Birding UK and Ireland Forum - Blogs http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ Birding UK and Ireland Bird Forum en Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:54:21 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/ Al Warsan Lakes, International City, Dubai http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ijwilki/354-al-warsan-lakes-international-city-dubai.html Sat, 21 Aug 2010 06:11:02 GMT Dragged myself out of bed before 05.00 this morning to visit a recommended site in Dubai. Entailed a drive of over one and a half hours, but at that... Dragged myself out of bed before 05.00 this morning to visit a recommended site in Dubai. Entailed a drive of over one and a half hours, but at that time and it being Ramadan the roads were extremely quiet. With temperatures rising to in excess of 40 degrees by mid day I wanted to get there in good time.
International city is a massive residential complex and the lakes are to be developed as a nature reserve. Due to the recession most of the construction work is on hold and there is no disturbance to the lakes at the monent which is probably a bonus.
Glad I made the effort - had a great 3 hours birding until I withered under the unrelenting desert sun - well worth the visit.
The main highlights for me were a couple of Squacco Herons, a couple of Purple Herons and an Indian Pond Heron. A Grey Heron then showed which meant I had seen 4 different species of heron on one trip. A couple of other notable firsts were several White-tailed lapwings and a Purple Swamp-hen.

List of birds seen:

Little grebe
Black-winged stilt
Ruff
Common sandpiper
Green sandpiper - to confirm
Wood sandpiper - to confirm
White-tailed lapwing
Red-wattled lapwing
Indian pond heron
Little stint - to confirm
Bar-tailed godwit
Moorhen
Purple swamp-hen
Squacco Heron
Coot
Purple Heron
Little ringed plover
Ringed plover
Kentish plover
Crested lark
Laughing dove
Blue-cheeked bee-eater
Unidentified tern

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit despite the heat. I'll be going again soon.
I've attached some photos and I'll put some more in the album
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]]> ijwilki http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ijwilki/354-al-warsan-lakes-international-city-dubai.html RSPB Sandwell Valley, Birmingham 3 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/353-rspb-sandwell-valley-birmingham-3.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:34:48 GMT I have been in the West Midlands for my Nephew's Christening and after visiting Brandon Marsh near Coventry yesterday, I made a trip to Hamstead in Birmingham today, to visit the RSPB reserve; Sandwell Valley.

I was last here in a very cold and snowy February when building work had not long started on improving the centre and facilities. Sadly, not long after this, the centre was subject to an arson attack.

I arrived today to find only half of the building still standing, badly charred and fenced off. Reassuringly, however, was the presence of a large handful of RSPB staff and volunteers who were hard at work planting and maintaining a new pond adjacent to the visitors centre.

I was told that there are several ideas being contemplated including expanding the centre and creating a verandah-picnic area over looking one of the lakes or going upwards and adding a second storey to the building.

I spent almost 3 hours at the reserve and although it was quiet given the time of year, I did enjoy watching 6 Common Terns - 4 adults and 2 juveniles that had been bred on the reserve. They were skillfuly fishing and calling to each other noisily.

A solitary Buzzard made an appearance and sent masses of BH Gulls and Lapwing into the air and there was a pair of nesting Great Crested Grebe with a juvenile in tow.

Sightings for the day were:

Coot
Mallard
Moorhen
Tufted duck
GC Grebe
Lapwing
BH Gull
Herring Gull
Starling
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Common Tern
Reed Warbler
Buzzard
Canada geese
Mute Swan
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Teal
Great tit
Long-tailed tit
Robin
Blackbird
Wood pigeon
Blue tit
Goldfinch
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/353-rspb-sandwell-valley-birmingham-3.html Brandon Marsh, near Coventry 2 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/352-brandon-marsh-near-coventry-2.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:42:51 GMT It's hard to believe that almost 15 months have passed since my first visit to Brandon Marsh. It was the day after the birth of my nephew, Nathan, I struggled with a hangover in the heat, taking very shaky photo's and feeling sorry for myself!!

