Thursday 17th. December 2009

Not a lot to post , but during the last three days , the first two hedgelaying up on the Greensand Ridge and today working up on the Common , I did manage to record the following .
On Tuesday as we were packing up for the day , I found a party of 4 Bullfinches , at least two males , foraging along the newly laid section of hedge . In the bright morning sunshine at home , Carol saw two Fieldfares on the Cotoneaster bush next door , but they were quickly moved on by the local Magpies . This is part of the Cotoneaster in next door's garden , but apart from very brief visits by Redwings and Fieldfares , the only birds that I have seen eating the berries , are the Rose Ringed Parakeets , one top centre of this shot .
On Wednesday , whilst driving down a quiet lane up on the Ridge , I put up a Woodcock from the verge , that flew for some distance , very low in from of my vehicle . When I got home that evening , Carol said that she had seen a male Blackcap in the Callicarpa bush , not long after \I had left .
This morning , I was at the back bedroom window before heading off to the Common , and saw him briefly , with his back to me . The consequent shot does not show his head as he was feeding , but I will hopefully get a better one in days to come . Whilst waiting for him to show , a large flock of Chaffinch , Greenfinch and Goldfinch came in to the feeders , necessitating a queueing system . This male and female Chaffinch were waiting their turn . Also calling in for breakfast , was this male Great Spotted Woodpecker , a daily visitor , who takes Sunflower hearts from the feeder , places them in the drilled hole in the post , before breaking them open to feed . With the drop in temperature , we have also noticed that more and more Starlings are 'bullying' their way on the feeders .
Today , up on the Common , it was very cold , and we had several snow flurries . The only thing of interest found , was a specimen of Tremella mesenterica-Yellow Brain Fungus , that came down on one of the trees that was felled , even that was frozen , rather than being it's usual jelly-like form .

Monday 14th. December 2009

Another grey start to the day , but hoping for something better , I dropped Carol off in the town , and headed for High Broom Woods , in the hope of finding Siskins and Redpolls . A small stream runs through the length of this narrow wood , and it is skirted by houses on the two long sides , and the stream is lined with very tall Alders , the seeds of which are much sought after by the Siskins . As I entered the wood , a light drizzle started to fall , but that and the low temperature did not subdue the birdsong . A Song Thrush was by far the loudest , but Robin , Great Tit , Nuthatch and Wren , were all singing , as if Spring was round the corner . Blackbird , Redwing and Rose Ringed Parakeet were also heard . A flock of small birds were seen further along the path , but they turned out to be not the sought after Siskins , but Chaffinches , which flew into a large Oak , where a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming that this was his patch . Corvids were represented by Jackdaws , Carrion Crows , a Magpie and a Jay . As I crossed the small stream , I disturbed the resident Grey Wagtail , which headed off downstream calling . Collared Dove , Woodpigeon and Bullfinch were added to the list , along with Blue , Coal and Long Tailed Tit . The last record was Green Woodpecker as I was leaving the wood . The only shot I took there , was of one of my favourite trees in the wood , A magnificent Sweet Chestnut , spiralling it's way out of the ground . With a bit more brightness on offer , I decided to visit South Norwood Country Park , at Elmers End . Walking in , I checked the Alders near the lake for Siskins , but all I found were Goldfinches . A look at the lake revealed that the Shovelers were still in residence , and increased in number . Straight away , the Mallards , Coots , Moorhen and Tufted Ducks came over looking for bread . The Tufted shot is just to wind up , again , a fellow blogger . Also on the lake were three species of Gull , Black-headed , Common and Lesser Black-backed , interesting to compare the size differences . At the second vantage point , two sightings of a Kingfisher , as it flew first away , and shortly afterwards , back towards where I was standing , but it didn't stop . As I left the lake and headed into the open areas , I recorded Dunnock and Chiffchaff . At the bend in the small stream that runs past the lake , a Sparrowhawk was making a determined effort at flushing out a meal from the low vegetation , as it came through low and fast . Sitting tight in a tree close by was this Song Thrush , that didn't move a muscle till the danger was over . Things went a bit quiet for a while , but came to life with this male Kestrel , perched looking for it's next meal . He made several sorties into the low vegetation , but didn't seem to be very successful . I just had him lined up for another shot , when he decided that he had had enough of me , and headed off to the other side of the Park . Whist in the same area , a Grey Heron flew over , heading for a reedy area , a small flock of Stock doves passed over too , showing their grey rumps and lack of wing bars . The call alerted me to two Fieldfare which I saw briefly in the long grass , but then more calls , as a flock of 15/20 headed in the direction of the lake . Walking around , I duplicated many of the species seen at High Broom Woods , imparticular , the Rose Ringed Parakeets . As a had almost got back to the lake , alongside the small stream , I found this specimen enjoying a brief spell of sunshine between the clouds . As I got closer , it flew to the other side of the Willow it was sitting in . I followed it round , and found it sitting outside a nest hole , just 4 mtrs. off the ground . As if standing sentry , it didn't fly off again , allowing a really close up shot , just a shame it was in the shade of the tree . In the short distance of the stream alongside the lake , I then got four more sighting of a Kingfisher , all within 5 minutes or so . Two were by a small pool where the path crosses the stream , two further on . I did hang around the pool for a while , bit it didn't return whilst I was there , and once again , no picture . I can't be sure , but all sightings were probably of the same bird , but great to see anyway . A last look at the lake showed that some of the Shovelers had moved to the side of the island out of the wind , and in the sunshine , and had been joined by a couple of Canada Geese . The last two sightings before leaving the Park , were a Brown Rat , not surprising with all that water about , and a Carrion Crow , caught against what happened to be the last bit of blue sky , before a broad band of cloud moved in .
I headed home for lunch , well happy with 40 species on the list , especially as it's back to hedgelaying up on the Greensand Ridge for the next two days .

