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BIGBY Birding 2008 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter deborah4
- Start date
GiG
Well-known member
Excellent shot of the snake! The year I lived in Italy I saw a couple of snakes including a black Rat Snake and a Grass Snake. I was hoping to go and look for some Adders next week on the local heaths but the returning cold weather has put paid to that.
Gi
GiG
Well-known member
As Karl has mentioned well worth doing up your bike if possible. I bought a second hand mountain bike three years ago to keep at work and have gradually done it up, replaced tyres etc. and have recently bought a second one - a three bike owner (third at home) - very extravagant
Gi
StrikingSlug
As in "Speed of a Striking Slug"
While this is true, it is also worth noting they provide free cycling related legal advice, which was useful when my wife was knocked off her bike recently by an aggressive driver who then threatened to sue her (and her name's not Sue
). They will also sometimes take on cases of injustice that they consider to be in the general interests of cycling. Full details can be found at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4088Enough on cycling - this is a Bird Forum.:king: No snow down here in Devon; rather it has been sunny enough to attract the first chiffchaffs of the year actually into the garden. I have a couple of weeks leave now so hopefully the local BIGBY list will grow as I manage to get out and about.
StrikingSlug
As in "Speed of a Striking Slug"
The third gloriously sunny morning this week down here in Devon saw me walk the dog early through the frost. Only hunger drove me home after an hour of happy wandering, but I was rewarded for my efforts by the sight of my first Blackcap of the year. There were plenty of other birds around, with the highlights being the pair of grey wagtails and the heron on the river beside the cricket pitch here in Ivybridge. Much to my regret I can't list the 50 or so Golden Plovers I saw on the moor yesterday as a short car journey had preceded the dog walk. Maybe if I plant a tree to offset the carbon emissions...|;|
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GiG
Well-known member
Decided to get of the bus early and walk to work from Martlesham, mainly to get some roving records for the Atlas and to see if any migrants were about. Had a Barn Owl hunting up and down the grazing meadow by the side of the creek which was an absolute treat in the early morning misty conditions with the sun coming up. The owl sat on a fence post further up where I tried to get a few shots with the camera phone through the scope. Too much white out unfortunately - still not got a replacement for the A95 the broke down!
Glad to have a few Reed Buntings dotted along the dykes and while watching a gorgeous male near Woodbridge, a Sedge Warbler started to sing nearby - a first for the year.
Gi
Glad to have a few Reed Buntings dotted along the dykes and while watching a gorgeous male near Woodbridge, a Sedge Warbler started to sing nearby - a first for the year.
Gi
Karl J
Well-known member
actually found something for once ! . went out round my seafront loop in the hope of a few migrants this morning, maybe a tern or 2, perhaps a swallow. But either none have arrived yet or i was looking in the wrong direction who knows. Down the far end of the seafront though, just round the corner from the tea van, on the old rickety bits of wooden wharf, there sat a Glaucous Gull.
I see from Birdguides one has been around that area for a while until early April so maybe its the same one, again who knows. Juvenile at a guess judging by Collins bird guide.
no going out next week though cos of chemo, so maybe (hopefully!) a few more migrants when i get back out the week after
I see from Birdguides one has been around that area for a while until early April so maybe its the same one, again who knows. Juvenile at a guess judging by Collins bird guide.
no going out next week though cos of chemo, so maybe (hopefully!) a few more migrants when i get back out the week after
StrikingSlug
As in "Speed of a Striking Slug"
The weekend weather has been favourable, and I have managed to get out on my local patch for 2 excellent walks with the woofer. Saturday's walk took us up the river Erme. There was a fair amount of feathered interest, with the highlights being a lovely nuthatch showing well only about 20 feet away, and a first mistle thrush for the BIGBY list.
