tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42079198980970904812024-02-01T20:22:57.443-08:00The Beardy BirderBirding my patch at Holme Pierrepont and further afield in Notts and Beyond.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-50096728548183931292020-03-07T13:52:00.000-08:002020-03-07T13:52:12.215-08:00Costa Rica. 7th July - 4th August 2018The other day, I finally sat down and went through all my notes and photographs from our trip to Costa Rica back in 2018, and it brought back some happy memories so I thought I'd relive them by kick-starting the old blog back into life, most probably before forgetting about it for another year.<br />
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We wanted to go away for a decent holiday in 2018, pre-requisites being that it is somewhere hot, some beaches to enjoy and plenty of birds, and for quite some time we had Sri Lanka down as where we would go. Then suddenly Costa Rica became a contender, and I'm not sure why we specifically decided upon that particular country, but it became set in stone and we booked it and I was soon delving into lonely planet books and bird guides.<br />
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In short, it is an incredibly beautiful country, with seemingly endless tracts of rainforest, amazing beaches and wildlife literally everywhere. Quite a change from Vietnam, which whilst i'm sure is still brimming with goodies, was somewhere where you had to really work for your birds. In Costa Rica it wasn't exactly easy, but there was always something exciting round the next corner.<br />
Travel-wise it differed from other places we had been in that it was more expensive than we had imagined, which on our usual travellers budget, forced us to live a lot more frugally than we usually would - often subsisting on a diet of rice and vegetables, cooked up in various hostel kitchens. Otherwise however, we found it to be a wonderful place to travel with the vast majority of people being exceptionally welcoming and friendly, going out of their way to help, even strangers on public transport! We found it relatively easy to travel the country by bus, which although it involved long journeys, was always reasonably comfortable and reliable. I should also note that we went during the 'rainy season' which I think just lasts most of the year. Rain it did - we were treated to frequent extreme downpours every single day - some days it just rained and rained, especially up in the higher elevations. Still, I guess there wouldn't be all the rainforests without all the rain!<br />
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And onto the birding. Having read reports prior to going where people were seeing 250-300 species in a single trip, I was looking forward to getting to grips with some Neotropical species. Obviously, without a guide and by relying on public transport, it always restrictive as to what you are able to see (lacking access to certain areas, or lacking identification know-how), but I do find it much more rewarding going out and working stuff out for myself. In the end I identified 114 species, which was less than I'd hoped for, but with 14 endemics and some 109 of them being completely new to me, it wasn't too bad really...<br />
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<b>San Jose</b><br />
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We flew into San Jose and as we tend to do booked our first couple of nights at our destination to find our feet and acclimatise to the country. It also provides an opportunity to do a bit of light local birding as in introduction to a whole new suite of species. On this occasion, we wished we hadn't bothered, as it wasn't a particularly nice place to be, certainly lacking much to entertain your typical traveller. It was bustling, a bit run down and there didn't seem to be many places even to sit down and have a drink or something to eat. A walk to a park on the outskirts of the city centre produced <b>Green Heron </b>and some <b>Black-bellied Whistling Ducks </b>on a lake, as well as a couple of guys getting busted by the local cops (nice!). We also got to grips with species that would soon become familiar during the whole trip such as <b>Great Kiskadee</b>, <b>Tropical Kingbird </b>and <b>Great-tailed Grackle</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7R21gsB72AcM1cac6K1FvlOfd0tW5tXTNf-tYFT5HTpWIolGcFrVmaQI7lvAmwacgELqQoeIQ-mY01yaj9mR256dM6eDy3UX_Dz_l9Ug4t0tenEJXgqu-d-oa5G4OnvwMcb56pDOuy2i/s1600/Kiskadee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TzZLIpx0EuQNe9fDB7BUwA_exsQKDKAbbigVUi2-kK2vwoX7l1gUuMBQhseCJSY-UO-Vl2f_k_ibQiwGGc4x31dUTV9_JEZJbu2ocC663gxrPZPrIBlcY7RCLtdG9Vpz5cflIfdAwUc7/s1600/Kiskadee.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TzZLIpx0EuQNe9fDB7BUwA_exsQKDKAbbigVUi2-kK2vwoX7l1gUuMBQhseCJSY-UO-Vl2f_k_ibQiwGGc4x31dUTV9_JEZJbu2ocC663gxrPZPrIBlcY7RCLtdG9Vpz5cflIfdAwUc7/s320/Kiskadee.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Great Kiskadee</div>
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<b>Monteverde</b><br />
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A Costa Rican Uber whisked us to the local bus station at dawn, to take a bus up the mountains to Monterverde, to experience some of the jungle and cloudforest that the country is so famed for. We stayed at some brilliant self-catering accommodation on hills to the north of the town (a fairly long trek up and down each time we wanted to go anywhere!). This would be home for the next few days and a little wander round the local area produced a few <b>Blue-crowned Motmot</b>, <b>Boat-billed Flycatchers </b>(seemingly replacing Kiskadees at this elevation) and plenty of <b>Black Vultures </b>overhead. Around our grounds were lots of noisy <b>Brown Jay</b>, and in the garden were <b>House wrens</b>, <b>Rufous-collared Sparrows </b>and <b>White-eared ground sparrows</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000120;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_brG3Nx7HvmtpKdEVDLJW2c0_UIFAG9Fd5HoUyq7xAQZiabyRHoGq1866X0YBhrkk5cjySx7Pb_vh79TQ4nW5plVnghy9rfLEVNb62mWZ6kXifykIdpQzVFLhsGc8TT4-Bg7Z6OPSACzN/s1600/Blue+Crowned+Motmot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_brG3Nx7HvmtpKdEVDLJW2c0_UIFAG9Fd5HoUyq7xAQZiabyRHoGq1866X0YBhrkk5cjySx7Pb_vh79TQ4nW5plVnghy9rfLEVNb62mWZ6kXifykIdpQzVFLhsGc8TT4-Bg7Z6OPSACzN/s320/Blue+Crowned+Motmot.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></td></tr>
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Blue-crowned Motmot</div>
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The next day dawned and it was absolutely chucking it down. We spent quite some time stuck indoors thinking we may as well have gone to the Lake District - the weather would probably have been better! We had a wet walk through some forest at the back of the grounds that had been designed as a little reserve called Ecopaz with several footpaths running through it. More of the same was mostly seen birdwise, though I did add <b>Tropical Mockingbird </b>and <b>Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher </b>to the list. In the afternoon it cleared up a bit so we took a longer-than-expected walk up to Baja del Tigres, a 'shadow-rainforest' reserve, drier than the nearby cloud-forest, with a different range of species. The reserve was great with lots of well marked paths and some incredible viewpoints, but my main target here was the bizarre <b>3-Wattled Bellbird</b>. It took a while but eventually we started hearing some of the bonkers bell-like vocalisations that give this species its name. We got some restricted views of a pair up in the canopy, but I was pleased that we even managed to find it at all. Other birds noted were the only <b>Resplendent Quetzal </b>of the whole trip, a frustratingly brief flight view, as well as <b>Golden-olive Woodpecker</b>, <b>Crested Guan</b>, <b>Blue-grey Tanager </b>and <b>Swallow-tailed Kite</b>. We also saw the first of many <b>Agoutis </b>in the forest, a chunky rodent about the size of a Hare, common throughout the whole trip. Other birds noted along the way included <b>Plain Wren, Yellow-throated Euphonia</b>, <b>Red-billed Pigeon </b>and <b>Orange-fronted Parakeet</b>. Handily we also got a lift back to town on the back of a Golf buggy with a near-deaf American ex-pat who had lived in the town for decades, saving a long walk back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sDTdIhX5g6BhRBEph2_pO7zy40r9rLKYmgAL6RSwT6sut1gzZgirsgVXChwzH02kxZciqC2jXuPrA51FkHJwaL8mrWVsZlULDa4dF86XAUlOj135zzanFah8psBY-rOVcF-FLNd1E241/s1600/3+Wattled+Bellbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sDTdIhX5g6BhRBEph2_pO7zy40r9rLKYmgAL6RSwT6sut1gzZgirsgVXChwzH02kxZciqC2jXuPrA51FkHJwaL8mrWVsZlULDa4dF86XAUlOj135zzanFah8psBY-rOVcF-FLNd1E241/s320/3+Wattled+Bellbird.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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3-wattled bellbird</div>
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Waking up to better weather the next morning, we made our way to town to hop on a bus up to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This was the main reason we had come up here and we were not disappointed, we ended up taking on most of the tourist trails, which resulted in a good few hours of walking and birding. The atmosphere in the forest is hard to describe, but it had an eerie silence, enhanced by the high humidity and unending gloom that came from an extremely thick and lush understory. Lonely bird-calls echoed from tree to tree and an occasional glimpse of something in the vegetation was almost all you could see of any birdlife. Luckily we occasionally chanced upon little flocks of feeding birds, commonly made up of <b>Three-striped Warblers</b>, <b>Common Chlorospingus</b>, <b>Sooty-faced finch, Banaquit</b> and<b> Grey-breasted Woodwren</b>. The haunting calls of <b>Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush </b>will stay with me forever, not dissimilar to those of the <b>Black-faced Solitaire</b>, both of which were seen a few times. A number of very cute <b>Collared Redstart </b>were seen in a clearing, a local endemic, and at the highest point of the park we noted a <b>Black-thighed Grosbeak </b>flitting from the treetops. We encountered our first <b>Coatis</b> of the trip too, we felt incredibly priveliged to see a family party wandering across the path (it was pretty awesome!), however the magic was later shattered when we realised they were everywhere, especially at the café where they were trying to steal peoples coffee and cakes! Other mammals included or first Monkeys (<b>White-faced Capuchins</b>), and more <b>Agoutis</b>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0dwlcdatgGtH9JHSAZJv4SC6YBIcrl32vho7epBFLokb0sdRp3h7EHOFdpIaSRK9RNTBmv6nz29w-TzAryR3ZDTeMoZQolJU7KomCAYuyzVD_RY3JGMkjTWXdTIU7lH25A3ct316PMUW/s1600/COATI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0dwlcdatgGtH9JHSAZJv4SC6YBIcrl32vho7epBFLokb0sdRp3h7EHOFdpIaSRK9RNTBmv6nz29w-TzAryR3ZDTeMoZQolJU7KomCAYuyzVD_RY3JGMkjTWXdTIU7lH25A3ct316PMUW/s320/COATI.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coatimundi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw53OFqUXNACUg-lNPVXEGeriRX1VPIoDG1STvvF9aZaRMFrdRTDDf3P8hjJ6uEQqXSw3djSXh79Bwtz2iG-8kCcuIuhXCQ4SOcKKgOz9mFX6ARA1pk176OW76C-fveXk5hrLUmYiqVly/s1600/Slaty+backed+NT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw53OFqUXNACUg-lNPVXEGeriRX1VPIoDG1STvvF9aZaRMFrdRTDDf3P8hjJ6uEQqXSw3djSXh79Bwtz2iG-8kCcuIuhXCQ4SOcKKgOz9mFX6ARA1pk176OW76C-fveXk5hrLUmYiqVly/s320/Slaty+backed+NT.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slaty-backed Nightinghale-thrush</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAhRdBoMeWPbihwSE0-Thve2QyA26HippOyEld8zCoHNKol7mFPyV1LK09TNVCaB6ltUAfcupcDzGSQ8WutXETgLrwke-4FW3qftx4cpMKu93n_59b2aUWbD0YWSlJ9kkg1DesziR_RGj/s1600/Sooty-faced+Finch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAhRdBoMeWPbihwSE0-Thve2QyA26HippOyEld8zCoHNKol7mFPyV1LK09TNVCaB6ltUAfcupcDzGSQ8WutXETgLrwke-4FW3qftx4cpMKu93n_59b2aUWbD0YWSlJ9kkg1DesziR_RGj/s320/Sooty-faced+Finch.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Sooty-faced Finch </div>
