Cloudy but mild. A very light south-westerly. Dave and I struggled to get out of first gear today.
The sum total of a couple of hours' effort was Green Sandpiper, two Stonechats, 53 Teal, 20 Mallard, a Coot, and 13 Lapwings on the Flash Field, four more Coots on the pool, and a Little Egret which appeared briefly in flight just west of the recording area.
Later on we could see another 76 Lapwings flying around miles to the south-west.
Examination of a couple of likely spots produced several Barn Owl pellets.
There will be better days.
Sunday, 28 January 2018
Sunday, 21 January 2018
Sunday January 21
It's very frustrating. You wait all week for Sunday to come around and it rains, or its foggy. Today it snowed, and then it rained. Dave bailed out the night before, and I resolved to go only when/if the weather improved.
At about 13.30 it seemed to be easing, so I set out. Ironically the star bird chose to appear half a mile from the start of my patch. I was just pulling across the crossroads at Outhill, when I saw a Woodcock flutter down to the roadside. I pulled up level with it and watched it walk up the verge and into the wood. Needless to say, my camera was in the boot.
I can hardly remember the last time I saw a Woodcock on the ground, and doubt I have seen them in those circumstances more than five times in my entire life. The species also has an annoying habit of turning up just outside the Morton Bagot patch boundaries. I have flushed singles from the middle of Bannam's Wood, from fields to the west of the patch, and have seen one flying across the road not far from today's sighting. Only two have been seen, by me anyway, within the patch territory over the last ten years.
I arrived at Church Farm, and was disconcerted to note that the rain had started falling again as I was pulling my wellies on. I trudged down to the flash field where I was pleased to see that there were at least 86 Teal and a pair of Gadwall. The ducks all panicked as soon as they saw me, and although they initially sat in view on the nearest flash, they soon headed for the furthest.
With the rain still pelting down I didn't feel inclined to risk my camera (it hates the rain), and after confirming that the main pool was birdless I decided to cut my losses and head home.
It stopped raining five minutes after I headed off.
At about 13.30 it seemed to be easing, so I set out. Ironically the star bird chose to appear half a mile from the start of my patch. I was just pulling across the crossroads at Outhill, when I saw a Woodcock flutter down to the roadside. I pulled up level with it and watched it walk up the verge and into the wood. Needless to say, my camera was in the boot.
I can hardly remember the last time I saw a Woodcock on the ground, and doubt I have seen them in those circumstances more than five times in my entire life. The species also has an annoying habit of turning up just outside the Morton Bagot patch boundaries. I have flushed singles from the middle of Bannam's Wood, from fields to the west of the patch, and have seen one flying across the road not far from today's sighting. Only two have been seen, by me anyway, within the patch territory over the last ten years.
I arrived at Church Farm, and was disconcerted to note that the rain had started falling again as I was pulling my wellies on. I trudged down to the flash field where I was pleased to see that there were at least 86 Teal and a pair of Gadwall. The ducks all panicked as soon as they saw me, and although they initially sat in view on the nearest flash, they soon headed for the furthest.
With the rain still pelting down I didn't feel inclined to risk my camera (it hates the rain), and after confirming that the main pool was birdless I decided to cut my losses and head home.
It stopped raining five minutes after I headed off.
Sunday, 14 January 2018
Sunday January 14
I managed to get down a little earlier this morning and with a backdrop of leaden skies and barely any wind I set about hoovering up the easy year-ticks I had inexplicably missed on my previous visit.
The first was a pair of Collared Doves which I noticed from the car as I drove passed Church Farm. They were sitting in their usual place on the telephone wires. At Netherstead a Weasel dashed across the path, and I counted 18 Lesser Redpolls before scoping a single Redwing. The ludicrousness of not seeing any Redwings on my last visit was laid bare by a flock at least 75 of the blighters in the field at High Field Farm.
As Dave arrived disaster (in birding terms) struck. He had just emerged from his car and I was walking towards him. "What are those?" Over my shoulder two swans were heading north towards Bannams Wood. They flew silently, no wing noise and no calls. We both considered that they were not Mutes, so they were either Whoopers or Bewicks. I made a futile attempt to get my scope up, but with Dave was calling out directions such as "they're about to disappear behind the wood" I didn't even see them again. Whichever species they were they would have been the second record for Morton Bagot, but with no positive identification they have to remain as a frustrating near miss.
We decided to take the road past Bannams Wood as most of the species I was missing were woodland birds. First to fall was Marsh Tit, as there was one on the feeders at the barn conversions. The walk along the road added three Goldcrests, and we ended up seeing at least 28 Long-tailed Tits. From within Bannams Wood came the sound of a singing Mistle Thrush, and a calling Treecreeper.
The walk back down through the fields took in the Tawny Owl in its usual spot, and we found that the Linnet flock had swelled to 200. They were being marauded by a female Sparrowhawk.
We were always going to walk through the marsh today, so we jumped the gate and soon added a couple of Meadow Pipits before we got to the really gloopy bit. A total of 24 Common Snipe flew out of the sedge, and eventually so did our main target, a single Jack Snipe.
We finally got to the flash field where at least 47 Teal were keeping company with 26 Black-headed Gulls, two Stonechats, and a Lapwing.
