tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32301076530338743682024-03-14T05:12:32.427+00:00indie birderzoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-70104821670297447522017-07-21T00:42:00.000+01:002017-07-21T13:53:14.479+01:00 Birding San Diego, California, USA - May 2017 - Part 2Following on from <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/birding-san-diego-california-usa-may.html">Part 1</a>, as I tried to squeeze in as many birding opportunities as possible during a week-long work trip to Sand Diego, California in early May 2107.<br />
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<i><b>Peregrine</b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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After a three days of work meetings, training, and the odd drink or three in the evening, I had Friday 5th May free. I managed almost a full day's birding, getting to <b>Balboa Park</b>, <b>La Jolla</b>, <b>San Diego River </b>and<b> Mission Bay</b>.<br />
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Before leaving the UK, I'd tried to find a local guide for this free day, or at least a guided walk by a local bird group, but without luck. I was hoping a guide would help me get to the best habitats (I didn't have a car), or at least some advice on where best to go, and to help me hone in on some of these tricky bird calls. Luckily, late Thursday, I notice the local <a href="http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/">San Diego Audubon Society</a> were adverising a short walk around a small part of Balboa Park the following morning. A rang, but was told it was fully booked. Fortunately, after explaining my situation, Caron, the organiser, was very understanding, and suggested I could tag along. Thanks!<br />
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The following morning a taxi dropped me at <b>Marston Canyon</b>, at the north-eastern tip of Balboa Park, at 08:00, and I joined up with a small group of local birders. I've always found the people here are very friendly, courteous and eager to help, this these guys were no different. <br />
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<i><b>Western Bluebird</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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The event kicked off with a <b>Western Bluebird</b> sat on a wire above our heads. The weather was overcast, and so my photos aren't great, especially one taken against the sky, but hopefully you'll get the gist. Soon, a <b>Cooper's Hawk</b> flew low overhead and landed on a telegraph pole, and began eating the prey it had.<br />
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<i><b>Cooper's Hawk</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Hummingbirds were darting around the shrubs in the park, including this lovely <b>Allen's Hummingbird </b>(shame the twig is in the way!), and several <b>Anna's Hummingbirds</b>.</div>
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<i><b>Allen's Hummingbird</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Anna's Hummingbird</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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This next series of photos show the amazing <a href="http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/09/the-basics-of-iridescence-in-hummingbirds/">iridescence</a> produced by the seemingly plain black feathers on <b>Anna's Hummingbird</b>. <br />
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<i><b>Anna's Hummingbird</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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I got some better views of <b>Red-shouldered Hawk</b>. I love the bold barring on wings and tail of these birds.<br />
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<i><b>Red-shouldered Hawk</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<b>Western Tanager</b> was a target bird for me, and I wasn't disappointed. There were at least three birds, though only one showed well in the flowering Silk Oak (<i>Grevillea robusta</i>).<br />
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<i><b>Western Tanager</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Along with <b>Black Phoebe</b>, <b>Song Sparrow</b>, <b>American Crow</b> and <b>Western Gull</b>, <b>California Towhees</b> were probably the most visible birds in most places I visited.<br />
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<i><b>California Towhee</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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We came across an empty <b>Bushtit</b> nest hanging at head-height is a bare tree. In keeping with that species' similarity with European Long-tailed Tits, their nest was of a similar construction. Long-tailed Tits tend to be deeper cover than this, but the the concept of a nest made from spider webs and feathers to create a stretchy bag that expands as the chick grow is the same. <br />
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<i><b>Bushtit </b>nest, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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The highlights of this area were undoubtedly the warblers. Several hours perusing <a href="http://www.thewarblerguide.com/">the Warbler Guide</a> recently had not prepared me for the abundance of colour and calls of these fabulous birds. In this small area we saw <b>Orange-crowned Warbler</b>, <b>Black-throated Gray Warbler</b>, <b>Yellow Warbler</b>, <b>Hermit Warbler</b>, <b>Wilson's Warbler</b>, and <b>Townsend's Warbler</b>. The Townsend's Warbler in particular was a real standout bird for me - a real beauty.<br />
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<i><b>Black-throated Warbler</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Townsend's Warbler</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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One last expected bird that had eluded us, but which showed right at the end, was a <b>Hooded Oriole</b>. Nice to get a good view (if not a good photo) of a male.<br />
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<i><b>Hooded Oriole</b>, Marston Canyon, Balboa Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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In addition, we also saw <b>Pacific-slope Flycatcher</b>,<b> Lesser Goldfinch</b>,<b> Black Phoebe</b>, <b>
Nuttall's Woodpecker</b>,<b> Cedar Waxwing</b>,<b> House Wren</b>,<b> Bewick's Wren, House Finch</b>,<b> House Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Mourning
Dove</b>,<b> Mallard, Western Gull</b>,<b> Merlin</b>, and <b>Black-headed Grosbeak</b>. Not forgetting several birds from naturalised <b>Parrot</b> sp that flew over.<br />
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I asked the group if they could recommend somewhere for me to visit next, somewhere good for birds, but also something decent to eat and maybe buy some cheesy souvenirs for my kids. The unanimous answer was: La Jolla (pronounced La Hoya). Rustom, a local birder also on the walk, very generously offered to give me a lift there (unfortunately not in this fab 1970 Chevy C20 pickup that was parked nearby). Thanks Rustom.<br />
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<i><b>1970 Chevy C20 Pickup</b>, San Diego, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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La Jolla is a seaside resort about 12 miles north of downtown San Diego - very picturesque, and lots of nice place to eat and drink. Although as it was overcast and a little cool when I was there (kind of like Blackpool in August!), I don't think I got the full resort experience.<br />
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<i><b>La Jolla Cove</b>, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Rustom dropped me by La Jolla Cove, and as soon as I settepd stepping out of the car I could smell <b>Brandt's Cormorant </b>guano! The birds nest along the low cliffs at the back of the beach, just below the road (you can see them at the bottom-right of the photo above). This allows for great views from the Coast Blvd.<br />
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<i><b>Brandt's Cormorant</b>, La Jolla Cove, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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All the while, passing over head, were formations of <b>Brown Pelicans</b> flying low over the town, beach and sea.<br />
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<i><b>Brown Pelican</b>, La Jolla Cove, San Diego, USA</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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There's a flat area where the <b>Double-crested Cormorants</b> and <b>Brown Pelicans</b> gathered to preen, and or dry or after fishing expeditions. <br />
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<i><b><b>Double-crested Cormorants</b></b> and <b>Brown Pelicans</b>, La Jolla Cove, San Diego, USA</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b><b>Double-crested Cormorant</b></b>, La Jolla Cove, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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On the small headland at La Jolla Cave, a male Peregrine was at in a bare tree, looking out to sea. The tree was no more that 25 metres from the busy coastal path, yet the bird seemed unconcerned. <br />
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<i><b>Peregrine</b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Further along the path were <b>House Finches</b> and <b>Black Phoebes</b>, but few other passerines.<br />
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<i><b>Black Phoebe</b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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There were hummingbirds all along the path, and I took
great delight in watching an Anna's Hummingbird fledgling being fed by
an adult.<br />
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<i><b>Anna's Hummingbird</b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Back further west, around Point Mencinger, is a great place to see <b>California Ground Squirrels</b> up close. Lots of them on on the soft ground beside the beach, and occasionally in the bins. Not unlike the other opportunistic feeder, the <b>Western Gull</b>.<br />
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<i><b>California Ground Squirrel</b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Western Gull</b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Hauled out on on the beach were dozens of <b>Harbor Seals</b> (I guess i should use the American spelling!). Plenty of <b>California Sea Lions</b> on the rocks too.<br />
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<i><b><b>Harbor Seals</b></b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b><b><b>California Sea Lion</b></b></b>, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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I didn't have a detailed plan for the rest of the day. I wanted to check out some shore birds, and Mission Bay seemed the best area nearby, but I wasn't sure where to start. So I called in at the San Diego Audubon Society offices to asked for advice, and was told the Sand Diego river would probably be best. Great advice!<br />
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I was dropped off along Old Sea World Drive, as suggested, just at the end of the silted section of river (see map above), and headed west towards the ocean. In front of me, in a creek, was a Y<b>ellow-crowned Night-heron</b>. Not a common bird here, as it's slightly out of it's usual range.<br />
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<i><b><b><b>Yellow-crowned Night-heron</b></b></b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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I saw a further four heron and egret species along the river: <b>Great Blue Heron</b>, <b>Little Blue Heron</b>, <b>Great Egret</b>, and <b>Snowy Egret</b>.<br />
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<i><b><b><b>Great Blue Heron</b></b></b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b><b><b>Little Blue Heron</b></b></b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b><b><b>Great Egret</b></b></b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b><b><b>Snowy Egret</b></b></b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
<br />
The shore birds were restricted to the silted area a the shallow water to the east of West Mission Bay Drive. It was nice to see <b>Willet</b> again (a long overdue species in the UK). There was a <b>Hudsonian Whimbrel </b>(recently lumped back with Eurasian Whimbrel), and approx ten <b>Marbled Godwits</b>. The godwits were beautiful, with lovely speckling on the mantle, cinnamon under-wings, and rich rusty upper-wings.<br />
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<i><b><b><b>Willet</b></b></b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b><b><b>Hudsonian </b></b>Whimbrel</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Marbled Godwit</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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I'm seen a few <b>Caspian</b> and <b>Elegant</b> <b>Terns</b> washing in the freshwater area upriver, but as I got closer to the ocean, I noticed more terns feeding. <b>Forster's Terns </b>were diving into the shallow water where the wader were feeding.<br />
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<i><b>Forster's Tern </b>and <b>Marbled Godwit</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Forster's Tern</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Caspian Tern</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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I caught sight of a <b>Black</b> <b>Skimmer</b> coming down the river, low over the water. I'd heard these may be present in the Mission Bay area, but I doubted I'd find them here. Well, I felt very lucky to see this one - what a stunner! It flew right past me, dragging its oversized lower mandible in the water. A top ten birding highlight for me.<br />
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<i><b>Black Skimmer</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Further along, beyond Sunset Cliffs Blvd Bridge, was a large group (c70) of <b>Black Skimmers</b> loafing on the sand bar, with similar numbers of <b>Caspian Terns</b> and <b>Elegant Terns</b>, and the odd<b> Forster's Tern</b>. An impressive sight. I didn't see any <b>Royal Terns</b>.</div>
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<i><b>Black Skimmer</b>, with <b>Caspian </b>and <b>Elegant Terns</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, <br />California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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An added treat was an <b>Osprey</b> cruising up and down the river, looking for prey. From the number of large fish leaping out of the water, I expected it wouldn't be long before it caught something. It did, and quickly took the fish down river, flying under the bridge with the heavy prey held facing forwards. </div>
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<i><b>Osprey</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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A little later I noticed a bird perched on a lamppost on the next bridge. Taking a closer look, I realised it was the <b>Osprey</b>. It seemed oblivious to the traffic passing close below.<br />
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<i><b>Osprey</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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There were a few Ruddy Ducks on the water, and this smart <b>Western Grebe</b>.</div>
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<i><b>Western Grebe</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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As I approached the estuary opening out into the sea, I realised the place was crawling with feral cats! Dozens of them among the rocks. Eventually I reached the end of the track, where clandestine fishermen had mounted the fence to get to the end of the jetty. The tide washes over part of the jetty twice a day, and it looked ready to do so now, so it seemed sensible to head back.<br />
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Back along the road, and even among the yachts in Mission Bay Marina, were more of the ubiquitous <b>House Finches</b>. Also, in the Marina, I came across a handsome <b>Spotted Sandpiper</b>. A lovely bird to end the trip.<br />
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<i><b>House Finch</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA - Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Spotted Sandpiper</b>, San Diego River, San Diego, California, USA</i></div>
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<i>Friday 5th May 2017</i></div>
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Well, a good day's birding. And a very memorable and worthwhile trip, for work and pleasure. What a lovely place with really likeable people. Can't wait to come back...<br />
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-91054770134870997892017-06-12T17:10:00.000+01:002017-07-21T00:44:10.012+01:00Birding San Diego, California, USA - May 2017 - Part 1A change is circumstances at work this year meant that I became part a big global team. Even better, I joined just in time to be invited to the team gathering in sunny San Diego! Maybe working for The Man isn't so bad...<br />
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<i> <b>Song Sparrow,</b> Mira Mesa, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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My trip was in early May, and I decided to travel in my own time over the weekends, giving me some free time in San Diego for birding before and after the team summit. I didn't have much time, but I was determined to make the most of an opportunity that (for me) doesn't come around that often.<br />
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One of the reasons for writing this particular blog post is to assist other birders, if they find themselves working in the same area, to get the most out of their limited time - I certainly felt I did.<br />
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I've split this blog post into two parts - the number of photos would be too cumbersome for one post. Part 1 is covers the my wanderings around Sorrento Valley. <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/birding-san-diego-california-usa-may.html">Part 2</a> covers Balboa Park, La Jolla, San Diego River and Mission Bay.<br />
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The hotel (and nearby company office) was in the Mira Mesa area of Sorrento Valley, north of San Diego. The two best-looking birding areas, that were also within 15-minute walking distance, were El Camino Memorial Park and the Lopez Canyon Trail.<br />
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I was up early on Monday 1st May, having arrived late the night before, and headed out to El Camino Memorial Park after breakfast. As a native of the English Pennines, I found the sun and heat quite intense even at the time of day in early May.<br />
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The Memorial Park looked just as crematoriums appear in US movies: lush, green, and impeccably manicured. As a courtesy, I asked at the office if I may go birding on site, including taking photos, and was told. "No problem - it's joggers we don't like...".<br />
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<i><b>Black Phoebe</b>, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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I found the area along the southern edge the most productive (Fenton
Road, according to Google Maps). It was quieter here, and not manicured,
with a dry river valley to explore. <br />
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<i>The habitat south of El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<b>Orange-crowned Warblers</b> in in the trees around the picnic area, and nesting pair of <b>Bewick's Wrens</b> taking food into a hole in a roadside tree. <br />
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<i><b>Orange-crowned Warbler,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Bewick's Wren,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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A major highlight was seeing my first hummingbird. Probably an <b>Anna's Hummingbird</b> - I have to admit I was just blown away by the action of the beautiful little dynamo that I didn't take much notice of the plumage of the first hummer I saw. I was particularly taken by the way it was hawking for insects. I eventually saw several hummers whizzing by and occasionally settling in the trees, including this <b>Black-chinned Hummingbird</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Black-chinned Hummingbird,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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Not all of my photos turned out so well, and here a few record shots of other birds from along that roadside.<br />
