Wednesday 16 February 2011

Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) - Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. 22/12/10


Waxwing-Waitrose car park, Henley-on-Thames.

With the sighting of 40 Waxwings being reported at 12:15pm in Waitrose car park, Henley-on-Thames on Berksbirds i decided to go and see if i could locate them. At 2pm i arrived to find them in 2 flocks at the library end(N) of the car park, despite the ambiaent sound of daily human life i could hear their sweet trilling calls coming from a number of tall trees next to the library and also in the tall trees near to the cinema/Brakspear’s offices (the Bull Courtyard)(N/E), from here they all flew to the tall trees on the Kings Rd side(W) of the car park enabling me to do a quick count of 65+ Waxwings. They soon began dropping down from the trees and amongst the cars in the car park to feed on the small berry trees. The big problem was that the car park was very busy with Christmas shoppers and the birds were constantly flushed by passers-by and cars, they were not spending much more than 30 seconds feeding and were flighty. When they did get a chance to snatch a few berries the views were fantastic, especially as these trees are small and the birds are almost at head height, a good number of passers-by stopped to watch and ask about them and all left very thrilled in seeing them. Sadly the light was so poor and with a mist that almost enveloped the car park the chance of some good photos evaporated quickly, it also didn’t help that the birds were very restless due to the constant traffic around them and at 3:15pm they flew off in N/W direction in 2 flocks, i searched the local area and saw 2 flying towards Friar Park but couldn’t re-locate any others.

I returned on Christmas Day as i was visiting family in the area but unfortunately the car park was empty and the majority of the berry trees were now bare, again they had eluded my attempts at getting some acceptable photos. My search would continue.......

In Memory Of Nigel Richard Stow 9th Oct 1941-16th Feb 2004.



BEYOND THE GARDEN GATE

Step into my garden
Step in and you'll see
A measure of peace
And tranquillity.

It's the scent of the blossoms
The buzz of the bees
The sweet song of birds
As they sing in the trees.

The sweet scent of roses
Their petals so new
As they glisten and sparkle
With the fresh morning dew.

Run your toes through the grass
Beneath a canopy of trees
Hear the rustle of leaves
As they blow in the breeze.

Let the beauty of springtime
Fill your soul with great peace
Take it with you and share it
With each one you meet.

Inca the Peruvian Striped Owl.

Inca

Say Hello to Inca the Peruvian Striped Owl and whom I’ve had the pleasure of looking after recently. Inca is a captive Owl.

Peruvian Striped Owls are a Medium sized owl with prominent ear tufts. Large pale facial disk, bordered with black. Cinnamon-buff above streaked with black, whitish or buff below with bold dark streaks and dark brown eyes. In the wild the grow to 30-38cm, 320-500g

Peruvian Striped Owls distribution range is from S Mexico through South America east of Andes to N Argentina and Uruguay apart from Amazon basin. Also some Caribbean Islands. Their preferred habitat is Open and semi-open grassland with trees, also open woodland, forest edge, plantations, air strips and rice fields. They avoid heavy rain/tropical forest. Their diet consists of Small mammals, birds, reptiles and large insects.



Save The Albatross Stamp Appeal.

Just a quick reminder that you can help Save the Albatross with the RSPB stamp appeal, save up those used stamps and then either post them in 2kilo quantities or drop them off when you visit one of the RSPB reserves.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/albatross/howyoucanhelp/stamps.aspx