Wednesday 20th. March 2013

After all the excitement of Hawfinches and  Great Grey Shrike last week , it was back to earth time with a cold , muddy visit this morning to Sevenoaks Reserve . On arrival , although the birds were singing for the Spring Equinox , it felt far from it , and several layers were once again donned , before starting . First look from the ramp was nothing to write home about birdwise , with gulls , geese and Lapwing being the most numerous seen . Undeterred , I set off towards Tyler Hide , finding Bullfinch calling and Mistle Thrush in full song on the way . From the hide , with the cold wind blowing

straight in , apart from the species seen from the ramp , I could only find 5 Common Snipe , together

on the far side of one of the islands , and , still dozing , a pair of Shoveler in the same area . A few Cormorants were sharing the outer islands with the many Lapwing , and along with the Coots and Moorhens on the flooded area , that was as good as it got . The walk down to Sutton Hide was even

more uneventful , and when I opened the flap , just four Teal and two Canada Geese were all that I found . A check on the reedbed from Slingsby Hide produced absolutely nothing , but on the way back to the ramp , a Great Spotted Woodpecker gave some 'exposure compensation' practise , and a

large flock of Siskin could be heard , high in the Alders behind the fishermen's car park . A male

Wren was singing and displaying along the track towards Long Lake , and a Great Crested Grebe was

found on the East Lake , complete with hair gel , but no sign of any hoped for displaying pairs . Once again , no sign of a Bittern at Long lake , but another small flock of Siskin , lower down this time ,

were found . Retracing my footsteps , the first of two Kingfisher sighting was at the end of Long Lake , as the bird zig-zagged through the trees towards Snipe Bog Lake . There was no sign of the bird when I looked out of Willow Hide , somehow I knew there wouldn't be . All the action on the

lake was from the geese , with Canadas arriving noisily , and even noisier when they left to feed in

the field behind . Just a few Teal and Tufted Duck ,and the ever present Coots made up the numbers ,

and over in the Willow on the far bank , a pair of Jays , almost camouflaged by the branches in front of them . The second Kingfisher sighting was at the corner of the West Lake , on my way back to the car park , but neither posed . Although there were some sunny periods during the visit , it was now getting darker with the threat of rain . A stop at the horse field on the way home found the juvenile Common Buzzard on sentry duty on a fence post , but before I got out of the car , it flew off into the

trees , and nearby , the rookery now has nine nests .

Wednesday 13th. March 2013

Since the weekend , I have been reading reports of large numbers of Finches , seen not far from Box Hill in Surrey . All said that the birds were around in the morning , but not seen in the afternoon or at dusk . So it was an early start for me this morning , arriving on site just about 0715 . Although the sun was up , the site was in a deep valley , and the sun's warming rays were unable to penetrate down to the bridle path running up the length of the valley . I was not the first there , two birders from the Redhill area were already on site , but they had not had any sightings before I got there . One had been there two days earlier , arriving after 1030 to be told 'you should have been here ten minutes ago' , the other was hoping to see the Finch for the first time . A cold hour and a half went by without a sighting . I went further for a look further up the bridle path , only to find the two birders gone on my return , and a single replacement scanning the tree tops . Apparently another birder/dog walker had taken them to where he had seen some on his way there . After a short time , a small flock of birds flew into one of the tall trees , some 40/50 mtrs away from where we were standing . WE counted 12 Finches in the tree with the help of binoculars . A while later , in another tree we had 18 , but the sight that I will never forget is when we both turned around to the calls , and had 25/30 birds flying down the valley and over our heads , like a wave of bombers , absolutely incredible . In total , we saw 55/60 birds , admittedly some of them might have been double counted . Oh yes , the Finch in question , Hawfinch . The first report I read on Sunday stated 100/130 birds sighted , and c60 on Monday , so we were well happy with our count . The other birder who was local left soon after to get on with his decorating , but I stayed on for a while as birders in ones and twos arrived , until the twitch reached 20 , which included the original two who returned , having seen a couple of birds . I left at 1015 , with no further sightings , as reportedly , few birds had been seen after this time and

