Click here for the eagerly anticipated micro book illustrated by Lewington.
http://www.britishwildlife.com/viewbook.asp?bookid=24
this page allows pre order plus additional info on the book, due for release at the end of May.
I will update my blog soon, been busy lately surveying and generally feeling shattered, but thought the above info would appeal to some viewers.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Monday, 9 April 2012
Norfolk tick
With the weather looking utterly awful for bank holiday Monday, Ruth and I decided that watching Gladiator until 1am would be a good idea. As a consequence we arose a bit late, it wasn't raining so we thought Winterton may be a good place to have a walk, during breakfast waxham turned up a Hoopoe and Serin so we headed that way instead.
As we got there the Hoopoe showed well, giving Ruth a UK tick (199) and me a Norfolk tick (302). Unfortunately after about 3 mins the bird flew into the bushes and then headed all around the small crowd giving good flight views before heading North (it did return later). We then headed North too where we watched the seals, had a brief look at the sea and then headed back once the rain started to set in. Behind the house on the camp site we found a female Black Redstart along with at least 2 White wagtails which were also new for the year.
Nice to get out to the coast today, I wasn't expecting a gap in the rain so good to get some bonus birds too.
two micros found me this week, one on my car window and one on the bathroom window, 1 reason to always have a pot handy!
I believe they are Calybites phasianipennella and Phyllonorycter rajella, anyone agree or disagree ??
As we got there the Hoopoe showed well, giving Ruth a UK tick (199) and me a Norfolk tick (302). Unfortunately after about 3 mins the bird flew into the bushes and then headed all around the small crowd giving good flight views before heading North (it did return later). We then headed North too where we watched the seals, had a brief look at the sea and then headed back once the rain started to set in. Behind the house on the camp site we found a female Black Redstart along with at least 2 White wagtails which were also new for the year.
Nice to get out to the coast today, I wasn't expecting a gap in the rain so good to get some bonus birds too.
two micros found me this week, one on my car window and one on the bathroom window, 1 reason to always have a pot handy!
I believe they are Calybites phasianipennella and Phyllonorycter rajella, anyone agree or disagree ??
Monday, 26 March 2012
Annual spring Brecks visit
On Saturday morning I awoke earlier than usual so decided to have a trip to the Brecks, it was not entirely successful species wise but I had a very enjoyable morning.
My target birds were the usual Breck species ie lesser spots willow tits and goshawks. I did not want to go to the hotspot for LSW as it just annoys me nowdays, I was not in the mood to get annoyed with poor behaviour. Unfortunately as a result I did not see said woodpecker!
I had a good look and listen for Willow tit but I had no luck unfortunately, quite a shame as I really love this species, especially at this time of the year when they are singing and calling regularly. At Strumpshaw the Marsh Tits have adopted their 'spring' calls/songs which are different to their winter calls, so Willow tits get reported a lot as the Marshies sound so different at the moment. I will see a willow tit one day at Strumpshaw!
On the way back to my car from the above location I had a male Goshawk flyover, this is the first one I have seen without trying in the Brecks, a fairly short but undoubted view.
I moved on to the Gos hotspot to get proper views. About 20 mins after I arrived I picked up a male Gos flying distantly over the tree tops, eventually it came closer displaying as it went. After it disappeared I started scanning again and latched onto a large female on top of a tree, it was way off but quite unmistakably a huge accipiter, well that was to everyone but two people who swore blind (and argued the fact that it was a woodpigeon). Eventually it flew from its perch, what a bird! It flew around the clearing in bright sunlight for about 10-15 mins circling closer and closer, scope views were the best I have had and the bird could easily be aged as a juvenile female (Gos that is, not woopigeon!). The female was eventually joined by a male and both spiralled together in their typically bouncy way. I do love Goshawks, they are so powerful and imposing when you get a good look, a true master of the skies.
Of course the other great thing about the Brecks is that all the above took place while listening to Woodlarks singing away, having Crossbills chipping overhead, the near constant flight calls of Repolls and Siskins as well as the occasional creak of a Brambling, its good to get away from the Broads for occasions like this, its only my second outing away from the broads this year!
