Dungeness

A days birding at Dungeness with Paul F. We visited three sites at Dungeness; ARC pit, "The Patch" / power station area and the RSPB reserve.

First port of call was the ARC pit; Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, 2 Garganey (pair,) 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, Curlew.

"The Patch" and Power Station; Meadow Pipit, 8 Linnet, c20 Common Tern, c20 Sandwich Tern, 3 Little Tern, Arctic Tern, 6 Common Scoter, 2 Swallow, 3 Wheatear.

RSPB Reserve; 8+ Yellow Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Cetti's Warbler, 20+ Sedge Warbler, Oystercatcher, Slavonian Grebe, 3 Marsh Harrier.

sh4rpy, Paul F.

2 Loons

An afternoon visit to a very quiet Staines Reservoirs produced the following; 2 Great Northern Divers, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Wigeon, Teal.

Croxley Common Moor-Wilstone Reservoir

Croxley Common Moor; 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallow, Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing.
Wilstone Reservoir; 19 Common Tern, Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, 1 Swallow.

RSPB Nags Head 20th March 2011

Some pics from a recent visit to RSPB Nags Head with Brendan G and Paul F. Pics taken by Paul Frost do not use without his permission. Click on pics to enlarge.

Bullfinch

Mandarin

Mandarin (pair)

Symonds Yat 20th March 2011

Some pics from a recent visit to Symonds Yat with Paul F and Brendan G. Pics were taked by Paul Frost, do not use without his permission. Clic on pics to enlarge.

 View from Symonds Yat Rock

Raven

Goshawk

Goshawk

Titchwell Pics March 13th 2011

All the pics below were taken by Paul Frost. Do not use them without his permission. They were all taken on March 13th 2011 at Titchwell with the exception of the last pic which is a Stone Curlew in flight at Foxhole Heath.

Woodoaks Farm

A lunchtime visit to Woodoaks Farm produced the following; Yellowhammer, Red Kite, 4 Meadow Pipit, 6 Skylark, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Little Owl. Also noted 5 Hare's (2 adult and 3 juvenile.)

Beds n Herts then Beds again.

Blows Down, Ivinghoe Beacon, Wilstone Reservoir, Blows Down (again.) with Brendan G.
Arrived at Blows down about 08:30, target birds were Wheatear and Ring Ouzel. First we gave the "paddocks" a good going over but nothing much of interest. We then decided to go up to the "plateau," on our ascent we encountered another birder who informed us 2 Ring Ouzel had been reported on the "Kingsbury slope." But despite some intensive searching by ourselves and several other birders we could not locate any Ring Ouzel, however, we did note several Yellowhammer. We then made our way to the "Plateau" where we noted c20 Meadow Pipit, 10+ Skylark, 4 Buzzard and a single male Wheatear. We also noted a Hare.

Next stop was Ivinghoe Beacon. As soon as we had parked up we were straight onto a very distant male Ring Ouzel. We made our way towards the Ring Ouzel where we were treated to some great views of the bird perched up and feeding. Whilst at Ivinghoe we also noted, Red Kite, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Also at Ivinghoe were top Maple Cross birders Paul Lewis and daughter.

From Ivinghoe we went to Wilstone Reservoir in Herts. Here we noted a pair of Mistle Thrush feeding young, 50+ Sand Martin, 2 Red Kite, 9 Common Tern and thanks to Local birder Steve Rodwell 6 Sandwich Tern on the bunds for about 40 mins before flying off towards Marsworth. Whilst at Wilstone we received news that there was a Pied Flycatcher at Blows Down.

Last site visit of the day was a return to Blows Down. We joined about 15 other birders and before long we were treated to cracking views of a summer plumaged male Pied Flycatcher. We then gave the paddocks another look and were rewarded with great views of a male Wheatear, then another great show by the Pied Flycatcher before we made our way home.

sh4rpy, Brendan G.

Blows Down and Ivinghoe Beacon

Midday visit to Blows Down and then on to Ivinghoe Beacon.
Blows Down; 2 Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chiffchaff, c20 Skylark.
Ivinghoe Beacon; Chiffchaff, 2 Red Kite, Goldcrest.

Forest of Dean

Saturday 19th March 2011. Myself Paul F and Brendan G visited the following sites in the Foest of Dean; New Fancy, Symonds Yat Rock and RSPB Nagshead. First port of call was New Fancy, we arrived at approximately 08:17, nothing much of note for the first 45 minutes except for 3 Goosander in flight, then at a 09:00 we saw the first of 5 or maybe 6 Goshawk, also noted at this site were several Buzzard. Next up was Symonds Yat Rock. On route we noted a Sparrowhawk. First birds noted at Symonds Yat were 2 Nuthatch collecting nesting material, then from the watchpoint we had good views of Peregrine, Raven, Buzzard, Red Kite and up to three Goshawk including one male performing display flight (stunning!,) also noted were 3 Goosander on the river. Next up was RSPB Nags Head, not quite as much excitement as the 2 previous sites but we did note the following; Buzzard, Siskin, Bullfinch (pair,) Nuthatch, Treecreeper (upto 6,) Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 3 Mandarin including 2 summer plumaged males. On the way home we called in at Marlow Gravel Pits where we noted the following; 4 Egyptian Geese, 100+ Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, 2-3 Kingfisher, several Red Kite and a lone Mediterranean Gull.

