Introducing...The 'On foot from home' list...2010

I'm not sure how to play this one. I might yet try some Biodiversity listing at home? Once the moth trapping starts...

Meanwhile, on foot around Howick the bird list stands at 58. The area is about 'tetrad' sized or so.

Best so far...

Birds -

Red throated Diver 3
Woodcock 11 in 3 days
Raven 2
Lesser Redpoll 8+
Snow Bunting 2

Mammals - List stands at 2

Wood Mouse
Roe Deer

Roostwatch...

After another couple of inches of snow fell through the night getting to work was proving a bit tricky today. At lunchtime when the snow started falling again, quite heavily, I decided to get home before it got dark. This meant I could get into position in the hide, er, porch, to await roost action.

Bang on queue they arrived, well 1 did, then another and another until a final flurry of 4 together and the Wren roost was full of 13 individuals. The Raven pair flew steadily past to their preffered area, just as 2 Woodcocks flew in to the copse behind our shed to begin a cold night trying to find food.

Not a bad evening. Its all in the timing...

As its too dark to photograph the Wrens, the drawing shows how they cling up the stone door frame before heading inside...

Last day before work. It was freezing still but bright and calm. Most of my day was spent on chores before the dreaded day tomorrow but one or two things showed.

This morning 7 Fieldfares and 9 Redwings had joined several hundred Skylarks in the back rape field. Two Woodcocks flushed from the garden copse by I'm not sure what?

At dusk, 4pm, I waited in our porch overlooking the outhouse for Wren activity. The Ravens arrived from the north again as per usual and a Woodcock flew out from the copse presumably to feed. It headed down to the shore, which is quite strange, but I wonder if they eat sandhoppers under seaweed?

Between 4.07pm and 4.20pm 9 Wrens popped straight into their roost without much hesitation. I thought there would be more? Due to work I'll probably miss them tomorrow but I'll keep looking when I can.

That outhouse must be comfy, what with Swallows and Wasps nesting in summer and now Wrens roosting...

Keeping it local today...

More snow fell last night, about an inch or so. 2 Common Gulls in the garden eating seed meant for more worthy customers was quite unusual.

I had a good walk around the patch keeping a list of what's what, that I'll update once I've counted up. Of note were -

Pink footed Geese 490 S split into about 4 skiens.
Skylarks 300+ still.
Snow Bunting 2, 1 S and one with 200 Skylarks in the hayfield behind the Bathing House. Photo of some of the flock below...



Siskin / Redpoll flock increased to 40 birds. Impossible to get seperate counts.



Woodcock 8 was an excellent count. I tracked one to is rest spot (see prints and probe spot above), before it did its usual evasion tactics.



Quite a few thrushes on the coast path included this Redwing associating with a Rock Pipit on seaweed.
Golden Plover 26.
Raven 2 at dusk flying over the back field in full voice.

But my highlight came from one of our commonest birds. The Wren. At dusk Jane was looking out of the kitchen window when she drew my attention to a flock of small birds that had flown to our gutters. About 10 or so? I went to the porch for a better look and found Wrens clinging all over our wall and on Jane's car wipers, wing mirrors etc before the whole lot flew into our boiler shed to roost! The were huddled into the old Swallow's nest with tails sticking outwards. Altogether now....aaaaah.

I have read of communal roosts of Wrens before but have never seen it in all these years. Tomorrow I'll be waiting to get a proper count....

At lunchtime I did an atlas square at Longhoughton seeing 37 species including another 2 Woodcock and 3 Snipe.

The cold spell looks set to continue...

Today was blowing a force 8 ENE gale and it was bitterly cold. A lot of the snow has melted but the roads are still icy.

I toted the bins and scope around the village this afternoon just to get back into the swing of things.

In the copse next to the garden were 3 Bullfinches feeding on nettle seeds, 4 Redwings and 3 Song Thrushes feeding on a frost free sheltered bit of field. I had another 5 Song Thrushes in my short walk and another half dozen Redwings.

A short freezing seawatch over a mountainous high tide was, as usual for the time of year, quiet but I was pleased with 24 Kittiwakes including one with Black headed Gulls feeding in the Rumbling Kern cove. 3 Red throated Divers and 2 adult Gannets flew N.

On the way back a flock of 7 Lesser Redpolls and a male Siskin were in the usual spot but there was no sign of my suspected Mealy from the other day.

Here the 2 Ravens were soaring and harassing a Buzzard. The Ravens were bigger so the Buzzard was probably male. One Raven briefly did some upside down display rolls while calling, which is always good to see.

