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?

Arundel

Spent a lot of time at Barnes WWT over the season this year very interesting watching the trials and tribulations of the birds locally!!

Went to Arudel WWT for a first visit with my friend Pat who has just aquired a new macro lens for her camera.

Day out to Sussex, opportunity for her to practise with her new lens anda nice sunny day!!

Arudel is a pleasant rather attractive town with an imposing and impressive castle...have to visit another day. Passed a beautiful church St Giles on route after Pulborough...I expect Pete has been there!! The countryside looked really at its best - there had to be a reason for all that rain..the green were very green!!

WWT provided good coffee on arrival although we didn't eat there as we were too late for the hot food on our return from exploring the" estate".

We first went on the safari boat which despite the weeds and wind was really pleasant and the 3 children in the boat with us were very well behaved!!We saw a young Water vole feeding and an adult swim across the channel in front of us which was really good...Pat may have captured the young vole but she will have to look later today to see.

Plenty of young about- Little Grebes, Tufty,Mallard, Coot and Moorhens mainly.

Dragons and the others about...Emperor Dragonflies and some wide bodied something...I have to look them out but they were huge and impressive!! No pics of them as they were busy hunting.
Peacocks and some small blue butterflies (looked like Holly Blue ) but will await the photos to really id them. and some large purple butterflies which we wondered might be females...as yet unidentified!!
Said I was just beginning this butterfly lark!!

There are quite a few collection wildfowl here.....
and amidst the Blue Ducks (from NZ and I diud see them in the wild!!) was a juvenile Grey Wagtail looking very dapper!!

A Juvenile Robin all spotty (in a nice way not that teenage acne stuff)a with just a hint of red on his breast was busy in and out of a tree and on the path just outside of a pen containing some foreign Geese with their 5
very attractive juveniles!! Know the name just cant quite remember it!!)

Plenty of our garden birds there too. nice to see our breeding birds taking advantage of the collection araeas!!

Reed and Sedge Warblers about and confiding Dunnocks!!

Mute and Trumpeter Swans along with Black Swans all seem to get along.

The collection birds appeared to be very successfully breeding especially the Hawiian Geese
http://www.esasuccess.org/reports/profile_pages/HawaiianGoose.html

A lovely wander about alas no Kingfishers!!

We then went into Arudel walking past the moat surrounding the Castle into the main street complete with local butcher and lovely shops - antique shops which we resisted as we were looking for somewhere for a late lunch - it being after 3!!
The Red Lion Pub with delightful young man serving both food and drinks is to be recommended.
Local meat obviously supplied from the local butchers- my Steak was delicious and Pats local Sausages v.v.v tasty!! Sitting outside in the garden with a refreshing glass of Rose.

We then drove to Littlehampton to see the Sea. Eventually parked up and the smell of sea, seaweed and salt (well the taste really!!) assaulted our senses! Lovely...walk on the beach where local dogs were enjoying themselves...a lovely un spoilt beach...lots of Herring Guls about of all ages....and BH Gulls with some Commons.

We then went back to another car park nearer the town and walked in pursuit of real ice cream...which was sadly lacking! Every where was by now packing up except for the fish and chippies....obviously time for supper (not for us as replete) an old fashioned seaside in the to be recommended way....

I'm sure the day was tinged a little by the fact it didn't rain and that it was sunny!!

I expect I have left out some species of birds - it really wasn't a listing kind of day!!
_________________

The Good news about Woodlarks in UK

Listening to the radio this morning I heard an RSPB spokesperson reporting on the good news for Woodlarks this year.

However as always there was a but....the Wioodlark has done well due to "set aside land" that farmers do not farm but leave to itself. So what does the EC wish to do? Take "setaside out" apparently farmers wish to farm it again.

The RSPB wish that the setaside not go straight away as proposed but be left for one more year so they can get some proposals tothe farmers as an alternate or we we lose the gains made for the Wood Lark as well as other wildlife.

Read the article by clicking on the title.

To my readers

Sorry I have not blogged in ages...problems mainly with the pc but also I havent really felt like it!I am told that this happens to bloggers...but since I have never blogged daily cant see how I'm blogged out as in tombed out as any traveller to Egypt will recognise!

Not sure what to write except I have seen some Football from Canada under 20's World Cup, some footie from South America...some of the final parts of the Tour of France (ie about 20 k to go....and rain and rain and rain.........

and rain...and rain and rain....
Thats it I'm rained out!!

I have to sort out my Espana Birding trip...awaiting photos from a couple of the people who went with us...and notes from one of the leaders who promised to send me his nots as I couldn't keep up with the plants and Butterflies!!

I will try to do better in the future!!

Whoops clicked enter too soon- the good news

US keeps eagle eye on National Bird!!


What a magnificent bird.I remember seeing my first truely wild one...in Canada in 2004.
The sight will stay with me forever!

I love Eagles you would never realise it would you? And Birds of Prey too.

But I do like all birds even the dull brown ones as no bird is really dull!!

Some good news and some bad

Well two items of news regarding birds I see today.

Good news re Bald Eagles in the States.
But some bad news about our seabirds around St Kilda.

Tropical giant penguin discovered

Well so much is being uncovered a giant penguin!!

Historic day.

Today we see a new Prime Minister as Gordon Brown takes over from Tony Blair.
I am looking forward to seeing a fresh approach and some different styles of working.

After 10 years in power it is time for Labour to refresh the Government, the Party and the Country.

I am looking forward to seeing Gordon's new Cabinet and other appointments.

Been away!!

Not been blogging as I went to Espana on a birding trip and lots of stuff has happened since I got back!!

I will blog my trip which was fantastic....went from Oliva in Valencia- to the Pyrenennes and back via the Ebro delta.

Went with
http://www.olivaramatours.com/ If you click on the title it should take you to Jules website.

Jules was helped with the driving by Ken Shaw and there were 5 of us...I knew 3 others(met biurding in Espana a couple of years before!!) and had met another on Birdforum.-awaiting their photos...mine were typically record shots!!

A brill time birding, id ing Butterflies and we all had a great time good company and some terrific laughs!!

Nesting owls swoop on dog walkers

This is for my North American friends (and any one else outside of UK) as you will have missed this.
Recently I heard about some nesting Eagle Owls in Lancashire (we have had Eagle Owls nesting in the NE before)- these were originally escapes but seem to be able to rear their young sucessfully.

Then on the pager the other day came the news "Collie Dog taken"!!
I waited for the BBC to gather the news and to my relief see it wasn't "taken" to the nest as my imagination had run riot!!

There had been warnings so what this "dog lover was doing...goodnesss knows!

click on the title to read all about it!

England win 2nd Test

Despite the rain and the cold (7 degrees c at one point) England finally and in fits and stops put this test to bed with a record win over the Windies.

Viv Richards, Gary Sobers and the wonderful fast bowlers of yore will be soooooooo
upset to see the sorry state that the WI have come to...not the fault of this team particularly but the mess that the administration have let happen presumably over petty bickering!For soo many years now....I guess Brian Lara papered over the cracks somewhat with his runs but.......he too played his part in the WI downfall.
Sounds like an exam question
How far and in what way were the Cricket Administrators of the West Indies to blame for the ignominy faced in 2007 in Headingley?
Or "Brian Lara - his part in our downfall" Discuss.

