It’s that Puffin time of year again

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Atlantic Puffin (Russell F Spencer)
Being an urban birder invariably means that I don’t get to see Puffins unless I go to where they are hanging out. This is the classic time of year to visit the colonies dotted up and down the country to marvel at their very interesting look. Whirring wings, big bright bill and melancholic eye make-up.
I’ve been lucky to have visited several colonies this year on Alderney and in Iceland so I feel very lucky to have had so many encounters with this amazing bird already.
If you haven’t already, get yourself out to a breeding colony before the season’s over.

My little m’pits

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Meadow Pipit (Tommy Holden)
I don’t know about you but I find it very difficult to suss juvenile Meadow Pipits from their identical parents. This morning at 5.30am I was surveying the grassland at The Scrubs trying to ascertain the number of broods at large.
Judging from the number of singing males in April I estimated that there could be between 4-7 pairs breeding in our tiny 20 acre grassland. The landscape looks very different now. The vegetation has shot up to conceal a lot of the pipit activity. In 6 years I have only observed a juvenile being fed by an adult just once. However, recently I saw one bird carrying a faecal sac and another with food items. So breeding is occurring. This is heartening, especially given the amount of disturbance that this site gets on an average day.
I’m immensely proud of my pipits. Wormwood Scrubs potentially has the closest breeding colony to central London and has more breeding pairs than the far far larger Richmond Park a few miles to the south of us. Long may that continue.

Iceland magic moment

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Sorry for not keeping regular updates of late, but I’ve been toiling as ever. Add to that the fact I’m still catching up with my sleep after 6 darkless nights in Iceland last week and I guess that you’ll be beginning to get the picture!
The highlight bird for me were undoubtably the Gyr Falcon that Russell F Spencer, my ace photographer, shot at around 1am on the final night. He didn’t waste time capturing this magnificent bird in its prime during this chance encounter.
Gyr Falcon being mobbed by an Arctic Skua
All images copyright of Russell F Spencer
We saw all the Icelandic specialities (Harlequin Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Brunnich’s Guillemot) plus stacks of Ptarmigan, Golden Plover, Common Snipe, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope, Greylag, Pink-feet, Eurasian Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Arctic Tern, Glaucous Gull, Arctic Skua, Short-eared Owl and Snow Bunting. In addition to some really special birds like an adult Long-tailed Skua, a drake American Wigeon, Iceland’s 1st Wilson’s Snipe that we watched and heard drumming plus the country’s 5th or 6th ever Arctic Warbler heard singing and glimpsed.
I will be writing about my amazing Icelandic experiences in Bird Watching Magazine but a big shout out must go to Hrafn Svavarsson (Gavia Travel), Jan (The Man) Kolbiensson and the Visit Iceland people.
In the meantime, expect to see some more stunning photos from the trip over the next few days.

Iceland

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Words tomorrow.

Alderney revisited

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Common Kestrel (Bill Black)
Snowy Owl (Bill Black)
I quite like these shots from Alderney including the famous Snowy Owl of January 2009 that eventually ended up in Cornwall.

London Wetland Centre 10th Anniversary

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TUB and his group
Why is it that when you leave your inbox untouched for a few days, it takes a few days to get back to the point when you stopped tending your emails. When you reach the point of catching up, there’s a ton more to replace them. Furthermore, they all need essay answers.
Anyway, on Sunday I journeyed to the nearby London Wetland Centre to join in with their 10 year anniversary by giving a talk and then leading a walk around the reserve. It was a great deal of fun and the people who attended (ranging from young kids to elderly kids) were a joy to hang out with.
It made me feel old to think that I used to bird the area when it was in it’s old Thames Water owned guise of Barn Elms Reservoirs. It was good then, but the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust have done a brilliant job and have made the place amazing. Sir Peter Scott certainly had vision when he was eying up the site as a new WWT reserve. It’s a shame that he didn’t live to see it in it’s glory now.

