Maple Cross

Woodoaks Farm; Liitle Owl, Chiffchaff(singing),

Maple Lodge; Green Woodpecker (2 on the cricket pitch, 1 at long off and 1 silly mid wicket).
On the reserve; Little Grebe, Teal, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Wyke Regis and Portland pics

On our recent trip to Dorset Paul Frost captured the images below.
First summer male Woodchat Shrike at Wyke Regis. Pulpit Rock Portland, Rock Pipit, Great black-backed Gull, Wheatear and Raven all at Portland.

Titchwell and the Brecks

Bank Holiday Monday 27th August 2012

A day Trip to Titchwell Marshes with Samuel and his younger brother Ephraim.

On route via the M11 a Hobby and a suicidal Stoat were noted.
Near to Titchwell, Grey and Red-legged Partridge also Common Buzzard (2).
The most noteworthy birds on the reserve itself; Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Ruff (50+), Spoonbill (18), Reed Warbler.
Then from the beach; Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Great black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Scoter, Eider, Fulmar.
Samuel noticed a Marsh Harrier over the sea and then another raptor close by. On closer inspection the second raptor was an Osprey, drifting slowly towards where we were standing. This sent myself and Ephraim scurrying for our camera's but unfortunately the Osprey did not fly close enough for any pics. It appeared to fly further out to sea and heading north.

From Titchwell we headed homewards with a couple of stops on route.

Santon Downham; Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Swift and Hobby were all we could manage here.

 

Then our final stop of the day was in the Brecks. Here we managed Stone Curlew (c25). My distant Stone Curlew pic below.

 

You can read Samuel's and Ephraim's account of our trip via the links below.
Samuel's blog: http://samuelbirding.blogspot.co.uk/
Ephraim's blog: http://mybirdblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Day List

1. Hobby
   
2. Yellowhammer
   
3. Woodpigeon
   
4. Collared Dove
   
5. House Martin
   
6. Swallow
   
7. Robin
   
8. Chaffinch
   
9. Grey Partridge
   
10. Red-legged Partridge
    
11. Buzzard
    
12. Moorhen
    
13. Coot
    
14. Greylag Goose
    
15. Ruff
    
16. Shelduck
    
17. Tufted Duck
    
18. Spoonbill
    
19. Avocet
    
20. Little Egret
    
21. Teal
    
22. Mallard
    
23. Ringed Plover
    
24. Black-headed Gull
    
25. Golden Plover
    
26. Lapwing
    
27. Kestrel
    
28. Meadow Pipit
    
29. Shoveler
    
30. Pied Wagtail
    
31. Goldfinch
    
32. Canada Goose
    
33. Egyptian Goose
    
34. Pheasant
    
35. Redshank
    
36. Grey Plover
    
37. Herring Gull
    
38. Starling
    
39. Dunlin
    
40. Oystercatcher
    
41. Knot
    
42. Turnstone
    
43. Bar-tailed Godwit
    
44. Gannet
    
45. Great Crested Grebe
    
46. Black-tailed Godwit
    
47. Sandwich Tern
    
48. Curlew
    
49. Great Black-backed Gull
    
50. Common Scoter
    
51. Marsh Harrier
    
52. Osprey
    
53. Sanderling
    
54. Cormorant
    
55. Fulmar
    
56. Eider
    
57. Spotted Redshank
    
58. Wigeon
    
59. Reed Warbler
    
60. Magpie
    
61. Long-tailed Tit
    
62. Blue Tit
    
63. Great Tit
    
64. House Sparrow
    
65. Greenfinch
    
66. Coal Tit
    
67. Jackdaw
    
68. Carrion Crow
    
69. Goldcrest
    
70. Nuthatch
    
71. Stock Dove
    
72. Swift
    
73. Stone-curlew
    
74. Rook
    
75. Jay (Chris only)
    
76. Green Woodpecker (heard)
    
77. Wren (heard)
    
78. Blackcap (heard)


79. Willow Warbler
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Wyke Regis

A trip to Wyke Regis in search of Woodchat Shrike with Paul, Brendan and new recruit Samuel.
After arriving at Wyke Regis we made our way around the perimeter of the ministry of defence training camp or "bridging camp" as it is known locally. We soon enjoyed good views of an adult Woodchat Shrike. Also here a Yellow Wagtail. I took some half decent pics but somehow managed to delete them all! So hopefully Paul managed to capture some image's.
Next stop was Portland where we began with a spot of sea watching; Gannet, Fulmar, Shag, Great black-backed Gull and Balearic Shearwater were noted. Also from our view point several Rock Pipit.
Then a walk around the nearby fields and lanes produced; Wheatear (10), Raven (3), Stonechat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler.
At nearby Ferrybridge; Great black-backed Gull, Dunlin, Ringed Plover.
On our return journey we stopped off at Acre's Down in the New Forest, however, shortly after arriving on the summit of Acre's Down the heavens opened and we all got drenched. All we managed to note here were several Willow Warblers and Stonechats.

