Shenstone Birder

Tuesday 9th August 2011 - Tanwood

I wasn't planning any birding today as it was my wife's day off. Early afternoon we decided to pop to a garden centre near Chaddesley Corbett for lunch. As we were heading home I suggested nipping just up the road (literally) to Tanwood.....it's funny how a pair of binoculars can find their way into one's car.

Stopping of at Tanwood I scanned across the fields and picked up a ♀ Wheatear sitting on the fence post...result. We decided then to do a short butterfly walk but there was little about other than Small White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and a single ♂ Common Blue. Still, not bad for an impromptu visit.

Sunday 7th August 2011 - Shenstone

Today I met up with Mark P (Wood Dingle sorry I mean Woodwolf) at Shenstone to try and help him add Brown Argus and Essex Skipper to his list. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very favourable for butterflies and after what was a nice start to the morning it all went a bit dull and cool.

We started off by doing a walk though some of the butterfly hot spots along Stanklyn Lane and did indeed pick up an Essex Skipper as well as Small Skipper, there was no sign of Brown Argus however. Other butterfly species recorded during this walk were Common Blue, Small Copper, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small White and Large White. There were also good numbers of Pied Hoverfly present. A highlight for myself was of the flora variety when I discovered some nice patches of Hare's Foot Trefoil in the gallops field.

From Stanklyn we headed over to Barrs Lane/Butts Lane where we added Small Tortoiseshell and Comma to the days list. Not surprisingly we didn't get Brown Argus as they are very much an only fly when the sun is shining species. I also found an even better patch of Hare's Foot Trefoil just off Butts Lane.

Down by the, almost dried out, drainage pond we were really pleased to see a 2 juvenile and an adult Corn Buntings. There were also good numbers of juvenile Linnets, a Yellowhammer and a Pied Wagtail. As we were watching these birds a juvenile Whinchat popped up onto the top of the soil mound next to the pond before disappearing. I later relocated across the road in the small field near the broom bushes. What a great way to end the day!

I've put up a video of the Whinchat at the end of this post.

Whinchat

Juvenile Corn Buntings

Hare's Foot Trefoil (Trifolium arvense)

Essex Skipper

Comma

Tuesday 2nd August 2011 - Shenstone

I only popped to the patch for a whistle stop visit today. I was on my way back home from collecting my dog's prescription from the vets and thought I would just check out some of the likely spots for passage migrants.

I Heath Lane and Butts Lane were dead, so I headed over to Stanklyn Lane. Things were better here and at the beet field there was a juvenile Garden Warbler in the hedgerow. To my knowledge they haven't bred on the patch this year so this is likely a first year bird that was passing through.

I then checked out the paddocks where I found a stunning ♂ Common Redstart perched along 'redstart hedge'. I call it 'Redstart hedge' as approx. 80% of all patch Common Redstarts have occurred here). This bird was showing really well but unfortunately I hadn't got my camera with me (doh!). At times the Redstart was being harassed by the resident Robin who didn't like the presence of this bird on its territory.

All in all I'm glad I stopped off on the way back home.

Also on Tuesday 2nd August a Lesser Whitethroat was seen along Stanklyn Lane (TS)

The ♂ Common Redstart was present again on Wednesday 3rd August and a ♀ Redstart was also present (JC) and 2 Ravens were present along Stanklyn Lane on the eveining (TMH)

Monday 1st August 2011 - Shenstone & Tanwood

Today was my first proper chance to get back 'on patch' since my hols. The sun was shinning and there were many butterflies on the wing. There was no sign of any Autumn passage migrants around though.

I started on Heath Lane where there were 14 Swifts and 7 Swallows over the large stubble field. Other than the aforementioned species it was very quiet.

Next, I spent some time at Stanklyn Lane beet field. This area was very good for butterflies and I was more than happy when I discovered a new colony of Brown Argus here. I only saw 1 Purple Hairstreak flitting around the top of an Ash. There were at least 4 Holy Blues in this area and 2 Red Admirals (1 of which was unusually small at nearly half the size!). Other species recorded along Stanklyn Lane were Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Small White and Large White. I didn't however see Common Blue or Peacock. All that was of note here bird wise, was a number of Willow Chiffs that were 'wheating' away in the hedgerow.

Elsewhere around the patch, I recorded 30+ House Martin over Witch Lane and the juvenile Common Buzzards were heard calling at Butts Lane.

From Shenstone I decided to pop approx 3 miles up the road to Tanwood (another good local area for passage passerines). On arrival I picked up a Wheatear on the wall of the adjacent barn conversion. After a few minutes it flew and perched on a nearby fence post only to be joined a few minutes later by an imm. ♂ Common Redstart.

