tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24126163329135515482024-03-18T09:47:50.458+00:00A Wirral birders blog Birding the Wirral
peninsular
and beyond.Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.comBlogger1166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-33756078529512923392024-03-05T16:53:00.000+00:002024-03-05T16:53:16.291+00:00Green-winged teal from the window! When we bought this house in September 2016 I had no idea there was a pond in the field opposite what ended up being our study window. Its not really visible from the road as the water level drops during the summer and for a few months we can't even see any water from our elevated window position It fills during the winter but its extent varies depending on how wet its been This year has been Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-35435864435357165472024-03-01T20:20:00.000+00:002024-03-01T20:20:03.150+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 11. The final days.Following on from our trip to Carcass Island we headed, after lunch on board, to Sanders Islands w where we'd be going ashore to view breeding Black-browed Albatross and our final penguin species - Southern Rockhopper. What a brilliant place - as well as the Southern Rockhopper and Albatross there were a few pairs of King Penguins (including some with very small young peering out from their 'Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-55414743837053083792024-02-28T11:07:00.000+00:002024-02-28T11:07:10.743+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 10. The Falklands. Stanley and Carcass IslandOur visit to the Falklands was quite poignant for me. It was the Argentinian invasion in 1982 that prevented me going to join the British Antarctic Survey. I also had school and university friends that fought in the war and thankfully all came home safely but some were traumatised by what they'd seen and experienced. However, if I'd gone to the Antarctic in 1982, I'd never have gone to workPhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-73752030485859457362024-02-26T09:18:00.003+00:002024-02-26T09:18:54.743+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 9. At sea again and sailing to the Falklands.Leaving Gryviken behind us we headed out to the open sea again and headed north to the Falklands. Elke, on of our guides on board, had told me the waters around Bird Island were some of the richest in the region and we'd expect to see loads of seabirds! She wasn't wrong! On this leg of the trip I had some of my best views of several species including Southern Giant Petrel , Wandering Albatross, Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-15183178195136119672024-02-22T12:05:00.004+00:002024-02-22T12:05:47.500+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 9. Grytviken and Macaroni'sAfter cruising slowly around the coast of South Georgia we arrived at our destination in glorious weather. Ideal for our zodiac landing at the old whaling base at Grytviken. Before that we had a presentation from Lauren of the South Georgia Heritage Trust about their work. This was followed a presentation on biosecurity from Dee Baum from the Governors office. The first ten passengers to Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-32470169245600063722024-02-20T09:30:00.001+00:002024-02-20T09:30:40.000+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 8. Kings and ElephantsOne of the species on most peoples most wanted list on visiting Antarctica is King Penguin. We were no exception and we eagerly anticipated our trips to visit the King Pengun colonies at Golden Harbour and St Andrews Bay. Unfortunately bird flu restrictions meant we couldn't land but we were able to cruise along the shore line in the zodiacs. The sight and sound of over 350,000 pairs of King Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-18324835874978713662024-02-18T18:12:00.000+00:002024-02-18T18:12:10.581+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 7. Arriving at South Georgia Leaving the Antarctic continent behind us we started out journey north to visit South Georgia where we were promised even more penguins and the chance to go ashore at Grytviken. We'd already been warned that other landing sites, Gold Harbour and St Andrews Bay, were off limits due to outbreaks of bird flu and even at Grytviken we were limited to where we could go. Bio-security is Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-90380836698510717452024-02-17T09:30:00.001+00:002024-02-17T09:30:37.750+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 6. The Antarctic Peninsula and Adelie Penguins Leaving the South Shetlands we pushed further south towards the Antarctic peninsula. We had hoped to go ashore at Brown Bluff but the wind ad swell conditions made it impossible to use the zodiacs. Instead the expedition team and captain decided to push down into the Weddell Sea and try landing at a more sheltered position further south.What a stunning journey. Surrounded by icebergs