30/01/2015 On my Patch.

Friday 30th January 2015
Churlwood in Ashdown Forest



A quiet day today on my patch. 


The highlights included Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Coal Tit, Goldcrests and my first ever sighting of a Firecrest here.

29/01/2015 Kumliens Gull at Littlehampton. Third time lucky!

Thursday 29th January 2015
West Beach,
Littlehampton

After 3 failed attempts,  I was relieved to get good views of the Iceland Gull (Kumliens) at West Beach, Littlehampton. 

Both times previously I had arrived late afternoon, in quite windy conditions.  Today it was bright and sunny with much lighter winds.

It took me 30 minutes or so to make the sighting as there were so many gulls to check.  Eventually it showed, just opposite me, on the other side of the water channel that ran out to the sea.  Then it flew a few metres closer and landed on the small wall to give me even better views. 

Addition to BUBO UK 2015 Bird List:
Icelandic Gull (Kumliens)  136

A good morning's work!

27/01/2015 A "lifer" at Bray by the M4 in Berkshire

Tuesday 27th January 2015
Bray,  Berkshire

On a fine, clear January afternoon I managed to "twitch" another "lifer", my third in 2015.  The drake Ring-necked Duck sighting was particularly pleasing as Sandra, Paul and I were unsuccessful here earlier this month.

I was lucky that the duck was moving about as I got there, making the ID much easier with the grey side panels and the distinctive beak.  In my excitement, trying to signal to another birder on the western edge of the lake, I lost sight of the bird, by which time it had decided to rest up and in doing so tucked it's head in.  When the other birder got to me I was unable to find it again.

We were joined by a couple of birders, one from West Sussex and his friend, from Surrey, who had seen the resting bird from the other side of the lake and were able to pick it out for us.  This time nobody took their eye of it and we were rewarded with good views of it's head when it stirred from time to time. 



Ring-necked Duck
Library picture

What a remarkable contrast between the ID skills needed for a moving bird and a sedentary one - and that was for a drake!


Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Ring-necked Duck   (135)

Addition to BUBO UK Bird Life List:
Ring-necked Duck   (282)

Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

You can find Ring-necked Ducks in fairly small, shallow wetlands. They breed mainly across far northern North America, so check the range map and look for them during migration and in winter, when they can form large flocks. Don’t look for a ring around the neck—it’s really hard to see. Look instead for the bird’s peaked head shape, white ring around the bill, and white patch just in front of the gray flanks.

26/01/2015 On my Patch.

Monday 26th January 2015
Churlwood in Ashdown Forest



Didn't get going till 15.45.    On my patch, at Churlwood,  apart from a Buzzard the only real interest was a group of 8 Redwings feeding on the ground with a Blackbird in the paddock adjacent to former Prime Minister  Harold Macmillan's family home at Birch Grove.



I probably started too late in the day and missed some birds that had gone to roost.





Today's species list:
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Long-tailed Tit
Buzzard
Redwing
Blackbird

25/01/2015 Shellness means Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls

Sunday 25th January 2015
Shellness
East Grinstead RSPB Group

On a fine crisp January morning, 14 of us made the trip to Shellness.  The lighting was excellent with little or no cloud.

• I arrived early and was rewarded with two superb views of a Short-eared Owl; maybe the same bird twice but my gut reaction was that it was 2 birds.

• Early on I saw a male Hen Harrier,  50 metres west of the concrete structure,  and soon after the rest of the group were able to see it as it took to the air.  We were entertained by this bird for quite some time.  Later on we managed to spot a "Ringtail" in the distance but the views were nowhere as good.

• The other sightings were quite standard but, nevertheless, most welcome including Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Black-headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Brent Goose, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Robin and Magpie.

All too soon it was time to bid farewell to The Isle of Sheppey and turn into a football hooligan at noon. 

Shaun rang me in the evening to reassure me that I had not missed much in the afternoon - Corn Buntings but no Hen Harriers or Short-eared Owls at Capel Fleet.

 

 

 

 

Another good birding experience on Sheppey! 

24/01/2015 Dell Quay and West Dean Woods - a birding bonanza!

Saturday 24th January 2015
West Sussex Trip
Paul and Group  7 (1 + 6)




Dell Quay
This place was just alive with birds on the rising tide.  The weather was terrific; cold but dry, excellent visibility and temperatures just above freezing.  Most of the usual suspects were present and showing well.  Below are the highlights of the morning visit:

• First new bird of the day was the Yellowhammer, one of many seen today, on the path from the church to the estuary. 

