Sunday 30 April 2017

Patch birding at its finest

What a months end...

who needs red-winged blackbird when you've got patch birding?

With the winds turning south-easterly it was definitely worth stretching ones legs around the patch.  My efforts were well rewarded with three mega rares on the patch in the space of a couple of days.

The first, a fine pair of GREY PARTRIDGE, skilfully flushed I think you'll find from some deep cover near the cliff tops; possible migrants I thought? But then... I didn't really care as they were most definitely full fat patch ticks.

Still delighted with my find, I wandered off down to the 'moat' where there's some nice bushes for some nice migs (sometimes).  Ten minutes later with only a willow warbler added to the year list,  two mallard flew off from the moat and behind them, scuttling into to edge of the bank, was a MOORHEN.  Would you believe it? yet another full FFPT... awesome.  What a bird it was.  I sat and admired it, whilst looking forward to the golden mallard winging its way to me at the years end.

Today was bit of let down really, but the pair of mute swan on the great pool were the first ones since 2014...BONUS

What an end to the month.  Although, on reflection, I do think I'd rather have a red-winged blackbird...

At the end of April, patch total of 69 sp, 64.49%

Happy days

Bushveld




Tuesday 25 April 2017

late in getting started...

It has taken me a while to get round to this. I could claim I have been busy, what with work in Antarctica and Melanesia but it is really just about priorities.

And the competition this year has been a low priority of late, in part due to an impending divorce. Yes, I am separating from my patch. It has been a good affair lasting nearly three years, but we are moving apartments, the current five minute walk to the patch will be a distant memory and I will be in search of a new patch.

Not that the patch has been without interest. The year list has moved on to a respectable 72 and includes four patch ticks (count 'em). Oriental dwarf kingfisher, orange-headed thrush, dark-sided flycatcher and brown hawk owl. The best image I have is of the dullest of the additions...





Add to this the regular presence of hooded and blue-winged pittas, red-legged crakes with chicks and changeable hawk-eagle a new breeding species for the patch; and life has been good. I will be sad to leave it but new pastures beckon. Well, it won't be a pasture as grassland is more or less non-existent here but...