Iceland Trip!

Date spotted: 24th-27th February 2014 - All Day 

Location: Iceland - Reykjavik - Hafnarfjörður

Observation: Visited Iceland for a few days on a family holiday, in the hope to see the Northern Lights (and of course some new birds!). We were lucky enough to see both! Northern Lights didn't show well the first night so we tried again the next night, it showed but not seen through the naked eye, on our way back to Reykjavik, the coach stopped and we seen it 'dancing' through our own eyes and even better through the camera! Amazing to finally see!! Shame we returned to the UK and that night, it was visible on our doorstop! Lets just say we brought it home for all our friends to see! The next day we visited the sights in Reykjavik and got a few new birds including the Icelandic Redpoll, Snow Bunting, Common Eider, Red-Breasted Merganser and Wigeon, mostly at Tjornin Pond and the harbor. Lugging our lenses around in -10 weather and for hours proved worth it! The

next day we done the Golden Circle tour, breathtaking landscapes and a bonus was loads of ravens, and a close-range Ptarmigan, we only had our 135mm lens but we got within feet of it so not a problem! Overall we had an amazing trip, took hundreds of photo's and seen the Northern Lights! Iceland is an amazing peaceful country and defiantly worth a visit !

Weather: Blue Sky, Very Cold, Sunny

Other Species: Raven, Crow, Snow Bunting, Black-Headed Gull, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Mallard, Common Eider, Red-Breasted Merganser, Icelandic Redpoll, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Ptarmigan 

Skylarks Return !

Skylark ,no Really it is !

Stunning photo taken by Wayne Not Lauren Obviously

Date spotted: 18/02/2014 - 2PM

Location: Zones 1,2+5

Observation: Did a bit of a wander filling feeders nothing on the perches so carried on up to Seven acre wood, 4 different Skylarks up singing away ! not heard or seen for months,nice to have a bit of music back !

Carried onto lake few teal still about also 3 heron's on same tree. Got to Newton Park Keep and spotted Roe Deer 100's People milling about, no one spotted it nibbling ,looked like Blackberry shoots .

Onto Newton Village saw Sparrowhawk in a totally Blue Sky and Meadow Pipit. Also spotted primrose's and snowdrops, Spring is coming!

Weather: Blue Skies, Temp About 10c

Other Species: 4 Skylark, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Coal Tit, Goldfinch, 10 Teal, 3 Mute Swan, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, Rook, Crow, Jackdaw, Common Gulls, 

             

Lack of Posts!

     (Archive Picture)

As all of you are probably aware, the weather has been crap over the past few days/weeks/month so that is why there has been a lack of posts!

We will be out tomorrow and will do a blog in the evening. 

As soon as the weather improves we will be back to doing 2-3 blogs a week.

Off to Iceland a week tomorrow, so will do a few blogs from there also 

Thanks for the comments, views etc, it is greatly appreciated.

Best Wishes

NSL-Birding 

Dipper + Kittiwake !

Date: 10th February - All Day

Location: Wookey Hole - Burnham-On-Sea -  Chew Valley Lake

Observation: Stopeed off at Wookey Hole on way down to Burnham-On-Sea, stopped in the car park, seen Dipper flew down stream which late flew back up, calling and feeding, first new bird of the day! Moved onto Apex Lake + Burnham, just the normal suspects about. On the estuary, seen 5+ Redshank and a small group of Turnstone, also 200+ Starling flying over towards Steart. Popped into Chew Valley on the way home, luckily we did! After 10 minutes of being there we spotted a 'gull' within 10 foot of us, on closer looks, we noticed the black flash on its head, and when it stood up black legs, this stumped us! Watching it for a while, was obvious that was exhausted, but would fly very short distances when cars arrived to try and get food, it did manage to grab a big of bread, so should be better in no time! After positive ID from Rich Andrews, this proved to be adult Kittiwake in winter plumage, very nice and second new bird of the day, hopefully will be off flying soon!

Weather: Heavy Showers, Sunny Intervals, Warm

Other Species: 1 Dipper, 5+ Redshank, 10 Turnstone, 50+ Black-Headed Gull, Herring Gull, 3 Great-Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 7 Greylag Geese, 11 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Kittiwake, 200+ Starling, 8 Shelduck, 6 Redwing

Corsham Lake - Goosander + Smew

Date spotted: 4th Feb - 2PM

Location: Corsham Court + Lake

Observation: Quick trip after finding the Red-Flanked Bluetail, now to find the Smew + Goosander both successful! Total of 10 Goosanders, and 1 female Smew. Not coming to close and just out of range but a new tick for us so very happy today !

Weather: Blue Sky, Rain Showers, Cold

Other Species: 3 Great-Crested Grebe, 10 Goosander, 1 Red-Head Smew, 40+ Canada Goose.

Red-Flanked Bluetail - Marshfield

Date spotted: 4th Feb - 1PM

Location: Marshfield - Broadmead Brook

Observation: Had a quick look at Marshfield in hope to see the Red-Flanked Bluetail today, we parked at Drifton Hill (plenty of space) and walked down following the other birders, we arrived and waited for sight of the bird (around 60+ birders there!) was showing very well and mostly staying around 25 feet away, but some birders wanted to get even closer, and kept flushing the bird further and further down the brook! Please respect the bird!

Weather: Cloudy, Moderate Rain, Cold with wind

Other Species: Red-Flanked Bluetail, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard