30/12/2014 Twitching in Bedfordshire and Berkshire.

Tuesday 30/12/2104
Priory Country Park, Bedfordshire
Bray Gravel Pits, Maidenhead, Berkshire
Paul and Sandra

Yesterday, with a shopping list of 6 birds, we couldn't go wrong and managed to get great views of all of them.  Today, with only 2 birds on the shopping list, we "dipped" on both!  "What a difference a day makes", "that's the nature of birding" etc - all these clichés really do apply!

• We nearly "twitched" the Penduline Tit at Bedford, arriving less than 45 minutes after the only sighting of the day.  We waited in vain nearly 3 hours for it to return as it had yesterday.  We were entertained throughout our wait by nearby Reed Buntings, a Robin, Blue Tits and a glorious Kingfisher.

• After relocating to Bray Gravel Pits in Berkshire we searched high and low for the Ring-necked Duck but despite our best efforts we were unable to find it. We even tried the lovely Jubilee River Nature Reserve before the fading light caused us to stop.

Despite our lack of success with the target species we had a really good time and found 3 new sites for future use.







Toady's species list:
Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Cetti's Warbler (heard)
Chaffinch
Coot
Cormorant   (10)
Dunnock
Egyptian Goose
Fieldfare
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Wodpecker
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Grey Heron   (20)
Greylag Goose
Kingfisher
Little Grebe
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pheasant
Pochard
Red Kite   (30)
Reed Bunting
Ring-necked Parakeet
Robin
Shoveler
Stonechat
Teal
Tufted Duck
Wigeon
Woodpigeon
Wren   (40)

A lovely day's birding in excellent company!

29/12/2014 West Sussex Birding

Monday 29th December 2014
West Sussex Birding with Paul and Group

6 of us made this trip into the west of the county, on a glorious sunny day, with a shopping list that included Firecrest, Great Grey Shrike, Hawfinch, Little Owl, Whooper Swan and Bewick Swan.

 
First stop was Waterwoods, near the A27 at Arundel, where we quickly located the Firecrests with at least 2 showing well along with Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and Goldcrest.

The long drive north to Iping Common was rewarded with some quite outstanding views of the Great Grey Shrike in the canopy of the trees as it moved about it's territory.  Several Yellowhammers were seen close to the car park.

The Hawfinches again proved tricky but, as before, patience paid off and I was able to get great views of 2 of the 6 that eventually turned up in the late afternoon in the usual place close to West Dean Woods.  Both Little Owls were showing well in the usual tree near to Staple Ash Farm.

Next stop was St Mary's Church, Barnham to catch up with the 4 Whooper Swans that had been reported lately.  This bird, a rare visitor to these parts, was a first for me in Sussex.

Our final stop was back at Arundel where we observed the 34 Bewick Swans in the valley below Burpham Church. 3 Black Swans were also present along with the Mute Swans so we managed the "full monty" with regard to this group.

 

A cracking day out, with all our target birds seen!

Today's species list:
Bewick's Swan
Black Swan
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
Pheasant   (10)
Fieldfare
Firecrest
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Great Grey Shrike
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Greylag Goose   (20)
Hawfinch
Jackdaw
Jay
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Redpoll
Little Owl
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard   (30)
Marsh Tit
Mute Swan
Nuthatch
Raven
Red Kite
Red-legged partridge
Redwing
Reed Bunting
Robin
Rook   (40)
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Stonechat
Treecreeper
Whooper Swan
Woodpigeon
Yellowhammer

20/12/2014 Ferruginous Duck on Blashford Lakes and Barred Warbler at Portland Bill Observatory

Saturday 20/12/ 2014 
Portland Bill Bird Observatory and Blashford Lakes
with Paul and Bridget


The target bird today was the Barred Warbler that had been seen at Portland Bill Bird Observatory every day for the last few weeks.  If time allowed, we then hoped to have another shot at finding the Ferruginous Duck on Kingfisher Lake in Hampshire, on the way home.  The weather conditions were nigh on perfect with good visibility, no rain and temperatures reaching 11 degrees Celsius.

After a 06.45 start we were at the observatory for 09.15 where the Barred Warbler was showing well at the feeders less than 10 metres from us.  It was feeding on the half apples that the wardens had suspended from the trees adjacent to the main feeders, chasing off the other birds when necessary . 



Barred Warbler
Library picture

We enjoyed superb views for 15 minutes or so before the sun came out from behind the clouds at the back of the feeders to make viewing less pleasant.  We decided to use the time to go walkabout on the promontory, returning later to get another good look before departing for Hampshire.

