tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30242245161128312432024-03-07T09:07:35.771+00:00Ornithological IdiocyHow birds and brains become mutually exclusiveJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.comBlogger828125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-20504401161073152482022-04-08T16:26:00.004+01:002022-04-08T16:26:47.017+01:00Rocket Run<p> A rocket run in field herping parlance, is a short, action-packed trip to somewhere unusual, to catch up with some different species. In the USA its to a different state and in Europe its to a different county. This seems appropriate for my primarily work-focused 36 hours in County Cork, Ireland. As a large part of yesterday was working, I can neither tell you where I was, or what I was doing but suffice to say it was very pleasant. I will instead cover what I can say!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF3mv_soMSzyfnbTU8Es5Nxinjc88kZCQphvBZ0ZeI9TqpR1ue1T-9nirVtzLC9RhQDHtPdRMShcfBcxygIn6JA0VKS9IdmuDgXaV7SqQ3MX-tIQVZSkqiKhv4Y1rmp65CxJWL1hOcbet7_Ip_vkVj5cItTWxiYOb4DlMuRgP2GTM6Gyro0z0qiWL/s1024/Tystie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1024" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF3mv_soMSzyfnbTU8Es5Nxinjc88kZCQphvBZ0ZeI9TqpR1ue1T-9nirVtzLC9RhQDHtPdRMShcfBcxygIn6JA0VKS9IdmuDgXaV7SqQ3MX-tIQVZSkqiKhv4Y1rmp65CxJWL1hOcbet7_Ip_vkVj5cItTWxiYOb4DlMuRgP2GTM6Gyro0z0qiWL/w640-h504/Tystie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Guillemot</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I haven't been to Ireland before. This is technically a lie but my only previous trips were about 12 metres into Irish waters when surveying off Islay back in 2010, so that doesn't count in my eyes. Due to this and my impending 40th birthday, my wife booked me a trip to Dublin, to go for the very first time. I was very much looking forward to this, and still am. Work however needed me to head to Ireland at short notice, so head I did and my trip to Dublin will no longer be my first time, much to my wife's chagrin. After reading about Manchester airport on the news a lot, I experienced this hellscape for what it is. I queued for two and a half hours to get through into departures, due to a lack of security staff, only to be delayed for a further two hours once I was through due to a lack of ground crew. Awesome. Eventually I got to Cork airport and the hotel there.</p><p>Yesterday morning was glorious and my first Irish bird species was <b>Hooded Crow</b>, as several went past in the early morning light, as I sipped my coffee. A <b>Pied Wagtail </b>danced on the car park and a <b>Song Thrush </b>dug at the hotel lawn. I ventured west and saw my first <b>Buzzard </b>and most of the generic countryside species. A day of mooching revealed plenty of finches including <b>Siskin </b>and <b>Bullfinch</b> and lots of <b>Chiffchaffs</b>. I rather fancied something else might be in but the hinterland seemed to be later than here in Yorkshire with no leaf on the trees and no Willow Warblers although my colleague thought he saw a Swallow.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcxsbEgkrn8Ix-GfLkYwg6G4iBTWopk7pYgzdDXiaPE8T3WvJEVU0IuRJfSjUk80Ep6debkf86jUG3hgmgpL_OnjZ6hcnbBlimIgD4DjegtwOiD72YEkNYLFFyUcN_Y7gInO2cO0xBTKH0nXY1FEGfBEnqC0zKU-vGOYiw64jDU2jkU5fOYwGpNzO/s2048/Cork%20Airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcxsbEgkrn8Ix-GfLkYwg6G4iBTWopk7pYgzdDXiaPE8T3WvJEVU0IuRJfSjUk80Ep6debkf86jUG3hgmgpL_OnjZ6hcnbBlimIgD4DjegtwOiD72YEkNYLFFyUcN_Y7gInO2cO0xBTKH0nXY1FEGfBEnqC0zKU-vGOYiw64jDU2jkU5fOYwGpNzO/w640-h360/Cork%20Airport.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Room with a view. Of a car park.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I checked a few lakes but came away with just a <b>Sparrowhawk</b> and the usual suspects sitting tight. After work, I thought I'd amble to the coast to see if I could turn up a decent duck (I couldn't) or go and see the <b>Lesser Scaup </b>and friends at Lough Clubir. <b>Mute Swans </b>are nesting all over it turns out but I didnt see anything of interest on the still water bodies but upon crossing a bridge south of Leap, saw a <b>Black Guillemot </b>paddling about. The bridge felt like it was over a freshwater body although on reviewing maps it is apparent it is an estuary. It was narrow and enclosed by leafy trees so seeing an auk when you expect a Goldeneye or Goosander was a shock. A large passage of gulls was also very much in evidence with <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls </b>everywhere.</p><p>I got to Lough Clubir where there were a dozen <i>Aythyas </i>in evidence and sure enough, one was a female Lesser Scaup which was very definitely paired with a male <b>Tufted Duck</b>. There was no sign of the female Ring-necked Duck, although a couple of <b>Shelduck </b>were hunting for rabbit holes in which to raise the next generation. And that was it! I meandered back to airport and had my first proper pint of Guinness before falling asleep, exhausted and then catching the early bird back to Manchester, which proved relatively painless, aside from the hordes heading to Aintree for the weekend. </p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-31210500419412210952022-01-09T15:44:00.000+00:002022-01-09T15:44:00.388+00:00Baikal Teal at Hornsea Mere<p style="text-align: justify;"> As I was eating my coco pops <b>Baikal</b> Teal came on the Birdguides app. Again. I went to dismiss it, assuming it was the bird at Greylake but no, it was at Hornsea Mere. I have history with Baikal Teal there, as the last one disgraced itself by summering in Northumberland and the Lothians which is suboptimal for an actual vagrant and it duly got binned. I had even seen it on the Ouse Washes. Despite limping significantly after a serious DVT prior to Christmas, I fired up the Quattro (Skoda Octavia) and was at Hornsea just after midday. I have heard horror stories of people spending days at Greylake looking for the drake there but nothing like this for me, as it sat 100 yards off Kirkholme Point amongst a group of Wigeon, dozing away. It woke on occasion and was easy to watch for 25 minutes until the local maggot drowners ploughed through the group, displacing them to the other end of the mere. </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w6KSfA-PqLE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was subsequently relocated but almost as far as it could be from optics and I was already in the warm by that time. I didn't hang around too long but not before seeing both <b>Black-necked</b> and <b>Slavonian</b> Grebes. A poke through the <i>Aythya </i>flock failed to reveal anything of significant interest and I ran away to get warm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj12_kgFM5AoSiMfEnGIUXX7qPvNYZWDMyEeHwd8Ooh-TVHwUuXyZYP6XTa110i0E43zruQFaNYVHbGHM-P14ayIfMb7vle0HZweF2gktd9G4QEUlfTcM8ycF8n1-xKdvlcPLWh8qnZeofly74cUncqawH-iby4hPSsn87XobH_6lyDyIHNRu2WP-j3=s2864" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="2864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj12_kgFM5AoSiMfEnGIUXX7qPvNYZWDMyEeHwd8Ooh-TVHwUuXyZYP6XTa110i0E43zruQFaNYVHbGHM-P14ayIfMb7vle0HZweF2gktd9G4QEUlfTcM8ycF8n1-xKdvlcPLWh8qnZeofly74cUncqawH-iby4hPSsn87XobH_6lyDyIHNRu2WP-j3=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqEOhgw_2ZhDnpMXvN7zMDcqQMCaS4CUPW0FyHuz99wIeENdnShKSIFFbiwPBUysrEusTvTO9zHkTgdJIYaxTP64ZdCwjeZuU3YQ9QWIoEe_DPvQkMGP-zkcWTKNEhei778crpNd3PivloV11dOVjlMnTHqfXd0Pkms9iesxMotKaRey67SyXoRMay=s2348" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="2348" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqEOhgw_2ZhDnpMXvN7zMDcqQMCaS4CUPW0FyHuz99wIeENdnShKSIFFbiwPBUysrEusTvTO9zHkTgdJIYaxTP64ZdCwjeZuU3YQ9QWIoEe_DPvQkMGP-zkcWTKNEhei778crpNd3PivloV11dOVjlMnTHqfXd0Pkms9iesxMotKaRey67SyXoRMay=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>So what of this birds origins? It has turned up at the same time as another drake, which is a plus, in mid-winter during an influx of other 'eastern' wildfowl (Smew and Bewick's Swan) so provided it isn't still here in May, at Cresswell Pond then I am hopeful it will pass the test. It could certainly fly and stuck with its Wigeon mates as they flushed.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmqbwphiTfM-xJNYU0n-Qrma9ieLFnUBWKH8EJKx9ePzJGnlcbiQXynOQsokWqVPMMSrW66EcTuUb6XqnvzmFQQMmcNk8GG-x0e0Y01CXqq3e3AjqS3k2haJihJmk-NRsWgU4tLqCZhanL6LY-kY3jhbMs4loT9vy_UhBW-x-1sjeDXzymkwqIscAF=s2824" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2119" data-original-width="2824" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmqbwphiTfM-xJNYU0n-Qrma9ieLFnUBWKH8EJKx9ePzJGnlcbiQXynOQsokWqVPMMSrW66EcTuUb6XqnvzmFQQMmcNk8GG-x0e0Y01CXqq3e3AjqS3k2haJihJmk-NRsWgU4tLqCZhanL6LY-kY3jhbMs4loT9vy_UhBW-x-1sjeDXzymkwqIscAF=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-necked Grebe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-60830347884178266082022-01-03T13:46:00.002+00:002022-01-03T17:41:23.732+00:00Scorching in the Sierras - Part 1<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3aZBVI9xUEUvU_gvgcaJPksW6FG-mBs84tBtO5L-CRUOmpf_g_d8qD95sb8Hxfh3QNHELTwbHsRvRWKeDoatmzFQbmjQ9Yc1bgL05JKBRC416T_Cy23754Zg1DYF7KAWD_MmmlobrAjsD3DO4GKjBwbnrUCwNNE6hFj_8Zun9VB4LubmmD4Dx4TcL=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3aZBVI9xUEUvU_gvgcaJPksW6FG-mBs84tBtO5L-CRUOmpf_g_d8qD95sb8Hxfh3QNHELTwbHsRvRWKeDoatmzFQbmjQ9Yc1bgL05JKBRC416T_Cy23754Zg1DYF7KAWD_MmmlobrAjsD3DO4GKjBwbnrUCwNNE6hFj_8Zun9VB4LubmmD4Dx4TcL=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Raptor Watchpoint with Tajo Lagarin which held the local Vulture colony, in the background</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Last summer my family and I decamped to the Sierra de Grazalema for a fortnight. I was recuperating from my last DVT (We will get onto the latest one shortly I'm sure) and I hadn't been birding all spring. I have since learned that I was also suffering from undiagnosed gout in my knees. I'd had a tricky few months so a couple of weeks resting in an Andalusian villa with the potential for a trip of two to Tarifa sounded like my idea of bliss. Little did I know how good it was going to be. We had a straight forward flight into Malaga and picked up the hire car before pointing North-west to El Gastor, just over the border into Cadiz from Ronda. We arrived in good time to a spectacular setting, nestled in the mountains. It was overcast but superhot. European record temperatures were falling in Italy with 49c recorded there. We made do with a measly 47c. It was 42-47 degrees for the first four days before settling back into the mid-30s. This is generally the hottest part of Europe but those first few days were crackers and sleeping was very hard. Birds would come and drink from the pool whilst we were in it, they were so desperate. In addition there was a levante wind which stifled migration. We arrived in El Gastor, one of the 'Pueblos Blancos' of Andalucia, mid-afternoon and there was a flotilla of <b>Griffon Vultures </b>soaring overhead. I had heard that 'hawks and eagles' were seen every day from the deck of the villa so I assumed there was a vulture colony nearby, and this was proved correct with a cliff holding seventy odd birds and additional colonies across the valley, the other side of El Gastor and at Zahara de la Sierra.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9bH1ryQw3Gm74-6Il3UCZrn37qvjMyQxRwdf5oxzVgBarocJs3BaLpNzg6nZpDQLrDe2a3TNvM12JbIXlqKbrbwbal2lFArnJHQh7S6KNpcvL88cVvGk20DieUDSpuiUx3BNp4TLgVez2t01iNdzzif8638G-OJb3E8dxY2qbN8Rj_DaWKzBUVsnb=s3217" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2413" data-original-width="3217" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9bH1ryQw3Gm74-6Il3UCZrn37qvjMyQxRwdf5oxzVgBarocJs3BaLpNzg6nZpDQLrDe2a3TNvM12JbIXlqKbrbwbal2lFArnJHQh7S6KNpcvL88cVvGk20DieUDSpuiUx3BNp4TLgVez2t01iNdzzif8638G-OJb3E8dxY2qbN8Rj_DaWKzBUVsnb=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several zillion Griffon Vultures that went over the villa. This was from Day 1.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6oRgsyOkek3UKsLbCh6N663p47IwSmvLk0xj9AuD4-viWXu8aCBKFVxp8so-Jpvha7jY7dNxvddCIt8NF4K4KpgzxIa-lloyPEkUvyvVy0qjzWnkCaYGlYtmfNffjmI02GBxnjPWAjnSNPxWqwHQgayb7xK86GnW4hHBsVCry_-v5s5hg7o4KowF5=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6oRgsyOkek3UKsLbCh6N663p47IwSmvLk0xj9AuD4-viWXu8aCBKFVxp8so-Jpvha7jY7dNxvddCIt8NF4K4KpgzxIa-lloyPEkUvyvVy0qjzWnkCaYGlYtmfNffjmI02GBxnjPWAjnSNPxWqwHQgayb7xK86GnW4hHBsVCry_-v5s5hg7o4KowF5=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abby enjoying the pool</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi966uArTc9G4Sn8D3NNH3mdDVl9xlFc5ygeuRT7jek87moNbIHffvXnrTBMTfaKBZWKSrDKYnQ4y-rUQWanO32xz2r-pyJnnukqZNXeMNupaUk0oHjKw0l5qDo347fnmR7_vC6fY7ISN3Rxu_M573uVy411C-56vPmOpUg6iQCldOx5SRTMMnhdyuq=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi966uArTc9G4Sn8D3NNH3mdDVl9xlFc5ygeuRT7jek87moNbIHffvXnrTBMTfaKBZWKSrDKYnQ4y-rUQWanO32xz2r-pyJnnukqZNXeMNupaUk0oHjKw0l5qDo347fnmR7_vC6fY7ISN3Rxu_M573uVy411C-56vPmOpUg6iQCldOx5SRTMMnhdyuq=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdsM4Mx-k0Ov3SMjOiBNHBgVO0XizVjVj2KfTgRpZzUuL9W-kUVVhWWFqDPNgX3XT2wjdNCyCnhAcVabqXNS1fZhV7bt9e82OoL7RxyfW6eEYwg2NYVwxWLFiiea2VvF3BkkskQjSH8zbXEbf10nJkKJuj-RATIMlvGVPUzwRSX4qNYVFUhqUr2glX=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdsM4Mx-k0Ov3SMjOiBNHBgVO0XizVjVj2KfTgRpZzUuL9W-kUVVhWWFqDPNgX3XT2wjdNCyCnhAcVabqXNS1fZhV7bt9e82OoL7RxyfW6eEYwg2NYVwxWLFiiea2VvF3BkkskQjSH8zbXEbf10nJkKJuj-RATIMlvGVPUzwRSX4qNYVFUhqUr2glX=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMCtdlIARhpimhw8w0Bk1Pl-52x5492uIRMn8lUDyedCocXOxUomK1iRupTMejyFhXSSPtN9MmdBcwzF3bA9Xvleqyk3elWMcIP_3XPDGvMiWPBYjSuv6OeqfFMaFEvMEXexJP7k-6ox1R-iCoGpjDdJyhj6HQKCkmHxaqkJAejgFu0H9Ef8RVFTqc=s1440" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMCtdlIARhpimhw8w0Bk1Pl-52x5492uIRMn8lUDyedCocXOxUomK1iRupTMejyFhXSSPtN9MmdBcwzF3bA9Xvleqyk3elWMcIP_3XPDGvMiWPBYjSuv6OeqfFMaFEvMEXexJP7k-6ox1R-iCoGpjDdJyhj6HQKCkmHxaqkJAejgFu0H9Ef8RVFTqc=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee-eater having a bath on one of the 42c+ days</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The first afternoon revealed about 50 Griffons and a pair of <b>Booted Eagles</b>, one dark and one pale morph. These guys were nesting about a mile from where we were staying and were seen on a daily basis. The male was a pale morph and regularly hunted the slope the villa was on whereas the female, a dark morph, was more seldom seen and tended to stay the other side of the mountain. Both were often seen early moring when they joined the kettling Griffons. There was no sign of any young birds and they would have been dependent when we were there so I assume they failed. Late in the afternoon, a pair of <b>Red-billed Chough</b> floated over the vulture cliff, and were a familiar if irregular sight with a high count of 25 birds seen from the villa. The only passage recorded in the afternoon was over a hundred <b>Bee-eaters</b>, a single <b>Red-rumped Swallow </b>and a handful of <b>Pallid Swifts</b>. Other typically Mediterranean species recorded in the villas garden included <b>Hoopoe</b> which was seen occasionally but they were far from regular and <b>Serin </b>which bred in trees just outside the garden. <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4WnR7S2wn55zqPO1z4zI2BtPYN3RRDj_bY5TGI0MI7eWdwvj9zKPnOKqUPyhqvqORPJ2QVY7Md66gH3DAAjmIz0b4F-84OItH46Vcb6Nmb3pEm-hsR5vx_9dOpENTbdgl9UD1RG98BCCMwWV96rl4SvJmuNBYJivvUpl4_G8YSQhr3ewriyGNYh3j=s1440" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4WnR7S2wn55zqPO1z4zI2BtPYN3RRDj_bY5TGI0MI7eWdwvj9zKPnOKqUPyhqvqORPJ2QVY7Md66gH3DAAjmIz0b4F-84OItH46Vcb6Nmb3pEm-hsR5vx_9dOpENTbdgl9UD1RG98BCCMwWV96rl4SvJmuNBYJivvUpl4_G8YSQhr3ewriyGNYh3j=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Gastor Square. Scene of cold beers and umbrellas</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyy5GVZLrw_F5xPeOxRk9wyCxJ7eMakz3VpIeASiC7sT7-F-6-RL_XmHxdoCiAAVoHVshZ9bEDRc52HtJ3dvRYTI0Qnl6TYrgNgsbhwhmckACzqo0Xv_c58zPbVEYgeSgYSeebvwrUDOcVL7oUXdIAaRHbR9fSpkVL3ayEtRYXzYMiKs04vk7t1a75=s1440" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyy5GVZLrw_F5xPeOxRk9wyCxJ7eMakz3VpIeASiC7sT7-F-6-RL_XmHxdoCiAAVoHVshZ9bEDRc52HtJ3dvRYTI0Qnl6TYrgNgsbhwhmckACzqo0Xv_c58zPbVEYgeSgYSeebvwrUDOcVL7oUXdIAaRHbR9fSpkVL3ayEtRYXzYMiKs04vk7t1a75=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gorgeous streets of El Gastor, one of the Pueblos Blancos</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I was tired but excited the following morning, expecting epic migration but the weather soon cooled my ardour. There was no raptor migration and aside from the previous days Booted Eagles and Griffon Vultures, a single <b>Common Kestrel </b> was the only additional raptor recorded. NocMig was a bust as I had cocked up the settings on my recorder unnoticed to myself, in an attempt to record myself playing guitar. I didn't notice until long after the trip. There was a bit more success with <b>Common Swifts</b> as a flock of 200 went through in the evening which were joined by a handful of Pallid Swifts. A flock of 10 <b>Alpine Swifts </b>were seen over the mountain mid-morning. The Bee-eater count was a paltry 22 birds and there were braces of <b>Swallow </b>and <b>House Martin </b>which are likely to have been local birds rather than migrants. Singles of <b>Western Bonelli's Warbler </b>and <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b> moved through the garden in the morning, both avoiding photographs, but a family party of <b>Sardinian Warblers </b>were a bit more forthcoming. A single <b>Spotless Starling </b>was a harbinger for quite a large flock which roamed the wider area. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxWsJ90Ju7QpIFu50jOXw-X9Kn7dnzeg8wTkX99tCLYM2j21zfpnmQZa_EP_1JPyDz_6nxybA18-Dikfbi3WEo-1JHrZ-zHUpSEpDerj7flELNo-AvGx3JzIGG7d7A9l1tjazJKyrzbez-0SEMfLOdWcAVduSGCBwpm7titshKSxFfvehQTC43UEnk=s1150" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1150" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxWsJ90Ju7QpIFu50jOXw-X9Kn7dnzeg8wTkX99tCLYM2j21zfpnmQZa_EP_1JPyDz_6nxybA18-Dikfbi3WEo-1JHrZ-zHUpSEpDerj7flELNo-AvGx3JzIGG7d7A9l1tjazJKyrzbez-0SEMfLOdWcAVduSGCBwpm7titshKSxFfvehQTC43UEnk=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The male of the local Sardinian Warbler family</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigtlthBQhQHQ-hVVxzg-JRPfWNB9oADnfXE8POwgszIVwA0zCEWzmlu4tdLKWOCPRBkImj1cNtDXOWX_cLW47kyU6CeIpAe76HbcuXAITHuomoFBDINlfBhrR8gcAuv0gRiM5GF_3Fwr_ED-VeLlLYk2U2jh2ZSbrAhbM4q9jKiBOhswRdLjRADiAe=s2004" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2004" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigtlthBQhQHQ-hVVxzg-JRPfWNB9oADnfXE8POwgszIVwA0zCEWzmlu4tdLKWOCPRBkImj1cNtDXOWX_cLW47kyU6CeIpAe76HbcuXAITHuomoFBDINlfBhrR8gcAuv0gRiM5GF_3Fwr_ED-VeLlLYk2U2jh2ZSbrAhbM4q9jKiBOhswRdLjRADiAe=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booted Eagle from the Veranda</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeGKmcAVhdXR0PmZUUAqZ8h8GfHRQJEi-oexWj_ofu77jXmq9YjbmJACu9JJ6cLHORv14DD8wDPcvCLJ89lIDe-L0ABM5ASJsKCDx8lZqjvCRPE-eG1nQY4oZgXETwwe6HvGnIylo_VJOVl4B8Kkpll7PAljXuvRrNFcHD-8Yg7gpQXdheZf5YaOr5=s2829" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2122" data-original-width="2829" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeGKmcAVhdXR0PmZUUAqZ8h8GfHRQJEi-oexWj_ofu77jXmq9YjbmJACu9JJ6cLHORv14DD8wDPcvCLJ89lIDe-L0ABM5ASJsKCDx8lZqjvCRPE-eG1nQY4oZgXETwwe6HvGnIylo_VJOVl4B8Kkpll7PAljXuvRrNFcHD-8Yg7gpQXdheZf5YaOr5=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-toed Eagle from the Veranda</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Things started to get a bit samey by day 3 which was Friday 13th August so I went to Llanos de Libar, a beautiful valley between the villa and Ronda, located high in the mountains and which acts as a pass for raptors through the High Sierras. It was still scorchio but I arrived early morning, to see a <b>Bonelli's Eagle </b>flop across the valley. I had poor, non-optics views from the moving car but enjoyed reacquainting with this spectacular species. Raptor-wise, again the heat stifled movement but a large flock of 80 Griffons were entertaining and a single pale-morph Booted Eagle hunted the valley. There was a bit more variety on the passerine front with <b>Black Wheatear </b>and <b>Thekla Lark </b>singing from amongst the boulders. I also recorded my first <b>Crag Martins</b>, <b>Black Redstarts </b>and a single <b>Rock Bunting</b>. By 10am I was parched and the heat was unbearable. Moving back to my beer addled sunbed, I added my first <b>Goldfinches </b>of the trip. Migration was steady with just the aerial insectivores moving at all but a single Alpine Swift was in with a group of 14 Common Swifts. There were also singles of Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow and House Martin and a mighty 81 Bee-eaters. A single falcon species was seen. It was in all likelihood a Hobby but I didn't seen it well enough to be sure. <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiluNixOBz-KBgH_j4LDGuen08_wI7KPgIou7WWjVLVlgBmmAIjTzPseWooWrONkfSYedM-6R8joexLXhLuEz-xC8IDE7mxxevoVUrGu0MI1dpm8NpeSGWdu9eynSPGRzC_gi0iopQVAMmBb_-IOsn3ZY5j8fREKxhZkOrBz9ZAJBw7a_DMOiEe2IQ=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiluNixOBz-KBgH_j4LDGuen08_wI7KPgIou7WWjVLVlgBmmAIjTzPseWooWrONkfSYedM-6R8joexLXhLuEz-xC8IDE7mxxevoVUrGu0MI1dpm8NpeSGWdu9eynSPGRzC_gi0iopQVAMmBb_-IOsn3ZY5j8fREKxhZkOrBz9ZAJBw7a_DMOiEe2IQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Llanos de Libar, a fabulous valley!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3n1oGZgADNUZA8t1PxUqQrMZ__JG4IRCH7jcvSqFEL4sPc5HILKLJJaCXk6x34l2T1bxeGT94tmf-gAIpouEZQMYOrGuUWI3LNEIc37Do7BsUrrwOf2ziv7KAz0EATk92JwATqAuESLTAh0Mq5ko2RMSZz0BmskQKBsRHxHdS4iNUDUs96VzmneMf=s2684" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="2684" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3n1oGZgADNUZA8t1PxUqQrMZ__JG4IRCH7jcvSqFEL4sPc5HILKLJJaCXk6x34l2T1bxeGT94tmf-gAIpouEZQMYOrGuUWI3LNEIc37Do7BsUrrwOf2ziv7KAz0EATk92JwATqAuESLTAh0Mq5ko2RMSZz0BmskQKBsRHxHdS4iNUDUs96VzmneMf=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffon from Llanos de Libar</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Saturday was more of the same with a high flock of 200 swallow species along with 16 Swallows and 25 Red-rumped Swallows recorded along with a brace of Bee-eaters. My first hint of raptor migration was a singular <b>Black Kite</b> which was new for the trip. I was enjoying the location but just starting to go a little stir crazy with the lack of movement. Migration started properly on day 5, Sunday 15th August, with five <b>Short-toed Eagles </b>moving over the deck, in addition to 1 migrant Booted Eagle<b> </b>(and the resident two birds) and my first <b>Sparrowhawk </b>of the trip. A selection of aerial insectivores passed overhead consisting of 66 Common Swifts, 1 Pallid Swift, 7 Alpine Swifts, 41 Bee-eaters, 17 Red-rumped Swallows, 7 Swallows, 6 House Martins and my first Sand Martin of the trip. It was the hottest day and the local Collared Doves, parties of Bee-eaters and Red-rumped Swallows all came and joined me in the pool for a drink, obviously desperate in the heat of the day. Hopefully they were sustained. My first <b>Stonechat </b>of the trip moved through the garden early in the morning.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi7tn3pnajyrj3TLqYX69ngWjsKm8lbCKSe_5czzGyqdV1z1MxjQJRWE-gNDLv9tnjoJkGT5NWHCzxKLvf3vG7VuxQ1ZBIweckCICj3BJo8zBfsqI0tY0B-KfvVHpCyVD4KazgIIMTKRybGQ4Xm1bJzu2Agsy0KaBl8b_1qUCSDWdS-FPmkEin7H9a=s1440" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi7tn3pnajyrj3TLqYX69ngWjsKm8lbCKSe_5czzGyqdV1z1MxjQJRWE-gNDLv9tnjoJkGT5NWHCzxKLvf3vG7VuxQ1ZBIweckCICj3BJo8zBfsqI0tY0B-KfvVHpCyVD4KazgIIMTKRybGQ4Xm1bJzu2Agsy0KaBl8b_1qUCSDWdS-FPmkEin7H9a=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Stonechat</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I had been studying the weather and I knew that Monday heralded a change from levante to poniente and a hunch suggested this might be good for movement at Tarifa. I had been keeping an eye on passage totals for the past few days and they were paltry but numbers of Black Kite were building up in the Strait. I was unsure on the best approach, so got in touch with the <a href="https://ingloriousbustards.com/">Inglorious Bustards</a> who offered to guide me for the day. Knowing I didnt want to waste time, being in the wrong place, I gladly accepted and after an early morning drive down to Lidl met Simon and Niki whilst the kites were amassing overhead in the gloaming. After a brief caffeine stop, where we added Western Bonelli's and <b>Cetti's Warbler</b>, we moved to a private watchpoint. Hundreds of grounded Black kites were visible in every field with dozens on each pylon. Simon picked a <b>Marsh Harrier </b>sat amongst the kites. A <b>Bottlenose Dolphin </b>was spotted by Niki out in the straight as it moved east. The spectacle began slowly, with a single male <b>Montagu's Harrier </b>followed by a female not long after, and then a <b>Honey Buzzard</b>, low over the water and off towards Jebel Musa. The view was incredible and as the light came up, Morocco felt within touching distance. A flock of 39 <b>Flamingos </b>flew west with purpose from Gibraltar towards Tarifa before crossing over to Africa in the haze of the early morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ2hl3a1FBOHJ8mTURcUrBAw74kh8vcW-Os_Lg9bQQaJNnO8Y-ggs3c78vk-mC8uQH_O_Ca12jUN02zJUXD2BuYr9ENFl46dUwSJBgVGAyqVB0XNMdBNNxhA2QWWYWDuw6Ki5EnGBaTZ4nayba6atfaugiM9IzmiZzqrAPJSAOBRQ3jX3EqJzAdl4M=s1166" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1166" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ2hl3a1FBOHJ8mTURcUrBAw74kh8vcW-Os_Lg9bQQaJNnO8Y-ggs3c78vk-mC8uQH_O_Ca12jUN02zJUXD2BuYr9ENFl46dUwSJBgVGAyqVB0XNMdBNNxhA2QWWYWDuw6Ki5EnGBaTZ4nayba6atfaugiM9IzmiZzqrAPJSAOBRQ3jX3EqJzAdl4M=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montagu's Harrier</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjj874P3d2QcQlSCXb26D0dSgEOssoiz3mlBSey3ScI4CiQjNobaMYcw8CqYSf34FLDCFBwbo8r2bKKsn-DvXKUKagIWO6v-mlpZGuhWmmrpAyyyhoQNCitWOgNAOsL5flN1ZLWNAOa_vo_Crtt3XQQVf-k5DXycBzLmRqXFRatefZCHUQwI51hj_A=s3378" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2534" data-original-width="3378" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjj874P3d2QcQlSCXb26D0dSgEOssoiz3mlBSey3ScI4CiQjNobaMYcw8CqYSf34FLDCFBwbo8r2bKKsn-DvXKUKagIWO6v-mlpZGuhWmmrpAyyyhoQNCitWOgNAOsL5flN1ZLWNAOa_vo_Crtt3XQQVf-k5DXycBzLmRqXFRatefZCHUQwI51hj_A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booted Eagle<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguMgRkE_Nqplt5FCUwL3g7vUq_iyWdEH4vP9pvx2c326tUF8-3LJHOudyIgGIj0htbe6NXaIhPz4vzKMGlGjA4moMVCPYn3DttegeZoIeC-96PE9-MyycepWhGvnD5shdTo-B25m_PzpPXIwRZk0BeGFO3P2l9EzehtsNPcskwq7PU8QoRKXEzBrkq=s2790" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2092" data-original-width="2790" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguMgRkE_Nqplt5FCUwL3g7vUq_iyWdEH4vP9pvx2c326tUF8-3LJHOudyIgGIj0htbe6NXaIhPz4vzKMGlGjA4moMVCPYn3DttegeZoIeC-96PE9-MyycepWhGvnD5shdTo-B25m_PzpPXIwRZk0BeGFO3P2l9EzehtsNPcskwq7PU8QoRKXEzBrkq=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-toed Eagle</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NkAsPszo-_A" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRgU0J-R7oyuz_Y0asIHsQBTnhvGw_znvHc2DVwZTagx21qvWM39QnLyLnbZO6zVAM1kPk7huBg063Dbf94SpAAj2aXj5zmIbaAT4NZDlm5NIuU13IkIop5WfbPBevC5gqbV4zhxS8hFNG0fX557Y5xl04__XcJD115Lx5iwqIOS6E6mtNXGtoJta9=s2290" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="2290" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRgU0J-R7oyuz_Y0asIHsQBTnhvGw_znvHc2DVwZTagx21qvWM39QnLyLnbZO6zVAM1kPk7huBg063Dbf94SpAAj2aXj5zmIbaAT4NZDlm5NIuU13IkIop5WfbPBevC5gqbV4zhxS8hFNG0fX557Y5xl04__XcJD115Lx5iwqIOS6E6mtNXGtoJta9=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Montagu's Harrier</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The kites on the ground started to move about with a handful, followed by a dozen and then a couple of hundred. Numbers kept increasing until the sky was dark with raptors. Several hundred <b>White Storks </b>woke from their slumber, in fields inland and joined the throng. It was getting pretty busy. A dark morph <b>Eleanora's Falcon </b>scythed through the air towards Tarifa Island, presumably to cross at a lower altitude. It was brief but unmistakeable and pleasingly, I had picked it out. At the same time <b>Tawny Pipits </b>were calling round us and handfuls of Pallid Swifts and Bee-eaters zipped over our vantage point and out into the straight. The dam was about to burst. A <b>Nightingale </b>and an <b>Iberian Chiffchaff </b>distracted us briefly as they moved between bushes round us. By the time a third Honey Buzzard was headed out over the Strait, the pattern was full. Kites drifted backwards and forwards, thousands swirling in the breeze. The wind changed and there was a push and the door opened. A constant stream of raptors moving from all directions, towards us and then on to Tarifa Island and out over the sea, aided by the winds. The White Storks were less convinced, trying and failing to cross on several occasions, getting halfway out and coming back. They too eventually plucked up the courage to move and crossed in big numbers. As the stream hit full tilt, the first Short-toed and Booted Eagles started to move through. Montagu's Harriers and <b>Lesser Kestrels </b>would pass over the fields on occasion to alter the flow. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRKyw1wQCKmOfWY6DaiNPAP0gFKULqAp4sjM17H0tAaLGiTvbQWxD6NhUwtNbR25-jkaG0pxISTScwZD5PSrDybWMxLkRLZV2FG6UwkvixbVbC1-MUalyMbNv3GkTWZLJ9mj99eDtyHhG5e2iErnGWSWKkuay40VBdHUVoeIZEqcl_whRG-xXGX1cE=s3311" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="3311" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRKyw1wQCKmOfWY6DaiNPAP0gFKULqAp4sjM17H0tAaLGiTvbQWxD6NhUwtNbR25-jkaG0pxISTScwZD5PSrDybWMxLkRLZV2FG6UwkvixbVbC1-MUalyMbNv3GkTWZLJ9mj99eDtyHhG5e2iErnGWSWKkuay40VBdHUVoeIZEqcl_whRG-xXGX1cE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature Black Kite<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8Dl9KZqmIBCTBf5TVYlTwIAamKagj8vTObpH9s_A4X4BH2UA8YoDH2k4HhCRp4BS3VZbcN4pC3bKTxBkkcvMJ_pyjywcT1AMWqjMIXagQ19c1LWSUwrRgaLCljo3B6oSQHu5j5bpv5BMatGF7U5rVtvFg9kSvEcOaDidI3OZM2FM8f8Yuyoa4_9dm=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8Dl9KZqmIBCTBf5TVYlTwIAamKagj8vTObpH9s_A4X4BH2UA8YoDH2k4HhCRp4BS3VZbcN4pC3bKTxBkkcvMJ_pyjywcT1AMWqjMIXagQ19c1LWSUwrRgaLCljo3B6oSQHu5j5bpv5BMatGF7U5rVtvFg9kSvEcOaDidI3OZM2FM8f8Yuyoa4_9dm=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Storks overhead</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">A crescendo was reached when a kettle of Storks went overhead and feathers were seen falling from the flock. Simon mentioned that local young Bonelli's Eagles often creep into the flocks of kites and attack storks and bang, there was a tawny coloured young bird which had a swipe at one of the storks. It was lost in the morass and I turned my attention to a kettle of Black Kites moments later. I had a falcon. I had a FALCON AND IT WAS PALE! I started to explete and implore the others to get on it, aware they had a juvenile Lanner Falcon the day before. Remarkably, this was a <b>Lanner Falcon</b> but a much less vibrant bird, missing the chestnut crown of the previous bird. Lanner Falcon is a Spanish rarity and almost all the accepted records come from the Strait where they are pretty much annual. A cull of records has seen the official total tumble from 80 odd to 27 or so. I had managed to find a bona fide Spanish rarity at Tarifa. It was seen well by all who were present, including a couple of Spanish Operacion Migres volunteers, who were mighty chuffed. No sooner had I lost the falcon than a <b>Black-winged Kite</b> whooshed through at ankle height and off south-east towards Africa. This truly was a day of days. By midday numbers started to slow and diversity lowered but still we had seen 18,425 Black Kites, 4556 White Storks, 24 Booted Eagles, 17 Short-toed Eagles, 9 Montagu's Harriers, 8 Griffon Vultures, 5 Lesser Kestrels, 3 Honey Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Bonelli's Eagle, 1 Eleanora's Falcon, 1 Common Kestrel, 1 Lanner Falcon and 1 Black-winged Kite heading to Africa. It was incredible. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYCvi0Eoq_4ZOcWaz0eeBxhlwHwzOHVIdWz6913ikB3SgJuMn65NMhhuV8rdZNRB1cUDmScCfpbomV9vazgxsqL0Ije74Q-PTXmphadQm2ATdopgG_5qAGOBpS1do1tNb7EHNk4W9MqMVZmwvBZyBErwEUrnkzGl4mxRC7SJRoLo_ZD5hknixQVOB6=s1356" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1356" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYCvi0Eoq_4ZOcWaz0eeBxhlwHwzOHVIdWz6913ikB3SgJuMn65NMhhuV8rdZNRB1cUDmScCfpbomV9vazgxsqL0Ije74Q-PTXmphadQm2ATdopgG_5qAGOBpS1do1tNb7EHNk4W9MqMVZmwvBZyBErwEUrnkzGl4mxRC7SJRoLo_ZD5hknixQVOB6=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lanner Falcon pursued by a Black Kite</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg87NFyIWeaJW198YfkrxchAMq0Esrcw4JmWjbzPTNZRPpmhlMDfG5a67SI71_zvZ4mC9lIayg7pBVsFdPzEJpy9Z2T1GatJpOaVVB1inNp0Sctb9U4erP6EUB-zAZzDWjscRh7OPiouiohAtwaSo9-n--wluXO0xOrVYwOWZppAr4X1xtheTrvh3oH=s1243" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1243" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg87NFyIWeaJW198YfkrxchAMq0Esrcw4JmWjbzPTNZRPpmhlMDfG5a67SI71_zvZ4mC9lIayg7pBVsFdPzEJpy9Z2T1GatJpOaVVB1inNp0Sctb9U4erP6EUB-zAZzDWjscRh7OPiouiohAtwaSo9-n--wluXO0xOrVYwOWZppAr4X1xtheTrvh3oH=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the unmarked pale trousers which are diagnostic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFeycfe3Nv9Ez4oBe1C97nKtpWrpAk6b1XptF7VgNIMjNTM72de_bO11V-60-HATB-80gSuuIKV0eo_ydvLjWGT1CBWYDZNxe4v6ldH4rFOzJJjmsDk3V1yaSg5qI24TbsL3k4lgEHFsV9XXM5Do2Wez6BoDsOWSeIYFNUBriPzkdrnF7qZeEBzdI2=s1245" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1245" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFeycfe3Nv9Ez4oBe1C97nKtpWrpAk6b1XptF7VgNIMjNTM72de_bO11V-60-HATB-80gSuuIKV0eo_ydvLjWGT1CBWYDZNxe4v6ldH4rFOzJJjmsDk3V1yaSg5qI24TbsL3k4lgEHFsV9XXM5Do2Wez6BoDsOWSeIYFNUBriPzkdrnF7qZeEBzdI2=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-UUq-rcRxWdXyZviSUszVh6IOGGqlTC1aNhdIoU4V7usJhmVwDcihhSmTOX-UaEYZNeIPAwIE1pU67dOTnXqZ6deX-XIrMrSmBDIkWLpVNT2x-fojGCZxV8r38bDAtl4JqlabHCQOWcuUMmaUfQ5pQtex56joTAZMtX3jk5D247q4lE_gqIbWCztE=s1041" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1041" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-UUq-rcRxWdXyZviSUszVh6IOGGqlTC1aNhdIoU4V7usJhmVwDcihhSmTOX-UaEYZNeIPAwIE1pU67dOTnXqZ6deX-XIrMrSmBDIkWLpVNT2x-fojGCZxV8r38bDAtl4JqlabHCQOWcuUMmaUfQ5pQtex56joTAZMtX3jk5D247q4lE_gqIbWCztE=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Part two with the afternoon from Tarifa, Whale watching in the Straits, climbing Tajo Lagarin and raptor migration from the pool to follow.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-54463362775087732472021-08-12T08:02:00.001+01:002021-08-12T08:02:40.929+01:00A Spanish Escape<p> As I type,
we are over the English Channel, having waved goodbye to Exeter, thirty-seven
thousand feet below. A quick zip over the channel, and then passing over Brittany, and on to
Bilbao, Madrid and finally Malaga. After touchdown it will be pointing the
rental car in the direction of Sierra de Grazalema. We are spending a fortnight
