A translocation project at Poole Harbour = more Ospreys!! Brill!!

Interesting bit of news I picked up this week.

A consortium of The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Birds of Poole Harbour, and a Poole based business Wildlife Windows, have been granted a licence to carry out a 5-year project to attract Ospreys to breed in Poole harbour.

The relevant licence allows the consortia to operate in the same way as happened at Rutland Water, with six-week old chicks being translocated from Scotland to Poole Harbour and put in an environment that will suit them, and encourage them to grow recognising Poole harbour as their natal home. 

This project is intended to speed up the natural spread of breeding Ospreys, unlike the ad hoc project across South and middle Derbyshire, Notts and Staffs where it was hoped that with enough bird nests, Ospreys would find a nesting platform of their own accord.

I still hope that one day, we will have Midland Ospreys breeding, which would fill the hole in the Bermuda triangle of Scotland and the Lake District, Rutland Water, the Dyfi estuary (Wales), plus Poole Harbour

We all have our own unique experiences of encounters with birds, and I had a couple this week.

Mary and I were on the way to Newark on Wednesday, and were delayed for a lengthy stretch of road works. As we sat in the car (and I now have a car with a silent engine when the car stops!) we could see and hear a male Yellowhammer singing away atop a roadside bush. So calming!

Then on Thursday I was waiting at some traffic lights near West Bridgford when a Woodpigeon landed on the roof of a large freight lorry in front of me. As we started to move, I was wondering how far he would hitch a ride, and only when we turned right for the A52 did he decide that he wanted the A606, so he signalled left and headed off south to see his friends at Rutland water!!

Ed: What a vivid imagination.

But the one that takes me back to my days with Bass, was when I was in a MacDonald’s (So??) in Princes St, Edinburgh, upstairs and by the window watching the traffic. At intervals, tankers with beer ingredients passed by en route from The Maltings to the Tenants Brewery, and clinging to the top of the tankers for dear life, were 3 or 4 pigeons (probably feral). When and if a lorry stopped in my eye-line, the pigeons would frantically peck at the wheat or malt or whatever that had stuck to the tanker lid over the loading hole, regripping the tanker when the driver moved forward. I doubt whether anyone in MacDonald’s knew what I was laughing at.

Thursday 27^th July. 2 or 3 years ago Chris and I went to Frampton at round about this date, and had an absolute bonanza day with some cracking waders, Glossy Ibis, Yellow Wagtails, so I thought I would see if history was going to repeat itself… and to a degree it did. 

Unfortunately, some site maintenance with strimmers, drove away the Wood Sandpiper and I never did find the alleged Curlew Sand, but I did connect with Little Stint and with a bit of help from a fellow birder, I was able to tick off an excellent Pectoral Sandpiper, the first time I have seen one for 7 years.

The other surprise was to see the highest sea level that I had ever seen at Frampton. Checking my tide timetable when I got home showed that it was indeed the big one of July.

So, end of July, and I’m on 193 to date, or 96.5% or 7 to find, and I’ve still got 5 months to go. 

Including the Shearwater Cruise out of Bridlington in September, it should be a piece of cake!

Ed: Really?

Only 2 replies so far to my request for your earliest bird memory??? Where are you all??

Nostalgia time - which bird was YOUR inspiration?

So if you are down to get a mail shot each time I post a blog, this mid-week issue will come as a surprise!!

But I have a cunning plan.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the inspiration to ask the family (Mary, Sarah and Michael…..oh and me) what our earliest ever memory was.  After some deliberation, we came up with the following:-

Mary - she remembered when she was about 3, lying in bed in between her sleeping Mum and an Aunty, and she cut her Mum’s hair. She does not recall the consequences.

Sarah recalled when she was about 3, she tripped backwards and burnt her legs in the coal fire. But her vivid memory was the chocolates given to her by the nurse in hospital.

Michael remembers sitting on a sideboard alongside his sister, for a family photo, and having to wear a smart shirt which constantly make him itch.

Mine? I was about 4 or 5, and lived at Effiingham Rd in Bristol. I recall men coming along the road with a sparking oxyacetylene torch, and cutting off all the iron railings to use for the war.

