Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Monday, 27 April 2009
ARCTIC TERN bonanza
Calvert BBOWT; 5 p.m
Sat in 2nd hide waiting for approaching storm with one species in mind, having done this loads of times with usually not a lot happening!!
The storm hit, torrential rain and then hail. I was just getting disheartened when a swirling mass of ARCTIC TERNS appeared from nowhere at South end of lake. Some dropped onto water briefly, they then careered around lake, not really feeding. Counted them over and over and kept making flock c 60. When in a line then made it 53 a few times.
They stayed about 10minutes and then flew up high and off in a tight wader like flock. Raced over to sailing lake and 6 of them were on there. These fed for 10 minutes then circled BBOWT lake high up for another 10 minutes. Then there were 11 which flew off N/E in tight flock, think they were looking for the rest of the big flock?
A fantastic sight and the largest flock I've ever seen and one of my best birdwatching experiences ever!! Digi-scoping them out of question so took lots with small compact camera with no zoom lens; don't know if got whole flock but got as many as could fit in!!
Also Common Sandpiper on rafts and 5 Common Tern (Tim Watts)
Sat in 2nd hide waiting for approaching storm with one species in mind, having done this loads of times with usually not a lot happening!!
The storm hit, torrential rain and then hail. I was just getting disheartened when a swirling mass of ARCTIC TERNS appeared from nowhere at South end of lake. Some dropped onto water briefly, they then careered around lake, not really feeding. Counted them over and over and kept making flock c 60. When in a line then made it 53 a few times.
They stayed about 10minutes and then flew up high and off in a tight wader like flock. Raced over to sailing lake and 6 of them were on there. These fed for 10 minutes then circled BBOWT lake high up for another 10 minutes. Then there were 11 which flew off N/E in tight flock, think they were looking for the rest of the big flock?
A fantastic sight and the largest flock I've ever seen and one of my best birdwatching experiences ever!! Digi-scoping them out of question so took lots with small compact camera with no zoom lens; don't know if got whole flock but got as many as could fit in!!
Also Common Sandpiper on rafts and 5 Common Tern (Tim Watts)
Heavy rain forces down ARCTIC TERN flock
A magnificent flock of 53 ARCTIC TERNS have just dropped (17:05) into Calvert BBOWT (Tim Watts)
Reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLER still at Calvert
The reeling GRASSHOPPER WARBLER is still present at Calvert today (Tim Watts)
25 APRIL - GRASSHOPPER WARBLER
Calvert sailing lake; On 2nd visit today when it rained 5 ARCTIC TERNS dropped in but left when weather cleared. Also during rain 60 Swallow and 9 Common Terns.
Gareth came down for Terns and we spotted what suspected was a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER low down in bush on open area to right. Lost it, but walked along and Gareth heard one reeling close to us on left. We had brilliant views (10mts) 4 times of it climbing up and reeling on tangled brambles. Got some pics but itwas too close!! hard to find with digi set-up.
Mike Hunt arrived and took an hour to see it, although reeling a lot. During this time our original suspected bird also reeling in middle of open area. So 2 at moment, only 2nd I've seen at Calvert.
Lots of common warblers and Mike had a Garden Warbler on reserve (Tim Watts)
Gareth came down for Terns and we spotted what suspected was a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER low down in bush on open area to right. Lost it, but walked along and Gareth heard one reeling close to us on left. We had brilliant views (10mts) 4 times of it climbing up and reeling on tangled brambles. Got some pics but itwas too close!! hard to find with digi set-up.
Mike Hunt arrived and took an hour to see it, although reeling a lot. During this time our original suspected bird also reeling in middle of open area. So 2 at moment, only 2nd I've seen at Calvert.
Lots of common warblers and Mike had a Garden Warbler on reserve (Tim Watts)
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
