Mouldy's Kingdom (Diary of a frustrated birder) (1 Viewer)

[Mouldy]

Well not much opportunity to follow up my brambling since Thursday, haven't been able to stand and gawp out the window much since, but when I have I've noted bird numbers well down from the 'day of the snow', lesson to be learned then, if it snows put more food out and they will come.

Mike - thanks for dropping in, join in anytime (that goes for everyone) If it's any consolation I ain't seen an otter for two years now (though they are still about) but it's such a thrill I keep banging on about it. Anyway I'm sure you'll get one eventually and it'll make a smashin' painting.

Halftwo - good to hear you got a brambling, never thought I'd be an inspiration to anyone.

Imans66 - good to have some 'international' input, welcome. If your kinglet is as flighty as our goldcrest (which I think is similar without looking it up, apologies if I'm wrong) then I'm not surprised you had difficulty, I've not got a decent shot of one yet.

Going out looking for hawfinch today, that should be interesting (and probably fruitless going on my past record).

 

[halftwo]

Good luck.
Jusy been out to feed the birds. It's -4c out there here.
But the House & Tree sparrows are busy squabbling over the nest box in the front garden (with the enlarged hole the woodpecker excavated to try for the Great tits).

H

 

[Mouldy]

better than bigfoot, better than nessie....

7th December 2008

Aye, cold it was but……

A historic day as after ten years of trying at numerous sites and too many dips to mention, today my Life list, British list and County list all increased by one as the bird which I previously thought didn’t exist but was put in field guides just as some sort of elaborate hoax, the hawfinch, was added to them all on a visit to their annual but irregular site of Croxdale Hall, (my fourth attempt here).
It was already a good morning’s birding with fine views of a flyover goshawk, a nice sighting of a little owl, and a female blackcap keeping us entertained, and a fine supporting cast of thrushes, more mistles than I’ve seen in a while, many a redwing and a couple of fieldfare thrown in.
Nuthatches seemed to be all over, and a couple of tree creepers at the entrance started us off well. GS Woodpeckers heard but not seen and an abundance of tits was nice to see after my fears during the week.
But back to the hawfinch, we’d been scanning the trees at the back of the church for quite some time, plenty of activity, mainly thrushes, and were fooled a couple of times by half-hidden chaffinches, but it was when I followed a group of redwing flying in and landing in the trees around the hall I noted a stocky looking bird near the top of one of the outer branches which hadn‘t been there last time I scanned. I got on it with my bins and though it had it’s back to me, the overall shape and squarish head was a dead giveaway. I alerted ’One Man and his Dog’ and he confirmed it (being a hawfinch veteran, having had nine of them practically eating out of his hand at Sizergh Castle at the beginning of the year). Unfortunately it was then harassed by a thrush and flew off, but luckily just into the next tree where a side on view showed off it’s massive bill. It was distant though and soon disappeared from view, so though I‘d laid my bogey to rest I was still a tad disappointed with the overall view.
So we moved down to the Hall gate in hope of relocating it, and after a couple of minutes did just that, now much closer and looking at it front on through the branches in good sunlight I took in it’s huge bill and black face mask, marvellous! All too briefly though as it dropped down into the lower branches and was lost despite more searching. But much happier with the second view so when we departed we were well satisfied with the mornings events, and as OMAHD had earlier slipped over on the ice and has possibly broken his thumb (but saved his binoculars which would have been much more costly), it’s probably just as well we got the bird to make the trip worthwhile. B

 

[MalR]

Well done with the hawfinch, Alan, and congratulations on what is one of the more well-written and entertaining threads on the forum.

Like you, for many years I was convinced hawfinch was a mythical bird. I visited several known "hot spots" over the years without success, including Croxdale several times. I finally "nailed" them at Fountains Abbey, so it's still not on my county list.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

Malcolm

 

[Moraybirdlover]

Well done on seeing the Hawfinch.My first and only sighting, was when I lived in York ............ years ago. I've never forgotten it or the feeling I had watching it!
Shame about OMAHD's thumb, they tend to be such useful appendages!!

