Monday 30th December - Another Year Ends

Bringing the year to a close, the last 2 months have not seen me out in the field, due to starting a rather intensive period of working. For the most part it's been wet, windy and grey, so not particular conducive for long winter walks. There is also a distinct lack of winter birds, other than a handful of Redwings which seem to still be in the area following their berry-stripping antics of early winter, but no numbers of winter finches. A hardy flock of around 50 Goldfinch continue to grace the tops of the Alders, but only 2 or 3 Siskin with them and 2 Lesser Redpoll seen only 2 weeks ago. No Brambling and single figures of Chaffinch suggest this Winter will need a dramatic change in the weather to bring any influx. My highlight of the last month was 3 sightings of a Kingfisher on the garden pond in the very wet weather, it was catching newts, fishing from the reeds and flying up to the Magnolia tree to devour the catch. A male Bullfinch had been feeding on the remains of the Guelder Rose berries in the last few days (Viburnum Opulus).

Male Bullfinch feeding on Guelder Rose berries

Reflecting on the year as a whole, it has actually been pretty good for the birds with a total of 489 species seen in 5 countries, although this was nearly all in the first half of the year when I had more time. I will have to see what 2020 brings with the start of the year likely to be spent with a focus on working rather than birding.

Sunday 10th November - Autumn ends

It is difficult to exactly define when it feels autumn as a season has ended and Winter has begun, but I always feel the start of November is a defining point, after the clocks have moved and a temporary arrival of thousands of Woodpigeons and a few hundred thrushes. The trees at home have lost around half of their leaves in a spell of wet and windy weather and the first decent frosts have been a regular early morning occurrence in the last week.

The last few weekends have seen me grab a couple of hours watching at home as free-time again diminishes with full-time working. The highlight has been 2 Hawfinch sightings on the 27th and the 3rd associating loosely with a Goldfinch flock of 75+ birds frequenting the Alders. There are 30-40 Redwings which are generally in the area and are spending much time in the Holly bushes which are berry-laden, especially the one outside the back door. Only one group of 8 fly-by Fieldfare have been seen but lots of Song Thrush are still present with groups of skittish high-flying birds into double figures, plus the occasional Mistle Thrush. Other finches have been a little more scarce, maybe only 10 Chaffinch but so far I have only seen 1 Brambling, 2 Siskin, 2 Greenfinch and 2 Bullfinch. A pair of Firecrest were seen on the 27th and a Blackcap was still around on both Sundays but now seems to have moved on.

Not many raptors have been visible either with 2 Goshawk this morning, only occasional Buzzard and Sparrowhawk sightings but a Raven pair most weekends.

Goshawk

Wedneday 16th October - Portland

Before recommencing a spell of full time working I had booked 3 nights at Portland Bill again. The weather had been poor before I went and was poor when I was there. Generally very strong WSW winds with rain so despite being peak migration in mid-October it was hampered by adverse conditions.

On the way to Dorset I stopped at Blashford Lakes. It was very wet but the brand new hide made for easy viewing over Ibsley Water where there were lots of Hirundines 100+ House Martins 20+ Swallows and a late Sand Martin also amongst the handful of Tufted Duck and Pochard a female or 1W male-type Scaup.

The rain continued and I headed towards Weymouth listening to the Scotland v Japan rugby match on the radio. The showers were starting to relent when I reached Lodmoor, where I stopped for an hour. A Ruff and a Greenshank were the best of the waders on offer and other birds included Marsh Harrier, Peregrine and a Great Egret. By the time I was driving onto the Isle of Portland the weather was clearing but with it a strong wind and not a lot had been around when I arrived at the observatory and my late afternoon wander around the bill area only yielded a Wheatear and a Blackcap, although the local Little Owls were nice to see.

