Patch update - frozen migration

Brrr - an extra layer today. I'm told that local beekeepers are feeding their bees on syrup to stop them consuming the honey as they have stopped going out. Just one butterfly today, in contrast to a couple of weeks ago when they were seemingly ever-present. Showery and windy kept many birds well hidden, and for the end of April there are still some noticeable absences - Garden Warbler, Cuckoo, for instance.

The sky was the highlight on today's walk round the patch. Some real drama as the showers headed past, massive grey clouds and sun shining in the gaps

Warbler numbers are beginning to build up. They have been variable recently with some Chiff passage along the river recently. Today a Willow Warbler singing from the usual location, which is somewhere in the impenetrable centre of the overgrown field, and 3 singing Chiffchaffs. Lesser Whitethroats are almost the commonest warbler with 5 singing recently. Today a Cetti's Warbler from below Feakes Lock, a Sedge Warbler singing at the pond, and 3 Whitethroats.

Lesser Whitethroat from a couple of days ago. A terrible photo, but shows they don't always sit in the middle of dense bushes.

8 Swallows over the pond were joined by 2 House Martins which became the 77th species on the patch this year. 

Finally the Little Owl was found again. Everyone else gets a Little Owl sat out on a stump or the corner of a building, so why do I get one that sits in the middle of a bush? And hides behind a lichen-covered twig to boot.

Monday morning hangover

It was never going to be as good as Sunday. Nevertheless, some observations worth recording.

First to Ferrybridge at 7:30ish. Nothing much on the water (8 Oystercatcher and a few Sandwich Terns) so I climbed up the shingle to join local watcher S. He effortlessly picked out 10 Common Scoter and a Fulmar out on the sea. Portland Harbour was millpond-flat, and we picked up 2 Great Northern Divers, another Common Scoter, and in the far corner a Black Throated Diver. Even at this distance it had that snake-like appearance, and was clearly still in winter plumage.

S pointed out some hares and a pair of Ravens further up Chesil beach. The Ravens indulged in a spot of pecking; one bird stood motionless, and the other gently pecked round the first bird's head, presumably taking nits or ticks. we've all seen chimpanzees do it, I haven't heard of birds doing this before though.

On to Portland. It was quiet, but birds started to come through; male Redstart, Whitethroat, Stonechat, a few Willow chiffs. A peregrine appeared twice, once taking a small bird and sliding off over the cliffs. Peregrine was the commonest raptor of the weekend in terms of views.

Finally Lodmoor in search of a Wood Sandpiper.  The water level was high, and there was some wader activity on a pool in the centre; a summer plumage Black Tailed Godwit, and something that could have been the target bird flew in but was out of sight when it landed. Oh well. There was still enough to see - 2 Marsh Harrier, a Wheatear, a White Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroats including one singing out in the open, Cettis close enough to touch. A nice way to finish the weekend.

Amazing Portland Day

Looking up the East Cliffs toward Purbeck

The sky was clear blue all the way down to Portland. Whilst undoubtedly making for a beautiful day walking the island, a clear night is usually the signal for migrants to depart. Would there be any migrants left? Would new ones arrive?

Male Ring Ouzel on the slopes near the neolithic site was a promising start. Then down to the Bill car park and Swallows were in off the sea in a constant stream. Probably low hundreds during the day, with a House Martin and 5 Sand Martins. There was a Wheatear near the bill - the first of 12 during the day and a hint of things to come. The sea was largely void as expected, with some Guillemots lounging near the cliffs. I thought a distant large brown bird was my first skua of the year, but no it was a Creamcrown Marsh Harrier making its way to landfall somewhere along Chesil beach.

Up the west cliffs to the Top Fields. A male Redstart was the first of 4 seen during the day, and a White Wagtail was present, identification of this presenting no problem now I am an expert (see previous post). On to the top fields proper, and more Wheatears, another Redstart, 3 White Wagtails on a strip of freshly ploughed field, and two Short-Eared Owls in a bush showing fantastically well. A Peregrine zipped around amongst some Buzzards and a Raven. the first of a number of views of Peregrine as they hunted over the bill area presumably looking to feed the growing chicks somewhere down the West Cliffs.

