Garry Bagnell's Birding adventures

Western Bonellis Warbler shots

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Western Bonelli's Warbler @ Chuch Norton Tuesday 23rd April 2013 Photo's by Paul Rowe

Crowd shot at Landguard

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:45:00 +0000

Crowd shot by Mick Davis. Some good looking chap on the left is having a quick look at his pager whilst the Eastern Subalpine Warbler is on view.

Migrants a plenty

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:15:00 +0000

Grasshopper Warbler @ Coldwaltham Sunday 28th April 2013

Garganey @ Pulborough Brooks Sunday 28th April 2013

Whincat @ Pulborough Brooks Sunday 28th April 2013

Nightingale @ Pulborough Brooks Sunday 28th April 2013

I had a superb early morning visit to Coldwaltham. Grasshopper Warbler was calling on arrival and showing superbly at close range. Also noted was Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler and Nightingale. Then onto nearby Pulborough Brooks. I saw Garganey, Whincat, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Hobby and loads of Swifts. Weir Wood had too many wind surfers for me and I couldn't be bothered to scan properly. At Old Lodge I connected with Tree Pipit (182nd) and nice pair of Redstarts.

Wow Eastern Subalpine Warbler in the sunshine.

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:25:00 +0000

Eastern Subalpine Warbler @ Landguard, Suffolk Saturday 27th June 2013

Great weather, great bird, great company and a great photo?

Well at least its proof I went to Yorkshire

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:45:00 +0000

Rock Thrush @ Spurn Thursday 25th April 2013

This picture was taken at 6:30pm at distance in the rain etc etc. But at least its proof I actually went.

Corncrake photography 4 the beginner

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Corncrake @ Beachy Head: Shooters Bottom Wednesday 17th April 2013. Photo by yours truly.

Corncrake @ Beachy Head: Shooters Bottom Wednesday 17th April 2013. Photo by Jake Gearty

My picture was taken at 1 second shutter speed at 8:00pm. Its been along time since I took a a sh?t photograph....so don't panic folks I haven't lost it.

Delights of Devon and Sunny Somerset

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:20:00 +0000

Pied-billed Grebe @ Ham Wall R.S.P.B. Saturday 6th April 2013

American Wigeon @ Topsham Saturday 6th April 2013

Cirl Bunting @ Labrador Bay Saturday 6th April 2013

Rosy Starling @ Exminster Saturday 6th April 2013

On Saturday 6th April, I was thinking about staying local and looking for migrants. But the weather didn't look to promising for finding much, so just for a change I did bit of twitching.

Left home at 7:30am and first stop was Ham Wall, Somerset. I've never been to this site for, so I asked locals for help where best place to look for the Pied-billed Grebe. The walk from the free car park at Ashcott corner to where the Grebe was seen is about a 15 minute walk. Loads of Cetti's Warblers were calling along the walk. The Pied-billed Grebe was calling intermittently from the reed bed. Eventually the Pied-billed Grebe (152nd) come out of the reeds and showed well. In attendance was George Kinsman who was keen to photograph the Grebe. He took some amazing images that put mine to shame. On the way back to the car I enjoyed watching a Cetti’s Warbler (153rd) singing in full view from a flattened reed bed. Just before I left the reserve a Bittern (154h) flew across from the left and landed out of view in an extensive reed bed.

American Wigeon in the nearby county of Devon, was just too tempting to ignore. 66 miles or 1 hour 28 minute driving time later I arrived at Bowling Green Marsh. Parking is an absolute nightmare. I eventually parked the car in a pay and display car park in Holman Way (£1 for 2-3 hours), which is situated with a ¼ mile walk to the hide. Soon as I entered the hide the American Wigeon (155th), could easily be seen amongst a small flock of Eurasian Wigeon. Here I met Tom Whiley, and he very kindly agreed to spend the rest of day with me as we searched for some year ticks. Just before we left the hide I ticked a Meadow Pipit (156th), seen them before this year but forgot to note them.

Tom and I first popped over to nearby Exminster Marshes. No sign of Rosy Starling but saw plenty of over wintering Blackcaps (157th). Then onto Labrador Bay, where we enjoyed 9 Cirl Buntings (158th) and to end the day we went back for the Rosy Starling and connected (159th).

I had a very pleasant time with Tom. Tom is just about to move and retire to Norfolk, he’s keen to add to British Lifelist and hopes that living in Norfolk and a few holidays to Shetland might allow him to break the 400 bird barrier one day. Tom enjoyed telling me about birds he’s seen that I haven’t. Good on him.

Tom Whiley and me at Exminster Marshes @ Saturday 6th April 2013

Got home at 11:56pm.

12 year ticks and R.S.P.B. are back on the payroll

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 21:40:00 +0000

Bluethroat @ Samphire Hoe, Kent Saturday 30th March 2013

Black Redstart @ Samphire Hoe, Kent Saturday 30th March 2013

Great White Egret @ Dungeness, Kent Saturday 30th March 2013

Kentish Plover @ Rye Harbour, E. Sussex Saturday 30th March 2013

Oh what a weekend, lost my pager and got pissed on Thursday. Spent the whole of Friday looking for the pager and trying to sober up. Not fun. But on Saturday I was sober and hungry for a bit of birding.

I left home at 6:30am with my packed lunch. Headed towards Kent. I noticed that the Bluethroat was still at Samphire Hoe according to RBN twitter feed. So this was my first port of call. I saw the Bluethroat (140th) on arrival as it fed close to the information centre. Other good birds seen included:- Black Redstart (141st), Stonechat (142nd), Rock Pipit, Peregrine and Chiffchaff.