 

[Woody]

You were hallucinating! Hawfinch is a mythical bird!

Well done, perseverance pays off.

Mike

 

[One Man and His Dog]

info on the thumb!

good news! it is'nt broken :t: but i'am suffering with a sprained wrist. :C well worth it for a good day's birding!
great thread alan keep it up. :clap:
cheers steve

 

[Mouldy]

Glad there's nowt broken Steve, but a strain is gonna be pretty annoying for a while, and cheers for the mornings birding, much appreciated. :t:

Mike, don't say I can grip you off about hawfinch now too

Hold that memory Susan, such an elusive bird it may be the only one you get. :eek!:

Cheers Mal, I appreciate your appreciation, being a born and bred mackem meself :hi:


Nuthatch came to the feeders yesterday, and yet more messages from spiky in the greenhouse, getting worried about him now, should be giving it the big winter zzzzzzz's, left some food out for him just in case.

 

[Mouldy]

I note that Northern Kites had an organized roost watch event at the Sherburn Towers viewpoint on Monday. This is a great place to see kites at anytime but the winter roost can sometimes bring spectacular views so well worth a visit an hour or so before dusk.
The viewpoint is only a two minute walk from my house so being VERY local I'm proud to have been commissioned by the RSPB and Northern Kites to design the artwork for the new interpretation panel there, (what’s that noise? Just me, blowing my own trumpet.)
Anyway, the first time I visited the viewpoint was a fantastic experience which got me hooked straight away, my diary tells the story………

October 19 2005

‘After hearing so much about it but still unsure of what to expect, I make the short trip to Sherburn Towers Farm this afternoon to look for roosting kites. When I arrive late afternoon the light is good, blue skies with islands of white cloud, and the wind is too light to be noticeable, conditions in a word; perfect.
Before I reach the bus terminus I can see four kites in the middle distance hanging almost motionless above the trees left and right, and for the next forty five minutes between two and eight birds are in constant view, mostly appearing as specks over the distant horizon from the direction of Barlow fell, but growing ever closer in a flat-winged glide, a parachute-like descent eventually coming close enough to show off the handsome colours of their plumage in the sunlight, some calling occasionally as they circle slowly, low above the farmland in front of me, others not bothering to show off, just heading straight for the copse, pulling in their wings for the final descent and disappearing into the mix of trees around the farmhouse.
I marvel at two birds in particular as they wheel slowly and effortlessly around the skies in front of me, occasionally coming together in a brief aerial skirmish before continuing their shallow downward spirals, then coming to rest in the branches of a single oak tree surrounded by grazing but unconcerned sheep.
Difficult to put a number on how many individuals I see as occasionally up to half a dozen birds explode out of the trees again before gently gliding down and settling once more. Some are perched in good view, others out of sight but I estimate there must be in excess of twenty, and I regret not bringing my ‘scope as views of the perched birds would be wonderful in this light and distance with no wind to give the shakes to my sorry excuse for a tripod. All the while, further birds are grounded in a distant field, one just standing motionless throughout, and still others emerge at low level from beyond where the land dips out of sight near the top of the valley. I am awe-struck; this is by far the best prolonged view of kites in close proximity I have had, and just two minutes walk from my home, fantastic.
Yet the star of the show is an adult common buzzard I first notice soaring in the distance with a group of incoming kites. I’m ecstatic as it’s the first I’ve seen on my ‘patch’. It gives a great display of laboured hovering in the middle distance, soars with the kites over the near field but then comes closest of all when the local corvids take a dislike to it (strange but not a single kite is mobbed all the time I am there). Two crows and three jackdaws chase the buzzard right over to where I am standing for a closest ever view of the species. I track it through my binoculars as it veers off sharply to the left. Circling round again it passes me in the opposite direction this time with nine black shadows in attendance. Wings beating faster now it is harried from all directions, and next time it passes has a stream of seventeen pursuers, picked up like iron filings to a magnet as it passes overhead the massive throng of jackdaws and crows in the near field. But this time it doesn’t return, enough is enough as it flies off over Spen Banks Woods in the distance and I count no less than thirty three members of the crow family trailing in it’s wake. The whole incident is straight out of a Benny Hill chase sequence, all that is missing is the music.
A number of Jays are flying to and fro, bills stuffed with acorns to stash away for the winter in what is a frenzy of activity for that normally shy species, and with some finch flocks building up on the distant farmland, I tell myself a return journey with a ‘scope is definitely warranted.
Things quieten down after about forty five minutes of enthralling activity, the cloud has thickened and as the sun lowers behind it I register the first sign of a chill wind. I really should be getting home as I only popped out ’for a couple of minutes’, not expecting such a compelling scene. I begin to walk off for a well deserved cuppa, turning round for a last look as I zip up the case of my binoculars only to see another three kites have appeared, silhouetted against the darkening sky. I watch them drift in and settle straight into the trees around the farm, then leave, not allowing myself to turn round again ‘just in case.’

