big bird!

Waited for ages for the Bittern to show for his roost...there was a huge crowd of Sussex mainly birders....they drifted off as it later...but at 5.00 the Bittern flew out of the reeds and over the reeds before snuggling down to sleep in the reeds.!

Bob was a much happier bunny as he is rapidly catching me up....he has seen Red Kite and as I haven't been to the Chilterns yet....but I still have 6 he hasn't seen.

130 Year List

Next w/e a couple of good trips out...to Sheppey and East Norfolk should improve the list!

Did I tell you about the wind? Where was my woolly hat? at home in the wrong bag!
Fighting my hair instead of it being contained in the hat was my excuse for how long it took to see the Slav Grebe!

An Eagle

Not sure if the link will work if not I will try again tomorrow.

Being an Eagle fan I couldn't resist this
White-tailed Eagle

Photo wins Birdguides Best Photo of the Year.

Well as I know the author (as it were) thought I'd post up this report from the
Telegraph (just to show I am unbiased!LOL)

Click on the Title.

Pete works in Cley Spy - near Cley (yes that place) and a very good shop it is too complete with dog who has his own sofa!
Pete is very helpful as you will see when you decide to look at Bins, scopes and anything else there. There is also a gallery of Pictures and Photos....and no I dont have shares in the ....now there's an idea!

Also you can see the other winning photos...there is a lovely cute arhhh factor in a Golden Plover chick and a lovely Darford Warbler.
Barn Owel , Buzzard I do like the Little Egret landing on the Knot...in fact they are all great...must have taken forever to decide the best...except that it does have it all...humour, surprise, a fleeting moment and a bird that is often really difficult to see let alone photograph!

Also on the page is a story about a Palm tree in Madagascar (would love to go there)
which when it ...no you read it its fascinating!

West Norfolk and other birding places.

A trip to West Norfolk to seek Richard's Pipit at Terrington Marsh and a Great Grey Shrike at Roydon Common.

A stop to see Swans near Welney, Wonderful Whoopers and Bewicks and the accompanying Mute Swans. Special thoughts about their great migrations.

Incidental large flocks of passerines in the fields where the farmers leave scrapes from the Sugar Beet to stop the birds eating his other crops!

Large skies.

Finding Skylarks,Water Pipits and Twite at the same place as the Richard's. Whilst that pipit is not rare it is scarce and I didn't see one last year! Spying Knot from the seawall.Common and Grey Seals were hauled up on the sand bars.

To Roydon for eventually good views of the Great Grey Shrike, even if distant.

Hunstanton for the Fulmars
and then to
Titchwell (civilization for WC's, Coffee and cake and the Shop!)
No new birds added.
Water Rails calling and my birding companion gripped back Snipe.

No Geese felt betrayed!



Realising(again) how far everywhere is from everywhere in Norfolk. Its not neat and tidy like Kent for birding in several places!

But a wonderful sunny day if a really cold day but at least not as windy as Titchwell was earlier in the week after the WCS!


UK Year list 123

A view from Norfolk

Click the title!

On the Beeb!

If you click on the title you can see the bird has hit more headlines.
Do not open the actual clip but the whole thing and then go to 22 mins and watch the item!

The extract comes out badly visually!

Well this will now have to wait as I must go to bed as we are off to Norfolk -
the west side tomorrow!

Year list 112 or 113 RSPB list reads 112 the BOU speadsheet (it adds up each tick for you reads 113.

I cant work out which bird is missing so I will go through my list tomorrow and then check with Bob what we have seen on two days birding!

I do know my UK life list is 337 - not too bad since I have been birding seriously again since 2004 and keeping a year list since 2005.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?
Got a few target birds but mainly its whatever we turn up!

A twitch you might have read about!

Steve Gantlett from with thanks.

If you read the Guardian, Independent or Mail(eek!) you may have already heard about a Rare bird that arrived in Norfolk last week.It was put out on the pagers on Sunday afternoon as Bob and I were birding in Kent.
There was no way we could go from where we were and get there in the light.Bob knew I had commitments at the beginning of the week and he had to go back to work soon!
We also knew we had arranged before Christmas that we would go to the North Norfolk Coast on Saturday anyway. So we didn't say much.

All through Monday I watched the pager(Rare Bird Alert)and looked at the pc - Birdguides and a bird forum where I knew people who had gone to see the White-crowned Sparrow posted and got twitchy yes thats what happens! A lifer for my UK list within travelling distance and lots of other lovely places to visit if we are lucky and its not three hours of waiting for a sighting.(As it can be at some twitches!If you click on the title you will read the blog of a Norfolk birder I know who went along with most of the Norfolk birders on Sunday!

