Last Gasp 2007

We popped down to Weymouth for a couple of days. Nipping out for a couple of hours is normally difficult in winter, but this time I could nip out for a couple of hours in the morning because D#1 appears to be in a state of quasi-hibernation, and doesn’t normally make an appearance until the afternoon.

29th was Lodmoor. I started off scanning Weymouth Bay, and got 3 Great-Northern Divers, 2 Razorbills, a GC-Grebe, c20 Turnstones, and a frustrating distant diver.

On Lodmoor, a large female pheasant powered past, and it was only as it plunged into the reeds that I twigged it was a Bittern – my first for Lodmoor. Then 3 Stonechats, and from Beachdown Way a flock of Pochard contained 2m Wigeon and a female Scaup – another first for Lodmoor. Otherwise a female Bullfinch, and a Shoveller.

Then 30th it was round Portland Harbour. With no wind it was like a millpond, perfect conditions. I watched from Portland Castle, then The National Sailing Academy, and then over the shingle bank into Chesil Cove.

There were at least 4 Great-Northern Divers, possibly 6; a Red-Necked Grebe, 3 Long-Tailed Ducks causing a stir amongst the regulars, 3 Med Gulls (ad, 1st winter, 2nd winter), a couple of Razorbills, a GC-Grebe, and a few Dunlin, Turnstone and Oyks.

Over the bank, there was c30 Common Scoter on the big sea. I couldn’t see the Velvet Scoter with them, despite much searching, but did see a Red-Throated Diver.

Finally another two distant Divers in the harbour. They were good candidates for Black-Throated; serpentine appearance, horizontal beaks, occasional glimpse of white thigh patch, but just too distant to be absolutely positive.

Last minute local birding

A couple of visits to Harlow Town Park to make sure the children don’t spend all day in front of the computer. Despite the location in the centre of a new town, and the large areas of close cropped grass there’s a few spaces for birds; notable totals were:

Green Woodpecker, GSW, Siskin c50, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 12, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Long-Tailed Tit 3, Cormorant 2, many Common Gulls going over with similar BH Gulls and 1 LBB Gull.

And a male Bullfinch in the garden this morning!

Finally a happy Xmas to everyone, and if I don’t post anything between now and next year (which is quite likely), best wishes for successful birding in 2008.

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost 22 Dec

I don’t do freezing cold as a rule. If I spend a day out in sub-zero temperatures I always seem to end up getting flu for two-weeks afterwards. But today I reckoned I could get away with a visit to Sawbridgeworth Marsh Roost.

Mike has had some excellent records recently; LSW, Peregrine, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, but my incessant yakking put a stop to that today. I find roosts difficult as birds call once then plunge out of the gloom into a reedbed, and got some invaluable lessons from Mike in bird calls and distant flight identification.

Highlights below (a subset of Mike’s List of evening totals for those notable species I saw): 2 Water Rail, 7 Stock Dove, 2 Little Owl (both calling birds), 1 GSW, 11 Meadow Pipit, 10 Redwing, 256 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff (heard in reedbed), 207 Jackdaw (SSW), 159 Rook (2, 157, SSW) , 24 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer (N).

I notice that nearby Rainham Marsh has had an influx of exotic geese in the last couple of days. Has St James’s Park lake frozen over?

What’s going on with my blog?

According to the various stats attached to this blog, the readership is increasing and becoming more international.

Just as I was congratulating myself on this blog finding its rightful place in the pantheon of bird blogs, my photographic talent getting well deserved attention, and my writing abilities finally gaining their proper recognition etc etc I noticed that most of the recent hits come from the same google request back to this entry from the summer. It’s not a particularly noteable entry.

I suspect some automated process is up to no good. Can either of my regular readers shed any light on this?

SLRS 16 Dec

South of Sawbo. Cold, bright, frosty but difficult with the low sun. The scrape was frozen round the edges but melting in the mddle.

Probably the worst list this year. The heaving hedgerows and flocks of finches in the field have all gone, leaving just a basic list.

Kevin was out with his new scope, so we wandered slowly round the fields, putting it to the test on distant trees with some success. We found two mussel shells in the middle of the field. A peruse of my guide book at home indicated Swan Mussel as the most likely candidate

Slowly some decent sightings were assembled, and on the way back we came across a Bullfinch. A common enough bird round here, but usually all you get is a call and a white rump disappearing into the distance; today we had a pristine plump vision of jet black, battleship grey, shocking pink and brilliant-white. For a moment I was a transported back to a snowy garden in Leeds, and an eight-year old boy gazing in awe at a male Bullfinch sat in a tree just a few feet away.

