Blue Birding

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2011-01-22T20:17:00.003Z

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Miracle in the Marshes of Iraq.

2011-01-18T21:10:00.007Z

Broadcast on BBC TWO this evening, Miracle in the Marshes of Iraq was a wonderful example of wildlife documentary making.

The program presented the work of Azzam Alwash, a man who grew up with the Mesopotamian Marshes in his soul, and a man blessed with the vision to restore the vast area - once dominant in south east Iraq - to its former glory. In the 1990's Saddam Hussein decided that in order to eradicate the indigenous people of the wetlands he would drain the region - turning it into a naked dustbowl. The rivers that once supplied the wetlands with water, like the Euphrates, were placed in straight-jackets and a network of canals was built to channel water towards the Gulf instead of the central marshes.

Today, Alwash is overseeing the return to life of the area. Birds, mammals, fish... the people. Here it all seemed as one. A way of life restored for everything.

Before this evening I had absolutely no idea the Mesopotamian Marshes ever existed, and no idea about the work that is taking place to restore them. Now I am captivated and will be donating to Nature Iraq, the organization Alwash established to give the work its core structure.

The return of birds shown in the documentary, from the characterful Pied Kingfisher, to the elegant Black-winged Stilt, to the Greater Flamingos, Iraq Babbler and mostly heartening of all... the Basra Reed Warbler (almost endemic to the region) demonstrate that if you provide the environment they will come. The most amazing sight, however, was a flock of c.40,000 Marbled Teal, a species last seen in the country over 20 years ago. The look on the film maker's, and Alwash's face, was unforgettable. He could see the past erupting into life and could not contain his delight.

Of course, the film was careful to highlight what a dangerous place Iraq remains, and we were never far away from a weapon, or bunker, or armoured vehicle. This stuff demands attention, too. If only the country could stabilise sufficiently that tourism could gain even a slender foothold, I've no doubts these wetlands would represent an essential 'eco-tourism' destination. Sure, even from a environmental point of view the comeback is a slow one ("two steps forward, once step back... but on the right track", as Alwash put it). For example there are issues with maintaining sufficient water supply to allow full restoration of the marshes. Dams upstream in Syria and Turkey rob the region of the water supply it once enjoyed, and so Alwash has had to get creative with the water trapped in Saddam's canal network. But still... the place looked, frankly, awesome.

A glowing word, also, for the film makers themselves. There was a well thought out narrative to the program, no talking down to the audience, and the problems were laid out as openly as the successes.

Here is a link the program in the BBC's iPlayer - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xxf9f/hd/Natural_World_20102011_Miracle_in_the_Marshes_of_Iraq/

If you need to put a spring in your step this winter, look no further.

Birding in Iraq.

What a prospect.

Hugely Exciting Garden Birds.

2011-01-16T12:19:00.007Z

A Greenfinch and a Blackcap! Wonders never cease! I rushed to fetch my camera and when I returned both birds were still present.

This bonanza must signal the start of a golden age, and so I expect it will only be a matter of time before my first garden Slaty-backed Gull.

Goldeneye.

2011-01-15T17:21:00.005Z

Drove past the CWP today... had camera in boot... too easy to drop in on pit 12 to see what was there. All unfrozen now. Three Red-crested Pochard (2m/1f), and seven Goldeneye (4m/3f). All four males were busy displaying to the females.

No male Smew though... again.

Sharpness.

2011-01-09T16:15:00.013Z

In glorious sunshine, a poke around the habitats at Sharpness at high tide (1030hrs to approximately 1300hrs). Maybe something good would come up river, or on the turn?

No. Maybe a Black Redstart would show up?

No. But there were plenty of...

Still, the Pied Wags plus six others for the year list (now 74) in the form of (and in chronological order*) Pied Wagtail (lol), Wren (lol), Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail, Goldfinch, Rock Pipit (the 'double picture' below is of the same bird) and Redshank. Nothing remarkable, but in this weather you really can't avoid a good view of a bird. Six Cormorants were observed flying down river, and many Gulls (mostly Common) were seen to float down on the tide along with two Shelduck. The Redshanks (two birds) showed well just as the mud began to expose, as did two Curlews. Finally, a flock of c.10 Linnets were seen a number of times. Too wary to pin down for a photograph.

I love the scrub area just beyond the Ned West building. It's a great spot to watch the various Tits and Finches going about their business.

Between Berkeley and Sharpness I stopped to watch a couple of Kestrels (1m/1f) engaged in battle / courtship. They were alternately ambushing each other over the right to sit atop this electricity pylon.

*I always keep my year list in the precise order I see each new bird, which makes a notebook essential. One can easily forget the order after the fact.

Water Park West.

2011-01-08T17:39:00.017Z

Always good for a few hours birding, I took advantage of a necessary visit to the Outdoor Store to drop in on a few of the key pits before the football started in the afternoon. I hadn't birded there since last Spring, so I was concerned I'd spend more time trying to remember the various good access points to the pits than actually birding. As it turned out, it was like riding a bike... you never forget!

Of course, every pit had varying numbers of Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard and all but pit 12 contained Wigeon. Without any given purpose, I won't count Gulls (scan through them, of course)... so let's just say there were lots of each pretty much everywhere except GBBGs, or which I saw very few.

Pit 12 brought me my first Common Gull of the year (photo above of the first one I clapped eyes on) alongside my first Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebes and Goldeneye (3m/1f) of the year. There were perhaps 20 Mute Swans present, frequently taking flight and - every time - amusing as they attempted touchdown on the ice. Plenty of Black-headed Gulls but no candidates for Med.

Pit 17. A Great Spotted Woodpecker (seem to be running into these all over the place recently) made a racket along the shore. There were five Goosander (3m/2f) loitering along the far side.

On pit 16 there were four more Goldeneye (3m/1f). Around the edge I spotted a Treecreeper and a Goldcrest (although I only saw one there were more) - a welcome tick.

Pit 74. More Goldeneye (4m/6f), c.15 Cormorants often in flight. A Buzzard flew over the area and stirred great numbers of Wigeon into flight along with some Lapwing. A smaller flock of something took flight, too, but the view was simply too distant to identify them. I made my way around to the hides, but they didn't help. One Black-headed Gull's pursuit of a young Herring Gull (which had caught a small fish) was probably the highlight. Like a dogfight.

En route back to the car from the hides a Buzzard provided great views as it circled and called above the field I was walking past. It didn't seem to mind my presence and flew towards me a number of times, affording me the luxury of photographing a raptor head on rather than the usual rear view as they retreat to a 'safe' distance.

Final stop for today was pit 41, site of a few drake Smew sightings recently. Alas, a couple of scans revealed no Smew but I did pick up three Red-crested Pochard (1m/2f) for the year list and get good views of a small flock of Siskin feeding in trees along the shore.

Plenty of pits still to investigate, and plenty of Winter still to go. Many of the larger areas of water are still partially frozen.

Year list stands at 67 this evening. There are some differences in content (still no Wren or Pied Wagtail this year!), but I'm running pretty much parallel with last year in terms of numbers.

BUBO Lists.

2011-01-05T19:16:00.003Z

I've done some thinking, head scratching, and list checking, and now have 8 lists on there! All BOU. I'm quite confident they're all in good shape.

- Britain Life: 226
- Britain 2010: 213
- Gloucestershire Life: 169
- WWT Slimbridge Life: 126
- Isles of Scilly Life: 115
- Witcombe Reservoirs Life: 64
- Britain 2011: 57
- Garden List Life: 39

Lesser Scaup-fest.

2011-01-03T16:04:00.012Z

One Slimbridge collection bird (left), one wild bird (right):

The collection bird is older, and so is greyer. It also (even in my lousy photograph) clearly possesses a brighter yellow iris. In comparison the wild bird has a dull iris - indicative of a first winter bird.

Although plumage and head shape were always available for inspection, I was fearful that the bird would keep its most prized distinguishing feature tucked away for the duration of my visit. However, I'm pleased to report that it did raise its head and have a stretch. It was snowing onsite so the photographs are as good as I could comfortably manage. The first image shows the white wing bar trailing into grey through the primaries.

As I was leaving, I photographed it swimming about:

I also decided that the male Mandarin Duck on the Pen was fair game for a tick. The Slimbridge wardens seem content that it's wild.

In the morning I popped into Coombe Hill Meadows and added a few bits and bobs to my year list (which I'm not interested in!). The most pleasing (of nothing spectacular) were Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. 55 now.

Also onsite - from the Grundon Hide - were over 100 Greylags, a few Canada Geese, a distant flock of Wigeon (couple of hundred birds perhaps), two Lapwing, three Buzzards and a fly through Sparrowhawk.

I was pleased to see that there is now a longer raised walkway allowing access to the Grundon Hide from the canal towpath. This should mean that when the fields next flood, the hide will still be accessible.

35.

2011-01-02T14:53:00.002Z

These are the birds I aim to see for the first time (in the wild) in 2011. Although other stuff will inevitably crop up, these will be the priority:

Bean Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
Eider
Velvet Scoter
Slavonian Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
White-tailed Eagle
Hen Harrier
Honey Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard
Stone Curlew
Dotterel
Jack Snipe
Arctic Skua
Caspian Gull
Glaucous Gull
Roseate Tern
Long-eared Owl
Tawny Owl
Hoopoe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Wryneck
Woodlark
Shore Lark
Water Pipit
Nightingale
Ring Ouzel
Grasshopper Warbler
Crested Tit
Bearded Tit
Penduline Tit
Chough
Common/Mealy Redpoll
Snow Bunting
Cirl Bunting

1st January.

2011-01-02T12:47:00.006Z

I'd hoped to spot the Lesser Scaup on the Rushy at Slimbridge, but couldn't find it. As it turns out, neither could many better birders than me. I did get a much better look at that other Greater Scaup (the one I thought was a female).

Definitely a male. Blaze not big enough for a female, I was told... and now I've seen it in clear conditions (no fog!) it has the beginnings of pretty strong grey vermiculation on it's back. Also, one could - on occasion - catch a hint of green on it's head. Indeed, I think this photo shows the green - at least it does on my screen.

I picked up 43 species for my 2011 year list - including a great Redhead Smew from the Zeiss Hide. Here is a typically spectacular photograph of it:

Still, this year isn't going to be about frantically adding to a year list, rather (in the majority) about finding and seeing a list of 35 birds I've never seen before. I'll post the list very soon.

Sex Change.

2011-01-01T01:23:00.003Z

re: the Slimbridge Greater Scaups. Apparently, this (below image) is a less advanced (than the other) male Greater Scaup and not, as I thought, a female.

Intriguing.

Devon + Fog.

2010-12-30T22:03:00.018Z

With time running out, it was a shameless attempt to add to my year list. I had to go today - despite the blasted fog... New Year's Eve being full of celebrations and all that jazz.

Mostly frustrating, to be honest.

At Exminster Marshes between 0900hrs and 1030hrs, there was no sign of any Harriers. Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing, one Grey Heron, one Kestrel, one Buzzard picking apart a prey item, Redwing, various Tits, one Bunting sp., Grey Plovers. Alas, I could not find the Water Pipits... or they wouldn't find me. Oh, and there were Canada Geese - truly a rarity.

I know that before midday a female Marsh Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier and a couple of Bitterns showed, but I think (or hope, actually) that I had moved on by then.

Undeterred, I moved onto Dawlish. Not the Warren, but a two and a half hour stint atop Langstone Rock. This was the most profitable portion of the day. The sea was rough but there was plenty of action. At least 30 Gannets, 5 Oystercatchers flew past, many Great-crested Grebes and one Little Grebe were the run of the mill stuff. I didn't see any Black-necked or Slavonian Grebes, or - most disappointingly - no Eiders. Still, there was a flock (c.15 birds) of Common Scoter (year tick 211; lifer 223) with another group of six or seven birds flying past, four Black-throated Divers (year tick 213; lifer 225) on the water and one Red-throated Diver (year tick 212; lifer 224). I expect there were more about but I'm quite the novice at sea watching. Many Razorbills flew past. A few landed on the water, some of which I reckoned were Guillemots (a hoped for year tick) but I just wasn't sure. I don't think I would've been able to pick out the female Surf Scoter had I seen it (I don't think I did). I thoroughly enjoyed the sea-watch though, and will definitely do it more regularly next year - ideally before the end of winter.

There were also trains. Frequent trains.

The fog wasn't proving a problem, so at about 1330hrs I decided to hit the last big target of the day - Cirl Buntings. Off I went to Labrador Bay. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Upon arrival it became clear that all the fog had congregated there. It was horrendous. One couldn't see more than a few meters ahead, it was very cold and the wind was howling. In short there was no chance of seeing a Cirl. Even being outside was quite a challenge, and not in the way that it's a challenge to get out and about in snowy conditions. This was truly unpleasant. The Cirls will have to wait for another day. On the plus side, at least I know the way.

I decided to go back to Exminster Marshes to use the remaining daylight hoping the Hen Harrier would show for me. Needless to say it did not, and neither did the Water Pipits. I decided that if I strayed too far from the scrapes (to find the redhead Smew, for example) I would miss something. In retrospect I can safely say I would've missed nothing. Except Starlings...

Should've gone back to Dawlish, really. The Exe area is smashing for birds though. Part of the problem is choosing where to go - so many places to pick from. I think my next sortie will involve a good study of the estuary, another pop at the Cirl Buntings and more time on Langstone Rock. Orcombe Point and Broadsands are two other spots I hear good things about.

A mixed day. I'm pleased to have added three more birds to both my year list and life list, but to be honest I had hoped for more. I seem fated to forever miss Hen Harriers. I think my birding new year resolution has to be to make better decisions. I know that it's a lot to ask to get everything one wants in one day trip, but I rarely seem to get above a 50% 'hit rate', which IMO needs to be improved in 2011.

So (of desirables) did see:

Common Scoter
Red-throated Diver
Black-throated Diver

Didn't see:

Cirl Bunting (weather prevented it)
Eider
Slavonian Grebe
Hen Harrier
Water Pipit

Scaup-fest at Slimbridge.

2010-12-29T17:23:00.011Z

Well, two Scaup.

Slimbridge has delivered the goods recently. Hot on the heels of the Gannet and Woodcock last week, two 1w Greater Scaup were found on the Rushy Pen yesterday. Despite foggy conditions, they were too big a lure.

One male, one female. The male was beginning to show the lovely grey vermiculations typical of an adult bird. It was good to see two examples of the species at an age I'd not seen before. Indeed, in with all the other birds present on the Rushy - particularly all the Tufties - the difference in scale between Scaup and Tufted Duck was extremely apparent. Close views most useful.

My only two previous Scaup sightings were the adult male at Cotwsold Water Park (West) and the female I spotted distantly at sea just off Hinkley Point in Somerset. Both were in March of this year.

I went down to the Kingfisher Hide, but the Whitefronts were absent, so as a last resort I tried the feeders enroute to the Holden Tower. Not only did the Great Spotted Woodpecker pay me another visit, but the (seemingly) resident Water Rail also showed very well.

That was my third Water Rail of the year. The first came on January 1st from the 100 Acre viewing platform at Frampton (it stood out on the ice at the rear), and the second came at the second hide down from the road (or first from the beach) at Porth Hellick on Scilly in September.

Northwick Warth and Aust Warth.

2010-12-24T18:03:00.018Z

A chilly, snow covered day between the two Severn crossings. I went specifically for the male Merlin, which duly appeared within two seconds of setting up my scope at Aust Warth. I watched (distant views, but passable through the scope) it fly low over the vegetation for about ten seconds, perch briefly and then spring upwards to pursue a Pipit. Then I lost it - and didn't see it again.

A large female Sparrowhawk flew directly overhead, and a Kestrel lazily flew along the shoreline.

I decided to walk down to Northwick Warth to the gate midway along the footpath. From there, at 1110hrs, I observed a large Harrier casually flying NE upriver over the Warth. It wasn't hunting, just 'ambling along'. It flew off towards the first Severn crossing, and out of range. Now, I felt strongly that this bird was a female / juvenile Marsh Harrier. No markings on the tail (absolutely no white rump), consistently very dark, and a noticably heavy (for a Harrier) build. In argument against, and to be honest, lighter markings on the head were hard to discern. But still, the unmarked tail and no white rump sells it for me.

I spoke with another birder who said that a ringtail Hen Harrier had been seen shortly before at New Passage. In addition, RBA has a ringtail Hen Harrier sighted flying NE over Chittering Warth at 1015hrs and Severnside Birds has a shot of an obvious Hen Harrier (probably the same individual). The site reports that the Hen Harrier stayed the afternoon at Aust Warth (from 1340hrs onwards) and also roosted there. So it lingered. Long before that my bird disappeared completely out of sight and for the remaining duration of my visit did not return... so I stick by my identification as a female / juvenile Marsh Harrier.

I'd love what I saw to be the Hen Harrier (it would've been a long overdue lifer), but it wasn't. Infact, given that I chose to visit today I consider myself unfortunate to have missed it. I realise that all this sounds awfully coincidental and that the simplest explanation is that there was no Marsh Harrier. But the thing is... there was. I think a Hen Harrier stayed for the day, and a Marsh Harrier passed through.

I drove down to New Passage hoping to find the Merlin, but the wind was getting up and so the temperature really began to take its toll. Plus, the Merlin didn't show. Finally, another 30 minute stint at Aust Warth was as far as my box of Maltesers would take me. I left 20 minutes (at 1320hrs) before the definite Hen Harrier showed well at Aust! By then, the Marsh Harrier was long gone...

Weatherman says the Sun will come out tomorrow.

Great Visit to Slimbridge.

2010-12-23T15:19:00.014Z

Given the weather, the reserve was light on people and heavy on birds. The best combination!

After buying some ace Christmas-but-not-Christmas cards from the shop (and a new feeder), I headed out first to the South Lake. Most of the water was iced over, but there were two oases of water for the birds to use. A good selection of wildfowl - Gadwall, Pintail, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Greylags, many Mute Swans with a few Bewicks for good measure.