 

none in the afternoon . I'm posting a couple of rubbish shots taken at distance , unfortunately I wasn't prepared for the moment when the 'bomber squadron' flew over . I had made plans for an early finish at the site , deciding to try for a second time at Thursley Common for the Great Grey Shrike , especially as the weather was better than on the first visit , a pity not to , as the two sites were quite close . Arriving at the Moat car park , well wrapped against the wind , I set off finding the paths much better than the floods last time . By the time I reached 'Shrike Hill' , I had hardly heard a bird , never mind seen one . Meeting some local walkers , they told me that they hadn't heard of any sightings recently , just what I wanted to hear , but I just walked slowly scanning every vantage point , and hoping . The long sunny periods were becoming shorter , and every now and then there

was a snow flurry . I did find a pair of Stonechats , the male being the only one prepared to pose ,

distantly . Also flitting around was a small flock of Meadow Pipits , pictured during one of the darker spells . I must admit , I was starting to think the walkers were right , when a bird flew up from the

ground and perched in a Pine , and the walkers were proved wrong . The problem was though , that the bird was between myself and the sun , which was not good . But , beggars can't be choosers , so I

fired of as many shots as I could , whilst the bird posed on one side , then the other of the tree . After a couple of minutes , it dived down into the low scrubby vegetation below it's perch , and although I waited , it didn't reappear . I carried on well chuffed , only the second of the species that I have seen , and the first photographed . I worked my way around the back of 'Shrike Hill' , hoping that it would be over there and I would have the sun behind me , but it wasn't to be . I met a couple of birders and put them onto the position that I had had the bird , I hope they were lucky too . I was almost back at the spot again , having scanned all of the hill without any success , and just happened to look towards Pine Island , a stand of Pine trees , when a flash of white caught my eye , it was the Shrike again , and this time , although further away , the sun was behind me . It was hunting from a series of dead trees ,

searching the area below the one it was perched on , before moving to the next , what a fantastic

bird . It seemed to find something tasty just before this shot was taken . I haven't looked through all the near 400 shots I took of the bird on the two sightings , a wet day will be needed . Of interest , while watching the second sighting , 6 Common Buzzards were riding the thermals in the distance . Feeling cold , but well satisfied , I headed back to the car , and some warmth , finding another female

Stonechat en route that was willing to pose . A look at Moat Pond was no more interesting than a few

Mallard and a Grey Heron , but something was holding the interest of the latter .
Back to reality tomorrow , work day up on the Common .

Monday 11th. March 2013

Recent weather conditions have not exactly been conducive with getting out and about , but I did manage a very wintry visit to Hayes Farm yesterday morning . It was so cold that even the 'brass monkey' failed to show up . Unexpectedly , not a single Winter Thrush was found , but both Song and Mistle were in full song . Gulls dominated the horse paddocks , with a good showing of Common and just a single Lesser Black-backed combining with the Black-headed . The Trout Fishery , being the highest point on the farm was Artic , with a very lazy , bitter wind blowing . The scan was well worth while though , with four pairs of Gadwall , three pairs of Tufted Duck , along with the usual Mallard types and the farmyard duck . Two pairs of Little Grebe were amongst the Coots and Moorhens . Greylag Geese were dominating the floating nest islands in the middle of the fishery , Canadas were bathing in the furthest margins , and the resident white farmyard geese were holding territory on the far bank as usual , but no sign of any Egyptians . Only other interest was a mini 'murmuration' of Starlings over the fields beyond the lake . I must admit , I was pleased to get back to the car , and out of that wind .
My plans for today were scuppered with snow flurries and longer spells of snow , right from first light . I did get a couple of chores done in the garage and got up to date on processing recently taken photos , which I was pleased to have done . About 2.30 this afternoon , I read a report of a Water Rail seen , within a stones throw of the High Street in Bromley . I looked out of the window , and it was a bit brighter , without any snow , so I decided to head off and see if I could find the bird . On arrival , there was still no snow , but today's wind was even colder than yesterday . I checked the area where the bird had been seen , an area of open water with much debris floating around , between two sections of culverted river , and dominated by a large island with  several very large multi-stemmed Willow trees and Phragmites Reed . I found Mallards , Coots and Moorhens , but no Water Rail . A walk downstream failed too , but another sign of Spring , in the form of the only broad-leaved tree in

