A last 2 attempts today failed to produce that all important one more species for 2016. I am not unhappy it's been a great year for me, for many I think.
At LFGP today, new in a rare December Shelduck in the SW corner til dark, 2 Jack Snipe, 29+ Snipe, Little Egret, Cetti's and Water Rail should hopefully all be available tomorrow to help kick off another year list. Will I find that Ferruginous?
The Shelduck was new for December, making a new high count of 87, beating the old 2010 record by one.
The month species total counts went like this;
New or = 1st place :
January - 90
March - 99
May - 96 (= 2012)
June - 90
October - 99
December - 87
New or = 2nd place :
February - 88 (= 2008)
August - 101
September - 102
November - 86
New 3rd place :
April - 108
Happy New Year everyone, I hope the fireworks end abruptly.
Saturday, 31 December 2016
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
A last minute bird?
I have been too busy to post, but have been grabbing the odd 30-60 minute visit, Jack Snipe the other day at LFGP to prove to myself one was still around, but now 3 attempts have not got me the Ferruginous. Yesterday I was waiting near the North end of Heron's Water and heard a 'different call'.
My brain said "did that call go up in pitch or down?", and the bird repeated itself ..."down then". So if it wasn't a Coal Tit what was it? Does Coal Tit call ever fall, rather than rise?
I am not ruling out Marsh Tit yet and spent the last hour of good light searching Middle Marsh and Heron's Water. No joy.
WSL and all looked good for Bittern, a bird showed bang in the middle 16:07 but while I was 'WhatsApp'ing it, lost it, only to find a bird well left minutes later. This bird was very alert and kept peering, stretching, etc. It flew back to the right, landing just left of in line with the only pale tree trunk. I think it is likely there is two.
David Rimes seeing Peregrine on 24th puts December =1st best, there's time to add another one, a Skylark, Ruff, Goosander, Woodcock, Smew, Firecrest, Brambling.....
My brain said "did that call go up in pitch or down?", and the bird repeated itself ..."down then". So if it wasn't a Coal Tit what was it? Does Coal Tit call ever fall, rather than rise?
I am not ruling out Marsh Tit yet and spent the last hour of good light searching Middle Marsh and Heron's Water. No joy.
WSL and all looked good for Bittern, a bird showed bang in the middle 16:07 but while I was 'WhatsApp'ing it, lost it, only to find a bird well left minutes later. This bird was very alert and kept peering, stretching, etc. It flew back to the right, landing just left of in line with the only pale tree trunk. I think it is likely there is two.
David Rimes seeing Peregrine on 24th puts December =1st best, there's time to add another one, a Skylark, Ruff, Goosander, Woodcock, Smew, Firecrest, Brambling.....
Friday, 16 December 2016
Best birds gone missing
I've checked up and down WSL for the Ferruginous, but no sign and there has been no sign of the Scaup since Sunday. Same for Jack Snipe, but it is likely one is still present somewhere.
I've done a couple of dusks, one at Teal, one at Bittern, but nothing to report.
Today, a Coal Tit on the feeders opposite side of Loddon, so 84 for December, but still missing Great Black-backed Gull.
Big flock of 186 Teal yesterday, many flushed off by a juvenile Buzzard on the bund again. 31 Snipe today, 120+ Teal.
Berksbirds is saying a flock of Waxwing in Maidenhead, gives us hope we might get on yet this winter, but I'm not hopeful as we don't have much Mountain Ash, no Sorbus, or Pyracantha, etc.
I've done a couple of dusks, one at Teal, one at Bittern, but nothing to report.
Today, a Coal Tit on the feeders opposite side of Loddon, so 84 for December, but still missing Great Black-backed Gull.
Big flock of 186 Teal yesterday, many flushed off by a juvenile Buzzard on the bund again. 31 Snipe today, 120+ Teal.
Berksbirds is saying a flock of Waxwing in Maidenhead, gives us hope we might get on yet this winter, but I'm not hopeful as we don't have much Mountain Ash, no Sorbus, or Pyracantha, etc.
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
No change
Lea Farm offered nothing really, well the Red Kite perched opposite the hide on the Loddon was nice.
Lavell's had 41+ Snipe, the ducks well spread out, so I decided not to try and count them.
Lavell's had 41+ Snipe, the ducks well spread out, so I decided not to try and count them.
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
I can't help myself
Work prospects in 2017 will change my daily and weekly cycle, but until that become a certainty, I cannot help myself but play out my first few days of January.
I like to get out fairly early and plan to do so again, 2016 had me on 63 by the end of my Jan 1st, 68 by 2nd, 71 by 3rd, 75 by 9th and by month end I was on 83, somewhat of a record for me.
I always think ahead "I wonder what great birds I'll see this year" and it is rare I get predictions right and certainly would never have predicted Nightjar in any year, so for me 2016's star bird had to be that. But perhaps because I had become obsessed with Little Stint, that this little beauty also brings so much pleasure...I'm still gutted it didn't stay for friends to see.
