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Your local Patch/Reserve. (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Pam_m
- Start date
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Really good to see Wheatears so close Pat - sounds a great de-stresser to me! :t:
Haven't been out much recently and have had a super-duper stomach bug for the last week so as I'm feeling a bit more human today (thanks to some salts prescribed by my doctor) I took a gentle walk around a bit of my patch. Didn't go far but was really glad I did go out as it cleared out some cobwebs and I saw loads of birds, including a new species for my patch - seven Egyptian Geese were feeding in the middle of one of the fields! Takes my species tally for the patch to 88, which is pretty cool - four new species so far this year (Egyptian Goose, Linnet, Hobby and Peregrine Falcon) and I've not really been out to look that much!
I also saw a few Swallows on the meads... which flew off northwards so something screwy there! Lots of Linnets on the pea fields and quite a lot of Reed Buntings about too, more than I've seen all summer. A Kestrel was hunting over the pea field and a Sparrowhawk flew low and fast eastwards there too, a fairly regular flight path for both birds as I've seen them there quite a few times, often at the same time. Loads of Lapwings were flocking together and flew about high over the south field for quite some time, scoping it out well before coming in to land near the Egyptian Geese. Gorgeous to see, fantastic to see flocks of Lapwings here even if they're not the numbers that I hear used to be seen around the country (though I've seen some BIG flocks at Cley!).
In all I saw:
5 Swallow,
28 Lapwing,
7 Egyptian Goose,
3 Blackcap,
3 Robin,
1 Wren,
1 Blue Tit,
2 Dunnock,
2 Chiffchaff,
35+ Linnet,
15+ Reed Bunting,
1 Skylark,
1 Kestrel,
1 Sparrowhawk,
1 Little Grebe,
10+ Starling,
40+ Feral Pigeon,
75+ Woodpigeon,
2 Collared Dove,
10+ Carrion Crow,
3 Magpie,
3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Plus other 'what was that?!' unidentifiables. :-O
Haven't been out much recently and have had a super-duper stomach bug for the last week so as I'm feeling a bit more human today (thanks to some salts prescribed by my doctor) I took a gentle walk around a bit of my patch. Didn't go far but was really glad I did go out as it cleared out some cobwebs and I saw loads of birds, including a new species for my patch - seven Egyptian Geese were feeding in the middle of one of the fields! Takes my species tally for the patch to 88, which is pretty cool - four new species so far this year (Egyptian Goose, Linnet, Hobby and Peregrine Falcon) and I've not really been out to look that much!
I also saw a few Swallows on the meads... which flew off northwards so something screwy there! Lots of Linnets on the pea fields and quite a lot of Reed Buntings about too, more than I've seen all summer. A Kestrel was hunting over the pea field and a Sparrowhawk flew low and fast eastwards there too, a fairly regular flight path for both birds as I've seen them there quite a few times, often at the same time. Loads of Lapwings were flocking together and flew about high over the south field for quite some time, scoping it out well before coming in to land near the Egyptian Geese. Gorgeous to see, fantastic to see flocks of Lapwings here even if they're not the numbers that I hear used to be seen around the country (though I've seen some BIG flocks at Cley!).
In all I saw:
5 Swallow,
28 Lapwing,
7 Egyptian Goose,
3 Blackcap,
3 Robin,
1 Wren,
1 Blue Tit,
2 Dunnock,
2 Chiffchaff,
35+ Linnet,
15+ Reed Bunting,
1 Skylark,
1 Kestrel,
1 Sparrowhawk,
1 Little Grebe,
10+ Starling,
40+ Feral Pigeon,
75+ Woodpigeon,
2 Collared Dove,
10+ Carrion Crow,
3 Magpie,
3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Plus other 'what was that?!' unidentifiables. :-O
pstraughan
Well-known member
I had a walk out from my house this afternoon. Very windy and overcast, so not ideal conditions but I fancied the walk.
Wheatear on the fence where I saw two a few weeks ago;
Buzzard being given a hard time by the local Rooks and ditto Grey Heron;
Small flocks of Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches;
About 30 Swallows appeared from nowhere, caught insects for a few minutes and then disappeared as quickly as they came.
Only 20 species today. I would get 30+ at other times. Definitely an "in-between" season, Spring migrants mostly gone, Autumn migrants yet to arrive.
