Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
June 5th ff 2014
Bits'n bobs!
Stayed at home writing previous blog on June 5th. Sheila called me asking me to bring a camera: she had something interesting in one of the greenhouses.
Turned out it was a pair of lime hawk moths mating. Pretty impressive beasts too!
Visitors expected late morning on J6 so I got up very early and drove to Strensall Common to do the woodlark walk. And it worked: views perched on a dead branch on one side of a large pine tree and then doing its circling, moth-like tailless flight until it landed in a birch quite a way off. Next part of plan was to go to Blacktoft. Arrived there by 9am. Took forever to see bearded tits but did eventually succeed. Meanwhile I photographed heron...
...sedge warbler...
...and this whitethroat.
The problem is that it looks like a lesser with that darker area behind the eye, smoother more compact appearance, more white on the chest. But leg colour and lower mandible colour suggest common whitethroat. Nice bird anyway if a little skulking [which brings me back to lesser!!......]
Lockwood beckons!
A late start on Sunday 8th June for Barry and me. We headed back to Lockwood Beck reservoir to see if we could photograph the osprey. We knew it was still around and nothing especially exciting had been reported elsewhere nearby.
No sign after a while so we decided to walk round the reservoir - something we had never done before. Hoping for cuckoo and spotted flycatcher. We heard the cuckoo often enough and we saw a wren, a blue tit and a treecreeper! The anglers were fly-fishing. I was fascinated by this angler's case of assorted flies.
However about three-quarters of the way round the osprey appeared in the north-east corner, coming up over the dam and disappearing low down behind the trees to our right. I managed a quick shot.
Concluding our circumnavigation of the reservoir we rested on one of the benches by the outfall. Grey wagtails were around. Suddenly Barry said quietly: 'It's back!' It was. Here are just a few of the many photographs I took in the next few minutes. One of the most exciting birding/photographic experiences of the last few years.
Later we called at Scaling Dam and checked out the birds there. A willow warbler was singing from an alder that was swaying around quite violently in the increasing breeze. A few photos were in focus!
Finally we called at Sutton Bank but the turtle dove had turned!
30th May to 6th June 2014
Star Terns!
Monday 30th May: Crimdon Dene
Well, at least that's where we started our wonderful day's birding. Having arrived we were soon chatting to the wardens who monitor the little tern colony. After last year's vandalising [see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-23241488 ] it is to be hoped that young birds fledge successfully. The warden told us where to go to watch the birds and we also chatted more generally.
Barry enquired about burnt tip orchids and that's where we headed first [mainly because we carelessly got ourselves on the wrong side of Crimdon Beck and so decided to carry on and do the terns later]. They weren't going anywhere. The orchids were rumoured to be atop the cliff by the golf course. On our way we saw early purple orchid [flowering finished], twayblade as well as our quarry:
We headed back towards the beach. I photographed ringed plover.
Skylarks were abundant looking for food in the grass to feed their young.
Spider!
Barry meanwhile was down on the dry sand watching the terns on the water's edge.
They were flying back and forth past him from the fenced off shingle nest area.
I joined him and turned my attention to the view behind me beyond the fence. Fortunately the fence blurred itself away and it is virtually impossible to detect in the pictures.
Another walk to try to refind some stonechats produced not only stonechats but this meadow pipit on his lookout post. The post where I had seen the stonechat earlier. However I did refind them. First the rather nervous female showed up.
I glimpsed the male through a gap in the bushes.
He came nearer.
I saw some dame's violet hesperis matronalis by the beck.
Barry was photographing butterflies...
...including wall on wall!
The remains of the day were less photographic but great birding. An icterine warbler at St. Mary's church Hartlepool Headland rewarded us eventually with clear views as did distant bee-eaters [x2] at South Gare. Finally, amazingly, we had woodchat shrike at Hummersea. What a day! Last picture from that day of a singing willow warbler at Hummersea.
Back home Sheila had found an amazing insect in the conservatory with a 4cm ovipositor. Rhyssa persuasoria or giant ichneumon, we think.
Spurn & Strensall Common - June 1st
An early start and straight to Sammy's point where we eventually saw a golden oriole. Too quick for me to get a flight shot! Here's a whitethroat and a mallard instead!
All was quiet at the Canal Scrape. A swallow came within 4 feet outside the hide. I resorted to the iphone!
On to Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds. A golden plover [initially mistaken for a grey plover] was present.
For once an orange tip allowed me to photograph it. Benefit of 400mm lens: I don't think I'd have got near it with a close-up lens.
Barry spotted a dragonfly - broad-bodied chaser.
Intially I thought it was a four-spotted chaser but the wing markings are wrong and the body much broader. Compare with this photo from last year of a four-spot with a clear spot in the middle of the wing.
Beacon Ponds delighted us with the terns. Maybe not as close as at Crimdon, but the images really pleased me. Not as bird photos particularly but in some cases as pure images. I wonder if you can see what I mean?
A showy reed bunting was at Beacon Ponds too.
In many ways Spurn was quiet. A seawatch produced little but a few large gulls.
We decided to leave and call at Strensall Common to try for the woodlarks Barry had seen earlier in the week. We didn't see them but it was good to find the shorter route than the very wet one we 'invented' last year. We did see things of interest however.
A new site for me for green hairstreak butterfly...
...and this time a four-spot chaser glinting in the sunlight.
Finally, a sheep was watching me protectively. Her triplets were nearby. Showing off her new jewellery!!
Cowpen Marsh: June 3rd
Fairly last minute after a family visit in Wakefield, we decided to drive up to Saltholme in the afternoon to try to see the buff-breasted sandpiper on Cowpen Marsh. The directions were pretty clear as long as I could find Holme Fleet car park. I knew it must be one of two places and we found it easily although only two cars were there. I expected more for such a cracking bird. Once Sheila and I had climbed over the fence with some hilarity we set off on the walk - about 500m I think.
We soon saw the bird: great scope views but a bit distant for the camera. However Sheila said I should try. The results are, I think, acceptable. Here's the bird.
UK 215 2014
25th May 2014
A new bird for my album!
Barry and I set off fairly early for Lockwood Beck reservoir in hope of seeing the osprey that was frequenting the area. Part way there we diverted off course across country to Nosterfield NR as a broad-billed sandpiper was reported. We had decent views of a fairly distant bird but added a lot of species to our day list. My target of 45 soon looked unambitious!
Back on the road to Guisborough and then Lockwood Beck we stopped when Barry 'Hawkeye' Bishop spotted a little owl at the side of the road. We pulled over, checked in the bins that it was still for sale [it was on a house for sale sign]...
...and then got cameras out, wound windows down, turned Tiggy and drove slowly past the owl.
The owl grew bored of watching us and looked elsewhere.
We drove on to Lockwood Beck. A red grouse was disturbed close by as we looked down on the reservoir from the moorland.
Red grouse chicks scuttled along in the heather and whin.
Skylarks were singing overhead.
The osprey came overhead. Mobbed by a lapwing as it flew away from us.
Near the roadside curlews were displaying and, no doubt, nesting nearby. A few images follow.
We left the curlews in peace.
Down by the reservoir a pair of grey wagtails were very active.
For the rest of the day see http://barryjohnbishop.blogspot.co.uk/
UK 2014 208
15th-21st May 2014
All's right with the world!!
Well it will be, I hope. Each year I look forward in particular to the return of the swifts over my house. I note the date on the calendar and the current calendar tells me the dates for the last 6 or 7 years. This year: May 2nd.My other spring essential is a wood warbler in the Bolton Abbey woodlands. That's getting tougher each year...
...wood sandpipers are eluding me this spring so I may have to wait for their return trip south. But one target I am working hard on is to find early purple orchids in Yorkshire. So far I have failed: the orchids we saw at Tophill Low were almost certainly premature northern marsh orchids. They just don't look a bit like early purple orchids. How do I know? Well, read on!
May 15th: First time at Adwick Washlands and
Maltby Low Common
I called at Old Moor and picked up a map explaining how to get to Adwick Washlands. Maybe I'm no good at map-reading but it was much further than I thought. When I did get there there is none of the normal RSPB signage diarrhoea to tell you you have arrived. Obviously the RSPB hasn't given nature a home there yet! Still, it was interesting. I saw a couple of garganey. I failed to see the promised wood sandpiper. I will go again: I saw my first ever banded demoiselle - what a beautiful creature! No photo - no camera with me.
Moving on, I found my way to Maltby Low Common - said to be a site for early purple orchids. I found no sign of any. To access the site you cross a very neglected piece of single track railway line but, as I crossed the bridge, I noticed the rails themselves were shiny. I soon found out why.
In the middle of this photo you may spot a blue flower. This is the now quite rare columbine, aquilegia vulgaris, the colour indicative of a truly wild plant that is one of the described features of this YWT reserve.
I also found some wood anemones, anemone nemorosa.
May 17th: Bolton Abbey and the search for the early purples!
Another fairly early start but because it was Saturday the car park was almost full at Barden Bridge when I arrived. Third trip this year: I am the persistent birder! I set off: west bank to the aqueduct. I spotted a bird on the path ahead. Surprise encounter on a concrete path! A common sandpiper. I saw six!
At the aqueduct I then crossed over to the east bank. I soon saw pied flycatcher...
...and even [which was another nice surprise] a spotted flycatcher.
What I was really hoping for was, of course, wood warblers. I reached the stone shelter and was met by some old friends. I stood stock still. The female walked right up to me and then round my legs making a funny little clucking noise! Eventually the male panicked and they both flew off.
