| Brambling - Christmas Eve 2010 |
We're making use of this cold weather to input past records into IPMR (the database system); so far Mike has got it over 76K and I still need to input some early records - now that I've resurrected my old notebooks.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sixty plus
No, not my age! The number of Brambling now coming to the seed in the orchard. That's a little too far away for me to photograph with my Fuji compact, so I put some seed down beside the path about 30 feet (10m) from the kitchen window. Here they are (well, some of them)
We're making use of this cold weather to input past records into IPMR (the database system); so far Mike has got it over 76K and I still need to input some early records - now that I've resurrected my old notebooks.
We're making use of this cold weather to input past records into IPMR (the database system); so far Mike has got it over 76K and I still need to input some early records - now that I've resurrected my old notebooks.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Trunk packed
The "busy" A39 Trunk road at 2pm on Monday, Williton.
It had stopped snowing for a while. In the early hours of daylight, it came down thick and fast. By late morning, we had had 16cm; the light showers during the afternoon added another 1cm. The traffic was extremely light, partly because the schools had closed for the Christmas recess.
The birds, mostly four species of finch (Chaffinch, Brambling Goldfinch & Greenfinch) kept taking to the apple trees; they were being spooked by something, but it certainly wasn't passing vehicles. The large Pyracantha next door was laden with berries yesterday; by this afternoon, 4 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing, with a little help from one or two Blackbirds, had stripped it bare! I topped up the SFH feeders twice today - perhaps I should ask the government for a bigger pension!
Won't be going anywhere fast in this weather; they predict we've got 2 more days before it gets any better, i.e. warmer. We are luckier here than many - back in Bedford, it's alot colder. He he!
So, for now, it's "A Merry Christmas" to all my readers.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Snoday the 17th
Over the last 3 days, I have refilled the feeders with or put out - 7kg SFH, 2kg wheat, 1kg small seed, 1kg peanuts, 1 kg soaked sultanas, 0.5 kg Nyger and 6 chopped-up, wholemeal crusts. There are two large fatball feeders as well.
There have been plenty of birds utilising all this grub; yesterday, I counted 50 Chaffinch at one point before they were spooked by a lorry turning into the industrial estate; there were more uncounted. At least 13 Brambling with 8 males at once, making me think that there could be more than that. 3 BH Gulls is the most in the 4 weeks we've been here. Goldfinch numbers have held up at a max count of 10 at any one time. Yesterday late on, 4 Rooks decided to come down and scare everything for a while. Best in some ways were the 3 Siskin at once, coming to the Nyger; I find these always take some time to locate feeders in gardens, especially away from any conifers (like us). A new addition this week was Song Thrush when 2 birds were driven in by the poor weather - and possibly the sight of some sultanas.
I reckon the birds are eating somewhere around 4kg of food per day, presented either in feeders or on the ground. I can see that I shall have to find a sponsor if this weather carries on much longer!
POSTSCRIPT: Overnight we had 5cm (2 ins) of snow - elsewhere in the county they had up to 20cm.
Got out early and cleared some snow in the orchard and put down fresh wheat and mixed seed for the expected breakfast rush. About an hour later, I did count 15-16 Bramblings feeding in amongst >50 Chaffinches.
Following pic taken 10 minutes after sunrise from the kitchen window.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A cold and frosty evening
Tonight was the first of the Carol Trains that run for three evenings. One comes up from Bishops Lydeard and the other from Minehead. They meet and exchange engines at Williton. The passengers alight together with their particular brass/silver band and sing carols, the up passengers in the car park and the down passengers on the platform.
We arrived shortly after 7pm, anticipating the first arrival at around 7:30. At first we were told that it would be 7:40 but the volunteer staff soon found out that it would be 8:40. So we sat in the warm 'Waiting Room' with a coal fire and a cup of coffee.
It turned out that the up train arrived before half-eight and before twenty minutes of carols were over, the Minehead train arrived, having been delayed by 10 minutes due to an incident. The engines then switched tracks, ready to pull a different set of carriages back to where they started. It was quite cold by now and we were beginning to feel and so we left for home. It was nearly 10 o'clock before the trains departed; I heard the down train puffing its way up the 1:99 incline to Stogumper from my bedroom as I typed this.
Today's garden birds featured a good number of Brambling again, 8 to be exact, together with 25+ Chaffinch, about 20 Greenfinch (although not all at once) and 8 King Harrys (Goldfinch to you), plus the usual Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Pied Wag, Jackdaws, Rooks, Wood Pigeons and Herring Gulls.
We arrived shortly after 7pm, anticipating the first arrival at around 7:30. At first we were told that it would be 7:40 but the volunteer staff soon found out that it would be 8:40. So we sat in the warm 'Waiting Room' with a coal fire and a cup of coffee.
It turned out that the up train arrived before half-eight and before twenty minutes of carols were over, the Minehead train arrived, having been delayed by 10 minutes due to an incident. The engines then switched tracks, ready to pull a different set of carriages back to where they started. It was quite cold by now and we were beginning to feel and so we left for home. It was nearly 10 o'clock before the trains departed; I heard the down train puffing its way up the 1:99 incline to Stogumper from my bedroom as I typed this.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Dovedale - End of an era
From the Ashbourne News Telegraph incorporating The Derbyshire Advertiser and Uttoxeter News dated October 6, 2010.
"Work to start on [Dovedale] foot bridge
"WORK is due to start next week to replace the footbridge [designed by the then young highway engineer, Errol Newman, and made from English Elm] next to the car park at DOVEDALE.
"The existng timber bridge dates back to 1966 and is starting to rot, say county councillors.
"A new bridge has been made to the same design as the old one. [Do my drawings still exist?]
"Work starts on Monday and will take around a week."
