Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Supporting Cast - East Blean Wood 07/02/21

I haven't been able to get birdwatching for quite a while so it was very nice to be able to pay a short visit to East Blean Wood. It was a beautifully fine afternoon and in sheltered areas the sun had some real warmth to it. I could hear Nuthatch calling and could see one in the tree above me checking out crevices in the trunk for food items. They are lovely birds and it was very active as it made its way from trunk to trunk.

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

I could hear a mixed flock of tits calling with Blue, Great and Long-tailed all moving rapidly through. A couple of Goldcrest were keeping company with them, never still for a moment in their search for food.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

I heard what I was sure was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and was really chuffed when I caught sight of it a little way ahead, but high above. Unfortunately that was the last I saw of it as a large dog appeared from nowhere and then proceeded to go absolutely loopy on seeing me, scaring the life out of me. and probably every bird in a ten mile radius. When the owner eventually turned up and managed at last to get hold of it I was told the dog doesn't like people wearing caps!! Not surprisingly there was no sign of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, once the dog and its owner had moved off, but I felt very lucky to have seen it at all. 

All was very quiet for a while until multiple alarm calls sounded out from Blackbirds, Blue and Great Tits and Wren. They were still a way ahead of me and I couldn't see what had caused their alarm but the mystery was solved when a Common Buzzard suddenly flew from one of the trees before disappearing deeper into the wood. Peace reigned once more and while looking round I caught sight of a Treecreeper working its way up one of the tree trunks.

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

It was time to head for home but it had been great to be out for a little while. As I made my way back a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across and settled in the upper branches of a tree. It looked striking against the blue sky and though the photo does not do it justice I was pleased to be able to take it.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I finished an enjoyable visit watching the antics of a Long-tailed Tit. I can never resist stopping to watch them, they are beautiful little birds and so full of character.

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat - Shuart to Chambers Wall 09/10/20

On arrival at Shuart several Chiffchaff were active around the car park area and I saw seven by the time I started out along the track. A Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker called from the trees. A Wren scolded as I passed by and overhead a flock of 28 Siskin flew west. It was a beautifully sunny morning and Skylarks were passing by overhead heading west. A male and female Blackcap appeared to be enjoying the sunshine.

male and female Blackcap

Two Lesser Redpoll flew low over calling loudly and were a welcome addition to the mornings birds. A Wood Pigeon eyed me warily as I passed by but otherwise appeared unperturbed.

Wood Pigeon

Two vocal Cetti's Warblers were sounding off against each other. Each time the one behind me called so the one from a little further along the track responded. A flock of 8 Long-tailed Tit were moving fast through the hedgerow as they searched for food. I love watching them and one was obliging enough to pause in a gap before moving on.

Long-tailed Tit

A single Crossbill flew over heading west and calling away and the hedgerow was alive with Chiffchaff busily searching for insects.

Chiffchaff

A Brambling flew over calling and small flocks of Chaffinch were moving west. The air was filled with the calls of Skylarks as they went over and a good number of Blackcap were working their way through various sections of the hedgerow. A Red Admiral Butterfly was sunning itself on the ivy.

Red Admiral

A Cetti's Warbler came tantalisingly close to coming out into the open but at the last minute dropped out of sight again. A scruffy Whitethroat gave pause when I caught sight of it but it never changed its position and was watching warily the approach of a group of loudly chatting dog walkers. As they neared it shot through to the back of the bush and disappeared. I waited to see if it would reappear but with no sign of it I carried on. I haven't seen a Whitethroat for a couple of weeks now.

Cetti's Warbler

Whitethroat

Another Blackcap was by the railway crossing and I had enjoyed seeing the numbers of them that I had today. At the stables a feisty Dunnock was chasing a rival repeatedly before returning to a favourite perch to keep watch on its rival's movements. Otherwise it was overall quieter than my last visit.

Dunnock

As I neared the sea wall one of the Corn Bunting present was tucked into one of the nearer bushes but keeping a wary eye on passers by.

Corn Bunting

The tide was already a fair way out as I came up onto the sea wall. Sanderling and Oystercatchers were along the shore. The westerly wind that had been very light had begun to pick up. The walk to Plumpudding was fairly quiet. Small flocks of both Chaffinch and Skylark were still moving west. Just past Plumpudding a couple of White Wagtail were on the sea wall. 5 Redshank were on Coldharbour but that also was quiet otherwise. Walking was becoming very difficult so I decided to head up to Chambers Wall as it was closer for a pick up point. I did not do much counting on the way through. A Red Admiral butterfly was showing its underwing pattern well making the contrast between that and its upperwing pattern even more striking.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Red Admiral Butterfly

It was nice to come across some Goldcrests. They are beautiful little birds and it was a treat to be able to take a break and just enjoy watching their acrobatic manoeuvres as they searched for insects.