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The café at the entrance to the Cloudforest was a particular highlight, not just for the excellent fare, but also because of the busy Hummingird feeders, which were attracting dozens of hummers. I, amongst many other tourists, was rattling off hundreds of photos, and I managed to get a couple of decent ones, but it was mostly useful so that I could later pore over them to identify the species. Most common were <b>Green-crowned Brilliant</b>, <b>Green Violetear, Violet Sabrewing</b>, as well as smaller numbers of <b>Purple-throated Mountian-gem</b>, <b>Talamanca (Magnificent), Stripe-tailed </b>and <b>Coppery-headed Hummingbird</b>, along with plenty of <b>Bananaquits.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXPAkfWsYVDASNP9oQB6r2eQmB6VT59PpDlK05jIHBT3iyxG79wGp3aifYG_WBI5mkS80LmRa1MJtm87Jx_CbUK6FB8QpnD569tv3cVdmkU5Mv5IGGSfGFHNOJIjV842rBEQa5P-PxR-3/s1600/Bananaquit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXPAkfWsYVDASNP9oQB6r2eQmB6VT59PpDlK05jIHBT3iyxG79wGp3aifYG_WBI5mkS80LmRa1MJtm87Jx_CbUK6FB8QpnD569tv3cVdmkU5Mv5IGGSfGFHNOJIjV842rBEQa5P-PxR-3/s320/Bananaquit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Bananaquit</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6s4Md2xKwHgbHiYQqdW75OSHMt8fnAbKNFWW7HMyuXI2KEMzssIf7stfPfi0fpzuTTQuz7gnhxHJZPmqCvJ2UxQuTnwbo6yhMRAV1kXjUVqm8isUI-9GzpDZf2ClZrZ8ZbqpfAZMEul8/s1600/COPHEAD+EMMO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6s4Md2xKwHgbHiYQqdW75OSHMt8fnAbKNFWW7HMyuXI2KEMzssIf7stfPfi0fpzuTTQuz7gnhxHJZPmqCvJ2UxQuTnwbo6yhMRAV1kXjUVqm8isUI-9GzpDZf2ClZrZ8ZbqpfAZMEul8/s320/COPHEAD+EMMO.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coppery-headed Emerald</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnznOWwCyHBDBbEaDueiMfe9eIklyPYCk91BU1eFVlZHOQ5nRvGLrheWO4sAY0sloIr-Pxe5qIwYdP2eAxIhDoxfnrEewOlyofXUEfxvxVIV46JDdGD9Bha5DFak0rT1kCI-ac3KV5e1Hc/s1600/GC+BR+F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnznOWwCyHBDBbEaDueiMfe9eIklyPYCk91BU1eFVlZHOQ5nRvGLrheWO4sAY0sloIr-Pxe5qIwYdP2eAxIhDoxfnrEewOlyofXUEfxvxVIV46JDdGD9Bha5DFak0rT1kCI-ac3KV5e1Hc/s320/GC+BR+F.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-crowned Brilliant (Female)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkynoiPC3_oHGRzCfttTsc7qiSoD_d6cmVKtaLaen-8r34XQZWrk-FPX0k1ac04-KYBlon3q6LldYPO_pSLXfM9ZwyZkg9RGq5_oDs0a0P4PPzgF1SqK6Vj0UiBXSaMV_4rtNWtc8NpU5/s1600/GC+BRILL+J.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkynoiPC3_oHGRzCfttTsc7qiSoD_d6cmVKtaLaen-8r34XQZWrk-FPX0k1ac04-KYBlon3q6LldYPO_pSLXfM9ZwyZkg9RGq5_oDs0a0P4PPzgF1SqK6Vj0UiBXSaMV_4rtNWtc8NpU5/s320/GC+BRILL+J.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Green-crowned Brilliant Juv</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj1CliOAUo1oBB6pE-3Tj9pU-8p1pvW5Z1bEKmXdbsIMu8gEnx6mD1_sc3S5qBFcAbP8TcLBIoW7VGk9TyntCN_Y4zpzgQNUz5SLKzOg65FITcLe6x2B9FBQCySOABk6G6wvwmas14Bcy/s1600/purpmg+j.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj1CliOAUo1oBB6pE-3Tj9pU-8p1pvW5Z1bEKmXdbsIMu8gEnx6mD1_sc3S5qBFcAbP8TcLBIoW7VGk9TyntCN_Y4zpzgQNUz5SLKzOg65FITcLe6x2B9FBQCySOABk6G6wvwmas14Bcy/s320/purpmg+j.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-throated Mountain-gem Juv</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiO8xrOUfpRzeFQeryA-RZRJA4XqbQTqMRFysATVnqiAWRbwXNeBgz29Pp1UpKLud-NdMz3dpShZk6uIaKwIum7tWU7e2IkkoLoJEwpFwz1Tl7l1n4uzwlyP77nPNfN-16g7lfIXoH1ir/s1600/vsabwing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiO8xrOUfpRzeFQeryA-RZRJA4XqbQTqMRFysATVnqiAWRbwXNeBgz29Pp1UpKLud-NdMz3dpShZk6uIaKwIum7tWU7e2IkkoLoJEwpFwz1Tl7l1n4uzwlyP77nPNfN-16g7lfIXoH1ir/s320/vsabwing.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violet Sabrewing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiO8xrOUfpRzeFQeryA-RZRJA4XqbQTqMRFysATVnqiAWRbwXNeBgz29Pp1UpKLud-NdMz3dpShZk6uIaKwIum7tWU7e2IkkoLoJEwpFwz1Tl7l1n4uzwlyP77nPNfN-16g7lfIXoH1ir/s1600/vsabwing.JPG" imageanchor="1"><br /></a>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxnMeOsgLpH2z0A-htUZmNw1-nSAY-FIITXFvH7M47Ohdm-_90jUYjMadE8IXQhT6LMC-LvoiOygFGISp56UD5QelqQbnfpyRIVqjCfRiQnRapblmv1oUfa-sIlJM-TcWdpTbUdV9-SfQ/s1600/COATI2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxnMeOsgLpH2z0A-htUZmNw1-nSAY-FIITXFvH7M47Ohdm-_90jUYjMadE8IXQhT6LMC-LvoiOygFGISp56UD5QelqQbnfpyRIVqjCfRiQnRapblmv1oUfa-sIlJM-TcWdpTbUdV9-SfQ/s320/COATI2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coati - Just before trying to nick our coffee and cake</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jaco</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
After the temperate climate of the uplands, it was quite a pleasant change to a hot and humid climate when we reached the pacific lowlands, which was to be our main focus for the rest of the trip. We were on our way to Jaco which would serve as our base for the next few days before we made a decision on which way to go next. A lengthy stopover at Puntarenas meant a bit of beach time with all our luggage, but allowed for our first views of the Pacific, complete with passing flocks of <b>Brown Pelican, White Ibis, </b>and overhead a large gathering of <b>Turkey Vulture</b> and <b>Magnificent Frigatebird. </b>The occasional <b>Royal Tern </b>also flew by and I managed some photographs of a lone <b>Willet </b>that was working up and down the shoreline.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM0LLtnLh_IlUU54DI7kTGCNnoWAK_IrdsMNXRwBJqVS_UyW0HuY4XnIppU45MgWrTTx1H3hK2ROi-0inlXsEDriiS0NoxWELhC42CVYMosYV4JiCqEEJnlVKUYg5UcpbEOVR00F8jhIC/s1600/willet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM0LLtnLh_IlUU54DI7kTGCNnoWAK_IrdsMNXRwBJqVS_UyW0HuY4XnIppU45MgWrTTx1H3hK2ROi-0inlXsEDriiS0NoxWELhC42CVYMosYV4JiCqEEJnlVKUYg5UcpbEOVR00F8jhIC/s320/willet.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
When we eventually reached our accommodation in Jaco (complete with a nice garden to chill out in), we just got a feel of the local area. <b>Great Kiskadee </b>and <b>Tropical Kingbird </b>were seemingly the most common species here (and the rest of the lowlands it emerged), along with a number of <b>Clay-coloured Thrush </b>in the garden, and <b>Ruddy-ground Doves,</b> a <b>Streak-headed Woodcreeper </b>and a <b>Rufous-naped Wren </b>(a massive wren!) also putting in appearances. A morning walk along the beachfront and surrounding area also added the first of many <b>Spotted Sandpipers </b>and some <b>Inca Dove.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMv6n8HlWgHsmV9feMqAdg8NrjWcKeNQbnckdnpiJcjft5boZ0jt0VGYZbvXaY5OiUeSE7ATaczJg_NZhuZF_eOaX_V9Hy9FwDNac2i619rcubYCcw5Hx_Cv5kIiYYzmiyoViQpFpDJ9Q/s1600/t+kingbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMv6n8HlWgHsmV9feMqAdg8NrjWcKeNQbnckdnpiJcjft5boZ0jt0VGYZbvXaY5OiUeSE7ATaczJg_NZhuZF_eOaX_V9Hy9FwDNac2i619rcubYCcw5Hx_Cv5kIiYYzmiyoViQpFpDJ9Q/s320/t+kingbird.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Tropical Kingbird</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20Ab4i6OTEdkyBZ-wJLBD4FxfPVPTBd_k6b3H_VlXdEkhyphenhyphenq2O3pugeW0UQ65rVTwh3eezxgSxyDmr_VmPviRsKJ4eDlPBoczckXwWU8Ce7ptSf7q_bnP4QY0P4i6pczCGhR18upwMt4yj/s1600/Spot+Sand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20Ab4i6OTEdkyBZ-wJLBD4FxfPVPTBd_k6b3H_VlXdEkhyphenhyphenq2O3pugeW0UQ65rVTwh3eezxgSxyDmr_VmPviRsKJ4eDlPBoczckXwWU8Ce7ptSf7q_bnP4QY0P4i6pczCGhR18upwMt4yj/s320/Spot+Sand.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted sandpiper</td></tr>
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<b><br /></b>
We later got a bus to Carara National Park, where we'd hoped to get dropped off at the main entrance. Our limited Spanish however got us dropped of a mile or two up the road, at the famous Cocodrilo Bridge over the Rio Tarcoles, which was actually pretty cool (lots of crocs!), if a little hair-raising (Lorries passing by at high speed at close quarters!). <b>Black-bellied Whistling Duck</b>, <b>Cattle Egret</b>, <b>Little Blue Heron </b>and <b>Ringed Kingfisher </b>were also noted from here, before we backtracked along the roadside to the main park entrance. Our aim here was <b>Scarlet Macaw</b>, but unfortunately we only heard them here (but ended up seeing them regularly in the following week), but there was plenty of stuff to keep us interested in this pleasant reserve. We followed the trails through the jungle, picking off various small species feeding in the understorey, including <b>Orange-billed Sparrow</b>, <b>Red-capped Manakin</b>, <b>Black-hooded Antshrike</b>, <b>Chestnut-backed Antbird </b>and <b>Buff-rumped Warbler</b>. Higher up in the canopy, new birds include <b>Gray-headed Tanager</b>, <b>Streaked Flycatcher</b>, and <b>Wedge-billed Woodcreeper</b>. We saw our second Monkey species of the trip too, with several distant parties of <b>Spider Monkeys </b>crashing through the canopy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyBAL0MOnk_N4Wh2fnukJQFX7NXgU0AmvETrTiarlMdqVSGI0ElCXeGfUyNBK37wRZz0rHdPhyphenhyphenaLTzG3qdEXpvAirWDTlZKTt8LVa78yN5zDTuWaKT6H2UATleGXK_jJkLBoQj8O17uxQ/s1600/Streaked+Flycatcher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyBAL0MOnk_N4Wh2fnukJQFX7NXgU0AmvETrTiarlMdqVSGI0ElCXeGfUyNBK37wRZz0rHdPhyphenhyphenaLTzG3qdEXpvAirWDTlZKTt8LVa78yN5zDTuWaKT6H2UATleGXK_jJkLBoQj8O17uxQ/s320/Streaked+Flycatcher.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streaked Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<br />
Back in Jaco, we finally saw <b>Scarlet Macaws, </b>with birds seemingly travelling in and out to roost in the evening and again in the morning. A <b>Yellow-headed Caracara </b>was rifling through some bins in town in the evening and I also added <b>Bare-throated Tiger Heron </b>and <b>Red-crowned Woodpecker </b>to the list before we departed for our next stop-off.<br />
<br />
<b>Uvita</b><br />
<br />
We were unsure where to go next, and ended up in Uvita as it was famed for an excellent beach and potential whale sightings too (we were a bit too early). However a mix of poor accommodation and not much to do, meant we didn't stay here very long. The beach was indeed very beautiful and of course there were birds to see too, though it felt like opportunities for exploring were a bit limited, so I only managed whatever was in the surrounding land around the town. That said, some new species were seen, such as <b>Gray-necked Woodrail</b>, <b>Purple-crowned Fairy</b>, <b>Variable seedeater</b>, <b>Blue-black Grassquit</b>, <b>Bronzed Cowbird </b>and <b>Plumbeous Kite</b>. <b>Palm </b>and <b>Cherrie's Tanagers </b>were very common, along with the usual Kiskadees and Kingbirds, whilst it was quite entertaining having <b>Black Vultures </b>picking through the rubbish out the back of the accommodation. Overhead were <b>Scarlet Macaws </b>and <b>Caracaras</b>, and at night hundreds of Parrots (that sounded much like Pink-footed geese!) flew over to roost, but I never knew what species they were.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM8KXte-pqVBjVFlvuHSlaNWO2iDya9ZVB3j2y6SDByaYvi0hfVysq9pF3ZLbVUCkgI0r6-VhDKuoQo-ewG0y_Mk7VUqeFU6tgmLULJPXV-mVpLrldxE7221gD9kpDsz79YZ0rej8eIMz/s1600/Tropical+Kingbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM8KXte-pqVBjVFlvuHSlaNWO2iDya9ZVB3j2y6SDByaYvi0hfVysq9pF3ZLbVUCkgI0r6-VhDKuoQo-ewG0y_Mk7VUqeFU6tgmLULJPXV-mVpLrldxE7221gD9kpDsz79YZ0rej8eIMz/s320/Tropical+Kingbird.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical Kingbird, with lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AaalRnz-ACDJPH3Tb2p6WBTk2F5DFRJI5TkqTkYvsTYVNdTG9nrqQlp9hyhM1hiRRJ3w-L7-tRW-leSIX8uM8oL0h4P2PHAdTl2E80whLoyI-WsddJqpilKiuXxRVKyrAezjIjhPf40W/s1600/Grey-necked+Wood+Rail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AaalRnz-ACDJPH3Tb2p6WBTk2F5DFRJI5TkqTkYvsTYVNdTG9nrqQlp9hyhM1hiRRJ3w-L7-tRW-leSIX8uM8oL0h4P2PHAdTl2E80whLoyI-WsddJqpilKiuXxRVKyrAezjIjhPf40W/s320/Grey-necked+Wood+Rail.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-necked Woodrail</td></tr>
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<b></b><b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZuhte7qpFsDn1HbGB8FeCa4cjkXS4T4wYVWduOFu8q010s0lfjvmm-EQYuKs06E8jNkfULD_i4WMe3QfcvX7y99AQ8kFi_CcWhzsUZt0JA74Nwe_YDmScFAZMsl7N-A-aoD2xwVnFA95/s1600/Black+Vulture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZuhte7qpFsDn1HbGB8FeCa4cjkXS4T4wYVWduOFu8q010s0lfjvmm-EQYuKs06E8jNkfULD_i4WMe3QfcvX7y99AQ8kFi_CcWhzsUZt0JA74Nwe_YDmScFAZMsl7N-A-aoD2xwVnFA95/s320/Black+Vulture.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Vulture with fruit salad</td></tr>
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<b></b><br />
<b>D</b><b>rake Bay</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Osa peninsular was to be our home for the next 5 days, we wanted to just stay put for a while instead of travelling around too much so chose Drake Bay as our base as it felt quite remote and had plenty of scope for wildlife. The only way here in the wet season is a boat from Sierpe, and I've never felt quite so unsettled as I did as we were bobbing about on that little boat at the mouth of the river, entering the sea with massive waves coming from several directions, but luckily the crew of the boat traversed these dangerous waters several times a day and skilfully picked their way out of the estuary and onto the open water. Before boarding, we had more great views of <b>Scarlet Macaws</b>, and added <b>Mangrove Swallow </b>and <b>Grey-breasted Martin </b>to the list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswCCGOHcPrPmoJiFd4AlY3awpyYs-6Pur6rocbwnm6MTnaDPZHPPlFpSaX_Yjqwx54Q2TM-fXD10dQ3EcKh4oSsSzXsdrMgN_MBMJqgPxT6RcV_oiGfHggIw6CnsawWsp-pTr2KPTcgER/s1600/SC1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswCCGOHcPrPmoJiFd4AlY3awpyYs-6Pur6rocbwnm6MTnaDPZHPPlFpSaX_Yjqwx54Q2TM-fXD10dQ3EcKh4oSsSzXsdrMgN_MBMJqgPxT6RcV_oiGfHggIw6CnsawWsp-pTr2KPTcgER/s320/SC1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTDmEM0GqooPArVdqMst0JzhlnGRCX4H8vbHN7Ghp5UJmNeTiwzj7xFBlrK6C6eojKSGZQgqr_W4oj8ydyJ9tv0om7DDFU8J0RZGwZOfjTJJdaSYQs_RktFLN-w9BK0kxmsBpIXu7iuR5/s1600/SC2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTDmEM0GqooPArVdqMst0JzhlnGRCX4H8vbHN7Ghp5UJmNeTiwzj7xFBlrK6C6eojKSGZQgqr_W4oj8ydyJ9tv0om7DDFU8J0RZGwZOfjTJJdaSYQs_RktFLN-w9BK0kxmsBpIXu7iuR5/s320/SC2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Macaw</td></tr>
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Over the next couple of days we just relaxed and took in the local area, with several walks up and down the coastal path, between rain showers. <b>Cherrie's Tanagers </b>and <b>Bananaquits </b>were ever present in the garden of the hostel and one afternoon a <b>Black-mandibled Toucan </b>visited the garden, attempting to rob a tanager nest. Around town, I noted <b>Green kingfisher</b>, <b>Rufous-tailed Hummingbird</b>, <b>Panama Flycatcher </b>and <b>White-tipped doves</b>, and at night hundreds of <b>Red-lored Parrots </b>flew overhead to roost, and amazing experience. Over the next few days, the walk south from the town along a forested path, dotted with little beaches produced plenty, including <b>Mangrove Hummingbird </b>(another endemic), <b>Golden-naped Woodpecker</b>, <b>Great Black Hawk</b>, <b>Golden-hooded Tanager</b>, <b>Thick-billed seedfinch </b>and <b>Riverside Wren</b>. A family of Capuchins also provided some entertainment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkBDp1zZbGQwDG9hj6MKyG2EeTj_LB2K_SxkDxMyYo53TKmQ2ZasPiick2gxKsSU30BW3FxNvMfGcm0du7IZOwLtwJf5c8X-N-qK2ijAnw9YYDK9femSnLcXjXlroJH-LdXyrAaHXyeLP/s1600/cherrie+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkBDp1zZbGQwDG9hj6MKyG2EeTj_LB2K_SxkDxMyYo53TKmQ2ZasPiick2gxKsSU30BW3FxNvMfGcm0du7IZOwLtwJf5c8X-N-qK2ijAnw9YYDK9femSnLcXjXlroJH-LdXyrAaHXyeLP/s320/cherrie+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherrie's Tanager</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaQTUv-BLl2HJi2XyN05Gf5-2Zf7BpYedxjlglQl-Qh4FAXm0PUef6Sx-KWnunr7grkL9ILjXnfBZ9FimgvDGpcKrH9GQq4lAj4SHN1UGcyWsF0MXtDSbiMe8qNiDU37W6_VGVCOAUGEl/s1600/lbh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaQTUv-BLl2HJi2XyN05Gf5-2Zf7BpYedxjlglQl-Qh4FAXm0PUef6Sx-KWnunr7grkL9ILjXnfBZ9FimgvDGpcKrH9GQq4lAj4SHN1UGcyWsF0MXtDSbiMe8qNiDU37W6_VGVCOAUGEl/s320/lbh.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Blue Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdrvb0cO9jbPciHqC-FOVwUtltha7Qoavc8O8_Y_sPMCXBfoew5rARjoZ0ysHSw6NJHDr-KW_MgAWCg0M-UqxgPW5dQZKQjxV_8Veb_N6MA0O6t3w48qSpG65hFCwiPexxSTrr1SBHx2h/s1600/CH+M+TOCO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdrvb0cO9jbPciHqC-FOVwUtltha7Qoavc8O8_Y_sPMCXBfoew5rARjoZ0ysHSw6NJHDr-KW_MgAWCg0M-UqxgPW5dQZKQjxV_8Veb_N6MA0O6t3w48qSpG65hFCwiPexxSTrr1SBHx2h/s320/CH+M+TOCO.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-mandibled Toucan</td></tr>