Next stop Sandgate (Near Hythe). Two Purple Sandpipers (143rd) were feeding on the groyne. Too far to obtain a decent photo. I didn't stay long as I was keen to get to Dungeness. No sign of Glaucous Gull, but 3 Smew (144th), Great White Egret (145th), flock ot Tree Sparrows (146th) and a female Marsh Harrier (147th) were nice bonuses. I did pop into the R.S.P.B. shop and join by filling in a monthly mandate form. I didn't fancy spending the whole day staring at a reedbed in the hope that the Penduline Tit would show. Instead I toddled off to Rye. Nice to see the handsome male Kentish Plover (148th). Wandering around the greatly enhanced reserve allowed me to add Sandwich Tern (149th) from the Ternery Pool. I estimate that 300 are aldready back. I spotted a nice Spotted Redshank (150th) from the Steve Denny hide.

I ended the day at Pett Level. No Velvet Scoter's on the sea, but there were atleast 40 Common Scoter bobbing up and down. Grazing on the levels were a nice flock of White-fronted Geese (151st). I got home just before 7pm.

I like to wish everybody a happy Egg-eating Easter and don't forget to put the clock forward by one hour tonight. Bon apetite.

Shrike while the irons hot

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Black-necked Grebe @ Staines Reservoir Sunday 24th March 2013

Female Scaup (Zoomed in) @ Staines Reservoir Sunday 24th March 2013

Left home at 6:30am and headed for Staines. I was on site at 7:15am and so was Bob Warden. Bob's a lovely guy and helped me locate all the goodies. On the north basin was a Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver. The south basin had 2 female Scaup (133rd) in the Tufted & Pochard flock, 1+ summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe (134th)(what a sexy beast) and a LRP (135th). Bob gave me good directions on how to get to the Pallas's Warbler at Moor Green, so maybe I would go there after Wraysbury.

At Wraysbury, not many ducks species apart from numerous Goldeneye, Tufted & Pochard. But I did flush 3 Merganser species on arrival, they were feeding on the adjacent river to the pit. Probably Goosander, but being a perfectionist I will probably get another during the year. 2 Ring-necked Parakeets (136th) flew over and a couple of wintering Chiffchaff's (137th) were busy feeding.

I decided to have a nibble at the Pallas's Warbler but my luck was not in, nice to meet Farnboro John and see a pair of Goosander (138th) on the way back to the car.

Last stop of the day was Thursley. Two birders were getting ready to leave when I parked the car at the Moat car park. They had not seen the Great Grey Shrike, so it was looking like I was going to dip. Anyhow I followed the path through the Common, took a sharp right onto a boardwalk that was heading towards Shrike hill. Set my scope up and within a couple of minutes i found the Great Grey Shrike (139th) distantly sitting at the top of a small shrub. It flew 200 metres to the left, and It landed on another shrub still in view. Few minutes later it flew left and landed out of view. Too distant to take a picture but better than dipping. I got home around 4:30pm.

R.S.P.B. I salute you!

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:55:00 +0000

Wheatear @ Hayling Saturday 23rd March 2013

Red-breasted Goose @ Farlington Marshes Tuesday 19th March 2013

Avocet @ Siddlesham Saturday 23rd March 2013

Water Rail @ Pulborough Brooks Saturday 23rd March 2013

I'm currently working 2-4 days a week in Tipner (Hampshire) and on Tuesday I had an hour to kill before I was due to be at a work function. So between 5pm and 6pm, I admired the Red-breasted Goose (126th) at mid distance at Farlington Marshes. As a bonus a Spoonbill (127th) popped into view for a couple of minutes before dropping down a ditch.

During the night I spent the night at the Budget Ibis Hotel that overlooks Fratton Park (Portsmouth FC ground). Sadly the view was the best part of the stay. No Coffee facilities in the room, but Coffee/tea could be obtained by spending £1.40 a cup from reception area. The reception area is designed to resemble the magnificent looking McDonald stylee restaurant complete with tables and chairs bolted to the floor. Such a good idea as Fratton is close to the sea side, some customers maybe tempted in borrowing these rock hard tables and chairs whilst eating candyfloss at the beach.

I've been tempted in seeing the Glossy Ibis at Warblington, so Saturday the dream came true, can you believe it? I left home at 6am and saw it just before 8am as I walked east past the church..and there it was...what a lovely bird (128th) Splendid binoucular views in the pooring rain. The views were much better than last years silhouted Glossy Ibis I saw last year at Bickerley Common. Same bird I guess?!

Suddenly I had a immense feeling of sadness. Just like when your bath water gets too cold for your wrinked body and your teeth are chattering so loud and some have managed to full into the bath..... the reason for the sadness, if you really want to know! ..Is that Kim, had left her car keys in the glove compartment of my car....no spare keys anywhere else in the Planet and Kim's got to take Georgie to a birthday party several miles from home at 1pm. Which means in English, get back pronto or you won't just find your teeth in the bath but your treasured bird books too.

So all I had time for was a quick shifty around Hayling Island. Nice Wheatear (129th), 10 Med Gulls, 25 RB Mergs and no Black-necked Grebes. Unless I'm viewing from the wrong spot. Siddlesham had a single Avocet (130th) in the channel and a Superb Barn Owl (131st) hunting in broad daylight at 9:47am. 86 Shoveler on the Ferry pool. Last stop was Pulborough Brooks. Got chatting to a great group of interesting volunteers who make you feel really welcome, even if you don't spend a penny in the shop. The views of the Water Rail (132nd) from the visitors centre are best you can get, of this normally highly elusvie species. Full credit must go to the R.S.P.B. In fact, all R.S.P.B. reserves I've ever visited, gives you a special feeling that you just can't get readily get anywhere else. If you're not a member, make sure you join and keep this organisation protecting birds long after we've left the planet.