Birds, Butties & Bugs

Half Century Birding

2012-01-30T11:47:00.002Z

For my 50th birthday I chose to spend the day with some birds, starting in Salthouse and Cley and making my way west to Titchwell and Thornham where the Barn and Short-eared Owls displayed in the fading light.
Highlights were the two sparring Rough-legged Buzzards and the flock of around 40 Lapland Buntings at Burnham Overy, 25+ Red-throated Divers at Cley, some Redpolls of various guises at Titchwell and overall around the 100 species for the day with the sun shining throughout. The "HB" Snow Bunting was pretty tame and came very close at Salthouse.
I can thoroughly recommend the White Horse at Brancaster Staithe where an ejoyable birthday concluded with a lovely meal of some Mullet & Monkfish washed with Adnam's ale.

El Sparrow and more

2012-01-16T08:41:00.003Z

A rare opportunity arose to visit the New Forest where a series of good-to-see birds have settled. The Spanish Sparrow at Calshot is no doubt a ship-assisted vagrant and the Dark-eyed Junco at nearby Hawkshill Enclosure could be too but never the less, two nice birds popular with visiting birders and in the case of the Sparrow, helping the locals in Calshot to raise money for local charities. Photography opportunities were'nt ideal so these images are of "ones I prepared earlier" taken in Israel and New Jersey. The best bird was however the male Crossbill that posed nicely in the winter sun.

On Reflection & Bully

2012-01-14T12:10:00.001Z

Hard frost and bright sunshine this morning tempted me out. The Water Rail on the river is a first for me, usually only heariung them or ocassionally seeing them on the settling lagoon.

Bullfinch is a bird I struggle to photgraph as they always hide amongst the tangle of branches. This was one of three females feeding on the buds of this hawthorn. Has the mild winter so far caused the bushes to come into bud already?

Baldie Update

2011-12-17T14:07:00.004Z

Back in July I stumbled across this nest which had two large, juvenile eagles in residence. This time with the daylight starting later and ending earlier, I was able to find an adult and then the pair roosting at their nest site first thing in the morning. I have discovered that the birds relocated from their earlier nest along Route 1 which had been blown down in a storm.

Also plenty of Red-tailed Hawks and a silent high-speed Cooper's Hawk chasing a Grey Squirrel across the road. The squirrel managed to live to see another day and the hawk vanished as quickly as it had arrived..

Butter Butts

2011-12-17T13:59:00.001Z

The Myrtle Warblers are plenty this time of year around the trees and thickets on my morning walk to-from work. They were'nt there in July.

Sharpie near Bath

2011-12-05T18:07:00.001Z

At last I've found an advantage of Imogen being at Uni! This long-staying Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Chew in Somerset was so close it would have been rude to not pop in and see it. Also a winter plumaged Spotted Sandpiper.

Beanies

2011-11-27T15:01:00.001Z

Four Tundra Bean Geese turned up at Cainhoe in 2009 and at the same site three have now taken up residence. I wonder if this could be same parents now with a single juvenile and before, they brought two surviving young to the site?

White-fronts

2011-11-12T10:06:00.001Z

Ten White-fronted Geese in the field north of Gypsy Lane this morning. I checked yesterday morning and couldn't find them.

Roe Deer

2011-11-08T09:13:00.001Z

Sadly too murky to photograph the Short-eared Owls and Hen Harrier. Burwell Fen on Sunday afternoon.

Knot Study

2011-10-25T10:50:00.003+01:00

A day out on the coast allowed some time to watch the Knot feeding along the shoreline.

Jay

2011-10-22T16:07:00.003+01:00

Busy time of year for the local Jays.

Macro Monsters

2011-10-22T16:05:00.002+01:00

I wouldn't normally get this close to a Hornet but this one had succumbed. The bug was similarly impressive although species unknown until now. Seems this is known as a "western conifer seedbug" and is an introduced species.

Suffolk for Breakfast

2011-10-06T15:00:00.002+01:00

Followed by a welcome breakfast in Woodbridge. I could say that I managed to stalk the bird to within close quarters to get my photograph but I'd be lying.

