WWT Barnes - Bittern

After a week off work I thought I best visit the doctor yesterday, she informed me I had Flu, a Virus and a Chest Infection - nice..... Anyway, she suggested I get some fresh air so today I drove over to the London Wetland Centre in Barnes, I had seen on my Bird Guides App that a couple of Bittern were present.

The car park was empty when I arrived which to me bodes well, I'm honestly not anti-social.

My first bird was a very obliging Blackbird against the toilet wall feasting on some berries.

Blackbird

Blackbird

The small ponds on you cross over before entering the visitor centre contained Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, a pair of Shovelar and Moorhen.

Shovelar

Moorhen

Within the atrium area (upon exiting the visitor centre) a small group of Ring-necked Parakeet.

Ring-necked Parakeet

I walked up to the where the Bittern had been seen, on route I added Magpie, Carrion Crow, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Widgeon, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Egyptian Goose, Teal, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull and a signing Cetti's Warbler which provided fleeting views.

Tufted Duck

Robin

I arrived at the furthest hide where I saw Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron and a Bittern which was show ridiculously in the sunshine.

Bittern

Bittern (crappy phone through the scope shot)

As I was looking out over the scrapes for waders (of which there were none) I found a pair of Stonechat quite a distance out on the fence.

14th January 2016

I returned the following day for a few hours but went around the other side of the reserve (and for some reason can't find the photos)..

My first stop was at the Dulverton Hide where I saw a gorgeous pair of Pintail.  Whilst walking up to the WWF Hide I stop to look at the buzz of Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit, amongst them was an over wintering Chiffchaff but best of all were the 25 Siskin in the top of the Alders.

I continued around to the Peacock Tower where I stopped for a bit to search for any hidden waders but nothing was found, there were plenty of Wigeon, Shovelar, Mallard and Teal.  On route back to the car I heard the seeping sound of Goldcrest and found 3 flitting along the hedgerow giving great views, I was then interrupted by a yaffling Green Woodpecker overhead.  On route back to the car I diverted back to the WWF hide as a large flock of Canada Geese had landed so thought I best check them.  In addition to those mentioned I also added Pochard and Jay to the year list.

Hudwit

We had friends over at the weekend so I never thought I'd get out geeking the local patch never mind get a twitch in...

On the Saturday night I took some of them to a local badger sett which I'd been raving about, after waiting patiently for about 40 minutes I was convinced the badgers weren't going to perform, but then one was spotted outside the furthest hole.  We ended up having an adult and 3 cubs to watch which was awesome.

The following morning I was up at 06:30 and off to Somerset for the Hudsonian Godwit, there are some amazing photos of it on Twitter, this is not one of them...

Hudsonian Godwit

For those sharp eyed among you, if you combine that with great imagination you will of course by telling me the right hand bird is a Ruff, you obviously don't need me to tell you due to my mastery of the camera, that the bird in the centre is the Hudsonian Godwit.

I had a few NFY's which is always nice, the first being a beautiful male Garganey, he was way too far out for me to entertain the idea of a photo.  I then had Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Swift and Kingfisher.

Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat seemed to be in every tree trying to out sing each other.

Sedge Warbler

 Sedge Warbler

Whitethroat

Blackcap

 

This Woodpigeon was feeding her two chicks from her crop.

 

Woodpigeon

 

 On the way home I stopped at my local patch and found Swift again which was a patch tick, I didn't stay as the weather had turned.

Round Britain Tour - Day 4

Absolutely no photos today as the light was horrendous and everything we saw was at great distance.

We started today at Sopley Mill again for the Green-winged Teal as we were passing through however it was not to be found. As we were about to leave we got chatting with a local from whom we discovered that we were in the wrong place. Back into the car and a dash to the other side of the village to check some flooded fields. It took us a while but we eventually found the Green-winged Teal who was displaying.

It was then across to Kingfisher Lake for a reported Ferruginous Duck but the lake is fenced up like Fort Knox so that was the first dip of the day. We checked back in at the Ivy North hide for the Bittern. the hide was packed and the windows were steamed up as they don't open!! We managed to get some obscured views as he skulked around the reeds, we also re-located the Mealy Redpoll which was a bonus.

We thought we'd try the New Forest again for the Great Grey Shrike and spent what felt like half the day walking around the New Forest for no reward. We then tried Ibsley Common as another was reported there but don't think this is going to be a bird we are going to see, we did get a fly past Peregrine Falcon though.

Next stop was Poole Harbour and Sandbanks for Surf Scoter and Red-necked Grebe and you guessed it - we dipped both so that's Ferruginous Duck, Great Grey Shrike, Red-necked Grebe and Surf Scoter all dipped, a bonuses were Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver and Mediterranean Gull whilst looking for the Red-necked.

