Army Birding

On 29 Apr I met up with Rich Seargent and Richard Horton at 0530 hrs at Wayland Wood, within half an hour we had bagged a male Golden Pheasant perched about 5 metres up in a tree. We watched the confiding bird for a while before heading back to our cars and adding several more woodland species to wh...

Giles,

I am sure Richard will clinch this for you but I am not aware of a white wing patch on Red-backed and therefore think you have a Bay-Backed Shrike, which definitely does.

All the best,

Tim

AGM sounds like the best opportunity to gather support.

I am sure we can arrange something if you are prepared to travel. Happy to discuss dates and numbers if you can give me a steer.

After a working breakfast at 0700 hrs the Leconfield Conservation Group hit the tracks this morning with some old favourites including 5 sightings of Barn Owls, more new arrivals (Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge warbler and Common Whitethroat) and a local scarcity - 2 Jays! According to Chris Sandbach it...

Roger, I hadn't heard either the tale or the bird. Probably need more global warming before they brave the frozen lands of the north.

A Whimbrel present for its fifth day and a break in the cloud has produced Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat today, along with several butterfly species (Comma, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock) and several common species in full song.

I returned to work from 11 days leave and as I strolled across camp to a meeting at 1000 hrs on 7 Apr 10 I saw a Merlin heading across camp, I felt pretty pleased to see such a good bird on my first day back. Little did I know that 15 minutes later a juvenile White-tailed Eagle would be chased from ...

There has been a male Bufflehead on The Fleet between Rodden Hive and Langton Hive Point for the past few days. The bird is apparently located by following the B3157 west from Chickerell, along Fleet Road to the Moonfleet Manor hotel, then walk west for about half a mile.

Tony, Waxwings have only really been arriving in the last 10 days, whereas in recent times there have been birds around for Christmas. Today a Crane was seen at West Carlton, East Yorkshire. This species has been seen at Leconfield before and was seen by two lucky members of the Conservation Group. ...

No sign of the Waxwings today but a Merlin chasing a Skylark and 3 Barn Owls over lunch.

Chris Sandbach and I had at least 3 Waxwings flycatching at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield at luchtime 24 Feb 10, plus 7+ Bullfinches and 10 Gadwall. This represents a new species for the site and two respectable site counts for the latter two species.

Rich, Any Rosy Pipits amongst the Water Pipits? Wikipedia has Afghanistan as part of the distribution. Appreciate that Wikipedia is not always accurate and that Afghanistan is a big country but do they occur where you are? I came across the following site which may be of use to you for photographs o...

Rich,

Have you seen that ornithologists have found Large-billed Reed Warbler breeding in Afghanistan? You may find the attached link interesting:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1911

All the very best,

Tim

Brown Shrike has been relocated at Staines Moor on 1 Jan 10, directions as before.