Rainbow Rising

2011-09-18T15:29:00.001+01:00

A short burst of dramatic weather yesterday evening along Wood Lane. A mniute later and the colour intensity had gone. The complete 180 degree arc was as vivid as this.

3 for 2 offer at Grafham

2011-09-14T20:15:00.002+01:00

At close quarters today - Sabine's Gull and two Grey Phalarope, all storm blown birds at Grafham. Shame I couldn't have got out earlier when the light was better.

barbastella

2011-09-08T17:10:00.002+01:00

Cambridgeshire and a new species for me. To be honest, I don't know much about bats and this could any species. Evidently, it is a Barbastelle Bat though and quite a rarity too.

Before I had a Canon

2011-08-29T14:57:00.005+01:00

Before I had a camera and I managed to see a good bird, I would often sketch or do a quick watercolour from an image of the bird in question. Very occassionally I would try a sketch from life in the field but to be honest, I'm rubbish.

The Subalpine Warbler was seen earlier in the month at New Holland in Essex and didn't provide any photographic opportunities so I decided upon a simple watercolour instead. The lower montage was from ten years ago where I recorded ten species of Tern in the country and added each to the picture. I haven't improved but I still enjoy.

Buteo variation

2011-08-29T14:51:00.004+01:00

The top bird is one of the breeding pair along the Ouse at Willington taken this morning. The second bird came in-off the sea in Norfolk last Wednesday and has a lot of Rough-legged Buzzard about it although I still think it is a variant Common Buzzard. What do you thnk ?

Autumn Already

2011-08-26T12:21:00.006+01:00

Autumn already !

Spoonies

2011-08-25T10:50:00.005+01:00

Nice to see Spoonbills doing well in Norfolk. Cley, Norfolk.

One Good Tern Deserves ..........

2011-08-22T10:48:00.007+01:00

Four Black Terns at the fishing lodge at Grafham this morning. A good opportunity to compare plumage details with the juvenile White-winged Black, it having a darker "saddle" than the juvenile Black Terns which have a dark smudge on the shoulder/breast.

White-winged Black

2011-08-18T13:21:00.002+01:00

Long stayer at Grafham.

Eagle Eyed

2011-08-17T18:56:00.003+01:00

My reflection! Eagle Owl now a year old, Willington.

NJ - late oddments

2011-08-13T13:16:00.003+01:00

White-breasted Nuthatch

Downy (ID as Hairy on BF but I think this is a Downy) Woodpecker

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

still working through my images and not much UK birding of late.

the inglorious twelfth

2011-08-12T15:59:00.003+01:00

Today is the inglorious 12th, the start of a four month grouse shooting season in the uplands of England and Scotland.

See here for an idea of the illegal activities that support this profitable practice :-

http://raptorpersecutionscotland.worldpress.com/2011/08/12/welcome-to-the-inglorious-twelfth/

NJ Selection Box

2011-07-23T13:06:00.012+01:00

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

Cedar Waxwing

Chipping Sparrow

Eastern Kingbird

Gray Catbird

Tree Swallow

Yellow Warbler.

New Jersey - Baldies

2011-07-22T09:23:00.009+01:00

Working away again in New Jersey during recent 100 degree heatwave, I took a late evening stroll from my hotel and chanced upon this nest with two fully grown juvenile Bald Eagles. I must say I wasn't expecting these within half a mile of my hotel and Interstate 1. I photographed them at the nest from the road in harsh light and then I popped back in the early morning to find one of the birds sat on the roof of a local house and then as I was walking back it landed in a tree above where I was standing - It seemed intrigued in me with and what I was doing with my 400mm and I wasn't complaining!

Bombus ruderatus

2011-07-02T17:23:00.004+01:00

A national rarity in my garden. Large Garden Bumble Bee - male of the dark form apparently.

Owl Activity

2011-07-02T09:29:00.004+01:00

Single BO active at 9pm last evening and also a Little Owl - my first up the lane this year.

That time of year again

2011-06-28T12:13:00.002+01:00

Great birds.

Holy Island

2011-06-26T14:52:00.005+01:00

A pilgramage all birders should try!

more close ups

2011-06-26T14:49:00.004+01:00

Still working through my images from the north east.

