Windy Birding

And I don't mean I had been for a curry the night before.  The wind at the top of Balscote Quarry had a chill factor of -2 degrees yesterday.  This was my second visit in the past week to see the Dotterel in the usual field at that destination, but my prime reason for visiting again was to see the two Whimbrel and a Whinchat that also had arrived.  Unfortunately, the conditions were so appalling that anything small was taking refuge in the now lush hedges bordering the field.  I did manage distant views of the two Whimbrel and find some Tree Sparrows and lots of Yellowhammer (that are always a pleasure to see) but just could not find the Whinchat (a bird that I always trouble with seeing each year).  As my birder's wife was (sensibly) in the car keeping an eye on time and keeping dry, I was soon ushered back in her direction as we were on a strict deadline to meet friends within minutes and therefore my birding for a day came to end (not that I would have wanted to stay out in those conditions anyway). 

Tuesday 24th April

As it was my birder's wife's birthday, I did my best husband impression (well, actually I don't need to) and wheeled out some beautiful ear rings for her and took her out for a outing to a nearby National Trust property not that far from us.  It was at this same National Trust property that my interest in birding was re-ignited 6 years ago (after being dormant for 19 years).  I seem to recall seeing my first Treescreeper and Nuthatch for years and this re-ignited the beast of birding within me and tempted me to visit Brandon Marsh - it was downhill from then on.  Obviously my trip to the National Trust property had other motives, in that there was a Dotterel showing at Balscote quarry 2 miles away and so we just had to make that slight detour on route.   The bird was not showing that well (just hunkered down asleep) and so we moved on hastily and spent the rest of an enjoyable day pottering around the National Trust property.

Last Weekend

As my birder's wife was visiting her lovely God Mother last weekend, I decided to give them both some quality time together and ventured up north on my own instead.  My main aim for the weekend was to finally try and see some species that have eluded me previously (notably Capercaillie and Ptarmigan).

After a very long drive, I arrived at my first destination, the Glenshee Ski Resort, where I understood that I would be able to scope Ptarmigan from the car park.  I suppose, in theory you would be able to do that if you could see more than six feet in front of you - I arrived in a blizzard.  Fortunately, the storm cleared up pretty quickly and after getting my bearings, I had a wander up a nearby path encouraged by the sounds of Red Grouse all around me.  After a while I got my "eye in" and started to see the grouse but unfortunately, although very nice to see, they were the wrong type of grouse.  However, I was not about to give up and kept on scanning the ski slope above me and after about half and hour, finally clapped my eyes on my very first Ptarmigan.  I then saw another and then another and another, all within 100 metres from me - One of my bogey birds finally nailed, hurrah - I called my birder's wife as a celebration and decided to make a hasty exit from the area as it was far too cold for my liking.  After being taken on a 30 miles detour (because a road was closed), I finally arrived at Boat of Garten, checked in and ventured out into the field again.  A quick visit to the Loch Garten RSPB reserve gave me a Crested Tit and great views of male and female Crossbills.
The following day I dragged myself out of bed at 4:45am and made my way over to Loch Garten for the Caper Watch and after 2 hours of frustration, I finally obtained my first view of a Capercaillie (but just his head - not very satisfactory).  I then hightailed it to a nearby well known Black Grouse Lek and managed to see good views of a male performing 50 metres in front of me (and one other observer) before flying off.  No further sightings were then seen except for a female who flew into a nearby treetop to observe all her potential suitors.  After a large scottish breakfast, I decided to keep up the pace and ventured over to the Cairngorm and soon was put onto three Ptarmigan by some friendly birders, while having Ring Ouzels whirring round the car park.  The adrenalin by then had really kicked in and I decided to then venture up to Burghhead on the Moray Firth to try for another new species, White Billed Diver.  Unfortunately, as the weather up till then had been very unsettled, there was a lot of swell and besides numerous Long Tailed Duck, Guillemots, Razorbills, Common Scoter and the odd Sandwich Tern, I could not find any divers.  Fortunately, just as I was about to depart, some local birders arrived and within minutes had found two of the divers - new species number three.  As tiredness started to set in, I made my way back to Boat of Garten via Lochindorb (to see Black Throated Diver) and then collapsed into bed.

