Hortobagyi – Hungary October 2010. Pictures include Cranes, White headed Long tailed Tit, Long eared Owl

An extract from my report on Hungary, the rest can be found on my Flickr site: Sometimes there are birding days that just stick in the memory forever, and we had one of these days on this trip. We drove to the fields behind the fishponds, Tibi, our driver just managing to negotiate the muddy track. As we watched a small flock of sheep being driven towards us, a Greater Spotted Eagle being mobbed by a Rook. We saw this bird coming toward us and had enough time to get out of the bus to get an incredible view as it flew low over our heads and then bank round to sit in a tree. It then made its way off across the fields as we watched Bullfinch and Fieldfare together and spirals of Buzzards caught up in the thermals on migration, as many as 16 birds together. We then went to a small village which had up to 300 Long-eared Owls roosting in the trees along the streets, just feet from where we stood. We ended up the garden of this little old lady who didn’t mind us walking over her less than well tended ground, finding 16 of these Owls sitting in just one tree. It was here that we also saw a Goshawk mobbing a White-tailed Sea Eagle above our heads, amazing to see the difference in the size of the two birds – all this before moving onto another part of the Hortobagyi where we had a fly-past of the white headed Long-tailed Tits. These birds are beautiful and more common in Scandinavia, but looked great here in the bright sunshine. The end of this day was to be a walk to the end of the Elep fishponds. The air was still, the sun was dropping over the still water sending golden, red reflections and in the distance the only sound to be heard was that of the Cranes as they made their journey towards us and their nightly roosting place. As we stood there the air was filled with the vision and sound of up to 20,000 Cranes, it will be a memory that will live with me.

23rd October

23rd October – Bushy Park The mornings have got so dark that I cannot get out on the patch to walk before going to work. This happens every year but I find it really difficult because I just love getting out to see what is about. So, the last two weekends I have made my way to Bushy Park where the Red Deer are in full rut. Arriving just before daylight the quiet still air was broken by the echoing roars of the males. Following the sounds took me within yards of the guys who are after the “girls” on their local patch! Waiting for enough light to take photos left me with time to watch the antics of both Red and Fallow deer – fascinating! I would not want to be on the receiving end of those antlers! On more than one occasion I was glad to be behind a tree as a Fallow or Red deer went past me just feet away. There was one male who obviously had his invisible line and anyone or thing that strayed over this line got attacked including a photographer and his tripod! Taking care, being constantly vigilant and observant and fast on foot got the pictures. October in the UK sees the start of the rutting season for red deer. The rut is a period when the biggest and strongest male (stag) rounds up a group of females (hinds) for mating. Of course every other male deer wants to do the same, but there's only so many females to go around. In order to maintain control over a group of females the stag must constantly drive away rivals. The stag announces his superiority over other males by constantly bellowing out an echoing roar, which sounds something like a cross between a chainsaw and a burp. I guess if we had to shout for days on end like these guys do we'd end up making a similar noise. Sometimes shouting is not enough, and when contenders approach the females they need to be chased off. Occasionally fights between males can break out, and this can lead to some serious clashing of those magnificent antlers Red deer are our largest native land mammals. They can weigh up to 190kg. In fact they're one of only two native species of deer in the UK, the other being the Roe deer. (accessed from http://www.uksafari.com/rd2.htm 23/10/10)

Portland – 26th September. Pictures include Herring Gull argenteus, Common Gull juvvie, Rock Pipit, Jackdaw

