26/02/17 RSPB Rainham Marshes and Coalhouse Fort

Sunday 26 February 2017
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

RSPB Rainham Marshes

An impressive 19 members made the trip up to Essex for our annual visit to this site.  The weather was kind to us with dry conditions all day, although it was windy and overcast.

No new birds to report but there was a good variety of species seen - 54 in total. 

• Pick of the bunch was the flock of 15+ Snipe which took to the air near the end of our trip.
• Pintails were showing well in good numbers.
• Marsh Harriers, Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of Common Gulls provided other highlights.

Coalhouse Fort

Mid-afternoon, 7 of us made the extra journey out to Coalhouse Fort to see the Avocets.  

• Unfortunately we were about 2 hours after the high tide and we had to walk a long way east to catch the main flock on the sands.  There were well over 3000 of them, spread over a large area - but nevertheless a most impressive sight.

• There were also huge numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlin around.

We were able to push our species count into the 60+ region.

Another lovely day out with my local group.

18/02/17 Ashdown Forest

Saturday 18 February 2017
Ashdown Forest

Spent 90 minutes, from 11 am, looking for Raptors

Plenty of Buzzards, a couple of Kestrels and at least 2 Sparrowhawks but alas no Goshawks.

17/02/17 Bird Species List for Scotland Trip re Alan Petheridge

Friday 17 February 2017

Just received Alan's species count for the Scotland trip.  Thanks Alan!

Species	Ref	Sussex Birders on tour February 2017
		Seen ?	Location / further notes
		5 days
Mute Swan	15	Yes
Snow Goose	15	Yes	Twitched north of the Cromarty Firth
Whooper Swan	15	Yes	River Spey north of Aviemore
Greylag Goose	19	Yes
Pink-Footed Goose	19	Yes
Shelduck	23	Yes
Mallard	25	Yes
Pintail	25	Yes	Big flock in Findorn Bay
American Wigeon	27	Yes	Inverness at the end of the Caledonian Canal
Wigeon	27	Yes
Teal	29	Yes
(Greater) Scaup	33	Yes	Maybe 200 east of Inverness
Tufted Duck	33	Yes
Eider Duck	37	Yes	Particularly good views at Burghead
Common Scoter	39	Yes
Velvet Scoter	39	Yes	With Common Scoters viewed from Findorn
Long-tailed Duck	41	Yes	Various places on the Moray Firth
Goldeneye	43	Yes
Goosander	45	Yes
Red-breasted Merganser	45	Yes
Ptarmigan	49	Yes	From top of the Cairngorm funicular
Red Grouse	49	Yes	Various places including being hunted by Golden Eagles in Strathdearn
Black Grouse	51	Yes	Flyovers + 8 birds lekking at Dorbach
Capercaille	51	Yes	Fleeting sightings eventually in Bleaberry Woods near Carrbridge
Red-legged Partridge	55	Yes	Covey of >20 in the road near Dorbach
Pheasant	59	Yes
Red-Throated Diver	61	Yes	Moray Firth
Gannet	77	Yes	Distant in the Moray Firth
Cormorant	79	Yes
Shag	79	Yes	Burghead Harbour
Grey Heron	85	Yes
White-tailed Eagle	93	Yes	Juvenile in Strathdearn
Golden Eagle	95	Yes	Strathdearn
Red Kite	103	Yes	Whilst driving from Aberdeen
Hen Harrier	105	Yes	Dorbach when looking for Black Grouse
Common Buzzard	109	Yes
Sparrowhawk	113	Yes
Kestrel	117	Yes
Merlin	121	Yes	Southern edge of Findorn Bay
Peregrine	121	Yes	Various sightings including in Strathdearn
Oyster Catcher	135	Yes
Golden Plover	145	Yes	Southern edge of Findorn Bay
Lapwing	147	Yes
Knot	149	Yes
Sanderling	149	Yes	Seen from Nairn
Turnstone	149	Yes	Nice group on the harbour wall at Burghead
Dunlin	151	Yes
Redshank	157	Yes
Bar-Tailed Godwit	159	Yes
Curlew	159	Yes
Woodcock	161	Yes	"Bob's Woods" south of Aviemore
Black-headed Gull	181	Yes
Common Gull	183	Yes
Herring Gull	185	Yes
Great Black-backed Gull	190	Yes
Lesser Black-backed Gull	191	Yes
Kittiwake	193	Yes	Distant in the Moray Firth
Iceland Gull	195	Yes	Loch Pityoulish
Guillemot	211	Yes	Moray Firth
Razorbill	211	Yes	Moray Firth
Feral Pigeon / Rock Dove	215	Yes
Wood Pigeon	215	Yes
Collared Dove	219	Yes
Greater Spotted Woodpecker	245	Yes
Skylark	249	Yes
Rock Pipit	265	Yes
Meadow Pipit	267	Yes	Southern edge of Findorn Bay
Pied Wagtail	269	Yes
Dipper	273	Yes	Nethybridge + Strathdearn
Waxwing	273	Yes	19 at Nethybridge
Robin	277	Yes
Stonechat	293	Yes
Fieldfare	295	Yes	Several big flocks
Mistle Thrush	295	Yes
Song Thrush	295	Yes
Blackbird	297	Yes
Goldcrest	337	Yes
Wren	337	Yes	Bleaberry Woods near Carrbridge
Blue Tit	343	Yes
Coal Tit	343	Yes
Great Tit	343	Yes
Crested Tit	345	Yes	Various places but closest encounter at Loch Garten
Treecreeper	351	Yes
Magpie	361	Yes
Jay	363	Yes
Jackdaw	365	Yes
Carrion Crow	367	Yes
Hooded Crow	367	Yes	Several single birds
Raven	367	Yes	Lots in Strathdearn
Rook	367	Yes
Starling	371	Yes
House Sparrow	373	Yes
Brambling	377	Yes
Chaffinch	377	Yes
Twite	379	Yes	Southern edge of Findorn Bay
Greenfinch	381	Yes	Just one small flock - seen in Strathdearn
Siskin	381	Yes
Bullfinch	385	Yes
Scottish Crossbill	387	Yes	In woods near Loch Mallachie
Reed Bunting	393	Yes	Southern edge of Findorn Bay
Snow Bunting	395	Yes	Cairn Gorm skiing car park
Yellowhammer	399	Yes
Total species seen		102
Further Notes	Ref. is page number of the illustration in Collins Bird Guide (second edition)

