Post-Valentine's agony

Half term! The grand-children arrived on Tuesday and my priorities had to change. The garden is looking bleak after the frosts but there are signs of spring, with a few Snowdrops out and the crocuses pushing up but not yet open because of the wintry weather. The buds are showing on the Pussy Willow, too. Twelve Redwings have been sitting in the Ash trees and swooping across the garden, looking for the remaining Pyracantha berries as well as any fruits on the Ivy that the Woodpigeons and Blackbirds have missed.
It being half-term, the steam trains on the West Somerset "branch" line have started running again after the mid-winter lay-off, when essential maintenance takes place. Of course, we had to take in the station as part of our walks. This is one of Pete Waterman's locos.
During one of our local tours, we popped in to Carhampton church to view the magnificent rood screen. I was more interested in the large churchyard. This is only cut at the 'back end'; the rest of the year it is allowed to grow naturally and it contains a large variety of common and not so common plants, about 100 in all. The dozen Yew trees are magnificent and were playing host to a group of noisy Siskins and Chaffinches.
The family were leaving on Friday, so I was able to put some nets out. This gave me a chance to show Erin (8) birds close up in the hand. She liked the 'big' Redwings and the 'wriggly' Blackcap; and she was able to name them.
Here's the list of what was caught and ringed (re-trapped):
Blackcap 1 (1)
Blackbird 1
Redwing 4
Dunnock 1 (1) - still they come
House Sparrow 3 (1)
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 5
Bullfinch 1 (1)

Total 17 (4)

Yesterday, Denise and I recce'ed an orchard with a view to catching some Fieldfares before they decide to up and go. The wind was against us, billowing the nets, and the sun was also bright. We did manage to suss out the most sheltered part for a future attempt. This will probably be sooner rather than later, as the 400 or so birds could well depart as the temperature is forecast to reach the mid-teens later in the week.
Fingers crossed!

Away day

Decided to forego ringing in favour of a day out. Took ourselves off to Brean Down with the dogs. The weather was dull at first, becoming hazy later during the morning.

By the time we left (about sidereal noon) the temperature had reached 20C.


That's "Weston-super-Mud" in the background!

There were plenty of summer migrants about; there must have been in excess of 100 male/singing Willow Warblers. Close behind on Number 2 was Whitethroat. Conditions have been favourable in the last couple of days for migrants to cross the Channel and they have pored in!

Common Whitethroat (c) Edward D Green

A fair few Chiffchaffs and plenty of Meadow Pipits were seen/heard and several pairs of Linnet gave Jen a year tick. All the while we walked the two kilometres along the lower (ha, ha) path, Herring and Lesser Black-back Gulls glided into the bay towards the River Axe, making full use of the updraughts. A year tick for me was one of my favourite birds, the House Martin, 'prritting' above the gulls.

The Bluebells were coming out and will be at their best next week-end (Easter) but the Cowslips (below) were in full bloom, often surrounded by violets.


After watching two Tree Pipits and three spanking male Stonechats, we arrived at the fort, which has an interesting history.


This was built in the middle of the 19th century, along with three others [Steep Holm, Flat Holm & one on the Welsh coast], to defend the Bristol Channel against invasion by the French. On the return walk, we only heard one of the three Grasshopper Warblers that we had picked up on the way out to the fort. As much as we stared at the vegetation (bramble, naturally)....


There was a secretive one in here, honest.

... we could not clap eyes on any of these little buggers, partly because of the steep terrain that made viewing low vegetation difficult.

Grasshopper Warbler (c) Edward D Green

We finished off our 2 hour walk with a nice mug of coffee and a lump of coffee and walnut cake at the National Trust cafe.

Bridgewater Bay NNR

A walk with the Somerset OS led by Jeff Hazell (ex Londoner) in murky conditions turned out OK and the company was terrific; about a dozen of us, from beginners to old hands. I took my dog along as she is very "clingy" at the moment (in the last week of her season).

High tide was at 11:10 and now subsided after the equinoxial high to a moderate 8.7 metres.

Birds seen (Wall Common): Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret (5 or more), Grey Heron, Mute Swan (pair nesting), Brent Goose (15, 3 dark-bellied), Shelduck (100+), Mallard, Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Lesser Black-back Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark (masses singing), Sand Martin (several parties through), Meadow Pipit (again a fair few), Pied and White Wagtail (3 of the latter), Dunnock, Wheatear (smart male), Blackbird, Chiffchaff (3 singers), Great Tit, Magpie, Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting. I also saw a Yellowhammer, my first for the year, just before I arrived at the rendez-vous (they all seem to bugger off from us here in winter).

