Friday, May 18, 2007 - No new species today but nice anyway
Ditched the new location I still haven't been to. Maybe not too smart since there has been icterine and sedge warblers reported from there today. They seem quite stationary though, so no worries.
So what did I see today? Already by the bus stop I saw both common and lesser whitethroat, a black woodpecker called from the woods across the fields. Willow warbler, chiffchaff and blackcap sang all the way across the meadows. As I went across the wetter land at least three snipes and two wood sandpipers flew up. Two yellow wagtails (ssp. thunbergi or flava) went past, a buzzard soared over the treetops and a male kestrel headed home to the nest box. two reed warblers could be heard from the southern pond. In the pond was also a couple of tufted ducks, a mute swan and several adult mallards, but only one chick. Apparently, the ponds there are quite full of hungry hungry pike. A pigeon darted past and into the woods. Most probably a stock dove.
By the tower there were more swallows and like than in the rest of the surrounding fields. Lots of housemartins and sandmartins, some barn swallows and the odd swift here and there. A pied flycatcher visited a nestbox just behind the tower. No tawny owls could be seen though. Apparently, two couples have successfully reproduced, which means there are six tawny owls in the area.
To my disappointment neither corn crake nor quail wanted to sing for me today, Wrong time of day of course, but still... A couple of whinchats at very close distance almost compensated. Hitched a ride with a couple of gentlemen to look for invading dotterels on the plowed fields further north. That too failed, but we saw at least five wheatears in one field which is quite a high concentration. On the way back we spotted a third year female marsh harrier. Very nice! My first this year.
So, no new species today, but I learned a lot about where to get off the bus and not walking near golf courses and hoping for paths. As the trip's finale I found a lesser whitethroat just beside the tram station at home. Now I'm going to have a go at the grasshopper warblers by the football fields just north of my house. Two were heard the day before yesterday. Could there be females too? Strange place for nesting...
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About Me
26 year old birder from Gothenburg, Sweden.
My goal for 2007 was get above 200 life-ticks. I managed 215 and the goal for 2008 was to get to 250. Right now it looks like I might get to 250 year ticks which is of course even better.
Friends
• gladan
Other birding blogs•Brazilianpioneerbirder
Categories
•Local watching
•Other
•Rarities
•Travel
Last ticks
• 266: Leach's Storm-petrel
• 265: Isabelline Shrike
• 264: Sooty Shearwater
• 263: Little Auk
• 262: Snow Bunting
• 261: Yellow-browed Warbler
• 260: Red-throated Pipit
• 259: Hen Harrier
• 258: Sabine's Gull
• 257: Ortolan Bunting
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