Monday 28 November 2011
Beautiful frosty morning - just the day to count the Water Rails at Ewelme, I thought - didn't see a single one. I guess the unpredictability is half the fun of birdwatching, though also very frustrating.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011
I hate Robins
Saturday 26 November 2011
A quick trip to Ewelme to top up the seed feeders this morning. A single Water Rail seen but the only other sighting of interest was a female Blackcap feeding on the bright pink spindle berries. It looked as pretty as a picture until a demonic Robin took offence and dive bombed it. I can't remember the story about how the robin obtained the red breast - something religeous I seem to remember - but I reckon it is stained with the blood of other small birds including other robins.
A quick trip to Ewelme to top up the seed feeders this morning. A single Water Rail seen but the only other sighting of interest was a female Blackcap feeding on the bright pink spindle berries. It looked as pretty as a picture until a demonic Robin took offence and dive bombed it. I can't remember the story about how the robin obtained the red breast - something religeous I seem to remember - but I reckon it is stained with the blood of other small birds including other robins.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Dorchester WeBS, toilet & Ewelme
Monday 21 November 2011
Not very exciting but 3285 water birds of 21 species can't be too bad. Highlights a Male Pintail, 2 Egyption Geese, 7 Little Grebe and for some reason over 1000 Gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backed, sitting on the Allen Pit. Also a nice flock of around 100 Linnet near the river.
And the toilet? a Feathered Thorn (moth) taking a rest on the wall - I hope people weren't watching as I went in with my camera - there's probably a law against it.
Not very exciting but 3285 water birds of 21 species can't be too bad. Highlights a Male Pintail, 2 Egyption Geese, 7 Little Grebe and for some reason over 1000 Gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backed, sitting on the Allen Pit. Also a nice flock of around 100 Linnet near the river.
And the toilet? a Feathered Thorn (moth) taking a rest on the wall - I hope people weren't watching as I went in with my camera - there's probably a law against it.
A quick run over to Ewelme to fill up the seed feeders was rewarded by a doubling in the number of Water Rails from 1 to 2.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Ewelme and Thames @ Benson
Saturday 19 November 2011
Not a great deal happening at Ewelme though the Water Rail put on a bit of a performance. Seems very wary and scuttled into cover each time a corvid flew over. The Mallard continues to look wistfully at the seed feeder.
A brief walk along the Thames, late afternoon, revealed a Little Grebe and a single Snipe - rather quiet but a lovely sunset.
Roll on some cold weather!
Not a great deal happening at Ewelme though the Water Rail put on a bit of a performance. Seems very wary and scuttled into cover each time a corvid flew over. The Mallard continues to look wistfully at the seed feeder.
Monday, 14 November 2011
We plough the field and scatter
Sunday 13 November 2011
We left out the plough bit but Ian, Cathy (Ian's partner) and I scattered a load of seeds collected by son Ian. Should anyone be interested here's the list.
Impressed?
We left out the plough bit but Ian, Cathy (Ian's partner) and I scattered a load of seeds collected by son Ian. Should anyone be interested here's the list.
Home safe and sound
Monday 14 November 2011
At long last the Water Rail, which has been around for about a month and proving extremely elusive, has found its favourite location, under the Privet bush opposite the screen. Hopefully it will settle down now and allow better photos than that below, though it was dark and gloomy - well that's my excuse!
At long last the Water Rail, which has been around for about a month and proving extremely elusive, has found its favourite location, under the Privet bush opposite the screen. Hopefully it will settle down now and allow better photos than that below, though it was dark and gloomy - well that's my excuse!
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