18/11/2018 Heatherlea 2018 Day 3/3 Merlin and Hooded Crow

Sunday 18/11/2018


We spent the day mopping up some of the species we had missed - or at least that was the plan.

• We started at Strathspey where we eventually found a single Hawfinch in the trees ahead of us.
• We had no luck finding Black Grouse, despite going to several sites.
• The same story applied to our quest to find White-tailed Eagles.  We did see another Golden Eagle.
• Our efforts to locate the Great Grey Shrike were also negative.
• There were no Crossbills around either.
• We ended the day at Insh Marshes hoping to see Hen Harriers come in to roost.  Here too we were to be disappointed.  By way of compensation there was a Merlin perched on a post in the distance.  Several Hooded Crows were also seen.

It's a pity the final day was such an anti-climax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 19/11/2018

Dorback

 

Brian and I took an early breakfast so we could return to Dorback before our departure for home.

• Although there was no Lek, we did see a single male Black Grouse before it took flight.

 

 

Overall the trip was a huge success with some exceptional sightings.  Only 90 species were seen but the quality was immense.  All 14 of us enjoyed the experience and went home very satisfied and with many memorable sightings.

 

 

 

 

 

 



17/11/2018. Heatherlea Scotland Trip Day 2. Waxwings, Red Grouse and Snow Buntings

Saturday 17 November 2018

Dorback

 

We were up bright and early for the Black Grouse Lek but unfortunately it did not happen.  There was a lot of activity in the area, with land rovers going past our viewing point regularly.

• We did see a Red Grouse however; it was behind us at the top of the grassy slope.
• Another Golden Eagle flew over the hills ahead of us.
• As we headed out to the Moray Coast we saw at least 3 more Red Grouse on the moors.

Moray Coast

At Speyside we enjoyed a fabulous seawatch

• The highlight for me was the group of 4 Long-tailed Ducks seen close in.
• We were intrigued by a Little Gull enjoying flying among the gulls and Lapwings in the field close to the estuary.
• A number of Red-throated Divers were seen.
• A drake Goldeneye caught the eye.
• There were also Common Scoter, Red-breasted Mergansers, Gannets and a flock of Eider.

Elgin

 

After lunch we called in at the delightful Loch Oire before heading down to the housing estate in Elgin where we enjoyed a spectacular Waxwing feste.

• There were at least 50 Waxwings feeding on the berries on the trees in the recreational area.  The trees were almost bare, such had been the strength of their activity; yesterday the numbers exceeded 200

courtesy of Brian Collis

 

Lossiemouth

 

At Lossiemouth we encountered Snow Buntings.  

• We followed them along the sands before 4 flew over our heads and away.

courtesy of Brian Collis



• We watched the remaining 2, getting some really good close up views.
• On the way back to the vans we caught up with the breakaway pack of 4 which landed close to us and afforded a lovely photo-shoot.

Hopeman

 

By now it was getting dark but we had just enough time to call in at the delightful harbour setting at Hopeman to see the Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers.

Another superb day!

16/11/2018. Heatherlea Scotland Trip Day1 - Four Male Capercaillie's

I travelled up to Cumbria on Wednesday to see my family and pick up Brian for our Heatherlea trip.

• I  only saw 3 Red Kites on the M40.

Brian and I set off for Speyside at first light on Thursday calling off at Montrose Basin on the way up.

• The Hoopoe was showing brilliantly, just a few metres from us, beside the path from the sailing club car park



courtesy of Brian Collis



•  At Nethy Bridge, just before it got dark, we found 2 stunning Dippers at the edge of the stream.

Day 1 with our guides Rob and Mark

We got off to a flying start birding in the car park at our hotel.

• Brambling, Linnets and Chaffinches were showing well in the nearby tree.
• 6 Whooper Swans flew overhead as we were watching the finches.

 

 Next stop was Loch Garten

After Mark put some food down we didn't have to wait long for the Coal Tits to arrive with 20+ in attendance.

• Soon afterwards the first Crested Tit joined in and we observed it from a few metres away.  After that we had regular sightings.  This continued even after we moved to the feeders by the Osprey Centre.

courtesy of Heatherlea



 

Slochd
 

We jumped in the minibus and headed off to the hills just west of Carrgate, to Slochd, looking for Capercaillie.

• After driving around for over an hour Mark spotted one in a tree less than 50 metres away.  

• It soon became apparent that there were at least 3 showing and Eric, in the other bus, was confident of a 4th - all male, in superb plumage, and showing well.

We daren't get out of the vehicles so satisfied ourselves with views from our mobile hide.  Soon the birds sensed our presence and flew downhill.  The picture below was taken by Eric through the closed window of the minibus.





courtesy of Eric Davies

 





 

• On the return leg down the hill we spotted one in the distance and enjoyed good scope views.

                                                    How on earth do you follow that?

Afternoon in the Findhorn Valley
 

We moved on to the Findhorn Valley and stopped for lunch half way down .

• There were Buzzards and at least one Red Kite flying over the hills.

• On the river we saw a Dipper and a Goosander.

Finally we moved to the bottom of the valley and waited for the Eagles to show.

• We didn't have to wait long before our first juvenile Golden Eagle flew by, quickly joined by a second .  A third was seen later as well as an adult bird.

courtesy of Mark Priest



courtesy of Eric Davies



We enjoyed continuous sightings of these 4 birds all afternoon as well as at least a dozen Ravens.