• Next new bird was the Black-tailed Godwit, many of which were sitting in the water with their backs to us.  Also showing well, in the water, was the first of our Spotted Redshanks.

• The Grey Wagtail flew from it's usual place and did the same again on our return leg.

• At our innermost stopping point we saw a couple of Greenshanks and another Spotted Redshank.

• As I left to return to the car Paul called me back to see the elusive Whimbrel, close to the area where we had seen the Godwit earlier.

West Dean Woods

• Paul and I arrived early to find a Brambling in with the Chaffinches.  It was in the tree directly above us.  Unfortunately all the birds flew off before the rest of the group could get there.  However they did get a second chance at the end of the day when we returned to the cars which were parked nearby.

• On the way to the Hawfinch "hotspot" we had excellent views of the Little Owl as it enjoyed the sunshine in it's usual tree.

• The Hawfinches were more elusive than usual and we had a long wait to see a single bird in flight before getting quality views of a perched female.

What a great day - just another day at the office for Paul and the group!

Additions to BUBO UK 2015 Bird List:
Yellowhammer    (125)
Black-tailed Godwit   (126)
Grey Wagtail   (127)
Greenshank   (128)
Whimbrel   (129)
Little Owl   (130)
Brambling   (131)
Hawfinch   (132)
Mistle Thrush   (133)



Today's species list:Mute Swan
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Mallard
Pintail
Teal
Goldeneye
Pheasant
Cormorant   (10)
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe 
Little Egret
Buzzard
Kestrel
Red Kite
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Grey Plover   (20)
Turnstone
Whimbrel
Curlew 
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Common Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull   (30)
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Little Owl
Magpie
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Starling
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush   (40)
Robin 
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Rock Pipit
Chaffinch
Brambling
Goldcrest
Marsh Tit   (50)
Coal Tit
Hawfinch
Yellowhammer
Carrion Crow
Raven

23/01/2015 A chance to go to Norfolk for the day. Wow!

Friday 23/01/2015
Norfolk

Family business called for someone to go to Norfolk for the day and being the sort of guy I am I volunteered!  I set off early and came back late!  My family duties were not carried out very well but the bird watching was awesome, if somewhat hurried!



Hunstanton

• Having read about Waxwings showing well in Hunstanton, I was up early and in the area by 10.45.  A few minutes after arriving, I saw a couple of them at the top of a small bush in the coach car park opposite Tesco's in Southend Road.  In fact there were 4 birds with the other 2 on the ground.  They were less than 10 metres away from me and only a few feet from another birder with a camera who, alas, didn't see them.  The views were stunning!

I talked to the other 2 birders and they said the birds arrived at the same time as me - they had been there over an hour without seeing them.  How lucky can you get?



Titchwell

• Next stop was Titchwell where I saw one of the Water Pipits and one of the Rock Pipits in the pools to the west of the main path leading from the reception to the seafront.  Being short of time I didn't go any further, having been told that the pools outside the main hides were frozen over and activity by the sea was quiet.

Thornham

• I made a flying visit to Thornham, hoping to see the Twites that had recently been seen there.  Unfortunately none showed  but I compensated by seeing my first Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank and Skylark of 2015.

Stubb's Mill on Hickling Broad

• Having concluded my family business I just had enough time to get to Hickling Broad where my target species was the Crane.  Fortunately 2 of them were showing in the distance as I arrived.  A little later they took to the air, much to everyone's pleasure, and flew towards us before landing and performing  an elegant  dance routine which included jumping up in the air like a ballerina..  A little later still they flew away,  affording us superb views.  Earlier, on my way down to the viewing point I had seen 2 other Cranes flying over.

• On the approach to the viewing area I saw a couple of Egyptian Geese, my first of the year.

• It would have been embarrassing to come away from Norfolk without having seen Pink-footed Geese.   Thankfully a skein of 50 or so flew overhead as we were watching the Cranes.

• At the end, we heard a Tawny Owl and then one guy got distant scope views which he shared with the rest of us.  What a lovely end to a lovely day.

 

 Arrived home at 9.30 p.m. - ELATED!

 

 

 

Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:

Waxwing   (115)

Water Pipit   (116)

Rock Pipit   (117)

Spotted Redshank   (118)

Ringed Plover   (119)

Skylark   (120)

Egyptian Goose   (121)

Crane   (122)

Tawny Owl   (123)
Pink-footed Goose   (124)