30/07/2014 Bee-eaters on the Isle of Wight

Wednesday 30th July 2014
Wydcombe Estate, IOW

Sue and I made the long trip to the south side of the Isle of Wight to "twitch" this very special bird. 

Our efforts were well rewarded with superb views of two adults on the telephone cables in front of the houses 200 metres away at the opposite end of the field. 

Bee-eater
Library picture

Bee-eater flying overhead
Library picture

Bee-eater
Library picture

About 40 other birders had visited the site earlier in the day but, thankfully, the National Trust were running a round the clock vigil so observers were kept at a sensible distance from the star attractions.  Below are some of their published pictures



IOW Bee-eater
Ian Ridett  National Trust



IOW Bee-eater
Ian Ridett National Trust

IOW Bee-eaters
Ian Ridett National Trust

Below I have copied the information put out by the National Trust to support this sighting:

 

A pair of bee-eater birds, native to southern Europe, has been discovered nesting on the Isle of Wight.

The National Trust said they were only the third pair to breed successfully in the UK in more than a century.

The birds were discovered on the Wydcombe Estate on the south of the island 12 days ago and wardens think their eggs have now hatched.

It is thought the unusually warm spring and summer have lured a larger number of bee-eaters to southern England.

Ian Ridett, National Trust ranger on the Isle of Wight, said: "We have set up a 24-hour surveillance operation around the site to protect these rare visitors, as any un-hatched eggs could be a potential target for egg thieves.
The adult birds have been seen delivering food into the nest which indicates the eggs have hatched
"The hot temperatures since spring have helped an above average arrival of bee-eaters, with more than 10 seen along the south coast since May."

The last time a pair was recorded breeding in the UK was in a quarry in County Durham in 2002 when two young successfully fledged.

Before that, it was in 1955 when two pairs raised seven young in a Sussex sandpit.

The adult birds have been seen delivering food into the nest which indicates the eggs have hatched, Mr Ridett added.

However, the chicks are not expected to leave their underground nest site for about two weeks, so the number of chicks hatched is still not known.

Bee-eaters can burrow up to 10ft (3m) and usually lay clutches of four to nine eggs.

Matthew Oates, National Trust nature and wildlife expert, said: "The bee-eater is arguably the most stunning bird on the British list - it looks tropical.

"As our climate changes it's likely that we'll see increasing numbers of new visitors on our shores."



 Addition to UK 2014 Bird List:

Bee-eater   (243)

 

 

 Addition to UK 20 Lifetime Bird List:

Bee-eater   (263)

 



27/07/2014 Rainham Marshes RSPB with the East Grinstead Local Group

Sunday 27th July 2014
Rainham Marshes RSPB Site
East Grinstead Local Group


10 of us turned out on a much cooler and overcast morning at Rainham Marshes RSPB, Essex just west of the Dartford Tunnel.  Thankfully the weather remained dry and cool until near the end when the conditions got warmer and more sultry.

We managed  to log a species list of 50 birds which was quite creditable for July.  There was nothing really scare or rare to be seen. The highlights including a couple of Hobbies, a Snipe, 5 Green Sandpipers that dropped in near the end of our visit and a fleeting view of a Cetti's Warbler. 
 


Today's Species List:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Shoveler
Teal
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe   (10)
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Buzzard
Kestrel
Hobby
Moorhen 
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing   (20)
Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Redshank
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull   (30)
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Woodpigeon
Swift
Swallow
Dunnock
Blackbird
Cetti's Warbler
Reed Warbler
Whitethroat   (40)
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet   (50)



Today's species count = 50



A really good day out with friends with lots of birds, several butterflies and a marsh frog thrown in for good measure.

18/07/2014 to 21/07/2014 Brian and June Visit Sussex

Thursday 18th July to Monday 21st July
Brian and June visit Sussex
"The Big Seven"


This was not a birding trip as such but we were on the look out for birds as we toured around Sussex and Kent in the car.  We targeted birds, commonly found in Sussex  and Kent but rarely found in our home town of Workington.





First success was a Dartford Warbler seen from the Friends CP in the Ashdown Forest.  Although we could hear it very clearly it took almost 45 minutes to get the clear view we were after. 

Dartford Warbler
Library picture

What a great way to end our first sunny afternoon!    

Later on that evening we saw our Nightjars at the Hindleap and Churlwood patches of the Ashdown Forest. 



Nightjar
Library picture

We had the full works including good clear sightings as they flew around hunting for insects, "churring" from the tree tops and the familiar "coo-ick" sound during the flight.





We didn't have to travel too far to see Green Woodpeckers. 

Green Woodpecker
Library picture

Probably as a result of the recent conservation work done by the local council we saw them less than 100 metres from home on the green by the pond on Saturday morning.





