Newton-St-Loe Birding: Golden Plover

Showing posts with label Golden Plover. Show all posts

22 February 2019

Spring is Springing

Date: 18- 21 February 2019

Location:
Wiltshire, Pit 44, Epney, Slimbridge, Eastville Park, Aust, Newton St Loe

Weather:
Mixed bag

Species Highlights:
Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Red Kite, Yellow Browed Warbler, Whooper Swan, Golden Plover, Pintail, Tornado, Grey Heron, Red Admiral.

Observation:
Monday morning Lauren was off work so in order to let her catch up we did a bit of a driving starting with a site in Wiltshire for Tree Sparrow, on arrival we were greeted with 50+ Reed Buntings with Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer covering the trees.

The Tree Sparrows were in their normal spots, everywhere but without cover it was difficult to get closer shots but really excellent to all the bird life.
With around a hour spent our next spot was a short drive to Pit 44 Cotswold Water Park.

The Yellow Browed Warbler which i'd seen a few times now was on arrival flitting up the small stream giving us good views, photographing another story, its such a quick little bird, moving from branch to branch.

The YBW then flew across road to lakeside and we couldn't relocate but another year tick for Lauren.

Our plan was to head for Slimbridge but dropping into to Epney where some Whooper Swan had been. We parked up near the Anchor Inn and walked along the Severn Way for a short distance and saw the 5 Whooper Swan on other side of the River Severn.

Job done it was time for Slimbridge. Slimbridge is always great but it was half term and it was very busy the car park almost full.
It was just the long staying Jack Snipe to see..... no sign that morning and has not been seen since! As the song goes 3 outta 4 not bad, well nearly.

Flocks of Lapwing, Dunlin across the Dumbles

Filling the skies with birds.

Dodging all the welly boot kids which apparently it was the world championship puddle jumping competition, we walked around to the South Hide a group of Avocet were displaying.

That 4th tick of the day for us both.

Another look for the Jack Snipe and Curlew were flying over the Dumbles, always good to see.

Jackdaw showing how well he can balance, a very underrated bird and stunning.

Back to the Rushy Hide for the remainder of the day, always good to watch the coming and goings.

Bewick Swan, Pintail, Shelduck to name a few that kept us entertained.

A good day was had and we returned home. Wednesday was my next day out and went to Eastville Park in the hope of Dipper or Kingfisher, very little was seen but this Jay sing away to himself surrounded by the many dog walkers.

Quite a few Feral Pigeons were around pond, I chucked a handful of seed down and this rather smart White Pigeon came to feed.

Spent 2 hours looking but to no avail so headed to Aust to see what was about, a single Stonechat near Pilling Wetlands and not much else.

No Owls but did manage to just about see the farewell Tornado flypast, unfortunately I'd walked down to the new Severn Bridge and the Tornado's decided to fly over the Old Severn Bridge!

40 years of service and a superb plane to watch, a such a great noise!

Thursday and as normal a patch walk with lots of singing Great Tits, Robin, Song Thrush a party of Long Tailed tits up on to Dog Track.

As I entered the small wooded area this Roe deer using his stay very still and no one will see me technique, on walking around the woodland the was still in same spot from the other side.

But a highlight was my first Butterfly of the year!!! It flew in front of me at bottom of the track and I even spotted another, a very worn and obviously overwinter specimen.

But it means my Butterfly year has started just 57 to go for my 3rd year on photographing all UK species, I'm not including the Irish Cryptic Wood White this year..

Skylark singing, sun shining and Butterflies can't get much better.
But on Top Lake, Grey Herons nesting or at least standing on nest.

Hopefully a better year for them, remember only 2 nests in 2018.

A large group 250+ of mainly Common Gulls and back drive.

So with spring, it seems just hours away, i'll leave you with some snowdrops.

Wayne's Year total= 125
Butterflies = 1
Lauren's Year Total= 120
Butterflies= 0

Thanks For Looking!

Thanks For All Your Support!

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media:

Twitter

Facebook

11 January 2019

A good start to 2019

Date:
21/12/2018 till 10/01/2019

Location:
Slimbridge, Newton St Loe, Chew Valley, Lodmoor, Radipole, Portland Bill.

Weather:
Alsorted.