This interesting little exercise gave me the idea to ask YOU to do some recollecting!!!

It would be interesting to know which bird was the bird that got you into birding. Which one gave you the taste and the inspiration, where did you see it and when.

If you add a comment to this post, I can collate the replies and see what we come up with.

All you have to do is click on “no comment” and put in whatever you want to write. You can devise an anonymous name (like Slim Bridge has), or use your own name as you prefer. (IF you are an overseas follower, please add your country, city etc.)

I HOPE YOU WILL PARTICIPATE – IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHAT GOT US INTO BIRDING

To give you some inspiration, I can recall 3 birds which got me started, but I don’t know which was the first.

I watched a pair of Bullfinches stripping the buds on a miniature cherry bush, whilst sitting at home with sciatica.

A work colleague, Ken Smith (who still goes birding at Beeley Moor near Chatsworth), showed me a Spotted Flycatcher working off a handrail alongside our offices in Darley Dale.    He also took me to a building contract for a new school at Matlock, to see the Waxwings.

A typical internet benefit. Highfields School website states that the Matlock school was built in 1982…ergo, I started birding in c1982.

I await your entries on my blog with interest.

Not properly dressed at Attenborough Gravel Pits.

I thought you might be interested to see the original Carsington shirt logo, which certainly the volunteers had in 1997.  It features the Stones on Stones Island, behind the visitor centre.

Then, as the result of the Osprey Project and the Sand Martin Project, the volunteers created their own version by adding an Osprey Post and a Sand Martin bank!

Then for the 25^th Anniversary in May, Severn Trent produced a special 25 years version, although it looks like someone redesigned the Stones element.

 Sunday 16^th July  My Beginners walk at Markeaton Park was enjoyed by 7 people, a record number, but sadly they only enjoyed seeing 17 species.  The foliage was very thick, and very little song could be heard. 

Pamela came with a good quantity of mixed seed for the bird table in the woods, which had Coal Tits feeding within seconds. Otherwise, the hi-light was a juvenile Goosander which was mixing it with the multi-race species in the duck pond.  

The park had several public events on Sunday, and we might have to think about starting the walks at 8.30 to beat the numbers and noise.

Monday 17^th  There had been a report of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Allestree Park, so I did a lap of the lakes, but to no avail.  5/6 years ago, they were frequently reported from the park, but it seems they have found nest holes elsewhere. 

It was a pleasant walk, and as I arrived a Kingfisher flew over the upper lake wall and away down the large lake. Otherwise, apart from 4 female Mandarins, nothing much.

Tuesday 18^th  Christine and I went to Padley Gorge to see if she could find Wood Warbler, Whinchat or Ring Ouzel, and I wanted Spotted Flycatcher.   We reached the top of the gorge whilst it was still quiet, and walked down the gorge, until we could go up towards the quarry and came out above the wooded area. Despite persistent stopping and listening, we only enjoyed Nuthatches, Tree Creepers, and a good view tracking a Green Woodpecker as it zig-zagged away above the gorse… oh and a sun-bathing Stonechat!

After a picnic and a quick look at Burbage for the Ouzel, again to no avail, we went back to Carsington to see if we could pick up the Flycatcher and a Yellow Legged Gull.   

Sheepwash was unproductive, so we moved on to Millfield, and were rewarded with a very busy Spotted Flycatcher hunting for food.

Interesting article that Chris had kept for me about the ideal places to find Spotted Flycatchers, cut from Bird Watching Magazine…

              "Spotted Flycatchers are birds of woodland glades among tall trees, with room to swoop and catch insects"  which is exactly what they were doing in Penn Carr.

So, with Chris sadly not moving on today, but I’m now on 191, it’s off home for a nice cup of Rosie in the garden with Mary, and a chance to plan our trips for the Summer.

Wednesday 19^th  Now I really am starting to worry… I’d gone to Attenborough Gravel Pits, with a Wood Sandpiper in mind, and what do I find on arrival?    I have left my binoculars at home.  Now that is what I call a serious situation, and whilst I did have my scope, and in the boot a small pair of 6 x 12 bins, I felt naked (didn’t look it fortunately). The number of times I’ve said to someone, “No bins? You’re not dressed!”  Hoisted by my own petard.

