Micro-Tibialism goes International

International publicity for the  Micro-Tibialist

Hold the phone! Hold the press!.. just hold on.

Roy (or Royston to his Mum) has been a friend for over 50 years, and we go back to the days of tenpin bowling in league at Hove then Croydon then Tolworth, always under the team name Little Squirrels (because that was the name of his house in Claygate.) Now that WAS a surprise.     An e-mail from a friend of many years standing, who now lives in Portugal, and from time to time, in Devon. 

We went to the same church youth club, I was his best man, and we made an 8mm cine film about the name Hardy to celebrate his father’s promotion to a Masonic master. (Don’t know anything about that organisation, but I know we had a lot of fun making a cine film on my Eumig 8 camera, to show at a Ladies Masonic night.)

The subject was the Hardy antecedents, and the film linked Roy’s father with such well-known Hardys as Laurel and Hardy, Freeman Hardy & Willis, and of course Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, a Royal Navy officer of the Battle of Trafalgar fame. The filming of the latter called upon the actor playing Hardy (Roy) to kiss Nelson (me). The consequential camera shakes due to the laughter by Mary and Barbara (Mrs Hardy) ensured such a blurred picture that censorship was not needed.  

But I digress…or reminisce

.Roy e-mailed to say that a batch of programmes sold by the BBC and deemed to be non-showable were being screened on his local Portuguese network.  Roy happened to be watching the channel last Sunday and found himself watching the Antiques Road show edition in which I appeared with my leg collection, in 2014, in the days before I became a Micro-Tibialist. In the same show, my daughter Sarah could be seen in the crowd.

Now that is what I call a coinicidence… all those leg fans – what fame!

Whilst I’m on the subject I’ve added a couple of rather odd additions to my leg collection. Not the usual sophisticated antique examples, but novelties to be added to my “naff” section. Well they are legs after all.

 Bottle Stoppers !!!!

                                       

Life is full of surprises, like last Tuesday 24^th April, when Chris, Gill and I decided to catch up on the Warbler arrivals at Attenborough. As Chris and I passed each other on the drawbridge to the visitor centre, she said, “What a shame no Red Crested Pochard, to which I could only reply. “There’s one behind you!! Proves the point 6 eyes are better than 2!!

We had a very good morning (it rained p.m.), and being early, it was quiet, we beat the school trips, and the sun was out. Whitethroat and Common Tern were on the list in no time, plus this confiding pheasant who almost ate from my hand.

A fellow birder told us where to find the Grasshopper Warbler. Recalling over the years how many hours I have loitered on the path near Wheatear field, hearing the fishing wheel whine of a Gropper, but not seeing it. This time we, and several other people, heard, saw and even photographed up to 2 birds on the bushes opposite the Kingfisher hide. What a thrill.

Sedge Warbler and Sand Martin were added to the list before we repaired for lunch. Gill decided to go shopping, so Chris and I took our cars to my house, Mary did a quick brew, and having parked up, Chris and I both set off for Carsington for the evening annual Yellow Wagtail walk, run by the Severn Trent volunteers in cahoots with Carsington Bird Club.

Roger Carrington and John led us round Stones Island in a very damp and drizzly 2-hour evening walk, and whilst we dipped on the Yellow Wags, Hirundines were around and I added Willow Warbler and Little Ringed Plover.

SO (!!) at the 28^th April, I’m now on 146, and Chris is well ahead on 172, helped by a bit of travelling, and more to come.

Next BwB?   Carsington    Sunday 6^th May 10.00am as usual.

…..oh and the res is 94.1% full, and still rising.

Happy Birding

"Always look on the bright side of life!"

You will probably realise that I like odd snippets of information and news, and I try to share them with you if I think they may be of interest.

“So!”… a couple to start my post for this week.

Carsington Water. Regular visitors will have watched the rises and falls of the water level and will know that the  level only goes up when there has been a good rainfall AND the Derwent is running fast.   Over the last few weeks the reservoir level has started to rise again, due to the pumps being turned on at Ambergate.   As at today, the Res is 93.7% full.

A headline in the Friday 13^th April issue of METRO, made my pulse race. “ANGRY BIRDS - The Eagles and the Seagulls go beak-to-beak”.

Imagine my sigh of relief when I found it was not about a trained eagle chasing off coastal Herring Gulls, but a psyche-up article for football supporters for about a forthcoming match between Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion.  The Eagles (Crystal Palace) won 3-2!

