Your local Patch/Reserve. (1 Viewer)

[Wendy Morris]

I can't match Kathy's patch report, but here's mine!

The usual residents at Sutton Bingham were in evidence in large numbers this very grey and windy afternoon. Dozens of Mallard, Black-headed Gulls and GBBs. Also, a fair splattering of Coot and Rook, three Swans (including one cygnet) and a flypast of 8 Canadas! The water itself looked cold and very uninviting, with the wind beginning to whip up some small waves.

Probably the best bit for me was the family (parents and two boys aged about 9 and 11), all togged up for the inclement weather and with their bins and a Collins guide. I'm afraid that the teacher in me couldn't resist going to see if I could help their id-ing in any way! They were grateful for my input and said that they had been watching AW over the last couple of weeks and decided that they wanted to get out there and see for themselves! I do hope that they will continue to do it.

 

[Wendy Morris]

Another couple came to feed the birds and that gave me a better chance to take some more 'action' shots!

 

[Peewit]

I can't match Kathy's patch report, but here's mine!

The usual residents at Sutton Bingham were in evidence in large numbers this very grey and windy afternoon. Dozens of Mallard, Black-headed Gulls and GBBs. Also, a fair splattering of Coot and Rook, three Swans (including one cygnet) and a flypast of 8 Canadas! The water itself looked cold and very uninviting, with the wind beginning to whip up some small waves.

Probably the best bit for me was the family (parents and two boys aged about 9 and 11), all togged up for the inclement weather and with their bins and a Collins guide. I'm afraid that the teacher in me couldn't resist going to see if I could help their id-ing in any way! They were grateful for my input and said that they had been watching AW over the last couple of weeks and decided that they wanted to get out there and see for themselves! I do hope that they will continue to do it.

hi Wendy

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. :t:

It looks although you have had the wind, and the rain in your neck of the woods too. :eek!:

I love your report about your local birds. Isn't it funny that they end up looking like a mixture of all sorts. The pure breeds end up looking like something else.

The picture of your Cygnet is lovely. They are so sweet and the ones I have local to me and still 'squeaking', and that makes them very endearing. o

Love your action shots too. Gulls love their food don't they!!

Well done to you taking time teaching the children you met, and I am sure that they appreciated it a lot.

 

[Pam_m]

A super report of your afternoon at Sutton Bingham, Wendy! Your photo's are great, especially the B.H.Gulls in flight pic, that is a splendid one!:clap:

How lovely to meet up with a young family who were inspired by AW, as you say let's hope they continue to be inspired!

Thanks for a lovely 'Patch' report!:t:

 

[Peewit]

A walk around Putnoe Local Nature Reserve

hi there

I had just a short local walk close to where I stay at Bedford.

It is a dank old day, so I was not expecting to see much to be honest. After a bit of bird watching yesterday the mood was still there for another bit of bird viewing. The thought relaxed my mind!

So I went off to Putnoe Local Nature Reserve for an hour this morning. It is one of my favourite patches for a peaceful wander around. As I walked into the reserve I could hear Magpies and one flew overhead squawking as it went. The cries of Green Woodpeckers filled the air in the distance as it always does.

As I walked into the trees a Great tit sat on a branch right above my head though it was looking at me with a look of curiousity. We eyed each other for up to a minute before the Great tit moved on.

I passed by some dog walkers yelling at the top of their voices to retrieve their waylay dogs (there is a notice to keep dogs on leads). So that frightened all the birds away. :C
Anyway peace resumed once more, and I could hear lots of rustles and twittering. There seemed to be a lot of Grey Squirrels everywhere, climbing trees. eating, and having a cheeky look at me as I walked past. I have got to admit I like to see them in their natural environment. (not at my feeders in my garden!!).

A group of Blue Tits twittered at each other from the canopy above. A slight gust of wind brings down a lot of leaves that sound like raindrops. A Robin decided to sit on a branch close to me as to say hello. Then it moved on. It then decided to state its presence with a resounding alarm call. A group of Chaffinches flitted about doing their one note call, and I could see the white of their wings as they moved around.

As I headed back towards the busy main road a Wren was chattering to itself in the hedge nearby. I tried to see if he/she was there but the dense thicket of the hedge came into its own. No sign of the Wren.
Lots more Blue Tits, Great Tits, Blackbirds and Chaffinches moved around in all directions. Another Magpie or two made its presence felt. I have never seen so many Magpies in one short walk.

