Shropshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[pandachris]

It wasn't completely devoid of life. Not completely. There were at least three crows, two dogs and thirty teal. And some trees. My friend Ian was over the oter side at about the same time as me (he too is keeping rather odd hours at present) and saw the harrier and a couple of Green Woodpeckers. I think there was a moth as well.

 

[James Lowther]

Red grouse - stiperstones/long mynd??

hello everyone shropshire based!
My mum lives in hereford and although i'm sure there are red grouse on the black mountains i remember hearing that the stiperstones are a good location for them and fancy a go this year as i've not seen one for 20 years (don't bird much out-of-county).

Does anyone have any tips re: where and when (time of year) to look, and also a reasonable estimate of how likely i would be to connect assuming said advice was diligently followed??



cheers!
James

p.s. if info is sensitive PM me if you prefer

 

[alexander74]

Ellesmere

Was at Ellesmere today and amongst wigeon, teal, pochard and tufted duck showing very well on the Mere was a female smew!

Well worth the visit.

 

[andy latham]

Hi Alexandre,
I caught up with the smew yesterday, it had moved to Whitemere. Thats the first smew around the meres for sometime, probably 4 years!! This is the 4th individual in shropshire this year following 3 redheads at venus pool in early Jan. What used to be a almost annual sight has become quite rare, warmer winters? Thanks for posting the sighting, there is a shroipshire yahoo group that you can join for free so if you're in the area again you can check whats happening localy.
Cheers Andy

 

[pandachris]

If I'd just been five seconds later ...

Fairly certain that the bird that flew north across the A5 near the River Tern bridge yesterday at 13:00 was some sort of hirundine. Unfortunately (for me) It more or less flew over the car so I only got a glimpse of it for perhaps a 2nd so wouldn't want to suggests a species. Pity really, because I've never seen a February hirundine anywhere in the UK.

 

[Patrick_L]

hello everyone shropshire based!
My mum lives in hereford and although i'm sure there are red grouse on the black mountains i remember hearing that the stiperstones are a good location for them and fancy a go this year as i've not seen one for 20 years (don't bird much out-of-county).

Does anyone have any tips re: where and when (time of year) to look, and also a reasonable estimate of how likely i would be to connect assuming said advice was diligently followed??



cheers!
James

p.s. if info is sensitive PM me if you prefer

James

I don't think it's too sensitive, they were shown on Countryfile last Sunday! If you park in the top car park at The Stiperstones and walk up to the ridge you should be fine, I've regularly seen them in this area. Give them a month or so and they will be displaying - early morning is best.

Male Blackcap in the garden this morning, feeding on sunflower hearts.

Not been around much recently but the WeBS count is tomorrow.

All the best,

 

[James Lowther]

James

I don't think it's too sensitive, they were shown on Countryfile last Sunday! If you park in the top car park at The Stiperstones and walk up to the ridge you should be fine, I've regularly seen them in this area. Give them a month or so and they will be displaying - early morning is best.

yes i saw that thanks Patrick, i assume a tangerine orange coat is not necessary to boost chances of seeing them?!!

thanks for the tips,

James

 

[jwreeves]

The firecrest was showing very well this morning at the wrekin, c150m along the main track opposite the steep track with rocks in wire at the bottom, watched it for nearly 10 mins mainly below eye-level. Also a willow tit behind the reservoir (my first sighting here)

 

[Patrick_L]

Greetings everyone, all been a bit quiet recently but at least the daffodils are now up!

Only thing to report is that I have a pair of Stock Doves breeding in a tree just outside my office window. Also at least 2 singing Chiffchaffs have returned and a female Blackcap hangs around the car park. Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Grey Wagtail also singing around the office down by the river.

Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and the female Scaup a Venus Pool on Tuesday afternoon when I dropped by late PM.

Off to Speyside shortly to try for a bogey bird of mine - Parrot Crossbill! Then I think it's time for a few Haughmond Hill evening strolls for Woodcock.

