Birding UK and Ireland Forum - Blogs http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ Birding UK and Ireland Bird Forum en Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:55:45 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg Birding UK and Ireland Forum - Blogs http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ A merry chirpy Christmas http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/464-merry-chirpy-christmas.html Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:59:22 GMT Due to working 7 days most weeks and the fact that it's dark when I leave the house and when I return has prevented me watching my garden birds over the last month but I noticed the food was going down much quicker than in the past. At last Christmas arrived meaning a whole week to catch up with the everyday lives of my feathered friends. I also get to play with the Nikon3100 I bought myself as a treat for stopping smoking and the 10x50 binoculars and guide to British birds my other half got me for Christmas.

After watching for about an hour I found out why the food was going down so quick, every bird in the wood seems to visit the feeders and about 20 house sparrows have taken over the privet hedge. There's a constant stream of tits and sparrows on the feeders, even the robin has learned how to use them although it's still rather clumsy. Wood pigeons and collared doves clear the tray then join the magpies, blackbirds and dunnocks on the lawn, a pair of great spotted woodpeckers make short work of the fat blocks, a pair of jays and a song thrush are also regular visitors.

Seeing the birds through some proper bins is a whole new experience for me, the clarity and detail is amazing and is so much easier to ID them even in poor light. I'm now really looking forward to getting a telephoto lens for the camera to hopefully capture some of the sights I can now see.

Birds seen so far.

Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Long tailed tit, Robin, Magpie, Wood pigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Starling, Blackbird, Jay, Wren, House sparrow, Swallow, Grey wagtail, Cormorant, Dunnock, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Nuthatch, Collared dove, Grey heron ]]> Darryl http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/464-merry-chirpy-christmas.html Two more updates.... http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/jynx_69/463-two-more-updates.html Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:51:11 GMT ....to my ringing blog (http://simon-ringing.blogspot.com/) this week. A shameless bit of self-promotion I know, sorry :D ....to my ringing blog this week.
A shameless bit of self-promotion I know, sorry :D ]]> Jynx_69 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/jynx_69/463-two-more-updates.html Whitby weekend 25th-28th November 2011 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/462-whitby-weekend-25th-28th-november-2011.html Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:06:13 GMT I set off excitedly at 9.30am on Friday morning for a long weekend in Whitby. Excited because I have never been to Whitby before, but was aware of... I set off excitedly at 9.30am on Friday morning for a long weekend in Whitby. Excited because I have never been to Whitby before, but was aware of its history and beauty, but also because a very dear friend (and my old boss) was getting married at the Ravens Hall Hotel, situated on a cliff top overlooking the beautiful Robin Hood Bay, half way between Whitby and Scarborough.

Six long hours and several trains later I arrived at the guest house that I had booked and it wasn't very long before I was down at the harbour, wandering why she couldn't have got married in flat Norfolk!! I negotiated some of the steepest climbs I have ever had to do - surpassed only by a long ago trip to Mont Parnasse in Paris.

I sampled the local fare and visited a hostelry or three before making my return ascent to my lodgings and slept fitfully.

Saturday morning saw me having to do it all over again, this time with a full English breakfast holding me back! - don't worry, I managed!! This was not a specific birding trip, but a chance to explore the town and the delightful harbour.

However, there were of course - gulls! The ubiquitous Black-headed gull and Herring gull had followed me here too. I was suprised and delighted to see many Turnstones associating with the gulls around the harbour and they were even jostling amongst them for food. I was amazed when one of them started pecking around my feet!! In the shrubbery on some of the cliff sides were House Sparrows, a Robin or two and there were plenty of Crows soaring over the rooftops. Oh, and some pigeons!

I was delighted to catch my first ever glimpse of a seal in the harbour, the identity of which is up for debate in the forum. So far it has been suggested that it is a Common Harbour Seal or a Grey Seal.

It was not long before I had to make my ascent again (planting a flag at the summit and writing letters for family members) in order to get ready for the wedding. It was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion with many friends old, current and new, all congregating at this beatifull hotel in the middle of the North Yorkshire Moors. The drive to the hotel was awesome, bleak and inspiring. At various times in the night, those of us that smoke, were buffeted by 70mph winds roaring up from the bay which was quite an experience - the quickest 'smoke breaks' ever, one drag and they were gone!! We had excellent food, toasted the happy couple with mulled wine drunk from silver goblets and many dances later, dispersed into the night. I wish I could tell you my carriage arrived, but it was instead Andy in his cab!

Whitby, in the early hours of Sunday morning was buzzing. Lets just say I got back to the guest house at some point or other, and woke up later that day at some point or other and then ambled, very, very slowly to a cafe and on to an ale house for a hair of the dog - it proved to have very big teeth!!

