Monday, February 13, 2006 - Dutch Birding

Total so far: 162 species

Sorry, haven't been very good at maintaining the site of late... Probably was always going to be the case...

Managed to grab a days winter birding in the Netherlands today around work. It started really well at a site not far south of Schiphol airport where, thanks to gen from local birder Hans Meijer, I got excellent views of an immature Rough-legged Buzzard.

I then travelled south, birding the geese fields of Zuid-Hollard around the Goedereede and Scheelhoek areas. Big flocks of Barnacle and Eurasian White-fronted Geese were nice, although I couldn't found the Red-brested Goose that has been in the area. A ringtail Hen Harrier also gave good views.

Finally, I travelled south to the famous Brouwersdam for some excellent winter sea-birding. The weather really deteriorated, but I still enjoyed my first Red-throated Divers of the year, a Red-necked Grebe, a slightly unexpected Slav Grebe and eventually a Purple Sandpiper.

Thursday, January 26, 2006 - Wild Goose Chase

Total so far: 148 species

14 Tundra Bean Geese just down the road, behind Wilstone Res. Which was nice.

Monday, January 23, 2006 - Les Baux

Total so far: 147 species

No new year-ticks today, but cracking views of Wallcreeper and Alpine Acc at Les Baux

Sunday, January 22, 2006 - Greater Not Spotted Eagle

Total so far: 147 species

Spent all day in the Camarge looking for the wintering Greater Spotted Eagles.

Dipped.

 
Looking on the bright side of our dip. Dusk at the Tour de Valat research station, once an Eagle site...

Saturday, January 21, 2006 - A Good Wind Blows

Total so far: 139 species

Up pre-dawn for Day 2 for Radar & I's France trip, so we were at the Le Crau Richard's Pipit, Mas Chavet, at first light. We spent the next hour and a half walking the fields south of where the mettled road ends, finding some good flocks of Larks, Pipits, Finches and Buntings. Brambling (40+ birds) and Corn Bunting (50+ birds) were both new for the year. Red Kites were common and there was a stready stream of Yellow-legged Gulls flying towards Entressen Tip for their roost sites.

Eventually, at about 9:00am, as we neared the car park, I picked up a Richard's Pipit flying towards us. It flew over both our heads and appeared to land in the field immediately north of the car park, west of the track to Mas Chavet farm house.

Rob birding the Radar Station at La Caume, and then later me birding Le Crau

Friday, January 20, 2006 - The Holy Grail at the Black Virgin

Total so far: 122 species

Rob "Radar" Andrews and I decided to spend a long weekend in southern France doing the 'Les Baux circuit' round Provence; our main targets were Wallcreeper and Spotted Eagle. Arriving at Luton airport for our Ryanair flight to Nimes, we had our first good luck omen of the trip, as we reached the front of the check-in queue to meet local Tring birder Asf behind the check-in desk. Nice one, Asf!

We arrived in sunny, mild Nimes 20mins early, out the airport in no time, we dumped our bags at our hotel in Arles and made our way straight to Les Baux to look for Wallcreeper. My first Yellow-legged Gulls of the year were in a roadside field. We went straight to the 'Black Virgin' site, and in glorious sunshine we began the walk round towards the 'S' sign. Sardinian Warblers were common and vocal in the surrounding scrub, whilst both Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart were quickly seen on the rock face and Serin were obvious and vocal overhead.

Halfway round the walk we met another crew of Brit birders, who had just had the Wallcreeper. Rob & I spread out to scan the cliff, and I had a Peregrine fly past calling with prey, being hotly pursued by a Buzzard! and after five mins I heard someone running up the path; the other crew had relocated the Wallcreeper back next to the car, and had kindly sent a runner to get us! I legged it down and the guy went on to get Rob. Reaching the car park out of breath, I was put straight onto one of the guy's 'scopes; WALLCREEPER!!!! Get in. My first lifer of the year.

Disastrously, the bird flew almost straight away before Rob got down, but the bird flew towards where he was coming from, so I hollad "Rob, it's Flying". The bird perched briefly on the cliff behind the Black Virgin, thankfully in sight for Mr Andrews, then it flew again to be joined by a second bird from the same valley. Both birds cleared off, and despite waiting a further hour we got no further views. Two Hawfinchs flew past, and an Alpine Accentor briefly showed on the cliff after flying-in calling. Rob 'scoped this lifer for him, however I was taking a leak :-).

