Lazy old me
07/07/2010
Unfortunately, I’m getting lazy in the dull period. There’s a simple life tick a long walk up the road at Blackdog, with up to 4 Surf Scoters in the Common flock at the moment, and I can’t even be bothered to write the blog up.
It has been a few weeks since the Aberdeenshire weekend and the day in Norfolk and only now am I getting round to fill the world in.
Our weekend in the Shire left us with an impressive total of 96. The highlights were Capercaillie and King Eider, which were lifers for the pair of us, as well as Tree Pipit and Black Redstart lifers for me. Other birds to note were the pair of Spoonbills and female Marsh Harrier at Strathbeg, the several Osprey sightings over the weekend and the brilliantly reliable Red Grouse at the Glenshee Ski Centre. As well as these, we were blessed with spectacular views of a Crested Tit and the lucky stumble into a pair of Grey Partridge (a year tick for me).
Our next trip was to Suffolk where a few more year ticks were added. Despite our few additions, it was still a day of dipping. Our aim was to get Blue-Winged Teal, Bluethroat, Stone Curlew, Marsh Tit, and if we were lucky, Cuckoo and Woodlark.
We started the day at Weeting Heath, where we saw nothing but Marsh Tit. From there, we headed up the road and across the county border to Lakenheath Fens. Here we saw Woodlark in the car park from the car. Inside the reserve we were graced by the presence of a Barn Owl. We also picked up Reed Warbler and there were a ridiculous number of Cuckoos, with a count of 4 or 5 in the same small dead tree.
We moved on to Berry Fen where Nigel got a 2 second glimpse of the Blue-Winged Teal before it vanished amongst the foliage during an hour long vigil. I managed to spot a nice male Garganey and we also heard several singing Garden Warblers but none were seen, leaving me with yet another dip for the day.
We headed to Welney as the weather turned against us and it was here that I got Avocet and Black-Tailed Godwit for the year, before we both dipped on the Bluethroat, which was seen a minute before we arrived and not seen again until about the time we had arrived home.
Nothing much has happened since those two trips. I saw a Great Skua at the Ythan last week and Nigels currently licking his lips at the prospect of seeing the White Tailed Lapwing at Rainham but that is all for now.
Thom
Dip, dip, dip up to here...
06/06/2010
...as the apparently not late, and not very much missed Freddie 'Parrot Face’ Davies might not have said.
We started the day with unrealistic expectations, and it went downhill from there. Whilst waiting for Mark to turn up, I was prowling the valley nearby looking for the calling Cuckoo. Nothing doing. When Huguenot finally turned up at 6 am - What kept you? - we made straight for Cley. Anticipating the early double life tick (for Nigel) of Trumpeter Finch (lifer for Mark) and Red Backed Shrike, The French Protestant didn't spare the horses.
We arrived at Cley at 7.30, where the disparate, and increasingly desperate looking Twitchers told its own story. With the benefit of a clear night, the TF had decided that after a few days he'd had enough of North Norfolk. On the walk up to the beach we saw lots of Bearded Tits and Sedge Warblers, both of which I had only got for the year, on the day before. A quick nip over to the east side of Cley, quickly confirmed a double vanishing act. It wasn't all bad though, as Little Tern and Sandwich Tern were added.
On to Swanton Morely to confirm the no show of Honey Buzzard, before brekkers at the Morrisons (formerly Safeway - Grey Partridge roundabout) cafe. Suitably refreshed, it was with renewed vigour that we set off for Weeting Heath. At least Stone Curlew did not let us down, found across the road within a couple of minutes of arriving. No Woodlark alas, but we did get Spotted Flycatcher. A twenty minute search for the Marsh Tits proved fruitless, however.
And so, on to Lakenheath, which provided probably the biggest disappointment of the day. It must be stressed here, that it was now about 2PM, and baking hot to boot. Firstly, the Golden Orioles were having none of it, neither were the alleged twenty Hobbies. Nor the Cuckoo, which was taunting us all the way around. Grasshopper Warblers? Forget it. In fact our only return from Lakenheath was a scabby female Garganey.
It was now 3.30ish, so we made the decision not to go to Welney, (for the long staying/repeating Bluethroat) and made straight for Minsmere. Via Little Chef of course. What's going on there? We shared a starter of warmed wholemeal ciabatta with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. - It's gone all Islington on us!
