An early Raven cronking away overhead and both Venus and Saturn adorning the eastern sky as I stepped foot off the boat this morning.
I arrived at Brandon Marsh just as the sun breached the horizon and made my way straight to East Marsh Hide, Grey Wagtail on the cement works roof on route. At the hide I spent an enjoyable 90 minutes before heading off to the Nature Centre for the Conservation Team AGM. The reserve was flooded out during my visit on Friday but it always amazes me how quickly the River Avon recedes.
At the hide I was made aware immediately that the Bittern was lurking in the reed bed to the right and it wasn't long before it betrayed it's whereabouts. First the twitching reeds and then obscured views of the bird through the reeds near the waters edge, amazing camouflage but once your aware easily picked out! Also of note during my stay (2) ♂ Bullfinch worth a mention plus (2) Pochard,(3) Little Egret and single ♀Goosander at East Marsh. A pair of Goosander on Grebe Pool as I made my way back to the centre!
A walk around the marina this evening at dusk had circa 20 Pied Wagtails in the roost, Little Owl calling but way off and a group of Fieldfare beautifully silhouetted in the Oak tree before heading away to roost.
Diary Entry #1 Catch Up!
Couple of entries to catch up with before I complete a quick write up on todays visits to Draycote Water and Brandon Marsh.
Firstly a visit to RSPB Freiston Shore on January 2nd prior to returning home from our New Year break in Lincolnshire got the year list off to a good start. A nice selection of waders were recorded including: Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Knot, Redshank and Turnstone. A walk down to the shed which overlooks the shore held Sanderling, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Little Egret. Most of the usual winter wildfowl were also registered including Pintail, Shelduck and both Wigeon and Brent Geese were well represented! The highlight of the day was undoubtedly a Merlin which terrorised for a short while before heading off empty handed.
On Monday last my first visit to Brandon Marsh was quite successful, when for the first time in ages the Bittern was actually in the channel at East Marsh Hide, unfortunately disappearing into the reeds before the camera was out! Lots of reed twitching for the next hour or so in anticipation ended with no further sign. Not a bad visit with 43 species during my stay, including a Marsh Tit at the 'wind pump', which was calling and showing quite well.
Today I managed a whole day in the field, starting off at Draycote Water, where on route circa (50) Golden Plover flew over the A426 at Kites Hardwick, (9) more were seen in flight while at Draycote itself. I was hopeful I could nail the long stayers pretty quickly but ended up starting at Rainbow Corner and 'The Inlet'. As it turns out the wrong side of the site completely, but I did manage (15) Goosander, single Little Egret and one of the Great Northern Divers. Tracking back to Farborough Bank I finally connected with the ♀Scaup, which was fast asleep in among the Tufted Duck and catching up with @bobhazell at Farborough Spit I finally laid eyes on the drake Smew, which was way over towards Toft!
Brandon Marsh was completely flooded when I arrived around midday but I managed to wade, wellies nearly flooding over, to the East Marsh Hide, where I met up with Bob Lee. Bob had the Bittern early on but the best I could manage during my time was: Cetti's Warbler, ♀Goosander, (70+) Wigeon, pair of Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, (2) Snipe, (2) Pochard and Little Egret.
 |
| Turnstone RSPB Freiston Shore |
On Monday last my first visit to Brandon Marsh was quite successful, when for the first time in ages the Bittern was actually in the channel at East Marsh Hide, unfortunately disappearing into the reeds before the camera was out! Lots of reed twitching for the next hour or so in anticipation ended with no further sign. Not a bad visit with 43 species during my stay, including a Marsh Tit at the 'wind pump', which was calling and showing quite well.
 |
| Great Northern Diver - One of two seen at Draycote Water |
Brandon Marsh was completely flooded when I arrived around midday but I managed to wade, wellies nearly flooding over, to the East Marsh Hide, where I met up with Bob Lee. Bob had the Bittern early on but the best I could manage during my time was: Cetti's Warbler, ♀Goosander, (70+) Wigeon, pair of Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, (2) Snipe, (2) Pochard and Little Egret.
2015 Review
2015 has had many highlights with visits abroad to Spain, France and America. Several 'Away-Days' to various sites around the UK with the Brandon Marsh team were also possible, thanks to the use of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust's minibus and for this I'm grateful.
