So It's Merry Xmas from Mary, and Happy Xmas from Grumpy!

Ooops, sorry about the delay. What with Strictly, SPOTY, and the Apprentice, I got my priorities wrong!

Right, let’s understand one another.   Next Sunday, my usual Post-a-blog day, is Christmas Day – are you seriously expecting me to tear myself away from an hour of Coro and an hour of East Enders to write some uninteresting birding guff. I would only be writing about the bacon, black pudding, mushrooms and tomato full-English breakfast, or the flavour of the Xmas lunch turkey and I couldn’t blame those vegetarian amongst you not wanting to hear this sort of unsavoury (actually, it is savoury!) language. Also having to desert my duties as Cocktail waitress, sorry waiter, barman AND pot man, would be unfair to our guests.

So, sorry and all that but after this diatribe, you will have to wait for the next until you receive the 

New Years’ Day bonanza which I envisage posting on 1^st January 2017 at about 11.00pm.   Which means (and you may have noticed) it gets delivered to your computer at c6.15am. Now that’s a personal start to your day, right? and even if you don’t have your Broad-sheet or Redtop delivered, you do get your Allesbirdtree report to read with the soft boiled and soldiers.

So to end 2016 some newsy snippets.

The Dusky Thrush was certainly the high spot in Derbyshire. Seen near the Dukes Barn at Beeley near Chatsworth, it attracted a huge number of twitchers during its 11 days stay.  I’ve had 3 Xmas cards including the question “Have you seen…etc”..YES I know all about it, and NO I haven’t.

After a good spell, the Thrush decide to hide for 3 days, and the residents of Beeley probably thought life would get back to normal. But it’s been found again, and at 9.30 this morning (Monday). I’m hoping it will still be around at January 1 and I can start 2017 with a Mega. Tell you what, if it is, the Beeley folk will find things busier than the Next sales!

Mary and I have done fund raising for the Derby Royal School for the Deaf, and the previous Duke granted the school the right to use the Barn as an outdoor activity centre for deaf children, so I went there several times. I was very pleased that the £3 parking charge to see the Dusky was going to a good cause.  No doubt the landlord at the Devonshire Arms in the village, was equally pleased with the surge in business!

My Dad was a newspaper journalist and he used to buy the Daily Mail on the way to work, and with his free copy of the Bristol Evening World, we always had newspapers around the house. Now with instant news on TV and the net, so few people seem to have a daily paper. There are 8 houses in our road – we are the only people who put 26 newspapers a fortnight in the blue bin!

But newspapers give us so much information, and you can read and re-read items of interest, so in future I intend to share with you Birding snippets that you may have missed.  Like………..

Have you heard about Wisdom? She is the world’s oldest known seabird, a Laysan albatross, who is expecting another chick… at the age of 66! You can appreciate that there are a few estimates, but Wisdom is said to have been born in 1951, had her id ring replaced 6 times, and flown well over 3 million miles.

Congratulations to Amanda and Christine for achieving their 12 month target of 200 species, for the first time. Amanda crossed the line with a Surf Scoter, followed by a Firecrest at 201, and a Waxwing was Chris’s 200, followed by a Ruddy Duck.

I dropped into Old Moor during the week, and added Red Legged Partridge to take me to 181, the final figure for the year I suspect! 

The Carsington Volunteer Rangers met on Saturday and agreed to proceed with the Janet Ede hide on Stones Island. This project is to be their contribution to the 2017 celebrations for the 25^th anniversary of the opening of Carsington Water.

Talking figures, this blog post you are reading is my 50^th, started in December 2015, and has been hit in 52 weeks 3,477 times. (This total includes UK 2,397; Russia 341 and USA 176.)

Whereas this photo of a Sainsbury bakery counter taken 3 weeks ago, has been “hit” 6,524 times!

Ed: It’s beyond me as to why you would take that picture?..and why would anyone want to look at it?

                                 

So to end the year, Mary and I send our best wishes for a very happy Xmas, and a bird-rich 2017, and we leave you with the Xmas cracker joke of the year…

Two Indian junkies accidentally snorted curry powder instead of cocaine.  Both in hospital... one's in a korma... The other's got a dodgy tikka!

Mary and David

PS: Next Bird walk IS 1^st January 2017 at 10.00am +/- 5 minutes!!

Birdwatching for Beginners - 2016 Annual Review

Being a bit of a conservationist, I thought I could a) save me some work (important conservation!!), and b) save some stationery. I have for the last 4 years written an annual review of the Bird Watching walks for the year, distributed it to regulars and written a different version for the VR’s annual review. This year I will do just this one review, (obviously on my blog), so it can be read by an enormous following!!, with a copy for Peter’s annual report.

