3 ducks ticked, 1 duck dipped (again)

It's happened again, I've got all behind....too busy birding & trying to get to grips with my new MacBook.

Since my last post I've been up on various bits of Woodbury Common looking for Woodcock & Jack Snipe without success, and had a second failed attempt for the Green-winged Teal at Portworthy Dam near Plymouth. We also went up to the Blackdown Hills and finished the last of the Devon Bird Atlas surveys. There were lots of birds about, although we didn't find anything unusual.

We then went up to Leicestershire to check on our canal boat Muriel, and whilst there I managed to find 2 new ducks for my Year List. The first was a Velvet Scoter at Swithland Reservoir, which is only a few miles from the boat. I was checking out little dots on the far side of the water with the scope when Simon pointed out a couple of ducks about 40 yards away, one of which was indeed one of the female Velvet Scoters that had been reported there for a few days. That was enough birding for Simon, so I dropped him off in Loughborogh & went to Rutland Water for the rest of the day. I'd never been in the actual reserve before, so I had a very pleasant afternoon exploring. I was pleased to find 4 female Smew on Lagoon 3, although they were quite a way off. 2 male & 2 female Red-crested Pochards were also a nice surprise, although I'd already seen a couple at Exminster Marsh a while back.

Lagoon 3 at Rutland Water

I stayed until the light started to go watching the gull roost (worrying!) & as I left the the hide a Barn Owl did a fly-by right in front of me. A lovely sight.

Back south, I spent a morning at Bowling Green Marsh which was heaving with birds. The Long-tailed Duck was still there, along with the usual suspects, including a beautiful flock of Avocets, hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits, a few Bar-tailed Godwits, lots of Snipe & 2 Grey Plover.

Yesterday I had my first foray into Cornwall. I went straight to Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor, the lake reputed to be the legendary home of the Lady of the Lake where King Arthur was given the sword Excalibur. I must admit, it was a beautiful place, but more importantly it was small, making it fairly easy to locate the adult drake Lesser Scaup. There were only a few Tufties, Pochards & a pair of Goldeneye keeping it company.

Dozmary Pool

Next stop St John's Lake, which isn't actually a lake but part of the Tamar estuary. A Green-winged Teal had been reported there, probably the same one that had given me the slip at Portworthy Dam...twice. I spent the afternoon there, along with 3 other birders, but we couldn't find it in the muddy channels. In hindsight I should have gone there first when the tide was in, but it had been reported the day before in the afternoon, so I figured it was possible to find it on a low tide. I felt a bit better when I discovered that 2 of the other birders had dipped the Portworthy Teal twice as well.

St John's Lake

It had been a long way, but I drove home fairly happy as I'd at least seen one of my target birds putting my Year List on 217.  Back in Feb I mentioned that I'm in a Year List Race with a couple of friends. Well, for various reasons, there are really only 2 of us left in the running, and when I'd set out in the morning, Dom was also on 217. However, my happiness was short-lived as I arrived home to discover that Dom had been on a trip to Suffolk & added 4 birds. So, I'm now trailing by 4 birds, a gap that I'm going to be hard pushed to close.  I'll give it a good go though!

Whixall Moss, Shropshire

I spent a very enjoyable day and a half wandering around the Fenn's, Whixall & Bettisfield  Mosses National Nature Reserve on the Shropshire/ Wales border, although I think I was mainly in the Whixall Moss section. At nearly 1000 hectares, it's the third largest lowland raised bog in Britain, and an SSI, a European Special Area of Conservation & a Wetland of International Importance.

View across Whixall Moss

I didn't notch up a particularly big list for the day, but the birds I saw included Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Raven, Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Mistle Thrush, Snipe, Goldcrest & Tree Creeper. I did however find lots of Black Darter, a new dragonfly species for me, which according to my guide shouldn't be flying this late in the year.

Male Black Darter

Female Black Darter

Mating tatty Black Darters

I also kept peering into any pools of water that I passed, looking for a Raft Spider.  I hadn't found one by the time I stopped for lunch at a small viewing platform. I was half way through my sandwich before I noticed something sitting on the bench opposite me, sure enough, it was a Raft Spider! It's one of the two largest spiders in the UK & hunts by running on the surface of the water. It can eat small fish & tadpoles & can submerge itself completely to hide from predators. I'm glad I didn't sit on it.

Lunch spot.....I had one side & the Raft Spider the other!

Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus)

The reserve is well worth a visit, if only to admire the unusual scenery.

