Conningbrook Lakes first day of Winter

Posted on 1st December 2016 by Richard

Being the meteorological first day of Winter I thought it would be nice to have a walk around Conningbrook Lakes this morning.
The Weather forecast was for it to cloud over at 10am and as the last two nights have produced below freezing temperatures, I wrapped up with four layers.
Needless to say they got it wrong and clear blue sunny skies prolonged all day – I was boiling !

The Eco Lake was pretty much frozen over with no birds on or around it but the main lake was very busy; Greylags, Shovelers, Tufted Ducks and Pochards were the main stay with a sprinkling of Great Crested Grebes and Gadwalls.

Pochard – Male Tufted Ducks – Pied Wagtail

Very noticeable was the lack of small birds about, just Long Tailed Tits, Wrens, Blackbirds and every one’s favourite, the Robin ! I did mis-time a photo of a Pied Wagtail though. As often the case, getting a shot of a bird taking off is quite accidental !

Look out for Hedgehogs

The very mild Autumn has bought about a bit of a nightmare situation for many Hedgehogs. Many have been born quite late and will not have had time to get themselves up to the necessary weight for hibernation, 600 grams.

Should you see any Hedgehog walking about now, please report this to a local RSPCA or The Hedgehog Protection Society. They should be safely tucked away by now and any still out and about have little chance of survival.

More on Hedgehogs here on the main web site

Warsash end of November

Posted on 28th November 2016 by Richard

A visit to family in Southampton afforded me a chance to pop along to one of my favourite places for Ducks, Geese and Waders.
Warsash being on the River Hamble just as it joins Southampton Water and with protected Marshland is always good for something at any time of the year.

Regrettably I couldn’t time my visit for a low tide, it was high, very high, so this obviously reduced the amount of Birds and Waders to a minimum but it was nice to see so many Brent Geese enjoying themselves.
Best times here are about half way between high and low tides when some islands appear in the River and the water level amongst the Reeds allows the Kingfishers to come out to feed.

After half an hour or so I drove along to where the River meets the water. There are two Scrapes there but neither had any birds. In fact the bird I saw the most of was the Robin!

However, a Black Tailed Godwit showed up. Not a great day but a lovely sunny but cold morning to have a nice walk in the knowledge you would probably sleep well that night!

Bearded Tit, Cattle Egret, Ring Necked Duck

Posted on 21st November 2016 by Richard

Regular readers will know I’ve been trying to get a photo of a Bearded Tit for about a year. I managed a Female at Minsmere last month but the male has escaped me.
Last Friday, Bingo !!
Looking at the forecast it was the one day in about 10 where there was to be sunshine and relatively light winds for some days, so off I went to Dungeness early morning and after about 45 minutes of sitting at the View Point somewhat cold, one appeared on the Scrape Board opposite.

Having heard of the Cattle Egret for my last four visits I then went off in search of that and for once the Cows in the field at Boulderwall were close to the Reserve track and after a few varying positions got a reasonable shot off it.

Then, to my surprise I noticed the Ring Necked Duck, another which had escaped me for the last three weeks, appeared mixing with three Coots, again fairly close to the Track.
It seems that both Cattle and any Ducks, Waders etc. probably start off close to the track early morning but upon more cars and Birders going past, move over to the far side.

By this time it was about 10.45am so I popped down to the Old Lighthouse in hope of spotting anything else interesting, but the rain came down and feeling it was a morning fulfilled I made my way home.

Dungeness Birdwatching Early November

Posted on 10th November 2016 by Richard

Reading all the local Birding Blogs it seems apparent that things are pretty quiet on the bird front, certainly in October and I quote one long and experienced Birders comment ‘The worse October I remember’.
Half the problem has been the mild weather though, migrants coming in seem mainly to be on time, but the recent mild weather has maybe stopped many Warmer weather birds not to venture off.
This certainly appears the case with Swallows, still many about.

