Around & About in March

Posted on 27th March 2020 by Richard

Lockdown begins, bad for us, good for nature

After some weeks of the Coronavirus Pandemic spreading itself across the U.K., the Prime Minister announced what would be a virtual shutting down of the Country, we were told to stay at home with only essential shops remaining open.
Luckily we were allowed daily outdoor exercise and although officially limited to one hour, where I go for walks is mostly to places where people don’t go. In other words, further out into the horizons.

Kestrel

The town of Bishop’s Waltham has many walks and close by places to explore. The houses on the north side of the town border the South Downs National Park and to the south it’s mainly fields with streams flowing into the River Meon. North and south I have about 6 variations of circular walks ranging from 4k to 8k, so depending on my general state of mobility, this is a nice variation.

Jackdaw – Goldcrest – Deer

Song Thrush – A late Fieldfare (early March) – Common Buzzard

There are some benefits of being indoors so much and that is to look out the window more and see what’s going on nature wise more closely than usual maybe.
Outside mt window, we’ve had Long Tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Goldcrest (right outside my window), Starlings, Jackdaws, Goldfinches and not forgetting Blackbirds and Robins of course

There’s always one close by !

Not only has Bishop’s Waltham the fields and River, but also a derelict Abbey (or Palace) and two large ponds no further than a 200 meter walk from my Flat.
Both are separated by the Winchester Road; the North Pond is largest more natural with varying depths of water which attract Herons and Cormorants, the south Pond was man made back in the day solely to farm fish. This attracts fewer water birds but does attract Kingfishers, Grey Wagtails and Gulls.

Much to see in the coming months !

Barn Owl at Titchfield Canal

Posted on 28th February 2019 by Richard

Without a doubt, the nicest spot of the month was the Barn Owl seen in a large tree alongside Titchfield Canal Locals say they often nest there but after a couple of weeks it had moved on.
The Canal path is quite a gem for spots, from north to south it’s around two and a half miles consisting of Water, Fields, Reed, Woodland and the Posbrook Flood. The main visitors are Dog Walkers and Birders, but with the path is well fenced so a good deterrent for wandering unruly pets and the odd Birder who doesn’t necessarily always keep to the proper places !

Titchfield Haven was still showing how well it is populated by birds through the Winter. The Avocets started to arrive, the Marsh Harriers did their usual daily hunt around the Reserve and on the shore a number of Gannets were seen flying up and down Southampton Water. I also made a first visit to the Forest of Bere and was amazed at the number of Goldcrests I saw, it seemed that almost every tree had them. Another nice thing about it the Food Van they have there, one of the best Burgers I’ve had for a long time and garnished with various vegeatbles all locally produced.

Forest of Bere – Curlew – Goldcrest

Avocet – Common Buzzard – Curlew flying at Warsash

Good weather also allowed quite a few walks around my two Patches, basically north of my Flats and south of my flats ! Great Spotted Woodpeckers were out in numbers as were Green Woodpeckers, but heard but not seen.
Bishops Waltham is never short of Common Buzzards and almost every walk produces a good view.

Overall, February gave a hint of things to come, relatively dry weather gave the odd hint of Spring, but all in all, birds were busy and awaiting the longer days for nest building and mating.

[fblike]

Winter’s day birdwatching at Godmersham

Posted on 19th January 2018 by Richard

As I said in my previous post, the small village of Godmersham is only two miles from my place and I seldom go there bird watching.
I’ve certainly, up to the last week, missed out this winter, beside the wonderful appearance of Hawfinches, there’s an array of small birds about with a constant chorus of song.

Goldcrest

The busiest day this week was Wednesday, no sooner had I got out of the Van did I see three Goldcrests jumping between a Yew Tree and the Graveyard wall, then looking upwards, a Grey Wagtail sitting on the roof of the Church.

Goldfinch – Long Tailed Tit – Grey Wagtail

Mistle Thrush – Treecreeper – Greenfinch

Walking along the Lane I encounted two Nuthatches and 4 Treecreepers which although not rare, not often seen so much in the open, if seen at all !

Long Tailed Tits and Goldcrests were most in number, never seen so many in one area.
Add to that 4 Greenfinches and two Mistle Thrushes, you just couldn’t find anything negative on a beautifully sunny Winter’s day.
One Lady arrived from further down the Lane and said she was watching a Blackbird foraging when a Sparrowhawk came down and took it away in one foul swoop.

Nuthatch

One thing which did surprise me was a few of the Birders remarking on Coal Tits. I never knew they are maybe one of the lesser seen birds. Without sounding too much of a show off I told them I have about a dozen in my Garden every day!

Male Chaffinch

Little Egret in River next to Church

All in all, a special morning out and with the Hawfinches as well has to go down as one of the best days as well.
[fblike]

Woodland at Hook with Warsash

Posted on 14th March 2017 by Richard

Just a mile on from Warsash and where the River Hamble finally flows into Southampton Water, is Hook with Warsash.
There are a number of walks around and about, one to the water’s edge going through semi Woodland and Reeds, another into Woodland and finally open field and heath.