Lowlights: Snipe 5, Herring Gull 8 N over, LBB Gull 2 incl 1 on SLRS, Common Gull 4, BH gull 23, Kestrel 2, GSW 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Jackdaw c20 in plughed field, Wood Pigeon c50+ over towards the Gibberd Garden, Song thrush 2, Blackbird 5, Redwing 2, Goldfinch 8, Chaffinch 4, Bullfinch 2, Greenfinch 5.

Hatfield Forest in the gloom

Hatfield Forest this morning. Took the 100-400 with the 1.4x to try and get some decent shots in the morning sunlight.

Little to report. I drove past flocks of finches on the way, but once at the forest birds were hard to come by. I went to the NW corner and eventually found a few birds. Apart form the usual woodland birds – Bullfinch, Nuthatch, GSW & GreenWood, the highlights were 11 Jays in total, and 3 Marsh Tits. Back to the lake for 2 GCG’s, 3 Teal, a few Pochard and Tufted Duck on the lake, and back to the car as the downpour set in.

Halfway round I realised that the reason I couldn’t seem to get a reasonable photo was the zoom extension was still locked from the previous trip, and I’d been taking pictures at 140mm. My punishment was the sun immediately disappearing so apologies for the photos from the gloom.

Tonight Mrs D is indignant. "How come Russell Brand has been introduced to the Queen and I haven't?"

Quick question

A quick question for you, which occured to me as I was looking at a tree with Starling, Woodpigeon, Blue tit, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Blackbird in it.

What's the highest number of species you've seen in a single tree?

Stonechats at SLRS

Went round the Moors south of Sawbridgeworth at midday today in search of Steve’s pair of Stonechats. They eventually gave themselves up on the new fence east of the Railway opposite the scrape. I couldn’t see any rings on the legs, however, but I didn’t get that good a view. (A pair were ringed a mile north at Sawbridgeworth Marsh a couple of weeks ago, and there is in all probability a separate pair up round Stortford).

The scrape was frozen, so smaller numbers here. Meanwhile the fields south of the “Chaff dump” field were freshly ploughed and had large flocks of pigeons and finches.
Highlights of the list below:

Cormorant 1 over, Lapwing 2 on the ice, 5 Snipe flushed from the field south of the scrape. Stock Dove 14 with c30 Wood Pidgeons (the Stock Dovers a record for me in a single group I think). Jay 2, GSW 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Meadow Pipit 5, Yellowhammer 2, Chaffinch c100, Goldfinch c30, Blackbird 10, Song Thrush 3, Mistle Thrush 1, Redwing c20, Fieldfare 1, Starling c20.

Do Stonechats always winter in pairs? Round Weymouth I either see none or several, or don’t count the sexes, but here, where there are fewer, it’s always a pair. So are these the adults from a local breeding pair? Or do first winters pair up in autumn? Questions, questions; perhaps the ringing will give us the answers.

A new bird for the tetrad

Did the second of my tetrads to day. With the wind keeping the birds down, and myself unfamiliar with much of the tetrad, I only managed about half of it. Nevertheless I found myself in some out of the way corners of rural Hertfordshire with some surprising bits of woodland, orchards, and ponds.

Highlights were: at the golf club, Nuthatch, Linnet, Goldcrest, Skylark, GSW, Kestrel, Bullfinch, Song Thrush. A farm in the middle of the tetrad; GSW, Heron, Bullfinch, Jay, some sparkling Fieldfares and Redwings, Siskin, and then a Common Buzzard heading north along a hedgerow.

Finally back along the road from Gilston to High Wych two more (and different) Common Buzzards. That’s three in an area where the last time this area was surveyed, there were none.

Hatfield Forest & SLRS

First up this morning I did my family duty and took D#3 and D#4 to Hatfield Forest for a constitutional walk. I got my reward in a spooky kind of way that makes you think there might be a God and “Most Haunted” might not be complete nonsense. I saw a couple of Goldcrests in bushes at the bottom of the lake (Shell House end) and was thinking thought what would be really nice now is a Firecrest, when I got onto a Goldcrest with a white supercilium. Hang on! white super, black stripe above it, Bronze sheen on the wings, IT’S A FIRECREST! IT’S A FIRECREST! It flitted around for thirty second or so and then went off. Fantastic.

