Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Some birding, Holiday and as Tom Hanks once said "WILSON"

Tuesday 8th September I had been working near Hounslow, so on my way home I dropping into Staines Moor for a quick walk around. I parked up down Hithermoor road and followed the path around onto Staines moor, on the way in one of the horse fields were three LITTLE OWL. Out onto the moor and I walked over to the other birders and then had good views of the BARRED WARBLER. Also seen: Little egret, Kestrel, Moorhen, Black-headed gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked parakeet, Green woodpecker, Swallow, House martin, Meadow pipit, Wren, Robin, Cetti's warbler, Blue tit, Great tit, Magpie, Carrion crow & Starling.




TOTAL FOR YEAR = 194

Friday 18th September, and after completing my calls in Redhill Surrey, I drove down to Pagham harbour West Sussex for an afternoon of birding. I parked at the visitor centre and then crossed the road to view Ferry pool, I joined the other birders and was soon looking at the GREY PHALAROPE, which was up near the cattle, in with the cattle were a few Yellow wagtails. The Grey phalarope then few down to the left hand side corner near the road, and began feeding right below us all, also in this corner was a Common sandpiper.







Then to Church Norton and a walk around the churchyard where I saw Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Spotted flycatcher, also a Pheasant in the field behind the hide.



Finally out to view the harbour and beach, roosting in the harbour was a BAR-TAILED GODWIT, and there were still a few Sandwich terns around. On the beach was a single Wheatear.



TOTAL FOR YEAR = 196


Saturday 19th September Tracey and I (and our four dogs) took our caravan down to Treveague farm Gorran, for a weeks holiday around this part of Cornwall. We were very lucky with the weather, the views, local food & drink were all excellent. I made a note of the birds seen during the week: Gannet, Shag, Mute swan, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Red-legged partridge, Pheasant, Oysetercatcher, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Swallow, House martin, Rock pipit, Pied wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook ,Carrion crow, Raven, House sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch & Bullfinch.
Below are some of photos I took during this week.



















Wednesday 30th September, and I had some calls to do on a site at Stansted airport, and when I had finished I left and drove to RSPB Vange marsh, a new site for me. The reason for going was a WILSON’S PHALAROPE. Although distant it still gave good scope views, I tried to take some record shots, this being a new bird for my life list. It is always a good buzz to see a new bird, and I resisted shouting out "Wilson" like Tom hanks as other birders were around. Also nice to three LITTLE STINT, and when they fed next to some starlings, realising how little they really are.






TOTAL FOR YEAR = 198

Friday, October 23, 2015

50 years old & 7 more added to year list in August

On Monday 3rd August I had been working in Hurley, so on my way home I had a walk around Fleet Pond Hampshire, where I added YELLOW-LEGGED GULL to the year list, also saw a Tufted duck with her 9 well grown ducklings.



Yellow-legged gull

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 186

Wednesday 12th and I was working in Havant, so I had a lunchtime walk around Farlington Marshes Hampshire seeing 39 species, which included WHINCHAT on the fence behind the main lake. Further round I picked up on some gulls behaving differently out over the harbour, and while looking at this found an OSPREY, I watched it hovering and then diving and catching a good sized fish, this is the only time I have seen this, it then flew of to a post and began to eat its catch. Some colour ringed Black-tailed godwits seen.




Osprey


TOTAL FOR YEAR = 188

Tuesday 18th and another lunchtime walk around Farlington Marshes, 11 different waders seen which included GREY PLOVER, KNOT & GREENSHANK. Some of the Greenshanks and again Black-tailed godwits were colour ringed. The Osprey was seen again on the same post as last week, and had close views of a Whinchat, and to top it off had a fly past of Spitfires as it was 75 years on to the day from the "hardest day" of the 1940 air battle.







TOTAL FOR YEAR = 191

Wednesday 19th and 50 years old today, as I was working back in Havant, I parked down Pook lane Warblington for my lunchtime. Again saw some more coloured ringed Greenshanks.




Tuesday 25th I had call in Walton-on-Thames, so after I drove to Halton(Airfield) Buckinghamshire, where in the field with the cattle were a few YELLOW WAGTAIL, and on the airfield 3 wheatears.



I then on my way home dropped into Little Marlow GP to see the Spoonbill.


TOTAL FOR YEAR = 192

Friday 28th and after working in Hurley, and before going home I had a walk around Moor Green lakes as I Black tern had been reported. Birds seen: Little grebe, Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Grey heron, Canada goose, Snow goose hybrid, Egyptian goose, Teal, Mallard, Tufted duck, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Green sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Black tern, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Swallow, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Spotted flycatcher, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Magpie, Carrion crow, Greenfinch & Goldfinch. As I was pulling up some of the Himalayan balsam I found an Elephant hawk moth caterpillar.




Saturday 29th Tracey & I went to Carfest South at Laverstoke park farm, where we enjoyed the cars, food and music.