21/09/2017 Baird's Sandpiper in Dorset

Thursday 21st September 2017

Having missed Baird's Sandpiper in Sussex when I was on holiday in Scotland, I finally got to see one in Dorset this afternoon.  

• I travelled down to Wyke Regis just as the weather there was brightening up after the earlier rain.  I walked the mile or so from the car to Littlesea where the sandpiper was showing well as it foraged by the water.  It was accompanied by 10+ Dunlin and a Little Stint.  Also present were 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 5+ Ringed Plover.  

Baird's Sandpiper
courtesy of Brett Spencer and Dorset Birds

Another good bird seen!

18/09/2017 Twitching again!

Monday 18th September 2017

I received a text from Alastair last night enquiring about going twitching today.  After walking the dogs, we were on the road to Norfolk by 07.30.

• Fist stop was Burnham Overy to look for the Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler.  When we arrived there must have been 50 or so birders looking for the bird.  It had been seen earlier but for a nanosecond as it had flown a few feet from one area to the next. There were groups trying to flush the bird and the general situation was not one to be proud of.  After a while, we decided to move on and await further news.

• At Wells Woods, we joined 30 or so birders watching the Arctic Warbler flitting around in the canopy of the trees.  With patience, I was able to get several good views in my binoculars. Not a "lifer" but a relatively rare bird - so pleased.

courtesy of Steve Cantley on Twitter

On our way down to Essex, we called in at the pig farm just south of Swaffham where we saw 5 Stone Curlews.  Not the 55+ I saw with Marcus a couple of months ago, but, nevertheless well worth stopping to view.

• At Hornchurch Country Park in the Ingrebourne Valley, we had spectacular views of the Spotted Crake as it moved around the reeded, swampy area less than 10 metres from us.  We were so lucky - the birders present hadn't seen the bird for over 2 hours yet we got it within minutes of arriving.  The bird didn't seem to mind our presence or that of the 3-4 cows that were trudging through the deep mud nearby.

courtesy of Alastair Grey

A good day out with just rewards!  In spite of the heavy showers, we kept to our schedule and didn't get wet once.  It was disappointing to miss the Pallas's Warbler but from all accounts, the views would have been very brief and not befitting a first ever sighting of such a rare bird.  One for another day.

Thanks Alastair!

16/09/2017 Sandwich Bay Observarory in Kent with the East Grinstaed RSPB Local Group

Saturday  16th September 2017
Sandwich Bay, Kent

13 of us made the long journey to the bird observatory in Sandwich, Kent, where we were invited to a bird ringing session.  We spent a very useful 3 hours or so in and around the ringing station.  This was our first ever venture into this area!

• There were lots of birds being ringed, mostly Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but we did see 2 lovely Lesser Whitethroats.

• In the afternoon we visited Pegwell Bay to see the Stone Curlew and a couple of Spoonbills.

A lovely day out!

15/07/2017 "Dipped" on the Purple Heron at Leighton Moss

Friday 15th September 2017
RSPB Leighton Moss, Cumbria

On the road at 04.45 en route to Leighton Moss in Cumbria to join Brian and Kenny, hoping to see the long-staying Purple Heron.  I arrived just after 10.30 after delays of over an hour on the M6 motorway.  Stayed till almost 17.30 before heading back home for 22.30.

The Purple Heron is turning out to be another bogey bird for me.  This was my fourth attempt to see it in recent months; previously I had missed it at Otmoor in Oxfordshire.  As before, the bird was present and seen by a lucky few, but not in the areas where we visited.  The problem seemed to be the high water levels in the usual feeding areas.  A couple of weeks ago Brian enjoyed spectacular views but the water levels were much lower.

Nice to see Brian and Kenny!

14/09/2017 White-winged Black Tern in Hertfordshire

14th September 2017
Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Hertfordshire

 After missing out on the White-winged Black Tern at Exmouth a couple of weeks ago I tried again, this time with huge success, in Hertfordshire.  The weather was clear and bright but punctuated with heavy showers; fortunately, it kept dry for the duration of my visit.

• After making the long walk from the car park, it was pleasing to find the tern flying around and showing really well when I arrived at the lake.  I noticed it was favouring the area close to the causeway so I headed there to join a couple of birders from London who seemed to be getting the closest views.

      

courtesy of Alan Reynolds and Twitter

• The tern was on its own and flew continuously over a small area of radius 50 metres or so, sometimes passing overhead and generally staying very close all of the time.  It seemed to be unconcerned by our presence and was busy enjoying itself as it searched for food.

