Last time I posted it was late August and Burwell Fen was beginning to look very inviting with more mud appearing as the area dried out, However rain soon saw a return to rising water levels and the decline in waders.
Added to that the need to spend time with our new dog Annie (Lab/Cocker Spaniel cross) getting her trained and used to 'bird-walkies' has reduced time out for birding.
Had a visit to Berkshire having dropped Esther and friend off for the Reading festival but little to report other than a visit to Greenham Common was very interesting in terms of seeing how an airbase can be converted into open country for all to share.
A trip to the coast on Monday 14th September proved to be a very frustrating day due to the lack of anything of any real interest! Only the usual at Kelling with a good number of Stonechat (7) and two Wheatear of interest.
Holkham (again!), produced very little in terms of interesting migrants. The highlight of the visit being a Great White Egret from Jordan's. Titchwell produced a nice Curlew Sandpiper and three Little Stint in with the Dunlin. A Spoonbill was on the far side from Island hide and there were good numbers of Bar and Black Tailed Godwit. Water Rail were very active moving in front of the hide giving great views. For a couple of hours at least an Osprey sat on the tall pole in the middle of Thornham Marsh.
A visit today (17th September) to Welney produced good views of three Common Crane flying up the Washes. Good numbers of Ruff (c35), a couple of Black Tailed Godwit and two Green Sandpipers added to the usual list. Wigeon numbers are slowly increasing.
The Venting of the Spleen
Why, oh why do people shout out observations! There seems to be an increasing number of people who seem to need to make sure everyone around them sees what they have seen and its getting on my pip!
When I started birdwatching many, many years ago the convention for passing on information and sightings while in the hide was that it was done in a quiet, almost church-like voice. The information was passed along quietly without causing a great deal of fuss or disturbance to others. That seems to be a thing of the past.
I enjoy meeting other birders and photographers and I'm quite willing to share sightings, chat about what we've just missed or catch up on what's in the area. What I'm finding increasing annoying are those people who have to shout out every damn sighting!
Some time ago I had an early morning visit to Titchwell. As I was walking down to the Island Hide I sighted a Red Kite. I was enjoying a pleasant view of the bird when a voice behind me boomed out 'Red Kite over the marsh to the right'. Turning I found to my surprise one of the volunteer wardens and no-one else! I know it was a Red Kite, I was watching it and I don't need anyone to tell me what I'm looking at!
While sitting in a hide at Minsmere a very loud, male voice boomed out 'Osprey above the woods going right'. He then went on to lecture the whole hide as to the features of the Osprey and its feeding habits.What happened to peace and quiet!
Back to Titchwell on Monday and had to put up with some guy going on and on to the woman sitting next to him, booming on about the 'cracking photo of the Water Rail but I think I'll drop an fstop for the next shot'
Today was the the final straw. While standing on the path from Friend's Hide towards the old Alport Hide I was boomed at by a lady telling me 'Cranes, Cranes'. You would have thought that standing with binoculars raised and pointed in the direction of the cranes flying above ones head might have given her the clue that I had seen the cranes!
What has happened to birding etiquette? I'm sure that it used to exist and I wish it would return! I feel I need to wear a sign.... Happy to chat but don't shout!
Rant over until the next person says dogs should be banned from anywhere near birds!
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