Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
Monday 8th April-Monday 15th April 2013
Action stations!!
Many years ago I was amused to learn that the Italian navy's equivalent command for Action stations! was Panica generale! So, Panica generale! The birds are here. At last.
On Monday 8th April I left for a week in Wales where I would take my mother-in-law and friend to Llandudno for a couple of days, stay at her house and 'bird' North Wales before taking her home again and then returning to York on the Friday.
I started by going up the Great Orme by 8am on the Monday having left home before dawn. I soon saw wheatears and choughs and hundreds of meadow pipits. They were everywhere, almost under your feet. I had hoped for ring ouzel, but no sign. There was still quite a lot of snow on the summit. Where it had drifted aginst the stone walls it looked like wedding cake icing - it was so clean.
Heading west along the North Wales coast I took a favourite detour along the narrow Foryd Bay estuary road. I was thrilled to come upon a flock of over 30 sandwich terns.
The Glaslyn Osprey Project was my next stop. The birds are not easy to see, even with a scope, from the RSPB site but, if you are lucky as I was, if one of the pair flies off south you can get good views. The next photo shows the nest site: the right hand flat topped pine in the centre. I've started carrying my old Nikon 4500 for general views.
Next stop on day one was Pwllheli marina. If the tide is low there are always some good birds to see.
A pair of shelduck were displaying: the female briefly feigned indifference.
A heron let me get close as I looked down on him from the promenade.
A little egret was around too. This was the first time I've seen hostility between a grey heron and an egret. The heron chased the egret off but it only went to the other side of the stream that flows into the marina. I took this nice sequence.
Always have a cod liver oil capsule for tea!
Oh no, sorry, it's a tiny fish!
Porth Meudwy was the last port of call on the Monday: this secluded valley from where the boats go to Bardsey Island is a migrant hotspot so I walked in hope down to the cove. I saw a few warblers - all chiffchaff as far as I could tell. None was singing. This one was by the stream.
On a bank beside the path these primroses told me that spring had truly arrived and the sun was shining.
Tuesday was to be Anglesey day but in spite of my efforts I only picked up one year tick but it was my main target: black guillemots in Holyhead fish dock.
On Wednesday I decided to go up onto the Great Orme again and with much less wind I hoped for some photos. Good decision!
Within its own fenced off area I saw lots of dead carline or alpine thistle carlina acaulis. They dry beautifully.
The birds were showing better too...
Wheatears began to pop up everywhere.
Stonechats too. Everywhere the grass was winter-brown.
Always indcate before flying off left!
But it was the female stonechat that proved most enchanting.
I also saw 2 ring ouzels but they wouldn't stop for a photo. Twice I raised my camera to focus to find the bird had already slipped away!
RSPB Conwy is nearby so I dropped in for a walk round. A heron popped his head up from the reeds and stared at me. I'm not sure who was most surprised! Seconds later he screeched and flew.
In a shady spot I spotted some flowering blackthorn prunus spinosus or sloe. Called blackthorn because of the very dark stems. Whitethorn is often applied to hawthorn but some, understandably, call blackthorn whitethorn!
A group of jackdaws were on the grass outside one of the hides.
An oystercatcher was bathing. It obviously helps to keep your bill out of the water when you are almost completely submerged!
As I walked on towards the estuary I saw a large bird in a tree. As I raised my bins a buzzard flew off low past me. I had trouble with the focus lock but these are passable.
A lesser black-backed gull was standing in the shallows with three other lessers. Sand martins also seen.
I walked back to Tiggy along the Afon Conwy estuary. A curlew was backlit by the sun.
Thursday 11th April was a little embarrassing: battery failure on both cameras! I was happily photographing the morning's first train up the Welsh Highland Railway out of Caernarfon. So as a diversion, here are all I managed that day.
Beyer-Garrett 2-6-2 + 2-6-2: what a loco!
Imagine my surprise when I got back to my mother-in-law's house when I saw a blackcap on a suet cube in the adjoining garden. I had heard that a strange bird had been seen and I had been watching for it. I was up early next morning, recharged camera on my lap as I sat in the conservatory. These photos taken through glass show my 8th tick of the week.
Last day of my visit. I called at Conwy again in the rain. First swallows of the year - quite a lot of them. I practised that most difficult of skills: tracking hirundines. Alas, the light was poor but the shapes are still fabulous. Look at how the tail shape changes...
Since posting the above photo on Bird Guides yesterday [17/4] it has become the most voted for photo I have put on their site with 38 votes.
Skim drinking!
Sand martins too.
A merganser cruised around.
A marsh harrier [which I never saw but others did] put up all the waders. First the redshanks.
