Bittern, Nightjar, Glossy Ibis, a week of quality not quantity.

At the risk of repeating myself, I understand that some readers do not understand how to add a comment to my blog, so if this is you, this is how you do it.

First of all, appreciate that if a post (like this on) appears in your in-box, it is because you have set up the link “follow by e-mail” and provided your e-mail address so that you receive each new post that I write. 

And therein lies the problem… you cannot add a comment by replying to an e-mail received in this way.    You need to go down the traditional route of going into my blog via the usual internet search function, and you will then find my site whether you just enter “Bird Man of Allestree” or “allesbirdtree.blogspot.co.uk”

Then go to the bottom of the post to which you wish to add a comment, click on “Comment” and follow the procedure shown. If there is already a comment shown, yours will follow it. When you click on “Comment as” you can enter whatever handle you wish to use in the Name/URL box, ignore URL, click on Publish, tick you are not a robot, and again tick on Publish. It will be acknowledged immediately.

It occurred to me that I had not commented on the McDonalds Tastes of America promotion, with 4 awesome burgers, on sale over an 8-week period.

In the time-honoured words, “I’ve started so I’ll finish”, I sampled the first of the 4, the New York Stack, at Skegness, and I urgently need to try the South Carolina Stack which has only 4 days left of its 2-week promotion.   This will be followed by the Louisiana Stack going on sale from 31^st May and then the Tennessee Stack for the last 2 weeks to the 27^th June.

As residents of Lynmouth would need to drive to Vulcan Rd, Minehead (TA24 6DG) to savour the flavour, this information is probably of no interest whatsoever.

Tuesday 22^nd May, and I had planned to visit Old Moor to try and see the Glossy Ibis and a Red Necked Phalarope. More bad planning.   The Glossy Ibis vacated the site on Sunday, and the Phalarope had gone by the time I got there on Tuesday.  

The greeter and source of all Old Moor birds on a Tuesday was absent in Sussex, so the answer seemed to be that I would have to do some work myself and hope to see the Bittern. Apparently, there were 3 bittern nests, so the chances were good.

The Bittern hide was quite full, until someone called “Bitterns flying”, and 3 minutes later I was the only person in the hide…and I was the one that missed it!!.

Med Gull got on the list before lunch and, being suitably replete I decided to head back to the Bittern Hide for another attempt.  Everything comes to he who waits, and it did!!  4 of us in the hide and the call went up “Bittern Flying”, and this time it was on my list as it headed west for Hoyland. Last time I saw a Bittern was in May 2015, at Attenborough, so it was nice to get re-acquainted!!

Thursday 24^th May, found me arriving at Clumber Park at 6.50pm for an evening walk, as in 2017, to see Nightjar and Woodcock.  John Parlby from Ogston Bird Club was again leading this OBC/DOS joint walk, with 7 members from Ogston Bird Club and 1 from the DOS…Me!!

Security checked our credentials, pulses, temperature, car registration, and allowed us to stay on the security side of the park gate, security sadly being at a high level due to recent vandalism.    We all passed the medical OK.

Good early start was near a weir (don’t ask me where in Clumber…I get lost), when a silent 

Cuckoo flew to a nearby tree affording all of us great views. We then drove to the previously tested Nightjar location, and at c9.45 had 3 Woodcock sightings followed by a close view at 10.15 of a Nightjar.  If you don’t know the bird, at dusk the female looks like this,

  and the male has white spots on the wing tips. Like this...

John was satisfied that this was a Female, so “let the record show”.

Sunday 27^th May, I’m writing this on Saturday 26^th, as to-morrow 6 of the regulars on my Carsington BwB walks are enjoying our first away day (as opposed to the away half-day held each year at Attenborough in January), and we are hoping to bag a nice collection of sightings.   Frampton Marsh is a good destination in May, so I’ll leave space to pop in the notable birds before Beddy Byes tomorrow.

(Ed: What, will you have a whole day without some ZZZs?)

Stayed awake….. and despite hanging on to optics in the strong wind, we all saw the Glossy Ibis some distance from the centre at Marsh farm Reservoir.  Yellow Wagtail followed shortly after, but once again, as in 2017, we all dipped on the Turtle Dove… another day.

