Thursday 31st October 2013
As Dave Abbot and I drove through the night to get to Porthwarra for first light, the star filled skies and light winds did not bode well for our chances of seeing the Hermit Thrush found at the foot of the valley the previous day. There were a lot of birders already there and we parked at the top of the hill as the car park appeared to be full. The bird had been seen in bushes and trees near the toilet block. As the light improved and it was possible to look into the strip of vegetation on either side of the stream the search began. Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Robins were scrutinised but no sign of the Hermit Thrush. For 2 hours there was no sign of the bird. The weather and the light continued to improve and then movement. Not the bird but birders. Looking through the trees to the birders on the road beyond they were clearly focussing on something. It was time for me to move and join the throng, the bird was still present.
After a couple of false alarms the bird was finally seen. It had been flying up to pick Elderberries and was now sitting up in the bush preening, partially obscured at first but then in full view. Outstanding. There was no great panic after the initial positioning and re-positioning and birders were generally very helpful to one another, which was good to see. After being invisible for so long the bird gave further prolonged views much appreciated by everyone.
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Monday, 28 October 2013
So near yet so far
Monday 20th October 2013
Another out of County excursion today if only just out of County. The Hoopoe at a fishery just outside Woodford Halse in Northants. was the attraction.The bird feeds in the car park of the fishery and I was told the owner has temporarily closed the fishery to minimise disturbance of the bird. I was glad to have the opportunity of thanking him for the gesture. With the small group of admirers kept back behind the gate the Hoopoe was amazingly confiding, coming almost right up to the gate in its never ending quest for food.
Another out of County excursion today if only just out of County. The Hoopoe at a fishery just outside Woodford Halse in Northants. was the attraction.The bird feeds in the car park of the fishery and I was told the owner has temporarily closed the fishery to minimise disturbance of the bird. I was glad to have the opportunity of thanking him for the gesture. With the small group of admirers kept back behind the gate the Hoopoe was amazingly confiding, coming almost right up to the gate in its never ending quest for food.
Hoopoe, Nr. Woodford Halse, Northants
Hoopoe
Hoopoe, plenty of food amongst the Moss and short grass
Hoopoe
Hoopoe
Hoopoe
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Great grey Shrike - Harrington, Northants.
Saturday 26th October 2013
Took myself off to a new venue this morning, Harrington disused airfield in Northants. A former USAF base in the second World War there is now little of the base remaining except a few derelict concrete bunkers, piles of rumble and strips of waste land with grass and bushes. Ideal habitat for a number of species of birds which like wide open spaces with plenty of perches. A Great grey Shrike had been seen there recently so as the wind and rain beat down the search began. It was half an hour before I saw the bird on a concrete post in the middle of a field of winter wheat. After that the bird would be seen periodically usually close to one of the three bunkers on the site. The trick was predicting which of the three bunkers the bird would appear at next.
Took myself off to a new venue this morning, Harrington disused airfield in Northants. A former USAF base in the second World War there is now little of the base remaining except a few derelict concrete bunkers, piles of rumble and strips of waste land with grass and bushes. Ideal habitat for a number of species of birds which like wide open spaces with plenty of perches. A Great grey Shrike had been seen there recently so as the wind and rain beat down the search began. It was half an hour before I saw the bird on a concrete post in the middle of a field of winter wheat. After that the bird would be seen periodically usually close to one of the three bunkers on the site. The trick was predicting which of the three bunkers the bird would appear at next.
Distant, but typical view of Great grey Shrike on concrete pillar
Great grey Shrike
Great grey Shrike
Great grey Shrike
Red Kite, common in the area
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Patch Watch
Thursday 25th October 2013
Having neglected my 'patch' it was due for a bit of a bashing so I gave it a good going over today, making the best of a great day to be out. Didn't come up with anything particularly exciting but it was interesting to see just how many birds were in the fields. I reckoned on something like 60+ Skylarks, 40 Meadow pipits and 15 Reed Buntings. It took me nearly an hour to work a 300 metre stretch of hedge and recently planted crop fields either side. Nothing out of the ordinary but you never know with so many birds about. I also counted a flock of 120 Black headed Gull. There was very little on the Sheep fields and the embankment near the canal but with so many berries about things should liven up when the weather turns colder.
Having neglected my 'patch' it was due for a bit of a bashing so I gave it a good going over today, making the best of a great day to be out. Didn't come up with anything particularly exciting but it was interesting to see just how many birds were in the fields. I reckoned on something like 60+ Skylarks, 40 Meadow pipits and 15 Reed Buntings. It took me nearly an hour to work a 300 metre stretch of hedge and recently planted crop fields either side. Nothing out of the ordinary but you never know with so many birds about. I also counted a flock of 120 Black headed Gull. There was very little on the Sheep fields and the embankment near the canal but with so many berries about things should liven up when the weather turns colder.
