I've met them. The perfect family. A family of wonderful, enthusiastic birders with Mum and Dad, Helena and Chris together with a most brilliant 7 year old with a life list of 350, a year list of 324 for 2009 and notebooks that tell of her adventures. Well done Mya-Rose! You're an angel and to run Lee Evans so close last year was fabulous. Have a look on surfbirds for 2009 and you'll see what I mean.
Met Chris at Chew Valley today, whilst spending hours waiting for yesterday's ferruginous duck to show - it didn't. Swallow [159] did though with over 100 sand martins, and an adult kittiwake.
Yesterday had been at Shapwick, as the day before, and saw the long-tailed duck, a female smew, the 3 glossy ibis, 2 great white egrets, a bittern [heard more booming] and 8 whooper swans, with a black swan. Actually although most of these birds were seen on Shapwick nature reserve, one great white egret was at Sharpham. So another RSPB reserve seen and memories of last year's little bittern seen so well and heard even better.
Had visited West Sedgemoor RSPB reserve afetr Greylake and was surprised to find that most of it was a deciduous oak woodland. Great views of nesting herons.
OK - time for bed.
All the best everyone.
Chew Valley again tomorrow. Another attempt at the fudge duck. Then on towards Bristol and beyond.
Setting Off From Sandwell valley
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Thursday 18th march 2010 - Greylake and West Sedgemoor, Somerset
2 spoonbill greeted me at Greylake, after I'd pushed the bike over along the footpath crossing the marshland near to the site of the last battle to occur in England. I'd visited the memorial at Westonzoyland to the Battle of Sedgemoor, where the rebels under Monmouth, was defeated by King James' army. I'd also been in the church with many excellent display boards detailing the event.
Had a stoat charging at me along the footpath; until it saw me, reared up and turned to leg it the other way.
Greylake - 21 egrets, a marsh harrier and the 2 very close and very active spoonbills. Spent the night nearby!
Early morning and a peregrine, a merlin [number 154], 2 marsh harriers, a kestrel and 3 buzzards were seen. The spoonbills came in again at around 7.20am and the forecast rain hadn't arrived. In fact it never did; well not up until now anyway.
Visited the Willow and Wetland Centre before cycling along a 'deja vue' road. I'd been here before - black-throated thrush a few years ago. Curload. I remember it well.
Found the RSPB reserve at West Sedgemoor. Not what I'd expected; turned out to be an oak wood on a hill. Herons in their nests on view from a hide and various titmice and nuthatch seen. A chiff chaff was also here.
Thanks everyone for keeping with me on this all.
Best wishes,
Gary
http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/
Had a stoat charging at me along the footpath; until it saw me, reared up and turned to leg it the other way.
Greylake - 21 egrets, a marsh harrier and the 2 very close and very active spoonbills. Spent the night nearby!
Early morning and a peregrine, a merlin [number 154], 2 marsh harriers, a kestrel and 3 buzzards were seen. The spoonbills came in again at around 7.20am and the forecast rain hadn't arrived. In fact it never did; well not up until now anyway.
Visited the Willow and Wetland Centre before cycling along a 'deja vue' road. I'd been here before - black-throated thrush a few years ago. Curload. I remember it well.
Found the RSPB reserve at West Sedgemoor. Not what I'd expected; turned out to be an oak wood on a hill. Herons in their nests on view from a hide and various titmice and nuthatch seen. A chiff chaff was also here.
Thanks everyone for keeping with me on this all.
Best wishes,
Gary
http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Can't count Dots! Somerset Wednesday 17th March
The dots in question were probably the reported velvet scoter and scaup out on the Bristol Channel at Stolford. Only 2 ducks out there. One was definitely a scoter sp. The other one wasn't but without a 'scope I couldn't get the detail on either of them needed to count the, Oh well, I'll hopefully see both species sometime during the year.