30 years of Star Wars

30 years since Star Wars burst onto our screens.
I dont claim to be a Trekkie but I did see the film almost as soon as it was released.
I was an avid cinema goer then and went to lots of films in the West end before they hit the High Streets.(I usually wait til films are on in Richmond, nowadays!!)
I fell in love with a Wookie!
Actually R2D2 was my favourite and Hans Solo was such a great character!!

Some parts of the film still stand up to todays computer generated special effects but some parts dont. The first film to be released has a special place in our sf history.

Click on the title and discover 30 facts about SW!!

2nd Test and other matters

KP does it again! scores over 200 runs and the slightly unorthodox call up of Ryan Sidebottom worked a treat!!
Whoevers call that was well done!!

6 wickets in one day, he also fired the other seamers up!!

Even tho the weather might be against us with a lead of 400 runs and 8 wickets to get- well they have done well! If The forecast is correct and Tuesday is okay then it is a possibility of a win.We will see!

David Beckham called up again for Englands football team.

Now I know he has been playing well in Espana.but is this a backward step?
I think I would have preferred it if we had gone with the future and not the past.
David Bentley played well enough to show he could be on the bench if Mr Lennon is fit and I would prefer to play a wide man who can actually go past defenders something Beckham hasn't been able to do in a long time.
Yes he can take free kicks.....but do we really want to go back to all the media speculation and not progress.
I think the manager has lost the plot again....still there are 3 matches in Espana and DB might have an injury and we can wonder all we like!!
See I'm talking about it!!

Move on!!

Goose smashes sea crossing record

Well a Barnacle goose has now broken the record for a sea crossing!!
Click on the title to read more!!

Cricket again

I havent been very well lately and didn't finish the blog on the first test...the rain won and it was a draw but not until England could have won!!

KP scored a wonderful century.


We are now into the 2nd Test.

Same team with Sidebottom in for injured Hoggard..not sure about that!! And the Captain who hasn't played any cricket for 18 months or so back in...I had my doubts...

What does Vaughan do scores a Century and some of the shots were like his old elegant self!! Well done to him!!

KP scored an impressive century again and England are in a good position.

Guess what is expected on Sunday and Monday yes rain...fingers and toes crossed it is just cloudy over Leeds!!

Gorgeted Puffleg Hummingbird

Just look at this beauty!!


Newly discovered but also endangered

What a stunner.....Pufflegs are but this one wow!!

1st test - 2nd day

Well 550 runs for 5 wickets and 4 players scoring centuries.

OK its the Windies attack...well their attempt at an attack!! However batsmen still have to get those runs and boy did they.

Prior on debut a magnificent 126 not out - terrific now to hold them catches!!

I am happy to see England playing at Lords and enjoying themselves!!

Famous Galápagos Tortoise, Lonesome George, May Not Be Alone

Well some good news from the Galapagos...

click on the title.


I have been looking at Galapagos on the net as I am thinking about a trip there next year!
I wonder if Lonesome will still be alive by the time I may get there.

On another note I have just watched 4 Great Tit babies fledge from their bird box

you can read about this years stories here
http://www.biggonline.co.uk

Cranes are breeding in the Fens

The RSPB have reported finding a nest at Lakenheath Reserve in Suffolk...better known as one place we can hear and sometimes see Golden Orioles.

Here we go Cricket Test

Indeed it is time for test matches again...starting on Thursday.

The new regime...new coach and new Captain.

Ok Andrew can we beat the new look Windies?


Well Pete will be pleased as the wicket keeper is Prior ( Pete has been on and on about him being the best for ages...so lets see..

The Team have injuries...Harmison and Freddie but we will see.

We ought to beat the Windies!!

Charles Darwin online

Charles Darwin is now online!!

Well his letters and some other written papers!!

This could prove a very interesting site.

Bar tailed Godwits migratory journey

How about this....

The kiwi might be New Zealand's iconic flightless bird, but another inhabitant of these antipodean islands more than makes up for the kiwi's ground-dwelling nature.

The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri) - or kuaka in the Maori language - sets off at the end of each austral summer for Alaska, stopping en route in Asia.

This year, for the first time, scientists have tracked the godwits' northern route with satellite tags. And it shows the godwits really are the champion migrants of the avian world.

"When you feel them in your hands, they're not fragile little things," says Massey University ecologist Dr Phil Battley, the New Zealand coordinator for the international study.

"They are built to travel. They get incredibly fat. When you get a really fat one, it almost has trouble balancing - it's like it has a pound of butter under its skin.

"Once they get into the air, it's flap-flap, and that's all they do really."

See where the birds are flying

By tagging them, the researchers hope to show just far these birds fly.

"We know that the godwits leave New Zealand, and we know that they arrive in the Yellow Sea, but we really haven't had any information in between that," Dr Battley explains.

"We don't know whether they make stop-offs on the way; and if they do, where they are. And we don't know anything about the security of those sites - how safe they are from development."


Back in March and April, after their summer sojourn, 13 satellite-tagged bar-tailed godwits left New Zealand to fly north.

Six of those birds flew directly to South Korea, China, and Japan, flying more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) in just over a week.

With some of the other birds, the tracking device fell off en route, and in one case a bird island-hopped his way up to the Yellow Sea. "We suspect this is because he doesn't like having a 'matchbox' strapped to his back," says Dr Battley.

The direct flights are some of the longest migratory bird flights ever recorded - and some of the toughest.

Seabirds feed and rest on their long journeys, swifts feed whilst in flight; but for the godwits, says Dr Battley, it is essentially a non-eating, non-drinking flight. They also fly pretty well true.

"Their navigational expertise must be very high because the distances they were actually flying, as best we can estimate from the data, are not greatly different from the shortest possible distance between those two spots," the researcher says.

Also the godwits are very faithful to the stopover sites they use. One godwit, for instance, looks likely to have only two stopovers on the whole round trip: Yalu Jiang in China and then the Yukon Delta.

"It really reinforces how critical these sites are to these birds," says Dr Battley.

"If something were to happen to that area, [the godwit] may not know any of the other areas around that, and that would put it at a disadvantage in trying to find food."



And the godwit population is in decline.

New Zealand hosts 70,000 godwits each summer, but it used to be home to 100,000. It is the same throughout the East Asian and Australasian flyways, where up to 85% of the shorebird populations are declining.

Just what is going on is part of what the godwit tracking and the broader Pacific Shorebird Migration Program, a joint initiative between the US Geological Survey and PRBO Conservation Science, hopes to find out.

The increasing reclamation of tidal mud flats in Korea and China, and the changes in geography due to projects such as the Three Gorges Dam, are part of the problem, Dr Battley suggests.

Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is accused of damaging bird habitats
"Everywhere is under threat to a certain degree. You just have to zoom in on any spot around the Yellow Sea [on Google Earth] and it's getting reclaimed in one way or another."

But one thing the godwits are probably not is a potential carrier of avian influenza, scientists believe.

"It's clear these birds are going straight up to their destination and that's where they are stopping and then moving on," says Dr Battley.

"It's not like they are going around the coast of Southern China and stopping off in lots of places where they have the potential to pick this up."

