Return to Hayes (pics added)

A quick return trip to see the Red-backed Shrike at Lake Farm, Country Park, Hayes, with Paul and Brendan. The bird showed well for a few minutes before flying off. It was re-located but we had to leave as I had to take my wife to work but before that the joys of Asda's! Paul managed the pics below.

Clock the Cuckoo

This afternoon Paul and I paid visits to firstly Spadeoaks Gravel Pits, Little Marlow and then later Otmoor.
At Spadeoaks; Yellow-legged Gull (2), Little-ringed Plover (3), Dunlin, Common Tern.

At Otmoor not quite the quality of birds as on our recent visits, however, we were delighted to observe a juvenile Cuckoo being fed by a pair of Reed Warblers. On one occasion a Reed Warbler landed on the demanding juvenile Cuckoo's back, fed it then flew off in search of more food.

Red-backed Shrike at Dawley Road, Hayes.

A morning visit to Dawley Road, Hayes with Paul. After an hour and half's wait in the rain the male Red-backed Shrike finally showed itself to us and about another dozen birders. We then made our way over to Staines reservoirs where we noted; Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Common Tern, Black-necked Grebe (2).

Spoonies

You tube video of 13 spoonbill sandpipers hatched at Slimbridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIoh3hiBQi4&feature=player_embedded

the "links" effect

A trip to Aberdeen in search of Black Scoter.

Brendan came to pick me up at about ten to nine on friday evening. He had collected our hire car, a two litre diesel vauxhall astra ealier in the day. However, he had fogotten his mobile phone so he went back home to pick it up. This gave me time to bolt down my dinner which was a nice beef wellington courtesy of my better half. Brendan returned and we made the short journey from my house to Kings Langley Station where Dave was waiting. We set the sat-nav for Murcgar Golf Course clubhouse and off we went. We arrived about eight hours later around ten past five a.m. The journey was quite good no rain and not too many roadworks. On arrival the weather was windy and overcast. After unloading our optics from the car and putting on our waterproofs we made our way across the golf course to the dunes. Incidently whislt I was putting my waterproof trousers on I stumbled and had to put my hand on the ground to stop myself from completely falling over. Brendan says this counts as a "fall" as I was not in complete control. I don't think it does but conceded as I didn't think it was worth falling out over (no pun intended). We spent the next few hours viewing a large flock of mainly Common Scoter. The flock did contain a fair few Velvet Scoter. We also connected with a couple of Surf Scoter (new bird for me.) Dave connected with the Black Scoter but neither Brendan or myself could get onto the bird. Both Brendan and myself did see a Scoter that looked a likely candidate for the Black Scoter but our description did not quite match Dave's and Dave was not able to connect with our bird. Dave's description matched the Black Scoter that had been seen but both Brendan and myself noted a more yellow bill with no obvious black and some paleness at the base of the bill.Visibility was not good and got worse as the day wore on. Scoters were joining and leaving the main flock quite regularly mainly flying in or out to towards Black Dog. We decided to drive to Black Dog and walk the dunes back towards the golf course. On our walk from the car to the dunes we noted several Northern Marsh Orchids. Then shortly after we had started walking the dunes back towards the golf course the higlight of our trip occured! No not the Black Scoter or a sighting of some other "mega" raritly but a spectacular fall by Brendan. Not even top bootfaller Didier Drogba who actually falls over for a living could have done better. Anyway back to the birding. On our walk along the dunes we noted a massive flock of Eider hauled up on the beach. A quick inspection did not reveal any King Eider. We saw some smaller flocks of Scoter, one of which held a nice drake Surf Scoter, also noted were ten Red-breated Mergansers and several Red-throated divers. After a bit of a hike we caught up with the main flock of Scoters that had drifted a fair bit north. We started going through the flock again but our attention's were distracted by two Great Skua's that flew north fairly close in. By now the weather was quite bad the wind had picked up a fair bit and drizzle had turned to rain. After a while Brendan and myself picked out the Scoter we had seen previously but again we could not get Dave onto it. We stayed scanning throught the flock noting Common, Velvet and Surf Scoter but no positive i.d. for a Black Scoter. We had now been looking for this elusive sea duck for approaching nine hours and our backs, legs........ were aching and our optics were steamed up and soaking wet making for poor viewing. So after a quick team meeting we decided to pack up our optics, get out of our wet clothes and head back home. Some traffic in Aberdeen city centre but the rest of the journey was pretty good and we were able to drop Dave off at Kings Langley about ten to eleven. After a lot of discussion and viewing many different pictures of various types of Scoter both Brendan and myself are not convinced we saw the Black Scoter. In an edition of "Birding World" there is a photo of an abherrant Common Scoter that looks remarkably like the bird we saw. Coincidently an aberrant Common Scoter has been reported from this location. Update; Unusual Scoter with all yellow billl reorted again on sunday. Also after viewing photo's and video clips of Black Scoter including the bird at Murcgar on various websites we still cannot make a strong enough case for the bird we saw. Despite not ticking "Black Scoter" I still enjoyed the trip and it is already on the calendar for next year. After all it's not every day you get a chance to drink nine cans (3 for a £1) of Tesco's berry flavoured energy drink.

