DIGISCOPING HOBBY!
Sue and I were supposed to be going to Wakehurst Place today but the weather seemed a bit on the rainy side so we decided not to risk it. I made arrangements to meet up with Leon for a trip to the WWT instead. We met at about twenty past nine and went on whilst Sue would catch us up later on.
The Observatory, of course, was the first stop where we were pleased to note that the Avocets were still attending their nest. We have been told that the birds are only young and may lay sterile eggs; we keep our fingers crossed anyway!
The weather had actually brightened up somewhat and there were any birds in evidence. From the ‘Wildide ‘hide we could see many of the ‘old favourites’ enjoying the nice break in the weather. The walk up to the hide had been good as well. We took the ‘Summer Walk’ and were pleased to see many smaller birds moving about in the trees and shrubs. Everywhere flowers were bursting open, I could recognise quite a few now following the ‘Wildlife Walk’ that I enjoyed recently. There was a good number of people about as well, many of whom seemed to be quite knowledgeable about flowers, wildlife or both.
We made our way back to the Centre to meet Sue just before half past ten stopping at the ‘Headley’ hide on the way. Again there was quite a lot to see and the hide was quite busy. There were many people who were obviously keen photographers; some had enormous backpacks that were filled with wonderful looking equipment.
The restaurant was our next stop, we thought that Sue had still not arrived and so settled down to have a coffee. Leon decided to have a breakfast and while he was getting it I ‘phoned Sue to see where she was. She had obviously passed us when we were in the ‘Headley’ hide as she was just leaving the ‘Wildside’ hide! She then made her way back to join us at the restaurant. She had been busy ‘snapping’ flowers already and would go on to take over two hundred pictures!
Walking through the ‘Waterlife’ area both Leon and myself expressed the wish to see at least one raptor today as we had not seen one on at least our last two visits. Leon was very positive. “ We will see one!” he said. Up popped a Kestrel! How DOES he do it! We visited the ‘Dulverton’ and ‘WWT’ hides, both of which were very busy with a good mix of ‘serious’ birders and what appeared to be people who were just giving the place the ‘once-over’.
The weather was very changeable, although it did not rain it was intermittently very cloudy or very sunny! The birds seemed to like it and there was much birdsong, more than I had heard for some time. Once again this birdsong led us to see birds that we might have missed and we were grateful that we had gone on the ‘Birdsong’ walks.
Walking around the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ we were pleased to see that there was a ‘window’ through to the feeder area once again and there were lots of Tits and Finches on view.
From the ‘Wader Scrape’ hide we could see very little: although there was a good number of people actually in the hide. Outside, there was a terrific commotion in the hedgerow, it sounded as if some of the Crows were giving the thrashing of a lifetime to some poor victim, or perhaps worse. We couldn’t actually see anything; we waited for a while and left when the noise died down and the Crows returned to the trees, still making quite a din as they went.
Moving to the ‘Peacock Tower’ we were able to see the rest of the ‘Wader Scrape’ itself and still there was not much on show. People were starting to drift away although some of the chaps with the bigger telescopes were to stay on for quite some time. Sue was on the lower level and had set up her new telescope and was taking ‘photos. It really is a terrific thing and I am not a little envious! The fact that she got it for what I would say was a gift also added to its’ appeal! (Upon reaching home, Sue uploaded her pictures to her laptop. For a first attempt at ‘digiscoping’ she had done marvellously well and I hope that she will allow me to use some of her pictures on this site!)
Leon had spent most of the time at the Tower scanning the ‘Grazing Marsh’ and ‘Reedbeds’ for signs of the Hobby that has been frequenting the place of late. Unfortunately he was to be out of luck.
Deciding to make our way home, Leon went ahead as he had a little shopping to do. We arranged to meet at the ‘Red Lion’ where we had lots to talk about. As Sue and I were making our way past the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ the Hobby turned up! I tried to point it out to Sue but I think she was looking for something rather larger than it actually is. I didn’t get much of a viewing as I was trying to help Sue, it was there and then it was gone.
At ‘the office’ I nearly didn’t have the heart to tell Leon about the Hobby but felt that it was my duty as a friend. So I mentioned it several times. We spent a couple of hours discussing the photos and videos that Sue and Leon had shot and also discussing some of the birds in ‘Collins’. My copy seems to open at ‘Hobby’ every time!
BIRDS SEEN: Mallard, Heron, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, House Martin, Starling, Great Crested Grebe, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Little Ringed Plover, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Common Tern, Canada Goose, Sand Martin, Greenfinch, Lapwing, Avocet, Robin, Ring Necked Parakeet, Chaffinch, Swift, Whooper Swan, Ruddy Duck, Reed Bunting, Little Grebe, Pochard, Greylag Goose, Carrion Crow, Reed Warbler, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Coal Tit, Garden Warbler, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Black Headed Gull, Hobby, House Sparrow, Long Tailed Tit, Blackbird.
Sue and I were supposed to be going to Wakehurst Place today but the weather seemed a bit on the rainy side so we decided not to risk it. I made arrangements to meet up with Leon for a trip to the WWT instead. We met at about twenty past nine and went on whilst Sue would catch us up later on.
The Observatory, of course, was the first stop where we were pleased to note that the Avocets were still attending their nest. We have been told that the birds are only young and may lay sterile eggs; we keep our fingers crossed anyway!
The weather had actually brightened up somewhat and there were any birds in evidence. From the ‘Wildide ‘hide we could see many of the ‘old favourites’ enjoying the nice break in the weather. The walk up to the hide had been good as well. We took the ‘Summer Walk’ and were pleased to see many smaller birds moving about in the trees and shrubs. Everywhere flowers were bursting open, I could recognise quite a few now following the ‘Wildlife Walk’ that I enjoyed recently. There was a good number of people about as well, many of whom seemed to be quite knowledgeable about flowers, wildlife or both.
We made our way back to the Centre to meet Sue just before half past ten stopping at the ‘Headley’ hide on the way. Again there was quite a lot to see and the hide was quite busy. There were many people who were obviously keen photographers; some had enormous backpacks that were filled with wonderful looking equipment.
The restaurant was our next stop, we thought that Sue had still not arrived and so settled down to have a coffee. Leon decided to have a breakfast and while he was getting it I ‘phoned Sue to see where she was. She had obviously passed us when we were in the ‘Headley’ hide as she was just leaving the ‘Wildside’ hide! She then made her way back to join us at the restaurant. She had been busy ‘snapping’ flowers already and would go on to take over two hundred pictures!
Walking through the ‘Waterlife’ area both Leon and myself expressed the wish to see at least one raptor today as we had not seen one on at least our last two visits. Leon was very positive. “ We will see one!” he said. Up popped a Kestrel! How DOES he do it! We visited the ‘Dulverton’ and ‘WWT’ hides, both of which were very busy with a good mix of ‘serious’ birders and what appeared to be people who were just giving the place the ‘once-over’.
The weather was very changeable, although it did not rain it was intermittently very cloudy or very sunny! The birds seemed to like it and there was much birdsong, more than I had heard for some time. Once again this birdsong led us to see birds that we might have missed and we were grateful that we had gone on the ‘Birdsong’ walks.
Walking around the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ we were pleased to see that there was a ‘window’ through to the feeder area once again and there were lots of Tits and Finches on view.
From the ‘Wader Scrape’ hide we could see very little: although there was a good number of people actually in the hide. Outside, there was a terrific commotion in the hedgerow, it sounded as if some of the Crows were giving the thrashing of a lifetime to some poor victim, or perhaps worse. We couldn’t actually see anything; we waited for a while and left when the noise died down and the Crows returned to the trees, still making quite a din as they went.
Moving to the ‘Peacock Tower’ we were able to see the rest of the ‘Wader Scrape’ itself and still there was not much on show. People were starting to drift away although some of the chaps with the bigger telescopes were to stay on for quite some time. Sue was on the lower level and had set up her new telescope and was taking ‘photos. It really is a terrific thing and I am not a little envious! The fact that she got it for what I would say was a gift also added to its’ appeal! (Upon reaching home, Sue uploaded her pictures to her laptop. For a first attempt at ‘digiscoping’ she had done marvellously well and I hope that she will allow me to use some of her pictures on this site!)
Leon had spent most of the time at the Tower scanning the ‘Grazing Marsh’ and ‘Reedbeds’ for signs of the Hobby that has been frequenting the place of late. Unfortunately he was to be out of luck.
Deciding to make our way home, Leon went ahead as he had a little shopping to do. We arranged to meet at the ‘Red Lion’ where we had lots to talk about. As Sue and I were making our way past the ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ the Hobby turned up! I tried to point it out to Sue but I think she was looking for something rather larger than it actually is. I didn’t get much of a viewing as I was trying to help Sue, it was there and then it was gone.
At ‘the office’ I nearly didn’t have the heart to tell Leon about the Hobby but felt that it was my duty as a friend. So I mentioned it several times. We spent a couple of hours discussing the photos and videos that Sue and Leon had shot and also discussing some of the birds in ‘Collins’. My copy seems to open at ‘Hobby’ every time!
BIRDS SEEN: Mallard, Heron, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, House Martin, Starling, Great Crested Grebe, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Little Ringed Plover, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Common Tern, Canada Goose, Sand Martin, Greenfinch, Lapwing, Avocet, Robin, Ring Necked Parakeet, Chaffinch, Swift, Whooper Swan, Ruddy Duck, Reed Bunting, Little Grebe, Pochard, Greylag Goose, Carrion Crow, Reed Warbler, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Coal Tit, Garden Warbler, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Black Headed Gull, Hobby, House Sparrow, Long Tailed Tit, Blackbird.
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