West Kilbride and Seamill :: 26 August 2012

Well, a late rain shower around lunchtime cleared to allow us down to Portencross Beach.  A nice walk from the castle to the beach allowed views across the various arable fields.  Once on the beach we were combing for interesting shells and then walked around to our usual rocks to sit and look across to Arran.

Fuelled by jelly babies, we logged the various passing birds: carrion crow, rook, lesser blacked back gull, herring gull, black headed gull, oystercatcher, ringed plover, wheatear, linnet, redshank, starling, housemartin, swallow, house sparrow, wood pigeon, robin, curlew, pheasant, cormorant, gannet, pied and white wagtail.

Jelly babies not constituting a main meal, or even one of your five-a-day, we headed back to the castle then home for mediterranean chicken with orzo pasta; delicious!

West Kilbride and Seamill :: 25 August 2012

Well it is good to get out again.  It has been months since we had a chance to have a walk together.  Coming up to Scotland for a weeks break is just the ticket, even if it was an 0500 alarm call.  The forecast for the week doesn't look good so we thought we would take the opportunity to pop down to the beach for a walk.

No rain, so straight away better than the forecast.  That is one of the great things about this coastline, the weather forecasts are almost useless as the weather can be just the opposite.

Tried out my new 10x42mm "spare" binoculars - absolutely amazing for the money!  Black rubberised body for extra durability and non-slip grip. Compact BK-7 roof prism design and powerful 10 times magnification is ideal (glass multi-coated) and provides incredibly bright and super-clear viewing for just £29.99; got hem here.

Straight away we spotted the seals bobbing out near the rocks.  Always a joy.  A few birds spotted too: pied wagtails, swallow, housemartin, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, yellow legged gull, black headed gull, oystercatcher, redshank, wigeon, starling, gannet, greenfinch, meadow pipit, cormorant, curlew, jackdaw, carrion crow, linnet and mute swan.

For the first time in a while we also saw a submarine, part submersed, cruising over towards the Arran coastline.

Lets hope that tomorrow's weather is as predicted and we get a dry day before the rain storm forecast for Monday arrives.

Brandon Marsh :: 17 June 2012

Given that I took Charlotte to an RSPB Reserve for Valentine's Day, it won't surprise anyone that for Fathers Day I decided to take the family birdwatching, to Brandon Marshes on this ocassion.

The weather forecast was significantly better than the previous day, no strong winds but still the potential for a odd rain shower.  Staring with our traditional lunch stop we set-off round the reserve on our normal route.  Straight off we caught sight of a jay - a good start to any visit. Continuing on to New Hare Covert we were caught in our first rain shower.  Fortunately the high trees and leaves protected us from getting wet and we were able to stand an watch an array of blue and great tits around the top of the tree canopy.  As we passed the end of Swallow Pool we looked out over the Newlands Reedbed and began seeing the first of many whitethroats- there just seem to be so many of them again this year.  Soon after a group of willow warbler floated along the path with us.

The usual suspects were all to be found on the East Marsh Pool from the Wright Hide.  Other than an odd reed bunting there wasn't much else of note until we entered the East Marsh Hide.  So many small LBJs flying in amongst the reeds - it was hard to work out what they were for some time but it then became apparent, from photos and through binoculars, that they were all reed warblers.  After a few short showers and a brief visit to the Carlton Hide, we had eventually to make our way home.

The final treat was to come in the way of 6 buzzards wheeling in the sky at the reserve entrance as we left.

In total, today's sighting numbered 40 and included: pheasant, feral pigeon, blue tit, great tit, reed bunting, magpie, nuthatch, chaffinch, swallow, pied wagtail, carrion crow, common tern, tufted duck, robin, jay, blackbird, shelduck, lapwing, mute swan, cormorant, coot, house martin, dunnock, canada goose, whitethroat, gadwall, mallard, greylag goose, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, redshank, willow warbler, heron, bullfinch, reed warbler, chiffchaff, kestrel, woodpigeon, swift, and buzzard.

Brandon Marsh :: 12 May 2012

Having been out of the country for most the last three weeks it was about time we went out for a walk. Given we were going to start out after the kids music school we decided on Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh; lunch at the Badger Tearoom.

During the lunch at the tearoom, a crowd gathered at the window as there was a grass snake curled outside the window, bathing in the sun. After we filled our bellies we set off. About halfway to the first hide, we spotted a colourful bird in the distance. As it flew closer we realised it was a jay and we stopped to take a few photos. Then suddenly we stopped and a sound was heard coming from a nearby tree. After taking pictures and narrowing down the possibilities, we concluded that it was a Garden Warbler - this needed checking as we have never knowing seen one before.

