31/05/2015 Red-footed Falcon in Sussex

Sunday 31st May 2015
Barcombe, East Sussex

I never expected to see a rare bird today with such dreadful weather about.  However, as conditions improved in the afternoon, I was prompted by a text from Paul to go and see the female Red-footed Falcon that had been spotted by the River Ouse at Barcombe.
 

• Thankfully the falcon was showing well at the top of a dead tree as I arrived and I was able to get some excellent views before it flew off. 

female Red-footed Falcon
Library picture

• About 30 minutes later we saw it again being chased by a Hobby. 

• It then returned to the same tree where the gathered birders again enjoyed outstanding views.

• The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), formerly western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons.

• This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting.

• It is migratory, wintering in Africa. It is a regular wanderer to western Europe,

Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Red-footed Falcon   (222)

A nice surprise!

30/05/2015 3 in a day!

Saturday 30th May 2015
West Sussex Birding




Pagham Harbour - Sidlesham Ferry Pool  (am)

After receiving news of a Red-necked Phalarope and a Black-winged Stilt at Sidlesham Ferry Pool, Pagham Harbour, near Chichester, I made the 60+ mile round trip to the western edge of the county.    Expectations were very high.  Things turned out really well with both birds present and the expected parking issues  not surfacing.

• The Red-necked Phalarope was showing well in the foreground with it's busy, business-like style.  It's the first time I have seen this bird in summer plumage - fabulous!



Red-necked Phalarope
Library picture

• The more elegant Black-winged Stilt showed well in the background. 

Black-winged Stilt
Library picture

• Other birds seen included Black-tailed Godwits, Shelducks, a couple of Ringed Plovers, Swifts, Black-headed Gulls, Avocets and Swallows

Knepp Estate, West Sussex  (Evening)

I can't believe I gave up the chance to watch the FA cup final to go and look for Turtle Doves on the Knepp Estate.  However that's exactly what I did and boy was I rewarded!

• Some 20 minutes into the walk, I heard then saw my first Turtle Dove of 2015, in the dead tree some 50 metres away to my right.  Unfortunately I got so excited and acted so clumsily that I spooked the bird before I could get the telescope out. 

• It took another 90 minutes before I got my second chance and this time I made no mistakes.  For over 10 minutes I enjoyed lovely scope views of this handsome bird as it perched on a branch some 50 metres away, totally oblivious to my presence.  



Turtle Dove
Library picture

What a day! 

After a break of over 2 weeks I am back with a bang!





Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Red-necked Phalarope  (219)
Black-winged Stilt   (220)
Turtle Dove   (221)

Red-necked Phalarope

• The red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) is a small wader.

• This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia.

• It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, winters at sea on tropical oceans.

Black-winged Stilt

 

• The black-winged stilt, common stilt, or pied stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family (Recurvirostridae).The scientific name Himantopus comes from the Greek meaning "strap foot" or "thong foot

•  In Europe, the Black-winged Stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrant north of its normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries,

• These birds pick up their food from sand or water. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans.  The nest site is a bare spot on the ground near water. These birds often nest in small groups, sometimes with avocets.

13/05/2015 Pulborough Brooks for Nightingales, Hobbies and a Cuckoo

Wednesday 13th May 2015
Pulborough Brooks RSPB
Brighton RSPB Local Group Outing

The Brighton RSPB groups' annual visit to Pulborough Brooks to see the Nightingales was very welcome after a somewhat quiet time since I came back from Wales. 

• The Nightingales were in fine voice, as you would expect, but seeing them was more difficult and it was not until later on in the outing that we got our desired view.

There were several other interesting events:

• We were fortunate to see a Cuckoo as it had just arrived on the reserve.  We were having difficulty finding it in the trees when it decided to fly past us, saving our blushes.  This was my second of the day, having seen another on the Knepp Estate very early this morning  (7.00 am !!!!)  

• Hobbies were around in good numbers, though distant.  I saw at least 3 against the backdrop of the South Downs.

• 3 Little Ringed Plovers were seen from Netley's Hide, my first of the year.  Also seen were Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Common Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat was heard.

Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Garden Warbler   (217)
Little Ringed Plover   (218)

12/05/2015 First Nightjar of Year

Tuesday 12th May 2015
Churlwood Car park in Ashdown Forest
Around Dusk

I saw my first Nightjar of 2015 at my patch - Churlwood in the Ashdown Forest.  Around 8.40 p.m. I saw my only Woodcock of the night, followed 30 minutes later by the Nightjar.  10 minutes later I saw it again.

