Hunting corvids

They make it look easy on the television but I know from bitter experience it may take weeks of planning to arrive at a location and see a specific species or wildlife event. It doesn't happen easily and without those thousands of people on the ground daily cataloguing what is happening in the countryside, the events we witness on programmes like Winterwatch would never happen.

 

I realised  a year or so back that having travelled across the UK looking at wildlife, that which frequents my local area is a bit of a mystery to me. One I am rectifying, with the hook for this being my beloved corvids.

 

 

Every morning and every evening a flotilla of jackdaws and later rooks pass over the house heading north-ish. I know rooks nest in the village but somewhere there is a super roost of jackdaws and rooks. Thus I found myself at 4pm yesterday poised like a gazelle to follow the flock as they flew over. Poised like a gazelle I may have been; but all was anticipation and anti-climax. Though watching wildlife is never an anti-climax.

 

I haven't counted the nests this year but around 40 rook pairs nest around the village hall and church. As I arrived there were many of these settled in the sunshine on top of the trees by the village hall.  Soon though they departed to another tree nearer the church. No jackdaws yet. 

 

Corvid watching is often a fruitless business as although many are site specific they can move from area to area depending on food availability in the surrounding farmland. Not knowing where the roost is, unless they came over I had no idea where to look.  Nevertheless I watched a few carrion crows in a sheep field and a buzzard at rest. It was while looking at the buzzard that I heard the familiar jak jak of a jackdaw flock passing overhead. Except they were about 2 miles away and flying in off the sea, and not past where they usually fly.

 

Well that was disappointing. Watching them through my binoculars they headed in a straight line towards what I thought was towards Clevedon but on checking the map more towards Yatton a few miles away. There is a super-roost nearer Bristol so my only thought was they're heading there. Definitely more leg work needed on the ground to discover more. 

 

We get little owls around here too so after abandoning any chance of finding a roost site I went off looking for owl. Nothing, but a nice woodpigeon roost, blackbirds in full tik tik call - I did wonder if there was an owl nearby but couldn't see anything, and when almost dark 4 roe deer.

 

So no corvid roost, and no owls but do you know that doesn't matter at all. Just spending two hours in the local area discovering little pockets of activity was a winner to me. Where the jackdaws go is a mystery, and as I discovered today they flew over at 3pm a whole hour or more earlier than normal due to the heavy rain presumably.

 

All food for thought for another day.

The Results - The Christmas Bird Challenge 2016

 

 

For those of you, and there were 10 of you who took part, the results of the 2016 Christmas Bird Challenge are in. And It was a fabulous selection of birding lists from across the United Kingdom. The reason I like this challenge is that it "forces" us all out into the Great Outdoors over the festive period.

 

Although there were two categories, most from a garden and overall highest species list, the real winners are all of you who took part. Maybe as you enjoyed it so much we should consider an Easter challenge when the migrants will be flooding in. But that's for another day.

 

And so without further a-do here are the winners and the competition lists from those of you who took part. WELL DONE!!!

Garden Lists :  Winner – Andrew Smith with a whopping 33

Overall Supreme Champion – Stewart Sexton with 90

Here are the results in no particular order - just when they came in.

Iris Bassett – 9 species from around the Bristol area.

Iris wrote "Ducks under the bridge in Pensford near church yard. Quite a few other very small birds, (don't know if chickens and a rooster count).". Ed comment. No Iris domestic chickens or budgies are definitely not allowed :-)

Starlings, Seagulls, Wood pigeons, Blackbirds, Pheasant, Robin, Owl - only heard one, not seen, Woodpecker.

Dr Simon Acey  - We got a total of 85 species – North East and North West. 

Simon a great birder since childhood said " Had an excellent week walking off Christmas excess. Highlight for us was excellent views of a water rail though missed the waxwings... Attached is our list from Dalton Piercy. Don't know if the Black Swan counts - it was in the wild at Saltholme. I think our total is therefore either 84 or 85 "

Ed comment. Sorry Simon I failed completely to download and read your list, but knowing how honest you NHS staff are, it's all okay :-)  Oh and yes a black swan, if it is living wild and not in a captive collection, is allowed.


Stewart Sexton – aka the Boulmer Birder from Northumberland  90

Stewart lives next to the best stretch of coast in Northumberland and has a fantastic blog, where he also posts some of his outstanding bird art. No list from Stewart, but his 90 stands on a nod and a handshake over Facebook !!

Stewart said "Hi Andrew well thats the week done and I finished on a nice clean 90 species. Highlights included Peregrine, Mediterranean Gull, several Kingfishers, Black tailed Godwit, Purple Sandpiper and Grey Plover. Obvious misses were Coot, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Fieldfare plus many more. I didnt do any twitching or even visit any reserves, all seen just wandering around locally. All tbe best, Stewart. "

Well done Stewart a great win especially if having not visited any reserves.


Andrew Dawes – 80 – South West

A weird year for me doing this. I got to nearly 60 species by Boxing Day and then each day struggled to add more. But overjoyed with the otter on Chrstmas Day, as well as a greenfinch as I'd not seen one of these once ubiquitous finches for over a year.

Christmas Day in the garden - Robin, house sparrow (35+), starling, collared dove, wood pigeon, carrion crow, blackbird, magpie, herring gull, jackdaw, redwing, blue tit, black headed gull, dunnock, great tit. Out and about on the Somerset Levels - buzzard, long tailed tit, grey heron, little egret, pheasant, rook, goldcrest, goldfinch, chaffinch, moorhen, coot, cormorant, teal, OTTER, kingfisher, great crested grebe, wren, marsh harrier, greylag goose, pochard, jay, great spotted woodpecker, kestrel, stonechat, lapwing, widgeon, snipe (flushed from a few feet away - magical views), shoveller, bullfinch, great white egret, gadwall, reed bunting.

Remaining species from Boxing Day - Canada goose, pied wagtail, little grebe, tufted duck, Cetti's warbler, Raven, BITTERN (spotted by Julie in amongst the starlings at roost at Ham Wall),

Sand Bay 27th - my local patch. Curlew, oystercatcher, shelduck, dunlin meadow pipit, grey plover.

Topsham in Devon 28th - Day out with the nearest and dearest but I had to take my bins : Red breasted merganser, avocet, brent goose (bit far away over the mudflats to see if pale or not),bar tailed godwit, black tailed godwit, song thrush, redshank, water rail, goldeneye.

Cheddar reservoir 29th - scaup, common gull, lesser black backed gull, fieldfare (at last!!) grey wagtail, sparrowhawk, green woodpecker.

December 30th - absolutely nothing!

New Years Eve in Wiltshire - Red kite, greenfinch, corn bunting, coal tit and stock dove.

New Years Day - abysmal weather but had an hour at Catcott just to get out - pintail! Last bird of the year.

Ed Drewitt – 86 -  Around the south of England.

Ed is one of the top birders and wildlife experts in the UK and hosts wildlife holidays for organisations like Naturetrek - and what he doesn't know about peregrine feeding habits is not worth knowing. He and his wife Liz almost toppled Stewart.

Ed said " Hello Andrew, Happy New Year! I reached 86 bird species (88 if we combine Liz and me together). Highlights include four red-throated divers, hen harrier, corn buntings, thousands of knot and wonderful views of waders at high tide on the Isle of Sheppey, Bewick's swans, all the winter thrushes, barn owl, stonechat and nuthatch. Hope you had a good festive season - our birds have been busy in the garden. Best wishes Ed "


Julie Rana – 15 from the stables in Northumberland.

Great list Julie, good to know the horse fields are alive with birds, I hope this has sparked more interest - I know it has as you'll be doing the Garden Birdwatch soon with your son. Good luck with that.

Julie said " Bird race - Stable yard and winter field., Choppington, Northumberland. Buzzard, robin, chaffinch, blue tit, crow, common gull, starling, pheasant, jay, blackbird, collared dove, wood pigeon, racing pigeon, wren, partridge. xx "


Gill Brown – 49  in total from around North Somerset.

Gill is one of natures champions - a dormouse and otter expert and passionate about all wildlife in her local area and beyond. It is people like Gill who spend hours a week helping wildlife.

Gill said "Facebook managed to lose the message I sent with this! The best birding days were taken up with family but we did brave the rain yesterday and spent a rather dull afternoon on the Severn Estuary. Great fun though and I would definitely do it again. Thanks Andrew!"

Garden - 18
Blue tit, Great tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Collared dove, House sparrow, Long tailed tit
Magpie, Black headed gull, Starling, Greater spotted woodpecker, Tawny owl, Robin, Wren, Carrion crow, Dunnock, Jackdaw

Out and About – 31

(Land Yeo Valley and Towerhouse Wood, Backwell Lake, Clevedon sea wall, Severn Beach, New Passage, Aust, Strawberry Line, The Causeway on Nailsea Moor)
Mute swan, Shoveller duck, Tufted duck, Mallard duck, Feral pigeon, Green woodpecker, Curlew
Reed bunting, Skylark, Shellduck, Stonechat, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Greenfinch, Kingfisher, Herring gull, Moorhen, Buzzard, Meadow pipit, Raven, Pied Wagtail, Canada Goose, Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Heron, Coot, Little egret, Cormorant, Water rail, Rook, Song thrush.

Andrew Smith –  33 - North Yorkshire

Andrew's 33 from and around his garden is a great total - we did have a long FB discussion about the hooded crow (normally not seen in England) and having done some searching a couple of records were put in from Durham and North Yorkshire over Christmas too. So the 33 stands.... next time a photo Andrew - we'd love to see this in Yorks.

