We had a fleeting visit to New Passage on the Severn Estuary this morning.
The tide was too low to see much and it was too cold to hang around. There was a flock of 30 oystercatchers stretched along the waters edge and a similar number of redshank where the pill met the waters edge. A single curlew filled the air with its beautiful call and drowned the sound of the wigeon on the water.
RedshankOystercatchers and curlewCurlewOystercatcher
Further up the estuary we could make out a large flock of dunlin and shelduck.
There wasn’t much on the warth but it wasn’t surprising as a peregrine was quite evident sitting on a log dominating the area (but too far for my lens but with good views in the telescope).
It’s been rather dull today but there were glimpses of sunshine when I walked through Stoke Park this afternoon.
I was too slow to get a photo of a Snipe so practised getting my eye in in with some Moorhens and Coots (definitely a soft option).
MoorhenCoot
There were 39 Black-headed Gulls (more than I have seen here for a while – they must be here instead of on the lake at Eastville Park, as there were very few there a couple of days ago).
Black-headed GullImmature Black-headed GullBlack-headed Gull chased by anotherYou can see why the Black-headed Gull was being chased
I saw Mallards mating – fairly precarious for the female.
Mallards mating
4 Cormorants flew in and then, presumably, made their way back to Eastville Park.
We have been lucky enough to spend the last 10 days in Andalusia in Southern Spain – five of them on a birding trip to the Doñana National Park.
It has been surprisingly cold at times but we have had wall to wall sunshine and seen Spain at its best with doses of tourism in Seville (3 days), Málaga (2 days) as well as the 5 days immersed in nature in Doñana.
The birding holiday was organised by ingloriousbustards.com and was superb. As an accidental birder I know my limitations. I’m a keen amateur photographer who likes taking photographs of birds and so there were certain aspects of the holiday which were a little disappointing. At times I was frustrated that the sightings were so distant and my photographic opportunities were limited.
Yet, I did enjoy the trip and the owners of ingloriousbustards.com, Simon and Niki, were excellent birders who located a huge number of different species (124 and counting) and ensured that we all had the opportunity to see them through telescopes. By the end I was carried along by the enthusiasm and knowledge of all these “real” birders and was wishing I had taken my telescope so that we could have spent more time viewing the birds.
DAY ONE
Our group of 10 was picked up by Simon and Niki at Seville train station in 2 minibuses and driven the 80 odd kilometres to El Rocio in Doñana in just over an hour. Throughout the week I always felt comfortable with their driving, which I see as a big bonus on such trips. We were then straight into birding.
We spent the first session birding around the lagoon adjacent to El Rocio and had our first picnic lunch, as all days, in the field with uninterrupted birding. The picnics were simple and nutritious, with delicious hams, cheeses, fruit and other locally sourced products and a glass of juice or wine (organic of course) and plenty of water.
We started our birding adventure on the far side of the lagoon at El RocioThere were White Storks overhead in our first minutes of birding
Niki and Simon took our cases off to the hotel and we followed on foot enjoying more birding opportunities. The lake was teeming with waders and waterbirds and, in particular, the Greater Flamingos and Spoonbills looked spectacular.
Greater Flamingos with red deer in the backgroundEurasian Spoonbills
However, it was just as interesting seeing the small birds around the outskirts of the lagoon such as Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warblers, Waxbills, Common Redstart and two birds which certainly caused me some excitement, a Hoopoe and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (a first for me).
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerEurasian HoopoeBlack RedstartJuvenile European SerinWhite WagtailBlack-winged StiltChiffchaffGlossy Ibis catching the last rays of sunshine
After moving into our rooms we were off out again with another inspection of the lagoon. Close-ups of Western Swamphen, Cattle Egret (at the feet of horses this time), Black-tailed Godwits, and Glossy Ibis and distant deer in the evening sun were my favourite memories of this session.
We had all our evening meals at 8 o’clock in the local restaurant. The meals were all very good but for me the tuna and the swordfish were standouts. I cannot comment on the vegetarian options but I heard no complaints; but I can say that the wines which accompanied meals were good and copious.
Into the park. Lots of rarities and some very close ups.
Our first sighting in the park was a Booted Eagle. More rarities followed with Marbled Ducks, a male Garganey and a Ferruginous Duck. I achieved some photos but nothing that I would like to publish. We did have good views in telescopes, however.
A quirky Western Swamphen up a tree was little easier to photograph.
Western SwamphenWhite storksWhite StorkPenduline TitWhite StorkStonechatCattle EgretMarsh HarrierSpectacular view of 170+ Common CraneGolden Plover
This was a very special day. We were driven by guides from Doñana Nature in search of the Iberian Lynx – the most endangered of all wildcats in the world.. I was amazed when we had a sighting. I must thank Stuart for his assistance in capturing shots with my camera of the lynx through an open window of the minibus which I could not access. The excitement was not diminished in any way.
Our second sighting of the Iberian lynx
Distant views of Spanish Imperial Eagle were also pretty special but my favourite “bird” moment was two little owls brilliantly camouflaged in some tree stumps.
Little owls well camouflaged in the tree stumpsIberian Grey ShrikeA Dartford Warbler during our lunch break.Eurasian hoopoe also during our lunch breakIberian MagpieFemale Sardinian WarblerSpotted RedshankGreen SandpiperWood SandpiperGolden PloverA very distant Spanish Imperial EagleThere’s a Barn Owl in there somewhere!My best effort of the BluethroatThe little owl was a little more visible on the way backRed-legged Partridge
We had a long journey in the minibuses via Seville to Chipiona, just south of Sanlucar de Barremeda on the eastern side of the Guadalquivir River. We went to see Little Swifts which roost there. I managed to see the last one leaving the roost but sadly no photos.