on the margins of the Parc Nacional, staying in a villa, perched on the side of
the mountain, placed to receive the golden combo of raptor passage, sunshine
and cerveza.</p><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have been
researching eBird for a couple of weeks and armed with John Cantelo’s guide and
the Natural History guide to Western Andalucia, I hope to explore, despite the
heat and limitations of Covid-19. I will be keeping a record of the passage and
hoping to update the blog every day or two. Allied with this, my daughter
Isabelle is keen that I endeavour to find some of the local herpetofauna and
doubtless there will be butterflies aplenty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our
adventure began this morning with a 2am wakeup call. Extracting an 11-year-old
and a 9-year-old from their beds was tricky but within 30 minutes we were
upright and suitably caffeinated. The trip over to Leeds Bradford from East
Yorkshire was interrupted by no fewer than four <b>Tawny Owls</b>, one of which
was feasting on a rabbit carcass in the road on Garreby Hill. Five <b>Red Foxes
</b>were seen in Leeds, including a couple playing on a verge. We stopped,
showing the kids these two, seemingly oblivious to our attentions. Before long
we were parked at the airport and ready for our travels. After a challenging
year thus far with my health, it is fantastic to feel much better and I am
hopeful that my various ailments are resolving. Feeling better than I have in
nearly 6 months I cant wait for the first raptor from the veranda. Now, first
bird, what do you think? Feral pigeon or house sparrow?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-18913625936312186202021-07-03T10:38:00.002+01:002021-07-03T10:38:53.254+01:00Albert Ross<p> On Monday night, news that the <b>Black-browed Albatross </b>had not only returned from the dead but it had returned to Bempton. A frame-filling photo of it cruising along the cliff top was plenty enough to enthuse me. Sadly a busy day at work, my commitments as a parent and Englands Euro 2020 last 16 tie against Germany conspired to make a trip to Bempton extremely difficult. I sat at my desk with pin sharp pictures arriving via social media at regular intervals. I packed it all away, put on my World Cup 2006 top, dropped my cynicism and sat back for one of the most enjoyable games I have watched as an England fan. In the elation after the game, as reports of the albatross continued to roll in I asked me wife if a 'quick trip' to Bempton could be facilitated. She was also giddy from the result and acquiesced. I shot off and was nodding at Andrew Kinghorn as I limped to the cliff edge not 20 minutes later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xBSq5TBbM4/YOAux7_8KrI/AAAAAAAAGo4/n0ZaPy2r-1EP3SXiPtRRBjKU2vykTjDuQCNcBGAsYHQ/s680/BBA%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xBSq5TBbM4/YOAux7_8KrI/AAAAAAAAGo4/n0ZaPy2r-1EP3SXiPtRRBjKU2vykTjDuQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/BBA%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The bird itself was giving people the run around as I arrived and marching half a mile up and down the cliff top wasn't ideal, especially given I have torn the meniscus in my left knee. The bird helpfully relocated from the sea on to Staple Newk and soon I was watching it sat amongst the flowers and gannets on the upper cliff. Whilst fantastic to see, one of my overriding takeaways from seeing albatrosses in the southern oceans (well 20 miles off Sydney) is that birds in flight are far more impressive than those sat on the deck. Thankfully the bird didn't seem entirely happy in any of its resting spots and would sally round in tight loops before landing every few minutes. This allowed the full majesty of this species, which whilst only 20% bigger than the gannets is wholly more impressive in flight with its whippy wingtips and contrasting mantle and tail colour which allied with the eye shadow and mascara makes it very dashing.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MUMQASdPOzQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>Pretty soon the gloom descended and the bird moved out of sight but not before I was satiated and one of the most enjoyable days in recent memory came to a close. After missing the previous visit by mere seconds I was very relieved to get this back, especially after the stories of the bird being downed by nine White-tailed Eagles between Denmark and Sweden earlier in the spring.</p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-42032865088537044342021-05-08T17:27:00.001+01:002021-05-08T17:27:30.561+01:00April Nocmig (notmig?)<p> April was a tricky month. It is normally excellent but after a crazy March it certainly calmed down with fewer records of fewer species thanks to the spell of settled, cold and clear northerlies that we have been experiencing. This has delayed birds arriving but the lack of cloud has meant those that have passed have been able to fly at great height, beyond the reach of my microphone. In total I recorded on just 15 nights which indicates my frustration. <b>Mallards </b>were a constant and I suspect a pair are nesting in a ditch not far away as I hear them most of the night. <b>Oystercatcher </b>have settled in the village with display heard regularly and there are <b>Curlew </b>in the village but the territory over the house seems to have disappeared since they built the estate next door. The odd snatch of display has been recorded but nothing like last year.</p><p><b>Common Scoter </b> has again been the biggest feature of April. Despite a 50% reduction in effort in April compared to March, I recorded 28 flocks and 702 calls which represent a drop of 50% in flocks but only 20% interms of calls. Birds also tended to pass much later in the evening, generally starting just before midnight. My guess is that these are Irish sea birds from the Irish coast which take a couple of hours to cross from Louth and adjacent areas to hit the English and Welsh coasts of Liverpool Bay before making the same crossing over the Pennines the Welsh ones do. The peak night was 7-8th April with 10 flocks and 286 calls and only a single flock (or bird perhaps) after 14th April, which gave just 4 calls. Given I only recorded one night in the first week, it is likely I missed some stuff too.</p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://www.xeno-canto.org/642235/embed" width="340"></iframe></p><p><b>Water Rail </b>were recorded on four occasions with singles on 4th, 12th, 13th and 14th. It is unclear whether these were migrants or resident birds roding, The situation was similar for <b>Moorhen</b> with 11 passes from 4th and 158 calls. Gull passage was noted with <b>Black-headed Gull </b>noted on two nights, 3rd and 7th April and <b>Herring Gull</b> with a single on 8th giving a couple of calls and then a minimum of three birds giving 115 calls on 22nd and three flocks on 25th giving 777 calls. Thrushes were scarce with singles of <b>Redwing</b>, <b>Blackbird </b>and <b>Robin </b>across the month. Aside from the displaying Curlew, there were two flocks of presumed migrants recorded, on 13th and 14th April, with 96 calls recorded in total. Aside from the Scoter there was very little in terms of duck movement with a couple of flocks of <b>Teal </b>on 8th and 16th and a single flock of <b>Wigeon</b> on 19th April. A single record of <b>Little Grebe </b>gave a pretty decent Whimbrel impression and a Nocmig lifer was recorded on 25th when a single <b>Greenfinch </b>call was picked up as it flew over in the late evening.</p><p><br /></p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-29276224058566976402021-04-26T20:06:00.000+01:002021-04-26T20:06:05.476+01:00An Odd Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDWqlsyT0X4/YIZg0iumcbI/AAAAAAAAGkU/3ky49VCXVWA3vHcHn7uzog1mb7T43zx_wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN3011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDWqlsyT0X4/YIZg0iumcbI/AAAAAAAAGkU/3ky49VCXVWA3vHcHn7uzog1mb7T43zx_wCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN3011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Over the past 6 weeks I have had a bad back. Bad enough to merit full dose painkillers for a fortnight. This led to immobility and ultimately a blood clot in my left leg. After spending the Saturday before last getting checked out and then a scan on my leg on my birthday, the Monday, a DVT was confirmed and I was put on blood thinners. We have a family history of DVT so it wasnt a great shock but it was a much needed wakeup call. I am as fat and unfit as I have ever been. My change of jobs has led to a drop in my activity by a third. I need to look after myself better. I have 3 weeks of recovery from the clot and 3 months of blood thinners. In the first 3 weeks I am allowed gentle exercise (which I have taken to mean swimming and walking). I have upped my walking markedly and the swimming is being phased in with my first trip yesterday and another before work tomorrow. I am getting out early each morning for a walk before work if I'm not swimming. This is a long road but I am determined to make some strides. The end point? Not being as fat and being much, much fitter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC6j1J8z3UGV9PskN84bEWm5AwKklV1JWyd5QDRisX2uN1xW_gBxcQuGKaNaT5goozRqwt2mIHGXfZjJw6v0WTo0i99zTBVPqbjnrp_SrpDhfu6UfPZV1eMK_tkXvrwscWM1tk3lAWlA/s2048/Gannet+Bempton+Apr+21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC6j1J8z3UGV9PskN84bEWm5AwKklV1JWyd5QDRisX2uN1xW_gBxcQuGKaNaT5goozRqwt2mIHGXfZjJw6v0WTo0i99zTBVPqbjnrp_SrpDhfu6UfPZV1eMK_tkXvrwscWM1tk3lAWlA/w640-h360/Gannet+Bempton+Apr+21.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>I combined my morning walk yesterday with a trip to Bempton to pay my annual respects to the <b>Gannets</b> and <b>Puffins</b>. All the usual suspects were present with Gannets and Kittiwakes on the updrafts and the three auk species darting about. A <b>Whitethroat </b>rattled as I left the reception and it didn't take long to spy the two <b>Ring Ouzels </b>messing about on the ploughed field. Views were distant and there was some heat haze so I moved on and concentrated on the seabirds. I felt a little uneasy by the number of people congregating at the watchpoints (it wasn't that bad tbh but I'm a bit soft) and upon heading back a <b>Barn Owl </b>was hunting the ploughed field giving some nice views as it tried to provide for the next generation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CclCs0SZfl0/YIcK_ReH77I/AAAAAAAAGkc/0jcdqc-REXs-heajifF4_PblEzeX-rqqACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN3048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CclCs0SZfl0/YIcK_ReH77I/AAAAAAAAGkc/0jcdqc-REXs-heajifF4_PblEzeX-rqqACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN3048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>I tried to get better views of the Ouzels but the usual crowd were giving them no space and they spooked, flying east, behind the visitor centre. I managed to relocate them and watched over a cappuccino before they moved close to the car park. I again slipped round and watched from the gate, alone (I did tell the warden but he wasn't keen on getting folk crowded there). The birds started 50 metres away and moved closer and closer until they were within 20 metres. My hazy, blurry photos from across a field forgotten as I got my best ever views of this species. They continued to feed unabashed and I ran out of time. I'm pretty happy with the photos I got and am very grateful the camera was fixed!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BkG7dwEx4Bw/YIcMfCrok_I/AAAAAAAAGko/48wRZJui6EMU4Uqukq5HzKk-QpETqWCNQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN3089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BkG7dwEx4Bw/YIcMfCrok_I/AAAAAAAAGko/48wRZJui6EMU4Uqukq5HzKk-QpETqWCNQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN3089.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tl_3PP6ytk0/YIcMe11t28I/AAAAAAAAGkk/PL_FGeSZXk8tMCf_tgIyx7770z19rf6PgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN3102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tl_3PP6ytk0/YIcMe11t28I/AAAAAAAAGkk/PL_FGeSZXk8tMCf_tgIyx7770z19rf6PgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN3102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YK3fw-PRSc/YIcNNIJzzuI/AAAAAAAAGlA/LVY68Qu4gNAQ9JoxxxUcFVKhKMXRCCwmACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YK3fw-PRSc/YIcNNIJzzuI/AAAAAAAAGlA/LVY68Qu4gNAQ9JoxxxUcFVKhKMXRCCwmACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN3114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer, closer, closer...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-31220349775937035442021-04-24T17:05:00.001+01:002021-04-24T17:05:26.069+01:00Easy (Lam)Prey<p>A twitter post by two of my former lecturers and colleagues at the University of Hull, discussing watching <b>Brook Lamprey </b><i>Lampetra planeri</i><b> </b>spawning in the headwaters of the River Hull, reminded me that I too live near the headwaters of the River Hull and I too could see this. A couple of tactical messages later and I was armed with the requisite information and away I trundled.</p><p>A chilly but bright April evening saw me watching no fewer than seven of these oddities, frantically trying to pass their genes on over the gravel redds that are present in what is effectively a ditch. Anyway, I put together a video documenting this with dodgy footage included.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7deBnFc1DJc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-77963845363922766312021-04-08T20:21:00.001+01:002021-04-08T20:21:19.121+01:00Nocmig 2021 - March Part 2: Pic N Mix<p> March is an excellent month for variety, especially of migrating waterfowl on NocMig and so it proved this year. My experiments of live listening last year yielded fine numbers of ducks and this time out I got no fewer than 29 species including three nocmig firsts for the garden, <b>Whooper Swan, Shoveler </b>and <b>Common Gull. </b>Early arrivals included a <b>Chiffchaff </b>and a <b>Little Ringed Plover</b>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLx1byoGDfM/YG9Hf2-85-I/AAAAAAAAGjQ/-AWnx10sQYoZCmeqtxlWDAZTeOTZuJMbgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Whooper%2Bin%2Bflight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLx1byoGDfM/YG9Hf2-85-I/AAAAAAAAGjQ/-AWnx10sQYoZCmeqtxlWDAZTeOTZuJMbgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h422/Whooper%2Bin%2Bflight.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://www.xeno-canto.org/631061/embed" width="340"></iframe><p>Lets start at the beginning, Week 1, and I recorded five out of seven nights. The 3rd was slow but a flock of <b>Teal</b> not long after setting up and an early <b>Coot</b>,<b> </b>the first of 16 in March, was good value. Gulls aren't regular here on NocMig although there are a pair of <b>Herring Gulls </b>that breed nearby. Two different birds passing were unusual though, constituting the first passage records for the garden with a third on 6th. <b>Oystercatchers </b>were first recorded on 4th and were recorded as migrants on 11 nights but it was evident towards the end of the month that the resident birds had returned with regular display so it was hard to tease out which records referred to these. <b>Blackbird </b>migration picked up with 17 birds across the month from the 4th-31st, up from five in January and February combined. Not huge numbers but movement nonetheless. The first record of <b>Mallard </b>on 5th March heralded the decamping from the Mere to the local ditches for some hanky panky and they have become a regular occurrence and will remain so well into the autumn. I'm sure I get some Mallard passage but making head nor tail of it is impossible. A single <b>Chiffchaff </b>flight call on 5th was a first NocMig record for me and heralded the almost immediate return of this species to the village with two or three territories now audible from the house. A <b>Moorhen </b>on 5th was the first of 19 recorded in March. March 6th held a <b>Shelduck</b>, the fourth garden record and third in a fortnight. Two <b>Wigeon </b>flocks were recorded on 7th and the first <b>Redwing </b>of the month, the first of 51 for the month and similar to Blackbird it was up from 11 records in January and February combined.</p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://www.xeno-canto.org/630535/embed" width="340"></iframe></p><p><br /><iframe src='https://www.xeno-canto.org/630943/embed' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' width='340' height='220'></iframe></p><p>Week 2 was relatively unremarkable but Common Scoter passage commenced on 12th. I only recorded on two nights and my first <b>Gadwall </b>of the year on 12-13th was decent along with the first <b>Curlew</b>. A bit worrying is that there local birds I heard nightly last year dont seem to have returned although the second village pair, a bit further away are back. Week three took a while to get going with just the usuals (Redwing and Moorhen plus the resident corvids, owls and Mallards) plus a <b>Grey Heron </b>on 18th, the only record of the year so far, and a flock of <b>Golden Plover </b>on 19th which started a string of 11 records over the subsequent week. The final day of the week, the night of the 20-21st March was the first 'big' night of the year, with two flocks of Wigeon, four flocks of Teal (of 13 in the month), a flock of Common Scoter, three Moorhens, two Coots, two flocks of Oystercatchers, a flock of Curlew and two records each of Redwing and Blackbird. And to think this was just the warm up!