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<br />
We had a couple of guided trips, one to Cano Island to do some snorkelling, which was brilliant, with several turtles coming to see what we were up to, Reef Sharks swimming below and numerous brightly coloured fish. Also a brief sighting of a Humpback whale on the way out was quite a sight. The other was a guided trip to Corcovado National Park, one of the most Biodiverse parks in the world, which can now only be visited with a guide, and only a tiny fraction of which is open for tourism to protect the ecosystem and the rare animals that reside there. The tour was quite generalist, so opportunities for birding were limited, but we got some nice scope views of <b>Black-throated </b>and <b>Slaty-tailed Trogon</b>, and other new species were <b>Great Currasow</b>, <b>Pale-vented Pigeon</b>, <b>Agami heron</b>, <b>Snowy egret</b>, <b>Stripe-throated Hermit </b>and <b>Double-toothed kite</b>. We also passed a colony of <b>Brown Booby </b>from the boat on the way back. The stars of the show were the mammals however, and we got point-blank views of a resting Baird's Tapir, a huge family party of Coati, and all four species of Monkey to be found in Costa Rica, including excellent views of Squirrel Monkeys - very cute.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZ1FMJB5Gk9fc8x3-HnzSj3o9qpCzZWJzSKwfc2TSyxm-ZWHkNXekgzbcGqV0JMna8AZ_sQjJUjUwrW-ILjB-cC1tpYHAGbzZ9dos19pip5DCnEAK7uY4slyBAT2Xv56rUPPH5N6H3FNl/s1600/CARACAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZ1FMJB5Gk9fc8x3-HnzSj3o9qpCzZWJzSKwfc2TSyxm-ZWHkNXekgzbcGqV0JMna8AZ_sQjJUjUwrW-ILjB-cC1tpYHAGbzZ9dos19pip5DCnEAK7uY4slyBAT2Xv56rUPPH5N6H3FNl/s320/CARACAD.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-headed Caracara</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbynex3o99uOcccypjgDfmJNtG0XxiNh2JurpRG5MkXilxcV2NEHGkAfpc3qwcrLXlbLHakUN509pOWRshsC6OliNT7uKrwI7kJjGsC0o_WgAdo4_n3-RT5cEa8P7_40fFz7t6mfq-lTp/s1600/Great+Currasow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbynex3o99uOcccypjgDfmJNtG0XxiNh2JurpRG5MkXilxcV2NEHGkAfpc3qwcrLXlbLHakUN509pOWRshsC6OliNT7uKrwI7kJjGsC0o_WgAdo4_n3-RT5cEa8P7_40fFz7t6mfq-lTp/s320/Great+Currasow.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Currasow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdYWhmtt3CZAe-xhSJPcQVrJrgxzOgjKuPo5VZXfThQFfO9J3tZWg_N5skjGzWxrvGf0TIwnrdbp5nBidV1RNpjJVDnD3Px1BqDCqBtq4jqkIcGqDJ1nbdvPsh_78HQJV6ii92ojD8Lbo/s1600/SSPIEDER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdYWhmtt3CZAe-xhSJPcQVrJrgxzOgjKuPo5VZXfThQFfO9J3tZWg_N5skjGzWxrvGf0TIwnrdbp5nBidV1RNpjJVDnD3Px1BqDCqBtq4jqkIcGqDJ1nbdvPsh_78HQJV6ii92ojD8Lbo/s320/SSPIEDER.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Squirrel Monkey</div>
<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baird's Tapir</td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br />
<b>Manuel Antonio</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
For our last couple of days we were unsure where to go, and although we'd heard it was a bit touristy, we settled on Manuel Antonio to see out the trip. Our accommodation was at the top end of town, a ten minute bus journey to the National Park, and in the grounds we had the company of some noisy <b>Howler Monkeys</b>, as well as<b> Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds</b>, more <b>Black-mandibled Toucans</b>, <b>Red-crowned Woodpecker</b>, <b>Groove-billed Ani </b>and <b>White-crowned Parrot</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JqkZQZT14NnIC65Wz4q2QgAR3aNv0XAAzz7qzY4YtdhCYzLLn00fVgm5sLpxjGhkQdZnjMUOlzr5_Ym38tYdn_Rc07tyWsHaO4jfVJNQV2_SbYOh1EA-SQoJWGzIHFiPIsawpZIKL2Or/s1600/ANI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JqkZQZT14NnIC65Wz4q2QgAR3aNv0XAAzz7qzY4YtdhCYzLLn00fVgm5sLpxjGhkQdZnjMUOlzr5_Ym38tYdn_Rc07tyWsHaO4jfVJNQV2_SbYOh1EA-SQoJWGzIHFiPIsawpZIKL2Or/s320/ANI.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ani</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznxKhw6o4iSCqIWSgSZGCQc2XxnVwkuQjY60umhe9sj4s5dOwLVkxox3URTMC8pZrBJ40I8zENV6UAmPJ9DIo_HRqBNVQg4c6JDfbgrHm69rhWaEmj3-lpEmfml0kkq71mx04o1-xN1d-/s1600/CAPU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznxKhw6o4iSCqIWSgSZGCQc2XxnVwkuQjY60umhe9sj4s5dOwLVkxox3URTMC8pZrBJ40I8zENV6UAmPJ9DIo_HRqBNVQg4c6JDfbgrHm69rhWaEmj3-lpEmfml0kkq71mx04o1-xN1d-/s320/CAPU.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capuchin</td></tr>
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The park itself was very pleasant, with excellent trails through more lush forest, though it was busy with lots of family groups and other visitors, some of which were not exactly quiet, but we did kind of expect this from Costa Ricas most popular national park. Birds were thin on the ground, obviously keeping away from the tourist trails, though we did add <b>Fiery-billed Aracari </b>and <b>Wedge-billed </b>and <b>Cocoa Woodcreepers </b>to the list, along with more <b>Orange-billed Sparrow</b>, <b>Black-hooded Antshrike </b>and another <b>Mangrove Hummingbird</b>, among other commoner species. Mammal interest was high again, and it was particularly entertaining watching brazen <b>Capuchins </b>and <b>Raccoons </b>rifling through peoples bags and trying to snaffle their lunch on one of the beaches, and we also got our first glimpse of a <b>2-toed Sloth </b>chilling in a palm tree.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjZ2AGLFGG8H_iVxF76Q5MIID7SFo9yUrhOTj7vU2OD4-9pnHJAxgNkBgo3FSKEtu6r41qrxtgk1UJHj6Zp8Ry23U6t4DCOnLtFFVM9d2TCmjbNYDAaNNGjxperGlKTcMqoczMhgBQE1P/s1600/CAPUCI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjZ2AGLFGG8H_iVxF76Q5MIID7SFo9yUrhOTj7vU2OD4-9pnHJAxgNkBgo3FSKEtu6r41qrxtgk1UJHj6Zp8Ry23U6t4DCOnLtFFVM9d2TCmjbNYDAaNNGjxperGlKTcMqoczMhgBQE1P/s320/CAPUCI.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capuchin</td></tr>
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<br />
We started the journey back to the airport the next day, but before leaving I had a wander down to town through a forest-lined neighbourhood, hoping for some last-minute additions, and managed 2 new species, <b>Masked Tityra </b>and <b>White-collared Swift</b>, along with some more <b>Golden-naped Woodpeckers </b>and <b>Groove-billed Anis</b>, and I also had excellent views of a <b>Howler Monkey </b>and another Sloth, before walking back up the beach to get the bus back up to the apartment.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howler Balls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlxlCbDc-Tr4IhBZJOkbcadgTlpnOL37T28UCHx4eJQ5SbJBY-rMqJxleVILLYOPxUB2mEexxCnQxcRD4ZNJEZ3FYHojJSuBdOGiWJf6WSR26CgeH2My5y8xuUS4x8cnjdgdZKbP-vGWv/s1600/HOWLERLOOK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlxlCbDc-Tr4IhBZJOkbcadgTlpnOL37T28UCHx4eJQ5SbJBY-rMqJxleVILLYOPxUB2mEexxCnQxcRD4ZNJEZ3FYHojJSuBdOGiWJf6WSR26CgeH2My5y8xuUS4x8cnjdgdZKbP-vGWv/s320/HOWLERLOOK.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howler Monkey</td></tr>
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And that was it - the journey back was uneventful and we stayed in a windowless room in Alajuela (much nicer than San Jose!) before flying back the next day. As previously stated, a list of 114 was good, though I would have liked more (who wouldn't?), with 14 endemics (or near-endemics), and 14 species of mammal. It was a great taste of birding the Americas, and only left me wanting to come to this continent again to experience more of what's on offer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-32625992128035416792018-09-30T13:08:00.000-07:002018-09-30T13:08:31.477-07:00Lincs coast - 30th SeptemberOoooh - first blog post of the year and its not even October yet...<br />
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I've been thinking about getting over to Lincs again recently, having been excitedly reading rare bird reports and thinking about migration, so got in contact with a few birding pals and tried to get something organised. Unfortunately due to various reasons, today was the first day that I could manage.<br />
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I picked up Pete from Bingham at 6am and we headed east, knowing that the coast had been particularly quiet again after another autumn of westerly winds and unfavourable conditions. However we were of the opinion that if we didn't try then we wouldn't see anything at all. A decent outlook, at least then we couldn't be too disappointed.<br />
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We decided on giving Rimac another bash and walked from the carpark up to Paradise Pool and back. Migrants were particularly thin on the ground - we only saw a couple of <b>Chiffchaff </b>and one or two <b>Goldcrests. </b>Overhead there was a single <b>Swallow, </b>a few <b>Siskin </b>and a small trickle of <b>Meadow Pipits. </b>The bushes were particularly quiet, so we didnt waste too much time on trying to make something out of nothing. A couple of <b>Marsh Harrier </b>out on the saltmarsh brightened things up a bit though as well as up to 6 <b>Stonechat </b>and a few flocks of <b>Pinkfeet. </b>High tide at Paradise pool was quiet too with just 26 <b>Redshank </b>and a couple of <b>Black-wits </b>among a scattering of gulls.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise!</td></tr>
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We decided not to do much of the south of the reserve as it seemed horribly quiet on a quick walk-round, so we relocated to some of the dunes south of Mablethorpe. We settled on Marsh Yard and had a short but productive sea watch whilst eating lunch. <b>Red-throated Divers </b>were settled on the sea with 6 or more seen in various states of moult, but mostly still in summer plumage which was nice to see. An exceptionally close-in <b>Manx Shearwater</b> gave good views too, as did a juvenile <b>Arctic Skua, </b>but otherwise movement was limited to mainly a few <b>Gannets. </b><br />
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Afterwards we gave the landward side of the dunes a go, but aside from a <b>Short-eared Owl </b>flying over our heads and heading inland, there was little to write home about. The site seemed pretty good though and there was a nice little woodland tucked behind the dunes at one end that looked good for migrants given the right conditions. Today was not one of those days though, all we saw was 2 Muntjac and very few birds, but certainly a site to go back to.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-10920373821048227002018-01-02T13:19:00.004-08:002018-01-02T13:19:49.102-08:00The obligatory 2017 roundupI'll try to keep this brief, its just quite good to have a look back through the year and see how it's been. Its not been the most amazing of years locally, but I have managed quite a few nice birds throughout the year, some things have gone my way, others not so much.<br />
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I'll break this down into 3 sections.<br />
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<u>Holme Pierrepont</u><br />
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Things started out well on patch with several sightings of a <b>Great White Egret </b>early on, and some good additions to the patch list in February and March. Spring was OK, but being busy at work and other things meant I couldn't get down to the patch as much as I would have liked, leading to some birds being missed. The Autumn was a bit rubbish, very poor for migrant waders and with that my enthusiasm started to fizzle out, as often happens, and I began to look further afield. Buying a house certainly reduced birding time too!<br />
<br />All that aside, there have been some highlights, including 5 patch ticks - <b>Wood Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Pintail </b>and <b>Cattle </b>and <b>Great white egrets. </b>Several <b>Black-necked Grebe </b>sightings added to the interest, as well as <b>Black Terns </b>in spring and Autumn. Other goodies included a <b>Turnstone, Knot </b>and several <b>Whimbrel, </b>as well as a few<b> Garganey, </b>and a <b>Sibe Chiff. </b>Narrow misses were Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling and Wood Sandpiper, whilst 'easy' birds such as Green Sand, Greenshank and Ruff were all notable by their absence (on my list!)<br />
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I ended on 124 species - 130 was my unofficial target - and as far as i know there were roughly 160 species seen on site throughout the whole year, so many missed birds... must try harder!<br />
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<u>Notts Birds</u><br />
