Feeder Time and Patch Wander...

Date: 10th July 2017

Location: Newton Park Lake - Return

Weather: Cloudy but Brightened to Blue Skies

Other Species: Full Sightings List

Observation: We both haven't been out on the patch recently so a walk was required, whilst Wayne had a break from Butterflies where he is currently on 55. Before we started the walk, I spent a few minutes in front the Feeders, the tree's are FULL of both adult and young birds and the feeders are emptied by them every morning!

This morning's count included: 1 Jay, 3 Coal Tit, 3 Bullfinch, 8 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Crow and 2 Wood Pigeon.

Jay (Juvenile)

Collared Dove (Adult)

Coal Tit (Juvenile)

Bullfinch (Adult Pair)

Blue Tit (Juvenile)

Goldfinch (Juvenile)

Blue Tit (Juvenile)

Onto the Walk, through Bath Mill and up the Dog Walk was very quiet, a single Chiffchaff was the best.

A single Skylark was heard singing as we crossed over into the Village. A group of 5 Collared Doves by the new cottages with calling House Sparrow's, Goldfinches and Blackbirds, along with House Martin's and Barn Swallow's soaring around by the Farm Shop.
A pair of Pied Wagtail feeding on the roofs of the Farm Shop also.

Onto the Lakes -
Bottom Lake still has the solo Mute Swan (Male), with a few Mallard one of which has a new brood of 3 ducklings.
Top Lake pretty quiet due to the water levels being low, the brood of 6 Cygnets still present with the Adult pair. A count of 45 Mallard (highest count since April), 2 Coot, 3 Grey Heron and a single Moorhen.

4 Buzzards on thermals around the Lakes also.

Before doing the return route, we had a check of the Ponds for Dragonflies. After a short wait, we got a few shots of the Emperor Dragonfly (Female) also 2 Male's present.

Also an abundance of Northern Damselflies around the Ponds.

On the return, we walked back through the Lakes, the Mute Swan brood were away from the bank so we took a few pictures.

Back at the Village, the House Sparrow were enjoying the mud pit in the Pig pen, feeding on the flies.

A single Linnet, a fly-past Kestrel and a further 2 Buzzards also seen taking the Species count to 36.


Plenty of Butterflies around today including - Red Admiral, Comma, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small White and Green-Veined White.

Gatekeeper

Ringlet

Back onto the Feeders and a few more shots taken after the walk today.

Goldfinch (Adult)

Great Tit (Juvenile)

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FOD and Hawfinches

Date: 13/02/2017

Location: Forest of Dean

Weather: Some Blue Skies, plus a little Overcast

Other Species: 
Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Hawfinch, Buzzard, Marsh Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Dipper, Mandarin Duck, Mute Swan, Raven, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Waxwing, Goldcrest, Siskin, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Greylag, Canada Goose, Sparrowhawk, Jay.

Observation:
Been waiting for blue skies and today they were forecast, so headed the 40 miles to the fabulous Forest of Dean. Our mission was Hawfinch, Crossbill and Great Grey Shrike.
Started early and arrived at Parkend at 7:30AM first light, even better we were the only ones there! Parked up and waited.... waited and waited nothing going on, had Nuthatches, Coal Tits and plenty of Blackbirds but not the target, Hawfinches. We watched from van, people walking under the Yew trees disturbing everything but held our ground, sat a waited then just after 8:30 HAWFINCH! 
Grabbing camera and getting a few shots of these cracking birds.

 Saw 4/5 Enter the Yew trees where we were and 2 came on to ground, 

Light was hard and a bit dim but managed some half decent shots.

6 mins later they were gone!

Then 3 Deer wandered across green, a bit unusual.

We waited until 9:15 but Hawfinches didn't return so boots on and up to Parkend Church for Crossbill. Stopped on small stream and we saw 2 Dipper, excellent, one was cleaning and the other flew down stream and out of view.

Parkend Church saw Greater Spotted Woodpecker and more Nuthatches but little else so headed back to Van. 
A few more cars had turned up with lens popping out of car windows.

Next we headed to Mallard Pike, we parked on road and walked in, there is a toilet there so after making use of, walked around small lake finding a leucistic Mandarin and several other Mandarins also Greylag and lots of dogs, O Joy. 

Next stop was Crabtree Hill for Great Grey Shrike we hunted all it's normal spots but no joy, on walking back towards Woorsgreen lake Lauren, eagle eyes spotted 3 Waxwing.
A real surprise to see and a bonus.