Minsmere was reached, with still a modicum of enthusiasm left. We quickly got Barnacle Goose and Mark got his Cetti's - how many of those have I seen this year? And that was that really! Nothing else, not a sausage, bugger all.
Our last trip was to Dunwich Heath to see if there were any Nightjars about. Whilst waiting, we were informed that this place held breeding Dartford Warblers - and that they had been singing and dancing all day long. We then had splendid views of Hobby, always a treat.
At about 9.20pm the Nightjars started churring, there were at least six calling males, but after about an hour of seeing nothing we gave up. Both getting cold and tired - and Mark still had a daunting drive back to Lincoln to look forward to. All in all, whilst disappointing numbers wise, it was good to get out, especially having a straight sixteen hours of birdwatching.
P.S. I went back to Dunwich the next day, where I picked up a pair of Whinchats and Dartford Warbler. I then came back at night with the RSPB dudewatch and had excellent views of Nightjar. So, I now make that 133 FTY and the life list goes to 249.
Nigel
Enjoying the small things
03/06/2010
Today’s post-exam celebratory walk along the Don didn’t yield any new birds. This doesn’t mean that it was a disappointing trip. I got great views of a singing male Reed Bunting and was also blessed with the wonderful song and dance of a male Whitethroat. There was one particular highlight that made the morning worthwhile in my opinion.
I tend to think of Bullfinches like most normal people think of Robins. They are very much a winter bird in my eyes. So it was very nice to see a courting pair in Seaton Park. I was set upon by a small terrier while I was watching them but I’m not complaining. The look of embarrassment on the dog-owners face seemed to add to the brilliance of the moment.
I finished the walk, passing 8 Common Seals basking on a bank under the Bridge of Don.
A nice morning, complimented beautifully by the first bout of summer weather.
Thom
Eyes on the prize, thom...
15/05/2010
The last two days have been amazing. Despite all the excitement, I still have a bitter taste in the mouth. I’ll fill you in on my two trips out. Yesterday, I was at Donmouth briefly, before heading out to the Ythan this morning.
The hour at the beach yesterday was sensational. First I managed to creep up on the Terns on the beach at low tide. This yielded both of the Comic Terns! Then while trying to establish exactly which ones were Arctic and which were Common, a massive dark blur appeared for a split second in my scope. After refocusing, I found that it was the Bottlenose Dolphins attacking a bait ball just off shore. It was a fantastic spectacle, just watching them leap out of the water. A great number of Gulls and Terns joined in the frenzy, leaving events a few Gannets short of possibly the best natural sight in the UK.
As I packed up and headed for home, I was confronted by a Roe Deer crossing the river at its mouth. It swam across right towards me and then on noticing my presence (all of 3 feet away from me), it fled.
Today’s events were somewhat more turbulent with regard to the emotional barometer.
Having got the first bus of the day up to Newburgh with Danny, we were hopeful of the King Eider in its usual spot. After 20 minutes of scanning with a third birder, it was located. At that exact moment, it took to the wing and flew along the river, at which point Danny got his bins on it, before turning sharply and disappearing over the dunes and out to sea. Basically, it was there in my line of sight and I just couldn’t see the thing!
So with possibly the most embarrassing dip of my life out of the way, we went in pursuit of some year ticks. This yielded Common Sandpiper and Yellowhammer for the year, while House Martin was a belated tick for Aberdeenshire. Other highlights were summer plumage Knot and several Whimbrel.
On arrival at the Tern colony, we bedded ourselves in while we scanned for Little Tern. It took a long time of staring at the swarm of Terns and seeing nothing for one to fly right towards us, giving a pretty decent view. It was also at this exact point in the day where every bird took to the air, shrieking. On closer inspection an Osprey was circling above the colony, giving exceptional views.
After parting ways with Danny, I went back for a final check for the King Eider, but it had yet to return. I did find out from a local birder that I met on the way back to the bus that it had been disappearing during the afternoon all week, so there is still hope! Maybe a midweek trip will get me my prize.
Thom
THE Bogey laid at long last! Mark got his Red Rump!