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Its been a reasonable year for scarcer birds in the county, and I managed 150 species without trying too hard really. Obvious highlights were the <b>Bee-eaters </b>at East Leake, <b>Great Grey Shrike </b>at Owthorpe and only my 2nd county <b>Black-throated diver </b>at Hoveringham. Several <b>Glaucs </b>and <b>Casps </b>at the Hov gull roost and Cotham tip were nice, though I failed to see any Med Gulls in the county this year! Several <b>Scaup (</b>Kilvington, Holme Pierrepont and Stoke Bardolph) were nice. I finally added <b>Ring Ouzel </b>to my notts list, after failing so many times in the past, and <b>Gannet </b>and <b>Bean goose </b>were also accounted for!<br />
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<u>Further Afield</u><br />
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I attempted to see 200 species in Britain this year and fell short at 187 species. I thought a bit of autumn birding could have helped things along a bit, but several trips to the coast were pretty poor in terms of migrants, not helped by slow birding back home. However, my attempts resulted in some nice birds seen, including 14 UK ticks. A <b>Long-tailed duck </b>over the border in Derbys was nice, a <b>Long-billed Dowitcher </b>in Lincs and <b>Pec </b>and <b>Curlew sandpipers </b>at Spurn added to the wader total, and a range of breeding seabirds seen on a trip to scotland, along with <b>crested tit (</b>but no eagles or capers!). A late <b>Snow Bunting </b>in mablethorpe was the last of the year.<br />
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Other decent birds were the long-staying <b>American Wigeon </b>at Rutland, with other decent birds there including <b>Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Red-breasted Merganser </b>and a load of <b>Great White Egrets </b>throughout the year. The <b>Velvet Scoter </b>at Staunton Harold Res in Derbys did the decent thing and hung on til after new year, meaning i could get it on the 2017 list a few weeks after initially seeing it in 2016.<br />
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There are many birds that could have made up the 13 species i'd have needed to get to 200, the most sore being Bittern, Great Northern Diver and Gropper! If i had tried a little harder Slavonian Grebe would have been relatively easy (birds at hov and collingham, i think!), and the same goes for Spoonbill (didn't bother going for the Erewash bird) Ring-necked parakeet (missed em in Bridgford, couldn't be bothered with the Wollaton birds!) and a host of many others. Still, it wasn't a bad year overall and what I did see was without busting a gut too much!<br />
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Going to take it as it comes this year, will still be doing Holme Pierrepont when I can, and will try my best to keep an eye on things at Colwick Park too, seeing as its on my doorstep and underwatched (could be that its not particularly good - but surely somethings lurking there somewhere!). Other than that I'll just try and get out and see good birds, and who knows maybe find something decent along the way too? Probably not though...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-7684352360097312582017-11-25T08:33:00.001-08:002017-11-25T08:33:24.399-08:00Rutland 25th NovI wasn't sure whether to do some local birding today, perhaps looking for some winter grebes or divers, or whether to go further afield to Rutland. In the end I opted for the latter as I'd been to Oakham earlier in the week and fancied a bit of a session round there. Also a Great Northern Diver had been knocking about all week, and the ever-elusive Red-necked Grebe which I always dip had also been regularly seen in the South Arm.<br />
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I started by walking the Dam from north to south, stopping every so often to check for the diver, but it didn't appear to be there, and I hadn't seen any recent reports of it... The 3 <b>Red-breasted Mergansers </b>that have been present all week were still there, so that was some recompense, and there were several <b>Goosander </b>about too. It was quite windy and very cold, so I didn't stick around for too long.<br />
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I then parked at Old hall and had a look for the Red-necked grebe... another dip. The light was pretty poor and so I could have missed it in the glare, but there was plenty about, including 11 <b>Great white egrets </b>on the south shore, and a flock of 40+ <b>Red-crested Pochard, </b>as well as a few <b>Redshank. </b>Again, it was cold and windy so that eventually forced me to retreat to check out the North Arm. There wasn't much from the small fishermans carpark just outside Hambleton, but the area by Burley Fishponds was crammed with birds, including another <b>3 Great Egrets. </b>There was a flock of 40 or so <b>Pintail </b>and a fair few other smaller groups, always nice to see, and there was a huge raft of mixed wildfowl, mainly <b>Tufties </b>and <b>Wigeon, </b>which unfortunately didnt hold any hidden gems. I was hoping for a Slav or Black-necked grebe around here, but it wasnt to be, and after a quick check for Smew at Burley fishponds (there weren't any), I went home - a little disappointed for the lack of year-ticks, but it was good to get out nonetheless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-74944600818763839482017-11-14T11:57:00.002-08:002017-11-14T11:57:25.114-08:00Last coast trip of the autumn?At the end of October, I engineered a cunning plan to both go on a little break with Michelle and the Dog, Abbie, as well as cram in a bit more Lincs Coast birding. We were staying on the Lincolnshire riviera, in a chalet in Mablethorpe, a short walk from some dunes and the beach, and only a quick drive to some other birding spots.<br />
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We arrived on the thuerday and had a quick wander down the beach, picking up a few <b>Sanderlings </b>but little else (still a well overdue year-tick). Much more interesting however was a bird hopping about just in front of the dunes. Without my bins i was a bit unsure, but it allowed close approach and turned out to be a <b>Snow Bunting, </b>a first for me, so not a bad start.<br />
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The next day I drove up to Theddlethorpe mid-morning and had a wander round the dunes at crook bank for a couple of hours. Although not completely dead, there was little of interest in the scrub, just lots of <b>Goldcrest </b>and a few tit flocks. An unfamiliar call sparked my interest and I staked out an area for some time, but it came to nothing, I still have no idea what it could have been. However, intermittent <b>Pink-footed goose </b>flocks kept it going, with around 220 going over in small skeins and a group of 100 or so feeding in a rape field.<br />
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The next day I spent some time in the morning partaking in a short seawatch - an activity I'm very inexperienced in - but it was quite pleasant sat at the top of the beach and there was a bit of activity. Small flocks of <b>Shelduck </b>were moving North, and there was a frequent passage of Auks and <b>Gannets. </b>Year ticks were provided with a group of 25 <b>Common Scoter </b>and several <b>Brent geese, </b>and it was nice to see a drake <b>Eider </b>moving north. Only one diver was seen, but was too distant to ID.<br />
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With the wind strengthening from the northwest, I didn't hold much hope for the dunes,so spent another hour watching the sea on the Sunday before taking Abbie out again. It was a lot quieter than the day before. A lot more Auks were passing, all North, and there were more Gannets about too. Another unidentified Diver flew south and 3 Eiders were seen and that was about it.<br />
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So a quiet end to a quiet autumn, but I'm happy that I got myself familiar with some of the sites on the Lincs coast. Whether i get out there again before the end of the year, I don't know, all depends on free time! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory in situ scope shot</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-55408481131835817712017-10-15T03:53:00.002-07:002017-10-15T03:53:16.669-07:00Another Lincs coast TripYesterday, Pete and I took another trip over to the Lincolnshire coast, leaving poor Ian behind feeling a little unwell. Continuous westerlies and a lack of reports of any significant falls of migrants made us a little concerned that it may be a little quiet, but we remained optimistic of at least finding one or two birds of interest.<br />
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We had decided that it would be worth scouring the dunes and scrub of the Rimac reserve south of Saltfleet, a place Pete had visited several times with some success. Getting out of the car to the sound of calling <b>Chiffchaffs </b>gave us hope and 3 in one bush was seen as a glimmer of hope. We walked the seaward side of the dunes, but the vegetation was largely quiet apart from some tit flocks with the odd <b>Goldcrest. </b>More encouraging was the continuous light passage of finches, buntings and <b>Meadow Pipits. </b>A few <b>Siskin, Redpoll </b>and <b>Yellowhammer </b>were of note. A small skein of <b>11 Pinkfeet </b>also flew north.<br />
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At Sea view farm, we overlooked the scrub and managed to pick out a few bits, including a couple of <b>Mistle Thrush, </b>a <b>Tree Sparrow </b>and several <b>Redwing, </b>whilst <b>3 Snipe </b>flew north. Walking back towards the farm, Pete thought he'd heard a Yellow-brow but we never heard it again. After that it was more of the same, the landward side of the dunes were extremely quiet, in the whole walk back to the carpark and then the further walk south of the carpark, we failed to really pick anything other than the occasional tit/crest flock. 2 <b>Stonechat </b>by the main gate were nice, and we got exceptional views of a very confiding <b>Water Rail </b>in a small reed-fringed pool, but it migrant-wise it was a bit disappointing.<br />
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Before leaving, we drove north to the 'Paradise' carpark at Saltfleet to check the pool and channel there for waders. The tide was in however, so no waders at the channel, but we were pleasantly surprised to see that the <b>Long-billed Dowitcher </b>that had been present for several weeks was still about, sitting with around 30 <b>Redshank </b>and 5 <b>Ruff </b>on the Pool. We hadn't expected to see the Dowitcher, as it hadn't been reported since the Monday before, so that was a bit of a result. With strengthening winds and not much faith left in the possibility of finding anything else in the dunes, we called it a day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Pool</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-56043524853742810272017-10-05T03:19:00.000-07:002017-10-05T03:19:17.746-07:00Scotland - May/June 2017I've had photos just sat on my computer doing nothing, from various holidays/trips away that I had intended to blog about. The most recent is when we went away to Scotland at the end of May this year to go and experience the Isle of May in the summer, with all its seabirds, as well as a trip to the Cairngorms to see if we could find a few Scottish specialities.<div>
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We drove up to Anstruther on the May bank holiday, and arrived there after around 7 hours of travelling (Edinburgh at rush hour is not the place to be). Michelle was unaware of where we were going so was confused as to why we were travelling for so long. She hadn't even cottoned on when we got to the Library Hostel in Anstruther, nor when I told the staff that I'd been before. I let her know that we'd be watching Puffins the next day, which resulted in much excitement.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins above the Brae</td></tr>
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We got the boat to the Island the next morning, on a flat calm sea in beautiful sunshine. As we approached, seabirds slowly began appearing, with the odd <b>Guillemot </b>and <b>Puffin </b>creating a sense of anticipation. The boat passed before the looming West Cliffs, an unforgettable experience, with hundreds of Auks in the sea, and birds plastering the rocks above.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins atop the West Cliffs</td></tr>
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We docked at Kirkhaven and were allowed around 3 hours on the Island. It was great to return here after seeing it in such a different light last October. Whereas then it was covered in Goldcrests and Thrushes, this time they had been replaced by Terns, Rock Pipits and Auks. <b>Arctic Terns </b>were nesting at the sou<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3P-i6zAtMgEfJaf6pnwg73YJevGvrDsUOJLlz0le3p-ZyLEPNSnyTqCps_MODGLziYiZui_uETIWPHZpMGyWApVRLndL5izHB-dpO9QsVYVZCL47c4JAj0eycnt0ydN3hnyUf_03kuaJ/s1600/IMG_9310.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwiQfKeyodb5dygF0FeLthGfvpcpxhNr8EWXxLcpS3jp9mxu9M7OAotoJy5NluyHhzjyPWgdC9Z7ojwqqbHTs5aIbW-k8HMXj6V7Sde1cmFonU4w5a9ZNDjYfi9tIqH4S_pryY3Tr27YA/s1600/IMG_9440.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a>th of the island, and as we walked up Fluke Street and onto Palpitation Brae, more and more <b>Puffins </b>were seen, ever alert to the presence of the Gulls keeping an eye on them. <b>Eider </b>mothers were seen either on their nests or with creches of ducklings, again striving to keep their young safe from the hungry gulls.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eider Family, Isle of May</td></tr>
