Weather: sunny, clear with a strong, cold wind. From 1:30pm.
All along the shoreline: Sanderling, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher. A large flock of birds was noticed flying over the water near to the shore, at first I assumed they were knot but on closer inspection I noticed a long bill, long brown wings with no white bar, indicative of Bar-Tailed Godwit. Probably over 100 then congregated at various points on the beach between the groynes, when they weren't being disturbed by the seemingly countless un-leashed dogs!
Further species amongst the others: a lonesome Knot providing good close-up views & a nice contrast to the half dozen or so Dunlin that were amongst the sanderlings.
Black-Headed Gull, continually flew over with lesser numbers of Common Gull amongst them.
Finally on leaving the beach a group of 5 Curlew flew overhead & ubiquitous Woodpigeon in their dozens in the fields.
11 species.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Sunday, 18 January 2009
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 17/01/2009
Weather: still bright but cooler & windier. From 12:50pm.
From the car-park: Woodpigeon, Robin, Chaffinch, Magpie, Great Tit, Blackbird, Goldfinch.
On the visitors' centre's bird feeders: Collared Dove, Greenfinch.
Along the path to the Fen Hide: Pink-Footed Goose about 30 overhead, Pheasant in a tree.
On the marshes opposite to the main freshwater scrapes: Mute Swan, Coot, Brent Goose (20+),
Scanning the freshwater marsh scrapes revealed: Golden Plover, Shelduck, Starling (4) overflew, Moorhen, a single Reed Bunting calling from the reeds close to the path, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon.
From the Parrinder Hide: no sooner had we entered the hide than people were calling out the location of a Jack Snipe which was foraging on the nearest island to the hide. It showed for a long time alllowing excellent views, even exhibiting its peculiar bobbing behaviour, & the much more numerous Snipe allowed for a easy comparison.
Also on the scrape: Lapwing, Mallard, Pintail, Black-Headed Gull, Linnet, Ruff. Both pintail & ruff were in very good numbers, there were at least 20 pintail with the males in fine plumage & easily the largest number I have seen together.
Eventually, leaving the still showing jack snipe behind & heading towards the beach: Little Grebe (1), Cormorant (1), Great Black-Backed Gull (1), Water Rail (1) casually swimming across a channel into the bank's vegetation, a lone female Goldeneye & several Black-Tailed Godwit squabbling on their usual area. I wonder whether water rails are more numerous because I've seen more in the past 6-12 months than in many years of birding before.
On the beach: Bar-Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Dunlin.
On the sea: Red-Breasted Merganser, Herring Gull, Common Gull.
Heading back to the car, I scanned from the path near the Parrinder hide & spotted Carriow Crow, then I spotted large-looking passerine but with distinctive pipit profile that was foraging on the shore of various islands. I scoped it & confirmed what I suspected, a Water Pipit, identified from dark upperparts & very pale underparts; unfortunately I was some distance away but a decent albeit brief view. Furthermore as I watched the pipit, before t was quickly lost amongst the waders a Wren scolded me from the reeds & the distinctive 'pinging' of Bearded Tit was also heard though not seen.
Ending in the car-park: House Sparrow, Dunnock, 6 Curlew overflew.
49 species, 2 new.
From the car-park: Woodpigeon, Robin, Chaffinch, Magpie, Great Tit, Blackbird, Goldfinch.
On the visitors' centre's bird feeders: Collared Dove, Greenfinch.
Along the path to the Fen Hide: Pink-Footed Goose about 30 overhead, Pheasant in a tree.
On the marshes opposite to the main freshwater scrapes: Mute Swan, Coot, Brent Goose (20+),
Scanning the freshwater marsh scrapes revealed: Golden Plover, Shelduck, Starling (4) overflew, Moorhen, a single Reed Bunting calling from the reeds close to the path, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon.
From the Parrinder Hide: no sooner had we entered the hide than people were calling out the location of a Jack Snipe which was foraging on the nearest island to the hide. It showed for a long time alllowing excellent views, even exhibiting its peculiar bobbing behaviour, & the much more numerous Snipe allowed for a easy comparison.
