3:45pm. Weather: grey, cold, stiff breeze/wind.
Magpie, Great Tit, Jay, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Long-Tailed Tit, Robin, Crow.
8 species.
Sunday 25 October 2009
Tuesday 20 October 2009
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 20/10/2009
12:30pm. Weather: grey, cold with brisk, colder wind.
In Norfolk for compassionate reasons & a nice walk to the beach with Kim & a visit to the hide on the way back. The first feeling of winter in the air so it was especially fresh!
Carpark:
Robin - very close amongst the cars, prospecting for picnic crumbs.
Chaffinch, Woodpigeon.
Visitors' Centre:
Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Blackbird.
Freshwater Marshes:
Mute Swan, Coot, Marsh Harrier, Curlew, Snipe.
Meadow Pipit, Black-Headed Gull, Starling.
Brent Goose - 4 over, the first of many.
Shelduck, Pied Wagtail, Ringed Plover.
Tidal Marshes:
Redshank & Sanderling - both quite distant, & an unusual place for the sanderling.
Linnet, Shoveler.
Little Grebe - at least 5 tucked in against the separating wall of the tidal marsh.
Pheasant, Black-Tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Skylark.
Beach:
An excellent selection of waders on the tide line amongst the shellfish beds.
Oystercatcher, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin.
Herring Gull, Common Gull & Crow - along the beach.
Eider, Great-Crested Grebe, Great Black-Backed Gull & Cormorant - over or in the sea.
Snow Bunting - heading back up the beach we joined a group of people avidly watching the sand where they pointed out a lively group of the buntings.
Island Hide:
Teal, Wigeon, Pintail.
Bewick's Swan - four flew in spectacularly as we watched the other wildfowl, a great & unexpected site tick.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Grey Heron, Gadwall.
Carpark:
Goldfinch.
Afterwards at Chosely Drying Barns:
Pink-Footed Goose & Collared Dove.
51 species.
In Norfolk for compassionate reasons & a nice walk to the beach with Kim & a visit to the hide on the way back. The first feeling of winter in the air so it was especially fresh!
Carpark:
Robin - very close amongst the cars, prospecting for picnic crumbs.
Chaffinch, Woodpigeon.
Visitors' Centre:
Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Blackbird.
Freshwater Marshes:
Mute Swan, Coot, Marsh Harrier, Curlew, Snipe.
Meadow Pipit, Black-Headed Gull, Starling.
Brent Goose - 4 over, the first of many.
Shelduck, Pied Wagtail, Ringed Plover.
Tidal Marshes:
Redshank & Sanderling - both quite distant, & an unusual place for the sanderling.
Linnet, Shoveler.
Little Grebe - at least 5 tucked in against the separating wall of the tidal marsh.
Pheasant, Black-Tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Skylark.
Beach:
An excellent selection of waders on the tide line amongst the shellfish beds.
Oystercatcher, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin.
Herring Gull, Common Gull & Crow - along the beach.
Eider, Great-Crested Grebe, Great Black-Backed Gull & Cormorant - over or in the sea.
Snow Bunting - heading back up the beach we joined a group of people avidly watching the sand where they pointed out a lively group of the buntings.
Island Hide:
Teal, Wigeon, Pintail.
Bewick's Swan - four flew in spectacularly as we watched the other wildfowl, a great & unexpected site tick.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Grey Heron, Gadwall.
Carpark:
Goldfinch.
Afterwards at Chosely Drying Barns:
Pink-Footed Goose & Collared Dove.
51 species.
Saturday 17 October 2009
Staines Moor, Surrey, 17/10/2009
8:30am. Weather: cold, grey autumn day, slight breeze.
I decided to attend my first twitch after reading reports of a nearby brown shrike. Although they are one of my favourite avian families I have only seen one species, a great grey at Lakenheath. Reports throughout the week indicated that it would be around over the weekend so I got up early to beat the traffic & joined already sizeable crowds twitching the individual which showed well throughout the morning, when visible, from the south bank of the river that runs through the moor.
King George VI Reservoir:
Cormorant, Kestrel, Wigeon.
Grey Wagtail - over, towards the reservoir, but not a conclusive sighting.
Moor:
Brown Shrike - was easy to find as a throng of friendly birders & twitchers were happy to point it out, so within 5 minutes of my arrival I had excellent views of it as it obligingly perched on one of its favoured bushes where it stayed for 5-10 minutes. It then disappeared for about half an hour before re-appearing further along on another bush, again showing well. A fascinating & beautiful little vagrant, which ended up being the UK's longest staying invidual of this species.
Reed Bunting, Red-Necked Parakeet, Crow, Chaffinch, Black-Headed Gull, Magpie.
Green Woodpecker - undulated through the mid-distance.
Walk back:
Robin, Great Tit, Long-Tailed Tit.
Wren - buzzing from the still thick undergrowth.
16 species, 1 new.
