Wednesday 22 August 2012
went up the downs late morning after wryneck and hb. walked past the first wryneck spot not intending to do that one until the way back but nevermind put one up from near the fenceline! two more flight views and that was it, elusive bastards, never had a great view of a wryneck. carried on to luccombe down. looked up and an hb had just passed ovehead. it was moving quickly with the wind but after faffing about with the camera i managed a shoddy video before it disappeared. bad light but looked like a female. job done, no need to visit any more this autumn. v little in the way of common stuff but a hobby and xbill both clipped the down at eye level. lots of the paths are v overgrown this year, some impassable.
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Hi Kris
ReplyDeleteAny chance of letting on about the wryneck spots? Never seen one. Derek Hale told me they can be seen on the downs so I'll be on the lookout for that along with the Dartford and a male Redstart. Not sure I'd be able to tell a HB from a CB to be honest.
Cheers
Martin
Martin, the Wryneck was on the east slope of Shanklin Down, there's an area of scrub between the fenceline and the wood at about SZ 570 800. There are several other spots around Luccombe Down area but the best thing is just to walk all over the place and watch what you flush (flushing is the usual method of finding them). Dartfords are found where there is heather and gorse on Luccombe Down, best to listen out for the call. Redstart wont be a problem, best spot is east slope of Shanklin Down again, several birds there on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris. Never really explored that area of the down. Looking at the map Shanklin down is a more specific area than I thought. We normally walk from Lower Hyde up the old railway line and then across the first footpath in the field. We stopped using the path up the cliff since the youngest came along. We walk up St. Martin's Down to Shanklin down then either down Worsley Trail or across Luccombe Down if we're feeling energetic. Didn't see any Dartford's last year. But did have female redstart around 456172,80557 and Pied Fly(f), spotted fly and Sparrowhawk by the big oaks on the first footpath I mentioned.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris, just had a great walk over the downs. Found your wryneck spot on the way back but no joy, will try on my own maybe Tuesday morning.
ReplyDeleteSaw seven Redstart including two males, five Spotted Flycatchers, Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, Winchat, eight Willow Warbler, and eight Wheatear. Also managed two firsts! Two Dartfords, one was a male but wouldn't stay still for long, the other was rather tatty and pale. Good views of that one and my guess is a female. Not sure when they moult. And after swatting up on Honey Buzzards before the trip I am certain we saw one female flying low over Luccombe.