Derek Moore 1943 - 2014

It is with great sadness to tell you that Derek Moore passed away on October 23rd after battling a long illness against cancer.  His funeral will be held at 1pm on November 7th at Narbeth Crematorium in Wales.  A Memorial Service will also be held in Suffolk sometime in the spring next year.

Fighting On

It has been a long while as I have spent a lot of time in hospital dealing with the dreadful side effects of chemotherapy.

Juvenile Tawny Owls - photo Roger Tidman

Not much on the bird front but groups of Blue Tits are active in the garden as are Blackbirds goring themselves on rowan berries.  The highlight was juvenile Tawny Owl which spent an hour creaking in the garden a night or two ago.

A Small Expedition

I am delighted that my son Jeremy is over from Canada for a week so this afternoon in wonderful sunshine he suggested a little drive out.  Heading through Cwmdu a female Redstart flew into a hedge and Common Buzzards soared overhead.  We stopped at Talley Abbey and scanned the lake.  Only a couple of Greylag Geese were noted.

Grey Wagtail

We also stopped at Edwinsford in the hope of a Dipper.  No luck but a beautiful Grey Wagtail.  Abergorlech was more successful with a pair of Dippers and at least one young.  Another Grey Wagtail and a Red Kite were added and we stopped to look at some orchids too.

Dipper

A wonderful experience of seeing the Welsh countryside at its best even though I was totally exhausted on my return.

Enjoying The Sun

Male Blackcap

I have sent some time in the garden sun this morning trying to string a singing Blackcap into a Garden Warbler.  Without success I should say.  Not much birdwise although we do appear to have a pair of Bullfinches but no sign of any young.  Lots of silaeage cuttung up the hill so Red Kites and Buzzards are passing over.

Good News All Round

Wendell Thomas discovered Mediteranean Gull feeding a chick at Penclacwydd this week which constitutes the first known breeding record for Carmartharnshire.  Good stuff Wendell.

Mediterranean Gull

I managed my third chemotherapy session yesterday and that seemed to go OK.  I am back home but need to go back for a morning on Tuesday for a blood transfusion as I am a bit anaemic.  Now for a CT Scan to see whether wwe are beating the lymphona which I am sure we are.

A Bit Of A Setback

One off the more severe side effects of chemotherapy is mouth ulcers and oral thrush.  I have developed a bad case of the former in recent days which has led to my chemo session this week being postponed until next Friday.  Such a nuisance.

House Martin

Still I did get to see a House Martin yesterday.

Some Time At Home Again

Good to be home from hospital again and now waiting for my third chemotherapy session next Friday. Grey Heron became species number 13 seen from my hospital window this week but it has been the large numbers of Jackdaws nesting in the hospital buildings that have caught my interest lately.

Grey Heron

Their vocalisations have been very obvious and I must admit I had not bothered to take notice before.  Young in the nest produce a very high pitched strident call which an sound a bit like a group of parakeets in the distance.  Once they have fledged they do sound more like the adults. It is stimulating what you can learn from a common bird when you spend a lot of time watching them.

Jackdaw

What has been depressing is to hear of news that Natural England are dealing with requests to shoot Buzzards to protect commercially reared pheasant poults and Red Kites at an RAF base.

A Book You Will Need If You Are Birding In Kenya

Birds of Kenya's Rift Valley by Adam Scott Kennedy.  Princeton Wildlife Explorer Guide.  £18.95 ISBN 9780691159072       264 pages    500 colour illustrations.

This volume is a sister book to two titles already covered on this blog but one which deals with the birds of Kenya's Rift Valley an area very popular with Europe's birders.  The area officially covers the major National Parks of Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Mount Longonot and Hell's gate but this book can also be used at Masi Mara, Lake Navaisha and Lake Baringo.

As in the previous volumes there are good introductory chapters dealing with the habitats and in this case the important lake systems within the Rift Valley.  These sections also deal with the significant bird species to be found in these areas.  Excellent maps are also present which will help to plan routes etc.

