Migrating Reed warbler

11 Saturday Sep 2021

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Acrocephalus scirpaceus, autumn bird migration, bird migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Reed warbler

As is often the case with this little brown bird, I heard it before I saw it, not the song but the short nasal ‘churring’ call these warblers make to keep in touch with each other deep within the reed beds.

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Luckily for me, as this particularly Reed warbler foraged its way along the brook, I could follow its movement by the bending and shaking of reed stems, and when it occasionally ventured out to the edge of the reeds, I was able to grab some images.

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Small though it is – around 13cm in length, the Reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) migrates from Britain to over-winter in sub-Saharan Africa, so this little bird has quite the journey ahead of it.

210911 reed warbler (3)

Return of the Great tits

08 Wednesday Sep 2021

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Great tit

It’s so lovely to see the little birds out and about again, recovered from the strain of raising at least one, probably more, brood(s) of chicks, and looking spick and span in their newly moulted plumage.

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When I was bimbling about in the woods last week, I was visited by a number of Great tits, checking out what I was doing, looking for any insects I might have disturbed. It was a delight!

Blackcap in Elderberry

01 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by sconzani in birds, trees

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autumn berries, bird migration, birding, Blackcap, Blackcap eating Elderberries, British birds, Elderberry, Sambucus nigra

It’s not only humans that like to go foraging for ripe berries in the autumn. Though the raw berries of the Elderberry tree (Sambucus nigra) are mildly poisonous to mammals, they do not seem to affect fruit-eating birds, and Blackcaps, in particular, love to feast on them. This beautiful female had interrupted her migration journey south to top up her tank with their succulent goodness.

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Juvenile Song thrush

26 Thursday Aug 2021

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, juvenile Song thrush, Song thrush

Hop, hop, hop. From its hiding spot amongst the path-side stinging nettles, out popped this juvenile Song thrush. I stopped immediately but it heard my final footstep and turned to look at me. And it stared … and stared … and stared. I could almost read its thoughts: ‘What is that? Should I be worried? Can I eat it? Does it have food?’ I could see a man walking two dogs down the path towards us and was concerned for this little juvenile, still learning about danger, so, after taking a few photos, I gently approached and shepherded the bird back in to the nettles.

Autumn Redstarts

24 Tuesday Aug 2021

Posted by sconzani in autumn, birds, nature

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autumn migration, bird migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Redstart

Thanks to a chat with local expert birder, Graham, I saw splashes of autumn, the flashing orange-red of a young male Redstart, at Cosmeston yesterday.

And he – the bird that is, not Graham – certainly wasn’t shy about displaying the glorious colours under his tail and wing, as he flitted from bush to ground to small tree to wire fence in his constant search for food.

There was another bird calling constantly very close by, probably a second Redstart, but I didn’t manage to get on to it before getting a message that there were Whinchats on the other side of the park. I love this time of year – you never know what’s going to turn up next.

Migration companions

19 Thursday Aug 2021

Posted by sconzani in autumn, birds

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autumn migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Spotted flycatcher, Willow warbler

These three were hanging out together in a clump of trees at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park yesterday, two Spotted flycatchers flanking a Willow warbler. All are starting their annual autumn migration to Africa, the Willow warbler to southern Tanzania or northern Mozambique, the flycatchers anywhere from the coastal forests of the Gulf of Guinea to South Africa. I hope to get better photos of these birds in the coming weeks but was delighted to get this shot of all three together.

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Gone, swiftly

13 Friday Aug 2021

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Swift, Swift migration

It’s been two days now since I last heard them, so I have to assume they’ve gone, the Swifts that nest in several local buildings and streak as fast as speeding bullets along the local streets, screaming all the while.

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Records show that Swifts usually depart Britain in late July, though I’ve read a report on line this morning that says they’ve stayed a little longer this year, perhaps because they appear to have arrived a little later in the spring. I also watched a short video on Twitter of thousands of Swifts streaming through mist and cloud as they crossed the Swiss Alps – what a sight! And this year they have also to cope with the incredible heat that’s currently bubbling up out of north Africa. Go safely, you beauties!

Fledgling Whitethroats

10 Tuesday Aug 2021

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, fledgling Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Whitethroat fledglings

We’re still in that quiet birding time when most birds are hiding away in trees and bushes while they undergo their annual moult and autumn migration is only just beginning. Luckily, the fledglings are still providing occasional moments of birding joy.

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When I was wandering a local nature reserve last week, I heard the nasal buzzer-like call of two Whitethroats foraging in the scrubby field edges and was delighted to watch them for ten minutes or more as they moved in and out of the bushes, scavenging very successfully for juicy insects and their larvae.

210810 whitethroat (2)

The return of the Turnstones

06 Friday Aug 2021

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, Turnstone, Turnstone breeding plumage, turnstones in Cardiff

That sounds like a movie title, and the journey Turnstones make to their breeding grounds (in northern Europe, Greenland and North America) and back would undoubtedly make a good wildlife documentary. But a filmmaker I am not. I am simply excited to see these beautiful Turnstones have returned to their usual stone-turning antics on the embankment where the River Ely flows in to Cardiff Bay. Many are still sporting the remnants of their bright breeding plumage, which they will gradually moult in the coming weeks.

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Common sandpiper

03 Tuesday Aug 2021

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Actitis hypoleucos, autumn migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, Common sandpiper

Autumn’s in the air, not only with slightly cooler temperatures but also because birds are beginning to move to their over-wintering locations. Though the odd Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) will remain in Britain, most make the long flight to the warm climes of West Africa, and the only time we see these little birds locally is when they are on passage in the spring and autumn. This little beauty stopped in at Cardiff Bay yesterday to top up on food for its journey.

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