The famous 'Black Virgin', and a local Eagle Owl

I'd arranged to meet up with local birder Frederic , and Rob & I picked him up in St Remy at 5:00pm. We headed into the southern Alpilles so a site hosting a pair of Eagle Owls. On the walk up I clocked my first Dartford Warbler and Stonechat of the year. After a short wait a cracking male Eagle Owl appeared on top of a cross on the top of the ridge. The bird remained in view as the light failed, until it was kicked off its perch by its mate, who was still sat up when darkness set, and we made our way back to St Remy for a great local meal.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - Bucks Shrike Set

Total so far: 109 species

Just after lunch my mobile rang; Mike. I answered expecting this to the be latest instalment in the are they / aren't they Mealy debate (which continues), so was thrown into mild panic when he actually said "get to Grendon Underwood now for a Great Grey Shrike!! Working from home became the order of the afternoon, and I was off.

Si & I had a manic cross-Bucks race to the village (Si won, and promptly cleared off straight back to MK...), and I was really grateful to arrive and find Tim "golden Tim's" Watts and the birds' finder and local birder Gareth Leese watching the Shrike. What a cracking bird! I was given great views through Tim & Gareth's scopes  (mine was at home, I had nothing with me other than the wrong coat I'd grabbed from the office whilst running out...).

Yes! GREAT GREY SHRIKE! My first clear-cut Bucks tick of the year, and one that had been sometime coming. It nicely completes my Bucks shrike set, following the Langley Park Woodchat in '03 and the north Bucks Red-backed last year.

Tim got these excellent pics by digi-scoping with his Coolpix, thanks Tim!

Mike arrived soon after, and the bird even continued to show for Dipper! Amazing stuff, shame I had to get straight back to work and ignore the other delights in the area...

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - Redpoll confusion

Total so far: 108 species

Last night Ade Parker reported a male Mealy (Common) Redpoll at Little Marlow GPs. Needing Mealy for Bucks, I made the necessary arrangements to ensure I was able to travel to the deepest, darkest part of the county this morning...

So, this morning I found myself stood in the mud bath (car park) at LMGP, 'scoping finches in the weedy field next to the fishermans' car park. 12 redpolls were seen in two flocks (a nine and a three). Most that I got good views of were clearly Lesser Redpoll, however one large, pale female was more interesting. It cleared off before I could clinch it as a Mealy, and I reckon the debate could rumble on...

On the way back into the office my first Red Kite of the year was sat in a tree by the Handy Cross round-a-bout.

Sunday, January 15, 2006 - One Small Step

Total so far: 106 species

No birding this weekend, spent the weekend with the lovely Fiona. A walk near her parent's place in Chislehurst, Kent, revealed Ring-neck Parakeets to be unfortunately common, the only addition to my year list. Jay, Nuthatch and Great-spotted 'Pecker were more satisfying. Just four days of work to get through now before some proper birding...

Thursday, January 12, 2006 - Cracking Success in Belgium

Total so far: 105 species

My first work trip to Continental Europe in '06 took me to Belgium and Luxembourg for three days. The first two days were all work and no birds, however, I'd engineered the trip to spend last night in Spa, Belgium to have a go for Nutcracker this morning. I'd spent two days last June looking for Nutcracker in this area without success, so I was more hopeful than optimistic...

Up at dawn, the day didn't start well; fog. My Nutcracker site is 5km out of Spa town, and up-hill all the way. As I climbed, the fog got thicker and the temperature continued to drop. When I reached the site (a ride cut through the mixed forest for electricity pylons) it was a disaster; thick fog and frozen snow on the ground. I couldn't see a thing, and it was freezing. Back in June, I'd been in shorts and a t-shirt watching Honey Buzzards thermaling against a blue sky!

Conditions in the Ardenne were rather unsporting. This is down from the Nutcracker site.

 A few common tits were calling, and a bit of pishing brought some birds close enough to see. Unfortunately, the Crested Tit that was bubbling away remained across the ride in the fog. Useless. I decided to drop down a few km and bird the broadleaf forest on the access road for an hour, hopefully to give time for the fog to clear. As a last throw of the dice, I thought I might as well give one blast of Nutcracker call from my i-Pod and speakers before leaving; nothing ventured, nothing gained....

Immediately a bird answered!! Across the forest ride, in the fog, was a Nutcracker. Another single play of the call and the 'cracker replied again. A few seconds later, it called again, this time on my side of the ride. It had flown across, completely invisible in the fog. Panic! I glanced behind me and suddenly and silently, at the top of a small pine, a NUTCRACKER appeared. Get in!!!! The bird sat for a couple of mins, giving great views, before flying towards where another two birds had called from. Elated, I retreated to leave the birds in peace. My first WP tick of the year, and only my second ever sighting of Nutcracker, following two in the Toroko Gorge NP, Taiwan, last September. Many thanks to Wim Willems for the site gen.