Some signs of spring

These two "luvlies" are billing and cooing on our chimney every morning. They are just one of the four or five pairs hanging around the small industrial estate between us and the railway. It can get quite noisy when they are joined by one of two pairs of Collared Doves on the electric wires, a pair of Jackdaws and the nazal twang of the Greenfinches. It is all part of the celebration of spring which cannot be far away now. [First Bluebell in the garden this morning]

Ringing has been very slow with the north-east wind blowing the nets and keeping the "feels like" temperatures close to freezing. This is completely different in a friends garden which is on a west facing slope, protected from the current wind and also benefitting from the sunshine more than we do.



The dominant species this week was Greenfinch; a male and female 'second years' from this week are in the photos above. Just 13 birds ringed but a total of 10 species handled over the seven days.
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Wren (1)
Blackbird 1 (1)
Robin (4)
House Sparrow 1
Chaffinch 1
Brambling 1
Greenfinch 6
Goldfinch 1
Siskin 2

If you multiplied these totals by 10, you would be close to the numbers of bird ringed by my two nearest ringing neighbours. C'est la vie. Welcome to West Somerset! (Thanks, Denise).

And, finally, down the lane at the back of us, the Rooks are extremely busy refurbishing last years nests and building new; 12 pairs/occupied nests counted this morning.

Not every thing is spring-like yet. The Hazel catkins are fully elongated but the small red female flowers have not yet burst; the same goes for the Alders. There were 7 Redwings on the (now unoccupied) sheep field by the Doniford Stream and I also picked up a Little Egret, a Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Bullfinch and a Buzzard during my short walk with the dog. There are still some Bramblings around, with a loose flock of 9 flying over to roost.

Mini walks started

I say that loosely; the dogs need exercise other than careering round the garden. Mostly it's to the shops via the rec. and beside the "river" Willit. Yesterday we ventured a little further, this time out in to the countryside.

We took a path that sort of follows the Willit downstream to Donniford. After crossing the railway, you come to a nursery beside the "river". A good place to look out for birds and always turns up Song Thrush [why don't they come into the garden - it's only 300m.] Turning up "the drive", there are a number of decent Alders and usually some Siskins. Much of the land is permanent pasture with horses nearest the water.

As the drive widens out nearer the farm and barn conversions, there are more bushes. There always seems to be a number of Blackbirds here; I wonder if they're locals or incomers?

The path passes through the old farmyard and rises up a little, with sheep pasture on the steep hill to the east. There was Fieldfare in a veteran tree that looked possibly good for Little Owl. The dogs have to navigate the stiles using various devices of opening and closing a small hole at ground level.

Further on it looked like turnips but was probably beet. The hedges here are old and thick and have already been sliced off. Devoid of anything other than a Dunnock.

Eventually we came to a small converted farmhouse and an unmade road called 'Watery Lane' ['cos it's beside the "river"]. Although the area turns into a couple of dozen old holiday bungalows, we suspect the gardens are someone's pride and joy in summer.

There was a remnant orchard near the "main road" with loads of fallen apples. On the deck enjoying them were a couple of Blackbirds, some Chaffinch, a Woodpigeon and a female Pheasant. I expect she had  ventured out from the small plantation on the overlooking hill; it looked much like a shooter's lay-out. We returned back the way we came without event.

We connected withthe Santa Special at the station. Lots of smoke, steam and whistles, with a bit of flag waving and baton changing.

Extra species that have arrived in the garden since my last posting are:
Blackcap 1, Greenfinch up to 11, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail & Treecreeper. Chaffinch are now up to a dozen or more at a time.

Garden feeders - just before the post dawn rush!
 A local birder called Frank reckons he saw a Lesser 'pecker a couple of weeks ago, just along where we had walked, his first for 10 years or so.

Getting the cat "sorted" on Tuesday.

POSTSCRIPT:     On the way back through the station platform I had a chat with the "Stationmaster". When the line was British Rail, he had worked there for 27 years until closure of the line following Beeching. He was dressed in his uniform with silver braid on his cap. Jenny went to the Parish Council meeting tonight, Monday [the day after] and learnt that he had died that same evening, less than six hours after I last spoke to him. He was well liked in the village and a bit of a character.

