Funghi forage

Today at Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross; Swallow, House Martin, Kestrel, Wheatear, c10 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Little Owl, Red Kite. Also noted some interesting funghi. It was suggested to me by Lord Geoffrey Laptop of Little on the Green that one of the funghi looks like a phallic symbol. I can't see it myself!

Egyptians at Woodoaks

Sat 3rd Sept 2011. An hour from 08:00 to 09:00 at Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross. No sign of fridays Yellow Wagtails or Whinchat. I saw a Grey Heron catch a rat near the dung heap then proceed to eat it with some difficulty. Also noted; 3 Ring necked parakeet, 2 Little Owl, Sparrowhawk and 12 Egyptian Geese flew from the stubble field beyond the old orchard.

A nice chat at Woodoaks Farm

From the tarmac road that leads up to the farm I noticed a bird on the far side of the cows field sitting on the fence and occasionally dropping down to feed. It was too far away for me to i.d. but i suspected it to be a Whinchat. I made my way round to the farm outbuildings with the intention of moving along the fenceline to get a closer look. It was then that I noticed Sir Geoffrey Laptop jamming in on my bird! I spoke to Jethro and we decided to get my scope then go along the fenceline together to try to get a positive i.d. of the bird. We made our way along the fenceline then viewed the bird from a sensible distance and unbelievably we both identified the bird as a Whinchat at exactly the same time, right down to the milli-second! I phoned Brendan G with the news and Geoff informed Paul Lewis, they both joined us shortly after. Also noted at Woodoaks were; 5 House Martin, 2 Little Owl, 4 Ring Necked Parakeet, 3 Red Kite, 2 Kestrel, Buzzard, Hobby, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Chiffchaff.

Early evening over Parsonage Close, Abbots Langley; c20 House Martin.

A birding stint in north norfolk (again)

Another visit to Norfolk with Brendan and Paul. Sites visited were; NWT Cley, NOA Walsey Hill, Warren Wood nr Cromer and finally a seawatch from the cliffs at East Runton.
NWT Cley; House Martin, Swallow, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Gannet, Avocet, Dunlin, Lapwing, Ruff, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Red Necked Phalarope, 6 Little Stint, 14 Curlew Sandpiper, 11 Spoonbill, Little Egret, Yellow Legged Gull, Common Gull, Marsh Harrier, Hobby.

NOA Walsey Hill; Coal Tit, 2 Hobby, Red Backed Shrike.

Warren Wood nr Cromer; Western Bonelli's Warbler, Hobby.

Seawatch from the cliffs at East Runton; Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Fulmar, Hobby, 2 Arctic Skua's.

Paul Frost's pics below. (click on pics to enlarge)

Fight

Kite versus Buzzard. Pic taken by Paul Frost on a farm in Bucks. Click on pic to enlarge.

Wilstone Reservoir.

A lunchtime visit to Wilstone Reservoir near Tring produced the following; Buzzard, Red Kite, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Little Egret, Common Tern, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff.

Norf Norfolk

Saturday 20th August 2011, a trip to Norfolk with Paul F and Brendan G.
First stop was a field near Old Hunstanton where we were hoping to see Montagu's Harrier. No luck with the Monty's but we did see the following; Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, Kestrel, Linnet, House Martin, Swallow and a Tawny Owl calling.

Next port of call was Thornham Harbour again in search of Monty's; Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Little Egret, Bar Tailed Godwit, Kestrel, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew.

Then on to RSPB Titchwell; 5 Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Curlew, Knot, Bar Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Avocet, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Turnstone, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Swallow, House Martin. On or over the sea; Gannet, Fulmar, Common Scoter, Sanwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Long Tailed Duck. Also noted a Grey Seal.

Swafham Village; several "rare birds" were noted. I think they may have been attending a wedding nearby.

Final stop in Norfolk was North Creake again in search of Montague's Harrier; Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Wheatear, Kestrel, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Curlew.

On the way home we stopped at Deadmans Hill near Sandon, North Herts; 2 Marsh Harrier, 4+Buzzard, Kestrel, Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge, Red Legged Partridge, Quail (calling)

Final stop for me was the chip shop in Abbots Langley, High Street. Where I purchased a large shish kebab and chips. I didn't eat all of it, I saved some for my breakfast.

Paul Frost pics below, First two pics Long Tailed Duck, second two Sandwich Terns, fifth pic Curlew Sandpipers, all at Titchwell. Last one a Hare at Old Hunstanton. Sadly no pics of the "rare birds" at Swafham.

Ivinghoe Beacon

4 Whinchat, 3 juvenile and 1 adult female. South east of trig point. Same place as Ring Ouzel seen earlier this year.

A bridge too far

Sunday 14th August 2011. An afternoon trip with Paul F to Grafham Water, Cambs and then Rutland Water, Leics.

Grafham Water; Juvenile White-winged Black Tern, Yellow-legged Gull, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow.

Rutland Water; Osprey, Buzzard, House Martin, Swallow, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Teal and Yellow Wagtail, all viewed from Manton Bridge.
Pics below; Yellow-legged Gull at Grafham Water and 2 pics of Osprey in Manton Bay at Rutland Water.

Updates

Mon 8th to Fri 12th August 2011. A brief update. A couple of evening visits to Tyttenhanger Gravel pits nr London Colney, best birds juvenile Redshank 5 Lesser Great Black Backed Gull. Highlights of a couple of visits to Maple Lodge were a Greenshank and 3 Green Sandpipers. Woodoaks Farm; Little Owl and Wheatear.

4 Black headed and 5 Lesser black backed gulls.

Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head

Sunday 7th August 2011. A visit to Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire with Paul and Carol F produced the following; Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Guillemot, Common Scoter, Shag and Feral Pigeon/Rock Dove. Several Grey Seals were also noted.

Pauls' pics below. Click on pics to enlarge.
Pics are as follows; Flamborough Head looking north from below Mist Station, Grey Seal, Grey Seals, Grey Seal, Tree Sparrow, Gannet in flight, Gannet with chick, Gannet with chick, Common Scoter, Guillemot, Herring Gull in flight, Kittiwake, Juvenile Kittiwake in flight, Oystercatchers in flight, Shag in flight.

Here Kitti-Kitti

Kittiwake pics below taken Sunday 7th Aug 2011 at Bempton Cliffs. Report and more pics coming soon.

Shardeloes Lake

An evening visit to Shardeloes Lake nr Old Amersham with Paul F and Jim produced; 6+ Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Kestrel, Buzzard and a female Mandarin duck. Paul Frost's pics below; Spotted Flycatcher x2, Common Redstart, Mandarin. Click on pics to enlarge.