The non-stop patch-birding rollercoaster is gathering speed. The weekend brought bankers in the form of Arctic and Common Tern and Sedge Warbler and also three useful, not quite annual, building blocks. Moorhen has bred on ponds within the hallowed ground at least twice but is sporadic in appearance and was missed entirely last year so one on the pools at the extreme north of the patch (potentially suitable breeding habitat) was welcome indeed. Ten southbound Little Terns might have been a patch record flock but with so many patch stats to remember, I'm just not sure. Most bizarre of all was an immature Mute Swan floating very distantly northwards out to sea among the shipping lanes.
These six additions move the total to 90 species (=71.43%). Three species behind same time last year.
Statto
Monday, 7 May 2012
Just thought i'd pop in...
...and say hello.
Formalities first, I'm on 93 species/72.32%.
It's been a strange but ultimately rewarding spring so far. Strange in that until very recently, lots of things that are usually common have been in pretty short supply. Phylloscs are down by about a half, sand martins have been none existent until this weekend, and until the Nor'westerners started moving through, wheatears were thin on the ground too.
That hasn't stopped the more interesting stuff though, with a couple of rouzels, common and black redstart, and wryneck being good spring birds. Lots of airgrab enducing patch ubergank as well, like collared dove, rook, shelduck etc...
One thing I wasnt expecting was a swan goose/greylag hybrid on a seawatch. Surely counts as two species. I think the circumstances are excellent for the swan goose bit to be wild too.
I hope to be round more often, especially as as of next week I will start working on patch. No stopping me now, and all that jazz.
Scholesy.
Formalities first, I'm on 93 species/72.32%.
It's been a strange but ultimately rewarding spring so far. Strange in that until very recently, lots of things that are usually common have been in pretty short supply. Phylloscs are down by about a half, sand martins have been none existent until this weekend, and until the Nor'westerners started moving through, wheatears were thin on the ground too.
That hasn't stopped the more interesting stuff though, with a couple of rouzels, common and black redstart, and wryneck being good spring birds. Lots of airgrab enducing patch ubergank as well, like collared dove, rook, shelduck etc...
One thing I wasnt expecting was a swan goose/greylag hybrid on a seawatch. Surely counts as two species. I think the circumstances are excellent for the swan goose bit to be wild too.
I hope to be round more often, especially as as of next week I will start working on patch. No stopping me now, and all that jazz.
Scholesy.
Sunday, 6 May 2012
ducking responsibilities
Last week was all about the spring migs. Even up till Fri pm when I snuck out for a quick look at shite and scored spot fly, plus jammed sanderling on de way home. This weekend has all been about ducks on the lake! 4 tufties there yesterday was bettered by 5 tufties & 2 pochard today, only to be superceded by 4 tufties, 2 pochard and 1 scaup once i'd worked out what i should be stringing! Missed spot fly, scaup & pochard last year so thats a triple whammy breakback! Also just realised that I omitted pheasant up till now - score! All of which means that 109 (on which I am now on) is my highest ever total by this date, beating my record breaking 2010 score by 2 species & 3 days!! Impressed? I was!
Thats Entertainment!
Entertaining times about the Collieston and Ythan area. Still to see the 3 Glossy Ibis, but caught up with the Greater Yellowlegs as it relocated.
Patchwise there has been reasonable movement through though common migs only recorded. Spotted Fly was quite early for the patch a few days ago, plenty of Chiff-Chaffs and Willow Warblers to look through.
A handful of Ring Ouzel have also been highlights.
The Cranes were just off patch, a week ago, and with Great Grey Shrike near Don Mouth recently there has been plenty to keep me looking.
Reg
Patchwise there has been reasonable movement through though common migs only recorded. Spotted Fly was quite early for the patch a few days ago, plenty of Chiff-Chaffs and Willow Warblers to look through.
A handful of Ring Ouzel have also been highlights.
Reg
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Busy few days
Finally got Sand Martin a few days ago, roughly four weeks later than usual. Had hoped to crack into 90% and retain the lead but a shocker from Kent means I bump back to second spot. Yellow Wag this morning, again much later than I would have hoped, but it's now into the difficult period where most of the regulars are safely utb, and I'm not quite sure where the next tick will come from. Garden Warbler and Common Tern probably the next up, after that who can say?
Derek
Derek
Migs at last
At last some decent mig action here too - Wood Warbler, Redstart, Spot Fly, Common Sand, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler have all fallen in the last few days - just 1 behind the same time last year now
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
3.5 hours of mental mig fun at Galley
Wow! Never seen Galley so hooching with migrants! They were everywhere! willow warbler dripping off every hedge! amayzing! 8 species of warbler! 8 year ticks! One full fat patch tick - GARDEN WARBLER!! At feckin last! Nailed reed warbler, redstart, whinchat, lesser whitey - all of which are tricky and missable, plus whitethroat, swift and manxie - woohoo!
Update - forgot to include ringo so thats 100 for the year! Game on!
Update - forgot to include ringo so thats 100 for the year! Game on!
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