Birds – Page 9 – Neil Baldwin's blog : Warning contains walking, technology, photography, holidays.

College Lake

Such a nice day on Sunday I decided to take a trip round College lake with the Father in-law. We arrived at about 13:00 and parked up, BBOWT do not charge an entrance fee but suggest a £2 parking donation. The new visitors centre is very airy, there is an exhibition and a cafe area. The cafe area used to be on the north side of the site in a wooden building, but now you have to enter the site via the new one.

I must add that I have never really been a fan of college lake, I am not sure why maybe because the hides were very distant from the birds. The walk round was to change my opinion, there are now some new hides and well as some of the old ones. The water area close to the centre has been left to flood after they had done some earthworks, and the new hides are well placed to take advantage of the new waterscape.

We headed off toward the Bulbourne side first, it was the middle of the day so there was not much birding action to be seen, but we did spot a hovering Kestrel. Down over the opposite end to the center we came across a toad crossing the path, then went into the newly planted area which is a sort meadow area, there were some shrubs that were covered in the lady birds, lucking the indigenous species. When you turn back towards the center there are a couple of old bits of machinery reminding you that the site was once a chalk quarry.

From the new hide on the bund we saw the Ruff that they had told us about at the visitors centre. I will certainly return, later on the the year.

Walk round Cholesbury (2 Hours)

We met up with A&C for a walk round Cholesbury and were in the woods by 11:15. The weather was sunny but there was still a little nip in the air. We went past the church where some distant relative from the 1800’s have a grave, then kept to the woods and headed towards Hastoe.

At one point we came a cross a wooded area where someone had put on display lads of small fairies, and wind chimes. There was no explanation for them being there, I suggested that someone could not think what to do with a large collection they had so let them free in the woods. They were all nailed in place so they were hardly free to roam.

As we got close to Hastoe it was time to take a right and then start heading back to wards where we started. There was quite a lot of bird activity going on this time of year is a good time because the birds are becoming territorial and you can still see into the trees because the leaves are not out yet. The high lights were three buzzards soaring on the thermals and two woodpeckers doing large circuits of and area as if they were courting or chasing each other.

As we got back towards the car we came across two bumblebees one dead and the other one crawling. I took a couple of pictures and a video. Looking at the video later the bee had quite a few ticks on it. I don’t think they were the cause of death as some internet research suggested that they were harmless.

Once back at the car we parked up at the Half Moon for some lunch in the pub garden where it was only just warm enough to be comfortable. The food was up to the usual good standard. All in all a great walk and meal in good company. We were back in time to watch the boat race and Oxford won by a country mile.

Glorious Sunday round Minsmere

We woke up to a sunny but fresh morning, Helena d Nik were up for a walk from Minsmere so after breakfast, and settling the bill (food and drink as usual came to more than the accomodation) we parked up at the reserve temporary car park, and headed out towards the Bittern hide which we soon followed by the Island Mere hide from where we got great view of Marsh Harrier and Smew.

We then headed out towards to Scotts Hall and on to the footpath that leads over to Dunwich Heath. We did not stop at the NT tea room but headed round the heath an straight back to the reserve and into the South Hide where the north wind was blowing straight into the open windows. Now that the sun was out the hides and footpaths were packed, unlike yesterday when we saw no one. We must be real hardcore!

Helen and Nik needed to head off home so we went back to the reserve tea room for some lunch. Unfortunately they had run out of parsnip back and baked potatoes, I think that had been surprised by the influx of visitors pent up by the poor weather the day before. We got some bird food from the shop, 20% off, then headed back to the car and said goodby to Helen and Nik.

We also headed back and made good progress door to door the journey was 2:30, with one stop for some bread and some salad for tea. The M25 was busy but was always moving.

Walk in the rain

We were up for breakfast at 09:00, but lingered because the weather did not look promising. We left the pub at about 10:00 and dumped my car at Warblerswick the plan was to walk back to the pub, via Dunwich, the heath and Minsmere. After a short beach section we headed in land across the marshes and reed beds, toward the disused windmill. It was grey, not too cold, and not raining we were out in the fresh air so we were happy.

When we got to the windmill we found that the footpath was closed and fenced off, we decided we would do what other people had done and carry on regardless, we had walked all that way and we had not had any warnings that might have made us take an alternative route. The half made p[ath was very muddy as it had been laid with grey clay from the marsh, then there was a section with gravel which was like walking on a beach, but it soon passed and we were heading past Dingle Great Hill (all of 12 feet in elevation!). We walked throught the woods overlooking Dingle Marsh and saw seom lovely isolated houses and soon entered the village of Dunwich a lot of which is now under the sea.

