15th Jan 2012
Today marked my hundredth species for 2012 - a Jay (in fact about four of them) whilst having a lovely little walk around the farmland and woods of some friends at Alderwasley. What a great day to be out too! Frost on the ground, sun in the sky, and great company! Not loads of stuff seen...Nuthatch, tits of varieties, some Alpacas halfway round the lanes. Just good honest fun!
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Norfolk Baby!
11th Jan 2012 - A trip to Norfolk is always a guaranteed winner. I try to visit most Januaries as it's an opportunity to mop up tons of birds in a single day. And with the addition of a crew member, my friend from work, things were sure to be good!?!
The day started early, we left the Midlands at 0520 and arrived at our first stop, Hunstanton, in the dawn light of a beautiful sunrise. Hunstanton clifftop gave us a good start with some Curlew, Common Scoter and Fulmar on the sea, and a surprise 13 Snow Bunting which twittered past us in the car park before briefly settling.
Our next stop was, of course, Titchwell RSPB reserve, a positive gold mine of birds....usually. A flock of Pink-feet flew over us as soon as we stepped out of the car and I was amazed that Gareth pointed to the two Ross's Geese that were with them (I was fumbling around in the car trying to set my scope up!) A quick check for the Redpoll revealed a few birds but no definite Arctic, so we decided to carry on and check again on the return. The freshmarsh had a flock of at least 1000 Golden Plover which was a magnificent sight, and together with lots of waterfowl, waders, and the usual common-ish birds the number of species kept rising. My highest single day total so far has been 84, last year on the 10th January, so things were looking hopeful to beat that!
We'd been at Titchwell for most of the morning and there was a good list of rarities that I wanted to pull in (Western Sandpiper, Rough-legged Buzzard, Shore Lark etc). I'd planned to do Holkham and then Cley but the short time limit left before heading over to Stubb Mill meant that in essence we spread ourselves too thin and didn't see anything! We half-heartedly attempted the Shore Larks, but with no birders to ask directions we ended up walking down to the beach and back again, in the meantime missing out on the enormous flock of Pink-feet being scared off the marshes (probably by the Rough-legged Buzzard) and missing the chance to scan through them for the Ross's Goose! By the time we got back to the marshes the Pink-feet had settled with heads-down. Damn it!
On to Cley...but with only 45mins left before our departure to Stubb Mill the chances of seeing the Western Sand were slim. We got the hide at Pat's Pool to find it positively overflowing with birders and scopes. It was packed, and nobody seemed brave enough to talk!?! What's that all about? No Western (in fact not much else apart from Ruff, Dunlin and more Golden Plover) and a very disappointed race back to the car, for our trip to the roost at Stubb Mill.
This bit didn't disappoint! A Barn Owl was perched on a road sign on the way into the village which took off and quartered around the fields whilst we drooled over it. 3 Cranes on our arrival at Stubb Mill viewpoint were on the deck, the second set I've ever seen and the first on the ground! Brilliant scope views. 7 or 8 Marsh Harriers were on show as were lots more geese and a couple of new birds for the day. As darkness fell the last bird had to be Woodcock, we waited and waited, and eventually one shot through at 100mph! Brief but Woodcock all the same.
The return journey up the lane in torchlight lit up lots of Winter Moths, with a temperature of 9 degrees I'm not surprised!
A brilliant end to a brilliant day!
1 new lifer, 38 other new species for the year = 98 so far. Oh and the total for the day? 77
The day started early, we left the Midlands at 0520 and arrived at our first stop, Hunstanton, in the dawn light of a beautiful sunrise. Hunstanton clifftop gave us a good start with some Curlew, Common Scoter and Fulmar on the sea, and a surprise 13 Snow Bunting which twittered past us in the car park before briefly settling.
Our next stop was, of course, Titchwell RSPB reserve, a positive gold mine of birds....usually. A flock of Pink-feet flew over us as soon as we stepped out of the car and I was amazed that Gareth pointed to the two Ross's Geese that were with them (I was fumbling around in the car trying to set my scope up!) A quick check for the Redpoll revealed a few birds but no definite Arctic, so we decided to carry on and check again on the return. The freshmarsh had a flock of at least 1000 Golden Plover which was a magnificent sight, and together with lots of waterfowl, waders, and the usual common-ish birds the number of species kept rising. My highest single day total so far has been 84, last year on the 10th January, so things were looking hopeful to beat that!