Andrew said " Have really enjoyed this - I feel privileged to have seen these all from my own house / garden "

1. Blackbird 2. Goldfinch 3. Great Tit 4. Blue Tit 5. Cole Tit 6. Crow 7. Hooded crow 8. jackdaw9. Collared Dove 10. House Sparrow 11. Tree / Hedge Sparrow 12. Gull 13. Pigeon 14. Wood Pigeon 15. Starling 16. Robin 17, Pheasant 18. Chaffinch 19.Fieldfare 20.geese (Barnacle) 21. Blackcap 22. Greater Spotted Woodpecker ( Male ) 23. Lapwing 24. Wren 25. Kestrel 26. Canada Goose 27. Black Headed Gull 28. Greenfinch 29. Grey wagtail 30. Mallard 31. Brambling 32. Tree creeper 33. Sparrow hawk


Richard Comont – 38 - Malverns and Cheshire

Richard is one of life's greats - and so young :-) A superb entomologist now bringing his unique way to Bumblebee Conservation. As a Dr PhD id have expected nothing less than Richards spread-sheet with both species and detailed information. If you ever get a chance to meet Richard at an event, you must. Great man.

Richard said " Hi Andrew, My sightings attached - 38 species in all, all from walking the dog on the Malverns plus a drive up to Cheshire.  Highlights were ravens, a pair of peregrines, and the first bullfinches I've seen in a long time! Cheers, Richard"

Collared Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Pheasant, Rock Dove, Starling, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Fieldfare, Redwing, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Tawny Owl, Raven, Song Thrush, Wren, Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard, Jay, Peregrine, Dunnock, Magpie.


Miranda Bell – 19  from Herefordshire

Miranda and her husband has just moved back to Hay on Wye after years in France and someone I met through blogging - having blogged about her wonderful wildlife rich garden in Brittany. However we've never met, but in 2017 plan to rectify this.

Miranda said " Hi Andrew  Hope you've both had a great Christmas...here are a list of birds seen in our garden here near Hay from 28 Dec – 1 Jan...not that impressive compared to others I’m sure. The highlight was the female Bullfinch – see so few of these now. Look forward to hearing how other people got on!"

Great tit,  Blue tit, Coal tit, Robin, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Song thrush, Gold Crest, Bullfinch, Fieldfare, Starling, Blackbird, Long tailed tit, Crow, Wren, Magpie, Redwing

And last but by no means least....

Lyn Hunt – Dorset – 15 Garden

Lyn is another one of my blogging contacts and another I have not met although we used to frequent the same areas of Dorset.  Great to have your garden list Lyn, and on one day. Now here's a thought, you have 15 - how many at the end of 2017?

Lyn said " I saw 15 different varieties of birds in our garden on the 1st January, does that count?
Sparrows, Starlings, Dunnock, Blackbirds, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Great Tit"


Thank you all for taking part - I hope you all enjoyed it, enjoyed working out what the birds were and above all enjoyed being out and about in nature. If I have missed anyone out, please do let me know and I'll rectify this.

Now where are my bins.............

A Damp Grey Wet New Years Day 2017

Down here in Somerset it is a damp, grey and very wet start to 2017. The ran began about 7am and as I write this around 1pm, it is still 'dreek'  A day for staying in, candles on and the fire warming the ancient bones.

I did have an offer to go to Slimbridge today with a friend who is in the Bristol Ornithological Society, but birding in the wet is something I no longer do. I had enough of that yesterday in Wiltshire, a wet cold county in winter. 

So I have resigned myself to a fairly low score on the Facebook bird race I suggested to those out there willing to give it a go. I'll not post numbers here yet, save to say having got over 50 by Boxing Day, each day since then has seen my score only increase by one or two new species. Partly weather and partly doing other things over Christmas. Many quite common species (until yesterday no coal tit, green woodpecker or fieldfare) and most birds of prey have escaped my binoculars this year. It fascinates me that in some years this bird race has been easy, birds flowing into view, and others, like this year, struggling. Looking back the NHU bird cup started 14 years ago. 

This year also see the tenth year of my blogging. The halcyon days were 2008-2009 when I seemed to blog about wildlife every other day. With the arrival of Twitter into my life in 2010 (which I no longer do) and Facebook in 2011 my blogging suffered, except in 2014 when I blogged an image a day to celebrate my 50th year. I've missed blogging and taking the opportunity today to revisit some of the posts, they, like a diary, take me back to a place and time. 

Thus my one and only resolution for 2017 is to blog about wildlife and the countryside once more. I'll end with a posting from January 3rd 2008 January 3rd 2008.  I'm not going to make that total this year!!

Happy New Year to everyone reading this and if you can suggest new blogs to visit, let me know. I wish to expand my horizons.