GARDEN BIRDS

chiffchaff

This week has been busy at my garden feeders, with at least one chiffchaff associating with a regular tit flock (blue tits great tits and a coal tit) . It doesn't actually use the feeders but regularly emerges from the bushes where it is feeding to perch on the branch holding my feeders for a few seconds. I've been hearing it singing in the mornings from my bedroom window too. It has also been good to see the return of some goldfinches and a greenfinch after an absence over the summer months. Other regular species include robin, dunnocks, blackbirds, magpies and woodpigeons. 

ACROSS THE BRIDGE

When I last visited Slimbridge, someone suggested that a good place to visit was Goldcliff Lagoons just over the  Severn Bridge into South Wales. This is close to the RSPB reserve of Newport Wetlands so I headed there this morning. It looked like being the last of the spell of sunny weather for a time, so I left soon after seven o'clock and got to Goldcliff just after eight. 

One other car was parked by the roadside; after checking with a dog walker that this was the correct location ( no signs!) I started up the public footpath next to a cottage. l came across a grassy area where another car was parked and realised that I could have parked here too. 

The reserve consists of three salt water lagoons, and these can be viewed from a number of hides and viewing screens. The first lagoon was quite dry and all I could see from the window were some sheep who had freedom to graze around the hide.

From a further viewpoint I caught sight of  a kingfisher in flight; there were also several greenshanks, little egrets, and a heron as well as the usual ducks and gulls. A kestrel was hovering in the distance and grey and pied wagtails on the mud. 

Suddenly I noticed a large dark wading bird which had emerged from an island.. a glossy ibis|.  I knew that one had been seen here but I did not know that it was actually resident until informed by a photographer next to me. I hadn't been expecting it so that was a bonus.. and another year tick!  He also told me that there was usually a black swan about and a 'buzzprey'! ( a buzzard so pale it resembles an osprey!)

I continued along the footpath, noting the goldfinches and meadow pipits rising up from the scrub as I passed. A larger bird of prey also appeared over the bank.. the buzzprey!  I watched it fly off into the distance. 

At the last hide, I caught up with the black swan, there was also a peregrine sitting sillouetted on a distant bank against the blue sky. Taking a few steps up to the sea wall, some oyster catchers flew past and joined a larger flock further along the shore. 

After an hour and a half at Goldcliff, I drove the few miles over to Newport Wetlands. There were only a few cars in the car park so far and not many people around. I followed one of the trails, which was recommended by someone at the reception desk, though I have to admit there was very little birdlife to be seen. The reed beds were very high and restricted my view  somewhat, neither did I  hear or see any bearded tits. I did hear cettis warblers from time  to time, and on the mudflats by the estuary there were curlews as well as gulls. One one of the lagoons there was a little grebe and a few wigeon and gadwall. 

On reflection, had I known that the RSPB reserve would give only a few bird sightings, I would have stayed longer at Goldcliff.

Not a good day for photos as most birds were at a considerable distance, but I did have a decent total of 37 species, including another new bird for the year. 

Birds seen at the two reserves:

buzzard, kestrel, herring gull, black headed gull, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, moorhen, coot, heron, little egret, glossy ibis, greenshank, lapwing, little grebe, wigeon, mallard, teal, gadwall, shelduck, magpie, woodpigeon, whitethroat, chiffchaff, goldfinch, meadow pipit, robin, blue tit, curlew, peregrine, reed warbler, cettis warbler (H), mute swan, black swan, kingfisher, dunlin, greylag, swallow.

glossy ibis - poor record shot

view of lagoon where glossy ibis and little egrets were

peregrine

mute and black swans

mudflats seen from the sea wall where oyster catchers were feeding

view from hide at Newport Wetlands

wigeon

little grebe

WADERFEST AT FARMOOR

In contrast to yesterday's distant wader shots, today's were as near as one could wish! 
With yet another sunny afternoon forecast, I clicked on the link to Oxon Birding and immediately saw that a little stint had been recorded at Farmoor reservoir this morning, only an hour earlier. I'd only had a distant view of this bird several months previously, so thought it would be nice to get a closer view and who knows what else might turn up there too!  It is often possible to get within a few metres of some waders when you look over the causeway at the shoreline. 