I've just returned from the West Midlands for Nathan's Christening. I'm happy to report that he is now a wriggling, giggling, non-stop baby machine only content with ripping off Uncle Alan's glasses and trying to poke me in the eye with them - all I wanted was a cuddle:D

The following day, Monday 9th August, I made the 25 minute bus journey from my parents home to the edge of Coventry, then a 30 minute walk along Brandon Lane to the reserve.

It was a gloriously hot day with just the right amount of breeze, having travelled from Lancashire I was relieved it was no longer raining.

My first stop was the John Baldwin and the Wright Hides overlooking the East Marsh Pools. There was the usual suspects at this time of year - Mallards, Coots, Canada and Greylag geese and Lapwing etc. On the two man-made rafts were three Common Tern which I enjoyed watching fishing for a while.

Next I went to the Teal Pool Hide which was over-run with Mallard! I sat for a while to check if anything else was about and saw Moorhen, a few Grey Herons and Black-headed Gulls. A very distant wader was being harrassed by a Moorhen and I was delighted to find it was a Green Sandpiper. On the distant reed beds I could just about make out a Reed Warbler as it flitted between the reeds.

I then moved along to the Carlton Hide and was rewarded with a 2nd Green Sandpiper that was almost in front of the hide, much closer than the 1st bird. It bobbed about, feeding quite happily near some Lapwings and 3 Grey Herons.

I then made a visit to the River Pool and Steetley Hides, but nothing of note was seen from here.

If anyone is interested/planning a visit or just wants to know what I'm talking about, here's a link to a map of the reserve followed by a link to the 'unofficial' web site.

http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/MapOfReserve.htm
http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/index.asp

I had a well earned rest in the visitors centre, next to a concrete slab with David Attenborough's footprints and signature embedded in it to commemorate his opening the reserve in 1992, and then made the arduous walk back into Coventry and the bus home.

Sightings for the day were:

Great tit
Blue tit
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Robin
Coot
Moorhen
Mallard
Canada geese
Greylag geese
Mute Swan
Grey Heron
Lapwing
Reed Warbler
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted ducks
Jay
BH Gull
LBB Gull
Common Tern
Green Sandpiper
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/352-brandon-marsh-near-coventry-2.html Nearly over http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/maggie28/351-nearly-over.html Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:25:19 GMT It is nice to see the birds with their young as they start to fledge. Seeing a Whitethroat today at the old Govan docks was a first for me. I didn't know any Whitethroats were there.
Seeing the Goldfinch youngsters coming on too is nice to see. None of the regular swans seem to have been successful in breeding again this year. Pity.
The Cormorants are looking scruffy.
I spotted a red breasted Merganser some months ago and it was great to see it go up the Clyde with young ones in tow along with daddy two weeks ago :)

The Peregrine Falcon that sat stalking from the science tower earlier in the year, seemed to have disappeared for the summer.
It was great seeing the Coots going up river with their young ones.
The Sand Martins have been a delight and watching them is wonderful in their aero dynamics.

A grey Heron was there today but the Seaplane scared it off as it came in to land.
I have slowly been building up a natural hide by the docks and the goldfinches, blue tits, great tits and other smaller birds have been accepting the little bits of food I leave out.
Hopefully come next year, they will be used to things and not be afraid to "pop in".
Just hoping the usual drunks and junkies don't come accross it as they may notice it when the leaves fall off the trees. Hopefully it wont be too noticeable.

yesterday and today I have noticed Oyster Catchers and Common sandpipers are visiting more regular but they are very tetchy. Very hard to get near them for piccies.
Considering the docks are basically a city dump now and refugee for drunks and dope addicts, nature still thrives.
Only thing missing for me this year are the peacock butterflies.
Anyway, I used to go down there just to photograph the boats that came and went, the seaplane coming in to land and some scenic pics. But this year I am obviously noticing the wildlife there that I was completely unaware of.

