Two rushed weekends...

After several fruitless trips looking for the Glossy Ibis, last weekend started as intended relaxed day.  Just a potter round our local RSPB reserve to see what was about. The usual culprits were about, a largish gathering of lapwings doing their usual impressions of squeaky toys, and weaving through them were a small group of curlew sandpiper. We were treated to a brief view of a Water Rail slinking for cover. Suddenly the lapwings sprung into the air, and wheeled around alarm calling... Then above we saw the grey and white shape of a sparrowhawk coming over. The hawk wasn't interested in the lapwings, but in something behind the reeds; probably one of the snipe who were being rather elusive this morning. Anyway, it didn't seem to get anything, as it came stomping around the reeds with no sign of a kill. For a few minutes it looked more like a gull hunting worms than a hawk! And then it decided enough was enough, and headed off  to the other side of the reserve. By sheer chance I got a shot mid-takeoff - it's very grainy as the light was bad, and quite a distance away, but gives a good view of the underwing patterns.

So there we were, gently relaxing, when the phone gave a quiet tinkle - a facebook alert saying that the Ibis were back at Horwich, and this information was less than an hour old... Quick decision to be made, but in reality there was only one answer - quickly pack up and dash back to the car for the hours drive to Bolton.  All the while thinking, how long would they stay this time??

We needn't have worried; as we arrived there were a couple of birders by the side of the road, and a quick glance into the field as we pulled into the layby confirmed that the Ibis were still there.

We got out, and watched as the four birds worked their way around the field, at times less than 6 feet away from the wall where the watchers were gathered. Thankfully they didn't seem at all bothered by our presence, which was just as well as there was quite a stream of  cars and vans arriving, birders tumbling out and scuttling across the road; it seems we weren't the only ones who had been struggling to catch up with these delightful birds.

Why this field? These birds had visitied several local spots, and clearly found some safe spot to roost at night, yet again and again they were returning to this spot; there must have been something particularly attractive to them. Perhaps it's the slight hollow at the bottom, where water seems to gather, not as a pond, but rather a distinctly more marshy patch? Talking with a local who had grown up in the area, he said that this field had always been a hot-spot for visiting birds, so it seems that whatever it is that is there, this was no mere random choice of field.

Having finally caught up the the Glossy Ibis (and clocked up something like 460 miles in the process!), we decided to stop off at Pennington Flash on the way back, and resume the leisurely day.. This was our first visit to this country park, and a right gem it turned out to be. Each of the ponds had a hide, and each hide revealed something different. Nothing particularly rare, but such a variety of woodland and wetland birds. One pool revealed these goosander amonst the many teal. These look similar to the female red-breated merganser, but can be distinguished from them by the sharp border on the neck and the slight downward dip on the end of the bill.

On another pool there was an pinky-orange colour on a distant post; suddenly it became an electric blue flash as the bird came to a closer post; a kingfisher!  Then it came even closer, to a post right in front of the hide, and gave a five minute display of fishing before heading back down the pool. There is something special about these birds, and the experience was electrifying...

Moving on to another pool revealed this character. A shy bird, usually heard cackling at the top of trees rather than seen, this Jay was moving to and thro on the mound in the scrape, oblivious to our eyes. Seen in the open, the plummage seems quite exotic with it's own blue flash.

Another pool, by now to dark for photographs, revealed a group of cormorants, lined up with their wings streched out to dry, and then a mass of rooks and corvids taking off from the trees above and circling above calling, a good ending to a long day.

This weekend was by necessity much shorter, enforced by other commitments. We could just grab enough time, first to dash to West Kirby at high tide to see the Brent Geese that gather there at this time of year, and then to Derby Pool to catch the Snow Bunting that has been on the embankment there for the last few days. This bunting, like the Glossy Ibis, seemed to show little fear of man, only flying off as cyclists passed within inches, and then returning straight back to the sea wall, working it's way along the edge looking for insects.

 Hopefully this little beauty will stay a while, but only time will tell. In the meanwhile it's back to work, and beginning to plan for next weekend!

A strange ol' weekend

The weekend started with promise. I'd noticed some tweets from local birders about a Turtle Dove in Leasowe, just a couple of miles from home. A quick dash after work, and we managed to find the bird while there was enough light to take a few pictures. What this bird, more usually found in the South and East of the country, is doing here is a bit of a mystery, but welcome nonetheless, especially as this species is declining and considered under threat.

As much of a mystery is this Snow Goose, found on the river Clywd at Rhuddlan.
While this goose is wandering around quite happily, it's not a natural wild bird at all. Most likely is that it has escaped from some wildfowl collection or other, and it has been reported in the Rhuddlan area for about a year now, so clearly happy with it's location.

At the same place we saw a seal cruising up and down the river. Presumably it had come up the river with the tide, and hopefully found its way out the same way. What we didn't see though was the Glossy Ibis that had been reported here.... So we went over to Bolton to check on the four that been there for the last week or so. When we arrived there was a birder just packing up. We asked about the Ibis, and he replied along the lines of, "Oh yes, they're just over there... Oh, wait a minute, they've gone...."