the UK to bear cones , the Alder , were sporting both male and female catkins , together with last

year's cones . The yellow/green catkins are the males , the females being bud shaped , and coloured not unlike the female Hazel flowers . By the time I got back to the car , I was ready to head home , but decided to have one last look . As I got almost to the end of the island , I saw some ripples , and could make out a bird dipping into the water . I thought Coot or Moorhen , but through the branches

of the Willow , with the help of the binoculars , it turned out to be the Water Rail . The bird spotted me immediately , and scurried off to finish it's wash and brush up amongst the debris further back on

the island . As usual with this species , clear shots prove difficult to get , but a few minutes later , it headed out into the open for just a few seconds , before disappearing into the Phragmites at the back

of the island in ever worse light conditions , as yet another snow flurry moved in , so with not being able to feel my fingers , I was quite happy to call it a day and head back home .
Apologies for anyone who tried to use the link at the end of my last post , as it didn't work , and I don't know why . So , I asked John if I could post one of the Red Kite shots , which I do here . Yes ,

the Red Kite that turned up after I left the reserve , what's new ? Great shot John .
And finally , especially for fellow blogger ShySongbird , the first Primroses that I have found this

year , I know they are a favourite .

Wednesday 6th. March 2013

Weather nowhere as good as yesterday , but at least it was dry and reasonably mild . I set off this morning to do the bird survey at Down House , and after a couple of very poor returns , was pleased to record 22 species , which for the site is above average . The pick of the bunch were a pair of

Bullfinch , a male Yellowhammer who found the top of the highest tree around to sing from , and a

Nuthatch in the formal garden , that would have benefited from some of yesterday's sun . The list would have included Skylark , if one of the birds above the field on the other side of the lane had drifted over .
My usual quick look at Keston Ponds produced nothing out of the ordinary and even the juvenile Common Buzzard was nowhere to be seen around the horse field . But the Rooks didn't let me down ,

with 7/8 nests in the one tree , and a good possibility of more to come . With a bit more brightness and a rise in the temperature early on this afternoon , I set off for the Greensand Ridge , to search for reptiles , as Common Lizard , Grass Snake and Adder , had all been recorded during the recent couple of sunny spells . The first two eluded me today , but 10 Adders , all males as expected so early in the emergence , some singles , twos and a three were recorded , once again the multiple sightings usual
now , but not as breeding time approaches . A few of the new arrivals .

But , having seen the forecast , I think they will be getting back down below ground again , in the near future . On the way back home I had a quick look around the Common , finding a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly and , just 2 mtrs. away from where they nested last year , a pair of LTTits were busily constructing this year's home . Last stop was at the horse field , and this time found the juvenile Common Buzzard on one of the

posts , but as soon as I raised the camera , it was off , heading for the large trees at the back of the field ,

and there it stayed . And finally , I thought that I had had a good day yesterday , but an email from John , one of the stalwarts on the reserve , who I met up with whilst there , informed me that about an hour after I left , he had a Red Kite circling overhead , and got some cracking shots . If you would like to see what I missed out on , the link is , http://www.flickr/x/t/0095009/photos/plumberjohn/8531347563/ and click on Chid birds .

