SOME GOOD BIRDS...

Wondering where to go birding this afternoon, I cast a look at some of the local blogs and found that a black redstart and common scoter had both been seen at Farmoor Reservoir.

Not having seen either of these birds before, it was definitely worth a visit. As I crossed the causeway I soon picked out the all black scoter to my right, fairly distant though definitely recognizable.  On the other side, a goldeneye  was sitting with some tufted ducks on the edge of the water.

 At the end of the causeway, someone asked if I was a birdwatcher as there was a rare bird (the black redstart) in the bushes which I could see  if I went down a few steps behind them! Surprised that no one else was looking for it, but pleased it was still around, I stopped in the spot recommended and waited, peering through my binoculars at any movement amongst the leaves and twigs. I found a black cap and reed bunting but no definite black redstart.  However,  there was a bird there that I couldn't identify, but I couldn't see any red/orange markings. 

I was joined by another birder and pointed out the bird  which had just come to the front of the hedge and I thought this time, I  could just make out some red. Just then it flew out onto the ground and back in again, but with time to see a definite flash of red. The black redstart!

After being disturbed it flew out and into some bushes some distance away, though a third birder, who had come along, managed to locate it for us. At last it flew on top of the Thames Water building adjacent to it, and we  could get a few record shots, though the light was pretty bad. 


 So some good birds, although some not so good photos!

cormorant

goldenehye

goldeneye

common scoter

reed bunting

blackcap

black redstart, you can just make out the red on its tail

black redstart

black redstart

LACKFORD LAKES AND WEETING HEATH

Whilst staying with my sister in Cambridgeshire, we visited Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Lackford lakes.  It is always nice to visit a different reserve and I had read on their blog that redpoll were still visiting their feeders. Not having seen this species last year, I was hoping to see one here. 

As we approached Lackford, we spotted a hare sitting still in an adjacent field so stopped to take some photos until it decided to lollop away down the field. 

hare

 On our arrival at the reserve, we treated ourselves to coffee and a slice of carrot cake which we ate at a table in front of the window overlooking some feeders and  amongst the blue tits and great tits I was pleased to see several redpoll. 

redpol

We spent several hours exploring the reserve, which was pretty muddy in places so we were glad of our wellies! From the hides were able to spot a variety of water birds, including a pair of displaying great crested grebes. 

view from one of the hides

egyptian goose

dunnock

In the wooded area we were also treated to close encounters with a couple of bank voles which were scurrying amongst some tree roots, in their quest for food, which had been put down by a friendly photographer. 

bank vole

myself enjoying the spring sunshine!

It was a beautiful spring day with many trees and bushes budding, and the sound of birdsong, including chiffchaffs  around us. In total we saw nearly 40 species including three year ticks for me and at least a dozen for my sister. 

Species list included: blue tit, great tit, marsh tit, coal tit, redpoll, dunnock, robin, blackbird, wren, goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, canada goose, greylag goose, egyptian goose, mallard, tufted duck, gadwall, little egret, grey heron, cormorant, black headed gull, buzzard, crow, jackdaw, mute swan, coot, moorhen, wood pigeon, collared dove, great crested grebe, teal, shoveler, shelduck.

Leaving Lackford lakes, we then made for an area of heathland known as Cavenham Heath where a number of heathland birds can be found including wheatears and stone curlews. Here we were treated to good close views of a wheatear which perched up on some heather only a few metres away, followed by a distant sighting of a stone curlew. Woodlarks had been seen not long before our arrival but were not around for us to see during our short visit.

wheatear

Weeting Heath, owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust is noted for breeding stone curlews, and that's where we headed next. On arrival we were informed that two stone curlews could easily be spotted from the  East  Hide. We were initially disappointed as none could be seen, but later were able to spot two that had stood up enabling views through binoculars, although rather distorted by a haze. 

Just before leaving the reserve we made our way down to  woodland feeding area, which was being frequented by a variety of birds. Here we spotted more redpolls, blue tits, great tits, marsh tits, coal tits, yellow hammer, goldcrest and goldfinch, chaffinch, robin and dunnock. All in all an enjoyable day out. 

coal tit bathing

stone curlew

yellow hammer

DIPPERS AND GREY WAGTAILS

I spotted my first small tortoiseshell butterfly of the year today, sunning itself on my drive just after I arrived home at lunch time; a reminder that the butterfly season will be shortly upon us. 

