A visit today to the owd patch that is Venus Pool, resulted in Osprey, a Little Egret, Green Woodpecker & Kingfisher supplying some colour on an otherwise dreary, grey morning.... But star bird was a male Sparrowhawk which hunted like a Hobby & succesfully caught a House Martin whilst in flight!!
I was hoping for a tern to drop in, or a decent wader, due to the heavy rain storm passing over.... but nothing did... sadly!
Ah well, it's Friday, it's also payday... what to do?..... Hmmmm.... Ah, I know ~ the pub it is!!!
Friday, 24 July 2009
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Back to the south county birding scene!!....
The one good thing (& pretty much the only good thing) about having just one day off in between two weeks of solid shift work is that you make the most of that one day!!
Quietly glad I turned down an offer of a lift to Kent at around 11:30am yesterday, as if I'd taken the kind offer, I would've dipped the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater & therefore wasted a days holiday!! I do however genuinely feel for all those who arrived after 2:30pm & dipped that stunning bird!!!
So, today I enjoyed a brief lie in bed with Mand before heading off down the A49 to Clunton. Thankfully, to relieve the stress of driving down what must be Shropshire's most frustrating road, I'd recorded a compilation CD for the car, so I had The Enemy, The Prodigy, Oasis & The Damned to keep my stress levels under control...
Arrival at Bury Ditches looked good, fairly empty carpark, blue skies etc... I set off along the main track from the carpark (not the one that leads to the fort), the sun was shining, a cool breeze, it was all very nice indeed. I was quite enjoying the stroll, the fresh air, peace & quiet, alone with my thoughts.... quite unlike me to be so chilled & 'not giving a shite', especially when out looking for a bird I must've spent somewhere in the region of 20+hrs searching for in the first few months of the year, across many 'likely' sites & drawing a blank every time!!!
Not today though, as soon as I'd got near the far plantation I could hear them calling!! Then 1 flew across the track, directly over my head - a Crossbill!!!
I probably ended up seeing at least 5 birds, all in flight, although some birds were calling just out of sight in the woodland, but I couldn't be arsed to go in & look for them, besides.... a light rain began to fall... so, I decided to head back to the car. The rain soon became a downpour, by the time I reached the Argo I was drenched!! Still, well worth the soaking for another bird now off the 'dip list' & onto the yearlist!!! 162 species now & still some bankers to get!!
Decided against a VP visit as I neared home as the skies were clear, the storm obviously moving away from central Shropshire. A Merlin flew across the A49 just outside of Bayston Hill, flew from the direction of Lyth Hill, but still a surprise to see one, even though I have had Merlin west of my house in the past.
Right then, shall I now score Gropper?.... Unlikely, but I shall certainly be going for another try... Plus I still need to try & drop lucky on the 2 Crane's that are still lurking around the north of the county, Little Owl still remains elusive for myself, plus Mandarin still to get....
But 5 year ticks in July!!!??... That's pretty awesome, especially as I was on 157 when July began!!!
Quietly glad I turned down an offer of a lift to Kent at around 11:30am yesterday, as if I'd taken the kind offer, I would've dipped the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater & therefore wasted a days holiday!! I do however genuinely feel for all those who arrived after 2:30pm & dipped that stunning bird!!!
So, today I enjoyed a brief lie in bed with Mand before heading off down the A49 to Clunton. Thankfully, to relieve the stress of driving down what must be Shropshire's most frustrating road, I'd recorded a compilation CD for the car, so I had The Enemy, The Prodigy, Oasis & The Damned to keep my stress levels under control...
Arrival at Bury Ditches looked good, fairly empty carpark, blue skies etc... I set off along the main track from the carpark (not the one that leads to the fort), the sun was shining, a cool breeze, it was all very nice indeed. I was quite enjoying the stroll, the fresh air, peace & quiet, alone with my thoughts.... quite unlike me to be so chilled & 'not giving a shite', especially when out looking for a bird I must've spent somewhere in the region of 20+hrs searching for in the first few months of the year, across many 'likely' sites & drawing a blank every time!!!
Not today though, as soon as I'd got near the far plantation I could hear them calling!! Then 1 flew across the track, directly over my head - a Crossbill!!!
I probably ended up seeing at least 5 birds, all in flight, although some birds were calling just out of sight in the woodland, but I couldn't be arsed to go in & look for them, besides.... a light rain began to fall... so, I decided to head back to the car. The rain soon became a downpour, by the time I reached the Argo I was drenched!! Still, well worth the soaking for another bird now off the 'dip list' & onto the yearlist!!! 162 species now & still some bankers to get!!
Decided against a VP visit as I neared home as the skies were clear, the storm obviously moving away from central Shropshire. A Merlin flew across the A49 just outside of Bayston Hill, flew from the direction of Lyth Hill, but still a surprise to see one, even though I have had Merlin west of my house in the past.
Right then, shall I now score Gropper?.... Unlikely, but I shall certainly be going for another try... Plus I still need to try & drop lucky on the 2 Crane's that are still lurking around the north of the county, Little Owl still remains elusive for myself, plus Mandarin still to get....
But 5 year ticks in July!!!??... That's pretty awesome, especially as I was on 157 when July began!!!
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Another Gropper Hunt!!!
For some strange reason I just couldn't sleep last night, strange in as much by midnight I was knackered, due to being unable to sleep the previous night!!... I woke at 4am and after a quick visit to the bog & then another to the kitchen for a cold drink, I decided I'd disturbed Mand enough, a girl who does love her 'eight hours a night', so I though as I'm up.....
Paul Barker had sent me a text last week informing me of a reeling Gropper at an 'undisclosed' location.... so, I though what the hell & decided to try my luck.... once again!!!
Initially the weather looked okay, but on arrival a mist had rolled in & soon enough a slow rain began to fall (which progressively got worse!!).
For some reason I'd got the opening line from the song 'Cock The Hammer' by Cypress Hill... only with a tweak to the lyrics... 'I'm on a Gropper hunt lookin' for a Gropper, get paranoid when I cant hear one reelin'!!!'....
Undettered I remained vigilant... After an hour the mist had thickened & the rain worsened!!! Sod it. Bed now seemed a much nicer option.... I left tired, but in okay spirits, I aint given up on this bird yet this year, now so close to my target I need to add every species possible!!...
Day off Thursday, where to go?.... Whixall for possiblity of Crane & possibly a Marsh Harrier?.... South of county to try for Crossbill (gotta be a good bet now with the influx of the species)... Still need Mandarin (have a breeding site though, so no worries here!!)....
Dunno yet.... 9 species required, 4 or 5 species available in the county, just need some free time & more importantly, some good luck!!!
Paul Barker had sent me a text last week informing me of a reeling Gropper at an 'undisclosed' location.... so, I though what the hell & decided to try my luck.... once again!!!
Initially the weather looked okay, but on arrival a mist had rolled in & soon enough a slow rain began to fall (which progressively got worse!!).
For some reason I'd got the opening line from the song 'Cock The Hammer' by Cypress Hill... only with a tweak to the lyrics... 'I'm on a Gropper hunt lookin' for a Gropper, get paranoid when I cant hear one reelin'!!!'....
Undettered I remained vigilant... After an hour the mist had thickened & the rain worsened!!! Sod it. Bed now seemed a much nicer option.... I left tired, but in okay spirits, I aint given up on this bird yet this year, now so close to my target I need to add every species possible!!...
Day off Thursday, where to go?.... Whixall for possiblity of Crane & possibly a Marsh Harrier?.... South of county to try for Crossbill (gotta be a good bet now with the influx of the species)... Still need Mandarin (have a breeding site though, so no worries here!!)....
Dunno yet.... 9 species required, 4 or 5 species available in the county, just need some free time & more importantly, some good luck!!!
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
A Personal Best!!!!
