Looks like a miniature Red-backed Shrike

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Dec 282017
 

A male Penduline Tit has been resident on a small local wetland area called Plock Court Wetlands at Longford, near Gloucester. So, worth a visit, as these birds are not so easy to see in Britain. Male Penduline Tit always reminds me of a miniature Red-backed Shrike and this bird was very active feeding on the large amount of Reed Mace that was available for it. Also showing was an immature male Stonechat, a small party of Long-tailed Tit, large numbers of Pied Wagtail and smaller numbers of Meadow Pipit. Looks like my final Year List tally will finish on 243

Penduline Tit – male – above 4 images – Longford, Gloucester – December 2017 – Tony Davison©

Stonechat – immature male – Longford, Gloucester – December 2017 – Tony Davison©

 

All the way from the Desert . .

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Dec 262017
 

A male Desert Wheatear was found during this past week, in fields alongside the Cleveland Way near Whitby, North Yorkshire. Desert Wheatear often turn up late in the year and are always worth looking at. A trip to the coast had been previously planned for today, Boxing Day, so Whitby very quickly became the destination. I managed to get to see the bird before we spent the rest of the day wandering around this lovely Yorkshire coastal town. Although it showed well, photography was very difficult as the wheatear was always into the sun. It did come fairly close, briefly, during a 45 minute to an hours viewing time that I had on the bird. A great day out. The Desert Wheatear is usually a classic late arrival and an annual vagrant to our shores, from the Deserts of North Africa or the Steppes of Eastern Europe.

Desert Wheatear – male – Whitby, North Yorkshire – December 2017 – Tony Davison© – note the all black tail, black face mask and overall pale buff colouration.

Parrots in Derbyshire

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017  No Responses »
Dec 222017
 

This winter there has been a small invasion of Parrot Crossbills into the UK and at least 12 birds have arrived in Derwent Dale, Derbyshire. Larger and much bulkier with a heavier bill and a metallic “chup chup” call helps to tell them apart from the more usual Common Crossbill. There was a flock of at least 31 birds today, which included about 12 Parrot Crossbill. Despite ideal conditions, the birds were reluctant to come down to a favoured watering hole and spent most of their time feeding in surrounding pine trees, making photography rather difficult to say the least. I did manage to connect with a few that were in smaller trees surrounding the car park at the bottom of the track. Hopefully a few more visits may pay off with better photo opportunities.

Parrot Crossbill – adult male above 2 images – Derwent Dale, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Parrot Crossbill – female type – Above 2 images – Derwent Dale, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Most probably a Common Crossbill – Derwent Dale, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

 

 

The Berry Breaker

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017  No Responses »
Dec 152017
 

During late autumn, early winter this year (2017), there has been an unprecedented arrival of Hawfinch into Britain, with most arriving from Eastern Europe. Birds are well spread throughout the UK and as far as Derbyshire is concerned, the Hawfinch is classified as a scarce resident. So it was inevitable that sooner or later, birds would begin to arrive in the county and in places where they are not normally recorded. A small party was discovered in Darley Dale, north of Matlock and these birds seemed a good bet. On route to Darley Dale this morning, Richard and I stopped off via Radbourne, in the south of Derbyshire and eventually found what I think is a male. I did exceptionally well to find this bird let alone photograph it, as the area the bird was feeding in was extremely difficult for photography. Not the best picture of a Hawfinch, but a result for now.

Hawfinch – probably a male – Radbourne, South Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Local Birds and Run Up to Christmas

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Dec 122017
 

The past few days have seen some heavy snow, resulting in 5 -10cms across Derbyshire, the worst snow conditions for a number of years. On the 8th December I made a trip up to Derwent Dale, as there had been a flock of Parrot Crossbill regularly visiting an area of open woodland near “Windy Corner”. Conditions were freezing cold and heavy snow had fallen making driving conditions along the road into Derwent Dale very hazardous. After several hours of waiting, the flock of 12 Parrot Crossbills put in a very brief appearance. The Parrots provided me with a long awaited county tick and put my 2017 year list on 241.

In recent days, heavy snow caused further hazardous driving conditions, so I stayed local this past weekend and tried my hand at photographing some of the common birds in the snow. 

Moving forward into 2018, I will be reducing the number of BLOG Posts, posting only on highlights of the year. My Image Galleries will hold regular updates, along with my FLICKR Site. 

