Sunday 23rd February 2014

   Another possible 'Gullfest' today, trip to Cornwall.

Glaucous Gull

   When we arrived at Marazion, it was blowing a gale. Didn't think there was much chance of seeing, let alone photographing the birds here!!! Luckily, i was wrong. An adult Glaucous Gull was flying up & down the beach, along the tideline. Also the usual common 5 Gull species, Med Gull & Kittiwake were there. best views 7 photos were from Longrock car park, which i didn't even know existed until today, even with all my trips to Penzance!!!!

Glaucous Gull

Kumlien's Gull

   Still blowing a gale, so we decided to try Newlyn Harbour, which hopefully would be a lot more sheltered. As soon as we arrived, there was the adult Kumliens Gull, sat in the harbour with some other large Gulls. It showed really well for about an hour too.
   Stonking bird..........

Kumlien's Gull

Kumlien's Gull

 

Great Northern Diver

  After the Kumliens Gull decided to fly off, i had a wander around the Harbour, to see what else was sheltering in there? There were at least 6 Great Northern Divers, including one which had just started moulting into Summer plumage, 2 Guillemots, 1 Razorbill, Cormorant & Shag.

Great Northern Diver

Guillemot

  Then on the way home, a stop at the Hayle estuary, which sadly didn't really add too much to the days totals, Curlew, Wigeon and lots more Gulls, but the wind was still being a pain.

   Another good day, except for the Gale force winds that is. Some more good photos too, i hope you will agree....?

Sunday 16th February 2014

   Finally decided to go to Newgale, Pembrokeshire, to see the 'Gullfest' there. There had been Glaucous, Iceland, Kumliens and Nelsons Gulls all reported there, and a Green-winged Teal.

   I had been told about where to watch the birds from, firstly the Marsh, sadly this was not good at this time, looking straight into the sun. So, went to the beach. The stream running to the Sea was the place to be. There was a 1st Winter Glaucous Gull, the adult Kumliens Gull, Kittiwakes, plus the usual 5 common species. A couple of Ravens, and a Sparrowhawk were also seen here.

Kumliens Gull

Kumliens Gull

   After a while i walked back to the car, along the pebble beach, there were quite a few dead Auks, beached during the recent storms, sad.........

Glaucous Gull (2nd Winter)

   We moved back to the Pub car park, to view the Marsh. This time we could actually see the birds that were there. The same species of Gull were now visiting the Marsh. Another Glaucous Gull, this time a 2nd Winter was there too, a couple of Med Gulls, and a Gull we thought was another 2nd Winter Glaucous Gull, but it had dirty, greyish primaries, was this the Nelsons Gull which had been reported? Yes it was, i got a second opinion by sending the photo below to the Pembrokeshire Blogger later, who confirmed jot for me!

Mediterranean Gull (Adult Winter)

Glaucous Gull (1st Winter)

Nelsons Gull (2nd Winter)

 

























   We also refound the Green-winged Teal, but at the back of the Marsh, but it did fly around a couple of times with the European Teal. Towards the end of the day, as the light was starting to go, a ringtail Hen Harrier flew around at the back of the Marsh too.

European Teal & the Drake Green-winged Teal
It is in there, honest!!!!

    So, all in all, a well worthwhile trip! A new species of Gull, and some decent pix, which always helps!!!

Saturday 15th February 2014

    A trip to Chew, as the sun was out. Didn't see much, but got some nice pix in the light! Especially the Green Sandpiper at Moreton Lane.

Great Crested Grebe

Goldeneye

Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Sunday 9th February 2014

   A quick look about at Aust Warth this morning, just produced some Reed Bunting pix.

   Decided on a trip to Slimbridge this afternoon. Cold, but a nice sunny day.

   Lots of Duck species, Bewicks Swans, Common Crane, and a few species of Wader, and still a couple of species of Goose were seen. Flight shots were the main aim today, some of them are below:

Black-tailed Godwits

Shoveler

Pintail

Teal

Bank Vole

   A Lesser Redpoll was at the Willow hide feeding station, with the usual Goldfinches and Tits. Also there were 2 species of Vole, probably the first time i have ever seen 2 species at one place, at the same time anyway?

Water Vole

Friday 7th February 2014

    Right then, its my Birthday, i got the day off work, and the sun is out, what the...................

    A few things to do, but the Bluetail is still at Marshfield too.....amazing.

   Wow, there are about 60 people there, how did they all get the day off too? Chatting to some of them, yes they did, just for this bird! I waited at the end of the queue for a while, until the hordes thinned out a bit. The light was good, but if i could get into a certain place, it will be better later, right behind me, i thought. So, thats what i did, got into position and shot away, until the sun was just right. Someone had put some Mealworms out for the bird, it had found them too! Lots mention that it wasn't as mobile as in the days before, but why would it be, when the food was right there? Its 'patch' had been narrowed down to a triangle of 3 Hawthorns. This made positioning for photos quite important, and also patience. They both paid off too...................i hope you agree?