Black Tern

On 2nd & 3rd Sept I tried a spot of early(ish) morning seawatching from the Lifeboat Station on Exmouth front. This was my last ditch effort to find something new before heading North for another boating trip. I didn't succeeed, but I did enjoy watching two pale & a dark morph Arctic Skua doing some synchronised tern chasing in the bay on the 2nd, and one pale morph on the 3rd.

When I got home there were 2 moths on the garage, a green & a white Marbled Green. At least that was a new moth to tick.

Marbled Green

Back at the boat, I ventured off for a day's birding while Simon stayed with Muriel as she had solar panels fitted. I started off at Eyebrook Reservoir, but as that was a bit quiet, I headed off to Rutland Water. It was lunchtime by the time I arrived so I decided to stick to the free North Arm rather than pay the £5 odd to get into the actual reserve. The North Arm was full of Tufted Ducks with a few Crested Grebes thrown in, and lots of Egyptian Geese milling about on the bank. There had been Black-necked Grebes & a Little Gull reported there in the previous few days, but despite spending most of the afternoon there, I didn't find them. I tried to view the Southern Arm from the road as suggested in the 'Where to Watch Birds' guide, but unfortunately there is no longer access by road & it was a bit far to walk. I had a quick look from the one spot I could drive to, then returned to the North Arm, setting myself a limit of 5pm before I headed home.  I was checking out the terns with about 5 mins to go when I saw a smaller & darker tern than the Common Terns that I'd been seeing all afternoon. As soon as I spotted it on a post it flew off & I had to wait a while before it finally reappeared. It turned out to be my first Black Tern of the year. That made my day!.

Eyebrook Reservoir from the North end

The North Arm of Rutland Water, full of Tufties.

Egyptain Geese

A distant Black Tern on the post by the notice, a bigger & paler Common Tern on the post to the left.

Year List: 202 + 2 sub-species

You just never know......

We've actually made it back to Exmouth now, so this is a bit of a round-up of the end of the trip. 

Cruising through the middle of Burton-on-Trent on the Trent & Mersey Canal I was surprised by a Helmeted Guineafowl hanging out with a couple of manky ducks. It's the second time I've seen one, the first one being a few years ago, again somewhere along the Trent & Mersey Canal, although at least that time it was out in the countryside. Presumably there's a farmer somewhere nearby who's losing a few.

Helmeted Guineafowl 

I visited the Willington Gravel Pits again, although I couldn't get in at first, and when I did I didn't find many birds anyway.

That's the entrance road not a river! I had no chance without wellies....

....and the water levels had obviously been much higher

We stayed in Willington for 4 days waiting for the rivers to go down to normal levels, then on Tuesday we decided everything was virtually back to normal & headed for home. As we cruised up the River Trent  approaching the junction with the River Soar, as usual, I was standing on the back with my bins whilst Captain Simon drove, after all you just never know what you might find....

We were turning right down the River Soar in front of the trees

There are some small ponds & a boggy area on the right, and as I scanned them I suddenly dropped the bins & grabbed the camera as I went into hyper-excited mode. I really wasn't expecting to see one of these....

A  Grey Heron & a Sacred Ibis!

A heavily cropped Sacred Ibis

They're an African bird, but there are apparently feral populations in France & Italy. So where did this one come from? Probably an escapee, but who knows! I sent the details to Birdguides & it went on the map as an 'unclassified' bird. I guess I can't count it on my Year List, which is a bit of a shame, but it was still great to find it. 

A bit of Warwickshire & Staffs re-visited....

Since I last blogged I've only been off on two birding expeditions. Last Thursday I explored the Alvecote Pools Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is on the Warwickshire/Staffordshire borders. It consists of about 129 hectares spread over several reserves & other areas. I found a useful map from a link on Archie's British Birding Blogz (Surfbirds Archive)....here's the link.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=105257291028823231298.000462b65383b8e9fc591&safe=active&source=embed&z=14

We'd moored on the Coventry Canal beside Pooley Fields, a 26 hectare site managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (it's not labelled on the map, but it's the area that includes the Canal Pool). It has several pools, formed due to coal mining subsidence, along with some woodland (wet & dry), marsh, grassland & a huge spoil heap. The sun was actually out so I had a pleasant wander, even though I didn't find much, the best being a Garden Warbler alongside the canal. There was also a fairly happy Jay, feeding on a large pile of bread & posing for the camera.

A Jay ....

....not worried about his waist-line

The view from the top of the spoil heap, along with its rather odd monument.