The curlews.
The little egret.
The lapwing was, unusually, the last to go.
After a couple of days' enforced break I went up to Fence Houses near Houghton-le-Spring for a top quality bird: a little bunting. This bird was very hard to photograph as it skulked in the undergrowth by a stream but here are my best efforts. At least you can see what a little stripey thing it is!
Later I called at Saltholme and saw one house martin, one green sandpiper and a white wagtail.
This reed bunting was quite confiding.
Ubiquitous redshank was much closer than the greensand.
The Shetland sheep had little lambs.
And a fox wanders the reserve. Better keep an eye on your lambs, mum!
Postscript
Monday 15th April: dashed to Flamborough North Marsh to see the mega Baikal Teal. Distant and so many people in tiny hide couldn't get a photo but it was, nonetheless, lifer 390.
2013: 185 and counting.
Monday 1st April-Friday 5th April 2013
April Catch-up Blog!
This could refer to a seasonal catch-up after a winter that has definitely outstayed its welcome but it doesn't. I simply meant that I had been so busy - not just birding- that I find myself facing a backlog of photos to post and a long blog to write. So here goes. Hope you like some of the images from early April.
On the first of April
I went down to Fairburn in the afternoon to see what was about. After a fruitless walk down The Cut I called at the visitor centre feeders...
Siskins were there.
Long-tailed tits were nearby too.
A number of smart looking male reed buntings were feeding on the ground.
Tuesday April 2nd
Barry and I went up to Hartlepool in the afternoon. We found things very quiet. Spion Kop cemetery was free of any birdlife. The gravestones were left in peace.
The North Gare access road produced a few of the usual suspects, notably a friendly curlew. Funnily enough the photos I took as he walked along aren't as sharp as I would have liked. I snatched a few more as he took off. They seem quite nice.
Wednesday April 3rd - A Birthday Surprise
My wife loves owls - she's a bit of an owlaholic. So, in January I made contact with a local bird of prey centre to see if they could do a home visit and bring along some owls... Well, that's what happened today. As ever, I shall let the pictures tell the story.
Many thanks to York Bird of Prey Centre Ltd.,
trading as Minster Falconry 07977318480 & 07772315757
White-faced Scops Owl
Seeing a cat in the garden the owl became fully alert and changed shape!!
Tawny Owl
Eagle Owl
Barn Owl
In the afternoon we went to Fairburn. We failed to find the long-eared owl to add to our collection and this pale lesser redpoll didn't quite fit the bill to be a 'Mealy'.
A few siskins were still around but I didn't see any smart males.
Thursday 4th April
Back to Hartlepool with Barry! If at first you don't succeed, keep going! Well things started well with a lifer for Barry - a lesser scaup at the triangle pool at Saltholme. See Barry's blog for the full report. http://barryjohnbishop.blogspot.co.uk/
In the cemetery at Spion Kop I noticed how many gravestones told the sad story of infant deaths. This one is very sad but it must be as good a place as any to lie - within a modern-day nature reserve at peace with the birds. Quite appropriate for a surname like that...
Just inside the harbour we saw the red-necked grebe as it disappeared into the fish dock. A few birds were on the shoreline inside the pilot quay. Curlews.
And an eider masquerading as a curling stone.
What's this then?
On the Headland we spotted a group of eiders on the sea together with another bird, a red-throated diver, asleep. Looks like another curling stone...
In order to get nearer I ventured along the jetty, risking a soaking as waves broke over the wall behind me. Barry took this hoping to catch me getting drenched!!
Here are the birds: eiders first, in flight.
Red-throated diver in dazzling light.
Further round the Headland we saw waders...
Redshanks
Purple sandpipers
Ringed plover
We could hear sparrows in the gardens on the Headland but eventually Barry spotted one up on the guttering. Looks pleased with himself.
We called at Ward Jackson Park but things were pretty quiet there. A lesser black-backed gull was floating on the lake [pond].
Finally we walked round Tilery Wood but all the birds were hiding. At least we could boast we had walked all the way from Cleveland to County Durham!
Friday 5th April
Where now? Old Moor and Co. First call Broomhill Flash where our target birds were not at home. Redwings were in the field across.
I stocked up with bird seed at Old Moor and we watched yellowhammers, brambling and bullfinches on various feeders before heading for Fairburn to see what sort of redpoll they had on their feeders...
No, not that kind; that's a nuthatch.
And that's a treecreeper on the wire netting!
Could be my best ever treecreeper shot even if it is rather inappropriately located. Postcreeper!
Ah ha! What's this then? A male siskin!
At last! A lesser redpoll.
