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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Withymoor - Amblecote, Stourbridge..... (1 Viewer)

3 pics of a solitary Black-tailed Godwit (with juv BHG's) that i picked up down at Upton Warren on a Sunday in mid-June - a species that i didn't click with in Poland.....

Laurie -
 

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A few more.....

Photographically the trip was disappointing.

Apart from the larger raptors and the more common passerines i didn't get a single acceptable picture of any of the specialists and skulkers! I tried believe me but stuff was so elusive. Plenty of songs and calls but just fleeting glimpses that were just about acceptable with binoculars. I always try for good views first before photographing species. I also had a higher than normal % of species only recorded once - about 25% when 10-15% is my norm:C

I took my two Bridge cameras on this trip because i find them very handy for snapping when mooching particularly when set on 'burst'. I have 2x Panasonic Lumix an older FZ72 and an upgraded FZ330 the latter is a terrific improvement and sports 4k burst I decided on lightness and portability but now because a lot of the time was early morning and off the seating and boardwalk at Biebrza wish i had taken one of my 2 Canon 7D bodies and at least my 150-600mm Tamron zoom as the weight and slog of lugging it around would not have been an issue and the optical superiority and higher CMOS would have yielded good results:C

I will not be making that mistake in September when we return to Georgia and the spectacle that is the Batumi bottleneck for migrating raptors:eek!::t:

Attached: White Stork, Black Tern, Marsh Harrier and Lesser Spotted Eagle.
 

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Now i have snapped out of the two week post trip depression that usually follows when returning from abroad to the Bird Denuded Triangle that is the West Midlands it's time to crack on with the area that you actually live in..........i have to continually tell myself:C

Black-headed Gulls have returned post breeding with upto 15 inc a smart Gingery juv down at Withymoor. The first juv Chiffchaffs c/w their distinct call are present along with singing Blackcaps. The water level is good for passage waders - it would be nice as their wasn't one recorded this Spring! Contractors have been persuaded to not mow a couple of the better areas with instant results for butterflies, bees etc.

A couple of trips to the West Hagley Fields for possible Quail has yielded only a solitary singing Corn Bunting in the usual location although a mate had 3 singing birds a couple of weeks ago which is the most i have heard of.

The same friend has been heavily involved in surveying work over the last few years, something which i have helped out with time to time, but has decided to give it a break and do general birding this season and possibly a bit of twitching:eek!:

He has targeted species within 15 miles of Stourbridge including Dippers for which he has put up dozens of nest-boxes with a large % being occupied - these are mainly from Bewdley to Neen Sollars but also some more local.

Goshawk has been a perennial undertaking and in his opinion they are more than holding their own with traditional sites being used regularly. The core breeding area of contiguous mixed woodland of Wrye Forest is the obvious site and although he has had potential breeders away from there from Bewdley back towards the Black Country he has yet to prove breeding as they are susceptible to casual continuous disturbance and desert early. An example would be Bunkers Wood locally - we have had displaying birds in February but the continued presence by dog-walkers results in a no-show and he is not convinced that they will take up breeding status anywhere around here unless they become more tolerant. Contrast that with the Park in Central Berlin where ca6 pairs breed and they hunt in close association with human presence.

Red Kites get ever closer but he hasn't found any locally in the adjacent Worcs/Staffs border areas although quite a few in Shropshire.

The jewel is the Raven which has bred a mile and a quarter from Stourbridge Town Centre and we have found 20 breeding pairs within 10 miles. It is nice to know that some species are making gains when a large % are not - where are all the Hirundines and Swifts???

Attached - local stuff and the Dog Hettie.

Good Birding:t:

Laurie -
 

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Anybody else pissed off about this sort of thing?:C

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/...rouse_moor.aspx?s_id=1068442639&applefix=true

The time is rapidly approaching where people, like the moronic perpetrators of the above, will take direct action against these people - Why? Because the Law doesn’t take wildlife crime seriously that’s why.....

You can ring as many RSPB/Wildlife hotlines as you like but until people are jailed, Estates named, shamed, fines and owners jailed for vicarious liablity sweet FA is going to happen:C

Every week, in the usual locations, Golden Eagles go missing, Hen Harriers disappear or die in agony and God knows how many Peregrines are disturbed, Goshawk nest blown out with shotguns and pot-shots taken at anything with a hooked beak and talons. What happens from time to time is a patsy gamekeeper gets fined, wrists slapped (instead of being broken) sacked and then re-employed when the dust settles:C

Elements of the Judiciary, Police and participating landowners are all part of a cosy cartel all quite happy with their equilibrium which is being rippled by ‘Townies’ and the odd birding celebrity. They even have those Paper Tigers from English Nature offering to give licenses to cull Ravens and relocate Raptors:-O

You couldn’t make this SH1T up i kid you not.

They laugh at this sort of thng when they are down the pub with their thick-as-thieves, or is it pigsh1t, mates. Wildlife and particularly birds are under serious threat in this country mainly due to farming and habitat degradation. That’s fine if you live on or by undeveloped coast or Cley is your local patch but that is not the real World - try birding around here on foot or by bike.

