29/05/2016 Stodmarsh - East Grinstead Group Visit

Sunday 29 May 2016
Stodmarsh NR, Kent
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Our annual visit to Stodmarsh was well subscribed with fourteen members making the long trip to the Canterbury area.  We were rewarded with some excellent birding moments and a species count in excess of 50.  The only down side was not seeing any turtle doves at this favoured site.

• As usual at this time of year the skies were dominated by swifts -   this site is truly a real hotspot for swifts.  There was also at least one sand martin and one swallow present.  Up to 11 common terns were also evident as they flew around the site.

• Another speciality of this site is the cetti's warbler and we heard them continuously as we moved around.

• No visit here is complete without several sightings of the hobby and we were treated to several superb views of these lovely raptors as they flew over the reserve.

• Cuckoo's were much in evidence and we saw at least 2 and heard more.

• It was an excellent opportunity to hear and see reed warbler's and sedge warbler's and note the ID differences.  .Mark provided a superb masterclass on the subject as he also did for the differences between the garden warbler sounds and the blackcap sounds

• As expected there were many marsh harriers on view.  Only one bearded tit was seen but members were delighted by it.  We were lucky to see one great white egret flying at the grove ferry end of the reserve.  Also seen here was a flying kingfisher, the second sighting of the day.

Another cracking day out with lots to see and enjoy. 

28/05/2106 Hampshire Visit Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Warbler and Honey Buzzard

Saturday 28 May 2016
New Forest, Hampshire
Paul and group (5)

Five of us made the trip down to the New Forest and we were rewarded with a salad day's birding.  The roads were surprisingly quiet on the journey out considering it was bank holiday weekend.  Our target birds for the day were wood warbler, hobby, goshawk, dartford warbler and honey buzzard.



Highland Water nr Boulderwood
First stop was the Highland Water CP near Boulderwood where Paul led us on a short, circular walk to look for wood warblers.  En route we found our first redstart of the day.  Quite soon after we hit the jackpot when we came across a lesser-spotted woodpecker feeding on the low tree just 25 metres or so ahead of us at the crossroads.  Thankfully it was unaware of our presence and carried on feeding for long enough to allow us to make the ID with the barring etc.

In the same area Paul picked up the distinctive sound of our first wood warbler and it wasn't long before we had good views of this fascinating bird.  As we walked along the path it was evident that this was a real "hotspot" for this species and one to note for future reference.

Acres Down
We relocated to Acres Down and the usual raptor viewing point to join a group of other birders looking for goshawks and, in particular, honey buzzards.  It wasn't long before we sighted our first goshawk, perched on the branch of a tree on the skyline in the distance ahead of us.  After a while we saw the bird flying around - the first of several sightings.  

Just before lunch we got what we prized most when a honey buzzard was seen, behind us, in the distance.  Thankfully it was heading our way and soon we had the most momentous views as it came directly overhead, much to the delight of all present.

In the gaps between sightings on Acres Down we were entertained for a lengthy period by super views of a nearby cuckoo.  Also present were woodlarks and at least one tree pipit.  We had excellent views of the former on the path back to the car park.



Shatterford
Next stop was Shatterford to seek dartford warbler.  Soon after crossing the bridge Paul picked up the sound and we managed fleeting glimpses of the bird as it moved over the heather.  Eventually we got really good views from close range of one on the trees in front of us - much to the delight of Claire for whom it was a "lifer".

Prior to this, just by the bridge, we saw our first hobbies of the day, a couple of siskins and then a couple of peregrines having an altercation with a buzzard.  All of these gave excellent, close views.  On the way back, again by the bridge, we saw another cracking, close redstart.


Keyhaven
On the way home we stopped off at Keyhaven to try and find the roseate tern that had been reported there earlier. Despite our best efforts we could not locate it.  The tide had come in, causing the tern to relocate probably onto the nearby nature reserve.

A fabulous day out, in good company and aided by some brilliant birding by Paul.  

Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
wood warbler   (218)
honey buzzard   (219)

26/05/2016 Laughing Gull at Dungeness and Nightjars at Hindleap

Thursday 26 May 2016



Dungeness

• I was unable to get to Hastings yesterday after Paul rang to say a laughing gull had arrived there. Even today I could only get to Dungeness (where the bird had moved to) at 4 p.m.  To make matters worse, news came through that it had left the "patch" and flown onto the roof of the power station before disappearing.

• Thankfully by the time I arrived at the hide by the patch the gull had reappeared and was only 40 metres or so away in the grounds of the power station.  The views were excellent as it sat on the ground to the left of a group of herrring gulls, enjoying the sunshine.

Hindleap, Ashdown Forest

• After a brief stop off at home to grab a bite to eat I was out again looking for nightjars - this time at Hindleap.  Just on 9 p.m. I had my first of 4 sightings of roding woodcock above the treeline and 20 minutes later the churring of the nightjar started.

• Like last year there is a territory on top of the hill just east of the car park.   Here I saw and heard a pair and I saw, at first hand, the wing clapping routine.

• When I moved down the hill to Brian and June's seat I heard further churring by a second male and I watched it as it flew around it's territory.  

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:

Laughing Gull   (217)

It is looking good for nightjars again with confirmed sightings at the Old Airstrip and now also at Hindleap.

24/05 2016 Knepp Estate

Tuesday 24 May 2016
Knepp Estate
Paul and group

The quietest ever trip to Knepp with Paul.  Our target bird, the turtle dove, was in short supply this evening and we had to settle for a fleeting view of one in flight at the end of the visit.   

Very early  today Paul had seen up to 5 birds so they are obviously present in good numbers and we were just in the right place at the wrong time.

23/05/2016 You win some and you lose some! Dorset and Hampshire Twitch.

Monday 23 May 2016



Portland Bill, Dorset

• Tried to twitch the great spotted cuckoo at Portland today but failed miserably.  The bird had moved from the observatory some time ago and it is now most likely to be found at its favourite feeding ground in Reap Lane.  

• Along with 20 other birders, I spent several hours looking for it in this area and, despite several dubious "reported" sightings, none of us managed to see it.

Pennington Marshes, Hampshire

• On my way home I called off at Pennington Marshes to twitch the stilt sandpiper.  This time I was more fortunate and managed a couple of good, but short lived, views of the bird as it moved around Fishtail Lagoon.

• I felt somewhat disappointed with the returns today.  

• This is the second time in the last 3 years that I have missed the cuckoo after travelling a long way and searching for a long time.

• On the bright side, the stilt sandpiper was a first for me.

Addition to BUBO 2016 Year List:
Stilt sandpiper   (216)

Addition to BUBO UK Life List:
Stilt sandpiper   (313)

22/05/2016 Gull-ibilled Tern at Dungeness

Sunday 22 May 2016
RSPB Dungeness


I twitched the ring-billed tern at Dungeness this afternoon following a phone call from Andrew.  The tern was still there when I arrived at the visitor's centre and I was able to get good views.

Another "lifer" - my  312th

Thanks Andrew

Addition to BUBO 2016 Year List
Gull-billed Tern   (215)

Addition to BUBO UK Life List
Gull-billed Tern   (312)

21/05/2016 Nightjars again.

Saturday 21 May 2016
Old Airstrip, Ashdown Forest
with Shaun


I returned to the Old Airstrip in the Ashdown Forest with Shaun and Joel ( his dog).  This time  we managed to see a pair of nightjars at the same location (TQ 424303) as I saw them last night. 


Right on cue at at 9.15 pm the male started churring from the same tree and very soon afterwards the female approached and we witnessed wing clapping and the works.  The light being much better meant we had good views. The male moved around within a 100 m radius before returning to the same tree.  

Earlier we had seen a pair of stonechats and heard a woodcock and a tawny owl but here was no sign of the cuckoo tonight.

I wil  switch my attention to Hindleap for the next couple of days to check out the situation there.

A Saturday night well spent!