The North West Surrey RSPB Local Group September outdoor meeting was planned for Portland. Both Dave and I love this place so we decided to make a weekend of it leaving Surrey after tea on Friday evening and missing the worst of the Friday traffic arriving in Portland at about 9.00pm. Two weather systems – one to the west, the other to the east meant kept the weather at Portland sunny and very breezy. We got up for a dawn sea watch on Saturday. Quite a sea was running and we had a steady stream of Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags, Gulls, Cormorants and six Mediterranean Gulls. Rock Pipits, Wheatears and Pied Wagtails were all round the Bill but with the cold wind from the north the autumn migration was not quite as good as it could have been – we went back to our B&B for breakfast! The rest of the day was relaxed as we ambled our way around the Swannery at Abbotsbury getting great views of Goldcrest, then onto Lodmore where we saw Spoonbill, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Water Rail. We went back to the Bill for an evening wander where the small bushes were heaving with Blackcaps, Chiff Chaffs and Greenfinches. Sitting having a cup of tea gave me an identification lesson on juvvie gulls! Being one of Dave’s favourite subjects! One youngster in particular gave rise to a lengthy investigation which was only resolved eventually at home. Original thoughts were that it was a juvvie Common Gull, but it was my question about its bill that made Dave look much more closely at this bird. Having studied the photograph it was decided that it was Herring Gull argenteus going into 3rd winter. Another character was a cheeky Jackdaw that came looking for crumbs from peoples tables! Sunday dawned..and apart from us both having a dreaded lurgie, we were looking forward to meeting the group. Again the sun was shining and eventually 16 of us set off. The sea watch was a little more eventful with a couple of Great Skuas passing. Walking up the cliff we had fantastic views of a Peregrine playing games with a couple of crows and further on several Kestrels were displaying their flight skills against the wind. Walking down back to the quarry a Little Owl was found. Sadly we both felt so unwell at this stage we decided to head for home, but a great weekend and 75 species for the trip.

Local Patch - 21st September. Pictures include Great spotted Woodpecker, Canada Geese, Swan Family

Local Patch – 21st September Busy work times and quiet autumn migration! The Patch has been very quiet except for the residents. I spent some time last week with the Kingfisher but in gloomy light, so no pictures. It has a regular route and a habit of sitting on the ground, either on a lawn or on a stone edge next to the canal. One morning I was even able to watch it catch fish! I have decided that Kingfishers are amazingly shy birds though and will only let you watch them on their terms. The Swan family is still complete with two adults and five young. One morning there were both adults and only three youngsters and no sign of the other two until rounding a corner on the canal I could hear this pitiful wailing! As I got nearer the sound I realized that it was the 2 other young swans who thought they had been abandoned! I tried “shushing” them along the canal in the direction of the rest of the family and was doing quite well until an early canoeist went by going in the opposite direction. They both decided that the canoe was worth following, so turned tail and went off in the wrong direction again. Any further “shushing” was to no avail and I gave up hoping that the rest of the family would find them when they came back. The following morning all was well and the family was complete but I have no idea how long the two were apart from the others. It just goes to show that Swans can’t count! Also had a great view of a Great spotted Woodpecker as it sat in the morning sun at the top of a garden pine. It had called as it landed which caught my attention and I managed to gt a reasonable picture as it sunbathed. We spent a day down at the British Wildlife Centre, and I hope to get these pictures processed soon. It’s a great day out for people to learn about our native breeds. See the link http://www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/ for more information.

Gibralter Point Weekend. Pictures include Spoonbill, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Sunrise and Migrant Hawker

Local Patch 7th September..”Removed” to Gibralter Point, Lincolnshire. Having had a long weekend away at The Wash Field Study Centre at Gibralter Point, the Blog is going to take a different turn this week. For those of you who don’t know this area very well Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve is an area of some 430 hectares comprising sandy and muddy seashores, sand-dunes, saltmarshes and freshwater habitats extending for a distance of about 3 miles along the Lincolnshire coast, from the southern end of Skegness to the entrance of the Wash. The Reserve is managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust under a lease from its owners the Lincolnshire County Council and East Lindsey District Council. The primary function of the Reserve, which is recognised as an area of international scientific interest, is to conserve this unspoilt stretch of coastline and its important communities of plants and animals. Within the Reserve is the most extensive complex of sand-dunes and saltmarshes in Lincolnshire. The Nature Reserve is recognised both nationally and internationally as an area of outstanding wildlife and geomorphological importance. It has been designated an SSSI, NNR, RAMSAR (site of international wetland importance), SPA (EC Birds directive). (Accessed 7th September 10 from http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/gib/description_facilities.php) We enjoyed fantastic September weather that gave great sunrises and sunsets but sadly not much on the bird front. Waders included Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Green Sandpipers, Dunlin and Redshank while other birds included Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Spoonbill and a Sooty Shearwater was seen off the beach along with Arctic Skua. Hirundines passed through in numbers each day on their way south leaving us with thoughts of cooler weather to come. We left the Field Centre having been well looked after, The food was superb and the accommodation comfortable for an educational centre. We are looking forward to going back!