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<b><i>Hooded Oriole (female)</i></b><i><b>,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<b><i>Hooded Oriole (male)</i></b><i><b>,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<b><i>Brown-headed Cowbird</i></b><i><b>,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<b><i>House Finch</i></b><i><b>,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Lesser Goldfinch,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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I headed down the dry river valley, and soon came across a <b>Pacific-slope Flycatcher</b>. In fact, there were loads of these around, and I seen one earlier but just not clocked the species. These are an absolute beauty of a bird, a little dynamo flycatching in the shade of the low-hanging branches.<br />
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<i><b>Pacific-slope Flycatcher,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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Along this river valley were a pair of <b>Nuttall's Woodpeckers</b>, picked up initially on call, and noisy Bushtit family, not dissimilar to <b>Long-tailed Tits</b> back home.<br />
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Other birds in the Memorial Park included a fly-over <b>Snowy Egret</b>, <b>Red-shouldered Hawk</b>, <b>California Towhee</b>, <b>American Crow</b>, <b>Eurasian Starling</b>, <b>Black-throated Gray Warbler</b>, <b>Anna's Hummingbird</b>, <b>Lesser Goldfinch</b>, <b>Black-headed Grosbeak</b>, <b>Song Sparrow</b>, and a fair few others where I just couldn't clinch the ID (including hirundines over the lake as I was heading back).<br />
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<i><b>Red-eared Slider,</b> El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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It was getting very hot as midday approached, and I eventually headed back to the hotel on Misa Mesa Blvd to meet up with colleagues for lunch. It turned out we didn't have any work planned for the afternoon, and some had jet lag to contend with. I decided to head out again, this time to the Lopez Canyon Trail, which was only around 12 minutes walk away.<br />
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A note of caution: the canyon is home to various snakes, some of which are venomous, so please listen out and watch where you tread.<br />
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<i>Offices on Mira Mesa, San Diego, California, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i>The view from the top of Lopez Canyon</i></div>
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<i>The view from the bottom of Lopez Canyon</i></div>
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<i>One of several signs along the top of Lopez Canyon, none of which I saw until after three days traipsing around the area!</i></div>
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This area also turned out to be great for birding. Looking north from the top of the canyon afforded great views across the grassy landscape, and it was hard to believe I was only 20 minutes from downtown San Diego, especially when stood at the bottom of the canyon.<br />
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The first bird I saw here was a fabulous White-tailed-Kite. Flying at eye-level, from my vantage point near the top of the canyon. A really striking bird, bright white and stark greys, with black shoulder patches. It frequently hovered over the grassland, working hard as there was no wind to help, as it looked for prey. I saw five birds in total, which I assumed was a family group, with adults teaching second calendar year (2cy) birds. Unless the birds were fledged this year, which seems too early.<br />
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<i><b>White-tailed Kite </b>(adult)</i><i><i>, Lopez Canyon</i>, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>White-tailed Kite </b>(three immature birds)</i><i><i>, Lopez Canyon</i>, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>White-tailed Kite </b>(immature left, adult right), </i><i><i>Lopez Canyon,</i> San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>White-tailed Kite </b>(immature above, adult below), </i><i><i>Lopez Canyon</i>, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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I managed only a brief view of another raptor: a <b>Red-shouldered Hawk</b>. These certainly seem common in these parts, having seen one earlier, and would see more from the office during the week, plus one in Balboa Park. <br />
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<i><b>Red-shouldered Hawk</b>, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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Higher up, the canyon was filled with the song of the <b>Northern Mockingbird</b>, singing from the top of a tree.<br />
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<i><b>Northern Mockingbird</b>, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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Lower down, a <b>Western Scrub-Jay</b> was sat, predictably, in the scrub.<br />
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<i><b>Western Scrub-Jay</b>, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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On the grassy slopes, a couple of <b>Ashy-throated Flycatchers</b> were actively feeding in the sunlit patches.<br />
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<i><b>Ashy-throated-Flycatcher</b>, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA<br />Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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Along the canyon floor is a tree-lined riverbed, made up mostly of dry rocks and fallen branches (watch out for snakes under these). Here I struggled to ID several passerines from their calls and odd brief view as they flitted among the foliage.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2qeTUGTPEs/WVApGHWCXMI/AAAAAAAAGKk/sI4r2RYywmkj35kddFFBUCKCElhEmxXewCLcBGAs/s1600/170501-Wilsons-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1386" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2qeTUGTPEs/WVApGHWCXMI/AAAAAAAAGKk/sI4r2RYywmkj35kddFFBUCKCElhEmxXewCLcBGAs/s640/170501-Wilsons-Warbler.jpg" width="640" /></a><i><b>Wilson's Warbler</b>, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Bewick's Wren</b>,<b> </b></i><i>Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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I came across a small pool in the riverbed, and as the light faded several birds came to bathe, such as <b>House Finch</b>, <b>Bewick's Wren</b>, and a striking <b>Lazuli Bunting</b>. <br />
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<i><b>Mourning Dove</b>,<b> </b></i><i>Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<b>California Towhees</b> are ubiquitous here, and seeing them is easy, especially as they as so ungainly and inelegant as the crash through the scrub.<br />
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<i><b>California Towhee</b>,<b> </b></i><i>Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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It wasn't all birds of course; I saw reptiles and insects too, although I wasn't so focused on them. <br />
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<i><b>Flame Skimmer</b> (Libellula saturata),<b> </b>Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Mourning Cloak Butterfly</b> - known as <b>Camberwell Beauty</b> in Britain - (Nymphalis antiopa),<br />Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Western Tiger Swallowtail </b>(Papilio rutulus), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Thursday 4th May 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Western </b></i><i><b><i><b>Fence Lizard</b></i> </b>(</i><i><i>Sceloporus occidentalis</i>), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA</i></div>
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<i>Monday 1st May 2017</i></div>
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<a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/birding-san-diego-california-usa-may.html">Click here for Part 2</a>, covering Balboa Park, La Jolla, and the San Diego River and Mission Bay...zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-43400588484698650322016-12-15T14:15:00.003+00:002017-01-26T08:43:08.941+00:00Dusky Thrush, Beeley, Derbyshire - 5th December 2016More twitching, and this time for a fabulous female <b>Dusky Thrush</b> in Beeley, near Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire. It was found on Sunday 4th by Beeley resident Rachel Jones, though she wasn't aware of the bird's ID at the time - you can <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=6087">read her finder's report here</a>.<br />
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<i><b>Dusky Thrush</b>, Beeley, Derbyshire - 5th December 2016</i></div>
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Late that same night the ID was confirmed and access was arranged, and the following day the bird was seen and reported again in the village. Twitch on! Except, not for me. I was at work and had a stack of stuff to complete before the Christmas break. But, as the morning wore on, and I remembered my frustration at not being able to go and see the last (and only other twitchable) Dusky Thrush in Kent, May 2013, and couldn't focus on work that well. My boss, understanding as ever, let me take the afternoon off, and I was on site by 13:30.<br />
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The village was full of cars, although most of the birders were obviously hdden behind wall somewhere, as I couldn't see many. The bird was around the feilds and orchard near <a href="http://www.dukesbarn.org/">Dukes Barn</a>, and just as I arrived a group of three birders ran in from stage left breathlessly saying "it's heading this way". And all of a sudden the bird was there, in a tree in the orchard in front of us, soon dropping into the grass. Pretty lucky on my part, having avoided a long wait, and being at the front when a approximately 150 birders rushed around the corner to join us!<br />
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<i><b>Dusky Thrush</b>, Beeley, Derbyshire - 5th December 2016</i></div>
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The bird fed in the long grass for a round five minutes, seemingly oblivious to the noisy work on the roof of the nearby building. It then flew up and over our heads, out of view.<br />
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After taking a coffee from the great Dukes Barn staff, I got some prolonged views of the bird from the adventure playground. It seemed to be trying keep a low profile, so as to avoid winding up the <b>Blackbirds</b>, while going after the same food as them (apples, haws, and worms and other inverts). The Blackbirds clearly didn't appreciate the competition, and the Dusky Thrush had to fight off a couple of attacks. The <b>Redwings</b> kept out of the orchard, preferring to stay in the treetops bordering the nearby fields.<br />
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The Dusky Thrush was smaller than the Blackbirds, more like a Song Thrush or Redwing in size and plumage, though perhaps a shade bigger than either of those. The striking aspects of the plumage were the thick supercilium, which widened behind the eye (unlike a Redwing), and the distinctive patterns of the throat, belly and flanks. The underparts had a background colour of an off-white grey, including the think feathering around the tops of the legs The throat was pale, bordered by dark malar stripes and a mottled ring across the upper breast. The belly and flanks had a wonderfully characteristic chessboard pattern.<br />
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Solid brown ear coverts, and the same colour on the mantle, though with some streaking. The flight feathers had rusty orange-brown fringes. There appeared to be a pale patch between the wings, and the tail was long and dark on both upper and undersides. The bill was mostly dark, with an orangey base. The legs were dark too.<br />
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<i><b>Dusky Thrush</b>, Beeley, Derbyshire - 5th December 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Dusky Thrush</b> notes - 5th December 2016</i></div>
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Credit must go to the staff at <b>Dukes Barn</b>, who were generous with
their time and assistance on the day (and throughout the week by all
accounts). They even rustled up some food for me when I popped in to say
thanks for the twitch and ask about places nearby to get some grub.
They got an extra tenner from me for that. After looking at the services
they provide, I donated some more online - please consider donating via
their page here: <a href="http://www.dukesbarn.org/support-us/">Support Dukes Barn</a>. <br />
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Seeing this bird obviously made up for missing the last one, with the bonus of it being so much closer to home, and so obliging. I genuinely believed I would never have a another chance to see a Dusky Thrush in the UK after failing to go for the Kent bird. It's been a good year for that sort of thing. I've "gripped back" some great birds this year that I had twitched and dipped previously and had regretted ever since: <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/brunnichs-guillemot-anstruther-fife.html">Brünnich's Guillemot</a>, <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/great-knot-titchwell-norfolk-thursday.html">Great Knot</a>, and the less rare <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/booted-warbler-great-orme-conwy-wales.html">Booted Warbler</a>.<br />
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Later the same week, on Sunday 11th, I had a couple of hours at <a href="http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/">Rodley NR</a>. A quiet morning, but some good views of a male <b>Kingfisher</b> at the dipping pond and then later at the reedbed hide. I counted 85+ <b>Redwing</b> flying over in three groups while I was there, though I reckon there were probably hundreds more. I had a fantastic close encounter with a female <b>Sparrowhawk</b> as it flew on to the Poplar Carr fence right beside where I was stood. A single <b>Red Kite</b> was over Barmley Falls Wood, being mobbed by Jackdaws and performing some wacky manoeuvres. A lovely male <b>Pochard</b> on the lagoon, a smart pair of <b>Goosander</b> on the river, and a couple of adult <b>Herring Gulls</b> on the farmer's field.<br />
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<i><b>Kingfisher</b>, Rodley NR, West Yorkshire - 11th December 2016</i></div>
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-32756099605913825592016-12-10T00:51:00.001+00:002016-12-10T00:53:10.314+00:00Pied Wheatear, Redcar, Cleveland - Sunday 30th October 2016Another great bird from earlier in the autumn, and on the same morning I saw the great <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/eastern-black-redstart-skinningrove.html">Eastern Black Redstart at Skinningrove</a>.<br />
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This <b>Pied Wheatear</b> had been reported late the previous day, initially as a Black-eared Wheatear. I'd headed to Skinningrove for the Black Redstart first, and wasn't aware the Pied Wheatear was still present just along the coast at Redcar, until I'd got a signal when back on top of the hill. As this bird was a lifer for me, I was pretty happy!<br />
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<i><b> Pied Wheatear</b>, Redcar, Cleveland - 30th October 2016</i></div>
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The bird put on a great show, fly-catching from a perch at the back of the cinema on the beach, and occasionally landing on the beach.<br />
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The bird, a male, had a lovely pale buff breast and belly, and a grey-brown mantle. There was a cold paleness to the plumage, with a strong contrast to the upper and under parts. The back had a feint mottling, and there was a nice contrast to the back the covert feathers and their white edges. As always with wheatears, the tail pattern was really informative: predominantly white, with a thin and variable black distal band and strong central column (forming the inverted T), but also black extending halfway up the upper tail feathers.<br />
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<i><b> Pied Wheatear</b>, Redcar, Cleveland - 30th October 2016</i></div>
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Some photos and video below, showing the bird and the setting...<br />
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<i><b> Pied Wheatear</b>, Redcar, Cleveland - 30th October 2016</i></div>
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-50094101612531508722016-11-30T13:48:00.001+00:002016-12-10T00:20:02.258+00:00Eastern Black Redstart, Skinningrove, Cleveland - Sunday 30th October 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Eastern Black Redstart</b>, Skinningrove, Cleveland- 30th October 2016</i></div>
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A few photos of the fabulous <b>Eastern Black Redstart</b> (Phoenicurus ochruros phoenicuroides) from Skinningrove in Cleveland a few weeks ago. Yes, still catching up on the photos and blogs for some recent outings, and this bird is too good to leave out.<br />
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It was feeding among the rocks on the northern side of the jetty, occasionally disappearing behind the boulders for a 10 minutes at a time. An, active, bright, beautiful bird, almost constantly on the move. When stood still it wobbled its tail in classic Redstart style. It was frequently harassed by the Robins. but always returned to the same area. As I write (30th November 2016), it's still present at Skinningrove. Photos and video below...<br />
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<i><b>Eastern Black Redstart</b>, Skinningrove, Cleveland- 30th October 2016</i></div>
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-58389868919605505272016-11-22T22:52:00.001+00:002016-11-23T08:13:55.955+00:00Siberian Accentor, Easington, East Yorkshire - Friday 14th October 2016I've fallen behind on my blogging in the past month. I've been busy (birding, as well as working, living, etc), but still wanted to share this particular bird with you, even though it was over a month ago when I saw it. One of the already legendary <b>Siberian</b> <b>Accentors</b> of 2016...<br />
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<i><b>Siberian Accentor</b>, Easington, East Yorkshire - Friday 14th October 2016 </i></div>
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You may have heard about the Siberian Accentor invasion this autumn; it's become the stuff of memes and t-shirts...<br />
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Coming soon! The Siberian Accentors UK Invasion Autumn 2016 T-shirts!! Watch this space next week. <a href="https://t.co/hwI3K4HRPE">pic.twitter.com/hwI3K4HRPE</a></div>
— Probable BirdSociety (@ProbableBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProbableBS/status/799329090494808066">November 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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There were 32 records in Europe before this autumn, and none anywhere near the UK. But, the strong easterlies thought out late September and early October started to push Siberian birds this way, and Siberian Accentors started appearing in Scandinavia... Then one was found on 9th October on Shetland (where else?), and a big twitch was on. It only stayed two days, and no one knew for sure if that would be it. Until this one was found by Lance Degnan, next to a yellow skip on hard standing, by the gas terminal. That was on Thursday afternoon around 3pm, and I immediately started packing up to leave work, only to realise I had family commitments that evening. Sob. So, a dawn raid was on the cards...<br />
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I arrived well before dawn in Easington, around 06:10, and the place was already heaving with birders. Hundreds and hundreds, huddled under a street light on Vicars Lane. Despite this I managed to get a a decent spot at the front (all those years getting through crowds at gigs, eh?!), and we waited... Someone a few metres over to the left called out, and within a blink of a eye there was chaos, more like a mosh pit than a twitch!<br />