On the sea we found Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye and at least four Long-tailed Duck but no divers or rarer grebes. The return to the Arctic Redpoll found us in a gaggle of people looking at the flock and a few people saying "oh yes that was lovely wasn't it", they then all wandered off and left me staring hard trying to figure out which one was the Arctic! After about 15 mins it came to the front and I even managed this video (above). What a belter! My first Arctic Redpoll, and my newest bird for 2012! This video is of a very showy Water Rail in the ditch along the main path near the birdfeeders!
We'd been at Titchwell for most of the morning and there was a good list of rarities that I wanted to pull in (Western Sandpiper, Rough-legged Buzzard, Shore Lark etc). I'd planned to do Holkham and then Cley but the short time limit left before heading over to Stubb Mill meant that in essence we spread ourselves too thin and didn't see anything! We half-heartedly attempted the Shore Larks, but with no birders to ask directions we ended up walking down to the beach and back again, in the meantime missing out on the enormous flock of Pink-feet being scared off the marshes (probably by the Rough-legged Buzzard) and missing the chance to scan through them for the Ross's Goose! By the time we got back to the marshes the Pink-feet had settled with heads-down. Damn it!
On to Cley...but with only 45mins left before our departure to Stubb Mill the chances of seeing the Western Sand were slim. We got the hide at Pat's Pool to find it positively overflowing with birders and scopes. It was packed, and nobody seemed brave enough to talk!?! What's that all about? No Western (in fact not much else apart from Ruff, Dunlin and more Golden Plover) and a very disappointed race back to the car, for our trip to the roost at Stubb Mill.
This bit didn't disappoint! A Barn Owl was perched on a road sign on the way into the village which took off and quartered around the fields whilst we drooled over it. 3 Cranes on our arrival at Stubb Mill viewpoint were on the deck, the second set I've ever seen and the first on the ground! Brilliant scope views. 7 or 8 Marsh Harriers were on show as were lots more geese and a couple of new birds for the day. As darkness fell the last bird had to be Woodcock, we waited and waited, and eventually one shot through at 100mph! Brief but Woodcock all the same.
The return journey up the lane in torchlight lit up lots of Winter Moths, with a temperature of 9 degrees I'm not surprised!
A brilliant end to a brilliant day!
1 new lifer, 38 other new species for the year = 98 so far. Oh and the total for the day? 77
Waxwing revisited
8th Jan 2012 - A return to the Waxwings of Kirk Hallam resulted in some awful sihouetted photos (I've posted one just to prove that they're there!). Whilst watching them a Sparrowhawk flew through and scared the crap out of them. They disappeared for five minutes before returning to the same group of trees. Also had a Buzzard near Ockbrook.
2 new for the year = 59
Saturday, 7 January 2012
A visit to Thor's Cave
6th Jan 2012
Today was Jordans last day off school before returning after the xmas period (I know, it's late isn't it? Teachers obviously didn't feel like seeing any kids this week I guess!) so we spent the day in the Manifold Valley with a walk down the river from Wetton Mill to Thor's Cave. The weather had abated to a mild cloudy day with only a slight breeze and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery at this lovely spot, as well as some good birds and fascinating geology!
This first photo shows Thor's Cave as viewed from the river, and this photo to the right shows how big the cave actually is! It was formed by an underground river dissolving the limestone in that classic rounded shape, before being exposed by uplift of the land surface, and then the rest of the surrounding limestone being eroded away.
Jordan on the Manifold bridge, there was Dipper on the river behind him! First for the year...
We found this mushroom in a small clump with some other growing nearby, I think it was growing on Hazel (?). If anyone knows what it is, I'd be glad to receive an id.
This is the fabulous view over the Manifold Valley from Thor's Cave. The rocks here are Carboniferous Limestone dating back to 280-330 million years old. Incredible to think that I was stood in the same spot as cavemen used to stand whilst looking out for deer to hunt, or bears to run away from!
