Monday 24 June 2024
Heard but not Seen?
Tuesday 18 June 2024
Eeking
Tough going at this time of the Year. Full leaf and high crops. However there's always something to enjoy.
An early stroll down Seaside produced a surprising record (the best type). The remaining puddle...
...attracted a Grey Wagtail (P.102, H.88) albeit very briefly, partly due to an unintentional interruption by Bud!
Snakey produced with a soaring Lesser Black-backed Gull...
...Red-legged Partridge and male Sparrowhawk.
Saturday 15 June 2024
Songsters
Hello!
Still here but nothing much happening here at the moment, mainly due to...you guessed it...the Weather, which remains, shall we say...unseasonal!!!
Monday 10 June 2024
The British Weather!
Thursday 6 June 2024
Big Day Reflections
Phew! I enjoyed it immensely...which surprised me somewhat?
Visiting ALL areas of my Village Patch (some many times) was enjoyable. No rushing around, just spending time at various locations and habitats. I realize I was maybe a bit late for my attempt and the Weather while improved was less than optimal with a 20mph cool/cold Westerly for most of the day...I couldn't wait forever. At least it didn't rain!
There will be some inevitable repetition from yesterday's "diary posting" but hopefully it will be kept to a minimum? I hope to give a flavour of the "ups and downs" of a Bird Race, highlighting how much luck (both good and bad) is involved amongst the limited planning and hopefully plentiful local knowledge?
So, here we go. A pic of my only Fulmar on the first walk to the Sea...
Marsh Harrier |
Grey Partridge |
One here |
Meadow Pipit |
Reed Bunting |
Little Owl (50) |
Misses - (Species probable)
Wednesday 5 June 2024
Holmpton Big Day
9am update
I decided to narrow things down!
I started at 6. Sunny but a ridiculously cool 9c...feels like 6!!! I don't do "stupid'o'clock" these days...well, not often anyway.
Things going rather well. Early highlights on Bud walk down Seaside produced GSW, Blackcap, Fulmar, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Song Thrush. There was a constant stream of Sand Martins North also.
Snakey was on form . My best sighting considering the crops was a lone Grey Partridge tucked in a field margin. Other notables were Heron, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard Greenfinch and Yellowhammer.
Just added House Sparrow at Cliff Farm. Time for a Seawatch.
Total 37
Stay tuned...
1pm update
Things have inevitably slowed down somewhat...and that's putting it mildly! I've added Great Tit, Starling and a lone Black-headed Gull on the remaining Snakey pool. The wind has picked up...yet again and the Sea is...dead.
Quite a few glaring omissions, so plenty still to "go at"
Stay tuned...
Total 40
5pm update
The hoped for "Rarity" (contextually) appeared...and promptly disappeared South at 3pm in the form of a Red Kite! It was accompanied by c10 Swifts. I celebrated with a quick visit to Tesco. While having a bite in a layby I had a quick scan out to Sea and "jammed" a Gannet.
A return home for Bud coincided with the startling sight of a Heron on our back fence as I put the rubbish out. As I caught sight of it, it took off and flew low over my head!! A stroll down to the Sea notched Kestrel and a couple of Sandwich Terns.
Can I break 50? Bet you're on the edge of your seat!?.
Total 46
Stay tuned...
9.45 pm update
A really enjoyable day, despite the unfavorable Weather. I'll put some meat on the bones tomorrow...
Total 50
Tuesday 4 June 2024
Big Walk/Drive
Just for a bit of fun!
Tomorrow I'm going to have a mooch around the Patch, seeing how many Species I can come across on my wanderings. The Forecast is favourable, so let's give it a go!
I aim to post it as a running diary. You may wish to follow...you may not!!
This morning we had a stroll down to Old Hive...
Saturday 1 June 2024
Birdsong
As if to herald the start of Summer (Spring was a write off here), I heard Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff this afternoon, whilst tidying up the front garden (I still haven't been in the back!). Hopefully things are finally on the "up".
The continuous North Wind did have the benefit of stirring up some Seabird activity. I added Gannet (81)...
...and Kittiwake (82) to the Year List and enjoyed close views of Fulmar, Guillimot and Common Scoter...