9:15 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out with mum & Ben, but George changed his mind & we turned back to drop him off.
Weather: cold, cloudy, some mist.
57 species
Pink-footed Goose X
Brent Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Eurasian Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail X
Green-winged Teal X
Common Eider 3
Long-tailed Duck 5 on the sea. My first sight of these ducks in the UK in over 20 years. They were pointed out by a kindly fellow birder & easily picked up though the views weren't great due to a misty sea.
Common Goldeneye X
Common Pheasant X - heard.
Little Grebe X - seen 31/12/2010 with Kim, Ben & George.
Horned/Slavonian Grebe 1 on the sea. Picked out from the bench with fellow birders & again as I walked the beach with mum & Ben. A great bird to see, the second after my first at Dungeness.
Great Bittern 1 creeping about on the frozen Thornham fresh-marsh, it attracted quite a crowd, & we watched it for quite some time as it was Ben's first. He was fascinated with how it could be so compact one second & then elongated the next. When we returned back from the beach it was still there & we lingered for another look. A gentleman asked Ben to look through the scope as he'd never seen one either & Ben told him it was his first too - only an age difference between the two of approx. 50 years!
Grey Heron X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1
Water Rail 1 also came onto the ice near the bittern. Seen on the way back.
Common Moorhen X
Northern Lapwing X
Grey Plover X
European Golden-Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Bar-tailed Godwit X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Sanderling X
Dunlin X - over.
Ruff X
Common Snipe X
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X - over.
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Jay X
Carrion Crow X
Skylark X
Coal Tit X - seen 31/12/2010 with Kim, Ben & George.
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Eurasian Blackbird X
European Starling X
Dunnock X - seen 31/12/2010 with Kim, Ben & George.
Pied Wagtail X
Meadow Pipit X - heard.
Reed Bunting X
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Friday 31 December 2010
Thursday 30 December 2010
Wolferton Triangle, Norfolk, UK, 30-Dec-2010
7:50 AM - 10:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Out early with mum. Took a quick walk into the woods by the road for golden pheasant, unsuccessfully.
Weather: dull, cold, warm.
5 species
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1
Eurasian Woodcock 1 scuttled across the road as we drove out.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Goldcrest X
Eurasian Siskin X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Out early with mum. Took a quick walk into the woods by the road for golden pheasant, unsuccessfully.
Weather: dull, cold, warm.
5 species
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1
Eurasian Woodcock 1 scuttled across the road as we drove out.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Goldcrest X
Eurasian Siskin X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Tuesday 28 December 2010
Snettisham RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 28-Dec-2010
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: Early start hoping to see geese flocks moving inland from The Wash's mud.
Weather: cold, dank, grey, fitful light rain.
39 species
Pink-footed Goose 500 at least. Flocks taking off & moving inland after roosting on the mud in The Wash. When I reached the far northern end of the reserve many were still on the mud but as the light increased I was treated to large flocks taking off & flying directly overhead & I cursed my lack of a video-camera. Many of the flocks seemed to be going down to one field near to the pumping station so I crept up onto the sea wall & peeked over at a huge flock of at least 500 that were busy feeding (& fertilising). The noise they made was like the buzzing of bees as there were so many of them & the flock was large enough to hold a couple of guest stars...
Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
RUDDY SHELDUCK 1 in amongst the flock of pink-feet, holding its own in any squabble over food. The providence is of course debatable but within a wild flock of geese it seems not completely unlikely that it may have been wild. Life-tick.
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Eurasian Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Green-winged Teal X
Common Pochard X
Tufted Duck X
Red-legged Partridge X
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Grey Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Bar-tailed Godwit X
Red Knot X
Dunlin X
ROSS'S GOOSE 1 in the with the flock of pink-feet (& ruddy shelduck) in the field near to the pumping station. It wasn't too hard to pick out where its diminutive size & lack of a 'smile' allowed for a relatively straightforward id. I later called it in & directed other birders to it & it hung around for a few days. A nice life-tick.
Common Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Dunnock X
Meadow Pipit X
Reed Bunting X
Common Chaffinch X
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: Early start hoping to see geese flocks moving inland from The Wash's mud.
Weather: cold, dank, grey, fitful light rain.
39 species
Pink-footed Goose 500 at least. Flocks taking off & moving inland after roosting on the mud in The Wash. When I reached the far northern end of the reserve many were still on the mud but as the light increased I was treated to large flocks taking off & flying directly overhead & I cursed my lack of a video-camera. Many of the flocks seemed to be going down to one field near to the pumping station so I crept up onto the sea wall & peeked over at a huge flock of at least 500 that were busy feeding (& fertilising). The noise they made was like the buzzing of bees as there were so many of them & the flock was large enough to hold a couple of guest stars...
Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
RUDDY SHELDUCK 1 in amongst the flock of pink-feet, holding its own in any squabble over food. The providence is of course debatable but within a wild flock of geese it seems not completely unlikely that it may have been wild. Life-tick.
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Eurasian Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Green-winged Teal X
Common Pochard X
Tufted Duck X
Red-legged Partridge X
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Grey Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Bar-tailed Godwit X
Red Knot X
Dunlin X
ROSS'S GOOSE 1 in the with the flock of pink-feet (& ruddy shelduck) in the field near to the pumping station. It wasn't too hard to pick out where its diminutive size & lack of a 'smile' allowed for a relatively straightforward id. I later called it in & directed other birders to it & it hung around for a few days. A nice life-tick.
Common Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Dunnock X
Meadow Pipit X
Reed Bunting X
Common Chaffinch X
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Monday 27 December 2010
Sheringham Beach Front, Norfolk, UK, 27-Dec-2010
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Drive up the coast with Kim & mum.
Weather: cold, dark, chill wind (NE).
6 species
Northern Lapwing X
Common Ringed Plover X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Black-headed Gull X
Mew Gull X
Herring Gull X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Drive up the coast with Kim & mum.
Weather: cold, dark, chill wind (NE).
6 species
Northern Lapwing X
Common Ringed Plover X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Black-headed Gull X
Mew Gull X
Herring Gull X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 19 December 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 19-Dec-2010
1:50 PM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Weather: cold, cloudy, snow on the ground after previous days fall.
13 species
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing X
Song Thrush 1 in large yew tree.
Mistle Thrush X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Weather: cold, cloudy, snow on the ground after previous days fall.
13 species
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing X
Song Thrush 1 in large yew tree.
Mistle Thrush X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Bunn's Lane Waxwings - Ringing Details.
After sending in the details of the ringed waxwing that I encountered, via a link from a Birdguides article, I was very pleased to receive some detailed feedback from Raymond Duncan project coordinator. Below is the email he sent me:
Great to know that the sighting was appreciated & that it adds to knowledge of this charismatic species. He also asked to use my photo for future project updates, bulletins & talks!
Thanks very much indeed for taking the time and trouble to report this colour-ringed waxwing. Fantastic photograph always a welcome bonus. Well done. See ringing details below.
NW50411 05/11/10 Allenvale Cemetery, Aberdeen 3f WB/LC/EF/DR NW50411 18/12/10 Bunn's Lane, Mill Hill, North-West London. NW7 2EX 3f M Hunt 643km SSE
The ringers that day Lindsay, Walter, Derek and Euan will all be very pleased to hear about this bird. This is the first to be reported from the 17 they ringed that day. They caught a Swedish ringed juvenile that day also, only for it to kill itself against a window a week later!
Your sighting is one of several very far south so early compared to previous invasions. We have also had 2 reported together in Southampton yesterday and 2 in Kent this past week.
Although this is partly down to a very large invasion coinciding with only a medium rowan crop (in Aberdeen any way) I think the snow has also indirectly played a significant part in these movements. Snow doesn’t really bother waxwings as their food is always accessible but the masses of thrushes and wood pigeons driven onto the berries has depleted the available favoured berry sources very rapidly up here in Aberdeen, forcing the waxwings to move on quicker than usual.
It is really great to get colour ring sightings like this which all add to the story, which is becoming a particularly interesting and different one to previous invasions. All thanks to observers like yourself for making the time and effort to record and report these things.
Thanks very much again.
Best wishes,
Raymond Duncan
(On behalf of Grampian Ringing Group)
Great to know that the sighting was appreciated & that it adds to knowledge of this charismatic species. He also asked to use my photo for future project updates, bulletins & talks!
Saturday 18 December 2010
Bunn's Lane, Mill Hill, London, 18/12/2010
10:45-11:15am. Weather: cold, snowing & increasing in heaviness.
I'd been checking the London Birds Wiki & was pleased to see the waxwings apparently getting closer & closer. After reports from the past couple of days of them in nearby Mill Hill it was too good an opportunity to pass up despite the warnings of dire consequences for people travelling in the snow due to the usual staggering un-preparedness of the whole country to tackle 3 inches of snow!
The snow began to fall as I set-off & was quite heavy by the time I picked up Sian from Colindale tube stop. Undeterred we ploughed on round the corner, & almost as soon as we reached the reported postcode, NW7 2EX, I spotted activity from high trees behind a row of houses there. I parked up in a side-street, scanned the trees & realised straightaway that there were approximately 30 Bohemian Waxwing at the top of the trees.
We got out of the car for a closer look & to take some photos & focussed on the high trees, however we soon saw a few take flight & realised they were headed for a small berry tree right behind us, & as we turned to face this tree noticed that it already had a few waxwings munching on the berries! For the next 20 minutes we watched from a few metres away as flocks of a dozen or so commuted between the tall birches behind the houses down to the road-side berry tree where they greedily scoffed the berries. They were very mobile & often seemed disturbed by the normal flow of the traffic passing by. At one point they were joined by an equally hungry Mistle Thrush.
Eventually the waxwings did what turned out to be one final commute before all heading off east, & though we waited for 5-10 minutes they didn't reappear. The snow continued falling heavily so we decided to head off before total chaos erupted on the roads.
When I got home & examined my photos I noticed one that was colour-ringed & reported it to the ring.ac website.
All-in-all a very satisfactory little trip out. These were Sian's first ever waxwings & my first in 23 years; my previous sighting was of a solitary bird in Galashiels, Scotland, 3rd January 1987!
I'd been checking the London Birds Wiki & was pleased to see the waxwings apparently getting closer & closer. After reports from the past couple of days of them in nearby Mill Hill it was too good an opportunity to pass up despite the warnings of dire consequences for people travelling in the snow due to the usual staggering un-preparedness of the whole country to tackle 3 inches of snow!
The snow began to fall as I set-off & was quite heavy by the time I picked up Sian from Colindale tube stop. Undeterred we ploughed on round the corner, & almost as soon as we reached the reported postcode, NW7 2EX, I spotted activity from high trees behind a row of houses there. I parked up in a side-street, scanned the trees & realised straightaway that there were approximately 30 Bohemian Waxwing at the top of the trees.
We got out of the car for a closer look & to take some photos & focussed on the high trees, however we soon saw a few take flight & realised they were headed for a small berry tree right behind us, & as we turned to face this tree noticed that it already had a few waxwings munching on the berries! For the next 20 minutes we watched from a few metres away as flocks of a dozen or so commuted between the tall birches behind the houses down to the road-side berry tree where they greedily scoffed the berries. They were very mobile & often seemed disturbed by the normal flow of the traffic passing by. At one point they were joined by an equally hungry Mistle Thrush.
Eventually the waxwings did what turned out to be one final commute before all heading off east, & though we waited for 5-10 minutes they didn't reappear. The snow continued falling heavily so we decided to head off before total chaos erupted on the roads.
When I got home & examined my photos I noticed one that was colour-ringed & reported it to the ring.ac website.
All-in-all a very satisfactory little trip out. These were Sian's first ever waxwings & my first in 23 years; my previous sighting was of a solitary bird in Galashiels, Scotland, 3rd January 1987!
Sunday 12 December 2010
Hampstead Cemetery and UCL Sports Grounds, London, 12/12/2010
12:40-13:50pm. Weather: cold, progressively gloomy but a touch of blue-sky, still.
Afternoon visit to the patch, quite wintry & with signs displayed around the cemetery notifying of "scrub management".
I had already noticed removal of some vegetation on a previous visit, but I hope these signs aren't ominous for the thicker, more productive patches around the cemetery.
It would be a real shame if the place was completely stripped out & sanitised, not to mention disastrous for the bird-life.
Entrance:
Woodpigeon - entering the park, plucking at berries; the first of many.
Chaffinch - over.
Blackbird.
South-side:
Black-Headed Gull - a few drifted over.
Blue Tit, Crow, Magpie.
Goldcrest - one typically flitting amongst a pine tree.
Ring-Necked Parakeet - one over heading west.
Robin, Goldfinch - one over.
Herring Gull - a couple over.
Great Tit, Starling - one over.
