Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

East wind moderate with high tide and 11:00hrs to 12:00hrs. Bright.


BRENT GEESE on the move with some wandering so South 16 and North 8 of which only 3 came in as young. WIGEON South 107. RED THROATED DIVER many assumed with 7 North and one close in. GANNET only 2 South with one of these a juvenile. CORMORANT 1 North.

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

First real signs of Autumn at sea this morning with first BRENT GOOSE heading South with 7 already on return. Largest flock of ducks being 70 WIGEON and also  another flock of 20. MALLARD 32, TEAL 5 which again flying South but landed briefly near continental buoy. Also had a RUFF fly South very close and two flocks of COMMON SCOTER heading North. 9 and 5 respectively. Adult and young GANNETS flying South some accompanied by adults and some not. RED-THROATED-DIVER flying mostly North and landing on the sea. 

Monday, 28 September 2015

Abberton Resevoir, Essex.

Spent a few hours around the reserve on Thursday afternoon and managed 40 species, which was not at all bad. Best bird a fly through MERLIN and the two resident GREAT WHITE EGERET. Also SNIPE, RUFF, RED CRESTED POCHARD with two female birds one at either end. Over 100 Hirudu and two BLACK TAILED GODWIT. Many TEAL and loads of COOT.
 
Towcester and Silverstone: Managed this RED KITE over the circuit and this WILLOW WARB and several CHIFFCHAFF as well as SPARROW HAWK, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST and loads of COMMON BUZZARD.
 


 

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

North Dene's

Walk round the area saw the best bird as a LESSER WHITETHROAT as a male in full spec. He was resplendent in the sun light but not still enough for a pi. Also several CHIFF and WILLOW WARB. Two jay which where very noisy but very striking was the two SONG THRUSH which again where resplendent and striking in relation to the streaking on the breast. Nothing out at sea so in basis very beautiful day with an azure sea.

Monday, 21 September 2015

Along the Norfolk Coast.

Walcott:   A small flock of 14 TURNSTONE along the wall with 2 PIED WAG and 1 ROOK. Small greedy flock of gulls.
Sea Palling:  Again TURNSTONE about 20 birds on beach with 8 PIED WAG feeding onto the step wall on flies.
Horsey: One female MARSH HARRIER hubting along meadow side and one COMMON BUZZARD post sitting. A flock of assumed GREY LAG GEESE in far field and two GOLDFINCH. plenty of imported COMMON PHEASANT.
Caister: Best here was a small flock of RED-THROATED DIVER offshore with five birds. One was still in adult plumage and red neck visible. Flock of 20 GOLDFINCH and a seal.

Sunday, 20 September 2015

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Spent one hour here today with MED GULL 24 and three of these in first year plumage, All birds flying south on the tide for feed. Also two COMMON SCOTER heading North and so was a single RED-THROATED DIVER. The first for the autumn.

Hazelwood Marshes

Spent just 2 hours here on Wednesday with 37 species including two SPOONBILL, HONEY BUZZARD over Aldbrough, GREENSHANK 1, COMMON SAND 2, LITTLE EGERET, REDSHANK, TURNSTONE, OYSTERCATCHER, CURLEW, WILLOW WARBLER and CHIFFCHAFF. GREAT SPOTTED WOOD and GREEN.

Sunday, 13 September 2015

Trawesfinyadd, Wales.

Spent one week here as a family holiday.Trawsfynydd holiday village is situated just to the East 
of the A470 and 2 miles South of Trawsfynydd. Ordinance Survey SH645345. 
 
