PATCH MEGA!

4/04/13

That got your attention didn't it, but i'm afraid your going to be very disappointed!

I had only been on patch for about 5 minutes before I reached the river, and scanned downriver, and was amazed to see a pair a TEAL! I got my scope out and onto them (they were fairly far downstream), and in doing this I found myself looking at 4 TEAL, and then 6 TEAL!

6 TEAL ON PATCH!

Now I hear some of your sighing in disbelief! Teal, Pah! Common as muck, you get them everywhere. And yes, you would be true in thinking that, but in a patch context, Teal is a stunningly rare, and also stunningly beautiful duck! I've only had 4 previous records on patch, including the flyover drake back in January, so it is a very sought after patch bird for me!

I spent some time watching them, and I was able to get some decent views! A pair were showing closer  among the overhanging willows!

While watching the TEAL, a pair of MANDARIN DUCK sailed into view, my first patch birds of the year, and i was also treated to great views of these as they sailed upriver.

Further upriver, i picked up a WILLOW WARBLER, my first of the year. It was actually quite sad to be watching it feeding off the waters surface of the river as there was too little food for it elsewhere, i couldn't help but think it wouldn't last too much longer if it hung around (which luckily, it didn't!)

2 Lesser Redpoll and 15c Siskin were showing on the garden feeders.

Heading back out onto patch in the evening, i visited the vismig point, where i soon picked up 5 of the 6 Teal flying south at 6:40pm. In the 20 Minuites i stood there, i also had around 20c 'Alba' Wagtail sp fly north.

MB

Wyre Forest birding

29/03/13
Each of my previous visits into the Wyre this year i have failed to drop down to walk along the brook, and therefore i was lacking species such as Dipper and Mandarin, so i vowed to head down there to get them!
We first walked the railway line, stopping off at Lodge Hill, quickly picking up 6+ Brambling, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Bullfinch in trees surrounding the Orchard.

Dropping down onto the brook, we picked up a few Grey Wagtail, until eventually, i heard the distinctive flight call of a Dipper as one sped past me going downstream. We quickly found the bird sitting on rocks in the middle of the brook, and we were treated to decent views.

The bird flew slightly, but now gave a clearer view for a brief time before being flushed by a walker, sending the bird further upstream again, upon which time we decided to leave it alone. We had had a few minutes decent viewing, which is more than can be said for some times.

We found another Dipper in another park of the brook, but this bird quickly disappeared.

Just as we were walking back to the car, i scanned the small pool at the base of the hill, to be greeted with the view of a pair of Mandarin Ducks, my first of the year!

Following this we were driving past Callow Hill, and i picked up a raptor being mobbed by 2 Carrian Crows. As we neared i became aware of the birds flight action, confirming the bird to be a Red Kite, and not one of those dodgy reintroduced birds, this was a bird from the welsh populations. It so happens that late March is a very good time to pick up Red Kites within north Worcs, and in general the Severn Valley, as the Welsh birds often use it as a migration pathway. We stopped the car, and i fired off a few shots as the bird got further and further away.

MB

Patch MEGA!

3/02/13
Having birded the north of Worcestershire the day before, i was keen to get out on patch to have a look around. As i have said many times previously, winter is a great time for patch birding along the river.

A single Marsh Tit was showing in its regular location, and small flocks of Redpoll and Siskin were dotted around to the north of Lickhill. And away from that it seemed fairly quiet, so i walked north to the small pool at Blackstone, which occasionally gets something good in winter. Walking along the east side, i saw a bird swimming away from me on the near bank, heading for some exposed roots/Branches. Before i had raised by Bins, i knew i was watching a WATER RAIL, a very long overdue patch tick! The bird then proceeded to perch for about 20 seconds around 15 foot away, before flying, and then swimming to the opposite bank to be amongst the willows. I have had previous 'possibles' of small birds running for the closest area of vegetation before, but i've never had a  definite bird, but trust me, its been one that has been overdue for years! You would have thought with so much suitable habitat it would have been quicker coming, but i'm not going to complain!

The regularly roosting drake Goosander was located on the river between Blackstone and Lickhill.
MB

Patch mega!

19/01/13
I relish 'poor' weather for patch birding! I look intently for very cold, and therefore very frozen conditions, hopefully combined with large amounts of snowfall, and that is when the patch needs to be blitzed daily!
Just in the last few years, cold winters have led to some amazing patch birds, Smew, Whooper Swan, Dipper, Goldeneye etc, so this is defiantly the time to be out there birding the river due to it being one of the last places to freeze over.
As winter approaches  i am practically begging for some seriously bad weather, as it leads to perfect weather for some serious patch watching!