</p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://www.xeno-canto.org/631797/embed" width="340"></iframe></p><p>The final decade of the month was electric and whilst we have touched upon the Scoter in the previous post it was incredible for this species. 19 flocks of Common Scoter went over on 21st-22nd plus four Moorhens, five Coots, Oystercatchers, two flocks of Golden Plover, two flocks of Curlew, three <b>Black-headed Gulls </b>and my first NocMig <b>Common Gull</b>. A busy night! Scoters were replaced by my first garden <b>Whooper Swans </b>on 22-23rd when two herds flew over. A third group followed the next night. More of the commoner migrants on 22nd were supplemented by my first <b>Little Ringed Plover </b>of the year just after 8pm. The first <b>Water Rail </b>of the year flew over on 24th, one of three in the last few days of the month. I only missed a single night, 28-29th March in the final 13 nights and each night was brim full of interest. One of just two <b>Song Thrush </b>passed on 24th and on 24-25th there was another big movement of Scoter in addition to the first <b>Greylag Geese </b>of the year. There are a pair breeding about 1km from home and I think these must be the birds I have picked up on occasion since then. A minimum of two <b>Shoveler </b>went over the same night and these are my first NocMig record, and an odd sounding duck for sure. Oddly I have a late spring visual record from the garden and I have seen them in flight during the day down the road at Wansford so perhaps they are passing over silently more often? Needless to say each night had Golden Plovers and Oystercatchers and Redwing and Scoter(!) plus a selection of rallids. A <b>Little Grebe </b>flying over giving the rarer 'scream' call as opposed to the Whimbrel impersonation was the first of the year on 27th March. It was a species it took until May to pick up last year so perhaps isnt too common in early spring round here. I'm going to gloss over the last three nights of the month but they too were full of birds moving, just nothing new or in outstanding numbers. So there we have it, lockdown birding at its best and while I slept. It was exceptional and exceptional fun each day working through it.</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://www.xeno-canto.org/631916/embed" width="340"></iframe>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-47289082990568006112021-04-06T17:22:00.003+01:002021-04-06T17:22:49.144+01:00Nocmig 2021 - March Part 1: It's all Scoter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sug9Apg_XKo/YGyIXvGS3AI/AAAAAAAAGjI/a3MWSPPZ6a4ihe8rR0K83rCntHkpFPU7QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Common%2BScoter%2BBarmston%2B2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sug9Apg_XKo/YGyIXvGS3AI/AAAAAAAAGjI/a3MWSPPZ6a4ihe8rR0K83rCntHkpFPU7QCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h482/Common%2BScoter%2BBarmston%2B2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>March has been exceptional for Nocmig and until this latest coldsnap I had been recording lots of birds most nights. The big headline has been the sheer number of <b>Common Scoter </b>recorded. Last year I ordered my recorder off the back of the movement and got a few flocks but I don't have a comparison. I think my local geography might be really good for concentrating birds as I am literally at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds so birds will be funneled along the escarpment and from the top of the wolds, the coast at Barmston, which is 6 miles due east of here, is visible. Add in the passage of a main road and a railway both leading past the village towards the coast and it is well set up to receive bountiful birds which move west to east. </p><p>In total 42 flocks and 881 calls were recorded between 12-31st March. I recorded on 21 nights so this may be incomplete (although most of the missed nights were early in the month). Generally birds reached me ~2-3 hours post sunset after birds had been heard at stations from Lancashire, Cheshire and Derbyshire into the Pennines and onto Leeds and York. It is impossible at this stage to estimate how many birds are involved but hopefully analysis with nightvision will allow some estimates to be made. </p><p>There were two nights of particularly heavy scoter passage, 21st and 24th March which had 19 flocks and 14 flocks respectively. Passage was particularly concentrated on 21st when all birds occurred within an 85 minute window (21:27 - 22:52) and 409 calls were recorded. This, at the time, represented the 10th highest count by number of calls in the world, according to data on Trektellen (I am aware there are higher nocmig counts on eBird but that data is not searchable). Just three days later, on 24th March a further 14 flocks and 340 calls were recorded but this was less concentrated, between 20:58 - 23:52. What does this mean? That the birds originated from different sources perhaps? Or conditions weren't as favourable so there was a staggered exit from Liverpool Bay? It is interesting to speculate and perhaps tagging data will reveal the answer in due course.</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://www.xeno-canto.org/630926/embed" width="340"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>I got a few recordings but this is perhaps the best. I didn't get that many direct hits, where you can hear the steam train-like wing noise or the female calls. In part 2 I cover the other species recorded in an excellent month. </div><div><br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-49393713747712180662021-03-06T11:16:00.002+00:002021-03-06T11:16:57.992+00:00Nocmig 2021 - January and FebruaryLast year I started sound recording the birds which flew over my garden at night. I didnt post enough here about it because I did it a lot and got lots of really interesting birds including Quail, Sandwich Tern and Avocet. At this point, I have processed nearly 1500 hours of recordings so I'm far more experienced although possibly a bit stuck in my ways. I'm posting about this now as I want to do monthly or bi-monthly updates for the 2021 recordings. During the core winter period, nocmig can be pretty slow, with 15 hour nights hosting no birds which can be tough to keep going. Thankfully we are through that now and things have picked up with wildfowl starting to move. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZF-q_dG0XrA/YENMyvojX2I/AAAAAAAAGh4/q1Z2juxp8XQtF5CtbVIj9g_oJl9RMlcBACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZF-q_dG0XrA/YENMyvojX2I/AAAAAAAAGh4/q1Z2juxp8XQtF5CtbVIj9g_oJl9RMlcBACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h458/redwing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redwing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Prior to Christmas, East Yorkshire hosted unprecedented numbers of Pink-footed Geese, which found the flatlands of Holderness to their liking. This was reflected in nightly flights recorded on nocmig (or just sat at my desk) in November but all the processing and little result through the night meant I only recorded a single night in December, and then I forgot to change the batteries when I went to bed so it didnt make it much past midnight. A brace of <b>Redwing </b>calls were the sum total and I had other fish to fry at the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I put in more effort in January, recording eight nights but it was tough going initially. My year list kicked off as I hit record just after midnight at New Year with <b>Mallard, Barn Owl, Redwing </b>and five <b>Song Thrush</b>. Whilst the former two probably havent travelled more than a few miles, the thrushes were much more interesting. One of the pieces of info I read during my lull was that Song Thrush movement continues throughout the winter - they are one of the staples of the quiet months. Redwings move, but in much smaller numbers once they are on their winter quarters. The local <b>Tawny Owl, Blackbirds, Robins </b>and <b>Rooks</b> took the nocmig yearlist onto a heady eight.</div><div><br /></div><div>The January 1st-2nd was fairly similar although I did record my first <b>Carrion Crow </b>heading to roost and a pre-dawn <b>Starling</b>, taking the yearlist to 10. No Song Thrush movement this time but some pre-dawn Blackbird movements compensated and there were a minimum of three Redwing. My first wader of the year, at least one <b>Golden Plover</b> was recorded at 07:29 on 3rd January giving a couple of calls as it went over. Add to this a <b>Pheasant </b>shouting before it roosted and the yearlist climbed to 12 species. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YvnqIjhW0ns/YENivHrZbsI/AAAAAAAAGiA/xvWOFhzxpp4h7DCXoZ09DsDIfskUrWTxACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/White-fronted%2BGoose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YvnqIjhW0ns/YENivHrZbsI/AAAAAAAAGiA/xvWOFhzxpp4h7DCXoZ09DsDIfskUrWTxACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/White-fronted%2BGoose.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian White-fronted Geese and a single Pink-footed Goose</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Due to the length of the night and the time it takes to analyse the data for meagre returns, midweek recording during this period is difficult so mostly it was Fridays and Saturdays in January. On Friday 8-9th it was slim pickings with no migrants, just the rookery and local Mallards but I recorded again on Saturday 9-10th adding <b>Canada Goose, </b>which was a nocmig lifer, and a disturbed <b>Woodpigeon</b>. The yearlist climbed again to 14 species. Saturday 16-17th January was a goose night with my first two skeins of <b>Pink-footed Geese </b>of the year and my first <b>Russian White-fronted Geese</b> on nocmig. The latter coincided with a widespread invasion and whilst not mega different to the Pinks, I was happy with the identification after several folks gave me their opinions which allied with mine. So sixteen species and two nocmig lifers in two weeks! Not bad. My penultimate recording of the month, on Saturday 23-24th was disappointing with no migrants but my first <b>Coot </b>of the year was picked up on my final effort on Saturday 30-31st January along with a lonesome Song Thrush overhead.</div><div><br /></div><div>In February, I managed to record six times, weekly until it started to pick up at the months end. Adding roosting <b>Jackdaw </b>on 8th February was probably more down to my laziness prior to this than their absence and there were three quiet nights in the first half of the month. My first decent movement of the year was on 19th February when a minimum of two <b>Teal </b>flew overhead prior to midnight. A second Coot of the year and singles of Redwing and Song Thrush suggested that something had changed. The Teal took the yearlist onto 19 species. There was further movement on Saturday 21st with <b>Wigeon </b>opening this years account and further Teal and my first Golden Plover since 3rd January. Two <b>Shelduck </b>passes on 25th February were the second and third garden records. Initially they were mystery recordings but their true identity soon emerged. Alongside this there were further flocks of Wigeon and Teal, a brace of Coots and singles of Blackbird, Song Thrush and Redwing. The month ended on 28th with my first couple of <b>Moorhen </b>passes and the now expected Coot, Redwing and Song Thrush. A <b>Dunnock </b>bursting into song pre-dawn was my final addition taking the nocmig yearlist to 23 species for the first two months of the year. <b> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>All the details, as ever, are on my NocMig site on Trektellen here:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://trektellen.nl/site/info/2688">[Trektellen.org] - Site management Nafferton, East Yorkshire (nocturnal flight calls)</a></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-15159268791406827482021-01-30T11:59:00.000+00:002021-01-30T11:59:10.629+00:00Holiday in the time of Covid Part 1<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mB1DI4jgGA/YBUrR08oIzI/AAAAAAAAGfM/wi7LVgCpYFQbtDevEU5KC2jCCeKnzK5HQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Alpine%2BSwifts%2BErendag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mB1DI4jgGA/YBUrR08oIzI/AAAAAAAAGfM/wi7LVgCpYFQbtDevEU5KC2jCCeKnzK5HQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Alpine%2BSwifts%2BErendag.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine Swifts climbing for the pass at Erendag</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>The noise climbs as birds strain to gain height. You feel the noise as well as hear it, a roar but remarkably high pitched, the wings of several hundred thousand hirundines struggle upward and then I feel it, the reason for the struggle as a warm breath on the side of my face. The wind gathers itself and the birds climb higher, striving for the pass. The sky is dark now, full of <b>Swallows</b>, wall to wall. Thousands of <b>Red-rumped Swallows</b>, <b>House Martins</b>, <b>Alpine Swifts</b> and <b>Bee-eaters</b> are lost in the morass. A few <b>Common Swifts</b> are spotted and an <b>Eleonora's Falcon</b> joins the throng, like Mercury on the battlefield. A light breeze suddenly turns into something a little more potent and the sky clears and the noise drops away as the dam breaks. All the birds struggling to haul themselves over the 2700m high pass on Erendag are pushed over the top and disappear towards the coast, Israel and beyond.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QuuVp-rL4U/YBVFttza9QI/AAAAAAAAGfg/SHfyDF-llC02MWuU0dx1nfcf0-9TFmtSgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Red-fronted%2BSerin%2BErendag%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QuuVp-rL4U/YBVFttza9QI/AAAAAAAAGfg/SHfyDF-llC02MWuU0dx1nfcf0-9TFmtSgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Red-fronted%2BSerin%2BErendag%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-fronted Serin</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is what greeted me on the 26th August in the Western Taurus mountains. I'd gone looking for <b>Red-fronted Serins </b>and the like but borne witness to an amazing piece of migration. Afterward it felt lonely up there, despite plenty of Swallows continuing to hawk, despite finches and wheatears carpeting the ground. It was one of the finest things I have seen whilst birding. No, strike that, it was one of the finest things I have seen.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uD25XkVd0Ac/YBVFccPYQtI/AAAAAAAAGfY/XPjnci5cMK0Np5prNszn-bgli0UiFytPgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2080/IMG-20200820-WA0007_resized_20210130_113118097.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2080" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uD25XkVd0Ac/YBVFccPYQtI/AAAAAAAAGfY/XPjnci5cMK0Np5prNszn-bgli0UiFytPgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h309/IMG-20200820-WA0007_resized_20210130_113118097.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A different experience</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I was fortunate to escape the virus-laden depression of the UK for a family holiday in Hisaronu, Mugla, Turkey which is between Olu Deniz and Fethiye. The destination was principally chosen due the Covid-19 status of the country as we booked 10 days before we went having lost a holiday to Sierra de Grazalema, Cadiz. The upside was plenty of potential new stuff although I barely had time to draw breath in preparation. The hasty purchase of Dave Gosney's SW Turkey site guide was invaluable. I was only able to get a car for 5 out of 14 days but I tried to make the most of that. I considered trying to go and see the Fish Owls but a 400 mile round trip and the uncertainty of whether I could get to see them dissuaded me. I chose to do a local day, two days in the Taurus Mountains, one morning on the coastal marshes in Fethiye and then some time with the family. I saw a perfusion of birds with big numbers, spectacular species and plenty of diversity.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96yNmRtSyQW1X6qWGXxA0xnswmGLvDMyHpRj99ETQWaitgOdV8ndgwAiATpm2rm8KVVs39KYu5d7I1GQmdnINjnK26r5DEKjiBfCSFJu3xs4t3rmuPOPD7rLM-BJywjS5zBL9LTB-KrM/s2079/Babadag+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="2079" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96yNmRtSyQW1X6qWGXxA0xnswmGLvDMyHpRj99ETQWaitgOdV8ndgwAiATpm2rm8KVVs39KYu5d7I1GQmdnINjnK26r5DEKjiBfCSFJu3xs4t3rmuPOPD7rLM-BJywjS5zBL9LTB-KrM/w640-h308/Babadag+Pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babadag from the pool</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The first day of the trip was spent lazing round the pool, getting to know our environment. There was a ridge above the hotel which was shielded annoyingly by a line of conifers. Looking beyond this I picked some corvids playing over the top. After a bit of time watching them they resolved into <b>Chough</b>. Hirundines skittered round the pool, both Red-rumped and Barn Swallows and I later found that the Red-rumped Swallows were breeding next to my window. A single Alpine Swift was migrating south along the ridge. The only other additions were <b>White Wagtail, Jay, House Sparrow</b> and <b>Collared Doves</b> all of which were common around the pool area. </p><p>Day two started with a coffee on the balcony and a band of <b>Crag Martins </b>working along the ridge, migrating. Again, the main purpose of the day was some family fun with a good food and a few jars of euro lager. Before it got too hot I had an amble into the pine forest behind the hotel. Venturing out required a mask and it was sweltering but worthwhile. My hopes were pinned on local specialties but alas they weren't to be. All the standard paridae were present with <b>Coal Tit </b>amongst the pines and <b>Long-tailed Tits </b>in the gardens. <b>Blackbirds </b>scurried and a <b>Sparrowhawk </b>darting made it feel like Albion rather than Asia Minor. This continued with <b>Grey Wagtail</b>, <b>Chaffinch </b>and <b>Goldfinch </b>only for a very welcome <b>Hoopoe </b>to snap me out of my pining. A <b>Lesser Whitethroat </b>was a pleasant surprise but hardly earth shattering. A <b>Short-toed Eagle</b>, hanging over the forest, was my first of the trip and my first decent view of one since I visited Kefalonia in 2013. Later in the day a lifer, as a <b>Long-legged Buzzard </b>traversed the ridge. This was one of a pair which presumably nested on the hillside somewhere, as I saw them most days there on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6r7K3ffx0gk/YBVGV_tDYtI/AAAAAAAAGfw/7U1H2fcZW0UgksFMGLzY53FQc0m5ts47wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200825_115303_resized_20210130_113119974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6r7K3ffx0gk/YBVGV_tDYtI/AAAAAAAAGfw/7U1H2fcZW0UgksFMGLzY53FQc0m5ts47wCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20200825_115303_resized_20210130_113119974.