15/02/2017 Poole Harbour Cruise and a Visit to Brownsea Island

Wednesday 15 February 2017
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Our long-awaited outing to Brownsea Island proved a bit of a disaster. The weather was against us with rain for most of the time. Also, there were long delays on the M27 near Southampton as a result of an earlier accident and this resulted in 7 of our 30 members, including me, arriving too late for the 10.00 sailing and having to settle for the next boat at 11.00.

• Commentary by a member of the Birds of Poole Harbour group was the highlight of the trip for me.  He provided an authoritative mix of the history of the area whilst calling out the birds as they showed on the water. 

• There were many good birds seen from the boat including a couple of Great Northern Divers, many Red-breasted Mergansers, several Goldeneye, a couple of Black-necked grebes and 16 Spoonbills at Shipstal Point on Arne.
• On the island we saw a Firecrest, a couple of Grey Wagtails, a Greenshank, 20+ Avocets, a couple of Snipe, many Bar-tailed Godwits, a couple of Pintail, 20+ Grey Plovers and about the same number of Dunlin.
• My wife Sue spotted a Red Squirrel as we left the first hide - one of the few sightings of the day.

Disappointing but still worth the effort - I love this area and intend to spend more time here in the future.

14/02/17 Last Day

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Another great deal from the weather man - dry and sunny with light winds.

• Started off with a fruitless search for the Scottish Crossbill in the Abernathy Forest from Loch Garten to Loch Mallachie.
• We then headed off to Alness by the A9 to twitch a Snow Goose which was obligingly waiting for us in the field beside the road.
• Our second twitch, at Clacknaharry near Inverness, was the American Wigeon which we were able to view from about 30 metres.
• Then we headed down to Aberdeen calling in at Milton of Culloden to see 125+ Scaup - my biggest ever haul and RSPB Culbin Sands to see Long-tailed Ducks and Scoters including several Velvet Scoters.

We dropped the car off in Aberdeen in the evening, before heading into the airport for a 8.30 p.m. flight back to Gatwick

• A really good trip with a species count of over 100 including 4 year ticks, unbelievably good weather and superb accommodation at the Grant Arms in Grantown.
• On the way back to Uckfield, in Andrew's car, a Tawny Owl flew in front of us.  Unfortunately I was not paying attention and missed it.

13/02/17. White-tailed Eagle, Whooper Swans and finally Capercaillie

Monday 13 February 2017

A tough day today despite the splendid weather.

Another fruitless search for Capercaillie, this time at Feshie Bridge.

At Findhorn valley, Gareth lifted our spirits when he spotted the long-staying White - tailed Eagle.  We then enjoyed spectacular views of this stunning bird.  It was having an altercation with a Buzzard which looked minute in comparison.

At long last we found the Capercaillie in the woods near Carrbridge.  Unfortunately I was one of 2 who dipped on this.  The views were brief but there was a male and female present. It was a re-run of my experience just over 2 weeks ago but then I was one of the ones who won the raffle.

On the way back to Nethy Bridge we saw 10 Whooper Swans on the Spey.



We worked hard today to dig out a brilliant result!

12/02/17 Grouse and Eagles

Sunday 12 February 2017

Today we tried for some of the star species - with mixed results.

We had another huge success at Dorback where we saw 8 Black Grouse at the delayed Lek, delayed by the presence of raptors.  Red Grouse were evident as part of the support cast.

We failed miserably at Inshraich Forest with Capercaillie and Scotish Crossbill.  The less said the better.

In the Findhorn valley we again tasted success and enjoyed spectacular views of Golden Eagles with 3 seen.  Alas there was no sign of the White-tailed Eagle today.

A good day with the weather man looking after us again.

11/02/17 Moray Firth

Saturday 11 February 2017
Moray Firth


We had to change plans today - with continuing overnight snow it made sense to head for the Moray Firth where the forecast was much better.