Easy Target

2011-06-19T20:33:00.001+01:00

This young Song Thrush had flown into my kitchen window and whilst it seemed to be unhurt, it took a few minutes to recover giving me enough time for some easy shots through the window.

Willington or Extremadura ?

2011-06-18T20:20:00.002+01:00

The barley field at Wood Lane became a purple patch on Saturday following a brief encounter with a female Montagu's Harrier. Whilst hoping the bird might still be around, Steve manages to hear a Quail calling - the first I've heard here in fifteen years of listening and hoping ! In evening sun the place it as it's best with an increase this year in farmland birds such as Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. What next ? Roller

Fish Sarnie

2011-06-16T08:47:00.002+01:00

Gave these birds more time this year as for some reason I have neglected them before.

Roseate Terns @ Coquet

2011-06-12T15:47:00.000+01:00

Breeding success continues at Coquet island's Roseate Tern colony using the innovative design of nest box and it is hoped that 100 breeding pairs will soon be recorded on the island. A good news story for a rare seabird.

Little Breeders

2011-06-12T15:31:00.000+01:00

Improved breeding perceived from my last visit in May 2008. Kittiwakes especially where they have seemed to have poor breeding success in recent seasons. Let's hope wet and windy conditions in the coming weeks don't spoil things.

Angel of the North

2011-06-10T18:32:00.001+01:00

Taste of the Farnes

2011-06-10T18:25:00.008+01:00

My fourth trip to the Farne Islands and I never tire of trying to photograph Puffin. They are lightening fast and the majority far too fast for me and my camera however, the occassional image can give pleasing results. This year there seems to be an ample supply of sandeels and the challenge for the incoming Puffin is to hit the burrow in one shot otherwise risk getting beaten up and mugged by the lazy Black-headed Gulls, or worse, the Black-backed brutes.

Stroke of Luck

2011-06-09T16:24:00.006+01:00

Sometimes you get a bit of luck, today being no exception. I was due to join the local RSPB group on their long weekend visit to the Farnes and Northumberland today and since this little beauty turned up on Monday, I had been hoping it would hang around for me to catch up with en-route. This it did, the bird disappearing before mid-day and then seen for a short period in the evening and then again the following morning. The gathered throng around the bowling green in Olive Street, Hartlepool grew to epic proportions early in the week where scenes of panic, joy, wall-climbing and commerardary have probably not been seen in Hartlepool since war-time! The first White-throated Robin to grace the UK was in 1983 on the Isle of Man, the second in 1990 on Skokholm island, this being the 3rd and 1st mainland twitchable bird.

A Swift Drink

2011-06-02T18:47:00.003+01:00

To photograph Swifts in Willington, I find it best to go to the village pub. This year the birds seemed to turn up late but on the plus side, there does seem to be more than there were last year and they're visiting their regular nests in the roof eaves.

Photographing them has always been challenging - a bit like trying to nail aliens in a PS3 game where I fail miserably and give up leaving the kids to trump my high score with ease. To track them in flight, I need them to be far enough away which then reduces IQ when I crop but when they are really close, my reactions are much too slow. I could blame my camera of course to strengthen my business case to fund a 7D ? Worth a try.

And the beer didn't improve my reactions or the image quality either although it was quite nice. I think I need more practice!

Turtle Dove

2011-05-24T20:33:00.002+01:00

A pleasant find along Wood Lane this evening. I didn't find any there last year so hopefully this ones hangs around and finds a mate. Almost scarcer than the oriental variety these days!

Slavs in May

2011-05-21T11:35:00.004+01:00

Beautiful birds at this time of year. The top image was taken a week or so back in Scotland from a public hide but today a spanking individual graced Priory CP and was keeping away from the dogs and speed boats.

Trauma at the Twitch

2011-05-15T13:15:00.004+01:00

Some wacky races around the lanes of Northants this morning trying to track down an illusive Black Stork. It had been flushed by dog walkers from it's orginal location and looked to have given prople the slip. After some news of it's relocation I eventually managed to catch up with it near Weedon Bec. The image of the Stork was not one I have taken this morning !

Grouse Sermon

2011-05-14T11:37:00.006+01:00

Using one of these to shoot Red Grouse has to be more challenging and rewarding than using one of these instead ..............

