5 days R & R...Pre - Devon!

I’m sure you can understand that when I am tucked up under the duvet, with a warm bottle (I admit it!), my thoughts keep drifting (Ed: ?) back to the wonderful moment last week (Ed: ???) when I witnessed the wonderful spectacle of waders coming in off the Wash in groups, at 7am, and then the awe inspiring sight of c4k of Knots returning to the Wash at the tide receded.

In fact it took me back some 10-12 years when I was told there was a very small nizzen type hut on the edge of the lake, and birders would go in there well before high hide, and just wait until the birds were flushed (oh,oh!) off the sea and onto the islands on the lake.  And until the birds had returned to the water, any birder in the hide would not be allowed out for fear of frightening the birds. I WAS TOLD, and I repeat it with the honesty of the story, that there was a convenient bucket in the corner of the hut. 

Well, it ain’t there now – so I assume those awful storms put paid to that.  

Tuesday 17^th January, and I am still recovering from my accident in Norfolk, with a very painful back.  But mooching aground gets me nowhere, so I drove to Slimbridge to hopefully add 3 or 4 birds to my year.

The journey to Slimbridge, especially out of Derby was horrendous. (Don’t you get a recurring theme of my driving experiences?), but I duly arrived there safely, only to emerge from the car and find that it was wet, and it was so cold all the Flamingos had been put inside. 

The Rushy Penn was a good start with 8 Cranes, and Bewick Swans were dotted around on different pools or grasslands, but the big disappointment was no White Fronted Geese. I was told that as it was low tide, they would have been out on the Severn Estuary, and although I hung around to 3 o’clock ish, none came to the reserve. I shall have to hope that they will still be around at the end of February when I might try again.

Otherwise very little to report. I did hear a call in the Zeiss hide of a Bittern, but by the time I got to the appropriate window, it had vanished in the reeds.

Saturday 21st January, and up to then I had been favouring my still painful back, with a GP visit and a later GP telephone consultation. So, a quick visit to Carsington failed to find the Diver or a Barnacle Goose, but a nice bonus was a Tree Creeper.

Sunday 22nd January.  This was the first of my new hour and a half Birdwatching for Beginners walk in Markeaton Park.

Despite the biting cold, 22 different species were seen, with one of the first being a cute diminuitive Goldcrest. Not everyone had binoculars (a rectifiable mistake for next month!!), but the hovering of the Goldcrest was still visible to everyone.  Having mastered what they were told is the smallest British bird, the group readily identified 2 subsequent Goldcrests.

Pausing at the feeding table near the Ha – ha, the group saw 3 species of Tit collecting seed from the handfuls that I had put on the table, and then wondered at the agility of the Nuthatch, the only British bird that can climb down a tree.

The  lake offered up the usual suspects, but the bonus for standing round in the cold, was to see 2 little grebes repeatedly diving near north island. Little Grebes, the smallest  of all British water birds, have been seen briefly at Markeaton in the last 4 years, but unlike Great Crested Grebes they have not bred there. Maybe 2017??

Monday 23rd January.  Right, I’ve packed all my optics, booked for the Avocet cruise on the Exe, researched what good birds are around the Exeter and Exmouth area, and Mary and I are off to Devon for 7 days. 60 birds target!! Well, I’m on 111 so things are slowing up a bit.   

Sufficient for the moment to say that we duly arrived at Exmouth mid-afternoon, with the driving being a bit painful for 270 miles, but no birds to report for the day.   So, I’m going to hold over all the excitement of Devon until next weeks’ blog. We don’t get home until Monday 30^th, so this one will miss my usual deadline.   I’ll just leave you with this glorious photo of a sunset on the Exe, at the end of an Avocet cruise in 2014. The background on the Starboard side is Dawlish Warren.

And don’t forget next Sunday (5^th February) the usual Carsington Beginners walk..as always at 10.00am

A birding experience that's off MY bucket list !!