Nothing could match up to that, but Siskins, Kingfisher in the middle of the lake, Nuthatch over and various finches and peckers and plenty of Redwings made for a terrific day, particularly as the Forest is now looking fabulous in its vivid Autumn colours.

Then in the afternoon back to SLRS with a camera for some more autumn colours. Just 70 Lapwing, 16 Snipe, 2 Common Gull, 16 BHG, 6 Long-tailed Tits. Standing on the opposite bank seems to mean the birds aren’t bothered and are happy to come out in the open. The views are too distant for photography, but still excellent through the scope. Okay it isn’t Minsmere, but I cannot think of a better way of spending time than watching SLRS, with the odd narrow boat drifting by, and some chat with the local dog walkers.

BTO Survey - Sat 2nd

Did my first ever BTO survey west of Allen’s Green. Main sightings were masses of Fieldfares – estimate c180 in total, the most numerous bird. Otherwise 5 Jays, a few Siskins and Yellowhammers; 29 species in total. There were 2 hares as well. It felt great to be doing something that will, even in just a small way, contribute to what will be a significant piece of scientific work.

Allen’s Green Wood is a Pheasant-rearing base, and there was a shoot going on in the fields outside. Having observed the shoot, I now realise that the bin plonked in the middle of the field in which SLRS sits is not for dog-waste but for spent shotgun cartidges.

In the late afternoon went to SLRS. Highlight was a Water Rail. The Water Rail is a speciality of the Stort valley due to the many boggy places down its length. I know just one is poor compared to the 9+ north of Sawbridgeworth, but this was out in the open for ages on the SE corner. Otherwise some Siskins in the birches by the marina and some Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Green Woodpecker, GSW, c30 Starlings.

The Lovely Bones

My place of work is large offices in the middle of London near St Paul’s. During the building several years ago the site was thoroughly excavated, and today some of the findings were exhibited.

Amongst the many bones were remains of Raven, Red Kite, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Quail, and Common Crane, all from between 1300ish and 1666 (all except the Crane the earlier part of this period).

One of the archaeologists explained that Crane remains are often found at sites of banquets or other ceremonial meals. So I got wondering if Cranes were kept, probably pinioned, for such occasions, and possibly transported live from the continent. Maybe the same for some of the other birds. Can we be sure these birds were genuinely wild in the UK, and not transported and farmed?

The Yanks are coming

According to Piers Corbyn and his Weather Action organisation, Storms are due on Nov 8-13 and Nov 24-28. No doubt westerlies which will deliver gulls and other raries to western coasts.

Remember you read it here first. Unless, like me, you read it here first

weymouth photos - 22nd

I took the camera down to Radipole. I arrived just in time to learn I'd missed Peregrine, Merlin, and 3 Little Stints at Lodmoor. Oh well.

I took a few pics of the gull roost. Here they are unclipped.

I found a Little Grebe close in to the Marina wall, and watched it diving. They may be serene on the surface, but under water they scrabble round rocks like birds possessed, and if they find a suitable fish just tear after it until they get it. Amazing. What photoshop can do ...

22 Oct Lodmoor

I snuck out at 7:30 am for an hour and a half. It was frustrating, as there were birds going over and some of the hedgerows were rammed, but I felt at the limits of my abilities here. Did I eke a good list out of a poor day? Or blunder round in blissful ignorance of the jewels on offer?

Highlights:

Blackbird C50!
Wigeon; 6 & 3
Black Tailed Godwit 3
Dunlin 2
Snipe 1
Lapwing c20
Sparrowhawk 1
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Stonechat 3
Bearded Reedling. Lots of pinging in two places, and scuttling through the reeds. 1 seen. Cetti’s Warbler 3.
Goldcrest 2.

21 Oct – StourHead

We detoured from our normal route to Weymouth to fulfil a long held ambition to visit Stourhead. We thought we were clever chosing a sunny day at half-term, but several thousand other people seemed to have had the same idea.

It was very nice. Almost, but not quite, as good as Fountains Abbey. Although Mrs D did comment, as we trooped in our conga slowly round the lake, that it was like exercise-time in some super-posh middle-class prison. But nice trees, and a nice farm shop too.