On both occasions I was alerted to it's presence by it's unique flight call.  It was probably a female as there was no churring at all.



My favourite bird so now my summer has really started.


Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List
Linnet   (215)  Audit of records showed this had been omitted 
Night Jar   (216)

10/05/2015 Minsmere

Sunday 10th May 2015
Minsmere
East Grinstead RSPB Group Outing

18 of us made the annual pilgrimage to Minsmere on a fine, breezy and overcast day.

The highlights were:

• We were greeted by scores of Sandmartins as we entered the reserve through the visitors centre.  This has to be one of the best sites in the country for seeing this lovely species.

• No sooner had we finished with the Sandmartins  than we were privileged to come across the Bearded Tits with at least 6 sightings being made.  A couple of them gave excellent views.  The birds were flying around the reeds quite regularly but did not stay put for any great length of time.

• My particular favourite was the sight of Hobbies in flight - I counted at least 5 and staff told us there were at least 9 earlier.

• Minsmere also specialises in Bitterns and although there were lots showing early on I only managed to see one late in the afternoon but what a great view as the bird relocated some 50 metres allowing us to observe it's flight.

• Another Minsmere speciality is the Marsh Harrier and we saw several in the afternoon.

• A significant number of Avocets were on site, providing the glamour. 

   We  spent some time looking for the Stone Curlews but the viewing point was too far away from the nest to allow us succeed.  No doubt the Springwatch team will have better views when they arrive soon and we can see what we missed on the telly.  




A really good trip with well over 60 species seen.




Today's Species List
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck
Gadwall
Mallard
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe   (10)
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Bittern
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Spoonbill
Marsh Harrier
Hobby
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet   (20)
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull   (30)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Sand Martin
Swallow   (40)
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
Cetti's Warbler (h)
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Whitethroat   (50)
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
Chaffinch   (60)
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Reed Bunting
Bearded Tit

01/05/2015 A second look at the Hudsonian Godwit and a dozen Hobbies

Friday 1st May 2015
Meare Heath NNR on the Somerset Levels

I decided to return to Meare Heath NNR on my way home from North wales to get a second look at the Hudsonian Godwit.  My first visit was so hurried and there were so many birders around that I felt the need to get a more relaxed view of this rare bird.

• From the car park, before walking the 400 metres to the star item, there were at least 12 Hobbies flying close by - an amazing sight.  I have never seen so many of them in the air at the same time.  Unbelievably, a birder I talked to said there had been 20 earlier in the day.

Hobbies flying
Library picture

• When I arrived at the viewing point for the Hudsonian Godwit, thankfully, there were far fewer birders around than last time.  Unfortunately the godwit had flown to a place below the bank and I had to wait some time for it to appear among the Black-tailed Godwits.  Now I could study the bird in more detail.

Hudsonian Godwit
Library picture

• Unfortunately I did not have enough time to wait around to catch in flying as the wonderful image below shows

Hudsonian Godwit flying
Library picture

 

What a lovely way to start and end a birding holiday!

 

 

 

Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:

Hobby   (214)

25/04/2015 to 01/05/2015 North Wales Birding Trip

Saturday 25th April 2015 to Friday 1st May 2015
With Brian, Graham and Harvey - Cumbrian Birders
North Wales

I was fortunate to be invited along to a birding holiday in North Wales with my friend Brian and 2 Cumbrian birders, Graham and Harvey.  Our base for the week was a caravan situated on it's own, in private grounds, on the outskirts of Abersoch and overlooking Cardigan Bay.

The weather throughout was good with no rain and plenty of sunshine but somewhat cold early morning.  Expectations were high!

Sunday 26th April 2015

• First stop was South Stack on Angelsey to see the Choughs.  Within minutes of arrival we saw the birds and enjoyed observing their behaviour for several minutes.  Throughout our stay these birds continued to show up and delight us.

Chough
Library picture

Choughs
Library picture

• The other significant species seen was the Manx Shearwater.  We watched from the cliff tops as small groups of these lovely birds weaved their way low over the waves.

Manx Shearwaters
Library picture

• Next stop was Conwy NNR.  Here we saw many species with the highlight for me being the huge numbers of Hirundines around .

We had made an excellent start with both our target species present and showing well and I managed to add another 6 species to my year list.