Let’s deal with the landmarks and statistics.

On 4^th September, Severn Trent gave a commemorative gift of a nest box and bird guide, to Geoffrey Bartram of Duffield, who was the 2,000^th person to book on the walks in 11 years.  At Geoff’s request, the nest box has been installed on a tree on Stones Island, behind the mini reed bed, near the nest box that was erected to commemorate the 100^th walk in 2014.

2016 has included the 12 monthly walks (and none were aborted in 2016, although March was seriously curtailed, to dry out and buy hot chocolate etc.), plus 2 bonus walks, one in April hoping to see Ospreys, and an evening walk in April led by Carsington Bird Club, hoping (and succeeding) to see Yellow Wagtails. Hence 14 walks.

There is one other trip, on the second Sunday in January, an annual trip to Attenborough Gravel Pits in Nottinghamshire, and is a 3 hour walk for anyone who wants to join me. We usually have 5-8 people on the walk, hoping to see Bitterns and Water Rails. (Ed: 8^th January 2017 9.30am = 3 hours)

Please insert any suggested titles for this picture, on my blog!! The most inspired answer will be published!

On the 14 Carsington walks in 2016, we had 251 bookings, the highest ever total number in the 11 years of this walk, an average of 18 people per walk. A bit different from just 10 people per walk in 2006!

89 different people enjoyed the walks, with Graham Martin attending every one bar the evening Wagtail walk. A further 8 people came 10 times +. We welcomed 64 people who had not been on the walk before, and 13 of them came back for more.. a good endorsement that we are doing things right. (Ed: What about the 51 who didn’t?)

A few bird statistics. In the 11 years we have seen 123 different species, but it was only in December that we added any new ones for 2016; a Little Stint was a sheer joy, and a “lifer” for many, and the huge Great Black Backed Gull was a bird easily missed. This final walk turned out to be the best walk of the year, with Ruff, 18 Dunlin, Redpoll, and Woodpecker making it very difficult to decide what was the bird of the walk.

73 different species for the year was on the low side, but around the average over 11 years of 74pa.

At the end of each walk, we vote on the best bird of the walk, which frequently includes the Diver, but it was very satisfying to see that some good sightings, particularly with the help of the scope-toters (thanks to them), meant that summer migrants such as Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff got the vote.

To complete the years’ review, I want to mention the following.

  

      1.         Many of you will know of the sad death of Janet Ede in December 2015. Janet came on the first walk in 2006. She loved the walks and so appreciated the work that the volunteers did, that she bequeathed a significant sum of money to the Volunteers, which they have decided to use (with Severn Trent’s approval) towards the cost of building an additional hide, on Stones Island and near to the outdoor classroom.  2017 is the Silver Jubilee of the Queen opening Carsington Water, and this new hide will be the Volunteers contribution to this memorable year.

2.        Regulars will be aware that I had major surgery in May, and whilst I do not wish to dwell on that, I wish to thank my volunteer colleagues for their help in ensuring that the walks have continued uninterrupted. My blog was, but the walks weren’t!!  Thanks to Keith, Amanda and Gary. And thank you too, for the many good wishes messages and enquiries my wife and I received. The first 3 months were pretty hard, but the quiet support helped immensely.

During the year, I have collected £125 in donations from birders on the walk, towards our costs for maintaining and enhancing the facilities to see, amongst other birds, the passing Ospreys. Graham Martin very generously added £100 to these donations, all of which will be immensely useful for completing the new hide, and our ongoing projects.

And finally the next walk will be a booze-free morning on 1^st January 2017, 10.00am +/- 5 minutes!!

Anyny photos from the walks, or of Carsington that I can use in my blog would are always welcome.

I hope you all have a very happy Xmas, and I wish you happy birding for 2017, with continuing expansion of your knowledge about our wonderful bird friends.

David

A late Little Stint - and a thrill for the Beginners!!

Tuesday 29th November 2016, and having aborted a visit to Shipley Park last week, this week, John, Chris and I joined forces in the Ramblers café in Shipley Park for a hot chocolate before setting off for what turned out to be a 4 miles walk round the park. This distance, based on Chris’s step counter, seemed high so we spent a while analysing whether half a mile had been clocked up due to us constantly stamping our feet due to the cold!

An early test of our knowledge was debating whether we were looking at a Redpoll or what. Not much sign of any red feathers, but we still agreed on a Redpoll. A Jay helped the sighting list, plus a number of Redwings.