Saw England's tallest tree, a Douglas fir, yesterday. All alone at the Tall Tree place just south of Dunster. Taller than Trafalgar Column, so it says on the plaque there. Lots of siskins stinging about.
Cycled to Blue Anchor and studied the rocks. The cliff has a major change from a clay-like brown, soft rock to a harder grey cliff with peachy quartzite streaks.
I do hope that Patrick from Bridport made it! I met him at Stolford at 5.00pm and pointed him in the right direction for Burnham; a place he'd canoed past hours ago to get to where he was. He'd canoed down from Chepstow and was heading for Taunton but had missed the entrance to the River Parrot. Hope he made it.
A night in a wood beside a busy A road. The dawn chorus, lovely at 5.00am gave up as the traffic started to pass.
Right 2 minutes left on the internet at this library. £1.20 for 20 minutes. Somerset the most expensive library internet service yet.
All the best everyone,
Gary
Back - quite a lot better thanks.
Saw England's tallest tree, a Douglas fir, yesterday. All alone at the Tall Tree place just south of Dunster. Taller than Trafalgar Column, so it says on the plaque there. Lots of siskins stinging about.
Cycled to Blue Anchor and studied the rocks. The cliff has a major change from a clay-like brown, soft rock to a harder grey cliff with peachy quartzite streaks.
I do hope that Patrick from Bridport made it! I met him at Stolford at 5.00pm and pointed him in the right direction for Burnham; a place he'd canoed past hours ago to get to where he was. He'd canoed down from Chepstow and was heading for Taunton but had missed the entrance to the River Parrot. Hope he made it.
A night in a wood beside a busy A road. The dawn chorus, lovely at 5.00am gave up as the traffic started to pass.
Right 2 minutes left on the internet at this library. £1.20 for 20 minutes. Somerset the most expensive library internet service yet.
All the best everyone,
Gary
Back - quite a lot better thanks.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Monday - Sunny Monday - Minehead Somerset 15th March 2010
Happy Birthday Sis! 21 today, 21 today - we wish!
Awoke to the sound of bramblings. A pair in the beech tree above the tent. Poked my head out to look and found a frostly scene with the sun just rising. Had found the corner of a field just east of Exford on Exmoor. Tawny in the night and a wader call I didn't recognise.
Yesterday had been a day of contrasts. Golden plover to wake me from my slumbers, also from the tent just outside Braunton, Devon. Explored the amazingly large sand dunes at Braunton Meadows and had then cycled to the RSPB reserve, number 43, at Chapel Wood. Indeed it does have a ruined chapel. Goldcrest, titmice, ravens, buzzard and a very hard to discern hill fort. Met an RSPB girl who I'd met before at Arne 2 weeks ago. What's this - are they checking up on me?
The rest of the day was spent cycling to my sleeping spot on the moors with amazing views of Lundy and the Taw Estuary as the sun went down.
Back feeling a bit better but that may be the tablets.
All the best everyone.
Gary
Awoke to the sound of bramblings. A pair in the beech tree above the tent. Poked my head out to look and found a frostly scene with the sun just rising. Had found the corner of a field just east of Exford on Exmoor. Tawny in the night and a wader call I didn't recognise.
Yesterday had been a day of contrasts. Golden plover to wake me from my slumbers, also from the tent just outside Braunton, Devon. Explored the amazingly large sand dunes at Braunton Meadows and had then cycled to the RSPB reserve, number 43, at Chapel Wood. Indeed it does have a ruined chapel. Goldcrest, titmice, ravens, buzzard and a very hard to discern hill fort. Met an RSPB girl who I'd met before at Arne 2 weeks ago. What's this - are they checking up on me?
The rest of the day was spent cycling to my sleeping spot on the moors with amazing views of Lundy and the Taw Estuary as the sun went down.
Back feeling a bit better but that may be the tablets.
All the best everyone.