• The white-winged tern, or white-winged black tern (Chlidonias leucopterus or Chlidonias leucoptera), is a species of tern in the family Laridae. It is a small species generally found in or near bodies of fresh water across much of the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khelidonios, "swallow-like", from khelidon, "swallow".
• A rare annual vagrant, 
• Like the other "marsh" terns (Chlidonias),  these birds do not dive for fish, but fly slowly over the water to surface-pick items on the surface and catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects and small fish.

A delight to get so close to this lovely bird.

13/09/2017 A very productive visit to Heathrow Airport

Wednesday 13th September 2017

I never thought that when I agreed to pick up my granddaughter and her boyfriend from Heathrow I would be rewarded with 3 year ticks, including a "lifer".  Mind you the journey to Heathrow was somewhat circuitous, being 7 times longer than the direct return journey!

• First stop was Blashford Lakes in Hampshire to see the Grey Phalarope.  The bird was swimming on the far side of Ibsley Water.  The distance combined with choppy waters meant it took a while to locate.  In the excellent light, however, the scope views were super.  There was also a Black Tern flying around.

It was still quite early so I was faced with a real dilemma - should I stay here or go another 40 miles west to RSPB Lodmoor in Dorset to see the rare sandpipers that had turned up there.  A text from Katherine saying that their flight had been delayed 45 minutes clinched it and soon I was back on the road, heading west.

As I arrived the Southdown Road entrance I parked alongside a local birder who kindly agreed to show me the way around the site.  

• After a 10 minute walk, clockwise, he spotted the Least Sandpiper near several Black-tailed Godwits.  Also, close by was a Dunlin which was useful in making the ID, in terms of a good size comparison.  We were barely 50-75 metres from the bird enabling us to match the view with the pictures on the Collins app. It was moving along the edge of the water, feeding as it went.  Quite soon we were joined by other birders who were looking for the bird after it had gone walkabouts from another place on the reserve.

Least Sandpiper courtesy of Bri Thompson on Twitter 

This very rare vagrant normally breeds in North America, migrating south for the winter.

• After spending a lengthy period admiring this "lifer" it was time to continue our walk to find the Stilt Sandpiper.  10 minutes later, we found it and joined a host of other birders looking on.  It was with several Black-headed gulls and numerous Dunlin on the edge of the water.  The views were excellent.

Stilt Sandpiper courtesy of Bri Thompson on Twitter

I was tempted to push my luck even further and try for the Wryneck at nearby Portland Bill but decided against a journey through Weymouth town centre at rush hour.  I headed to Heathrow, calling off for a bite to eat at the service station and arriving in good time to meet Katherine and Dan.

Twitching at its very best - smart and oh so productive!

01/09.2017 to 09/09/2107 Isle of Mull in the Rain!!!

Saturday 2nd September 2017 to Saturday 9th September 2017
Isle of Mull, Scotland

Spent a very wet week on Mull with Sue and friends Chris and Anne.  With rain, every day and with 3 days completely washed out, it turned out to be a real struggle.  Nevertheless, we used the intervening times to the full and we were rewarded with some good sightings.

• On our best day, we travelled from our cottage at Bunnessen in the south of the island, to Tobermory in the north, calling at Loch na Keal on the way where we saw a rather bedraggled White-tailed Eagle on the rocks on one of the tiny islands.  We spent the rest of the morning at the Information Centre in Tobermory trying to plan for the rest of the week.  

• Thankfully the rain stopped just after lunch so we headed to Dervaig where we enjoyed some memorable views of the eagles over a period of 90 minutes.  We saw at least 2 of each species with a magnificent White-tailed Eagle flying overhead and really good close views of Golden Eagles.

• Thankfully, our cottage overlooked a superb heathland site where we saw a male Hen Harrier come back to roost most nights - when it was not raining.

• We spent one day on Iona where the highlight was seeing flocks of Twite.  Unfortunately, there were no lingering Corncrakes to be heard.

• The biggest disappointment was not being able to see the White-tailed Eagles feeding at sea.  Our much-awaited boat trip was cancelled on Thursday and then again on Friday.
• On the final, early morning, drive to Craignure to catch the ferry to Oban we saw a Barn Owl and, soon after, a Tawny Owl.

Beaten by the weather - almost!