There was a tidal surge happening just as I came out of the restaurant I had eaten in and the staff had to run about getting sand bags!! The road was completely flooded and some shops too: Whitby under water - Local - Whitby Gazette

Monday morning, bright and revitalised, saw me strolling along Whitby beach. Boy, that was fresh!! There to keep me company in the howling winds were some pipits - the identity of which are also being currently debated in the forum. I had an inkling that they might have been Rock Pipits due to appearing quite grey on the backs and a dirty, smudginess to the streaking on the flanks. These were annoyingly at the very top of the cliff when I was, of course, at the bottom. Others I'm sure are Meadow Pipit.

There was also Pied Wagtails, a Robin, a couple of Curlews, many Oystercatcher, Redshank, more Turnstones, Cormorants and the afore mentioned gulls were joined by several Greater-black backed Gulls too. The star attraction however, was a lovely male Stonechat - the first I have seen in well over a year!

Once off of the beach, I further explored the town and visited the Abbey. Stunning views from up there and a great place to watch the town as the sun set.

I've had a great 4 days in Whitby and although it wasn't specifically a birding trip, managed to record 20 odd species. I definitely will go back, but summer next time!!

Update - The pipits have been agreed as Rock Pipits - woohoo - LIFER!!!!! and the consensus on the seal is that it is a Common harbour seal (LIFER also!!)
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/462-whitby-weekend-25th-28th-november-2011.html Ringing Blog http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/jynx_69/461-ringing-blog.html Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:28:37 GMT Hi all.
If anyone's interested I have started a blog to document my ringing training here: A Trainee Ringer's Diary

Cheers

Simon ]]> Jynx_69 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/jynx_69/461-ringing-blog.html <![CDATA[Kittiwakes and red squirrels under threat in Tyne & Wear]]> http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/460-kittiwakes-red-squirrels-under-threat-tyne-wear.html Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:46:40 GMT It is typical, the local council tried to sneak through planning approval for 600 (luxury) new houses on a very significant green belt area of... It is typical, the local council tried to sneak through planning approval for 600 (luxury) new houses on a very significant green belt area of Gosforth in Newcastle. In the course of the protests local activists have been told that petitions are not allowed! It is slap bang in the centre of the last urban population of red squirrals in Britain (or the world?). It will put even more pressure on this fragile colony and will seriously threaten colonies of rare noctrule bats along with other species of bat, buzzards, owls, badgers, roe deer et al. The fields in question are part of a wildlife corridor that connects Jesmond Dene (home to two pairs of breeding kingfishers) with Gosforth and then through to Northumbria... in short the planning permission will serioulsy damage local wildlife permenantly. The impact will have far wider implications. The fields in question border an area of triple SSI (and featured on Springwatch this year). I live in the area and got my letter of notification about the Governments "Joint Core Strategy" this week. Worringly in the letter it says

"The Government is changing the national planning framework. This means that will be easier to get planning permission for all types of development" I feel sick when I read these words... I see a buearocrat's pen bloodily stabbing our wildlife, our fauna and scrubbing out our precious flora.... forever. It makes me think of Big Brother. It's about money, the council need cash and Persimmion Housing conveniently own the land in question. How can something of such valule be deemed so valueless, fur and feather versus bricks and beaurocracy. I could cry.

Local residents are trying to halt the plans and have managed to get a decision held back now until January.

Any of you see the kittiwakes on BBC Spring watch this year..?. well they got evicted from The Baltic Art Gallery and they re-settled on The Tyne Bridge - Remarkably they are the only urban colony of kittiwakes in the world, easily watched and a total enchantment in the city center. Surely they must be a tourist attraction? No they are seen as a blight by The supposedly Green City Council as they tend to poo on a small area of pavement... They are due to be removed.... I have written to the council... but feel totally helpless.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/k...ittiwake.shtml read this

If you know anyone who lives in the NE Newcastle area I urge you to email them and ask them to write to

Cllr Henri Murison
Cabinet Officer
Civic Center
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2BN ]]> Greenmillie64 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/460-kittiwakes-red-squirrels-under-threat-tyne-wear.html New feeder, new birds http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/459-new-feeder-new-birds.html Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:49:10 GMT The squirrels were getting out of hand wrecking feeders so action was needed Image:... The squirrels were getting out of hand wrecking feeders so action was needed

I bought a free standing feeding station and fitted a baffle which up to now works a treat. As well as stopping the squirrels it's attracted some new birds to the garden ie. a couple of collared doves which are hilarious to watch and a nuthatch as well as bringing the woodpecker back so I'm really pleased with the purchase.
Just a shame I only get one day a week to watch :(

Birds seen so far.

Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Long tailed tit, Robin, Magpie, Wood pigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Starling, Blackbird, Jay, Wren, House sparrow, Swallow, Grey wagtail, Cormorant, Dunnock, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Nuthatch, Collared dove ]]> Darryl http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/459-new-feeder-new-birds.html Seals galore: The mournful sea http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/458-seals-galore-mournful-sea.html Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:41:25 GMT "It's bird watching Jim, but not as we know it"

Actually the mission for the day had a more blubbery smack to it, as it was seals that were on the agenda - Grey Seals to be precise. I am more inclined to watch birds than mammals but it seemed a golden opportunity to get close and personal with some of the UK's largest mammals, whilst under the informed tutalage of a couple of Island Wardens.

