Monday, 26 September 2011
American Road/Boattrip - June/July 2011
During June and early July, Chris and I took a trip to the United States to visit some places we had always wanted to see. Landing at Denver, we did a circular road trip lasting 23 days and 4.500 miles visiting several National Parks, including: Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton and Zion. On our return to Denver, we flew to Vancouver where we joined a cruise ship for a trip along the Alaskan coast to Glacier Bay. Pictures from this trip can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldbilluk
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Spring Forward
The amazingly warm dry weather of April and early May has meant that several species appeared much earlier then normal. Dragonflies and Damselflies that would normally be emerging around mid May were already out and about at the end of April, as was Argent and Sable moth. Hopefully the warm spell will continue so that the progeny of these early emergers will benefit and hopefully allow for increases in populations of many species.
Broad-bodied Chaser - April 24th
Broad-bodied Chaser - April 24th
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Cranes Trains and Automobiles
Just back from an amazing trip to Lac du Der Chantecoq to help out with the monitoring of the annual migration of the Common Crane from wintering grounds in Spain and Italy to their breeding sites in Germany, Poland, Estonia and Scandinavia. We were at the end of the migration period but still saw plenty of cranes. Around ten thousand birds roosted at night on islands out in the lake and each day we counted birds using the special feeding areas organised by the League Pour Oiseaux.
Being mid March, migration was in full swing for several species. Tens of thousands of Chaffinches poured north in flocks of twenty to one hundred birds, several containing Brambling. We also saw a small flock of the northern form of Long-tailed Tit with pure white heads.
Resident species of the area were also much in evidence. I was particularly happy to see Middle Spotted Woodpecker which was a new species for me.
We spent most days from dawn until mid-afternoon watching the comings and goings of the cranes but there was always a lot of interesting viewing in the supporting cast of birds. A Firecrest led us a merry dance before we finally got a half decent photograph.
I can thoroughly recommend the areas around Lac du Der and the Lac D'Orient for a few days of good birding. While February is the time many birders go, mid-March still gives lots of Cranes, the spring migration is underway and a few winter visitors still remain. We saw Black and Red Kite, Smew, Bewick's Swan, Willow Tit, Black Redstart, Great White Egret, Black Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Crested Lark, and good numbers of common birds such as Yellowhammer and Stonechat. One thing that surprised us was the lack of traffic on the roads. After the queues in the UK, once we crossed though the Channel Tunnel and got off the train, the roads were relatively deserted.
Being mid March, migration was in full swing for several species. Tens of thousands of Chaffinches poured north in flocks of twenty to one hundred birds, several containing Brambling. We also saw a small flock of the northern form of Long-tailed Tit with pure white heads.
Resident species of the area were also much in evidence. I was particularly happy to see Middle Spotted Woodpecker which was a new species for me.
We spent most days from dawn until mid-afternoon watching the comings and goings of the cranes but there was always a lot of interesting viewing in the supporting cast of birds. A Firecrest led us a merry dance before we finally got a half decent photograph.
I can thoroughly recommend the areas around Lac du Der and the Lac D'Orient for a few days of good birding. While February is the time many birders go, mid-March still gives lots of Cranes, the spring migration is underway and a few winter visitors still remain. We saw Black and Red Kite, Smew, Bewick's Swan, Willow Tit, Black Redstart, Great White Egret, Black Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Crested Lark, and good numbers of common birds such as Yellowhammer and Stonechat. One thing that surprised us was the lack of traffic on the roads. After the queues in the UK, once we crossed though the Channel Tunnel and got off the train, the roads were relatively deserted.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
One Turtle Dove (for some) Tuesday February 15, 2011
As I sat at my computer late on Monday night, I decided to check my e-mails one last time before bed. An e-mail from LGR Evans entitled "Oriental Turtle Dove Refound in Oxfordshire" set my heart beating a bit faster. This bird had been seen in a garden in Chipping Norton in December but was then lost to science for a bit. The news seemed to be that a birder in Chipping Norton had refound it feeding on his lawn. Sheesh and I thought my Brambling record this winter had been great up until then. He was prepared to let people into his kitchen to watch the bird as long as they followed the rules: no shoes in the house, no more than ten at a time, no more than ten minutes per group, a five pounds donation to Birdlife International per person, viewing only between 10 am and 4 pm. These rules all seemed fair so I then considered the weather forecast. Hmmmm not too good there, with rain expected early morning and continuing most of the day. I then checked out the street the house was on using Google maps. Those residents were sure in for a shock when daylight broke. The next question was when to arrive on site. I opted for the old maxim "if you have to queue make sure you are first in line" so gathered together my binoculars and several layers of warm clothing.
