Now King Eider, I have seen loads but not a full plumaged drake and already tempted by the one in Southern Scotland so the one in Yorkshire was an obvious target and I could not resist. I had to cry off the planned trip with the Stortford crew which was a shame as they are always great trips - well mostly. I was woken before the alarm by a terrible noise which on investigation was the tawny owls mating on the tree outside my window. I started off and my first stop was Fishpond woods for water shrews which did not really oblidge a nano second view was all that it gave. A field vole was more co-operative. bullfinches the bird highlight. I continued north and arrived af Flamborough and joined the gang of birwatchers atop the cliff where the drake king eider was showing nicely although not particularly close due to the boats. It was a true stunner and despite being flushed by fishing boats and jetskis it kept returning. I watched it for a while until it drifted out of sight. I moved to the golf course where a blue headed wagtail had been seen but it could not be found despite finding several yellow wagtails. I headed off to join the grockles at Bempton and there were loads most asking if all these little black birds were puffins - I had to crush them with the fact they were razorbills and guillemots with some bridled amongst them. I did find some puffins and then checked the gannets out. The visitor centre provided directions to my next destination as I had no clue where it was. Arriving at the wrong site I took a walk and could see my destination re orientated I met a few other birders watching the very flighty hoopoe. Then it time to head back south, but with a stop near Beverley for the lesser yellowlegs which was showing on my arrival along with a dunlingreenshank, redshank and a wood sandpiper - nice for comparision. A few pied, white and yellow wagtails were also present as was a lesser whitethroat singing from a nearby tree. I continued south back to Fishponds wood hoping for more luck with the shrews. But none were present, although another or the same field vole showed well. As dusk fell a woodcock was displaying and a couple of pipestrelles my first of the year. Final bird of the day was a tawny owl which was also my first of the day. A long but excellent day.
Friday 25th April
Despite my Real ale induced hangover still being present I headed to Amwell after work. Hanging out by the viewpoint a lesser spotted woodpecker flew to the island then to the woods. A few common terns were finally in along with a common sandpiper whilst the LRPs and redshanks were displaying. Lots of singing cetti's and sedge warblers and loads of hirundines and a single swift. A gently stroll and I mean gentle I was still delicate, produced lots of song thrushes and a pair of blackcaps. A nice evening despite the showers.
Monday 21st April
Even the news on Sunday evening of a Black Lark was not enough for me to be let out as we had visitors. But I headed off ay 4am with a field vole, roe deer rabbit and muntjac at the edge of the village. Not much else on the journey apart from a chinese water deer at West Somerton. Arriving at Winterton some one had missed a trick and the car park was closed so I chanced the road and headed off into the dunes tree pipit the only bird of note. I was not too far away when it was found and o the path was the black Lark - I was moving house when the last one visited so it was good to get this one back. It showed well for 35 mins or so before disappearing left into the grass, after a few mins I decided it was time for work so headed off.
Friday 18th April
A nice hare on the edge of the village posed for a top photo but with the wrong settings it was rubbish, most annoyed got one running away as usual! Still with mammals was a pygmy shrew that did not survive being caught by the cat. The toad crossing in the village which I run single handed has now finished final numbers are crossings toads 147, frogs 18, Common Newts 8. Casualties Toad 51, Frog 5, common newt 1 - not too bad and if I had not been away one weekend it would have been less as most casualties were that weekend.
Check out my video clips on this blog page and in future Look out for this logo
Current videos are An hour at Amwell - I filmed from the hide for an hour on 10th April.
Abberton - Slav Grebes and Yellow Wagtails - April 13th.
Up North - A Day in the North West - 6th April.
Thursday 17th April
Again to Amwell - almost alone again but more of that later. Finally saw one of the sedge warblers that was in a singing competition with a cetti's warbler which also showed. A dunlin had joined the LRP's on the island. Not much else apart from the redshanks and snipe. I headed off to the hide fortunatly I picked the lower hide, as the upper hide was occupied and I don't think they were birdwatching! A pair of pheasants were courting outside the hide - having enough I headed out and a little wander produced very little else of note. An interesting evening!