More Alderney please!

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I can’t think of any other superlatives to use to describe my experience of Alderney and it’s people last week. It’s funny, I’ve been telling everyone here in London about Alderney and most people that I spoke to thought that the isle was in the Orkneys! Clearly some work to be done here!
Roland Gauvian (Alderney Wildlife Trust Manager) & TUB
Mark Atkinson (Chair of the Alderney Rarities Committee) & TUB
Alastair Riley (Artist & Birder) & TUB
Gannets
I’ve been given the key to the island and made a patron of the Wildlife Trust. Fantastic!
It’s an underwatched island with a heap of potential. With only 2 resident birders in attendance, of course a lot of things are missed. During my stay I saw at least 4 Honey Buzzards that had drifted in from nearby France (7 miles away) found a male Dartford Warbler on territory, dipped on a Nightjar, Serin and Black Stork. Plus last week a Melodious Warbler was happened upon by a lucky non-birder.
You see what I’m saying about the potential?
Special thanks to all those mentioned above (plus the many not mentioned) that made my stay so special.

Visions of Alderney

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Alderney was a surprisingly stunning island. I’ll talk more about it tomorrow, as I’m a tad too tired right now!

David Attenborough

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I saw Sir David speak at the London Wetland Centre tonight and all I can say is that the man is a DUDE!

He had the room in raptures as he recounted stories about Sir Peter Scott’s life and the history of the London Wetland Centre – which is 10 years old today. Later, we all retired to the Observatory for drinks and a buffet. I rubbed shoulders with a lot of the hierarchy at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. They are a nice bunch and have been very kind to me.
I strolled home feeling enthused after listening to the great man speak. I’m up at 4am tomorrow for a Dawn Chorus event with the Wildlife Trusts at Camley Street Nature Reserve, Kings Cross, London.
I better reach for the matchsticks.

The Chelsea Flower Show

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TUB admiring the orchids! (Penny Hayhurst)
Sanjika Perera Director of Sri Lanka Tourism with TUB (Penny Hayhurst)
TUB & Sanjika (Penny Hayhurst)
Now you may be wondering why an urban birder was stalking the decidedly middle class haunt known as the Chelsea Flower Show. Well, it was at the behest of the ultimate gentleman, Sanjika Perera of the Sri Lanka Tourism. I have always met this man glamourous places. Initially in the halls of Buckingham Palace, then within the Sri Lankan High Commission and today at the flower show.
He very kindly invited me to come and hang out at his orchid stand next to the jugs of Pimms. I was shocked to hear that some of the other guests that he had invited hadn’t turned up and hadn’t even bothered to call to say that they were not attending. Tickets are like gold dust and could have been given to other people. Some folks are so selfish.
It wasn’t all bad for Sanjika though. Whilst hanging by his stand, he spotted Ringo strolling past. Not one for missing an opportunity, he grabbed the Beatle and got him to pose with him for a photo. Ringo even gave his classic victory sign. Somehow, this seemed to be a better find than the Robin I heard singing by the bandstand!

History is made!! My first Scrubs Red Kite!!

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Red Kite – photographed in Wales (Russell F Spencer)
After years of waiting, years of quietly feeling extreme jealousy towards all the sites that surround Wormwood Scrubs scoring regular Red Kites, we finally broke our duck and produced not one but two separate birds during the London Natural History Society bird walk that I was leading on Sunday.
The weird thing was, when I met the group of c45 people and was giving them an introductory talk, I mentioned that one of the things that they needed to do was to keep an eye skyward because I fancied a Red Kite. We had walked practically three quarters of the way around the site and were on the last leg of the walk when I looked up to see a high soaring kite slowly drifting east. “Kite!!!” I shouted at the top of my voice, overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing my Scrubs bogey bird.
I made sure everyone got onto it as it slowly drifted across the beautiful blue midday skies. But then something else caught my attention, much lower down on the horizon not far above the rooftops to the south. It was another kite! I screamed yet again! It felt like a dream. I could barely speak for the next 20 minutes of the guided walk and I had to apologise to the group for my lack of commentary.
Where do I go from here? What other bird can I now reasonably wish for at The Scrubs? We’ve had amazing records over the years like an Ortolan, Wryneck, 3 Richard’s Pipits, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Honey Buzzards, Osprey, Goshawk, Barn Owl, Bittern, Little Bunting, Ring Ouzel, Nightingale, Firecrest, Dartford Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and a Wood Warbler in 1980 which was before my time. That’s 124 species in a park surrounded by urbanity with no standing water.
What can I wish for now? A shrike?

