DIM Wallace - gone today but never forgotten -1933-2021

Forty years ago in October 1981 our local Redbridge YOC was born and suddenly the world of ornithology was far more than just what I could see in my parental Ilford garden. There were days out to Essex and Kent and trips away to Suffolk and Bempton in those formative years with our various parents at the helm with quite literally, caravans in tow.

Under the guidance of the ‘grown ups’ we spread our natural history wings (and even ended up on Saturday Superstore on my 14^th birthday in 1986 with Bill Oddie and Peter Holden!) Dead or Alive played in the studio and David Icke was not yet the Son of God…

We held our indoor meetings in my Ilford School and on one such evening there was a quiz in which I got all the answers correct.  I proudly even wrote on the piece of tracing paper that I won a book for doing so.

That little Usborne book was the making of me as an ornithologist.  It was written by a chap called Ian Wallace and in a wonderfully unfluffy way it showed what I could be doing  and what I could be finding.  It showed me how to work a habitat, how to take notes, to study a roost, to understand anatomy, to watch the weather and to hope for the unexpected. Some of the pages contained seawatches at the mighty Flamborough with birds I could only dream off calmly listed for all to see in a font at the time that I did not know was DIM Wallace’s own hand.

Fast forward ten years to 1991 and I was going through a rough patch with my birding.  It was not a case of I was not seeing birds – as you will have seen from my monthly thirty years ago posts, I was having the most amazing time but I still felt on the outside, too young to be believed and almost too enthusiastic. My crew back then was largely made up of us YOC ‘kids’ who had grown up and learnt to drive but we were still in the minority and on the outside of things – or at least that was how it felt to me.  After my run in with a big fat grey Turtle Dove sp at Easington in October 1991 I took it into my head to write to Ian by sending the letter to Birdwatching Magazine to see if they would forward it on. 

At that time I savoured every article in the magazine that Ian had written with tales of migration from all directions, about the ones that got away, about the possibilities of Asian vagrancy (many of which have now happened) and all illustrated with his quirky drawing style so full of movement and life.  I asked him what he thought about my Wells Wood Ficedula Flycatcher and Easington Dove and politely vented my frustrations about being a young birder.

Once again Ian, this time is a wonderfully hand written response (in that writing style I had first seen in my little book!), steered me back on course. His input on my two birds was incisive and detailed and told me that he had been hearing from others about ‘the pressures put upon young observers’ and that my companions should have looked at my two birds.

‘I hope that you will persevere. You clearly have a sharp eye and have excellent perception of crucial detail. I am most impressed by your drawings and notes. Well done!’  

This was all I needed to hear as a floundering 19 year old. DIM Wallace was impressed – who would have thought it.

Almost thirty years later and although I had seen the tam o shanter and kilt wearing legend at several Bird Fairs, I had not plucked up the courage to say hello so I asked his good friend and mine, Mark Thomas to do the introductions. It was brief but I had spoken to the great man at long last. A year later I was lucky enough to bump into him at the Fair once again but this time I had my little Usborne to hand and was able to explain its importance to me.  I did not take it with me for him to sign but he did so anyway which made me smile.  He even remembered  my Turtle Dove communications and was pleased to see me proudly now working for the RSPB.  He commented that he had never actually owned a copy of that book and was in fact the only gap in his own library of publications. The internet is a wonderful thing and within a few days I had another copy and posted it to him with my gratitude.

He was overjoyed to at last own a copy and this was around the time of the Siberian Accentor at Easington and we exchanged several letters that autumn although he decided to stay on his local old airfield patch rather than twitch the coast.

Ian's 2016 autumn…

‘So far, nothing to match the Steppe Martin of 13 February but along with a record autumn passage of 115 Wheatears I have enjoyed a stream of White Wags, a large Pipit, Quail, Little Bunting, Caspian Gulls, rubicola Stonechat, a small, short-tailed, white bellied Water Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and just as intriguing, pulses of large, pale toned Skylarks and grey toned Meadow Pipits (which given the state of the fields and grass may have been my carrier species but close to 1000 of each) towards the end of 15 days of easterlies/high pressure. All these at my airfield hot spot and mostly from my slowly driven car…

Quite what has “tipped the Siberian bottle” one can only guess; that some species must have bred well seems likely, particularly perhaps at the North end of the Urals where so many species breed sympatrically. Pin-tailed Snipe next?!’

To me this was the classic Ian that I grew up with in his magazine postings. I will treasure these and the original water colour of the 1968 Great Pool Northern Waterthrush that he sent me by way of a thank you.

I know that my friendship with him was tenuous but his influence on my ornithological awakening, art and undoubtedly career is immeasurable and despite being on the periphery of his life, I will miss him.

