randombirder

So the last hurrah of 2014 ended on the most beautiful of winter days - the kind of day that dispels the longing for Spring, for warm evenings and extended daylight hours.  And having bumped into @porthkillier on the way round, it was a pleasure to share a great mornings birding. So it started at Lockwood where a very vocal Kingfisher once again flashed up stream near to the sluice, and a Song Thrush skulked within the shelter of the foliage.  On the water, a drake Goldeneye was present with three females, six Gadwall flew out from the waters edge, and numerous Black Headed Gulls were sharing the banks with around 50 Common Gull .  Five Chiffchaff were seen along the tree line to the west of Lockwood along with two Goldcrest . A patch first was a female Goosander that took flight a few moments after seeing it swim close to the bank at the north end.  Fortunate really as three had already taken flight towards Banbury that included two drakes. ...

It had been a while since I had ventured onto the patch - a mixture of apathy, weather, work - being lulled into feeling that this more like the sporting off-season.  The end of November, and December feels a bit transitional.  It is a time of year where surprises can be found on local patches.  I remember my first ever Leach's Petrel on Startop's Reservoir (Tring) in early December back in 2006.  Not that I was thinking that similar fortunes would fall my way. So anyway, a combination of a tough end to a working week, blue winter skies, and a text from @jarpartridge - I headed up to Lockwood where the light was brilliant, the breeze brisk, and the prescence of a good selection of birds. Approaching Lockwood, a vocal Kingfisher flashed past me along the channel, and a male Sparrowhawk flew low eyes fixed on its prey.  A few Common Gull were mixing in with the Black-Headed Gull but no sign of the Med that had been seen the previous day. A patch tic...

Age is just a number.  Not unless you turn forty it aint.  So I made it to the big 4-0 which still doesn't compute with me but I will just have to trust the integrity of the date on my birth certificate.  Those who said you will not feel any different were guilty of lies against humanity.  I felt totally different.  Every time I closed my eyes I could see those two numbers etched onto the inside of my eyelids.  I felt panicky, queasy, time has slipped by into middle-age and I'm still no clearer on what to do when I grow up.  I think that's it.  I've turned forty and I've not grown up.  Maybe it's time to start shouting at other people's children and ironing my underwear.  There are things to look forward to after all.  The plan then for said birthday.  A four day trip to Extremadura to ease the pain. A champagne breakfast at Heathrow's Terminal Five overlooking the westerly apron and watching the planes disappear into ...

A very pleasant day, cold, crisp, and relatively clear, but pretty routine birdwise. The Marshes were very soggy, the north marsh is practically submerged by the rainfall over the last couple of days. Not even wellies were sufficient enough to access the north-east corner. A Chiffchaff was present in horseshoe thicket, and a male Blackcap appeared in scrub along the eastern edge of north marsh. A lone Meadow Pipit sat along the fenceline of the Paddocks with around forty Pied Wagtail there. The Waterworks produced two Water Rail , 12 Teal , 10 Tufted Duck , a pair of Gadwall , and a Sparrowhawk .

I was in a foul mood last week, admittedly I spent much of Friday clearing up the toys that I had unceremoniously thrown out of my pram.  I shouldn't really have these items in my flat anyway as I have no children of my own or anyone else's.  The reason for these histrionics were simple.  A sprinkling of  Desert Wheatear  shaped gold-dust along the eastern coastline, and no efficient means to see them. There are many photographs of the bird that I went to see today at Reculver in Kent scattered like gold-dust all over the interweb, by which I mean, websites dedicated for proliferating news about birds.  And the reasons were strikingly obvious. So today, I took out a second mortgage and headed over to Avis rent-a-car in the centre of Londinium, where it took around four days to complete the paperwork, and another week and a half to negotiate my way out of London.  Thankfully the bird was still present when I arrived. Having mentioned gold-dus...

