I carried out my modified CBC survey of a local woodland this morning that I am doing for the Countryside department of the local authority. It is only a small area of woodland, perhaps only about 1.5 ha. It is surrounded by large mature gardens that belong to the large houses that surround the site.
Everything I had this morning was expected and I recorded birds of the following species holding territories; Dunnock, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Carrion Crow and Robin.
Lesser Celandine was flowering along with the first Cow Parsely and Bluebell, with Ramsons to follow suit shortly. I then headed up to the reedbeds to see if the water levels had dropped enough for us to get in to do some ringing.
A number of warblers were singing as I walked round to the gate and through into the reedbed and these included two Whitethroats, four Sedge Warblers and four Reed Warblers. The water level had dropped sufficiently to enable us to operate mist nets, so over the next few days we'll get in there to ring some of the Acro's.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Redpolls
I thought it might have been too clear this morning for a reasonable ringing session at the obs, particularly in combination with the large number of Redpolls on the move yesterday, but thankfully it wasn't. At 0500 it was calm with clear skies. By 0645 the wind had picked up to a 5-10 mph southeasterly.
Because it was so clear all the vis was extremely high. In fact it was one of those mornings where you could hear calls but couldn't see anything and everything was recorded as single when several birds could have been responsible for the calls. Consequently the vis totals were low and included four Tree Pipits, 109 Lesser Redpolls, six Swallows, four Goldfinches, four Meadow Pipits, nine Siskins, four Linnets, two Alba Wags, a Reed Bunting and two Yellow Wags.
As expected grounded migrants were thin on the ground and included two Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wheatear, a Whimbrel and a Willow Warbler.
I managed to ring a respectable 46 birds as follows (recaptures in brackets):
Robin - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 2
Lesser Redpoll - 37
Wren - 1 (2)
Willow Warbler - 1
Greenfinch - 2
Goldfinch - 1
I also controlled a Lesser Redpoll and it has been entered onto IPMR, so as soon as I get the details of where it was ringed I'll let you know. In the meantime D451164 anybody?
I have to do a CBC visit to a small local suburban woodland tomorrow morning and then I'll probably check the reedbeds to see if the water levels have dropped enough to enable us to get in there and do some ringing.
Because it was so clear all the vis was extremely high. In fact it was one of those mornings where you could hear calls but couldn't see anything and everything was recorded as single when several birds could have been responsible for the calls. Consequently the vis totals were low and included four Tree Pipits, 109 Lesser Redpolls, six Swallows, four Goldfinches, four Meadow Pipits, nine Siskins, four Linnets, two Alba Wags, a Reed Bunting and two Yellow Wags.
Lesser Redpoll
As expected grounded migrants were thin on the ground and included two Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Wheatear, a Whimbrel and a Willow Warbler.
Lesser Whitethroat
I managed to ring a respectable 46 birds as follows (recaptures in brackets):
Robin - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 2
Lesser Redpoll - 37
Wren - 1 (2)
Willow Warbler - 1
Greenfinch - 2
Goldfinch - 1
Willow Warbler
Greenfinch
I also controlled a Lesser Redpoll and it has been entered onto IPMR, so as soon as I get the details of where it was ringed I'll let you know. In the meantime D451164 anybody?
I have to do a CBC visit to a small local suburban woodland tomorrow morning and then I'll probably check the reedbeds to see if the water levels have dropped enough to enable us to get in there and do some ringing.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Quiet
A look out of the window at 5.00 a.m. had me thinking that it would be quiet at the obs and when I arrived at 5.30 a.m. I was even more convinced unlocking the gate with a 15-20 mph southwesterly wind with full cloud cover.
I set off on my usual route and an early Willow Warbler gave me some hope that despite the conditions there might be some grounded migrants around. Wrong! I did have a few migrants but it was just one of each; single Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear and Whitethroat in addition to the 'Willie' and that was it.
As you would expect the vis was virtually non-existent other than a single Alba Wag and eight Swallows north. Offshore it was equally quiet and all I managed to record were a single Red-throated Diver, a Sandwich Tern and ten Common Scoters.
More work for me this week, but I am hopeful of sneaking a couple of mornings in before the weekend again.
I set off on my usual route and an early Willow Warbler gave me some hope that despite the conditions there might be some grounded migrants around. Wrong! I did have a few migrants but it was just one of each; single Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear and Whitethroat in addition to the 'Willie' and that was it.
As you would expect the vis was virtually non-existent other than a single Alba Wag and eight Swallows north. Offshore it was equally quiet and all I managed to record were a single Red-throated Diver, a Sandwich Tern and ten Common Scoters.
More work for me this week, but I am hopeful of sneaking a couple of mornings in before the weekend again.
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Hoody
I was at the obs again this morning, but the 15 mph northerly wind was too much for any mist netting. It was cold too and it was very much a hat and gloves morning!
There were a few grounded migrants around but not many; these included two Whitethroats, three Grasshopper Warblers, four male Wheatears (Greenland types) and a single Willow Warbler.
