Hen Harrier at Deadmans Hill nr Sandon

Early sunday morning visit to Deadmans Hill nr Sandon, postcode SG7 6SF. Female Hen Harrier showing from 07:10 to 07:25, Buzzard, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, 20+Red Legged Partridge, 16+ Grey Partridge.

Mid morning at Amwell. Pintail, Lapwing, Shoveler, Wigeon, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, 2 Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, 2 singing Cetti's Warbler. No sign of reported Bearded Tits.
sh4rpy, Brendan G.

Updates

A couple of visits to Woodoaks farm since last blog. Several Buzzard, 2 Red Kite, Little Owl, Linnet, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit and Skylark the most notable birds seen.

On Thurs from our works canteen window. Mixed tit flock consisting of, 6 Long Tailed Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and bringing up the rear a Coal Tit.

Friday 29th Oct 2010. I visited Grove Ferry and Oare Marshes both reserves are in Kent. Traffic on the M25 was diabolical on both the outward and return journies.
Notable birds at Grove Ferry, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Ruff, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Snipe.
At Oare Marshes. 3 Little Egret, Redshank, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, 3 Snipe, Rock Pipit.

Saturday 30th October. 20 mins at Springwell Lake, Mixed Tit flock, 7 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit and also a Goldcrest.

Woodoaks Farm Weds 27th Oct 2010

Noteworthy birds at Woodoaks today were as follows; 2 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 13 Linnet, 4+Meadow Pipit, 12 Skylark, 50+ Black Headed Gull, 3 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 4 Herring Gull, Green Woodpecker.

Snow Buntings at Cley

The highlight of a trip to Cley with Brendan G and Phil B today was at least 14 Snow Bunting. Other birds noted were as follows; Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Stonechat, Bearded Tit, Black Tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Knot, Curlew, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pintail, Shelduck, Brent Goose, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 14+ Snow Bunting in two groups of 2 then 12+, 30+Goldfinch, 3 very late House Martin.
Seawatch: 30+ Common Scoter, 15 Gannet, 6 Red Throated Diver, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Great Skua.
Also 1 Grey Seal.
sh4rpy, Brendan G, Phil B.

Woodoaks Farm

An hour spent at Woodoaks Farm today, 20+Chaffinch and 1 Yellowhammer on or around haystack and farm outbuildings, Little Owl in old orchard, 6 Yellowhammer in old orchard hedgerow,  c30 Linnet feeding on track towards manure pile also bathing in puddles along the track, other birds seen were, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Grey Wagtail.

Stockers Farm and Lake

Early afternoon walk around Stockers Farm and Lake. 3 Ring Necked Parakeet and 1 Lapwing at Stockers Farm.
Stockers Lake, Pochard, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 6 Ring Necked Parakeet, 3-4 flocks of Long Tailed Tit, mixed flock of approximately 30 Goldfinch and Siskin, 25 Redwing.

Maple Lodge and Woodoaks Farm

Pretty quiet at Maple Lodge. 7 Little Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Shoveler. Similar situation at Woodoaks Farm, 3 Linnet, 2 Grey Wagtail, Skylark, 12 Lapwing in field closest to main road.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Woodoaks Farm then Ivinghoe Beacon

A mid morning/early afternoon visit to Woodoaks Farm; 2 Little Owl, 4/5 Buzzard, 3 Red Kite, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Grey Wagtail, several small flocks containing 3-6 Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 10 Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Skylark.
sh4rpy, Geoff L, Tony H

Mid afternoon/early evening visit to south east side of Ivinghoe Beacon; 4 Buzzard, 50+ Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, Skylark, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 6+Brambling, 2 Marsh Tit.

top quality Brambling pic

sh4rpy, Brendan G

Last of the Summer Wine?

sh4rpy, Tony S and Brendan G at Breydon Water (Asda's Car Park)

Lesser Yellow Legs

A mid morning visit to Port Meadow, Oxford. Park near junction of Aristotle Lane and Navigation Way. OX2 6AB.
Lesser Yellow Legs, Ruff, Redshank, 2 Little Stint, 2 Sparrowhawk, 20+Golden Plover.
sh4rpy, Brendan G

Norfolk / Suffolk Bird List w/c 11th Oct 2010.

The following is a full list of the birds seen this week. Sites the more notable birds were seen at will be added soon.
Birds seen Norfolk/Suffolk Oct 2010. sh4rpy/Brendan G/Tony S. 120 seen and 2 Heard.
Monday 11th October 2010;
Mute Swan
Pink-footed Goose
Brent Goose
Mallard
Long-tailed Duck
Common Scoter
Pheasant
Gannet
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Moorhen
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Barn Owl
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Great Grey Shrike
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Reed Bunting

Tues 12th October 2010;
Eider
Velvet Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-legged Partridge
Red-throated Diver
Marsh Harrier
Buzzard
Crane
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Ruff
Snipe
Turnstone
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Collared Dove
Little Owl
Swallow
Pale Bellied Brent Goose
Red-flanked Bluetail
Black Redstart
Firecrest
Treecreeper
Rook
Linnet
Wigeon
Cetti’s Warbler (Heard)

Weds 13th October 2010;
Greylag Goose
Egyptian Goose
Gadwall
Teal
Pintail
Shoveler
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Sooty Shearwater
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Grey Plover
Knot
Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Guillemot
Kingfisher
Yellow-browed Warbler
Bearded Tit
Comic Tern

Thurs 14th October 2010;
Canada Goose
Little Stint
Jack Snipe
Rock Pipit
Tawny Owl (Heard)

Fri 15th October 2010;
Scaup
Lapland Bunting

Norfolk/Suffolk Update

Back from four and a bit days birding in Norfolk and Suffolk. 120 species were seen and 2 heard. Highlights were Great Grey Shrike, Red Flanked Blue Tail, Firecrest, Yellow Browed Warbler, Lapland Bunting and Jack Snipe. A more detailed report will follow within the next couple of days.
sh4rpy, Brendan G, Tony S.

Collective go mad in norfolk!

Off to sunny norfolk for a few days birding tomorrow. Hopefully the blog will be updated daily depending on the performance of my vodafone internet dongle.
sh4rpy

Fields either side of Sheppeys Lane, Abbots Langley.

Late afternoon/early evening. Clear visibility, 20c, Wind NE14. 3 Buzzard, 2 Yellowhammer, 10+ Skylark, 2 Goldfinch, 6 Swallow heading roughly north east.
sh4rpy