Whilst visiting Chichester on Sunday we couldn't help but see the resident Peregrine at the base of the spire of the Cathedral. 

Peregrine
Library picture

After another successful breeding year, the chicks had fledged but the adults remained to provide Brian with some splendid photographs.





On the way home we stopped off at the Burgh, just outside of Arundel to locate our final 3 birds.  Pride of place went to the Red Kites; after good views of a single, rather bedraggled bird we finally saw a lovely group of 5 to 6 flying low over the hills SW of us. 

Red Kite
Library picture

 The Burgh is famous for it's Partridges and we duly saw families of both the Red-legged and the Grey varieties as they moved along the paths by the edge of the corn fields. 

Red-legged Partridge
Library picture

 

Grey Partridge
Library picture

What a lovely way to end a great weekend! 

Brian was delighted with his "Big Seven" that we managed to squeeze in around our car trips in Sussex.

16/07/2014 Yellow Legged Gull at Pagham Harbour

Wednesday 16th July 2014
Pagham Harbour and Medmerry
Paul James and Group  (7)

In gorgeous weather we headed for Chichester and what a lovely day we had, finding over 50 species including a Yellow-legged Gull, my first of the year.

Yellow-legged Gull
Library picture

A Kingfisher was seen on a post on the Ferry Pool.  Also seen there were lots of Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ Avocets, 20+ Lapwings, at least 3 Greenshanks, at least 5 Little Ringed Plovers and 10+ juvenile Shelducks.

The most interesting bird was the Spotted Redshank seen flying towards the Ferry Pool.

We had no luck with the Black-winged Stilts at Medmerry but we did see the spectacular high tide pouring water into this newly created reserve.  

A great day with a large number of species seen - quite remarkable for July!


Toady's species list:
Yellow-legged Gull
Herring Gull
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant   (10)
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Buzzard
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover   (20)
Lapwing
Dunlin
Turnstone
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Whimbrel
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Greenshank
Common Sandpiper   (30)
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Little Tern
Woodpigeon
Swift
Kingfisher   (40)
Skylark
Swallow
Sand Martin
Meadow Pipit
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap   (50)
Chiffchaff
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
House Sparrow
Linnet
Greenfinch
Reed Warbler.

Today's species count = 57


Addition to 2014 UK Bird List:
Yellow-legged Gull   (242)

12/07/2014 Rye Harbour and Curlew Sandpiper

Saturday 12th July 2014
Rye Harbour


I decided to try to see the Roseate Tern that had been reported at Rye Harbour recently. 


This time I was unlucky as it did not show.  However I was delighted to see my first Curlew Sandpiper of the year barely 10 metres from the Denny Hide where I was with 3 other birders. It was a sparkling male in full summer plumage.




Curlew Sandpiper
Library picture

What a massive consolation and well worth the long journey.



Addition to 2014 UK Bird List:
Curlew Sandpiper   (241)

09/07/2014 Quails in Sussex

Wednesday 9th July 2014
Lancing Ring RSPB Walk
Brighton and District RSPB Group

Unbelievably this was my first walk of the year with this lovely group of people.  Nevertheless it was nice to get going again and to cap it all we managed to hear, but not see, the very rare Quail.

The weather was cooler today with overcast conditions for this walk on the South Downs from Lancing Ring Nature Reserve.  The highlight of the trip was the male Quail heard near the end of the trip at TQ 166080 just above Sompting.  It was singing from the security of the cut barley in the field and try as we may none of the 26 members could get a sight of it. This was my second acquaintance with this species this week; on Monday evening Paul and I heard a different Quail on Ditchling Beacon at TQ 326 130

Other birds seen included 50+ Linnets, 10+ Corn Buntings, 20+ Skylarks, a couple of Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Greenfinch, Swallows, House Martins, Swifts, Sand Martins, Herring Gulls, Blackbirds, Magpies, Carrion Crows, a lovely male Yellowhammer and several Meadow Pipits.

Several butterflies were seen including a couple of Gatekeepers,

Gatekeeper Butterfly
Library picture

 

                                                                     Marbled Whites......

                                                         

      .......   Meadow Browns

Meadow Brown Butterfly
Library picture

.... and....

 ......Large Skippers..... 

 

Large Skipper Butterfly
Library picture

and an interesting orchid.

 

 

Pyramidal Orchid
Library picture

A low  bird species count of 17 but this is July and we were in a very specialist area. 

A great way to spend 4 hours!




Addition to UK Bird List for 2014:
Quail    (240)




I went back to see/hear the Quail next evening after reports that it had been seen in the longer grass between the track and the cut barley.  Incredibly I could hear it close by; I even managed to get within 4 feet ....  and still I couldn't see it despite spending at least an hour trying.  How weird is that? 

