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Ooooooof!  |
Wonder whats on Galley....
Thursday, 18 October 2018
off-patch japes
Had to go for the Veery on Cape....
Me & Basil also relocated the Scarlet Tanager and caught up with the White-rumped Sandpiper too! A grand day out!
Wonder whats on Galley....
Wonder whats on Galley....
Monday, 15 October 2018
Sunday, 14 October 2018
Sunday, 7 October 2018
Triple full fat
Been a bit slack, but when I noticed I could be top of the leaderboard I thought I might as well give an update for the year. So last year my only full-fat patch tick came in the form of a Hawfinch, but frankly this felt a bit cheap what with several million of them in the country.
This year however has seen three more (count 'em!) patch ticks. The first was a Great White Egret, also somewhat cheapened by there being gazillions in the south east, but it was still full fat so I ubered it from the studio where I was making yet another ground-breaking comedy series. I made it back in just over an hour and I don't think anyone missed me.
The "Big" bird of the year however was Black-tailed Godwit - I found this myself one morning and it turned me to jelly. Mega. I mean really mega, one confirmed record in the last 15 years of a flyover. This one paraded on the deck like a good 'un for over two hours. Ooof. Also happened to be #150 for the old patch so a bit of a landmark bird.
Finally a long talked-up bird that I predict we will get every year without fail and we never do, a Red-backed Shrike in the hawthorns. I was making a show in Switzerland when it turned up so it could have been a massive grip off, but luckily it stayed the next day and then the next 9 after that. Bloody loads of lame twitchers came visiting and had the temerity to try and talk to me. Anyway, seen YLG, Spotted and Pied flycatchers, Redstart, Sedgie and a jammed Green Sand flyover since then which puts me on a magnificent 97.59% with a good few bankers to come. Need another 4-5 to get to 100%, though, so it will be touch and go.
This year however has seen three more (count 'em!) patch ticks. The first was a Great White Egret, also somewhat cheapened by there being gazillions in the south east, but it was still full fat so I ubered it from the studio where I was making yet another ground-breaking comedy series. I made it back in just over an hour and I don't think anyone missed me.
The "Big" bird of the year however was Black-tailed Godwit - I found this myself one morning and it turned me to jelly. Mega. I mean really mega, one confirmed record in the last 15 years of a flyover. This one paraded on the deck like a good 'un for over two hours. Ooof. Also happened to be #150 for the old patch so a bit of a landmark bird.
Finally a long talked-up bird that I predict we will get every year without fail and we never do, a Red-backed Shrike in the hawthorns. I was making a show in Switzerland when it turned up so it could have been a massive grip off, but luckily it stayed the next day and then the next 9 after that. Bloody loads of lame twitchers came visiting and had the temerity to try and talk to me. Anyway, seen YLG, Spotted and Pied flycatchers, Redstart, Sedgie and a jammed Green Sand flyover since then which puts me on a magnificent 97.59% with a good few bankers to come. Need another 4-5 to get to 100%, though, so it will be touch and go.
Who needs migs?
Even with the winds solidly in the west, Bushveld's patch skills have kept things moving on. First of all there's always the added bonus of checking the list, making sure you've counted everything you've seen. This brought in two additional species in the form of golden plover and Arctic skua, both seen in the spring and never counted.
Then there's always the scarce 'almost annual' non migrant species and a flyby great spot woodpecker, along with bullfinch and barn owl add another three to the ol' list.
Finally, there's always a bonus bird to be had. A small flock of long-tailed tits this Saturday were a full fat patch tick.
Six additional species and not a migrant amongst them, 95.19% and counting
Happy days indeed.
Bushveld
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Flycatching up...
While galavanting aimlessly around the UK, Seppy found time to check the blog, and took great glee in sending me a message to say I'd slipped off the podium.
Which prompted some frantic checking of spreadsheets and updating of same. Luckily the addition of some glaring omissions on the sheet, like swift, coot, spotted flycatcher and long-eared owl (heard, but they all count right) sidles me back into second place. Phew!
Which prompted some frantic checking of spreadsheets and updating of same. Luckily the addition of some glaring omissions on the sheet, like swift, coot, spotted flycatcher and long-eared owl (heard, but they all count right) sidles me back into second place. Phew!
Monday, 3 September 2018
Royzah's bangin them in
Yes indeedy - the phone is almost red-hot with all of Royzah's news as he lugs his unwieldy frame around the Donmouth, perspiring profusely as he picks off the year ticks..
In just the last couple of weeks alone he has added bonxie, greasy grebe, arctic skua, little gull, a near-mythical black tern, little egret, garden warbler, whinchat, a fackin barred warbler and to top it all, two (count 'em) buff-breasted sandpipers, flying south past the Don. Feck knows what they really were, but they must have been something new for the year I suppose.
Its all go on the Don these days!
In just the last couple of weeks alone he has added bonxie, greasy grebe, arctic skua, little gull, a near-mythical black tern, little egret, garden warbler, whinchat, a fackin barred warbler and to top it all, two (count 'em) buff-breasted sandpipers, flying south past the Don. Feck knows what they really were, but they must have been something new for the year I suppose.
Its all go on the Don these days!
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