My Outback 2004 / 12

[birdman]

Another Saturday, another outback trip.

As my daughter’s sleepover friend also visited, today’s walk took a slight change from the recent norm, happening in mid afternoon rather than the morning. Also, partnyorsha wasn’t feeling to great, so we missed out on the usual route through the southern wood.

I’ve had some very kind comments about these reports (thanks all) particularly with regard to woodpeckers. I’m pleased to report today was another good woodpecker day.

As (almost) always the first bird on the list was one of the local Starlings, not so abundant as they are earlier in the day (I noticed a flock of at least 50 from this room this morning) but they’re generally not far away.

Black-headed Gull numbers seem to be rising again, and although a bit tricky to count, me and my daughter eventually agreed on a reasonable estimate of 30. Actually, I was quite pleased with myself today, as I tried to confirm as many as possible as BHGs… as I noticed one seeming interloper. He made it easy for me, perched atop a roof separate from the flock. I noticed a very un-BHG like bill (=not red), and so I thought maybe I would be adding an extra line… but no… a quick look in Collins showed him to be a 1st Winter bird, but nonetheless a mini-id-breakthrough for me!

Also soon to be added were 2 (later 3) Meadow Pipits. Anyone who has found out a bit about my id skills will no how much trouble I have with Pipits, but at least in the middle of winter, I should be pretty safe with this. They do slightly put into doubt any of my non-singing Skylarks (no Skylarks at all today, BTW!), and throw a serious shadow over last year’s Tree Pipit… but I think he was dodgy from day one!

The pond refused to yield any Tufties this time, and nothing of major note was added until an earlier than usual Greater Spotted Woodpecker, making its way across the field to a line of trees. We caught up with him again later as we passed closer by the trees on the way back. Then, after hearing a couple of yaffling noises, we got superb views of a Green Woodpecker landing in another adjacent field, before tearing into a different clump of trees, shortly followed by a second. The views weren’t good enough to tell if they were a pair, but I reckon so, don’t you?

Then the wood close to the hotel gave us our second GSW, and at the same time Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Redwing and Goldcrest. My daughter’s favourite part of the walk, I think – and she refered to the GSW as “her” woodpecker!

A couple of unexpected Bullfinch were another highlight, and also went down well with my daughter, while the shortened journey home added a flock of at least 50 Chaffinches, and another elusive-to-id wader flock.

These guys (of which there were about 10 or so) were smaller, I reckon, than Lapwing, and were noticeably pale to with on the underside of the body and wings. They had short “arms” and long pointed “hands”, and did seem rather long-winged over all. Although I don’t recall anything about the tail, they were definitely short-billed. Nothing like certain enough to include in my list, but my best guess would be some sort of plover – maybe Grey?

Anyhew…

As usual, birdlist follows.

Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick

(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)

Starling : 14 (14)
Black-headed Gull : 30 (30)
Meadow Pipit : 3 (3)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Mallard : 12 (9)
Coot : 5 (2)
Moorhen : 5 (3)
Blackbird : 5 (4)
Green Woodpecker : 4 (2)
Woodpigeon : 64 (45)
Wren : 1 (1)
Pheasant : 1 (1)
Greater Spotted Woodpecker : 2 (1)
Carrion Crow : 7 (3)
Blue Tit : 6 (2)
Goldcrest : 2 (2)
Treecreeper : 2 (2)
Redwing : 2 (2)
Nuthatch : 1 (1)
Robin : 3 (2)
Bullfinch : 2 (2)
Great Tit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 50 (50)
Long-tailed Tit : 3 (2)
Collared Dove : 6 (3)

[Rob Smallwood]

Could your mystery waders have been Golden Plover? Assuming that you were close to home (Doncaster?) then an inland flock of that size would be more likely to be Golden than Grey.I am assuming from your description, that they were flying - if so Grey Plover would have shown very distinctive black markings under the "armpit".

Sound like an excellent days work!

[birdman]

Thanks Rob...

Really enjoyed it.

It occured to me overnight, that I'd forgotten to give this crucial piece of information.

They WERE flying, with very fast, jerky wingbeats - and for anyone who doesn't know, yes you are right about the inland location also Rob.

Definitely no black armpit - so Grey Plover is out.

(Should've seen that from my book!)

[Tero]

Pheasant? Are those common?

I walk in our woods quite a bit thru the summer. I almost never see gamebirds. Not so much as a hint of one. Any ground activity usually turns out to be a squirrel.

[birdman]

Oh, Pheasant (Common or Ring-necked or whatever they're called these days) are as "common as muck", Tero.

Someone else will have better facts than me, but I believe they were introduced to Britain by the Romans, as a food supply, and that is pretty much the "function" they serve to this day.

I don't know when the season is, but I understand the population is still boosted by released birds for the purpose of hunting on a regular basis (countrywide, I imagine), so much so that there is some debate as to their status as a British bird, as there may be doubts over their ability to maintain a self-sustaining population.

[pauco]

Once again birdman a good read. woodpeckers again eh! you lucky person.
bert.