Having enjoyed the luxury of a South Lake hide free of mothers and young children (!!!) for a while, I moved onto the walkway that takes you to the Holden Tower. There was very little (actually, nothing) to see from the Robbie Garnett or Stephen Kirk hides, but the feeders on the other side produced close-up views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a decent flock of Long-tailed Tits. All the other usual suspects were present, but I didn't see a Brambling.

The Woodpecker stayed for a good five or six minutes, but was eventually - and annoyingly - bullied off by...

Onto the Holden Tower itself, which was surprisingly pretty full (or perhaps not surprisingly!). There were, apparently, two small (c.20 and c.10 birds) flocks of probable Snow Buntings observed to the right of the Tower. Unfortunately I didn't see them when others did. I did infact see a small flock of something moving North along the Dumbles, but could not claim them as Snow Buntings. I kept up a vigil when the hide emptied, but did not see them again.

Still, Lady Luck certainly didn't abandon me as shortly after the 'Snow Buntings' showed an adult Gannet was seen flying upriver with the tide. Remarkable, and a first for me at Slimbridge - indeed in Gloucestershire. Everyone in the Tower observed the bird flying upriver, but when I was alone I watched it land on the water and begin to (in the main) float back downriver. I tried to photograph it, and although I got nothing of any real worth I was fortunate enough to catch it once with wings outstretched. I've messed about with the image something rotten in Photoshop, and you can clearly see a black tip to the left wing:

Best was yet to come, though... As I watched the Gannet floating along, Dave Paynter dropped into the Tower to let anyone inside (just me!) know that a Woodcock had been found near the Knott Hide. Dave provided access, and stunning views of the bird were had at a distance of about five yards. Beautifully camouflaged, it didn't move. Behold:

The picture doesn't do the colours justice. Through a telescope it was just gorgeous.

And with that I realised I was really feeling my toes, and so went home to warm up.

Target for 2011, #1.

2010-12-22T22:18:00.006Z

I only have so much disposable income, and available birding time. So, my target for 2011 is not to rack up as many birds as I can, and not to try and beat 210 species - which is increasingly likely to be my total for 2010. My goal for 2011 will be to see birds I have never seen before. Simple. The list will be embarrassingly long, and will have some pretty mundane stuff on it... but it feels like a better and more worthwhile challenge than going for numbers. I can - in the time available to me - specifically focus on visiting places where the birds on my list might be found... and I won't have to bother about making trips to get oh, Cattle Egret, Ring-necked Duck or Great Grey Shrike on my yearlist. They can be looked upon as luxuries.

Of course, the year definitely won't pass without a few good twitches (indeed, I'll target a few that may require a twitch), but if it comes down to a straight fight between two potential lifers I want to know what my priorities are.

So... as a first pass long in advance of the new year:

Bean Goose
Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Black Brant
Ruddy Shelduck
Eider
Common Scoter and Velvet Scoter
Lesser Scaup
Red Grouse
Black Grouse
Quail
Corncrake
Red-throated Diver
Slavonian Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Shearwater
Leach's Storm Petrel
Purple Heron
White-tailed Eagle
Hen Harrier
Honey Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard
Great Bustard
Stone Curlew
Dotterel
Jack Snipe
Arctic Skua
Caspian Gull
Glaucous Gull
Roseate Tern
Little Auk
Long-eared Owl
Tawny Owl
Hoopoe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Wryneck
Woodlark
Shore Lark
Richard's Pipit
Water Pipit
Citrine Wagtail
Nightingale
Bluethroat
Ring Ouzel (more time than any other will be swallowed up by this, no doubt)
Grasshopper Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Crested Tit
Bearded Tit
Penduline Tit
Chough
Common/Mealy Redpoll
Snow Bunting
Cirl Bunting

I think 30 of these would be good to set my sights firmly on (55 on the list - and I want a target I can reach!). Need to narrow it down, now. It may sound like a pretty unsophisticated birdy goal to just want to see these birds, but the reality is that's where I still am - looking to enjoy for the first time many birds that many others will be sick of by now!

Good Garden Bird.

2010-12-19T15:26:00.002Z

I have a moan about the paucity of birds visiting my garden, and then today this turns up. Maybe I should moan more often...

Garden Green Woodpecker, and a moan.

2010-12-09T17:57:00.008Z

Green Woodpecker in the garden this morning. Great! Yeah, but the high quickly turned to a low as I started pondering the failure of my garden - and excellent feeder setup - to attract a regular and diverse crowd of birds. The 'regulars' (and I use that word loosely) are:

- Up to 15 House Sparrows. They often descend to fight it out for one of the eight available feeding spots.
- A smattering of Blackbirds.
- Two Robins.
- One Dunnock.
- One Wren.
- Three or four Collared Doves and the usual Woodpigeons.
- Flyover Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Herring Gulls and both tiers of Black-backed Gulls.
- Occasionally a few Blue Tits and Great Tits grace us (but these are really rare visits).
- Even more occasionally a Goldfinch or two will remeber we have Niger Seed on tap, too.

Beyond those 'usual suspects' though, it's slim pickings. It's a typical suburban garden, but one that birds just don't seem interested in. The feeders and the tree they hang in are even out of the reach of any cats that might wander past. They've been up - stocked with food purchased from the RSPB - for over four years. In that time the only other birds I've seen using them have been:

- A female Siskin in 2007 (which was good, I'll admit).
- One instance each of a female and male Blackcap.
- One male Greenfinch.
- A small troop of Long-tailed Tits (that didn't stop).
- Tiny numbers of Chaffinch. Tiny.
- One Coal Tit.
- A Chiffchaff - extraordinarily briefly - two summers ago.
- Last winter a Mistle Thrush chould be seen most days in a neighbour's tree. In the same tree I spotted four Redwings one day.
- Also last winter a rather desperate looking Fieldfare was mooching around underneath the feeders. Indeed, when things were pretty desperate last winter for birds I put loads of food out for the birds, kept the areas free of snow, and still nothing came to take advantage of it.
- On the raptor front, we've had one Peregrine soaring way overhead, a Sparrowhawk stay for about fifteen seconds on a fence and a Buzzard erupting out of a large hedge and then pursued off by Gulls and crows.

That's it. It may appear to be a good selection (my garden list stands at 40)... but spread that over four years and an interesting bird (and right now I'd rate a Greenfinch, or even a regular Blue Tit, as an interesting bird) is a spectacularly rare event. It shouldn't be like this.

I visit family and friends' houses, with no better setup than me, and birds pour in all the time. Not here. Put the food out and the birds will come, my arse.

Surrounds of Hawling.

2010-12-05T22:13:00.010Z

The area around Hawling is pretty great, isn't it? If something flies, you see it. Today it was at its best - practically cloudless, practically windless and rammed with birds.

So. Many. Fieldfares.

I went for the Hen Harrier that had been seen a few times in the last week. Alas no sign. Raptor action extended only to five Buzzards, three Kestrels and one probable Merlin disappearing rapidly into vegetation.

I always figure that two and a half to three hours is fair game for a location, however the profusion of Redwings, Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings and Linnets (big flocks of the last two) actually kept me occupied for longer. I think I spent nearly four hours checking out the various sites. There were also smaller numbers of Chaffinch, Wren, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Common Gull and Stock Dove (oh and, y'know... corvids). Finally, a Grey Heron flew over the 'Short-eared Owl' field. The same field also held a single Brown Hare.

Still, the magical moment I had hoped for - when my first ever Hen Harrier would obligingly soar above me cast in distinctive silhouette against the pale blue sky - failed to materialise. It will though. It will.

Waxwings.

2010-12-03T16:13:00.006Z

Another half-day from work (have to use them up!), another for the year list. The Waxwings (year tick 210) in the cemetery off New Street in Ledbury were a wonderful treat. Between 30 and 40 birds, I reckoned. Unfortunately the Sun disappeared as soon as I arrived (after such a clear morning, too!), so photography was not the order of the day. Twas gloomy. So I oggled, and cooed, and generally decided that these birds are just too perfect. I did take some snaps, but only those of a someone stuck at 'camera grade one'.

Truly, it is hard to drag oneself away from these things. This was by far my most intimate Waxwing encounter and I'm tempted to revisit if they stick around. I left the cemetary to a chorus of Waxwing calls. Joyous.

Oh yeah, a female Crossbill dropped in very briefly, too - just about id'able in the middle distance gloom as I left. Which I thought was odd.

All I want for Christmas...

2010-12-01T18:23:00.002Z

...is one of these!

150 Minutes on the 100-Acre Viewing Platform.

2010-11-19T17:51:00.015Z

Having been reminded on Thursday afternoon that I had four and a half days still to take as holiday this year, I legitimately ducked out of work for a spot of Friday afternoon birding.

Frampton was beautiful (always is), and the 100-Acre / Green Lane area blissfully empty. Blue skies, sun, no wind. I was hopeful of something worth seeing. My pre-determined shift would run from 1400hrs to 1630hrs.

I'd thought there would be more Fieldfare about, but only three showed from the platform. A large flock in the trees enroute back to the canal made up for it, though. The main field infront of the platform was coated in Curlew - rarely taking flight but constantly piping away to each other. The Kestrel sat on the fenceposts to the right, frequently dropping to the ground to take (presumably) worms.

My notes say female, but should of course read male... it's only worth taking one's gloves off if absolutely necessary!

The Merlin was perched on the very far fenceposts, and so was never really within range of my camera. Respectible views were obtained through the scope, though, before the bird flew off at about 1515hrs. Throughout my audience, it appeared to be hunting Starlings (generously interspersed throughout the Curlew flock).

A Short-eared Owl showed up at 1545hrs, and was immediately harassed upwards and north-east by an army of Gulls and corvids. It came back ten minutes later, working its way along the far fenceposts where the Merlin had been stationed before disappearing over the river wall. Finally, at about 1610hrs, I was pleased to pick it up perched on the nearer fenceposts to the right-hand side of the platform, after which it finally obliged with a close fly past... before once again being chased off by corvids - this time towards Slimbridge. Even in the fading light I could've tried to take a good photograph of the Owl... but I decided I would rather just watch it.

The following are the finest pictures you will ever see of a Merlin (without a head) and a Short-eared Owl.

I also viewed a reasonable flock of Starlings wheeling around the Slimbridge grounds and large numbers of Lapwings moving upriver.

It was damn cold by 1630hrs.

Red-breasted Merganser.

2010-11-14T13:34:00.004Z

Despite foggy conditions the first winter drake Red-breasted Merganser (year tick 209; lifer 222) at Bredon's Hardwick (nr. Tewkesbury) was an easy target. At the five bar gate I bumped into a bloke who had just finished doing a wildfowl count. He confirmed the bird was still present. Nevertheless, it was 45 minutes before it showed again - probably lurking behind one of the trees or the island so inconveniently positioned in the middle of the lake. Once it showed, it fed with gusto but gave good views during the brief periods it spent above the water.

A Common Sandpiper was a welcome surprise.

Probably not a Water Pipit.

2010-11-13T19:45:00.018Z

After the good birds (Eider, Scoter, Divers, Little Auk, Bonxie, Arctic Skua) seen at various points along the mouth of the River Severn this week, this morning I took a trip to Severn Beach in the hope of grabbing a straggler. Unfortunately two and a half hours over the high tide produced little sparkle.

I did have some Pipit-related anxiety, though - infact, I still do. Watching a Skylark pottering about in the vegetation from the footpath, I got a very quick look at an interesting Pipit (c.20 yards away). Please note, this was an interesting bird because I've never seen a Water Pipit.

It wasn't a Meadow Pipit, that was for sure. I've seen many Rock Pipits, throughout the year, and never seen one with such a pale white and well-marked ('clean') supercilium - and matching submoustachial stripe. These two features leapt off the bird. I am not accustomed to seeing Rock Pipits with such a well-marked face.

I also clocked the overall hue of the upperparts before it flew (out of sight but not too far, which bothers me). Grey. I am confident it wasn't an olivaceous grey - as I might expect to see on a Rock Pipit. As a dominant characteristic, I'd plump for pale grey. The light was good and even so I didn't think optical tricks were at play.

Now, I would definitely clock winter Water Pipit if it had the colour of the bird that was at Farmoor Reservoirs recently:

That bird conforms to what I'd expect a winter bird to look like. Pale brown. My Collins says that winter Water Pipits are paler than winter Rock Pipits. The bird in that picture is satisfyingly pale, as was mine. Indeed, my Nils van Duivendijk sums the difference up as "upperparts brown-grey, paler and greyer than Rock w.". I saw mine as a pale grey, but perhaps pale brown can easily convert to pale grey if one is fresh to the species and not sat on top of it. My memory is of pale grey, though.

Thing is, what else could it have been? I've looked at pictures of littoralis, but they don't have the same obvious and clean supercilium my bird had.

I'm just confused because it seems obvious grey (albeit olive grey) on the upperparts leans more towards Rock Pipits, and brown (albeit pale) towards Water Pipits... and yet the supercilium and submoustachial stripe were both as as plain as day. I wish I'd seen it for longer. I waited in the hope it would come back, but it did not.

In conclusion I may have seen a Water Pipit at Severn Beach today... or I may not. I can't tick it. Damn.

American Bittern and Green Heron.

2010-11-03T21:59:00.016Z

I really, really wanted to go, but didn't want to admit to myself how much I wanted to go. Inevitably, I went. Departure from Gloucester at 0530hrs, arrival back in Gloucester 2030hrs.

The weather - all day - ranged from threatening to rain, to actually raining. Fortunately, it was only threatening whilst I was with the American Bittern (year list 207; lifer 220). This made waiting outside the hide (0830ish to 0930ish) tolerable. The bird spent it's time in an area north west of the Tower Hide (an excellent hide), so good views from both ends of the hide were not possible.

Still, I thought that behaviour inside was pretty good. Once those at the front had seen it well, they generally moved on allowing others access to the front. It wasn't a quick process, but it seemed to work. I was concerned that a front of serious-types would monopolise the good views, but happily not so. At least, this was the impression I got. In addition, those with scopes already set up were good enough to let those yet to get that far glimpse the bird to alleviate any fears of it buggering off just as they made it into the hide! There was perhaps a little frustration about at not being able to pick it up through bins, but this was because it was only possible to search with one's scope it if you were seated, or had a good perch at the best end of the back wall. If you were waiting your turn, and thus still standing with only bins, it was impossible not to feel a little anxious.

The bird was quite settled, though, and by the time I made it to the 'front benches' (1015hrs) I enjoyed a good views as the bird moved slowly left along the ditch it was favouring (juncus, juncus, juncus, red leaves, juncus!). I'd had a nice view. Conscious that others were as keen to see it as I was, and conscious of my plans for the rest of the day, I fired off a few lousy photographs (compiled below) and skedaddled.

It seems it stayed out in the open for a bit longer after I left (about 1045hrs), but didn't come any closer - at least until the afternoon when good views were had from both hides. In retrospect arriving later in the day might've been a good move as the crowds (myself included) all turned up early morning. Still, I am happy with what I saw... but envious of those who can easily go again!

Whether you get a long view, or a shorter one, provided you are patient the bird is obliging.

Also, thank-you to the CBWPS for letting the public in to see the bird, and shame on those who didn't stick a couple of quid in the collecting bucket. Judging by the number of people present, and the amount of money in the bucket, lots of people just didn't bother.

Next stop was The Lost Gardens of Heligan, and their resident cash cow - I mean, Green Heron (year list 208; lifer 221). Easy to find, as the rain reached it's peak for the day, around the edge of the top pond. Lovely scope views were a doddle to obtain. No real light for photographs, but I took some for the record (they're all very dark!).

All done by 1330hrs.

There were three hours of useful daylight remaining... enough time to get to Berry Head and have an hour on site. The main motivation was the possibility of Cirl Buntings. Alas, I saw none. Indeed, the fare from both ends of the peninsula was poor. No good warblers in the wood, and only Gannets, gulls, Fulmars, a Kittiwake, Cormorants from the end. Possibly a couple of small Skuas but I'm not skilled enough at sea watching to be sure. A good spot, though, for sure - made pleasant (even without any good birds) by the weather finally breaking and some late sunshine. I enjoyed looking accross the bay to Exmouth, where I could see the brightly coloured beach huts - one of which we use when visiting the town.

Should've gone back to see the Bittern again, though, really! Would probably have gotten some better views of it, but I would also have got home much much later than I did. I was really VERY tired on the long drive home, so from a common sense point of view stopping at Berry Head (essentially on the way home) was not the worst idea in the world.

All things considered a successful day, and one that helps dim the memory of dipping the Lesser Kestrel (my other long twitch this year).

Dipper.

2010-10-31T15:09:00.003Z

In the absence of a photograph of the bird, the following diagram indicates todays view of a Dipper (year tick 206: lifer 219) at Ruskin Mill, near Nailsworth:

The action took place as follows... I came in from the left of the picture, stood near the wooden railing in the foreground and the Dipper was exactly where I've expertly pasted it onto my photograph. It wasn't an easy perch, as the bird only remained for a few seconds (long enough to allow me to get my bins on it) before flying off in the direction of the arrows - broadly over my left shoulder.

This is a bird not suited to flying. Yes, it has wings and a tail, but it's wing beat to progress through the air ratio must've been pretty high. Collins says "whirring beats", and I can't disagree with that.

I had a quick glimpse of another bird a short distance downstream from the Mill, but that was it. After dipping the Oxon bird recently, and having no success in the Forest when looking for this bird, I'm relieved to finally see it.

Nothing Much About (ie. no Waxwings!).

2010-10-30T16:02:00.005Z

A morning jaunt around Saul Warth, Frampton lakes and Slimbridge produced no Waxwings (current objects of my desire). I checked out every Berry tree I could find! The blighters will get this far sooner or later, right?

Saul produced a Treecreeper, two Kestrels, one Peregrine (seemingly enjoying flushing Curlews on the estuary) and large numbers of Long-tailed Tits. As I walked along the edge of the river, I came across five or six Skylarks engaged in mid air combat, and also competing (it seemed) in displays of their hovering prowess. More than once a bird was hovering at head height no more than fifteen yards infront of me. I could get my scope on them. Brilliant views! On the estuary only Gulls, Curlews and Shelducks.