20/05/2016 Nightjar in Ashdown Forest

Friday 20 May 2016
Old Airstrip, Ashdown Forest

Went to the Ashdown Forest looking for nightjars at 8.40 pm.  

• My attention was grabbed by the sound of a cuckoo close by.  I soon located it in the dead trees on the south side of the airstrip at the car park end.  For the next 10 minutes or so I was able to enjoy superb close views before it eventually flew away in a northerly direction.

• At 9.00 pm I saw a "roding" woodcock from the same vantage point.

• At the far end of the airstrip (TQ424303) I heard the churring of the nightjar, my first encounter of the year in the Ashdown Forest.  By now the clouds had blocked the view of the moon and the lighting was so poor I was unable to see the bird and, with no further churring,  I left after half an hour.

The nightjars are back at this patch - my summer evenings are booked already!

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
Nightjar   (214)

12/05/16 to16/05/16 North Yorkshire Visit

Thursday 12 May till Monday 16 May
North Yorkshire
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

5 of us braved the cold north east weather to join Chris, our local expert, for a short break in and around the Scarborough area. Despite the chilly conditions we really enjoyed our stay and experienced some fabulous birding.  All in all we as a group managed to find 118 different species and I managed to advance my year list by an impressive 12 species including a "lifer".

• Bird of the trip just had to be the bluethroat that we saw in Hartlepool on Friday. As we arrived we found out that the bird had just flown from the bowling green site where it had been reported earlier  - flushed by the noise of the green-keeper's lawnmower.  It was some time before we found it again - back at the bowling greens again - and we were finally able to enjoy superb views for an extended period of time.

• News had just reached us of the presence of 2 whiskered terns at nearby Saltholme so we had to leave the bluethroat and head off to see them.  They were flying low over the pools by the visitor's centre so we were on to them right away.  None of us had ever seen this species before.  Apparently we had just missed a roseate tern and several black terns had been seen earlier.  We did find the 5 spoonbills however.

• Both of these stops were unscheduled and a huge bonus. Earlier we had made a planned visit to Danby Beacon, the highest point on the North Yorkshire Moors, to see dotterell and red grouse.  We managed to find 9 of the reported 10 dotterell without any trouble at all and we were able to observe them from about 50 metres as they went about their business.  Almost as a supporting act, there were a couple of red grouse close by.  They were to prove the first of many we would see on this trip.  

What an incredible first day -  no Friday 13th issues here!

• We spent some time looking for the surf scoter from Filey Brigg and only managed to find it on Saturday afternoon just north of the bay by the breakwater.   We had concentrated our earlier efforts on the much calmer waters of Filey Bay.  

• On our visit to Troutdale, also on Saturday, we managed to find our dipper and a spotted flycatcher.   We even managed to throw in a superb view of a goshawk.  To cap yet another fine day we "twitched" the red-backed shrike at Ravenscarr before heading off to an Italian restaurant for dinner.

Another superb set of sightings!

• The highlights of our Sunday birding included a ring ouzel sighting in Rosedale and my first whinchat sighting of 2016 on the road from Rosedale to Ebberston. Whereas the latter was fairly easy to locate, the ring ouzel took an awful long time and it was thanks to Lesley that we were able to enjoy good, if somewhat distant, views of the bird high on the ridge in front of us.  

Chris had saved our trip to the RSPB  Bempton Cliffs reserve till the last morning and boy was it a good decision.  In glorious sunshine, we arrived early and virtually had the viewing platforms to ourselves.  The place was awash with birds.  By the time we left the crowds had arrived and things had got much busier.

• Pride of place went to the puffins which, although in the minority, were showing really well with one pair, in particular, barely 10 metres away near the cliff top.  Razorbills, guillemots, kittiakes, fulmars and gannets completed the set.

• As we moved north along the cliff tops in search of corn buntings we had a brief view of an osprey as it flew past us and round the corner into Filey Bay.