03/05/2010
Annoyingly, a Red-Rumped Swallow had been performing well at Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough, for the best part of 3 days already, they don't normally hang about that long, but I’ve not been able to go for it. Ferry Meadows CP, had been my local patch when I lived in Peterborough from 1981 to 1991, a lovely park with a nature reserve and 4 lakes. The flora, trees, and layout reminds me a bit of Brent in fact (other than only one lake at Brent).
Sunday morning then, after eventually dragging Sophie out of her pit at 10.30am, (What is it with Teenagers these days, ...they can sleep for England.!) and checking on Birdguides that the Blighter was still showing well, we both jumped in the car, and hightailed it down the A1 to Peterborough. Caravan City on the A1, but made good time, albeit, time seemed to drag, and every mile seemed like two, with the 'Twitch' kicking in big time. A bit of history may be in order here...
Red-Rumped Swallows and me have traditionally never seen eye to eye. I have specifically been for RRS on 4 different occasions over the past 20 years, and each and every time been downcast in failure. On one suicidal occasion, I turned up at Messingham sand quarries, Lincs., literally seconds after one that had spent 2 days quite happily flying around and showing well, was last seen flying off high off to the West. To make matters worse, Nigel got one of the beggars at Gib, quite early doors in his birding life, And Boy, do I get constant reminders of that fact from the man himself. In fact I have just checked the old birding records, ( Thom, I used to do what you now do for Nigel, ....Keep his records for him.! ) And amazingly, it is actually 23 years to the day since Nigel got his RRS, 3rd May 1987!!, before you were born. From now on I guess we can call 3rd May each year, Red-Rumped Swallow day.
Arrived at Ferry meadows, and of course parked in the wrong car park, the one on the near side of the park, NOT, the car park on the far side, where of course the RRS was. So a very brisk, twitchy walk for a half mile across the park , heading for the visible group of birders outside the new Cafe and Yacht club over looking Gunwade lake. No sooner had I arrived, and just about to ask the closest birder where the RRS was, than it flew only feet above and right over mine and Sophie's heads, It continued to flit up and down the lake, right outside the cafe, for the next few minutes, feeding into the wind, then letting the wind shot it back downwind to another sweep, sometimes only 10 feet away, so close even Sophie picked it out without bins. The Light rump and light reddish head so, so noticeable, even without bins.
Sophie and myself repaired to the cafe for a cup of tea and a bun, and having purchased said refreshments, spent the next quarter of an hour sitting on the veranda of the cafe, drinking J2O, and Espresso, munching orange and lemon cake, all the while watching the performing RRS, flying up and down past the cafe. A real dudes tick, birdwatching as it should be!?
So, What a bird, and what a wait, no more gloating and snidey comments from the Rocker from now on, well, at least regarding RRS, ( It will be the Greater Sand Plover now.!!).
Roll on May 3rd next year.
Mark
Unlucky 13 new for the year
02/05/2010
Unlucky in so much as no lifer action - more on that later.
Saturday saw a quick look in at Fiskerton fen produced nothing of note, except a first Common Tern of the year. Moving on to Nocton Fen the action started to come thick and fast. Firstly, a magnificent male Marsh Harrier sailed over the car. Then we quickly stumbled upon the birds that had been guaranteed to me. Pulling up just before the barn that was to yield Little Owl, I had Grey Partridge to the left of me, 2 Red Legged Partridge to the right - stuck in the middle with Hughes!
Turning the corner after a quick skemmie at the aforementioned Little Owl, we came across a truly splendid Barn Owl sitting on the fence to the left of us. Two owl species in a couple of minutes - excellent work.
And so onto Whisby for an hour. However, as we were leaving the fens a Swift was spotted - new for the both of us. Ten minutes or so after arriving, the prize seemed to be ours. A calling Nightingale was in a small clearing in front of us. However, these blighters are easier heard than seen. After a fruitless 10 minutes or so, the singing stopped. Desparate times call for desparate measures. Out came the iPhone Birdguides app and within seconds the Nightingale had started up again - trying to outsing his imaginary rival. A little toing and froing and the glory was ours. Absolutely top drawer views on one of the lower branches. Trebles all round, and a celebratery lon from Hughesy.
Walking on, we came across a lovely pair of Bullfinches - always a delight, before ending the evening with my tenth of the day, Willow Warbler. Two new for Mark, the other being the Marsh Harrier.
