Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
My Dad's Lake District 1957-1966
My Dad's Lake District
My dad, Andrew Downes - or Andy, I suspect, to many of his friends, died when I was in my late teens, over 45 years ago. After my mum died two years ago I brought home boxes of family slides taken throughout my childhood. Amongst them were many photographs of his beloved Lake District. I felt something should be done to preserve this record and the quality images he produced with his early Exakta SLR. 
I'm on the left with the bins, my mum is in the mddle and brother Tony on the right - as it says, taken in 1964 - at Kentmere.
Within the website is a gallery called 'Dad's Lake District'. Most slides, but not all unfortunately, were clearly labelled and this information has been added to every image in the gallery where there was info available. The order is random both by geography and by date. The majority of the later pictures from 1965-1966 were shot on Kodachrome slide film. Ektachrome [which gives colours I really like] and Ferraniacolor [too red!] were used too alongside others such as Perutz and Agfa. Dad did a lot of his own processing on filmstock like Ferraniacolor. In fact, throughout his life he was rarely without his camera, as evidenced by this photo of the great fire at Preston engine shed. He came home and gleefully told us he drove through a gate calling 'Press!' to policemen as he went by!
However, the gallery to which I wish to draw attention is about the Lake District. We had a caravan near Newby Bridge and dad loved to head up there to walk the hills, one of the Wainwright books he loved so much as his guide. Below are a few samples. Many were dirty or even suffering from damage to the emulsions so I have cleaned them up as best as I can whilst allowing evidence of their age to remain.
Here are just a few samples...
Haweswater, Ektachrome 1963 - 49 years ago!
Longsleddale
Small Water & Haweswater from Nan Bield
I intend to put this posting online once there are at least one hundred photos to enjoy. The gallery will continue to expand when bad weather forces the persistent birder to remain indoors!
Just to give an idea of what I mean by 'cleaning up' I have added below an image of Patterdale and Ullswater showing a 'before and after' look. I did some minor cropping to remove the worst of the 'fungus'.
Please have a look. Go to the gallery section, select Dad's Lake District and, perhaps, go to slideshow. I hope you enjoy these vintage images.
Chris Downes November 2012
Friday 2nd November -Sunday 4th November 2012
387 -388!
1: Autumn Sunshine 02.11.12
Barry and I managed to fit in an afternoon at Blacktoft, working around our other commitments like car servicing and shopping. Water pipts were on the menu but once we arrived they were off it again as far as we were concerned!
We called in briefly at Marshland hide. Apart from a group of shelduck it was deserted.
On then to Ousefleet: the long drag you could almost call it! However we did have a pleasant couple of hours down at Ousefleet, where the pipit had been seen. As we walked down golden plover were in the field, in good numbers, on our right. I think this sort of shot improves in letter box format!
Marsh harriers were active in front of the hide, battling with some crows after something in the reedbed. The harriers came back time and time again throughout the afternoon. The light was wonderful with an autumnal glow.
Not long after settling into the hide a group of pinkfooted geese came overhead.
A wren was clicking away in front of the hide. I managed eventually to catch it on a post with the ISO rammed up high as the light in the shade where the sun wasn't reaching was poor.
The light was amazing. This shot across the reedbed captures it well.
I'll end this posting with views of the harriers, including some less usual views as they sought to oust the crows from the spot where, presumably, something tasty was hidden from our view in the reeds.
2: Scarborough fair but windy! 03.11.12
Sheila and I drove to Scarborough in search of a juvenile glaucous gull. I can't resist gulls even though it wasn't a tick. They are such attractive photogenic birds. like pink milky coffee. Anyway, half-way there the pager said it had gone. We carried on. I left the camera in the car, Sheila had her camera, a Canon 500D with a 70-300mm zoom. The following pictures were taken by her. Setting up in competition? Not really, if I'm the persistent birder, then she's the reluctant birder! But the images are ok.
We spotted a red-throated diver near the harbour mouth...
...and a cormorant was giving exceptionally close views as Sheila looked down on it from the pier.
An immature gull was quite happy to let me talk to him whilst the photographer clicked away...
