Chasing Redpoll.

Recent reports from Old Moor RSPB reserve suggested that Redpoll were being seen on a daily basis feeding on the reserve. These were Lesser Redpoll but also given yesterday was a Common Redpoll so if ever I needed a reason to drive the four miles or so to the reserve this was it. I have only one or two pictures of Redpoll, they are a bird that have eluded me in my photographic endeavours.

On my arrival at the reserve I immediately linked up with the staff and asked where the best place to see the Redpoll was, they told me and off I went. Unfortunately what they didn't tell me was that I wouldnt be able to photograph them in situ as, a) The area in which they been seen is not accessible to the public, at least not close enough even with a big lens and b) even if it was its only accessible from one direction and guess what, yes you guessed, its into the sun.  I did see a few Reed Bunting but this picture will give you an idea of what I was up against.

This is quite a big crop.

I think they call this, backlit. Realistically is should be back in the deleted recycle bin.

In the feeder station Garden I suffered with the usual sun problem as well. In other words the shadow cast by the visitor centre completely covers the feeders from about 10am, which when you consider that the centre doesnt open until 9.30am rather limits one's chances. I did try though.

A Woodpigeon,

and a Goldfinch.

and finally a Grey Squirrel.

not a lot in the way of Redpoll and a very depressing visit to Old Moor. I checked later on the Old Moor webpage on the RSPB website and it was a day where very little being seen.

Bird list 2010

I dont normally do this but this year as I have seen so many birds I thought I would list them.

1. Blue Tit
2. WillowTit
3. Great Tit
4. Marsh Tit
5. Bearded Tit
6. Coal Tit
7. Long Tailed Tit
8. Crested Tit
9. Blackbird
10. Thrush-Song
11. Thrush-Mistle
12. Fieldfare
13. Redwing
14. Wheatear
15. Lark-Sky
16. Lark-Shore (lifetime first)
17. Pipit-Meadow
18. Pipit-Tree
19. Pipit-Rock
20. Bullfinch
21. Goldfinch
22. Hawfinch
23. Chaffinch
24. Greenfinch
25. Sparrow-House
26. Sparrow-Tree
27. Dunnock
28. Wren
29. Robin
30. Warbler-Willow
31. Warbler Wood
32. Warbler-Garden
33. Warbler-Grasshopper
34. Warbler-Cetti's
35. Warbler-Reed
36. Warbler-Sedge
37. Warbler-Mamora's (lifetime first)
38. Blackcap
39. Chiffchaff
40. Bunting-Reed
41. Bunting-Snow
42. Siskin
43. Brambling
44. Yellowhammer
45. Goldcrest
46. Treecreeper
47. Nuthatch
48. Woodpecker-Great Spotted
49. Woodpecker-Lesser
50. Woodpecker-Green
51. Redpoll-Lesser
52. Flycatcher-Pied
53. Flycatcher-Spotted
54. Redstart-Common
55. Moorhen
56. Coot
57. Water Rail
58. Bittern
59. Heron
60. Egret-Little
61. Egret-Great White
62. Spoonbill
63. Kestrel
64. Sparrowhawk
65. Buzzard
66. Red Kite
67. Marsh Harrier
68. Osprey
69. Peregrine Falcon
70. Owl-Little
71. Redshank
72. Spotted Redshank
73. Greenshank
74. Sandpiper-Common
75. Sandpiper-Green
76. Sandpiper-Curlew
77. Little Stint (lifetime first)
78. Ruff
79. Curlew
80. Oystercatcher
81. Turnstone
82. Snipe-Common
83. Snipe-Jack (lifetime first)
84. Lapwing
85. Plover-Golden
86. Plover-Grey (lifetime first)
87. Plover-Ringed
88. Plover-Little ringed
89. Godwit-Black Tailed
90. Godwit-Bar Tailed
91. Kingfisher
92. Dipper
93. Duck-Mallard
94. Duck-Tufted
95. Duck-Shoveler
96. Duck-Pintail
97. Duck-Mandarin
98. Duck-Eider (lifetime first)(wild)
99. Duck-Ruddy
100. Teal
101. Wigeon
102. Shelduck
103. Golden Eye
104. Goosander
105. Gadwall
106. Pochard
107. Grebe-Little
108. Grebe-Great Crested
109. Grebe-Black Necked
110. Cormorant
111. Red Grouse
112. Partridge-Grey
113. Partridge-Red Legged
114. Pheasant
115. Jay
116. Magpie
117. Chough
118. Crow-Carrion
119. Crow-Hooded
120. Rook
121. Raven
122. Starling
123. Waxwing
124. Dove-Collared
125. Dove-Stock
126. Dove-Rock
127. Woodpigeon
128. Diver-Great Northern (lifetime first)
129. Gannet
130. Guillemot
131. Kittewake
132. Razorbill
133. Puffin
134. Fulmar
135. Tern-Common
136. Tern-Sandwich
137. Tern-Black (lifetime first)
138. Skua-Great (lifetime first)
139. Gull-Herring
140. Gull-Common
141. Gull-Lesser Black Backed
142. Gull-Great Black Backed
143. Gull-Black Headed
144. Gull- Glaucous
145. Gull-Mediteranean
146. Goose-Greylag
147. Goose-Canada
148. Goose-Barnacle
149. Goose-Brent
150. Goose Egyptian
151. Goose-Snow
152. Goose-Ross's
153. Swan-Mute
154. Swan-Bewick
155. Swan-Whooper
156. Whitethroat-Lesser
157. Whitethroat-Common
158. Stonechat
159. Whinchat
160. Wagtail-Pied
161. Wagtail-Grey
162. Wagtail-Yellow
163. Avocet
164. Crossbill-Common
165. Swallow
166. Swift
167. House Martin
168. Sand Martin
169. Linnet
170. Cuckoo (Confirmed lifetime first)

When I was going through the birds I'd photographed and seen this year, from my main list, there were some that I had forgotten to add to my list for this year, Shelduck, Wren, Wigeon, Little Owl. Fieldfare, Little ringed Plover, Greenshank and Oystercatcher.

It is funny but with the exception of the Little ringed Plover they are birds that are so common to me that I must not have recorded the first sightings of them this year. The Little Owls, for instance. I see little Owls every year at Symonds Yat and Eastbach, and this year I spent a great time with Chris Grady watching whilst he photographed them in Herefordshire, yet I had not recorded them on this years list. When compiling my list I always cross reference the birds I see with my main list that I started in 2007 when I got back into birdwatching and when I first met Chris and Andy. That list amounts to 209 birds, which I know is not a huge number but it is a number that I am pleased with as I am, as previously stated, in no way a twitcher or serious lister. I have nothing against those people, whatever rocks your boat, but I could not chase around the country after rarities just to say I saw them.

I am really pleased to have added some cracking birds this year, Shorelark, Jack Snipe, Mamora's Warbler, Great Skua, Little Stint, Black Tern, Grey Plover, Eider Duck, Sandwich Tern and Great Northern Diver. There's one more bird which I saw up close and personal this year and despite it being a bird that I've known of all my life and possibly seen in the past without really knowing, this year I can say that I definately saw one and had Chris Grady with me to confirm it. The Cuckoo, Hergest Ridge, Herefordshire May 4th. What a cracking moment that was, and what a pleasure to share it with a bloke who has become a very good friend to me over the last four years.

There are birds that I would have hoped to get this year that I didn't, although there's still time for one or two more, Pink Footed Geese, Barn Owl, Hobby, Merlin, Black Redstart and even Tawny Owls have evaded me this year, but thats part of the beauty of wildlife watching and photography, you never know whats around the corner.