04/01/2016 Great Northern Diver at Weir Wood

Monday 4th January 2016
Weir Wood Reservoir

With yet more poor weather forecast I decided to start early again - this time nearer home.  I decided to have another go at finding the Great Northern Diver at Weir Wood Reservoir.

As I arrived at the Boating Club car park at the dam end of the reservoir I was met by 2 ladies from America/Canada who told me the diver was showing in the distance close to the far banks.  Sure enough it was there albeit very briefly. 

To get a better view I relocated to the Southern Water car park and then walked along the north bank.  Unfortunately I could not find it again.  As a last resort, I returned to the  original place to find the Great Northern Diver showing well about 100 metres away from me and only 40 metres from the dam.  What a lucky break!

Great Northern Diver
Courtesy of Alastair Gray

While searching for the diver I managed to boost my year list by 7, the pick of which was a Green Woodpecker closely followed by at least 5 Jays and a flock of 25+ Fieldfare. 

As I arrived back home at lunchtime I was greeted by 4 Siskins on the feeder - the first there for years and another tick for my year list.

Making the most of the poor weather!

Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
61   Green Woodpecker
62   Fieldfare
63   Buzzard
64   Kestrel
65   Jay
66   Mistle Thrush
67   Great Northern Diver
68   Siskin

03/01/2016 Glorious Dungeness in not so glorious weather!

Sunday 3rd January 2016
Dungeness and Pett Level

A very early start saw me by the fishing boats in Dungeness by 08.00.  After an hour I transferred to the Nature Reserve before heading home at 12.00 via Pett Level.  It was dry and overcast for the first hour before the rain came in and, combined with the strong wind, made for some very unpleasant conditions for the birders and the birds for the rest of the morning.

I thoroughly enjoyed the seawatch and even managed to locate the Caspian Gull all by myself and had the sighting confirmed by no less an authority than Plodding Birder himself.  

Caspian Gull
Courtesy of Dungeness Bird Observatory

There were also at least 3 Little Gulls, and 5 or 6 Red-throated Divers.

On the nature reserve I was fortunate that the Long-eared Owl was still present and showing.

Long-eared Owl
Photo credit: John Caddick, http://johncaddick.co.uk/photo/long-eared-owl/

Other highlights included the Tree Sparrows at the feeders, Redhead Smew on Burrowes and a Great White Egret at Boulderwall.

Despite the high winds and heavy rain I was lucky to see the Glossy Ibis at Pett Level and 30+ Golden Plover among the Lapwings in the fields by the road.


All in all it was a most rewarding flying visit with almost 40 species seen.


Additions to BUBO 2016 Year List:
37   Caspian Gull
38   Common Scoter
39   Fulmar
40   Gannet
41   Guillemot
42   Little Gull
43   Kittiwake
44   Red-throated Diver
45   Pied Wagtail
46   Gadwall
47   Great White Egret
48   Greenfinch
49   Long-eared Owl
50   Mute Swan
51   Pochard
52   Shelduck
53   Shoveler
54   Smew
55   Tree Sparrow
56   Wren
57   Glossy Ibis
58   Golden Plover
59   Black-headed Gull
60   Little Grebe




Other birds seen were, Blackbird, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow,  Chaffinch, Coot, Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Mallard, Magpie, Starling, Teal andTufted Duck.

02/01/2016 Weir Wood Reservoir

Saturday 2nd January 2016
Weir Wood Reservoir

My first visit of 2016 to Weir Wood Reservoir was severely curtailed by the wet weather.  I had no luck with the Great Northern Diver that has been around for weeks but I did manage to spot another 21 new birds.

The highlight was the Treecreeper closely followed by the Goldcrest,  both of which were in the tall trees near the car park at the dam end. 



Additions to 2016 Year List:
59   Black-headed Gull
17  Canada Goose
18   Chaffinch
19   Coot
20   Cormorant
21   Dunnock
22   Goldcrest
23   Great Black-backed Gull
24   Great-crested Grebe
25   Great Spotted Woodpecker
26   Grey Heron
27   Greylag Goose
28   Lapwing
29   Long-tailed Tit
30   Marsh Tit
31   Moorhen
32   Nuthatch
33   Pheasant
34   Teal
35   Treecreeper
36   Tufted Duck

Other birds seen included Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Magpie and Mallard.