I reckon in time, they may develop this land for river housing that some rich people could only afford to live. I hope not as this is basically a wee nature haven for the wildlife in a city and I would like to see it developed as a nature reserve. Or just left to let nature take care of itself.
The drunks and dopies, mostly drunks or kids being stupid with drink, have not bothered me in the slightest all the time I go down there. They know what I am doing and occassionaly ask me to take there picture as they do when they see you have a DSLR camera.
I take a picture and they are happy. They are never going to see the pictures of course. but they are happy I took a picture and they leave you alone.
Noticed some Pro photographers and students are appearing on occassions to do their stuff.
Overall, the drunks, who do no harm, keep people away like the younger kids. Pity they can't keep the older "neds" away who always have to break bottles...

The docks are well run down now, and the plants and trees are taken over what is left of the old docks.

Nature prevails and here's to it continuing.

It will be sad to see a lot of the birds move on as they will soon migrate to other parts. Here's hoping they all return safely to wherever they go and we see them next year again. ]]> Maggie28 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/maggie28/351-nearly-over.html Lutley Birder Blog, Bird sightings in West Midlands http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/lutley-birder/350-lutley-birder-blog-bird-sightings-west-midlands.html Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:19:35 GMT Bird Sightings from my local patch in the West Midlands/Worcs can be found on my blog at:- lutleybirder.blogspot.com Bird Sightings from my local patch in the West Midlands/Worcs can be found on my blog at:- lutleybirder.blogspot.com ]]> lutley birder http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/lutley-birder/350-lutley-birder-blog-bird-sightings-west-midlands.html Leighton Moss, Silverdale, Lancashire 9 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/349-leighton-moss-silverdale-lancashire-9.html Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:25:41 GMT Despite the pouring rain, I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to Leighton Moss this morning and arrived a little after 8am to find the reserve shrouded... Despite the pouring rain, I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to Leighton Moss this morning and arrived a little after 8am to find the reserve shrouded in fog too.

I headed along the causeway to the public hide to begin with and here saw many, many Swifts and Swallows criss-crossing and skimming the water. There was a couple of adult Great Black-backed gulls sitting on the near island and three juveniles sitting on the water. It goes without saying that there were numerous Coots and Mallards. Off to the left, on their usual dead tree perches, were three Marsh Harriers - a male and two juveniles.

Over the lake I saw a distant bird hovering over the water and idly identified it as a Kestrel. As I was shifting position to get it sighted in my scope, some other people properly identified it as an Osprey! My stomach knotted and I hurriedly lifted my bins and soon found it - what a beauty.

It stuck around for over half an hour, circling the lake, hovering and searching for fish and then diving into the water to get it's prey - only it didn't! All the time I was watching it, it never once caught a fish!!

Around the main reserve were the usual tits and thrushes, but it has to be said, it was relatively quiet. I didn't hang around in the rain, trying to see what else was about, running for cover to the next hide instead (more of a hobble and an amble really!!)

Coming out of Lillians hide I was entertained by the beautiful song of a Wren, that was sat on the handrail of the footpath. I was leaning on the opposite handrail, so you get an idea of how close I was to it. It didn't seem bothered that I was there at all and carried on singing it's heart out. After a few minutes, it was joined by it's mate who flew in from the roof of the hide, and then they skitted off into the trees.

I saw two more Marsh Harriers around the reserve, one from Tim Jackson Hide and a stonking female from the Grisedale hide. It was here that I watched a Great Black-backed gull predate a Coot chick and fly off with it over the water. The stonking female Harrier was soon off her perch and mobbed the gull, which promptly dropped the chick into the water. The Harrier glided over and circled the area a few times, but didn't get the Coot chick, instead she returned to her perch and looked resplendent.

It was now time to make my way to the two coastal hides and as I was walking along the path from the Tim Jackson hide, I was mobbed by two Black-headed gulls.

