Dippers and a Goshawk

Forest of Dean - We`ve now moved north and left a bit, pitching up on the western Marches of the Forest of Dean near the Welsh borderlands, or as Pat succinctly put it, "in the middle-of-nowhere", and its great; it must be about as remote as you can get in this over-crowded island of ours. At night time all that can be heard is the belching and farting of dairy cattle, the `steep` calls of migrating Redwings and distant, hooting Tawny Owls. There`s not a speck of incandescent light anywhere, just stars and a waning moon, superb.
However, come daybreak and the atmosphere soon changes, as the maize harvest is well underway and the narrow lanes become hazardous highways as tractors and trailers commute between field and silo, at breakneck speed, with this valuable forage crop used to feed cattle, sheep and the like. Having not been down this way for a while I was surprised at the acreages that are now grown on such poor soils (red, shale and acidic), but apparently it is a recent phenomenon made possible by new plant varieties that allow this hungry crop to flourish under certain local conditions, providing it is grown on hill tops and slopes with a southern aspect, where it receives maximum sunlight, and is regularly fertilised with slurry in the early stages of growth, of which there is a regular supply hereabouts.

                               Dipper - River Wye, Redbrook

                               River Wye - a national jewel

Anyhow, we`ve spent a fair bit of time this weekend walking the River Wye between Chepstow and Monmouth, and what a stunningly beautiful river it is, meandering and bisecting the tree-clad valley complete with autumnal tones and all. And, I`m pleased to report that Dippers are commonplace, at least along this section of the river; we even noted one in the centre of Monmouth from the town bridge. Grey Wagtails too were abundant, while Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Little Egret and Shelduck were also present. Buzzards mewed overhead and 2 Red Kites twisted and turned along the watercourse.

                                Forest of Dean - view from the terrace

                                Barney - chilling, after a hard morning chasing squirrels

                                Buzzard - a tatty adult

Back at base camp this afternoon the sun broke through, elevating the temperature and bringing forth a flurry of raptors. So, it was a case of large mugs of tea all round, feet up, a bone for Barney and a spot of scanning from our terrace overlooking the wooded hillside. At least 10 Buzzards came and went during our two hour watch, plus several Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and a single, whopping great Goshawk that launched into a Buzzard sending it spiralling down into the canopy; infact, I`m pretty sure it killed it! Jays were constantly on the move over the tree-tops, en-route to storing acorns in secret places, plus a string of Redwings, Ravens, Chaffinches and several Great Spotted Woodpeckers over.

Tawny Owls and Bullfinches

Dorset - We`ve spent the past couple of days in Maiden Newton, a small village to the west of Dorchester in what could best be described as classic Hardy country, so lots of cutsie, chocolate-box thatched cottages and smelly dairy farms. The rolling chalk downland, fast flowing streams with hedgerows and copses all over the place are in complete contrast to the topography back home on the shingle, and of course the wildlife is different too. The weather has also bucked up with clear skies and light airs replacing the blasting wind and showers back east.
  Wandering around the lanes and tracks birds seemed to be everywhere with plenty of Redwings and a few Fieldfares already plundering the rich harvest of hedgerow berries, amongst the abundant Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Finches and buntings were well represented, including Bullfinches and Yellowhammers, two birds I rarely see at home, along with Grey Wagtails along the river Hook.
   But the main difference was at night time with a cacophony of Tawny Owls in the river valley trees. At this time of year the adults are re-establishing their winter territories and chivvying juvenile birds away to find their own patch. There must be a reasonable population hereabouts as the kerfuffle continued throughout the night.

                               Rivers Frome and Hook, Maiden Newton

  This morning we walked the river valley where more wagtails and wayside birds noted, plus 12 Siskins feeding on alders and singles of Kingfisher, Little Egret and Grey Heron along the watercourse, where the invasive Himalayan balsam was flourishing.
Up on the lynchetts Common Buzzards and Ravens were a given and there was even a light viz mig of Mipits, Skylarks and Chaffinches overhead. Best of all though was watching a family group of Roe Deer hugging the corner of a beech hangar, completely oblivious to our presence as we hunkered down in a hillside hollow. 

Northerly blast

Dungeness - cold, sunny, n 3 - The cold northerly airflow continued to sweep across the peninsula, but at least this morning the sun broke through. At the Patch several thousand gulls comprised mainly Black-headed and Herring Gulls with at least 2 Meds, a 1st winter Caspian and several Kittiwakes on the beach.

                                Sea Kale, Dungeness

                                The Patch

Around the point small parties of Goldfinches and Linnets were present with more overhead, along with a few Siskins and Redpolls. In the bushes several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, but with the wind increasing throughout the day sending any migrants present into cover.
Also noted this morning, a Short-eared Owl coming in off the sea and a Jack Snipe in the trapping area.
Littlestone - A walk along the beach resulted in a count of 73 Turnstones, 15 Grey and 12 Ringed Plovers. There was no sign of any owls on the golf links, but with bits and pieces of rain around it was not too surprising. Several Stonechats noted, plus two small flocks of Skylarks and Mipits.

Pallas`s Warbler and Ring Ouzels

Dungeness - cold, cloudy, ne 2 - A cracking morning migrant hunting at the point culminated in brief views of a Pallas`s Warbler at the north-east corner of the trapping area, which was later netted and ringed at the Obs. Although the stripy sprite was bird of the day the main event concerned a large arrival of thrushes with at least 30 Ring Ouzels scattered across the point, most of them nervy and on the move, along with a number of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and my first Redwings of the autumn. Finches were also prominent with small flocks of Siskins, Redpolls and Goldfinches, plus 2 Bramblings (new for the year) and an overhead trickle of Skylarks, Swallows and Mipits. Goldcrests and Robins were widespread, along with several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, at least one Firecrest, 4 Stonechats, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Wheatear.
An afternoon visit to try and photograph an ouzel resulted in failure, while a circuit of the moat with PB delivered a late Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and several Goldcrests.