By far the most impressive thing about this book is the wonderful collection of bird photographs assembled by habitat types covering well over 300 species most of which you might add to your list if visiting this region. I wish I had the opportunity to have this book in my bag on my trip to this bird paradise some years ago.  It would certainly have made identification much easier.  The layout of the photographic guide is so helpful.

Adam Scott Kennedy is once again the author of this splendid guide and his great knowledge of the birds comes through in the concise but helpful text.

You should not visit this area without a copy of this book.

A Big Thank You

It has been remiss of me not to thank everybody for all the emails, twitter messages, cards and telephone calls wishing me well and encouraging me in all sorts of ways.  There are far too many for me to respond to everyone but they are all equally appreciated and have helped me enormously in facing up to my ordeal.  Again THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Battling On

I am home from hospital again after my second chemotherapy session shattered but OK.  I suffered complications after the last sessions so back in hospital on Tuesday for observation and monitoring.  I am making progress and on plan with the next session on June 13th.

My friend Bob Abrams sent me this shot of a superb Scarlet Tanager from Ohio just to cheer me up

I have missed the spring and birds terribly.  A few Swifts from my hospital window keep me interested and the occasional Red Kite and Buzzard pass by.  Young Jackdaws are everywhere in the grounds.  I will report more when it happens.

Off The Radar Again

I will be silent again for a while as I am going back to hospital this afternoon in the Chemotherapy Unit.  I expect treatment to begin soon and also expect to be there for a while.

In better days at BirdFair

I am pleased to be moving on with this as the sooner it is over then the nearer I am to recovery.

The Madness of the Slaughter of Birds in Malta

Many of you will already have picked up on the herculean efforts being made in Malta with Chris Packham and his team highlighting the disgraceful behaviour of the 10,000 hunters on this Mediterranean island.  Here birds are not shot for food merely for fun and to put stuffed into glass cases.  Nothing escapes the incessant hail of lead with Swifts, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Kestrel and Montagu's Harrier all seen killed by Chris.

Young Montagu's Harrier - one of the species slaughtered annually

All this happens with Malta being a member of the European Union where laws govern shooting and list protected species which include all of the above.  The majority of Maltese people must find it difficult to enjoy their countryside with a hail of bullets in the air daily.  Chris Packham's efforts are at least highlighting these tragic events and with effort by all of us we may be able to help. Firstly we can write to our MEPs and demand the EU enforce their own laws and stop the killing. Secondly we can make a donation to the beleaguered BIRDLIFE Malta to ensure they can get a nationwide referendum on hunting in Malta. A NO vote would put enormous pressure on their government and the EU.

Little Egrets are regularly slaughtered by the hunters

Check out how to get involved and watch the emotional videos made by Chris and colleagues at www.chrispackham.co.uk

Even Bee-eaters are blasted out of the sky

Malta is not alone in the illegal killing of birds but it is the worst example.  Cyprus is still a disgrace with liming and illegal netting and some illegal shooting still happens in Spain, Italy, France and Greece.  It is therefore time for the EU to step up to the plate and do its legal duty.

Blackcaps are trapped in thousands in Cyprus as they are considered a delicacy

A word of caution though even the Maltese hunters are aware of the slaughter of birds of prey in the UK which also goes unpunished by our authorities and seems to be ignored by this UK Government.  We need to get our house in order as well. A number of years ago when Malta first applied for membership of the EU I was a signatory on behalf of The Wildlife Trusts in a letter also endorsed by RSPB, BirdLife etc sent to Peter Hain then a Government Minister requesting that Malta be asked to guarantee dropping their hunting laws in line with EU legislation before being granted entry.  The reply was typically lily-livered politician speak.  No said the response once they are members of the club it will be easier to get them to comply.  Well that worked then didn't it?  What do you say now Peter Hain?

We also need to stop the illegal slaughter of our own birds of prey.

By the way I am still at home awaiting chemotherapy and not feeling too bad. At least this Malta business has raised my hackles.

Good Garden Bird - Calgary style

Still enjoying the sunshine and home comforts and lots of goodwill messages.  Thanks everyone.

Merlin with Waxwing prey

My son Jeremy sent me this picture taken in his Calgary garden yesterday. Merlin would be a good tick in any garden but with a Bohemian Waxwing as prey is something else.