Grateful to get any birding done in such awful weather!

01/01/2016. Here we go again! Into 2016

Friday January 1st
At home.


Happy New Year!

Only 16 birds today  -  15 from my garden and one from a nearby pond.

Pick of this modest bunch was the Coal Tit that made repeated trips to the bird feeders throughout the morning.

Close behind came the sole Redwing seen in the canopy of the tall trees at the rear of the house.




Species list for today:
1.   Woodpigeon
2.   House Sparrow
3.   Blackbird
4.   Starling
5.   Carrion Crow
6.   Blue Tit
7.   Robin
8.   Goldfinch
9.   Redwing
10. Coal Tit
11. Collared Dove
12. Magpie
13. Song Thrush
14. Great Tit
15. Mallard
16. Herring Gull

11/12/2015 The Burgh for Short-eared Owls

Friday 11th December 2015
The Burgh

Shaun and Alan invited me to join them for at the Burgh to look for Long-eared Owls.  We spent a pleasant couple of hours there just before dusk.

• Starting from Canada Farm we quickly spotted a flock of 10+ Corn Buntings ahead of us.  Soon afterwards we came across a flock of 40+ Fieldfare flying over us. 

• A couple of Red Kites were seen next from the high path, quickly followed by a group of 12+ Grey Partridges in the valley below us and a couple of distant Buzzards.

• A little further on we heard then saw a Raven before sighting a group of at least 8 Yellowhammers perched in a nearby tree. At least 3 Kestrels were seen on this visit.

• By now dusk was approaching and it was time for the main act. True to form a lovely Short-eared Owl flew low in the valley below us.  Unfortunately, it started to rain and for a while there was no further activity.  Thankfully things improved and we managed to get further views of this lovely bird.

A smashing visit to one of my favourite sites.

09/12/2015 Weir Wood Reservoir

Wednesday 9th December
Weir Wood Reservoir

Another good weather day - another good birding day!  This time the venue was Weir Wood Reservoir near East Grinstead.

• Pick of the birds at the feeders at West End was the Marsh Tit, closely followed by the Coal Tit and the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

• On the water the superb Kingfisher provided the highlight.

• Switching to the dam end provided sightings of Goldcrest and a superb Grey Wagtail.

• Pride of place however had to be the Great Northern Diver seen from the north bank to the west of the picnic area.  Add to this Green Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Redwing and Jay and you have a really good package.

3 hours of sheer joy!

Today's species list:
Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Cormorant
Fieldfare
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great Crested Grebe
Great Northern Diver
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Greylag Goose
Jay
Kingfisher
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Marsh Tit
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Redwing
Robin
Starling
Teal
Woodpigeon
Wren
Total = 36

07/12/2015 Dungeness and Long-eared Owl

Monday 7th December 2015
Dungeness

I couldn't resist the chance to use the break in the poor weather to nip down to Dungeness to see the Long-eared Owl that has been around for a week or so now.  With little or no wind and temperatures of 13 C it was ideal birding conditions.

• The Long-eared Owl duly obliged - just 50 metres from the visitors centre in a tree beyond the dipping pond!  I enjoyed excellent scope views before I set off to go round the reserve.  

Long-eared Owl
Courtesy of Andrew Killick

• Some of the Dungeness staples for this time of year were present too, including 3 or probably 4 "redhead" Smew, at least 4 Goldeneye - including a drake, a Great White Egret, 3 or 4 Tree Sparrows and a Marsh Harrier.

• A stunning male Brambling was a surprise visitor to the feeders.

A super couple of hours and much needed after the recent spate of wet weather.

Today's species list:

Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Brambling
Carrion Crow
Caspian Gull????
Cetti's Warbler (h)
Chaffinch
Coot
Cormorant
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldeneye
Goldfinch
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose

Herring Gull
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Egret
Long-eared Owl
Magpie
Mallard
Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pintail
Pochard
Robin
Shelduck
Shoveler
Smew
Starling
Teal
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Duck
Wigeon
Wren
Total: 42