Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve

Feb 16 2015 RSPB Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve, Gwent Wales. Rain and Overcast. 6c

The skies were grey, the rain showers slowing my progress around the wetlands. I took temporary shelter between squalls in one of the hides overlooking the reed beds. The ponds held numerous pairs of Tufted Ducks, Mallard and Moorhens but fewer birds than my previous visit.

 I had hoped to see a Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) but the wind and rain meant the birds were hunkered down and not showing. Not to be outdone I took the trail to the lighthouse to watch the flocks of Dunlin, Shelduck and Mallard plodding about on the muddy Severn Estuary shoreline.

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The Severn Estuary

The Severn Estuary looking toward Somerset from Wales.

 It was muddy underfoot and I was beginning to think about returning to the visitor centre when I noticed three Stonechat feeding on the weather beaten wildflowers.

 Female Stonechat (Saxicola torquatos) in the rain.

When the rain ended I made my way through the woodland walk. A flock of Goldfinch flashed through the undergrowth. Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Tree Creepers flitted from branch to branch. Everything was quiet when out of the tree canopy a flock of Common Redpoll descended in front of me, a second lifer of the day after the Stonechat. I soon forget the rain. I used the lightweight Tamron 150mm-600mm and the D7100 handheld which allows me to travel long distances without the associated neck and shoulder pain of the 500mm F4 and tripod. There is a small drop in quality but as I mentioned in an earlier blog I'm not out to change the world but just have a enjoyable birding experience.

Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) ssp cabaret

*Thanks to Mike King for pointing out my error calling it Common Redpoll.

Out of the corner of my eye was one of my target birds the Bullfinch. It didn't stay long enough for a photo. In a farmers field a large frock of Fieldfare were feeding, another lifer. The rain began again so it was onward only to come across a flock of Reed Bunting. The light was so low I was shooting at between ISO 1000-1600.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) 

I walked on only to come across the same flock, this time with the birds and grasses bathed in the 'sweet light' of the afternoon sun.

Reed Bunting 

I had been out for two hours and the weather was improving and as I made my way back to the excellent visitor centre for a cup of tea I came across my favourite UK bird the Goldfinch.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Before I reached the visitor centre I came across Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Pheasant and this Mute Swan carving in the children's playground.

Mute Swan (Paintus ornamentus)

More about Newport Wetlands.

Newport Wetlands

I hope to get out and see a few more birds before I leave the UK so until then, good birding!

"It's never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

The Wye Valley near Tintern Abby.

A Walk to the Village Shop

Feb 14/15 Brockweir, Wye Valley UK. Sun and Cloud 9c

The country lanes of Brockweir Common haven't changed very much since the turn of the century. Ancient hedgerows some dating back four to five hundred years are home to a myriad of wildlife. Badger, fox, rabbit, adder, and grass snakes make their homes in the surrounding fields. The upland areas were untouched when the glaciers retreated. Rare plants abound.
                                                             
                                                                  More about hedges

The area is steeped in history. The Romans mined ore a few miles away at Redbrook, The village of Brockweir is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and the River Wye acted as a conduit for goods being shipped upstream to Hereford and Mid-Wales. Lord Nelson visited the village and poet William Wordsworth made the area famous after he visited Tintern Abbey. His poetry is said to have spawned the birth of tourism in the UK.
What's all that got to do with birding, not much but the area does have a wealth of birdlife and walking is the best way to see it.
On my way to the village shop to pick up the Sunday newspaper the first bird to show was the Robin. It can often be heard long before it jumps out onto a nearby branch. Like the North American Black-capped Chickadee it too will come to hand for seed. I haven't tried that yet but I am sure at tourist spots there are tame birds which will oblige.

(European) Robin (Erithacus rubella)
The Robin is a member of the thrush family.

Further down the lane I noticed some movement in an adjacent pasture, a small flock of colourful Goldfinch were busily feeding on something in the short grass, perhaps the warm weather had encouraged insect life to the surface. Around the next corner a small flock of Song Thrush were feeding in a muddy field. I couldn't get near them. I find in the less travelled parts of the UK the birds are far warier than those at places like Slimbridge or Newport Wetlands where there is more foot traffic.

The criss cross network of paths and lanes are broken up with open pasture where the Common Buzzard can be seen hunting for rabbits and a Sparrowhawk glides around in search of smaller prey.
A jogger stops to ask what I am looking at...birds I say, Oh, she replies and sets off into the distance, scattering a flock of thrush I had been patiently stalking.

Sparrowhawk (Accipter nisus)

Just outside the village shop I spotted what I thought were crows flying overhead. When I checked  with my newly acquired Collins Bird Guide the grey nape gave them away as Jackdaws. Jackdaws pair for life and can be quite tame. They nest in chimneys and crevices and often close to humans. They also nest on sea cliffs and mountainsides.