However, today I planned to visit a small nature reserve known as Frome Banks, in Stroud, which  starts just under the viaduct close to the Waitrose store, where dippers are regularly seen. I didn't get to see one of these birds last year so I was keen to do so today.

Having parked in the pay and display car park adjacent to Waitrose, I made my way  down a flight of steps to some traffic lights where I crossed the road and followed the footpath round to meet the canal towpath and then to the bridge at the start of the reserve. Water flows rapidly under a foot bridge here and over some rocks, and I immediately caught sight of a dipper on one of the rocks in the middle of the stream. It quickly flew off though as a dog walker passed by, but was almost immediately replaced with a grey wagtail which I endeavoured to photograph, in fact two of them. While doing so, I was aware of two brown shapes flying past, two dippers perhaps. Things were definitely looking hopeful. 

Someone stopped on the bridge and I could see that they had spotted a dipper on one of the large flat stones but it didn't stay for long and I missed another photo opportunity.

Nothing else was around, the grey wagtails had moved downstream so I strolled along the footpath alongside the river for as far as it went before returning to my starting point where I had first seen the dippers.   Determined to see one I then waited for a further twenty minutes on the bridge and  was rewarded by a dipper which seemed to appear from nowhere. It stayed around for a few minutes then flew quickly under the bridge and disappeared from sight. 

Dipper

The viaduct built by Brunel and the footbridge over the river Frome in the centre

view from the bridge showing the slabs where I saw the dipper

LOWER MOOR

A grey day but I decided to drive over to Lower Moor Farm for a short walk. At the hide there were already a couple of ladies with zoom lenses targeting the feeders but while one of them went to stretch her legs I made the most of the opportunity take some of my own pictures at the window. 

The usual birds were around; male and female reed buntings, lots of blue and great tits, male and female bullfinches, dunnock, robin and chaffinch. Mallards, greylags and canada geese on the lakes.

bullfinch f

 bullfinch m

chaffinch m

great tit

reed  bunting

 I then left for a walk round to the second hide, here all was quiet, a few long tailed tits on the opposite bank of the lake, then suddenly a grey heron flew directly towards the hide, saw me and did a 180 degree turn mid-air and flew back along the edge of the lake out of sight. 

grey heron about to land...

..then turned and flew off

Back home, the blackcap is still frequenting the feeders, together with the usual house sparrows, blue and great tits and goldfinches. 

face to face! 

FARMOOR

I spent a couple of hours in Oxfordshire this afternoon, notably walking the couple of miles around the larger of the two reservoirs at Farmoor. It was dry but with a cold wind when not sheltered by the hedge.  Very few people about, but on the water the highlights were  several goldeneyes, pochard, tufted ducks, little and great crested grebes. Also scores of pied wagtails at the edges and a feral flock of snow geese. I had intended visiting the hide on the nature reserve but realised too late  that I'd left the note of the door keycode in my car! 

goldeneye

great crested grebe

snow goose

I then paid a quick  visit to Rushy Common. Lots of black headed and lesser black backed gulls on the lake, also oyster catchers and red crested pochards. Just next to the hide a stunning cock pheasant was picking up spillages from under the feeders.

red crested pochard

 beautiful patterned feathers!

FURTHER SNOW!

Another weekend of snow, we had about 3 - 4 inches here. It has attracted fieldfares back into the garden to finish off the remaining apples; also another blackcap on 
the feeders, a male this time. 

Although it has rapidly been thawing, I went over to Stanton park in pursuit of a few snowy photos.  My birdseed and peanuts attracted blue tits, coal tit, marsh tits, great tits, long tailed tits, robins, dunnock, chaffinch, blackbirds... and almost a jay! There were no squirrels around, and a jay was gradually getting nearer but then a low flying helicopter scared it off at the last moment!  Oh well, another day......

blackbird

marsh tit

blue tit

jay

cormorant camouflaged by the background snow

female chaffinch