Mapperley Reservoir had very few birds, but I always enjoy watching Shovellers going round in circles with their  heads under the water. When the ducks go round and round in these circles, they are taking advantage of their buddy in front whose paddling feet are stirring up the little invertebrates and plants from the water. The following duck, head down, just eats, letting the lead duck do the work and so on, around the circle.

Despite being a weekday, Denby Lodge was actually open for refreshments, but it was so crowded we decided to head on to the main centre for our lunch. Osborne pond added some more ducks, a Great Crested Grebe, and a handsome male Mandarin Duck. What has to be described as quite smart, was a young Muscovy Duck with nice clean black and white markings.  

A total of only 22 species, but a pleasant walk, in a good mixed environment.

Sunday 4^th December.

Well, to-day WAS a surprise day. My readers will know that being the first Sunday in the month, it is Bird Watching for Beginners walk day, and to-day 19 people (including 3 newbie birders) decided to join the walk. I managed to get the latest sighting news from one of the regular birders from Carsington Bird Club, so I knew we had the potential for something interesting. They weren’t wrong!

The night before I had been drafting my annual report for these walks, and I was feeling a bit disappointed that 2016 had not shown up much of interest, or at least nothing different. And on top of that, December 4^th and still no sign of the GN Diver.

So it was an early fillip as we reached the causeway to see 18 Dunlin wheeling around over the water, and then settling on the water’s edge. And then with steady telescopes, a Little Stint was identified on watersports Island.   

Now we were smoking!!  Still not having moved on, the new birders were asking how we knew that under the tail and bottom sticking in the air, were a pair of Shelduck…. So it was out with the bird guide. And a quick lesson.

Meanwhile Gary was homing in on a 2/3-year-old Great Black Backed Gull near the watersports pontoon. Talk was already on “What will be the bird of the day?”, so we quietly moved on to the burial mound area, hoping to see a reported Cetti warbler, a rarity for Carsington. Alan G thought he saw one diving into a bush, but we were all homing in on a Ruff on the edge of the water.

Even when we moved on we were still getting some nice additions.  3 or 4 of us saw a Redpoll in the shrubs near the proposed site for the new bird hide. (Unlike the Redpoll above at Shipley, the pink forehead was very clear). Circling the Stones, we picked up a Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus a Song Thrush. Sadly neither Redwing or Fieldfare were in evidence, although the reports were that 

Redwings were in their hundreds in the Sheepwash area.

So the walk gave a cracking count and highest for the year, of 41 species, 7 of which were new for 2016 and 2 “lifers” to add to the 11-year list, now on 123.

A Great way to end the Bird walk year. Me?  I added Little Stint nicely taking me on to 3 in a bed.  And I can now add some good news to my annual review.

(Ed: 3 in a bed....?   One hundred and eighty.)

Road Runners on the A52

Well, the best laid plans etc etc. I was all enthused up about having a stroll around Shipley park on Thursday with 200-Chris and I go and get the sort of cold that is best kept under the duvet – which is exactly what I did. Pity really, because Shipley has a good mixed environment, with 3 different size and sort of lakes, housing, woodlands and fields. 

In an RSPB guided walk many years ago, before I got to know a bit about birding, I was pointed out a Grey Heron in the trees at Mapperley reservoir which turned out to be a plastic bag. It was also the first bird site that I ever went to for a dawn chorus walk.  

My only compensation this week was that on Tuesday on the way back from Carsington after a Volunteer Ranger meeting, a Barn Owl flew over near the Cock Inn at Mugginton, so that dragged me on to 179 year to date.

Good news from the meeting. Plans are starting to be formulated for the celebration on 22nd May. 2017, of the 25^th Anniversary of the opening of Carsington Water by The Queen in 1992.  22^nd May will be a Monday, so most of the activities and celebrations will be in the previous week. It will also include the official opening of the new bird hide on Stones Island, thanks mainly to the generous bequest by the late Janet Ede. I have written about Janet before, and this will be a fitting tribute to her memory.

A quick look at Birdguides shows that there have been 37 reports TO-DAY (Thursday 24^th November) of Waxwing sightings mainly way up in the North East, including one report of 600 in Nairn on the Moray Firth. A few have drifted further south, with 15 in Somerset near Weston-Super-Mare, but closer to home some have been sighted in Bamford and Glossop. A group appears to be well settled at The Spa PH in Scarborough, and a few have been seen in Norfolk.   I don’t think there is much doubt – the irruption is happening.  

Ed: A nice cock pheasant had Kamikaze intentions on the road to Ashbourne. Missed!

