The travels continue....
DIARY PAGES
2006
APRIL 2006
Another nice start to the month, my first ever Franklin's Gull, found @ Northam Burrows C.P. Devon. The bird showed very well early morning before flying to the back of a sheep field and remaining distant for the rest of my stay. The month really kicked in when I made the trip to Devon for the three Alpine Swifts that had roosted in Seaton, they gave excellent views as one by one they left to feed. On the way home news broke of an adult Night Heron @ Bowling Green Marsh, the bird showed well even if it was a little distant. Then came the "Biggie" - Kildeer @ Blakeney, Norfolk. After dipping the first Norfolk record last year @ Breydon Water I was over the moon to see this one. The next day I was down in Dorset @ Stanpit Marsh for the Subalpine Warbler which showed superbly. I spent the 25th down in Gloucestershire for the superb Wryneck which had spent a few days on a housing estate, it gave excellent views to both the birders and the baffled residents.
MARCH 2006
The Sora @ Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire was a nice start to the month. Incredibly this is my third in as many years and by far the most obliging. On the 14th I finally caught up with my first ever Bonaparte's Gull, which took a long overnight drive to Montrose to see. It was feeding on the River Esk by the sewage outflow until I flashed my "Kingsmill" slices, it then made a quick dash for the biggest piece before vanishing out of sight. I was amazed to hear that a second Bonaparte's Gull had been found, this time in Somerset. I managed to see it on my second attempt after initially dipping on both it and the Night Heron, Devon, on the 19th. After seeing the Bonaparte's I decided to try my luck for the Laughing Gull @ Reading. I could see it from the ring road perched on it's favorite lamp-post. It showed superbly and snubbed my offering of bread as it now clearly prefers a junk food diet. I finished the month with visits to Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire for the Green-winged Teal & a cracking pair of Smew. Also Portrack Marsh, Cleveland for the two male Penduline Tits, and finally Wiltshire for a very showy Cattle Egret. A nice month even if it was a little too windy for filming.
FEBRUARY 2006
Thankfully I only had to wait till the 6th before getting out this month. A chance to visit the Common Rosefinch, which had become a regular visitor to a back garden in Sheffield, couldn't be missed. It showed every couple of hours spending about a minute on the feeders before vanishing. Views were brief, distant and partly obscured by the fence wire, but I was happy as incredibly I've never seen this species before. It was fantastic to see a Great Bustard from the Sailsbury re-introduction scheme on the 12th, It had been discovered @ Bleadon, Somerset in a field with about 90 Mute Swans. The bird was truly amazing so lets hope the scheme works. Well done to Brian Stretch for finding a drake Lesser Scaup at his local patch, Grimley New Workings, and a first for Worcestershire. I managed to see it on the 14th when it was re-found on the River Severn, sadly I was filming into the sun so I'm hoping it will stick around for a second visit. I had a stunning day out on the 15th when I visited Rainham Marshes RSPB for the Penduline Tits. They showed superbly for about half an hour early morning when I saw two females and a cracking male. I enjoyed another quiet day at my local patch on the 21st scanning through the flocks of Fieldfare & Redwing for something a little more unusual......, sadly nothing rare but a Green Woodpecker held my attention for a while. I finished the month with a second visit to Swansea for the Black-throated Thrush. I arrived in the middle of a snow storm but persevered, and thanks to Keith for inviting me into his garden, i enjoyed stunning views.
JANUARY 2006
At last I've finally managed to get out this year and incredibly the first bird I get to see is yet another Black-throated Thrush. This time a cracking male @ Townhill, Swansea. I arrived very early but endured a two hour wait until the bird finally showed. When it did show it gave fantastic views. I got the chance to spend an afternoon down at my local patch on the 26th and had a great time filming some of our commoner Thrush and a very friendly Squirrel.
|