This not a Crow but a (Western ) Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Note the light grey nape. 

The atypical LBJ, the Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) 

As I neared the last part of my walk I had hope to see the resident Common Buzzard but to my surprise I spotted two pheasants strutting across the cow pasture. The one bird seemed quite aggressive toward the other. I thought it might be a lek. Only when I started to edit the shots later that night did I realize that the birds had somewhat different markings.

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

According to the Collins Bird Guide pheasants were introduced into the UK in the 11th/12th century. These two appear to be from two different races and perhaps they were duelling over territory or a female. Note the bird on the left has a white neck ring. Several races with differing markings occur throughout Europe. Pheasants occur naturally from the Black Sea east to China

The male on the left shows who is boss.

As I mentioned earlier these photographs were taken on a walk to the shop, a ninety minute round-trip.. If I had driven I most certainly missed the opportunity.

All shot handheld with the Nikon D7100 and Tamron 150mm-600mm.

"It's never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

Langley/Cloverdale

British Columbia 

Canada

Management takes no responsibility for grammatical errors. 

Back in the Forest

             Parkend Church/Cyril Hart Arboreta Gloucestershire UK Cold sun and Cloud 4c

The jet lag was brutal, to shake the cobwebs out of my head I had my brother drive me to the nearest twitch. I needed a fix and quick. Three Common Crossbills had been visiting trees around Parkend Church in the Forest of Dean. When I arrived half a dozen photographers were already on the scene, as were a number of birders. I didn't have to wait long when the crossbills arrived in the Beech tree above us. Five minutes later they came down for a drink in a muddy puddle, ground out by the many cars converging on the area.

Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) which in North America is called Red Crossbill. Confusing Eh!

Female Common Crossbill
A grainy ID shot using auto ISO, I don't like this function but shooting with Tamron 150mm-600mm in low light gave me ISO 2000. However I am sure if I had some other software I could subdue the noise in the image.

After a while I began to loose the sensation in my toes due to the very overly cold weather sweeping over the country. There is snow in some places but plenty of winter birds to see and possible rarities.

I headed for the car where my non-birding brother was still happy reading the paper. With heater blazing we made our way to the Cyril Hart Arboreta where I was told a fallen tree was a great place to take pictures of some of the more commoner UK birds. Sure enough somebody had laid out seed and bread on the trunk and many species were taking advantage of the situation. This was the perfect way to get over the jetlag blues.
All the following images were taken from the comfort of the car. I was still using the auto ISO just to eke out enough shutter speed.

Female Blackbird (Turdus merula)
A bird of nursery rhymes and pop songs. Who can forget Paul McCartney's song Blackbird and lyrics. The male (below) has one of the sweetest songs and as the song implies, Blackbirds do indeed sing at the dead of night.

Male Blackbird.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

The number of the Song Thrushes have been declining over the last decade. 

As a child I grew up in the countryside. Many mornings I was awoken by a Song Thrush bashing a snail again a favourite rock outside my bedroom window. Fifty years later I finally got my shot albeit minus the snail.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
A very common bird, the Chaffinch breeds throughout in the UK except for the the Outer Hebrides

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
The quintessential British bird, the beautiful Robin is quite tame and a regular visitor to the garden feeder. One fed at my feet while I was photographing the crossbills. They are easily photographed. Probably the most featured bird in English folklore.

Magpie (Pic Pica)
Found throughout Europe and North America where it called Black-billed Magpie.

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Common in England Wales, a year round bird in the UK.

A few more images from the second session at the fallen tree

Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
A ground feeder common in gardens, sometimes called Hedge Sparrow. Found across western and central Europe and the throughout the UK year round.

Great Tit (Paris major)
Another UK all year round species.

Jay (Garrulus glandaruis)

The picture of the Jay was taken from the car while it perched high up in the tree canopy. The Tamron's reach of 600mm or 900mm on the D7100 crop sensor really works well when travelling light. This is good enough for an ID shot of this beautiful but fearsome predator.

For more information about birding in the forest of Dean

Forest of Dean birding/Gloster Birder

Anyway I will try to get out a few more times to see what I can find. Today I saw a flock of Redwing  land in a tree, another lifer but alas no pix.

You win some, you lose some but who cares when they're are birds around.

"It's never too late to start  birding"

John Gordon

Songbird survival in the face of starvation

This is from the part of the world I grew up in and visit on a regular basis.



Songbird survival in the face of starvation

The Royal Forest of Dean

Robin (Erithachus rubella)
Britain's most familiar bird, the Robin can be seen year round in the UK.

