UK Tribute for WBW.

As a tribute to Stewart who has so ably hosted Wild Bird Wednesday for the past year I thought I would share some images from my blog archives of just a few UK species I'm sure he was well acquainted with before he travelled down-under.

 Skylark.

 Blue Tits.

 Robin.

 Chaffinch.

Little Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe.

Reed Bunting.

Congratulations on the 1st Anniversary of Wild Bird Wednesday and long may we continue to appreciate all the species shared from around the globe. If you haven't previously participated why not click the above link and join in.   FAB.

Local Patch YTD Update.

It has been a while since I posted anything about my local patch walks, mainly around Epsom Common Ponds and the surrounding woodlands, so here is an update including images of some of the regular winter species.

The woodland area around the car park has so far produced Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Collared Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Starling, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit plus one sighting of a Marsh Tit. On 16 February I was very fortunate to find a single Firecrest (a patch tick) but no sightings of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker so far this year.

 Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) taking a brief rest from feeding.

Long-tailed Tit enjoying the sunshine.

Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) starting its upward climb.

The other main inhabitants around the woodland edge during the winter are the visiting thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare. Throughout January the numbers for each species were around 50 - 80 but in the last two weeks the numbers have fallen dramatically as they have stripped the berries from the ivy and probably moved on to a better feeding area.

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) keeping a watchful eye out for predators

During the last month Woodpigeon numbers have increased dramatically and I estimate a minimum of 250 in and around the woodland. They are pretty skittish and fly into the air at the slightest disturbance and are providing a welcome daily meal for the resident Sparrowhawks which regularly glide over the treetops. The Crows get their daily exercise by mobbing the local Common Buzzards or chasing off a hunting Kestrel.

The main inhabitants of the small Stew Pond are the Mallard and Moorhens.

One of the resident Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) can be found at one of their favourite fishing locations and usually tease me by allowing me to just get within range of the lens before flying over to the other side!

You will know from previous posts that I can usually find a Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carboresting on the Great Pond. This individual is an older adult in courtship plumage (evidenced by a white thigh patch ... hidden by its wing in this shot and the extensive white on the head and neck).

Or occasionally flying overhead.

Canada Geese numbers fluctuate throughout the year but at least two or three pairs will probably stay to breed. I like the way that one adult always stands on guard while its companion is feeding or takes a rest. A male Tufted Duck made an appearance in early January but hasn't stayed. (A pair did stop and breed last year so maybe they will return now that the water is unfrozen.)

On 31 January, 15 male Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) circled the pond and briefly dropped into an unfrozen area before flying away again. The following week I counted 5 males and 1 female but last week I could only spot one pair lurking in the shade of the main island. Hopefully they will stay to breed as in previous years.

Another infrequent winter visitor to the Great Pond is the Northern Shoveler (Anus clypeata). Two males and a female turned up on 23 February but I don't anticipate that they will stay much longer. Other species seen are Stock Doves, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Green Woodpecker and Black-headed Gull plus on the 28 February I located 13 Lapwing on the fields at Rushett Farm (Last year for the same week the count was 14!).

During the last two weeks as I skirted the farm fields I have listened to the beautiful song of the Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) that have returned to breed. This photo is one from the archives.    FAB.

Norfolk Review (Part 2) - Titchwell

No holiday to the North Norfolk coast would be complete without spending some time at Titchwell RSPB Reserve so here are some images from our two seperate visits on day 3 when we met up with our friends Jean and Tony, also on holiday but staying further east near Wells, and day 6 when Anita and I dropped in for a late afternoon stroll. Once again there was a very fresh and breezy north-easterly wind and rain on the radar so we had to wrap up and protect ourselves from the elements in the middle of June! 

The resident friendly Robin very quickly perched on the car wing mirror to see if we had any scaps. My friend Keith at holdingmoments had this chap eating out of his hand earlier this year. As we headed out onto the reserve we had our first sightings of Marsh Harriers quartering over the reed beds plus a Red-Crested Pochard was located on one of the reed fringed pools with Teal, Gadwall, and Tufties.

Plenty of activity overhead with Swifts, Swallows and House Martins. Reed Buntings occasionally perched on the swaying reeds. From the hide Tony and I scoped out the distant ducks and waders including Gadwall, Shoveller, Shelduck, Pochard, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Cormorant, Little Egret, Knot, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Little Gull, Black-headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Common and Little Terns. Elsewhere we also saw Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Linnet, Meadow Pipits, Starlings, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler (heard only) and fleeting glimpses of a Bearded Tits flying into the reeds.

The main activity alongside the path were young Sedge Warblers perched precariously in the reed bed constantly begging for food from their overworked parents.

As expected there were lots of (Pied) Avocets on the freshwater lagoons. A very windy walk out onto the beach produced Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Oystercatchers feeding along the tide line. With a rain front approaching and Tony getting hungry it was soon time for us to head back towards the Reserve Centre for much needed refreshments.

As we crossed the boardwalk a pair of Skylarks noisily alighted on the handrail allowing me a few quick shots.

Check out the length of those hind claws!

