It has been a while since I last posted on my blog, however rather than writing a full story I am going to include mainly photo's and videos. The main reason for this is because it is exam season and therefore my main attentions are turned to revision such as essays and past papers. This therefore might end up being my last blog for around about a month just so that I can keep up the revision and hopefully get the grades that I need to get into my university. Over the last month or so I have been trying to bird at least once a week as a form of stress relief and in doing so I have covered the Totteridge Valley quite well during my revision breaks. One of the best bits about this time of year is that there are ducklings about and there have been some rather tame Mallard ones about this year, which are just a great form of stress relief whilst watching these little bundles swimming around and if their mum strays to far then they almost too literally run across the water to keep up. (Below Mallard Duckling on Long Pond) The Mandarin Ducks have been about all over the place and now seem to have settled down into pairs. Below is a pair grazing in the long grass. A pair of Teal have unusually stayed at Darlands lake well into the 2nd week of May which is very unusual for us here, however the Garganey or 'lady Gar Gar' has now gone missing after her long stay. The Ducklings at Long Pond continued throughout this period as 'stars' of the show as show below. The one advantage of being able to do some mid week birding in the Totteridge Valley is that things remain largely undisturbed and in all truthfulness it is possible to go birding without seeing anyone out and about. This has its rewards and I ended up with what was at the time some of the best views I have had of Wheatear in the Totteridge Valley with this fine Male on the fence posts near Folly Farm. (Pictured Below) The next Ducklings to appear at Long Pond were the much anticipated Cootlings with at least 6 hatching. Coots have quite an interesting history in the valley having only really starting to establish themselves in the last 5 years after very rarely being recorded. (Pictured Below) The Totteridge Valley is also special for one other bird and this is the Rook. Having up until last year being a prominently wintering species, they now also breed in the valley with several pairs present this year having only being discovered last year. I believe this is the closest Rookery to Centrel London. (Pictured Below) On the May Bank holiday the valley had another exceptional passage of Raptors including Sparrowhawks, a Hobby, Kestrel, 11 Buzzards, and 3 Red Kites. Not quite as good as the middle of April but still up there as one of the best days the valley has had in recent time. (Red Kite Pictured Below) On the same day just after finding a female Whinchat with Tony and Simon, John shouted from the middle of the field to say that he had a Male. Sure enough he did and it showed very well. We must have watched it for at least 30 minutes fly catching and always staying faithful to the same spot. (Pictured Below) Now onto the more recent affairs and last Friday I decided to head into the valley to see whether there was anything interesting in the newly ploughed field at Folly Farm. Along the way I found some new Moorhen Ducklings and also a family of Mallard Ducklings with some rather strange Yellow ones mixed in. I am told that these ducklings will grow up to either be 'call' ducks or Aylesbury Whites. Above: Moorhen Duckling Below: The odd one out Once I had made it down to the ploughed field I was surprised to find out just how much life there was with at least 5 Lapwings having a territorial dispute and also Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws and Magpies were all present. Upon closer inspection I was quite surprised to find a few Pied Wagtails, a female Wheatear and a Male Whinchat. This seemed promising and so I knew that I would need to come back and check this area out in the days to come. Above: Lapwing Above: Female Wheatear Below: Mallard Duckling from Long Pond I decided to give the field another look over on Saturday afternoon on my way home from a revision workshop at school. Again Lapwings and Pied Wagtails were present alongside the other regular suspects, however to my surprise upon finding a Wheatear a second bounded into view. Above: Pied Wagtail Below: Wheatears (both females, but note the difference in plumage) I then headed up to Long Pond however by the time I had got up there the weather was changing rapidly and thus only a few shots of rather cold ducklings could be managed. (Pictured Below) And so on Monday I made another very brief visit to the ploughed field on my way home from school to find a female Wheatear now with a Male Wheatear around the outside of this ploughed field. Finally another visit to the valley was made today with the first major stop being Darlands Lake. Whilst at Darlands Lake a Drake Mandarin Duck dozed on an over hanging branch and 4 broods of Mallards numbered 25. It was amazing to see so many little chirping balls of fluff whizzing around the edges of the lake. (Pictured Below) And now for the grand finale I headed to the ploughed field again. With some patience the pair of Wheatear the were present on Monday grew in confidence up until the point that the Male was almost literally hopping around my feet. The female was slightly less bold and tended to keep her distance a bit more. Whilst I was watching them I noticed something flycatching from one of the fences. It was a female Whinchat, however as soon as I had identified it disappeared. Eventually I found it someway up the fence line so I decided to call it a day and head home via the Long Pond! Above: Male Wheatear Below: Female Wheatear Above: Female Whinchat Below: Mallard Duckling In this time I have managed to get my Totteridge Valley patch list up to 95 which is only 3 away from the equalling the record.
Whilst in the lead up to this exam period I honestly feel that I have benefitted from doing this little bit of bird every now and again as it has kept me from getting too stress out as whilst out and about it takes all the weight off your shoulders from just a couple of hours at a time. Although one thing I have to admit is that I look forward to those first few proper birding days after my exams!
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AuthorI have been a birder since i was 8 however only really started to be able to go out to places by myself in Summer 2016 (Blame the parents) My blogs will be from all over the place, but mainly from RSPB Rainham Marshes and Totteridge Valley! Photography done by Samuel Levy aged 17. ArchivesCategories |