BRT2 and a good winter walk

Some excellent information and opinion in patches on Birdforum today regarding this occurrence. The site has a mixed membership...but there are some excellent contributions from some experienced Birders. There has been some debate over the age of this bird...things leaning now towards an adult.

 

The more important question is it's origin. We have THREE wintering thrushes in Britain at the moment. Two definitely from Asia and maybe the BRT? Some of the Asian populations are more migratory...it seems. I'm trying to convince myself!

 

Some previous rare winter thrushes have turned up in urban locations...i.e. NEUMANN'S THRUSH, male 1990 at Woodford Green, London. It was my first (reasonably) long distance twitch. Wish I'd have made the GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER the year before!!! Ah well...

 

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Made the most of a glorious, clear winter's day. Love the high pressure...when it's not foggy!

 

BIG sky

I needed a good walk after all the indulgence and this was the perfect remedy. I was soon seeing some decent stuff.

 

Pinkfeet (28) disappearing over the Humber...

 

 

Then a group of White-fronts (10) in the flooded stubble...

 

 

I was going to continue onto Welwick Marsh to look for the PALLID HARRIER but there were a few Birders looking and I spared them an introduction to Bud! A nice view of a Short-eared Owl on my return walk was ample compensation...

 

 

It finally settled on the marsh...

 

 

The overlooked Reed Bunting posed nicely in the fading light...

 

 

The sun disappeared at 3.44pm...days are getting longer...

 

BRT...plus late DT!

Left Holmpton at 3.55am. Much care needed on Snakey and beyond due to fog and ice. Once through McDonalds things obviously improved as I headed down the M18 towards the M1.

Stow-on-the-Wold was a new site for me and it took some getting to. I eventually arrived at the designated car park at 7.30. The bird had already been reported on the Pager! I played it (reasonably) cool and let Bud relieve himself and have a good stretch after the 3.5 hour journey. After finally figuring out the meter I made my way with some other pilgrims to the designated site...a housing estate. There were two viewing options, neither great but at least it was a partial view of the said garden. Thankfully it wasn't a direct view into the house! More on that later.

Fortunately I'm tall so I had as good a view as any but it still wasn't ideal...

8.29am it popped into view...just...

The bird was on view for around 10 minutes and then it dropped back down into the garden and out of view. It was still very dull but I'd seen it so I returned to the car to give the lad some more exercise. I bumped into some familiar faces from Yorkshire, namely Mark and Joel, it was good to see them again. After the dog walk and the sound of Nuthatches I returned to find the site abandoned?!

The bird must have moved I thought...I'm quick like that! Sure enough I took the next street and there was the admiring crowd, thankfully spread out now at the head of a cul-de-sac, enjoying great views of the bird in the sun, on a chimney...

not that apparent

Better...

I like this pic...I don't use photoshop lol

Maybe a cliff substitute? The aspect was perfect and the bird eventually made it's way around the stack into the sun...

Do I see cake on the bill!

This situation was VERY fortunate, as fog was extensive on both journeys, not to mention black ice...whoops I just have!

Just one more...

Now then...provenance?

Much (understandable) debate on-line. A bird hopping around an estate in December with possible injuries and eating cake! Surely an escape? Long time readers will know I have had various opinions on controversial occurrences. For what it's worth...I have absolutely no idea!!! Early days and more "evidence" may come to light but as it stands I have hopes for this one.

Could it view the stone houses as rocks...for example?

As always, I make a decision to travel (or not) to see a bird...then I wait for the decision...and abide by it, regardless of whether I agree with it or not. Simple. I have my private list but my BOU list is the one that matters...to me.

I left around 10.30am and tried to negotiate a safe route back to the M1. Not easy. I had one hairy moment with a stretch of black ice. The old girl steadied herself superbly though. Much better than the Golf that was in the ditch around the bend!

Lunch in Banbury and onto the M1.

Having been in Texas I'd not seen the DUSKY THRUSH at Beeley, Derbys. Be rude not to...as the saying goes. Again, another awkward journey but I eventually arrived around 3pm. We walked the short distance along...

Unfortunately viewing was distant...VERY distant...

It was in the field on the hill between the two large trees, c150 yds!

Still, I managed a decent view through a kind chaps 'scope. A brighter, if more distant view than in Margate Cemetery at dusk, when I was the last birder to see it.

For the record...

A nice re-introduction to British Birding...

Blue Rock Thrush?

Just landed home after the eating and drinking competition!

Pager had been on silent the whole time...sign of age.

To go...or not to go...to Stow-on-the Wold? Surely an escape...but...after the Chinese Pond Heron?

It's a day out...

Merry Christmas!

Just a few words to wish you a great day. An early start for me with my Grandson at 6am. Just re- reading a couple of posts on my new phone. Sad I know! Judging by the errors... I need a rest!

Catch up

I've got a bit of time and I'm feeling more "with it" so in order not to fall to far behind I thought I'd do another day report from my trip. Let's face it...these are dark days, so I've no excuses!

