Cooling Marshes, Kent, 7th December 2014

Thursday 30 September 2010

Autumn takes flight

"We could dream this night away..."
It’s been a magical start to autumn round these parts. Or maybe it’s like this every year and I’ve been oblivious. It’s easy to miss the seasons changing in London. All the usual clichés spring to mind but what excites me most about autumn this year is that it means the birds are busy again!
For an urban dweller summer is generally a quiet time for birds. The cup final atmosphere that is present among the branches of woods, parks and gardens in late-spring is long gone; the hopeful songs and endless chatter giving way to a period of rest that allows birds to renew energy stocks and hone vital skills in preparation for a long winter or a long flight. It was great therefore to hear numerous robins singing boisterously in my local park yesterday, along with noisy flocks of tits (Blue, Great and Long-tailed) probing the Plane trees for seeds. Mistle Thrushes have appeared again too, ready to do battle over berries, their heads and bold, spotted breasts visible from the tops of tall trees.
As for our visiting migrants, autumn marks a passage for birds heading off to warmer southern climes and overwintering birds arriving from the continent. This increases the chance of finding something a little more unusual in your area. So far a large flock (40+) of House Martins swooping over New Cross the other day has been my only local evidence of the former but it was a pleasing sight nonetheless. Watching their frantic manoeuvres over the rooftops I realised there were probably young birds up there making the trip for the first time.  I enjoyed Jack Robinson’s analogy of a similar encounter in the current issue of Bird Watching magazine, comparing young Swallows preparing to migrate with a nervous child’s first day at school!
As for the latter, in the next few months I’ll be keeping my eye out for arrivals from Scandinavia such as Fieldfare and Redwing. As well as UK resident species such as Lesser Redpoll and Firecrest whose numbers increase in the south during autumn and winter.
*above photo from the BBC website

Sunday 26 September 2010

Birding Moments#1

A camping trip to Pembrokeshire with friends in late-June presented me with possibly my first genuine birding ‘moment’. What do I mean by that? Well I guess it was the first time I became truly, uncontrollably gripped by a bird sighting. Visible signs that this was the case: frantically pointing at the sky and approaching strangers whilst doing so, hopping about and the occasional celebratory air punch. Y’know, a ‘moment’.
So what brought about this sudden fit of excitement?  
It was during a breather from an energetic bout of frisbee on a secluded beach that my attention was drawn to the loud, rasping call of a passing bird. Blinking upwards I didn’t need binoculars to see that the bird responsible was a Peregrine falcon. Although this was my first encounter with a Peregrine it was unmistakable-a mottled greyish underside and the distinctive dark facial ‘moustache’ providing the clues. It helped that it flew so close, maybe as little as 10 metres overhead. For a second I stared directly at it and in that time, as it curiously rolled an eye in my direction, I felt like it did the same.
It soon became apparent that this Peregrine was not alone; eventually three other birds appeared calling and wheeling in the sky over the rocky cliffs and beach. I was able to identify that this was a family group consisting of both parents and two (I suspect) recently-fledged young. Now I’m not saying it was a moment in the same way that watching Arsenal stick four past Spurs is, but watching these birds was a rush nonetheless.
For me, this encounter became all the more pertinent upon hearing a news story this summer which detailed the foiled attempts of one individual to smuggle 14 Peregrine eggs, stolen from nests in South Wales, into Dubai. In this instance the perpetrator was caught and the majority of the eggs were successfully incubated to produce healthy chicks. But it serves as an important reminder of the indefensible persecution that Peregrines and many other bird species still face. An RSPB report published recently (‘Birdcrime 2009’) points out that, although Peregrine numbers have recovered from around 360 pairs in the 1960s to 1400 in 2002, there are still annual reports of cruelty and exploitation through various means. These include egg collecting, trapping and wilful destruction of nest sites. One can only hope that these events don’t go unnoticed and that Wildlife Crime continues to be taken seriously and not as a soft option for budget cuts.
What a privilege it was to see these birds looking healthy and active in their perfect habitat. I think I’ll remember this moment for some time to come.

Treath Llfyn, Pembrokeshire, Wales- Peregrine country!

Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
Note distinctive 'moustache' and powerful yellow feet with sharp claws- perfect for catching smaller birds in flight



Another arrives for its moment of fame! With their streaked brown underparts I would guess that these are the two juveniles seen from the beach earlier. They must have been aware of the assembled throng of walkers just metres from their ledge, but they remained still for several minutes, allowing us a rare opportunity to appreciate their beauty at close quarters.