Shy SEO in bush

A lift to the Hump - thanks - where there were Blackcaps and a female Redstart (carefully studied for future reference) then a Hoopoe in Suckthumb Quarry. A fantastic bird, quite close, looking almost prehistoric with its crest. It picked out a few grubs then sat quietly under a bush. I called a Whinchat on a bush, but it was a smart male Wheatear, joining my small but rapidly expanding list of Birds That Sit In Bushes For No Other Purpose Than To Confuse Me. Thanks

Hoopoe heading off to the dusky periphery of my scope view.

At this point someone mentioned the Subalpine Warbler was showing well down by the huts, and Tick Fever kicked in strongly. I set a fierce pace, ignoring all possible migrants and arrived at a large crowd surrounding some low vegetation near the huts. Showing regularly round the fringes according to a departing birder. Two hours of watching several Willow Chiffs flitting around followed until the target bird flew in to give tantalisingly brief views. It showed once later for slightly longer. A really neat little bird, the back surprisingly olive-grey I felt, vivid purple face and breast. Some Mediterranean magic for our cold island.

The crowd waits for the Subalpine Warbler to appear ...

Off to the Privet Hedge to spend a couple of hours not seeing the Bluethroat, with just Wheatear, Redstart, and a very close male Sparrowhawk as reward, but even this dip could not take the gloss off a fantastic day. Finally a Little Owl in the jobs quarry to finish.

Great weather, great scenery, great birds, good chat with other birders. The kind of day that you wish you could repeat over and over, step for step, bird for bird. Fantastic.

Patch Migrants

Another walk round the patch to see if any migrants had made their way to my few fields. 

First up was a Lesser Whitethroat singing in a bush. Quite common locally, it was nice to see one this early belting out its song as it picked its way through blackthorn blossom. then down on the river a Kingfisher whizzed by and a Jay shrieked. On to the horse field, and a Pied Wagtail. I haven't had one on the ground on the patch so was pleased to get this, but on close inspection and note-taking and after consulting books and the net it was a White Wagtail. Pale grey back, abrupt change into the black cap, distinct and bold black bib, not much other black on it.

A Mute Swan on the river was a patch year tick, then down by Feakes Lock a female Black Redstart! It was sat in a tree, and then hawked insects and moved to the bushes by the river bank, finally sitting on a fallen log.

I initially identified this as a Redstart, but sent the photos below to local birders who confirmed it as Black Redstart. I never thought I'd see one in a tree in a field outside Sawbridgeworth! Here's the pics, one enlarged and one as taken through the scope.

A Cetti's warbler sang from the reeds behind the Black Redstart. That's a different set of reeds from the ones up by the pond, so I make that 2 Cetti's warblers on the patch. A Bullfinch sat in the hedgerow, and a Redpoll was amongst 25 Linnets. Then the rain came, and that was it. After the latest flurry of migrants, the patch year list stands at 72.

Amwell

Twitter broadcast a Little Gull at Amwell. I'd just arrived to observe it when a Marsh Harrier was called flying high over. The cream crown did a leisurely circuit then moved on toward Rye Meads. Meanwhile the adult Little Gull dropped into the Reeds by the viewpoint, before doing some fishing then flying off high south.

Other birds were the first House Martin of the year for me, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Redshank, Snipe, Little Egret.

  

Patch with camera

Took the Canon EOS30D with 100-400mm lens with the non-functioning auto focus out along the patch. Here it is, with no editing. Apart from Cropping. And one where I turned the light up.

Muntjac by the overgrown field, and a Green woodpecker in its traditional spot.

non-singing Blackcap in Nursery wood

First Comma of the year

Moorhen on the river

One of two Sparrowhawks over the patch today

25 Linnets today + 5 Redpolls. this the only tone that stayed for photos.

The pond from the river. A pair of shovelers luck under a bush.

If you catch the Stansted Express you go past my patch.

spooked male Pheasant.

Goldcrest. Would be a lot better but for the irritating twig.

Horse adds Little Egret to field list. Little Egret adds chestnut horse to field list.

patch gold. first house sparrow of the year in the overgrown field region.

Goldfinch posing.

At last. Patch Little Owl

My patch is some wildlife-friendly fields by a river, with overgrown hedgerows, some tall trees, and crops left in the field. I've frequently walked the patch thinking surely, surely, there must be a Little Owl here. And back in 2007 I did hear one at dusk, but since then ... nothing.

