Messing about with the digi-scope

Not too bad a day off yesterday, weather was glorious. Sand Bay at 7am kicked up 123 shelduck and 50 curlew plus a sparrowhawk and 3 singing chiffchaffs, plus loads of magpie and woodpigeon.

With the wind storm force 1 gusting severe gale 2, digi-scoping was difficult. I'm new to digi-scoping so learning that even the slightest breeze makes it tough to get a sharp image as the telescope wobbles in the breeze. So this was the best from the morning, Flat Holme, about 6 miles out to sea from Sand Bay.


Later in the afternoon whilst having a cup of tea, I could see many birds on the garden feeders. So set the scope up in the conservatory and waited. By now the birds had flown, which is typical, so I amused myself with getting to grips with what the digiscope kit could do on my garden flowers. Okay I agree, I could have gone into the garden and taken a photo, but this Celendine, photographed from about 30 feet away on a x60 eyepiece and x 14 camera setting appeals to me. I know what you're thinking..... !!

Then finally, the Goldfinches came back so took about 50 shots of these glorious birds. Because they move about quite a bit many were a bit blurred, but this one captures the little fella.

Original photo uncropped (above) and cropped and re-sized below. Lovely.

Have a good Easter, and for those of you in Northumberland, hope the Crane stays at QE2 park. Amazing birds.

The Crows

Do you like Crows?

Those of you who regularly read my rambling blog may know I'm especially fond of Corvids, or Crows if you prefer the common term. Not everyone's cup of tea I grant you with their connection with witches and so on, but I love them. Years ago, and from nowhere a Carrion Crow befriended me. I used to open the door and it would hop in and sit on the table to be fed. Then one day it was gone. Crows are so intelligent and their social cohesion is remarkable. The garden in Dorset regularly gets Rooks and Jackdaws on the bird table, wonderful to watch.

Linked to this, last Sunday on Radio 4 (6.30am...yes I was up then) a lovely Living World programme about the large Rook roost in Norfolk. If anyone's interested, here's the link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/livingworld.shtml

So realising I know very little about their behaviour etc I've decided to do a spot of research. But where to begin? Well kindly a friend Brett Westwood suggested 3 books, all out of print, plus another one I'd already known about which has just been published. I ordered the out of print books last week on the old internet, 2 from America, and one from London, The Crows by Franklin Coombes, which arrived at work today. Tomorrow is a day off so that's my bedtime reading sorted. (Mind you I'm also reading Earth Memories by Llewellyn Powys, wonderful Dorset Essays, in a readable style - just smashing).

Are any of you interested in Crows? if so, here are the other three books Brett suggested and now on order; Can't wait.

Crows of the World - Derek Goodwin - out of print
Ravens in Winter - Bernd Heinrich - out of print
Crow Country - Mark Cocker - newly published in 2007

Migrate-Day

Sorry that's an awful pun!

Someone once said, I forget who something along the lines of "pleasure is the expected being unexpected"

Saturday was just such a day. I was just about to head off to Sand Bay when my neighbour rang, I'm in the mood for some sea air, do you fancy a walk along the beach? So before 8am, we found ourselves walking the full length of Sand Bay, nearly 3 miles back n forth. I hadn't walked the beach this year, and to be honest there wasn't much to report as the tide was right out. However as we approached where I usually stand by the marsh I spied a "white bum" flying ahead of me.

Instantly, a voice in my head said Wheatear (119). They'd been reported in the last few days, so I had a feeling they may be about, but as is always the case I wasn't out birding properly, so just had the binoculars, no camera, no scope - typical. We stopped and viewed from the beach and I could see at least 2 flying from perch to perch. Slowly walking in a wide arc, in total we saw 4 males and a female. One male inparticular was giving wonderful views, why didn't I have the camera? (probably as I was never a boy scout, so never prepared).

We were standing there watching the Wheatears, also I was pointing out Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Linnet and Skylark to my neighbour who is a beginner. I said, it's a shame there are no Martins about, as I haven't seen one yet this spring. We turned to leave and she said, is that a Swallow flying towards us? It wasn't but close call, a Sand Martin (120), and there were more, a small group of 11 had arrived at the beach as if by magic. These flew low back and forwards against where we were, one of which was actually a House Martin (121).

