Non-Stop Birding

Monday, 10 April 2017

Azores Nature Natural History Trip 2017

More details HERE

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Mission Impossible-Dash from Maternity Ward to Bonaparte's Gull at Farmoor

Got a couple more days at the John Radcliffe Hospital until we can go home. When news came in of a second-calender year Bonaparte's Gull at nearby Farmoor Reservoir I had to strike a deal to dash out at a convenient point- it cost me two hours on the clock there and back, returning with gifts for baby and mum (got Jacob his first bird toy-a pink flamingo) and my Squire duties would be increased for the afternoon. Mission successful!

One of the rectrices have been replaced with a more adult like feather but with a dark spot on the outer web

A few other birds of interest there including adult Common Tern and a Yellow Wagtail flying over (others reported that it or another was a Blue-headed)

Also Ringed Plover

and a Little Gull

Jacob and Mum

View from our ward window- more like a hotel than a hospital

The John Radcliffe is an Oxford University Hospital and quite frankly is pretty stunning, an amazing experience, excellent care, stunning facilities- more like a different planet than a hospital. Red Kites overhead too.

Video of Bonaparte's below:

Saturday, 8 April 2017

Birding Forecast

A high pressure dominated weak ahead firstly with a southerly airflow and then switching round to a northerly airflow.

MET OFFICE ANIMATION

Spring overshoot weather today and tomorrow- a southerly airflow drawing from Southern Europe which could bring southern scarcities such as Black-winged Stilts, Southern Herons, Quail etc. Maybe a long shot for London- more likely to concentrate in south east Ireland/south west England. Not great for grounding migrants but is good for migrants arriving to their intended breeding areas/ staging areas- great conditions for migrants but not so great for birders unless luck in with an overshoot.

By Monday a cold front moves across quickly- could be good for dropping migrants - the change in wind direction and the front could be good for a drop. Could affect London and Beddington .

High pressure with a northerly airflow takes control mid-week and according to the long range forecasts is maintained. Good for raptor passage with a light head wind.

Beddington/London:
Raptors: Good numbers of Buzzards, Red Kite and possibly scarcer migrants such as Marsh Harrier particularly from mid-week onwards.
Passerine/landbird migrants: Monday could be best. Maybe a chance of a scarcity- Redstart, Ring Ouzel or Gropper? Still waiting for Wheatear numbers to arrive. Sedge and Reed Warblers, Whitethroat etc should be arriving soon and common spring migrants such as Yellow Wagtail could be in the game. In high pressure conditions the summering migrants should be arriving through the week.
Waders: Not a lot to make them come down- maybe Monday? Might get a bolt from the blue- especially with a spring overshoot on the long shot cards.
Terns: If moving will mainly head high to staging posts in these current conditions.
Waterfowl: Maybe Garganey anytime.
Gulls: Numbers should be decreasing now. Maybe Med and Little Gulls moving- even in high pressure- best to check high into the blue and listen for Med Gulls calling at height.
Seabirds: Maybe Kittiwake- had a few from the blue in the past this time of year.

Friday, 7 April 2017

Welcome to the world Jacob!

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Sutton Community Farm

A nice little local project. Been getting my fruit and veg from them since they were just a Veg Van. Things are moving up and need more investors.

CROWDFUNDER

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Tuesday, 4 April 2017

To the Shire and Back

Been in Oxfordshire at Holly's for last few days. Spent some time at the Old Vicarage working on the bioblitz and garden, visited Otmoor RSPB and also checked out St Tigglewinkles- one of the largest Wildlife hospitals on the planet HERE and checked in on Staines on the way back to the smoke.

Here's a few pics.

THE OLD VIC

Red Kite- up to five of these over the garden at once

Ashy Mining Bee

Buffish Mining Bee Andrena nigroaenea (I-spot ID)

Bee sp?

Dark Edged Beefly

Yellow Archangel

Izzie and Bryan and the Morgan

Black-horned Sawfly Z.lonicera

Hedgehog at the wildlife hopsital

Muntjac at the hospital- the pointed nose and head stripes are best id features - see below for comparison and comments with Chinese Water Deer (click on image)

Roe Deer at the hospital - the black nose band is a good id feature

Grey Heron young- breeding on the hospital pond

'ODMOOR'

One cannot help but notice quite a few odd looking geese at Otmoor. This weekend I had 2 Snow Geese, 1 Ross's Goose, 5+ hybrid GreylagxCanada, 3 'white' Greylags (Farmyard types) and 3 Barnacle Geese. Here's my ebird list for the day HERE

3rd calender year male Marsh Harrier - variably marked flight feathers, sub-terminal band on tail and juvenile like head suggests a 3rd calender year male