https://stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2025/04/1371-jack-and-martin-23325.html
In search of Jack Snipe and Sand Martin.....
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Blogs (15 Viewers)
Filters
Show only:
Loading...
Its that Birdtrack thing again…..
It will surprise very few people to learn that during the week, when I’m ‘working’ I somehow spend a lot of time daydreaming about birds and birding. Having discovered the ‘explore data’ function on Birdtrack most of these daydreams have at least one foot in reality- plans rather than fantasy. During these musings I discovered that not all the birding in Uddingston occurs near the River Clyde. 2 spots in the North Lanarkshire part of the village, near the Glasgow border, were showing as being reasonably regularly visited- and successfully at that. My good friend Google Maps helped me work out the walking distance, BBC Weather told me that the forecast for the following Saturday was good (albeit avid...
Dunbar, East Lothian. Tuesday 11th March
I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon this year. By my reckoning, I’m getting out more than usual, taking regular days off mid- week specifically to go birding and making a point of making sure I get something at the weekend. But it seems harder work to gather ticks; I haven’t compared this year’s list to previous years for start of March, but the feeling I get is that everything is having to be earned. Even my January big day at Caerlaverock was an uphill battle thanks to being scopeless.
I’ve mentioned a couple of times that my tales of woe can be set firmly on Birdtrack’s doorstep, and that I tend to believe stuff I read on t'internet. Having checked recent sightings in Lothian, I noticed that...
Occasionally- and often when I’m trudging home on tired legs after a day’s birding- my imagination turns to what it would be like to finally go back and complete my PhD. I’m currently on the 29th year of my ‘year out’ so maybe time is running short, but anyway, my chosen subject would be a history of animal rights groups. Such a trudge got me thinking of how some groups and people start off as radicals, and then as time passes on, moderation sets in. The firebrand passion is lost, and the hope has to be that other people will take up the flame.
The week following my Aberlady trip was very much a repeat of previous weeks, with the garden and local area playing host to a decent (if predictable) variety of birds. Still no siskin, sadly...
The weekend after the Musselburgh trip saw family stuff dominate, with the next week spent patiently taking note of my garden birds during my work from home days. Often this involves putting my phone next to the open living room window and recording on Merlin. Normally reliable, although it once identified the chairwoman of the resident association as a ring-necked parakeet, which in retrospect is fairly accurate. I’ve fallen into a comfortable routine of garden watching and planning/ dreaming about birding trips- trips big small, and of indeterminate size. The onset of spring, the dawn chorus, and general increase in bird life makes this far easier than during the darkest days of December
I also manage to squeeze in some work, in case...
A slight detour on the way home, I checked the field at Kingston, Doddington where I saw the Grey Partridge last autumn. Only 19 Rook and a Woodpigeon today.
Edit EntryDelete Entry
An afternoon walk at Trosley CP, Vigo in cold weather & light rain. The majority of the CP was quiet with just Great Tit's heard. As we turned on the Woodland Trial, the Merlin app picked up Redwing, which I'll check. A probable Coal Tit, also needs checking. Hopefully found some Scarlet Elfcup's.
I’ve found out from them Kent Fungus Group on Facebook that Scarlet Elfcups & Ruby Elfcups are very difficult to separate from photo’s. You need a microscope to spot the differences. So, a new genus of fungi for me.
I’m not brilliant at New Year’s resolutions. I was never even any good at giving stuff up for Lent. But this year, I’ve found myself sticking to my plan to make weekly records of garden and local birds. Sure, they’re mostly the usual suspects, but just occasionally, there’s a bit of birding brilliance. The week after my Rolling Stones trip to Aberlady was no different. Good numbers of Long- tailed tis, the usual house sparrows, blue and great tits, and- FINALLY- a coal tit. I knew it was a matter of time, but I was still awfully impatient to tick it. A greenfinch wheezed distantly, a song thrush sang , but still no siskin. Sometimes I think about sneaking down to My Mate Bill’s house, where birds count him in their own Garden Bill...
s I arrived before the gates had opened at Elmley NNR, I drove down Kingsferry Road. The overnight frost hadn't melted in the winters sun. Mainly male Mallard on the pools along with Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron took off from the edge of the reeds. The highlight was a Stoat that hunted along the roadside.
Users who are viewing this forum
Total: 16 (members: 0, guests: 16)