05/07/2014 Into West Sussex.

Saturday 5th July 2014 - afternoon
3 sites in West Sussex
Cloudy with a hint of light showers




Pagham RSPB Reserve
Siddlesham Ferry Pool

Quite a reasonable amount of activity here for this time of year.  The star attraction was the Spotted Redshank in it's dark summer plumage.



Spotted Redshank
Library picture

There were also 20+ Avocets, even more Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks and a host of Shelducks, most of which were chicks.


4 Little-ringed Plovers were good to see as were the 5 Green Sandpipers and a single Common Sandpiper, surprisingly, my first of the year. 




Common Sandpiper
Library picture

 

 

Add to this a couple of Lapwings and Teals in the pond, with Swifts flying overhead and Goldfinches adorning the nearby bushes and you have a lovely cocktail to start the visit to the Chichester area.





Fishbourne Creek

My main reason for going to the creek was to try to see the Yellow-legged Gull that had been seen there amongst the Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.  Unfortunately there were not too many gulls around and no sign of my target.  There were a few Great Black-backed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls but they were outnumbered by the Black-headed Gulls.


A couple of Redshanks, 50+ Curlews, 50+ Mute Swans, 20+ Little Egrets, some Swifts and Swallows and a couple of Whitethroats and Goldfinches completed my sightings at this lovely inland creek to the south west of Chichester.





The Burgh near Arundel

On the way home I wanted to get on to the high ground to get a different set of birds. 


I was lucky to get excellent views of the Red Kites flying overhead including one pair approaching very close, totally engrossed in each others company.  Several Kestrels and a single Buzzard accounted for my raptor count.  Gulls were also present, including Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed varieties.


There were lots of Linnets and Goldfinches around but, alas, no Corn Buntings or Yellowhammers this time. 


I was just lamenting not being able to see any Partridges and putting in down to the long crops and grasses in the field when I came across a family of Grey Partridges consisting of mum, dad and 10 chicks on the edge of the growing crops. 





Covey of Grey Partridge
Library picture

 

 What a lovely sight as they moved serenely along before disappearing into the safety of the growing field. 


Soon after I came across a family of Red-legged Partridges on the edges of the growing crops -  again with a large number of chicks.

Red Legged Partridge Covey
Library picture





On the way back to the car I encountered my third family - this time Grey Partridges and 4 chicks.  What a delightful way to finish the day!



Addition to 2014 UK Bird List
Common Sandpiper   (239)

03/07/2014 Staying Local this week.

Thursday 3rd July 2014
Ashdown Forest and Knepp Estate mainly

Decided to stay local for a while.

On my patch last week the highlight had to be the breeding Spotted Flycatchers that my friend Alastair alerted me to last Sunday afternoon.  When he and I returned the next morning, at least 2 chicks were clearly visible in the nest as the adults returned with food. The views were super  -  it was refreshing to see them in Sussex and on my own patch.  A huge thank you to Alastair!




Breeding Spotted Flycatcher
Alastair Gray

 

 

When I went back this evening there was no activity at all - the chicks had fledged and the whole family had moved on. 

Nightjars are still much in evidence on my patch and, of course,  at Hindleap, the real "hotspot" for the species.  There have been fewer Woodcocks this year.  I have only seen one at Churlwood and 5 or 6 at Hindleap.

The "usual suspects" were about in healthy numbers, including Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Redstarts, Woodlark and Linnets. 


At Knepp, on Friday evening with Paul's Group, there was only 1 Turtle Dove but the views were really good.  By way of compensation, we saw a smashing low-flying Hobby, an overhead Peregrine carrying a black bird, of some description, for supper as well as a surprising Green Sandpiper by the man-made lake.   On Tuesday, mid morning with Alastair, we saw 10+ Jays, 10+ Common Buzzards and heard a couple of alarm calls which we presumed to be that of Nightingales.  There were lots of other birds around including Lapwings, Mistle Thrush, Whitethroats and Blackcaps. but alas not even a hint of a Turtle Dove.  Alastair was really taken with the variety of Butterflies on show, including Purple Emperor,

Purple Emperor
Library picture

White Admiral

 

White Admiral
Library picture

 

 

 and Marbled White

Marbled White
Library picture

to name but a few. 

I managed to get another look at the Short-toed Eagle from Gills Lap last Sunday when I took a couple of friends along with me.  It flew in from another part of the forest but settled in the woods, out of sight, and then moved on from the area back down to Hampshire.

All in all a very good week, in glorious sunshine, with lots of things to do and see and, most important, near to home !



New addition to 2014 UK Bird List:
Long-eared owl  (flying at 20.40)   (238)