BLAKEHILL REDSTARTS

I planned to go into school this morning  at 930 am so   got up early to make the 15 minute journey over to Blakehill Nature reserve to have a walk before school and hopefully see one or more  of the redstarts that have been reported there this week. However, it was dense fog when I got up, and although I started out optimistically, once half way there, I decided to turn round and come back home, as it didn't look as if it would clear any time soon. 

As it turned out, I was finished at school by 230, and had time to return home before setting out again in the hope of finding a redstart after all. 

It was  fairly sunny and with hardly any wind so it was quite a pleasant walk down the main track. I kept my eyes on the fence posts either side ahead of me just in case I could spot a shape on one of them.  However, suddenly I saw a flash of red as a bird  darted out of a tree just ahead of me on to the ground the other side. It could have been a robin of course, but I thought I would just wait and see if  it emerged again. After a minute or two, something flew out and landed on a fence post ahead. A quick look through my binoculars told me that yes, it was a redstart!. I've only seen one once before at RSPB  Nagshead a couple of years ago and that was very distant so I was thrilled to see one somewhat closer and more local too. 

Following the track a bit further it hopped on and off fence posts and sometimes onto the  track and other times into the field.  There were about three birds in all at different points along the track but eventually I managed to get  ahead of one of them  so that I was not pointing my camera into the sun.and managed a few photos. 

A QUIET SLIMBRIDGE WWT

 When I booked my ticket  for Slimbridge WWT centre for the first day of opening since the latest lockdown, the forecast looked mainly sunny with a gentle breeze. This morning I woke up to heavy snow falling!  However, it didn't settle and I decided that even a cloudy day at Slimbridge would be a nice day out.  

I arrived soon after 9.45 am, well within my allocated time slot of 930 to 10.00 and the sun was shining!  What's more , it looked like being quite a nice day, albeit a bit chilly. 

The hides, sadly, are not yet open, due to Covid restrictions, but the staff at Slimbridge have done a great job to compensate and allow as much wildlife watching as is possible. The top of the Estuary tower is open air  and they have also built a screen at ground level just in front of it. The summer walkway is also open earlier than usually, allowing you to get closer to the estuary.  I did notice that it looked as if after a few days it could be rather muddy, unless we have some  warm weather to dry it out.  I joined the half a dozen or so birders on the top floor though felt a little out of place as I had no telescope to set up along side everyone else's!  

It was ideal conditions, so I was told, for osprey  to pass through, but although I waited, none appeared!  There were other birds to be seen ,however, albeit distant, including cranes, buzzard, peregrine, shelduck, curlew and various geese. 

I made my way to the opposite end of the ground;  evidence of the beginning of the breeding season was provided by a pair of mallards and their brood of ducklings,  also some greylag geese with two goslings. There were also two coots sitting on nests. Despite using a makeshift viewing area on the back of a trailer, all was quiet there too,  I then checked my phone for Slimbridge sightings and found that there had been  a viewing area made next to the Rushy pen by removing some panels in a fence. However, when I checked it out a bit later, the little ringed plover, common sandpiper and avocet recorded there, were nowhere to be seen!   

It was nice to be visiting Slimbridge once again, even though the number of sightings was rather less than I hoped. 

RSPB OTMOOR

I had planned to go into school today but was contacted at the last moment to say it was cancelled. So that meant I had a day free. I'd mentally listed  Otmoor as a place to visit once the 'stay at home' direction had been lifted so although it was already 9.30, I decided to pack a picnic and go.

The weather looked promising, despite a more gloomy weather forecast and in fact it  stayed mostly bright or sunny for my entire visit. The carpark only had a couple of spaces available, but I was glad to find one close to the entrance where someone had presumably just left. After duly displaying my RSPB members card in the window, I set off down the track. At the first corner, someone had their telescope set up; as I anticipated, he was scanning for the glossy ibis which has been there for quite a while now. Although it apparently had been seen earlier, it was not visible, and disappointingly remained hidden for  the remainder of the time I was there. 

I did, however, get some good views of a couple of hares, though so close I could not avoid getting the wire fence in the picture!  

