Frampton Marsh via Autopilot

Tuesday 20th June ……..

 I don’t have a satnav on my car, mainly because the nut that holds the steering wheel is pre-programmed to take the shortest route to many Uk birding sites. It can find the quick route to Bempton, Blacktoft, Rutland, Slimbridge, Exe Estuary, Arne, Martinmere (includes info on that route to spot the speed trap that a previous driver missed = £60 kerching!), to name a few.

To-day responding to the audible instruction “Turtle Doves” we are off to Frampton Marsh. (see below!!)

 Don’t know how you are on triv, but do you recall the Hitchcock thriller which was first shown in 1963? No? Starred Tipi Hedren and Rod Taylor. No? included Corvus Corone? Oh for goodness sake, you must recall that great thriller The Birds. What a classic, and what a frightener.

 Wind forward 54 years and on Tuesday, I had a strong sense of déjà vu. I’ve previously told you about a visit many years ago to Frampton Marsh when Avocets attacked a Red Kite. To-Day it was my turn to be threatened, and to say the least it was a bit scary.

 Yes, I was a Frampton trying to see the Turtle Doves (Don’t ask..dipped again), and I went up on the sea wall having been told it was the best vantage point to see the Spoonbills. Well it may have been, but I finally spotted them from the 360 hide. But whilst searching from the bank, 2 Redshanks were giving all the signs of RAF fighters shadowing me as a Russian aircraft, and with sound effects. They stopped as I went on, and then had another go on the way back.

 Down on the path to the 360 hide, which is in between 2 high bunds and is quite protected, 3 Avocets were equally protective and decided to have a right royal go at me, and a group of 4 non-birders. 

From the safety of the 360 hide, and using my scope, the non-birders got good views of the Spoonbills and particularly the spatula shaped beaks.

 As I retraced my steps, it was a repeat of the Avocet aggression. Near the visitor centre there was a very young Avocet chick, only about 5ins long, running along the path, not cowering but upright and confident. Where was Mum? Probably somewhere else fighting off friendly bird watchers. Stoats, corvids, raptors and gulls? I don’t hold out a lot of hope for young Avo-chick.

 I had another look at the alleged location for the Turtle Doves prior to setting off for home, but once again..Zilch. One day, One day.

It was at this point that other responsibilities took over, and for the next 2 days I was dedicated to resolving a family problem, including getting legal help, so I’m afraid Mary and I left on Friday suitably shattered, for 7 days in Weston Super Mare, without even a backward glance!! Sorry.

 And I’m afraid birding on the Severn Estuary was a big fat Zero. On Monday, we did get embroiled in the aftermath of the Glastonbury Festival, especially after listening to a 15 minutes lecture by the Shadow Prime Minister (only joking!), so Mary DID Clarke’s village, and I did the Ham Wall. Ham Wall I had not visited before, and found it to be an ENORMOUS reed bed. In my short visit I did see a couple of Great White Egrets, and heard the boom of a Bittern in the reed bed. Must be true to my beliefs.. I am a Bird Watcher, not a Bird listener so sadly the Bittern, a bird needed for my 2017 list, did not count.

Strictly Synchronised Swimming ------ from The Ham Wall Reserve Somerset (RSPB)

Rock Pipits on Sand Point near Weston were nice, especially as the pair were clearly collecting food for a nest somewhere in the rocks. Oh and a nice perching show-off Stonechat!

So, I am now submitting a late post for last Sunday, and hope that next Tuesday (Yes, Tuesday) I will have some goodies to report from the BWB walk on Sunday, my Boston Belle cruise on Monday, and a birding day at Gibraltar Point on Tuesday………………….. but the best laid plans etc etc etc.

 Late news...just to let you know how the Big 200 race is progressing. Amanda who must be very grateful for the big drop in the price of unleaded, is on a brilliant 207, and we are only at 30th June. 

Chris and I trail like the bridesmaids behind the bride, jointly on 186. (Imagine the picture!!)

 Chris has had a few plans aborted, and wants to know if potential sightings later in the year in Eire can somehow be included, under a Brexit agreement.

 Due to my hearing deficiencies, I wish to include heard birds, if only for 1/2 or .5, per bird. Now where are those Bee eaters?

 TTFN

Nightjars & Woodcocks........... they are worth the wait.

Sunday 11^th June     When I realise that my progress towards the holy grail of 200 species is starting to languish somewhat, I find myself pondering “shall I bother”, and today was a bit like that. Nothing on the web site for Derbyshire this morning, nor Notts, so should I cut the grass? 

But ever the optimist I decided I’d see what was happening at Carsington. Oh Boy, was that the right decision. Nothing new, but very much worth the visit.

The Janet Ede Hide looks good, rabbits appear to be burrowing underneath, Simon Roddis had no significant birds to report, so all quiet…so far.  Until I was walking back along the causeway to the centre, only to be buzzed by a wing of 5 Red Arrows heading South West…..and 30 seconds later, another 5. 

Anne Dutton on reception found that they were on the way to a display at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, from their base at RAF Scampton.  Interesting.