FAB-U-LUS                                                               Apologies to Craig Revel Horwood

AB – FAB  (Absolutely Fabulous)      Apologies to Edina and Patsy

FABLUS                                                Apologies to Mary’s Welsh cousin

…..but there are no better words to describe the marvelous birding weekend I have just enjoyed with Christine and her husband John.

Be warned.. this post is the longest I have ever written, but nothing could have been left out!!!!

Despite all the foreboding news of the weather I referred to in my blog last week, we set off for Norfolk at 9.30 on Saturday morning, with the principle objective of joining a High Tide Spectacular on Sunday 15th organised and led by Chris Mills of Norfolk Birding.

                                                                          
Saturday we drove to Hunstanton, ticking Red Kite on the way, but a search at the Wolverton triangle for a Golden Pheasant was abortive despite laying some seed as a lure. We were told later in the weekend that one had been seen prior to our passing by, but isn’t birding so often like that.

With the afternoon free, John drove to Titchwell in time for some lunch, and then a good look at the reserve. When I tell you that my personal count for the 2 days was 82, and my additions to the year total was 33, you can conclude there were some absolute gems. I am on this occasion not colouring my additions in Red.. there would be too many, but read on for the Goodies.

5 species of Gull were seen, and freshwater added Shelduck, handsome Pintail, both Godwits, Avocet, Snipe and Meadow Pipit. Redshank, with one Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover and a few Golden Plovers and Ringed Plovers favoured the salt marsh. 

We got right down to the waters edge, but with the strong wind, even telescopes picked up nothing on the turbulent sea. John was happily photographing Turnstones and Sanderlings and Dunlin. I gather that the photos of the latter 2 were pondered in detail with his bird guide book.

Darkness rolled in so early, and we were in the last few to leave Titchwell, but not before watching up to 9 Marsh harriers patrolling the reeds behind the Briarfields hotel. Someone said they would trade 9 Marsh Harriers for one Hen Harrier, but they were to be disappointed.

We stayed at the Marine hotel in Hunstanton, and as there was a good varied menu, we decided to dine in.

Sunday… 6.35am…yes, honestly,  Chris Mills is waiting outside the hotel with his people carrier, and I sleep walk downstairs and into the back of the van!  Oh, and it’s raining.  Picking up 4 other birders around the town, we set off for Snettisham.

I’ve been to Snettisham a few times, and I know the walk from the car park, to the hides on the beach and the action area, is a long walk, so it was good that Chris had a pass to allow him to drive right to the best viewing spot. So booted, waterproofs and everything warm, we venture from the vehicle to the calls of the Pink Footed Geese.

The light progressively lifts, and we start to see thousands of Pink Footed Geese, Oystercatchers and Knot on the remaining areas of uncovered mud, until, as the tide rises, they all start flying in in groups, in many cases right above us, to the large pool behind where we are standing. We can also see some huge murmurations (if I am allowed to say that about Knot) on the other side of the wash near Frieston Shore, although they don’t come our way. Geese fly further inland, but when we move to the hide overlooking the pool, one small island is absolutely solid with Knot, all huddling and standing shoulder to shoulder. Oystercatchers are more on the bank, with a bit more space, but the site is amazing. Chris estimates that we are looking at about 4,000 Knot, out of a wash Knot population of c50k.  Shortly after as we start to leave, the 4,000 lift off, flying low over our heads with just the roar of the wings.

Phew!!! Worth the rain, and the frozen fingers and toes, so we reckon we have earned a visit to the Copper Kettle for 10.30am coffee and bacon butties. After a look at the beach at Hunstanton, mainly to see the Fulmars, the next stop is Holme Dunes where we watch c20 frisky Twite, including one with a ring. Rock Pipit and Stonechat are added to the list.

Chris gets a tip that there is a Ferruginous Duck at Holme reserve, prompting us to get that on the list before we enjoy the warm and dry hospitality of the Holme observatory for our packed lunches.

With not many hours of daylight left, we hi-tail it back to Titchwell, and fairly yomp down to the beach. But how worth while. 3 Scoters, including one Velvet is found straightaway, then 5 Long tailed Ducks close inshore (with some Goldeneye) Yet another huge flock of birds are spotted offshore, this time Scoters (probably with some Velvet) estimated at c2,500 birds.

Now the dark is well in, but John spots a Kingfisher on the walk back from the shore, which duly overtakes us so that we can all have a look.   And to cap it all, twice as many Marsh Harriers as yesterday – probably c20… but still no Hen Harrier.

If my enjoyment and enthusiasm has come across, then you will know that this was a cracking weekend, and Chris Mills of Norfolk is well worth patronising if you have the chance. He does holidays as well as a few day tours, so watch his website, and especially for one of the 3 or 4 days in the year when the hi-tide makes it…………………

FAB-U-LUS !!

   

Come hell or high water, birding must go on.

Tuesday 10th January

Oh the xxxxxxx traffic. There I am sitting in several long queues of traffic, driving to meet Chris at Eakring, a little village on the north side of Nottingham. I can’t use my mobile, I can’t see the front of the queue, but I can see the clock telling me that my meeting time of 8.30am is getting further into the distant past.

Chris? She can’t get a reply to her mobile as one, or both of us, cannot get a good signal, and she does not know if she is waiting in the right place. No back up plan, just an increase in my blood pressure.

Anyway, as it happens, as I finally reach Eakring, turning left by the PH as directed, I spot Chris’s blue car coming up the hill towards me, so we drive 200 yards in convoy to the agreed rendezvous.  We exchange mutual frustrations, I ceremonially give her her award for joining the 200 club in 2016 (an award previously publicly announced on my blog), boots are put on and we are off to find a very satisfactory addition to this year’s list, a handsome male Garganey. 

Good that this bird appears to be a fixture, as I have seen him in the small reeded pond for three years. (Bit like the Ruddy Duck at ?????? and the Slavonian Grebe near Dawlish – if it stays/alive/survives, I’ll count them!).

Nothing else to stay for, but we were pleased to identify the “Flap, flap, flap, glide” jizz of a passing Sparrowhawk. 

Popped into Rufford (9.45am) in the forlorn hope of seeing a Marsh Tit or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but not this year. Birders did tell us there were 5 Hawfinches in the trees round the car park at about 8.30, but having seen them at Cromford last week, it was not too frustrating.   

On to Old Moor, and in fact Broomhill Flash first, and although I left Rufford first, Chris somehow arrived at Broomhill first. Need to check her route (or speedometer).

I had cause to curse the hide builder at Broomhill, because, as I was trying to open a window catch, it was VERY stiff and nipped a chunk out of little pinkie about the size of a 2-carat diamond. And it still hurts (even on Monday 16^th!)

Old Moor lunch was good, as always, following which we had a look at the hides. Added Mistle Thrush and Buzzard, and Chris and I had a very lengthy debate as to whether a Snipe that was bobbing up and down, was a Jack Snipe or not. Compared with 3 Snipe nearby we (supported by another birder in the Wath Ings hide) had to reluctantly accept that it was not a Jack. One for another day.

Thursday 12^th January. 

I don’t like all the bits of news about bird flu.. it does seem that incidents have been reported in a wide range of locations.

Anyway, with my YTD figure on 75, Chris, John and I are going to the Titchwell and Hunstanton area at the weekend, and joining a group led by Chris Mills of Norfolk Birding, for a hide tide wader watch on Sunday. As I write this (on Thurs) I’m sort of wondering whether it is all going to happen. 

The army is at Snettisham telling people to vacate their beach homes, at Skeggy warning people about floods, and whilst I know our Hunstanton hotel on Saturday night is well up from sea level, thoughts do turn to what to wear on our coastal walk. Welly Boots look like being sensible alternative footwear. Keep watching this space.