Local Patch -29th August. Pictures include: Wild Hop, Swan, Shaggy Inkcap Fungi

Well we are making up for the dry weather at the beginning of the summer! It has been raining hard nearly every day. The gravel pits that were drying out are now beginning to fill with water again and it shows just how dangerously soggy that ground must be even when dry because puddles are appearing everywhere very quickly. The pair of Green Sandpipers seem to have set up residence and are seen daily, they seem to be welcoming the rain as are the Little Grebes. During the spring there were two pairs of Little Grebes arguing intensely over their territories now there are at least 8 birds hanging around, so we either have some juvenile birds or some that have migrated in. To be honest the weather has been so awful I have not been able to tell if these are adult birds or not. Walking through the lanes the other morning I came round the corner and surprised two birds that turned out to be woodpeckers. Not just any woodpeckers..Lesser Spot! Over the years I have seen them from time to time flicking through the tops of the trees. These two seemed as surprised to see me as I was to come across them so low down in the hedgerow. They flew up into the old Damson tree, a relic from the days of the Old House, one of them clearly showing the back stripes that are characteristic of this pecker. The Kingfishers are really back on the canal! Hopeless for photos as they see me long before I see them! One of them in particular seems to play a game with me, waiting until I almost knock it off its perch before flying. It tantalizes me by perching on branches that make pictures impossible, waits for me to get almost close enough ..then flies off at that fantastic speed that means you only catch a glimpse of the electric blue sheen. Found a great clump of Shaggy Inkcap fungi! I have only ever found one isolated specimen before and that was years ago. Obviously conditions are just right for it this year as this clump just appeared! And another plant for the patch that I have not noticed before is wild Hop..fancy some beer? There are so many of them I reckon you could make a pint or two!

Local Patch - 19th August. Pictures include Tachinid Fly, Wasp Spider, Chalkhill Blue

Hoverflies are everywhere at the moment. They are really quite interesting when you stop to look and realize just how many different sorts there are on just one plant. Sadly there is no sign of the one remaining Mallard duckling…I don’t think it can of made it but the juvvie swans are all doing really well getting their flight feathers now. We have had a Chiff Chaff in the garden – a first for our postage stamp size back garden! As a result of an email from our friend Graham, the Patch has taken a bit of a break as we went rushing off to Denbies Hill near Dorking at the weekend. He had found a Wasp spider! As this is a creature Dave had always wanted to see we set off. It is also a good time of year for Adonis and Chalkhill Blue Butterflies. Weather was kind, and the light was good and we were soon seeing plenty of the butterflies, readily picking out the two species. We then found our target. What an insect! It is thought this spider has been in the UK since 1922 originally found on the south coast, it is now moving north It is the female that makes the web. The spider builds it at dawn or dusk, commonly in long grass a little above ground level, taking it approximately an hour. The prominent zigzag shape, featured at the centre of the orb is of uncertain function, though it may be to attract insects. Having caught its prey of flying insects and grasshoppers in the web it then bites and injects venom to paralyze the unfortunate creature. The eggs are laid in the long grass under the web so vegetation that is unmanaged is required. The male of the species is much smaller than the female. It can often be seen in or near a female's web waiting for her to complete her final moult, at which time she reaches sexual maturity. At this time and her jaws will be soft for a short time and the male may mate with the female without the danger of being eaten.

