A great visit to the reservoir today as I picked up a Sutton Bingham tick in the form of a Jack Snipe that I nearly trod on before it flew from the water's edge at the southern end of the reservoir. A total of nine Common Snipe were also present, and some twenty Teal were seen.
From the northern causeway there was a fair bit happening on West Pool. The Scaup that I saw a few days ago was again present and associating with eight Tufted Duck and three drake Pochard, another drake Pochard was just off the Sailing Club.
Some thirty eight Wigeon were grazing on the grass next to West Pool, the first time for a while that I had seen any at the reservoir. Before I knew it my time was up as I had to race back to East Coker to pick Ellie up from church, but an excellent visit this morning.
UK list for 2011 now at 168 species.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Poole Park and Wareham Forest - Thu 24 Feb
I had a couple of days holiday booked so today Ellie and I set off to south Dorset and drove down to Poole, arriving late morning for a walk around Poole Park. I was hoping to see a first-winter Ring-billed Gull that had been at the park for a couple of weeks. We spent a couple of hours wandering about, grabbing a cup of tea and a pasty and eventually spotted the gull after I had two tantalising glimpses earlier. I did manage a record shot, but the bird was partially hidden by vegetation!
Other birds of interest as we walked around included a couple of Oystercatchers and a Grey Heron, both somewhat out of place in a busy urban park.
We than headed back towards home, stopping off in Wareham Forest at Sherford Bridge and taking a walk out across Morden Bog. There was a distinct lack of birds despite the lovely weather. A single Raven few over and the pick of the crop was a male Merlin that showed really well for a few minutes before flying off over the heath. So with nothing else to see we called it a day and came on home.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Sutton Bingham - Wed 23 Feb
Another afternoon visit but nowhere near as productive as yesterday. I picked Ellie up at 4.30pm and we drove up to the reservoir and took a walk from the hide along to the car park and back again. Whilst there was little quality today, there was some quantity, with a flock of forty Woodpigeons flew from the trees opposite the hide. As we walked along a flock of thirty-eight Fieldfares flew over heading east and fifty Cormorants were roosting in trees on the far bank opposite the Canoe Club.
A male Sparrowhawk passed over the water and as we reached the car park some twenty or so Redwings flitted through the trees. On West Pool we saw a couple of Teal and a few Tufted Duck were hiding in the waterside vegetation.
Our return trip to the hide produced nothing else of note, though another two Teal were viewable from the hide.
A male Sparrowhawk passed over the water and as we reached the car park some twenty or so Redwings flitted through the trees. On West Pool we saw a couple of Teal and a few Tufted Duck were hiding in the waterside vegetation.
Our return trip to the hide produced nothing else of note, though another two Teal were viewable from the hide.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Sutton Bingham - Tue 22 Feb
A brief fifteen minute visit after work was pretty productive. I parked on the northern causeway at 4.30pm and scanned over West Pool. Eleven Tufted Duck were present and a pair of Pochard were with them. I then noticed another diving duck, a first winter Scaup!
Also on West Pool a pair of Teal and two Little Grebes.
On the main reservoir an adult summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gull was within a flock of some two hundred Black-headed Gulls.
Also on West Pool a pair of Teal and two Little Grebes.
On the main reservoir an adult summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gull was within a flock of some two hundred Black-headed Gulls.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Ham Wall RSPB - Sun 20 Feb
Ellie and I set off to the Somerset Levels after lunch to enjoy a nice walk at Ham Wall. We parked at Ashcott Corner car park and walked out to the tea rooms at Sharpham. Along the way we saw at least four Great White Egrets in the reeds. The usual wildfowl were on the water, Shoveler, Teal, etc. and a single Lapwing was seen.
After a cup of tea and piece of cake at the tea rooms we returned to the car. A Treecreeper showed well in small trees alongside the path and a Snipe flew over, and we also saw a couple of Roe Deer. No sign of any Bitterns though, but nice to get out and about in the fresh air, especially after spending most of the morning in the car!