All agreed 1) it was a good and worthwhile trip, 2) Ibis was BOD; 3) Let’s have another away day, (so I will see what can be done for Sunday 28^th October,) and 4) Old Moor and other nearby sites as the suggested venue.

(A bit more info next week.)

A very mixed week, but I move to 171 (or 85.5% which sounds better) and look forward to Carsington BwB on Sunday 3^rd June.

Happy Birding

Montagu's Harrier and Spotted Flycatcher in the same week...Phew!!!

It was obvious that if I was going to get anywhere near the big two-double-o in 2018, I would need to visit cliffs, and the usual location in years gone by has been Bempton cliffs.   I’ve had mixed fortunes over the years, like the year when Tony and I arrived at the car park, and were faced with thick sea mist. Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills were visible, but we had to wait until after lunch for the mist to clear.  

This time, Wednesday 16^th May, it was very windy and cold and strangely seemed to be inhabited mainly by photographers. Tightly gripping my optics, I was able to tick plenty of Razorbills and Kittiwakes, and just a few Puffins and Fulmars. I had seen Guillemots and Gannets in Devon, but they were in good numbers on the Bempton cliffs.  This i-phone photograph shows how hard Gannets were working to ride the winds.

One problem with the winds was that any Corn Buntings were well hunkered down, so I dipped there.

I’m still not sure what I was paying the RSPB £5 admission for, as the coastal viewing path is a public footpath anyway. And I was surprised when a volunteer “greeter” had to ask a colleague when I asked which was the best location for Corn Buntings.   But the Coffee was welcome… both times. 

Rain arrived at lunch time, forcing me to  retreat to the car from the seat overlooking the quarry, a spot where Tony and I have dined many times, and enjoyed good passerine sightings such as both Whitethroats.

And if I do criticise, I must equally complement, this time the volunteers for the constructive and informative sightings board. The quality of reported information at some birding locations varies so wildly (even like sites with web sites that are anything up to a week out of date). Others could learn from Bempton. After all, what do all birders want to know on arrival?   “What’s about?”  It looks like this, and just as clever, they periodically photograph the sightings board and post it on the net. Frampton Marsh do much the same. Viz

Just as a digression, I showed the above picture to Holly, the new RSPB shop manager at Carsington Water and an hour later she and her volunteers had produced this!! Just what is needed at the Visitor Centre, and I hope that keen birders will encourage the newbies by keeping the info up to date.

I claim 10% credit for the suggestion!

 After lunch, I went to Filey Brigg, and whilst grappling with a scope in the wind prevented me spotting any Purple sandpipers ( I was told they were there!!), I did pick up 5 Scoters. (The good café on the Brigg .. good for toasted teacakes, was, at 3.30, closed???)  So with time to spare, I dropped into Filey Dam, and immediately spotted a wader that had so far eluded me… Common Sandpiper.

Found a comfortable B &B in Bridlington (£40 per night), excellent breakfast (“ No Baked Beans thank you.” “ Would you like 2 eggs?” ).

Nothing on the net to go for on Thursday 17^th May, so Blacktoft seemed a good en route venue which I reached by 10.15.

GOOD decision…. After 2 minutes in Singleton Hide, one female Montague’s Harrier drifting around the site. Me? Only the second ever sighting of a Monty, the first in July 2007, and a lifer for another birder in the hide.

Just to check that you are with me and still awake, would you shop at a supermarket that had bargains like this?

Saturday 19^th May, and whilst I am a royalist, 4 hours in front of the haunted fishtank watching a wedding is not my scene. Which is why I could be found at Carsington doing a bit of “greeting” ( and helping the RSPB on the above sightings board.) In the course of finding info on the net to put on the board, particularly the reports by Carsington Bird Club, I noticed that Spotted Flycatcher had been reported there at 3 locations.

12.15…..Tick!!  Sparky Mike gave me the best location, in the Sheepwash area, and so I ended the week on a comfortable 165…good week.

Sunday 20^th May  it was my BwB walk at Markeaton Park…  Only 21 species for the 5 people on the walk, and humanity was in the ascendance…. But the female Goosander was good compensation.