Next day within an hour of dawn heavy rain and strong winds dominated the first few hours of the day limiting what birding could be achieved to an early sea watch where despite the large Gannet and Kittiwake movement only an single Arctic Skua and a couple of Manx Shearwaters added to the variety. The wind had swung round to an Easterly at least momentarily, so there was some anticipation there would be a bit of a fall and as the wind eased enough to venture out it was clear there had been some migrants which included more Goldcrests a Yellow-browed Warbler briefly. By midday I started to venture more widely, there were more Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Wheatears and Stonechat in the area and lots of Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit moving through with a brief Merlin chasing the activity. I heard about a Red-breasted Flycatcher reported from the Hump , so I decided to head back to the Obs and drive there as I approached the observatory a Wryneck flew into a bramble hedge, after several seconds it flew further along the hedge then down onto the grass out of view, o I headed back to the obs and reported the bird before then heading off to the Hump area . Not entirely sure where the RBF was , I wandered the area finding 2 late Spotted Flycatchers before finding the small copse where other birders were watching the Red-breasted Flycatcher, it was quite dark in the gully so views were ok but the light was poor, but his was a good end to a pretty decent day.

The winds returned to  brisk SW direction the next morning, but the highlight today was meeting up with Ralph & Brenda Todd, who I ended up spending the day with. In the morning we walked the observatory area where there were no additional arrivals although a better view of a Merlin. We then went off the island to Lodmoor and caught up with the White-rumped Sandpiper which had been there since yesterday and on the way back stopped again at the Hump where the Red-breasted Flycatcher gave better views than the previous evening. So a decent couple of days rather in unseasonal mild and windy weather.

Red-breasted FLycatcher in dark understory

Stonechat

Merlin

Great Egret

Ruff

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Thursday 10th October - More Ouzels

I returned to Blackdown this morning with Paul Bowley to try for Ring Ouzels again. It looked like today would be the only clear day for several to come with strong winds and rain predicted through to early next week.

We walked the length of the reservoir track with a few Meadow Pipits being the sum total before we saw a Ring Ouzel rather distantly fly and perch at the top of a pine. We continued wandering seeing a few Redwing but not really adding much more although the back end of 6 geese disappearing over the tree tops looked interesting, but without a better view I opted for safe assumption that they were Greylags. It was an hour later when we finally came across what must have been this mornings feeding bush, as a single Whitebeam on one of the back paths suddenly had a lot of activity and we spent quite a while watching at least 10 very flighty Ring Ouzels feeding in this bush along with Redwings and a couple of Blackbirds. We could never get very close and several times they were spooked by dog-walkers, so scope views were best.

We added 5 Bullfinch, 4 Skylark and 4 or 5 Stonechat with 3 Dartford Warbler including one surprisingly in full song.

Another good morning. Back at home in the brief sunlight a Small Copper, Red Admiral, Small White and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth added some interest.

Tuesday 8th October - Ouzel Dawn

I had intended to go to Blackdown yesterday morning but it was wet first thing, so I stayed at home and kept an eye on birds moving outside. More thrushes were evident with 258 Redwing, 13 Song Thrush and 4 Mistle Thrush, also 10 Meadow Pipit, 25 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, 5 Pied Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail unusually 13 Black-headed Gulls went West all of which made for an interesting hour whilst having a coffee.

I did visit Blackdown this morning, arriving close to dawn, but not anticipating that it would be foggy, the first wander up the reservoir track and into Borden Door Bottom, produced very little other than a few Meadow Pipits, Redwing and a Linnet. When I returned to the pines near the Parrot pool the first 'chacking' was heard and a Ring Ouzel flew up to a birch tree followed by 3 more then another 5 appeared with some Redwing quickly flying out calling, a further two then appeared from the pines with more Redwing. The next hour was spent in a slower wander around this ridge where I was seeing Ring Ouzels constantly in flight, my final estimate was 16 birds, which hopefully was conservative There were c80 Redwing, 20 Meadow Pipit and 8 Linnet. Also my first Brambling of the autumn calling in another birch with 3 Bullfinch and 2 Woodlark were in the area. Local birds were represented by 3 Stonechat and 2 Dartford Warbler and a few newly appeared toadstools added to the autumn feel although it is still mild.

Ring Ouzels

Part of a group of 10 birds

Looks like a 1st year Ring Ouzel

Fly Agaric

Puffball sp

Sunday 6th - Autumn beginnings

Its been fairly mild for the past few weeks with a general westerly airflow and in the last 10 days some welcome rain, as the ground has been dry, but only a few leaves have started to fall as there has been no really cold nights yet.

This weekend did have a little autumnal bird movement at home, yesterday the first 15 Redwings seen with a Woodlark flying over. This morning first thing 2 Hawfinches flew over quickly and silently and a count of 132 Redwing between 8.30 and 10.30 with several Song Thrush also on the move. I was unable to get up to Blackdown this morning which I'm sure would have yielded a Ring Ouzel, so maybe tomorrow !

Tuesday 1st October - Outing to Spurn

I've just returned from a few days birding in Spurn, staying at the ovbservatory. The weather was a major factor, being extremely unpredictable, although not cold it ranged wildly with high winds veering from West to North to South and long periods of rain including tropical downpours.

Despite this the birding was great, and dawn til dusk wandrings had several highlights which included, masses of waders at the high-tide roosts on the wetlands, movements of skuas and auks on the sea, a mass-movement of passerines on Saturday, plus some interesting individual species with the highlights being the following

Rustic Bunting - First seen briefly on the morning of the 30th, then a better view late in the day creeping through thistles until dusk.
Red-rumped Swallow - Flying south along the Humber shore on the 28th during a signficant movement of migrating birds.
Yellow-browed Warblers - At least 3 individual birds seen on 29th and 30th.
Short-Eared Owl - One in-off the sea on 29th
Merlin - At least 2 birds seen most days
Hobby - Seen on 2 days
Caspian Gull - one 1stWinter on 28th.
Great White Egret - one south on 29th
Ring Ouzel - One heard on morning of the 30th
Barnacle Geese - 8 migrating south on 30th
Arctic Skua - Over 100 birds South on 29th
Arctic Tern - 1 on 30th
Pink-footed Geese- Early arriving birds c50
Spotted Redshank - one on Kinsea wetlands
Meadow Pipit - 8,000 South in 3 hours on 28th
Linnet - 2,500 South in 3 hours on 28th
Tree Sparrow - over 100 moving South 3 days.

Other migrants included Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher and on the 30th my first Redwings of the autumn as c30 birds dropped in.

Knot, Redshank and Dunlin at Kilnsea wetlands roost

THen a trpical rainstorm !

Luckily I was sitting in a hide

1CY Caspian Gull

Caspian Gull

Bar-tailed Godwit with Redshank

Redshank

Hebridean Sheep

Arctic Skua

Short-eared Owl over the sea

Common Swift

Hobby

Tree Sparrow

Reed Bunting

Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Thursday 19th September - Brown jobs

 English names ascribed to birds, I believe, are often to sensationalise an otherwise rather dowdy looking individual, the Dunnock excepted as a brown bird and uninspiring name. The Eastern Olivaceous Warbler is a fairly exotic name for a bird resembling a slightly washed out version of a Reed Warbler, itself a  small warm brown warbler, although the former with a longer bill, an evocative manner of tail-wagging and an exceptional rarity status will win any prize.

I'd not seen one before in the UK and they are pretty rare with only 20 previous records the majority being offshore islands, so it was a surprise for one to turn up at Farlington Marshes on the Hampshire coast found on Saturday afternoon, and perhaps more surprising that it obliged to hang around until at least today given the clear overnight skies and its preference for Mediterranean olive groves rather than south coast bramble patches. My inability to try and see it before today had me assuming that it would be missed, nonetheless I went to Farlington first thing and with other birders present the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was showing within 45 minutes of getting there, often hidden in the large thorn and bramble clumps it would appear out in full sun with it's tail-pumping action on full display.

The berry-laden bushes contained a large number of Blackcaps, with a few Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat,  and there was a bit of passage with a stream of Swallows and Hose Martins, many Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Grey Wagtail.

The Bearded Tit population appeared healthy and potentially signs of a successful breeding season. I saw one party of 9 birds and two other groups of 3 and 4 birds. The only waders on lagoon were Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and a handful of Dunlin and on the Saltmarsh a Greenshank plus a Curlew Sandpiper.

I moved counties back to Sussex and to Church Norton. Despite the bright blue skies, a strengthening wind kept any activity low and it was very quiet in the bushes surrounding the harbour with just a single Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat giving brief views, although I did see a Clouded Yellow butterfly, my first of the year. I waited for tide to come into the harbour watching the activities of the common waders, although not in large numbers, it was nice to see the Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Turnstone. A couple of Golden Plover a single Avocet and a Whimbrel gave some variety and a swoop by a Sparrowhawk and then a Peregrine scattered the flocks before they returned to feed.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Whimbrel

Wednesday 11th September - Rewilding

Rewilding is perhaps an overused but very current buzzword, with many aspiring environmentally-minded individuals appearing to jump on the bandwagon with good intentions. Returning land to it's original wild state with the hope that the original wildlife also returns probably best describes it's aim.

I recently read the very good book 'Wilding', by Isabella Tree, describing what had been done on the Knepp estate, which I enjoyed and was fascinating. It also made complete sense how the simple bio-science was explained (although I''m not sure how their recent White Stork breeding program fits into the concept and it wasn't covered in the book).

The idea of introducing more nature always appeals. So can I envisage any element of 'Wilding' here at home ?, well not really to be honest, however, I am keen to get as much wildlife as possible into the property and I'm sure Hannah and Adie already have a head start as they appear to have been rewilding their bedrooms for several months now, although the sort of wildlife that inhabits teenagers bedrooms is not the sort I'm aiming to attract.
The pond introduction proved one thing, that if you improve an area however small the wildlife will turn up on its own, and the amount of success with amphibians, damselflies and dragonflies are the notable visual signs that this worked. If I embark on a more serious attempt with a focused project to introduce or encourage more wildlife, it has to be a bit at a time.

The plot overall is 5 acres,  not tiny, but limited to what animals can be used for browsing and therefore what can be sensibly achieved on this scale. Currently the garden at the front of the house is being slightly reworked with one half new flower beds and the other with strips of the grass left and introduce some wildflowers... and then the fields.

Until now we got the fields cut a couple of times a year and the hedges cut once a year. This was largely without any purpose other than keeping things neat, with no real regard to timing or looking at the effects of any wildlife. We toyed with the idea of letting a local farmer graze his sheep over the fields and he reckoned that introducing 20-30 sheep alongside our 2 useless beasts would be suitable for the size of the fields... I was not so sure and could see this going horribly wrong so turned down the offer..

Instead, this summer I  decided to look more closely at the insect life in the fields and to see which wild flowers appeared naturally, mowing only a couple of paths. In June and July there was a big increase in Butterfly numbers, in what was a good year generally, I've recorded 19 species this year. The moth night I had at the end of June was also enlightening to an incredible number of species. Grasshoppers & Crickets have been abundant and my baseline of mammals are Fox, Badger, Roe Deer, Bunny Rabbit and too many Grey Squirrels, as regard the small rodent species I have no idea and would like to find out, but the Tawny Owls have done well this year and small mammals must form part of their diet. .. I will focus next year on trying the wildflower approach to Field 2 and 3 listed below, the ones that the sheep don't use. So currently I would divide the property into the following areas.

Area 1 - house and garden including barns and chicken pen -about 1 acre
Field 1 - closest to house and used by the 2 sheep - about 1 acre
Field 2 - with the Alder Copse - about 2/3 acre
Field 3 - largest field but heavily sloped - about 1 acre
Field 4 - small with Stables - about 1/3 acre
Area 2 - woodland edge to run-off stream - about 1 acre

I found the followng flowers in fields 2 and 3 over the Summer

Relatively abundant

Meadow Vetch or Birdsfoot Trefoil 
Knapweed 
Hoary Plantain
Yarrow
Buttercup

Red Clover

One or 2 plants
Tufted Vetch
Marsh Woundwort
Figwort
Mallow

and too much of what you don't want such as creeping thistle and dock,

SO a vague plan has hatched to see whether I can slowly encourage more of the nectar-bearing varieties, without a wholescale burning and replanting.

I have recorded 95 species of bird in the 8 years we have been here (which includes flyovers), 19 Butterfly Species, currently about 80 moth species , but that was just from 1 night. Mammals it is under 10 species of the larger mammals, as well as Fox , Badger and Roe Deer, I have had 1 sighting of Weasel and occasional sightins of Muntjac Deer but I have not focussed on rodents and have never seen a Hedgehog here. I have had both Pipistrelle and Noctule bat.. so I consider this the baseline from which to measure any changes.

It is obvious that the whole place needs more management than just letting things grow wild and it is really too small to consider introducing roaming buffalo herds, so I will look to do small bits, so clearing some leaving... and see where we end up.

Field 2 

Field 3

Field 2 again

Marsh Woundwort

Roesel's Bush Cricket