Pictures taken in spring 2009 by the original design engineer [me/EN]
The original construction consisted of two sections of Elm beams 42' long and 17" deep. All the boards and rails were cut from the same two trees. The ironwork was all forged locally. The timber cost £800 felled and sawn and the total cost was c.£1200 (pre-VAT). Hundreds of thousands of people have crossed this bridge during its life and the treads have been replaced many times. It replaced a bridge made from two Douglas Fir poles that was rotten in mid-stream.
"Work to start on [Dovedale] foot bridge
"WORK is due to start next week to replace the footbridge [designed by the then young highway engineer, Errol Newman, and made from English Elm] next to the car park at DOVEDALE.
"The existng timber bridge dates back to 1966 and is starting to rot, say county councillors.
"A new bridge has been made to the same design as the old one. [Do my drawings still exist?]
"Work starts on Monday and will take around a week."
Pictures taken in spring 2009 by the original design engineer [me/EN]
The original construction consisted of two sections of Elm beams 42' long and 17" deep. All the boards and rails were cut from the same two trees. The ironwork was all forged locally. The timber cost £800 felled and sawn and the total cost was c.£1200 (pre-VAT). Hundreds of thousands of people have crossed this bridge during its life and the treads have been replaced many times. It replaced a bridge made from two Douglas Fir poles that was rotten in mid-stream.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Mini walks started
I say that loosely; the dogs need exercise other than careering round the garden. Mostly it's to the shops via the rec. and beside the "river" Willit. Yesterday we ventured a little further, this time out in to the countryside.
We took a path that sort of follows the Willit downstream to Donniford. After crossing the railway, you come to a nursery beside the "river". A good place to look out for birds and always turns up Song Thrush [why don't they come into the garden - it's only 300m.] Turning up "the drive", there are a number of decent Alders and usually some Siskins. Much of the land is permanent pasture with horses nearest the water.
As the drive widens out nearer the farm and barn conversions, there are more bushes. There always seems to be a number of Blackbirds here; I wonder if they're locals or incomers?
The path passes through the old farmyard and rises up a little, with sheep pasture on the steep hill to the east. There was Fieldfare in a veteran tree that looked possibly good for Little Owl. The dogs have to navigate the stiles using various devices of opening and closing a small hole at ground level.
Further on it looked like turnips but was probably beet. The hedges here are old and thick and have already been sliced off. Devoid of anything other than a Dunnock.
Eventually we came to a small converted farmhouse and an unmade road called 'Watery Lane' ['cos it's beside the "river"]. Although the area turns into a couple of dozen old holiday bungalows, we suspect the gardens are someone's pride and joy in summer.
There was a remnant orchard near the "main road" with loads of fallen apples. On the deck enjoying them were a couple of Blackbirds, some Chaffinch, a Woodpigeon and a female Pheasant. I expect she had ventured out from the small plantation on the overlooking hill; it looked much like a shooter's lay-out. We returned back the way we came without event.
We connected withthe Santa Special at the station. Lots of smoke, steam and whistles, with a bit of flag waving and baton changing.
Extra species that have arrived in the garden since my last posting are:
Blackcap 1, Greenfinch up to 11, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail & Treecreeper. Chaffinch are now up to a dozen or more at a time.
Garden feeders - just before the post dawn rush!
A local birder called Frank reckons he saw a Lesser 'pecker a couple of weeks ago, just along where we had walked, his first for 10 years or so.
Getting the cat "sorted" on Tuesday.
POSTSCRIPT: On the way back through the station platform I had a chat with the "Stationmaster". When the line was British Rail, he had worked there for 27 years until closure of the line following Beeching. He was dressed in his uniform with silver braid on his cap. Jenny went to the Parish Council meeting tonight, Monday [the day after] and learnt that he had died that same evening, less than six hours after I last spoke to him. He was well liked in the village and a bit of a character.
We took a path that sort of follows the Willit downstream to Donniford. After crossing the railway, you come to a nursery beside the "river". A good place to look out for birds and always turns up Song Thrush [why don't they come into the garden - it's only 300m.] Turning up "the drive", there are a number of decent Alders and usually some Siskins. Much of the land is permanent pasture with horses nearest the water.
As the drive widens out nearer the farm and barn conversions, there are more bushes. There always seems to be a number of Blackbirds here; I wonder if they're locals or incomers?
The path passes through the old farmyard and rises up a little, with sheep pasture on the steep hill to the east. There was Fieldfare in a veteran tree that looked possibly good for Little Owl. The dogs have to navigate the stiles using various devices of opening and closing a small hole at ground level.
Further on it looked like turnips but was probably beet. The hedges here are old and thick and have already been sliced off. Devoid of anything other than a Dunnock.
Eventually we came to a small converted farmhouse and an unmade road called 'Watery Lane' ['cos it's beside the "river"]. Although the area turns into a couple of dozen old holiday bungalows, we suspect the gardens are someone's pride and joy in summer.
There was a remnant orchard near the "main road" with loads of fallen apples. On the deck enjoying them were a couple of Blackbirds, some Chaffinch, a Woodpigeon and a female Pheasant. I expect she had ventured out from the small plantation on the overlooking hill; it looked much like a shooter's lay-out. We returned back the way we came without event.
We connected withthe Santa Special at the station. Lots of smoke, steam and whistles, with a bit of flag waving and baton changing.
Extra species that have arrived in the garden since my last posting are:
Blackcap 1, Greenfinch up to 11, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail & Treecreeper. Chaffinch are now up to a dozen or more at a time.
A local birder called Frank reckons he saw a Lesser 'pecker a couple of weeks ago, just along where we had walked, his first for 10 years or so.
Getting the cat "sorted" on Tuesday.
POSTSCRIPT: On the way back through the station platform I had a chat with the "Stationmaster". When the line was British Rail, he had worked there for 27 years until closure of the line following Beeching. He was dressed in his uniform with silver braid on his cap. Jenny went to the Parish Council meeting tonight, Monday [the day after] and learnt that he had died that same evening, less than six hours after I last spoke to him. He was well liked in the village and a bit of a character.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Walks temporarily abandoned
This blog is now coming to you from sunny (or snowy) Somerzet!