Northern Waterthrush - on my wall - one day I will see one in the UK

Thirty Years Ago - October 1991

2^nd October: 

The month started well with a garden tick in Ilford with a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over [Eds: before too long they were in every local urban park along with Green Woodpecker and Stock Dove.  Spotted Flycatchers had been gone for several years already and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers followed swiftly after three more hole nesters arrived.  Those three now compete with Ring-necked Parakeet!].

6^th October:

The started with Pete and I down at Sandwich Bay on Kent to look for a very elusive Radde’s Warbler.  There was no sign but a good crowd had gathered and typical birder nattering ensued.  At 10.45 a birder produced his portable phone [Eds: a real novelty] and rang Birdline.  As soon as he said ‘Red-eyed Vireo Lowestoft and Sociable Plover Cambs’ we quickly evacuated the area, informing others as we headed back to the cars. Neil M and Simon S were amongst these and we hatched a plan to re group at Brentwood and head up in one car. Several hours later we were at Sparrows Nest Park and in under a minute had the beautiful Vireo I view in the roadside trees. Over the next half hour we enjoyed continuous views of this chunky energetic vagrant.  This was my first good look at one after my poor views on the Cot Valley bird on the Yellow-throated Vireo the previous September.  

Spotted and Pied Flycatchers were also present but there was noting else nearby so we decided to attempt the crazy cross country dash all the way across East Anglia for the Sociable Plover in Chatteris.  Somehow we made it before dark and enjoyed cracking views as it elegantly fed in a ploughed field with some Lapwings. [Eds: at this stage we had no idea just how rare they would become].  With the light fading we headed for home after a nearly 500mile circuit!

Sociable Plover

9^th October:

A Radde’s Warbler at Languard Point tempted Neil and I out for another attempt at this elusive species. We failed again but there was ample recompense in the shape of three Black Redstarts including a male with huge white wing patches, a perky little Firecrest and a cracking male Lapland Bunting that hopped around the common.  Rather bizarrely a blue phase Snow Goose flew in off the sea! The journey home was marred by the alternator failing on EMU just three miles from home.

Lapland Bunting

13^th October:

An East Coast Jaunt. After losing Pete G in the fog on the way up to Newmarket [Eds: I am not even sure what this means and have no recollection! I can only imagine that for some reason Pete was meeting us at Stuart Lamberts and never got there!] we headed north to Donna Nook where a first-winter Desert Wheatear was thankfully performing well in its chosen field where it would perch up on sugar beet to look for snacks.

Desert Wheatear

Hundreds of Starlings, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings were seen along with chirpy little Goldcrests in the bushes as we walked back to the car and onwards towards Hull and then to Spurn.  A quick look for two Rustic Buntings at Holmpton Hall produced naf views of them in flight with s flock of Bramblings but there was no such trouble with the Radde’s Warbler at Easington cemetery which showed fabulously in a single Sycamore alongside the road.  It was keeping company with a few Chiffchaffs and a Redstart. 

I walked back down the lane towards the car and on scanning a flock of Collared Doves in the adjacent field I came across a 'Turtle Dove'.  Now, a late Turtle Dove would not be too untoward but this one was the size of the Collared Doves and alarm bells started ringing.  I ran back to the Radde’s and told the other birders what I had found but not one person was interested – not even Stuart.  I returned to the bird and actually made some notes.  I did not know what to look for and did my best but the big size of the bird was still at the front of my thoughts.  After twenty minutes it flew off into the farmyard just as Stuart reappeared and with that we headed on the long journey home in the rain.

Interesting Turtle Dove

[Eds: I was obviously thinking Rufous Turtle Dove but the species was near mythical in the UK at that time and I suspect that was the cause for the lack of interest. I did my research and left it at that although I did write to DIM Wallace through Birdwatching magazine to rather cheekily ask him for his opinion. The letter that I got back from Ian filled me the confidence that I needed as a young birder in a world of old school birding Barbours to persevere and not be afraid to speak my mind. Oh and yes he did think that I had seen a Rufous TD.]

18^th October:

On returning from Poly on Friday morning [Eds: it would take a few more months for the Poly to become Middlesex Uni] I got a surprise phone call from Stuart who was frantically trying to tell me that there was a Nutcracker in a small copse in The Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.  After throwing a hasty sandwich together I sped up to Newmarket to join him on this mad dash.  We arrived after four hours of horrendous traffic but was it worth it? A walk of 15 yards and there it was hopping around our feet in the leaf litter.

