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Shropshire Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter pandachris
- Start date
pandachris
Well-known member
I can't believe that there was a species in Shropshire that I'd seen this year but you hadn't! I've now had Curlew in three countries in 2009. 
I've wondered whether or not the bittern would be visible from 't other side. Hope it's still around in about 10 days time because that's going to be my best bet. Might just make the effort and walk around.
I've wondered whether or not the bittern would be visible from 't other side. Hope it's still around in about 10 days time because that's going to be my best bet. Might just make the effort and walk around.
Patrick_L
Counting Down
Morning all - nice to see we have a rating at last!
In case you haven't seen it, Archie Archer's Google map is excellent and may well be useful for us if we're heading in a Birmingham direction:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=134475
This month's WeBS count at the S_V confluence is this weekend.
In case you haven't seen it, Archie Archer's Google map is excellent and may well be useful for us if we're heading in a Birmingham direction:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=134475
This month's WeBS count at the S_V confluence is this weekend.
Last edited:
pandachris
Well-known member
That's an excellent link, Patrick. Thanks.
I'm in Wolves this weekend so we might get a chance to look for those Cannock Chase Waxwings (I was already pondering going up that way for the Hawfich that has been seen frequently) and possibly the Fordhouses SE Owl, though that might need to wait until tomorrow.
I'm in Wolves this weekend so we might get a chance to look for those Cannock Chase Waxwings (I was already pondering going up that way for the Hawfich that has been seen frequently) and possibly the Fordhouses SE Owl, though that might need to wait until tomorrow.
Patrick_L
Counting Down
A less than spectacular WeBS count yesterday was only really notable for a record count of 25 Whooper Swans at Melverley, a decent number of birds of prey up and displaying (mostly Buzzards, but also 2 Sparrowhawk) and a single Common Snipe.
Fieldfare and especially Redwings were on the move all morning in small parties. Only a handful of Wigeon and Teal left on the limited floods, but 2 Reed Buntings singing.
Fieldfare and especially Redwings were on the move all morning in small parties. Only a handful of Wigeon and Teal left on the limited floods, but 2 Reed Buntings singing.
Hi all, year ticks proving tricky at the mo! Failed to locate the Little Egret today thats been knocking about recently (aint too worried though as VP always pulls 'em in during autumn).
However, another 1st w. Glaucous Gull at Priorslee today was a corker, looked a paler & slighter bird to the one I saw previously?... But it was a much clearer day today, so who know's if it's a 'new' one??..
Little else there except an ad. Yellow-legged Gull.
VP was pretty drab & only 95 Teal & 25 Wigeon of note at Polemere.
However, another 1st w. Glaucous Gull at Priorslee today was a corker, looked a paler & slighter bird to the one I saw previously?... But it was a much clearer day today, so who know's if it's a 'new' one??..
Little else there except an ad. Yellow-legged Gull.
VP was pretty drab & only 95 Teal & 25 Wigeon of note at Polemere.
pandachris
Well-known member
Gulls and stuff
Not much to report but the mention of the GG gives me an excuse to post a link to the bird we fed in Portugal two weeks ago ...
http://avengerpenguins.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=18777
My Blackcap is in the garden every day now - probably was before but it's finally getting light when I'm having my breakfast. Yesterday and today it was being bullied by a pair of Dunnocks.
Bullfinches from the office window were the first there in 2009. They've been a permanent feature from about November to March in the last few years but they weren't around when I went back to work on 2nd January this year.
There was a Starling doing a quite magnificent impersonation of Common Buzzard from a rooftop when I got home this evening.
Might try to get down to Priorslee tomorrow late afternoon.
Not much to report but the mention of the GG gives me an excuse to post a link to the bird we fed in Portugal two weeks ago ...
http://avengerpenguins.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=18777
My Blackcap is in the garden every day now - probably was before but it's finally getting light when I'm having my breakfast. Yesterday and today it was being bullied by a pair of Dunnocks.
Bullfinches from the office window were the first there in 2009. They've been a permanent feature from about November to March in the last few years but they weren't around when I went back to work on 2nd January this year.
There was a Starling doing a quite magnificent impersonation of Common Buzzard from a rooftop when I got home this evening.
Might try to get down to Priorslee tomorrow late afternoon.
pandachris
Well-known member
The blackcap was looking quite pleased with itself this morning, the dunnocks have found someone else to bully.
I took advantage of half a dozen empty spaces in the car park and actually went to do some birding for half an hour at lunch time. There were about 300 large gulls on Priorslee Lake, predominantly LBB adults but with a pale-headed juv GBB very obvious amongst them. A female aythya with a lot of white on her face, easily visible from the car had me reaching for my bins but was certainly a Tufted. No Icelands or Glaucous present. Surprisngly all the gulls we flushed when a Common Buzzard came drifting high over the hillock beyond which the Lodge? pub nestles, but they soon settled back down.