The first 'Away-Day' took place on February 9th with a visit to Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, stopping first at Burn Coppice, Deenethorpe for a Great Grey Shrike, then moving rapidly on for Short-eared Owls and Cranes at Eldernell. The rest of the day was spent around the North Norfolk coast and in particular RSPB Titchwell, a reserve I managed to visit a number of times throughout the year.
On March 23rd the second 'Away-Day' of the year saw the team visiting the Forest of Dean and here the highlights were the delightful Mandarin Ducks at Canop Ponds, Hawfinch at Park End and fabulous Goshawks at New Fancy Viewpoint. March also saw the amazing Spring Equinox Eclipse, where I spent the entire morning at Brandon Marsh photographing the once in a lifetime event. I also managed a rare for me 'twitch', when I stopped off in Birkenhead on route to Liverpool for a long staying Laughing Gull. Managing also to record Purple Sandpiper and Long-eared Owl, the latter at RSPB Burton Mere.
At the start of April Dee and I spent a week in Spain celebrating my birthday, staying with my lifetime buddy Dave in his stunning villa high up near Mijas overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We visited a number of sites during our stay which included Guadalhorce, an excellent reserve near Malaga Airport, Ronda and Fuente de Piedra. Too many highlights to choose from during our weeks stay which included Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures, Alpine Swifts and Red-billed Chough to name a few. Closer to home another 'Away-day' on the 20th, this time visiting Paxton Pits for Nightingale and Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve for Stone Curlew and singing Woodlark on a wonderful day out!
Nearly the whole of May was spent on the West coast of America. Here Dee and I flew into Seattle and then drove the amazing route 101 along the stunning Oregon coastline to the Californian border, stopping at Tilamook and Coos Bay. Our return journey to Seattle took us inland stopping at Upper Klamath Falls, Bend and Hood River covering an amazing 2000 miles.
Total Species Count 174 - With 25 New North American species including: Lewis Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Tufted Puffin, White-tailed Kite, Snowy Plover, Snowy Egret and Red-shouldered Hawk.
Only a single new mammal to add to our North American list, when Dee discovered a Porcupine roosting in a tree! Sadly very few Butterflies or Odanata due to the weather, so no additions there.
On June 2nd one of the major highlight of the year was a stunning summer plumage Grey Phalarope, which graced Brandon's East Marsh Pool for several hours, bringing birders from far and wide in a frenzy of activity. June's Brandon Marsh mid-summer 'Away-Day' took us to RSPB Blacktoft Sands in Yorkshires East Riding, where we managed to connect with a ♀Montague's Harrier, sadly no sign of the residing male, which managed to elude us.
July and August settled into the usual quandary, with most birds on their breeding grounds and little movement, but Dee and I had a few extra 'ticks' for the year when we spent a few days in Devon. Firstly we managed to catch up with a small group of Cirl Buntings at Teignmouth and a stunning summer plumage Slavonian Grebe at Cockwood Harbour.
September was a busy month with visits to Spain and France. Firstly a visit to Spain, where Dave and I drove down to Gibraltar and Tarifa to witness the amazing raptor migration. Apart from the shear numbers of birds crossing 'The Straits', including 1000s of Honey Buzzards, Booted Eagles and Griffon Vultures there was plenty more to rave about, including a superb Rüppell's Vulture. Later in the month a visit to Dee's parents in France gave us the opportunity to take in some of our favourite reserves including the La Brenne region and La Pinail, a great place to see Dartford Warbler, which duly obliged. We also discovered a few new reserves for us including station de lagunage near Rochfort and further around the coast Natural Reserve Moëze-Oléron. While in France we also managed some spectacular views of the Luna Eclipse and with little light pollution the blood red moon was simply stunning!
October and yet another Monday 'Away-Day' led us to Norfolk, managing excellent views of an Isabelline Shrike at Beeston Common. In fact on the Friday of that week I returned to Norfolk once more and bagged a second Isabelline Shrike at Holkham Pines, plus Short-eared Owl, Red-flanked Bluetail, Pallas's Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler on an unprecedented days birding.