As I made my way towards the coast the first visible migrants started moving and in total I had 106 Linnets, seven Redpolls, 46 Meadow Pipits, 11 Alba Wagtails, 35 Swallows, 74 Goldfinches, two Sand Martins, 12 Siskins, a White Wagtail, a Yellow Wagtail and two Tree Pipits.
The 'Hoody' in my title refers to a Hooded Crow I picked up out at sea heading north. And with the magic of modern telecommunications I phoned Ian, who I knew was a mile or so north of me at the scar, to let him know a Hooded Crow was heading his way and he in turn phoned Paul, who was at the observation tower, to let him know as well. Both Ian and Paul saw the Hoody!
Movement offshore was very slow and all I had were three Red-throated Divers, ten Common Scoters, five Gannets, 10 Auk sp., ten Sandwich Terns and three Whimbrels.
Back home I checked my moth trap and even though there was a ground frost this morning I managed to catch three Hewbrew Characters, a Common Quaker and an Early Grey.
Common Quaker
Hebrew Character
The wind is going to veer southwesterly overnight with some rain coming in during the morning. Unfortunately the rain is coming in long after sunrise, which is a shame because otherwise there might have been a chance that it could drop in some migrants. Mind you the weathermen could get the timing wrong, so there is only one thing to do, get up at 5.00 a.m. and take a look!
There were a few grounded migrants around but not many; these included two Whitethroats, three Grasshopper Warblers, four male Wheatears (Greenland types) and a single Willow Warbler.
As I made my way towards the coast the first visible migrants started moving and in total I had 106 Linnets, seven Redpolls, 46 Meadow Pipits, 11 Alba Wagtails, 35 Swallows, 74 Goldfinches, two Sand Martins, 12 Siskins, a White Wagtail, a Yellow Wagtail and two Tree Pipits.
The 'Hoody' in my title refers to a Hooded Crow I picked up out at sea heading north. And with the magic of modern telecommunications I phoned Ian, who I knew was a mile or so north of me at the scar, to let him know a Hooded Crow was heading his way and he in turn phoned Paul, who was at the observation tower, to let him know as well. Both Ian and Paul saw the Hoody!
Movement offshore was very slow and all I had were three Red-throated Divers, ten Common Scoters, five Gannets, 10 Auk sp., ten Sandwich Terns and three Whimbrels.
Back home I checked my moth trap and even though there was a ground frost this morning I managed to catch three Hewbrew Characters, a Common Quaker and an Early Grey.
The wind is going to veer southwesterly overnight with some rain coming in during the morning. Unfortunately the rain is coming in long after sunrise, which is a shame because otherwise there might have been a chance that it could drop in some migrants. Mind you the weathermen could get the timing wrong, so there is only one thing to do, get up at 5.00 a.m. and take a look!
Friday, 26 April 2013
There's Alaways Something To Look At
The past few days have seen quite an arrival of spring migrants at coastal sites here in the northwest. Have a look at the blogs for Bardsey, Fleetwood, Heysham, Hilbre and Walney observatories to see what I've missed whilst working! I managed to get out this morning for a couple of hours before work again and at first light I didn't think I was going to see a great deal. I had 3 oktas cloud cover with a cold 15-20 mph NNW wind. I didn't expect any or many grounded migrants, but hoped for a bit of vis.
I headed to the southern end of the obs and worked the farm fields next to the coast. My first birds were a Willow Warbler and a singing Whitethroat. As the morning warmed up I had a further five Willow Warblers and another Whitethroat. I thought the Willow Warblers were probably left over from yesterday's fall. The only other grounded migrants I had were a Wheatear on the sea wall and a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' from the dunes.
As I headed towards the sea wall a female Merlin shot through heading low north and it was at this point that I thought that there is always something to look at and even if I didn't see anything else a Merlin before breakfast would do for me! The only other raptor I had was a Peregrine ridge soaring the school buildings and then suddenly it dived and chased after a pigeon and I lost sight of it.
There was some vis this morning and everything was heading north in to the wind. Linnets were the main feature and I recorded 184 heading north. Other species on vis included 68 Goldfinches, 80 Swallows, 24 Meadow Pipits, 12 Alba Wags, a Reed Bunting, seven Redpolls, 15 House Martins and four Siskins.
I had cracking views of two dark morph Arctic Skuas heading north over the beach. They were really close in and looked awesome in the crisp morning light. I telephoned Ian who I knew was at the scar to let him know that they would pass him very close, in the hope that he could manage a snap or two. Also on the sea I had eight Common Scoters, a Velvet Scoter, six Sandwich Terns, two Arctic Terns, three Gannets, eight Manx Shearwaters, six Auk sp., 400 Knots and 20 Ringed Plovers.
So, not an amazing morning but there was something to look at. It's going to be cold again tomorrow with a stiff northerly wind so perhaps another vis rather than grounded morning. I'll let you know.
