Finally Some Short-eared's

In the midst of what can only be described as the shittiest weekend ever! Heartbreakingly having to have my 6 yr old Springer Spaniel 'Paddy' put to sleep after breaking his leg, The only small conciliation is he was doing something he lived for chasing Pheasants! My sisters and I decided to head out for some fresh air and to try take our minds of things.

Paddy

With the abundance of Short-eared Owl pictures on my Blog feeds daily, I thought I'd try and find some locally. With rumors of a regular sighting on Bransbury Common near the A303 at Longparish, we headed out on the scenic route from Wherwell to Barton Stacey over the top of Newton Hill.

Didn't take long to serve the car on to the grass verge as 2 familiar shapes descended from the
fence-line on the side of the road. A pair of Short-eared Owl working the 6 meter conservation strips around the headlands of the surrounding fields. Now as you'll see in the following pictures the light was pretty much non-existent even though it was only around 2pm, So unfortunately no in-flight shots partly because of the light, partly because of the 2 English Pointers that appeared over the crest of the hill, closely followed by 2 Terriers that disturbed the Short-eared's from the grassy bank.

With no owners in sight and the area notorious ground for "Dog men" I put a call through to the local gamekeeper, pretty certain he had poachers out on a Sunday afternoon, my initial thoughts confirmed as   one Pointer came sprinting past hot on the heels of a fleeing Brown Hare. Around 5-10 minutes passed before about 800 meters away the Owners could be spotted heading across another field, all four dogs about 400 meters in-front of them. At least they were on the footpath! Turns out they weren't poachers, just highly irresponsible dog owners! Equipped with a sharp telling off from the Gamekeeper!

So back to the owls, having walked back up to the car, the pair now working the Grassy cover strip left on top of the hill, back and forth crossing the road to the ploughing on the other side before a couple of minutes later returning again. Always dropping just out of sight. Having spotted on break off and return to a fence post in the distance, I was a little shocked to see 2 lift up from the same spot and treated to a short talon locking display! Brilliant!

Still seeking some kind of photograph, I had a quick peep out on the ploughed field, a little surprised to find a pair of eyes some 50-60 yards out staring back at me from atop of a furrow!

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Photos in the bag and the temperature dropping we headed back to the car, to discover a flat battery!  Could this weekend get any worse? 20 mins later and a rather hair raising push back down the hill in reverse and the ignition kicked in! So we still didn't even make it to Bransbury Common but a
decent-ish reward in the end I guess! 3 Short-eared Owls spotted!

One For Sorrow Two For Joy.....26 For?????

Now I know the old song as well as most, but anybody got any ideas what 26 Magpies are for, I thought the 17 sat in the one Ash tree was a high amount but the other 9 Magpies that were sat further down the hedgerow concluded that number.

Only a trudge around the estate today, resulting in Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Corn Bunting, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant & Carrion Crow.

Also this rather brave Yellowhammer, the first one I've been able to photograph.

Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer

Sika Sunday

A beautiful crisp morning, bathed in Golden Winter Sunlight, Spot on! Sat Nav set,  3 x Memory Cards packed just in case!! The destination the RSPB's flagship Heathland reserve at Arne overlooking Poole Harbour and the distant Brownsea Island. After a short sunday morning layin and a steady drive down the 70 odd miles from home to Dorset, We ( the Girlfriend and I ) arrived around 11.35am grabbed a quick bite to eat and off we set.

Pretty much instantly distracted by the bird feeders next to the new Information Kiosk (I say new, but then I haven't been for 3 Years). Teeming with life, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin & a pair of Nuthatch all visiting on some kind of chain line. Also strutting his stuff beneath the feeders a male Peacock, not your average bird table sighting.

Male Chaffinch

Male Chaffinch

We headed first out on the Shipstal Point trail towards the Salt marshes and Poole Harbour beyond. First sighting a rather large herd of Sika Deer grazing on a paddock field in the middle of the reserve. 

