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| Black-throated Diver |
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| Black-throated Diver |
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| Black-throated Diver |
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| Black-throated Diver |
Saturday 23rd November 2013
The Black-throated Diver has stayed put at Chew all week! Showing well most days, but today is supposed to be sunny?? We will see……
For once the forecast was right, but the sun was always from the wrong direction, not even they can help that though!!!!! Looked around a bit, then came back to Woodford, hoping the bird would show well again, in the RIGHT light! It did show, but not as close, but still got some decent shots. Other birds of note were a few Goosanders, Ruddy Duck, a Long-tailed Duck (Dam) and 2 Pink-footed Geese (Herons Green Pool).
At one stage the Diver flew off towards Denny Island, but gradually work its way back in fairly close. Nice light, even if it didn't come as close as before.
Saturday 16th November 2013
Parents having a new sofa delivered today. So had to stay around to help. Typically there is a juvenile Black-throated Diver, showing really well near Woodford Lodge, Chew!!!!!!!!
Did manage to get out to Chew late in the day, couldn't see the bird from Woodford Lodge though. But, we then saw the bird distantly, from the Tearooms car park, near the Dam, it looked like it was right by the Lodge. So back around, now sign again, then it swam out and into sight, but soon went back in. We drove around to Whalley Bank, where the bird did give itself up, but the light gave up too! Oh well did get the shot below, lets hope it stays for a while, and it brightens up for pix?
Almost forgot, i was chatting to a Fishing Ranger at Woodford Lodge, before i got to see the bird. He told me the bird had been there for 3/4 days. He also told me he had asked a 'birder', what it was as he had not seen one before, and, this is why i put 'birder', he was told it was a Goosander!!!!! Maybe not a birder after all, huh??????
Did manage to get out to Chew late in the day, couldn't see the bird from Woodford Lodge though. But, we then saw the bird distantly, from the Tearooms car park, near the Dam, it looked like it was right by the Lodge. So back around, now sign again, then it swam out and into sight, but soon went back in. We drove around to Whalley Bank, where the bird did give itself up, but the light gave up too! Oh well did get the shot below, lets hope it stays for a while, and it brightens up for pix?
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| Black-throated Diver |
Thursday 14th November 2013
Just a little message to Roger Treeby & Graham Bools (and anyone else who follows my blog), thanks for asking about my blog, i am getting there slowly guys, WILL catch up soon, and hopefully, will try to keep up from now on!!!!!
Sorry for getting so far behind, hope you still enjoy reading all my crap?
Sorry for getting so far behind, hope you still enjoy reading all my crap?
AS YOU CAN SEE I HAVE FINALLY OVERTAKEN THIS MESSAGE,
HOPE YOUR STILL ENJOYING THE BLOG???
Saturday 9th November 2013
Today we decided to go to Newport Wetlands RSPB, to see the Penduline Tit, which had taken up residence, near the visitor centre there. Got there and saw the birders group, so knew where to look straight away. Sure enough the bird was there, and showed well, if slightly too far away, over the next couple of hours. Later it flew off over the pool near the centre, and was watched at distance from there. It did come back to the same little reed bed later, but only very briefly, it then flew towards the main reed beds, nearer to the Severn. It did land, but don't think anyone refound it today. Nice sunshine and lovely bird, so a great day anyway.
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| Penduline Tit |
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| Penduline Tit |
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| Penduline Tit |
Sunday 3rd November 2013
Overnight stay in Penzance, then after breakfast, a return to Porthgwarra. When we got to the car park, we realised there were very few birders today. Got out of the car, and had a chat with a birder, who then told me, another birder thinks he has seen something which looked like the Hermit Thrush!!! I spoke to this birder, who said he only had this bird very briefly, but it had a rusty coloured rump and upper tail, and it was about the right size and shape. Wow, could be good, the weather was a lot better, light was too, and no wind (well up to yesterday anyway). Sadly, fours hours later, still nothing! Oh well it was worth a look.
Nothing more to report after that either really!!!!!
Nothing more to report after that either really!!!!!
Saturday 2nd November 2013
Another trip to Cornwall today, hoping the Hermit Thrush is still there.
We arrived at Porthgwarra car park at 9.45am. There were quite a few birders there, but no-one had seen it. I was told there were at least 100 birders there before the last rain storm went through, but they had mainly gone after that. It was also really windy in the valley, which won't help either…..We stayed for hours, nothing, in fact there were very few birds at all there. We gave up, and the bad day got worse, we went to St Levan, the lady parking attendant told us, "everyone who have gone looking have seen it today". So, confident we set off for the Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler that had been seen there. NOTHING!!!!!!