The wealth of species found on our moorlands in England and Scotland are a shadow of what they could be if only more money could be made by estates from shooters using the camera rather than the gun.

Twite

2011-05-14T10:56:00.003+01:00

Two confiding birds found feeding at a roadside stop at Dundonnell on the West Coast last week. These are no where common and finding them was a real treat.

a few Landscapes for a change.....

2011-05-12T18:31:00.000+01:00

Loch Maree
Lonemore

Poolewe

Loch Ewe

Gruinard Bay

Dundonnell

Sgurr Mor ??

Beinn Liath Bheag ??

Loch Droma

Summer Loonies

2011-05-11T09:10:00.007+01:00

Poor photos but great birds. Plenty of Great-northern Divers on the west coast of Scotland in their summer plume including a spanking White-billed at Burghead. Black-throated are my favourite though and have immaculate plumage this time of year.

Night at the Lek

2011-05-09T14:23:00.007+01:00

An indulgence on the Glenlivet Estate with these fantastic birds. Images alone don't do them justice.

Collared Flycatcher

2011-05-09T12:22:00.006+01:00

A timely find by David Roche at Holme in Norfolk. My drive home from Scotland was already diverted to Kings Lynn so this was a bird not to be missed!

Back with the Wagtails

2011-05-02T11:09:00.004+01:00

The light was good enough this morning to try using my 1.4x converter. I don't use it too often because AF with the pins taped with my 100-400mm IS rarely pays off but this morning I was glad I took it along. These birds are a joy to watch and photograph.

Hungry Family

2011-04-30T15:10:00.003+01:00

A pair of Grey Wagtail have nested this year in one of the doors at Willington Lock resulting in frantic parents being disturbed from the nest everytime a boat opens or closes the lock. Crazy birds but they seem to be doing OK so far and theres no shortage of food.

Brand New Demoiselle

2011-04-30T15:08:00.003+01:00

Newly emerged and drying it's wings.

Easter Wanderings

2011-04-25T12:09:00.007+01:00

Good weather birding.

Blue-ee

2011-04-25T09:34:00.005+01:00

This cracking bird spending a fruitless second spring on territory at Welney. I didn't manage to visit last year but the little beauty showed very nicely yesterday morning once the sun had decided to come out. If only a female would drop in..........

Grasshopper Warbler

2011-04-22T10:21:00.011+01:00

Good to see Grasshopper Warblers in the village this spring following two or three years where they had seemed to have vanished. A full selection of warblers this morning with the exception of Lesser Whitethroat which doesn't seem to have arrived yet. The local male Cuckoo has also returned - wonder if he's as glad to see me as I am to see him ?

Hornet

2011-04-16T12:59:00.005+01:00

I don't like getting too close to these beasts despite finding them fascinating. Fortunately the 400mm and a heavy crop gave me safe range and didn't bring the goose-bumps out too much!

Avocets @ Willington

2011-04-10T16:45:00.004+01:00

On the 16th March I recorded my first Avocet at Willington, this morning I found two there. Two had been seen earlier in the morning at the Brick Pits so it seems they had relocated to here. Poor shots but good birds for Willington.

Garden Birds

2011-04-09T12:31:00.004+01:00

I tend to take for granted the diversity of birds I can see from my garden living close to the river here in Willington. As well as the local Barnacle Geese, I had a pair of Shelduck fly low over the garden last evening in the lovely light. Best fly-over birds seen over the years include Whimbrel, Kingfisher, Barn Owl, Raven, Merlin and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.

Close Ups

2011-03-29T10:31:00.005+01:00

Lost Property

2011-03-29T10:27:00.003+01:00

River Ouse, Willington.

Super Mooning

2011-03-20T11:37:00.005Z

The closest we have been to the moon in the past 19 years apparently and supposedly looking

625 miles closer to us than it did last month. News reports said that it would appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter when it rose last night but I think some of this is an illusion. Nice moon though, I wouldn't be without it.

There are some scientists who believe that close lunar influence can be the trigger that impacts seismic activity on planet earth, as seen recently off the shores of Japan.

Spring is Sprung

2011-03-18T12:17:00.001Z

Devonshire

2011-02-24T14:36:00.007Z

A few hours to spare in Devon this week..........

