World on the Move and it's Spring

I don't often put my art on the Blog, but hey, it's spring, so here's a Kingfisher I did in 2006, which I've been banned from selling, so it's now on the lounge wall.

What a fabulous morning here. Great to be alive.

Yesterdays Greylags flew over the house this time, so at the weekend I'm going to try and hunt down where they are roosting. Presumably at the coast, but where? Plenty of mud out on the Severn but the tides aren't right at the moment. I'm intrigued now.

First e-mail I opened was from a colleague who said skylarks are singing in the Estate she rides to work through; now that is the song of spring! A blackcap was once again singing in Clifton, along with a myriad of other bird song. What is it about a warm sunny morning in February which lifts everyone's hearts? I guess the promise of better days to come, and a bit of warmth on the skin. If the weather holds I'm going to go to the Exe and maybe catch the Avocets before they depart. I'll let you know if I'm successful.

Another thing I noticed today was a Heron being harried by a Herring Gull. I'd been idly watching the Heron flying alongside the M5, when all of a sudden the Herring Gull took off from the fields and the chase began. Sadly as I was driving couldn't watch more closely, but I was amazed at how agile a Heron can be when under attack. Not something I've witnessed before.

Finally next week sees the beginning of the new NHU Radio 4 series World on the Move. Try and catch this if you can, the first programme is on Tuesday 12th Feb at 9pm, presented by Brett Westwood and Phillippa Forrester.

Link to this here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/worldonthemove/

Have a good weekend wildlife watching, there's no better thing to do in the spring.

Greylags

Keeping the theme of wildlife on the move, a suprise this morning. As I drove into work, 10 Greylags flew over the car next to the house. Quite unusual for the outskirts of Weston super Mare, and as wild birds, this takes me to 91 for the year.

Spring is definitely gathering pace. On Saturday a colleague text'd me to say she had frogspawn in her pond. And this week I've noticed bud burst happening on a daily occurance around here; Elder leaves on Monday and this morning noticed Hawthorn in leaf. My Hornbeam hedge came into leaf last week, however after a frost, these now look withered and brown. And walking into work today, a Blackcap was singing it's head off, while it's partner was being all coy in the next tree. Lovely

Wiltshire's Wildlife

After last night's torrential rain and wind, this morning dawned bright and clear, so having a day off we went to Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire for a walk. Never been before but what a lovely place. Will have to go again when it's open!!

 

Everywhere was birdsong, including some very noisy Nuthatch and Gt Tit. We did an ambling walk along some of the woodland tracks and after yesterdays post about Year List, I racked up 4 more, Treecreeper, obligingly only 20 feet away and at head hight so lovely views in the sun, male Bullfinch, Siskin, and a very showy Water Rail which scootled about next to the fishing lake (well spotted Thelma with a "what's that?"). Also spotted a Pippit spp by the lake. However it was partially obscured, so can not make a positive ID, but it's colouring, dark legs and general behaviour has me pointing a finger at a potential Water Pipit. I'll not count it though.

 

Other hightlights were a Robin showing well next to the car, a fair number of very active Great and Blue Tit, and a Buzzard being mobbed by Carrion Crow. I like it here, not least as there are snowdrops everywhere. Fair cheers the heart.

 

 

 

Top Old Wardour Castle, Middle; Snowdrops in the woods; Bottom; Feeding time

As it was only 11.30 by the time we'd done the walk, decided to go over to Langford Lakes, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, where I began my art career in 2006 with 5 paintings in the exhibition. Quite a nice spot, but quiet birdwise, with the hightlights being a female Bullfinch, 6 Long Tail Tit, a few Gadwall, Gt Crested Grebe, Pochard and Tufted. Oh and a Rat... however...

 

The hightlignt of the day had to be the Ringtail Hen Harrier which flew over the car on the windwept Wiltshire Downs, flashing it's white rump. I stopped as soon as I could but it was too far away for further ID information. What a fabulous sight, sorry I can't give any specific information as to where it was, but you'll understand. Glad I stopped there too, as the fields each side of the road were crammed with mixed finches (no Brambling), Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Skylark, the fields near the woods, must have had 200+ Corvids and 100+ Pigeon spp. No wonder the Hen Harrier was hunting there. Sadly though no further sighting of the Harrier. But a great way to end the day even if as we set off a dead Brown Hare was in the road. Coincidence?

 

So with all this activity, my Year List is now at 90 (not including the possible W-ippet).