I did see an apparently large Falcon being mobbed by both gulls and corvids as I made my way to the river past Saul's right-hand flash. I only had two views as whatever was going on was going on too close to the shore on lower ground, and thus out of view. Most likely it was a large female Peregrine - as my views were both in silhouette so the size might've been deceptive - and the bird's wings were quite pointed. Still, it provided some intrigue and had me rushing through mud to get another view before it flew off. Alas, by the time I got to the shore it had flown off.

The Frampton lakes held nothing out of the ordinary. Incidentally, there were people sailing on the Sailing Lake! This make checking out the present birds harder, and was unnacceptable! ;-)

I finished up at Slimbridge for a quick peek at the Rushy. The Whooper Swan was present, but the Pinkfoot (if it was there) was not visible.

Absentee Update.

2010-10-25T16:24:00.007Z

Category One (birds I should definitely see)

Dipper, Firecrest, Grasshopper Warbler, Grey Partridge, Guillemot, Jack Snipe, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nightingale, Pied Flycatcher, Ring Ouzel, Tawny Owl.

I have been able to lose Barn Owl, Brambling and Redpoll from this list. Hurrah!

Category Two (birds I narrowly missed, or could've made - could still in some cases - the effort for)

Arctic Skua, Bean Goose, Bearded Tit, Chough, Cirl Bunting, Common Scoter, Dotterel, Eider, Great Bustard, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Hoopoe, Leach's Storm Petrel, Purple Heron, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Waxwing, White-tailed Eagle, Woodlark, Wryneck.

None from here. :-(

Category Three (those that may be offered up by Lady Luck)

Black Kite, Caspian Gull, Citrine Wagtail, Corncrake, Glaucous Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Honey Buzzard, Icterine Warbler, Long-eared Owl, Melodious Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Quail (I refuse to count it unless I see one), Red-rumped Swallow, Richard's Pipit, Roseate Tern, Rough-legged Buzzard, Snow Bunting, Snow Goose, Stone Curlew, Water Pipit, Wilson's Storm Petrel, Woodchat Shrike.

Today I dropped Great Grey Shrike from this list! I shouldn't think any other category three birds will be coming off before the end of the year, though.

Awesome progress...

Great Grey Shrike.

2010-10-25T15:46:00.007Z

I heard about it just after I got home from the Forest yesterday. Despite knowing full well that it would be dark by my arrival, I still went. Saw nothing, and caught the edge of a hailstorm.

The bird wasn't reported at all this morning, but I took a half-day from work and was beside the heather enclosure by 1300hrs. One lap of the enclosure later the Great Grey Shrike (year tick 205) finally appeared, shuttling back and forth between the fencing and the top of the path leading down to the Washpool.

It didn't stay still, though - at all - and would not tolerate any approaches. As soon as it spotted me moving towards it (often more than c.100 yards) it flew. Thus, my photographs are little more than record shots.

I'm delighted to get this bird without too much of a drive. Very convenient! Indeed, who knows when the I'll next get both Great and Lesser Grey Shrike (Scilly, 9th Sept.) on my UK year list!

Also noted were three flocks of Fieldfare, each maybe 15 birds strong.

Brambling & Lesser Redpoll.

2010-10-24T18:53:00.005Z

Hot on the heels of one 'Lesser Lifer' (the Yellowlegs), came a second - long overdue in the form of two Lesser Redpolls (year tick 204; lifer 218) on the path between Kensley Lodge and Crabtree Hill in the Forest of Dean. They were feeding on conifers in a huge flock (c.100 birds) alongside at least four Brambling (year tick 203), c.10 Goldfinch, 6 Coal Tits, 1 Greenfinch, c.15 Chaffinches and zillions of Siskin. Digiscoped Brambling for the record:

Earlier two probable Hawfinch in flight from New Fancy View, one Raven cronking over Woorgreens Lake and approximately 10 Goldcrests just off the lake (two seen very well indeed low in foliage).

I also stopped at the Speech House log to have another crack at photography. Possibly maybe a little better. Probably not.

Lesser Yellowlegs.

2010-10-16T21:27:00.012Z

The obliging Lesser Yellowlegs (year tick 202: lifer 217) was a nice Saturday afternoon twitch. Port Meadow is an excellent spot... what with Farmoor and Otmoor I'm beginning to feel some envy towards the folk of Oxon! I tried to take some photos, although usable light (and I only mean usable, not any sort of good) lasted for about five minutes, during which I was scrabbling to decide what to do. Even though I'm not getting results yet (this was like, my fourth ever outing with it and an SLR - I'm still learning to balance the various settings good effect), when I get the chance I do love playing with this 500mm lens!

Also two Ruffs, three Little Stints, a few Dunlin and Redshank. Behold a Ruff:

Barn Owl.

2010-10-14T19:26:00.003Z

I drove out to Roel Gate straight after work earlier in the week. I pitched slightly off the crossroads at about 5.15pm, and remained until it was dark. It was almost dark before a Barn Owl (year tick 201) finally showed - 6.45pm. After more crows than you could shake a stick at, I caught in the corner of my eye something with a different flight. Softly, softly. Alas, as I turned around I lost it. All was not lost, however. Ten to fifteen mniutes later, as it got darker still, I was sat on the grass and looked up - only to see a Barn Owl glide overhead. Like a spectre.

Whilst I waited I chalked up 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 male Stonechat, 2 Coal Tits, a flock of Long-tailed Tits and many Linnets and Meadow Pipits.

Will do this again, soon. Maybe I'll get a Barn Owl before it's too dark to fully appreciate it.

Short-eared Owl @ Aust Warth

2010-10-10T18:36:00.003Z

Took a chance on this today - after two consecutive days reports of one bird showing well. It did, albeit briefly and a little too late for really good photos. These three are the best I managed. I struggled with getting them sharp.

Oxfordshire.

2010-10-09T18:51:00.008Z

I've never seen a Dipper. Fact. So I thought the one showing periodically in Witney would be a good target. Alas, a couple of hours watching the weir produced nothing more than a Grey Wagtail.

In the gloom (which persisted all day) I moved onto Otmoor. Count from three and a bit hours trudging around the reserve is as follows:

Red Kite 2
Hobby 2
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Greylag Geese c.64
Canada Goose c.49
Black-headed Gull - loads!
Coot (loads and loads)
Mute Swans 9
Snipe (a probable 5 in flight together)
Lapwing 5
Shoveler 3
Grey Heron 2
Tufted Duck 2
Little Egret 2
Teal / Wigeon (small numbers of both)
Stonechat 1
Reed Bunting 1
Blue Tit / Great Tit / Greenfinch / Coal Tit on the feeders
Green Woodpecker (heard only)
Meadow Pipits (heard but not seen)
House Martins and Swallows moving in places.
...and loads of Mallard and Crows.

The highlight was a close view of a Hobby sat in a tree. I tried to take a photo, but the poor light rendered the equipment next to useless!

I stopped at Farmoor on the way home, and promptly saw nothing of interest (save a Great-crested Grebe in flight - a rare sight) as the conditions and light got even worse. So, I tried to photograph the Pied Wagtails. Messed around with them differently in Photoshop, but to little avail.

Finally, I completely forgot to check Filchampstead (right next to the reservoir) for Grey Partridge. Would've been a year tick. Bah.

Reflections on 200.

2010-10-04T18:35:00.017Z

Naturally I am delighted to get 200 for the year. A lot of driving and a lot of patience has gone into that. Feels like a real milestone and one I hope to reach earlier next year.

Still, there are absentees from the list that really bother me, that make me question my skills at locating birds that are, I suspect, there. The most glaring example of this is Pied Flycatcher. I spent hours at Nagshead earlier in the year and didn't see one. Everyone else I went with, and met, did or had. I reckon I must looked straight through one or two...

Then there are the birds I just didn't run into - despite putting in lots of effort. Ring Ouzel, for example. I died several deaths hiking over Cleeve Common, got good advice where to go and saw nothing but Blackbirds. It was, to be honest, totally dispiriting. I think that - however you spin the 'win-some-lose-some' nature of birding, it's stupid I haven't yet got Pied Flycatcher or (preferably and) Ring Ouzel.

Must. Do. Better.

I have the enthusiasm and am developing a pretty good eye for a bird when get it in my bins or scope - or when I'm tracking a bird I've seen - but to be honest, lack an eagle eye for picking out the diamonds in the rough. Still, I know I'm more observant now than I was 18 months ago, so progress will continue I've no doubt. Additionally, having taken the time to learn it I am now familiar with bird topography, and thus am increasingly able to consider an individual in the field based on it's plumage, but more importantly pick out a rare bird should I come across one. I am also getting good at recognising the common bird song - my Garden Warbler this year was initially picked out by ear. So there's progress!

Anyway... I've listed below (in a more comprehensive format than before) birds that - for various reasons - I have not seen this year. The first category is birds I should definitely have seen, or consider myself unlucky and / or basically BLIND to have missed. The second are birds I came within a whisker of seeing, or could've made a trip to see and didn't. The flip side to that category is, of course, that I only have so much disposable income to blow on petrol and only have so much free time. The third category are birds that - IMHO - you just have to be lucky to run into, or to be within shooting (no pun intended) distance of a twitchable specimen.

Category One

Barn Owl, Brambling, Dipper, Firecrest, Grasshopper Warbler, Grey Partridge, Guillemot, Jack Snipe, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nightingale, Pied Flycatcher, Redpoll, Ring Ouzel, Tawny Owl.

That I haven't had so much as a glimpse of a Barn Owl this year is annoying, particularly as I spent (what I could consider) 'enough' time trooping around the Hawling triangle (and further west towards West Wood) to get lucky once. Similarly, I saw a few Grey Partridge out there last year, but no joy this (I suppose a visit to Otmoor would've got that, though).

Brambling, yeah I'm confident of snagging one or two before year's end. Same goes for Redpoll (considerable effort will be put into this bird). A few Dippers are showing up withing a reasonable distance of Gloucester now, so that should be okay. Dipping a Dipper is bad!

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Nightingale remain elusive despite a number of lengthy stakeouts. I recall a furiously cold morning staring at trees on Cox's Meadow in Cheltenham hoping a long-staying Lesser Spotted Woodpecker would show - all the while being hassled by curious and / or ill-mannered school children / dog walkers / joggers. It did not show.

Grasshopper Warbler. Boy can these things throw their voices... or at least, I assume that's what they're doing because it's the only explanation for one now being where it darn well should've been along Green Lane this summer! Seriously though, a bit of unidentified movement in thick thickets is as close as I've come to this prize.

Guillemot? lol. I'm a bit stuck on this one. Scilly produced the odd Razorbill, but how I'll feel to finish a year list without Guillemot on it I don't know.

Category Two

Arctic Skua, Bean Goose, Bearded Tit, Chough, Cirl Bunting, Common Scoter, Dotterel, Eider, Great Bustard, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Hoopoe, Leach's Storm Petrel, Purple Heron, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Waxwing, White-tailed Eagle, Woodlark, Wryneck.

I could've made trips to coastline to see birds such as Arctic Skua, Chough, Cirl Bunting, Common Scoter and Leach's Storm Petrel. I could've gone up to Scotland to get White-tailed and Golden Eagle, or to Dungeness to see the Purple Herons, or more recently to Cheddar for the Red-breasted Merganser (etc..., etc...). I didn't, but as I said that's a victim of my budget.

I'm still hopeful of a Waxwing or two showing up before the end of the year. My sole effort to see a Red-backed Shrike ended in failure (inevitable given the cursory effort I had to put in) at Land's End the week before last. I should never have missed Woodlark during the ill-fated trip to Suffolk for the Lesser Kestrel.

I'd love to go and see the Great Bustard on Salisbury Plain. I'd count them as a tick with glee, btw.

And the less said about my Wryneck blank on Scilly the better. I'd previously had Merlin down as the bird I'll probably never see short of running one over. Now, Wryneck holds that distinction.

Category Three

Black Kite, Caspian Gull, Citrine Wagtail, Corncrake, Glaucous Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Honey Buzzard, Icterine Warbler, Long-eared Owl, Melodious Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Quail (I refuse to count it unless I see one), Red-rumped Swallow, Richard's Pipit, Roseate Tern, Rough-legged Buzzard, Snow Bunting, Snow Goose, Stone Curlew, Water Pipit, Wilson's Storm Petrel, Woodchat Shrike.

Of these, I'm disappointed I didn't get Citrine Wagtail, Ortolan Bunting, Icterine Warbler and maybe even Wilson's Storm Petrel on Scilly. The others require the rub of the green, as every one (save Red-rumped Swallow, Great Grey and Woodchat Shrike would be lifers). It'll take many years to get them all. But that's the fun!

Still... that's not to say I haven't had the rub of the green elsewhere! The highlights of the 200 were:

• Fantastic views of Bitterns (FIVE at once at Ham Wall). I've never seen so many Bitterns at once, and would wager it'll be some time before I do again. To get one in my scope and watch as it flew was magical.
• Tree Sparrows at Hawling. A bird that was high on my wanted list.
• Black Redstart at Sharpness. A very showy bird.
• Willow Tit at Highnam. My first solo ID of this species.
• Scaup and Smew at Cotswold Water Park. Both first for me, but Smew was a long-held ambition. I'd still go a long distance to see a male Smew, and suspect that will always be the case.
• Ring-necked Duck all to myself in a far corner of Court Lake. It was long-gone from Slimbridge, and was showing periodically on Court Lake. After much effort (isn't it great when effort is rewarded?) I tracked it down on the far side in a small inlet. Just me and the duck. Fantastic.
• The two Greenland White-fronted Geese at Slimbridge.
• My first solo ID of a female Scaup on the sea. This may not sound like much, but I was - and remain - chuffed with it.
• The Pallid Swift at Kessingland. Not really adequate compensation for dipping the Lesser Kestrel, but a great bird none-the-less. The same trip bought my my first ever Dartford Warblers.
• Running into an extremely late Short-eared Owl at Hawling. I thought I'd probably left it too late to get one, and so my trip was very much a shot in the dark.
• The drake Garganey at Saul.
• The Osprey at Witcombe Reservoirs. Easily the best bird I've ever seen there. It arrived one evening, and to my shame I'd not checked the net to see if any birds had turned up in the county that day. Thus I didn't find out about it until 11pm (thanks for some great photos on The Gloster Birder), and had to get up before sunrise to see it the next morning. Even then, I only just saw it as it flew off within a couple of minutes of my arrival.
• Getting down to Slimbridge on the one summer evening the Spotted Crake was showing... and showing well. A blisteringly beautiful bird.
• Being on the second (older) viewing platform off Green Lane just as a Spoonbill flew past heading north (mobbed by Gulls).
• Going for a Red-footed Falcon at Wiltsone Reservoir, and getting great views despite terrible conditions.
• It's a pleasure to be so close to Boys Grave, and the Nightjars. Any trip there is a treat. They come so close. Insect repellent a must, though!
• A great view of the male Little Bittern at Ham Wall.
• It took two attempts to see the Gull-billed Tern at Exmouth / Bowling Green Marsh, but I did. Although the views were distant the behaviour was great.
• Great views of a Merlin on the ground at Slimbridge.
• Again at Slimbridge, the time when at least 20 Curlew Sandpipers turned up on the mud off Middle Point hide. Amazing.
• All the birds I saw on Scilly count as a highlight! But... the Lesser Grey Shrike was the clear winner. Not only was it a wonderful bird, but it hung around for a few days and gave exquisite views.

So there we go, a moan about my failures and near-misses, and the happy highlights of the year so far. I think - given luck and a fair wind (and in places a keener eye) - 215 isn't beyond me. We'll see...

Witcombe Monday.

2010-10-04T18:26:00.003Z

I decided to do a full count at Witcombe this evening - only birds on, over or on the shore of the Reservoirs. Ever hopeful of a good bird at the location, I was again disappointed.

2 Little Grebes
9 Great Crested Grebes (incl. two juvenile birds - one constantly calling to it's parent)
1 Grey Wagtail
13 Pied Wagtails
13 Mallards
58 Coot
6 Tufted Duck (one with a very significant ('Scaup-esque') amount of white at the bill base)
2 Mute Swans
A large gang of Long-tailed Tits (c.20 birds?) around the abandoned cottage (4 Blue Tits also present)
17 Black-headed Gulls
c.25 Crows (counted in one sweep incl. flying birds)
c.100 Swallows. And when I say 100, it could've been half as many again. A vast flock (the biggest I've ever seen there) feeding like crazy over the water. I guess they're on their way out of the country for the winter...

200!

2010-10-03T17:34:00.012Z

Having failed to hit 200 on Scilly, I was going to pounce on the next opportunity to tick birds. I've had a permit for Chew Valley Lake for six months now, but never got round to actually visiting. Shame on me. Still, the presence of Ferruginous Ducks and Black-necked Grebes meant that - in theory - I could get them both in the same day.

And so it was. Both birds were in amongst the enormous numbers of diving ducks congregating in Heron's Green Bay. I'm pleased with the pic of the Ferruginous Duck. The Grebe shot is lousy, but as the 200th bird for the year (the first time I've ever hit 200), I have to post it!

I started - in driving rain - on the roadside parking that separates Heron's Green Bay and Heron's Green Pool. Very difficult viewing conditions, and I saw neither bird in the throng. On the plus side, I'd never seen so many Little Grebes in one place before.

I moved to shelter, and as the weather improved I progressed to the Stratford and Moreton hides. Very good hides. Well hidden. Although the permit idea is a good one - only birders present - I never once got the impression I would have to produce my permit for anyone. Enforcement aside, and on the bird front, I was beginning to think I'd made the trip for nothing. Both hides offered good views of everything but. Running out of time, I ended up on the grass next to Moreton Cottage. It was here I saw both target birds. The smart Ferruginous Duck was first in my eyepiece (to my great relief), swiftly followed by the Grebe (scruffy in winter plumage). Hard to spot since they don't seem to spend much time on the surface! Only one of each located, but that was good enough for me. Take some photos, and in the calmer conditions have a good long look. The Ferruginous Duck was kind enough to flap it's wings revealing it's white belly.

Finally, I had a look around for the Ferruginous Duck x Pochard hybrid, but drew a blank.