Walking along the  central causeway which divides the reservoir into its two parts,  I expected to see a group of  stationary birders which would indicate where the little stint was located, if still there. But  I was disappointed. However,  I continued walking towards the western end where the bird had been recorded earlier and then realised that there was a single photographer crouched down with his lens looking over the wall.  I crept towards him and peered over the edge. There were  spotted two waders, though neither looked like a little stint. One was a juvenile ruff but I was uncertain of the other. On enquiry I was told it was a knot.... a species not yet on my year list!   Both birds gave good photographic opportunities  but where was the little stint?! 

Getting into conversation, we admired the birds in front of us, and then I was asked if I'd already seen the dunlin and little stint back down the causeway near the hide!  I'd been so busy heading towards the western end that I'd missed them entirely!  However, perhaps I might be forgiven when I tell you that they were spending quite a bit of time resting on the shore, heads under their wings, and very much camouflaged. 

I retraced my steps and then found the two birds in question, being watched and photographed by another couple of birders.  It was interesting to compare the sizes of these two small waders and their similar markings. Both birds spent quite a bit of time resting, but with an eye open for any danger. 

On the opposite side of the causeway, hundreds of geese were gathered; Canada geese, greylags and a flock of barnacles were perched resting or preening on the stone slope leading down to the water. Amongst them was a lone snow goose.  Also seen were several little grebes, swans and coots, as well as a yellow legged gull. 

With four waders all at close hand, today was a good day out and  with my year list now  standing at 159 birds , I wonder where the next one will be? 


Postscript: On checking my yearly records, I have discovered that in fact the knot seen yesterday was in fact my 160th bird of the year.  Hooray! (  I'd  written 157 birds on my previous blog when it should have read 158!

view along causeway

juvenile ruff

knot

                                       
                                                             juvenile ruff and knot

dunlin and little stint

sleeping waders - well camouflaged

dunlin

little stint

little stint

                                      

barnacle flock

three types of geese

Canada goose

goose flypast

snow goose

mute swan

SLIGHTLY TWITCHY

Having now reached 157 in my yearly bird list, ( a personal record), it naturally becomes my target to reach 160  by the end of the year. However, to do that, means inevitably making journeys to see one specific bird. I am always amazed at the hundreds of miles some dedicated birders will travel for the purpose of seeing one 'lifer' even with the risk that it may not longer be there when they've reached their destination. I hasten to add I am not one of those birders. I need to be pretty certain my target bird will still be there on my arrival, and i am reluctant to travel much more than an hour's  journey to see it! 

Today was just such a day. With cloudless skies forecast, and some free afternoons this week, I didn't need much persuasion to travel to a reserve just south of Reading in order to see a juvenile black winged stilt which has been there for over a week, and has been reported with regularity. As well as adding another year tick, this bird is one I've never seen before.

After working in the morning, I headed over to Moor Green Lakes and arrived shortly after 1.30 p.m. There were just a  couple of other cars in the car park, and the occupant of  the one next to me  was just unloading his tripod from the . I asked him the obvious question; Was he hoping to see the black winged stilt?  As anticipated he said he was, and I checked the location with him, just down the track you take a turn to the right before the hide. 