I relocated to Priorslee Flash were another bird watcher was just departing. The were plenty of gulls close in but he told me that there was not much beyond a couple of YL Gulls so I chickened out and went for my lunch instead.
I took advantage of half a dozen empty spaces in the car park and actually went to do some birding for half an hour at lunch time. There were about 300 large gulls on Priorslee Lake, predominantly LBB adults but with a pale-headed juv GBB very obvious amongst them. A female aythya with a lot of white on her face, easily visible from the car had me reaching for my bins but was certainly a Tufted. No Icelands or Glaucous present. Surprisngly all the gulls we flushed when a Common Buzzard came drifting high over the hillock beyond which the Lodge? pub nestles, but they soon settled back down.
I relocated to Priorslee Flash were another bird watcher was just departing. The were plenty of gulls close in but he told me that there was not much beyond a couple of YL Gulls so I chickened out and went for my lunch instead.
Patrick_L
Counting Down
Morning all!
Anyone checked out this one yet?
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=135072
Looks like one of those Doctors from the Black Plague!
Cheers!
Anyone checked out this one yet?
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=135072
Looks like one of those Doctors from the Black Plague!
Cheers!
pandachris
Well-known member
Poor little blighter. We had a bill like that at The Fox in Cheslyn Hay on Wednesday.
Barn Owl on a roadside fence post by the Atcham Business Park last night at about 22:15.
Barn Owl on a roadside fence post by the Atcham Business Park last night at about 22:15.
pandachris
Well-known member
Juv Glaucous Gull at Priorslee Flash for about 10 minutes around 16:50, spotted by my old mate Peter. Nearly didn't bother because I'd been down to both Lake and Flash at lunchtime. The lake had no gulls at all and the flash had several hundred Black-headed and virtually nothing else.
A new Shropshire bird for me - first of 2009.
A new Shropshire bird for me - first of 2009.
pandachris
Well-known member
A pair of Ravens over Telford's Central park at about 11:15 today, not popular with the local crows.
Max count of 33 Curlews at VP at about 17:45. No sign of the Barn Owl.
Max count of 33 Curlews at VP at about 17:45. No sign of the Barn Owl.
pandachris
Well-known member
And from an e-mail from Peter both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls at Priorslee Lake yesterday lunchtime. Didn't go myself today because it is horrible out. That wet rain.
Just ... a Song Thrush in the bushes outside my office window. Don't recall seeing one there before.
Just ... a Song Thrush in the bushes outside my office window. Don't recall seeing one there before.
Hi all ~ had a 3hr search across the barren lands that are Whixall/Fenn's Moss today.... sadly no SE Owl (would've been a year tick!), but some consolation in the shape of a ringtail Hen Harrier, which I watched hunting low over the fen on & off for around 10-15 minutes, great views in the bright sunshine today...
Very little else of note though!....
Not had a year tick now for 2 weeks despite putting in quite a bit of time... but with spring en route, wont be long before the bedlam begins!!!
Sand Martin, Wheatear & maybe Osprey before April?...
Bittern flew into Priorslee yesterday, great record for the site!! (I wonder if it was the VP bird, which aint been seen/reported for around a week now??)...
Very little else of note though!....
Not had a year tick now for 2 weeks despite putting in quite a bit of time... but with spring en route, wont be long before the bedlam begins!!!
Sand Martin, Wheatear & maybe Osprey before April?...
Bittern flew into Priorslee yesterday, great record for the site!! (I wonder if it was the VP bird, which aint been seen/reported for around a week now??)...
pandachris
Well-known member
I had a good look at VP on Monday evening until after 6 p.m. but no sign of any Bittern there. I recall a Bittern at Priorslee a few years back, in the reeds near the stream at the "far side". Is it the same area?
pandachris
Well-known member
And again yesterday, departed at about 16:50. According to a birder who was already on site it had been there from about 15:00.
pandachris
Well-known member
A couple of Grey Partridges just north of Hadnall at about 16:00.
Patrick_L
Counting Down
Morning all.
Dropped by at Priorslee yesterday PM but only 3 Black-headed Gulls there - I wonder if the large gulls have now started to disperse as there were some flocks of larger gulls heading over north very high.
Treecreeper singing at Mytton Mill.
March WeBS this Sunday at the S/Y confluence - don't expect very much as not much water around.
Cheers,
Dropped by at Priorslee yesterday PM but only 3 Black-headed Gulls there - I wonder if the large gulls have now started to disperse as there were some flocks of larger gulls heading over north very high.
Treecreeper singing at Mytton Mill.
March WeBS this Sunday at the S/Y confluence - don't expect very much as not much water around.
Cheers,