200 for the year now. Mission accomplished! The next task is to get to as high a number as I reasonably can. Anything from here on in is a bonus. One thing's for sure though... I'll be back to Chew.

Scilly.

2010-09-24T19:24:00.037Z

I've just returned from two weeks (9th - 23rd September) on Scilly. I would've preferred to visit in October, but Scilly is an expensive place and a family holiday remains the most convenient way to get across - particularly given my taste for a particular accomodation. Thus, the middle of September was the best compromise. I will 'do October' in the coming years.

Before I go any further I should mention that I hired an RBA Pager for the two weeks. This was my first experience with a pager, and what a revelation it was. Mobile phone reception (particularly on my O2 iPhone) was patchy at best, and so I was unable to get any real use out of the 'Bird News Anywhere' service from birdguides. When I did check Bird News Anywhere it seemed that RBA broadcast all the news between ten minutes and half an hour earlier than birdguides. To be honest, I began to wonder if one simply copies from the other! Bird News Anywhere remains more economical than RBA for birding on the mainland, but for Scilly I cannot recommend the pagers enough... even if the beeping will drive you stir crazy!

From the perspective of someone only a couple of years into serious birding, I had a very successful time. I started the fortnight on 176 for the year, and finished it on 198.

The place was crawling with Gannets (year tick 177), the first of which was spotted from the plane on the way over. Within two minutes of stepping off the plane I had the Lesser Grey Shrike (lifer 200; year tick 178). It remained my favourite bird of the two weeks, as it stayed for four or five days providing glorious views on each visit to the airport:

I also took a short video of the bird from the road:

Immediately after the Shrike I shot across to Tresco (adding Shag (year tick 179) to the year list on the way over) to see the first winter Wilson's Phalarope (lifer 201; year tick 180) on the Great Pool. Glorious views through my telescope, but my photo of it was hilariously bad. Still, it was a lifer and so I must post the pic:

That evening I took to the airfield to get good views of three Buff-breasted Sandpipers (lifer 202; year tick 181), and view nine Golden Plovers. I took a photo of the Sandpipers, but due to the fading light and strong wind it's also pretty terrible:

The following morning I viewed a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper (lifer 203; year tick 182) on Porth Hellick Pool, but took no photos as I had neither my camera or telescope with me. The bird relocated to Tresco's Great Pool and then Abbey Pool for the next week or so. From the hide I also spent a little time scannign for a reported Crake (sp.) and had a very nice extended view of a Water Rail.

A trip around the Eastern Isles on the 12th September produced my first Fulmar (year tick 183) of the holiday, and indeed of the year.

The 13th September provided my first opportunity to fulfil a long-held ambition... to take part in a Scilly Pelagic. Joe Pender took the MV Sapphire out five or six miles SW of St. Mary's. The chum and fish was prepared and we drifted for a few hours as a slick developed on the water.

The day gave me Razorbill (year tick 185) and Manx Shearwater (year tick 186) for the year, and lifers in the form of five or six Storm Petrels (lifer 204; year tick 184), two or three Great Skuas (lifer 205; year tick 187), one Balearic Shearwater (lifer 206; year tick 188) and 3 Grey Phalaropes (lifer 207; year tick 189). On the day, the only bird I managed to photograph even semi-satisfactorily was one of the three Grey Phalaropes:

Funny thing, a few weeks ago I had never seen a Phalarope. Today, I have Red-necked, Wilson's and Grey (in that order) on my list!

I have to say that the Great Skuas were the most thrilling birds to see. I've wanted to see on for as long as I've been birding, and they were as magnificent as I'd hoped.

The same evening I went to Peninnis Head to see the Lapland Buntings (year tick 190). Many Laplands were on the islands during the course of the two weeks, and although the following photo wasn't taken until a few days later, it was the best I managed:

The second week saw a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper (lifer 208; year tick 191) take up residence at Porth Hellick pool. A constant delight, I finally managed some photos on my last day, and also some of a Snipe that strutted about infront of the hide:

On the 17th September, the Boatmen put on the first trip to the Bishop since I'd arrived on the islands. Off I went - Sapphire the transport (my new favourite boat, incidentally). On the Western Rocks were my first ever Purple Sandpipers (lifer 209; year tick 192). Good views through binoculars, but photos from the boat were impossible with the Ixus I'd decided to bring. Still, I took one. It's a case of 'Spot the Sandpiper':

A 'Seabird Special' Trip with Will Wagstaff failed to produce any ticks, but we did see the resident Spoonbill on Green Island and get a nice view of one of the many Sandwich Terns on the rocks rather than in flight:

On the 20th September a second Pelagic was arranged. This was even better than the first - a much calmer sea, no need to chum (we chased Trawlers... going 20 miles out to sea!) and awesome birds.

A sole Puffin (year tick 194) was the only non-lifer, and a very welcome bonus:

Everything else had me on cloud nine... Sooty Shearwaters (lifer 210; year tick 193), two Arctic Terns (lifer 212; year tick 196), two SABINE'S GULLS (lifer 211; year tick 195) (one juvenile and one adult) and one juvenile Long-tailed Skua (lifer 213; year tick 197). I tried my best to photograph them, and think I did pretty well for someone using an SLR camera for the first time at sea! I feel I could get much better, of course.

I also got shots of a Storm Petrel and a Manx Shearwater:

A juvenile Kittiwake flew directly above the boat for a few minutes. A great subject:

And of course, a half-decent photo of a Great Skua - truly fantastic birds:

There were also two non-birding moments that deserve a mention. The first was an Ocean Sunfish just off St. Martin's which I took no pictures of. The second was a pod of Common Dolphins (much further out) that decided to swim infront of the boat. It was beautiful - one could stand on the bow of the boat and watch them swim infront of you. A fabulous experience:

Great stuff, and a great day. £20 for the trip is indeed a bargain.

The last few days offered little but frustration. An Ortolan Bunting proved elusive on the Garrison, reports of a Great Grey Shrike on Tresco proved to be nonsense and a potential Thrush Nightingale (also on the Garrison) disappeared as soon as it was first spotted with no conclusive identification possible.

Birds I hoped to see on the islands, but didn't, are Firecrest, Citrine Wagtail, Wryneck, a possible Greenish Warbler at Holy Vale and a Common Rosefinch (although I did see a Turtle Dove during the search!). All were reported. To be honest, I can't believe I didn't get Wryneck. I'll get one eventually, though! I also spent a little too much time hunting for an Icterine Warbler that had been reported a couple of times on St. Agnes (once near The Parsonage and once on the track down to Cove Vean).

Some other photographs of birds I think are 'okay' are Black-tailed Godwits showing their tails, a Greenshank on Porth Hellick beach, a Grey Wagtail in the gloom at Porth Hellick Pool and a couple of Wheatears up near Deep Point (caught a couple in the air, too!):

On the drive back from Land's End to Gloucester I tried for the juvenile Red-backed Shrike on Treeve Common and the Glossy Ibis at Avonmouth. The Shrike, alas, wasn't showing when I visited but the Glossy Ibis (lifer 214; year tick 198) obliged with a flyover after it's regular ditch turned out to be unoccupied.

People say that Scilly's on the wane as a birding locale, but for me it still offers great joy. There are still so many birds I haven't seen, that Scilly (a place I love even excluding the birdlife) will remain my first choice. The local birders were all very nice and helpful and VERY knowledgeable, and I look forward to my next trip enormously.

Finally a tip for birding on St. Mary's... hire a bike.

Finally finally, where can I go to see a bleedin' Guillemot?

I'm Going To Scilly Tomorrow.

2010-09-08T17:05:00.002Z

Yes I am.

Right now, a Lesser Grey Shrike is parading about near the airport on St. Mary's, Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Lapland Buntings abound, an Icterine Warbler seems to have taken up temporary residence in the Garrison pines, Wrynecks seem to be under every stone and a freakin' Wilson's Phalarope has just shown up on Tresco.

Trouble is, I'm not on Scilly yet...

Black Terns.

2010-09-07T20:44:00.002Z

Another bonus bird this evening - two Black Terns (lifer 199; year tick 176) at Frampton's Sailing Lake. The birds were easy to spot after a quick dash down the M5 after work. Two minutes after my arrival one bird was kind enough to settle on a floating buoy (or whatever they're called) long enough for me to attempt a photograph.

Decent numbers of Black Terns about today - 36 at Chew and 25 at Farmoor. Might've expected more than 2 at Frampton!!!

Red-necked Phalarope.

2010-09-04T13:22:00.010Z

It turned up at Slimbridge on Tuesday. Naturally, I assumed it would be long gone by Saturday... but not so. At 0930hrs this morning I was watching a very smart juvenile Red-necked Phalarope (lifer 198; year tick 175) from the Zeiss hide. I've never seen a wader move so quickly through the water. If you looked away from the scope for even a few seconds, the next time you looked it was some distance away. The heat haze wasn't a problem at that time in the morning, and so the views were good. Most striking were the buff stripes. Another bonus lifer!

I tried to take photos, but the bird was too far away and too small. Nevertheless it being a nice lifer I have to post my effort. This... ahem... is it:

Wader-wise, also present were four Golden Plovers (one still losing summer plumage), one juvenile Little Stint (a fine example), 6-8 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, one Ruff, numerous Black-tailed Godwits and many, many Dunlin and Lapwing. A Buzzard showed up and spooked the Lapwing, and bizarrely (I thought) tried a bit of hovering.

I moved onto the South Lake Observatory and saw three Spotted Redshank and one Curlew Sandpiper. The latter showed very well, allowing possibly my best views of the species yet:

I intended then to leave. I knew a Wood Sandpiper had been seen on the reserve yesterday, but all the talk was that it hadn't been relocated today. On my way to the exit I passed the sightings board and noted that it had been seen today...

(note the Aquatic Warbler that stayed for five minutes midweek!)

...but where? By chance I ran into Dave Paynter and asked him. The bird was at the northern end of the reserve and thus out of bounds to visitors. He was about to take the morning Landrover Safari out there, though, and said I could tag along in the Landrover. Great!

The Safari was pretty good, but unfortunately the closest we got to the Wood Sandpiper was hearing it call as it retreated out of sight! Plain bad luck!

Also seen along the way were numerous Kestrels, one Sparrowhawk, and three Hobbys - one distantly, and two hunting over the flashes. These provided glorious close views - possibly the best I've ever had. Actions and plumage. Adult birds. We watched them catch their prey and devour it on the wing. Finally, along the estuary edge a large Raptor erupted out of a patch of reeds before instantly disappearing back down again. It did this a couple of times, and I was the only person to see it. Based on nothing more than observation I strongly suspect it was a Marsh Harrier.

Two More Down, Fifteen More To Go.

2010-08-31T17:38:00.003Z

Since I last posted this 'Should've Seen This Year' list I've seen many Yellow Wagtail and a single Merlin. I still think I could get half of the remaining birds:

Barn Owl
Brambling
Common Scoter
Dipper
Firecrest
Glossy Ibis
Grasshopper Warbler
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier
Jack Snipe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Flycatcher
Redpoll
Ring Ouzel
Woodlark

Also, my year list is now at 174, and I think that my 200 target is very achievable - especially with a trip to Scilly in September. Now, I know that September isn't peak time, but since I'm still a relative novice it should give me a number of birds I've never seen before. For example I'd go bat crazy for a Red-backed Shrike or a Buff-breasted Sandpiper - both of which are quite likely.

I'm also conscious that my UK llife list it at 197. I wonder what the 200th will be?

Merlin!

2010-08-30T16:45:00.011Z

Saw my first ever Merlin (year tick 173; lifer 197) today. A Raptor long overdue.

Rewind and I went along with Martin McGill's walk to the Slimbridge estuary late morning / early afternoon. The man knows his birds!... and what a perfect habitat. I can now see why it's kept out of bounds. You can get so close to the birds, and although most visitors would be mindful a number would not. Plus, you'd have to alter the habitat to let visitors down there - restrict their movements and so on - and that would be no good.

Seen at the high tide were large numbers (100 each?) of Ringed Plover and Dunlin, one Little Ringed Plover juvenile which was seen on the estuary and later from the Zeiss hide, probably ten Sanderling (almost entirely juveniles - but the best views I've ever had of this species), one Snipe (apparently the first they've seen for an age down by the river), a flock of Curlew flew past, one Greenshank flew over and one juvenile Turnstone (year tick 174).

A juvenile Sanderling, and below that a Ringed Plover:

Two Ravens flew overhead, wheeling and cronking. At least six Little Egrets could be seen nearer Middle Point.

Also beside the estuary were one Wheatear and one Whinchat. Both were sat on the fence. Indeed, at one point they were sat only c.30cm from each other. Would've made a good photo. The star non-wader however, was the Merlin. It was a juvenile, and made a couple of passes at the small waders. Martin said it had been trying the same trick yesterday, too. This definitely counted as a bonus bird, as I'd pretty much resigned myself to not seeing a Merlin - ever! In two years of serious birding I'd never even had a sniff of one. Rubbish photos, but necessary since this was a lifer:

Martin then moved us ('us' being 38 people!) on to the Zeiss hide overlooking the Top New Piece. The tide had pushed the waders up nicely. The stars, of course, were 10+ juvenile Curlew Sandpipers (one also seen by the estuary but I didn't catch it). Heat haze made viewing them difficult, but the supporting cast was typically strong. Ruff, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpipers and Black-tailed Godwit.

A good few hours. Fewer numbers of people would've been better, but beggars can't be choosers!

Three visits to Slimbridge in three bank holiday weekend days. Tiring. Five year ticks (Little Stint, Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Merlin and Turnstone) and two lifers (Curlew Sandpiper and Merlin) though... so I'm not complaining!

Curlew Sandpiper.

2010-08-29T10:59:00.015Z

I did try again.

0715hrs: Saul Warth. Blustery conditions first thing, with an ever-present threat of rain. Other than Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit, the only wader action came from two Common Sandpipers. Two Peregrine Falcon's passed through as I walked to the shore. One stopped in an unsuccessful attempt to pluck a Blue Tit from a small tree. Along the dividing hedge a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming furiously.

0845hrs: Middle Point. What a difference a day makes. Yesterday the wader flocks were far too distant to the right, or hidden from view too the left - and the strong sunlight made viewing conditions difficult. Today huge numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plover (adults and juv.) were occupying the mud infront of and a little to the right of the hide. Tremendous. The Sun was poking out from behind clouds, but the light was predominantly good and even.

In amongst the Dunlin and Plover were two Little Ringed Plovers, two Little Stints, one Bar-tailed Godwit and c20 Curlew Sandpiper (lifer 196; year tick 172)!!! It was amazing... myself (and a number of other birders present) couldn't stop picking them out from the crowd. You could point your scope at any part of the flock and pick out a few of them. At times they came quite close providing truly excellent views in truly awesome numbers. Most were in juvenile plumage, but a couple were sporting a little deep red on the breast.

An awful snap of (left to right) one Dunlin, one Ringed Plover and one Curlew Sandpiper:

Eventually the waders all flew off to the left and out of site.

1030hrs: From the Zeiss Hide were Redshank (possibly a Spotted, too), Greenshank, Ruff, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Snipe, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwits. Also present - coming in off the high tide as predicted - were some of the Curlew Sandpipers (I counted six).

Ducks too, but this wasn't a Duck trip.

In conclusion... WOW! So many Curlew Sandpipers! A triumphant lifer, and one of my best birding moments of the year.

Waders at Slimbridge.

2010-08-28T15:25:00.014Z

0650hrs: Frampton Sailing Lake and no Arctic Terns. Still, it's always a pleasure to watch Common Terns feeding. Mist was rising off the lake, and all was well. I wandered over to Court Lake, to be greeted by nothing more surprising than a dead Swan on the bank. Mauled by a dog, no doubt... I noted two or three Chiffchaffs along the edge of the Sailing Lake.

0815hrs: Middle Point. Only myself and two others had come down to watch the high tide. Surprising, after all the good stuff reported during the working week. There was great movement back and forth (never stopping right infront of the hide) of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. In excess of 100 birds. In amongst them we spotted a lone Little Stint (year tick 170), and briefly one Greenshank. As the tide rolled in, a small party of Knot cruised past alongside the usual rafts of Curlew and Shelduck. A Grey Heron was mobbed by a Black-headed Gull. Actually, it was attacked!

1015hrs: Once the tide had covered the estuary (birds seemed to congregate towards the left, out of site), it was time to retreat to the Holden Tower. Many more Knot, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Dunlin... a single Green Sandpiper and two Sanderling occupied the last remaining scrap of shore (year tick 171). The Sanderling were identifable by size, colour and behaviour.

The heat haze looking towards the river was getting worse by the minute, and soon the hide became next to useless.

On the shore I could see a WWT vehicle giving four lucky people fantastic views of the waders. I imagine there are hundreds of birds trapped there on the high tide - invisible to everyone else. Why the heck isn't it possible - outside of the occasional wader viewing trips - to pay a little extra and get down there? It seems to me that one of the best sights the reserve has to offer is closed off. I'd pay. Anyway one of the lucky few, I noted, was The Gloster Birder. I would later learn from the Slimbridge website that they had seen two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.

Just before I left two Wheatears cruised over the Dumbles.

1100hrs: I moved onto the Zeiss hide. This is where it got frustrating. Those in the hide when I arrived reported seeing THREE Curlew Sandpipers infront of the hide only a few minutes before I arrived. I guess they'd gone back out onto the estuary as it began to uncover once again. I stuck around for a little while, as Curlew were coming and going so movement wasn't one way just yet. Needless to say, they didn't come back. A lifer missed.

Big plusses from the hide were seven Greenshank (the most I've ever seen in one place), four Redshank, six Ruff, large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, three Buzzards (a family party) and a Kestrel.

A Ruff is hassled by a Lapwing:

Redshank, a Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank:

1130hrs: Finally, the South Lake held yet more Blackwits and three Spotted Redshank.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing again tomorrow but going to Saul Warth first thing and the Zeiss hide immediately after Mid Point. Holden Tower is frustratingly distant from the waders, and completely incompatible with tripods.

Witcombe Friday.