The arrival of that early summer migrant flock has to be one of the most magical things I've ever witnesed. From silence, and from nowhere, the Martins arrived, wheeling and twittering as they flew by, feeding alongside the shrubs, just feet from us. Then all of a sudden, they were off as soon as they'd arrived. I watched them flying north and they were gone, leaving the beach in silence again. To think they were over my head and a few weeks ago in Africa. Its just amazing to think they and the Wheatears travel so far, just to breed, and a place I know very well, has changed it's charecter with the arrival of the spring influx. Fair lifts the spirits, and even England won the Rugby.

On Sunday afternoon, a probably Whimbrel (122) across the mudflats. Tough call as I had to use the x60 eye lens with the light in front of me, but everything said Whimbrel (slightly smaller, darker head, though couldn't see stripes, bent rather than de-curved bill, shorter legs), rather than a juvenile Curlew, who also have shorter bills that their parents.

Other hightlights of the weekend were a wonderfull male Sparrowhawk perched on a fence post. I'd seen it hedge hopping as I drove along, lost it, turned a corner and there it was...yellow legs gleaming in the rain. I slowed the car and he stayed put for a while, but then off like the clappers. Further down that lane about 200-250 Fieldfares, presumably massing for their flight back north.

Winter moves into spring just in time for the Equinox

Windy Wednesday

The Beach needs a bit of a clean up I think?

Usually by here the waves have run out of puff, but not today

Yesterday was my first Wednesday off after requesting to work part time for a while (last week felt more like a holiday). However I must be getting old as kept thinking it was Saturday and back at work today I'm thinking it's Monday. If I begin to crave boiled sweets and comfy tartan slippers, shoot me.

So what did I do on my day off? Given a gale was blowing off the Bristol Channel, and armed with some local information (thanks Paul if you're reading this), I popped down to Sand Bay for the high tide at 10am. Gloriously sunny weather, but no idea what the wind speed was, though force 8 gusting force 9 at Weston Super Mare just down the coast was reported, so twice a gust nearly blew me over, which is remarkable for a slim chap like myself.

Any Atlantic storm is funnelled past Devon and Exmoor to the south and Pembrokeshire, South Wales and the Black Mountains to the north and into the Bristol Channel, picking up speed dramatically. First stop is then Sand Bay, which is nice. Add that the Severn Estuary has second highest tidal range in the World (7.1 meters yesterday), a storm with a spring tide can bring remarkable results. Mainly all the detritus of the Atlantic on the beach.

As predicted waders etc were absent as the tide came in, though did have a Curlew, 50 Dunlin and 8 Grey Plover after high tide. Weirdly no Snipe taking off, even though there's good numbers in the marsh. Also 50ish Shelduck. However the Skylarks were fantastic as with the wind they couldn't fly too high, so very close quarters view of their antics with about 7 or 8 on the wing at any one time were a real treat. The small reedbed was swamped, flushing out 5 Reed Bunting. And remarkable my first ever view of a Water Rail flying. Usually these creep about in thick vegetation and rarely break cover. This one was returning to the marsh after presumably being flushed out, not one of the bird world's most elegant fliers, I'd give it null points.

Finally a handful of Rock Pipits about 40 feet away produced a pale bellied pink tinged Pipit with a very conspicuous supercillium, so an almost certain Water Pipit, but in the gale even trying to keep bins steady was a trial.

Speaking of lists, I've done a re-check and missed off from last week a Short Eared Owl at Aust, so with the Knot and Eider, the Water Pipit is definitely numero 118 species this year.

Souter Point

Well done to those who knew it was Souter Point in yesterdays posting.

Quick pop down to Sand Bay this morning as it was near high tide, and blimey it was a high tide, no beach left, luckily no wind otherwise it may have been a lot higher. But you want to see the debris. Day off tomorrow so photos from there hopefully. By chance met up with another guy who watches the Bay, he'd counted 11 Stonechat, a water rail, skylark up, and was trying to spot Water Pipit in with Rock Pipits (hope he did) and a Med Gull as the tide flooded the marsh. As it started raining I gave up and came to work.

And finally, having always been absolutely rubbish at keeping lists, my year list at home is 117, and here its 114...so need to do a cross check. I know I've missed off Eider and Knot (as numbers, on the blog), but that still leaves at least 1 missing.

A Trip to my parents

Today's Quiz - a packet of smarties if anyone knows where this is;

Just got back from my 900 miles in 5 day trip to the North East. But what the heck, my parents fed us well!! During the journey up on Wednesday, we had 14, yes 14 Kestrels alongside the motorway. Given that it was 14 Kestrel in 315 miles this is one every 22.5 miles along Britain's Motorways.

