Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
Monday 6th May ff
Ticking over nicely...
No, I don't mean Tiggy but hopefully she is now fully recovered from her recent problem. The year list, I mean, is moving along nicely at 211. That figure includes, however, birds that haven't yet featured in the diary. So let's catch up with them all now.
Bank Holiday Monday 6th May
Off early towards Holmfirth to try to find the crossroads on Cartworth Moor by Elysium Farm. To my surprise I parked on a grass verge near to where I needed to be [I thought] and walked 200 metres over a rise and found a few cars, scopes and birders. There was a better way to get there but nonetheless, I was there. And so were 7 golden plover. All rather distant in the middle of a very large grass field.
Having brought camera and bins from the car I walked back, drove down the deeply rutted track and parked with the other cars. I learnt there was a much easier way back.
Soon there were a dozen golden plovers [and a few lapwing, a wheatear, meadow pipits and a yellow wag] out there. A new birder arrived, set up his scope and declared: 'She's just dropped in! How about that for timing?'
Now long standing readers [perhaps I should say reader for I only know of one!] will remember that category of photograph known as a cuckoo type picture. Well, here's one. Long distance dotterel.
Molehills, 5 goldies and a dot in the middle back!
I eventually decided to move on. Edderthorpe Flash was advertising freshly delivered wood sandpiper. I hit the motorways and was there fairly quickly. The woodsand didn't show immediately but after about half a pleasant hour sitting on a bench scoping the flash I found it with a couple of redshank. Long distance scope job I'm afraid, so no photos. Equally no photos on the walk back of the 2 green woodpeckers I disturbed unseen on the ground in front of me as I walked painfully along the old ballast of the former railway line. Isn't it about time Edderthorpe was turned into a proper reserve with PATHS?! Still, that took me in a morning from 206 to 209.
I finished my day at Old Moor. Things were pretty quiet there. I photographed 2 birds that get overlooked: a smart male gadwall....
...and a canada gosling. Hi there!
Tuesday May 7th
Saltholme and Co in search of pecsand and, so the plan went, later on I hoped for whinchat and cuckoo up at Scaling Dam. Some plans work, some fail miserably and others just evolve into the unexpected. There was no sign of a pecsand at North Gare. [I was told later that it had gone. That was wrong too: it turned up again later that evening, 'distantly' apparently.] Anyway, crows are notoriously tricky to approach - apart from this chap, photographed from Tiggy. Must admit, I like this picture.
I moved south about 150 metres to the Zinc Works Road. I cruised up and down. My eyes spotted a tiny bird on the fence. I drove closer. It dropped down out of sight but soon popped back up. It still wasn't 8am. Sunning himself, all rather fluffed up. I wasn't sure what it was.
I took lots of very similar pictures but was getting nowhere. Sort of whinstone chat?
Supercilium is not exactly strong but this poor quality photo clinched it: the tail shows it's a whinchat.
Next I walked the railway path at Dorman's Pool. Plenty of action there: at least 10 sedge warblers singing, whitethroat present but less showy, a lesser whitethroat spotted in the willows, linnets and, oh yes, nearly forgot, a bold wren... Time for a sedge portfolio I fear. Great birds!
Ringed!
Phil Stead hide at Saltholme for a coffee. A starling was catching the sunshine looking very iridescent.
Down to the fire station field next where a whitethroat was performing display flights. I decided to see if I could 'still' a flying whitethroat...
...sometimes he perched high up in a dead tree...
Beyond my wildest expectations!
Eventually headed for Scaling Dam after another hour at the roadside trying to find an invisible Temminck's stint at Saltholme. Glimpses of 3 woodsands as they flew off.
Nice time in the hide at Scaling - watching common sandpipers and LRPs.
Ringed in more ways than one!!
Up on a fence boundary I saw 2 cuckoos - male and female together. They called off and on all afternoon. Two ticks then: whinchat and cuckoo. [Plan sort of worked!] But the other birds were great too.
I decided to walk along Boghouse Lane: a birder in the hide told me to head up the left-hand valley for green hairstreak butterflies. This would be a first for me, so I decided to try my luck.
There were lots of willow warblers. You could be forgiven for thinking this is a whitethroat, I think, but when it turned it's obvious it's a willow warbler. Especially as it sang a willow warbler song!!
As I walked the Air Ambulance passed overhead. It returned about 10 minutes later. I hope whoever needed it was going to be all right.
After about 20 minutes I reached the valley and wandered along the path among the heather. Little birds kept disappearing in front of me. pipits I suspect. Something dark moved at my side and then landed, wings folded. Green hairstreak butterfly.
More willow warblers on the walk back. It wasa very good day with wonderful summer weather. More please!!
211 UK 2013
Saturday 4th May 2013
Bolton Abbey again. Wood warbler still not present...
Went back again with Barry hoping his excellent eyes and ears would help us locate the wood warbler. However in spite of the failure to do so we had a very good day's birding. Barry won 7-0. In tick terms I mean. We set off along the western path south from Barden Bridge. A robin sent us on our way.
Good views of a blackcap as we strolled down to the water pipeline bridge. A couple of common sandpipers were there along with a grey wagtail which mysteriously disappeared before I could point it out to Barry.
Up into the woods. Redstart were high in the trees. Pied flycatchers were plentiful but didn't pose nearby. One female piedfly was gathering nesting material on the path.
The males loitered.
Down by the Cavendish Restaurant Barry spotted an unusual flower: few-flowered leek - allium paradoxum - an introduced species locally common in northern Britain.
We headed back north along the western path where I managed this 'proof we saw it' photo of a redstart high in the trees.
Goosanders were chasing fish.
As the water surged through the narrows of the gorge a scum formed interesting patterns on the surface.
Mandarin sailed along.
Barry felt at home with nature...
...and the common sandpipers showed up again.
Wood sorrel flowered at the base of many trees.
A lesser black-backed gull was resting on a gravel beach - on the lookout perhaps for hapless young mallard chicks for dinner.
Mum didn't clean him up very well before she took him swimming!
After the Strid we headed for Staveley. A few terns were flying about.
Otherwise it was fairly quiet - although a good selection of common warblers were seen along with many reed buntings. On our walk back we found a couple of yellow wagtails. One perched on a post especially for me to photograph him.
Thursday 2nd May-Friday 3rd May 2013
OBJ!
As a child I remember advertisement hoardings on buildings telling us to have some OBJ. The term was apparently long in use in military history [right back to the Civil War] to suggest the benefits of beer drinking. Even today apparently, there are several small breweries that still produce an ale with OBJ! somewhere in the name. Oh, be joyful!
Oh be joyful! I am very lucky to spend my retirement as I do. What's more Tiggy is mended thanks to the wonderful people at VW Harrogate and to Garry in particular. I hope he gets his Passat CC one day!
Thursday 2nd May
So it was back on the road nice and early on Thursday to Bolton Abbey in search of Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler. But before we start here's a bit of a puzzle. Name the bird!
Answer later.
I set off from the car park at Barden Bridge at about 7am. First encounters were goosanders, grey wagtails and a distant kingfisher hiding among the plastic detritus.
A great spotted woodpecker drumming competition was in full swing and I was aware of three individuals with redstarts often nearby. The redstarts proved difficult to photograph high up in the trees against a harsh light that was very challenging at times. Photographically speaking, I mean.
Maybe I was too early or it was too cold or too shady on my side of the river, but things were actually better on the return leg - but I did right to get parked up by the bridge when I did. Down by the Cavendish Restaurant dippers were showing well.
Not many birders realise that dippers lay enormous eggs almost four times the size of the birds themselves. These eggs are laid in water and then carried to the nest by the male. Rare photo of dipper egg.
The views of the Strid were excellent as the leaves have yet to obscure much of the panorama.
More goosanders were spotted and a common sandpiper flew past me. Later I caught up with a pair of common sandpipers and a photogenic grey wagtail.
There's a shelter about half way along the eastern path. Here the birds are very tame. This nuthatch came alongside me.
Imagine my surprise when two ducks flew in - a pair of mandarins. That's the answer to the puzzle picture. Clearly they had been before and were unafraid as I fired off the camera just in front of them.
At another viewpoint when I rested just to put the camera down for a while, a nuthatch cheekily came on the bench beside me. This encounter eventually led to this wonderful picture. No need for me to ever photograph a nuthatch ever again!!
Eventually the pied flycatchers appeared and were soon all over the place. Only one perched obligingly - or perhaps I was tiring: I had been walking the Strid for 5 hours!
He's ringed!
On the way home I called at Staveley YWT to have lunch. It was much changed with a proper car park and the reserve itself much expanded. It is now enormous and has otters to boot! I only stayed a short time but saw the sand martins, common terns on a raft, nesting coot, brimstone butterflies and a comma. Needs another visit.
Kestrel 'buzzing' a buzzard.
Record shot only: oystercatcher on guard.
Friday 3rd May: Blacktoft
Another early bird visit. Arrived by 8am. Reserve open. Roe deer not ready for me.
Mission was to see a grasshopper warbler. Anyone who says this is not a good photo knows little about groppers: seeing them at all is tricky. Photographing one is verging on the miraculous. So here's my 2013 effort. [My wife's reaction: boring looking bird, isn't it?]