Local Patch - 12th August. Pictures include Willowherb, Tufted Vetch, Grey Heron

There has been some rain this week, it’s amazing how quickly the brown, dry grass begins to change back to green. The flowers are looking slightly fresher as well with some Rosebay still looking good along the canal banks although on most the flowers now have nearly all gone over leaving mainly bare stems. The Pale Persicaria seems to have put on a growth spurt with the rain and there is still some good looking Tufted Vetch and Willowherb about. I think flower colours go in phases..we seem to be in a pink/purple phase at the moment, having just left a yellow one with the Ragwort and Tansy now well over. I haven’t introduced you to the local Grey Heron yet, he is quite a character! Looking a bit like a Jack-in-a-box this week as he stood by the Lock, I am sure he thought I couldn’t see him as he went about his fishing, not very successfully I might add. He tends to be a bit of a lad along the canal banks. He and I have a tolerance zone of about 20 feet, but when he got a bit closer than that to a pair of Magpies with a nest earlier this year they soon saw him off his tree almost before he had chance to land! I missed a shot of the year one morning this week. Walking along the canal I saw what I believed to be 2 Starlings sitting side by side on a lawn. It was only when the first flew off that I saw it was a Kingfisher! I then realised that the other bird was another Kingfisher!!! Can anyone say when they have seen one, let alone two, Kingfishers sitting on a lawn side by side? It taught me a lesson, always to check a bird – you never know what you might be missing! We have had a juvvie Red Kite over the house today...we had a pair flying over a few weeks ago.

Local Patch - 4th August. Pictures include Hornet, Roesel's Cricket, Toadflax

Best bit this week has been finding a Hornet in the Moth Trap at home! Dave is a Moth Recorder for this part of Surrey and regularly puts the trap out in out garden. It is surprising just how many moths we get, some of which are quite rare. The Hornet was not happy at being shut up in a Trap all night and had taken it out on the moths eating a few for an early breakfast and then was less happy at being “potted” for us to look at! She did quieten down enabling me to get the photos and then flew away when the sun had warmed her up. Same day saw us watching a Golden ringed Dragonfly outside our house patrolling the road like it belonged here! It’s massive. Sadly it did not land for a photo. About an hour after this we had a huge Roesel’s Bush Cricket in the garden, another species on the very edge of its range here in this part of Surrey. The information states that during a dry summer these creatures grow longer wings so they can get around easier, but you can see from the picture that this one actually still had quite short wings. Out on the Patch this week a Kingfisher has been seen again on the canal patrolling its normal flyway and great news, Kingfishers are also back on the River. So although the harsh winter weather seemed to obliterate them from this area, somewhere some have been breeding to be able to bring them back. Over the years of walking this area I have regularly seen these enigmatic birds and it was a great disappointment when they disappeared this spring, so I am well pleased. Another bird seen this week which is not a regular is Kestrel. It flew along a row of trees putting up a huge group of small birds before coming out into the open where it came under attack from several Magpies. As for the flowers, well, all looking a bit dowdy with the lack of rain. There is a large clump of Common Toadflax – the most I have ever seen down there. I think some flowers have done remarkably well following the cold weather of the winter – purely my untrained observation me not being a botanist.

Local Patch - 29th July. Pictures include Leaf-cutter Bee, Hoverfly,Diptera Sp. and Volucella Inanis,

Nature is amazing; walking one morning there was a commotion as a Sparrowhawk flipped in under the trees clutching a small unidentifiable bird in its talons. This bird was not very happy judging by the noise and nor were all the other birds in the immediate area who had started up their alarm calls – sadly a little late for the unfortunate breakfast target! That small family of Mallard duck have got a bit smaller. There is still one duckling which is growing well, but nature has taken its toll on the rest of them! A bit further round, a Common Sandpiper was bobbing along the side of the water and then flew off, while two Green Sandpipers seem to have taken up residence between the different patches of water. The Sand Martins and Swifts have left, obviously making tracks for home while the weather is set fair in this country and just a few Swallows have taken their place hawking the insects over the water. Last year was the first time Swallows bred on the Patch for years, and they have returned to the same stables to nest again, bringing off a brood again this year. The Linnets that I have never seen before this year are up to a family group of about 12 birds, and they are competing with the Gold, Green and Chaffinches for seed. Whitethroat and Blackcap are skulking in the undergrowth if you are quick enough to see them, but it is this time of year that I turn my attention to smaller creatures. Wandering through the lanes it is interesting to watch the different species of ground-nesting and leaf cutter bees that feed on the surrounding vegetation as well as the White-tailed, Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumble Bees that compete on the flowers while Meadow Brown, Large White and Gatekeeper butterflies float by. The Cinnabar moth caterpillars have nearly stripped the Ragwort of leaves now and the flowers are almost over. Flower life this year is struggling with the lack of rain and the blackberries are failing to form in many places, but then we have been moaning that the last few summers have not been warm enough. I am not complaining, I am enjoying this summer weather.

