September Review

September was a month spent almost entirely wandering about in the brooms and woods on Wanstead Flats (There are other men doing this who don’t do it for the birds so one has to be careful). It was a special time as the place appeared to become a magnet for our more regular migrants and they didn’t disappoint. Otherwise it was the Lee Valley that took up my time. Need to go further-afield come October!



September 29th 2015 – Chingford Plain/Connaught Water
Chingford Plain is an old haunt of mine with some cracking birds seen in days gone past; Ring Ouzel, Richard’s Pipit, Short-eared Owl to name the few. Today it was nice if not totally unexpected to happen upon a pair of Whinchat – they’re getting everywhere this autumn. Connaught Water was just a bit of fun with trying out a few flight shot tips.



Ring-necked Parakeet

Whinchat



September 26th 2015 – Lee Valley Park
Nice sunny day and a casual walk around the park before volunteer duty at the Bittern Watchpoint.

Carrion Crow

Chiffchaff


Cormorant

Little Egret and Grey Heron

Greta Crested Grebe

Grey Heron


Long-tailed Tit

Reed Warbler



September 23rd 2015 – Vange Marshes
A life tick for me this day as the rather distant Wilson’s Phalarope didn’t get wind of my imminent arrival and happily kept its distance while my camera desperately tried to focus on a blob.




September 20th 2015 – Lee Valley Park
No birds of any note but my first shot of a dragonfly in flight. Also happened upon a Muntjac which under normal circumstances would have fled into the foliage but this one seemed more intent on eating it’s cover.

Common Darter

Muntjac

Southern Hawker


September 12th 2015 – Lee Valley Park
Another grey day but nice to find a pair of Whinchat on a walk towards the farm.



September 7th 2015 – Sewardstone Marsh
Nasty weather, nothing about but a quick stop off at Sewardstone Marsh before Lee Valley duties down the road. Just a bad shot of a Lesser Whitethroat of any note. Moving on...
September 2nd 2015 – Wanstead Flats
Spent most of the time staring at a bush waiting for the Wryneck to show off. Didn’t happen. Saw it fly from one bush to another on a few occasions but no shots unless you like shots of bushes.

Had to make do with Spotted Flycatchers instead.

September 1st 2015 – Wanstead Flats

I have to admit that I’m lost on the flats. Luckily there are guys there who religiously patrol the site recording bird sightings and of this band, a few are usually about to help direct lost souls like me towards the best spots for the birds that are about. There were a few of them quartering the 'Enclosure' area and they roll-called the latest sightings for me. There were loads of Spotted Flycatchers flitting about and a few Chiffchaffs. I caught the tail end of a female Pied Flycatcher as I arrived but failed to pick it up again. A smart male Common Redstart played ball and that was amazing. Amazing because for the next couple of hours, I didn’t see it again.


Common Redstart



Green Woodpecker

Common Kestrel

Spotted Flycatcher


Chiffchaff

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Digiscoping DIY Adaptor

Image
Thought I would take this opportunity to explain and illustrate the way I digiscope. I have never bothered to invest in a purpose-made adaptor because I’m never sure which one would be best and I suppose I’m a bit stingy. Instead, I have experimented with different joining mechanisms which have include fruit juice bottle tops, paint roller tubes and plumbing joints. Over the five or so years I have digiscoped, the results have been unpredictable. This has been caused by the light conditions, the mobility of the subject and invariably, the distances between my camera and the bird. probably worth noting here that I also tend to focus through the scope before attaching the camera. The most successful adaptor for me has been the paint roller tube. I discovered if I strip off the furry bit, I’m left with a perfect basis for an adaptor. Depending on the camera lens width and the telescope eyepiece diameter, I wrap insulation tape inside the tube. Measure the depth and width of the ca...
Read more

Scotland day 6: Look out. Look up and look where you’re going!

Image
Oh my days! Is it Friday already? This was our last full day with Heatherlea and it was destined to be a big one. Correction: The big one. Do these birding tour operators plan this? Do they always save the best for last? I don’t know. Some would say the Capercaillie caper would have done it and it did in many ways but this day would match it or in some eyes surpass it. You be the judge. Another full fat breakfast! My only thoughts during this now routine ceremony was whether I would still fit in the minibus. To be honest, I thought we would be doing a bit more walking on this trip but apart from the odd amble up a hill, we were never far from the transport. The birding day began with an excursion to Roseisle and initially around some of the farmland minor roads where we picked up a couple of corn buntings just sitting on fence wires. Looking out from a viewpointon the Moray Firth at Burghead Bay there were velvet and common scoters, eider and a few red-breasted merganser. Telescope out...
Read more

Scotland Day 1: A few 'grouses' about the weather

Image
We woke in the morning to discover the beautiful sunny evening that met our arrival had turning into a cold, grey dreich. We caught up with our guides and fellow adventurers early so that we could could visit a black grouse lek before breakfast. The visibility was poor and the air damp. When we arrived at the site, it was very difficult to see the birds. A few bobbing backsides – the white of the male tail feathers was about all I could see.  Black grouse, what Black Grouse? Lesser redpoll called as they went over and the inevitable willow warblers sang from various trees. Everyone got poor views to be fair but at that stage, we were all happy. A bit later at breakfast we discussed the weather, as you do and Dave and Chris, our guides for the tour laid out plans for local birding in Abernethy forest, primarily for crested tit and the magnificent capercaillie. The excitement was clearly audible. We arrived and parked up near Loch Mallachie and made our way down through the incredibl...
Read more