2010-08-27T18:34:00.003Z

Today - after two days - the rain finally stopped. After work I shot down to Witcombe Reservoirs to see if anything had been down and stuck around. No waders (water levels removing any useful shoreline), but two Wheatears bustling about the edge of one reservoir made the trip worthwhile.

Black Tern.

2010-08-25T16:29:00.002Z

Nobody reported the Common Terns as Arctic Terns. Good.

However it seems that Court Lake was at the same time playing host to a juvenile Black Tern. I didn't visit Court Lake due to the endless Common / Artic Tern conundrum. Arse.

Not Arctic Terns.

2010-08-24T20:17:00.011Z

So four Arctic Terns (2 adult, 2 juv.) were present at Frampton's sailing lake on Monday - the 24th. I went this evening to see if I could see them - it would be a year tick and a lifer.

I arrived at the lake at about 1800hrs, and immediately picked up on four Terns feeding over the lake. Two juveniles and two adults. Then it got hard. As much as I wanted to make these birds into Arctic Terns, I just could not. I'm no Tern expert, indeed I've never seen an Arctic Tern (thus I've no real world frame of reference)... but I really thought about this and I reckon they were all Common Terns.

Neither of the adults displayed the advertised grey wash on the breast, and so their cheeks did not seem contrastingly white. The primaries had more black on them than the distinct narrow bar one would expect on an Arctic Tern. Their bills were most definitely not blood red, and both had a clear black tip. I tried to convince myself that they had shorter necks, but not so. It wasn't inconceivable that their centre of gravity as they flew was towards the chest, but I don't see enough Common Terns to be sure of their jizz! I don't know how short the legs of an Arctic Tern actually are, but I reckoned these were too long.

So to the juveniles. I struggled with the head markings, but their bills both had a significant area of orange on the lower mandible (more than just the base). There was very little ginger-brown across the birds, though - which complicated matters. Both juveniles had pale inner secondaries and darker outer secondaries creating a pale patch on the wing. I would expect a Common Tern juvenile to sport this dark secondary bar - an Arctic Tern should recede to white along the edge. I saw them both perched, and noted the dark carpal bar was particularly obvious.

All this is cribbed from books and text, sure, but it was all a match for Common Tern.

Finally, I do have one type of experience on my side... I know that if I am trying to convince myself I'm seeing the less-common bird (I couldn't describe Arctic Terns are 'rare'), then I'm probably not seeing it.

Boy do I hope nobody reports these birds as being Arctic Terns... but I have to fall on the side of Common Tern.

In the form of compensation, I got a great view of a nearby Kingfisher, and a noisy Green Woodpecker.

Wood Sandpiper.

2010-08-22T18:43:00.005Z

A trip to Ryall Pits in Worcestershire (not very far up the M5) produced a very satisfying lifer. The Wood Sandpiper had been reported early afternoon, and so a late afternoon trip threatened disappointment. Fortunately the bird was present on the southern scrape - interacting with a couple of Green Sandpipers.

Noticably more elegant than the two Greens and sole Common it shared the scrape with, the Wood's yellow-green legs, prominent white supercilium and bold upperparts leapt through the eyepiece.

Also present was a Little Ringed Plover, a Little Grebe and many House Martins and Sand Martins.

I still don't possess a decent camera and adapter setup for my DCA, so below are my best efforts at photographing the Wood. Dreadful. Indeed, if you ignore the splash of supercilium you could mistake it for a Common. But it's not. It's a beautiful Wood.

Witcombe Monday.

2010-08-09T20:19:00.003Z

The threat of rain lingered from the moment I arrived, to the moment I departed. Indeed, as I saddled up to leave water began to splash on the windscreen.

The star bird was a Kingfisher. Too distant to determine gender, but close enough to get a good view. The bird - positively glowing in the dull conditions - popped out of a thick waterside bush, took a prey item from the water and landed on the shore. Smash, smash, smash, and away.

I tried to identify it's hunting position, but couldn't.

Yellow Wagtails.

2010-08-01T16:18:00.001Z

Tens of them on the Tack Piece at Slimbridge - associating with cattle.

Hallelujah.

Another List Check.

2010-07-28T20:49:00.003Z

Little Owl and Turtle Dove now struck off the list! Remaining as follows:

Barn Owl
Brambling
Common Scoter
Dipper
Firecrest
Glossy Ibis
Grasshopper Warbler
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier
Jack Snipe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Merlin
Pied Flycatcher
Redpoll
Ring Ouzel
Woodlark
Yellow Wagtail

These are birds that I should see during the course of the year (really should... I have bins, a scope and a car), would feel disappointed if December rolled around and I hadn't seen them... but have yet to encounter.

I mean, honestly, how have I not yet seen a Yellow Wagtail?

Witcombe Monday.

2010-07-26T20:34:00.004Z

Continuing the hot streak (if indeed, last weeks Common Tern constitutes a hot streak) at Witcombe, this evenings visit saw two Green Woodpeckers flying through, one Green Sandpiper probing the far shore ('Heron side') and most exciting of all two Little Owls. Both calling, approximately 100 yards apart. Only saw one; a decent (if colourless) view through my scope at 40x as it sat on a bare branch in the rapidly fading light. A most unexpected year tick. Number 167.

Farmoor Reservoir.

2010-07-25T22:11:00.014Z

Friday and Sunday evening were spent at Farmoor Reservoir. In between was a first skiing lesson in Milton Keynes - which was harder than I thought! Fun, though, and although I was nearer the bottom of the class than the top I have hopes of becoming competent enough. Farmoor was a place I'd long earmarked to visit, but just not urgently enough to make a special trip. The 'skiing' allowed me to stop off in both directions. Sweet.

Farmoor Resevoir itself is excellent; the causeway provides splendid views of the Gulls and... gazillions of Pied Wagtails! I'd hoped to spot a wader or two along the causeway, but no joy. Turnstone and Sanderling were seen more than once over the weekend (well, a Turnstone and a Sanderling), but I didn't get them myself. Only had an hour each time (a walk across the causeway, a poke about the Pinkhill and Shrike Meadows, and back), so perhaps that's not surprising. I did see two waders shooting off across Reservoir I on Sunday, but other than white rumps I had nothing else to go on. Will have to check out the possibilities.

The two reserves, Pinkhill and Shrike Meadows, were a bit underwhelming. Locking the hides... how ridiculous.

Anyway, my target bird for Friday's visit was Yellow-legged Gull which... I acquired within ten minutes of arriving. A bird was sat, conveniently, on a blue buoy in Reservoir II, viewed from halfway across the causeway.

I'll be honest, I was 99% sure the bird was a Yellow-legged Gull, but having never seen one in the flesh before I was nervous about the identification. Fortunately, a fellow birder confirmed things for me. Now I know what I'm looking for, I'll have no trouble picking a YLG out. I find this with 'hard to separate species'... once I've seen them for myself they really stand out. Many a time I've studied a Lesser Black-backed Gull and wondered, but now I realise I was kidding myself. When you actually see the rarer bird, you really know it.

More than one picture because this is a lifer (also year tick 166). I took loads and loads, to be honest.

There was a juvenile Mediterranean Gull associating with the Black-headed Gull flock. That'll be my sixth Mediterranean Gull ever - for me who is counting.

Sunday. On the way home. The M40 towards Oxford held five Red Kites (all low flying and beautifully illuminated by the Sun) and what looked a bit like a Short-eared Owl. Far from sure about that, though; I only got a fleeting glimpse.

Back at Farmoor there was an adult Common Tern trying desperately to convince it's youngster to take flight (for the first time, it appeared). The adult was clearly demonstrating to the youngster what to do. The youngster did little but complain!

Photos follow of the youngster, the two together on the artificial jetty and the position the adult took relative to the youngster after each flying show.

I also clocked two Yellow-legged Gulls (one may have been the same bird as Friday as it displayed similar habits). Here's one:

Farmoor is a great site, and one I'll probably visit each time I come through Oxford.

Witcombe Monday.

2010-07-19T21:05:00.005Z

The plan is - weather and hectic social life permitting - to visit Witcombe Reservoirs every Monday evening to see what's there.

Tonight, a very confiding Common Tern. The first unexpected bird at the site (save the Osprey) since the Common Sandpipers earlier in the year. It spent some time fishing - coming really close - eventually coming to rest on the near gantry allowing me to get within 10 yards. Hence the half-decent photographs.

Turtle Dove.

2010-07-18T18:17:00.007Z

A late afternoon trip to Ruardean Hill produced one Turtle Dove. I parked the car about a hundred yards down the road from the phone box, and within five minutes heard one purring. A choice sound indeed, and one I don't hear often enough. I located the approximate source - a large tree - and waited it out. After five minutes I spotted the bird perched on an inner branch. A great, full on view. I only had my binoculars to hand, so decided to go back to the car for my scope. Perhaps a photo was possible. I returned to the tree just as it flew out of site. Still, a nice and easy tick. Most welcome.

An hour later - from Nagshead's Lower Hide - about a million Blue Tits, a couple of young Jays and briefly a Redstart. Of course, no Pied Flycatchers (still can't believe my misfortune there). Gonna need a good bird to make up for that lost tick...

Earlier in the day there had been one Common Tern over the Sailing Lake, the two ex-breeding plumage Ruffs on the WWT's South Lake (really only hints of former splendour, but the closest I've got to the full monty thus far), and c.12 Little Ringed Plover from the Holden Tower. It was the first time I've seen their young birds.

165 for the year now. If I could crack 200 I'd be very pleased.

Another List Check.

2010-07-14T20:47:00.001Z

Just realised that I can chalk Spotted Redshank off the 2010 'to see' list. Still remaining:

Barn Owl
Brambling
Common Scoter
Dipper
Firecrest
Glossy Ibis
Grasshopper Warbler
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier
Jack Snipe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Little Owl
Merlin
Pied Flycatcher
Redpoll
Ring Ouzel
Turtle Dove
Woodlark
Yellow Wagtail

Gull-billed Tern.

2010-07-10T21:54:00.009Z

If at first you don't succeed, try again. Or at least, if you have the opportunity for a free trip back to Devon a week after dipping, try again. So it was that I got my second crack at seeing the long staying Gull-billed Tern. Family were going down to visit other family in Exmouth, so I was dropped off at Exton railway station at c. 9.30am.

A splendid vantage point over the estuary - and it was about. I'd just missed it on arrival; a train had come and gone meaning the scopes that were trained on it had to refind it. Thirty minutes later it was pinned down half way across the estuary feeding on insects. Although distant, the fact that it was feeding made for excellent views as it double back on itself to dive down towards the mud over and over again. Grey rump just visible. Controlled, confident wing beats. Always a pleasure to watch a Tern in action.

For about two hours (trains permitting) the Tern performed... only settling down onto the mud a couple of times. It was far too far away for photos, so I tried anyway. The results made it clear the bird was far too far away for photos - recognisable only as a Tern:

(Never mind. I know what it is!)

I then took the train up to Topsham, and onto Bowling Green Marsh RSPB.

As it was quite near low tide this was not worth the time spent in the hide.

From the viewing platform - in the strengthening wind - things were a little better. Just separate from a group of about 15 Redshank, at the waters edge infront of the viewing platform, was a Spotted Redshank. Hoorah! I was starting to think I'd go the whole year without seeing one! The bird was moulting back to winter plumage from its summer plumage. Legs were still black, and the wings still retained the white speckles set against black, but the breast was mostly white. I would see a couple of other Spotted Redshanks later in the day, but I 'photographed' this one as it was the year tick bird:

I walked back to Topsham railway station via the Goat Walk, and took the train all the way down to Exmouth for my sea front rendezvous with the family. Along the way I checked every large gathering of Gulls for either Yellow-legged or Mediterranean. Alas no luck.

We left Exmouth at about 7.00pm, making one last stop at the Bowling Green Marsh hide / viewing platform. birdguides had reported the Gull-billed Tern on the flashes (from the hide) at 5.00pm, and it seemed foolish to not have a look. After all it was still high tide. There was lots from the hide - Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpipers, Black-tailed Godwits - but no target birds. From the viewing platform, and being high tide, the Gulls and waders were peppering the edge of the vegetation.

Nothing new to see though, and so the drive back to Gloucester began.

Not one bird of prey seen today.

White-tailed Plover.

2010-07-09T16:05:00.006Z

I'd considered going up to Liverpool to see it - and a trip across to Rainham Marshes RSPB didn't seem too ambitious. But when - at about midday - the news came through the bird was at WWT Slimbridge... half an hour away... I took an impromptu half day from work, dropped everything and made tracks.

I arrived at 1330hrs, and to my relief the bird was still present. The Zeiss hide was busy even then, but as the afternoon wore on it became VERY busy indeed. Just getting one's scope positioned correctly was hard enough! I'm glad I made the effort to see it today rather than hoping it stuck around until tomorrow. Not only do I think the chances of a long stay are slim (the bird does seem to be on something of a Magical Mystery Tour), but it will be hell in that hide tomorrow.

Top New Piece. The Plover was feeding on the far side of the water from the Zeiss hide. It was distant, but a zoom of 40x was sufficient to get decent views. The heat haze made getting a steady view difficult but as time passed the Sun spent more time hidden behind clouds and consequently the bird came into much better focus. By 1515hrs I was very pleased indeed. Of course, I would've liked it to come closer to the hide but ultimately this was not necessary for very satisfactory views.

A couple of times it flapped its wings, one preening session, two periods spent sat down in the water, and a heck of a lot of feeding.

What a bloody bird. Number 162 for the year.

I had a half-hearted look around the other hides. More Green Sandpipers than you could shake a stick at, but nothing that stood out. A couple of Stock Doves showed well from the Holden Tower at about 1600hrs.

Heron Family.

2010-07-05T20:30:00.004Z

A trip to Witcombe Reservoir on a lovely still evening produced nothing remarkable. Lovely close views of Swallows pecking around aside (legs barely long enough to stop their tails and wingtips dragging on the ground), the only highlight was a family of Grey Herons. Two adults, and three youngsters. Zoooooooooooom:

Little Bittern.

2010-07-04T16:41:00.009Z

After a long spell with no birding to speak of, the lure of the Little Bittern at Ham Wall / Walton Heath proved too much on a decent but windy Sunday morning.

Arrival at the site was later than hoped for, but no later tham 8.00am. A number of others were about too - no doubt prompted by the decent number of recent sightings over Walton Heath.

The only game available was the waiting game, and at 10.15am-ish the bird was spotted very briefly indeed by someone who happened to have their scope pointing in the right direction at the right time. Nobody else caught it. Twenty-five minutes later the same thing happened; the briefest of brief appearances above the reeds. I caught movement in my bins, but nothing more. It was moving so fast. For some reason it hadn't occured to me that this bird would be a sharp-shooter. I thought Heron = slow moving. Of course this is nonsense, a Little Bittern should move quickly.

Technically this glimpse of movement was enough for a tick - but it would've been an empty tick and I wanted more than that... I wanted to see it properly. At 11.00am the bird obliged. Hot off the heels of a Marsh Harrier showing well, it finally rose above the reeds for an extended flight. Everyone got a great view. A spankingly smart male bird flying at away from us at a gentle angle - so only the head was hard to see. A definite result, a great lifer and a hugely satisfying tick. The same bird had eluded me last year, and I'd also spent many an hour at the Porth Hellick hide on Scilly not seeing one.

Job done.

I knew about the Gull-billed Tern at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB. I wasn't going to go for it. However people started talking about it as their next bird for the day... and I couldn't resist. So off to Topsham I went.

At the hide many were gathered after sightings all morning, but come 1.00pm the bird had apparantly flown down river. Drat. There were many Black-tailed Godwits, a few Oystercatchers, Little Egrets, but the Tern was definitely not hidden amongst the throng of Black-headed Gulls. Presently a Crow spooked the Gulls, which triggered an exodus down river towards the estuary (the tide was on it's way out). I - and many others - followed to the estuary viewing platform. Nothing but the same birds transplanted from the Marsh. The only point of interest was one Mediterranean Gull (second winter) separate from the main Gull flock.

The view from the platform:

So... I got the Little Bittern (the bird I originally went for), but dipped on the Tern. Could be worse!

Pagham.

2010-06-07T18:41:00.016Z

A weekend down in Pagham promised much, and delivered a satisfactory amount. Arrived on Friday evening, and in the gloom clocked my first ever Little Terns feeding along the shore.

I came back on Saturday morning to get views of the Terns in good light (tens of them), and was pleased to spot more than a few Sandwich Terns about too. The Little Terns, even smaller than I'd expected them to be, were busy catching food. They really were hovering and diving more frequently than other Terns I've seen. The most interesting behaviour, though, was when two adult birds landed together on the shingle and one offered a caught fish to the other. Felt like some sort of mating ritual.

Anyway, over the weekend we took some very long distance shots of the Little Terns with the telephoto. The photographs are not mine, but belong to a member of my party. Given control of the camera equipment I would've had more patience than them and waited for the birds to come in closer. Still... to me they still represent a valuable record.

From the hide at the harbour mouth (next to the car park with board walks down onto the beach) there were tens of Greenfinch, Skylark, Linnets... some Swallows and Swifts... the occasional House Martin. On the mud were many Ringed Plovers, Dunlin in breeding plumage, a sole Grey Plover, many Little Egrets, Great Crested Grebes, Curlew, Cormorants nesting, Greater Black-backed Gulls nesting (also Herring Gulls), a pale phase Brent Goose, Oystercatchers, and one first summer Mediterranean Gull.

Plus the ubiquitous hordes of Shelduck.

It was great to see the breeding Gull colonies. For waders you have to catch the tide right as the harbour is a big area from whichever side you happen to be standing on!

Late on Saturday afternoon (to coincide with the high tide), I went to the Nature Reserve visitor centre and walked down to Church Norton.

The first stop was the Ferry Pool hide. Here were (aside from tons of desperately cute Shelduck and Lapwing youngsters), Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, a Cuckoo singing, Redshank, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Grebes and a Mute Swan family.

As I walked down to Church Norton - huge numbers of Reed and Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's heard, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Whitethroats, Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, etc... Pick of the bunch were the large number of Grey Plover... with one male in breeding plumage. A stonking bird.