• Our final port of call was the Ebberston area where Chris took us to a local hot spot for turtle doves and we waited patiently for one to appear.  Eventually Shaun picked up the sound and Chris soon located the bird in a dead tree about 50 metres away.  We then spent the next 20 minutes or so enjoying superb views of this lovely migrant bird.

Not long after we joined the train at Seamer and made our way back home to Sussex, satisfied that we had availed ourselves of all the birding opportunities that presented themselves over the period of our stay.  

The accommodation at the Southgate Inn in Hunmanby was splendid, as was the deli a few doors away.  We dined at a different restaurant each night so the food was excellent with a wide choice of menu.

Chris was a star.  As well as being our guide he did all the driving and provided the packed lunches.

Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:

dotterell   (203)

red grouse   (204)

bluethroat   (205)

whiskered tern   (206)

razorbill   (207)

spotted flycatcher   (208)

surf scoter   (209)

red-backed shrike   (210)

whinchat   (211)

puffin   (212)

turtle dove   (213)

Additions to BUBO UK Life List:

whiskered tern    (311)

08/05/2016 Minsmere again.

Sunday 8 May 2016
RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk
East Grinstead RSPB Members Group

21 of us formed part of a coach trip to Minsmere on a beautiful May day with temperatures exceeding 20C and little or no wind.

The birds seen were more or less the same as on my previous visit 12 days ago with a couple of exceptions:

• This time we saw a hobby, my first of the year, from the Island Mere hide, near the end of our visit.  The views were excellent as the bird moved across the skies above us.

• Last time we heard a booming bittern but did not see it.  This time we had magnificent views of one as it flew across the reed bed near us, landed and then took off again.  Bird of the day - by some considerable margin!

• The stone curlew was still there and was showing well, if somewhat distant again.

• Our first encounter on the reserve was with the magnificent sand martins as they swarmed in and out of their sand bank habitat.

• We had excellent views of reed warblers and sedge warblers.

• The 2 little terns were still there.

• The nightingale was still there and singing well.  We managed to glimpse it several times as it moved around the scrub in front of us but we were unable to get a really good view.

• There were no great white egrets present this trip.

A cracking trip with over 70 species seen!

Addition to BUBO UK 2016 Year List:

Hobby   (202)

07/05/2016 Weir Wood Reservoir Members Open Day

Saturday 7  May 2016
a.m.

The stars of the show this morning were the 3 tawny owl chicks that Phil showed everyone present after he had ringed them.

Tawny Owl Chick at Weir Wood Reservoir

At least 2 pairs of garden warbler were seen along with blackcap, marsh tit, stock dove, nuthatch and mandarin.

05/05/2016 Rufous Turtle Dove at Otford

Thursday 5 May 2016
Otford Kent
18.30 to 19.15

Acting on Paul's advice, Shaun and  I ventured up to Otford in Kent to twitch the rufous turtle dove.  Apparently the bird has been there since February but the sighting was suppressed for some time and only recently went global.

We had to wait about 20 minutes before getting our first view - low in the favoured apple tree and only visible to people my height or more because of the obstruction caused by fence line.  However it soon moved to a higher perch in the bare tree to the right and everyone was able to enjoy good, if somewhat distant views.

Rufous Turtle Dove
Courtesy of KOS

This was only my second "lifer" of the year. 

Well worth the drive in the evening sunshine.

Wikipedia

This species is a rare vagrant to northern and western Europe. A 1986 review by Erik Hirschfeld in Dutch Birding listed around 30 records, mostly in autumn and winter.  Prior to this, it had been suggested that European records referred to escapes from captivity, because of their tameness, the distance from the species' normal breeding range, the suburban habitat of many of the records, and their winter timing; Hirschfeld presented counter-arguments to all these points, and today it is generally accepted that most if not all rufous turtle doves in Europe are wild birds.

In 1994, the British Birds Rarities Committee reviewed the British records of this species and concluded that three of the eight accepted records should no longer stand.  The Oriental turtle dove has occurred a number of times since, including a well-watched bird in Oxfordshire in February 2011, which was found in a birdwatcher's garden. The house owner used the opportunity to charge a £5 fee to view the bird from his kitchen window and up to 500 people queued to see the bird.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:

rufous turtle dove   (201)

Addition to BUBO UK Life List:

rufous turtle dove   (310)

05/05/2016 200 Up!