After a cup of tea and piece of cake at the tea rooms we returned to the car. A Treecreeper showed well in small trees alongside the path and a Snipe flew over, and we also saw a couple of Roe Deer. No sign of any Bitterns though, but nice to get out and about in the fresh air, especially after spending most of the morning in the car!
Chipping Norton - Sun 20 Feb
A few of my mates had been up to Chipping Norton yesterday, but I had alternative plans so could not join them, so when the cat woke me up at 5.50am I decided it was a sign and within twenty minutes I was on the road, leaving Ellie sleeping soundly in bed!
A very good journey up to Chipping Norton took less than two and a half hours, with a Red Kite over the road about twenty miles south of Oxford. By 8.30am I had parked the car and walked south to the area in which the recently rediscovered Oriental Turtle Dove had been frequenting. However, I met only one other birder, so figured our chances of finding it were not that great. After ninety minutes with no sign a few more birders arrived, and quarter of an hour later I saw the bird, but only brief flight views. Another ten minutes passed and the dove was relocated in an ivy covered oak tree thirty metres from where we were standing! I was close enough to grab a couple of record shots of the Oriental Turtle Dove:
I watched this mega rarity for half an hour, and as the news spread more and more birders appeared. By the time I left there must have been at least 150 people present and as I walked back to the car more were arriving. So a great morning out, and after an uneventful drive, I was back home by 12.30pm.
A very good journey up to Chipping Norton took less than two and a half hours, with a Red Kite over the road about twenty miles south of Oxford. By 8.30am I had parked the car and walked south to the area in which the recently rediscovered Oriental Turtle Dove had been frequenting. However, I met only one other birder, so figured our chances of finding it were not that great. After ninety minutes with no sign a few more birders arrived, and quarter of an hour later I saw the bird, but only brief flight views. Another ten minutes passed and the dove was relocated in an ivy covered oak tree thirty metres from where we were standing! I was close enough to grab a couple of record shots of the Oriental Turtle Dove:
I watched this mega rarity for half an hour, and as the news spread more and more birders appeared. By the time I left there must have been at least 150 people present and as I walked back to the car more were arriving. So a great morning out, and after an uneventful drive, I was back home by 12.30pm.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Blackwater Arboretum - Sat 19 Feb
After a relaxing start to the day, Ellie and I headed off to the small village of Rockford just north of Ringwood where we met up with our friends Laura and Paul for lunch at the Alice Lisle Pub. After an extremely good meal and a chat we decided to head off to Blackwater Arboretum for an afternoon stroll...and hopefully some birds!
It was a little after 3.30pm by the time we reached the arboretum and as we entered the grounds we were beckoned over to a group of birders who were watching a fir tree, and before long we saw why as a couple of male and a female Crossbill were showing well feeding on the fir cones.
After watching the birds for ten minutes or so we walked in to the middle of the arboretum so that we had a good view of all the surrounding trees, and before too long a shout rang out as some Hawfinches had be found. Over the next half an hour or so we had some great views of at least four birds.
Before we realised it time had ticked on to nearly 5.00pm, so it was time to head off home. As we reached the car park, we saw a small group of three or four Siskins. Bidding our farewells to Laura and Paul we came on home after a great afternoon out.
UK list for 2011 now at 164 species.
It was a little after 3.30pm by the time we reached the arboretum and as we entered the grounds we were beckoned over to a group of birders who were watching a fir tree, and before long we saw why as a couple of male and a female Crossbill were showing well feeding on the fir cones.
After watching the birds for ten minutes or so we walked in to the middle of the arboretum so that we had a good view of all the surrounding trees, and before too long a shout rang out as some Hawfinches had be found. Over the next half an hour or so we had some great views of at least four birds.
Before we realised it time had ticked on to nearly 5.00pm, so it was time to head off home. As we reached the car park, we saw a small group of three or four Siskins. Bidding our farewells to Laura and Paul we came on home after a great afternoon out.
UK list for 2011 now at 164 species.
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