Monday, March 10, 2008

As the storms seemed to have subsided for a while this evening I called in to East Chevington on my way home from work. Word is, that a Bittern has been seen quite regularly, at dusk, flying from the north to the south pool.

When I got there, there was a fantastically dramatic sunset before cloud came over and it started to rain. Although we didn't see the Bittern, 4 Barn Owls were out hunting the reed beds and rough areas, probably due to hunger after being prevented from hunting last night by the poor weather. The low sunlight glinted beautifully from them as they twisted and quartered the golden reeds.

Well worth the visit. ADMc and DE had an Iceland Gull here earlier on this evening too...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

well done with the barn owl seeing one can be spectaculer but 4 great stuff
cheers lads for reporting the gull

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Anonymous said...

question when do the redwings and fieldfares go home
question 2 when do they come back the reason is i need them for my patch list.also to help my birding knowledge

Stewart said...

Chris - Only one answer. The thrushes are always easier at the coast in the autumn. October is best on a quiet dull day with a light easterly wind. Sit still on a high spot and listen for the 'seeep' of the Redwing and the 'chack chak' of the Fieldfares. They arrive in mixed flocks sometimes in big numbers. You might be lucky though any time from now until early May with odd coastal birds. Look for redwings flushing from bushes or on short grass, Fieldfares usually flying about looking lost or calling from the top of a tall tree...

The Wessex Reiver said...

On a similar though BB, have Barn Owls increased in the north recently? I can only rememebr seeing one or two in the past, 4 is brilliant stuff, lucky to get that number on the somerset Levels and they have des-res nest boxes erected for them there.

Stewart said...

Yes Andrew, Barn Owls are doing ok up here especially along the coastal strip. Druridge Bay area between Ellington and Amble is an excellent area for them.

The Wessex Reiver said...

Cheers BB, good to hear they're doing well. One near home last month, first one I've seen there for 10 years, lets hope it stays a while.