All the best,

Patrick

 

[pandachris]

Was just thinking it was time for an update myself, Patrick.

An interesting "event" yesterday. We did one of the longer walks on Haughmond Hill - plenty of Chiffchaffs and drumming GSWs as well as quite a lot of Willow Tits and large numbers of small finches. I've just bought some new binoculars and these won't be left in the car, so of course I forgot to take them with me. Coming back across the clear felled area (the section further away from the car park from the area we saw the woodcock last year) we heard a Wood Warbler singing about 4 or 5 times. Seems really early for Wood Warbler(anybody?), the habitat isn't typical and I don't recall anybody mentioning WW at Haughmond before. I'm pretty familar with the song, though. It was sunny and even without the bins we could see a very bright phylloscopus-type warbler in the tree where the call was coming from, with about 4-5 others (assumed Chiffchaffs).

Was considering VP this evening but the rain's putting me off.

 

[upstarts1979]

Was just thinking it was time for an update myself, Patrick.


Was considering VP this evening but the rain's putting me off.[/QUOTE]

At this time of year you shouldn't be put off by rain on the contrary you should relish in it you will have more chance of passage birds dropping in

 

[Patrick_L]

At this time of year you shouldn't be put off by rain on the contrary you should relish in it you will have more chance of passage birds dropping in

Yes come on Chris, buy yourself a hat to go with the new bins!

I see that RBA fell for Jim's April fool about the Snow Bunting on Titterstone Clee, even though he then followed it with a photo of a Ptarmigan!

All the best,

 

[pandachris]

Yes come on Chris, buy yourself a hat to go with the new bins!

I see that RBA fell for Jim's April fool about the Snow Bunting on Titterstone Clee, even though he then followed it with a photo of a Ptarmigan!

All the best,

I'm not sure I can afford a hat after those bins, Patrick.

In a Telford Car Park this morning, a lone (!) Long-tailed Tit flying between car winscreen wipers, presumably looking for squashed bugs. I've seen other species doing this but not LTTs before.

Are times hard for this species? I haven't been seeing that many flying insects recently and I don't think I've many left on/near my windscreen from last autumn.

 

[Patrick_L]

Failed in the Easter attempt at Parrot Crossbill - plenty of tramping around Speyside forests in up to a foot of snow but nothing doing. Did have an excellent pair of Scottish Crossbills at Loch Garten (on the back road to Nethy Bridge) but there was no way we could turn them into Parrots.

Ospreys back at Loch Garten, otherwise mainly Chaffinches and Coal Tits.

 

[jwreeves]

1 male pied flycatcher back at the wrekin this morning, near the halfway house

 

[jwreeves]

ringtail harrier(pres hen) along A5 just east of oswestry c10am, osprey at venus pool c11am and the black redstart still at titterstone clee around the radar station 1pm, with a male ring ouzel in the quarry there

 

[pandachris]

Had a wander up Earl's Hill yesterday, Heard, but didn't see, a couple or three Pied Flycatchers from the path around the base of the hill. Saw my first House Martins of the year around the crags, also a few Swallows. Not much else.

On Friday last there were two or three Garden Warblers singing at Nedge Hill, Telford. Yet again, heard but not seen. I've got these excellent new binoculars and I've hardly looked at any birds through them yet. That should change in two weeks time as I'm off to SE Asia and Bengal Florican beckons. There will probably be one on the Long Mynd whilst I'm there

 

[Patrick_L]

Chris

Sounds an excellent trip - good luck and look forward to catching up at las when you get back.

Have just got back from a week in western Ireland - outstanding weather. Visited some great sites such as Malin Head and The Mullet, no Skuas, but plenty of other seabirds and White Wagtails by the bucket full.

Got back to a couple of Swifts over the house, but still no House Martins.

All the best,

 

[pandachris]

We must be due a bacon butty soon Patrick - or maybe an evening looking for Woodcock again.

 

[pandachris]

Two to four Wheatear around the summit of Earls Hill this evening - and an absolutley exquisite evening for a walk. Quite a few Redstarts in song.