Paul soon found the male Ferruginous Duck on Kingfisher Lake but the views were brief, albeit good, from behind the boundary fence.  Later on, after a stroke of good luck, we were able to get lengthy, uninterrupted views. 

Ferruginous Duck
Library picture

This drake ferruginous duck, named after the male's deep chestnut, rust-like plumage and often shortened to 'fudge duck', arrived in the area at the beginning of December.  We were in a good position to pick out the main ID features including the deep russet brown body, the white triangular patch under the tail and the somewhat peaked head.  A "vagrant", this is the only one currently being reported in the UK; they breed in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia and are  somewhat migratory wintering farther south and into north Africa.

Things had gone so well, we even had time to visit Blashford Lakes where we saw, among other birds, a Black-necked Grebe, a male and a female Goldeneye and 20+ Goosanders on Ibsley Water. 



Today's species list:
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Barred Warbler
Kestrel
Peregrine
Blackcap
Dunnock
Robin   (10)
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Grey Heron
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Woodpigeon   (20)
Teal
Wigeon
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Shelduck
Pochard
Mallard
Great-crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Lapwing   (30)
Coot
Moorhen
Cormorant
Shag
Pied Wagtail
Rock Pipit
Chaffinch
Ruddy Duck
Gadwall
Goosander   (40)
Goldeneye
Canada Goose
Black-necked Grebe
Black Guillemot
Jay
Kittiwake
Magpie
Raven
Shoveler
Starling   (50)
Mute Swan
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Red-breasted Merganser

Addition to UK Birds  2014 Year List:
Ferruginous Duck   (276 )

Addition to UK Birds  Life List:
Ferruginous Duck   (286 )




A typically good day out with Paul and the added bonus of a "lifer" for me - the Ferruginous Duck - a much more interesting bird than I had first thought.

17/12/2014 A new bird at last! Richard's Pipit at Horse Eye Level in East Sussex

Wednesday 17th December 2014
Horse Eye Level, Pevensey in East Sussex
with Paul

Paul and I decided to have another go at finding the Richard's Pipit that everyone else in the world, other than us, seems to have seen at Horse Eye Level near Pevensey in East Sussex.  This was my second try and Paul's fourth.  Expectations were high as the pipit was seen on several occasions yesterday.  We chose a late start, in line with the information we had put together to maximise our chances of a sighting.  The weather was overcast but dry and a lot warmer than yesterday.

Early on we compensated for a no show by the star item by watching  2 Ring-tailed Hen Harriers, 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Ravens and a pair of Stonechats.  Normally we would have settled for this cast list but we desperately wanted to see the Richard's Pipit; it was beginning to look like our futile Shrike pursuit at Greatham all over again.


By mid afternoon we still had no success and we were beginning to think it was not to be.  We decided to stay, thinking that we would see some Short-eared Owls at least. 

Short-eared Owl
Library picture

 

 True to form we saw a couple that had been flushed by a pack of hunting dogs.  The views were immense and we were treated to a master class of these birds in flight. 

Short-eared Owl
Library picture

• Paul did one final scan of the area and lo and behold there it was - the star item showing really well about 50 metres away!  My first Richard's Pipit of 2014 and showing infinitely better than my only previous sighting, in Norfolk last year.



• We savoured the views of this rare bird and I was able to check the key ID features - upright posture (like a Mistle Thrush), bobbing it's tail (like a Wagtail) and the distinctive facial marks near the eye.  By this time we were the only birders there - at least a half dozen or so had given up and gone home.  It had taken us over 4 hours to achieve our goal.



Richard's Pipit
Library picture

Not many birds today but what a stellar cast.

Today's species list:
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Carrion Crow
Robin
Chaffinch
Wren
Cetti's Warbler (heard)
Marsh Harrier
Ringtail Hen Harrier
Raven   (10)
Short-eared Owl
Stonechat
Cormorant
Mute Swan
Meadow Pipit
Snipe
Grey Heron
Kestrel
Woodpigeon
Blackbird   (20)
Magpie
Starling



Addition to 2014 UK Bird List:
Richard's Pipit   (275)

Patience finally paid off!

15/12/2014 Xmas Social including trips to Pulborough Brooks RSPN and Greatham Bridge

Monday 15th December 2014
Xmas Social at the Sportsman at Amberley
Paul and group

• Spent the morning at Pulborough Brooks where all the usual suspects turned up - the pick of which were the Pintails that looked absolutely stunning in the morning light.