It was a little scary and intimidating to be honest, but at the same time exhilarating and exiting. I've never been personally mobbed before and I was rather pleased - it felt a bit like an initiation, I shall go home and sew a badge on my sleeve.

Seriously though, they got very close and the whoosh of their wings next to my ear was quite audible. Once I'd calmed down I was sorry I had disturbed and stressed them - clearly had some young near by which was later confirmed by a member of staff I was chatting to.

At the coastal hides I was anticipating a hoarde of waders - not to be today, I'm afraid. Two Oystercatchers was about the limit!! There was, however, a small hoarde of Lapwing, three Pied Wagtails (an adult and two juveniles) a Kestrel and one distant Little Egret.

My tally for the day was:

Robin
Blackbird
Blue tit
Great tit
Long-tailed tit
Wren
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Willow Warbler
Great Black-backed gull
Black-headed gull
Mallard
Tufted duck
Coot
Moorhen
Pheasant
Swift
Swallows
Mute Swan
Grey Heron
Canada geese
Greylag geese
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Little Egret
Pied Wagtail
Crows
Kestrel
Marsh harrier
Osprey - Lifer :D

Rabbit (3)
Grey Squirrel (1)
Froglets+++++
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/349-leighton-moss-silverdale-lancashire-9.html New Forest weekend http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/astafjevs/348-new-forest-weekend.html Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:33:38 GMT We made a very vague plan to 'go camping' in the New Forest this weekend, knowing full well it was going to be very, very busy!

We didn't manage to set off early either so it was after lunchtime that we arrived at Beaulieu Road train station. We'd visited here last year and seen very little but given Chaz's crossbill tip I thought we'd give it another go. No crossbills in the pines, but lots of chaffinches, greenfinch and a mistle thrush instead. We then took a walk over the heath on the otherside of the road, with linnets and stonechats. I really wanted to see a Dartford Warbler, but once again they eluded me totally. Two buzzards overhead, but not a lot else of note either on the heath or in the woods, other than a couple of treecreepers. Finally, on the walk back along the road we heard a bush that was singing. Eventually, it dawned on me that the bird must be on the other side of the bush, and as I inched round I spotted a bird definitely a lark, and probably not a skylark (it was in a bush, and when it took off it didn't sing for as long or fly as high as a skylark tends to), so I'm thinking it might have been a woodlark. I will google a woodlark's song and see if it sounds similar. Overall, I think we must be doing something wrong because Beaulieu Road is heavily tipped as a good site on the internet and in my book, but we've seen relatively little on both our visits so far. Perhaps its a seasonal thing.

Continuing the theme of following Chaz's tips, we then headed south to Pennington Marsh. We parked at Lower Pennington, and as we walked along the path towards the seawall we spotted a Common Whitethroat. On the sea wall itself we walked towards Keyhaven and saw loads of sand martins, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwits, Common Tern and a possible Ringed Plover running along the far edge of the pool, along with oodles of Oystercatchers, Coots and Black-headed gulls. We stopped for dinner in the Gun at Keyhaven and then walked back the way we'd come. There were a lot more birds on the pools when we walked back than there had been on the way down. Amongst the Oystercatchers and Godwits were countless little waders. I thought they might be Dunlin, and had it confirmed for me by a kind birder who was watching them through a scope. I am fairly useless when it comes to iding waders, but I've never definitely seen a dunlin before so was chuffed with these. Further along, there were lapwings, and oystercatchers on the rock pools to the right of the path along with a good four or five definite ringed plovers, another lifer, along with what I'm fairly sure was a common sandpiper. Further along, we saw more whitethroats, including one that I think might have been a lesser (no pic, so its not a definite and thus not a lifer!) and another sandpiper-ish bird which didn't look much like the common we'd seen earlier. The light was fading by now and so I didn't get any concrete observations with which to id it by, but I'd be interested to know what other 'leggy' waders are on the marsh at present!! The last bird we saw was a very obligingly perched female Reed Bunting, a lovely bird.

