BLOG
My blog will predominantly feature a selection of photographs and reports of recent wildlife photographic trips, mainly in the UK
|
As it is such a local site, I couldn't resist another visit to try and get some more images of the Whinchats before they disappear for another year. Whilst further to walk, I love the approach along the Cole Green Walkway. This is the old station platform at Cole Green.  The trees form a tunnel effect that is very photogenic.  And for a more atmospheric look, a touch of B&W.  Once on site, a single Yellowhammer was spotted in the brambles.  Meadow Pipit numbers are starting to build again, and this was one of about four birds that were present.  But it was Chats that I was after, and sure enough I was lucky as there is a fence line and patch of scrub that they sometimes favour. First up was a female Stonechat.   And not far away, was the male.    I could only locate one Whinchat, but it was fairly obliging.      I thought I would get a good shot as it perched briefly on the barbed wire, but a stray bit of grass put paid to that!  I will certainly be back in the Winter as the site holds many possibilities.
0 Comments
The low water levels at Dernford Reservoir had been attracting a number of good quality waders and these pictures are from two visits on the 16th and 19th September. The main attraction was a Pectoral Sandpiper.    At least 8 Ringed Plover were also present.    A couple of Dunlin were also present. This shows them with the Pectoral Sandpiper, giving a good comparison.  A Little Stint was also present, but distant. I did manage a couple of record shots.   To complete the wader round up, one Green Sandpiper and two Common Sandpipers put in an appearance as did this distant Curlew Sandpiper.  The most unexpected visitor was a drake Common Scoter which with a bit of patience allowed some reasonable shots.       For such a small place it attracts some really good birds!
The first car trip of the new season with the RSPB SE Herts Group was to Lakenheath on a bright, sunny and warm day. At the visitor centre a number of birds were around the feeders including this young Goldfinch.  Brief views were obtained of both Coal and Marsh Tits and this skulking Reed Warbler.  As a juvenile Osprey had been seen on two previous days we decided to walk up the river first. A flock of Greylag Geese flew over and I took a few shots. It was only when I got back that I realised they had someone who wanted to be part of the group!  Among the Grey Herons and Little Egrets, a Great Egret stood out well.  Lakenheath can be a noisy place with the airbase next door, and I had to take a picture of the F15's. In the second picture I think the smaller plane is an F16.   Three cronking Ravens were a surprise, and an even bigger surprise was that they mobbing the Osprey. It was fairly distant, and looking into the light, so only a record shot here. That being said, a great bird for the day and a lifer for some.  Three or four Hobbies were still around the reserve hawking for Dragonflies, but again not coming too close.   And for once, a Clouded Yellow butterfly decided to co-operate!  Lunch was taken at Joist Fen viewpoint and Common Snipe and Marsh Harriers added to the list. We could hear Bearded Tits pinging for a long time and eventually got some brief views as they flitted over the reeds. A couple of birds came nearer allowing us all to see them and for some it was their first ever sighting. Just the one record shot here before they disappeared.  And then a shout went up "Cranes"! Two birds flying past, and as usual fairly distant.   The walk back added a Kingfisher at the Mere hide and views of a splendid male Marsh Harrier. A couple of us stopped off at Cavenham Heath on the way back and I could not resist a Common Darter warming up on the wire fence.  No sign of any Stone Curlews, but lots of Stonechats!  And a final treat were four Woodlarks feeding on the ground.  A really enjoyable day!
A new local site for me, but reports of Whinchats were enough to tempt me to explore this old landfill site just outside Welwyn Garden City. For my first visit I walked along the Cole Green Way, the old railway line between Hertford and WGC.  Lots of Teasels draped in cobwebs.  Early signs were promising with Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Lesser Whitethroat, Skylark and Hobby. The local Kestrel was hunting and then perched up for a while.    And who can't resist a Dunnock, showing well!  The Whinchats had been seen over a wide area but I was informed that one area of scrub in particular was a favoured area. Sure enough, I spotted one flycatching and braving the brambles and thistles found a good spot and hoped it would work its way nearer.       I thought I had spotted a second bird earlier and luckily it flew in to join the original bird allowing me the chance to get some shots of them both.      A magical moment to see two together, especially with an attractive background! Sadly, this site is earmarked for housing development and managed tree planting which will drastically affect the wildlife. I will monitor the situation going forward to see if any practical steps can be taken to minimise any impact.