Green Woodpecker - one, nice & bright up from the grass then out on a dead tree branch.
Wren - buzzed low into undergrowth.
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - flew up to the dead tree the green woodpecker was on causing a few calls of consternation from it, then the green flew off.
Jay, Coal Tit.
UCL Sports Grounds:
Common Gull - 3 feeding in the field, 1 flying about.
Black-Headed Gull - 4 feeding. Magpie - 8 feeding.
East-side.
House Sparrow - 3 males in bramble-patch.
Greenfinch - several around the cemetery.
Long-Tailed Tit - feeding party.
Mistle Thrush - one atop a tree next to Fortune Green, then as I looked at that I noticed one much closer in a tree, near the garden of remembrance with a redwing & a couple of greenfinch.
Redwing - one with the mistle thrush, then 10 sat in a tree nearby & several more in other trees as I left.
25 species.
Afternoon visit to the patch, quite wintry & with signs displayed around the cemetery notifying of "scrub management".
I had already noticed removal of some vegetation on a previous visit, but I hope these signs aren't ominous for the thicker, more productive patches around the cemetery.
It would be a real shame if the place was completely stripped out & sanitised, not to mention disastrous for the bird-life.
Entrance:
Woodpigeon - entering the park, plucking at berries; the first of many.
Chaffinch - over.
Blackbird.
South-side:
Black-Headed Gull - a few drifted over.
Blue Tit, Crow, Magpie.
Goldcrest - one typically flitting amongst a pine tree.
Ring-Necked Parakeet - one over heading west.
Robin, Goldfinch - one over.
Herring Gull - a couple over.
Great Tit, Starling - one over.
Green Woodpecker - one, nice & bright up from the grass then out on a dead tree branch.
Wren - buzzed low into undergrowth.
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - flew up to the dead tree the green woodpecker was on causing a few calls of consternation from it, then the green flew off.
Jay, Coal Tit.
UCL Sports Grounds:
Common Gull - 3 feeding in the field, 1 flying about.
Black-Headed Gull - 4 feeding. Magpie - 8 feeding.
East-side.
House Sparrow - 3 males in bramble-patch.
Greenfinch - several around the cemetery.
Long-Tailed Tit - feeding party.
Mistle Thrush - one atop a tree next to Fortune Green, then as I looked at that I noticed one much closer in a tree, near the garden of remembrance with a redwing & a couple of greenfinch.
Redwing - one with the mistle thrush, then 10 sat in a tree nearby & several more in other trees as I left.
25 species.
Thursday 2 December 2010
Updates
Avid & regular readers may have noticed the lack of new posts recently. My last post was from back in July & even then it did not include much detail of the outing. Since then organising & actually attending my wedding & subsequent honeymoon took over so that there has been no time to spend on the blog. Whenever I did manage a few hours I decided that I wanted to change its name & its layout to add more content. Unfortunately that wasn't as easy as I had hoped because of the fiddly & annoying way that Google manages its accounts. I had to spend a lot of time changing blog & site ownership, & moving photos & documents even before I was able to change the blog template. I have now completed most if not all of that & can now start to actually update the blog! As I do I will back-date the posts so they are posted in the month that I actually went out (I like the month count on the sidebar) rather than having all of the posts under December. After that it should be back to business as usual & I will also be adding more of the resources I use to the blog as well.
Update 2-Dec-2011: I finally finally got round to posting some updates & as you will see it's down to my discovery of eBird. I'm very late to the party but it's pretty good & allows me to email each checklist, which I then post here, as I build up my life list on their website. If it would only allow me to publish my list by clickable species & locations it would be the complete solution for me. It allows you to browse your own data in this way but it's not publicly accessible...yet: hopefully they'll add that soon. Enjoy.
Update 2-Dec-2011: I finally finally got round to posting some updates & as you will see it's down to my discovery of eBird. I'm very late to the party but it's pretty good & allows me to email each checklist, which I then post here, as I build up my life list on their website. If it would only allow me to publish my list by clickable species & locations it would be the complete solution for me. It allows you to browse your own data in this way but it's not publicly accessible...yet: hopefully they'll add that soon. Enjoy.
Sunday 28 November 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 28-Nov-2010
10:30 - 11:40
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Brief patch visit & the first signs of 'scrub clearance'.
Weather: freezing cold, bright, sunny, still.
20 species
Black-headed Gull X - over.
Herring Gull 2 - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Great Tit X - foraging on ground.
Blue Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Goldcrest X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Fieldfare 2
Redwing 10
Song Thrush 4
Mistle Thrush 1 heard, distant from the SE.
European Starling X - over.
Dunnock X - heard.
Common Chaffinch 3
European Greenfinch X
House Sparrow X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Brief patch visit & the first signs of 'scrub clearance'.
Weather: freezing cold, bright, sunny, still.
20 species
Black-headed Gull X - over.
Herring Gull 2 - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Great Tit X - foraging on ground.
Blue Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Goldcrest X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Fieldfare 2
Redwing 10
Song Thrush 4
Mistle Thrush 1 heard, distant from the SE.
European Starling X - over.
Dunnock X - heard.
Common Chaffinch 3
European Greenfinch X
House Sparrow X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 21 November 2010
Thornham Harbour, Norfolk, UK, 21-Nov-2010
16:00 - 16:30
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: A quick look for barn owls in the gathering dusk - unsuccessfully.
3 species
Brent Goose X
Red-legged Partridge X
Common Redshank X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: A quick look for barn owls in the gathering dusk - unsuccessfully.
3 species
Brent Goose X
Red-legged Partridge X
Common Redshank X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
A149 Holkham - Burnham Overy, Norfolk, UK, 21-Nov-2010
15:30
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Continuing a drive along the coast with Kim.
Weather: dank & murky.
2 species
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1 juvenile/female.
Hen Harrier 1 ringtail flying over the field by the side of the road. Kim & I were able to pull over & take a look before it flew away & to me it appeared subtly different to other hen harriers I'd seen in flight & behaviour. It flew confidently alongside a road & there had been reports of a Northern Harrier in the area so I wondered if this was the same bird. It certainly put me in mind of a northern harrier I had seen at Sachuest Point in Rhode Island rather than the wintering birds I'd seen at Roydon Common.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Continuing a drive along the coast with Kim.
Weather: dank & murky.
2 species
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1 juvenile/female.
Hen Harrier 1 ringtail flying over the field by the side of the road. Kim & I were able to pull over & take a look before it flew away & to me it appeared subtly different to other hen harriers I'd seen in flight & behaviour. It flew confidently alongside a road & there had been reports of a Northern Harrier in the area so I wondered if this was the same bird. It certainly put me in mind of a northern harrier I had seen at Sachuest Point in Rhode Island rather than the wintering birds I'd seen at Roydon Common.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Titchwell Village, Norfolk, UK, 21-Nov-2010
13:30 - 14:30
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: For a drive up the coast with Kim we stopped at the site of a reported bean goose.
Weather: dull, cold, misty & dank.
5 species
Tundra Bean-Goose 1 lone goose amongst the large pink-foot flock was picked out by various birders who had gathered to look for it. It was coloured differently & with a different jizz so though no easy task to pick it out once found it was fairly easy to identify.
Pink-footed Goose X - large flock feeding in the field.
Greater White-fronted Goose 2 also in with the pink-feet (& bean), easy to notice & identify due to their prominent white forehead which looked especially bright in the gloom.
European Robin X - field's hedgerow.
Fieldfare 30 in a flock moving around the field, mostly among the hedgerow around the fields.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: For a drive up the coast with Kim we stopped at the site of a reported bean goose.
Weather: dull, cold, misty & dank.
5 species
Tundra Bean-Goose 1 lone goose amongst the large pink-foot flock was picked out by various birders who had gathered to look for it. It was coloured differently & with a different jizz so though no easy task to pick it out once found it was fairly easy to identify.
Pink-footed Goose X - large flock feeding in the field.
Greater White-fronted Goose 2 also in with the pink-feet (& bean), easy to notice & identify due to their prominent white forehead which looked especially bright in the gloom.
European Robin X - field's hedgerow.
Fieldfare 30 in a flock moving around the field, mostly among the hedgerow around the fields.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Friday 5 November 2010
NWT Cley, Norfolk, UK, 05-Nov-2010
13:00 - 13:40
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Brief stop at Cley for a rarity.
Weather: bright, overcast, cool, breeze (N).
24 species
Brent Goose X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Eurasian Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail 20
Green-winged Teal X
Great Cormorant X
Northern Lapwing X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Dunlin 3
Common Snipe 3
Grey Phalarope 1 busy feeding in its distinctive circling manner, also straightfoward to identify from its head pattern. A charismatic little bird several people were there just to see it, like me. A life-tick.
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Skylark X
European Starling X
Pied Wagtail 2
Meadow Pipit X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Brief stop at Cley for a rarity.
Weather: bright, overcast, cool, breeze (N).
24 species
Brent Goose X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Eurasian Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail 20
Green-winged Teal X
Great Cormorant X
Northern Lapwing X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Dunlin 3
Common Snipe 3
Grey Phalarope 1 busy feeding in its distinctive circling manner, also straightfoward to identify from its head pattern. A charismatic little bird several people were there just to see it, like me. A life-tick.
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Skylark X
European Starling X
Pied Wagtail 2
Meadow Pipit X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 05-Nov-2010
14:55 - 15:55
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another quick visit in the hope of picking up twite, a relative rarity, which had been frequenting the reserve.
Weather: dull, mild, rained, light breeze.
36 species
Pink-footed Goose X
Brent Goose X
Northern Shoveler X
Green-winged Teal X
Common Scoter 20 - at sea.
Grey Partridge 17 unusually on the exposed saltwater marsh.
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Crested Grebe X - on the sea.
Great Cormorant X
Little Egret X
Common Kestrel X
Water Rail 1 swimming into the reeds on the east freshwater.
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
European Golden-Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X - beach.
Common Redshank X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Ruddy Turnstone X - beach.
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Herring Gull X - from the beach.
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Carrion Crow X
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Cetti's Warbler X - heard.
European Starling X
Grey Wagtail X
Meadow Pipit X
Snow Bunting X - beach.
Common Chaffinch X
Twite 15 flew up from the salthmarsh & away over the eastern marshes. It was difficult to nail down the identity in such a short timeframe but the note was different to linnet & the flock generally larger than the linnets I've seen here before. Twite has also started to be a fairly frequent visitor to Titchwell in recent winters.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another quick visit in the hope of picking up twite, a relative rarity, which had been frequenting the reserve.
Weather: dull, mild, rained, light breeze.
36 species
Pink-footed Goose X
Brent Goose X
Northern Shoveler X
Green-winged Teal X
Common Scoter 20 - at sea.
Grey Partridge 17 unusually on the exposed saltwater marsh.
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Crested Grebe X - on the sea.
Great Cormorant X
Little Egret X
Common Kestrel X
Water Rail 1 swimming into the reeds on the east freshwater.
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
European Golden-Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X - beach.
Common Redshank X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Ruddy Turnstone X - beach.
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Herring Gull X - from the beach.
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Carrion Crow X
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Cetti's Warbler X - heard.
European Starling X
Grey Wagtail X
Meadow Pipit X
Snow Bunting X - beach.
Common Chaffinch X
Twite 15 flew up from the salthmarsh & away over the eastern marshes. It was difficult to nail down the identity in such a short timeframe but the note was different to linnet & the flock generally larger than the linnets I've seen here before. Twite has also started to be a fairly frequent visitor to Titchwell in recent winters.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Saturday 30 October 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 30-Oct-2010
10:20 - 12:00
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Final autumn migration visit.
Weather: bright & sunny, cool, still.
22 species
Herring Gull X - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Ring-necked Parakeet X - over.
Great Spotted Woodpecker X - heard.
Green Woodpecker 1 heard.
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Coal Tit 2
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing 1
Song Thrush 2 chasing each other.
European Starling X - over.
Dunnock X
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Final autumn migration visit.
Weather: bright & sunny, cool, still.
22 species
Herring Gull X - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Ring-necked Parakeet X - over.
Great Spotted Woodpecker X - heard.
Green Woodpecker 1 heard.
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Coal Tit 2
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing 1
Song Thrush 2 chasing each other.
European Starling X - over.
Dunnock X
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X - heard.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 24 October 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 24-Oct-2010
09:30 - 11:40
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another patch visit during autumn migration, hoping to keep the site-tick run going.
Weather: bright, sunny, frosty & cold.
24 species
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1
Black-headed Gull 2 - over.
Common Gull 1 possible, over.
Herring Gull 2
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Great Spotted Woodpecker X - heard.
Eurasian Jay 2 heard first, then 2 seen.
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X - heard.