Pretty quiet around the ressies today with the best sighting (apart from the shuttlecock) a Green Sandpiper flushed from the north-end of Lockwood that flew round and up the relief channel.  Two Skylark later flew over and a Meadow Pipit alighted from the bank. A flock of five Skylark then flew over No.2, but that was about it apart from three Grey Wagtail over No.4, 24 Shoveler on No.5, 22  Gadwall on (15 on East Warwick and a further seven on No.2), four Shelduck (two on No.5, and two on No.3).  A total of ten Skylark were noted during the course of the morning.

Back again.  This time with The Prof and when I go birding with The Prof , I see things.  And this time I saw a new bird.  It was the SURF SCOTER that had been loitering off Holkham Gap for a couple of days.  Despite the strengthening wind, the light was great and there were Scoters to be seen on the sea.  The bird was associating with three Velvet Scoter , with a few  Common Scoter  in the vicinity.  Seven  Sanderling  skipped along the foreshore. Now the day actually started off at Salthouse where the  Grey Phalarope  was seen without too much fuss and bother, just a beaut of a bird looking skitty as they always do with those punctuated movements perversely bearing resemblance to a fully wound-up toy on full power.  Diminutive in size, these birds are tough, enduring hard winters out in the ocean in areas that even the shipping forecast doesn't reach.  Seeing it being mobbed by a Jackdaw was a little harsh. He...

So I returned the next day, but I don't want to talk too much about it.  Instead I would like to mention the beauty of the landscape, a truly wonderful place, those beaches and those skies.  We walked from the far side of Wells to Holkham Pines and it was amazing. I love North Norfolk for everything it provides.  The moderate walk along the beach on a warm afternoon and birding really wasn't the focus, well maybe just slightly out of focus but I could see things clearly enough. A Red-Throated Diver hadn't realised the tide had receded and sat along one of the channels close to the beach.  A single Greenshank surprised me as it flew along the harbour.  A Common Buzzard flew over the pines and 70+ Pink-footed Goose flew in a small skein off the sea. At Holkham Pines, a Yellow-Browed Warbler briefly flew through the trees in among the titmice flock, but it was far too windy to see anything really.  The walk back was great too. Happy days. ...

When the A11 spat me out onto the adjacent meandering countryside lanes, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be my day.  The week before had seen a decent fall of migrants along the North Norfolk coast swept in by some active weather systems out across the near continent.  The east winds of autumn is what the spiritual birder points to the heavens for, arms aloft in reverence to the ornithological deities, prayerfully sending up requests that a nice slection of eastern vagrants would be our portion.  My atheistic tendencies frankly do not subscribe to the religiosity of the birding gods. Nature steers its own path, of course I was praying like mad. So after a frustrating journey northwards bewitched by the uniformity of the Cambridgeshire countryside, I arrived at Warham Greens.  An Isabelline Shrike had been present here for around three days, but starting the walk toward the marsh, the gods were speaking to me.  What I mean is I could tell that there was no...

Waterworks Short-eared Owl seen distantly to the east, flying around for 20 mins being mobbed by a corvid and a small group of Starling . A patch first. Female Bullfinch , first seen flying into bushes along the main path just past the wildlife garden.  It called frequently and then moved toward the trees at the back of the reserve and was seen well from Bay 15.  A patch first. A calling Green Sandpiper on the reserve but not located. Two Skylark flew over. Around ten Redwing over. Six Wigeon , 15 Teal , Cetti's Warbler calling frequently, an adult Greater Black Backed Gull over, and two Goldcrest . Walthamstow Marshes A brief walk round, two Stonechat present in the Cow Field (male and female), Skylark over, c15 Meadow Pipit over, 2cy Common Gull, a Chiffchaff, and   three Goldcrest by the entrance to the Riding Stables . Middlesex Filter Beds A pair of Gadwall on the Relief channel. Distant views of the Short-eared Owl as seen ...

So I saw this confiding little chappy.  The Steppe grey shrike  showed stupidly well on a still grey morning in Burnham Norton.  What a charming bird this was, flighty and extremely obliging, it was shrikingly active chasing insects while displaying its black and white wing coverts while it darted off treetop perches onto the muddy deck.  Still couldn't get a decent picture but great to experience the character and behaviour of another rare shrike. Also on site was a family party of eight Bearded Tit of which a male sat up on a reed 'pinging' away imploring me to take a photo.  Of course I failed to get my camera ready in time. Pink-Footed Goose flocks were witnessed numbering around 70 in two groups as they called loudly over the marshes.  An evocative sound of winter.  A lone Swallow flew through in haste keen to catch up with peers already well advanced in southerly migration. From here, the plan to head down to Minsmere for the Litt...

