28/09/2014 Twitching in Yorkshire for Rosefinch and Masked Shrike

Sunday 28th September 2014
Kilnsea nr Hull, Yorkshire
With Alastair G

A juvenile Masked Shrike was reported in Yorkshire and Kilnsea near Hull.  Alastair, who has every Sunday and Monday off work, asked me, almost a week ago, that if the bird was still around when he was next off would I be interested in the "twitch".  Despite the huge distance I agreed instantly.  After all this bird has never before been seen in England; the only other sightings had been been one in Scotland and another in Ireland - both a long time ago.  It should have been in Turkey or even further east so it was very, very lost.

With the bird still being reported as present and the weather conditions looking very favourable it was all systems go.  Up at 02.00 to pick Alastair up at 03.30, a long drive up the M23, M25, M40, M42, M118 and M62 to arrive on site in Yorkshire at 08.15 a journey of over 300 miles. There must have been a steady 100 or so birders all day who were on the same mission as us.

• We took almost an hour to get our first sighting of the shrike as it had flown from it's original position and took up a position on the other side of the hedge row.  It was well worth the wait as the bird was showing well in the bushes 80 to 100 metres away.  Every now and then it would disappear into the undergrowth before reappearing.  This was the pattern all day but it meant we had a surfeit of opportunities to observe this lovely creature as and when we wanted to.

Masked Shrike
Library picture

Masked Shrike
Library picture

•  By way of a huge bonus, there just happened to be a Common Rosefinch around as well.  It seemed to be moving around with the small flock of Greenfinches but it was proving very elusive.  We tried for several hours to locate the bird but we always seemed to be just too late.  Our luck finally changed just after we had visited the wader hide and decided to try  just one last time to see the Rosefinch before heading home.  We joined a group of birders near the feeders of the Friends of Spurn site and the Rosefinch duly appeared in the trees directly ahead of us, about 60 metres away.  It was perched on a branch of a low tree just below middle and it was like a good model, showing us views from all angles over a lengthy observation period.   After it flew away, we headed back towards the car ready to make the long journey back to Sussex when there, ahead of us, showing brilliantly at the top of a small tree was the self same bird.  Now it seemed we just couldn't fail - 2 quality sightings in 15 minutes!

Common Rosefinch
Library picture

Our hearts were set on these 2 birds to the exclusion of nearly everything else.  The pick of the rest was probably the  Common Snipe which appeared directly in front of the hide - much to the delight of the photographers.



Additional Information

Masked Shrike: The masked shrike is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It breeds in southeastern Europe and the eastern end of the Mediterranean, with a separate population in western Iran. It is a common species in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Syria.

In full plumage the bird looks like this

Masked Shrike
Library picture

 

 

Common Rosefinch: Found in throughout Western Europe and much of Asia. Breeds across northern Eurasia and winters across southern Eurasia. Rare vagrant to the western Aleutians and Alaska during migration. Preferred habitats include scrubby areas, especially near water and often near human habitation.

First-year birds tend to disperse further than adults which explains why colonizing birds are almost always dull-plumaged (young) males.

A group of rosefinches are collectively known as a "bouquet" of finches.

In full plumage the bird looks like this

 

Common Rosefinch
Library picture

Additions to 2014 UK Bird List:
Masked Shrike   (262)
Common Rosefinch   (263)


Additions to 2014 UK Life List:
Masked Shrike   (275)
Common Rosefinch   (276)



A full on day but well worth it with 2 "lifers".  Who knows when I will get to see a Masked Shrike again in England? 


Arrived home at 20.30 - tired but fulfilled.

26/09/2014 Around Uckfield

Friday 26th September 2014
Within 1 mile of my house


With no news of any rarities nearby, I made a long-overdue walk around the woods near my home heading roughly south towards the Millennium Green via the Old Laundry.  It must have been over a year since I last made this trip.

• To my surprise I saw a lovely Kingfisher on a branch overlooking the stream; I would have thought that there was very little in the way of fish for the bird but I am probably wrong.  Whatever the reason it was a stunning view from 10 metres or less before the bird realised I was there and moved away.  Needless to say, this was a first on this site.

• Not far away from this, in a pond near the new housing estate, I came across a couple of Mandarins, one of which was in stunning plumage.  Yet another first for me and another huge surprise. They were sitting on the branch of a tree a few feet above the water but disappeared soon after I arrived; how can a large duck with such brilliant colours disappear in a small pond? 

• The next noteworthy event was the sheer number of Green Woodpeckers seen in the area, particularly to the east of the Millennium Green, with no less than 5 seen.  3 of them provided great views.  Obviously they are thriving here.

