birdman
Sunday 16th November 2003, 17:44
Another trip outback, once again accompanied by partnyorsha and dog…
This morning was sunny and bright… if anything, too bright!
Leaving home at about 10am, we took an anticlockwise route, including some if the wood close to the railway line.
First tick of the day was a Pied Wagtail, before being tantalised by some LBJs flitting around over the rough ground.
A quick look over the pond brought only a Moorhen, although the first Magpie of the day flew by.
There were a few crows and pigeon foraging in the fields – we would later notice Jackdaws amongst the Carrion Crows, and also a flock of small birds. Unfortunately, the low sun and strong light made it difficult to make out anything other than silhouettes in the trees, and they were hidden from view on the ground.
However, fortunately, they were not too shy, or perhaps picking were so good, so they did not fly away as we passed them, and we were able to identify at least one as a male Reed Bunting.
Shortly after, a small flock of Long-tailed Tits flew in, making their usual song and dance!
High in the trees it was evident there were thrushes. We were no able to positively id any Redwing, but we could pick out Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare, and whilst on with this task we managed to pick up Great Tit and Blue Tit.
Entering the wood, it was clear there were birds all around, many of which were thrushes, including Blackbirds. However I was able to get good views of about 6 Nuthatch and a Greenfinch, whilst listening to a Robin singing somewhere in the treetops.
A great many leaves have fallen recently, which is perhaps why we were able to track down more birds than usual… although the Robin remained elusive!
As we emerged from the wood and tracked back along the perimeter, we saw a Kestrel circling. It passed a small part of its time worrying a Buzzard, before flying across the fields closer towards us. It disappeared into the wood, reappearing shortly afterwards, and settling in a small tree to keep its eyes on us. The Buzzard is a long-awaited “first” for my outback. Although we knew they were around the area, and have seen them on numerous occasions within a couple of miles, this is the first positive sighting since I started to work my patch.
Turning east along the southern path, and iding the Jackdaws, we then got good views of some more LBJs in the shrubs to our left. With the sun behind our view, they was no problem with dazzle, but the light, as I said before was perhaps just too bright. In spite of the good views we got of the birds we could only attempt a guess at female Reed Bunting. The general markings were ok, but the facial markings were yellower, and the back was browner that the pictures in my guide. I’m not talking yellowhammer-yellow on the face, just a more vivid colour than creamy-brown.
A gull flew over, and as usual I had no real chance iding it. It looked brilliant white from underneath, with black wing tips, so I guess Herring or just maybe Common… but I’m gonna have to get me a book for iding gulls from beneath at 50 – 100 feet!!!
We then moved north along the eastern path, suffering a short burst of Pheasant-induced palpitations, and made our way to the “Goldcrest” tree. During the summer it seems a favourite with these little fellas, although it is also good for Coal Tits, and today did not disappoint. We also heard a Jay and a Green Woodpecker in the Hotel Grounds.
Making our way back home we came across another small flock of birds in the shrubs by the rootcrops… this time Goldfinches.
And then the highlight of the morning, as the bright light, that had been such a problem, now enabled us to get breathtakingly spectacular view of a Green Woodpecker in flight. Stunning!
The second sweep past the pond treated us to what seems to be our resident Grey Heron coming in, and one or two of the local Mallards – with last bird of the day, a solitary Starling.
So, 28 species, not including the gull, in just over 2 hours, and a very pleasant Sunday morning.
List as follows (* = heard only)
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Feral Pigeon
Fieldfare
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Green Woodpecker
Grey Heron
Jackdaw
Jay *
Kestrel
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Nuthatch
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Reed Bunting
Robin *
Starling
Woodpigeon
Unided Gull
This morning was sunny and bright… if anything, too bright!
Leaving home at about 10am, we took an anticlockwise route, including some if the wood close to the railway line.
First tick of the day was a Pied Wagtail, before being tantalised by some LBJs flitting around over the rough ground.
A quick look over the pond brought only a Moorhen, although the first Magpie of the day flew by.
There were a few crows and pigeon foraging in the fields – we would later notice Jackdaws amongst the Carrion Crows, and also a flock of small birds. Unfortunately, the low sun and strong light made it difficult to make out anything other than silhouettes in the trees, and they were hidden from view on the ground.
However, fortunately, they were not too shy, or perhaps picking were so good, so they did not fly away as we passed them, and we were able to identify at least one as a male Reed Bunting.
Shortly after, a small flock of Long-tailed Tits flew in, making their usual song and dance!
High in the trees it was evident there were thrushes. We were no able to positively id any Redwing, but we could pick out Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare, and whilst on with this task we managed to pick up Great Tit and Blue Tit.
Entering the wood, it was clear there were birds all around, many of which were thrushes, including Blackbirds. However I was able to get good views of about 6 Nuthatch and a Greenfinch, whilst listening to a Robin singing somewhere in the treetops.
A great many leaves have fallen recently, which is perhaps why we were able to track down more birds than usual… although the Robin remained elusive!
As we emerged from the wood and tracked back along the perimeter, we saw a Kestrel circling. It passed a small part of its time worrying a Buzzard, before flying across the fields closer towards us. It disappeared into the wood, reappearing shortly afterwards, and settling in a small tree to keep its eyes on us. The Buzzard is a long-awaited “first” for my outback. Although we knew they were around the area, and have seen them on numerous occasions within a couple of miles, this is the first positive sighting since I started to work my patch.
Turning east along the southern path, and iding the Jackdaws, we then got good views of some more LBJs in the shrubs to our left. With the sun behind our view, they was no problem with dazzle, but the light, as I said before was perhaps just too bright. In spite of the good views we got of the birds we could only attempt a guess at female Reed Bunting. The general markings were ok, but the facial markings were yellower, and the back was browner that the pictures in my guide. I’m not talking yellowhammer-yellow on the face, just a more vivid colour than creamy-brown.
A gull flew over, and as usual I had no real chance iding it. It looked brilliant white from underneath, with black wing tips, so I guess Herring or just maybe Common… but I’m gonna have to get me a book for iding gulls from beneath at 50 – 100 feet!!!
We then moved north along the eastern path, suffering a short burst of Pheasant-induced palpitations, and made our way to the “Goldcrest” tree. During the summer it seems a favourite with these little fellas, although it is also good for Coal Tits, and today did not disappoint. We also heard a Jay and a Green Woodpecker in the Hotel Grounds.
Making our way back home we came across another small flock of birds in the shrubs by the rootcrops… this time Goldfinches.
And then the highlight of the morning, as the bright light, that had been such a problem, now enabled us to get breathtakingly spectacular view of a Green Woodpecker in flight. Stunning!
The second sweep past the pond treated us to what seems to be our resident Grey Heron coming in, and one or two of the local Mallards – with last bird of the day, a solitary Starling.
So, 28 species, not including the gull, in just over 2 hours, and a very pleasant Sunday morning.
List as follows (* = heard only)
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Feral Pigeon
Fieldfare
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Green Woodpecker
Grey Heron
Jackdaw
Jay *
Kestrel
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Nuthatch
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Reed Bunting
Robin *
Starling
Woodpigeon
Unided Gull