Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
Saturday 7th July 2012
Making a silk purse from a sow's ear...
The plan was quite simple. Get Barry up early and scamper to Seahouses in Northumberland to spend the day cruising the Farne islands, landing on two of the islands to take photographs. There was just one thing I hadn't allowed for. Fog. All day fog wherever we tried to go. We had to abandon the idea of going to the Farnes. We headed north for Holy Island [because the tides were perfect for access all day] but the weather deteriorated even further with the haar now combining with heavy rain.
So we turned back south. A red-backed shrike had been reported at East Chevington NWT. We soon saw the bird but very distantly and, of course, in the mist! I took some other pictures however.
This meadow pipit was unperturbed by my presence as was the clicking reed bunting behind me.
The mist over north pool did reveal some arctic terns visiting from nearby Coquet Island and three mute swans passed overhead in the gloom.
I took photographs of many orchids that day - at 3 different sites. The orchid photos will be added to my 2012 Orchids posting but to give a flavour I'll put one picture from each site in this entry.
Common Spotted orchid just opening - with attendant bee.
Next call was just down the road at Hauxley NWT. The reserve is part of the former Radcliffe open cast coal mine, which was landscaped to produce a lake with islands. This is potentially a very good reserve and had reliable sightings of roseate terns on the beach [again from Coquet Island]. We sat in one of the hides for a while and watched common terns in the mist. A young black-headed gull was resting in the grass.
On our walk towards the beach I snapped a rabbit and a bee on a dog rose flower.
Incidentally I've still got the image stabilizer switched off. Also the blade of dark green grass pointing at the rabbit's eye actually passes across his face. Using Photoshop I cloned it away. I think I have learnt to do this most effectively. My hourly training fee comes in scones!!
White-tailed bumble bee and rosa canina.
All the close-ups taken at East Chevington and Hauxley were taken with my 400mm DO lens which shows what a versatile lens it is. The only problem is the minimum focus distance - sometimes it is tricky to get the 3.8m away needed for focus to be achieved. The viper's bugloss photo was a good case in point. I was almost falling down a ditch to get far enough away!
Viper's bugloss or Echium vulgare. Great blue! Apparently the seeds resemble a viper's head and the word bugloss is an old word for ox tongue which the leaves resemble. So now you know!
Eventually we climbed up a small dune to reach the beach. We could hear terns distantly. This is what we could see looking along the dunes...
Outside the hide a pheasant was unsure whether to panic or not. Eventually we left him in peace. I can't resist a close-up of a male pheasant. Quite exotic!
Same bird.
On the walk back we passed a stand of teasel plants but not the normal one we see locally. This was cut-leaved teasel, dipsacus laciniatus, a european invader which in the USA has become an invasive menace, especially in Illinois. Rarer in UK, it is not even mentioned in my Collins Complete British Wild Flowers. Book therefore has wrong title!
Back at the car park I photographed northern marsh orchid and a nicely obliging common blue butterfly [male].
We drove into Amble to see if there were any sailings round Coquet Island [ever optimists] but not until 4pm and then the weather might scupper it. On, then, to Cresswell Pond. Good birds: common terns, adult little gulls, avocets, blackwit, dunlin. But still misty. Final call would be further south at Bishop Middleham Quarry to look for butterflies and orchids. By the time we got there we were definitely into much nicer weather.
All the pictures taken at Bishop Middleham were taken with my Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens, still with IS switched off. Bishop Middleham Quarry is a most wonderful place once you've got your eye in, as Barry says, and start to spot the good plants.
As for orchids we did wonderfully in the end but you'll have to wait until I update the orchid posting. As we entered the reserve Barry found this special plant.
I think this is Heath Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza maculata v. leucantha, a rare but widespread form and a new orchid for me. Plant of the day.
A part of the quarry face had holes that sand martins were using.
You can see a sand martin returning home right of centre.
In the above image you can see the bird returning but you can also see three birds poking their heads out of a hole in the rock in the far right part of the image.
Butterflies were active in the warm sunshine - such a contrast to the weather further north. Northern brown argus butterfly - note white spots on forewing. Closed wing view in the second image. A rare butterfly.
Perhaps this one had taken a battering in the bad weather.
Common blue male.
This day flying moth was on the quarry floor. It's A Bordered Sallow moth Pyrrhia umbra.
Below is a small heath butterfly, a drab and inconspicuous species usually only seen at rest with its wings closed.
Finally two more photos of the northern brown argus. Note the white spots on the forewing and, on this occasion, when the wings are closed the black spots are absent from the little white rings. If you see what I mean.
The butterfly hasn't moved. It's still on the same dead grass stalk.
Barry found a five spot burnet moth resting on a common spotted orchid.