With a few hours free, time to pop down to Rye Meads to see what was about. First stop, the Draper hide with one Common Sandpiper and a few Green Sandpipers plus this Common Snipe out in the open.   A grey Heron was also looking for fish in the shallows.  There just seemed to be the one Little Egret present which lazily flew in.  There were at least three eclipse Garganey present, but all a bit elusive or distant, so just one record shot.  The highlight was certainly not one but two juvenile Kingfishers which would chase each other around the scrape. One in particular was happy to perch up close to the hide catching tiny Carp.          One bird decided to hover right in front of the hide allowing a few shots!    Someone mentioned that they had also been seen at the Gadwall hide and a walk up there soon yielded results. One bird was perched on the goalposts.   A second bird flew in.  Which prompted a brief squabble!    A very enjoyable couple of hours.  Stevenage is not the first place I think of in relation to birding hotspots, but when news broke of two Pied Flycatchers by the old farmhouse, it was time to pay a visit. A small group of local birders were already in place and as I discovered later, they were firsts for the park. The birds were feeding and seen in flight, and every so often would perch up allowing some shots.        I didn't manage to get pictures of the second bird, but this one I believe, is a juvenile. Great to see some familiar faces, and big thanks to the finder and the local patch birders. It just goes to show what can turn up!
A wryneck had been reported at Rainham the previous afternoon and when it was still present the following day, a trip had to be made. It was favouring a bush and the path by the old target range and a small group of birders were watching it just off the path. Brief views were obtained before someone coming from the opposite direction inadvertently flushed it, where it then perched for a while in the bush.  Wrynecks (Jynx torquilla) are part of the Woodpecker family and are smallish birds not much bigger than a Sparrow. We get about 300 records a year in the UK mostly in August/September. Fortunately, this one flew back down to the path allowing the chance for some shots as it foraged for ants and other insects.             A stunning bird with beautiful plumage, and one last shot of it hopping away.  I had not heard of this local site until highlighted by Rupert Evershed as there was a fall of migrant birds including Pied and Spotted Flycatchers and Redstarts. A visit the following day, showed it to be a very promising site on a ridge overlooking the Coursers Lane gravel pits. Sadly no sign of Pied Flycatcher but at least four Spotted Flycatcher were a welcome bonus!         Swallows were swooping over the paddocks, and the hedgerows held Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and one very smart Willow Warbler. A Nuthatch put in a brief appearance.  I had an early brief view of two Common Redstarts, but later four, possibly five birds gave better views using a large Oak tree as a base and then hunting from a hedgerow.         Certainly a site with a lot of potential, especially in Spring and Autumn.
Frampton is a great place to go at this time of year especially for returning waders, so a warm sunny day was ideal and we arrived just as high tide was approaching. Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were everywhere along the sea wall, but the main attraction were waders. Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper and Snipe were all spotted but close in were a number of Black-tailed Godwit.        A large flock of Knot were in the middle of the scrape with many more Godwits. Closer in, we spotted three Golden Plover.   And an obliging Common Sandpiper.     I managed to snatch a couple of shots as a Redshank flew past.   A few Spotted Redshank were also present and stayed while the tide dropped.   Taking a break from the waders we spotted five Geese species including an early Brent Goose, one Barnacle Goose and three Pink-footed Geese. Two of these had been on the reserve over the Summer.    A few juvenile Shelduck were also present.  One of the most impressive sights were the Spoonbills which must have numbered nearly 50 birds!    The Sunflower crop was also coming along nicely!  But back to the waders, and of course as you would expect quite a few Avocet about.      The other very obliging waders were Ruff, in a range of moults as well as some juveniles.         A welcome surprise was also this lone Wood Sandpiper.   But the bird of the day was a White-rumped Sandpiper from the 360 Hide, kindly pointed out by a local birder. Just record shots as it was distant, and in the 2nd shot there is a Ringed Plover and Dunlin in the shot for comparison.   What a fabulous reserve and looking forward to seeing the new visitor centre soon.
At this time of year the road from Baldock to Wallington can be very good for migrants especially Wheatear and Whinchat. The slightly higher ground must tempt them down. Starting at the famous "metal gate" nine Wheatear and one Whinchat could be seen along the fence line but very distant. Fortunately, one of the Wheatears was more obliging just off the tarmac path.        Some dead rabbits in the sheep field were attracting a few Red Kites.         A walk down towards Wallington village yielded a pair of Ravens, great to hear their cronking call!  By the footpath to Bygrave a party of four Whinchat were using the hedgerow and field margins to feed. It would have been nice if they had come closer, but I managed a few shots, including a cameo appearance by a Corn Bunting.    Always a great place to visit!
|
RSS Feed