No GGS or Crossbill were seen, so next stop Cannop Ponds always a great place to park up.
Filled the logs and feeder up and sat back to wait in fact didn't have to wait Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Great, Blue Tits, Robins were on logs before I even turned around! 

Always good to get close to Nuthatches.

Marsh Tits also.

After a hour or so headed for wander round Cannop Ponds.
To our surprise no Mandarin were on lake Gadwall, Little Grebe, Tufted and Cormorant were present so took a few pictures.

Little Grebe being a bit elusive.

Then about to go and a single male Mandarin flew in, such stunning birds.

So almost tea time and headed up to Fancy View for Chunky Chicken and potatoes and a last hunt of the skies, nothing more was spotted but tea was lovely!

To end another shot of the Hawfinch, you just gotta!

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Ring-Billed Gull Chew Valley

Date: 09/02/2017

Location: Chew Valley Lake (Picnic site 1)

Weather: Grey and freezing !

Other Species: 
Scoter, Goldeneye, Scaup, Ring- billed Gull, Buzzard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Black Headed Gulls, Common Gull, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose. 

Observation: 
Plan today was Chew Valley to look for Ring-Billed Gull that had been found 
by Lee @Wildwood_photos at Picnic site number. Then on to uphill for SEO so a very grey and cold start to day but got to Chew by 10:30 and on pulling up thought i'd parked right in front RB gull ! Showing ring on bill and looking right could see eye as it was cleaning started to take a few shots. Looked for eye color and not RB gull it was a Common !

Checked all other gulls on site and nothing found, a couple of other birders arriving and departing with no joy. 

Headed to Dam wall and a Common Scoter was there distant but a life tick !
 Light really bad and bird very distant.

Chatting and looking around out in the grayness was Scaup and Goldeneye both year ticks for me so going pretty well.

While checking in-coming gulls inside Dam wall the 2 Resident Egyptian Geese landed in front of me tick number 4 wasn't expecting 4 year ticks today but NICE !

Most birders now departing now as the cold was not nice despite me putting on a few more layers, 
Colder than Iceland !
But around 3:10 decided to go and walked over to van , hang on that's not a Common Gull !

Excellent 
no longer cold ! Bird was sat right in front where i parked .

 Took a few shots while it sat on Fence but then it took off flew over my head and landed on grass/road.

Real smart looking bird .

Pretty evil looking !

That eye ! Yellow and the Ringed Bill.

Tick number 5 for the day, and 2nd life tick,
 a excellent day was had and met some nice people !

No owls but other day for that and puts me on a year of list 124.

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Patch Tick 90

Date: 23/01/2017

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Blue Skies

Other Species: 
Goosander, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Teal, Nuthatch, Stock Dove, Buzzard. 
Spreadsheet for rest

Observation: 
Headed out on the last patch walk before our Iceland trip out through Bath Mill as the normal. Not much about apart from at Seven Acre wood the workmen putting posts in for the new woodland which they are planting! Excellent news as it will extend woodland and they're also planting into fields, i'll update with pictures when they start to plant trees.
On out into village with a few Redwing about. On to lakes the extra Male Mute Swan still bottom lake on its own, but nothing else on bottom lake

This Dunnock having a bath in the middle of lakes.

There is a small incline to upper lake, I always walk up it thinking I wonder whats new. 
Today it was a Little Egret!!

Great news and its also patch tick 90! Always thought we should have a Egret, it was like Christmas!

The Egret seemed in great condition and in hunting mode. While Tweeting the news to all of our followers.... I lost it and couldn't locate!

Only to look right in front of me and see it perched up some 30ft in front of me!

A Coot caught a fish, The Little Egret flew across towards me and stole the fish from Coot.

We also now have 4 Coots, amazing as well as Nov 2016 we had 1. 
This is Egret fending off the Goosanders, Coots, Moorhen and Black Headed Gull. Not in picture as too close!

Female Goosander closest I've seen them as well, it seems competition bring them closer.

After it polished of it's lunch it flew back to the Grey Heron tree opposite side of Lake a started to preen. Excellent hope it's still about next week. Ended walk on 36 species. Only walked to Lake and back but i'd say worth the effort! 
Patch total now 90.... I wonder what next? 
Also Patch Work Challenge ranking now 22. (Inland South)

Just need a couple of 2 pointers!

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