31/10/2016 Great Grey Shrike at Ashdown Forest

Monday 31 October 2016
Ashdown Forest, Old Airstrip

I spent a very brief time twitching the great grey shrike at the Old Airstrip on the Ashdown Forest this afternoon.  This bird has been around for several days now so I was well overdue a visit.

• I arrived just after 2 pm and had to wait 20 minutes or so for the shrike to fly in to it's usual place by the pond.  It perched right at the top of the largest bush around so showed very prominently and it looked so well in the glorious sunshine.

• However, after just 5 minutes or so it flew off in hot pursuit of a linnet.  After tracking this altercation for a couple of minutes the birds disappeared below a line of high trees in the distance.   Last I saw, the linnet seemed to have a better than even chance of losing it's assailant.  This was the first time I had seen a shrike in this kind of activity so it was quite informative.

Short but very sweet!

28/10/2016 Oare Marshes

Friday 28 October 2016
Oare Marshes, Kent

After being out of action for several weeks I got back on the road again  and spent a cracking day on the north Kent coast.  Friends Alan and Maureen from our East Grinstead RSPB Group invited me to join them on their planned visit to Oare Marshes.  I was only too pleased to accept.  We extended this to include a visit to Capel Fleet in the afternoon.

                                  OARE MARSHES

• Surprise of the day was the reappearance of the long-billed dowitcher after "apparently" leaving a couple of days ago.  We had terrific views of it on the East Flood as we completed our circuit just after midday.  

• The star attraction was the spoonbill and it didn't disappoint as it went foraging in the middle of the water, affording us splendid views.

• 3 bearded tits provided the glamour today as they flitted around the reeds near the hide on the Swale estuary.

• Several ruff were seen along with 4 pintail ducks, 6+ snipe, a little stint and 6+ ringed plovers.

• The scene was dominated by the usual lapwings, black-tailed godwits, teal, dunlin, redshanks and starlings which all numbered in their scores.

• Also seen were several dragonflies, a couple of clouded yellow butterflies and a huge frog on the path - presumably a marsh frog.

CAPEL FLEET

Early afternoon we relocated to Capel Fleet on the Isle of Sheppey where we spent an enjoyable 90 minutes in the glorious autumn sunshine.

• The scene here was dominated by hundreds of starlings and herring gulls but we did see good numbers of marsh harrier, kestrels and buzzard.

• As we left the viewing area we saw a lone corn bunting and several red-legged partridges from the car.

Around 50 species seen today with one or two very special ones. 

25/10/2016 Weir Wood Reservoir Various Sightings

Tuesday 25 October 2016
Weir Wood Reservoir

• Whilst having lunch in the hide at Weir Wood Reservoir I couldn't help but notice 4 drake mandarin ducks and one female enjoying the bright sunlight.

• The great white egret was still there and showing well.

• Up to 11 snipe were seen.

• Everyone got excited about a possible osprey sighting on Pintail Bank but it turned out to be a very pale buzzard.

• No owls were seen today but we did enjoy seeing teal, wigeon, gadwall, a kingfisher, a green sandpiper as well as the usual suspects.

Not a bad lunch! 

18/10/2016 Weir Wood Reservoir

Tuesday 18 October 2016
Weir Wood Reservoir

During my normal Tuesday conservation work at Weir Wood I was lucky enough to see a great white egret, 2 barn owls, 2 kingfishers and a flock of 20+ lapwings as well as the usual suspects.

Alastair texted me to say there was a great grey shrike at the Old Airstrip - if I can find time it would be nice to follow this up as well.

13/10/2016 Legoland

Thursday 13 October 2016
Legoland near Windsor

Out for the day at Legoland with my Aussie grandson Elliot (10), his older English cousin Laura and my son Garry.  

• Garry, struggling with one of the rides and looking to the skies for help, notices a couple of large birds but doesn't know what they are.  They turn out to be Red Kites. A little while later I see another flying overhead.

Needless to say, neither Elliot or his cousin Laura were impressed and both carried on regardless.

I live in hope still!

10/10/2016 Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes

Monday 10 October 2016
Oare Marshes, Kent

This afternoon I got my first chance for weeks to go birding.  So off I went to Oare Marshes to twitch the long-billed dowitcher.

• Thankfully, as I arrived, the bird had just relocated from among a huge group of godwits to a much nearer and exposed position on the extreme right of the largest island which was eminently visible from the road.  So for a good 20 minutes or more I  enjoyed splendid views of this rare American wader.

• It then flew 30 metres to the left to join a second large group - this time predominantly lapwings.  Although it was nearer, the views were not so good because of the poor lighting.  Nevertheless it continued to show until I left just before  a second bout of heavy showers started. 

Addition to BUBO 2016 UK Bird List:
Long-billed dowitcher   (248)

2 to go!