Sunday 13th. December 2009

In not very good conditions at all , grey skies and a cold breeze , I got out for a look around just before lunch . As I drove along the bottom lane , I noticed a small flock of Thrushes landing in a Holly tree in a front garden . I slowed , and came to a stop just short of the tree . The Thrushes kept mainly to the middle and back of the tree , but just occassionally , one showed on my side of the tree , offering a photo shot . The light conditions were bad , but at the time , I thought I had got the moment of the Holly berry in the bill , but when I looked later , I was a split second late , the berry had already gone down .
I carried on to Keston Ponds and checked on the Mandarins , which have increased by 2 to 13 , still very wary , and keeping as far away as possible from the bank . Apart from a small flock of 10/15 Black-headed Gulls , nothing else had changed . A walk across Keston Common produced a marked reduction in the number of Redwings from my last visit , but not surprising as even more large areas are completely berry free . The few birds that were seen were widespread amongst the few remaining berry carrying trees . Nuthatch , Jay , Magpie , a mixed Tit flock and Greater Spotted Woodpecker were all recorded , but not much else .
The colder temperatures have greatly reduced the species of fungi to be found , but the Oak Milk-cap-Lactarius quietus , seems to be coping well , with good numbers of specimens found . The well named Trametes hirsuta , a small bracket fungi was found on some dead wood , the second part of it's name coming from the silvery hairs on the upper surface of this specimen . Nothing else of interest was found , so I headed home , and on the way , grabbed an opportunity to get a shot of a Rook in the horse paddocks on the bottom lane . Not the easiest species to photograph , as they tend to fly off as soon as they see you approaching .
When I got home , Carol had just put out some more bird food and there was a constant stream of takers for it , Coal Tit ,
Great Tit ,male and female Greenfinch ,and one of a large flock of Goldfinch to name a few .And finally , before Warren mentions that the Sunflower heart feeder needs topping up , we are refilling it twice a day at the moment , and if the cold weather comes as forecasted , it could be three times a day .
No sign of Winter Thrushes in the gardens today , they must still be working on the Hollies .