Walking the dog

In a week's time, I will be leading my last guided walk for the Borough at the Country Park. Today, I took a shuffle round with the dog, to see what's changed of late.


'Cerise'
 
It was a 'grey day', somewhat overcast, but at least the gales had died down and it was not cold at 8C. The usual flotilla of Mallard had congregated along the path up to the Beefeater with a few Coot hangers-on. A plaintive Robin sang at the Sailing Club corner and a couple of skittish Blackbirds shot from one side of the path to the other, doubtless after Yew berries. No Greenfinch today; strange?

Further along at the SW corner, a flock of 16 Goldfinch emerged from the lakeside bushes and flew towards the river. Offshore, I spied 3 male Pochard heading towards the island. Pairs of Gadwall swam idly along, hither and thither. With the middle section closed to provide a winter wildfowl 'safe zone', the next stop was the hide. Pressmead produced nothing on the way there, not even a Chaffinch! A scruffy Tufted was hiding in the corner, more Mallard squawked their way out from the neighbouring reeds, more Gadwall idled 'offshore', a singleton male Pochard (not one of the three) hove into view and the masses of Coot "did Coot".

'Mallard', resting.

Walking on, I noticed the recent winds had brought a willow down across one of the swims. Approaching the 'beach', we encountered our first dog walkers. Glancing aside, I picked up a Little Grebe plunging into >10 feet of water as it spotted me. Crossing the cycle track to the lock, I checked out Fingers; not a lot - just two Cormorant fishing. Says it all - no wonder the anglers complain for ever and a day. Kramer hide - nil; well, one Heron.

Bumped into the lads, DK, Dave and John A, looking at a Magpie hanging (dead) in a tree on Kingsmead. On the intervening meadow there were 77 Wood Pigeons and a Jackdaw. Walking back to the 'rough', it was pretty dismal - the only consolation was one (or more) Siskin calling overhead. Flighty Shoveler on the Fingers (lilypads side), a desperate Cormorant, half a dozen Redwing and ... that's your lot.

I did get to hear a calling Chiff in the shelter belt that stretched from the 'rough' to the visitor centre, probably the best bird of the day.

Some Movement

Had to remove my computer set-up to the downstairs (proper) study; it all went back together OK, except for my Finepix camera - it won't call up the download menu page! A bit cramped as this desk is quite a bit smaller than mine.

 As you can see, I've downloaded the missing .exe file and we're back in business!

The painter will be in tomorrow, hopefully for the last time. He's due to "magnolia" my old study in the smallest bedroom (but nice and long which used to accomodate my big desk & filing cabinets). The estate agent is calling round, too, so I hope he's going to get his finger out and get us 'sold' very soon. Still have to renew some of the carpets - that will mean more movement, this time of all of the furniture that didn't disappear into store in St. Neots. [Queer that; Jen's stuff is in Kettering]

Other things on the move just lately, south this time, were - Sky Larks in small flocks of up to 7, Meadow Pipits in ones and twos, odd Siskin, singleton Brambling, a trickle of Robins & Chaffinches, and some Song Thrushes. The winter trek of gulls, mainly LBBG from the Grafham roost to the Brogborough tip, is evident most mornings and evenings; some of them drop into Priory for a 'wash & brush-up'.

Walking round the perimeter of the new estate opposite (it is surrounded by large plots of wildflower meadow), turns up a few birds. There is always a Robin singing in the same dog rose-cum-hawthorn bush, a Song Thrush by the stream, a Blackbird and a pair of Bullfinch in the eastern hedge and a couple of Mipits rising up from the new, now devoid of topsoil, development on the otherside of the hedge. Further round, where it borders farmland, there is often a score of Rooks and some Wood Pigeons or a Chaffinch or two. Still further round to the west there is an 'unofficial path' that runs along a newly planted, mixed hedge and rabbit fence. In the field beyond, there are always a couple of Sky Larks and half a dozen Mipits. Today (Monday), there were  at least 14 Mipits, a pair of Reed Buntings,

 one or more Yellowhammers, a Pied Wagtail and a Chaffinch, all making use of the fence wire or posts to warm themselves in the early sunshine after a cold night (at least minus 1C). Turning back for home along the brook, another Blackbird, a couple of Blue Tits, a Dunnock, a cat and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits.  