I could feel a few drops of rain but it still held off. It was so close. I just loved the peaceful time out to de-stress the over-cluttered mind for everyday events, and people!! So I feel brand new once more. o

I will make a point in taking a few more walks to this area as it is not to far, good for the mind and soul, and I can squeeze a walk into my everyday schedule. :t:

Picture 1 - Sign for Reserve
Picture 2 - Information for Reserve
Picture 3 - A path of delights
Picture 4 - Trees with loose leaves coming down all around me.
Picture 5 - Tree with unusual growths.

 

[Pam_m]

Hi Kathy,

Putnoe Local Nature Reserve would be on my schedule if it were close by me! It sounds a haven for the little birds...big ones too!

Thanks for sharing your walk and telling us all about another one of your local patches!

I can't say what the growths are on the tree but it looks healthy enough! Great pics!:t:

 

[Kits]

Lovely action shots, Wendy!

Any bird pics, Peewit?

 

[Peewit]

Hi Kathy,

Putnoe Local Nature Reserve would be on my schedule if it were close by me! It sounds a haven for the little birds...big ones too!

Thanks for sharing your walk and telling us all about another one of your local patches!

I can't say what the growths are on the tree but it looks healthy enough! Great pics!:t:

Hi Pam

Thank you for your thoughtful answer. :t:

Yes, Putnoe LNR is a lovely little patch to have on my doorstep. A 10 min walk to it, and a half hour walk around it, as it is small. Small it is, but well stocked with all sorts of wildlife is a good point that it does possess.

It is privately owned. It is good that it is viable in that way and people can use it as a public walk.

Yes, the growths on the trees are odd but that adds character to the place.

There are a few good walks further on, and I will see if I can increase my time to go further afield in the near future. :t:

Then I can expand upon my Local Patch. :t:

 

[Pam_m]

Hi Pam

Thank you for your thoughtful answer. :t:

Yes, Putnoe LNR is a lovely little patch to have on my doorstep. A 10 min walk to it, and a half hour walk around it, as it is small. Small it is, but well stocked with all sorts of wildlife is a good point that it does possess.

It is privately owned. It is good that it is viable in that way and people can use it as a public walk.

Yes, the growths on the trees are odd but that adds character to the place.

There are a few good walks further on, and I will see if I can increase my time to go further afield in the near future. :t:

Then I can expand upon my Local Patch. :t:

A great idea to find new walks on your 'Local patch', Kathy!

I have found new walks this year on my 'Local Patch' but sadly they are ones where I would not feel comfortable walking them on my own. They each have a wooded area and quite secluded.

 

[Peewit]

A great idea to find new walks on your 'Local patch', Kathy!

I have found new walks this year on my 'Local Patch' but sadly they are ones where I would not feel comfortable walking them on my own. They each have a wooded area and quite secluded.

Hi Pam

It is a good idea to get to know the patch you are going to with a dummy run there first. That was my OH does with me, and test how safe I feel in an area.

Luckily the area of Putnoe Wood I mentioned is quite close to other amenities such as a golf course, and a park so I feel a bit safer.

Yes, you have to be very careful about personal safety when walking about on your own. :t:

There was one particular time I felt really uncomfortable walking in one place. This road was in a rural area, and 4 miles long with very little housing around - that was really creepy. That is when I worry going into isolated areas.

You just have to be very careful, and look after yourself and your interests. :t: :gh:

 

[Peewit]

Another day in my local Patch.

Hi there

I had my daily stroll around Putnoe LNR once again. The weather was much improved over yesterday. No wind and no rain to contend with at all.

I began my walk a good couple of hours later, (than yesterday) so there was a difference in the feeling in the air. All the birds, and daily activity seemed to have taken a quieter turn.

Lots of Squirrels where scuttling around as usual, doing their daily forage for food in the undergrowth. They are not shy at all, because they are used to seeing people in the woods.

The light was starting to fade even at 3pm in the afternoon. It felt it was getting dark even at this point of the day. I could see a silhouette of a Blackbird up in a Tree. He remained still as I passed by and went on my merry way.

