Alvor....30/09/2010

Alvor Estuary is always a delight to visit. First stop is a visit to the Field study Centre ( A Rocha, Cruzinha. Open to visitors Thursday mornings 9.30-12.30) to watch the bird ringing and also a welcome addition is to see the moths that are now trapped there. There is always a friendly welcome from the Ranger and his staff. After a coffee and a chat at A Rocha and saying goodbyes it was time to take the short drive down to the Estuary carpark. Normally a walk is taken along the sea wall to view the estuary and then continuing the walk along the embankments which circle brackish lagoons, and old saltpans but today was a no-go day for me. I had been bitten several times the previous couple of days on my legs and arms (despite plenty of repellent). my lower right leg was starting to become swollen making walking uncomfortable in the heat. In a nutshell the bites had become infected (the 3rd time this has happened to me in Portugal) and the following day I had to see a Dr who prescribed (at a great cost) Antibiotics! I will make sure I take a supply of AB's on my next holiday, I forgot to take them on this holiday, lesson learned!!! So walking was severely curtailed on this holiday and sunbathing!!! Sadly not much was seen from the carpark at the estuary all but the locals gathering cockles! Highlight birds at 'A Rocha' were Reed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler and Blackcap (m+f). Highlight birds at the estuary and surrounding area were Spotted Redshank, Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Godwit (distant), Greater Flamingos, Stonechat, Common Waxbill, Azure-winged Magpie, Hoopoe, Spotless Starlings, Kestrel and Rook.

Algarve Hol!!....25th Sept- 9th October 2010

I am finally getting around to posting about my Algarve holiday! Such a busy life I lead.lol!!
The first bird I photographed after unpacking and resting on arrival, was this juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at Lagoa dos Salgados (Pera Marsh), it did not flinch as the car pulled up alongside it on the parking area by the lagoon. When it eventually arose I could see why it was so confiding, it's right wing hung down and was almost scraping the sand. It stayed not far away the whole time I was there. The next day at Pera Marsh there were a group of people at the shore of the lagoon and as luck had it they were from RIAS, Center for Rehabilitation and Research Wildlife. They had just released several Duck species that they had recuperated. I told them of the Gull and surprisingly the Gull appeared out of the ploughed furrows surrounding the lagoon, as it could not fly it was never going to be far away I suppose. They managed to circle the bird and capture it. They are e-mailing me of the Gulls progress. The wing was broken, they immobolised the wing to allow the fracture to heal properly and after a couple of weeks they would begin a physiotherapy programme. The last e-mail from RIAS was on the 11th Nov and they informed me that the Gull was now in the artificial lake for some flight training and they hope to release the Gull very soon. I am so pleased that they were able to recuperate the Gull. Strange how events happen, seeing and talking to the very friendly people from RIAS on that Sunday at Pera Marsh was a stroke of luck for the Gull!

I will update as and when I hear more news on the Yellow-legged Gull, which RIAS inform me is a female.

O'er the fields!....13th & 14th November 2010

My weekend began with a surprise visitor early on Saturday morning! A Blackcap (m) in my garden feeding on the halved apples that I have started to put out on the apple trees now that the weather is decidedly colder! I have for the past 3 years had a pair of Blackcaps in my garden during the first week of December, so this was a welcome surprise to see one so early. I have to say I have not spotted one since, they normally linger on the apples which gives me a chance of spotting them!

Anyway, that was a great start to my day so off I went to the Fisheries with a bounce in my step (by car in reality.lol)!! My first sighting was a flock of Siskins, lovely to see and hear as they flew from one tree to the next. Scanning the fields I could see fairly large numbers of Starlings and Redwings feeding . A couple of Pheasants pranced about looking very agitated, nothing new there then.lol! Magpies, Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were also numerous in the fields. A Buzzard was heard and then sighted, it was being mobbed by a couple of Crows. Sparrowhawk x 2, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Robin and Blackbird were other species seen, surprisingly no Long-tailed Tits today. It felt a warm sunshine this morning so off came my gloves as I walked but the hat stayed on, well all your heat escapes from your head.lol!! After a couple of hours of 'Saturday solitude' I headed for home.

