New Tick

A unusual new garden tick this morning with this Grey Squirrel helping its self to the left overs under the bird table.

Seven Up !

An evening visit to the gravel pits with my brother-in-law produced seven species of Warbler with Blackcap,Willow Warbler,Chiffchaff,Reed Warbler,Garden Warbler,Lesser Whitethroat (seen by Dave H) and best of all Cetti's Warbler all being either heard or seen.
Also seen on our hour long visit were Great Spotted and Green woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting and Sand Martin.
On the East lake were a family of Canada Geese with five goslings(last week there were six) along with the usual Tufted Ducks,Coots,Mallards and the rest of the Canada herd.

Ale Trail

This evening I was going on the Pub Passport trail again and Andy duly arrived to pick me up at 7pm. We headed first towards Barton St David pausing for twenty minutes or so near Somerton to listen for Quail. No luck so we headed on to the Barton Inn.

Yet another unusal Pub sign

Here we both had a Teignworthy 'Neap Tide' at 3.9% served from a cask on the bar. It was an OK start to the evening as a good session beer.
We the went onto the Halfway House at Pitney. As usual the car park and beer garden was full. its a great example of what a community pub can achieve. There were the 10 ales on and we both went for a Thriller Porter at 5.0%, who made it, I forgot to ask ! but it was a good ale. We could have stayed sat in the garden all night but I needed stickers so we moved on to Eli's, The Rose and Crown at Huish Episcopi. This a classic pub with no bar but a flagstone floored open servery where you just wander in and order.

Eli's

 

 

Here I chose a Cheddar Ales 'Potholer' at 4.5% , Andy was on the dreaded J2O's by now. This is another example of a great community pub and again the pub garden was full.
We then decided to try one more pub on our way home and went to give the Devonshire Arms in Long Sutton another try. We last went here a few months ago and were given Moor Peat Porter at a sub-zero temperature and at £3.70 per pint ! Not impressed.
This time however although the prices are still high the beer was good. I went for another Moor beer with Revival at 3.8% and served at the correct temperature from I guess a cask out the back it was a really refreshing hoppy beer and a good way to end the night.
And the Pub Trail, Well I've now qualified for the T Shirt with 17 stickers (you needed 15) and am thinking about going for the book token, Well there are 2 weeks left !

Wemouth 25-5-12

I'm lucky enough to finish work at 12.30pm on a Friday and recently have been using the time to get some birding in. Yesterday I went down to Weymouth although I was about 24 hours late for all the good birds, the Great Reed Warbler went missing on Thursday night and the Woodchat Shrike the day before. With this in mind I went straight out to Portland Bill.
You know its going to be a quite time when you can park at the Observatory car park and mine was only one of three cars there. I took a walk up to top fields pausing only to take this picture

African plains, Portland Style

I walked back through hut fields and took a look in the quarry. The resident Little Owl was glaring at me from his cave.

Little Owl

I then decided to go back to Weymouth and Lodmoor where a message I received said that the Black Winged Stilt was showing well from the west path. Yeah Right ! When I got there it was still a dot in the distance although not quite as small a dot as I had seen at Abbotsbury a couple of weeks ago.
As I was going out tonight I needed to be home at 5pm so I left and arrived at 4.50pm.

A text from Dave H. had me scurrying to the Gravel Pits this evening to finally catch up with the Lesser Whitethroat. I've tried for this bird all week and had almost given up hope when Dave heard it giving very short snatches of its song. It was far too skulking for a photo so I took this view instead on my way back to the car.

Evening sunshine at the Gravel Pits

Chariots of Fire

An early start this morning as Miriam and I went to Ilminster to see the Olympic Torch relay pass through.
We arrived at around 5.50am to take our position and soon the crowds were filling the street. It was a great atmosphere, with cheering crowds even though it was only 7am.

All too soon it was over though and we made our home and I went to work.

I bet you didn't think you'd be doing that today.....

......As the guy on the UPVC Window ad Say's.
And so it was at midday today the decision was made to go to Herefordshire to 'Twich' the Cream-Coloured Courser that had been found late last night on a Golf Course near Kington. We tried to fill the car but at such short notice it wasn't to be, so it was just Andy myself and Dave who made the 260 mile round trip.
We made really good time and soon we were driving through Hereford, which brought back unhappy memories of a twich we had tried a few years back where we missed our quarry, a pair of breeding European Bee-Eaters by thirty minutes. Still gives me nightmares !
At around 3pm we were making our way up the single track road to the golf course, stopping and reversing for birders/golfers coming down.
We were lucky when we got to the top though as I was able to park as far up as was possible and saved ourselves quite a walk. The golfers were very helpful and pointed us in the right direction so that within five minutes of arriving we were watching this fabulous North African Wader.

Cream-Coloured Courser(Cursorius Cursor)

Cream-Coloured Courser

We also got to see the bird fly showing its all black under wings and then relocated it on the fairway where it gave even better views.
We were also treated to low level flypast by three fighter jets making a terrific noise but not bothering the Courser at all.

We left the site around 4pm and headed for home arriving around 7.30pm (via the chip shop !)

