tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70161119532484660062024-03-12T21:36:18.980-07:00POD'S WORLD 2 These are the ramblings of a one time manic twitcher now mellowing in old age and bashing his local patch whence the mood takes him. I work (some call it that some say I'm a jammy bugger) as a full time survey monkey (birds usually but the odd bat and newt now and again) hence I get paid to bird...nice!!! I still twitch if my list requires what evers on show but much prefer to find stuff which is a tad harder. I am the original Comberbach Casual.Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-26865534879135564812014-01-22T11:33:00.000-08:002014-01-22T11:33:12.198-08:00STOP PRESS...SILVER MEDAL!!Looks like the brown envelope paid off as I've been elevated to second place in the inaugural<br />
<b>Patchwork Challenge 2013</b> final listings for <b>Inland North</b>.<br />
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Only joking honest! Great effort by Mr Holliday...(next year I think he needs to take one)<br />
<b>149</b> was actually the total number of species seen by one and all on our patch...if only I'd of found that ruddy Stilt Sandpiper...rats!<br />
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bring on 2014<br />
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<b>TTFN</b>Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-49086453896749969742014-01-19T10:33:00.001-08:002014-01-22T11:33:54.569-08:00IT'S ALL GONE EVIL KAGAWAJust had this sent via twitter, I didn't know anything about it honest...apart from tweeting it?<br />
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Just like Evil Kagawa me get even one day..who Birdwatch think they are, post my tweets..racists!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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No grudge I bear, I sit on fence...I hate @@%$&......</div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-9478577286009229452014-01-17T12:37:00.000-08:002014-01-17T12:37:01.168-08:00#PWC 2013 FINAL SCORES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well a year on the 'Patchwork Challenge' patch and I get a creditable 9th.<br />
If we remove the East Anglian dudes cos lets face it, they've got a massive head start on the rest of us that puts me upto 5th.<br />
Same goes for the South West bit of an advantage what?<br />
That gets me up to 4th.<br />
As I saw more species than some above me then up I go again...<br />
That puts me into 2nd place.<br />
My % of 112.0805 is much higher than Mr Holliday's 108 so whap a doodle do...1st place...sorted!<br />
All's fair in love and birding what?<br />
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bring on 2014.....<b>#theflashes</b><br />
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<b>TTFN</b>Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-10696438002210365412014-01-05T05:36:00.001-08:002014-01-05T05:49:20.781-08:002013 WHAT A YEAR!!Some scores on the doors to tidy up the various lists etc.<br />
2013 proved to be an awesome birding year and one of those years that will be looked back on as historic or you could say epic!.<br />
The year prior (2012) saw my British list move up by zero, yes! a tick free year.<br />
But then came 2013 and the BOOM!! was heard, text, tweeted 7 times.<br />
7 lifers if all get accepted etc etc!<br />
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<b><u>British List</u></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">PINE GROSBEAK</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">DUSKY THRUSH</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">PACIFIC SWIFT</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">THICK BILLED WARBLER</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">CAPE MAY WARBLER</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">BAIKAL TEAL</span></b><br />
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<b><u>British+Ireland/WesternPal</u></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">WILSON'S WARBLER</span></b><br />
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<b><u>Year List</u></b> wise I ended up with <b><span style="color: magenta;">279</span></b> (non bou)<br />
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<b><u>Patch (Marbury CP/Neumann's Flashes)</u></b> a very respectable <b><span style="color: magenta;">143</span></b> tied 1st.<br />
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A good battle all year with Greg and Malc.</div>
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I've also started putting all my records onto the <b><u>BTO Birdtrack</u></b> website that just happens to run a couple of league tables so guess what..</div>
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BOU of course, gonna try for 300 in 2014 BOU (we'll see?)</div>
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A great year and hopefully more of the same in 2014 as the predicted weather systems just keep on coming.</div>
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My #Patchbirding challenge for this year will involve a year long stomp around the Flashes and just the Flashes (Neumann's and Ashton's) something that no one has done before (that I know of).</div>
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Like I do I've created another blog just for this campaign...</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;"><a href="http://www.theflashes2014.blogspot.co.uk/">www.theflashes2014.blogspot.co.uk</a></span></b></div>
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See you on the patch dudes! </div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-73797311069488376732013-12-31T12:21:00.002-08:002014-01-05T05:37:14.521-08:00THE PATCH YEAR 2013 part.2Just bear with me a mo cos I've just found a piccy of the <b><span style="color: blue;">Wood Warbler </span></b>I found in April...<br />
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photo (slightly edited) by are newest patch recruit Jeff Wood..nice one!<br />
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<u><b>June</b></u> - 1 species added (<b>total - 131</b>), that being <b><span style="color: blue;">Green Sandpiper</span></b><br />
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You can see what I mean when I say most patchers (old school) would have hung up their bins by now. A paltry one species and I did look honest. One of twelve Green Sands on the mud at Haydn's Pool.<br />
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<b><u>July</u> - 3 species (total - 134)</b></div>
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highlights - <b><span style="color: blue;">Hobby, Black-necked Grebe</span></b> and <b><span style="color: blue;">Willow Tit</span></b></div>
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A hard work month patch wise but still a few quality year ticks found their way onto the list. <b><span style="color: blue;">Willow Tits </span></b>still hanging in there...just!! One success we did have was <b><span style="color: blue;">Common Terns</span></b> again breeding on the patch or shall we say trying. This pair (there were two) attempted to nest on the island on Neumann's but eventually gave up due to the huge amount of Mute Swan action (roost, preening, squabbling) that took place most evenings on or just by the island.. T'other pair of Terns did really well again on Marston Ponds, raising one young that I even got on the house flyover list. Rafts put out by those darn maggot danglers doing the trick...well played chaps!</div>