Little swift roost
Then on to the salt pans at Bonanza, north of Sanlucar de Barremeda.
Top spot for me was an Osprey but a Kentish Plover was also pretty special.
OspreySanderling and DunlinPied AvocetBlack-winged StiltLittle EgretKentish Plover
At the third site, from the roadside near three pools north of Bonanza we had good views of White-headed Ducks and large roosts of Black-crowned Night Herons.
White-headed DuckBarn Swallow and Little GrebeEurasian Crag-MartinBlack-crowned Night HeronJuvenile Black-crowned Night Heron in flightJuvenile Black-crowned Night HeronGreater Flamingo
The group were off again birding for a morning session but we had to leave the group early as we had trains to catch from Seville to Malaga via Cordoba but managed a couple of hours birding on our own around the lagoon. The Glossy Ibis were particularly stunning in the beautiful morning sun, and along with the spectacular views of El Rocio we were left with wonderful memories of this birding trip.
Last morning in El RocioGlossy IbisWestern SwamphenBlack-tailed GodwitA Little Egret (ready for Crufts?)Barn Swallows
El Rocio is a very special place with its sandy roads and cowboy culture. At the end of our stay it was building up for the visit of huge numbers of horses and horse riders. I’m not sure if I would want to be there with such large numbers. It was great fun with just a taste of the culture.
Sadly things are not flourishing in Doñana. Simon and Niki pointed out to us the problems created by strawberry growers in and around the park which are well documented in the following articles which appeared in The Times Newspaper.
Strawberry farmers can take their pick of illegal wells
We have been visiting friends in Sheffield over the new year. On New Year’s Day we accepted the challenges of the weather and had a short walk on the Eastern Moors in the Peak District on the edges of Sheffield. Here I managed a few photographs of birds near feeders.
Coal titNuthatchSiskinChaffinch
On the 2nd January the weather was most kind to us and we visited 2 reserves near Barnsley: Wombwell Ings and RSPB Old Moor in the Dearne Valley.
Mistle thrush at Wombwell IngsLong-tailed titReed buntingSnipePeregrine falconCommon buzzardGoldeneyeGadwallWigeonGold finch
At this time of the year the Bewick and Whooper Swans are normally the celebrities at Slimbridge. However, today a diminutive goose, a Ross’s Goose (or possibly a snow goose) made a surprise appearance. I have never seen one of these birds before.
Ross’s gooseBewick SwanLapwingShelduckTealCommon craneBarnacle gooseRedwingWigeonGreylag gooseBlack-tailed godwitsTufted duckNorthern pintailIt can’t be Christmas without a robin
The kingfisher was on the River Frome (at the bottom of our road) when we started our walk to Eastville Park and there again at the end of our walk, but it was just a fleeting visit – luckily just long enough for me to get my camera out of its bag.
Front view, back view and then it was off ..
It was fairly treacherous underfoot with the frozen ground but much worse for the poor birds on the frozen lake.
Not much fun on ice for this black-headed gull!… nor for the mute swansChristmas must be coming.
A dull day at Slimbridge can still be very rewarding. A great spotted woodpecker was one of the highlights along with large flocks of lapwings and golden plover. Plenty of northern pintails too.
Great spotted woodpeckerLittle and largeNorthern pintailTealWigeonMainly golden ploverLapwingBewick swanMute swansAvocetShelduck
It was very wet underfoot but there was good light and it was still quite mild on my walk through our local park this morning.
Stoke Park Estate with the Dower House in the background and the annex to Duchess pond in the foregroundDuchess Pond
A pair of stonechats brightened my day which might have been even better if I had managed to find the firecrests which other local birders have been reporting regularly in the last few days. Another challenge for another day.
I stopped off at Cheddar Reservoir on my way to the Avalon Marshes in Somerset but a heavy shower sent me scurrying back to my car; and so my only photo of my brief walk was of a pied wagtail.
Pied wagtail
I made another stop by the roadside after Wedmore when I saw a flock of 22 cattle egret. I even managed some shots of a pair of buzzards in the same area.
It’s quite clear why they are called cattle egretCattle egretBuzzard
When I arrived at Catcott everyone in the hide was in a state of excitement having seen a hen harrier, marsh harriers and red kites in the last few minutes. Before too long the hen harrier flashed right in front of the hide. I had wonderful views of it but, even though I have a photographic record of it, my photos were rather disappointing.
Hen harrierHen harrier
It was great to see much more water on the levels and the number of shoveler, wigeon and lapwings is beginning to increase.
The water is building upWigeonShoveler
A female marsh harrier also appeared. I could see distant great white egrets and my full collection of egrets was soon completed with the arrival of a little egret.
Marsh harrier flying with Glastonbury Tor as a backdropLittle egret
On my way back I had another look for the cattle egrets and found that the flock was more than twice as big as I had seen earlier.
A glorious day on the Somerset Levels. We had a brief visit to RSPB Greylake. However, it was very quiet there other than a flock of lapwing which, along with a bittern, were spooked by a marsh harrier.
We moved on to RSPB Ham Wall and spent a good deal of our time watching a pair of marsh harriers hunting. Quite spectacular.
Glastonbury Tor dominates the Somerset Levels hereMarsh harrier with the Tor as a backdropMarsh harrierGreat crested grebe with lunchMarsh harrierThe shoveler spent much of their time on the wing avoiding the marsh harriersGadwallMarsh harrier hovering over its prey
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 