Also on the scrape: Lapwing, Mallard, Pintail, Black-Headed Gull, Linnet, Ruff. Both pintail & ruff were in very good numbers, there were at least 20 pintail with the males in fine plumage & easily the largest number I have seen together.
Eventually, leaving the still showing jack snipe behind & heading towards the beach: Little Grebe (1), Cormorant (1), Great Black-Backed Gull (1), Water Rail (1) casually swimming across a channel into the bank's vegetation, a lone female Goldeneye & several Black-Tailed Godwit squabbling on their usual area. I wonder whether water rails are more numerous because I've seen more in the past 6-12 months than in many years of birding before.
On the beach: Bar-Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Dunlin.
On the sea: Red-Breasted Merganser, Herring Gull, Common Gull.
Heading back to the car, I scanned from the path near the Parrinder hide & spotted Carriow Crow, then I spotted large-looking passerine but with distinctive pipit profile that was foraging on the shore of various islands. I scoped it & confirmed what I suspected, a Water Pipit, identified from dark upperparts & very pale underparts; unfortunately I was some distance away but a decent albeit brief view. Furthermore as I watched the pipit, before t was quickly lost amongst the waders a Wren scolded me from the reeds & the distinctive 'pinging' of Bearded Tit was also heard though not seen.
Ending in the car-park: House Sparrow, Dunnock, 6 Curlew overflew.
49 species, 2 new.
Gore Point - Thornham Harbour, Norfolk, 17/01/2009
Weather: bright, mild but windy.
Gore Point.
From 113:0am.
A visit to Gore Point to see if long-tailed duck were present on the seas after reading NOA website reports, however I had no luck after a few scans of the seas. However an impressive flock of c70 Fieldfare were amongst a set of bushes (sea buckthorn) on the seawall; even when they were disturbed they made straight back for their favoured shrubs. Amongst them were a couple of Blackbird & a few Starling. Also about 50 Oystercatcher were along the shore with a similar number of Black-Headed Gull.
Thornham Harbour.
From 12:15pm.
A follow-up visit for the lapland buntings but this time the fields were drier & no small birds at all could be seen foraging. However there were probably 100+ Golden Plover & 30-50 Lapwing. On the harbour mud, as usual, a dozen or so Redshank, overflying Meadow Pipit, one distant Little Egret in a dyke & up to 40 Curlew on the marshes towards the shore. Leaving the harbour amongst the hedgerow were Dunnock & Blue Tit.
13 species.
Gore Point.
From 113:0am.
A visit to Gore Point to see if long-tailed duck were present on the seas after reading NOA website reports, however I had no luck after a few scans of the seas. However an impressive flock of c70 Fieldfare were amongst a set of bushes (sea buckthorn) on the seawall; even when they were disturbed they made straight back for their favoured shrubs. Amongst them were a couple of Blackbird & a few Starling. Also about 50 Oystercatcher were along the shore with a similar number of Black-Headed Gull.
Thornham Harbour.
From 12:15pm.
A follow-up visit for the lapland buntings but this time the fields were drier & no small birds at all could be seen foraging. However there were probably 100+ Golden Plover & 30-50 Lapwing. On the harbour mud, as usual, a dozen or so Redshank, overflying Meadow Pipit, one distant Little Egret in a dyke & up to 40 Curlew on the marshes towards the shore. Leaving the harbour amongst the hedgerow were Dunnock & Blue Tit.
13 species.
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Apponagansett Bay & Smith Neck Road, South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA, 03/01/2009
Weather: bright, still, very cold, snow on the ground. From 7:30am.
Another early start for a morning walk around the vicinity of Smith Neck Road. Firstly an unseen & unidentified mystery bird calling from the trees: 'chiiuu, chiiuu, chiiuu, chiiuu'.
Heading to the bay from Smith Neck Road: American Crow, Bluejay, American Robin, Starling, House Sparrow.
Turning off Smith Neck Road a male Northern Flicker was conveniently perched on a house's chimney in bright sunlight allowing excellent views, it would have been a first had I not seen it roadside a couple of days previously. Whilst I watched a Downy Woodpecker also appeared in nearby trees.