A walk around the old Lighthouse showed some Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, always a pleasure to see.
A walk down to the Beach didn’t produce anything other than the usual array of Gulls flying over the warm water being pumped out from the Nuclear Power Station.

I then went on to the RSPB Reserve where I picked out an Avocet feeding amongst a load of Lapwings, some Teals and Cormorants. From the Dennis Hide one could see 4 Great White Egrets mixing in with 5 Little Egrets.

On my way around the circuit it was nice to come face to face with a fine looking Fox, obviously not long from being in the Blackberry Bushes.

Speaking of Foxes I was intrigued to come across a rock on which a Fox had very carefully done a dropping neatly on top. Made for a nice decoration but the mind went in overdrive as to how he or she did it!

Once again my quest to see a male Bearded Tit came to nothing. I got the usual Birders response of “Oh, you should have been here an hour ago”. This remark is becoming quite standard with me!

As always though, great to go down there, even if it is only for the sea air and the wonderful bleak scenery. Love it!

Dungeness end of July

Posted on 29th July 2016 by Richard

I love Mountains, hills, valleys and rivers, but there’s something aout Dungeness that never ceases to give me pleasure both in scenery and wildlife.
Now at the end of July virtually every meadow plant and flower is in full swing and today, I don’t think I have ever seen so many Butterflies, Dragon Flies and other Invertebrates.

After an hour sitting on the Beach at ‘The Patch’ patiently waiting for a Seal to appear but never did, I made my way up to the RSPB Reserve.
Bird wise it’s a very quiet time of the year but as always, something comes along, mainly by luck, seldom through judgement.

First on the Agenda was a Sparrowhawk flying overhead at the ARC Viewing Point, it was only when I got home and viewed my picture full size I realised it was holding it’s Prey. What, I’m unsure but from what appears to be a yellowish beak I’d say either a Blackbird or possibly a baby Coot.

Some of the Flora – Mother with Juvenile Coot – Sand Martin

Never challenge was to photograph a Sand Martin. Not knowing where they’re actually nsting my only hope was to catch one flying. I think I probably took 50 photos in hope that one may be any good, even show the bird at all!
I managed one.

Common Blue

The only other sightings were some Gadwalls, Mallards, 2 Marsh Harriers seemingly hunting together and a few flashes of a small bird passing me by.
But it was a pleasant day starting off with blue skies and quite hot but by 11.00am somewhat windy.
I knew then I should have done the Reserve first and the Beach second, this though is another learning curve and I shall study the forecast a little better next time!

Hamble calm and still

Posted on 29th March 2016 by Richard

29th.March 2016
With my daughter and family away in the USA, I’m doing the House Sitting, sad they’re not there but a chance to pop out on daily adventure around the vicinity – today it was Hamble.

It couldn’t have been better, the tide was low which gave possibly the last chance to see our Winter migrants go off on their summer jaunts.

Black Tailed Godwits

Hamble is blessed with both Black Tail and Bar Tailed Godwits, today it seemed to be the Black Tailed showing their faces.
There wasn’t much happening really, beside the above a few Turnstones, Mallards and the odd Teal.

Some Redshanks did eventually turn up however and this gave a reasonable photographic opportunity.

Goldfinch – Chiffchaff – Greenfinch

After that I popped along to Hook-in-Warsah where again not much about, just the normal but a Chiffchaff and female Blackbird did make for a good shot.
Much noise from Buntings in the Reeds and Skylarks were obviously in attendance somewhere.

Nothing else to do I had a slow stroll along the Lane, some Goldfinches appeared and that was that.

Male Teal

Should you ever go to Hamble and would like to see a Kingfisher, try walking about 100 meters north of the Pink Ferry, there’s a bend in the Path with a Bench. Sit there and look across the pools in an easterly direction and you may well catch a glimpse of one, or two, p[erched on th fence poles or sitting on a mud bank as the tide comes in.

Over 60 pages of Garden Wildlife on the main Web Site here Nature on our Doorstep