Cavorting Corvids!!

Friday 31^st March and that’s the first quarter of the year over. I’m pleased to be on 152, because that’s the highest I’ve ever reached in the first quarter of the year, in fact 10 higher than any previous year. 

All bodes well for the 2017 objective.

Sunday 2^nd April was my BWB day, and 25 people enjoyed a lovely morning, sunny and bright but with a bit of a chill until 11’ish. 

8 of the group were new to the walk, and within the first 20 minutes they were en-raptored!! Starting with a Buzzard this was soon followed by a Sparrowhawk, and then brilliant views of a Peregrine Falcon flying North. Admittedly it was not doing its potential 200mph, but it was at one hell of a lick!  Not surprising that it was the bird of the morning walk.

Whilst Carsington was not yet heavy with migrants, there were good views of singing Chiffchaffs, and fortunately a Willow Warbler. A few people saw a Blackcap, but it quickly buried itself in the bushes. More will follow as the months pass.

Tuesday 4^th April together with Gill and Chris I went to the Upper Derwent Valley, up to Kings Corner and on to Slippery Stones. Goshawk and/or Grouse were the targets, but low cloud meant that nothing was seen above us, nor where the skylines visible, so we returned empty handed.

We drove to Tittesworth (via Buxton and ticking off a couple of Muscovy Ducks), and checked out one of the 2 hides. Goosander, Willow Tit, Oystercatcher were seen, so all in all a quiet day. That’s birding for you.

Sunday 9^th April

Another nice fine and warm day, and Carsington was pulling in the crowds big time. For all the parking spaces and the overflow field, on a nice weekend, the place fills very quickly, and children were enjoying the Treasure Hunt. (No Cadbury Easter Eggs here!)

16 people turned up for the bonus Birdwatching for Beginners walk in the hope of seeing an Osprey. Statistics show April is the best month to see them at Carsington, and one had been seen two days ago on Friday, on its way through, but the only raptor today was a distant Buzzard.

We had the same 3 warblers as on the 2^nd, with this time a few more Willow Warblers on Stones Island, both very vocal and visible. Only Keith spotted the Swallow racing through, but I did spot a Swallow at a traditional farm location on the way home at Weston Underwood.

Some of the group latched on to a Little Ringed Plover jizzing about near the Sailing Club, but BOD went to the 2 Ravens on water Sports Island, clearly seen through 3 telescopes, setting about increasing the Carsington Raven population!!!

We did manage 39 species, but by 11.00am there were more people on the water edge than birds. A good Number of Barnacle Geese safely way in the fields was a good ending to the walk.

A couple of dates for your diaries – well 3 actually!   

Next Sunday (Easter Sunday,) the 90 minute BWB walk at Markeaton Park in Derby takes place at 10.00am. NOTE – NO walk in May

***And the next BWB at Carsington is Sunday 7^th May, which should be a good Warbler day, even if the foliage is getting denser.

            ***And the Annual evening search for Yellow Wagtails (at Carsington) is 6pm on Tuesday 25^th April. We will have some of the Carsington Bird Club experts with us, and they don’t miss much!!

   

*** Ensure you book for these events.

Happy Osprey finding…..KEEP LOOKING UP!

The Mini-Dorset Tour..and Parakeets at the Cemetery!

Did you miss me?  (How many said No?)  Well I did hint in my 19^th March post, that there would be a sort of “break in transmission”, and my laptop and I duly parted company for 10 days, so this is going to be an undiluted and concentrated account of my avian adventures, starting on…

Sorry, a quick bit of excitement…Osprey seen at Carsington on Monday 20^th 

March by Simon Roddis – 6 days earlier in 2017 than ever reported before.

Tuesday 21st March. Chris and I met up at the Sherwood Forest visitors centre, a new venue for me, and a spot where Chris had recently seen Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (LSW for simplicity). It’s a devil to find, but we went for hopefully another sighting…wrong, no sign at all, but with our late start and school parties and a volunteer work day, we suspect the LSW had retreated. 

So, we headed north into the adjacent Budby Common area.

After a circuitous walk and with the prospect of a meal in the centre, as we walked down a tree lined path with less wind than we had been encountering, Chris heard the call of a Jay, which we both saw, and as we waited for another sighting, high up in the canopy we spotted foraging  Siskin.  

Now with more of a spring in our steps, we approached a remote feeding table scattered with seeds, and our stealthy approach enabled us to get good views of Marsh Tit.  The absence of any pale flight feathers, and a thicker neck than a Willow Tit, gave us a good tick for a bird that can be hard to find.

Now we felt we had earned our lunch!  Mind you, my jacket spud was bad in the middle, so I had the last ½ tater for ½ price. Suited my appetite!

Being not far away and with good reports of raptors, we headed off to Welbeck raptor point, to find the tree with the raptor picture, then to settle down and wait.  No luck to-day, but we were rewarded by the sudden flurry of a brace of Grey Partridges breaking cover, before heading home.

Friday March 24^th, Mary and I set off for Newmarket for a Saturday wedding, Sunday to Epsom downs (get the horse racing theme?), and arrived in Bournemouth (incidentally via a cemetery in Leatherhead, Surrey for my guaranteed Ring Necked Parakeet!) on…

Monday 27^th March. With one addition for the journey so far we start 4 nights in Dorset, before returning home on Friday 31^st March. Came back via Stow on the Wold for the Blue Rock Thrush. Another wrong decision, although we have both seen this lovely bird in Majorca, but not in the UK.

Tuesday 28^th March Having decided we cannot tolerate the terrible rattle from the exhaust any longer, we have an early breakfast and drop into the National Tyre and Autocare centre, who tell me it’s a loose baffle board, correct it and charge me nothing, all done by 9.15. Bit different from the Derby garage who had told me it would be a new exhaust at £186.

With that sorted its Plan B, and we drive to Weymouth. Nothing at Lodmoor, so we go on to Radipole Lake to see a Lifer, a Hooded Merganser.

                                                   

Not the best of pictures – check the web to see what a beauty this Merganser is.

The RSPB volunteer tells us that it originates from the USA, and he has been around for about 8 years. He can be regularly seen making advances to Tufted Ducks, which if successful could produce an interesting Tufted Merganser.

Battling through road diversions, I have a quick look at the Fleet, before lunching at Mary’s favourite Crab sandwich outlet on Portland Bill, after which we find a kind couple sitting in the quarry next to the Portland Bill bird observatory, who point out two Little Owls well disguised amongst the rocks.

Wednesday 29^th March We head for the Isle of Purbeck (our house is called Purbeck), with intention of walking round Arne, and hopefully finding Dartford Warbler. Wrong again, although we do spot a handsome speeding Hen Harrier. A heavy shower aborts a walk at Middlebere very quickly, but too late to avoid getting soaked! 

Day abandoned, after a good lunch at Wareham Quay – Lobster Bisque *****.

Thursday 30^th March was a day to max out our pensioner’s discount cards, including a 60-minute bus ride to Swanage (including a cruise on the Poole – Studland ferry), and back, all for free.  We visited Pevril Point, and Mary spotted the flash of what turned out to be a lovely Wheatear.

In view of the Osprey already seen at Carsington this year (20^th March) may bode well for something on my extra Beginners walk on Sunday 9^th April….BOOK NOW!!! (No guarantees)

Good Birding (Oh and I'm on 152!!)