Patch Birding....

A brief visit this morning as I had to take the wife for a run, I'm helping her train for her 1st half marathon in April, then we had to go buy a car..

I didn't arrive until 07:45, even though I'd planned to be there for 07:00 - that's what a bottle of Boreaux the night before does I suppose...

It was bitterly cold of course, the ground frozen solid.  Before I'd even entered the site I had some great views of 3 deer - really need to learn the different species, can't be that hard.  I tried to get some photos but my camera was taking long exposures like it was night time, the light wasn't that great I admit but it wasn't dark? In fact, even when I sorted it out by setting everything manually, images still came out a little fuzzy when zoomed in.

Anyway, the birds...  The Main Pit came into view and was partially frozen so I expect no birds but it was quite the opposite.  A Gadwall pair and Widgeon pair were new for PWC2015 with the following birds counted:

Mallard - 189
Pochard - 4 (3m, 1f)
Widgeon - 2
Eurasian Teal - 60+
Tufted Duck - 24
Little Grebe - 6
Gadwall - 2
Coot - 20
Canada Goose - 29
Grey Heron - 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2

I took a walk over to the Little Owl tree with little hope.  On route I inadvertently flushed 2 x Jack Snipe and saw a pair of Wren flitting about.  Plenty of Red-legged Partridge flushed as usual too.  I got some more great view and some more poor photos of another 2 deer feeding in the long grass.

About 50m short of the Little Owl tree I saw what I thought was a Buzzard perched at the top so I put my scope down to take a look.  I couldn't believe my eyes, a beautiful male Peregrine Falcon, another tick for PWC2015 and for the year list.  I watched him scanning the area for about 10 mins before he flew off and over to Bidford.  I took a couple of photos but none any good, the best I managed was a phone camera to the telescope eyepiece shot...

Peregrine Falcon

I then left and stopped for a quick scan of Pophills Pit which held:

Coot - 20
Black-headed Gull - 16
Mallard - 6
Tufted Duck - 2

I also had a Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Pied Wagtail in area.  A Buzzard was sat in it's usual spot on the top corner of the disused barn.

There were the usual high number of Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon flying around the area too.

@Patchbirding - Salford Priors GP

I was determined to get a decent visit in at Salford Priors GP as part of the Patchwork Challenge. Today I arrived on site at 07:30, it was absolutely freezing and it wasn't long until my hands were completely numb, even with two pairs of gloves on!!

I went straight to the Main Pit, where I counted:

Mallard x 47
Tufted Duck x 41
Coot x 35
Teal x 10
Grey Heron x 2
Moorhen x 1
Pochard x 5
Lapwing x ~50
Little Grebe x 4

There was vast numbers of Woodpigeon flying over, I estimate 500 which contained 3 Stock Dove.  I also had a single fly over Fieldfare.  The fields to the rear of the Main Pit holds large numbers of Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant for the shooting fraternity, this in turn attracts large numbers of Carrion Crow and Jackdaw which roost in the small copse on site, this large flock contained a single Raven which flew over 'kronking', a sound I'll never tire of and one which I feel privileged to be able to hear in the heart of Warwickshire.

I carried on past the pit over to the area which was once a nice reed bed, no so now though, as part of returning the gravel pits to agricultural land they have been cut down.  I took a walk through so I could get to a viewing point for the flooded field opposite.  Walking through the old reed bed I flushed a Jack Snipe which for me is a great find, I don't record Jack Snipe generally most years so to have a local site hold them is great, even better that it's my chosen site for the Patchwork Challenge 2015.

I checked the old tree for the resident Little Owl but still no luck, not sure if it's decided to move on with all the activity in the area reshaping the landscape.

I had a quick check of Pophills Pit where I found:

Black-headed Gull x 58
Yellowhammer x 10
Tufted Duck x 4
Coot x 14
Red-legged Partridge x 2
Magpie x 3
Greylag Goose x 60 - fly overs
Common Sandpiper x 1
Pied Wagtail x 1

Other birds noted were Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, Buzzard, Kestrel.  I then returned home where I added Song Thrush to the list from my garden.

I managed to add 12 species to my Patch Challenge list:

Pochard
Lapwing
Moorhen
Fieldfare
Jack Snipe
Common Sandpiper
Yellowhammer
Greylag Goose
Pied Wagtail
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Collared Dove
Song Thrush

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

Let the race commence.........

In true gentleman like fashion, Will and I decided that we'd go for a quick spot of geeking together at the start of our race to see who can photograph the greatest number of birds within a 12 month period.  We opted for a quick look around the woods at Woburn for the elusive Lady Amherst Pheasant as you have to start somewhere and nobody that knows of their whereabouts is willing to divulge such information.  Why it's such a secret is beyond me as if what Mr Evans says about there only being 2 surviving males, then it's hardly a breeding bird which requires protection...... Anyway down from soapbox and on with the race.

As I said we started in Woburn woods which to our amatuer birding skills were deviod of birdlife.....

Then on to Caldecotte Lake to see if the Scaup were still hanging around, if they were then our great geeking genes failed us again as we were unable to locate them.  We did see a lovely pair of Siskin but I was unable to obtain a photograph of them, what I did manage is shown below, not the greatest of starts but it's only day 1.

 1. Magpie

 

 2. Grey Heron

 

 3. Canada Goose

 

 4. Black Headed Gull

 

 5. Pochard

 

6. Great Crested Grebe

 

Seems I need to sort the numbering out, will have to work on that....

Scaup-ered

After work today I thought I quickly nip across to Caldecotte Lake to see if the Scaup were still around - they weren't :( I can't help but reminise back to 1989 when Caldecotte was my local patch and full of Avian life.  Not a single Widgeon, Teal or Gadwall present and only a few Pochard.  There was however a Goosander pair and a Little Grebe but that really was the limit.  I tried experimenting with my camera, managed a few acceptable ones but threw loads away...

Canada Goose

Tufted Duck

I then came across this Black Headed Gull, appears odd to me so grateful if anybody could confirm.  Don't recall ever seeing the black extend so far down either the front or back of the head, also the neck appears to be slightly longer?

 



Black Headed Gull

I then popped in at Linford GP (HESC) on the way home which paid off.  The woodland hide provided me with ample opportunity to practice with the camera, I won't bore you with all the shots, just one of a Blue Tit I rather liked and a Marsh Tit, although this isn't a very good shot - in my defence it was starting to get dark.



Blue Tit

Marsh Tit

I had a quick stop in at the main hide which helped explain the lack of waterfowl at Caldecotte, the place was crammed with Tufted Duck, Widgeon, Pochard, a small number of Teal and a drake Pintail - unfortunately no photos as he was a fair distance and the light was almost completely gone.

 

An enjoyable evening finished off with a few games of squash where I got an ass kicking as always......