Madeira....3rd-10th February 2014.

A week's holiday on the Island of Madeira was a great one, my first visit to this Portuguese archipelago. The weather was very good with just one day of rain,  a welcome respite from the downpours of rain and grey days in the UK.
I had pre-booked a days Guided Birdwatching with http://www.madeirawindbirds.com/ and a most enjoyable day it turned out to be with some special bird sightings, magnificent scenery and good company!

The highlight bird species seen were: Berthelot's Pipit ( Breeds in Madeira and the Canary Islands) Trocaz Pigeon and Madeira Firecrest  are both  endemic to the island of Madeira and  Atlantic Canary ( is endemic to the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira). Atlantic Canaries were to be seen and heard in many areas visited and were delightful to hear singing in the hotel gardens along with Blackcaps.
I was surprised to see Muscovy Ducks in good numbers in two areas visited, I have never come across them on mainland Portugal..

Madeiran Wall Lizards were abundant in rural and urban areas sunning themselves in hotspots! Numerous Monarch and a few Long-tailed Blue butterflies were a sheer delight to see!

 

 

 

 

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!

What a month! Rain, rain go away!

Muddy paths and wellies has been the norm this January.

Not many walks partaken due to the inclement weather but those that were taken were enjoyed.

Brake Mill Pools has been visited numerous times and on all but my last visit there on Wednesday (29th) there have been Goosanders on the water and lately Tufted Duck numbers have increased.

The fields alongside Brake Lane have held huge numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings recently and a couple of Common Buzzards were a delight to see perched on fence posts.

It has been a joy to see Blackcaps feeding on the fruit that I spike on to apple trees in my garden the last few weeks, a male and female seem to be alternating their visits.

January has passed by quickly which is not a bad thing considering the weather, hopefully February will be a much drier and sunnier month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Wychbury Hill and Obelisk

 

 

 

I believe this to be Yellow Brain Tremella mesenterica

 

and this to be Turkey Tail Trametes versicolor

 

A 'Grey' Start to 2014.

New Years Day was a washout from start to finish. Birds species seen to start the New Year were all seen in my garden, they being: Dunnock, Blackbird, Magpie, Blue and Great Tit, Robin , Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon.

The 2nd was a bright sunny day so I decided in the afternoon to go and have a look at the Great Grey Shrike that had been spotted on the 20th December (2013) in Hopwood, Worcestershire. Today was the first window I had to go and see the bird and fortunately it has stayed around and appears to be settled in well for the time being. After a short wait of 30 + minutes the bird had been spotted and it looked splendid as it perched and preened in the bright sunlight. Good scope views were enjoyed of the distant but great to see Great Grey Shrike! A super Lifer for the start of the new year!

Record images attached:

End of year visits to WWT Martin Mere and surrounding areas.... 27th-29th December 2013.

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I have just enjoyed a long weekend visiting WWT  Martin Mere also RSPB's Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh.

The highlight being the sight and sound of the Whooper Swans at Martin Mere and in surrounding fileds. Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit, Starling, Pink-footed Geese and Shelduck were a sheer joy to see and hear in great numbers. Barnacle Geese, Peregrine, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Golden eye and a special treat was seeing a Great Northern Diver on the water at Marine Lake in Southport. Sea watching was very difficult with the strong winds gusting, it was very hard to keep the tripod still, however distant views of literally thousands of Gulls on the seashore was lovely to see, closer views would have been a bonus!

 

A Ross's Goose at RSPB Marshside was a treat to see, I was informed that where it had arrived from was not known. It was still a delight to see such a pretty Goose.

On arrival at Martin Mere on Friday the wind was very strong with the gusts of wind increasing in speed during the afternoon, this led to the reserve being closed from around 3.00pm as at least one tree was looking to be near to falling.

 

It was a weekend of gusty winds, hail and rain showers and sunshine intermingled with sights and sounds of some superb bird species!

A great weekend 'Up North' to end a good birding year!

 

 

 

 

I wish a  Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New year to all in 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to catch up before the year end!

This year has been a funny one for blogging, why, I really do not know! I hope that 2014 will see me posting as and when trips/walks etc happen and not at least 2 months down the line!

Anyway, time to catch up on the present year.

September.

My first visit  to the Island of Jersey was most enjoyable. A delightful island and small enough to circumnavigate the island in one day, stopping at interesting and scenic areas along the way.  Several places of interest were visited and the International Air Display ( part of Battle of Britain Week) was a thrill to see and of course hear! The scenery as we drove around the Island was stunning in many areas! Birds were in all truthfullness thin on the ground, the Autumn migration had been but a trickle through of birds but had started to gain towards the end of the holiday week.  Early morning walks gave Rock Pipit, Little Egret, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Gull species on the shoreline and perched on rocks as they waited for the tide to recede.
I hope to return to Jersey sometime in the future.


Grosnez Castle Ruin.

 

 

 

Noirmont Point.

 

 

Jersey Lily.

 

 

 

The Red Arrows.

 

 

Wheatear at Noirmont Point.

 

 

 

Jersey Cattle grazing at St. Ouen's Pond.

 

 

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October.

 

I sighted my first of the Autumn Fieldfares over Whittington fields on the 12th.

 

 

 

 

Parrot Waxcap growing in my front lawn was a nice find!

 

 

 

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Portugal Holiday.

 

 

Bath White.

 

 

 

Praying Mantis

 

 

 

Clouded Yellow.

 

 

Crested Lark.

 

 

Cattle and Cattle Egret.

 

 

Zitting Cisticola.

 

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November.

 

 

Slimbridge 10th & 11th.

 

Highlights were the Common Cranes from the 'Great Crane Project', they were a treat to see fairly close with 5 being viewed at one point. There was also a 'wild' non-ringed Crane that had arrived at the reserve. Greylag, Canada and Barnacle Geese were around in good numbers but I had no luck finding a White-fronted or a Brent Goose.

A distant Green-winged Teal was a Lifer. Spot the Teal in the digi-scoped pic time!

 

 

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A Mandarin Duck was delight to see on and out of the water at Brake mill Pools on the 28th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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December.

 

A Grey Heron has visited my garden pond a few times and thankfully not able to reach the fish in my pond!

 

 

A male Blackcap was a welcome sight in my garden on the 18th. I have the past few years seen them much earlier in December, no doubt the mild weather delayed their need to start visiting gardens for food.

 

 

One more post of short trip 'Up North' is planned before the end of the year.......weather permitting of course with the trip.

 

 I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSeHMjQEz3E