23/09/2016 Ashdown Forest

Friday  23 September 2016   
Ashdown Forest

An early 08.00 start saw 5 of us go off in search of the dartford warbler.  I had done a recce earlier in the week and so was quite optimistic about finding at least one today.

• After a while, particularly when the sun came out, we spotted one as it took flight and flew away from us.  A brief but quality view of this rare bird.

• stonechats were much in evidence and we must have seen at least 6.

• A couple of whinchats were very welcome sights.

• Shaun and Julie spotted the only male redstart to be seen.

• At least 25 "pre-school" linnets accompanied us throughout our walk.

• Surprisingly there were well over 100 hirundines around, the majority of which were house martins with some swallows interspersed.

A lovely couple of hours to start the day well.

18/09/2016 Dungeness

Sunday 18 September 2016
Dungeness
Paul and Group

Six of us made the journey down to Dungeness in conditions that were very good for us (but not for rare birds) with temperatures around 17C and no wind.

• A merlin flew past us by the old lighthouse.  Then we saw a couple of arctic skuas doing battle with the terns out at sea
• We then moved inland onto the reserve, calling in at the ARC pit first where there was very little of note to be seen initially, apart from a cattle egret, 4 ringed plovers, 6 dunlin and then a little stint.  There was then a steady build up of birds, coinciding with the rising tide, and by midday there were several interesting arrivals including 3 curlew sandpipers, a couple of pintails, 4 grey plovers, 6 avocets, a black-necked grebe, a marsh harrier, over 20 golden plover, over 20 knot and over 20 bar-tailed godwits. 

• I left the others on the reserve at lunchtime as the lack of sleep, after a long return journey home from North Wales yesterday, was catching up with me, but not before I saw the great white egret on the banks of Burrowes Pit, presumably the same one I had seen flying earlier.

• A good morning's viewing with over 50 species seen, including some stunners.  

• The group went round the reserve and on to Scotney Gravel Pits in the afternoon where they boosted the species count to 68 including little owl, spoonbill, wheatear, corn bunting, yellow wagtail and tree sparrow.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Bird List:
Cattle Egret    247

13/09/2016 In North Wales Pectoral Sandpiper and Wryneck

Tuesday 13 September 2016
North Wales 

Whilst on holiday in North Wales I arranged to join up with local birders Alan  and Ruth and Maya

• First port of call was to RSPB Conwyn to see the pectoral sandpiper that had been reported there earlier.  It took a little time and several moves between the first two hides to find the bird but, once found, the views were top notch. 

• Next we were off to Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey to look for a wryneck that had  been first seen yesterday on the island.  This bird was much more obliging than last weeks bird at Shooters Bottom.  It showed well from just after we arrived and continued to move around in the open for some time; this despite the deteriorating weather.

• After a delightful lunch in the cafe at Holyhead Harbour we spotted one of the resident black guillemots at the entrance to the harbour.  

• At Malltraeth Marsh we saw an enormous number of common snipe - I counted at least 20 - and at least 2 ruff

• Our final port of call was the Great Orme where we were fortunate to see 3 migrating black redstarts at the site of the old copper mines and a few lingering razorbills and a common guillemot on the sea.
• Other birds seen included several wheatears, small numbers of black-tail godwits and a couple of bar-tailed godwits, a small flock of golden plovers and a lovely Mediterranean gull.

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Bird List:
Black Guillemot   (246)




A really productive day with over 80 birds seen, despite the very wet and misty conditions   By way of contrast back home in Sussex they were experiencing an "Indian Summer" with soaring temperatures.

08/09/2016 Press Ridge Warren

Thursday 8 September 2016
Patch Report

I had time to spend a couple of hours on my patch at Churlwood this afternoon.  The raptor viewing point at Press Ridge Warren provided me with some interesting sightings.  Weather conditions were very good; it was dry and sunny with a light breeze.

• A hobby flew high above us (I met Bob J as I was leaving) and we enjoyed good views.
• The lone whinchat, seen in the tree to the left of the downhill path, was perhaps my bird of the day.
• 25+ linnets zoomed in and out of the area all afternoon.
• A couple of stonechats spent all afternoon on and around the fence either side of the downhill path.
• 3 ravens passed overhead, "cronking" loudly.
• At least 3 buzzards were seen from my lofty viewing point.
• A handful of swallows and house martins displayed throughout.

A very rewarding visit.

07/09/2016 Falconry Experience.

Wednesday 7 September 2016

Sue and I have just spent a very pleasant 4 hours at the Countryside Falconry at the Old Barn in Cudham, Kent with Randal Carey the Head Falconer as our host.  