I then went upstairs to gently wake my wife and tell her I would be doing without sleep for a bit. She has a lot of practice of living with a birder so didn't turn a hair. By 0200 I was on the road and by 0515 was in Chipping Norton free long-stay car park, eating the sandwiches I had bought on the way there. Always a good idea to carb load early as you never know how the day will pan out or if you will get to a food outlet later on. I then stood in the dark for a bit listening to the dawn chorus and marvelling at the number of people who turned up in their cars at that time and wandered off to bed I presume. At about 0630 the second birder showed up and by 0700 I set off to find the house and see if the bird was visible in the neighbourhood. I was the second birder at the house and over the next hour we were joined by about fifty others who formed a loose queue and scanned every passing Collared Dove in case it was not one.
Just before 0830, the owner of the house saw the bird on his back lawn and decided to let people in earlier than advertised. So it was shoes off, pay your fiver and wander through to the kitchen. By the time we got inside the bird had flown to a tree and we watched it through binoculars that kept fogging up because of the warmth inside after the cold outside. Our group all got onto the bird and had acceptable views of it. It suddenly turned on its branch and flew slightly left, landing again then shortly afterwards flew onto the garden fence and dropped into the garden next-door. We dutifully trooped back outside to let the second group in, warning everyone to keep their binoculars inside their coats to keep them warm. We needn't have bothered because the bird wasn't seen again all day. By the time i left at lunchtime the rain had started in earnest and I didn't hold out much hope for those at the back of the now lengthy queue of around 400-500 that wound up the street even if the bird reappeared in the garden. I just thanked my lucky stars for my decision to get there early.
I then went upstairs to gently wake my wife and tell her I would be doing without sleep for a bit. She has a lot of practice of living with a birder so didn't turn a hair. By 0200 I was on the road and by 0515 was in Chipping Norton free long-stay car park, eating the sandwiches I had bought on the way there. Always a good idea to carb load early as you never know how the day will pan out or if you will get to a food outlet later on. I then stood in the dark for a bit listening to the dawn chorus and marvelling at the number of people who turned up in their cars at that time and wandered off to bed I presume. At about 0630 the second birder showed up and by 0700 I set off to find the house and see if the bird was visible in the neighbourhood. I was the second birder at the house and over the next hour we were joined by about fifty others who formed a loose queue and scanned every passing Collared Dove in case it was not one.
Just before 0830, the owner of the house saw the bird on his back lawn and decided to let people in earlier than advertised. So it was shoes off, pay your fiver and wander through to the kitchen. By the time we got inside the bird had flown to a tree and we watched it through binoculars that kept fogging up because of the warmth inside after the cold outside. Our group all got onto the bird and had acceptable views of it. It suddenly turned on its branch and flew slightly left, landing again then shortly afterwards flew onto the garden fence and dropped into the garden next-door. We dutifully trooped back outside to let the second group in, warning everyone to keep their binoculars inside their coats to keep them warm. We needn't have bothered because the bird wasn't seen again all day. By the time i left at lunchtime the rain had started in earnest and I didn't hold out much hope for those at the back of the now lengthy queue of around 400-500 that wound up the street even if the bird reappeared in the garden. I just thanked my lucky stars for my decision to get there early.
Great Grey Day - January 2011
I finally caught up with the Great Grey Shrike that has been around at Shapwick National Nature Reserve since last year. It took some finding but eventually I stumbled across it and managed to get a couple of shots before it zoomed off into the distance.
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