The beginning of November saw Dee and I in Southern Ireland and after spending a few days sightseeing in Dublin we spent a wonderful week within the Dingle peninsula on the south-west coast. Stunning weather throughout our stay and highlights included Red-billed Chough, Spoonbill, Little Gull, Lesser Scaup, Glossy Ibis, Black Redstart and Gull-billed Tern! Our final 'Away-Day' of the year for the Brandon team took place on Monday 23rd and stops at Eldernell and RSPB Ouse Washes finished our travels. Water Pipit was one of the finds of the day but to finish with some superb views of a Short-eared Owl was a great end to the year.
December was a quiet month for me on my birding travels but with the nearby Draycote Water producing some nice finds, including Smew, Scaup and more than one Great Northern Diver, there was little need to travel. Having said that, currently staying in our rented cottage in Lincolnshire did offer us the opportunity to visit RSPB Frampton Marsh on Tuesday, our final destination of the year, managing to record Merlin, Peregrine, drake Scaup and Grey Phalarope, a brilliant end to a superb year! Here's to 2016
The first 'Away-Day' took place on February 9th with a visit to Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, stopping first at Burn Coppice, Deenethorpe for a Great Grey Shrike, then moving rapidly on for Short-eared Owls and Cranes at Eldernell. The rest of the day was spent around the North Norfolk coast and in particular RSPB Titchwell, a reserve I managed to visit a number of times throughout the year.
 |
| Laughing Gull at Birkenhead - A rare 'twitch' for me! |
 |
| Alpine Swift - Always a challenge to snap! |
 |
| Western Grebe - Klamath Falls |
 |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher - Oregon 2015 |
 |
| This summer plumage Grey Phalarope caused a major 'twitch' at Brandon Marsh in June! |
 |
| Cirl Bunting at Teignmouth Devon |
 |
| Griffon Vulture on migration! |
 |
| Isabelline Shrike at Beeston Common |
 |
| Red-billed Chough - Ireland |
 |
| Gorgeous Smew at Draycote Water |
RSPB Frampton Marsh
With Dee and I spending the rest of the year in our rented cottage in Lincolnshire its a perfect opportunity to spend a few days birding before our friends arrive for our New Year celebrations!
RSPB Frampton Marsh is one of our favourite reserves and today the weather was just perfect. Unlike my last visit, when the water levels were extremely low, today was completely the opposite and indeed the shear amount of birds across the reserve was astonishing. Brent Geese were well supported along with Pink-footed Geese and 1000s of Wigeon along with Teal and smaller counts of Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Shoveler & Shelduck. A first winter drake Scaup could easily be observed, mostly asleep, from the Reedbed Hide.
Waders were well represented too with a large number of Ruff, Lapwings in the 1000s and Dunlin, Curlew, (2) Spotted Redshank, Little Egret and Avocet also recorded. Strangely, not a single Golden Plover to be found! Our first attempt to locate a Grey Phalarope on the flood marsh proved fruitless but thankfully a drive down to the sea-wall before departing late afternoon was a success, thanks to a group of Yorkshire birders. Some distant views of a Peregrine enjoying it's prey and along the sea-bank both Marsh Harrier and 'Ringtail' Hen Harrier before more views of the Peregrine, this time in flight.
Other highlights included Corn Bunting along the Reedbed Trail and some stunning views of a Merlin hunting from the Visitor Centre, this while enjoying a well earned cuppa!
RSPB Frampton Marsh is one of our favourite reserves and today the weather was just perfect. Unlike my last visit, when the water levels were extremely low, today was completely the opposite and indeed the shear amount of birds across the reserve was astonishing. Brent Geese were well supported along with Pink-footed Geese and 1000s of Wigeon along with Teal and smaller counts of Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Shoveler & Shelduck. A first winter drake Scaup could easily be observed, mostly asleep, from the Reedbed Hide.
Other highlights included Corn Bunting along the Reedbed Trail and some stunning views of a Merlin hunting from the Visitor Centre, this while enjoying a well earned cuppa!
Diary Entry #7
Managed a walk around Napton Reservoir, which is actually bursting at the seams, in the early afternoon. A breezy visit but you cant complain when its a balmy 14C in December!
Thousands of Gulls once again with many also taking advantage of the sodden fields and a small selection of waterfowl along with the usual Coot-fest: (3) Wigeon, (3) Gadwall, (5) Pochard and 100+ Tufted Duck. A couple of Great Crested Grebes also present and a Water Rail was calling from the reedbed.
A couple of 'cronking' Ravens overhead and around the car parking area Fieldfare, Redwing and even a Bullfinch making light work of the remaining sloe berry.
Finally a walk through the kissing gates came up with a surprise in the 2nd field when I was sad to find that the land owner has completely stripped and flattened some superb habitat!
 |
| Pochard - One of five at Napton today! |
 |
| Fieldfare's - Always a job to get one on camera! |
 |
| Saddened to see that the land owner has stripped the field of some superb habitat! |
Diary Entry #6
Visiting friends in Devon this weekend gave me a short window of opportunity to visit RSPB Bowling Green Marsh. I managed a few hours Sunday morning in very gloomy but mild conditions.
As you would imagine one of the highlights was the 1000s of Black-tailed Godwits which frequent the site in autumn and winter. Brent Geese were also in good numbers with many feeding on the fields adjacent to the bird hide. Three Mistle Thrush entertained from the comfort of the hide, Little Egret and the usual wildfowl could be found, including several large flocks of Wigeon. On the Saturday an American Wigeon was reported in among the many Eurasian, but sadly the bird had gone AWOL during my visit.
Probably the bird of the day was a Spotted Redshank, which offered some good photo opportunities from the boardwalk which overlooks the Exe estuary, unfortunately not helped by the gloomy conditions. Other Waders included: Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Avocet and double figure Grey Plover.
** Thanks for emails regarding RBN: I've currently withdrawn the Rare Bird Alert Twitter feed from the sidebar due to the suspension of the service by the team. Hopefully they will return soon and if so I'll reinstate the feed.
 |
| One of a trio of Mistle Thrush which entertained while in the hide! |
 |
| Spotted Redshank from the boardwalk overlooking the top end of the Exe Estuary! |
** Thanks for emails regarding RBN: I've currently withdrawn the Rare Bird Alert Twitter feed from the sidebar due to the suspension of the service by the team. Hopefully they will return soon and if so I'll reinstate the feed.
Diary Entry #5
For some unknown reason I didn't wake this morning until shortly after 10.30am and while enjoying a wake up coffee at the computer noticed via Twitter that a drake Smew had arrived at Draycote Water.
On arrival a quick call to Richard Mays, who I noticed at Farnborough Spit had me walking clockwise passed the sailing club and along Hensborough Bank. This produced a couple of Dunlin, which flew past towards Rainbow Corner. I stopped for a catch up with Bob Hazell & Keith Foster who were heading back to the centre before moving on. A couple of Great Northern Divers were off Saddle Bank, including the poor bird which has a fish hook stuck in it!
Along Barn Bank I connected with at least a half dozen Goosander and a ♀Pintail was hanging around the Inlet. The star of the show of course had to be this mornings new arrival, a stunning drake Smew! I located him along Draycote Bank, thanks to Richard, Bob & Keith's information and patiently waited for him to come quite close, really inquisitive little birds I always feel. Sure enough he duly obliged and the canon SX50 went to work in the glorious sunshine.
Having filled my boots, so to speak, I headed back to the car park but not before spending a short time photographing a Little Egret at 'The Inlet'. As I passed back around Rainbow Corner a couple of Goldcrest were calling and as I searched for the calls a cracking Blackcap appeared along with several Long-tailed Tits.
An excellent couple of hours in glorious sunshine and a mention also for the equally as splendid Goldeneye's, they too looking rather gorgeous!!
 |
| Great Northern Diver off Saddle Bank |
 |
| Gorgeous Drake Smew close in off Draycote Bank |
 |
| Little Egret at 'The Inlet' |
 |
| Drake Smew - Definitely the bird of the day! |
Diary Entry #4
As I stood patiently overlooking Alban's Reedbed (formerly Newlands) at Brandon Marsh this morning I had a rush of déjà vu! In fact at one time I considered the notion of simply writing a carbon copy of last weeks Friday blog entry and save time! However, there was indeed a marked difference, no Starlings! Having witnessed an amazing departure just before dawn a week ago of some 4,000 birds, today there were none!! A mystery of nature it would seem.