The West Somerset Railway is just down the road.
The two (2!) removal men worked hard and unloaded two (2!) lorries in one (1!) day; we now have a house full of boxes! Jen is working hard to clear them and a couple of rooms do look habitable - just. My study is still piled high just waiting for Jen to finish her bit so that I can move some of the stuff out and assemble my large desk and filing cabinets. With the computer set up properly and the paperwork filed away, I should be able to fill the bookshelves from the remaining thirty (yes, 30!) archive boxes of mainly bird books.
The village is a marvellous place with all manner of shops, including an old fashioned hardware shop, chainsaw and clothing stores attached! Ah, the smell of chain oil! They do ride on mowers, as well; we'll be needing one of them come the spring.
View from our kitchen window (L-R); ringing hut almost obscured by Camelia.
Put some feeders out and ordered 45kg of SFH off eBay which came today; turns out it was 28 bags of 1.75kg each! Even with carriage charges, it was still cheaper than from the pet store round the corner. In two days we have had 22 species of bird in the garden that we know of.
[Blackbird 1+, Black-headed Gull 2, Blue Tit 5+, Chaffinch 2, Coal Tit 2, Collared Dove 2, Dunnock 2, Goldcrest 1, Goldfinch 5, Great Spot 1, Great Tit 2+, Herring Gull 2, House Sparrow 5(+), Jackdaw 2, Long-tailed Tit 3+, Pied Wagtail 1, Robin 2, Rook 2, Siskin 1+, Starling 1, Wood Pigeon 5, Wren 1]
We haven't had time to explore the local walks yet; the dogs have had theirs running round the garden or up to the village via the rec. (they call it the Memorial Ground)! We live on the edge of the village and it's a good half mile to the centre. Although the trunk A road passes our door, we are set back quite a way with a thick hedge in between. Occasionally we hear a lorry rumble pass, but that's either during the morning "rush hour" or in the quiet of the evening.
Got to go into Bridgwater to get my car fixed (20 miles +), 'cos the EMS light came on as we drove through Bridgwater on Monday evening. More expense we could do without right now. Still - needs must!.
The two (2!) removal men worked hard and unloaded two (2!) lorries in one (1!) day; we now have a house full of boxes! Jen is working hard to clear them and a couple of rooms do look habitable - just. My study is still piled high just waiting for Jen to finish her bit so that I can move some of the stuff out and assemble my large desk and filing cabinets. With the computer set up properly and the paperwork filed away, I should be able to fill the bookshelves from the remaining thirty (yes, 30!) archive boxes of mainly bird books.
The village is a marvellous place with all manner of shops, including an old fashioned hardware shop, chainsaw and clothing stores attached! Ah, the smell of chain oil! They do ride on mowers, as well; we'll be needing one of them come the spring.
Put some feeders out and ordered 45kg of SFH off eBay which came today; turns out it was 28 bags of 1.75kg each! Even with carriage charges, it was still cheaper than from the pet store round the corner. In two days we have had 22 species of bird in the garden that we know of.
[Blackbird 1+, Black-headed Gull 2, Blue Tit 5+, Chaffinch 2, Coal Tit 2, Collared Dove 2, Dunnock 2, Goldcrest 1, Goldfinch 5, Great Spot 1, Great Tit 2+, Herring Gull 2, House Sparrow 5(+), Jackdaw 2, Long-tailed Tit 3+, Pied Wagtail 1, Robin 2, Rook 2, Siskin 1+, Starling 1, Wood Pigeon 5, Wren 1]
We haven't had time to explore the local walks yet; the dogs have had theirs running round the garden or up to the village via the rec. (they call it the Memorial Ground)! We live on the edge of the village and it's a good half mile to the centre. Although the trunk A road passes our door, we are set back quite a way with a thick hedge in between. Occasionally we hear a lorry rumble pass, but that's either during the morning "rush hour" or in the quiet of the evening.
Got to go into Bridgwater to get my car fixed (20 miles +), 'cos the EMS light came on as we drove through Bridgwater on Monday evening. More expense we could do without right now. Still - needs must!.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Walking my last
Sunday: My last guided walk for the public at Priory CP today.
Plenty of interest on the main lake early on, in strong contrast to late morning when four double kayaks paddled through the winter wildfowl exclusion zone (almost every thing left!! including the gulls!!). 30 Cormorants, 14 Wigeon, a female R-C Pochard, ~30 Gadwall, ~100 Coot, 8 Tufted, an increasing number of 'straight' Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-back, Herring, Common & Black-headed Gulls. In contrast, there was little on Fingers apart from 2 Cormorant, 7 Shoveler and 3 Little Grebe. We only noticed about 4 different Grey Herons all morning.
Wattle & daub shelter under construction.
Eventually, we made it to the 'rough'. The female rangers are in the process of constructing a wattle and daub shelter for the school kiddies, with a reed thatched roof. It's to provide shelter from the sun or rain (H&S ?), but more likely to be used for nefarious purposes until some bright "spark" comes along! I hope the "long hedge" survives; it's our best leading line for migrants into the main ringing area.
Adult female Gt. Spotted Woodpecker - a retrap.
Ed was ringing this morning and by the time we rolled up he had caught 20 birds in his 3 nets. He was able to show us a Great Spot, a 1CY SongThrush (possibly an immigrant) and a "this year's" female Great Tit, explaining how he had aged and sexed the birds.
The rest of the walk was rather uneventful; no Siskin flock found, 3 more juvenile Cormorants, a fly-by Kingfisher, a couple of skulking Teal ... and those blessed canoeists!
Now I'm off to pack the garden furniture, empty my desk and disconnect the computer and all the secondary bits and pieces. Back on line next Thursday - if BT keeps its promise. Swapping town for country, Mbps will crash, especially during peak periods, something I don't suffer on cable!
