and yes they got on it!
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| Common Rock Thrush |
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| Common Rock Thrush |
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| Rock Thrush |
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| Rock Thrush |
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| The Jims watching a little bird of special interest. |
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| Little cracker!!!! |
Sunday, 29 October 2017
Getting the Jims on it!
Having missed the Rock Thrush on my visit with the Jims only to nail it the next day on my own it was only a matter of time before I headed back to see if the Jims could get the life tick so taking advantage of the clocks going back we headed off west this morning arriving at the quarry just after first light.
and yes they got on it!
Glad I went back?......OH YES!
and yes they got on it!
Sunday, 15 October 2017
Mad weekend with a certain Rock Thrush in Wales
I say mad but how mad?
With work commitments Saturday morning I had kept one eye on the news and with a mid morning sighting it was all systems go provided I could arrange things with my good lady. With that bridge crossed as I left work I contacted the Jims and arranged to meet them and we hit the M25 at 12.30 to make the 170 mile drive into Wales. As we drove up the news was still good and as we parked up the bird was again reported as showing well. On the walk down to the quarry we passed people that had just left the bird and it wasn't until we arrived at the gathered group that we found out the bird had just flown.
We searched all over picking up a Black Redstart, Wheatear and a couple of Raven for our effort.
We hung around hoping the bird would return to it's roost site but only added a couple of bats to the day list before the long walk back in the dark followed by the long drive home.
Now this is the mad bit if the above wasn't mad enough.
I laid in bed thinking the weather would have kept the bird down and that there was a reasonable chance it would still be there but if I didn't go I'd never know. Having dragged the Jims up yesterday on a wild goose chase this time I'd go solo to keep the risk on just my shoulders. I got up at 4.30am and drove back up the M4 arriving at the Quarry for first light. The twitch was about thirty strong and with the group split and intent on searching it looked interesting. I searched the first Quarry then the rocky area beyond it then the second Quarry then as I was walking down to the third Quarry I saw two birders already down there showing signs of excitement with waving arms and running good indicators so I got another two birders interested and we set off with added pace.
As we approached two motorcross bikers came over the hill and spooked the bird before we saw it and it again had the feel of Saturdays dip but with a little work and the help of the gathering birders I eventually got on the target.
I had decent views for an hour, enjoyed some good banter and was even gifted lunch by an especially friendly group from Yorkshire. I managed to get a string of other birders on the bird before leaving for the 170 mile drive home.
A great bird but with 680 miles covered in two days for it I suppose it needed to be good.
One I'll remember for a while.
Year list now 269
Life list now 382
With work commitments Saturday morning I had kept one eye on the news and with a mid morning sighting it was all systems go provided I could arrange things with my good lady. With that bridge crossed as I left work I contacted the Jims and arranged to meet them and we hit the M25 at 12.30 to make the 170 mile drive into Wales. As we drove up the news was still good and as we parked up the bird was again reported as showing well. On the walk down to the quarry we passed people that had just left the bird and it wasn't until we arrived at the gathered group that we found out the bird had just flown.
We searched all over picking up a Black Redstart, Wheatear and a couple of Raven for our effort.
We hung around hoping the bird would return to it's roost site but only added a couple of bats to the day list before the long walk back in the dark followed by the long drive home.
Now this is the mad bit if the above wasn't mad enough.
I laid in bed thinking the weather would have kept the bird down and that there was a reasonable chance it would still be there but if I didn't go I'd never know. Having dragged the Jims up yesterday on a wild goose chase this time I'd go solo to keep the risk on just my shoulders. I got up at 4.30am and drove back up the M4 arriving at the Quarry for first light. The twitch was about thirty strong and with the group split and intent on searching it looked interesting. I searched the first Quarry then the rocky area beyond it then the second Quarry then as I was walking down to the third Quarry I saw two birders already down there showing signs of excitement with waving arms and running good indicators so I got another two birders interested and we set off with added pace.
As we approached two motorcross bikers came over the hill and spooked the bird before we saw it and it again had the feel of Saturdays dip but with a little work and the help of the gathering birders I eventually got on the target.
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| Rock Thrush |
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| Never close but showed well at distance |
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| Rock Thrush and Robin |
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| Rock Thrush |
I had decent views for an hour, enjoyed some good banter and was even gifted lunch by an especially friendly group from Yorkshire. I managed to get a string of other birders on the bird before leaving for the 170 mile drive home.
A great bird but with 680 miles covered in two days for it I suppose it needed to be good.
One I'll remember for a while.
Year list now 269
Life list now 382
Tuesday, 10 October 2017
Kingfisher and a trio from across the pond
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| A right little poser! |
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| A fishing stone |
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| What a bird! |
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| American Wigeon at Rutland |
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| Long billed! |
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| Two Yanks in Kent |
Sunday, 8 October 2017
American Wigeon at Rutland
So the plan today was to get half way up the A1 hoping the Scops Owl reappeared giving us the chance to fly up north and connect with it after last weekends dip.
We started with an early arrival at Rutland Water and a brisk walk to Smew Hide looking over lagoon 2 and before long we'd found the American Wigeon. After a while and with no news on the Scops we decided to move on and visited an old haunt in search of Willow Tit for the year list. On arrival we heard one calling and the Jims picked one out in the willows too. The bonus for the day was stunning views of Kingfisher at a site we've been asked to keep quiet to limit disturbance.
Year list now 268
Strange bird adding to my list of white birds that includes Starling at Capel Fleet and Great Crested Grebe at Dunge.
We started with an early arrival at Rutland Water and a brisk walk to Smew Hide looking over lagoon 2 and before long we'd found the American Wigeon. After a while and with no news on the Scops we decided to move on and visited an old haunt in search of Willow Tit for the year list. On arrival we heard one calling and the Jims picked one out in the willows too. The bonus for the day was stunning views of Kingfisher at a site we've been asked to keep quiet to limit disturbance.
Year list now 268
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| American Wigeon |
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| Wigeon and American Wigeon |
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| Kingfisher |
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| Cracker! |
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| A white Woodpigeon |
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| Pintail |
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| Little Egret |
Saturday, 7 October 2017
Wilsons Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare
A run down to Oare so the old fella could connect with the Dowitcher gave Jim and I the chance to add the Wilsons to our year list.
Oare was alive with waders today.
Wilsons Phalarope
Long-billed Dowitcher
Turnstone
Greenshank
Redshank
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Little Stints
Ringed Plovers
Dunlin
Golden Plover
Black-tailed Godwits
Avocets
and on and on!
A really great place to connect with a good variety and kind to us over the years.
Year list now 266
Oare was alive with waders today.
Wilsons Phalarope
Long-billed Dowitcher
Turnstone
Greenshank
Redshank
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Little Stints
Ringed Plovers
Dunlin
Golden Plover
Black-tailed Godwits
Avocets
and on and on!
A really great place to connect with a good variety and kind to us over the years.
Year list now 266
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| The Dowitcher with a Blacwit |
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| The Dowitcher |
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| Challenging light today. |
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| The Wilsons |
Sunday, 1 October 2017
The Luck ran out as we dipped the Scops Owl
Nothing to say other than next time I think it's a good idea tell me I'm mad and remind me of my two hour rule!
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| Spotted Flycatcher (not quite the target bird) |
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