Chiffchaff in early Spring noisy mode!

I usually do a little of them all and for those who think miles, it’s not, the three areas can be done by walking probably just a mile and a half and all walks have their own character and tundra.

Goldfinch

Again you will be subject to the passing dog or Cyclist but the area is large enough for you to find your own little corners and angles.
On this walk I went for the Woodland section and was surprised at how many birds I saw.

Greenfinch – Goldcrest

I didn’t have to look far to see Nuthatches and Goldcrests, two fo the not so easy to spot birds.
There were many Green Woodpeckers in the long grass of the open land, but too quick for me this time, pity.

Nuthatch

The other nice thing about this area is that it can be quite windy along the water, but most of the Woodland and Heath is protected from any cold breezes which may be apparent.
Other things to look out for are the occasional Weasel and Curlews feeding in the Fields when the tide is in, also a place where 100’s of Geese can take a rest.

I always enjoy it there. Even if I see few birds, the scenery is splendid and the tall trees give the Woodland areas quite an ancient feel.
[fblike]

Waxwings at East Malling

Posted on 5th February 2017 by Richard

Waxwings, a morning to remember!

Thanks to my birding buddy Neil re-tweeting info of some Waxwings seen over the last few days behind St.Jame’s Church East Malling, I drove the 30 minutes in hope they would still be there.
They were, twenty four of them !
Being a Sunday morning, this was no problem, so the M20 was good to me.

An added bonus was BTO had put up netting amongst the Apple Trees and turned up to do some ringing.
Luckily I’d timed it right and had 15 minutes of getting good views before the Ringers turned up which obviously flushed the non netted birds to scatter away into a nearby field.

Needless to say I was not alone, five other Birders were there, from Sevenoaks, Bearstead and Rochester

Goldcrest and Redwing

Goldcrest

An added bonus was that not only had BTO netted the Waxwings, but a Goldcrest and Redwing also.
I had seen a Goldcrest in the hand before at BTO Dungeness, but this one appeared even smaller! I was told the Redwing was one year old, apparently small white markings on their wings show this.

Redwing

I drove home with a smile on my face and a warm heart, a special morning and one I won’t forget !
[fblike]

Winter kicks in at Conningbrook Lakes

Posted on 26th January 2017 by Richard

After a relatively mild December and early January Winter finally kicked in and has given us to date more than a week where temperatures have only just got above freezing during the day and downwards to Minus 7c at night !

Conningbrook Lake

Luckily I got a lift to the main entrance which enabled me a one way walk home around the Lakes and over the fields.
The lakes were 90% frozen over with just a little area of open water on the east side where a congregation of Swans, Canada Geese, some Shovelers, Gadwalls, Tufted Ducks and Mallards took shelter. Oh., plus the countless number of Coots needless to say!

Goldcrest

Keeping an eye on me !

The trees around the Lake, especially between the main lake and Eco Lake were well occupied by Goldfinches, Long Tailed Tits and Chaffinches busying themselves in a short spell of misty sunlight.
The Eco Lake was bare with not even a mandatory Little Egret or Heron to be seen. Apparently the Great White Egret was about but the fog over most of the area didn’t give a view of more than 50 meters or so.

Cold birds stick together ! – The Song Thrush foraging the field

However, the area around the North Lake was quite bright. In the trees next to the Great Stour I thought I saw a Wren flitting about the branches. Upon a closer look I realised it was a Goldcrest acrobatically digging whatever he or she could from the bark of various branches.
I have to say I find these birds a real delight, the smallest European bird and weighing just under the weight of a 10p coin.

Back over the Fields

The walk back over the fields didn’t produce much although I disturbed two Common Snipe who needless to say rushed out and flew off with great speed not allowing me to get a photograph.

It was only when I got near to home a few birds appeared; a Song Thrush in the field, a Wren on the Stream bank and a few Lapwings in the field.
It seemed the greatest number of birds about were actually in my Garden!

I’m off to Southampton at the end of the week so will try to take a few hours out and visit two of my favourite spots at Warsash and Hook, both where the Hamble River enters Southampton Water. Maybe an Owl, you never know !

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!

Goldcrests and more at Dungeness

Posted on 9th October 2016 by Richard

Visiting Dungeness always springs surprises, that’s to say, when you think there’ll be a lot around, there isn’t and vice versa. Today was a day where I expected it to be busy; I’d heard about the Cattle Egret, an Osprey, Glossy Iis and more but nothing was seen by me.
However, no day out to Dungeness is without something even if it’s a better view of a bird than you’ve had before.

Europes smallest bird, The Goldcrest

I did my usual circuit starting off by parking the Camper at the old Lighthouse, venturing on to the beach then a walk up to the BTO House and around the Moat.
The tide was in so not much there. I walked around the bushes between the Miniture Train Station at the road leading to the BTO. Here was a mass of Starlings and quite a few Goldcrests.