The following day, I decided to use the services of Steve Reddick of http://www.highlandwildlifesafaris.co.uk/ to drive me and another punter round to all the local sites (even though I had been to most of them already).  If you want to see most of the specialities (including Mammals) in a day on a multi habitat safari and you do not know the area then a day out with Steve is highly recommended.  His love and enthuisasm for wildlife is infectious and during the day we managed some superb views of Capercaillie, Black Throated Divers, Slavonian Grebes and an Otter munching away on a fish in Loch Morlich - The only downside was another early start of 4:15am.

On my last day, I decided to spend time in the Findhorn Valley on a search for raptors and after 4 hours had managed to clock Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine and 2 Golden Eagle.  Other highlights included Ring Ouzel and this youngster.

The long journey home with a slight detour via Loch Leven brought me another new species in the form of a Blue Winged Teal (another species that has eluded me several times in the past).

Draycote and Brandon

I had the dreaded dentist yesterday and afterwards decided to cheer myself up with a visit to Draycote followed by Brandon Marsh.  As I turned onto Farnborough Bank/Spit at Draycote, the heavens decided to deluge me with practically everything they had, sleet, hail and rain and lashing wind.  However, despite all this I persisted and managed to set up my scope to scan what initially looked like a pool of water with no birds on it whatsover.  After sereral scans, I manged to locate about 3 to 4 individual Common Terns way at the other end of the reservoir and a solitary Black Tern that was very difficult to see due to it hugging the surface of the water most of the time.  I eventually managed to then find 2 Arctic Terns on the bank opposite to Farborough Spit and closer by on the spit itself I had 2-3 Wheatears, several Yellow and White Wagtails and a Ringed Plover.  No sign of any Little Gulls unfortunately.

As time was marching on, I decided to make my way over to Brandon Marsh to see if I could find the Nightingale that had taken up residence.  Unfortunately, no sign, but I did manage to see my first Cuckoo and Reed Warbler of the year and the Barn Owl put on a great show quartering the field in front of the Carlton Hide.

Albeit a successful evening with many species seen that I don't manage to view that often - However a bit wet and windy for my liking.

Capt owls

Myself and the Capt decided for a quick after work visit yesterday to the Napton area to try and find some goodies. Unfortunately, we were a bit too relaxed and ended up arriving at Napton Reservoir just before dusk and didn't really see anything.  Before ambling home we decided to drive to a spot we know where we pretty much can guarantee to see Little Owl perched on fence posts near the road.  As we turned into the road, I immediately spotted a little critter sitting on a tree branch over the road, the Capt backed the car up but unfortunately it was too late and he had flown.  The Capt (h)owled and despite a few attempts to find him again, we could not and retreated back to our respective homes.  Funny that, some years we have no problem finding owls, but this year and last year we have had real problems coming across any.

Draycote Yellows

I had to pop over to Waterworld, not that far from Draycote, in order to buy some pond plant baskets for our blossoming wildlife pond.  So, I left my birders wife at home in chores mode, picked up the Capt and we made our way over to "the pond" (as it is known affectionately by some) via basket purchasing.  As we arrived, we were greeted not only with a few drops of rain but also a Sparrowhawk which flew into the trees ahead of us, not a bad start!  The trees round Toft Bay held Chiff Chaff along with Blackcap in the hedgerows and Linnets flitted along the shore line.  As we ambled along Farnborough Bank along to the Spit, it appeared to be pretty quiet on the bird front.  Upon arriving at the Spit, I scoped the island and was rewarded with a view of a Common Sandpiper, my first for the year.  Things then just got better and better, the Capt spotted two Yellow Wagtails, and as we were checking them out, we noticed a bird with a white rump fly away from us.  Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a pristine Wheatear.  A hunt along the shoreline found us another three Yellow Wagtails, a White Wagtail, another Wheatear and a Ringed Plover.  The wind then whipped up and we decided to take refuge back at the car and made our way home via Lawford Heath to see if we could find anyway Tree Sparrow. Unfortunately we could not find any but came across three Grey Partridges instead, a real treat and a Warwickshire first for me - A great end to a great afternoons birding.