Today was Jordans last day off school before returning after the xmas period (I know, it's late isn't it? Teachers obviously didn't feel like seeing any kids this week I guess!) so we spent the day in the Manifold Valley with a walk down the river from Wetton Mill to Thor's Cave. The weather had abated to a mild cloudy day with only a slight breeze and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery at this lovely spot, as well as some good birds and fascinating geology!
This first photo shows Thor's Cave as viewed from the river, and this photo to the right shows how big the cave actually is! It was formed by an underground river dissolving the limestone in that classic rounded shape, before being exposed by uplift of the land surface, and then the rest of the surrounding limestone being eroded away.
We found this mushroom in a small clump with some other growing nearby, I think it was growing on Hazel (?). If anyone knows what it is, I'd be glad to receive an id.
This is the fabulous view over the Manifold Valley from Thor's Cave. The rocks here are Carboniferous Limestone dating back to 280-330 million years old. Incredible to think that I was stood in the same spot as cavemen used to stand whilst looking out for deer to hunt, or bears to run away from!
Anyway, onto the birds? To start with, the small cottages near Wetton Mill had some feeders and held good numbers of tits, with Great, Blue, Coal and Willow, plus the years first Nuthatch. As already mentioned 2 Dipper were found on the river south of the car park and as we continued south towards the Cave, a Raven flew along the valley top. From Thor's Cave a Peregrine flew along the valley and came to rest at Ossam's Crag (the rocky crag on top left of the photo above). We also picked up Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare on the return.
Year Total = 57
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Waxwing Storm
3rd Jan
Just got back from trying to find the Waxwings on Limetree Rise, Kirk Hallam near Ilkeston. They took a bit of spotting, and after driving round and round Limetree Rise and the surrounding streets I eventually found them....on Limetree Rise! However, by this time the weather had closed in and I got some good but blustery views of 6 Waxwings. I will try and go back if they hang about to get some photos. Also had Starling and Mute Swan new for the year.
3 new for year = 49 so far.
Just got back from trying to find the Waxwings on Limetree Rise, Kirk Hallam near Ilkeston. They took a bit of spotting, and after driving round and round Limetree Rise and the surrounding streets I eventually found them....on Limetree Rise! However, by this time the weather had closed in and I got some good but blustery views of 6 Waxwings. I will try and go back if they hang about to get some photos. Also had Starling and Mute Swan new for the year.
3 new for year = 49 so far.
Monday, 2 January 2012
New Year - New Focus
Happy New Year to all my readers (yep both of you!),
This year is the year! The year that I break my all-time record bird species seen in a single year. Currently that record stands at 214 (in 2007). I know, that's not a massive score compared to the top guys, but I am far from competing with those guys and so prefer to compete with myself instead. This also means that hopefully you will be able to read more about my birding exploits as well as my mothing (once we get going that is!) on my blog.
So here we go.....
1st Jan 2012
Carsington Water, Derbyshire - a kick start at my favourite Derbyshire site. The Great Northern Diver had returned before Xmas, so I thought this was as good a place as any to start off the new year. I got there at just after dawn, with the clouds breaking briefly for this photo...
This year is the year! The year that I break my all-time record bird species seen in a single year. Currently that record stands at 214 (in 2007). I know, that's not a massive score compared to the top guys, but I am far from competing with those guys and so prefer to compete with myself instead. This also means that hopefully you will be able to read more about my birding exploits as well as my mothing (once we get going that is!) on my blog.
So here we go.....
1st Jan 2012
Carsington Water, Derbyshire - a kick start at my favourite Derbyshire site. The Great Northern Diver had returned before Xmas, so I thought this was as good a place as any to start off the new year. I got there at just after dawn, with the clouds breaking briefly for this photo...
The highlights of the day included the Great Northern Diver
this pair of Pintail (apologies for the terrible photo, taken through my mobile phone in poor light!)
And this White-fronted Goose which has been around for a couple of days apparently. Whether it's genuine or not I don't know, but for now it's on my list until I get to Glos/Norfolk to see some more.
Other interesting species included Willow Tit at both Paul Stanley and the Wildlife Centre feeders, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Siskin (I never see enough of these cracking birds). Everything else was pretty normal fare, although there were a few notable exceptions that I should have got (Fieldfare and Redwing for example!)
However, the day finished on 46 species in 4 hours of birding.
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