Sawbo - Old Harlow

Well nearly as far as Old Harlow. I walked down the Stort until I could see The Palace. It was clearly quieter than visits last month; flitting birds were no longer warblers but Dunnocks instead, and there were a few other absences; mainly Blackbirds - where are they?.

SLRS was full after recent rains,

A Grey Heron at the top of a tall tree - why? Cormorant 3 imm in the Cormorant Tree, appropriately. Mute Swan 3 adults flew over - again why 3? Mallard 10 in total inc 2 at the flash. Snipe 8. 4 at the S end, and 4 on the grass at the top. Lapwing 25 over, 2 on the flash. BH Gull c30 on the flash. GSW at least 3. Skylark a few singles over calling. Meadow Pipit 3 by the flash then later flying round. Chaffinch c20, Goldfinch 15, Greenfinch c10, Siskin 1 over calling, Bullfinch 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Redwing a few flying around but unsatisfactory views. Mistle Thrush 2, Carrion Crow a few, Jay 1, Yellowhammer 1 over.

And in the afternoon, Shaggy Ink Cap in the Garden. My guide says its edible. After you!

Ferrybridge 6th

A morning stroll from Ferrybridge down to Small Mouth, then across the road and up the Rodwell trail as far as the Castle Cove Yacht club. Proof, once more, that the more time you take the more you see.

Brent Goose – 2 dark bellied went E out of the harbour
Little Egret 1
Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Turnstone.
Sandwich Tern 1 juv
BH Gull, GBB Gull, Herring Gull,
Hobby 1 slow N over with something in its claws. A couple of Gulls mad a half-hearted attempt to mob it
Kestrel 1
Swallow – low tens. I didn't see any other hirundines this trip apart form lots of swallows
Wheatear 1 across the road by the centre.

Finally, the obligatory Med Gull sighting. A 2nd year flying around the harbour by Perry’s Restaurant.

Portland 5th Oct

The schools had an Inset day on Friday. Someone in Herts Council Education department is obviously a twitcher. Taking the hint I took D1 and D2 to Weymouth for a couple of days.

Portland was, we were told, a bird-free zone. So, free from the need to wait ages for a glimpse of a Sibe, we took a leisurely walk up the top fields, left to the west cliffs, back to the point, then back to the obs.

And there was action all the way. Firstly we had a fantastic female Merlin that did a couple of hunting sorties for us. Picked up dashing across a field, it twisted and turned after a starling, and then cruised around looking for prey. It was great to have the opportunity to take a good look at the flying style and hunting habits of Merlin at close quarters.

Then at the West Cliffs we had a few Stonechats, a Sparrowhawk, and a Wheatear.Down towards the Bill ours, and everyone else’s attention was turned by the Costguard helicopter hovering by the point. A stretcher went down, and then came up with a person clinging to the basket. Maybe a training exercise? Hope so.

Then from the Bill back to the obs we had a terrific Clouded-Yellow Butterfly, showing off the deep orange of the upper surface contrasting with the lemon-yellow undersurfaces. A couple of well marked Wheatears, a Grey Seal, and 4 Rock Pipits (do they migrate through here?). Finally at the obs a Brown Rat by the bird table.

All the time a trickle of Swallows going through, Meadow Pipits “tseep”ing around, and flocks of Starlings, Linnets, and House Sparrows. The obs recently got a few extra fields I think and the large passerine flocks may be a result of this.

In the evening we went into town. 100+ Pied Wagtails flew down the harbour, and an auk, probably a Razorbill, fished out in the middle. Then a first. Whilst we are used to being one of a few groups in a cinema for a Tuesday afternoon cartoon, for the duration of the 4:30 showing of “Run, Fat Boy Run” we were the only ones in the theatre.

The chopper in action, taken by D2

lost weekend

A late September weekend, easterly winds, its time to get up early and go off to the coast.

So on Sunday I got up early and went ... to work. No point in complaining. Deadlines are deadlines ...

Bizarre Birding in Sawbridgeworth

The strangeness started as soon as I got out of the car. I thought someone had their radio on – unsociable at 8:30 on a Sunday morning – but as I entered the fields south of Sawbridgeworth it became obvious the noise was on a different scale – possibly Harlow town Park about 5 miles away across the Stort Valley, or possibly here.