The oddity of the wander was a single Canada Goose wandering around the back field for most of the day.

Looking at my stats for 2009 I see that I had 60,558 hits in the 12 months. Now, with 53 followers, there has been a massive increase in traffic since last January. I hope every one continues to pop in and leave comments...Cheers.

MMX.

Click on any picture for a larger image...

A nice snowy Christmas this year, at home, looked like this -

Our house...



the village...



and looking back towards our house in the trees from the coast road.Nice and scenic. But thats not snow, no, this is snow...


The day after Boxing Day we headed north, to Speyside hoping to do some bracing winter walks and maybe take in some specialities like Crested Tit, Capercaillie and the King Eider with two Snow Geese on the coast.

Well those plans were pie in the sky. We arrived at Bynackbeg, Nethy Bridge on Monday afternoon at 3pm when the temperature was a record breaking -17 degrees in the villages and everything was covered in 18 inches of snow.



Our holiday home with superb underfloor heating, thank god.



On stepping outside you instantly became a foot taller...



Jane and Bunty doing a 'Shackleton'....




Everything frozen and coated with snow and ice...



Hard times for the Blue Tit. We saw very little else. Birds must have moved out and left only the feeder visitors to hold the fort...




Every morning was the same. Snow falling to about 8 - 10" through the night and me cleaning off a bogged down car. Luckily it was much warmer now. -8.



This bush looked like either, and make up your own minds, the Sphynx or Dougall from the Magic Roundabout...



Right up to the windows....



the main access roads were looking well...



The picnic chairs weren't much use and the gutters collapsed later with the weight...





Far too deep for a terrier, so what was she to do? What she usually does when confused - dig for it. The birch trees behind are all bent under the weight of snow.






As the snow built up, I couldn't even get into the car let alone drive it. The sweeping brush is not pushed in to the bottom. By now the level ground was 2 feet deep and fences were 3 to 4 feet...



On New Years Day we were rescued by a farmer with a bulldozer...



and we finally escaped back home. Taking 6 hours to do 240 miles. Thanks to our neighbours in confinement, Simon, Jo and the children Molly and Matthew who also were freed but had to drive home to Plymouth the same day (they made it safe and sound), we managed to stay sane .

After such a multitude of snow scenes making Boulmer Birder look like Whitchwood Ramblings, I will not be doing anymore scenic snow scenes until next Christmas.

Never have we been so glad to get home...

Happy New Year!

Lets start 2010 with an 'annual report' of the Boulmer Birders monthly highlights of 2009.

January...

New Year on Speyside in temperatures down to -6 degrees. Birds on New Years day included Crested Tit, Hooded Crow and Red Grouse.

My first lifer of the year came early on 8th with the adult Glaucous winged Gull on Teesside, supported by a fw Glaucous Gull both on the same ice.

On 24th work commenced on improvements to our new house in Howick curtailing many weekends thereafter.

February...

Started with snow and ice. My new garden list also started. A hard weather movement on 12th had birds flocking to our coast and a short walk had 65 Skylarks, 120 Fieldfares,20 Redwings and 7 Snipe on the coast path.

The first Fulmars were flying over the garden on Valentines day.

My first moths of the year paved the way to a more concentrated effort that will continue into 2010 and beyond. 4 Pale brindled Beauty were on the wall of the local Spar shop.

The the first new garden and patch highlight of the year. One Raven on 28th was joined by a second in March and were my first coastal birds in Northumberland.

March...

The Ravens were on the garden list on the 13th and 15th. On 15th the first butterflies were a Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock in the garden.

On 17th a Yellow horned Moth on the Spar wall was a good north Northumberland record.

Near the month end, 3 Chiffchaffs started off the spring on 29th at Howick.

April ...
No fool on the 1st when 3 Wheatears were near home on the coast path.

On 6th and Early Grey moth was another good Spar shop record.

Sand Martins arrived back at Howick on 7th followed by a pair of Swallows on 11th and Willow Warbler and Blackcap on 12th.

We finally moved house on 17th.

What a moving in present when a male Marsh Harrier showed well from our porch on the 21st!

During the last week of April other migrants at home included Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and House Martin.

May.

My second Marsh Harrier arrived on 3rd when a female flew north over the pond field.

On 5th a Blue headed Wagtail was a stunner in with cattle near the coast path.

The 6th produced both Lesser and Common Whitethroats as well as a few Bird's Nest Orchids in the estate woods.

