Birds of 2017 – Page 2 – tonydavisonphotography.com

A Disney Film Springs to Mind

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Nov 062017

On Thursday 2nd November 2017 a Cory’s Shearwater was found at Rutland Water, Leicestershire. Unfortunately I didn’t discover the report on my pager until well into the afternoon, too late to get to see it that day. So I went on Friday 3rd November, thoroughly expecting to Dip on the bird. Sure enough, despite spending all day there and searching all the open water, there was no sign of the bird. An exceptional find of what is a pelagic bird that should now be on it’s wintering grounds in the southern hemisphere. A day birding at Rutland Water is always worthwhile and we did manage to see 8 Great White Egret, 22 Little Egret, a Bittern, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a variety of wildfowl. A Disney Film sprang to mind during the day, zippadee doodah became dippadee doodah!! A few photos to follow.

Great White Egret – 1 of 8 we saw during the day at Rutland Water – Tony Davison©

Jay – above 2 images – The Jay is very active at this time of year, gathering acorns to bury ready for the onset of winter. This bird had just buried an acorn – Tony Davison©

Gadwall – drake – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©

Teal – drake – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©

Coot – above 2 images – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©

Jack Snipe – See if you can spot the Jack Snipe – below is where it is hidden – Tony Davison©

Jack Snipe – Cryptic camouflage – Tony Davison©

A 2nd Visit to Pwll-Du

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Oct 302017

This was the first weekend that Barrie & Anita could get to see the Rock Thrush. It was a “British Tick” for Anita, so I offered them a lift and we set off for the quarry at Pwll Du, Blaenavon on Sunday 29th October. The Rock Thrush was still performing in the disused quarry and “rightly or wrongly” depending on your view point, the bird was thriving on dried meal worms that had been put down by local birders. I’m not sure which camp I sit in here, but certainly without the food being put out, I have a suspicion that the Rock Thrush would have been long gone. Many birders from far and wide have had the pleasure in seeing it and now in it’s 4th week, there were still plenty of admirers turning up. From a photographic point of view, there was absolutely no need for any photographer to miss-behave as the bird was quite happy performing in front of the small crowd.

Rock Thrush – adult male – above 4 images – Pwll Du Quary, Blaenavon, Gwent – Tony Davison©

A Morning with Marsh Tit

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Oct 282017

I am quite fortunate to have Calke Park on my doorstep, a National Trust Park that holds some excellent ancient woodland and is a good stronghold for Marsh Tit. Personally I think it is probably one of the best places in Derbyshire to view this species. Marsh Tit is described in the “Birds of Derbyshire” as a common breeding bird but in my experience it seems to be fast becoming far from common in the county. The highest densities occur in the ancient woodlands in south Derbyshire and the Ash woodlands of the Derbyshire Dales. I recently spent a morning photographing this species in Calke Park and at least 6 or 7 birds were regularly visiting a feeding station that has been set-up in an area of woodland slightly off the beaten track. Also present were a few Nuthatch, good numbers of Great Tit and Blue Tit and a pair of Reed Bunting, along with other common woodland birds. As winter sets-in the numbers of birds visiting the feeding station will increase dramatically.

Marsh Tit – above 4 images – Tony Davison©

Nuthatch – above 2 images – Tony Davison©

Great Tit – above 4 images – Tony Davison©

Coal Tit – Tony Davison©

Blue Tit – Tony Davison©

Robin – above 3 images – Tony Davison©

Reed Bunting – Probably a 1st winter male – Tony Davison©

Welsh Twitching

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Oct 222017

It is not often that I have “Twitched” a rare bird in Wales, but today was an exception as there has been a male Rock Thrush taken up residence in a quarry near Blaenavon, near Abergavenny in South Wales. Rock Thrush is a rare vagrant to our shores from southern and eastern Europe and should be wintering in north west Africa. It has been a long time since I saw my first one of these birds in Britain. It was another male on the golf course at Hunstanton in Norfolk. I have managed to see quite a few on my travels in various countries in Europe. This bird showed well in Pwll-Du Quarry, where it has been for the past week or so.

Rock Thrush – male – Pwll-Du Quarry, Blaenavon, South Wales – Tony Davison©

A few local birds

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Oct 212017

Always good to see our common birds, so here are a few portraits.

Tree Sparrow – This bird is still around with the local House Sparrow flock. Maybe the only one left in the area – Tony Davison©

House Sparrow – male – Above 2 images – Tony Davison©

Chaffinch – Above 3 images – Tony Davison©

Coal Tit – above 2 images – Tony Davison©

Blue Tit – above 2 images – Tony Davison©

Great Tit – above 2 images – Tony Davison©

A Saharan Sun

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Oct 162017

Hurricane Ophelia has hit the UK and brought with it dust from the Sahara Desert and debris from forest fires in Spain and Portugal. The dust has caused shorter wavelength blue light to be scattered, leaving longer wavelength red light to shine through it. Ophelia originated in the Azores where it was classed as a hurricane. It has been tracked on its way northwards and has dragged in tropical air from the Sahara. The sky over my house in South Derbyshire this lunchtime turned dark and orange, almost apocalyptic and sent birds heading off to roost. By 3pm the sky was blue, bright sunshine and the cloud had disappeared.