Arrivederci!
Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Well, I thought it was going to be nice!!
At home in York the temperature had climbed to 23 degrees. It was warm and fairly sunny. I thought of either North Cave or Blacktoft. Packed my stuff, threw in a jumper and my light summer waistcoat. Blacktoft then: no wind, might even catch up with a bearded tit for the first time this year. Three-quarters of the way there it began to drizzle. Then it really rained. By Blacktoft it had abated so I decided to get to Marshland* asap and stay there since I had no waterproof.
Oh yes. I've got these 3 common tern pics sitting on my desktop and with nowhere to go. Let's pretend I took them at Blacktoft yesterday! Let's be clear, I didn't but I can't remember where I did take them. Fairburn probably. But they are nice birds, aren't they?
Right. That's done then. Black to Backtoft!! [Deliberate error!]. All was fairly quiet. The scrape looked deserted. The bins soon showed me what my naked eyes were missing. [What is a naked eye? Why do we sometimes keep our eyes peeled?] There were 6 redshanks and 5 green sandpipers over against the reeds. I thought I might be spending the afternoon hoping the greensands would come a little nearer.
A heron dropped in close to the hide. Best heron photos I've ever taken. The bird knew I was there but didn't care less!!
Straightforward pose.
Caught small fry!
The light somehow produced a nice effect. Time for a shake.
He kept a beady eye on me too.
I though this image might look all right in black & white.
Eventually one of the greensands came a little closer and landed on one of the muddy islands.
Feeding together:
This bif shows the characteristic white rump of a flying greensand.
The rain returned with a vengeance. It's about time they shot the people who declared a major british drought. Wettest drought on record. First ever Olympic washout? You heard it first here, folks!!
These two looked fairly miserable. You can see the rain bouncing on the water!
Greensand#1: What month did you say it is?
Greensand#2: July. Feels like October doesn't it!
One greensand came fairly close.
An eclipse shoveler still looked quite classy in the rain.
Finally to my surprise the spotted redshanks [I want to call them blackshanks!] dropped in from Ousefleet*. I had known they were knocking about. All 8 of them. If you look very carefully [i.e. peel your eyes!] there are 2 common redshanks among the rocks on the left of this picture. It's considerably cropped - they were quite a way off.
I'm afraid you'll have to trust me on that one. I could see them when I zoomed in close. Eventually they flew off. Four went right in the direction of Xerox* and four returned to Ousefleet*.
* these are hide names at Blacktoft RSPB if you are unfamiliar with the reserve.
Other birds seen today: magpie; mallard; meadow pipit; blackcap; reed warbler; marsh harrier; swallow; lapwings; pheasant; reed bunting
Saturday 30th June 2012
Sun, rain, mud, sun, rain, bird, home
Sum up your day in 7 words. I just did.
An alpine swift was reported Friday evening at Bempton. After 9am in the morning it was again reported. So off I went. Although it was Saturday traffic was light and I made good time. Met Alan Whitehead and his dog; walked with a chap called Peter to show him the orchids. Didn't see the swift. Saw some common swifts and added to my orchid photo album for this year. Got soaked on the way back to the car. Checked the bee orchid in the car park. Still present but going over.
Alan W said he'd seen the swift distantly well west of the reserve. Blue skies returned and I set off again. 'Go west, old man!'
Earlier I had chatted to a fellow photographer - more skilled than I - about lenses and stuff. Some of what he had to say prompted me to experiment for the day and so all today's photos were taken with the image stabilizer switched off. This chap suggested they can cause more issues than they solve. I'm quite pleased with the results.
I walked on and on. Distracted myself from back pain by taking more shots. Puffins next:
Fulmars and Kittiwakes:
That's nice. Fulmar having a doze in her back garden!
Baby kittiwakes are quite attractive compared with some gull youngsters... What do you call them? Kittens?
Catching kittiwakes in flight is tricky so these two of the same bird were very pleasing - image stabilizer still off by the way:
It's not easy to take a bad picture of a gannet provided it's in focus. They are so easy at Bempton. Quite thrilled with today's haul.
Finally this cheeky jackdaw was by my car as I packed up to go home.
Oh yes, I did finally get near to the triangulation point at TA 171748 - a little blue triangle on the OS map. I was exhausted. I set off back. It was getting late. I kept turning to watch what the other birders were doing. Suddenly over the cliff edge I saw a very large swift. I followed it for maybe 15 seconds until it dipped below the clifftop. A man was dancing and waving his arms. He'd seen it at last. And so had I!! Alpine swift 382. Then it rained again. Well, that's birding.
