By C. S. Lewis.
Not really. Terrible pun aside, I decided to brave the big outdoors as my last act of freedom before I return to work tomorrow, see if I couldn't have me some fun over at Wanstead. And fun I had indeed on this, the final day of March, 2011.
The day held a decent temperature (around 16°C) and the winds were very strong and westerly, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of productivity but birding is better than not birding, and I had a couple of nice surprises.
There were, of course, countless Carrion Crows all over the Flats, and the usual Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wrens and Starlings. But there was a high level of Skylark activity, with almost constant song (ah, that beautiful sound of the summer!) and display flights. I spotted a Meadow Pipit in the same area descending from a display flight, and gave myself a metaphorical, well-deserved pat on the back for being able to distinguish it from the Skylarks. Now I hope I got that identification right...
"Chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-chiff-chiff-chaff" pealed out through every area of scrub, wood and copse! These singing Chiffchaffs (a couple of which I actually managed to locate) are going to be the norm for the next few months so we'd better get used to them. No Willow Warblers or Blackcaps yet but we'll get there; it's still relatively early in migration season yet! There was a surprisingly large number of Cormorants all flying into the wind (west) throughout the afternoon, and all quite distant; perhaps this is or is not strange for Wanstead but it was fun to see. A Lesser Black-backed Gull passed over, several Greenfinches were flitting about making a racket, and I had 3 Mistle Thrushes simultaneously at one stage (with others elsewhere). And a Green Woodpecker.
The highlight, though, was the cracking female Wheatear that I watched for about 20 minutes. There's nothing quite like looking at a bird feeding, preening and hopping about, when you know said bird was doing exactly the same thing in sub-Saharan Africa perhaps under a week ago. It's also exciting to have your first sighting of the year of a real Spring migrant, as it's a sign of things to come. And although you know that it happens every single year in the same way, about the same time, and it's the same birds, you still find yourself somewhat comforted to see that it is underway once again, as if there had ever been any doubt.
And it's especially exciting for me as a new lister as it means that I can now, without any hesitation or pause, state clearly and reliably that I, Steve Torpey, saw my first Wheatear of 2011 on the 31st March. In future I shall be able to consult my Spreadsheet of Joy and Happiness, filter by 'Wheatear', then mutter under my breath, tut and shake my head, because wasn't that unusually early or late for Wheatear, especially given the location etc. etc. etc.
You may be wondering about the title. Well, I have an ear infection (hence "braving" the big outdoors) and as for the 'celebrity' part: I met Johnathan Lethbridge just after seeing my Wheatear. "Celebrity" may not be quite the right word but it was certainly good to meet the man whose blog I have been reading for such a long time, especially since it was this that piqued my interest in Wanstead in the first place. And I pointed him towards the Wheatear so he could get a photograph. He had only had his first Wheatear yesterday. Not that I'm looking to get competitive or anything...
On one final note, I have been interested in the etymology (origin/history) of the word 'Wheatear' for a while and hadn't looked it up. Here is the entry on www.etymonline.com which is supposedly accurate: type of bird, 1590s, back-formation from white-ears, lit. "white-arse". Brilliant. Just brilliant.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Sunday, 27 March 2011
...In Which I Decide it is Pretty Much Spring
Finally, it was Saturday, I'd had a long, hard week at work, and it was time to get out in the fresh air and do some birding at Rainham. Unfortunately, the weather was overcast, slightly cold, and a few drops were in the air (unlike the tremendous two or three days preceding this particular Saturday). Undeterred, I ventured to Rainham wrapped up warm and ready, and set off with Spring on my mind and a spring in my step. Pun intended.
Of course, there were the usual suspects making a noise around the visitors' centre, including the regular House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Greenfinches etc. and after a quick check for Bramblings and anything else out of the ordinary, I stomped round to the wooded area. Immediately I heard that familiar Summery call of the Chiffchaff, which I then managed to locate visually a couple of minutes later (no mean feat I tell you!) It was not prolonged, but enough to make sure that it was the bird making the noise, and had the correct colouring, size and shape. Chuffed with my first sighting of a Chiffchaff in 2011, I continued, heartened that the migrants were well on their way.
