tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post7336766206853837068..comments2024-03-27T13:34:10.184+00:00Comments on NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND: How to bird a modest patchSteve Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-32545088121380739202015-12-02T19:46:43.260+00:002015-12-02T19:46:43.260+00:00Oh I haven't had a Ringed Plover this year!Oh I haven't had a Ringed Plover this year! Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985665182124985194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-25452192922630146972015-11-29T18:18:42.832+00:002015-11-29T18:18:42.832+00:00Already planning for next year Stewart. If I were ...Already planning for next year Stewart. If I were smart I'd back away from trying to kick up a Woodcock and so keep next year's target figure lower. But I won't.Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-6156663163873117682015-11-29T16:56:27.804+00:002015-11-29T16:56:27.804+00:00I think I might be about done here? I usually save...I think I might be about done here? I usually save Little Auk till last but they had fallen by Feb this year! I could do with Scaup ( very rare on patch, northerly seawatch reqd), Gadwall is poss, RN, GC and Slav Grebes, but my biggest and most worrying miss of 2015 is Merlin, once a bird seen almost daily from August to December if you put a day on the coast here.<br />Watch the weather forecast....<br /> Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985665182124985194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-47330297136087765112015-11-26T23:22:42.156+00:002015-11-26T23:22:42.156+00:00Agreed! I might still add a couple of species this...Agreed! I might still add a couple of species this year, my resolution is still strong...Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-41305763099476643612015-11-26T19:52:08.055+00:002015-11-26T19:52:08.055+00:00Oh this time we can use this years total as the ba...Oh this time we can use this years total as the base line, so we have to improve our own patches! Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985665182124985194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-87810657456162720552015-11-26T19:50:38.255+00:002015-11-26T19:50:38.255+00:00Yes, go on... :)Yes, go on... :)Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985665182124985194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-80064375100641993702015-11-25T21:02:46.562+00:002015-11-25T21:02:46.562+00:00Hi Stewart, water will always be a major absence c...Hi Stewart, water will always be a major absence close to my home. To walk is to accept dry birding! My frequent trips to Dungeness make up for it though, and eases the low expectations to be had locally. However, the butterflies and plants are excellent, truly to a national scale - all within a short walk - so I cannot complain and cannot have it all. Are you up for a repeat patch challenge in 2016?Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-87200024920913197362015-11-25T19:55:37.486+00:002015-11-25T19:55:37.486+00:00Hi Steve, yes water of some sort is a must really....Hi Steve, yes water of some sort is a must really. It gives focus. Without it inland countryside becomes too random. Sure, the same birds have to pass through it, but finding that focus to see them is a needle in a haystack.So, what can you do with out it? Its definitely a case of monitoring the local species, embrace diversity and hope for noteworthy weather to shuffle things up a bit! How about having several patches, in a pattern like a clover leaf with your village in the centre. That way when one gets boring you can move on to the next for a year ? Blue sky thinking eh :-/Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985665182124985194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-66565797898564092122015-11-25T18:30:33.788+00:002015-11-25T18:30:33.788+00:00Ha! I couldn't possibly comment...Ha! I couldn't possibly comment...Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-23381605715957628902015-11-25T18:11:01.706+00:002015-11-25T18:11:01.706+00:00Steve, I've been married three times so I gues...Steve, I've been married three times so I guess that makes me a stale old sod, as well as miserable.<br />Water does make a huge difference to a site.Derek Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05140363868104172311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-92224380844200047652015-11-25T18:05:12.470+00:002015-11-25T18:05:12.470+00:00I can see the influence of water there Gav - neith...I can see the influence of water there Gav - neither of my patches has anything beyond a puddle when it rains, which is a limiting factor. But, as you say, the notebook still gets written in.Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-44813233940233118342015-11-25T18:03:33.003+00:002015-11-25T18:03:33.003+00:00That's a good place to be Simon...That's a good place to be Simon...Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-71725854371430755592015-11-25T18:03:07.146+00:002015-11-25T18:03:07.146+00:00Derek, I suppose patches are a bit like a partner ...Derek, I suppose patches are a bit like a partner - you need to keep things fresh for the relationship to survive (I hope my wife doesn't read this!)Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-69791649451011471842015-11-25T17:44:48.879+00:002015-11-25T17:44:48.879+00:00In the 15 years I lived in Rickmansworth, Herts, I...In the 15 years I lived in Rickmansworth, Herts, I had the Colne Valley just 10 minutes walk away. Stockers Lake was nearest, but there were other more modest gravel pits adjacent. Off the top of my head I can recall Ring-necked Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Gannet, Red-necked Phalarope, Hen Harrier, SEO, Cattle Egret, Bittern, Hawfinch, Ring Ouzel, Smew, Common Scoter, etc, all within easy walking distance. Oh, and Willow Tit of course! Inland patches can be amazing, and I suppose virtually anywhere can spring a huge surprise! It's a very rare day when there isn't <i>something</i> worth putting in the notebook.Gavin Haighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242398421328525578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-67651332363123087082015-11-25T16:38:32.220+00:002015-11-25T16:38:32.220+00:00So true! I'm only really interested in seeing ...So true! I'm only really interested in seeing birds full stop. The idea of hunting for rarities never occurs.Simon Douglas Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16331409652996600049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-53577020075070944462015-11-25T15:31:23.029+00:002015-11-25T15:31:23.029+00:00You describe perfectly what getting enjoyment from...You describe perfectly what getting enjoyment from the countryside and a, "one's own patch" should and can be about. Unfortunately too many blogs and bird reporting sights these days seem to be about people trying to out-bird or out-photograph each other. Everything seems to be about challenging each other and there is little interest or mention of the ordinary any more.Derek Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05140363868104172311noreply@blogger.com