Saltholme 27th September 2009

I had a meeting followed by an overnight stay in the North East this weekend. Saturday travelling to Newcastle, doing the meeting then travelling down to Tees Side to a Premier Inn. This was chosen carefully by the wife (and me) to be near to Saltholme, between Stockton and Hartlepool, and I guess it’s one of the RSPB’s new flagship reserves. They certainly go out of their way to welcome people and the whole operation seems to focus around the visitor centre. If I were new to birding or more importantly a child, then I would be deeply appreciative of the lengths to which RSPB have gone to make this a welcoming educational experience. The facilities are very good, with a large retail outlet to suit most birdwatching tastes and needs and excellent indoor viewing, teaching, catering and family support services

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We arrived early (the reserve opens at 10am). The wife went off to do her thing (walking rather than watching – she’s interested but not fanatically so) and I started the tour of the hides. I found the first one – actually called an observation point, but all the hides are modelled like this – see photo. The landscape is also the view from this hide. Large, spacious, chairs and stools for various heights of watcher and tripod, and excellent inclusivity features. I would take some getting used to the chairs.

From this hide I spotted greenshank, redshank, gadwall, coots, moorhens, little grebe, crows, and three grey partridges at the back in the grass. I pointed this out to another obvious enthusiast and he was over the moon. It seems the partridges were a first for him at the reserve and he is one of the recorders. We had quite a chat as we walked round the reserve together.

We missed the Paddy’s Pool hide basically because Paddy’s Pool was devoid of birds. But the Saltholme Hide, overlooking some really good pools, was ace. Trouble was, it was so crowded that I couldn’t really do much.

Did see the following: approx 150 lapwing in a flock that stayed together. No shortage of waders, including 200 golden plovers; two ruff; spotted redshank; widgeon; pintail; tufted duck; 4 little egrets (not very common that far north, it seemed); several mute swans; cormorant; several gadwall; 30-50 greylags with three or four pink footed geese among them; Canada geese; mallard; 3 snipe; buzzard. Plus all the usual suspects. There were reports of a buff breasted sandpiper but I didn’t see it.

Overall, my feelings about Saltholme? Could be great fun were there not so many people. A bit of a paradox this, because the whole idea is that people should be watching. If I find myself back there I hope it is perhaps midweek, inclement weather and perhaps later in the year. But the RSPB have done a good job, I think.

Kirkby on Bain 20 September 09

Had a couple of hours spare so went to Kirkby on Bain reserve 1430 - 1600.

Two egrets at the back of the reserve. They are becoming a bit common now, I usually see an egret wherever I go lately. I took a photo of one for posterity, as also for the Egyptian geese.

Also noticed 2 Wigeon, only about 10 black headed gulls, 10 little grebe, 20 or more coots and about 10 moorhen. A flock of about 100 lapwing were flying off as I approached, but there were still a good 20 left.There wered 6 Egyptian geese.

Ducks included 50plus mallard, same for teal. About 20 gadwall and a few tufted duck.

2 cormorants.

There were about 20 hirundines flying around but they were associated with the neighbourhood rather than the reserve.

A jay flew across into the woods, and a kingfisher flew across the front of the hide twice.

Finally there was a rather plump chicken wandering around the reserve... must have crossed the road!

Saturday 19th September Gibraltar Point

Did Gibraltar Point this morning, from about 10am to 1pm. Slightly overcast but cleared during the morning. Light wind and quite warm. Not high tide.
I only did 2 hides, the west lagoon and Jackson’s Farm. Plus some of the scrub was interesting.

West Lagoon Hide
I usually expect this lagoon to be quiet and today it was. Main attraction was a greenshank within reasonable digi range.



Also on the lagoon were two black headed gulls and eight crows. 7 magpies were busying around the islands. Clump of bushes on the south bank had lots of activity. Mainly the 7 magpies, but also 3 reed buntings (1M 2F) and a linnet.

Nearby scrub
15 – 20 long tailed tits with about 4 blue tits and a greenish warbler. (This ties in with the view board at the visitor centre) Yellowhammer. Wren.