If you, like me, do not wish to have to visit a managed nature reserve to see a few different bird species then things have to change at a more basic local level.
Yesterday i liaised with local contractors where we live (sink-estate Stourbridge) to not mow several meadow patches until September. They were inclined banks so they agreed - a few more weeks of nectar production and a useful addition to the seed bank.

Whilst this is not in the headline-grabbing league of the horrific death of the Hen Harrier it is subtly symptomatic of the treatment of wildlife and habitats. If proof is needed just go to scruffier countries like Spain, Portugal or Morocco where it is a joy to see and find your own stuff:t:

In fact anywhere but most of inland UK!

Rant over, good birding -

Laurie -
 
Withymoor continues its uninterrupted run of quietness altho the wildflower areas are a veritable riot of colour. It is nice to see so many Buddlejia bushes out in full flower - people were encouraged to plant the so-called 'Butterfly bush' a few years ago, particularly the Purple variety 'davijdii' it's just a pity that there are no Butterflies locally...

Sitings of local Foxes continue to increase which is no surprise following the breeding season and i snapped what looked like a young one on the railway line yesterday.

The shrubby area adjacent to the Sainsburys inflow has finally come to life with at least half a dozen Chiffchaffs in amongst the Tits yesterday afternoon. a couple of worn adults were present in with several presumed juvenile birds showing Green in the wings and generally smart plumage. I was present down at the pool on Saturday afternoon between 1:30 and 2:30 and would have certainly clocked the 2 Great White Egrets if they had moved from Fens Pool over Withymoor.....but i didn't.

Good Birding -

Laurie:t:
 

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Almost daily visits to the Golden Puddle continue to yield little in the way of species or numbers although Black-headed Gulls are now about 30 most days but only include a couple of juveniles if that is any reflection on the fortunes of what must be a mixed breeding season for a lot of species particularly migrants - the 2 juveniles could be the only ones left over by this years predictable situation up at Muddleton...

There was one addition to the site list in July in the form of an adult Great Crested Grebe which took the year list to 44. The gravity of the situation with regard to Hirundines is reflected that i only picked up my first House Martin of the year, a juvenile, on Friday the 1st of Aug and over the weekend clocked a party of 4 Swallows high up heading South again the first record of this species down there all year - the year list now stands at a poor 46:C

An area of severe low depression is due to hit the South West on Friday and Saturday with strong winds so there could be a goodie at one of the local waters over the weekend.

Good Birding -

Laurie:t:

Attached: local Buzzards over the house and my first Ravens, again over the house, post breeding season.
 

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I am not posting anything daily unless there is something worth posting...

5 visits this week has seen little change except for light movement of calling Chiffchaffs and a singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff on Friday. After a couple of weeks with no Swifts and only ever 2 at any one time this year a record 4 were feeding over the Pool at 7am on Saturday en-route to Fens Pools and were still there upon my return at 1030.

With no Spring wader recorded this year Grey Phalarope remains the last species seen:eek!:

Good Birding:t:

Laurie -
 
I will be vizmigging at various locations from ca630>9 over the next coupla weeks until i go away. This is weather dependent and start time depends on distance via the pushbike...

Yesterday i spent from 0645-0830 locally and only really noted Swallows everything else i deemed local movement. I initially went to the Trig point at Iverley just above the old Tip. This proved to be unproductive as it currently sits in a field of 6’ high Maize - i will however know where to go for a basket of Sweetcorn to pick and ripen whilst i am abroad;) The Trig point is 146m and on the high point of the field you have a 360 degree view of the surrounding shire countryside but i only had a 25 degree vignette sandwiched between the Maize and a tall hedge so i cut my losses...

I relocated to the Pumping Station at the West Hagley Fields at 132m and is surrounded by.....Potatoes! From there i could see Ridge Hill, Wordsley 111m and surrounded by houses etc and Kinver Edge 154m. Adjacent ca5 miles to the West is Wassell Grove Pools tucked in a dip at 143m. Next to those are the big guns of Clent 4 Stones and Trig Point at about 310m and its neighbour Walton Hill 319m. The latter 2 although 30 mins cycle will be the sites of choice. The not substantial climb is not a problem as both Bromptons are fitted with a 1kw Bafang motor which takes the grind out of hill climbs.

We are not forecast heavy rain around here until late afternoon thru until 7pm so i will put in some time shortly at Clent. There are scrub areas to check for passerine migrants and i shall take a scope and bridge camera.

Good Birding -

Laurie:t:
 
The view from the top of Clent 0830-1000 yesterday.