This Week's Birding

As spring continues to “spring”, time spent on birding has increased. I commenced the week with a visit to Brandon Marsh on Sunday, accompanied by the Capt, and although the rain was lashing down, we managed to see many Swallow and Sand Martin and one House Martin and a beautiful male Blackcap singing his heart out to a nearby potential mate.

A couple of times this week I have taken my usual lunchtime stroll along the River Leam, the wood is full of Chiff Chaff and Blackcap song, but still no Willow Warblers yet. In the evenings, myself and my birders wife have a walk we do, near where we live and again the trees seem to be full of Chiff Chaffs chiff chaffing and sometime chaff chiffing!

During the day yesterday, news broke of a Black Winged Stilt at Standlake in Oxfordshire, it seemed to be settled on Pit 60 in the area, so myself and my birders wife decided on the spur of the moment to drive down on a twitch straight after work. It seemed to be a race against time with dusk descending, but we managed to arrive at the site at about 6.45pm, only to find the viewing hide locked. Fortunately, a friendly local birder behind us had a key and let us in and we were immediately presented with views of the bird about 30 yards away. A fantastic bird and one of my all time favourites, I managed this record shot on my phone through my binoculars, . As we were watching the bird, it became quite flighty, flying round the pit a couple of times before rising higher and higher and then appeared to fly off southwards, but changed its mind and settled back down again. We took this opportunity to take our leave and made a mad dash to Farmoor Reservoir, only to find the gates locked – Oh well, you can’t have everything!

To make up to my birders wife for dragging her out and using up the petrol in her car, I took her out for a meal at a nearby recommended pub, the Boot Inn in Barnard Gate. Highly recommended, the mussels in thai curry sauce were amazing.

Easter Birding

In  pursuit of some fence paint, I made my way over to B&Q yesterday and after having made the purchase, winged my way down the A45 to Draycote for the briefest of visits to see if any of the Black Necked Grebes had hung around from the day before. Unfortunately, they had not done so and the disturbance of the many walkers, cyclists and joggers (why do they put themselves through that pain?) did not really help with the matter.  Besides the usual Tufties, there did not appear to be that much else except for a Ruff on the island and many gulls in the centre, of which, I think I may of spotted the quickest of glimpses of just one adult Little Gull (but not 100% sure so won't count it).  The rest of the afternoon was then spent painting fences and myself.

This morning I continued with the gardening theme and started to construct an insect hotel.  However, this was interrupted by news of 5 Ring Ouzels that had been seen on Gredenton Hill, near Burton Dassett.   I therefore dropped everything and thundered my way down the M40 knowing that my success record with this species is not that high and that I only had 90 minutes before visitors for the weekend were due to arrive.  Fortunately, as I arrived, another birder could be seen in the distance walking round the hill and after catching up with him, he informed myself and another birder (who had arrived at the same time as me) that he had heard one call and then saw 5 birds dive into the cover of the gorse.  As we ambled round the hill we then saw 6 birds fly into the same area, one I noticed was a blackbird but I did not see close enough views of the others.  After a couple of minutes, one of the birds came out of cover for a brief moment to have a peck around then flew back into cover again.   Fortunately, the bird was in view long enough to be identified as a Ring Ouzel, with its nice white breast patch.  Unfortunately, that was the last we saw of any more and I had to then rush back home to welcome my (non birder) guests.   Hopefully, I will get the chance to bird later on during the Easter break.