Description
my encounters, often random, with local avian species
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Pembrokeshire birds
I spent last week holdaying in Pembrokeshire, not birding specifically
but observing what was around me. The result was quite few birds that I
have not seen before. The first new bird was a gannet- several in fact
diving just off the beach at saundersfoot. I have wanted to see Gannets
for some time so that was a pleasant surpise, especially as I had not
expected them in such a touristy place.
A boat trip around ramsey island not only turned up some seals but
several shags - also a first. Plus a small colony of Fulmar and a
peregrine overhead.
A little down the coast in Solva was a pair of Rock Pipit hopping around the rocks and appearing very playful.
The following day at Boshterston lilly ponds - absolutlely gorgeous
place, throughly recommend a visit - I watched 3 flycatchers of some
type. They were too far away to be sure but I think they may have
been the red breasted variety. I have been hoping for a
flycatcher this year and this was a bonus. I hope for a better view on
my next encounter.
These may not sound like spectacular birds but for a Hallow resident in
the land locked centre of the country these are all very pleasant
finds. You dont get them here.
Below is a photo of a Fulmar that I somehow captured from a rocky boat in the rain.
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Posted: 6:13 PM, Monday, August 28, 2006 |
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Hallow Hobby
| Last week produced a couple of interesting birds around Hallow, particularly in my local vicinity.The top bird was a hobby that streaked over my house yesterday. This is definitley the best bird seen from my garden even if the view was fleeting (syrpassing the kingfisher that zoomed past last year). Earlier in the week a pair of tawny owls were calling from trees and roof tops. There call was so loud it could be heard 20 miles away! ( my wife was on the phone and the other person could hear it). This takes my year tally to 3 types of owl with little owls being present in Grimley and Barn owls along Shoulton lane. |
Posted: 9:59 AM, Monday, August 14, 2006 |
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last from La Palma
The last few days in La Palma were spent watching the Spectacled
Warblers and the Bertholet's pipits from the vicinity of my
accomadation. I spent some time watching a pair of kestrels
hunting over the bushy landscape. Small birds seem to be their main
diet and several chases ensued. Plain swifts and Choughs were
still mobile and easy to find.
The final treat came just as I was leaving La Palma when I came across 3 spanish sparrows in the airport car park.
I have really enjoyed discovering some of the bird life on La Palma and
I will probably never get to see some of these species again. It was a
shame that I did not get to tour the island a bit more and look for a
few of the specialities like Laurel pigeon, but I am happy with my
birds.
To finish here are a few more photos of La Palma birds.
Spectacled Warbler
Bertholets pipit, on red volcanic soil, at sunset.
Chough
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Posted: 9:17 PM, Monday, June 19, 2006 |
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Top of La Palma
Went to the very top of La Palma, la roque de los muchachos where the
spectacular views were accompanied by a few choughs and dozens of plain
swifts carrering around the summit, some of them whistling past my ear,
a very odd disorienting feeling when you are so high up. Tried to get
some photos of the swifts but I need to work on my technique a all I
got was blue sky.
Later on a bertholets pipit came within a few feet of my window and obliged for a photo.
Here is one I took earlier of Bertholet's Pipit
Dave
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Posted: 7:57 PM, Monday, June 12, 2006 |
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more from La Palma
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Not much to add from last entry except that today I watched a
flock of half a dozen or so canary finches - well you cant come to
the Canary islands without seeing them now can you. Bertholets
pipits and spectacled warblers are very prevalent along with choughs
and plain swifts. Below is a not so great picture of a spectacled warbler on the sticky broom bushes.
D
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Posted: 1:32 AM, Monday, June 12, 2006 |
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On La Palma
I am here on the Canary Island of La Palma - work not pleasure. On top
of a mountain anove the cloud level and getting some very brief
opportunities to spot some of the local birdlife. The terrain up here
is mountainous, rough and scrub like with no trees able to survive this
high, all plant life is bushy. even so there are some intersting birds.
Bertholets pipits are relatively common and easy to spot. Also the
rough terrain is ideal for Choughs and there are certainly plenty to be
seen. Other birds include plain swifts, kestrel and raven. Canarian
chiff chaff are around with a different yet familiar call. So far
my favourite bird has been a spectacled warbler which was one of the
most colourful and stunning birds I have seen.
It is unlikely that I will get to see some of the more unusual birds as
I will be permanently located at altitude but updates will hopefully
follow. It is certainly different from Grimley.
Dave
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Posted: 8:52 PM, Friday, June 9, 2006 |
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trip to castlemorton common
Lunchtime trip to Castlemorton common was fairly quiet but I got my
first sighting this year of whitethroat, 2 actually. Other birds were 2
yellowhammer and 2 stonechat.
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Posted: 11:13 PM, Friday, May 5, 2006 |
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not exactly out and about
Armchair birding seems to be the way to go, just get the birds to come
to you. Recent success on this front has come in the form of a
Yellow wagtail, seen on the lama field behind my house. This is the
first yellow wag I have seen in Hallow and given the good numbers that
are passing through grimley at the moment I was well pleased to see
one.
Other armchair birding highlights have been 3 blackcaps (2 male, 1
female) that have been regular visitors to the garden over the
last few weeks. I am convinced that they must be nesting nearby due to
the frequency with which I am seeing them. They are garden stars
currently and there song is a treat. Great tits are definitely
nesting and I am expecting to hear high pitched shreiking from
there any day now. Woodpigeon have already produced a pair of
young and are busily going about the business of producing more.
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Posted: 9:28 PM, Monday, May 1, 2006 |
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New blog
Start of a new blog for me.
Previously all my entries were in the Grimley journal, anyway now I can get to write a few unrelated things, such as my first swift of the year was only 2 days ago and it was a single bird. Swifts mark the approach of summer for me and encourage the winter gloom to lift from my psyche.
The thing about birds is that they fly! A bit obvious really but the consequences are significant. For instance I was playing tennis the other day when a strange bird flew over, my first kingfisher of the year and I was nowhere near water at the time. You cant predict where one is likely to be and they may not hang around. At my local patch in Grimley there was a late evening knot on the shore. Gone the next morning and no one else saw it. It's that flying thing, causes problems for the wildlife watcher.
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Posted: 2:03 PM, Wednesday, April 26, 2006 |
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