KEVIN GROOCOCK PHOTOGRAPHY: August 2009

Saturday 29 August 2009

Draycote Water

Pochard / Tufted Duck

Wheatear

Dunlin

Having spent the morning painting the spare bedroom, I decided on a late afternoon walk at Draycote. Arriving at 1630, walked to the Valve Tower and back and leaving at 1915. A pleasant walk amassing 45 bird species.

The juvenile Black Tern was quite active, patrolling parallel to Hensborough Bank. Draycote Bank produce a single Wheatear and Dunlin close to the Inlet. The Goosander was still near the Valve Tower (asleep) and a single Grey Wagtail nearby. A Yellow Wagtail was spotted on the shoreline between the Sailing Club and the Visitor Centre and finally a juvenile Little Ringed Plover near the fishing pontoons.

Today's Sightings:

Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Jackdaw; House Martin; Coot; BH Gull; Mallard; LBB Gull; Pied Wagtail; Goldfinch; Swallow; Mute Swan; Black Tern (Juv); Gt Cr Grebe; Sand Martin; Gadwall; Lapwing; Tufted Duck; Shoveler; Buzzard; Dabchick; Pochard; Moorhen; Blackbird; Chiffchaff; Grey Heron; Wheatear; Dunlin; Chaffinch; Rook; Magpie; Goosander; Grey Wagtail; Pheasant; Green Woodpecker; Robin; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Wren; Little Ringed Plover (Juv); Yellow Wagtail; Cormorant; Stock Dove; Greenfinch; Herring Gull.

Friday 28 August 2009

Draycote Water

Wheatear

I arrived at Draycote at 0700 and opted to walk the perimeter, completing at 1115. It looked bright and sunny as I started but the "breeze" was somewhat cooling! Amassed 44 bird species.

The bushes in the car park produced three Willow Warbler with a further seven being observed around the reservoir. Three Chiffchaff were seen and heard. Farborough Bank was active with eight Yellow Wagtail, with another three on Hensborough Bank. Three juvenile Wheatear joined the Wagtails on Farborough Bank. A lone Ringed Plover stood at the end of Farborough Bank with a single Little Ringed Plover (Juv) in Toft Shallows. Overhead, at least thirty Sand Martin were feeding with hundreds of House Martin and at least twent Swallow's. Two Common Sandpiper were spotted in Toft Shallows and three more in Biggin Bay. Four Blackcap (3m, 1f) were seen in the hedgerows behind Toft Shallows.The female / imm Goosander was located asleep near the Valve Tower.

It was pleasing that only a handful of fishermen were active on the banks and three boats on the water. Some sailing and wind surfing was starting as I completed my walk. Worst problem today were the cyclists who seemed to be travelling at very high speeds, silent and no warnings of approach. With their approach masked by the strong breeze, a number nearly had me on their bars as a mascot!!!

Today's Sightings:

Wood Pigeon; Goldfinch; Carrion Crow; Wren; Magpie; Blue Tit; Chaffinch; Willow Warbler; House Martin; Blackbird; Great Tit; Coot; BH Gull; Mute Swan; Pied Wagtail; Mallard; Cormorant; Gt Cr Grebe; Tufted Duck; LBB Gull; Chiffchaff; Green Woodpecker; Herring Gull; Starling; Yellow Wagtail; Wheatear; Sand Martin; Swallow; Lapwing; Ringed Plover; Dabchick; Robin; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Common Sandpiper; Teal; Little Ringed Plover; Song Thrush; Greenfinch; Blackcap; Rook; Goosander; Kestrel; Gadwall,

Thursday 27 August 2009

More Birding Pics from a Non-Birding Break! Chew Valley Lake

This is MY territory!

Synchronised Cooting

You WILL tell me where the food is!

Coot Offensive

Now, where did I put my....................?

Scrum....................................................!

Who needs Swan Lake? - Even I can do ballet..............................!

Unimpressed LBB Gull

A few more pics from Chew Valley Lake on my non-birding break.

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Chew Valley Lake

Little Egret

Coot

Coot Scrap

Coot Offensive

LBB Gull - You scratch my back andi'll

................................................!

Scrum down lads, I've got the bread!

Scrum Down!

I'm Off - BH Gull

LBB Gull

Mallard - ? Fart propelled!

More pics http://www.kevin632.fotopic.net/

Have you missed me? No, I doubt it! I have been away for a few days on a non-birding break in Bath. However, I was allowed a day at the nearby Chew Valley Lake (good behaviour?, maybe!).

