One month in...

Only one bird added today - a Redshank heard calling from one of the Ivel Valley Pits.

(photograph courtesy of Katie Fuller: http://www.bogbumper.blogspot.com)
 

So after one month of the Challenge, the scores are BTO 86, RSPB 81. After tearing into a 20+ tick lead, the BTO boys and girls have been pegged back through a combination of determination, persistence and downright sly tactics by the RSPB listers. 

Of the birds on the BTO list, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Chiffchaff should all fall fairly quickly and comfortably. Looking at it another way, only six species already under their belts will prove problematic: Goshawk (if the record is accepted by the Norfolk CR) ;-) , Hawfinch, Goosander, Bittern, Pink-footed Goose and Egyptian Goose.

As Nick and I concurred when we started, it should be close - and so it is proving.

Close but no cigar

Never mind about no photo Andy - will this do for now?

Not actually on the reserve but the adjacent Barnham Cross Common (though had I been on the reserve, I'd have seen all three from there!). I can live without HF on my personal Lakes yearlist for now though, safe in the knowledge that Andy has already done the honours, and that the Lodgers will be gripped ;-)

Actually it has been a day of close-but-no-cigars:

Closest Hawfinch to the Nunnery boundary: 43m
Closest Waxwing to the Nunnery boundary: 1.3km
Closest Hen Harrier to the Nunnery boundary: 7.8km
Closest Rough-legged Buzzard to the Nunnery boundary: 8.0km (for once I didn't care!)

Sniper.

This is DOM finding the gap in the trees for a reasonably close view of a reedbed and muddy edge. Today's target species was nailed here - Common Snipe - four of 'em. We scanned and waited for Jack, Water Rail, Cetti's and Bittern - all present here but seeing them is a different matter. Unlike the BTO folks, we're adding one or two each day rather than getting all the birds in one visit and having to resort to mammals. Not that we're at all jealous about regular Otter sightings...

BTO - We don't really just look out for birds!!!

With the bird list grinding to a worrying halt, it is time to turn our attentions to the other taxa and a fantastic half hour before work photographing the local Otters on the river....

Behind you...

Bash and I did Stratford Road and the gravel pits from the southern perimeter of the reserve again this lunchtime - to good effect. 

First, we connected with the lone Barnacle Goose that has been with the Greylag throng in the Ivel Valley for the last few years. This bird originates from the Willington/ Roxton flock, so is Cat. C and thus tickable. Then a Collared Dove in a garden tree (another Lodge mega) was unblocked. Flushed with success, Richard scoped the only viewable part of Warren Villas and would you believe it? The only bird was a Shelduck! 

Finally, on our walk back to the office, a Kingfisher was calling from the tiny stream that runs off of the Ivel - another decent bird. We then found a tiny wader on Derek White's Eggs Pits, but at a mile range, couldn't decide whether it was a Western Sand or a Semi-p...

Another four tick day. The list moves to 79.

Nazgul: The fisherman's friend

Love 'em (like our resident Cormorant guru) or hate 'em (let's not go there) you can't ignore 'em: Nazgul are here to stay! [For the Tolkien-refusers amongst you, they're the improbable winged black dragony things that make a nuisance of themselves by trying to gobble up hobbits and the like]. The disappointing thing about today's motly gang is that sinensis is a) not safely IDable on extent of white on head - and I can never remember the Cormorant Coefficient Calculation when I need it - and b) not tickable anyway...

Virtual Lakes tour: Part I

Clearly another slow day today: I resorted to taking photos of scenery. If you look really hard though, you might see some of the highlights of my BirdTrack list for the day: Coot, Black-headed Gull and possibly even an uber-gripping Egyptian Goose tucked up in the island... be still my beating heart.

Anyway it does present the perfect opportunity for the first part of an exciting virtual Nunnery Lakes tour. And where more logical to start than the imaginatively named 'D Lake'? Yes you spotted the irony. Crap name or not, this is where it all happens when it comes to waterfowl; my one and only Lakes Smew (a cracking white nun at that), the spot for Goldeneye (where are you when we need you?) and the place where we'll finally nail Shoveler for the year (I predict September...). Today? 3 Goosanders and a modest group of 4 Gadwall. Hmmm...