Thursday 5 May 2016
Splash Point, Seaford, East Sussex

A couple of hours seawatching at Splash Point produced a decent show of birds, including sandwich and common terns, little gulls, black-throated diver, common scoter, gannets, sanderling and grey plover (including one in stunning summer plumage).

• Top of the show however went to the 3 pomarine skuas that came by just before I left at 10.15.  

• Several arctic skuas and a "bonxie"(seen just after I arrived at 07.35) came a close second.  

I missed out on the black tern - maybe I will have better luck on another day!

Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:

Great Skua   (199)

Pomarine Skua   (200)

200 up!   A total I didn't think I would reach this year so I can now sit back and enjoy the rest of the year.

30/04/2016 Pied Flycatchers everwhere.

Saturday  30 April 2016
near Cockermouth, Cumbria

After a brilliant reunion party last night with old school mates, I was ready for the trip home to Sussex -  but not before I had a look for pied flycatchers.  

Thankfully my brother-in law, Kenny, had come to have lunch with my sisters and I and he made the tremendous sacrifice to leave my sister Carol to do the supermarket shopping on her own while he came with me to some woods near Cockermouth in Cumbria.  Even without any bird sightings this beautiful corner of the Lake District is well worth a visit.

However there were birds a plenty and we had the most magnificent time watching 6+ pied flycatchers enjoying the early afternoon sunshine.

Pied Flycatcher
Courtesy of Brian Collis

Pied Flycatcher
Courtesy of Brian Collis

• We had a tremendous strategic advantage, looking down on the birds from the path through the woods.  A male was showing immediately and more and more appeared as we went through the woods.  A truly spectacular sight, eclipsing the smashing views last year at Ynys-hir in Wales.  A tree creeper, a nuthatch and several chaffinches added to the pleasure. 

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
Pied Flycatcher   (198)   


What a finale to my first outing away from home this year!  This site will be high on my list of hotspots from now on.

Thanks Brian, Harvey, Graham and Kenny.

Just need the Albion to win the next 2 games and life could not be better.

29/04/2016 Dippers at last!

Friday 29 April 2016
Workington

I made my way up to Workington for my school reunion allowing just enough time to look for dippers.  

• Acting on Graham's local knowledge, I saw my first one in Harrington along the "beck" running by the rear of my old primary school.  

  

• No trip to Workington is complete without a walk along the banks of the River Derwent to the yearl.  True to form, dippers were here too with at least 3 excellent sightings made.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
Dipper   (197)


Now off to meet old school mates from over 55 years ago!!!!

29/04/16 Willow Tit at Pennington Flash

Friday 29 April 2016
Pennington Flash, Lancashire

I made an early 07.30 departure from the cottage, arriving at Pennington Flash around 11.15.

The willow tit appeared at the feeders at Bunting Hide soon after I arrived and I just sat back and savoured the views from close range.

2 male bullfinches and one female bullfinch provided a brilliant side show as did the reed buntings and chaffinches. 


Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
Willow Tit   (196)



It was well worth braving the snow and fog on the trans-pennine route to see the lovely willow tit once more!

25/04/16 to 29/04/2016 Norfolk Trip with the Cumbrian Lads!

Monday 25 April to Friday 29 April
Norfolk
with Brian. Graham and Harvey from Workington, Cumbria.

I joined up with my Cumbrian friends on Monday, 2 days late and left on Friday, a day early.  Nevertheless the trip was most worthwhile with over 120 species seen including some real "crackers". 

The weather was really unkind to us, with some of the coldest April temperatures on record to add to the frequent heavy rain showers. 

Titchwell

It was rather quiet at Titchwell on both occasions we went there. The freshwater marsh had rather too much water on it so there was a lack of waders.  There were some highlights however including :

• At least 7 white wagtails on the dry marsh to the west of the main path from the visitors centre to the sea.

• On Patsy's reed bed we saw 4 drake red-crested pochards and 2 females.

• I did manage to see my first swifts and house martins of the year. 

• On the second visit we witnessed some excellent display manoeuvres of a water pipit in the dunes just to the east of the main footpath.

• A couple of little ringed plovers were also present.

Minsmere

The forecast for Tuesday was particularly bad so I persuaded the lads to let me drive them down to Minsmere.  They didn't need too much persuading as none of them had been there before and the reports suggested some rich pickings.

• Pick of the day had to be the stone curlew sighting by the North Marsh area.  We spent ages trying to spot the bird in the designated place without much luck.  Graham and Harvey had already left to head for the East Hide and I was about to join them when Brian called us back.  He had spotted the curlew moving around and we then enjoyed superb views for some time.

• At the east hide we saw a little tern that had, literally, just arrived, much to our delight.

• We didn't see any bitterns but we did hear them booming as we headed back to the visitor's centre from the sea.

• Thankfully we got a smashing view of a bearded tit as it ascended a tall reed.  We had a similar experience on our second visit to Titchwell.

• A couple of great white egrets were also flying around.

• We heard but did not see a nightingale.

• We heard and did see a cetti's warbler which insisted on being seen!

• There were several mediterranean gulls on the islands with the terns.

• On the way home we were held up by some roadworks near Lowestoft.  Fortunately, in the lagoons, not far from the sea, there were 3 little stints showing really well on the edges of the water.  What a bonus!

• We also called in at Stubbs Mill on the way back where we saw 2 common cranes in flight and another 2 on the ground

Cley, Salthouse and Kelling Heath.

We spent one day in the Cley area where a wryneck had been showing well during the previous days.  Unfortunately events worked out in such a way that we "dipped" on this species, mainly due to a wrong call from me.

• As we were making our way from the visitors centre, word came through of a temminck's stint that had just arrived and was showing well from the East Bank.  I advised the lads to go for this sighting first.  We enjoyed superb views for over 20 minutes but when we got to the wryneck area it had just moved on and we never got a second chance to see it.

• Our disappointment didn't last long as we were soon up at Kelling Quags, hot on the trail of ring ouzels.  We managed to spot 3 (2 males and a female) in the fields, with the cattle, to the east of us.

• Then on to Kelling Heath where the lads were absolutely over the moon to get superb views of a dartford warbler,  one of many "lifers" for them on this trip.

Kelling was a new area for me and one that I would certainly want to visit again.

• In the evening Brian and I  returned to Flitcham Abbey Farm where, thanks to Brian's keen observational skills, we saw the resident little owl.  The views were excellent in the evening light.  What was most pleasing was as well as being yet another "lifer" for Brian it was one that he was particularly keen to find.  

• On the way home we were met by a low-flying barn owl, our second in successive day's.

 Holme 

It was very quiet when we visited and we dipped on twite. 

 Holkham

As usual,  Holkham was well worth a visit.

• We were fortunate to find 50+ lingering pink-footed geese, as well as brent geese and barnacle geese. 

• Brian, Graham and Harvey were delighted to get a good sighting of a green woodpecker, a bird so difficult to find in west Cumbria.

• We also saw spoonbills but they proved rather elusive when we tried to get closer.

Considering the shocking weather, this was a remarkable trip with a huge species count and some memorable birding with friends.  Alas I had to leave early to attend a school reunion in Workington, Cumbria.   I did not get any "lifers" but I did manage to push my year list total up by 11 species.

 My friends went on to extend the species count to well over the 130 mark making it a most rewarding experience for them.  They all had significant numbers of "lifers", including lots of birds that they could not possibly get in Cumbria.

Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:

swift   (185)

house martin   (186)

red-crested pochard   (187)
pink-footed goose   (188)
stone curlew   (189)
little tern   (190)
little stint   (191)
crane   (192)
temminck's stint   (193)
ruff   (194)
ring ouzel   (195)