North Norfolk Lifers

Since the wife had friends over for the weekend I decided to make myself scarce and head up to Norfolk for the Pallid Harrier which had been hanging around for some time. I travelled up to Norfolk the night before and grabbed a B&B so I could be up at first light to make a full day of it.

I arrived at RSPB Snettisham a little before last light on the off chance I could grab a quick look but I had no idea just how far the hides are from the car park - sooo far and the path was narrow and boggy.  No view of the Harrier however I witnessed thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying out to the estuary for their evening roost.

I got up early the following day and arrived back at Snettisham just after first light and was surprised to find there were already about 15 birders on site.  The Pallid Harrier was showing extremely well just opposite the first hide, I didn't get any photos though as it took flight and headed of down the headland to hunt but was more than happy with a Lifer.  Out on the estuary where dozens of Shelduck, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank, and Dunlin.

Time to try for another lifer; 3 Shorelark had been showing well over the past week at Holme Dunes so that was my next stop.  On route I stopped off at a small RSPB location but I have no idea were  and cannot remember the name for the life of me, it was a saltmarsh where I had great views of a Water Rail, a few Little Egret and hundreds of Golden Plover streaming over head.  A small pool opposite the reserve held Shovelar, Widgeon and a few Brent Geese.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

As I headed up the approach road to Holme Dunes I had to stop to let a car through a narrow spot, just as I was about to pull of I caught something out the corner of my eye.  A beautiful Barn Owl was perched quite happily about 10 meters away, I couldn't resist a quick snap which the driver behind didn't seem to mind as they did exactly the same.

Barn Owl

I parked up at Holme and had a quick bite to eat before heading on down for the Shorelark and hopefully Snow Bunting.  When I arrived at the end of the beach the Shorelark weren't to be found, it certainly didn't help that birders were traipsing all over the dunes.... sometimes birders can be a pain in the arse...!  I waited until everybody went off over the dunes then started scanning what I thought were suitable areas and eventually located them, lifer number 2 - Shorelark, they were quite a distance off and I didn't want to disturb them further.  No sign of any Snow Bunting but some nice flocks of Linnet.

Shorelark

Next stop was RSPB Titchwell where I had the usual ridiculous views of Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Avocet.  I had a couple of year ticks with Marsh Tit and Brambling on the feeders.  I was informed and shown some Water Pipit at the back of one of the pools although I think someone was working on faith as at that distance I could hardly make them out as Pipits....

Final stop was Wolferton Triangle for the Golden Pheasant which would represent my 3rd lifer for the day.  I was not to be however but I did have 4 Woodcock which were new for the year so not all bad.

Woodcock

All in all a very enjoyable day with a couple of lifers, some year ticks and birds I don't often get to seen living just about as far from the coast as you can in the UK.

Farmoor Grey Phalarope

This week a very obliging Grey Phalarope has been resident at Farmoor Reservoir and was unbelievably joined by another!!  Farmoor is just off my route home at the weekend so all fingers were crossed they'd stay till the Friday.  Fortunately they did and I was treated some ridiculous views, unfortunately they weren't ridiculously close enough for some idiots who felt the need to cross the wall to lay on the water line.  The distance from the path to the Phalaropes was only 5 meters....!!

Anyway, rant over I'm still over the moon as this was a Lifer.....sweet!!

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

 

Also present were a couple of Grey Wagtail, a Great Northern Diver which I had distant views of across the other side of the reservoir and a Red-necked Grebe which I failed to locate, I was only there briefly so didn't go around the whole site.

 Grey Wagtail

Peak District - Walking & Hot-Tubbing

The wife and I decided to take a break and visit the Peak District as we hadn't realised we'd never been.  We hired a lovely barn conversion cottage complete with hot-tub where we spent all evening for the 3 nights we were there.

The birding wasn't overly amazing as the hills truly are devoid of life... At the farm I had Jackdaw, Buzzard, Blackbird, Woodpigeon and Robin.