I'm nowhere near a Sibe Rubythroat, a Great Grey Shrike visiting us from far off lands, or a small Crake that I contemplated twitching today until I realised that this was a Sunday and upholding the Judeo-Christian values of the day of rest might not be a bad thing after all. Stunned by the awful accident in the Japanese GP this morning and coupled with one of those irritating morning afters having indulged in a little wine, I was in no mood to do anything. It was a stunning day though, so I got myself onto my bike and headed down to the Waterworks where I surprisingly heard a Green Sandpiper - attempts to connect with it were in vein.  It may have alighted from the relief channel as there is no exposed mud as yet from any of the bays. Also there was a flyover Common Buzzard , a vocal Cetti's Warbler , and a Little Egret flew up channel. So it's now a long wait till next weekend until I'm able to get out and claim my next target.  An arduous week awaits me. ...

Great to see the Nightjar still present on it's favoured perch.  A great crowd present this evening, and it was a pleasure meeting new people and hanging out with the locals too.  The bird rested typically until sunset when it became much more active, firstly preening, then stretching its wings before shuffling forward where it then perched at the end of the branch waiting for air traffic clearance. Finally it lifted of at 7.14pm where it dashed through the murk only to be seen again five minutes later back on its perch.  It then disappeared, and despite a brief aerial search, it wasn't seen again. Let's see whether it returns tomorrow.

What a splendid day.  I got a message from my good friend Graham Howie of a Nightjar at Middlesex Filter Beds.  Nightjar + Local Patch + 28th September = extraordinary. Not only that but the manner in which the bird was found also merits a mention.  Local jogging birder Alistair Dent breezed past the tree-lined boundary at the southern end of the filter beds and noticed a bird sitting along the horizontal branch of an elder tree.  Quite a spot - undoubtedly at speed! So the birders gathered that fuelled interest of passers by who all enjoyed great views of this wonderful bird.  Hopefully many would have experienced something new, wildlife is inclusive and should be enjoyed by all.  I enjoyed the conviviality immensely, birders and general public alike with many great conversations had.  Please can we leave a Nightjar permanently on site. Also noted there were two vocal Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff .  A Great Spotted Woodpe...

This aint no upwardly mobile freeway, oh no, this is the road to Hull.  I really don't know how these twitchers do it, coursing (and cursing) up and down the country, negotiating traffic and nerves.  Must be adrenaline or madness.  So in my madness, I wangled a day off, stole a car, and headed to Spurn. Now according to the good book, God rested on the seventh day, but thankfully (and taking full advantage of my lightning reactions) I connected with the juvenile MASKED SHRIKE (present for its 7th day) that had been re-identified last Saturday while I was in Norfolk.  Masked Shrike.... whatever, I exclaimed. Whatever my arse. Was gutted not to have connected with it earlier but with gratitude and luck and timing and stars aligning, I made it to the site.  The bird was seen so very well in it's preferred location in a big field, cocking it's tail like a Nightingale, flitting along the metal fenceline like a chat, and catching insects, well, like a Shrike...

Masked Shrike?  Whatever.  I was in North Norfolk for the weekend.  I was dragged under duress by my girlfriend who wanted to escape the hustle of the big smoke.  Go on then. A stocky gentleman approached us, face hardened by plenty of twitches no doubt, hardened by the highs and the lows.  "The bird is just up the track here..... when you get to the green bin, turn right and follow the birders".  Well how warm and forthcoming that was, and that's really how it was for the whole weekend.  Birders enjoying the scene, uniting with their peers young and old, singles and couples, black and white.  It was palpably utopian and a real joy to be a part of it. So it started at Burnham Overy.  The skies were grey, but there were plenty of birders and a fair few birds.  The bushes alongside the path up to the seawall held a decent flock of titmice that contained a Lesser Whitethroat , Willow Warbler , and Chiffchaff .  Three Spoonbill fle...

