Author: martintayler

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Lots of excitement this morning with Coal Tit fledglings in the garden.

 

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It was probably the news of a common mynah at Duchess Pond that got us out of bed for an early morning walk around Stoke Park and the thought that we could avoid the crowds.

We soon saw the common mynah who seemed to have adopted one of the many local fishermen who clearly had slept around the pond overnight.

Common Myna looking for the fisherman’s scraps

Fisherman’s friend

There were a few other birds too including swifts, greenfinches, goldfinches, whitethroats, blue tits and a thrush.

Other than the fishermen there were only a couple of other birders and one self-obsessed runner who almost brushed past us (and giving us no time to get out of his way) even though there are acres of land to avoid people.. Instead of going home full of the joys of spring I must admit to going home very angry.

Footnote: Even though the swifts flew here from thousands of miles away I can’t help thinking the common mynah came here by plane or on a boat.

 

My day started well when I managed to photograph a Coal Tit on the bird feeder. It didn’t seem too worried about me standing quite close by.

Coal tit on the garden bird feeder

Later in the day we had another visitor – a robin who couldn’t make up his mind whether to come in to the garden or not.

Clearly the seeds fallen from the bird feeders were too much to resist

There are lots of bees coming in to the garden at the moment. I need to get to grips with identifying these.

 

We drove out in the country to find an isolated spot for a walk. We chose an area close to Oldbury Power Station, a decommissioned power station close to Oldbury-on-Severn on the south bank of the Severn Estuary.

Around the power station there are three lagoons in various states of disuse. These lagoons were large settling tanks, used during the dredging process for the tidal reservoir on the River Severn. The fine Severn silt was settled from the water, before it was discharged back to the river.

To the north of the power station we followed the nature trail which circumvents the two lagoons which are now completely overgrown. It was marvellous to be out in the country and, although we didn’t see many birds, we could hear loads (but not cuckoos which have been reported recently) and it was an amazing feeling to be out roaming through the meadows and woods and along the nature trail.

The nature trail around the lagoons to the north of the power station

Wonderful views across the Severn Estuary (but disappointingly no waders)

Azure Damselfly at the beginning of our walk

The meadow at the beginning of the walk

Woods early on the walk

Marsh orchid

Common dogwood

We could see and hear goldfinches around this pond

The overgrown lagoon

Views south towards the two Severn Bridges

Beautiful meadows

A very tired peacock butterfly

A comma butterfly

The star of our walk – a very cheerful chiffchaff

We had a quick look at the pond to the south of the power station before heading home.

Moorhen

Moorhen with chick

 

 

 

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It was a beautifully sunny and warm morning and so we went over to Stoke Park early in the hope of beating the crowds. However, we clearly weren’t early enough, certainly not to beat the fisherman who were creating an almighty din by strimming the grass to a cinder and painting lines everywhere and thereby destroying the wildness of the area.

I did enjoy trying to photograph the swifts as they swooped across the water. We also saw what I think was a House Martin but we didn’t get much of a view and it could have been a swallow. I’ll wait for the real “birders” to let me know.

Swifts over Duchess Pond

House Martin?

Wren

Canada geese and their goslings

The damselflies were just coming out as we left

 

 

 

 

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The weather was very mixed as we went for our daily walk to Stoke Park Estate. We didn’t stay long as there were lots of people about. I am very pleased to see so many people using the park but it was very difficult to keep at a safe distance and so we cut short the walk.

There was plenty of bird life but I couldn’t really focus my attention on photography. I still managed a few photos of two very proud Canada geese with their five goslings and a couple of distant swifts.

 

 

During the period of lock down due to the Covid-19 virus we have spent a lot of time in our tiny urban garden. We have tried to do all sorts to encourage wildlife in to the garden including paying attention to what we plant. We have also installed more nest boxes and feeders and even purchased a bird bath. Just as I was thinking that we really had gone over the top with this latter purchase I was delighted today to see the first bird make use of this new facility. And what a bird!

Just as I was getting ready to have a walk to Stoke Park, as part of our daily exercise, I saw from the bathroom window a jay fly into the garden and land on the bird bath. Luckily I had time to grab a camera a get some decent shots of it.