I fled before the impending rain which lasted around Stoubridge for most of the daylight hours:C A handful of Swallows and calling Chiffchaffs were all i had to show for a 16 mile round trip and an hour of ‘assisted’ cycling. The panorama is about 180 degrees but could easily be increased to 250 by the prudent trimming and coppicing of a handful of stunted Oaks. I will try the paddocks at Iverley the next few days as although it is half the height there is about 300 degrees of the surrounding landscape on view from Bredon > Malvern > Clee > Black Mountains > Black Country > Clent:eek!: There is also much more habitat available for passerines and it is only 10 minutes on quiet roads as opposed to the busy commuter roads over to Clent.

Good birding -

Laurie:t:
 

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Some recent pics...

Waders at Upton Warren a month ago...
 

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Sharpness...

Veiws and an adult Peregrine with a full crop.
 

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Blood in the sand...

One of 2 juvenile Peregrines had caught an overflying Pigeon whilst we were there.
 

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Distant shots of 1 of 2 Great White Egrets at Muddleton the day before the Wryneck was found:C + this Purple variant of Common Yarrow.

Laurie:t:
 

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One of several pre-breakfast vizmigging at Sugarloaf Farm Iverley.

Panorama with 180 degree views to Clee with a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk sparring for territory...

Laurie -
 

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The vizmigging at all sites has been very unproductive to say the least but a female Wheatear and 5 of 6 Ravens at Iverley made a change...

Laurie -
 

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Withymoor continues its unproductive run altho 4 Sand Martins were reported to me by another birder which takes the year total to 47...

Attached are Tufties from Fens Pools, Grey Heron working on its tan at the Deplh, Sprawk and the last of 4 Swifts down at the Golden Puddle about 10 days ago.

Laurie:t:
 

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As already stated migration for me around here has been almost non-existant but on Thursday i shall be departing for former SSR Georgia for our second consecutive visit to this wonderful and friendly country and to look at general bird migration around Tblisi and with our second week at the spectacle that is Batumi:eek!:

We spend 3 days around the capital Tblisi which will be our first visit and 3 days at Signagi which is the main Wine-growing area of Georgia. Georgia has the oldest known history of Viniculture dating back to 6000BC. We intend visiting a number of friendly vineyards, sampling excellent local cuisine, a few museums and all the time there will be bird movement. Tblisi has parks and a large river running through it and the Signagi area has mountains etc so it will be interesting to bird away from the hotspot.

Our second week will be based at Batumi right on the Black Sea - we have a superb hostel with s/c if required plus en-suite all for £130 for 7 nights for the both of us:eek!: There are excellent bars and eateries and we are situated in the old quarter which is ideal for getting out and about with the parks just around the corner.

I have a week planned with every other day (so at least 3 possibly 4 visits) up at the Batumi Raptor Count Watchpoint 1 at Sakhalvasho. I will alternate this with the excellent 20 minute cable-car ride to the Argo Cafe situated high above the city and in direct line about 10 kilometres downwind of Sakhalvasho where most of the raptors they get also pass over the cafe. At the cafe you can get a beer and there are toilets and shelter from any rain.

The counters and other birders up at Sakhalvasho are great, friendly and in the case of some of the former very very knowledgable. It is good to meet other like-minded folk at such a spectacular location. Contrast that with the Argo cafe and what i like about birding from there is that i have to ID stuff for myself - 3 days up there last year and we were the only birders. I set up a scope for the manager, his staff, and whoever else was interested and did a bit of commentary. We were rewarded with some free beer and food but it really was a pleasure to show people particularly Georgians what the have:t:

Batumi also has the Chorokoi Delta which is a wetland about 4 kilometres away the other side of the Airport. It is now protected and no shooting is allowed. Shooting wild stuff in Georgia is illegal but like all these things it is down to enforcement and more importantly education. The Georgians and particularly semi-autonomous Adjara province is moving fast on the value of their culture and migratory birds:t:

The rainy cool weather from the beginning of this month has dented numbers as stuff is just not moving with large raptors thin (relatively speaking) but smaller Hawks, Falcons and particularly Harriers like Pallid/Monty still moving. Day counts of 6-700 Rollers and 600 Ortolans is most impressive. Even the resident Cat consumed a Short-toed Lark - in this case a Short-lived one as well;);)

Whilst about 1.5 million raptors should eventually pass thru the 'Batumi bottleneck' over 1m will be made up of just 3 species. Honey Buzzards of which the peak appears to have passed. Black Kites which are going to move thru in number as we speak and Booted Eagles which move about mid-Sept. The counters are 'worried' as they haven't hit 500k Honeys yet:C

Here are the Honey Buzzard numbers at Sakhalvasho for the last 10 days of August to give you some idea why Batumi is ranked 3 in the Western Palearctic after only being 'discovered' about 15 years ago.

11,418
7,208
38,786
66,194
74,004
23,348
60,849
28,996
12,587
44,928

And a link to HB migration 5 years ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwKkP73lQTo

I will post daily updates on what i see (and identify) from Georgia.

Good Birding -

Laurie:t:
 
Screenshot of yesterday - hardly anything in the hillside bushes i’m guessing peak movement was probably mid-August in this region.

Good birding:t:

Laurie -
 

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