We then got back in the car, thinking we were heading home since it was now approaching 9pm and we hadn't sorted anything else yet. We had a good look at a couple of forestry commission campsites which were very clearly labelled 'full', before taking a wrong turn in Lyndhurst and heading out on the A35. Attempting to rectify it, we took the Emery Down road towards Stoney Cross, when it suddenly dawned on me we'd be passing the road to Acres Down, where we'd visited last year, and we remembered there was a campsite at the foot of the hill; so on a whim, we tried it, and they had room, so we got to camp after all. After the tent was up, the football had finished, and I'd run out of beer, it was very nearly dark so we took a short stroll up the hill to listen for nightjars. We were rewarded, too, with churring from at least three seperate locations of various distances from us. Whether it was three birds or one mobile one, I couldn't say. We also saw bats!

Later that night, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep due to the biker that was snoring three tents over; I wouldn't like to know how his partner put up with it. I dozed for a bit, and then woke again to find the snoring had been joined by the very distintive churring of a nightjar. I would like to think that the nightjar was trying to impress the snorer. I promise I am not making this up!!

That morning, we walked back up the hill to the raptor watch point. Two distant buzzards, was all. After a while we wandered down into the woods to try for redstarts, but my run of bad luck with redstarts continued. That said, I was pleased with spotted flycatcher and marsh tits. I also got a glimpse of a big brown, bird of prey type thing flying away from us through the trees. Buzzard, I don't doubt!

Later on, we returned to Beaulieu Heath (different location, on the road between Beaulieu and Lymington) to try for Dartford Warbler. We got lots of linnets and stonechats, and a meadow pipit but I am starting to believe that Dartford Warblers simply don't exist. After that, we stopped for an ice cream and to see the deer at Bolderwood (no birds, too many people) and then set off home to be back in time for the World Cup Final.

All in all, a good weekend. ]]> astafjevs http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/astafjevs/348-new-forest-weekend.html Eccup Challange http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/347-eccup-challange.html Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:24:09 GMT The night before we had gone to Eccup in the evening hoping to spot the Barn Owl no luck but there was alot of Yellowhammers about.The walk takes... The night before we had gone to Eccup in the evening hoping to spot the Barn Owl no luck but there was alot of Yellowhammers about.The walk takes about 2hrs all way round so when I went on Friday morrning I was not up to the long walked so found a spot to park the car at the top end of the reservoir.Here is were the water board takes the water,you can look out over the water,at one end there is a "sandy"shore.

Along the waters edge there were Pied Wagtails and Gray Wagtails feeding, I could see some other small birds a Ringed Plover a first for me,thanks to Chaz we think it was a Little Ringed Plover.Some men came to cut the grass so i moved on,there was a flash of blue a little bird following the waters edge,Kingfisher another new bird,good start to the day.Watching the Wagtails i noticed another bird,Common Sandpiper add that to the list.
The Geese and Comarants were all out sunning them selfs,got a good luck at the Redshanks and the young Shellduck.Back up the little track saw some Willow Warblers and alot of Medow Brown Butterflies about,how time flys when you are having fun the 3hrs i was there never gose this fast at work which is were i had to go:(

New birds for the list...

Little Ringed Plover..
Common SAndpiper..
Willow Warbler..
Kingfisher.. ]]> amanda http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/347-eccup-challange.html Beaulieu Road - New Forest http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/chaz-g-harrison/346-beaulieu-road-new-forest.html Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:01:57 GMT Went yesterday, Sunny and warm to start overcast later hoping for hobbies and dartfords - but no show a thin count - 17 species highlights a... Went yesterday,
Sunny and warm to start
overcast later
hoping for hobbies and dartfords - but no show
a thin count - 17 species
highlights
a raven, flying over heath and calling
several redstarts in the woodland edges
stonechats (including a very shy juvenile) and linnets in the heather and bracken
pair of willow warblers
Called in at Lower Test Marshes on the way back
water level of scrape worrying low
six green sandpipers on what was left ]]> chaz g harrison http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/chaz-g-harrison/346-beaulieu-road-new-forest.html Work and Photography http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/maggie28/345-work-photography.html Sun, 04 Jul 2010 19:12:25 GMT Having started work at what could be described as the best part of the season when the adults are busy nest building and the eggs are laid and then... Having started work at what could be described as the best part of the season when the adults are busy nest building and the eggs are laid and then the young ones appearing.
Due to work, I was missing out on most of this. And the great weather we having was making the shooting conditions even better.