I didn't mind not going on Monday as I guessed it would be bedlam with many many birders going that day.(In case it left or worse got eaten)


Bob rang "Well are we......?" "Yes" No need for more words!
Of course we than talked about the bird, a Lifer for Bob - which is difficult as he has been seriously birding for over 27 years!UK life list circa 420 - where mine was at 336.

The day dawned and Georgie my adopted cat (who cant use the cat flap!) decided to not come in when I needed to go! Eventually after putting notes through my neighbours door I see her sitting on the pavement outside my neighbours no chance she was coming in! So said cat left outside and I was off.
Picked up Bob and we left his house about 6.20 (20 mins late!) to the M4,M25 and M11
surprisingly not too bad butcouldn't race around as far too heavy traffic.Still by 8.30 we were at Lynford Arboretum seeeking Hawfinches and finding Coal Tits and other garden birds then yaffle and Green Woody appears followed by GSWoody no Lessers tho!
Pager goes off the Sparrow has been seen. Well no Hawfinches but several birders looking. One chap left shortly before us and was at the twitch considerably before us- he must have tanked it altho I had to stop at a garage for the loo- so much easier being a chap that can disappear into the trees!

On to Cley.

Sunday birding visit to Kent and briefly Sussex

Well one always tries to do too much. Well I do!

Trip to Dungeness and Rye Harbour was planned. Then added to as Birds appeared on the pager overnight!

Well on route we could see the Bewick Swans with Tundra Bean Geese, look at wellard marsh for Corn Buntings, Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers. The Dunge for a variety of species and the Long Pit for Red-necked Grebe oh and Scotney for LTDucks and then Theres sea watching and Denge Marsh....as well as Rye for the Shorelark!

Thats planning well the best laid plans and all that!

We did see the Bewick's Swans not 23 but 43 and only 3 youngsters along with 11 Tundra Bean Geese and lots of Mute Swans.As we had been driving along I was on the look out for Rook and once I had seen one I couldn't stop seeing them!

A Jay was seen and dipped by me!Tricky when you are driving to see everything!
Red legs spotted. So we had a stop and Yes there they were.Across the road- lots of Curlews in a field with Golden Plovers and Lapwings.
To the Marsh Welland and eventually after hearing them we finally saw 1 Tree sparrow in a tree had seen a possible before. Corn Buntings yes lots but no Yellowhammers.

a BoP kept putting stuff up - couldn't see what but clouds of Lapwings, Golden Plovers and assorted others.

To Dungeness much later than anticipated but good information from the young man who was working there. Shag from the centre and Goosanders plus Smew male and Redheads.
Plenty of Ducks about.
off to a couple of hides...Christmas Dell for possible Red headed Pochard....not to be seen at all despite a lot of looking and searching and grilling the entire pit from every conceivable angle! No Bittern! It had been seen that day.

Picked up some nice bits - like the Cetti whose song exploded out of a bush as it did as well!

Up to 3 Marsh Harriers spotted hunting including a female plus about 8 Kestrels seen in the locale.

Off to see Red necked Grebe on the pit helpful birder explained where he had seen it earlier.....arrived and yes a grebe who dived in the scope and a lovely redneck in winter gear!

to the patch....Kittiwakes and Gulls unfortunately all small and not a med amidst them...would have like to interrogate the larger gulls but they were away away!
Lurking Caspian? Auks galore flying past Guillemots and Razorbills were id-ed no Little auks seen.Then Gannets...

to Scotney to see if we could find a redthroated diver...nope another dip but lovely pair of Long tailed Ducks! and a Barnacle flock with bluemorph Snow Goose and Emperor Goose...think they are feral but plastic! shame still havent seen a real Snow Goose yet!But then

I spot a white bird floating...its a ghostly white Barney! Barn Owl hunting and that was splendid spent a while watching!
More Ducks including Shelduck (mentioned by name are year ticks for me!)

Then it rained and the light was going....and then it brightened so off down Denge Marsh but through the Firing area no red flags so safe....
to the beach almost all the way by car....and search for a Scoter float!

Finally spotted by sheer chance then to get near...rush along a beach hahaha shingle not the easiest to walk on! Finally my zoom lens into its own as Common Scoter and finally flying Velvets.

