Autumn at Halftwo's (1 Viewer)

[John Barber]

So you came across the little guy ! Nice to know he's still around.

Headed out that way myself today; a sudden burst of heavy rain changed my mind yards from the 'car park'. Arrived back home with my car looking as though I'd thrown a bucket of mud over it! When will this incessant rain end ?

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Arrived back home with my car looking as though I'd thrown a bucket of mud over it! When will this incessant rain end ?

Probably in about three months John! :-O

CB

 

[halftwo]

Moore Gull Practise

A day off. A dry day. Down to Moore and the gulls.

This time I was joined by several other birders - most more gull-experienced than I. The tip was busy with gulls but the pool our hide overlooked was relatively quiet - with hundreds rather than thousands of gulls.

Not very much to keep us interested - just the small crowd of the usual five species - Herring predominating. An adult Mediterranean gull was close by - which was nice.
But the infinite variety of plumages of the variously-aged Herring gulls - with a few argentatus, and comings and goings meant a lot of scrutiny.

After that it was through the wood to the feeding station. A Raven, calling, overhead. Tits and Chaffinches a constant. Reed buntings and Nuthatches to-ing and fro-ing. A flock of Siskins - some singing - came to feed in the alders. Two Willow tits came to take a cache of seeds several times - hiding their booty nearby and returning.

The lake held Wigeon and Shoveler, Gadwall and Tufted duck as a flock of Long-tailed tits, with a single Goldcrest and Treecreeper, went through. A Sparrowhawk had just put up the Starlings from the tip.

I was just beginning to thaw as I got home.

 

[halftwo]

Sunrise

08:05 and on...1 degree above freezing.

Salmon-edged clouds slid silently off a silver sky - heading anticyclonically westwards to reveal a sliver of sickle moon, dew-frosted wheat glistening below.

A Moorhen's pippy call spat from the canal as two Mistle thrushes, churring softly, slanted up to the oak. A sinewy runner in white put fifty Wood pigeons to clatter from the wood and the eastward commute of gulls continued.

Now one, then seven more, Tree sparrows rose and sounding "jep jep jep"s went away overhead: more than the season so far had seen. A Stock dove, gliding a display on dihedral wings and slow flaps, like a short-tailed nightjar, sailed down to the trees.

Now the sun, just at the edge of the world, invented tiger-stripes out of the wood strip out east. But nearer, in the silver birches, pale-trunked in pinks and lichen-greens, seven silhouettes (three fat, four sleek) - slowly and deliberately gleaned small seeds. As the brightening light began to show colours the white vent and pink belly of one of the Bullfinches began to glow. Cold minutes slipped by as Coal tit and Nuthatch called and a Cormorant passed. Then the other four finches became Redpolls as detail resolved.

The sun, at first orange, now slid a yellow rim above the trees and the sky caught fire: a magnesium flare, an almost audible glare, crackling and dazzling.

 

[halftwo]

Frozen

Everwhere white this morning and relatively quiet. A flock of Fieldfares with Blackbirds and a few Redwings feeding in frost.

On the Little owl tree - for the first time in donkey's ages - two Little owls. One disappeared into the tree's interior quickly to leave the other staring.


Edit: One Lesser redpoll (feeding with half a dozen Goldfinches) & a Treecreeper added to the usual species at home today.

 

[SueO]

You are truly dedicated H. It sounds so cold. I think I would be birding through the windows while I sat by a fire. The little owls would be a warming sight though.
Sue

 

[halftwo]

Hi Sue,

It's only just below freezing - can't help thinking how cold it must be in Lithuania now - eh, Jos!

Looks like you're soon (after the New Year?) heading for tropical climes, Sue - I'm not envious - honest!
Keep cramming the id.s until you go - then at least you'll have a clue - exciting times ahead! (I saw your post re guidebooks elsewhere.)

Just been putting the Xmas tree up here - things are beginning to look festive. (We are planning for our "open house" next saturday - so much to do.)