• There were the usual suspects with Corvids, Tits etc.  Other interesting sightings included a Jay flying away from me into the woods ahead and a flock of 17 Canada Geese flying overhead.

What a lovely late afternoon walk!

 

 

 

Today's species list:

 

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Magpie

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Wren

Chaffinch

Moorhen

Mallard

Green Woodpecker   (10)

Canada Goose

Woodpigeon

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Kingfisher

Blackbird

Buzzard

Robin

Collared Dove

Chiffchaff

Jay   (20)

 

21/09/2014 Dungeness with Paul and Group

Sunday 21st September 2014
Dungeness
Paul and Group  8 a.m.

We were after migrants today hence the early start at Dungeness Power Station.  The weather was much chillier than recently and a windproof jacket was the order of the day.  With north-easterly winds again today things were in favour of our quest for migrants.

However there were no rare migrants around, reflecting the unusually low count in the south east for September.  We did make the most of the situation and had a lovely day out, seeing over 60 species.  The highlights were:-

• a Glossy Ibis seen at the ARC site was most welcome.  We had to switch to the screen hide to catch site of this lovely visitor.  It was accompanied by up to 10 Ruff, a Red-crested Pochard and a super Black-necked Grebe.
• There were 4 Great White Egrets on the site and we managed to see 3 of them including some smashing views of them in flight.  From the same hide, on Denge, we also saw a couple of Kingfishers making it 5 seen in the last week or so around Sussex and Kent.
• the Marsh Harrier count was high, as you would expect here at Dungeness.
•  the highlight for the sea watch was the distant Arctic Skua and the Little Gull seen among the many gulls at "the patch".
• there were scores of Yellow Wagtails at Scotney Court and on the "midrips".  Also present on Scotney were huge numbers of feral Barnacle Geese.  On the midrips there were good numbers of waders including Knot and Sanderling as well as numerous Sandwich Terns. 

A lovely day out with friends!

Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Barnacle Goose
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Pintail
Garganey   (10)
Shoveler
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Red-legged Partridge
Great-crested Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Gannet
Cormorant
Great White Egret
Little Egret   (20)
Grey Heron
Glossy Ibis
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Coot
Oystercatcher
Golden Plover
Grey Plover   (30)
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ruff
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Arctic Skua
Little Gull   (40)
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Sand Martin
Swallow
Meadow Pipit   (50)
Yellow Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Reed Bunting   (60)
Red-crested Pochard

19/09/2014 Barred Warbler in Essex. Yet another "lifer"

Friday 19th September 2014
Gunner's Park NR
Shoeburyness, Essex
TQ 931841
 
I decided to "twitch" in Essex today and combine it with a visit to Collier Row to do some family business.  A 2 hour drive from home, after lunch, meant a late 4.30 p.m. start in Essex.
 
The Barred Warbler was first reported yesterday morning in Gunners Park NR in Shoeburyness near Southend.   When it was confirmed as present again today it was a "no brainer" for me to go and watch it.  This passage migrant, probably a juvenile, is almost certainly making it's way from breeding grounds in central and eastern Europe to overwinter in tropical eastern Africa.
 
Weather conditions should have been most favourable with low cloud and a north easterly breeze but the extensive sea mist complicated the situation somewhat.  The warbler had been seen on and off in the hour before I arrived but it took some time for it to reappear and the views I got were fleeting and highly unsatisfactory.  After 2 hours, just as I was about to pack up, it appeared in all it's glory in the low bushes just 15 metres away, affording me and half a dozen fellow birders a 15 minute slot to wallow in the experience. 
 

Barred Warbler
Library picture

Feeling very relieved but pleased with myself I then dashed down to Collier Row and did what I needed to do in 10 minutes or so and headed off home, arriving back just after 8.30 p.m. 
 

6 hours and over 150 miles by car to see just one bird - wonderful!  All that with no sleep the night before as I had stayed up to follow the
 Scottish Reforendum!

After all it was a new bird for me in the UK!


Addition to UK 2014 Bird List:
Barred Warbler    ( 261)


Addition to UK Birds Life List:
Barred Warbler    ( 207)

18/09/2014 Red-backed Shrike at Sandy Point on Hayling Island

Thursday 18th September 2014
Sandy Point
Hayling Island

• I was due to go down to the Hampshire/Sussex border to see the Red-backed Shrike yesterday but changed the plan at the last minute in order to go and purchase a new Piano keyboard for Sue Afterwards I went to the Ashdown Forest for an evening walk/birdwatch, finding a Whinchat, a male Stonechat and, my own favourite, 3 Wood Larks.

 
Today, after completing my domestic chores, I made the 100 minute drive to Sandy Point on the SE corner of Hayling Island arriving just after 4 pm.  Weather conditions were excellent with temperatures well into the 20's and clear blue skies. 
 