After a hiccup with a couple of the lunchtime meals at the Sportsman pub in Amberley, the scheduled afternoon session was changed from a visit to the Burgh to the nearer venue at Greatham. 

• The Barn Owls didn't show but the Sparrowhawk, the Peregrine, the Kestrels, the Tufted Ducks, the Stonechat, the Fieldfare, the Stonechat and the marvellous murmeration of Starlings more than made up for any sightings we may have made on the Burgh.

Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Shelduck
Wigeon
Mallard
Teal
Gadwall
Pintail
Shoveler
Little Grebe   (10)
Buzzard
Great-crested Grebe
Tufted Duck
Stonechat
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Chaffinch
Nuthatch
Green Woodpecker   (20)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Rook
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Starling
Peregrine
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel   (30)
Black-tailed Godwit
Pied Wagtail
Coot
Moorhen
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Heron
Jay
Lapwing
Magpie   (40)
Pheasant
Meadow Pipit
Golden Plover
Robin
Ruff
Wren

Merry Xmas to all in this marvellous group.

14/12/2014 Dungeness with the East Grinstead RSPB Group

Sunday 14th December 2014
East Grinstead RSPB
Dungeness NR

Our last group outing of the year was, fittingly, at Dungeness with 11 members making the trip.  The weather for most of the day was excellent with dry, crisp conditions; after lunch the weather deteriorated but the rain didn't arrive until 3 pm by which time we were on Walland Marsh.
 
Yet again there were many highlights:
 

• Up to 4 Great White Egrets were seen on the reserve and there hardly seemed a minute when we couldn't see one.

 

• The 3 female Smew provided the greatest pleasure.  We saw them from Dennis's Hide at the very start of our day and they set the tone for the day.

• Another magic moment occurred when a Barn Owl was spotted resting in the bushes by the water on the way from Denge Marsh Hide to the raised viewing point.  It was about 50 metres away but looked absolutely stunning in the telescope.

•  We were lucky to see 2 Kingfishers today with the one at the ARC Hide showing up frequently.  Also seen was a Water Rail, a Bearded Tit, a pair of Goldeneye including the drake, a Ruddy Duck, a Cattle Egret and numerous Marsh Harriers.

Toaday's species list:
Blackbird
Reed Bunting
Buzzard
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Wigeon
Gadwall   (10)
Teal
Pintail
Shoveler
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Pochard
Ruddy Duck
Goldeneye
Smew
Red-legged Partridge   (20)
Pheasant
Little Grebe
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel   (30)
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon    (40)
Barn Owl
Kingfisher
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Fieldfare
 Goldcrest
Bearded Tit(heard)   (50)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
Tree Sparrow
Greenfinch

Another good day at the office with respect to Dungeness - lots of birds, including a few specials!

13/12/2014 West Dean Woods - Hawfinches and Little Owls

Saturday 13th December 2014
West Dean Woods
Paul and group 11.30 to 13.45



Nine of our group made the long trip to West Dean Woods, north of Chichester, where we hoped to see Hawfinches, a Little Owl and Firecrests.  I made a few mistakes en route and arrived over 30 minutes late despite setting off in good time.  Weather conditions were excellent - a typical December afternoon, cold and crisp but sunny and dry.
 
We managed 2 out of 3 of our wish list, dipping only on the Firecrest. 

• We worked hard to get a sighting of the Hawfinch, finally being rewarded with a superb view of one in the canopy of a tree adjacent to the West Dean Estate; earlier we managed a fleeting view of 5 as they flew by. 
• The Little Owl was showing well in the usual tree at Staple Ash Farm - indeed I was only seconds away from seeing a second as it disappeared from view just before I was ready.

Just before the end we came across 3 Red Kites in the skies to the south east of us and soon after we stumbled on an obvious roost spot - a couple of trees with at least 10 Red Kite and 2 Buzzards.  Some finale!


Today's species list:
Goldcrest
Chaffinch
Marsh Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Red Kite
Little Owl
Greenfinch   (10)
Hawfinch
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Redwing
Woodpigeon
Pheasant
Kestrel
Buzzard   (20)
Sparrowhawk
Robin
Dunnock
Wren
Chiffchaff
Nuthatch
Jay
Magpie
Starling
House Sparrow   (30)
Yellowhammer
Raven

Patience  really paid off today with some quality birds showing well in the end!

09/12/2014. East Head and Church Norton

Tuesday 10th December 2014
East Head and Church Norton
Paul and Group

Another rich birding trip with Paul and the group, this time on the coast, south of Chichester.  9 of us spent the morning at East Head before relocating to Church Norton in the afternoon at high tide. 