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And yes, there it was! In the half-light, picking around the moss on the old tarmac was a the little sprite. After things had settled down, and a queuing system was imposed by the great team from <a href="http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/">Spurn Bird Observatory</a>, we all got great views.<br />
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<i><b>Siberian Accentor</b>, Easington, East Yorkshire - Friday 14th October 2016 </i></div>
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Very slightly smaller than a Dunnock, with a Zorro-like mask over a yellow head, a patterned mantle in black, chestnut and white, and with a suggestion of rufous tinge to the breast, it looked like a Dunnock in Cirl Bunting fancy dress. It didn't seem as wary as the Dunnocks, and didn't fly off like them when a pigeon flew low over - preferring to hunker down. It came ridiculously close too, but unfortunately the light meant my photos were a little dark.<br />
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<i><b>Hedge Accentor</b> and </i><i><i><b>Siberian Accentor</b>, </i>Easington, East Yorkshire</i></div>
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<i>Friday 14th October 2016 </i></div>
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Before long I had to set off on the two-hour trip to work, but in great spirits! It had been a great twitch - one that will be talked about for years. Lee Evans estimated there were 1400 birder there that day, and for once I wouldn't quibble with his figures. Quite an experience...<br />
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Interesting cultural experience <a href="https://twitter.com/spurnbirdobs">@spurnbirdobs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BirdGuides">@BirdGuides</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RareBirdAlertUK">@RareBirdAlertUK</a> <a href="https://t.co/JXOW8Who8I">pic.twitter.com/JXOW8Who8I</a></div>
— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/786841829094416384">October 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-51698531488693573962016-10-28T15:57:00.001+01:002016-10-28T15:57:29.758+01:00Take care, my friendBirder, photographer, and good friend, Chris Morgan died suddenly in late September. It was a shock, not least because the last time I saw Chris (<a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/norfolk-22nd-24th-january-2016.html">birding Norfolk earlier this year)</a> he was in fine form - healthier than at any point I'd known him. He died from a heart attack while at home. <br />
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Although I'd only known Chris for just over five years, I've spent
many, many days birding with him. We birded together all over the UK on
several trips, many of which I've described on this blog: <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/spurn-and-north-sea-22nd-23rd-september.html">Spurn and Flamborough</a>, <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/norfolk-23rd-25th-january-2015.html">Norfolk several times</a>, <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/shetland-birding-september-2014-part-1.html">Shetland 2014</a> and <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/shetland-birding-october-2015-part-1.html">2015</a>, <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/blown-off-courser.html">all over the place</a>. He was a barrel of laughs and great company - a true character with a massive sense of humour. It became clear at Chris's funeral in Norwich that everyone who knew him felt the same. The service was punctuated with laughter as people remembered his jokes and puns, and his cheery farewell of "Take care, my friend". <br />
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<i> Chris in Sheringham, Norfolk - 23rd January 2016</i></div>
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<i>On Chris's 60th birthday at Quendale, Shetland - 2nd October 2016 </i></div>
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After paying my respects to Chris's family, I decided to stay in Norfolk on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th to do some birding before heading to Spurn for Sunday 9th - something I sure Chris would have appreciated.</div>
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I got to Titchwell by mid afternoon, getting great views of a <b>Red-breasted Flycatche</b>r in the tress near the car park. There was one of the many this autumn's UK <b>Yellow-browed Warblers</b> with <b>Goldcrests</b> behind the visitor centre. A couple of <b>Brambling</b> too.<br />
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Out on the fresh marsh were good numbers of <b>Avocet</b> and <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>, and close in was this brilliant showy <b>Pectoral Sandpiper</b>.</div>
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<i><b>Pectoral Sandpiper</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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On the (brackish) Volunteer marsh were some very confiding birds, including <b>Grey Plover</b>, lots of <b>Oystercatcher</b>, and these three <b>Curlew</b> <b>Sandpiper</b> with a <b>Dunlin</b>, <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b> and <b>Little Egret</b>.</div>
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<i><b>Curlew Sandpiper</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Little Egret</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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The beach was quiet and mild, with the tide out. I wandered down to the shore, followed closely by a <b>Black-headed Gull</b>. Loads of <b>Dark-bellied Brent Geese</b> in the water. <br />
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<i><b>Brent Geese</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Black-headed Gull</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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<i>"Take care, my friend", Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 7th October 2016 </i></div>
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I saw three Marsh Harrier going to roost as darkness fell as I headed back inland. A beautiful evening for reflection.<br />
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I have to say, I wasted wasted the following day unsuccessfully twitching a Radde's Warbler at Holkham. At least I had the opportunity to see a few more <b>Yellow-browed Warblers</b>, brush up on my warbler calls, and compare the (often not-so-subtle) variations in <b>Chiffchaff</b> plumage. I also had the opportunity to twicth (again, unsuccessfully) a Black-browed Albatross. It had been seen in the mid afternoon at Scolt Head Island, then Titchwell, so I (and several others) dashed to Hunstanton cliffs to scan the sea from the wind farm to deep into the Wash for the last two hours of daylight. No luck, but I felt I was getting closer to this most-wanted of birds.<br />
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I arrived at Spurn around 09:30 on Sunday 9th, having had a lie-in after lots of night-time driving. A Rustic Bunting had been seen in Church Field at 08:00 (for it's third day I think), so I headed there first. There were loads of <b>Goldcrests</b> and <b>Chiffchaffs</b> in the scrub, and the trees were filled with <b>Redwing</b> and <b>Blackbird</b>, with the occasional <b>Brambling</b> with the <b>Greenfinch</b> and <b>Goldfinch</b> flocks. The ringers were busy, particularly with Redwings and Goldcrests...<br />
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<i><b>Goldcrest</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Redwing</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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The Rustic Bunting didn't show again, but I enjoyed me tine spent watching these migrants going about their feeding, with the Goldcrests giving very close views.<br />
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<i><b>Goldcrest</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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A female <b>Sparrowhawk</b> tried unsuccessfully to catch a meal around the Heligoland trap and I decided to go birding around the Triangle. The weather was lovely, just as it had been for most of the weekend.<br />
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<i>Looking towards the Humber, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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There was a <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b> in the Crown and Anchor car park, a <b>Common</b> <b>Redstart</b> on the path and many more <b>Redwing</b> with a few <b>Fieldfare</b> and <b>Brambling</b> along the Canal Zone. I flushed a couple of <b>Roe Deer </b>from the bank and they ran out across the mudflats towards Sammy's Point.<br />
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<i><b>Roe Deer</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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The protests against the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust continue - quite rightly in my opinion. I really don't see why the YWT can't repurpose the existing the buildings at the Blue Bell and extend the car park there. I've again lodged my opposition with East Riding Council.<br />
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<i> The site of the old YWT information centre at the Warren</i></div>
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<i>Protests again YWT at the car park by the Blue Bell </i></div>
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I'd been hearing about an <b>Olive-backed Pipit</b> at Easington gas terminal throughout the day, and decided to pop in there before heading for home. I'm very glad I did! What a superb bird - the best I'd ever seen this species (and probably ever will).<br />
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<i><b>Olive-backed Pipit</b>, Easington, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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Before starting for home, I took some film of the wind turbines in the late afternoon sun (probably for use in my band's video). I never get tired of this area.<br />
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<i>Wind farm, Easington, East Yorkshire - Sunday 9th October 2016 </i></div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-26253582000570466882016-10-18T12:20:00.001+01:002017-02-28T14:31:59.742+00:00White's Thrush, Lindisfarne, Northumberland - Wednesday 5th October 2016 Hot on the heels of the <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/booted-warbler-great-orme-conwy-wales.html">Booted Warbler</a>, another beauty from the East was blown in on the strong easterly winds - a <b>White's Thrush</b> (<i>Zoothera aurea</i>) on Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island) in Northumberland.<br />
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<i><b>White's Thrush</b>, Lindisfarne, Northumberland - Wednesday 5th October 2016</i></div>
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Having missed a couple of these by leaving Shetland a day early in previous years, and armed with the knowledge that mainland White's Thrushes tend to make only brief visits, when the news broke at 09:20 I was eager to get up the coast to see it ASAP.<br />
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The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is reached via a causeway, which is covered by the hide tide twice a day. I needed to get up there, see the bird, and get off before 16:05 when the causeway was due to close, otherwise I'd have an uncomfortable night stuck in the car...<br />
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Well, I made it, and was rewarded with fabulous views of this beautiful bird. It was sat low down in some willows beside Straight Lonnen (a north-south path on the island), occasionally dropping out of sight, or making a quick short flight around the tree,<br />
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<i><b>White's Thrush</b>, Lindisfarne, Northumberland - Wednesday 5th October 2016</i></div>
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It was a large, bulky thrush, with a long bill and long tail, giving it an elongated appearance. Most of the bird's plumage were covered in varying degrees with spots and crescents, while the belly, vent, and under tail coverts were a pure white (with some ermine-like flecks under the tail). The eye was large and very dark, contrasting against thick pale eye ring. There was a black spot on the plumage behind the eye.<br />
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<i><b>White's Thrush</b> notes, Lindisfarne, Northumberland - Wednesday 5th October 2016</i></div>
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In the warm Autumn sun, the bird had a soft golden glow, speckled with blacks, browns and whites, not unlike the massed Golden Plovers in the field on the other side of the track. Here's some video (it wasn't easy to get a good position to film from) that gives an impression of the scene.<br />
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A wonderful bird, again in a wonderful location. And (<a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/western-swamphen-minsmere-and-white.html">Western Swamphen awaiting acceptance</a>) not a bad bird for my 400th species in Britain ;-)zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-72506838291910704942016-10-14T14:39:00.000+01:002016-10-14T14:39:03.676+01:00Booted Warbler, Great Orme, Conwy, Wales - Monday 3rd October 2016 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Booted Warbler</b>, Great Orme, Conwy - Monday 3rd October 2016</i></div>
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A really striking bird, in a strikingly beautiful location: right on the top of the Great Orme in Conwy, Wales. <br />
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<b>Booted Warbler </b>was a much-wanted bird for me, after dipping one while in Norfolk a few years ago. Well, I <i>did</i> see that one, but the views were too brief for me to think about ticking it. So I took the opportunity to go and see this showy fella as soon as I could.<br />
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The Booted Warbler was showing well when I arrived at the site - a solitary clump of gorse atop a mound on the northern end of the headland. The weather was sunny and still, with the setting sun eventually producing a lovely golden glow and great atmosphere (it reminded me a bit of <a href="https://youtu.be/nsJbCQpfXXw">this Cream-coloured Courser twitch</a>).<br />
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It was so pale when sat in the gorse, like piece of discarded tissue paper. It seemed to keep returning to a little bare opening in the gorse, allowing for prolonged views lit by the setting sun.<br />
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<i><b>Booted Warbler</b>, Great Orme, Conwy - Monday 3rd October 2016</i></div>
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The bird appeared Chiffchaff-sized, with grey-brown upperparts and very pale underparts, with a slightly darker greyish tone to the flanks. The wings showed a dark allula and primaries, with pale fringes on the browner tertials. When it flew the it showed clear white edges to the outer tail feathers. The legs were a dull pink, but no darker "boots" were obvious. It occasionally dipped tail as it flitted about on the gorse and grass. <br />
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The head appeared peaked, with a sloping forehead. In the field the lores appeared to have a pale patch. There was a pale supercilium, widening behind the eye. The bird had a two-tone bill (dark culmen), but no black tip. The bill looked quite broad-based in my zoomed-in photos.<br />
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<i><b>Booted Warbler</b>, Great Orme, Conwy - Monday 3rd October 2016</i></div>
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I joined in the enjoyable discussion about the the ID
features, regarding Booted vs Sykes, with 15 or so assembled birders. We
all seemed happy with the bird as a Booted Warbler, despite the lack of
"boots" on the bird.<br />
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<i><b>Booted Warbler</b> notes - Monday 3rd October 2016</i></div>
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<i>Birders on the</i><i><i> </i>Great Orme, Conwy - Monday 3rd October 2016</i></div>
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<i>Looking southeast towards </i><i>Conwy - Monday 3rd October 2016</i></div>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-30612347543920651652016-09-30T15:50:00.000+01:002016-09-30T15:53:11.627+01:00Brünnich's Guillemot, Anstruther, Fife - Monday 26th September 2016<br />
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<i><b>Brünnich's Guillemot</b>, Anstruther, Fife - Monday 26th September 2016</i></div>
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An interesting (if not controversial) bird, originally found on Sunday 25th September. It was still there on Monday morning, and the photos were looking promising to me (after some <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=332084">initial disquiet on Bird Forum</a> and Twitter about some pale feathers on the face), so I took the afternoon off work and headed up.<br />
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When I arrived on the quayside I noticed a group of six birders on the end of the pier. I headed towards them, figuring they must be on the bird at close range; but I noticed an auk species down in the water not far from where I was stood. It was the <b>Brünnich's Guillemot</b>, not eight metres away, snoozing while drifting towards the beach. Clearly it had floated away from everyone and they were waiting for it to float back rather than chasing it.<br />
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<i><b>Brünnich's Guillemot</b>, Anstruther, Fife - Monday 26th September 2016</i></div>
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It was nice opportunity to note down some of the bird's features: It was a large, tubby bird, stouter than a Common Guillemot. The uppers were dark, mostly a dark slate-black but with a hint of brown, plus a few feathers with some pale fringes. The bill had an obvious pale tip, and was short, thick and rounded compared with a Common Guillemot's (Brünnich's Guillemots are also called Thick-billed Murres; whereas Common Guillemots are also called Thick-billed, or Common, Murres).<br />
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The head shape might not have been strikingly Brünnich's-like, but I understand the peaked forehead tends to be rounder during autumn/winter. Still, it didn't look as sleek as a Common Guillemot. The plumage on the head formed a dark hood over the eyes, with some white-fringed feathers behind the eye (more obvious on the right side). The white feathering on the lower part of the face extended in a thin line over the top of the bill. The bill had a thin white lateral stripe, more noticeable on the left side of the bill.<br />
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The underparts were pure white, except for a yellow are on the belly (possibly due to oiling?). The flanks were unstreaked, and when the bird was wing-stretching I could see the white sides extended up and on to the back. It had a mottled dark neck ring, and the white on the breast extended up to the chin in an obvious peak.The underwings looked white, including the axillaries, but it was difficult to be certain because of the heavy moult (the feathers looked quite waterlogged).<br />
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<i><b>Brünnich's Guillemot</b>, Anstruther, Fife - Monday 26th September 2016</i></div>
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I had a chat with others on the end of the pier. They'd all prolonged close views earlier, nearer the harbour mouth and hadn't moved as the bird had, so I wasn't missing something. Later I met Geoff Morgan (<a href="https://twitter.com/morgithology">@morgithology</a>) and we talked through the ID features of the bird. We both seemed happy enough. We also both noticed a couple of stray feathers came off the bird while it preened in front of us, each picked one out of the water - Geoff is sending these to <a href="https://twitter.com/docmartin2mc">Martin Collinson</a> in Aberdeen for DNA analysis. </div>
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Nice to meet you today <a href="https://twitter.com/indiebirder">@indiebirder</a> for a spot of Brunnich's feather collecting! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fingerscrossed?src=hash">#fingerscrossed</a> <a href="https://t.co/QZXy2VU3ZU">pic.twitter.com/QZXy2VU3ZU</a></div>