The Humber - May 2nd
A 5.30 start, and despite the appalling music on Marks car stereo we departed in good heart, hoping for Pectoral Sandpiper - a lifer for me.
We got to North Cave early doors, where a brief search quickly confirmed our worst fears. Just a solitary tick of Avocet for me. After a quick cup of cheap, though revolting coffee, we made our way to Far Ings. Despite kicking off with a singing Whitethroat and several Tree Sparrows, ultimately the rest of the trip was fruitless. Despite hearing 4 or 5 Garden Warblers, none were forthcoming.
So, 13 new this weekend, 110 F.T. Y.
Nigel
Quick march round Donmouth
22/04/2010
I quickly zoomed round Donmouth this afternoon after getting a much needed haircut. It was definitely a worthwhile trip as I saw:
- Swallow - my first of the year in Aberdeen
- Sandwich Tern - my first sighting of them in Aberdeen, a lovely flock of 6
- and finally... Whooper Swan - one was with 5 Mute Swans on the Don, was sure that I'd dip on it this year so it was a welcome surprise!
That's one for the year, one for the shire and one for 2 new ones at Donmouth. 126 for the year, 96 for the Shire race.
Thom
Thom’s Last Day in London
11/04/2010
The Comic team were at the London Wetland Centre WWT today. We managed a fair old haul and a couple of snaps too! As it was my last day of London birding for a good few months, I figured I’d like to rack up a few more year ticks before the barren wilderness that is Aberdeen takes over and ruins my hopes of reaching the 200 mark this year.
We arrived with family in tow and got to work making the day list. We were first struck by an abundance of Cetti’s Warblers, which I’ll come back to shortly. The real magic didn’t really start until we reached the Wader Scrape Hide. Here we got our first Sand Martins of the year, before also spotting 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a Wood Sandpiper. After all this excitement, we broke for lunch and I had one of the Centres delightfully awful paninis.
After eating we went back to get a photo of the Wood Sand, only to find it had hidden itself and had been essentially displaced by 2 Green Sandpipers! (A photo can be found in the gallery)
It was at this point in the day that my favourite moment occurred. We walked towards a group of people with massive cameras and looked awfully like they should have some birding knowledge, but as we passed them we noticed that they were getting massively excited about a ‘Cetti’s Warbler’... Only it had the call of a Wren. This is a bad enough mistake on its own but these... these... lets call them Dudes, could see it sitting on top of a bush and they were still convinced and were taking photos of the bloody thing! Ahhh, the sheer hilarity of it!
So, we ended the day with 46 bird species, 4 of which were new for the year. We also managed to get multiple views of Water Voles, as well as seeing a Red Necked Terrapin, some as yet unidentified frogs, and my little brother caught a Common Newt whilst pond dipping.
I feel I’m leaving on a high, especially after getting Ring Ouzel and Alpine Swift earlier in the week.
Thom
Don't you hate it when you are twitching a moorhen...
18/02/2010
There is definitely something fantastic about twitching a dull bird for
a year list and failing to find it at its regular haunts...
I was out on my usual route yesterday with Danny, looking for Donmouth’s
only Moorhen. Thankfully I have already seen it this year, but Danny was still missing that
particular (and slightly shameful!) tick. We looked in the bird’s usual haunts but to no avail. It
wasn't until later when looking for a place to set up the scopes for a bit of sea watching that we
stumbled across the half savaged remains of the Moorhen! I know you are supposed to feel a
bit bad at the death of an animal but I really couldn't help laughing at this hilarious twist of
fate!
Once the giggles had subsided, we had a peak out to sea only to find
around 30 Red-Throated Divers and one lonely female Velvet Scoter. A brilliant year
tick and a great view too!
So, I may be one behind Danny in the Shire race but at least I have
Moorhen!
Thom
The Ythan, pure bliss
13/02/2010
I can't be bothered with a detailed report today. Basically, we got the bus to the Ythan this morning and these are the interesting and significant things we saw:
- Bar-Tailed Godwit
- Golden Plover
- Skylark
- Brent Goose
- Common Scoter
- Grey Plover
- Knot
- and... Canada Goose!
So, no lifers today but I am on 100 for the year, and 80 for Aberdeenshire this year, and 102 for my term time list (thank you Canada Goose)!
Thom