Species Highlights:
Blackcap, Siskin, Black Redstart, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Water Pipit, Black Necked Grebe, Lesser Yellowlegs, Brent Geese, Purple Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Bewick Swan, Wigeon, Water Rail

Observation:
It's been a while since last post, but a lot has happened!
To start on the 21/12/2018 our Blackcaps have been visiting our feeders i've never seen both on tree at once but both male and female our visiting.

We've had plenty of birds visiting feeders Redwing, Coal Tits, Blue, Great, Long Tailed Tits all visit regularly along with Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

On the 26th December Boxing me & Lauren did our traditional Walk although picture were few we did manage a count of 48 species which this time of year is pretty decent.

The normally active Goldcrest stopped still!

A large group of Common Gull along back drive, lauren counted around 160.
(not all in this picture)

Always a good spot for Rook, Jackdaw and Crow.

On the 29th December I did another Patch walk but couldn't better our previous walk, did beat the Common Gull count. 250, took me a while but counted them all.

You may remember my Van Broke down, this was code, on checking internet it seems it's gonna be expensive......more to come on this.

That was the end of 2018, a good year for us.
I ended on 281 birds worldwide,
202 uk birds with 35 life ticks.
Along with 58 species of uk butterfly.

Lauren ended year on 251 worldwide with 192 Uk ticks and all 58 Butterflies too!!

2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019-2019

So the first day of a new year and using the wifes Polo we set off early towards Clevedon, a glorious start to day with sunshine.

Within a few minutes we spotted the female Black Redstart this our number 13th bird of the year. It didn't show very well and was very mobile.

Next off a slow dash up the M5 to Slimbridge ( wife Polo) a good place to start the year, Golden Plover in full flight, weather was now grey and overcast so not many pictures but lots to count.

Sparrowhawk on the prowl, Zeis hide.
Leaving Slimbridge we dropped into Frampton Court a first for us both, managed a few more ticks, will definitely pop in again. Our plan was to drive across to Cotswold Water Park then back towards home and drop into Marshfield, Red Crested Pochard was it from CWP & Marshfield by the time we got there was nearly dark so ended day with Red Legged Partridge and 67 species.

Got my van back on the 05/01/2019 with a price tag of £980!!!!! a bit more than i was expecting, first trip a short one to make sure all was good so headed down to Chew valley, a good plan as it turnned out, plenty of Goldeneye around the lake this from the Dam.

But the highlight was the Water Pipit from Stratford hide, most of the afternoon it paraded in front he hide.

A rare treat.

Best we could mange for the Black Necked Grebes at Chew unfortunately always distant.

Monday morning the 7th Jan we headed to Weymouth area with high hopes Lodmoor first and the long staying Lesser Yellowlegs not in the promised sunshine, it was almost dark!
A few more spots like Marsh Harrier, Med Gull but headed off to Ferrybridge to miss the the tide again!

Around 20 Dark Bellied Brent geese were cleaning and feeding but no waders to be seen.

From Harbour side we picked up Red Breasted Mergansers and a few Black Necked Grebes but again nothing else.

While watching a group of Skylark started to feed, a bird we never get to see close.

Twice that day we headed to Radipole to see Ring Necked Duck, we counted many Tufted and despite looking in all its normal spots couldn't find it, we heard Bearded Reedlings and saw some great looking Mediterranean gulls in car park. So after dinner we drove back over on to Portland.

The dark skies never really improved making photography difficiut, and not many birds to see anyway. Walking down through top fields only spot was a Stonechat, down to cliffs and Gullinott, Gannet was it.

On bill tip we finally managed to see the Purple Sandpiper at close range feeding in the now incoming tide.

Lauren back at work and some great weather forecast (typically) so headed up to Slimbridge again, Spot the Jack Snipe.

High Shutter, low iso and flocks of Wigeon.

A wonderful spectacle.

Plenty of photographers in the Willow hide spying the 2 Water Rails.

But light was best out onto the Tack piece.

Unringed Common Cranes.

Mum Dad a 3 juveniles

Took so many pictures of the Wigeon flocks.

Buteo buteo or Common Buzzard.

The Snowdrops are coming, followed by Spring !

I found the Ring Necked Duck, shame its not at Lodmoor. We are going to Canada on the 23rd Jan so expect to see a few in the wild plus a few other goodies i hope.