Weather conditions were just about perfect, a typical crisp, dry, December day with a gentle breeze.  There were no new birds to add to my list - it would be hard at this stage in the year - but we did manage to put together a quality species list with a count well over 50 for the day.

• Pride of place had to go to the 3 Spoonbills at Church Norton.  We had to work hard to see the bills as the birds had them tucked in but patience paid off and it wasn't too long before they used them for preening purposes.

• Pick of the day at East Head were the 14 or so Red-breasted Mergansers swimming on the sea on the opposite side of the estuary and the pair of Sandwich Terns diving for fish close to the shore.

• On the Snow Hill Marshes we saw a couple of Greenshanks and a couple of Spotted Redshanks among the many waders.

Today's species list:
Red-breasted Merganser
Great Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Great-crested.Grebe
Barnacle Goose
Brent Goose
Starling
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw.  (10)
Snipe
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Cormorant
Turnstone
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Dunlin
Curlew
Little Grebe.  (20)
Wigeon
Teal
Shelduck
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Little Egret
Blackbird
Robin
Spoonbill
Golden Plover   (30)
Lapwing
Greenshank
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Pintail
Shoveler
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Woodcock   (40)
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Stonechat
Dunnock
Greenfinch
Jay
Magpie
Pheasant
Knott
Redshank    (50)
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull
Spotted Redshank

A delightful day out with friends.

05/12/2014. In Workington with family. Bittern, Whooper Swans and Goosanders

Friday 5th December 2014
Soddy Gap, Linskeldfield Tarn and Siddick Pond
With Brian and Kenny



Tried to get in day's birding after a family funeral yesterday.  Unfortunately the weather forecast was wrong and the rain arrived in the morning, soon after we got going and it only improved late afternoon, contrary to predictions.

• At Soddy Gap we managed to enjoy the large numbers of Goosander on show - a bird that is more common here than in Sussex.  There must have been 25+ present with the majority being males.  The drake Goldeneye was also prominent.  There can be few sites more spectacular than Soddy Gap with Grizedale Pike and Grasmoor forming the backdrop.

• After getting drenched we relocated to the safety of the hide at Linskeldfield Tarn where the most interesting species was, again, the Goosander.  The scenery here too was spectacular with Skiddaw and Ullock Pike forming the backdrop this time.
• 
  After a welcome break and a hot meal at Joan's,  Brian and I went to Siddick Pond just before dusk to catch the Bittern roost.  True to form, the bird showed in the reed bed and we managed to get a couple of close views of it flying and walking in the area directly in front of us.  Earlier I had chance to detour to a point closer to the hide to see a family group of 5 Whooper Swans as they enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine.

• We went up by car and enjoyed the Red Kites showing on the M40 south of Oxford.  The count was 19 for the northbound journey and just 4 for the return leg as it was getting late and most birds had gone to roost.

Today's species list:
Whooper Swan
Goosander
Bittern
Coot
Moorhen
Grey Heron
Blackbird
Reed Bunting
Dunnock
Tufted Duck   (10)
Robin
Bullfinch
Chaffinch
Teal
Mute Swan
Buzzard
Kestrel
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Goldeneye   (20)
Shoveler
Pheasant
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Black-headed Gull
Jay
Lapwing
Mallard
Starling Pied Wagtail   (30)
Woodpigeon

30/11/2014 Swanbourne Lake and the Burgh. Short-eared Owl and Red Kites!

Sunday 30th November 2014
Swanbourne Lake then the Burgh
Paul and the Group

Spent a lovely day out with Paul and the group, starting at Swanbourne Lake then walking round the perimeter of the WWT site before finishing up on the Burgh.  Weather conditions were overcast but dry; conditions underfoot were muddy, making it a wellies job in the main.

The highlights included some excellent views of the Mandarin Ducks on the lake, a smashing view of the Long-eared Owl as it flew past us on the Burgh and the wonderful sight of at least 10 Red Kites enjoying their afternoon flight on the downs.






Today's Species List:
Mute Swan
Bewick's Swan
Gadwall
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Mandarin Duck
Grey Partridge
Pheasant
Little Grebe   (10)
Red Kite
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Water Rail (heard)
Moorhen
Coot
Common Gull
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon   (20)
 Collared Dove
Short-eared Owl
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Raven
Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit   (30)
Skylark
Cetti's Warbler   (heard)
Wren
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Starling
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Redwing
Song Thrush   (40)
Robin
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Grey Wagtail
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
Corn Bunting
Reed Bunting