we eased ourPhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-82326096552826136392024-02-14T14:40:00.004+00:002024-02-14T14:40:25.683+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 5. Our first penguin colonies.After being at sea for a few days everyone on board was excited by the prospect of our first zodiac outings - and our first penguin colonies in the South Shetlands. We'd seen both Chinstrap & Gentoo Penguins on icebergs as we got closer to the South Shetlands.Above: Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins on icebergsChilean O'Higgins Antarctic base.Plancius.The first zodiac outing was to get close to Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-56954999743666017522024-02-11T17:42:00.002+00:002024-02-11T17:46:41.536+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 4. Aboard the mv Plancius and a change of plan!After being dropped off at the port entrnce by Marcelo I made my way through immigration to the quayside and down towards the Plancius which was to be my home for the next few weeks. My luggage had already been taken from the drop off point to my cabin and I joined an excited group of 90 passengers waiting to be checked in and embark on our voyage. All the Oceanwide Expedition guides were waitingPhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-92103176340035539912024-02-09T14:45:00.004+00:002024-02-09T19:02:33.514+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 3. Tierra Del Fuego National Park.Before I travelled to Argentina I'd contacted Marcelo de Cruz of Magellanic Nature Tours (see here ) for a guided tour around some of the best birding sites in the Tierra Del Fuego National Park . Marcelo is a great guy and has been guiding for many years and came highly recommended by several friends who'd used his services.Marcelo was busy the first day I arrived in Ushuaia but he Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-80936508971757790212024-02-08T17:03:00.001+00:002024-02-08T17:03:19.269+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 2. UshuaiaLeaving the heat and dustiness of Buenos Aries I crossed the city to the domestic airport and caught my flight to Ushauai - a three and a half hour flight down to the very tip of South America where this southern most town (often called the end of the world) lies alongside the Beagle Channel. This is where I'd be picking up the ship but I had a couple of days birding ahead of me so after dumping Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-5652505647887580902024-02-07T18:54:00.002+00:002024-02-07T18:54:11.133+00:00Antarctic Expedition. Part 1. Buenos AriesIn 1982, whilst still at University,I applied for and was accepted to join the British Antarctic Survey as an ornithologist. Unfortunately I never go there as Argentina invaded the Falkland's and all BAS staff were returned home. I ended up working in Finland instead before moving back to the UK and meeting my future lovely wife! There was a silver lining after all. I've been harbouring a wish toPhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-34215682075213562862024-01-01T17:34:00.000+00:002024-01-01T17:34:01.127+00:00The final visit to Hillbre of 2023I've been a bit remiss writing up this blog recently . The run up to Christmas and the main event itself is always a busy time in our household and since we came back from Mauritius I haven't dome much birding apart from locally around the village. The festive season also corresponded to some pretty grim weather which wasn't exactly conducive to getting out much. My ongoing knee issue and a Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-14565396673438104122023-12-04T10:49:00.004+00:002023-12-04T10:49:32.895+00:00Stop that pigeon now....... Mauritius Pink PigeonThose of a certain age, like me, will remember a children's TV cartoon staring Dick Dastardly and his side kick Muttley in the spin off from 'Wacky Race's called 'Stop that Pigeon' where the mission was to stop Yankee Doodle Pigeon from delivering mail. Dastardly Dick came up with numerous Dastardly plans to try and stop that pigeon to no avail We'd planned a holiday to Mauritius with a viewPhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-9153622599728822202023-11-14T16:12:00.000+00:002023-11-14T16:12:01.732+00:00Australia : the final few days back in Chiltern With the weather getting steadily warmer fresh water is beginning to become quite scarce so it was no wonder birds in our daughters garden were beginning to make full use of the several birdbaths and ornamental fountain. Red-browed Finches are great little birds and regularly visit the creek at the end of the garden but as this was rapidly drying up they started using the solar powered Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-34998358255965372492023-11-10T09:08:00.000+00:002023-11-10T09:08:06.804+00:00The wedding and New Holland Honeyeaters The grounds of the large old country house that the happy couple had hired for the wedding were stunning. There were extensive formal gardens but also orchards of lemon, orange and grapefruit trees. Birds were everywhere including several pairs of New Holland Honeyeaters. These proved frustratingly difficult to see and photograph as they bombed around the formal gardens feeding on nectar. They'rePhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-11758266640573608092023-11-06T08:38:00.000+00:002023-11-06T08:38:44.614+00:00Back to Chiltern, Australia and a 'lifer'After our last stressful visit to Australia last December, when our daughter collapsed with a brain aneurysm requiring surgery, this latest visit was far less stress as we were attending her wedding to her long term partner whom we welcomed into the family as our new son - in law! - if you call flying from Manchester to Melbourne via Doha with a 2 & 5 year old less stressful! To be fairPhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-81438105873591342342023-11-01T22:43:00.002+00:002023-11-01T22:43:37.444+00:00Fair Isle 2023. Part 8. Back on Shetland mainland. The last day.Whilst staring out of the window at the appalling weather over breakfast at the Sumburgh Hotel, news broke that the Veery was still at Lunna and with our flight not scheduled until alter that afternoon we decided to head north to pay homage to this diminutive catharus thrush from N America.The weather was absolutely atrocious and we arrived, at the very same stand of small sycamores we'd started Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-73187646425259760002023-10-31T09:09:00.000+00:002023-10-31T09:09:40.692+00:00Fair Isle 2023. Part 7. Back on Shetland Mainland and an Orca encounterWe arrived back at Tingwall and picked up the hire car Star had left for us before heading to Lerwick to Tesco's for an essential 'meal deal' lunch. Our plan was to head norht to Lunna where a Veery had been found by friends visitng from Chehsire - well done Marion & Steve Jason has the distinction of being one of the very few people to see two Veery's in one day when he lived on Whalsay. OnePhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-45479832514589314722023-10-26T10:29:00.000+01:002023-10-26T10:29:31.261+01:00Fair Isle 2023. Part 6. American Golden Plover and a disaster.Nearly 30 years ago I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing rugby. I remember exactly when I did it. My foot was planted in mud and I got hit from the side twisting my knee and tearing the ligament. It didn't require surgery but I spent 8 weeks hobbling around with a stick. Just over a year ago I tweaked it again but after a week or so it improved to the extent I was back in the gym Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-7792879765456645762023-10-21T10:22:00.001+01:002023-10-21T10:22:46.897+01:00Fair Isle 2023. Part 5. Little Bunting and geese.Little Bunting is one of those birds that a Shetland autumn turns up on a regular basis. Indeed they could almost be classed as a scarce passage migrant on the northern isles. There had been several knocking around Fair Isle whilst we were there but they'd proved elusive and didn't stick around. Jason & I were walking down Hill Dyke when news came out that one was showing well at Chalet. We Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-63766108086110372082023-10-18T13:10:00.000+01:002023-10-18T13:10:15.537+01:00Fair Isle 2023. Part 4. The day of the Raddes Warbler.As was my usual routine, during our stay at Burkle, I was up before it was light and sat having a brew in the dining room watching the sun rise and the darkness slowly disappear as another day dawned on Fair Isle. By now Brendan had joined us and the three of us sat having breakfast discussing what the day may bring before collecting our packed lunches and heading out for the day. As usual Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-74912748812544698912023-10-15T11:48:00.000+01:002023-10-15T11:48:30.520+01:00Fair Isle 2023. Part 3. Another Lanceolated Warbler. Lanceolated Warbler is a vagrant from Siberia and is a Fair Isle / Shetland speciality. Its one of those group of 'sibes' that everyone wants to see on the archipelago. They're a diminutive locustella with a habit of running mouse like rather than flying. Its a bird I'd always wanted to see and. luckily in 2014 we found one at Quendale on Shetland mainland. See here & here Phil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412616332913551548.post-44579920137518004872023-10-11T10:58:00.003+01:002023-10-11T10:58:30.741+01:00Fair Isle 2023,. Part 2. The day of the ShrikeOur flight to Fair Isle was uneventful and we soon dropped down onto the gravel runway to be met by our hosts Hollie & Deryk Shaw, who took our bags back to their croft, whilst Jase & I started birding. Heading south we soon arrived at Quoy and caught up with a Blyths Reed Warbler and only my 2nd Lanceolated Warbler that had been frequenting the small reed bed & 'rig' (vegetablePhil Woollen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15527109381064232484noreply@blogger.com0