Window to Wildlife

We arrived at our first destination in Norfolk at 8.45, meeting Sue at Abbey Farm, Flitcham. As we got out of the car, a Mistle Thrush posed on top of  a telegraph  pole and was in full song. Our target birds were Brambling and Tree Sparrow. We found good numbers of Brambling in a large flock with Chaffinches, and we were able to note the differences in colours and markings. Sadly we were unable to locate any Tree Sparrows, a bird we have reliably found here in previous years. There were none at Dungeness either this year, although the reasons for the decline are unclear, as they are present on the continent. A Red-legged Partridge was in a field and en route to Thornham we also picked up Grey Partridge. We traditionally begin our weekend at Thornham Harbour with an enjoyable walk along a creek to the Holme nature reserve. Immediately we were on to a small group of Twite feeding on the salt marsh adjacent to the footbridge, and amongst the waders on the mud Tim located a Spo...

A wonderful 7 mile walk with Becky up to Mill Hill, past farmland habitat  and back along the river gave me 3 more annual bird ticks, well over 10,000 steps and a virtuous glow!  In dull light it took us a while to identify Corn Buntings up on the downs, which were perched in the bushes before disappearing into the vegetation on the fields. We eventually had good comparative views with a rosy-chested Linnet, my first of the year, and also a Meadow Pipit which showed a slimmer body and obvious wingbars when it alighted alongside the buntings. This helped to highlight the chunky build and sturdy bills of the Corn Buntings and to eliminate any other likely suspects. Finally one flashed some pink legs at us and we decided overall the result was conclusive. It is so much easier when they are singing their 'jangly keys' tune! An optimistic Skylark ascended in the cold wind and briefly serenaded us with its spectacular song. As we joined the slope down towards the river on the...

We started our third and final day in Kent and East Sussex with another check of the waders on the beach, adding Grey Plover to our Kent list, which we had not seen the previous day. The sea was much calmer than yesterday, so we thought we’d have another go at a seawatch, hoping for better views. In fact there was virtually nothing on the sea apart from several Great-crested Grebes and a single distant Guillemot. On checking Birdguides, we saw the drake Smew had reappeared at the RSPB Dungeness reserve, so we drove there next, and although not the best of views, it was a great bird to see. Not a tick as we had already seen three female ‘Red-heads’ at Abberton, bur there is something very special about the stunning white elegance of the male. It was rather a cold day, so we sheltered in the warmth of the car and set off on a tour of Walland Marsh. This was disappointingly unproductive, with the striking feature being substantial numbers of Fieldfare hopping about on the ...

We started our day on the beach opposite our B&B. It was high tide and we could see from our bedroom the black heads of oystercatchers roosting on the shingle bank as it drops down to the sea. We approached cautiously and at a distance, but even so, I think as soon as we came into view the birds spotted  us and flew up. Fortunately they resettled a little further along the beach, and through the scopes we were able to see a substantial mixed roost of Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Sanderling and both Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, the latter being yet another new tick (it’s so easy at this time of year!). Form here we headed down to Dungeness beach, where we attempted a seawatch by the fishing boats, but the sea was rather choppy. There were hundreds of Cormorants and some Great-crested Grebes close to the shore. We could just make out some auks bobbing in the waves at some distance, but the combination of poor light and windy conditions made it difficult to confirm whether ...

We left home early in the morning and arrived at Pett Level at 8.30, around half an hour after sunrise. Our friend Sue, always the earlybird, was already there and waiting for us with scope set up. We parked up adjacent to one of the pools beside the road. A large gathering of Coots were nibbling the vegetation at the back of the pool and in the grassy fields beyond there were good numbers of Curlew and Lapwing, poised motionless. As we scanned, I spotted a few Ruff feeding, with their distinctive spangled backs and bright orange legs, an annual tick! Dunlin were also feeding in the gloom, much smaller than the other birds, when suddenly everything went up in the air  as a creamy headed female Marsh Harrier appeared low over the horizon. We crossed the road and climbed the sea wall to the beach which gave a better view across the flat marshy fields and pools. There were many  geese feeding in the distance, initially hard to distinguish any identifying features, but then t...