Some paler fellows with orange polls! [Apparently not unusual] see:- http://birdingfrontiers.com/2012/06/23/more-on-those-pesky-redpolls/
Looks like a mealy redpoll to me.
Round by Pickup hide I saw the cormorant trees covered with cormorant guano [for want of a nastier word]
Fieldfare were cackling in the trees. About time they left!!
Back at the Visitor Centre a greenfinch posed behind some twigs so the results were all blurred. He took off and I kept shooting. One of those rather fortuitous outcomes. I can't help liking this image a lot!
Down below a pheasant posed nicely in the sunshine. 7 degrees!!
Right, that's it. Up-to-date. Done.
UK 171 2013
Wednesday 27th March ff
Always look on the bright side...
Eric Idle: Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' 1979
Wednesday 27.03.13
Not much happening today until younger son arrived with friend for experimental photo flight of their new quadcopter. What's a quadcopter? Well it looks a bit like this with a lot of extras attached for the camera and transmitters.
Still Malcolm took some pictures of the area near our house. Here's one of them: it's a sort of goose eye view.
Thursday 28.03.13
Barry and I went off to Arram, Hornsea, Barmston, Bridlington, Bempton, Scarborough and even Forge Valley for our 65 strong day list. See http://barryjohnbishop.blogspot.co.uk/ for the full story! Pictures begin then with Bridlington harbour where this very alert redshank was standing to attention. Lots of dunlin were running around on the mud. It was low tide.
The long-staying [feral?] barnacle goose was still present.
We peered over the harbour railing at a herring gull below. He peered back at us!
Next stop Bempton Cliffs RSPB to get a razorbill tick for Barry. No puffins unfortunately. [Oh yes, these are guillemots of course]
I was soon fascinated by the fulmars as they bounced on the wind near the cliff face, floating at times on the currents of air.
North to Scarborough to Holbeck where we fed the mediterranean gulls [and black headed too!] and captured the meds for posterity...
Velvet scoter from this viewpoint too - out in the bay beyond my lens of course.
Last shots from Scarborough Mere where the red-crested pochard came steaming in at speed only to paddle away equally rapidly. Still, got this sharp one.
Final one of the day of a female tufty - don't suppose they get photographed very often...
Friday 29.03.13
Again, read Barry for the story. It was another helter skelter round Yorkshire starting at Withernsea for a lapland bunting [we hoped] and some snow buntings. Eventually Barry found the snowbunts.
Pictures only record shots as they were not very approachable. No sign of lapland bunting but I counted 10 birds in the air and reports generally mentioned 9 snow buntings. Well, careful counting of this image [I'm sorry they are blurred] shows ten snow buntings.
On to Kilnsea for lots of birds including these Brent geese.
Skylarks overhead. I shot a few...going up...
...and coming down!
No, I haven't turned the picture round. This is as it descended. See the tail stripes!
Finally Barry spotted a little gull at Hornsea Mere. We get around don't we? More than you think - in between times we'd been to Arram to see the ring-necked duck. Anyway I was thrilled with this little gull.
Saturday 30.03.13
I went to Stapleton for a jack snipe which I didn't see and to Scarborough for a black redstart which I also missed. However something always happens to surprise me.
Not this peregrine up on the cliff on Marine Drive.
I'd been watching the cliff with my back to the sea. Something made me turn round: maybe the increased noise of the gulls. A kittiwake was trying to persuade a seal to share a large fish with him...
As you can imagine, soon other birds wanted a piece of the action and of the fish. Just pictures....
Kittiwake partially submerged by this point.
Aren't greater black backs huge!
25th - 28th March 2013
The Waiting Game continues -
but for how much longer?
Spring aint sprung
The grass aint ris
Do you wonder where the birdies is?
I am the persistent birder after all so I will not give up! My year total has staggered along of late, reaching 164 by the end of last week. Today I looked back at some photos from the past month to check I hadn't missed anything stunning. I liked this image from Seaton Snook. [16.03.13]
Snow buntings are still around. Guess they are waiting too. Tomorrow I will try for jack snipe [winter visitor] and little ringed plover [summer visitor] at the same site. Don't expect I'll be in luck though!!
Another picture from the past few weeks. Remember this red grouse from near Shaw Farm? 16.03.13 You've not seen these 2 photos before...
Well it flew off! Unusual view - perhaps the hunter's view!
And finally from 22.02.13 at Long Riston another view of my friendly barn owl.
I hope there'll be some more stunning photos before too long!