I decided to attend my first twitch after reading reports of a nearby brown shrike. Although they are one of my favourite avian families I have only seen one species, a great grey at Lakenheath. Reports throughout the week indicated that it would be around over the weekend so I got up early to beat the traffic & joined already sizeable crowds twitching the individual which showed well throughout the morning, when visible, from the south bank of the river that runs through the moor.
King George VI Reservoir:
Cormorant, Kestrel, Wigeon.
Grey Wagtail - over, towards the reservoir, but not a conclusive sighting.
Moor:
Brown Shrike - was easy to find as a throng of friendly birders & twitchers were happy to point it out, so within 5 minutes of my arrival I had excellent views of it as it obligingly perched on one of its favoured bushes where it stayed for 5-10 minutes. It then disappeared for about half an hour before re-appearing further along on another bush, again showing well. A fascinating & beautiful little vagrant, which ended up being the UK's longest staying invidual of this species.
Reed Bunting, Red-Necked Parakeet, Crow, Chaffinch, Black-Headed Gull, Magpie.
Green Woodpecker - undulated through the mid-distance.
Walk back:
Robin, Great Tit, Long-Tailed Tit.
Wren - buzzing from the still thick undergrowth.
16 species, 1 new.
Saturday 10 October 2009
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London, 10/10/2009
1pm. Weather: bright, warm, some cloud; still.
Lured by reports of spotted crake I made my first visit to the LWC & I also met Sian there. It's nearer to home than I realised, still, driving through Shepherd's Bush & Hammersmith to get there means it's no easy trip out. A worthwhile one nonetheless & with the high WWT entrance fees I decided to join up so I'll be visiting again!
Carpark & Entrance:
Ring-Necked Parakeet, Robin, Blackbird, Coot, Moorhen.
Wildside:
Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Shoveler, Kestrel.
Water Rail - squealing from the reeds but not seen.
Goldcrest - heard singing from pines next to the path then seen flitting amongst the foliage.
Next hide:
Snipe, Wigeon, Starling - over.
Peacock Tower:
Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, Robin, Jackdaw.
Unfortunately no spotted crake, yesterday was the last day it was recorded, but a nice introduction to the centre, although like the entrance fee, the cafeteria is also expensive!
23 species.
Lured by reports of spotted crake I made my first visit to the LWC & I also met Sian there. It's nearer to home than I realised, still, driving through Shepherd's Bush & Hammersmith to get there means it's no easy trip out. A worthwhile one nonetheless & with the high WWT entrance fees I decided to join up so I'll be visiting again!
Carpark & Entrance:
Ring-Necked Parakeet, Robin, Blackbird, Coot, Moorhen.
Wildside:
Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Shoveler, Kestrel.
Water Rail - squealing from the reeds but not seen.
Goldcrest - heard singing from pines next to the path then seen flitting amongst the foliage.
Next hide:
Snipe, Wigeon, Starling - over.
Peacock Tower:
Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, Robin, Jackdaw.
Unfortunately no spotted crake, yesterday was the last day it was recorded, but a nice introduction to the centre, although like the entrance fee, the cafeteria is also expensive!
23 species.
Sunday 4 October 2009
RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire, 04/10/2009
1:15pm. Weather: cloudy but bright, cool & breezy.
A wedding in the area meant I could sneak a first visit to this RSPB reserve, & as a bonus Bicester outlets are nearby allowing compromise on the day's activities.
Blue Tit, Meadow Pipit (x2).
Robin - first of a few in the copious low shrubs.
Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Crow.
Cetti's Warbler - heard.
Red Kite - drifted overhead.
Mute Swan, Grey Heron - three on the wing, squabbling noisily.
First Screen:
A small but busy pool with ducks & a few waders at close quarters.
Mallard, Black-Tailed Godwit, Teal, Black-Headed Gull, Snipe, Reed Bunting, Shoveler, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Wren.
Second Screen:
A larger pool but with less on it.
Water Rail - heard squealing from the reedbeds.
Coot, Gadwall.
Green Sandpiper - inconspicously standing on the mud with its head under its wing.
Moorhen, Kestrel.
28 species.
A wedding in the area meant I could sneak a first visit to this RSPB reserve, & as a bonus Bicester outlets are nearby allowing compromise on the day's activities.
Blue Tit, Meadow Pipit (x2).
Robin - first of a few in the copious low shrubs.
Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Crow.
Cetti's Warbler - heard.
Red Kite - drifted overhead.
Mute Swan, Grey Heron - three on the wing, squabbling noisily.
First Screen:
A small but busy pool with ducks & a few waders at close quarters.
Mallard, Black-Tailed Godwit, Teal, Black-Headed Gull, Snipe, Reed Bunting, Shoveler, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Wren.
Second Screen:
A larger pool but with less on it.
Water Rail - heard squealing from the reedbeds.
Coot, Gadwall.
Green Sandpiper - inconspicously standing on the mud with its head under its wing.
Moorhen, Kestrel.
28 species.
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