Skip to main content

Twitchers

On Thursday and Friday mornings this week the bridge over the Chess at Latimer has been partially obstructed in the morning rush hour by parked cars and people with binoculars studying the river. Clearly twichers but watching what? Unfortunately the only time that I was free to stop and look would have been after dark but reference to Derwent May's column in yesterday's Times revealed that it was a purple heron. A little frustrating that I missed it as I was already committed for both days at the weekend but at least I discovered the reason for the fuss.

I did manage a little birding last week. As I had to attend a conference in South Wales I took a days leave and drove up early the day before, arriving in Coleford in the Forrest of Dean at about 9:15. In the morning I revistied the Nags Head reserve hear Parkend. Apart from disturbing a buzzard that was resting quite low in the undergrowth there was little of excitement despite notices warning dog walkers of the risks from feral wild boar. After lunch at the Ostrich in Newland I walked along the River Wye which brought be close to several grey wagtails and left me studying the flocks of small birds in the treetops. Several flocks were moving across the riverside trees and at first the hoped for siskins proved to be great tits although the conditions made it difficult to make out any markings. Finally one flock came across with slightly different behaviour, keeping in tighter formation. After much manouvering to be able to see some colour against the grey sky and managed to make out a siskin's wing bar.

The conference itself kept me indoors of course but during a coffee break I did get a nice view of a buzzard battling against the wind over the hotel grounds.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

No Choice

Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"

Harvest

The arable fields between Ley Hill and Latimer have been harvested over the last couple of days. This morning I saw a group of yellowhammers in the middle of the road by a field gate. From the look of things they were eating spilled grain. Instead of flying into the hedgerow they flew away from me along the road at windscreen height. I haven't seen much else recently apart from a distant glimpse of a partridge and the occasional red kite.

Not So Quiet

 During September and October the garden normally seems to be devoid of birds. For the last few days there has been a flock of tits on the feeder. At least 5 blues at a time plus two or three long tailed as well as the occasional great and coal. This only takes place later in the afternoon, usually at around 5.