— Geoff Morgan (@morgithology) <a href="https://twitter.com/morgithology/status/780505511053623299">September 26, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I hung around until it was very nearly dark, with only a couple of other birders hanging around to the last. Unfortunately, the bird was found dead on the morning of Friday 30th September. There were a few clues which suggested it was unwell. It sat ridiculously high in the water at times, looking very bloated. Although it did use it's both its legs, it mostly used the left leg, and it had a list over to the right. The feathers looked in terrible condition - perhaps the bird had been oiled, which may also explain the yellow patch on the belly. Sad to hear of its demise. Martin Collinson now has the whole corpse to analyse...</div>
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<i>Anstruther Harbour, Fife - Monday 26th September 2016</i></div>
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I'd dipped the last twitchable Brünnich's Guillemot, at Portland harbour on New Year's Day 2014 - and that was probably the hardest dip I'd ever had. That bird was found on Boxing Day 2013, and was still present as the sun went down on New Year's Eve, so the odds on it still being present were pretty good...<br />
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The early start and long drive on 1st January wasn't pleasant, but it was the coming back empty-handed that was really disheartening. But, simply missing the bird wasn't why it was so hard to take. I'd put off going earlier in the week because we'd had family and friends staying, and New Year's Day was the first day of the holidays it was just me, my wife, and the kids in the house. Instead of spending that precious quality time with them, I'd gone on some fool's errand to not see a bird on the south coast. I had six-hour journey home to beat myself up about it and get some perspective. I still twitch, obviously, but I'm more thoughtful now, and always prioritise time with the kids.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-51484393506232189472016-09-20T20:49:00.002+01:002016-09-29T13:38:01.410+01:00Photos from France - August 2016A family holiday in France, visiting our friends in Limoges for a few days then heading down to Vendoire on the Dordogne -Charente border for a week. We've been here before (<a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/vendoire-charente-france-august-2013.html">2013</a> and <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/dordogne-france-august-2014-birds.html">2014</a>), staying at a friend's place again.<br />
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I took it easy this time - very easy, especially after overdoing the partying in Limoges... Here are a few photos from the trip.<br />
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Birds</h3>
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<i><b>Black Redstart</b><span class="st"> - Solignac, Limoges, France, 12th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Black Redstart</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 16th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Common Buzzard</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 17th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i> <b>Cirl Bunting</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 16th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Common Kestrel</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 20th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Kingfisher</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 17th August 2016</span></i></div>
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Despite several visits to Des Tourbières de Vendoire over the last four years, this is the first Kingfisher I've seen there. It's not a brilliant site for birds (the Moorhen and Nuthatch below, plus Spotted Flycatcher and the commoner warblers being just about the best - or most obvious - birds).<br />
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<i>Juvenile<b> Moorhen</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 20th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Nuthatch</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 20th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Rock Sparrow</b><span class="st"> - Solignac, Limoges, France, 12th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Turtle Dove</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 19th August 2016</span></i></div>
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There certainly seemed to be fewer Turtle Doves around this year. I found them easier to find in previous years...<br />
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<h3>
Butterflies</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
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<i><b>Swallowtail</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 16th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Scarce Swallowtail</b><span class="st"> - Solignac, Limoges, France, 11th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<b> </b><i><b>Meadow Brown</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 17th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i> <b>Map</b> <b>Butterfly</b><i> </i>- Les Tourbières de la Chapelle-Grésignac, Dordogne, 17th August 2016 </i><i><span class="st"></span></i></div>
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<i><b>Great Banded Grayling</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 20th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Gatekeeper</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 19th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Gatekeeper</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 17th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Dryad</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 17th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Brimstone</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 20th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<h3>
Moths</h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKh4jQ5eUck/V-GRiZ1_sdI/AAAAAAAAFng/TfqIdZd_pw8cg8I4GhElTrO4Wftqo3CPQCLcB/s1600/Hummingbird-Hawk-moth-Vendoire-160816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKh4jQ5eUck/V-GRiZ1_sdI/AAAAAAAAFng/TfqIdZd_pw8cg8I4GhElTrO4Wftqo3CPQCLcB/s640/Hummingbird-Hawk-moth-Vendoire-160816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Hummingbird Hawk-moth</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 16th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Passenger Moth</b><span class="st"> - Solignac, Limoges, France, 11th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Latticed Heath</b><span class="st"> - Vendoire, Charente, France, 16th August 2016</span></i></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span class="st">Dragon and Damselflies</span></h3>
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<i><b>Banded Demoiselle</b><i> </i>- Gurat, Charente, 19th August 2016</i></div>
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<span class="st"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6Jt_XD_xYk/V-LEXN9ysDI/AAAAAAAAFo0/_U5xvFhY-tQt282htcP5h2rLv4ZE6POdwCEw/s1600/Blue-tailed-Damselfly-Vendoire-160817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6Jt_XD_xYk/V-LEXN9ysDI/AAAAAAAAFo0/_U5xvFhY-tQt282htcP5h2rLv4ZE6POdwCEw/s640/Blue-tailed-Damselfly-Vendoire-160817.jpg" width="640" /></a><span class="st"><i><b>Blue-tailed Damselfly</b><i> </i>- </i></span><span class="st"><i><i><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span></i> 17th August 2016</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPCM0NYsrjs/V-LEXtYULaI/AAAAAAAAFo0/RZbfCeCnkRYljmfliW0XQg563VlS3W1igCEw/s1600/White-legged%2BDamselfly-Chapelle-Gre%25CC%2581signac-160817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPCM0NYsrjs/V-LEXtYULaI/AAAAAAAAFo0/RZbfCeCnkRYljmfliW0XQg563VlS3W1igCEw/s640/White-legged%2BDamselfly-Chapelle-Gre%25CC%2581signac-160817.jpg" width="640" /></a><i> <b>White-legged Damselfly</b><i> </i>- Les Tourbières de la Chapelle-Grésignac, Dordogne, 17th August 2016 </i></span><br />
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<span class="st"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEU7G-wX2F0/V-LEXZgcXjI/AAAAAAAAFo0/Y6WzdPi97I82TQ1B4wVhhA6mAWDkLu9zwCEw/s1600/Common-Spreadwing-Chapelle-Gre%25CC%2581signac-160817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEU7G-wX2F0/V-LEXZgcXjI/AAAAAAAAFo0/Y6WzdPi97I82TQ1B4wVhhA6mAWDkLu9zwCEw/s640/Common-Spreadwing-Chapelle-Gre%25CC%2581signac-160817.jpg" width="640" /></a><i> <b>Common Spreadwing</b><i> </i>- Les Tourbières de la Chapelle-Grésignac, Dordogne, 17th August 2016</i></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st"><i><b>Broad Scarlet Dragonlfly</b><i> </i>- </i></span><span class="st"><i><i><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span></i> 17th August 2016</i></span></span> <br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st"><i><i><b>Yellow Clubtail</b> </i>- </i></span><span class="st"><i><i><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span></i> 17th August 2016</i></span></span> <br />
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<span class="st"><i> </i></span><span class="st"><span class="st"><i><b>Black-tailed Skimmer</b><i> </i>- </i></span><span class="st"><i><i><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span></i> 17th August 2016</i></span></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span class="st"><span class="st">Other insects</span></span></h3>
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<span class="st"><i> </i></span><span class="st"><span class="st"><i><b>Bloody-n</b><i><b>osed Beetle </b>(Timarcha tenebricosa) </i>- </i></span><span class="st"><i><i><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span></i> 19th August 2016</i></span></span></div>
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<i><b>European Mantis</b> (Mantis religiosa) <span class="st"><span class="st"> - </span><span class="st"><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span> 19th August 2016</span></span></i><br />
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<i><b>Meadow Grasshopper </b>(Chorthippus parallelus) <span class="st"><span class="st"> - </span><span class="st"><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span> 20th August 2016</span></span></i><br />
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<i><b>Striped Shieldbug</b> (</i><i><span class="st">Graphosoma lineatum</span> <span class="st"><span class="st"> - </span><span class="st"><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span> 19th August 2016</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span class="st"><span class="st">Mammals</span></span></i></h3>
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<i><b>Coypu</b></i><i><span class="st"></span> <span class="st"><span class="st"> - </span><span class="st"><span class="st">Vendoire, Charente,</span> 20th August 2016</span></span></i><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st"> Amphibians</span></span></h3>
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<i><b>Marsh Frog</b><span class="st"> - Solignac, Limoges, France, 11th August 2016</span></i></div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-73477430349495873862016-08-30T14:04:00.000+01:002016-08-30T14:04:07.646+01:00Western Swamphen, Minsmere, and White Stork, Bedlington - 2nd August 2016Some shameless twitching, but worth it to see a potential first for Britain (that'll be the Swamphen, not the Stork, obvs...).<br />
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The <b>Western (Purple) Swaphen</b> (<i>Porphyrio porphyrio</i>) at Minsmere RSPB was first seen on 31st July. I won't recount the details of how the bird was found - you can read the finder's account on BirdGuides <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5843">here</a> and discussion of the bird on BirdForum <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=329004">here</a>.<br />
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The Western Swamphen was on the small poll across from the South hide, a ten-minute walk from the visitor centre. When I arrived (around 08:00) a couple of the 25-or-so birders present informed me <br />
it had just gone into the reeds. Within ten minutes it was back out, and spent the next half-an-hour making its way along the back of the pool.<br />
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<i><b>Western Swamphen</b>, Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk - 2nd August 2016</i></div>
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Western Swamphens are impressive birds, both for their colour and size. The bird's legs and bill are the bright red of 1970s plastic toys, and areas of the plumage ranges from slate grey to blue suede to Cadbury's Dairy Milk purple. But it was when it walked past a Moorhen, towering over it like Gulliver in Lilliput, that you really appreciated the bird's size.<br />
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<a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/its-family-holiday-in-spain-not-birding.html">I'd seen this species before, on the Ebro Delta in Spain</a>, back when it was called <b>Purple Swamphen</b> (before being split from <b>African Swamphen</b>). My photography skills have improved (only) slightly since then...<br />
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<i><b>Purple Swamphen</b>, Catalunya, Spain - August 2012</i></div>
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In fact when I saw the Minsmere bird on the pool I had a real sense of <i>déja vu</i>
about this Ebro Delta bird. The habitat and behavior of the bird
(feeding along the edge of thepool, keeping close to the reed boundary)
were identical. One difference is you don't generally find wildfowlers' used shotgun cartridges on RSPB reserves...<br />
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After having my fill of this striking bird, I had look around the reserve and took the long route back to the car park. The Scrape was quiet, with few waders except for <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>, <b>Ringed Plover </b>and <b>Redshank</b>; but I could hear <b>Bearded Tits</b> over the reed bed. I had great views of a showy <b>Green Woodpecker</b>, but the undoubted highlight was a juvenile <b>Common Cuckoo</b> on the edge of the woods.<br />
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<i><b>Common Cuckoo</b>, Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk - 2nd August 2016</i></div>
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After seeing the Western Swamphen, which is almost certain to admitted to the <a href="http://www.bou.org.uk/thebritishlist/British-List.pdf">British List</a>, I clearly now had tick-fever. Faced with the long journey home, I decided to make it longer by going via the Bedlington in Greater London, in order to see a <b>White Stork</b>. </div>
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It's long journey to see a bird I'd seen before (both in the UK and France), but so many (all?) White Storks seen in Yorkshire (certainly in West Yorkshire) are not considered wild due to the free-flying population at <a href="http://harewood.org/">Harewood House</a> between Leeds and Harrogate. So, if I wanted to see a kosha White Stork in the UK, it would have to be away from Yorkshire, and this bird (part of a small influx following prolonged dry weather further south - cf Western Swamphen) fitted the bill perfectly.</div>
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<i><b>White Stork</b>, Bedlington, Greater London - 2nd August 2016</i></div>
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Another striking bird, also towering over the birds around it, including the 20+ <b>Grey Herons </b>on site. Worth the effort to get down to see it. In twitching terms, not a bad day at all.</div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-79836439602104904282016-07-05T22:32:00.001+01:002016-08-22T11:51:20.791+01:00American White-winged Scoter, Murcur, Aberdeenshire - 2nd July 2016Britain's third accepted <b>White-winged Scoter </b>(<i>Melanitta deglandi</i>), and really fine bird in a lovely part of the country, via an enjoyable twitch with <a href="https://twitter.com/cleckbirder">@Cleckbirder</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/darraghhudson">@DarraghHudson</a>.<br />
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<i><b>American White-winged Scoter </b>(</i>Melanitta deglandi<i>), Murcur, Aberdeenshire</i></div>
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<i>Saturday 2nd July 2016</i></div>
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I say Britain's third, but Ireland also had one in County Kerry in 2011. Then there's the subspecies to think about. This bird (and the previous record at the same site in 2011) is an <b>American White-winged Scoter</b> (<i>Melanitta deglandi</i> <i>deglandi</i>), or if you prefer, just plain <b>White-winged Scoter</b> (<i>Melanitta deglandi</i>). The 2011 Irish bird and another at Musselburgh, Scotland in 2013, were <b>Asian White-winged Scoter</b> (<i>Melanitta deglandi</i> <i>stejnegeri</i>), or if you prefer, <b>Stejneger's Scoter </b>(<i>Melanitta </i><i>stejnegeri</i>). I hope that's clear. If not, here's a <a href="http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/06/17/white-winged-scoter-taxonomy/">great primer on White-winged Scoter taxonomy</a> from the late, great Martin Garner on <a href="http://birdingfrontiers.com/">Birding Frontiers</a>.<br />
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This bird was first noted on 25th June 2016, a Saturday, allowing quite a few people to connect over the first weekend. It was in a large flock of mostly <b>Common Scoter</b>, with lots of <b>Velvet Scoter</b> and a few <b>Common Eider</b> mixed in, plus a Surf Scoter. Fortunately, the flock stayed faithful to the area off Murcur golf course all week, prompting the early start (well, late on Friday).<br />
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<i> Some of the mixed Scoter flock</i><br />
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We arrived on site around 05:15, and the conditions were perfect: mild temperature, sunshine but with light cloud, and negligible wind. We joined approximately seven other birders on the dunes, with the scoter flock spread out on the water in front of us - maybe up to 1500 birds. I set up my scope, and looked out. At the back of the very first group of c15 scoters I looked at was a larger bird, with a large white 'tick' mark around the eye, and a big white wing patch. It clearly differed from the Velvet Scoters around it. Eh, could this be it?! The bill had the restricted coloured tip to the upper mandible, which was pinkish (red/orange) rather rather yellow on the Velvet Scoter.<br />
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I needed to compare it with the Velvet Scoters in the wider flock, so I moved my scope away form the bird and back again. Each time, I realised the bird at the back looked different and matched the images and description of <i>deglandi</i> White-winged Scoter I'd researched over the previous couple of days. Of course, with all this moving around of my scope, I lost the bird! I couldn't say, "I just saw it, but can't point it out now". Also, I wasn't confident enough about the ID to shout it out - I'd not seen one before - so I mumbled something about an "interesting bird somewhere at the back, drifting right" to my neighbours. Within a few minutes a birder near me said he had it, and pointed everyone to the area at the back of the flock, to where my bird would have drifted to by then. Yes, it was the same bird I'd seen, and yes, it was the White-winged Scoter. Sigh... If only I had the guts to say out loud what I knew inside.<br />
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<i> Spot the <b>American White-winged Scoter</b>...</i></div>
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Well, it was great to see it, and have it confirmed, and to know (if only internally) that I could pick the bird out independently.<br />
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<i>My <b>American White-winged Scoter</b></i><i> notes</i></div>
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We moved up the coast to view from further north, avoiding looking directly into the sun. The bird showed very well from here, and the three of us each picked it out as we scanned the flock for a Surf Scoter. The brown/grey flanks of the White-winged Scoter showed well in the sun, compared with the solid black Velvet Scoters, and bird came close enough for us to appreciate the unique bill knob shape.<br />
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<i> The "crowd" by around 9:00am</i></div>