The Meadow Pipit:

Finally, on Sunday morning I gorged some more on the Tern-fest and observed a second first summer Mediterranean Gull which - bizarrely - was being followed about by a Sandwich Tern:

Everywhere the Gull went - so followed the Tern! The Goose in the foreground is of course the Brent Goose. I thought that - despite the lousy camera I'm stuck with for telescope work - it was rather novel to have a Mediterranean Gull, a Sandwich Tern and a Brent Goose in the same frame!

The only tragedy was that Sunday afternoon was off-limits for birding (went swimming!) - and a male Ruff in breeding plumage showed up on Ferry Pool!

So no real rarities, but a good few days and something I'd like to repeat now I've got a better lie of the land. Would be good to go back in the Autumn, as I read it's great for passage migrants at that time of year.

How am I doing?

2010-06-01T16:43:00.007Z

A look at my wishlist doesn't reveal much progress - despite a year list of 157. Since I last posted it I've been able to tick off House Martin, Tern (any) and Woodcock.

Barn Owl
Brambling
Common Scoter
Dipper
Firecrest
Glossy Ibis (must've gone to Ham Wall the only day they weren't there)
Grasshopper Warbler
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier
Jack Snipe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Little Owl
Merlin
Pied Flycatcher
Redpoll (never seen one. EVER)
Ring Ouzel (less said the better...)
Spotted Redshank (blown that until the winter)
Turtle Dove
Woodlark (blew it in Suffolk)
Yellow Wagtail

Two visits to Nagshead and not one Pied Flycatcher is frankly embarrassing. Everyone I meet there has seen one here and there. The people I went with on Sunday evening all saw one. Unbelievable. I need to find out which boxes they're in... although that wouldn't be as satisfactory as actually finding one myself!!!

The absence of Yellow Wagtails is just odd.

Nightjars.

2010-05-30T22:00:00.006Z

Took a trip to the Forest this evening.

First a stop at Nagshead to see Pied Flycatchers. Much to my continued chagrin, however, I failed to see one again. I don't know what the problem is; I did everything right with no reward. Still, the Spotted Flycatchers from the Lower Hide were an unexpected bonus.

Then to Boys Grave. Teeming with insects. As twilight set - from the viewpoint over the clearing - a calling Woodcock flew past left to right providing great views. The Nightjars were calling regularly by 2130, and one flew past (closer than the Woodcock) right to left. It was a male, and through binoculars the fading light allowed muddy views of its plumage.

At one point a bird landed on right of the three trees in the immediate foreground. I got my telescope on it and had a good view. Then I tried to take a photo by shoving my little camera up to the scope on a very high ISO setting. The results were lamentable.

Red-footed Falcon.

2010-05-29T21:10:00.004Z

Today I had a choice. Try for the 1st summer Red-footed Falcon at Wiltstone Reservoir in Hertfordshire, or the Little Bittern in Somerset. Despite driving into the rain, I chose the Falcon.

Good choice! The reservoir was teeming with Common Terns, Swifts, House Martins and Sand Martins - with three or four Hobbies hawking over the reedbeds. If it hadn't been raining one might've enjoyed the sight!

The Falcon was sat (for all the time I watched it) in a Hawthorn tree. I believe the spot was 'Cemetery Corner'. It had chosen an isolated branch. This made for great views. I got a couple of lousy record shots, but really it was all about enjoying a glorious bird.

On the way back I stopped in Aylesbury to watch a Red Kite appear to hunt over a housing estate!

And as I turned onto my street at home, a Grey Heron landed on a roof. Behold:

I gather the Little Bittern wasn't seen all day. A shame, as that was going to Monday's target.

Day with a Decent Camera.

2010-05-23T16:37:00.013Z

On Saturday (22nd May) I had the use of a half-decent Canon SLR (a 40D) and Canon's 500mm f4 telephoto lens. Now, I know how to use the camera and lens, but lack experience... so whilst I had a ball, the photos are those of a learner!

(I make no apologies for this blog entry being more about playing with the camera and lens than the birds themselves.)

Saturday was host to glorious weather - so glorious infact, I had to give up by one o'clock for fear of heat exhaustion (lugging the lens about was hard work). So hot it was. Gave me a chance to watch the Championship play-off final anyway. So not all bad.

Early in the morning I went to the sailing lake in the hope of seeing a Hobby or two. Alas, none. Still, I had fun photographing some birds. Of the few reasonably successful efforts I include those of a House Sparrow and a Greenfinch.

Other birds about were some Linnets, Reed Buntings, Reed Warblers and lots of Black-headed Gulls. Just as I was about to leave, a pair of Common Terns landed on the Sailing Club jetty.

They represented a long overdue year tick, and seemed well bonded. After posing for photographs they flew off to fish on the lake - looking rather splendid with their tail feathers flowing behind them.

I stopped in Frampton itself to try and get a photo of a House Martin in flight. No real success - I'm not getting them sharp. More practice (if I ever get my hands on the equipment again!) and I'm sure I'd succeed. Here's my best effort.

Next I moved onto Green Lane in the hope of photographing a Reed Warbler. I know I could go to Slimbridge and photograph the obliging birds there, but I wanted to get one 'in the wild'. Hard it be. Here are two of my best efforts, along with a poorly exposed shot of a Cygnet (camera facing into the light!). The Swan family was on the water immediately behind the first viewing platform.

Further along Green Lane I ran into a bunch of Long-tailed Tits. Mostly youngsters.

To be honest, the Lane wasn't overflowing with interesting birds. Once out in the open - along the way to the gate and sharp left turn, I tried for a while to photograph an obliging Whitethroat in flight. No luck, alas. Even with a nice tripod and Wimberley head (as supplied), I struggled.

Finally, and best of all (back to a purely birdwatching perspective), on my way back to the car I stopped at the second Green Lane viewing platform - the old one. I don't usually, but boy am I glad I did. All week I'd been hearing about the Spoonbill present at Slimbridge, but expected it to be gone by the weekend. On Saturday morning a report popped up on birdguides advising that the bird had flown south shortly before 9.00am. I harboured no expectation of seeing it after that, but lo-and-behold it flew right past the viewing platform giving great binocular views (mobbed by gulls, oddly?).

Right place. Right time. A lifer.

I really enjoyed using a nice camera and lens, and the experience has prompted me to think about getting my own in due course. Perhaps not a giant 500mm lens, but something decent nonetheless.

The pure joy of birdwatching is best experienced with only a pair of binoculars and a telescope - one can feel under terrible pressure to get a photograph if you've got a camera with you - and this can detract from the observation itself (which is why I'm there). I think there's room for both, though.

12th and 13th May. One year tick.

2010-05-13T19:27:00.006Z

Short trips after work to Witcombe on the 12th (Wednesday) and Coombe Hill on the 13th (Thursday).

Nothing particularly interesting at Witcombe. Gulls and gulls and gulls! A sole Grey Wagtail (I'm still yet to see a Yellow Wagtail there). Some great low flying Swifts which I had no chance of photographing! So, I settled on some Swallows in classic perched on telephone wire pose:

This evening at Coombe Hill, however, I did a little better. Starting with a singing Garden Warbler (year tick #150) in the trees next to the car park. I caught a glimpse of it, and heard it singing a lot - a perfect match for the recording on my iPhone. Lovely.

Along the canal were bazillions of Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, two Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Chaffinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The Woodpecker was clearly returning to a nest hole with food.

From the Grundon hide... pairs of stuff. Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Shelduck, Canada Geese, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Mallard, Lapwing. A Grey Heron, a calling Curlew very close to the hide and... well positioned in a distant tree to the left of the flashes... a calling Cuckoo. Lousy record shots of some of the above... below:

To do list update.

2010-05-04T20:14:00.002Z

What have I managed to get off my 'not yet seen this year' list, then? Well... Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Gull, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear and Whitethroat.

The still leaves me with a mighty list of misses:

Barn Owl
Brambling
Common Scoter
Dipper
Firecrest
Glossy Ibis (must've gone to Ham Wall the only day they weren't there)
Grasshopper Warbler
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier
House Martin
Jack Snipe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Little Owl
Merlin
Redpoll (never seen one. EVER)
Ring Ouzel (less said the better...)
Spotted Redshank (blown that until the winter)
Tern (any)
Woodcock
Woodlark (blew it in Suffolk)
Yellow Wagtail

To it I want to add Pied Flycatcher and Turtle Dove.

Six Year Ticks.

2010-05-03T16:51:00.015Z

I spent the morning high tide at the WWT's Middle Point 'Hide'*. Windy, but dry and productive.

*-I say hide, but the old van is next to useless as such... and pointless, as the birds just aren't fussed provided you stand within the area indicated. You can see bugger all from inside, anyway. It only has value if you happen to be caught in a heavy shower, and even then I'd be skeptical.

Firstly though, on the drive upto the reserve a Hobby flew infront of my car. I only saw it in silhouette, but the shape was clear. The first of six year ticks today.

Ran into two singing Lesser Whitethroats (what did I say about seeing them everywhere after breaking my duck!) along the summer walkway. Glimpsed one deep in the hedgerow.

Upon arrival, a couple of hours before high tide, there were lots of Dunlin (most in breeding plumage) and Ringed Plover (year tick #2) scuttling about in the middle distance along with five or six Bar-tailed Godwits and a few more Curlew.

Time passed. A Little Egret flew in, a Meadow Pipit sang in flight and a Reed Bunting disappeared behind some vegetation. Two Whimbrels flew overhead calling; one would later land on the mud infront of the hide. A Sedge Warbler finally revealed itself in the reeds to the right of the hide after frustrating me with it's song for half an hour or so. Another remained elusive along with one or two Reed Warblers in the reeds immediately to the left of the hide. Gulls continued to push up river, but nothing unusual I don't think.

There was also a decent-sized fish stranded on the mud at about 10.30am. A juvenile Herring Gull spotted it and moved in. Fortunately for the fish, the Gull didn't seem to know how to tackle the situation. It pecked at the tail a number of times and recoiled each time the fish reacted. Presently the Gull gave up and perhaps the fish survived long enough to be rescued by the tide.

Once the tide began to advance one of the other birders present identified a Great Crested Grebe on the far side (on the river!), an Oystercatcher flew over it's head and - FINALLY - a sole Wheatear (year tick #3) perched on the fence posts to the left of the hide giving nice views. A couple of Swallows passed through, then three Swifts flying low (year tick #4).

The most interesting sighting of the morning was made by the same person who spotted the Grebe - clearly an experienced birder. In the far distance, flying down river, was an immature Kittiwake (year tick #5)! I can add it to my list because although I failed to see the wing markings myself, I did get my bins on it briefly. So I did see it!

At 12.20ish, showers were closing in and I headed back to the main reserve. I didn't bother with any other hides, except to stop just after passing through the Holden Tower to add Reed Warbler (tick #6) to my year list.

That makes for 149 birds so far this year; two more than last. The Kittiwake was the 148th, and the one to take me past last years total.

I stopped off at the 100-Acre where three more Lesser Whitethroats crossed my path (half decent views of two - one in flight)!!! Not a great deal there, although to be fair I didn't stay long enough to earn any luck... but other birds spotted included a nice male Linnet, a pair of Goldfinches, three Redshank, many Reed and Sedge Warblers, Swifts high up and a lone male Wigeon. There was also a very, very mouthy Chiffchaff:

And on the canal, a cute family of Mallards:

The best bird at the 100-Acre however, was a nice female Whinchat along Green Lane to complement the male I'd seen last Saturday.

Finally, I have started a Balloon List:

1) Blue
2) White

The balloons were drifting down river at some considerable elevation in a tight teardrop formation, and showing well in the sunshine. I was unable to confirm the age or sex of the balloons. I am looking forward to seeing more balloons soon.

Spotted Crake.

2010-04-25T18:47:00.004Z

A dash down to WWT Slimbridge this evening to see a Spotted Crake lurking right infront of the Robbie Garnett hide. A jewel-encrusted hand-painted ornament of a bird. Wonderfully marked, and cocking its tail repeatedly for character. Unfortunately, I neglected to bring a camera with me (left it behind in the rush), but did see it twice for a total of about four minutes (for twenty spent in the hide).

As great as the Crake was, for sheer satisfaction my bird of the weekend remains the Lesser Whitethroat. Now I've broken my Lesser Whitethroat duck, I'm sure I'll see many more of them... but right now it's ace.

Common Sandpiper.

2010-04-25T16:13:00.003Z

A quick return to Witcombe Reservoirs this morning produced three Common Sandpipers with no fuss, two Pied Wagtails, a White Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail... but no Yellow Wagtails! Also lots of ducks and two very showy Whitethroats just beyond the abandoned cottage. Pictures of the third Sandpiper and first Whitethroat:

Lesser Whitethroat!

2010-04-24T14:40:00.010Z

A personal triumph. Bog-standard for others, I'm sure - BUT I DON'T CARE!!!!

Anyway, rewind. I was at the 100 Acre's first viewing platform for 6.45am. A chilly morning to begin with (needed gloves), but little to no wind and lots of birds. Couldn't ask for more. Saw a Buzzard munching on some prey on the way from Splatt Bridge. A mutilated photo follows:

There were two major highlights of my couple of hours on the platform (with another birder for welcome company):
- My first ever Little Gull. I suppose it was the same first-winter bird seen cruising above the reeds to the back-right of the platform over the last few days. And it was first-winter, as it had no hood. I sent my sighting to Bird Guides who changed it to first-summer. Still, I spotted it and correctly identified it - which is important for me. I didn't expect to see it, as it hadn't been reported since Monday.
- My first ever Winchat (yeah, how silly). But still, it sat obligingly on the near hedgerow infront of the platform and gave good views. Unfortunately a small branch obscured a portion of its head and the viewing platform wasn't wide enough to work around it! Still, a record shot:

Also seen was a noisy Sedge Warbler in the reeds immediately behind the platform (good to very good views of that); a lovely bird to see again; I hadn't seen one since Scilly in May of last year! Other highlights were loads of Blackcaps, two Sand Martins, endless Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Swallows, a Linnet, lots of Redshank, a Snipe in the open, a Whitethroat, a Ruff, a Little Egret and a number of Reed Buntings. Here's a poor photo of one of the Reed Buntings:

I walked further down Green Lane (as far as the sharp left turn). Here I experienced joy and frustration:
- A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in one of the hedgerows. It was, I was sure, right infront of me - not more than three yards. Unfortunately I could not locate it. After ten minutes of silence I decided that it had probably moved on. What a tick that would've been...
- And then THE moment. I had learnt the Lesser Whitethroat's song, and had been listening for it all day (and previous days!). I'd become fixated on seeing this bird. Finally, just along from the corner in Green Lane, I heard it. As I'd been lead to expect, the bird was skulking deep in the hedgerow. It wasn't going to perch atop the foliage and sing for my convenience. Anyway, I could see it moving about alright but NEEDED a clear view to add it to my year (and indeed life) list. After five minutes of careful and quiet tracking, it moved for maybe 30 seconds into an area with fewer branches. I had my clear view; a dull grey cap and mask, dull brown back and wings. Unmistakable. YES! Made my weekend, that did; and ID of a new bird triggered by hearing its song.

On the way back to Splatt Bridge I was treated to a fantastic view of a Cuckoo sat at the top of a tall canal-side tree. Got my scope on it, and watched as it called across all it surveyed. Fantastic bird.

Finally, a short visit to Witcombe Reservoirs produced no Common Sandpipers. I though this was odd. Plenty had been reported there over the last few days. I looked around all the 'shoreline' of the three reservoirs and off towards the stream coming down from the hill. Can't think where else I should look. Still, a pair of Green Woodpeckers flew through and a Little Grebe was on the water. Pied Wagtails were present, but no White.

By now it was 1pm, and I had to go. Right at that point a Wagtail flew past me. I got my bins on it but wasn't sure if it was a Grey or a Yellow. The view didn't permit a satisfactory ID - at least for my low standard. Shame really - if it was a Yellow (and I suspect it was - its tail was rather modest) it would've been a year tick. I'll go back one evening to suss it out.

140 birds now. Only seven shy of last year - I'm aiming high, now!

Tree Pipit & Cuckoo.

2010-04-23T21:09:00.005Z

An anticlockwise walk from Wardens Wood to West Wood to Wontley Farm and back to Wardens Wood was notable for:

- My first ever Tree Pipit at Wardens Wood. Only briefly, but good enough to identify (plumage and song). Very pleased with that.
- At least four Cuckoos calling after emerging out of West Wood but only one seen. An even briefer view of this than the Tree Pipit; I caught it spinning around trying to catch its balance after landing on a branch too slender to support it. By the time I'd readied my scope, it had gone. At least 50 Linnets in a ploughed field here, too. Noisy!
- South of Wontley Farm many Meadow Pipits, a smart male Stonechat and a male Yellowhammer.

I also may have glimpsed a Cetti's Warbler in low foliage at Wardens Wood, but cannot be sure as the view only lasted a split second and the bird's rear end was not visible.

P.S. If I don't see a Wheatear or Whitethroat of any description tomorrow I'm gonna scream.

To do list.

2010-04-20T17:29:00.003Z

Despite a healthy year list of 133, this is a ridiculous litany of list absentees:

Barn Owl
Brambling
Common Sandpiper
Common Scoter
Dipper
Firecrest
Glossy Ibis (must've gone to Ham Wall the only day they weren't there)
Grasshopper Warbler
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier
House Martin
Jack Snipe
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Whitethroat (although this would be a lifer)
Little Gull
Little Owl
Merlin
Redpoll (never seen one. EVER)
Reed Warbler
Ringed Plover
Ring Ouzel (less said the better...)
Sedge Warbler
Spotted Redshank (blown that until the winter)
Tern (any)
Wheatear (I think they're avoiding me)
Whitethroat
Woodcock
Woodlark (blew it in Suffolk)
Yellow Wagtail

LRP & Osprey.

2010-04-20T16:43:00.003Z

A trip to the 100 Acre on Monday evening produced a Little Ringed Plover, and this morning (Tuesday, 20th April) I was up at the crack of dawn in the hopes that the Osprey seen at Witcombe Reservoirs the on Monday evening would still be there before heading out. It wasn't me that located it, but it was still there and I had brief views of it sat at the top of a tree near the water and great views as it slowly flew south west (all the while mobbed by gulls).