I could hear the illusive Green Woodpecker once again directly behind me. There will be a day I will see it in flight yet. It will make my day once it is established where it favourite residence is. :-O

At one point someone had left a scattering of food on the ground for the birds. A Great tit, then two and a lone Robin enjoyed the food.
I took a couple of pictures of the cheeky squirrels who where really enjoying the free meal or two!

Picture 1,2,3 Squirrels antics
Picture 4 Sunset
Picture 5 Blackbird on top of tree (only have a digicamera!!!)

 

[Pam_m]

After a dank and drizzly Sunday morning a visit to Upton Warren after lunch was enjoyed! The first stop being the Flashes. A Goldcrest was the first bird to be seen as we walked along the boardwalk, then a Great Spotted Woodpecker took flight as it noticed us before we saw him/her! Lapwings were in flight as we headed towards the hide, though a BOP was not seen, so perhaps they just fancied a bit of exercise! The feeders were quiet with just Blue & Great Tit, Robin and the odd Blackbird flying through! On the Flashes were Lapwing, B.H.Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Teal, Swan + 5 Cygnets and Common Snipe. A Common Buzzard perched on a telegraph pole, possibly it had had lunch as it stayed there for the duration of our visit at the Flashes. The dark clouds began to move away as we viewed from the hide and the Flashes were suddenly transformed to one half in slight sunlight and the other half still dark with the cloud cover!

Daylight time was moving on now so we made our way to the Moors Pools. A Cetti's was heard but as per usual not seen as we made our way down the path to the hides. Canada Geese, Cormorant, G.C.Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Shoveller, Mallard, Lapwing, Moorhen, Coot, Heron and B.H.Gull were in and around the Pools. We were saddened to see what looked very much like a dead Cygnet on the far side of the pools, that is why we only spotted 5 Cygnets at the Flashes. Such a pity, we had watched them grow throughout the summer. The Bittern was on our minds as we sat and sat and sat! After a while it was time to move on and stretch our legs. We headed for a smaller pool a short distance from the car park, North Pool. The Bittern had been seen flying to roost here on occasion.It is normally fairly quiet on this pool so we were pleased to have really good views of 2 Water Rails as they waded fairly frequently from reeds to reeds. The sun began to set as we were in the hide, the colours of the autumnal leaves on the trees and the almost tranquil water save for a family of Mallards made for a beautiful setting! A delight to see.
No Bittern today but all told a very pleasant end to a Sunday afternoon.

 

[Peewit]

After a dank and drizzly Sunday morning a visit to Upton Warren after lunch was enjoyed! The first stop being the Flashes. A Goldcrest was the first bird to be seen as we walked along the boardwalk, then a Great Spotted Woodpecker took flight as it noticed us before we saw him/her! Lapwings were in flight as we headed towards the hide, though a BOP was not seen, so perhaps they just fancied a bit of exercise! The feeders were quiet with just Blue & Great Tit, Robin and the odd Blackbird flying through! On the Flashes were Lapwing, B.H.Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Teal, Swan + 5 Cygnets and Common Snipe. A Common Buzzard perched on a telegraph pole, possibly it had had lunch as it stayed there for the duration of our visit at the Flashes. The dark clouds began to move away as we viewed from the hide and the Flashes were suddenly transformed to one half in slight sunlight and the other half still dark with the cloud cover!

Daylight time was moving on now so we made our way to the Moors Pools. A Cetti's was heard but as per usual not seen as we made our way down the path to the hides. Canada Geese, Cormorant, G.C.Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Shoveller, Mallard, Lapwing, Moorhen, Coot, Heron and B.H.Gull were in and around the Pools. We were saddened to see what looked very much like a dead Cygnet on the far side of the pools, that is why we only spotted 5 Cygnets at the Flashes. Such a pity, we had watched them grow throughout the summer. The Bittern was on our minds as we sat and sat and sat! After a while it was time to move on and stretch our legs. We headed for a smaller pool a short distance from the car park, North Pool. The Bittern had been seen flying to roost here on occasion.It is normally fairly quiet on this pool so we were pleased to have really good views of 2 Water Rails as they waded fairly frequently from reeds to reeds. The sun began to set as we were in the hide, the colours of the autumnal leaves on the trees and the almost tranquil water save for a family of Mallards made for a beautiful setting! A delight to see.
No Bittern today but all told a very pleasant end to a Sunday afternoon.