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We sat atop the Cliffs for some time, enjoying close views of <b>Razorbills </b>and <b>Kittiwakes, </b>and with <b>Fulmars </b>riding the breeze above us. I retraced many of my steps that I had taken the Autumn before, endlessly pointing out features to Michelle and recalling the many migrants that I had seen. It was nice to see Low Light again as we walked to the north of the island. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Razorbills</td></tr>
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Much of the rest of the time was spent on the Eastern side of the island, where we sat and simply enjoyed the sights and sounds of scores of Puffins, and the cool breeze coming in from the North Sea. Great to be here again, and it certainly made me want to return... perhaps for another autumn spectacular! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The East of the Island</td></tr>
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The next 3 days were spent at Aviemore, where I had a few plans to go looking for birds, but only in between just enjoying the area (it wasn't supposed to be a birding holiday!!). I had intended to 'go high' for some montane species like Snow Bunting, Dotterel and Ptarmigan, but I never really got the chance. We opted instead to go on more low-level walks round some of the woodland and lochans around the area. These were beautiful and not without some ornithological interest. </div>
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The first day we walked round some of the Rothiemurchus estate, where I heard the only <b>Wood Warbler </b>of the Trip, shortly before seeing our first of many <b>Red Squirrels. </b>A brief, distant raptor appeared to be a Golden Eagle but I didnt count it as the views were so terrible. We wandered through some beautiful woodland, surrounding Loch an Eilein, where I managed some reasonable views of <b>Crested Tits, </b>as well as a number of <b>Redstart, Spotted Flycatchers </b>and a <b>Tree Pipit. </b>It was nice to see <b>Goldeneye </b>on the Loch too, as I'm so used to only seeing them in the winter back home.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Squirrel, Glenmore</td></tr>
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The next day we followed some directions to try and find Capercaille, near Grantown-on-Spey. We were unsuccessful, but enjoyed the silence of the ancient pine forest, and had great views of a <b>Spotted Flycatcher, </b>as well as a few <b>Red-breasted Merganser </b>and a <b>Dipper </b>on the river, and <b>Curlews </b>on the opposite bank. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Flycatcher, Grantown on Spey</td></tr>
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In the afternoon, we attempted to see Golden Eagles up near the Findhorn Valley. This was typified by lots of wrong turns and driving down unlikely single track roads, but I think we eventually got in around the right spot. Unfortunately we were tired and grumpy by then so we didnt stay for long, but it was a beautiful area and well worth another visit, and whilst there we did see plenty of <b>Common Sandpipers </b>and families of <b>Oystercatchers.</b></div>
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A bit more walking the next day didn't really result in any more exciting birds, although the beer garden at the Old Bridge Inn was a good place to watch <b>Common Sand </b>on the river, and <b>Spotted Flycatchers </b>were in the trees around the picnic benches too. I tried for Slav Grebe at Loch Vaa early on the Saturday, and tried from a viewpoint about halfway up Cairngorm to see Black Grouse (both without success), and late we tried for a 'rogue-male' Caper at a site on the way back home. We staked out the area for some time, but it was clear that it wasn't about (if it was a 'rogue' then I think it would have quickly tried to see us off), but it was nice to add <b>Cuckoo </b>to the trip list, with many singing in the area, and a couple more <b>Red Squirrels </b>too.</div>
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Although I failed to see almost all my target birds in this area of the country, it was good to experience this beautiful area, and get a bit more familiar with where to go to see certain things. It's certainly my intention to return and really give it some effort to successfully find some of these highland specials.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-35343969142774396872017-09-30T12:59:00.001-07:002017-09-30T12:59:28.422-07:00Newark AdventureI was meant to go to Lincolnshire again today, mainly to look for migrants around the dunes again - with the added draw of the Long-billed Dowitcher that has been present for a few weeks. However I was unable to get out til mid morning and decided it wasn't worth a 3-4 hour round trip for just an afternoon - especially as the winds werent especially favourable. (Looks like i missed some YBWs and a Barred warbler but not too fussed!)<br />
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Instead, I went to have a little look around a few sites around Newark, always productive, and I like to pay the area a visit a few times a year!<br />
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I began at Collingham, where vegetation and water levels meant there wasnt much in the way of wader habitat, but I did pick out a couple of <b>Pintail </b>on the pit north of Ferry Lane lake. Speaking to a couple of birders later it seems i missed a Black-tailed Godwit here. Otherwise there wasn't much of note, and i failed to pick anything up along the hedges and farmland around ferry lane.<br />
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Mons pool was more productive with up to 200 <b>Wigeon </b>knocking about - but no American compardres. <b>4 Curlew </b>were sitting, soporific on one of the islands and a couple of late <b>Swallows </b>also flew through.<br />
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I had a Collingham Co-op Special lunch (cheese pasty and a packet of crisps) and decided i would visit Langford Lowfields. I don't normally visit here as I find it a bit restrictive, only being able to properly bird in the public areas, but it occasionally comes good. I noted a <b>Ringed Plover </b>on the walk down to the main part of the reserve, and a nasal-saddled female <b>Pochard </b>provided some interest, but i failed to read the code on it, hopefully it will be picked up by someone else on site.<br />
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On the main part of the site it was initially a bit quiet, but things picked up when I noted a smart male <b>Stonechat </b>knocking about in one of the reedbeds. Walking up to the viewing mound, a <b>Water Rail </b>popped out of some reeds and skitted about for a bit, a cracking adult male <b>Sprawk </b>bombed through and a <b>Common Sand </b>was bobbing about in the distance. Another group of about 20 <b>Swallows </b>flew through too. Not much else of note though, and I didnt really want to linger, so i soon moved on.<br />
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I popped in to Kilvington for a bit on the way home, and as usual there were good numbers of large gulls. Mostly lesser black backs, but an adult <b>Yellow-legged Gull </b>was new for the year for me. Lots of other birds about but the only other notable birds were the <b>5 Ringed Plover </b>that had been reported the night before.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-3747778706707108302017-09-26T13:38:00.004-07:002017-09-26T13:38:44.303-07:00American WigeonFollowing a couple of uneventful visits to the patch, where its getting difficult to visit after work these days, I decided to go further afield again at the weekend. One of my field trials at work is in Oakham and I needed to visit it so i coupled it with a visit to Rutland on Saturday morning. I usually pop my head into the North Arm when I'm in the area, and I've picked up some reasonable birds whilst visiting in the past.<br />
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This time I decided to have a look in at the Egleton reserve, as an <b>American Wigeon </b>had been knocking around there for a few weeks, and I haven't been for some time. I quickly picked the bird in question up, feeding with a good sized flock of Wigeon in front of the Grebe hide on Lag 2. Also around were a good few <b>Pintail, </b>and a <b>Great White Egret - </b>now a common sight in the area, amongst the other numerous wildlfowl.<br />
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I didn't stick around on the reserve for too long, but did have a look at Lagoon 4, as its usually good for waders, but there was only 2 <b>Greenshank </b>and a <b>Ruff, </b>as well as another <b>Great Egret. </b>Another 15 or so <b>Pintail </b>were about too, nice to see in numbers.<br />
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Before heading home, I poked my nose in at the North Arm, as a <b>Little Stint </b>had been reported here. Scanning the banks, I only managed a couple of <b>Ruff, </b>7 <b>Dunlin </b>and 8 <b>Ringed Plover. </b>Just before giving up, I had another look at the Dunlin and suddenly picked up the Stint, running round amongst them, though pretty distant, but always nice to see, and a new bird for me there.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-36014835907697363652017-09-19T03:33:00.000-07:002017-09-19T03:33:42.970-07:00Lincs coast expeditionEach year I tell myself that I'm going to go to the Lincs coast to have a crack at some autumn birding, but never really get round to it. However this year I've been encouraged to do it more, as I now have a companion to spur me on, namely Ian Blackmore-Allen, a friend and a recent returner to the world of birding after a brief hiatus.<br />
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On sunday we joined Pete Leonard and Nick Crouch, and I drove us to Gib Point to work the Scrub and Sand Dunes to see if we could pick up any migrants. Winds on the coast haven't exactly been favourable, but a few breaths of north-easterlies overnight gave us some hope.<br />
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We pitched up at 7am and worked the west dunes and around the Sykes Farm area til around mid-morning, but it was quickly evident that there hadn't been any sort of influx of birds, with very little moving around, aside from the odd <strong>Chiffchaff </strong>and small numbers of <strong>Goldcrest</strong>. Whilst we were watching a group of Swallows I picked up a <strong>Pied Flycatcher</strong>, sat in elders by the Roadside Pond, where there seemed to be a hive of activity, but it soon disappeared and wasn't picked up by anyone else. After watching a <strong>Kingfisher </strong>for a time, we decided to relocate to the East dunes, working our way from the field centre, back towards the car. Aside from several <strong>Reed Buntings </strong>and <strong>Mipits</strong> by the Obs and <strong>9 Pink-feet </strong>flying over (relocated by Tennysons Sands later), there was very little to see, the dunes being very quiet indeed<br />
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Tennysons sands held some wader interest, holding around 250 <strong>Black-tailed Godwit</strong>, as well as c30 <strong>Avocet </strong>(including a colour ringed bird), several <strong>greenshank </strong>and a <strong>pintail</strong>. After this we headed back around Sykes Farm with no joy, and tried unsuccessfully to see some reported Yellow-browed Warblers at Aylmer Avenue.<br />
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After some chips at Skeg, we recced Chapel Six Marshes and Wolla Bank, a couple of sites further up the coast. Both were quiet, but Wolla Bank in particular seemed like it had potential and I managed a <strong>Wheatear </strong>on the beach, as well as a very close-in <strong>Guillemot </strong>on the sea (about 30m out!). Pete and Nick had a good explore and it was agreed it was certainly a site to consider in the future.<br />
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Looking forward to exploring more of this coastline, I'm hoping to get out there again in two weeks time, hopefully with some more easterlies and some more birds!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZgPi1CmmPPxY7hE6gMd-q0lmFCuP1mOpo-1JsfD-dv8t-SiwJOU6dPJhFfn1X9inF9mUOsi7g-f7tll9vXkEr-ek6inIksW1pqgP39a5UW_LBbLZE2tqVhYGyzvyyjci52a9iYbthCNS/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZgPi1CmmPPxY7hE6gMd-q0lmFCuP1mOpo-1JsfD-dv8t-SiwJOU6dPJhFfn1X9inF9mUOsi7g-f7tll9vXkEr-ek6inIksW1pqgP39a5UW_LBbLZE2tqVhYGyzvyyjci52a9iYbthCNS/s320/IMG_0528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunny birding over the Saltmarsh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-44008321783538766192017-05-01T05:38:00.002-07:002017-05-01T05:38:25.694-07:00Patchwork 2017 update - MarchIts already May, I don't have a clue where the time has gone. And as usual my blog-posting has taken a back seat, although the weather and birding have been that atrocious that I probably should have been able to find the time to do it.<br />
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Anyway - March!<br />
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Species 94<br />
Additions - <i>Black-necked Grebe, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Chiffchaff, Cattle Egret, Sand Martin, Siskin, Little Grebe, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Barnacle Goose, Red kite, blackcap, knot, Grey Plover</i><br />
