Photos
White-rumped Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Dunlin and American Wigeon all at Rutland Water
18th October
I was working in Slough this morning and was inspecting a high, flat roof on a factory early on when I heard some unfamiliar bird calls. In the distance I could see 4 birds flying round in a circuit and my dozy brain couldn’t quite compute until it finally dawned on me that they were Ring-necked Parakeets. Another bird appeared shortly after and then a flock of 17 birds flew right past me on the roof! What a start to the morning! (Yes I know they are as common as muck down here).
I got an early start back and driving up the M40 a flock of 200+ Golden Plover flew over the car. I also counted 28 Red Kites today.
I got back relatively early and headed over to the Wirral. I decided to check out Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. Don’t like – it seems too artificial for me and I don’t like the hides. A flock of 14 Pink-footed Geese flew over and 22 Little Egrets flew early into the roost.
I decided to leave and go to Denhall Lane where I parked up and just sat watching the marsh. A male Stonechat was flitting around near the lane and both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen. I began counting the Little Egrets flying in to roost – eventually 126 flew in (plus the birds I saw earlier at the reserve) and one of the last birds over was a Great White Egret. As the light fell a Barn Owl came out to play!
19th October
Nothing to report from an early morning visit to HGF. 24 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer were at the feeding station when I went past.
This afternoon I rolled up at Rutland Water (working nearby tomorrow). I headed for the Lapwing Hide where a White-rumped Sandpiper has been in residence. The wader was hanging around with a mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (plus a Grey Plover) and was bloody difficult to pick up. The birds weren’t exactly close which didn’t help, however I really struggled to pick the WRS. Eventually when I finally sussed it I found I could easily relocate it in the flock. The hide was full of puzzled birders who struggled with this one! I then scanned the far side of the bay here and soon found the drake American Wigeon. I was playing with my new digiscoping camera, a Nikon P7100. It has some issues, however the reach of this camera is amazing. The American Wigeon in the photos was over 600 yards away!
I then headed back to the centre and parked myself in front of one of the first story windows overlooking the pond where five of the locals were already in residence. Two Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels and a Buzzard put in appearances. Six Little Egrets also showed and I finally spotted a couple of gyppo geese in a distant field. Then a slightly bizarre bit. I saw an adult Med Gull fly past the window. I looked round and no one had moved so I said “Med Gull” and five pairs of hands instantly grabbed bins and began scanning round. None of them could see it. I leaned forward and stuck my head completely out of this first floor window and I could still see the Med flying away so I called it again. Five heads suddenly popped out of the window just as the Med disappeared around a corner. Having sat back down, five heads glared at me with that look that says “I didn’t see the bird so you made it up!” Six Snipe were also seen emerging from the reeds at dusk.
20th October
Six Pochard and four Mute Swans (3 x 2cy type birds and a cygnet) were new on HGF this morning. 24 Tree Sparrows and 8 Grey Partridges at the feeding station.
I was working in Slough this morning and was inspecting a high, flat roof on a factory early on when I heard some unfamiliar bird calls. In the distance I could see 4 birds flying round in a circuit and my dozy brain couldn’t quite compute until it finally dawned on me that they were Ring-necked Parakeets. Another bird appeared shortly after and then a flock of 17 birds flew right past me on the roof! What a start to the morning! (Yes I know they are as common as muck down here).
I got an early start back and driving up the M40 a flock of 200+ Golden Plover flew over the car. I also counted 28 Red Kites today.
I got back relatively early and headed over to the Wirral. I decided to check out Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. Don’t like – it seems too artificial for me and I don’t like the hides. A flock of 14 Pink-footed Geese flew over and 22 Little Egrets flew early into the roost.
I decided to leave and go to Denhall Lane where I parked up and just sat watching the marsh. A male Stonechat was flitting around near the lane and both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen. I began counting the Little Egrets flying in to roost – eventually 126 flew in (plus the birds I saw earlier at the reserve) and one of the last birds over was a Great White Egret. As the light fell a Barn Owl came out to play!
19th October
Nothing to report from an early morning visit to HGF. 24 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer were at the feeding station when I went past.
This afternoon I rolled up at Rutland Water (working nearby tomorrow). I headed for the Lapwing Hide where a White-rumped Sandpiper has been in residence. The wader was hanging around with a mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (plus a Grey Plover) and was bloody difficult to pick up. The birds weren’t exactly close which didn’t help, however I really struggled to pick the WRS. Eventually when I finally sussed it I found I could easily relocate it in the flock. The hide was full of puzzled birders who struggled with this one! I then scanned the far side of the bay here and soon found the drake American Wigeon. I was playing with my new digiscoping camera, a Nikon P7100. It has some issues, however the reach of this camera is amazing. The American Wigeon in the photos was over 600 yards away!
I then headed back to the centre and parked myself in front of one of the first story windows overlooking the pond where five of the locals were already in residence. Two Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels and a Buzzard put in appearances. Six Little Egrets also showed and I finally spotted a couple of gyppo geese in a distant field. Then a slightly bizarre bit. I saw an adult Med Gull fly past the window. I looked round and no one had moved so I said “Med Gull” and five pairs of hands instantly grabbed bins and began scanning round. None of them could see it. I leaned forward and stuck my head completely out of this first floor window and I could still see the Med flying away so I called it again. Five heads suddenly popped out of the window just as the Med disappeared around a corner. Having sat back down, five heads glared at me with that look that says “I didn’t see the bird so you made it up!” Six Snipe were also seen emerging from the reeds at dusk.
20th October
Six Pochard and four Mute Swans (3 x 2cy type birds and a cygnet) were new on HGF this morning. 24 Tree Sparrows and 8 Grey Partridges at the feeding station.
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