At Long Last

Having been stuck indoors for over a week with a bad back, I managed a 20 minute walk around Liden Lagoon yesterday. It wasn't too bad but it did ache for a good hour or so.  However I decided to be a bit more adventurous today and as I had to go Clifton Cameras in Dursley for a new eye piece for my Kowa spotting scope, it seemed silly not to go and have a look at the two male Penduline Tits at Horsebere Reserve, Gloucester.

So having sorted out what I needed at the Camera Shop it was off up the M5 to Horsebere. Once parked up, in probably the most dangerous layby I've ever parked up in, it was off up to reserve gate.

Dawn and I weren't the only ones there, and it was quite apparent that once on the reserve that the 5 or so other birders on site, hadn't seen the Penduline's in the time they had been there. With scopes and binoculars scouring the reedbeds, it was that time to catch up on who was who and how far had you travelled.

There were a couple chaps from Bridgewater, 2 from Gloucester and 1 chap from Newport, Shropshire. And amazingly he knew my good friend Ed Wilson, who also lives in Newport and sends in reports from Priorslee Lake to the FoPL Blog that I run. What a small world we live in.

After 10 minutes of watching loads of Chiffchaffs, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Reed Buntings feeding in the Bulrushes, I noticed in the corner of my eye two birds fly onto the reserve from the direction of the main road. Having seen on BirdGuides that they have a habit of flying off and then returning later, I hoped that the two birds that had flown in were the Penduline's.

I was in luck as a male popped up from behind a Bulrush. A quick it's over here and all the birders trained their scopes and binoculars to the spot I was pointing out. Yep they were back and so that we all could see them better, without peering into the setting sun, we all set off to the embankment adjacent to the main road.

From here the views of both birds were excellent and we watched them for a good half-an-hour or so, before leaving. A UK tick and a really good one. My first ever Penduline Tit was just north of Brindisi, Italy back in 1994, so its been a long wait for my next one.

Horsebere Reserve

The Birders and yours truly (the baldy one) in the centre

One of the male Penduline Tits

Not so much here in the sunlight, but in the shade there really do blend in with bulrushes.

Always on the move I think I was extremely lucky to capture at least one of the two here.

I believe they have been present here since 11 Jan 16. If they were a pair, they might have bred here. As it is, come Spring, I would think they will move on in the hope of finding a mate. Extremely unlikely as there are only about 7 in the UK this year.

Little Egret and an annoying post!

a bit better

Heading into the reedbeds

to join his mate.

Also seen there this afternoon 2 Little Egret, Mute Swan, Mallard, 2 Buzzard, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 12+ Chiffchaff, 8+ Long-tailed Tit, 5+ Blue Tit, Wren, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Perfect Timing

With storm Imogen long gone and just a gentle breeze over Wiltshire it was off to Barbury Castle to see what was about. It look like I was in luck as well; as I passed through Overtown so the clouds overhead started to break up and the sun came out. For me that's a first, normally it's the other way round.

Before I turned off onto the Ridgeway track I had my first Stock Dove of the year sitting on a telegraph pole. An easy tick! The track was bumpy as ever and those potholes are getting bigger each time I visit, and of course they were all full of water. However with a bit of care I eventually made it to "Finch Corner". 

At first it was fairly quiet albeit for a few Blue Tits, a Dunnock and a Wren around the gate, and then very slowly a few Chaffinches appeared on the outermost branches alongside the footpath heading north. For once there wasn't any grain on the ground, but someone had kindly placed some on top of the gate posts and it was here that a few of the Blue Tits and Chaffinches were coming to feed.

As I turned to get my camera off the back seat of the car I caught a glimpse of a Red-legged Partridge, limping across the track. Not sure how he hurt his leg, but hopefully he will recover. Still another tick, so a really good start.

Soon there were many Chaffinches coming to the posts and then the Bramblings decided to join in. In total I counted 25 Brambling, but that number could well have been more, as the ones I counted were on the edge of the hedgerow. Also about were a few Greenfinches and a very aggressive female/juvenile bird, which I think was almost likely to be a 1st winter male as there was just a hint of green coming through on his wings. It mattered not whether it was Brambling, Chaffinch, Blue Tit or one of its own, this individual was determined that these freebie seeds were his and his alone.

And then, what I was waiting for, Tree Sparrows. I saw one and heard at least two more, but that was the best I got. One as I say showed itself very briefly and like the others was happy to sit it out somewhere in the middle of the copse. Another Day!

In amongst the finches were a few Yellowhammers and later as I drove further up the track I came across 5 more, plus a Buzzard sitting on the post close to the pool.

As I drove back up towards RAF Wroughton, lo and behold there was a RABBIT. Not that I get really excited about bunnies, but this is the first one I've seen this year and its the first one recorded within a ten mile radius of Swindon. Where have they been!  Further up the road I came across 70+ Fieldfare in the tall trees, but every time I stopped for a look, they took off and carried on to the next set off trees. I wasn't playing this silly game so I drove off and left them to it.

