The lull before the storm? Hope so!

I know at this time of the year, birders are keenly watching for the first summer migrants to hit the UK, and I find it frustrating to check web sites like Birdguides and see the little beauties that are reported as having already reached the South coast. I know some have flown many miles, and deserve a rest before continuing to the North, or the hills, or wherever they are destined to spend the Summer, so all we can do, and sometimes it is based on building up logistics over several years, is find out where various species will stop en route, and try and find them whilst they are recovering from their long journeys.

A good example I am aware of, but have only once proved it, is Ring Ouzels. They are well reported as being seeable in the third week of April, on Bardon hill near Coalville, and which hill is the highest point in Leicestershire.

I mentioned last week that I was thrilled with the Sand Martin that I spotted at South Stack, and that was followed up on Tuesday by an e-mail from Volunteer Pat at the wildlife centre at Carsington, saying a Sand Martin had flown in front of the Sand Martin bank. We have tried to make the nest bank conducive to Sand Martins, with the sand coloured paint in 2016, and the heavy cutback of the reeds in front of the bank this year, so we have got out the sightings sheet, and just hope we will get a few reports of nesting this year.

Meanwhile we look forward to good Osprey news at Carsington in 2017.  We have the usual Bird Watching for Beginners walk (it’s such a mouthful -hereto and here-after I will refer to the walk as BWB!) -on Sunday 2^nd April, which is in fact FULL, strongly influenced I suspect because I have been geeing up enthusiasm for a possible Osprey en route home to Scotland. 

Still there is an extra walk, and spaces, on the following Sunday (9^th April) so if you wish to book a space Tel 01629 540696.

First Osprey 2017 returnee in 2017 was on March 6^th, with 2 reports that day, one in Yorkshire (13.35) and one on the Cromarty Firth (14.54). ??? same bird?..very possible.

As I write this (Sun 19^th)  there have been 9 reports, and with 2 more reports which could be a same bird situation – the timing of the sightings fit the journey – that means 7 Ospreys already back with us. Brilliant to know that Rutland had a breeding female arrive back the day before yesterday.

My successes this week (ha ha) can be described as minimal. Visited Attenborough during the week, and was very pleased to see that the damaged steps to the tower hide have now been repaired, very substantially, and look good and safe. 

I did pick up 48 species during my visit, but despite loitering (with intent!) at the Delta area for some time, no sign of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I was told there is one pair but they are deep in the area which is not accessible to the public. You will have to concentrate on listening if you are in the area, and check the different drumming of SW v LSW on your mobile before you go there…they ARE different. 

I had my Markeaton BWB walk this morning, seeing a very lowly18 species. Being a very windy morning, the birds were well hidden, sadly unlike the 4 dogs at the feeding station who had a completely free range. When the owners had finished texting (each other?) and left, my bird seed quickly lured down some hungry Blue Tits.  

A couple of raptors saved the day (Sparrowhawk and Buzzard – the latter very common and coming from Kedleston Hall grounds), and the bird of the walk was an unprecedented award for a Blue Tit, for perseverance.

There may be a short lull in my next report of avian news, so please don’t defect to another blog!!!

Happy Birding      David

It's those legs again!

Both of my regular readers (Mary and Slim Bridge) will have read my post earlier this week, when I indicated that I need to catch up with the reporting of events on my blog, as the last thing they want is to read happenings that took place a month ago. 

Let me elaborate on what a Microtibialist is and how the name came about.

Backwind to 25^th July 2016 when I had nothing of interest bird-wise for my blog, and I wrote about my collection of legs. I won’t elaborate about this hobby (you can read the July blog for more info), but sufficient to remind you that I have been collecting bijouterie, or trinkets, in the shape of a human leg, since 2009, and 93 of them fulfil a practical function. Antique dealers that I meet from time to time, and one specific BBC producer, always address me as “The Leg man”.

First some examples of the sort of “legs” I collect.

  

                                   l

Being saddled with the name “The Leg Man” I decided it was time to try and establish a specific name for this particular hobby for which no name currently exists.

I did this by writing a letter to the Letters section of the Daily Telegraph, and the following is my letter published on the 13th February 2017:-

               

Incidentally, even at this point, I had achieved a bucket list objective which I had previously failed for about 10 years…I had a letter published in the Daily Telegraph. I have had letters published in local papers, but not a National….Phewww!

