Y'all Folks Have a Nice Christmas Now

Y'all Folks Have a Nice Christmas Now

Well, it's Christmas Eve, and I've just found a window of opportunity to sneak away from the family to show you a picture of a Robin, a Woodpecker and a Parakeet I took in... yes, you guessed it, Bushy Park; my second home (after my bed, and the sofa... though not necessarily in that order) earlier today- what with it being Christmas Eve, I just managed to resist the urge for a long distance twitch.
There was still quite a large amount of snow in the park, and instead of following the well trodden down paths around the ponds, I decided to go off road into the remote, snowy grassland, following remote, wild deer tracks... Bear Grylls doesn't do shizzle like this!

Wrens were calling in the dead ferns, and a Green Woodpecker was digging around for ants. It was too cold for fieldcraft, so a photo was a no-go, but here's one I made earlier, taken in Richmond Park, in February a few moons ago...

In the woodland gardens, a Ring-necked Parakeet was decorating its hole in the tree ready for the big day, and amongst a foraging tit flock, a Robin was pecking around in the leaf litter.

I guess all thats left to say now is for you to have a very...

Oh, and one last thing. I know how much you have been eagerly awaiting the results to my 'Do You Twitch Rare Birds?' poll that I put up in the right column of the blog. Ok, here goes... the results are in, and it appears that the average birder twitches......... but not often. Ten people voted (cheers) so you can bet on it being an accurate reflection. Just something to ponder on whilst trying to cope with the in-laws over the festive period. Bye now.

Not Quite As Good As Waxwings

Not Quite As Good As Waxwings

After the other day's excitement of a whole post on something slightly interesting, I decided to bring myself back to good old reality with a trip to one of my two only favourite local patches, Home Park (like Bushy Park, but smaller and with some big Hampton Court Palace thing or something at one end).

Home Park has the advantage over Bushy Park of being much less busier, and this is reflected in the birds being slightly more obliging. Being covered in ant hills and short grassland, the park is home to a thriving population of Green Woodpecker, and its hard to walk a few paces without sending one screeching into the air. Here's one chilled...

Rick's Pond usually holds a large number of waterfowl, but with the pond thickly frozen over, there wasn't much. A Mute Swan was preening however (I know, heart racing stuff)...

It was a different story on the drainage pond nearbly, where the water was ice-free and so contained a large concentration of ducks, including a nice flock of Gadwall which, as I walked up to expecting to recieve pleading quacks for bread, flew off to the other side of the pond and never let me get close. Two female Shoveler were also giving me the slip.

Have you ever seen a better photograph of a Shoveler or Gadwall? I think not.

Heres a Mallard for your troubles...

And some more Swans...

Waxwings, Teddington, Ticked

Waxwings, Teddington, Ticked

After dashing out yesterday evening and dipping a flock of 19 Waxwings down the road in Teddington, I was getting desperate to glimpse these exotic gems in Surrey, after also dipping the flock in Epsom a few weeks back.

Now, one dip I can handle, but two dips and its getting personal, so it was another early morning for a bicycle twitch, with Teddington being just a few miles down the road, to hopefully catch up with yesterday's missed birds.

Things weren't looking promising when, no sooner had I got onto the bike, I already had a stitch, and with the temperature reading a figure that wouldn't seem out of place on a weather station out in Antarctica, my usual Sunday morning routine of a sofa, a duvet and Match of the Day seemed extremely tempting. Luckily though, with the help of a life-saving Crunchy bar keeping my chocolate levels stable, I managed to resist the urge, and made it to the hopefully Waxwing infested road by an impressive time of 9am...

A small crowd of Waxwing admirers had gathered along the road; a good sign I thought, and no sooner had I turned the corner, and I already had brilliant views of the birds as the whole flock lifted up into a nearby tree...

What is a Waxwing without a berry bush?

In flight, and especially when silhouetted, the Waxwing looks very like your average Starling, and it can be surprisingly hard to tell the two species apart... these are Waxies...

Finally, I've connected with the Waxwing, and by the looks of things it might not be my last this year, with quite a few birds making their way down south in this irruption of a year for the species.

