http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ Birding UK and Ireland Bird Forum en Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:06:38 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/ http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/361-far-ings-live-pt6.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:43:32 GMT Jackdaw Reed Bunting Buzzard Stock Dove House Sparrow Dunnock Willow Tit Robin Rook House Martin Jackdaw
Reed Bunting
Buzzard
Stock Dove
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Willow Tit
Robin
Rook
House Martin

Widgeon
Ruff
Peregrine Falcon
Knot
Wren

that's 65 today! More than Fairburn Ings!

Retired to the Sloop Inn for a pint and a bite to eat! ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/361-far-ings-live-pt6.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/360-far-ings-live-pt5.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:39:08 GMT Tufted Duck Pochard Shelduck Bar Tailed Godwit Ringed Plover Pied Wagtail Goldcrest Turtle Dove Collared Dove Chiffchaff Tufted Duck
Pochard
Shelduck
Bar Tailed Godwit
Ringed Plover
Pied Wagtail
Goldcrest
Turtle Dove
Collared Dove
Chiffchaff

that's our 50 up now... ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/360-far-ings-live-pt5.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/359-far-ings-live-pt4.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:50:52 GMT Bullfinch Teal Osprey Gadwall Shoveller Gt Crested Grebe Mute Swan Sparrowhawk Grey Heron Oystercatcher Bullfinch
Teal
Osprey
Gadwall
Shoveller
Gt Crested Grebe
Mute Swan
Sparrowhawk
Grey Heron
Oystercatcher

that's 40 now... ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/359-far-ings-live-pt4.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/358-far-ings-live-pt3.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:57:26 GMT Black Headed Gull Herring Gull Long Tailed Tit Redshank Marsh Harrier Black Tailed Godwit GBB Gull Coot Dunlin Black Headed Gull
Herring Gull
Long Tailed Tit
Redshank
Marsh Harrier
Black Tailed Godwit
GBB Gull
Coot
Dunlin

30 so far ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/358-far-ings-live-pt3.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/357-far-ings-live-pt2.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:44:27 GMT Cormorant Canada Goose Kestrel Merlin Blue Tit Meadow Pipit Curlew LBB Gull Kingfisher Common Gull Cormorant
Canada Goose
Kestrel
Merlin
Blue Tit
Meadow Pipit
Curlew
LBB Gull
Kingfisher
Common Gull

Continued... ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/357-far-ings-live-pt2.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/356-far-ings-live.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:37:45 GMT Present are Myself, Alanjns, Clydebirder, Maggie28 and Simon624. Arrived at 10am prompt. List... Chaffinch Crow Moorhen Wood Pigeon... Present are Myself, Alanjns, Clydebirder, Maggie28 and Simon624.

Arrived at 10am prompt.

List...
Chaffinch
Crow
Moorhen
Wood Pigeon
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Great Tit
Magpie
Greylag
Pink Footed Goose

continued... ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/356-far-ings-live.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/355-birding-uk-ireland-trip-2010.html Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:52:21 GMT Getting ready to go to the 2010 trip up in Lincolnshire.

As per last year I will post up to the website if possible.

This year's location is Far Ings National Nature Reserve.

'Ings' is an old English word for the wet pastures to the west of Barton which, before embankment, were part of the Humber flood plain. Since Roman times the underlying clay has been used to make bricks and tiles.

In the late 19th century there were 15 brick and tile yards, as well as a cement works which also made use of the clay. Supplies of clay began to run out during the early 20th century when many yards were abandoned.

The clay workings soon filled with water and were colonised by reed and willow, forming a haven for many wildflowers, insects and birds.

In 1983 the Lincolnshire Trust acquired the 100 acres of old pits which now form the Far Ings Nature Reserve.

We are also visiting Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Blacktoft Sands has 270 species of birds you can see. The tidal reedbed is the largest in England and is important for its breeding bearded tits, bitterns and marsh harriers.

So I expect we will see quite a lot! ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/355-birding-uk-ireland-trip-2010.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/257-garden-birdwatch-11-12noon.html Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:47:00 GMT Had an enjoyable Garden Birdwatch today with conditions being much better than last year. 11am LOCATION: West Kent CONDITIONS: The ground is... Had an enjoyable Garden Birdwatch today with conditions being much better than last year.

11am
LOCATION: West Kent
CONDITIONS: The ground is frosty.
Temperature of 3.6 degrees C.
Wind speed 1.1 km/h.

12noon
Temperature 4.5 degrees C.
Wind speed 7.2 km/h

Here's the tally and numbers seen at once...

1. Carrion Crow 1
2. Blackbird 2
3. Great Tit 2
4. Blue Tit 3
5. Starling 3
6. Chaffinch 1
7. Greenfinch 2
8. Song Thrush 1
9. Dunnock 4
10. Robin 1
11. Wood Pigeon 1
12. Collared Dove
13. House Sparrow 2
14. Ring-necked Game Pheasant 1
15. Goldfinch 2
16. Magpie 1 ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/257-garden-birdwatch-11-12noon.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/188-tudeley-woods-nature-reserve-kent-17th-october.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:10:22 GMT Had a wander around Tudeley Woods which is part of my local patch.