Sunday 13th April
With my decorating just about finished I ventured out early afternoon, a short hop to Abberton as the weather was mixed I did not want to venture too far. The cattle egret showed briefly on my arrival so I headed out on to the reserve. It was very quiet, there was a few goldeneye still about but little else. The Layer de haye causeway was more productive where 3 slav grebes were showing nicely including a pair displaying, there was also a female scaup. A couple of common terns had arrived but little else. On to the layer Bretton causeway where more was happening, a large flock of mixed hirundines were buzzing about. There was a good number of wagtails, mostly pied wagtails no sign of any whites, there were a good number of yellow wagtails, a monster storm cut my birding short.
Friday 11th April
No sign of the Jack Snipe in Stortford mid evening, but 90 golden plover at the edge of my village on the way home.
Thursday 10th April
Amwell - not my local patch but I do visit there quite frequently and tonight was no exception, It was a little quiet a couple of redshank and some displaying lapwing bolstered by a LRP. I staked out the hide hoping for a glimpse of one of the Cetti's warblers, but they eluded me despite their loud calls. However a superb drake gargany swam right out in front of me finding it made up for missing the one on Tuesday evening. It showed well for a while before I headed to Stortford for the Jack Snipe which did elude me. Better find my own one tomorrow then.
Wednesday 9th April
What am I doing going up north for mammals when I have a fantastic array in my garden and village, with hedgehog late last night in the back garden, this evening 4 hares at the end of the village. They while filling up the bird feeders a harvest mouse feeding under them, not a first I have seen them before in my garden and have put up nests for them so hopefully they are resident (I back onto farmland by the way for new readers), still great to see. My garden list for mammals is as follows Grey Squirrel, House Mouse, Wood mouse, yellow necked mouse, common shrew, pygmy shrew, harvest mouse, bank vole, field vole, mole, water shrew, hare, rabbit, red fox, muntjac, roe deer, brown rat, pipestrelle bat.
Tuesday 8th April
The alarm went off at some ungodly hour, I hit snooze and had 10 more mins before heading off to Kent, no snow this morning but it was bitterly cold. As I arrived at Dungness just after 7pm all looked good, bright and sunny, the sun was warming were the words 'dont worry its still here'. And 10 mins later I had seen the dark eyed junco well, only its back as it sat in a tree sunning itself mostly obscured. It moved about a bit allowing some tantalising glimpses, before it finally sat in a bush and showed itself. after a few further good views including it on the deck briefly it was off to work. A text form the local Stortford crew Gargany at SLRS, I could not leave straight away and it would prove costly as on my arrival they were watching it dip over the horizon to continue with its migration. teal and a drake widgeon were hardly compensation. But the baby coots and ducklings were nice to see.