Back to car and still light but as we whizzed towards Greatstone we realised the light was really dim and the sea was miles out so only Oystercatcher and Godwits could we be sure of.

I think i added 28 to the 59 I had sen already.

So 87 2008 Year List.

No trip to Rye and some dips but hey there are other days!

I love the beginning of a new year list!

Snow - well some snowdrops!

No not the flowers yet- they should be seen in the garden soon.

Went to Kent yesterday to see my niece,her other half and my great niece! Whose lovely- unbiased Aunties view!
Not a nice day weather to travel in altho the return journey was a breeze-M25 at its best.
When I arrived mt coat was covered in tiny snowflakes (or drops!)

Lovely meal and lovely to see them again. I should visit more often.
Andy is a dab hand in the kitchen too.

Today has been a strange day in that I meant to go out and bird somewhere but I didn't venture forth. I watched part of a video on Southern African birds,
I need to get id ing them!I watched Shaun the Sheep, well a couple of the tales!
I fiddled around on the internet mainly cos I couldn't get blogger to work.

Looked at the Test and One Day Cricket Squad.
Thought they would give Ambrose a go along with Mustard after Priors gaff ridden display in India. Clever of Strauss to be in New Zealand acclimatising!Interesting to see if Treadwell does well.

Hmmmm Birding outings this w/e probably Sussex on Saturday and Kent on Sunday. Quite like to get my Year list over the ton by the end of the w/e.

Thinking about my friend who died recently, its the funny things you remember especially the fun we had!His funeral is not until the 16th, I must have a chat with his partner.

Photography

Well I am trying to improve my photography.

Went on a Birds of Prey day course in November as my birthday present from a friend and she came too. We enjoyed it so much that I have booked us on a Big Cats Day in April.
Christmas and birthday present for my friend.
I have an e-mail today from the tutor and he mentions a wide angle lens...and that is what I have been thinking about for ages.

Landscapes...whole body action shots of Big Cats....practise for Southern Africa.

So I shall be getting a Canon lens soon.Got to check out which one.

Lens is in the air or should that be lens are in the air?

January 1st 2008

Happy New Year!

I was actually saying this to total strangers yesterday as I walked around Bedfont Lakes Country Park. I began my Year List in the garden at home, 1st bird Mr Blackbird, and another 8 species, spotted a Goldfinch in my friends road, on the Great West Road were Crows and Feral pigeons and a pair of Collared Doves as I arrived in the car park at BLCP.
Since part of BLCP is a tetrad(Bird Atlas)I will explain this on another day.
I was not going to actually count birds today just species.Each new species looked at with new eyes as you excitedly spy a different species.
(The list will be on my other site)
By the time I had reached the Black something (?)Hide I had added another 16 birds
here I met Fred (never meet before) who was looking intently at the reeds opposite.
"I think I have the Bittern" was his greeting!Great - Bitterns have been here each winter for the past 3 years I have been doing a Yearlist and I have never managed to spot one here!Fred hadn't brought his scope so mine was very useful.The bird was about a foot in the reeds so cleverly disguised you sometimes wonder if you really see one or not! Well we looked and still it was just a part of the body...was it..yes...then I looked at a different angle and there was a neck or was there? Another man arrived, Jack looked where I was and he saw a neck too. We couldn't see both bits together! But when we left the Bittern had melted away...the reeds if they had been reeds were not there any more so we had had the Bittern!Redwing and Fieldfares added but no Song or Mistle Thrush today.

These two older men were members of the Bedfont Lakes CP nature reserve (a private area only open on Sunday afternoons usually for a couple of hours to the public and to members anytime. This was to my benefit as we went in through the locked gates!
This was to see if we could see the Bittern better. Fred has actually seen the Bittern on the track we walked on!Well no more show but the pig like screaming of a heard only Water Rail.
Woodpeckers! Yaffle and Great Spot were soon added to the list. Jack spotted a Goldcrest and we all saw it! I spotted LTTits, a small flock was eventually seen.Both the guys were on 40+ as they left from the Centre car park and I had 43 a liitle later leaving from the other car Park on the other side of the Park..Obviously some different birds.
I left BedfontLakes CP to go to Staines Reservoir (where I had originally been going this morning first but it was so overcast I thought I'd wait til later. There was little on the Res in comparison to lately. But BN grebe and Scaup found fairly quickly with a hunting Kestrel overhead (mine not the ducks or grebes!)and the lovely Goldeneye and one lonely floating GBB Gull.
Canada Goose spotted on route to Barnes (WWT).(48)
Spotting with rain now as well but it cleared up until after I left the centre.