All we got was a very late Common Darter….had to photograph it and check it for Vagrant Darter, being so late, but as my day had gone, it wasn't!!!!!!!!
We moved on to the Hayle Estuary, to see if we could find the White-rumped Sandpipers that had been around. We parked at Ryans Field and walked to the hide there. They were there, at last a decent bird. Only 2 were being seen, an adult and a 1st Winter bird, there had been 3 before. They were at the far side of the flood, behind an island, but we could see them. I walked around to the road, it was a lot closer, but the light was now from the wrong direction, typical of the day i suppose! The one thing to my advantage was the tide was still coming in, and was covering the little island they were hiding behind. Gradually, it pushed them off the island, and they showed quite well, for once the clouds played a good part, they stopped the suns glare on the water, and i managed some half decent shots. Oh well, something i suppose.. Gonna stay tonight, and try again tomorrow for the Thrush! Hope my luck changes…….
We arrived at Porthgwarra car park at 9.45am. There were quite a few birders there, but no-one had seen it. I was told there were at least 100 birders there before the last rain storm went through, but they had mainly gone after that. It was also really windy in the valley, which won't help either…..We stayed for hours, nothing, in fact there were very few birds at all there. We gave up, and the bad day got worse, we went to St Levan, the lady parking attendant told us, "everyone who have gone looking have seen it today". So, confident we set off for the Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler that had been seen there. NOTHING!!!!!!
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| Common Darter |
All we got was a very late Common Darter….had to photograph it and check it for Vagrant Darter, being so late, but as my day had gone, it wasn't!!!!!!!!
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| Common Darter |
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| White-rumped Sandpiper (Adult & 1st Winter) |
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| White-rumped Sandpiper (Adult & 1st Winter) |
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| White-rumped Sandpiper (Adult) |
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| White-rumped Sandpiper (1st Winter) |
Saturday 26th October 2013
Right then, a weekend trip to Hayling Island, Hampshire for Semi-palmated Plover, then onto Kent tomorrow for the Two-barred Crossbills.
When we arrived at Hayling Island, the tide was out, so there were very few birds on the beach there. But quite a few birders looking. After a long wait, the tide coming in, a strong wind, and the rain storms. We eventually picked it up amongst the Ringed Plover. There were also some Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone and Grey Plover there. Eventually, everybody got their eye in on the Plover, and it became fairly easy to pick out, due to its size. It never came close enough for decent pix, but i did manage some distant ones. The bottom pic shows the size difference quite well, i think!!!
Chatting to a local chap, tomorrows trip to Kent, became more unlikely. We decided not to bother, as the weather was gonna get worse not better, what a shame.
When we arrived at Hayling Island, the tide was out, so there were very few birds on the beach there. But quite a few birders looking. After a long wait, the tide coming in, a strong wind, and the rain storms. We eventually picked it up amongst the Ringed Plover. There were also some Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone and Grey Plover there. Eventually, everybody got their eye in on the Plover, and it became fairly easy to pick out, due to its size. It never came close enough for decent pix, but i did manage some distant ones. The bottom pic shows the size difference quite well, i think!!!
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| Semi-palmated Plover |
Chatting to a local chap, tomorrows trip to Kent, became more unlikely. We decided not to bother, as the weather was gonna get worse not better, what a shame.
Monday 21st October 2013
Sorry to anybody who follows my Blog, for not keeping up to date!!! I will catch up one day, honest.
Thanks to Roger T,who i meet in the car park at Morrisons, Penzance yesterday, for asking me to keep it going, as lots of others seem to have stopped recently!
Thanks to Roger T,who i meet in the car park at Morrisons, Penzance yesterday, for asking me to keep it going, as lots of others seem to have stopped recently!
Sunday 20th October 2013
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| Rose-coloured Starling |
The journey home was very uneventful too. So i decided to stop at Chew, to see if the Fly Agaric (Fungi) were up. I had visited last year similar time, they were crappy, after the slugs or something had eaten bits, so lets see.
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| Rose-coloured Starling |
Glad i did, they looked pretty good.
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| Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) |
Saturday 12th-19th October 2013
A week spent on the Scillies. First time not on the campsite for me, due to my, by now, really dodgy knee. I wasn't going to go, but thanks to a friend who offered for me to stay in the flat with him, cheers Wayne, i could just about manage a week. Shame though, it turned out to be probably the worst week i have had, thats in 14 years. Even so there were some half decent highlights.
Trip over on the Scillonian was pretty uneventful. A Bonxie, maybe two, Manx and a Balearic Shearwater. Never see much at this time of year i suppose! Well i saw even less on St Marys, just to prove that point, heres a Starling………………Lets hope tomorrow is a bit better.