Four of the tagged godwits have now left Asia for the 5,000km (3,000 mile) journey to their breeding grounds in Alaska.

That's where they will stay for the Northern Hemisphere summer before returning in September to New Zealand.

Godwit migration (Source: USGS Alaska Science Center)


What I really am thrilled about is I saw Bar tailed Godwits in NZ in NOvember 2006- just think of their journey!!

Confused penguin strays 5,000km

A Magellanic penguin whose natural habitat is the cool climes of southern Chile has strayed thousands of miles from his home, arriving in Peru.

The penguin, native to the Strait of Magellan region of Chile, swam all the way to Peru's Paracas national reserve.

Scientists say the bird appeared to have made the 5,000km (3,000-mile) journey alone.

They say the penguin must have "got off course" to end up just 14 degrees south of the equator.


Read the rest here(click on the title) there is also a link to a video

World Migratory Bird Day

Its all weekend. Click on the title for more information.

Boy hatches chick from shop bought eggs.

see here


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/6643407.stm




Interesting!

The Golden Compass

Just been alerted to this book (well books) by a fellow blogger. As a kinda tribute to a friend I have met online whose funeral was yeaterday I decided to see what my Daemon might be.
People who knew Boo will understand why I think this might be the kind of tribute she would appreciate.



Dont know if this will work or I have to do some thing else!
Here goes

More Costa Rican photos these and the Aracari are Sean's again!!

Keel billed Toucan.

Shock cool weather!!

So more Photos from Costa Rica to make me feel warm!! We have had such hot weather for April now its cloudy and quite cool!!

The Fiery Billed Aracari.
A good name for a fine fella!!

Well after a knock of 149 from one wicketkeeper batsman...we nearly had a contest in the end the most consistent team won. what a shambles at the end...I didn't see it live but neither did some of the crowd or the players!!!

Much too long for an event that is about one day cricket and tense and excitment grew less and less!

They ought to have a knock out event after the initial rounds to make it more exciting.

World Cup Cricket Final

Well its here ...inevitably Australia are there.....and so too are Sri Lanka.

Disappointing semi finals with both SA and NZ capitulating!

So I am backing Sri Lanka because I cant a) stand the crowing from the Aussies
and b) I'm being a "typical" English person and supporting the underdog!!

Also I actually like the way they play their cricket and several of the team are outstanding
batters...and the M's can bowl a bit!!

(Mind I cant help but admire in a grudging way the outmost professionalism of the Oz team ...grrrl..but then I am a Pom!!)

The best team will win ...just hope its a terrific final.

City birds sing for silent nights.

Interesting research this- even more interesting for me is I have met the scientist quoted here..on a birding trip to Cornwall last year during my Big Year birding when I aimed to see over 300 birds in UK and managed to do so!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6591649.stm


Robins in urban areas are singing at night because it is too noisy during the day, researchers suggest.

Scientists from the University of Sheffield say there is a link between an area's daytime noise levels and the number of birds singing at night.

Until now, light pollution had been blamed because it was thought that street lights tricked the birds into thinking it was still daytime.

The findings are published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

"You generally only seem to hear nocturnal singing in cities," explained Richard Fuller, one of the study's co-authors.

"So this led us to think that there was some aspect of the urban environment that was driving this phenomenon."

Light pollution had been widely held as the prime suspect. It was thought to prevent the birds from roosting, leading to them remaining active through the hours of darkness. "That was the stock answer you would get," Dr Fuller said, "that it was basically tricking the birds into thinking it was daylight and tripping some sort of physiological threshold. "But we thought that was pretty unlikely because birds are much more complex than that." He said that there had never been a scientific study to measure the impact of light pollution on the behaviour of urban robins. "So we went out and measured both noctural light and daytime noise levels and we found that daytime noise had a far stronger effect. "We found that night-time light had a small effect, but very much smaller than the impact of noise levels." This led the team to conclude that it was an active decision by the birds to sing at night rather than passively responding to light levels. "The birds appear to be singing at night to avoid competition with high noise levels caused by our cities during the day," Dr Fuller suggested. "Noise levels were 10 times higher in places where birds were singing at night." The findings form a part of a seven-year research programme by the university's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences to measure the impact of urbanisation on biodiversity.

Cricket

9 wickets NINE wickets yes NINE WICKETS

Cant believe it - well I can unfortunately in the BIG game where even tho they didn't deserve it England had the chance to make the semi final what did they do yes.
Stuck to the losing system...same top 3 batters , not go on the attack during the power plays...
keep the wickets so that you blaze through the last 10 overs.

Problem...no one else plays that way any more we cant keep our wickets and we dont get to the last 10 overs!
Well any muppet can see that what has changed? Well our players have grown more and more lacking in any confidence except misplaced confidence of a terrible one day batter who is a great Test Skipper!

We all knew what would happen and it has.....

growl growl.

Wonder if it will make any difference.

Still I shall now enjoy watching the semis and the final.

Do I care who wins? well I would much rather it was the Kiwis or the Sri Lankans-

but then if they are really great matches.....cricket wins and maybe our ECB will watch and learn rather than think we can keep it the same old same old.



Still awaiting my first Swift.....and Swallow... maybe when i travel up to Rutland Water on Friday I'll be rewarded....perhaps Paxton Pits for my first Nightengale too....we will see.

Costa Rica

Well just before I watch the World Cup in the sunny Carib- we have yet another day in sunshine here in London!

Emerald toucanette!! Au natural....I may be able to find mine...on a feeder didn't get as close a shot as Sean's!! Yes there he is!!
Prong-billed Barbet another of my record shots!!













Flamecoloured Tanager.

Yet more photos from Costa Rica

Well the World Cup Cricket throws up continuous surprises....mainly The Irish and the Bangra Boys!! Good on 'em I say!

Well i thought it would be Oz, SA, Kiwis and SL in the finals......will i be correct?
Englands batting looked a bit wobbly at the begining.....come on KP!!!

So to the pics...once again Sean Dennis photos....
1st a Black and White Owl....roosting and living in a village public square...I kid you not along with a Sloth(Two toed) and some other birds!!


Double striped Thickknee and a Jabiru sitting on its nest with chick!














and a Black-headed Trogon.

Bob Woolmer RIP

Well it was bad enough to hear of the death of the innovative Cricket Coach (and ex-Kent County player) but now his death is suspicious.

We await further details.

The Pakistanis will play their last game in the World Cup...with heavy hearts...how difficult will it be for them.

Its all very very sad.

More photos by Sean Dennis

Acorn Woodpecker and Lineated (male)Woody



Kingfishers are Green and Amazon. The Amazons are bigger and have less white in their wings.The Green has more colour on its belly.

These are both females, males have a rufous breast.

Some photos by Sean Dennis

Oropendula - an interesting bird which sounds rather tropical!! I love their display!! These are Montezuma's ......

Help

Horrible!!

What happened to our batting?
Even KP decided to throw away his wicket when he looked set for a big score and then dropped a sitter!!

Help its hard watching England!!

It will get better as we play Canada next!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!

Cricket lovely Cricket

I will return to post photos by Sean from our Costa Rica trip.