Sunday 6th April
Another poor choice - I was to head north today and as predicted something would turn up as far away as possible, this time a Junco, I missed the last one for precisly the same reason. Anyway after scraping the snow off the car I headied out in the very early hours I reached Worlds End for dawn (looked more like the end of the world in these conditions) with a barn owl and a few rabbits the only wildlife on the way. There was lots of snow, and the single track road was quite hard to see, and my tyres (I meant to replace them some weeks ago as they were more akin to a McLaren car than the Vectra) but we made it - Just! I caould hear black grouse calling and a few mins later a red grouse flew by. I moved the car a little and found a male black grouse displaying to itself, it was joined by another male and another flew over then over the ridge where I suspected that more were displaying. Further down the road a party of 4 were displaying, a lone female flew over to take a look but soon left, and I don't blame her as it was freezing cold. The real bonus was a pair of diplaying merlin performing acrobatics chasing each other. Having enough I managed to get the car onto safer roads and of to Inner Marsh farm. I had the whole reserve to myself, and just made it to the hide before the hail showers came, not much doing a kittiwake,little gull and two swallows the only things of note. Others arrived as the raptors awoke, peregrine and buzzard others saw barn owl but ommited to mention to the rest of the hide. On to Parkgate where we were waiting for the high tide spectacular which by all accounts was not going to happed as the weather conditions were not right - oh well. The raptors gave a good show, a Merlin was particularly oblidging. A young peregrine practicing its hunting skills on a pigeon was also quite a sight, it did eventually catch it. kestrel, buzzard, short eared owl and sparrowhawk finishing the raptor lineup. A raven was noteworthy, but no mammals. I contented myself with a visit to Formby along with hoards of families with screaming kids. I headed away from them and found a red squirrel but someone disturbed it. Further out I located two others but they were not very showy. Then I located one that was not scared of me and with my trusty squirrel food 30p from the kiosk he was lured in. Allowing me to take loads of photos, he was very protective of the food and chased another squirrel away from it, I gave him some as well so don't all write in complaining about starving squirrels. Then a quick look at Marshside RSPB where the green winged teal was showing distantly but the black tailed godwits were almost full summer plumaged and showing nicely. Then back home.
Saturday 5th April
Decorating kept me at home but the garden was busy with frogs spawning and atoad roaming the garden.
Thursday 3rd April
Being away for work in Surrey all week, an early finish and good run in the sunshine had me in the Brecks mid afternoon. First stop was Weeting but by now the sun had gone and it not looking so nice. The staff outnumbered the public and there were only two fo them. So I headed for the west hide where 4 stone curlews were showing well but at a safe distance. Mistle thrushes were displaying around the rather stupid rabbits. A pair of woodlarks were present and a white wagtail put in an appearance. Lapwings were busy displaying and nest buidling. Nothing at the east hide, a quick run to Lyndford, where at least 6 hawfinches were seen on numerous occasions which was not the case for the firecrest! Goldcrests and marsh tits aplenty and a lesser spotted woodpecker put in an appearance for good measure.
Santon Downham added the other two woodpeckers and a couple of willow tits but With light fading I headed for home.
Thursday 27th March
A report of a Long Eared Owl in the valley saw me heading out from work early, but despite lots of searching with the only other birder present there was no sign. A couple of chiff chaffs, green woodpecker and a muntjac the only things worth noting.
Tuesday 25th March
Easter over so it was safe to venture out, first stop was East Wretham heath at dawn. It was bitterly cold and lying snow, not what I had expected but I was well prepared. My quarry could not be found in the reserve, although a tawny owl returning to roost was a bonus of my early arrival. So I wandered around trying to find something else, all the usual ducks on the lakes plus an egyptian goose not much else but a couple of oystercatcher were a surprise. Heading back to the car and I heard my quarry a golden pheasant, I followed the call into the forest but could not locate it. So on to Santon Downham where the Lesser spot would elude me despite extensive searching, Great spot and green woodpeckers showed well and I picked up a willow tit but little else. A little disheartned I tried Olly's farm. The cold and wind was keeping the birds away and virtually nothing was seen on the walk in. I tried sheltering from the wind on the edge of a the trees disturbing a basking adder in the process, it quickly returned to its spot and I moved close in for some photography, avoiding being bitten this time! The only raptor was a kestrel and there were more flyby jets than birds. Anyway I must have better luck at Lyndford - no not really, no Hawfinches or firecrest but did get a marsh tit. Off to the stone curlews but did not stop as CCTV cameras were being installed! A quick stop for a buzzard being mobbed by crows. I had not quite given up but was running out of things to go for, so headed to Wacton Common. I stopped several times for both partridges and a lovely barn owl. Arriving at Wacton the dark brested barn owl was showing well hunting on the common, it made a kill and flew off to enjoy its dinner, despite the poor light and distance and all the other usual excuses a few pics were obtained. I was about to leave when a kestrel was mobbing a short eared owl. I watched it for a while then noticed a second bird and eventually they both came into shot. Finally some decent birds after a bit of a poor day and only 66 species on the board!
