First Whimbrel

Just a quick posting as I had a wonderful early morning stroll along my local patch, Sand Bay

I only ever seem to go down there when the tide is somewhere between Cardiff and the east coast of America. No matter how much I look at tide tables or throw a cod into the wind or rub two bits of seaweed together, or whatever one needs to do to predict high tide, when I have time to go, I can't see the sea. I can hear it, but it's not there.

But that doesn't matter, I love this place for it's rugged and messy charm. Recently someone has been creating driftwood shelters along the beach, if I'd had my camera with me you'd have had a nice photo. As it was I didn't so the photo above was taken in March, before the driftwood works of art appeared.

Today's bird count was meagre, but noteworthy. First off a Little Egret in a pool, then a fair number of Curlew and Shelduck, but then faffing about at the edge of the marsh, 3 Whimbrel, my first such birds this spring. Watched them for a bit, plus a fair number of Swallows which were skimming the marsh. Time to walk back, when I heard a cronk cronk... but couldn't see anything. There is was again a cronk cronk at which point I did indeed see the Raven flying along the coast, being harried by a Carrion Crow. Just made my morning. That and a cackling Green Woodpecker in the woods, which I think is the first one I've heard in the Bay.

Finally, to close this posting, a spot of blatant advertising for the Avon Wildlife Trust. One of the Trustees has spent a year getting a live feed from a Blue Tit nest box onto the web. So if you wish to view live Blue Tit's doing what live Blue Tits do in a nest box, click here.

Beltain Birds

May Day, Beltain, Ascension Day, whatever you call it, I hope you have a wonderful day. And right on cue the Hawthorn (May) blossom is coming out down here.

Beltain, one of the Cross Quarter days in the Pagan Calendar is a favourite festival of mine. As such a candle burned all night and I was up with the dawn this morning. No I wasn't dancing about some sacred site, but at Sand Bay by 5.30 for a spot of birding and solitude. The whole Bay was deserted, so while waiting for the birds to pop along, composed a poem for the day (don't worry I'll get the the wildlife soon)

Glisten sunlight on still wet rocks
Evaporating before others will view
Watching billowing clouds, light passes
I'm running with the Hares

Which brings me to Tuesday night. Spot of birding on way home at Chew Valley and this Hare was out in the open, with another behind. Picture isn't great but they were at the end of a field, so a digiscope shot for the record.

Back to the birds. Yesterday was a painting and birding day off. In the morning after a trip to Weston super Mud, a half hour at Sand Bay kicked off 5 Whimbrel (133), 5 Wheatear, a Little Egret and a cracking Kestrel which spent most of the time I was there hovering nearby.

In the evening after "doing" a painting (see Art blog), spent a bit of time down there with the scope. This time 17 Whimbrel, 3 Little Egret and that was about it other than a probable 40+ Dulin out on the mud, but at such a distance could have been something else as not that common here in April/May. The Whimbrell were very active though and gave some good clear views through the scope. Sadly though the Curlew have now left so no chance of comparing size etc.

Then this morning's early visit to Bay before all the dog walkers emerged provides some useful numbers of; Carrion Crow (35), Starling (40+), Shelduck (3 pairs), Male House Sparrows (13), Herring Gull (23), Whimbrel (11), Lesser BB Gull (5), Linnet (5), Little Egret (1), Skylark (7). And 2 very obliging Meadow Pippits, one of which was using a bit of drift wood to launch himself off into song and back again a number of times. Very nice piece of behaviour to herald May Day.

..... but the star of the day has to be the Peregrine. I was watching the Mippit doing it's stuff through the binoculars and on the skyline over the Point, "thought what's that"?. Ignoring the Mippit's for a moment, great views of it climbing and then attacking Woodpigeons which live around the point. My guess by the size it was a female, and three or 4 times it had a go at a kill. Although unsuccessful each time, watching the change of speed between flap flap searching and gaining height and then hell-for-leather chase was breathtaking. A Beltin' bird for a Beltain Day...ha ha ha

And finally what about this cracking piece of habitat management? The reed beds at Sand Bay are tiny, so my guess is the reed stems have been tied together to provide suitable nesting sites for Reed Buntings. By whom is unknown. But any thoughts or comments welcome.

+++++

And a postscript. Earlier today sent this article about "Birds can tell if you're watching them". thought it was interesting enough to add as a amended entry for today.

http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2008/212017945290.html

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