But first Cricket. I dont like cricket I love it!!

England play their first One day Game in the World Cup this afternoon against New Zealand.

After the end of the Aussie series when totally unexpectedly we beat the Aussies...I wondered what might happen.
I had a discussion with Pete re the make up of the squad and the selectors didn't listen to either of us. Actually the majority of the team is the same!
Wicket keepers being of greatest concern.
But also not picking some of the younger players for experience- as we wont win the thing this time anyway!!

My predictions Australia to play South Africa in the final. Windies to play their best and get to the semis....but who with them....?

Did think India...possible or Sri Lanka...I hope England but....

I'd love to be wrong!!

I will return to this topic after the game!!

Photographs from, Costa Rica bySean Dennis

Sean was on the birders trip we made in Jan/Feb this year.
His photographs are very good , in fact some are stunning. I am really glad that Sean has allowed me to share these.
Unless I say a photograph is mine all will be his!! There was another photographer on our trip and some of her photos can be seen here
http://www.heatherlea.co.uk/tours/tour-news.htm
scroll down to see Wendy's photos...she digiscopes...both use digital cameras.

Busy day!!

Busy day so only time to look at Garden birds in two gardens. Mine...well its a number of gardens really as they are all small...its a little oblong...but we have House Sparrows, Starlings, Woodpigeons, Blue and Great tits, Robins (one pair) and Blackbirds (one pair).

Visitors or passers by
feral nasties, Carrion crows and Magpies (they live down the road in a local Park), Blackheaded and Lesser Black Backed Gulls (from the River....Thames) RN Parakeets and a Grey Heron

My friends....we have feeders there....

RN Parakeets (too many!!) (from Osterley Park where they roost)
Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin (a pair), Blackbirds (a pair)
Blue and Great tits, a couple of Starlings (fat balls) and a Wren and a Dunnock - they nest next door but only ever see one at a time!!
Lots of Feral pigeon sometimes with a Woodpigeon....Carrion Crows and Magpies pass through
and the Gulls.......

So took Zeta the German Shepherd to Chiswick House for a couple of hours run today......


heard a number of Yaffles (Green Woodies) and Song Thrushes.....the usual suspects (Garden
birds as above!!) lots of RN Parakeets...they are everywhere.

Then the Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards and Tufties.....Coots and Moorhens.
3 Coot nests....and lots of pairing.....

I though I heard a distant drumming...or was it that I am looking for my first Lesser Spot Woody...searched Richmond Park the other day....they should be about!!

I shall have to visit Barnes soon.....Caspian Gull there recently.....

Albatross rule the skies!!

Well thats how I feel today...usually its Birds of Prey but I was looking at a website today and I thought I'd put some of my photos from Kaikoura here!
Now I have worked out how to post pics!!

A visit from a Coati Mundi

The wild Coati mundi reminded me of the Coati that visited us one morning for Bananas.
They obviously help themselves to the bird feeders...and when there are no bananas left....well they come to the breakfast area!!

Oh the Dogs are ahhh factor after Crufts where a dog I liked the look of won!!

Musings

Once more its another month!
Its not like I dont like blogging I'm just not in the habit!!
I have added a link to Ocean and Forest Walks blog. I like it!!
Digiscoper link has been deleted as I cant access it anymore!
I have a number of photos to add from my Costa Rica and New Zealand trips and I'm hoping to post these over the next week!

I have been out and about Birding in the Uk since my last blog post. I have added another blog site where I am going to keep my lists, I would have prefered to do tags on my main blog but I cant work out how to do them!

Coati Mundi seen on the roadside in Costa Rica.

Tails of Quetzals,Trogans,Tanagers, coati mundi and other animals

Well I wonder if I can actually keep the blog this time !!

Just returned from Central America...Costa Rica. What a wonderful country. No army and an education system that has a very high literacy rate. The people whilst very friendly are clearly educated and only in some rural villages did I find any who couldn't speak at least a little English.
My spanish has improved from haltingly dreadful to a bit better!! Evening classes will be a must as tapes in the car dont check your spoken pronunciation!
Ok so the Ticos speak a slightly different form but do understand ...well I think they were too polite to say anything!!

Birding was super fine with over 330 birds seen by myself...many more seen by our Guide Paco
from Cotinga Tours - yes we could have seen even more but it wasn't only about the numbers game. Much more with seeing the actual bird and watching it au natural.

Read about Paco and his guiding here
www.cotingatours.com

I went to Peru in August 2005 and was utterly overwhelmed with seeing 315-20 birds all new.
The different names and families.....
This time it was great, knowing the families helped and some were the same species but since CR has birds migrating from North America and South America there was a range of known birds.

The heat and humidity was sapping at times. When I returned to find my car covered in ice and had to defrost it before driving home through foggy weather on the M23 I was sooooooo
cold!! The contrast could scarcely have been greater!

I particularly liked this chap, spotted in Miriams garden. Perched in a tree for 20 minutes at least.A top bird and a top target for me. I also saw my second top target the same day but no photos.The Long tailed Silky Flycatcher. I bought a copy of a photo home with me but to enjoy this bird look here.
www.pbase.com/rod_ostoski/image/62627577


with all acknowledgements to rod ostoski ...what a bird and stunning photography.

Eagles eye on life!!

Mainly about New Zealand

Well it now a New Year. Stuff happens and has happened to me and delayed this blog .
In November I went to New Zealand, for almost a month.
What an amazing Country. The scenery, the people.

The birds.
Added 88 to my world list.

Albatrosses, penguins,Kiwis, rare waders, rare birds and dolphins and whales.....

The travelling...the sea trips, the flight to Stewart Island.

The week in Auckland with my friends was really great and I enjoyed having the time to re adjust and get to know some of the local birds fbefore the birding trip.

I finally managed to down load my photos. I really should have done this when I first got back and I guess it may be a little trucated.I got a cold in NZ for about a week and bvrought it back with me now either it is still with me or its a different cold who knows. That was part of the reason for not getting going.

I really ought to be learning birds for my up and coming trip to Costa Rica.

Not completed and will be edited!!

The Bird List

On the Monday we were fortunate to see a Blyth's Reed Warbler and Yellow Browed Warbler.
I think it was the Tuesday we saw Barred , Garden and Marsh Warblers.

There was of course a tale or two behind these bland sentances of -----------------------
scrambling over barbed wire fences, checking whether other fences were electrified or not...well on or off really ...as you can see easily if the fence is capable of having a current run through it!! Learning how to climb dry stone walls with out knocking them or yourself down....and other useful stuff!! Making sure there were no rabbit holes to fall down...in fact it was quite an adventure!!

I was very glad of my gaitors...specially where the thistles and stinging nettles were!!

There was also the local pager service...well mobile phone calls (if you were high enough to receive them!) This was from the Observatory when they heard of a rare or scarce bird.

Now I saw a Wood Pigeon and in my innocence called it one night...the room went still and the silence was great......Alison the Warden said....thats very unusual....and moved on quickly...
I thought but I did see one , but I hadn't said anything thinking thay were as common as my local patch!! Apparently not! So I was highly relieved when a tip top birder reported one the next day early...and others saw it too and my call went on the record!!

Self found Wood Pigeon does not really have a ring to it does it?