Gary
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Saturday 13th March - Holesworthy by Noon
Travelling agian, this time towards the RSPB reserve at Isley Marsh near Bideford, Devon. I must start by saying a huge thank you to Malcolm and Sylvia from Launceston. They rescued me when on Thursday I cycled from Bodmin along the A30 despite tremendous pain in the lower back. Heat pads and voltorol tablets helped but more so did the roll of a towel under the back as I lay on a bed. Thursday, well as well as the back the back brake lock had gone, disappeared as the pin had come out. To Halfords and a meeting with the wonderful specialist, Robin who fixed that and then was good enough to come 6 miles from Bodmin to help when the chain had broken as I cycled towards Colliford Lake. Another attempt to see the black duck, in vain unfortunately. Did see the lesser scaup again but this time on a nearby smaller lake whose name I can't remember but it begins with D!
Wednesday had been spent trying to get my back back in shape in Bodmin. Boots the Chemmists for advice and a library visit to take my mind off the panic of the pain.
Friday, a visit into Launceston for cycle repairs at the superb Launceston Cyles with Nigel giving much needed advice over cycle repair and usage. Too much oil so gear replacement and chain. Tried to see the castle but closed until April. In the church of St Mary Magdeline looked at each memorial stone and particularly the one about the Lawrences. Mum and Dad died around the age of 40 but their 4 children didn't reach that age; 2 died as infants with no age specified and the other two around the age of 20 each. Sad.
Bought a book in the Oxfam bookshop; Bill Oddie's Gripping Yarns.
Malcolm and Sylvia were great company and together we watched the Birds of paradise Natural World programme, followed by the same about Scottish wildlife. Midges, look forward to those this summer!
No I've cycled to holeworthy. The back is not good but must keep on schedule. Any advice for lower back pain? Dr Crutch has texted details of doing the 'cobra' and any other things that people do to get rid of the problem would be appreciated.
As usual please consider donating to any of the charities that I am doing all this for - the RSPB, Asthma UK and the WWT. Details on my website http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/
All the best everyone.
Gary
Wednesday had been spent trying to get my back back in shape in Bodmin. Boots the Chemmists for advice and a library visit to take my mind off the panic of the pain.
Friday, a visit into Launceston for cycle repairs at the superb Launceston Cyles with Nigel giving much needed advice over cycle repair and usage. Too much oil so gear replacement and chain. Tried to see the castle but closed until April. In the church of St Mary Magdeline looked at each memorial stone and particularly the one about the Lawrences. Mum and Dad died around the age of 40 but their 4 children didn't reach that age; 2 died as infants with no age specified and the other two around the age of 20 each. Sad.
Bought a book in the Oxfam bookshop; Bill Oddie's Gripping Yarns.
Malcolm and Sylvia were great company and together we watched the Birds of paradise Natural World programme, followed by the same about Scottish wildlife. Midges, look forward to those this summer!
No I've cycled to holeworthy. The back is not good but must keep on schedule. Any advice for lower back pain? Dr Crutch has texted details of doing the 'cobra' and any other things that people do to get rid of the problem would be appreciated.
As usual please consider donating to any of the charities that I am doing all this for - the RSPB, Asthma UK and the WWT. Details on my website http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/
All the best everyone.
Gary
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Tuesday 9th March Redruth.
Well I've got a problem. My lower back is causing what one might call - jip! A night in the tent at Godrevy Head and I fell asleep watching the stars. Awoke cold and stiff and I thought that it would ease up but at the moment it hasn't. Oh well, I've got to March without any health problems so this will only add to the experience. rather be without it though.
Day - Monday was spent at Marazion and Hayle. A bittern was seen flying around over the reeds at the east end of the reserve. The east wind wasn't quite as strong as yesterday but strong enough to slow me down. Can't have it both ways; the weather is dry and very sunny.
Hayle was the place of my happiest family holidays when a child and I found what I thought was the house/chalet that we stayed in at Hayle Towans. Down onto the beach and found the caves I remember so well and the beach as large as ever.