Breaking from the flicker & heading to the shore I glimpsed a distinctive bird quartering trees near to the shore, heading towards the saltmarsh area around Apponagansett, another Northern Harrier. Unfortunately I couldn't see it when I did reach the shore but the usual, Ring-Billed Gull, Canada Goose & Goldeneye (a male flew towards the Padanaram bridge) were present.
Finally, on heading back another loud, two-tone song was heard similar in tone to the first mystery bird call but again the songster was not seen or identified.
Update: a likely Carolina Wren, identified after September 2009 holiday.
11 species, none new.
Another early start for a morning walk around the vicinity of Smith Neck Road. Firstly an unseen & unidentified mystery bird calling from the trees: 'chiiuu, chiiuu, chiiuu, chiiuu'.
Heading to the bay from Smith Neck Road: American Crow, Bluejay, American Robin, Starling, House Sparrow.
Turning off Smith Neck Road a male Northern Flicker was conveniently perched on a house's chimney in bright sunlight allowing excellent views, it would have been a first had I not seen it roadside a couple of days previously. Whilst I watched a Downy Woodpecker also appeared in nearby trees.
Breaking from the flicker & heading to the shore I glimpsed a distinctive bird quartering trees near to the shore, heading towards the saltmarsh area around Apponagansett, another Northern Harrier. Unfortunately I couldn't see it when I did reach the shore but the usual, Ring-Billed Gull, Canada Goose & Goldeneye (a male flew towards the Padanaram bridge) were present.
Finally, on heading back another loud, two-tone song was heard similar in tone to the first mystery bird call but again the songster was not seen or identified.
Update: a likely Carolina Wren, identified after September 2009 holiday.
11 species, none new.
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, RI, 02/01/2009
Weather: bright, but overcast, windy & very cold. From 2pm.
My first Stateside visit to an actual birding location, the refuge at Sachuest Point. I chose this location as I wanted to visit somewhere in Narragansett Bay after reading about it in Wild America which details the epic 1950s trip Roger Tory Peterson undertook around the States. Although no specific site is mentioned Sachuest came up in my search as also being the best place for over-wintering harlequin ducks, I also had my fingers crossed for a loon.
After motoring through Middletown, Rhode Island, the peninsular soon came into view & what a view it was. A lovely, long, wild-looking beach lead up to a headland on which a visitors' centre was perched. The water looked freezing cold, & I'm sure it was, nonetheless a couple of hardy wind surfers where doing their thing amongst the waves.
Just past the surfers the birds almost immediately became apparent, with a stunning view of a female Northern Harrier (UK hen harrier) quartering the rough grass on the road leading up to the visitors' centre. It came back & forth a few times, on one occasion probably no more than 30 yards away.
As well as the harrier quite a few gulls were also about on the shoreside: Ring-Billed Gull (~10),
Herring Gull (1), & a couple of dainty Bonaparte's Gull which where hovering over the waves almost petrel-like with their feet dipped into the water; also American Crow & Great Black-Backed Gull (~4).
After a visit to the centre where they informed us that the harriers were a regular spectacle we headed out onto the fairly small refuge, an American Robin overflew & a couple of birds flitted along the path as we walked along. It was small with a yellow rump & a yellow chest, & there were quite a few of them, however it took reference to the Sibley field guide to identify Yellow-Rumped Warbler, the only over-wintering warbler & a new species for me; initially we saw a couple but they were almost ever-present around the reserve.
It didn't take us long to reach the 'Island Rocks' the favourite haunt of the target Harlequin Duck, & 3 were seen almost immediately in the choppy water around the rocks & although my travel binoculars didn't provide the greatest contrast on a dull day, I could plainly see the smart white markings as they were fairly close to the shore.
Other ducks also present were a few Black Duck, which would have been another life tick had I not just seen it at Apponagansett on the way to Sachuest! Also Red-Breasted Merganser, Brant (Brent) Goose & a (Great) Cormorant, which is infrequently seen in the States but is a regular visitor to Sachuest apparently.
Continuing along, another species which seemed to favour the pathside verges was soon noticed; this time a chunky, mottled brown & grey bird reminiscent of an Old World bunting but identified as Song Sparrow, in good numbers just like the 'yellow-rumps'.