On the way to Nairn we came across 12+ Red Grouse, a Peregrine and a couple of Red Kites
At Nairn we saw our much-needed Hooded Crow, Long-tailed Duck, Shag, Eider and hundreds of Pink-footed Geese.
At Findhorn Bay we saw a Sparrowhawk and a Merlin but the highlight had to be the single Twite,one of over 30 seen, sitting on a post just ahead of us.  The ID opportunities were immense.

At Findhorn village we were rewarded with good views of Velvet Scoter.

At Burghead we added Red-throated Diver and Gannet to our impressive day list.

The afternoon session was somewhat underwhelming with surprisingly few birds at Lossiemouth and Spey Bay.

At Lochindorb things picked up again with 10+ Goldeneye and another Goosander showing well.

A very good decision to rearrange our programme!

10/02/17 Magnificent Start to Scotland 2

Scotland 2

A 06.30 flight from Gatwick saw us into Aberdeen by 10.00 to pick up our hire cars before reaching the Cairngorms by 12.00.  The weather was great with good visibility and little or no wind.

• 17 Snow Buntings greeted us on the slopes adjacent to the car park and we enjoyed excellent views from close range.

• We took the funicular railway to the top and we were rewarded by magnificent views of the Ptarmigen from the viewing terrace - thanks Julie!  This was the first time I had seen this species in winter plumage - stunning.  The only obstacle was provided by the over zealous photographers who were chasing the "perfect image" and flushing the birds of course.

• At Pityoulish Paul became ecstatic having spotted an Icelandic Gull in the gull flock.

• At Loch Garten we had good views of the obligatory Crested Tits.

• On the way home, at Nether Bridge, we spotted 19 Waxwings on a tree by the roadside and shortly afterwards we enjoyed good views of the Dipper on the river.

A magnificent first day!

05/02/2017 Final Day in East Anglia

Sunday 5 February 2017

The weather was dry and mild but there was a heavy morning mist so we decided not to look for the Shorelarks at Holkham, preferring to go inland to the Hawk and Owl Trust's reserve at Sculthorpe, just outside of Fakenham. This was a new reserve to me and one that I will certainly come back to again.

• We managed to see some smashing woodland birds including 10+ Bramblings, 5-6 Bullfinches at the feeders and lots of Siskins and Redpolls in the canopy of the trees

• Last stop of the day was Lynford Arboretum where after a long wait we were rewarded with lovely views of 2 Hawfinch.

A great trip with at least 113  species seen, including some absolute stunners.

04/03/2017 Snow Buntings at Holme but no Shorelarks at Holkham

Saturday 4 Februray 2017

We spent the morning at Holme looking for Snow Buntings and Twite.

• After some time combing the beach at Holme, we encountered the Snow Buntings with over 50 seen. We managed several good flight views and a couple of distant ground shots in the scope but we were unable to get too close to them as there were loads of people around.  There was the odd Twite with the Linnet flocks but we were unable to find the main group.

• At Thornham Harbour we saw lots of birds with the stand-out species being a Spotted Redshank just ahead of us in the channel.

• At Holkham, in the afternoon, we saw all of the usual suspects but we dipped on Shorelark.  Every birder we talked to said that they had great views but the birds were drifting west all the time.  By the time we made our pitch  and reached the designated sighting point, the larks had gone a further 3 miles west and beyond our reach at this late stage in the day. 

• We did spot a Great White Egret and another lovely Barn Owl on our way back to the car by way of compensation for missing the star attraction.

A very good day but a disappointing end!

03/02/17. Titchwell and Roydon Common

Friday 3 February 2017 
RSPB Titchwell

The weather forecast changed and we got a rain-free day with only light winds so it was off to Titchwell for some serious sea-watching. 

• What a great decision as there were record numbers of Long-tailed Ducks with well over 200 on show, along with 50-60 Velvet Scoters and 6 Slavonian Grebes. We even had 2 Water Rails as we left the visitors Centre and headed towards the sea. 

• We decided to watch the roost at Roydon Common and we were rewarded with good sightings of 2 male and 1 ringtail  Hen Harriers

Another great day - the weather man really likes us!

02/02/17. With the Ashdown Group in. Cambridgeshire

Thursday 2 February 2017 

Travelled up to Norfolk today for a 4 day (3 - nights) birding holiday with the Ashdown Bird Group. For the first time ever they travelled upthe west side to spend the first day birding in Cambridgeshire on the Ouse Washes and the Nene Washes. 

• At Welches Dam we saw lots of birds out on the Ouse Washes but the outstanding memory had to be of the 500+ Whooper Swans that were in the surrounding fields, along with a large number of Bewick Swans. 

• On the Nene Washes we were hoping to see some Cranes. To our surprise and delight, they were there waiting for us, directly opposite the car park. We saw at least 19 but local birders told us there had been more earlier in the day. I saw my first Barn Owls of the year from the same car park. Two birds showed brilliantly. 

What a great start and the weather which a few days ago threatened to ruin our trip was great. It was dry, but cold with super visibility.