As a rather dense and very inexperienced bird watcher, my ignorance seems to lead to more surprising moments and also to better conversations.. I'm no shy lass and have no hesitation in asking "Whassat?" When the group bins swing in the direction of something interesting. The trip to the Farnes by boat (the helicopter being out of action as it is in fact imaginary) was one I had really been looking forward to, but was also slightly hesiitant as was bringing the two young 'uns... As we were going to be boat based the whole time, I had weighed things up and decided even the kids couldn't terrify the birds TOO much and any way the threats of losing all their Xmas presents and no video games until 2014 seemed to have them cow towing nicely. It is important to expose our children to the wonders of nature and they have been orphaned by my bird watchiing missons so many times, it seemed only fair to bring them. Neither Isaac (7) or KT (9) had ever been on a boat before so they were understandably excited. The other half had decided to join us and although hesitant as had suffered sea sickness on other excursions, had reasoned it was only two hours and surely couldn't be that... could it?

We arrived at Seahouses (famed as the gateway to the Farnes)and soon found the boat.. upon boarding the open topped "Glad tidings" The entire group (about 15 in total) was feeling quite excited as the sea was a good way off being calm and even in the safety of the harbour the swell was noticable. The herring gulls squawked warnings... we smiled, grinned and wisjhed we had woolly hats, it was cold.

We pulled out of the harbour, many eider ducks and wigeon witnessed our departure, none of the birds seemed to be heading in the same direction of us. Little wonder, as we pushed into open waters the swell was strong and to the left great waves crashed onto the sea wall and huge eddies of water swirled torrents of white water into the air. We all drew in our breaths as the spray from the front of the boat flashed over us
The kids roared with laughter
"We're Vikings Mummy, Vikings!" Roared Isaac
"This is more scary than the roller coaster" bellowed KT "This is dangerous" she laughed...

We skirted a few of the islands and although not permitted off the boat to wander on Brownsman (as is protected by the National Trust), we were allowed vey good views of the seals and their daubed cubs. This recent batchess colour was pink, with the last batchess being yellow/orange. The wardens change the colour so as not to count them twice.The seals were very curious and came within feet of us in the water and in the inlets around the island we were afforded very very close views. In the harbour of Brownsman, I could hear Rock Pippits and in the distance a woodcock foraged on the lip of a mound of earth.

Between the Islands, the warning bellows of the female seals seemed a haunting and a low and tragic lament, a sound one could never forget. Like mermaids in mourning, it was little wonder that ancient mariners spoke of ghostly calls from distant places. A frightened mother cast her paw over her cub and as if biting it's head held the head of her young cub in her mouth, in the ultmate act of protection. In her fear she covered her young.

They return yearly to the same spot to give birth, like birds returning after migration to the same bush. Demonstrating not just territorial urges but powerful memories. Liek Bewick swans they have different patternations and can be identified as individuals. The wardens live on Brownsmans in sparce conditions for nine months of the year and only very recently had the luxury of electricity from a couple of solar panels. Currently, of interest, on Brownman they have breeding pairs of, merlin, pied wagtail, peregrine falcons and the expected sea birds. The Wardens are principally there to monitor the population and overall health of the huge colony of seals on the surrounding islands. The tagged seals have been found as far away as Norway.

The seals are curious and as our photos attest they come very close and seemed to enjoy watching us watching them. Rising from the waters like strong pillars they never took their eyes from the boat. Sleek and oily in the water they played tricks on the eye surfacing and diving.

On our return we were mesmerised by flocks of turnstones, flying low over rough waters seeking places to settle, large flocks of wigeon coursed over us... a lone oyster catcher caught up in the autumnal turnstones struggled to keep up with their delicate, fleeting flight patterns. Tilting and swerving, their wings caught the light and the flock made sharp angled patterns that I could only describe as geomotries of turnstone. Flocks of wood pigeons seemed lost in thier huge gangs as they swooped grey over the harsh skerries. A 100 or so shags seemed impervious. A Great Northern Diver flew rapidly and with great resolve into a seemingly empty horizon.. a lone bird in cruel conditions.

We saw a huge colony of juvenile seals, skirted cautiously by redhshank and sinister blackbacked gulls, when the boat engine revved, they bellowed with nervous "oo's". Tawny and crowded on the sands, they represented safety in numbers.
Guillemots bobbed in the distance, six gannets flew over head, magnificent large birds to be respected.

As we returned to harbour, someone shouted "owl!"

And to the parties astonishment a short eared owl flew over the boat mobbed by herring gulls, its feather were beatiful in the cold blue light, but it was hard not to pity it as the gulls harrassed it.

The other half at his point, was wretched with head between knees, holding isaac under one arm, heaving and desperate to be on land... "Did you see the owl Hunni?"
"I don't care about the owl... I'm dying here"
"There there" I falsely empathised
The whole group looking on with sympathy, what a shame to miss so much excellent birding.