I know I have said it before, but “it’s been a funny old week”!

Tuesday, I spent a couple of hours at Carsington, updating the courtyard press cuttings board, emptying the bird feed donation box, banking the bird food donations, and paying the Volunteers treasurer, the generous donations from people on my BwB walks for 2018 to date. Whilst chatting to Pat and Gill, a swallow did a double fly past, so that upped my 2018 list to 135.

During my visit I also collected my copy of the annual Carsington Bird Club report. The 2017 issue is the 26^th report by the club, since it’s inauguration in 1992 when the Queen officially opened Carsington Reservoir.

The report is a huge credit to Gary Atkins (who regularly helps me on the Carsington BwB walks) and fellow club members who have contributed to and prepared this 68-page report in only just over 3 months after the end of 2017. Comprising 26 pages of articles and 39 pages of bird sighting reports on all the species seen in 2017, the report is an excellent benefit from being a club member.

I have said before that a Black Necked Grebe was chosen as the club logo because it was the rarest species on site on 22^nd May 1992. Wondering which species would have had that honour on 22^nd May 2017, the CBC on-line archives revealed it to be a Black Tern – well 3 actually!!!

By the way, Amanda is currently on 147, but confesses that a short break in Norfolk earlier in the year did boost her count.

Wednesday, I encountered a kamikaze Robin in the garden such that I had to do an emergency stop with the mower. He got the worm – I missed the Robin.

Wednesday I took Mary to see Spamalot at the Derby theatre. It was very funny and well worth seeing. None of the celebrities that were in the West End version were in the cast, but the 12 actors worked so hard for 1 hour 40 minutes. When the audience joins in with well-known songs like “Always look on the bright side of life” you know everyone is enjoying themselves.   If you haven’t seen it, if it’s in your locality (again) try and see it. Our local vicar has seen the show 3 times, including London. And the fact that I didn’t fall asleep speaks volumes.

Inspired with happiness, Thursday 19^th April, the hottest day this year (so far) I went to Old Moor, with a list of goodies that Amanda gave me.   Missed the lot!!!!!, but I did get a pair of Mediterranean Gulls and a “lost” Sandwich Tern………. Which takes me on nicely to 137.

The hot day inspired me to get to the grips with the garden, and included installing this fountain, which we hope will give another source of drinking and bathing for our garden birds.

Now looking forward to next Tuesday (24^th April), with the 6pm Yellow Wagtail safari at Carsington. Meet at the Visitor centre. (That's after a day at Attenborough, with high hopes!!)

Happy Birding

Wine, Dine and Birds in Dorset - can't beat it!!

Osprey mania…I hope so.

When I left you last week, Ospreys had been seen at Carsington on 3 different days (up to 8^th April), so it probably was not a surprise to turn on my phone when we arrived in Bournemouth to get a message about another sighting, this time in an old tree in Fishtail Creek on Monday 9^th April. 

The brief sighting, by 2 of the Full-time rangers was unfortunately too far away for a phone photo by Sophie.

Anyway, I was able to link Sophie with a CBC recorder Clive Ashton via Gary Atkins, by the wonders of steam telephone, so that’s another possible sighting in the CBC archives.

Our journey to Bournemouth was pretty dreary apart from a Red Kite near Oxford – not a lot.

Tuesday added the bird of the holiday. On West Cliff, overlooking the prom, we came across a really exhausted -looking Wheatear. Considering it had no doubt flown across the channel, and originally from Africa, not surprising it was just munching some seeds with a couple of Goldfinches.  

Many of my Wheatear sightings have been of exhausted birds. I can recall single birds at Lodmoor (Weymouth), and appropriately Wheatear field at Attenborough gravel pits. It’s a privilege to see them, because once they have recharged their batteries they will be on their way to the hills.

We dropped in to Hengitsbury Head near Christchurch, but after a coffee and scone, we decided that a £4 parking fee for 2 hours was not likely to give us much return bird wise!!! I knew that Dartford Warblers bred close to the visitor centre, but the rain and the cold drove us back to our hotel, parked and had an enjoyable wine and Pizza lunch on the pier.

Wednesday was the best weather, made even better from knowing what Derbyshire residents were having to endure.  We decided to do the bus tour to and from Swanage.

A walk to Peveril Point, producing a preening Rock Pipit, Chiffchaff and Linnet, justified 90 minutes sitting by the harbour with Prawn sandwiches and wine. (and why not!!).