A New Golfing Term – A Skua!!

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Oct 162017

A juvenile Long-tailed Skua has been site faithful to the golf links at Goswick in Northumberland. The bird has been frequenting the greens and the fairways of this stunning golf course, particularly the 4th, 7th and 8th holes. We visited the course yesterday (Sunday 15th Oct 2017), an epic 12 hour day and just under a 500 mile round trip. As my wife, Helen said to me last night when we arrived back home, a great day, I got a bowl of soup out of it and I saw a Long-tailed Skua. I say that’s a success!! The bird has brought a whole new meaning to a birdie! but not an Eagle or an Albatross – a “Skua” !! I was beginning to think the bird wouldn’t perform. A gale force wind, lots of corvids mobbing it every time it flew and the golf course was very busy due to a competition. Eventually though, I scored and managed a few images of a superb bird. A great day but very difficult.

Long-tailed Skua – Juvenile – Above 6 images – Goswick, Northumberland – Tony Davison©

Vagrant Phyllosc

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Oct 162017

Arctic Warbler is a vagrant but annual visitor to Britain. It is a less than annual visitor to the east coast of Yorkshire, so when one of these leaf warblers turns up close to home, it is well worth the effort to go and see it. The species breeds in northern Scandinavia, eastwards to Siberia and Alaska. In fact last year I saw many of these superb little birds in Alaska during my trip last June. According to the book “The Birds of Spurn”, there have been around 16 records in Yorkshire and 7 of these were from the Spurn recording area, including the first for Yorkshire back in 1964. In recent weeks, 4 Arctic Warbler have been seen in the Spurn area, so it has been a good year to see this species in Britain.

Arctic Warbler – Above 2 – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – October 2017 – Tony Davison©

SHETLAND 2017

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Oct 032017

My annual visit to Shetland began this year on the 22nd September, finishing on the 30th September 2017. The usual format of travelling up to Aberdeen on the Friday, stopping off at Black Dog for some sea watching before catching the overnight ferry to Lerwick. At Black Dog I found a juvenile Long-tailed Skua; a single Arctic Skua, many Eider, several Red-throated Diver, numbers of Common Scoter, but conditions were very rough in the strong south easterly wind.

Arriving in Lerwick around 7:30am, we then travelling up to Unst for a week’s stay at our usual croft at Northdale. As there was little to distract from our journey north, we eventually arrived on Unst early afternoon, after two inter-island ferry crossings. So far the weather was ok, but little did we know at the time, that this was all about to change. A visit to collect our keys and a walk around the garden at Clingera, before making our way to the croft. Once settled down at Northdale, we worked our local patch and then made a visit to Norwick to end the day. HIGHLIGHTS – 1 Barred Warbler; 2 Mealy Redpoll; 2 Yellow-browed Warbler; 2 Chiffchaff; 1 Common Redstart; Bonxie; Tystie (Black Guillemot); Eider.

Starling – The Shetland race – A good photographic opportunity to kick start the trip. Tony Davison©

Yellow- browed Warbler – small numbers seen during the week – Tony Davison©

Gannet – Hundreds still around, fighting against all weathers and some showed incredibly well. Tony Davison©

24th September 2017 – The weather took a real turn for the worst, whilst back home the weather was almost summer-like, we faced over night rain and met with strong winds early morning lasting throughout the week. Very grey skies and low cloud on occasions made for real challenging photography. Our day was spent travelling around Unst, visiting the traditional sites at Haroldswick, Baltersound, Skaw and Norwick. Several other sites were visited during the day. HIGHLIGHTS – Common migrants including Blackcap; Garden Warbler; Wheatear; Swallow; 1 male Snow Bunting; 2 Ruff; 1 Red-throated Diver; 1 Peregrine – Twite; Bonxie; Gannet; Raven; a few common waders.

Snow Bunting – winter plumaged male – This bird was feeding a small quarry sheltering from the wind and rain. Tony Davison©

25th September 2017 – After working our local patch, we decided to head off to the south of the island and work the area of Uyeasound. This paid off for us as we walked onto a drake American Wigeon on Easter Lock and later, onto a Little Bunting. Also on the loch were a singles of Whooper Swan, Gadwall and Pintail. The American Wigeon was with around 25 Eurasian Wigeon. Several Redwing; 15 Skylark; several Wheatear and a large mixed wader flock containing Ruff, Redshank, Golden Plover and Lapwing. A Lesser Whitethroat at Northdale.

