Scillies Day 5 (2nd Oct)

Hello

Back in the land of the Internet (temporarily)!

Wednesday 2nd October was a bright and sunny day with a strong south-easterly wind and another day dominated by late summer migrants.

Two Firecrests were located in a conifer belt at Longstones on St Marys and other birds noted on our wander around the island included numbers of Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Redstart and large numbers of hirundines.  Birds on the beaches included a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and plenty of waders including Whimbrel, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit etc.  Raptors are not numerous on the isles but a number of Peregrines terrorise both resident and migrant birds alike.

Eleanor and Neil

 

Clouded Yellow - numerous

on the Scilly Isles

 

Small Copper

 

Snipe

 

Whimbrel

Scillies Day 4 (1st Oct)

Hello

A sunny pleasant day with some mist and still very mild temperatures.  Despite the gloomy forecast there was no rain.

We found a Wryneck at about lunch-time and spent a short time watching this before it disappeared and Eleanor bumped in to another Lapland Bunting, this time on Penninis Head.

Still plenty of in-coming migrants with four Redstarts, ten Whinchats, over a hundred Wheatears, six Pied Flycatchers, ten Spotted Flycatchers, forty White Wagtails, three Ring Ouzels and smaller numbers of common warblers.

Raptors included Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine and coast-line birds included Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern and Little Egret.  The high-light of the day however may have been the apple strudel and clotted cream treat in an island café!

Three Clouded Yellow butterflies put on a good performance and Small Tortoiseshell and Large White were further flutter-by additions.

A nice sun-tan and two exhausted border collies concluded a very enjoyable day!

E & N

Scillies Day 3 (Monday 30th Sept)

Hello

Dull and drizzly today with some rain.  Eleanor took the dogs for an excursion around the east side of the island and saw good birds in the shape of Wryneck, Lapland Bunting, Redstart and Little Gull.  I was a great deal more sedentary but notched up a fabulous Yellow-browed Warbler, one of the first to arrive here this autumn.

We joined forces again for lunch and explored other sites on the island.  One or two first winter Mediterranean Gull(s) were about, Sandwich Terns were in excess of twenty and the White Wagtails numbered a good hundred birds and included a single Yellow Wagtail.  Still plenty of flycatchers and chats were present in suitable habitat and 3 Ravens roamed the island.

Butterflies enjoyed the sunny periods and included Red Admiral, Comma, Small Copper, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

The rain set in during the afternoon so Eleanor returned to the chalet with the dogs and I went and sat in the hides at Lower Moors.  After the rain had passed there was plenty of pre-dusk activity with the male Bluethroat hopping about and good numbers of freshwater Eels active in the shallows.  White Wagtails and Swallows came in to the marsh to roost and a Greenshank flew in and posed in front of the hides.

Regards

Neil M

Scillies Day 2 (Sunday 29th Sept)

Hello

Our first full day on St Mary's and an opportunity for a good meander along the lanes and beaches.  The bird of the day was a juvenile Purple Heron, at one stage showing closely but in poor light at Lower Moors.

The fall conditions of migrants appeared to have particularly affected chats, wagtails and flycatchers as we saw excellent numbers of Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Wheatears, Whinchats and White Wagtails all day.  Waders included Whimbrel, Jack Snipe, Golden Plover and a fly-over Wood Sandpiper and a Peregrine was observed hunting over the south side of the island.  Sandwich Terns were in good numbers.  Other passerines located included several Goldcrests, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and plenty of Rock Pipits at the coastal edges.  Warblers included Sedge, Reed, Willow and Chiffchaff and plenty of insects were on the go presumably because it was so mild and muggy.

Unfortunately the signal strength is so poor here that we are unable to download images, but hopefully we will find somewhere better to accommodate this soon.

Regards

E & N

Scillies Day 1

Hello

Apologies for the lack of blog reports recently!  Apparently there is no such thing as a wireless Internet connection on The Scillies.

On Saturday 28th September we boarded the Scillonian III passenger ferry at Penzance and sailed to the Isles of Scilly.  Birds at Penzance included 3 Grey Wagtails, Rock Pipit, Sparrowhawk, Shag and an unruly mob of Turnstones flapped good-bye to us as we manoeuvred out of the harbour.

This was the first time we could remember sailing in a strong south-easterly wind and the conditions were exceptionally mild.  Passerine migrants included plenty of Swallows taking a look at us as they flitted southwards, together with smaller numbers of House Martins and Meadow Pipits.  Hundreds of Gannets were no surprise and I'll never tire of watching them plunge-diving in to the waves.  Surprisingly though no skua species at all and just small numbers of Kittiwakes.  Shearwaters were well represented with at least half a dozen Balearics showing well, three Manxies and a lone Sooty.  A couple of Yellow-legged Gulls followed the vessel for much of the journey providing good views.  Unfortunately the conditions were so murky and grey that all images were just that, grey and murky!

Wherever there was a concentration of Gannets, sure enough there was a pod of Common Dolphins crashing around below them, some four pods being seen.

