A late afternoon visit to LFGP and the much risen rivers have pushed the lake levels above the shingle island again, there were no birding highlights but the number of Black Headed Gulls coming over East to West heading for Sonning no doubt, was impressive, a very rough estimate has to be over 10,000. I scoped the steady stream hoping for lucky view of a Med, but no joy.
There were a lot fewer of everything, just 110+ Wigeon, c40 Teal, a handful of Lapwing, but not much else.
On the walk back I waited to view crests, but only saw Goldcrest, Fieldfare were still out in numbers, 80+ to the NE, then about the same number over Sandford West.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Big thaw, exodus of waders and wild goose chase
One person claimed a single Ruff this morning, but no sign by early afternoon, same for Golden Plover and I found no Snipe in a brief look on this lovely bright day.
At the end of a short work party a report of possible Pink footed Goose with Canadas on the landfill, kept us busy, but nothing was found, perhaps the small Greylag had someone going, we'll see over the coming day or so. During the search, two of us saw the year's first Great Black Backed Gull and another skylark heard going over.
At the end of a short work party a report of possible Pink footed Goose with Canadas on the landfill, kept us busy, but nothing was found, perhaps the small Greylag had someone going, we'll see over the coming day or so. During the search, two of us saw the year's first Great Black Backed Gull and another skylark heard going over.
Saturday, 26 January 2013
The sun at last
A lovely clear morning and at least 1 Ruff was on show at LFGP, plus 2 Golden Plover. Coal Tit and Nuthatch were available along the Loddon too and a nice male Lesser Redpoll showed well enough for a couple of shots for me.
Later both Ruff showed up and 5 Golden Plover were seen, a later walk at WSL produced no Bittern.
Later both Ruff showed up and 5 Golden Plover were seen, a later walk at WSL produced no Bittern.
Friday, 25 January 2013
Doubley Ruff
A brief visit this morning but I failed to find the Ruff again, I did see 1 Dunlin again on the far landfill cell and good numbers of Fieldfare to the far right. Another report of LSW made me feel like I have to connect soon.
Later Brian texted to say he'd finally connected with 2 Golden Plover at LFGP, so I fancied another 'bird day' for my January tally and headed on down.
We passed each other half way and I hurried on, hoping for a closer picture opportunity, instead the first bird I scoped was the Ruff, so I clicked away. Then began panning left, only to see a Ruff flying in from the right and thinking I might have lost it for a moment, I watched it land and went back the spot where I'd seen it first and quickly realised it was a second, which had more white around the face...excellent, 2 Ruff is a fantastic winter record.
I then looked for the 2 Golden Plover, which were miles away in the far right of the far landfill cell.
Ian arrived and year ticked the Ruff, but Marek arrived just a few minutes too late for us to re-find them in the quickening gloom.
Later Brian texted to say he'd finally connected with 2 Golden Plover at LFGP, so I fancied another 'bird day' for my January tally and headed on down.
We passed each other half way and I hurried on, hoping for a closer picture opportunity, instead the first bird I scoped was the Ruff, so I clicked away. Then began panning left, only to see a Ruff flying in from the right and thinking I might have lost it for a moment, I watched it land and went back the spot where I'd seen it first and quickly realised it was a second, which had more white around the face...excellent, 2 Ruff is a fantastic winter record.
I then looked for the 2 Golden Plover, which were miles away in the far right of the far landfill cell.
Ian arrived and year ticked the Ruff, but Marek arrived just a few minutes too late for us to re-find them in the quickening gloom.
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| Ruff 2 |
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| Ruff 1 |
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| Both Ruff either side of Lapwing |
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Very Ruff
Brian called me whilst I was at my mothers with my son around 15:40 and said he had a Ruff at Lea Farm, distantly on the far landfill. So I dashed home, dropped shopping and Ethan with Emi and shot down. Trev had got there just ahead of me, both were watching the bird from Ron's hide on my arrival.
I faffed about for a moment not getting the right vent, etc, then got onto the splendid distant little wader, which was a brilliant find by Brian.
After a failed search to find Brian Golden Plover, we watched the Ruff with newly arrived Pete, until it was just about too dark to see it and all trudged back along the path. Ian arrived as we stood in the layby and told him he would be very lucky to pick it up now....he headed off anyway.
This was only the second ever January Ruff, Brian Uttley reporting one 14th Jan 1997, last years February 2nd bird was the second ever February record, the first reported 19th 1990 initials (LB), if we knew who that was, we could validate it. Anyway, a great year tick 81 for me now and about my worst photo ever.