To be continued

The Birds and the sheep...

On the Monday suitably celebrating the Ryder Cup victory of Europe over USA...well Tony and I were.

We birded before we had to go to the Airport. We found a Moorhen...our first on Orkney. Now there are a few birds who are actually a different sub-species, as in Orcadian Wren...yes They are bigger...apparently they have longer toenails...not that we noticed...but they do weigh heavier..


(Just remembered forgot to mention the huge numbers of Black Guillemots - not looking as smart as usual but in their Black and White Plumage!!-we saw hundreds!!)


I actually wrote some notes to help me but I'm finding more memories than I took notes on!!
Yesterday we went to the best public WC anywhere...yes ...in the World!!
And I cant remember the name of the place...but I will back in a mo....

Waulkmill Beach, Orphir thats it even has a loo listed on the council web site!!

What I was supposed to say was that on our way to the Airport we stopped to look at waders and found Black tailed Godwits, a moorhen and a Male Hen Harrier sat on a stick!!

Defo my bird of the week....altho not the rarest the best!!!
They are not two a penny tho...
Circus cyaneus-
http://www.michael.farina.com/Birds/sshL.jpg

and

not for nothing are they known as Ring tails...this is a Northern Harrier -same species..just couldn't find a better shot of a UK bird!!

http://www.avesphoto.com/WEBSITE/pictures/HARNTH-5.jpg

We exited the airport and climbed into a Land Rover complete with Border Collie(vvvvvvvfriendly)and drove to the Observatory to dump our bags...what bags? Have coffee/tea .
The views from the Observatory were great.The sea in front with a field containing lots of rabbits - more about rabbits later.
Wheatears - more about them later too.
We then ventured forth (little knowing that Mike and Frank were not to arrive until the next day!!) saw a Robin which we looked at and smiled and carried on. Didn't know it was one of two that had arrived that day and is a rare bird well a scarce bird for N.Ron. Wewere to learn a lot about what was rare for N.Ron during the week.

We walked down the lane....to the main road...did I notice the difference? I think the main road was slightly wider! Stopped at a Gate and looked down on a Beach- Nouster (I know that because my room was called Nouster as my view was of this beach- I didn't know that when we first spied the beach inhabitants) Sanderling doing their Keystone Cops imitations- I think there were 13 (this became a hot topic later..and during the week at the evening callover-more later!!) Turnstones, a Knot, and some Ringed Plovers.

and SHEEP....everywhere on the beach....well eating the seaweed.
N. Ron is known for its Sheep - they roam around anywhere outside a wall built to keep them off the land , to eat the seaweed.(there are a few usual sheep kept in some fields as well) these produce the Famous N.Ron Mutton. Mutton which I had on my last night there...roasted. It was very nice...a bit stronger than normal mutton - which is much stronger than the Lamb that most of us eat.
Read more hear
http://heritage.scotsman.com/traditions.cfm?id=560822006

I think that the price in the Observatory was £2.00 extra for a Mutton Dinner.

See the sheep look different too.
They are very quick and when you go onto the beach when they are there they look at you...then they bolt for it!! Only going out of range for being caught. I have every sympathy for the men who have to do the catching!

One unexpected side effect - was that my thumbs which have been quite painful recently and I thought I'd have to go to the GP worried that it was the first signs of Arthritis.
When I got home on the Sunday I realised my thumbs were working properly when I opened a jar with out thinking!! So Kelp tablets from the health food shops are on my list for tomorrow!!

111 species of Birds seen, including a walk by the Abernethy Forest with an excursion or two inside!!

Swallows still around....in fact we saw some Swallows but not as many on North Ron!!
Best though were the Siskins...the adult males so bright I wished I had my sunglasses with me!! Oh and the fly-over me Wryneck!!
30 Robins reminded me of the migrants that arrive from Scandanavia each year! They are more orange!!

We travelled north on Saturday to Gills Bay to catch the ferry to St Margarets Hope.
On route we sea watched...Gannets, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Gulls(various)...Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins (3) they apparently leave here later than elsewhere.
Sooty and Manx Shearwaters....but no Leach's Petrel which would have been lovely, but several Stormies attempted to make up for their absence!

We travelled through Scapa Flow....the sea was almost flat calm --not not what we really wanted for sea watching!!
Sunday- we birded on Mainland- went all over!!

Highlight for me was watching well I'll come to that - perhaps you can guess?

Mist, wind and rain. Hallo Orkney!

Off to RSPB hide...at The Loons- Coot, Mallard,Gadwall,Shoveler,Wigeon and Teal. Fly over Grey Heron ...then......HEN HARRIER!!! Flying low and hunting.
Happy? I was very happy!! Well we watched the Harrier for ages!! I watched it for some more.Then we all had to look again as a Male HH flew as well!! What a little stunner!!

(When we were on the Ferry - Mike had spotted a HH at a great distance- I saw a BoP flying but until I saw it briefly in my bins I couldn't have been certain it was a HH!!- now I could see it through my new glasses!!)

I saw HH every day except Tuesday...but on Wednesday we saw 2 juveniles, to make up I expect!!



We actually saw HH every day except Tuesday
We had lunch over looking Birsay Bay....real cliffs.

I say that because the Orkney's are relatively flat, so hills look huge...but these cliffs are real cliffs!

We witnessed a Bonxie (Great Skua) knock a Gull out of the air into the sea, attempt to drown it for fun...and then fly away leaving a very weak gull to be finished off by a Greater Black Backed Gull.(eaten I mean)

Later that day we were at Stromness harbour (we all decided we liked Stromness) and A Bonxie flew really close to Denis (more about him later),but I decided he (Bonxie) was put off attacking Denis by - the Pom-
on Mike's hat!!
We had absolutely close up views of Bonxies....they are really big!!
Have a look at this!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/nature/scotlandthewild/content/birds/index.shtml?bird=skua

Birding on Orkney

Well I'm suddenly having more problems with my blog.

I shall attempt to post my birding tales on Orkney later, as it hasn't let me do so until now.

I deleted my post that somehow had a portugese advert in it that took several attempts - but its now gone!!

Will be back later going out to practise with my new compact digital camera which almost speaks!!
Wonder if my photography will improve?

Actually visited 5 Islands...an unexpected landing on Sanday on the flight to North Ronaldsay (North Ron as its referred to on the Island) to pick up
"medical specimens" said Alison - the Warden at the Bird Observatory. She and her son were waiting at Kirkwall Airport when we arrived to discover they should have flown back the day before!!They were on our flight. The smallest plane I've been in so far! Pilot and then behind him, 8 seats.
The weather fog and mist or as I used to say clouds on the ground. This meant we flew higher than usual.
We discovered that as well as the 4 peoples luggage we left behind for the next flight that we had an extra piece of luggage, then the next flight attempted to land and couldn't,so returned to the Mainland (main Island of Orkney) with two of our group there minus one suitcase!!
The next day the skies were clear so all luggage and people were reunited!!

http://www.nrbo.f2s.com/

Where we stayed.
The Journey from St. Margaret Hope was interesting with Mike saying well I've never seen Orkney so sunny, the weather is the best I've ever seen, and so on and so on backed up by a couple of chaps who had been before!! Then it was off in the minibus along the 4th Churchill Barrier to Burray...here we stopped and spied our first Waders! Redshank, Oystercatchers and Turnstones (this was were we might have seen a Little Gull or two but they were elsewhere)
Culture- The Italian Chapel, a visit here (not one Pete has been to - I think?)
You can read about it here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/getwriting/A2503388

On the Mainland we meandered about eventually visiting another cultural place the Ring of Brodgar- you can read about these stones here
http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/brodgar/

We finally reached our hotel at 18.00 having left my b and b about 8.45am.