Then there's the Tree Pipit on the deck, that hasn't happened in about 30 years, not forgetting the Ring Ouzel, again 28 years since the last one.
In many respects 2016, like 2014, feels like a year of long overdue repeats, or second chances and I am one happy bunny, with one more to go for that unbelievable life list of 200.
My top new DP lifer predictions as wrong as they might be, remain;
Great Northern Diver
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Ring-necked Duck
Common Crane
Little Bittern
Long-eared Owl
Great Reed Warbler
If 2014 and 2016 were indicators of how life really pans out, then long awaited patch ticks for me should include;
Red Throated Diver
Cattle Egret
Spoonbill
Long Tailed Duck
Shag
Red Breasted Merganser
Red Footed Falcon
Curlew Sandpiper
Grey Phalarope
Iceland Gull
Hoopoe
Marsh Warbler
Hawfinch
I like to get out fairly early and plan to do so again, 2016 had me on 63 by the end of my Jan 1st, 68 by 2nd, 71 by 3rd, 75 by 9th and by month end I was on 83, somewhat of a record for me.
I always think ahead "I wonder what great birds I'll see this year" and it is rare I get predictions right and certainly would never have predicted Nightjar in any year, so for me 2016's star bird had to be that. But perhaps because I had become obsessed with Little Stint, that this little beauty also brings so much pleasure...I'm still gutted it didn't stay for friends to see.
Then there's the Tree Pipit on the deck, that hasn't happened in about 30 years, not forgetting the Ring Ouzel, again 28 years since the last one.
In many respects 2016, like 2014, feels like a year of long overdue repeats, or second chances and I am one happy bunny, with one more to go for that unbelievable life list of 200.
My top new DP lifer predictions as wrong as they might be, remain;
Great Northern Diver
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Ring-necked Duck
Common Crane
Little Bittern
Long-eared Owl
Great Reed Warbler
If 2014 and 2016 were indicators of how life really pans out, then long awaited patch ticks for me should include;
Red Throated Diver
Cattle Egret
Spoonbill
Long Tailed Duck
Shag
Red Breasted Merganser
Red Footed Falcon
Curlew Sandpiper
Grey Phalarope
Iceland Gull
Hoopoe
Marsh Warbler
Hawfinch
And it makes me wonder
No excitement, but a pleasant walk to the North side today, LFGP - 2 Little Egret, 15+ Fieldfare and 50+ Redwing in the trees opposite the green bridge, a Goldfinch flock of around 40, 12-13 Snipe, 9 Herring Gull, 19 Common Gull, a few Wigeon and Gadwall.
On Sandford I could not pick out the Scaup, 40-50 Pochard and 30-40 Tufties. Lavell's 33 Snipe, 100+ Teal, 90+ Shoveler.
Finishing my loop, I was sort of checking crests and saw the Chiffchaff in the trees near the yellow gate.
So month wise, we are missing Coal Tit and Great Black-backed Gull, but we are already on 83 equal 3rd with 2009 and 2015, with 86 being the record, it is surely highly possible we can pass that.
December candidates are numerous, most obviously Goosander and Smew, but others include Red Crested Pochard, Peregrine, Ruff, Curlew, Dunlin, Firecrest, other swans, or geese,...even Lesser Redpoll and whilst rare Merlin and Yellowhammer are not out of the question.
On Sandford I could not pick out the Scaup, 40-50 Pochard and 30-40 Tufties. Lavell's 33 Snipe, 100+ Teal, 90+ Shoveler.
Finishing my loop, I was sort of checking crests and saw the Chiffchaff in the trees near the yellow gate.
So month wise, we are missing Coal Tit and Great Black-backed Gull, but we are already on 83 equal 3rd with 2009 and 2015, with 86 being the record, it is surely highly possible we can pass that.
December candidates are numerous, most obviously Goosander and Smew, but others include Red Crested Pochard, Peregrine, Ruff, Curlew, Dunlin, Firecrest, other swans, or geese,...even Lesser Redpoll and whilst rare Merlin and Yellowhammer are not out of the question.
Keeping on going
I went out into the gloomy grey morning, checking yet again for a stray Goosander, yet again compelled to do WSL and while I'm at it, find that Ferruginous again.
But I didn't see either and having even checked Tufties Corner South of WSL, am wondering where the hell the Fudge has gone. Could it be on Redwood Lake? Or 'The Moors' South of that? I'll try and check over the Christmas period, but with Rick seeing it on WSL a few days ago it has to be local somewhere??
Little to mention on the whole walk, couldn't find the Scaup, Lavell's had a nice count of Teal, at least 120-130, 100+ Shoveler.
But I didn't see either and having even checked Tufties Corner South of WSL, am wondering where the hell the Fudge has gone. Could it be on Redwood Lake? Or 'The Moors' South of that? I'll try and check over the Christmas period, but with Rick seeing it on WSL a few days ago it has to be local somewhere??
Little to mention on the whole walk, couldn't find the Scaup, Lavell's had a nice count of Teal, at least 120-130, 100+ Shoveler.
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