The planned stop at the fish and chip place was cancelled because it was closed, from November to March, it was also raining and there was no shelter. We ended up in the The Ship Inn for lunch rather that having the Heidi Pies we had bought in Southwold the day before. I had some shell on prawns, and the others had goat cheese toasties which looked really nice. We had to eventually drag our selves out of the pub and into the rain.

We headed up the hill then eventually over and onto Dunwich Heath where we were hoping to see Dartford Warblers, but there were to remain elusive. It had started to rain so we stopped off at the NT Coastgaurd Cottages for tea and cakes. Whilst we were in the cafe it stopped raining but it soon started again as we headed down off the heath to Minsmere, and the south hide.

During the whole walk we had not really seen a soul and the south hide was no exception, we had the place to oursleves it was a welcome break from the rain. There was not much to see as it was a bit early in the year, but we managed to identify a Med Gull and a Little gull. We woke Helen up and set off back to the pub via the sluices, just as we turned in land at the sluices it started to really rain, so mush so that I had to get the poncho out. We walked the last mile or so in the pouring rain, but still managed to add Barnacle goose to the weekend list. As we go back to the pub the rain stopped, Nik and I went off to pick up the car and the Helen’s went off to see if they could see the barns owls.

In the way back to the car we came across quite a few Muntjac in our headlights. We picked up the car went back to the pub, watched the remaining half of England thrashing France at rugby and then headed to the bar for something to eat and drink. Another great day despite the weather.

Minsmere and a Friday off

We are off to The Eels Foot this weekend to meet up with Helen and Nik. The Eels Foot if you don;t follow the blog is a pub in a village called Eastbridge just on the edge of the RSPB reserve at Minsmere, it has a couple of features which attract us back, the beers is excellent (Adnams is my all time favourite), and it is a close as you can get to Minsmere for accomodation.

We set out after the rush hour and the plan was to meet up in the Lord Neslon in Southwold at about 13:00, we headed down the A41 but soon turned off when we heard that the M25 was closed both ways between the A42 and the M1, it turns out there was a 6 car pile up. We wasted a bit of time but ended up taking the shorter but slightly longer cross country route involving amongst other roads, A14, A12, A505.

At about 12 we got a call from N&H, they had been way laid by and antiques shop and would be late, so we went to Minsmere for a quick circuit of the reserve and an excellent lunch at the visitors centre. Then we met up at the pub at 14:00.

The pub was followed by a some shopping, I bought a paper. I also managed to get some pano shots of the main square, but the light was grey and overcast so the results might not be that good. It seems ever since I have been wanting to take panorama shots the weather has been not conducive.

After shopping we headed of to the pub, via the long spiral route, due to my navigation. We just had time to see if the owls were out, and get a shower before eating in the pub in good company. The menu did not have so many veggie options as usual but we made the most of it all the same.

Ice Mushrooms

Very cold this morning but Helen managed to drag me outside by 10am, for what turned out to be a brisk, short sharp walk round Dancersend. We parked up where Dancersend lane flattens out next to some houses and marked past the manor then licked up the footpath that heads across the corn field towards to the hills on the horizon.

It was absolutely freezing and even after 20 minutes walking in thermals we were still cold. Once we hit the hills we turned right towards the old victorian pump house that feed the hidden reservoir. Along the foot path we saw those ice extrusions I have mentioned in the past. I think they might be caused by the really wet ground pushing the water up by capilliary action with then freezes when it hits the cold. Some we saw were several centimetres long, Helen called them Ice Mushrooms and I think that is a good name for them.

At the pump house we crossed the road to enter Dancersend nature reserve, we came across a couple each with a child in rucksack on their back, and a very boisterous large puppy, looked a bit like and Irish Wolfhound it was bounding around all over the place. We headed clockwise round the reserve up the hill and then through the woods to the bottom of the reserve. There was a lot a shooting going on around the valley it it a really shame as the blasts really spoil the tranquillity of the place.

We headed out of the reserve and joined the road at the pond on the bend below the manor. So we were soon up the road and back to the car it had been a short walk but we were glad that we made the effort. Not much bird life other than Tits, Goldfinch and a couple of Jays. We decided we would have a go at a recipe I found on the internet for Cannellini Beans in tomato sauce, that meant a trip to Tesco for some beans and a visit to the cinema to watch Black Swan with Natalie Portman.

I have since found out the ice extrusions are probably ice needles as per the Wikipedia article

Hi Ho Hi Ho its back to work we go

First day back a work today but there is still time to add some birds to the year list. I was up early to get to work in good time, we have been preparing to merge two limited companies for a few months now and today we go live.

It was dark when I left the house but much lighter by the time I got to the canal, just in time to see a Kingfisher zip off into the distance. You would be surprised how easy it is to see a kingfisher, you just need to spend some time near water eventually one will turn up. Usually you just see an electric blue flash flying in t straight line about 1-2 feet off the water surface, nothing else looks the same. If you are really lucky you might see one perched.