Ed: Lunchtime wine on 2 days, and dinner I assume?   Just remember that when the Doc asks, “how many units do you drink a day?”

Our next excitement in Swanage was debating with fellow tourists and the locals, as to which end of the bus stop the queue starts.  You know the experience? The answer dictated whether we were 4th in the queue, or 27th.    A no-brainer…we got on another bus going a different route, and sat comfortable on the top deck, in the front row for the 80-minute journey back to the hotel!!

Thursday 12^th April A chance for a bit of birding, and a cracking start, because within 3 minutes of leaving our hotel, 3 Jays chased each other across a tree laden roundabout.

Spurred on we went to Middlebere, near Arne, and from the car, spotted a pair of lovely male and female Stonechats on the gorse, during a slow crawl down the road to Arne.

Pleased to find that Arne now has a shop and a café since our previous visit in 2016, with a nice choice of snack foods. Only the spring vegetable soup let them down, as the flavour was very weak.

To-day Sunday 15^th April was my monthly Markeaton BwB walk, and 11 people enjoyed the 90 minutes’ walk, with 23 species to show for it.

A pair of Mallards with 8 ducklings was a sign of the time of year, and the pair of Mandarins on the duck pond got the bird of the day vote.    Whilst Nuthatches couldn’t get the seed I was laying down quickly enough, the group were pleased to identify a male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff, signs of the migration happening. (assuming that they did not winter with us!)   And 3-4 drifting buzzards demonstrated the benefit of always looking up. And I'm on 134 to date!

Let’s hope the migration signs continue, and my next birding session for birders is the Yellow Wagtail walk at Carsington on Tuesday 24^th April at 6pm, in conjunction with Carsington Bird Club.   

Ring Carsington to book.

Happy Birding.

A Prial of Ospreys.. definitely a winning hand!!

Eureka……………….. 3^nd April 2018 11.05am, the first Osprey of 2018 called in at Carsington Water, just long enough for a look round, a quick hover, and then continued North, presumably on towards Scotland.

Simon Roddis of Carsington Bird Club was the first spotter, and Pat and Gill (ST Volunteers) were ready and on  duty in the Wildlife Centre to see the first Osprey of the year. Pat’s phone then went into overdrive mode, with texting the news. Sadly, the Osprey only stayed 6/7 minutes, and there was no ring identification.

This is just as a reminder of a previous visitor to Carsington (which turned out to be “00”).

  

…………….. and then 4th April 2018 - the next day…………….. spotted at 10.45, ANOTHER one….. or was it the same bird having had a quick B&B in Derbyshire?   Alas we will not know.

But what is for sure is that the place to be is about 4 feet behind Simon Roddis, a diligent patch worker who is proof of how well patchworking can pay off.  

I had a foray back through my records to compare the first sightings at Carsington, since the Osprey nests were erected in 2010. As you can see the first 7 days of April have been good, and this is why I added the BwB bonus walk on the second Sunday in April each year.

2011                 April 2

2012                 April 2

2013                May 31

2014                April 6

2015                April 6

2016                April 1

2017                March 20

2018                April 3

The earliest 10-year sighting was in 2010 (by Simon again!), and the latest first sighting was in 2013 virtually 60 days late. My recollections were that 2013 was a very stormy spring, and research showed that whilst there were no fewer Ospreys in the UK, many migrants flew North following a more westerly route through Devon, Wales and the west coast, hence our late first sighting was one of a few. And 2013 was a year with a low migrant count.

NEWS EXTRA

Rumours are spreading along the north Devon coast that planning permission is being sought for the EX35 postal zone to be designated a site of special wildlife interest.

The applicant, a serious supporter of the late Sir Peter Scott and a Lifetime season ticket holder for the WWT  (amongst others), has been undertaking serious observation and record keeping of his garden and the adjacent locale, and is not only attracting interesting bird life, but some 4-legged species as well.

His camera trap is the talk of the neighbourhood, (and I believe Neighbourhood watch), as it is revealing all sorts of night-time activities that the boys in blue were not aware of.  Chief Inspector Subbuteo is quite happy that the equipment is for a hobby not entailing trapping, nor for any other monetary/illegal gain or purpose (HMR&C please note) and said that as long as he can get copies some of the more attractive birds in the neighborhood, he will approve the installation, without any planning permission requirement. 