Great Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Fieldfare X - over; 2 at first, then 30 then 5.
Redwing X
Song Thrush X
European Starling X
Dunnock X
Grey Wagtail 1 - over as I observed from the south-side concealed path. A short call, long tail & sturdier, bigger bird identified another great site-tick. It was flying roughly north where it (or another in a general movement) was later picked up at other sites.
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch 3 - over.
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another patch visit during autumn migration, hoping to keep the site-tick run going.
Weather: bright, sunny, frosty & cold.
24 species
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1
Black-headed Gull 2 - over.
Common Gull 1 possible, over.
Herring Gull 2
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Great Spotted Woodpecker X - heard.
Eurasian Jay 2 heard first, then 2 seen.
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X - heard.
Great Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Fieldfare X - over; 2 at first, then 30 then 5.
Redwing X
Song Thrush X
European Starling X
Dunnock X
Grey Wagtail 1 - over as I observed from the south-side concealed path. A short call, long tail & sturdier, bigger bird identified another great site-tick. It was flying roughly north where it (or another in a general movement) was later picked up at other sites.
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch 3 - over.
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 17 October 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 17-Oct-2010
09:30 - 11:45
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: After the previous weekend's firecrest I was enthusiatic to hit the patch again & was out for the cemetery's opening time. I realised autumn migration was the best time for the patch & had my fingers-crossed for another firecrest or another site-tick.
Weather: cold, bright, sunny, still.
21 species
Black-headed Gull X - over.
Herring Gull X - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 atop a dead tree in the bright sunlight.
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow 3
Skylark X a brief flurry of skylark-sounding song from a bird flying overhead. It was soon gone but the call was distinctive - still only a probable though. Would have been a site-tick.
Coal Tit X
Great Tit X
Blue Tit 3
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Goldcrest X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing X
European Starling X
Common Chaffinch X
Lesser Redpoll 7 in the large silver birch on the path up to the garden of remembrance. I heard their flutey calls at first which caused me to double-back on my circuit. As I crept towards the tree I caught site of a bird I had not seen in over 20 years due to their unfortunate drastic decline in that time. I was able to get fairly close & found a lovely little feeding party merrily going about their business amongst the catkins. There may have been a couple of paler individuals but I didn't get a good enough look at those to clinch common redpoll. Another great site-tick & a poignant look at a previously common bird that I was very familiar with as a kid. They eventually flew off jingling & jangling, as a dog-walker came up the path. I hope it's not another 20 years til I see another one!
European Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: After the previous weekend's firecrest I was enthusiatic to hit the patch again & was out for the cemetery's opening time. I realised autumn migration was the best time for the patch & had my fingers-crossed for another firecrest or another site-tick.
Weather: cold, bright, sunny, still.
21 species
Black-headed Gull X - over.
Herring Gull X - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 atop a dead tree in the bright sunlight.
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow 3
Skylark X a brief flurry of skylark-sounding song from a bird flying overhead. It was soon gone but the call was distinctive - still only a probable though. Would have been a site-tick.
Coal Tit X
Great Tit X
Blue Tit 3
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Goldcrest X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing X
European Starling X
Common Chaffinch X
Lesser Redpoll 7 in the large silver birch on the path up to the garden of remembrance. I heard their flutey calls at first which caused me to double-back on my circuit. As I crept towards the tree I caught site of a bird I had not seen in over 20 years due to their unfortunate drastic decline in that time. I was able to get fairly close & found a lovely little feeding party merrily going about their business amongst the catkins. There may have been a couple of paler individuals but I didn't get a good enough look at those to clinch common redpoll. Another great site-tick & a poignant look at a previously common bird that I was very familiar with as a kid. They eventually flew off jingling & jangling, as a dog-walker came up the path. I hope it's not another 20 years til I see another one!
European Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 10 October 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 10-Oct-2010
16:08 - 17:30
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A busy day with lots of people enjoyign lovely autumn weather.
Weather: warm & sunny, clear sky, breeze (N).
18 species (+1 other taxa)
Lesser Black-backed Gull X - over
Feral Pigeon X - ugh, an ever present at many sites. I hold my nose & put it here for the only time so I have a complete life list.
Stock Dove 1 flew away rapidly towards the garden of remembrance. A site tick.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Ring-necked Parakeet 2
Green Woodpecker X
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie 2
Carrion Crow X
Coal Tit 2
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Firecrest 1 on the south-side of the cemetery along the concealed path. I lingered hoping something would show, thinking I might see goldcrests or late blackcaps, but after hearing a high-pitched call I turned back & this beauty popped out on a low branch. Although somewhat gloomy in the undergrowth it was unmistakeable. I had thought that this patch could hold a firecrest & so it proved to be - a great site-tick & one I credit to the Urban Birder who inspired me to go back after I had begun to lose interest in it. After about 20 seconds it flitted away & did not come back though I waited for 10-20 minutes.
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing X - over.
Song Thrush X
European Starling X
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A busy day with lots of people enjoyign lovely autumn weather.
Weather: warm & sunny, clear sky, breeze (N).
18 species (+1 other taxa)
Lesser Black-backed Gull X - over
Feral Pigeon X - ugh, an ever present at many sites. I hold my nose & put it here for the only time so I have a complete life list.
Stock Dove 1 flew away rapidly towards the garden of remembrance. A site tick.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Ring-necked Parakeet 2
Green Woodpecker X
Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie 2
Carrion Crow X
Coal Tit 2
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Firecrest 1 on the south-side of the cemetery along the concealed path. I lingered hoping something would show, thinking I might see goldcrests or late blackcaps, but after hearing a high-pitched call I turned back & this beauty popped out on a low branch. Although somewhat gloomy in the undergrowth it was unmistakeable. I had thought that this patch could hold a firecrest & so it proved to be - a great site-tick & one I credit to the Urban Birder who inspired me to go back after I had begun to lose interest in it. After about 20 seconds it flitted away & did not come back though I waited for 10-20 minutes.
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing X - over.
Song Thrush X
European Starling X
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 26 September 2010
Hampstead Cemetery & UCL Sports Ground, London, UK, 26-Sep-2010
11:45 - 13:00
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A patch visit after drawing inspiration from The Urban Birder to continue visiting even though I hadn't seen a great deal on previous visits.
Weather: cold, overcast but bright, N wind; spots of rain turning to drizzle.
14 species
Herring Gull X - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Jay X - heard.
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Common House-Martin 10 approximately, heading roughly NE.
Coal Tit 1
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Goldcrest X
Common Chiffchaff 1 calling juvenile.
European Robin X
Mistle Thrush X
European Starling X - over.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A patch visit after drawing inspiration from The Urban Birder to continue visiting even though I hadn't seen a great deal on previous visits.
Weather: cold, overcast but bright, N wind; spots of rain turning to drizzle.
14 species
Herring Gull X - over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Jay X - heard.
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Common House-Martin 10 approximately, heading roughly NE.
Coal Tit 1
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Goldcrest X
Common Chiffchaff 1 calling juvenile.
European Robin X
Mistle Thrush X
European Starling X - over.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 19 September 2010
Wanstead Flats Park, London, UK, 19-Sep-2010
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: A stop-off on the way back from Rainham to twitch an autumn scarcity.
Weather: overcast & breezy.
1 species
Eurasian Wryneck 1 seen after easily finding the area it was frequenting. I joined a few other birders & waited patiently, optics fixed on a clump of burnt brambles & brush. After about 20 minutes it popped out & hopped around the anthills on the ground before flying into cover again. Strange little bird but great to see though an odd location because it was close to the road & in a busy London park.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: A stop-off on the way back from Rainham to twitch an autumn scarcity.
Weather: overcast & breezy.
1 species
Eurasian Wryneck 1 seen after easily finding the area it was frequenting. I joined a few other birders & waited patiently, optics fixed on a clump of burnt brambles & brush. After about 20 minutes it popped out & hopped around the anthills on the ground before flying into cover again. Strange little bird but great to see though an odd location because it was close to the road & in a busy London park.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Essex, UK, 19-Sep-2010
10:45 AM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Arriving at the reserve I saw an advertised walk with The Urban Birder about to start, so as an admirer of his work I hung about & joined the walk. I was able to chat to him a bit & he was a very nice guy as well as being knowledgeable & very passionate about patch birding in an urban setting.
Weather: bright but overcast, breezy (NW).
39 species
Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail X
Common Pochard X
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Little Egret X
Eurasian Hobby X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Red Knot 2 up-river.
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Stock Dove X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove X
Great Spotted Woodpecker X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Barn Swallow X
Common House-Martin X - over.
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Cetti's Warbler X
Common Chiffchaff X
Blackcap X - heard.
European Starling X
Western Yellow Wagtail 1 over.
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Arriving at the reserve I saw an advertised walk with The Urban Birder about to start, so as an admirer of his work I hung about & joined the walk. I was able to chat to him a bit & he was a very nice guy as well as being knowledgeable & very passionate about patch birding in an urban setting.
Weather: bright but overcast, breezy (NW).
39 species
Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail X
Common Pochard X
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Little Egret X
Eurasian Hobby X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Red Knot 2 up-river.
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Stock Dove X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove X
Great Spotted Woodpecker X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Barn Swallow X
Common House-Martin X - over.
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Cetti's Warbler X
Common Chiffchaff X
Blackcap X - heard.
European Starling X
Western Yellow Wagtail 1 over.
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Tuesday 7 September 2010
Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa, Maldives, 7-Sep-2010
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon stay at the tropical paradise of the Sheraton Resort near to Male. Not many birds about but a few seen on the atoll & during boat trips out snorkelling & dolphin-watching. The atoll also had resident fruit-bats.
Weather: very hot, mostly sunny, some heavy rain showers.
6 species
White-breasted Waterhen X - its weird call was heard first before seeing them wandering around the resort.
Brown Noddy X - seen during our boat-based excursions.
Fairy Tern X - seen most days flying at sea off the resort lagoon.
Black-naped Tern X - flying off the resort lagoon.
Asian Koel X - for a good few days I only heard its weird, persistent call before finally seeing one in flight. At first it seemed impossible to find one but soon I found a male singing from a tree near to our chalet, then I saw a spotted female near to the fruit-bat tree.
House Crow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Comments: Honeymoon stay at the tropical paradise of the Sheraton Resort near to Male. Not many birds about but a few seen on the atoll & during boat trips out snorkelling & dolphin-watching. The atoll also had resident fruit-bats.
Weather: very hot, mostly sunny, some heavy rain showers.
6 species
White-breasted Waterhen X - its weird call was heard first before seeing them wandering around the resort.
Brown Noddy X - seen during our boat-based excursions.
Fairy Tern X - seen most days flying at sea off the resort lagoon.
Black-naped Tern X - flying off the resort lagoon.
Asian Koel X - for a good few days I only heard its weird, persistent call before finally seeing one in flight. At first it seemed impossible to find one but soon I found a male singing from a tree near to our chalet, then I saw a spotted female near to the fruit-bat tree.
House Crow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Monday 6 September 2010
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore, 6-Sep-2010
11:50 AM - 1:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Honeymoon visit to a vestige of rainforest that once covered the whole of Singapore. Kim stayed at the bottom of the hill as I sweated my way up to the summit.
Weather: very hot & very humid.
5 species
White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1 perched atop the antenna positioned on the top of the hill. It stayed there for ages & allowed decent if distant views. Unfortunately it didn't take flight for me to appreciate it's no doubt impressive size.
Black-nest Swiftlet X
Black-naped Oriole 3 flew past as we waited for the bus up to the reserve.
Short-tailed Babbler 1 showed from the bottom of a low bush before skulking on the ground.
Eastern Crimson Sunbird 1 popped out from the dense canopy as I walked the path.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Honeymoon visit to a vestige of rainforest that once covered the whole of Singapore. Kim stayed at the bottom of the hill as I sweated my way up to the summit.
Weather: very hot & very humid.
5 species
White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1 perched atop the antenna positioned on the top of the hill. It stayed there for ages & allowed decent if distant views. Unfortunately it didn't take flight for me to appreciate it's no doubt impressive size.
Black-nest Swiftlet X
Black-naped Oriole 3 flew past as we waited for the bus up to the reserve.
Short-tailed Babbler 1 showed from the bottom of a low bush before skulking on the ground.
Eastern Crimson Sunbird 1 popped out from the dense canopy as I walked the path.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 5 September 2010
Singapore Zoological Garden, Singapore, 5-Sep-2010
1:00 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon visit to the city's zoo, after a look around Chinatown.
Weather: rain at first, hot & humid after.
6 species
Black-nest Swiftlet X
Stork-billed Kingfisher 2 fishing on the ponds in a couple of the enclosures as dusk descended.
