Saturday, August 2, 2008
The birding autumn is going well on the local patch. All records for "Paul's Folly" except where stated. In addition to the BTG that stayed for around a week we have had a visit by a flock of 9 plus a visit from a Spotted Redshank, another first for me on the patch. Greenshank has been around for over a week on "Bob's Pond" and there are up to 8 Green Sandpiper. Snipe started to return this week with up to 11.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Still birding
OK so I've slipped up and not posted anything for months!
Some great birding in between however.
Trip to Minsmere as guest of the RSPB was very special. 105 species by lunch-time! We started very early and were hearing Nightingales all around us at 4am. What a wonderfully rich sing they have. We were also lucky enough to see them later in the day. Highlights were 10 booming bitterns, Stone Curlew, Redstart, Woodlark, Dartford Warbler, good views of singing Gropper, Little Terns plus lots of other delights. I was pleased to pick up Whimbrel after dipping for the last 15 years or so!
And so to today and a cracking walk around the patch. I picked up 60 species but the undoubted star bird was drake Garganey. I called BB and by the end of it we concluded that there were three drakes in all. This coincides with a bird beign found at Radley today as well. As BB and I had both been around the patch yesterday and not seen Garganey it seems there was a big influx overnight into Oxfordshire. It will be interesting to see if they hang around.
Some great birding in between however.
Trip to Minsmere as guest of the RSPB was very special. 105 species by lunch-time! We started very early and were hearing Nightingales all around us at 4am. What a wonderfully rich sing they have. We were also lucky enough to see them later in the day. Highlights were 10 booming bitterns, Stone Curlew, Redstart, Woodlark, Dartford Warbler, good views of singing Gropper, Little Terns plus lots of other delights. I was pleased to pick up Whimbrel after dipping for the last 15 years or so!
And so to today and a cracking walk around the patch. I picked up 60 species but the undoubted star bird was drake Garganey. I called BB and by the end of it we concluded that there were three drakes in all. This coincides with a bird beign found at Radley today as well. As BB and I had both been around the patch yesterday and not seen Garganey it seems there was a big influx overnight into Oxfordshire. It will be interesting to see if they hang around.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Norfolk shines
Cracking weekend in Norfolk with most of the usual crowd. 114 species including two on the journey there and back so 112 Norfolk birds. Brought the year list to some respectability at 126.
With fantastic sunny weather for most of the stay we were able to get some superb views of various birds. the picture was captured on my mobile phone of Brent Geese at Titchwell. Birds of the weekend were the White Crowned Sparrow, Rough Legged Buzzard at Burnham Norton which was obligingly walking distance from where we were staying. Couple of Merlins, some good flocks of Snow Buntings. Wonderful views of Barn Owls almost everywhere we went. Nice to catch up with Brambling in a couple of places and Lesser Redpoll at Titchwell as well as close range Woodcock.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sun brings the owls out!
My house is bisected by an OS grid line. To the East are gravel pits water meadows. This is quite productive for birds. Yesterday brought 4 Pintail, 100+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 30+ Gadwall, 3+ Chiffchaff down at the sewage works and a GS Woodpecker. MH and I paid a visit to Bury Down in the afternooon and saw a minimum of 6 Short-eared Owls in perfect warm sunshine weather quartering the scrub and fields around the gallops. Cracking views. I love the way the light catches their primaries as they wheel around.
Then today and to theWest of the grid line to do my BTO square. Two hours of slogging around mostly mono-culture and the A34. A bit sole destroying with a paucity pf species compared to the East. Nice treecreeper though and about 20 Stock Doves. Up to 84 for the year. Trip to Norfolk next weekend so the list will gain some respectability!
Then today and to theWest of the grid line to do my BTO square. Two hours of slogging around mostly mono-culture and the A34. A bit sole destroying with a paucity pf species compared to the East. Nice treecreeper though and about 20 Stock Doves. Up to 84 for the year. Trip to Norfolk next weekend so the list will gain some respectability!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
One's bittern's quite shy
Yay! After just over two hours of sitting in an ever colder hide at Calvert. R and I finally saw the Bittern as it flew from one reed bed to another. Light wasn't great but good enough to see it pretty clearly.
Heard Water Rail watched a Kingfisher catch a fish. Also picked up Yellow Legged Gull. All in all a wothwhile trip out
Heard Water Rail watched a Kingfisher catch a fish. Also picked up Yellow Legged Gull. All in all a wothwhile trip out
An enjoyable trip to the library
Able to cycle to the library this weekend now that the floods have receded along the Sustrans route to Abingdon. About 40 Shoveler on the floods and 120 Lapwing but the highlight was a Peregrine that put the wind up the Moorhens before conveniently settling in one of the electricity pylons.
Copyright Northlincs.gov
Bumped into BB further along by the sewage works, where Chiffchaff were singing, and he directed me to the alders for Siskin. Locked onto one after a few minutes and soon after 16 flew out of the trees. They all virtually disappeared once back in the trees but still able to pick up 4 or 5.
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