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit of Babadag ready for tourists when the cable car starts running</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The isolated mountain of Babadag, taller than Ben Nevis, sits above Olu Deniz and Hisaronu and you can drive to the very summit. Its a nervy, steep ascent with adverse cambers, hairpin bends, interesting road surfaces, single track and absolutely no crash barriers In short it was terrifying. Obviously I went up three times in the five days I had the car. It is the closest place to get some of the mountain birds although not all are available. It also gave me a new way to not see Kruper's Nuthatch. The reason for the road is the tourist industry and at the top parascenders hurl themselves off and into the unknown, to land half an hour later in Olu Deniz, far below. It was a delight watching these specks of colour drift on the breeze from mountain to sea. It was less delightful meeting the minibuses which ascend and descend the mountain at breakneck speed making my own, slightly sedate pace seem mundane. These guys must have nerves of steel.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgAOJPquG50/YBVGnbiL6BI/AAAAAAAAGf4/jyZ9wPV8jH0qziFlaJQA5clk08Idlwd6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1632/IMG_20200825_144253_resized_20210130_113120324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgAOJPquG50/YBVGnbiL6BI/AAAAAAAAGf4/jyZ9wPV8jH0qziFlaJQA5clk08Idlwd6gCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20200825_144253_resized_20210130_113120324.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gurning idiot at 1900m</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The birding on the way up was non-existent as I wrestled the car all the way up. It was mild at the height but there was no wind and I was joined by swallows of both flavours and a kettle of 41 <b>Ravens</b>. Another shape lolloped in with the corvids, a female <b>Goshawk</b>. She thundered off, back to her forest kingdom after a less than friendly welcome. A small sylvia dropped over the edge of the cliff and into a bush on a cliff. Gingerly putting my nose over I gained views of a female <b>Ruppell's Warbler</b>. I didn't get a good look at this species the entire trip but there were several seen briefly, in cover or from cars, much like the sort of views I got of Sards across Europe. This was a lifer and another swiftly followed with a <b>Rock Thrush</b> scooting around the as yet unopened centre at the top of the mountain.</p><p>After 30 minutes at the top, I decended, checking all the safe pull ins on the descent for Sombre Tit and Kruper's Nuthatch. I didn't see a sausage but I did find a pass to the south of the mountain which went through some farmed clearings. It was very hot by this stage but a timid <b>Lesser Grey Shrike </b>was my first of the trip whilst in the bushes an <b>Eastern Bonelli's Warbler </b>was a first. The only other bird seen aside from swallows and ravens was a <b>Kestrel</b> hunting for small snacks. I returned to the bosom of my family, eager to share with them the excitement of the morning. They, obviously, didn't give a stuff. The afternoon was enlivened by the discovery of a small <b>Spur-thighed Tortoise </b>amongst the rock garden. This was one of several that I found in the grounds of the hotel. In the evenings these were supplemented by <b>Kotschy's Geckos</b>, both of which were lifers. There were also Turkish Geckos about as well but they were rather more familiar to me. My eldest daughter ran regular evening herping clubs for the kids whilst the parents enjoyed the euro lager with social distancing excusing the loud voices.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZzWycnCIv4/YBVHCDMtp6I/AAAAAAAAGgA/DJKsfKEZ7eUCdqtk66f-HBO5MyIIG2VoACNcBGAsYHQ/s1632/IMG_20200828_125812_resized_20210130_113121506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZzWycnCIv4/YBVHCDMtp6I/AAAAAAAAGgA/DJKsfKEZ7eUCdqtk66f-HBO5MyIIG2VoACNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_20200828_125812_resized_20210130_113121506.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Spur-thighed Tortoise</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My first trip to the mountains proper had me heading 150km inland towards Seki and 2500m up, to Erendag and the Gogu-Beli Pass. I hit Erendag first, driving through Temel where there were so many Swallows it was insane. It was obvious that these weren't just local breeders but accumulations of birds as every inch of phone line and surface of barn was covered. Small numbers of House Martins and Red-rumped Swallows were in these groups. I climbed out of the village and started to ascend, finding some small water cut valleys along the dirt track road. I got out and I could hear birds but I saw virtually nothing. A <i>ficedula </i>escaped ID and several Lesser Whitethroats took far too long to sort out. A <b>Chiffchaff</b> hweeted and a few sallies from a <b>Spotted Flycatcher </b>were all I could muster when there was suddenly a flurry and a storm of swallows. They were everywhere. I thought I was going to find a few in my hair they were so numerous and close. I pushed on seeing <b>Cirl Buntings </b>in an orchard. I found a stop, overlooking a forest with meadows and hedges infront of me. It seemed a good vista and so it was to prove as a hulking raptor hauled itself into the sky and up the ridge. After ten minutes or so of ascent the adult <b>Bonelli's Eagle </b>disappeared over the ridge. I wasn't aware this species was a goer but I later checked and their records have been blurred by eBird as they are a rare breeder. Trying to relocate it, I espied a distant raptor but this was a brief <b>Griffon Vulture</b>, my only one of the trip somewhat surprisingly. Closer, the meadows held <b>Red-backed Shrike</b>, <b>Rock Bunting </b>and finally, a <b>Sombre Tit </b>in the firs above the road. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3QzpEhBJwI/YBVHi7MdU7I/AAAAAAAAGgY/xMODc9RoUesOcx8yzQp9Ged65tw19eQLwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Tawny%2BPipit%2BErendag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3QzpEhBJwI/YBVHi7MdU7I/AAAAAAAAGgY/xMODc9RoUesOcx8yzQp9Ged65tw19eQLwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Tawny%2BPipit%2BErendag.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawny Pipit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I pushed on, keen to get up the mountain before the heat became problematic. It was less than 20c for the first time during the trip. I got to the ski centre at Erendag and had a poke about. It was derelict despite being relatively new. Poor access must make it a hard spot to get to with about 8km of track between me and the main road. <b>Wheat</b><b>ears </b>were evident and surprisingly they were all northern. I was unaware but Northern Wheatear breeds in the mountains of this area. I was expecting it to just be Finsch's with maybe some passage Northerns. <b>Crested Larks </b>were also everywhere along with my first <b>Tawny Pipits </b>of the trip and a lone Hoopoe. Further still and onto the seasonal farmsteads where families were set up for the summer. <b>Caucasian Water Pipits </b>were now amongst the Tawny Pipits and an unfamiliar looking wagtail gave a buzzy call. There were lots of <i>flava </i>wagtails stalking the alpine meadows, most of which were <b>Black-headed Wagtails </b>with a few <i>thunbergi </i>mixed in. A pale Long-legged Buzzard flushed from a rocky outcrop and descended to the boulder field below. The reason it shifted was soon evident with a <b>Short-toed Eagle </b>getting up and circling in the warming air. It gave a decent show before disappearing up and over the ridge, heading on its way.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QhdGAaUZVQ/YBVHhVn3CZI/AAAAAAAAGgU/ef3FHA8eh_MP3aI4bqURrI2li9UqOUi6wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Red-fronted%2BSerin%2BErendag%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QhdGAaUZVQ/YBVHhVn3CZI/AAAAAAAAGgU/ef3FHA8eh_MP3aI4bqURrI2li9UqOUi6wCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Red-fronted%2BSerin%2BErendag%2B3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-fronted Serin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I had got quite high up at this point and I parked my car near to a farmstead. The swallows from lower down were starting to gather and I could hear Bee-eaters although I couldn't see them. I was engrossed in finch hunting at this point and <b>Linnets </b>were my reward for careful scrutiny of them with the odd Goldfinch. I pushed up the goat herding track and I was aware something special was going on with all the aerial birds. The densities were mindblowing and they were pinned in by the pass which was at 2700m. My car was parked at just over 2000m and I hauled my backside up to about 2300m. Wheatears were still very much in evidence. A band of small finches fed on some asterids. They looked rotund and dark. Getting closer they were <b>Red-fronted Serins</b>, my main target of the day. A few Kestrels joined the swifts and swallows overhead and then they were joined by a dark-morph Eleonora's Falcon. This didn't hassle the hirundines and hawked merrily. There was a slight breeze detectable on my cheek and suddenly the numbers of birds overhead increased exponentially. The calls filled the sky and there was a palpable excitement amongst them. The breeze stiffened and the dam burst as the birds reached 2700m and moved on to the promised land beyond. All that was left was the local swallows feeding on the aerial flotsam which was gathered at the pass. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BdFYcNCZHKU/YBVHg9RbrhI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/4indDqHciH0yyrmhXuO75QnCjFsnipUxgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Erendag%2BHabitat%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BdFYcNCZHKU/YBVHg9RbrhI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/4indDqHciH0yyrmhXuO75QnCjFsnipUxgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Erendag%2BHabitat%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erendag</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I was aware I wanted to see the Gogu-Beli Pass and turned on my heel. A <b>Hatay Lizard </b></div><div><i>Phoenicolacerta laevis</i>, a large, strong species, also known as the Syrian Lizard and a recent colonist of the area darted amongst the montane shrubs. A Rock Thrush was up on the ridge above me briefly. Quickly I was at the car - how did it take an hours hike uphill and 15 minutes down? More Red-fronted Serins were along a water filled gully. A bumpy descent in the car got me back to Seki in pretty good time but a close Long-legged Buzzard made me stop and a small shape creeping through a boulder outcrop was my first <b>Western Rock Nuthatch</b>. I was expecting it to feel bigger but it wasn't that far from the Nuthatches of home, at least at that distance, despite the different substrate.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n1beer_ZdE/YBVI8uSS2ZI/AAAAAAAAGgw/Wfph99MBUgEBcXxrxT8rBDXtpjdo28RJQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Big%2BLizard%2BErendag%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n1beer_ZdE/YBVI8uSS2ZI/AAAAAAAAGgw/Wfph99MBUgEBcXxrxT8rBDXtpjdo28RJQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Big%2BLizard%2BErendag%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hatay Lizard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Before long I was at the Gogu-Beli Pass. I realised it was a mistake. It was hot, there were no birds and people were at both water taps, either side of the pass. I quickly gave up. I stopped at the dripping tap on the north-western side as there was just a family of four having a picnic as opposed to the cast of 5000 at the south-eastern one. A single Rock Nuthatch was brave enough to ignore them, picking up crumbs and giving me astounding views, looking like a weird Robin from home. I watched for a while but when I grabbed the camera it soon disappeared into the rocks below. It was now very hot and I was knackered so I headed back to base picking up my first <b>Hooded Crows </b>and <b>White Storks </b>on the way.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ajX9VPvzUBM/YBVHgYe4AyI/AAAAAAAAGgM/lOZ7O3c6y2AsHSMl8ZVzQ1lcnH59RyOEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/LL%2BBuzzard%2BErendag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ajX9VPvzUBM/YBVHgYe4AyI/AAAAAAAAGgM/lOZ7O3c6y2AsHSMl8ZVzQ1lcnH59RyOEQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/LL%2BBuzzard%2BErendag.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-legged Buzzard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Part 2 on its way shortly. </div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-6875565467256313112021-01-27T21:23:00.001+00:002021-01-27T21:24:52.775+00:00A Professional Update?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiSyN0pCiEk/YBHZmRwCpfI/AAAAAAAAGfA/Cf2JOwYQd6Mzk030CjQQ2gAr48MgRF03QCNcBGAsYHQ/s960/James%2BWindfarm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiSyN0pCiEk/YBHZmRwCpfI/AAAAAAAAGfA/Cf2JOwYQd6Mzk030CjQQ2gAr48MgRF03QCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/James%2BWindfarm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Professional, me? That is a laugh. I have however just finished a seven year, nine month and 27 day stint with Wood aka Wood Group and formerly Amec and Amec Foster Wheeler. The vagaries of the oil industry and its decline are responsible for the various changes. I am moving on. For now, it is reflection and remembering some epic birding, some great moments and being cold/wet or both a lot. I spent my first summer in South-west Scotland on the wind farm train and found an American Golden Plover on a hill in Ayrshire. Remarkably, I found the same bird, 100 miles away, at St Mary's Island in Newcastle the following week. It was definitely easier to pick amongst 7 other Golden Plover on the hill! Pete, my close mate and colleague and I shared a couple of autumns of sea watching at St Mary's where we had a flyby Surf Scoter which later settled on the Suffolk/Essex border. A Rough-legged Buzzard in Northumberland was more contentious as I found it and Pete missed it, despite it flying over the land we were both looking at for five minutes. Thankfully the locals also saw it. Pete got his own back in spades with Black Kites and Honey Buzzards.</p><p>I have had seven years in Somerset, starting in the winter of 2013/14 and culminating this January. The luxuries of Blackmore farm now a distant memory but I enjoyed the area immensely when it wasnt westerly gales, rain and freezing. There were some good finds including Caspian Gull (8 county records), Wryneck, Bee-eater, Iceland Gull, Waxwing, Leach's Petrel, Siberian Chiffchaff, Tundra Bean Goose, Black Tern, Richard's Pipit, Wood Lark and Cattle Egret (before it was dross) as well as this autumns Red-throated Pipit. I also saw Kentish Plover, Two-barred Crossbill, Hawfinch, White-billed Diver, Great Shearwater, Cirl Bunting, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Bluetail and many other bits and pieces in the South-west during my trips. I met some very decent Somerset folk and counted a lot of birds. I didn't see Little Bittern which is an enduring source of frustration. </p><p>My acquaintance with Goshawks prior to my starting with Wood was occasional and not great. Now, I've monitored so many I cant begin to count. I've seen birds perched up close, endless display, lots of individuals of all ages. Upland raptors are hard to see but gosh are they worth the effort. In fact, I have worked on many projects in the Highlands and saw most of the specialties during surveys including nesting eagles, divers, Pine Martins, Parrot Crossbills, Capers, Hen Harriers, Black Grouse. I spent 2 months stopping an Osprey nest from being disturbed and then got cut out of the press release (haha!). I have also seen more Peregrine nests than anyone else in the UK I'd imagine and had the fortune to rescue a chick last year. I even found a Leatherback Turtle in the Irish Sea! I have been challenged regularly, I've failed often, I've even succeeded on occasion, I've worked with some dedicated professionals and I've made friends to last a life time. I'm not really supposed to post about the new job, so I wont other than to say I have one and I wont be going to site anymore which my wife will love. I am so happy to be able to be home for my family as I have been itinerant for 11 years since I started as an ornithologist and my kids will find it weird that I don't up and out for a week but they deserve my time. I have been privileged and I know it. My scope broke on site about six months after I started and my bins are knackered. I've been using work optics for years now and they travelled with me on occasion. I have just treated myself to a Swaro scope and will be saving for new bins. That is my big reward for my new role along with a Skoda Octavia estate. My Dad would be proud of my sensible car choices at least. My 19 year old self, less so.</p><p>Dudes, it's been excellent. </p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-4479632884223834952020-12-28T16:41:00.000+00:002020-12-28T16:41:44.882+00:00Hornsea<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J8CcaFB90RM/X-oCtf4pueI/AAAAAAAAGdI/9AALhcy-iFM5cnuX7G1Ly_tOLv_RkWI9gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Goldeneye.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J8CcaFB90RM/X-oCtf4pueI/AAAAAAAAGdI/9AALhcy-iFM5cnuX7G1Ly_tOLv_RkWI9gCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Goldeneye.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Goldeneye</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After a false start sans optics at Barmston thanks to a reshuffle in the car to accommodate Christmas presents and children I didnt fancy braving the hordes of dog walkers again so I went to Hornsea Mere. With Kirkholme Point closed, there were only a handful of folks in the fields on the south side. What was present was a delightful adult male <b>Long-tailed Duck</b>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_SzsNcgr1k/X-oDWZkoLJI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/7Kio5dBMthgFCogaopgtSRuNcg_MMR6DwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Long-tailed%2BDuck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_SzsNcgr1k/X-oDWZkoLJI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/7Kio5dBMthgFCogaopgtSRuNcg_MMR6DwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Long-tailed%2BDuck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Long-tailed Duck</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Two hundred <b>Greylags </b>flew in from the south and I could hear a <b>Pink-footed Goose </b>amongst them and after a couple of minutes of checking, two emerged from the flock next to Swan Island. I was starting to get chilly but the main prize continued to evade me. The drake <b>Smew</b> appeared amongst Goldeneye on the far bank, tucked in tight to the reeds. Views from Kirkholme Point would have been exceptional but from another km to the south it was a touch distant.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MakJ4vNEVeg/X-oI4hL6BRI/AAAAAAAAGdc/jMfu-2vE99oCE_yZRs4mK5FJfdGqFzMBQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1050/Smew.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1050" height="508" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MakJ4vNEVeg/X-oI4hL6BRI/AAAAAAAAGdc/jMfu-2vE99oCE_yZRs4mK5FJfdGqFzMBQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h508/Smew.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, thats a Smew if you squint.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I moved on to the clifftop at the north end of Hornsea by the sailing club. A few <b>Red-throated Divers </b>were the sum total but it has some serious height compared to other nearby locations. Interesting! Upon heading home I found at least 4,000 Pink-footed Geese in fields between Skirlington and Skipsea. There were undulations on the fields so a full count wasnt possible but 5,800 were counted heading north over Hornsea Mere early doors. I failed to pick anything different from amongst them but the sun wasnt in my favour. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><br />A lot of geese <a href="https://t.co/bKcYkVLYkR">pic.twitter.com/bKcYkVLYkR</a></p>— James Spencer (@Ornid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ornid/status/1343557207355486213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-30297463548825391632020-11-29T20:14:00.002+00:002020-11-29T20:14:51.047+00:00Barmston in late November<p> Yesterday I decided to have a ramble round the patch to have a better look at the <b>Twite </b>that have been about and also try and pin down the <b>Lapland Buntings</b> which Trevor Charlton has had a few times. I am rather glad I did! A slightly rubbish seawatch was quickly abandoned after 25 Twite flew south. Obviously I headed north and there were more present in a patch of mugwort. This seems to be their favoured spot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JdzMEcu2yg/X8P8QFJRmUI/AAAAAAAAGbc/0QlacfxW_wM_HeGQc-zMTGYBQNRJz6WWACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Barmston%2BTwite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JdzMEcu2yg/X8P8QFJRmUI/AAAAAAAAGbc/0QlacfxW_wM_HeGQc-zMTGYBQNRJz6WWACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Barmston%2BTwite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I marched round the perimeter of the marsh, flushing the occasional <b>Snipe</b> when eight <b>Lapland Buntings </b>flew over calling. They moved off to the north-west but the impression was that they had come up out of the stubble. Somewhat surprisingly, these were my first Laps for the patch and patch tick number 184. I continued round the margins of the marsh to the snipe field where half a dozen regular flavoured birds preceded two <b>Jack Snipe </b>in their favoured strip of damp, long grass. <b>Pink-footed Geese </b>started to pour north and just shy of 500 were counted heading into the Wolds. A check of the beach was productive with a nice variety of waders including <b>Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit </b>and <b>Turnstone</b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRuXCes4d0w/X8P_VGWlDYI/AAAAAAAAGbo/uO-v8pWBQdgF9bh2w19DVZ_5lGZ_kaZfQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Hidey%2BMerlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRuXCes4d0w/X8P_VGWlDYI/AAAAAAAAGbo/uO-v8pWBQdgF9bh2w19DVZ_5lGZ_kaZfQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Hidey%2BMerlin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Further south I bumped into a <b>Merlin</b> that was convinced I couldn't see it in a tree. It let me get pretty close before moving into the next hedge and repeating the trick. The hedges had low numbers of birds but a nice selection of thrushes and buntings including five <b>Corn Buntings</b> and a few <b>Fieldfares</b>. At this point I bumped into Lee Johnson. Lee works Barmston fairly often in winter and with autumn pretty much done he had headed over to try and get a bead on the Lapland Buntings. We wandered up the marsh again and a few <b>Lesser Redpoll </b>went over followed by the emergence of 13 Lapland Buntings. They wouldn't show on the ground, flying at well over 100m from us but they flew close, calling repeatedly. An excellent count of a tricky species. These were also Lee's first for the site. A <b>Woodcock </b>flew into the marsh as we wandered back towards our cars and the Twite gave an improved showing back by the camp. All said a very productive morning.</p><p><a href="https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20201128">Trektellen Counts</a><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn2xUj3CwAI/X8QAr1ve4mI/AAAAAAAAGb4/SEnTL4x4zCcyJZozldyWD2qcjBSy6pwXACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Unwell%2BCM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn2xUj3CwAI/X8QAr1ve4mI/AAAAAAAAGb4/SEnTL4x4zCcyJZozldyWD2qcjBSy6pwXACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Unwell%2BCM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unwell looking Common Gull<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_zaPIbhdZg/X8QAr_hiT1I/AAAAAAAAGb0/vGTG-u9mBmMLfCN5ds9pnMZ4dzop4Lg9QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Wigeon%2Bflight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_zaPIbhdZg/X8QAr_hiT1I/AAAAAAAAGb0/vGTG-u9mBmMLfCN5ds9pnMZ4dzop4Lg9QCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Wigeon%2Bflight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wigeon on the move<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-35452556169910269852020-11-27T21:10:00.003+00:002020-11-27T21:13:35.748+00:00Water Voles in Nafferton<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siilQ8-eg_s/X8FmTSgYsdI/AAAAAAAAGao/lK894M1f1rENE50v3YK2uct4hbdLMsLUQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN2638.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siilQ8-eg_s/X8FmTSgYsdI/AAAAAAAAGao/lK894M1f1rENE50v3YK2uct4hbdLMsLUQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN2638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>This week I have been trying to overcome general lethargy and feeling a bit miserable by getting out and about a bit more before my working day and again at lunch time. I have been feeling a bit down and demotivated and I know that moving more and doing a bit of wildlife watching, even close to home is a fantastic tonic for the lockdown blues. Somewhere to the south of the village is a Great White Egret which I can't locate but appears to be still present so I will give it another go. On Wednesday however, I was checking for birds along the stream on Spittle Beck Lane when I noticed a medium-sized rodent along the bank. I assumed that it was going to be a Brown Rat <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> so I was a little taken aback when I raised my binoculars only to be met with the more benign features of a Water Vole <i>Arvicola amphibius</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHk8Jd5sLH6U9lIJ8JVRUviY5jw1in9wG9yl-aHfgfGYozMEXHY8TAFmkNbsOWT8zSa_51DJOTwYje1l3t_qSHCgjeA_u7qYWU3jRtvSZhLuJmMnPX0DIxL0x1f6DoqocRGcrW_85TJU/s2048/DSCN2631.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHk8Jd5sLH6U9lIJ8JVRUviY5jw1in9wG9yl-aHfgfGYozMEXHY8TAFmkNbsOWT8zSa_51DJOTwYje1l3t_qSHCgjeA_u7qYWU3jRtvSZhLuJmMnPX0DIxL0x1f6DoqocRGcrW_85TJU/w640-h480/DSCN2631.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>It sat motionless for minutes on end which was great but it was a misty morning and I had neglected to carry my camera with me. I managed a quick record shot with my phone down the right barrel of my phone. The photo, just about recognisable as a Water Vole didn't satiate me and I was back during my lunch break, armed with my camera. I found a different vole, outside another set of burrows, some 30 metres away, turned my camera on and nothing happened. Flat, caput, dead. I raced back home, replaced the battery and returned. No voles were visible although a couple of ripples on the near bank suggested that there were plenty around. I planned on having another go yesterday but alas it was not to be due to a combination of wet weather and overrunning work, so I returned today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcW45HrYMiQ/X8FpOary1fI/AAAAAAAAGa8/3GOF-VsurHYv6qFS9MrXDoKIwCeqPjCwgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN2628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcW45HrYMiQ/X8FpOary1fI/AAAAAAAAGa8/3GOF-VsurHYv6qFS9MrXDoKIwCeqPjCwgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN2628.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>This guy sat out in the sun initially and was nearly impossible to photograph as he was massively overexposed being half in shadow. He slid down his run and groomed by the waters edge for ten minutes or so, barely moving. He (I say he, I have no idea) was aware of my presence but the distance across the small stream seemed to keep him calm. I watched until he decided to drop into the water and head along. Soon after two further plops indicated two voles I had walked past, one under thick vegetation and a second under the near bank. I walked further along the lane but found no more. Walking back my lad was back out, under the vegetation, sat on his liverwort lawn. I kept going, aware that I had 15 minutes left before I should be back on the computer and wanting a brew. I kept an eye on the stream and the usual suspects were making waves in the same places as on the way up when I spied a fourth individual, mid-stream, wrestling with a wind thrown apple. Oblivious to me, he tried in vain to get his prize, failing and shooting before resting in the shallows, having seen me. I rattled off a few shots before he dived and I watched as he zooted five or six feet underwater and up into the bank via a submerged hole.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjn1gWhU80E/X8Fq3z5xz1I/AAAAAAAAGbI/W9u52p2Dy3Yvhoo9hTnr22y3S5lR7Bl_gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN2644.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjn1gWhU80E/X8Fq3z5xz1I/AAAAAAAAGbI/W9u52p2Dy3Yvhoo9hTnr22y3S5lR7Bl_gCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/DSCN2644.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZzFaTVZ-Ca-QOBeYG1xLRaiCQgXuSYgDF1CF9eIqAWASnEDNoi7M4T3RIM9JBfPWIhZHlVUluhcQm-MzA541VGVel-gJvkgMI-fnLVqNdhov5jDVsGsoqCxE3rPhIssVguB-BDT1UWc/s2048/DSCN2649.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZzFaTVZ-Ca-QOBeYG1xLRaiCQgXuSYgDF1CF9eIqAWASnEDNoi7M4T3RIM9JBfPWIhZHlVUluhcQm-MzA541VGVel-gJvkgMI-fnLVqNdhov5jDVsGsoqCxE3rPhIssVguB-BDT1UWc/w640-h480/DSCN2649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>And then I was happy for the rest of the day, safe in the knowledge there will always be a bit of my heart devoted to it. </p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-74100835113007004062020-09-27T21:45:00.006+01:002020-09-27T21:45:46.693+01:00Stormy Seawatching: 25-27th September<p> In a move that is completely in character I have failed to update on moths, nocmig, birding and our trip to Turkey. Rest assured some of this may, or may not make the blog in the future. What does make the blog right now is this weekends seawatching. I love seawatching, it is my absolute favourite passtime. The zen-like vigils looking, counting and generally being outside, witnessing migration feels about as real and immersing as it gets. My patch is excellent for vizmig and pretty good for seawatching. The forecast of northerly gales all weekend had me salivating. I didn't get the numbers of skuas and shearwaters that others managed including record breaking totals at Flamborough, just a few miles up the road but plenty of patch high counts and good birds made it rewarding nonetheless.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WsGy8IIhgA/X3DrsmuNKYI/AAAAAAAAGXs/9hLHJABUaw0bBEaV0kx5oEaHQRHXArzWACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Arctic%2BSkua%2BUlrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WsGy8IIhgA/X3DrsmuNKYI/AAAAAAAAGXs/9hLHJABUaw0bBEaV0kx5oEaHQRHXArzWACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Arctic%2BSkua%2BUlrome.jpg" title="Juvenile Arctic Skua" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Arctic Skua<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I arrived at Barmston chock full of enthusiasm at 06:40 in the teeth of an F9 northerly and intermittant heavy rain. Four hours produced the only <b>Sooty Shearwater </b>of the weekend, a somewhat unbelievable statistic given that 2,000 or so passed Flamborough in the same period. 56 Fulmar represented the 6th highest count for the patch rather surprisingly. A small skein of six <b>Pink-footed Geese </b>pushed south over the waves. A single <b>Grey Plover </b>called as it headed south. After four hours, a tactical reassessment took me to Ulrome, 2km to the south, in an effort to connect with the hundreds of skuas that were being displaced by the high winds. A brace of dark morph <b>Arctic Skuas </b>were the sum total but they prevented a complete blank. 147 <b>Cormorants </b>and 3 <b>Pintail </b>north were the only other significant sightings.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H39GUS83Zc4/X3DvIuOyxjI/AAAAAAAAGX4/ThkXUicwNMkAvTzr_brkxWH3oxUC8AilACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Barnacle%2BGeese%2BUlrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H39GUS83Zc4/X3DvIuOyxjI/AAAAAAAAGX4/ThkXUicwNMkAvTzr_brkxWH3oxUC8AilACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Barnacle%2BGeese%2BUlrome.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barnacle Geese<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The relatively poor returns from Friday didn't dishearten me as others scored heavily and a slight easing of the winds provided sufficient encouragement that birds would try to escape the southern North Sea. The wind was slightly offshore which didn't look promising for shearwaters and skuas but locating again at Ulrome I remained hopeful. A delightful pale-morph juvenile <b>Long-tailed Skua </b>danced over the surf in the gloaming and wildfowl were evident with small parties of <b>Teal</b>, <b>Wigeon</b> and <b>Common Scoter </b>moving north. Final totals of 208 Teal and 61 each of both Wigeon and Common Scoter moved north with handfuls in the other direction. News of 28 <b>Pale-bellied Brent Geese </b>barreling north at Grimston and Hornsea had me on tenterhooks and they nearly slipped by in the breakers but I picked them up emerging from a trough, too late for a photo. Will Scott at Bempton alerted me to small parties of <b>Barnacle Geese</b> heading south-east there and a few minutes after 12 went north, just beyond the surf. Ten, in all likelihood, one of Will's skeins went south half an hour later. A couple of <b>Shoveler </b>and a <b>Pintail </b>sneaked north amongst their commoner cousins to round off the wildfowl interest.