Ed: If you are going to continue doing these pre-Bird walk talks, you had better explain that this expression, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, means “to fall into one’s own trap”.  Déjà vu would have been better, and by the way, a Petard is a small bomb. 

Nothing to add to my list, at Attenborough, but Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Dunlin were good spots.  And water lower than I have seen for a long time. As the quarrying has ceased and no tugs/barges going through the pits, the lack of movement seems to be reflected in the amount of green algae appearing.

LATE NEWS.     I was looking at Chris’s 2017 list to see which birds she had seen which I hadn’t, and vice versa, and was able to tell her that she had in fact reached the brilliant 2017 target of 200 species, and what pleased her was that number 200 was the wonderful Nottinghamshire Bee-eaters. 

Chris did 201 last year, but 200 before the end of July is excellent. Amanda is on 206, and I’m tail-end Charlie on 191.  

I’ll keep you posted.

Onwards and Upwards............. well next week anyway!

Sunday 9^th July, Monday 10^th July, Birding activity at a very low ebb. My daughter tells me she went near the Bee-eater site at the week-end and send me a dusk photographed owl on a telephone cable in the same locale.  

A Greenfinch sits on my fence shouting at me as I was near his (??) bird bath, and came down when I moved. I dutifully cleaned and filled the bird bath to keep him happy.

Blimey, it’s bad enough getting buzzed by Redshanks and Avocets at Frampton, but when my local birds come down and have a go at me in MY OWN back garden, you can understand why I am developing a complex.

Tuesday 11^th. Thought long and hard about what might be about (Carsington Bird Club had reported Spotted Flycatcher at Sheepwash car park), and Amanda texted to say a pair had been reported at Padley Gorge.  Mary made me some coffee, and I sort of morosely set off… somewhere.   

It rained, I ran over a dead badger, and Amanda texting to say it was too wet to go out, brought matters to a head, and I decided to turn around and go home and do some more finance planning for a relative.  At least there was some cheer due to our girl getting through to the last rounds at Wimbledon… I’m old enough to remember when Ginnie did it!

With the acute depression ensuing from my highly failed birding week (so far), and coupled with just one positive response to my question in last week’s blog, about the international travel experiences of Jet-setting Ronald, I’ve decided to add a heavily edited account of a further one of his Brexit journeys. Viz: -   

Ronald’s latest…

My journey to the UK was yet again hindered at Border control. Once again we're talking about Gatport Airwick; described by some as the gateway to a wonderful foreign land where the streets are paved with gold. Quite obviously had never heard of Gordon Brown.

My passport is now so old and has been constantly sat on for the past decade that the microchip has broken. Which means it is totally useless. Or is this a devious way to keep me out? 

So I was interviewed by a very nice lady from the Crawley Industrial Park estate who spoke extremely good English.  She asked me a variety of questions which I presume must come out of the UK citizens registration exam.

'Do you have allegiance to the Queen?'      

I said I'd never bought any of their records but am sure they are quite good. Nil point.

'Can you tell me what stands on top of the column in Trafalgar Square.

'A pigeon.'  Nil point

'What famous words did Nelson utter to Captain Hardy departing from Cadiz.

'Where the bleedin' hell are we Hardy?' Nil point.

Why are you travelling to the UK today?'

'To open a corner sweet shop.' Un point

By now the queue behind was getting restless. I pleaded insanity and said I would complain to my local LBGT society.  I was let in immediately, and she gave me her address.

I caught the train from the station and sat rigid in my seat opposite a man who considered his duty to add to the Co2 vapours that were now creating a mist on the windows, thereby blocking my view of the shanty towns sprawling outwards from Central London to Surbiton. Here I got off on my way to a recommended B&B in **Balaclava road. 

So, I must end this chapter as not only does nature call (again) but the bus goes in an hour. There's more. Will write soon. 

Ed: ** This is a subliminal coded message for Octogenarians only.

