Enter the Dragon

Mainly pics this time. Apart from trying and failing to net a year tick (Spotted Flycatcher) and a lifer (Quail) this past week, these little fellas have been keeping me amused and giving me the chance to practice my photography.

Male Banded Damoiselle

Male Banded Damoiselle

Female Banded Damoiselle

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker


Ringlet

Comma

A couple of the more notable bird sightings from the last few days included a Tree Pipit at Cannock Chase in the Seven Springs area on Sunday and a Hobby north of Evesham yesterday.

Glastonbury Festival 2009

Just a few pics from the weekend's festivities...

Trash City

Trash City



A sea of flags at the legendary Pyramid Stage



Madness - a bit dad-ska - The Specials were so much better



Campsites and Stone Circle



Chillaxing on the filthy floor

An emotional Blur close the festival - you could feel the love!

Birds noted on site included Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Wrens all singing away in the mornings despite all the disturbance, loads of Lesser Black Backed Gulls circling for festival fodder scraps and the usual Somerset Buzzards, one of them enjoying a bit of Dizzee Rascal, as it thermalled lazily over the crowd.

On the Level

A pre-Glasto Somerset twitch at Ham Wall NR yesterday. Arriving at Loxton Marsh the Little Bittern could be heard calling deep in the reedbed, sounding something like a muffled dog's bark. The reeds were taller than us though, this was going to be difficult and would require a little luck. We found a vantage point on the other side of the reedbed and thankfully after a short while the Little Bittern took flight, giving brief but excellent views (lifer 259).

We stayed in position for a couple of hours but he didn't show again, he has become a lot more elusive than when he first arrived, so we were happy with what we got.

On the way back, another twitch closer to home - a gorgeous Red Necked Phalarope was at Upton Warren, I'd forgot how tiny these were. Also of note 2 Green Sandpipers.

It wasn't all twitching though; before that we'd spent most of the day exploring Ham Wall and the adjacent Shapwick Heath NR, an extensive area of reedbed on the Somerset Levels - highly recommended for a day out birding. Highlights included were 2 Bitterns, c8 Hobbies, Cuckoos, Cetti's Warblers and a Little Egret. Common warbler species were in abundance and showed very well.

There were also plenty of insects to look at and I enjoyed a spot of photography.

Blue Tailed Damselfly

Damselfly mating - the ever romantic 'headlock manoeuvre'

Dragonfly lifer - Black Tailed Skimmer, also lots of Emporer Dragonflies about, my favourite but too quick for my camera

Mute Swan preening

Common Whitethroat


Scarlet Tiger moth, most moths I hate, but day-flying moths like these are real beauties

Nightjars Part Deux

Rainy weather scuppered the previous bloggers Nightjar meet, but a few days of drier weather last week meant that the Cannock Chase outing was hastily rearranged for Friday evening. In attendence; Local Richard, Alrewas Stuart, The Notorious A.S.B.O Archie along with Tame Valley birders Tom and Julian.

Me and Max had a Cuckoo fly past on our way to meet the others. When we arrived everyone was listening to a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away in the heather. Before long it was located and we all had pleasing views. That was a bonus year tick, however we dipped on our main quarry of Nightjar, hearing only a couple of distant churrings. We did get closer to one just before 11pm, but it was dark by now, so we didn't get as much as a glimpse.

There were a lot more birders than birds on the Chase that night, and although it was now dark we recognised the familiar voice of Warks birder John Harris on the walk back. Back at the car park, a considerate car driver flashed their full beams on us, presumably so Max and I could find our car in the dark. See Archie's blog for the 'uncut' version!

Yesterday afternoon Max and I went for a sun-drenched walk along the Dowles Brook area of the Wyre Forest. I'd hoped to see Silver Wash Fritillary butterflies, but we didn't see any, just tons of Speckled Wood and the odd Brimstone. I don't know much about butterflies so perhaps the timing is wrong?

We had a singing Tree Pipit, 2 Wood Warblers (heard), several Marsh Tits that showed well, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and two family partys of Wrens. Kingfisher and Grey Wagtails were on the brook, however no Mandarins, I never see them there.

Shrike Dip and Scandal on the Chase

A Woodchat Shrike was at Brandon Marsh on Friday evening. Unfortunately I wasn't. By the time I heard this news Max was already on his third pint and my friend was on the way over for a girly night out. Not being a car driver myself I was well and truly stuck.

Saturday morning we headed down there, both nursing hangovers, but the Shrike had departed. The lack of negative news had kept vague hopes alive, but when we got there local birders had already given up the search and gone home, nice of them to tell us. This is fast turning into 'Darkside Birding', so I better lighten the mood with a couple of pics.

Large daisy with small spider

Common Blue Damselfly

Holly Blue butterfly also noted. The birding was quiet, save for a Hobby from Carlton Hide and a good selection of Warblers in song.

Sunday was a full day out in the field in Worcs with Martyn. Trawling many spots in the intense heat was hard work, especially looking out for non-existant Turtle Doves. Highlights included Lesser Whitethroat at Old Yarr, Garden Warbler at Throckmorton, Cuckoos at Gwen Finch, Bredon's Hardwick and Longdon Marsh. Longdon also contained a very elusive and annoying Lesser Whitethoat, lots of Brimstone and Painted Lady butterflies and many Banded Damoiselles and a female Broad Bodied Chaser.

Brimstone

Last night Max and I went for a pre-bloggers outing reccy on Cannock Chase, keen to see Nightjars. We had one sighting, with two churring birds heard. A Woodcock was roding, a Cuckoo called, Tree Pipit heard, plus Hobby and Green Woody.

Getting back to our car there was some rather dubious activity going on in the car park - a middle aged harlot was sat on the bonnet of a car blatantly flaunting her legs! For anyone who isn't aware, Cannock Chase, as well as being famous for Nightjars, is rather infamous for other nocturnal activities; if you're not sure what I mean, think Stan Collymore! A bit unerving, so be careful fellow birders - don't go up there alone.

The Great British Bank Holiday

On Saturday we nipped off for a short break on Anglesey, north Wales. It had been a toss up between there and Norfolk for the bank holiday; although Norfolk was tempting us with high-octane twitching and the possibility of a lifer or two, we decided to kick back and watch seabirds in the Wales instead.

Stopping off at Great Orme Head near Llandudno on the way, many Fulmars were nesting on the cliffs. One of my favourite birds I have to say, although Max doesn't agree. Not far offshore a large number of Gannets were pelting down into the sea, with Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwake present. A flock of Common Scoter passed further out. Stonechat and Wheatear noted but no Choughs here.

A stop for lunch and cheesecake at Llandudno (told you it was easy street this weekend!) before moving on to South Stack RSPB. On entering South Stack Visitor Centre I spotted a single Puffin in the water below but before I could get the scope up for a proper look, I was distracted by the RSPB woman who insisted on launching into her well-rehearsed speil - 'a Chough is like a crow, but with a red beak'- well, fancy!

The wind was stiff to say the least, so no photos, but it didn't spoil the seabird spectacle, the colony bustled with nesting Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls. Ravens frequently mugged auks for their eggs. We located the Puffin base and saw at least 5 there and watched them flying back and forth from fishing trips. The Choughs were a bit elusive as they nested deep within crevices, but with a bit of patience they wafted out of the cave now and again and another pair fed openly on the cliff above them.

We were headed to The Range for a seawatch however a sea fret descended so we abandoned this idea. Wheatear, Stonechat and Linnet on the heather.

The next morning we went to Cemlyn Bay home of the famous tern colony. Three Whimbrel and a Ringed Plover were on the rocks at the west of the bay. Sandwich, Arctic and Common Tern were all present in the colony, also 2 Red Breasted Mergansers, a Redshank, a small flock of Dunlin and Wheatear present.

Meadow Pipit, Cemlyn Bay

Cemlyn Bay

A great reserve where we spent much longer than intended, before heading off to Point Lynas. This was another beautiful spot; on the headland Gannets passed very close in and the usual selection of seabirds were easily found out over the waves. Much further out I spotted four Manx Shearwaters go past, a pleasing year tick, but a bit of a squint. Another Whimbrel dropped by, pausing on the rocks below. Oystercatcher, Shag and Wheatear here too.

Point Lynas

Gannet

Crazy Pony

On bank holiday Morning there was a search for Turtle Doves in Worcestershire, which was completely unsuccessful. It's a reliable spot though, so fingers crossed the doves will return safely soon. We popped into Upton Warren, which was very quiet apart from the breeding species. I did enjoy watching the Reed Warblers at the North Moors Pool and taking a few photos.

Reed Warblers

Lapwing

Liver Bird

Or should that be lifer bird?

Chasewater was looking very wader-friendly yesterday. The water is being drained out to prepare for essential maintenance work to the dam. Extensive shingle and mud is now exposed and apparently plans are to drop the water level by another metre for the next two years. Hopefully good things to come for Chasewater.

Whilst we couldn't find Saturday's Little Stint, the shingle spits were crawling with Ringed Plover and Dunlin, always nice to see a bit of wader passage here in the Midlands. Also two Oystercatchers.

Next stop Blithfield. It was bloomin' cold and windy there. We started to walk towards Blithe Bay before beating a hasty retreat when it started pelting down; choosing to watch for passing Arctic or Black Terns from the comfort of the car. A Turnstone was on the dam wall and a couple of Oystercatchers present, but the only Tern spotted was one Common Tern. Lots of Swifts, Swallows and Martins came down in the rain.

We saw Martyn here too, although only briefly as we decided to head up to Seaforth to try for the Pallid Swift that's been around for a few weeks now.

Pallid Swifts usually breed in the Mediterranean, so this one has overshot just a tad and must be a bit bewildered to end up on Merseyside. Many of my W Midlands blogging colleagues have been to see this bird and enjoyed crippling overhead views. I wish I could say the same, however the Swift remained elusive, despite waiting hours by the fence separating Crosby Marine Park and Seaforth LWT. Eventually the Pallid Swift was picked up in the scopes of other birders over the other side of the Marine Lake. The light wasn't great, but when the Pallid Swift dipped in front of buildings it's lighter colour could be seen. Lifer 258 for me, but unfortunately Max didn't manage to see it. There were hundreds of Swifts around and checking them all sent you dizzy.

Other highlights of the afternoon were two more year ticks in the form of two 1st summer Little Gulls and a few Sandwich Terns. There was a raucous Common Tern colony on Seaforth and it was a shame I forgot my camera as photo opportunities were missed with close encounters with Wheatear and Dunlin and it would have been nice to get a picture of the Iron Men of Crosby Beach.

Good Times, Bad Times

Blogging productivity has been a bit scanty since the Scotland trip in order to allow time for the trip report. Here's a brief update from last weekend though and that's me pretty much up to date.

Saturday 2nd May

A North Staffs field trip for Midlands birder bloggers Reg, Richard, Martyn, Max and yours truly. Reg kindly drove and he was also able to tick a few Stobart's on the way. We made it to Dimmingsdale by 8.00pm to find Martyn and Richard already in position and things were soon off to a flyer with three Wood Warblers and some cracking Pied Flycatchers. Also noted Siskins, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest and a singing Redstart was heard.

At Hawksmoor we tracked down an elusive singing Tree Pipit and enjoyed it's parachuting antics, a male Redstart was seen and further Wood Warblers were heard singing away.

Following a comfort stop (ie toilet and ice-cream breaks) we were off to t'moors for the afternoon, it was hard going at times, as this habitat can sometimes be, but we had some good birds. Two Peregrines, a Hobby, Red Grouse, Wheatear, a flyover Golden Plover and a couple of Raven were noted.

Stock Red Grouse pic from Scotland - they drink more whiskey than the Staffs ones

A final stop at Tittesworth gave us two Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew and a flyover Redpoll.

Monday 4th May

You know those day's out birding when you wish you hadn't bothered? That was Monday. We had the bright idea of visiting Berry Hill Fields, near Fenton (AKA the migrant Capital of Stoke-on-Trent). The main target of the day was Grasshopper Warbler. However, we got lost in Stoke for an hour, first parking at the wrong end of Fenton, then almost visiting Park Hall CP by mistake, don't ask.

When we finally arrived there it was howling a gale and there were three reprobate youths in a tent, having kipped out at the Gropper site stockpiling a pile of empty beer cans. Also raining now. The best we could do under the circumstances was three Wheatear and some Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers. An interesting site though, better luck next time.

Blithfield next, also not at all going to plan. Still windy with light showers. The many fishermen everywhere, including the two illegally in a fishing boat in Tad Bay, not to mention another stood right out in the water in his waders in front of the new hide meant the birding wasn't what we'd hoped.

There were, however a large gathering of Swifts and Hirundines above the water, probably at least 200 and I was pleased to see that many of these were House Martins. I was also observing a group of Terns from the causeway and I though at least two of them looked like they could be Arctic Terns, however they didn't come quite close enough for me to be sure and then they headed for the deep end before flying off forever. Fighting a losing battle against the wind we decided to head home.