Grazing Sika Herd

The first birdlife encountered as we headed towards the shoreline, the haunting call of a Curlew, another 100 yards through to the edge of the Salt marsh and the culprit could be seen, joining a passing group of Avocet heading towards the Middlebere Channel. Now I'm not sure what it was that flushed the birds as it moved so fast, falcon-like low over the crests of the waves as it disappeared around the corner of the headland. But if I had to take an educated guess I'd say a Merlin however I can neither confirm nor deny.

Further on around the path whilst trying to get a picture of a small flock of birds dropping in and out of the heather, to which im 99.9% sure were Meadow Pipits, The arrival of 2 Sika Bucks on the path below rather whisked me away. We got so close that I slowly moved to the other side of them in the end, walking straight past, as the light was better for a picture. Bit disappointing as its supposed to be a Wild beast but Im not complaining about the pictures. The path ended in about 30 yards right on the edge of the large area of Salt marsh overlooking Poole Harbour and the distant town of Poole. About 50-60 yards out was the remaining Sika herd, probably 40-45 deer.

Sika Buck 

Sika Buck 

My Fave I Think - Sika Buck 

Sika Buck

Sika Buck  

Sika Hinds

Being on ground level spotting Birds on the marshland proved a little tricky, with just the large bank of Oystercatchers visible on the waters edge a few Hundred present I would think. We took the boardwalk path around to the Double-Decked hide over looking the marsh, bringing a slightly different viewing angle and some slightly different birds than im used too. Curlew, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal & Little Egret all feeding out on the marsh. Lots of small groups of Teal, rising from hidden channels and joining other smallish groups. Hard to say the kind of numbers present really. The peaceful sound of the water lapping against the peaty edge with the odd Duck call was broken by the hoarse cacophony of a circling Raven.

Oystercatchers

Brent Geese

With the wind battering the open hide windows, we headed back towards the Car for a drink and the path out towards the other hide overlooking the eastern end of the Middlebere Channel. Whilst watching the procession of Sika crossing the path, slightly reminiscent of the wagon trains from the western films, We were rewarded by 6 Goldcrest fluttering about in the Silver birch tree above our heads. The walk back to the car also brought a slightly more wild sighting of the big Sika Buck.

The Big Boy

After taking the winter finch walk back to the visitor kiosk and only being rewarded with a small flock of 15-20 Starling, we headed out on to the Coombe Trail, on good authority from the RSPB staff that its about this time of day the Short Eared Owls come in. Spending a good 45 mins scanning the surrounding Heathland with no reward not even a Stonechat on the odd Gorse bushes, We headed down to the hide, briefly taking in 2 Black-tailed Godwits fighting on the waters edge.

Now the Middlebere Channel at this time of the day (3pm) looks quite an impressive stretch of river, but quite deceiving really as the tide was heading out, more and more small groups of Avocet headed down to the where the rapidly retreating water left and increasing expanse of mudflat. Numbers ranging into the thousands traveling westerly down the channel. Brilliant stuff having not seen the graceful Avocet before in the wild. In front of the hide large numbers covered the width of the river, the water appearing quite deep coming no further up than the tops of there stilt like legs. Also sifting through the shallow mud more Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Teal & Snipe. A large flock of Lapwing circled in the distant fields. 

Avocet

Avocet

The walk back across the Heath still resulted in no Short Eared's but the time was going fast, traffic all the way home was pretty heavy, but didn't spoil a great day out! Even home, just in time for Mum's Sunday roast! Apologies for the rather descriptive account, I hope all that got this far are not too bored!

Finches Galore!

With the weather back to normal, and work back to some kind of normality, it was good to get out around Anton Lakes at lunchtime, and very pleasing to see big mixed flocks of Finches gracing the tops of the surrounding trees. Chaffinch, Goldfinch & Siskin. Along with lots of Long Tailed Tit, Great Tits & Blue Tits and the usual Blackbird & Robin every 20 ft.

Long Tailed Tit

I've established that trying to get a picture of a passing Wren is pretty tricky. Having seen 5 or 6 during my walk today, this is probably my best ever attempt, still not the clearest of shot, but having watched the walker in-front of me move the resident Kingfisher up stream, I thought I'd stand and wait a while to see if he returned. No such luck but I did get a shot at a Wren.

Wren

The lakes are still pretty quiet at the moment, with a few Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot & Moorhen on the water, With plenty of Canada Geese higher up the lake.