Just under three hours of sailing and we made landfall, but it was a misty and dank looking nest of islands that greeted us!  After walking up to our accommodation and after a cup of tea though the weather began to improve.  The south-easterlies had done their stuff and there were migrants everywhere.  Around our chalet we espied a couple each of Spotted and Pied Flycatcher plus a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

The afternoon was spent visiting favourite places and we connected with a male Bluethroat at Lower Moors.  Large numbers of White Wagtails on the beaches and open grass areas were a treat and we notched up plenty of Wheatears, Whinchats, common warblers, Meadow Pipits and three Turtle Doves, all no doubt the result of the weather conditions.  Additional species before dusk included Sandwich Tern, two Jack Snipe, Water Rail, Whimbrel, Greenshank and other common waders.

Home from home, a Hedgehog fed outside our chalet in the evening!

Regards

Neil M

Hidden birds!

Hello

A change in the weather down here in Cornwall saw a very blustery ESE wind and milky sunshine.

A rather frustrating day inasmuch that it was obvious there were plenty of migrants about but with the bushes being tossed around most of the passerines kept a very low profile.

With the sunshine there were plenty of common butterflies about and still quite a number of the huge and loud Large Green Bush-Crickets.

An early morning wander around the leafy suburbs of Penzance provided only a Grey Wagtail or two.

The Hayle Estuary was a little disappointing as the high tide failed to push the estuary birds close enough for really good views.  Common waders and wildfowl were present in reasonable numbers and an assortment of gulls included at least nine Mediterraneans.  A couple of territorial Grey Wagtails were vying for the best part of the sluice gates.

A visit to Pendeen provided a walk to the hidden beach towards Zennor.  Birds included Raven, plenty of passing Gannets and the passerines included good numbers of Wheatear plus Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Chiffchaff and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers.

This afternoon was spent exploring Kenidjack Valley near St Just.  Four lee-ward feeding Spotted Flycatchers provided an indication of what might have been hiding in the wind-torn vegetation; Chiffchaffs could be heard calling but were keeping out of view!  A group of five Choughs overflew the valley a couple of times.

A re-visit to the Hayle Estuary this evening provided a distant and brief view of a Black-winged Stilt in a channel, apparently found just after we left this morning!

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Mediterranean Gull

 

Grey Wagtail

 

Raven

 

Red Admiral

 

Chough

Heading South West

Hello

Early this morning we commenced the long drive to Penzance in Cornwall, the first leg of our journey to visit one of our favourite places, the Isles of Scilly.

To break the journey up we walked for a couple of hours in Great Haldon Forest near Exeter (Devon), before pushing on towards the Penzance area.

Low cloud, mist and a little rain persisted over much of the south west today and Great Haldon was a touch drippy and dank!  Nevertheless Goldcrests were calling from everywhere and a good number of shrill-sounding Chiffchaffs flicked up from the bracken or trailed tit flocks.  Small numbers of Nuthatch, Siskin and redpoll sp were about and the usual Crossbills were just heard today.  The raptor watch-point was redundant due to the weather!

Long Rock beach just east of Penzance is the local dog exercise beach, and that's where we were early this afternoon exercising the Collies!  Dogs of all shapes and sizes bounded up and away but our two remained fixated on their games in the sea and on the sand.  Birds included Rock Pipit, and several Wheatear and White Wagtail as well as a small flock of Bar-tailed Godwits and a Peregrine.

Less than a mile up the beach is Marazion.  The small RSPB reserve there held Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Rock Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtails, a Little Egret, a Raven and two Peregrines screaming about.  An evening scan at The Hayle was unproductive, the best birds being Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher.

With luck we hope to bird some of the Cornish coves tomorrow before embarking on the Scillonian III on Saturday morning.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Bar-tailed Godwits in the mist!

 

A cameo shot of the Pied

Flycatcher when the sun

did come out!  Unfortunately

the bird remained in thick

vegetation.

Short thrift

Hello

Not much opportunity for birding today.  This evening there were 2 Ravens and 4 Whinchats at the southern end of the Blueberry Farm complex.

Also this evening, a scan from the yacht club at Pitsford Res provided a Little Egret, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Greenshanks and 7 Ringed Plovers.

A ringing session at Stortons GP on Sunday morning provided 2 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, a Chiffchaff and 2 superb Kingfishers!

Regards

E & N

Murky Monday

Hello

In somewhat dull and murky conditions today, visits to some of our regular venues provided some  birds of interest.

At Harrington Airfield this morning there was a male Marsh Harrier hunting the top fields plus a Red Kite, a Turtle Dove, 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear.  Two Ravens and a Red Kite were noted at Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke.

At Blueberry Farm this afternoon, birds included a Red Kite, a Hobby and 4+ Whinchats.

Scanning north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this afternoon was sufficient to see the Ruddy Shelduck (present at 6pm until spooked by a low-flying balloon), 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 5 Little Egrets, a Redshank, a Snipe and a Kingfisher.  There were as many as 10 Chiffchaffs in the bushes by the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station.