The new job started Monday last.  A week of utter mediocrity, apathy, and a deep sense of regret for leaving the aviation industry - one that I love.  Yet at the time it felt it wasn't for me and I left.  Now eighteen months later, and a couple of months away from a significant birthday, I am kicking my own ass.  As one masochist said to another, don't beat yourself about it brother (Heaton, 2013).  This job isn't for me.  It is as far away from my aspirations as a bull is from a china shop.  We keep searching, and the hope for something in aviation is what I am now completely ready for. It's been a hell of a year, but through it all, my outlet has always been wildlife and birding.  With rare access to a car, the ultimate escape was a trip to Norfolk, just the most magical place and one where I could totally get away from the exasperation I had been feeling. En route, news came in of a BARRED WARBLER at Burnham Overy so reacting to this, we h...

On the Marshes for a quick lunchtime visit, a Spotted Flycatcher was present in the scrub by the railway bridge.  A late Common Swift flew low over, and 13 Swallow headed north.  Three Little Egret were wading in the shallows of the relief channel, and a Common Buzzard soared low over. Onto the Waterworks, there were two Spotted Flycatcher feeding on insects from the large tree near to the cow pen with six Willow Warbler including two bright juveniles for company.

Now I can't keep away from this damn place.  This morning was very gloomy, mainly because I bumped into The Prof early doors.  We shot the breeze and cut through the mist in the hope of a crippler without success.  Of course when he pootled off, the birds arrived. First a Yellow Wagtail flew west with another two flying north.  A dozen Swallow soon followed also flying north bamboozled by the low cloud.  It was all pretty quiet after that apart from around five Willow Warbler around the reserve.  A juvenile Common Tern flew lethargically over. It got a little warmer, and heading down to the cow field, I discovered a couple of Whinchat that were new in.  Having been satisfied with this, I returned once again to the paddocks where two Northern Wheatear had arrived, male and female, and three Yellow Wagtail including one rather smart adult bird. A Hobby then flew in and sat atop the electricity pylon at the far end of the paddocks with anot...

On Sunday, this happened; Walthamstow Marshe s : Riding stables, front paddocks -  Pied Flycatcher , 2+  Spotted Flycatcher , favouring Western side of paddocks either side of the track running East-West between them. A few Chiffchaffs and Blackcap. Rear paddocks - 2 Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail. Bomb crater field - 1 Meadow Pipit, 1  Whinchat,  4 Pheasant. North marsh - 2 Blackcap, Reed Warbler, 5 Swallow SW. (Paul Whiteman, Graham Howie, Su Huckle, JW Davies). 3 Spotted Flycatcher still present in front paddocks 16.00 plus 2 Wheatear still (Lol Bodini/Stuart Fisher). Walthamstow Res:  Black-necked Grebe  West Warwick (per Pete Lambert). BNG still present this evening in NE cnr. (Paul Whiteman) 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Common Sandpipers Lockwood. 2  Spotted Flycatchers  together bushes NW corner of Lockwood, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, bushes NE Lockwood, Kingfisher Lower Maynard (David Bradshaw) ...and the rest of London went bonkers with the nu...

There's certain birds that you just have to see.  I had joked about not having WRYNECK on my life list and had hoped that this would be the year that I would eventually see one. The last few days had seen an influx of drift migrants propelled by an easterly onshore breeze depositing a decent number of Wryneck onto coastal areas with a large proportion of these in eastern and southern counties. Yesterday a report came in of a rare inland sighting at Stapleford in Herts, which was interesting as one was seen at the same location last year.  It was also close by, but not close enough for an excursion using public transport. Well that's what I thought. Last night was a bit boozy, a night out in Camden and with a few pale ales consumed, I felt a bit jaded this morning.  With the bird still present, and finding out that Stapleford was a few miles from Hertford East station, I jammed onto the train with my bike. Eventually finding the location, there were grown men st...