Sadly it wasn't brilliant. But i managed to wander up King Edwards Road, to Penninis Head. If you were on the mainland, the birds i photographed would probably make a decent day, but not here i'm afraid.
At the end of the road, just before the gate, and on the track, was a Snow Bunting. This bird has been around for a while, but i didn't realise you could step on it!!!!!! Then towards the far end there were 2 showy Lapland Bunting, i only managed to see one though! Three Whimbrel called and flew from the small island, off of the Head.
I then wandered down towards Old Town churchyard. There was another Whimbrel, which showed a bit better, as you can see…..Nothing much else for rest of the day, until while waiting in the ISBG hide at Lower Moors, a juvenile Purple Heron flew in and landed in the reed bed, but out of view sadly!
Got back to St Marys, to see a female type Black Redstart on the beach, about 50yds from the flat. Then a report of a Wryneck, in the small quarry at Buzza Hill. I walked around, it showed quite well, bit too far for good pix though.
Second off Island trip, this time St Agnes, for Short-toed Lark, and whatever else we can find. The Lark showed on & off with Meadow Pipits, and occasionally Skylarks would drop in too. Wayne said he had a Woodlark, but sadly no-one else saw it, shame good bird for Scilly.
After the Lark, a walk along the edges of the beach there produced a few birds, nothing special I'm afraid, again! Meadow and Rock Pipits, and a couple of Wheatears.
Already the 16th, hope something drops in soon. Really nice sunny day today. Another female type Black Redstart near Old Town Cafe, showed fairly well. Spent a fair bit of time in the hides at Lower Moors. Snipe, Jack Snipe and a Little Grebe, the last fairly unusual for here. Nice photo light too.
Thursday 17th. knee feels a bit better today, so gonna start up at Porth Hellick and work my way back. From the hides, same as yesterday, just a different place, Common & Jack Snipe. Light not as good though. A wander back seemed longer than ever, and the knee…. back to normal, a pain, literally!
Friday, rain predicted for this afternoon, so best make the most of the morning. Nothing really happening again, so glad i got to Lower Moors and the hides, before the heavens opened, and didn't they ever!!!!!! The Common & Jack Snipe were still around, also the Little Grebe. There had been regular sightings of a pair of Kingfishers, from the hides all week, but not for me. Until today that is. One flew past the hide, in the rain. then later a female landed in a tree near the hide, but it was still pouring down. Oh well, still not gonna show for me to photograph properly then!!!!! The rain slowed a bit, after quite some time, so i decided to walk around to try the other hide. I had been told the Kingfishers sometimes show from this one too. With the rain, quite a few people had been waiting for the Kingfishers, someone said they had been there for 4 hours!!! Blimey… fair play. They left as the rain had stopped, wishing me the best of luck, laughing under their breath I'm sure!!! But no sooner had they been gone, for long enough for me not to be able to shout to them, the male showed up, showed really well, even if the light wasn't too brilliant. Very nice….shame about the other guys though.
Waterproofs on ready to go, and the rain stopped completely, typical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last day today, a Painted Lady sat on the grass outside the flat, was only the second one of the trip. Still nothing happening, so i walked to Carreg Dhu gardens, hoping for a shot of the Firecrests, finally saw one, but no pix. Walking back i remembered i had been told of the Stick-insects nearby. So, i had a look, found and photographed them, in nice sunlight too. So to the boat again, all over for another year. Similar stuff seen on the boat again too.
Oh yeah, one bird i haven't mentioned was a Grey-cheeked Thrush, which gave nearly everyone the run around. It was seen most days around Old Town Churchyard, but i kept missing it, even though i spent a fair bit of time there…….…one time it even landed on a gravestone about 20 feet away from me, behind a tree for me though, i moved to see it. "Its flying" went the shout, it flew right behind another tree!!!!!!!!!!!
Sure you can understand why i didn't mention it now????
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| Starling |
Sadly it wasn't brilliant. But i managed to wander up King Edwards Road, to Penninis Head. If you were on the mainland, the birds i photographed would probably make a decent day, but not here i'm afraid.
At the end of the road, just before the gate, and on the track, was a Snow Bunting. This bird has been around for a while, but i didn't realise you could step on it!!!!!! Then towards the far end there were 2 showy Lapland Bunting, i only managed to see one though! Three Whimbrel called and flew from the small island, off of the Head.
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Lapland Bunting |
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| Lapland Bunting |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Sora |
Off Island trip to Tresco today, to see the Sora rail which had been seen fairly regularly, on the Great Pool. Didn't rush to the hide, as most people went straight there. After it thinned out a bit, the bird showed, but distantly. The hide completely thinned out and myself and Andy Jordan were now sat at the front. Lets see what happens. Again the bird was very elusive, but a couple of times it looked to be coming towards the hide, only to turn back and disappear. At last it walked back towards us, but kept disappearing, then it appeared, not close, but the closest it had been all day, so photos started. sadly, as you can see, never came any closer!!!! Bugger.