Orientalis

2011-02-19T13:08:00.003Z

Having eluded hundreds of birders on Tuesday, the Oriental Turtle Dove duly obliged this morning in the dull, wet garden of number 41. Chipping Norton, Oxon.

It Went That Way

2011-02-17T10:21:00.002Z

Fun and games in Chipping Norton.

I Saw a Rare Bird

2011-02-06T11:56:00.002Z

What happens when the tragically uniformed meet the regretably uptight. Funny!

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8226531/

Odd One Out

2011-01-09T16:49:00.004Z

I count the flock of naturalised Barnacle Geese at Willington every month and can't say I've seen this one before.

Searching on the web and advice from others suggests a blue-phase Ross's Goose. The bird's facial features don't necessarily point at the initial instinct I had of a hybrid including Barnacle Goose parentage. See the bird here :-

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qvdKbpOwlQw/TSnnNABF6jI/AAAAAAAADLk/EYqtfRgHCjM/s1600/goose-1b-01-11.jpg

I wonder where it's fence-hopped from? It's not a Danish Camp bird.

Stewartby

2011-01-02T18:56:00.003Z

Digi-snap of one of the four Scaup from a fleeting visit to Stewartby lake today. A good selection of local birds seen with Bittern and Red-throated Diver being the best of the bunch.

Red Letter Day

2010-12-29T16:52:00.003Z

In the Telegraph , Ricky Ponting announced that he thought that the Ashes trophy urn should travel to the winning nation rather than remain locked up in the Lords Museum. Funny really as his wishes will be truly granted and the urn will remain in situ !

Geoffrey Boycott reports - "England Brilliant. Now on to Syndney and let's beat the buggers again."

Iced Up

2010-12-29T16:09:00.004Z

A late WeBs count for Willington this month to reduce the impact on disturbance in such harsh conditions. I found that the Main & Fishing lake were iced at 95% with only a small pool of open water remaining on the latter with the Main Lake totally frozen and devoid of birdlife. The open water was unfortunately close to the access causeway which meant that every dog walker resulted in putting the birds up, burning calories that they cant easily replace.

I counted 178 Wigeon and only a handful of Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Pochard. A single Great-crested Grebe, Greylag and Mute Swan with a count of 52 Coot. For the first time in many years, no Barnacle Geese were on site.

Thank goodness for the thaw which has now set in ! Count taken on Monday 27th.

Who you calling Long Ears ?

2010-12-24T11:05:00.002Z

Spending a winter convalescence with my Brother in Baldock.

Willington Wonderland

2010-12-19T12:19:00.010Z

I decided not to do my WeBs count at the lakes this morning as to avoid disturbance when the birds are struggling to survive. Can't get the car out the drive so a few images around the village captured instead - snow like this is a novelty and I couldn't resist a few pictures. Like a scene from the Narnia chronicles !

Hoare Frost Willington

2010-12-07T14:43:00.006Z

Nordic Invaders

2010-11-28T12:46:00.009Z

A rare venture out of late to Woburn where eighteen Waxwing were posing along Leighton Street. Superb birds aren't they ?

A Morning in Texas

2010-11-08T17:03:00.015Z

Marsh Wren
Loggerhead Shrike

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

White-faced Ibis

Lincoln's Sparrow

Field Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrows

Eastern Meadowlark

Chipping Sparrow

American Wigeon

Following a request placed on BirdForum I was pleased to be able to get a morning's birding in whilst on my second business trip of the year to the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex.

Dallas is not helpful to those who attempt to bird on foot as I soon aroused suspicion with local security when I went for a morning walk before sunrise (07:30am). I was reminded of 9/11, clearly standing out from the rest because I had chosen to walk rather than use a car.

Anyway, two very helpful birders from the local Audubon society had agreed to take me out to somewhere more rural where some birding could be had and I am indebted to Laura and Susan who collected me from my hotel and showed me around Arlington.

The Trinity River water treatment pools covered a vast area and held many birds. the morning had been cold and the mists hung over the river and the first frost was still remaining as the sun warmed and threatened a very nice day, around 65 degrees fahrenheit.

