Saturday 17 February 2024

Morocco Trip

 10 - 17 February....a trip to Morocco...do I need to tell you about the weather....ok then...

Early mornings this time of year are chilly, definitely jumper weather and long trousers.  My sandals couldnt stop my toes from being cold....and im not a lover of wet or cold toes!!

View to the Atlas...earliest I have been to this area, so snow is a bonus!

However....as the morning progresses it becomes lovely and warm...25 degreees by the afternoon....fantastic....the last full day was 28 degrees....way above cold, grey, damp and miserable UK.

The week was divided between driving from Ouarzazate, where I flew in to, over the Atlas to Ourika for a couple of days....then back to a small village called Tikirte a few miles outside Ouarzazate.

Actually, it wasnt a totally birding holiday, more a bit of a get away just to....get away.  Personal circumstances having somewhat done my head in over the past few months.

But...back to the birds, which is what this blog is about....

There were certainly some highlights for me....a few new lifers as well....

THE highlight of the trip was driving in to the lower Atlas and seeing 150 Black Kite circling, gradually gaining height, to go over the mountains.  Many were already high up, others quite low.  Mass migration, like this, is something I have never seen.  Huge numbers of birds of prey cross from Africa to Europe near Gibralter as its narrow crossing with no ability to find thermals to climb, so all climbing is done before the short crossing either way.

Rock Sparrow was another highlight.  A lifer.  Just over the top of the Atlas mountains, having passed Tichka.  Fabulous.  In breeding plummage they show a small yellow patch under the chin at the top of the breast, it was a bit windy and chilly, so they were not overly keen to stand upright to show this patch.  Luckily the wind would occasionally catch their feathers and give a brief glimpse of the yellow underneath.

Levaillants Green Woodpecker.....some birds you just arent expecting.  This was a total surprise.  I just happened to catch a bird drop to the ground in a small grove of Olive trees, it disappeared from view as the ground was quite undulating and some of it had been ploughed.  

Levaillants....

Initially I thought it was a Green Woodpecker, but a few seconds observation and....it definitely did not look like your average Green Woodpecker.  A great find indeed.  Very exciting.

Moussiers Redstart.  Ive been chasing this bird since I started coming to Morocco  a few years ago.  This was my first encounter with not one...but after a few days....two...birds.  But...infuriating...all I got was quick glimpses.  And the bird was gone.  I spent a few hours meandeting the fields and searching to try to re-find both birds on two occasions....but to no avail.  It was great to finally see one....but....yes it counts...but...I will certainly be looking for better views next time out.


Almond blossom

Beautiful colours of Morocco...

The list then....red, seen before in Morocco....blue lifer....

Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel.....

Kestrel

Common Snipe, Corn Bunting.....

Corn Bunting

Barn Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Cattle Egret, Crested Lark, Linnet, Hoopoe, Red-billed Chough, African Chaffinch, Rock Sparrow, White-crowned Wheatear....

White-crowned Wheatear

Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Stonechat, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Sardinian Warbler, Levaillants Green Woodpecker, Alpine Chough, White Stork....


White Stork

Black Redstart, Moussiers Redstart, Great Grey Shrike, Thekla Lark, Common Redstart, Laughing Dove, Rock Dove, Alpine Chough, Sparrowhawk, Black Wheater, White Wagtal (Alba), Serin, Cettis Warbler, Spotless Starling, Blue Tit, Green Sandpiper


Pomegranite

Thursday 18 January 2024

In the Garden

 Garden....cold....very cold...just walking to the shed...


Coal Tit.  Nice.

Back to Sheppey

 Sheppey...the return...thsi time....armed with DH....lets just say....it was cold....but at least it wasnt too windy....

A slow drive down the hill provided plenty of Fieldfares and a few Redwing....always entertaining....

A stop on the corner as usual...on the way to the raptor viewing point....spent a fruitful 20-30 minutes here....good for ducks on the water and always near for good views....picked up a few species whilst standing there, Raven always good to get...best result was a Whooper Swan flying in to land on the water....result indeed!!

On to the raptor viewing point.....the usual suspects located....Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel....and a few small birds flying through....