Wednesday 12^th. Mary and I had a day in London, including a pleasant lunch on a floating restaurant on the river Thames - a very relaxed and enjoyable experience.   

Bird wise for the day?  3 Red Kites seen from the train, near Leighton Buzzard; 1 Cormorant near the Isle of Dogs, and that’s it.

Talking of Gin, and in my efforts to include more nature items in my blog, an interesting use for Himalayan Balsam. Readers will know this is a very invasive plant, which smothers riverbanks and damages ecosystems.

Puddingstones Distillery, near Tring in Hertfordshire, has come up with a new gin incorporating the Balsam flowers, which adds a summer pink colour and adds a floral taste to the gin. Apart from what sounds a pleasurable taste, this is a very good way to help habitats and native flora, plus the bonus of recycling unwanted plants.   Herts WT will be selling the first order at their festival of wildlife on 29 and 30 July. 

Mary says she will happily do a blind test.

Keeeeeep Dwinking!! 

DO Turtle Doves really exist?

Monday 3^rd July and I’m off on one of those nautical trips that readers know I really enjoy.

This one is a 4-hour cruise organised by the Lincs RSPB, leaving from Boston at 12.15pm, so it gives me nice time to drive over from Derby, and without rush hour problems.   

With 50 people on board (plus crew, which includes the Bacon Buttie maker!!), the Boston Belle heads North East down the Witham to The Wash, then turns to SSW and up the river Welland, almost to the A17.  It was calm journey and from the Wash we could see clearly the white cliffs of Hunstanton.

I had my doubts as to whether I would get any additions to my year list on the trip, so to add a pair of very visible Corn Buntings was very satisfactory. 

The group were very friendly and chatty, and apart from the admitted poor quality of the jokes from Chris Andrews the spotter, I was pleased my c50 species. The boat sightings total was about 65, but heard species were included, and I did miss a couple. On the return journey, as we turned back into the Witham, a single Arctic Tern was seen and then both Peregrines were seen on the Boston Stump.

2 unexpected list additions ensures I will be back on this excellent trip again in 2018.

As it was c5pm by the time I was back on dry land, Frampton was out so I drove straight to the Ivydene guest house in Skegness where I had booked for the night. Having parted with £5 to book a hearty breakfast, I decided to pop down to Gibraltar Point to see what was around and to eat my salad tea, in a hide overlooking Tennyson sands. Worthwhile because I added Green Sandpiper, taking me on to 190 year to date. 

Phew..only 10 to go for the 200, or 5% which sounds even better!

I’ve stayed at the Ivydene before, and £45 for a nice comfy double bed and a good breakfast ( fruit juice, grapefruit and fresh fruit salad, large breakfast, rack of toast, ticks all the boxes for me.)

Odd things?  Breakfast starts at 8.20am?? Cooked breakfast served from 8.20 > 8.45. One couple were not down by 8.50… would it be a cold fry-up?  And why did the electricity go off at 9.05? Power cut? Timer? Time to go said Zebedee!

Tuesday 4^th July , I decide I’d better check if anything had been reported at Gib Point (everything was closed when I went down yesterday), but sorry to say information on recent sightings was a big fat Zero. There was a list of what had been ringed, but not what birders would like to know – what’s around. I did also think that there had been a great deal of plant and reed growth on the site, which limited visibility from 2 of the hides.  However, a pair of Spoonbills was a definite + point.

So I used the loo (I’d paid my £2 parking fee!!) and headed for Frampton….. would I see those Turtle Doves??

NO.. again.  I sat for an hour at the location from which Turtle Doves are allegedly seen, ate my snap, tolerated the drizzle, and finally drove home. 

  

Just before I leave you, and as a PS, I checked the stats for people who have read any of the 75 posts on my blog as at 7^th July.  There have been 5,520 views, of which 3,539 from the UK; 799 from Russia and 431 France. The most popular post is still my initial one in December 2015, with 80.  But as a number of my readers do not “log in” because they get each posting mailed to them, these miss the viewing counter. Not that the stats matter – I just enjoy doing them.

Next week, another (shorter) travel account from Ronald!!