Dangling blue tits are more colourful.
There were good numbers of whitethroat about.
But I'll let the sedge warblers have the last word.
This one looked rather annoyed.
Cheerio folks! I'm off.
UK 206 2013
Sunday 21st April ff
All's well that ends well...
Sunday 21st April: I missed one out!
Hark back to Saltholme. I saw a few yellow wagtails but forgot to include this photo.
Tuesday 23rd April
Ok. Next was a disastrous trip to Gibraltar Point to see a lifer: a western subalpine warbler. Got there 7.30am. Never saw the bird. The place has let me down before: once for a sora and once for a dowitcher. Gibraltar Pointless for me. Very disappointed birders all round. Picked up a lesser whitethroat tick taking me to 197 for the year. Here's a few photos.
Some shelduck were having a real fight. Caption: [Tufted duck speaking] 'Gosh, this is exciting!'
You know when there's a fight in the playground and everyone gathers round? Well, this tufted duck was actually applauding the combatants. Look!
Called at Blacktoft on the way home feeling rather dispirited. More conventional shelduck portrait.
Wednesday 24th April
Needed to have a break. Photographed some wild flowers locally.
Lady's smock or Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis
Marsh marigold Caltha palustris
Wood anemone Anemone nemorosa
The true wild daffodil - Narcissus pseudonarcissus - short stemmed with generally paler lemon yellow flowers
Celandine [technically lesser celandine] in an unusual double form: Ranunculus ficaria flora pleno. Ranunculus tells us it's a buttercup really!
Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris or snake's head fritillary. One of those plants for which we don't really have an english name other than a form of the latin one.
Friday 26th April - Will Spurn deliver the goods?
After the disappointment of Gibraltar Point I was unsure whether to get up early and head for Spurn - feeling the Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush would be long gone by the time I got there. But I decided it would be silly not to try. After all a lifer was at stake.
Now a female rufous-tailed rock thrush isn't as pretty as a western subalpine warbler: in fact it's a bit like a cross between a juvenile starling and an overweight female redstart. Behaves a bit like a redstart: jumps up and down from fence to ground and back and - you guessed - I saw it. Always a bit distant for my lens but clear enough I think. Here she is: on the boulder clay.
On the fence. I like this picture because you get three for the price of one and good size comparisons too! Reed bunting and meadow pipit included for good measure.
Putting aside rumours of a hoopoe that had flown off in the direction of Beacon Ponds I headed for Canal Scrape where, someone said, a long-eared owl was showing. Although well inside the hawthorn it was easily spotted.
Whilst sitting there I watched some pied wagtails suddenly I realised one in front of me was quite unusual - although clearly a white wagtail I have never seen one with so little black, especially on the head. Looking at other photos in other books etc. this bird is very grey and, I think, very smart.
I've included a rear view to reinforce the point!
More wagtails flew in. It became a bit of a wagtail-fest as they strolled about in front of the hide. Lovely photo opportunity!
Kilnsea Wetlands was very quiet. Dandelions were in flower and a meadow pipit posed nicely.
Saturday 27th April: scamper to Wales!
Another western subalpine reported in a field at Uwchmynydd near Aberdaron in North Wales. A phone call to my mother-in-law and I was expected for the night. Leaving York at 4.30am I was parked on the grass by the sheep field where the bird had been reported. What's more, I had parked there many times before. I knew the place well. I watched the linnets, wagtails and meadow pipits round the car wondering just where the bird had been seen. It was cold and the sun was shining so the temperature was slowly rising.
I spotted a chough digging at the far end of the field.
Navelwort was in flower. This succulent perennial grows well in North Wales. The leaf explains the name and the latin name is telling too: umbilicus rupestris!
Took me some time to track this plant down. I believe it is Alexanders, smyrnium olusatrum.
I watched a man with a scope on his back as he headed down the road from the summit.
'Seen the warbler?' he asked.
'No,' I replied. 'I've been photographing the chough and the wheatears.'
He spotted the chough I meant. The bird had plastic rings. 'Just need to get the detail of those rings,' he said. 'Right, follow me!'
Wheatear everywhere. The patch birder said there had been a fall of well over 80 Greenland wheatear and they were literally on every bush and on the grass around us. And quite skittish too. Only my second fall ever, the previous one being of siskin at the Crown and Anchor pub, Kilnsea.
Whenever something moved it was a wheatear or, once or twice, a dunnock. Then the birder said 'There!'
Lifer 392. Eight more for the magic number...
I went back east towards Llandudno to go up the Great Orme and see what was about but I called first at Dinas Station on the Welsh Highland Railway. No trains were due but I took these photos.
Awaiting restoration but with a brand new tender, this South African NG15 class 2-8-2 was in the yard.