Updates

Apologies to my vast legion of followers for my lack of updates recently.
Sunday 13th of March I went to Titchwell RSPB with Paul F. Only a few steps onto the reserve we located a perched Marsh Harrier offering good views if a little distant. Almost immediately Paul found a Barn Owl quatering the fields and then perched on a fencepost. Next birds of note were 6+ Pintails including males in summer plumage and Brent Geese. From the smart new hides most noteworthy birds were, Ruff, Redshank, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Bar Tailed Godwit and good numbers of Avocet offering some good photo opportunities for Paul. Also noted was a pale looking Water Pipit, kindly i.d'd for us by an RSPB volunteer, however, we were not able to locate any of the Twite I had seen on a previous visit. From the beach, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone. Vast rafts of Common Scoter contained 3 Velvet Scoter, also noted were good numbers of Eider including many drakes. On the way back we called in at Foxhole Heath more in hope than expectation of finding Stone Curlew. As soon as I had set up my scope a rather helpfull birder put it straight on a fairly close Stone Curlew (what a very helpfull chap!) Myself and Paul then located one more although 3 were at the site.

Wilstone, Marsworth, Tyttenhanger, Walthamstow.

A morning visit to Tring then London Colney.
Wilstone Reservoir; Water Pipit near jetty towards cemetery corner, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Yellowhammer, Cetti's Warbler (calling.)
Marsworth; Grey Wagtail.
Tyttenhanger; Skylark, Great Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker.  2 Oystercatcher and a female Goosander on fishing lakes.

Later at Walthamstow Marshes. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Ring Necked Parakeet.

Waxwings Again.

On the way home from work 30-40 Waxwings outside 62 The Avenue. There appeared to be 2 distinct groups, half were fairly mobile and often dropping down to eat berries. The other half were perched up and barely moving. Perhaps the second group were "fed up?" 

The Avenue, Waxwings

I went home via The Avenue, Watford today. Outside number 62 there were 60+ highly mobile Waxwings.
Click on pictures to enlarge.

Maple Lodge and Withey Beds

A quick visit to Maple Lodge then Withey Beds. At Maple Lodge; 2 Snipe from rotunda hide, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Kestrel, Ring Necked Parakeet, Song Thrush, Redwing, Wigeon, Teal.
Withey Beds; 2 Bullfinch (pair,) Goldcrest.

Staines Reservoirs South Basin

A morning visit to Staines Reservoirs produced Great Northern Diver and a drake Scaup. Whilst there i met up with Geoff L, Tony H and Paul F. We headed off to Hampshire in search of a recently reported White Tailed Eagle. Unfortunately we drew a blank.

Back garden; 2 Coal Tit.

Goldcrest, Bat n Buzzards

I had to take my car in to a garage in Two Waters, Hemel today. I decided to walk to Abbots via Grand Union Canal to Kings Langley then Egg Plant Lane. Not much about and generally I was walking more than watching. Near Kings Langley fishing lakes I located 2 Goldcrest. There seem to be a lot of Goldcrests about at the moment. Then further along the canal near to Kings Langley College I noticed a small Bat apparently hunting flies over the canal. This was about 14:30, I have never seen a Bat hunting like this in broad daylight. 3 pics taked with my phone below. Then in Long Wood near Egg Plant Lane, Abbots, 2 Buzzards both perched up roughly 300 yards apart.

 Some people spend lots of money on top of the range camera's but why bother when you can get such high quality pics with a mobile phone?

Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve

I attended an ice hockey match at Lee Valley Ice Rink this afternoon. I had about an hour spare before the game so had a walk around the nearby Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve. The best birds seen were 2 Stonechat, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (showing courtship behaviour) and a Kestrel mobbed by a Magpie. The Stonechats my first (and second!) of the year.

Tree Sparrow at Woodoaks Farm

A morning visit to Woodoaks, As I walked along the "public bridleway" towards the farm cottages I discovered a Tree Sparrow feeding on the track with House Sparrows and Chaffinches. Also noted were Ring Necked Parakeet, Redwing and Fieldfare.

Earlier at Maple Lodge; c100 Siskin, 2 Goldcrest, 6 Teal, 2 Pochard. On Lynsters Farm 7 Egyptian Geese.

Back to Woodoaks at 15:00. No sign of Tree Sparrow but 7 Yellowhammer, 2 Greenfinch, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Waxwings Toms Lane

20 Waxwings opposite Jane Parker's cattery, bottom end of Toms Lane at 16:50.