We took a walk up Kinder Scout where there were way too many people for my liking. I did enjoy the walk and the beer back at the pub back in Edale even more.

I was nice to see Raven over Kinder Scout and I had nice close views of a female Kestrel, unfortunately I only had my phone for photos as I didn't fancy lugging my camera over 15 miles of hills.

Kestrel

The most numerous bird was obviously Meadow Pipit but I got to see what I was hoping for and that was Wheatear which was new for year.

Wheatear

During the evenings I ran my portable Heath Moth Trap hoping for some more northerly species, however I only had Lunar Underwings, just goes to show how ecologically devoid our uplands are.

The last day we took a walk from the farm across the countryside footpaths to Bakewell where we stopped for lunch before walking back a different route.  On the route back we were hand railing a river so I decided to take a quick look where it came close to the path.  This proved to be fortunate as I added Grey Wagtail and even better, Dipper!! Again I still hand only my phone camera so not the greatest quality photos.

Grey Wagtail

Dipper

Barred Warbler - Stanwell Moor

I finished work an hour early today to take advantage of the wife being out shopping and headed on down to Stanwell (Staines) Moor for the long staying Barred Warbler.  Getting there always takes longer than it should but that's London for you but it's always easy to park and then it's just the long trek in usually through boggy ground.

The Barred Warbler was surprisingly simple to find and gave great views through the binoculars, it didn't sit still for long and hardly ever in the open so scope views were few and photos were snatched.  I only managed one with it facing towards me as you can see...

Out of sight

You're looking the wrong way!!

How rude!

Turn around......

Guess that will have to do

 

Was nice to see a small flock (4) of Whinchat, never close enough for a decent shot but here is a record shot.

 

 Whinchat



 Other birds were the obviously raucous Ring-necked Parakeet, some Jackdaw, Rook, a single overhead Raven and my favourite - a stunning beautiful male Bullfinch.  Also Greenfinch and Goldfinch and a small number of Starling and a hovering Kestrel.

Another birder directed me to where a Little Owl was sat out in the late evening sun so I stopped for a look as it was on the way back to the car.

Little Owl

A successful little twitch bagging me lifer number 587 and taking my UK list to 260.

A Couple of Lifers in Murcia

I visited Murcia in Spain for a 2 week course, the course was quite intensive with long days so I only had a single days birding which was our rest day.

I stayed relatively close as there were so many sites to visit, I started at the El Hondo which is a Marshy Lagoon which is a Special Protection Area due to its importance to birdlife, both Marbled Teal and White-headed Duck nest here - I saw neither....

 

The day was unbelievably hot so I was unable to stay long as you couldn't stand still in the sun for too long without passing out.  The first bird I saw was a juvenile Greater Flamingo, I only saw 2 on site.

 

Flamingo

Flamingo

 



The only ducks were Mallard and Red-crested Pochard. I saw a single Purple Gallinule but wasn't quick enough to get a photo as it skulked in the reedbeds.

There were quite a few terns flying around, I found Common Tern, Little Tern and I believe Whiskered Tern.

Common Tern

Little Tern

Whiskered Tern (Possible)

Also present were plenty of Black-winged Stilt, a few Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron and my first lifer of the day with Squacco Heron (of course no photo..).

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

 

I had my second lifer here with a single Collared Pratincole, although I had great views through the scope my photographic exploits are dire, it was about 150m away.

 

Collared Pratincole

 

I also had distant views of 2 Hoopoe on the approach gravel pit which were a year tick.

 

I then moved down to the Mata National Park where I watch Buzzard and a large flock of Siskin, ever better was the number of Crested Lark

 

Crested Lark

 



I had my third lifer of the day with great views of an Iberian Grey Shrike, what an amazing bird.

Iberian Grey Shrike

 

The shallow water had a lot of waders, mainly Redshank, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper.

