Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Foreign Lands (13/06/10)
Well actually Wales!
My first big twitch of the year for a British tick saw me driving into the province. I took the slower but more scenic and interesting route around Gloucester rather than going across the Severn crossing.
The first (and only problem) of the day was that I was running out of petrol and it was still too earlier for most of them to be open, however, I managed eventually to find one.
First stop was a very scenic hill/mountain at Blorenge. I started walking down the hill and as I approached the waiting birders I hear the unmistakable song of my quarry, i.e. the Marmora's Warbler (126). Over the next couple of hours the bird was seen on and off (usually singing) and going in circuits (it used the gorse bushes and a handily placed rock. A few times the bird was seen to be carrying nesting material.
A very smart bird which was basically an ash grey colour all over with an obvious red eye, orangey bill and quite orange legs. When singing it was usually from the top of a bush. In flight it was very obviously long tailed and had quite a jerky flight and looked quite dark (very Dartford Warbler like). The song was quite scratchy like a Dartford Warbler but had more tuneful qualities.
Also in the area were 5 Ravens (127) (probably a family group), Tree Pipit, two Siskins and two very smart Whinchats (128).
Next it was onto the Forest of Dean and Cadira Beeches where I immediately heard some Crossbills flying over but didn't see them. Crossbills were calling all the time in fact. Near to the car park was a very smart Wood Warbler.
I managed to find the area where my next quarry was to be found and immediately heard it singing. I then trudged through the undergrowth where I briefly saw the bird, an Iberian Chiffchaff (129), singing in a tall tree. I bit later the bird moved into a small spindly tree where everyone got good looks. I tried to photograph it, but the light was quite bad so we will see how they came out. The bird was basically a Chiffchaff but with possibly more yellow/green tones. The most distinct thing was obviously the song - roughly a "chiff chiff chiff chiff cheet chit-a-chit-a-chit-a-chit"
My next plan was to go for Pied Flycatcher and decided to go to the Nags Head RSPB Reserve. I was told by the warden where to go and I also asked for his advice on Dippers. I made my way to the hide and there was a group of three guys looking for something. I then found the something was a handsome Pied Flycatcher (130).
I then made my way over to a stream running north from Parkend - it was quite difficult going but I was rewarded with my favourite bird, a Dipper (131). This bird was perched in the middle of the stream on a mossy rock, doing its curtseying. The bird was quite a grey brown and could have possibly been a bird of the year.
Further up the road I walked near a lake and had a pair of Grey Wagtails (132) and a female Mandarin trying to chivvy her brood of three ducklings away from me.
All in all - a very successful day with all species required obtained.
Photos: Blorenge, Nags Head RSPB, Iberian Chiffchaff, Cannop Brook.
My first big twitch of the year for a British tick saw me driving into the province. I took the slower but more scenic and interesting route around Gloucester rather than going across the Severn crossing.
The first (and only problem) of the day was that I was running out of petrol and it was still too earlier for most of them to be open, however, I managed eventually to find one.
First stop was a very scenic hill/mountain at Blorenge. I started walking down the hill and as I approached the waiting birders I hear the unmistakable song of my quarry, i.e. the Marmora's Warbler (126). Over the next couple of hours the bird was seen on and off (usually singing) and going in circuits (it used the gorse bushes and a handily placed rock. A few times the bird was seen to be carrying nesting material.
A very smart bird which was basically an ash grey colour all over with an obvious red eye, orangey bill and quite orange legs. When singing it was usually from the top of a bush. In flight it was very obviously long tailed and had quite a jerky flight and looked quite dark (very Dartford Warbler like). The song was quite scratchy like a Dartford Warbler but had more tuneful qualities.
Also in the area were 5 Ravens (127) (probably a family group), Tree Pipit, two Siskins and two very smart Whinchats (128).
Next it was onto the Forest of Dean and Cadira Beeches where I immediately heard some Crossbills flying over but didn't see them. Crossbills were calling all the time in fact. Near to the car park was a very smart Wood Warbler.
I managed to find the area where my next quarry was to be found and immediately heard it singing. I then trudged through the undergrowth where I briefly saw the bird, an Iberian Chiffchaff (129), singing in a tall tree. I bit later the bird moved into a small spindly tree where everyone got good looks. I tried to photograph it, but the light was quite bad so we will see how they came out. The bird was basically a Chiffchaff but with possibly more yellow/green tones. The most distinct thing was obviously the song - roughly a "chiff chiff chiff chiff cheet chit-a-chit-a-chit-a-chit"
My next plan was to go for Pied Flycatcher and decided to go to the Nags Head RSPB Reserve. I was told by the warden where to go and I also asked for his advice on Dippers. I made my way to the hide and there was a group of three guys looking for something. I then found the something was a handsome Pied Flycatcher (130).
