Back In Birdland

Bird Ringing at Beeston. November 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:55:00 +0000

I hadn't been able to get to previous bird ringing sessions so I was glad the weather had cleared enabling myself and my dad to attend.

It was definitely a House sparrow day, with a handful trapped and not one had been ringed before which was good news. They look so bull necked when in the hand, and the males are handsome little beasts when close up.

Always a delight to see are Goldcrests, and this one was a re- trap. Tiny and adorable little things.

A few finches were caught, with one stunning Goldfinch and a hand full of Chaffinches with two birds of continental origin. These were told by the longer wing measurements, wonder from where?.

This Blackbird was a surprise in the fact that it was a female, the amount of black in the plumage was uncanny, maybe a foreign bird?.

This Blue tit had found a bird sleeping bag, or was it a Blue tit samosa!.

The Great tit was in absolute spanking condition.

And the grand finale was the last bird ringed, what a stunner this Kingfisher was in the hand. You cannot marvel enough at the colours, one of my favourites for sure. I cant wait for next time to see what turns up.

Norfolk. October 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Mid month Sarah and I spent a few nights in Norfolk for our first anniversary, staying in Blakeney we ranged from cromer to titchwell, enjoying the beach walks. The weather was not too good but on a couple of occasions it brightened up giving me the opportunity of some photography.

I love to work with the waders along the shoreline and with patience and careful stalking I am able to get fairly close, and they soon feel at ease with my presence. I sometimes find it frustrating when people come bounding up to where you are because they think there is something special to see or think that you can just walk right up to the birds as quick as you can and then wonder why they've flow away. After taking 20 minutes to approach just a matter of feet I am well chuffed when that happens, take your time and let the birds get used to you there.

I love to work with Turnstones, after careful approach and some time they become most confiding, feeding just feet from you. And for the first time I was able to get some feeding shots of these busy little birds.

Watching them find small morsels among the sponges was great to watch, amazing how they can pick them out tucked away in the pockets. And when one found food the rest soon came in.

There were a couple of grey plover around but one came close and seemed to be inquisitive as too who I was and would move along behind a mussel bed only to peer over and study me before moving along again stopping to peer over at me further down.

A couple of Eider ducks were hanging around the beds and shoreline, feeding and then resting. They too took little notice of my presence after a short time and came in a channel to feed closer before resting up on the beds. The colour on the adult bird was so pastel like but stunning especially the pale green nape.

Whilst photographing the eider my attention was drawn to a Herring gull feeding nearby. After finding a crab he proceeded to detach the legs before devouring the body meat, careful of those claws mind you.

A fight broke out between two curlew, and although a tad distant I grabbed a couple of images. They would wrap their necks snake like around the other avoiding those large bills.

And the last images captured were of a small party of Dunlin, that flew in just a matter yards away. Myself and Sarah edged closer a couple of footsteps at a time with Sarah directly behind me and mimicking my steps until we could just see a couple of them resting behind a small mussel bed. And here we stayed for some time, with the birds totally at ease sleeping and resting quietly, and a great feeling when more fly in and join them, silently interacting with them as if part of the group.

And with sights such as Hen harrier and snow buntings and a couple of swallows still feeding over the water before that long journey south, we headed home too happy after a glorious weekend.

Staines Moor. Surrey. October 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:57:00 +0000

***MEGA***MEGA***MEGA***

.BROWN SHRIKE.

Titchwell, Norfolk, September 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:14:00 +0000

I needed to get down to Norfolk to get some new wader images and so I set off to Titchwell and worked my way towards Thornham point. Below is a selection of some of the images obtained. Most of the time the beach was left to me and the birds, alot of the time was spent carefully stalking the waders as they fed and grouped together. After plenty of time and pigeon steps I was able to get reasonably close and to the point where they were happy to rest up with me close by taking pictures, new birds would fly in and join the group with no concern of me at all. What a great feeling that is when, after all that time moving in carefully that, they accept my presence alongside them, awesome.

An additional bonus was a few Snow buntings that were feeding along the ridge edge. they too were accepting in my presence and were happy to feed alongside me, these lovely little buntings are a favourite of mine, so petite and a reminder winters around the corner.