Another frosty night ahead - but the birds have been well fed here. (If only that damn' Yankee squirrel would stay off my bl**dy nuts.)

 

[Drumming Sniper]

If only that damn' Yankee squirrel would stay off my bl**dy nuts.

Blimey, H; that sounds painful! :king:

No birding whatsoever for me at the moment: the usual pre-festive work commitments are seeing to that! That said, I see a Peregrine sitting sentinel on the cathedral most mornings and I might be able to get into the FoD for a few hours on Wednesday - so it's not all doom and gloom.

Regards,

DS

 

[halftwo]

Blimey, H; that sounds painful! :king:

No birding whatsoever for me at the moment: the usual pre-festive work commitments are seeing to that! That said, I see a Peregrine sitting sentinel on the cathedral most mornings and I might be able to get into the FoD for a few hours on Wednesday - so it's not all doom and gloom.

Regards,

DS

Hi DS,

Ah, the old Xmas rush work thing: still, at least it doesn't fall in May, eh!

It will be painfull for the squirrel, DS, if ever I get to grips with it!

H

 

[Drumming Sniper]

It will be painfull for the squirrel, DS, if ever I get to grips with it!

H

Ah, now there's a story there.

In May 2003 I took Mrs Sniper to Speyside for the first time. She doesn't quite share my passion for wildlife but has a passing interest and was particularly keen to see her first Red Squirrel. Towards the end of our second full day in the Highlands, as we drove alond a road through the forest with the uxorial one at the wheel (I usually drive but I was knackered), we spotted 'Squirrel Nutkin' at the side of the road. I lack the literary skills to describe adequately what happened next but, basically, the wee beastie saw the car approaching, ran from the road up onto the embankment, sat there for a moment then, with all the suicidal vehemence of an Arctic Lemming, hurled itself under the front wheels.


The remainder of the journey back to our holiday accomodation was completed in stunned silence and, to this very day, whenever the species figures in Autumnwatch, Countryfile or any other programme of that ilk, glances are exchanged and much uncomfortable squirming ensues!

DS

 

[SueO]

Hi Sue,

It's only just below freezing - can't help thinking how cold it must be in Lithuania now - eh, Jos!

Looks like you're soon (after the New Year?) heading for tropical climes, Sue - I'm not envious - honest!
Keep cramming the id.s until you go - then at least you'll have a clue - exciting times ahead! (I saw your post re guidebooks elsewhere.)

Just been putting the Xmas tree up here - things are beginning to look festive. (We are planning for our "open house" next saturday - so much to do.)

Another frosty night ahead - but the birds have been well fed here. (If only that damn' Yankee squirrel would stay off my bl**dy nuts.)

Hi H,
We are already in the tropics. We are back aboard Peregrine in Curacao and will be leaving after we provision and do a few chores. Before we get to the Caribbean side of the canal, we plan to cruise for up to a month through the San Blas Islands. They are part of Panama but ruled autonomously by the Kuna Indians who call the Islands, Kuna Yala. I don’t expect to see much in the way of birds on the islands which seem to be the quintessential tropical islands with white sand beaches and coconut palms swaying in the tradewinds. However, Kuna land is also on the mainland and there are mangrove bays that can be anchored in and some have rivers you can explore a bit by dinghy, or trails into the rain forest. I just have to talk Gene into checking some out. I wasn’t ready to leave home this time, but I have to admit that after reading the cruising guide and browsing the bird book the adventuring bug has bitten and I am ready for the next leg.
Be carefull around the squirrel it sounds dangerous. It could be a little crazy because it is a despised foreigner and can't go home. I would really hate to read that it attacked you and gave you squirrel rabies or virus. The OhNoH2 virus or some such thing.
Have a Merry Open House, Christmas and Happy New Year.
Sue

 

[halftwo]

Oh dear, DS! Oh dear! It's not just the greys that are suicidal then!
Uxorial - loved it btw.!

Sue,

Wow - I'll have to start keeping up with your blogspot again - presumed you'd be in Ca until after Xmas!
The San Blas sound superb.