House Crow X
Olive-winged Bulbul 1 later identified from a photo I took at the zoo.
Javan Myna X
Common Myna X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon visit to the city's zoo, after a look around Chinatown.
Weather: rain at first, hot & humid after.
6 species
Black-nest Swiftlet X
Stork-billed Kingfisher 2 fishing on the ponds in a couple of the enclosures as dusk descended.
House Crow X
Olive-winged Bulbul 1 later identified from a photo I took at the zoo.
Javan Myna X
Common Myna X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Friday 3 September 2010
Tian Tan Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, 3-Sep-2010
12:30 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon visit to the Big Buddha. 1230 to 1600.
Weather: humid, frequent heavy showers.
5 species
Great Egret X
Little Egret X
Spotted Dove X
Crested Myna X
Tree Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon visit to the Big Buddha. 1230 to 1600.
Weather: humid, frequent heavy showers.
5 species
Great Egret X
Little Egret X
Spotted Dove X
Crested Myna X
Tree Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Thursday 2 September 2010
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2-Sep-2011
11:00 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon trip around the city including a trip to Stanley on the tourist bus. Kowloon - Hong Kong Island - Stanley. 1100 to 1830.
Weather: hot & humid, a few showers.
10 species
Black Kite X - at Stanley.
Spotted Dove X
Black Drongo 1 sitting on wires around Imperial Park.
Barn Swallow X - at Stanley.
Red-whiskered Bulbul X
Light-vented Bulbul X
Oriental Magpie-Robin X
Crested Myna X
Common Myna X - at Stanley.
Tree Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Honeymoon trip around the city including a trip to Stanley on the tourist bus. Kowloon - Hong Kong Island - Stanley. 1100 to 1830.
Weather: hot & humid, a few showers.
10 species
Black Kite X - at Stanley.
Spotted Dove X
Black Drongo 1 sitting on wires around Imperial Park.
Barn Swallow X - at Stanley.
Red-whiskered Bulbul X
Light-vented Bulbul X
Oriental Magpie-Robin X
Crested Myna X
Common Myna X - at Stanley.
Tree Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 29 August 2010
Stellwagen Bank, Barnstable, MA, USA, 29-Aug-2010
9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
20.0 mile(s)
Comments: Whale-watching boat trip with my family, Kim & Angela. An early morning was required to catch the first boat out but everyone soon forgot their fatigue when the whales started jumping, though we all dozed on the way back. As well as the birds, Humpback, Minke & Fin whales were also seen.
Weather: bright, hot & sunny.
8 species (+1 other taxa)
Great Shearwater X
Wilson's Storm-Petrel X - a few flying in between the boats, close to the water. A life tick!
Double-crested Cormorant X - harbour.
Great Blue Heron X - harbour.
Osprey X
Ring-billed Gull X - harbour.
Herring Gull X - harbour.
Great Black-backed Gull X - harbour.
Sterna sp. X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
20.0 mile(s)
Comments: Whale-watching boat trip with my family, Kim & Angela. An early morning was required to catch the first boat out but everyone soon forgot their fatigue when the whales started jumping, though we all dozed on the way back. As well as the birds, Humpback, Minke & Fin whales were also seen.
Weather: bright, hot & sunny.
8 species (+1 other taxa)
Great Shearwater X
Wilson's Storm-Petrel X - a few flying in between the boats, close to the water. A life tick!
Double-crested Cormorant X - harbour.
Great Blue Heron X - harbour.
Osprey X
Ring-billed Gull X - harbour.
Herring Gull X - harbour.
Great Black-backed Gull X - harbour.
Sterna sp. X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Smith Neck Road & Area, Bristol, MA, USA, 24-Aug-2011
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Weather: mild, grey, overcast & light drizzle, windy (NE).
13 species
Osprey 1
Cooper's Hawk 1 pale, probably male?
Mourning Dove 2
Blue Jay X
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
American Robin X
Grey Catbird X
Savannah Sparrow 8
House Sparrow 12
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 8 August 2010
Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Essex, UK, 8-Aug-2010
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Weather: bright, sunny, cool breeze (E), hot.
34 species
Common Shelduck 12
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Green-winged Teal X - including one eclipse male.
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant 2
Grey Heron X
Little Egret 2 over the main reserve, seen from the riverbank, soaring & chasing in some sort of display/dispute.
Common Kestrel 1
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Common Sandpiper 1
Common Redshank 1 flew across the river.
Whimbrel 4
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Dunlin X
Ruff X
Black-headed Gull X
Yellow-legged Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Blue Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Eurasian Reed-Warbler 2
Common Whitethroat X
European Starling X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch 6
Common Linnet 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Weather: bright, sunny, cool breeze (E), hot.
34 species
Common Shelduck 12
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Green-winged Teal X - including one eclipse male.
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant 2
Grey Heron X
Little Egret 2 over the main reserve, seen from the riverbank, soaring & chasing in some sort of display/dispute.
Common Kestrel 1
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Common Sandpiper 1
Common Redshank 1 flew across the river.
Whimbrel 4
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Dunlin X
Ruff X
Black-headed Gull X
Yellow-legged Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow X
Blue Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Eurasian Reed-Warbler 2
Common Whitethroat X
European Starling X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch 6
Common Linnet 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Saturday 31 July 2010
Undisclosed, Norfolk, UK, 31-Jul-2010
2:40 PM - 3:20 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Another quick stop at the 'secret' spot with Kim & mum.
Weather: bright but cloudy & warm.
4 species
Montagu's Harrier 2 individuals, 1 hanging in the air at the edge of a field, & one quartering another field, both ringtails. Maybe one a juvenile & one a female?
Common Wood-Pigeon X
European Turtle-Dove 1 flew quickly east across the fields.
Skylark X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Another quick stop at the 'secret' spot with Kim & mum.
Weather: bright but cloudy & warm.
4 species
Montagu's Harrier 2 individuals, 1 hanging in the air at the edge of a field, & one quartering another field, both ringtails. Maybe one a juvenile & one a female?
Common Wood-Pigeon X
European Turtle-Dove 1 flew quickly east across the fields.
Skylark X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Sunday 25 July 2010
Wensum Valley Raptor Watchpoint, Norfolk, UK, 24-Jul-2010
3:20 PM - 3:55 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Next stop-off looking for honey buzzards.
Weather: bright, hazy, warm.
6 species.
Little Owl 1 sitting on an exposed branch above the road into the raptor watchpoint. I spotted it from the car-park then was able to drive the car close enough to get some good photos without disturbing it at all. Eventually a cyclist rode past and it flew away.
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Treecreeper X
Yellowhammer X
Common Chaffinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Next stop-off looking for honey buzzards.
Weather: bright, hazy, warm.
6 species.
Little Owl 1 sitting on an exposed branch above the road into the raptor watchpoint. I spotted it from the car-park then was able to drive the car close enough to get some good photos without disturbing it at all. Eventually a cyclist rode past and it flew away.
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Treecreeper X
Yellowhammer X
Common Chaffinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Swanton Novers Raptor Watchpoint, Norfolk, UK, 24-Jul-2010
2:10 PM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: A hotspot for another Norfolk speciality - honey buzzard.
Weather: bright, hazy, warm.
4 species
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Yellowhammer X - heard.
Common Chaffinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Undisclosed, Norfolk, UK, 24-Jul-2010
13:20 - 13:35
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: After Titchwell a brief stop-off for a local speciality.
Weather: bright, hazy, warm.
8 species
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier X
Montagu's Harrier 1 ringtail, briefly seen quartering the fields.
Common Buzzard 2
Stock Dove X
Common Swift 20
Skylark X - heard.
Pied Wagtail X
Common Chaffinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Saturday 24 July 2010
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, UK, 24-Jul-2010
10:10 - 12:40pm. Weather: bright & sunny, mild.
Another visit to possibly pick up another wader I'd not seen before.
Car-park:
Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Lapwing.
Skylark - heard, even from the carpark,
Robin - juvenile.
Blue Tit - juvenile.
Freshwater Marshes:
Cormorant, Starling, Coot, Black-Headed Gull.
Curlew - over.
Mute Swan - 2,
Bearded Tit - heard first, then above the reeds as usual.
Reed Warbler - 2.
Freshwater Marshes:
Black-Tailed Godwit, Moorhen, Dunlin, Swift.
Pectoral Sandpiper - just the same as last month's temminck's & curlew-sand, I fortunately had another wader that I'd never seen before pointed out to me on the freshwater marshes, which was feeding amongst the dunlin & ruff. In fact it was reminiscent of a small ruff (as the Collins said it was). On the way back I stopped at the Island Hide & picked it up again & was able to return the favour of pointing it out to other birders who were looking for it. A nice tick & one I hope to add to my North American list someday soon.
Ruff, Redshank, Shelduck, Avocet, Little Tern, Pied Wagtail.
Yellow Wagtail - another notable sighting of a bird always a pleasure to see.
Common Sandpiper - bobbing about the mud.
Grey Heron, Kestrel, Swallow.
Herring Gull, Mallard, Little Egret, Meadow Pipit.
Wren - heard.
Linnet - 1 male.
Common Tern, Canada Goose.
Beach:
Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Great Black-Backed Gull.
Sea:
Eider - c.12 at sea.
Arctic Skua - almost as soon as I reached the beach & sat on the bench than a warden pointed out that there were two of these beauties flying around & kleptoparasiting the gulls & ducks as they usually do. It didn't take long to pick them up & I was struck by the white underwing patches, though this is by no means a clincher for their id & I was happy to rely on the warden's id & a great bonus to see as they'd just turned up that day.
Gannet - 3.
Island Hide:
Bearded Tit - c.6 feeding on the mud just in front of the reeds, not something I'd seen before.
Marsh Harrier - juvenile.
Golden Plover - c.10.
Heading Back:
Sand Martin - 2 over.
Sedge Warbler, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker.
54 species, 2 new species.
Another visit to possibly pick up another wader I'd not seen before.
Car-park:
Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Lapwing.
Skylark - heard, even from the carpark,
Robin - juvenile.
Blue Tit - juvenile.
Freshwater Marshes:
Cormorant, Starling, Coot, Black-Headed Gull.
Curlew - over.
Mute Swan - 2,
Bearded Tit - heard first, then above the reeds as usual.
Reed Warbler - 2.
Freshwater Marshes:
Black-Tailed Godwit, Moorhen, Dunlin, Swift.
Pectoral Sandpiper - just the same as last month's temminck's & curlew-sand, I fortunately had another wader that I'd never seen before pointed out to me on the freshwater marshes, which was feeding amongst the dunlin & ruff. In fact it was reminiscent of a small ruff (as the Collins said it was). On the way back I stopped at the Island Hide & picked it up again & was able to return the favour of pointing it out to other birders who were looking for it. A nice tick & one I hope to add to my North American list someday soon.
Ruff, Redshank, Shelduck, Avocet, Little Tern, Pied Wagtail.
Yellow Wagtail - another notable sighting of a bird always a pleasure to see.
Common Sandpiper - bobbing about the mud.
Grey Heron, Kestrel, Swallow.
Herring Gull, Mallard, Little Egret, Meadow Pipit.
Wren - heard.
Linnet - 1 male.
Common Tern, Canada Goose.
Beach:
Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Great Black-Backed Gull.
Sea:
Eider - c.12 at sea.
Arctic Skua - almost as soon as I reached the beach & sat on the bench than a warden pointed out that there were two of these beauties flying around & kleptoparasiting the gulls & ducks as they usually do. It didn't take long to pick them up & I was struck by the white underwing patches, though this is by no means a clincher for their id & I was happy to rely on the warden's id & a great bonus to see as they'd just turned up that day.
Gannet - 3.
Island Hide:
Bearded Tit - c.6 feeding on the mud just in front of the reeds, not something I'd seen before.
Marsh Harrier - juvenile.
Golden Plover - c.10.
Heading Back:
Sand Martin - 2 over.
Sedge Warbler, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker.
54 species, 2 new species.
Sunday 11 July 2010
Blakeney Point, Norfolk, UK, 10-Jul-2010
5 - 7pm. Weather: bright, sunny & hot; slight breeze.
Seal-watching boat trip from Morston out across the harbour to the point with the family. Although we were let down by Bean's, who sold our places when we arrived 5 minutes late, we soon hopped on to a Temples boat & were away for a great excursion. After the seal we were dropped off onto the point for a brief exploration before being picked up an hour later.
Morston Harbour:
Redshank, Black-Headed Gull, Common Tern.
Blakeney Point:
Sandwich Tern - many around the harbour but the main spectacle was the large breeding colony at the end of the point; it was sizeable & noisy!
Little Tern - several amongst the sandwiches & commons, our boat's captain said that there is a small colony on the point.
Oystercatcher.