I headed to the southern end of the obs and worked the farm fields next to the coast. My first birds were a Willow Warbler and a singing Whitethroat. As the morning warmed up I had a further five Willow Warblers and another Whitethroat. I thought the Willow Warblers were probably left over from yesterday's fall. The only other grounded migrants I had were a Wheatear on the sea wall and a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' from the dunes.
As I headed towards the sea wall a female Merlin shot through heading low north and it was at this point that I thought that there is always something to look at and even if I didn't see anything else a Merlin before breakfast would do for me! The only other raptor I had was a Peregrine ridge soaring the school buildings and then suddenly it dived and chased after a pigeon and I lost sight of it.
There was some vis this morning and everything was heading north in to the wind. Linnets were the main feature and I recorded 184 heading north. Other species on vis included 68 Goldfinches, 80 Swallows, 24 Meadow Pipits, 12 Alba Wags, a Reed Bunting, seven Redpolls, 15 House Martins and four Siskins.
I had cracking views of two dark morph Arctic Skuas heading north over the beach. They were really close in and looked awesome in the crisp morning light. I telephoned Ian who I knew was at the scar to let him know that they would pass him very close, in the hope that he could manage a snap or two. Also on the sea I had eight Common Scoters, a Velvet Scoter, six Sandwich Terns, two Arctic Terns, three Gannets, eight Manx Shearwaters, six Auk sp., 400 Knots and 20 Ringed Plovers.
So, not an amazing morning but there was something to look at. It's going to be cold again tomorrow with a stiff northerly wind so perhaps another vis rather than grounded morning. I'll let you know.
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Blackwits
The only birding I had time for today was a quick look on the marsh after visiting one of my farmer clients. Even though the sun was shining the WSW wind blowing across the marsh was very cold.
Feeding in the shallow water of the pool and out on the grazing marsh was a nice flock of 112 Black-tailed Godwits. I tried to get a few shots of an individual feeding in the pool and every time I pressed the shutter I got a shot of it with it's head under the water, except for one!. See below.
There were plenty of Lapwings out on the grazing marsh with several females very obviously on eggs. Wildfowl included two pairs of Shovelers, 30 Shelducks, six Wigeon, two pairs of Gadwalls and two pairs of Teal.
Feeding in the shallow water of the pool and out on the grazing marsh was a nice flock of 112 Black-tailed Godwits. I tried to get a few shots of an individual feeding in the pool and every time I pressed the shutter I got a shot of it with it's head under the water, except for one!. See below.
Monday, 22 April 2013
Pure Velvet
As I suggested yesterday I was back at the obs at first light for a short seawatch of about two hours from the point before work. The skies were virtually clear and the wind was a 15-20 mph SSW. It was similar to yesterday, but different in terms of the numbers of birds, far fewer today. For example, yesterday Little Gulls were spread right across the horizon in a large loose feeding flock, but today there were only half the numbers.
My totals this morning for the sea were 224 Common Scoters, 46 Sandwich Terns, 15 Eiders, two Red-breasted Mergansers, six Razorbills, 147 Little Gulls, 39 Gannets, a Velvet Scoter, eight Red-throated Divers, five Shelducks, 50 Arctic Terns, an Auk sp., a Guillemot, four Kittiwakes, a Manx Shearwater and a Bonxie flying out of the bay.
There was some vis this morning and again as yesterday it was mainly westerly into the wind. I didn't record a great deal of vis because most of it was moving a few hundred yards inland, as I realised when I walked back to my car and there were groups of Goldfinch and Siskin heading west. My meagre totals were five Linnets, 11 Meadow Pipits, four Alba Wags (they all sounded like White's to me), 69 Goldfinches, a Tree Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail, a Swallow and two Siskins.
There were a few waders on the beach this morning including 130 Sanderlings, 300 Dunlins and 35 Ringed Plovers.
It's site visits for me tomorrow, but I might be able to have my lunch looking over some pools on the marsh so it might not be a totally bird free day!
My totals this morning for the sea were 224 Common Scoters, 46 Sandwich Terns, 15 Eiders, two Red-breasted Mergansers, six Razorbills, 147 Little Gulls, 39 Gannets, a Velvet Scoter, eight Red-throated Divers, five Shelducks, 50 Arctic Terns, an Auk sp., a Guillemot, four Kittiwakes, a Manx Shearwater and a Bonxie flying out of the bay.
There was some vis this morning and again as yesterday it was mainly westerly into the wind. I didn't record a great deal of vis because most of it was moving a few hundred yards inland, as I realised when I walked back to my car and there were groups of Goldfinch and Siskin heading west. My meagre totals were five Linnets, 11 Meadow Pipits, four Alba Wags (they all sounded like White's to me), 69 Goldfinches, a Tree Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail, a Swallow and two Siskins.
There were a few waders on the beach this morning including 130 Sanderlings, 300 Dunlins and 35 Ringed Plovers.
It's site visits for me tomorrow, but I might be able to have my lunch looking over some pools on the marsh so it might not be a totally bird free day!
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