Bird Lover

Today was the first class of the Autumn Term.  Things didn't look very promising at first with blustery winds and an overcast threatening sky.  We had only just left the car park, and we were looking at Otter tracks, when suddenly a sandy brown bird flew out of the Reedbed ahead of us.  It was in the sky for several minutes as it flew across the site, over the hide and then down into the area of a flooded field. When we reached the hide there was plenty to see.  The highlight was probably the 2 or even possibly three Water Rails right in front of the hide.  One of them, probably an immature came very close.  Some of us also saw a male Bearded Tit perched on the top of the reeds, but then the wind came back, and it was lost to sight.  There were plenty of birds to see on the mudflats including Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, and a single Greenshank. We travelled to the hide on stilts.  On our journey we saw a large f...

Autumn is here! My eagle-eyed nephew went looking for owl pellets, as teenagers used to do, and found these hidden among the debris of some conifers. It's a species of Earthstar, but not sure of the exact species at the moment. I had to gently lift them, and place them on the grass to make the most of the better light. It's a new species for the cemetery. I saw my first Earthstars near the very tip of Spurn Point perhaps around the millennium, and then at Potteric Carr a few years ago, and again last year. I never expected to see any so close to home. Earthstars   Earthstar   Ditto At the time of writing there are a couple of vacancies on Wednesday and Friday  afternoons.   There are fewer vacancies in the mornings. If you are interested in another session, please ask.  In the Autumn  we'll be looking for special migrants including: Redstarts, Whinchats, Wryneck, Spotted Redshank, Jack Snipe and Hen Harriers . Autumn is also the best time of...

The classes start again on Tuesday, and the birds are certainly migrating.  Here's a male Blackcap feeding on small cotoneaster berries in the garden.  Let's hope we can also find the birds out there in the wild! Blackcap Ditto At the time of writing there are a couple of vacancies on Wednesday and Friday  afternoons.   There are fewer vacancies in the mornings. If you are interested in another session, please ask.  In the Autumn  we'll be looking for special migrants including: Redstarts, Whinchats, Wryneck, Spotted Redshank, Jack Snipe and Hen Harriers . Autumn is also the best time of year to enjoy really good views of Bearded Tits, so we'll be going to see them.  So, if you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife in beautiful and secluded venues for less than £10 a week, then this is the course for you! We visit a different local hotspot each week and identify all the birds and as much other wildlife as we can. This incl...

On 26th August a loud call of a Green Woodpecker rang out just behind the garden.  This would have been a new bird for the garden, and surrounding area, but after a careful search it was never heard again, despite a daily excursion to look for it.  There have been rumours of sightings in East Park in recent years, but in these parts it is a scarce bird, and East Park is a very busy place for this wary bird.  However, our cemetery is much quieter. Then today a woman was going on her brisk morning walk, when she spotted it on a very thin, dead young tree.  I was informed, and decided to see if I could use my car as a hide to get closer to it.  I drove to the place where it has been seen with no luck until my passenger spotted it feeding on the ground.  At first glance it was obvious that it was an immature bird, with its streaky juvenile plumage being replaced by adult feathers.  It wasn't too far from the car, and as my passenger was closer, s...