April 18 2014 The Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire UK Sunny

I emigrated to Canada on 1978, actually I went over for "a visit" and never returned except to visit my family who still live near St Briavels and Brockweir.
Most of my early trips back would find me fishing at Lydbrook for chub or searching out tench and carp but over the years I found bird watching a far more enjoyable way to enjoy nature. I can't remember seeing any birds while I sat and waited for a bite, I just wasn't aware of them.
My first years in Canada were spent establishing myself and after loosing my $5 Instamatic camera I received a Pentax K1000 and a 50 mm lens for Christmas. I photographed a few birds here and there and became a newspaper photographer. I covered all sorts of events in my thirty year career and after retiring from the press in April 2011 I began photographing birds. When I come over to the UK I try to take advantage of all the wonderful birding here. A couple of years ago I visited the Farne Islands and last year the Highlands of Scotland.
After Slimbridge, my sights were set on the Forest of Dean and will be going to the Newport Wetlands when I have a chance. Other locations I hope to visit are Frampton and Nagshead.
Before I left Vancouver I put out a few "feelers" to see whether any birders would like to go out together. I received a reply from Ruardean and Cheltenham club birder Tim Fletcher who led me on a trail through the recently cleared area around Woorgreens near the Speech House. We had been on the trail only a few minutes when he spotted a pair of Siskins. I "phissed" them in and one posed for me in the brilliant morning sun.

Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
Found across Europe and winters toward the Mediterranean.

Tim and I then left the wooded trail and entered the open heath where the gorse with its yellow flowers and heather make the perfect open habitat for a plethora of bird species, dragonflies, amphibians and reptiles including the adder.
We were surrounded by birds, many were in pairs. The first was a Tree Pipit which came out to see what we were up to. Thank goodness Tim knows his British birds and birdsong.

A very distant record shot of Willow Warbler (Phyllosopus Trochhilus)
The Willow Warbler can be found near open heath or near new plantations. It breeds across Europe and winters in Africa.Next up were a pair of Jays, Tree Creeper, Wren, Robin, Greylag Goose flying overhead, Buzzard, a distant Common Redstart,  a Blackcap, then a Willow Warbler and Song Thrush. The Cuckoo was calling and three Fallow Deer wandered by but took off before I could get my camera on them. It was too early for the dragonflies but a series of shallow ponds have been created on the heath and soon they should be emerging.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
This bird was one of a pair that were thrashing around in the undergrowth doing what birds do when it obliged me by popping up onto a branch about twenty feet away.
Widespread across Britain and Europe the Song Thrush migrates south during the winter.

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
This species likes open heath and migrates to Africa for the winter.

Then it was to Woorgrens Lake where we watched Little Grebe feeding and other common waterfowl. The next stop was Cannop Ponds but it was teeming by Easter holidaymakers enjoying the sun.
However the bird feeder was producing, A Marsh, Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Nuthatch came for seed. The Mandarin Ducks were nowhere to be seen but a Cormorant stood guard near the pathway. Tim told me there have been some "good birds" seen at Cannop over the years.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Found across Europe and migrates south toward North Africa.

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)

The Forest of Dean is somewhere I plan to return to after my trip to Lincolnshire where I am told the birding can be quite good at this time of year, funny coincidence that!

Good Birding 

John Gordon

Forest of Dean Birding (Cannop Ponds)

I visited Cannop Ponds in May 2011 and again this year in July. The Manadarin duck I had previously observed was in eclipse and looking very ordinary so I am posting a before and after shot just to show the transformation.
The pond was also teeming with Coots and their young as well as moorhens who were regularly being chased off by the territorial Coots. A few Shoveler, Mallard and a pair of Mute swans with three cygnets were also present.

Mute swan 

Moorhen (female)

Coot with  young

Mandarin in spring.

Mandarin duck in summer

Apart from the birds, a large shoals of roach and some decent sized carp made for some excellent wildlife viewing in a very picturesque and historical region of the U.K.

Wye Valley Birding Part 2 ( Three Tits)

Great tit

The commonest tit in the UK is the Great tit (Parus Major). A regular visitor to the bird feeder, it is often accompanied by the Blue tit (Parus Caeruleus) and sometimes the Coal tit (Parus ater)
These three birds were photographed simply by putting out some suet and seed and waiting patiently.
One thing about photographing birds in July and August is the moulting process which makes the birds look little ragged, however that is what birds do.
Enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed sitting surrounded by Robins, Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow, the Jay (no pic yet) and the brilliantly coloured Greater spotted woodpecker. These images will be posted when I have finished gardening.

Coal tit

Blue tit