27 March 2009
Today was the first of our two annual dawn-‘til-dusk raids (the other usually in mid May) to try and see as many birds as we could in a day. Unfortunately DAS was unable to make it so it was down to Steve and I to try and break our late winter early spring record of 96 birds, where both of have to see the bird for it to count.
Our first bird of the day was a Woodpigeon, at 0538, through the windows of my mother’s house in Manthorpe, near Bourne in Lincolnshire. Following breakfast we picked up another nine birds (Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Starling, Magpie, Goldfinch, Black Headed Gull, Rook, Jackdaw) both in the garden and flying across the valley in front of the house. While the weather was dry it was overcast and very, very windy and equally cold!
A Collared Dove was the 11th bird of the day driving through the village, while three more appeared, a Lapwing wheeling about in full mating mode, a Buzzard on a early morning hunt and a Pheasant at the edge of a ploughed field, as we set off south-east towards Wilsthorpe.
A mile later we stopped at a renowned Green Woodpecker haunt, Wilsthorpe wood, where we both heard the Yaffle but I was the only one to see the bird bounding across the field and disappearing into the wood, so it couldn’t be counted. I thought I had found it on a tree for Steve but once we were able to get a good enough look through a windblown ‘scope it turned out to be a piece of green plastic, “Good spot Nick” said an impressed Steve. However we did pick up an unlikely bird though, a Reed Bunting!
A further half-mile and we arrived at the disused railway line, where House Sparrow were twittering in the garden of the former signal house and Stock Dove feeding amongst the sheep and new born lambs.
Through Wilsthorpe and over the two small bridges a Chaffinch flew across the road while a Skylark was singing its earthly song. Suddenly a flock of around 20 finches flew up from a flat brown soil coloured field. Close inspection revealed them to be my first year bird of the day, the enigmatic Corn Bunting, which was also our 20th bird of the day, not bad for the first hour. While watching these several Yellowhammer joined the fray.
262.Corn Bunting---------------------------------Wilsthorpe-------------------------------------------England
Turning right at the next T-junction, as we headed towards Greatford, Feral Pigeons were feeding in a field. Passing through the village passed the grand Greatford Hall we stopped at the bridge over the West Glen River, normally a good spot for Kingfisher! No Kingfisher I am afraid but we did pick up a Moorehen.
Taking the next left and left again we were in Barholm, where to our surprise a Red Kite was circling.
Opposite the church we turned right to Tallington where Linnets, Great Tits and a Robin were calling from the hedgerow while Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Coots, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, and Greylag Geese were all seen on the first disused gravel pits. A Blue Tit passed in front of us just as we spotted a couple of Lesser Black Backed Gulls across the other side of the pit, a Dunnock soon followed.
Taking a left onto the A16 towards West Deeping we immediately took the next left onto Kings Street where another pit provided a Little Grebe and a Teal. It was a race to get back in the car once we had seen the birds such was the temperature and strength of the wind, “I don’t do cold!” exclaimed Steve!
Taking the next right through Langtoft, across the A15 to yet more gravel pits, Wigeon was the 40th bird of our campaign with two hours having passed since our first bird of the day. We picked up another seven birds there (Goldeneye, Wren, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Siskin,
Long Tailed Tit) but again dipped with the bird normally guaranteed there, Red Crested Pochard so could by now have reached 50! We were particularly pleased to see the single female Siskin at the top of an Alder.
Taking a right at the next crossroads we headed for the A16 again and this time took a right heading towards Market Deeping, which we bi-passed on the A15 towards Peterborough. We were due to turn off towards Northborough but a flock of birds had us taking the Maxi Road off the island south-west of Market Deeping and then the next left stopping near Maxi Quarry, gravel pits I had never been to previously. Shelduck were sharing the drained pit with Redshank and my second year and 50th bird of the day, Ringed Plover; 50 birds by 0758 hours! After a Cormorant flew overhead we checked out where we thought the earlier flock of birds had landed and sure enough there were a couple of hundred Golden Plover.
263.Ringed Plover------------------------------Maxi-------------------------------------------England
Back through Northborough towards Peakirk we were just found enough room to stop on the side of the busy Peakirk Road (it was rush hour in Lincolnshire by now) to confirm a flock Fieldfare.
Through Peakirk and left onto the long, bumpy and boring A1443, then bi-passing Thorney on the even longer, less bumpy but even more boring A47 to the Guyhirn island we turned right along the A141 to March. After stopping for Diesel it was out of March along the B1099 heading for Welney. Just outside March a family of Red Legged Partridge marked 0900 hours.