Sunset over St Ives was beautiful but the total lack of cloud meant that it wasn't the spectacular I'd hoped for. Jupiter could then be seen just above the horizon. The lack of cloud and being sheltered from that keen east wind meant that there was a frost when I woke up in the morning. Packed and down to Gwithian nature reserve where I'd failed to see wheatear the night before and also failed to meet Ashley [sorry]. Found 2 cracking male wheatear this morning though. 151 on the year list.
Cycling has been very painful but made it to Portreath. Had a very close encounter with a stooping male peregrine whilst going along the coast road near the the National Trust's North Cliffs.
Now time to get going. The aim is to get as far as I can along the North Cornwall coast.
If anyone can offer any accommodation along my way to Bideford in the next few days then please phone 07988754090. Thanks.
Thanks to those who have made donations. Please do so on my website http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/ where justgiving links direct you to your chosen charity.
All the very best everyone.
Day - Monday was spent at Marazion and Hayle. A bittern was seen flying around over the reeds at the east end of the reserve. The east wind wasn't quite as strong as yesterday but strong enough to slow me down. Can't have it both ways; the weather is dry and very sunny.
Hayle was the place of my happiest family holidays when a child and I found what I thought was the house/chalet that we stayed in at Hayle Towans. Down onto the beach and found the caves I remember so well and the beach as large as ever.
Sunset over St Ives was beautiful but the total lack of cloud meant that it wasn't the spectacular I'd hoped for. Jupiter could then be seen just above the horizon. The lack of cloud and being sheltered from that keen east wind meant that there was a frost when I woke up in the morning. Packed and down to Gwithian nature reserve where I'd failed to see wheatear the night before and also failed to meet Ashley [sorry]. Found 2 cracking male wheatear this morning though. 151 on the year list.
Cycling has been very painful but made it to Portreath. Had a very close encounter with a stooping male peregrine whilst going along the coast road near the the National Trust's North Cliffs.
Now time to get going. The aim is to get as far as I can along the North Cornwall coast.
If anyone can offer any accommodation along my way to Bideford in the next few days then please phone 07988754090. Thanks.
Thanks to those who have made donations. Please do so on my website http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/ where justgiving links direct you to your chosen charity.
All the very best everyone.
Monday, 8 March 2010
Monday 8th March. Back up Cornwall
Well that's the plan for today. I feel as though a major first part has been achieved, i.e. the south coast and now it's 'up' the country towards Shetland. Let's do the west side!
Yesterday had a great day exploring the Land's End peninsula. Cycled to St Just with the strong east wind at my back. Found a headless dead snipe on the road and saw a little weasel on a raod side bank.
27 golden plover on Land's End airport and then down onto the beach at Sennan Cove. Met an artist, Jim, who was painting with oils. A lovely man who coincidentally was a reading fan. Those who know will realise the coincidence. Myself a Villa fan, the match timed for 2.00pm was to be Villa v. Reading. A stunningly beautiful day at a spectacular location, photographs were taken of the lighthouse and cliffs but shelter from the wind was impossible except by going indoors. I did just that to watch the match at the large restuarant at the end of the land.
Shock horror and dejection at half time; 2-0 down and playing appallingly. Elation, relief and ecstacy 10 minutes into the second half as Villa got 3 goals back before winning 4-2. [No I swear it wasn't me who broke the chair whilst celebrating the 3rd goal!] Enjoyed the banter with the staff, particularly Joe, a genuine Arsenal fan.
The cycle back to Penzance was tough with the wond now in my face and very cold and strong. A puncture to the front tyre didn't help. Saw the whooper swan at Drift reservoir to get me to 150 for the year. Couldn't find any rare gulls at Newlyn but did receive donation from a local sitting on the harbour key.
My previous blog had me camping at the Eden project. Well I went back in a spent most of the day there. What a fabulous place but what would I give for the rainforest biome to have the butterflies and birds that such a place should have. I was so glad that I'd camped there to allow me to have longer there.