My mission successful, I decided to drop altitude to where the fog was less dense for a further hours' woodland birding before I needed to start work. A very vocal Marsh Tit revealed the presence of my first tit flock, which included 3 treecreepers. Both European species occur in Belgium, however the calls of these birds gave them away as Short-toed Treecreeper. I saw and hear further birds in more mixed tit flocks, but despite searching I was unable to find any finch flocks (other than Chaffinch), nor any woodpeckers (other than Great Spot).

Later this afternoon I saw my first Tree Sparrows of the year somewhere in rural Walloon. All that now remains to is to see if my flight is on time so I can make it home for last orders at tonight's Dead Shag Society meet; Buck's birders monthly unofficial pub night...

Monday, January 9, 2006 - Aaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!

Total so far: 101 species

Totally gutted. This morning came the pager message I've been dreading, and half expecting. Yesterday my Yellow-brow was finally seen again. Today it was re-identified as a HUME'S. Arrrggghhh! What a bird to slip through my grip, I'm gutted I didn't nail it when I found it last weekend.

The first thing I though when I heard the call was "no, can't be a Greenish". I've now listened to the excellent Calls of Eastern Vagrants CD and it's all become clear. Of course it was a Hume's, hence it sounding a bit like a Greenish. What an idiot. I only got fleeting views in the top of an evergreen Oak, so don't feel bad about that, but should have got the call right. What a balls up.

OK, so I should be chuffed for finding the bird, as many birders will have gone through Holkham park over the New Year and no-one else found it. But should have got it right. As Lee kindly rang to point out as soon as the pager message went out; cocked that up!

Still, off to Belgium with work tomorrow, so I shall seek salvation in the Ardenne...

Yours, Gutted of Bucks.

Saturday, January 7, 2006 - Over the Ton with Smew and Bittern

Total so far: 101 species

Thursday, January 5, 2006 - All quiet on the Tring front

Total so far: 95 species

Has my luck run out already?  Had a pre-work walk around one on my local patches, Wilstone Res at Tring. Failed to find either the Smew or Water Pipit that have been around for most of the winter so far, just adding a handful of common birds to my year list, including Green Woodpecker and Ruddy Duck (don't tell the RSPB!!). And god it was cold!

Monday, January 2, 2006 - Surely I'm hearing things?!

Total so far: 88 species

More tourist wonderings round North Norfolk with Fi was the order of the day for Jan 2nd. Driving past Cley Avocet was new for the year, then Holkham Hall gave Egyptian Goose and the usual common woodland birds, until... hang on I know that call... chew-eee! came from the Holme Oak next the entrance gate. I stopped dead in my tracks. Chew-eee!. Surely it can't be...

Then it flew back to the top of the tree behind into full view. **** Me!!!! YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER!!!!! Not what you expect to find in Holkham Park on the 2nd of Jan. My luck must be in. Maybe I should give this year list game a go, after all....

A flock of 20 Twite next to the car park at Thronham finished weekend off nicely. And then home to work.

Sunday, January 1, 2006 - Worth getting up for!

Total so far: 61 species

New Year found me toasting the start of 2006 in style with my long-suffering girlfriend, the wonderful Fiona, and an even-longer suffering friend and bird tour leader extraordinaire Tom (www.focusonbirds.co.uk). So my 2006 list started at 11:10am when I was woken up by a 'phone call from Bucks birding mate Neil Fletcher; "The Ross's Gull is at Cley, and I'm watching it!".

As luck would have it, Tom lives in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, 10 miles from Cley. Better get out of bed!!! 20 mins and a frantic car journey later, Tom, Fi & I abandoned my car in a packed beach car-park at Cley to get stunning views of the adult winter ROSS'S GULL sat on the puddle next to the car park. Top stuff.

Spent the rest of the day doing easy-birding and walking round Holkham with the missus. Still, it was Norfolk so clocked up a good range of birds, including Marsh Harrier, European White-fronted Goose, 40 Snow Buntings, Chiffchaff and Woodcock. The day ended with a Barn Owl that gave quality views when coming back from food. The missus was impressed...

Saturday, December 31, 2005 - Is this a good idea?

Who knows how long this will last for. Seems a good idea right now, but am quite convinced it won't last... Still, the idea is that during 2006 I'm going to combine a few tactical birding trips with my job (it involves a lot of travel) to try and do a European Year List. Oh, and try and keep my job. And my girlfriend. Something will give. Hopefully the year list...

In 2003 I clocked 295 species in Europe, so that's my easily beatable target. 350 would be nice. Who knows...