I'm writing this on the 28th of september, showing exactly how far behind i am with updating this blog as usual. September has been another good month, although signs of migration have slowed somewhat, with not much of interest appearing at my usual patch. However i have seen some good birds, along with plenty of other wildlife.
Coot, Colwick Park
Cormorants, Tufted Ducks and Coot, Colwick Park
The first week of september follows on from my previous week of birding, and i went down to Netherfield Lagoons, as it is now reasonably close for me to bike to. Last time i went i was a bit unimpressed as i didnt see much against the sun shining on the surface of the lake, but this time i went a little earlier on and so the sun was behind me, allowing me to get excellent views of the lagoon. I was hoping to see something out of the ordinary as there has been an almost consistent range of interesting passage waders dropping in over the last few weeks, but i didnt actually see anything like that. It was still good to sit in the sunshine on a bench, with my scope at perfect height overlooking the best part of the lagoon (a well placed bench indeed).
Colour-ringed Racing Pigeon, Colwick Lock
There was a lot of wildfowl on the lake along with many lapwings, so i decided to attempt a count of the wildfowl there. There were around 20 Gadwall, 22 Shoveler, 23 Teal and only 2 Pochard. The shovelers were still in eclipse plumage so i had to pretty much go on bill shape, but this was easy enough in the light. I also counted over 180 Lapwing - a good number - between here and attenborough it provides nottingham with a good population of these red list birds - i wonder where else there might be good flocks.
Otherwise there were loads of Black Headed Gulls, around 10 Lesser Black Backs with a couple of 1st winter birds, and 6 Little Grebe. Away from the lagoon there was plenty of Swallows and House martins, which roost under the railway bridge and hunt low over the trent, and a Kingfisher was heard on the river too.
Otherwise there were loads of Black Headed Gulls, around 10 Lesser Black Backs with a couple of 1st winter birds, and 6 Little Grebe. Away from the lagoon there was plenty of Swallows and House martins, which roost under the railway bridge and hunt low over the trent, and a Kingfisher was heard on the river too.
Swallows, Netherfield Lagoons
I headed back round the 'deep lagoon' to make my way home, and on the way heard a green woodpecker, and a scan of the scrubland to the south produced several Blackcap and Whitethroat. A buzzard was seen circling in the distance as well as a Sparrowhawk, hunting low over the scrub.
After this trip i didnt go birding for a while, and then at the weekend i went down to visit some friends in Bristol. I always get excited at going to different parts of the country though, as it means i might get the chance to see some new birds (haha!). We did actually go down to Portishead on the Bristol Channel, and had a walk down the 'beach'. To my joy, i found that the beach was host to loads of waders! Living in Nottingham, waders are few and far between so this was to be a great oppurtunity.
After this trip i didnt go birding for a while, and then at the weekend i went down to visit some friends in Bristol. I always get excited at going to different parts of the country though, as it means i might get the chance to see some new birds (haha!). We did actually go down to Portishead on the Bristol Channel, and had a walk down the 'beach'. To my joy, i found that the beach was host to loads of waders! Living in Nottingham, waders are few and far between so this was to be a great oppurtunity.
Portishead 'beach'.
The first thing i noticed was a large wader down at the shoreline, it was far away but after looking for a while and zooming in on a distant photograph, i was able to confirm it as my first ever Curlew (although i have heard them before). Walking along the beach, i was actually able to see a lot more of these birds both feeding on the shore and a few in flight, and i even got to hear their awesome noises too.
A distant Curlew
Further down the beach we disturbed a group of small waders, which turned out to be Turnstone, another lifer and a bird i've been wanting to see for a while (these were the most numerous waders there), and there were a few Little Egrets flying about too. Further along still and there were loads of birds at the end of the beach. More Curlews, lots of Turnstones and a load of Gulls, as well as my years first Redshanks, and a lot more small waders which were just too far away to ID.
Turnstones
Very pleased with how the day went with a load of excellent birds, and a bloody good laugh too (even with a hangover), and the trip away was topped off by a trip to Bristol Zoo where i got some great pics of Little Egrets, Redshank and Inca Terns.
Captive Little Egret, Bristol Zoo
Captive Redshank, Bristol Zoo
Inca Tern, Bristol Zoo
Chiloe Wigeon, Bristol Zoo
No comments:
Post a Comment