Norn Iron and Blackdog
19/08/2010
My trip to Northern Ireland wasn't meant to be bird-focused. It just so happened that driving across the country left me a lot of travel time to spy on birds from the car.
The train journey from Aberdeen to Edinburgh produced 28 species, the highlights being a Goosander family and a single Jay. You might laugh at the Jay but they are something of a rare commodity up here.
Our first day out in N.I. saw us trekking up Slemish. While here we saw 4 Ravens, before picking up Hooded Crow on the way back.
We had a north coast day, which started at Ballycastle, where we not only saw the Laughing Gull but Ruth also spotted a fantastic Black Guillemot, which was fishing within 5 metres of us. We then moved round to the Giant's Causeway, hoping to see a Chough. Thankfully, the scenery was pretty spectacular because there was next to nothing on the bird front. A hunting Kestrel, a Wheatear and a Rock Pipit took the trip list up to 60.
Our final day out was to a forest not too far from Ruth's house. Here we picked up Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Siskin, as well as finally seeing a Robin!
So we finished the week with 65, when birding wasn't really my main goal at any point.
On returning to Aberdeen, I was lucky enough to head to Blackdog with Danny for a brief evening twitch. We quickly found 3 of the 4 Surf Scoters in amongst the 4000 Common and Velvet Scoters also there. We were also graced by the presence of at least 3 Arctic Skuas as well as seeing a migrating Sedge Warbler and Greenshank.
Blackdog looks to have massive migration potential and hopefully future trips will produce something incredible.
Thom
Lazy old me
07/07/2010
Unfortunately, I’m getting lazy in the dull period. There’s a simple life tick a long walk up the road at Blackdog, with up to 4 Surf Scoters in the Common flock at the moment, and I can’t even be bothered to write the blog up.
It has been a few weeks since the Aberdeenshire weekend and the day in Norfolk and only now am I getting round to fill the world in.
Our weekend in the Shire left us with an impressive total of 96. The highlights were Capercaillie and King Eider, which were lifers for the pair of us, as well as Tree Pipit and Black Redstart lifers for me. Other birds to note were the pair of Spoonbills and female Marsh Harrier at Strathbeg, the several Osprey sightings over the weekend and the brilliantly reliable Red Grouse at the Glenshee Ski Centre. As well as these, we were blessed with spectacular views of a Crested Tit and the lucky stumble into a pair of Grey Partridge (a year tick for me).
Our next trip was to Suffolk where a few more year ticks were added. Despite our few additions, it was still a day of dipping. Our aim was to get Blue-Winged Teal, Bluethroat, Stone Curlew, Marsh Tit, and if we were lucky, Cuckoo and Woodlark.
We started the day at Weeting Heath, where we saw nothing but Marsh Tit. From there, we headed up the road and across the county border to Lakenheath Fens. Here we saw Woodlark in the car park from the car. Inside the reserve we were graced by the presence of a Barn Owl. We also picked up Reed Warbler and there were a ridiculous number of Cuckoos, with a count of 4 or 5 in the same small dead tree.
We moved on to Berry Fen where Nigel got a 2 second glimpse of the Blue-Winged Teal before it vanished amongst the foliage during an hour long vigil. I managed to spot a nice male Garganey and we also heard several singing Garden Warblers but none were seen, leaving me with yet another dip for the day.
We headed to Welney as the weather turned against us and it was here that I got Avocet and Black-Tailed Godwit for the year, before we both dipped on the Bluethroat, which was seen a minute before we arrived and not seen again until about the time we had arrived home.
Nothing much has happened since those two trips. I saw a Great Skua at the Ythan last week and Nigels currently licking his lips at the prospect of seeing the White Tailed Lapwing at Rainham but that is all for now.
Thom
Dip, dip, dip up to here...
06/06/2010
...as the apparently not late, and not very much missed Freddie 'Parrot Face’ Davies might not have said.
We started the day with unrealistic expectations, and it went downhill from there. Whilst waiting for Mark to turn up, I was prowling the valley nearby looking for the calling Cuckoo. Nothing doing. When Huguenot finally turned up at 6 am - What kept you? - we made straight for Cley. Anticipating the early double life tick (for Nigel) of Trumpeter Finch (lifer for Mark) and Red Backed Shrike, The French Protestant didn't spare the horses.
We arrived at Cley at 7.30, where the disparate, and increasingly desperate looking Twitchers told its own story. With the benefit of a clear night, the TF had decided that after a few days he'd had enough of North Norfolk. On the walk up to the beach we saw lots of Bearded Tits and Sedge Warblers, both of which I had only got for the year, on the day before. A quick nip over to the east side of Cley, quickly confirmed a double vanishing act. It wasn't all bad though, as Little Tern and Sandwich Tern were added.