With the light fading we thought we could possibly squeeze one more in so headed for the 2 Common Crane, not that we had much confidence of success based on our run of dips..... We arrived on site but couldn't see anything, as we were about to give up I questioned an odd goose like honk, next thing we knew there was 2 Common Cranes flying across in the distance. The race was then on to get some half decent views before the light disappeared completely. We located them in the river valley in a field with 2 Grey Heron and 11 Little Egret....!! After all those dips, the Common Crane certainly made up for it and was my only lifer of the day.

I saw a total of 64 species today of which 1 was a lifer and I am now up to 122 species for the trip:

1. Treecreeper
2. Grey Wagtail
3. Pied Wagtail
4. Robin
5. Song Thrush
6. Blackbird
7. Woodpigeon
8. Rook
9. Mallard
10. Pintail
11. Gadwall
12. Teal
13. Mute Swan
14. Starling
15. Blue Tit
16. Great Tit
17. Greylag Goose
18. Jackdaw
19. Lapwing
20. Moorhen
21. Buzzard
22. Green-winged Teal
23. Little Egret
24. Chaffinch
25. Black-headed Gull
26. Pheasant
27. Dunnock
28. House Sparrow
29. Great Crested Grebe
30. Goosander
31. Green Woodpecker
32. Coot
33. Pochard
34. Widgeon
35. Goldfinch
36. Canada Goose
37. Egyptian Goose
38. Long-tailed Tit
39. Collard Dove
40. Mistle Thrush
41. Siskin
42. Lesser Redpoll
43. Mealy Redpoll
44. Greenfinch
45. Bittern
46. Jay
47. Stonechat
48. Raven
49. Meadow Pipit
50. Peregrine Falcon
51. Shag
52. Red-breasted Merganser
53. Shelduck
54. Great Black-backed Gull
55. Herring Gull
56. Magpie
57. Dark-bellied Brent Goose
58. Slavonian Grebe
59. Great Northern Diver
60. Goldeneye
61. Common Gull
62. Black-necked Grebe
63. Mediterranean Gull
64. Common Crane

Double Lifer!!!!!

Decided that I couldn't ignore the Pied Billed Grebe any longer so I took a trip to RSPB Ham Wall and what a great day, the sun was shining and the birds were all showing.

First notable bird of the day was a booming Bittern, this is the first time I've heard this weird call.  Next up was a Great White Egret feeding just off the first platform, never expected that today.  Whilst I was looking at it through the telescope someone called Bittern, I looked up and there was one flying across in front of us, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough with the camera but did manage a great view through the binoculars

7. Great White Egret

 

I then walked on up to the second platform which is where the Pied Billed Grebe has been reported from, on route I saw plenty of tit and finch activity in the trees and hedges lining the path and heard numerous Cetti's Warblers however was unable to locate any. I took a few shots of some Long Tailed Tits, one which I am quite happy with.

 8. Long Tailed Tit

 



I finally arrived at the second viewing platform but viewing was at a premium as it was very busy, this still didn't stop me getting some great views of the Pied Billed Grebe through my binoculars and some amazing views through the telescope; my first lifer of the day.  The pictures however are not as great, suppose I brought an entry level camera for a reason though so can't grumble.

 

9. Pied Billed Grebe

 

I'd heard there had been a Ring Necked Duck, Scaup, Smew, Black Necked Grebe and Ferruginous Duck present yesterday so I wandered on further along the track, on route I managed to snap a couple more birds for the list, Blue Tit and Chaffinch.

 

 10. Blue Tit

 

11. Chaffinch

 

I arrived at a group of people who it turned out where getting on/off glimpses of the Ring Necked Duck.  I managed to get onto my second lifer of the day - awesome!!  Again, not the greatest of shots as it was through trees and in a very narrow viewing window.

 

12. Ring Necked Duck

 

Whilst observing the Ring Necked Duck I happened to look up and notice 3 birds flying towards us, since I was having I lifer day my first hope was Crane - no chance.... however 3 Spoonbills were a nice addition to the year list.  I wandered further up as somebody informed us that the Ferruginous Duck had been located.  I arrived just it it disappeared behind some reedbeds, I waited for about 20 minutes but he wasn't coming out.  I decided to call it a day and head back to the car as I still had to go to work, on the way back I stopped for a quick look at the Pied Billed Grebe but he'd become elusive, a bonus though was that the 2 Black Necked Grebes had arrived back, great views but too far out for photos.  Lastly I found a Chiffchaff flitting about the tree tops by the carpark which was another nice addition to the year list.

 

All in all a great day; lovely weather, great birding, an awesome site and 2 lifers to boot.....Happy Days.