H

 

[halftwo]

Dec 15th.

Two Barn owl reports have reached me - both from my own road! And one within yards of my house - close enough to get on the garden list if I had witnessed the same.

So this once very unlikely addition appears to be in reach - that would be a nice Xmas pressie!

A Kestrel was displaying - winnowing & calling - this afternoon here, despite the dismal weather.

Now, I thougt my feeders were busy - but my neighbour tells me she is getting through £100 of bird food a month (though this includes her chickens) ! She also has had three Great-spotted woodpeckers at once on her feeders.

 

[halftwo]

Deeply Frozen

09:00-10:30 -7c to -4c.

Out down the white lanes to frozen fields and the first encounter is a flock of two dozen Lapwings with a similar number of Golden plover: but there is no movement. Not a feather shifts, not a head turns.
The Golden plover are hunkered down so low that they are only half-visible in the silver wheat.

The pool is frozen solid. A pair of Mallard stands on the ice. Frost coats everything to monochrome steely standstill.

The Little owls are again together in their little oak, one disappears as I approach; the other stares from its bough. Fieldfares and Starlings move from field to field, Redwings fluffed up to reveal large flank blazes.

The canal's surface is frozen in swirls where the last barge moving left its mark. Amongst corn stubble Pied wagtails and no-longer-camoufaged Meadow pipits pick at something - and a Grey wagtail, pushed from frozen waters, has joined them.

Further on a hundred and fifty more Lapwings are strutting, as the sun, even now only struggling to hurdle the hedge; and one of the sheep lies dead - stiff and on its side, legs frozen sticks sticking out sideways: and, wait as you will, it won't jerk to its feet.

A single extra Golden plover calls a plaintive whistle from a cracking sky, sunlight catching its yellow as it glides down.

Near the river the waterlogged fallow field creaks underfoot, every crumb of earth stoney and ringing, every juncus blade an icicle, each stem sprinkling ice on the boot, each step balanced on peaked iron mud.

But hardly a bird. The stream still flows, but all still water is ice: no chance of Snipe or Woodcock, no sign of Water rail.

Along the river, amongst hogweed and burdock's brittle stems, Teal rise and circle; a Snipe calls and rockets away. Two perched Kestrels stand stock still on trees, watching in vain for movement.
A single Reed bunting calls. And a single Goldfinch. Their sounds needle against numbing ears as the cold makes my teeth squeak.

Long-tailed tits move in the copse. Their tiny calls freeze to grit in the aching air.

Retreat. Back home busy feeders. Two Tree sparrows call but don't come to food: conditions not harsh enough yet.

 

[joannec]

Think it's 'Winter at Halftwo's' now. Nice read as usual.

 

[halftwo]

Think it's 'Winter at Halftwo's' now.

Yes, definitely, Joanne! But I'll leave the title to continue.
Has that snow stuck at yours?

 

[SueO]

Beautifully written H. I love the last line. Can't think of things being much harsher. This is my last look at the internet for awhile. We let go the lines in about 15 minutes. I couldn't find much on the net regarding birds in the San Blas, so I have vowed to take notes and pictures. I am also going to keep a sharp eye at sea.
Hope you and Mrs. H stay warm and safe.
Sue

 

[halftwo]

Thanks, Sue.

Bon voyage and safe sailing to paradise islands.
Happy Xmas to you both if you're not online by then.

H

 

[joannec]

Has that snow stuck at yours?

Yes, it's still here, only a little has melted and the roads are deadly icy so I'm staying put today. So many birds in the garden at my feeders, even a yellowhammer just outside the kitchen window. I can't keep up with filling the feeders up. Good thing I've got a good supply of food for them. Redwings and fieldfares further in the treetops and the merlin continues to amaze me. It's just really lovely.

Bon voyage Sue and take care.

 

[SueO]

Thank-you both. We take all the good wishes we can. It will probably be a month or so before we have internet.
Sue