26th September 2017 – A challenging day with the weather. Continuing to be grey, wet and windy. Keeping to our regular circuit of Northdale, Skaw and Norwick, we also visited Burrafirth and returned to Uyeasound for further views of the Little Bunting. The American Wigeon had gone. HIGHLIGHTS – Barred Warbler; Little Bunting; 3 Yellow-browed Warbler; 5 Mealy Redpoll and several Lesser Whitethroat, one if not both were potential candidates for the Siberian race blythi. Common migrants – 3 Wheatear; 3 Blackcap; 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Redstart, 1 Willow Warbler; Song Thrush, 1 Robin and 1 Chaffinch; 10 Ruff

Lesser Whitethroat – Above 3 images – most probably of the Siberian race blythi – certainly shows a number of characteristics of this race. Clingera, Unst – Tony Davison©

27th September 2017 – A somewhat Red Letter day today, in view of the continuously depressing weather conditions. Sticking top our routine – Northdale; Skaw; Norwick A Long-eared Owl had been found in the pines at Norwick whilst we were working Skaw. Later in the day a Bluethroat was found in a small quarry at Hagdale. At last a few new birds to look at. Other HIGHLIGHTS – 60 Twite; Merlin; Purple Sandpiper; Redstart; Lesser Whitethroat; 3 Yellow-browed Warbler; Wheatear and 4 Mealy Redpoll.

Red-spotted Bluethroat – 1st winter – Hagdale Quarry, Unst – Tony Davison© – This bird certainly gave us all the run-around for several hours before we managed distant but good views.

Twite – above 2 images – A flock of around 60 birds were sunning themselves in the all too brief morning sunshine. Shortly after I took these pictures, it threw it down with heavy rain. Tony Davison©

28th September 2017 – Misserable day – The weather was poor early morning so we decided to venture out a little later – Northdale, Skaw, Norwick, Clingera, Baltersound – HIGHLIGHTS – Barred Warbler (good views at last); Reed Warbler; Whinchat; Lapland Bunting; 2 Yellow-browed Warbler; Garden Warbler; several Robin; Kestrel; several Wheatear; several Blackcap; Chiffchaff; Sanderling

29th September 2017 – A very difficult day with atrocious weather conditions for most of the day. Late morning visits to Skaw, Uyeasound, Westing, Lund and Baltersound – HIGHLIGHTS – Reed Warbler; 7 Red-breasted Merganser; Whinchat, Blackcap; Chiffchaff; Spotted Flycatcher; Brambling; Willow Warbler; Pink-footed Goose; large flock of Golden Plover; 2 Dunlin; good numbers of Snipe. Such a bad day no photographs..

30th September 2017 – The journey home. We left Unst in glorious sunshine and clear blue skies, the norse gods were against us this trip, for the 09:45 ferry back to Yell and the 10:30 ferry back to Shetland mainland. We decided to stop off at Wester Quarff on route to Lerwick. In superb weather, we had several hours at this superb site and in one garden alone we watched – A stunning male Red-breasted Flycatcher; Little Bunting; Yellow-browed Warbler; Spotted Flycatcher; Reed Warbler; Lesser Whitethroat; several Blackcap; 6 Chiffchaff; 2 Goldcrest – This was more like it, but alas we had to leave for the ferry back home. A fitting way to end the holiday though.

My year list finished on 232. I saw 85 species during the week.

Red-breasted Flycatcher – male – what a stunning little bird. My very first adult male in full plumage, a little belter as they say. Tony Davison©

Red Admiral – An influx on Shetland of these beautiful butterflies – Couldn’t resist finishing the BLOG with this picture. Tony Davison©

A few Migrants and Year Ticks

2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year No Responses »

Sep 172017

Missing the Leach’s Petrel bonanza of last week on the Wirral, due to work commitments, I failed miserably on Friday 15th September. The wind had abated and birds had all moved through. A consolation was a Cattle Egret at Burton Wetlands Reserve and a juvenile Black Tern at New Brighton in the mouth of the Mersey at Fort Perch.

On Saturday 16th an afternoon visit to Spurn Observatory, East Yorkshire, produced a few early autumn migrants – Single Yellow-browed Warbler and single Red-breasted Flycatcher were at the Warren, along with a Whinchat and Great Spotted Woodpecker, at sea we saw a Sabine’s Gull and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua in the company of an Arctic Skua. Also in the area a Wood Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a 1st year Pied Flycatcher. Year List moves on to 224.

Red-breasted Flycatcher – adult female – above 4 images – The Warren, Spurn, Yorkshire – Tony Davison© – Close inspection reveals that this bird doesn’t seem to show the typical pale tips to the greater wing coverts of a 1st year bird. Shortly after photographing this bird, it was trapped and ringed as an adult female.

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