Unfortunately the wind was a cool north-easterly, ergo not good for migrants (again, unlike the previous few days which had encouraged reports of Garganey, Buzzards, Red Kites, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Sand Martins). Nonetheless, there is still much joy to get out of birding even during the crappier days - such as my Chiffchaffs; I continued to hear them most of the way around the reserve. I chanced upon a female Linnet sitting atop brambles where I hadn't expected to see a Linnet. I identified it primarily by its blackish wings as it sat, then it disappeared after a short amount of time.
Four Cormorants flew over quite distantly (I had actually got the scope on them to see what kind of geese they were... quite embarrassing) and I hit the Ken Barrett hide. From here there was quite a decent number of birds to see. I spent a good portion of time in this hide, and saw the usual Shoveler, Pintail, Little Egrets (about 7 or 8 altogether), and a huge number of Little Grebes which were making a lot of noise! I also briefly saw my first Great Crested Grebe for Rainham - an unlikely but significant bird to be missing! After checking for Snipe or Plover along all the banks and amongst the waterfowl, I began to peruse the gulls, of which there were a few dotted about swimming, and many hawking over the water diving to the pools regularly before flying back up again. Most of these were Black-headed Gulls joined by a couple of juvenile big white gulls (be they Black-backed, Herring or otherwise this birder neither knows nor cares!)
And then I caught sight of something I hadn't really seen before. A few of the gulls (one with a full black hood and a couple with obviously winter plumage) were a little smaller and more agile than the Black-headeds that they were with, and had very strikingly dark underwings, the entire length of the wing. I zoomed in and watched for a long time, wondering what this could mean. In the end, I had an idea in my mind based upon the more summer-plumaged bird and consulted my bird guide. Indeed my theory was correct! I was watching a handful of Little Gulls doing what they do best, and the key feature of identification was in fact the almost black (by contrast and from a distance) underwing, when comparing it with the virtually white underwing of a Black-headed Gull. This was excellent news, and a new bird sighting for me! I was happy to watch them for quite a while longer (during which time a seasoned, veteran-looking birder plonked himself down next to me and enquired in an air of supreme casualness and superior knowledge: "The Little Gulls out today then?" - to which I could honestly answer "Yes, yes, yes they are!" which delighted me no end). The gull-watch also yielded Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Common Gulls at various intervals.
So on round to the "new" hide (so called by myself because a) I can never remember its proper name and b) because it's the newest hide, although that will change as soon as the even newer hide near the visitors' centre is completed next month - let's call the former hide the 'West' hide henceforth for painfully obvious reasons), where I was starting to get cold and feel a bit groggy. Never mind, I was there to bird, not complain. And it was lucky I did! Aside from getting some superb views of Little Egrets, I also found a total of 3 Little Ringed Plover running about along a pool's bank. This whole 'scanning the banks just in case something turns up' is excellent practice, and has bagged me a Ruff, a Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits, a Curlew, Linnets and Skylarks in the past, so it's often worth doing! Anyway, it took me a short time to identify them as Little rather than full up Ringed, and that was mainly by the white band above the eyes that joined on top of the head, rather than on the Ringed where it nowhere near joins. That was the main feature, but everything else seemed to fit as well (from a distance, don't forget). So no need to go to College Lake this year after all!
Finally I left the hide and walked back to the visitors' centre. During this stint I was rewarded with a hovering Kestrel, a singing Skylark (which I only heard, typically), and a pair of out-of-place Lapwing flying madly about pee-witting and reminding me of the flocks of thousands I had seen at Rainham mere weeks ago. All gone to breed on hills now I suppose.
One thing that has been at the back of my mind is that I haven't seen any Bearded Tits for a long time now. Of the ten times I have visited Rainham Marshes, I have only seen the Bearded Tits twice: on the second and fourth times I went. I suppose I was just very lucky those two times, and to get such incredible and intimate views, but I can't help but suppress the feeling that I should stay reed-watching for about half an hour or so on my next visit, waiting for the little blighters to come pinging along for me. I miss them!
Google informs me that it is a mere 23 days until Dad and I head to Suffolk. I'm so excited about that trip - I have already set targets (not that achieving them has anything to do with skill whatsoever; I just need to be standing there looking in a particular direction - let's call them prizes rather than targets then): Bronze - Blackcap, Silver - Wheatear, Gold - Garganey, Platinum - Hoopoe.