Tuesday 5th. March 2013

After spending yesterday in chainsaw gear , the third day running and with the weather taking a turn for the better , I couldn't wait to get out this morning , and headed for Old Lodge Reserve on Ashdown Forest . Too early for migrants yet , so I made my targets Crossbill and Wood Lark , with anything else being a bonus . A cold but bright start , but as I crossed from Kent into Sussex , that brightness had gone and I was in a veil of fog . I had visions of another foggy visit , like the ones I had last year , but fortunately , as I neared the reserve , the fog lifted and the blue skies returned . 8C was the reading on my arrival and that soon started to rise . Walking along the top track there was plenty of birdsong , but nearly all Chaffinch , with the odd Song Thrush and Wren . A pair of Coal Tits calling to each other in a pine and the odd Blue and Great Tit were also heard . As I approached a small water filled ditch , several small birds could be seen on the ground and flying into the surrounding trees . These turned out to be Reed Buntings , the males already adorned in their

breeding plumage . Things went quiet again , until I almost reached the corner to go downhill , when two birds flew over heading the way I had come . I watched them land in a favoured area of Wood

Lark , so made my way back there . Sure enough , the pair were feeding and I managed to get a few shots before they moved on again . As I headed downhill towards the little stream , one of the few

raptors seen during the visit , a Common Buzzard passed by over the tree line at the top of the reserve . No sign of any Stonechat in the valley of the stream , but having crossed the bridge and climbing the other side , a singing Wood Lark could be heard from the nearby MoD land , but I could not find it .Another scan from the top failed to find the singer , but it was a very pastoral scene with

several ponies grazing . Levelling out at the top , I could hear the 'cronk , cronk' of Raven , and headed in that direction . On the way , I came across a few female Fallow Deer , who posed nicely at

first , then showed the other side of their character , and then scampering off . I finally got the area where all the 'cronking' was coming from , and then spent an hour trying to get a decent sighting of the bird . I did get a couple of glimpses at a bird flew between trees , but that was all . I was about to pack up , when the sound of wings above my head , and a Raven flew from behind the trees , right over my head and away , calling a couple of times . I got a few rushed shots , this being the most

reasonable . The remainder of the visit was very quiet , often the way there with lunchtime approaching , and without any sign of Crossbill . I had my lunch in the car park , and decided to revisit the reserve where I had been working at the weekend , now that the sun was out . On the way between the two site , I saw three male Brimstone butterflies flying along the verges . When I arrived at the second site , the feeders were almost stripped , but there were still plenty of birds about . The sunshine really brought the Siskins to life , these two caught waiting their chance to get on the

feeders . I couldn't match the 11 Common Buzzards seen on Saturday , but there were five riding the

thermals overhead today , but I only managed to get four of them in the viewfinder at any one time . Also seen were three juvenile Great Crested Newts , out of hibernation and warming up under a piece

of felt . I didn't have my macro lens with me , so had to stand off with the zoom lens to get a shot of them . Walking around the rest of the reserve , a Comma butterfly feebly flew past as if it was still

half asleep , another first for the year . Last shot taken before leaving was another Common Buzzard . Back at the car , the temperature still 14C .

Sunday 3rd. March 2013

A few bits and pieces from the two day tree laying session this weekend .
Yesterday , the air was full all day with the constant chattering of Siskins , the feeders in the middle of the reserve are taking a real hammering . During the morning , a single Common Buzzard passed overhead calling . Before lunch , two Common Buzzards overhead , being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk . At lunch time , we had 11 Common Buzzards , thermalling together about a mile away from where we were sitting .
Today , with bird ringers due on site , I got there early , before the nets were put up , but unfortunately the promised broken sunshine didn't show , but the Siskins did .

Blue , Great , long-tailed and Coal Tits , together with Chaffinches , Goldfinches , Robins and Blackbirds were also joining in on the feasting . When I went back just before heading home , a Tree

Creeper was working a nearby tree , but on the darker side of the trunk . The ringers were kept busy all morning , mainly with Siskin catches , but  a few other species too :

Male Nuthatch ,

Female Siskin ,

Male Siskin ,

Goldfinch , a privilege to be so close to those beautiful birds .
The promised sunny periods never materialised , until I reached home , too late .
As for the trees due for laying , all layed .