Ticking Again

An afternoons birding began first with a pub passport tick at the Ring O' Bells,Ashcott. I called in to get some lunch and as it's on the pub trail a sticker for my passport as well. I enjoyed a very large baguette and a pint of Bath Ales SPA at 3.7%. A golden ale with a hint of citrus.
Then it was onto Shapwick and a walk out to Noah's Lake. On the way the bushes seemed to be filled with Warblers and I heard Cetti's, Sedge and Blackcap. I also had a couple of Common Whitethroats.

Common Whitethroat

On arriving at Noah's Lake I could hear that the tower hide was full so I watched from outside and it wasn't long before I spied my quarry. An Osprey was hunting over the lake and it made several passes looking for its prey.

Osprey

 

Also whilst I was there a Hobby flew past quite close with a large dragonfly in its talons. I the decided to walk over to Ham Wall RSPB Reserve and on the way back along the track I noticed that the two Great White Egrets had appeared while I was at the hide.

Grey Heron & Great White Egret

 Over at Ham Wall there was the constant sound of Bittern's 'Booming' but none were flying today. I also heard a Cuckoo in the distance. Later I heard it calling from somewhere quite close and managed to track it down and get a pretty poor snap. The light was becoming very gloomy and overcast by this time and as I had promised to be home by five I went back to the car park and home.

Cuckoo

Born to Fly

Four years ago this month I was in Poland with three of my birding friends. We spent a few days in the forests surrounding Bialowieza in the north and three days further south in the marshes where we stayed at a place called Rajki Staw. While we here we met a film crew staying at the same lodge and they were making a film about Common Cranes. They would disappear secretly early in the morning to where their hide was located and film a breeding pair of Cranes and their young.
Well last night I went to the RSPB meeting at Seavington St Mary to watch the resulting film called 'Born to Fly'.
It's a fascinating account of these highly social and fantastic birds from their breeding grounds in the north and their subsequent migration south to amongst other places ,Spain. It brought back some great memories of our trip with images of Whiskered and White-Winged Black Terns,Ruff and Wood Sandpipers and made me wish I was going back soon.
In the past I used to be a regular at the RSPB group meetings and was for a time a committee member so it was good to see some old faces again.

Entrance to the primeval forest

Sunset at a Great Snipe lek

Four Birders go to Poland

As I was in Seavington it seem a good opportunity to visit the Volunteer and get another passport sticker. The Voulnteer as a brew-pub is the location of the Windy Brewery and brews three ales at the moment, Flurry,Tornado and a new ale Wind-sor brewed for the Jubilee. I went for an old favourite, Flurry.

All White on the Night

Last night Andy G and myself went over to West Moor near Creech St Michael to see a White Stork that has taken up residence since the weekend. We parked up near the bridge at Charlton and walked out across the fields to where a large expanse of flood water remained after the recent heavy rainfall.
The bird was seen immediately through a gap in the hedge in front of us.

White Stork

As we were watching Andy got a call from another friend of ours Steve, who said he was thinking of going for the Stork and did he know where it was. Andy replied that he was looking at it right now to which Steve replied "good, cos I'm stood by your car" It wasn't long before Steve had joined us and soon after that a our MD from where Andy and I work (also a keen birder) had also joined us.
As well as the Stork there were a large amount of Gulls present, mostly Herring and Lesser Black Back Gulls. An near adult Iceland Gull had been seen but despite trying we could not locate it, but did see one Little Ringed Plover,eight Dunlin and twenty plus Shelduck. Also while we were there a group of four Whimbrel dropped in and began to preen and feed.
Pretty soon Andy and I began to get itchy feet as we were also going to get two more 'ticks' in our pub passport so we made our goodbyes. As we were walking back to the car the four Whimbrel passed over us having completed their wash and brush up and continuing their journey north. A text received from Steve when we were in the car said that he'd located the Iceland Gull as well, but we thought he was joking so carried on, only later seeing his post on the Somerset website confirming it.
We now made our way to our first pub, The White Horse at Bradford on Tone. This pub is unusual as it has a glass pub sign.

The beers were not unusual though as only Sharp's Doombar, Otter 'Bitter' and Exmoor 'Stag' were on. I chose an Otter bitter. We didn't stay too long and soon were on our way to our next destination, the Merry Harriers at Forches Corner.
Here the beers on offer were much the same with Otter 'Head' and 'Hopping' and Exmoor 'Stag' again. I plumped this time for an Otter 'Head' at 5.8%.
With time getting on we then decided to call it a night, a pretty successful one too ! with four year ticks ( I'd also picked up my first Common Whitethroat of the year)and two passport stickers for me. Three more and I get the T Shirt.

Last night myself and a few of my ale buddies attended the Somerset CAMRA branch meeting at the Crossways Inn, West Huntspill.