Tuesday 13^th June, I still think Blacktoft Sands is the best and nearest place to see BeardedTits, so an hour and half later, at 10.15 I’m buying my senior’s permit to check out 5 hides. I don’t usually visit the furthest Ousefleet hide, as previous visits have been abortive.   

It does not take long to see the first of many Marsh Harriers, but nobody seems to be getting an eye-ball on the Beardys. Plenty of Avocets, and Little Grebes, with Singleton and Marshland hides being the most rewarding.

My one list addition at Blacktoft was fortuitously looking at the Barn Owl box from Marshland hide at exactly the moment that a parent flew in with food. Perfect!   But nature in the raw continues, and the continuous noise and harassing from 2 Black Headed Gulls and 3 Avocets, was directed at a persistent Magpie that had stolen an egg from a nest on a small island, and was persisting in getting back to finish the shell remains.

In the evening, I joined 6 members of Ogston Bird Club, for a walk in Clumber Park to see Nightjars and Woodcocks, led by John Parlby of OBC. Because the park closes at 7pm, we had to get there before that time to get the cars inside the electronic gates. We meandered around the park, finally going to the best location for our target birds, at 9.30.   

And we were soon rewarded with the first of 6 sightings of Woodcock.   After a short gap, the unmistakeable churring of Nightjars was heard, and two birds were seen several times in the area where we were standing. Getting home at 11.45 WAS worthwhile, even if difficult to explain!

So that’s 3 more on the list, and whilst the ladies are on more than my 185, I’m not out of the running……yet!

Telescopes.   Last week I covered binocular focusing, this week I wanted to mention Telescopes. On the BWB walks, we often have 3 or 4 telescope toters, who willing allow non-scopers to get better views of any special birds. But I do hear people without scopes, often saying, “I can’t see what you are looking at”.

There is a technique involved which should help, and I recall listening to a birder on the prom at Minehead telling everyone who looked through his scope how to see a clear image. 

“Stand back from the eyepiece, and position your head so that when you look at the eyepiece, the light circle is in the middle of the eye ring.  Then move your head towards the eye-ring keeping the circle of light in the middle – the light circle will enlarge so that it becomes the full size of the lens, and (providing the lens was focused on the object item in the middle of the view) the object you are wanting to see will be in the middle of the lens”

Try it, it works.

Happy birding

Are Turtle Doves only in my dreams?

Saturday 5^th June  Having commented last week in my blog on the terrible Manchester tragedy, it is awful to think of yet another terrorist incident, this time in London. The frequency of these attacks brings things home, especially as Mary and I and our family were in London on that day. 

We spent most of our time around the West End area, so we did not become aware of what had happened until Julian read the news on his i-phone at c7pm on the way home. Michael and his girl friend stayed later than us and they were in the Oxo building on the south bank, a little too close for our comfort, but they were not aware and safe.

From our aspect, it was a hectic day. Mary & I bought and learnt about Oyster cards for the first time, a nostalgia trip for coffee at the Royal Festival hall (In 1962 I was the MC at a large reunion, and compered the dancing with the band of The Scots Guards), Carnaby Street (packed solid with a table running the full length in the middle of the street) Dirty Dicks in Liverpool Street (no floor sawdust as in the Fifties) and finally Rules, the oldest restaurant in London (1798). 

Total = 1 eatery and 5 drinkeries!

Ed: Enough reminiscing, and no Microtibialism..    just get on with the Aviation(??) bit.

Sunday 4^th June    The BWB walk turned out to be nice birding weather, but the list had again to be closed at 22 names. The moral, book early to be sure, but please let Carsington know if you can’t make it.   Birding was not easy, but we got the magic 30 (31 to be exact) with BOD being a Little Ringed Plover. 

July 2^nd, Keith and Gary will not be with us so it will be Lorna and me.

As we reach 150 walks, I felt it was time to see if the walk needs any changes. I concluded that the many that kept coming back must be Ok with the format, and the new people on the walk don’t know what to expect so it will not be repetitious for them

I decided that I would make a couple of changes. Firstly, I have produced what I call The Rules, which is a sheet of notes about what the walk does, when where etc, and contact tel etc, so I do not need to go over it every walk, and when the majority know anyway.  And in its place, I do a short-researched lecture with loads of information about one selected species. Only lasts about 5 minutes, but it IS about a particular species.

For the first one (June 2017) I talked about the Common Swift, and whilst I did not get an ovation, I did get respectful silence! I enjoyed researching it, and learnt quite a bit more about a species that I already know a lot about.     

I asked for suggestions, and the August talk will be about the Cuckoo.

Friday 9^th June  I had planned all week to go birding somewhere, but for one reason or another, mainly the rain, it was Friday before I managed to find the time, so a Red Necked Phalarope was a good enough incentive to go to Frampton Marsh, and was duly in the scope within 10 minutes of getting there. The reported Wood Sandpiper wasn’t, and ONCE AGAIN, no Turtle Dove. One day!

For readers who have not been on BWB, I thought I would reiterate a couple of techniques to get the most out of your bins and scopes.

