Brambling

 After such a long break it is difficult to put virtual pen to virtual paper, I am not sure why, as I haven't stopped going out into the countryside and I haven't stopped taking photographs. However the last two visits have galvanized me into action, whether I can maintain it remains to be seen.

Two trips this week - the second first as it were. Yesterday we went east for the first time in what seems ages. With decent morning light, a high tide and fairly calm conditions we figured that a visit to Newhaven would produce something of note.  Well, I would call it disappointing, others may have a more earthy description. Apart from a few sedentary gulls, vociferous Jackdaws and a host of feral pigeons, which Martin was tempted to log as Rock Dove, there was very little to be seen. The wide expanse of calm water in the harbour was also empty - not a single entity bobbing on the briny.

Onward, ever optimistic, to Seaford Head where, thank goodness we found several Rock Pipits. Alas the sea was almost empty, the only occupant was an obviously fit lady taking a dip in the high water. Martin remarked that it might be a tad cool but then, sensing the chill north wind that was blowing offshore, observed that actually the water temperature may be slightly higher than that of the air. On round to the car park above the golf course, where we found a plethora of corvids, Jackdaws, Rooks, Crows and a high flying Raven.

Next stop - Friston Forest where on previous winter visits we have managed to find the odd Brambling hiding within some flocks of Chaffinches. Success! We found a medium sized flock keenly rummaging for beechmast amongst the leaf litter and three Bramblings with them. With a bit of planning we managed to get into a position to take a few record shots. Conditions for photography were pretty poor, mainly due to the fact the canopy is still present, most trees still carrying a lot of leaves. Pushing the ISO up to a silly number resulted in several acceptable shots of a bird that seldom presents photo opportunities in our neck of the woods.

Earlier in the week we had ventured west to East Head at Wittering, ostensibly to find a lone Snow Bunting, but mainly as we hadn't been there for some time. I had forgotten how bad the place can be, the blight being the presence of so many dog walkers and dogs, on a leash or not. Of course there are pleasant memories of the place, mainly in deepest winter when people are thin on the ground and the large number of Brent Geese and plovers provide undisturbed photo opportunities.

Anyway I digress, we circumnavigated the Head, making the odd foray into the dunes but no sign of the bird. Making our way back to the car we suddenly came upon the bird, just a few feet from Martin's car and we almost trod on it. As it flushed and landed quite calmly, hardly ten feet away, we hastily got the cameras out, fearful that it would disappear from view. Not a bit of it, this most obliging bird went to feeding amongst the grass and very little spooked it. We stayed for over an hour and became "guardians" as we asked walkers who came close not to flush it. I have to say without exception all avoided the bird and most showed an interest as to what it was and whence it came.

Snow Bunting

Nice to have a good looking bird on the patch, well actually it happens most years when a Snow Bunting turns up at Goring Gap. Lots of reports in the twittersphere convinced me to give it a couple of coats of looking at. I parked up in the likely area around 0800, people had obviously left feed for the bird as the Crows were having a field day. No sign until a lady returning from a walk along the beach said that she had found it and showed me a cracking photo - I thanked her from a distance as I was already on  my way. I searched in the described areas but couldn't find it until another birder almost stepped on it. Like most Snow Buntings, it was extremely confiding - happy to pose in exchange for some seed or meal worms. Surprisingly,  most of the dog walkers, joggers  and even the ladies keep fit group were happy to change direction on seeing a load of photographers lying on the shingle.  To them a hearty thank you, to the woman who refused and walked straight through spooking the bird - well my words are unprintable. Why are some dog walkers so arrogant that they think the environment is for their sole use - rant over.

Four record shots of the male Black Redstart at Shoreham Fort......

....and three from last year, the Great Grey Shrike and Crossbill at Wren's Warren in the Ashdown Forest.

Black Redstarts and Caspian Gull

November has been a bit of a lean month, not just on the birding front but for blogging too. Our usual haunts have, at times, seemed to be devoid of birds and the camera has often remained in its case. Not that we haven't been trying  - our efforts have included three trips to Dungeness in search of a Caspian Gull and  only yesterday did we find our target.

We started at the ARC side of the Dungeness reserve, normally there is something out on the water worth photographing. As we parked we met up with David Gardiner, last time we saw him was up in the Highlands back in March, so we swapped a few birding stories. Out on the water the wildfowl were sparse and the only interesting bird was a distant Marsh Harrier perched in the bushes, so we decided to make our way down to the beach.

Compared with our earlier visits there were few gulls on the roost., perhaps the better weather has enabled them to get out to feed. A quick scan revealed that no Caspians were about so we moved on again. Martin had learned that there were Black Redstarts present on the wall around the power station wall and as we parked at the end of the road they were easily spotted. The power station has its own sewage treatment plant and this is a magnet for all insect eaters as there are clouds of midges available.

There were three Black Redstarts present and two females perched obligingly, the male did show but only fleetingly, preferring to stay inside the compound. Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were also taking advantage of the bounty.

 

 

Just as we had decided that we had captured sufficient pixels, Martin got news of a Long-eared Owl on the RSPB reserve so we departed at a leisurely pace. We arrived at the visitor centre and made our way to the "dipping" pool where one birder was snapping away at what I assumed was the owl. Try as I might I couldn't sight the bird, it was certainly well camouflaged, finally I managed to get the camera on it, lots of shots - all the same of course though it did move just once.

It moved!

Next up was a visit to the Scott hide, red top Smews had been reported and it would be a year tick. David had joined us again and both he and Martin located a Smew, albeit at distance and I managed to get a record shot.

The afternoon light was fading fast and we were going to end the day at  Boulderwall Farm as the Tree Sparrows had earlier been in evidence. However, I noticed that the loaf of bread, bought to attract the mass of gulls, had not been used so we decided to give the Caspian Gull one last go. We parked opposite the wooden tower and three birders were scanning the small flock, obviously something noteworthy amidst the Herring and Great Black-backed roost. As we approached they informed us that there was an adult Caspian present and then promptly departed. So we were left with the knowledge that our target was here but my gull identification skills are a tad limited, our strategy was easy - photograph every gull on the shingle and if we didn't spot it, post trip analysis would reveal all. As I photographed the flock one bird stood out but as Martin pointed out, it didn't have a black eye. Only one bird remained that we had not identified and it was fast asleep with its bill between its wings. Finally it moved - a Caspian Gull with all the ID features confirmed.
As we manoeuvred to get more side on shots it decided that the outfall of the power station was probably a better place to be and took to the air - I pointed the camera and pressed the shutter more in hope than anything else - I managed to salvage two shots from a train of twenty frames.  A life tick at last!

It's awake and it's the Caspo!!

On our travels I have managed to capture one or two shots.

Sitting in the ARC hide on a previous visit a Great White Egret appeared from nowhere and it was fairly close. Usually views of these are across an expanse of water.

 

 

We were entertained by two Short-eared Owls at Newhaven Tidemills, both being mobbed mercilessly by the local Crows.

A Snow Bunting at Selsey Bill was very obliging and a shy Slavonian Grebe on Pagham lagoon, both would have been improved by a pinch of sunshine.

Finally, I recorded my 78th garden tick with a Red-legged Partridge that visited my garden feeders, a bird somewhat out of place and whilst not in danger of being shot it was certainly at risk of being predated by the plethora of neighbourhood moggies.

 

 

Snow Buntings

Day 3 Moray and Nairn Coast (cont.)

Following our success with the Twite we were keen to make progress along the coast. At Burghead we had our first disappointment - no ducks on the harbour, just a few gulls on the harbour wall and a single Shag. So we made the short journey to the beach, just around the headland, for a short sea watch. The ever present flock of Eiders were diving for crabs, half a dozen Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-throated Diver were just off shore. Cormorants and Shags were feeding and several Red-breasted Mergansers were loafing just out from the rocks. Further out Gannets were plunge diving. On shore were a Rock Pipit and a rarity, a Hooded Crow that refused the bread that I had thrown for him.

At least it was pleasant here, out of the biting winds. So we made a brew and watched the sea until we were bored. Time to move on, a quick visit to Hopeman produced nothing so we dropped into Lossiemouth. A quick scan of the harbour revealed nothing so we drove round to the East Beach and the estuary. Things were not busy here either, several Bar-tailed Godwits on the far bank, plenty of Wigeon and Gulls but nothing to get the pulse quickening. Recently flocks of Snow Buntings had been reported on the beach, up to 80 plus, where on the south coast we are used to twos and threes. Sitting in the car and scanning the sand dunes opposite we managed to locate a small flock of ten plus. So it was camera gear out and across the small wooden footbridge. When we left the sun was shining, by the time we were in the vicinity of the birds, a squall came over, the skies darkened and it rained heavily. Unfortunately not enough to prevent the sand being blown everywhere, even the Snowies appeared to be sheltering behind whatever cover they could find. Of course it eventually passed and we enjoyed ourselves stalking some charming birds.

Having been half blown away and with sand in everything we moved inland to the hide at Loch Spynie. This is another superb example of how to position a hide and feeders. The front windows provide views of the loch whilst the side windows overlook a host of feeders, all frequented by a horde of tits and even a Treecreeper. A Red Squirrel was eating so many peanuts that he was in danger of becoming stuck!

On the way home we checked out Inchbroom and Anniesland for any stopover Pink-footed Geese. Flocks of 4000 plus had been reported roosting on Findhorn Bay and I was keen to find some of them. Unfortunately the stubble fields were bare but we did find several small flocks of Whoopers. Finally on the way home we spotted a small flock of 18 PfG in with the Greylags, not the numbers I was expecting but at least a tick.