rosbifs
PutAin STOP
About time kicked off the new year.
Usual very late update on the recent news and sightings -
Lammergeiers - 3 nests found for 4 couples. Been high and low but can't find the 4th nest... Smacks of last year when the fourth nest was found mid March
Eagle Owl - regular views in 'nest' area. During the day as well.
Scops - two callers noted already although not by me! One in village and one down the mountain.
Tengmalms - one caller reported. We were advised that once a territory is found that frequent calling in the afternoon in or around the nest can be common. Sure enough he started tooting around 12.45 yesterday afternoon, maybe 6 bursts. Every 45 minutes thereafter. The terrain was steep, rocky, mossy, some snow, lots of dead trees but not deterred the search in earnest started. The third time he called I was close - within 50 metres having covered 250m since the initial call - at the second burst I came out into a clearing and he stopped. Waited, waited, waited. Ok 45 minutes nothing. There were no obvious cavities. I turned to leave and almost immediately back in the woods he called again - I guess he could see me! I decided that I needed to head back and not wait another 45 minutes but the search has narrowed - the end result is fairly near an accessible path 20 minutes by foot. Albeit in a normal snow year this would have been a good 2.5 hours walk in snow shoes... Great.
Had 8 Great White Egrets at the airport the other day which is a site record for me.
Usual suspects seen daily at the site including Hen Harrier and Black Shouldered Kites, occasional Dartford Warblers - I guess if I looked harder they would be more than occasional. Speaking of which rumours of a breeder last year! Could be of interest to Dragnil....
Slightly worrying is the lack of Crested Larks on previous visits or any visit this winter. Have had a couple of sightings of Woodlark though...
No Wallcreepers again this winter. This again is probably down to lack of effort. Another month or so before the annual territory search kicks off. Hope the knee is ready for a mountain bashing.
The annual prospecting for the White Backed Woody is about to kick off as well. The search at the end of the valley is changing slightly. The sites there were fairly inaccessible anyway but I can't work out if the shift helps, assuming successful that is. It will help from a parking point of view having been biffed off by the local farmer a couple of weeks ago - 'U carrrn't parrrrk therrrr' - I really can't be bothered to walk an extra 30 minutes and park where you want me to....
I have been told of a spot where Hobbys congregate in spring so looking forward to that. The high count at the end of April is 80! The other bird n’est site I want to nail this year is the Bee-eater, I tried unsuccessfully last year but 2020 is a new year. Unsuccessful did produce one Roller though!!!
Had a very early Black Stork three weeks ago. And the first few Black Kites are already back...
Usual very late update on the recent news and sightings -
Lammergeiers - 3 nests found for 4 couples. Been high and low but can't find the 4th nest... Smacks of last year when the fourth nest was found mid March
Eagle Owl - regular views in 'nest' area. During the day as well.
Scops - two callers noted already although not by me! One in village and one down the mountain.
Tengmalms - one caller reported. We were advised that once a territory is found that frequent calling in the afternoon in or around the nest can be common. Sure enough he started tooting around 12.45 yesterday afternoon, maybe 6 bursts. Every 45 minutes thereafter. The terrain was steep, rocky, mossy, some snow, lots of dead trees but not deterred the search in earnest started. The third time he called I was close - within 50 metres having covered 250m since the initial call - at the second burst I came out into a clearing and he stopped. Waited, waited, waited. Ok 45 minutes nothing. There were no obvious cavities. I turned to leave and almost immediately back in the woods he called again - I guess he could see me! I decided that I needed to head back and not wait another 45 minutes but the search has narrowed - the end result is fairly near an accessible path 20 minutes by foot. Albeit in a normal snow year this would have been a good 2.5 hours walk in snow shoes... Great.
Had 8 Great White Egrets at the airport the other day which is a site record for me.
Usual suspects seen daily at the site including Hen Harrier and Black Shouldered Kites, occasional Dartford Warblers - I guess if I looked harder they would be more than occasional. Speaking of which rumours of a breeder last year! Could be of interest to Dragnil....
Slightly worrying is the lack of Crested Larks on previous visits or any visit this winter. Have had a couple of sightings of Woodlark though...
No Wallcreepers again this winter. This again is probably down to lack of effort. Another month or so before the annual territory search kicks off. Hope the knee is ready for a mountain bashing.
The annual prospecting for the White Backed Woody is about to kick off as well. The search at the end of the valley is changing slightly. The sites there were fairly inaccessible anyway but I can't work out if the shift helps, assuming successful that is. It will help from a parking point of view having been biffed off by the local farmer a couple of weeks ago - 'U carrrn't parrrrk therrrr' - I really can't be bothered to walk an extra 30 minutes and park where you want me to....
I have been told of a spot where Hobbys congregate in spring so looking forward to that. The high count at the end of April is 80! The other bird n’est site I want to nail this year is the Bee-eater, I tried unsuccessfully last year but 2020 is a new year. Unsuccessful did produce one Roller though!!!
Had a very early Black Stork three weeks ago. And the first few Black Kites are already back...
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