A New Project.

Views over the fields where I have recently agreed to carry out a series of farmland bird surveys over the next few years as part of a small team of BTO volunteers covering a number of farms forming part of a large estate in Surrey. The survey results will assist the tenant farmer and the land owners to monitor and evaluate their ongoing efforts to improve the farmed environment for wild pollinators, farmland birds and other wildlife under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. 

The first of two fields forming my survey area is already showing signs of its flower rich status.

During my first early am visit this week I recorded 19 bird species mostly seen, heard or flying around the field boundaries; including Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Stock Dove, Common Whitethroat and Woodpigeon that constitute five of the 19 target species included in the scheme aims. It will be interesting to see what other species are noted during future visits throughout the year.

  Above are Common Whitethroat, Magpie, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush.

Looking into a piece of woodland bordering the lower field there was still a decent show of Bluebells and some Early Purple Orchids.

The inhabitants of an adjoining field were typically curious about the unexpected wanderer on the other side of the hedgerow as was the Robin below.

Linking to:
Saturday's Critters

Some Recent Wildlife.

A few images of the wildlife I've seen recently.

A distant, cropped shot of three in a row on the muddy margins of the Ferry Pool at Siddlesham. (The green smudges were foliage close to the lens!)

From left to right .. Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and an Oystercatcher.

The Avocet adults were happy to let the Godwit pass by their resting youngster BUT the Oystercatcher was definitely not a welcome intruder. The defiant sideways glance was enough to deter the Oystercatcher treading any closer.

During a butterfly foray near Ewhurst, Surrey I watched a Red Kite being harassed by several Crows.

A Magpie at Tices Meadows where I also caught up with a Little Stint and my 4th only UK sighting of a Pectoral Sandpiper in the last 10 years. Unfortunately both these waders were too far distant for the lens.

A regular resident on my local patch walks ... Great-spotted Woodpecker.
 

A Painted Lady at rest on the perimeter of the disused Wisley Airfield.

While wandering alongside a watercourse in Bushy Park a Red Doe very quietly emerged from the lush green foliage, continued to feed and totally ignored my presence. After about 10 minutes she slowly wandered away but still kept a beady eye on you know who!

Wishing everyone a glorious wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are. FAB.

Linking to I'D-Rather-B-Birdin', Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters.

Wildlife in the Park.

Bushy Park is the second largest Royal Park in London covering an area of around 1,099 acres and there is an incredible range of wildlife and habitats within its walls. It has a distinctive landscape, shaped in part by its history as a royal hunting ground,  but also by its many ponds and streams. I often take a stroll around its largest expanse of water and here is just a sample of what I usually encounter at this time of the year.  FAB.

For the time being this female Pigeon is ignoring the attention of a broody male.

A juvenile Grey Heron chilling out.

Mute Swan creating waves.

Mr Mallard keeping an eye on everything.

A Fallow Buck looking for a snack.

Magpie, a little damp after the rain.

Jackdaw drinking some recent rainfall.

Red-crested Pochard trying to sleep.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Good Fences #11.

A very solid fence in the park which was erected to protect anyone falling into the outflow channel from the lake and always provides a good perching post for the local birds.

 Magpie taking a break to have a look around.

 Three Mallard sunning themselves on a fence rail.

Finally today I spotted a Magpie on a blue fence for a change.  FAB.

Linking to GOOD FENCES hosted by TexWisGirl.

Magpie (Pica pica).

An inquisitive Magpie (Pica pica) perched quietly very close to where my car was parked recently and obliged me with a few images.

 Yeah ... I'm keeping an eye on you as well!

I wonder what the others are up to?

More from Warnham LNR.

I didn't get any wildlife watching in yesterday as we were waiting on a plumber to call and repair our hot water system that failed last Sunday so as a follow up to my previous post about Warnham LNR, here are a few more images from my day out in Sussex.

 Magpie (Pica pica)

 Male Reed Bunting  (Emberzia schoenichus)

This species is a resident breeder occupying around 185,000 UK territories during the summer. Its main habitat being reedbeds and riverine scrub which was only a hop and skip away from this feeding station.

 Next up is the much stripier female Reed Bunting.

Titbit: Over 50% of Reed Bunting chicks are not fathered by the pair mate but result from an adulterous liaison .... probably the highest recorded of any bird!

Most of the Nuthatches (Sitta europaea ssp. caesia) that I normally see are high up in the woodland canopy so it was a pleasure to see this individual, however briefly, much closer to the lens even though it didn't want to sit still!   FAB.

The Seed Scatterer.

It is very rare for me to be able to get close to a Magpie (Pica pica) but during a visit to a location that I had not visited for many, many years, the activity of this individual intrigued me as it decided to scatter all the seed rather than eat any!

I hope to catch up with everyone in the next few days when I'll also post a local patch update plus some other recent outings  ...... FAB.

Final Farewell.

Today will be a difficult day when I and the rest of my family say our final farewells to PJB .... I have no idea how I will react but at least there will be the comfort of friendly faces around me and memories of better days.

So here are a few images of the birds PJB would have seen, some more frequently than others.

 Grey Heron in waiting mode.

 Dabchick (Little Grebe) fluffed up against the cold.

 Mrs. Mallard.

 Mr. Mallard in a flap.

 His garden regulars ... House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Magpie

Farewell PJB ... we'll meet up again sometime .... FAB.

Bushy Park (Part 2)

A few more images from our brief forray into Bushy Park last week.

Magpie, that didn't fly away!

A male Tufted Duck.

It is not unusual to find the ocassional hybrid due to interbreeding. Here is a Tufted x Pochard.

A Tufties body but note the red eyes, lighter bill and distinctive hair cut from a Pochard

This was the smallest duck on the pond and I have to admit to not being sure of it origin. Any suggestions?

(Now confirmed by Simon, Bill and Mona  as a female Wigeon...thanks guys.)

Finally, an Egyptian Goose checking its reflection in the mirror.

Somehow I have sustained a minor lower back injury so my birding plans for the coming week may have to be amended, but with the promise of some good weather I am keen to get out and watch some wildlife in its natural surroundings again. FAB.