109 Questions

Borrowed from Janice...borrowed from Pete and Kate and ....
1. (X) Smoked a cigarette.
2. (x) Crashed (into) a friend’s car.
3. ( ) Stolen a car.
4. (X) Been in love.
5. (X) Been dumped.
6. ( ) Shoplifted.
7. (X) Been fired/laid off.
8. ( x) Been in a fist fight.
9. ( ) Snuck out of your parent’s house.
10. (X) Had feelings for someone that didn’t have them back.
11. ( ) Been arrested.
12. ( ) Gone on a blind date.
13. (X) Lied to a friend.
14. ( x) Skipped school.
15. (x ) Seen someone die.
16. (X) Been to Canada.
17. ( ) Been to Mexico.
18. (X ) Been on a plane.
19. ( ) Purposely set a part of yourself on fire.
20. ( ) Eaten sushi.
21. (x ) Been skiing.
22. (X) Met someone in person from the internet.
23. (X) Taken pain-killers.
24. (X) Love someone or miss someone right now.
25. (X) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by.
26. ( ) Made a snow angel.
27. (X) Had a tea party.
28. (X) Flown a kite.
29. (X) Built a sand castle.
30. (X) Gone puddle jumping.
31. (X) Played dress up.
32. (X) Cheated while playing a game.
33. ( ) Been lonely.
34. ( ) Fallen asleep at work/school.
35. ( ) Used a fake I.D.
36. (X) Watched a sunset.
37. ( ) Felt an earthquake.
38. (X) Touched a snake.
39. (X) Slept beneath the stars.
40. (X) Been tickled.
41. (x ) Been robbed.
42. (X) Been misunderstood.
43. (X) Petted a reindeer/goat.
44. (X) Won a contest.
45. (X) Ran a red light.
46. ( ) Been suspended from school.
47. (X) Been in a car accident.
48. ( ) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night.
49. (X) Had deja vu.
50. (X) Danced in the moonlight.
52. (X) Liked the way you looked.
53. (X) Witnessed a crime.
54. (X) Questioned your heart.
55. ( ) Been obsessed with post it notes.
56. ( ) Squished barefoot through the mud.
57. (X) Been lost.
58. (X) Been to the opposite side of the country.
59. (X) Swam in the ocean.
60. ( ) Felt like dying.
61. (X) Cried yourself to sleep.
62. ( ) Played cops and robbers.
63. ( X) Recently coloured with crayons.
64. ( X) Sung karaoke.
65. ( ) Paid for a meal with only coins.
66. (X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t.
67. (X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose.
68. (X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue.
69. (X) Danced in the rain.
70. (X) Written a letter to Santa Claus.
71. (X) Been kissed under the mistletoe.
72. (X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
73. (X) Blown bubbles.
74. ( X) Made a bonfire on the beach.
75. (X) Crashed a party.
76. (X) Gone roller-skating.
77. (X) Had a wish come true.
78. (X) Worn pearls.
79. ( ) Jumped off a bridge.
80. ( ) Ate dog/cat food.
81. ( ) Told a complete stranger you loved them.
82. ( ) Kissed a mirror.
83. (X) Sang in the shower.
84. ( ) Had a dream that you married someone.
85. ( ) Glued your hand to something.
86. ( ) Got your tongue stuck to a flagpole.
87. ( ) Kissed a fish.
88. (X ) Sat on a rooftop.
89. (X) Screamed at the top of your lungs.
90. (X ) Done a one-handed cartwheel.
91. ( ) Talked on the phone for more than six hours on one occasion.
92. (X ) Stayed up all night.
93. (X) Didn’t take a shower for a week.(I was sailing!!!)
94. (X) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree.
95. ( X) Climbed a tree that had a tree house.
96. ( ) Been told by a complete stranger that you’re hot.
97. ( ) Ever had a one night stand.
98. (X) Ever missed someone so much it still hurts to think of them.
99. ( ) Ever loved someone that you knew wouldn’t love you back.
100 (X) Ever been to a professional football, or tennis game in a stadium ground.
101.(X ) Went hiking in the mountains.
102.(X ) Smoked a cigar.
103.( ) Had a crush on someone you worked with but never told them.
104.(X) Wished you had the chance to change your profession.
105.( ) Ever cremated and kept the ashes of a pet you cared a lot about.
106.( ) Wished you could live your life over again from age 21.
107.(X) Been baptized?
108.(X) Rode a horse.
109.( ) Sent flowers to someone you never met

Phew!!

Four Birds and a Wedding!!

I am not very good at posting every week let alone every day. Maybe if I was at work I'd do it every morning when I arrived.
I went to very close friends Wedding in August and I wrote a draft before the date...just read it and its too personal to put here.
So it was a really lovely Wedding, now some sceptics out there will say aren't they all. No they are not. Often everyone makes an effort but people know its not going to last or somebody makes a fuss or is ignored or its just a really plastic day.
This one was fantastic, everybody loves Shelley and Paul, all the families were great, which with the remarriages and stuff might not have been so hot.
But it seems everyone mixed and got on !!

I have had some great birding adventures. I have posted these elsewhere (The Big Bird Forum) so I am not repeating them here, but meeting up with a group of birders who call themselves
"Widerscope", was great. We had a laugh, I learnt a lot about other beasties and gained lifers!!
I was also entertained by a RIB ride out of this world...well out in the seas off the Cornish Coast!!
I saw a couple of year ticks. I was soaked three or 4 times in one day. I still find seawatching very difficult.
I now know why...well another reason other than I'm rubbish at sea watching. I went to the opticians to have an eye test the other day. Prescription has to be changed for both eyes...but the shortsight has def worsened.
I shall soon have 3 pairs of glasses...a reading pair and sunglasses and normal glasses for distance.(I had already decided to change from varifocals)

I know I have often said where is a particular bird and people say you can see it without bins..now I know why I couldn't...my eyesight really couldn't see it!!!

There is hope for the Eagle after all!!

I spent a long time watching Honey Buzzards from a raptor watchpoint in Devon. In my scope.

Well I have reached 300 species of birds seen this year...but the 301 is proving tres difficile!!
Went to Weymouth to see a Glossy Ibis a first for my UK list and dipped!!
Now anything I havent seen is appearing in Ireland (that's not BOU..but some people seem to count the birds they see there along with their UK ones??????????)
Scillies or Cornwall or in Western Scotland or Shetland......