It was a beautiful bird and one I have longed to see and it was so tame and inquisitive that it would hop up to us, cock it’s head to ones side, cackle and then bound off again! Wonderful face and underparts and a silky white fluffy under tail coverts and vent. The huge dagger bill was used effectively to search for food amongst the leaves and bracken fronds.  The light was fading fast and as soon as it went to roost we started for home and another four hours of Birmingham traffic chaos.  I got in at 11.30 only to find that I was getting up at 1.30 to go for the Desert Warbler at South Landing in North Yorkshire!

19^th October:

After no sleep I bundled myself into Steve Bacon’s Montego with Ken Barrett and allowed myself to be driven up to this windswept cold and wet spot in the hope of getting the Desert Warbler that had been present for a few days.  It was only the sixth for Britain and had generated a very good turnout.  The strong north westerly wind was not preventing Redwings, Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Pipits and Finches coming in and a brief Little Bunting was also seen.  It too over two hours to find the Warbler and once the mad rush had abated and every one got a spot to look from the bird came out and performed exceedingly well for the crowd. A tiny little sandy Sylvia that fed slowly in the Sycamores by sitting still and reaching in all directions to pick off prey before moving on.

The others had to get home so we did not linger which was disappointing and denied us a monster sea watch off Flamborough where they had 450 Long-tailed Skuas, 121 Poms, 91 Little Auks, two White-billed Divers and two Great Shearwaters!  Oh well, at least we got the Desert Warbler!

20^th October:

A bitterly cold but bright sunny day out in North Kent with Pete.  Forty minutes looking into the mouth of the Thames off Sheerness on Sheppey produced over 300 Skylarks, a Wheatear, 30 Meadow Pipits, three Rock Pipits, Starlings, two Mergansers, lots of Wigeon and 500 Brents before we moved onto Shellness at the other end of the island. 

A Snow Bunting was seen even before we got to the car park and a short watch produced thousands of incoming Brent Geese with wavy lines way out on the horizon and Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were still streaming in.  Forty, mixed plumage Eiders were seen along with a few Common Scoter and two drake Surf Scoters heading north were a real surprise. I could only see the white rear nape patch on both but they were a fare way out.

Surf Scoters 

Shellness itself was also very good and over the next couple of hours we added six dinky Little Auks to the tally with one bobbing around just offshore before briefly coming up onto the beach. Two each of Pom and Great Skua were seen along with a Goldeneye and plenty of moving dabbling ducks and waders. 

Little Auk

A Short-eared Owl made two attempts to cross the Swale and almost ditched before finally succeeding while Marsh Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier, Kestrels and two female Merlins hunted the inland fields.  The Merlins had a great aerial battle and seemed to be defending their finch filled spots (inc Twite and Bramblings) from each other.

Merlin

A final hour in the cold at Harty added four more Merlins, three Marsh Harriers, two ringtail Hen Harriers and a flock of 11 Ruff to the already impressive day list.

23^rd October:

A rare family day out to Norfolk ostensibly so that they could look at a house in Fakenham and was largely spent in one property and in the seats of local estate agencies. [Eds: how different would my life have been if we had moved to Norfolk I wonder?].  The last couple of hours were actually very productive with a very obliging Radde’s Warbler along the lane down to Kelling Quags that, although it was in a Bramble clump decided to come out to within a few feet of the small group waiting for it.  It was slightly duller that the Easington bird.  There were lots of Larks and Pipits flying around as well as a few Redwings and Reed Buntings while two Egyptian Geese were on the Quags.

Radde’s Warbler

On again to a small area of wasteland between Sherringham allotments and cemetery where a Siberian Stonechat was showing very well in the company of three Common Stonechats.  There is talk in various circles of a split from the nominate Saxicola torquata to form S maura – the Eastern Stonechat. [Eds: it took a while but it eventually happened!]

Siberian Stonechat

The day was rounded off with three smart Shorelarks at Salthouse on the beach pools – not too bad for two hours birding! And no, they never bought the house!

Shorelark

26^th October:

Pete and I left home at 3.30am to be at Stewarts by 5 and by 4.40am we were on our way north again.  Just under three hours later (!) we were at Spurn with Swallows, Redwings and Skylarks immediately obvious.  I got out of the car and put my bins up on a Pallas’s Warbler in the hedge – what a start.  Brilliant views were had as it actively flycatched with a Goldcrest and Tit flock in the Hawthorn hedge.

Pallas’s Warbler 

I left Pete and Stew watching the Warbler and wandered down towards the fields where two Richard’s Pipits that had been trapped too late the night before had just been released.  They showed exceptionally well in flight and on the deck and the loud ‘shweep’ call was heard which attracted in a third bird!

