The Twittering Linnet.

The [Common] Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) is a small slim finch that I occasionally encounter on my local patch but a species I associate with coastal, farmland and heathland habitat. This individual was photographed during a visit to Thursley Common in late April so not in full breeding plumage when the forehead and breast is much more predominately red.

 

This delightful little finch with its melodious twittering (see recording below) was once very popular as a caged bird but the UK population has seen a dramatic breeding decline over the past few decades and hence it has been on the Red Status list since the mid 60's.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Some Spring Migrants on Thursley Common.

Just over a week ago, taking a well earned break from the decorating,  I paid another early morning visit to Thursley Common to see what other Spring migrants might have turned up on this special lowland heath habitat with its acidic bog and woodland.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)

Looking across the open landscape the first bird of the day was a resident male Stonechat perched high on the remnants of an old tree. I also listened and scanned for any sign of any of the four Curlew that had recently been reported (at least one pair turn up most years in early spring) but didn't find one. Maybe I'd be lucky on my return route.

As I walked through Pine Island I heard and the caught sight of several twittering Goldfinch with a Chiffchaff singing nearby.

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

As I headed up over Shrike Hill a Woodlark flew overhead and a singing Skylark ascended high into the blue sky. 

Descending the southern slope I heard the distinctive song of a Tree Pipit but initially couldn't find it until I spotted a likely candidate fly up from the heather and land in one of the lonesome conifers. A cropped record shot was the best I could achieve before this migrant moved onto another song perch much further away.

Most of the Gorse is now in full flower and some of the larger stands are good spots to find a Dartford Warbler .. I saw one fly but it promptly disappeared into the dense greenery. 

Close to one of the large sandy tracks I thought my ears had deceived me when I heard the croaking call of a Nightingale and on being joined by another birder, who has carried out the BTO bird surveys here for at least the last 20 years, we joyfully listened to not one but two Nightingales singing. I was told that this is the second Spring that a this species has been recorded at this particular spot on the common. 

On the other side of the track a returning Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) whistled softly.

In the nearby wooded area, at a similar spot to my previous visit, a male [Common] Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) made a welcome brief appearance. After their initial arrival from Africa in April they tend to disperse across the common to separate territories within the various wooded areas.

As I walked through the field I heard the repeated call of a Cuckoo and immediately quickened my steps in the hope of locating another migrant visitor that has successfully returned from overwintering in Africa.

Since 2011 we’ve been satellite-tracking Cuckoos to find out why - See more at: http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking#sthash.gPHwnzWS.dpuf

Since 2011 we’ve been satellite-tracking Cuckoos to find out why - See more at: http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking#sthash.gPHwnzWS.dpuf

Since 2011 the BTO has been satellite-tracking this 'Red Status' species to try and find out why half the numbers in the UK have been lost over the past 20 years.

So following the calls I finally caught up with this iconic species but kept a substantial distance away so as not to disturb him as he changed position from time to time.

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

 

On my return route with a pair of Common Buzzard wheeling overhead I also added Linnet and Common Whitethroat to my photo list as well as seeing Blackcap, Blackbird, Wren, Crow, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush and Reed Bunting.

While snapping a reflective shot of one of a dozen or so Canada Geese present on the pools, as I returned to the boardwalk, I heard the distinctive call of a Curlew but was a little slow to react as a single bird flew high overhead only to drop down and disappear amongst the damp grasses. Well at least I was finally able to add it to my 2015 County year list!

And the grand finale. as I trod the boardwalk, was a brief visit by a Hobby (Falco subbuteo), another returning migrant, but only allowing just another distant record image. FAB.

Linking to Nature Notes and Wild Bird Wednesday.

Patch Birds.

A few images of some of the recent regulars seen on my local patch just to keep things ticking over.

Coot out for a stroll.

  Mallards on the move.

Grey Heron.

Female Linnet (Shame about the background)

Willow Warbler.

Male Blackcap.

 Common Whitethroat high amongst the blossom

Starling checking out a possible threat from overhead!

 A Roe Buck watching the 'watcher'.

Carrion Crow just strutting around.

 

Canada Geese enjoying a feed around the 8th green at Horton G.C.

 Speckled Wood alighted in the garden.

And finally (through the window) a Starling eying up the freshly filled suet feeder.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I should be back live sometime over the weekend.

Pagham Harbour on a moving tide.

A visit at the end of last week to Pagham Harbour in the sunshine ... what could be better and what would the day hold in store for me?

I started at the Sidlesham Visitor Centre and took a stroll to the Ferry Pool  [Point 1 on the map below]where there was very little action; Avocet and Coot both asleep plus Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and Black-headed Gulls were the main occupants on the still waters. Heading onwards the view at the head of the harbour was one of low water levels and acres of intertidal mudflats with open farmland to the west. 

Whilst there appeared to be only a few Redshank busily feeding I followed the elevated pathway [towards Point 2] as this passes the reed fringed Long Pool where I listened to my first Sedge Warblers and a couple of Little Grebe squabbling over something or nothing followed by a pair of Coot mating. 

A male Tufted Duck was also enjoying a 'bubble' bath.

Both sides of the pathway were bordered by the massed colourful blooms of the Blackthorn and Gorse, a haven for many insects and ....

