Autumn Birdwalk part 2 at Brent Reservoir.

This was my second autumn birdwalk for 2011 held on the 16th of October at Brent Reservoir. The first autumn birdwalk was held on the 11th of September

A total of 30 different bird species were seen. The following is the list of birds seen at the reservoir.

Little Grebe.
Cormorant.
Grey Heron.
Mute Swan.
Canada Geese.
Mallard.
Gadwall.
Shoveler.
Wigeon.
Teal.
Tufted Duck.
Ruddy Duck.
Moorhen.
Coot.
Lapwing.
Black-headed Gull.
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Feral Pigeon.
Wood Pigeon.
Rose-ringed Parakeet.
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Robin.
Blackbird.
Blue Tit.
Magpie.
Jay.
Carrion Crow.
Chaffinch.
Goldfinch.
Greenfinch.

Autumn birdwalk part 1 at Brent Reservoir.

My first autumn birdwalk for 2011 was on the 11th of September which was held at Brent Reservoir. All the young birds born during the summer are now juveniles. Bird species like Common Terns as well as most of the Warblers have left and are on their way to Africa.

A total of 32 different bird species were seen included a single Spotted Flycatcher and a Swift. The following is the list of birds seen at the reservoir.

Little Grebe.
Great Crested Grebe.
Cormorant.
Grey Heron.
Mute Swan.
Canada Geese.
Mallard.
Gadwall.
Tufted Duck.
Ruddy Duck.
Kestrel.
Moorhen.
Coot.
Lapwing.
Green Sandpiper.
Common Sandpiper.
Black-headed Gulls.
Herring Gull.
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Feral Pigeon.
Wood Pigeon.
Swift.
Kingfisher.
Green Woodpecker.
House Martin.
Barn Swallows.
Robin.
Spotted Flycatcher.
Magpie.
Carrion Crow.
Starling.
Goldfinch.


The next autumn part 2 is to be held on the 16th of October.

Birtish Birdwatching Fair 19 - 21 August 2011.

Kenya Birding stand at the 23rd Birdfair.


This was the 23rd Birdfair this year. My first birdfair was way back in 2007. It is held every year in the month of August at Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water. This was my 4th visit at the fair helping my colleagues from Kenya at the Kenya Birding stand.

There is a courtesy bus service between the Birdfair and Oakham railway station. I went by train to Oakham via Peterborough from London Kings Cross. From London Kings Cross, take the East Coast train which takes about 45 mins journey to Peterborough. From Peterborough, take the Cross Country train which takes about 30 mins journey to Oakham.

At the Oakham railway station is where I met my colleagues from Kenya. We were staying at a hotel in Cottingham. Cottingham lies in a quiet and peaceful countryside in Leicestershire.

Beside Kenya Birding stand, there were other stands from RSPB, African Bird Club, Birdlife International, British Trust of Ornithology (BTO), Oriental Birdclub and Tour Companies. There was also a ringing demonstrate done by the Rutland Ringing Group.

At the birdfair, I saw bird species like Barn Swallows, Greenfinchs, Blue Tits and Great Tits. On the last of the fair, we went to Eyebrook Reservoir for birding. We recorded 13 different bird species.

The following is the list of birds that we saw at the Eyebrook Reservoir.

Little Grebe.
Great Crested Grebe.
Cormorant.
Little Egret.
Grey Heron.
Mute Swan.
Greylag Goose.
Canada Goose.
Mallard.
Sandpiper.
Black-headed Gull.
Lapwing.
Coot.

Next year’s birdfair is on 17 – 19 August 2012. To know more about the birdfair, go to www.birdfair.org.uk.