Red-flanked Bluetail

Red-flanked Bluetail

Red-flanked Bluetail

Tuesday 4th February 2014

   Stuck in work, suns out.......typical! Twitter going mental, Red-flanked Bluetail messages and photos. Long, long, long, long day. Really dragging today.

   Days works over, drive to Marshfield and amazingly found a parking space. Suns still out. I started to walk along the footpath, and guess what......it clouded over.

Red-flanked Bluetail

   Walked the rest of the way, ah well at least the bird was still there. Managed some photos in crap light, not bad, but not what i wanted. This is becoming a habit recently.

   Will it stay????
   Will the sun ever come out again???
   Will i manage to be out of work, when they both happen together?????

   Lets hope so....until then

Red-flanked Bluetail

Monday 3rd February 2014

   Took the camera to work today, hoping to get out of work and maybe get some pix, as the sun was supposed to be out.

   Work finished, what to do? Marshfield, nah, nothing there, will go to Aust Warth again, for the Twite. Arrived at Aust Warth, picked up my phone, 2 missed calls and answer machine messages from Martyn Hayes. Oh dear, i thought, Martyn normally rings when there is something good about, or he wants one of my photos! As i haven't got any recently, could be important, so better ring him. Straight to answer phone.............and again, finally time to listen to answer phone messages. There a Red-flanked Bluetail at Marshfield...............................as you can imagine i laughed! No chance to get there before dark, so hope its there tomorrow.

   Everyone knows i am pretty relaxed about my birding, but was a bit peeved about this one!!!!

   Then to everyones surprise.......it started raining again!!!!! Sun tomorrow forecast, lets hope i can get there.

Saturday 1st February 2014

   Really bad day yesterday, which i won't go into, but had to get out of the house!!!

   Went to Aust Warth first, after the very high tides, i was surprised not to see NO cars. The road was flooded but passable. I had 2, possibly 3 Twite, lots of Reed Buntings, a pair of Stonechats and a couple each of Dunnock and Meadow Pipits. I set up my camera, using the car as a hide, and began photographing the Buntings, waiting for the Twite. The Twite were still out of camera range, but gradually getting closer, when a car drove along and parked in front of mine. Shit, i thought, thats the end of that....but i was wrong, nothing flew off! Twite still getting closer, brilliant. Then, the driver decided to turn his engine over, but not start it up, for no reason......THEY ARE GONE!!!!!!!!! Then to add insult, he got out walked up to me and asked if the Twite were about, NOT ANYMORE mate!!!

Stonechat (Male)

Stonechat (Female)

 













   Decided Forest of Dean was as good a bet as any, for rest of the day, especially as you can bird from the car, if necessary, when it rains, and it will!

   As it turns out it was not a bad decision. At Parkend we parked up and just waited. In and under the Yew trees there, were Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, a Treecreeper and finally a Hawfinch (a male). Then a female too. Two other cars joined us there, and disappeared, then one came back.....bit of a theme here. At least i managed some photos of what i wanted this time!

Hawfinch (Female)

Hawfinch (Female)

Hawfinch (Male)

Hawfinch (Male)

   There were also some Redwings and a few of Mistle Thrushes in the area too.

   At least the Hawfinches cheered the day up slightly.

Sunday 26th January 2014

   Another trip trying to miss the rain again today, this time to Chew.

   The only birds of note were 2 juvenile/1st winter Med Gulls, seen late on at Herriotts pool.

   Rain, bloody cold and dull. Although there was some sun earlier in the day.

Common Gull

Saturday 25th January 2014

   Another, this time just an afternoon, trip to the Forest of Dean. Try to photograph the Two-barred Crossbills and Hawfinches.

   FAILED!!!!!!

   There were about 10 Hawfinches at Parkend still, and also had 12 Common Crossbills and 20+ Siskins at Brierley, but NO photos today, before the rain......lets hope its stops soon!

Sunday 19th January 2014

   After being told, by about 3 different birders, of a place which was really good for Kingfisher shots, a place called Forest Farm, near Cardiff. I decided to go see.............

Kingfisher (Female)

   When we got to the first hide, it was rather full with birders and photographers, but we went in anyway. I had already seen 2/3 Kingfishers before i went in, so it was living up to its reputation. I spent a couple of hours in the hide, but the birds, sadly, didn't use the nearest perches, which had been set up for them. But, again i did manage to get some Male & Female shots.

Kingfisher (Female)

Kingfisher (Male)

 








   I will defo go back again, as i found out later, i used the wrong hide! Well according to a few birders i have spoken to since!

  As we got back to the car parks, i heard a fairly familiar call....Bullfinch. There above us in the trees were 2 Males, stunning birds, and I'm afraid my photo doesn't really do them justice!

Bullfinch (Male)

    After here, and as it was not far, we decided to go to the Willow Tit site again. This time the light was better, but the birds didn't show as well. I did see one at least 6 times, but again failed to get any shots. Becoming a habit sadly, one day though........