Until today! Boing, boing, in bounding flight across the field like a weird mechanical toy, flew a Little Owl. It perched in a small tree giving excellent views for about ten minutes before I moved on. Where has this thing been hiding? Have I just been overlooking it? I think not, as on the return part of my walk I found it again in a tree, quite easy to see on a scan, so maybe its just moved in. Welcome!

Elsewhere the pond is slowly turning into a mini Minsmere. Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler were heard here last month, and today a Kingfisher of all things sat in a bush looking for prey. There were 7 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, and 4 Teal, and a pair of Coots are now nesting. No sign of the Little Grebes that have been seen here on occasion, but there was a Grey Heron in the reeds.

On the Herts side of the river there is a distant field with a dip that has become flooded. It needs a telescope to see properly, and no doubt will become dry and overgrown, but today there was a Green Sandpiper, a Shoveler, a Gadwall and a few each of Teal and Moorhen. Last month this held a male Wigeon for a day too.

Elsewhere on the walk a few lingering Linnet, four singing Chiffchaffs, 2 Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipits, and a male Kestrel.

Minsmere visit.

Minsmere for a midweek (Wednesday) visit. Its the time of year when birds are moving through and numbers on the reserve are beginning to build up.

Island Mere had little to show apart from a host of skydancing Marsh Harriers. I would guess three males and many females. On to the famous scape. Plenty of Avocets and Black Headed Gulls loudly asserting property rights, with Black-Tailed Godwits and Redshanks quietly feeding amongst them. Then onto south levels where there were a few Pintail, a few Dunlin, and a flock of c30 Barnacle Geese. Are they really wild? Don't know, don't care, on my year list.

One of the volunteers by the beach was getting excited because two Red Kites were circling high over the reed bed. I resisted the temptation to say I hadn't driven two hours and ninety miles just to look at birds I can see near my house. I looked the other way over the sea, and two Red Throated Divers joined the year list.

Then to the East Hide looking over the scrape. 4 Mediterranean Gulls were amongst the Black Heads, and a couple of Turnstone. Someone found an Iceland Gull. a juvenile, it practically glowed. I said, rather too loudly, we should check for Leucistic Herring Gull but this one ticked all the boxes for 1st winter Iceland going into 1st summer; white with ginger specs, white primaries, bill with a black tip merging into a grey base, all black eye, pink legs, and the head-shape less angular than Herring Gull. A smashing bird. Just to cap the day's sightings a Bittern flew past as I walked back to the centre.

The staff are, unusually for a RSPB reserve, knowledgeable, skilled, and helpful. Quite a few visitors today had come after seeing Springwatch and wanted to hear all about the programme and how its done, and the volunteers were happy to tell stories of Sticklebacks and Badgers.

Minsmere is always a full-on wildlife experience. Its not just the variety of birds, its the numbers, and increasingly its not just birds, it’s the whole wildlife package; adders (two were basking nicely today), otters, deer, and later in the year dragonflies. I hope to be back before long for some summer migrants.

Patch summary Jan-Feb 2016

The patch is a selection of rough fields either side of the River Stort just south of Sawbridgeworth with some wooded regions and a public park adjacent. With two months of 2016 over, how is the patch list standing?

The winter has been poor overall due largely to El Nino producing a warm winter, so many birds have not had to make the trip to the UK. Cold weather movements have been minimal, and the lists of many birding spots have noticeably had no new birds this year, just slowly reducing numbers of the ones there at year start.

Against that backdrop, the patch has done well with 59 different species being seen so far. "Highlights" are Barn Owl, Little Egret, Lesser Redpoll, Shoveler, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, and Little Grebe. Of local note was 1 Herring Gull low over the park on 6th Feb - surprisingly tricky to get on the patch, and the flock of House Sparrows in the SW corner of Pishiobury Park which was noticeably absent in the first few visits was back on 29th Jan.

Full list in sequence of observation: Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Blackbird, Redwing, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Robin, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Gadwall, Coot, Stock Dove, Fieldfare, Sparrowhawk, Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Canada Goose, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Siskin, Kingfisher, Coal Tit, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Barn Owl, Meadow Pipit.

I added Hawfinch at Bramfield and Chiffchaff at Rye Meads this morning to the year list which now stands at 128

Norfolk coast in Feb

A beautiful crisp sunny day on the Norfolk coast. First up Blakeney Freshmarsh; my first visit, and I had concerns about finding it, but the invariable Norfolk rule of following the pack worked well. I joined the crowd by the NW corner. A male Hen Harrier flew high over the marsh, a stunning sight against the clear blue sky. The Lapland Buntings were on show by the pools. Taking a slow wander round some churned up mud, or sitting on the wires of the fence. They are just coming into summer plumage, and I got a cracking view of a female in full summer plumage. A couple of males were developing the full black band across the chest. The bunts were joined by seven Twite briefly - on a wire, then hidden in the undergrowth.

