Fools Gold

 Fancied a stroll yesterday and the downs above the ridgeway seemed a good area to check out and see if there was anything of interest. After driving past a couple of sites that seemed more busy than my preferred mode of birding requires which is the pleasure of occasional solitude, arrived just over the border in Berkshire at the nature reserve at Seven Barrows.

Entered by the gate and was met by a flock of Sheep that scrutinised me before carrying on with munching the rather coarse grass that covers the whole reserve area. Walking West I noticed a bird of prey that flew with a somewhat buoyant flight keeping quite low and never rising above the tree line as it circled around the adjoining field, the bright sunlight made identification difficult but because of its size and flight and the downland area, Hen Harrier rang a bell. I quickly retraced my steps and got lucky as the bird went to ground hidden from view by some hedging and the possibility of striking birding gold had the adrenaline pumping.

As I reached the edge of the field and by moving along the perimeter I could just make out a far distant brown blur telling me my piece of gold had probably killed and was now feasting on the unfortunate victim. Lined up my camera and took multiples photos of which as I later downloaded them on my computer found only three of any use to identify it. Drove back home and without checking the photos emailed them to a friend who is so much better than I at bird identification and as I emailed them awful doubts crept in , for a start a moustachial stripe was apparent and a gradual drop in adrenaline was replaced as my mate confirmed my worst fears that I had been watching a Kestrel.

Whether the bright sunlight made the bird look so much bigger than one would expect of a Kestrel and quite why it flew with much slower wingbeats than we usually see with Kestrel I really don't know.

The accompanying photos are the best I could get taking into account both the sunlight and the extreme distance.

The Lizard but not Cornwall.

 Wednesday motored 138 miles from my Bampton home to Portland Bill to look at the beach hut my Daughter Neet and Son in Law Mark have purchased, left home at 5.30am and arrived 8.20am, met up and ate a full English breakfast in the nearby restaurant.

Lots of Meadow Pippits and a few Wheatears along with a third winter Herring Gull, went for a walk along the cliffs overlooking a spectacular sea that glistened with a trillion sparklers in the morning sun. Decided to stop off at the Observatory in case there was something good and lo and behold there was the birding god Martin Cade with Kingfisher in hand the first in some twenty years that had been caught in the garden. Super bird to see at close quarters and Mr. Cade allowed us to get some marvellous photos of it before taking us to the rear of the observatory overlooking the wildlife pond and garden, this is a super spot for all manner of wildlife and to have the ear of Mr Cade as he most eloquently answered all my questions including the Little Tern colony at Chesil beach that has once again really been up against it from predation, this years surprise villain Hedgehog, these brave but vulnerable birds are living right on the edge of existence .

Walked rough and tumble path that was a temporary home for many Wheatears and I got lucky spotting a very colourful Wall Lizard that was a complete surprise for me, but of course a most welcome tick for the day. Noted Common Toadflax and a few Butterflies but nothing of great interest except a blue but it passed rather quickly so unable to id it but in all probability a Common Blue. A submerged diver below us using a spear gun with which he had managed to spear one fish and I guess he had great enjoyment although I can't help thinking it wasn't much fun for the fish. We were getting quite breathless now as we climbed ever higher up the rocky path, a couple were climbing some of the steep cliffs and it made me feel somewhat sympathetic as they struggled to get finger and toehold. Because we had two motors we had previously left one of the cars at the top where we exited, and to be able sit and catch our breath in such comfort was heaven sent.

Next on our agenda was a trip to Ferrybridge where a friend had suggested we could quite possibly see some pretty decent waders. Parked up and walked the short distance to a very good vantage point and we were rewarded straight away with many nearby Ringed Plover, further out was Juvenile Bar Tailed Godwit, Juvenile Dunlin , Oyster Catcher and others that have slipped my mind although there were a couple of Peregrines that put in an appearance spooking everything and so ended a most interesting day spent in a habitat that is so unfamiliar to me but the sheer numbers of birds passing through at this time of year is phenomenal.

This left the enjoyment of an evening meal that was taken with great gusto, and then so to bed at the rather bleak looking but superb service and facilities at the Admiral Hotel.