30/04/2017 Bits and Pieces

Tuesday 25 April 2017
Weir Wood Reservoir

• I managed to pick out a Common Tern and a Garden Warbler as I went about my Snake Survey at Weir Wood today.

Thursday 27 April 2017
Mickle Mere SWT

• I decided to twitch the Glossy Ibis at Mickle Mere SWT on the way up to Norfolk to join up with Chris Mills for a couple of days birding on the north-west coast.  What a quaint little site, 150 metres from the Water Mill.  This bird had just arrived today and was almost certainly the same one that had been seen at nearby RSPB Lakenheath. 

• After dropping my bags off at the Burleigh Hotel in Hunstanton I just had enough time to dash round to RSPBTitchwell before meeting up with Adrian for dinner at the Chives.  Among the many birds on show were several Ruff.

23/04/17 Birding in West Sussex with Sara

Sunday 23 April 2017
West Sussex

I spent a delightful day birding in West Sussex with my daughter Sara.  We started at the North Wall, Pagham Harbour, before moving round to the visitors centre and then on to Church Norton.  Our final port of call was RSPB Pulborough Brooks for an afternoon visit.

North Wall

• Bird of the day had to be the lovely Cuckoo we saw from the main path on the North Wall.  We both heard it first, then Sara caught sight of it flying near the trees where we had parked our car.  It then flew west, over the reed bed, stopping off on the bushes to the north of us.  Incredibly, it then flew towards us and landed in the bushes just 30 metres west of us, where it enjoyed a good feed while we enjoyed the truly splendid views. Eventually, it flew off but returned several times to the same area, to further our enjoyment.
• The many Swallows provided the lovely wallpaper to our visit.
• Sedge Warblers were in the reeds, as were Reed Buntings.  Mallards, Coots and Moorhens were on the water.
• Looking south we could see Redshank, Shelduck, Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

RSPB Visitors Centre

On the Ferry Pool the Shelducks and the Black-tailed Godwits were immediately evident and after a little searching with the aid of the telescope Sara located the Little Ringed Plover at the back of the pool. 

In the channel opposoite, there was a smashing Greenshank alongside a couple of Redshanks.

Church Norton

• At Church Norton we could hear the Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Greenfinches.  

In the harbour, from the bench, we saw several interesting birds.

• Pride of place went to the Whimbrel which was having an altercation with a Curlew as we arrived. This event, however, did give us a first-hand opportunity to see the subtle differences between the two species.
• Not far behind in the pecking order was the sight of a couple of Mediterranean Gulls on the edge of the water, flanked by the more numerous Black-headed Gulls.  Again the opportunity to compare the two species was priceless.
• A couple of Sandwich Terns were also close by.
• Other birds were seen including Oysyercatchers, Cormorants, Herring Gulls and, of course, still more Redshanks. 

We were unable to go to Selsey because the traffic was backed up almost to the RSPB Visitors Centre - a pity because regular reports were coming through of Pomarine Skua's passing Selsey Bill.

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

We made our way to Pulborough Brooks just after lunch, where our luck ran out.  It was the wrong time of day for Nightingales; we neither saw or heard any despite 2 prolonged stays at Fattengates as well as a walk through Adder Alley.

• We did, however, add Sand Martin, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Teal, Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose and Greylag Goose to our day list 

Top drawer day!

22/04/17 Lesser Yellowlegs at Dungeness

22 April 2017
RSPB Dungeness and Scotney GP in Kent

• After a Lesser Yellowlegs was reported at RSPB Dungeness, there was only one place to go.  By the time I arrived the best views were from the visitors centre.  It was on the far side of Burrowes, on the left island and showing really well.  This made up for the disappointment of missing out in Dorset several weeks ago.
• I then moved on to the coast where I saw a cracking Arctic Skua from the fishing boats in the company of Plodding Birder and 2 of his friends.  Unfortunately, the weather improved just afterwards and the flow of birds stopped.
• On the way home I stopped off at Scotney GP to see my first Yellow Wagtail of the year. 

A flying visit but well worth the effort.  

18-20 April 2017 3 more for the Year List

• On Tuesday, at Weir Wood Reservoir, I saw my first Whitethroat of the year.  It was in Whillets in the hedge just beyond the pond dipping area.

• This morning, just before lunch, I also saw my first Little Ringed Plover of 2017.  It was at the back of the Ferry Pool at RSPB Pagham Harbour.

• Finally, tonight with Paul and the group at RSPB Pulborough Brooks, I saw both these species as well as a Lesser Whitethroat.  There was still no sighting of any of the Nightingales.

My year list is coming along nicely- I'm now up to 210!

17/04/2017. Birds hard to find today.

Easter Monday. 17/04/2017

I intended to go and look for the Grasshopper Warbler after the Brighton game at the Amex today.  However, the way things went, I stayed behind to enjoy the promotion celebrations before going home to enjoy a lovely malt whisky and watch the highlights of the other games on Sky.

Mother Nature can survive another day, moments like today can't!