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March is usually reasonably quiet, apart from the first few early migrants turning up, but again, i was pleasantly surprised by how productive it was. The month started well with a Black-necked grebe appearing on the A52 pit, which I picked up after it had been there a few days. The first migrants arrived with a singing chiffchaff on the 11th, when I got the first yellowhammer of the year too.<br />
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I was away in York on the weekend of the 17th-19th, but a text on the way home on the friday night had me rushing to the patch before it got dark to lay eyes on the Cattle Egret that had decided to drop in. I got pretty crap views but it was brilliant nonetheless, my first in the UK and a cracking bird for the patch. I'd got my first Sand Martins of the year that morning too, i wonder if I'd missed the Egret that morning? I managed to get back to the patch on the sunday evening and got much better views of the bird, and finally added Little Grebe to the patch list too, as well as LRP and Dunlin.<br />
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A group of 6 Barnacle geese one evening were a nice addition, likely to be feral birds but good to see, and a distant Red Kite was a welcome addition too. The final birds of the month were seen on a glorious saturday morning, which began very foggy but ended up being very warm, The first singing blackcap was seen early on, and later a Knot was seen (found the night before) and a Grey Plover which was very elusive and only really seen in very poor light.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-19435237016454825942017-03-03T05:50:00.000-08:002017-03-03T05:50:03.083-08:00Patchwork 2017 - February UpdateSpecies 79<br />
Points 85<br />
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Additions this month: Fieldfare, Reed Bunting, Woodcock, Redshank, Curlew, Coal tit, Barn Owl, Mistle thrush, Feral pigeon, Oystercatcher, Jack Snipe, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Linnet, Stonechat.<br />
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I had expected February to be pretty dry if I'm honest, as I was away the first two weekends, but a few early evening visits and a full 8 hours on patch on the 19th meant a mega 15 additions were made this month! A lot of these were easy ones that I hadn't picked up in January, like Fieldfare and Greenfinch, but there were a few unexpected ones in there too...<br />
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<strong>Fieldfare</strong> and <strong>Reed</strong> <strong>Bunting</strong> came first on a quick visit to look for roosting Whooper Swans (without success!) on the 3rd. <br />
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An evening ringing session on the 7th resulted in <strong>Woodcock </strong>being flushed in the darkness, as well as several <strong>Snipe</strong> and calling <strong>Redshank </strong>were heard too. Another Redshank was seen on the 19th, feeding on Blott's pit most of the day. Woodcock are often around but not always easy to catch up with, so I was happy with that one,<br />
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Another evening visit on the 14th, after working nearby, resulted in my first<strong> Barn owl</strong> on site since 2015, and a flyover<strong> Curlew</strong> was a nice early addition to the list. Incidentally another Curlew was present most of the day on the 19th too, perhaps the same one? <br />
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The 19th was a mega day, as I clocked up a personal record of 64 species on site (8 year-ticks), after a mammoth 9.5 hours on site. The morning was spent leading a volunteer work party in which we put up around 30+<strong> snipe</strong> (including a flock of 23, which were later seen at Netherfield), as well as 2 <strong>Jack snipe</strong>, another bird that must be present all winter, but is rarely picked up. Also around were the aforementioned <strong>Redshank</strong> and <strong>Curlew</strong>, as well as a <strong>Shelduck</strong>. The afternoon was spent wandering round, being filmed for a NWT film about Skylarks Nature Reserve. This resulted in more species being clocked up, including only my 2nd ever <strong>Stonechat</strong> for the site.<br />
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A good session on the last weekend of the month failed to produce any late additions. There are still a number of 'easy' targets to go for, such as Siskin, Little grebe and Skylark, but with a few unexpected birds this month, I'm pretty pleased, and well ahead of my usual score for this time of year.<br />
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March sees the first proper migrants, obviously, and perhaps there's still time to pick up on a few wintering birds before they disappear for the summer. Looking at my calendar, it looks like I'm pretty busy again which will limit my visits, but at least those evenings are getting lighter!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-47673095783301642792017-01-31T12:55:00.001-08:002017-01-31T12:57:02.531-08:00Patchwork 2017 - January UpdateSpecies 64<br />
Points 69<br />
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Not a bad start to my 4th Patchwork Challenge year at Holme Pierrepont. I didnt get on patch until the 14th, due to a busy start to the year (and terrible weather on new years day), but it was a good first visit, with a Great White Egret patch-tick to kick things off.<br />
The next weekend bumped the numbers up considerably, with the <b>Sibe Chiff </b>and <b>Smew </b>helping things along nicely, as well as some interest in the form of a wintering <b>Common Sandpiper </b>and an early <b>Shelduck.</b><br />
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My final visit to the patch (only 4 visits this month!) was last Sunday morning, which was a rare treat as I actually got to go out first thing. A decent session, starting with another <b>Smew, </b>and another (presumably the same) <b>Great White Egret, </b>back after a 2 week absence. Only 3 additions to the yearlist however, which was a shame, but it was still a productive morning. The downside was later in the day, hearing that 2 Tundra Bean geese had dropped in with a Pink-footed goose. I had mentioned Bean geese in my previous post, but sadly I was otherwise engaged. Its all part of patch-birding though, you can't see it all, even if you wish you could!<br />
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I think with a few extra visits, I could have ended with a better total, but its still the usual mid-60's mark I have come to expect by the end of January. Still plenty to go for, including some easy ones like Little Grebe, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare and Reed Bunting. I'd say i could get close to 100 before the spring migrants return, but it all depends on how much time I put in during February, and as I am away for the first two weekends, things aren't looking great!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-52619629860580119192017-01-22T10:20:00.003-08:002017-01-22T10:20:49.113-08:002017 beginsNot had a bad start to the year at HP so far, apart from not being able to get down there properly until the 14th, when a <b>Great White Egret </b>was found and reported about midday. I had planned to be there by about then, but a management meeting about the nature reserve went on longer than i expected, so i didnt get down til mid-afternoon. Luckily the egret was still there, a long-overdue patch tick, but too late as they have been demoted to a lowly 2 points! <div>
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Aside from the egret, it was good to get on patch but not a great deal else of note was seen, but a gulling session on the A52 Pit was nice, although there were no scarce gulls but all the commoner species were seen. A volunteer session the next day added to the weekends total which ended on a reasonable 47 species.</div>
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This Saturday, I gave the patch a good 3 and a half hours, knocking up a decent day total of 54 species, including a patch-first <b>Sibe Chiff </b>(a handy 3 points) and the sometimes elusive <b>Treecreeper. </b>A Redhead <b>Smew </b>finally gave itself up on the eastern edge of the A52 pit and an early <b>Shelduck </b>was also present. It was nice to get the wintering <b>Common Sand </b>again too, taking my running total to 61 species, so pretty good really. Only one weekend to go this month, but hopefully there will be time to knock a few of my pre-spring targets off, and who knows maybe more birds of interest - a nice Bean Goose or some scarce duck would be nice...</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-1588877620166940972017-01-19T13:23:00.001-08:002017-01-19T13:23:08.183-08:002016 Patchwork ReviewOwing largely to a bumper spring and autumn, mainly in terms of waders, I managed my best yearly total again in 2016 at Holme Pierrepont. It has got better every year, I think because of more familiarity with the site, coupled with more effort on my part and habitat improvements on certain parts of the site. 2014 saw me getting 106 species on site, whereas 2015 was much better, with 115 seen. This year I ended with a reasonable 128 species, totalling 147 points for the Patchwork Challenge. (EDIT - Actually 129 species/149 points after a re-count!). A good number of scarcer birds gave me a good few '2-pointers' whilst a brace of Temminck's records gave me a nice 3-pointer for the year (alas without the finders' bonus!)<br />
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A bonus of regularly visiting the patch means that I've continued to accrue new species for the patch, and I added 18 species I hadn't previously seen on site. Again, more knowledge of the site and more hours spent on patch have really paid off and meant that I can start ticking off some of those scarcer species. A few were even notts ticks for me and there was even one lifer in the shape of a Purple Sandpiper, so its been a good year.<br />
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There's plenty still to play for too, as the final tally for the site in 2016 (as far as I can tell) was 155 species, meaning I missed out on 27 species. There were several records of Whooper Swan and Common Scoter, but they eluded me, and other relatively 'easy' species I missed included Wheatear, Garganey, Red Kite, Arctic Tern and Barn Owl, plus a few tougher ones.<br />
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Here's a quick round-up of how I did.<br />
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<b><u>January</u></b><br />
Species - 67<br />
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My best start to a patchwork year, with 67 species seen. Highlights included a couple of <b>Yellow-legged Gulls, </b>a <b>Treecreeper </b>early on (a surprisingly scarce species on site) and a patch-tick in the form of 22 <b>Golden Plover.</b><br />
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<b><u>February</u></b><br />
Species - 73<br />
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A bit of a quiet month, which started with me discovering the Starling roost at the old Skylarks reedbed. Quite a spectacle and a popular one too, I was definitely late to this particular party. Only six additions this month, but a very distant speck of a <b>Goosander </b>over the A52 pit on the 19th was nice, my first record in a few winters. Some of the wintering <b>Redshank </b>on site finally gave themselves up to me this month too, as well as the first returning <b>Shelduck</b>.<br />
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<b><u>March</u></b><br />
Species - 83<br />
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A decent month with 10 additions. Highlights were a trio of patch-firsts. A <b>Curlew </b>on the 12th kicked things off, and the next weekend a <b>Grey Plover </b>decided to stick around all day on blotts pit. Finally the weekend after got me a <b>Stonechat </b>on the fenceline on the neglected East side of my patch. Otherwise some early migrants such as <b>Chiffchaff, Sand Martin </b>and <b>Little Ringed Plover </b>found their way onto the list, as well as some of the other common residents i hadn't previously seen.<br />
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<u><b>April</b></u><br />
Species - 103<br />
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As expected, the species list shot up in April thanks to a good number of migrants moving through, even with a week away in portugal! The month started well with a couple of scarce locals, <b>Grey partridge </b>and <b>Nuthatch </b>being added, as well as some early migrants. A couple of <b>Lapwing </b>begun nesting on site too, the first breeding waders of the year. After returning from portugal on the 15th, I then proceeded to add a number of waders to the list, notably <b>Whimbrel </b>and <b>Avocet, </b>while passerine activity increased too, including small numbers of <b>Yellow Wagtails </b>(but nothing on the mega passage of 2015). A <b>Cuckoo </b>and <b>Grasshopper warbler </b>provided some interest at the end of the month. <br />
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<b><u>May</u></b><br />
Species - 113<br />
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10 additions in May, including some good quality birds. 4 <b>Ruff </b>got things going nicely before an influx of <b>Black Terns </b>over the weekend saw over 50 being seen on the A52 pit on the 8th. I got in on the action but only managed to see a few, as I was viewing into the sun with just my bins, making for difficult viewing, but I could certainly appreciate the number of birds involved!<br />