I quit my job on Thursday due tot he fact that paying for expenses, then waiting 6 weeks before getting paid was pretty annoying. Driving the vehicle they proveide with no road tax was not a good idea either. The road tax was paid and had e mail confirming this from DVLA but the boss did not make us aware the e mail confirmation was only good for 5 days.
The actual disc was sent to a previous employee who decided to claim a rebate on it. In the meantime we were driving the vehicle oblivious to the illegality of not having the disc on the vehicle window. My colleague got an £82.00 fine when police spotted it when he drove into his street to go home.
i got away with it due to having underground parking so it was not left out in the open.
The company paid the fine but the DVLA basically screwed up as they were supposed to send the disc to me. My information was provided.

Buying fuel was another expense that I had to wait 6 weeks for. Actually, 5 but they sent a check so it was another 5 days waiting for that to clear. Then we finally got a fuel card to use saving us using our own money.
The other guy quit last Friday leaving me on my own but I decided to hand in my notice as well.
Then on Wednesday, I filled up on diesel and then the card was cancelled. I had to pay again but due to leaving on Friday, I asked for deisel money to be put into my account immediately but was refused. I have slips of paper from contrators saying we did the job required and then we send them off every week.
No deisel money was in my account on Friday. So they do not get the slips.
They don't get paid, I don't get paid, and the guy who stepped in for the guy who quit wont get paid for last week.

Am I bothered? :)

I should have kept the vehicle keys and no one would get to work for them.
This was only a few problems of which there were many.

I worked 13 hours and only got paid 6 hours. Worked 10 hours and got paid 8. This was a weekly occurence but thought they would sort it out. And there was other stuff too.
So, I will be going to see an employment lawyer and then take a week off form working and just go out with my camera and catch what I can from the last of the breeding season.

Looking forward to retiring...... ]]> Maggie28 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/maggie28/345-work-photography.html Eccup Challange http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/344-eccup-challange.html Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:00:42 GMT Going to sell my house and live on Eccup reseviour bird watching for the rest of my life... Sat on the waters edge with a coffee watching the... Going to sell my house and live on Eccup reseviour bird watching for the rest of my life...
Sat on the waters edge with a coffee watching the birds,the water a deep blue,sun shining,lined by trees swaying in the wind,life can be good..I wanted to bottle it up and give it to sad people...

Enough of that back to the challange..
Of the long road towards were the House Martins are there was Hares in the corn fields,alot of young Tree Sparrows and the sky was full of Swifts.At the water hole saw my first Greenfinch..
On to the waters edge i could see the geese at the other side of the lake,there was a large group of Tufted Ducks,and four Oystercatchers to day.Saw my first Redshank among the Lapwings and about ten Cormorants.

Along the trees that line the lake I saw my first Goldcrest,also there was Blue Tits,Coal Tits and the Tree Creeper was there,had a good sighting of the Jay but no Woodpeckers to day.On the way back saw my first Common Whitthroat at Eccup...
It was a good day,there was alot of Yellowhammers about and Red kites,did see another bird of pray flying over,had the shape of a Peregrine,sharp-winged and short tail but do we get them round here!!

New for the list....
Redshank.
Goldcrest.
Common White Throat. ]]> amanda http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/344-eccup-challange.html Mere Sands Wood 5 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/343-mere-sands-wood-5.html Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:27:14 GMT June has been a poor month for me in terms of birding, I've not really done any since my trip to Marshside at the end of May.