It's the blob left of centre.
This puts the park on 82, one better than 2004, one more to be level with 2005 & 2006. This is without Great Black Backed, Yellow Legged and Mediterranean Gulls, Peregrine, Woodcock, Shelduck, Curlew, Raven, or Blackcap. With Pintail and Red Breasted Merganser at Sonning, both of these could drop in!?
I faffed about for a moment not getting the right vent, etc, then got onto the splendid distant little wader, which was a brilliant find by Brian.
After a failed search to find Brian Golden Plover, we watched the Ruff with newly arrived Pete, until it was just about too dark to see it and all trudged back along the path. Ian arrived as we stood in the layby and told him he would be very lucky to pick it up now....he headed off anyway.
This was only the second ever January Ruff, Brian Uttley reporting one 14th Jan 1997, last years February 2nd bird was the second ever February record, the first reported 19th 1990 initials (LB), if we knew who that was, we could validate it. Anyway, a great year tick 81 for me now and about my worst photo ever.
This puts the park on 82, one better than 2004, one more to be level with 2005 & 2006. This is without Great Black Backed, Yellow Legged and Mediterranean Gulls, Peregrine, Woodcock, Shelduck, Curlew, Raven, or Blackcap. With Pintail and Red Breasted Merganser at Sonning, both of these could drop in!?
General walk about
I brought quality mixed seed and went upstream along the Loddon, opposite Sandford Copse to WSL, throwing handfuls in thick undergrowth and ivy clumps at eye height, I guess I am hoping Wrens, Dunnocks and maybe even the odd Goldcrest will get a much needed snack and help them along until it warms up Fri/Sat, as forecast.
I went on to BSL counting 16 Goldeneye, 7 males, so quite a good count, a couple of Bullfinch went over, 2 Treecreeper near to Sandford hide, then scanning gulls, I got onto a an adult and a 1st winter that looked quite good for Yellow Legged, but miles away at the South end, so off I marched to check them out, but they both turned out to be Herrings.....better safe than sorry.
I looped back via the West side of Sandford, 2-3 Goldcrest, a mixed flock of tits, 1's and 2's of Redwing and Fieldfare over, but nothing on the lake as it was still totoally frozen.
Contemplating a very quick run up to LFGP, I had a Great Spotted Woodpecker, double checking for Lesser, but no luck. A few Goldfinch, Chaffinch and more tits were all near the Mill and I decided to head home for a late breakfast without going to LFGP, hoping nothing was there.
I went on to BSL counting 16 Goldeneye, 7 males, so quite a good count, a couple of Bullfinch went over, 2 Treecreeper near to Sandford hide, then scanning gulls, I got onto a an adult and a 1st winter that looked quite good for Yellow Legged, but miles away at the South end, so off I marched to check them out, but they both turned out to be Herrings.....better safe than sorry.
I looped back via the West side of Sandford, 2-3 Goldcrest, a mixed flock of tits, 1's and 2's of Redwing and Fieldfare over, but nothing on the lake as it was still totoally frozen.
Contemplating a very quick run up to LFGP, I had a Great Spotted Woodpecker, double checking for Lesser, but no luck. A few Goldfinch, Chaffinch and more tits were all near the Mill and I decided to head home for a late breakfast without going to LFGP, hoping nothing was there.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Coal Tit then 2 Dunlin again
Just as I passed alongside Teal Hide I heard a Coal Tit, which kindly showed in the Blackthorn above my head immediately, then flew across the Loddon to the Christmas trees and away, so well chuffed to get to 80 for the year so soon and being on par with the park felt great too. But then Richard runied it by telling me he'd had Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near Sandford Mill!
Now, I know I'm repeating myself, but normally Dunlin don't stick around and yet this morning we found 2, 1 on the lake edge, the other up on the near landfill's snow covered summit, both in company with Snipe. notable that the lake edge bird is very buff, but the further bird is white and grey kind of captured in my hillarious pictures;
Still 30-40 Snipe present and one distant Golden Plover, probably the same one I photo'd before with a huge super, but way too distant to see anything on it
Now, I know I'm repeating myself, but normally Dunlin don't stick around and yet this morning we found 2, 1 on the lake edge, the other up on the near landfill's snow covered summit, both in company with Snipe. notable that the lake edge bird is very buff, but the further bird is white and grey kind of captured in my hillarious pictures;
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| Buffy Dunlin |
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| Further away Dunlin |
Still 30-40 Snipe present and one distant Golden Plover, probably the same one I photo'd before with a huge super, but way too distant to see anything on it
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