First and Second of June

We spent the weekend in Peterborough


Saturday

We headed for the Rex Graham Reserve in Suffolk this reserve opens one day a year so you have a chance to see the Military Orchid where we had some good views we also had Common Twayblade we spoke to a couple who told us about the Otters in Thetford so after leaving the reserve we headed for Thetford where we spent some time looking for the Otters but with no luck so will have to go back our next stop was Weeting Heath where we had Stone Curlew and Spotted Flycatcher so a good end to a good day

Military Orchid

Military Orchid

Military Orchid

Military Orchid

Military Orchid

 

Common Twayblade

Common Twayblade

Common Twayblade

 

Sunday

We started of by going to Rutland Water to see the Ospreys we parked up and headed to the spot by the bridge where is a good spot to watch from as we approached some one said hurry up or you will miss them as I was a bit ahead I got there first I looked through the chaps scope wich was on 2 Red Necked Phalaropes but they where to far away for any pictures we then watched the Ospreys for a while then it was on to a site for Orchids but no luck so it was off to another site Barracks Hills and Holes again looking for Orchids and flowers here we had Fragrant Orchid and the Pasceflower so ending a good weekend

Fragrant Orchid

Fragrant Orchid

Fragrant Orchid

 

 Pasceflower

 Pasceflower

 Pasceflower

 

 

Bank Holiday Weekend

Saturday

Today we headed for a site in Sussex looking for Orchids decided to have a look a bit further up the track than we normally do where we found Early Purple Orchid, we then tried for Birds nest Orchid with no luck think this was due to the fact we could not get into the wood will have another look in next couple of weeks after a quick look at the meadow we then headed to a site for Southern Marsh Orchid but with the spring as it is we found one plant just coming out so off to do a bit of shopping then back to the van for the evening

Early Purple Orchid

Early Purple Orchid

Early Purple Orchid

Sunday

Today we started by heading up on the south downs to a site for Orchids and Butterflies no Orchids and very few Butterflies we had a look at the field where we found 2 butterflies a large white and when I had reached the top of the field Carol called me back down and said what is this my first thought was Pearl Border Fritillary I managed to get one shot of the butterfly when I looked at in the evening I thought it was a Duke of Burgundy (latter check on the net and got confirmation that is what it was) so a good find, After here we then headed of for as pint not going to say much but if you see my Face Book Page you will know what happened and finally after getting a pint we headed for Pullbourough Brooks RSPB reserve here we had a nice Hobby and 5 Nightingales which we saw 2 off other birds included Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Raven, Carrion Crow , Rook, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, a selection of Tits after a coffee and cake it was back to the van

Duke of Burgundy

Monday

After a nice relaxing morning we headed for Climping Beach not a lot going on so we started for home stopping of at South water Country Park where we had a coffee and a cake ( got to stop the cake ) we then had a stroll around not a lot but a pleasant walk so then home ward bound

Arundel Wetland

Spent some time today at the Wildfowl and Wetlands at Arundel they are doing some work on the main lake but this did not stop us from seeing and hearing a good variety of birds and mammals Birds seen or heard Sedge Warbler, a nice Reed Warbler sitting in view for a while Carol spotted a Water Vole cross the small pool at the begining of the Loop walk Cetti's Warbler we heard 3 saw one briefly Just as we where at the end of the Loop walk we had 3 Common Buzzards and a Perigrine over head we also had Sand Martin, Swallow , Swift, plenty of Black Headed Gulls, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lapwing with young, great and Blue Tits after we had finnished here it was of to the Black Rabbit for a very nice Lunch by the river

Scotland 2013

Sorry but work has taken over so far this year I have done a few trips out with my mate

The following report is a trip to Scotland in seach of the Beaver


Day 1

Weather,   Clear and overcast

We started at 8 this morning trains on time a short walk from Glasgow central station to pick up the car we should have know the sat nav was not going to be much good took forever to get out of Glasgow then we had a nice scenic drive we stopped to buy food and drink for the week all went well until we where about 10 miles from the cottage the sat nav took us to a rundown barn miles from our base for the week, after stopping and speaking to a couple of people we got put back on the right track even then we managed to pass the cottage but on the return along the road we found it a hour and a half after we should have been there, we then had a meal and a couple of drinks then it was ready for bed  so will be having a nice relaxing quite day tomorrow.

