Wryneck - Jynx torquilla

Very camouflage Wryneck !

Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOGX2vwiqac&list=UUQLq8t2qcdukxVYGibRuRXw

Date: 31st August - All Day

Location:  New Passage - Chew Valley Lake
Observation:  We popped to Severn Beach (New Passage) to try and get these 'confiding' Wood Sandpiper and the Wryneck was was spotted that day. We got there a few hours after high tide, but there were still lots of waders and birds feeding the mudflats. Mostly Dunlin with a few Redshank, Ringed Plover and Turnstone. As we come around the corner, we seen 20+ birders, where we quickly realized all of which were looking and photographing the Wryneck, it was sat in the first house on the sea wall, in the garden fairly close. We stayed there for around 30 minutes, the light was in the wrong place by then so decided to walk around and find these Wood Sandpipers, last time we went we couldn't even count them as a record shot as they were too far for our 400mm. A small group of birders seen it get flushed by the farmer, and were looking for it, to no success unfortunately, but were told that morning they were very close and confiding! Always the way! We slowly had a wander back along to the sea wall to find the Wryneck again, it wasn't there when we first arrived and stayed for around 40 minutes, and decided to leave it, just as we were leaving we spotted it! Back in the original garden, most birders had given up and gone by then, so did come quite a bit closer, but mostly stayed in the shade feeding. After a good 100-150 shots we left and drove down to Chew Valley Lake, in hope to see the Spotted Crake, no luck there either just the normal ducks and birds there with 50+ Pied Wagtail along the dam wall and at least 3 Grey Wagtails. Overall a very nice day talking to some nice birders and seeing some lovely birds! Now to edit over 200 images!
Weather:  Blue Sky, Sunny + Warm
Other Species: Dunlin, Sanderling, Greylag Goose, Wryneck, House Sparrow, Wheatear, Turnstone, Redshank, Mallard, Teal, Little Egret, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Buzzard, Ringed Plover

Thanks for looking, follow us on Twitter @NSLBirding !

Lesser Whitethroat - Another Tick !

Date: 28/08/2014

Location: Slimbridge - Gloucester 

Observation: Headed to Slimbridge with the promise of clear skies and a dry day! ..umm they got that wrong then, on arriving it poured down ! 

Headed into the Martin Smith hide where two Common Cranes were feeding in fields noticed a few Shoveler and Teal but not much else.Two Green Sandpiper in next at a distance. No feeders up in Willow hide but Blackcaps buzzing in trees with Chiffchaffs. At the Holden Tower a massive Gaggle of Barnacle and Greylag Geese sunning themselves in the rain and a hovering Kestrel.

At South Hide, 1 Ruff, 5 Snipe and lots of Lapwing. Wandered round as rain has stopped snapped a few captive birds then decided to go back to Robbie Garnet hide as had not seen many little birds. Heard one bird when entering hide was a Lesser Whitethroat !! Not seen one before so snapped happily away well 5 shots before it receded back into Elderberry Tree. Another tick (Wayne's life list stands at 178 ) Sky was now blue and sun was shinning ! And I've gotta go, ain't that always the way !? Anyway here's some pictures of my day. 

Weather: Grey overcast + Sunshine on leaving ! 

Other Species: Common Crane, Shovelers, Ruff, Black Tailed, Godwits, Snipe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Redshank, Barnacle & Greylags.

Hooded Merganser

 A Ruff Shot among the Lapwing 

 Pretty Greylag Pic

 Kestrel doing what they do Best !

 A Lesser Whitethroat ( my first !)

 And a Red Admiral to Finish :)

Thanks For Looking, Why Not Follow 

Newton St. Loe in the rain

Date: 26/08/2014
Location: Zones 1+3+4+5
Observation: After a quick look at weather forecast thought i'd have a walk out the lanes. After walking for around 1 mile it rained didn't stop until Home Farm 3 more wet miles, but despite that seen Goldcrest at least 2 hopping around fir trees. Headed on up to 12 o'clock lane byway, shelter at last binoculars steaming up camera wet ! On up across fields towards Home Farm and saw a small flock of mainly Linnet then it stopped raining !! Got into top field overlooking Newton College saw another group of small birds maybe 20 or so in flock picking off wheat and seed from recently cut field, on closer inspection at least 5 or so were Wheatears ! A New Tick for patch ! Nice, watched for few minutes then headed on to lake where it rained some more. Little Owl only one. Grey Herons 3x flying around lake squawking like Pteranodon ! Last spot was a Hornet sheltering on a Blackthorn bush.
Weather: Raining,then showers & cloudy
Other Species: Little Owl,Dunnock, Goldcrest, 4+Buzzards, 6x Linnet, 5+Wheatear, Kestrel, Raven, 3x Grey Heron of note.

A Dry Goldcrest but wet me !

Group of soaky Linnets

New Patch tick 

 At least 5 Wheatears,Although there's only one here :)

 Hornet staying out the rain 

Thanks for looking !

Little Owl - Family Of 4 !

Dad Watching Over The Little Ones!

                                                           Spooked By The Local Buzzard!

First Kingfisher Picture Over 1MB!

Date: 24th August - 4PM

Location:  Newton Park Lake Circular - Zones 1,2+5

Observation:  A quick wander (although didn't turn out to be quick!) out to the lake. The farmer was doing the fields at the campsite, and on the dog walk, so a few Buzzards and gulls were flying around hunting. The next field up with all the hay-bales stacked up, were full of bird of prey! 2 Kestrel and 2 Buzzard were sat on each one. Newton St Loe churchyard, were full of Goldfinch (both adults and juveniles), feeding on the thistles, had to be at least 50+ with more in the trees surrounding on watch. Just before the Lake path, a large flock of Mistle Thrush flew over us heading for Home Farm area, again had to be around 30+ (with 2 different flocks). Nothing much worth noting. We stopped and looked for the Little Owls, we spotted one to start with on their favorite perch, we then kept spotting more and more! We led down in the grass, and watched them for about half hour, we seen 4 in total, definitely 2 chicks and possibly both parents, all of which were keeping a close eye on the Buzzards who were mewing the whole time! Onto the top lake, not much to note apart from the normal, all 3 cygnets and both parents still doing well. Then to our surprise, 3 yes 3! Kingfishers sat on the railings on the waterfall, 2 flew off, into the bushes and 1 stayed for a few shots and followed the others! We walked around and a Kingfisher flew across the path in front of us and followed the river back upstream. We had a quick look for the other Little Owls at the top, no sign of them but close-by building work has more than likely disrupted them, another 2 Buzzards were flying around the forest. Then walking back, what we thought were 2 Coal Tits, turnt out to be 2 Marsh Tits, feeding on the trees, a new species for us, and a patch tick!! The 2 Kingfishers flew down onto the bottom lake and downstream and 1 Little Owl was back on the perch on the way back.  A few more Buzzards and another Kestrel with lots of Swallows and House Martins at the farm, but nothing new on the way home. One of the best walks we have had in a long, long time!

Weather:  Cloudy, Sunny Intervals, Warm

Other Species: 6 Buzzard, 3 Kingfisher, 4 Little Owls, 3 Kestrel, 20+ Mistle Thrush, 50+ Goldfinch, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Grey Heron, 10+ Jackdaw, 4 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 2 Green Woodpecker, House Martin, Barn Swallow

A Distant Kestrel !