I usually drive the journey in one go, but making good time, we made a stop at Osmotherly for lunch. So after I treated Thelma to a pickled egg and half a pint of Hambleton's Nightmare real ale, the drive over the North York Moors let us feel the wind in our hair and a brace of Red Grouse (106).

Ford near Osmotherly, scene of a self inflicted breakdown 26 years ago while Border Reiver tried to do an "Italian Job" style photo shoot with his mate who was at art college!! Happy days.

The following day, popped to Boldon Flats LNR, one of my old stomping ground and picked out 5 Tree Sparrows (107) with Yellowhammer, Greenfinch and House Sparrows at the feeders there. Later we had a walk at Whitburn Scars, (or as I was told, stop looking at those bloomin birds I'm freezing). From the cliff path, Turnstone, Sanderling (108), Knot, Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper (109), Oystercatcher, Curlew and Bar Tailed Godwit (110), plus a smattering of usual smaller gulls which swarmed over the car as we devoured a Minchella's bacon and cheese panini to warm up. Lovely.

And can you believe later in the afternoon I passed the entrance to Jarrow Cemetery and didn't go and see the Yellow Browed Warbler which has been resident there for weeks. Call me a proper birder?? No call me sensible!! When I mentioned going for a walk around the graveyard, her indoors gave me a funny old-fashioned look which said " do not take me to a cemetery for a day out or else". Wimmin, they never understand what makes a man glad to be alive.

Fulmar and Jackdaw don't make good neighbours (above) and noisy Cormorant displaying (below)

Mind you I have to be kind to Thelma, she let me go and see the Red Kites (111) in the Derwent Valley the next day. At first light before anyone was up I nipped to Marsden Rock, a bird colony viewed from carparks. Still early in the year, but Shag and Cormorant nest building, and Fulmar (112) pairing up. Skylark singing too. Watched one unfortunate Jackdaw being "spat at" by this relative of Petrels. Home for breakfast, then only had to spend 5 hours in the Metro Centre before seeing the Kites. Can anyone explain to me how I can spend 12 hours in the field and feel as fresh as a daisy, whereas 5 hours shopping I feel like I've been run over by a lorry and need counselling?

Anyway we drove up past Whickam to see if we could spot one of the 90+ released birds as part of the Northern Kite Project. Thelma had just said, how big are these birds, when she said is that one? Literally next to the car one was flying low over a farm, so we stopped in a gateway and had stunning views for 5 minutes before it left. We then saw another 4 at Gibside, 3 in one field and one so low over me that with the bins, I could watch its eyes searching the ground. Even Thelma said she was impressed with Red Kites, they must be good.

The next day we all went to Kielder, Europe's largest man made forest. Weather was dreadful, gales and rain, clearing to just gales, but still got Goldeneye, good numbers of Crossbill (113), Chaffinch, Siskin and a Hooded Crow (114). In the distance from "Raptor viewpoint" I did spy a big raptor, which could have been a Goshawk, but that was just wishful thinking on my part. (I know where they are in Dorset, so will hopefully get my tick there).

Driving back yesterday stopped at Slimbridge and have finally bought my digi-kit, so one day the standard of the photos below will be a distant memory. I hope!!

The evening entertainment - we actually beat the computer!!

"Tame" Chaffinches at Kielder

Rock patterns at Keilder (above) and after the rain (below)

Crossbill Country.... they were everywhere here in the treetops

March

I keep doing this, no I'm not back but I am a-posting. Just a quick note. Not much wildlife watching this weekend, but notable birds were 4 Red Legged Partridge (104) and Yellowhammer (105) up on Bullbarrow Hill Dorset. At dusk yesterday there were 9 Yellowhammers in one field, perched on posts and bushes, 2 of which were searching for "a little bit of cheese" apparently.... Blue Vinney is a good choice from Dorset.

Plus 2 cock Pheasants having a right old ding dong in the middle of the road, which if I hadn't stopped the car to watch this, may have been carnage, so intent were they on setting up home and chatting up the ladies. And this morning 3 gloriously sunlit male Bullfinches near Wincanton in one bush.

On Saturday Bullbarrow Hill was alive with wildlife, about 4 or 5 Buzzards, usual Corvids, nice large Linnet flock, and hundreds of Rabbits. At 900 feet it commands a goodly scan of the rolling chalk hills and fields 300 feet below, however I failed to locate Hares. This March I'm going to spend some time up there and on the Wiltshire Downs, spot of mammal watching for a change.

Popped back at dusk last night to maybe glimpse an owl. Sadly not, but hundreds of corvids coming into roost and a nice Sparrowhawk flying along the lane in front of me before hedgehopping over the hedge.