A good week for waders across the county followed, and a rainy day mid-week lured me down in the hope of picking a few bits up, and a personal site-record count of 18 <b>Redshank </b>was made even better by a <b>Turnstone </b>and a summer-plumage <b>knot </b>with them. 2 <b>Temminck's stints </b>proceeded to have a 6-day stay on blotts pit later in the week, before things went a little quiet, with just a few commoner species being picked up throughout. Another <b>Avocet </b>on the 17th (the 5th bird of the year) kept things going.<br />
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<b><u>June</u></b><br />
Species - 115<br />
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Things just ticked over quietly in June, apart from a couple of additions. A June <b>Black-tailed Godwit </b>was nice - perhaps an early returner, or just a hanger on? who knows? The only other addition was a pair of <b>Black-necked Grebes </b>which only stayed a couple of days. Otherwise, numerous <b>Hobby </b>and <b>Cuckoo </b>sightings kept things interesting. The waders had a tough time, with <b>lapwing </b>and <b>oystercatcher </b>nesting, but all getting bothered by crows, foxes and even nearly getting trampled by territorial swans. Its hard to say whether any fledged, but well grown juveniles of both species were seen. Strangely, no known LRP nested successfully this year.<br />
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<u><b>July</b></u><br />
Species - 116<br />
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As can be expected, July was reasonably quiet, although wader passage kicked off again, and I missed two decent species, Sanderling and Wood Sandpiper. I recorded up to 5 <b>Black-tailed godwit </b>this month, as well as a few <b>Greenshank, Green Sandpipers, </b>and a few other bits. The only addition was a <b>Red-legged Partridge, </b>heard near the Grange whilst ringing there.<br />
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<b><u>August</u></b><br />
Species - 121<br />
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Some quality additions this month. I spent the 1st week away in Scotland and missed another Wood Sandpiper, as well as a Knot, both of which stayed a few days. Luckily I got back in time to catch up with a <b>Little Stint </b>that spent a few days on Blott's Pit. The increased footfall on site due to the Stint resulted in more eyes looking for birds, and as a result a <b>Purple Sandpiper </b>was found on the evening of the 16th, a nice lifer for me and one which drew even more birders to the site. On the same morning that was found, Mark Dawson found 5 <b>Sandwich Terns </b>on Blott's, a decent summer record. Luckily, I was working near my house that morning, and checked facebook before leaving the house, so managed to get down in time to see all 5, before seeing 4 fly off a few minutes after arriving. The remaining singleton stayed most of the day.<br />
A good number of other waders provided a supporting cast to all this chaos, including up to 4 <b>Greenshank, </b>several <b>Ruff </b>and <b>Black-wits </b>and many more. It was a great couple of weeks.<br />
I also added <b>Bittern </b>and <b>Tawny Owl </b>this month.<br />
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<u><b>September</b></u><br />
Species - 121<br />
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No additions this month, which was a shame, and I missed Garganey (despite searching several times) and a brief Spotted Redshank. I didn't spend a great deal of time on the main part of the patch this month, but did plenty of dog-walking over near the watersports centre, allowing me to attempt to see some passerine migrants, but largely failing - other than lots and lots of <b>chiffchaffs! </b>The undoubted highlight of the month however was when I was failing at seeing the Garganey, moaning to myself about a lack of decent birds, when a group of <b>18 Grey Plover </b>flew in from the west and circled Blott's pit for a few minutes. Probably the highlight of the year for me. A peak count of <b>14 Little Egret </b>was decent too, though I think there were up to 25 on site at some point.<br />
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<b><u>October</u></b><br />
Species - 126<br />
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Another visit to Scotland, ringing on the Isle of May, meant less time on patch, and again I struggled to get out regularly apart from walking the dog. I did manage a few new species though, including a Peregrine over the watersports centre while out with the dog. A <b>Slavonian Grebe </b>was found on the A52 pit on the 22nd, though I didn't end up seeing it until the 28th, after missing it a on the 26th (but picking up a <b>Woodcock </b>in the process). I also got a lucky <b>Raven </b>flyover when briefly ticking the <b>Slav </b>on a speedy visit before work one morning. I also managed to grip back a <b>Spotted Redshank, </b>after missing one in September. The only regret is missing a Yellow-browed Warbler early in the month.<br />
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<u>November</u><br />
Species - 128<br />
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An addition of a Med Gull in the pre-roost on Blott's pit one Sunday evening was what I thought to be my only addition this month. However in going through my records, it seems I forgot to add Jack Snipe, after one was flushed, along with several Common Snipe, during a work party on Blott's. Otherwise, it was a relatively quiet month, although I mainly spent time on the Watersports Centre side of the patch. Here I had decent Mute Swan counts, peaking at 147, and up to 8 Little Egrets on the Ski-tow along with reasonable numbers of wildfowl. A few wintering Chiffchaffs added some interest too.<br />
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<u>December</u><br />
Species - 129<br />
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Another quiet month without any exciting wintery additions, but with only a small number of brief visits. I was away most of xmas so couldn't get down, and a final visit of the year on New Years Eve didn't get me any last minute points. Some interesting sightings included a couple of Dunlin mid-month, more wintering Chiffs and a Common Sandpiper that seems to be wintering around the Ski-tow and Skylarks lake.The only addition was a Yellowhammer, my first on site since I have been properly patching - I used to see them when I was an irregular visitor several years ago, but in the last few years I just don't see them... strange!<br />
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So there we go, a decent year, with 129 seen out of roughly 155 species seen on site. I think a little more effort in the last 3 months could have got me a bit more, but life sometimes gets in the way! Looking forward to another decent year on patch, and hopefully i'll finally find something decent of my own.<br />
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<u><br /></u>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-80853157291270842972017-01-04T05:36:00.000-08:002017-01-04T05:36:26.361-08:00Patchwork 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As expected, I quickly lost interest in doing my patch updates on the blog last year. Managing to get to May was quite a surprise, but as usual, being too busy to get on the computer and blog was my downfall again. I kept meaning to do my updates, so I will do a little yearly review when I get some time and then try and keep it up again.</div>
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I actually mapped out the area I cover this year, i remember doing it ages ago but forgot how it looked, and it was quite interesting from my point of view. The green area is everywhere I regularly go either on foot, car or bike. I do occasionally go onto the A52 area while ringing, and do sometimes view from other areas, but its basically that shape. Birds are counted from anywhere within the green area and also birds that are seen outside the area whilst I am in it, so birds scoped on the A52 pit are countable!</div>
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Last year was my best ever - 128sp, 147points... it keeps getting better every year (though my coverage was pretty intense last year). I doubt it'll be as good as this year as there was just so much to see, but i'll just have to wait. I haven't even been on patch yet this year, looking forward to the weekend!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-46220750959694911412016-06-07T13:42:00.001-07:002016-06-07T13:42:20.971-07:00Patchwork Update - April/MayIt has to be a double-month update this time round, as I've been struggling to get to the computer to do anything for the last few weeks.<br />
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I'll start with April.<br />
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<b>Species: 103</b><br />
<b>Points: 110 </b><br />
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<b>Additions this month:20</b><br />
<b>House Martin, Blackcap, Swallow, Nuthatch, Grey Partridge, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Swift, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Avocet, Whimbrel, Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler (...phew!)</b><br />
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As hoped for, I managed to get my 20 species for the month, leaving me on a par species-wise with 2015 by the end of the month. A lot could be said for April on the patch, but I won't drivel on too much. In general it was decent, but felt a little sluggish in comparison to last year, with numbers of scarcer migrants seemingly lower and the early passage of waders being quite slow.<br />
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Highlights included some patch firsts, such as the long-awaited Nuthatch, as well as some more exciting stuff such as Whimbrel, Avocet and Gropper. The usual spring stuff came in as expected and the only disappointment really was the comparatively low numbers of Yellow wags, and the fact I missed several wheatears, so I'll have to hope for some autumn birds later in the year.<b> </b> <br />
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And May...<br />
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<b>Species: 113</b><br />
<b>Points: 123</b><br />
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<b>Additions this month: 10</b><br />
<b>Ruff, Black Tern, Turnstone, Knot, Temminck's Stint, Greenshank, Dunlin, Coal Tit, Lesser-black-backed Gull, Hobby</b><br />
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May started out pretty well, with some proper nice birds finding their way onto the site. A group of 4 Ruff one evening started things off nicely, before the weekend saw a load of Black Terns invading the county, and I saw the beginnings of a spectable of over 50 on the A52 pit, one sunny Sunday afternoon. The week that followed saw lots of waders passing through the county, and a particularly miserable couple of days had them dropping in to inland waterbodies. Holme Pierrepont got a share of the action, as I came across a group of 18 Redhsank, with a turnstone and Knot in tow. The same week saw 2 Temmincks Stints on the reserve, which stayed for 6 days and drew plenty of birders onto the site.<br />
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I managed a few 'expected' additions too, including some Hobbys, the first of which I saw whilst leading a guided walk on the 15th.<br />
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After this however, things quietened down. An Avocet on the 17th provided some variety, but with little else passing through, my visits started to dwindle, coinciding with becoming a little busy with work and life to visit the patch reguarly. In the few times I did visit the patch in the latter half of the month, the onlt things keeping it fresh were the Lapwing and Oystercatcher chicks which have been raised on site.<br />
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So there we go, not a bad couple of months, but with an expected lull in the weeks approaching June. Some missing birds (for me) inlcude Wood Sand, the godwits, and Sanderling. Perhaps the autumn will provide some decent stuff. i'm reasonably happy with the points total however, and I'm easily going to match, if not surpass my 129pts of last year, without too much effort.<br />
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I only added one bird last June and by that time I was only on 105 species, so not really sure what target to set, except to get down there as much as possible and to hopefully pick up some early summer specials before the autumn passage begins again next month!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-43741796793753877042016-05-19T05:34:00.001-07:002016-05-19T05:34:54.653-07:00The good times continue...Tuesday night saw me popping down to the patch, hoping for a Sanderling, with all the records this time last year, it can only be a matter of time before one drops in, but I was unlucky this time round. However the Avocet that was reported earlier in the day was still present, the 4th record on site this year, and 3 Dunlin were present.<br />
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I also added several new birds for the year on Sunday, during a guided walk which had a poor turnout. A coal tit, singing near the carpark, 2 Lesser Black backs and 2 Hobby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGLS2mimgFKv8BjxMIsUBZEMZtOT7xnzgJWWmhN_X5-VNeZQvqk4HLC2qw7PDVhFd51DADPDkb_O5QYZwndRFGF0gx9LZIsb6vMy6okv4MIvRiML5ZWQrHJUeDob3_ifgrcxSNVZ5wZGH/s1600/avocet.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGLS2mimgFKv8BjxMIsUBZEMZtOT7xnzgJWWmhN_X5-VNeZQvqk4HLC2qw7PDVhFd51DADPDkb_O5QYZwndRFGF0gx9LZIsb6vMy6okv4MIvRiML5ZWQrHJUeDob3_ifgrcxSNVZ5wZGH/s320/avocet.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-11619987089919503492016-05-10T14:50:00.001-07:002016-05-10T14:50:38.574-07:00Some impressive migration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last week has really seen migration picking up in the county. With the end of a bit of cold weather a couple of weeks ago, I thought that some late spring passage would start to occur, and it seemed to have done so in style.<br />