And no more reports from me ‘til next week, doing a xmas market in Newcassel the next few days, mixed feelings as it’s outdoors for two days and it’s a bit grim oop north at the minute. Hopefully do something next week unless I‘ve got pnumo….newmoni… pyum….flu.

In the meantime keep birding folks.

Pics - Sherburn Towers viewpoint 1 - The trees around the farm where the kites gather; 2 - the viewing set-up, seat, interpretation panel and concrete red kite marking the spot; 3 - Artwork by yours truly.

 

[pie]

Excellent Diary Alan, I really enjoyed your reports :t:

 

[Mouldy]

more of the same...

Thanks Pie...

Busy few days then, no birding at all bar watching the garden feeders being emptied by a variety of avian greedy guts today, so back to the diaries on the same theme as last time, watching red kites at roost.
For a very different view of the same setting the farmland on which the kites roost is also accessible by public footpath from a track opposite Thornley Kennels just below the brow of the valley.
So here we go again…..

November 9 2005

‘I take a walk up Holinhill Lane hoping to get overhead views of the kites as they sail into the farm roost from Barlow. On foot it’s a bit scary negotiating the bends in the narrow winding road flanked by high hedgerows but I find some good vantage points at various farm gates for scanning the length and breadth of the valley and get good views of soaring kites against the backdrop of Gibside. It takes a good while to reach the kennels as kites are coming and going all the while over the fields either side of the road, with sightings well into double figures and I’m compelled to stop and watch each and every one until they disappear out of sight.
I also count sixteen cock pheasants scattered about but strangely no hens, maybe they’re keeping a low profile, it is the shooting season after all. A low flying sparrow hawk passes swiftly by in hunting mode, but a highlight comes when I disturb a covey of eight or so grey partridges in a recently ploughed field, sending them in a panic to the cover of the nearest hedge, the first I‘ve seen of this species on my patch, though I haven‘t really explored much of the farmland so far.
I reach the old farm ruins and scan the adjacent oak trees for the local little owls, but nought to be seen I’m afraid, though I’m slightly compensated by a small flock of linnets twittering past me at close quarters as I do so.
Reaching the kennels at last and I step past the rusting red gate opposite and amble along the farm track right into the heart of the kites’ soaring area usually viewed from the bus terminus, which is in sight below me though a good distance away. Past the copse of trees on the left, the path bends into a clear view of the surrounding land. I look to the left and a kite is atop a pylon looking down into the valley, another is grounded not far from the first, and another is soaring close by. Before long all three are in the air giving excellent views of their rich brown upper plumage, arc of pale feathers forming a semicircle between their coloured wingtags, bright orange tail spread wide forming a wide triangle, still young birds so the distinctive notch isn’t yet apparent.
I look down on them against the backdrop of Gibside on the far side of the valley. It truly is a breathtaking panorama from this height and a view I hadn‘t before experienced, so making it all the more spectacular. The kites disappear into the copse behind me and I walk further along the track. Another kite can be seen perched at the top of a tree directly ahead in Spen Banks wood showing in silhouette only with the sun directly behind it, but disappointingly after this good start, only two further sightings are made in the next half hour or so. I use the time by watching a small flock of yellowhammers and skylarks in a stubble field, the yellowhammers noisily bounding around the field edges, landing briefly every now and then before suddenly taking to the air as one, continuing their circuit, the skylarks more direct, disappearing in their perfect camouflage every time they land.