More spring birds were added with Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Swift and Common Tern. A few Turnstones and Whimbrel trickled through too, with 7 of the latter calling as they flew north over the garden.

The first Wall Brown was seen on 11th.

Some 'weather' on 17th had me off to Holy Island for some migrants. Pied Flycatcher, Marsh Harrier and a day flying Nightjar were the best. None of these were consolation for missing a Turtle Dove at our village duck pond early on.

On 19th a Cuckoo was heard from our garden plus 4 Noctule Bats showed well feeding at dusk over the pond.

My first Northumberland Speckled Wood was in the pond field on 23rd.

Up the Harthope Valley on 24th. Mother Shipton moth was a lifer for me as they are a scarce species in Northumberland. 6+ Redstarts, Tree Pipit and Whinchat also brightened the day.

Back home on Bank Holiday 25th had my first evening seawatch. Manx Shearwater, Arctic Tern, Red throated Diver, Puffin and Razorbill were all added to the patch year list.

At the months end Badgers featured but it was a shame to find a roiad casualty near home.

June -

The Barn Owls near home began a pattern of hunting right outside our kitchen window that continued right until late August.

One of the years ultimate highlights for me was my first ever self found Northumberland Golden Oriole. A first summer male took up residence in Village Wood for several hours on 18th allowing a few keen birders to twitch it from as far as Newcastle. When it stopped singing at midday it melted away into the canopy and was not seen again.

On 20th a family of 4 Bottle nosed Dolphins gave us a private display in the evening on a flat calm sea just in our little cove, jumping clear of the water before swimming further offshore.

15 Caterpillars of Mullein moth were on verbascum on our drive. A great record only the second record for Northumberland. I will try and catch an adult in spring this year...

The last week of the month was spent on holiday in the New Forest chasing the dragon. No, its not 'Trainspotting', Im talking about odonata, dragon and damselflies. I saw plenty including several new species with a southern distribution including Downy Emerald, Southern Damselfly and Beautiful Demoiselle. Butterflies were exciting too with Silver washed Fritilliary, White Admiral and Emperor.

July -

In what can be a slow month up here I was pleased to be told about some Red veined Darters near Newbiggin. I saw 8 on 14th along with Black tailed Skimmer one of few county records.

Roseate Terns showed well from the coast path early in the month.

A couple of parties of Crossbills were seen and Green Sandpiper was on the Hall pond mid month.

My third Marsh Harrier of the year on the home patch was seen flying north offshore on 25th.

From late in July I scrutinised the garden buddleia's form moths at night finding scarce county moths such as Least Yellow Underwing, Shuttle shaped Dart and Common Footman.

August -

A calling Quail heard from our garden was a good start on 7th.

I was suprised and pleased with an early Icterine Warbler, self found at Fenham le Moor on 9th. Roseates continued to show off our point at home with 1 ad and 2 juvs on the same date.

Bulrush Wainscot was found in the village phonebox.

On 19th and excellent county tick turned up at Cresswell when a Semi palmated Sandpiper showed well.

Moth trapping proper started on 20th when Tom Tams loaned me a Skinner Trap. I was well in there on 22nd with a catch of 283+ moths of which 171 were Large Yellow Underwings!

On 24th a mad dash up to the Farnes for a British lifer - Yellow breasted Bunting turned out to be a wild goose chase, but the Ortolan on show was nice all the same.

September -

On 8th an Osprey on a local telegraph pole was a real joy, totally unexpected too.

The seawatching wasn't up to much really but a Sabines adult north at Newbiggin was appreciated.

The wheel came off on 26th with Northumberlands second Glossy Ibis in 100 years at Druridge. A massice twitch ensued but we needn't have panicked. The bird was faithful to Druridge for another month!.


October -

Some good moths this month with Red Underwing, 2 Merveille du Jour, 2 Blair's shoulder Knot and rarest of all a Tawny Pinion.


On the 11th JWR and myself found a Barred Warbler in the hedge behind the Heugh at Craster.

Then the highlight of 2009 came on 22nd when an Eastern Crowned Warbler was found at South Shields in Trow Quarry after being mis -id'd as a Yellow brow! Luckily it was still showing well on 23rd for me. Although I saw a couple in China last year this did not detract from this first UK record only an hour from home.

0n 25th 2 male Firecrests showed well in Howick Dene.

November -

On the 8th I added a stringy Snow Goose to my county list on the b asis that everyone else does so why not me.