Summer in the city

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Northern Lapwing chick (Phill Spamer)
Ahh, at last some proper sunshine kicking out some proper heat. I was strolling around town in shirt sleeves for the first time this year in the UK.
Had a couple of review books sent to me today including the Wildlife Trusts ‘152 Wild Things To Do’ which is a very attractive, bright, colourful book listing 152 ways to enjoy nature. They suggest things from visiting the Isles of Scilly to finding daffodils in a wood. I thought that the photography looked great too. A very attractive little book. The other one that I received was Harper Collins’ ‘The Peregrine’ by JA Baker which I shall tuck into in due course.
My favourite book at the minute is ‘Bird Migration’ by Ian Newton. I just can’t put it down. I read it everywhere. I was once reading it whilst sitting on a bench the other day and a fella sat next to me and started asking questions about the book. He was well impressed after I regurgitated a couple of the facts that I had just read. He thanked me for enlightening him.
I have a very full week ahead with filming with the BBC’s Natural History Unit on Monday and with BBC London on Thursday on the Tower for their Springwatch coverage the following week. Add to that the Chelsea Flower Show on Tuesday night, a David Attenborough talk on Wednesday night Next week I have a dawn chorus event on the Thursday morning to launch the Wildlife Trusts book that I mentioned earlier.
However, this Sunday I am leading a walk around Wormwood Scrubs starting at 9.30am outside East Acton underground. So if you’re in the hood……

A proper HB

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Honey Buzzard (Stephen Daly)
After speculating over a suspect raptor seen whilst on my travels in Derby, it was great to be reacquainted with the real thing whilst on a vigil on Tower 42 today. The jizz was unmistakable; floppy though powerful flight in long broad wings that were held flat whilst gliding with downturned wingtips. Not to mention the long tail and genuinely small head. Read all about it and another bird found before I stepped onto the platform on the Tower 42 blog.
Shame it wasn’t seen against a blue sky and as close as the one depicted.

Qu’est ce que c’est?

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Buzzard? (Russell F Spencer)
This has been bugging me for the past 2 weeks. What is this raptor that I saw flying at very high altitude over Derby?
Any ideas?

Losers and winners

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Design by Yvette Spencer
A lot has been said recently on other blogs about the London Bird Race sponsored by Transport for London. Needless to say, me and the Beddington boys managed to come second beaten by just 4 species by the London Wildlife Trust All Stars. But I think that we definitely won on the tee shirt stakes.
Out of all the 14 or so teams we had the sexiest logo without a doubt!

BBC Wildlife Magazine Readers Day

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Had a great day hanging out with the readers and staff of BBC Wildlife in Slimbridge WWT yesterday. It was also fun to be with the WWT guys and of course awarding winning photographer, Danny Green – what a lovely man he was!
Dominic Couzens – writer, Sophie Stafford – editor & TUB (Russell F Spencer)
Mike Dilger, TUB & Dominic Couzens (Russell F Spencer)

A Pheasant surprise!