This morning dawned bright and sunny and I decided to make the effort to climb the Western Beacon above Ivybridge from the house rather than do the boring bit through the housing estates by car. The round trip took 3 hours, and the dog is now fast asleep at my feet having walked at least twice as far as I did. The hedges were alive with birdsong, with plenty of tits, finches and other more common birds to keep me interested as I went along. The first BIGBY tick of the day was a yellowhammer, whose striking yellow head I spotted bobbing about in the bracken straw above Moorhedge Farm. This was quickly followed by numerous skylarks singing their hearts out over the Beacon, and a solitary swallow swooping over the fields at the moor's edge.
What I had been hoping for though, there was no sign. I walked up the eastern side of the Beacon towards Butterdon Hill, and still no luck. Then, faintly, I heard their call, and turned to see a small flock of golden plovers land amongst a flock of sheep about 400m away. As I was contemplating trying to get a bit closer, overhead came the first of several flocks of plovers, wheeling and turning above me. Over a period of about 10 minutes 3 or 4 flocks joined together until there were about 130 of the birds (see thumb below). A number of times they almost landed, but baulked at the last moment, and in the end they disappeared towards Ugborough. Luckily for me my first group had not joined them and I was able to get closer enough to get a just about reasonable record shot. Views through the binoculars were much better though, showing these spectacular birds in their best light.
Total species for the day was 29, with 4 new BIGBY ones. And it was only unfortunate that, thanks to the single swallow the golden plovers were number 51 rather than the more appropriate 50 on the home list.:t:
This morning dawned bright and sunny and I decided to make the effort to climb the Western Beacon above Ivybridge from the house rather than do the boring bit through the housing estates by car. The round trip took 3 hours, and the dog is now fast asleep at my feet having walked at least twice as far as I did. The hedges were alive with birdsong, with plenty of tits, finches and other more common birds to keep me interested as I went along. The first BIGBY tick of the day was a yellowhammer, whose striking yellow head I spotted bobbing about in the bracken straw above Moorhedge Farm. This was quickly followed by numerous skylarks singing their hearts out over the Beacon, and a solitary swallow swooping over the fields at the moor's edge.
What I had been hoping for though, there was no sign. I walked up the eastern side of the Beacon towards Butterdon Hill, and still no luck. Then, faintly, I heard their call, and turned to see a small flock of golden plovers land amongst a flock of sheep about 400m away. As I was contemplating trying to get a bit closer, overhead came the first of several flocks of plovers, wheeling and turning above me. Over a period of about 10 minutes 3 or 4 flocks joined together until there were about 130 of the birds (see thumb below). A number of times they almost landed, but baulked at the last moment, and in the end they disappeared towards Ugborough. Luckily for me my first group had not joined them and I was able to get closer enough to get a just about reasonable record shot. Views through the binoculars were much better though, showing these spectacular birds in their best light.
Total species for the day was 29, with 4 new BIGBY ones. And it was only unfortunate that, thanks to the single swallow the golden plovers were number 51 rather than the more appropriate 50 on the home list.:t:
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deborah4
Well-known member
Lol, can sympathise with trawling through endless housing estates just to get to birding locations
Well done for making the effort by foot :t:
deborah4
Well-known member
Well today was going to be the day ... first free day for weeks what with work, study, family commitments... but wasn't to be ... well not a whole day anyway.
Woke up to 'my' nesting Blackbirds having a right old din in the garden .. looked out of bedroom window ... yet another bl**dy cat (that's 3 different ones in two days). This time half way up the ivy towards the nest. Shoo'ed it out but what to do? Do I leave them to fend for themselves while I go seek birds elsewhere? My conscience said 'no'. Then I remembered I'd chucked out a bin liner full of old holly a few days ago (yes, just finished clearing up the rest of the Christmas decorations this week!). Fished it out, then scattered nasty brown sharp little pointy things all over the wall ... pruned a bit more off the Holly in the garden (poor thing's tiny so couldn't take too much) and added that to bottom of ivy clump... all just waiting for furtive pads to come creeping
. That done, felt better ... but then got carried away with gardening. Already 11am when I got myself together to go out. But then, another din heard from the garden. A nice din. Momentarily thought it was a Garden Warbler, then a burst of full song from a male Blackcap. The first ever in my garden :bounce: That held me up for another 20mins or so, as I watched him. Looked a bit worse for wear (just arrived possibly).Train/cycle to RSPB Pulborough.