Tufted Duck

I was however rewarded on the walk back to the Car - this Male Bullfinch in all is colourful glory! Sat no more than 10 ft from the path, his mate in amongst the branches behind him. Made my year so far!

Male Bullfinch

Male Bullfinch

Male Bullfinch

First Schoolboy Error Of The Year

A free Sunday, no plans at all! To Blashford Lakes near Ringwood once I could get Kath up an rearing to go (Don't think she was rearing all day to be honest.) 10am Departure planned, so its a bit rubbish when you have to go and wake your sister up at 10.05am on a Sunday morning so you can go birding. So 10am Departure turns into 11am. 

Now having treated myself as a necessity to a Manfrotto 679B Monopod with a Tilting Head, mainly because of the weight of my new Lens we left the car and the car park to head toward the Lapwing and Goosander Hide's overlooking Ibsley Water, having had a quick peep through the Tern Hide and being greeted by a dead Mute Swan, wings outstretched and pointing towards the Pearly Gates, we hoped for better sightings.

Around 1200metres later whilst setting the camera up on a couple of Long Tailed Tits flitting around in the Wintery sun, I realise that I don't actually have a Memory Card in the camera! And so happens the first Schoolboy Error of the year. a 25 minute round trip later, I join Kath in the Lapwing hide with both spare memory cards I carry in my camera bag. The hides other inhabitants looking a little surprised at my sweat cover brow, after my Half Run, Half Walk to catch up. So now I can talk about birds, Ibsley water was absolutely teaming with Waterfowl, thousands of Coots, Wigeon, Mallard, Mute Swans, Tufted Duck, Canadian Geese, Greylag Geese, Goosanders, Great-Black Backed Gull, Shoveler, Shellduck, Gadwall, Black Headed Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron & first Rarity a female Scaup.

Tufted Duck

After a brief port of call in the Goosander hide, we headed across the road to the smaller, and more woodland surround lakes & the rather impressive Woodland Hide. Now I know I like to moan about photographers, but this really took the biscuit. I'll set the scene. An octagonal Hide with only the 2 end windows open-able, the rest of the glass blacked out due to the close proximity of the Feeders 2-3 metres in front. Now in a free moving, care for other nature lovers kind of way you kind of expect the turn around for a seat on the open windows to be fast moving, take your picture and move on let someone else have a go kind of thing. Instead no we are just gonna sit here all day annoying other people. I overheard that the 3 "Photographers" hogging the window, had been perched there since 8.35am, I looked at my watch, 2.45pm. To make matters worse, they were all deep in conversation, with Nuthatch, Siskin, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Treecreeper & Lesser Redpoll all flocking in around the feeders and not one being photographed because of a more interesting conversation about the length of time the British Butterfly Association website had been up and running. Therefore I apologise for the not quite crystal clear sharpness I could have had if permitted a seat for 5minutes rather than having to shoot through blackened windows.

Siskin

Treecreeper

Lesser Redpoll

Greenfinch

Nuthatch

Great Tit

All in all other than my ever dwindling disrespect for other members of the general public, a fairly good trip was had. We did manage another first and Im sure a rarety, a bit far for a decent picture but definately possitvely identified a Ferruginous Duck out on the Ivy Lake in amongst some Pochard. Which takes my county list up too 63 so far for 2012.

Up The Garden

A quick wander this afternoon with the camera around the Garden brought Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Coal Tit, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Blackbird & Yellowhammer.

A couple of pics to mark the occasion.

Coal Tit

Goldfinch

Vole Out Of The Hole

Ahhh the peaceful calm after the storm, not to much debris around either, although work did ask me to take some pictures of the giant logo signage on the side of the building. Letters missing, what ever next. Something mentioned about proof for the Insurance company. Not like its a Ferrari or ought.

So off to Rooksbury Mill LNR today, a gorgeous sunshine filled morning soon subsiding by 1pm as the clouds started to appear. However no breeze what so ever, a bonus after yesterdays gale force gusts.

First sighting a Great Tit, perching long enough for me to fire off a few shots.

