6.1.17
SCHOOL CHILDREN SET TO SURVEY BRITISH BIRDS
Tens of thousands of schoolchildren across Britain will be swapping books for binoculars this term to take part in the RSPB's Big Schools' Birdwatch.CLICK ON LINK
BOOMING GOOD AFTERNOON AT MARBURY COUNTRY PARK!
I visited Marbury country park this afternoon after finishing my course at work and jammed in on a Bittern as I arrived at the hide.
BITTERN
Luck or what,some guy had sat for over two hours looking for it.Other birds of note were a drake Goldeneye,two Kingfishers and two Goosanders.
BLUE TITS MISSING FROM GARDENS AFTER WASHOUT SUMMER
The latest figures from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) show that Blue Tit numbers are down, probably due to the unusually wet summer.CLICK ON LINK
4.1.17
AN AFTERNOON'S BIRDING AT MOORE NATURE RESERVE
I set off mid morning for Moore nature reserve and as I was driving through my home town of EllesmerePort I noticed five Waxwings in a tree by the side of the road.Parking the car up by the side of the road the birds flew onto some small rowan trees.
With the the Northwest going through an influx of these stunning birds I was made up to find these just down the road from my home.Anyway I reported them out to the birdnews service and left them for other birders to enjoy.
I arrived at Moore in Warrington and headed straight for the feeding station where I soon connected with a Willow tit and a good selection of other woodland birds.
WILLOW TIT
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
LONG TAILED TIT
JAY
Moving onto the eastern reed bed I gave it an hour but there was no sign of the Bittern that had been reported but I did see two Green Woodpeckers.
GREEN WOODPECKER
My next destination was Pickerings pasture where I soon found the resident Bullfinches around the carpark,three males were present along with five female birds.
BULLFINCH
Hale was my next stop where I soon got good scope views of two Water Pipits off Town lane.
CARR LANE POOLS-HALE
Moving on into Hale I had a look for the Little owl in its favoured spot but there was no sign.I couldn't resist a picture of my partner Dianne stood by giant John middleton.
JOHN MIDDLETON
A good afternoon's birding which was finished off with the sunset at Hale lighthouse.
BLUE TITS MISSING FROM GARDENS AFTER WASH OUT SUMMER
The latest figures from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) show that Blue tits numbers are down, probably due to the unusually wet summer.CLICK ON LINK
3.1.17
INTRODUCE A MORATORIUM ON THE HUNTING OF CRITICALLY DECLINING WADING BIRDS
BTO, JNCC and RSPB Bird Trends data report a 76% decline in Woodcock in the last 25 years.PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION.CLICK ON LINK
BIRD WATCHING MAGAZINE LAUNCHES 2017 BIRDING CHALLENGE
Do you want to enjoy your best birdwatching year ever?#My200BirdYear is Bird Watching’s challenge for birders of all ages and abilities, encouraging you to see 200 species in the course of 2017.CLICK ON LINK
PINE BUNTING-VENUS POOLS-SHROPSHIRE
News broke this morning of a female pine bunting in Shropshire at Venus Pools Nature Reserve. The bird was with a mixed flock of birds, including over 70+ Yellowhammers and 30+ Reed Buntings in a kale field; it sounded a right arse to see. It was to late for me to visit due to negative news, but it got refound again late afternoon, so I made plans to go in the morning.
Lucky enough, the reserve is only an hour from where I live, so I left home just before 7am and arrived just after 8am. What a lovely feeling, first twitch of the year and a lie in—it's a first!
On arrival, I was surprised at how few people were on site; there must have been only fifty birders, and to think that this was the first mainland bird since I dipped the last one in 2005 at New Farm, Wadborough, Worcestershire. There was another mainland bird in Cornwall that was seen in Nanjizal Valley in 2009, but this bird was suppressed after being seen the first day in 2009.
Anyway, on arrival, I joined the line of birders that had gathered in the kale field, and we waited for the sun to rise.
FIRST TWITCH OF THE YEAR!
It wasn't long before the sun eventually came up and the mixed flock of well over a hundred birds started to move out of the roost in the far bushes beyond the field. This was going to be a nightmare! Thankfully, it didn't take long before the bird was seen sitting out in the kale field. At last I had connected with this bird; it has absolutely done my head in for years since dipping the 2005 bird; I've had to wait twelve years for my next one! There was no chance of any photographs today as the bird was distant and I only had scope views.This bird was a real ID challenge in the field with so many Yellowhammers,Reed, and Corn Buntings. Congratulations to Simon Davies for one hell of a find.Below are some pictures of the bird linked to Twitter
A GREAT START TO 2017 AND ONE BIG TART'S TICK OUT THE WAY!
WHAT MESSAGES DO FEMALE BIRDS MARKINGS SEND?
The meanings of female birds' markings may vary from one place to another, even within the same species.CLICK ON LINK
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