Patch Birding

The weather has turned recently (for the better) and it is beginning to feel as though Spring is finally on the way. The sun has been out and the temperature has risen a little. I've noticed the Blackthorn is in blossom, along with cherry and the Magnolia. Chiffchaffs are here and singing and even some butterflies are on the wing again. There is light at the end of what feels like a very long winter.

I've taken some very nice walks on my local patch at Woodford, where there is a real cross over of the seasons, with winter Thrushes still around and Daffodils and Summer migrants singing. It has lifted my mood and put a real spring in my step. Add into that mix an early afternoon Barn Owl, and you can imagine my excitement. Can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring in.

Come with me on my trip around my local patch here:

The Barn Owl came out to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine.

Curlew

Redwing

Ring-necked Parakeet

Stonechat (female)

Stonechat (male)

The delights of Cley

A bird that you will often hear rather than see, is the Cetti's Warbler. Notoriously tricky to pick out of the undergrowth where they like to skulk and hide, they will tease you with a unusually loud song. Just when you think you may have nailed down where it was last calling, it sings from deep within a different bush. Seemingly it can teleport. On this particular day I got lucky as it raised it's whole self up into the reeds to give me a brief glimpse. Don't be fooled by the picture. It wasn't there long at all.

Cetti's Warbler

Curlew 

A flock of Black-tailed Godwits, and if you can pick out the smaller bird that is left of centre, a Long-billed Dowitcher, with an Avocet two birds below it.

Long-billed Dowitcher just above the highest Avocet on the left.

Icy Cold

A pre-Christmas weekend break in Norfolk turned out to be a very cold one. Freezing conditions the week before and also a sprinkling of snow made the journey a little more hazardous than normal, but to be expected at this time of year. The ground was frozen solid, as were many of the water sources on the marshes. One bonus, was that the previously muddy areas were now not so muddy and passable without the need for wellies.

With so much water frozen a lot of the birds were forced to congregate together on smaller open patches. There was still plenty to see, with a good selection of waders and wildfowl on offer. It was just so bitterly cold that I couldn't stay out as long as I wanted to. The wind on the coast was really biting, and especially at my fingertips.

Dunlin

Dunlin flying over the ice. Not something I'm used to seeing.

Curlew

Curlew and Little Egret

Little Egret and Black-tailed Godwit

Little Egret

In Good Company

At this time of year if you venture into the Peak District you are bound to hear the bubbling call of the Curlew. It's a great sound to hear echoing down the valleys, only made better by a fly by.

The Red Grouse are looking in really good condition at the moment. Here is the male with it's striking red eyebrow. This one stayed nicely hunkered down in the heather, but still looked great in the setting sunlight.

This stunning male Stonechat popped up on a post right in front of me as I perched in my car. I was clearly well camouflaged as it stood here for some time surveying the landscape and generally looking very pretty.

Peak District Moors

Up on the moors you can still hear the evocative call of the Curlew at the moment. It can sound a bit haunting at times, but it's a great bird to hear. Sadly it is in decline, as it's habitat is eroded by concrete jungles and changes in agriculture. Thankfully there are still quite a few in  an area close to me. A couple of weeks ago I was greeted by a pair that flew towards and over me as I got out of my car. I posed no threat, but they weren't to know that. I carried on my walk along the road only for them to come round again for a second pass. I got the camera up this time, and the light was perfect.

Yes, that is what you think it is just below the bird.

A Reed Bunting was not what I expected to see up on the moors.

Juvenile Wheatear were good to see, with a few around, and still being tended to by the parent.

Cemlyn Bay - Anglesey

A trip to Cemlyn Bay on the island of Anglesey was a first for me. I had often wanted to go here in the winter to see the Snow Buntings, but never actually got round to it. A visit in May was just as productive for me though.

I walked around the coastline and initially thought it was a little quiet but then I spotted a bird fly in off the sea and land on some rocks. It had the look of a Curlew but I knew this was much more like a Whimbrel. A quick check in the binoculars confirmed this. The shorter bill, less stocky appearance and the line (supercilium) over the eye. All characteristics of the Whimbrel.
Here is a link to the BTO's ID between Curlew and Whimbrel BTO ID
A good year tick to start the day, and my first decent flight shots of it. They would have been better had it not been so gloomy and raining.

 

This is a Curlew for comparison. Really quite similar to the Whimbrel.

I spotted a group of small waders further round the shore line. These were Dunlin and Turnstones mainly, but there was a larger bird in with them, and this turned out to be a Red Knot in fine summer plumage. I was really pleased to see it in this plumage and another year tick.

Really nice colouration.

Dunlin

Autumn in the North West

A nice bright day on the north west coast always lends itself to a good opportunity to take the camera out. It was busy on the Wirral coast as the tide came in, with plenty of waders, gulls and seabirds. The weather had certainly turned more Autumn like and there was cold bite in the air. Here's what I saw.

A Curlew just above the sand at New Brighton

A lone Pink-footed Goose proving that Autumn had really arrived.

Good numbers of Shelduck were at Hoylake and Meols.

A Common Gull resting on the sand before high tide.

The very elusive Water Rail made an unexpected appearance. Never easy to sea these birds, as they usually stick to the reeds. This was a real bonus.