18/08/2016 No Wryneck but 10+ Whinchats at Shooters Bottom

Thursday 18 August 2016
Shooters Bottom near Beachy Head 

Spent a few hours, spread over 2 shifts, looking for the Wryneck today but had no luck.  It was nice to meet up with, and then go round with, Simon this morning.

• There were good numbers of common whitethroat on both visits.

• I managed to see a 2 wheatears  this morning and another 2 this evening.

• 3+ stonechats were seen in the evening session on the higher path.

• Highlight of the day was the 10+ whinchats seen on the opposite side of the road, on the path north, this evening.

• Butterflies were everywhere and even a novice like me had to be impressed.  The list included painted lady, red admiral, clouded yellow, peacock, common blue, large tortoiseshell, large white and a chalkhill blue.

I missed the target bird but was well compensated with the whinchats and the butterflies.  

A delightful day out in the sunshine on the south coast!

17/08/2016 Rye Harbour NR - Castle Water

Wednesday 17 August 2016
Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex
Castle Water then Pett Level


I returned to Rye Harbour NR today; this time taking in the Castle Water area.

Again there were not many species present.

• The highlight  was 3 ruffs which were showing well.

• 2 common sandpipers and 2 ringed plovers were seen

• Whilst walking from Pett Level to Castle Water I spotted a superb green woodpecker half way up a telegraph pole.

A lovely late afternoon stroll in bright sunshine!

16/08/2016 Missed the Osprey at Weir Wood Reservoir.

Tuesday 16th August 2016
Weir Wood Reservoir

I missed the Osprey at Weir Wood Reservoir this morning by 10 minutes.  

• The early arrivers in our conservation working party were given a master class by the Osprey.  The bird circled three times in front of the hide before swooping to pick up a large fish and heading off down the water towards the dam end.  

• Unfortunately the bird did not re-appear - presumably it was satisfied with it's early morning meal.

• The best I could do was to enjoy watching two treecreepers as we had our lunch.  

15/08/2016 Spoonbill at Rye Harbour NR

Monday 15 August 2016
Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex

Spent the afternoon and evening at Rye Harbour NR.  I needed to get out having spent the whole weekend watching soccer and the Olympics on TV.

There were not many birds around but there was a spoonbill which I saw first by the Narrow Pits as it fed in shallow water.  Minutes later I got superb views as it flew past me and into the new saltmarsh area where it started to feed again in the shallow water.

After this I made my way to Castle Water where a greenshank and a common sandpiper were the main highlights.

On my way back to the car, at dusk, there must have been 2000 to 3000 greylag geese coming in to roost - a noisy but spectacular event.

Birds were few and far between today but I did see a rather special one - and managed to do my 10 000 steps today!

11/08/2016 Cranes but no Purple Heron at RSPB Otmoor

Thursday 11 August 2016
RSPB Otmoor

Made 2 unsuccessful attempts to see the purple heron at RSPB Otmoor near Oxford.

• On Wednesday I arrived just after lunch and spent a pleasant couple of hours waiting in vain for the reappearance of the heron after it had been seen flying at 10.15.   I had to settle for good views of a snipe, several marsh harriers and a lovely bullfinch pair.

• I returned on Thursday, for the evening shift from 5.30 pm.till 8.30 pm  but again the heron eluded me - this time choosing to show at 2.15 pm.  Fortunately the 2 cranes were showing well, 6 mandarins in eclipse mode were unusual visitors and an early wigeon turned up.

• Not much luck with the main attraction but the Oxfordshire countryside appealed to me immensely.  As you would expect in this neck of the woods, there was a continuous supply of red kites en route to and from the reserve.

A good try and a pleasant birding experience.

09/08/2016 Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stint at Oare Marshes.

Tuesday 10 August 2016

Oare Marshes, Kent

I took the opportunity afforded by the continuing fine weather to visit Oare Marshes on the north Kent coast - one of my favourite reserves.  Target birds were curlew sandpiper and little stint.

• I didn't have to wait long!  Within minutes I was zooming in on not one, but two curlew sandpipers on the east flood.  In fact they were the closest birds to me so the views were magnificent.  

• As if by magic, a very accommodating little stint was showing well at the waters edge, barely 10 metres to the right of the sandpipers.

• With my main job done I could wander freely around the reserve and enjoy the rich array of colours on display.  A stunning male linnet and two little grebes in particular caught my eye.

• Among the usual suspects I saw plenty of golden plovers, black-tailed godwits, avocets, a couple of greenshanks and at least two yellow wagtails.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:

Curlew sandpiper   (231)

A lovely way to spend a couple of hours! 

Had to leave early to get to the first home game at the Amex (4-0 win against Colchester)  so missed the Bonaparte's gull that turned up again.

01/08/2016 Western Swamphen at Minsmere

Monday 1 August 2016
RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk


I could not resist the chance to visit Minsmere and join the other 100+ birders enjoying a first sighting in Britain of the western swamphen.  

• Luck was on my side this time.  I arrived about 14.30, just in time to see the bird at the back of the pool to the west of south hide before it disappeared into the reeds.  

• Although we got several fleeting views over the next 45 minutes it disappeared into the reeds again.  This time it did not show again until after I left at 18.00 

• The western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a "swamp hen" in the rail family Rallidae. From its French name talève sultane, it is also known as the sultana bird. 

• This chicken-sized bird, with its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisable in its native range. 

• It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the purple swamphen. 

• It is found in Iberia, France, Sardinia and North Africa to Tunisia.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Bird List:
Western Swamphen   (230)

Addition to BUBO UK Life List:
Western Swamphen   (318)