Oh, and yes, the photos you see have been taken by me, and yes they really are that stunning. I was thinking of entering them into a few competitions, but I think I'll let someone else get first 1st place for once.

Cold Weather Movement

Cold Weather Movement

It was an early morning internet search to find college closed due to 'adverse weather conditions' yesterday. There is nothing I hate more than an early morning, and you'd have thought that with most of my life spent waking up early for school, that I'd have got used to it, but I haven't. So it's really is amazing how those three words- 'college will be closed'- can transform my morning mood from :( to : D

It took an unprecedented amount of self determination and dedication to stop myself from falling back into bed, but I managed to dragged myself out into the garden for some early morning snowtography with the birds, before the texts started to come in luring me to the local patch, to indulge in a different kind of hobby from birding.

Even watching the garden birds from my camouflage cape (latest fashion) for an hour, it was amazing to see a small scale cold weather movement take place right in front of my eyes. As you can probably guess, a cold weather movement is when species move from one place to another due to extreme weather. In my case its probably just from the local woods. Chaffinches are rarities here that usually only appear as singles every winter, but this morning there were 6 feeding. After the return of a female Blackcap the other day, the male has now joined her, and 7 Redwings dropped in to the garden to feed, as well as an additional 4 Blue tits to the normal pair that are around, and a relatively secretive Song Thrush.

Despite all the action, most of the birds were a slight bit camera shy. Luckily, the Blue tits were out in style, and were doing what Blue tits do best; being curious!

This years Christmas card? I think so... you can buy one off me for £50 a print... I need all the money I can get with these new University fee rises...

They were fiddling around in every nook and cranny they could find....

Everybody say ahhh...

Field Sketches

Field Sketches

Hide your wife, conceal your kids and lock your doors......... it's snowing.

Yeap, the white stuff has finally made its mark on the South East, in the form of the worst snowfall here since the last one last year. It was a struggle, it was a real struggle, but I just managed to get through the day, and I even went outside, despite the BBC telling me to stay indoors... I'm bad.

Sarcasm aside though, and I really like snow. Of course, its fun, but it also brings in the birds. Just from watching the garden for half an hour this morning, I managed a record high of 3... yes, 3 Chaffinches feeding in the Pyracantha, the 3rd recorded Song Thrush and a returning female Blackcap, that hasn't been seen here for 2 years- hopefully she'll stay for the winter and bring her husband along too. Of course, the birds don't have as much fun in this weather, and so it is important that you keep feeding them with high energy foods.

What with one college lesson at mid-day, the usual thing happened when I'm at home for most of the day; I found myself doing nothing for ages. One minute it was 10am, and the next minute it was 11. It's like when you give yourself an extra 5 minutes in bed, which quickly turn into an extra few hours. I soon became bored of a Geography essay on whether Mexican migration to America is beneficial or not, and found myself looking through a few more blogs than usual. One in particular caught my eye- Steward's 'From the Notebook'- and in particular his brilliant sketches of birds that he scans in off his notebook and posts on the blog.

Now I'm not usually an artistic kind of guy, but when I can be bothered, I try (and usually fail) to do a few sketches of some interesting birds I find myself watching- it helps me to brush up on my ID skills, should I happen to stumble across a rare bird whilst walking through Bushy Park.

Inspired by Steward's brilliant sketches, I decided to scan in a few of my own sketches for a laugh- I don't know what it is but I quite like peeking into other people's notebooks to see how they record.
Because you could get better out of giving a crayon to a 5 month of baby, I've added captions so you can identify each scribble...

White-throated Sparrow, 13/4/09 (Old Winchester Hill, Hants). A real beauty, and my first proper twitch...

Red-necked Grebe, 20/11/10 (Puttenham, Surrey)...

Lapland Bunting, 23/10/10 (Staines Reservoir, Surrey). A very smart looking bunting which showed brilliantly...