 Some of the early spring migrants had been arriving and I heard at least four sedge warblers though sadly none was in a position where I could see it  properly, if at all. A flock of linnets was feeding from the seed on the ground outside the hide ( temporarily closed) together with some reed buntings. I also spotted my first family of coots. Chiffchaffs were singing all over the reserve and cettis also calling, but remaining hidden for the most part. 

I visited both the first and second screens,  (my first time at the second screen - it is quite a trek!)  It was pretty quiet, although I did see a pair of cranes at the back of the lake in front of the  second screen, and a red kite, kestrel and buzzard above. 

The temperature became warmer than the predicted 10 degrees, and  I began to feel I had rather over-dressed!  However, it was  enough to entice a few butterflies out, including my first orange-tip of the year, which, predictably,  was in no mood to settle!  

hare

linnet

coot and young

reed bunting

comma

comma

peacock

cranes

FARMOOR'S WAGTAILS.

 

Farmoor Reservoir is home to good numbers of pied wagtails which may regularly be seen along the causeway and waterline as they actively search for insects. It is also sometimes possible to see grey wagtails at the reservoir edges too. 

However, in early April, they are joined by their cousins, yellow wagtails, which can be seen along the causeway as well as in the grass edges close to the Thames water processing plant .

Despite the cold temperatures, the wind appeared to have dropped sufficiently this morning,  to make the stroll along the causeway bearable though I made sure I had my hat and gloves with me. Even so, it was barely above freezing when  I arrived at 9.30 a.m. and initially I was dismayed to see the large numbers of cars already parked up with a lot of people milling around. On enquiring, I found it was a children's sailing week ( rather them, than me in this cold weather!) so, as they had not started their lessons yet, I decided to set off before there was too much disturbance from boats. 

I crossed the causeway  but only saw a couple of pied wagtails as I walked into the wind. I noticed some great crested grebes, mallards and cormorants on the water, and black headed gulls were  calling noisily from the rafts. Good numbers of martins ( sand or house?) were flying low above the water on my arrival - I couldn't tell through my binoculars but someone told me they were house martins- but they disappeared after a while. 

After walking down to the Pinkhill nature reserve I could see some birds on the feeders ( reed bunting, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch) and heard chiffchaffs, willow warblers, black cap and cettis warbler. Mallards were feeding underneath so  it was unsurprising the water rail didn't make an appearance. 

Back on to the causeway I was half way across, when  I noticed a photographer sitting on the raised wall, taking pictures; there was a group of wagtails feeding actively at the edge of the water betweeen  me and where he was positioned about 30  metres away. Amongst them were a couple of 'white' wagtails' - a subspecies of the pied wagtail that are greyer and whiter than the pied wagtails.  After a while, a couple of vehicles passed and disturbed them but I spoke to the photographer who said that there had also been a yellow wagtail amongst them earlier on and sure enough as I walked on further, I spotted a yellow bird on the wall. However it flew off as I approached. 

As I continued walking, I kept my eyes peeled,  and shortly afterwards, I located a further group of three yellow wagtails which, again, were very flighty. They were feeding  amongst some pied and white wagtails, but kept being disturbed by a pedestrans  crossing the causeway which were becoming more numerous as the morning wore on. Eventually I managed to take one or two  reasonable  photos before leaving a cold and increasingly windy Farmoor and after warming myself with a flask of coffee in the car, I headed home, 

A bleak causeway across Farmoor Reservoir

white wagtail

yellow wagtail

EASTER SATURDAY IN THE FOREST OF DEAN

Easter Saturday was a free day for me so I headed east into the Forest of Dean to take advantage of the better weather there. I left at  730 am and duly arrived just after 830 in the Speech House Woodland carpark where there were already a few cars parked. I followed the signs for Woorgreens Nature Reserve as I knew that would take me out on to the heathland where I was going to look for the great grey shrike which is still being recorded there. It was dry but quite chilly as I walked and few people were about as I scanned the area for the bird with no success. I did see my first stonechat of the year though. 

