Buzzards, Kestrels & Sparrowhawks Soaring !

Date: 30/09/2014

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Observation: Started walk through campsite towards dog walk on entering the wooded bit a Buzzard took off about 10ft in front of me! While cursing i didn't get a photo another took off this time 5ft in front of me!! They were both sat around a magpie having breakfast.

Buzzard Doing What They Do

They continued to fly above wood so headed away and up to Seven Acre wood where another Buzzard or one of earlier ones flew over woods being followed by around 10 Crows. One Barn Swallow still hunting over Village none on telegraph wires. Nothing on bottom Lake, top lake students everywhere, it is a college after all! 

              A group of about 10 Meadow Pipits were feeding on College football pitch.

Very Jumpy, Distant Meadow Pipits

Followed on up to Park View Farm on crossing road at top I spied a Sparrowhawk with Wood pigeon impaled he took off with a magpie in tow! Again bad pic.

Sparrowhawk, Magpie and Wood Pigeon (Really It Is !)

Then while looking at Sparrowhawk a Kestrel flew above me and carried on to land on distant pole.

Instead of 12 o'clock lane headed down road towards Pennsylvania Farm 100 yards down Lane a Badger strolls across road stops, should have taken a picture at this point, and continued in to far bushes, now I take photo gone !!! The squirrel below looked on as i  hopped up and down in road at missing Badger ! 
Another Kestrel over Englishcombe Village and a group of 40+ Linnets feeding in recently cut corn fields at Haycombe Lane.

My Badger Shot ! :)

40+ Linnets Feeding In Recently Cut Corn Fields At Haycombe Lane. 

Weather: Blue Skies, Bright Sunshine 20'c

Other Species: Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay, Rook, Linnet,

Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, 1 Barn Swallow, Goldcrest - Of Note.


Thanks For Reading!

Low Level Birding!

Date: 28th October - All Day

Location:  Cheddar Reservoir - Chew Valley Lake

Observation:  A long walk around Cheddar Reservoir, the best was 500+ Coot! Really wasn't alot bird wise, a small group of Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch around the west side. A few gulls flying above catching flies. Around the east side was some Pochard + Tufted Ducks so decided to actually try and attempt to get some nice pictures! We stayed for a few minutes got a few shots and were distracted by a fly-past Sparrowhawk who didn't show again. Also 2 Rabbit, a Greater-Spotted Woodpecker and a Thrush sp. were all in same try catching flies aswell. As there wasn't much about we drove to Chew Valley Lake on our way home, lots of Buzzards along the top of Cheddar. We got to Chew and were told by a fellow birder we had just missed the Osprey catch a small fish and eat on the tree at Moreton Point. Typical! Again not much to report, we had our first look around Moreton, looks good for when birds are actually going to be there! Hopefully winter will prove good for some nice waders. Around to Herriotts, again not much around, just as we got into the van, a nice little Water Rail appeared in the channel, before running off into the reeds. Nice little surprise to end the day!

Weather:  Cloudy, Sunny, Warm

Other Species: 500+ Coot, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Osprey, Great-Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Black-Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Water Rail

Thanks for reading!

The Adventures of Portland Bill (not to be confused with the 1983 tv show !)

Date: 21 + 22/09/2014

Location: RSPB-Lodmoor, Wyke Regis, Portland Bill 

Observation: Left home in Bath at 2pm for Weymouth, got to Lodmoor around 4ish. Spotted 2 of the long staying Spoonbill almost straight away with Ruff & Black Tailed Godwit close to the bank a few photos.

Black Tailed Godwit @ Lodmoor

 Then of to Swallows Rest Campsite, great place for birds with Ferrybridge a 20 minute walk along coast and a few large fields as our view from van. Did a few nighttime, Long shutter shots of MilkyWay then to sleep for early start !

Yellow Wagtails at least 15 !

At 7.30 on opening door a flock of around 15+ Yellow Wagtails (A Citrine Wagtail also seen, no pic :( . 20+ Meadow Pipits were there to say good morning! After poached egg headed to Portland Bill for the main event! Started at Reforne road, by church headed towards SW Coastal Path, Kestrels were the first spot with amazing close up views.

Giving me Evil's !

Meadows Pipits and Barn Swallows Over head, and on ground.

4/5 Stonechats but Not much else till East Wears by Prison with Peregrines on kills and in air ! 

Breakfast for Peregrines !

Then while looking what we thought was Kestrel at a distance, as it came towards us binoculars focused to reveal a Goshawk with Ravens in close chase, bird flew north towards Ferrybridge.

Lauren's Pic I was on binoculars !

Look at me !

With more Kestrel's as we walked on with Wheatears posing at every rock ! As we approached the Bill we saw a Grey Seal bobbing around diving for about 5 mins then bobbed some more! Nice !

Grey Seal Video!

After chips and coffee a Clouded Yellow and Wall Butterflies kept us company up the strip fields. Then by Coastguard obs a friendly Stonechat posed for a few shots with Kestrel's hovering above us all afternoon.

Blackberry Stonechat

We left Portland and dropped in to Lodmoor on way home, Spoonbills still there with Ruff, Dunlin, Lapwing and Starlings looking good in the golden sunshine. 

All in all a great trip !!  

Weather: Warm some blue skies & sunshine

Other Species: Linnet, Yellow Wagtail, Greater Black Back Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Wheatear, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Goshawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Spoonbill, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwits, Willow Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, Shag, Ruff, Lapwing, Cetti's Warblers, Blackcap - Of Note .

 Raven giving it the Beans !

 Kestrel's Everywhere on Bill

 Another flight shot 

 Last The Ruff @ Lodmoor.

 Thanks for looking, now comment !!!

Thursday Patch Walk

Date: 22/09/2014

Location: Patch Walk- Previous zones 1+3+4+5 (Map Here)

Willow Warblers on The Dog Walk !

 Lots of Long Tailed Squeaking Away !

Observation:

Went out through Campsite as usual and started up dog walk, heard a Goldcrest opened gate to be greeted with juvenile Goldcrest about a meter away from my face !! It looked at me and continued to feed at their frantic pace! Also a group of around 10 Long-tailed tits buzzing around wooded bit with 1 Willow warbler mixed in with Tits. Headed on up through field and to Seven acre wood, again Goldcrest and long Tailed Tit seem to be everywhere. Heard a Buzzard so stealthily crept to corner of wood only to see it sail off into the distance ! 

But it turned and came back towards me Mewing so i took a couple of photos.

Into village with not much around, saw a Jay and Female Kestrel in churchyard. No Owl Today, But Heron sunning himself on grass bank. In between the lakes saw female Blackcap and Goldcrest drinking from stream. Headed on out through college through some very friendly Cows, Bulls & Calves which was nice ! Just before Park View Farm saw a small group of Yellowhammer maybe 4, on across fields where more Yellowhammer this time around 7 birds.

Not much showing along 12 o'clock lane apart from usual Raven calling. Back onto lane and the pale Buzzard was sat on distant post by college.

Headed back to village where House Sparrows and Barn Swallows were buzzing the road still around 30 Barn Swallows with a lot of juveniles left, got a photo in 03/09/2010 with a few still in village, so not sure when they'll go this year?

Weather: A Misty start but a 22c temperature burned off mist, Blue skies to finish .
Other Species: Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Buzzard, Kestrel, Willow Warbler, House Sparrows, Of Note.

Thanks for Looking !!