Day 2

Weather,  Showers in the morning then turned out fine

Today we started by going into Oban on route we had had a Osprey being mobbed by a Common Buzzard we booked our day trip to Mull for Tuesday we then returned to the cottage for lunch, after looking at the os map that is in the cottage I found that we are on the edge of the Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve, after lunch it was of to one of the Beaver sites we did the full walk around the loch plenty of evident of them but no sightings, as we where cutting through the middle of the Moine Mhor reserve back to the cottage carol spotted a bird of prey flying along the side of the road this turned out to be a Female Merlin so a nice end to the day

 

Day 3

Weather, Drizzle to start then clearing and turning in to a fine afternoon

Today we decided to keep it local saying that there was still a lot of driving first we headed for Crian the weather was drizzle for the morning so did not see a lot after this we took a drive along a road that we had not done before in the hope of looking for Otter but with no luck we then had a look at a small loch that we had been told about this was for beaver again plenty of evident of the beaver but again no sighting, we then had a look at another small loch here we found a Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, We then had a look at the info at  Moine Mhor Nature Reserve for later in the week, then back to the cottage for our evening meal, I then went for a evening stroll where I found Barn Owl and Tawny Owl so ending another great day.

Day 4

Mull

Weather,  Showers to start turning out fine with rain late afternoon

We set of at ¼ to 8 this morning heading for Oban to catch the ferry to Mull, We had a nice breakfast on board, on arriving on Mull we headed for Salen on route we stopped at a site I know for White Tailed Eagle after a short time I found one above the trees we had good views, Then on to Salen stopping at the toilets (not that many on the island) we had a look here for Otter but no luck, Then on to a site i Know for Golden Eagle we arrived and set up after a short time I found a Eagle sitting on the top of a ridge just as i was about to tell Carol she said what is that large bird it had just taken off we watched it, it fly a short distance then it landed after about 20 minutes I relocated it where it sat until we left we then took the drive to a site for another White Tailed Eagle on route we had Rock Pipit , Wheatear, Raven, Hooded Crow, Oystercatcher, Red Breasted Merganser, Eider, we were using a single track road and came across a car coming the other way and they would not budge we had to reverse downhill for about 60 yards ( some people do not know how to drive on single track roads) we finally got to the spot for the W T E and good views of a bird on the nest, We then continued on round the road looking for Otter still no luck but we did have Great Northern Diver, Whimbrel, Twite,  Lesser Black Backed Gull, Then it was a drive back through Glen Moir here we where looking for Short Eared Owl but with no luck, just after leaving the glen we pulled in to let a lorry pass and we found a pair of hen Harriers ( now a first for me no not seeing Hen Harriers but a pair of displaying Hen Harriers) we then headed for Crainure to use the toilets, We then drove back a short distance looking for Otter again no luck so we then had a look at another spot for Otter still no luck so back to the ferry for the trip back to Oban we arrived back at the cottage at about ¼ to 7 so ending a great day on Mull.