On to Burnham Overy Staithes, but a quick stop for an intriguing buzzard. A pale bird came over the road on flat wings. It looked long-winged, and seemed to have a longer head than usual. Just the plumage details to check and I was in with Rough-Legged Buzzard,  and that's when it all went wrong. No clear black belly patch, no clear black terminal band, and the upper side was all brown - no white on the tail. A salutary lesson in buzzard variability.

A walk down to the western edge of Holkham Marsh, then on to the beach and round Gun Hill. Male Bullfinch in the hedge, Egyptian Geese and a few Pink-Footed Geese on the marsh, a Red Kite over the marsh itself, then some common waders on the beach and that was it. The searched-for Shore Larks had flown off after being chased by a dog and were nowhere to be seen. The most interesting sight was a Typhoon looping the loop overhead. Oh well ... 

Finally Titchwell. There were Siskins close enough to touch in the Alders, a few Water Pipits on a cleared area of the marsh, some Frisky Marsh Harriers, Avocets in number, then from the beach a Shoveler on the sea, some Wigeon, RB Merganser, Goldeneye, and a large raft of Common Scoter. Walking back a Water Rail was out in the open by the path, and 4 Bearded Reedlings showed well but distantly. I had joined up with a birder on a daylist quest, and as we approached the exit he expressed surprise we had not seen a Cetti's warbler; two chased each other through the reeds. He wondered where he could get Barn Owl; one flew across the adjacent field. We called out various other birds but to no avail. Not bad for a reserve with "nothing special".

Finally, I note that in a previous post I said I hadn't been to Titchwell since the mid 1980's. Flipping through my notes I see I went in Jan 1991 and saw Bewick's Swans and Long-Tailed Duck. I have no recollection of this visit and absolutely none of seeing those birds. Memory is an incomplete and selective thing!

Two days in Dorset

Day 1 (16th) . A bright, cool day with some SW breeze. Portland Harbour held a Great Northern Diver, a Slavonian Grebe, and 5 Black-Necked Grebes. There were fewer Red-Breasted Mergansers than in previous winters, and a Shag was new for the year.  At Ferrybridge there was 12 Dark Bellied Brent Geese, a few Mediterranean Gulls, and a Sandwich Tern. And absolutely no waders. Then Lodmoor which was fairly quiet although there were 4 Wigeon which I don't often see here, a Marsh Harrier, and offshore a male Common Scoter. 

Shoveler at Lodmoor.

Portland Bill - Gannet, Fulmar, Guillemot and a single Kittiwake were all year ticks, onshore a flock of 10 Rock Pipits, the Obs quarry Little Owl, and up on the top fields a single Short-Eared Owl hunted the fields as the sun began to dip in the west.

Finally Raven. A bird of the wilderness, of the highest, remotest mountain tops, of sheer crags, and of tables at cafes.  I was quite taken aback to see a pair going through the detritus outside the cafe. If I had been sitting on a chair, I would have fallen off it. Close up, in the presence of Jackdaws, they were huge, great glossy black beasts. One flew off in that languid, relaxed way they have, as if they are making a point of it, but the other remained for some poor snaps.

Day 2. Dull, wet. I was going for the GGS at Wareham Forest, but gave that up as a bad job due to the rain. On to RSPB Arne for my first visit, but not, I hope, my last. A smashing reserve with a mixture of scarce habitats. The weather was awful; every time I looked at a bird it was a black blob against a white background through misted-up optics. Nevertheless I got what is a first for me, a Spoonbill that wasn't asleep. It flew in, did that swish-swish feeding thing, throwing up a few morsels in its spatula beak, and then flew off over a party of 20 Avocets. Otherwise it was some woodland birds including a  pair of Treecreepers chasing each other through the trees. One stopped and I guess saw me, because it froze at an awkward angle against a branch, seemingly waiting for me to move on, which I duly did.

Lots added to the YL which now stands at 114. The crawl round the M25 was made more passable by some appropriate music, and what could be more appropriate in they year of rain than When The Levee Breaks?