Happy Birding

The Beauty and The Numpty.

Having got out of my pattern of posting news each Sunday, this is only 3 days after the last, but it gets me back to the routine.

So, The Beauty and The Numpty!

Sunday July 2nd     ..and 20 people joined my July BWB. Volunteer Lorna was with me today, and we had 5 people who had not been on the walk before.  We did quite well with waders, with a Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin flying about in formation (useful visual comparison) and then less active was a single Ringed Plover, thereby giving us time to focus scopes for all to see. 

The Ranger base feeder had nothing, zippo, zilch, so I must conclude no one fills the feeder now Jim has left. (must check that). Couple of Barnacle Geese were showing a juvenile around, and a pair of Redshanks were on Horseshoe Island.

I managed to find a couple of hours to go and join the masses who had gone to see the 7 little beauties, the European Bee-Eaters at East Leake quarry, off the A6006 in Notts. 

The public were well organised, and well behaved, and the £5 per car was a cheap price to see what is hoped will be breeding birds. At one point I was eyeballing 3 of them in my scope at the same time.

Because they are so rare in the UK, the correct name is Bee-eaters. Beeeaters would be “beaters” and with 3 consecutive e’s!

I’m off to a cruise on Monday, starting in Boston, down to the Wash and then up the Witham. I’ve been a few times before and always find it enjoyable. Combining that with a visit on Tuesday to Gibraltar point, I hope to have some good stories for my post on Sunday 9^th.

So, with room to spare I thought I would recount an amusing experience sent to me by a friend in Portugal.

Ronald (name changed to protect the innocent), who I have known for over 53 years, and I used to tenpin bowl in a league at Hove in 1963. We bowled  every Friday night at 9.00pm, and used to arrive at the bowl at 8.58, always just at the end of the Navy lark. Except Friday 22^nd November 1963, when the programme was replaced by the news of the assassination of President Kennedy. Don’t we get some strange situations that assist our powers of recall.

About 15 years ago, I used to write a weekly diary about “the Animal Life of Braithwell Close”, and I had about 20 regular readers. Ronald “ghosted” for me for a couple of weeks, and people said they could tell who was writing!

So, that’s the chap.. this is his story.. (and he is prone to a little embellishment!!)

Coming back the other day I was going through security at Southampton Airport and joined the queue for the dreaded screening. The flight was busy and we jostled for the trays to put our stuff in. My not very tight fitting jeans were in a precarious position having relinquished my belt to the tray. My turn came and I entered holding my jeans up with one hand which I had to temporarily release of course.

As I stepped forward. Beep, beep, beep went the detector.

.

Of course everyone took a step back. Shock, horror. Mummy's little darlings were shoved behind Daddy and things looked grim. I was asked to try again. Beep, beep, beep went the thing again. I was asked to step forward and frisked. By now Mummy had removed her little snowflakes and rejoined another queue but at the back. Nothing untoward was discovered and they tried again. By now my jeans had travelled further south and hung in a precarious position. Beep beep beep it went again.

For .... sake I said. It was decided to take me to another machine. A sort of a mini vacuum machine appeared and I was 'hoovered all over! Went back to the walk-through machine now holding jeans up with both hands. Beep beep beep went the machine again. By now I could see signs of panic in the faces of those that may or may not be my future fellow passengers. Out came yet another device which scanned my skin. Buzz buzz buzz it went as it passed over my hands. Red lights flashed and God knows what else.

I was taken to a small room (I think it was a cell) and a security guard came in and asked me loads of questions about my habits; (which I said were sadly few these days).They then discovered the answer. My vapor (which was in my hand luggage (by now confiscated and being gone through with a fine tooth comb) had leaked its chemicals onto my hands which caused the machine to instantly recognize a foreign substance. Nevertheless I still had remove further clothing (which was easy cos most fell off naturally) and fill in a rather large report. Having done all that I was the last one on the plane. and was eyed with great suspicion as I walked to my seat. 

I 'm sure the seated passengers started pointing as I walked past.

Every journey for Ronald has a story!!There is a short sequel which I can print if anyone adds a comment at the bottom of this post!!

Happy Birding