 

Post dates and actual dates have got "out of flunter" somewhat! No matter.

 

Thursday 15th December

 

As usual I was out at dawn and down at Bentson hoping for an Oriole sighting. I didn't get one but I had great if dull views of a Hawk by the visitors centre.

 

 

Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks are very similar and my experience is obviously limited. I waited for the sun to rise and hoped the bird would remain longer enough for a better view...

 

 

 

The pale neck emphasising the dark cap and the plump build make this a Cooper's for me. Nothing else of note seen but here's a nice comparison between a Great-tailed Grackle and a Red-winged Blackbird...

 

 

A GREAT tail indeed...

 

 

It was now time to leave the RGV after our 12 day stay. We'd covered most areas and sites including quite a few I've never been to before, which was nice. The weather had been kind with hardly any rain and temps mainly in the 70's/80's which was what we were hoping for in our escape from the British winter! We both agreed to do it again next year...all being well.

 

The AMAZON KINGFISHER was obviously the star bird and a massive bonus. I was pleased to pick out the Eurasian Wigeon amongst the countless waterbirds on Laguna Atascosa and finally get great, conclusive looks at a Black-throated Gray Warbler. I also managed to see most of the Rio Grande Speciality Birds, Audubon's Oriole being the big miss...boy did I try for that one! Zone-tailed Hawk would have been nice also. I didn't try for Hook-billed Kite this time as there had been no recent reports.

 

We left the Motel around 11 and headed for New Braunfels and Lorna Clevenger's house. She'd told me to go straight in and wait as she was at work. If you remember I'd missed "Clyde" by a day in March so I was hoping to see him and add him to my Texas list on this visit. There was a problem however...a Rufous Hummingbird had muscled in on the feeders and was dominating proceedings. She was seeing less and less of Clyde! I'd got to know Lorna reasonably well and I was hoping this situation could be resolved as she'd become very attached to this Texas rarity over the last 3 winters...

 

Her number plate...

 

Clyde Calliope Hummingbird New Braunfels

Amazing how this 3 inch bird (the smallest breeder in North America) returns to the same tiny area.

 

We waited until 5 but only saw the enemy...

 

Rufous Hummingbird

We also enjoyed amazing views of an Eastern Pheobe which behaved in a very tame way. At one point I thought it was going to land on Louise...not sure how that would have gone down!

 

 

Lorna then arrived home from work. It was great to see her again. We stayed and chatted until 6pm. She told me that she had the day off tomorrow and that I was welcome to come around again form dawn. I thanked her and we left for the Motel just down the road.

 

Friday 16th December

 

I arrived at 6.50am. I made her jump as she came out of the back door to see me standing in the garden! She made me a drink of coffee and we waited. Lorna is finally tuned to this bird and can see and hear him in an instant...which was hopefully going to be a help. The Rufous appeared! No sign of Clyde.

 

7.30...8.00 still no sign. It would obviously have been a disappointment to me to miss this bird again BUT nothing in comparison to Lorna's sadness at losing her "friend".

 

8.24am..."Hi Clyde" she called!!! I couldn't see or hear anything. "Hi, little fella" she called again?

 

She pointed to a bush some 30 feet away. There hidden in a gap was Clyde...

 

 

 

This bird definitely has a relationship with Lorna and responds to her calls and movements...it's amazing! A very poignant moment for her to see that he was still around...I was quite pleased as well! I spent another hour or so with them then went back to the Motel to pick up Louise. We returned and finally said goodbye around 12, as we had to head to Fort Worth for my CBC tomorrow.

 

Below are a few images of Lorna's friend...

 

Huddled up in the early morning rain

Sheltering in the bush

 

 

One of my very best Texas memories...

 

 

Landed and Lagged

Back home but head still somewhere else! Still, time to recover now, well at least until Christmas Day when my grandson wakes at some unearthly hour!!!

I have lots still to tell from my trip but it may be delayed somewhat for obvious reasons...

Winding down

The last three days have been crazy...but great fun! Hence the lack of posts due to the Birding and travelling...plus the dodgy internet at the Motel.

Apologies...I'm sure you've survived!

Anyway, I feel I need more time to do justice to these days, so this is just a re-fresh. I had some luck this morning and I'm trying for American Woodcock at dusk. A bit hairy but I've promised Louise I'll have her at the Airport for 7...ish!!!
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So ends another great Texas adventure...

Santa Ana

11am until 5.30pm

 

A relaxed "no rush" day, just seeing what came my way...ahhhhhhhh!

 

I started at the feeders around the back of the visitor centre. I was disappointed to find no oranges present as I was hoping to see an Oriole? I did eventually get a brief visit from a Buff-bellied Hummingbird...

 

 

First bird of note in the still lifting mist was a stunning if distant White-tailed Kite...

 

 

We enjoyed a good 2 hours just walking the reserve in a pleasant 70F. I showed Louise the Pauraque...but she had to find it first...