On to Swanton Morely to confirm the no show of Honey Buzzard, before brekkers at the Morrisons (formerly Safeway - Grey Partridge roundabout) cafe. Suitably refreshed, it was with renewed vigour that we set off for Weeting Heath. At least Stone Curlew did not let us down, found across the road within a couple of minutes of arriving. No Woodlark alas, but we did get Spotted Flycatcher. A twenty minute search for the Marsh Tits proved fruitless, however.
And so, on to Lakenheath, which provided probably the biggest disappointment of the day. It must be stressed here, that it was now about 2PM, and baking hot to boot. Firstly, the Golden Orioles were having none of it, neither were the alleged twenty Hobbies. Nor the Cuckoo, which was taunting us all the way around. Grasshopper Warblers? Forget it. In fact our only return from Lakenheath was a scabby female Garganey.
It was now 3.30ish, so we made the decision not to go to Welney, (for the long staying/repeating Bluethroat) and made straight for Minsmere. Via Little Chef of course. What's going on there? We shared a starter of warmed wholemeal ciabatta with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. - It's gone all Islington on us!
Minsmere was reached, with still a modicum of enthusiasm left. We quickly got Barnacle Goose and Mark got his Cetti's - how many of those have I seen this year? And that was that really! Nothing else, not a sausage, bugger all.
Our last trip was to Dunwich Heath to see if there were any Nightjars about. Whilst waiting, we were informed that this place held breeding Dartford Warblers - and that they had been singing and dancing all day long. We then had splendid views of Hobby, always a treat.
At about 9.20pm the Nightjars started churring, there were at least six calling males, but after about an hour of seeing nothing we gave up. Both getting cold and tired - and Mark still had a daunting drive back to Lincoln to look forward to. All in all, whilst disappointing numbers wise, it was good to get out, especially having a straight sixteen hours of birdwatching.
P.S. I went back to Dunwich the next day, where I picked up a pair of Whinchats and Dartford Warbler. I then came back at night with the RSPB dudewatch and had excellent views of Nightjar. So, I now make that 133 FTY and the life list goes to 249.
Nigel
Enjoying the small things
03/06/2010
Today’s post-exam celebratory walk along the Don didn’t yield any new birds. This doesn’t mean that it was a disappointing trip. I got great views of a singing male Reed Bunting and was also blessed with the wonderful song and dance of a male Whitethroat. There was one particular highlight that made the morning worthwhile in my opinion.
I tend to think of Bullfinches like most normal people think of Robins. They are very much a winter bird in my eyes. So it was very nice to see a courting pair in Seaton Park. I was set upon by a small terrier while I was watching them but I’m not complaining. The look of embarrassment on the dog-owners face seemed to add to the brilliance of the moment.
I finished the walk, passing 8 Common Seals basking on a bank under the Bridge of Don.
A nice morning, complimented beautifully by the first bout of summer weather.
Thom
Eyes on the prize, thom...
15/05/2010
The last two days have been amazing. Despite all the excitement, I still have a bitter taste in the mouth. I’ll fill you in on my two trips out. Yesterday, I was at Donmouth briefly, before heading out to the Ythan this morning.
The hour at the beach yesterday was sensational. First I managed to creep up on the Terns on the beach at low tide. This yielded both of the Comic Terns! Then while trying to establish exactly which ones were Arctic and which were Common, a massive dark blur appeared for a split second in my scope. After refocusing, I found that it was the Bottlenose Dolphins attacking a bait ball just off shore. It was a fantastic spectacle, just watching them leap out of the water. A great number of Gulls and Terns joined in the frenzy, leaving events a few Gannets short of possibly the best natural sight in the UK.
As I packed up and headed for home, I was confronted by a Roe Deer crossing the river at its mouth. It swam across right towards me and then on noticing my presence (all of 3 feet away from me), it fled.
Today’s events were somewhat more turbulent with regard to the emotional barometer.
Having got the first bus of the day up to Newburgh with Danny, we were hopeful of the King Eider in its usual spot. After 20 minutes of scanning with a third birder, it was located. At that exact moment, it took to the wing and flew along the river, at which point Danny got his bins on it, before turning sharply and disappearing over the dunes and out to sea. Basically, it was there in my line of sight and I just couldn’t see the thing!
So with possibly the most embarrassing dip of my life out of the way, we went in pursuit of some year ticks. This yielded Common Sandpiper and Yellowhammer for the year, while House Martin was a belated tick for Aberdeenshire. Other highlights were summer plumage Knot and several Whimbrel.
On arrival at the Tern colony, we bedded ourselves in while we scanned for Little Tern. It took a long time of staring at the swarm of Terns and seeing nothing for one to fly right towards us, giving a pretty decent view. It was also at this exact point in the day where every bird took to the air, shrieking. On closer inspection an Osprey was circling above the colony, giving exceptional views.
After parting ways with Danny, I went back for a final check for the King Eider, but it had yet to return. I did find out from a local birder that I met on the way back to the bus that it had been disappearing during the afternoon all week, so there is still hope! Maybe a midweek trip will get me my prize.
Thom