Grey Seal - several lounging in the shallows on the far extremity of the point. We got so close that you could smell them & they didn't seem overly peturbed by the boats though occasionally some would take fright & shuffle back into the water. The area was thick with boats of some shape or form & some disturbance must occur fairly frequently.
Common Seal - a couple in with the greys.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - as I walked along the spit as I waited for the boat to return.
Meadow Pipit - along the spit as I waited for the boat to return; it was reluctant to fly.
Seal-watching boat trip from Morston out across the harbour to the point with the family. Although we were let down by Bean's, who sold our places when we arrived 5 minutes late, we soon hopped on to a Temples boat & were away for a great excursion. After the seal we were dropped off onto the point for a brief exploration before being picked up an hour later.
Morston Harbour:
Redshank, Black-Headed Gull, Common Tern.
Blakeney Point:
Sandwich Tern - many around the harbour but the main spectacle was the large breeding colony at the end of the point; it was sizeable & noisy!
Little Tern - several amongst the sandwiches & commons, our boat's captain said that there is a small colony on the point.
Oystercatcher.
Grey Seal - several lounging in the shallows on the far extremity of the point. We got so close that you could smell them & they didn't seem overly peturbed by the boats though occasionally some would take fright & shuffle back into the water. The area was thick with boats of some shape or form & some disturbance must occur fairly frequently.
Common Seal - a couple in with the greys.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - as I walked along the spit as I waited for the boat to return.
Meadow Pipit - along the spit as I waited for the boat to return; it was reluctant to fly.
Sunday 4 July 2010
Sandon & Kelshall, Hertfordshire, 04-Jul-2010
12:15 - 2pm. Weather: bright, sunny & hot, windy (W).
After studying my rare birds site guide this location was close enough for me to target a missing tick & off I went on a lovely sunny day into a peaceful agricultural area.
Off A505:
Red Kite - floated over.
Skylark - first of several.
Quail - I parked up soon after turning off the A505 & almost immediately I heard the characteristic 'wet-my-lips' call. I listened & scanned the thick barley for a sighting but to no avail. The call seemed to be emanating from further down the hill so I moved down & parked next to a path that ran along the base of the hill & a field. No sooner had I got out walked along the path than it sounded as though the call was now coming from the top of the field, up the hill, a great example of the species' ventriloquism! I eventually headed off & heard a couple more calls later in the afternoon but again no sightings of this elusive species.
Corn Bunting - heard first then 3 or 4 perched on wires over another sub-road off the A505.
Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw.
Bury Barn:
Swift, Swallow, House Martin.
Dunnock - heard from roadside hedgerows.
Kelshall:
Blackbird, Mallard, Goldfinch.
Stock Dove - 2.
House Sparrow - nice to see them in abundance, compared to London.
Crow - 2 on the road.
Collared Dove - 2 on the road,
Stoat - crossed the road in front of the car with a rabbit clamped in its jaws, it then struggled to get over the freshly cut roadside vegetation into the field, though it eventually succeeded & disappeared from view.
Corn Bunting - on the roadside wires.
Buzzard, Chaffinch.
Off A505:
Brown Hare.
21 species, 1 new species.
After studying my rare birds site guide this location was close enough for me to target a missing tick & off I went on a lovely sunny day into a peaceful agricultural area.
Off A505:
Red Kite - floated over.
Skylark - first of several.
Quail - I parked up soon after turning off the A505 & almost immediately I heard the characteristic 'wet-my-lips' call. I listened & scanned the thick barley for a sighting but to no avail. The call seemed to be emanating from further down the hill so I moved down & parked next to a path that ran along the base of the hill & a field. No sooner had I got out walked along the path than it sounded as though the call was now coming from the top of the field, up the hill, a great example of the species' ventriloquism! I eventually headed off & heard a couple more calls later in the afternoon but again no sightings of this elusive species.
Corn Bunting - heard first then 3 or 4 perched on wires over another sub-road off the A505.
Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw.
Bury Barn:
Swift, Swallow, House Martin.
Dunnock - heard from roadside hedgerows.
Kelshall:
Blackbird, Mallard, Goldfinch.
Stock Dove - 2.
House Sparrow - nice to see them in abundance, compared to London.
Crow - 2 on the road.
Collared Dove - 2 on the road,
Stoat - crossed the road in front of the car with a rabbit clamped in its jaws, it then struggled to get over the freshly cut roadside vegetation into the field, though it eventually succeeded & disappeared from view.
Corn Bunting - on the roadside wires.
Buzzard, Chaffinch.
Off A505:
Brown Hare.
21 species, 1 new species.
Sunday 27 June 2010
Hampstead Cemetery, London, 27/06/2010
11:45am to 12:45pm. Weather: bright, hot & sunny - hottest day of the year!
Very quiet mid-summer visit in fantastic weather. Hardly any birds even singing but several regulars still active around the cemetery.
Entrance:
Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Wren - all heard.
Swift, Magpie, Woodpigeon.
South-side:
Blackbird, Crow, Dunnock.
Great Tit - juvenile.
Goldcrest - two gleaning amongst an oak tree, one waited for the other & the other apparently drank from the water collected in a leaf. I have very rarely seen two together & it was good to see after reports of their demise due to the harsh winter.
Blue Tit, Blackcap, Robin - juvenile.
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - heard.
UCL Sports Grounds-side:
Jay, Greenfinch - over.
East-side:
Goldcrest.
Very quiet mid-summer visit in fantastic weather. Hardly any birds even singing but several regulars still active around the cemetery.
Entrance:
Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Wren - all heard.
Swift, Magpie, Woodpigeon.
South-side:
Blackbird, Crow, Dunnock.
Great Tit - juvenile.
Goldcrest - two gleaning amongst an oak tree, one waited for the other & the other apparently drank from the water collected in a leaf. I have very rarely seen two together & it was good to see after reports of their demise due to the harsh winter.
Blue Tit, Blackcap, Robin - juvenile.
Great-Spotted Woodpecker - heard.
UCL Sports Grounds-side:
Jay, Greenfinch - over.
East-side:
Goldcrest.
Thursday 17 June 2010
WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, 13/06/2010
Weather: bright & hazy, breezy. 3:50 to 5:00pm.
Being in the area I decided it was too good a chance not to visit the hallowed ground of Slimbridge after hearing & reading so much about it from my membership publications. I was also inspired to see the reality of Peter Scott's great project, again after reading so much about it. The centre was very impressive & the grounds initially felt a bit like a zoo but I walked out to Holden Tower for views across the vista of the River Severn estuary & its meadows which I imagined would throng with wildfowl in the winter. After that I walked back to the entrance & down to the South lake observatory which overlooked a lively scrape, before heading off back to London.
Carpark:
Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, House Martin, Moorhen.
To Holden Tower:
Shelduck, Greylag Goose, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Wren - heard.
Reed Warbler - heard.
Swallow.
Dunnock - heard.
Blue Tit - heard.
Herring Gull, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Robin.
South Hide:
Shoveler.
Little Grebe - heard.
Redshank, Common Tern, Cormorant, Great-Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher.
Out:
Buzzard.
31 species.
Being in the area I decided it was too good a chance not to visit the hallowed ground of Slimbridge after hearing & reading so much about it from my membership publications. I was also inspired to see the reality of Peter Scott's great project, again after reading so much about it. The centre was very impressive & the grounds initially felt a bit like a zoo but I walked out to Holden Tower for views across the vista of the River Severn estuary & its meadows which I imagined would throng with wildfowl in the winter. After that I walked back to the entrance & down to the South lake observatory which overlooked a lively scrape, before heading off back to London.
Carpark:
Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, House Martin, Moorhen.
To Holden Tower:
Shelduck, Greylag Goose, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Wren - heard.
Reed Warbler - heard.
Swallow.
Dunnock - heard.
Blue Tit - heard.
Herring Gull, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Robin.
South Hide:
Shoveler.
Little Grebe - heard.
Redshank, Common Tern, Cormorant, Great-Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher.
Out:
Buzzard.
31 species.
RSPB Nagshead, Gloucestershire, 13/06/2010
Weather: bright & sunny; more clouds & haziness. 11:15am to 2pm.
Another attempt to see my hoped for woodland trinity, in particular I hoped to see the elusive redstarts I'd heard from the day before.
Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Nuthatch - all seen &/or heard as yesterday.
Bullfinch - two flew in front of the car as I drove up the road to the car-park, flashing distinctive white rumps.
Lower Hide:
Spotted Flycatcher - in the same place as yesterday, busy catching flies & visiting its nest.
Mistle Thrush - one scraggy bird preening itself in a tree next to the dead spotted flycatcher's tree; later I heard a mistle thrush singing for the first time.
Wood:
Pied Flycatcher - after leaving the lower hide & heading up the path I joined a small group of birders that were looking intently into the trees from the path. It didn't take long for me to also connect with another pair of wonderful 'pied flies' as they busily foraged through the low-levels of the woods, at one point the pale perched on the fence posts & the fence wire that lined the path providing great views.
Meadow:
Garden Warbler - in the shrubs next to the small meadows I spotted a couple of nondescript warblers active in one of the bushes, one feeding the other; later the distinctive song confirmed the sighting.
Long Nature Trail:
Willow Tit - heard at a few points along the path from the thick trees, though unfortunately I didn't see any.
Long-Tailed Tit - a couple flitted through some saplings.
Wood Warbler - a loud piping call alerted me to something in one of the large oaks next to the path & after a few minutes a warbler moved out into view & then another, again one was apparently feeding the other. They were both in silhouette & I was not familiar with the call however a little later on I heard the wonderful & distinctive call of wood warbler & along with it the same call I had heard earlier.
Raven - just after seeing the wood warbler I heard a distinctive & familiar 'grok' call, soon followed by the bird itself as it flew over & away. A quite unexpected sighting from the middle of a wood though I was aware they nested in the Forest of Dean.
Fallow Deer - as I made my way back I heard a shuffling from the leaves of the understorey & was rewarded with a sighting of three deers moving discreetly through the woods, which I found evocative of earlier times when forests such as these covered much of the country & which must have teemed with the biodiversity a fraction of which I'd experienced in the last 24 hours.
Stock Dove - a pair flew away through the trees.
Wren - buzzed away from the path.
Chiffchaff - heard as I approached the carpark.
Buzzard - another scraggy specimen overhead this time as I left the meadow for the carpark.
Another attempt to see my hoped for woodland trinity, in particular I hoped to see the elusive redstarts I'd heard from the day before.
Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Nuthatch - all seen &/or heard as yesterday.
Bullfinch - two flew in front of the car as I drove up the road to the car-park, flashing distinctive white rumps.
Lower Hide:
Spotted Flycatcher - in the same place as yesterday, busy catching flies & visiting its nest.
Mistle Thrush - one scraggy bird preening itself in a tree next to the dead spotted flycatcher's tree; later I heard a mistle thrush singing for the first time.
Wood:
Pied Flycatcher - after leaving the lower hide & heading up the path I joined a small group of birders that were looking intently into the trees from the path. It didn't take long for me to also connect with another pair of wonderful 'pied flies' as they busily foraged through the low-levels of the woods, at one point the pale perched on the fence posts & the fence wire that lined the path providing great views.
Meadow:
Garden Warbler - in the shrubs next to the small meadows I spotted a couple of nondescript warblers active in one of the bushes, one feeding the other; later the distinctive song confirmed the sighting.
Long Nature Trail:
Willow Tit - heard at a few points along the path from the thick trees, though unfortunately I didn't see any.
Long-Tailed Tit - a couple flitted through some saplings.
Wood Warbler - a loud piping call alerted me to something in one of the large oaks next to the path & after a few minutes a warbler moved out into view & then another, again one was apparently feeding the other. They were both in silhouette & I was not familiar with the call however a little later on I heard the wonderful & distinctive call of wood warbler & along with it the same call I had heard earlier.
Raven - just after seeing the wood warbler I heard a distinctive & familiar 'grok' call, soon followed by the bird itself as it flew over & away. A quite unexpected sighting from the middle of a wood though I was aware they nested in the Forest of Dean.
Fallow Deer - as I made my way back I heard a shuffling from the leaves of the understorey & was rewarded with a sighting of three deers moving discreetly through the woods, which I found evocative of earlier times when forests such as these covered much of the country & which must have teemed with the biodiversity a fraction of which I'd experienced in the last 24 hours.
Stock Dove - a pair flew away through the trees.
Wren - buzzed away from the path.
Chiffchaff - heard as I approached the carpark.
Buzzard - another scraggy specimen overhead this time as I left the meadow for the carpark.
Tuesday 15 June 2010
RSPB Nagshead, Gloucestershire, 12/06/2010
Weather: bright, sunny & warm. 2 to 6pm.