Regards

E & N

Week-end update

Hello

On Saturday evening birds in the Blueberry Farm area included a Short-eared Owl, a female Peregrine and 6 Whinchats.

This morning (Sunday) and birds located at Harrington Airfield included a Turtle Dove, a Wheatear and 2 Whitethroats.  There was a heavy diurnal movement of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and hirundines and good numbers of Yellowhammer on-site.

Birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this morning included 5 Little Egrets, a Raven and 2 Hobbies and there was also a heavy passage of hirundines here too.  A ringing session based at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station caused over fifty birds to be caught and processed, the highlights being a Spotted Flycatcher, a Meadow Pipit, Tree Sparrows, a Reed Warbler and 6 Chiffchaffs.

Looking up this week-end and it was impossible not to notice an increase in flying machines, apparently in preparation for a flying event based at Sywell next week-end.

A couple of Siskins were present at Hanging Houghton and the buddleia was alive with butterflies including Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and others.  A scour of the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and up to Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this afternoon produced some good birds including a juvenile Marsh Harrier which flew towards Haselbech at 4pm, a male Merlin, 2 Hobbies, 2 Red Kites, 4+ Whinchats and 2 Whitethroats.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Comma

 

Spotted Flycatcher

 

Treecreeper

Pitsford WeBS

Hello

This morning was taken up completing the monthly WeBs count at Pitsford Res.  Despite significant disturbance there were good numbers of wildfowl present particularly Wigeon, Gadwall and Shoveler.  Highlights included ca11 Little Egrets, a Ruddy Shelduck, a Bar-headed Goose, a Garganey, 3 Goldeneye, 3 Pintail, a Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail.  Overhead migrants included plenty of Meadow Pipits, a few Siskins and a flock of 14 Ringed Plovers flying south at 12.30pm.  Late hatch butterflies including Small Copper were attracted to flowering mint in the margins.

Regards

E & N

Ditchford WeBS

Hello

Today we visited Ditchford GP to complete the monthly WeBS count.  In pleasant broken sunshine there were plenty of insects on the wing including plenty of common butterflies and dragonflies.  However birds were a little scarce and our observations were modest with the more interesting birds being 1-2 Hobby, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 6 or so Kingfishers, 4 Cetti's Warblers and a Grey Wagtail.  Small numbers of summer migrants included a few Yellow Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.  Waterfowl numbers were unremarkable but included a hundred Wigeon.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Painted Lady

Hysterical Hobby's!

Today my birding has been confined to the valley below HH and Blueberry Area. My morning walk was quiet with only 2 Ravens and a Red Kite.  Late afternoon/early evening was far more productive, and the weather was much better, sun and wind, the perfect recipe for raptors, and they didn't disappoint !!.  I lost count how many Common Buzzard I saw and heard, such an evocative call and they were clearly enjoying themselves. The rather stunning "white" Buzzard perched on the top of a tree watching the world go by, and there were 2 Red Kites and a female Peregrine in the area.
Over the last few days there have been hundreds of House Martins and Swallows feeding low over the fields etc, in preparation for their long journey south. This was the sight at Blueberry today, and whilst I stood around to let my collie companion have a rest I became aware of the alarm calls of the hirundines as they quickly gathered themselves together and gained height. However chaos soon ensued as 2 Hobby powered in and began hunting. The 2 Hobby were clearly working together and became very vocal with almost "scream" like calls. It wasn't long before one of them had caught their prey and they both flew off together. I'm glad that it was daylight as they sounded pretty scarey.  I had witnessed this before, many years ago at Pitsford Reservoir.
There were at least 8 Whinchat in their usual field, at one time 4 were perched together on a tiny weed stem with a couple of others trying to join them !!  Quite entertaining to watch.

Regards  Eleanor

Pitsford pm

Hello

A further excursion was made to Pitsford Res this afternoon and evening, with a few further species noted.  This afternoon there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Goldeneye in the Scaldwell Bay.  At about 4.50pm in blustery conditions, Pink-footed Geese could be heard calling and were eventually located flying west very high up.  The flock comprised of 31 birds.

This evening the Ruddy Shelduck was still in the Pintail Bay and there were approximately 5 Yellow-legged Gulls in the gull roost off the yacht club.

Regards

Neil M

 

Mute Swan

 

Going away view of

Pink-footed Geese!

 

Adult Yellow-legged Gull

showing evidence of

significant wing moult.

Autumn migration in full swing

Hello

This morning birds at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) and immediate surround included 2 Short-eared Owls, a Hobby, a Red Kite, 6 Whinchat and 14 Golden Plovers flew over.

Birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this morning included 1-2 Hobby, 4 Little Egrets and a Whinchat.  A ringing session at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station provided in excess of eighty birds, the majority of which were new birds and hatched this year.  Thirty-one House Martins and twenty-two Tree Sparrows dominated, but there was a reasonable show of warblers with five Chiffchaffs, a late Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler and a Sedge Warbler.

Regards

E & N