Plenty of interest on the main lake early on, in strong contrast to late morning when four double kayaks paddled through the winter wildfowl exclusion zone (almost every thing left!! including the gulls!!). 30 Cormorants, 14 Wigeon, a female R-C Pochard, ~30 Gadwall, ~100 Coot, 8 Tufted, an increasing number of 'straight' Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-back, Herring, Common & Black-headed Gulls. In contrast, there was little on Fingers apart from 2 Cormorant, 7 Shoveler and 3 Little Grebe. We only noticed about 4 different Grey Herons all morning.
Wattle & daub shelter under construction.
Eventually, we made it to the 'rough'. The female rangers are in the process of constructing a wattle and daub shelter for the school kiddies, with a reed thatched roof. It's to provide shelter from the sun or rain (H&S ?), but more likely to be used for nefarious purposes until some bright "spark" comes along! I hope the "long hedge" survives; it's our best leading line for migrants into the main ringing area.
Ed was ringing this morning and by the time we rolled up he had caught 20 birds in his 3 nets. He was able to show us a Great Spot, a 1CY SongThrush (possibly an immigrant) and a "this year's" female Great Tit, explaining how he had aged and sexed the birds.
The rest of the walk was rather uneventful; no Siskin flock found, 3 more juvenile Cormorants, a fly-by Kingfisher, a couple of skulking Teal ... and those blessed canoeists!
Now I'm off to pack the garden furniture, empty my desk and disconnect the computer and all the secondary bits and pieces. Back on line next Thursday - if BT keeps its promise. Swapping town for country, Mbps will crash, especially during peak periods, something I don't suffer on cable!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Walking the dog
In a week's time, I will be leading my last guided walk for the Borough at the Country Park. Today, I took a shuffle round with the dog, to see what's changed of late.
'Cerise'
It was a 'grey day', somewhat overcast, but at least the gales had died down and it was not cold at 8C. The usual flotilla of Mallard had congregated along the path up to the Beefeater with a few Coot hangers-on. A plaintive Robin sang at the Sailing Club corner and a couple of skittish Blackbirds shot from one side of the path to the other, doubtless after Yew berries. No Greenfinch today; strange?
Further along at the SW corner, a flock of 16 Goldfinch emerged from the lakeside bushes and flew towards the river. Offshore, I spied 3 male Pochard heading towards the island. Pairs of Gadwall swam idly along, hither and thither. With the middle section closed to provide a winter wildfowl 'safe zone', the next stop was the hide. Pressmead produced nothing on the way there, not even a Chaffinch! A scruffy Tufted was hiding in the corner, more Mallard squawked their way out from the neighbouring reeds, more Gadwall idled 'offshore', a singleton male Pochard (not one of the three) hove into view and the masses of Coot "did Coot".
'Mallard', resting.
Walking on, I noticed the recent winds had brought a willow down across one of the swims. Approaching the 'beach', we encountered our first dog walkers. Glancing aside, I picked up a Little Grebe plunging into >10 feet of water as it spotted me. Crossing the cycle track to the lock, I checked out Fingers; not a lot - just two Cormorant fishing. Says it all - no wonder the anglers complain for ever and a day. Kramer hide - nil; well, one Heron.
Bumped into the lads, DK, Dave and John A, looking at a Magpie hanging (dead) in a tree on Kingsmead. On the intervening meadow there were 77 Wood Pigeons and a Jackdaw. Walking back to the 'rough', it was pretty dismal - the only consolation was one (or more) Siskin calling overhead. Flighty Shoveler on the Fingers (lilypads side), a desperate Cormorant, half a dozen Redwing and ... that's your lot.
I did get to hear a calling Chiff in the shelter belt that stretched from the 'rough' to the visitor centre, probably the best bird of the day.
'Cerise'
It was a 'grey day', somewhat overcast, but at least the gales had died down and it was not cold at 8C. The usual flotilla of Mallard had congregated along the path up to the Beefeater with a few Coot hangers-on. A plaintive Robin sang at the Sailing Club corner and a couple of skittish Blackbirds shot from one side of the path to the other, doubtless after Yew berries. No Greenfinch today; strange?
Further along at the SW corner, a flock of 16 Goldfinch emerged from the lakeside bushes and flew towards the river. Offshore, I spied 3 male Pochard heading towards the island. Pairs of Gadwall swam idly along, hither and thither. With the middle section closed to provide a winter wildfowl 'safe zone', the next stop was the hide. Pressmead produced nothing on the way there, not even a Chaffinch! A scruffy Tufted was hiding in the corner, more Mallard squawked their way out from the neighbouring reeds, more Gadwall idled 'offshore', a singleton male Pochard (not one of the three) hove into view and the masses of Coot "did Coot".
Walking on, I noticed the recent winds had brought a willow down across one of the swims. Approaching the 'beach', we encountered our first dog walkers. Glancing aside, I picked up a Little Grebe plunging into >10 feet of water as it spotted me. Crossing the cycle track to the lock, I checked out Fingers; not a lot - just two Cormorant fishing. Says it all - no wonder the anglers complain for ever and a day. Kramer hide - nil; well, one Heron.
Bumped into the lads, DK, Dave and John A, looking at a Magpie hanging (dead) in a tree on Kingsmead. On the intervening meadow there were 77 Wood Pigeons and a Jackdaw. Walking back to the 'rough', it was pretty dismal - the only consolation was one (or more) Siskin calling overhead. Flighty Shoveler on the Fingers (lilypads side), a desperate Cormorant, half a dozen Redwing and ... that's your lot.
I did get to hear a calling Chiff in the shelter belt that stretched from the 'rough' to the visitor centre, probably the best bird of the day.
Friday, November 12, 2010
A bit of a rest.