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<i><b>Starlings</b></i><i>, Murcur, Bridge of Don, Aberdeenshire - Saturday 2nd July 2016</i></div>
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There were a few other birds around: <b>Curlew</b>, <b>Oystercatcher</b> and <b>Bar-tailed Godwit</b> on the beach, <b>Red-breasted</b> <b>Mergansers</b> and <b>Common</b> <b>Eiders</b> in with the scoter flock, <b>Pied Wagtails</b>, <b>Yellowhammers</b> and <b>Skylarks</b> on the golf course, and the odd <b>Gannet</b> and <b>Sandwich Tern</b> flying past. But, Ythan Estuary was just up the coast, with its tern colonies and regular King Eider, so we gave up the Surf Scoter search and headed there.<br />
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<i><b>Ythan</b> <b>Estuary</b>, Aberdeenshire - Saturday 2nd July 2016</i></div>
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Ythan Estuary is a nice site, especially when it's quiet. We scanned all the Eider we could see, but could not see a King Eider. At the river mouth, the <b>Atlantic Grey Seals</b> were making their mournful calls, and several swam up close to us out of curiosity. <b>Cormorants</b> were drying their wings and more Common Eiders flew in as the tide rose.<br />
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<i><b>Atlantic Grey Seals</b>, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire - Saturday 2nd July 2016</i></div>
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Away from the river mouth were the tern colonies, with <b>Common</b>, <b>Arctic</b>, <b>Sandwich</b> and <b>Little</b> <b>Tern</b> all present. The best opportunity I'd had this year to reacquaint myself with these species.<br />
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<i><b>Lion's Mane Jellyfish</b>, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire - Saturday 2nd July 2016</i></div>
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A great trip, with good company, good birds, and a top-notch lifer too. That takes my British list 396.<br />
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-63833640200800157712016-07-01T16:52:00.005+01:002016-07-05T15:59:48.520+01:00Great Knot, Titchwell, Norfolk - Thursday 16th June 2016A quick blog about the <b>Great Knot</b> at Titchwell RSPB, and my hasty trip to see it.<br />
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Great Knot is a <i>rare</i> bird in the UK, with only four previous records (plus one in the Republic of Ireland). It breeds in north-east Siberia, Russia, wintering principally in Australia and New Zealand, but also throughout South-East Asia and along the coast of the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. North Korea, South Korea and China have some <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36533469">very important migration refueling sites</a>. <br />
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The last occurrence of Great Knot in the UK was as recently as 13-15th July 2014, at Breydon Water in Suffolk. I remember it well - Breydon Water that is, not the bird. I went on the 16th and stared at an empty expanse of mud for hours... The arrival of this year's bird was a brilliant opportunity to get this one back - a chance I thought I'd lost. The bird was first reported at 13:00 on 15th June, and I headed down to Titchwell from work at lunchtime on 16th, the earliest I could.<br />
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The Great Knot was with a large Red Knot flock. Find that flock and the bird should be obvious, being taller and darker. I parked up in the car park at <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/t/titchwellmarsh/">Titchwell RSPB</a>, and as I was getting my stuff out of the boot, a leg fell off my scope's tripod. Um, I now had a bipod. Ah well.<br />
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I was told the flock was currently on the beach, and headed there. At the end of the boardwalk birders told me to head east for 500m, towards the small crowd of twitchers. There was sea fret and I couldn't see 100m. Into the unknown then, at a running pace, though I hoped the mist would help keep the birds in place.<br />
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And they did - the flock was on the shoreline; and there, in the middle at the back, was the sleeping <b>Great Knot</b>. In the scope the coppery mantle, flecked with black, white and grey, stood out brilliantly - looking no unlike a roosting Turnstone. Occasionally the <b>Red Knots</b> would shift around as a wave encroached, but the Great Knot seemed more relaxed (or perhaps, more tired). I wondered if the bird's longer legs meant it was less concerned my the rising tide. Now and again the Great Knot would show its dark face with its darker eye. The bill was clearly longer in relation to the Red Knots, and the bird's size - bigger and taller, though in part due to its longer legs - and more rounded body were the obvious first impressions.<br />
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<i>First view of the <b>Great Knot</b> on Titchwell beach - Thursday 16th June 2016</i></div>
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The flock flew after I'd had around 20 minutes on the bird, breaking into sub-groups. News came through it was back on the freshmarsh, so we all headed inland, including the breathless group who'd arrived seconds too late to see it on the deck.<br />
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<i>The <b>Red Knot</b> flock, with the <b>Great Knot</b> takes flight on Titchwell beach</i></div>
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<i>Thursday 16th June 2016</i></div>
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The light was still poor from beside the Parrinder hide on the reserve, but at least the mist was thinner. The Knot flock had settled on the sand bar, in among the <b>Black-tailed Godwits</b>,<b> Avocets </b>and<b> Oystercatchers</b>. The Great Knot clearly wanted to sleep some more and kept its position while the Red Knots around it shifted their positions every now and again. I got prolonged views of the bird's rotund body, with its spotted breast and flanks, and its patchy-plumaged mantle. I also had a few good view of the face and neck, enough to scribble the most basic sketch, but not (with the dull light and distance) enough to get a decent photo.<br />
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<i><b>Great Knot</b> in the crowd, Titchwell RSPB - Thursday 16th June 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Avocets</b> mating as the <b>Great Knot</b> pretends not to notice - Thursday 16th June 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Great Knot</b> notes - Thursday 16th June 2016</i></div>
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I drove home mostly in glorious sunshine. There were occasional dark clouds, some carrying rain, others carrying ominous exhortations to "take our country back". The EU referendum was a week away, and Norfolk's roads were littered with posters encouraging us to sabotage our nation for the sake of ...what? I don't know, but <a href="https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/news/brexit-verdict-celebrated-donald-trump-and-marine-le-pen">all the wrong people were happy</a> with the result a week later...<br />
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<i>People, what have we done?</i></div>
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-47634527997774077432016-06-29T14:21:00.000+01:002016-06-29T14:21:16.690+01:00Great Spotted Cuckoo, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016I had an interesting and enjoyable weekend from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th June 2016. It started after work with a gig in Leeds, then a music festival in Leicestershire, a morning on Portland Bill and a trip to Somerset.<br />
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The trip to Portland was, of course, to see the young <b>Great Spotted Cuckoo</b>, which had been around Southwell on Portland since 13th May. So, nearly a month later, I'd finally found a free day to get down to it. I'd arranged with fellow West Yorkshire birder Joel to be picked up, post-festival, from my brother-in-law's in Derby at 05:30 Sunday morning. In normal circumstances, this isn't such an early start, but after countless beers and bad kebabs at <a href="https://downloadfestival.co.uk/">Download</a>, and going to bed at 02:00, I'm glad I wasn't driving. Thanks Joel.<br />
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On arrival at Reap Lane at 09:30, we found a handful of birders staring into bushes around 20 metres away. Looked promising. The bird was roosting, apparently in its favourite roost site. Unfortunately it wasn't easy to see the whole bird, with the head obscured, except for the few occasions it preened. Hence, my photos are somewhat lacking!<br />
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<i><b>Great Spotted Cuckoo</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 (Canon SX40)</i></div>
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<i><b>Great Spotted Cuckoo</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 <br />(Digiscoped: Opticron GS 665 and iPhone 5)</i></div>
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A large, shaggy bird, with typically dropping wings and a long tail. The wings were a dark chocolate brown covered in white spots. The tail was the same brown colour, with white edges and tips. Dark brown hood on the head (which could be seen briefly as the bird preened and shifted position), with a dark eye and bill. Underparts a dirty cream colour, with a yellowish neck, throat and upper breast. Large, scaly pale grey legs.<br />
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<i><b>Great Spotted Cuckoo</b> notes, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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The cuckoo eventually flew, looking like a small falcon, towards the <a href="http://portlandbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/">Observatory</a>, and we didn't see it again despite heading down that way. During a brief sea-watch from beside the Lobster Pot Café we had 3 <b>Manx Shearwater</b>, 10+ <b>Fulmar</b>, and <b>Guillemot</b> and <b>Gannet</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Portland Bill</b>, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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Some moths were still left in and around the moth trap at the Obs, including S<b>mall Elephant Hawk-moth</b>, <b>Privet Hawk-moth</b>, <b>Cream-spot Tiger Moth</b>, <b>Common Swift</b>, <b>Small Magpie</b>, <b>Heart and Dart</b>, <b>White Ermine</b>, and <b>Light Brown Apple Moth</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Common Swift Moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Cream-spot Tiger Moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Light Brown Apple Moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Privet Hawk-moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Small Elephant Hawk-moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Small Magpie Moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>White Ermine Moth</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 </i></div>
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In the chalky, dry grassland around the Obs were <b>Meadow Brown</b>, <b>Common Blue</b> and <b>Painted Lady</b> butterflies. An unringed White Stork was reported at <a href="http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/steart/">Steart Marshes WWT reserve</a>. Although not directly on the way home, it wasn't too much of a detour, especially for a potential lifer for both of us. So we headed off to Somerset, with a spider <i><b>Enoplognatha ovata</b></i> hitching a lift with us.<br />
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<i><b>Enoplognatha ovata</b>, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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On arrival, we find the White Stork had just flown high north east around 45 minutes ago, and hadn't come back. Disappointing, especially after the bird had been present for around two days. Well, we were here now, the weather was glorious, and the reserve looked really promising (and very new), so we went for a wander.<br />
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<i> Arty shot of a pylon at Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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We mostly had our eyes to the skies, scanning for thermalling storks, but did manage a few insect sightings too.<br />
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<i><b>Black-tailed Skimmer</b> (male), Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Common Blue</b> (female), Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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The scrapes were quiet, probably due to the state of the tide (out, we suspected), but we did enjoy the <b>Little</b> <b>Egrets</b>, noisy <b>Oystercatchers</b> with young, and mating <b>Little Ringed Plovers</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Little Ringed Plovers</b>, Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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We drew a blank on the White Stork, and the info in the sightings book wasn't helping either (a report of the White Stork from earlier and sightings of the college bus...), so headed home. A successful day, regardless.<br />
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<i>Sightings log, Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016</i></div>
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A pleasant end to a tiring couple of days. Here are a couple of other sightings from the weekend.<br />
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<i><b>Neil Young and Promise of the Real</b>, Leeds Arena - Friday 10th June 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Lawnmower Deth and Kim Wilde</b>, Download Festival - Saturday 11th June 2016</i></div>
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<i>Before the downpour, Download Festival - Saturday 11th June 2016</i></div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-55156261601214505162016-06-28T11:50:00.002+01:002016-12-21T12:42:56.005+00:00Cairngorms, Scotland, 28th May-3rd June 2016 - Part 2Continuing the little diary of my family holiday in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/cairngorms-scotland-28th-may-3rd-june.html">Click here for Part 1</a>.<br />
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We managed to really pack a lot in on Tuesday 31st May. We spent the morning and early afternoon cycling from Cromdale to Nethy Bridge along the disused Speyside Railway in lovely sunny weather.<br />
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We took in Anagach Forest again, and crossed the Spey at Speybridge, watching <b>Grey Wagtails</b> and <b>Common Sandpipers</b> on our break.<br />
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<i> <b>Anagach Forest</b> - Tuesday 31st May 2016</i></div>
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<i> <b>Common Sandpiper</b>, Speybridge - Tuesday 31st May 2016</i></div>
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The fields along the valley bottom were full of <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Curlew</b> and <b>Lapwing</b>, and the track-side gorse had singing <b>Yellowhammer</b>. On the way back, a group of <b>House Martins</b> were coming down to a road-side pool of mud for their nests, allowing some great close views.<br />
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<i> <b>House Martin</b>, Speybridge - Tuesday 31st May 2016</i></div>
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My daughter and I had tickets for the <a href="http://www.speysidewildlife.co.uk/Hides.aspx">dusk watch on the Rothiemurchus Estate</a>, starting at 21:00. This left us time to get to Laggan, about 25 miles west of Aviemore, to try and see a singing <b>Icterine</b> <b>Warbler</b>, which had been reported there for the last two days.<br />
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We could hear the bird before we were out of the car - singing its rich song, which seemed to include all kinds of mimicry: Curlew, Lapwing, Swallow, Reed Warbler, Song Thrush, etc... I had no trouble hearing the bird; but my hearing being what it is, I had trouble pin-pointing the bird's exact location. No such trouble for my 11-year-old daughter, who quickly pointed it out in a nearby tree.<br />
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<i> <b>Icterine Warbler</b>, Laggan, Highland - Tuesday 31st May 2016</i></div>
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We had some great, prolonged views of the <b>Icterine Warbler</b> in the fabulous evening sunshine - a UK tick for both of us! It was particularly great to spend some quality time with my wonderful daughter, and was nice the chat with some locals and other opportunistic birders who were holidaying in the area too. I scribbled some notes and we headed off to Rothiemurchus for our mammal watch.<br />
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Our trip to Rothiemurchus was for one reason only: to see <b>Pine Marten</b>. By no means, guaranteed, it was certainly one of the best opportunities to see this scarce and elusive mammal. After walking from the meeting point, passing a herd of twelve <b>Red Deer</b>, we entered the hide for our three-hour session. Our guide, John Walters, explained that Pine Martens tend to appear before it was fully dark, with the Badgers arriving a little later after dark (which would be well gone 23:00 at this latitude at this time of year). John went out and filled the feeding stations, which invloved smearing lots of peanut butter around, and leaving a raw egg for the Pine Marten.<br />
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<b>Wood Mice</b> scurried around the rocks outside the windows as we waited. Around 21:45 a <b>Pine Marten</b> came bounding out of the forest and on to the feeding table! What a slinky and canny creature it was. It went to the feeding table and proceeded to eat the scattered nuts, although it was clearly very wary of movement and sound in the wood. It was, according to our guide, a youngster. The Pine Marten didn't stay around for long - once it had the egg in its jaws, it was off - but we all managed to get really good views and acceptable photos (my cheap camera isn't great in low light, but I'm more interested in the experience than the photos).<br />
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<i> <b>Pine Marten</b>, </i><i>Rothiemurchus, Highland - Tuesday 31st May 2016</i></div>
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We had a wait of an hour before the <b>Badger</b> family turned up, but it was worth the wait. John explained the complicated family politics of the Badgers and pointed out the individual characters. I'd never had such close and prolonged views of Badgers before and it was fascinating to see them feed and interact. Well worth staying up late for. The whole evening was great: the sunset, the scenery, the Icterine Warbler, the Pine Marten, the Badgers, and the lovely company of my wonderful daughter. Happiness. <br />
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<i> <b>Badgers</b>, </i><i>Rothiemurchus, Highland - Tuesday 31st May 2016</i><br />
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The following day was meant to start with a lie-in after we'd got back so late the night before, but the cockerel outside our window put paid to that.<br />
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No matter, because we'd hit the jackpot for Highland weather; for on Wednesday 1st June it was again forecast as hot, sunny and still. So we decided on a trip up the raptor heaven that is <b>Findhorn Valley</b>.<br />
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<i> </i><i><b>Findorn Valley</b>, Highland - Wednesday 1st June 2016</i></div>
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<i>Look at that sky!</i></div>
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I've visited the valley on several occasions, and I can't recommend this place enough. Come on a sunny, still day in late Spring and you'll be treated to fabulous views, perfect walking conditions, fascinating wild flowers, and almost certainly some sightings of large raptors. </div>
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The air is so fresh, and the water of River Findhorn clear and cold. <b>Wild Goats</b> graze along the valley, from the very highest peaks to the river banks, and large herds of <b>Red Deer</b> roam the mountain tops.</div>
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<i><b>Red Deer</b>, Findorn Valley, Highland - Wednesday 1st June 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Wild Goat</b>, Findorn Valley, Highland - Wednesday 1st June 2016</i></div>