Sigh, for all the joy of seeing the Turtle Dove we had the frustration of not finding the Ibis - that's three trips to Bolton now, and one to Clywd, and no joy.  And then we get home to the news that one was seen flying into one of our local reserves, Inner Marsh Farm at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands just as it was closing!!  Argh!!

So Sunday afternoon we dash down to IMF, to find that there was no news... The Ibis has again evaporated...  Instead of rushing around looking for it, we decided to stay for a while and check out the pools at IMF.

Among the delights were a good number of Snipe. Unlike at Conwy the previous week, these Snipe were less keen to be seen - there is one in this photo - but can you see it ?!?

 In with the many teal and lapwing there were about half-a-dozen curlew sandpiper. These small waders could be seen busily moving through the groups of other larger birds, busily dipping for food, head moving rapidly up-and-down. It took quite a few photos before we finally got one shot with the distinctive curved beak clear of the water.

 Also in the pools were around two doxen Golden Plover. These handsome birds with their short dark bills brightened up everyone's day with their 'kindly' faces, as one observer put it.

 Several time during the afternoon the flock of lapwings took to the air, wheeling around. Clearly something had spooked them. We searched the skies for signs of a Peregrine or a Harrier - but couldn't see anything. Yet something had them on edge - indeed at one point, as the lapwing took off, all the teal hurried from the four corners of the pool to gather in one cluster at the deepest point. Perhaps there was a fox around? We didn't see anything, but clearly there was something around tht was perceived as a threat.

The highlight of the afternoon had to be this Greenshank, moving around the pool, seemingly oblvious to the excitement - perhaps with its extra size it felt safe from whatever was around. Certainly it was clearly comfortable, and gave good views to those watching.

 So despite the frustration of fruitlessly searching for the Glossy Ibis, the weekend had it's rewards. While seeing a new bird always brings a feeling of satisfaction, there is as much satisfaction from seeing the more familiar, but perhaps seeing a bit more of their behaviour, learning a little more about their behaviours and characteristics.

Snipe and Jack Snipe

It's been a long summer, and there's so much we've seen. However, rather than try and catch up in one, here's something small just to get back into the swing of things.

As summer has come to an end we've seen more snipe arrive. Beautifully marked, these birds are present at many of our pools over winter, yet are almost impossible to see when tucked up in the reeds, and easily overlooked.

However, even more elusive, and a lot scarcer, are Jack Snipe. These can be much harder to find, so when a note went up on RSPB Conwy's twitter feed saying that there were some present and showing well, I just had to scoot across on Sunday afternoon.

At first there was just one present, moving slowly along the edge of a reed bank, never quite in view, more seen by the movement than anything else.

This shot was the best of about a dozen. Here you can just about make out the shorter stubbier bill, and the two broad golden stripes on the back. In real life the clincher was its incessant bobbing movement.

Happy with this, I was about to move off, when another was pointed out - this one right in front of the hide window, much nearer, and in the open. Even better there was a Common Snipe nearby to provide a contrast; the Jack Snipe being more 'yellow', and the Snipe appearing much greyer.

It's not simply a case of size. Putting some of the shots together will hopefully show the differences more clearly, Snipe on the left, Jack Snipe on the right.

I've mentioned the bill size, and the prominent golden stripes on the back of the Jack Snipe (stripes are present on the Snipe too, but much less prominent). Note the head markings too. Snipe have a central bright crown stripe, with a back stripe either side, while the Jack Snipe has a central black 'cap', with golden stripes either side. And lets not forget that bobbing!

What a grand day out!

More Spring ... and some of the results

Even though we're still seeing wet days, there's no doubt that Spring is now in full swing. Indeed, there are some signs of Summer (sshhh... don't say it too loudly). The reed beds have been full of loud scolding rattles as Sedge Warblers stake their claim for territory. While they are often heard, usually if they're seen at all it is as a fast-moving blur dashing through the reeds. Here's two snatched shots, note the prominent white eyebrow (supercilium, to use the technical term).

 

Other migrant visitors include these flycatchers. The first a Pied Flycatcher, seen at Penyschant, near Conwy, and well worth a visit for a quiet few hours. These were seen flying in pairs at high speed around and through trees, the female playing 'catch me if you can' with the male. The second is a Spotted Flycatcher, seen at Pagham Harbour, darting from it's branch to hover almost like a hummingbird as it plucked flies from the air, and then back to it's perch.



Other birds are resident all year round, but still make a pleasing sight. This a Goldfinch rummaging through the grass for seeds.

The grey Heron is also a resident, and a firm favourite of mine. This one trying his best to do a 'Darth Vader' impression early one morning.

Spring of course means one thing: lots of squeaking, squawking, quacking, and flapping of wings. This particularly indiscreet couple were flagrantly performing at Arundel WWT.

Obviously they weren't the only ones as all around the grounds there were signs of new life. Goslings, Coot and Moorhen chicks. One proud Mallard Mum even took her chicks for a tour of one of the hides

And if you think it's just the birds at it, here's some lambs too!