Next Sunday (27^th) we have the first Carsington BwB away day to Frampton Marsh, so the nice group of 7hsould have some good reports for next week.

Then Sunday 3^rd June, the normal Carsington BwB. (Walk Number 162, as it happens!!)

Happy Birding

Viral in 30 months? Not exactly rabid!

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To-day, my blog has hit the 10,000 Page views milestone!!

Fame at last!!!

Tuesday 8^th May..Well I did say I was looking forward to a good birding week, and with hindsight I should have rated it as moderate.   But not for the want of effort.

One not-a-rarity bird Chris had not seen this year was a Reed Warbler, and nor had I, so we met at 9am at Willington Gravel Pits where they almost come with a guarantee. We sauntered down the lane, picking out warblers en route such as Blackcap and Willow Warblers, and arriving at the DWT hide, bang on queue we could hear the distinctive Warbler song.  True to form, a Reed Warbler duly climbed up a very visible reed singing lustily.   

From Willington, we drove to Branston Water Park, and with a hot drink from the little café (which I had never seen before, not having been to Branston for 3 or 4 years) we had our snap before setting off for a site walk. We did a long lap of the site, over Branston lock (I helped shut a lock gate…gawd they are heavy!!), and then the wide circuitous walk (20k+ steps) (Ed: 10k each!) back for one of the last chocolate lollies in the cafe fridge!!

Wednesday 9^th May, the next day, we joined the annual RSPB Chesterfield walk/climb at Padley Gorge, for exciting goodies like Flycatchers, Wood Warblers and Ring Ouzels, which was led by Amanda together with her husband Noel.

13 people duly gathered at the station getting off to a good start because the £2 per day ticket machine was not working!!!

The first anticipated tick was a Wood warbler, but sadly not this time. But within a few minutes, we were seeing the first of many lovely Pied Flycatchers both male and female, including heart-stopping views, first of Flycatchers disputing territory with a Redstart, and then males harassing a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Clear of the woods we added fleeting views of Tree Pipits.

Our target when we got up on to Burbage was Ring Ouzel, and despite help from fellow birders, we reached the point of turning back without success.  Fortunately, the ever watchful Amanda complete with periscope, suddenly stopped, unleashed her scope and picked up a Ring Ouzel high up on the top of the rocks.

Few trees grow on top of the rocks, but the RO was adjacent to the smallest of one of them, and I recall that it was at the same spot I had seen an Ouzel in a previous year.  And then, within moments of re-joining the main path, a large crow was gratefully identified ….as a Raven!!

Finally for this week, and for about the 5^th year I went on the RSPB cruise from Boston. To make it worth while, I  spent the day birding at Gibraltar Point on Thursday 10^th May. I’d checked the tides, and had a burger at the Point café, planning to walk to the sea shore for 2.30. 

I’d forgotten that the waters edge is closed off to the public form April 1 to 1^st September, to protect Tern nests, so my day only added a Great White Egret on Jacksons Marsh.   Watch those dates for any future plans you may have.

On Friday before the Wash cruise, I had a couple of hours at Frampton Marsh. At 10.00am there is never much info at the visitor centre about current sightings, so I set off to look for myself. Sadly nothing new to add, but Ruff, Dunlin, both Ringed Plovers, and very close Skylarks were nice.

Boston key saw us set off for the 5 hours cruise on the Witham and the Welland. Nothing like as good as previous years. I only had Whimbrel to add, and that is because I spotted the trio for myself. 

The announcer was not as good as previous callers, even though he was being fed by a very experienced RSPB employee. All the calls were just flat statements “11 o’clock Common Tern; 3 o’clock, seals” , just repeating what the RSPB team told him. I know it was windy, and the speaker was not very loud, but I did hear mutterings from the people inside thinking nothing was being seen because they could not hear any announcements. A great pity.

The only compensation was that as we came back to Boston, and looked for the Peregrine on The Stump, one of the parents of the 4 chicks came out and circled high above us and the Stump giving fabulous views, and this photograph just about identifies it.