Really needed to start getting some warblers onto the Bigby list (notwithstanding the earlier Blackcap) so cycled to station and caught train, just one change at Barnham for Pulborough but already 1.30pm. No ramp or lift at Pulborough, so lugging scope, binos, camera, coffee etc and bike up several flights of step steps, I was then on my bike and on my way. 10 minutes later, the left pedal bar starts slipping badly everytime I push down on it, that plus only 2 gears working, made very slow progress indeed (I'd also forgotten how far it was to the Reserve from the village!). Lots of Chiffchaff on the way, so 2 more down, more to go. Also Green Woopecker and several Jays added some tropical colour to a rather fresh Spring day. Finally got to the Visitors Centre ... 3'Oclock!!!
By this time, I wasn't in the mood anymore, so decided to have a lazy stroll and see if I could improve on my tendency to photograph very fuzzy blobs and pass them off as birds. Finally caught up with one Common Whitethroat, heard first then graced me with fleeting views as it worked it's way through blackthorn thickets, far too quickly to get a pic. Three more Blackcaps (2m,1f) and a Willow Warbler added to the warbler list, in between checking out the newts in one of the ponds. 5.30pm and a mighty fine chorus of Sedge Warbler rising up into a setting sun over the distant reed beds on the Brooks, making that 5 Warblers to add to Bigby. Stonking views of several Bulfinch (but too distant to get much beyond fuzz again!) and it's Vespers big time. Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Great Tits, Blackcaps all competing and then, amongst the choir, finally a Nightingale.
Lacking anything resembling illumination either on my clothes or my bike, decided to head off home with a coke and crisp stop at the White Horse before making it back to Pulborough Station. A pleasant afternoon and lots of exercise, but bird of the day was in the garden of course.
6 more added to BIGBY
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GiG
Well-known member
Congratulations on the Blackcap - it is a treat when such birds turn up in your garden.
At least you got half a Bigby day with some good birds. Seems like you need to do your bike up though
Gi
GiG
Well-known member
A few more Bigby ticks in the last few days. A visit to Felixstowe on the bus with the family, by the afternoon the weather was turning so they decided to head back while I walked down to Landguard Point. Saw a couple of cracking Wheatears and the Shorelark along with a late Redwing.
On Monday on my patch at work a Nightingale, while on Tuesday I cycled up to the heaths were I had fantastic views of a Dartford Warbler with at least 5 Willow Warblers singing, and the beautiful song of Woodlarks, which I had seen in the Brecks (visited by car so a new Bigby addition).
This morning, the bus broke down at Woodbridge so I walked along the river path to work where I had a couple of Willow Warblers along the way. These tend to be passing through birds as they frequent woods on the heaths and not in the valley. I'm leading a dawn chorus in a couple of weeks, where I've said there could be 7 warblers to find, so I'm hoping that at least one Willow Warbler will be about.
Gi
On Monday on my patch at work a Nightingale, while on Tuesday I cycled up to the heaths were I had fantastic views of a Dartford Warbler with at least 5 Willow Warblers singing, and the beautiful song of Woodlarks, which I had seen in the Brecks (visited by car so a new Bigby addition).
This morning, the bus broke down at Woodbridge so I walked along the river path to work where I had a couple of Willow Warblers along the way. These tend to be passing through birds as they frequent woods on the heaths and not in the valley. I'm leading a dawn chorus in a couple of weeks, where I've said there could be 7 warblers to find, so I'm hoping that at least one Willow Warbler will be about.
Gi
deborah4
Well-known member
Hi H, no, this is about the time they arrive in Sussex and yesterday was the time I'd set aside several weeks back to check them out. In fact, the RSPB diary has them down for w/b 14/4, but they started arriving about a week ago. Cuckoos here now too!