It's very frustrating being stuck in doors watching this nice weather go by day after day, especially being a night worker, it's a nightmare trying to sleep when the temperature is in the 70's.

Anyway, finally some time off and an opportunity to go out and about. I'd read on various internet forums that some Tawny Owls were showing well at Mere Sands Wood, and as it still owed me a Kingfisher, I decided that I would make this my destination.

British Rail was behaving itself today, so I arrived on schedule, just after 9am.

I'd also read that the 'resident' Reed Warbler was nesting in the reeds of the pond in front of the visitors centre for the 2nd year running. I got some great pics of it last year and wandered if it was indeed the same bird. Who knows, but within 5 minutes of my arrival, it put in an appearance and I got some more good snaps.

Also on the pond were a pair of amorous Coots with two well grown juveniles and a tiny chick that could only be days old, clearly a second brood. The chick was very cute as it sat on a lilly pad waiting to be fed. The two adult birds gently pressed their shields together and rotated slowly on the water, then one preened the others feathers on the nape of the neck. I've never seen this behaviour before and for generally aggressive birds, it was very endearing. I wish I'd had my ipod with me so I could have played them some Barry White. I took a deep breath, dabbed my eyes and walked through the visitors centre to the feeding station at the back.

Here, I was mobbed by 8 female Mallard that encircled me and sat patiently waiting for bread, occasionally giving an impatient quack. I tiptoed through them, like Tippi Hedren in an Alfred Hitchcock film, only less well groomed, and made my way to the Lancaster hide and the wader scrapes.

Here, I shared the hide with a very nice lady and we spent a good 45 minutes or so helping each other out and chatting generally, as you do.

It went along the lines of: ''oh look at those plovers....where....over there......they're Lapwing......oh!!'' (I'll let you decide who said what to who) We got along so well, I ended up stalking her from hide to hide. I'm sure I saw her quickening her step as I waved from further along the path!!

Next stop was the Marshall Hide. It was reported that the Tawny Owls were roosting in the trees just outside of the hide - not today they weren't.

I continued along the paths through beautiful, mature, deciduous woodland, visited the Ainscough Hide along the way and then continued towards Holmeswood corner.

I met a man called John with his wife/girlfriend/partner - please delete or specify other, who were on the lookout for Kingfisher. They are regulars at Mere Sands Wood and I've seen them before, so we stood chatting for a while, discussing what was about and where the good locations were. He'd heard about the Owls too, but hadn't seen them. I went on my way and they headed towards the Rufford Hide - the best bet for Kingfisher.

I was desperate to find the Owls and I painstakingly searched the trees. I was about to lose hope as I approached Holmeswood corner when I saw dark shapes out of the corner of my eye and with trembling hands (heavy night last night!!) I lifted my bins onto two gorgeous, beautiful, spanking Tawny Owls- RESULT!!!!!

I watched them watching me for a good 5 minutes and then rattled off some pics. John and wife/girlfriend/other came back and said that the Rufford Hide was useless as men were wading in the water conducting maintenance. I couldn't wait to point and blurt out that I'd found the Owls.

The three of us spent about 15 minutes watching them and getting photo's and having a bit of a chat - if he is ever reading this, thanks very much for the tips and advice on Kingfisher and Barn Owl, it was nice to have met you both.

I eventually dragged myself away from ''my'' Tawnies and arrived at the Holmeswood corner feeding station. Here there were good views of Nuthatch, Jay, Coal tit, Bullfinch and all of the usual tits and thrushes.

Eventually, I arrived at the Rufford Hide to find that the maintenance men had gone - oh, dare I dare to hope. I had ½ an hour left before I had to leave to get my train. So, there I sat, staring at an empty perch, and clock watching.