Saturday 18th January 2014

   Crap, dull and rain again, theres a surprise!!!! Had a late start and decided to go look to see if the Hawfinches were still showing in the Forest of Dean.

Hawfinch

   As it happens they were along with a few Greenfinches. We had probably a dozen Hawfinches, but only knew how many when they all flew off. I did manage a couple of shots of one, when it showed briefly this time. Not my best ever shot, but considering how brief the view was, and the conditions, i was quite pleased! While there i had about 15 Common Crossbills fly over towards Parkend Church. Hope i can get another chance before they disappear.

   Sadly as the rain got heavier, we saw nothing else of note, I'm afraid.

Sunday 12th January 2014

   Crap weather again, sadly, becoming a feature of this Winter. What to do??????

   Decided to go and check out last years Willow Tit site, in South Wales. At the bridge/feeding station there were Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Nuthatch, Dunnock and Blackbird. Then i heard it.....a Willow Tit, then another. Although i didn't manage any photos today, because of the weather etc., this was definitely my best ever Willow Tit day, at least 3 birds, but probably more like 6, were seen and heard for most of the time we were there, not all at once obviously!!!! A flock of Redwings went over, then ones and twos, went over ever 5 minutes or so after that. 2 male Bullfinches were seen in the area too.

   Will defo be going back there, have another site nearby now too for Kingfisher, so will be quite soon too!

Saturday 11th January 2014

Black Guillemot

Black Guillemot

   A return trip to Brixham Harbour today, as the sun was out, to see if i could improve on some of the photos i had? Sadly when we arrived we were told that the rarer birds had disappeared!! The White-billed Diver had been seen yesterday off Berry Head, but this would be more distant than last time, the juvenile Iceland Gull, had been seen in the morning, then flew out to sea!!! But, just about the first bird we saw was, as it turns out, the one i wanted to photograph, Black Guillemot. It stayed just out of decent range, but i did get some shots, which is more than i have done before, with a Winter/1st Winter plumaged bird.

Purple Sandpiper

Razorbill

   Actually in the harbour, there were a couple of Common Guillemots, and a Black-throated Diver. So a lot less than last time, probably because of the slightly more settled weather we have had, not the really windy stuff anyway!!!!! The other side of the Breakwater (the sea side), there were again a lot of Great Northern Divers, probably 10+, Black-throated Divers, Common Guillemot, 2 Razorbills, a Slavonian Grebe and on the Breakwater itself Turnstones, Rock Pipits and Purple Sandpipers. The latter i had counted 19 of, on the jetty at the end, but there were more on the Breakwater too, so 20+ were there.

Siberian Chiffchaff

  A quick visit to Broadsands, found us surrounded by people and dogs!!!! Not a lot of birds gonna be close today there then? In the bay i did see 2 Great Northern Divers, but couldn't find any Grebes, which is unusual there! A look in the closed car park produced 6+ Cirl Buntings, Robin, Dunnock and 4+ Reed Buntings. Then i took a look along the tree line, and the stream between the car parks. This held some Chiffchaffs, a closer look and there seemed to me to be 3 different races there. At least 2 of our usual race collybita, but then there was a really brown looking individual, probably abietinus. Plus 2 Siberian Chiffchaff types, tristis. So hard to photograph though, they never stopped moving around.



   We then returned to Brixham Harbour to see if anything was any closer, sadly nothing was!!! Lovely sunny day though, and always a nice place to be anyway.

Saturday 4th January 2014

    After being ill all over the New Year, this was my first trip out of the house. So, it called for a fairly easy one, Forest of Dean it was. Not to search for the Two-barred Crossbills this time, as that was too much like hard work, and i wasn't really feeling up to it!!!

   Sadly, as with my last visit, the usual places seemed a bit quiet, the car parks and feeders, either side of Speech House, Nagshead car park area, and Parkend churchyard were all empty! I then remembered a report of some Hawfinches from earlier in the week, now to try and remember where they were? The report said in the trees, around the triangle of grass, between Lydney Road and Coleford Road. As it was, they should have said the trees near the cricket pitch!!!! When we arrived, there were lots, probably 50 Greenfinches in the Yew trees, then i picked out a Hawfinch, then another and another. Then something disturbed them, and about a dozen Hawfinches flew out, with 20+ Greenfinches. I still found another Hawfinch, more still here then. A bit later the rest of the Greenfinches flew out, and another 10 Hawfinches. Amazing!!!!!! Light was really crap, so NO photos though!

   Oh well, Cannop ponds is usually pretty good for close views on the feeders. Last couple of times Marsh Tits there were few and far between. This time the first bird on the table was a Marsh Tit!! Good omen hopefully. At least 2 Marsh Tits showed on and off, very regularly, shame the light was so bad. But, i did manage some shots!!

Blue Tit

Marsh Tit

Great Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit