29th APRIL 2007.
AN UNEXPECTED TREAT!
We returned to the Lonsdale Road Local Nature Reserve with a specific goal; we wanted to see what, if any, progress had been made by the Sparrowhawks who were setting up home together. We arrived at the site just after seven o’clock having left in good time to catch the ‘bus. The weather forecast was for a good day and it certainly looked to be shaping up that way. Although a little windy and slightly cool, the sky was fairly clear of cloud and a lovely blue.
AN UNEXPECTED TREAT!
We returned to the Lonsdale Road Local Nature Reserve with a specific goal; we wanted to see what, if any, progress had been made by the Sparrowhawks who were setting up home together. We arrived at the site just after seven o’clock having left in good time to catch the ‘bus. The weather forecast was for a good day and it certainly looked to be shaping up that way. Although a little windy and slightly cool, the sky was fairly clear of cloud and a lovely blue.
HAWTHORN BLOSSOMPhoto: Leon Rusk
STOCK DOVE, DESPERATE TO APPEAR IN BLOG!
Standing at the eastern end of the reservoir we could see that there were many more flowers in bloom …. in only a few days! The yellow Flag Iris was beginning to open in several places and we could see Ragged Robin, Tree Mallows and Hawthorn bursting out in many places too!
We walked around the northern side of the site so that the sun would be well behind us as it rose later on in our journey. There was plenty of birdsong, although seeing the birds was another thing; with all the new growth it was becoming more difficult as the days passed.
We were discussing this when I said to Leon that there were supposed to be Tawny Owls nesting here but a fat lot of chance we had of seeing them. “There’s one! Just there!” he said. How does he do it!!!!! Neither of us has seen a Tawny Owl for years! We used to have them nesting just around the corner from where I lived some years ago. I can still see the place from where I live now, but no owls!
We walked around the northern side of the site so that the sun would be well behind us as it rose later on in our journey. There was plenty of birdsong, although seeing the birds was another thing; with all the new growth it was becoming more difficult as the days passed.
We were discussing this when I said to Leon that there were supposed to be Tawny Owls nesting here but a fat lot of chance we had of seeing them. “There’s one! Just there!” he said. How does he do it!!!!! Neither of us has seen a Tawny Owl for years! We used to have them nesting just around the corner from where I lived some years ago. I can still see the place from where I live now, but no owls!
STOCK DOVE, DESPERATE TO APPEAR IN BLOG!Photo: Leon Rusk
TOWARDS THE THAMES, 'OWL WOOD'
Leon began trying to show me exactly where the Owl was. “Follow this big tree up to the third branch on the right hand side, Bob’s yer uncle!” Bob wasn’t my uncle, and, no owl. “Look!” he said, Up there, third branch, can’t miss it!” I missed it.
“Right!” I said, “Up this tree, third branch on the right, the bird is in this tree, right?” “No, the one behind!” he said. “You have to look OVER the third branch!”
I saw the owl, it was exactly where he hadn’t said it was! We were both very excited by the sighting of this bird, we watched for quite some time and Leon tried to take a picture. It was a shame Terry or Mike were not here with their ‘scopes and cameras; they would have got some lovely shots.
“Right!” I said, “Up this tree, third branch on the right, the bird is in this tree, right?” “No, the one behind!” he said. “You have to look OVER the third branch!”
I saw the owl, it was exactly where he hadn’t said it was! We were both very excited by the sighting of this bird, we watched for quite some time and Leon tried to take a picture. It was a shame Terry or Mike were not here with their ‘scopes and cameras; they would have got some lovely shots.
TOWARDS THE THAMES, 'OWL WOOD'Photo: Reg Norman
TREE MALLOW
We moved on noting that there were more small birds about now and we could see many of them flitting about in the cover. As we reached the tree containing the Sparrowhawks, we were surprised to see a Kestrel flash past, diving down into the reservoir area. We passed the tree so that we might get a better view of the nest area. Again we were surprised; the Kestrel had returned and was on a branch about ten feet below that on which the Sparrowhawks were building their nest! They took absolutely no notice whatsoever. Whilst watching the Kestrel feeding on its’ small rodent prey, we noticed that the branch was quite heavily covered in droppings. Could this mean that the kestrel used this place as a regular feeding station? We will certainly keep our eyes peeled for more evidence of this.
TREE MALLOWPhoto: Reg Norman
HERONS NEST ON RAFT
We watched both the Sparrowhawks and the kestrel for some time and then moved on to have a look on the Thames bank. The river was flooding quickly and we were a little disappointed to see no birds on the foreshore. A few gulls drifted lazily up and down and a few Cormorants flew past in the direction of the Wetland Centre. Returning to the reserve we made our way round to the southern side.
Once at the southern side we began to see more small birds; there were certainly still lots of Wrens about judging by the amount of their song that we could hear. From this southern side we could also get some more brilliant views of the nest site. Also, form this side we could get some quite close views of the Herons, their nests and their chicks. Leon and I were to ask some more expert ‘birders’ about this raft-nesting phenomenon later in the day. The general consensus is that it probably only happens here!
Once at the southern side we began to see more small birds; there were certainly still lots of Wrens about judging by the amount of their song that we could hear. From this southern side we could also get some more brilliant views of the nest site. Also, form this side we could get some quite close views of the Herons, their nests and their chicks. Leon and I were to ask some more expert ‘birders’ about this raft-nesting phenomenon later in the day. The general consensus is that it probably only happens here!
HERONS NEST ON RAFTPhoto: Reg Norman
We finished our traverse of the site, both still grinning like idiots, and made our way to the London Wetland Centre. We know that lots of people see owls all of the time, but, it had been a long time since we had!
BIRDS SEEN: Chaffinch, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Great Tit, Coot, Cormorant, Robin, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Heron, Tawny Owl, Ring Necked Parakeet, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Egyptian Goose, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Long Tailed Tit, House Sparrow, Reed Warbler, Starling, Sedge Warbler.