Easter Sunday
Many Thanks to Jonathan and his family for allowing me to photograph the lesser redpolls visiting his garden in Great Amwell. There were at least 5 individuals during my visit.
Garden Highlights - 14 yellowhammers and the continues presence of tree sparrows. Also my Bufflehead find in Scotland last year has been accepted by the BBRC.
Wednesday 19th March
A quick few updates - on the colour ringed Black tailed Godwit seen at Marshside RSPB at the weekend, it was ringed as a female in April 2003 in Leirulækur, Mırar, W Iceland. It has been seen mainly in the late summer and winter in NW england but a few times in the Thames estuary. And the tree sparrows 1-2 are still being regularly seen on my bird table including one this morning feeding with the chaffinches.
Sunday 16th March
Mixed sunshine and cloud from the window looked good but the strong bitterly cold wind was not good for birding. Our first stop was Mere Sands LWT with a packed car park it was all for the star the night heron which showed reasonably well from the hide but hidden a little in small branches. The ID is still in doubt as it could be of the american race the legs are very pale which supports this we will wait and see.
The great crested grebes were the only other thing on offer here. Back at the visitor centre there was more life with siskin, tree sparrow and nuthatch on the feeding station. On to Marshside RSPB where the glossy ibis had gone north of the river and a work party had disturbed the Green Winged teal which was sen briefly in flight as it was disturbed. A detailed search did not produce it but did have lots of black tailed godwits moving into summer plumage and a colour ringed bird as well. stonechat, avocets and all the usual stuff here, the biting wind forced us on to Pennington Flash. There was no sign of the Long eared Owl, not surprising with the wind. The scaup did oblidge 3 drakes and a female but they kept their distance. So it was onto the feeding station where sheltered from the wind some photo's could be taken. brambling, bullfinch and willow tit the pick of the subjects, another look for the owl drew a blank then a quick ice cream before heading home.
Saturday 15th March
We were staying at Dunsop bridge, where I saw the eagle owls last year. So it was worth a look, despite the grey and overcast weather it did not rain but a strong breeze made it very cold a peregrine braved the elements and later a kestrel was found hunting over the moorland. It took some time before our first dipper found before the grey wagtails but there were lots eventually. Up at the Owl site no owls could be found but we did have a female hen harrier sparking discussion that the harrier ate the owls! Red grouse were calling so walking further up the valley was needed before we spotted them. Several buzzards on the way back may be it was them who ate the owls! A pair of Dippers and a single further on and a party of siskins of note.
Friday 14th March
Having the morning to myself I headed to the Brecks for a quick look at the Goshawks, at Olly's farm. A short walk to the clearing produced flyover crossbills and siskins. A goshawk was seen briefly on my arrival but then not for a while, the woodlarks and yellowhammers entertained with their singing interupted by the red tailed hawk which showed well. A short while after a goshawk showed but further away. Next was a quick look at the stone curlews a couple were found easily but not much else so I headed for home and then the battle with the M6 north.
7th March
Amwell - pretty much the same as Tuesday apart from the third hide is now complete, lots of work going on is keeping the birds away, the goldeneyes were on the lock pit. I found the dodgy goose again but not much else, sparrowhawkcetti's calling and only one little egret in the roost before I gave up.
4th March
Back to Amwell on a cold but sunny evening and I really should not have bothered thuning up as the birds didn't. Highlights treecreeper, sparrowhawk and a dodgy hybrid goose. At the hide the birds had taken it literally and were nowhere to be found. By the time I was ready to leave 7 little egrets were pre roost feeding on the island.
2nd March
Not much apart from tidying the pond where herps were in abundance common frog, smooth newt and great crested newt all present.
1st March
A visit to the Chilterns, to see the red kites oops, no I mean visit my mum and do the mothers day thing all be it a day early. I did see over 40 red kites. On the way back I stopped in on the Monk Parakeets about 30 were seen during a short visit.