Once I made it to the Great Orme there were more wheatears on the limestone pavement. They camouflage really well. Spot him?
Snowdonia from the limestone pavement.
Jackdaws are the most common bird up there but a change of tone alerted me to another bird.
There was still snow on the mountain tops.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully but pleasantly. I was very happy I had decided to go for it - just a pity my friend Barry couldn't come. I headed west for Llanengan via the Foryd Bay coast road. I spotted some waders out on the mud some way off. That beak shape was unmistakable. Four whimbrel. [Only one in the photo!]
The Rivals from Foryd Bay
Sunday 28th April: homeward bound!
The weather was deteriorating into rain but I called at Conwy RSPB in case the reed warbler I had heard the previous day was showing. No: still singing deeply hidden in the dead reeds that haven't shown any signs of regrowth yet.
Cowslips - primula veris - were in flower. This clump was most impressive.
My first swift of the year flew past at lightning speed. I decided to try a bit more swallow catching. So to end the pictures of this blog here are some more swallows...and a sand martin.
Sometimes the shapes the swallow can assume are amazing.
Monday 29th April
A sad day. We went to Leeds to call on our son. On the journey back Tiggy fell ill and her on-screen announcement sounded bad. 'Engine fault. Workshop!' We left her at the VW dealership and went home in a courtesy car whilst we waited for news.
An afternoon trip to Fairburn to look for a wood sandpiper - driven there by my wife in her car - was unsuccessful. Hopefully my next blog will have better news of how Tiggy is feeling. Perhaps she'll go somewhere nice to recuperate!
UK 2013: 203
Lfe list UK: 392
Wednesday 17th April following
1: And I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!
Well, it hasn't done that yet but I am honestly tired of wind - it seems to have been blowing for ever. Maybe the prophets of doom are right and the world is getting windier. Just wish it would hold off for a while!
Went to Old Moor on Wednesday 17th April to look for terns: saw common tern and a willow warbler was singing loudly by the first hide. Eventually I tracked him down deep in the scrub. First one of the year.
2: What colour is a polar bear's skin?
It's one of those old chestnuts isn't it? Something to impress your friends or maybe bore your colleagues with. Like what does a banana share 40% of its genes with? Answer: human beings! I expect every living thing shares about 40% of its genes with every other. Not just bananas.
Oh well, anyway, on Friday 19th April I went somewhere new to me: Scorton Lakes near Catterick. It is a series of gravel pits that are being converted to wetlands. They are still very raw but I saw little ringed plover and, after a lot of searching, an arctic tern. When I arrived a birder said he had been watching the tern fly around the far end of Banks Lane lake but had lost it. I found it resting on a rock in the sunshine by slowly scanning my way round. The vantage point is very good but you need a telescope: it's a large area - with promise for the future! Car park at SE242995 called Scorton Walk car park.
Chaffinches accompanied my walk back.
Celandines were flowering in the sunshine.
I went on to Saltholme where I had distant views in the heat haze of drake garganey and brief views of sedge warbler [singing loud and clear] but skulking in the brambles - perhaps still recovering from the journey.
Other birds showed well including wheatear and avocets.
The Saltholme fox gets everywhere and is completely unafraid as this photo shows!
On the following day, Saturday 20th April I went to Deer Hill reservoir looking for twite and then on to Blacktoft. Let's start at Deer Hill. I set off on the gradual climb up to the dam - it's about three quarters of a mile I would guess. This pony needed his Dinky Rug on what was a frosty start! Memories of Uyeasound...
Lapwings were nesting.
Wheatear and snipe were around too...
...and lots of meadow pipits.
Eventually I found the twite at SE068117. Here's my twite portfolio. Look out for signs of the red rump of an adult bird.
The twite kept retreating to the wires.
The books say twite have a quite deeply forked tail.
One was bound to be ringed!
Swallows gathered on wires near Tiggy.
Some whimbrel flew over the water but I think this is a curlew...
From there I drove along the M62 to Blacktoft. One of the perils of photography is that sometimes you don't realise what is spoiling the shot. Take for example this shot of a little grebe equipped with a new digital aerial!!
That's better!
Geese abounded.
You never go to Blacktoft without seeing the harriers.
Snap!
Last lap. Sunday at Saltholme and co. A couple were showing their alpacas to the locals at RSPB Saltholme.
I was after other things. A distant common sandpiper was target #1.
The fox turned up yet again.
I had seen a whitethroat at Dorman's pool briefly earlier but was very pleased to get these photos of the black-necked grebes as they came in close.
Day finished with a little tern battling the wind at South Gare.
196 UK 2013
Oh yes, the polar bear has black skin! Not a lot of people know that!