Double-crested Cormorants flew over and an Eastern Phoebe wagged it's tail close to the entrance track. Susan drove her SUV around the perimiter of many of the open water pools which could be viewed with ease. Wildfowl numbers were good with Northern Shoveler and Green-winged Teal most common. Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail and a few Pied-billed Grebe, Redhead, Ruddy Duck and Bufflehead were picked up amongst the hundreds of American Coot. A few Shorebirds included Least Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipe, Long-billed Dowitchers, Kildeer and a single Greater Yellowlegs.

I was keen to scrutinise the throngs of Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles that were moving around as there were likely to be other Blackbird species to be seen. Laura picked up two Rusty Blackbirds in a small shrub alongside two Great-tailed Grackles.

My first Marsh Wren was also picked up singing by Laura and showed well for the camera whilst sparrow species were narrowed to White-crowned and Savannah. I had already managed to see White-throated, White-crowned, Chipping, Field and Lincoln's around the hotel & office area of Irving earlier in the week.

A single American Kestrel and Loggerhead Shrike patrolled the pools and at least half a dozen Eastern Meadowlarks were seen in the grass fields, a declining species in the region. as we were about to head back, Laura picked up a single White-faced Ibis, a species very similar to our Glossy Ibis seen back home.

From here Susan drove to an adjacent refuge / park close to the Trinity River which provided more woodland habitat. the birds were very active and a small flock of passerines included Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Ruby & Golden-crowned Kinglets, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers along with my first Blue-headed Vireo. Northern Flicker and Brown Creeper played hide-and-seek on a dead tree and a Carolina Wren replayed it's evocative song.

A further walk along the trail around the mature woodlands also provided both Red-bellied Woodpecker and three Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. En-route back to my hotel in Irving, Susan dropped in to a residential site where Inca Dove were often seen but no-show today. Back to my hotel for 1pm ready for the journey back to the airport and my flight to Heathrow. A big thank-you to Laura and Susan for allowing my trip to include some Texas birding rather than be all-work and no-play.

Tex-Mex Grackle-fest

2010-11-08T11:06:00.005Z

Back to working in Texas, this time with my DSLR. The Great-tailed Grackles congregate in the evenings in their hundreds and thousands around the car lots and restaurant areas resembling a scene from Hitchcock's "The Birds". Evening light and the birds queueing to bath made for some photo opportunities.

Garden Woodie

2010-10-24T11:12:00.003+01:00

A chance picture through the kitchen window yesterday afternoon. The IS seemed to cope well with a hand-held shot at only 1/30th second. I couldn't get a shot of the bright male Brambling that was also around.

Toucan Test

2010-10-21T20:07:00.006+01:00

A short test to see that my problem still exists with images edited from Lightroom and "Opened In" Adobe CS3 as Tiff images compared with images exported to jpg directly from LR Library as RAW. The latter option gives the "correct" result and upper images.

I can't see why the former option looks identical in LR and CS3 but when uploaded to my Blog looks god-awful (lower image).

Tales of Old

2010-10-15T12:35:00.004+01:00

A good freind has lent me an old leather bound copy of " An Illustrated Manual of British Birds" by Howard Saunders (1889) and it makes interesting reading. In those days Leica and Swarovski must have served the avid birder with firearms rather than optics !

The entry for The Common Buzzard reads as follows :-

As regards the British Islands, the epithet "common" is annually becoming less and less applicable to this species; but there are wild and wooded districts in England - especially on the western side - and in Wales, where the bird may still be seen circling high in air, and be heard uttering it's plaintive mewing cry. Fifty years ago it used to breed in Norfolk and in other counties abounding with partridges and grouse-game, without being considered incompatible with their existence; but with the increase of Pheasant-worship the doom of the Buzzard sealed, for the larger the "Hawk" the worse it must necessarily be !

And 150 years later the contest continues but the trusty Buzzard is bouncing back. Long may it last.

And here is what Saunders has to say about the Eagle Owl :-

Occurrences in Great Britain of this large and handsome species have from time to time been recorded; but some of these are known - while others may be suspected - to refer to examples which have escaped from that semi-captivity in which this Owl is often kept. Birds which were probably genuine migrants from Northern Europe have, however, been obtained, at long intervals, in the Orkney and Shetland Islands and on the mainland of Scotland; while in England, besides other records, a female showed no sign of having been in confinement was shot near Stamford in Lincolnshire, in April 1879.