Another birder stopped us and asked if we were any good with wader ID to which Tony immediately responded by pointing at me.....no pressure I thought!  Through his scope I located the distant objective....larger than a Dunlin; showed large primary projection; a very slight decurved bill and the heavily streaked breastband that is sharply demarcated against the white unmarked underbelly...a PECTORAL Sandpiper. I reported this sighting at the Reserve Centre and was immeditely referred to the resident warden who suggested that it might be the same bird that was recorded at Frampton Marshes on the other side of The Wash and definitely an unusual record for Titchwell in the spring. (Usually only seen during Autumn return migration). Just a pity I couldn't get a photo as the bird didn't stop long after feeding and I think we were the only 3 people to spot this individual. 

The final encounter on our second visit was this Pheasant eagerly waiting for help from the Pigeon to cadge a titbit that may fall out of the feeder.

N.B. If anyone is thinking of visiting Titchwell later this year the path to the sea will be closed from August to October as work on the Coastal Change Project continues...not sure what effect this will have on all the returning migrants and wintering species that use this stretch of important marsh......FAB. 

Another Year Older.

Another year has passed and I'm sure time flies by quicker every year or is it just because I'm getting older!
     
Anyway it has been a very interesting year, so here is a quick review:

Today is the "Early Birders" blog anniversary and according to the stats I've posted 192 times, have 94 followers and in excess of 9,500 visits all in 12 months. I'm somewhat amazed that what I post appears to be enjoyed by so many others. So special thanks go out to my regular readers who continually leave encouraging comments and to everyone else who happens to drop by I'm very appreciative of your support.

My birding year started, as is usual, with a visit to the south coast where on 1st January I finally caught up with a Purple Sandpiper but didn't get any pictures. My friend Steve at Shooting my Universe has plenty of stunning photos of this delightful wader.

The purchase of a DSLR earlier this year provided an added incentive to post what I was watching but sometimes I still have difficulty choosing between traditional birding and wildlife photography.

One of my earliest digi-scoped images of a Black-tailed Godwit became my header.

A Skylark took centre stage on the blog and then the opportunity to follow breeding activity in the garden was captured whenever I could find the time whilst still working full time.

Throughout the summer the camera enabled me to capture other wildlife and to rekindle an interest in 'flutters' (not least prompted by the massive invasion of Painted Lady's), plus 'dragons' and 'damsels' thanks to an inspiring blogger Kim at Wishnik Woods.

During the final part of the year other external influences finally led to a change in lifestyle and should now provide me with more time to appreciate our native wildlife by exploring my local environment as well as the regular strolls at other locations I enjoy visiting.

So..where will I be today? Somewhere watching wildlife and hopefully getting the new birding year off to a good start.

Wishing everyone a HAPPY, PEACEFUL & Wildlife Rich 2010.  

Up with the Lark!

This morning (Sunday 19th) I intended to rise early to revisit Bookham Common and check for returning Nightingales BUT I overslept! Never mind, I thought, I'll go anyway. It was not a fruitless visit as I 'heard' 4 separate individuals during a half hour sprint around the possible locations. Song Thrushes were also singing prominently and I also had another brief encounter with a pair of Lesser Whitethroats.

On the drive back towards Downside I spotted Skylarks perched on the roadside hedge and managed to get this image while using the car as a hide.

The next 4 hours were spent at RHS Gardens, Wisley where I was co-leading the 'Spring Bird Walk' but more of that in my next post......

Afternoon Walk at Stoke Park.

At long last the weather improved and we drove to Stoke Lake & Watermeadows for an early afternoon walk.

Initial sounds on reaching the Wey Navigation were a Blackcap singing from deep in the wooded area plus Great & Blue Tits, Greenfinch and Chaffinches moving through the branches overhead. On the water were 3 male Mallard and one female with 10 chicks.

Following the path to the lake we saw Jay, Blackbird, Robin and Chifchaff calling. The next sound was the call of a COMMON TERN flying overhead. Hopefully they will take up residence on the raft on the lake and successfully breed providing there is no disturbance this year from 'hooligans' swimming out to the raft and destroying their man-made habitat.

Other species on the lake were Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, a Great-crested Grebe and many Canada Geese mostly hauled up on the island. The one below was blowing bubbles as it drifted passed us.

On my last visit (21st Feb) I was delighted to see the return of Skylarks. This species is very much under threat from loss of suitable habitat and the open grassland above the lake has been a prime nesting site in the past but difficult to protect without fencing off a very large area. Guildford Borough Council have put up signs requesting visitors to keep to the recognised paths and to keep dogs under control. Let's just hope that everyone complies! As we headed for the lower marsh a Skylark ascended in song flight.
The boardwalk across the marsh has still not been rebuilt and the only sighting at some distance was a Deer hiding in the grass.

On our way to the lock there were more sightings of singing Blackcap and Chiffchaffs plus Dunnock and Jay. Two Pied Wagtails were perched briefly on the bridge before being disturbed by activity at the lock including this steam-powered boat.

From the lock we walked back along the Wey Navigation listening to vocal Wrens singing and saw two more male Blackcaps.

Throughout our walk we saw a few butterflies, including Yellow Brimstone's & Orange Tips who due to their active flying defied any photos, but this Peacock sat still just long enough!

A Mute Swan that has been getting down and dirty.

A Greylag on the wet meadow. First he shakes his wings & then stretches up on his toes.

Using the bins we were able to locate 2 Egyptian Geese way out on the grazing fields, but no evidence of Grey Wagtails at the weir...probably disturbed by the large number of bike riders and walkers.