On 29th a good seawatch included 2 Black throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers and 2 Long tailed Ducks all on the patch.

December -

Came and went with little to show except for the cold spell around Christmas. Lapland Buntings, Jack Snipe, Merlins and Long tailed Ducks were good off patch records and 500 Skylarks in the field behind our house was a good count.

Finally at the months end 2 Ravens returned to my Village, bringing 2009 full circle.

Happy New Year everyone. Keep wildlife watching and dont get too down in the mouth during the quiet spells. Retire, regroup and get back in the saddle there's always something interesting just around the corner.

Merry Christmas all...

-2 through the night but a balmy 2 degrees today has resulted in a minor thaw.

Although we haven't been far today, a couple of dog walks was quite good and produced one or two things of note.

This morning a short walk around the coast path had 42 Fieldfares over the back field with the hundreds of Skylarks and 19 Grey Partridges were near the farm. A flock of about 10 Redpolls were in the alders along the lane and although they were very flighty I glimpsed a white rump on one as it preened briefly showing that it is likely to be a Mealy. Its a shame I couldn't get a better look. A Marsh Tit was in the hedge near the village.

At lunchtime we took a walk to check on the swans at the pond. All three were on the ice with only a bath sized area of water remaining frost free. In the Village Wood we flushed 2 Woodcock from one spot and a male Blackcap was feeding in the ornamental pink rowans before being shown the way by a beligerent Mistle Thrush.

On our return I heard a Raven call to the south. On looking around, a single bird was flying from the farm to the Village wood calling regularly. As we lost sight of it behind the trees, a second flew from the village, from right over our house, and headed off to meet the first. These massive crows flushed all the pigeons from the wood and looked quite sinister on passing. Its great to hear them so close to home...

Merry Christmas to all, and thanks for all your comments.

An Exaltation...

...of Skylarks. Today the coast around here is absolutely lifting with them. Out in the back field (above, please click on it) were 500+ and another 2 - 300 were between the farm and the teepee. The flock behind us attracted the attention of this Sparrowhawk and one lark ended up as lunch.

In with the larks were a few Meadow Pipits looking very groggy now in the cold. Some scuffling along fence bottoms, dunnock fashion. A Fieldfare arrived from high this afternoon and pitched in to the same field. 5 Golden Plovers and 8 Lapwings were in the hayfield.

This afternoon I flushed another Woodcock when out collecting wood behind the hall.

Tom Cadwallender called me to say he had seen the two Ravens near the farm this morning before they flew off towards the dene. Despite a good walk down that way I had neither sight nor sound of them.

The sea is quiet with only one or two Eiders and 3 Goldeneye to be seen...

They're back!

At dawn this morning, well still dark but a hint of a glow over the sea was a taste of things to come, the very first bird I heard outside was - a Tawny Owl, closely followed by that distinctive cronking we all know and love - the Raven's have returned!!

Well I could hear one at its roost anyway. My neighbour, Julie saw them both on Saturday not far from here and I've been on the look out since. I hope to actually see them soon...

A walk up to the coast path with Bunty had a few migrants on the go. A nice Woodcock came in-off and carried on west as did 6+ Redwings and a few Blackbirds. Skylarks were calling unseen in the gloaming...

Today was my last day at work until the new year so I hope to get out and about a little bit, if I can find the time!

A Winter's Tale...

Through the night the temperature at home was -4 rising to -2 at daybreak, but scarcely moving above zero all day. Yesterday's snow froze into a crunchy hard icing over the landscape. Below is a trip with me on my circular walk of about a mile and a half from home...



Just about the only noteworthy thing on an eerily quiet day was a hard weather movement along the coast, with the following all going south -

Meadow Pipit 90
Skylark 136
Redwing 6
Grey Wagtail 1
Pink footed Goose 90+

On the walk through the Village wood and back by the Heugh were 9 Snipe (3 and 6) dropping into the running streams, 2+ Song Thrush, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Buzzard, 5 Siskin, 12 Grey Partridge, 1 male Stonechat and 5 Lapwings.

I couldn't even rumour a grey Gyr let alone a white one...

New Link...

Check out the new link on the right - Bird and Wildlife Illustration. This lad's got real talent, maybe the new Ian Lewington!

Day Dreaming...

Rumours of a big freeze have set me thinking.

Today, in the dark at 7.30am I heard Song Thrush, 2 or 3 Redwings, 1 Skylark over and saw 2 Blackbirds in torchlight near the coast path when I was out with Bunty. Are these just tardy migrants or are they the start of a hard weather movement ahead of the cold front?