 

 

She did...with a few clues...

 

 

Time to leave it be...

 

 

I was also able to point out Olive Sparrow further along the track...

 

 

Pleased with this one in the heavy shade. A difficult bird to see never mind photograph...he says modestly!

 

The sun had broken through by mid-afternoon and the temperature had risen! I was still hoping for an Oriole sighting, as 3 species had been reported on eBird the day before...namely Altamira, Audubon and Hooded.

 

The reserve looked well...

 

 

I stood in some cover and scanned across the pool into the sun...

 

 

Was it a mirage? No, it was an Oriole on steroids...Altamira!! Trouble was it was at least 100 yards away across the water...and it was hot...and I can't run...cue violins.

 

You get there as quick as you can, right?

 

I made my way around the edge of the pool trying to figure out where the tree I'd seen it in was, whilst trying not to fall over. I had another brief sighting but the bird flew off. The only plus was that the bird looked like an orange beacon in the bright sunlight. Then I looked up above the path and there sat preening about 30 feet up was this...

 

 

Overjoyed to find one but frustrated with the view through the vegetation. I tried to get a better position but it was impossible, so I settled for what I had. Then, another! The two birds sat preening for a good couple of minutes before flying of strongly when harassed by a Kiskadee...

 

Not the best BUT illustrates the point I think

Before they left...

 

 

I personally love capturing images like this. Much more of a challenge than the picture postcard type...and that COLOUR!!! A tremendous experience with an iconic species.

 

On my return I spotted another favourite surveying it's domain...

 

 

It looked magnificent in the full sun...

 

 

Just love this bird!

 

My final stop was on the levee to wait for a hoped for Hooded/Audubon's Oriole. The eBird report was from this location. It was gone 5pm by now and the sun was sinking fast. Plenty of Kiskadees present but nothing else. I just checked my app (big mistake) to check some info', I looked up and there in a tree for a brief moment was the male Hooded Oriole! Of course by the time I'd lifted my camera the Kiskadees had chased it off. ill I never learn? Probably not!

 

Still a great day...in a great place.

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Today (Thursday) we drove 4 hours North to New Braunfels to try for Clyde. No luck this afternoon but I'm back again at dawn for another try.

Stay tuned...
 

Heading north for Clyde?

Short one tonight after a great evening at the Texas Roadhouse. Louise was ill overnight which meant a late start. no problem, we just spent a relaxed day at Santa Ana.

I'll do a write up tomorrow night. 

We leave the Valley in the morning and head North to New Braunfels. I hopefully have a date with a little friend called Clyde who I missed by a day in March...

Calliope Hummingbird

Out East

We headed east this morning to build a day out around 2 target birds. Namely Aplomado Falcon  and Tropical Parula.

After the problems around Rio Hondo (bridge closed) and San Benito (everything!) we went South on 69E to the 100. A great decision as we had a clear run to the first AF stake out. It was another beautiful day with a gentle breeze.

 

I gave it 30 minutes at 2 sites the second providing very distant and hazy views through the scope of a Falcon in it's nest cage. I was hoping for a stunning view and pic...as always!?

 

Onward...

 

We then took on the horrendous pot-holed road to Laguna Atascosa. On the way we had great views of my favourite Hawk...

 

Harris's

Such a cool bird. Impressive equipment!

 

The visitor centre is closed Tuesday and Wednesday but no matter as my target bird was within the grounds and the short Kiskadee trail...

 

 

I gave it my full attention for 2 hours in 88F but didn't see anything! I tried...

 

We then headed out to the coast at South Padre Island (yet another "cool" name). My first Brown Pelican of the trip didn't take long to materialize on the impressive approach bridge. We headed north up the island towards the Birding Centre. Louise loves the Pelicans so we stopped off for lunch to watch them by the quay...

 

 

We enjoyed a wonderful hour watching these birds which are packed with personality including some hilarious scenes as they waited for scraps from a fisherman...

 

 

They did allow close approach...

 

 

We then moved on to the Birding Centre. I've been to a few sites in my time but this building tops the lot!!!

 

 

I spent an enjoyable couple of hours walking the boardwalks over the Mangroves. I passed this chap on the way in...

 

 

The sun was dazzling but I managed a few shots of the fare on offer...

 

Great Egret

American Wigeon

Both Pelican species in the distance through the heat haze, emphasising how huge the Whites are!

 

American Coot

The stunning Little Blue Heron

 



The final item of note was my attempt to get a decent picture of the 2 mobile Belted Kingfishers. Very vocal, powerful and mobile! My last attempt was to sit in the much needed shade, under one of the rest areas and wait. I'd seen one, or both perched on a sign some 30yds away earlier. 20 minutes, no luck. Then I heard one to my left. I looked across and there was a bird on another sign out in the bay. I made my was a stealthily as I get towards it...

 

 

Using the trusty zoom I managed a decent image...

 

 

Then another noise behind me...you guessed it the other bird was perched on the sign near the site I'd just left! That's Birding...