5 people sent in suggestions which the Telegraph published (there may have been others that either duplicated, or the editor thought better than publish!), 2 people sent e-mails to the Editor offering legs for sale (forwarded and bought!), one lady tracked me down and telephoned with a suggestion (clean!), and another posted me a plastic golf tee in the shape of a nude woman (in a plain envelope), with the comment that he was too embarrassed to use it when playing golf,                                                 

The Power of the press.

The suggestions submitted by readers not surprisingly included Lego (which I thought may have a brand name problem), mania (not an attractive choice), and a range of suggestions in English, Latin and Greek. Mary and I churned the options round, and finally came up with a word that was straightforward to pronounce, rememberable (is that a word?), and explainable...                                                                                                  

                                                                   Microtibialist.

This can be explained thus:  MICRO - small;   TIBIA – leg; LIST – “one who does”  =  MICROTIBIALIST.

I must mention one clever suggestion, which will ring bells for those of you of the generation that used to watch Pete (Peter Cooke) and Dud (Dudley Moore) on TV. In one particular sketch, Dud, an actor with only one (right) leg, is being interviewed by a theatrical agent (Pete) for the role of Tarzan in a forthcoming film. At one point, Pete tells Dud that there is “not much demand for Unidexterologists".  This translates as Uni (one) dexter (right in Heraldry) and ologists. I did not pursue this suggestion as "leg" does not appear in the word.

I recall the sketch, but not the line, but I do recall Pete saying to Dud “ Your right leg I love, I have  nothing against your right leg. Unfortunately neither do you.!”

Now with 94 legs in my collection (of which 10 were the result of my published letter), I now have to see whether I qualify for the Guinness book of records, and whether the Oxford University Press will add the word. Now that WILL be fun.

And if you have or know of any micro-legs that could enhance my collection, please add a comment 

on my blog.

Are you a Microtibialist?

Yes, I know, my post dated 26^th February 2017 finished with a promise(?) that I would let you know the significant recent development on my other pastime that readers may have caught a hint of in the  last 14 months!  I am of course referring to the hobby of Microtibialism, as enjoyed and practiced by a Microtibialist.

However, I did say only IF there was nothing  worthy to report, and I’m pleased to say that the birding situation still flourishes, so I will not be able to “come out” about my above sedentary recreation until at least, ooh the middle of the week.  (Might just get you pondering as to what this is, anyway!)

It’s been a good week, with 9 added to my year list, and this post is late because we did not get back from Anglesey until this afternoon.

But it started well on Tuesday 7^th March when I picked Chris up at Phoenix Park, a northern terminus on the Nottingham Tram line, and we drove initially to Broomhead Reservoir, SW of Barnsley. It has a good feeding station, and whilst the site does not seem to get well reported, I had seen Common Crossbills bills there in previous years, and this year we were not disappointed. Started off with a pair of females (green), and then just before we left we spotted the gorgeous rich red of a male, right at the top of a fir tree…… and conveniently alongside was a Redpoll.

From there it was a 20 minute drive to Broomhill Flash, near Old Moor where I hoped for Red Legged Partridge, but not to-day. 

So, with the knowledge that there was a White-fronted Goose at Adwick, a small new RSPB site East of Old Moor, we decided to give it a try before lunch. An Old Moor map is essential, because the Adwick site has no signage, neither on the car park, nor the trail, and with hind-sight we set off around the “site” in the wrong direction. But Chris’s scope enabled us to pick up a wet area and then a large flock of Greylags, and closer inspection duly found the one smaller goose, a first year White Front. Tick.

So that was the good news. The bad news was by the time we got to the Old Moor caff, all the main courses had gone!

PM at Old Moor was bright and light, and Chris ticked off the lovely male Yellowhammer I had seen there on the 21^st February. And we both got an unexpected great view of a Red Legged Partridge in front of the Wader scrape hide.      Total 56 ..a Good days birding.

Friday 10^th March, Mary and I set off for 3 nights on Anglesey, and I did my usual on-line research as to what could be worth seeing (I know, they all are – sorry), so we dropped in on Friday at West Shore near Llandudno, for a reported Snow Bunting. Sadly, where to look was unavailable, so it was a cup of tea and on to Beaumaris.

Saturday. Ominous! Couldn’t see Snowdon!  Couldn’t see Bangor!!  But at least as we set off for South Stack (Another wrong decision – couldn’t see Ellin’s Tower!), I spotted a nice male Eider on the Menai straits, oh and a Rock Pipit ………………… and they were the sum total for the day, at least of anything new. Drove up to Church Bay from Holyhead, after scoping the inner harbour, but sadly no sign of Black Guillemots or Chough.