Hello………………. Quick flurry of Whatsapp messages as a result of Supergran adding a Scaup at Carsington this morning, to hit 198!!

Just received my copy of the DOS Bird Report for 2015. Superb publication with an incredible 226 pages, 4 more than last year. It has a huge amount of information on sightings, specialists, rarities, ringing, trip reports, just masses of good useful information. Many people contribute to the publication, compiling sections on groups of species to build up the jigsaw of the 143-page systematic list of the 2015 sightings.

I particularly like the ringing section. If you have been (lucky enough-) to see my Osprey presentation, you will know how I enthuse amount how much we found out about the 3 Carsington Osprey visitors just based on the leg ring. 

In the Report, as examples, there is a Blackbird seen in Clowne, then 3 years later dead in Sweden, or the Chiffchaff ringed in Derbyshire and caught by a ringer 2 years later in Norway.   Fascinating stuff.

Sunday 27^th November.

Encountered a group of birders from Grimsby RSPB who had come for a days’ birding at Carsington. No reports yet of the GN Diver, but at the Wildlife Centre, a Stonechat was very visible for everyone, on Horseshoe Island, and a Brambling popped in briefly on the willow bush in front of the windows. 

Guess who didn’t hear the call!!

Sunday 4^th December.  Just a reminder that next Sunday will be the last Beginners walk for 2016.

BFN

A new British bird…. From Waitrose!

When Mary and I visit antique fairs, we frequently pick up a trade paper in which the editor has a monthly column, “Tittle Tattle and Tantrums”.  This may be appropriate heading for some of my news items!

My latest “tantrum” happened at the end of October and concerned the “photographer” in Leicestershire who was feeding sardines to a Glossy Ibis to try and get the bird close enough for the ultimate photo.  Surprisingly, I saw on Birdguides last week that the Ibis did return to the site – I hope the photographer hasn’t.

I have no problem with photographers wanting competition standard photographs, but bird watchers have a code of conduct which includes not disturbing or distressing wild birds, and I don’t see why photographers should not be included in this code.

I recall the Squacco Heron which was seen by many birders at Attenborough Gravel Pits in Notts in November 2011, and the conflict between photographers and other parties, which led to deflated car tyres, fishing trolleys thrown in the pits etc., mainly due to the photographers who were crawling down the bank towards the water to get the closest possible view of the Squacco catching a fish! 

I also recall going into the main hide at Marshside, Southport, to find 6 windows blocked by 3 photographers each of whom had commandeered a second window for their camera.

Whereas, Old Moor encourages photographers with a below ground level hide with views of a food strewn log just 8 feet away. Now that gets the ultimate photo!

Ed: Will you stop whingeing and take your medication.

Tuesday 16^th November. I did my Osprey presentation again, this time in the north of the county at Grindleford, to the Hope Valley Birdwatchers Club. Nice friendly group and clearly well organised. May have led to solving a birding problem of mine, but I’ll tell you more IF it is resolved.

It was interesting listening to the 34-people sharing their knowledge of recent sightings, particularly to hear local news of a Great White Egret, Grey Shrike and good numbers of Waxwings near Bamford … is this the start of an irruption???

Very misty on the journey home at 9.30pm, but I was kept alert hoping to see a Barn Owl – I didn’t.

Congratulations!!!!!!

In the 200-species race, it transpired that Super AP Grandma (known to her friends as Super Gran) had been wrongly handicapped, so without even leaving the stalls she added Red Throated Diver to reach 197. CS Supremo went to Loughborough today to see the Waxwings, and headed home knowing that for the first time ever she had seen 200 different UK species in a calendar year. It remains to be seen if she can add to that number before 31^st December 2016. Brilliant.

Super Gran has 45 days to get her last 3 – keep watching this space.

Despite having letters and articles published in local papers, I still aspire to one published in the Daily Telegraph. But they do have some interesting wildlife photos and articles.

Yesterday (17^th) they reported that Farmoor Reservoir, a nature reserve near Oxford, has erected an Osprey nest on a 33ft post to try and attract a breeding pair of Ospreys. The reserve warden refers to male Ospreys as “notoriously lazy”!

Good luck – we have had our posts at Carsington since 2011, and whilst we have had visitors, including “short-term lets” sadly no signs of a pair.

Are you looking forward to the forthcoming polar vortex? Maybe not because until now, like me you did not know it is the name for the bitter winds that swirl around the Arctic, and which this year are being pushed further south. This was the subject of another DT article, and which stated that we could be heading for the coldest winter for 5 years. 

