Lesser Short toed Lark
Stone Curlew
Mount Teide
Barbary Partridge
Pair of Pilot Whales
Long tailed Glossy Starling
Distant image of a White tailed Laural Pigeon
Even more distant image of a Cory's Shearwater
Canary
Sunday, 13 September 2015
Tenerife - part 2, bits and pieces
A few more images from Tenerife
Mount Teide
Great spotted Woodpecker
Robber Fly Dsymachus trigonus with prey
Lizards
Canary
Osprey
Tenerife - Sept 2015
I was very fortunate to have the opportunity of a week's Birding on the island of Tenerife last week. In company with Pete, our host, Keith and Steve. We did a bit of Birding, a bit of walking and a bit of lounging and became members of the San Miguel appreciation society. We even managed a couple of sessions in the pool.
We saw most of the endemic species in the first few days with trips to the north of the island, Mount Teide and the Laurel forests. I was surprised to see so many White tailed Laurel pigeons having only seen this species only briefly in flight on a previous visit to Tenerife. I also caught up with other sub-species Tenerife Goldcrest and Tenerife Chaffinch which I hadn't seen before. We also tried various headlands for a spot of Sea watching. Despite the lack of favourable winds there was an impressive passage of Cory's Shearwaters. Numbers totalling thousands on one evening. The Petrels were more difficult with only one confirmed sighting of 2 Bulwer's petrels. Despite our best efforts the only migrants of note were Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis and Osprey. In all we recorded some 50 species including a Long tailed Glossy Starling of unknown origin.
My bird of the week was a single Lesser short toed Lark but White tailed Laurel Pigeon was a close second and the Sheer numbers of Corys Shearwaters was a memorable sight. All in all a very successful week and my sincere thanks to the lads for such an enjoyable time. It were fun!
We saw most of the endemic species in the first few days with trips to the north of the island, Mount Teide and the Laurel forests. I was surprised to see so many White tailed Laurel pigeons having only seen this species only briefly in flight on a previous visit to Tenerife. I also caught up with other sub-species Tenerife Goldcrest and Tenerife Chaffinch which I hadn't seen before. We also tried various headlands for a spot of Sea watching. Despite the lack of favourable winds there was an impressive passage of Cory's Shearwaters. Numbers totalling thousands on one evening. The Petrels were more difficult with only one confirmed sighting of 2 Bulwer's petrels. Despite our best efforts the only migrants of note were Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis and Osprey. In all we recorded some 50 species including a Long tailed Glossy Starling of unknown origin.
My bird of the week was a single Lesser short toed Lark but White tailed Laurel Pigeon was a close second and the Sheer numbers of Corys Shearwaters was a memorable sight. All in all a very successful week and my sincere thanks to the lads for such an enjoyable time. It were fun!
Berthelot's Pipit, widespread
Hoopoe, quite common, particularly around Golf courses
Southern Grey Shrike, quite common
Spoonbill
Blue Chaffinch, Picnic site Mount Teide
Sardinian Warbler- numerous
Tenerife Goldcrest
Tenerife Blue Tit
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Back to the Neighbourhood
1st Sept. 2015
Since returning from a short break its been back to business with some local Birding. Focussing on the Caldecote and Mancetter areas with the odd visit to Alvecote but not straying into the Tame valley for some reason. Numbers of migrants have been moving through The Anchor pub bushes particularly Chiffchaff with smaller numbers of Willow warblers and Lesser Whitethroats. First Common Redstart turned up yesterday and presumably the same bird was still there today. A Peregrine was causing havoc with the Corvids near the Rookery at Caldecote and there was a concentration of Green and Goldfinches at Rothern's farm.
Since returning from a short break its been back to business with some local Birding. Focussing on the Caldecote and Mancetter areas with the odd visit to Alvecote but not straying into the Tame valley for some reason. Numbers of migrants have been moving through The Anchor pub bushes particularly Chiffchaff with smaller numbers of Willow warblers and Lesser Whitethroats. First Common Redstart turned up yesterday and presumably the same bird was still there today. A Peregrine was causing havoc with the Corvids near the Rookery at Caldecote and there was a concentration of Green and Goldfinches at Rothern's farm.
Common Redstart, The 'Anchor bushes'
Common Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Redstart
Sunday, 30 August 2015
Prague - August 2015
August 24th-28th 2015
Enjoyed a short visit to Prague in the Czech Republic with friends. After the short flight we had a taxi ride to our apartment near the centre of the city. It was a short walk to most of the places of interest. Arriving late afternoon our priority after off loading the luggage was to find somewhere to eat and drink. The drinking bit was easy enough. There was a small brewery with a beer garden just round a couple of corners. So we had a very pleasant introduction to Prague with a couple of pints of 11 per cent unfiltered home brewed Pilsner Lager. During the next couple of days we toured the city. The weather was hot and sunny. No binoculars of course but I kept my eyes open for the few birds that were to be seen in the parks and wooded areas of the city. Best bird of the 20 species seen was undoubtedly a White backed Woodpecker, the rest were familiar species with the exception of Black Redstarts which seemed to be fairly common.