Sitting down in the Carlton Hide we waited for a kingfisher or maybe even a bittern, but we were greeted with an otter. The click of the cameras were endless. Then after our afternoon's walk we started our journey back home to Eilidh who had been unable to join us due to her GCSE revision.

The sightings (41) on our walk included: carrion crow, magpie, goldfinch, great tit, reed bunting, feral pigeon, greenfinch, blue tit, swallow, swift, robin, blackbird, lesser whitethroat, long tailed tit, jay, canada goose, greylag goose, woodpigeon, linnet, whitethroat, dunnock, coot, tufted duck, oystercatcher, lapwing, gadwall, common tern, redshank, little ringed plover, shelduck, mallard, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, arctic tern, mute swan, blackcap, garden warbler, cormorant, pheasant, moorhen and heron.

West Kilbride and Seamill :: 07 April 2012

Who needs to go birdwatching when you can sit having lunch with black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, gannet, pied wagtail, carrion crow, jackdaw, starling, cormorant, redshank, ringed plover, house sparrow, turnstone, meadow pipit and eider duck all being seen from our chairs.

On the way back we also spotted: chaffinch, magpie, oystercatcher, collared dove, common gull, goldfinch, coal tit, blackbird, greenfinch, blue tit, great tit, great black backed gull, buzzard, kestrel, dunnock, rook, robin, woodpigeon, feral pigeon and shelduck.

Amazing how beautiful a bird that all people think of as an LBJ can be! Handsome.

Must sit and do nothing more often ...

Brandon Marsh :: 25 March 2012

With Charlotte out playing tennis for the second day running, it was time for a visit and walk around Brandon Marsh. With kids in tow, we arrived for a late lunch in the Badger tearoom. Views of bird from here was restricted by one of the staff filling up the various feeder and tables outside the window - no nuthatch or great spotted woodpeckers today.

With ice-creams in hand, we set off around the reserve. The weather was stunning again - you just can't believe we are not in the middle of summer and that there are still few leaves on the trees. Immediately we saw kestrel and buzzard overhead, then geese on the golf course before we got onto the water and the various ducks and gulls. Best of all was the sight of a grass snake swimming passed the front of the hide, not far from a beautiful great crested grebe.

The reserve still seems quiet, perhaps waiting for the changing of the guard as migration kicks in. The change was brought home with my first sighting of a swallow this year, not far from the East Marsh Pool hide.

Todays sighting numbered 38 and included: carrion crow, blue tit, great tit, magpie, robin, greenfinch, reed bunting, dunnock, woodpigeon, chaffinch, mallard, blackbird, black headed gull, buzzard, greylag goose, canada goose, long tailed tit, mute swan, shoveler duck, lapwing, moorhen, teal, cormorant, tufted duck, coot, great crested grebe, lesser black backed gull, common gull, raven, snipe, oystercatcher, little ringed plover, redshank, grey heron, pheasant, wren, kestrel and swallow.

Perhaps the whitethroat, chiffchaff and cetti's warbler will be out in larger numbers when I get back again - missed them all on this visit.

Farmoor Reservoir :: 19 March 2012

Well, it had come to that time of year; the annual car service and MOT. Unfortunately the boot release was also playing up and so it would not be a short visit. The garage is in Botley and so it was an early start at work followed by a lunchtime exit. By 12:30 I had dropped off the car and was on on my way for a stroll round Farmoor Reservoir. Not only a relaxing way to spend the afternoon but it turned out to be stunning weather too.

On arrival there was the matter of having lunch (packed), sorting out the car insurance and finally the car breakdown cover. This out of the way, I could chillax.

I've only ever walked around the Farmoor I on previous visits and so when I got to the far end I decided to drop down and have a look at the Pinkhill Meadow and hide - beautiful. As soon as I left the reservoir the number of birdcalls increased substantially, led by a pair of Chiffchaffs - my first sighting for the year. Must do this again with the family.

I was informed that there was a little gull out on the water amongst the black headed gulls but if it was I couldn't identify it.

A relaxing afternoon which yielded 29 sightings, including: coot, mallard, black headed gull, mute swan, cormorant, gadwall, tufted duck, pied wagtail, carrion crow, great crested grebe, chiffchaff, wren, reed bunting, chaffinch, robin, magpie, blue tit, canada goose, rook, woodpigeon, dunnock, long tailed tit, moorhen, redshank, grey heron, blackbird, great tit, bullfinch and whitethroat.

When I got back to the garage the news wasn't too bad. Boot fixed, car serviced and MOT done with no reported problems. Not cheap but no more than quoted. Phew!