Bracknell (Western Industrial Area & Priestwood)

Monday 21^st January I was working down Western Road, so at lunch time I went for a walk, to see the Peregrines that live on the 3M building. As I walked down Western Road I saw Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Great tit & Black-headed gull. I crossed over to Wokingham Road, and when at the Western Roundabout a Red Kite flew slowly over.

When close to the 3M building, I went into the Waitrose car park to view both the ♂ & ♀ Peregrines.

I then followed the road around Waitrose to Millennium Way, Pied Wagtail flew passed. Crossing over and going down to Albert Road, seeing a Blackbird. Following the footpath back to Wokingham Road, added Long-tailed tit, Robin & House Sparrow. As I got to Portman Close I saw some small finches high up in one of the trees.

These turned out to be Siskins, as I turned around I noticed a small flock of birds fly off, but they landed on a nearby TV aerial and they turned out to be Waxwings (10+) they didn’t stay long flying down out of sight. So I went looking for them (did not relocated them), when at the corner of Stoney Road / Appletree Place in the tree with the mistletoe was a Mistle Thrush, also close by Starlings.

I then went down Stoney Road where there was Nuthatch, Blue tit, Carrion crow & Magpie, and looking down Arlington Close in the trees were Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Working my way back to work, Windmill Road had Collared dove, and feeding on the berries down Spencer Road were Fieldfares.

2013 Year List = 78

Boneparte's Gull Ogmore Glamorgan Wales

On the 16th January work sent me to Cardiff, so I did a search for bird news in the area and found this site "The Cardiff Bird Club" http://southwalesbirding.blogspot.co.uk/.
I liked the look of the Boneparte's Gull at Ogmore, a new bird for me and a new area to look at also, so I arranged to meet up with the two user's early, which enabled me to finish my work, giving time to go to Ogmore.

Car Park near Portobello House, first bird seen a Buzzard over head.

Walked down to the rivers edge and started to look for the Boneparte's Gull, lots of Black-headed gulls and Herring gulls, in with them I found a Common gull and a Mediterranean gull. Also a good number of Goldeneye, and smaller numbers of Mallard and Teal. Further upstream I could see 3 Canada geese and a Shelduck. Most of the birds went up, so looking around I found a female Sparrowhawk flying over.
I then walked past the Portobello house and in the garden on and around some feeders were Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Chaffinch & Goldfinch.
View down Stream

On the short grass there was Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow and 2 Ravens.
View upstream looking back at Portobello House

Along the river was Mute Swan, Curlew, Redshank, when I noticed a gull feeding near the far river bank close to a Black-headed gull and it looked differrent, it was the Boneparte's Gull.
Boneparte's Gull feeding near river bank

Boneparte's Gull

I then walked back and up to the bridge that goes to the sewage treatment works, on the river near the bridge 5 Little Grebes, 2 ♂ and 2 ♀ Goosaders,  2 ♂ and 1♀ Gadwall. In the trees around the sewage treatment works, Magpie, Jackdaw & Rook. On my return to the car park there was a kestrel hovering over the area of longer grass and bramble. I Then stopped of at Ogmore Castle for a look around before heading off home.
Ogmore Castle

Little Egret in field opposite castle

2013 Year List = 75

Pallas's Warbler at Moor Green Lakes

Friday 11th January, I went to Ealing for work,  and when I had finished I headed of to Moor Green Lakes for the Pallas's Warbler as this would be a new bird for me.
On arrival at Moor Green Lakes spoke to a number of birders who had seen the warbler and they described where to head along the Blackwater valley path. On the feeders in the car park Great Tit, Blue Tit,  Nuthatch and in the horse field, Carrion Crow, Blackbird and Moorhen. As I walked towards the Blackwater valley Path, I caught another two birders up, we then made our way towards the conveyor belt, and no sign of any bird. Once at the conveyor belt we joined other birders who had seen the warbler, but the flock had moved on. So I did the same and went over the conveyor belt bridge and headed of to the sewage works. When at the sewage works I saw Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, feeding low down by the river a Wren. I then heard Long-tailed Tits, and soon had them feeding in the wood on the other side of the river.

So I started looking for the Pallas's Warbler, but only saw Goldcrests and a Treecreeper, the flock started to head back towards the conveyor belt, so I followed. In the field Woodpigeon and Magpie. Looked at the new workings seeing Little Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull & Tufted Duck.
Conveyor belt and new workings (Berkshire)

Conveyor belt and bridge over the Blackwater river (Hampshire)

As I was going over the conveyor belt bridge the other birders signaled to me that they were on to the Pallas's Warbler.

I was able to pick it out and the views were not great as it was high up in the trees, so I positioned myself next to the conveyor belt and followed the warbler as it moved along with the long-tailed Tits, it then flew across the opening and landed lower down in a tree, I quickly found it in my scope and got some great views, before it moved on. Some of the birders left some followed the warbler, I decided to stay on top of the bridge and have a look around. Looking over the new workings, with the Canada Geese were 15 Barnacle Geese and 2 hybrid Snow Geese, Kestrel and on the water Coot & Pochard. Looking at the trees I had Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The birders who followed the warbler were returning and they again signaled to me that they were on the warbler, I was still on the bridge so higher up, and the warbler flew pass me at head height and landed in an alder, as the tree was dark the colours and marking of the warbler really stood out, but it soon moved on, so did I to look at Colebrook Lake South, Grey Heron, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal & Mallard, then Colebrook Lake North, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Goosander ♀, Lapwing & Snipe.
Colebrook Lake North from viewing screen next to hide (Can you see the Snipe?).

On the top of a tree by the horse fields a small number of Redwing, and on the feeding station by Colebrook Lake North, Chaffinch & Reed Buntings.

Finally on the way back to the car park a Barn Owl was watched hunting over the new workings, where it put up some Snipe.

213 Year list = 67

Hurley Berkshire

Thrusday 10th January, I was working in Hurley, so another lunchtime where I walked around the village, and along the river and surrounding fields.

Feeding in this field Pied and Grey Wagtails

Hurley's Motley Crew near the lock. (Domestic White Greylag goose, Domestic White Greylag goose x Canada Goose Hybrid, Muscovy Duck & Mallard Hybrids)

Siskins and Lesser Redpolls feeding in alders near the lock.

Birds seen:- Cormorant, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin & Lesser Redpoll.

2013 Year List = 47

West Wycombe 9th January 2013

Today work took me to back to High Wycombe, and at lunch time I went to West Wycombe for a walk.

I parked down Toweridge Lane, and I walked up the hill to the edge of High Wood.

Mistle Thrushes were in the trees with the mistletoe, 

Red Kite over head, I then followed the edge of the fields down to Bullocks Farm Lane seeing Carrion Crow, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Woodpigeon, Buzzard and Chaffinch. I then crossed the A40 and entered the field and followed the hedge back towards where I had parked, and added Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie.

I then looked in the fields with the sheep and in these fields were Jackdaw, Rook, Pied Wagtail and on a fence post a Kestrel.

2013 Year List = 39

Waxwings at the Beaconsfield Services

On the morning of the 8th January I went to Hemel Hempstead for work and in the afternoon I went to High Wycombe, so on the way to High Wycombe I dropped into the Beaconsfield Services, M40 Junction 2 to look for the Waxwings. I parked up and there was a Red Kite over head, Pied Wagtail in the car park plus a Blue and a Great Tit feeding in the small trees in the car park. I then started to look for the Waxwings and I found them (20+) high in a tree to the rear of the services.

As I walked closer to the tree, most of the Waxwings flew away, leaving just 8 behind, and when I was nearly at the tree a Moorhen ran for cover.

Another view of the tree with the 8 Waxwings at the top, and the stream to the rear of the services.
On way back to the car a Robin was seen as well.

2013 Year list = 33

Beaconsfield Services M40 Junction 2

Monday 7th January, dropped into the Beaconsfield Services M40 Junction 2, on my way to Harrow from High Wycombe, hoping to see the Waxwings. No Waxwings seen, just a Red Kite over, Mistle Thrush in the mistletoe and a Blue tit feeding low down.

2013 Year list = 31

Headstone Manor, Harrow, Greater London

Friday 4th January, I was working at Kodak, and one of the pedestrian exits is opposite Victor Road which goes down to Headstone Manor and recreation ground. In the grounds of Kodak I had Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Starling and Carrion crow.

Walking down Victor road had Robin, and then I viewed the small wood and Yeading brook at the end of Victor road, adding Ring-necked parakeet, Nuthatch, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Blackbird, Dunnock and Collared dove.

Then onto Headstone manor to look at the birds (Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Heron and House sparrow) on and around the moat.

Then out onto the recreation ground, Black-headed gull and Common gull.

A quick look and the allotments seeing Jay, Chaffinch and Goldfinch,

and finally when back at my car in the Kodak car park a Sparrowhawk drifted slowly over, heading towards Headstone manor.

2013 Year list = 29

Birding 2013 starts here

3rd January 2013 and my first chance to go birding, a lunch time walk around the Tower of London and St Katherine Docks.

First birds seen were Feral pigeon, Black-headed gull & Starling all being fed by tourists,

Starling in full song,

HMS Belfast, flying along the river Cormorant, Herring gull and Lesser Black-backed gull,

Carrion crow flew over as I was entering St Katherine Docks, on the water Mallard, Tufted duck & Coot, and in the residential area Woodpigeon, Blue tit and House sparrows near a feeder.

2013 Year list = 13

Some Urban birding down at Southampton

I had Friday 28th December off as using up my holiday before the end of the year, and Tracey had to go down to Southampton for a work meeting, so I went down as well. While Tracey was in her meeting I had a walk around, seeing Goldfinches feeding in Alders near Gate 10

On top of a warehouse was a Plastic Peregrine and close by a Herring Gull

Tugela - Valletta

Black-headed gulls and Herring gull in Mayflower Park

Oystercatchers also Mayflower Park.

(Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed gull, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Goldfinch).

Thunder - Christmas Show Fri 21st Dec 2012 Manchester Academy

Tracey and I took the day off and drove up to Manchester for the Thunder Christmas show at the Manchester Academy, stayed at the Jury's Inn hotel. Thunder and some guests put on a great show.

A walk around the Tower of London

17th December 2012, back to Aldgate for work, so at lunchtime went for a walk around the Tower of London and then St Katherine Docks.

Lots of Feral Pigeons, Black-headed Gulls and Starlings getting fed by the tourists,
Low tide, and on the shore line there was a Herring Gull,

and also a Lesser Black-backed Gull,

In St Katherine docks the Tufted ducks had gone up to 20.
(Mallard, Tufted duck, Coot, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Feral pigeon, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow).