7th JANUARY 2007.
IMPROMPTU GULL LESSON.
I arrived, on my own as Leon was ‘doing something’, at about a quarter past twelve which was much later than I had originally planned. I had wanted to be on Wimbledon Common for about seven o’clock to start recording the ‘patch’ for the LondonBirders ‘Patchlist Competition’. The trip to Pulborough Brooks yesterday (see ‘Othersites’ blog, link to left) had taken more out of me than I thought. Consequently, when the alarm went off I must have killed it! It was an overcast day and only a little chilly. I didn’t bother with waterproofs and wore, as my main protection, the big new fleece that I had been given for Christmas by mother. I had also arranged to meet Terry and Liz as I had something for them but I looked like I would miss them. (I did miss them and found out later via ‘BirdForum’ that they were going to Pulborough next week!).
I had soon noted over twenty birds at my first call, the Observatory, and thought that this might just be a ‘good day’. The first bird of note was Sparrowhawk flashing down towards the ‘Wildside’ hide! My luck held as I reached the ‘Log Cabin’ area. I was hoping to see the Goldcrest and, sure enough, it popped out just as I arrived. He happily flitted about for about five minutes, singing all the while.
Moving on I thought that I would leave the ‘Headley’ hide alone and ‘pick the Bittern up’ on the way back!
Conscious of the fact that this would be not only a blog report but also my first entry, for this site, on the LondonBirders ‘Patchlist Competition’, I was listening out for all the birdsong that I knew. You can claim a bird by sound alone, frustratingly I didn’t recognize any and there seemed to be lots of unfamiliar calls about! It wasn’t too bad though as there was plenty to see!
IMPROMPTU GULL LESSON.
I arrived, on my own as Leon was ‘doing something’, at about a quarter past twelve which was much later than I had originally planned. I had wanted to be on Wimbledon Common for about seven o’clock to start recording the ‘patch’ for the LondonBirders ‘Patchlist Competition’. The trip to Pulborough Brooks yesterday (see ‘Othersites’ blog, link to left) had taken more out of me than I thought. Consequently, when the alarm went off I must have killed it! It was an overcast day and only a little chilly. I didn’t bother with waterproofs and wore, as my main protection, the big new fleece that I had been given for Christmas by mother. I had also arranged to meet Terry and Liz as I had something for them but I looked like I would miss them. (I did miss them and found out later via ‘BirdForum’ that they were going to Pulborough next week!).
I had soon noted over twenty birds at my first call, the Observatory, and thought that this might just be a ‘good day’. The first bird of note was Sparrowhawk flashing down towards the ‘Wildside’ hide! My luck held as I reached the ‘Log Cabin’ area. I was hoping to see the Goldcrest and, sure enough, it popped out just as I arrived. He happily flitted about for about five minutes, singing all the while.
Moving on I thought that I would leave the ‘Headley’ hide alone and ‘pick the Bittern up’ on the way back!
Conscious of the fact that this would be not only a blog report but also my first entry, for this site, on the LondonBirders ‘Patchlist Competition’, I was listening out for all the birdsong that I knew. You can claim a bird by sound alone, frustratingly I didn’t recognize any and there seemed to be lots of unfamiliar calls about! It wasn’t too bad though as there was plenty to see!
AN 'EMPTY' FULL WADER SCRAPE!Photo: Reg Norman
'GETTING' DARK!
At the bridge just before the ‘Wildside’ hide I slowed down and crept forward, looking around the ‘corner’ of the reeds and was rewarded for my patience with a nice view of a Water Rail. It only lasted for a minute or so but it was the first really good look at one this winter. This really was turning out to be a good day!
At the hide I noted a Common Snipe in the usual place on the promontory. There were quite few people in the hide, some complaining of the cold which I found strange a it was only really cold when sat in front of one of the, open, East-facing windows. As these people left they were replaced by Rupert and Dan, two faces that I am always glad to see! They said that they had had a young Sparrowhawk hunting for most of the morning in this area and noting that only the female Stonechat was on view expressed a hope that it was not the male that the hawk had been after! There had also been reports of a Rock Pipit several times during the morning but I was not to see it today. Rupert found a new location for snoozing Snipe, there were four neatly lined up on the island to the north of the hide. We thought that we saw two jack Snipe in flight but facing into the (weak) light nobody could be really sure so they were not noted.
I moved back towards the ‘Headley’ hide to ‘pick up’ the Bittern. He had been out and about several times during the morning but, of course, was now hiding in the reeds! Typical! Not wanting to waste time, I moved on to the ‘Waterlife’ area as the light would probably not last too long given that it was so overcast.
There were plenty of people and birds about. The people were quiet, the birds not. Everywhere there were different bird calls, many I did not know and was glad that I had taken the opportunity to ask Rupert and Dan for any ideas on a really good CD of birdsong. I really must learn more about his side of bird recognition.
Although quiet at the hides the feeder area was very productive. The ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ was once again very quiet as was the ‘Wader Scrape’. I did note that there seemed to be a fair few gulls about. Alas, I had seen no swans again this week but Dan had said that they had been on site yesterday.
The ‘Peacock tower’ was very busy for a Sunday afternoon. I had not long been settled when Rupert and Dan turned up again! They were both astounded by the number of gulls all around us and it slowly dawned on me that there must have been hundreds of them. There was a very young chap in the hide who, attracted by Ruperts’ comments about gulls, started to ask some lovely questions. He obviously knew a lot more than the average ‘birder’ about gulls (I felt like an idiot!) and was keen to learn more about gulls from someone like Rupert. For about the next hour we were treated to an impromptu gull identification lesson. Rupert kindly showed the boy different aspects of the gulls plumage and also pointed out the different sub-species and how to tell them apart. Whilst doing this he was manoeuvring his ‘scope into the best positions and allowing the boy (and the ‘idiot’!) to have a look each time! Absolutely brilliant!
At the hide I noted a Common Snipe in the usual place on the promontory. There were quite few people in the hide, some complaining of the cold which I found strange a it was only really cold when sat in front of one of the, open, East-facing windows. As these people left they were replaced by Rupert and Dan, two faces that I am always glad to see! They said that they had had a young Sparrowhawk hunting for most of the morning in this area and noting that only the female Stonechat was on view expressed a hope that it was not the male that the hawk had been after! There had also been reports of a Rock Pipit several times during the morning but I was not to see it today. Rupert found a new location for snoozing Snipe, there were four neatly lined up on the island to the north of the hide. We thought that we saw two jack Snipe in flight but facing into the (weak) light nobody could be really sure so they were not noted.
I moved back towards the ‘Headley’ hide to ‘pick up’ the Bittern. He had been out and about several times during the morning but, of course, was now hiding in the reeds! Typical! Not wanting to waste time, I moved on to the ‘Waterlife’ area as the light would probably not last too long given that it was so overcast.
There were plenty of people and birds about. The people were quiet, the birds not. Everywhere there were different bird calls, many I did not know and was glad that I had taken the opportunity to ask Rupert and Dan for any ideas on a really good CD of birdsong. I really must learn more about his side of bird recognition.
Although quiet at the hides the feeder area was very productive. The ‘Sheltered Lagoon’ was once again very quiet as was the ‘Wader Scrape’. I did note that there seemed to be a fair few gulls about. Alas, I had seen no swans again this week but Dan had said that they had been on site yesterday.
The ‘Peacock tower’ was very busy for a Sunday afternoon. I had not long been settled when Rupert and Dan turned up again! They were both astounded by the number of gulls all around us and it slowly dawned on me that there must have been hundreds of them. There was a very young chap in the hide who, attracted by Ruperts’ comments about gulls, started to ask some lovely questions. He obviously knew a lot more than the average ‘birder’ about gulls (I felt like an idiot!) and was keen to learn more about gulls from someone like Rupert. For about the next hour we were treated to an impromptu gull identification lesson. Rupert kindly showed the boy different aspects of the gulls plumage and also pointed out the different sub-species and how to tell them apart. Whilst doing this he was manoeuvring his ‘scope into the best positions and allowing the boy (and the ‘idiot’!) to have a look each time! Absolutely brilliant!
'GETTING' DARK!Photo: Reg Norman
The light was by now starting to go so I made my way back to the ‘Headley’ hide once more to ‘pick up’ the Bittern. No show! One of the ‘regulars’ told me that he had been out recently but was now back in the reeds! Suddenly the bird moved! It stood up! It sat down again! Motionless I could not see it although I was allowed to look through our friends ‘scope. Even then it was very hard to see.
I went back to the ‘Wildside’ hide on the off-chance of seeing something and was glad that I did. There was our missing male Stonechat; I was pleased to see him! There was a group of people who were obviously new to ‘birding’ and I was pleased to be able to point a few things out for them.
I decided to make my way back to the ‘office’ as the light was all but gone. On the way back I was treated to the sight of a Kestrel hovering above the ‘Headley’ hide and suddenly diving down towards the Main Lake, Observatory end. I went in to the hide in case anybody had seen it. There was only one bloke in there he had not seen the Kestrel, BUT, very kindly pointed out a Ring Necked Duck! I thought for a moment that it was our Ring Necked/Tufted hybrid but, no, it was the genuine article!
I left again for the ‘office’ but changed my mind when I go there as it was ‘banged-out’!
I went back to the ‘Wildside’ hide on the off-chance of seeing something and was glad that I did. There was our missing male Stonechat; I was pleased to see him! There was a group of people who were obviously new to ‘birding’ and I was pleased to be able to point a few things out for them.
I decided to make my way back to the ‘office’ as the light was all but gone. On the way back I was treated to the sight of a Kestrel hovering above the ‘Headley’ hide and suddenly diving down towards the Main Lake, Observatory end. I went in to the hide in case anybody had seen it. There was only one bloke in there he had not seen the Kestrel, BUT, very kindly pointed out a Ring Necked Duck! I thought for a moment that it was our Ring Necked/Tufted hybrid but, no, it was the genuine article!
I left again for the ‘office’ but changed my mind when I go there as it was ‘banged-out’!
BIRDS SEEN: Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Ring Necked Parakeet, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Moorhen, Carrion Crow, Sparrowhawk, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Shoveller, Mallard, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Lapwing, Starling, Ruddy Duck, Great Black Backed Gull, Pochard, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Goldcrest, Robin, Wren, Song Thrush, Water Rail, Common Snipe, Wigeon, Teal, Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Heron, Green Woodpecker, Gadwall, Stonechat, Kestrel, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Common Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Bittern, Caspian Gull, Ring Necked Duck.
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