I was beginning to think things couldn't get any better I saw a butterfly fly up from the field to my right and I thought Marbled White...only for the said butterfly to be plucked out of the air by a Swallow. I decided to walk the footpath into the adjacent field and saw 3 Marbled Whites. I was really happy with this find as to my knowledge no-one has recorded them at this site before. Good numbers of Common Blue were also seen at Tanwood

I just need to find Marbled White at Shenstone, I now know to 3 sites within a few miles of my patch where they can be found....so fingers crossed!

Brown Argus

Speckled Wood

Gatekeeper

Northern Wheater - Tanwood

Marbled White - Tanwood

25th to 28th July 2011 - The New Forest (Hants)

As you are all probably aware I was 'off-pach' and away for 5 days last week. I went camping down the New Forest with one of my mates who, although not a birder, enjoys the outdoors. Much walking, drinking and talking saftness was done. The New Forest is a wonderfully varied area that has woodland, heaths, lawns and bogs. It is also fairly close the coastal marshes of Keyhaven and Pennington. Anyway, below is a summary of the wildlife seen during this break.

Monday 25th July

After pitching the tent up at Ashurst Campsite we took the opportunity to sit in the sunshine with a nice cold bottle of beer. 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen flitting around the edge of the campsite. A number of juvenile Nuthatch were present at the site. We then walked through Ashurst Wood where we picked up Spotted Flycatcher and over to Matley Heath. Not long after stopping for a sit down (on a handy tree stump) did we see the first of the areas speciality birds, a stunning Honey Buzzard that flew over from Matley Wood towards Ashurst. After a while we headed back to the campsite....beer and BBQ were calling!

Tuesday 26th July

Today saw us undertaking a coastal walk from Keyhaven to Hurst Castle. Walking along the shingle spit gave great views over the adjacent salt marsh. Notable birds seen here included - 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 10+ Oystercatchers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 4 Little Egrets. An adult Gannet was seen out over The Solent and 3 Rock Pipits were seen near Hurst Castle. There were also some rather interesting plants seen including Yellow Horned Poppy, Golden Samphire and Hare's Foot Trefoil.

We were back at the site mid afternoon so we decided to do another walk over the heath. During this walk we saw 4 Fallow Deer, 5 Stonechat (2m, 2f and 1 juv), 2 Curlew and a Black-tailed Godwit that flew over calling.

Later that evening we undertook a slightly wobbled Glow Worm walk in Ashurst Wood. We did manage to see one of these incredible insects, I took some very shaky beered up photos and my mate fell in a ditch...ha!

Wednesday 27th July

Today we undertook a walk from Ashurst across the Heath to the pub at Beaulieu Road Station (approx 3 miles). During the walk there I saw a Hobby hawking over the Heath and a m Stonechat. It was a good walk for butterflies with good numbers of Grayling seen. Disappointingly, only a single Silver-studded Blue was seen. After a bite to eat and a few pints of real ale it was time to make the return journey. This was also productive with us hearing and seeing 2 Woodlarks.

A Woodcock was seen roding over Ashurst campsite at 9.10pm.

Thursday 28th July

Today we undertook a walk from Beaulieu Road Station over Shatterford to Denny Lodge and back. This area is usually good for Dartford Warbler but disappointingly there was no sign. It was however a good walk for insects(especially around the bogs/pools) with a couple of the speciality species, Small Red Damselfly and Southern Damselfly, seen. Also recorded were Keeled Skimmer, Ruddy Darter and Broad-bodied Chaser. Good numbers of Silver-studded Blue were also present today. In one of the pools there was a Marsh Frog (a recent introduction to the UK that is spreading up from the South East). Near Denny Wood there was a f Common Redstart and a juvenile Spotted Fycatcher.

After finishing this walk we popped a few miles up the road to Starpole Pond. I was shocked when we got there as this renowned pool for dragonflies had all but dried out. There was just a muddy pool of about 10ft by 6ft left. The only dragonflies present were 2 Emperor Dragonflies and a Keeled Skimmer. There were a few Silver-Studded Blues flitting over the surrounding heather and 2 Common Redstarts (1f & 1 juv) were nearby.

That pretty much sums up the wildlife side of the holiday other than the moths. I ran the moth trap for 2 nights (although rain put pay to one!). There were a few interesting species caught including 1 Rosy Footman, 2 Yellow-tailed Moths, 1 Scalloped Hook-tip, 1 Dingy Footman and 2 Eilema Footman agg. (either Common or Scarce I'm not sure).

So there you have it...below are a selection of photos from the trip.

Rock Pipit - Hurst Castle