• Within minutes of arriving I joined a pair of birders who were viewing the shrike from outside the Sandy Point NR.  The bird itself was inside the reserve on the other side of the fence.   Sandy Point is a private nature reserve with access by permit only.  I managed to get a good view in my binoculars but before I could set up my telescope it dropped down lower in the bushes and out of sight.  My immediate feeling of elation was tempered by the relatively short duration of the viewing.  With plenty of time in hand I waited for the bird to re-appear and after 30 minutes it duly did, showing well between several gorse bushes.  For fully 20 minutes or so I enjoyed great views from a distance of approximately 20 metres.

Red-backed Shrike
Library picture

Although this was a first sighting of the Red-backed Shrike for me this year, it was not a new bird to me, having seen one in Sussex this time last year.  This one lacked the vivid colour of the 2013 bird and was probably a juvenile. 




The Shrike is a passage migrant, moving from the breeding grounds somewhere in Europe down to Tropical Africa for the winter.





Addition to UK 2014 Bird List:
Red-backed Shrike   (260)



               Well worth the long drive!

16/09/2014 Seaford Head with Paul and Group

Tuesday 16th September 2014
Seaford Head  (park at South Barn (grid ref TV504980))
Paul and Group  07.30



The weather conditions today were highly favourable to our seeing migrants with easterly winds to push the birds inland as they migrated down the east coast into the channel and low overnight cloud to dissuade them from carrying on over the sea.  With temperatures expected to reach the mid twenties we were guaranteed a great mornings birding.
 

• Things didn't go to plan however and we did not see any rarities and with the exception of Hope Gap there were not many birds to see at all.  Our first steps from the car park towards the golf course and onto the cliff edges were almost barren with respect to migrants although we did see Ravens, Wheatears, Linnets, Kestrels, a Buzzard and Meadow Pipits.  Harry's Bush was also lacking in bird activity. 

• The highlight of the early morning was our ascent from Hope Gap where the valley was crawling with migrants.  I have never seen so many Chiffchaffs in one place; there must have been scores of them, interspersed with the odd Willow Warbler and good numbers of Whitethroat and, particularly, Blackcap.  We even had Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler together, allowing Paul to point out the very fine ID differences between them.  We repeated the walk at about 11.00 only to find the occasional example of theses species, highlighting the importance of a very early start to see migrants.

• The other main action was at the mouth of the Cuckmere where we targeted the Yellow Wagtails in among the sheep grazing in the field adjacent to the west side of the river.  Whilst watching the wagtails we also managed to get sightings of a Kingfisher - my third in less than a week - as it flew up and down the channel.

• Along the Cuckmere we did manage to see a Wall Brown butterfly - a new species to me.

Wall Brown
Library picture

Today's species list:
Brent Goose
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Bar-tailed Godwit
Common Redshank
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull   (10)
Woodpigeon
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Yellow Wagtail   (20)
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap   (30)
Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Raven
Carrion Crow
Starling   (40)
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Linnet


A lovely morning, in excellent company, with one or two highlights but not throwing up the desired scarcities, although a couple of Honey Buzzards were seen by a local birder nearby.

13/09/2014 Thorney Island for Osprey

Saturday 13th September 2014
Thorney Island
Paul James and group

Six of us made the long journey to Thorney Island, on the West Sussex/Hampshire border, in lovely weather conditions.  The target bird was the Osprey which usually shows up here in September.  Our day was structured around the high tide time of 3.40 p.m. with the aim of being at the half way point at Pilsey Island to observe the waders as they congregated to sit out at the high water point.

• We met our main target after about 2 hours when we saw an awesome Osprey, with fish in it's talons, flying over the water between Thorney Island and Hayling Island.  It soon settled on a post in the water before heading off east.  The views were excellent.  I have done well with Osprey's this year but this was my first in Sussex and as such was rather special.

• Another highlight was the sheer number of Whinchats on show with something like 8-10 seen - the best ever for me .  At one point I could see the awesome sight of a couple of Whinchats, a Stonechat and a Wheatear in the same field of view of my telescope.  

• A couple of Kingfishers provided a lovely slot towards the end of our 7 mile walk with one of them, perched on a post in the water, giving superb views.

• We also had a good show from the raptors with a surprise appearance from a Red Kite.  They do not normally stray this far down from the South Downs.  A Hobby, a couple of Buzzards and many Kestrels completed an impressive list.

• The high tide spectacle at Pilsey Island lived up to expectations with an impressive variety of waders on show including a Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers and a male Eider.

• On the way back to the car we came across 17 Grey Partidge in the field.  This also was a surprise as they are rarely seen anywhere else but The Burgh, some 20 miles away.