Friday 11th.December 2009

To say this week has been full on would be an understatement . Monday was spent removing a Wasp nest from the loft and making good the resulting damage . Tuesday and Wednesday were spent hedgelaying up on the Greensand Ridge . Admittedly both Redwings and Fieldfares were heard and seen , the hedgelaying came first so the Winter Thrushes just got a cursory glance . Thursday was spent up on the Common , with chainsaw in hand for most of the day , wildlife was almost non existant .
By today , the list of chores needed to be done took most of the day , but I did hear and see Redwings and Fieldfares on the large Cotoneaster tree next door , that was until the neighbour further along started working in the garden , and they moved on . I did manage to get out for an hour , as the light was fading . All I could manage was a quick visit to Keston Ponds and Common . I took bread with me , but the 8 Mandarin present on the bottom pond were not interested . It was interesting though , to hear the calls of the other three resident males , as they returned from elsewhere , just as I left their roost .
The middle pond held a few Mallard type , and a pair of Canada Geese , who deigned to wake up from their snooze , to partake of the bread , unwanted by the Mandarins . Although no longer in sunlight , the Holly tree where I watched Redwings eagerly eating the ripe berries , no longer has any trace of red at all , and the same goes for many of the Hollies across the Common . Right in the middle , I did find one still with a plentiful supply of berries , but they too were being quickly devoured . The only other bird related interest found , were the feathers of a female Pheasant lying under a Scots Pine . They had been snipped off , rather than plucked , the sign of a Sparrowhawk kill . Not much fungi was found during my short visit , but I did manage to find a couple of specimens of Hygrocybe psittacina-Parrot Wax Cap , still in it's early form , being almost completely green .
Tomorrow it's back to hedgelaying , to hopefully finish the hedge near the junction of the M25 and M23 .

Sunday 6th.December 2009

With visitors today , didn't manage to get out , but did manage a few shots on the feeders . A pair of Rose Ringed Parakeets flew in and nervously eyed the food on offer . One settled in the Laburnum tree next door and started eating the seeds . The other was very soon tucking into the Sunflower Hearts . The one in the Laburnum obviously decided that the Peanuts and Sunflower Hearts were better than Laburnum seeds and took closer order . Eventually they settled , after a bit of arguing , on one feeder each . All was going pretty well for them ,
until a Grey Squirrel turned up and turned them away from the feeders , which they left , as usual , very noisily .

Saturday 5th.December 2009

A second sunny morning on the trot , so it was early breakfast , and out before any phone calls could change my plans .
I decided on a visit to West Wickham Common , then on to Hayes Farm , but the twitching started at the breakfast table . Within ten minutes or so , 11 species came to the feeders .Blue and Great Tit , Chaffinch , Greenfinch , Goldfinch , Stock Dove , Woodpigeon and Collared Dove , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Jackdaw and Robin . Somewhere in the gardens , a Song Thrush was in full song , and down the bottom of the garden Carrion Crow and Magpie put in an appearance . Not bad , 14 species before turning a wheel .
Up on West Wickham Common , it was obvious that like on Keston Common , large numbers of Redwings were enjoying the ripe Holly berries , every tree seemed to be host to small numbers .
I managed a couple of shots , a bit better than yesterday's effort , but they are very nervous , flighty , and difficult to photograph at the moment . Whilst walking around , the now usual squawking of Parakeets overhead was almost overlooked , but I did look up , only to find three RRPs chasing off a Sparrowhawk , and doing a very good job of it as well . Other species recorded were Nuthatch , Blackbird , Bullfinch ( usual rear end view ) and an overflying Black Headed Gull . The recent frosty nights seem to have decimated the fungi , as most specimens found were just a wet mush , but these Hypholoma fasciculari-Sulphur Tuft were holding up reasonably well on the stump of an Oak . On the way back down the hill to the car , I found a cultivated Holly in one of the back gardens , with yellow berries , growing alongside the usual red berried type .
I think that the best way to describe the conditions at Hayes Farm would be marshy , as many of the paddocks have pools of water all over the place , and even the drier looking ones sound very boggy when the horses walk on them . Unsurprisingly , there were large mixed flocks of Black Headed and Common Gulls treating the pools as ponds , and bathing and preening in them , and around the horses , Pied Wagtails were waiting to snap up anything disturbed . Just a short distance in , I disturbed two male Pheasants , which quickly headed for cover in the remains of the Runner Bean plants . A couple of Canada Geese flew over my head and a Dunnock called from the adjacent back gardens . Heading towards the Trout Fishery , the only further sighting was a Green Woodpecker . As I arrived at the Fishery , four cars were parked alongside it , so I didn't expect to find much . Sure enough , five fly anglers were spread around the lake , and I only recorded Coot , Moorhen , Mallard , Little Grebe and the usual farmyard type ducks , with no sign of the Egyptian Goose that stayed all last Winter . Heading back , squawking at their nest tree , were two pairs of Rose Ringed Parakeets , the argument seemingly about the ownership of the nest hole below them . Skylark and Fieldfare were added nearing the car , when a flock of 25/30 , what I could only describe as Doves from the quick glimpse I got of them , flew in low and settled some 100 metres further on . From that quick glimpse , there seemed something different about a couple of them . I closed the gap between us , and found them settled in a lightly vegetated area behind the area where cabbages had been grown . Searching through the flock with binoculars still at some distance , two strange looking birds came into view , both head down feeding . By now I could see that the remaining grey birds were Feral Pigeons , but still couldn't be sure of the other two . I kept closing them down , then was disappointed to find that the two strange ones were Feral Pigeons too , so bang went the chance of a new species named after me . As can be seen , the last photographs were not in the sunshine , as by now a band of ever thickening cloud had blotted it out just like yesterday , and by 1500 , yet again , it was raining , but I had seen 34 species whilst it was shining .
And finally , part of a charm of Goldfinches , which numbered at least 11 , that arrived just after Carol put out more food after lunch . I make it 8 and a Blue Tit in this shot from the back bedroom window . Also had the first garden Redwing in a neighbour's tree at the same time .