Made a pitch for a detached house between Taunton and Minehead over the weekend- young estate agent has not come back with  anything yet ... no news is good news???

My next big job is to clear and /or pack the contents of the garage. As I have managed to 'fix' the up-and-over door, we can have a skip on the drive and a massive purge of all those knackered or superfluous items that I have accumulated over my 14 years in Bedford and the 24 years in Gamlingay before that. Tally Ho!

Not strictly

Saturday night>Sunday morning - it rained!
However, when I woke up, it had stopped and the wind had gone too. After some humming and haaing, I decided to visit our (Bedford) CES site. Today was the first day of a new period, but we (Ed and I) had talked about doing the CES during the week.

To cut a long story short, I went and put up just 150' of netting for 4 hours. This covered half of the CES site only - and with a start of 8 o'clock, I was not apprehensive of catching much. The sun was out and there were a few fluffy clouds. By 12 noon, the nets were in full sun.

This was the first time that my new dog 'Cerise' was introduced to bird ringing other than in the garden. She turned out to be very well behaved and gave me no problems.

I don't know what's more expensive - having a pedigree 'pooch' or being a bird ringer!

Any road up, here's what I caught:
Great Tit (1) - ringed as a pullus some way away (1st retrapping)
Willow Warbler 2 - both 3M's, fat3, muscle 2
Blackcap 2 - both imm. males
C.Whitethroat 2 (1) - 2 new Euring age 3 & an ad. male carrying a good "fat-load"
Wren 2 - unmoulted juvs
Blackbird (1) - last weeks juv male
Song Thrush 1 - the 2nd juvenile of 2010 here (2 pairs nest within the sub-site)
Dunnock 2 - both new juvs
Greenfinch 1 - a scary juvenile, looked very young
Goldfinch 1 - a young one about to PJ moult

This morning (Monday) was wet! Overnight, a low pressure system passed over, dumping 25mm (1 inch) of rain on us. Walking the dog, I spied 2 Kingfishers making use of the stilling pond on the new estate opposite.

It's an agreeable walk alongside the brook here; the new flower meadows are beginning to establish nicely. Just waiting for the autumn cut - and then we'll be 'whooshing Mipits', all being well.

The view looking back towards the 'new' roundabout (estate entrance).

Go West (pt.3)

Day 11 - the 'big day'. May Day in Padstow! Or as they know it "'Obby 'Oss Day - the start of Summer"


Let the fun begin; the 'Childrens' parade', heading for the Institute.



The beating heart of the "Blues' 'oss"

The 'obby 'oss can just be seen over the top of the crowd, immediately after leaving the Institute.

The base of the Maypole, Market Square, decorated with Cowslips, Bluebells Sycamore boughs.

The top of the Maypole.

A packed inner harbour and harbour frontage - Padstow 01-05-10

This wasn't all. We had just finished having (another) drink at "The Shipwrights", when Jen spotted her niece Hannah. who lived hereabouts for several years. Later we were joined by nephew, Gerry, and Hannah's partner, Ian (better known as 'Ginge') and their Hungarian Oupi (woolly dog).

A chance family meeting. [Jen, Gerry, "Henry", Ian & Hannah]

I think I can say - "a good time was had by all".

Surprise early doors

Having been up early the previous two days, it was no surprise that I woke early again, despite the alarm clock being turned off. Having used the two garden poles yesterday (see here), I re-erected the 20' just as there was a glimmer on the eastern horizon.

A wash and a shave later, a pair of Starlings had attempted to make for the bread on the lawn before 6am (BST). They were processed and I indulged in a little more toiletry before looking out the window, net checking. An all grey bird with a black head was hanging there and I shot down stairs quickly. It turned out to be a 5M (2CY) Blackcap, the first of the year for the garden.

T

Today's Blackcap X447901, 5M, 1 ogc, wing 75, 16.8 g, fat 1, muscle 2. @06:30BST

Then, after a breakfast of yoghurt and oat flakes, it was off to the park to lead a guided walk for spring migrants.

Penultimate visit

This was to be the only April visit to NW Norfolk. The reason - Jen has sold out to her brother and is moving to Bedford ... temporarily. I have an appointment with our Priory CES site next weekend and the weekend after I shall be packing for our caravan holiday in Dorset (where we will be house hunting) and Cornwall, where we will get pissed in Padstow at the May Day celebrations. It now looks like we will be met there by one of Jen's neices, Hannah, and her partner, 'Ginge' (Ian).