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On Friday, after a few Black Terns were reported in the county, a brace of <b>Whiskered Tern</b> graced Attenborough, and unlike many other previous records, these birds stuck about and I managed to get down after work to have a look. The birds showed well, either sitting on the deck for extended periods, or flying round feeding with numerous <b>Common Terns </b>and a couple of <b>Black Terns</b> to boot.<br />
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I had expected that it wouldn't be long before the Tern-fest reached my patch, but I couldn't really make it down over the weekend due to other commitments. However after one was reported on Sunday morning, I managed to get half an hour to bike down and have a quick look on the A52 pit in the afternoon. Looking from the eastern end of the pit, looking directly into the sun, it was evident that there were many terns present, but it was hard to estimate numbers without a scope and a better angle. I managed a count of 12 <b>Black Tern</b>, but knew there must have been more as I could see more birds in the distance. Later on I found that there had actually been around 50 Black Tern over the lake, an incredible count, even in comparison to the 69 birds that were at Lound the same day.<br />
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Things continued to improve, with a Great Reed Warbler at Netherfield (as well as another in derbyshire the same day!) as well as a little tern and BNG at attenborough. I considered going after work for the GRW but didnt really have time as I was heading into town to see my brothers band that evening. Instead I thought about going to HP instead for a quick blast, but last minute decided I would be cutting it too fine to be able to get to town in time. I wish I hadn't, as 2 Temmincks Stint were seen on Blotts, amongst other things, a much sought after patch tick!<br />
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It looks like its shaping up to be a decent week, as today seems to have been a bit of a wader fest in the county, with numerous sites getting records of gems like wood sand, temmincks and sanderlings. With it hammering it down all day, I was worreid I'd be getting a soaking, but wasn't going to let that stand in my way, but luckily by the time I got to the patch at about half 6 it had all but stopped. I got there just in time to pick out a flock of <b>18 Redshank</b>, clustered together on one of the bunds on Blott's pit, and amongst them was a cracking <b>summer-plumage Knot</b>, only the second I've seen in the county and my first on patch. Also present was a <b>Turnstone</b>, a long-awaited county tick. Within a few minutes however they all spooked and flew off North, leaving the Knot behind, but that seemed to disappear shortly after.<br />
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I stuck around for a while, intent on picking something else up, and managed a<b> Common Sand</b> and a <b>Ringed Plover, </b>but nothing special!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knot.... I need to sort my phonescope setup... or start remembering to take my camera out...</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-37955755570350953862016-04-30T06:05:00.002-07:002016-05-03T14:50:01.171-07:00Last trip of aprilJust a brief one. Spent this morning birding before going away to Manchester til Monday. Walked the entirety of blotts pit, hoping for some migrant passerines on the eastern banks, such as wheatear or whinchat. No such luck unfortunately, but a couple of <b>Common Sandpipers</b> on Hackett's lakes made it worthwhile, and there were good numbers of <b>Swift </b>and <b>House Martin </b>about.<br />
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On the western side, I finally managed my first <b>Cuckoo </b>of the year, a nice male which sat out on a fenceline for a while, and Alan got me onto my first <b>Gropper </b>for the site, a species i've been after for a while.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuckoo</td></tr>
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I also went round the finger ponds later on with the dog, but didnt add much to the list, although as usual the place was teeming with warblers, particularly Whitethroats. The cuckooflower must have known about my sighting this morning, as it was flowering in abundance, and I found some orange-tip butterfly eggs on some. This and garlic mustard seem to be the favoured foodplants of this species.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuckooflower - with orange-tip egg</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-2134382592762533072016-04-07T04:56:00.003-07:002016-04-07T04:56:45.933-07:00Early april birdingI've been out birding every night after work this week, trying to squeeze in a few new birds before I disappear to Portugal for a week. <br />
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Monday I was down at Holme Pierrepont, where 3 <strong>LRP</strong> were noted, and a <strong>Redshank,</strong> that I had seen on Saturday, and was still knocking about. Otherwise, not much of interest, although a few more <strong>Willow Warblers</strong> were singing.<br />
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Tuesday, I popped down briefly to Clifton Grove to have a look for the Ring Ouzels that had been seen on Branshill, but as usual I couldn't locate any in the time I was there. I then went back to HP for another look round, the <strong>LRPs</strong> had increased to at least 4 birds, and were showing some territorial behaviour, and the <strong>Redshank</strong> was still about too. A <strong>Lapwing</strong> has begun nesting onsite too, lets hope they succeed in raising a brood, as they failed last year.<br />
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Yesterday, a <strong>Ring-necked Duck</strong> was reported at Kilvington, so I decided to have a look after work. The poor light and extremely windy conditions made for difficult viewing, but within a few minutes I had located what I thought to be the bird in question, but it was diving frequently and was hard to place as the choppy water kept obstructing my view. After a while though, it showed pretty well, and I was happy to get a new bird before I went away. Hopefully its the beginning of a productive spring in the county.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-80715806652881420132016-04-02T11:35:00.000-07:002016-04-02T11:35:07.304-07:00Spring rushing inI had a feeling this weekend would be decent. With some southerly winds forecast and some warmer weather forecast, it surely meant that some migrants would be about. It started well last night with a couple of <b>House Martins</b> in the evening, and then as I went to walk the dog in the rain, there were good numbers of <b>Sand Martins</b> over the rowing course, with a few <b>Swallows </b>and <b>House Martins</b> in there too. <b>Blackcap</b> were also singing in the old Skylarks reserve.<br />
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After heading home to drop the hound off and have some lunch with my girlfriend, I headed back down on my bike to seee what else was about on the A52 and blotts pits, maybe some of the Sandwich terns reported the other side of town this morning?<br />
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As it happened, there were no terns, but another patch tic, the long awaited <b>Nuthatch</b>, was heard singing in the blotts country club garden whilst I was surveying the heronry. I also noted 2<b> Grey Partridge</b> on the eastern side of Blotts pit, my first here since 2014. A <b>Willow warbler</b> was also noted, singing in the scrub nearby. Otherwise, there were a few <b>Little Ringed Plover</b> about, and the swans were getting particularly frisky, and there were also a few butterflies on the wing, <b>Peacocks</b>, <b>Small Torts</b> and <b>Comma.</b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-69670762125161770892016-04-02T01:31:00.002-07:002016-04-02T01:32:11.666-07:00Patchwork Update: March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Species: 83</b><br />
<b>Points:87</b><br />
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<b>Additions this month:10</b><br />
<b>Ringed Plover, Skylark, Jay, Curlew, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, Grey plover, Stonechat, Sand Martin, Little Ringed Plover</b><br />
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March was pretty good on the patch and I have ended up with a higher points total than before at this stage in the year. Some good additions this month include the 3 patch-ticks in as many weekends - Curlew, Grey Plover and Stonechat. It was also nice to get in some of the 'easier' birds like Jay, Mipit and Skylark.<b> </b>There seems to be more Skylarks than the last couple of years which is encouraging. Some spring additions have been trickling in, and it was nice to squeeze in Little Ringed Plover at the end of the month.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Stonechat</td></tr>
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From looking through reports and from what I know personally, at least 98 species have been recorded this year on site, though i may have missed a few commoner species that haven't been reported elsewhere. About the only species I'm missing which I would have expected by now are Coal Tit, Tawny Owl and perhaps lesser black-backed gull.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew</td></tr>
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April is the classic month for bulking up the PWC yearlist, so I'm hoping for a decent month. I only added 13 in April in 2014, but in 2015 I added 22 species, and ended on 103 species. That's a target of 20 additions this month, if I'm to match that total. It shouldn't be too difficult, although I will be going away to Portugal from the 8th-15th, so may miss the odd passage bird, but the 'bread and butter' stuff like warblers and commoner waders should be easy. (19 is the taget now, as I got House Martin on the 1st!)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-36698974312273893422016-03-28T12:29:00.000-07:002016-03-28T12:29:13.681-07:00Easter birdingI only managed to get out properly birding once this weekend, despite having 4 days off work, as I had a busy schedule of family and friends to see.<br />
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I managed to get a good walk in on Good Friday with the dog, covering the finger ponds and rowing course, and it was nice to finally get some good numbers of singing <b>Chiffchaff, </b>after a quiet week regarding that species. Otherwise, an <b>Oystercatcher </b>and <b>Shelduck </b>on the flooded fields near Radcliffe viaduct were about the only other thing of interest, as well as 7 displaying <b>Buzzard </b>above the rowing course.<br />
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Saturday, I managed to get a good visit to blotts pit and the surrounding area, where I added to the mornings tally of <b>little egrets </b>to total 6 for the day. Otherwise 4 <b>oystercatcher </b>and a patch-first <b>Stonechat </b>were highlights. Thats 3 patch ticks in as many weekends...<br />
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Things slowed down after that, with only two brief and rather uneventful visits whilst walking the dog on Sunday and Monday. I missed out Monday morning, as a couple of little gulls and 3 Brent geese were noted, among other things, but you can't help these things sometimes. The little gulls seem to have been part of a mini influx, as birds were noted at several sites across the county this morning. The evenings are longer now, so at least I'll be able to make the most of this and hopefully the species tally will begin to increase. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207919898097090481.post-30310518681085999032016-03-23T06:18:00.002-07:002016-03-23T06:18:39.005-07:00#patchgreyI only managed one proper visit to the patch over last weekend, as I was in Wales on Saturday cleaning out some Pied flycatcher nest-boxes which are monitored by the ringing group. It was a good, but tiring day, but its always nice to see Red Kites and Ravens, and I even flushed a Woodcock which was nice.<br />
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Sunday, I was leading the volunteer group on the patch, so got down early to see if there was much about before we entered blott's pit to remove willow saplings from the waters edge. After an initial scan of the area, I decided to check facebook as in the distance I could see Alan Clewes looking at something. I was right, he had reported a <strong>Grey Plover</strong> which had been present for over an hour now. I couldn't see if from where I stood so wandered round to the middle viewing screen but despite scanning, I didn't see it. I later heard from him that it had been there the whole time I was stood there, so I felt a little stupid. Luckily the bird stuck around despite our being there for most of the morning, and Alan got me on it at around 1pm, so I was pleased with that, as its a notts tick for me.<br />
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Other birds around included another <strong>Curlew</strong> and a <strong>Redshank</strong>, and I heard my first <strong>Chiffchaff</strong> of the spring. Otherwise, a <strong>Ringed Plover</strong> was on site on Friday evening.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0