06/04/2018 Hoopoe and Yellow Wagtails

Friday 6th April 2018
near Lydd, Kent

After such a good morning in the Ashdown Forest and then at Broadwater Warren, I thought my birding day was over - I was wrong!

After visiting family in Newhaven and taking the dogs out, news came through of a Hoopoe at Baynham Farm near Lydd.  With enough time on my hands, I made the long journey and was rewarded with a spectacular experience.

• The Hoopoe was exactly where the reports said it would be and a mere 25 metres away from the road, which is just as well as I had forgotten to take my scope.  As always, the Hoopoe looked majestic and delighted both myself and the assembled photographers.

Hoopoe at Lydd

courtesy of Malcolm Freeman and Twitter

Being greedy, I decided to take in Scotney GP on my way home, hoping to see  any one of Black Redstart, Little Owl or Corn Bunting.  I saw none of these but my day was made with a truly surprising sighting.

• There were 10+ Yellow Wagtails in the field running around among the cattle at Scotney Court Farm.  Again, no need for a scope - they were only 25 metres away.  I have never seen this species this early in. the year.  On the return leg, 30 minutes later, they were gone!  A clear case of right time, right place.

My best day for a while!

06/04/2018 Ravens at Broadwater Warren

Friday 6 April 2018
RSPB Broadwater Warren

• After waiting so long to see one this year, it was Ravens all the way today with at least 3 sightings at Broadwater Warren.

• Earlier, whilst looking for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on the Ashdown Forest, I heard my first Blackcap of 2018.

Spring is really here!

02/04/2018 Sandwich Terns at Rye Harbour NR in Sussex

Easter Monday, 02/04/18
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
East Sussex

One of the staples on the birding calendar is a visit to Rye Harbour to see the returning Sandwich Terns.  I took my chances today and, despite a dodgy weather forecast, I managed to get in a good 2 hour session, spanning lunchtime.

• On my way out to the Ternery Pool, I saw my first Wheatear of 2018 - a stunning male!  It landed on the ground before flying on to the fence.  What a bonus and it turned out to be the first of several.

• The Sandwich Terns were showing well on the Ternery Pool with at least 10 resting on one of the islands just in front of me, some 30 metres away.  They looked absolutely fabulous, brightening up this very dull day.

• Not far from them, on an adjacent island, were 5+ Mediterranean Gulls interspersed among the Black-headed Gulls.  They too looked resplendent with their brilliant red beak and black hood. 
  

• A stunning drake Red-breasted Merganser was a joy to see.
• The Avocets, of course, looked very elegant and sophisticated.

A short but excellent visit.

01/04/2018 Black-necked Grebes at Lade GP in Kent

Easter Sunday 01/04/2018
Lade Gravel Pits, Kent


I couldn't resist the chance to see Black-necked Grebes in summer plumage, so off I went down to Dungeness. 

•    I stopped off at ARC at Dungeness first but there were none to be seen, despite reports of 3 yesterday.

•  Next stop was Lade GP where my luck changed.  After some searching I found 2 on the south pit in the bay near the intersection of the 2 pits.  For the next 30 minutes or so I enjoyed undisturbed views of these 2 lovely birds - at times from as little as 25 metres.

Black-necked Grebe at Lade GP

courtesy of Susan Smith and Facebook

What a treat!

26/03/2018 My first Chiffchaff of 2018

Monday 26 March 2018
Ashdown Forest

• Saw my first Chiffchaff of 2018 today as I did my patch survey.

25/03/2018 Acres Down and Blashford Lakes

Hampshire Birding
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

I spent a thoroughly delightful day in Hampshire as part of a group of 10 members of the East Grinstead Local RSPB Group.  We didn't manage to see the main attractions at either site but still enjoyed an interesting and very satisfying birding opportunity with over 50 species seen.