 This is great 17 century coaching inn with a choice of up to 6 ales on. Last night as part of the meeting they were presented with the Somerset branch 'Pub of the Season' award which in my opinion was well deserved.
Ales on were Otter 'Mild' , Sharps 'Doombar', St Austell Proper Job, RCH PG Steam and Bath Ales Barnsey.
I started with a PG Steam from the RCH Brewery near Weston -Super-Mare at 3.9%. This is a nice session ale with a floral hop aroma and a fruity taste. Next up was Barnsey from Bath Ales at 4.5%. This is dark and complex ale made with maris otter,chocolate and crystal malts and bramling cross hops. Its a full bodied ale and went down so well that I tried 3 more and stayed on it for the rest of the evening.
During the meeting the summer edition of the Somerset CAMRA magazine 'Pints of View' was available and I was pleased to see that Andy J's account of our trip to the Battersea Beer Festival in February was included along with the photograph that I took on the day and which brought back happy memories.

Battersea Beer Festival

Three Counties Finale

Last night was the Three Counties Skittle League Dinner and Presentation evening. It was held at the Perry Street Club and attended by 107 skittlers and their guests.

Trophy Table

The league has, for the past twenty five years made donations to local charities by selling raffle tickets and this years recipient was the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.Since 1986 the league has given over £5000 to charity and the Air Ambulance representative Alan Long came along to receive a cheque for £200.00.

President Pete Dunstan presents the cheque to Alan Long

Our new Chairman Ian Hodder gave a very amusing speech and jolly good night was had by all.
Ale on tonight was Worthington Red Shield.

Birding,Beer NO Skittles

Last night I went to Wayford Woods which is a small privately owned wildlife reserve just outside of Winsham. It is a mixture of mature woodland and ornamental trees and shrubs surrounding a large open meadow with a sizable pond as well.
It can be quite productive for migrant birds in the spring and myself and my mate Andy went looking for Spotted Flycatcher amongst other things. The paths were quite muddy and wet from the recent heavy downpours and it was not easy walking.
As we walked around we picked up the usual woodland species with Nuthatch,Long Tailed Tit, Mistle and Song Thrush all being seen and hearing Chiffchaff and Blackcap. We were also pleased to see that the resident Herons had produced young again this year. It must be the smallest Heronry in the country as there is only ever one pair breeding here.
As the light was starting to go and we started back to the car we were alerted to a Marsh Tit giving its 'sneezy' call and managed to get on it looking very bedraggled and wet. This was to be my only year tick tonight as the expected Spotted Flycatchers did not materialise. We stood by the pond for a while and I spotted a Kingfisher sat in the branches overhanging the water on the far side, but apart from that and a flyover Raven nothing more was to be had so we went onto our next destination.
We now turned our attention to our other hobby and went to the Old Stagecoach Inn at Crewkerne for a 'passport' tick. I had been here many years before when it was called the Queens but for Andy it was a pub tick as well. We were pleasantly surprised as the landlord was obviously a real ale fan and had three beers on.
I started with Moor brewery's Nor'Hop at 4.1% which was a pale flowery/citrus beer and could become a favourite. Next we had The Windy Brewery's 'Flurry', a beer we had both had before but only at the Volunteer at Seavington where its brewed. Also on was Teignworthys 'Old Moggie' at 4.4%.
We then made our way to the Muddled Man at West Chinnock and here both had Hopback's Pioneer at 3.7%. We then decided to call it a night and made our way home.

Three Year Ticks.

A late morning visit to the Gravel Pits today. I had passed up a trip to Exmoor with the usual crowd as my other half and I are off to Bournemouth this afternoon to see The Osmonds (not my choice, promise).
As soon as I arrived I saw this Orange Tip Butterfly on the wing and managed to get a snap when it settled.

Orange Tip Butterfly

Garden Warbler

A walk past the East Lake revealed the usual array of ducks Coots and Moorhens. Onto the reserve and I soon heard at least three Reed Warblers calling. Further on and I picked out the song of a Garden Warbler which with a bit of scrambling through the undergrowth I managed to track down. Year tick number one. It was also good to hear it competing with a Blackcap and to compare songs.

Garden Warbler

Garden Warbler

Carrying on to the hide I sat for awhile watching several House & Sand Martins swooping over the lake when all of sudden they were joined by a Swift, my first of the year and year tick number two.



Whilst I was sat there I became aware of movement just below and was surprised to see this Sedge Warbler creeping through the reeds.

Sedge Warbler

Other species seen this visit included a pair of Bullfinches,a Great Spotted Woodpecker,Willow Warbler,Chiffchaff and this Long Tailed Tit.

Long Tailed Tit

Its taken four years but.....

This evening I headed out in anticipation after reading of the big 'falls' of migrants along the south coast today. I made my way to Lambert's Castle, the National Trust hill fort near Axminster and as soon as I got out of the car I heard a Common Redstart calling.  Just the other side of the gate and there he was !

Common Redstart

It's been four years since I last saw a Redstart here. A walk around the hill produced two Tree Pipits and many Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Not quite the spectacle that others had witnessed but I was happy.

Yellowhammer

 

There were quite a few Yellowhammers calling as well.
On the way home I called into the Gravel Pits for a quick look and was surprised to see a mini fall of Pied Wagtails with around thirty to forty birds gathered on the fences and banks.

Walking back to the car I took this picture of the Moon