So as Marvin Gaye “What’s Going on?” echoed round the fields I picked up a small flock of Long-Tailed Tits. I searched for Sylvia warblers but apart from one in the bottom of a bush drew a blank. A couple of Bullfinches skulked in a bush and a Kestrel flew through as Dusty Springfield sang “Son of a Preacher Man”, and then I struggled for birds and songs – possibly a Kingfisher calling, and was that Sly and the Family Stone?

Stevie Wonder was singing Superstition as I crossed the river, and then the mood changed to Jazz as I went up the hill to view SLRS. I bumped into Kevin on his bike, and as Miles Davis’ trumpet rang out round the fields a Meadow Pipit flew south, and we saw family parties of Yellowhammers, more Bullfinches, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, brownish Willow-Chiff and a GS and Green Woodpecker. SLRS had 4 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, and a couple of Teal, and Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”.

Another mood change. The small birds were kicking up a commotion, and as the ground shook to Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” a dark shape slipped out of the hedgerow with a bird in its claws – my instinct was Hobby.

As I headed for home someone turned the sound off at this time, and a total of four Chiffs were in the willows by the river. One singing, one skulking, and two “hoeet”ing.

I thought the bizarreness would stop there, but mid afternoon Mrs Dipper called for an emergency chocolate run to Waitrose in Bishop’s Stortford. On the way back I stopped at the large recently ploughed field at Trimm/s Green/Allen’s Green, a local highpoint with views over Stansted Airport . Mike had been earlier and seen good numbers of Lapwing, Carrion Crows, and various other birds. I saw most of that through the heat haze, and then a wader flying around; notions of Golden Plover were dispelled by the enormous white wing bars. It didn’t settle, was chased by Lapwings, and eventually flew up towards me to confirm as a Black-Tailed Godwit, then flew off north. Bizarre.

** evening update ** Kevin informs me that the music was from an all-nighter takin place in an overgrown bomb-hole slightly south of the birding site. Kevin's source, an unwashed crusty emerging from under a bush, says this happens every September.

Stintless

To no-one’s surprise, yesterday’s Little Stint had gone. On the migration highway our tiny puddle is a service station, not a hotel.

So Steve, Mike and myself stood in the middle of a set-aside type field chewing the fat and watching the surrounding hedges and skyline. We had plenty to watch too. Very similar to the last trip but Grey Wagtail, a family party of 4 Bullfinches, and lots of Robins were notable.

Took the camera this time, and got lucky with a Lesser Whitethroat preening itself. All pics the original size today.

Glorious Day

It was one of those days when everything went right. A day that was so much fun you just want to wind back to the start and do it all over again.

First up was Rainham RSPB. This is the first Autumn for the new reserve, and already it’s delivering the goods. Leaving my camera at home paid off immediately with a Sparrowhawk right over my head. At the Aveley lagoons there was a Spotted Crake giving infrequent but reasonably close views – a long time since I saw one of these. Around were small numbers of Green Sandpiper and Ruff, with a Wood Sandpiper, a couple of Greenshank, a couple of Dunlin, and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper which showed well close up, then flew around and sat preening a distance away. There were a few Wigeon amongst the Shoveller and Teal, and plenty of Little Egrets and Herons, and a few Hobbies giving a hunting exhibition in the background.

Then attention shifted to the gulls. Amongst the BH, LBB, and GBB gulls there was a number of Herring Gulls. I found one gull that was a definitive juv Yellow-Legged Gull; tertials had pale cream tips only forming a chocolate band, and the rest of the plumage at rest and in flight was a text book YL Gull. I think there were others, but it was nice to nail one of them.

I wandered round the rest of the reserve in the company of another Herts birder. The sun shone, we exchanged gossip, birding stories and jokes, and saw Wheatear, close-up Heron, and a Hobby posed on the fence for extended viewing.

Just when I thought birding doesn’t get much better than that, it did. On the way home I called in at our local puddle SLRS. Its small, its miles from the sea, but its ours (there's a picture from last week at the bottom to illustrate). There were 3 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, and oh-my-god-knock-me-down-with-a-feather a juvenile Little Stint. I shot home, made a few calls, and was shortly set up on the bank of the Stort with local birder Steve admiring the Stint out in the open. Perfect light, perfect vision, and a good distance, we spent an hour or so just admiring a text-book Stint and Snipe.

