A Great Start To 2018!

Date: 1st January 2018

Location: Plock Court - Slimbridge - Sharpness

Weather: Rain in Morning, ending with Sunshine!

Species Highlights: Penduline Tit, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Fieldfare, Bewick Swan, Water Rail, White-Fronted Goose, Little Stint, Great Northern Diver, Linnet

Observation: To start the New Year off with a new bird (for Lauren), we headed to Plock Court and arrived for first light ready for the Penduline Tit, on arrival a two other birders had already located the bird. 

After a few minutes the bird had perched in the Hawthorn bush close to the 1st pool, we took a few pictures and waited to see if it come closer to us.

The bird flew into the distant bushes to feed, so we walked to the next field to scan the Gulls, where there were good numbers of Common Gulls and Black-Headed Gulls, also Fieldfare, Long-Tailed Tit, Redwing and Meadow Pipit.



As we started heading back to the other birders, a Sparrowhawk came speeding across the back of the 1st pool and landed on the gate.

The bird returned and fed on the Bullrushes for a short time, as the number of birders started rising we left Plock Court and headed to Slimbridge.

Pleased to see the Penduline Tit, and a great first year tick!

As we arrived at Slimbridge, the rain started but this didn't stop the birds!
The Tack Piece was full to bursting with waders and waterfowl, being spooked by a Peregrine Falcon and two of Buzzard's.

The Red-Breasted Goose was also present on The Dumbles amongst the Barnacle Geese.

The rain stopped and the sun showed, so we headed back to the Robbie Garnet hide for more pictures.

With the White-Fronted Geese flock, there was a single White-Fronted Goose X Barnacle Goose.

Shelduck (From the Rushy)

Bufflehead (From the America Pools)

Kingfisher (From the Martin Smith hide)

Water Rail (From the Willow hide)

Slimbirdge and Plock Court produced a total count of 66 for us both, a VERY successful day so far. On our way back home, as stopped off at Sharpness Docks, to visit the Great Northern Diver and Black Redstart.

The Diver was feeding in SARA Pools, and came close to us at times, but the light was fast fading, so after 20 minutes we left the Diver to feed.

We searched for the Black Redstart, but with the wind picking up, we couldn't locate but did find a group of 11 Linnet.

A great day and a great start to our year. Off to our Patch tomorrow, as 3 Hawfinch were reported again today! So fingers crossed we can locate them tomorrow.

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Blue Rock Thrush > Slimbridge

Date: 2nd January 2017

Location: Stow-on-the-Wold > Slimbridge

Weather: Blue Sky, Cold and Sunny

Other Species:

Observation: As Lauren returned from London last night, we planned to finally visit the Blue Rock Thrush as blue skies were forecast for Stow-on-the-Wold. We have always stuck to the 2-hour rule when it comes to twitches (depending on how fast we drive!!)

We arrived at around 10am and parked in the car park which was around a 5 minute walk away. On arrival plenty of birders around, but had been told it had just gone into the garden to feed, using this opportunity we went around the back to find even more birders! The light was alot better this way and after a short wait the BRT popped up onto the rooftop which was in full sunlight.

After around 20 minutes it flew off and done a full circle of other nearby roofs, with even better light!

After around an hour, it flew over onto the conifer tree and perched there for a few minutes. It then flew back into the garden to feed again, we left shortly after this as out plan was to spend the rest of the day at Slimbridge.

Shame it's out of focus!

When the BRT disappeared, there were plenty of other birds to photograph including this Starling.

We saw and we conquered! A stunning bird, what a way to start 2017!

After what seemed like forever we arrived at Slimbridge to a full car park and even cars parked out on the road.

We headed straight for Rushy and the Martin Smith hides, hoping they would be slightly quieter, but it seemed they would all be pretty full today!

From the Martin Smith hide the resident Buzzard was on the fence as always, but today it was alot closer so proved for some nice shots!

The Wigeon flock were very flighty today.

What trip is complete without some in-flight shots...

The Bittern showed briefly for us late afternoon from the Kingfisher Hide, but unfortunately no images.

With everything starting to roost, a last drop-in to the Rushy proved successful with more flight shots, but with the light fading we got a few of the Bewick Swan's and headed home.

A very successful day with a finally some decent sunshine to try out our new camera kits!

A lovely start to 2017 and with hopefully plenty more trips planned!

