Monday, May 28, 2007
A cold, wet, blustery Bank Holiday Monday. Greger wanted exercise and didn't mind where, so we drove down to Dorney Lake, Bucks. The first person we saw was Kevin who gave us the news that Russell had counted sixteen turnstone here!
Fortunately, most were still around. They were flighty, sometimes skimming over the bank from one lake to the other and looking and sounding very beautiful as they did so. I managed to count eleven, possibly thirteen. Also present were loads of ringed plover and half a dozen dunlin.
And Berkshire reported thirteen kittiwake, four sanderlings and a knot. I suppose the strong easterly winds that have been driving me mad have been good for something!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Temminck's stints at Dorney Lake
Late on this warm afternoon I approached the walk between the lakes at Dorney with a sinking heart; a truck and two dogs were careering about among the sheep while further along a tractor was mowing the grass. Would anything be about?
Late on this warm afternoon I approached the walk between the lakes at Dorney with a sinking heart; a truck and two dogs were careering about among the sheep while further along a tractor was mowing the grass. Would anything be about?
Well, the regulars were present. And along the shore of the return lake was one common sandpiper, with two others on the first scrape. I began to walk back with one eye on the clock. I'd packed the scope away in the rucksack but couldn't resist setting it all up again for one more look at the common sandpiper.
Then, just beyond the sandpiper, I saw two smaller waders and my heart skipped a beat. They just had to be stints, they were so tiny!
They were wary and mobile and before I could get close to them they were off. Several times as I made my way along the bank I lost and re-found them. At one point, that sadistic bastard of a shepherd drove past just above them, and his two dogs ran so close that I had them in the scope - but the stints merely sank down and froze for a while and then carried on feeding.
Two boys going in for an illicit swim were the next threat - although I have to admit they were not too noisy. When I eventually relocated the stints, I settled down and looked at them very carefully before phoning them in to Birdline Southeast.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Arctic Tern at Dorney Lake
Early evening, in a strong south-westerly wind, I watched this Arctic tern for some time.
It was very active over both the main and the return rowing lakes, and flew practically overhead several times.
Friday, May 04, 2007
The report of a spoonbill at Dorney Wetlands sent me rushing down there - but the bird had flown. Well, birds do. That's why they've got wings. Getting an earful of someone else's grumpiness just renewed my determination not to twitch any more.
By comparison, late afternoon yesterday at Dorney Lake was idyllic. The only bird of note was a gorgeous bar-tailed godwit; but it was an unexpected find - and there were no moaning men!