Woodoaks Farm

Woodoaks Farm before work today; Red Kite, Green Woodpecker, Little Owl (1 adult and 1 juv)
The adult Little Owl started off here.

Then flew a short distance to here.

The juv Little Owl was some distance away (poor pic sorry!)

Then briefly at the Withey Beds a Great-spotted Woodpecker showed well.



Hot Birding

A days birding with Brendan, Paul and briefly the artist known as Tony Stride.
The temperature was 30+ all day. Our first stop was RSPB reserve Buckenham Marshes, here we met up with recovering scotch egg addict Tony S. A good selection of waders here including; Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe (12+), Green Sandpiper (6), Common Sandpiper (2), Wood Sandpiper (4) and Greenshank. Also here; Little Egret, Buzzard, Sand Martin, Egyptian Goose and a real bonus of a fly through Osprey. My heavily cropped Osprey pics below.

From Buckenham Marshes we travelled further into Norfolk where we were lucky to encounter no less than 4 Honey Buzzards. Good scope views were had but too far for photo's. Tony S left us here and we made our way to Winterton on Sea for a spot of sea watching.
Not too much to report from here but we did manage the following; Red-throated Diver (4), Little Tern (6), Sandwich Tern (c30), Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull,  Grey Seal.

Next stop was Breydon Water; Avocet (c150), Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew, Redshank, Godwit sp.

On our journey home we stopped in the Brecks at Santon Downham; Spotted Flycatcher (12+), Tree Pipit (5), Coal Tit (4), Nuthatch (2), Hobby, Buzzard. First two pics below are my Spotted Flycatchers then next two are Paul's Tree Pipit and Hobby.

Finally, also in the Brecks we encountered; Stone Curlew (2).

Hedgehogs

My son Will took the hedgehog pics below. First one was about a week ago and outside my house. The second one was in my back garden this evening.

Cuckoo flown to Italy in plane for migration 'catch up'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-192526

Birding in Hants

Today Paul and myself spent the day birding in Hampshire.

Keyhaven and Pennington; Night Heron, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Common Tern, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Curlew, Ruff.

Briefly at Shatterford; Mistle Thrush, Willow Warbler, Redstart, Stonechat.

Acre's Down; Goshawk, Hobby, Buzzard, Redstart, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Green Woodpecker, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Firecrest.

My pics of variable quality below; First two Dunlin, next three Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit. Then after my Godwit pics are Paul's pics;

Paul Frost's pics below; Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Ruff, Firecrest.

Linnet Innit

A wander around the fields near my house this morning; Yellowhammer, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Buzzard, Song Thrush. Also a Muntjac. Linnet pic below.

Sutton Gault

This afternoon Paul and myself paid a visit to Sutton Gault in Cambridgeshire. Our target bird was the Purple Heron, luckily for us as soon as we arrived on site we immediately connected with the bird. We enjoyed good but fairly distant views before the Purple Heron flew about 500 yards further south. Also noted here were; Little Grebe and Little Egret.

On the way back we made a couple of stops in North Herts. Firstly at Deadman's Hill near Sandon; Buzzard (3), Red Kite (2), Kestrel, Yellowhammer.

Next stop was the village of Wallington, here we encountered a family party of Spotted Flycatchers.
First four pics below of dubious quality are mine then next five are Paul's; My pics Purple Heron at Sutton Gault, then next 3 pics Spotted Flycatchers at Wallington. Paul's pics, first two Purple Heron then next three Spotted Flycatchers.

Otmoor and Shardeloe's

A mornings birding with Paul.
First stop was Otmoor; Red Kite, Kestrel, Hobby, Green Woodpecker, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Mistle Thrush, Whinchat.

Then briefly at Shardeloe's Lake; Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Spotted Flycatcher, Red Kite, Buzzard, House Martin, Swift.

Woodoaks Farm

A visit to Woodoaks then the Withey Beds before work today.
Woodoaks; Swift (c20), Buzzard (7), Red Kite (3), Sparrowhawk, Little Owl.
Withey Beds; Great-spotted Woodpecker (2).
Pics below; Lil Owl at Woodoaks and Great-spot at Withey Beds.