Friday, December 21, 2012
Winter warblers
The temporary Eton Wick pool and the Roundmoor Ditch have again become one. Four gadwall at midday gave me another "flood tick".
While I watched this Cetti's warbler foraging, a second was singing somewhere to my left and a third was singing somewhere to my right.
The Cetti's slipped back into the undergrowth, and a blackcap (a nice female) emerged instead.
There were at least two "regular" collybita chiffchaffs. This greyish one was in view for a few seconds; there seems to be a hint of yellow on the flanks, so probably not tristis. An abietinus has also been seen here, just to confuse me further; and this could be it.
I think this is the first picture I've ever taken of a robin. Anyway, I liked it against the backdrop of the flood and it is seasonal after all.
This was a smashing half-hour or so of birding snatched while I was on my way to buy some turkey foil, in bright sunshine which made up for yesterday's dismal conditions. Greger has a cold and I think I'm getting it, but a day like today makes me not care too much.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Dorney Wetlands
I parked at Lake End Road and walked downstream to the weir. A green sandpiper was out on the flood and a great crested grebe was fishing with some success in the Roundmoor Ditch. Two Cetti's warblers were singing and two yellowish chiffchaffs and a female blackcap were seen low down near the water. Pied wagtails and meadow pipits were feeding between the floods on the common.
On the way back I saw dumpy shapes in the alders near the red bridge, which said "waxwing" despite the fact that in the glum light they were little more than silhouettes.
I had time to spare today and could have stayed longer, but I reasoned that while the birds are up in the alders they are not feeding. So I left. A nice Dorney tick on my birthday.
Monday, December 17, 2012
A small flock of siskins and redpolls in alders below the weir kept me happy for some time at Dorney Wetlands.
I had fleeting views of a water rail and a Cetti's warbler and saw at least three chiffchaffs. One was cold and grey in colour so maybe it was the Sibe, but by then the light was too bad for pictures.