I think they're reasonable!
Of course, there were the usual suspects making a noise around the visitors' centre, including the regular House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Greenfinches etc. and after a quick check for Bramblings and anything else out of the ordinary, I stomped round to the wooded area. Immediately I heard that familiar Summery call of the Chiffchaff, which I then managed to locate visually a couple of minutes later (no mean feat I tell you!) It was not prolonged, but enough to make sure that it was the bird making the noise, and had the correct colouring, size and shape. Chuffed with my first sighting of a Chiffchaff in 2011, I continued, heartened that the migrants were well on their way.
Unfortunately the wind was a cool north-easterly, ergo not good for migrants (again, unlike the previous few days which had encouraged reports of Garganey, Buzzards, Red Kites, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Sand Martins). Nonetheless, there is still much joy to get out of birding even during the crappier days - such as my Chiffchaffs; I continued to hear them most of the way around the reserve. I chanced upon a female Linnet sitting atop brambles where I hadn't expected to see a Linnet. I identified it primarily by its blackish wings as it sat, then it disappeared after a short amount of time.
Four Cormorants flew over quite distantly (I had actually got the scope on them to see what kind of geese they were... quite embarrassing) and I hit the Ken Barrett hide. From here there was quite a decent number of birds to see. I spent a good portion of time in this hide, and saw the usual Shoveler, Pintail, Little Egrets (about 7 or 8 altogether), and a huge number of Little Grebes which were making a lot of noise! I also briefly saw my first Great Crested Grebe for Rainham - an unlikely but significant bird to be missing! After checking for Snipe or Plover along all the banks and amongst the waterfowl, I began to peruse the gulls, of which there were a few dotted about swimming, and many hawking over the water diving to the pools regularly before flying back up again. Most of these were Black-headed Gulls joined by a couple of juvenile big white gulls (be they Black-backed, Herring or otherwise this birder neither knows nor cares!)
And then I caught sight of something I hadn't really seen before. A few of the gulls (one with a full black hood and a couple with obviously winter plumage) were a little smaller and more agile than the Black-headeds that they were with, and had very strikingly dark underwings, the entire length of the wing. I zoomed in and watched for a long time, wondering what this could mean. In the end, I had an idea in my mind based upon the more summer-plumaged bird and consulted my bird guide. Indeed my theory was correct! I was watching a handful of Little Gulls doing what they do best, and the key feature of identification was in fact the almost black (by contrast and from a distance) underwing, when comparing it with the virtually white underwing of a Black-headed Gull. This was excellent news, and a new bird sighting for me! I was happy to watch them for quite a while longer (during which time a seasoned, veteran-looking birder plonked himself down next to me and enquired in an air of supreme casualness and superior knowledge: "The Little Gulls out today then?" - to which I could honestly answer "Yes, yes, yes they are!" which delighted me no end). The gull-watch also yielded Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Common Gulls at various intervals.
So on round to the "new" hide (so called by myself because a) I can never remember its proper name and b) because it's the newest hide, although that will change as soon as the even newer hide near the visitors' centre is completed next month - let's call the former hide the 'West' hide henceforth for painfully obvious reasons), where I was starting to get cold and feel a bit groggy. Never mind, I was there to bird, not complain. And it was lucky I did! Aside from getting some superb views of Little Egrets, I also found a total of 3 Little Ringed Plover running about along a pool's bank. This whole 'scanning the banks just in case something turns up' is excellent practice, and has bagged me a Ruff, a Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits, a Curlew, Linnets and Skylarks in the past, so it's often worth doing! Anyway, it took me a short time to identify them as Little rather than full up Ringed, and that was mainly by the white band above the eyes that joined on top of the head, rather than on the Ringed where it nowhere near joins. That was the main feature, but everything else seemed to fit as well (from a distance, don't forget). So no need to go to College Lake this year after all!
Finally I left the hide and walked back to the visitors' centre. During this stint I was rewarded with a hovering Kestrel, a singing Skylark (which I only heard, typically), and a pair of out-of-place Lapwing flying madly about pee-witting and reminding me of the flocks of thousands I had seen at Rainham mere weeks ago. All gone to breed on hills now I suppose.
