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.
Work had me heading down to Kent for a three day mega survey just in time for the return of that big yellow thing up in the sky and a light southerly wind. Surely I'd pick up a few summer migrants en route.
Well as it happened no! but I did connect with some cracking year ticks non better than a self found Common Crane...
What a surprise and a great start to the 'Spring'
I also had literally crippling views of the long staying Penduline Tit at Stodders took all of two minutes to find the relevant bit of board-walk then whap on it went. My second one here after seeing a male way back in March 1984. and my 7th in the UK.
The Kent paparazzi
first contact
The 'twitch'
The reed mace muncher
Whilst down there I also added the flock of 5 Tundra Bean Geese, Black necked Grebe
and a WaterPipit to the year list.
A sea watch off Dunge produced Guillemot for the year plus Kittiwake and Gannet. On the ARC pits I could only find two of the 'flock' of Redhead Smew that had been present most of the winter.
Near Lydd a good size flock of Bewick Swans (43) were performing well for the local listers.
A top secret mission (for a work colleague) close to the enemies doorstep (Nighthawk DJ) had me conveniently passing through Bedford where on a lake in Priory Country Park floated one rather nice drake Fudge Duck...
Could easily be the bird I saw last year at Minsmere through Mr Bedford's scope (cheers Dave) now coincidence or what?
Caught up with this humungous 1st winter Glaucous Gull down at Richmond Bank, Moss Side, Moore, Cheshire. Light as always in your face, wind chill -7'c so I didn't give it long. As is the case when I turn up there not a flippin Caspo Gull insight...funny that!
Could be my last visit ever unless some dude finds the boss his bogie bird USA Herring Gull. The tip is due to close so I'm told, where they gonna tip all that rubbish??
2013 UK Year List = 164 in the great listing year of 2005 I was on 171... 'strewth nearly up with the pace
En route to and fro, back and forth, here and there as one does.
Some of the things I've managed to catch up with of late but still 41 species behind the Nighthawk DJ how the feck does he do it??
Seaton Common gull fest minus any Glaucous Gulls, Caspians etc
Midlands (no permit required) Euro Whitefronts
Lancs Waxwings quick piccy cos a woman ran over the road to me, thought I was photographing her house for the local council! she didn't believe me so I legged it before the cops came.
The Beeley Moor Great Grey Shrike via a sat nav b-line short cut home, bloody freezing place.
That's 161 for the year, just holding the Doc at bay but after his sojourn with the rest of the 'B' team up to the Hebs for the Harley Duck looks like I'll be relagated to 2nd or maybe 3rd as Robbo's up there as well...bugger me!!
Just to get the ball rolling cos I'm well busy at the mo...
that first glimpse is always a knee trembler...get innnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!
Groucho is all smiles the mega Scandinavian hot totti is whapped in style, what a bird.
PINE GROSBEAK
Best I could do, a bit scared it might just take my arm off...it was huge!!
The first tick I've had since that other Shetland beauty the Sibe Ruby, what a place just a shame it's a proverbial pain in the rectum to get to and from.
Missing out on a plane ride (£600+) I joined the 'B team' of Big Al, Groucho and Shetland virgin Robbo for the twitch. It was a drive to Aberdeen, over night ferry to Lerwick then two full days on Shetland cos we got stranded when the ferry didn't sail due to the force 10 winds. One nights hire of a self catering house (one free evening meal care of the last occupants, cheers) two days car hire and fuel. Then back on the ferry, pay the jock car park fee and home. Guess how much excluding food and beer (lots)...£153 that's value, sorted as we say in Manchester (and Cheshire).
Some videos to give one a flavour of how well it showed...
Having an unexpected extra day on mainland Shetland gave us the chance to show Robbo some famous birding places and see a few goodies to boot...like the 1st winter Ring-billed Gull at Scalloway
Nearby on the fishing quay my first ever (honest!!) Kumlien's Gull was a real bonus bird and one for the educational list me thinks? We even managed to find a Puffin...in February!!
Down at the south end of the island where most of the real Shetland birder's live there was a great showing of winter stuff such as 80+ Purple Sandpipers, 25+ Long-tailed Ducks scores of Great Northern Divers and a fly by Iceland Gull off that big rock soon to be a hotel Sumburgh Head.
I wonder if they'll plant some shrubs and flower beds etc? just might make the place a no go area unless you're a 'paying' guest oh dear!
More birds...
Great to see Fulmars doing so well. There were literally hundreds off the headland and in the various quarries.
Scatness Long-tails not I hasten to add flushed by me, my lens isn't that big I have to be sat on top of whatever I'm image gathering.
What a great twitch and cheers to the team for making it so bearable (sorry I meant enjoyable).
Lincolnshire has a gem of an RSPB reserve and its called Frampton. On a freezing cold blustery January day you can stand warming your feet on the heated floor of the reception whilst warming t'other bits with a coffee or two. Inches away on the feeders outside the panoramic windows there's Bramblings, Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows munching away on the seed fest. With a scope I could see some of the avian delights on offer such as this drake Scaup...
Their own Barney the Barnacle Goose...
In amongst the mass of Canada Geese that were loafing about the place I found this what I presume to be Richardson's Canada Goose it was seen earlier by the warden (unknown to me until later) and he thought the same. Could be the bird from North Norfolk seen in late December last year with a roving band of Canadas...
Another one for the pending list of possible Lesser/Small etc etc Canada Geese, good for a year tick though.
A pair of birds were showing well by the fresh water pool but haven't a clue what they are...
Hedge Sparrows? Wood Sandpipers? Tree Sparrows? I wonder if Alan Whicker knows?
Just like those buses from London...nothing at all then bam!! along come two in a day.
First up a little critter sheltering from the howling South Westerly on a Lincolnshire farmer's hay stack. A rather pleasing find having dipped out at several known locations earlier in the month.
I get home and its straight out with the pooch for a stroll around the park. On returning to the car I hear the unmistakable call of a Little Owl just in the field over the road... unbelievable, non then two in a day and both self found...sorted! Olly (that's now his name) just to confirm the record calls again as he flies off towards Comberbach. I think I'll be in the garden tonight ears peeled.
