Monday 30 October 2017

Boghall strikes back

They say two eyes are better than one. Which means eight eyes are even better still. But it was the deployment of a the trusty Meopta S2 (similar to that pictured here) and one eye that really provided the goods this weekend. Having been inspired by a birdless trip to Gladhouse Reservoir, we headed out onto the patch with scope. We don't do this often but perhaps we should. Soon we had added mute swan (patch tick) and gannet to the list. More work delivered teal and lapwing just off the patch on a boggy patch of land, while another scan delivered 5 greylag geese in flight. Added to the snipe from a couple of weeks back brings us to 81 or 111.98%. Stunning (unlike the birds)! Can more be added before the year is out? Who knows but we'll keep pushing. A quick look this morning indicated that the yellow-breasted buntings were still around.




Friday 27 October 2017

Another crazy day on Galley

Stumbled out to the office in the dark this morning to do a tiny bit of work pre-birding and was almost instantly rewarded by a flyover calling brambling for the year - result!

Headed out around 9 am with the intention of just doing a reasonably quick hoof round the likely spots on Galley. Bumped into Old Spoons at Shite Lane and we headed off to do Dirk - 6 more flyover brambling and killer views of at least 4 firecrests. A tour of the fields next, and, since it seemed quiet, a quick cup of tea chez spoons before hitting more fields, Marsh Lane & then home.

As I walked in my gate at lunchtime Spoons rang - "Little bunting above shite lane" - straight back out but no luck. Nipped home for food and got a lift back to Shite Lane just in time to hear one of the strangest calls I've ever heard - like a hyper curlew "Cloo-eeeet Clooo-eeeeet" - what the hell was that? 5 mins later, Spoons texted the answer - "flyover American Golden Plover!" I checked Xeno-Canto - Bingo, a perfect match for what I'd heard! Another full fat Galley tick - shame not to see it, but great to finally hear one - won't forget that one!

The rest of the afternoon was spent traipsing about hoping to bump into Spoon's Little bunting, but it was not be. Did bag Fieldfare for the year though, so all was not lost. A long tiring day of hoofing about, but was just not the day for sitting about at home!

Thursday 26 October 2017

Another Grey-cheeked Thrush!!!

Still reeling!

Grey-cheeked Thrush, Red Strand

Wahay!


Just off-patch, and only 1.25km from the Dirk Bay bird, and about 6 km from the Ross Pier bird! This one has no warts on its feet though so looks like a new bird! Amayzing!

Almost as amayzing was ticking a hawfinch dug out of Dirk this am by Old Spoons. And three (count 'em) Glossy Ibises flying past the window when I was eating my lunch! Old Spoons found a fourth one at Red Strand this pm. Thats two Full Fat Patch Ticks in one day! And the small matter of finding another Grey-cheeked Thrush! Its been quite a day!

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Big Roy's Autumnal Arsebag

Big Roy has been in touch to say he's been bangin' them in oop north, as they say. Recent additions include ruff, black redstart, ring ouzel to name but a few. Moves him up the langerboard towards the podium but not quite high enuff to be troubling anyone for a medal just yet.

Sunday 22 October 2017

a dose of thrush

Its been good at Galley of late! Firecrests galore, with at least 6 (count 'em) knocking about, pied flycatcher, red-breasted flycatcher, yellow-browed warbler and, best of the lot, a rather fantastic looking Grey-cheeked Thrush, which Mr Faulty and myself managed to stumble into again today with the resultant award-winning shots (all basil's I may add)

Oooooof

Oooooof again

More ooooofage
Cracking bird - and delighted to get great views today after only 8 seconds on it in the p*ssing rain on thursday afternoon! Forgot to add that Grey-cheeked Thrush is of course a patch tick for me, which moves me up to 201  for Galley - first patch tick since Rosefinch 2 autumns ago I think! Awesome!

Amayzingly, Old Spoons found another Grey-cheeked Thrush on Rosscarbery pier on Friday - only about 5km away. What are de chances? Amazeballs!