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The first birds you notice are all the <b>Oystercatchers</b>, <b>Meadow</b> <b>Pipits</b>, <b>Pied</b> <b>Wagtails</b>, <b>Jackdaws</b>, <b>Common</b> <b>Gulls</b>, and <b>Swallows</b>. I scanned the mountain sides for Dotterel and Ring Ouzel, to no avail. But I did pick up <b>Ravens</b> and three <b>Kestrels</b>.</div>
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A guided birding group joined us by the wooded bridge at Dalmigavie, and together we picked out <b>Common</b> <b>Buzzard</b>, <b>Osprey</b>, and two <b>Peregrine Falcons</b>. After moving further up the valley to the small car park, I picked out an obvious eagle species further up the valley. It was soon joined by another, larger eagle! This was perfect, allowing us all to compare the two. A <b>Golden</b> <b>Eagle</b> and a young<b> White-tailed Eagle</b>! </div>
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We spent Thursday in Inverness, starting with a boat trip to see the Bottlenose Dolphins in the Moray Firth. We headed out on the <a class="C-2" href="https://dolphinspirit.co.uk/">Dolphin Spirit</a> and things didn't go entirely to plan. No Dolphins! Three Atlantic Grey Seals, Black-throated Diver, and a few Guillemots were the best of the wildlife. The weather, again, was great, and the staff on the boat were nice and helpful, so no complaints there; but it was slight disappointment. We had a nice day in Inverness anyhow.</div>
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<i>Kessock Bridge, Beauly Firth, Inverness - Thursday 2nd June 2016</i></div>
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Later, back on Speyside, I went for an evening bike ride through Anagach Forest (yes, I really can't get enough of those old forests).</div>
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<i> <b>Anagach Forest</b> - </i><i>Thursday 2nd June 2016</i></div>
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<i> <b>Oystercatcher</b>, Grantown-on-Spey - </i><i>Thursday 2nd June 2016</i></div>
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Friday was our last full day on Speyside, and the weather finally started to crack. We cycled to the shops in Grantown (<b>Spotted</b> <b>Flycatcher</b>, <b>Willow</b> <b>Warbler</b>, and <b>Dipper</b> en route). </div>
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I can't go on a UK holiday without a trip on a heritage railway, so we spent the afternoon on the great <a href="http://strathspeyrailway.co.uk/">Strathspey Railway</a>. I can really recommend it. Please excuse the train photos...</div>
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<i> British Railways <b>No. 46512</b> (Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0), Aviemore - Friday 3rd June 2016</i></div>
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<i>BR Class 117 DMBS <b>SC51367</b>, Boat of Garten - Friday 3rd June 2016</i></div>
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So, a great holiday. The long journey home was made better by the bright sunshine, a stop off in lovely Dunkeld, and even a <b>Merlin</b> flying over the car on the A9 at Dalnaspidal!</div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-32079109408851733782016-06-28T11:49:00.004+01:002016-08-04T18:02:58.150+01:00Cairngorms, Scotland, 28th May-3rd June 2016 - Part 1I spent a week in the Cairngorms with my wife and two children over the May Bank Holiday week, staying in Cromdale, about 3km east of Grantown-on-Spey. The focus was mostly on getting outdoors, on foot or on our bikes, and experiencing some of the habitats and wildlife in the area. The weather was great (it seems it often is in the Highlands at that time of year) and Cromdale proved a great place to stay.<br />
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We spent a night in Stirling on the way up, and in the morning took a scenic route across Braco Moor, to Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Killiecrankie and Breamar, before arriving on Speyside.<br />
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<i><b>Eurasian Curlew</b>, Braco Moor, Perthshire, Scotland - Saturday 28th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Mandarin Duck</b>, Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, Scotland - Saturday 28th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Yellowhammer</b>, Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, Scotland - Saturday 28th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Osprey</b>, Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, Scotland - Saturday 28th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Tinder Fungus</b>, Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, Scotland - Saturday 28th May 2016</i></div>
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I always enjoy my visits to the <a href="http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/loch-of-the-lowes/">Loch of the Lowes</a> SWT reserve near Dunkeld, although they're generally when I'm passing through. The female <b>Osprey</b> was on the nest, and <b>Yellowhammers</b>, <b>Bullfinches</b>, and a <b>Mandarin Duck</b> were on the feeders, and I saw my first <b>Spotted</b> <b>Flycatcher</b> of the trip in the woodland.<br />
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The weather was cool and misty at first, but was hot and sunny by lunchtime at <span class="st">Pitlochry</span> and Killiecrankie. I tramped around listening to the <b>Spotted</b> and <b>Pied Flycatchers</b> (couldn't pick up and Wood Warblers though), and <b>Dipper</b>, <b>Grey</b> <b>Wagtail</b>, and <b>Goosander</b> along the River Garry. The drive through the National Park was fantastic - in the sunshine it felt like the Tirol region of Austria!</div>
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<i>Killiecrankie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland - Saturday 28th May 2016</i></div>
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The farm we stayed on at Cromdale was lovely - full of chickens and sheep, and surrounded by calling <b>Curlews</b> and <b>Lapwings</b>, with <b>Swallows</b> filling the air and the occasional <b>Buzzard</b> overhead.<br />
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On Sunday 29th May we cycled part of the <a href="http://www.speysideway.org/">Speyside Way</a> to Grantown-on-Spey, going along the disused part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strathspey_Railway_%28GNoSR%29">Strathspey Railway</a> and through the beautiful Anagach Forest.<br />
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<i><b>Oystercatcher </b>in the garden, Cromdale, Highland - Sunday 29th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Brown Hare</b>, Cromdale, Highland - Sunday 29th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Dipper</b> nest boxes<b></b>, Cromdale, Highland - Sunday 29th May 2016</i></div>
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Anagach Forest, and the other remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest, is wonderful. I never tire of the wildlife, ecology and ambiance in here.<br />
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<i><b>Anagach Forest</b> - Sunday 29th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Pine Marten</b> scat, </i><i><i>Anagach Forest</i> - Sunday 29th May 2016</i></div>
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<i> Detail from the <a href="http://www.field-studies-council.org/">FSC</a> 'Guide to British Mammal Tracks and Signs'</i></div>
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<b><i>Velvet Mite </i></b>(Trombidium-holosericeum)<i>, </i><i><i>Anagach Forest</i> - Sunday 29th May 2016</i></div>
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It's possible to cycle through these woods, but if you do please keep to the marked cycle tracks. During our frequent stops we heard, and eventually saw, three <b>Crested Tits</b> - a real speciality here. We also saw three <b>Dippers</b> in the Spey from the bridge by the old Cromdale and Advie Church.<br />
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<i>The view from Grantown, over Anagach Forest, towards Cairngorm</i></div>
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I suggested an early morning walk through the lovely Abernethy Forest on Monday, so the kids could look for <b>Red Squirrels</b> and <b>Wood Ants</b>, and we could take in the view over Loch Mallachie. We weren't disappointed. The woods were full of the sounds of a Caledonian Forest in spring: singing <b>Tree Pipits</b>,<b> Willow Warblers</b>,<b> Goldcrests</b>,<b> Coals Tits</b> and <b>Crested Tits</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Abernethy Forest</b> - Monday 30th May 2016</i></div>
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<i>Looking out over <b>Loch Garten</b>, </i><i><i>Abernethy Forest</i> - Monday 30th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Loch Mallachie</b>, </i><i><i>Abernethy Forest</i> - Monday 30th May 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Scottish wood ant </b></i>(Formica aquilonia)<i>, </i><i></i><i><i>Abernethy Forest</i> - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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A lovely place, especially in early morning. But, we hadn't found a Red Squirrel, so we decided to pop into <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/l/lochgarten/">RSPB Loch Garten</a>, where I know they occasionally come on to the feeders. <br />
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<i><b>Red Squirrel</b></i><i>,</i><i><i> RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy Forest</i> - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Siskin</b>, RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy Forest - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Osprey</b>,</i><i><i> RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy Forest</i> - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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We headed to Aviemore for dinner, and then checked out some <b>Slavonian Grebes</b> and <b>Ring Ouzels</b>; before heading up Cairngorm on the funicular railway. I couldn't pick out any Ptarmigan from the top, though did see a <b>Red Grouse </b>on the way up.<br />
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Please note, I took these heavily cropped photos from public footpaths, with a 35x zoom, and didn't linger where adults were feeding chicks. I appreciate the temptation for photographers to try got get closer, but please always keep your distance from breeding birds, rare, scarce or common.<br />
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<i><b>Slavonian Grebe</b>,</i><i><i> Speyside</i> - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Ring Ouzel</b>,</i><i><i> Cairngorms National Park</i> - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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<i>The view from the top station on Cairngorm - Monday 30th May 2016 </i></div>
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Another fine day out and about. <br />
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<i><b>Lapwing</b>, Cromdale, Highland - </i><i><i>Monday 30th </i> May 2016</i></div>
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Please see <b><a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/cairngorms-scotland-28th-may-3rd-june_28.html">Part 2 for more on our trip</a></b>, including a <b>Pine Marten</b>, <b>Badgers</b>, and a <b>UK lifer</b>!</div>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-32434945630689450312016-04-06T13:34:00.002+01:002016-04-12T10:00:11.814+01:00Gyr Falcon, North Uist, Outer Hebrides - 30th-31st March 2016Fabulous bird, in a fabulous place...<br />
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<i><b>Gyr Falcon</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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A stonking, first-winter, white morph (Greenland) <b>Gyr Falcon</b>. Not much else to say about it really. My photos aren't great (there are loads of better ones in the usual places on the internet), but they can do the talking.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NowJq7toMAk/VwOzylbeBjI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/mVKAyOdudX4nkR1ub4VfIYuR1xssPEYCw/s1600/Gyr-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NowJq7toMAk/VwOzylbeBjI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/mVKAyOdudX4nkR1ub4VfIYuR1xssPEYCw/s640/Gyr-1.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Stretching her wings...</div>
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On the ground...</div>
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She (presumably a female based on size, although I'm not sure of the amount of <span class="_Tgc">sexual dimorphism</span>, if any, with this species) spent most of the time I was there (several hours over 30th-31st March) sat on various fence posts. We kept a respectful distance, hoping she'd come down to feed on the dead Mute Swan that had collided with telegraph wires. When she did we were in Lochmaddy sorting out accommodation, or up nearby Cleitreabhal A Deas watching <b>Hen</b> <b>Harriers</b> and <b>Golden</b> <b>Eagles</b> (when she was flushed off the swan after a couple of minutes my North Uist's only jogger...).</div>
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<i> Sketches from my notebook</i></div>
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We had plenty of time to sit and admire her, as she watched over the dead swan, ignored the mobbing gulls, and went for the occasional walk. Some video here:</div>
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I travelled up from Yorkshire with <a href="https://twitter.com/cleckbirder">Joel</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/chris_birding?lang=en-gb">Chris</a>, though some sloppy satnav programming on my part nearly scuppered the whole trip. We weren't booked on the ferry, and hadn't secured any accommodation either, but everything worked out fine ;-)<br />
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A <b>Great White Egret</b> was also at Balranald, along with a couple of <b>Glaucous Gulls</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BaN1TjtH2E/VwO5okMaGlI/AAAAAAAAFJs/0Sn5-1JSGg8knB-sh2jj_XEmG2EB7IKjg/s1600/Glaucous-Gull-Balranald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BaN1TjtH2E/VwO5okMaGlI/AAAAAAAAFJs/0Sn5-1JSGg8knB-sh2jj_XEmG2EB7IKjg/s640/Glaucous-Gull-Balranald.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Glaucous Gull</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Great White Egret</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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A few <b>Great Northern Divers</b> and <b>Red-breasted Mergansers</b> were offshore, and there were healthy populations of <b>Twite</b> and<b> Corn Bunting</b> on the reserve.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Hke-hSruU4/VwO7JggqdGI/AAAAAAAAFKY/YN4pGxlS1UQVyw1JHzjqPliO5EzUXoeMA/s1600/Corn-Bunt-wire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Hke-hSruU4/VwO7JggqdGI/AAAAAAAAFKY/YN4pGxlS1UQVyw1JHzjqPliO5EzUXoeMA/s640/Corn-Bunt-wire.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Corn Bunting</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Corn Bunting</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Corn Bunting</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i>What most of my <b>Corn Bunting</b> photos look like...</i></div>
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<i><b>Whooper Swan</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i>Traigh Bhan, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i>Dead <b>Pilot Whale</b> on Traigh nam Faoghailean, attracting large gulls</i></div>
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<i><b>Sanderling </b>and<b> Oystercatchers</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i>Traigh an Iar, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i>Traigh nam Faoghailean, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Great Northern Diver</b>, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Thursday 31st March 2016</i></div>
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Away from Balranald the birding was equally fantastic, with Joel in particular picking out loads of good stuff. We had the raptors <b>Golden Eagles</b>, <b>White-tailed Eagles</b>, <b>Hen Harriers</b>, <b>Common Buzzards</b>, <b>Kestrel</b> and <b>Sparrowhawk</b>; huge <b>Barnacle Goose</b> flocks; masses of breeding waders; <b>Great Northern Divers</b>, <b>Black-throated Divers</b>, <b>Eiders</b> and <b>Black Guillemots</b> on the sea; large white-winged gulls, including an <b>Iceland Gull </b>in Lochmaddy harbour; and all set in the most stunning scenery.<br />
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<i><b>Golden Eagle </b>(2nd winter?), Lochportain, North Uist, Scotland - Thursday 31st March 2016</i></div>
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<i>The view south while heading up Cleitreabhal A Dea</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nx06N_HvbFk/VwO7iTPVTMI/AAAAAAAAFKo/xBqTPDYMF0IFT25mupruGsBXLUwoDHnEw/s1600/Sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nx06N_HvbFk/VwO7iTPVTMI/AAAAAAAAFKo/xBqTPDYMF0IFT25mupruGsBXLUwoDHnEw/s640/Sheep.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Sheep on Cleitreabhal A Dea</i></div>
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<i><b>Iceland Gull</b>, Lochmaddy, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Twite</b>, Solas, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016</i><br />
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-91735110001135033992016-04-05T00:46:00.000+01:002016-04-05T10:25:25.730+01:00Patchwork Challenge: Rodley - MarchA quick update on my progress - or lack of it - on my Rodley <a href="http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/">Patchwork Challenge </a>list during March 2016. Nine new birds added for the year during March, including a patch-lifer on the reserve for me: <b>Meadow Pipit</b>. I've seen Mipits <i>near</i> to <a href="http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/">Rodley Nature Reserve</a> before, but never on it or from it, so this was the highlight of the month. My Rodley Nature Reserve life list (for the reserve only, not the Patchwork area) is now 96.<br />
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<i><b>Meadow Pipit</b>, Rodley NR - Monday 28th March 2016</i></div>
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A <b>Pink-footed Goose</b> on the farmer's field on the 19th was welcome Rodley year-list addition. I'd spent very little time on the reserve in early March, thus missing any fly-over goose passage.<br />
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<i><b>Pink-footed Goose</b>, Rodley NR - Saturday 19th March 2016</i></div>
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Most of the other birds came from the "greater patch" - the area around the reserve which includes a wood, pasture, houses and much more canal and river than the reserve itself has. Rodley NR is only about 0.25km2, but the Patchwork Challenge rules allow 3km2, so this surrounding area allows me a few more birding options. The new birds (which, apart from Grey Wagtail) are scarce on the reserve, were: <b>Nuthatch</b> (Bramley Falls Park), <b>House</b> <b>Sparrow</b> (Newlaithes Rd), <b>Dipper</b> and <b>Grey</b> <b>Wagtail</b> (river by Pollard Lane), <br />
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<i><b>Dipper</b>, Newley - Saturday 26th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Grey Wagtail</b>, Newley - Sunday 28th March 2016</i></div>
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26th March is when Spring arrived, with 5+ <b>Sand Martin</b> over the reserve, and a pair of displaying <b>Great Crested Grebes</b> on the lagoon. A first-winter <b>Lesser Black-backed Gul</b>l low over the willow path was a welcome species too. The first Swallow of the year was reported on the 28th, but I missed it while I was admiring my lovely <b>Meadow Pipit</b>.<br />
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The list of the birds reported at Rodley this year that I've so far failed to connect with, or missed due to absence or the reserve being closed to the public (which is most of the time), or dipped due to bad luck or sheer ineptitude is (not including summer migrants):<br />
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<li><b>Lesser Redpoll</b> (not common at Rodley, just sporadic records)</li>
<li><b>Water Rail</b> (ever-present, but more difficult since the flooding destroyed the hides and restricted viewing)</li>
<li><b>Cetti's Warbler</b> (has my hearing got so bad I can't hear this, when everyone else can?)</li>
<li><b>Merlin </b>(I live in hope) </li>
<li><b>Tree Sparrow</b> (previously regular; now just one sighting in three months)</li>
<li><b>Common Scoter</b> (a one-day patch mega... while I was at work)</li>