The weather on Sunday morning was not so inspiring being dull, gloomy and quite cold. The afternoon brightened a little, just a little, so a walk down Sugar Loaf Lane bridlepath was the chosen destination. Not too much to see down the bridlepath, the odd Blackbird was as good as it got, though Blackbirds 'bless em' are lovely to see at anytime. Instead of walking the length of the bridlepath a walk along the Public Footpath through one of the fields was a good idea as it turned out. The horses in the field looked friendly enough, thankfully they were.lol!! Fieldfares..at last!!! My first sighting of them this Autumn/Winter! Not close views were had of them but they were still great to see! Redwings were also seen in the berry trees along the hedgerow along with Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Chaffinch. The highlight (apart from the Fieldfares) were the Corvids coming into roost. Various sized flocks flew high above the fields and with the sun eventually appearing late afternoon the sunset made a super back-drop to the spectacle. The only thing that spoilt the view were the electricity pylons, then again these were being used for roosting so not all bad I suppose!

Brandon Marsh WWT....07/11/2010

Once again Brandon Marsh didn't fail to please!
A sunny but cool in the shade day today. On arrival in the car park a male Bullfinch was spotted feeding on the berries looking splendid in the sunshine.

Highlights today were a Goldeneye (f) on East Marsh Pool and a smart looking Water Rail put in a brief appearance in front of the East Marsh Hide. Viewed from the Carlton hide were Bullfinch (2x m + 1 f ) feeding on the berries along with Redwings and Blackbirds with just a Grey Heron seen on the water. A walk in the afternoon along the path around Swallow Pool was productive! Great views of 3 Goldcrests feeding close together on the brambles opposite New Hare Covert were a delight along with 3 Robins who seemed to be having a territory ding-dong. A perched Green Woodpecker was a joy to see through the scope as was a distant perched Buzzard. A flock of c25 Redpoll sp flew overhead and numerous Redwings were seen flying to the berry trees in the Covert and a couple of Siskins called as they also flew overhead.

The trees and vegetation along the walk were a feast for the eyes. A lovely season is late Autumn but give me summer anyday.lol!!

Fisheries, Wassell Grove....06/11/2010

A sunny Saturday morning, perfect for an amble around the Fisheries! Not long after arriving I saw 4 large flocks of Woodpigeons flying high overhead, one flock consisted of c100. Redwings were the highlight for me today as they fed on the berries, such a smart looking little bird! Other highlights were a flock of LTT's, Chaffinch, Raven x2 and Blackcap (f), with Green Woodpecker, Wren and Buzzard heard only.
A refreshing start to what turned out to be a good weather weekend for a change.

Enville Hall Estate....30/10/2010

This was my first visit to Enville Hall Estate and most enjoyable it was too, especially so with all the Autumnal colour of the trees and shrubs! The walk began from Compton Road and along the bridleway/public footpath that leads to the Estate and passing fields and hedgerows on the way. The views were stunning as the areas opened as we walked, the Autumnal colours on the trees and shrubs looked a real treat! Eventually we reached Enville Hall after taking rather a long time along the way to listen and look for wildlife. A pleasant surprise was to see a female Goosander on Temple Pool, other species on the pool were Coot, Teal, Mallards and Canada Geese. Highlights of the walk were a flock each of Long-tailed Tit, Redwing and Greylag, Blue & Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Wren, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. Raven and Green Woodpecker heard only. Plenty of Jackdaws, Crows and Pheasants were in the fields! One tree that caught the eye was a large Yew tree that was laden with red berries, I could imagine it filled to bursting with Waxwings, Redwings and Fieldfares but not to be today though a Goldcrest was still a treat to see as it flitted amongst the branches!
The walk took roughly four hours, not that it is a long walk I may add. There was just so much to savour along the way that this walk could not be rushed. A fish and chip supper went down a treat on returning home.

Autumn images.

After a summer that never really materialised it has been refreshing to see such wonderful Autumnal colours in parks, lanes and woodlands. The photo's were taken at Enville Hall Estate, Wollescote park and in my garden.




THE COLOURS OF AUTUMN.

As I was walking down the street,
Something fell beside my feet.
I stopped and looked into the air,
Leaves were falling everywhere!
Brown, yellow, red, orange, gold, and green . . .
The colors of autumn;
An awesome scene!

~~By PocketStr.~~