Day 5

Weather  Drizzle on our early morning trip then sunny and fine for the rest of the day with a light wind

We decided last night to have a early start to see if we could see Beaver, We started at 5 o’clock and headed for the Beaver sight on arriving we walked to where we knew the beavers might be by the dam that they have built on the walk in we had a Badger cross the path in front of us, We spent some time looking for the Beaver but with no Luck, We had a Great Spotted  Woodpecker Drumming, a Cuckoo Calling and a selection of woodland birds singing, Then back to the cottage

After a short sleep and Breakfast we decided to keep it local today and to see some different spots that we had not done so far, We headed for Lochgriphead ( this is the nearest town to shop and for petrol), so then a look at the map I noticed a waterfall marked so we thought we would have a look well we found the spot but no waterfall so then we found a nice spot by a babbling burn for lunch, I then said why don’t we have a look along the road that we had taken last Saturday when we got lost, We drove into the village at the end of the road and stopped for a coffee here we noticed a sign for a nature reserve so we headed for the parking place after reading the leaflet we decided to do one of the walks which took us down to the shore where we spent some time looking for Otter no luck we then continued on the walk which took us 2 and a half hours to complete not quite what it said in the leaflet but very pleasant, After this it was back to the cottage for our evening meal and a few drinks

Day 6

Bit of sightseeing today

Weather  Fine and Sunny with the odd shower

Day 7

Weather  fine and sunny with some light showers

Bit of a local day today we started by going down a road we had not been on before in the hope of a Otter but no luck then we tried another road we had not been down this time looking for Golden Eagle again no luck then we decided to have a look at the small loch for Beaver after this it was back to the main site for Beaver no luck at either of the sites so back to the cottage  

Day 8

Heading for home with some more sightseeing

Catch Up

Not much in the way of Birding or Wldlife Watching over the past 3 month this is due to working weekends hopeing to be getting back into some more come the new year so will wait and see what the work situation is like will be putting together some photos I have taken over the past year not sure when

Crake and Dowitcher

Friday 21^st September Rainham Marsh

Got the train to Purfleet then the walk to Rainham Marsh arrived at one o’clock walk to the hide then after 2 and ½ hours the bird showed Ballion’s Crake so well pleased but sadly no pictures the bird was very quick as it moved along the edge of the reeds and out of sight I did wait another ½ hour but it did not show again just as I was leaving my mate text me going for the Short Billed Dowircher tomorrow do you want to come well I had planned on going by train so the answer was yes

Saturday 22^nd September RSPB Lodmoor

We set of at 6 – 30 breakfast on way arrived at 9-15 walked along the path to where some birders were watching the Short Billed Dowitcher after watching it for a short time set up the camera and run off a lot of shots here is one of them

Cornwall

Days 3 to 5

 

Day 3

Penzance / Marazion / St Ives

Today decided to get the day bus ticket and head for Maraxion Marsh to see if I could see the Spotted Crake that has been around for a while arrived at about ¼ past 11 and stayed at the spot till 2 o’clock no sign of the crake birds seen included Common buzzard, Water Rail, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Wigeon, Canada Geese plus a selection of Gulls I was in two minds whether to come today as I was told there was ringing going on early morning if there was it had finished when I got there but no one else was seeing the crake after yet another pasty and coffee at the cafe by the bus stop I then got the bus back to Penzance on arriving at the bus station the open top bus that does the sightseeing tour was there so I thought I might as well take that back to St Ives 2 and half hours through some nice scenery just after we left Pendeen I had 2 Choughs flying along the cliff tops plus more Swallows after a look at the time table I realised that It would drop me of outside my B&B so ending a long and enjoyable day

Day 4

St Ives / Lelant Saltings

Bit of a lay in today did not go out till 10 walked into St Ives along the road as it had been raining over night and was told the coast past would be very muddy in places was told would take 30 to 40 minutes to walk into town well 20 minutes later I was there then the short walk out to the head, on arriving there were a couple of birders already set up I asked what had been seen so far this morning about a hour before I got the they had a Long Tailed Skua, Grey Phalorpe through so I set up the scope and the first bird I was put on was a Bonxie (Great Skua) we had more Sooty Shearwaters, a few Baleric Shearwaters and of course Manx Shearwater the count on manx was about 10,000 a hour going through they just kept coming I was there for just over two hours just as the birds got a bit quite someone spotted a pod of 9 Harbour Porpoises this was followed by 3 Basking Sharks of witch one came in close, after this we then spotted 2 Sunfish ended up with 4 Bonxies other birds included lots of Gannets, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Kittiwake, Fulmar, I then went off for a pub Lunch then got the train to the Lelant Saltings by now the tide was coming in so I spent some time till all the waders had been pushed of the mud by the tide Birds included Wigeon, Grey Heron, Little Egret, selection of gulls Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, As the tide got higher I found the best vantage point was from the station platform at least I could sit down then realised that I would have to wait over a hour for the next train to Carbis Bay so got the next one to St Ives and came back so another good days birding and nature watching