The article suggested that when you see squirrels hiding food for the cold weather (caching), and Jays, experts on storing, doing the same, it’s time for us to stockpile wood for the cold times ahead.

In passing, you may have heard of Geocaching, and I have spotted one such cache in the trunk of a tree in Markeaton Park. I have not opened it, but I might one day to see how often it has been successfully found by Geocachers.

Finally, if you watch the Waitrose Xmas commercial wonder at the resilience of the Robin. But marvel at the stamina of the falcon…. which is 11,000 miles off course, because this species normally resides in New Zealand!!!, and it is not the Merlin that Waitrose wanted it to be/look like!.

Always end on a bang!

Monday 7^th November,

What a sad coincidence…I signed off my blog on Sunday 6th with the catchphrase that I often use on e-mails etc. and which  Jimmy Young used to use - TTFN, and the next day I heard he has passed on.

Tuesday 8^th November.

With the news last week that the Tower hide at Attenborough is now accessible, Chris and I decided to have a morning birding. The tower access was a bit like climbing a building site through the scaffolding, with no hard hats, but all very secure and plenty of hand rails…………….. and well worth the climb!

From the hide, we picked up a pair of Goldeneye, the male looking strange, still with some black feathers, presumably still in moult. 4 non-birders came in saying they would love to see a Water Rail. After about 5 minutes, I spotted one swimming by the reeds,  then working its way along the reed edge. It was a privilege to see how absolutely elated the visitors where.

In the space of about 2 hours, we saw 40 species, which was an excellent count. On the main path, we were buzzed by a wren, and watched a cute little Goldcrest searching for food. Aint it better when the leaves have gone!

RACING FROM TEESIDE

The Oracle has been following form over the last 2/3 weeks of the 2 runners in the 200-Species flat race.

29^th October saw CS Supremo have a good outing at Skegness, and the odds improved dramatically from 195 to 199. Super AP Grandma had a 3-day training session at Teesside last week, and came through strongly with a good boost also of 4 points, to 196. With just 48 days to go until the end of the season, the favourite has to be CS Supremo, but don’t write off Supergran she has a very good stable mate. It’s anyone’s race.

Ed; Does anyone know what he’s rambling about now? I don’t like subliminal messages.

Thursday 10^th November.  I gave the 27^th talk about the Carsington Osprey Project to 35 members of the Derby Probus Club. This the second time I’ve talked to a Probus Club, which is made up of PROfessional and BUSiness men. They meet for a good lunch then have a speaker afterwards. 

The 3 gentlemen enjoying a few after-lunch zzz’s were invited back to my talk, by my moving in their general direction and slightly raising my voice! Anyway, thank you – they did collectively donate £50 towards the Carsington Osprey watching plans.

Reverting to Tuesday and my visit to Attenborough with Chris, I must admit that as we were leaving, our conversation was reduced to an hilarious level about something nothing to do with birds.

As we got back to the car park, Chris looked at her watch, and said “that’s good, I’ve done xx footsteps this morning”. She explained that John had given her a watch incorporating a Walking Step Counter with a secondary dial showing the steps. She then turned on her i-phone to show a histogram record of her steps on an hourly basis. As examples, for the previous day, one tall column was when she walked home instead of using transport, whereas in the evening virtually no bites indicated she was watching TV. I looked at later times and commented, “I see you only got up once during the night!!!!!!”, which produced the answer, “ That’s wrong…………..wait a minute - I don’t wear my watch in bed”. 

I think a counter could be good for Mary, she often asks how far is it from a to b, or how far have we walked? 

Ed: Don’t think you’re getting off that lightly for a Xmas present.

Why do some people get their kicks in such selfish ways? Skylarks, a fairly new nature reserve near Nottingham, made the regional TV recently, thanks to some idiots setting fire to and destroying a new pond dipping platform. Maybe, just maybe, one day they will appreciate that their children would have enjoyed a facility like that.

I see Slim Bridge corrected my geography last week about Lynmouth v Lynton – I stand corrected. 

Got my own back, because I found that in a string of replies, if I delete one in the middle, all the following threads go as well. So his question, and my reply, to “What is a Petard”, (it’s a small bomb) was deleted!

B F N

Goosed at Exmouth!

Thursday 27^th October.

Sorry to those of your who thought you had double vision when you read my last blog. Twixt the draft entry in Word, and arriving in the blog creation box, I had a touch of the vapours. The Editor is not exonerated either as she did not pick it up!!

Just had a look at the statistics of people reading the 43 instalments of my blog, and 27^th October was the day that I got my 3,000^th hit, not exactly viral but from little acorns…… da de da de da!!