It took a good 20 minutes or so, but eventually a brilliant blue bullet alighted and my day was made. It sat for about 5 minutes or so and did a bit of fishing. Glorious!

I had to get a move on to to catch my train and arrived as the train was pulling into the station - dripping sweat and grinning like a Hyena.

My sightings for the day were:

Lapwing
Coot
Little Grebe
Blackbird
Mallard
House Sparrow
Collared dove
Reed Warbler
Moorhen
Robin
Chaffinch
Lesser black-backed Gull
Canada geese
Shelduck
Black-headed Gull
Great Crested grebe
Grey Heron
Chiffchaff
Oystercatcher
Jay
Jackdaw
Blue tit
Willow warbler
Coal tit
Nuthatch
Tawny Owl
Wren
Great tit
Bullfinch
Dunnock
Kingfisher
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]]> alanjns http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/alanjns/343-mere-sands-wood-5.html Eccup Challange http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/342-eccup-challange.html Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:39:38 GMT To day was good and bad... Took the long road and made my way to the waters edge,yet again the birds were on the other side to me:confused:There was... To day was good and bad...
Took the long road and made my way to the waters edge,yet again the birds were on the other side to me:confused:There was a large group of Tuffed ducks to day,watched the Geese on the other side for a bit and managed to see the Bar-headed Goose,decided to walk round the edge as it was to hot to sit,saw a Treecreeper and The Shelducks out on the water they have two young.Walked on and saw a young Great Spotted Woodpecker a new one for the list,my camera was having a strop and every photo seemed bad,the sun on the water making it hard to take photos,saw my first Coot and Moorhen at Eccup and a few birds I was not sure what they were.Half way round I saw two men in the wood:eek:I didn't fancy going past them so had to walk the whole way back... Then I saw the Green Woodpecker a first for me and Eccup,reached for my Bins and they were not in my bag:(I had put them down some were:mad: Didn't have the time or the strength to go back looking for them.Made my way back to the road and walked back to the car... so a day of two halves...

New birds for list..
Moorhen.
Coot.
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Green Woodpecker. ]]> amanda http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/342-eccup-challange.html Eccup Challange http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/341-eccup-challange.html Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:57:39 GMT Had the day off so was up at Eccup for 8.30 before it got to hot,didn't go to the lake to day but took the walk on the other side which takes you through open farm land past were they film Emmerdale,past wild medows and back pass woods and small coppice woods...
Plenty of Swifts and Swallows,Yellowhammers,and Skylarks singing their heads off..Met up with a lady who was doing the same walk,she said she comes most days and yesterday the farmer was cutting his crop,above the field there was up to 16 Red Kites following the farmer hoping for a meal,I would have payed to see that...
We walked together for a while chatting when we saw a large white bird take of out of the coppice and land round the corner,we said good by and I went to have a look,there sat on a post at 10 in the morning was a Barn Owl,managed to take a "blurred" photo before it flew of into the wood:(
New birds for the list...
Barn Owl (first for me)
Linnet..
Both these birds were not on the 100 birds spotted at Eccup. ]]> amanda http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/341-eccup-challange.html Eccup Challange http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/340-eccup-challange.html Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:23:16 GMT Had a few hours this morning so went to Eccup,the weather was not great and in the end I did get rained off. Managed to find a spot were you can get... Had a few hours this morning so went to Eccup,the weather was not great and in the end I did get rained off.
Managed to find a spot were you can get down to the waters edge:rolleyes:
The Geese numbers seem to be back up,after the cule last year, with pleanty of Cannada Geese,Graylag and White Geese.There was four Herons lining the bank and I saw one Comorant (they are always at the other side of the lake no matter which side I go to:eek:)There was up to six Great crested Grebe that I could see but no young,and Red Kites flying round.
New for the list were....
Common Tern.
Swans.
Oystercatcher.
Shelduck.(still need to I.D photo)
There was also Swifts feeding of the lake.:D ]]> amanda http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/amanda/340-eccup-challange.html