In other news, the Redcrestufted Duck (Red-crested Pochard x Tufted Duck) was strutting its stuff in Bushy Park the other day. However drunk, stoned or generally confused the parents were at the time of deciding to mix and match the looks of their offspring, I've got to give it to them, they really have created a smart looking duck and I hope it stays for the winter...

With more snow forecasted for tonight, the weather doesn't look like its going to get any better before it gets worse, or you could say it does look like its going to get better before it gets worse, depending on how you view snow. Bird wise, it could bring in something good into Bushy, like a Pomarine Skua, or Thayer's Gull, but then it also kills birds, and stops birders from birding... both of which are bad.

'Snow: good or bad? Discuss'... my next essay title, expect a downloadable version tomorrow morning.

Think Fluffy Bunnies

Think Fluffy Bunnies

God it's been cold recently hasn't it? Me and cold don't really mix that well, I find the cold too... how do I say this? ... chilly. The problem is me and warm do mix quite well, and I often find I'm late for one thing or another because I've spent over 2 hours in a steaming hot shower, no doubt draining the local reservoir and malnourishing a Dunlin or something.

I'm pretty sure you're flowing along my lines when I say a cold winters day spent with a good cup of tea in the lounge, in front of the T.V. *insert favoured program here* (preferably not Misfits or The Inbetweeners, I mean everyone talks about them but they are generally, and pardon my language, bad) with the central heating turned up, is pretty damn ideal.

In fact one of the only times when I do like the cold is when its snowing, and so with the recent forecasts pledging a frosting of the white stuff in every garden, I've been ready with camera in hand. Alas, there has been no snow, but with the sun out, I braved the cold and headed down to Bushy Park during one of those independent study periods at college. What do mean I should have be studying? Well... I'm... habitats, environment, stuff like that, you know the one... biology.

There were birds on the lake, but they were pretty boring. Just the odd Shoveler and Wigeon, and a Stonechat in the distance somewhere.

Here, have a Wigeon...

And a Mallard...

And a Tufted Duck with some late autumnal colours thrown in...

Here's a Stonechat...

And here's an un-focused Shoveler touching down...

Just in case you were wondering what a seagull looked like up close, wonder no more... this is field guide material right here...

I've just re-filled the bird feeders ready for the winter, so might try and dig out that brown sheet thing that acts like a hide and watch as the birds flee the garden and bugger off somewhere else. One thing that doesn't seem to want to bugger off at the moment is that damn Grey Squirrel.

I must say I quite liked the local Squirrels, and their daily antics during the summer. They weren't doing any visible harm and I'd happily wave at one as it passed gracefully through the trees. However, since putting feed out again, I've realised just how bloody annoying they are- casually hanging from a branch whilst stealing sunflower seeds like the little rat is genuinely trying to mock me- and now the sight of a squirrel as I open the blinds in the morning will put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

... "Think fluffy bunnies, Bill. Happy, fluffy bunnies."

I think I need to see a squirrel psychiatrist.

Not So Red-necked Now Are You Grebe

Not So Red-necked Now Are You Grebe

Well, I don't quite know how this happened. One minute this morning I was happily in front of the computer, reading through endless pages of mind numbing, but extremely addictive BirdForum threads, and the next thing I know, I had found myself in the car park at The Tarn lake in Puttenham, where there happened to have been sightings of a Red-necked Grebe... what a coincidence!

Ok... ok, you've caught me, I twitched. Happy now? I twitched a Red-necked Grebe. I'm not proud of it.

With directions on how to view the Grebe kindly given to me from fellow birder Sean Foote, I set off through quiet, misty woodland, with the odd tick from a Robin, or tack from a Wren.

Even before we'd reached the lake, I had bagged myself a lifer in the form of a Giant Green-footed Chicken, which can reach 30 foot high- although I only managed to fit the leg in the frame...

After a left turning, we came into a clearing, where the Tarn could be seen for the first time. It is a beautiful lake, and the last of the autumn leaves were creating a reflection, that, on a sunny morning, would look spectacular. Unfortunatly, it was a cold, misty and grey morning, but no sooner had we had come out onto the bank had we caught out first glimse of the Red-necked Grebe, as it hugged the shoreline...