We spotted a young auk on the sea. A little auk has been reported off the pier but I have a feeling this is a young razorbill - or was the little auk mistakenly identified? Or am I wrong? Here's a selection of her pictures of this bird.
On our walk a herring gull flew straight at us!
Eventually I said, suddenly: 'Keep an eye on that bird!' As it flew over I realised it had no dark markings. It landed. I ran towards it to check. The photographer caught me up. Here it is: Sheila's glaucous gull.
The rest of the Scarborough photos - not many - were taken by yours truly! I went to get the camera to photograph the glaucous gull. When I got back I couldn't find it! It reappeared on the pager on the way home. I photographed a great black-backed gull:
Lots [30+] of turnstones were running around in the car park. Only one was ringed, in fact he had 5 rings: 4 colour rings and one metal ring. I wonder what project is involved in this fellow. He's showing off his jewelery!!
3: I had a dream... Sunday 04.11.12
Since I first started my website, the welcome page has included a few personal details, together with the fact that the bird I should most like to see is a bee-eater.
Well, on Sunday I had a dream. I dreamt that a bee-eater came up north and settled on a TV aerial in Dartford Street, Seaburn, near Sunderland. What's more, I dreamt I photographed it flying about and catching the wasps that were nesting in the chimney of number 22!
Yes, I had a dream.
In my dream I imagined I was on Lesbos...
Silhouetted into the brilliant Mediterranean sunlight...
This dream bird began to show off for me. A man, in my dream of course, with a giant lens on a giant tripod said: 'Too fast to get flight shots.' Ok, let's do an aerial display. Cue aerial!!
Or just watch this, Mr. Wasp!!
Time to go!
Waxwings were reported at Blaydon railway station. 18 miles according to the satnav. Off we went. I parked and went up onto a footbridge linking the station to the town centre. It trembled every time an HGV went by [the bridge, not the town centre]. A bit scary but it was very high and gave good tree top views. Eventually I spotted a party of three waxwings.
I finished the day with a trip to Elba Park, Houghton-le-Spring, a former coke works that is a recently established country park. We stood in a row in front of a hedge, in the fog, waiting. And waiting for an hour and a half. Eventually someone said it was calling. I couldn't hear a thing. Then, there it was, in the grass, on the floor, in front of me. A little bunting, my 19th lifer of the year and second of the day.
Don't wake me up.
388 UK ever; 277 UK 2012
Sunday 28th October-Wednesday 31st October 2012
Spurn calling!
Sunday 28th October
First of all, let me take you back to 10th September at Seaton Snook, Cleveland. My photo of a Baird's sandpiper is featured in the November issue of BirdWatching magazine. Always a thrill to open a magazine and see one of your photos. Here's a reminder!
I decided this would be a day for Spurn. Anything was possible: waxwing or warbler! I did see a chiffchaff but let's start from where I started, at the cemetery in Easington. A good row of scopes were trained on the field adjacent to the cemetery. I knew from the pager they were watching a great grey shrike and I soon had it in the scope.
I drove back into Easington and by the church among rather derelict farm buildings were a number of birders. They were watching bramblings and, they said, redstarts. Turned out they were blackstarts! Female black redstarts - more than one was present. Someone claimed up to six! And one male later turned up - the only one to drop down to the ground while I was there.
I guess this smart fellow is the male!
Next we all rushed down Vicarage Lane for a little bunting but it had disappeared among houses and was not relocated. After that excitement I went to the Canal Scrape hide for a coffee. Redwings and Fieldfares were present as was a ring ouzel. A woodcock flew in too - a nice tick. I chatted to a birder from Boroughbridge. Then I went to the seawatch hide as I knew there were a lot of little auks going north. I soon saw some, pretty close in. Also saw eider fly past close to the shore.
The weather deteriorated after a fine start and I decided to head home via North Cave as two jack snipe were 'showing well'. I saw one bobbing away quite easily but things are never photographically close at North Cave.
Yorkshire round-up
Tuesday 30th October
Barry and I set off at 8am - quite late for us - and we headed for Alkborough Flats LWT, over the Humber Bridge into Lincolnshire to catch up with a lesser yellowlegs that was in the area. The views from the hide were impressive, with lots of golden plover plus lapwings, ruff, a number of dunlin. Lots of teal plus shoveler, heron and marsh harrier. A sparrowhawk flew past us on the path but we failed to find the yellowlegs, just a few red legged redshank!