A first visit to a site I'd long hoped to visit, in search of woodland specialities. An easy walk to the hides from the small visitors' centre but with much longer walks through the woods if desired. The oaks were magnificent & at a couple of hundred years old probably quite young with more magnificence to come!
Car-park:
Crow - several around including a number of recently fledged juveniles.
Song Thrush - several singing repetitively around the reserve then I later spotted two seemingly courting.
Woodpigeon, Blackbird.
Woods:
Redstart - crossing the meadow as I approached the trees I heard one singing but though I waited for a good period of time I couldn't connect with the bird through the thick foliage though a couple of shadows flitting amongst the trees may have been what I was searching for. I later heard another right outside the hide but again did not sight it.
Robin, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Coal Tit - seen and/or heard amongst the trees as I strove to see the redstart.
Nuthatch - a squeaking hubbub alerted me to a group of fledgings moving overhead with their parents in attendence; there were maybe 10 or so & I also saw another adult visit a nesthole several times from a tree next to the hide.
Lower Hide:
Spotted Flycatcher - flying back & forth from a dead tree & bushes nearby in typical fashion; apparently it was nesting in the dead tree.
Grey Heron - a lone juvenile skulking in the woodland pond visible from the hide, slightly out of place. At one point it flew up to perch high on the spot-fly's dead tree.
Blue Tit, Great Tit - several groups of fledglings moving around the area.
Mallard - a pair on the pond.
Pied Flycatcher - after being advised that I was due a wait before seeing them I was not disappointed however after waiting for the best part of an hour a stunning male appeared on a low branch at the far end of the pond clearing. It flitted around in textbook fashion, staying low & often disappearing onto the ground amongst the bracken. The male was joined by a female & they both soon spread their foraging across the whole of the pond clearing amongst the oak trees & bracken before eventually melting away into the woods. They did reappear again not too long after but for a shorter length of time, before I finally departed (from the somewhat uncomfortably designed hide).
Woods:
Siskin - two flew over perching on branches as they went, one a juvenile calling persistently.
Towards Campbell Hide:
Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff.
22 species, 2 new species.
A first visit to a site I'd long hoped to visit, in search of woodland specialities. An easy walk to the hides from the small visitors' centre but with much longer walks through the woods if desired. The oaks were magnificent & at a couple of hundred years old probably quite young with more magnificence to come!
Car-park:
Crow - several around including a number of recently fledged juveniles.
Song Thrush - several singing repetitively around the reserve then I later spotted two seemingly courting.
Woodpigeon, Blackbird.
Woods:
Redstart - crossing the meadow as I approached the trees I heard one singing but though I waited for a good period of time I couldn't connect with the bird through the thick foliage though a couple of shadows flitting amongst the trees may have been what I was searching for. I later heard another right outside the hide but again did not sight it.
Robin, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Coal Tit - seen and/or heard amongst the trees as I strove to see the redstart.
Nuthatch - a squeaking hubbub alerted me to a group of fledgings moving overhead with their parents in attendence; there were maybe 10 or so & I also saw another adult visit a nesthole several times from a tree next to the hide.
Lower Hide:
Spotted Flycatcher - flying back & forth from a dead tree & bushes nearby in typical fashion; apparently it was nesting in the dead tree.
Grey Heron - a lone juvenile skulking in the woodland pond visible from the hide, slightly out of place. At one point it flew up to perch high on the spot-fly's dead tree.
Blue Tit, Great Tit - several groups of fledglings moving around the area.
Mallard - a pair on the pond.
Pied Flycatcher - after being advised that I was due a wait before seeing them I was not disappointed however after waiting for the best part of an hour a stunning male appeared on a low branch at the far end of the pond clearing. It flitted around in textbook fashion, staying low & often disappearing onto the ground amongst the bracken. The male was joined by a female & they both soon spread their foraging across the whole of the pond clearing amongst the oak trees & bracken before eventually melting away into the woods. They did reappear again not too long after but for a shorter length of time, before I finally departed (from the somewhat uncomfortably designed hide).
Woods:
Siskin - two flew over perching on branches as they went, one a juvenile calling persistently.
Towards Campbell Hide:
Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff.
22 species, 2 new species.
Friday 11 June 2010
Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 05/06/2010
Weather: hot, muggy but cloudy. 3:45 to 4:45pm.
Afternoon patch visit with Kim; shorter walk than usual.
Robin.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Dunnock - heard.
Great Tit, Blackbird, Magpie.
Song Thrush - singing well & from a tree close to the path but though we lingered it didn't show.
Woodpigeon, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Jay.
Afternoon patch visit with Kim; shorter walk than usual.
Robin.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Dunnock - heard.
Great Tit, Blackbird, Magpie.
Song Thrush - singing well & from a tree close to the path but though we lingered it didn't show.
Woodpigeon, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Jay.
Monday 31 May 2010
WWT Welney Washes, Norfolk, 31/05/2010
Weather: warm, bright but cloudy. 4 to 5:30pm.
A quick stop at Welney for the reported bluethroat with Kim on the way back to London. We were told that it hadn't been seen for most of that day & it proved to be the case for us too despite lingering in the area with a few other hopeful people.
Car-park to Hides:
Swallow - one on footbridge before visitors' centre, apparently nesting underneath the boardwalk!
Skylark - heard. Swift, Goldfinch, Pheasant, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Crow, Starling.
Blackbird, House Sparrow, Wren, House Martin.
From Lyle & Allport Hides:
Avocet x2.
Whitethroat, Mallard, Coot, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Canada Goose.
Woodpigeon, Mute Swan, Common Tern.
Reed Warbler, Black-Tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Shoveler, Moorhen.
Back to Car-park.
Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel.
Turtle Dove - on the drive out from Welney towards the roads back to London one flew up from the roadside, from a puddle & off into the hedgerow. Always nice & sad that it's become an infrequent sighting nowadays.
A quick stop at Welney for the reported bluethroat with Kim on the way back to London. We were told that it hadn't been seen for most of that day & it proved to be the case for us too despite lingering in the area with a few other hopeful people.
Car-park to Hides:
Swallow - one on footbridge before visitors' centre, apparently nesting underneath the boardwalk!
Skylark - heard. Swift, Goldfinch, Pheasant, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Crow, Starling.
Blackbird, House Sparrow, Wren, House Martin.
From Lyle & Allport Hides:
Avocet x2.
Whitethroat, Mallard, Coot, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Canada Goose.
Woodpigeon, Mute Swan, Common Tern.
Reed Warbler, Black-Tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Shoveler, Moorhen.
Back to Car-park.
Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel.
Turtle Dove - on the drive out from Welney towards the roads back to London one flew up from the roadside, from a puddle & off into the hedgerow. Always nice & sad that it's become an infrequent sighting nowadays.
Saturday 29 May 2010
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 29/05/2010
Weather: Cold, raining. 11:30am to 1pm.
After seeing the Montagu's nearby I headed to Titchwell as the weather closed in. Subsequently I stayed in the Island Hide watching the birds hunker down against the rain.
Carpark:
Robin, Woodpigeon, Swift, Blackbird.
Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Dunnock - all heard.
Feeders:
Greenfinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Collared Dove.
Freshwater Marshes Path:
Cetti's Warbler - heard.
Wren - heard.
Reed Warbler, Blackcap.
Moorhen - with chicks already.
Chiffchaff - heard.
House Martin - 6 to 10 over.
Reed Bunting.
Island Hide:
Lapwing, Black-Headed Gull, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan.
Mallard, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Wren, Crow.
Gadwall, Great-Crested Grebe, Sedge Warbler.
Ruddy Duck - 1 male.
Bearded Tit - heard.
Linnet, Little Egret, Coot, Shelduck, Shoveler.
Swallow, Egyptian Goose, Pochard, Redshank, Oystercatcher.
Wigeon - 2 x males.
Avocet, Pied Wagtail.
Ringed Plover - 2.
Cuckoo - heard from towards Titchwell Village.
Herring Gull - 3 or 4 juveniles.
Skylark - heard.
Meadow Pipit - heard.
Dunlin - c10.
Quite a number of species considering I just stayed in one hide but a testament to staying put & to Titchwell's avian draw!
52 species.
After seeing the Montagu's nearby I headed to Titchwell as the weather closed in. Subsequently I stayed in the Island Hide watching the birds hunker down against the rain.
Carpark:
Robin, Woodpigeon, Swift, Blackbird.
Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Dunnock - all heard.
Feeders:
Greenfinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Collared Dove.
Freshwater Marshes Path:
Cetti's Warbler - heard.
Wren - heard.
Reed Warbler, Blackcap.
Moorhen - with chicks already.
Chiffchaff - heard.
House Martin - 6 to 10 over.
Reed Bunting.
Island Hide:
Lapwing, Black-Headed Gull, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan.
Mallard, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Wren, Crow.
Gadwall, Great-Crested Grebe, Sedge Warbler.
Ruddy Duck - 1 male.
Bearded Tit - heard.
Linnet, Little Egret, Coot, Shelduck, Shoveler.
Swallow, Egyptian Goose, Pochard, Redshank, Oystercatcher.
Wigeon - 2 x males.
Avocet, Pied Wagtail.
Ringed Plover - 2.
Cuckoo - heard from towards Titchwell Village.
Herring Gull - 3 or 4 juveniles.
Skylark - heard.
Meadow Pipit - heard.
Dunlin - c10.
Quite a number of species considering I just stayed in one hide but a testament to staying put & to Titchwell's avian draw!
52 species.
Undisclosed, North Norfolk, 29/05/2010
Weather: cool overcast, spots of rain getting heavier. 9:10 to 11am.
First outing to a well-known (its documented in Lee Evan's site guide book) but apparently still undisclosed site for a rare speciality at the edge of its breeding range. I was soon joined by three others in the fields waiting patiently.
On arrival/car-park:
Skylark, Swift,Woodpigeon, Swallow - all over fields.
Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit - all in hedgerow.
Lesser Whitethroat - flying back & forth from straw bails to hedgerow, singing as well. An unexpected bonus!
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - over.
Black-Headed Gull - over.
Pheasant - fields.
Yellowhammer - hedgerow.
Buzzard - drifting distantly above coppice.
Marsh Harrier - another that drifted through.
Crow, Blackbird.
Pied Wagtail - 2 amongst crops & hedgerow.
Montagu's Harrier - all of a sudden the main event! After waiting for about 20 minutes, a beautiful male bounced into view shortly followed by another. They then quartered the fields more or less together before one caught something & did an amazing mid-air food-pass to a female who appeared up from the area where the nest apparently was. The males continued to hunt after but got further & further away before disappearing out of view. Although the weather began to close in I stuck around hoping they'd reappear to no avail.
Kestrel - over fields.
Whitethroat - hedgerow.
Stock Dove- over fields.
Mute Swan - over.
22 species, 1 new.
First outing to a well-known (its documented in Lee Evan's site guide book) but apparently still undisclosed site for a rare speciality at the edge of its breeding range. I was soon joined by three others in the fields waiting patiently.
On arrival/car-park:
Skylark, Swift,Woodpigeon, Swallow - all over fields.
Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit - all in hedgerow.
Lesser Whitethroat - flying back & forth from straw bails to hedgerow, singing as well. An unexpected bonus!
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - over.
Black-Headed Gull - over.
Pheasant - fields.
Yellowhammer - hedgerow.
Buzzard - drifting distantly above coppice.
Marsh Harrier - another that drifted through.
Crow, Blackbird.
Pied Wagtail - 2 amongst crops & hedgerow.
Montagu's Harrier - all of a sudden the main event! After waiting for about 20 minutes, a beautiful male bounced into view shortly followed by another. They then quartered the fields more or less together before one caught something & did an amazing mid-air food-pass to a female who appeared up from the area where the nest apparently was. The males continued to hunt after but got further & further away before disappearing out of view. Although the weather began to close in I stuck around hoping they'd reappear to no avail.
Kestrel - over fields.
Whitethroat - hedgerow.
Stock Dove- over fields.
Mute Swan - over.
22 species, 1 new.
Sunday 23 May 2010
Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire, 23/05/2010
Weather: glorious, hot & sunny; shorts & t-shirt. From 1 to 3pm.
After the outing to 70 Acres Lake I set off for Wilstone hoping to see more hobbies in some glorious weather.
Car-park:
Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Reservoir:
Common Tern, Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard.
Cuckoo - heard.
Whitethroat - in the hedgerow alongside the reservoir wall.
Red-Legged Partridge - from the fields behind the hedgerow.
Woodland & Hide:
Chiffchaff - heard.
Buzzard x2,
Skylark - heard.Jackdaw, Great Tit, Wren.
Robin - heard.
Red Kite - 1 over.
Great-Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose.
