Feeling Christmassy!

Although we get Fieldfares flying over the cemetery every Autumn, and even get some landing in the cemetery trees some winters, I don't think we've ever had a Fieldfare in the garden before. Redwings do come in after snowfalls now-and-again, but never a Fieldfare until yesterday. There were also plenty of Blackbirds. Our Pyracanthus berries were suddenly ripe, and the birds knew it. I was secretly hoping for a Waxwing, but a Fieldfare isn't a bad start. I drew the line at 4 Woodpigeons, and once I was certain the Fieldfare had gone, I chased off the big fat pigeons.

In the afternoon I drove round our premier local owl location, but even though the afternoon was perfect there weren't any Owls. However, when I checked a flock of 35 drab little birds on telegraph wires, I was gob-smacked to discover that they were all Corn Buntings. I've seen 1 or 2 breeding birds in the area most summers, but never seen anything like approaching that number there before - in fact I don't remember ever seeing any Corn Buntings at that bleak location in the winter! I don't think it was an accident that they were perched directly over some set-aside!

Fieldfare (& Blackbird)

Corn Bunting

More Golden Oldies

My 'students' continue to get out and about & here are the results of a few members of the Wednesday am class visiting Blacktoft Sands & on to a North Lincolnshire site; followed by the Thurs am visit to Far Ings the other week, where they managed to spot a Bittern - if you zoom in you should be able to see some blue coloration near the base of the bill, which indicates that this is probably a male bird.

Golden Plovers (c) 2011 Tony Robinson

Golden Plover (c) 2011 Tony Robinson

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Short-eared Owl

Spotted Redshank (c) 2011 Tony Robinson

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Bittern (c) 2011 Richard Whateley

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Killing Time with a Passerine

Yesterday afternoon looked as if would be the most promising for Tophill's Short-eared Owls, but what to do in the meantime? I decided to go up to RSPB Bempton to look for the Desert Wheatear now the hordes of twitchers had died down. Unfortunately, no one had seen it that morning & I wasn't very hopeful. I made my way to where it had last been seen, but although there were a few scattered observers around no one had seen it.

I was a few yards from the site of the Gannet colony when I noticed a flicker of wings along the cliff edge & then a small passerine emerged and landed on a fence only a few feet away - it was the Desert Wheatear. My camera was on the wrong setting & after I'd rattled off several over exposed shots it flew further away & pulled out a couple of worms. It then flew across the field & was too far for any more photos to be taken.

On to Tophill & walking towards the favoured owl site I was delayed by a Fox up at the back of D reservoir. I caught him on the grass & knowing I'd seen him he shame-facedly returned to the path & made his way to the interpretation board & continued going, keeping to the path at all times!

I hadn't been at Hempholme long when at 1.20 I spotted a Short-eared Owl flying in high from the east towards the spot where I was standing. It just glided down until it reached the green grassy area south of the shooting estate. It then hunted on and off for the next 40 minutes before a second bird emerged from the trees behind it. 5 photographers were in various positions about the site, but when the light disappeared behind thick cloud at 14.25 I decided to call it a day. Other birds heard or seen round here included a large flock of Fieldfare, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker missing most of its tail feathers & the sound of a couple of Bullfinches flying over and a single Redpoll.

I'm not sure I'll get another chance for photography for a while, as the forecast if pretty dire for the remainder of the week.

Desert Wheatear

Short-eared Owl arriving after flying in high from the East

Dropping in to Hempholme

You can just make out those amazing yellow eyes

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Stooping down for a non-existent kill

Kestrel

Fox

Intent on getting to the interpretation board

Fieldfare

Tree Sparrow at Bempton

Owling at the Moon

The weather has been hit-and-miss recently, but when the weather has been OK, I've gone looking for Barn Owls at our once premier location. I've seen the occasional Barn Owl, but they definitely aren't as numerous even here as they used to be until last December. However, there have been compensations. I've seen a Little Owl in a new location & one afternoon I was lucky enough to see 2 different peregrines. The first, a female, was dragging a partially plucked pigeon in its talons, struggling to get into flight in contrary winds. Only 10 minutes later a young Peregrine flew directly over our heads towards the estuary.

The other day I had my best ever views of a Short-eared Owl, but my camera was on the wrong setting & then a car coming the other way prevented me from taking any decent pictures. It flew right over my car nearly brushing its wings over my roof. There was another one the same day in a different area. And this is where my nephew and I had another close encounter yesterday. This one landed on the bank of a ditch within 6 feet of the car, but a thick hawthorn hedge made photographs difficult. A few minutes later it flew off & perched in a much more open location, but it was a lot further away. It was nearly dark by this time & I had to crank the ISO up to 3200 - something I've nearly had to do before - the results were surprisingly satisfying, even though more than 20 pictures had to be discarded!

Moon over Thorngumbald

Short-eared owl

This was less than 6 feet away, but was the other side of a thick hawthorn hedge

Not a flying cowpat

The Little Owl before it launched itself

Record shot of a Peregrine

Redshank

Back at Home - Great Spotted Woodpecker on the font

Kestrel

Roe Deer

Tall Tales out of Skool

Although all official classes have finished this year, some 'students' just can't get enough of their encounters with nature, and are even looking for birds on their own! Below is Chris Cox's Short-eared Owl taken at the same location we visited recently. Underneath that are 3 shots of a bird Tony Robinson managed to take at Bempton yesterday. He's trying to string it as a Desert Wheatear, and the only fly in the ointment is that everyone in the birding community would agree with him. Finally, another group claim to have enjoyed great views of a Bittern, but no photos of this have been forthcoming, so we will have to take their word for it!

The weather is too wild for me to venture out today, but I hope to include some exciting pictures of my own soon...

Short-eared Owl (c) 2011 Chris Cox

Desert Wheatear (c) 2011 Tony Robinson

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Operation Bullfinch

A London wildlife photographer was bemoaning the lack of suitable urban subjects, so I felt inspired to see if our local Bullfinch colony was still present. During an hour's vigil eventually at least 4 male Bullfinches were seen at the same time, plus 3 females. Also present were some bold Coal Tits, and then the usual suspects. A single Greenfinch was a new bird after several years absence. There were also several Chaffinches, but the Goldfinches weren't as bold as the species depicted in the photos, and remained out of camera range. At no time were any Marsh Tits either seen or heard in what used to be one of the few local sites where they could be guaranteed. This absence may be the result of last winter's weather or could be symptomatic of a more general decline.

A Clash of Bright Colours

Best Male Bullfinch in a Natural Setting

Female Bullfinch

Male

Coal Tit

Coat Tit (almost Crested)

Great Tit (Washed Out)

Robin - made drab by the Bullfinches

Blackbird