Friday 4th.December 2009

With beautiful sunshine and cloudless sky , I was ready to get out and about , when the phone rang . It was the chap who organises the workparty on the Common on Thursdays . Any possibility that I could spare a couple of hours this morning ? I was his last chance , as everyone else had other commitments . I couldn't say no , so changed into my work gear and got my tool ready . We were meeting at 1030 , so I had time for a quick look at Keston Ponds before that . On arrival , it was one of those magical times , birds and bird calls everywhere . Above where I parked , a Nuthatch was 'knocking seven bells' out of a branch of an Oak , and intermittently calling to it's mate a short distance away . A mixed flock of Tits passed through containing Blue , Great and Long Tailed , and also a pair of Goldcrests . A little further back , a small flock of Redwings were stripping a Holly , but getting close was impossible . As soon as I got too close , an alarm call saw the whole flock disappear into the tall Oaks nearby , and I only managed a long range shot , but it was my first of a winter Thrush this year , hopefully , better quality shots will follow in time . A check of the bottom pond , confirmed that 11 Mandarin were still around . I was so involved with all that was happening , that when I got round to looking at my watch , it was almost 1030 , so I had to leave what I thought could have been a good birding morning , to do some work .
We worked till 1300 in the same clear sky and sunshine conditions , the only thing of interest found was this fungi , which I believe is Trichaptum abietinum , before heading home at lunchtime . As I was eating my sandwich , I could see a band of cloud approaching from the North West . By the time I was ready to go out again , the sunshine had gone , blotted out by the cloud . I decided to chance returning to Keston , but the magic had gone and things were quiet . I had taken some bread , so went down to the bottom pond . On throwing it in , the Mallard types and the Moorhens came over to feed , but the Mandarins didn't move a muscle . Eventually , hunger must have got the better of them , when 4 females and 6 males , slowly approached . With the camera in one hand , and trying to make the bread last as long as possible , I managed a few closer shots than before . Apologies to those who are fed up with the Mandarins , but they brightened up a cloudy afternoon for me , and hope they do the same for you . I did manage a shot of a male displaying in front of all those gathered , by raising the feathers on the nape and crown , to make himself look bigger than the other males . I then headed off to look around the rest of Keston Common , and soon realised that since my visit last week , the whole place had been invaded by Redwings and that what I saw this morning was the tip of the iceberg . As walked along , every Holly tree had them feeding in them , and flying off as I approached . I also saw a Treecreeper , working it's way up a Silver Birch , but the light was getting bad for any chance of a photo . Other birds seen / heard included another two Goldcrests , Great Spotted Woodpecker and lots of Corvids , especially very noisy Jays , and several roaming Tit flocks .
Amongst the leaf litter I found another specimen of Boletus queletii . It was in the same general area as those previously found , but this one was still intact in the ground . I had spent some time trying to get a shot of one of the Goldcrests , without any joy because of light conditions and constant movement of the bird , but did notice that on the same tree were this year's berries , and also the flower buds , which will hopefully feed those Redwings again next year .