Local Patch - 18th July. Pictures include Purple Hairstreak Butterfly and Purple Loosestrife

I have seen the Swan family, good..still five youngsters. This weekly count might sound boring but last year the parents only managed to bring off two out of a brood of six and the previous three years they lost all their brood. In fact one year, they lost them to the cold just after hatching and it was quite interesting to watch the pair go through a bonding process and mate again the day after losing their young. They did not nest again that year but these two swans are very close to one another and never physically far apart. Nature is not always good! Walking the Tow Path listening to the everlasting screech of Parakeets and looking at the invasive Indian Balm I was beginning to feel grumpy! Then..high drama! Do you remember the duckling family I mentioned. Well, we are now down to two ducklings, and this morning there were two very distressed young ducklings and no mother mallard. I stopped to watch these two as they cryed out, trying to work out what could have happened. Bits of the bank of the Tow Path had been beaten down, had she been taken by a wily fox? Worse still...frightened off by a dog? Thinking I couldn't do anything I sadly walked on away from them knowing that they stood no chance on their own, they were far too young. Then I remembered a shabby female mallard on the other bank that I had passed, was that her and I thought if I made them go towards her they might linkup. I turned and almost ran back. There was no sign of them! I kept going and suddenly out of the undergrowth came a startled female mallard with 2 contented looking ducklings! Goodness only knows where she had been! My photograph is not good but I was happy to get it! The Purple Loosestrife is beginning to look really good, I love this plant and so do the bees and other insects. The Ragwort is full out as is the Tansy making a lovely yellow glow all over the place. The Cinnabar Moth caterpillars are still on the Ragwort, and there are plenty of Gatekeeper butterflies. We had some rain this week which has freshened the landscape a little, but there is a feel of full on summer, with the barley being harvested this week. Returning home I stopped to look at a flock of birds, mixed green and chaffinches flitting around an Oak tree. I suddenly realised that I was also watching Purple Hairstreak butterflies that were moving around the tope of this tree. I have never seen this butterfly on the Patch before...a first for me! Then out of the corner of my eye the Roe Deer moved out into a clearing. The sun was not quite up enough to get a clear picture but as I haven't seen these creatures for a few days I thought it was worth a try.

Local Patch - 11th July. Pictures include Meadowsweet, Hemp Agrimony, Gatekeeper, Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar, Common Darter

Walking around I have noticed the Hemp Agrimony is just coming into flower along the canal bank to join the Meadowsweet that has been in bloom for some weeks and the first Purple Loostrife is just coming out, a sign that summer is well and truly established. The red poppies that were covered in bees have gone over but there has been a fresh emergence of Common Darter and these are playing around the brambles that are setting well with blackberries. Walking along the canal to the song of the Skylark, a female Mallard appeared with 3 very new ducklings. With all the Mallards in moult and there being absolutely no competition, sometimes these late families do well, lets hope so! Still five young swans, one flapped its wings this morning and I realised just how short and stubby these are. It must be months before a young swan develops any flight feathers and can fly. Suddenly, while standing watching the adult Coot teach its youngster how to preen, there was a flash of blue and a Kingfisher darted past me. With a swift 180 turn it came past me again and I watched it until it disappeared around the corner. I haven't seen a Kingfisher on the Canal since the cold weather of January... fantastic! Moving on to the Sand Martins home I realised that they have stopped darting in and out of the nests of which there have been about 30. These brilliant little birds were buzzing about 4 feet above my head as they hawked for flies. 3 Green Sandpipers flew over and landed on a spit of land away to my right while juvenile Greenfinches, Whitethroat, Reed Buntings, Great Tits, Grey Wagtails and Blue Tits all jostled for space amongst the bushes. I haven't seen the Roe Deer, having got only one picture from a distance, I am sure it will turn up again