And for the Great Auk whose demise was tracked in 1840 as follows :-

Mr Henry Evans, who has repeatedly visted the St Kilda group, has collected strong evidence that about 1840 a bird was secured on the grassy slopes of Stack-an-Armin, being killed three days afterwards as a witch, in consequence of a storm which frightened it's captors !

Skies over Burnham Overy

2010-10-15T10:26:00.006+01:00

Stormy skies over Burnham Overy.

Autumn Birds

2010-10-10T11:35:00.003+01:00

Plenty of continental thrushes feeding this morning in the village including a female Ring Ouzel amongst the Redwing. A male Siskin and this Jay were nice to watch too.

Long-tailed Tit

2010-09-25T14:15:00.004+01:00

Lovely light this morning. A kettle of six vocal Common Buzzards just north of the river and plenty of Long-tailed Tit family feeding parties.

Migrant Hawkers

2010-09-18T14:07:00.004+01:00

River Ouse.

Shameful Twitch

2010-09-14T09:40:00.002+01:00

Birding this year has been poor for me as I've not been able to get out as much as I'd have liked. The weekend was looking "busy" but if this little blighter at Holme NWT stuck around long enough I might be able to squeeze in a lightening visit. Arctic Warbler as a mainland bird that hangs around is a rare event so shameful as the dash&tick might be, I ought to give it a go.
Luckily the bird obliged after a short wait and a guy named Colin shared me an image he took.
Personally I struggled to watch the bird let alone get any photgraphs so thanks Colin.

Image of Arctic Warbler at Holme dunes at the weekend, copyright Colin.

The Observer's Book of Birds

2010-08-30T17:58:00.007+01:00

In 1969 I was bought my first bird book - The Observer's Book of Birds. Whilst I never of course questioned the accuracy of the text as a mere seven year old, I did marvel at why I didn't see hawfinch in my garden as the book described them as being rare but widely distributed, especially in gardens.
Of all the species described in the book, only one had eluded me from being seen in Great Britain - until this weekend when Kentish Plover could after forty one years, be ticked. This has led me to smile at some of the changes over these past forty years using my 1969 edition as reference.

Chough are said to exist in the extreme south west of England and thankfully that is again true.

Lesser Redpoll was then more abundant in the north rather than non-existant in the south as is now the case !

Cirl Bunting were present in southern Britain but nowhere as common as Yellowhammers. I lived in the south but could never find one but I did scrutinise every Yellowhammer just in case.

Tree Sparrows avoid the dwellings of man which is undoubtedly why I never saw them in trees around my house despite much looking as a young boy.

Meadow Pipits are also known as Titlarks. Are they ?

Willow Tits were exactly like Marsh Tits or almost so by all account. This scared me as to how I would know if I found one as a boy and if I'm honest, still does now.

Marsh Warbler gets a full page and b&w plate whilst Cetti's Warbler fails to get a mention. just as well I didn't see one then.

Yellow-browed, Barred or Icterine Warblers didn't exist in those days but Ortolan Bunting could be seen migrating, cheifly at the coast.

Red-backed Shrike happily bred as a summer visitor although I never knew where despite going fishing at the blue and green lagoons in Arlesey which I think was their last breeding site in Beds. A candidate for reintroduction I reckon.

Wrynecks were mostly seen in the south east of England in summer rather than on the east coast in autumn.

Red Kites were only found in parts of Wales and White-tailed Eagle was only a rare visitor to our east coast.

Osprey was a scarce migrant usually to the east coast.

Marsh Harrier - the rarest of the three harrier species found in Britain. Now they are widespread and by far the most common of the three.

Goshawks weren't invented and were probably misidentified as Sparrowhawks (!)

Spoonbills were mere migrants and Cranes and Little Egrets were unknown.

Avocets were considered mainly as migrants and winter visitors rather than breeding despite re-establishment in 1946.

Spotted Redshanks were uncommon migrants and Temminck's Stints didn't get a mention.

Little Ringed Plover were now breeding in gravel-pits in the home counties. I lived in the home counties but I never knew where to look.

No mention in 1969 of Corncrakes being restricted to the Scottish extremities.