Acres Down

• Although it was mild, the visibility was not good with a lingering mist.  Try as we did we could not see any Goshawks.  Only one was seen before we arrived - as well as a surprising Lesser- spotted Woodpecker.
• By way of compensation we saw a couple of Hawfinches.  The first, as we arrived at the car park - sitting at the top of a tall tree facing us.  The second, similarly placed but seen from the Raptor viewing point.
• Birds were in short supply but we did see our customary Woodlark and several Stonechats.  In the woods by the car park there were Coal Tits, Treecreepers, Goldcrests,  Great- spotted Woodpeckers and Nuthatches.

                                                               Blashford Lakes
The weather was brightening up as we arrived at Blashford Lakes.

• We had lunch in the Woodland Hide where we enjoyed superb views of Brambling (x9),  lots of Reed Buntings and Siskins as well as the usual suspects.
• On Ibsley Water we immediately saw the Little Gull flying in front of us and soon afterwards one of the group picked out the Little Ringed Plover.  It was nice to see the Goosanders again - one of the sites best loved species.

There was no sign of the Black-necked Grebe and we left before the roost so missed the Ring-billed Gull.

Everyone went home very happy, showing that it's possible to have a great day out even after dipping on the star species!

11/03/2018 150 up and it's a Snowy Owl at Snettisham!

Sunday 11 March 2018
Snettisham, Norfolk

A Snowy Owl!   What a great way to bring up my 150th species sighting of 2018!  And at Snettisham - one of my favourite sites in Norfolk.

Snowy Owl at Snettisham
courtesy of Marcus Nash

I took my first chance to go and see this bird today.  At about 11.00 news came through that it had been sighted at the far end of Snettisham, near the Shore Hide, so I was off in the car hoping to get there before the owl flew off.

Its presence was confirmed on Friday and it moved to the Thornham/Titchwell area on Saturday.  Unfortunately, I couldn't go on either day and thought my chance had gone.

I arrived just after 16.00 and spent two and a half hours watching this magnificent creature in the company of fellow Sussex birders Matt and Gareth who had also made the long journey north.  There must have been 50 - 100 birders around even at this late stage on day 3.  It was nice to meet up with Marcus and his son Luke as well as Jake and his friends.

• The Snowy Owl was sitting on a post, less than 100 metres away for most of the time. It did fly a couple of times, first to an adjacent post 20 metres away and then on to the bank another 20 metres back from the posts.  It frequently turned its head to face us. The conditions were ideal so the views were spectacular, much better, apparently, than the ones from previous days.

Snowy Owl at Snettisham
courtesy of Marcus Nash

Thanks to front cover photographer @pebblesphoto for sharing this wonderful pictures of the snowy owl spotted at RSPB Snettisham yesterday 

The article below, taken from the local newspaper sums up the situation admirably.

A snowy owl made an “extremely rare” visit to Norfolk over the weekend - thousands of miles away from its usual feeding ground.

The birds usually live in the far north around the Arctic circle and rarely venture south of northern Scotland.

But the RSPB has today confirmed a female snowy owl - made famous as Harry Potter’s owl, Hedwig - has been spotted at Snettisham in West Norfolk.

The charity said hundreds of bird watchers gathered at the reserve, as well as at Titchwell Marsh to catch a glimpse.

A spokesman for the RSPB said: “These strikingly white birds are more commonly found in the high Arctic tundra rather than the coastal regions of Britain.

“During winter months they can migrate southwards looking for food sources and it’s possible that this bird came from Scandinavia or even as far away as Canada with the recent snap of cold weather.”

Unlike other species of owl, snowy owls are active during daylight hours and may be seen gliding low over ground looking for small mammals such as voles or event rabbits.

The birds are content to sit still for long periods of time, either on a low perch or boulder, making them ideal for wildlife fans.

The news of the snowy owl’s arrival was broadcast through the birding community and within hours, people started to arrive from all over Norfolk and beyond, the RSPB said.

• Also seen was a very obliging Barn Owl.
• On the way up I saw a Red Kite.

• The last sighting in Norfolk was 1991.  
• Prior to that, you have to go back to 1938 to find another record of the bird in Norfolk.

What a great way to get my first "lifer" of  2018!