Ipin has suggested that the temperature could drop to -15 degrees in the next few days. I think weather forecasters exaggerate a bit with bad weather just to cover their backs. If the forecast is right though, it should move some birds across the north sea from the more north easterly reaches of Europe. More Thrushes and Larks are likely with maybe things like Shorelarks and Lap Buntings, Wildfowl from the Baltic might carry a few Smew and Grebes and there could be Woodcock on the coast.

You never know, 2009 might be the year of another Tengmalms Owl, Hawk Owl, White winged Lark, Dusky Thrush or mainland Pine Grosbeak. The real jackpot would be one of those eastern Accentors that turn up rarely in Scandinavian countries, Siberian or Black throated...

A more likely scenario is that the forecast is about +15 degrees out and we get two days of frozen windscreens...

Oh well...'when I snap my fingers you'll be back in the room'...

This might be the end of the years Moths. Or maybe not.

This morning as I drove past Longhoughton Spar shop on my way to work, a glance over my shoulder and I could see a 'mark' on the white painted pebble dashing. Worthy of a check. A quick about turn and...The mark was a Pale Brindled Beauty (above) and along side were single Chestnut and Mottled Umber.

No need to fork out big bucks for a moth trap in winter eh!

I've just recieved the moth report for 2009 so far. In my short novice spell of mothing this year I've had 4 firsts, 5 seconds and 3 thirds for VC68! I hope 2010 is as good....

(Almost) Moth Free Zone...

After some complaints by licence payers saying that Boulmer Birder should now be Boulmer Moth-er I felt that I need to get back to basics. One commentator about this blog said that there are 2500 moths in the uk of which 2300 are brown and look the same. Philestines.( Although I can see his point!)

So this weekend is more 'birdy'...

Lets start with Saturday. It was cold, damp and foggy. For a change Bunty and I took our morning walk at Boulmer covering two stubble fields along the front, just behind the beach.

On the way, a short stop at the Spar shop in Longhoughton produced a single Mottled Umber on the wall.( Sorry I couldn't help it. Thats it honest.).

In the fields and hedgerows were -

12 Skylarks, 15 Meadow Pipits in one flock, 6 Snipe, 7 Grey Partridge and a Brown Hare. A small corner of game crop was quite good with 15+ Reed Buntings, 10+ Yellowhammers and 6+ Tree Sparrows.

On the shore, 2 male and 4 female Red breasted Mergansers flew north, 25+ Dunlin, 2 or 3 Sanderling and 3 + Bar tailed Godwits.

At home only one of the 3 Mute Swan cygnets remains on the pond. I'm not sure if the other two have flown off ? It will be interesting to see what happens to the last one... 2 Buzzards were in the Rectory.


Today.

A nice cold calm day with thick cloud at first, clearing gradually later on. A light NW breeze kept things 'sharp'.

I met up with Andy and Rob for a trip up north to Beal, the mainland side of Holy Island causeway. From here we had a long walk north to Goswick sands. Unfortunately the tide stayed quite distant keeping the seabirds well out.

4 juv Dark bellied Brent Geese and 1 Twite were the first birds seen on the saltmarshes. 3 Roe deer trotted through a damp area flushing a dark bird only feet before it took cover again. As we went to investigate, a Common Snipe towered away closely followed by a nice stocky little Jack Snipe that almost flew into Rob!

On the sea - at least 800+ ,and possibly as many as 1200, Common Scoter were the biggest flock I think I have ever seen. Dotted around about were 10+ Long tailed Duck including some nice males, 15+ Red breasted Merganser, 10+ Red throated Diver and 30+ Shag.



Above - If you remember there was a 'wanted' note for me in Birdwatch Magazine the other week? This is one they have returned to me, a timely Lapland Bunting from 1995...

The return journey was via a large stubble field, just behind the car park, near the end of the causeway that demanded further investigation. We spread out as we walked, seeing 30+ Skylarks and the usual flight views of 3 calling Lapland Buntings, a 2 and a 1. Poor views, but a good record nonetheless.



Above - Brents swimming the flooded causeway. Obviously they cant read.




Back at the car, the causeway was now covered by the tide and the wintering Pale bellied Brents were showing well with several hundred on show. A Merlin was overseeing them from a low rock on the marsh. This proved to be the first of three on my way home with two others, one over the A1 at Brownieside and one over the road at Denwick.

A good typical winters birding day in Northumberland...