Friday 13^th January…… Yes FRIDAY 13^th!

Disheartening prospects for Sunday, but our Hunstanton hotel and RSPB Titchwell give encouraging responses to my calls. It’s the sandbags at Skeggy (you can see Skeggy on a clear day from Hunstanton… well come to that, you can see the Hunstanton cliffs from Skeggy, on a good day) which bothers me. Probably better not to watch the news!!

FAB-U-LOUS, the only word for the forthcoming Norfolk weekend, so good that I will cover it in full, but not until next week. It will be worth reading. (Ed: He hopes!)

A "Mega" to start 2017

My last blog entry had a mystery photograph, and I received 2 suggestions as to who the lady was. “Unknown” (whoever he/she is), suggested Dawn French.  Good effort   Wrong.

Slim Bridge, who incidentally is setting up his own face book, so we may see what he looks like, had a dose of the inspirational Devon air and came up with the answer Claudia Winkleman. Good effort …. Correct!  Well done. You win a coconut.

As I said last week, after my poor result for 2016 (181) this year is really getting off to a cracking start, and I started on January 1^st with a cracking count of 48, obviously all new for 2017! The last 7 days boosted this figure by 21 more species so that on 8^th January I’m on 69, and the rest of January includes plans that will guarantee (?) 100 by the end of January.

3^rd January.  The target was 4/5 special birds… getting volume can always be plugged later, but you need to see quality birds whilst they are around.  So 8.30 saw Chris, John and I set off for Cromford to look for a Hawfinch.  We joined 7/8 people scanning the trees near Willersley Castle. Just as we decided to change our plans, 3 Hawfinches were spotted at the top of the high trees by the gate. A tricky bird to find so seeing them early in the year, is excellent.

A walk by the river Derwent towards Matlock Bath, enabled John to spot a single Dipper, working along the water’s edge.

Next stop was the village of Beeley on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate, to see the Dusky Thrush, which I have mentioned before. It has been around since the 4^th December, and should really be in Japan. I’d ducked going to see it in 2016, saving it as a Lifer and a Mega to start 2017, which worked!

A quick look at Beeley Moor to see if the Great Grey Shrike was around was abortive, so we tootled over to Bumper Castle and were rewarded with a huge number of Fieldfare. Then, the bird I hoped to find, Bramblings, feeding round beech trees. This is a bird Chris wanted and missed in 2016.

We had lunch at Carsington (Good soup..I had a late breakfast!), followed by an unsuccessful search for the Great Northern Diver.  With 4 special birds, it was a good birding day, 40 birds were a good count.

4^th January.  Birding from the No 6 bus to Bakewell, ticked the Peregrine Falcon on the Jury’s hotel sign.

5^th January. I had a couple of hours to spare, and it’s only 30 minutes to Staunton Harold Reservoir, so I ticked off the pair of female Velvet Scoters. The white flash on the rump distinguishes them from the Common Scoter.

7^th January. The DOS led a walk at Attenborough with a 9am start. Unfortunately, it was very misty so we could not even see the other side of the Trent. Started with a good number of Bullfinches going down the lane in front of us, and Greenfinch and Reed Bunting, which I needed, plus Shoveller. It was so muddy, Chris and I peeled off and went back a different way, which enabled us to tick Egyptian Goose. I decided to have a last look at the Kingfisher hide before going home, and added Little Egret, then from the hide a feeding Water Rail in front of the hide.

8^th January.  Several years ago, I introduced an “away-trip” for those people on my Carsington walk, who would like to visit and be guided round Attenborough. 9 people joined me this year, and we had 3 hours birding, with an excellent count of 47 species. My personal list increased with Mandarin Duck and a Cetti Warbler.  The female Mandarin caused some confusion last year, being confused with a Wood Duck but we were quite clear in 2017 - in fact it was seen at exactly the same place.  The Cetti is a warbler, which like Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, have started to over winter. The Cetti today was seen from the Kingfisher hide, feeding amongst the reeds immediately in front of the hide.