Arriving at the Peacock Tower I saw Teal and was reminded about the Garganey I dipped on Boxing Day!There were a lot of people crowding round a scope or two and what have they got then? I heard Jack Snipe...couldn't resist
"Excuse me did you say you see a JS?"
"Look here" said a friendly fella and in his scope were Common and Jack Snipe!
Well I soon got settled in near to these observant chaps.Whilst I was looking at the Ducks and Pintail(52)...one chap was actually showing more people the Snipe and a Water Rail...where...not anywhere near me!
It was getting darker outside,well and in as the hides are not lit apart from the stairwell up went everything as a Peregrine flew over.
Grey Heron (too many here! wish they would eat the fish only as they keep eating the other birds too.
Water Pipit and Stonechat were spotted by another chap.Water Pipit creeping about like a mouse and Stonechat sitting up.(56)
By now the hide had emptied and there wre only a few of us left.

I kept hearing Water Rail called eventually I asked the guy next to me where he was looking and as he described where he said lost it!
Would I actually see one today?

And then as I looked down in a corner of the grazing marsh the helpful fella was describing that actual spot and there was the grey head of a most welcome Water Rail.
(A Jack Snipe had been hiding behind a bright clump of leaves ( and difficult it was to see him)and bobbiong up and down occasionally but the Water Rail eventually walked right up to the JS who took off as quickly as earlier the WR had run away from a Moorhen! So in the scope were two tricky birds to see Water Rail and Jack Snipe. What a perfect end to a wonderful days birding. The weather was not good but at least the rain held off until I was in my car.
58 species seen for the 2008 Year List.

Now I have to promise to myself

I will blog more frequently ...I'm sure its just a matter to routine.

So I shall try for 2008 ( and its not a New Years Resolution as that always fails!) to blog daily.

So I expect it will be mainly birding or wildlife but with other things in as well.

Yesterday I went to one of my local patches and saw a Great White Egret.Staines Moor.

This was especially pleasing as I can grip off my birding friend Bob who is in Espana for a while...he deserves being gripped off for being there! Bob kept missing the Mockbeggar bird( in Hampshire)....and one turns up on our doorstep.
Life is funny like that isn't it?

Remembrance Sunday

Meant to post this yesterday and couldn't access my blog.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.

8 October 1917 – March, 1918

1 DULCE ET DECORUM EST – the first words of a Latin saying (taken from an ode by Horace). The words were widely understood and often quoted at the start of the First World War. They mean “It is sweet and right.” The full saying ends the poem: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori – it is sweet and right to die for your country. In other words, it is a wonderful and great honour to fight and die for your country

Wilfred Owen

It may be well known but read it again..slowly amd let the full force surround you.

I dont believe it!

Please click on the title




I was lost for words. That says it all to those who know me.

Humanity what? I hate fireworks unless its a properly organised event. I would ban them from ordinary backgarden and ordinary people.

Because a friend of mine lost some fingers and a thumb when we were 5...and since then the abuse of the Fireworks the fact that animals wild and tame suffer...I could go on...I'm usually quite libertine in my attitudes but fireworks? Grrrrrllllll.Real spoil sport on this.

Very angry

Rare birds found dead on Queen's Estate.

Two Hen Harriers were found dead on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, the police are investigating.

The Gamekeepers are allegedly suspects as they have been found guilty of setting illegal traps in the past...

Hen Harriers are lovely birds and whilst there are more nesting pairs than the BBC had reported nearer 500 they are still at risk.

Irony about this is that there is hunting allowed on the Sandringham estate...which we know the Royals indulge in.

What will come of this I'm not cartain but I do hope they get more than a slapped wrist!

October birding

Here is a photo of an adult with thanks to the photograher who I havent been able to trace- so copy and paste- as I havent permission to show it!

http://www.birdlife.org/images/raw/b_single_sociable_lapwing_koshkin_maxim.jpg


I have been out and about seeing rare and common birds. I have written these up on The Bigg Bird Forum under Corinna's pages 2007 in the Birding Outings section.
http://forum.biggonline.co.uk/index.php


I have also decided on my birding holidays abroad for next year.

