birdman
Saturday 18th October 2003, 21:38
Took a day off work yesterday (17/10) to catch up with some college homework, but couldn't not take the chance to go outback.
I took a generally anticlockwise route, as is usually the case, but as there was no time pressure I wandered away from the normal route, investigating some of the woods a little more, and even found a path I was not previously aware of.
(For anyone new to My Ouback, you can find a map here. (http://www.birdforum.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5760) )
First sighting of the day was a flock of LBJs (perhaps the Linnets from last time?) but as no postitve id was possible, at least by me, Starlings and the first of many Magpies were the first entries on the list, shortly followed by a noisy Grey Heron.
Perhaps the Heron was noisy, due to the presence of a Kestrel. I have seen a Kestrel quite regularly on my patch, but for the first time, yesterday, I saw two together, and possibly a third.
There was quite a lot of activity, but I was unable to pin most of it down - but the Long-tailed Tits were easy to see. To me they always seem positively affronted if you are not looking at them!
In with the Long-tails were some Blue Tits, and a Blackbird was rushing in and about the (still mostly dry) pond.
The usual Moorhens and Mallards were making the best of the remaining water.
In the wood close to the rhododendrons to the North East of the pond, I heard a lot of noise, but although I saw many blurs, I only added two more species - Great Tit and (satisfyingly) Goldcrest.
Above the rough ground a Skylark was singing, and I also saw half a Pheasant, as it skulked into the undergrowth!
A Robin made itself known in the trees, and a few Carrion Crow were patrolling the fields.
In the woods to the east, I was able to id a Coal Tit in another small flock of high-pitched tweeters.
In spite of the extra time I could allow myself, the pickings were not as easy as they might have been. An abortive venture along a woodland path produced no birds, required me to completely retrace my steps, and I emerged with a serious case of Greenfly! Yeuch!
(It must be said, that the lack of birds may have been due to me stumbling around like a male bovine in a fine crockery emporium!)
After debugging myself (!) I continued along the Eastern path, adding Green Woodpecker, but by voice only, and Woodpigeon.
Mistle Thrush was the next addition to the list, followed by Chaffinch, and then as I looked over the fields I was able to see two Jays (definitely one of my favourite birds!).
It was following the Jays that made me aware of the "new" path, which took me further South than usual.
As it turned out, the detour did not avail me of any extra species, but I was fortunate enough to come across a couple of male Pheasants engaging in a fight. Clearly, I am not au fait with the finer points of pheasant-combat, as the guy I fancied would come out on top, was soon scurrying into the trees with his tail (metaphorically, of course) between his legs.
As I finally headed home, I added just a Feral Pigeon, and from a quick check of the pond, the previously missing Coot, to make a total of 23 species for the day.
I was going to say disappointing, but no day birding is disappointing, so... less productive than hoped for.
Also, no additions to the Patch list, which due to a typo, I incorrectly put at 50 last time, but is in fact 58!
Birdlist follows (* heard only)
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Coot
Feral Pigeon
Goldcrest
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker *
Grey Heron
Jay
Kestrel
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Pheasant
Robin
Skylark
Starling
Woodpigeon
I took a generally anticlockwise route, as is usually the case, but as there was no time pressure I wandered away from the normal route, investigating some of the woods a little more, and even found a path I was not previously aware of.
(For anyone new to My Ouback, you can find a map here. (http://www.birdforum.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5760) )
First sighting of the day was a flock of LBJs (perhaps the Linnets from last time?) but as no postitve id was possible, at least by me, Starlings and the first of many Magpies were the first entries on the list, shortly followed by a noisy Grey Heron.
Perhaps the Heron was noisy, due to the presence of a Kestrel. I have seen a Kestrel quite regularly on my patch, but for the first time, yesterday, I saw two together, and possibly a third.
There was quite a lot of activity, but I was unable to pin most of it down - but the Long-tailed Tits were easy to see. To me they always seem positively affronted if you are not looking at them!
In with the Long-tails were some Blue Tits, and a Blackbird was rushing in and about the (still mostly dry) pond.
The usual Moorhens and Mallards were making the best of the remaining water.
In the wood close to the rhododendrons to the North East of the pond, I heard a lot of noise, but although I saw many blurs, I only added two more species - Great Tit and (satisfyingly) Goldcrest.
Above the rough ground a Skylark was singing, and I also saw half a Pheasant, as it skulked into the undergrowth!
A Robin made itself known in the trees, and a few Carrion Crow were patrolling the fields.
In the woods to the east, I was able to id a Coal Tit in another small flock of high-pitched tweeters.
In spite of the extra time I could allow myself, the pickings were not as easy as they might have been. An abortive venture along a woodland path produced no birds, required me to completely retrace my steps, and I emerged with a serious case of Greenfly! Yeuch!
(It must be said, that the lack of birds may have been due to me stumbling around like a male bovine in a fine crockery emporium!)
After debugging myself (!) I continued along the Eastern path, adding Green Woodpecker, but by voice only, and Woodpigeon.
Mistle Thrush was the next addition to the list, followed by Chaffinch, and then as I looked over the fields I was able to see two Jays (definitely one of my favourite birds!).
It was following the Jays that made me aware of the "new" path, which took me further South than usual.
As it turned out, the detour did not avail me of any extra species, but I was fortunate enough to come across a couple of male Pheasants engaging in a fight. Clearly, I am not au fait with the finer points of pheasant-combat, as the guy I fancied would come out on top, was soon scurrying into the trees with his tail (metaphorically, of course) between his legs.
As I finally headed home, I added just a Feral Pigeon, and from a quick check of the pond, the previously missing Coot, to make a total of 23 species for the day.
I was going to say disappointing, but no day birding is disappointing, so... less productive than hoped for.
Also, no additions to the Patch list, which due to a typo, I incorrectly put at 50 last time, but is in fact 58!
Birdlist follows (* heard only)
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Coot
Feral Pigeon
Goldcrest
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker *
Grey Heron
Jay
Kestrel
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Pheasant
Robin
Skylark
Starling
Woodpigeon