• Within minutes we were hands on with the birds.

harris's hawk

• Next stop was to take the harris's hawks into the fields to see them flying around and returning to pick up food from our gloved hands.

harris's hawk landing on Sue's glove

Then it was back to the centre where we repeated the process - this time with the owls.

barn owl

• Finally we got to handle as many of the owls as we could in the remaining time.  Look at the pics below for a taster of our experience.

tawny owl

eagle owl

scop's owl

who are you looking at?

A couple of falconry terms that have fed into normal English language usage. 

• "under the thumb"

• "twisted around my little finger" 

Two for the price of one! A falcon has a leash (called a “jess”) to stop it from flying away. When the bird is on the falconer’s arm, he’ll put part of the jess “under his thumb” or “wrap it around his little finger” to keep control of the bird.

This was a 70th birthday present from Adam and Jean and it has taken us nearly 10 months to get round to organising it, but ..........  .....................................................................................................  

                                           what a treat!

03/09/2016 to 05/09/206 Cornwall Pelagic Trip

Saturday 3 September 2016 to Monday 5 September 2016
Cornwall

We tried out a pelagic trip leaving from Falmouth in Cornwall. Obviously it could not hope to provide the range of seabirds that the Scilly pelagics would but we could, at least, have more time for birding in Cornwall before and after our adventure at sea.  

Saturday

Weather conditions deteriorated as we headed west and as we approached Cornwall it started to rain heavily.  

• It didn't take long to locate the dalmation pelican that has been around the Loe Pool area since May. Clearly this bird was not bothered by the rain.  It was stationary in the water but a little while later it started to move towards the spit giving us some very good views.  This species is a first for Britain if the sighting is ratified.  

Dalmation Pelican
courtesy of BirdGuides

• Next stop, in ever increasing poor weather, was Marazion where a buff-breasted sandpiper had been reported earlier.  It was moving around with the ringed plovers, a little stint, a couple of curlew sandpipers and other waders so it was hard to find at first.  After a couple of good but fleeting views, including a flight view, we managed to see it at rest on the shingle beach for a good 20 - 30 minutes.  The views were really good - from less than 20 metres - but the poor bird looked ever so bedraggled!  Another "lifer" for me!  

Buff-breasted sandpiper
courtesy of M McKee

• Our final destination was a little further east at Perranuthnoe where, with a little help from another birder, we enjoyed smashing views of the hudsonian whimbrel - yet another rare bird that has been around for some time.  

What a great start - 2 "lifers" and a good range of birds seen - and in atrocious weather!

 

Sunday

We only had time for a stroll on Sunday morning as we were due at Falmouth Harbour at 12.30 for a 1 p.m. sailing.  Thankfully we had a fine day with no rain!

The lovely Helford River was our morning destination.  

• The birding highlight of this walk was the Mediterranean gull.

Captain Keith and his assistant were our guides on the afternoon pelagic from Falmouth, west to the Lizard and back covering 75+ miles over a 7 hour period.  

• Highlight of the trip for me had to be the lovely grey phalarope found by Paul in the latter stages of our trip.  It was floating on the water and, being so tiny, was difficult to pick up but once sighted it was a delight to follow.
• 2 balearic shearwaters were a close second and the views were excellent as they came within 25 metres of our boat.
• A distant sooty shearwater provided another year tick.
• Up to 6 storm petrels were seen with about half of them giving really good views.
• Other birds seen included the inevitable manx shearwaters - loads of them, good numbers of fulmars and the occasional guillemots.
• As we neared the Lizard following a course a few hundred metres parallel to the shore line we saw a couple of choughs, several ravens, a kestrel, several buzzards and a few oystercatchers.

As well as the birds, this pelagic voyage provided fabulous views of other marine life

• Up to 90 common dolphins, in 7 different interactions, thrilled everyone on board; many of them coming right up to, and under, the boat.
• We also had frequent views of the harbour porpoises with 17 being seen.
• 2 oceanic sunfish were seen close up.

Captain Keith kept us entertained with his interesting commentaries; his dedication to, and enjoyment of, Cornish wildlife was obvious.   

    

Monday

We began the long journey back to Sussex after breakfast intent on seeing a couple of interesting birds on the way.

• We twitched at least 3 cirl buntings at St Just -  my first ever sightings of this species in Cornwall.
• At Okehampton, in Devon we found a lovely dipper in the stream that runs through the middle of the town.

Ironically, the only species we missed was the osprey in our home county of Sussex at Thorney Island!

A brilliant trip well worth the effort in the most adverse weather at the start.

Additions to BUBO UK 2016 Bird List:

dalmation pelican   (238)

buff-breasted sandpiper   (239)

hudsonian whimbrel   (240)

balearic shearwater   (241)

storm petrel   (242)
grey phalarope   (243)

sooty shearwater   (244)

cirl bunting   (245)

Additions to BUBO UK Life List:

dalmation pelican   (320)
buff-breasted sandpiper   (321)