A change from the norm'.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:47:00 +0000

Cuban Cigar Walk 19th Sept 2009.

Not my usual type of diary entry but another passion of mine, namely CIGARS'. Too good a day not to put it in my diary, this was an organised trip around the notable cigar shops in London with fellow members of the UK Cigar forum.

Starting point for the Brothers Of The Leaf.
And not being able to remember everyones name, it was easier to go by everyones forum name, now we could put a face to all the members. This was around a part of London I had not seen before and with all the history Nic was relaying there was plenty to take in and see.

We stopped at the Jack Barclay Bentley dealership and on entry the smell was more akin to a leather sofa showroom. There were some beautiful cars in there for sure. Oh to be rich! or sell the house and live on the back seat, very luxurious.

Sarah picking one out with a sumptuous red leather interior, 'sorry love you'll have to make do with our brown chesterfield'.

First port of call was Dunhill's. Here is Deano inspecting the Por Larranagas that soon made us queue up to obtain one. And just off the walk in humidor was a great private viewing room for screening films, oh to have a room like that.

Nic and I outside Sautter of Mount Street.

We stopped in Linley to view this stunning limited edition humidor. And what a beauty it was too, the flag ripple effect was stunning.

And of course somebody had to hold the cigars outside the shop whilst we looked, 'cheers Nic'.

Then it was time for a pint and 'sarnie' at the Red Lion, whilst Sarah and I chatted away with Cigarsmoke and Son of Cigarsmoke the rest of the BOTL puffed away outside.

A stop off at Davidoff where Sarah purchased a couple of cigars for my pleasure, thankyou, and a selection that had you walking around and around again just in case you missed something the first or second time.

And finally to JJ Fox, and downstairs to view the Churchill memorabilia which was great to view, and in the 'old mans chair' too. Some fascinating stuff down there. We also got the chance to view the cigar 'carousel' holder that Nic had told us about and what a great piece of work too, mind you it wouldn't fit most of our cigars in, they were too big.

Exhibits from the Churchill collection showing telegrams and cigars.

And so as the cigar crew reached the Churchill War room it was time for Sarah and I to part. It was great meeting everyone and an interesting fun day with lovely weather too, excellent.

Oh and not to change things too much I grabbed a bird shot at the end...

even if it was tame.

Farmoor Reservoir. Oxfordshire.1st September 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:43:00 +0000

White winged Black tern and American Black tern.

After my shifts had finished this morning I could not resist going for the WWBT amd ABT at Farmoor. I knew it would take me just under a couple of hours and I had not slept since sunday night, but it needed to be done. So I battled the traffic and on reaching the causeway was greeted with distant views of both the terns accompanied by a juv Black tern.

WWBT
The WWBT stood out against the other two with its whiter plumage and obvious lack of smudges'. It wasn't long before they were up and luckily for me headed in my direction giving me the chance of some record images. The wind as in true reservoir fashion was blowy so I was more than happy to capture something. But the ABT when overhead and distant stood out as the darker bird and of course the smudging on the flanks showed well on the images.

WWBT

BLACK TERN

The 3 terns ventured from one side of the reservoir to the other and actively fed for some time before returning to rest on the calmer basin. They continued this circuit for a few hours, and after getting some shots and good views through a birder scope, from south Devon, I called it a day.

ABT

Black Terns at Grafham Water. August 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:43:00 +0000

There had been a report of 40+ Black terns at Grafham, so I started the search just after 7am. After picking out a couple of Black terns and time taken capturing other stuff on camera I decided to concentrate my search for the Black terns. I set up next to a hedge line and waited. Most of the terns were travelling against the wind from just beyond where I was, and feeding their way across to the opposite side of the reservoir before flying back across and starting again. They would eventually pass me in the hope of being close to capture on camera.

They were not to venture as close as the Common terns, tending to stay further out on the water, I had definitely seen double figures but could not be definite on the numbers due to their moving around. They had a definite 'jizz' as they flew and fed, totally different to the Common terns and harder to pick out due to their smaller size. I did manage to get some images of a couple of Black terns that were using the floating buoys alongside the Common terns, most were content on feeding though. A great few hours and my first images of Black tern to date.