 

There were plenty of Red-rumped Swallows, when sat on my balcony at the end of the day, visual migration was fully evident with Swallows, Red-rumped Swallows and House Martins streaming over, I presume they were arriving at the coast ready for the hope across to North Africa first thing in the morning. Of course there were the usual House Sparrows and Collared Dove, the odd Starling but that really was it.

 

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-Rumped Swallow

 

The had one more lifer on the trip which was on the beach right next to the hotel, this was Audouin's Gull of which were the most numerous gull species on the beach they shared with Black-headed Gull and the odd Yellow-Legged Gull.

 

Audouin's Gull

 

Full Species List: El Hondo: Red-rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo, Coot, Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, House Sparrow, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Little Ringed Plover, Collard Pratincole, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Black-headed Gull, Hoopoe. Mata NP: Buzzard, Siskin, Crested Lark, Iberian Grey Shrike, Turnstone, Avocet, Greater Flamingo, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Blackbird, Swift, Robin.





Wood Sandpiper

I had free day so thought I'd head down to RSPB Lycthett Fields as a Wood Sandpiper had been found that morning and this represented a lifer for me, I've never heard of Lycthett Fields so had to do a bit of research first.  Turned out to be reasonably easy to find though but is one of those sites with no parking or facilities, not saying that's a bad thing...

First thing I noticed as I crossed the style were the number of butterflies about, there where loads of 'Whites' plus Speckled Wood, Peacock, Meadow Brown and Large Skipper, also saw a single Red Admiral.

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

 

I managed to connect with the Wood Sandpiper and had good but distant views so no photos, also present were Oystercatcher, a couple of Little Ringed Plover, Curlew and a number of Common Tern.  I was very happy with the Wood Sandpiper being a lifer I've been after for some time now.

 

On the route back to the car I found a large flock of Linnet and a very obliging pair of Stonechat which are always a pleasure.

 

Male Linnet

Male Linnet

Female Stonechat

Female Stonechat

Male Stonechat



Reserve Du Teich - France

A long weekend visiting friends in Arcachon near Bordeaux makes a visit to Reserve Du Teich (Twitter = @RO_Teich) essential, this place is amazing, the variety of birds is incredible, hardly anybody there and my favourite part...... dogs are not allowed!!

My last visit was back in October so I was looking forward to some sun walking around this time.  The visit started with some weird sounding Frogs, took me ages to realise what was making the noise.

 

First birds of the day where White Stork which nest at the reserve and are quite numerous.  It was great to see them with chicks in the nest.

 

White Stork

 

Even better was amazing close up views of Water Rail to the point they seem almost tame, the reserve has a very healthy population, when I walked around last October I counted no less the 20 birds calling. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see them with young.... and so close.

 

Water Rail

 

There were numerous waders out on the scrapes, plenty of Grey Plover, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt (also all with young/on nests), Spoonbill and 3 Spotted Redshank.

 

Black-winged Stilt - on nest

 

Black-winged Stilt - with chicks

 

Spoonbill

 

Black-tailed Godwit

 

Avocet

 

My target species for today was Bluethroat for which the reserve is famed, however it wasn't meant to be, another species which is abundant and almost impossible to not see is the Nightingale, I saw 5 today, the first 4 I had what would be consider great views in the UK, i.e. they were about 1 metre away showing quite well but still obscured. I then found another which gave great views but at a distance.  I wasn't quite prepared for the one sat out in the open by the entrance to the reserve, I observed for over 20 minutes but had to leave to catch my train, my usual photographic prowess doesn't do the experience justice though.

 





Nightingale

 

I was fortunate enough to get a lifer today in the form of Blue-headed Wagtail.

 

Blue-headed Wagtail

 

Plenty of other species seen around the site including Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, loads of Kingfisher, a couple of photos of other animals seen.

 

Coypu

Great Crested Grebe

Red Squirrel

Terrapin