A Somerset & Bristol Birder Travels the World » The listing game

A Trip to the Fair

Andy — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:29:36 +0000

The BirdFair, that is. Yes, it’s that time of the year again but instead of a couple of hours across from Redditch, the trip took nearly four up from Portishead – a bit of a miscalculation there.

So I didn’t see much and certainly didn’t have time to register any more than one little egret and [...]

Spotted Flycatcher, RSPB Ham Wall

Andy — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:27:42 +0000

Another new species for my Somerset list with an adult feeding two juveniles yesterday evening. Technically Lytes Cary should have the honour because a spotfly was hawking near the pictured bits of topiary late afternoon. In the name of efficiency though I’ll not add that National Trust house to my site inventory, unless it comes [...]

Whinchats, Glen Orchy

Andy — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:42:36 +0000

Yes, whinchats. In the plural. Two family groups five years since my last sighting down in Galloway Forest. The year list gallops on to 185 – my best since 2004.

And no, this chap isn’t a whinchat. He was browsing near Loch Tulla when I pulled into the car park and quite unfazedly carried on browsing. [...]

Musselburgh, East Lothian

Andy — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:37:43 +0000

This is one of my most southerly locations for velvet scoter. It’s also good for common scoters and reliable for little gull. All three were in evidence last week, and a common sandpiper gave me a nice bonus as my 96th species for the site. It’s one of my top spots. I got an even [...]

Hobby, Portbury Wharf

Andy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:22:11 +0000

Car-free species 104, it had to happen: the Wharf is perfect for this little falcon. The last couple of days have netted me a local patch list of 55 – 40 of them yesterday just wandering around Portishead.

I’m amazed. In my write-ups for the bird tours, even the most renowned sites only have a visit [...]

RSPB Newport Wetlands

Andy — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:17:19 +0000

That was easy. Off the M5 at junction 24 to take the A48 (not the A455, as some authorities have it) into town. Then the brown signs take over and finally the RSPB signs. There was even a Tesco on the way, although we found that the reserve actually has a café.

And entrance is free, [...]

Goshawk, Wentwood Forest, Gwent

Andy — Sun, 16 May 2010 20:51:33 +0000

Iberian chiffchaff was my intended target but it wasn’t until I met another birder that I even found the right location for it. BirdGuides had that down as 80m right of the car park. Duh! That put it in any direction, so I wandered aimlessly for about an hour before my saviour arrived.

Just getting to [...]

Barn Owl, Portbury Wharf

Andy — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:39:09 +0000

Andy Vernon

What can I say? More than five years since my last one, in Northumberland. A great 172nd year bird. And he (sorry, girls, I’m going to call him “he”) was completely oblivious to me as he hunted to within twenty feet of where I stood.

Then he twigged, wheeled away and moments later dived to [...]

Long-eared Owl, Upton Warren

Andy — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:22:50 +0000

Ah, a white Lifestyle sign on the A38 north of the Swan (pubs are invading this blog in a big way!) Sign, or sentinel, for the eastward track to the Moors Pool of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s flagship reserve. I had about an hour to find the long-eared owl reported on BirdGuides.

Now, here’s a twitching trick. [...]

Port Marine Pipits

Andy — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:09:39 +0000

Portishead’s speciality: the rock pipits that live on the foreshore and the new development round the dock. It’s almost impossible to walk from the marina control building to the pier and back along the west side of the dock without at least hearing one. Birds are likely even as far as MeMe Chocolat, right at [...]