This holiday home centre was originally the site of a 1st World War barracks. Dating back to at 
least 1906. The footings of the huts have now became the base of each of the 300+ cabins. 
The development has been made over several years allowing for the maturing of trees, shrubs 
and plant life. Cabins are spaced well enough apart to allow the surrounding vegetation to become 
part of the local flora and fauna. The surrounding countryside at times has limited access due to 
unexploded ordinance which allows for security of bird life but a risk to any who trespass..
Mammals:   
A single Field Vole was seen on the road side adjacent to entrance. Later the same day grass was 
being cut nearby, but because of the bank his hide away was well protected. Only one Mole was seen 
and was actively digging with a Robin standing on mound and feeding well. With short grass it is 
inevitable that rabbits have taken up residence. But they are not prolific. Four Squirrels seen and all
fled at any sight of human activity, the same applied to cars and demonstrated extreme stealth. 
The nearest Badger seems to be 3 miles south at Coed Y Brenin. 
The nearest Otter was seen early morning at Trawsfynydd Lake at the Eastern end. First sighted 
swimming towards the shore it soon disappeared from view.
Insects:   
Butterflies:
Although late in the year Large Tortoiseshell was by far the most prevalent with seven in all. Also a 
single Meadow Brown.and two Red Admiral. Only one Blue seen but species not identified.
Moths: 
Again affected by the cold nights the only significant sighting was a Humming Bird Hawk Moth 
which was very active around white Jasmine.
Local Birds:
Corvids being opportunist feeders have made good use within the boundary to feed and to learn 
practised feeding. With a resident population of Magpie who with juvenile birds seem in good 
condition. One bird seen being an obvious male with a tail to match any I have ever seen.
Jackdaws are active as a flock of 13 birds. Which attack the Magpies and gain food from them 
and from feeders. Carrion Crows are regular and are seen at any time of the day.Ravens seem 
to fly East in the morning and South late afternoon. Three birds fed south of the facility with 
a young bird. Jay fed early morning alongside grass verges close to woodland.
Woodland Birds:
Nuthatch: Birds flying freely through the site and calling at anytime of the day, but mostly in the 
morning. Treecreeper: Only one seen in pines next to shop.
Goldcrest: Remained elusive being only heard at cabin 298 in pines.
Robin: Some young and some very handsome, with one bird very tatty and obviously tired from 
breedingWren: Not surprisingly most birds seen where around perimeter fencing. Calling well 
with some venturing around cabins.Blackbird: Only two adult birds seen in good order, but others
being juvenial where feeding on the berries of Rowan trees. At one time three birds feeding together. Song Thrush: Only two birds seen as fly overs, West to East.Chaffinch: Regular birds and also 
fly overs make up a good population.Chiffchaff: Only one bird heard in South corner but no surprise 
as it was late in the year. Great spotted Woodpecker: There are two birds at least. Both making 
regular sorties onto the site. These birds seem small for some reason which was a surprise. They can 
be heard calling as they move through.
Sea Birds:
Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Manx Shearwater, Fulmer, Black headed Gull,
Raptors:
Red Kite: Two seen as fly over low over site. Flying North South. Also 9 in central Wales and
6 within 2  miles of site. Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk and Goshawk.
Resident Birds:
Swallow, House and Sand Martin: Due to migration being imminent birds flying around are both 
young and adult. Birds wire sitting at the bottom of road and feeding over site and obviously home 
bred. House Sparrow: Few birds seen amongst shrubs between cabins.
Meadow Pipit: Seen mostly at South end meadow but also as fly overs.
Crossbill: The only bird seen was a calling bird as a fly over North to South.
Pied Wagtail: All birds seen where feeding on South meadow on concrete platforms. 
Goldfinch: A few birds roved the area.
Linnet: All birds fly over.
Red Kite:  Fly over
Common Buzzard:  Fly over.
Area Bird sightings within a few miles: (Due to the nature of rarity certain information is withheld)
 