Grafham Water. Cambridgeshire. August 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Being able to get a few hours out and about I decided to head to grafham. Knowing there were Black terns present I thought I would try my luck and see if I could get some images. Before I set up for the terns I tried my luck in with the Sand Martins as they skimmed across the waters surface picking off insects. Not an easy task I can tell you, trying to track them was hard enough let alone getting an image.

But I stuck at it and came away with a few images worth keeping. I had a juvenile Great crested grebe showing well giving me some images and I grabbed a couple of shots when one of the parents came towards it offering a fish. The Black headed gulls were noisy with one individual especially so, and claiming rights to one particular perch would see off any gull that came too close. But as it scrapped with one bird it got hold of its bill and they both tumbled down only for the victorious gull to entangle on a length of barbed wire for a few seconds before freeing itself.

Close to the car park I viewed a Spotted flycatcher as it flew around catching insects, a sight I hadnt seen for a long time, and getting less common every year. There were good numbers of juvenile Pied wagatils everywhere, taking advantage of the huge numbers of insects present.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:41:00 +0000

I was still finding it hard to get out and about with so much going on at the moment, so I spent a few hours at the Lodge RSPB. Mind you when I got there to get some fungi images the bloody mist descended so not as bright as I'd liked. Finding good specimens was a challenge as quite a few were either munched on or trampled on by the resident sheep, which decided to pick the same areas to feed as myself every time I laid down on the floor. There were good numbers of Bollettes around, and on the previous evening sarah and I had looked for small emerging natterjack toads. We spied a couple that were smaller than your fingernail on the little finger but there were plenty of tadpoles still. A solitary frog emerged on a couple of occasions only just breaking the surface.

August 2009. Bedfordshire.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:38:00 +0000

With an hour to spare I took to the garden to get some macro images. There were plenty of hoverfly species about to try on. And shown below is a real weird one, only a few millimetres in size I hadn't seen one of these before, mind you its easily missed.

There were quite a few 7 spot ladybirds about, part of the huge invasion that's been happening recently.

Willington, Bedfordshire. August 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:20:00 +0000

I spent a couple of hours at Willington, first thing, getting back into the swing of things after a lengthy lay off. A few common terns present and a few green sandpipers.

There were quite a few young goldfinches around and what seemed to be good numbers of green woodpecker. Plenty of butterflies everywhere and on the way back to the car at least 2 young wrens clambering around waiting for the parents to feed them.

South Mimms. June 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:30:00 +0000

A fellow brother of the leaf from the UKCigar Forum contacted me to inform of a family of kestrels that resided at his sons school. Being near south mimms it was a straight forward route down for me, and with the school heads permission and want for some images, myself and sarah set off to meet with Nic on a weekday evening to suss' the place out.

The kestrels were set up in a tree outside the school building, with one almost ready to fly from the tree, and two already practising their flying techniques around the school grounds. The female parents entrance on the scene was welcomed by a cacophony of screeches from the younger birds. The female was seen to bring in a mouse on a couple of occasions and the flying pair would make their way onto the school roof to obtain the offered morsel.

I decided to come back first thing the next morning to photograph them again with the light in a better direction, and before the school kids arrived.

The morning was indeed a bright and sunny start and the un-flown kestrel was positioned higher up in the tree exercising its wings and no doubt due to fly today. The other two were sat up in another tree sleeping and sunning themselves. The mother bird was seen to bring in one mouse and pass to it to one bird before departing again. The orange glow of the rising sun changed the entire scene, but one that was lovely to capture.

One of the birds was happy to fly around the school building and perch on the roof on a couple of occasions giving me the opportunity to grab some shots, it was a lovely morning spent watching these birds and great to grab some images, and then it was time to head home before the school opened. Many thanks go to Nic for informing me about the birds and the school for letting and wanting me to photograph them.

Dungeness,Kent and Sandy RSPB.June 4th 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:36:00 +0000

The day started very early for me with a journey down to Denge marsh/Dungeness in the hope of connecting with the Oriental pratincole that had been found there yesterday. Unfortunately I was not to get my 'hat trick' of pratincoles, as the bird was not to be found. Despite reports of probable sightings I don't believe it was still there, later reports of a pratincole sp' at grove ferry furthered that thought.

On the way home I received a call from sarah telling the girls in the Lodge shop had phoned to tell me of a Nightjar showing very well. And so not too far off from the Lodge I decided to pay a visit. And true to their word it was right bang next to a pathway on a stump sunning itself. there was a bit of obstruction from the wire fence and foliage in front but what a wonderful sight and a welcome end to an otherwise unproductive day.

MUD ! ! !

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:59:00 +0000

With the dry conditions I thought i would make up a puddle close to home and see if I could tempt some birds in to drink and bathe and hopefully get some swallows or house martins in collecting mud from the puddles edge. I was not to be disappointed I can tell you.

The expected birds such as yellow wagtails and finches and buntings were present although shy to come to the water, and not staying for long. But it was not long before the calling of swallows became present and over the next 2 mornings I was able to get some new images of them along with the more shy house martin. What fantastic colours that shine and dazzle in the sun.

What a delight to watch them coming and going. The swallows obviously had a bit further to travel and the house martins were always first back, but they were a lot more shy in landing and it was down to the swallows return where they would relax enough to land and gather up the mud.

In watching them I could see that the house martins tended to gather small bits of grass material or grit and then gather the soft mud, the swallows would go for the strands of hay/grass from a nearby heap of manure and then gather the mud which would then be placed at the nest with the straw already built in and ready to dry. It was lovely to watch and with the ground so hard I felt good in providing nesting material for them.

Mothing.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:44:00 +0000

With the lovely warm spell lately the moths had been increasing in numbers and so a few late nights with the trap out were in order. Quite a few species were recorded and photographed with a couple of new species for my list. Hopefully there is still plenty more to get on the wing this summer.

Cley.Norfolk.20th May 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Collared Pratincole. Cley, Norfolk.

After deciding to move from Blakeney to Cley in the hope of seeing the Collared pratincole at some time of the day, I was greeted by a line of birders watching something in the eye field not far from the car park.

And sure enough it was the Collared'. And remarkably similar in actions as the Black winged pratincole at Stodmarsh, it was hiding up in the wind behind a patch of grass, and when it did venture out it returned to the shelter of the same spot.

Now being able to compare the two, the Collared seemed a tad paler and at times the Black winged showed a darkish cap, the obvious difference was the wings and I was able to compare both. The rich red underwing on the Collared stood out as it banked and turned in flight and facing away the white edge to the secondries was obvious.

Another new species and two pratincoles this month, couldnt be sweeter.

Blakeney.Norfolk.May 20th 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:19:00 +0000

An early morning start in the hope of connecting with the Woodchat shrike at Blakeney proved to be negative as after over 2 hours searching there was no sign of the shrike. And so it was just the common birds there to be used as image fodder!.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:48:00 +0000

***MEGA***MEGA***MEGA***

BLACK WINGED PRATINCOLE

STODMARSH.KENT

Luckily for me the Black winged pratincole had stayed around all week, and so on the morning of Mon' 18th I headed off very early to try and connect. On arrival there was just one other bloke in the hide and as of yet he had not seen the bird. Half an hour passed and still nothing other than a drake Garganey and male Marsh harrier and plenty of vocals and sightings of Cuckoo,Cetti's,Reed and Sedge warbler. There were good numbers of swifts feeding and luckily the weather was holding out.

Whilst scanning I saw something scurry along the ground and there it was, the bloke next to me got onto it and we were to have good views of it scurrying about on a small mud bank. I had a couple of views through the blokes scope and what a beauty it was, the head markings were stunning, the back and cap were a darkish olive and clean white on the belly, the black tail and wings made it look long and sleek when it gave us a side profile. It then decided that the wind was a bit too keen for it and so it hid up behind a clump of what looked like dock leaves and here it stayed for most of the time.

A few people came and went and it would on occasions scurry out from behind the weed clump only for it to turn around and hide back up again, even when a family group of Greylags came close by it still did not move until one of the adult geese was literally standing on it and then it only airlifted for a second and dropped back to its same hide up. When it did eventually move out after some hours of intermittent views it took flight a short distance giving everyone in the hide views of the dark wings, it was still distant for photographing but I was more than happy with a few record shots and good views of a new species for me, and after no images from the last two new and rare additions I was not gonna complain. It was time to head home.

May 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Some images of a pair of Yellow wagtails that are frequenting one of the dumps. They both would approach close with no sign of nervousness, the vibrancy of the male is stunning.

And compared to some females this one is a lot paler and more so greyer too, with substantial white on the breast.

May Moths.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:01:00 +0000

Lunar Marbled Brown

With a decent spell of weather there were a lot of different species starting to get on the wing, both at work and at home. And the biggest surprise was when I went into my shed, I heard a buzzing noise which I thought was some insect trapped. But then I looked up and in the container that I had used 2 years previous for the rearing of Lime Hawkmoths, was 4 recently emerged Lime Hawkmoths. With new eggs in the tub as well it looked like I would be rearing some more, to think that the pupae had skipped a year and then hatched was unbelievable.

Green Carpet

Red Twin Spot Carpet

Flame Shoulder

Streamer

Lunar Marbled Brown

White Ermine

Saturday 2nd May 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:44:00 +0000

**MEGA**MEGA**MEGA**

Crested Lark

Dungeness, Kent.

My Dad and I set off early to get to Dungeness at first light. The target was a Crested Lark, a new species for both of us, and although very elusive and mobile we were to get many flight views of this rarity. Unfortunately no images were to be had but I was happy with this great addition.

***
On the way home we also stopped off at Waltham Abbey to try and connect with the Savi's Warbler that was present there. Although hidden very well and fleeting glimpses of what was probably the Savi's, there was no mistaking it when it began calling, and we were both to hear it very well. Although it was a strain when you get some numpties talking whilst your trying to listen for it! The singing was similar to the Grasshopper warbler but a lot more lower in tone, unfortunately we had to leave as I was on night shift that evening but a great end to the day and a long while since obtaining 2 new species on the same day too.

Dungeness, Kent.

April 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:36:00 +0000

Mothing was still fairly quiet, but these too were enough to make up for it.

Lime Hawkmoth(above) Iron Prominent(below).

There were still a few bright Yellow wagtails frequenting the local dump.

Diddington Pit. Cambridgeshire. April 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:26:00 +0000

I made a visit here early morning to try and connect with the Whiskered tern that had been frequenting here. On arrival virtually all the terns were feeding further over the pits where there was no access. By lunchtime though they had all congregated over the main pit feeding, along with a few birders we did not see it there. And so I left a short while later and sure enough later on whilst reading the local reports it came through as being seen there before I arrived that morning and after I had left..... "Sod's Law".

Snettisham, Norfolk. April 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:17:00 +0000

I decided to spend the morning here, but on driving up there I was to find fog all the way, I hoped that it would burn away but after a few hours it had only just started to lift and to be replaced by bloody cloud. So I made good of what was there and it eventually lifted to give sunny skies for the last hour or so whilst there.

There were plenty of swallows skimming the water for flies, and approaching the beach the scrub land held a few common whitethroats and a solitary sedge warbler. There were a few hundred brent geese out on the flats and frequent skeins flying inland. There were good numbers of shelduck all over the place and a single marsh harrier scouring the farmland nearby.

Along near the first hide I saw a whitethroat moving in the scrub, but as it began to sing I realised it was not a common but a lesser whitethroat. I decided to spend some time trying to get some shots as there was not much else to photograph due to the light. It proved a tricky little bird frequently singing from just below the bank out of sight. But every now and then it would perch atop the bushes and I could grab a shot . It appeared quite dark on the back but the improving light made it appear different when viewed from certain angles, a nice little bird all the same, and very vocal.

Hertfordshire. April 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (mike lawrence) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:13:00 +0000

I started to venture down to the nearby dumps' to see if there were any wheatear and yellow wagtails around. And not to be disappointed I saw at least 3 yellow wags' and a pair of wheatear. Due to the time of day there was still considerable heat haze coming from the dump, so it was a waiting game until one of the wheatear ventured close by to get a shot. Lovely to see these birds return but I doubt I'll have one as approachable as Nigel, Andy and I were to experience back in 2007.

As I was leaving the dump i saw a single yellow wag' atop a hay bale, and so I slowly reversed to where it was now feeding on the ground picking off the yellow dung flies. The yellow on some of these birds are so vibrant, I never tire of photographing them, and I'm sure by the end of this summer I'll have plenty more.