Mistle Thrush – This bird was protecting it’s favoured Yew Tree from other birds invading it. I just had to wait and eventually it posed for the camera – A little belter – Tony Davison©

Robin – This little Christmas “Bobby Dazzler” just sat and posed for me in the snow. Trying to keep at least one foot warm! – Tony Davison©

  

Black-headed Gull – above 3 images of adults in winter plumage – Tony Davison©

Blackbird – above 2 of a female on Yew – Tony Davison©

Blackbird – male on Yew – Stunning blue winter sky in strong late morning sunshine produced some dramatic colours – Tony Davison©

Greylag Geese – above 2 images – Tony Davison©

Moorhen – above 2 images – The late morning sunshine and blue sky produced some dramatic colours on the snow, turning it pink, purple and blue

Woodpigeon – Trying to keep warm in the late morning sunshine – Tony Davison©

 

 

Local Birds

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Nov 272017
 

Spent a few hours recent at one of South Derbyshire’s prime spots – Willington Gravel Pits and also at Melbourne Pool. A few good photo opportunities presented themselves. 

Kingfisher – above 3 images – Willington GP, Derbyshire – Tony Davison© – This is a male as there is no orange to the base of the bill.

Water Rail – above 2 images – Willington GP – Tony Davison© – Seems to be a good year for this species.

Great White Egret – a bonus, as this bird flew past the hide in the early morning autumn sunshine. Tony Davison©

Great Crested Grebe – above 3 images – Willington GP, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Black-headed Gull – adults in winter plumage – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Black-headed Gull – first winter – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Great Black-backed Gull – 1st winter – Wllington GP, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Moorhen – Willington GP, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Moorhen – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

A Mixed Bag of Birds

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Nov 212017
 

A round-up of the last weekend’s Birding Trips. I have visited several sites over the past few days, including Rutland Water, Bridlington, Covenham and Cropwell Bishop in Nottinghamshire, as there have been a few good birds around including Red-necked Phalarope, American Wigeon, Red-necked Grebe and Great Grey Shrike. The mild weather has also seen many insects still on the wing and at Rutland Water on the 19th November, I saw a Migrant Hawker dragonfly, my latest ever. Still a few Peacock and Red Admiral, truly amazing. My Year List is now on a modest 240

American Wigeon – drake – Rutland Water (the bird is second in from the left) – Tony Davison©

Great Grey Shrike – a pure record shot – not often one of these birds is seen far inland and over agricultural land – Oxley, Nottinghamshire – Tony Davison©

Red-crested Pochard – drake – another record shot. Over 40 of these attractive ducks were at Rutland Water – Tony Davison©

Great Black-backed Gull – juvenile – Yorkshire – Tony Davison©

Turnstone – above 3 images – taken in the rain at a well known Yorkshire harbour – Tony Davison ©

Mute Swan – above 2 images – a fine cob in fine fettle – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©

An autumnal Robin at Rutland Water – above 2 images – Tony Davison©

 

 

Moulting Red-necked Phalarope

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Nov 172017
 

A juvenile moulting Red-necked Phalarope has been present at Covenham Reservoir, in Lincolnshire, for nearly two weeks. This is an uncommon event for a Red-necked Phalarope to be present at an inland water in late November. I decided to visit Covenham today ( 17th November) to see it and it showed very well feeding along the waters edge on the southern side of the concrete reservoir. I also discovered a Purple Sandpiper by the Yacht club on our arrival, and this bird was also very obliging. Several Redshank were also present along with numbers of Widgeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye and also a single female Pintail. 

Red-necked Phalarope – moulting juvenile – above 4 images – Tony Davison©

Purple Sandpiper – above 2 images – a pleasant surprise to find this at Covenham Reservoir this morning – Tony Davison©

Redshank – Tony Davison©

Local Common Birds Take Two.

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Nov 112017
 

I paid another visit to the superb woodlands at Calke Park, South Derbyshire. The Red Deer are now in Rut and there was one very obliging Stag posing well during the morning. Bird wise not a great deal at Staunton Harold Reservoir of note, but in Calke Park, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and 2 Marsh Tit.

Blue Tit – above 2 images – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Coal Tit – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Goldfinch – above 3 images – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Greenfinch – female – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Greenfinch – male – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Great Spotted Woodpecker – male – above 5 images – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Wood Pigeon – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

Red Deer Stag – above 6 images – Calke Park, Derbyshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©             

 

A “Red-breasted Snipe” in Lincolnshire

 2017, Birds, Birds of 2017, Year  No Responses »
Nov 062017
 

“Red-breasted Snipe” is an old name for the North American Dowitcher, split into two species, the Long-billed Dowitcher and the Short-billed Dowitcher. The Long-billed Dowitcher is a more regular visitor to Britain and one of these smart waders has been frequenting the tidal creek and small coastal pool at Saltfleet Haven in Lincolnshire. I managed to see these birds, in full summer plumage, on their breeding grounds in Alaska last year. I can well understand why victorian ornithologists called them the Red-breasted Snipe. However, as you will see, in their winter plumage, they certainly look a lot different. My year list has moved on to 237

Long-billed Dowitcher – Juvenile – Saltfleet Haven, Lincolnshire – November 2017 – Tony Davison©

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