Following just after him, I soon found a group of three or four other birders with scopes set up. There was a clear view across the East Fen scrape, and I soon located the bird in question, although too distant for a decent photo. I did attempt one  record shot and resorted to a short video to get the best idea of the bird, which for most of us present was a 'lifer'.

 poor record shot

                                         

LATE BUTTERFLIES

Feeling in need of some fresh air this afternoon, (12 Sept ) I made the short trip over to Stanton Country park. It was quiet; few people, few dogs, few birds and few butterflies!  As I walked around the lake the sun appeared so I halted by some bramble bushes. A speckled wood fluttered around before stopping on a leaf to soak up the autumn sunshine, a red admiral whizzed by and a couple of small whites fluttered around the brambles. Then the bright orange of a comma attracted me, and I admired its pristine condition as it settled to feed. As I continued my walk, a group of two small and two green veined whites flitted around in close proximity to each other before settling. 
The lake was empty apart from a few mallards around the edges and a grey heron almost hidden amongst the vegetation. A family of swans, including two cygnets, glided off down to the other end of the lake. 

SLIMBRIDGE SAFARI AND SCOTT HOUSE

Slimbridge landrover safaris run weekends until the end of September, so with a warm sunny day forecast I drove over to Slimbridge  and booked the 1130 am trip. These safaris consist of an hour and half trip (or longer) to the parts of the reserve not normally seen and give the observer a chance to see additional birds on the estuary.

Having  arrived at 930 am,  I had almost two hours to enjoy the birds from the hides so I made for the Rushy Hide.  Not a lot was going on, although I was shown a couple of snipe through someones scope and found a single wigeon on the far bank, in addition to the usual ducks,  geese, gulls and lapwings present.


In the hedges along the walkway were chiffchaffs (one singing)  and long tailed tits, and from one of the hides, two birders were trying to decide whether the bird we could see was a willow warbler. 

From another hide a couple pointed out the cranes in the distance before I showed them a couple of snipe close in front of the hide which they had missed!

I paid a short visit to the South Lake hide before heading back to fetch my jacket  ready to head off on the Landrover safari. I've been on this trip before, and although I didn't expect to see anything exceptional, it's an enjoyable ride and nice to talk to other visitors with similar interests. 

We headed out on the bumpy track leading to the sea wall, stopping to spot warblers in the hedges, and then getting off to investigate the newly restored Goose Hut once used by the Berkley Family. 

Back on the landrover, we were treated to views of wheatears on the track in front of us, as we drove along the sea wall, and watched  a hobby and a couple of kestrels hunting. On the estuary were several herons and shelducks (distant).

After driving between the reedbeds, we disembarked once more and investigated what lay under some corrugated   iron sheets. The first one held a pair of grass snakes which slithered away before I could   get my camera ready.  Another had a shed snakeskin. 
We also watched migrant hawker dragonflies and ruddy darter damselflies. 

After an hour and a half's trip we were back at the visitor centre where I immediately headed off to visit the recently opened Scott House. Previously the home of the founder Sir Peter Scott, tours are free but usually have to be booked. However today, was a heritage day and the museum was open for anyone to drop in,  with guides in each of the four rooms. Incidently today would have been SIr Peter Scott's 110th birthday! Surprisingly there were only few visitors when I went in, and I had a personal talk from each of the guides!

With no time to revisit the remainder of the centre, I totted up the number of birds I had seen.. a very respectable 43 species! 

The birds I saw today were:
goldfinch, starling, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit,dunnock, house sparrow,  jackdaw, magpie, pied wagtail, wood pigeon, collared dove, chiffchaff, robin, willow warbler, heron, lapwing, black tailed godwit, cormorant, ruff, little ringed plover, teal, mallard, shelduck, tufted duck, gadwall, wigeon, swan, greylag, Canada goose, coot, moorhen, buzzard, hobby, kestrel, wheatear, crane, snipe, blackbird, black headed gull lesser black backed gull, heriring gull, pheasant, meadow pipit. 

migrant hawker

small tortoiseshell

painted lady

long tailed tit

ruff on South lake

snipe

robins pincushion.. I'd never heard of this but it contains larvae of a gall wasp seen on Dog roses in autumn when it reddens. 

lapwing on the Rushy Pen

snake skin

ruddy darter

view of the new Estuary hide, due for completion in October

cattle grazing by the Severn estuary