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A limping male Pheasant in Kensington Gardens (Collin Flapper)
It’s been a couple days of nose to the grindstone with various deadlines reached and words wrenched from my tired mind. I was particularly pleased to have finished my RSPB ‘Birds’ piece on RSPB Groups. I found writing that especially difficult. I was beginning to worry that I had lost my mojo.
The Scrubs has been particularly uninspiring recently with only the established birds on view. It was pleasing to still see our male Reed Bunting still on territory with his partner no doubt sitting tight on some eggs nearby. I learnt yesterday about the intriguing record of a Nightjar that a couple evenings ago was flying around the open theatre at nearby Regents Park. It really goes to show that anything can turn up anywhere.
Take for example last night. I was strolling through Kensington Park with good friend and confidant, Collin Flapper, when a Pheasant ran across the path around 20 feet in front of me. It scurried past some surprisingly oblivious walkers (who probably thought that it was a pigeon) and pathetically tried to conceal itself in a daffodil bed!
How this essentially rustic bird finds itself in central London beats me!

Derby Day

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Mute Swan (Jakub Puskas)
After arriving in Derby late last night to the sights and sounds of a party city, Russell Spencer and I slipped into our hotel, Cathedral Quarter Hotel, a quite sweet boutique hotel that recently played host to the Queen who apparently popped around for lunch recently. I didn’t get to sleep until around 2.30am after watching a TV programme about the existence of UFO’s.
In the morning, we met with our co-host Nick Brown (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust) and after a quick breakfast, we were soon walking along the River Derwent in bright sunshine hearing about the wintering Dippers and breeding Grey Wagtails. We met our other host Nick Moyes, who works at the Derby Museum (Derby City Council) outside the impressive Derby Cathedral, home to Derby’s famous breeding Peregrines. He took us up the tight spiral stairs to the bell ringers room where the CCTV camera playback screen was housed. We watched amazing footage of the adults bringing in different avian food items, some live some already dead. There was incredible night footage of an adult bringing in a live Woodcock!
We then nipped up onto the roof to enjoy the Derby cityscape. We also peered over the wall to look down on the gargoyles on which the Peregrines dismember their prey. I was surprised to see the carcass of a Dabchick on one of them.
The rest of the day was spent at a couple of sites with particular emphasis on the Pride Park area within the shadow of Derby County’s football stadium. But more about that in my forthcoming Bird Watching Magazine article.
Anyway, both Nicks were diamond blokes. They really showed us a good day. Derby is a cool place.

Humans

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Today was the exact opposite of yesterday. I was left feeling very disappointed after two separate incidents involving two separate individuals.

It’s disappointing when you offer people kindness and they mistake it for stupidity.

Birdlife International

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Today was a fabulous day and I didn’t even lift a pair of binoculars!
I called the PR agency who looked after the Oman Tourist Board to tell them that I couldn’t take up their generous offer of a press trip to Oman later this month. My reason was that it clashed with my trip to Alderney. To my surprise, the director of the PR agency told me not to worry and that she would hook up a trip there just for me whenever I wanted to go. How incredible is that!
Last week, I bumped into Birdlife International’s illustrious Dr Nigel Collar, a true giant in the conservation world – google him. Anyway, I spotted A&C Black’s Nigel Redman strolling through the streets of London’s Soho with another gentleman. As I was about to walk past I decided to make myself known to Nigel Redman, as I have known him for years, – since the days when we both had a lot more hair. He introduced me to Nigel Collar and I immediately dropped to my knees in worship. A 30 second introduction led to today’s invitation to join Nigel Collar and some of his learned colleagues on an expedition to southern Ethiopia in search of the Ethiopian Bush Crow.
Going on an expedition is something that I have always dreamt about doing since I was a boy reading Gerald Durrell books. And here I am, on the verge of living a dream. Unfortunately, I can’t go due to my current commitments. The good news is that I may have the opportunity to join him on other expeditions in order to write about them to publicise the work of Birdlife International, the country that we are visiting and of course, the bird that we are searching for.
To use that hackneyed phrase – happy days!
I’m one totally lucky geezer!