The trip was a great success and the kids are now well and truly hooked; rather than spoil the trip, they made the excursion a delight and other members of the trip took them under their wings and educated them with great communality.

On leaving Glad Tidings, a regular remarked "How wonderful of you to bring your children, it was a treat to see the wonder on their faces, I hope they come again".

Thank you NHSN for a wonderful experience and see you next year! The other half says Next time they'll stay home and leave the blasted honking to the geese! :)
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]]> Greenmillie64 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/458-seals-galore-mournful-sea.html Field Trip Holy Island October 17th 2011: The Feathered Heavens http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/457-field-trip-holy-island-october-17th-2011-feathered-heavens.html Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:10:22 GMT Field Trip Holy Island October 17th 2011 Perhaps I am biased but surely we have some of the finest birding territory in England but also some of... Field Trip Holy Island October 17th 2011

Perhaps I am biased but surely we have some of the finest birding territory in England but also some of the most abysmal weather.

It is always observed that the British are obsessed with the weather, but the bird watchers of Britain are all surely secretly practised in the art of the sun dance or earnest prayers… anything to stop the wind blowing the birds into the heavens or into thickets of the densest gorse. Anyway whatever weird and occultish oaths were uttered on Saturday night, they were surely granted, as we awoke to the bluest clearest skies and light as Golden as a Syrup advert. After weeks of looking forward to one of the years birding highlights, the prospect of the migratory flightlines of the Farnes in perfect weather conditions had me grinning from ear to ear. I was hoping for large flocks of waders but especially hoping to capture on film, bramblings. Linnet, red wings, or for me the elusive wax wing. Although I suspect that I could have a blue throated flamingo perched on the end of my nose and I’d miss it!

The omens were promising from the window of the coach, A few miles before we turned off the A1, I spotted kestrel a hen harrier and a buzzard, all clearly making good use of the excellent hunting conditions. The unknown pensioner at my side snoozed quite happily, oblivious to the fact his head was resting on my shoulder. Sketchpad on his lap he was maybe dreaming feathered dreams?

Unlike previous trips where we largely formed a well insulated flock and the novices could learn from the more well seasoned birders, this time we were dispatched with the choice of “going our own way”.

An hour later I would be wading through pools of crunchy sand and slipping over perilous rocks in my determination to get to a solitary birder (with proper top dollar digiscope) hoping he would respond favourably to that eternal request “Anything good?” Happily the gentleman obliged with the perfect response “Oh Yes, about 500 golden plover ahead, to the left there are several hundred pale belled Brent geese… and in my scope I have three Merganser… want to take a look?” Oh happy days, he was happy with the company and we got a trained eye to survey the sun drenched, albeit windier panorama. In the distance on a sandy isthmus, a harem of dusky seals were playful in the waters, the curlews and oyster catchers haunting pipers, with the call of hungry and exhausted geese rising from the distant horizon. I closed my eyes to imagine the long flight from the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard and their relief to arrive safely to the feeding grounds.

Smoke rose from the distant hills and three distinctly different flocks of easily 20,000 birds took to air, the strong clear light reflecting gold, ebony and woody brown birds they shone, distinct in their identities one of the flocks hovering above as if waiting for the two below to clear so they could resettle…it is some how touching to witness the tenacity of these remarkable coastal birds.
We saw, all the usual characters, abundant curlew, red shank, wigeon, at least 50 cormorant sunning themselves, golden plover bar tailed Godwit, gulls and skua.
Black throated Divers had been reported the day previously but not to be seen that day.

Venturing forth it was decided we would go forth in search of smaller brown birds with less muddy feet. The wind had picked up and not much was seen by us, Ubiquitous house sparrows in their noisy hundreds, starlings, an owl was seen flying through the window of an abandoned boat house but a certain ID was not possible. A pair of pied wagtails mocked us briefly from a roof top and the trees were resonant with bird song but without a trained eye it was challenging.

Joyfully I bumped into some of the seasoned birding fraternity and weas invited down a berry laden bridleway and the redwings fluttered into the hedgerows around us. We stopped briefly to watch a kestrel hovering intermittently then settling onto a lichen emblazoned stone wall to rest.

We were pushed for time and did not want to get cut off by the tide at four. The Newcastle RSPB Field trips always go too quickly… another week would not have sufficed.

The return journey was to include a scheduled stop at the beautiful Budle Bay to see what was on the sand banks, we watched myriad pink lag geese, the typical waders and the highlight was a Peregrine falcon who veered over the bus to join his mate and settle in the distance, no doubt to peruse the menu… I colleague offered me a view of the Peregrine through the digiscope but a northerly shook it like a jelly and I took his word for it. Behind us four long tailed tits perilously clung to the extremities of a birch tree.

No doubt other members of the trip would have plenty to add to the list but it was not of an organised nature so less was to be gleaned.

