Whose being Scilly

Jay - Cliff pool, Kingsbury W.P.

Monday 12th October 2009
Bit of a rush job tonight getting this posted before the second session of Corrie. So would you believe it Warwickshire is the new Shetland. I bet birders on Scilly were queing up to get on planes, boats, helicopters, surf boards to twitch Middleton. At least they would have done if the Blackpoll warbler hadn't been gazumped by the Brown Shrike in Surrey. I must say I dont know anything about the possible Blackpoll warbler apart from what my pager tells me. So I'm not going to comment or speculate but I recall seeing my first Blackpoll warbler at Dane's dyke near Flamborough. Several people were calling directions, trying to put others on to the Blackpoll when Tony Shepherd calmly replied d'you mean that Siskin whereupon it went rather quiet. We did see the Blackpoll later on fortunately.
Today I shall be mostly looking in bushes,and sallows and trees. Today I didnt find anything, perhaps tomorrow will be better. I walked round Grendon common in the morning and Kingsbury water Park late afternoon. 3 Siskin at Grendon but Cliff pool was rather more productive with a pair of Pintail, Wigeon, a pair of Stonechat, Kingfisher, Redshank and Green Sandpiper.

A day at Spurn

'Siberian' Chiffchaff

Jack Snipe

Jack Snipe

Brambling

Firecrest

Homeward Bound

Sunday 11th October 2009

Saturday had produced a bit of a 'fall' of birds along the east coast, nothing spectacular, but good numbers of common migrants and several Yellow broweds. The conditions on Sunday were never going to produce a 'classic' Spurn day but there is always the chance that something will turn up. So when Julian Allen invited me to join him and Tom for a day at Spurn I jumped at the chance.

Our first stop was at Sammy's point, there were a good numbers of other birders milling about and it was soon apparent that there wasnt much about. We searched the bushes and paddocks ourselves but only came up with Wheatear and Stonechat, but there was a continual movement of Redwings overhead. We didnt fare any better around the Crown and Anchor, a few Swallows passed overhead but the area was very quiet. At the Warren we waited patiently for the long staying Barred warbler which eventually did put in a typically brief appearance. Time was moving on and it was obvious there had been a 'clear out' and any birds that may have come in were staying down in the strengthening wind.

We tried our luck at the point but again there wasnt much doing but a single Brambling was nice to see. The track down to the point had deteriorated alot since my last visit and with the sunny Sunday visitors as well as birders Julian negotiated the demands of the single track with the skill of a Swedish Rally driver. Back at the Warren we were fortunate to see a Siberian Chiffchaff in the hand and then released. Two things struck me about the bird. The amount of green in the wings, particularly in the secondaries and the almost white supercilium.

We continued our Quest, a rumour that there was a Yellow browed warbler on Beacon Lane had us looking again at the bushes but without any real conviction. Further information about a Firecrest at the southern end of the Triangle sounded more hopeful and it wasnt long before we found the bird. A look in the hide produced good views of a Jack Snipe to round off the day. So far from spectacular but a very enjoyable days birding. I was forced to partake of the obligatory BurgerKing on the way home, but a small price to pay for a grand day out. Cheers lads.

Whose a Twite?

Saturday 10th October 2009

A non birding day, thought about going to watch the Nuneaton Old Eds playing Rugby but by the time I'd made a decision it was past half time and not worth going so I picked up a few leaves in the garden. The problem with going to the Old Eds is that its a very sociable club and I might be tempted to have a pint or two like in the 'old days', I wouldn't then be able to go to the Ridge Lane Brewery and enjoy a pint of Boston Fat Boy which is a beer thats not available very often but well worth waiting for.

So I thought I'd post another image of the Twite at Draycote water on Friday showing the distinctive pink rump.

The Draycote Finch

Twite - Draycote Water

Lesser Scaup - Draycote water

Lesser Scaup

Friday 9th October 2009

Well after a day in the north it was good to get back to some plain and simple local birding. Nothing complicated; an obliging Lesser Scaup, a potential County year tick in the shape of a Red breasted Merganser and who knows what flying through on easterly winds in October. I met up with Dave Hutton at Draycote and we had a pleasant 20 minutes with the Lesser Scaup at close range in Toft. The fishing boats clustered around each other like a herd of sheep around a bale of hay. It did have the effect of pushing the Tufted duck flock nearer the shore though and into the range of my 400mm lens.