In early May I'm off to Poland with Ken Shaw (Oliva Rama Tours)and we might get to Belarus for a day- talons crossed.(10 days)- hopefully some lifers there.
In June I'm going to the Picos de Europa (8 days)with a birding friend Bob and Jules Sykes (oliva Rama Tours)1 possible lifer but its the scenery, butterflies, orchids and seeing birds I've seen before but with no pressure(for me!!)I love Espana.
Later in the year - November will find me in South Africa combining a safari with first class birding!(17 days)

An advert now for a top class birder, guide and all round top man Jules Sykes.
http://www.olivaramatours.com/Oliva%20Rama%20Holiday/ORH%20Home.htm

He also has a sound sense of humour (for a Yorkshire lad!).

Ken Shaw is a top birder and has a wealth of birding tales of rarities found. He also has a good sense of humour.


oh today saw another Red Admiral...must be the weather!Garden tick for October
and a Hawker in Osterley Park.

Good news about a pretty Lapwing

Well its been ages since I last blogged due to some technical reasons!

Hopefully those are all over now.


Sociable Plover or Lapwing Vanellus gregarius which is a rare bird well a mega.
Its got to be a really pretty lapwing IMHO and I'm thrilled to hear that they are no longer as rare as everybody thought.

story click on title

I saw one from the seawall at Rainham Marshes before the Reserve opened, in Dec 2005,
it was a 1st winter so not as beautiful as the adults it was very however very special to me.

Just a couple if pics from my visit to Richmond Park on Friday afternoon. The morning I spent at Staines Res , Stanwell Moor and Staines moor (top bird - Little Egret)
went for light lunch in the park and was entertained by the Jackdaws. Then on route to Henry's Mound (from there you can look through the trees over a view towards St Pauls Cathedral (10 miles away!!)a Robin flew down and posed for a pic!!
The view is the opposite way.
In the gardens later in a very quite part I heard a flock of Goldcrest's cant remember seeing any there before so that was nice!

Finally England win an IOD series!

Yes you see I stopped talking about it and we finally wom 4-3.
On a day I couldn't watch either!!

Went to s Christening and party afterwards!!

Anyway finally KP actually batted well and was given man of the match altho some people think James Anderton bowled well enough to win it!


So the Twenty Twenty Team have flown off to SA for the World Cup.Some debate about the name but to be honest I dont really care. It will be interesting to see games between the top teams and see if the top test teams turn out to be the best at 20/20.

Good news!! Divers.

The very beautiful Red necked Diver is breeding well in Scotland and the experts are not exactly sure why!
The Black necked Diver which is rarer in the UK is also on the increase!

Good news day!

Click on title for the article.

Having seen both divers (along with the Slav Grebe - a stunner in full breeding gear!) in Scotland in the summer with chicks, I am really glad to hear this news!


Still in search of the elusive Kingfisher(s) at Barnes! Maybe see one sat week with some friends.
Went to a local patch this morning. On way to another after a pit stop at home to pick up post and feed the reluctant to get up at 6am cat, Cagney!! The others all appear as if by magic whatever time I get up- must have CCTV on me!!

Out for an Italian meal tonight with friends for a celebration.

Went to Barnes

saw Hobby chasing Sand Martins...what a sight.
(Red backed shrike at Rainham...seen earlier this year in Espana.)



Lots of wetland wildlife...
no Kingfishers again!! They are there.... perhaps they will show on Tuesday!!

last time I speak before....

Knew I ought not post!!

its now 3-2 in the series due to rain mainly!! Maybe we would have made it maybe not but its time for KP to have a decent bat .

Failed each time as far as his ability goes!!

The oval on Wednesday.....awaits IU am saying nothing!!

Man of the match Stuart Broad

Well I am very happy about the narrow squeak victory! 3-1 (but the Indian team may make a comeback as their batting is usually good...)

Sunday and its Headingly.....we will see.

I was very excited by Broad the first time I saw him bowling in 20/20 last year. He was going to be an opening batsman like his dad- Chris Broad...but grew and grew so was developed as a fast bowler...he can bat!

I do think we have to be a bit careful not to bowl him out by taking him to Sri Lanka but to go on an A tour and then maybe to New Zealand next year. He will enjoy bowling in NZ.
Good to see Bopara batting well augers well for the future.

Golden Eagle poisoned

I was going to write up my encounter with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Oare Marshes in Kent on Friday. I may come back to this but yesterday I heard about a Golden Eagle female who had been found poisoned. story from BBC click on the title above. I am gutted as always when something like this happens to a beautiful bird.


This bird was one half of the only breeding pair in the Borders, where was she found? On a grouse moor. The date on Sunday? Twelth of August. For the uninitiated this is the start of the Grouse Shooting season.

I wonder if there is any connection?