Unfortunately GI, I missed the Woodlark as it was too late to get to the best location for them by the time I'd clocked up a few warblers on the main reserve ... next time. BTW What's all this then: ''(visited by car so a new Bigby addition).''? We can't have that sort of behaviour
Another new bird to the garden last week was a Dunnock which has been singing almost non-stop trying to find a mate. Today, got home from work, there were two! BUT one of them only has one leg! (not sure whether it's my Dunnock who may have recently got injured or the new arrival). They started to mate, looking real good, then the one-legged Dunnock fell over just at the critical point. Off flew the ''mate''! Bit sad really.
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SueO
Well-known member
Well today was going to be the day ... first free day for weeks what with work, study, family commitments... but wasn't to be ... well not a whole day anyway.
Woke up to 'my' nesting Blackbirds having a right old din in the garden .. looked out of bedroom window ... yet another bl**dy cat (that's 3 different ones in two days). This time half way up the ivy towards the nest. Shoo'ed it out but what to do? Do I leave them to fend for themselves while I go seek birds elsewhere? My conscience said 'no'. Then I remembered I'd chucked out a bin liner full of old holly a few days ago (yes, just finished clearing up the rest of the Christmas decorations this week!). Fished it out, then scattered nasty brown sharp little pointy things all over the wall ... pruned a bit more off the Holly in the garden (poor thing's tiny so couldn't take too much) and added that to bottom of ivy clump... all just waiting for furtive pads to come creeping
Train/cycle to RSPB Pulborough.
Really needed to start getting some warblers onto the Bigby list (notwithstanding the earlier Blackcap) so cycled to station and caught train, just one change at Barnham for Pulborough but already 1.30pm. No ramp or lift at Pulborough, so lugging scope, binos, camera, coffee etc and bike up several flights of step steps, I was then on my bike and on my way. 10 minutes later, the left pedal bar starts slipping badly everytime I push down on it, that plus only 2 gears working, made very slow progress indeed (I'd also forgotten how far it was to the Reserve from the village!). Lots of Chiffchaff on the way, so 2 more down, more to go. Also Green Woopecker and several Jays added some tropical colour to a rather fresh Spring day. Finally got to the Visitors Centre ... 3'Oclock!!!
By this time, I wasn't in the mood anymore, so decided to have a lazy stroll and see if I could improve on my tendency to photograph very fuzzy blobs and pass them off as birds. Finally caught up with one Common Whitethroat, heard first then graced me with fleeting views as it worked it's way through blackthorn thickets, far too quickly to get a pic. Three more Blackcaps (2m,1f) and a Willow Warbler added to the warbler list, in between checking out the newts in one of the ponds. 5.30pm and a mighty fine chorus of Sedge Warbler rising up into a setting sun over the distant reed beds on the Brooks, making that 5 Warblers to add to Bigby. Stonking views of several Bulfinch (but too distant to get much beyond fuzz again!) and it's Vespers big time. Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Great Tits, Blackcaps all competing and then, amongst the choir, finally a Nightingale.
Lacking anything resembling illumination either on my clothes or my bike, decided to head off home with a coke and crisp stop at the White Horse before making it back to Pulborough Station. A pleasant afternoon and lots of exercise, but bird of the day was in the garden of course.
6 more added to BIGBY
Very creative cat protection Deborah, I hope it works. The birds really have a hard time of it, don't they? I envy you your Bullfinches. I'd love to see one, but I doubt I will because we will be out of Europe soon.
StrikingSlug
As in "Speed of a Striking Slug"
Glad to hear you had a good time at Pulborough, but it does sound as if your trusty steed could do with an overhaul!:t:
I am lucky enough to have lots of dunnocks in the garden - they are outnumbered only by the greenfinches. Their song always cheers me up, as it is somewhat surprising to hear something as beautiful coming from such a relatively dull coloured bird!
Off to walk Zack now, once I've located lead, paw-cuffs, muzzle and emergency bird scaring beacon.o
Richard
