Beddington Farm - MEGA Hoopoe.... and a Bufflehead!!

Today was BTO WeBS wildfowl and shorebird count at the Farm. Unlike the previous months count the weather forecast was favourable. The next hurdle was to negotiate the obstacle course of a building site and then the thick mud which has been churned up by all the plant using the area.

Dodge was ringing and during a conversation I noticed what I initially thought was a female Goldeneye on the lake. The bird turned its head which had a white cheek patch and further scrutiny identified a female Bufflehead.

Although an escape was in my mind I wanted to get more pictures of the bird which caused some amusement in Dodge’s corner. Pete Alfrey picked up the photo tweet and questioned where the picture had been taken! Nick joined me and at this point the legs of the bird had not been seen.

The consensus was that the bird had to be looked at further and views of the legs and any rings noted. There had been a female Bufflehead at Staines Reservoir which had a silver ring on its right leg and this was the realistic outcome. This bird had caused similar interest when it was initially found.

During further discussion of the bird Pete exclaimed “There’s a bloody Hoopoe being mobbed by crows”. Sure enough this colourful and exotic bird was flying for its life as two crows pounced on it as it flew over the mound and past the incinerator and out of sight! Wow!

After a while Swifty re-located the bird on the main island which had the search party about turn and head back to the lake. The bird gave fantastic views despite the odd troublesome crow passing by! The Hoopoe froze as a Sparrowhawk completed a circuit about the island causing a few silent moments within our group as a result!

This was the fourth record of Hoopoe at Beddington Farm. The last record was in 1968 which incidentally Phil C saw! I was three years old then! This special bird has been talked about by the regulars but I don't think any of us expected it to actually turn up! This species was a Beddington and VC17- Surrey tick for me!

What a WeBS day that turned out to be with an understandable delay in completing the count! 

Woo Hoo!

Beddington Farm - White Wingers Galore!

Gull numbers are decreasing as adult birds make their way to breeding grounds. With the onset of spring it was probably going to be the last chance to see any of the larger white wingers that have been present over the last few weeks.

This morning as if on cue three cars pulled into the car park and the crew of Devilbirder (DB), Dodge and myself emerged and made our way through the park to the gate in the SW corner of the south lake. This corner can be very productive for park birds that utilize the cluster of trees that are beginning of the Farms recording area. DB heard a Treecreeper calling by the kissing gate. The bird was joined by a second and they both flew into the trees along the W side of the Farm. This was a Farm tick for DB and a brief celebration ensued.

DB was on form finding the first Sedge Warbler of the year and the 2cy Iceland Gull on the North Lake. Dodge and I were near the hide and could not see it from our position. DB departed and Tomas called in on his twice daily round, then Dodge and I got comfortable for the glorious sunny day ahead,

Buzzards performed magnificently in the skies above with nine birds seen at one time over the lake. This sent the gulls into total chaos which would make life very difficult to pick out our intended quarry Osprey should one pass over the airspace. On the flip side this regularly mixed up the gulls and it was not long before the beast of a Glaucous Gull was spied heading towards the incinerator. The bird was to return later on to wash up on the lake.

Another returnee was the Iceland Gull which picked a nice spot on the cleared islands to bask in the sun.

Overall not a bad days birding with a Mediterranean Gull seen yesterday, completing the set. Hopefully there will be a passage of these birds later on in the month.

Back to the Farm tomorrow to cover the N end of the site!

Beddington Farm - Glad We Turned Up!

Migration took another step forward today with warmer SW winds combined with showers early on. I met Frankie at the parkside gate and the days watch and the April challenge continued! This is an annual challenge between the regulars to log as many species on site during the month. This acts as additional incentive to cover the site in search of the departing winter visitors as well as the spring arrivals.

Sighting of the day came late on as we walked the S end of the North Lake. A Common Tern was quartering the lake between the hide and Elands Island. The bird was busy fishing picking off small fish from near the surface of the North Lake.

It remained on site for over an hour taking periods of rest on a small shingle island near the Sand Martin bank. The bird was still present on the lake when our extended tour ended.

There was a small movement of Hirundines during the morning’s showers. A couple of Swallow started off the mini passage with two small groups of Sand Martin that had been caught out by the short but heavy downpours.  

A Kingfisher was seen a couple of times whizzing low across the lake in front of the hide. Blackcap had recently arrived and the males wasted no time in making their presence known the lone female just had to make her choice!

Shorebirds were represented by Jack Snipe and numerous Snipe. Green Sandpiper continued their residency in the SE corner. The Lapwing have dispersed across the site in an attempt to establish breeding territories.

An interesting weather pattern is moving in from the Atlantic which means another stake out at the Farm is on the cards!

Beddington Farm - A Trickle of Migrants!

The weeks are moving on at pace with little to report at The Farm. I have been assured that spring is on its way, but thus far there have only been a trickle of migrants through to confirm this theory. A handful of Sand Martin and a couple of Wheatear, one male having taken up temporary residency on the mound. I managed to get some shots of the bird today having sneaked around in the developing copses that are scattered across the mound.

Earlier on I had staked out my favourite corner on top of the mound. The wind today was a tame NW breeze which has produced Marsh Harrier for me in the past. News of a few Osprey on the move had my eyes firmly pinned to the skies in anticipation!

The raptor that gave me an initial heart tremor and had me grabbing my camera turned out to be a male Sparrowhawk. The bird was high wheeling above my position and on my initial gaze looked large, full bodied and short tailed. Thankfully the camera earned its keep once again confirming the identity of the bird.

The temperatures are set to rise by the end of the week which I must say is welcome relief from the blast of cold weather. I have been used to warmer climes of late and have struggled with the inconsistent temperatures. I just hope the showers that are forecast work some magic although it is still early days in the migration calendar.