What with all the packing, telling everybody we are about to move and juggling the finances, it was pleasant to take the dog for a walk down to the country park. I had to drop off some keys at the rangers' office and was greeted with those dreaded words "two Black Swans on the main lake"! Doh!
Well, I did see them at a distance; no need to get close as they were the only big, black and long-necked things on the water. I remember my first encounter with the species, way back in the early 'seventies. I was doing a wildlife management plan for the quarry owners at what is now Thorpe Park water ski lake, part of the theme park near Chertsey (Surrey). In those days the company was 'Redland' but now they are known as 'Cemex'.
The wind had abated and the sun had come out, too. The lake was festooned with the, by now, omnipresent Coot but fewer Mute Swans than earlier this autumn. A trot round to the Fingers yielded a tight bunch of 20 Gadwall, 5 pairs of Shoveler keeping their distance from each other, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Herons and little in the way of Mallard. The trees and bushes were alive with the recent intruders, the continental Blackbirds; some Redwing were also present, but they have been around for a couple of weeks now. What I did notice was a couple of "high flying" Song Thrushes, with their distinctive "armpits".
An amble round to the ringing site proved worthwhile. BTCV volunteers have been in and reduced or pushed back some of the taller vegetation, but more needs to be done to keep the site "up to standard" before the next breeding season. Also, the rudimentary beginnings of a wicker shelter have appeared; when this has been finished with thatch from the 'crescent' reedbed, it will give some shelter from the sun and rain for the young schoolchildren on their "field days". [That was what they were called in my day].
Then it was back home - to argue the toss about insurance (bloody rip-off)
Well, I did see them at a distance; no need to get close as they were the only big, black and long-necked things on the water. I remember my first encounter with the species, way back in the early 'seventies. I was doing a wildlife management plan for the quarry owners at what is now Thorpe Park water ski lake, part of the theme park near Chertsey (Surrey). In those days the company was 'Redland' but now they are known as 'Cemex'.
The wind had abated and the sun had come out, too. The lake was festooned with the, by now, omnipresent Coot but fewer Mute Swans than earlier this autumn. A trot round to the Fingers yielded a tight bunch of 20 Gadwall, 5 pairs of Shoveler keeping their distance from each other, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Herons and little in the way of Mallard. The trees and bushes were alive with the recent intruders, the continental Blackbirds; some Redwing were also present, but they have been around for a couple of weeks now. What I did notice was a couple of "high flying" Song Thrushes, with their distinctive "armpits".
An amble round to the ringing site proved worthwhile. BTCV volunteers have been in and reduced or pushed back some of the taller vegetation, but more needs to be done to keep the site "up to standard" before the next breeding season. Also, the rudimentary beginnings of a wicker shelter have appeared; when this has been finished with thatch from the 'crescent' reedbed, it will give some shelter from the sun and rain for the young schoolchildren on their "field days". [That was what they were called in my day].
Then it was back home - to argue the toss about insurance (bloody rip-off)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
While the cat's away ...
While I was driving down to Somerset, two of my 'C' ringers went off to my DEFRA site in Bucks. This is an ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) at the headwaters of the River Ray.
We have been charged with providing a written report of the birdlife of this 30 acre new wet woodland - it's 15 years old - and ringing helps us seek out some of the birds and tells us a bit about their lifestyle.
One useful bit of info. that they found out was a roost of Bullfinch; they caught 10 new and 2 r/t at dusk. Behind there, there was also a roost of thrushes. One 'bogey' bird was caught at long last - a Great Spot. So far, they have taken to avoiding (or clinging on to) the nets.
I have added Ed's view of the weekend ....
One and a half days ringing and 88 birds of 19 species were ringed at Edgcott, near Aylesbury. The site is a 15 year old woodland plantation crisscrossed with rides where nets can easily be erected.
Blackbird 10
Blue Tit 5 (4)
Bullfinch 11 (3)
Chaffinch 2
Dunnock 2 (1)
Goldcrest 1 (4)
Goldfinch 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 [first for site]
Great Tit 2
Greenfinch 1
Jay 1
Long-tailed Tit 6 (13)
Marsh Tit (1)
Redpoll 3 [new for site]
Redwing 9 [new for site]
Robin 1
Song Thrush 1 [first for site]
Treecreeper 1
Wren 4
My favourites were Redpoll (unexpected) and Jay but I was also pleased with a Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
We also picked up a Goldcrest and Blue Tit that had been ringed elsewhere & not by us - I'd be very interested to find out where in Britain they have come from.
Above: One of three Redpoll.
Above: A Jay - for some reason Blogger has rotated this photo and I can't get it to change. Humph! I'll try again another time.
Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker.
We have been charged with providing a written report of the birdlife of this 30 acre new wet woodland - it's 15 years old - and ringing helps us seek out some of the birds and tells us a bit about their lifestyle.
One useful bit of info. that they found out was a roost of Bullfinch; they caught 10 new and 2 r/t at dusk. Behind there, there was also a roost of thrushes. One 'bogey' bird was caught at long last - a Great Spot. So far, they have taken to avoiding (or clinging on to) the nets.
I have added Ed's view of the weekend ....
Monday, 8 November 2010
A weekend near Aylesbury
Blackbird 10
Blue Tit 5 (4)
Bullfinch 11 (3)
Chaffinch 2
Dunnock 2 (1)
Goldcrest 1 (4)
Goldfinch 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 [first for site]
Great Tit 2
Greenfinch 1
Jay 1
Long-tailed Tit 6 (13)
Marsh Tit (1)
Redpoll 3 [new for site]
Redwing 9 [new for site]
Robin 1
Song Thrush 1 [first for site]
Treecreeper 1
Wren 4
My favourites were Redpoll (unexpected) and Jay but I was also pleased with a Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
We also picked up a Goldcrest and Blue Tit that had been ringed elsewhere & not by us - I'd be very interested to find out where in Britain they have come from.
Above: One of three Redpoll.
Above: A Jay - for some reason Blogger has rotated this photo and I can't get it to change. Humph! I'll try again another time.
Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker.
We go!
The date has been fixed!
We go on the 22nd. That means the removal men will load and travel. We will pack, panic, double-check and travel.
We are - 2 adults, 2 dogs & 1 cat, and will all be sleeping on the floor together overnight.
Lew's stuff arrives early on 23rd, Jen's stuff arrives early on 24th, BT arrive somewhen on 24th, broad-band will be up and runing on 25th. Can I survive without it for 3 days?
Last week-end we travelled down to meet the current owner's son & daughter. Everything went smoothly, we had a long chat, they showed us everything we needed to see. They agreed what we could do to the place while we wait the sale of Lew's house.
I for one will be glad when it's all over and the hassle has stopped.
We go on the 22nd. That means the removal men will load and travel. We will pack, panic, double-check and travel.
We are - 2 adults, 2 dogs & 1 cat, and will all be sleeping on the floor together overnight.
Lew's stuff arrives early on 23rd, Jen's stuff arrives early on 24th, BT arrive somewhen on 24th, broad-band will be up and runing on 25th. Can I survive without it for 3 days?
Last week-end we travelled down to meet the current owner's son & daughter. Everything went smoothly, we had a long chat, they showed us everything we needed to see. They agreed what we could do to the place while we wait the sale of Lew's house.
I for one will be glad when it's all over and the hassle has stopped.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The lady's not for turning
Well. The deed is done. We have agreed to buy the house in Somerset. We just have to sell this one. Jen is adamant!
Because we are some £25K short of the agreed price at the moment, we have agreed to rent the place for up to 6 months. To remove the property from the open market we have to pay 1% of the selling price up front.
Our carpet man will do upstairs the day after we move out, and our agent reckons he will find a buyer for us shortly thereafter, as the place will be newly decorated and vacant for early possesion.
This does mean that we will not be able to get on with the necessary upgrading of the property, but we will be able to suss out the local tradesmen and get specs and quotes sorted. Hopefully, by the spring, we will be "in business".
I shall be wanting to thicken up a hedge and add some new stock to the orchard; this will become my new ringing site. At present I have no idea were else I will be able to ring but I shall be speaking to my contacts soonest. From 2009 county ringing data, it seems that Somerset is similar in many ways to Bedfordshire, with new species such as Pied Fly and Siskin more abundant, more waders and gulls but fewer wildfowl.
I hope there'll be plenty of these "nettle peggies" about.
We have set a date for moving - but we're keeping 'shtoom' about it for a bit. It'll be sudden!
Never fear, we will be back!!
Because we are some £25K short of the agreed price at the moment, we have agreed to rent the place for up to 6 months. To remove the property from the open market we have to pay 1% of the selling price up front.
Our carpet man will do upstairs the day after we move out, and our agent reckons he will find a buyer for us shortly thereafter, as the place will be newly decorated and vacant for early possesion.
This does mean that we will not be able to get on with the necessary upgrading of the property, but we will be able to suss out the local tradesmen and get specs and quotes sorted. Hopefully, by the spring, we will be "in business".
I shall be wanting to thicken up a hedge and add some new stock to the orchard; this will become my new ringing site. At present I have no idea were else I will be able to ring but I shall be speaking to my contacts soonest. From 2009 county ringing data, it seems that Somerset is similar in many ways to Bedfordshire, with new species such as Pied Fly and Siskin more abundant, more waders and gulls but fewer wildfowl.
I hope there'll be plenty of these "nettle peggies" about.
We have set a date for moving - but we're keeping 'shtoom' about it for a bit. It'll be sudden!
Never fear, we will be back!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Some Movement
Had to remove my computer set-up to the downstairs (proper) study; it all went back together OK, except for my Finepix camera - it won't call up the download menu page! A bit cramped as this desk is quite a bit smaller than mine.
As you can see, I've downloaded the missing .exe file and we're back in business!
The painter will be in tomorrow, hopefully for the last time. He's due to "magnolia" my old study in the smallest bedroom (but nice and long which used to accomodate my big desk & filing cabinets). The estate agent is calling round, too, so I hope he's going to get his finger out and get us 'sold' very soon. Still have to renew some of the carpets - that will mean more movement, this time of all of the furniture that didn't disappear into store in St. Neots. [Queer that; Jen's stuff is in Kettering]
Other things on the move just lately, south this time, were - Sky Larks in small flocks of up to 7, Meadow Pipits in ones and twos, odd Siskin, singleton Brambling, a trickle of Robins & Chaffinches, and some Song Thrushes. The winter trek of gulls, mainly LBBG from the Grafham roost to the Brogborough tip, is evident most mornings and evenings; some of them drop into Priory for a 'wash & brush-up'.
Walking round the perimeter of the new estate opposite (it is surrounded by large plots of wildflower meadow), turns up a few birds. There is always a Robin singing in the same dog rose-cum-hawthorn bush, a Song Thrush by the stream, a Blackbird and a pair of Bullfinch in the eastern hedge and a couple of Mipits rising up from the new, now devoid of topsoil, development on the otherside of the hedge. Further round, where it borders farmland, there is often a score of Rooks and some Wood Pigeons or a Chaffinch or two. Still further round to the west there is an 'unofficial path' that runs along a newly planted, mixed hedge and rabbit fence. In the field beyond, there are always a couple of Sky Larks and half a dozen Mipits. Today (Monday), there were at least 14 Mipits, a pair of Reed Buntings,
one or more Yellowhammers, a Pied Wagtail and a Chaffinch, all making use of the fence wire or posts to warm themselves in the early sunshine after a cold night (at least minus 1C). Turning back for home along the brook, another Blackbird, a couple of Blue Tits, a Dunnock, a cat and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits.
Walking round the perimeter of the new estate opposite (it is surrounded by large plots of wildflower meadow), turns up a few birds. There is always a Robin singing in the same dog rose-cum-hawthorn bush, a Song Thrush by the stream, a Blackbird and a pair of Bullfinch in the eastern hedge and a couple of Mipits rising up from the new, now devoid of topsoil, development on the otherside of the hedge. Further round, where it borders farmland, there is often a score of Rooks and some Wood Pigeons or a Chaffinch or two. Still further round to the west there is an 'unofficial path' that runs along a newly planted, mixed hedge and rabbit fence. In the field beyond, there are always a couple of Sky Larks and half a dozen Mipits. Today (Monday), there were at least 14 Mipits, a pair of Reed Buntings,
Made a pitch for a detached house between Taunton and Minehead over the weekend- young estate agent has not come back with anything yet ... no news is good news???
My next big job is to clear and /or pack the contents of the garage. As I have managed to 'fix' the up-and-over door, we can have a skip on the drive and a massive purge of all those knackered or superfluous items that I have accumulated over my 14 years in Bedford and the 24 years in Gamlingay before that. Tally Ho!
Monday, October 18, 2010
A moving weekend
We have just spent a warm and sunny weekend in North Devon and West Somerset. The object of our travels was to look at houses. Above is Jenny looking at a neighbouring house; it's the booking hall at the local station on the West Somerset line. LINK.
We spent two nights at The Crown in Lynton, where the meals are humungus. It was Lynton & Lynmouth's 'comedy weekend', so we weren't short of company, especially young folk. The landlord took a shine to my dog, Cerise. LINK.
We were lucky to be able to view three houses, including a brand new one, and look at some others from outside.
Jenny took a fancy to one in particular (it happens to be the one I've been keeping an eye on via the Internet) and seems to be deciding how she would like it changing already.
Any road up, I took Jen on a good tour of the local area; Porlock Hill, Countisbury, Lorna Doone, Coombe Martin, Ilfracombe, Woolacoombe, Braunton Burrows and Bideford, where we visited the brand new, unfinished Morrison's, her favourite store, and filled up with diesel.
I have instructed a surveyor to come and look at 'Fairmead' (as it's called) before deciding on what we will finally offer for the place. It has been on the market since the spring and the family of the owner (from Cambridge) haven't cleared the house and still come down now and then.We know it will need a bit of work doing to it, but we have allowed for this in our budget.
The M5 motorway is 20 miles away and, for Jen, the sea-side is a mere 3 miles off; there is also a working steam railway, for me, just a couple of hundred yards away (see top pic. and link).
It sits in half an acre just off the main road, with a large, fruit, veg. and flower plot for Jen and an orchard for me and my nets. There's parking for the caravan, as well! Just need to kick the painter out and find a buyer for mine, now.Fingers crossed - and toes, too!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
"Acorn Woodland" (visit 4)
I used to have a company called that, but this refers to the young wood in Bucks that we are surveying from time to time. The acorns on the 15 year old oaks are coming along nicely and are tempting a few birds. When we set off we had no idea of the catch we would get today.
"Who are you staring at?"
We put up the first net (1) at the end of the Hawthorn/Blackthorn hedge where it meets the laid hedge. This is on the northernmost east-west ride. It was one of our most sucessful Chiffchaff catching points. It intercepts the birds as they cross over into some Willows. The next net (2) we put up half way up this ride, where a central ride starts; the young oaks here nearly touch across the open space. We managed to put a further four nets up before starting extraction; two (3&4) at the end of the above cross-ride and two (5&6) on the eastern end of the main ride.
On our way back, net 3 was "dripping" with a family party of 16 Long-tailed Bushtits and a other birds. The 'Lotti's' were all re-traps (already ringed by us on a previous visit). Net 2 produced 3 Jays; they were unringed and turned out to be all adult. We assumed (at the time) that they were the local birds.
The first of the adult Jays (wing 188, wt. 172g)
A tape lure was left running at net 2 while we processed this first lot of birds.On our return, there was another Jay in the net (2) and four Goldcrests, lured in as it was their song coming from the speaker. We also extracted Robins, a Wren, a couple of Blackbirds, a group of Bullfinches and assorted tits from the other nets and then two more Goldcrests from net 2 on our way back.
Male Goldcrest - except for extreme tail shapes, we age all birds as "2's"
We then went out once more and this time we caught a very mixed bag. By now it was natural to see a couple of Jays dangling in the nets. We also picked up our second Marsh Tit of the day, but this one already had a ring on it. It eventually came time to call it a day. Time was pressing on and there were appointments to keep. On out take down round, the main interest was another family party of Bushtits, this one consisting of eight new birds.
This was our biggest catch so far at this site; 12 species, 77 birds of which 21 were ringed on previous visits.
Jay - 9
Goldcrest - 9
Long-tailed Bushtit - 9 (16)
Blue Tit - 10 (2)
Great Tit - 4 (1)
Marsh Tit - 1 (1)
Wren - 1 (1)
Blackbird - 3
Robin - 3
Dunnock - 1
Chaffinch - 2
Bullfinch - 3
All nine Jays were adults. With so many today, and not having caught any of the residents before, we wondered if these birds were "fresh in", possibly from the continent, and were hungry. Hence our phenomenal catch? [2 birds did drop acorns in the nets]. Damage limitation procedures were in place, but neither of us came away unscathed!
Our next visit will comprise an afternoon and a morning session, back to back, at the beginning of next month.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
In contrast ...
In contrast to yesterday, the wind had dropped and the sun promised to come out, giving us all a better day. As the cloud cover had almost dissipated, I took myself and the dog off to join Dave Kramer at Priory CP. I was able to join him on his daily two-hour transect walk.
For details, click here to read further.
For details, click here to read further.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Back home
With 100% humidity, clearing skies and waterlogged grass underfoot, it was with some trepidation I set out this morning with the intention of ringing. With it being so wet last night (>20mm rain), I swapped sub-sites and went back to the old faithful, "the rough", where I knew I could avoid the worst of the wet.