After a few more minutes we reached the northern most point of the refuge where there was a viewpoint which looked back towards the visitors' centre & a sheltered bay, in the lee of the land up which the road runs. I could see large numbers of ducks, mainly black ducks as well as mergansers & Goldeneye but also quite a few mainly white ducks which were unfortunately too distant to identify positively, but possibly buffleheads. Just before departing the viewpoint I was delighted to spot, as I'd hoped, a diver just offshore, easily identifed as Common Loon (Great Northern Diver), with a heavy bill & a much less elegant dive than the red-throat I'd seen at similar close quarters in March.
By this time the light was fading & it was trying to snow so we beat a hasty retreat from hypothermia & re-traced our steps back to the car, accompanied by the yellow-rumps & song sparrows; the harlequins were also in the same place, then a sudden flash of another northern harrier just before the final turn where a Cardinal perched obligingly on a bush.
17 species, 4 new species.
My first Stateside visit to an actual birding location, the refuge at Sachuest Point. I chose this location as I wanted to visit somewhere in Narragansett Bay after reading about it in Wild America which details the epic 1950s trip Roger Tory Peterson undertook around the States. Although no specific site is mentioned Sachuest came up in my search as also being the best place for over-wintering harlequin ducks, I also had my fingers crossed for a loon.
After motoring through Middletown, Rhode Island, the peninsular soon came into view & what a view it was. A lovely, long, wild-looking beach lead up to a headland on which a visitors' centre was perched. The water looked freezing cold, & I'm sure it was, nonetheless a couple of hardy wind surfers where doing their thing amongst the waves.
Just past the surfers the birds almost immediately became apparent, with a stunning view of a female Northern Harrier (UK hen harrier) quartering the rough grass on the road leading up to the visitors' centre. It came back & forth a few times, on one occasion probably no more than 30 yards away.
As well as the harrier quite a few gulls were also about on the shoreside: Ring-Billed Gull (~10),
Herring Gull (1), & a couple of dainty Bonaparte's Gull which where hovering over the waves almost petrel-like with their feet dipped into the water; also American Crow & Great Black-Backed Gull (~4).
After a visit to the centre where they informed us that the harriers were a regular spectacle we headed out onto the fairly small refuge, an American Robin overflew & a couple of birds flitted along the path as we walked along. It was small with a yellow rump & a yellow chest, & there were quite a few of them, however it took reference to the Sibley field guide to identify Yellow-Rumped Warbler, the only over-wintering warbler & a new species for me; initially we saw a couple but they were almost ever-present around the reserve.
It didn't take us long to reach the 'Island Rocks' the favourite haunt of the target Harlequin Duck, & 3 were seen almost immediately in the choppy water around the rocks & although my travel binoculars didn't provide the greatest contrast on a dull day, I could plainly see the smart white markings as they were fairly close to the shore.
Other ducks also present were a few Black Duck, which would have been another life tick had I not just seen it at Apponagansett on the way to Sachuest! Also Red-Breasted Merganser, Brant (Brent) Goose & a (Great) Cormorant, which is infrequently seen in the States but is a regular visitor to Sachuest apparently.
Continuing along, another species which seemed to favour the pathside verges was soon noticed; this time a chunky, mottled brown & grey bird reminiscent of an Old World bunting but identified as Song Sparrow, in good numbers just like the 'yellow-rumps'.
After a few more minutes we reached the northern most point of the refuge where there was a viewpoint which looked back towards the visitors' centre & a sheltered bay, in the lee of the land up which the road runs. I could see large numbers of ducks, mainly black ducks as well as mergansers & Goldeneye but also quite a few mainly white ducks which were unfortunately too distant to identify positively, but possibly buffleheads. Just before departing the viewpoint I was delighted to spot, as I'd hoped, a diver just offshore, easily identifed as Common Loon (Great Northern Diver), with a heavy bill & a much less elegant dive than the red-throat I'd seen at similar close quarters in March.
By this time the light was fading & it was trying to snow so we beat a hasty retreat from hypothermia & re-traced our steps back to the car, accompanied by the yellow-rumps & song sparrows; the harlequins were also in the same place, then a sudden flash of another northern harrier just before the final turn where a Cardinal perched obligingly on a bush.