Garden Gold

Lade - cool, cloudy, ne 3 - I try to spend at least one day at the weekend birding from the cottage and leaving the car idle; not always easy down here if something good turns up nearby. As the gravel workings to the south was closed we spent a couple of hours first thing checking out the lake and adjacent rough bits and pieces. All was pretty quiet apart from a Rock Pipit around the pit margin, plus several Pied Wagtails, Mipits and Skylarks, while Goldfinches and Linnets were all over the place. Two groups of Redpolls and Siskins zipped over and 5 Swallows skimmed the water.

                               Blackbird, Goldfinches and Starling, Plovers

Back home most of the day was taken up with working in the garden, at times in warm sunshine, accompanied by the tinkling sound of Goldfinches and the high pitched, incessant calls of Goldcrests in the pine trees and shrubs. I spent way too much time trying to photograph the charms and waifs, although the crests proved too much of a challenge for the bridge camera.
We`ve got a soft spot for Starlings here at Plovers and find them immensely pleasing as they cackle away enjoying the sun whilst sheltering from the wind.
A few months back I posted a pic of `our` Blackbird, a tatty adult male that had raised three broods, the last one on his own when his mate died, and am pleased to report that he is now in fine fettle, mainly due to Pat who feeds him every morning.
NB: The Common Crane was again reported on the bird reserve today on the fields at Dengemarsh and Boulderwall, while a Pallas`s Warbler was noted in the trapping area at the point.

Local patch blitz

Lade - warm, dry, sunny, e 3 - Spent the morning on the local patch checking every nook and cranny. A circumnavigation of the lakes took in stubble and tilled fields by the airport for grounded migrants: 5 Corn and 10 Reed Buntings, 15 Skylarks, 10 Mipits, 5 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wheatears and a sparrow flock with 8 Tree Sparrows. Stonechats, Goldfinches and Linnets were everywhere, plus a few Siskins and Redpolls overhead. At the north end 100 Lapwings, 20 Golden Plovers, 12 Curlews and 6 Mistle Thrushes present amongst hundreds of Woodpigeons, Stock Doves, gulls, Starlings and corvids on a recently drilled field. A decent raptor count comprised 5 Marsh Harriers, 5 Kestrels, 4 Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks and a Merlin.
The willow swamp and ponds were alive with Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Wrens, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Blackcaps, 5 singing Cetti`s Warblers, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, calling Water Rails, a Kingfisher and 10 Swallows over. The lakes continue to attract large numbers of Coots, grebes and dabblers, while a gull roost on north lake harboured 2 Med Gulls.
The beach had all the usual shorebirds and gulls, 55 Sandwich Terns, 3 Brent Geese and a marauding Arctic Skua, not a bird I often see here.
I`m not much of a lister but a quick tally up from this mornings effort revealed 83 species, not bad for a morning stroll...

                                            Dark Mullein, Lade

                               1st winter and adult Mediterranean Gulls, Lade

An afternoon run out with CP commenced at Dengemarsh where we jammed the Common Crane in flight en-route to hayfield 3. Galloways was quiet with just a few Stonechats and Kestrels of note. On Walland Marsh, Tree Sparrows were seen at Midley and several Marsh Harriers and Buzzards on the wetland, but as the wind picked up small birds were hard to come by. We finished off at ARC where  2 Red-crested Pochards were still at the far end by the pines along with 250 Mallards, plus 2 each of Buzzard and Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk and several Chiffchaffs within a tit flock.

Common Crane

                                Dengemarsh Gully

Dengemarsh Gully- warm, dry, sunny, light airs - 0845hrs - For a change of scene we headed out to the gully, which so often disappoints, although not this morning. A light viz mig of mainly Skylarks, Mipits, Redpolls, Reed Buntings, Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus a few Siskins and Pied Wagtails was still underway, but quickly fizzled out as the morning warmed up.
On the ground most of the activity was in the brambles and elders at the northern end of the gully which attracted at least 30 Blackcaps to feed on blackberries and one Lesser Whitethroat. Twenty Chiffchaffs also noted, along with similar numbers of Goldfinches and Redpolls feeding on weed-seeds, Linnets, Mipits, Great Tits, Robins, Chaffinches, Goldcrests, 10 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, Cetti`s Warbler and a Firecrest.
Present, towards the bird reserve flying around were several Marsh Harriers and two each of Great White Egret, Raven and Peregrine.

                                Goldfinches and Wheatear, Dengemarsh Gully

Lydd Camp - With the ranges silent we took the track through the gorse scrub by the watch towers searching for Dartford Warbler without success. Plenty more Stonechats, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Redpolls were noted, plus a `kettle` of 5 mewing Common Buzzards overhead.

                                Common Crane, Dengemarsh

Dengemarsh - The local grapevine was roused into action early this afternoon when DB and family spotted a Common Crane circling over the peninsula that eventually landed on the flooded field adjacent to Springfield Bridge. Always a treat to see this magnificent bird, and my first for the year (202). Cranes are just about annual down here and this one was a smart adult bird that showed well before eventually flying off towards Hooker`s, but still visible from the ramp.