Next Friday I go to Scotland to go to Orkney birding....across to Mainland and North Ronaldsay
so talons crossed for some new birds , possibly lifers and more sea watching practise!!!

oh..lovely today I received my prize for a raffle I went in with RBA (Rare Birds Alert).
at the Bird Fair I was in 4th place I think...so I got to pick a couple of Kit Day's photographs.
They arrived today...really lovely copies of Black Throated Thrush...seen in S Wales earlier this year....and a bird I just never have been in the right place for.....Rose Coloured Starling.
I chose it as it is a lovely composition and a really wonderful example of the species - and as an incentive to see one soon!!

Oh yes the title? well there are at least 5 birds here but who cares its my title!!

Save the Albatross

www.savethealbatross.net

19 of the world’s 21 albatross species are seriously threatened by longlining. This is the highest proportion of species under threat of extinction of any bird family.

Albatrosses face threats at sea and in their land-based colonies. The biggest threat faced by most species is death on longline fishing hooks, and their lifestyle makes them very vulnerable to the drastic impacts of this way of fishing.

Why are they so vulnerable?
Albatrosses are long-lived birds - some live up to 60 years. They only breed once they are fully mature, which can take several years. And they only produce one chick at a time. Some species only breed every two years.

Adults are being killed on longline fishing hooks in such vast numbers that they can’t breed fast enough to keep up.

Please visit this site and get involved....someway...anyway....

I am going to New Zealand in November and hope (talons crossed) to see some of these magnificent birds.
Albatross: — Black–browed mollymawk
Buller’s mollymawk
Grey–headed mollymawk
Shy mollymawk
Light–mantled sooty
Royal
Wandering

Even one will do!!

Scotland

Well I had hoped to put up a wish list...go get them all and post pix!!

Something happened and I didn't get round to posting.

However after a hot week in Scotland and really not too many midges or other nasties. I managed to escape most bites...still probably got more than most. I do wish my blood wasn't so tasty!!

I had a good birding week and managed to see a mammal lifer - an Otter! (Having seen giant river otters in Peru I thought it time I finally spied a uk otter!!) well i actually saw 1 and a half otters as the first was half dissappearing into braken having crossed a road.

Minke Whales...in the Moray Firth and off the Isle of Mull. Good views. Even better views on the Moray firth of Bottle nosed Dolphins. Thought the first sightings good but we had even better ones later in the week. They were playing and tails and snouts out!! Needless to say I got a couple of pictures I was quite pleased with and I managed to delete them before posting.
Such is life.

As to the birds...well -Red Grouse showed and Black Grouse and Capers didn't. White Tailed Eagles posed well and one flew for us. The Golden Eagles were terrific...and one flew the closest I've ever been to one.

After a struggle up a mountain in the cairngorms.....breathing hard on way up and agony on the knees on the way down.I saw a closer view of a Ptarmigan than before...she had chicks but was not about to show them. Then my favourite wader....Dotterel with at least one chick...he kept his eye on us!!

I found a Crested Tit myself early one morning....and we saw a Parrotbilled Crossbill.

Ospreys were everywhere, well it felt like it. I didn't get to see one last year and this year I have been elsewhere to the ones in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and even over my local patch Barnes!!
But I have made up for the misses....seen them fishing....close to and far...looking after youngster in nest and perching and flying so feel pleased with myself!!

A good week...really looking forward to a week in the Orkneys at the end of September.

I'll try to post a pic or two but still seem to have the gremlins about!!

Fulmers and egg

Finally a photo!!
Well here are a pair of Fulmers and thei egg at Bempton on Sunday. They were sharing (non too happily this ledge with...a Razorbill...whether the RB had an egg we couldn't see but after the male(?) chased it off he was seen to be looking in the corner out of sight....??
The egg is pushed against the wall.

Finally gone in the correct way!!

Thanks Digibirder for the helpful hint on Sunday.....I have now actually entered the blog in the correct way for the first time!!

I shall now wait til later to post again!!

Just to say what a pleasure it was to meet Birdman, Anna and CherryPie on Sunday (well Cherrypie on Sat too!!) at Bempton!!!!
It was good to see the Quacks of Life and Digi plus Keith as well!! What a merry little birding crew we were!!

Puffins......ahhhh factor. Kitties, Guillies (bridled too), Razorbills.....Fulmars and GANNETS!!!!!

Plus a cast of extras!!!

More later maybe even a pix or two.....steady on!!!

Espana

Finally got into dashboard and proper posting!!
But will have to wait til Friday to finish!! Out all day tomorrow.

Here we are.....
Thursday
Well after yesterdays long but fab day..we went to El Hondo Information Centre (to see what was about but also to book to go onto the Reserve on another day)(New Birds)
Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Fantailed Warbler(everywhere!!), Collared Pratincoles,lovely Whiskered Terns,Shelduck, Reed Warbler,Stonechat,Short Toed Lark,Purple Heron,Grey Heron,House Martin,(Great Reed Warblers everwhere!!!)
Now I've got confused...I'll have to consult Bob...cant remember where we saw.....
Audouin's Gull
I know we then went to see if we could see Rollers, as Rose was with us for the day. We did and quite stunning views too!! A pair who they thought had probably just arrived from Africa.
Even I managed a record shot or two!!
Montague's Harrier put in an appearance which I saw!! As ever though I wanted better views!!

Went back to the apartment and we ate in tonight and watched TV!!
Chatted and were really shattered...from Wednesday....had a few drinks too.
Friday
We had arranged to meet Bob, Geoff decided to have a chilling day. I decided I wanted to go out later and as Rose was meeting Bob for a late Breakfast near to his local patch, Clot de Galvany it was agreed that Rose would pick me up about 11am and we'd meet Bob for an all day breakfast!!
We had noticed a lot of local police activity the day before...they seemed to be stopping Spanish cars and letting the hired cars through road blocks in the Gran Alicant area.
Rose has a little car there all the time...and yes we were stopped...checking Insurance!!
After a bit of a delay...boy you should see the paper work they want you to have with you...makes our system brill!!
Finally we met up with Bob fortunately he had no idea of the time as he had lost himself in the birding!!
After a real English Breakfast fullworks for Bob and Scrambled Eggs and Bacon for Rose and I ...Then we went to the coast road to see if we could find Rusus Bush Chat for Rose....and yes indeed still there!! But when we first arrived I heard this most extraordinary noise....and walked in its direction...afterwards I thought perhapsif I'd thought about it I would have run away...the most eerie and strange noise I'd ever heard!! Up flew this huge bird in the mid distance....a Stone Curlew making a collection of really loud noises!!Bob was behind me ever the gentleman helping Rose over very tricky tracks pits and holes...and he rushed up , but missed!!
That was it Stone Curlew top of agenda!! After giving up finally altho we heard its more usual cries and calls!! We returned to find Rose had seen her own Rufous Bush chat...so we saw some more!!It was a really lovely day...sun shining ..flowers bright and Butterflies flying!!
Also seen Pied Wagtail and Linnet (as well as Sartdinian Warbler....) other birds too but I didn't write down everything seen today...mainly the new ones!!
Then Bob and I went birding!! I think Rose went to do some gardening?
To find Waders....Salinas and Playa-de-Pinet....very little about on Salinas...some Marbled Ducks..The usual Flamingoes...Yellow Legs ....Avocets and BW Stilts.. and a Yellow Wagtail and Cormorants.
then...in a small pond.....Curlew Sandpiper (some in full stunning breeding colours and boy did they shine!!), Little Stints and Sanderlings. Then a walk by the beach...Avocets, Common and Little Terns, Slender billed Gulls (lovely...best gull for me on this trip so far!!) BWS, lots of Kentish Plovers,back past Salinas and Redshank and Greenshank and Dunlin spotted along with more Marbled Ducks!!
and a Gull Billed tern!!!!We also looked at a salt museum area with a large reserve...over 40 Little Egrets!! and a recovering Greater Flamingo....apparently this is where they are rehabilitated after trauma, injury or illness.
more later....
I also had chance to see