Shoveler - 2 x male, 1 x female.
Hide to Dry Canal:
Stock Dove, Crow, Pheasant.
Green Woodpecker - heard.
Dunnock, Blackbird.
Yellowhammer - singing from hedge at the top of the field, next to the canal.
Blackcap - 1 male in hedge on path back down to reservoir.
From Cemetery Corner:
Reed Warbler - heard from reeds next to wood.
Swallow, Swift, Starling.
A lovely day but no hobbies, which seemed unusual because I didn't think I was too late to see them in numbers; seems I was wrong!
38 species.
After the outing to 70 Acres Lake I set off for Wilstone hoping to see more hobbies in some glorious weather.
Car-park:
Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Reservoir:
Common Tern, Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard.
Cuckoo - heard.
Whitethroat - in the hedgerow alongside the reservoir wall.
Red-Legged Partridge - from the fields behind the hedgerow.
Woodland & Hide:
Chiffchaff - heard.
Buzzard x2,
Skylark - heard.Jackdaw, Great Tit, Wren.
Robin - heard.
Red Kite - 1 over.
Great-Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose.
Shoveler - 2 x male, 1 x female.
Hide to Dry Canal:
Stock Dove, Crow, Pheasant.
Green Woodpecker - heard.
Dunnock, Blackbird.
Yellowhammer - singing from hedge at the top of the field, next to the canal.
Blackcap - 1 male in hedge on path back down to reservoir.
From Cemetery Corner:
Reed Warbler - heard from reeds next to wood.
Swallow, Swift, Starling.
A lovely day but no hobbies, which seemed unusual because I didn't think I was too late to see them in numbers; seems I was wrong!
38 species.
Saturday 22 May 2010
70 Acres Lake, Lee Valley Park, Essex, 22/05/2010
Weather: bright & sunny, warm. 4:30 to 7:30pm.
Out to the Lee Valley with Sian because she wanted to hear singing nightigales & I thought this would be just the place. It was another lovely May spring day with the hawthorn in full bloom. Unfortunately the nightingale were mostly silent & it felt like we were too late in the season despite May getting off to a cold start & spring migration generally thought to have been delayed due to colder weather in the previous few weeks.
We walked the same path I had when I came for the Savi's warbler, visited the Bittern hide then took a long loop round the back before coming back along the same path.
From Car-Park.
Chaffinch, Magpie, Woodpigeon.
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose.
Blackcap - heard.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff, Dunnock.
Sedge Warbler - heard.
70 Acres Lake.
Great-Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tufted Duck, Crow.
Mute Swan, Mallard, Pochard.
Robin, Common Tern, Reed Bunting, Garden Warbler, Long-Tailed Tit.
Nightingale - as we neared the Bittern hide, suddenly a nightingale broke out with a brief burst of song. Unfortunately before it could get into full swing a couple of people walked along the path ahead us & past the bush the bird was singing from. They were talking the whole time & this stopped the singing & it never started again though we waited for some minutes afterwards. Unusually we didn't hear any later as the evening wore on either.
Bittern Hide.
Gadwall, Reed Warbler.
Continuing Around Lake.
Bullfinch - a couple, male & female, quickly into the thick hawthorn & away, showing distinctive white rumps.
Whitethroat - several around, one flew up in song-flight.
Blue Tit, Great Tit.
Hobby - heading back around the lake, one flew over quite high up, typically like a large swift. When we got back to the car another was hawking around a field adjacent, coming closer every now & again but generally staying close to the river.
Swift, Swallow, Jay, Blackbird, Jackdaw.
Song Thrush - heard.
Cetti's Warbler - heard.
37 species.
Out to the Lee Valley with Sian because she wanted to hear singing nightigales & I thought this would be just the place. It was another lovely May spring day with the hawthorn in full bloom. Unfortunately the nightingale were mostly silent & it felt like we were too late in the season despite May getting off to a cold start & spring migration generally thought to have been delayed due to colder weather in the previous few weeks.
We walked the same path I had when I came for the Savi's warbler, visited the Bittern hide then took a long loop round the back before coming back along the same path.
From Car-Park.
Chaffinch, Magpie, Woodpigeon.
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose.
Blackcap - heard.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff, Dunnock.
Sedge Warbler - heard.
70 Acres Lake.
Great-Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tufted Duck, Crow.
Mute Swan, Mallard, Pochard.
Robin, Common Tern, Reed Bunting, Garden Warbler, Long-Tailed Tit.
Nightingale - as we neared the Bittern hide, suddenly a nightingale broke out with a brief burst of song. Unfortunately before it could get into full swing a couple of people walked along the path ahead us & past the bush the bird was singing from. They were talking the whole time & this stopped the singing & it never started again though we waited for some minutes afterwards. Unusually we didn't hear any later as the evening wore on either.
Bittern Hide.
Gadwall, Reed Warbler.
Continuing Around Lake.
Bullfinch - a couple, male & female, quickly into the thick hawthorn & away, showing distinctive white rumps.
Whitethroat - several around, one flew up in song-flight.
Blue Tit, Great Tit.
Hobby - heading back around the lake, one flew over quite high up, typically like a large swift. When we got back to the car another was hawking around a field adjacent, coming closer every now & again but generally staying close to the river.
Swift, Swallow, Jay, Blackbird, Jackdaw.
Song Thrush - heard.
Cetti's Warbler - heard.
37 species.
Tuesday 18 May 2010
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 15/05/2010
3:45 to 6:20pm. Weather: Bright & sunny, light breeze (NE).
Not that any excuse is required to visit Titchwell but reports of a stint & curlew sand drew me on a wonderful spring day.
Car-park:
Woodpigeon, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wren.
Willow Warbler - heard.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Freshwater Marshes:
Sedge Warbler, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Swift, Reed Bunting, Mallard.
Brent Goose - 7, always seems strange to see wintering wildfowl still present on a sunny spring day!
Bearded Tit - 2, up briefly flying over the reeds, plenty of 'pinging'.
Common Tern, Shelduck.
Temminck's Stint - 2, it didn't take me long to see where these secretive little birds were hiding as there was a big group of people with optics trained on a nearby island in the lagoon. Before I got to that point though I was pointed to where the pair were by a couple of wardens & got good, if distant views. I sooned joined the other group for closer views, although the birds were fairly nondescript & they crept about, staying close together, about like a couple of avian mice. I watched for a while, getting sunburnt & bitten by horseflies before heading to the beach happy with a great life tick.
Red-Crested Pochard - 1 male & 1 female), a first for me at Titchwell.
Pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Redshank, Avocet, Greylag Goose, Cormorant, Moorhen, Dunlin.
Wood Sandpiper - another great wader to see, amongst the more common waders.
Oystercatcher, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Turnstone.
Little Tern - a few flying around, charisma inversely proportionate to their size.
Black-Tailed Godwit, Carrion Crow, Shoveler, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing.
Grey Plover - 3.
CURLEW SANDPIPER - 1, eventually I picked out the other species that initially lured me out, it was with the dunlins but was distinctively different with handsome russet breeding colours. A first for me in the UK.
Yellow Wagtail - 1, a bonus, it flew in & out pretty quickly but a splash of colour. A lot of people were keen to see it & were disappointed when it had apparently disappeared.
Little Ringed Plover - 1, I seemed to be seeing this bird a lot more frequently recently!
Knot - 3, again amongst the more typical waders.
Cuckooo - heard from the direction of Titchwell village.
To the beach:
Skylark - singing along the path.
Swallow - mainly zipping amongst the dunes.
Linnet- 2.
Beach:
Meadow Pipit.
Sanderling - 8, along the seashore.
Great Crested Grebe - 3, at sea.
Bar-Tailed Godwit - 3, dotted along the beach amongst the oystercatchers.
Coming back:
Jackdaw, Little Egret.
Whitethroat - heard.
Marsh Harrier - 1 male.
Sand Martin - 1 over.
Blackbird, Pheasant, Magpie.
Collared Dove - 2.
A great day with great weather & a stack of great birds, some I hoped to see & did & others that I hadn't expected to see.
64 species, one new species.
Not that any excuse is required to visit Titchwell but reports of a stint & curlew sand drew me on a wonderful spring day.
Car-park:
Woodpigeon, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wren.
Willow Warbler - heard.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Freshwater Marshes:
Sedge Warbler, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot, Black-Headed Gull, Swift, Reed Bunting, Mallard.
Brent Goose - 7, always seems strange to see wintering wildfowl still present on a sunny spring day!
Bearded Tit - 2, up briefly flying over the reeds, plenty of 'pinging'.
Common Tern, Shelduck.
Temminck's Stint - 2, it didn't take me long to see where these secretive little birds were hiding as there was a big group of people with optics trained on a nearby island in the lagoon. Before I got to that point though I was pointed to where the pair were by a couple of wardens & got good, if distant views. I sooned joined the other group for closer views, although the birds were fairly nondescript & they crept about, staying close together, about like a couple of avian mice. I watched for a while, getting sunburnt & bitten by horseflies before heading to the beach happy with a great life tick.
Red-Crested Pochard - 1 male & 1 female), a first for me at Titchwell.
Pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Redshank, Avocet, Greylag Goose, Cormorant, Moorhen, Dunlin.
Wood Sandpiper - another great wader to see, amongst the more common waders.
Oystercatcher, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Turnstone.
Little Tern - a few flying around, charisma inversely proportionate to their size.
Black-Tailed Godwit, Carrion Crow, Shoveler, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing.
Grey Plover - 3.
CURLEW SANDPIPER - 1, eventually I picked out the other species that initially lured me out, it was with the dunlins but was distinctively different with handsome russet breeding colours. A first for me in the UK.
Yellow Wagtail - 1, a bonus, it flew in & out pretty quickly but a splash of colour. A lot of people were keen to see it & were disappointed when it had apparently disappeared.
Little Ringed Plover - 1, I seemed to be seeing this bird a lot more frequently recently!
Knot - 3, again amongst the more typical waders.
Cuckooo - heard from the direction of Titchwell village.
To the beach:
Skylark - singing along the path.
Swallow - mainly zipping amongst the dunes.
Linnet- 2.
Beach:
Meadow Pipit.
Sanderling - 8, along the seashore.
Great Crested Grebe - 3, at sea.
Bar-Tailed Godwit - 3, dotted along the beach amongst the oystercatchers.
Coming back:
Jackdaw, Little Egret.
Whitethroat - heard.
Marsh Harrier - 1 male.
Sand Martin - 1 over.
Blackbird, Pheasant, Magpie.
Collared Dove - 2.
A great day with great weather & a stack of great birds, some I hoped to see & did & others that I hadn't expected to see.
64 species, one new species.
Sunday 9 May 2010
RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, 09/05/2010
11:15am to 3pm. Weather: grey, overcast, chilly, slight cold breeze (NE).
Spring visit looking for whinchat & first visit in a while.
Carpark.
Blackcap - heard.
Swift - 100+; the biggest gathering of swifts I'd ever seen accumulated over the marshes next to the river. A very impressive sight from the carpark, even more so when I got closer as I walked along the river.
Magpie, Starling, Great Tit, Chaffinch.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Song Thrush, Shelduck, Woodpigeon, Whitethroat.
Visitors' Centre Feeders.
Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
Riverside.
Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Comorant, Mallard, Black-Headed Gull.
Whimbrel - 2 overhead.
Jackdaw, Crow.
Common Sandpiper - one low over the water, wingbar & flicking wingbeats.
Wheatear - 3 females, 1 male, along the river defences.
Skylark, Linnet, Dunnock, Blackbird.
'Serin Mound'.
Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Herring Gull.
Back along river.
Kestrel,
Lapwing,
Swallow - downstream over the river.
Reserve 'Wood'.
Long-Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Robin.
Sand Martin - overheard North-West-ish.
Lesser Whitethroat -heard but remained hidden in the thick brambles though I waited a while for it to show.
Cetti's Warbler -heard.
Hide.
Tufted Duck.
House Martin - a couple in with the sand martins.
Pochard - 5 male, 1 female.
Mute Swan, Gadwall, Pied Wagtail, Great-Crested Grebe, Little Grebe.
Scrapes.
Little Ringed Plover.
Shoveler - 3 males overhead.
Canada Goose - 2.
Sedge Warbler.
Pools.
Greenshank.
Visitors' Centre.
Greylag Goose - 2 then 4, as I headed back to the centre.
Stock Dove - 1 at the feeders.
57 species recorded, none new.
When I departed, setting off up the A13, a very probable Cuckoo flew over from the reserve.
Spring visit looking for whinchat & first visit in a while.
Carpark.
Blackcap - heard.
Swift - 100+; the biggest gathering of swifts I'd ever seen accumulated over the marshes next to the river. A very impressive sight from the carpark, even more so when I got closer as I walked along the river.