Great Tit

Brooks lake seemed a little more crowded than usual with Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan & Mallard all present.

A quick stop at the Kingfisher pool, did indeed bring a brief glimpse of a Kingfisher, a Little Egret rose from the furthest pool, landing in the tree and proceeding to prune itself.

Little Egret

The Mill lake had Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Black Headed Gull, Grey Heron & a new species for me at he location a drake Wigeon.

Other birds logged todays were : Robin, Wren, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Long Tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Treecreeper, Kestrel, Wood Pigeon & Greenfinch.

With the time ticking on, I decided on a walk back the way I came, hoping for another glimpse of the Kingfisher rather than a trudge right around the perimeter of the reserve. Im glad I did, rewarded with some rather awesome views of a Water Vole. Who I would have hoped to have enjoyed a lot longer. If not for a rather friendly elderly gentlemen giving me a lecture on where to see them along with Water Rails & Kingfishers. I think he was oblivious to the fact I'd just pointed it out to him on the stream edge and that I knew what it was. He also made me late back to work!

Water Vole

A Late Xmas Pressie

With the routine pretty much back to normal, after a New Year visit to Shropshire. And a another serious bought of Cold, I was able to get back out and about with the Camera at lunch time today. Now having been on about it for about 2 months to close friends, family and work colleagues (Particularly my Girlfriend) I forked out some serious saved Cash to upgrade my photographing distance. Take a look at this bad boy!

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM

My Christmas present to myself! So off I popped at lunch today lens attached and fitted to the tripod, the only problem with upgrading.....It weighs a lot more than I had previously had to carry. And before I get carried away as a moany photographer I'll shut up about it.

On the Wildlife front though a pretty disappointing trip, the weather, as I guess it was in every other part of the UK today was pretty darn windy. All the water borne birds underneath the shelter of the overhanging branches. Canada Goose, Black-headed Gull, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck & Little Grebe all sheltering from the wind. The only birds brave enough to ride the quite choppy waves being the Coot & Moorhen.

No signs of any smaller birds, 2 or 3 Robins flitted about around the path, along with a couple of Blackbirds, I did get a brief glimpse at the first Kingfisher of the year, as he flew into the reeds. So all in all not really a great chance to try my new bit of kit out.

Talking of stunning pieces of kit. My Mum bought Dad a Trophy / Stealth Camera for Christmas this year, after setting it up on the Bird Table in the garden and soon realizing that the Birds are too small to set it off. He maneuvered it too his Barn Owl Box across the field in front of our house. With all this windy weather it appeared that an ivy branch 40 yards away seemed to cause the most common movement in setting the sensor off. 3 Days & 1000 Pics later - All I can say is not bad for a first attempt! It's now repositioned and ready for a second go.

Andy Clay. Copyright 2012

2011 A Year To Remember

Happy New Year Greetings to all, I must admit Im pretty pleased with the comments and kind words I've received since starting up this blog just under 2 months ago, so I'll give you a quick round up of the Birds I logged in and around my usual haunts, As well as a few extra on various holidays and days out around the British Isles in 2011.

Logged in and around home a total of 80 Bird Species, particular highlights being Black Redstart, Brambling, Green Sandpiper, Siskin & Corn Bunting - all new sightings for me in the area.

In total for the year 124 Bird Species & 13 Mammal Species a lot of the additional bird numbers seen on April's trip to the Isle Of Mull and October's getaway to Cornwall. Definite highlights included - Bittern, Chough, Hen Harrier,  Puffin, White-tailed Eagle, (All new sightings to me) Stonechat,  & Wheatear. I am pretty sure these records would be a lot more extensive If I could identify Gulls and Warblers, Mice & Shrews.

I've Included some of my favorite shots from 2011, all taken with the new Canon EOS 550D and 250mm Lens, my first ever DSLR that I bought in March.

Roe Buck, Longparish - 18th April 2011

Female Wheatear, Isle Of Mull - 23rd April 2011

Puffin, Isle Of Staffa - 27th April 2011

Bumble Bee, Longparish - 19th May 2011

Cornish Choughs, Lizard Point - 11th October 2011

Female Stonechat, Marizion Marsh RSPB - 12th October 2011