Oh well 1, 5 and 2 = 8 ..so 157 to date...not bad really..it’s just thinking what I missed, like the Snowy Owl at Frieston Shore!!

Happy birding.

PS.   Sunday May 20^th … 10.30 Markeaton BwB

Yet another cruise!

Tuesday May 1, and to-day it seems to all be in ones. Chris, John and I decided to try and add Nightingale to our 2018 so we headed for Whisby not far from Lincoln. Lovely day, chilly but sunny, so John took off to do some photography, coming back with “There were Red Legged partridges in the field” “which field?”  “Can’t remember!!”

17,464 paces later, we had done nicely on Blackcaps, but just the one Swift, well they do only arrive at the end of April.  But the frustration was going FOUR times to a dead tree on Coot walk for the alleged spot where the one Nightingale had been seen.  4 people told us they had seen it, and our only success was one visit just before lunch, when Chris and I were the only people on the path, to hear this lone bird.   The usual strident song, but see it?... not a chance. As you know, I don’t record “heard” but I did have the satisfaction of hearing it.

We had a long chat with a Ranger, who said there was only one male on site, down from 5 last year, and far from the 12 years high of 15 singing males.  

The ranger was putting up notices to try and educate the public NOT to let their dog loose, and on Coot walk, not to take dogs along the path at all. He recounted his frustrating conversations with dog owners who were either blind or deaf and would let their dog off the lead in a Nightingale area. As he said even some of the dogs were deaf and did not respond to “sit” or “heel”, and just ploughed into bushes as they wished.

It really was sad to hear his frustrations, and his view that this could be the last year Nightingales would be seen at Whisby. He told us that strongholds like Paxton Pits had the same trend, and it was getting more and more difficult to name a location, within a reasonable distance of home, that Nightingales could be seen.

So, to reiterate…. 1 Nightingale and 1 Swift.

I long for the arrivals of Swifts at the end of April, and only being with us for 4/5 months, the views of the “ultimate flying machine” must be savoured whilst you can. Think, an average Swift can fly 125k miles in a year, which is 300k in 2 years is further to the moon and back (239k). Staggering.

Monday 30th April, and Carsington water level was about 95%, a very satisfactory situation, which is why the Janet Ede hide has moved about 25 ft closer to the water’s edge. (??)

Good news; Morrisons is selling kinky rhubarb at half price. Don't rush!!!!!!!!!Apparently, it’s cheap because it’s the Yorkshire Triangle wonky anti-EEC rules version. 

On Saturday 5^th May I finally enjoyed a super Christmas present from my next generation (Leo, Sarah, Julian, Michael and Sharon) which was on my bucket list, a day cruise on a narrow boat on the Worcester and Birmingham canal. 

We had 7 hours afloat, found a PH for refreshments, and 4 tunnels later, came back dry and unscathed. Sadly, no birds to recall, but 3 miles an hour is a nice speed for relaxation. Everyone had a turn at the helm, but I copped the tunnels, which incidentally, JUST allow 2 narrow boats to pass in mid-tunnel… and they did, twice.

 Will 2 boats really pass each other in there?

Skipper and mate (you choose!)

 Leo is at the helm, with 2nd mate Julian

  Sunday 6^th May, At 9.15am for my Carsington BwB I am briefly prohibited from entering the site as c400 athletes are setting off for a full 8 mile run and circuit of the reservoir, to raise money for charity. Consequently, supporters made parking was a bit hairy, but the 20 people on the walk duly headed off to Stones Island so we were not disturbed by runners.

Species numbers were low, with the statutory 30 not quite reached, but the Warbler quality compensated.

Bird of the day was Whitethroat (although my choice was Garden Warbler), to which we added Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Considering how warm it was, it was not surprising that we saw no Hirundines, but it was a thrill to see an Oystercatcher chick on Horseshow Island, for those who stayed to the end!!

But what I have not mentioned was on the way to Carsington at 9.10am, on Ferrers Way deep in the housing area of Allestree, a medium sized multi-coloured bird walked in front of the car and into a house drive….a Red Legged Partridge.

You just never know when and where good fortune will cross your path!!!!... so, I’m on 149, and looking forward to a good birding week.

Happy Birding