Once at work it turned out not to be the busy day it promised to be, we (in IT ) did our bits then we spend the rest of the day waiting for Finance to do the reconciliation. That means the really busy day will be tomorrow.

My window at work has a great view over a field where lots of wildlife can be seen. Today I saw a fox, green woodpecker and a buzzard, which meant that over the day I had added a further 3 birds to the list. The green woodpecker was interesting as usually you see them on the ground eating ants, but this one was in a tree acting more like a Greater Spotted woodpecker. The buzzard was also unusual in that you usually see them up in the air, but this one was one the ground most of the time and flying just short distances. It did that for about 10 minutes, then eventually disappeared.

Herdgerly and Church wood

Last day for a walk before back to the daily grind. We had arranged to go for a walk with Connie and Abida, we touched base after breakfast and they had found a walk on the Bucks County council website at Hedgerley that took in the RSPB reserve at Church Wood.

The walk is circular and a figure of 8, and you can start at a pub called the White Horse, which promises great beer and pub food. So we parked at the pub and set off through the village then down Kiln Road, then we started to pick up signs for the circular walk. The path took us across rolling country with open fields and woods. There were quite a few clusters of old cottages here and there. The walk took us towards Burnham Beeches, into a woods called Egypt Wood, then turned back to wards where we had come. It was real horsey country and commuter belt. After about 2 hours we were back at the pub, rather than doing the Church Wood loop we decided to stop for lunch then do the other bit after.

The pub did great real ale and had a selection of over 10 real ales to choose from. The food was hearty and pub in style. I had a ploughmans, Connie and Abida had hot beef sandwich and Helen had cheesy nut loaf and chips. Once suitably refreshed we headed off round the other end of the loop, which after coming fro the warm pub was a bit a a struggle, but it was a short loop.

We then headed off home, with a stop off for the sale at Fox’s of Amerhsam. There were some great bargains to be head but none were right for us, will have to try again next year. I did try a coat on which was half price but it was too similar to the one that I already have.

The year list now stands at 45, we added two today Red Kite and Coal Tit.

First post of the year

Today is the day you make new years resolutions. I don’t you should make any that are difficult to keep, so I am going to make an effort to keep a better track of the birds I see this year and Helen and I have also started an official garden list. What better way to start than to go for a walk with the nockers.

We were ready at the early (for new years day) time of 10am, and decided to head up to the area around Dancersend nature reserve, because there is a lot of game birds around which attract lots of country side birds. When we left the house it started to rain so we went up the hill to have a cup of coffee instead! Luckily for us there were plenty of birds on the bird feeders there including Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch.

After coffee we headed out to Wilstone reservoir for a walk to the hide. The weather was miserable and grey, and we had the hide to ourself. Nothing unexpected was present it was great so see Little Egret, Snipe, and Common Gull. One we had endured the cold long enough we headed back to the car in the drizzle then went home for a bite to eat.

It was two o’clock and the year list stood at 33, not a bad start despite the dampened enthusiasm caused by the weather.

A new one for the life list

After yesterdays enjoyable walk I was keen to get back out into the fresh air again. I headed up Tring Hill so see what the traffic was like out and about. The road were nor to bad as it turns out there was plenty of snow and it looked icy on the road surface, there were far more 4×4 as a percentage of the total traffic, than normal. I even saw few cars with chains on! I am not sure if they are legal but I doubt the police would stop you for taking sensible precautions.

The traffic on the A41 was slow and there was only one lane of traffic each way. I then headed towards Tring and took a right towards the manor house which has a bridge over the dual carriageway. I was now back in to the countryside away from the traffic, it was very quiet. I was back on familiar ground and but could not decide which way to go, either a longer router via the crong or a shorter route straight up to Aston Hill. In the end I went in the middle, I headed towards Hanghill but then took a right along a foot path across the fields towards Dancersend manor. I came across the remanents of either a woodcock or a redlegged partridge, which had obviously become the victim of a fox in a struggle. Further on the was a large flock of yellow hammer. Once I had joined the footpath from Hanghill to the manor, I came across a dead crow, I wonder if it was a victim of the cold.

Once past the manor I headed back towards Aston but took the footpath that takes you up to the top of Aston Hill. It was a hard slog up the hill not many people had been up, so the snow was still deep. Just as I reache the golf club a bird flew across the path. It did not take long to figure out that it was a tawny owl. It had a stubby owl body and had that typical owl flight characteristics.

I then headed down the footpath that goes through the golf club. There were some people sledging on the fairways, I am not sure the green keepers would have approved but there was no golf going on so I guess it will do no one any harm.

Then it was down the hill for a coffee and cake at the in laws. Another great walk and a new life list tick to boot.