Oh yeah it feels good & all thanks to ze Guru finding an adult summer pl. Mediterranean Gull at Mire Lake at 16:45pm today!!!
I raced there like a lunatic... in rain showers, stupid arseole' drivers and cattle crossing the road in time to arrive at Mire for Andy to tell me the bird had just flown to the east end of the pool!!.... Back in the car, already soaked, tripod smashing the crap out of my new Argo Mk.II dash.... just to reverse out onto the road, virtually blind, thanks to rain & the car steaming up, only to look up & see Andy frantically waving at me.... Pulled forward again, grabbed my gear (more scuffs to the dash!!), only for Andy to say "it's f**ked off back to the other end.... at least it's still here mate!!"...
Jeez!!! Back in the Argo Mk.II & offf to the east end of ze lake..... With the sodding rain now lashing down, I parked up, legged it up the bank.... lens now drenched too, & scanned the 200+ strong flock of gulls on the north side of the island.....
.... & there he/she was... in full pristine glory, an ad. summer pl. Mediterranean Gull!!! Bird No. 161 on my county year list & a new personal county best!!!
Yeah, I'm chuffed as f**k!!! Every bird now just improves the list..... Just 9 more for 170 too!! With 4 bankers also!!...
I raced there like a lunatic... in rain showers, stupid arseole' drivers and cattle crossing the road in time to arrive at Mire for Andy to tell me the bird had just flown to the east end of the pool!!.... Back in the car, already soaked, tripod smashing the crap out of my new Argo Mk.II dash.... just to reverse out onto the road, virtually blind, thanks to rain & the car steaming up, only to look up & see Andy frantically waving at me.... Pulled forward again, grabbed my gear (more scuffs to the dash!!), only for Andy to say "it's f**ked off back to the other end.... at least it's still here mate!!"...
Jeez!!! Back in the Argo Mk.II & offf to the east end of ze lake..... With the sodding rain now lashing down, I parked up, legged it up the bank.... lens now drenched too, & scanned the 200+ strong flock of gulls on the north side of the island.....
.... & there he/she was... in full pristine glory, an ad. summer pl. Mediterranean Gull!!! Bird No. 161 on my county year list & a new personal county best!!!
Yeah, I'm chuffed as f**k!!! Every bird now just improves the list..... Just 9 more for 170 too!! With 4 bankers also!!...
Monday, 13 July 2009
160 Up!!!!
Yeah, I'm still here, still birding.... But look, it's July ~ a pretty crap month to bird!!!
However.... 2 year ticks for me today.... and both were belters!!!
First off, due to the species involved, I cannot say where I went... Only that I went there this evening along with ze Guru & Dave Western, we met Paul Barker just after 9pm on location.... We set off for 'ze spot'!! Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening rain, which thankfully never came.... actually, it was surprising mild & calm with pretty good half-light.
After waiting just a few minutes I clocked the first of our targets - an adult Long-eared Owl in flight!!! Awesome, only the second time I've seen one in Shropshire!!!
Elated having scored so quick we set off again arriving at our next 'spot' just a few moments later... It was Paul who located the second of our target birds - a Nightjar!!!! Flying in front of us only 20 odd feet away at one point!! Brillaint, my 4th county tick for the year & 160 species, equalling last years total, my highest ever... every tick now is a new personal best!!! (I'm still a full 6 species behind ze Guru though!!!)....
Excellent stuff & I still have 6 odd relatively easyish birds to tick!!.... So, 170??.... Maybe!! ;~)
However.... 2 year ticks for me today.... and both were belters!!!
First off, due to the species involved, I cannot say where I went... Only that I went there this evening along with ze Guru & Dave Western, we met Paul Barker just after 9pm on location.... We set off for 'ze spot'!! Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening rain, which thankfully never came.... actually, it was surprising mild & calm with pretty good half-light.
After waiting just a few minutes I clocked the first of our targets - an adult Long-eared Owl in flight!!! Awesome, only the second time I've seen one in Shropshire!!!