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Consequently I am feeling very chuffed with buying the bird bath. I am also pleased I painted the garden fence too as the jay perched on it before flying off. I only wished I had cleaned the bathroom windows though!

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We are getting more confident of going out to take some exercise but once again a few joggers showed how inconsiderate they can be by not keeping a sensible distance (they seem too preoccupied with achieving their “times” recorded on their gadgets).

When we were out this morning I thought I had two regrets: one, that I had the wrong lens to capture the lovely scenery and the second, I completely forgot because the scenery was so magnificent and it was a joy to be out in the sunshine despite the cool breeze.

We didn’t see many birds although we did hear plenty. In fact, I ask myself,  was it worth lugging a big lens up that hill just to have a few photos of a robin?

The biodiversity on the top of the Purdown is amazing since they have been taking back the scrub – well done to all involved.

We avoided Duchess Pond as there were fishermen all the way round enjoying what has been denied them in recent months.

P.S. I did have my phone camera to take the wide-angle shots.

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We  wandered over to Stoke Park yesterday and again this morning. We have benefited from the exercise and have enjoyed meeting people (at a distance). I have been very challenged to get photographs of the birds as they are either hiding well or moving too fast (as was the case with swifts today). It’s fun trying though.

Cormorant

Reed bunting

Moorhen with chick

Coot with chick

Chiffchaff fascinated by insect

Swifts (there were two to choose from and lots of different light to cope with).

Mallard

Canada goose

It was too cold for dragon flies and damselflies it seems but there was this moth in my garden:

I need to investigate this one – maybe a mint moth?

 

It’s lovely to see the park being used by so many people but we really had to keep our wits about us to keep at a good distance from others.

It was a truly glorious day (temperature reaching 23 C). We saw our first swift (no photograph unfortunately) and our first damselfly of the year.

Whitethroat

Duckling

Coot

Moorhen

Greenfinch

Coot – have you seen those feet?

Hawthorn blossom

Carrion crows

 

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We broke bounds today and nervously took an exercise walk to Stoke Park (just a few minutes from where we live). We have so missed getting out and about. The walk was almost essential for our sanity; the decision was prompted by the beautiful weather.

It was so wonderful to see the beauty of spring with the lush green grass, the trees with blossom and plants that clearly we don’t see in our urban garden.

There were also some birds (and a butterfly) to add to our joy.

Wren

Wren diving for cover

Whitethroat singing its heart out

Great tit

Magpie

Whitethroat

Reed bunting

Carrion crow

Mallard

Mallard with admirers

Canada goose

Mallards

Ducklings

Moorhen

 

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My neighbours are becoming very noisy. I don’t know if lock-down is anything to do with it but I suspect not as all the humans have been very considerate and very friendly.

No, its the birds that are making most of the noise; calling to mates and dashing around finding nesting material and even grubs for broods that are already sitting in the nest.

Good luck to them all.

Blue-tit enjoying the sun. Often they are accused of head banging: I read this comment on Bird Forum “Blue tits made a nest about a week ago in a nestbox and I have since been hearing a constant tapping from inside, like a woodpecker. The box is on the wall of my house and I can hear the tapping for ten minutes or so several times a day, long after the nest was finished.”

These Canada geese were very noisy honking as they flew over my garden

This starling was making no noise at all but often they have a shrill whistle; this one was looking the worse for wear – clearly he had had a night on the town

The blackbird has a very melodious song but it does carry a long way

Wood pigeons and collared doves certainly disturb the peace as they flutter back and forth and make an almighty din when going in and out of my neighbour’s leylandii .

The goldfinches are very sociable birds and  have a delightful liquid twittering song and call

The dunnocks are quiet and unobtrusive but when two rival males come together they become animated with lots of wing-flicking and loud calling

The house sparrows are the worst offenders with their incessant monotonous chirping

I wonder if I’m going to be able to get out and listen to the dawn chorus any time soon?

Today was the International Dawn Chorus Day (the first Sunday in May) –  I’m sure they will be singing for a few days yet..

 

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