Monday 20 September 2010

Seaford Seabird City

Seaford is a quiet town on the East Sussex coast midway between Eastbourne and Brighton. Although I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years with my family who live locally, until recently it was famous in my mind for little other than its numerous charity shops that consistently reveal a decent selection of cheap, unpicked vinyl. But as a as a respite from sweltering city life I found myself back there in late-July pursuing a different interest altogether with a stint as a volunteer with the RSPB.
The annual appearance of the RSPB and their ‘Date with Nature’ project in Seaford is timed to coincide with a period of considerable bird activity on the steep cliffs just beyond Splash Point at the eastern-most end of the prom. It is typically Herring Gulls that are responsible for much of commotion in the skies around Seaford but for several months a year another member of the gull family takes centre stage. The stars of the show and surely now one of Seaford’s most famous spring/summer residents are Kittiwakes.
Aside from fielding questions and enquiries from the public about a variety of bird-related topics, the question I was asked most often could be summed up as “Kittiwakes eh? What’s so special about them then?”
And it’s a perfectly valid question. At first glance their predominantly white appearance coupled with the greyish upper wing and dark wingtips means they could feasibly be mistaken for Common Gulls or that bane of many who have walked Seaford prom with an ice cream in hand- the ubiquitous Herring Gull. But on closer inspection differences become clear. They are smaller than Herring Gulls and, aside from short, black legs, have what could be described as a ‘fuller figure’ than Common Gulls. To be honest, I think their simple, unblemished plumage makes Kittiwakes a rather handsome and distinctive member of the gull family.
But we’re not all standing round here because they’re quite pretty are we? No. Kittiwakes warrant the excitement generated by their arrival each year by the fact that they are only present around the coast of Britain for six months a year. They are pelagic seabird which means they spend most of their lives far out at sea and only come to shore to breed and nest. For most then this window between February and August represents the only chance to see them. There are other reasons to celebrate the Seaford Kittiwakes too. For example, this is the only spot on the South coast where a nesting colony of this size can be seen. There are thought to be approximately 800 nesting pairs present this year, an encouraging number given the UK population has experienced dips in recent years.  The majority of nest sites are on the north and east coasts of Britain which lends Seaford something of a coup. Splash Point is a wonderfully accessible, not to mention dramatic, site too. Waves often crash right up over the viewpoint, which stands almost directly beneath the colony. In the background the glorious peaks of the Seven Sisters can be seen rolling away to the east.
Aside from raising awareness of the RSPB’s important work, the Kittiwake colony represents an opportunity to leave holidaymakers and curious locals with a memorable experience. But perhaps most significant is the conservation message attached to the presence of the Kittiwakes here. The success of this enigmatic seabird depends primarily on the health of its ocean habitat. Since they feed almost entirely on small shoaling fish such as herring, sprat and sandeel they are just as vulnerable to the effects of overfishing these on these populations as they are the effects of pollution and global warming. Look after our seas and we look after many things, including our birds.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience; it was a pleasure watching the adult Kittiwakes tend their precarious nests and watching the first, tentative excursions of the young as they tumbled about the sky almost Tern-like and gathered and bobbed on the surface in the sheltered lee behind the groynes. Here’s wishing them a safe trip!
BirdList: Splash Point, Seaford, East Sussex, 25/26/27 July 2010
Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Rock Pipit, Cormorant, Shag, House Martin, Swift, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Great Black-backed Gull, Oystercatcher, Sandwich Tern.

Rock Pipit

Kittiwakes on the cliff face

Kittiwakes take flight while Cormorants look on


Summer 2010 Highlights

Following shortly will be a few accounts of my birding adventures this summer. Eyes to the skies!

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Introduction

Hi, welcome to BirdPoem. Despite the potentially misleading title this is a blog that is very much about birds.
The rate at which I fell for this subject surprised me. In a year, a passing ornithological curiosity has now become something that I care passionately about. I think about it every day and am aware of it wherever I go; to the post box down the road, to the local park or further afield.  And while it’s unlikely that I’ll start dancing about Feral Pigeons, I’d rather they be there than not. I find birds fascinating.
Here, through photographs and commentary, I hope to try and share news, thoughts and observations on the subject. I don’t imagine it will be confined simply to birds since there is a lot out there to get excited about (even in suburban South London!). I’m not an expert on birds either, so maybe I’ll get things wrong from time to time. But that’s ok because it’s part of the fun and if someone points it out, it’s a good way of learning.      
Thanks for reading.
In wistfulness and envy, I gaze at them,
lamenting just how earthbound I live,
and sigh the poignant subjunctive
of our species: If only.”
(Diane Ackerman, ‘Of a Feather’, from ‘A Convergence of Birds’, Ed. J. Safran Foer)