Once again what a year! I didn’t think anything could top last years birding but 2010 has done just that.
There are too many highlights for me to list but day trips to Teesside, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for the Oriental Pratincole have been some of the best highlights.
Also helping out Holywell Birder both in Cumbria and with the scouts at Holywell were good days.
But most of all I have enjoyed birding on the patch. Best birds seen on the patch this year have been Temminck’s Stint, Hobby, Quail and Little Stint.
Some birders never see three Quail during their lifetime but I have been lucky enough to see three on my patch this year, it doesn’t get better than that.
I am pleased to say that I have finished on my highest ever total on the patch this year of 119, if only I had got that Willow Tit at Arcot during the week I would be on 120, but going for 120 is a good aim to have.
Favourite bird seen in 2010: A tie between Rough Legged Buzzard and Squacco Heron.
Thank you to everybody who had helped me throughout this year and read the blog, birding is the only thing that keeps me sane at times.
Happy new year!
Friday, 31 December 2010
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Christmas Creeper
I had a walk to West Hartford this morning to clear my head, I didn't see much on the way there or at WH. All the bushes and trees were birdless and both pools at Hartford were still frozen.
I was about to go when I could hear a high pitched call coming from the small row of trees between the metal fence and the pools. It sounded like a Goldcrest, then Robin and then Wren. I waited about 5 minutes as I couldn't make my mind up on the call.
Eventually I saw some movement on the underside of the branches, bins lifted, it was a Treecreeper-a first for West Hartford!
Not only is it a new bird for WH it is also my 100th species seen at WH and the first new species I have found, what a christmas present.
Patch Birding doesn't get much better.
I was about to go when I could hear a high pitched call coming from the small row of trees between the metal fence and the pools. It sounded like a Goldcrest, then Robin and then Wren. I waited about 5 minutes as I couldn't make my mind up on the call.
Eventually I saw some movement on the underside of the branches, bins lifted, it was a Treecreeper-a first for West Hartford!
Not only is it a new bird for WH it is also my 100th species seen at WH and the first new species I have found, what a christmas present.
Patch Birding doesn't get much better.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Things to do when your bored in Blyth
Throw fireworks into a reedbed! Whilst helping LMcD do his WEBS count at Blyth yesterday we checked Baites Filtration Pools. 6 Teal and 4 Gadwall flew from the largest area of water at the pools when some idiots started throwing fireworks in the reeds. Has nobody told them water and fire dont mix.
The river Blyth was only frozen around the edges so quite a gathering of wildfowl were on the water. 80+ Teal and 60+ Mallard were along the shoreline with groups of Redshank, Curlew and Dunlin.
3 RB Mergansers, 3 Eider and 20 Goldeneye were diving around a group of Tufted Duck which held a drake Pochard.
A Fox was bounding through the snow covered fields on the far side of the river and as we left to check the Quayside a Jack Snip flew down river before turning back and landing on the far shore. We think it had been resting on the near shore and flew off as we passed.
In the car park at the Quayside a Turnstone feeding amongst a group of Feral Pigeon was a strange site. On the river 6 Coot (a Blyth Mega apparently) were feeding amongst the gulls.
The river Blyth was only frozen around the edges so quite a gathering of wildfowl were on the water. 80+ Teal and 60+ Mallard were along the shoreline with groups of Redshank, Curlew and Dunlin.
3 RB Mergansers, 3 Eider and 20 Goldeneye were diving around a group of Tufted Duck which held a drake Pochard.
A Fox was bounding through the snow covered fields on the far side of the river and as we left to check the Quayside a Jack Snip flew down river before turning back and landing on the far shore. We think it had been resting on the near shore and flew off as we passed.
In the car park at the Quayside a Turnstone feeding amongst a group of Feral Pigeon was a strange site. On the river 6 Coot (a Blyth Mega apparently) were feeding amongst the gulls.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Goldfinch Drama
Been filling up the feeders in the garden and watching closely again over the last few days. A male Brambling visited the sunflower seed feeder on the fence yesterday morning.
Whilst playing football on Bluestar training pitch this morning a Waxwing was trilling from the trees on the wasteland behind Northburn community centre.
On my way back a male Reed Bunting was amongst the House Sparrow flock in the hedgerow leading down to the road.
Whilst watching the feeders at lunchtime, a female Bullfinch joined the now resident Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Coal and Blue Tits.
As I was leaving the room I heard a thump against the window, which is never a good sign. When I checked I found a Goldfinch on its back with its wings flapping franticly.
I went straight outside to check it and by the time I had got there it had stopped moving. I picked it up and flipped it over on my hand and suddenly opened its eyes and stretched its neck up to the sky.
I thought it might have damaged its neck but seemed alright after a few scratches with its feet. I checked the Goldfinches wings, which seemed ok and after 5 minutes sitting in my hand it hopped onto the patio. I stayed with it for a while longer before it flew off into the trees in the school field.