A pair of hovering kestrels appear at intervals, a stop-start bout of hunting seems fruitless today as no attempts of capturing prey are made.
Slightly disappointed by the kites not appearing in the numbers I was expecting I am all set to leave as time is getting on and I don‘t want to be heading back down the country lane in fading light, but the regular buzzard suddenly makes an appearance from over the horizon to keep me there a while longer, again giving excellent close views before it is chased into trees by an angry mob of jackdaws.
The sun is starting to set now behind the trees of Spen Banks Wood, a further three kites arrive from the direction of Barlow and soar over the woods, it’s an incredibly beautiful sight, the kites silhouetted against the soft orange glow of the skyline, slow, silent wing beats in a still sky, no wind to break the silence, just the distant soft hum of a passing car. So peaceful is the scene and another compelling view, the serenity of which is only disrupted by a band of long-tailed tits ticking past in the nearby hedges as a sparrowhawk makes a sortie over the fields.
But the light is fading fast now so I have to call it a day, there is still the matter of me having to negotiate the narrow lane back to reality in near darkness.
On the way down I come across the pheasants again, this time I’m startled by their harsh calling from high up in the treetops as I pass, something else learned, I hadn’t realised they roosted in trees at night.
A nervy ten minutes later I arrive safely back in civilization and reflect on the experience;. not as many kites as expected around the roost site proving once again the unpredictability of wildlife watching, but still enough going on to entice me back again, and thanks to the timely arrival of the buzzard, my exit was delayed long enough to take in the pure magical ambience of the late coming kites against the setting sun.’

The photos below were taken at the site by One Man and his Dog around the same time. Hope you don’t mind me using them Steve but they illustrate the scene perfectly, and one of them is actually used on the Northern Kites information slideshow which shows on the monitors of the red kite buses each journey.

 

[timwootton]

Well done on the hawfinch Alan - believe it or not; we had a few in Orkney this year (all singles) but I never actually got the chance to see any of them (blame the kids/wife/dog/whatever!!) and my only bird was at Wentworth, South Yorkshire about - oooooh at least last century
Great read again - getting any sleep?

 

[Mouldy]

Great read again - getting any sleep?

Not really Tim, some nights better than others now but he still isn’t settling, I can honestly say it's been the most exhausting three months of my life.
Shame you didn’t get any of the local hawfinches, but as you’ve already seen one in your previous life, it becomes less of an obsession I suppose.

Hmmmm am running out of bogeys now, will try to get a water pipit this winter, not really a bogey, I’ve just never really tried for one or come across one.

Am hoping to get a bit local birding done next couple of weeks, not being restricted for time with nursery pickups and drop-offs, just gotta get the business of xmas out of the way (humbug)

In the meantime (below) a festive greeting for all readers of this thread, I’ve enjoyed looking back at some memories and hope to be a bit more active in the new year. Thanks to one and all for looking in.
:t:

 

[Moraybirdlover]

Hi Mouldy,
Hope you had a good Christmas and all the best for 2009 to you and your family!
Son delighted with your book, he loved the Little Ringed Plover and Badger especially.

 

[Peewit]

Hi Alan

Happy New Year 2009 to you. Love your card by the way. :-O

Will make a point in reading this thread to catch up with all the latest happenings in your patch.

This is one of my resolutions!!! :t::t::t:

 

[Mouldy]

Thanks Kathy and Susan, and a belated Happy New Year to you both. Glad the book was well received, makes it all worthwhile when I get good feedback.

