What have you seen
Comments
-
Will do as we will be among lots of pines at the next site near Loch Garten. There certainly about last time we were there but didn't see them, Crossbills too! I should be better prepared with the Merlin app.
0 -
We managed to get a mornings bird watching in at Burton RSPB reserve at the southern end of the Wirral this morning, our first such outing for over 2 months.
It was a glorious Spring morning and we really enjoyed the near 3 hours spent there. There was a good variety of birds, butterflies and insects to keep us interested. In no particular order we saw Garganey, a lone Drake, 8 Spotted Redshanks in summer plumage, 2 Pintail, a Peregrine, Cetti's and Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies. Plenty of singing warblers around. We did miss seeing the 3 Storks that had been there before we arrived and typically arrived back after we had gone but our time was limited.
All in all it was a smashing morning.
1 -
Last Wednesday whilst driving back home along the A47 Acle straight a BoP flew over the car which looked like a Montagu's Harrier. I couldn’t confirm this but have now seen that one has been spotted further North in Norfolk, so perhaps I was correct in my identification
1 -
We drove up to Lochindorb this afternoon and on the way there the OH spotted another Red Squirrel close to the road. The reason for heading there was to try and see the Black Throated Divers which nest there, and thanks to two ardent birdwatchers from Derbyshire I was able to see a couple of them using one of their 'scopes. We also saw Common Sandpipers, and Lapwings, Greylag Geese with young and a female Mallard with about 13 ducklings. As we drove down the drive onto the site a female Roe Deer crossed right in front of us, coming out of the house garden and hopping over the fence onto the road.
1 -
Territory wars in the garden this morning. We frequently see the warring blackbirds but this morning was a little different. A diminutive blue tit was having a right go at a much larger great tit, chasing it round and round the garden for over a minute. Quite comical to watch.
0 -
OP, there is a photo of one at Spurn in N Yorkshire this week, on the BirdGuides web site for this werk.
0 -
here it is Nellie.
https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week-29-april-6-may-2024/
Like Bob Fleming. I turn away and it appears.
Currently on tour of Wales and the boarding English Counties. Hoping to see lots mind but the Black Kite evaded us despite some effort to see it.0 -
Think you were there recently WN. Fabulous warm sunny day at Burton Mere Wetlands. Little Egret, Great White Egret, Gargoney, Avocets and Marsh Harrier amongst other expected species. Well worth a visit with a friendly team of knowledgeable like minded folk to offer tips and suggest where the birds are currently to be found. There is a large egret roost/heronry, the sound of which is like nothing I’ve heard in the UK. Well worth a visit, lovely cafe too.
1 -
Our go to site, within about 20 minutes drive. We've been going when the site consisted of the pool at what is now the far end of the site from the centre. The centre down to the end of the boardwalk is only about 8 years old or so after being purchased from the farmer.
The bubbling sound from the Great White Egrets on the Herony is definitely weird but quite beautiful.
If you are up the Wirral tomorrow then look at the website I'm putting up as it has maps and some local sightings.
0 -
Nearly ended up there ourselves today Micky but we didn't have too long to ourselves so had a walk along the other side of the Dee from Flint Castle.
Saw a couple of resting Sandwich Terns and a colony of Sand Martins building/burrowing into the sandy banks, which kept us amused.
0 -
Enjoyed the reserve, WN. Have heard egret colonies in Costa Rica & the Caribbean but never here, an awesome sound. In fact they, like the avocets have arrived here in my lifetime. I was gobsmacked by the sheer numbers though of the egrets feed on the scrapes and Dee salt marshes. They must be breeding in the UK I’d think somewhere as we see them all year round these days. Didn’t see any terns or sand martins today. Had a leucistic blackbird with a white collar around our van whilst cooking tea, off to Anglesey tomorrow.
0 -
We were lucky to spot this, and be able to take a photo if it, on a walk through the woods close to our site at Carrbridge.
0 -
Clear, sunny day on Ynys Gymi RSPB reserve saw the usual seabirds but the highlight for us were the lizards and Chough. It was very hot and the reptiles were showing well, we had hoped to see sand lizards but ours were all common. Adders were around apparently but didn’t see them unfortunately. It had been suggested we carefully lift the panels placed for them to warm up but I reckon they would be well active and didn’t fancy tormenting them.
1 -
Have heard lots of birds on our walks. Yesterday by Ardesier Bay, Willow Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Chiffchats and Greenfinches, and there were Terns flying over the water but too far out to for me to identify, and unfortunately no Dolphins off Channory Point. Today, by the gorse lined lanes at Findockty, it has been mainly Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Wrens, with Siskins prominent is the Scots Pine trees. We also saw another Red Squirrel this morning, just as we're driving off the site at Nairn.
1 -
On a walk from the Arboretum in the Forest of Dean today We were lucky to see 3 Fallow Deer walk across the footpath just a few yards in front of us , they weren't spooked at all and even stopped to take a look at us.
We watched them slowly amble back into the woods, lovely to watch 🙂
1 -
Today it was mostly sea birds for us, as we walked the coastal path from Portknockie. Guillemots and Razorbills, Kittiwakes and other gulls including a Great Black-backed Gull on a nest on Bow Fiddle Rock, Stock Doves and, on the water Eider Ducks, but surprisingly no Fulmers. Inland there were Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Stonechats.
0 -
Have got a pair of Turtle Doves on site in Obterre France and were singing to each other this afternoon also the owner has had a Little Egret on their pond for a few days but not whilst we are here. Good to hear about the different birds in Norfolk and hopefully the Golden Oriels are at home when we get back in a couple of days.
2 -
Nothing as exotic as the Bee Eaters, Turtle Doves or Golden Oriels but did see some Arctic Terns, Gannets and an Osprey feeding at Spey Bay, and during our walk inland heard Sedge and Willow Warblers, Chiffchats, a Blackcap and Yellowhammers which abound on the gorse.
3 -
Nothing much to report, constant rain dampened both our efforts and those of the birds today it seemed. Did see heron and several egrets on Tremadoc Bay, the latter getting more common everywhere in the UK it seems, they were unheard of and unseen in my youth. My first swifts of the season in the skies over Gelliliydan were a welcomed sight mind.
0 -
Now back home and have heard the Golden Oriole calling today great to hear.
On our way back yesterday saw a lot of oak trees minus the leaves due to Oak Processionary caterpillars have stripped so many trees even in our area a lot of damage and looks like 2 trees in our plot also partly damaged grr and the trees look like winter also noticed that Walnut trees also having trouble with leaves gone off the trees so something has appeared also did see a lot of local Plane Trees with brown leaves on very odd and know we have had awful storms here whilst away so whether leaf damage also due to very wet conditions not good news.
Badger has been busy whilst we have been away a few holes around where orchid bulbs are as they have eaten the bulbs but not the plant.
2 -
Well, over the last couple of days we’ve seen every member of the Corvid family barring the Jay. The Choughs being the most of interest to us as we don’t get them on our coast. However, we’ve seen far more than expected. They are very specific in their distribution being rather limited to coastal habitats like those found on the Llŷn Peninsula, Anglesey and adjacent rocky coastlines of Wales. Comical and skilful in their aerial pursuits they most certainly are.
Some corvids get an unreasonable press, particularly magpies, but all are part of our indigenous aviculture and I love the colouring of these once much persecuted birds.
Note, have included hooded crow as a subspecies of crow although I’m told there is one presently wandering about North Wales. I might see that in the next few days.1 -
We saw our first Swifts today, flying over Loch Kinord, and also heard the Cuckoo, or should I say 3 at least, which we had not heard at all when we were over by the coast. Plenty of Warblers, Willow and Garden (our first), Blackcaps, Chiffchats; also Tree Pipets and lots of Coal Tits.
1 -
A most enjoyable day walking around New Quay, out on a Sea Watch boat and walking the Coastal Path. Much to see including Red Kite, Chough, gullimot, Razorbills and several dolphins, some came to the boat. Later on we saw a female dolphin with her calf just metres from the rocks below the headland. They put on a show for about half an hour. A day we will never forget.
1
