That's quite enough of that for now

All the usual waders still at Goldcliff this morning minus Little Stint. The numbers of Curlew Sand and Ruff appear to have dropped, Spotted Redshanks remain steady and we seem to have gained a few Greenshank.  More interesting was the steady flow of Skylark, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, alba wagtails, Linnet, Goldfinch and Siskin.  There were just enough redpoll, Reed Bunting, etc., chucked in to give the impression that, any minute, something good might flop past,... it didn't,... but the stream of tasty passerine morsels did attract a female Merlin.

For those into plastic, the Canada Goose flock at Boat Lane includes both the Bar-headed Goose and a Black Swan (unofficial patch-tick!).

Nothing better than a record shot of the Merlin graced the sensor today so here's one from yesterday,...

The sunset at Uskmouth moments before the Rose-coloured Starling didn't come in to roost.

The five stages of dipping

1. Denial and isolation - the first reaction to a dip is to deny the reality of the situation. It is a normal reaction to rationalise the inevitable overwhelming emotions. It is a defence mechanism, a buffer to the immediate shock. We refuse to look at the photos and hide from the facts. This is a temporary response that carries us through the first wave of pain.

2. Anger - as the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear thin, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable psychological core, redirected and expressed instead as anger. The anger may be aimed at inanimate objects, complete strangers, friends or family. Anger may be directed at the dipped bird. Rationally, we know the bird is not to blame; however, emotionally, we may resent the bird for causing us pain and for 'doing a flit'. We feel guilty for being angry, and this makes us more angry.

3. Bargaining - a normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control. Secretly, we may make a deal with the birding gods. This is a weak line of defence to protect us from the painful reality.

4. Depression - two types of depression are associated with dipping. The first is a reaction to practical implications relating to the dip. Sadness and regret predominate, we worry about the costs and the gaping hole on the checklist. This phase may be eased by simple clarification ('yes, you did miss it') and reassurance ('it will turn up again'). We may need a bit of helpful cooperation and a few kind words. The second type of depression is more subtle and, in a sense, perhaps more private. It is our quiet preparation to bid farewell to the chance of ever seeing that bird in that place.

5. Acceptance - not everyone reaches this stage of a dip. A dip may be sudden and unexpected or we may never see beyond our anger or denial. It is not a mark of bravery or manliness to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to make our peace. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm. This is not a period of happiness but must be distinguished from depression.

Coping with a dip is a ultimately a deeply personal and singular experience. Nobody can help you go through it more easily or understand all the emotions that you’re going through. But others can be there for you and help comfort you through this process.

Still mired in stage one, I tried an afternoon at Uskmouth. One Redwing, one Wheatear, 500+ House Martin and 200+ Swallows did their best to raise my spirits but the primary target remained unseen. The Starling roost included approximately 140 birds but the f**king-f**k-f**kity Rose-coloured f**k-stick of a Starling wasn't amongst them.

Ah,... that'll be stage two embarked upon then.

Dark and dreary

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing; doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; but the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token; and the only word there spoken was the whispered word, 'Bugger!'

Completed the missing of the Rose-coloured Starling today; stood adjacent to and pottered around the, largely starling-free, fields of the Newport Wetlands Reserve for little more than a lone Whinchat and the pleasure of hearing the rain bouncing off one's hood.  This Raven did flop past at Goldcliff Point mind.

A stately raven of the saintly days of yore.

And so it begins,...

Birder of the corn

The vanguard have arrived on Corvo. David is already in the field and blogging at http://birdingcorvo2013.blogspot.pt/ and rarity news will appear at http://azoresbs.weebly.com/index.html and http://azores.avesdeportugal.info/ (click on Notícias dos Açores then Registos de Outubro de 2013). Peter will also be blogging at http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.co.uk/ as will I at some point,... I might even spew forth a tweet or two, given a bit of luck and a fair wind.  So, whether you are on Shetland, Scilly or Svalbard, you now have absolutely no excuse not to be bang up to date when moaning about the fact that Corvo is on the American plate and shouldn't really count as the WP. 

Of course, one year we will all get out there and find absolutely nothing, at which point I predict a rapid descent into a Lord of the Flies scenario culminating in mass cannibalism.

Most people need their oats

A steady, if light, passage over Saltmarsh/Farmfield lanes this morning included: Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Siskin and Redpoll. In the bushes Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler amongst a few Blackcap and Chiffchaff were about the sum of it.

At Goldcliff the not-particularly-high high tide meant a good proportion of the waders remained out on the estuary. Those that did grace the lagoons included: Wood Sandpiper, 5+ Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Ruff, just 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 4 Avocet whilst at least 10 Grey Plover were out on the foreshore.  The only other notables included Wheatear, a showy juvenile Hobby, an adult male Peregrine and the fact that both Wigeon and Shoveler numbers appear to have gone up a fair bit.

All a bit meh really,... unlike these,...

BAM! See that? BAM! Oat biscuits. BAM! In your face.

Killer ladybirds from the planet Mars

Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f. spectablis

Harlequin/Multicoloured Asian/Halloween Ladybird is apparently "... the most invasive ladybird on Earth." Presumably the possibility for there being an even more invasive ladybird on another planet has yet to be ruled out.

More about the little bleeders, including how to record your sightings, at http://www.harlequin-survey.org/ and information on our native species at http://www.ladybird-survey.org/

Pottered about up-country today, bumped into a couple of Wheatear, a couple of Red Kite, a singing Chiffchaff, a few duck and a Snipe.

Ma's out, Pa's out, let's talk rude,...

... pee, po, belly-bum, drawers.

Eighteen species of wader at Goldcliff over this morning's high tide included: 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1-2 Little Stint, 9+ Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Ruff, 6+ Greenshank, 25 Knot, 9 Grey Plover, 4 Avocet and lots of Snipe, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Lapwing.  Non-wader 'mentionables' included Hobby and Kingfisher; and visible migrants included Skylark, Swallow and Meadow Pipit overhead and a half-decent number of Chiffchaffs along the hedge.

Chuck us a bone

So far, autumn round here is proving less than inspiring, bordering on attritional.

Now I am become death, the destroyer of cakes

A few days in the field. Yesterday in the uplands produced Red Kite and hundreds of Mipits plus a few other bits and bobs; and today a foray across the bridge resulted in Whinchat and a Clouded Yellow.  Have also popped in on Ynysyfro a couple of times in the last few days,... hold onto your hats,... one Gadwall and one Pochard.

There were a dozen of these bad boys knocking about last night. Now down to four,... and counting. Their creation had nothing to do with me but I can claim a hand in their destruction.

Cooky Puss

It is a little known, and well-guarded, fact that the most important ingredient of any homemade biscuit or cookie is noise and/or ruckus and, therefore, they must always be baked to a soundtrack of classic hip hop or punk.  Today I opted for various Beastie Boys' classics during the mixing and cooking to ensure a seamless transition into the unsurpassed biscuit cooling tunes that are I don't know and Instant Death.  Pretty sure I got it bang on,...
 

Lime lattice biscuits. Sweet and sour like a tangerine, fresh like a box of Krispy Kremes.

PS. The milk can be substituted for Horlicks depending on how you roll.
PPS. Thinking of starting a petition asking Mary Berry to dedicate her next book to Adam Yauch.
PPPS. Wilson's Warbler, schmilson's warbler.