After 20 mins or so I left Dave to it and went in such of the Merganser. Despite a stroll to the Valve tower the search was in vain. The walk back to the car was equally fruitless but a flock of eight Meadow pipits was noted on Toft Bank. I'd just bought a coffee when the pager said there were 3 Twite seen on Toft bank about an hour earlier. I met Terry Southgate and Mo, Terry reckoned he seen the birds and took me round to Toft but despite a thorough check there were no finches to be seen. I met up with Kevin Groocock on my 3rd search of Toft bank. As we walked back 3 birds flew overhead and landed on the rocks amongst some yellow flowers. They were tucked in under the concrete wall and quite distant. From the views we got they looked good for Twite. A rich brown colour, strong black streaks down the back and stumpy yellow bill. I managed to get some distant grab shots. The birds then flew and we agreed that they sounded like Linnets. We met Dave Hutton and Richard Mays who described similar sightings, we all agreed that the call was the decisive factor and that the birds were almost certainly Linnets. However, when I looked at the photos I' d managed to get I was pretty sure I was looking at a Twite.

Another day another dip.

8th October 2009
John Terry and I set off in the early hours to be at Kilnsea at dawn. The aim of this particular mission was to see a Baillon's Crake. Now some people think its an easy life being a birder, swanning off at the drop of a hat to gawd knows where, eating Mega breakfasts and socialising all over the place. Well sometimes its like that but sometimes it aint. Standing on a bank at dawn with a cold wind at your back a couple of yards from the north sea with only Moorhens to look at for 2 hours can become tedious. All of which is forgotten in an instant if the subject of your vigil finally decides to show itself, but if it dont...
Having given up on the Crake I wandered down to the Warren. By 10.30am the day had brightened and there was wall to wall blue sky. It was clear there were not many birds about at all. A few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits flew over, but the bushes were empty. The ringers were busy as a whole flock of Tree Sparrows hit the nets. I would have liked to have spent the rest of the day wandering about in the sunshine but unfortunately John had commitments at home so time was limited. It was high tide and we were treated to spectacular flying displays by thousands of assorted waders. Not having been to the east coast for some time I stood in amazement but I guess you never tire of such displays even if you see them everyday. Knot were the main group but numbers of Bar tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin were also impressive. Small groups of Brent Geese flew across the Humber estuary but little else was noted except a Little Owl near Sammy's.

So 3-1 to the Baillon's

1995 Stithians Res. Dip
1999 Grove Ferry Dip
1999 Grove Ferry Score
2009 Kilnsea Dip

Its never over till its over.

Whooper Swan - Shustoke Reservoir

Confusion

Buzzards view

Lesser Redpoll

Whooper Swan

Wednesday 7th October 2009

Had to collect Jan from a railway station (unknown at time of going to press) after her fact finding tour of the EU at least a small part of it. So it was another local walk around Grendon. When you are limited for time its useful to be able to visit 2 places at the same time. The photo might help explain why the residents of Baddesley and Grendon often appear confused. In terms of bird life there was nothing particularly unusual. There was a small flock of Redpoll on the Grendon Common plantation which may well develop into a sizeable flock as the winter draws on and pull in one or two Mealy's as it did last year. On Waste lane there was also a small flock of Song Thrushes and that was about it really. There was no vis. mig. at mid morning.

Just when I thought I could have a little Blog before Jan rings up to tell me which station I've got to head for, I get messages from Tom and big John with info about 4 Whooper swans at Shustoke. Would you Adam and Eve it. After all I've said about Shustoke. Have I got time? Have to make time. So its over to Shustoke, Whooper swans are a scarce bird in Warwickshire so well worth the effort. When I arrived Steve Haynes, Paul Hyde, John Harris and another local birder are looking at the Swans from the car park, about as distant as they could be from the Swans. I managed to get a little closer before having to dash back to pick up Jan.

Retern to Shustoke

Arctic tern - Shustoke reservoir

Arctic tern

Arctic tern


Young Moorhen

No comment

Clear enough !

Possible Scaup

Green Sandpipers - Cliff pool, Kingsbury

Kingfisher - Cliff pool

Tuesday 6th October 2009

I've been having a little chunter as I did the rounds today. First chunter was the cost of replacing a wing nut off my Tripod at Focus Optics, still I can't do without one and its cheaper than getting a new tripod with clamps that dont fall off in the boot of someones car. Not too many birds about so no distractions as I wandered about having a quiet chunter to myself. Mind you I did ask for it, going back to the scene of yesterdays moan, Shustoke Res. It was raining though so I thought it might be a little quieter and so it was. I bumped into Pete Forbes who was working on the same theory. The Arctic tern was still there but nothing new except a rather forlorn Gallinule species.

The rain stopped and the dogs returned. I do like dogs, honest but as in most things its the few thoughtless owners that create the problem. (see photos). A coffee at the Cedars and a check up on the reports of the Villa match last night and then on to Coton for 2 party sized Pork pies and an apple. If thats not healthy eating I dont know what is. Nothing much doing on the lakes so on to the Water Park. More chuntering about the erosion of the Nature reserve. On Cliff pool a suspicious looking duck demands attention. It looks good for a female Scaup but its too distant and with no scope and no chance of taking a snap its impossible to be 100%. Also seen were 2 Green Sandpipers, a Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and a few Common Snipe.