Jackson Farm Hide
Main attraction right in front of hide was one (of three) little egret.


Further back, two more little egrets and three avocets (getting a bit late for these?) About 30 blacktailed godwits landed. Also present heron, mallard, teal, shoveller, greylags. Usual smattering of moorhens and coots, crows, magpies, blackheaded gulls.



Quite a good day.

Rutland Water 13th September 2009

This is the second time I've been to Rutland Water. The Environment Agency have really done well here.

Last time I came at the end of August, I took some photos, but this one of two ospreys is pretty good for me.

Today, I tried to avoid ospreys (didn't see any in fact) and instead explored some of the reserve. In fact I barely scratched the surface.

Weather mainly overcast and dry, about 15 C. Wind slight.

Wigeon Hide

Great Crested Grebe – about 20, some with juveniles. Little Grebe about 10. Black Headed Gull several hundred. These and many others put up by a boat with two men fishing – thanks guys!

Pintail – 2 seen, may have been more. About 20 pied wagtails. Heron about 10. Shoveller – Teal – Mallard all present in numbers. Tufted duck, some in full plumage now. Egyptian Goose – two, with approx 8 goslings.

Walking to Lax Hill – lots of activity in the hedgerows. Mainly tits –various blue, coal and longtailed. Must spend more time at Lax Hill another time.

Robin Hide

What a little gem this is! Small rotten pool, bulrushes around the edges, all overlooked by sloes, hawthorns and other wild berries. A couple of nut feeding stations. While the whole view is a bit claustrophobic, you can get really close to the birds. Tried to take some digiscope pictures, but difficult in the circumstances. Did manage to get a nuthatch although spoiled by out of focus foliage in foreground.

Blue tits, coal tits, great tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, all visiting bushes and feeders. Also noted spotted flycatcher (may be two or the same one twice) who was feeding but never in the same place long enough for a photo. Heard chiffchaff but this was in the wood behind and above the hide. Also present bullfinch, lesser whitethroat, wren. Moorhen skulking in the margin.

Will definitely come back to this hide.

Kirkby on Bain 6th September 2009

Kirkby on Bain Pits is a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve.

Pleasant sunny afternoon with some cloud cover. 2.30pm to 4pm

Spoilt by cyclists and walkers on the north bank of the reserve. One woman was in a bright purple jumpsuit – frightened off about 300 lapwings, dozens of gull and such like, in fact the purple jumpsuit would have frightened me!!

Seen approx 300 lapwing

Green sandpiper – has been here a while now.

Gadwall approx 20

Mallard approx 50. One in particular has finished his moult and was in particularly good nick – see photo.

Loads of coots – about 20 swimming.

Teal approx 50; Moorhen – loads; Ring plover – 2;

Wigeon 2; Cormorant 8;

Little grebe 8; Great crested grebe 4

Tufted duck about 6

Loads of black headed gulls, mostly in winter plumage now, and about 20 juveniles

Swallows/house martins about 20 at any one time.

Shoveller 2 still in eclipse

Hagnaby Lock 5th September 2009

Hagnaby Lock is a small nature reserve in Lincolnshire. There is a hide overlooking a flooded and managed wetland area. Managed by the Environment Agency.

Here's a picture of a heron taken in July at Hagnaby, before I even thought about blogging.

So anyway, about this visit to Hagnaby:

11am to about 1pm. Bright sunny intervals, with fresh S wind

In bushes on approach 6 – 8 goldfinches. Saw these later on thistles from the hide. Also, willow warbler in bushes.

On lagoon, 10-15 coots

3 moorhen, 4 woodpigeon, lost count of stock doves, could be about 20. Jackdaw on dead tree on the spit. Kestrel over lock. Swallows and martins usually about 4 – 6 at any one time.

About 120 mallard, some males in full plumage after moult. About 150 canada geese, 40 greylag, 40 teal.

That First Post

OK. So it's toes in the blogging water time for my birdwatching hobby. I've noticed some other blogs like this, where details of a birding trip are posted. But I'm not going to advertise this. If you found it, the welcome. Add some comments if you want. So let's go!