Next we called in very briefly at Far Ings LWT to see if the ferruginous duck was about. Again no sign, just a few tufties. The whole place was very quiet. On now to North Cave, back over the suspension bridge. Here we were more fortunate: good variety of birds including a tick for Barry in the form of a very well concealed jack snipe. Bobbing only rarely it was a challenge to pick out but that's what jack snipes are like!
Fourth and final destination was Blacktoft Sands. Although it was pretty quiet here too we did go home having seen 53 species of bird. Not a bad day at all. As I said to Barry, you could see a quarter of year total in one day by repeating our round trip!
There were no amazing things to photograph but here's the best of what I took that day, starting with male and female teal and a moorhen.
It may sound silly but I don't find it easy to get a really good image of a moorhen.
The teasels are all dead and dry by now but Barry spotted one plant just at its best. Funny how nature organises these little insurance policies just in case...
On the same theme, the marsh sow thistle sonchus palustris are well and truly dead but I thought might make an interesting image.
As the afternoon drew towards dusk now summer time has ended and the days grow short, the marsh harriers came reasonably close. Photographed at a high ISO they dominate the marsh.
The blue is the woodlands on the hillside on the far side of the Tiver Trent.
No Bee-eater for me!
Wednesday 31st October
After a morning in the garden a bee-eater was reported near a cemetery in Seaburn, Sunderland. I set off in hope! By the time I reached Saltholme the trail had evidently gone cold. I bought peanuts [for the birds] and lingered a while in the Phil Stead hide.
A few more attempts at a decent moorhen shot...
This drake mallard looked very proud and smart.
It's good to see the wigeon looking good too!
Ready for home. It was cold, bleak and very windy. The waxwings and redpolls had vanished. Who can blame them? In the car park a female kestrel was hunting.
As I packed everything away a noisy flock of canada geese flew overhead. I grabbed part of the group in the fading light.
Tuesday 23rd October - Thursday 25th October 2012
Three Days Birding in Wales
Tuesday 23rd - the Lleyn Peninsula & Foryd Bay
Up very early as is my wont, I was on my favorite patch of the Lleyn peninsula as it came light. It was misty murky and shutter speeds were struggling even at 640 ISO. I set off from the little grassy car park towards the cliffs. I could hear a raven 'clonking' as I call it somewhere nearby. I spotted him on a post and crept along behind the stone banking. They are very easily put up. Nice image in the available light.
Bardsey Island looked darkly mysterious in the dawning light.
I soon met a few more friends of mine probing for grubs. Two were on the path in front of me. [Only one in view in the photo]
I see he has two colour rings. I met another pair some way off.
They took off and came past me along the cliff top edge. You can see from the bill that recent digging has been happening.
Later on my walk a couple of ravens were mobbing a buzzard some way off. One of the ravens circled round me.
After that it was breakfast and taking my mother-in-law shopping. In the afternoon I went to Pwllheli and Criccieth but saw little of note so I crossed the heights of the peninsula and dropped down towards Foryd Bay south of Caernarfon.
What's this?
Quite confusing at first! All pictures are of the same co-operative bird.
A meadow pipit popped up on the stones next to me.
The road follows the almost landlocked bay for some time. I then took another narrow lane near the White Tower caravan park and stopped to watch the brent geese. Dark and pale-bellied forms present. The books say upto 100 birds gather in winter. Well you can re-write that one! How many do you think are in this photo? And there were other groups; lots of wigeon and pintail too.
Wednesday 24th - Back to Rhayader
Or more precisely my third visit to Gigrin Farm to see the red kite feeding station at 3pm [2pm in winter]. The journey was trying to say the least as an accident necessitated huge diversions each way. However the birds were as spectacular as ever although, as all week, the light was poor. Often my photos are just too blurred as I could not get the fast shutter speeds needed as the kites swoop in. Still, there are some good ones and here they come. Come in number 42!!
If the kites land, it is only very briefly.