  

• To add to the delights of the day we also saw 17 Common Seals.     

Today's Species List:
Wren
Long-tailed Tit
Bearded Tit   (heard)
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Whitethroat
Cetti's Warbler   (heard)
Sand Martin
Swallow
Stonechat    (10)
Whinchat
Robin
Wheatear
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Yellow Wagtail   (20)
Starling
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Kingfisher
Collared Dove
Stock Dove
Rock Dove
Woodpigeon   (30)
Grey Partridge
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Sanderling
Common Sandpiper
Turnstone
Redshank
Greenshank   (40)
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Oystercatcher
Whimbrel
Curlew
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Moorhen
Coot
Little Grebe   (50)
Great Crested Grebe
Teal
Wigeon
Mallard
Eider
Brent Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Sandwich Tern
Black-headed Gull   (60)
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Cormorant
Kestrel
Hobby
Buzzard
Red Kite
Osprey

Another superb outing, in good company and a quality species list!   

10/09/2014 Checking out bird migration at Beachy Heaad

Wednesday 10th September 2014
Beachy Head
Paul James and Group


An early (07.30) start with Paul and the group to check out the Beachy Head area for migrants .  Weather conditions were excellent being dry and sunny with temperatures approaching 20C.  The migrants turned out to be thin on the ground  but we still managed to have an eventful morning out.

The highlight of the day, for me, was the spectacle of hundreds and hundreds of House Martins swirling along the cliff tops around Belle Tout.  They were often flying low, whizzing past us in their droves, creating a great feeling of exhilaration. 

Beachy Head House Martins
Library picture

 

On several occasions they landed for less than a second; none of us had ever seen this behaviour before - the feeling was it was related to the early morning dew on the grassy verges. There were a few Swallows and Sand Martins mixed in with the crowd but the House Martins stole the show.

The bird of the day was the Short-eared Owl seen flying and then perched at Shooters Bottom. 

Short-eared Owl perched
Library picture



Short-eared Owl hunting
Library picture

Thankfully the views were excellent and everyone managed to observe the event.

We must have seen 50+ Stonechats  throughout the morning, way above average for this area meaning that most of them were getting ready to migrate.

Another highlight for me was my first ever sighting of the Adonis Blue butterfly which to add to the great view of a Clouded Yellow.

Adonis Blue Butterfly
Library picture



Clouded Yellow Butterfly
Library picture

Today's species list:
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Sand Martin
House Martin
Swallow   (10)
Meadow Pipit
Stonechat
Robin
Wheatear
Dunnock
Corn Bunting
Yellow Wagtail
Starling
Magpie
Jackdaw   (20)
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Green Woodpecker
Woodpigeon
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Cormorant
Gannet
Short-eared Owl   (30)
Kestrel
Peregrine

A modest species count but some quality birds were seen.

02/09/2014 Dungeness again!

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
Dungeness

Paul was in France but Andrew was available so off we went to Dungeness again where all the action seemed to be lately mainly related to the autumn migration down the east coast and along the south coast en route to Africa.  No rare birds were found today - they had moved on - but there were lots of other interesting birds to see. 

First stop were the fishing boats and the patch for a seawatch.  The sea was reasonably calm with only a mild wind.  We had a great view of a "bonxie" or Great Skua swimming in the water and then flying off.  We also saw what we were confident was an Arctic Skua.  Gannets and Common Scoters were seen.  At the patch we didn't see any Black Terns this time but we were told later on that a couple had turned up.  There were lots of Sandwich Terns and a couple of Common Terns.

On the ARC there was a lot of activity with migrant birds, principally Spotted Flycatchers of which there were at least 4 and probably 6 or 8.  Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Sedge Warblers were also very evident.  On the water we saw a Ruddy Duck, a couple of Ruff, a couple of Snipe, 3 Egyptian Geese and a small number of Golden Plover.  The Water Rail was present again to raise the stakes.

On the way back we stopped off at Scotney and were rewarded with good views of 12+ Yellow Wagtails, a flock of feral Barnacle Geese and a welcome Green Woodpecker.

                                    A really good day out!

Today's Species List:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Barnacle Goose
Green Woodpecker
Yellow Wagtail
Egyptian Goose
Mallard
Shoveler
Teal
Pochard   (10)
Ruddy Duck
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Little Grebe
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Water Rail
Coot
Golden Plover
Lapwing   (20)
Ruff
Snipe
Black Tailed Godwit
Woodpigeon
Swift
Cetti's Warbler (heard)
 Linnet
Common Scoter
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant   (30)
Gannet
Arctic Skua
Great Skua
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Swallow   (40)
Pied Wagtail
Wheatear
Sedge Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling   (50)
House Sparrow
Canada Goose
Wigeon
Sand Martin