Magpie, Starling, Great Tit, Chaffinch.
Chiffchaff - heard.
Song Thrush, Shelduck, Woodpigeon, Whitethroat.
Visitors' Centre Feeders.
Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
Riverside.
Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Comorant, Mallard, Black-Headed Gull.
Whimbrel - 2 overhead.
Jackdaw, Crow.
Common Sandpiper - one low over the water, wingbar & flicking wingbeats.
Wheatear - 3 females, 1 male, along the river defences.
Skylark, Linnet, Dunnock, Blackbird.
'Serin Mound'.
Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Herring Gull.
Back along river.
Kestrel,
Lapwing,
Swallow - downstream over the river.
Reserve 'Wood'.
Long-Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Robin.
Sand Martin - overheard North-West-ish.
Lesser Whitethroat -heard but remained hidden in the thick brambles though I waited a while for it to show.
Cetti's Warbler -heard.
Hide.
Tufted Duck.
House Martin - a couple in with the sand martins.
Pochard - 5 male, 1 female.
Mute Swan, Gadwall, Pied Wagtail, Great-Crested Grebe, Little Grebe.
Scrapes.
Little Ringed Plover.
Shoveler - 3 males overhead.
Canada Goose - 2.
Sedge Warbler.
Pools.
Greenshank.
Visitors' Centre.
Greylag Goose - 2 then 4, as I headed back to the centre.
Stock Dove - 1 at the feeders.
57 species recorded, none new.
When I departed, setting off up the A13, a very probable Cuckoo flew over from the reserve.
Sunday 25 April 2010
Staines Reservoir, Staines, Surrey, 25/04/2010
9:30 - 11:45am. Weather: heavy rain shower on arrival, but stopped leaving grey & overcast conditions with a breeze (SW).
First visit to a site that often seems to have some great species. I hoped to connect with passage arctic terns which had been reported over the past few days & the diver that has been in residence the past few months. In contrast to the previous day the weather was pretty bad but it soon cleared & clouds of insects soon sprung up! I approached from the A3044 side.
Great-Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Coot.
Mallard, Tufted Duck, Black-Headed Gull.
Cormorant - drying out on the barges.
Pied Wagtail - a couple flitting along the walkway.
Red-Breasted Merganser - I was heading towards the far-side of the reservoir to get a feel for the side before being called back by a fellow birder who I had passed as he walked his dog. Luckily he'd been informed by some other birders of this dapper -looking male that had just flown in. It stayed for 20-30 minutes before apparently flying off south-west.
Little Gull - the birding gentleman also pointed out where these cracking gulls were busily skimming the waves or not so busily floating & preening in the water. Several were adults with the lovely rose-pink wash to their underparts & I counted up to 12.
Swift - at first I heard the screaming then large flocks swirled overhead & away north. Their numbers were probably in the hundreds but lessened throughout the morning.
House Martin - a couple in amongst the earlier swift flocks.
Hospital Corner:
Wigeon - 1 male.
Shelduck - a pair.
Great Northern Diver - I had some nice views from the midway point of the causeway but completed my walk by heading up to the 'far-side' of the reservoir hoping for a better view but after a brief glimpse it promptly disappeared & did not show again despite waiting for at least 30 minutes!
Gadwall - 2 males.
Walk back:
Starling, Crow,
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - 1 overhead.
Reed Bunting - 1 male flitted along into the scanty path-side shrubs.
Greylag Goose - 1 on the near-side shore.
Meadow Pipit - only heard overhead.
A good location for a clutch of nice species, one I may well visit again, though not sure about the swarms of insects, at least they help attract the birds!
22 species.
First visit to a site that often seems to have some great species. I hoped to connect with passage arctic terns which had been reported over the past few days & the diver that has been in residence the past few months. In contrast to the previous day the weather was pretty bad but it soon cleared & clouds of insects soon sprung up! I approached from the A3044 side.
Great-Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Coot.
Mallard, Tufted Duck, Black-Headed Gull.
Cormorant - drying out on the barges.
Pied Wagtail - a couple flitting along the walkway.
Red-Breasted Merganser - I was heading towards the far-side of the reservoir to get a feel for the side before being called back by a fellow birder who I had passed as he walked his dog. Luckily he'd been informed by some other birders of this dapper -looking male that had just flown in. It stayed for 20-30 minutes before apparently flying off south-west.
Little Gull - the birding gentleman also pointed out where these cracking gulls were busily skimming the waves or not so busily floating & preening in the water. Several were adults with the lovely rose-pink wash to their underparts & I counted up to 12.
Swift - at first I heard the screaming then large flocks swirled overhead & away north. Their numbers were probably in the hundreds but lessened throughout the morning.
House Martin - a couple in amongst the earlier swift flocks.
Hospital Corner:
Wigeon - 1 male.
Shelduck - a pair.
Great Northern Diver - I had some nice views from the midway point of the causeway but completed my walk by heading up to the 'far-side' of the reservoir hoping for a better view but after a brief glimpse it promptly disappeared & did not show again despite waiting for at least 30 minutes!
Gadwall - 2 males.
Walk back:
Starling, Crow,
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - 1 overhead.
Reed Bunting - 1 male flitted along into the scanty path-side shrubs.
Greylag Goose - 1 on the near-side shore.
Meadow Pipit - only heard overhead.
A good location for a clutch of nice species, one I may well visit again, though not sure about the swarms of insects, at least they help attract the birds!
22 species.
Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 24/04/2010
11:05am - 12:15pm. Weather: bright, sunny, war, slight breeze (E).
Beautiful day for a patch visit, with Kim. She went for a run as I walked the usual route.
Entrance:
Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin.
South-side:
Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Blackbird.
Chiffchaff - inconspicuously feeding at the top of a shrub, then 2 or 3 heard around the rest of the cemetery,
Blackcap - heard first then connected with a couple, male & female, towards the sports field,
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - distant, drifting east,
Magpie - pair,
Crow - 1, Jay - 2,
UCL Sports Grounds-side:
Coal Tit - 1, feeding high-up,
Song Thrush - singing then flying off in far north-west corner,
East-side:
Starling, Long-Tailed Tit.
Goldcrest - heard singing as I headed to the exit.
19 species.
Beautiful day for a patch visit, with Kim. She went for a run as I walked the usual route.
Entrance:
Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin.
South-side:
Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Blackbird.
Chiffchaff - inconspicuously feeding at the top of a shrub, then 2 or 3 heard around the rest of the cemetery,
Blackcap - heard first then connected with a couple, male & female, towards the sports field,
Lesser Black-Backed Gull - distant, drifting east,
Magpie - pair,
Crow - 1, Jay - 2,
UCL Sports Grounds-side:
Coal Tit - 1, feeding high-up,
Song Thrush - singing then flying off in far north-west corner,
East-side:
Starling, Long-Tailed Tit.
Goldcrest - heard singing as I headed to the exit.
19 species.
Sunday 11 April 2010
Hampstead Cemetery, West Hampstead, London, 10/04/2010
12:45 - 2pm. Weather: bright, sunny, warm, light wind (E).
Spring-time patch visit notable for the feisty greenfinches squabbling near the garden of remembrance.
South-side:
Robin, Blue Tit, Greenfinch.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff - 2.
Blackcap - 2, male & female.
Blackbird, Magpie.
Chaffinch - heard.
Woodpigeon.
Jay - 2.
Great Tit - 1.
UCL Sports Grounds:
Crow - 2.
East-side:
Greenfinch - over, then approx. 6 fighting.
Goldcrest - 1.
Coal Tit.
Starling - 2.
17 species.
Spring-time patch visit notable for the feisty greenfinches squabbling near the garden of remembrance.
South-side:
Robin, Blue Tit, Greenfinch.
Wren - heard.
Chiffchaff - 2.
Blackcap - 2, male & female.
Blackbird, Magpie.
Chaffinch - heard.
Woodpigeon.
Jay - 2.
Great Tit - 1.
UCL Sports Grounds:
Crow - 2.
East-side:
Greenfinch - over, then approx. 6 fighting.
Goldcrest - 1.
Coal Tit.
Starling - 2.
17 species.
RSPB Sandy, Bedfordshire, 06/04/2010
3:45 - 5pm. Weather: bright, hazy, windy (SW).
On the way back to London I wanted to call in at the RSPB's headquarters which I had often passed when on the way to & from Norfolk. Rob & I arrived quite late in the day but had a pleasant walk around the smallish reserve where much work was being carried out to restore the original heathlands from the pine plantations. Although we popped in to the Meadow Hide we didn't see anything we hadn't seen already before getting there.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Crow, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackbird.
Pied Wagtail - 2.
Stock Dove - 3.
Long-Tailed Tit, Robin.
16 species.
On the way back to London I wanted to call in at the RSPB's headquarters which I had often passed when on the way to & from Norfolk. Rob & I arrived quite late in the day but had a pleasant walk around the smallish reserve where much work was being carried out to restore the original heathlands from the pine plantations. Although we popped in to the Meadow Hide we didn't see anything we hadn't seen already before getting there.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Crow, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackbird.
Pied Wagtail - 2.
Stock Dove - 3.
Long-Tailed Tit, Robin.
16 species.
RSPB Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire, 05/04/2010
9:40 - 12pm. Weather: cold, windy (SW), rainy.
Another Easter expedition day & another new reserve to visit, this time an early start to get to the other side of the Wash. The weather was miserable but I was not to be deterred in visiting a reserve that has excellent records of some tricky to see species. There was also more evidence of Spring migration & the weather eventually settled.
Car-Park.
Little Egret - in fields from car.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull (over).
Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Swallow.
To Visitors' Centre.
Greenfinch, Great-Crested Grebe, Mallard.
Visitors' Centre to 360 Hide.
Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Snipe.
Reed Bunting - several flitting alongside the path.
Skylark - several singing enthusiastically.
360 Hide.
Mute Swan, Coot, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Redshank, Wigeon, Canada Goose.Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Black-Tailed Godwit.
Ruff - 1.
Pochard - 1 female.
Gadwall, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Magpie.
Reedbed Hide.
Linnet - a few flitting amongst the vegetation of the 360 scrapes.
Twite - c20; from the hide I looked back to the 360 scrapes & I saw a flock of what I assumed were the earlier linnets. However as I looked closer I noticed yellow bills & the penny dropped that these were in fact twite, which I had hoped to see at this reserve. Before I could get another look after checking the field guide they flew off twittering distinctively towards the East Hide, which was a bit frustrating!
Yellow Wagtail - no sooner had the twite disappeared than this wonderful bright bird perched on the pathside wire in good view of everyone in the hide. It then flew down into vegetation before disappearing.
Pied Wagtail.
WHITE WAGTAIL - with the pied wagtails a few distinctively paler individuals, a nice bonus & a UK-first for me after last seeing them when I lived in Germany 20+ years ago!
Avocet.
East Hide.
Curlew.
Visitors' Centre.
Whooper Swan - 2, a nice pair from the centre.
Crow.
40 species, 1 new species.
Another Easter expedition day & another new reserve to visit, this time an early start to get to the other side of the Wash. The weather was miserable but I was not to be deterred in visiting a reserve that has excellent records of some tricky to see species. There was also more evidence of Spring migration & the weather eventually settled.
Car-Park.
Little Egret - in fields from car.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull (over).
Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Swallow.
To Visitors' Centre.
Greenfinch, Great-Crested Grebe, Mallard.
Visitors' Centre to 360 Hide.
Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Snipe.
Reed Bunting - several flitting alongside the path.
Skylark - several singing enthusiastically.
360 Hide.
Mute Swan, Coot, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Redshank, Wigeon, Canada Goose.Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Black-Tailed Godwit.
Ruff - 1.
Pochard - 1 female.
Gadwall, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Magpie.
Reedbed Hide.
Linnet - a few flitting amongst the vegetation of the 360 scrapes.
Twite - c20; from the hide I looked back to the 360 scrapes & I saw a flock of what I assumed were the earlier linnets. However as I looked closer I noticed yellow bills & the penny dropped that these were in fact twite, which I had hoped to see at this reserve. Before I could get another look after checking the field guide they flew off twittering distinctively towards the East Hide, which was a bit frustrating!
Yellow Wagtail - no sooner had the twite disappeared than this wonderful bright bird perched on the pathside wire in good view of everyone in the hide. It then flew down into vegetation before disappearing.
Pied Wagtail.
WHITE WAGTAIL - with the pied wagtails a few distinctively paler individuals, a nice bonus & a UK-first for me after last seeing them when I lived in Germany 20+ years ago!
Avocet.
East Hide.
Curlew.
Visitors' Centre.
Whooper Swan - 2, a nice pair from the centre.
Crow.
40 species, 1 new species.
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