The strange thing is that the bird that really left an impression was the Snipe. A bird hidden in reedy corners on dull November days, today they were feeding out in the open with sun on their backs. The fine barring, rich buff and brown markings and unique shape were perfect today.

South of Sawbo

South of Sawbridgeworth again today. The recently discovered flash just south of the town provides some habitat variety and a focus of the birding circuit, and everything I see goes on my “Birds I’ve seen whilst walking from the house” list too.

Still a healthy number of warblers through the bulging hedgerows; 5 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, plus a few Willow Warblers and a calling Chiffchaff. Also around were plenty of Goldfinches and Greenfinches, with a few Chaffinches and Bullfinches scattered around. Also Green WoodPecker, Jay, and Song Thrush. The flash had 3 Snipe, 12 Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper, a few Pied Wagtails, Moorhen, Mallard, BH Gull, Wood Pigeon, and a Stock Dove.

Finally a Common Buzzard drifted over. Given the direction from where it came this was possibly one with its own letter in the Times.

All pics Canon 30D + 100-400mm zoom + 1.4x converter manual focus.

More Portland

The Dipperettes have taken a liking to Portland Bill. A bracing walk along the cliffs, some excellent artery-clogging fare from the Café and a quick game of cricket. Somewhere in all this there’s a chance to sneak a look for passing birds and take some pics.

Last week we wandered up the cliffs, which are alive with flora slightly past their peak. One of these is Sea Samphire - any information on the others welcome. We didn’t get as far as the Autumn Ladies Tresses.

We saw some nice fossil shells in various blocks of rocks, and a smashing ammonite. We couldn’t take it home unfortunately. Not without making someone’s beach hut collapse.

Ferrybridge 22 Aug

Couple of hours this morning. Lodmoor or Ferrybridge? In fact I could have gone anywhere today - even Radipole - and seen decent birds. I stuck the weather map for the 22nd up as a reminder; if I see this again at this time of year, get out birdwatching.

Ferrybridge won, and I was rewarded with a couple of Avocets drifting east over the back of the Chesil Beach, 3 Sanderling and the usual suspects on the beach, and a juv Black Tern in Portland harbour, with obvious movement around (Wheatear at Small Mouth, for instance).

But I felt strangely unexcited by it all. Probably because the Avocets were pointed out to me (I spent some time wondering if they weren't Gannets - no really - but wiser heads than me were satisfied), and the Black Tern likewise. I guess everyone goes birdwatching for different reasons, but for me the adrenalin of the moment of discovery, the uncertainty, and the challenge of identification is a big reason, and when everything is pointed out it loses a bit of the fun.

Gulls that are common (not Common Gulls)

Anyone browsing pictures on the web for information on gulls in Britain would think that Med Gulls and Yellow-Legged Gulls were commonest, and wouldn’t know that Common Gulls existed.

So to start to remedy that I went down to the boating lake and clicked away at this year’s crop of Herring Gulls.

Weymouth Summary

Lodmoor: 5th 7:30 pm. 8th 8 am. 11th 8 am. Radipole 8th 5pm. Ferrybridge 5th 7:30 am. Maiden Castle 10th, Portland Bill 10th. Weather bright, hot, sunny all week. Usually clear blue skies. At last!