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| Sora |
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| Wryneck |
Second off Island trip, this time St Agnes, for Short-toed Lark, and whatever else we can find. The Lark showed on & off with Meadow Pipits, and occasionally Skylarks would drop in too. Wayne said he had a Woodlark, but sadly no-one else saw it, shame good bird for Scilly.
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| Short-toed Lark |
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| Short-toed Lark |
After the Lark, a walk along the edges of the beach there produced a few birds, nothing special I'm afraid, again! Meadow and Rock Pipits, and a couple of Wheatears.
Already the 16th, hope something drops in soon. Really nice sunny day today. Another female type Black Redstart near Old Town Cafe, showed fairly well. Spent a fair bit of time in the hides at Lower Moors. Snipe, Jack Snipe and a Little Grebe, the last fairly unusual for here. Nice photo light too.
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| Little Grebe |
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| Common Snipe |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Black Redstart |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Common Snipe |
Friday, rain predicted for this afternoon, so best make the most of the morning. Nothing really happening again, so glad i got to Lower Moors and the hides, before the heavens opened, and didn't they ever!!!!!! The Common & Jack Snipe were still around, also the Little Grebe. There had been regular sightings of a pair of Kingfishers, from the hides all week, but not for me. Until today that is. One flew past the hide, in the rain. then later a female landed in a tree near the hide, but it was still pouring down. Oh well, still not gonna show for me to photograph properly then!!!!! The rain slowed a bit, after quite some time, so i decided to walk around to try the other hide. I had been told the Kingfishers sometimes show from this one too. With the rain, quite a few people had been waiting for the Kingfishers, someone said they had been there for 4 hours!!! Blimey… fair play. They left as the rain had stopped, wishing me the best of luck, laughing under their breath I'm sure!!! But no sooner had they been gone, for long enough for me not to be able to shout to them, the male showed up, showed really well, even if the light wasn't too brilliant. Very nice….shame about the other guys though.
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| Kingfisher (Male) |
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| Kingfisher (Male) |
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| Kingfisher (Male) |
Waterproofs on ready to go, and the rain stopped completely, typical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Painted Lady |
Last day today, a Painted Lady sat on the grass outside the flat, was only the second one of the trip. Still nothing happening, so i walked to Carreg Dhu gardens, hoping for a shot of the Firecrests, finally saw one, but no pix. Walking back i remembered i had been told of the Stick-insects nearby. So, i had a look, found and photographed them, in nice sunlight too. So to the boat again, all over for another year. Similar stuff seen on the boat again too.
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| Painted Lady |
Sure you can understand why i didn't mention it now????
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| Prickly Stick-insect |
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| Prickly Stick-insect |
Sunday 6th October 2013
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| Pectoral Sandpiper |
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| Pectoral Sandpiper |
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| Black Darter |
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| Migrant Hawker |
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| Migrant Hawker |
Saturday 5th October 2013
Yet another trip to Chew today.
A few extra species today. Ferruginous Duck & 2 drake Ruddy Ducks, some more usual ducks returning too, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler & Pintail. Waders there too, Ringed Plover, Dunlin & at least 4 Ruff. All distant though.
A drive along the southern edge of Bladgon lake, didn't produce too much, but the Glossy Ibis was still around.
Nice day too, so a trip to Priddy pools looked good. Common Hawker was the aim. This time it produced too, good stuff….Also there were some Black Darters still on show. Birdlife is always almost non existent there, but 2 Stonechats and 2 Snipe, which were a first there for me, showed.
A few extra species today. Ferruginous Duck & 2 drake Ruddy Ducks, some more usual ducks returning too, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler & Pintail. Waders there too, Ringed Plover, Dunlin & at least 4 Ruff. All distant though.
A drive along the southern edge of Bladgon lake, didn't produce too much, but the Glossy Ibis was still around.
Nice day too, so a trip to Priddy pools looked good. Common Hawker was the aim. This time it produced too, good stuff….Also there were some Black Darters still on show. Birdlife is always almost non existent there, but 2 Stonechats and 2 Snipe, which were a first there for me, showed.
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| Common Hawker (Male) |
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| Common Hawker (Male) |
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| Black Darter (Male) |
Wednesday 2nd October 2013
Dinnertime again, again! This time i heard the Yellow-browed Warbler again, this time in the fir trees just away from the road, but still no sign. This bird is a pain!!!!
Tuesday 1st October 2013
Dinnertime again, and the Yellow-browed Warbler was only heard again. Also after work, heard, but not seen!
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