I then made my way over to a stream running north from Parkend - it was quite difficult going but I was rewarded with my favourite bird, a Dipper (131). This bird was perched in the middle of the stream on a mossy rock, doing its curtseying. The bird was quite a grey brown and could have possibly been a bird of the year.
Further up the road I walked near a lake and had a pair of Grey Wagtails (132) and a female Mandarin trying to chivvy her brood of three ducklings away from me.
All in all - a very successful day with all species required obtained.
Photos: Blorenge, Nags Head RSPB, Iberian Chiffchaff, Cannop Brook.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
New Forest (06/06/10)
Once again it was my turn to lead the NE Hants RSPB Group around Beaulieu Road Station. First of all though, I went to Acres Down to see if the Wood Warblers were in residence.
Along the ridge I bumped into a family group of 6 Woodlarks.
I eventually managed to pin down a Wood Warbler (120) a little further into the valley wood than last year.
One the way back to the car I nearly managed to get lost but eventually found my way back (and the detour added a Marsh Tit (121) and a Nuthatch (122)). Just as I was leaving the ridge 2 Crossbills flew over (123).
I then met up with the group and we did our walk around the forest.
Highlights included:
3 or 4 Redstarts
2 Hobbies
Buzzard
Wood Warbler
imm. Keeled Skimmers
Crossbill (at the car park)
Coal Tit (124)
Stonechat (125)
The group then went over to Acres Down for Honey Buzzard without any success.
Finally I went to Ober Water to look for Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly without any success but there were lots of Beautiful Demoiselles.
Along the ridge I bumped into a family group of 6 Woodlarks.
I eventually managed to pin down a Wood Warbler (120) a little further into the valley wood than last year.
One the way back to the car I nearly managed to get lost but eventually found my way back (and the detour added a Marsh Tit (121) and a Nuthatch (122)). Just as I was leaving the ridge 2 Crossbills flew over (123).
I then met up with the group and we did our walk around the forest.
Highlights included:
3 or 4 Redstarts
2 Hobbies
Buzzard
Wood Warbler
imm. Keeled Skimmers
Crossbill (at the car park)
Coal Tit (124)
Stonechat (125)
The group then went over to Acres Down for Honey Buzzard without any success.
Finally I went to Ober Water to look for Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly without any success but there were lots of Beautiful Demoiselles.
Thursley Common (05/06/10)
Pictures: Keeled Skimmer, Grass Snake, 2x Downy Emerald, Common Lizard
I was determined to identify the emerald dragonflies at the moat pond. After a lot of scanning I managed to get a good view of the face of one of the emeralds and it revealed it to be a Downy Emerald. There were 4 or 5 on the margins of the pond.
Other species included:
Azure Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
imm. Keeled Skimmer
Four-spotted Chaser
Large Red Damselfly
Also around the heath were a Woodlark (119), a hunting Grass Snake in the margins of the pond and a Common Lizard on the boardwalk. A number of Tree Pipits were singing around the heath and I did hear one Redstart and one Dartford Warbler although they were'nt seen.
Lunch at Maidenhead Office Park
Pictures: Common Blue Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser
A lovely day so sat out near the ponds for lunch.
Odonata species included:
Large Red Damselfly
Banded Demoiselle
Four-spotted Chaser
Azure Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly
Red-eyed Damselfly
3x Emperor Dragonflies
Bartley Wood (28/05/10)
A quick jaunt around Bartley Wood for dragonflies.
Once the sun came out there were a number of Large Red Damselflies, blue damselflies, Four-spotted Chasers and a few Broad-bodied Chasers.
Large Red Damselfly
Monday, 24 May 2010
Scorchio (23/05/10)
Picture: Four-spotted ChaserA really hot day and went over to Thursley Common for dragonflies.
The bonus birds I saw here were Tree Pipit (117) and a female Redstart (118).
Dragonflies/damselflies included:
Lots of Large Red Damselflies
Quite a few Four-spotted Chasers
Smaller numbers of Common Blue Damselflies
Half a dozen Downy Emeralds
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