Sunday started off somewhat wet and cloudy, and we set off using info on the Birdguides web site, that told me that Black Guillemots, in March, could be seen in the calm waters North of Beaumaris,  between Puffin Island and Penmon bay. And a £3 toll fee later, at £1.50 per bird, I spotted 2 Black Guillemots flying through. 25 Turnstone and 2 Stonechats added to the enjoyment.

So with hearts lifted!!!, Mary suggested we had another look at South Stack. So we did! Got there in time to sample some hot Leek and Sweet Potato soup, and headed for the cliffs. 

Not too surprising, I did spot Kittiwakes, and Razorbills, as well as the other usual suspects on the cliffs (Fulmar and Guillemots). It was now nice enough to do a cliff walk back to the lower car park, and then up past the centre to the Lighthouse steps…and en route???  a Sand Martin a really early one, in fact from my comprehensive records of the last 17 years, only once have I seen one earlier than today (12^th March 2017)

So a good week..9 birds added for 2017 and I’m on 143…VERY satisfactory.

PS Next Sunday(19^th) 10.30 Markeaton Park if you’ve got 90 minutes (and £4!) to spare!

A quiet week for Birding

Well, that was a slow week for birds. I know I have been romping along in the first couple of months of the year, and whilst I have 3 new lifers for 2017, my high count to date is due to seeing birds earlier in the year than in prior years. In other words, things will soon catch up with me.

So, the next surge will be towards the end of March, through April and into May when we get all the summer migrants. But in the meantime, there is a slight lull!  

A few years ago, I obtained a list of first arrivals, and at Carsington, the month of March included first sightings of Sand Martin, Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallow, House Martin and Redstart so that would be a bumper crop all being well. Just in passing, the LAST warbler to arrive, was Spotted Flycatcher, not seen until May.

My next Bird Watching walk (2^nd April 2017) should be good, and coupled with the extra walk on Sunday 9^th April, that’s 2 shots (not the best word!) at seeing an Osprey!

Talking of Sand Martins, the Volunteers have done a great job at Carsington in cutting back some of the reeds so that the Sand Martin bank is readily viewable, both for the public in the Wildlife Centre, and Sand Martins flying by. An experienced birder dropped into the wildlife centre a few weeks ago, and told the Volunteers that from his experience, a Sand Martin bank he was involved with had gone very quiet, and it was only when they cleared the growth in front of the holes, that nesting birds started coming again. So, nothing lost, and I had tried the sand coloured paint the year before, we thought we would give it a try.

Tuesday February 28^th I spent some time round High Peak Junction and the Cromford canal, hoping to see Siskin and Redpoll, and even a Dipper would be nice, or some Little Grebes on the canal. Zippo, Zilch, Nix, but thanks to a tip from a passing birder, I went back to the bridge over the Derwent and found a pair of Grey Wagtails so that was a good end to February, and I’m on 134.

Friday March 3^rd I went to Attenborough possibly to see a Bittern, or Jay. I parked at Attenborough village by the church, preparing to walk down to the Delta area distributing bird feed as required!!, when the rain came. So, plan B - back to the Reserve and down to the Tower hide. Nope, the hide was closed for the repair of the broken steps, so plan C - go to the Kingfisher Hide. Nothing startling, although there were a good number of Goldeneye, both male and female, and a solitary Snipe popped out of the reed bed. A small group of a local U3A came in for an hour - they were not for getting soaked outside. Sadly the large bird feeder has been removed (used to be good for Tree Sparrows) but the increasing rats numbers made the decision inevitable. 

I had a whinge to a lady in the Attenborough café about not finding that the Tower hide was closed until I got there (again). I said a notice at the centre, or even better at the ticket machine, would be appropriate, and she agreed to “let Tim know”.

Sunday March 5^th Blast them, the weather forecasters got it right, and at 10.00am 17 stalwarts for the Bird Watching for Beginners walk were sheltering from the rain at the entrance to the Carsington visitor centre. The Stones Island walk was out, so Chris unlocked the Education Room and we all went in the warm and had a good old chinwag about one bird or another. Worked Ok for ¾ hour (I had my hot choc), and we then went down and steamed up the wildlife centre.  Well 3 residents plus 19 breathing visitors, the outcome was inevitable. 

The main reward was the arrival of a flock of about 50 snipe on Horseshoe Island. Also as we had been debating the difference between Willow v Marsh Tit before we got there, we could see Willows flying to and fro to the bird table. I guess some of the learners got that bit of knowledge cemented in their minds.

Please let’s have some dryer weather in the next 7 days - Mary and I are off to Anglesey for 4 nights, so it’s Chough hunting!

Happy Birding