Monday 27th April 2015
This was perhaps our worst day of the trip.  Despite going to some excellent habitats in the Aberdaron area there were few birds around.  The highlight was again seeing the Choughs and also watching the Fulmars nesting on the cliff edges.

Unfortunately, Harvey's camper suffered some damage and needed a new exhaust.


Very surprisingly, I was unable to add to my 2015 UK list today.




Tuesday 28th April 2015
Today was always going to be special for us.  We made the long trip south east to Ynys-hir from which a Springwatch and an Autumnwatch programme had been made recently.

After a very slow start when we went left from the reception area and saw very few birds, things picked up dramatically when we headed to the right hand section of the reserve. 

• We were delighted to see a Lesser Whitethroat in the bushes a few feet away from us.  The views were only for a few seconds but they were excellent.

• Quite soon after we heard, very clearly, a Grasshopper Warbler in the scrub area close by.  Unfortunately we were unable to see it despite our best efforts.  Thankfully we saw one later on in the week in a different area. 

• One of the biggest highlights of the day was provided by a stunning male Redstart that was feeding on the ground barely 10 metres away.

Male Redstart
Library picture

• Equally stunning were the many Pied Flycatchers we saw in the trees, some near nest boxes but several in the trees.  This was the largest gathering of these birds that I have ever seen. 

Pied Flycatchers
Library picture

• We were desperate to see an Osprey and although we did not get a sighting of one flying we did get good views of one on the nest in the distance.



Nesting Osprey
Library picture

Finally, this turned out to be a good day with some good sightings and I was able to add 6 more species to my year list.




Wednesday 29th April 2015
First stop on this quite windy day was the Great Orme with its spectacular views over the Irish Sea to the north and the Llandudno Bay and Conwn estuary to the south.



Llandudno and Conwy
Library picture

• Quite soon after arriving we made perhaps the "stand out" sighting of the trip when a Ring Ouzel was seen out in the open in a field on the eastern slopes.  In the bright light it looked magnificent as it foraged, quite oblivious to our presence.

Ring Ouzel
Library picture

• We then made the short journey to Conwy to spend a very happy couple of hours revisiting the reserve.

What a spectacular morning on the Great Orme and a stunning migrant to boot!




Thursday 30th April 2015
Bardsey Island
We were now in full swing and today we would continue the theme of the spectacular by making a 5 hour boat trip to Bardsey Island from Aberdaron

Bardsey Island
Library picture

• On the approach to the island we saw our fair share of mainly Guillemots but some Razorbills - enough to whet our appetite for things to come.

• It took us almost an hour to move a couple of hundred metres from where the boat landed to the bird observatory; such was the variety of warblers and other small birds to be seen in the hedges.  There were lots of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats and Blackcaps around but the main excitement centred on a Grasshopper Warbler showing well for a short while in the hedge and a lovely Lesser Whitethroat.

Grasshopper Warbler
Library picture

Lesser Whitethroat
Library picture

• Then followed  an unproductive period at the plantation where we were unable to find the target bird - the Firecrest.

• Harvey, Graham and I then ascended the hillside leaving Brian to continue the search for the Firecrest.  Harvey then spotted some 10 or so Puffins swimming in the water about 25 metres from the steep eastern slopes and we simply lay down and took in the spectacle along with the spectacular views our high vantage point generated.  What a life!  We sailed close to this point on the return journey, enabling Brian and others to savour what we had seen.

Puffins on the sea
Library picture

• Finally we had to come off the hill and head back to the plantation to link up again with Brian.  On the way we searched in vain for the Little Owls (2) that are a feature of the landscape here.  Brian had a similar experience during our absence.

• There was to be one final surprise on the return leg of the boat trip.  The skipper of the boat was persuaded by a splendid local character to make a short detour to Ynys Gwylan Fawr, one of 2 smaller islands near Aberdaron where we could see even more Puffins on the water and a small number occupying the burrows on the island.

This was to be the last outing of our trip - what a way to finish!