Enjoyed a short visit to Prague in the Czech Republic with friends. After the short flight we had a taxi ride to our apartment near the centre of the city. It was a short walk to most of the places of interest. Arriving late afternoon our priority after off loading the luggage was to find somewhere to eat and drink. The drinking bit was easy enough. There was a small brewery with a beer garden just round a couple of corners. So we had a very pleasant introduction to Prague with a couple of pints of 11 per cent unfiltered home brewed Pilsner Lager. During the next couple of days we toured the city. The weather was hot and sunny. No binoculars of course but I kept my eyes open for the few birds that were to be seen in the parks and wooded areas of the city. Best bird of the 20 species seen was undoubtedly a White backed Woodpecker, the rest were familiar species with the exception of Black Redstarts which seemed to be fairly common.
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
A bit of Ruff
19th August 2015
Stretched my legs a bit further afield yesterday with a visit to Draycote Water, and very pleasant it was too. Not too many folk about so a gentle stroll around to the valve tower and back produced a Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 4 Common Tern and a Common Sandpiper although there were at least 4 scattered around the Res. I understand. Met up with Bob Hazel for the return leg. In the afternoon it was back to the local patch at Caldecote.There were the usual Buzzards and good numbers of Robins with a couple of Chiffchaff
Stretched my legs a bit further afield yesterday with a visit to Draycote Water, and very pleasant it was too. Not too many folk about so a gentle stroll around to the valve tower and back produced a Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 4 Common Tern and a Common Sandpiper although there were at least 4 scattered around the Res. I understand. Met up with Bob Hazel for the return leg. In the afternoon it was back to the local patch at Caldecote.There were the usual Buzzards and good numbers of Robins with a couple of Chiffchaff
Dunlin
in the bushes but little else, although 4 Swifts were seen over the river.
Ruff
Ruff
Monday, 17 August 2015
Migration Watch continued
Monday 17th August 2015
Focussing on just a few local areas has its good and bad points. It can be pretty dispiriting going to the same venue nearly everyday and seeing the same Common Buzzards, Corvids etc but on the other hand you do see changes starting to happen, new birds on the block: Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps gathering, probably local breeders but starting to disperse ready for the big move. Another plus is finding your own stuff. Today 'on the patch' north of Caldecote there was a marked increase in numbers of Chiffchaff - up to 8 whereas a few days ago there was only 2/3 seen.The Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, however, seem to have moved on. Around Caldecote itself, today was momentus, well not Mega but I thought 2 Whinchats was pretty good. There was also a party of 5 Linnets and a single Yellow wagtail. I've also been to Alvecote a few times but apart from the Greenshank a few days ago its been quiet with last week's storms raising the water levels. Similar story at Shustoke apart from the Common Sandpipers. So its a question of sticking at it waiting for that moment when you find that Wryneck creeping about on the pasture.
Focussing on just a few local areas has its good and bad points. It can be pretty dispiriting going to the same venue nearly everyday and seeing the same Common Buzzards, Corvids etc but on the other hand you do see changes starting to happen, new birds on the block: Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps gathering, probably local breeders but starting to disperse ready for the big move. Another plus is finding your own stuff. Today 'on the patch' north of Caldecote there was a marked increase in numbers of Chiffchaff - up to 8 whereas a few days ago there was only 2/3 seen.The Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, however, seem to have moved on. Around Caldecote itself, today was momentus, well not Mega but I thought 2 Whinchats was pretty good. There was also a party of 5 Linnets and a single Yellow wagtail. I've also been to Alvecote a few times but apart from the Greenshank a few days ago its been quiet with last week's storms raising the water levels. Similar story at Shustoke apart from the Common Sandpipers. So its a question of sticking at it waiting for that moment when you find that Wryneck creeping about on the pasture.
Chiffchaff, looking a little hot and bothered
Whinchat
Whinchat
Whinchat
Monday, 10 August 2015
Local migration Watch
Monday 10th August 2015
After a slight mishap following a local Beer Festival birding has been restricted to a few easily accessible local sites. First signs of a bit of moment at the Caldecote meadows was an increase in the numbers of Whitethroats in the Hawthorne bushes with a couple of Chiffchaff and a Willow warbler. Today the cast had changed to include a Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat as well as Chiffchaff and Whitethroat again. No sign of any Redstarts or Spot Flys yet though.
After a slight mishap following a local Beer Festival birding has been restricted to a few easily accessible local sites. First signs of a bit of moment at the Caldecote meadows was an increase in the numbers of Whitethroats in the Hawthorne bushes with a couple of Chiffchaff and a Willow warbler. Today the cast had changed to include a Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat as well as Chiffchaff and Whitethroat again. No sign of any Redstarts or Spot Flys yet though.
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