Rear view. The net runs in front of the RH shrubs to the pole

Getting the net up after lunch on the Saturday, it didn't yield many birds before dusk; just 4, with nothing between half two and five o'clock. Up early on Sunday morning to open the net proved a deliberate act of masochism again, with 3 birds by breakfast time, 2 more just before lunch, and then 3 more as it was getting dark. Bank holiday Monday and I followed the same routine, but did close for a couple of hours mid-afternoon when we walked to "Onion Corner", once on the main road to Hunstanton but now by-passed by the 'Queen Elizabeth Way'. Then nothing.

This is how it panned out.
Saturday pm - 1 Greti, 2 Chaff & 1 Blabi.

 A neat 5M Chaffinch with a wing of 86.5


Sunday am - 2 Bluti, 1 Blabi, 1 Robin & 1 Grefi.

A 6m Greenfinch with a low weight of 24.4 - hence the fluffed up appearance

Sunday pm - 1 Dunno, 1 Robin & 1 Bluti.
Monday am - 1 Goldc, 4 Grefi, 1 Coati & 1 Chiff.

A surprise 6F Goldcrest. 'Hubby' was nearby

So that was that. Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 2 (1), Great Tit 1, Coal Tit 1,

The sole Coal Tit, unringed, aged 5, 4 ogc's.
The rest have deserted the feeders for now. 

Blackbird 2, Robin 1 (1), Dunnock 1, Chaffinch 1 (1) & Greenfinch 5.

Another garden rarity - 4M Chiffchaff with a wing of 64

19 birds in all with just the three retraps. It'll have to do.

San Valentino's dagen

Up early for a guided walk at the Park (Priory). The weather was a bit 'iffy', with a cold, damp wind and just above freezing (2C). Bird wise it was a bit limited but the object was to see the wildfowl before they leave for their breeding grounds.

First of the day was a Greater Black-back Gull, a really scarce bird here. Then on to 6 Wigeon by the sailing club. They moved up onto the grass and the GBBG landed amongst them. There were 13 Cormorants lined up on the piling, keeping watch. After we moved off, we stopped at a mixed bunch of birds, feeding on the lake-side veg.

A family of 7 swans, several Pochard (both sexes), Mallard, ten or so Coot and two pairs of Gadwall. Three Black-headed Gulls surrounded a lone Common Gull. Turning round and looking at the meadow, we saw 5 Blackbirds and 7 Redwing - until a terrier frightened them into the Hawthorn bushes.

On Fingers we found 2 male Tufted, two pairs of Great Crested Grebes setting up territory and starting on their nesting platforms, 3 Cormorant and an adult male Shoveler, an immature trying to look like "his dad", and an accompanying female. It looked like a pair of Blue Tits had already found the new nest box that we put up yesterday. The rangers have been busy this week and cut a swathe through the Corn Bunting roost in the 'Crescent' reedbed. No sign of the resident Chiff.

We wandered past 'the beach', up along the canoe slalom and up the river. A large party of Long-tailed Tits favoured us and several Goldfinches twittered their presence. On was taking pollen from the new Alder catkins, something I've not seen them doing before. Round at the hide, we were able to get close views of the the Pochard and some more male Tufteds. The main flock (150+) was sheltering behind the island - until a wind surfer appeared past the southern tip and put the birds to flight. I savoured the moment as they flew a couple of circuits of the lake before landing in the middle of the "safe zone". For those who don't know, the western side of the 64ac (29ha) lake is a wildfowl sanctuary and closed to the sailing club from 1st November until the end of March, whereas they have a 25yr lease on the eastern half.

We then walked up the old tow-path, Cardington Walk, passed the ancient pollarded willows. We were out of the wind but there was little to see or hear. There was no sign of the hoped for Stonechats and we could only hear the piping of the Teal on the Fenlake pool, obscured by the bankside growth. A large flock of Canada Geese, with the Greylag x Canada taking up the head, drifted downstream passed an angler fishing for Pike.

Then it was pack to terra firma along 'Blackbird alley' behind the sailing club clubhouse and the remains of the Priory Wall. Mainly 'garden birds' here with a Greenfinch 'wheezing' from the top of the only large Sycamore in the park. Finally farewell to the regulars and to Faith, a newcomer and immigrant lady from Sydney. Then home for a bath; not that I'm dirty, just needed warming up!