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!

I’m not happy!!

There is a limit as to how long I can go on bottling up my frustration, but I think it is time I came out on the issues that are rocking my boat.

Bird lists, particularly annual lists.  Who said that I have to start my annual records on January 1? 

Why pick a day when sociable and amenable people will be nursing the mother and father of a headache from celebrating the end of the calendar year, Hogmanay or whatever excuse you like, and which usually drags on to 1 -2 in the morning. It was not that many years ago that the Government of the day decreed that Jan 1 should be a public holiday, but I did not hear the BTO, the WWT or the RSPB come out in sympathy. No it’s here we go again…..it’s Jan 1 so we must start counting.

I tried to challenge the system in 2014. 28^th March was our Golden Wedding anniversary, so I decreed on that day (to myself) that the next 12 months would be MY golden year for birding, and I would record from 28^th March 2014, to 27^th March 2015. Didn’t do any good – I still missed the 200.  

So I have a cunning plan.  I intend to start MY birding year on and from the date that I get a Mega. Imagine if that happened on the 31^st March, what a wonderful start that would be for the next 12 months, starting on a real fast track at the summer migration time. (I will probably still do the conventional Jan > Dec to cover 2 options!)

A long standing issue – I just get the feeling that the some of the letters you read from time to time, about birders not sharing info have got a grain of truth.

My first gripe is about talking birds in shorthand. What is a Sprawk? Or a Gropper, or an LRP? I wouldn’t even think of talking in bird-speak for those people on my walk for beginners. They have enough trouble with a Hedge Sparrow, which isn’t a sparrow, a lapwing, which Grandpa calls a peewit, a mute swan which isn’t, and an Egyptian Goose which isn’t a goose. So give the non-pros a break – you can write what you like in your diary, but at least give newbies a chance by saying birds by their full names.

And on the subject of names, for goodness sake, why is a Purple Gallinule in Majorca a Purple Gallinule, but in the Humber Estuary it’s a Swamp Hen?  It is in fact a Rail but for sure it aint a Hen.

And why did the perfectly satisfactory name Fan Tailed Warbler (which I saw in Cyprus in October 2000) now become the extraordinary name a Zitting Cisticola?

I rest my case.

Last Tuesday, I had 3 hours birding with Chris at Attenborough. Lovely morning and 36 species with a good helping of waders. I keep hearing that migration is running late this year, but we had Dunlin, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Knot and a very viewable Black Necked Grebe.

Started off seeing a Mute Swan near the centre with a red ring with white lettering on its left leg, numbered Y619. I have reported it, and I’ll let you have any feedback I get.

Unfortunately, (here comes another gripe) we did the middle loop to come to the tower hide, only to find the steps were (rightly-) closed due to a collapsed step. A notice at the car park saying the hide would be closed would have been helpful, an experience which equally irked me last time at Blacktoft, when we found the Marshlands hide was closed for maintenance, only when we got to the hide.

The word on the street is that quarrying has now finished at Attenborough, and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust hope to take on the whole site. (Interesting because final quarrying was at the end of the conveyor belt, in Derbyshire.) It would be great if they can.

What I will miss will be the reminder of a good birding friend and fellow smoker, Ivan Dring. Ivan, who died a few years ago, loved Attenborough, but his ambition was to have a job driving the tug from the quarry to the works.  He loved building boats and sailed them in his bath. I told the mourners in my eulogy about his hobby, but said that he should have waited until Hazel was out of the bath.

Busy month, eh?

River cruising - the best way for close up birding.

As part of the therapy to get over the consequences of my operation, I have to indulge in plenty of Positive thinking, forward looking, definite plans, upward looking and as Frank Spencer said, “in every day, in everyway, I will get better and better.”

Whilst endeavouring to fulfil some of these objectives, I find myself in a negative domestic disagreement situation with the Managing Editor, or in these circumstances, I prefer to call her “Er indoors”.  (That sort of remark is conducive to inflaming the situation anyway!)

You see I want to go on a cruise. This is where we differ. It appears to be something to do with the time 4/5 years ago when we stayed, together with 2 good friends Barbara and Roy, on my brothers boat on a swinging mooring in the middle of the River Dart. Simon, my brother, had made us feel very welcome on his boat “Tatti” and we slept on board for one night.

Apparently sleeping on what she described as being on a water bed, led Mary to spend the next 7 days suffering from sea legs, and nothing I can say to this day will move her from her entrenched view, that from the Isle of Wight ferry to the SS Queen Elizabeth, they will all result in the same symptoms.

I wouldn’t mind, but I only wanted to go on the Boston Belle bird-watching cruise to the Wash! 

It's only a trip down a river for goodness sake, so I was forced to exercise the authority of the master of the house, and go ahead with the booking (alone) on the 25^th of this month.

As a bonus, I have also booked (again alone) on the Avocet cruise from Exmouth and upstream to Topsham (and back!) on the 25^th January 2017, which should really boost my bird count for 2017. I have to be honest. Mary has done this cruise on the Exe, but not when it was designated a bird-watching trip. Her problem is that the cruise scenario, fortunately for birders, means the boat will loiter = wallow if there are good birds to be seen.

Sunday 2^nd October.  I did my monthly bird walk at Carsington this morning, and 18 people really struggled, and failed, to see the statutory 30 species - just a lowly 28. When we got in the right position with the sun behind us, we had good views of Wigeon, mainly still in eclipse, and which were rightly voted bird of the day. Only Teal and Willow Tit came close to getting any votes.

Soon after we set out, there was evidence of some serious birders on Stones Island, appearing to be taking a large amount of interest in some bushes near my 100^th walk commemorative nest box. 

It transpired that at 9.00am, a very competent birder had seen, and heard, a Yellow Browed Warbler, and as this was only the second time this species had been identified at Carsington in the 24 years since the reservoir was opened, this was a big attraction. 

We were too big a group to mix it with 8-10 knowledgeable birders. Bird twitches can get far more than 28 people, but that is usually when the birders can line up, with scopes etc and watch the bird activity. In our case, the exact location of the bird was not known, as it kept moving, so continuous movement of a large group of searching birders would more likely make the bird hide away.

Bird Guides web site had details of 4 reported sightings, at 9.10; 10.17; 13.15; and 15.45, and I don’t doubt some birders like us, would (in bird parlance) have dipped. i.e. not seen the bird.  We passed “The Spot” at 11.10.

So what else is news? Amanda is in Hungary (well, back now) and no doubt with photos of Cranes, Chris has been in Dorset this week, and moves closer to the magic 200, with 190 to date. She texted me about a sighting of a Wryneck on Portland on the 27^th September 2016, and I told her about the time I saw one in the same place, with the same bird guide she was with, on 11^th September 2006. Almost 10 years to the day, and shows the interesting benefit of keeping records. 

And no, it was not plastic!

Just in case you have not seen the poster at Carsington, the next few Bird Watching for Beginners Walks are November 6, December 4... and yes, honestly.....1st January 2017!