We were meeting a friend at Goring Gap for lunch and to discuss our upcoming trip to Costa Rica. Beforehand we parked opposite a field which is frequently used by many gulls and waders as a high tide roost, and across the road from the shingle beach. There was little on the field as it was low tide,  just some regular gulls and we saw a few skylarks bounce across. We walked out onto the beach and scoped the water’s edge where there were reasonable numbers of waders present, despite the general busyness on a gloriously sunny afternoon, with frequent disturbance to the birds from both dogs and walkers. I managed my first Ringed Plovers of the year and Tim had his first Sanderling scurrying frantically in front of the incoming waves. Turnstones and Dunlin were also actively feeding, before swooping out to sea when approached, then circling back to the beach to continue as before. After a tasty lunch at the Bluebell cafe, we walked up Ferring Rife, a site with a good record for Wat...

Following my recent successful trip to Abberton Reservoir we arranged for Jenny and Tim to come up this weekend to help me locate the reported birds which I missed on my last visit and to boost their year lists with as many new birds as we could find. On a cold but beautiful morning we arrived at Abberton Reservoir at just after 8 a.m.and viewing the eastern side of the Layer de la Haye causeway nearest to the visitor centre we soon saw Goosander, Goldeneye and Smew before we were joined by the single swallow which was constantly flying past us as it went back and forth along the reservoir wall before it stopped for a rest on the sloping wall to our left. We also saw the female Long tailed duck which I had missed last week. On the western side of the road we found Pochard and later on after much searching through the many Tufted duck and Pochard we found a Scaup. We also had good views of a Great white egret as it flew down into the water's edge and waded about for a while. Aft...

Saturday 18th January - Dorset Wildlife Trust Visit to Brownsea Island Keith, Nicky and I had a lovely day on Brownsea Island with Alfie and Nigel. The weather was good, sunny and dry and the sea calm. We saw 33 different species of birds with lots of avocets, dunlin and oystercatchers on or at the edge of the Lagoon. There were also quite a few redshank about and a spotted redshank as well as a couple of greenshank, one of which was pretty close so we had good views of it. Ducks seen included shelduck, shoveler, teal, wigeon and gadwall. We also saw both black-tailed and  bar-tailed godwits with an impressive bar-tailed godwit looking resplendent in its colourful summer plumage. Nicky turned out to be a good red squirrel spotter. A peacock joined us while we were having lunch at a picnic table in the Nature Reserve. I was rather disappointed not to see any spoonbill there this year. Apparently, they seem to prefer Shipstall Point currently. We shall have to go on a visit to A...

Tim was out today to complete the monthly wetland bird survey, while I stayed at home as still recuperating. He had about 150 Lapwing and also 150 Snipe which were flushed by a group of kayakers.  A single Greenshank and Curlew, who appear to be resident this winter, were also seen together with about 60 Redshank and a single Little Grebe. Greenshank hiding amongst numerous redshank

A sunny day and wildlife was stirring in the bedrooms of Dorset with a gorgeous Peacock butterfly sunbathing by the window in Nicky’s house. Despite concerns about global warming a quick check of the Butterfly Conservation website allayed fears with a list of first sightings for different butterfly species  over the last 10 years indicating that early January sightings  for the Peacock are in fact quite common - indeed often on the 1st January, although they have to be seen  actively 'on the wing’ outdoors to make it onto the official list. Later in the day, a decidedly less active species was also photographed, with a request for some help with identification:  No it is not a dead or deceased parrot, but an adult Gannet -  note the distinctive blue bill            peach-tinged head colouration, brilliant white plumage and black tipped wings.  Here’s one in flight from our trip to Scotland last year - im...

Tim and I were leading a walk at Widewater lagoon for an event organised by the group World of Widewater. There were about 25 people turned up, although some were fellow members of the Shoreham birdwatching group who had come along with telescopes to help. Unfortunately weather conditions were not good with a cold wind blowing and keeping the birds low. Initially we struggled to find any birds, then managed a Black-headed Gull in the telescope, which is actually a very attractive bird in close-up with its red bill and red legs. A Kingfisher was spotted on the far side of the lagoon, but unfortunately didn't stay around long enough for scope views. We had a similar problem with Little Grebes. A Little Egret then flew in, which cheered people up and then we managed to get a redshank in the scope, which many of the group found interesting. A small group of Teal were also looking very attractive in the scopes and wowed the non-experts. Tim located a single Common Gull and was able to...