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jkuwKRJ-8g/X3D5oHTZ71I/AAAAAAAAGYE/WWHLvH2yG2UnzitHJkOZwkhYA05vf3_5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bonxies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jkuwKRJ-8g/X3D5oHTZ71I/AAAAAAAAGYE/WWHLvH2yG2UnzitHJkOZwkhYA05vf3_5QCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Bonxies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonxies<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>An interesting juvenile skua headed north at 09:41. It flew like an Arctic but its coloration was cold. It was too light in build for a Pom and had too much white in the underwing for a long-tail. Advice from friends was that it was a particularly cold Arctic Skua and on reviewing the photos including the header it was evident that the dark, unbarred axillaries, rather bland undertail, faint double flash and structure (bill, head shape, wing shape, tail) all fit with Arctic and not the other species, but it was a challenge in the field and I would have let it go as skua sp. had I not got pictures. A further three Arctics went north late on and a trio of <b>Bonxies</b> also passed by.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDyJ31b5_go/X3D5xAOHY9I/AAAAAAAAGYI/n3KCx2TrJxcqbCPgfTW18-aPzg1fCD9zgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Wigeon%2BUlrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDyJ31b5_go/X3D5xAOHY9I/AAAAAAAAGYI/n3KCx2TrJxcqbCPgfTW18-aPzg1fCD9zgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Wigeon%2BUlrome.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wigeon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I experimented with the Trektellen app for entering my data which was excellent. I entered gulls half-hourly, using clickers to tally them and everything else went straight in. It was easy and captured the times automatically, mapping the most regular species as buttons to speed entry. This ease of capture meant the second highest count of <b>Great Black-backed Gulls </b>was recorded. This species must occur regular in the autumn in decent numbers but now, hopefully I will be able to record common species more accurately. Eighteen <b>Purple Sandpiper </b>headed north in two flocks of 5 and 13. This is an uncommon passage species and this was easily the highest site count for passage although 54 were recorded at Fraisthorpe during a low tide, making a probably unassailable peak count.</p><p>Despite my daughter having her (covid compliant) 11th birthday sleepover last night, I was allowed to tread the hallowed turf again this morning for a few hours. I had another productive and wildfowl centric watch, kicking off with my final skua of the weekend, a Bonxie, playing truck and trailer with a juvenile <b>Gannet</b>. An early flurry of <b>Red-throated Divers </b>featured a single <b>Black-throated Diver. </b>Better was instore when 4 <b>Velvet Scoters </b>flew north. Unbeknown to me they had been tracked from Grimston to Hornsea and onward to Flamborough before getting picked up even further north off Durham and beyond. Virtually no auks were seen on the previous two days but I had plenty battling through the foam. Two early <b>Dunlin </b>skipped over the waves and looked worryingly like Leach's Petrels but sadly they proved not to be. Passage died very suddenly at 09:30 and I took the prescient option of heading home not long after to earn brownie points. Fingers crossed the patch does better next time but it was a fun three mornings.</p><p>The full counts are on Trektellen: </p><p><a href="https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200925">https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200925</a></p><p><a href="https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200926">https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200926</a></p><p><a href="https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200927">https://trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200927</a></p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-15752514696934891552020-07-21T16:12:00.004+01:002020-07-21T16:12:57.827+01:00Lammergeier in the Peak DistrictA few weeks ago a <b>Lammergeier</b> was seen two miles away from where I was, just outside Birmingham but I found out when I was 20 miles away and it continued onward. This was incredibly the bird which flirted with the channel crossing before heading to the Low Countries and losing its tail. After being seen on and off for a little while, its roost was discovered in the Peak District and not only that but in South Yorkshire. Trying to get my ducks in a row was tricky with work being busy and various other demands on my time but I saw an opening yesterday evening which necessitated an overnight stay in the car.<br />
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Luckily I got to site slightly earlier than planned and managed an evening assault on the hills, setting off on the long walk just after 6pm and arriving 5.5km later at 7:30. The bird was in place, on its plinth, waiting to drop into roost. The light was exceptional and the conditions a delight. It gave an excellent performance captured in the video below until unfortunately it was flushed by walkers and disappeared to the west. Thankfully it is still in the general area so hopefully those that head up will still see it. An absolute enormous bird and whilst its categorization by BOURC is still up in the air due to the shelving of the previous one and the fact it is a bird known to have come from the alpine reintroduced population, none of that diluted my enjoyment.<br />
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-13339480476567433412020-05-22T23:47:00.000+01:002020-05-22T23:47:05.358+01:00Back to BarmstonWe find ourselves in this new Covid World, nearly two weeks after some easing of lockdown. This has had the effect that I am now able to travel to the coast to go birding. I wanted to make a more concerted effort at Barmston and Ulrome this year and so I have been putting in short evening watches along with more extended early morning visits. Encouragement from Andrew Hanby has led to us merging our Trektellen sites. The <a href="https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/956/20200522">Barmston/Fraisthorpe</a> site now incorporates the stretch from Fraisthorpe to Ulrome and the various watchpoints utilised therein (Auburn Farm, the Pill Boxes, Barmston Cliffs, Barmston Car Park and Ulrome). In-line with this I am trying to collate the historical records from the area to add to Trek in due course. The aim for me (I won't speak for Andy) is to try and produce more organised records in an observatory style, using a more structured approach to my birding to make it count and hopefully see better birds and in-turn attract more birders to the site getting it greater coverage. I have clickers and will count!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seen coming off the sea and heading inland at 06:56 on 21st May this was reward for getting up early.</td></tr>
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The question then comes, what will I count? Well most recently it seems it is <b>Marsh Harriers</b>. They have bred on site, or attempted to do so previously but not this year. I have had three different birds since I returned including this smart male, above coming off the sea on 21st May. A cream-crown headed north over the bay at 06:28 on 17th May and another was quartering the marsh on the evening of 15th May. I did wonder if this represented a breeding attempt at the time but a foraging female isn't a promising sign in that regard as it indicates the male is failing to provision the nest effectively.<br />
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Barmston rarely has huge numbers of waders but it does get some good ones. By May most of the local birds are already down to it and it is the Arctic breeding species and populations you see. A brief trill alerted me to this gem of a <b>Whimbrel</b> dropping onto the beach. Other species seen include the snazzy breeding <b>Sanderling</b>, pasty <b>Dunlin</b> headed way up and<i> psammodromus/tundrae</i> <b>Ringed Plover</b>. Small flocks rove north along the shore or skip over the waves in the bay. I live in hope of a Curlew Sandpiper or stint amongst them but none have been detected as yet.<br />
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A sprinkling of wildfowl has been on the move with diversity outstripping numbers which is to be expected at this time of year. A flock of 23<b> Barnacle Geese </b>flew south at 06:35 yesterday, as I arrived on the cliff top. What I didn't know was that Keith Clarkson had 20 of these roosting on the sand at Hunmanby at 05:55 before they departed south and picked up some kin. This party later landed on the Humber for a rest as the passed the Spurn peninsula. I also had a duo headed in the opposite direction later in the morning which were picked up by Will Scott at Speeton. Barnacle Geese in late May get a bad rap and are often dismissed as escapes but the situation with this species is much murkier. Birds breed all along the flyway to Russia and have increased massively in recent times in the Low Countries and Sweden. Is it these birds that have contributed to the explosion in breeding birds in the UK or is the feral population the main cause or perhaps it is a combination of the two. Birds ringed in Russia have bred in the UK but there has been little tracking within this population. What is known is that late May is the peak time for departures to breeding grounds both near and far along the English east coast as well as in the Low Countries.<br />
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Other wildfowl highlights include a duo of <b>Tufted Duck</b> south on 17th May and single <b>Shelduck</b> south on two occasions. Tufted Duck are a scarce enough bird whilst seawatching to be a highlight and May is the peak for passage at Hunmanby Gap. Here at Barmston, the third week of May is the peak week but birds pass at similar levels from mid-July to late-August whilst the spring passage is more concentrated. Five drake <b>Eider</b> headed north yesterday which were my first of the year and a <b>Great Northern Diver</b> in non-breeding plumage lumbered south at distance this evening, shimmering in the haze.<br />
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On land most of the migrants are back in with singing <b>Reed</b> and <b>Sedge Warblers</b>, a pair of <b>Stonechat</b> and plenty of <b>Corn Buntings</b>. In fact there are so many Corn Buntings I have got quite excited. There were two singing males south of the marsh, another south of Barmston camp and nine males in the usual area, up from a previous high count of seven males for the site. This species seems to have had a renaissance somewhat locally. Fingers crossed it continues. Twelve singing male Corn Buntings is quite something and that song is a delight. You can shove your jangly keys, its much better than that! More prosaically were my first <b>Red-legged Partridge</b> on patch, seemingly a breeding pair. This isn't great news and I hope it doesn't put pressure on the <b>Grey Partridges</b> which call the area home.</div>
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Finally it is great to have Andrew back birding in the area. He has put a lot of time into the site in previous years but he took a few years out, much as I have done and now drifted back. I look forward to his efforts and hopefully some good birds shared with him over the coming months. </div>
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I aim to be back on patch tomorrow morning. It is blowing south-westerly F5-8. We shall see what it's like! I will be putting together a blog post on my lockdown birding locally to home with an emphasis on Skerne Wetlands and West Beck over the next few days.</div>
Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-29864445794059593412020-04-22T16:06:00.000+01:002020-04-22T16:06:03.448+01:00Happy Early Birthday to MeI have another (!?!) hobby. This one is the final fulfillment of a latent desire to get involved. I am currently rocking a new Heath Trap with a 12w actinic. A small moth trap. This is a neighbour friendly job and one that will hopefully get me involved properly in a hobby that I have been looking at for years.<br />
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My lovely wife decided that rather than wrap it and give it to me on my birthday, I could have a run straight away. It was cool and still but come the morning I was excited to see what I had caught. I managed 7 moths of two species, hardly earth shattering but as I have only trapped in the late summer both were new. Six<b> Hebrew Characters</b> and one<b> Common Quaker</b>, both names that I recognise and now in the trap. Hebrew Character is easy enough to identify but Common Quaker is similar to a number of other species which fly at the same time so that took a bit of bookwork. There were a couple of midges but no other bycatch. I didn't trap the following night as it was cooler and windy. I redeployed the trap on the 18th and blanked so it went back out the following night. There were four moths on 19th with three Hebrew Characters and my first<b> Early Grey</b>. Last night I trapped again and managed two moths, both Hebrew Characters. I am looking forward to a bit more diversity as we move on.<br />
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<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-89662621298472117082020-04-12T21:23:00.002+01:002020-04-12T21:31:18.353+01:00The Baffling World of Nocturnal MigrationI am now eight days into my NocMigging adventure. Well nine days but the recorder didn't work properly on the first night. Or the third. So I am seven nights of recording in and it has been a revelation. So far I have recorded nocturnal flight calls of 20 species of which<b> Mallard</b> is the most regularly recorded with 1-2 flights per hour. These come with the caveat that many birds are breeding in the drains surrounding the house. I 'think' I had some migrant birds on a couple of occasions but from 68 records it is hard to be sure. In addition I have recorded duck sp. on 26 occasions which all bar one record I think refer to uncalling Mallard where all you can hear is the wing beat. I am a touch unsure whether my<b> Oystercatcher</b> and<b> Curlew</b> records contain migrants. As with Mallard there are records which sound like they are birds heading over at height but Curlew is a nightly occurance as a pair breed in the field adjacent to the house and there is at least one additional pair on Nafferton Carrs. I'm also pretty sure that of the five records of Oystercatcher, most refer to a pair in the village somewhere.<br />
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Birds I am more sure are migrants are the rest of the wildfowl with a single records of<b> Gadwall </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/544393">https://www.xeno-canto.org/544393</a>, two records of <b>Wigeon</b> <a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/542038">https://www.xeno-canto.org/542038</a> and <b>Teal</b> and five (!) records of <b>Common Scoter</b> despite missing the big movement (well I sat in the garden and listened live). My first <b>Grey Heron</b> went over in the small hours last night which may be a migrant but may also be associated with the heronry on Nafferton Carrs. Perhaps the most surprising thing has been the occurrence of rallids. <b>Moorhen </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/542048">https://www.xeno-canto.org/542048</a><b> </b>is the third most commonly recorded species with 13 records in 7 nights whilst both <b>Coot </b>and <b>Water Rail </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/544396">https://www.xeno-canto.org/544396</a><b> </b>have been recorded on three occasions each. Moorhen breeds widely nearby and the calls are sometimes extended so I suspect birds are displaying and there is some territorial stuff going on but doubtless some birds are migrants too.<br />
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I discussed two species of wader in the first paragraph but three species are unequivocal migrants, <b>Little Ringed Plover </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/542564">https://www.xeno-canto.org/542564</a><b> </b>, <b>Golden Plover</b>, and <b>Snipe </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/543392">https://www.xeno-canto.org/543392</a><b> </b>. A single record of the first was recorded in flight calling nine times giving a perfect doppler as it passed over on 6th April. I have managed six records of Golden Plover and a couple of Snipe. When it comes to passerines there hasn't been a perfusion with winter thrushes dominating. <b>Redwing </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/542035">https://www.xeno-canto.org/542035</a><b> </b>has been recorded on 14 occasions to make it the second most regularly recorded species with each record consisting typically of a single descending seep call. There have been single records of <b>Fieldfare </b>and <b>Song Thrush </b>chuckling and tsiking respectively as they head home to Scandinavia and beyond. The only other passerine I have recorded seemingly on migration was <b>Blackcap</b> but this one had finished its jaunt, seemingly pitching in at 01:55 on 11th April and singing a single phrase. I saw it holding territory in the morning and subsequently it sings odd single phrases overnight.<br />