In its pretty drab winter dress, it doesn't really live up to its name...

The bird was wary, as I'd expect for a Grebe, and even though there were just two of us watching the bird from the bank, it soon made its way out into the middle of the lake, safe from the camera.

On the other side of the lake at the other car park, a large wall of scopes was lining up. Their loud voices could be heard from miles away, and they didn't stand much chance of getting close to the Grebe- I guess everyone has their own techniques.

After diving, the Grebe scooted off to the far end of the lake. I followed it; waiting mainly until it dived, when a walk would turn into a jog, then a pause as it surfaced, and then a jog again when it dived, until I was just a few metres away from where it had last dived.

It surfaced just a little bit out of range for the frame filler that I was hoping for, but acceptable enough to make it identifiable as a Black-necked... no, Little Grebe? No, its too big. Great crested Grebe? Can't be right... hang on, I'm going to get it right... Red... Red-necked... Red-necked Grebe, thats it! Identifiable by that clearly visible red neck...

As it moved off into the mist, it was nice to catch up with fellow birder Hillary, whom I'd met at the RSPB Guildford walk to Hayling Oysterbeds. She identified this pretty stereotypical fungi species, which I seem to have forgotten the name of... if anyone could re-identify it for me it would be much appreciated :-)

And this coral like Lichen caught my eye on the way back...

A successful twitch... I mean birding outing. Thanks again Sean for the directions.

Now wouldn't it be such a shame if I were to somehow find myself at Shawley Crescent in Epsom Downs tomorrow, where there happen to be lots of Waxwings eating berries as I write this.  

Early Christmas Present Idea

Early Christmas Present Idea

If anyone is stuck on what to get me for Christmas, here's a little suggestion...

Although it wouldn't look out of place on the top of a tank as a US manufactored Surface-to-air missile, or as an electron powered telescope used to detect black holes and galaxies in the outer-reaches of the Universe, this is actually a Canon 1200mm. It boasts an ultrasonic motor big enough to take a space shuttle to the Moon, but doesn't actually have any optical stabilisation... bit disappointing really. Of course, the exotic babe would be nice as well...

I think the lens is currently worth around $100,000- if your a bit short then just ask, I've got £2 in my pocket, and counting.

If you can't quite stretch that far, then I guess I would settle for a Canon 800mm, although don't expect me to be in such a good mood on Christmas morning, when I open my present to find I can only get a frame filling shot of a bird from 2 miles away, as opposed to from the other side of the world.

Right Place, Right Time

Right Place, Right Time

Autumn is by far the best time to view Jays, as they move from oak tree to oak tree with their distinctive bouncy flight, carrying a crop full of acorns to store for the winter.

Every now and again, one will pass through the garden at this time of year, but never stay for long. They are usually extremely shy and require quite a lot of patience to get close to. However, with a sudden downpour yesterday morning, and with me coincidently relaxing  studying at home; not having any morning lessons at College (ahh the joys!), a Jay decided to sit out a spell of bad weather in an Apple tree in the garden. I was able to fetch the camera and slowly open an upstairs window, and their it was.

A real beauty of a bird (I never thought I would ever see the day when I actually complemented a member of the Crow family!)...

Now leave me alone whilst I wonder how on earth I am supposed to distinguish Intrinsic Proteins from Extrinsic Proteins, whilst at the same time staring at a fresh sheep's heart I've just collected from the butcher's ready to be dissected in College tomorrow (oh the joys of Biology A-Level), and at the same time as all that, crying at why it isn't me holding this stick with Waxwings feeding at the end of it...

Happy Birding

Autumn Tufties

Autumn Tufties

As I'm sure many of you will have realised by now, trees shed their leaves in autumn, but in the short period before this, the leaves show off vibrant, warm colours that provide ideal light for any photographer.

These colours are emphasised even more over water, where reds, oranges and yellows blur and merge together... and when there is the potential of wildlife to fill the frame as well, its an added bonus! For me locally, there is nowhere better to find wildlife, trees and water than Richmond Park, where the wildfowl are also used to humans walking through daily, allowing me to get closer to the subjects.