Didn't get a chance to take a photo.

Whimbrel at Saul Warth.

2010-04-18T18:52:00.004Z

Went out and about this weekend - Cleeve Hill and the Hawling area (both Sat), Saul / Slimbridge WWT (both Sun), but didn't see anything hugely exciting. Should've tried the 100 Acre viewing platforms, by all accounts! So... here's a couple of Whimbrel (amongst four in total) at Saul Warth this morning.

Garganey.

2010-04-13T21:19:00.005Z

My failure to get on the drake Garganey at Saul Warth on Sunday irked that evening, all day Monday and indeed this morning. I was glad then, at midday, when a report came up on birdguides confirming the bird was still present on the right-hand flash this morning.

Right after work. Off I went.

Beautiful evening.

A quick check of the left-hand flash (less of a walk) revealed nothing Garganeyesque. A check of the right-hand flash, and the assistance of another birder after the same bird, revealed the Garganey showing well in the middle distance. Well lit by the dropping Sun, too. Could've easily been a silhouette.

A lovely, gorgeous, handsome, paintbox duck... and a lifer.

All that for a Redstart.

2010-04-11T17:45:00.008Z

A lovely Redstart, mind you (although my poor pic doesn't do it justice):

A morning / early afternoon on Cleeve Hill in pursuit of a Redstart and Ring Ouzels was only half-satisfactory. Got the Redstart (year tick 129) within two minutes of arriving at the Wash Pool. Spent the rest of the morning looking for Ring Ouzels - across (what felt like!) the whole of the Hill. Out to the Radio Masts (will park there in future), and everywhere else in between. Lots of Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Kestrels, etc... and zillions of Blackbirds.

Frustration. I was so diligent. Of course, I will try again.

(still no damn Wheatear!)

I toyed with the idea of trying Slimbridge for the Spotted Redshank seen yesterday. But as I wandered along the canal bank to Saul to try for the drake Garganey I bumped into another birder who had already looked around the reserve to no effect. So I decided that the Garganey would be the final bird of the day.

No Garganey. 45 minutes scanning the flashes with a Buzzard, Teal, Shovelers, Mallards, Mute Swans, Gadwall, Redshank, Chiffchaffs, Long-tailed Tits, Willow Warblers and so forth.

Got fed up. Went home.

Red-legged Partridges.

2010-04-09T21:15:00.004Z

Beautiful day today. In view of my trip to the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham tomorrow (thus no birding possible), I took another early evening trip to Hawling in the hope of catching up with another lingering Short-eared Owl. Alas, not to be. Plenty of Skylark though - like a choir at times - a couple of Buzzards, a few small flocks of Yellowhammer, and in the form of a year tick, many Red-legged Partridges.

Met a chap who does the BTO surveys for the area (Steve Brown, I think, but I'm embarrassed to say I'm not sure I have his surname right!). Anyway, he was kind enough to let me know a good place to see Barn Owls in the area. So, I went to have a look and stuck around until sunset. No Barn Owls though - but I will try again soon.

As compensation, I came across a small number of Roe Deer. Picture of a buck:

Short-eared Owl.

2010-04-04T19:39:00.002Z

An evening visit to Hawling (the crossroads beyond the derelict barn - SO055225) produced many Skylark and one Short-eared Owl (year tick). I saw it hunting briefly, and then it spent twenty minutes sat on a wall. This was between 7.15pm and 7.35pm.

Pinkfoot.

2010-04-04T14:42:00.006Z

I took a trip to Slimbridge this morning to finally tick the Pink-footed Goose. Fortunately, it was still there. Unfortunately, it was sleeping for quite sometime before it rose to feed. Here it is amongst some Shelduck, Coot and Barnacle Geese:

Having done that, I scooted off the the 100 Acre viewing platform to see what was about. Truthfully, I had hoped to see a Water Pipit - but that was a no go. There was actually a lot of good stuff there including Skylarks, Swallows, Sand Martins (year tick), usual ducks, Redshank, Coot, Moorhen, Black-tailed Godwits and a single Greenshank (year tick). I also got a fantastic close view of a Willow Warbler (year tick) when one landed on the bushes right next to the viewing platform. It was ten to fifteen seconds before it clocked me standing right next to it. I've decided that this stuff about confusing Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs until they sing is nonsense - they're very different (unlike Gulls!).

The Willow Warbler was my 126th year tick.

There was also a Bittern in the reeds behind the viewing platform. Once it flew and was mobbed by gulls, and once it crossed a narrow grassy area on foot. Both times it was seen by other birders - but neither time by myself!

Chatting to a couple of other birders on the platform, I gathered that the Little Gull was no longer on the sailing lake - and so didn't bother going to look for it.

Back home to watch Everton vs. West Ham, I decided.

Lesser Kestrel gone AWOL.

2010-04-04T08:29:00.008Z

2nd April 2010.

After much inner turmoil, and an apparent no-show on the Thursday (April 1st), I decided to make the four and a half hour pilgrimage to the Minsmere area and try for the Lesser Kestrel. This was my only chance to see it, as I couldn't get out of work in the week, and had other commitments from Saturday onwards.

I left Gloucester at 3.15am, and arrived onsite at Dunwich Heath shortly after 8.00am. Adrenaline saw me through the drive, although I did learn that long-distance driving in the dark is more challenging than I'd expected.

I knew the weather would close in for a couple of hours late afternoon, so the clock was ticking. Along the way to the quarry area I spotted Green Woodpecker, Yellowhammer, Skylarks, Greenfinch and a Linnet. I was encouraged, as I always take Green Woodpeckers as good omens! I also crossed paths with a very chilled out Muntjac:

I stayed on the Heath - scanning carefully - for a couple of hours as many other birders gradually filled the area. The wind was fairly relentless (as it was all day).

A relatively barren patch of land near the large NR car park was producing Woodlark most of the day, but sadly everytime I checked it out none were present. Shame, as that would've been one of the birds I'm embarrassed about not having seen. Still, there were a couple of pairs of Stonechat about - which were a year tick.

I did see my first ever Dartford Warblers, though. They were great - I can't decide if they're beautiful or ugly. They're colourful, but the colours are rather dull, I think. Still, GREAT BIRDS. I nearly had one long enough for a photograph, but not quite.

At 10.30am-ish I decided to make the trip to Kessingland for the Pallid Swift. This one was easy. Dead easy. It was directly above everyone's heads - sometimes coming quite low - and my bins were all I needed to get great views. On the way back down I stopped off at what I think was an estuary on the River Blyth. It was very windy, so holding the scope still was a challenge, but amongst other birds (Blackwits, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin) were my first Barwits of the year. I tried for Little Stint, but in the conditions - and given that the birds were some distance away - I couldn't be sure. Never seen so many Avocets, though.

(You know, I almost hate identifying small waders as much as I hate identifying large Gulls.)

Next another quick stop on the Heath. More birders - and this time some Kestrels and Marsh Harriers, but no Lesser Kestrel.

I decided to go to Minsmere, as coming all this way and not taking it in would be a crime. It's gorgeous. I started with the Bittern and Island Mere hides. Alas, no sign of any Bearded or Penduline Tits. Far too windy for them to show, I reckoned. I did spot a Red Kite, though. Some Woodpeckers and Treecreepers in the trees on the paths, too.

Next, I decided I would go anti-clockwise around the other hides - which meant first hitting the West Hide. Gull central! This held what was probably my moment of the day. A pair of adult summer Mediterranean Gulls. This may not sound like much, but these were my first - and I'd been trying for Mediterranean Gulls all year with absolutely no joy. Here they are:

And then the call came.

The Lesser Kestrel had - according to the pagers and birdguides - been refound on the Heath. Minsmere and it's joys (and many lifers for me, I expect) would have to wait for another trip. I pegged it back to the Heath and joined the throngs headed for the logpiles. I'm relatively sure it was the right spot, as on Saturday (amidst unnecessary and unhelpful recriminations about directions) the chap who spotted the bird put a map up of where he saw it on birdforum. The bird didn't show, and as by now it was 4.00pm... rain arrived on schedule.

Most people went back home or to Minsmere (I imagine), but I simply returned to my car and had a kip for an hour. It was no longer than that before the rain gave way (some people were even going out looking in the rain)! Anyway, as soon as possible I went back out, and as the skies cleared between 5.15pm and 7.30pm I stayed on the Heath. Bloody cold... and not a single sodding Kestrel. Not one. The best it got was a distant Marsh Harrier.

I was the second last person to leave the quarry side of the road, and in disappointment retreated back to my hotel to sleep in preparation for my long drive home in the morning.

As a postscript - I noted a large number of 'SAY NO TO SEA EAGLES IN SUFFOLK' signs in fields.

Swallows.

2010-03-27T10:13:00.005Z

I knew I wouldn't get another chance to see some birds this weekend, so I hauled myself out of bed and popped down to Witcombe Reservoirs early in the am.

A total of 27 species noted:

Pied Wagtail x2 (pic below), Mute Swan x12, Tufted Duck c.20, Great-crested Grebe x14, Herring Gull x7, Common Gull x1, Coots (of course!), Canada Geese, Oystercatcher x1, Mallards, Crows, Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, Pochard x1m, Buzzard x2 (pic below), Blackbirds, Magpies, Blue Tits, Chiffchaffs x3 (heard only), Great Tits, Greenfinch (heard only), Pheasant (heard only), Robin, Coal Tits, Cormorant x4, House Sparrows.

What made the trip worthwhile however, were my first Swallows of the year. A small group of 6 or 7 birds flew in from a southerly direction and spent 15 minutes in the area (over the water mostly).

Glass half empty.

2010-03-23T18:03:00.005Z

So this year. Which birds should I have seen by now that I haven't? Hmm?

I reckon Pink-footed Goose, Grey Partridge, Greenshank, Jack Snipe, Skylark, Wheatear, Stonechat, Brambling, REDPOLL

And which birds can I not expect to see, but would've liked to (or missed by a small margin)?:

Common Scoter, Purple Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dipper, Firecrest

*sigh*

I've also worked out, by flicking through my Collins, that I have a UK list of 174. What my 'life list' is, I've no idea, as I only started listing in any serious fashion in 2009. I can remember which birds I've seen in my life in the UK so that total is accurate, but not abroad during holidays both as an adult and a child... and I suppose a proper life list should include that information.

Somerset.

2010-03-21T20:33:00.011Z

Great weather today, so I took a trip down to Somerset.

Ham Wall
The beginning of the day was the most thrilling by far. I arrived at 8.00am and shortly thereafter setup my scope at the first viewing platform. I had a look for the Firecrest en route, but didn't see or hear it.

Within 45 minutes I'd seen:

- FIVE Bitterns. Two pairs and a single bird flew in from different parts of the reserve and landed in the same patch of reeds. FIVE! I think that counts as overcrowded in Bittern circles... This was by far my best ever view of Bitterns in flight. I managed to get my scope on one bird as it flew close by. A truly glorious sight. An additional thrill was the sound of Bitterns booming all day.
- A female Marsh Harrier hunting. Again, I got my scope on it. Lit by the rising Sun it showed me just why it's my favourite bird. Spectacular. The light head like the helmet of a fighter pilot scouting the reeds for its target.
- Three Buzzards soaring high above. Through binoculars, when lit by the Sun, they were just delightful. Epic! I took a terrible photo:

Shortly after leaving the platform I encounted a Cetti's Warbler hopping through a nearby (five, six yards away) small tree in plain view. This was - by far - my best ever view of this elusive bird. Images from the Collins Bird Guide flew through my head and made themselves a perfect match for the bird flitting about obligingly infront of me. Fantastic! I saw three Cetti's during the day, but this was the only really good view. I must've had a clear view of it for nearly a minute.

Saw my first Chiffchaffs of the year, too. It seemed to be one tree, one Chiffchaff! Lovely to hear their song. Many birds afforded great views as they sang their hearts out.

Other birds of note at Ham Wall were Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Reed Buntings, Wigeon, Wren, Gadwall, Coot, Canada Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Tufted Ducks, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe's (displaying), Mute Swans, Great Tits, a Grey Heron, Dunnocks, Teals, Cormorants, Mallards, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Little Egrets, Blue Tits, Robins, Woodpigeons, Crows, Jackdaws, Rooks, Shovelers, two Greylag Geese and sparing numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Probably some other common birds, too!

The three Glossy Ibis were seen on the reserve well before I arrived. Unfortunately I did not see them today. One for the future.

Shapwick Heath
I moved across to Shapwick Heath. Amongst many of the birds listed ^above^ I encountered a second (in three days) Great White Egret! Amazing. Great views of this bird - perhaps better than from Ashleworth Ham on Friday morning.

After a long stint in the Noah Hide (not suited for scopes!) I finally laid eyes on the female Long-tailed Duck. It barely spent more than a few seconds above the surface before diving again. I watched it go about its business for fifteen minutes or so; a great lifer. Love to see a male, though.

Other birds seen at Shapwick Heath I didn't see over at Ham Wall were Black-tailed Godwits, three Redshank (one in full summer plumage - startlingly bright legs!), Long-tailed Tits, a sole (and elusive) Cattle Egret, many Goldeneye, a Pied Wagtail and some Lapwing.

The Godwits were particularly good. There were c.25 birds feeding in the same pool as the Great White Egret. At one point they all sprang into flight. As they flew in formation, twisting and banking, I got great views of their undersides and upper parts. Wonderful views, as if the Collins Field Guide had come to life. When feeding, they spent so much time with their rears in the air I was able to check to inspect their black tails individually. No Bar-tailed birds were present. Of course, the same process of elimination could've been applied to their bills. Their legs were mostly submerged.

Greylake
At Greylake RSPB - early afternoon - I had hoped to see the two Spoonbills that had been there in the morning. As I arrived I had a splendid view of a Marsh Harrier playing havoc with the ducks and moving the (at least 15) Little Egrets to flight. I thought to myself - "Great!"

As it turned out, the Spoonbills had been showing well at the hide immediately before that (probably as I pulled into the car park), and the Marsh Harrier had spooked them - causing them to flee. I could not relocate them in the hour that followed. Curses.

Hinkley Point
Last stop... Hinkley Point. Tired now.

I parked at the Power Plant and walked out to the coastal path. A little further than I had expected! Thickening cloud had blotted out the sunshine by now, but I had still hoped to bag my first Wheatear of the year out here. As it turned out, I did not. That will certainly come soon, however. Suddenly they're being reported everywhere!

I knew that yesterday (and today at high tide - mid-morning) there had been one Velvet Scoter and a few Purple Sandpipers seen out here... however my visit was well beyond high tide and so I was not hopeful of landing the Purple Sandpipers (previous experience having taught me low tides are poor wader fare). The Scoter, well it would either be about, or it would not. A thorough scan of the beach, rocks and water proved me quite right re: the Purple Sandpipers, and neither was the Scoter present. This was 5.00pm and I'd been in the go since 7.00am - so I didn't walk all that far along the coast to be honest. I'd excuse myself a slip (although I'm pretty sure they weren't there)... and my thoughts were drifting towards the drive home. And food.

Just as I was about to leave I did get some reward and consolation... a nice female Scaup diving just offshore. I was particularly pleased with this, as I'd found and identified it all by myself. Very pleasing.

Velvet Scoters and Purple Sandpipers will just have to remain as pleasures yet to come. I'm disappointed to have missed them, but not worried. I can feel myself getting more and more proficient with each trip now. Very encouraging.

Hinkley also had three Oystercatchers, two Little Egrets, eleven Wigeon, many Herring Gulls, Rooks, Jackdaws, Crows, a Goldfinch, a Wren, Chiffchaffs... and lots and lots of Rabbits.

So all in all a pretty good day. I missed Glossy Ibis, Firecrest, Velvet Scoter and Purple Sandpiper... but bagged FIVE Bitterns, two Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret, a Cattle Egret, a Long-tailed Duck and a female Scaup. Could be better; could be worse!

This photo taken on the beach before I took to the coastal path:

115 birds now.

Great White Egret.

2010-03-19T17:46:00.008Z

Upon hearing a Great White Egret had been seen at Ashleworth Ham on Wednesday my Spidey Sense began to tingle.

You see, I've recently purchased the new Collins paperback and ticked in it the birds I've seen. I ticked Great White Egret (or 'Great Egret' as Collins has it) - but ticked it in error. This was only last week. Having never seen a Great White Egret in Gloucestershire I suspected it would be sometime before the opportunity to legitimise this tick would present itself.

So this bird HAD to be seen. Thursday at work was tortuous. I had to be in, but worried that it would not stick around into the Friday (when I had the morning booked off). Fortunately it did, and at 8am this morning I was happily viewing the bird. And what a splendid bird.

I was pleased to read on Paul Master's blog the history of the bird. Click on the link for details. Good stuff. Ringing proving its worth.

After a good time spent watching and enjoying the bird I still had a few hours before I had to get to work in Cheltenham. So I scooted over to Coombe Hill Meadows for the Dark-bellied Brent Goose (first Brent Goose for me!). I also knowingly identified a Stock Dove for the first time.

So basically, a morning with three lifers!

110.

(also, Ashleworth Ham was crawling with Snipe!)

Two out of three.

2010-03-14T17:18:00.008Z

Today was the day I would - in theory - finally get onto the female Ring-necked Duck (first spotted at Slimbridge, but recently resident at Frampton Court Lake).

Despite a long day at the football yesterday, I was out of the house before 7.30am and aside Court Lake before 8.00am. A cloudless sky was both a blessing and a curse. Lovely to see some sun, but the view western shore of Court Lake of course faces into the Sun... rendering the ducks at best false colour and at worse silhouettes. No sign of the duck. But... I did notice a large increase in the number of singing Greenfinch.

By 9.45 I'd had enough. Despite checking the south end of the lake too, the Ring-necked Duck was, for now, elusive. I was beginning to think I'd left it too late.