Hello Everyone - I am still here

I know it is over a month since I last posted and have received some email about where I have been. I know I had mentioned from time to time that I have been unwell and this ended up with me being rushed to hospital on March 21st in great pain.  After scans it was revealed I had a severe blockage of the small bowel.  Surgery alleviated the pressure but showed that I have a malignant lymphoma causing the problem.  I have just returned home after a month in hospital and now wait to begin a course of chemotherapy.  I am assured I should recover OK.

Red Kite

What a shock and a month without birding. Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen must be one of the few places where you are guaranteed a Red Kite from your window so that was nice.  I also managed to see 6 Sand Martins flying by as well.

Sand Martin

I am glad to be home for a bit and look forward to home care, food and sleep. Thanks to everyone who has sent messages of encouragement. I hope to blog again soon.

The Mediterranean Comes To Wales

The Great Spotted Cuckoo at Penally

I finally weakened and feeling up to it drove down to Penally near Tenby in a quest for a Mediterranean visitor.  The bird in question was an adult Great Spotted Cuckoo.  A spectacular creature which should be in Spain, Portugal or Mediterranean France just now.  These are really interesting birds migrating north from Africa in February and laying eggs in the nests of Magpies.  Having done that most of the adults have moved back to Africa by June.  An extraordinary life history.  This visitor to Wales must have lost its bearings and overshot Europe to arrive near Tenby to delight many people birders, golfers and walkers alike.

A Walk At Talley Lakes

Talley Upper Lake from the hide

 

Talley Lakes is just ten minutes or so from my house and is a Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales Nature Reserve.  The lakes are probably made by man and maybe the monks from the nearby Abbey ruins.  There is a pleasant walk through a lovely old churchyard and then along the western shores of the Lower Lake to the a hide in woodland overlooking the Upper Lake.  Today in more glorious weather I managed a very pleasant time.  There are always wildfowl and that made up most of my observations.

Talley Lower Lake

On the Lower Lake there we 15 Tufted Duck and 7 Goldeneye.  There were two males in the latter group and they were displaying by throwing their heads backwards.  There were also 9 noisy Greylag Geese and a couple of Mallard.  Overhead two Buzzards soared over a nearby larch wood.

Captive Great Scaup male photographed at Slimbridge

I soon made my way to the hide and must say I was very impressed by the new padded seats.  More Tufted Duck this time 20 but with a splendid male Great Scaup which I have only seen here once or twice before.  About 20 Teal kept to the reedy areas and a Little Grebe sailed into view calling loudly.  A pleasant walk and the Scaup a new bird for the year.

Is This Our Summer?

Red Admiral

Continuous warm sunshine which allowed us to have lunch outside.  Lots of bees and other insects obvious including this super Red Admiral soaking up sun on our woodshed.

More Great Weather

I found this Frog whilst pottering about in the garden this morning.

Common Frog

After lunch I drove up to Mynydd Llanllwni but not as good as usual despite the brilliantly sunny weather.  No raptors at all just 6 Ravens a couple of Meadow Pipits and the glorious sound of 2 Skylarks singing.

Glorious Warm Weather

Goldfinch

I sat outside in the garden this morning enjoying very warm sunshine and hoping to hear a Chiffchaff singing.  No luck there but lots of birds feeding in the garden including Siskins, Goldfinches and a single male Greenfinch.

Greenfinch

Blackbirds also building a nest near the house and Buzzards calling all around us.  Pity about about the rugby result the only downside of a great day. Incidentally the pictures are again with the new camera.

A New Toy!

Whooper Swans

A week or so ago I was at Penclacwydd and I met a a group of birders all using the amazing small Nikon Coolpix P520 camera with its extraordinary 42x zoom lens.  I was so impressed by its quality and specification that I went and bought one.  My recent ill health has meant I have had few chances to try it out but today I spent an enjoyable hour on Cilsan Bridge in warm sunshine.

Four youngsters from 2013

There were 30 Whooper Swans present really quite close to the road.  Also a male Goosander flew over.  I got a little practice with the camera and am not disappointed.