<li><b>Stonechat</b> (my Rodley bogie bird)</li>
<li><b>Black-tailed Godwit</b> (a one-day patch mega... while the reserve was shut)</li>
<li><b>Bittern</b> (don't get me started on this)</li>
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Still, there's always something good to see...<br />
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<i><b>Common Snipe</b>, Rodley NR - Saturday 26th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Common Buzzard</b>, Rodley NR - Saturday 26th March 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Little Owl</b> (in its usual roosting spot), Rodley NR - Saturday 26th March 2016</i></div>
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-37875729540686070672016-02-25T22:55:00.000+00:002016-02-25T22:57:09.675+00:00Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire - February 2016A few photos from a pleasant four days in Robin Hood's Bay on the North Yorkshire coast during half-term last week.<br />
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<i><b>Robin Hood's Bay</b> - Saturday 13th February 2016</i></div>
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Amongst the birding highlights was a second-winter <b>Little Gull</b> in bay on Saturday morning, 13th February. There was a colony of maybe 30+ <b>Tree Sparrows</b> at Stoupe Brow Cottage Farm, we noticed during a walk along the cliffs south towards Ravenscar. <br />
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I didn't managed a usable shot of either, on a walk along the cliffs to Whitby with the kids, I managed a few decent photos of a fantastic male <b>Common Stonechat</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Common Stonechat</b>, Whitby, North Yorkshire - Sunday 14th February 2016 </i></div>
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I didn't see a single <b>Turnstone</b> over the four days in the bay, which was a total surprise. I didn't exactly scour the place for them (we spent most of our time looking - pretty successfully - for fossils), but to see none here in February was unusual. Plenty of <b>Oystercatchers</b> though - absolutely loads of them - plus a few <b>Curlew</b> and <b>Redshank</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Oystercatcher</b>, Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire - Monday 15th February 2016 </i></div>
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The cliffs along this coast are great for <b>Fulmar</b> all year round, and walks along the cliff tops can get you get views of them in flight and on tucked in on cliff ledges.<br />
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<i><b>Fulmar</b>, Whitby, North Yorkshire - Sunday 14th February 2016 </i></div>
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The <b>Mediterranean Gulls</b> at Holbeck car park in Scarbough put in a good show when we called in on the way home on Tuesday. At least five birds present with the <b>Black-headed Gulls</b>. Two of the Med Gulls were ringed (PNN5: right leg, red ring, white lettering; ?LAN: right leg, white ring, black lettering). I'll update this post with details when I get some back from <a href="http://www.euring.org/">Euring</a>.<br />
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<i><b>Mediterranean Gulls</b>, Scarborough, North Yorkshire - Tuesday 16th February 2016 </i></div>
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<i><b>Herring Gulls</b>, Whitby, North Yorkshire - Monday 14th February 2016 </i></div>
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I tried some seawatching on a couple of mornings, while the tide was in. But the weather on every day was far worse first thing than later in the day, and I was beaten by the conditions. <b>Great</b> <b>Black-backed</b> <b>Gull</b> and <b>Herring</b> <b>Gulls</b>, <b>Fulmars</b> and <b>Shags</b> were the only birds in view.</div>
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<i>Not great visibility for sea-watching...</i></div>
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As with all family holidays, it wasn't all about the birds. We had a successful time fossil hunting, finding <b>belemnites</b>, <b>amonites</b>, <b>bivalves</b> and others among the landslips<i>.</i></div>
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<i> Bivalve fossil, Robin Hood's Bay - February 2016</i></div>
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<i>Landslips, Robin Hood's Bay - February 2016</i></div>
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<i>Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire - February 2016 </i></div>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-1206245437886342602016-01-27T16:58:00.001+00:002016-01-27T20:33:28.228+00:00Norfolk - 22nd-24th January 2016It's January again, and I've been off for a few days' birding in Norfolk, mostly in the company of <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisbandbbirds">Chris Morgan</a> (and at whose <a href="http://www.providence-place.co.uk/home.asp">lovely B&B</a> in Sheringham I stayed).<br />
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<i><b>Brent Goose</b>, Thornham, Norfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i></div>
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To get the most out of the time (three full days, Friday to Sunday), I usually start out early enough on Friday to arrive in the northwest of the county at dawn , and then head east towards Sheringham, birding all the way (<a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/norfolk-23rd-25th-january-2015.html">check out last year's trip here</a>). With a potential lifer - a <b>Serin</b> - present at Downham Market since the 17th January, I decided this would be the best starting point this year.<br />
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<b>Friday</b><br />
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I met Chris on site around 08:15, and we made a search of the area along with maybe three other birders. After 15 minutes we'd drawn a blank, but noticed a couple of the other birders leaving the site. We couldn't find out if they'd given up after only 30 minutes (max) searching, or had seen it but didn't let on (to us or the bird info services).<br />
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Undeterred, I headed up the bank toward the railing line, and almost immediately saw a small finch-type bird fly into a hawthorn, showing a dark tail and a bright lemon-yellow rump. It was the <b>Serin</b>. I went to get Chris and the bird flew up out of the tree, went high around the houses, and landed in brambles nearby. Soon the bird sat up in the brambles giving us great views of its dull yellowy-green streaked plumage. We were happy just watching it really, rather than worrying about photos, and it soon dropped into cover; but it did show and call a couple of more times before we left. A nice way to start the trip.<br />
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After checking the Great River Ouse for <b>Goosander</b> and nearby Tottenhill for <b>Black-necked Grebe</b>, we headed off north to do some coastal sites. By the time we reached Thornham (after dipping the Golden Pheasant at Wolferton) the weather had turned for the worse. Strong winds with rain, and clearly about to get worse. A flock of 20+ Twite was nice, but the weather made photography with my poor skills (and cheap bridge camera) very difficult.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtTESHBHDrc/VqjP7dgnf3I/AAAAAAAAE9k/CzjURs_OYlw/s1600/Redshank-Thornham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtTESHBHDrc/VqjP7dgnf3I/AAAAAAAAE9k/CzjURs_OYlw/s640/Redshank-Thornham.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<i><b>Redshank</b>, Thornham, Norfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Twite</b>, Thornham, Norfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i><br />
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We checked out Titchwell and then Holkham Freshmarsh in heavy rain and blustery wind. Eventually the weather improved and we headed out on to Holkham beach in a vain search for Shore Lark. </div>
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<i><b>Avocet</b>, Titchwell, Norfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i><br />
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<i><b>Robin</b>, </i><i><i>Titchwell, No</i>rfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXpr4A7j8Do/VqjQYLjHy-I/AAAAAAAAE-E/s1m_-zoQoC0/s1600/White-fronted-Goose-Holkham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXpr4A7j8Do/VqjQYLjHy-I/AAAAAAAAE-E/s1m_-zoQoC0/s640/White-fronted-Goose-Holkham.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Eurasian White-fronted Goose</b>, Holkham Freshmarsh</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i></div>
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<i>Holkham Freshmarsh</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Friday 22nd January 2016</i></div>
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<b>Saturday</b><br />
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We started out locally, looking for a generally reliable Black Redstart amongst the seafront flats, but to no avail. We heard from a local birder it hadn't been seen for 5 days, which at least made us feel we weren't the only people unable to find it. Of course, it was reported as present again while I was heading home on Sunday.<br />
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There was a lone<b> Purple Sandpiper</b> on the rocks at Sheringham, while a groups of 20+ Turnstones pecked over the shingle. I found a couple of dead Guillemots in the tide line too, presumably victims of the random and rapid changes in weather recently.<br />
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<i><b>Guillemot</b>, Sheringham</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Saturday 23rd January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Purple Sandpiper</b>, Sheringham</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Saturday 23rd January 2016</i></div>
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We popped to West Runton to the east to have a look at an adult <b>Mediterranean Gull</b> (I wonder if it was the same as the one I found on the beach here on <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/holiday-snaps-norfolk-and-suffolk.html">my family holiday last year</a>). Next stop was Weybourne, just along to the west, the highlight being a <b>Mealy Redpoll</b> with the finch flock (which also included a fare few <b>Brambling</b>).<br />
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We headed for Cley and the new Babcock hide. A <b>Grey Phalarope</b> was showing well on the shallow scrape. A nice addition to what Cley offers. Lots of exposed mud but now sign of any Water Pipits. A lovely redhead <b>Smew</b> was hiding among the <b>Shoveler</b> on Pat's Pool. <b>Skylarks</b> were singing loud and clear (what a change from the previous day) as we walked along the East Bank. A flock of c30 <b>Snow Bunting</b> were where the bank meets the shingle.<br />
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<i><b>Grey Phalarope</b>, Cley</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Saturday 23rd January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udverptRcvk/Vqj9v7ePzbI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/aN8iu_Bl6fM/s1600/Egyptian-Goose-Cley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udverptRcvk/Vqj9v7ePzbI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/aN8iu_Bl6fM/s640/Egyptian-Goose-Cley.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Egyptian Goose</b>, Cley</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Saturday 23rd January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wK1Es4asue4/Vqj94OmJkBI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/UuJxzLTFGdU/s1600/Marsh-Harrier-Cley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wK1Es4asue4/Vqj94OmJkBI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/UuJxzLTFGdU/s640/Marsh-Harrier-Cley.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Marsh Harrier</b>, Cley</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Saturday 23rd January 2016</i></div>
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The roost at Stubb Mill was impressive as ever, with at least 30 <b>Marsh Harrier</b> in the air at one time, circling in a tight ball. <b>Barn Owl</b> and <b>Short-eared Owl</b> too, with two <b>Common Cranes</b> on the deck, frequently calling.<br />
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<b>Sunday</b><br />
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We made our way along the north Norfolk coast, starting at Cley. A few <b>Ruff</b>, <b>Knot</b>, and <b>Snipe</b> along with the more showy waders. As is normal for Norfolk, a few <b>Common Buzzard</b> and the odd <b>Barn Owl</b> were on fence posts along the A149, as we drove towards Choseley. One Buzzard at Holkham was really pale, but perhaps not as pale as <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/norfolk-23rd-25th-january-2015.html">one at the same site the previous year</a>.<br />
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Lots of <b>Red-legged Partridge</b> at Choseley, with around eight far less showy <b>Grey Partridge</b>. The <b>Rough-legged Buzzard</b> showed well, but only after we'd relocated further east to Mill Road, Brancaster. <br />
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<i><b>Common Buzzard</b>, Holkham</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Red-legged Partridge</b>, Choseley</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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After a short visit in poor weather on Friday, popped back to Titchwell. A couple of <b>Water Pipits</b> were showing pretty well on the mud with lots of<b> Meadow Pipits</b> to the west of the main path. There was a big wader roost on the freshwater marsh, with hundreds of of mainly <b>Golden Plover</b> and <b>Lapwing</b>. There was a raft of <b>Common</b> <b>Scoter</b> offshore, with a few <b>Goldeneye</b> and <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>. <br />
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<i><b>Water Pipit</b>, Titchwell</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>, Titchwell</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Grey Plover</b>, Titchwell</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Freshwater Marsh</b>, Titchwell</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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Chris had to head back, and not long after he left news came through that a Pallid Harrier s) was showing at Abbey Farm, Flitcham. This would have been a lifer for Chris, and he'd already dipped this bird four times, so I felt a bit guilty heading off on my own! All the more so when the juvenile <b>Pallid Harrier</b> showed really well after a 20 minute wait. Really nice to get a chance to see one so well, after the near miss on Unst last October. That was an education, which I put to good use here, because just before the Pallid appeared we had a ringtail <b>Hen Harrier</b> across the back to the field.<br />
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I watched the big flocks of Bramling and Linnet and decided to have one last go for the Golden Pheasant. Ten minutes later I was in position on the north side of the famous Wolferton "triangle", and fifteen minutes later the <b>Golden Pheasant </b>was showing well. It seems to be looking after itself (I'm sure there's been only one for at least five years), though it must be getting on a bit now.<br />
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<i><b>Golden Pheasant</b>, Wolferton</i><i><i>, No</i>rfolk - Sunday 24th January 2016</i></div>
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A nice end to the weekend. <br />
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-91623084681340981422016-01-18T21:51:00.001+00:002016-01-29T18:11:54.882+00:00Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016After all the relatively mild weather over the last few moths, with all that rainfall and flooding, we got our first real taste of winter in Leeds on Sunday 17th January 2016.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Ugb6zd3Ic/Vp1WZC3dm6I/AAAAAAAAE4s/ZQt60r68BGg/s1600/Redwing-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Ugb6zd3Ic/Vp1WZC3dm6I/AAAAAAAAE4s/ZQt60r68BGg/s640/Redwing-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Redwing</b>, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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The snow and ice tends to concentrate birds in certain places,
especially water birds, which added extra interest to the <a href="http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs">WeBS count</a>. It's always nice to be out birding in the snow (well, fallen snow, if not blizzards), regardless of the bird numbers, and we had quality if not quantity. The reserve looked great in the snow, so I took few landscape photos as well as the birds.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET0mrePl5Qc/Vp1XveLr_hI/AAAAAAAAE44/Wt_XpKxN4Bk/s1600/Kestrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET0mrePl5Qc/Vp1XveLr_hI/AAAAAAAAE44/Wt_XpKxN4Bk/s640/Kestrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> <b>Kestrel</b> looking out over Tim's Field - </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<i> Tim's Field, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIvKRfLQXg8/Vp1YhxGrJyI/AAAAAAAAE5U/bjrS3hGYwGw/s1600/Snipe-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIvKRfLQXg8/Vp1YhxGrJyI/AAAAAAAAE5U/bjrS3hGYwGw/s640/Snipe-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> A lone <b>Snipe</b> on the Duck Marsh </i><i>- </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYmkekFobLw/Vp1Yh_5TDNI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/gEuWKESvkso/s1600/Snipe-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYmkekFobLw/Vp1Yh_5TDNI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/gEuWKESvkso/s640/Snipe-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>More <b>Snipe</b> out on the frozen Lagoon </i><i>- </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyxl8GltYLM/Vp1ZYV4UFxI/AAAAAAAAE5k/ckCj0gsWkpI/s1600/Lagoon-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyxl8GltYLM/Vp1ZYV4UFxI/AAAAAAAAE5k/ckCj0gsWkpI/s640/Lagoon-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> The Lagoon was around 95% frozen - </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9a9s3eu5vc/Vp1Zt05h58I/AAAAAAAAE5w/wA6utXlBl1Y/s1600/Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9a9s3eu5vc/Vp1Zt05h58I/AAAAAAAAE5w/wA6utXlBl1Y/s640/Islands.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Lagoon islands in the ice - </i><i></i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4L0I-2tAsI/Vp1aLSyG96I/AAAAAAAAE54/j-8RPtxEENo/s1600/Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4L0I-2tAsI/Vp1aLSyG96I/AAAAAAAAE54/j-8RPtxEENo/s640/Fox.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A group of up to six <b>foxes</b> were yelping from across the river - </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQuwnNz_OhE/Vp1a84MCHiI/AAAAAAAAE6Y/7Vx5K83QwsM/s1600/Barn-Owl-pellet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQuwnNz_OhE/Vp1a84MCHiI/AAAAAAAAE6Y/7Vx5K83QwsM/s640/Barn-Owl-pellet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A nice surprise: a massive<b> Barn Owl </b>pellet - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uw6wgehCTew/Vp1cTAeT5RI/AAAAAAAAE7M/8k4GRiywwZ8/s1600/Redwing-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uw6wgehCTew/Vp1cTAeT5RI/AAAAAAAAE7M/8k4GRiywwZ8/s640/Redwing-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> <b>Redwing</b> by the Visitor Centre, </i><i>Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NBBHTHxW-A8/Vp1bSBf-KkI/AAAAAAAAE6o/9TGfj6lia68/s1600/Dragonfly-ponds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NBBHTHxW-A8/Vp1bSBf-KkI/AAAAAAAAE6o/9TGfj6lia68/s640/Dragonfly-ponds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Dragonfly Ponds, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IwWVUP59Q-A/Vp1bRvMWGvI/AAAAAAAAE6g/FiyNmEoDP-4/s1600/Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IwWVUP59Q-A/Vp1bRvMWGvI/AAAAAAAAE6g/FiyNmEoDP-4/s640/Sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> The corner of Tim's Field, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f5aBQIaG_40/Vp1bR5Ps2XI/AAAAAAAAE6k/Jy2cMl1-wZE/s1600/Wet-grassland-reeds-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f5aBQIaG_40/Vp1bR5Ps2XI/AAAAAAAAE6k/Jy2cMl1-wZE/s640/Wet-grassland-reeds-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Looking west over the Wet Grassland, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDmumLtXfk4/Vp1bStVxdAI/AAAAAAAAE6w/xrctAFChPjg/s1600/Wet-grassland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDmumLtXfk4/Vp1bStVxdAI/AAAAAAAAE6w/xrctAFChPjg/s640/Wet-grassland.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Looking east over the Wet Grassland, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKhLNFTQKBE/Vp1cl00I1OI/AAAAAAAAE7U/tdoyrb1jVqY/s1600/Scrub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKhLNFTQKBE/Vp1cl00I1OI/AAAAAAAAE7U/tdoyrb1jVqY/s640/Scrub.jpg" width="640" /></a><i>Scrubland, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNhTuGRbV5Y/Vp1cwT8iAmI/AAAAAAAAE7c/53cIXZLT_Ss/s1600/Little-Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNhTuGRbV5Y/Vp1cwT8iAmI/AAAAAAAAE7c/53cIXZLT_Ss/s640/Little-Owl.jpg" width="640" /></a><i> <b>Little Owl</b> roosting in the Yorkshire Water compound - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sogPzOlYIPI/Vp1dHNJgEnI/AAAAAAAAE7k/EyDIOsSPTcQ/s1600/Bullfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sogPzOlYIPI/Vp1dHNJgEnI/AAAAAAAAE7k/EyDIOsSPTcQ/s640/Bullfinch.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div>