Bird of the day was probably the 3 Water Rails, mainly because Georgena spotted one in the reeds by the path near Attenborough church, only to find there were 2 birds ... and then another at the Kingfisher hide!

What a good week.. next week includes Rufford, Old Moor and Norfolk.. now they should get some goodies.

Happy Birding.

............and now the start of yet another Birding Year!

As promised, 1^st January and here I go hoping (again) to try and hit the 200 species in 2017.

I hope you too are ready and rearing to go for 2017, and you all had an enjoyable Xmas. Me? Yes I did, but I have to start the year with a sort of apology, or more an illustration of my computer miscontraception, sorry misconception.

Only from reading Mary’s copy of my pre-Xmas blog post (she’s an avid reader/critic), did I appreciate that you good people who have registered for an e-mail when I post a new article, not only cannot read any comments that people have made, but you can’t add a comment yourself.  You can only do this via the web site. So if you read something and feel that it warrants a comment (Like Slim Bridges comment, about non PC matters), you will have to log into my blog. Comments ARE very welcome, but as I have said before, I have the power to delete them!

A major non-birding happening planned for the festive season involved Mary and I, our NOK’s Sarah and Michael with their respective halves, going to London for the day with the intention of visiting a venue that would remove one item from Mary’s bucket list. She had always wanted to dine at The Ivy, so we did.

We wallowed in the impeccable service, scanned the tables for celebrities, and 2 tables away was……….

                                                        

Mary found a reason to leave the table, and on the way back came face to face (Ed: That's a clue) with this very well known celebrity, enough time to swap platitudes. Now she won’t stop talking about the meeting, but it just made the bucket shop trip even more memorable. But who is she????

Sunday1^st January 2017.    So having earned some brownie points, I was rewarded with the Full English this morning, which set me up for the start to Birding 2017. 8.00am at Markeaton was wet, cold and dark, but in the available hour, 25 were in the book, with pride of place going to a large flock of Redwings.

Near the bird table (which is near the Ha-Ha) there is/was a fairly new substantial seat for people to sit and watch the comings and goings on the table. Great Tits, some Peckers, Stock Doves and Nuthatches are frequent, and the news clearly spread amongst our avian friends that breakfast was ready!

What made me angry was to see that some half-brain had completely smashed the wooden seat, a seat which was  a memorial to someone who enjoyed that particular location.  What stupidity.

Next location was Carsington for the Monthly Beginners walk, but I decided to drop into Bradley Dam to see if I could tick off Mandarin Duck. I found that the dam had been virtually drained, trees had been uprooted, and heavy plant was obviously at work. My enquiries established that this work has been going on for a while, allegedly to improve a nature facility for the enjoyment of locals. Hmm.

15 people joined my walk, and Gary suggested that as the weather was scheduled to improve, it would help if we visited the Wildlife Centre first, and hope it will be drier later. We tried it, and from about 11.15, the rain was quite light. As always the warmth of the Wildlife Centre means that scopes and bins mist up, but we did get some good views of Snipe, and Willow Tits on the feeder could be seen without bins.

After an unproductive look at the Ranger base feeders, a quick(-ish) walk round Stones identified Ruff, Redshank, and a handsome male Goldeneye tied with Snipe for the bird of the walk.

I ended day 1 of 2017 by a walk along the Derwent at Cromford, hoping to see Dipper and Hawfinch. Dipped on both, but the compensation on the way home, was a good flock of Fieldfare near Duffield. Considering the weather, a total of 48species on day one was very satisfactory.

Next Sunday (8^th January), I will be birding at Attenborough gravel pits, targeting Water rail and Bittern. Anyone interested can join me at 9.30, in the car park, for 3 hours. (The DOS is doing the same walk the previous day at 9.00am.)

appy Birding