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Second chance
Tuesday 22nd October 2013
You dont always get a second chance in Birding. If you miss seeing a rare bird you might well have to wait a few years for the next one. Having missed the Parrot Crossbills at Shoeburyness I was very fortunate in only having to wait a few days for another chance. Again I was busy over the weekend so my first opportunity to go for the Parrots in Hemsted Forest near Cranbrook, Kent was Tuesday. With heavy rain forecast for the South East at mid day I needed an early start.The journey down early in the morning was uneventful until I got to Cranbrook itself. Could I find the site, could I 'eck. I lost all sense of direction and kept finding myself back where I started, usually the local Golf course!
Eventually, having lost valuable time I found a group of cars at an entrance to a large clearing in the forest. In the distance were a group of birders on the track in the centre of the clearing. The large square of recently planted trees was surrounded by mature pines and these were the focus of attention of the 10 or so birders already there.
Various species including Crossbills flew over the clearing to disappear beyond the trees. It was nearly an hour before a small group of Crossbills landed and started feeding in a relatively close Pine tree. As the group checked through the birds that were visible it became clear that two birds were definitely Parrot Crossbill. What a relief. Other flocks of Crossbills came and went in other pines around the clearing and it was possible to make comparisons, but despite waiting over an hour there were no further sightings of the Parrot Crossbills. As the rain got heavier it was time to go.
You dont always get a second chance in Birding. If you miss seeing a rare bird you might well have to wait a few years for the next one. Having missed the Parrot Crossbills at Shoeburyness I was very fortunate in only having to wait a few days for another chance. Again I was busy over the weekend so my first opportunity to go for the Parrots in Hemsted Forest near Cranbrook, Kent was Tuesday. With heavy rain forecast for the South East at mid day I needed an early start.The journey down early in the morning was uneventful until I got to Cranbrook itself. Could I find the site, could I 'eck. I lost all sense of direction and kept finding myself back where I started, usually the local Golf course!
Eventually, having lost valuable time I found a group of cars at an entrance to a large clearing in the forest. In the distance were a group of birders on the track in the centre of the clearing. The large square of recently planted trees was surrounded by mature pines and these were the focus of attention of the 10 or so birders already there.
Various species including Crossbills flew over the clearing to disappear beyond the trees. It was nearly an hour before a small group of Crossbills landed and started feeding in a relatively close Pine tree. As the group checked through the birds that were visible it became clear that two birds were definitely Parrot Crossbill. What a relief. Other flocks of Crossbills came and went in other pines around the clearing and it was possible to make comparisons, but despite waiting over an hour there were no further sightings of the Parrot Crossbills. As the rain got heavier it was time to go.
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Arctic Tern at Shustoke Reservoir
Tuesday 15th October 2013
A message from Dave Hutton had me hurrying off to Shustoke res. to see a juvenile Arctic tern which was being particularly obliging and giving good photo opportunities.
A message from Dave Hutton had me hurrying off to Shustoke res. to see a juvenile Arctic tern which was being particularly obliging and giving good photo opportunities.
Arctic tern, Shustoke
Arctic tern
Arctic tern
Arctic tern
Arctic tern
Arctic tern
As the low cloud lifted a number of other species were seen flying over the reservoir : 6 Swallows, a Brambling and four Skylarks.
Monday, 14 October 2013
A day at the Seaside
Monday 14th October 2013
I took myself off to the seaside today. Southend on Sea or to be more exact Gunner's Park, Shoeburyness. The purpose was to see my first Parrot Crossbill. My journey was in vain as I missed the birds by an hour. Lots of ifs and buts about taking a different route, leaving earlier etc. but I dipped pure and simple. The birds had been in trees just behind the sea wall in what used to be park land on an MOD site now a mere remnant of a park eroded by housing developments. There were a few other migrants about though. Blackcap and Chiffchaff and the almost inevitable Yellow browed warbler. A Ring Ouzel was good to see, part of a massive movement of this species on the East coast today. While small groups of Swallows flew south through the park.
I took myself off to the seaside today. Southend on Sea or to be more exact Gunner's Park, Shoeburyness. The purpose was to see my first Parrot Crossbill. My journey was in vain as I missed the birds by an hour. Lots of ifs and buts about taking a different route, leaving earlier etc. but I dipped pure and simple. The birds had been in trees just behind the sea wall in what used to be park land on an MOD site now a mere remnant of a park eroded by housing developments. There were a few other migrants about though. Blackcap and Chiffchaff and the almost inevitable Yellow browed warbler. A Ring Ouzel was good to see, part of a massive movement of this species on the East coast today. While small groups of Swallows flew south through the park.
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