stonechat (m)

path to Crabtree hill looking for Great grey shrike

I stopped to speak to a couple who were approaching me on the path, and as we were discussing the shrike, we suddenly saw a grey and white shape fly across from our right and land in a willow. Using binoculars we were able to confirm the bird was in fact the great grey shrike, but it was much too distant for any photos. I headed  down to the path below. where I would get closer, but though I could hear it calling, it was obscured from view and I didn't want to go past the tree in case I disturbed it.  However, it subsequently flew from the tree across the heathland where I couldn't see it any longer. Although disappointed at not getting any photos, I was pleased that I had managed to see the bird again this year. 

After returning to my car I then travelled the short distance to RSPB Nagshead reserve. The visitor centre and hides were closed but nevertheless the trails were open. As it was still only 1030 am  I decided to do the longer trail which would take an hour and then have my picnic lunch in the car before heading down to the Lower Hide. Although a pleasant walk, through woodland and heathland, the only new birds I saw on the long trail were a couple of stock doves.  On my return I decided to call into the Campbell Hide area; although the hide itself was not open, it was possible to have the same view by standing next to it and on my arrival I found a small herd of roe deer in good view.  No other birds of note apart from a quick fly past from a grey wagtail which made up for yesterday's lack of sighting!. 

roe deer

stock dove

However, the Lower hIde proved more productive with some good though distant views of a pied flycatcher ( my first for over 40 years!). It  was flitting between a holly bush and a small island on the pond. Again very distant but nevertheless easy to spot with its striking black and white plumage. On the pond there was also a pair of mandarin ducks. 

the hide is on the right of the picture, so it was possible to get similar views by standing right next to it

the flycatcher was flitting between the holly bush on the left and the bushes on the island to the right

pair of mandarin ducks on the pond

pied flycatcher

A SUNNY AFTERNOON BY THE RIVER FROME

 

With cold weather forecast on Monday, I decided to make the most of a sunny afternoon to take a gentle stroll by the  River Frome, five minutes away from Stroud town centre. It's a place I visit once a year as there is a very good chance of seeing a dipper or two along the stretch of river which forms the Frome banks nature reserve. Occasionally a grey wagtail is present and there are also reports of kingfishers although I've never seen one there myself. 

After parking in the pay and display car park, I crossed over the road and took the path to the canal towpath  which I followed for a short distance until it met the footpath which followed the river bank.

Sheltered between two steep banks and with the sun shining through the leaves and branches above me, the afternoon felt very pleasant. It was a peaceful walk alongside the fast flowing stream; only a few other walkers and a couple of people who were picnicking on the table provided half way along. 

I walked the relatively short length of the reserve without seeing any water birds, but I did have a good view of a couple of jays. However, returning along the same path, something caught my eye at the edge of the bank across the other side of the water.  It was somewhat of a surprise to find it was a male mandarin duck lurking in the shadows! I watched it for a while, wondering what it was doing there and  thinking at least there was something to record following my visit as this would be a first for the year. Suddenly there was a bit of splashing a few metres away and out into the open sailed a female mandarin!! The colourful drake  swam quickly towards her and they began to mate. |Afterwards I enjoyed watching them as they swam to and fro  and fed under the overhanging banks and vegetation.

I continued  to make my way slowly back to where I had begun my riverside walk, looking out for movements of a dipper as I went.  Nearing the start and about to give up,  I  suddenly noticed a patch of white against some rocks and a closer inspection revealed a motionless shape of a dipper.  If appeared to be asleep, standing on one leg,  and every so often it would blink its eyes.  Pleased to have found  a dipper after all, I decided to wait until it roused, which it did eventually, and after a bit of preening and some bobbing up and down it flew upstream. I walked back to the area where I thought it had stopped but  it had disappeared from view. Although I looked both up and downstream, I still couldn't see it so decided to finish my visit there as I was close to the start  of the path anyway. 

        I crossed the bridge before descending down to the towpath beside the cana

jay

mandarin (m)

mandarin pair

footpath alongside the River Frome

Spot the dipper!

sleeping dipper