A lovely sunny afternoon and we met our friend Sue at The Burgh to search for a Merlin or Hen Harrier. We did not manage either! However, there were plenty of Red Kites about and their  beautiful colours were showing brilliantly as they displayed gracefully across the skies. I managed to add Red-legged Partridge to the  annual list and we also had some further sightings of  Grey Partridge which were calling continually from the field margins. Finally we had a lovely view of the Barn Owl resting on a fence post for a minute, before silently disappearing over the hedgerow and out of sight. We caught several more glimpses  of this stunning bird as we returned to the car.

Just a short outing today as I am still not feeling 100% fit. There has been extensive flooding in West Sussex in recent weeks with very high water around Henfield resulting in thousands of wildfowl present.  The levels are now beginning to drop and  numbers reducing, but a colleague from the local birdwatching group reported a Glossy Ibis on the marshy fields and although distant views we were pleased to add this to our 2020 bird list. Distant view of Glossy Ibis, digiscoped

Today I visited Abberton Reservoir near Colchester where there have been recent reports of quite a few species which are not possible to see locally and as usual it was well worth the trip. I managed to add 8 species to this year's list, many of which began with the letter  'G'  : Goldeneye, Goosander, Great crested grebe, Great white egret, Egyptian goose, (Greater) Scaup, Swallow and White fronted goose. The swallow was a surprise but as there was only one of them I guess we can assume that Summer has not yet arrived! The male goldeneyes were performing courtship displays where they tipped their heads back onto their backs which is something I have not seen before and probably should have videoed but I did not think of it at the time. There had been reports of  Bewick swan and Smew recently but I did not have time to search thoroughly to find these today. Maybe when Jenny and Tim next come to Essex we might be able to locate them although we will probably see them ...

A fruitful morning at Pagham with my friend Becky. We started at the visitor centre where there were a lot of Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon on Ferry Pool and a Buzzard perched on a post beyond. At Church Norton the tide was unfortunately a long way out so the birds were quite distant. However,  there were Oystercatchers, Grey Plover, Avocet, Curlew and Great Crested Grebe around the channels and Becky, who is relatively new to birdwatching, was pleased to see the plumage details of these lovely birds in the telescopes. A Peregrine perched on a wooden post, possibly considering his lunchtime menu, made for an interesting addition. Finally we drove round to North Wall. Here we enjoyed the spectacle of huge flocks of Brent Geese and Golden Plover wheeling overhead, together with a few Lapwing and Curlew dotted across the salt marsh. We were also entertained by a pair of Marsh Harriers dancing over the reeds.  The magnificent sunlit views  combined with the evocative...

Feeling a bit weary today after 2 long days 'in the field', I left Tim to his bird group accounts and went for a circular walk around the Shoreham part of the river Adur. Conditions were still pretty dreary and it was a vey low tide making the birds quite distant. However, I managed to add a Great Black Headed Gull to the annual list together with  a number of Oystercatchers, Turnstones and Redshank. I was also pleased to find the single over-wintering Greenshank feeding in the channel by the houseboats, its distinctive white underbelly showing clearly despite the murk.

With Andy staying overnight, our first bird of the year was a silhouetted Herring Gull flying over the garden in the morning half light. After breakfast we headed off to Pulborough Brooks arriving  at 8.15 and quickly totted up a variety of tits on the feeders including Coal Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the tree above and a Moorhen feeding below. As we headed down the path there were a number of Redwings in the trees and my friend Becky was thrilled to see her first ever male Bullfinch, looking resplendent despite the grey, dull conditions. Several Song Thrushes were singing in the New Year, then sharp-eyed Becky spotted a Nuthatch working its way down a trunk. A flock of pink lollipop Long-tailed tits chattered through the trees with their high pitched tsee, tsee, tsee calls. Water levels were very high on the main part of the reserve and there were good numbers of Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler on the brooks. A few Dunlin were feeding amongst good numbe...