I carried on another few hundred metres past various holly bushes [I have often found the wood warblers not far from a large holly tree. Do they provide shelter and protection, I wonder?] I came across a female redstart.
I set off north back towards Barden. Suddenly I spotted two brightly coloured birds flying round and round a holly tree as if it were a helter skelter. I stopped and watched for about 5 minutes as I was pretty sure nirvana was at hand. A bird appeared nearby. The area was very dark. I took this at 1/60th of a second.
I pushed the ISO up to 1250, something I had never tried before. Not bad. Not a great photo, and rather grainy, but it did what I wanted. All is right with the world again! Wood warblers!
Leaving the wood a crowd had gathered near a bare tree. High up in the top was a young little owl. At least that's what people said. Young owl certainly. I climbed a high bank but couldn't get a clear shot.
Heading back along the eastern path from the aqueduct I watched a fly fisherman. Suddenly from his body language I guessed he might have a catch...
Here it comes.
The plan was to spend the rest of the day venturing further into the Dales to visit 2 sites where research suggested early purple orchids might be found. Both sites are in the Ingleton area. The first site was a thrill. Here's the view including the Settle-Carlisle railway in the middle ground.
I drove past the Ribblehead viaduct.
Many fields held both lambs and nesting oystercatchers. I tried to sneak up on one.
Cuckoo flower [aka milkmaids or Lady's smock] were frequent at the roadside.
Spring defined: a lamb among the primroses!
Views towards Ingleborough and down the valley from my second 'early purple' site.
Here the plants were much more exposed, up near limestone pavement, and were shorter stemmed.
On my way home I stopped for a map check. I spotted a swallow gathering mud. I re-angled the car slightly further back and sat with camera in the car and watched.
A wonderful day, all in all.
May 18th: the Friendly Phalarope
I took the camera even though I expected the bird to be rather distant. Moral: always take the camera - you never know when a more confiding bird is going to turn up! Red-necked phalarope on show!
Walking back I met a 'browncap' and a four-spot chaser. You can probably work out which is which!
May 19th: Potteric Carr and North Cave
Potteric Carr was to open early so birders could see the spotted sandpiper...but alas, the bird had flown. I had to make do with photos of grey plover...
...gossiping with a redshank...
...and a ringed plover and...
...a greenshank, a sedge warbler, a shoveler and a red crested pochard. So all was not lost!
Walking back I spotted a warbler. Out of all the photos in this blog I think these two images give me the most satisfaction. Moustached warbler!!!
I called at North Cave on the way home. A black tern was flying around.
An avocet was guarding its chick. Others were going for a family swim.
I said farewell to the still present phalarope.
May 21st: A Waste of diesel at Covenham Reservoir!
I blame the RAF.
I mean, that's only one explanation. Some said...the terek sandpiper was frightened off either by photographers going over the reservoir wall or by these very noisy aircraft.
There was little else to see. The reservoir was like a mill pond. Great crested grebe taking off...
...ringed plover.
UK 2014 205
10th-11th May 2014
A fine weekend - whatever the weather!
A hoopoe was reported near Beverley so on Saturday morning I set off to have a look. Well tucked away, I might never have found it without the postcode to help me. TomTom did me proud even though as I drove the last mile I wondered if we were on the wrong road! Many thanks to the owners of the house who accommodated all the birders so tolerantly. I hope they'll do the same if another rarity drops in!!
So, better have a look at the bird...
...I first went on Saturday morning, on my own...
The light was very harsh and 'contrasty' at times.
But I managed these pleasing shots!
A fly and a grub all at once! Clever stuff!
In the afternoon Sheila and I went back in the same direction to Arram station to walk part of the Minster Way looking for turtle doves. The whole afternoon turned rather turtle [!!] as we dipped on them and on woodsands at Swine Moor. Still, hoopoe made for a memorable day. We finished up at North Cave where Sheila spotted a common sandpiper...
...and I photographed a pair of avocets as they swapped over duties on their clutch of eggs.
On Sunday Barry and I set off for Tophill Low. A fairly late start by our standards but I diverted about 7 miles to revisit the hoopoe who performed briliantly for us both.
...and finally...
Tophill Low greeted us with a downpour. As skies cleared we photographed a tawny owl in the car park!
Snatched views of a probable reed warbler at North Marsh, a pheasant on D reservoir wall...
...and definite views of little gull...
...lesser black-backed gulls...
...and common terns made the day complete.
The walk to Watton produced the first orchids of the year - early purple as far as I can tell. They weren't fully open. some paler, stunted ones were open and apparently such colour variation in early purple is common. So I'll end with a flower!
Correction
I now believe these were early flowering northern marsh orchids. See next posting for explanations.
Chris 18.05.14
200 UK 2014