Collared Dove barely gets a mention whilst Turtle Dove is afforded a full colour plate but best of all and most poignant, the Kentish Plover then nested in a small area of the south coast and on Sunday could only be found at Eyebrook reservoir and a couple of other coastal sites I can't remember.

I wonder what the next forty years will bring ?

Trichomonosis again

2010-08-30T15:52:00.003+01:00

Despite thoroughly cleaning my feeding area with strong disinfectant, I've seen Greenfinch and Chaffinch in recent weeks dying from this awful disease. Details can be found on the following RSPB web pages with instructions of what to do. http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.aspx

Sewage-works Shrike

2010-08-30T15:39:00.006+01:00

A revisit to the RBS at Biggleswade STW, this time with scope and camera. This time the birders were gathered in the regular feeding corner the bird had frequented on Friday so I guess the bird was further away along the railway line and not wanting to return to where it seems to favour. I'm sure it will come back and will give better views though.

The bird was too far away to digiscope - the lower image being the best I could get through the scope and the upper image with my 400mm plus 1x4 converter.

Kentish Plover

2010-08-29T12:43:00.005+01:00

A species I've not tried to see in the UK before now but this one at Eyebrook seemed settled and was relatively close to home. The bird seems to have an injured left eye.

As a Pectoral Sandpiper was also in residence, I wondered the possibilities of this being a Snowy Plover and an American rather than European vagrant ?

Willington's Buzzards

2010-08-27T12:02:00.004+01:00

Lot's of mewing from the young birds which have fledged this summer north of the river with adults seen bringing remains of rabbits.

Boat Trip - Willington

2010-08-22T11:38:00.004+01:00

Having seen more of the Kingfishers on the river in the past few days I decided to take a boat out this morning to try and pin them down. I saw three, possibly four birds, undoubtedly a family group which I'm pleased have bred but I need to put much more work in to get any half-decent photographs.

What was a surprise was what I at first thought was a Sparrowhawk, but which turned out to be a perched Cuckoo. Not the regular male bird from earlier in the season but a female type (possible juvenile ?) which may just be a passage bird rather than evidence of local breeding this year.

Late Brood

2010-08-19T15:22:00.005+01:00

These Reed Warblers were still feeding young. Each time one of the adults flew into the reed clump, the high pitched sounds from the young could be heard - I assume still in the nest which seems very late in the season ?

Silver-spotted Skipper

2010-08-18T17:49:00.004+01:00

It's a while since I tried photgraphing butterflies and the Silver-spotted Skipper has been one I have omitted to try for in the UK. Until today that is at Aston Rowant NR where the sun bought this one out close to the car park. My first day out in ages.

TL15A

2010-08-15T10:41:00.002+01:00

Having lost the regular pair of Little Owls in the south of the village following the cold winter, I'm now enjoying watching a pair closer to home. There are two birds but I'm not sure they bred ?

Woken this morning to the Common Buzzard's out training their two young with mewing and circling over the garden. A fly through Hobby over the garden was my first for some weeks too.

Single Kingfisher on the river - they have been difficult to find this year compared to previous years. I guess the winter has hit them really hard.

Hopper

2010-08-11T17:03:00.002+01:00

Oak Bush-cricket. Female I think.

Still in the Garden

2010-08-09T12:20:00.002+01:00

Still not getting much further than the garden but there's plenty to try and photograph. Need to get a proper macro lens though.

Southern Hawker

2010-07-29T16:29:00.003+01:00

This magnificant beast had a damaged wing and therefore presented a static subject at the garden pond.

Monster

2010-07-25T12:15:00.002+01:00

I'd forgotten how close my old coolpix could get to things like this Lesser Stag Beetle.

Garden Blue

2010-07-24T10:58:00.003+01:00

Common Blue in the Garden on on 19th, about as far as my camera has taken me in recent weeks.

Fierce

2010-07-09T18:37:00.002+01:00

I've not seen Peregrine this close before and I was not dissapointed. Fantastic birds two from the local brood of three needing a helping hand to fly the nest. The Raptor Foundation in Cambridgeshire did the job of feeding her up and thankfully this girl took back to being fed by it's parents to hopefully grace the skies over Willington !