On the return journey we could see about 20 Greylag Geese and two Mute Swans behind a hedgerow, and counted 10 Siskins as they flew over.
I finally got my camera out.
The last year tick was on the dragonfly ponds. A Coot.
So that was thirteen year ticks in the bag, and one which went begging. The day's list of mammals was good too: Roe Deer, Muntjac, Brown Hare, Grey Squirrel, Weasel, and vole/mouse sp (there were several sightings in the pool field whilst scanning for Jack Snipes.)
The first was a pair of Collared Doves which I noticed from the car as I drove passed Church Farm. They were sitting in their usual place on the telephone wires. At Netherstead a Weasel dashed across the path, and I counted 18 Lesser Redpolls before scoping a single Redwing. The ludicrousness of not seeing any Redwings on my last visit was laid bare by a flock at least 75 of the blighters in the field at High Field Farm.
As Dave arrived disaster (in birding terms) struck. He had just emerged from his car and I was walking towards him. "What are those?" Over my shoulder two swans were heading north towards Bannams Wood. They flew silently, no wing noise and no calls. We both considered that they were not Mutes, so they were either Whoopers or Bewicks. I made a futile attempt to get my scope up, but with Dave was calling out directions such as "they're about to disappear behind the wood" I didn't even see them again. Whichever species they were they would have been the second record for Morton Bagot, but with no positive identification they have to remain as a frustrating near miss.
We decided to take the road past Bannams Wood as most of the species I was missing were woodland birds. First to fall was Marsh Tit, as there was one on the feeders at the barn conversions. The walk along the road added three Goldcrests, and we ended up seeing at least 28 Long-tailed Tits. From within Bannams Wood came the sound of a singing Mistle Thrush, and a calling Treecreeper.
The walk back down through the fields took in the Tawny Owl in its usual spot, and we found that the Linnet flock had swelled to 200. They were being marauded by a female Sparrowhawk.
We were always going to walk through the marsh today, so we jumped the gate and soon added a couple of Meadow Pipits before we got to the really gloopy bit. A total of 24 Common Snipe flew out of the sedge, and eventually so did our main target, a single Jack Snipe.
We finally got to the flash field where at least 47 Teal were keeping company with 26 Black-headed Gulls, two Stonechats, and a Lapwing.
On the return journey we could see about 20 Greylag Geese and two Mute Swans behind a hedgerow, and counted 10 Siskins as they flew over.
I finally got my camera out.
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Coot |
Sunday, 7 January 2018
Sunday January 7
A cold and frosty morning for my first visit of the year. I was late again, Dave having seen among other things, a Marsh Tit.
It is of course the start of a new year list, and my first birds were a flock of 38 Lesser Redpolls feeding on Fat Hen.
We strolled back down the access road before heading towards the pool. We hadn't got too for before Dave got a text. A Whooper Swan was at Marsh Lane GP (his other patch). It would be a good year tick, and after a short period of deliberation he was off. In a further twist he then rang me to say it had been upgraded to Bewick's Swan, which would be a locality tick.
So with Dave elsewhere, I approached the flash field noticing two swans in the field behind it. They were Mute Swans. Oh well, they all count. Also on that field was a big herd of geese, but annoyingly they all took off and disappeared. Later, I saw them again and counted 117 Greylag Geese, and estimated a similar number of Canadas.
While searching for the geese I found the bird of the day, a Common Gull. A tricky species here. It accompanied at least 46 Black-headed Gulls, but was too distant for a photograph. Another good bird was a Little Egret. Just a couple of years ago this would have been a very handy find, but last year they were regular and I have no reason to think that will change.
A few Lapwings flew over, my only waders today, while no ducks, other than Mallard, were present. The flock of corvids contained at least 75 Rooks and 100 Jackdaws. A pair of Ravens flew over.
I decided to head back to the flash field in case the Common Gull had flown in. Before I got there I noticed that the Tawny Owl had decided to bask in the sunshine.
With nothing new on the flash field I headed back to my car. Here I saw an absolute belter.
Patchwork Challenge says I can tick it! It's not ringed so at least its not a racing pigeon.
My final total for the day was 51 species (plus the Feral Pigeon). Not a bad start.
PS Dave saw the Bewick's Swan. I didn't see a Marsh Tit.
It is of course the start of a new year list, and my first birds were a flock of 38 Lesser Redpolls feeding on Fat Hen.
 |
| Lesser Redpoll |
So with Dave elsewhere, I approached the flash field noticing two swans in the field behind it. They were Mute Swans. Oh well, they all count. Also on that field was a big herd of geese, but annoyingly they all took off and disappeared. Later, I saw them again and counted 117 Greylag Geese, and estimated a similar number of Canadas.
 |
| Some of the Greylags |
A few Lapwings flew over, my only waders today, while no ducks, other than Mallard, were present. The flock of corvids contained at least 75 Rooks and 100 Jackdaws. A pair of Ravens flew over.
 |
| Ravens |
 |
| Tawny Owl |
 |
| Feral Pigeon |
My final total for the day was 51 species (plus the Feral Pigeon). Not a bad start.
PS Dave saw the Bewick's Swan. I didn't see a Marsh Tit.
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