Today, i was out and about early, mostly counting vismig due to cold weather movements. Quickly a flock of 50c Lapwing flew over, and constant streams of Fieldfare were going south, with around 150 going over in less than an hour. 2 Marsh Tit had joined one of the Tit flocks along the riverbank and were showing fairly well in the willows.
Moving onto the Lickhill estates with the intention to check out the Cotoniaster tree for a flock of punk Scandinavian visitors. It was clear that had failed once i reached the road, with only 3 Blackbird being present in a berry laden tree. It was while slogging my way back out of the very frozen and snowy road though that i picked up a fast flying duck fairly high up. Its typical wader like flight already had me identifying it before i had my bins on it. But once i had, i was treated to great views of a stunning drake TEAL!
Yes, i have seen many thousands of Teal over the years, but the patch is almost devoid of records of them, with only 3 previous records (all of small flocks), so it always makes a good bird to catch up with, and it is weather like this that certainly provides opportunity for more records!

Back in the garden the feeders were sadly slow, with only a single male Siskin, a single male Lesser Redpoll, a small flock of 20c Goldfinch and 5 Chaffinch.
MB

The BIG Worcs day

With the year drawing to a close, we decided to do some 'mopping up' of the missing species from our lists in a tour around some north Worcester sites.
23/12/12

Starting with an early morning walk around a very flooded patch revealed a surprising drake Goosander present on one of the floods, despite it only being a couple of feet deep! A walk further revealed a nice female Blackcap and 3+ Redpoll (With an extra 2 on our feeders).

After a period of watching our feeders, we got onto the car, stopping off near the floods so i could show my dad the Drake Goosander. However, while just driving along, i saw a smaller bird perched up adjacent to a Starling on their regular tree, and the smaller bird was attacked and flew down onto a hedge next to the car. I shouted WAXWING!

And before the car had stopped i had gotten my bins and jumped out, and i was able to confirm the presence of a superb WAXWING! Just about scraping onto the patch, as the tree it was perched in is on the patch side of the road. We were able to watch the bird for a short period, in which i took a couple of Digi-binned shots. As i was setting my scope up, the bird took flight, and flew to another nearby tree, before flying off into Lickhill Estate, and despite having a drive around the estate, the bird wasn't seen again! A good bit of luck there as the bird was only present for a couple of minutes. A little bit later and we wouldn't have seen it!

Next stop was Hartlebury trading estate, and a drive around didn't reveal the hoped for Waxwing flock, as the rowen had been completely raided. However, a Fieldfare was feeding on the Connaster.

So, we went for the short journey down the road to Shenstone, which turned out to be very productive. As soon as i stepped out of the car, i could hear the song of many Corn Buntings, and quickly scanning around revealed a good flock of 30c perched in a tree. We walked the footpath to the 'usual' hedge, and this is where we spent over an hour stood watching, as we were treated to a marvelous overall total of 64 Corn Buntings! While mixed in with the flcok was 3 Yellowhammer, 30c Linnet, 50c Chaffinch and a single Reed Bunting. Not a bad list of farmland passerines there. The ivy covered tree's along the path help 5+ Goldcrest, including some which gave superb views!

While just walking back to the car, a small falcon flushed for within the ivy covered ground/Bushes next to us, and on getting on it with my bins, we were treated to superb views of a female MERLIN as it hurtled back towards the road, before briefly alighting in a tree, and then flying out of sight.

At this time the Shenstone Birder arrived, and it was while he was walking along the track that i again spotted the MERLIN as it flew very low across the ground in the short cut field behind us. We decided to follow Jason up the path in the hope of refinding the bird, however it drew a blank.

We parted ways, as we headed towards Upton Warren in the hope of a big brown heron.

We had failed to see the bird the previous evening, so it was back with vengeance tonight, and we stuck in the hide for a good 2 1/2 hours. While in the hours of daylight, we were treated to views of Water Rail, and the usual array of feeder species. A male Bullfinch shown very well!

Hope was dwindling by 4pm, however, at 4:05pm, i picked up a brown shape in the reeds, hardly recognizable in the gloom, and on getting my scope onto it, i confirmed that i had the BITTERN! It was somewhat a relief as since they stopped visiting UW regularly, they have became a bogey bird for me, and i haven't managed to connect with one for over two years! We then spent the remaining 15 minutes watching the bird until it was too dark to see. What a way to end the day!

Who says midlands birding is rubbish?