• On the way home at the end of the day we stopped off at  a site on the path used by the eagles on their way to the roost site and we soon spotted our 5th bird another adult Golden Eagle.

What a fitting finale to what had been a most memorable day.

12/11/2018 No luck at all with Pallas's Warbler

• Missed out on the Pallas's Warbler at Beachy Head last week and at Brooklands Park in Worthing this afternoon. 
•  I did however see a few Goldcrests and a Green Woodpecker.

Doing my best!

11/11/2018 A Caspian Gull Bonanza at RSPB Dungeness

Sunday 11 November 2018
RSPB Dungeness
Makepeace Hide

I went down to RSPB Dungeness for the Gull Roost on Burrowes Pit after reading about some astonishing numbers of Caspian Gulls there yesterday.  I made my way to Makepeace Hide to join Plodding Birder and another excellent local birder.  For the next hour I was privileged to witness a truly memorable birding event.

• When I arrived several Caspian Gulls were already showing well on the islands in front of us.  After that they just kept on coming until finally the count reached 17+ - smashing yesterdays record total! 

courtesy of Plodding Birder and Twitter



• One of the birds had a ring on its leg - 008:U ringed in the Czech Republic!

courtesy of Plodding Birder and Twitter

 

 

courtesy of Plodding Birder



• There were also good numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls (8+) including several adults.

Awe and wonder moments!

10/11/2018 East Grinstead RSPB Outing to The Burgh and to RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Saturday 10 November 2018
West Sussex

Over 20 members travelled today - our best attendance for an outdoor event for some time.  We were rewarded with some very good birding and a species count well in excess of 50.  This despite an awful weather forecast. Thankfully, the expected heavy downpours were behind schedule and we enjoyed relatively comfortable conditions. 

Shaun, wisely, decided to switch the order of events so we started at The Burgh before going round the RSPB reserve in the afternoon.

The Burgh

As you would expect, the raptors dominated proceedings and we saw 5 species.. 

• Most ubiquitous were the Red Kites which delighted everyone as they performed their aerobatics. 
• Not to be outdone, the Buzzards put on a good show and Kestrels flew overhead periodically.
• Kevin spotted a Peregrine on the ground and things got even better when it took to the air and tussled with a corvid.
• Star bird however was the Ring-tailed Hen Harrier spotted by Alastair.  It flew low over the hedges, less than 100 metres from our viewing point - awesome!

 Both types of partridge were seen.

• We flushed 10+ as we walked close to the edge of the crop field.
• A little later, as we started back to the cars, we watched 5+ Red-legged Partridges as they went about their business, totally oblivious to our presence. 

We also struck lucky with winter thrushes.

•  Redwing and Fieldfares were showing well. 

Only 22 species seen but what quality!

 

 

 

 

RSPB Pulborough Brooks



The weather held out for us as we changed venue to RSPB Pulborough Brooks.

• Pick of the water birds was Pintail with at least 6 males showing really well.
• Peregrines turned up here too with good sightings.

We saw at least 50 species - a creditable total considering there was nothing really special around.

Another very enjoyable group outing!

05/11/2018 Beachy Head - Dipped on Pallas's Warbler

Monday 5 November 2018

Old Trapping Area, Beachy Head, Sussex

• I dipped on the Pallas's Warbler this afternoon.  A few sharp-eyed birders got a fleeting glimpse of the bird moving around the dense bushes at the rear of the old trapping area but by the time I moved the 10 metres or so to get into position it had gone.  With light rain around I gave up after just over an hour.

There were some positives however.

• I had several sightings of the Firecrest near the top of the bushes.
• A very friendly Goldcrest came with 2 feet of me as I was looking for the warbler - totally oblivious to all that was going on around it.

You can't win them all!

04/11/2018 East Sussex and North East Kent: Lesser Yellowlegs and White-billed Diver

Sunday 4 November 2018

I intended going on the SOS walk today but changed my mind and went out on my own.  The conditions were superb with bright sunshine and only light winds.  My reward was great views of 2 superb species. 

The Midrips, East Sussex

• First stop was to The Midrips for a very easy twitch of the Lesser Yellowlegs.  The bird was showing really well on the Sussex side of the border.

courtesy of Rich Bonser and Twitter



Westbrook, near Margate, Kent

• Next stop was at Westbrook, just west of Margate, to see White-billed Diver on the sea.  The tide was out so it took a while to locate the bird but after a while we found it and enjoyed excellent, if somewhat distant views.  These were, by far, the best views I have ever had of this rare bird.  The white bill was very noticeable as it glistened in the afternoon sunshine.

courtesy of Peter Alan Coe and Twitter




A cracking day out!









02/11/2018 Isabelline Shrike - a lucky break!

2 November 2018
near Birling Gap, Sussex

• I was fortunate to twitch an Isabelline Shrike on the south coast this afternoon. I was tipped off by Matt Eade and set off immediately.   If I had delayed more than 15 minutes I would have been too late.  The bird showed well only for a few minutes shortly after I arrived but then disappeared much to the disappointment of the growing number of birders who turned up later.
• A Dartford Warbler and a Stonechat were delightful asides as we waited for the shrike to turn up. 

Lucky me - a "lifer" too!

Thanks Matt!

More details to follow