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<i><b>Bullfinch</b> in the Manager's Garden - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaMRlH9A5UU/Vp1dTzPHuPI/AAAAAAAAE7s/DAdkJ4iGuxU/s1600/Fish-pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaMRlH9A5UU/Vp1dTzPHuPI/AAAAAAAAE7s/DAdkJ4iGuxU/s640/Fish-pass.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Fish Pass, Rodley Nature Reserve - Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<i>Another surprise: two <b>Black Swans</b> with Canada Goose - </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<i> Willow Path, Rodley Nature Reserve - </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3tmjjxLpwo/Vp1eEBMnSiI/AAAAAAAAE8M/BoEIOqDoPnQ/s1600/Siskin-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3tmjjxLpwo/Vp1eEBMnSiI/AAAAAAAAE8M/BoEIOqDoPnQ/s640/Siskin-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> <b>Siskins</b> on the alders byetween the Lagoon and Access Rd - </i><i>Sunday 17th January 2016</i></div>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-20181275268787769912016-01-12T15:46:00.000+00:002016-01-13T14:11:20.816+00:00Patchwork Challenge: Rodley Nature Reserve, Leeds - 10th January 2016I made my first visit of the year to <a href="http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/">Rodley Nature Reserve</a> on Sunday 10th January, kicking off my 2016 <a href="http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/">Patchwork Challenge</a>.<br />
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Rodley NR had <a href="http://westleedsdispatch.com/leeds-floods-aftermath/">suffered during the recent floods</a>, and unfortunately I wasn't able to help with the clear up. After some great work by regulars and volunteers over New Year, the reserved opened for business in early January.<br />
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Most of the car park was still cordoned off, and the lake in the adjacent field was still flooded from last year. There was a decent number of gulls on the water, including an adult <b>Herring Gull</b> among the Black-headed and Common Gulls. A good bird to start the year - it took me until November to get it on the patch list last year.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anqKmFqmhdc/VpUdglaCbnI/AAAAAAAAE24/4MBIm4RAcPs/s1600/Gull-roost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anqKmFqmhdc/VpUdglaCbnI/AAAAAAAAE24/4MBIm4RAcPs/s640/Gull-roost.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Herring Gull</b>, Rodley NR - Sunday 10th January 2016</i></div>
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A lone female Tufted Duck, with Moorhens, was the only duck on the flood water, and this proved to be the only one I'd see today. Duck numbers on the reserve were certainly down. Getting the winter visitors on the list is key at the this time of year, and two each of <b>Redwing</b> and <b>Fieldfare</b> were obliging in the riverside trees, with a Mistle Thrush. 45 Greylags and c50 Canada Geese were on the grassy slope behind.<br />
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A couple of Cormorants flew upriver and I noticed a <b>Kestrel</b> was hovering unusually high up over the entrance road. A mixed flock of Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits moved along the fence line, while a Wren burst into song. I was doing pretty well and hadn't moved more than five metres from the car.<br />
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The Mallards were on the nearby Lagoon, but in pretty low numbers. <b>Gadwall</b> was the most numerous duck, but the highlight was a group of four <b>Goldeneye</b> (2m, 2f). There was <b>Coal Tit</b> on the peanut feeder on the willow oath behind the Lagoon hide. Now this was a good bird - only the second I'd ever seen on the reserve itself. I normally pop over the canal to Bramley Falls Wood (still on the Patchwork patch, but not part of the reserve) to get these, along with Nutchatch and easier Treecreepers. A male <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> soon flushed the Coal Tit off the feeder.<br />
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The Duck Marsh was relatively quiet, but I did add Grey Heron, Little Grebe, a brief <b>Kingfisher</b> and a skulking <b>Snipe</b> to the tally.<br />
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<i><b>Common Snipe</b>, Rodley NR - Sunday 10th January 2016</i></div>
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Bullfinch, Pheasant and Reed Bunting were among the birds by the visitor centre. The reliable <b>Little Owl</b> was up by the manager's garden, with a decent flock of <b>Stock Dove</b> in the field behind.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2Pc4mc3nyI/VpUeOUkeUhI/AAAAAAAAE3c/6qT-zAlgZbI/s1600/Little-Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2Pc4mc3nyI/VpUeOUkeUhI/AAAAAAAAE3c/6qT-zAlgZbI/s640/Little-Owl.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Little Owl</b>, Rodley NR - Sunday 10th January 2016</i></div>
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<i><b>Bullfinch</b>, Rodley NR - Sunday 10th January 2016</i></div>
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I drew a blank up at the new Sludge Lagoon hide, but got great views of a <b>Common Buzzard</b> on the scrub, and managed a photo before it got fed up being mobbed by crows.<br />
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<i><b>Common Buzzard</b>, Rodley NR - Sunday 10th January 2016</i></div>
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I checked out the area around the Dragonfly Ponds and the river. The flood damage was clearly at its worst here. The riverside Hawthorn I call the "Goldcrest tree" because of it's reliability for Goldcrests was missing, or at least mostly obliterated by the raging river. I caught sight of a stonking male <b>Goosander</b> flying upstream.<br />
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<i>Dipping pond, reedbed, and dragonfly pools after the flood - Sunday 10th January 2016</i></div>
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The "Farming for Birds" fields, planted with seed crop to attract birds in winter and spring, was now mostly a muddy mess. Fortunately the <b>Linnet</b> flock (smaller than usual) were still finding some food there. Some other regular Rodley birders pointed out a <b>Red Kite</b> way over Headingley to the east. We noticed there were a pair, slowly moving north west towards Horsforth. My only two-pointer bird of the day.<br />
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I checked out the flood water by the car park as dusk approached (picking up a couple of Jays in the trees), and a half-decent gull roost was forming. Would be nice if Rodley could develop one of these. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vtqn-PCPKIc/VpUdKqWRgvI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/-DYrolrkWAE/s1600/Gull-roost-2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vtqn-PCPKIc/VpUdKqWRgvI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/-DYrolrkWAE/s640/Gull-roost-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Some Feral Pigeons on the factory roof were my final species of the day: 49 spp, 50 pts. Full list below. Not a bad start, given some very obvious omissions. It's the monthly <a href="http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs">WeBS count</a> at Rodley next week, giving my another chance to build up a decent score before the end of the month. <br />
<ol>
<li>Black-headed Gull </li>
<li>Common Gull</li>
<li>Herring Gull</li>
<li>Tufted Duck</li>
<li>Moorhen</li>
<li>Jackdaw</li>
<li>Magpie</li>
<li>Redwing</li>
<li>Fieldfare</li>
<li>Mistle Thrush</li>
<li>Greylag Goose</li>
<li>Canada Goose</li>
<li>Blue Tit</li>
<li>Great Tit</li>
<li>Long-tailed Tit</li>
<li>Wren</li>
<li>Kestrel</li>
<li>Carrion Crow</li>
<li>Cormorant</li>
<li>Coot</li>
<li>Mallard</li>
<li>Gadwall</li>
<li>Goldeneye</li>
<li>Little Grebe</li>
<li>Mute Swan</li>
<li>Coal Tit</li>
<li>Robin</li>
<li>Dunnock</li>
<li>Great Spotted Woodpecker</li>
<li>Snipe</li>
<li>Grey Heron</li>
<li>Woodpigeon</li>
<li>Bullfinch</li>
<li>Pheasant</li>
<li>Stock Dove</li>
<li>Reed Bunting</li>
<li>Blackbird</li>
<li>Kingfisher</li>
<li>Little Owl</li>
<li>Greenfinch</li>
<li>Chaffinch</li>
<li>Starling</li>
<li>Goldfinch</li>
<li>Buzzard</li>
<li>Goosander</li>
<li>Red Kite</li>
<li>Linnet</li>
<li>Jay</li>
<li>Feral Pigeon</li>
</ol>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-68711572208873659492015-11-18T14:19:00.000+00:002015-11-25T13:16:42.693+00:00Crag Martin - Chesterfield, Derbyshire, November 2015A quick blog on my attempts to see the celebrated <b>Crag Martin</b> in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, recently. I did see it, which was nice because I hadn't seen the last one (at Flamborough Head in April 2014) because I was visiting my brother for his birthday. So this was nice grip back, when I eventually saw it...<br />
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News came through around 12:45 on Sunday 8th, and I left home immediately (not something I'm normally in a position to do). Chesterfield's about 1.5 hours drive away from my house; quicker when traffic is light, slower when there's a 50mph limit along most of the M1...<br />
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By time I took up my position across the road from the Church of St. Mary and All Saints and stared up at the famous crooked spire, the bird had already been gone for around 30 minutes. The light grew darker, a Sparrowhawk came looking for a meal, and the Crag Martin didn't return. Ah well, it was worth a try. And at least it wasn't my forth dip, like it was for my old young friend Chris Bromley.<br />
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<i>Church of St. Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Sunday 8th November 2015</i></div>
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Next morning I was at work, and inevitably the bird returned to the church. I hastily arranged a half-day off work, for the middle half of the day, and got to Chesterfield around 13:15. The bird hadn't been seen for half an hour, but it had been performing well then, apparently. At around 13:25 I noticed a birder from up the street pointing over my head towards some Feral Pigeons in flight. I lifted my bins just as I overheard "It's over there now" and, yes, there it was just in front of the pigeons. I quickly turned to the person nearest me, who seemed oblivious to all of this, and attempted to point out the <b>Crag Martin</b> (and the Feral Pigeons). I then looked back to see it go out of view behind a building after about two seconds, and it didn't show again for the rest of the day. <br />
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<i>Practically the same time as the day before, but with far fewer birders...</i></div>
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<i>Church of St. Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Monday 9th November 2015</i></div>
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Um, so I'd had about five seconds of viewing of the bird, split by about ten seconds of trying and failing to get someone else on it. It certainly was the Crag Martin: a pale-ish brown martin (the paleness evident only when viewed through bins), zipping around the sky catching flies, spreading it's tail as it switched direction. The pointer, who'd triggered me to look in the right direction, told me it had appeared from behind him seconds earlier, almost landing on the church, then zipping away down the street, when he pointed. <br />
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So, yes, it was the bird. But I didn't feel massively comfortable ticking it. I <i>did</i> tick it, and applied the philosophy of my birder friend Mike Warner: "If you're happy it was the bird, tick it; then go and get better views of the next one at the first available opportunity". Fair enough; it was on the list.<br />
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Reportedly, the bird performed much better the day after, but then the sightings stopped for two days. It must have gone. One birder did put news out on Twitter, saying he'd seen it on Thursday morning, and got loads of grief from knee-jerk know-it-alls. He was proved right in the end - on Friday the bird was seen again, and the sighting became regular. Regular enough to make me decide that I'd go back for a another pop on Saturday morning...<br />
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<i>Third time lucky? - Church of St. Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield, Derbyshire <br />Saturday 14th November 2015</i></div>
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My mood, and that of several birders and locals, was subdued on the morning of Saturday 14th November, because of the events in Paris the night before. It was cooler than recently, with heavy rain promised around 10:30, when I had to leave anyway.<br />
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The bird didn't show at first, which gave me time to contemplate the Paris attacks and the frankly rubbish-looking fake Christmas tree by the information centre; and a chance to chat to locals, birders, and some friends from <a href="http://www.bradfordbirding.org/">BOG</a>. By mid-morning, the bird hadn't arrived (and neither had the rain), so I left. My semi-dodgy tick from Monday would have to stand.<br />
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Back amongst the 50mph drudgery and traffic cones on the M1, the news came through around 11:00 that it was back. Decisions, decisions... I wasn't happy with the views on Monday, whatever I kept telling myself. I had to go back and hope it was still there, but was a good half an hour away, and still had to continue north to find junction to turn around. <br />
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I arrived around 11:40, to find the bird had been on show for 45 minutes. <i>Had</i> been on show. It had left five minutes earlier... Here we go again. At least I had a chance to catch up with ace photographer <a href="https://twitter.com/paul_rowe1">Paul Rowe</a>, before the <b>Crag Martin</b> finally appeared. Phew! <br />
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Zipping around the church tower, mostlly on the north side, at great speed. Impossible with bins at close range, the bird would look really pale against the brickwork, then appear dark against the sky. Looking like a hirundine with slightly Starling-esque wings; its acrobatics were a joy to behold and made me appreciate the skill - or luck - that photographers had used to get such good shots. My shots of the Crag Martin were, erm, well, erm, you decide:<br />
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<i><b>Crag Martin</b>, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Saturday 14th November 2015</i></div>
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Exactly. The bird performed well until my parking permit ran out and I headed home a happy man, with my life list firmly on 388.<br />
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Later that day the bird was relocated at Chesterfield FC's Proact football stadium, and it became clear it spent a lot of its time here when not at the church, and even roosted in the roof of the east stand. Amazing how a rare and visible bird can easily go missing in an urban area, despite birders and most locals being aware it was around.<br />
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The day after I was at <a href="http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/">Rodley Nature Reserve</a> for the monthly <a href="http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs">WeBS</a> count. Nothing out of the ordinary (apart from an adult Herring Gull, my first <a href="http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/">Patchwork Challenge</a> point for months), though the heavy rain had caused the River Aire to flood.<br />
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<i>Fish pass overflowing into the reedbed at Rodley NR, Leeds - Sunday 15th November 2015 </i></div>
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Rugby pitch flooded by the access road <i>at Rodley NR, Leeds - Sunday 15th November 2015 </i></div>
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<i>Farmer's field by the car park at Rodley NR, Leeds - Sunday 15th November 2015 </i></div>
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<i>Lots of food for the gulls in the flood water at Rodley NR, Leeds - Sunday 15th November 2015</i></div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230107653033874368.post-82376199682672623082015-11-05T22:21:00.003+00:002015-11-19T14:00:58.581+00:00American Golden Plover, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Saturday 25th October 2015An <b>American Golden Plover</b> at Kilnsea, just north of Spurn Point, stayed long enough for me to find a free morning to go and check it out. AGP is a bit of a bogey bird for me, having missed/dipped quite a few (including at least one on the <a href="http://indie-birder.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/shetland-birding-october-2015-part-1.html">Shetland Islands earlier in the month</a>), and I thought I would miss the opportunity for this one too. In fact, at the time of writing - 4th November - it's being reported as still present.<br />
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On arrival I headed for the hide at Kilnsea Wetlands, as this is where the bird had been reported most in the previous few days. It didn't take long to pick out - mainly because, much to my surprise, it was the only Golden Plover species present. It was sat on the shore with around c60 Lapwings, amongst the <b>Wigeon</b> and <b>Greylags</b> and <b>Brent Geese</b>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mVJLEoourRM/VjtcAGARoxI/AAAAAAAAEyE/YHFLzEgOADw/s1600/AGP-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mVJLEoourRM/VjtcAGARoxI/AAAAAAAAEyE/YHFLzEgOADw/s640/AGP-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>American Golden Plover</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Saturday 25th October 2015</i></div>
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Through binoculars the face looked pale, and the eye an isolated blob. The overall plumage was paler and colder than any European Golden Plover I'd seen. As soon as my scope was on it the bird stretched, lifting it's wings to reveal the dark grey underwings. Unfortunately it flew off after I'd taken only a couple of record shots, and before I could go round to the side screen to get a closer view.<br />
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I walked around the eastern bank, by Beacon Ponds, as a <b>Short-eared Owl</b> hunted over the fields. Another birder had just picked it up distantly in the field to the north. I headed round to get a better view, as a large skein of<b> Pink-footed</b> <b>Geese</b> headed south high overhead.<br />
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The bird was feeding in an arable field around 50 metres from the road -
just out of range of my camera for a good photo. But the pale throat,
breast and face were very obvious, and the long, wide supercilium,
creating the appearance of a small dark cap. Out in the open, the neck
and legs now looked longer than European Golden Plover. Side on, the bird was obviously much more attenuated, because by the longer wings.<br />
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<i><b>American Golden Plover</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Saturday 25th October 2015</i></div>
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A nice morning's birding, and another tick too. BOU list now up to 387.<br />
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<i><b>Roe Deer</b>, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire - Saturday 25th October 2015</i></div>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com1