“Did you see much?”
“Oh not much that one wouldn’t anticipate but we werere blessed with the weather”
“Hmmm not much seen, merely 30,000 collective birds flocking in unforgettable strata after their astonishing journey”
“Another field trip and more than another first.”
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]]> Greenmillie64 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/457-field-trip-holy-island-october-17th-2011-feathered-heavens.html Leighton Moss 12 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/455-leighton-moss-12.html Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:28:40 GMT I have been intending to get to Leighton Moss over the last week or so but a mixture of work and night duty-induced knackerdness has been getting in... I have been intending to get to Leighton Moss over the last week or so but a mixture of work and night duty-induced knackerdness has been getting in the way.

I was determined to go today, so set my alarm for 5am and struggled out of my pit at ten to six! I got a shift on and thanks to a reliable local taxi company, made it to the station on time and woke up on the train en route.

I arrived at 8am and ambled about the feeder stations to see what was about and decide my first move.

Lots of Coal tits were busy feeding, never seen so many at once. The usual tits and finches too and a nice Nuthatch made me forget my British Rail breakfast. British Rail Catering - We're getting there!

I decided to try the causeway first and was hopeful when I saw a small group milling about the grit trays. However, 20 minutes later nothing had showed so I went into the public hide. Coots, Mute Swans and Mallards, but then a Marsh Harrier made an appearance for a while and the morning picked up. There was a possible flash of Sparrowhawk, but totally unconfirmed - could have been anything.

I decided to give lower hide a miss, so went back the way I had come and stayed with the smallish group, still milling by the grit trays. After 15 minutes I was contemplating moving on when out of the blue - well the reeds to be precise, came a male and female pair of Bearded tits that gave us a few minutes of their time before also heading back the way they came.

Very chuffed, I strolled off to the saltmarsh hides and entered the Allen hide about 45 minutes later. Snipe, Snipe & more Snipe - I have never seen so many all at once. I counted 29, but later in the day I heard someone say there were 34! Also present were lovely Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing, a couple of Shelduck some Wigeon and Teal.

The Eric Morcambe hide showed more of the same with the addition of Black-tailed Godwits and 3 distant Little Egrets.

I went back to the main reserve and had some mushroom soup for lunch, had another look about the feeders and this time got a male and female Bullfinch and a field mouse!

I then went to Lillians hide which was full to capacity and everyone was pointing there scopes in the same direction - a Water Rail was darting in and out of the edge of the reeds. I got some awful photo's but better views, fortunately!

The star attraction though was a Bittern - my first ever! It flew low and quick over the reeds and then dropped in, never to be seen again - for those in the know, it was by the single pole/trunk that the harriers usually perch on. It was all too brief and no photo's I'm afraid, I just about managed to register what I was looking at by the time it was gone!

Also from Lillians was a pair of female Goldeneye, some lovely Pintail, and a nicely perched Common Gull.

I'd spent a rewarding 6 hours birding and still didn't have time for the Grisedale or Tim Jackson hides! so made my way to the station for my train home - which was 32 bleedin' minutes late!

My sightings for this trip were:

Chaffinch
Pheasant
Coal tit
Nuthatch
Greenfinch
Blue tit
Great tit
Moorhen
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Mallard
Coot
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Marsh harrier
Starling
Magpie
Crow
Bearded tit
Snipe
Teal
Wigeon
Redshank
Greenshank
Shelduck
Lapwing
Curlew
Gadwall
Robin
Black-tailed Godwits
Little Egret
Spotted Redshank
Water Rail
Bittern
Tufted duck
Shovelor duck
Black-headed gull
Common gull
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
Pintail
Goldeneye
Wren
Wood pigeon
Pied Wagtail
Long-tailed tit

Just had confirmed that some geese I saw flying over were Pinkfeet - they were sillhouetted on the day and in my pics!!
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/455-leighton-moss-12.html Marton Mere 12 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/454-marton-mere-12.html Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:20:22 GMT I had a good 4 hour roam around my local patch this afternoon with overcast skies and poor light, but at least no rain and little wind and it is... I had a good 4 hour roam around my local patch this afternoon with overcast skies and poor light, but at least no rain and little wind and it is still relatively mild.

I'm a creature of habit and always enter the mere from the Lawson road end and then turn right, to make the feeder station hide my first stop.

It was much busier here than on my last visit. The usual tits and finches were in good numbers as were the regular pheasants, a rabbit and an acrobatic grey squirrel that hung upside down from a branch to get at the nuts in one of the feeders.

Moving along the ''holiday park side'' of the mere soon revealed massess of Canada geese, the water was full of them. I was later told that there were 5000 in the east fields the day before.

I visited all the hides to the eastern end of the lake (there are 3) and had fairly good views of Gadwall, Teal, Pochard and all of the usual waterbirds.

From the dyke I scanned the neighbouring fields and came upon some geese two fields away. There were at least 1,500 but quite possibly a lot more. I struggled to id them and made some notes for when I got home. I wrote in my field book; ''possibly pink-footed geese'' and so was a little concieted when another birder passed by and said ''ave ya sin tha pinkies in yonder field?''

I exited the mere at the north end after coming off the dyke and walked along the bridal path to the place where the LEO's roost - none to be had! A bit early in my opinion, although one was reported on the Fylde Bird Club web site about 10 days ago.