17 species, 4 new species.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, USA, 24/12/2008 to 03/01/2009
A non birding trip the following were seen whilst out & about during the visit. The weather was mainly freezing cold with snow, even the seashore had frozen by the new year.
24/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Bufflehead - Small mixed sex groups on the water.
25/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Brant/Brent Goose - Flock of about a dozen flying in to the water next to the bridge.
26/12/2008 - En route to New Hampshire.
Red-Tailed Hawk - Sitting by roadside outside Boston.
27/12/2008 - North Conway, NH.
Raven - Being mobbed by two American Crows.
28/12/2008 - Cranmore Mountain, NH.
Bluejay, Black-Capped Chickadee - In the trees next to the ski-lift.
29/12/2008 - Bethell, ME.
Bluejay, Red-Tailed Hawk - Amongst trees alongside the road.
30/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Brent/Brant Goose, Eider - On the bay's water.
30/12/2008 - Brooklawn Green, New Bedford, MA.
Ring-Billed Gull (20+), Herring Gull (~6), Great Black-Backed Gull (2 adults, 3 juveniles).
- All on the pond in mixed gull flock/roost.
31/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Brant (18), Bufflehead (~6), Mallard, Goldeneye (male), Ring-Billed Gull (20+).
- The heavy snowfall maybe forced the birds closer to the shore, particularly the brants.
01/01/2009 - South Dartmouth.
American Robin, Ring-Billed Gull, Northern Flicker, Eider.
- On the road-trip to & from the mall, the flicker was in a garden's bush, the eider off padanaram bridge.
02/01/2009 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Great Black-Backed Gull, Black Duck (6-10), Brant Goose, Bufflehead.
- All on the bay's shore, with the black duck finally seen here, & only a surprise that I haven't seen them more often.
02/01/2009 - En route to Sachuest Point, RI.
Cardinal (4), Cooper's Hawk?
- The hawk flew over Crescent Road, Middletown, near to a petrol station, too brief a view to tell whether it was a Cooper's or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk but a good sighting nonetheless.
03/01/2009 - Quincy, MA.
Cardinal, Black-Capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker.
- All seen in the 'parking lot' prior to going to the airport!
3 new species.
24/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Bufflehead - Small mixed sex groups on the water.
25/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Brant/Brent Goose - Flock of about a dozen flying in to the water next to the bridge.
26/12/2008 - En route to New Hampshire.
Red-Tailed Hawk - Sitting by roadside outside Boston.
27/12/2008 - North Conway, NH.
Raven - Being mobbed by two American Crows.
28/12/2008 - Cranmore Mountain, NH.
Bluejay, Black-Capped Chickadee - In the trees next to the ski-lift.
29/12/2008 - Bethell, ME.
Bluejay, Red-Tailed Hawk - Amongst trees alongside the road.
30/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Brent/Brant Goose, Eider - On the bay's water.
30/12/2008 - Brooklawn Green, New Bedford, MA.
Ring-Billed Gull (20+), Herring Gull (~6), Great Black-Backed Gull (2 adults, 3 juveniles).
- All on the pond in mixed gull flock/roost.
31/12/2008 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Brant (18), Bufflehead (~6), Mallard, Goldeneye (male), Ring-Billed Gull (20+).
- The heavy snowfall maybe forced the birds closer to the shore, particularly the brants.
01/01/2009 - South Dartmouth.
American Robin, Ring-Billed Gull, Northern Flicker, Eider.
- On the road-trip to & from the mall, the flicker was in a garden's bush, the eider off padanaram bridge.
02/01/2009 - Apponagansett Bay, MA.
Great Black-Backed Gull, Black Duck (6-10), Brant Goose, Bufflehead.
- All on the bay's shore, with the black duck finally seen here, & only a surprise that I haven't seen them more often.
02/01/2009 - En route to Sachuest Point, RI.
Cardinal (4), Cooper's Hawk?
- The hawk flew over Crescent Road, Middletown, near to a petrol station, too brief a view to tell whether it was a Cooper's or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk but a good sighting nonetheless.
03/01/2009 - Quincy, MA.
Cardinal, Black-Capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker.
- All seen in the 'parking lot' prior to going to the airport!
3 new species.
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