I started off at Pembroke Lodge, where a walk through the dying grasses and ferns saw a few Redwings fly over, and a Reed Bunting call in the scrub near a quiet pond...

From there, it was on to Pen Ponds, where the sun had finally come out, and lit up the Ponds with a late autumnal orange glow. Tufted Duck were numerous out on the lake, and would hang at the back of a party of ducks being fed bread, ready to catch any pieces that were missed by the main gang of Mallards, Black-headed Gulls and even a Shoveler! The female, with its fudge coloured plumage...

Now and then one would dive under, and appear amidst the frantic group at the front, nip a piece of bread and go back under, and other times they would just show their cute face and beg for a piece...

Aww... who wouldn't give this little guy a piece a bread and break its heart...



The males are very smart looking, with a comical tuft, that would be lifted in the wind, turning them into little punk rockers...

As the sun went lower over the tree-line, it would shine on the seemingly black face of the birds, and produce a smart purple glossy sheen...

A Taste of Lapland... in Staines?

A Taste of Lapland... in Staines?

Firstly, sorry for the lack of recent posting; I have to admit that I haven't put much dedication into photography over the past few weeks, but I'll try and change things a bit over this half-term and get something a bit more interesting in front of the camera.

October is arguably the best month of the year for seeing interesting birds turn up in weird places. With summer and winter migrant birds moving across countries, a few gems always manage to get lost and find themselves on our shores, being quickly snapped up by twitchers. I have never been into twitching, but it is extremely hard to resist the urge to go out see an unusual bird, with so many around... So when those two words that make even the most heartless of twitchers happy, 'still present', appeared on LondonBirders news page, next to the reported Lapland Bunting that has been kicking about at Staines reservoir a few miles down the road, I couldn't resist going to have a peek!

Okay, so Lapland Buntings are far from rare, being annual winter migrants to the coast in small numbers, but they are still quite scarce in Surrey, and being a species I've never got round to seeing, it would be great to finally connect with one.

The weather didn't look particularly promising for taking photos, and I almost left the cam in the car as we opened the car door to be greeted by hailstones. Luckily, it didn't last long, and as we walked up to the causeway that passes straight through the middle of the reservoir, feedback from returning birders was that the bird was showing well. It didn't take long to locate the Bunting along the narrow path, and just as we moved in, the bird flew up, skimed the surface of the water then land back on the causeway, in between the small group of people watching it, splitting the group in two...

The Lapland Bunting was suprisingly obliging, and I've certainly never got this close to any other Bunting species before. However, for the first few minutes after landing in a certain spot, it would keep a healthly distance between itself and the observers until it settled down...

As the bird got more concentrated on feeding in the grass, it would possible to get closer, down to around 6 or 7 metres, still just too far away for a frame filling shot... so there has been a tad bit of cropping done in today's post!

I usually think of most passerine's winter plumage as being relatively drab and non-attractive, as they have no breeding purpose, but when seen up close, the different shades of brown on the Lapland become neatly layered streaks of chestnut, with shades of white and black mixed in, and really add to the overal attractiveness of the species...

Spot the bird- the Bunting's favoured hang out, near the entrance to the causeway...

After a while, a nearby Linnet flock went up, and the Lapland Bunting followed them over the edge of the causeway, where it couldn't be seen. After 20 minutes and still no sign, I wandered up the causeway to see if there was anything out on the reservoir. A Black-necked Grebe had been reported, but I couldn't get onto it. Small groups of Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon and Tufted Duck were scattered around, as were Great-crested Grebes and numerous Cormorants.

Back at the Bunting's crib, there was no sign, and so we decided to call it a day. As we were just about to leave the causeway, the Linnet flock flew over our heads, and whilst they carried on flying, a lone bird stayed behind and perched in full view on the railings... the Lapland Bunting!

What a brilliant bird, and a great little character. What with the summer over, I can't just keep updating the blog with little insects all the time, so I'll try to fit in a few more sessions like this for specific birds before half-term is out. Damn, I think I might be catching the twitching bug...