Thanks For Looking ! 

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Blyth's Pipit - Take Two!

Date: 27th December 2016

Location: Blagdon Lake - Somerset

Weather: Blue Sky, Cold but Sunny!

Observation:
Another quick visit to Blagdon Lake this morning, as I was previously working Thursday when Dad/Wayne visited, to see the Blyth's Pipit. On arrival the gates were closed, so we walked in from the road with another birder. After a 3.5 mile walk (there and back), we located some birders at Burmah Road area so headed for that direction. When we finally arrived, no birders could locate since it flew to the right towards Bell's Bush. We carried on walking around to Burmah Road, finally locating the Blyth's Pipit, the bird showed slightly further out than Thursday but it was present. Today it was still showing well but seemed to be more mobile than Thursday.

Once we initially located the bird, it was then fairly easy to keep re-locating when it flew off, with it's bright orange legs, and the different behaviour between the Meadow Pipit and Blyth's Pipit.

We stayed for 2 hours, spoke to lots of nice birders with lots of knowledge for new places (ready for next year's birding).

Even managed a quick in-flight shot!

We left the Blyth's Pipit having a good old scratch and clean!

Whilst photographing the Blyth's Pipit, a Little Stint ran into the background of the Pipit's shot, but too quick for a photo! In the same location we also heard a Green Woodpecker, 1 Great White Egret was feeding on the shoreline (but another 3 flew down to Top End).

Lastly on the way back to the Van, we spotted a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in the fir tree's just off the road.

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More Patch Ticks and Somerset Levels

Date: 26/27 September 2016

Location: 
Newton St Loe & Somerset Levels

Weather: Both days cloudy grey

Other Species: 
Highlights on Patch first 
5 Grey Wagtail, 3 Skylark, 50+ House Martin 1 Barn Swallow, Kingfisher, 2 Nuthatch, 
1 Female Wigeon, 12 Teal. 36 species count
Ham wall-Shapwick
3 Great White Egrets, 14 Little Egrets, 100+ Wigeon,Lapwing, Snipe, Water Rail, Gadwall, 
2 Kingfisher, Oystercatcher, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Glossy Ibis, 3 Little Stint, Ruff, Greenshank, Buzzard. 46 species count
Observation: 
First off a patch walk on Monday and a somewhat slow day but with 2 Grey Wagtails a  couple of Jays and 3 Skylark plus the normal things was looking good before pennyquick and so far 19 species. So in to Village and still a good amount of House Martins around 50 buzzing over Farm shop. Only 1 Barn Swallow seen on hole walk though. Out to Newton Park Lower lake and a Kingfisher streaming along lakeside. But while checking out ducks of which their were 2 Mallard and ..... A Wigeon !!

May have got split up from its mates? 

Bristol area had a influx of 320 Newton St Loe get one ! But last time we had a Wigeon was 13/01/2014 so yet another year tick, takes us to 81 this year a record !!

Top Lake 12 Teal numbers growing nicely .

Out along Newton Drive and apart from the Students now arriving, 1000's of them, Oh joy !

Around 20 Rooks feeding in fields was about it.

Tuesday and weather promised to be better, not really but rain held off.

Ham Wall first and saw this Great White Egret.

Bit distant but looked nice with Glastonbury in background.

Went to Avalon Hide not much here but while walking along path to vp2 a group of 12 Little Egrets mixed with Gadwall.

While scanning for the Glossy Ibis which i couldn't see this Marsh Harrier came coasting over putting everything up. Oystercatcher, Black Tailed Godwit and Lapwing along with Gadwall, Mallard and Shovellers making the numbers up .

While chatting to other visiting birders saw the Glossy Ibis, i know very distantly but still saw them. This in between vp1 and vp2.

Not much on to see on Walton side except these Cormorants.

Surprised how many Butterflies about still with Speckled Woods, Red Admirals and Numerous Whites about. This Red Admiral about the only one to stop, on fresh Ivy Bloom.

Quick swig of coffee and crossed the road to Shapwick Heath and time to check out the very nice Tower Hide. Spotted a Little Stint then 2 more. With Lapwing, Greenshank, Water Rail, Ruff highlights of the rest.

Took the walk on to Noahs hide.

Kingfisher and fleeing Lapwing the best there. So nearly 3:30 decided to leave also, a grey day but a count of 46 species was had,chatted to some nice people, And home.

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