It's a great place just to walk round, and any bird sightings simply a bonus.

Tudeley Woods is a remnant of the huge forest of Andreaswald which at one time covered much of the Weals of Kent.

The reserve is traditionally managed with charcoal buring, coppicing and grazing.

Habitats include coppice, coniferous plantation, high forest, heath, grass heath pasture, meadow and some water and streams.

Not a lot about apart from parties of Long-tailed Tits and Great Tits, which I expected.

No Redwings and Fieldfares yet and I didn't see any Treecreepers or Nuthatches which are also signature species.

Well, as Arnie said, "I'll be back..."! :D ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/188-tudeley-woods-nature-reserve-kent-17th-october.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/154-fairburn-ings-60-counting.html Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:43:42 GMT Moved to the Western part of the reserve to look for waders. Spotted... Pheasant Black-tailed Godwit Snipe Greenshank Green Sandpiper Ringed... Moved to the Western part of the reserve to look for waders.
Spotted...
Pheasant
Black-tailed Godwit
Snipe
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Ringed Plover
Shelduck
Barnacle Goose
Linnet
Kestrel

That's over 60 and counting. Light is diminishing a bit now. ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/154-fairburn-ings-60-counting.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/153-fairburn-ings-50-counting.html Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:53:54 GMT Great weather still and plenty about... Goldeneye Sparrowhawk Dunnock Gadwall Little Grebe Widgeon Greylag Goose Pintail Great weather still and plenty about...

Goldeneye
Sparrowhawk
Dunnock
Gadwall
Little Grebe
Widgeon
Greylag Goose
Pintail
Blackbird
Collared Dove
Coot
Moorhen
Swallow
Chiffchaff
Robin
Herring Gull
Wren
Willow Tit
Starling

That's over 50 now and we haven't seen a House Sparrow yet!

Getting some snaps of Tree Sparrows on the visitor centre balcony...

Clydebirder just missed a Tree Sparrow from under his nose... Hope for us all!

...and again! ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/153-fairburn-ings-50-counting.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/152-fairburn-ings-trip-continued.html Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:32:39 GMT Visiting more hides and we now have seen over 40 species. Goldeneye Sparrowhawk Dunnock Gadwall Little Grebe Widgeon Greylag Goose Pintail Visiting more hides and we now have seen over 40 species.

Goldeneye
Sparrowhawk
Dunnock
Gadwall
Little Grebe
Widgeon
Greylag Goose
Pintail

we'll keep you posted. ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/152-fairburn-ings-trip-continued.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/151-fairburn-ings-26th-september.html Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:31:43 GMT Arrived 10am at RSPB Fairburn Ings. Positive IDs of Clydebirder, Bassist and Alanjns being flushed from the car park! Fabulous day with bright... Arrived 10am at RSPB Fairburn Ings.

Positive IDs of Clydebirder, Bassist and Alanjns being flushed from the car park!

Fabulous day with bright sunshine.

Day list:
Tree Sparrow
Kingfisher
Bullfinch
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove
Crow
Meadow Pipit
Common Gull
Tufted Duck
Long-Tailed Tit
Shoveler Duck
Pochard
Ruddy Duck
Jackdaw
Mute Swan
Little Egret
Lapwing
Marsh Harrier
Mallard
Goldfinch
Canada Goose
Jay
Common Buzzard
Teal
Black-Headed Gull
Pied Wagtail ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/151-fairburn-ings-26th-september.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/150-rutland-water-25th-september.html Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:01:33 GMT Spent a couple of hours visiting the main nature reserve at Rutland Water. Hides galore! Managed to visit over 10 of them. A very good place to... Spent a couple of hours visiting the main nature reserve at Rutland Water. Hides galore! Managed to visit over 10 of them.

A very good place to visit with birds-a-plenty.

No Ospreys although we heard they had been about two weeks ago.

Highlights included:

Kingfisher
Lapwing
Great-crested Grebe
Kestrel
Redshank
Green Sandpiper
Egret
Mute Swan
Grey Heron
Cormorant
Coot
Moorhen
Tufted Duck
Shoveler Duck
Gadwall

Now for Fairburn Ings! ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/150-rutland-water-25th-september.html http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/147-birding-uk-ireland-inaugural-bird-trip.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:39:50 GMT Well, we're finally coming up to the 26th September when I will be joining the others at Fairburn Ings near Leeds.

We're meeting in the car park at 10am in case you fancy popping over!

Identifying the birds will be easy with John at hand – it's how we will identify each other will be the issue!

On the way up we hope to take in a reserve or two in the Cambridgeshire area.

My intention is to try to Blog in using my iPhone, so watch this space and see if I can manage it. ]]> Neil Rigby http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/blogs/neil-rigby/147-birding-uk-ireland-inaugural-bird-trip.html