A few images and videos from today:

A great comparison between a male Brambling and a male Chaffinch


See how this Greenfinch drives off the Brambling. Chaffinch and Blue Tit

A female Chaffinch

and the more brightly coloured male.

A great comparison between a male Chaffinch (foreground) and a male Brambling

I'm thinking this is a 1st winter male Greenfinch.........

.....and a very aggressive one at that, as this Chaffinch found out

A male Brambling

And more aggression between 2 Brambling, whilst a Blue Tit gets in quick.

A female Brambling

Two of around 25 Brambling sit it out on the branches.

The rear of a Brambling....

and a peak from the owner.

Beautiful markings

and another male sits bolt upright.

A Blue Tit keeps a wary eye out

And another soaks up the winter sun.

One of a few Yellowhammer that were with the finches.

A Common Buzzard on his favourite perch.

Well it was until I came along.

Birds Recorded: 1 Buzzard, 4 Pheasant, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 2 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 60+ Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 2 Wren, 1 Magpie, 50+ Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 200+ Starling, 3 Tree Sparrow, 25 Brambling, 15 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 8 Yellowhammer. Also my first Rabbit of the year

Now That's Windy

Well we've had Gertrude and Henry so far this year, and now its Imogen wreaking havoc on the UK. More on how these storm names have come about Here.

Not to be beaten by a bit of wind and rain I headed off to Liden Lagoon and then to the Business Centre at Lotmead Farm to have a look around there. Well it is on my doorstep and there's always something to see there.

First stop was Liden Lagoon and despite the heavy rain over the past few days, the pool wasn't as flooded as I had expected it to be. There was certainly some colour to it as the mud from the fields passed through the lagoon and out at the northeast end.

Birds Recorded: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan (2 resident, 1 cob, 3 juv), Canada Geese, Mallard, 7 Gadwall (4m, 3f), 53 Tufted Duck (not sexed), 1 drake Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow and 3 Goldfinch

Here are a few images from the Lagoon this morning:

No surprises here. Just one of a few trees that have either split or fallen today from the strong gusts.

I don't know who was more surprised me or the Great Crested Grebe as it popped up right in front of me.

Just one click of the camera shutter and a record shot of a Little Grebe!

The interloper has a stretch, probably getting in shape for its next round with the resident Mute Swans.

The drake Pochard....

.......poses for the camera........

.....and then gets a bit ruffled by the wind!

Not even a stretch of the wings for this Cormorant as it braces itself against the elements.

And this Grey Heron is finding it really tough as it leans into the wind. Eventually it gives up.............

............and flies off. No doubt looking for somewhere windy.

Now Coots aren't renowned for getting too close to humans. In fact most scatter if you get anywhere near them. However this individual walked along the path. Stopped, looked up at me...............

......and just carried on by. It must have been the camouflaged jacket I was wearing. Either that or my black Wellington boots. Surely it didn't think my boots were another Coot!! I think we'll leave it that.....

My next port of call was Lotmead Farm Business park and a quick look at the pool. Talk about flooded, but to my surprise there were 7 Teal, 2 Mallard, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen and a pair of Little Grebe riding the waves. So not a bad result at all.

Birds Recorded: 2 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan (1 adult and juv), pair of Mallard, 7 Teal (4m, 3f), 1 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 3 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 3 Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, 25 House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch

A Little Grebe

Same bird.

and the 2nd bird

Quite cute.....

A pair of Teal

Now this is really odd. Both drake Teal, but look at the difference in size. However this is not unusual and certainly in Teal, there size can vary by 11cm (4in) or so.

Same bird in the foreground, really tiny. The duck in the centre is a female Mallard with 3 more Teal at the back.

And its lift off. I don't think the drake on the right was expecting the pair in front to take off!

Another Windy Day

CWP Pit 30
Location

With just an hour and a bit to spare this afternoon, it was off to a very windy pit 30 to see the 2 male Smew. Having struggled to find somewhere to park I eventually found an off road spot, opposite the footpath. And as per earlier reports the Smew (I only saw 1 male) was on the far bank, sheltering from the gale force wind. Clearly a male bird, all white with that striking black patch around the eye. Unfortunately the photograph below doesn't do it any justice whatsoever!

Birds Recorded: 1 male Smew, 3 Tufted Duck

A very very distant shot of one of the male Smew on Pit 30. A drake Tufted Duck to its right.

CWP Pit 74
Location

Moving on from Pit 30, I headed off to Twitchers Gate Here, you never know what you will find here. Today though it was all about Wigeon, they were everywhere. The horrendous wind was keeping just about wildfowl species to my right, including many Pintail on the stretch of water beyond the bar on the other side of Pit 74. Here there were also a lot of Teal and Shoveler, whilst on the bar itself were a dozen or so Cormorant and a few Lapwing. On Pit 74 though were my first Goldeneye of the year, a beautiful male and two females.

By Twitchers Gate I was surprised to hear a Treecreeper, which may well have been tagging along with tits. Also in the scrub a Reed Bunting.

Birds recorded: Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Mute Swan, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye (1m, 2f), Coot, 100+ Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Treecreeper, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting.

Wigeon and Coot sit it out on the choppy water