Hi Pam

We must have posted at the same time! :eek!:

Fabulous report, great pictures, and to see a Goldcrest is must see anyday. :-O

You have seen a great selection of birds Pam. The day looked a good one, and thank you for sharing it with us. The days are so short now so we all have to make the best of the daylight hours.

What birds are in your picture Pam. Sorry to hear about the death of the cygnet - so sad!

 

[Pam_m]

Hi Kathy,

We almost posted simultaneously,wow, that's a big word for me:-O!

Thank you for your kind reply to my post! The birds are Common Snipe, kathy.
They are well camouflaged aren't they?

Good to see that you managed another walk today. Daylight hours have to be taken advantage of indeed! Never mind it will soon be the shortest day!
Your walk sounded peaceful bar the Green Woodpecker you heard...can't mistake them can you!

Well done with your photo's, I love the squirrel antics pic!:t:

 

[Peewit]

Hi Kathy,

We almost posted simultaneously,wow, that's a big word for me:-O!

Thank you for your kind reply to my post! The birds are Common Snipe, kathy.
They are well camouflaged aren't they?

Good to see that you managed another walk today. Daylight hours have to be taken advantage of indeed! Never mind it will soon be the shortest day!
Your walk sounded peaceful bar the Green Woodpecker you heard...can't mistake them can you!

Well done with your photo's, I love the squirrel antics pic!:t:

Hi Pam

We posted in 'sync' abbrev: for short Pam

Super pictures of the Common Snipe Pam. They blend in very well to their surroundings. I found it hard to distinguish between the Snipe, and where the Snipe was sitting.

Yes, daylight hours are becoming precious at the moment. I will let you know if Mr G.Woody makes an appearance in the Reserve.

The Squirrels are so cheeky are they not. Shy is not their middle name

One day we will invest in a better camera (to take on my walks) and the pictures will be better quality from this end.

We have a new scope and want to use it at home for our garden birds (with our current camera) and in Local hides (we have a good steady stand now) so I hope to get good quality pictures in the near future.

Lots of super bird pictures to be got a hold of. We just need to get our equipment up and running. :gh:

So that has answered questions as to why I do not have many bird pictures. :t:

 

[Pam_m]

HI kathy,

The main thing is to enjoy your time out birding and nature watching in general. There is nothing wrong with your pictures at all.

Good luck with your new scope...have fun viewing the wildlife and think of pics last!

 

[Peewit]

HI kathy,

The main thing is to enjoy your time out birding and nature watching in general. There is nothing wrong with your pictures at all.

Good luck with your new scope...have fun viewing the wildlife and think of pics last!

Hi Pam

Thank you, I will do what you have advised - simple enjoy the big outdoors. It is one beautiful place to be in. :-O

I thought that my pictures (subject wise) was a bit far away to see. Looking forward to using the new scope a lot! :t:

 

[Wendy Morris]

A quiet and peaceful afternoon at Sutton Bingham today. All the usual suspects were there, the Mallard, Black-headed Gulls, GBBs, coots, Mallard crosses, Rooks and just one Swan.

The Black-headed Gulls are remarkable at being able to catch bits of bread in the air. Unfortunately, there was no-one else there to throw the bread while I took the photos! They soon sussed it when I threw my left hand up as if I was feeding them and then tried to catch them in flight with the camera. They were having none of it!!!

I wandered up to the little churchyard after feeding the ducks and was rewarded with a small flock of LTTs who would not stay still to have their photos taken, a couple of Robins more interested in having a dust up with each other than giving me the chance to take their picture and a Blackbird with a dodgy wing. Not sure that it was actually broken, but it was being held at an odd angle and he only hopped into the undergrowth as opposed to flying off when I approached.

Up in one of the surrounding trees there were a lot of Jackdaws and two of them were sitting on a branch watching the world go on around them!

Only a short visit today as I was beginning to feel VERY cold.

The pic of the BH was taken through the car window, so not so clear.

 

[palval147]

I've just been catching up on this thread.
Super photo's from everyone.
I particularly like, Pam's spot the Snipe & Wendy's BH Gulls in flight.

 

[Pam_m]

You had some glorious sunshine today, Wendy! Sounds a good afternoon with a few birdie characters thrown in and great pics taken!:t:

.............................

Thanks, Val!:t: