Local sightings (3rd to 9th Jan)

River walk in Studley

Alternative parking at the plantation

Brambling

Tawny Owl

River bend

Brambling

Brambling

Redwing (Studley)

Salford Priors GP:- 4 Brambling, Red Kite, good numbers of Fieldfare & Redwing, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, 3 Gadwall, 7 LBBG, 3 Yellowhammer, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 2 drake Pintail, 1 Snipe, 40 Cormorant & 2 Stonechat. (Year list now 66)

Studley East :- Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Redwings feeding in church on yew berries, 35 Pied Wagtail, 100+ Fieldfare, Lesser Redpoll feeding in alders, 15 Teal, 60 BGH, 150 Starling

Shelfield Green :- 3 Bullfinch, Buzzard, Raven 

Arrow Valley Lake :- 3 Little Egret & 6 Goosander

Moorgrove Coppice :- Woodcock

Sightings ND/ MC / RE / MD

 

Studley additions

Kestrel

Tawny Owl

Stonechat (Mark Clarke)

Mandarin (Mark Clarke)

River Arrow

One of the locals

Marsh Tit

Greylag

Both Mark & myself have visited Studley a few times this week where we were rewarded with some useful additions to the site, year & patch lists.

The Tawny Owl was a fabulous find by Mark as we were both convinved this whole area would be good for Owls. Mark got a fantastic image of Marsh Tit & Stonechat midweek on his circuit. 

This weeks sightings have included 8 Mandarin, 25 Teal, Bullfinch, 2 Coot, Peregrine, Common/Black-head/LBBG/Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, Kestrel, Buzzard & Sparrowhawk. 

On the edge of the sewage works there is a large flock of Pied Wagtails that I'm scanning closely. I can't remember actually seeing large flocks together on the previous days.

We are now up 70 species for this location this year which is amazing  and only a few behind the pits which has a large expanse of water. Most definitley an area to keep perservering with. On Friday I was there for over three hours and didn't see another person other than Mark who was parking by the church as I was about to leave. 

Round about birding

Tawny Owl

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Tree Sparrow

Corn Buntings

Corn Buntings

Charlecote

Ladywalk Nature Reserve as fog lifts

Trouble in the reeds

Water Rail

Stunning drawing of the pits

With no sports on the agenda (except watching England in South Africa on TV) I was keen to get out as early as possible at the weekend taking into account we had been out the previous evening celebrating Mrs D's birthday at the Moat House, Alcester.

My first stop was Morton Bagot where my target birds were Tawny Owl & Redpoll which we recorded with ease. The Tawny was sat in his favourite spot enjoying the winter sunshine. The Little Owl teased me with a glancing look before disappearing whilst the Flash was pretty quiet except for some Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and Greylag. A Greater Spotted Spotted Woodpecker looked stunning on a tree top as I headed back to the car. It was good to see so many Reed Buntings along the path with the Goldfinches but I didn't record any Yellowhammers.

The pits was my next stop but it appeared there had been some early disturbance as it was very quiet. Myself and @1stbirdoftheday noted a Jack & Common Snipe whilst one of the regular Ravens flew over.

After a quick lunch stop and picking up Mrs D we headed over to Charlecote Park. We stopped twice en route, first for some Tree Sparrows at a burial site and then at a private site for Corn Bunting. It was good is see local birder Gus as we don't often see him. He keeps a close eye on this local population. In our short stop, I counted nine birds with a couple in good voice. I need to go back here when I have more time to record some video as it's a great little spot.

We wrapped up the day by visiting Charlecote Park where we had a nice walk, recording two Little Egret & many Fallow deer, and a good brew.

Finally, if you are on Instagram please drop a follow on the account recording_the_countryside, Jenny the artist is a regular visitor to pits who records her sightings on a fantastic journal.  

Passage & breeding birds at Pits

Marsh Harrier (Mark Clarke)

Marsh Harrier (Mark Clarke)

 Female Ruff

 Sanderlings

Sanderlings

 Stunning Goldfinch

 Mute Swan family doing well

 Tawny Owl

Tawny Owlet

It's been a very busy last ten days at the pits with some quality waders passing through and our resident breeding birds generally doing well. Going down most evenings when not working hasn't given me much chance to update the blog

Passage picked up last Thursday when two Dunlin & a Ringed Plover came through. On the same day a pair of Common Tern were seen at the main pit but also Abbots Salford (AW).  A juvenile Tawny Owl was calling from the east side of the pits.

A Sanderling was a nice find on Friday morning which was linked to some inland migration across the county. The Ringed Plover was still present whilst there were 50 Swifts and 200 House Martin's feeding low.

On Saturday I was very hopeful of finally recording our first Black Tern of year but no luck on either of my visits. The Sanderling surprisingly stuck over night whilst there were also 60 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, & 12 Swift but no Black Tern. A Red Kite was hunting on east of main pit late afternoon whilst a Cuckoo was calling on the south pit border.

Our second Ruff of the year was waiting for me on Sunday whilst a Great Crested Gebe was also on the main pit. 

Bank Holiday Monday didn't start well when Mark and I discovered a Tawny Owlet in the road. Very sad, it looked like the owlet had tried to fly from its breeding tree to the mothers roosting spot. Later in the evening we did find the parent bird sat back in the roost tree. Down at the main pit 3 Sanderling's all in slightly different plumages were feeding. The Common Terns were copulating increasing the chances they may bred again locally.

Very positive evening with a new Tawny Owlet in the roost tree which was really pleasing for myself and Mark who have put in a lot of time in trying to find the pair of local Tawnys. No real change on the main except 4 Sand Martin whilst two Great Crested Grebes were on the central lagoon.

On Wednesday I was stuck working late delivering a running project to 170 people when the Squire text me as he had found a Marsh Harrier roosting on Wheatear Hill by the main pit. Wow, what a brilliant record and our 118th species of the year. The session was made even better when he recored the Terns, Cuckoo & a Redshank.

Local Owling

Little Owl delight

On the lookout

Tawny Owl enjoying the sunshine

Hunting Kestrel

A rare session of winter sunshine enabled me to head to a couple of local spots to see some of my favourite birds. First stop was a private farm where I was really pleased to see one of the pair of Little Owls. On my last visit they looked to be struggling with the attention of a clan of Jackdaws, thankfully they look to be still holding their territory. 

I then headed to Morton Bagot where the patch Tawny Owl was also enjoying the warmth as I headed down the hill. Of all the times I've been to Morton Bagot the Tawny has only been viewable a few times….very pleasing. Three Redwings & two Bullfinches emerged from the hedgerow whilst I watched the Owl.

A Kestrel was hunting for a late breakfast whilst I was watching a flock of fifty Redpoll flying around. Strangely enough I met another two birders from Redditch (one of which was a blog reader) on the way to the flash we had a nice chat before I starting scoping the flashes. The Flashes were quieter than I'd hoped & sightings were restricted to 3 Coot, 5 Teal, a Black-headed Gull, a Grey Heron, 2 Stonechat & 7 Lapwing (plus Cormorant over). In the field behind the flashes there were 15 Greylags.

On the way back the car I added 2 Goldcrests to the morning list feeding in the hedgerow where the logs used to be stored. 

Wyre Forest & Grimley birding

Spotted Flycatcher

Tawny Owl

Little Gull

As close as it got

Different angle

Flight shot

Only time witnessed together

An extended weekend was on the agenda and I was certainly ready for it. A new fitness campaign has started which certainly gave me more energy but also a few aches. There is no cheating as all the sessions are recorded through a heart rate monitor. Anyway on to the birds. I started with a long session of monitoring on Thursday afternoon & evening at the pits but nothing new to report. 

On Friday I thought I'd have a few hours in the Wyre Forest near Bewdley. I did my normal circuit but had to work pretty hard to find some species. I didn't see any Pied Flycatchers which was odd but did record three different Spotted Flycatchers. Only a single Tree Pipit was in the top field but a male Redstart was in good voice before flying into the forest before I could raise my camera. Three Wood Warblers were singing on territory and my only additional find was a Tawny Owl which was getting mobbed by a party of Jays.

A good evening of live music at Feckenham Cricket Club made it a slower start on Saturday feeling the effects of the Cloudy Cider. After doing the patch (seperate blog to follow) I went to see two showy second summer Little Gulls at Grimley. The patch watchers there have had a great spring. One of the Gulls stayed loyal in the same location whilst the other didn't stop feeding for the full duration of my visit. 

Wild about Mull - Day 2

White-tailed Eagle (Pete Walkden)

White-tailed Eagle (Pete Walkden)

White-tailed Eagle distant shot

Unique signage on Mull

Otter delight (Pete Walkden)

Grey Heron being closely watched by Otter

Great Northern Diver

Golden Eagles soaring high

Tawny Owl

Yet another Wheater

Before breakfast I had my first explore of the islands towards Lochdon and in very windy conditions I recorded a Spotted Flycatcher, good numbers of Wheater, Red-brested Meganser, Rock Pipit, Wood Wrabler, Shelduck and Whimbrel.

After breakfast we travelled west for about 30 minutes taking in some amazing scenery and finding our first pair of Hen Harriers gliding around looking for prey. Our day was spent with Bryan Rains (Wild about Mull) who was recommended to us by midlands photographer Pete Walkden. Bryan drove us around the local area trying to find us exactly what we wanted to see. We were quickly seeing Great Northern Divers, Whimbrel, Curlew, Greenshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover before we travelled higher up the moors. After stopping at a quiet location and setting up the scope we had views of our first White-tailed Eagle sitting on the nest. This is one of 30 pairs on the island. These giants of the sky have settled in very well to Mull since their re-introduction which generates must needed income for the island.

After a session searching for Otters unsuccessfully we headed upland on the other side of the loch. We did stop at the local seal colony that also had Eiders and Mergansers. This secluded road gave us perfect views of the valley below us. Whilst waiting for birds of prey we watched a newly arrived female Cuckoo, Wheatears, Crossbills and a Tree Pipit close to the mini bus. The slight bit of drizzle then stopped and the temperature seemed to increase. As if by magic a male Hen Harrier came out to fly about the woodland below us. Buzzing from this moment, two Golden Eagles came into view and displayed right above us for about 30 minutes. Absolutely amazing. The downside of seeing a pair together probably indicated that their own nest had failed. The recent snow has made it difficult for the nesting birds.

Bryan had another treat us for by showing us a Tawny Owl in a barn on the hillside before we returned to the loch for more Otter searching. This time we hit the jackpot with a mother playing with her two cubs and another Otter enjoying the sun watched by a Grey Heron.  Before wrapping up for the day we returned to our first Eagle spot where we found the male White-tailed Eagle that treated us to a fly past. The size of the bird was amazing, the eight foot wing span seemed to take ages to get going as it drifted upwards. A brilliant moment.

On our journey home we found yet another pair of Hen Harriers and 30 Pink-footed Geese. Quite a day……………

Many thanks to Pete Walkden for his superb images that really helps my blog.