MB

Patch and Garden

17/03/12

Garden

A flock of 12 Lesser Redpoll had taken over in the garden, and that included a 'Ginger'/Yellow Polled Redpoll

Also 3 Siskin

After abit, i decided to see if the BARNACLE GOOSE was still around, and it was, showing well agian near the lake with Canada's:

While watching the is bird, i saw a Chiffchaff amongst some trees.

MB

More Garden stuff

3/02/12 (or around that date)
I'll let the images and videos do the talking

The local pest! Should be shot!

MB

Patch and Garden

19/02/12

A 4 hour stomp of the patch was quite unrewarding, with very little to get even slightly exited about, A Goldcrest here, A Nuthatch there:

The Garden has been more interesting, with now daily flocks of varying sizes of both Lesser redpoll and Siskin:

MB

Insane Patch First!

10/02/11

As i have said many Many MANY times before, patch biridng can sometimes be really awsome!

There are just some days when everything is good in the world of patch birding!

I have had many days like that over the last couple of years!

Class of Red-Throated Diver Whooper Swan, Smew, Dipper, Goldeneye and Waxwings spring to mind, a list of birds that isnt too bad for any midlands site where they arnt regualar!

However, sometimes, a bird that may be common just down the road may be an insane rarity elsewhere, and that is a huge thing about patch working! Shenstone Birder just on the other side of Stourport has a range of Farmland birds on his patch, and i dont have any, even Linnet is quite uncommon! And our patches are only a few miles apart!

Anyway, Ive gone off on a tangent here.

The reason for my waffling!

Drake SHELDUCK!

Insane patch first!

Ive seen litterally thousands of these birds in my birding 'career' but one on my patch, that has very little open water is just totally bizzare!

However, i have a theiry!

As can be seen within my photo's/video's, the thin layer of patchy snow seems to resemble a partially, shallowly flooded field, habitat that Shelduck feed in, and as this stunning duck flew over it saw this 'habitat' and decided to land!

Another patch first that i wasnt expecting!

Any Duck besides Mallards, Goosanders and Mandarins are a huge patch rarity, so the 'run' of ducks ive had in the last few years is quite an unexpected turn up!

It always seems that this cold snowy weather brings something good to the patch!

There was a flock of 8 Goosander on the river (2 drk)

Also, a large flock of Redwings were showing well!

Back in the garden there was the usual flock of Finches, 5 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll, but i also had a landed first in the garden, when a female PIED WAGTAIL decided to land on the patio briefly before being flushed by a Blackbird!

On 11/02/12 the Finch flock had again increased.

8 LESSER REDPOLL (5m) was a substancial increase and there was still 5 Siskin (2m). 6 Chaffinch, 15c Goldfinch and a single male Greenfinch!

MB

Patch white out

5/02/12
A complete whiteout on the patch in the morning resulted in no birds been seen, so after some artsy fartsy images i headed back home to watch the feeders for abit.
To give an impression how bad it was, i couldnt see anything more that 4 metres in front of me!



And when i got back to the garden, the now daily Redpoll's and Siskin's were on the feeders

However, after the fog lifted, i headed out onto the patch immidiatly surrounding the garden, which, admittdly, apart from Siskins and Redpoll's was quiet.

But while walking through on of the woodlands i was watching a mixed tit flock containing Nuthatches when a large, dumpy pigeon sized snipe flushed from the undergrowth.

A WOODCOCK!

Usually i struggle to see this species on a year to year basis, despite breeding nearby, i just never have the time to go specifically looking for them, so i have to hope for a stray like this!

This was only the start of a good patch Run!

MB

Garden Birding

4/02/12

Sometimes garden birding can be insane!

Sometimes a bird which you see in a million other places can suddenly become a Mega rarity, and nothing is more sought after than a garden tick!

Before setting out for the day, i had a couple of hours to watch the feeders at my leasure, and dont you just love it when a cold front hits, birds flood to garden feeders like moths to a lighbulb!

It quickly became evident there was a few more Goldfinch today, with around 40c in the tree's and on the feeders, also in the tree's but unwilling to drop onto the feeders was a flock of 20c Greenfinch.

However, the main interest was around the 'scarcer' Finches.

4 female LESSER REDPOLL were visiting on and off throughout the morning, but 'our' male didnt land on the feeders (he was seen in the tree though)

However, one of my favorite Finches was about to make a comeback into the garden after a no-show all winter so far.

A female SISKIN dropped onto the seed feeder. The camera quickly came out and i was soon filming the bird.

However nice a female Siskin is, i still had that moment of exitement when the stunning adult male SISKIN dropped onto the feeders! What a Finch!

