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Wednesday 25 March 2015

Spring is here! Blackcap

Had a nice time in the garden this morning and heard one of the first calls of spring - a male BLACKCAP singing in the trees!


Male Back cap in Evelyn's tree this morning 



Sunday 22 March 2015

Skylark ahoy and wildlife area in place

The first sound of spring in the farmers field this weekend - a SKYLARK above the hide (when I was developing the wildlife area for the hide (see below)

Wildlife area viewable from the bird hide 



Friday 20 March 2015

Solar eclipse

Great views from the Ashridge balcony of the solar eclipse this morning 




Solar eclipse part 1


Solar eclipse part 2 

Solar eclipse part 3 

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Granville Bird hide pics

Some recent chits from Feb and this morning of bird life from the hide. Still some fine tuning to do in the hide, but up and operational!
The RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE were making a great noise - like someone sawing ( I thought the farmer was ridding me of the hide!)
I took a video and they went quiet - due to a cat walking right by the hide

Year list for 2015 at #65
Granville Hide list at #13?
Granville Garden list at # 10?

Pheasants in the field through the scope 
Wood pigeon to the west through scope 

Red Legged Partridge from the iPhone!

Hide list! 

Monday 16 March 2015

Pied Wag fest - Ashridge

On my way to teach karate I spotted 31 PIED WAGTAILS on the grass 'Pitch and Putt' area outside Ashridge.

Saturday 14 March 2015

New Forest trip

A lovely weekend break celebrating Anna's birthday was a perfect opportunity to get a bit of woodland and shoreline birding in!
A total of 37 species in total, the highlights being:

DARTFORD WARBLER 
HOUSE MARTIN 
SHOVELER
WIGEON
CHIFF CHAFF 
BRENT GOOSE 
BLACK TAILED GODWIT 

Birding around Lymington and Beaulieu mostly.

Stonechat at Lymington

Dartford Warbler at Shatterford - where I saw my first DW in 2012
Shoveler at Pennington

A frequently seen female - in winter plumage! 
Chiff Chaff at Pennington
Redshank at Pennington 

Brent Geese at Pennington (lots!) 

Black Tailed Godwit @ Beaulieu - note the straight beak 







Monday 9 March 2015

Local running and birding

During my 5K loop , I spotted a KINGFISHER by Northchurch lock, and a GREY WAGTAIL flew over the top of it! Very nice sight