Well, the school hols have come and gone, and my birding trips were limited to one brief walk on New Years Day which was freezing cold and not much to see if truth be told, highlights were a solitary brambling, willow tit, and watching a few kites come to roost at the viewpoint before the cold got the better of me.

May have to dig out my archives again if things don't improve!

cheers

Alan M

 

[Moraybirdlover]

I would have been delighted to see the Brambling and Willow Tit the latter would have been a lifer for me!

 

[Mouldy]

I would have been delighted to see the Brambling and Willow Tit the latter would have been a lifer for me!

Well I did say they were highlights, Susan :t:

Back to my notes it is then, and an early January visit to Thornley Woods feeding station proved a memorable one:

Jan 05 2005

A half hour visit to Thornley feeding station produces nineteen different species, (including the three regular specialities in the shape of nuthatch, jay and great spotted woodpecker) and some very interesting sights.

First a female sparrowhawk gives an unusual performance. I’m watching her as she sits perfectly still in a tree close to the right of the hide giving excellent views when suddenly she half opens her wings, tips forwards off the branch and zooms off in a fast, silent, arrow-like glide towards the ground feeding birds by the far end table, where she homes in on a male pheasant!
The pheasant though, already alerted by the scattering of the smaller birds, raises himself up and spreads his wings to face the oncoming raptor, making himself look even bigger, and the onrushing sparrowhawk, talons reaching forward to make the kill pulls up inches short of the attack and aborts the mission, veering almost vertically up into the branches above, where she sits and preens herself, only her pride slightly dented. It’s all over in a matter of seconds but a scene I’m slightly taken aback at, I wouldn’t have thought even a large female like this one would go for something the size of a pheasant, albeit unsuccessfully (it's just a pity they aren't so alert when crossing the road!)

Next unusual sight was a superb close view of the cryptic markings on a static treecreeper, feeding on the ground with chaffinches close to the hide, again very unusual and a pleasure to be able to study this normally very busy little bird in close-up.

Finally and best of all a red squirrel makes an appearance, bounding along in the distance, it's been about a year since I last saw one, they are becoming rarer and rarer in these parts, and after a couple of brief distant sightings this one comes to sit on the table right in front of the hide eating peanuts for a good long while, well outnumbered by the larger greys but neither species seems to notice the other and the close proximity of both allows good comparisons. Our red is much smaller and compact, a beautiful dark chestnut colour, and definitely a lot cuter than the greys. I run off a few photos to mark the occasion (see below) and ’Tufty’ is still there when I leave, but his appearance completes an excellent visit.

In fact this proved a memorable day for the wrong reason, as it was certainly the last time I was to see a red squirrel in Thornley woods, (edit: errr...no it wasn't, remembering back these photos were taken three days later, I phoned my better half to come and have a look 'cos she's always wanted to see one, and she duly got it, quite lucky really considering this WAS for definite the last time I saw one here, sorry) and to my knowledge was in fact the last time one was recorded here. A small population still exists on the other side of the river at Gibside National Trust estate, but with a much larger presence of greys there I don’t know how long they’ll hang on for.

 

[Peewit]

Hi Alan

I loved reading your report about Thornley Wood, and the Sparrowhawk that was seen hunting for its food. Very well described, and it gives a vision of standing right in front of the bird watching it fly and move around.
The Sparrowhawk would have loved the Pheasant for a meal anyday. Pity it was a missed opportunity that passed the Sparrowhawk until another place and time. :-O

As you say, Pheasants are never the brightest tool in the box, when it comes to cars. I hate seeing then running along the sides of roads as they tend to like to run into oncoming traffic like they where on a suicide mission. :eek!:

Red Squirrels are just the sweetest animals ever, and it is a joy to see that you have managed to get a picture of one. Sad to hear that they decline has been noted in the same area too. I wish they would just bounce back and be the animals they have a right to be!
Love your pictures and it is a joy to see them anytime :t:

