Friday, November 16, 2007
A bright morning again at Dorney Lake, Bucks. Huge orange sun, frost on the grass and mist rising from the water - and out of the mist a red kite came cruising, giving me a site tick.
At the first pool the shallow water just inside the bund was frozen. This is probably why two snipe were again on the far shore of the return lake. I was too clumsy and not watchful enough, because as I walked down the grassy slope near the bridge, a jack snipe took off from the waterline and flew across to the pool.
It took off without a sound. It didn't zig-zag, but flew unhurriedly with flickering wings and head held up. I'm sure now of my ID, so this time I'll tick it for the site.
At the first pool the shallow water just inside the bund was frozen. This is probably why two snipe were again on the far shore of the return lake. I was too clumsy and not watchful enough, because as I walked down the grassy slope near the bridge, a jack snipe took off from the waterline and flew across to the pool.
It took off without a sound. It didn't zig-zag, but flew unhurriedly with flickering wings and head held up. I'm sure now of my ID, so this time I'll tick it for the site.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Dorney Lake from the car park early on a fine frosty morning. Just me and this fox.
The second pool was frozen over, with gulls making comical attempts to walk on it. A green sandpiper was feeding on the far shore of the return lake, and two snipe were also moving along the shoreline together. A grey wagtail was feeding near the bridge.
Walking back along the causeway, I saw a snipe species fly up from the bank of the rowing lake as a runner went by. It looked small and flew fairly slowly, flicking its wings - which looked short and not markedly pointed. It turned and folded its wings, plummeting back into the tussocky cover on the waterline.
I marked the spot and continued to walk towards it, but I was not careful enough. The bird was suddenly airborne again, about a metre from my feet. It rose without a sound and flew off, landing again on the north bank of the main lake somewhere between the 750m and 1000m markers. If it was a jack snipe - and I'm almost sure it was - it was the first one I've seen in flight.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
We did a round walk today from Scutchamer Knob, Oxfordshire. As we drove up the long road from East Hendred to the Ridgeway some chaffinches flew away from the car beneath the huge beech trees - and I thought I saw a white rump amongst them.
The autumn colours were lovely and it was great to be out. Yellowhammers and stonechats were the best of the small birds; and as we walked the road link between Knollend and Wether Downs, Greger spotted seven grey partridges in the field on the Berkshire side. We had a quick look at them through the bins before they took off and flew up the north side of Old Down.
On Wether Down three red kites hunted very close to us - in fact, it sometimes felt as though they were hunting us! Fieldfares and a mistle thrush were seen, and a nuthatch called from the out-of-bounds woodland.
As we finished lunch Greger pointed out two kites above the trees behind us. They were both chasing a small bird. One managed to catch it and wheeled away with it in its talons - but the second kite harassed it until the prey was dropped. It was clearly already dead because the body just plummeted to the ground. I went over to see what it was but couldn't find it; it looked quite dark as it was falling and was possibly a redwing.
Back at the car, Greger had a coffee and a read of the paper while I walked down the road to where I had seen the chaffinches - and sure enough, at least one brambling was present. It's always a buzz to see them!
The autumn colours were lovely and it was great to be out. Yellowhammers and stonechats were the best of the small birds; and as we walked the road link between Knollend and Wether Downs, Greger spotted seven grey partridges in the field on the Berkshire side. We had a quick look at them through the bins before they took off and flew up the north side of Old Down.
On Wether Down three red kites hunted very close to us - in fact, it sometimes felt as though they were hunting us! Fieldfares and a mistle thrush were seen, and a nuthatch called from the out-of-bounds woodland.
As we finished lunch Greger pointed out two kites above the trees behind us. They were both chasing a small bird. One managed to catch it and wheeled away with it in its talons - but the second kite harassed it until the prey was dropped. It was clearly already dead because the body just plummeted to the ground. I went over to see what it was but couldn't find it; it looked quite dark as it was falling and was possibly a redwing.
Back at the car, Greger had a coffee and a read of the paper while I walked down the road to where I had seen the chaffinches - and sure enough, at least one brambling was present. It's always a buzz to see them!