Stormy Stalbridge

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was lovely, sun, if a bit cold. Today is stormy and well awful. Any wildlife with any sense, stayed indoors. However in the garden, pandemonium. Foolishly I put a mealworm fat block out on the bird table. This attracted every Starling from Dorset to visit, which were themselves eclipsed by 2 Rooks and a Jackdaw. The latter arrived, scared off the Starlings (who sat on the fence looking depressed), squabbled over and devoured the whole fat block in 2 minutes flat and left. Marvelous entertainment, but not quite what I had in mind of course for the Robin and Tit's.

Later in the afternoon, to walk off an excess of Sunday Roast, pancakes to follow, and err fizz d' grape (well it's so drinkable) we went for a walk around the lanes. Given the gale and so dark even at 3, not really much to report except a male Stonechat, first I've seen in this area. Thelma seemed to enjoy the walk mind you, or is it the drink !!

Just updated Year List, now at 84, with Raven and Lsr BB Gull. Would be nice to top out at 100 before end Feb. However as my request to work 4dpw from March so I can do 1dpw, and return to hands on conservation has been accepted, much more time in the spring for birding. Quite nice being semi retired at 43, ha ha.

Quiet day at Wick St Lawrence

As it was Six Nations weekend, I was "asked" to stay at home to watch England. So I did.

So a nice quiet Saturday, giving me an opportunity to replace the battered bird table in the garden. The original one, the size of an undernourished postage stamp, had been a free gift when I joined the RSPB many years ago.

Trip to the local hardware store and 1 hour later, this appeared in the back garden. I was pleased to see that 15 mins later a Robin was investigating it and a few minutes later 2 greenfinch were on the feeder. Both were coming into their breeding colours, stunning in the sun.

Later on while having some soup for lunch, I noticed the garden was a hive of activity, at one point counted @ 30 different birds in the garden, mainly Starling, House Sparrow and Goldfinch, but also Robin, Wren, Great Tit, Greenfinch, single Rook on the shed, Dunnock and Blackbird. Jackdaws flew low over, as did a smattering of Herring Gull.


And of course the Collard Doves. Found a second egg in the garden, so they must have laid 2. But by the looks of it they're planning more. Spring is in the air !!

Before the match, an hour at Sand Bay didn't reveal anything new, though a group of 60 or so Oystercatchers were the largest number for a while. Chatted to a woman who grew up here, she said Flamingoes were once seen here, escapees from Slimbridge and bird numbers used to be huge in the 1950's and 60's with the area being used by wildfowlers. She also said there is an intact WW2 bomber in the mud just off the point, crew still inside, as Sand Bay was used as a WW2 bombing practice bay. Apparently the mud is littered with live ammunition. I'll stay on the beach I think.

Finally noticed as I drove to Dorset this morning, 3 dead badgers on the roadside. They're becoming active then.

The Atmospheric Curlew

After yesterdays gales, I thought I'd pop down to Sand Bay before work. Given that the tide was at maxima low, I thought it may be dissapointing bird wise. And it was dissapointing, absolutely freezing, but can the tide be any further out. Not really that much to report, usual suspects, but did spot 4 Lsr Black Backs in a group squabbling with a Carrion Crow.

However as the wind whipped off the sea, the wonderful haunting call of the Curlews carried to me. What a marvellous way to begin a day with those atmospheric calls over the mudflats. No bird call is as magical as that to me.

Only other thing of note is that a fair few number of molehills have begun to appear in the fields this week.

Collard Dove disaster

It's a bit blustery today. Forecast of course, but a bit of a shock to those of us living in the south. We thought Spring was on it's way !! Sadly though this morning when having breakfast, I noticed the Collard Dove wasn't on the nest. Quick investigation revealed the nest empty and an egg on the ground next to the pond. Was it the wind? A Cat?

Ahh well, maybe they'll try again, after all it is still only January !!

Yesterday Rob gave me a spare copy of the latest Avon Bird Report (2006) which I read last night (reminding me I've not entered in BTO counts from weekend). No new species were added to the County list, but some interesting facts have come to light;

• Tree Sparrow - only 4 seen as fly overs, and now presumed a non-breeder in the county
• Cuckoo - rapid decline in numbers from c.100 in 1996 to 8 in 2006
• From prey remains, the Peregrines in Bath are taking a fair number of woodcock, more than recorded in the field, as a percentage
• Dunlin numbers are increasing in the Bristol Channel - 1400 in Nov 06 - partly (from my knowledge) due to clean up of the sea, and the ending of mechanical beach cleaning.
• Raven - rapid increase from 1's and 2's up to 2001, rising to 42 in 2006 (see below)

Given that Tree Sparrows and Corvids are species I'm particularly interested in, mixed feelings today.