At Mocketts there is a definite lack of finches, though we did manage to pick up Siskin....the place has been tidied and very little food dropped as it has been in past years....mostly just Chaffinch and House Sparrows.....theres a fine view across the Swale Nature Reserve from the farm and a good place to try to get Hen Harrier.....so we spent quite some time waiting and ticking off a few more species....thankfully a marvelous male Hen Harrier appeared swooping away from us, across the field and to the next one where it was joined by....another male Hen Harrier....we watched as they fle off to our left and out of site...what a treat!!....a short wait provided a number of geese flying on to the reserve....looking through them we eventually found 2 White-fronted Geese....there is usually a big flock but this winter very few birds have turned up.....

A bit of time spent down by the shooting club looking for waders again provided lots of thrushes and several wader species...

Then....off to Elmley...

 A grand couple of hours was psent driving slowly in to the reserve...Short-eared Owl..

....rather distant....

...further away....

....luckily they owls did come much closer...

.....then having a look round the school house area....Barn Owl one side, Short-eared Owl the other, lucky to watch the Barn Owl catch some prey only for a Kestrel to bully it in to giving it up...

....in the car park good views were to be had of Long-eared Owl....on the way out Shorties were not really playing....but over all a great visit....


Sunday 7 January 2024

Pegwell and Sandwich

 So, with the weather forecast as dry....it rained.....on the way....and when I was there....though it stopped eventually and just became windy with a lot of cold in it.....


Headed for Cliffsend, Pegwell Bay....


Because this is where the Twite have been located....out on the saltings in the photo above and in the scrub behind....which is where we found them eventually....probably had to wait about an hour but well worth it....beautifully coloured up for winter....creamy orange chin and chest....

Hit number 1.....

Off to Ebbsfleet for the Long-tailed Duck....another winter visitor....easy to find....happily diving in a small dyke....


Hit number 2.....

Onward to the fishing reservoirs at Minster, this time for a Sawbill....


Goosander.....third hit.....great start to the day.....add to this Avocet on the beach near the Twite and Rook later at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory and a few new species to add to the list....

Sadly dipped on Waxwing...again.....and Ravens werent playing ball either.....the Short-eared Owl numbers have gone down to two and not been seen for a couple of days so missed there as well....

But over all, a grand day out even if it rained....



Saturday 6 January 2024

Kings Hill fail...Whetsted success....

 Dull and grey mostly, occasional peak of sunshine, cool to cold....

Two hours at Kings Hill to find Waxwings....and failed....round and round I walked...but no birds....tried every known location they had been reported in the past few weeks....can add this to the fail at Tunbridge Wells also....though at least that was a stop on the way home so not a deliberate attempt....maybe next time...

However...there was some good news....added Redwing and Mistle Thrush to the year list....


Off to Whetsted...more success here....immediately got Great-spotted Woodpecker.  Added to this was Mandarin Duck and Water Rail.

Good to see so many Pochard again, 40-50 and Shoveller, 50+....also a lot of Tufted Duck, a few Gadwall and a lone Wigeon, new for the year.

Of course, now I have had Redwing they were seen in their multitude with Fieldfares.....typical....

Monday 1 January 2024

2024!!...is here

 Well...I havent put anything on here since May....when the Nightingale couont stopped.....

The real problem with this site is I have no idea...and I dont think the gravel company have no idea...as to when anything will happen on site.  This has been going on for several years.  Therefore my visits have been infrequent.  If I can in 2024 I will hope to get along to the pits more often.

Anyway...its a new year....so a new list...

My first visit today was to Sheppy, usual January 1st site....several hour there and then dropped in to Kings Hill to see if I could pic up the Waxwings....no luck....will have to go to the Aldi car park on the industrial estate tomorrow...then in to Whetsted.....here I added....

Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Snipe, Jay, Jackdaw, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Common Gull, Grey Heron, Shoveller, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Stonechat, Bullfinch....

Below are the 2023 and 2022 totals....

2023

Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Cormorant, Water Rail, House Sparrow, Raven, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Grey Heron, Cettis Warbler, Long Tail Tit, Chiffchaff, Robin, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Crow, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Meadow Pipit, Curlew, Mallard, Teal, Barn Owl, Pied Wagtail, Great Tit, Magpie, Wren, Song Thrush, Redwing, Great White Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Teal, Gadwall, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Common Merganser (Goosander), Linnet, Jay, Stock Dove, Pochard, Siskin, Skylark, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wigeon, Brent Goose, Greylag Goose, Corn Bunting, Grey Plover, Grey Wagtail, Hen Harrier, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge, Oystercatcher, Pintail Duck, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Spoonbill, White-fronted Goose, Egypitan Goose, Long-Eared Owl, Kingfisher, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Scoter, Brambling, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Mandarin Duck.......