Retraced my steps and went down the north end of the mere, through the apple trees whose scent filled the air and made me want a cider! I spent some time in the container hide (it's made from one of those big metal storage containers you see stacked up on ships) and had better views from here of the Pochard and Teal and spotted a group of distant Shovelors.

On the path from this hide was a flock of around 30 Long-tailed tits that were flitting between branches and from tree to tree. I got quite close views and they didn't seem bothered by me at all.

I'm fairly sure a Snipe fly by me, but it landed in front of the reeds and never reappeared!! A couple of Grey Heron's made fly overs and a Kestrel was hunting over the scrub.

I made my way home, just as it began to spit with rain!

My sightings for the day were:

Magpie
Crow
Woodpigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Coal tit
Blue tit
Great tit
Pheasant (all female)
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Canada Geese
Mute Swan
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Gadwall
Teal
Pochard
Black-headed gulls
Herring gulls
Shoveler ducks
Grey Herons
Pink-footed Geese
Blackbirds (No Fieldfares or Redwings yet)
Kestrel
Long-tailed tit
Starling
Snipe?????
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/454-marton-mere-12.html Magpie, squirrel and siesta http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/453-magpie-squirrel-siesta.html Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:51:13 GMT The shoulder is about 80% and it's time to go back to work so spending all day bird watching is about to end but this isn't the end of my blog or my new found love of birds, I can't call it a hobby because it seems to have taken over my life.

The last week has had it's funny and rewarding moments, the rewarding ones were enticing the tits back to my tree with a coconut feeder and watching one of the great tits not only check out but go inside and have the full tour of the nest box I built, it was in there for over a minute (I hope the decor and kitchen were up to scratch). The funny moments were watching a squirrel trying to get to the coconut feeder which I put just out of reach and a magpie which has it's own unique way of getting the fat and seed mix out of it by just flying straight into it, falling to the ground, then cleaning the fat off it's head and eating it.

Some new arrivals to the garden are 2 more wrens which are very vocal and a small (tit sized) olive green bird which I can't ID with the cheap binoculars that I borrowed off my mother. I'm really looking forward to getting some decent binoculars and then a decent camera so I can share and positively ID the birds here.

While typing this I'm listening to the tawny owl in the woods and it reminded me that I'm not only seeing birds now but hearing them and even knowing their calls. I've noticed mid afternoon it all goes quiet for about 2 hours even the robin stops it's tic tic, the only noises are a couple of jays and magpies.

Do all the small birds have a siesta? ]]> Darryl http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/453-magpie-squirrel-siesta.html Norfolk and Suffolk 02-08 October 2011 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/astafjevs/452-norfolk-suffolk-02-08-october-2011.html Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:34:51 GMT Our first stop on arriving in Norfolk on a very warm October lunchtime was Weeting Heath to look and see if there were any lingering stone curlews;... Our first stop on arriving in Norfolk on a very warm October lunchtime was Weeting Heath to look and see if there were any lingering stone curlews; there were not, only lapwing. We moved on to nearby Grimes Graves where the main interest is archaeological but we also saw our first wheatear of the trip and lots of meadow pipits.

From here, we headed back across the border to Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk. Unfortunately, the cranes weren’t at home although the person manning the visitor centre was very excited as they had ten birds on the reserve earlier in the day, whereas they usually have five resident birds. We heard some beardies but the wind was up and they didn’t show. The best bird we saw here was a hobby above the reedbeds.Later, we heard a tawny owl outside our B&B near Brancaster.

The following morning we headed to Snettisham for the lunchtime not-very-high tide. The first bird we saw was a green woodpecker, and we also saw a variety of waders on our walk to the hides; mostly knot and oystercatchers but also grey plovers, golden plovers, curlews, and some smaller dunlin and ringed plovers. The high tide spectacle was a bit of a let down because the birds never came particularly close to the shore, but it was a good visit overall.

From here we went to Titchwell where it was also too windy for bearded tits! Other than lots more of the same waders, the best birds on the lagoons here were a couple of pintails amongst the ducks.

However we had a much better time trying to sea-watch from the beach in the increasingly strong wind. I thought we saw a winter plumaged diver a little way out at sea, but I really wasn’t sure, and while we were trying to focus on it a large dark bird came out of nowhere and started harassing a gull right in front of us and over our heads. Skua! I checked the identity of the bird with another birder further down the beach who confirmed it was a dark-phase arctic skua, and ventured to him that I thought there might be a diver a little way out. He said he hadn’t seen it, if there was. I went back to our scope a little way up the beach, and after a while the other man strolled up to advise that yes, there was a red-throated diver a little way out. We tried to focus our scopes on it, but were distracted by a winter plumaged guillemot (not seen a winter one before!) and I was left unsure whether I could count the diver as a lifer or not. There were a few winter Sandwich terns about, and a juvenile gannet made a very clumsy spectacle plunge diving into the sea. After a while, two more arctic skuas came back to pick on the gulls! On the way up the path back to the visitor centre, we saw a pair of marsh harriers.