  ... a Small Tortoiseshell who stopped briefly on the Blackthorn for a quick pollen fix followed by my photo call with a male Chaffinch (see previous post).

With little else to view I drove around to Church Norton [Point 3 on the map] and wandered around the churchyard just in case any new migrants might be lingering. Nothing unusual, just Chiffchaff and Blackcaps.

A Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) didn't want to show off its spotty chest and promptly flew away! A search across the estuary produced a resting Peregrine plus the usual loafing gulls, Cormorants, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, lots of Little Egrets, Mute Swan plus Dunlin, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and a few Knot. Very high overhead I watched a kettle of at least 12 Common Buzzards slowly migrating northwards.

After some refreshments I switched direction and headed out along the shingle shoreline towards The Severals [more reed fringed pools at Point 4] where a Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) monitored the sky overhead for a possible predator.

 A single Common Buzzard starts to climb and soar on the very warm afternoon thermals.

A lonely Lapwing surveys the incoming tide.

Searching the shingle ridges along the beach I eventually located a Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) recently returned from somewhere in Africa and trying to stay unnoticed before continuing its journey northwards. (Sorry this pic is a bit grainy but I had to crop a very distant image).

As the tide encroaches into the harbour the previously muddy gullies become a patchwork of water and most of the wildfowl and waders move to shallower locations leaving just the gulls and Cormorants to sit it out on the slowly diminishing shingle islands. I also have to remember that on a very high tide the shoreline pathway no longer becomes viable unless you want to wade knee deep through or around the nearly impenetrable overhanging branches. Fortunately on this visit the alternative route was still accessible. 

Finally a [Common] Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) enjoys a spot of afternoon sunbathing. So I have once again experienced the changing mood of this important tidal estuary habitat and although many of the wildfowl and waders have been distant observations I did still log 60 species and my spirit is suitably refreshed by the experience.

Now I only had to make the two hour drive home .... if only the coast was a bit closer!!     FAB.

Norfolk Review (Part 1) - Dersingham Bog

After a 3 hour drive eastwards two weeks ago we set up camp on a site within the Sandringham Estate which has been vastly improved and expanded since our previous visit many years ago. The Site Manager asked if we wanted to be in the open or close to the wildlife.....silly question....we chose a shaded spot amongst the trees where we were constantly serenaded by cooing Woodpigeons, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, the occasional noisy Black-headed Gulls and a very vocal Garden Warbler imitating other 'Sylvia' species by day plus hooting Tawny Owl and roding Woodcock by night.

Just in case anyone is interested the folding camper has many 'mod-cons' including mains electric hook-up with 12v transformer, interior lighting, 3-way fridge with a wardrobe above, gas cooker with 3 hobs, grill and oven, sink with drainer, hot water heater, blown air heater (hot and cold), wash room with cassette toilet and hand basin, 2 settees with under seat storage, 2 extended double beds plus room to sleep 2 more using the folding table and seat cushions as a mattress....AND it all folds down to a third the size of a caravan and much easier to tow. The awning doubles the floor space available so there is plenty of room for the two of us to spread out......just like being at home.

Dersingham Bog NNR was only a 30 minute walk or a few minutes by car from the camp site. This bog covering 159 hectares forms part of the Sandringham Royal Estate and is managed by English Nature. A mixed habitat of dry and wet lowland heath, acid mire plus deciduous and coniferous woodland. The mire lies on shallow peat, bordered on one side by a steep escarpment containing large areas of dry heath and woodland and it marks the edge of the ancient coastline. Specialised plants include bog asphodel, round-leaved sundew, cranberry and white-beaked sedge. It is also an important site for breeding Shelduck, Woodlark, Tree Pipit and the Nightjar, a migrant visitor plus the Black Darter Dragonfly.

A distant view of Shelduck that breed on the bog.

Bird sightings were thin on the ground but included Linnet (see photo above), Tree Pipit, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Swift, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow and Green Woodpecker BUT no sign of any Woodlarks.

A surprise find was this small pond hidden by trees and shrubbery with rhodos in full bloom where I watched various 'Damsels' including this Large Red plus a basking Common Lizard on the boardwalk.

Whilst the weather conditions were not ideal...strong cold easterly winds and a damp overcast sky.....I did manage to find a female Four-spotted Chaser who eventually rested briefly for a photo-call. A late evening visit to hear and see Nightjars is a must if you are in the vicinity but I didn't have to go that far for my treat....more of that in a future post.......FAB.

Local Patch this Week.

To round off this week here are a few images of some wildlife I have encountered during my regular walks around Epsom and Ashstead Common.

The lonesome Canada Goose.

Wood Nuthatch (Sitta europaea). The trees were alive with their calls this week.

Grey Squirrel getting ready to disappear.

Treecreeper hunting for a tiny morsel.

Male Manadarin Ducks thinking about departing.

Showing me his best side!

Bluebells are just beginning to appear.

New and unexpected addition to patch list today was this very chirpy Linnet (Carduelis cannabina).

Posed briefly before moving to another distant tree.

Buterflies included Peacock, Brimstone and the Speckled Wood (above) that briefly stopped for a warm up in the sunshine.   FAB.