And as the month has moved on, we've started getting Summer visitors too, Swallow, Swifts and Martins joining the throng. This Swallow was also inspecting the inside of a bird hide, making for an easy photo, while the following Swift was much harder work, needing dozens of shots to get one passable view.

 A trip to the Great Orme was worth all the Bank-holiday traffic problems when it yielded Chough's, an uncommon member of the corvid family, related to rooks, crows etc.

 And sea-level has provided some new birds too, this a Common Tern, posing on a fence post at one of the pools at Arundel WWT.

 Arundel also provided this shy little Mandarin duck, tucked away in a wooded area. Is this an escapee from the 'captive' part of WWT, or a genuine wild bird? Don't know! Either way, it was a very pleasant sight.

Nearer to home, RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands also delights. This Wood Sandpiper dropped in for a morning visit, causing quite a stir - it should have already been up in it's Artic breeding grounds, another casualty of the late spring.

 Also at Burton Mere, this Willow Warbler delighted with some lovely views, including this one with flies caught in it's beak.

 Again at Burton Mere, we were treated to a visit by a stunning female Marsh Harrier. Unfortunately the Black-headed Gulls took exception to her presence, and mobbed her across the reserve.

And finally, I finish again with another common bird, but I couldn't resist the pose of this Chaffinch, this taken at Frodsham Marshes.

Spring has finally sprung

What a difference a few weeks make - a bit of warmth and things begin to change.

 

Those who have wintered here have begun to change into their summer clothes, and the migrants have begun to pour in... and pour out too..

 

Early in April this little chap was still present on Deeside, a Water Pipit showing off breeding plummage, a delicate pink underneath that the photo doesn't do justice to.

Talking to a local birder, there have been one or two of these scarce birds present in a specific small  area since at least the 1920's when they were first recognised. Obviously it's not the same bird each year - they would be almost 90!! And yet it seems that somehow the knowledge of this wintering ground has been passed on. How wonderful, and yet how fragile. I've not heard anything of this bird since, so presume he is on his way to his summer in the high mountains of Southern Europe.

 

I'd never really appreciated before how much birds change their plummage through the year. This Black-tailed Godwit has just begun to change, developing a browny-red around his head. These are a threatened species, yet in the Deeside/Wirral/South Lancs area they are one of our more common wading birds; a marker of how important the era is for wildlife, and how important it is to protect them.

Talking of markers, here is another one. While this particular bird looks a bit chilly, the Little Egret has been steadily moving into Britain from the Continent, probably as a result of Global warming. Twenty years ago they were occasional visitors; now there are some 70-80 breeding down at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands. Each morning they disperse around the area, returning at dusk.

Evening walks have shown up many of the returning migrants; the local paddocks being a favourite for many small birds dropping in for a quick refill and a night's rest before continuing their journey. Here are Meadow Pipits and Wheatears. The Wheatears showing as small white blobs moving around the fields, scuttle and stop, scuttle and stop, while the 'mipit's have much better camoflage - there have been times when I thought the fields empty, and then as the eyes adjust, I've realised that there are dozens of these small birds moving through the ground.

 

The same fields have brought the occasional 'special' too. Around one of the pools that had formed in the paddocks was spotted this small wader, a Little Ringed Plover.

The hedges and trees have seen new occupants as well; if your ears are good you may hear the high-pitched whistle of Goldcrests. These tiny bundles of energy can be found deep in hedges and trees busily moving around. Trying to get a picture of one of these was deeply frustrating; they barely stopped still long enough to point the camera, and the autofocus would often pick on foreground twigs instead of the bird deep in the bush. I didn't think I'd got a picture, but when I loaded them to the PC, I found to my surprise this shot, catching one of the blighters just as it was lurching from one spot to another!

In one of the bushes near work (what else is lunch-time for?) was this delightful warbler singing away - a Whitethroat.

And drifting slightly from birds, the same lunchtime saw this Peacock butterfly rest on the path, literally before my feet.

It's a pleasure to see the Swallows and Martins back; I was amazed to see Swallow's drinking while still in flight, dipping their beaks into a puddle as they flew low across the fields. No, there's no picutre of that, not a chance! Instead just this shot of a Sparrow resting on the wires, a real sign of Summer evenings approaching.

As well as the usual suspects, these weeks have brought a few specials too. We treated ourselves to a day at Martinmere and were treated with views of a Spoonbill and of a Crossbill. Please excuse the poor shot of the Crossbill, but it was high in a tree, with just glimpses as it moved through the branches. Just visible are the distinctive overlapping tips of the beak, giving the bird it's name.



Last weekend we had the chance to drop in for a few hours at Arundel WWT, a chance to wander around some of the quieter corners, and let out some of the stress of the weekend. We heard the call of a lapwing, but this call sounded different. We soon spotted the bird, and then beside it we spotted some small bundles of feathers. And so for an entirely gratuitous 'cute' shot of a lapwing-chick.

And finally, to bring an overdue and consequently overlong blog entry to and end, a shot of a Wren, for no other reason than it brought a smile to our faces at the end of a long and hard day...