The weather forecast for Saturday was awful so I took the decision to head off home a day early.  We were unlikely to see any more new birds and I had a long way to go.  The rest of the lads took the same view and they planned to call in at Leighton Moss on the way back north to Workington


Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Chough   (202)
Manx Shearwater   (203)
Sedge Warbler   (204)
Swift   (205)
Sand Martin   (206)
Reed Warbler   (207)
Lesser Whitethroat   (208)
Pied Flycatcher   (209)
Grasshopper Warbler   (210)
Osprey   (211)
Ring Ouzel   (212)
Puffin   (213)



Species List for whole trip:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Teal
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Pheasant
Great-crested Grebe   (10)
Fulmar
Manx Shearwater
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey   (20)
Kestrel
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit   (30)
Whimbrel
Curlew
Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Guillemot
Razorbill   (40)
Puffin
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Feral Pigeon  (Rock Dove)Swift
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit   (50)
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Stonechat
Wheatear
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Song Thrush   (60)
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Pied Flycatcher
Long-tailed Tit   (70)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Jay
Magpie
Chough
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Hooded Crow   (80)
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting

25/04/2015 Hudsonian Godwit!!!!!!

Saturday 25th April 2015
Meare Heath NNR, Somerset
BA6 9SX


On my way up to join Cumbrian friends for a North Wales birding trip, I intended to call in and see the Pied-billed Grebe that had been seen at Berkeley in Gloucestershire.  When I checked RBA before setting off the reports were negative.  However news was just breaking about a Hudsonian Godwit at Meare Heath NNR in Somerset so I changed my plans and headed off to BA6 9SX. 

• By the time I got there there were hundreds of birders on site and reports since put the number at over 1000 for the first day.



Library picture

• The bird was in among a large group of Black-tailed Godwits.   I could not stay long as I had already detoured nearly 100 miles and was running very late.  Having made the ID I  headed up the M5 en route to Abersoch in North Wales arriving about 8 p.m. 



Hudsonian Godwit
Library picture

Hudsonian Godwit
Library picture

• This was only the third ever sighting of this species in the UK.  It usually spends the winter in South America and then heads north to its breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. All of which makes this a really rare bird in the UK. Needless to say it was a "lifer" for me.

Addition to BUBO UK Life List of Birds:
Hudsonian Godwit   (289)

Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Year List of Birds:

Hudsonian Godwit    (201)

 

 

 

What a start to my holiday!

 

 

 

 

24/04/2015 Seawatching 2 at Splash Point

Friday 24th April 2015
Splash Point, Seaford

Another early start with Paul and the seawatching fraternity at Splash Point.  This time the weather was milder and there was a lot more activity than yesterday.

The same birds were there as yesterday with the addition of Little Tern, Little Gull and a pair of Eider.  The numbers of Brent Geese and Whimbrel in particular were well up.



A smashing morning with my 200th bird of 2015 to boot!



Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List
Little Gull   (198)
Little Tern   (199)
Eider   (200)

23/04/2015 Old Lodge NR Redstarts, Cuckoo etc

Thursday 23rd April 2015
Old Lodge NR, Ashdown Forest

After a couple of hours at home, I  managed to squeeze in a couple of extra hours birding at Old Lodge in the late afternoon/early evening to supplement this mornings efforts - and boy was I rewarded.

From the car park I soon saw heard and saw my first Willow Warbler of the year, followed shortly by a smashing close up of a Tree Pipit. 

As I wandered round the reserve looking for Redstarts I could hear a Cuckoo in the background and after a while it was so close I could see it nestled high in a tree above my path.

The Redstarts were proving more elusive than expected but I eventually located a couple in the usual place by the fence line that runs parallel to the main road to Hartfield.


Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Willow Warbler   (194)
Tree Pipit   (195)
Cuckoo   (196)
Redstart   (197)


 

23/03/2015 First Sea-watch of the Year

Thursday 23rd April 2015 Splash Point, Cuckmere Haven and Birling Gap    I joined Paul and the Splash Point regulars for my first seawatch of 2015 - a 0615 start in cold and overcast conditions! Very slow at the start, the only birds of note up to 08.00 being 3 Arctic Skuas (2 light, 1 dark phase) flying E at 06.19, 3 Velvet Scoter that landed on the sea for a while with 6 Common Scoter before continuing up Channel, and 7 Whimbrel. A walk down the Cuckmere, with Paul, to the sea failed to find yesterday's Spoonbill though there were 7 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin and a Barnacle Goose. After Paul departed I made the short journey to Horseshoe Plantation, near Birling Gap, to look for the Wryneck that had been reported there.  About 100 metres east of Belle Tout Wood I saw Phillip W, a fellow BUBO lister, who had located the bird and for several minutes I enjoyed spectacular, close views of this lovely visitor out in the open, feeding in the short grass. Wryneck Library picture   An eventful morning with some excellent sightings!     Additions to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List: Arctic Skua   (189) Velvet Scoter   (190) Common Tern   (191) Whitethroat   (192) Wryneck   (193)