Sadly, one bird crashed and probably suffered a broken wing, something I hadn't seen happen before.
Someone came from the farm and threw a large blanket over the bird. It didn't struggle and he was able to pick it up and carry it away in his arms to the aviary where it would be examined later.
The buzzards do land and stay on the ground, often being 'buzzed' by the kites! Buzzards come in quite a colour range as you can see!
Thursday 25th - Put up more Bunting!!
For me the best of all experience was up on the limestone pavement of the Great Orme near Llandudno. My wife and I called there on our way down to Wales for lunch but didn't explore as we were short of time. But it helped me get a feel for where might be best to go. On the Thursday morning I was up there before the dog walkers. It was cold, dull and misty. After a while I gave up and went looking for surf scoter at Llandulas [3 attempts during the week and all fruitless although I scanned hundreds of scoter.] One definite velvet scoter seen in flight.
The lapland buntings then came up on the pager so I decided to go back. That was lucky as I met a wonderful man who told me he had seen the pair and explained it would be almost impossible for me to find them. But he took me about half a mile until he said: 'Nice and slow from now on!' We walked in mini steps in long grass and gorse and heather mix. Suddenly I saw something scuttle in front of us. Lapland bunting at close range.
I was also told where to go to see a single snow bunting that had dropped in. I found him near the top cairn. I sat on the cairn side and watched the bird edge a little closer.
Funny stuff gorse ulex europaeus - in North Wales you can find it in flower all year round. Even on a bitter October morning.
In an adjacent field a magpie was sheep riding - perhaps looking for insects. He spotted me and looked rather sheepish!!
I decided to head back towards Llanengan, again driving via the Foryd Bay road. I stopped to check the wildfowl. A man was walking out on the mud to dig for bait. Suddenly he put up a flock of curlew. I realised they were coming straight at me. I grabbed the camera as they almost passed overhead.
There is a very dark muddy area at low tide near the hide and I photographed this egret and the very black pied wagtail from the car.
I said the best came last. Well here it is: a small selection of lapland bunting images, taken at about 12 feet! The grass does get in the way!
UK 272 One Welsh tick but a great few days.
Friday 19th - Saturday 20th October 2012
Herons, egrets, chats & a warbler - for want of a better title!
Friday pm at Blacktoft
Needed to get out and about and go somewhere but little was being reported within the kind of distances I was prepared to go. Decided on an afternoon run to Blacktoft in hope of late afternoon barn owls or harriers. Outcome: no owls and only distant marsh harriers. Had to settle for a bit of heron watching.
Fishing
Flying
Landing
Saturday: into the Yorkshire fog
No not the grass if you know what I mean. [Yorkshire fog is also the common name for the persistent weed holcus lanatus.] But I mean real Yorkshire fog on my way to Flamborough to see a Pallas's Warbler or Pallas's Leaf Warbler, named after the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas who discovered it on the Ingoda River in Siberia in 1811; the species name proregulus derives from its similar size to the Goldcrest Regulus regulus. No doubt Peter Pallas was also the discoverer of PG Tips!
Anyway, with the foghorn blowing and visibility poor I set off along the hedge on the east side of the gorse field below the car park and met up with a group of four birders and a warbler. So easy. I even went back to the car for a camera, ran off a few shots and watched it disappear! It never stopped moving. I left shortly after but it was seen throughout the day.Here it is!
Next stop was Skinningrove as I knew there were some smart looking stonechats around. Two pairs in fact were soon spotted on the rock armour near the car park. I spent some time sitting down and slowly edging closer until they tolerated me. The female was less easy to approach but still I do often get stonechat withdrawal symptoms so it was good to spend an hour or so with these fellows. They look pristine don't they?
I finished up at Saltholme in my favorite Phil Stead hide with a coffee and watched snipe and little egrets. A marsh harrier appeared distantly from time to time. No labels needed for the final batch.
The snipe has his head cocked to keep an eye on the sky!
Don't think I've ever been quite so close to a magpie. They are very wary birds even though we are never far from one!
Final shot. In the late sunlight a moorhen swam past the hide.
UK 2012: 271 equal with 2011; Yorkshire 132