Day 5
After breakfast had a walk along the cliffs at Carbis Bay then back to catch my coach  so ending a week in Cornwall

Cornwall

Day Two

Halye Estuary (Pec or not to Pec)

After another full English breakfast decided to have a look at the Hayle Estuary today after a look at the pager I got the train to Hayle on arriving I headed straight for copperhouse creek where there had been seen a Pectoral Sandpiper for the past four days arrived at 10 30 no sign of the Pec so set up the scope and waited spent the next 2 and a half hours scanning the end of the creek with no luck (the bird was reported at 10 to 12 from the spot I was standing at no idea who put it out or see it ) some of the birds seen included Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Curlew , Whimbrel, Black Tailed Godwit, a selection of Gulls but no Pec at 1 o’clock walk along the north side of the creek and had a coffee only new wader for the day was oystercatcher then headed back to the east end but still no luck< Hear I got talking to another birder who said he was going to have a look near the Levant salting I said that it was to far to walk so I would stay where I was he then said he would give me a lift so of we set to the spot that one of the local birders said was the best place to park on arriving we crossed the road to the bridge and I set up my scope then a birder who was already there said he just had a sandpiper drop in and could I have a look through the scope and it was on the edge of some foliage and was not that easy to see we were all debating on what it could be it then came in to the open and  you could see that it was in fact the bird I had just spent the past 4 plus hours looking for yes at last the Pec Sandpiper so well worth the wait did get some useful information on how to work the Estuary for future reference so ended a very good days birding  

Cornwall

Day one

Carbis bay / St Ives

After a trying journey yesterday bit of a lay in today after a first class breakfast full English I set of for St Ives Head I headed for Carbis beach then took the coast path to St Ives on the walk down to the beach I had 2 Ravens fly over head the walk to the head took a hour and a half I arrived at 10 30 this is the start of a 4 and a half hour sea watch the first bird I saw was a Whimbrel at first not a lot doing but it normally take about half hour to get you eye in then things started moving a bit, plenty of Gannets and Manx Shearwaters after a short time had Balearic Shearwater and one Bonxie at 12 30 it was time for a short break for Coffee (think that is what they called it) and a Cornish Pasty then back to the sea watch at about 13 30 there was a lot of birds moving through this is when I had my lifer GREAT SHEARWATER had about 20 Manx go through and this bird was behind them the bigger sixe put me onto it then had great views as it went by this was followed by some Sooty Shearwaters and a Sabin’s Gull with plenty more Gannets and Manx Shearwaters then at about 2 15 it went quite again I was then talking to another birder when we had a Little Gull flying around the bay, then when I was packing up to leave at 3 o’clock I found a Basking Shark so ended a good sea watch, I then got the train back to Carbis Bay where I had seen the Shark and spent another hour Sea Watching more Gannets Manx Shearwaters and now I found the 2 Basking Sharks that had been seen earlier today so ended a good days sea watching. Will see what the weather is doing tomorrow before I decided where to go still some good birds to see

I am still here

Hi All
I am still about due to the fact I have been working for the past 3 months this included most weekends I have not done much birding or nature watching I am now on 2 weeks Holiday so will be posting what I am up to this week I am spending it  at my Caravan then Next week I am off to Cornwall for a week so hoping for some good sea watching