Kensington Gardens

I didn't go into work today as not feeling too great, however I started to feel a little house bound and decided a touch of fresh air was required. I headed over to Kensington Gardens for an hour and managed to add a few species to the year list.

A guarantee was always going to be the Egyptian Goose, quite large numbers in the park now, the flock outnumbering the Canada Goose and Greylag Goose.

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Geese (Squabble or Courtship?)

 

There were small flocks of both Canada and Greylag goose grazing by the Round Pond, Greylag were 'new for year' for me.

 

Greylag Goose

 

It was nice to see a couple of cheeky Jackdaw up close and the lovely colours of a Starling when they are caught in the right light.

 

Jackdaw

Starling

Starling (bathing)

Starling (bathing)

Starling (bathing)

 

I managed to find the Greater Scaup amongst the Tufted Duck although I was unable to get a decent photo as he was always into the Sun.

 

Scaup

 





I then took a walk over to the old Oak tree to search for the resident Tawny Owl which I've never managed to find despite the daily reporting of by Ralph on his amazing blog HERE, an inspirational example of true patch birding.  Needless to say I was unable to find the Tawny Owl...

 

I headed on over to the Leaf Garden in search of Coal Tit's as this was another bird I needed for this year, on route over I was treated to some great views of Jay and found a couple of Redwing and a Song Thrush.

 

Jay

Redwing

Song Thrush

 



I found a Coal Tit 'pitchoo-ing' in the Leaf Garden along with Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit, I also had Pochard and Shovelar on the main lake by the Peter Pan statue.  On my way back I thought I'd chance one last look for the Tawny Owl, I decided to try other trees from the one I'd worked out it would be in according to Ralphs directions which, on revisiting I'd gotten wrong.  My perseverance was finally rewarded (about 8 visits) and there he was sat in the exact pose as in his daily appearance on Ralphs blog..  Thanks to Ralph for directions...

Shovelar

Tawny Owl

 

Having called it day and heading back to the tube I managed to add Great Spotted Woodpecker to the year list.  I grabbed a few photos of the Ring-necked Parakeets as they looked dazzling in the sunshine today.

 

Ring-necked Parakeet

 

I also couldn't resist this Grey Squirrel soaking up the sun, he looked like a hunters pelt...

 





All in all an hour well spent I think, I managed to get some well needed fresh air whilst adding 8 species to my 2015 Year List - Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, Greater Scaup, Shovelar, Pochard, Coal Tit, Tawny Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker

Forest of Dean

Had a few hours to kill today so made a trip to the Forest of Dean for the Two-barred Crossbills that have been showing extremely well of late. They had been reported around Crabtree Hill just down from Speech House and a blog I read yesterday gave Ordnance Survey grid references. I parked up in the Speech House car park and took a walk to said grid reference but was unable to locate any Crossbills by sight or sound. I did however manage Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Stock Dove and Marsh Tit for the year list, Goldcrest and Marsh Tit are also Bird Race ticks. Them Goldcrests are difficult to photograph, I had to put the camera onto manual and rattled off a fair few shots of which this is the best one!

76. Goldcrest

 

Thought I'd add this Treecreeper as it's marginally better than my one from previously on my blog.



I was on my way back to the car when I stopped to watch some Nuthatch's chasing each other around the canopy, when a tit flock came through which contained a few Marsh Tit, again not the best clarity as I was on manual trying to keep up with them. I've just realised that I also need Nuthatch for the Bird Race list but don't think I got any shots other that silhouettes of them.

77. Marsh Tit

77. Marsh Tit

 

I thought I'd add this one to today's blog as I was reasonably pleased with it, seems that Robins are the only birds I can satisfactorily take photos of.

Robin

 



After my abysmal failure at locating the TBC's I decided to head down to Parkend as Hawfinch's had be reported around the grassy area along the side of the cricket pitch. I spent about half an hour searching and only managed to find 2 Robins and a flock of Greenfinch. I decided to give it up and started to head towards the car when I heard high pitched squeaking, on looking up I saw a flock of finches fly over my head and across to the top of some tall trees. I stopped for a look and was rewarded with not 1 Hawfinch but 8! I've taken a few shots but they were at a distance, high up and with a grey back drop, you can just about make them out as Hawfinches from their shape and pattern.

 78. Hawfinch

 



78. Hawfinch





So even though I didn't catch up with the TBC, or even Common Crossbills actually, I still had an enjoyable couple of hours as this was only the second time I've seen Hawfinches.

RSPB HQ

Never been to the RSPB's HQ before but since I had an hour to kill I thought I'd pop over, I'd heard they'd had a number of Brambling visiting their feeders so hopefully it would be worth my while.

I arrived nice and early, only a few cars in the car park, the feeders however were already congested to the max with Lesser Redpolls, Siskins and Tits, a few Mealy Redpolls have been reported but my ID skills aren't good enough for separation of the two.

I took quite a few shots of the birds feeding which looked great on the camera display but rather blurred when transferred to the computer and view as a larger image.

A female Brambling appeared which I was happy with but she was very flighty and difficult to photograph, so after about 20 minutes watching and photographing the birds around the feeders I decided to take a quick walk around the nature trail.

I crossed the road to the start of the trail, made my way round the first corner then noticed some movement in one of the trees, 3 Brambling which sat for a while allowing me to obtain a half decent image.

32. Brambling

 

The walk around the reserve, although pleasant did not offer up much bird life, I think they all hang around the feeders! I heard Raven calling in the distance but didn't manage to see them.  I did see a fox and only managed a quick few shots as it ran off through the woods.

 

Fox

 

I continued round to the hide by the HQ building, again plenty of close up views of Redpolls, Tits and Siskin. A nice quiet hide allowing ample opportunity to practice photographing the birds.

 

 33. Redpoll

 

 Redpoll

 



 34. Siskin

 

Somehow managed to get onto this Coal Tit who rarely stopped in the same spot for more than 2 seconds!

 

35. Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Stock Dove, a bird I rarely get to see up close flew in with it's partner and again afforded me some fantastic close up views, I managed to get a fair few shots at different angles in an attempt to catch the neck patch in different lights, I only uploaded the one though, might have another look through and see if I can find one with the neck patch looking purple..

36. Stock Dove

 

I then noticed something flying low in the background, my first thought was Merlin, it was flying extremely fast but also rising, it was difficult to get onto with the binoculars but I eventually managed it - Woodcock, awesome, only my second every sighting and my first in daylight, I presume it had been flushed by walkers as there were a few in the direction from which I first noticed it.  Now an extremely happy bunny with Brambling and Woodcock for the day I decided to call it a day but just before I did a Goldfinch landed on the feeder so I grabbed a quick photograph for the blog.

37. Goldfinch

 

So all in all I would thoroughly recommend a visit to the home of the RSPB, a small heathland being restored, hopefully when it brightens up a little (if) there may be the chance of visiting Tree Pipit, Woodlark and who knows, maybe I could be so bold as to hope for Nightjar and Dartford Warbler!!

 

Almost forgot, while in the hide I had a glance out of the side window and saw this cute little bunny, couldn't resist a photo...

Bunny - Cute....