17/04/2023 Totteridge Valley, London

Ring Ouzel: This week I find myself in the big smoke, London helping out another team on a project down here doing a range of breeding bird surveys. After the long drive down and doing the surveys I decided to go see some cracking local ring ouzel before beaching in to my hotel. 

Totteridge is a lovely little village on the outskirts of London in the borough of Barnet. It has a rural feel with a pretty village green, a cricket pitch, some pleasant local countryside and a nearby nature reserve to visit.  

There were two males and a single female in a small area that the locals call 'wheatear corner' that where forging close to an open gate. They weren't partially shy and ocssaiionally aligning upon a nearby tree and pulling worms out of the ground.

The weather down here was perfect for a spot of post-work birding, T-shirt weather has been a nice alternative then the long vantage point surveys of recent months, clad in fleece, jackets and waterproofs. 

 

08/04/203 River Calder, Ossett, West Yorkshire

Night Heron: With a welcomed long bank holiday weekend on the horizon I was making plans to head into Wales and connect with the black grouse lek at World's End near Wrexham. but news broke the night before of a pair of night heron along the River Calder. 

I couldn't resist the pull so contacted Kirstian and made plans, and early start with the intention of getting their super early just incase they flew off. 

The fact that I could have had a long lay-in, breakfast, mowed the lawn and did the shopping before heading over where I would have got better pictures due to the afternoon light improving never bothered me, well only a little.

Both birds remained remarkably statute like throughout the early morning, they were both still and only moved a few times while we watched them.

Eventually they both moved off and into less visible location, but liker I said early things improved in the afternoon and they bother became a lot more active once we left. 

Red Grouse: We had the whole day ahead ofd us and with north but blue skies above us and free time in out pockets we set off to the Peak District, more specifically Ladybower Reservoir.

Ring Ouzel: Our plan was to pick up some returning ring ouzel and we weren't disappointed, after a proper hike over the moors we were rewarded with a beautiful male ouzel singing away. 

The male was soon joined by a female bird and then we observed another pair in the same area. It was like the M25 up here, hoards of hikers, families and extreme hill runners and bikers so the birds had plenty of company besides me and Kris up here. 

The supporting cast was pretty typical with tons of meadow pipits, red grouse, wheatear and raven. Not going on over the man made moors.

This was a cracking day with near perfect weather great birds and company. 
 

30/04/2021 Surrender Bridge, Swaledale

Red Grouse: I've spent the week working in North Yorkshire and before I left I stopped off for a few hours on the moors in the stunning Swaledale valley, not far from Surrender bridge. Where Ted cooper found a female type black redstart the evening before. 

I love it up here, there is something special about the wild and windswept North York Moors that I really enjoy. The open spaces and scenery surrounded by bird calls, what's not to like?

Three-quarters of all the world's heather moorland is found in Britain, and the North York moors is home to the largest expanse in England. I wanted to get one of those classic shots of a red grouse in the heather but I was a little early for the heather is its bloom which gives way to purple drifts.  

Red Grouse (female): The ridge-top roads climb up lush green valleys, lined with lichen laidend stone walls. Eventually opening up to the bleak open moors. And despite the unusually cold conditions, frost and even snow.

Ring Ouzel: Although I didnt see the black redstart, presumably a passing bird I was still surrounded by some nice birds It was nice to find a few ring ouzel amongst the heather, albeit at a distance. 

There were a couple of ring ouzel in this area with along with calling golden plover and honking greylag geese.

I managed some shot of the red grouse, in the reddish brown heather and even got myself a hen bird who in my opinion are much better looking than their male counterparts, with their mottled golden markings.  

This was an enjoyable hour or so before driving back home. 

20/04/2021 Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral

Ring Ouzel: Finally caught up with the ring ouzel at Leasowe Lighthouse, there were three male birds showing well near the yellow buckets past the fisheries.  

It took me a while to actually find the 'yellow bucket' field and spent much of time time around the usual areas of the lighthouse, the horse paddocks, kersfield and around the seafront. 

Also special thanks to Allan Conlin for the gen on the redstart, which was feeding in the paddock south of Lingham Lane. 

18/04/2019 Sefton Park & Leasowe Lighthouse

Iceland Gull:  Nice start to the extra, extra long bank holiday weekend as I had today off and made plans with Gary to head out early and pick up some recently arrived migrants.