Next I visited Alvecote Meadows, 11.5 hectares owned by the Warks. Wildlife Trust & consisting of more mining related pools, marsh, grassland & a bit of scrub. It was much more open than Pooley Fields, but I didn't get to see much of it as the recent heavy rains had made it impossible to cross without wellies, which I wasn't wearing! I'll try again next time we pass, if it's not monsoon season again.

Alvecote Meadows.....a bit too wet

Next stop was Shuttington Bridge, where there was plenty of evidence of the recent floods & Laundry Lane, which is apparently good for Willow Tits although I didn't manage to find any. Beside Laundry Lane is Knob Flashes (yes, apparently so!) which is often flooded & visited by waders. Amazingly enough, although everywhere else is sodden, this was actually pretty dry with no birds in sight!

Knob Flashes from Laundry Lane.....a bit too dry!

I'll explore some of the other bits that I missed next time.

My second outing was a re-visit to Whitemoor Haye in Staffs on Saturday. I ended up walking there from Fradley Junction again, so it was a 7 mile round trip. Last time I was chuffed at finding Tree Sparrows & a Little Owl, but dipped on Grey Partridge & Corn Bunting. I started off well, finding another colony of Tree Sparrows, including lots of juveniles. Then I inspected the Little Owl tree & was pleasantly surprised....

And then there were two! Play 'Spot the Little Owl'!

I kept my ears peeled for the distinctive song of the Corn Bunting & crept along the lanes and across the footpaths peering along the edges of fields in search of a Grey Partridge. I was having no luck so I walked up towards the lake at the adventure centre, which it turns out is the only water that you can see. Apparently the land owner of the new quarry pits is anti-birder so there's no access. As I walked up the road there was a very loud Skylark overhead & a couple of persistent Reed Buntings singing in the fields. Then I thought I heard it....that odd clicky-rattle of a Corn Bunting. For once I wished the Skylark would shut up! I waited for a while, then maybe heard it again.....& finally the Skylark disappeared & there was no doubt that I was listening to my first Corn Bunting of the year. Finding it was another matter.

The Corn Bunting was singing in the middle of the field ....somewhere!

I found a distant blob & took some photos, which when much cropped revealed that it was probably source of the singing.

A very enlarged Corn Bunting

Feeling happy, I continued up to the lake. I stood on the armco at the entrance to the quarry to look across the water & saw a Common Tern, a Shelduck & 2 very distant waders. They were across the other side of the pool nearer to the entrance to the adventure centre, so I decided to walk along the road & just pop my head inside the gates to see if I could get a better view.

The waders were on the far side by the entrance (near the buildings)

Just as I walked up to the gates I was startled by 2 birds that suddenly dashed out of the hedge and along the gravelly bank towards the vegetation. I was all of as fluster trying to  get to my bins & then trying to get a shot as they vanished. Phew! I not only managed to ID them, but even got a record shot of my first Grey Partridges of the year!

A Grey Partridge doing the 10 yard dash!

Two Year List birds certainly made it worth the long walk & the intermittent soakings!

Year List now on 196 + 2 sub-species

Staffs Birding

This is a bit of a belated entry as I've either had no signal or have been too pooped to blog.

Last Thursday I walked out from Alrewas where Muriel was moored to visit Croxall Lakes, a Staffs Wildlife Trust Reserve. There are 2 lakes formed originally by sand & gravel extraction, some grassland & the River Trent which forms the Northern border. Some work has recently been carried out re-profiling the river to improve the variety of habitats, and the excess soil used to make more shallows & larger reed beds around the lakes. There are also 2 hides, which came in useful when the heavens opened. So much for June! Still, I had a very pleasant wander & saw my first Pochard & Little Egret of the trip. There were a couple of rafts with lots of Black-headed Gulls & a couple of Common Terns, both with young. Very cute! I also saw a couple of nesting Reed Warblers around the edge of the lake, my first Cinnabar moth of the year, and a new plant for me... Biting Stonecrop, which formed a nice yellow mat.

The main lake. The National Memorial Arboretum is on the other side

Cinnabar Moth

A mat of Biting Stonecrop

Biting Stonecrop

On the way back to the boat I walked through the National Memorial Arboretum, where I saw my first Garden Warbler of the trip.

By Sunday we had moved a short way up the canal to Fradley Junction. I then discovered that there was another birding area, Whitemoor Haye, which was actually closer to Alrewas than Fradley Junction, but still withing striking distance. So, I set off to explore, not really knowing much about it. I'd done a bit of searching on Birdguides & a couple of blogs, but wasn't entirely sure where I was going apart form the fact that there was a flooded gravel pit with edges that are still good for waders, and some lanes with a few interesting residents. Well, I found the lanes & was really happy when I found several Tree Sparrows & a Little Owl from the same spot, that was two new birds for my Year List. It appears someone has been feeding the sparrows as there was still some seed at the base of the hedge. I also found Tree Sparrows a bit further up the road where they appeared to be nesting.