Stonechat: In all both male and female birds seen with some first year birds. Also very worn birds
assumed to be parents. Highest count was six birds at once. With 20 birds for the week.
Whinchat: Only one bird seen as a juvenial male.
Red Kite: At least one pair with 5 birds flying in different locations in same short visit.
Hen Harrier: Two birds seen hunting with id confirmed on one as juvenial. Photo confirms this info 
on one of Britons rarest birds.
Common Buzzard: Numerous birds both feeding, soaring, hunting and paragliding. Estimated to be 
20+ birds in area.
Goshawk: Being close to Coed Y Brenin. it should be no surprise that it should be in the area.
Sparrow hawk: Trawsfynydd Lake 2
Holiday Bird List:
1.Swallow2.Blue Tit. 3. Rook13. Chaffinch4. Magpie5. Wood Pigeon6. Jackdaw.  
7. Carrion Crow.  8.Common Buzzard 9. Common Pheasant.  10. Meadow Pipit.  11. Common Gull.  
12. Robin.  14. Blackbird.
Day 2Sunday Sep 6th:  
15. Coal Tit.  16. Raven. 17. Rook.  18. Peregrine Falcon
19. Red Kite. 20. Treecreeper. 21. Nuthatch  22. Sand Martin. 23. House Martin
24. Oystercatcher25. Grey Heron26. Red-brested- Merganser27. Collard Dove.  
28. Goldfinch 29. Linnet. 30. Lesser black backed Gull31. Black headed Gull
32. Herring Gull33. Pied Wagtail 34. Jay
Day 3. Monday Sep 7th.
35.Fullmer36.Sandwich Tern. 37. Shag38. Cormorant. 39. Great-black-backed Gull.
Day 4. Tuesday Sep 8th.
40. Dunnock. 41. Tufted Duck42. Gadwall43.Coot44. Moorhen 45. Little Egeret.
46. Mute Swan 47. Redshank48. Dunlin  49. Stint50. Manx Shearwater51. Gannet  52. Wigeon
53. Canada Goose54. Chiffchaff. 55. Crossbill. 56. Rock Pipit57. Mallard.
Day 5.Wednesday Sep 9th.
58. Scaup. 59. Teal60. Stonechat 61 Great spotted Woodpecker.
Day 6. Thursday Sep 10th  
62. Shellduck 63. Kestrel64.Goshawk65.Ringed Plover66. Medeteraenen Gull. 
67. Feral Pigeon.
Day 7. Friday Sep 11th. 
68. Song Thrush69. Hen Harrier70. Whinchat.

Trawsfynydd Lake: On the second day a very short view of an otter. But any view is better than none.
I also had Red breasted. Merganser here with highest count being 7. Scaup which where mixed with 
the Tufted Duck, but the bill is a good give away. With gizz and plumage swinging the count here on 
one day 5 but by the end of the week only 1. On the first day a pair of Whimbral making the move
south. Very unusual to see them inland, but made a good sight. I also had 1 Buzzard and one Kestrel 
here. Also two Sparrow Hawk with one hunting, which also was seen catching prey. Seven Shellduck 
flew in one evening .Massive numbers of Meadow Pipit and two hunting Sparrow Hawk.
Bonabar: Best bird was Goshawk with a fly through in front of car. All id good for this sighting. 
This should be no surprise with Con Brenan just down the road.
Portmerion:  Plenty to photo but the bird life was minimal. Except for two Little Egeret and three 
Raven.Very poor which is a surprise. Criccieth: From the East end I was able to view a feeding 
frenzy of Manx Shearwater with an underestimate of 200 birds over a shoal of fish raised
by a pod of Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise. Also feeding gulls and Gannets intent on finishing off 
what was left. The Manx where flying up and down and resting while a dolphin put on a good show
 and cleared the water for me. All this was only possible with a good scope as it was well offshore.
Pwlheli:  Oan inner pool a reasonable sighting of Little Stint running around surface weed was a 
lucky sight as I found it on bird sightings when back at cabin.
Aberystwyth:  Again sightings of Gannet and Manx Shearwater but no where near as many as 
Crickeith. Moel Oernant: SH755345. This area is serious moor land and gave us good views of 
 two juvinial Hen Harrier, which flew well off most of the time. But an occasional better view. 
Also here six Stonechat and our only Whinchat of the week. Also views on Raven, Red Kite, at
 least two birds, and numerous Common Buzzard as well as Kestrel.
While at Lake Verny I had a pair of very odd looking Pheasant/ So make your mind up on what they are.
 Yes that is a Dolphin, not the best pic but at 4 miles out not bad. The first one I have ever seen leap clear of the water.

 




 This was one of two Hen Harrier this one being a young bird.

 Manx feeding on a shoal of fish well offshore again. With Gannet.