Goldcrest

Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and I finished the visit with a perched male soaking up the warmth from the sun.

Migrant Hawker

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Green Woodpecker, 46 Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeons, 7 Wren, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 17 Robin, 8 Dunnock, 208 Chaffinch, 31 Siskin, Skylarks, 25 Blackbird, 15 Pied Wagtail including 2 alba, 2 Jay, 1 Pheasant, 4 Mallard, 9 Magpie, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 19 Blackcap, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Meadow Pipit, 1 Crossbill, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Brambling, 2 House Martin, 2 Common Buzzard, 6 Reed Bunting, House Sparrows, Starlings, 9 Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting, 24 Goldfinch, 43 Sanderling, 84 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank, 4 Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Swallow,  

First Cuckoo and Swift of Spring - Broomfield Track 06/05/20

It was pretty quiet as I walked round today but good to be out. One of the Little Owls was on its usual perch and, as always, was a pleasure to see. A Chiffchaff was singing away while a male Blackcap was giving it a far bit of competition in the singing department, almost drowning it out at times.

Little Owl

A patch of Speedwell glowed in the afternoon light. They are lovely little flowers.

As I headed back down to the lower path a Common Buzzard soared above and I could also see Kestrel and Sparrowhawk in the air at the same time. The Long-tailed Tit was still busily collecting food.

Long-tailed Tit

A small flock of Jackdaws were vocal as they routed amongst the grass in the cow paddock. A gull passing low over caused one to pause in its feeding, crouch down and looking up call out in alarm.

Jackdaw

Jackdaw

As I neared the end of my walk I caught sight of a Swift (111) feeding over the horse paddock while a Cuckoo (112) was calling from the hedgerow, my first of the Spring, and both made a very nice finish to the visit.

Soaring Red Kites and a Supporting Cast - Garden and Broomfield Track 24/04/20

While out in the garden alarm calls from the local gulls alerted me to first one then a while later another 2 Red Kites over the garden which are always a very welcome sight. A Common Buzzard also passed high over the garden and at one point one of the Red Kites and the Buzzard were spiralling upwards high above in the same thermal.

Red Kite

Red Kite and Common Buzzard

House Sparrows were busily collecting food to take back to the nest and a male paused briefly on the fence giving some lovely views in the sunshine.

male House Sparrow

male House Sparrow

The local pair of Herring Gulls were decidedly put out by the arrival of a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls who settled on the roof opposite before moving off.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Later on in the day I headed out for my exercise walk. An Orange-tip butterfly gave some superb views as it fed amongst the flowers of what I think is a garden escape. I have been lucky this spring to get some lovely views of a beautiful butterfly.

Orange-tip Butterfly

Orange-tip butterfly

Orange-tip butterfly

Orange-tip butterfly

A little further along the smaller of the pair of Little Owls was resting up on its usual perch. It was alert as a dog walker with a pair of barking dogs went past on the footpath but it seemed content to stay where it was. They are always a joy to see.

Little Owl

A pair of Magpie were routing about as I came past the lower paddock and gave some very good views in the sunshine, their feathers with jewelled colours as they caught the light.

Magpie

Magpie

Magpies

As I headed up to the top path a Wood Pigeon peeped out at me from its perch and the air was full of Skylark song.

Wood Pigeon

Moments later a Red Kite spiralled lazily over, giving some nice views as it did so. As I carried on I managed to see another 2 high up Red Kites passing over.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

 As I paused along the top path and had a scan across I could see 8 Common Buzzards spiralling in a thermal high above me and another 6 spiralling in another thermal. They were very high but a pleasure to see. A pair of the local Common Buzzards were calling away and tumbling around each other in the sky.

Common Buzzards

Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat song filled the air and a small group of Linnet were busy amongst the grasses as I came down to the lower path. Comma butterflies and Peacock butterflies were flitting around in the sunshine. I came across a Long-tailed Tit collecting food to take back to the nest and it gave some superb views as it flitted from perch to perch.

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

A pair of Blackcap were busily collecting nesting material and gave some nice, if brief, views as they did so. I hope that they are successful in their nesting.

male Blackcap

female Blackcap

I finished an enjoyable visit with the sound of the pair of Common Buzzards calling away.