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I am also getting a handle on the breeding and resident birds and there is a certain pattern to the way they occur. I set the recorder for civil dusk as per the NocMig protocol and in theory record until civil dawn. I say in theory because most of the time the rechargeable batteries fade at about that time due to the drop in temperature and 20 minutes prior to civil dawn, the garden <b>Blackbird</b> joins in the dawn chorus and obliterates the sonogram. He also tends to sing up to and occasionally just beyond dusk. The local <b>Robin</b> starts earlier in the morning and later in the evening and whilst the song obscures some things it isn't as loud and is more constrained with fewer harmonics with long pauses between phrases. Song Thrush would be quite bad except the closest seems to be about 100 yards away - slightly different to a decade ago when a pair bred in the garden. Other resident species recorded after dark include <b>Rooks</b>, <b>Crows</b>, <b>Jackdaws</b> and <b>Magpies </b>both as they enter/exit roost and occasionally when they are disturbed. The local <b>Pheasants </b>cluck away enthusiastically from the small hours but irregularly enough to not be a nuisance. I haven't heard Grey Partridge yet.<br />
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Finally we come to owls. <b>Tawny Owl </b>seems straight forward enough as there is a pair nearby but not within the street. They occasionally duet but mostly it is the male. He calls most often after midnight for a couple of hours but can call at anytime when he duels with other birds in adjacent territories. <b>Barn Owl </b><a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/544661">https://www.xeno-canto.org/544661</a><b> </b>is a bit more complicated. Until last night I had heard it on a couple of occasions, always sounding distant. Yesterday I found a single feather in the garden and whitewash on the wall. Last night a distant call was followed up very quickly by a call from within the garden. There was further whitewash on the fence and on the bird table. I have no idea where this bird might be nesting - there are no barns immediately adjacent and few mature trees. This is something I will be following up for sure.<br />
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So how have I found it? NocMig is quite overwhelming initially - everything sounds different. I am pretty confident on my ID from sounds during the day, doing surveys almost daily for 10 years and lots of CBC which is primarily by ear and yet the nocturnal flight calls can be bewildering. There are a number of species which give calls which seem alien to me, especially Water Rail which can sound like a wader, a passerine and like a little pig. Having said that, like anything new, it gets easier with practise. I am processing the recordings faster each day although it still takes 3 hours or so. I am familiar with all the creaks and groans and now recognise the sonograms for the regular species. Most importantly I am absolutely loving it. There is a voyage of discovery each morning and the joy of solving a puzzle or adding something unexpected and new is amazing. Given the current situation with Covid-19 it is gratifying to find something where I am learning a new skill, building upon this and it has potential professional ramifications. My Zoom H1n is dead easy and all the information you need to get started is out there including survey protocols, how to use audacity, how to analyse the data and support groups on ID on WhatsApp, Facebook, Xeno-canto and Twitter. If this all sounds fun then definitely get involved. It cost a total of about £100 including rechargeable batteries and a dead kitten style wind shield for the mics.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-84118351353204880342020-04-02T10:06:00.001+01:002020-04-02T10:06:22.528+01:00Lockdown Listing and the Wonder of NocmigLast night I stood in my garden, no bins (it was dark), glass of gin in hand, and listened. There is was boop- boop-boop. Closer and closer, a little to the south, approaching from the west before heading away to the east with the doppler effect in full force. <b>Common Scoter</b> added to my garden list. This was the first of six flocks as a mass exodus from the Irish Sea had confined birders across the country out listening in the dark. There was a time lag as well so what was happening at 9 in Blackburn happened at 10 in York and then started at half 10 here near Driffield and was 15 minutes later for those at Flamborough. An absolutely incredible movement and proabbly so well witnessed due to the ongoing situation with coronavirus - would so many birders have stood in their gardens if we were free to head out the following day? My fifth flock of the night was a direct hit and I could hear the whistling of the wings. It was genuinely exciting to listen to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qcJnwugtJpw/XoWqgrcJYxI/AAAAAAAAGNY/rUTs73kF5FY1fOt_1a5V7FEUX3MsKLqhwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDh60ZbrbzW9yjVKQLSqEh4tpLz7UrszQ3eGvqoYqG5PVXpLM7fqta4HvBDud0VWyaEQ877geOgr8r-ZUrs1z733VkPtUVYJ5y4WWOa6iRobTGOasbarzYrT7pj62xAZmYmr0D9257EqjJCXKqygQXTYsOzJB_N9D2hSQLxVW-ywnxs8-oLW5B8ipfCdRhH1Af40xWE7dA75C49yPWmUjx2sGTlqKNjyXdFeEiwH1oRFtW9YT0LN8ooTkeFAcjv73gnye7xGFTOGQbpjbg5sU58WCPXFL5OOwrUrx2GW2p-tp-H3rxExusYQNTcYfk8hdukpdzXjwZWU1RvpnBllZMD-oXxQ8lpgpHprQtxgKJNA-cLFTNcdEz5qh6n_31dDgXLBg4Fe9nl9pkoCwYvLKKGuG9LqdSOz4BFF1Fxk3e8MeUe6VXwaevnjhbhPsZ3_dK9jTIN8Xz4AGHuyTa18DAPGZMXzQB_RK236_ni3qBXMsY7ayi3IFQuWc87S6qVqtLxyeSygsWSRPhM60YTiCRaRFxnB83qXzagFCbTaScWGHPV8EFFr5tNho3cN8JzoZAs62p9iXVScEBNia96pR_ejRXvA_99Zt0w7dmW9AU/s1600/Dunnock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qcJnwugtJpw/XoWqgrcJYxI/AAAAAAAAGNY/rUTs73kF5FY1fOt_1a5V7FEUX3MsKLqhwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDh60ZbrbzW9yjVKQLSqEh4tpLz7UrszQ3eGvqoYqG5PVXpLM7fqta4HvBDud0VWyaEQ877geOgr8r-ZUrs1z733VkPtUVYJ5y4WWOa6iRobTGOasbarzYrT7pj62xAZmYmr0D9257EqjJCXKqygQXTYsOzJB_N9D2hSQLxVW-ywnxs8-oLW5B8ipfCdRhH1Af40xWE7dA75C49yPWmUjx2sGTlqKNjyXdFeEiwH1oRFtW9YT0LN8ooTkeFAcjv73gnye7xGFTOGQbpjbg5sU58WCPXFL5OOwrUrx2GW2p-tp-H3rxExusYQNTcYfk8hdukpdzXjwZWU1RvpnBllZMD-oXxQ8lpgpHprQtxgKJNA-cLFTNcdEz5qh6n_31dDgXLBg4Fe9nl9pkoCwYvLKKGuG9LqdSOz4BFF1Fxk3e8MeUe6VXwaevnjhbhPsZ3_dK9jTIN8Xz4AGHuyTa18DAPGZMXzQB_RK236_ni3qBXMsY7ayi3IFQuWc87S6qVqtLxyeSygsWSRPhM60YTiCRaRFxnB83qXzagFCbTaScWGHPV8EFFr5tNho3cN8JzoZAs62p9iXVScEBNia96pR_ejRXvA_99Zt0w7dmW9AU/s640/Dunnock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunnock</td></tr>
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Common Scoter wasn't the only garden tick as I picked up two flocks of <b>Wigeon</b> and a single flock of <b>Teal</b>. These were all new for the garden and took the garden list onto 79 (when I added <b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> which I have seen umpteen times but forgotten to add). I am taking part in the Lockdown Listing competition, counting birds seen from the garden whilst we are restricted with movement. So far I am on 45 species with a surprise <b>Goldcrest</b> this morning. There is a pair breeding about 80m from teh house but across a railway line so I didnt expect them to pitch up. I havent had anything else exceptional or unusual although a flock of <b>Redwing </b>early last week were good to add this late on. Im still waiting the returning Blackcap and Willow Warbler on my Blackthorn blossom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SC_QweqQohY/XoWqq3dGaSI/AAAAAAAAGNc/fuxWH4DTkBYTvu2MqS0zxJ8gWoerN_ZnQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SC_QweqQohY/XoWqq3dGaSI/AAAAAAAAGNc/fuxWH4DTkBYTvu2MqS0zxJ8gWoerN_ZnQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Peacock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock</td></tr>
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Aside from the birds it has been a delight to see the first insects returning to the garden. Temperatures got up to 16c last week and as a result I recorded four species of butterfly, <b>Small White</b>, <b>Peacock</b>, <b>Small Tortoiseshell</b> and <b>Brimstone</b>. Bees were also conspicuous with <b>Honeybee </b>the first followed rapidly by the now ever present <b>Buff-tailed Bumblebee </b>queens. These were followed later in the week by the <b>Buffish Mining Bee </b><i>Andrena nigroaenea </i>and then <b>Tree Bumblebee</b> with a single queen seen. A colder turn over the weekend with northerly winds meant only the Buff-tails were still about but yesterday it warmed up and I had the first <b>Early Bumblebee </b>queens. I have also had my first <b>Tapered Droneflies </b><i>Eristalis pertinax</i><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>which are ever present, a queen social wasp although I didn't manage a photograph so don't know which species. On the spider front there were plenty of <b>Missing Sector Orb-weavers </b><i>Zygiella x-notata</i> out and about last night. The garden also has an abundance of wildflowers starting to appear with a violet coming into bloom. When it is fully established I will key it to species but I expect, given the date it will be <b>Early Dog-Violet</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e04GqX8tRio/XoWq39CZyEI/AAAAAAAAGNk/Uhe2GiSt5hU0QuTt2EzYYDIntDeV43ufgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Andrena%2Bnigroaenea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e04GqX8tRio/XoWq39CZyEI/AAAAAAAAGNk/Uhe2GiSt5hU0QuTt2EzYYDIntDeV43ufgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Andrena%2Bnigroaenea.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffish Mining Bee <i>Andrena nigroaenea</i></td></tr>
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The limited horizons and fact that I have been furloughed mean that I will be looking closely at the garden, what flies over, lands in and generally calls it home I am planning some habitat enhancement for amphibians and grass snakes (the latter is very much on the wish list). I am looking at getting a nocmig setup after the scoter fun and also considering a moth trap. A PSL list of the garden is very much on the cards. To anyone that is reading I hope you stay healthy and safe and are able to enjoy what is on your doorstep.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-34754918977782105172020-03-04T23:11:00.002+00:002020-03-04T23:11:30.573+00:00Pelagic Mayhem - Sydney March 2018This is a much belated video, compiled from a number of short clips I managed on the Sydney pelagic I took part in during March 2018. Here, two years later, I am counting down to my next trip which is due in October 2021 and my new found inability to edit videos together yielded this. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed reliving some of the birds!<br />
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-899117276959152372020-02-13T09:06:00.001+00:002020-02-13T09:06:20.422+00:00Early February<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4xYqQ4m_tM" width="560"></iframe> <br />
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The couple of weeks have been a windy blur. I am back home after my second trip to Somerset in that time with birding up in the North Yorkshire forests, Skerne Wetlands, the east bank of the River Hull, Far Ings and a few other places. I will start at the beginning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezCPlL3VEic/XkUPkUwlqjI/AAAAAAAAGLE/4uSPKnmjAacpSI5ufbG538vlAfHZ39OVgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSCN0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezCPlL3VEic/XkUPkUwlqjI/AAAAAAAAGLE/4uSPKnmjAacpSI5ufbG538vlAfHZ39OVgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSCN0429.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skerne Fieldfare</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">In Somerset for work and it was the usual breezy and occasionally damp weather. I didn't see a great deal of new stuff on the first visit but what was remarkable was the sheer size of the </span><b style="text-align: center;">Starling </b><span style="text-align: center;">roost on Shapwick Heath. There must have been getting on for a million birds present and they threw some shapes as they were hassled by </span><b style="text-align: center;">Marsh Harriers</b><span style="text-align: center;">, </span><b style="text-align: center;">Sparrowhawks</b><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><b style="text-align: center;">Peregrines</b><span style="text-align: center;">. I managed some decent footage which is in the last couple of minutes of the video above. Other than that it was the usual Avalon Marshes suspects with plenty of smart </span><b style="text-align: center;">Lapwing</b><span style="text-align: center;">, </span><b style="text-align: center;">Gadwall</b><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><b style="text-align: center;">Great White Egrets</b><span style="text-align: center;">. We failed to find the Firecrests this time but I did get to hear Paul and Euan's theories on cryptozoology and specifically bigfoot and yetis. Bonkers.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossbill at Wykeham. It was windy and that is my excuse for the framing.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="text-align: center;">The Friday had me in North Lincolnshire and I tried to call in at Far Ings to see my mate Simon Wellock who is the warden. Unfortunately Simon was away but some delicious light meant I got to see a </span><b style="text-align: center;">Bittern </b><span style="text-align: center;">briefly stalk across a clearing in the reeds and the attendant wildfowl all looked fabulous in their breeding finery.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Tit at Forge Valley</td></tr>
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As we were now at the first weekend of February I thought I would try for <b>Goshawk </b>up at Wykeham. I was a touch early seemingly as plenty were seen last weekend but a solitary female cruising about over Broxa was very decent. I also managed to see my first <b>Siskin </b>and <b>Crossbills </b>of the year at the Raptor Viewpoint. Dropping down into Forge Valley and the feeders were well stocked unlike my previous visit and I wasnt disappointed with plenty of <b>Nuthatch </b>and <b>Marsh Tit </b>action along with a friendly <b>Treecreeper </b>nearby. At this point I hadn't heard whether the Flamborough <b>Grey Phalarope </b>was still present but as I had to head that way I thought I would take a punt. Gladly this paid off handsomely as it fed at close range as covered by the previous post. Despite an iffy forecast I had a very productive day and was home by early afternoon, saving brownie points!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swans by the River Hull</td></tr>
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A couple of hours free time last weekend saw a flying visit to Skerne Wetlands where the Marsh Harriers were up to their usual tricks at the southern end of the site and other than that it was pretty quiet as the wind cranked prior to Storm Ciara. I decided on a safari of the east bank of the River Hull from North Frodingham down to Brandesburton Ponds and Hempholme. It wasn't massively productive but I did manage to find a quintet of <b>Whooper Swans </b>lazing in fields with Mutes and Greylags which was pleasing. A brief encounter with a hunt meant I quickly retreated to the sanctity of home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-crested Pochard on Meare Heath</td></tr>
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This week I have been down in Somerset again undertaking some training with a new colleague and taking advantage of a break in the storms to get back to Shapwick Heath. Prior to the RSPB closing down access to half the levels due to the risk of getting bonced by falling debris we managed to see a few Egrets and the usual waterfowl along with a very smart pair of <b>Red-crested Pochard </b>which were apparently picked up the day prior on Meare Heath Pool. All said it was a challenging but fun visit with a female <b>Merlin </b>attempting to predate <b>Avocets </b>and unlikely highlight. I may be heading to Scotland next week but looking at the weather forecast equally I may not. We shall see!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great White Egret at Ham Wall RSPB</td></tr>
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024224516112831243.post-67737141054414498822020-02-01T21:01:00.002+00:002020-02-04T15:14:35.910+00:00Grey Phalarope at Thornwick Pools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">I called in at Thornwick Pools this afternoon to see the unseasonal </span><b style="text-align: start;">Grey Phalarope </b><span style="text-align: start;">which has spent the last couple of days in residence. This is an unusual time of year for Grey Phalaropes with six records thus far in 2020 and none in January 2019. This species should be wintering on cold water upwellings off the west coast of South Africa or in the Gulf of Mexico. It is my first winter Grey Phalarope and a new species for Flamborough Head for me (#216). After watching it thirty minutes it flew to the back of the pool and preened out of the wind. I met the finder, Dave Simmonite, who has recently relocated to the headland and congratulated him on a good start to the year. I also found out the two <b>Mute Swans </b>which were on Hood's Flash last week were now on North Marsh. Mute Swan is less than annual at Flamborough and a species I hadn't caught up with until now. A quick dash up to Lighthouse Road saw me scoping the snowy giants loafing on the scrape for Flamborough tick #217. I managed to get a few photos and some short video of the phalarope as it bobbed on the small pool.</span></div>
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<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307934734992834446noreply@blogger.com0