Pat
Wheatear on the fence where I saw two a few weeks ago;
Buzzard being given a hard time by the local Rooks and ditto Grey Heron;
Small flocks of Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches;
About 30 Swallows appeared from nowhere, caught insects for a few minutes and then disappeared as quickly as they came.
Only 20 species today. I would get 30+ at other times. Definitely an "in-between" season, Spring migrants mostly gone, Autumn migrants yet to arrive.
Pat
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Had a first for my patch this evening... walking back from Asda with two bags of shopping I crossed the little rough meadow by the river in the gathering gloom to find a Barn Owl hunting there! A bird I've been really wanting to catch up with for god-knows how long so very exciting - always wonderful to see one! :t:
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Thanks Val. :t: I'd talked to some people who said they used to see them there years ago and someone on the Essex part of the forum saw one by the river a year or two back so I knew one was about. Plus I have found pellets and a feather, which have been very tantalising - the feather was right next to where I saw the owl last night!
I think it's the first one I've seen in Essex.
I think it's the first one I've seen in Essex.
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
The Snipe are back! Saw three making fast flights around the north meadow at lunchtime today, the most I've ever seen here and also the most extended view I've had, albeit a bit distant. Great that they've returned, one of those birds that I never can believe I live right next to! I felt like rubbing my thighs in a Chris Packham stylee! :-O
The Kestrel and the Sparrowhawk were on the hunt too, the Kestrel hovering in a stiff breeze near the old farm buildings whilst the Sparrowhawk was making slow loops high over the fields to the east and then over the grassland near the canal lock on the outskirts of town. I saw three Cormorants (possibly a pair of adults and a first winter bird) fishing in the river and lots of Meadow Pipits flying about in the meadow where the Snipe were. A surprisingly rich afternoon - with the cold dark windy weather I expected the place to be deserted!
3 Snipe,
1 Kestrel,
1 Sparrowhawk,
4 Little Grebe,
1 Mute Swan,
20+ Meadow Pipit,
10+ Moorhen,
24 Mallard,
3 Cormorant,
5 Collared Dove,
30+ Woodpigeon,
15+ Feral Pigeon,
10+ Magpie,
10+ Carrion Crow,
1 Green Woodpecker,
1 Skylark,
5+ Blue Tit,
5+ Great Tit,
1 Chaffinch,
12+ Goldfinch,
1 Dunnock,
2 Pied Wagtail,
2 Blackbird,
75+ Starling.
Black-headed Gulls
Herring Gulls (probably a lot of LBB too but I wasn't really paying close attention to the gulls)
lots of House Sparrows
The Kestrel and the Sparrowhawk were on the hunt too, the Kestrel hovering in a stiff breeze near the old farm buildings whilst the Sparrowhawk was making slow loops high over the fields to the east and then over the grassland near the canal lock on the outskirts of town. I saw three Cormorants (possibly a pair of adults and a first winter bird) fishing in the river and lots of Meadow Pipits flying about in the meadow where the Snipe were. A surprisingly rich afternoon - with the cold dark windy weather I expected the place to be deserted!
3 Snipe,
1 Kestrel,
1 Sparrowhawk,
4 Little Grebe,
1 Mute Swan,
20+ Meadow Pipit,
10+ Moorhen,
24 Mallard,
3 Cormorant,
5 Collared Dove,
30+ Woodpigeon,
15+ Feral Pigeon,
10+ Magpie,
10+ Carrion Crow,
1 Green Woodpecker,
1 Skylark,
5+ Blue Tit,
5+ Great Tit,
1 Chaffinch,
12+ Goldfinch,
1 Dunnock,
2 Pied Wagtail,
2 Blackbird,
75+ Starling.
Black-headed Gulls
Herring Gulls (probably a lot of LBB too but I wasn't really paying close attention to the gulls)
lots of House Sparrows
Wendy Morris
Well-known member
Wow, Fozzy! What a brilliant selection! You certainly live in a bird rich area.
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
I certainly didn't expect to see so much even though I was walking back and forth a few times - it wasn't very promising when I left the house at all! Those are all from around the river, I covered probably no more than a mile from the town downstream to the village. :t:
You do need to persevere there, it can seem empty at a glance as the birds do tend to be hiding away and not all on immediate display like at some places you go to. Definitely worth putting in time there though as it's very rewarding, a lovely spot to watch birds.