We ended the day with a stroll along the coast path from Burnham Overy Staithe towards Holkham. Lots of redshank, before an egret caught my eye in flight. As I watched, it dawned on me that this egret was in fact a spoonbill. We reached the dunes, and sat and watched a few sanderling on the beach amongst the gulls, As we walked back, a second egret also turned into a spoonbill in front of our very eyes, this one flying and also seen feeding amongst the tidal creeks, and not to be outdone, no fewer than six little egrets passed over our head on their way to roost.

Tuesday morning was spent looking at a bush at Holme Dunes. It wasn’t intended to be spent like that, but when we arrived at the car park a man informed us that a barred warbler had been present in the bush, and as I’ve never seen one, I proceeded to waste the whole morning looking for it. Rather oddly, the man in the car park recognised me from the pallid harrier twitch a few days earlier. Obviously thinking I was chasing rarities (I wasn’t!) he revealed the sandhill crane had been relocated in Suffolk. I had no idea it had even left Aberdeen! As for the barred warbler, the only time it showed all morning was while we were wandering around the dunes for a brief few minutes to break up the monotony! Frustrating! We did see another marsh harrier here, but really very little else.

After lunch, we went to Cley. I was a bit cross that we had spent so much of the day at Holme but we needn’t have worried as large parts of Cley were closed off for ‘work’. From the east hide we added avocets and snipe to our ‘trip list’ and saw another two marsh harriers, and a peregrine caused a commotiong amongst the assembled waders and ducks but it was still too windy for bearded tits! We relocated to the shingle beach, and as we strolled along we were absolutely delighted to see a summer plumaged red throated diver swimming (and diving) barely ten metres off shore. Stunning bird, and a lifer (if I don’t count the possible one the day before). We spent a while looking over the area we saw Lapland buntings last year, but unfortunately there were none to be found. We did see a big flock of mixed linnets and goldfinch, and quite a few meadow pipits, though.

The day ended with an unsuccessful look for owls in the vicinity of Stiffkey, where we had seen them last year.

Wednesday began with another shorter visit to the Holme bush but the barred warbler still wasn’t prepared to show (it had been seen again later the previous day), before we departed for more history at Castle Acre. Unfortunately we had not read our handbook correctly and the priory ruins were closed, but the castle remains were interesting enough and from here we moved on towards the Broads, an area I have never visited before.

As we only had an afternoon to spare, we played it safe with a visit to Stumpshaw Fen. Still too windy for bearded tits! The best birds here were a couple more snipe and another marsh harrier, but I am fairly certain we were a little bit late in the year to enjoy the reserve at its best.

It was at this moment that I decided to check the latest whereabouts of the sandhill crane, and was delighted to discover it was about ten miles south of Saxmundham, where we had booked to stay for the next three nights. Even better, it seemed to be lingering at Boyton Marshes, and we had directions to the RSPB reserve there, so we headed south.

The bird wasn’t actually on the reserve, but through a brilliant piece of subliminal navigation we ended up in the right place rather than at the reserve. Not really sure how we did that! We arrived and saw a row of four birders with their scopes trained in a certain direction. Whilst we got ours set up, I scanned the distance with my binoculars but unfortunately couldn’t find it and had to ask the man next to us for a pointer. He very kindly allowed me a ‘sighter’ through his own scope, and so I had my second lifer of the trip and my first ever ‘mega’. We watched the bird for about an hour in the hope it would take off and show us its wingspan, but it was content to wander about its field feeding and occasionally having a good look around.

Our remaining two days were spent at both Minsmere/Dunwich Heath and North Warren but despite our best efforts we couldn’t add anything else to our list, although the barnacle geese at Minsmere have given me a bit of a feral goose quandary. I have no intention of counting them, but can’t adequately explain why I am happy to count feral greylags, Egyptians and Canada geese and not these. Anyone?!

Minsmere did produce a kingfisher, right outside the Bittern Hide and another marsh harrier, more avocets, lots of godwits (of both types, I think), some dunlin, various ducks and a wheatear, but sadly we were not able to track down the reported snow bunting.

Dunwich Heath produced another wheatear, many house martins and a pair of bullfinches, but despite our best efforts the closes we got to a Dartford warbler was a scratchy, squeaky bush that eventually turned into a grey bullet dashing out and into thick cover whilst we were looking the other way. It might have been, but it might have been something else.

Returning to Minsmere through the woods, we had a great spotted woodpecker from the canopy hide, and a green woodpecker shortly afterwards. We ended the day watching the red deer rut on nearby Westleton Heath.