The number of hits per item depends on the appeal or curiosity of the title, and finding a good title is key to getting the hits.  “Bald Heads” drew a crowd, as did “Back in the Room”.  Reference to Trump, and the “Exe to the Axe” drew little interest, but I can’t get too controversial…I’d like to!

I must tell you that our 10-day mini-break was absolutely bereft of birds, just 40 species, but in my defence whilst we were in some birding areas, that was not the object of the mini-tour. We visited Wales for a wedding blessing, and did pick up some Red Kites en route.

Nice accommodation -  we stayed in Pembrokeshire in a small village called Bethlehem, in a farm house called the Paddock, and from our bedroom could see the Stables….. but no kings or camels.

From Pembrokeshire to Weston on the mud (again), the M40 was closed TWICE and we enjoyed a pleasant 60 minutes looking at and commenting on the front gardens of Swansea residents (could have done some weeding the way the journey went!). Weston only contributed Rock Pipit (same place as last month – probably same bird). 

From there we drove to Exmouth, via Lynmouth in N.Devon, visiting Tony, my birding colleague who moved away from Derby earlier this year, and was mentioned in the early days of my blog.   A LONG journey, but finally arriving at one of our favourite hotels, The Imperial at Exmouth.

Sad to read about the Royal Clarence hotel in Exeter – I stayed there in 1968 in my days with the AA. (NO – not alcoholic anonymous). My memory was a Florida cocktail served complete with a fly. Ed; he is actually telling the truth, on both counts.

Wednesday 2^nd November.   Exmouth is at the widest part and the mouth of the Exe estuary, and a walk around the harbour yielded very good numbers of Brent Geese, plus the usual suspects. We took in a brief visit to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh, but it is at its best when the Exe is high, and the waders come on to the marsh area… but not on the day we visited.

Saturday 5^th November.  I’m writing this a bit in advance of Sunday which is my usual Birdwatching for Beginners Beginners walk. 18 people booked, of which 5 are people who have not joined the walk before. Always enjoy getting more people hooked on this wonderful hobby.

Sunday 6^th November.  Well you can’t win them all but the drizzle, which became rain was the best way to stop people loitering. At one stage, and remember I’m the leader, there was no one behind me! 18 of us got the obligatory 30 birds, with BOD being a very busy Willow Tit on the Ranger Base feeders, which would have been outvoted by a couple of Redpoll, but not everyone saw them.

After demisting binoculars in the heated wildlife centre, added 3 Snipe on Horseshoe Island (one actively bathing), and then the bird of the year.. well we had not seen one in 11 months, a Moorhen.

So with one walk left in 2016 (Sunday 4^th December), 2017 will start with the walk on 1^st January!! I’m not sure but I may be Billy No-Mates.

And for a bit of self-indulgence, we have had 232 bookings in 2016 (so far), the highest number in 11 years... getting popular, in-it?

For those not on the walk to-day, I will be doing the annual ½ day-away at Attenborough gravel Pits on Sunday 8^th January. Meet in the car park (NG9 6DY) for a 9.30 start PROMPT, and finish at 12.30.

Good news… just heard that the Tower hide at Attenborough is now accessible, especially good because we are coming up to Bittern time, and for 2017, and that is a very good view point.

TTFN.

The Quieter side of Skeggy!

Monday 24^th October 2016   So those of you who get a mail shot each time I put something on my blog, are going to wonder why this one is hot on the heels of the one last Sunday.

1     Those of you who get a mail shot each time I put something on my blog, are going to wonder why this one is hot on the heels of the one last Sunday.  

      Well we 2 are off for 10 relaxing days, away from the computer, to Wales, Somerset, Devon finally settling in at our favourite haunt, The Imperial Hotel, Exmouth.

2    But rather than wait until we come back, whilst it is still fresh in my mind, I want to recount my birding experiences in the last 48 hours, which tells me that I am well on the way back to my good old birding days.

Good start… schools are on holiday, and commuters will tell you what a difference that makes going to work. And in 20 minutes, I was the other end of Brian Clough way, at the Toby at Wollaton Park……………..oh, not The Toby anymore; pity I liked their carvery! But it was a good run, and at 10.30 I was at Gibraltar Point, and wondering at the new visitor centre that replaced the one devastated by the East coast storms of December 2013.

Simon King, the wildlife broadcaster officially opened the centre on 7^th October, and I guess this week was the first time the centre had welcomed families at half-term – it was heaving. I’m sure the support for the new centre plus the gabion walls will protect it from any storm recurrence.