Elated having scored so quick we set off again arriving at our next 'spot' just a few moments later... It was Paul who located the second of our target birds - a Nightjar!!!! Flying in front of us only 20 odd feet away at one point!! Brillaint, my 4th county tick for the year & 160 species, equalling last years total, my highest ever... every tick now is a new personal best!!! (I'm still a full 6 species behind ze Guru though!!!)....
Excellent stuff & I still have 6 odd relatively easyish birds to tick!!.... So, 170??.... Maybe!! ;~)
Friday, 3 July 2009
Madeira ~ The Final Day's....
Oh yeah, there's something I did forget to mention in my previous two post's, if you should ever want to study Yellow-legged Gull's, especially comparing them to the similar Herring, then Funchal harbour is the place to do it, as Yellow-legged Gull outnumber Herring by easily 10-1!!!...
Anyway.... back to the job at hand... After our brilliant day on the boat we enjoyed a couple of day's being shown around Funchal by my parents, no real time for any birding & thwarted by limited bus timetable (& mainly where the buses travel to), and the extortianate taxi prices getting to any key sites looked to be just too awkward (we needed to get high into the mountains for any chance of Trocaz Pigeon & Rock Sparrow)...
I did have a pipit sp. fly over calling one day which was most probably Bertholot's Pipit, but as I was in no way certain I couldn't possibly count it.... However...
I was sat relaxing outside my condo, enjoying a cold beer & a smoke when I saw what looked to be an egret sp. fly off the sea & land in a tree just beyond the complex boundary wall.... As my bins were rarely more than 2ft. from me I grabbed tham & looked into the tree where I saw the bird land, & to my utter surprise there was an adult. Squacco Heron!!! A lifer for me & also quite a rare bird for Madeira (since arriving home I have contacted the Madeira rare bird recorder & submitted my report & the piccie below....)
Not brilliant, but a fairly okay pic of the Squacco Heron I found just off my complex!! The bird remained around 1 hour before vanishing!! Nice bird though & always a great feeling 'finding' your own lifer!!!....
The only other bird of note was one day myself & my Dad after some effort trying to get up to the 'higher ground', managed only to get to the Botanical Gardens, however this was a worth while trip as after a half hour wait or so I got pretty good views of 3 Madeira Firecrest!! My 1st real endemic & obviously another lifer!!!
So, how do I sum up Madeira? Well, it aint really a young persons place nor somewhere to go birding as there are very few bird sp. on the island & even then you need to travel, which is at best awkward on Madeira, in order to stand a chance to get them...
However, it's a very clean, tidy island, weather is sound and the people exceptionally friendly... the food is excellent and the boat trips a must!!!
I didn't get a Trocaz Pigeon, Bertholot's Pipit, Madeira Storm-petrel nor Rock Sparrow, but hey ~ as with Florida last year, I was totally green, my first visit & not on a birding holiday....
Well, I guess it's back to the county birding scene for me now.... July is normally a pretty dead month for birding, but as I have done such a spectacular job of dipping stuff recently (Gropper now dipped seven times!!!... Plus Nightjar now on the dip list too!!...), not to mention that the 2 Common Cranes seem to have returned to the county, I have some stuff to chase after & attempt to grip back!!!
Half way trough 2009 & my county yearlist is at 158 species, which, at the start of the year I'd have been ecstatic with, but I could so easily have been around 165+ mark now.... so I'm actually kindda disappointed....
That said... this is now the 2nd best county yearlist I've achieved, plus 3 more year ticks will make it my personal best.... so, that cant be too bad can it?
I have also decided that this shall be my final year of 'listing'!!! The reason? Well, I simply dont have either the spare time to chase across the county nor the finances to fund it!! As I went into 2009 knowing this I wanted to set myself a 'gettable' goal... Obviously doing a notable UK yearlist was well out of my reach, so that's why I decided to do a decent county list (if only my luck was as keen as I am!!).... I shall therefore, for the forseeable future at least, be a non-listing county birder... & as with all ex listers/twitchers (the 2 go hand in hand really, listing & twitching that is, I've already travelled around 5000 miles around Shropshire chasing 'ticks' this year!!! Whats that if not twithching?), I shall no doubt be one of those bitter & twisted birders that go around moaning & slagging off twitchers!!! ;~)
(Me!!! Moan??!!)...