North Warren the following day was, in all honesty, a disappointment, and the best birds we saw being a treecreeper and possibly another pair of bullfinch. Orford Castle was really interesting, and Aldeburgh was nice for fish and chips at lunch time. We ended the day at Shingle Street, which is a really atmospheric place, and provided us with a real mystery bird; as we watched the gulls, and the large ships in the distance, a commotion attracted our attention. The gulls were harassing a large brown bird of prey that came in off the sea, seemingly clutching something in its talons, which landed out of view on the shingle beach; a subsequent search produced only a kestrel eyeing us from a nearby wire; I am certain that the bird we saw wasn’t a kestrel, but even if it was it is beyond me to explain how it got from the beach to the wire without us seeing it! The only description of the bird I can offer was all-dark and long-tailed. I was thinking harrier, but it might just have been a trick of the fading light and a kestrel all along!

All in all a nice few days away with a couple of surprise lifers but none of the birds I intended/wanted to see. I blame the settled weather and the persistent westerly winds!
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]]> astafjevs http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/astafjevs/452-norfolk-suffolk-02-08-october-2011.html What a difference a day (and rain) makes http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/451-what-difference-day-rain-makes.html Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:49:44 GMT The last week has been my first test of patience and commitment to my new hobby. First the curry eating cats, then the neighbours washing (again) and... The last week has been my first test of patience and commitment to my new hobby. First the curry eating cats, then the neighbours washing (again) and DIY, and then the last of the berries on the tree at the bottom of the garden has made for some long days. Only the robin and a few magpies have been in the garden, but I stayed optimistic and continued to put fresh food and water out in the hope something would change.
I woke this morning to find the rain hammering on the window with a fond memory of a similar day a couple of weeks ago and thought I was in for a treat (little did I know), so before the kettle had even boiled I was out in the rain cleaning the ground feeder and putting fresh food out.
After drying off I made my cuppa and sat at the window, although it was still too dark to see anything I could hear some tweets over the noise of the rain, something I hadn't heard all week. As it started to come light I could see the tits flying out of the woods and into a tree, but not my tree, they flew to a sycamore a couple of doors down and then continued off out of sight. I was so disappointed that they had passed me by again but I still sat there in hope they may return. About an hour passed with only a magpie visiting, I remember thinking "go on you might as well eat the lot" then a second flock of tits arrived, among them was what I think was a long tailed tit. This flock were much louder than the usual ones and despite the robins attempts to chase them off were determined they were dining here. When they left they had almost cleared the crushed peanuts so I went back out to refill and scattered some meal worms around the privet for the robin. I had only just sat back down when I saw some movement in the privet, the robin and a dunnock were hopping in and out collecting the meal worms.
Later the usual flock of tits returned but instead of flying straight into the woods like they had all week, they too stopped off at my feeders though only briefly. On top of all this I saw and heard a crow attacking a jay mid flight (what a noise).

All in all an amazing day, I'm so glad I got into this birding :)


Birds seen so far.

Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Long tailed tit, Robin, Magpie, Wood pigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Starling, Blackbird, Jay, Wren, House sparrow, Swallow, Grey wagtail, Cormorant, Dunnock, Carrion crow ]]> Darryl http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/451-what-difference-day-rain-makes.html Cat curry! http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/450-cat-curry.html Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:17:34 GMT I don't know where the neighbours get their ideas from but on their back lawn this morning was a take away carton half full of chips and what looked like curry. I know this is NOT what you should be putting out for any wildlife to eat but the magpies seemed to enjoy it and so did the local cats. Two of them sat there for the best part of an hour licking the carton clean at the time most of the birds come to visit my feeders. Obviously with the cats so close by the birds stayed well away. :mad: After I'd gone to the trouble of making a buggy suet cake for them too.

The day wasn't a total disaster though as a few hours later some tits did call and a couple of them were checking out the nest box, so with a bit of luck they'll use it in the spring or maybe as a shelter in the winter. ]]> Darryl http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/darryl/450-cat-curry.html The Feathered Crayon Down Under http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/449-feathered-crayon-down-under.html Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:58:21 GMT Last night's offerings from the turn of the century are a lovely reminder of a golden age of bird illustration... and perhaps now we can see the pictures in a new light, with new eyes, as we no longer need an illustration to aid us when ID-ing eggs stolen from nests.

Tonights illustrations are taken from a wonderful tome acquired at a jumle sale. Birds of Australian Gardens by Peter Trusler (Text by Tess Kloot). - the book is so large and heavy it would not be amiss as a murder weapon in a game of Cluedo
"Poor Plum was found in the dungeon with a fatal spine mark to the temple... "

Mr Trusler is a foundation member of theWildlife Art Society of Australsia and his work is represented in collections throughout Australia.

Enjoy!
Picture one is one three cuckoos: The Pallid Cuckoo, The Fan Tailed Cuckoo and the Brush Cuckoo.

Picture 2 is of The Grey Butcher bird

Picture 3 A Red Whiskered Bulbul

and finally some lovely Pardalotes

Some of the names are so unusual it is worth recounting some (and only to ber read aloud n Aussie accents!), Drongos, Figbirds, Galahs,Tawny Frogmouths and hopefuly one won't catch the Common Koel. :)

PLease look up Truslers art and I hope you enjoy his work as much as my family. We can only dream of birdwatching down under!
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]]> Greenmillie64 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/greenmillie64/449-feathered-crayon-down-under.html