First stop was Bickershaw Rucks, a local reserve and a place I know is petty good for grasshopper warblers.  It didn't take long before we heard the distinct reeling call emanating from the rough grass.

We then moved on to the Wirral and straight to Leasowe Lighthouse which was in full migration  mode. Dozens of blackcap, willow warbler and chifchaffs were singing from every tree and bush.

But the highlight for sure were these mountain equivalent of the closely related blackbird.


We had two in the fields behind the Wirral way before they vanished and were gone for good. Gary and I stayed in the are and were suddenly surrounded by whaetear with the estimated daily figure topping 60 birds.

Ring Ouzel: We eventually moved on and saw the pied fly that was hanging around the end of Lingham Lane, it was only a brief view but we were happy.

We were happier still when we relocated the ring ouzel foraging in a horse paddock along Lingham Lane, two birds were joined by another and then a fourth.

Other birds to note were two white wagtail in the horse paddocks behind the Wirral Way, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the reeds and this smart looking whinchat knocking about the wheatears.

Whinchat: On the way home I decided to take a detour to Sefton Park, were we connected with the long staying Iceland gull. The bird was happily chasing away the ducks, steeling the food that families have come to the lake to feed the birds with. I wasn't complaining as these free handouts encouraged the bird to come in closer.

Decent day all round and a good start the the extra long bank holiday weekend.

08/04/2018 Wirral

Chiffchaff: A lovely morning spent on the Wirral catching up with some spring migrants, including chiffchaff, swallow and ring ouzel.

 I started the day off at Leasowe Lighthouse where I bumped in to Patrick who said he had not much luck this morning.

Sparrowhawk & Starling: After a quick catch up I headed down the very muddy Lingham Lane when Patrick called me saying a news of a male ring ouzel came through and was still in the are.

With renewd vigour I reached a small group of birders who pointed it out to me, the bird was opposite the horse paddocks, but kept its distance.

Ring Ouzel: We watched it until it got spooked by the nearby sheep and disappeared out of view.

After walking around the Ligthouse I saw two more swallow but no wheatear as I was hoping for.

Great White Egret: As I travelled in my car out of Leasowe I spotted a sphawk fighting with s starling, i quickly parked up and jumped out. great little drama to witness.

On the way home I stopped off at Neston and picked up the local GWE and three lovely looking water pipit down near the sewage works.

15/04/2014 Binn Green, Dove Stone RSPB

Brambling: After seeing Tanmay's crippling pictures of the male Two Barred Crossbill from yesterday  I decided to use my day off and go try my luck.

After arriving at around 10am and joining a small group of birders waiting - we waited, and waited!


I kept myself occupied taking some pictures of the wide variety of finches Binn Green has to offer, the place was full of bird song and some really nice birds such as this cracking male Brambling.

Siskin: As the morning slowly turned to afternoon I was really pleased to have Martyn Jones and co. join the group watching the larches, Paul Brewster and co then added to our numbers.

Lesser Redpoll: I knew the bird was showing well in the afternoons but as time went by I decided to say my goodbyes and head off home to do a spot of gardening. This proved to be a bloody awful decision as the Two Barred made an appearance not long after I left, gutted!

Ring Ouzel:  One consolation was spotting this male rouzel high up in the trees across from the viewing platform - a year tick!

Willow Warbler: Great weather, great company and good birds to be had, oh and thanks to Mr Jones for sharing his superb pictures of the two barred with me, I would like to say I am well and truly green!

You can't win them all I guess!

19/04/2013 The Great Orme

Ring Ouzel (female): I finally struck luck after several failed attempt's at spotting a Ring Ouz this year.

Over in the sheep pens I spotted six, five males and only one female they were very actively calling to each other and moving between the rock wall and bank.

Ring Ouzel (male): Its nice to see one but its fantastic to see half a dozen of these charismatic birds, it was just a shame the sun was behind this male.

Merlin: In the same field this female Merlin suddenly came out of no where and perched right in front of me until the local Crows came to mob it off their patch.

Chough: I have recently been told my Blog is full of rubbish puns well here's another! I was so choughed to bits to see these Chough.

There were two birds again in the same field and they kept coming back to feed beneath the stone wall the Ring Ouzels were using, another UK tick, get in!

Meadow Pipit: Other birds of note were the many Stonechat and Wheatear which were literally everywhere. I spotted a small flock of Siskin over the grave yard, there were two Linnet near the summit car park and mipits like this one were also very numerous.