Monday 25th March
So, did I see a jack snipe or a LRP? Did I hecky thump! [Who used to say that?] I explored Willthorpe Marsh in the snow: the marsh itself proved inaccessible due to the mud, snow and general slipperiness. As for Orgreave Lagoon which I attempted to walk round, imagine what bleak means to you. Well, put mathematically it was 2 bleak squared. It was hard going. Saw skylarks and mipits. And a few of the usual suspects from bhg to coot.
Decided to call at Old Moor and Broomhill. Very quiet there [saw 1 little owl at Broomhill] but a bullfinch obliged at Old Moor - probably my best ever shots of a bullfinch. [Yet another ringed bird!]
Summoned home by a greenhouse crisis I called at Fairburn to see if the siskins were showing: no sign but instead a group of at least three redpolls were outside the visitor centre so I sat down quietly and waited. Thankfully there were few people about as the birds were quite nervous. Even my shutter firing off seemed to disturb the male. The female must have been hungrier: very little seemed to bother her and she spent 8 minutes on one feeder whilst other birds came and went.
Here's my little lesser album.
Tuesday 26th March
The March wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the robin do then, poor thing?
He'll sit in the barn,
To keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing, poor thing!
Yes, it was still blowing. We went to Fairburn for some sunflower hearts mid-afternoon - perishingly cold. The light was poor and shutter speeds correspondingly slow: sharpness was a bit tricky! Watched lots of little birds on the feeders: a [ringed] nuthatch...
A masked bandit is at large!!
...siskins...
The male was very difficult to lock onto. This female is very pale - juvenile?
Adult female?
I hadn't seen a long-tailed tit out in the open on the ground before. But they have learnt the survival trick of coming to feeders.
We walked to the kingfisher screen. I told my wife they haven't been seen there for some time but we might see a willow tit. We didn't but we did see this tiny surprise!
He turned his back on us.
All black bill = male
As we returned to the visitor centre I alarmed a female mallard hiding in some wet, rotting vegetation by the path.
21st March 2013
Spring has sprung
The grass is ris
I wonder where the daisies is
Well, that's surely what I should be telling myself. I once heard that summer has arrived when you can go out on your lawn and place one foot on four daisy flowers. More likely to end up with a snow encrusted shoe at the moment. Seems the waiting game has a while to go yet. Many summer migrants have now sent just the odd scout: sand martin, wheatear, even willow warbler have been reported as have a few ospreys. Bet they regret it!
Anyway, Thursday looked like the best day of the week - best of a bad bunch as they say, so I went off early to Worsborough Reservoir [near Wombwell, S. Yorks] as someone had posted photos of a lesserpecker there. I failed to see any but I enjoyed my walk and I did encounter quite a few birds...
There were several pairs of great crested grebes and a flock of mallards who had all mixed their genes with some farmyard friends at some point in their history. 'Nearly mallards', one could say - a bit whiter undersides but rather attractive nevertheless. I think they look well unlike many feral hybrids.
Walking on I came across more grebes determined to shoo the mallards out into the middle of the reservoir. This one was aiming straight for them!
The paths were quite muddy but I found the likely birch trees where the woodpecker had been seen. A robin accompanied me for a long time [or perhaps it was several robins!]...
... and a dunnock watched me from his perch.
Three nuthatches were chasing around playing some kind of mating game I presume and were reluctant to pose for a photo. No time for such frivolity!
The robin caught the corner of my eye as it landed in a bush just behind my right shoulder.
Looks a bit miserable - 3 degrees blues perhaps. A pair of goosander were out on the reservoir now as were a number of tufties. This sleeping pochard floated by as I headed back to Tiggy after circumnavigating [posh for going round!] the reservoir.
Next call would be Broomhill Flash to see a couple of green sandpipers - or, as it turned out, not to see either of them although, allegedly, one had been seen that morning. Still, 2 little owls, 3 pinkfeet and a special duck made up for it quite nicely.
I had decided the night before to combine all this with a run to the coast to Bempton Cliffs RSPB.
Arriving in Bempton village I spotted the emus up by the fence so couldn't resist the chance for some candid portraits. They'd have pecked my lens if I'd let them!!
I knew that razorbills were back and that the light might be good. Unfortunately the wind wasn't quite doing what I hoped so the birds weren't hovering as they tried to make landfall on the cliffs being blown back by the wind. However I had a good time, got some nice photos and a couple of year ticks - razorbill and a puffin on the water quite distant but seen through an RSPB scope and spotted by one of their volunteers.
Fulmars
Jackdaws
Herring Gull
Kittiwake
Gannets galore!
Flying past the clifftop like torpedos!
'Glad you've finished the gardening, dear!'
Razorbills
Tree sparrows nesting in a house! [Well, the visitor centre actually!]