382 UK life; 115 Yorks year list; 241 UK year list.
25th-27th June 2012
Three Wet Days in Wales: 25th-27th June
Decision taken to go for the gull-billed tern near Llanelli, I set off early, planning to head north to Abersoch for the night. I reached the WWT National Wetlands Centre early afternoon and spent some time in the British Steel hide. No sign of the tern. To get to my mother-in-law's I couldn't stay forever so I eventually gave up hope of seeing the bird. Perhaps it was out on the estuary somewhere. Were its movements tide-dependent?
I took some photos of captive birds in the collection, including an eclipse red-crested pochard and a Barrow's goldeneye pair. Don't suppose I'll ever see one of those in the wild! Also saw some orchids - see Orchid 2012 posting.
The next day, weather still horrible, I went to the Glaslyn Osprey Project viewpoint to see the ospreys. You couldn't see the tree the nest is in! Too misty. I hung around and eventually a partial clearance enabled me to see two chicks. One was clapping its wings energetically to build up flight strength. An adult was seen flying from the nest. Apparently there are 3 female youngsters this year, doing well in spite of the weather.
I visited some of my favourite places but saw little of interest. A few sandwich terns. It was what you might call a 'coot, moorhen and shelduck' kind of day. And the gull-billed tern was showing well from a railway bridge in Loughor a mile or so east of the Wetlands Centre. Repeated sightings on the pager!!
Persistent like the song thrush I don't give up easily. So at 5.18am on the Wednesday [27/6] I set off from Abersoch back to Loughor. I arrived at about 9.10am and parked north of the railway bridge at Loughor to explore on foot. In the rain. The Wetlands Centre wouldn't be open until 10am so I might as well have a look here. As I approached the road bridge which overlooks the railway line and parts of the estuary beyond, I saw a man with a scope on the bridge. You can tell somehow if a birder is looking in hope or looking at. He was definitely looking at. I hurried along.
'Any sign?' I asked hopefully.
'Yes, it's there with those gulls.'
I rapidly started lowering tripod legs and setting up my scope.
'They're off!' the friendly welshman said. Panic. Surely I'm not going to miss this bird, this lifer, by a few seconds?
With the naked eye I saw the birds settle back.
'Behind two gulls, preening,' the man said.
'Got it. Great views in the scope. In the rain. Who cares! 381 - 19 to go!
I couldn't photograph the bird, but this Senegal stamp shows a gull-billed tern! Gelochelidon nilotica formerly Sterna nilotica.
I watched the bird for about twenty minutes. You certainly wouldn't confuse it with a sandwich tern. This full adult was unmistakable, its black cap tapering down the back of its head like a pigtail. The beefy black bill and a sort of dirty grey colour. Big-winged tern too.
And so I decided to head home at a more leisurely, contented pace. I called at Slimbridge for a break. Photographed a few more captive birds, including two very approachable Bewick's swans not able to fly north.
In the Observatory [= posh word for posh hide!] a huge chart displays Bewick's swan bill patterns from the 1960s. With the big lens on I could only photograph a small section.
Again there were lots of marsh orchids to see. Caribbean flamingoes are so photogenic, I can't resist them!
I had to stand on a funny angle to take this one so I've straightened it up in Photoshop, which is why the corners are clipped!
Ok. All the rest of the photos are wild birds.
A tufted duck was escorting a very large number of chicks [15]. I wonder if they were all hers?
By the Holden Tower I saw an entrance to the Summer Pathway. I had not been before when this was open. Down to the River Severn to the Midpoint Hide it said. I walked in the sunshine. It rained on my summer waistcoat on the way back! The hide is unique: an old Commer van with steering wheel intact but with hide-type windows on one side.
Whilst I was there a little egret came towards me quite unaware of me at first. I fired the shutter as it came nearer. Sequence below.
I walked back. On one of the pools a pair of lesser black-backed gulls were resting.
His mate [or friend] was on an adjacent post. You can see the rain falling.
To my right I thought I could see a small wader just beyond a fence behind some weeds.
Can you see him? I'll zoom in. It's a green sandpiper.
Happy birding everyone!
240 UK; 381 life list.
Orchids 2012
An album of my photographs of...
Orchids 2012
N.B. Some sections from earlier posts have been pasted here to bring all the orchid stuff together. Future orchid sightings will be mentioned in blog postings but photos will only appear here.
1. Cultivated hardy outdoor orchids
Established clump of common spotted orchids growing in our garden in shade.
23.06.12
We also have a large established clump of a dactylorhiza cultivar which is quite impressive:
The white glare on the flowers is rainwater. 23.06.12
2. Wild british orchids
Greatham Creek, Cleveland 14.06.12
The first orchids I found this year were near Greathem Creek. See also posting for June 14th 2012
Some plants are unspotted as in photo 1. Others have fine spots. However I believe from the flower colour and location that these are Northern Marsh Orchids. All photos 14.06.12.