Morocco - Barn Swallow, House Bunting, Bulbul, Spotless Starling, European Bee Eater, Turtle Dove, Nightingale, Sardinian Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Mahgreb Magpie, Rock Dove, Pallid Swift, Bonellis Warbler, Booted Eagle, Black Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Long-legged Buzzard, Little Ringed Plover, House Martin, Serin, White-crowned Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Laughing Dove, Trumpeter Finch, Subalpine Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Cattle Egret, Rufous-tailed Bush Robin, Blue-cheeked Bee Eater, Purple Heron, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Spanish Sparrow, Greater Short-toed Lark, Spotted Flycatcher, White Stork, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, African Chaffinch, Moroccan Great-spotted Woodpecker, Pied Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Northern Wheatear, Iberain Chiffchaff, Orphean Warbler, Hoopoe, Fulvus Babler, Desert Lark, Desert Sparrow, Pintailed Sandgrouse, Spotted Sandgouse, Hoopoe Lark, Scops Owl, Nightjar, Black Redstart, African Blue Tit.............Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Green Sandpiper

2022

Snipe - Lapwing - Mallard - Water Rail - Blackbird - Cettis Warbler - Mute Swan - Robin - Wren - Marsh Harrier - Buzzard - Kestrel - Crow - Jackdaw - Woodpigeon - Goldfinch - Chaffinch - Skylark - Meadow Pipit - Teal - Common Gull - Black-headed Gull - Wigeon - Shelduck - Corn Bunting - Greylag Geese - White-fronted Geese - Herring Gull - Rook - Collared Dove - Great Spotted Woodpecker - Blue Tit - Cormorant - Magpie - Stock Dove - Red-legged Partridge - Curlew - Pied Wagtail - Fieldfare - Brambling - House Sparrow - Grey Heron - Little Egret - Merlin - Turnstone - Grey Plover - Redshank - Sanderling - Linnet - Greenfinch - Brent Geese - Dunlin - Jack Snipe - Woodcock - Shoveler - Goldeneye - Mediterannean Gull - Bullfinch - Cormorant - Treecreeper - Great White Egret - Hen Harrier - Song Thrush - Mistle Thrush - Dunnock - Redwing - Canada Geese - Green Woodpecker - Sparrowhawk - Spotless Starling - Swift - House Martin - Monk Parakeet - Ring-neck Parakeet - Sardinian Warbler - Spanish Sparrow - Lesser Kestrel - Hoopoe - White Stork - Orphean Warbler - Woodchat Shrike - Thekla Lark - Zitting Cisticola - Stonechat - Black-crowned Night Heron - Nightingale - Reed Warbler - Cattle Egret - Blackcap - Serin - Grey Wagtail - Squacco Heron - Glossy Ibis - Griffon Vulture - Willow Warbler - Short-toed Eagle - Egyptian Vulture - Chough - Crag Martin - Common Sandpiper - Booted Eagle - Blue Rock Thrush - Black Wheatear - Nightjar - Cuckoo - Collared Pratincole - Red-rumped Swallow - Barn Swallow - Melodious Warbler - Black-winged Stilt - Spoonbill - Red Kite - Black Kite - Black Tern - Sand Martin - Golden Oriole - Red-crested Pochard - Pochard - Purple Swamphen - Savis Warbler - Short-toed Treecreeper - Azure-winged Magpie - Garden Warbler - Tree Sparrow - Kingfisher - Turtle Dove - Marsh Warbler - Purple Heron - Lesser Whitethroat - Lesser Black-backed Gull - Reed Bunting

Saturday 6 May 2023

In to May

0545 - 0815 Overcast, dry, warm

Huzzah.....Turte Doves on site.....2 pairs......one pair on an old site not used for a fw years and the other on a new site....hopefully both will remain.....

Garden Warbler found at last at warbler corner....hard to locate initially thanks to chiffchaff, blackcap, whitethroat and nightingale insisting on singing at the same time.....hard life....

Two willow warblers found and 2 lesser whitethroat....hmmm.....

2 lesser black back gulls flew over and 6 herring gulls on site......

How many cuckoos??.....at least two calling...but loads of low flypasts as they bsuy themselves with finding reed warbler nests....many reed warblers on site....

2 cettis now on site for sure, always good news.....