You do need to persevere there, it can seem empty at a glance as the birds do tend to be hiding away and not all on immediate display like at some places you go to. Definitely worth putting in time there though as it's very rewarding, a lovely spot to watch birds.
Wendy Morris
Well-known member
Popped along to Sutton Bingham this afternoon, didn't stay long as a) there's a stiff and very cold NE wind blowing straight across the water and b)the gates are now locked for the winter, so not able to walk along the water's edge.
Dozens of Black Headed gulls, same of Mallard and their hybrids, 20+ Cormorants and a couple of Grey Herons. Did look odd to see gulls sitting in the trees though, not seen that before!
Not the best of shots below, but I hadn't realised I'd got the fanned tail of the one above the gull on the post! The look on it's face, in both pictures, says it all!
Dozens of Black Headed gulls, same of Mallard and their hybrids, 20+ Cormorants and a couple of Grey Herons. Did look odd to see gulls sitting in the trees though, not seen that before!
Not the best of shots below, but I hadn't realised I'd got the fanned tail of the one above the gull on the post! The look on it's face, in both pictures, says it all!
Attachments
Wendy Morris
Well-known member
No! It's a big iron gate, at least 5' high, on the road side too, so a bit iffy! The thing is, there's a car park, loos and children's play area there with a path leading part way round the water's edge. I think the theory is that they (Wessex Water) don't want to run the risk of getting travellers in there through the winter and wrecking the place. It is possible to get to the bird hide (not a very good one), by parking on the roadside about a mile down from there, but I wouldn't risk leaving my car there! Shame really, cos there's plenty of birds there through the winter and I can only see about 30% of the reservoir.
palval147
Well-known member
That is a shame, Wendy. I can see their point in not wanting travellers to camp there.
If you approached them & asked nicely, proving to them you were trustworthy & would always lock the gate after you, could you get a key?
We did that for some woodland near Cornwood, that was water board land too & we got a key, a badge & a plastic card pass as permission to go there. That wood was patrolled regularly though, but we rarely saw anyone else on our birding trips there.
If you approached them & asked nicely, proving to them you were trustworthy & would always lock the gate after you, could you get a key?
We did that for some woodland near Cornwood, that was water board land too & we got a key, a badge & a plastic card pass as permission to go there. That wood was patrolled regularly though, but we rarely saw anyone else on our birding trips there.
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
That certainly is a shame... hope the bit you can see ends up being the area with the 'goodies' on it!
I went out earlier for a walk along the river for a bit, just as the sun was starting to set. Near the paddock where I'd previously seen the Barn Owl I had a flock of 150-200 Linnets swirling around over my head for a good five or ten minutes as they got ready to roost, perching in the tops of the willows before taking off again to fly around madly, joined by more little groups and then as they flew over the bramble patches a few would drop down and disappear into the cover until the last little group was gone. It looked like that footage of Bill Oddie with all the Starlings on the Somerset Levels, but with Linnets instead (and somewhat fewer birds!). Certainly the largest number of Linnets I've ever seen!
Elsewhere there were seven Little Grebes on the river, Moorhens, Robins, Blackbirds, a flock of Goldfinches, over forty Pheasant on the fields near the wood along with lots of Magpies, Carrion Crows, a Cormorant, Green Woodpecker, lots of Woodpigeons, Herring Gulls and Jackdaws. As I came back across the meadow the mists were rising and off to the east I could see Jupiter rising, through my binoculars I could just make out three moons around it... pretty cool. :t: I hung about by the river just in case some early bats came along but I think it was still too light really compared to when I'd seen them there before.
I went out earlier for a walk along the river for a bit, just as the sun was starting to set. Near the paddock where I'd previously seen the Barn Owl I had a flock of 150-200 Linnets swirling around over my head for a good five or ten minutes as they got ready to roost, perching in the tops of the willows before taking off again to fly around madly, joined by more little groups and then as they flew over the bramble patches a few would drop down and disappear into the cover until the last little group was gone. It looked like that footage of Bill Oddie with all the Starlings on the Somerset Levels, but with Linnets instead (and somewhat fewer birds!). Certainly the largest number of Linnets I've ever seen!
Elsewhere there were seven Little Grebes on the river, Moorhens, Robins, Blackbirds, a flock of Goldfinches, over forty Pheasant on the fields near the wood along with lots of Magpies, Carrion Crows, a Cormorant, Green Woodpecker, lots of Woodpigeons, Herring Gulls and Jackdaws. As I came back across the meadow the mists were rising and off to the east I could see Jupiter rising, through my binoculars I could just make out three moons around it... pretty cool. :t: I hung about by the river just in case some early bats came along but I think it was still too light really compared to when I'd seen them there before.