And this is what has been identified in EX35 this week and justifies the application by Mr.Bridge. Admittedly Hawfinches have been far from scarce this Winter, but when they come to your feeder that is a real bonus.

Oh my gawd…. A double Eureka !!! Text message from Carsington Water this afternoon, passing on the gist of a telephone call from a member of the public who at 16.15 watched an Osprey flying in to Middle Wood (east side of the Res) to roost.  What a wonderful week for Ospreys, but what a shame the 15 people on the BwB walk had left by lunchtime. 

So we have the question.... have we had 1, 2 or 3 birds? I wish we knew.

Anyway, let's hope one takes to a nest,. then our problems will start!!!… last time I looked at a nest, there were a pair of Canada Geese in situ!!

Looks like a good month – enjoy your birding

Chuffed by a Chiffchaff

I thought it might be an idea to feed my readers with some snippets about birds, which they may not have known or heard, and as I have virtually nothing news wise to write about, we’ll see how this goes.

I find when I am talking to children about birds, they enjoy snippets of knowledge that they can remember, and if it makes them chuckle so much the better.

Talking about speed is a good start. When I talk about a “stoop” I must explain that it describes a Peregrine Falcon going “down hill”, travelling up to 200mph in a 45-degree stoop, and that speed usually brings a “Wow!”

I like to recount the story about the time at Durlston country park near Swanage when I saw a Peregrine fly out to sea from below the cliff path, getting smaller and smaller until “wallop”, and the bird then flying back clutching a pigeon (eh, ex-pigeon), and calling to it’s young as it returned to the nest.

Oystercatchers are visually interesting birds for children (like Puffins), not least because of the large orange beak. But explaining that oysters do not move (well hardly), this has produced the question how does an Oystercatcher catch an oyster??   

…. And whilst we are on the subject, they do not eat Oysters!!   Their diet is principally mussels, limpets and ragworms. Which reminds me that a good number of years ago, I recall Oystercatchers breeding at Carsington on Horseshoe Island, and it was a frequent sight to see the parents fly across the water to the fields by Shiningford Creek, and then fly back with worms. As they flew back they called (piped!) and the young birds came out in the open, first one out getting a meal.

I caught a nice TV programme on BBC something about rivers, and last week there was some good video footage of a Dipper feeding a youngster by a fast-flowing river. From leaving the nest until feeding for itself is only 14 – 21 days.   But why is it called a Dipper?

Not for the reason you would think, that it dips in and out of running water (which indeed it does) but because of it’s bobbing/dipping up and down when it is perched (and often defecating!) on a rock. (…and that’s a tip for spotting somewhere a Dipper may frequent….look for the s**t).

Explaining the link between the largest sea duck, St Cuthbert and the Farne Islands, (which I have told before on this blog) is an interesting explanation of the origin of the name for an Eider, Cuddies’ Duck.

It might be a bit obtuse for some children to take in, so if they refer to a duvet duck you will appreciate where the confusion comes from!

Thursday March 30^th. Somebody up there does love me….just been talking to a neighbour at our front door and spotted a Sparrowhawk flying over with it’s diagnostic flap, flap, flap….glide flight pattern. Yippee …what perfect timing 127.  Well a bit slow really... it's 89 days through 2018 before I saw my first one.

As I was saying….. anyone heard about the old myth which was still believed right up until the end of the 18^th century, that Barnacle Geese came from barnacle crustaceans?  Knowing what we know now, it seems a strange perpetuated myth.

Sunday April 1^st.  The days leading up to the monthly BwB walk at Carsington were filled with doubt, with the Midlands threatened with all sorts of adverse weather, including heavy snow. 

Well actually apart from being freezing cold on Stones Island (I guess by now you will have noticed my problem with heat!), the 18 people on the walk survived on what was in fact a dry morning! We had 5 newbies in the group, and a  varied range of suggestions for BOD. But one the first of the walks' summer migrants was destined to get the award, and true to form, we spent some time searching, and ultimately finding my first Chiffchaff for 2018 (No 128).

We have the extra walk next Sunday hoping for Osprey. This morning we spotted 2 birds on the Lane End Osprey nest…..2 Canada Geese!!! Hopefully I may have better sightings to report next week.

To end, a good photograph of a Tree Creeper taken by my S I L Julian when, with our daughter Sarah, they visited the NT house at Sudbury last week.   Cracking bird.

Happy Birding