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The magical Kid Brook looking southwards towards Marbury CP. Mid summer and a bird free zone, too many tourists, farmers with guns and dingy sailors about. But all was not over for one of the patches best bird magnets, see later...</div>
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Budworth Mere at it's finest on a lovely warm summers evening.<br />
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<b><u>August</u> - 2 species (total - 136)</b><br />
highlights what an understatement.. <b><span style="color: red;">STILT SANDPIPER</span></b>!!!! and a wee flock of <b><span style="color: blue;">Ruff</span></b>.<br />
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I get a casual text via the patch grapevine ''probable Curlew Sand on Nf''', I finish what I'm doing at home and wander down to Neumann's and meet BT Dave and Mr T at the entrance gate. ''Curlew Sand we think but it might be a Stilt Sand according to Greg''....''what the ???''<br />
I casually race round to the north end of the flash as the bird has now moved a lot closer and is feeding with Lapwings just by the island. I set up my scope and checkout the bird in question..<br />
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''FECK ME!!...IT'S A <b><span style="color: red;">STILT SANDPIPER</span></b>''<br />
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I congratulate Greg for his find or should I say re-identification and promptly put out the news to the masses.<br />
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If only I had of gotten up early and done what I had been doing the past few weeks this patch mega would or could have been mine...rats bottom! lesson learnt once again (the hard way).</div>
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This would have been huge points haul for the Patchwork Challenge <a href="http://www.patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/">www.patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk</a> but all I get is a paltry 5...bummer!</div>
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The twitch in full swing...thumbs up all round</div>
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A great bird though and incredibly the second one for the patch and Cheshire, the first being the well traveled (in Cheshire) Frodsham bird of 1984...29 years ago phew!</div>
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Neumann's was now in prime condition with the water levels perfect for passage waders and this enabled a flock of Ruff (6) to spend most of the month there or on drying out fast Haydn's Pool nearby.</div>
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It is estimated that at least 700+ birders visited the patch to grip the Stilt...and we never got a tick bucket into action or charged the Brummies to park! oh well maybe next time.</div>
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<b><u>September</u> - 3 species (total - 139)</b></div>
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highlights - <b><span style="color: blue;">Caspian Gull, Whinchat</span></b> and <b><span style="color: blue;">Curlew Sandpiper</span></b> (a real one)</div>
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I had seen and photographed what I thought to be a Yellow-legged Gull and posted pictures on this blog. To the rescue came Pete Kinsella and he had been checking said gull photos and realized the bird was actually an adult CASPIAN GULL a patch first. It was I have to say an educational bird and not a classic but with the patch halfway between Richmond Bank and Sandbach it was only a matter of time before one dropped in. Cheers Pete, I think I know what to look for next time (cough!).</div>
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Next up was a rather excellent duo of Whinchats that I found on Ashton's Flash whilst checking out a Wheatear found earlier by Malc (serious year list contender) how he missed them I don't know but I did the decent thing and put the news out #marburypatch. They were one afternoon birds typical of the patch.</div>
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<b>October - 2 species (total - 141)</b></div>
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highlights - <b><span style="color: blue;">Egyptian Goose</span></b> and a grip back <b><span style="color: blue;">Barnacle Goose</span> </b>(3 actually)</div>
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Par for the course finds me twitching off patch Shetland for <b><span style="color: red;">Thick-billed Warbler</span></b> (actually there at the time) and <b><span style="color: red;">Cape May Warbler</span></b> nice!! with vast amounts of work in between seriously limits my patch time. But I still manage to keep the old year list ticking (no pun intended) along.</div>
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A <b><span style="color: blue;">Gypo Goose</span></b> not the <b><span style="color: blue;">Orinoco Goose</span></b> of earlier in the, year comes and goes and I think I've missed this patch lifer when one evening it does the decent thing and flies back in with the usual Canada Goose flock..sorted! to roost on Kid Brook spit (the magnet is still on)</div>
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Another session at Bund Hide for yours truly...</div>
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<u><b>November</b></u> - zilch!</div>
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Despite many hours in the field and various other places I cannot add anything to the year list. </div>
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The UK birding year has been epic to say the least and my pockets are all but empty. Thus even though I bash the patch now the awesome Autumn has ended not a shred of anything new can be squeezed out of it. </div>
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There is though December with it's usual surprise or two?</div>
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<b><u>December</u> - 2 species (total - 143)</b></div>
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<b> </b>highlights - <b><span style="color: blue;">Yellowhammer</span></b> and <b><span style="color: blue;">Little Egret</span></b></div>
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So the year ends once again and I find myself joint top of the patch year list rankings (for the 5th time so surely I should keep the trophy) Mr Baker my fellow year list winner with Malc a close third on 140</div>
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Add to the list White Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black Swan and Orinoco Goose and we're still shy of the magical 150 maybe next year (I said that last year).</div>
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Final scores on the doors for the <b><span style="color: orange;">#PWC </span><span style="color: purple;">143 species - 167 points</span></b>...next year just The Flashes!</div>
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<b><span style="color: purple;">Patch Year List - 143 </span></b>that's <b><span style="color: purple;">96%</span></b> of total species seen (149), a grand score me thinks.</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-11819360215141440982013-12-30T07:19:00.000-08:002014-01-05T05:37:25.940-08:00THE PATCH YEAR 2013<b><u>January</u> - 85 species</b><br />
highlights - 3 species of owl including <b><span style="color: blue;">Barn</span></b> and <b><span style="color: blue;">Little, Jack Snipe, GN Diver, Brambling, </span></b> <b><span style="color: blue;">Goosander</span></b>.<br />
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Seems light years ago now when the first major bird to appear on the patch for 2013 was the cracking<br />
Great Northern Diver that first appeared on 22nd January. It gave 'great' views as it fished just off the boat house on Budworth Mere.<br />
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The diver didn't stay that long as I can remember and moved off by the time the ice and snow came a week later.</div>
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Frozen Bittern Hide</div>
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The view from Bittern Hide...there was the usual Bittern somewhere in the Coward Reedbed opposite.</div>
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<b><u>February</u> - 5 species (total- 90)</b></div>
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highlights - <b><span style="color: blue;">Red-legged Partridge</span></b> and the usual <b><span style="color: blue;">Lesser Pecker</span></b> but this year no female!</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tree Sparrows</span></b> moved a tad closer with a pair seen regularly by the Yacht club.</div>
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The Patch Pinkie was back,showing well in the top fields along Budworth Lane.</div>
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<b><u>March</u> - 8 species (total - 98)</b></div>
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highlights - <b><span style="color: red;">Rock Pipit</span><span style="color: blue;">, </span><span style="color: red;">Marsh Harrier</span><span style="color: blue;">(2), Yellow-legged Gull</span></b> and a drake <b><span style="color: blue;">Scaup</span></b>.</div>
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BOOM!! and I find the first real mega on the patch a Rock Pipit (patch lifer) playing hide and seek on the mere edge at Kid Brook. A well twitched bird by the local patchers some of whom never left the safety of the mere side path by the boat house!!! </div>
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Second BOOM!! happened when I was twitching a Marsh Harrier at the Flashes. I arrived well late (work) and not only found one but TWO!! Marsh Harriers in the corner reedbed of Neumann's Flash.</div>
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A patch lifer as well, get in!</div>
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On the mere a gull sp was finally nailed by Greg and Dave as a Yellow-legged Gull, nice work chaps.</div>
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The mere also played host to a rather tasty drake Scaup the only one of the year me thinks?</div>
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A Lesser Scaup must surely be in the post, maybe next year?</div>
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Of interest an LRP that I found on Kid Brook spit was not only the earliest patch record but possibly the earliest in Cheshire also.</div>
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March certainly kick started the patch year list proper with 98 species seen already just two shy of the 100.</div>
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The patch had also due to the weather acquired a new lake...Lake Ashton's</div>
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The patch had also seen some action (at long bloody last) by Cheshire Wildlife Trust who in their haste to spend some money! had built a boardwalk through Coward Reedbed.</div>
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Heaven knows how many Bitterns and Water Rails they squashed building this ill-conceived motorway. Its now used by lycra clad joggers, pram pushers and night riding mountain bikers to access the once serene depths of Cowards Wood but it is great for avoiding that headcase of a farmer, oh! and it's closed 6 months of the year??</div>
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<b><u>April </u>- 25 species (total - 123)</b></div>
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highlights - Spring for one, <b><span style="color: blue;">Whooper Swan</span></b>, <b><span style="color: blue;">Glaucous Gull</span></b>, <b><span style="color: blue;">Wood Warbler</span></b> and <b><span style="color: blue;">Redstart</span></b>.</div>
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Out in the garden one evening and a calling flock of Whoopers flew over the house coming off the patch a nice double whammy (patch and garden ticks). My first White-winged Gull for over 20 years on the patch. an adult Glaucous briefly stopped over on Kid Brook before flying the length of the mere past an in conversation Mr Taylor (he dipped!) stood at the slipway...doh!</div>
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Another great find by yours truly was a singing Wood Warbler that was well twitched by many from around the county and beyond. It stayed for several days faithful to its preferred tree by the boat house. I also managed to relocate a non local found Redstart over on Ashton's. This again created a mini twitch and was a patch lifer for a few.</div>
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Redstart twitch in full swing.</div>
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Without doubt April is<b> the</b> month on the patch, miss it and you'll miss out.</div>
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<b><u>May</u> - 7 species (total - 130)</b></div>
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highlights - 5 species of wader <b><span style="color: blue;">Avocet, Sanderling, Blackwit, Greenshank</span></b></div>
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and the only <b><span style="color: blue;">Ringed Plover</span></b> of the year (for me anyway).</div>
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Kid Brook spit once again provided the entertainment with a trio of waders, Sanderling, LRP and Dunlin which hung around for ages and allowed close views in between dodging the anger of the local tosser of a farmer.</div>
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Not to be out done Neumann's Flash produced a pair of Avocets most probably en route to Frodsham, Greeshank and Black-tailed Godwit.</div>
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Other goodies included Spotted Flycather in Big Wood as per usual and Lesser Whitethroat on Dairy House Meadows.</div>
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Most patchers now in days gone by would be hanging up their bins. With <b><span style="color: magenta;">130</span></b> on the clock the next six months are spent getting the other 20 (if at all possible) to reach the magical <b><span style="color: magenta;">150</span></b>.</div>
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part 2 will follow shortly...</div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
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Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-11648860412407362982013-12-19T11:57:00.006-08:002013-12-19T11:57:46.749-08:00Welsh Whimbrel...no not that one dude!Over in Angelsey at the start of the month and took some phone scoped piccies of some of the waders at Cemlyn during the high tide. Just been downloading stuff and forgot I'd taken some of a <b><span style="color: blue;">Whimbrel</span></b> which had me thinking...bit late what?<br />
Of course no flight shots and no rump shots but is it possible to do Hudsonian without?<br />
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A good flock of <b><span style="color: blue;">Grey Plover</span></b> and a small flock of <b><span style="color: blue;">Purple Sandpiper</span></b> were also present, never seen either here before!</div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-27077085134640414872013-11-03T13:50:00.000-08:002013-11-23T03:37:04.236-08:00PLANES, TRAINS and AUTOMOBILESThis awesome Autumn just gets better as BOOM!! Shetland strikes again with another blocker. This one a 2nd for the WesternPal and 2nd for Britain..<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>CAPE MAY WARBLER</b></span><br />
found in a garden at Baltasound on Unst. Unstoppable...Unst!!<br />
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Typically I dither and the chequebook crew have already been, seen and celebrated before I've gathered enough momentum, enthusiasm and more importantly cash to venture north once again.<br />
My trip sets off with a long drive north to Inverness Airport (tick) where I catch the early flight to Sumburgh. Worryingly the plane is only a quarter full and I'm the only birder on it!<br />
Hire car sorted I blitz across Mainland catch the ferry to Yell (missed one by minutes agony) then across Yell and ferry over to Unst (tea stop at the ferry cafe to kill the wait more agony). Three more teams arrive thank heavens and we convoy across the island to the stakeout house. I join the melee as the assembled group of twitchers kneel to pay homage to the mega....<br />
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Its in there somewhere and the cryptic little fecker plays hide and seek for over two hours.<br />
The truth is in there somewhere...?<br />
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Finally though after what seemed like a life time with dreadful thoughts of that most hideous of birding terms...dipping coming to mind...BOOM!!! it does the decent thing and shows really well about thirty minutes before the lights due to fade...phew!<br />
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Job done, big smile on ones face, tweets sent out and the air punched I make my way back to Mainland Shetland for a slap up meal in the most Northerly Fish and Chip Shop in Britain at Brae...sorted!<br />
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The next day after a deluxe night of comfort and style on the back seat of the hire car I find myself peering over a wall at the village of Walls. Once again I'm the only birder there but not for long as London's finest Mr Heard joins me in the search for the Bluetail he'd found the day before, top man.<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Crossbills</span></b> of unknown variety fly over and a couple of <b><span style="color: blue;">Sibe Chiffies</span></b> perform but there's no Bluetail.<br />
We start to widen the search and the guy next door invites us into his 'bird friendly' garden, amazing place there could be anything in here.<br />
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I get down to business and its not long before I hear a 'chak...chak' coming from the undergrowth nearby.<br />
One step too many and a bird flits up from cover flashing a rather tasty bright blue tail.....<br />
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Ka..boom! get in what a beauty. One very well marked<b> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Red-flanked Blue</span><span style="color: blue;">tail</span></span></b> shows itself off to me before doing at least three laps of the house and garden for the rest of the freshly arriving birders and Shetland paparazzi to fill their boots and sd cards.</div>
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Time now to leg it back to Lerwick and drop the hire car off. Wait 8 bloody hours for the ferry to Aberdeen.</div>
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Spend an extra hour on the ferry (13!! as the clocks go back but we still have to arrive at 7am) as it plods its way to the granite city. Arrive to find there's no trains or buses to Inverness for 3 hours as it's Sunday (bloody Sunday!!) after 3 attempts at 3 different Atms (all broke) I finally get some cash. Food, drink and train ticket sorted I train it to Inverness catch a bus to the airport and rescue my car.</div>
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What a twitch! more like the good old days. Would I do it all again you ask...bring it on!</div>
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<b>British Life List now up to 512 (UK & IRE - 522)</b></div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-79130154139748513462013-10-19T06:47:00.000-07:002013-10-19T06:47:07.227-07:00SHETLAND THERE'S MORE....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Oct.5th</b> and the weathers almost tropical. <b>Red Admirals</b> are out and provide an amazing splash of colour in such a grey place. Could be my first Shetland butterfly.</div>
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We're up at Voe Plantation well away from the scrum at Geosetter. Thicky is being trampled on by the unwashed masses of Southern checkbook twitchers. We heard someone had actually called for a napalm strike!!</div>
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Luck is on our side once more as we get great views of the <b><span style="color: blue;">Arctic Warbler</span></b> that's been here for a while. Novelty factor is increased when a <b><span style="color: blue;">Great Spotted Woodpecker</span></b> is found rummaging over the moorland nearby, what an odd sight. Norwegian sub-species is rumored?</div>
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spot the pecker?<br />
Also in the plantation a couple of <b><span style="color: blue;">YBWs</span></b> and <b><span style="color: blue;">Siskins</span></b><br />
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Heading on down to the southern bit of mainland Shetland we find ourselves back at the garden we birded yesterday at Hoswick namely Cliff Cottage(or house). There's already a huge crowd of birders gathered, about 15, Scilly would be 200!! all peering into the well vegetated garden awaiting views of another goody from the east.</div>
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Showing its crucial ID features off the <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>Eastern Olivaceous Warbler</b> </span>gets a nice spot perched up in the glorious sunshine. The Shetland paparazzi absolutely murder it with there 20 foot long mega lenses. I on the other hand am quiet satisfied to get a record shot (I think this is the right bird?).<br />
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The day is still not over as a <span style="color: blue;"><b>Short toed Lark</b> </span>has been found on the beach near Sumburgh Hotel.<br />
Here we meet a party of bird spotters fresh from a week on Fair Isle who don't even know about the Thick billed Warbler over at Geosetter...I'd hate to be using their info service. Absolutely shit views of the Lark through scopes are confirmed when I take a record shot via my phone...<br />
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<b>Oct.8th</b> (the 6th and 7th ?) we set off this time (once we'd got Matty up) north from our 5 star luxury pad perched on the hill above Lerwick..<br />
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to the plantation at Voe. I've done Shetland many times now but have always for some reason bypassed this place. Why I don't know cos its a cracking spot and more goodies were lurking within its depths.</div>
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One very nice <b><span style="color: blue;">RBF</span> </b>and a huge white blob of a <b><span style="color: blue;">'Mealy' Redpoll</span></b> for starters. The great spot was still trying to drill holes in the surrounding rocks poor bugger. Trip list boosted we ventured off to Vidlin and spread out to hopefully find something new.</div>
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Bingo! I found what I thought to be a Reed type Warbler in the gardens middle left on the photo. Chris and Phil went to work with their big lenses and Chris got several shots which proved to show the bird had yellow legs and feet... <b><span style="color: blue;">Marsh Warbler</span></b>! other features like rump colour , wing tip spacing and head shape were also sussed out. A great team effort and a damned decent find me thinks!</div>
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ignore the colours, back of a camera phone piccy!</div>
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More searching, bush bashing and bog snorkling ensued but not much else could be found apart from yet more <b>Yellow browed Warblers</b>.</div>
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Mr Griffin in action...and not a flippin Lancy to be had.</div>
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So back to the pad for a well earned shetland mexican special..nice one Matty.</div>
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And so another trip to the Shetlands comes to a close. A great one to be remembered for</div>
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1. being there when the mega was found. </div>
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2. seeing the mega and it being a mega <b><span style="color: blue;">Thick billed Warbler</span></b></div>
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3. warm south east or south westerly winds for most of the week.</div>
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4. a splendid night courtesy of the Shetland Bird Club</div>
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5. finding something albeit a padder for some!</div>
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6. great accommodation and good value team once again..cheers lads.</div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
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the one that got away...maybe next year?</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-14098455161914530332013-10-12T12:32:00.001-07:002013-10-19T04:26:10.816-07:00THICK BILLED WARBLER....BOOM SHAKA!!October the 2nd and my biannual trip to Shetland got under way with a flight from Manchester to Sumburgh via Aberdeen. The team this year comprised Phil (Mr Wizzal) Woollen, Mark (Groucho) Payne, Matt (late riser) Meehan, new recruit Chris (Family Guy) Griffin and yours truly.<br />
With such an odd ball bunch how could we fail not to find some mega birds...read on...<br />
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The day started well with a very showy (after i'd re found it) <b><span style="color: blue;">Pechora Pipit</span></b> at Levenswick, Mainland.<br />
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We could not have parked the hire car much closer, what a great bird to get the trip list off to a flyer.</div>
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Oct.3rd and we venture over to Yell for a couple of goodies. On arriving at the stakeout garden at Mid Yell village Chris spots the <b><span style="color: blue;">Eastern Subalpine Warbler</span></b> perched out in the open in its favorite Sycamore tree, good man. It then plays hide and seek for the next hour or so. This could turn out to be a good investment as there are rumors its about to be split (the Subalp not the tree)...cheers Mr Frontiers!</div>
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One in the bag so we drive round the corner and fail to relocate the Hudsonian Whimbrel seen yesterday at Seafield. I manage to find my first of many <b><span style="color: blue;">Yellow Browed Warblers</span></b> of the trip, quiet possibly the commonest warbler on Shetland whilst we're there.</div>
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Oct.4th and after a thorough search of Wester Quarff no sign of Pampers Pointen's Brown Shrike we debunk to Hoswick. Its grim and raining, another <b><span style="color: blue;">YBW</span></b> is found in Cliff House garden (honest it was) but not much else. If only I'd of played the right tape...Eastern Olivaceous there the next day!!!! bugger.</div>
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As we're beginning to lose interest cos the weathers naff a stop at the local shop is cut short when the news breaks of a MEGA!! just 4 miles away at Geosetter (yes we've already birded this day 1)...</div>
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We arrive at a leisurely pace (Mr Wizzal driving) and join a growing group of field watchers queuing for a glimpse of Britains 5th record of <b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">THICK BILLED WARBLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></b></div>
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Yes for once we've hit the mother load, right place right time, there is a birding god up there. But Thicky seems to have other ideas and is being a real skulking barsteward. Time to send in the troops...</div>
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more professional flushers are sent in</div>
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what's that guy got in his hand...a tape?</div>
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the crowds getting edgy and spooky (checkout the guy in blue)</div>
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Biggest gathering of birders on Shetland this year me thinks? 92 to be exact (get that BBA) on day one.</div>
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The <b><span style="color: red;">THICK BILLED WARBLER</span></b> does eventually play ball and I manage three flight views plus two brief perches, all far too quick for my camera unfortunately. Still to be there when a true mega has just been found is such an adrenalin rush that's why we do what we do. Awesome stuff.</div>
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The night is spent prayer mats facing east preying for clear skies and stars but to no avail Thicky devalues itself somewhat by showing (trod on more like) to the dirty twitchers from mainland UK the next day.</div>
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more to follow...</div>
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That puts me on <b>511</b> for Britain and <b>521</b> for UK/Ireland</div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-60834002427653426482013-10-10T11:38:00.004-07:002013-10-10T11:38:45.880-07:00IBIS FESTAutumn and there seems to have been an explosion of <b>Glossy Ibis </b>in the North West of England, is there some secret colony some ones not telling us about?<br />
Over in Greater Mancunia at a wee place called Doffcocker (I kid you not) a flock of 4 juveniles have been delighting the locals ...<br />
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-16494870167241073032013-10-10T10:55:00.002-07:002013-10-10T11:06:55.928-07:00BACK TO THE EMERALD ISLETwice in a week this is seriously big league stuff. The attraction this time another attempt at<br />
<b>Eastern Kingbird</b> (after the failed one last September) one of which has turned up on another of Ireland's famous islands namely Inishbofin.<br />
I get myself on a 'charter', not a plane though, a boat. There's some seriously big hitters on this charter and spirits are high as we get news the<b> Eastern Kingbird</b> has been seen...we're 30 minutes away.<br />
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A misty dawn breaks over Cleggan Quay, Co.Galway</div>
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The 'big hitters' gather...</div>
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Our boat arrives and it's off to Inishbofin we sail...</div>
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After searching all over the island the 30 or so birders are knackered and by lunch time the pace is beginning to tell as our hopes are dashed..the <b>Eastern Kingbird</b> has done another over night yet again.</div>
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The earlier report was bollocks!! or is that erroneous?</div>
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So it's time to drown one's sorrows and hit the local hostelry for what Ireland does best...</div>
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a pint of the black stuff</div>
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All is not lost though as I contemplate another Guinness there's activity up the road...a Yanks been spotted!!</div>
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Someone's had a sighting of a <b><span style="color: red;">Blackpoll Warbler </span></b>a decent padder for the trip</div>
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Birders spread out in a bunch and scan the gardens just in case it's not something a little more tasty</div>
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Boom one <b><span style="color: red;">Blackpoll Warbler</span></b> pops up and shows really well to the gathered entourage of Irish/British/Euro birders seems to be a tick for most of the Irish guys...time for more Guinness me thinks!</div>
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twitch on!</div>
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Below a great account by one of Ireland's finest on the bird we really had come to see</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/anthonymcgeehan/posts/393031830824604:0#!/photo.php?fbid=393031814157939&set=a.167573230037133.33602.165798840214572&type=1&theater">https://www.facebook.com/anthonymcgeehan/posts/393031830824604:0#!/photo.php?fbid=393031814157939&set=a.167573230037133.33602.165798840214572&type=1&theater</a><br />
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That's my 7th <b><span style="color: red;">Blackpoll</span></b> in Britain and Ireland but who's counting.<br />
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<b>Britain, Ireland and IOM - 520</b><br />
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<b>TTFN</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-60223764932083183782013-09-26T14:01:00.000-07:002013-09-30T12:51:54.278-07:00WILSON'S WARBLER....KA BOOM!!Friday night and I'm chilling at home when at 10.30pm ish the phone went ballistic...the boy is on the West coast of Ireland and the 'A' team are mobilizing. Fred's pissed, Mark's on Angelsey already and Gregsy is on the other side of the world. Sorry John but Twitch On!!!!<br />
Having picked up Fred and later Mark en route we boarded the Stena 2.30am sailing from Holyhead to Dublin. Eurotwitch on as Malc would say. Old school listers one and all we bedded down for the night time voyage in the truckers lounge...hardcore!!<br />
We arrived in Dublin bottom's intact and blitzed across the country on the superb new motorway system paid for by the eurozone (us Brit tax payers) our target the island of Dursey stuck on the end of south west Co.Cork and a mere cable car ride away...cable car!!!<br />
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Arriving with two minutes to spare we luckily managed to jam our way onto the last cable car for the morning (next one four hours later) our luck held as one of the locals gave us a lift to the boy and saved us a four mile hike.</div>
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The garden at the south end of Dursey Island acts as a magnet to migrants and has played host to some of Ireland's most mega rarities like Ovenbird. </div>
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The wait begins in the cloud enshrouded garden. Thirty or so birders including four crews from the UK and the only four British crews to make the morning cable car scan the shrubbery for the latest blocker from the US.</div>
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After what seemed like a life time <b>Wilson</b> decided to perform to its gathered group of admirers. Trying to get a photo though was a serious challenge as <b>Wilson </b>never stayed in one place for long enough for the auto focus to do its business plus the garden was virtually fog bound.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Wilson's Warbler</span> </span></b>a first for Ireland and a second for the WesternPal (I think?)</div>
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What a great twitch all we need to do now is walk back the four miles to the cable car...</div>
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Bizarre but that's Ireland for you. We grab a quick brew and bag of chips then warp drive it back to Dublin...ferry to Holyhead...drop of Mark then Fred and home all in 27 hours what a mega twitch.</div>
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I just love it when a plan comes together... cue the'A'Team music...</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-34692561515907490492013-09-16T08:50:00.000-07:002013-09-16T08:50:51.106-07:00BOOM!! AGAINSaturday the 7th as per last blog post I took some photos of a rather tasty gull that landed on Neumann's Flash with a huge flock of LBB Gulls (60+)...I mistakenly thought it was a Yellow-legged Gull and posted a piccy of it.<br />
Cue Mr Kinsella who thought otherwise...its a<span style="color: red;"> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">CASPIAN GULL</span></strong></span>!!!! is it not.<br />
I showed Mr Pointen (one of my work colleagues) who thought similar. He passed the photos on to several well known bird news monkeys...they thought the same.<br />
Now with such backing and thumbs up I do believe I can claim the bird as the patch's first ever record of <strong>Caspian Gull</strong>, an adult by the way and long overdue. Actually rarer than Stilt Sandpiper on Neumann's unbelieveable.<br />
here's some of the photos I took..<br />
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Not a classic I'll grant you that but it ticks all the boxes.</div>
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The one thing you don't see is the long pale yellow legs as it never set foot on dry land unfortunately.</div>
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The p10 primary with the big white tip is visible though and YLGs at this time of the year should be moulting these so I've been informed, Caspos do not.</div>
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Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-86703003279893840662013-09-07T08:38:00.000-07:002013-09-15T05:40:59.267-07:00BACK TO NORMAL WELL NEARLY!Another weekend and all attention is over at Spurn with its migration festival in full swing.<br />
Cheshire still has the mega wader but its done a dirty on us and gone down the M6 to Sandbach for the flashers to enjoy.<br />
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Heres another piccy of the boy...<br />
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Out this morning hoping to find something (like I should have done last week ..doh!!)</div>
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The<span style="color: blue;"><b> Ruff</b> </span>flock (6) from Haydn's Pool and one of the <b><span style="color: blue;">Green Sandpipers</span> </b>seem to have moved down onto Neumann's Flash and were briefly joined by a passing flock of 4 winter plumaged <b><span style="color: blue;">Dunlin </span></b> before they were spooked by a <b><span style="color: blue;">Sparrowhawk</span></b>. Probably the same bugger that flushed the Stilt Sandpiper to Sandbach.</div>
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STOP PRESS<br />
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Out and about en route shopping and doggy duties so I nip into the flashes and checkout Malc's just found Wheatear and find two cracking <b><span style="color: blue;">Whinchats</span></b> sat up on the middle fence across desert like Ashton's flash..get in!! the <b><span style="color: blue;">Wheatear</span></b> was there as well.<br />
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Sorted as we say in Mancunia! we should hold our own Migration Festival what?<br />
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<b>TTFN</b>Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-58622522992724807452013-09-01T04:30:00.001-07:002013-09-01T04:33:11.717-07:00BOOM!!...Lightning does strike twice as the patch is graced by our second (and Cheshire's second)<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">STILT SANDPIPER</span></b></div>
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Found by Mr T and id'd by Mr B the Curlew Sandpiper that I went to see for the patch year list turned into something more special. BOOM what a stonker!<br />
A moulting adult to be precise so it might not even be direct form the USA but a wandering Euro bird maybe.<br />
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Time to phone...text....tweet....email....jump with joy!!!........get in!</div>
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The locals in jovial mood as the news spreads and people from all over start arriving.</div>
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On the 'viewing' mound its difficult to tell the birders from the trees...surely its time for a trim up there?<br />
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A <b>47th </b>record for the UK if it gets accepted by the BBRC and CAWOS (whoever they are?)</div>
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My 198th patch bird...getting close to the 200 club.</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-62146949510345586712013-08-24T08:01:00.000-07:002013-08-24T08:01:24.680-07:00SPECSAVERS SEAWATCHAfter all the fuss has died down from last Sundays infamous seawatch off Pendeen, Cornwall it still wrangles me that how in gods name did we miss such a cosmic mind fecker of a seabird as Red-billed Tropicbird....oh yes I was there!!!!!<br />
The incredulous look on everyone's faces as the 'finder' nonchalantly wandered up the path from the rocks below and proclaimed he'd just photographed a RBT...25 BLOODY MINUTES AGO??? and then basically ran off. Bizarre or what?<br />
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Just before that fateful moment 08.45, I'd just taken a few record shots of the seawatching crew in action....<br />
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25 souls searching in vain for a mega seabird unaware its about to flyby under their noses</div>
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The view out towards the rocks off Pendeen where we were watching a feeding flock of Storm Petrels</div>
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Post RBT flyby and the hopefuls debunk to Sennan Cove just in case the biggy flew into the bay...alas no!</div>
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We tried round at Cape Cornwall but to no avail the mega gone to where ever who knows?</div>
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One last try before the agonizing drive home beckons...</div>
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All we can do is hope there's another, as Big Al would say...</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-16517920464737735442013-08-24T05:59:00.001-07:002013-08-24T05:59:37.553-07:00CATTLE EGRETA welcome visitor to Frodders t'other day was this rather obliging adult <b>Cattle Egret</b> initially found by Groucho I think whilst searching for yet another dodgy duck (Marbled Teal) down on no.6 tank.<br />
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Also on show at bird fest no.6 tank...<b>2 Black.necked Grebes </b>and a rather nice <b>Ruddy Shelduck</b> (unringed and fully winged) good for a year tick what! Frodders looking good for some wader action as well, so watch this space or your pager actually.</div>
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Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-81618170623824856082013-08-08T22:51:00.000-07:002013-08-08T22:51:26.948-07:00EARLY MORNING HERONWork had me bombing down the M1 t'other day so I couldn't resist a quick peak at the<br />
1st summer <b><span style="color: blue;">Night Heron</span></b> that's been on show at Thornton Reservoir in Leicestershire.<br />
Arriving very early on site I had the place to myself, well no other birders were present just the usual morning keep fit? enthusiasts carrying water bottles around the reservoir...weird people!<br />
Found the boy doing what Night Herons do best...skulking in the reeds fishing (hiding from the lycra brigade more like)...<br />
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Moving to the other side of the reservoir to get a better view and the sun behind me I got the following shots, all phone-scoped...<br />
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Not bad at all methinks...what a cracking bird and all before breakfast.<br />
A boost to the seriously 'come of the rails' year list. Looks like the Doc has it in the bag (not that he's year listing of course).<br />
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<b>TTFN</b>Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-52464627907846383352013-07-25T00:35:00.000-07:002013-07-25T00:35:23.201-07:00NORTHANTS EMPEROROn me travels last week and I managed to bag the biggy down in Northamptonshire non other than the Emperor himself what an awesome butterfly...<br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;">Purple Emperor</span></b></div>
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The bugger just would not open its wings unfortunately but wow what a cracker anyway.</div>
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Just down the way another hard too see job was performing to the gathered throng of butterfly enthusiasts. I've never seen so many cameras before it was like a Canon convention in Japan.</div>
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Naff shot of a <b><span style="color: magenta;">White-letter Hairstreak </span></b>one of which was most probably on the local patch t'other day along with a Purple Hairstreak...watch this space as they say.</div>
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Competition time...what's this?</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-21910548935864133122013-07-05T06:51:00.002-07:002013-07-05T07:40:48.511-07:00THE WORLD'S GONE MADWe all thought a <b>Pacific Swift </b>was a great bird and a mega twitch but since then the British Birding scene has gone mental....<br />
<b>White-throated Needletail.....Bridled Tern</b>..... and now this cosmic mind fecker...<br />
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<b>ASCENSION ISLAND FRIGATEBIRD</b>...you just can't make this stuff up.</div>
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no doubt Britains finest will be heading North as I type</div>
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then last night the most bizarre event on the telly as The One Show delivers an armchair tick for the unwashed masses (weekend twitchers)...<b>White-winged Scoter</b> added to the list.</div>
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I wonder what the good old BOU thought of this...</div>
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Gok Wan with the tick bucket at a recent BBRC meeting<br />
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my new twitching hero...step aside Garry</div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-24503804724527155692013-06-29T05:10:00.002-07:002013-06-29T05:10:43.285-07:00TWITCHING TAILSNo not that sort but an actual tail that I found whilst out searching for Brown Argus in Derbyshire.<br />
Its's the tail piece of a <b>Slow Worm</b>.<br />
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I've been told about this shedding of the tail to escape predators but never realized the shed bit still wriggled.<br />
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Here's one I saw earlier complete, sunning itself on the road.<br />
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Dipped on the Argus but there's plenty of time for that one if we ever get any more sunshine.</div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-82459576906661427232013-06-29T04:55:00.000-07:002013-06-29T05:11:11.106-07:00PACIFICOUS GRIPBACKOFFUSThe so called 'A'team were once again playing catch up with with the 'B'team. Gregsy and I set off for the long awaited grip back of <b><span style="color: red;">Pacific Swift </span></b> on the Sunday, 24 hours after the boy had been showing its tits off to the masses all day Saturday. Of all the months in the year to decide to have an op on her back the misses has one in mad June!<br />
Having not joined the dipping crew of 93 cos quote ''its a swift and it won't stay'' the lads missed by 20 minutes having stopped 5 times to phone (remember those days) Nancy's/Birdline for updates...if only they'd just driven!<br />
Well here we are 20 years later and having tantalized birders at Spurn and Saltfleetby the Pacificous decided to give its self up to the hordes and show all day at Trimley Bird Reserve on Saturday 15th June. If only it had chosen one with a shorter entrance road we hear you all say. What a patch find, I wonder if the guy is doing the Patchwork Challenge cos the best find trophy would certainly be in the bag.<br />
Cue to Sunday and the two aging crocks finally make contact with this long awaited mega..wow! what a bird.<br />
Camera in hand I didn't get one piccy so here's some Cranes nearby...<br />
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My view of the swift over the Trimley Reserve hence no jaw dropping mouth watering flight shots.</div>
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That moves the list up another one and grips back Fred who's been on my coat tails for ages.</div>
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<b>British List (UK and IRE old school) - 519</b></div>
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<b>TTFN</b></div>
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<br />Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-83876928620974283732013-06-22T07:36:00.002-07:002013-06-22T07:36:29.649-07:00BUG UPDATEYes it's that annoying time when I take loads of photos of insects, usually butterflies and dragonflies and bombard my few followers (most of whom are birders) with tales of what, when and where I came across the little critters...so here goes...<br />
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seems like ages ago now but a working trip up to north Cumbria gave me the chance to nip to Finglandrigg NNR. The prize on show my first ever<b> Marsh Fritillary</b>...<br />
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what a cracker and quite small as Frits go.</div>
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Next up and a chance find on the patch at Neumann's Flash whilst 'going in' to get better views of the LRPs and only my second ever in the world ever...<b>Dingy Skipper</b>. Now armed with a proper phone at last my new Samsung Galaxy s3 is proving great for taking quick mega pics, the quality of which is truly outstanding.</div>
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saying that after transferring the photos from phone to pc I seem to have lost some quality (any ideas anyone)</div>
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some of the more commoner butterflies that are starting to appear this late summer...</div>
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<b>Speckled Wood</b></div>
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<b>Peacock</b></div>
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<b>Meadow Brown</b></div>
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a rather tatty Common Blue</div>
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To this list add<b> Large, Small</b> and <b>Green-veined Whites, Orange-Tip, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Small</b> <b>Heath</b> and a patch mega find <b>PAINTED LADY</b> yesterday 22nd June then that's the butterfly list so far this year. Methinks it needs some work.</div>
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Dragonfly wise nowt new yet but then it's still earlyish for these critters.</div>
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Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016111953248466006.post-77157407271168907962013-06-14T12:22:00.000-07:002013-06-14T12:22:37.870-07:00PATCH ACTIONOff work for a week so it gives me a chance to give the patch a good bashing and hopefully catch up on the leaders of the Year List race.<br />
A walk round today in between all the showers didn't produce the hoped for Cuckoo or Hobby or waders that usually drop in once its rained but here's some piccies of what was going down.<br />
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The<b> Black-headed Gull </b>colony on Haydn's Pool is certainly churning out the youngsters...12+ at the last count. With so much vegetation on all the islands and even in front of the hide its a bugger to see anything!!</div>
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Time to get the strimmer out my ranger</div>
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<b>Reed Warbler</b> does extremely well on the patch with 40+ pairs (best guesstimate)</div>
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One of the two pairs of <b>LRPs</b> on Neumann's Flash</div>
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Just practicing in case we get one of those specific swifts or a turner white-rump?</div>
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Bird of the day though the very obliging female <b>Goosander</b> that's been knocking around Witton Brook probably for a week now. Dig those flippers!!</div>
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Podhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004058125774216064noreply@blogger.com0