There was some benefits to freezing me toes off with nothing to show and this was to be found high in the heavens. A gorgeous waning moon with Jupiter slightly above and Venus shimmering below. I even made an attempt at finding Comet Catalina but in vain.
Notables today around the pools were a single Little Egret, (27) Wigeon and a pair of Goldeneye, the male looking stunning in the bright morning sunshine, yes sunshine!! Lots of Kingfisher activity to please the photographers but I've had better visits.
Closer to home (3) Tree Sparrows on the feeders yesterday is a welcome return and the odd Yellowhammer around the doggie walking field, (32) Pied Wagtails in the roost yesterday evening.
 |
| Comet Catalina - Apparently viewable with binoculars |
 |
| Goldeneye - Showing well in front of East Marsh Hide |
 |
| Yellowhammer at the marina. |
Diary Entry #3
Any Gull fanatics would have been in their element this morning at Napton Reservoir with 100s to choice from. I did scan for a short while before my patience ran out and didn't manage to come up with anything unusual, at least I think I didn't, gulls are not my forte!
Plenty of Tufted Duck, along with a brace of drake Pochard, single ♀Goldeneye and a pair of Shoveler, these the only waterfowl of note, a single Snipe flew through the reedbed.
Brandon Marsh next and as I turned off Brandon Lane a couple of Raven passed over the top reedbed. I arrived into the Baldwin Hide just in time to see a drake Goosander depart. The chap next to me mentioned it had been around for the last hour. A dozen Wigeon, two drake Goldeneye and a single female were the only other waterfowl of note among the usual selection. A huge mixed flock of Siskin/Redpoll were feeding in the alder at the end of the River Pool path. Some stonking birds among them, although the above photo doesn't do them justice! While here a Willow Tit was calling and showing from time to time.
At East Marsh Hide a Water Rail made a dart across the open space in front and from my position a Peregrine was perched up in the owl box tree over on Alban's Reedbed (formerly Newlands). Naturally by the time I reached the Ted Jury Hide for a photo, the bird had moved on. Not far I suspect with several eruptions from East Marsh Pool during my stay! Little else of note, including at Carlton Hide and so I made my way around to Horsetail Glade, where I enjoyed playing hide and seek with a cheeky Jay. Got him in the end though! My love of Jay's probably goes back to my childhood, when I nursed an injured bird back to health over several weeks locked away in my bedroom, much to mums disgust. Both Nuthatch and Treecreeper in Horsetail before I moved on.
Finally a walk around the Farm Field and Top Reedbed and here many Fieldfare and Redwing. Mostly in the leaf litter, having almost depleted the berry stocks around the reserve.
 |
| Napton Reservoir - A haven for Gulls this morning. |
 |
| Lesser Redpoll - On among the flock of circa 50 |
 |
| Jay - Finally snapped him after some fun and games! |
 |
| Redwing - The last remaining berries! |
Draycote Water
I'd only intended to spend a quick hour at Draycote Water this morning but having first bumped into Bob Lee and Geoff Hood, followed later by Bob Hazell I didn't get away until shortly after 2pm. An initial walk to Farborough Spit yielded many Tufted Duck, Little and Great Crested Grebe, plus a count of (16) Wigeon. Along the bank (6) Meadow Pipit and small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare in the hawthorn below, these along with Skylark, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll over.
Having tracked back to the centre I decided to continue on-wards and from here the birding was excellent, with at least three Great Northern Divers (@bobhazell), although I only managed two personally. Both mine seen along Hensborough Bank and Rainbow Corner. There were around a dozen or so Goosander and (5) Pochard were among the many Tufted Duck huddled in at Rainbow.
The feeders had plenty of Tree Sparrows attending and in the field just to the rear, where the crop remains at least (30) Yellowhammers, along with Reed Bunting and Linnet. The Scaup was located pretty close in along Draycote Bank, where we met up with Bob Hazell.
An about turn and as we headed back to the car park more Goosander and a ♀Pintail was near the inlet. More views of Great Northern Diver ended a nice outing!
 |
| Great Norther Diver showing well along Hensborough Bank. |
 |
| Scaup having a major preen! |
 |
| Goosander - Plenty to be found today! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)