Richard’s Pipit

Passerines were streaming in and amongst them were Bramblings, Siskins and a calling Rosefinch. Three Woodcock, a Snipe, Short-eared Owl and two Sparrowhawks were seen while watching the Pipits and over on the seaward side we added Little Auk, Red-throated Diver, 30 Eider, 25 Scoter and a host of other ducks and waders.

Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Reed Buntings were feeding on some grain behind a hedge and tame Goldcrests, Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat were all seen.  As the day progressed Blackbirds and Starlings became more obvious and back near the car three Shorelarks grovelled near the beach where a little Locustella crept trough the grass and avoided further scrutiny.

It was time for a back butty from the Bluebell before we started to drive further down the point stopping on the way to look at a smart 1^st winter Great Grey Shrike on the way that was being mobbed by Reed Buntings while a ‘ticking’ Little Bunting flew over!  The Buckthorn at the end was alive with Blackbirds and a single Ring Ouzel along with 15 Robins but no Yellow-browed Warbler or Red Breasted Flycatcher.

Great Grey Shrike 

From here we made our way on the tortuous road north to Flamborough Head where we failed to see the Pallas’s Warbler but the South Landing Desert Warbler was seen promptly nearby along with 50 Goldcrest, 15 Chiffchaffs, a brief Dusky Warbler and three chunky Northern type Bullfinches.  There were many thrushes once again and some smart Yellowhammers.  The Pallas’s had returned and so did we but again it had vanished but a Dusky Warbler had just been trapped and we all got to see it prior to release and subsequently in the brambles below us. 

Dusky Warbler 

Just look at those straight, largely draw tube telescopes!

A Black Redstart fed around us but the lure of an Isabelline Shrike back at Spurn saw us leave behind Ortolan and head back south again. Thankfully the light held and the bird was on show as we arrived and we watched it feeding from a fence around the paddocks while 25 Swallows were gathering on the wires above. The earlier Locustella had been pinned down as a Grasshopper Warbler and three Whooper Swans headed into the Humber. A cheeky stop at Easington Churchyard on the way out did not add YBW but another Black Redstart was a fine way to end a day that took my year list over 300 once again

Isabelline Shrike

Kentish Nature Walk #23 - An autumnal Ranscombe Mini-Loop - 25th October 2021

Persuading myself to go out walking when I have a spare few hours has been problematical of late but I am trying very hard not to slip back into the lethargic slothishness of my pre-lockdown life and this morning I managed to haul myself up the road for my first walk around Ranscombe since the high summer.

It was cool and crisp with blue sky and almost no wind but I knew that this was not meant to last beyond lunchtime. Despite the heavy rains the paths were largely free of mud and I had a pleasant three mile loop down to the fields and then back up past Birch Wood to Sam’s Clary bench where I sat with a coffee and enjoyed the hazy golden view across the fields and down the valley towards Maidstone.  

Most trees are yet to turn and although autumnal, there was a feeling that there was still plenty of vim and vigour left in the mostly green leaves although I suppose that the first proper frost will persuade them to start drawing in their reserves for the winter ahead.  There were still flowers to be found with Hedge Woundwort, Red Clover, Bristly Oxtongue, Dandelion and Wild Carrot seen.  There were plenty of flies lazily bumbling between sunny spots and I am sure that most I saw were Phaonia and worn Pollenia and a single Bee that I think is Lasioglossum calceatum.

Phaonia 

Pollenia 

 Lasioglossum calceatum

There was very little in the way of bird life with just a few small roving Tit and Goldcrest flocks and a single Nuthatch and the odd squawking of a Jay.  Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were in the stubble field above the farm but there were no finch flocks. It seems to be another fair year for the Sweet Chestnuts and I collected a few in my forage pouch which was quite easy to do as several of the trees were actually throwing them at me!

Old Man's Beard

Dewy Hedge Woundwort

Black Bryony berries

The only Fungi I found

Yew

As you would expect I found a few leaf mines which Antony helped me with this afternoon and as usual things are always more complicated than they appear but at least I gave it a go.

Coptotriche marginea on Bramble 

Phyllonorycter coryli and Phyllonorycter nicellii on Hazel 

Phyllonorycter coryli on Hazel

Stigmella aurella on Bramble

Stigmella clerkella on Birch

Stigmella microtheriella or floslactella on Hazel

Stigmella microtheriella or floslactella on Hornbeam

Stigmella samiatella on Sweet Chestnut 

Stigmella samiatella on Sweet Chestnut 

Tischeria ekebladella on Sweet Chestnut  

I looped back up by the top of Kitchen Field and then cut through the woods back up to the Darnley Mausoleum before the pleasant walk back down the main path towards home.