Anyway.... back to the job at hand... After our brilliant day on the boat we enjoyed a couple of day's being shown around Funchal by my parents, no real time for any birding & thwarted by limited bus timetable (& mainly where the buses travel to), and the extortianate taxi prices getting to any key sites looked to be just too awkward (we needed to get high into the mountains for any chance of Trocaz Pigeon & Rock Sparrow)...
I did have a pipit sp. fly over calling one day which was most probably Bertholot's Pipit, but as I was in no way certain I couldn't possibly count it.... However...
I was sat relaxing outside my condo, enjoying a cold beer & a smoke when I saw what looked to be an egret sp. fly off the sea & land in a tree just beyond the complex boundary wall.... As my bins were rarely more than 2ft. from me I grabbed tham & looked into the tree where I saw the bird land, & to my utter surprise there was an adult. Squacco Heron!!! A lifer for me & also quite a rare bird for Madeira (since arriving home I have contacted the Madeira rare bird recorder & submitted my report & the piccie below....)
Not brilliant, but a fairly okay pic of the Squacco Heron I found just off my complex!! The bird remained around 1 hour before vanishing!! Nice bird though & always a great feeling 'finding' your own lifer!!!....
The only other bird of note was one day myself & my Dad after some effort trying to get up to the 'higher ground', managed only to get to the Botanical Gardens, however this was a worth while trip as after a half hour wait or so I got pretty good views of 3 Madeira Firecrest!! My 1st real endemic & obviously another lifer!!!
So, how do I sum up Madeira? Well, it aint really a young persons place nor somewhere to go birding as there are very few bird sp. on the island & even then you need to travel, which is at best awkward on Madeira, in order to stand a chance to get them...
However, it's a very clean, tidy island, weather is sound and the people exceptionally friendly... the food is excellent and the boat trips a must!!!
I didn't get a Trocaz Pigeon, Bertholot's Pipit, Madeira Storm-petrel nor Rock Sparrow, but hey ~ as with Florida last year, I was totally green, my first visit & not on a birding holiday....
Well, I guess it's back to the county birding scene for me now.... July is normally a pretty dead month for birding, but as I have done such a spectacular job of dipping stuff recently (Gropper now dipped seven times!!!... Plus Nightjar now on the dip list too!!...), not to mention that the 2 Common Cranes seem to have returned to the county, I have some stuff to chase after & attempt to grip back!!!
Half way trough 2009 & my county yearlist is at 158 species, which, at the start of the year I'd have been ecstatic with, but I could so easily have been around 165+ mark now.... so I'm actually kindda disappointed....
That said... this is now the 2nd best county yearlist I've achieved, plus 3 more year ticks will make it my personal best.... so, that cant be too bad can it?
I have also decided that this shall be my final year of 'listing'!!! The reason? Well, I simply dont have either the spare time to chase across the county nor the finances to fund it!! As I went into 2009 knowing this I wanted to set myself a 'gettable' goal... Obviously doing a notable UK yearlist was well out of my reach, so that's why I decided to do a decent county list (if only my luck was as keen as I am!!).... I shall therefore, for the forseeable future at least, be a non-listing county birder... & as with all ex listers/twitchers (the 2 go hand in hand really, listing & twitching that is, I've already travelled around 5000 miles around Shropshire chasing 'ticks' this year!!! Whats that if not twithching?), I shall no doubt be one of those bitter & twisted birders that go around moaning & slagging off twitchers!!! ;~)
(Me!!! Moan??!!)...
To all my fellow county listers, birding buddies & regular blog readers..... thanks & cheers!!! :-)
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