RSPB Bempton Cliffs 18.06.12
A few days later I went to RSPB Bempton Cliffs near Flamborough specifically to look for northern marsh orchids as the warden had mentioned on their recent sightings page that the orchids were in flower. I asked where and was very pleasantly surprised by the trouble people went to. Not only did I see the northern marsh orchids, but also a very tall bee orchid, a couple of common spotted and lots and lots of northern marsh orchids. If you want to see you have to ask nicely...
Bee Orchid
Common Spotted Orchids
Northern Marsh Orchids
All photos June 18th 2012.
National Wetlands Centre WWT, Llanelli 25.06.12
Southern Marsh Orchids
These were tall plants with stout stems. I was thrilled to see them when I had been disappointed by the non-appearance of the gull-billed tern. But more of that in the normal birding blog!
Slimbridge WWT, 27.06.12
More southern marsh orchids showing the stout stems again and colour range. Flowers just starting to fade.
Bempton Cliffs RSPB 30th June 2012
Went back really to try for Alpine Swift [see posting for 30.06.12] but couldn't avoid photographing the orchids again.
Common Spotted Orchids
Northern Marsh Orchid
East Chevington NWT 7th July 2012
Quite a lot of Common Spotted Orchids were seen along the footpath to the north pool and by the car park area. Apparently butterfly orchids have been seen at this site so will have to target them next year perhaps!
Hauxley NWT 7th July 2012
Near the reception building Northern Marsh Orchids and Common Spotted Orchids were seen in a wonderful pair of wild flower meadows.
Pity I wasn't a bit more careful with the gardening! Northern Marsh Orchid below.
Bishop Middleham Quarry DWT 7th July 2012
Heath Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza maculata v leucantha - as far as I can tell. Heath Spotted is very closely related to Common Spotted, often overlooked and they all can hybridize. The plants are unaware that mankind has compartmentalised them into a set of species. Not to mention the lumpers [who are trying to sensibly limit the nimber of species] and the splitters [who want see more species so try, obviously to split slightly differing plants in to separate species...]
Nonetheless, a lovely plant.
A small Common Spotted Orchid.
A few photos of Dark Red Helleborine - very rare and running late: they were fully open a week earlier last year. The plant for which Bishop Middleham is most famous.
Next, Common or Chalk Fragrant Orchid.
Also not full open yet.
Well, more or less open. Below is a particularly smart Pyramidal Orchid.
I've included the next photo as it shows two species growing very closely together.
Fragrant Orchid on the left, Northern Marsh on the right.
This is probably Heath Spotted Orchid.
And this could be Heath or Common Spotted - or a hybrid, although hybrids are, apparently, often very robust and stout stemmed. the more I look the more I think Common Spotted!
It took us a long time but eventually we began to find some bee orchids.
Our only failure was to find Common Twayblade - here's one from Bishop Middleham 2011.
Wharram Quarry NWT 12th July 2012
The orchids were wonderful this year, presumably thanks to the amount of rainfall this spring. It is amazing what the declaration of a national drought can achieve in an orchid field!
I would estimate I saw about 60 bee orchids, up to 400 or more pyramidal orchids and thousands of common spotted. There follows a selection of photos which need little commentary. Some show just how many orchids there were in some places. For butterfly photos etc. from the same visit see the blog posting for 11-12.07.12.
Common spotted orchids
Note the lonely pyramidal orchid towards the top right of the picture. This photo was taken quite near the entrance to the reserve. The pyramidals tend to be towards the south end of the quarry.
Bee orchids
Pyramidal Orchids
Wykeham Forest Raptor Watchpoint 12 July 2012
My final call that day was at the raptor watchpoint; I saw a buzzard, a lizard and a ringlet butterfly. I was surprised to find common spotted orchids alongside the dark path through the conifers leading to the viewpoint.
If these are not as sharp as some photos I was struggling for light, shooting at 1/25th of a second.
Cod Beck reservoir, near Osmotherley Wednesday 18th July 2012
A spread of common spotted orchids at the head [north end] of the reservoir . Quite a number of spikes were either very pale or white. Site was very wet. Could not get nearer!
Unst August 2012
The highlight of my trip to Unst was the hour or so spent at the Keen of Hamar hunting for frog orchid. By some miracle we did find it.
However there were other orchids about. Heath spotted orchids were found beside the road to Muness on our first asfternoon on Unst. That was an unexpected bonus.
The best was of course the frog orchid, coeloglossum viride. Approximately one and a half inches tall we almost missed it. Several views below.
Back at Uyeasound Barry found this vigorous hybrid [?] growing by a narrow track just west of the hostel.