15/04/17 Ashdown Bird Group Outing

Saturday 15 April 2017
West Sussex

Bob J, Martin and I decided to avoid yet another cancellation for this group and went to RSPB Pulborough Brooks as planned.  The weather was overcast but dry so we decided to extend the trip to include Waltham Brooks and the Burgh.  We were rewarded with a very pleasant birding experience.

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

• We managed to get our target bird, the Nightingale - just!  It was singing in the Fattengates area around 10 am.  It did not go through its full repertoire but it was sufficient to excite the gathering birders.  After 15 minutes or so we moved on. 

• On the return leg of our journey, around lunchtime, I managed to get a fleeting glimpse of it as it disappeared into the scrub - not quite as bad as the Capercaillie view in Scotland but heading that way!  No doubt I will get better views in the next week or so.

• There was very little evidence of migration apart from the ubiquitous Blackcaps that provided the very best of the accompanying music.  

• Hirundines were in short supply with a couple of Swallows and a small flock of Sand Martins our only sightings.

Waltham Brooks

• After lunch, we decided to call in at Waltham Brooks, on the off chance of hearing/seeing a Grasshopper Warbler. Alas, it was not to be - not surprising given the time of day but still worth the effort.

The Burgh

Our final destination was the Burgh where we managed to see most of our target species.

• We had at least 2 excellent sightings of Red Kite.
• There were plenty of Buzzards around.
• The Raven was much appreciated.
• Partridges were abundant - both Red-Legged and Grey.
• No sign of Corn Buntings or Yellowhammers. 

A full day, in excellent company.  We had to work hard for our bird sightings but it was well worth it.

13/04/2017 Dartford Warbler at Old Lodge - My First

Thursday 13 April 2017
Old Lodge

It was such a nice morning I decided to do a lunchtime visit to Old Lodge to check out the Cuckoo that had been seen there yesterday.  In cool but pleasant conditions I took the clockwise route rather than the usual anti-clockwise one.

• As predicted by Bob J,  I had excellent views of a Tree Pipit on the overhead wires by the metal gates.
• Soon afterwards I saw a male Green Woodpecker fly from the ground to a tree trunk, some 3 metres above the ground.  Whilst admiring this bird, a second one appeared - a female on a nearby trunk.
• Next to show was a superb Raven, flying overhead, no doubt the male from the nearby nesting site.
• Down the hill and over the stream then 50 metres up the hill, on a gorse bush, right of the path, I saw my first ever Dartford Warbler at Old Lodge.  It subsequently flew south.
• To add to the glamour I saw the male Redstart, almost in the same position as last time.
• All this plus the Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and the basic resident species.
• Thankfully, no Adders

A superb visit - and I missed the target species!

11/04/17 Weir Wood Reservoir

Tuesday 11 April 2017
Weir Wood Reservoir

• Snake survey today.  4 Grass Snakes, 9 Toads and 7 Shrews/Voles.

• Absolutely wonderful bird song with lots of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Nuthatches in evidence.
• A stunning Buzzard passed overhead as we were enjoying lunch.

• At the dam end there was a lovely Grey Wagtail with a Pied Wagtail.

• Good to hear from the nest box lads that a box, unused for years, now holds a Treecreeper on eggs already.

A cracking Tuesday in the sun  -  supposedly working!

10/04/17 Old Lodge Tree Pipits and Willow Warblers

Monday 10 April 2017
Old Lodge NR, West Sussex

Spent a very pleasant couple of hours at Old Lodge this lunchtime, while the dogs were asleep at home.  

• I managed to see and hear several Tree Pipits and Willow Warblers but just missed out on the Redstart and the Adder (thankfully!)

06/04/2017 Tawny Owl

Thursday 6 April 2017
A228 north of Tunbridge Wells

• Sue and I collected the dogs from Rochester and on the way home, around 8 p.m, a Tawny Owl flew across our line of view.

Makes up for not being able to see the Blue Rock Thrush at Beachy Head.  

05/04/2017 Redstart!

Wednesday 5 April 2017
Old Lodge, Ashdown Forest

• I saw my first Redstart of 2017 this morning at Old Lodge.  My first view was of it flying away from me but after a patient interlude, I was rewarded with a stunning view of this splendid male as it perched on a branch of a nearby dead tree.

• Also seen and heard was a Raven.  It was making a very loud noise as it guarded its nest.
• The usual suspects were present in good numbers but I had no luck with migrant Willow Warblers or Tree Pipits.

The redstart was almost in the same position as in previous years - at the bottom of the hill some 25 metres further downhill from the small pond and in the dead tree near the fence line, adjacent to the large holly bush.  TQ462310.

04/04/2017 First Swallows of 2017

Tuesday 4 April 2017
Weir Wood Reservoir

• I saw my first 2 Swallows of 2107 this morning at Weir Wood Reservoir.  It was also nice to hear a couple of male Blackcaps singing.

• Last Tuesday a couple of Barn Owls were flushed as the boys did their first nest box inspection.  Sadly I was elsewhere on site doing our snake survey.

• On 23 March the first Ospreys of the year were reported.  Alas, I was not present.