Friday, September 30, 2011
At Dorney Wetlands yesterday evening the farmer was baling up the cut grass, and the scene looked set to attract migrating chats.
So I went down early this morning, but not early enough to beat several dog walkers and the farmer himself, who'd returned to wrap up his bales in black plastic. And not a chat in sight!
However, the walk wasn't without its compensations. A sedge warbler popped up in the first reed-bed from the car park, and its call was answered by another, unseen bird. To me it sounded like "tek".
Near the weir, I had good views of a Cetti's warbler at the base of a tree, bowing and tail-cocking and muttering while a second bird was vocal nearby. In fact, I heard five (possibly six) Cetti's along the river, four of them singing.
I now have a horribly sore throat; and as Greger has bronchitis, it looks as though there'll be no walking this weekend. :o(
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
I got down to Dorney Wetlands early this morning and once the fog had cleared it was still and bright, although not sunny. However the peace was soon shattered by men at work, clearing vegetation from the river edges. The grass on both north and south banks was mowed a couple of days ago but it may be too late for autumn chats.
A grey wagtail was at the weir and there were two green sandpipers on the concrete shoring opposite.
There seemed to be chiffchaffs in every other bush and tree, and a few swallows went over heading south. A wader flying high and then dropping steeply onto East Marsh was my first snipe of the autumn.
I'd already had a glimpse of a Cetti's warbler at the weir, and heard two more along the river; now a fourth individual exploded into song. Years ago we'd spend hours at Titchfield Haven in Hampshire trying to spot Cetti's warblers and roseate terns; both species have now been seen much closer to home. Perhaps sooner or later, everything will come to the Jubilee River!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Forest and heath
This is one of many flighty, vocal siskins heard and/or seen on my walk today.
As I watched a small flock of siskins by the stream, a firecrest sang a few times from bushes but I could only get a brief, obstructed view of him through twigs and leaves. Several stonechats were hunting from vantage points in the otherwise-quiet heather. But best of all, out on the Surrey heaths, a couple of singing woodlarks made this belated bit of summer feel like the real thing.
In the forest, birds seen included two treecreepers, loads of goldcrests, and a buzzard; while over the heathlands swallows and house martins were flying, fairly low and leisurely, but very definitely, south. Having since seen reports of huge numbers moving across the country today I wish now I had taken more notice of this visible migration.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Dorney
I've been fretting about not seeing many whinchats this year, so I was pleased to spot this one at the wetlands behind the monument hill.
Half a dozen meadow pipits were on the common near the stream, which I've just discovered is called Cress Brook (although further to the east where it runs into the Thames, it's known as Boveney Ditch). You live and learn.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Dorney
On an early-evening walk at the wetlands, I just caught sight of a black-tailed godwit taking off from the overgrown island near the main-path hides. It flew over the south bank and was seen a bit later on the common, again foraging restlessly among lapwings and starlings.
A small number of yellow wagtails could just be seen with the cattle, while back on the wetlands a single churruping skylark rose from the grass and a Cetti's warbler sang in the distance.Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Burnham Beeches
Having swept and raked up three sackfuls of beech-nut husks in the garden this afternoon, I drove to the recycling centre in Crow Piece Lane. Naturally I took bins and camera, and on a short walk from East Burnham Common I was lucky enough to see a singing firecrest. This was my second sighting of firecrest in the Beeches (third if I count Egypt Woods), and was some compensation for no longer being able to park near my most productive area for lesser spotted woodpecker.
Dorney Common
I went out early on a sunny, dewy morning and saw at least nine yellow wagtails with the cattle, some of the latter being too boisterous to allow a close approach.
The black-tailed godwit was again foraging in the grass, probably no more than 50 metres from rush-hour traffic.
A whinchat was hunting among thistles on the opposite side of the road.
A Cetti's warbler sang unseen from reeds on the Jubilee River and there were five grey wagtails at the weir.Monday, September 12, 2011
Dorney Common
Awkwardly-placed cattle and strong winds made it difficult to search for yellow wagtails on a quick visit this evening, but I eventually located four distant individuals.
I was looking into the sun, but decided to scan a mixed flock of lapwings and starlings in case any golden plover were among them. What I saw instead was a long-legged wader that needed further investigation.
Walking along parallel with the road but on the opposite side to the birds, I took this shot in case they flew.
Using the big log for partial cover I had fairly good views over the bank of a black-tailed godwit, in the gaps between passing cars.
All the birds flew up at one point but they settled again almost at once, and when I left, the godwit was having a nap.
One wheatear was seen on the way back to the car; unfortunately I didn't have time to search for any more.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Greger has a bad cold and can't go walking, so I stayed near home. This morning I paid another visit to Cliveden and sat in the picnic area overlooking the pond. Blackcaps, nuthatches, goldcrests and coal tits were all nearby; and then a firecrest came whirring round a conifer.
You'd think after yesterday's effort I would leave well alone; but I can't resist snapping away, although all I've achieved is a blurred firecrest leaving the picture.
Two late additions for the garden. I can't ID these down to genus, never mind species; but I think they are an ichneumon wasp....
.....and some sort of cranefly.
This afternoon I had a short walk on Dorney Common where first a hobby and then a sparrowhawk sped over. As I was leaving, a wheatear flashed across the road in front of me but I couldn't locate it on the ground and I couldn't see any yellow wagtails with the cattle. Thursday, September 08, 2011
Cliveden
I hadn't seen a firecrest this year, so it was my target bird in a late-afternoon visit. A shortish walk brought a peregrine cruising high above the river; but it wasn't until I was back near the car park that a patient scan of a mixed flock of tits and goldcrests finally paid off.
Shocking picture - best I could manage. A willow warbler was also moving along with the flock.Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Sweeping up beech nuts early this morning I found this tiny, lively insect on the Skimmia. It's probably a Spider Wasp, so called because it's a wasp that eats spiders. Love the spiky legs.
Driving to the tip through Maidenhead, I stopped at the pedestrian crossing in York Road and saw a kingfisher zip from left to right following the stream.Sunday, September 04, 2011
Dorney
Four yellow wagtails were still with the cattle on the common this morning. At the wetlands in the afternoon I spent some time watching two hobbies which were busy catching insects above the islands.
On the top of the south ridge near the weir I was lucky enough to see this beetle (although when I showed him the picture, Greger didn't seem to think luck had much to do with it).
It's a male Lesser Stag Beetle or Dorcus Beetle; he's quite a bit smaller than a Stag Beetle, with a wider head but smaller jaws or "antlers". He was obliging enough to stand still on the muddy path for his portrait - which is more than you could say for the hobbies.The Downs (yesterday)
It didn't rain, but the sun barely showed its face during a windy 9-miler from Bury Down. Having bought Cornish pasties at Chieveley Services we did the stretch from the car park to the second horse jump in record time, in order to eat them while they were still hot.
A whinchat was on the far side of the gallops, and a woman walking her dogs flushed it over towards us. It landed in a nearby hawthorn, allowing me to get a record shot.
There were loads of swallows and house martins over West Ilsley, and plenty of warblers in the hedgerow on the Catmore road. But no more migrants were forthcoming until just after Scutchamer Knob, when two wheatears were seen foraging out on the field next to the Ridgeway.
A whinchat was hunting from the fence, though whether a different bird from the morning one on Cow Down I couldn't say.
The only presentable photo I took was of the benchmark number on the Fore Down triangulation pillar.....
.....and, considering it stood absolutely still and I was able to walk right up to it, that's not very good either.(Fore Down name from trigpointingUK.com with www. prefix)