Having had to take a detour round Welney we finally crossed the Old Bedford River stopping for coffee before crossing the New Bedford River. There two Little Egret sat enjoying the sun, but huddled together against the wind!
Refreshed we crossed the second river taking a sharp left towards the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Wildfowl Refuge reception centre. Alongside the road two Stonechats were doing what they do naturally perching on the top of tall vegetation.
At the Wildfowl Refuge car park we made a quick visit to the centre but decided not to go into the Refuge as the CCTV showed very little activity. We did however pick up a Brent Goose in one of the new lagoons next to the centre.
Heading towards Ten Mile Bank Steve spotted a single Whooper Swan in amongst a field of Mute Swans, but no Bewick (dip number 4).
Left onto the A10 northwards towards Downham Market our first Kestrel of the day was hovering next to the side of the road.
At Kings Lynn we took the A149 and then right onto the A148 and immediately right again to Roydon Common (Photo1), parking on the right along the track to the southwest of the common.
Another birder advised the Great Grey Shrike (Photo 2) had been showing well from there but had moved behind the small copse. Dressing up against the cold Steve and I set off in pursuit, a flock of Redwing in the birch trees being our 60th bird of the day. As walked out amongst the heather a Marsh Harrier was gliding across the horizon and then our quarry appeared atop a tree. The shrike was struggling to keep its balance in the wind but this didn’t put it off feeding on bees etc! Transfixed we stayed there longer than we should have for a bird race, but who could blame us, digi-scoping taking over the next hour. We also picked up a Meadow Pipit.
264.Great Grey Shrike------------------------------Roydon Common--------------------------------England
Back onto the A149 we made a quick trip round Wolfreton triangle, dipping on Golden Pheasant before crossing the A149 towards the Sandringham estate. We stopped on the large grass verge at the edge of the forest near a bird table where Marsh Tit and Coal Tit were feeding, a Treecreeper also making its way up a nearby tree, but no Nuthatch!
Back to Wolfreton we parked up just as a rain shower started. I though it was going to be a downpour so wasn’t keen to set off just yet, taking cover in the car, but Steve looked at me in an old fashioned way so we made our way through to Dersingham Bog (Photo 3), a Pied Wagtail flying over. As luck would have it the storm passed by us, the wind taking it in land, Steve walking with a wry smile! It was soon my turn for the wry smile however as Steve was convinced we would see Woodlark here as they had been calling a couple of weeks earlier when he visited. However we neither heard nor saw any.
We were also hunting down Crossbill, several birders saying they had seen them earlier but again they were nowhere to be seen and the wind was making it difficult to hear them. Just as we were about to leave Steve thought he heard one so we returned and made another circle around the wood at the top of the bog, but again nothing. Another of Steve’s loves then distracted him, a moth, so I decided to scan the pines the near the wet bog, where Crossbills had been reported. To my delight a bright red male was perched on top of one of the trees, however we had to wait until several birds flew into the trees next to us before Steve picked one up, but he did get his moth. It had taken us an hour for the Crossbill, not good for the bird race but great for my year list!
265.Crossbill---------------------------------Dersingham Bog--------------------------------England
The wind was even more intense as we turned off the A149 a couple of miles before Snettisham into a parking area, so much so we stayed but a few moments before rejoining the A road towards Snettisham before taking a left hand turn towards the RSPB reserve. Along that side road a large flock of Curlew were blowing in the wind in a large arable field.
Neither of us fancied stopping at the beach car park as the next rain shower hit, so we drove onto Heacham where we decided to take a right at the main traffic light junction along the B1454 towards Sedgeford. The sun had again regained its place by now and the hills guarded us from the wind, so suddenly it was quite a pleasant spring day. Just as we were starting to enjoy the day it went one better as our 70th bird was a ghostly Barn Owl quartering the hedge to our left. Being a very narrow road it was impossible to park up safely however a little further along where the road straightened out I spotted out the corner of my eye two birds on the edge of a field. Stopping as soon as we could, Steve jumped out and announced “Grey Partridge!” (Photo 4) my fifth year bird of the day. We stopped and digi-scoped them for a while, the Barn Owl also passing by overhead.
266.Grey Partridge ---------------------------------Heacham-----------------------------------England
Taking a left in Sedgeford brought us up onto a hill, which again introduced us to the wind, a quick check of a flock of finches being very quick! Another left and we found a small wood, just round a tight bend, where a Chiffchaff was refuelling after its long journey.
267.Chiffchaff----------------------------------------Heacham-----------------------------------England
Turning right onto the A149 again we took the first exit off the island approaching Hunstanton, as I was confident of Oystercatcher on the school playing field to our right. School must have been out for the Oystercatcher so we drove to the cliff top road for the guaranteed Fulmar.
We thought we had already been exposed to the strength of the wind throughout the day but the wind here was at another level, as it whipped over the edge of the cliff face. Every piece of clothing we had with us was deployed and yet we still made for one of the three shelters along the cliff top, feeling like real explorers. “Morning, a bit windy isn’t it?” said a passing dog walker in a light coat. While Steve and I expected a short, tee-shirt and flip-flop wearing holiday maker to walk passed we clocked Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Grey Plover and Bar Tailed Godwith either flying passed or on the rock covered beach, but no Fulmar!
Steve directed us down to the beach car park where he had always seen Fulmar on the cliffs, but not today, just some chap who seemed to be rebuilding the cliff, pebble by pebble! Clearly we had not read the small print on our Fulmar guarantee!
A quick stop on at the cliff top car park found Common Gull resting from the wind and Kittiwake still enjoying the “breeze” overhead.
268. Kittiwake --------------------------------------Hunstanton--------------------------------------England
Back onto the A149 we headed for Titchwell, but before taking a left to the RSPB reserve we took the next right towards Choseley drying barns to check out the Little Owl trees. “I’ve never seen a Little Owl there”, indicated Steve, “I have several times” I replied. “Told you so” smiled Steve as we drove onto the drying barns where bright yellow Yellowhammers were feeding with Corn Bunting. Both birds we had seen earlier but you never tire of either!
Heading back towards Titchwell a Little Owl burst out of the “Little Owl Tree”, not a word was said but we had our 80th tick for the day!
The wind had finally abated as we arrived in the unusually deserted car park at 1635 hours, most birders having left for the day. Early a birder at Dersingham Bog had told us there was nothing at Titchwell, what would we find? We needed a further 16 birds to equal our March record.
A Song Thrush near the picnic area left us needing 15 birds, while an Avocet was the next bird to go in the record books after a quick look in the RSPB shop and Fen Hide. A Shoveler swiftly followed viewed from Island Hide. While there we were directed to a splendid Mediterranean Gull in full summer plumage, with a black head and bright red bill.
269.Mediterranean Gull------------------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
Walking towards Parrinder Hide a large flock of Black Tailed Godwit in various plumage colours were huddled together while a lone Snipe was feeding on one of the islands. Once in the hide a Great Black Blacked Gull flew across our sight line and several Dunlin were moving along the water line in the muddiest areas.
Heading towards the beach Steve picked up a Spotted Redshank (Photo 5) close in, wading through the saltwater marsh.
270.Spotted Redshank -------------------------------Titchwell-----------------------------------England
At the beach it was high tide, I had clearly never been there at high tide before in all of my trips to Titchwell as I was surprised just how little beach was left exposed! There was enough available though for Sanderling to run along, avoiding the waves, our 90th bird!
As we made our way back along the path the sun was setting to our right. A perfect sunset, but we were still six short of a perfect day and had little time to add anything to our list! Just as we came alongside the pool to our left over the sea wall, our legs feeling the cold air with no sun to keep any warmth in the air, I decided to make one more scan over the reed beds to my right. “Ring Tail” I shouted as a female Hen Harrier flew across with a Marsh Harrier. Buoyed by this I also checked out the pool to our left, which had been impossible to view earlier due to the low sun. The unmistakable rear of a Pintail was raised out of the water as the duck fed, and behind what turned out to be two pairs of Pintail, a pair of Pochard glided passed the reeds!
Just three birds were now needed, and seconds later a Cetti’s Warbler burst into song, Steve and I attempting to hunt it down. “There!” we shouted in unison, but a Wren was playing with us!
The Pochard would be our 93rd and final bird of the day. Our best birding trip of the year, at least as far as numbers were concerned, but we were left a little disappointed at not at least equalling our record. One person who was happy though was DAS, who we called from the car park, as he still held the record at 96 birds seen in March!
Fish and Chips at Hunstanton’s version of Las Vegas followed by quick dip of Golden Pheasant and Woodcock at Wolfreton saw us arrive back in Manthorpe at 2100 hours.
Our next bird race will be in May trying to beat the 115 seen by all three of us in 2008! The full list of today’s birds in alphabetical order follows: -
Avocet, Bar Tailed Godwit, Barn Owl, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Brent Goose, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Crossbill, Curlew, Dunlin,
Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Grey Shrike, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Grey Plover, Greylag Goose, Hen Harrier, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Owl, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Marsh Tit, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Red Kite, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Rook, Sanderling, Shelduck, Shoveler, Siskin, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Spotted Redshank, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Teal, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