Off to Slimbridge for the Greenland White-fronted Geese and the Pink-footed Goose. As is my wont, I contrived to not see the Pinkfoot, despite checking everywhere from each hide. Alas, on my return home this afternoon I learned it was there - somewhere - having remained on the reserve as (what seemed like) all of the European White-fronted Geese departed overnight.

The view from the Holden was very empty. But...away from the Greylags, up on the bank in the mid-distance were the Greenlands! Phew. Got some excellent views, and another piece of I.D. experience under my belt.

Alas, my photo doesn't really show the bright orange on the bills. But they were definitely a nice orange. It does at least show the bills aren't pinky.

I toured all the hides - clocking up (amongst others) Redshank, Lapwing, Wigeon, Shelduck, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, a Buzzard and a Little Egret.

But I wanted that Ring-necked Duck, so at about 1.00pm I headed back to Court Lake. Along the Western shore I was once again disappointed, but did note larger numbers of small ducks on the far side - of course viewable from the south edge. A little disheartened, I did some more thorough checking (finding a pair of Mandarin Duck in the process) and then went around the other side.

Before I got to the shore I ran into an obliging Buzzard perched in the trees:

I made my way through the trees to the edge of the lake.

It took no more than 30 seconds of scanning a group of Tufted Ducks (not visible from the other side) to locate todays target bird. Hoorah! Lovely views. It was no more than 25 yards away. Occasionally it dived, but mostly it preened.

Since I can't add the Greenland White-fronted Geese to my year list, and I missed the Pinkfoot (grrr....), I can only up my score by one to 106.

2-2

2010-03-13T20:11:00.002Z

On Friday evening I found out I could go and see Everton away at Birmingham. As much as I love birds, I love Everton a little more... so off I went (and after all that crowing about the Greenland White-fronted Geese during the working week!). Still, a 2-2 final score and a pretty poor display.

Will try the birds tomorrow. If they're still there.

No spots.

2010-03-11T17:52:00.004Z

I went off to Cox's Meadow in Cheltenham this morning in the hope of bagging the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I arrived on the scene at 7.30am, but only had until 8.30am - after which I would have to get to work near Montpellier.

The bottom line is I didn't see it; didn't even hear it drumming. I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming briefly, but that's no great shakes.

Some reasonable birds popped up during the hour to keep me amused in the cold:

Jay (2) - my first of the year. It always takes me too long to see a Jay.
Plenty of Robins, Woodpigeons, Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Crows and Jackdaws.
One small group of Long-tailed Tits, one male Blackcap, one Coal Tit, a few Redwings and one Mistle Thrush.
Best of all was a Kingfisher along the small river (I'm told it's the Chelt). I caught a flash of Kingfisher blue as I made my way along the river from the Old Bath Road and then watched it peel out of sight. Not a great view, but enough for a year tick!

105 birds now.

It at first you don't succeed!

2010-03-07T18:32:00.008Z

This entry refers to both the 6th (Saturday) and 7th (Sunday) of March. I was going to visit New Fancy, and then Frampton, for Goshawks and the Ring-necked Duck respectively. I blew them off (the RND for the third time, I think!) to bag a duck I was desperate to see. Friday evenings trawl of local birding websites revealed a number of Smew sightings at Cotswold Water Park (West). I'd never seen a Smew, and had contrived to dip them on countless occasions when others had (it felt like) wandered right into their paths.

I also hoped to see the male Scaup on pit 37.

fyi, I don't tend to recall bird numbers (I take more pleasure in watching than counting) - and other than in 'good / great bird' circumstances the pit numbers don't get noted. But for the record... I scoured pits 28, 28a, 29, 30, 35 and 37. Good access to these pits - unlike some others.

On the water I came across Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shelduck (very few), Shoveler, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard (about 20 in total), Goosander (only three on 37), Mallard, Goldeneye (at least 30 across my visit - best views I've ever had), Mute Swan, Cormorant, Coot ('millions' of them), Little Grebe (only one) and Wigeon. A good number of Canada Geese, too.

As I walked I also encountered:

Crows
Jackdaws
Lapwing
One Raven
Blue Tits / Great Tits / Long-tailed Tits
Robins / Chaffinchs / Dunnocks / Blackbirds
Goldfinches / Greenfinches
Reed Buntings
Grey Heron / Little Egret
Two Buzzards
Black-headed Gulls / Herring Gulls / Common Gulls / Lesser Black-backed Gulls / Greater Black-backed Gulls
Green Woodpecker / Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied and White Wagtails / two Green Sandpipers / Linnets (all on the way to Shorncote)

At the end of Saturday I tried pits 12 and 74 (the Gull pre-roost sites) for the Mediterranean Gull but failed to spot it.

So I went home without having (SOMEHOW!) seen a Smew. As I inspected the Gulls I commented upon this to some other birders who couldn't quite believe it. Alas, I had just been very unlucky.

When I returned home in the dark I was annoyed to note that the Smew and the Scaup had been there - as the CWP Birding Blog had records of them for the day. So I resolved to get up early on Sunday and try again. DESPERATE, I was... to see a Smew.

My luck turned on Sunday. I rolled up at pit 74 shortly after 9am - great weather - and after a quick scan (taking in more and more Goldeneye) I came across my quarry. One drake and two redhead Smew. Diving for breakfast. Although someway across the lake, my scope afforded me good views. You know that feeling when you finally spot a bogey bird? Elation followed by "Great bird!"? I got that.

Honestly... such relief.

I walked the course around the same pits as yesterday - but at a greater pace as I was really heading for pit 37 for the Scaup. Along the way I clocked up Great Tits, Blue Tits, Bullfinches, Reed Buntings, Song Thrush, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goosander (six this time), Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Cormorant, Robins, Blackbird and some other 'regulars' I didn't note down.

As with the Smew, my luck was much better today and all I had to do was fix my scope on a group of Tufted Ducks on the Eastern section of pit 37 to reveal the Scaup along with them. RESULT!

So a long weekend, but I did get Smew and Scaup - both lifers.

If at first you don't succeed... try again. 103 birds for the year now!

Relief.

2010-03-03T19:20:00.001Z

Replacement tripod secured before the weekend. Phew.

Retailer said he'd never seen anything like it! They just gave me a new unit.

Highnam Woods.

2010-02-27T17:15:00.008Z

I didn't want to go far today, so despite the attractions of the Green-winged Teal and Pink-footed Goose at Slimbridge, I went to Highnam Woods instead.

It was very muddy.

Fortunately, the mud and strong possibility of rain kept all but a handful of the bloody dog walkers away, and I felt like I had the reserve - and the new hide - to myself.

The new hide is very nice, with an open back to deny those who would do ill in the hide the privacy they would like. It offers great views of the two feeder stations and feeding tables and feels very solid. All the usual suspects were present - Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds. I held a slim hope for a Brambling (still none this year) but none showed up. I was, however, delighted to spot a Willow Tit on one of the feeders. Very distinct with it's bull neck. The pale wing panel was not so obvious, so I was - for a moment - doubtful. To clinch the ID though, it called briefly. To clinch the ID even more, I came across a small flock of Marsh Tits a few hundred yards along the trail - all calling and showing no trace of the bull neck. Great stuff, and I was certain of my Willow Tit.

A Sparrowhawk was hunting for breakfast at the feeders as I watched. From a viewable and very clear starting point across the clearing from the pond area it launched six attacks on the feeders. On the sixth, it took a meal. I was lucky enough to record its fifth pass on my little Canon Ixus camera. The video doesn't do it justice:

Also in the Woods were a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, a Raven (heard only), Crows, Woodpigeons, a couple of Robins, two Buzzards (one appeared to be in the middle of a display flight?) and a Nuthatch.

Got a bit fed up with the mud by the end, if I'm honest... but very pleased with the quick Willow Tit Marsh Tit one-two.

Fortunately, the rain held off for the duration of my visit. So I decided to push my luck and stop at Witcombe Reservoirs on the way home. Alas, my luck ran out and by the time I'd made it to the water (having negotiated a mega-bog) the rain set in. One shower followed by another shower. No good for birding. I sheltered under the tall hedges around the abandoned house (where the Wryneck showed last year). I took a brief survey of the birds, though:

Black-backed Gulls
Herring Gulls (none that struck me as a YLG or Caspain! - obviously!)
Common Gulls
Lapwings
Tufted Ducks
Great-crested Grebes (at least 12 of these)
Coot
Canada Geese
Couple of Mute Swans
Lots of Redwing
Pied Wagtail
Tufted Ducks
Pochards
Cormorants

The aftermath of one of the showers produced a nice rainbow. I took a video of that, too:

So a semi-decent day, ruined slightly by the fact that my wonderful new tripod (190CXPRO3 - owned for less than a month) broke. One of the rubber feet fell off at some point during my walk around Highnam (impossible to recover) and then at Witcombe the lower leg section of the same leg came clean out! So, I'm going to get it replaced as quickly as I can. Fortunately I bought it from a shop and not online.

99 birds for the year now. I hope the 100th is something good!

Newport Wetlands. (I disappoint myself)

2010-02-21T20:37:00.009Z

A visit to Newport Wetlands today - again lovely weather despite the best efforts of the weatherman!

I walked all around the main reserve and inspected all three pools at Goldcliff - and walked a great deal. My limbs are exhausted this evening.

In the car park outside the visitors centre there were Greenfinch, an overflying Grey Heron, a number of Robins, Great Tits and a lone Kestrel.

Around the reserve I bagged:

Gadwall
Mute Swan
Coot
Curlew
Moorhen
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Little Egret
Wood Pigeon
Redwing
Starling
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Dunnock
Blackbird
Bulllfinch
Reed Bunting (first for the year)
Tufted Duck
Crow
Jackdaw
Redshank
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull
Black-headed Gull (no sign of a Mediterranean Gull)
Knot (a first for the year)
Dunlin (probably Sanderling too, but I'm not confident enough to identify them at a distance)
Shoveller
Wren
Black-tailed Godwit
Great Crested Grebe
Long-tailed Tit
Chaffinch
Pochard
Cormorant
Wigeon
Shelduck
Magpie

and heard about a hundred Cetti's Warblers - alas no sighting.

At Goldcliff pools / sea wall, the following:

Lapwing
Wigeon
Oystercatcher
Canada Goose
Wren
Pintail
Teal
Avocet (seven of them, and first for the year)
Dunlin
Curlew
All the regular Gulls.
Shelduck

Unfortunately, I think I timed my visit badly. I went straight to the main reserve in the morning and early afternoon. This was the time of high tide, and so by the time I got to Goldcliff pools many of the waders had flown out with the tide. So... I saw no Greenshank or Spotted Redshank on the pools mid-afternoon (but read on RBA that they were seen early-afternoon!).

By now the tide had receded significantly, and from the sea wall there was lots to see, but no Greenshank or Spotted Redshank that I could positively identify. The Sun caused a lot of silhouetting and I find this difficult when viewing birds on estuary. Although, I'm sure I would've picked out the distinctive features of the two in silhouette.

Argh. Two birds I should've seen today - but didn't. I'm a birder-in-progress. My confidence with waders - and my timing to get the best chance of spotting them - has a long way to go.

Great Expectations.

2010-02-20T15:58:00.009Z

All the working week, I wanted to see Goshawks. Alas, the weather for this morning in the Forest was - for the majority of Friday - forecast to be lousy. Rain and / or snow showers. I'd resigned myself to not going.

Fortunately the forecast just before I turned in was much better - with the poor weather staying further south. So at 8am this morning I set out.

The weather was glorious. I was first to arrive at New Fancy. Snow in the Forest was enough to make it pretty and sparkly, but not enough to cause any disruption. Just right! The gates were open no problem.

So... after enjoying good views of a Buzzard and a Bullfinch in the car park, I went up to begin my vigil. I only had until about 11am, as I had to get back to watch Everton play Manchester United (which finished 3-1 to the might Blues!!!)

There were no Goshawks on show until about 10.15am, when a male was displaying nicely and being hassled by a juvenille. The two of them engaged in a little airborn ballet (talons touching, I reckon) and then went their separate ways. Lovely views through the scope and I was delighted. Just in time, too!

The time between my arrival (about 8.45am) and the Goshawks showing wasn't wasted either. The birds on show from the viewpoint were overflying Ravens, a couple of Mistle Thrush, a perched Sparrowhawk, year ticks in the manner of Treecreeper and Green Woodpecker (and of course the Goshawks) a good number of Crossbills and - FINALLY, FINALLY - a Hawfinch. It was sat at the top of a nearby tree (Pine? Maybe...? I don't know about trees). A lifer for me.

All in all, a fine morning. Here's a photo of a female Crossbill as it sat at the top of one of the trees near to the viewpoint. It was the only bird that sat close enough, for long enough, to photograph through my scope:

(it's not two birds, it's the same bird)

Some black Sheep feeding at the car park as I departed:

A short video of the scene just before 9am:

94 birds for the year, now.

Sharpness.

2010-02-14T18:21:00.005Z

I hadn't planned to go anywhere today, but when this afternoon rolled around and the weather was still rather lovely it seemed such a waste to stay at home. Thus, off to Sharpness in the hope of seeing the female Black Redstart. I'd not been to Sharpness before, so it was a very pleasant surprise with great opportunities to walk along the river and some great habitats. Once you break free of the docks, that is!

The Black Redstart obliged within ten minuntes of arriving, and showed extremely well for a further ten. It was darting between the end house and the second to last house. Didn't go across to the Ned West building.

Also had great views of a Grey Wagtail - which had a bit of a go at the Black Redstart at one point on the roof of the end house! Both birds retreated with their dignity intact.

One the mud along the shore were Black-headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a solitary Curlew and Grey Heron and six Redshank. Glimpsed what looked like a flock of buntings in a grassy fields just behind the shore, but didn't get a second look and so couldn't be sure what they were.

90 birds on the list now!

Frustrated that the Ring-becked Duck was refound at Slimbridge today! Be gone / missing again by next weekend I imagine. I note also that a Short-eared Owl showed just north of Hawling today, when I'd spent all afternoon in the area yesterday for the Yellowhammers et al!

Six for the list!

2010-02-13T17:15:00.006Z

Had a good day today. Sunshine threatened all day, but only broke through in small portions. Still, grey cloud is better than rain.

I was up early for the Birdwatch morning at WWT Slimbridge with Dave Paynter (I'm pretty sure that was his name). Clearly a wealth of knowledge at his disposal. We checked out the entrance fields, and the hides up to the Holden Tower. All the usual suspects spotted, including my first Oystercatcher, Ruff (finally!) and Peregrine of the year.

To be honest, I doubt I would do the morning again for the bird spotting, as nothing was picked up that I wouldn't spot myself (which is quite reassuring!)... but the commentary about the reserve, and titbits about the birds and their habits were most welcome.

The demonstration of the ringing of a female Tufted Duck was excellent. I emerged further enthused about the beginner ringing course I have book for August in Devon (FSC, Slapton).

In the afternoon I pootled off to Hawling for the Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows and Corn Buntings that have been reported near the Dairy Farm recently. I'm pleased to report that all three showed well. Certainly my first Tree Sparrows and I can't recall an occasion when I've seen Corn Buntings - but since I've only been keeping logs for 18 months now I cannot say for certain. I've had many views of Yellowhammers, but none as satisfying as these. Some of the yellow was dazzling! What follows are three more lousy pictures taken without proper digiscoping equipment:

Year list up to 88, to be found here.

Neglectful.

2010-02-07T18:05:00.007Z

I am.

Difficult to get round to updating this thing. Never mind, there are reasons to rejoice. I have a Cley Spy Mulepack, Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 tripod and 700RC2 head to use with my Swaro ATS65HD. The combo is a joy to use.

Since I last put anything down my year list has 'shot' up to 82. Additions such as Nuthatch, Common Crossbill, Siskin, Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover and European White-fronted Geese all make me happy.

I saw the Crossbills at Boys Grave and New Fancy View in the Forest. It was the first time I'd had a great look at them with decent optics at my disposal. The males are particularly gorgeous.

Today at Slimbridge I was privileged to have the most amazing view of a Sparrowhawk sat in a tree (from the Kingfisher Hide). I tried to take some photos through the eyepiece, but I really do need to get some proper digiscoping equipment (trouble is the tripod and head and mulepack all cost money too!)

I also tried to photogrpah a Siskin I saw today, but it's a bit awful!

Serendipity.

2010-01-19T18:26:00.000Z

I was sat on a park bench this lunchtime, casually wondering how I'd not yet seen a Coal Tit this year, when a Coal Tit landed on a branch less than three feet away from me.

Can't find the Smew.

2010-01-18T20:23:00.004Z

Went to see the Ruddy Duck and Redhead Smew at court lake on Sunday. Found the Ruddy Duck with no problems, but the Smew was nowhere to be seen! Spent ages scanning for it, too. Then I read that others saw it that day, and indeed today. Grrr....

Year list now upto 72 with the addition of Whooper Swan and Sparrowhawk at Coombe Hill and the aforementioned Ruddy Duck.

What splendid birds Red-crested Pochards are. Seen them a few times this year but never a really close look. I was afforded such a privilege at Court Lake on Sunday and could only marvel. Wish they stayed all year round!

Need to go off to the forest soon to chalk off all the tits and finches, etc... I'm still missing. A Redpoll would be a first for me, as would Hawfinch.

Also, I wonder if the Black Redstart will still be at Sharpness on Saturday?

I am thinking of taking a trip upto Scotland in the Spring to see the White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle and Osprey. I wonder if it can be done in a long weekend (Friday to Monday). The Sea Eagle should be straightforward enough - as should Osprey - but where to go with a good chance of seeing a Golden Eagle I dunno.

Finally, although I need a new tripod, and a new stay-on case for my Swaro... I'm beginning to think the next birding purchase should be something like Cley Spy's Mulepack. Carting the tripod about is rewarding when you get great views of a bird, but a pain in the ass when you can't spring to your bins at a milliseconds notice.

Blackcap.

2010-01-16T13:47:00.001Z

Renovated the feeder area this morning. Cleaned everything, rearranged for (I think) the birds and views from the conservatory, filled with some new food and was rewared with a splendid female Blackcap feeding on an apple pinned to the fence. Took the opportunity to have a close look through my scope at the bird (first for a Blackcap). Lovely.