Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Dorney Wetlands
I got down to the wetlands fairly early. For once, I carefully scanned the flock of golden plover on the long island; and I'm glad I did because right on the tip, a little apart from the flock, was a grey plover.
Then some more golden plover arrived and with all the shuffling about, the grey became incorporated into the flock, with no animosity from the goldens. 
Just before twelve, the whole flock of golden plover went up - and the grey went with them.
As I walked back, two men pointed out a couple of bramblings and several siskins in the alders. One of them told me that he'd seen loads of bramblings and a merlin on Slough Sewage Farm in 1946! Further along in Bucks, a water rail was trilling from the reeds. It then swam briefly into view, to the delight of a group of us on the bank.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Reward: blue, great, long-tailed and coal tits, blackcap, chaffinch, dunnock, robin, blackbird (although he was probably after the few remaining holly berries) and a nuthatch. There was also a wren, which seemed to pop up on the wall just to see what all the fuss was about, and a firecrest.
Yesterday, Greger surprised me by suggesting a drive west to see the short-eared owls again. It was only halfway along the motorway that I recalled he'd promised to do a bit of DIY at home. The cunning of man surpasseth the wit of woman. Sometimes.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
There was a lot of activity near the house this morning with great, blue, long-tailed and coal tits moving through the garden, and a few redwings in the big garden opposite, in the berry-laden holly tree.
Best of all - a firecrest was again briefly in our own holly tree. Given singles (over the past three years) in the months of January, February, March, October and December, as well as the family that was here this summer, it seems reasonable to claim that in Taplow, the firecrest is a year-round species! (I knew there had to be one good reason for living here.)
Best of all - a firecrest was again briefly in our own holly tree. Given singles (over the past three years) in the months of January, February, March, October and December, as well as the family that was here this summer, it seems reasonable to claim that in Taplow, the firecrest is a year-round species! (I knew there had to be one good reason for living here.)
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Walking up towards Wether Down in Oxfordshire from the West Ilsley road, we found a convenient bank to have lunch on and to watch the kites, buzzards and kestrels. Greger pointed to a low-flying bird on the hillside opposite. The white rump was very conspicuous. It was a ringtail hen harrier.
As we ate, the harrier would make tantalisingly brief appearances at the edge of the field, dancing along behind the hawthorns like a butterfly. Leaving our comfortable seat, we continued up the track and paused for a few minutes, hoping for another glimpse. Suddenly a short-eared owl rose from the rough grass about 5 metres in front of us and sailed up the slope and out of sight. We were speechless.
As we ate, the harrier would make tantalisingly brief appearances at the edge of the field, dancing along behind the hawthorns like a butterfly. Leaving our comfortable seat, we continued up the track and paused for a few minutes, hoping for another glimpse. Suddenly a short-eared owl rose from the rough grass about 5 metres in front of us and sailed up the slope and out of sight. We were speechless.
The wind got up and it began to hail. This turned to rain which continued until we were back at the car. But we felt today that the birding had been worth the soaking!