Distant Tree Sparrows & a Yellowhammer

A lovely Little Owl

I had less success with the flooded gravel pit. I found one used by an adventure school for water sports, but I don't think that can be the one referred to on the blogs. I could see there was another pit behind a large bank, but couldn't find a way in, well not a legitimate one anyway. There were a few places where the barbed wire had been bent back & one section of fence had been burnt, but there were also lots of 'Keep Out' signs & warnings. I decided I was happy with my lot & headed for home. I'd walked a smidge under 8 miles by the time I made it back to Muriel & was ready for a sit down & a brew!

I'm not impressed with Staffordshire's footpath maintenance, but they do have some pretty poppies!

I think not!

Colourful fields

Year List now on 194 + 2 sub-species

Near Miss

I'm writing this from Muriel's stern whilst watching a Common Tern fishing beside us! Lovely!

I've had two sorties away from the boat to do a spot of birding. On Sunday I risked life and limb to have a look at Swarkestone Lake. I didn't expect to find much as it's mainly a boating lake, but an Osprey did happen by a week or so ago, so I thought I'd go & have a look. Not being a member of the sailing club I could only see it from the roads, the main one crossing the extremely long Swarkestone Bridge which has 17 arches & is just under a mile long. It was built in the 13th Century so unsurprisingly isn't very good at handling 2 way traffic. Most of the pavement is only about a foot wide, in places even less than that, so I spent much of my time dodging wing mirrors.  I was lucky to get out of there alive, so wasn't surprise that I didn't see many birds!

Too add insult to near injury, there wan't even a very good view of the lake!

Swarkestone Bridge, some drivers think the 40mph speed limit is a target

I couldn't face the walk back across the bridge so took the long route, circuiting the lake via the lanes. Much more pleasant & I even managed to pick up a Year List bird...a Lesser Whitethroat was skulking in the bushes beside the River Trent. What's more, I only got rained on once!

Bearing in mind that it's virtually impossible to go for any rareties at the moment as I can only get to places by canal & foot at 4mph (max), I almost managed a twitch yesterday. As we were pootling along from Swarkstone to Willington, I checked Birdguides and found that a Little Gull had been seen at Willington Gravel Pits earlier in the morning. By the time I got there it was lunch time & there was no sign of it. However, I had a very pleasant afternoon in the reserve which I didn't even know existed before my 'twitch' to the Red-footed Falcon earlier this month. Even then I didn't go into the reserve as the falcon was on the other side of the River Trent at the time. As ex-gravel pits go, it was very picturesque. I had fantastic views of Reed Warblers that were only a few yards from one of the viewing platforms & making lots of noise, especially the few times that a Hobby flew over. If only I'd had my Canon with me! I also saw my second Lesser Whitethroat of the year. A local birder then showed me another way out of the reserve that took me directly onto the canal bank. Handy. And not a drop of rain all afternoon!

Willington Gravel Pits, a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve

Year List now on 192 + 2

A Red-footed Falcon & a pudding tick

We've been up on Muriel near Loughborough since Tuesday evening, but the weather's so dire we haven't ventured out of the marina yet. However, the silver lining to the black clouds is that we still have access to the van, so we popped out to Willington in Derbyshire on Wednesday in search of a Red-footed Falcon that had been there for a few days. It was lashing it down as we drove there, but miraculously it stopped when we arrived. It was a half hour walk along the bank of the River Trent to the spot where the Falcon was perched in a tree. Another first for me for the UK as well as an addition to the Year List. There were a few other birders & a couple went marching right up towards it, which was totally unnecessary. It flew off but whether they actually spooked it or it was off for a spot of hunting I don't know. Luckily it stayed in the vicinity, giving great views as it flew about & perched on various trees. We watched for quite a while before heading back to the van. As soon as we reached it, the heavens opened again. Made a pleasant change to time it just right.

Red-footed Falcon watchers, some better behaved than others

Yesterday we decided to treat ourselves to a meal in The Boat House, the marina's cafe. Whilst having my cheesecake, a Common Tern landed on the tiller arm of the boat moored beside the building. Another year tick without even the aid of my bins!

View from the cafe, which briefly included a Common Tern

Year List now on 191 + 2