Whilst playing football on Bluestar training pitch this morning a Waxwing was trilling from the trees on the wasteland behind Northburn community centre.
On my way back a male Reed Bunting was amongst the House Sparrow flock in the hedgerow leading down to the road.
Whilst watching the feeders at lunchtime, a female Bullfinch joined the now resident Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Coal and Blue Tits.
As I was leaving the room I heard a thump against the window, which is never a good sign. When I checked I found a Goldfinch on its back with its wings flapping franticly.
I went straight outside to check it and by the time I had got there it had stopped moving. I picked it up and flipped it over on my hand and suddenly opened its eyes and stretched its neck up to the sky.
I thought it might have damaged its neck but seemed alright after a few scratches with its feet. I checked the Goldfinches wings, which seemed ok and after 5 minutes sitting in my hand it hopped onto the patio. I stayed with it for a while longer before it flew off into the trees in the school field.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Garden does it again
After tuesdays success with the Bramblings in my garden, today I was doing work in front of the window on the off chance they reappeared.
It got to 3:00 and nothing significant had visited the garden. Then I noticed 4 sparrow sized birds land in the lone silver birch bodering the neighbours garden.
Once I got my bins on them I nearly fell off my seat, 4 Lesser Redpoll - Patch and Garden Tick, were stripping the buds from the tree.
They stayed for around 10 minutes before something spooked them and they flew off into the school field calling as they went.
15 Minutes later 6 appeared in my neighbours garden, 3 of them landed on their patio and fed on the spilt seed along with a few Chaffinch.
5 of the Redpoll flew off but one stayed in our garden for a further 20 minutes. I checked them as they were doing some acrobatics in the trees but they all seemed to be Lessers. One bird was Whiter than the others and had more noticable White wing bars but was roughly the same size as the others.
119 - Lesser Redpoll
It got to 3:00 and nothing significant had visited the garden. Then I noticed 4 sparrow sized birds land in the lone silver birch bodering the neighbours garden.
Once I got my bins on them I nearly fell off my seat, 4 Lesser Redpoll - Patch and Garden Tick, were stripping the buds from the tree.
They stayed for around 10 minutes before something spooked them and they flew off into the school field calling as they went.
15 Minutes later 6 appeared in my neighbours garden, 3 of them landed on their patio and fed on the spilt seed along with a few Chaffinch.
5 of the Redpoll flew off but one stayed in our garden for a further 20 minutes. I checked them as they were doing some acrobatics in the trees but they all seemed to be Lessers. One bird was Whiter than the others and had more noticable White wing bars but was roughly the same size as the others.
119 - Lesser Redpoll
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
After all that...
After the race to get to SH's garden for my first Cramlington Brambling on Sunday, today 4 turn up in my garden. Off for christmas now and whilst having my lunch looking out the window a flock of finches landed in the tree tops along the fence.
Bins found, I got onto the flock and amongst the Chaffinch and Greenfinch were 2 male and 2 female Brambling, a long overdue garden tick.
The flock soon disappeared but the Brambling stayed for a while before calling and flying off into the school field.
Bins found, I got onto the flock and amongst the Chaffinch and Greenfinch were 2 male and 2 female Brambling, a long overdue garden tick.
The flock soon disappeared but the Brambling stayed for a while before calling and flying off into the school field.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Garden Tick, not exactly
I went out foar couple of hours with SH this morning. First we went to Newbiggin for a brief sea watch. The sea looked good but was very quiet only a couple of Divers and Eiders were seen.
Instead of going north we headed back to Cramlington and checked East Cramlington Nature reserve. Despite walking around most of the reserve it was quiet. A few Siskin and LT Tits were calling from the plantations but no much else.
I have never seen Brambling in Cramlington before so next we checked the bushes and trees around the hall but nothing.
Steve dropped me off at West Hartford which has now almost fully thawed. A Redshank was the only bird on the pools and a couple of Siskin and a Mistle Thrush were in the entrance plantation.
As I was leaving I got a call from Steve saying that he had a Brambling in his garden. I managed to get a lift over to his house and after waiting for a while the Brambling- Patch Tick, reappeared amongst a group of Chaffinch and Greenfinch.
118 - Brambling
Instead of going north we headed back to Cramlington and checked East Cramlington Nature reserve. Despite walking around most of the reserve it was quiet. A few Siskin and LT Tits were calling from the plantations but no much else.
I have never seen Brambling in Cramlington before so next we checked the bushes and trees around the hall but nothing.
Steve dropped me off at West Hartford which has now almost fully thawed. A Redshank was the only bird on the pools and a couple of Siskin and a Mistle Thrush were in the entrance plantation.
As I was leaving I got a call from Steve saying that he had a Brambling in his garden. I managed to get a lift over to his house and after waiting for a while the Brambling- Patch Tick, reappeared amongst a group of Chaffinch and Greenfinch.
118 - Brambling
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