Spent most of the time around Herriotts Bridge and Herons Green Pool & Bay. Most of the usual suspects for a large lake, the best being Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper together at Herons Green Bay, with a distant Black Tailed Godwit. Careful scanning of the Pochard failed to produce the reported Ferruginous Duck but did throw up a juvenile Red Crested Pochard. Two Garganey provided a splendid flypast.

On Herons Green Pool were four Little Egret's. However, careful scoping showed one bird to have a yellow proximal bill with yellow legs and feet of the same colour. The two (poor quality) pics above show this. Debate with a local birder ensued with a view to it being a juvenile Cattle Egret, a bird that had been reported recently in this area. However, as far as I am concerned, the jury is still out with me favouring Little Egret. Should anyone have a view based on the pics above or the others on my website, I would be interested to learn.

Friday 14 August 2009

Brandon Marsh

Dabchick - Carlton Pool

Green Sandpiper & Greenshank - Carlton
Pool

Green Sandpiper - Carlton Pool

Greenshank (oops! Who put that hole

there? - Carlton Pool

Greenshank - Carlton Pool

Green Sandpiper - Carlton Pool

Kingfisher - Carlton Pool

Greenshank - Carlton Pool

More Pics: http://www.kevin632.fotopic.net/

I was so tired after a night shift from hell but decided to pay a visit to Brandon Marsh. Arriving at 1420 and walking to the main hides, I amassed 42 bird species before leaving at 1800. I thought I may fall asleep in a hide and suffer the indignity of being shaken by others who were concerned that my snoring was disturbing the birds!!! Thankfully, I stayed awake!

In the carpark, I was informed that 14 Greenshank had been on Teal Pool but when I arrived the number had dwindled to one. However, at least five were located between East Marsh Pool, Teal Pool and Carlton Pool. Two Green Sandpiper were on Teal Pool and later on Carlton Pool, probably the same two. A distant Kingfisher was seen on River Pool and another posed on Carlton Pool but declined to come closer than the second pole. East Marsh pool took some searching with high vegetation but I eventually found Snipe (2), Oystercatcher (1), and Redshank (1).

Elsewhere, Cettis Warbler (1), Buzzard (1), but little else.

Todays Sightings:

Swallow; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Carrion Crow; BH Gull; LBB Gull; Coot; Canada Goose; Blue Tit; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Lapwing; Greenshank; Mallard; Green Sandpiper; Kingfisher; Mute Swan; Cormorant; Oystercatcher; Snipe; Redshank; Tufted Duck; Great Crested Grebe; Grey Lag Goose; Kestrel; Dabchick; Stock Dove; Wren; Teal; Gadwall; Starling; Robin; Shoveler (f); Jay; Chettis Warbler; Long Tailed Tit; Green Woodpecker; Buzzard; Great Tit; Chaffinch.

Monday 10 August 2009

Draycote Water

Yellow Legged Gull

Cormorant

Carrion Crow

A day off today so decided to visit Draycote. The morning looked good as I set out in sunny, bright conditions. With some of the luck obviously inherited from Max, it was drizzling by the time I reached Farborough Spit! Decided to walk to Toft and return if the weather did not improve - of course it did not! so I cut short my intentions and headed back. Very little to report and very limited, poor quality pics.

Only 40 species of bird seen between 0700 and 1030. A Willow Warbler was singing well in the car park area but not visualised. Farborough Bank produced the Yellow Legged Gull on the boats near the fishing pontoons and an adult Herring Gull. The Toft end of Farborough Bank produced one adult and two juvenile Yellow Wagtail's and a solitary Grey Wagtail. Two Common Sandpiper were found in front of the hide.

Disappointing, really, with very little activity, very little in close to photograph and miserable weather.

Today's Sightings:

Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Rook; BH Gull; Wren; Goldfinch; Chaffinch; House Martin; Willow Warbler; Blue Tit; Robin; Greenfinch; Mallard; Coot; Canada Goose; Cormorant; Mute SWan; Great Crested Grebe; Tufted Duck; Starling; Yellow Wagtail; Grey Heron; LBB Gull; Grey Wagtail; Pied Wagtail; Green Woodpecker; Moorhen; Lapwing; Dunnock; Great Tit; Common Sandpiper; Blackbird; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Long Tailed Tit; Jackdaw; Magpie; Buzzard; Stock Dove; Yellow Legged Gull; Herring Gull; SWallow.