The bird spent some time on the niger feeder, accompanied by a female Lesserpoll.

However, the (By Far) highlight was a garden first! I was filming the above video, when an 'odd' finch dropped onto the fence, head on, 'odd face pattern i though'.It turned side on and flew onto one of the seed feeders.

LINNET!

female Linnet in the garden!

The white Pannel in the wing standing out like a sore thumb!

Linnet!

Bloody Linnet!

My dad quickly came in and saw the bird as it flew off the feeder, having only taken one seed. Despite being heard again a few times, i did not see the bird again, and am only left with memories of this first!

But that got me thinking, why is it we ignore birds in one place, and watch them intently at others?

Rarity value? a Linnet may be common on farmland, therefore undesirable, but quite hard to get in a garden context, therefore reaching a higer value?

Food for thought

MB

Garden.

22/01/12
Yes, Yes i know, Garden birds again!
But we had this stunning male Lesser Redpoll on our feeders!

Also, we are still getting visits from a smart Female Lesser Redpoll.

However, we have still to note a single Siskin on the Feeders! But there was an increase of them on the patch today, with around 20 seen, also the same number for Redpoll's, and a small flock of 4 Reed Bunting was at the Gadwall lake.

MB

Garden Pictures

14/01/12

21/01/12

MB

Patch

8/01/12
As the Garden is within the boundries of the patch, this whole post will be as the 'patch'.

The feeders are still slow going, attracting a small number of Finches (20c), mostly Goldfinch and Chaffinch, with smaller numbers of both Lesser Redpoll and Greenfinch, we have yet to attract any Siskin yet, which should be here in 50+ flocks by next month!

In Contrast to the last time i saw them, only 1 Lesser Redpoll came down, but it was in the middle of the day, and therefore, i could get a better video! I still can improve on this video, and i hope to as the winter progresses!

So, after a bit of Photography in the Garden, i wandered out onto the Patch, i walked north, towards Blackstone. I had noticed the river was very high, and was hoping the river had broken its banks across the Grass field adjacent to the Blackstone Caravan site.

While walking up, i was supprised to see the small pool forming on the Riverside fields, I havent seen this happen for a few years, and therefore am looking forward to it (hopefully) expanding, while it may only look like a 60ft long puddle, It could bring a few good birds, particuarly if the other fields flood aswell, when we could be 'in the running' for a Wigeon or a Teal, maybe even some Waders!

The River had broken its banks and had created a small flood 'plain', Again, while not looking much for most people, this is a heavenly sight for me! Ducks gather here when the water is high as it gives them a current free place to rest, while not having as much potential as the Riverside fields, i had been within 20tf of a Goosander here, and there is always a chance that Mandarins might come and take a rest, and who knows what else!

The Patch was almost birdless, so i walked downriver to the southern edge of the patch. While walking through the town centre i noticed the Mini golf 'field' had flooded, and had a good load of gulls on it, once again, a load of potential! Nothing today though, other than many Skater type Teenagers on the adjacent ramps.

Just below the town centre, and after crossing over the Stour bridge i saw 2 GOOSANDER's sitting on a submerged log, i started snapping away.

And errrr, well thats it, a quiet day on the patch to say the least, but hopefully, some good 'goings on' with the patch's habitats, prehaps leading to a better day soon?

Hopefully I'll be there to find it!

MB

The Start to 2012!

1/01/12
The first bird on the year list was a Robin singing at 4:35am in the glow of a streetlamp

On 2/01/12 when i got back to my dad's, i was quite looking forward, due to my dad having reported some Goodies on the feeders over the last few days! I had a look in the garden for about an hour from first light untill we headed down to Slimbridge.
However, the Brambling my dad had seen did not come back in, only the flock of 10c Chaffinch, However, i was left bemused at around 9am when 2 'pigeons' flew into the garden, one a standard Woodpigeon, but the other a gorgeous adult STOCK DOVE! in the garden, i had my Digi-scoping setup by the window already (I'd been photographing redpolls earlier) but the bird flew off before i manadged to get anothing on it, only the 2nd Stock dove thats ever been in the garden!

I was happy that our finch flcok had started building up for the late winter (our finches usually come into the garden in late january-Early February), and with the 20c Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch and 10 Chaffinch were a flock of 6 Lesser Redpoll's (although one was quite 'Grey'-The first photo- Idea's? Note Lesser redpoll also on feeder for comparison), The Redpoll's shown On/off in the early morning, but by the time some good light was shining onto the feeders the Redpoll's had done a dissapearing act!

MB