Friday 1st March 2013

With yesterday's work day up on the Common , and Saturday and Sunday 'tree laying' on a small Nature Reserve , I decided that despite 'odd spots of drizzle' in the forecast , I would spend the morning at Sevenoaks Reserve , with the main target being the Bittern which has been showing on a regular basis at Long Lake . What I drove through was more like a monsoon than drizzle , and it was no surprise that the car park was empty on my arrival . I headed , full of enthusiasm down the track between the River Darenth and the East Lake . Unfortunately , that enthusiasm diminished very quickly when I spotted a tree surgeon's vehicle on the far side of the river at the junction of Snipe Bog and North Lakes . The sound of chainsaws and smoke from their fire was not what I was hoping for when I set off . I was sure that I was not going to see the Bittern , but still made my way down the track . A pair of Little and three Great Crested Grebes together with the usual Tufted Ducks and Coots were seen on that the East Lake , which was like a mill pond at the time . Reaching the start of Long Lake , I scanned the back edge of the lake , but no sign of the Bittern . I could see something light in colour right down in the corner of the East Lake , but that only turned out to be the white goose with unusual blue/grey on it's wing feathers together with a Canada Goose . Plenty of song on the way down and back , mostly Tits , Wrens and Thrushes . Just Black-headed Gulls and sheep in the fields at the end of the track , and no sign of any Parakeets , perhaps already nesting . Even though the weather hadn't improved any , I retraced my steps , knowing that Willow Hide overlooking Snipe Bog Lake would be a waste of time , I stayed on the main track and on the bend found my first flock of about 25 Siskins , feeding right at the top of the tallest Silver Birches and Alders . Without their constant chatter , it would be very easy to have passed them by . Heading over towards Tyler Hide , it was almost birdless , apart from two Bullfinches calling to each other . I just got to the hide as the drizzle became heavy rain again
 , but scanning the islands did little to warm things up , with lots of BHGulls together with a single Common

and a single Lesser Black-backed . A scan of the grass/bog area to the left revealed lots of Coots and a few Moorhens , but not a single Common Snipe . When the rain returned to drizzle , I made my way down to Sutton/Tower Hide , arriving just as the rain got heavier again . I always hope to find a Bittern in the open when opening the flap , but I had to make do with three Coots and six Teal . The reedbed between there and Slingsby Hide looked very quiet and with another drizzle period and a quick dash , that was exactly how I found it , not even a squeal of a Water Rail . On leaving the hide and taking the lower route back , another smaller flock of Siskins were seen , once again , silhouettes high in the Alders . Another scan of the islands produced ten Shoveler , split equally M/F , the usual Lapwings and a couple of Cormorants . A third flock of Siskins was in the vicinity of Tyler Hide on my way back , as was a calling GSWoodpecker . As I got near the fishermen's car park , something told me to go back to Long Lake , and I took notice . As I passed the contractors , the noise was louder and the smoke thicker , and the drizzle was returning to rain again , brought in by a chilly wind . I would love to report that when I got back to Long Lake , the Bittern was out in the open waiting for me , but it wasn't , and all I got was colder and wetter . I made my way back to the car park without bothering with Carter Hide with all the commotion going on . A look at the feeders outside Grebe Hide failed to find the Marsh Tit , but out on the West Lake , below the hide , eight smart drake

Pochard were dozing , not in the least bothered by the conditions . Another sign of Spring , with Goat

Willow catkins opening , which will provide much welcomed pollen to many insects when fully out .
On the way home , I saw the Common Buzzard , sat out on a post in the horse field , looking pretty miserable , and probably even wetter than I was . One good thing came out of the day though , at least February is out of the way .