It took a while to get the nets up as the net loops on these latest ones are smaller and stick easily on wet bamboo. Once up, I erected the net by the feeders, now that the birds had had their dawn feed, the most important for many of them.
Early birds were three more Blackcaps, this time with two males, reversing the recent sex pattern. Plenty of Blue Tits in between and a few more retraps of pulli from our scattered boxes. Finally a burst of Chaffinches, well, just three actually, all birds of the year and one a female.
Scoreboard after roughly two hours:
Blue Tit 4 (10)
Great Tit (1)
Blackcap 3
Wren 1
Robin (2)
Dunnock 1
Chaffinch 3
One of today's male Chaffinches
A 'long dead' bird was found on a fence post; the B ring was recovered and turned out to be from a House Sparrow that we ringed hereabouts in August 2008 as a juvenile.
Sightings this morning included a Jay, a male and a female Sparrowhawk, two high flying Song Thrushes, a Marsh Tit on the feeder, a Reed Warbler at the top of a tall Ash tree, a passing Goldcrest and a Chiff that refused to be coerced into any net by a tape lure!
It took a while to get the nets up as the net loops on these latest ones are smaller and stick easily on wet bamboo. Once up, I erected the net by the feeders, now that the birds had had their dawn feed, the most important for many of them.
Early birds were three more Blackcaps, this time with two males, reversing the recent sex pattern. Plenty of Blue Tits in between and a few more retraps of pulli from our scattered boxes. Finally a burst of Chaffinches, well, just three actually, all birds of the year and one a female.
Scoreboard after roughly two hours:
Blue Tit 4 (10)
Great Tit (1)
Blackcap 3
Wren 1
Robin (2)
Dunnock 1
Chaffinch 3
A 'long dead' bird was found on a fence post; the B ring was recovered and turned out to be from a House Sparrow that we ringed hereabouts in August 2008 as a juvenile.
Sightings this morning included a Jay, a male and a female Sparrowhawk, two high flying Song Thrushes, a Marsh Tit on the feeder, a Reed Warbler at the top of a tall Ash tree, a passing Goldcrest and a Chiff that refused to be coerced into any net by a tape lure!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Aylesbury Vale - visit 3
Our third visit to this 15 year old, "wet", ash/oak woodland. Today was a touch on the blustery side and the nets blew, even though they were somewhat sheltered from the SW'ly wind.
We had our first re-traps today, namely 6 Bushtits, 2 Marsh Tits and a Great Tit, all being birds of the year from our previous visits.
Best bird today was another young Lesser Whitethroat on its way south.
Today, we added:-
Blue Tit 7 (0) [18]
Great Tit 6 (1) [14]
Marsh Tit . (2) [3]
Long-tailed Bushtit 9 (6) [26]
Lesser Whitethroat 1 (0) [2]
Chiffchaff 2 (0) [14]
Wren 2 (0) [9]
Dunnock 1 (0) [6]
Brackets [] are the individual grand totals to put this catch in context.
We netted in some different locations today. Our "miss" of the day was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which would have added another species. It hung on the upper shelf string until we moved to get it. Our intention is to return again in mid-October; maybe another chance?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Last of the summer
Went out ringing this morning, hoping that I might catch a few birds. To see how I got on, go to ...............
http://priorycountrypark.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-of-summer.html
http://priorycountrypark.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-of-summer.html
Friday, September 3, 2010
Ladies' Day.
I call this "ladies' day" because of the number of female Blackcaps that I caught today at Priory. I didn't go early because of the dripping fog, but waited until 9 o'clock (BST). Most of the birds were caught during the next two hours whilst it was still rather "overcast". Thereafter, the sun appeared, albeit with fluffy, summer clouds.
A rather typical 'early autumn' day, with many of the migrants well on their way south, leaving just a few late broods to fatten up before taking off on their own migrations. There are other migrants from "up north" around but we don't get many of them here as they seem to prefer the Ivel valley (runs north-south) or the slopes of the Chilterns.
The full list for today comprised:
Chiffchaff - 2
Blackcap - 12, 10 of these were females!
C.Whitethroat - 1
Wren - 1
Blackbird - 1
Song Thrush - 1, (1)
Robin - 1, (1)
Dunnock - 2
Greenfinch - 1
Many of the young birds, other than the Blackcaps, were in early PJ moult and some had still not started.
3JM Blackbird #080 in full juvenile livery.
The only adult birds were two of the female Blackcaps and a male Chiffchaff (with an abietinus call). The Common Whitethroat looked as good as any adult of the species.
Whitethroat #414 with juvenile eye colour, weighed in at 17.0g (F3,M1)
Today's "bit of fluff".
A rather typical 'early autumn' day, with many of the migrants well on their way south, leaving just a few late broods to fatten up before taking off on their own migrations. There are other migrants from "up north" around but we don't get many of them here as they seem to prefer the Ivel valley (runs north-south) or the slopes of the Chilterns.
24 birds today wasn't a bad count - 50% Blackcaps was the main attraction. Put another way, six times more than were actually seen/recorded at the outset by my friend, DK. Today's effort brought the total of new Blackcaps caught at this site this year to 71, just 17 short of last year's total, but a massive 36 short of the all-time winner, 107 in 1994!
Female Blackcap #415, wl 75.5mm, wt 21.8g, 1ogc, F3.5, M2. Today's fattest.
The full list for today comprised:
Chiffchaff - 2
Blackcap - 12, 10 of these were females!
C.Whitethroat - 1
Wren - 1
Blackbird - 1
Song Thrush - 1, (1)
Robin - 1, (1)
Dunnock - 2
Greenfinch - 1
Many of the young birds, other than the Blackcaps, were in early PJ moult and some had still not started.
The only adult birds were two of the female Blackcaps and a male Chiffchaff (with an abietinus call). The Common Whitethroat looked as good as any adult of the species.
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