Bird totals so far this year;
2012: 128
Mid-Yare Valley:111
Norfolk: 128
My target birds were the usual Breck species ie lesser spots willow tits and goshawks. I did not want to go to the hotspot for LSW as it just annoys me nowdays, I was not in the mood to get annoyed with poor behaviour. Unfortunately as a result I did not see said woodpecker!
I had a good look and listen for Willow tit but I had no luck unfortunately, quite a shame as I really love this species, especially at this time of the year when they are singing and calling regularly. At Strumpshaw the Marsh Tits have adopted their 'spring' calls/songs which are different to their winter calls, so Willow tits get reported a lot as the Marshies sound so different at the moment. I will see a willow tit one day at Strumpshaw!
On the way back to my car from the above location I had a male Goshawk flyover, this is the first one I have seen without trying in the Brecks, a fairly short but undoubted view.
I moved on to the Gos hotspot to get proper views. About 20 mins after I arrived I picked up a male Gos flying distantly over the tree tops, eventually it came closer displaying as it went. After it disappeared I started scanning again and latched onto a large female on top of a tree, it was way off but quite unmistakably a huge accipiter, well that was to everyone but two people who swore blind (and argued the fact that it was a woodpigeon). Eventually it flew from its perch, what a bird! It flew around the clearing in bright sunlight for about 10-15 mins circling closer and closer, scope views were the best I have had and the bird could easily be aged as a juvenile female (Gos that is, not woopigeon!). The female was eventually joined by a male and both spiralled together in their typically bouncy way. I do love Goshawks, they are so powerful and imposing when you get a good look, a true master of the skies.
Of course the other great thing about the Brecks is that all the above took place while listening to Woodlarks singing away, having Crossbills chipping overhead, the near constant flight calls of Repolls and Siskins as well as the occasional creak of a Brambling, its good to get away from the Broads for occasions like this, its only my second outing away from the broads this year!
Bird totals so far this year;
2012: 128
Mid-Yare Valley:111
Norfolk: 128
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
+2 for Mid Yare Bird List
The past week has seen me add two new species to my Mid-Yare bird list.
These were the fantastic 4 Glossy Ibis's at Cantley much easier here than wandering countless miles around Berney, (glad I waited) this species was also a Norfolk tick.
The second bird, probably the rarer of the two (for Strumpshaw) was Red Breasted Merganser, a female has been hanging around Tower Hide at Strumpy for about 3-4 weeks now, however it seemed to avoid being there when I was present, until today. I managed to see it after tinkering with the sluice to the sound of Chiffchaffs all along the river bank as well as up to 12 dancing harriers.
I had the moth trap on near the office on Tuesday night, it was quite chilly but still. The trap held just over 200 moths, mainly small quakers, however lead coloured drab, red chestnut and engrailed were the highlights in a quaker/drab filled trap..
EDIT: The Lead Coloured Drab was a new moth species for me, the first addition of 2012
Given the weather for this week, I'm sure there will be quite a few migrants about this weekend, I actually have a day off this weekend too!
These were the fantastic 4 Glossy Ibis's at Cantley much easier here than wandering countless miles around Berney, (glad I waited) this species was also a Norfolk tick.
The second bird, probably the rarer of the two (for Strumpshaw) was Red Breasted Merganser, a female has been hanging around Tower Hide at Strumpy for about 3-4 weeks now, however it seemed to avoid being there when I was present, until today. I managed to see it after tinkering with the sluice to the sound of Chiffchaffs all along the river bank as well as up to 12 dancing harriers.
I had the moth trap on near the office on Tuesday night, it was quite chilly but still. The trap held just over 200 moths, mainly small quakers, however lead coloured drab, red chestnut and engrailed were the highlights in a quaker/drab filled trap..
EDIT: The Lead Coloured Drab was a new moth species for me, the first addition of 2012
Given the weather for this week, I'm sure there will be quite a few migrants about this weekend, I actually have a day off this weekend too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)