Binoculars.  I often encounter people new to using binoculars who think that if they jiggle around the focusing wheel, the view will become sharper. Maybe, but there is an established method to make sure the view DOES become clearer.  

It should be remembered, and oculist prescriptions will evidence this, that people seldom have 2 identically focusing eyes, and it is therefore important to focus both eyes individually to get the best visual image when using binoculars. 

This is achieved by focusing each of the eyepieces separately, as follows:-

1.  One of the lenses is rigid (normally the left one). Shut the right eye, and focus with the wheel in the middle of the binoculars, looking through only the left eye.

      

      2.  Now shut the left eye, and focus the right eye lens by adjusting the diopter, the rotatable lens on the right eye.

3    

.     3.   You have now adjusted each lens to suit each eye, and when you look through the binoculars with both eyes, you will have two correctly focused lenses.

The diopter lens normally has + and – marks on the wheel, and if you remember where the pointer sat when you had a clear image, if the lens goes out of focus, you can either reset the pointer position, or repeat the above procedure.

DO check your Binoculars – a clear and sharp image will help you enjoy your birding even more.

Next week – Telescopes.

PS   Sunday June 18^th – 10.30 BWB Markeaton Park.

Happy Birding

Bird Watching for Beginners goes International!

Ola!   Well I’ve been saying it constantly for 14 days so of it’s difficult to get out of the habit!

Additions to my list?    Gracias,  Por Favour and  Polio Menta.   (that’s my Spanish list of course)

Yep it was a good holiday. 

Downsides?   The 2-year-old who spent the entire outward bound 2 hour flight crying “I want to get off”… a sentiment we all agreed. Sitting in a coach for 45 minutes (without any announcements) waiting for 2 passengers joining the coach from a delayed flight, and an unplanned diversionary visit to Pollensa (never been there before – maybe a plus point!) en route to Porte Pollensa to drop off just 2 out of 50 passengers, before a further 30 minute drive to our hotel (ultimately). 

A total of 2 hours from exiting Palma airport to walk into the Picafort Park (PP for short), a journey that should have been 60 minutes. Lesson?   Next time, it’s a taxi!

This was our 4^th visit to the PP so it was nice to meet some guests we had met before. Changed our room thanks to Leslie, the room coordinator, the member of staff with the worst job… she will never satisfy everyone! Jose the GM welcomed us back (2 kisses for Mary), as did Pedro (Maître Die) and Benito (very important pool/bar waiter!). We won a Thompson T shirt for winning a quiz and more friends arrived as the 14 days progressed. Won the quiz again, so Dave had the prize this time, a Thomson Bag For Life… Wow!

Chrissy led a morning walk to the Albufera nature work on the first Monday, and I joined her with 9 others. When I was seen as the only person with Binoculars, I was nominated to lead the walk! Chris did the natural history bit and I did the birds. 

20 species were quite good considering it was a short and limited walk, but with a previous walk on my own, enabled me to tick off 39 species for the holiday. 15 new species took my 2017 world list to 196!! Hi-lites included Glossy Ibis, Eleanora’s Falcon, Purple Heron, Stone Curlew, Great Reed Warbler, and a lovely view of a powerful singing Nightingale. Oh, and some turtles!

As it was possible that Chrissy would not be able to do the second week, I offered to do the walk, and 7 of us did the route again, with some variations in what we saw. Whilst explaining the difference between Little Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Night Herons and Great White Egrets, a tourist at the back called “Can you translate that into Norwegian?”

Even in the hotel grounds, there was avian enjoyment unwitnessed by many other guests. House Sparrows feeding young, a pair of Blackbirds constantly flying in and out of a Bougainvillea bush with worms, the odd Hoopoe flying through the grounds, and Mediterranean Flycatchers* avidly doing their diagnostic routine of catching food, then flying back to the same perch. I’ll forget the Woodpigeons that c**p on the sunbeds!”  

*This Flycatcher is considered a separate sub-species from our Spotted Flycatcher, and whilst very similar in appearance, they are far less shy, only found in The Balearics, and wintering in South Africa.

Got on my hobbyhorse about pronouncing Hoopoe. I have heard Hoopoo and Hoopea, but I was able to hopefully clarify Hoo as in Hoop, and Poe as in Edgar Alan Poe!

So a good holiday, with the plan to go again in September, with ”Spanish bird guide” added to my birding CV, along with “Norwegian interpretation services!”

The news about the suicide bomber in Manchester reached us very quickly, and all the guests around the pool stood with many other people around the world, for the one minute silence at 11 o’clock on Thursday, followed by a very stirring round of applause.

Whilst I was away, I sadly missed the opening of the new hide on Stones Island at Carsington which was paid for by the bequest from Janet Ede, volunteer funds, and generous contributions from friends and birders who have and do come on my bird walks. Many grateful thanks.  

The pictures below were taken during the official opening by Liv Garfield, the CEO of Severn Trent, attended by members of Janet’s family. You will no doubt notice the similarity between the hide name board, and the 200 club awards in January!

So normal service resumes, I have my Markeaton Park Bird walk on Sunday 18^th June at 10.30, and I can resume my quest for the magic 200.

Happy Birding