I knew hi-tide was 2pm, so I went off for a couple of hours to the lagoons, welcomed by 3 Fieldfares as I got there, and then Redwing, so that’s a start of the winter birds.  Top bird on the marshes was a single snipe in a small cluster of reeds.. a JACK Snipe to boot. It was not in clockwork mode, but the head stripes and bracers were very bold, so a nice addition for 2016.

After a very generous Jacket Potato with Coronation chicken and salad (managed 66%!), I set off for the closest place to the sea for the hi-tide, and beyond the east edge of the dunes, found 6/7 very active little birds, which kept dropping into the plants on/in the mud. Scope to the fore, with a suspicion as to what they were from the call, I confirmed they were Twite. I’d only seen Twite twice before, once at Donna Nook and once at Southport, so that was another good tick for 2016.  When I got back to the car I was able to confirm the call on my phone.

So with 40 birds for a satisfactory but shortish day, it gets dusk early, I headed for my B in Skegness. I was to discover when I got to the Ivydene that I had in fact only booked Bed! Quickly rectified, £ changed hands and I had an excellent full breakfast etc etc for £5.

Tuesday 25^th October 11am  And I was on the quayside in Boston, waiting to go on my 5th RSPB Birdwatching cruise to the Wash. The Boston Belle takes an hour to reach the sea, poddles around in the Wash then goes off down the River Welland, almost to the A17. 47 people enjoyed a 45 minute delayed start due to the tide, but more than made up for it by being “at sea” for 5 hours, much longer than usual. There were early requests for the Chefs speciality, Bacon Buttie, even before we cast off. A count of 70 species made it an excellent trip, as always

THE BOSTON BELLE

Steve Keighley, the caller (sounds like Bingo) aided by ¾ RSPB spotters, found an early Grey Wagtail, then a Green Woodpecker posing on a fence post.

Once we got into the Wash, seals kept popping their heads up to scrutinise us, and we were just overawed by the size of some of the bird flocks. Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Lapwing were everywhere, as were Redshanks, and up to 4 Marsh harriers were seen at one time. Add Merlin, and Scoters for good measure.

Steve reprimanded everyone (including himself) for wrongly identifying a cormorant, which turned out to be a Black Throated Diver.

When we went up the Welland, Rodney the skipper throttled back the engines to permit some non-vibrating photos of basking seals, and as we came home passed The Stump, he slowed again to photo the 2 Peregrines on the building.

This was the last trip for 2016, but they have already planned 2017 programme – well worth the trip – I will go again.

Top US NEWS... Clinton? Trump? No....a Duck... Daniel.

Thursday October     World News.

You are not going to believe this!!!!   Have you heard of a duck called Daniel?  His full name is Daniel Turducken Stinkerbutt, Daniel for short.  He is a 4 ½ year old Indian Runner, who wears a diaper and red shoes, and who took his first flight to-day on a USA aircraft from Charlotte to Ashville, and received his first flight certificate.

Yep, whilst this could only happen in Trump-land, Daniel is actually an Emotional Support Duck, and is said to help calm nervous flyers. Check out Yahoo for more info.

Meanwhile, whilst not quite like the US Grand Prix this weekend, I’m enjoying the excitement of watching Christine and Amanda heading for their first 200 bird species by the 31^st December. I get text messages sharing each stage of their successes. Amanda sent an irritating one last week saying everyone at Old Moor had seen the Jack Snipe, and she hadn’t. Tuesday 18th, brief text “J Snipe – 3 smiley faces – 191”!!   

Meanwhile Christine went off to look for, and found the Purple Gallinule (OK - Swamp Hen!) at Alkborough Flats   The site is close to Blacktoft as the crow flies, but not by road. She also picked up Bearded Tit. Obviously buoyed with enthusiasm, a few days later a Glossy Ibis at Cossington, Leicestershire took her on to 194, and there are still 71 days to go for both ladies!! 

Chris is having a couple of days in Norfolk later in the year so I imagine Snow Buntings and Shore Larks are targets.

I’ve really got my daughter Sarah into watching the Red Kites when she goes south.   Last Wednesday, Mary and I went to Kent and saw one on the M25, both on the way and on the way back, and the trip included Buzzards (obviously!) and a hovering Kestrel, which don’t seem to be so frequent around motorways. And our cemetery visit at Leatherhead witnessed 7 Ring Necked Parakeets. As usual we heard them coming.

Sarah and Julian went to Surrey on Saturday, counted 26 RK’s + 4 on the M40, got so engrossed they missed the west turn on to the Magic Roundabout, and then got 2 more. Details of the return journey will be reported, if significant!