One thing that has been at the back of my mind is that I haven't seen any Bearded Tits for a long time now. Of the ten times I have visited Rainham Marshes, I have only seen the Bearded Tits twice: on the second and fourth times I went. I suppose I was just very lucky those two times, and to get such incredible and intimate views, but I can't help but suppress the feeling that I should stay reed-watching for about half an hour or so on my next visit, waiting for the little blighters to come pinging along for me. I miss them!
Google informs me that it is a mere 23 days until Dad and I head to Suffolk. I'm so excited about that trip - I have already set targets (not that achieving them has anything to do with skill whatsoever; I just need to be standing there looking in a particular direction - let's call them prizes rather than targets then): Bronze - Blackcap, Silver - Wheatear, Gold - Garganey, Platinum - Hoopoe.
I think they're reasonable!
Thursday, 24 March 2011
First Chiffchaff!
I just heard my first Chiffchaff of the year on my way back to the flat in London from Sainsbury's! Unmistakeable call, and only a few days after Dad had his first call in Aylesbury! Very pleased, as it means spring is well and truly arriving.
In other news, the Mistle Thrush is still in Bethnal Green Park - I see it pretty much every other day when I walk through on my way to work. Also this weekend I should have a nice birding shift on Saturday morning when I shall go to Rainham and catch up with spring!
In other news, the Mistle Thrush is still in Bethnal Green Park - I see it pretty much every other day when I walk through on my way to work. Also this weekend I should have a nice birding shift on Saturday morning when I shall go to Rainham and catch up with spring!
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Rainham Againam
Since I hadn't been to Rainham for such a while, and with the potential lack of unemployment entirely imminent, I decided on Friday to spend half a day birding at the reserve. It turned out to be a pretty sunny day, and the temperature and wind were within acceptable limits too! Lovely!
I would love to say there was a definite feeling of Spring in the air, but unfortunately there was only a mere hint thereof. Nonetheless, I stomped round without time limiting me, taking in all the sights and sounds. Granted, there were more birds singing than there had been for the last few months, but it was still Dunnock-centric. They're early singers and I really wanted to be hearing more Blackbirds, Greenfinches and Great Tits. Even Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but I suppose it's a bit too early to be getting into that quite yet...
Plenty of waterfowl! Teal and Wigeon in great numbers, with Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard and Gadwall in only slightly lesser numbers (especially Shelduck - more than I've seen at Rainham before). I heard a Cetti's Warbler singing a couple of times, and counted at least 4 Little Egrets. There was one Greylag Goose in with all the Canada Geese. Otherwise, for the most part, pretty much what you would expect from a large body of marsh and water.
Although there were one or two surprises and/or nice things to see as I progressed round the reserve. I spent what must have been about 15 minutes watching one small Pipit, trying to work out what it was. I had pretty much decided on Rock Pipit, then to my disappointment I saw its legs finally in a better light: they were pink! This was sad as it meant that I had been studying a Meadow Pipit intently for a decent amount of time, although I look at it as experience in Pipit identification, which, let's face it, I need a hell of a lot more experience in...
Another surprise amongst the Lapwing and good few Golden Plover (some of which were developing a little black on their fronts ready for breeding plumage), was a Ruff that suddenly popped out from behind a mound and ran back and forth along an island feeding for a long time. Again, I'm not hugely good with a lot of waders, so it took a while to identify. My main deciding factor (after I'd decided I was pretty sure) was a reserve warden speaking to a friend, describing the Ruff, calling it a Ruff, and then assuring me it was a Ruff. So that was a nice thing to see anyway, although I missed the Little Ringed Plover he spotted further along the island while I was trying to identify the Ruff. Still, College Lake in the Summer is all I need for a LRP tick!
Along with a lone sleeping Curlew, a multitude of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a surprise Snipe, a Little Grebe that I snuck up on and scared the living daylights out of entirely by accident, and a pair of Stock Doves feeding under the feeders by the visitors' centre, I had distant but good views of a hunting female Hen Harrier. It was quite brief but the white rump was all too telling.
So unfortunately, I might not be getting the chance to do a lot of birding in the next while, what with full time employment starting up tomorrow (and hopefully going on further than the one-week trial period). Therefore these posts could be even sparser than they have been of late. Still, I'm immensely looking forward to my next trip with Dad to Suffolk: four days of birding bliss!