Cormorant. 1 immature at Radipole had clearly a fish which was still a visible bulge in its throat. It kept drinking water and standing on an emerged rock and stretching. Eventually it had had enough and barfed up the fish, which presumably swam off to count its blessings. I’d brought my camera but not my brains so missed the shot.
Little Egret a flock of 9 at Radipole, plus other isingles.
Grey Heron. Some of this year’s offspring were in evidence.
Knot. 1 beautiful moulting adult at Lodmoor on 8th. My first at Lodmoor?
Oystercatcher. 2 ad and 1 juv at Lodmoor. One ad had muddy legs and beak from constantly finding worms, running the gauntlet of harassing BH Gulls, and presenting them to the juv to eat, which gulped them down then requested more. So it’s not just me that has a life like that then.
Black-Tailed Godwit c10
Redshank 2 Lodmoor
Wood Sandpiper, 2 at Lodmoor on 11th. As always, beautifully elegant birds that look like they should be somewhere a lot smarter than a grubby puddle.
Common Sandpiper 2-3 at Lodmoor
Sanderling 2 at Ferrybridge
Curlew 1 at Ferrybridge.
Snipe 1 at Ldmoor 11th.
Black-Headed Gull c200 at Lodmoor, including
Mediterranean Gull. At Lodmoor, 3 on 5th (2 1st winter + 1 juv), 1 on 8th (1 ad/3rd summer?), 0 on 11th, probably due to lack of interest. Searching for Med Gulls is one of those things that starts off as “I’ll have a quick look and see if I spot one”, and ends up on the 10th sweep going “come on you b******, I know you’re there, give yourself up!”
Common Tern. C10 left at Lodmoor, with most juvs flying.
Sparrowhawk 1 f at Lodmoor on 5th
Kestrel. 1 at Lodmoor 5th, 1 at Maiden Castle.
Peregrine. The waders at Ferrybridge are used to disturbances, so when every bird on the south side headed off east like their lives depended on it, a raptor was clearly around. A minute later, a huge brown Peregrine came through like a rocket.
Yellow Wagtail 2 at Lodmoor on 11th
Pied Wagtail c20 Lodmoor.
Wheatear 3 at Maiden Castle.
Stonechat. 1 at Maiden Castle.
Skylark 2 at Maiden Castle.
Hirundines. Good numbers of Swallows and House Martins throughout.

Finally, D#2 looked up from taking guard at Portland Bill expecting his father to be preparing to bowl at him, only to see me running madly after a butterfly. It was big, like a Painted Lady yet not a Painted Lady. Given there have been a few sightings of Large Tortoiseshell, this is one that got away.

favourite bird

In Weymouth this week with the family. Will write up later, but meanwhile one of my favourite birds turned up at Lodmoor.

Short Walk South of Sawbridgeworth

D#2 was having his cricket session at the cricket club this morning so I took the opportunity to investigate the flooded field by the river.

At Sheering Mill Lane a Hobby went through. My first for the town itself.

On the flooded field, c50 Black-Headed Gulls, a resting Common Tern, a Lapwing, some Pied Wagtails and a good number of Swallows and House Martins over the pond.

Back up through the rough fields to Bonks Hill. A patch of willows and bushes had a Spotted Flycatcher, a male Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler .

interim

I'm back working again, this time in central London. Not much to report, except a Peregrine slipped past the Old Bailey, then past St Paul's and off towards Tate Modern which I'm, guessing is its home.

So a wrap up of Weymouth.

1. Returning from Portland to Weymouth along the Fleet road I found myself wondering why I was looking at two crows, and then realised its because they were Peregrine falcons!

2. Ferrybridge had a couple of Dunlins and a coupled of Sanderlings. Have the Sanderlings been here all summer?

3. Back at Lodmoor the following day. More of everything but still no Roseate Terns. The Blackwits were givng terrific views close up - of course I had no camera. A local was trying to sex them and was concluding that they were all males. the logic would be: Males mate and push off mid July. The females incubate and push off early August. The juveniles come through in September. Anyone know if this makes sense?

4. I went to Badbury Rings. Aidan Brown has reported from Badbury Rings on a number of occasions with terrific close-ups of orchids and butterflies. The rings are not particularly extensive in area, so surely even I could clean up here.

No need to fill in the details. It was wet underfoot, the wind blew, I saw two species of orchid. Yes, two. I saw a few Fritillary butterflies, but they whizzed off before I could get a photo. I did get a photo of a Marbled White, but that's because it was dead.

August should have a few more opportunities.

Portland 12th July

I sat on the end of Portland Bill for a while in the evening attempting to take flight shots. The wind was a W/SW strong enough to deliver a dose of spray on the camera lens and threaten the stability of the scope. There was a steady light stream of Gannets and Manx Shearwater, with various Auks, a Fulmar, and a Shag close in.

Any day when there are Gannets about is a good day, particularly so if it’s a dull windy day. The white of the adults seems to be so bright they glow. There are a number of great pictures of gannets on other blogs (eg here), but they are mainly of Gannets lah-di-dahing around on nice sunny days. To really appreciate their flying abilities I think you need to see them when there’s a gale blowing.

Pics taken on Canon 30D, 100-400mm IS, 1.4x converter, so manual focussing.

Finally, I wasn’t the only one taken with the cream teas at the Portland Bill Café.