Ruby
Well-known member
Just thought I'd share a great day that I had in Thursley Common (Surrey) in July.
I parked up in the Moat car-park and walked round the side of the pond onto the common. I immediately got a great view of a male stonechat singing its little heart out from atop of a gorse bush. This was a lovely bird - very good condition and beautifully lit on a bright sunny day.
This was the first of many stonechats that I saw that day - they're so accommodating! sitting there in plain view for ages until you can get a really good look.
My main intended quarry that day was Dartford Warblers and I know that warblers generally can be a bit elusive and the DW is not all that common - I needed a plan!!
I spent a while beforehand bone-ing up on heathland bird song (Collins Field Guide CD) - theory being that even if I couldn't SEE a DW, if I could HEAR it I could just loiter until such time as it showed itself!
Before too long I started to hear one calling from a little way off, and crept closer.... and then spent about half an hour looking at empty gorse bushes! Eventually, the bird in question capitulated and popped up to sit on top of a bush - just a brief 10 second view, but long enough to confirm a sighting.
One thing that I did notice throughout the day - Dartford Warblers are never as far away as they sound as if they should be (does that make sense?) I evolved a technique whereby I estimated where I thought the sound was coming from, but then started looking at about half that distance. It seemed to work well - anyone else heard of this ventriloquism thing??
Walking on for a bit, a DW then burst into song immediately in front of me - and there is was, sat on a dead tree not 20 feet away. What a great view as it just sat there for ages, alternately telling me off for intruding and singing away to its pals.
As I walked towards the eastern end of the common, I started to see loads more DWs including lots of young juveniles. These birds seemed either very stupid or very trusting, as they just sat on their bush until you were about 10 feet away and then just hopped INTO the gorse bush. Given that many of these bushes were only a foot or so tall, it wouldn't have afforded a great deal of protection. An enterprising cat could have mopped them all up without any problem.
I was watching a stonechat through my BINs when I heard a noise quite close to me. 'Hmmm, sounds like a Grasshopper Warbler', I thought. I just re-directed my BINs in time to see the famous LBJ pop out onto a grass tussock. My id-ing skills are not up to much, but even I couldn't be in any doubt as it sat there for a minute or so, doing grasshopper impersonations in plain view.
The day was complete when I spotted a grey wagtail (a first for me) by a little stream over by the lakes.
What a fantastic day!!!
Just in case you're starting to think that I'm one of those really lucky birders (you know - drive the car out into the countryside and an Osprey lands on the roofrack) let me assure you that I have my bad days too.
My current nemesis is the bearded tit!!
I would love to see one of those guys and have visited 5 reserves this Summer where they are reputedly common (Oare Marshes*3, Stodmarsh & Radipole) but so far have come up empty. I HAVE spent many a happy hour staring at empty reedbeds while you can hear the little so-and-sos calling right in front of you.
Even Mrs Ruby has seen one - and she's a very occasional birder (only does it to keep me happy)
We were sat in a hide at Stodmarsh and Mrs R had the BINs (only one pair between us - Doh!!) watching a Heron fishing.
'Oooh. What's that.' She said. 'Two little orange birds have just popped out of the reeds, run around for a bit and then popped back in again.' Grrrr!
Anyway..... if anyone knows of a certain place to see a Bearded Tit (petshops considered!!) please let me know.
Rgds... Ruby.
:t:
I parked up in the Moat car-park and walked round the side of the pond onto the common. I immediately got a great view of a male stonechat singing its little heart out from atop of a gorse bush. This was a lovely bird - very good condition and beautifully lit on a bright sunny day.
This was the first of many stonechats that I saw that day - they're so accommodating! sitting there in plain view for ages until you can get a really good look.
My main intended quarry that day was Dartford Warblers and I know that warblers generally can be a bit elusive and the DW is not all that common - I needed a plan!!
I spent a while beforehand bone-ing up on heathland bird song (Collins Field Guide CD) - theory being that even if I couldn't SEE a DW, if I could HEAR it I could just loiter until such time as it showed itself!
Before too long I started to hear one calling from a little way off, and crept closer.... and then spent about half an hour looking at empty gorse bushes! Eventually, the bird in question capitulated and popped up to sit on top of a bush - just a brief 10 second view, but long enough to confirm a sighting.
One thing that I did notice throughout the day - Dartford Warblers are never as far away as they sound as if they should be (does that make sense?) I evolved a technique whereby I estimated where I thought the sound was coming from, but then started looking at about half that distance. It seemed to work well - anyone else heard of this ventriloquism thing??
Walking on for a bit, a DW then burst into song immediately in front of me - and there is was, sat on a dead tree not 20 feet away. What a great view as it just sat there for ages, alternately telling me off for intruding and singing away to its pals.
As I walked towards the eastern end of the common, I started to see loads more DWs including lots of young juveniles. These birds seemed either very stupid or very trusting, as they just sat on their bush until you were about 10 feet away and then just hopped INTO the gorse bush. Given that many of these bushes were only a foot or so tall, it wouldn't have afforded a great deal of protection. An enterprising cat could have mopped them all up without any problem.
I was watching a stonechat through my BINs when I heard a noise quite close to me. 'Hmmm, sounds like a Grasshopper Warbler', I thought. I just re-directed my BINs in time to see the famous LBJ pop out onto a grass tussock. My id-ing skills are not up to much, but even I couldn't be in any doubt as it sat there for a minute or so, doing grasshopper impersonations in plain view.
The day was complete when I spotted a grey wagtail (a first for me) by a little stream over by the lakes.
What a fantastic day!!!
Just in case you're starting to think that I'm one of those really lucky birders (you know - drive the car out into the countryside and an Osprey lands on the roofrack) let me assure you that I have my bad days too.
My current nemesis is the bearded tit!!
I would love to see one of those guys and have visited 5 reserves this Summer where they are reputedly common (Oare Marshes*3, Stodmarsh & Radipole) but so far have come up empty. I HAVE spent many a happy hour staring at empty reedbeds while you can hear the little so-and-sos calling right in front of you.
Even Mrs Ruby has seen one - and she's a very occasional birder (only does it to keep me happy)
We were sat in a hide at Stodmarsh and Mrs R had the BINs (only one pair between us - Doh!!) watching a Heron fishing.
'Oooh. What's that.' She said. 'Two little orange birds have just popped out of the reeds, run around for a bit and then popped back in again.' Grrrr!
Anyway..... if anyone knows of a certain place to see a Bearded Tit (petshops considered!!) please let me know.
Rgds... Ruby.
:t:
)