Espana Day 2

Wednesday 10th May

With thanks to Jules I'm posting his version here and then amending some bits.
Wednesday 10th May :- Today I was guiding Corinna, Bob, & Geoff who were staying around Gran Alicant on the outskirts of Santa Pola. John had asked if he could come along so we met the others at 9am and headed off with a specific 'targets' list to a nearby dwarf pine plantation. Almost immediately from getting out of the vehicle did I hear our first target and minutes later we were enjoying good views of a Rufous Bushchat.Lifer for me to be shown as (L). Over the next 30 minutes we logged 6 or 7 singing birds, hopefully a good sign for this scarce breeder. Next we called into the 'Clot de Galvany' and ended up staying there longer than expected due to the excellent birding. First we checked the lagoon finding Little Stints, Kentish & Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Whiskered Terns, Black headed & Yellow legged Gulls, Red Crested & Common Pochards, Shelducks, Coot, Great Reed Warblers, Little Owls, Southern Grey Shrikes, Crested Larks, Turtle Doves, Hoopoes, and Sardinian Warblers. The walk to the 'Charco de Contacto' produced a female Common Redstart, and on the pool there were a pair of (displaying) Marbled Ducks, 6 male & 2 female White headed Ducks, 2 Purple Gallinules, Shoveler, Little Grebes, 2 Carrion Crows(very unusual for this part of Spain- Geoff missed them but saw them later in the week) and 2 Red rumped Swallows. Our next destination was the vulture re-introduction scheme in the hills above Alcoy, and en-route we h times during the late night at the Finca.) Finally we left after an excellent meal to our final destination of Elche in the hope of finding our final target species. As dusk was falling we saw 2 Black Wheatears, and heard a Green Woodpecker, but then I picked up an adult Eagle Owl as flew out of it' roost and landed in full view. We watched it for about 10 minutes and while doing so heard Red necked Nightjar calling then the nightjar flew out and showed above the horizon in the falling light.(You guessed I missed this!) As we left the canyon we saw a second Red necked Nightjar fly up from the road in the vehicles headlights.(my first - a Lifer!!)


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Birding Tales 1

Espana

Well after the incredibly busy last few months I really needed a holiday. The original plan had been shelved,but Bob a fellow Cllr and birder and his other half Rose have an apartment in Gran Alicante. Bob suggested that his birding buddy Geoff and I share a rented apartment near to where they are. Within a short space of time it was all arranged.
On Tuesday 9th May we met at Heatjrow and flew to Alicante.
Once there the adventure began.Over a glass of white wine I was seranaded by a beautiful male Serin,who landed on a wire over their garden! Spotless Starlings , H.Sparrows and Common and Pallid Swifts flew over. On our way to the lighthouse the first of many Southern Grey Shrikes were seen. On route we saw Collared Dove ,Woodpigeon and Hoopoe.Red rumped Swallows, a pair were dashing over the cliff edge as Thekla Larks caught our eyes.
Up the hill from our apartments is a lighthouse surrounded by scrub land and trees and is good for birding. Over the cliffs flew Yellow Legged Gulls and in the distance on the shoreline we spotted Little Egrets. Goldfinch and Greenfinches were evident as too were the sounds of Dartford Warbler.The latter proved elusive to me!Sardinian Warblers were first heard and then seen. I became quite blase about these by the end of our week having seen them everywhere!! A pair of Black Wheatears were seen on our return down the hillside, a good spot. As were Pied Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers.
I did take my camera with me on most of the trips so will post some pix (once I know how to post them!!) after I have downloaded them.
So the first day.

Just been listening to Bruce Springsteen's latest album and watching the DVD. "We shall overcome" a tribute to Pete Seeger.
Took me back to College days and folk music...I really enjoyed some of the arrrangements....and I loved the fact that it was recorded live so they were making music. No rehearsals. Pure enjoyment from the musicians.I am in a good mood, great cos I'm off out to visit friends!

Another try!!

Just to see if this works or not!!

Election Blues!!!

Election blues!!!

Well, like many hard working Labour Cllrs up and down this country I have suffered an election loss. Wiped out!! Due to our Prime Minister who should have gone ages ago, and the government, plus ministers who ought to have resigned last week or been sacked. I ask you what good is it doing this today...after our hammering in the polls. Our voters were not unhappy at our performance, or the Council's performance they were just registering a protest to our govt. That's what they said to colleagues who went "knocking up".
The Leader of Crawley Council was interviewed at lunchtime on the radio.....very sensible...up and down this country are 254 (more now) hardworking and talented cllrs who through no fault of their own have lost their seats due to our government and the Blair factor (bad) plus the ministers who have let us down by their words, actions or lack of competence.
Iraq was bad....I reluctantly remained within the party as Blair refused to listen...I was with Robin Cooke and not just opposed the war but marched and argued against us starting the War without the backing of the UN, I felt lied to over "weapons of mass disappearance"because I was an elected Cllr.(having been a member since I was 16 some 35+ years ago (and long to see principles and practice of socialism within the party again.)....the non listening PM and his merry men in No 10 continue...the rarified bubble that is Westminster seems to pervade all that they do...get real...and down and dirty with the rest of us in the country....
yes a lot has been achieved by Labour in government and in our Councils....and there is a lot still to do but why shoot ourselves in the feet when there is so much more we could achieve.
Is it too late?
Why did Gordon not seek to take over before....will I forgive him his reluctance to stand up and be counted?
Will the shuffle be in vain...
in the name of God Blair go..GO!!..you will blow apart all the good your govt has achieved. I may not like your political colour but you could go down as the only Labour Leader to lead us to 3 victories in GE.not one that lead us to chaos and disaster...there will not be much left at this rate for Gordon or any other leader to lead!!
(Rant over!!)

Several things
...most people say I will now have more time to bird!!
I've been advised to move to Norfolk..(can I afford too?)
well I will see, lots of thinking to be done.
I need a part-time job.
I go to Espana on Tuesday with a fellow ex-Cllr who also got wiped out in another ward on our Council plus his better half and his birding pal of over 25 years....I think I'll be learning more about the finer points of Spanish/European birds!!
I think a week away is just what the Dr. ordered!!
I have a feeling that the painting and decorating that my lovely house requires will now be done by me.All those jobs that must be attended to will be listed rather than ignored and the garden will be sorted again....weeding a bit today!!

(Yesterday in a garden of our committee room we saw a Willow Warbler....an unusal guest along with the house sparrows...the RN parakeets flying over and seranaded by Robins, Blue and Great Tits and Blackbirds!!)
Tomorrow the play-offs....come on you Eagles!!!!