I would love to say there was a definite feeling of Spring in the air, but unfortunately there was only a mere hint thereof. Nonetheless, I stomped round without time limiting me, taking in all the sights and sounds. Granted, there were more birds singing than there had been for the last few months, but it was still Dunnock-centric. They're early singers and I really wanted to be hearing more Blackbirds, Greenfinches and Great Tits. Even Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but I suppose it's a bit too early to be getting into that quite yet...
Plenty of waterfowl! Teal and Wigeon in great numbers, with Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard and Gadwall in only slightly lesser numbers (especially Shelduck - more than I've seen at Rainham before). I heard a Cetti's Warbler singing a couple of times, and counted at least 4 Little Egrets. There was one Greylag Goose in with all the Canada Geese. Otherwise, for the most part, pretty much what you would expect from a large body of marsh and water.
Although there were one or two surprises and/or nice things to see as I progressed round the reserve. I spent what must have been about 15 minutes watching one small Pipit, trying to work out what it was. I had pretty much decided on Rock Pipit, then to my disappointment I saw its legs finally in a better light: they were pink! This was sad as it meant that I had been studying a Meadow Pipit intently for a decent amount of time, although I look at it as experience in Pipit identification, which, let's face it, I need a hell of a lot more experience in...
Another surprise amongst the Lapwing and good few Golden Plover (some of which were developing a little black on their fronts ready for breeding plumage), was a Ruff that suddenly popped out from behind a mound and ran back and forth along an island feeding for a long time. Again, I'm not hugely good with a lot of waders, so it took a while to identify. My main deciding factor (after I'd decided I was pretty sure) was a reserve warden speaking to a friend, describing the Ruff, calling it a Ruff, and then assuring me it was a Ruff. So that was a nice thing to see anyway, although I missed the Little Ringed Plover he spotted further along the island while I was trying to identify the Ruff. Still, College Lake in the Summer is all I need for a LRP tick!
Along with a lone sleeping Curlew, a multitude of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a surprise Snipe, a Little Grebe that I snuck up on and scared the living daylights out of entirely by accident, and a pair of Stock Doves feeding under the feeders by the visitors' centre, I had distant but good views of a hunting female Hen Harrier. It was quite brief but the white rump was all too telling.
So unfortunately, I might not be getting the chance to do a lot of birding in the next while, what with full time employment starting up tomorrow (and hopefully going on further than the one-week trial period). Therefore these posts could be even sparser than they have been of late. Still, I'm immensely looking forward to my next trip with Dad to Suffolk: four days of birding bliss!
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Jogging Birding
Almost every morning that I go jogging in my local park, I find I see something at least vaguely interesting. Whether it is a Jay, a Long-tailed Tit, or even a Mistle Thrush, it's nice to be able to appreciate birds even when not particularly looking for them.
I mention this because today, once again, I saw the Mistle Thrush in roughly the same area as a few weeks ago. This time it had been joined by a mate! I'll take my binoculars along tomorrow morning and confirm that they definitely are what I think they are (I don't want them to end up being Fieldfares just because I don't wear my glasses whilst jogging!)
That doesn't put the previous sighting into disrepute, as I had glasses and binoculars then. No, this time I struggle to see what else it could be, but need to be 100% positive.
In addition, I very often hear a Woodpecker of some sort drumming in one particular area of the park! I'm guessing Great-Spotted from the description of the drumming's length in my book, but it will be interesting to see it finally.
Quick post, over and out!
I mention this because today, once again, I saw the Mistle Thrush in roughly the same area as a few weeks ago. This time it had been joined by a mate! I'll take my binoculars along tomorrow morning and confirm that they definitely are what I think they are (I don't want them to end up being Fieldfares just because I don't wear my glasses whilst jogging!)
That doesn't put the previous sighting into disrepute, as I had glasses and binoculars then. No, this time I struggle to see what else it could be, but need to be 100% positive.
In addition, I very often hear a Woodpecker of some sort drumming in one particular area of the park! I'm guessing Great-Spotted from the description of the drumming's length in my book, but it will be interesting to see it finally.
Quick post, over and out!
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