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
It really was stunning. I had them flying quite low over my head and the noise was amazing, lots of calls and the sound of their wings was wonderful. There were enough birds that when they swirled low over my head they filled a large portion of my vision. Although there was a fair sized flock of Goldfinches nearby I couldn't make out anything but Linnets in this flock, which ties up with when I'd seen a smaller flock here before during the day - at the moment they seem to be keeping themselves to themselves. The Tits are beginning to group though as on Friday I saw a mixed flock of Long-tails, Blue and Great Tits in the trees by the railway line on my walk to work.
Walking back past the brambles to go home yesterday I saw a few Linnets fly out from one patch to the other and was worried I'd send them all up but I kept as far away as I could (without zapping myself on the electric fence!) and they stayed put - I could hear a lot of chatter from them though, which was lovely. I kept looking about with my bins on the way back, hoping I might get a glimpse of the Barn Owl.
Looks rather foggy but am going to take a walk around the area now, forgot to turn off my alarm so woke at 5am! Doubt I'll see much but might be a nice sunrise! :t:
Walking back past the brambles to go home yesterday I saw a few Linnets fly out from one patch to the other and was worried I'd send them all up but I kept as far away as I could (without zapping myself on the electric fence!) and they stayed put - I could hear a lot of chatter from them though, which was lovely. I kept looking about with my bins on the way back, hoping I might get a glimpse of the Barn Owl.
Looks rather foggy but am going to take a walk around the area now, forgot to turn off my alarm so woke at 5am! Doubt I'll see much but might be a nice sunrise! :t:
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Well it certainly was foggy! I could hardly see much at all and there wasn't a sunrise at all (it just got lighter, no colour) but there was quite a lot about, the first Fieldfares of the winter, a Kestrel, lots of Pheasants, Magpies, Blackbirds, at least four Song Thrushes, Goldfinches, Linnets, Chaffinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Wrens (including one that came over and investigated me closely along with a Robin before feeding in the undergrowth just a few feet away), Pied Wagtails, Woodpigeons...
I also found an old dead tree with loads of woodpecker holes, mostly the usual Greater Spotted Woodpecker type holes but there was also a much smaller hole, maybe a half or third or the size and much sharper/cleaner cut without the rounded entrance that the larger holes had. May well be nothing more than it's just a smaller hole but I wonder if it might suggest Lesser Spotted Woodpecker? Don't really know much about them or what their holes look like but it didn't look like the other woodpecker holes I've found and I know Lessers were said to be found in the woods a couple of miles east of here and this is a nice quiet wooded spot so who knows. I'll have to dedicate some time to looking in the area.
I also found an old dead tree with loads of woodpecker holes, mostly the usual Greater Spotted Woodpecker type holes but there was also a much smaller hole, maybe a half or third or the size and much sharper/cleaner cut without the rounded entrance that the larger holes had. May well be nothing more than it's just a smaller hole but I wonder if it might suggest Lesser Spotted Woodpecker? Don't really know much about them or what their holes look like but it didn't look like the other woodpecker holes I've found and I know Lessers were said to be found in the woods a couple of miles east of here and this is a nice quiet wooded spot so who knows. I'll have to dedicate some time to looking in the area.
palval147
Well-known member
Another good birding morning, Fozzy.
Could the other nest hole be from a Nuthatch, they do nest in holes in trees?
All we saw today, well, we weren't actually birding, we were at a car boot sale, were Lots of Canada Geese, flying overhead, a few finches I couldn't identify & Pied Wagtails everywhere.
Could the other nest hole be from a Nuthatch, they do nest in holes in trees?
All we saw today, well, we weren't actually birding, we were at a car boot sale, were Lots of Canada Geese, flying overhead, a few finches I couldn't identify & Pied Wagtails everywhere.
Fozzybear
Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter
Interesting Val, though I don't think Nuthatches actually make holes themselves... but I could be wrong! If it's made by a Green or Greater Spotted Woodpecker then it's the neatest smallest hole I've ever seen made by one - even the shallow feeding holes in this tree had a worn edge around them but this one was perfect.
Really good to see lots of Wagtails Val.
Really good to see lots of Wagtails Val.