Teecreeper, now that is a rare treat for anyone to see. They are strange little birds that like to scuttle up trunks of trees.
I am pleased that you saw one on the ground and that would make it a double treat to see. :-O

Great day out for you, and thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[Mouldy]

Thanks for your comments kathy, (love your avatar photo by the way.) :t:


There’s been a lot of discussion on the ID merits of willow/marsh tits stemming from a blurred photo taken locally on other threads, more than likely the same bird I reported earlier from new years day at the same site which I took to be a willow and still do, mainly due to a very obvious pale wing panel, though various experts have poo-pooed just about every reliable ID feature between the species so what do I know? :-C

Anyway that reminded me of another memorable day in my former life as an ’out there’ birder so here it is ;

Nov 20 2005​

​

A rather cold (to put it politely) but pleasant walk around the patch starts off slowly but in the end proves memorable today.

Starting out, seven fieldfare fly overhead as I approach the entrance to the Derwent Walk at Rowlands Gill, but just a few of the regular common woodland birds are along the walk itself including a pair of bullfinches and a goldcrest. A fine male kestrel flutters over as I approach the car park at Far Pasture but entering the hide I’m disappointed to find the ponds are frozen over, (I should have guessed from the lack of brass monkeys seen on the way), with just a few hardy snipe showing in the margins but not much else.
A sign on the door informs me that the Thornley woods feeding station hide is going to be out of bounds for a while as they are to construct a new one, so I decide to walk up there before the work starts as it may be my last chance to get a look at the recently seen marsh tit, a local rarity and a bird I haven‘t yet seen in the valley.

More goldcrest, a pair of siskin, and a small band of long-tailed tits flit around the roadside bushes, and six bullfinches are feeding at the field edges as I make my way back up to the Derwent Walk. Through the woods though it’s fairly quiet, just the usual great tits busy looking for lunch and a robin watching me wide-eyed from a low perch as I walk by.

On approaching the Woodlands Centre, I glimpse what could well be a marsh tit briefly at the feeding table outside the building. An enquiry within confirms that the tit indeed is using this table rather than the feeding station over the road, so I hang around for ten minutes or so getting a few brief glimpses as it darts back and forth nervously then a prolonged view as it eventually settles for a short while enabling me to differentiate it from the very similar willow tit. (basically seems to be a much neater and less squat looking bird, black cap definitely has a glossy look and certainly no hint of a pale panel on the wing flanks)

So well pleased with getting a new patch tick, I head over the road and true to form the feeding station is teeming with birds, mainly chaffinch, blue and great tit, with lesser numbers of wood pigeons, stock doves, blackbirds, coal tits, green and bullfinches.
A few pheasants compete for scraps under the tables, a robin and dunnock by the holly bush, then I count back; great, blue, coal, marsh, long-tailed... and realise I only need a willow tit for a complete set of our woodland tits. Now I‘ve seen willows here a few times in the past and know they have been recorded recently so it’s a decent possibility, I keep a keen watch.

A nuthatch comes to the table by the holly bush giving the usual excellent views, a small group of yellowhammers nervously jump out of the bushes to feed momentarily on the ground then back into cover again, a couple of noisy magpies make an argumentative appearance then lo and behold, I hear the distinctive nasal churr of a willow tit, but no sign of it.

I keep watching and listening.

A male great spotted woodpecker bounds in and settles at the far feeder, a jay glides in silently, showing off its wonderful plumage in the crisp sunlight, then another agitated ‘churrrrr’ and my quarry comes out of hiding, flitting between the centre table and an open perch for a while, a dumpy little thing, dull cap, messy bib, obvious pale wing panel. Ticks all my boxes so great stuff, no mean feat getting all the tits in one session round here.

Shortly afterwards a male sparrowhawk pays a brief low level visit scattering everything as it just passes through, and that’s the last I see of tit willow. I decide to call it a day, more than happy with the mornings events, and just a pity I didn’t take a hot flask I think to myself as I struggle to lock the hide door with numb fingers.