Had cycled towards Truro and set up camp beside the Fal Estuary, about 2 miles before the former. Beautiful calm sunset with greenshank, curlew, redshank and tawny owls calling. A little egret came close as the tide came in. The birds seemed to spend all night calling to each other and it came as a big surprise when I opened the flap of the tent only to have a sprinkling of ice come down on me. It hadn't seemed that cold.
To Truro Cathedral and sat for a while listening to the organist practising his pieces for later.
Met the warden of Stithians reservoir, Simon Taylor [thanks for the £10 donation!] and daniel Eva, a Cornish birder. Saw a water rail in a place where they shouldn't be.
Cycled to marazion the country road way with great views to the north and south Cornish coast. Past St Michael's Mount. Looking over Marazion one can see fields of polythene. I wonder how long before this area begins to look like Almeria in Spain? [Have a look on the satellite image for Almeria and realise that the white are thousands of plastic greenhouses.]
To Penzance youth hostel, the most luxurious yet with deep pile carpets and refurbished rooms.
Thanks to those who have made donations. Please do so on my website http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/ where justgiving links direct you to your chosen charity.
All the very best everyone,
Gary
Yesterday had a great day exploring the Land's End peninsula. Cycled to St Just with the strong east wind at my back. Found a headless dead snipe on the road and saw a little weasel on a raod side bank.
27 golden plover on Land's End airport and then down onto the beach at Sennan Cove. Met an artist, Jim, who was painting with oils. A lovely man who coincidentally was a reading fan. Those who know will realise the coincidence. Myself a Villa fan, the match timed for 2.00pm was to be Villa v. Reading. A stunningly beautiful day at a spectacular location, photographs were taken of the lighthouse and cliffs but shelter from the wind was impossible except by going indoors. I did just that to watch the match at the large restuarant at the end of the land.
Shock horror and dejection at half time; 2-0 down and playing appallingly. Elation, relief and ecstacy 10 minutes into the second half as Villa got 3 goals back before winning 4-2. [No I swear it wasn't me who broke the chair whilst celebrating the 3rd goal!] Enjoyed the banter with the staff, particularly Joe, a genuine Arsenal fan.
The cycle back to Penzance was tough with the wond now in my face and very cold and strong. A puncture to the front tyre didn't help. Saw the whooper swan at Drift reservoir to get me to 150 for the year. Couldn't find any rare gulls at Newlyn but did receive donation from a local sitting on the harbour key.
My previous blog had me camping at the Eden project. Well I went back in a spent most of the day there. What a fabulous place but what would I give for the rainforest biome to have the butterflies and birds that such a place should have. I was so glad that I'd camped there to allow me to have longer there.
Had cycled towards Truro and set up camp beside the Fal Estuary, about 2 miles before the former. Beautiful calm sunset with greenshank, curlew, redshank and tawny owls calling. A little egret came close as the tide came in. The birds seemed to spend all night calling to each other and it came as a big surprise when I opened the flap of the tent only to have a sprinkling of ice come down on me. It hadn't seemed that cold.
To Truro Cathedral and sat for a while listening to the organist practising his pieces for later.
Met the warden of Stithians reservoir, Simon Taylor [thanks for the £10 donation!] and daniel Eva, a Cornish birder. Saw a water rail in a place where they shouldn't be.
Cycled to marazion the country road way with great views to the north and south Cornish coast. Past St Michael's Mount. Looking over Marazion one can see fields of polythene. I wonder how long before this area begins to look like Almeria in Spain? [Have a look on the satellite image for Almeria and realise that the white are thousands of plastic greenhouses.]
To Penzance youth hostel, the most luxurious yet with deep pile carpets and refurbished rooms.
Thanks to those who have made donations. Please do so on my website http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/ where justgiving links direct you to your chosen charity.
All the very best everyone,
Gary
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