Another Local Outing

Took the kids for a visit to Brandon Marsh today for them to have a walk around and with the hope of seeing the little gulls that had been reported.

There wasn't actually too much to see today, certainly no little gull however reports came in later in the day that some had been seen at Draycote, could be the same ones?

Managed to get a few photos but nothing major. There were a number of Shovelar present and a pair of lingering Widgeon, a pair of Oystercatcher and a single Redshank.

Highlight of the day was my first Sand Martin of the year.

Mute Swan

 

It was nice to hear the Chiffchaff singing around the reserve announcing the arrival of spring.

 

Chiffchaff

A juvenile gull was playing 'drop & catch' with a pebble which the kids found hilarious.

'Drop & Catch' Gull

 

Oystercatcher

Shovelar

As we were leaving I caught a flash of white in the screens leading to one of the hides, a bit of patience rewarded us with a Treecreeper scouring the screen for insects.

Treecreeper



Testing Day

So I was allowed out geeking today whilst the misses spent the day talking wedding plans and hen night with friends.

I thought I'd have a great day being on the south coast and was spoilt for choice as to where to go. I settled on Farlington Marsh which should provide me with waders and sea ducks and hopefully Short-eared Owl. When I arrived though, the tide was so far out that the bay was dry and devoid of bird life, the marsh itself was buzzing with dog walkers so I decided to forget the idea and head to Titchfield Haven. Before I left I had a quick scan of the channel with the telescope and picked out Curlew, Oystercatcher and a nice pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.

I arrived a Titchfield, the area quite busy. I parked up and scanned the Solent first but nothing on the sea as it was so rough, the wind was very blustery and blew my tripod over whilst I was getting my telescope, this has bent the arm which controls the head :o(

There were a few Herring Gull and Cormorant out on a spit and some Oystercatchers very close in affording a great opportunity to get some shots.

Oystercatcher

 

I then locked up the car and turned to head over to Titchfield Haven only to find it was closed, today was not turning out to be my day.....

 

As time was running out I decided to head to Stanwick Lakes as it was on the way back to our friends. I arrived on site and low and behold it too was shut, it was still accessible by foot though so I just parked up on the feeder road.

 

The woods are extremely wet and boggy making it difficult to walk round, certain paths are closed off and others completely flooded. The woods were alive with Blue Tit and Great Tit but no Coal. I saw a couple of Goldfinch which I don't really recall seeing much in woodland. I got some great views of a pair of Lesser Redpoll feeding.

 

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll

 

I also saw plenty of Woodpigeon, a Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, a Song Thrush and a Treecreeper but this was it for the smaller birds. I continued round passed the Study Centre lake on the way back to the car. I had a quick scan, present were Mallard, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, a Little Grebe tucked up in the reeds and then my first Kingfisher of the year.



Mallard

Gadwall

 

128. Kingfisher

Bournemouth Visit

Visiting family in Bournemouth over the weekend but misses allowed me to have Saturday off to go geeking, where to go though with so many great sites to choose from?

The weather wasn't that great but I was determined to make the most of it so I started at Upton CP as a Green Winged Teal had been reported for a few days previous.  Luckily for me somebody with a scope put me on as mine is in dire need of an upgrade.  Other birds present were hundreds of Eurasian Teal and Wigeon, there was about 25 Shelduck, 20 Avocet, plenty of Redshank, a Spotted Redshank, a few Oystercatcher and Curlew.  I then popped over to Holes Bay as 3 x Siberian Chiffchaff had been reported, I managed to find two flitting around with a Goldcrest.

Nuthatch

 

 Avocet

 

 Curlew

 

Little Egret

I then headed over to Radipole Lake to see if I could connect with a Marsh Harrier which I successfully did, photo isn't too great I'm afraid but you can make out this female well enough I think?  Was hoping for Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warbler but only managed to hear a Chetti's Warbler.  5 gull species were present; Great Black Backed, Lesser Black Backed, Herring, Common and Black Headed.

 Female Marsh Harrier

 

 Great Black Backed Gull

 

 Lesser Black Backed & Herring Gulls

 

Robin

The plan was then to pop over to Ferrybridge as plenty of Divers and Grebes had been reported but the day had already come to an end, Dorset definately has a great selection of sites, I'll have to plan a weekend there during migration I think, spend some time around Portland.