Talking of reporting, I told you about the Mute Swan with a ring that I saw at Attenborough on the 4^th October and reported to the BTO, and I said I would let you know if I got any more information.

I had a reply to-day informing me that Y619 was a male and was ringed as a Cygnet on 19^th September 2010, only 20 minutes away at Markeaton park, Derby. I also understand it is the parent of Y642 which was rung at Attenborough in May 2014. Wonderful what a mine of info a ring number can produce.

Carsington.   The volunteers have done some good work on Horseshoe Island this week, which will help the ground breeding birds next year, and they cut back the willow in front of the wildlife centre which was inhibiting views of the opposite bank.

PS : don’t forget the next Beginners Bird Walk is Sunday 6^th November. Book now, there are some places left.

I’ve not long finished reading a book with a compilation of the weekly column written by Jeremy Clarkson for a national paper. It’s the sort of book that you can read 2/3 of his articles then put it down. 

And I’m now on to a lovely book called “Nightingales in November” which only came out this year and written by Mike Dilger. Chris gave it to me when I was recuperating in July, and it’s just got to the top of my pile of books and mags to read. I mention it because if you see it for sale, it is a good read.

It is about the progress of 12 British Birds throughout a calendar year, covering each species 3 times a month.That gives over 400 short pars about how each specie is progressing throughout the year. It's a bit like Ckarkson's book in that you can read 5/6 short articles then put the book down.  

I’m on March at the moment, and have picked up all sorts of fascinating facts. The 12 include Peregrine, Bewick, Lapwing, Swallow, Tawny Owl and 6 others.

Well it's plenty of “this and that” this week, but only because I haven’t been out birding    But wait until next week… everything changes!!

Bald Heads.... again!

Sunday 9^th October,  and Chris and I decided to have a morning at Willington Gravel Pits.  

Straight away we bumped into a group of newbies from Burton, who were thrilled to see a Marsh Harrier even before they got to the first viewing platform – we didn’t.

Not much to report, apart from a Jay heading towards us.  First time I’ve been to Willington this year on medical grounds (it can get muddy!), so it was disappointing to see that Platform No 3 (the 4^th one on the right!!) had been removed, and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust had replaced it with a hide, accessible via a ramp, but only for members and those with the lock combination. 

Great pity because the previous platform had good panoramic views, particularly of a couple of island frequented by waders etc. And we heard the squealing pig sound of a Water Rail, but could not see it.

Anyway, let’s make up for it with this superb photo from Carsington

Yes it’s from Carsington  in Calgary, on what looks like a winter day……………………………….. oh sorry, did I get the place wrong, it should be Carrington, in Calgary. Well what’s a one letter error between friends (not even sure if I’ve got the right state!).  

A long past friend of Marys, Bob Boyne, who IS in Canada sent the photo, and said the photographer did not mind it being used on my blog.

Good news and bad news. My grandson Leo seems to be thinking wildlife conservation which at 10 is good. He sent me a message saying that the builders at his school in Ashby DLZ had accidentally found and disturbed a Sparrow Hawk nest. They placed it carefully in a nearby tree, and Leo reported that they had 2 eggs, both of which hatched.

Then came the text news from Leo, “Some IDIOTS!!smashed up the nest” (his words..angry, eh?). I’ve told him to be vigilant because if the parents can find a safe haven for the chicks, they will then be very busy looking for food to feed 4 beaks, and could be more visible. I also told him about the potential fine of up to £5,000 if the idiots could be found.

I have to give him positive thinking, but I don’t hold out much hope for the chicks.

I picked up an interesting bit of migration info this week.

Bardon Hill, near Coalville, is the highest point in Leicestershire, and overlooks a huge stone quarry, with grass covered upper slopes which are good for Ring Ouzels. From my own experience and knowledge, the third week in April is the best time to see these birds on their migratory route to the moors to breed.

So when I saw on Birdguides web site, 3 Ouzels had been seen on 10^th October at Bardon Hill, I could but wonder, was this a pair heading South now with a new juvenile? We will never know, but in the 16 years of Birdguides records for Bardon Hill, only on 16th October 2010, was there a report of birds heading South...... and that was 3 birds too!

Considering there are reports every year of RO's in April, one wonders why this is a resting point heading North, but not when heading South. Similar to our experiences with Ospreys at Carsington.  We have far more sightings of North bound Ospreys than those heading South for the winter.

So whilst on the subject of Ospreys, a cracking photo from Gary Atkins, the CBC press officer, taking during his annual pilgrimage to the NE wetlands of Majorca

Happy Birding!