A breakdown of the cost
Car hire from Enterprise, Watford; £80.
Diesel; £150
Total £230 divided by 3 just under £77 each. Aditional costs Tesco Energy drinks/Red Bull, sandwiches, crisps and chocolate about £10.

Hairbrained Scheme

Brendan had the bright idea of driving to Aberedeen to look for a Black Scoter. The plan is to leave at 21:00 tomorrow evening and drive through the night arriving at the Ythan estuary early on saturday morning. Despite a less than favourable weather forecast and the fact the Black Scoter has not been seen since monday, both Dave and myself have agreed to go. I think I am more attracted by the lunacy of the trip rather than the chance of seeing a distant sea duck with an apricot on it's beak. Anyway, I will post update's as often as I can.

Update: Black Scoter seen this evening along with 3 Surf Scoters.

Sabine's Gull at Startops

Mon 2nd July 2012. A late evening visit to Startop's Reservoir, Tring. The Sabine's Gull was on the green barley bales for the  45 minute's I was there, although it did move from bale to bale enabling me to see it's wing pattern. Paul made a visit earlier and when it was performing a lot better. He was able to capture the following image's.

Otmoor pics

Paul Frost's pics from our visit to Otmoor then Marlow on Sunday.
First pic Grasshopper Warbler, next 2 Turtle Dove, Egyptian Goose and young at Marlow Gravel pits.

Otmoor Gropper

A midday visit to Otmoor with Paul; Grasshopper Warbler, Turtle Dove, Hobby, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Red Kite, Buzzard, Redshank, Little Egret, Common Tern.

Spadeoak Nature Reserve, Marlow; Little Ringed Plover (3), Egyptian Goose, Common Tern.

Bonxie

A couple of hours seawatching at Milford on Sea this morning; Gannet (c300), Great Skua, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Auk sp, Common Scoter, Curlew, Swift. Rock Pipit nearby.

Also earlier in the week a further visit to Pig Bush/Beaulieu Road Station; Spotted Flycatcher, Crossbill, Snipe (several "drumming").

North Gate near Beaulieu; Raven.

Pig Bush

An early morning visit to Pig Bush in the new forest whilst wifey took granddaughter swimming. I chose Pig Bush because I like the name! A nice mixture of heath and woodland produced; Stonechat, Redstart, Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Siskin, Willow Warbler, Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush.

Shatterford

On a family hol in the new forest this week. A pleasant stroll around the Shatterford/Beaulieu Road Station area with Audrey(wifey), Becky (daughter), Drew(Son in law), Amelie(2 year old granddaughter), Joshua(7 month old grandson). I managed to squeeze in some birding whilst pushing the all-terrain buggies; Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Redstart, Coal Tit, Siskin, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch.

Night Heron-Little Bittern

Keyhaven with Dave, Paul and Brendan; Night Heron, Little Egret, Mediterranean Gull, Little Tern.

Later on the River Colne at Stockers Lake, Rickmansworth; Great close views of Little Bittern.
Paul's pics below; 1st three Med Gulls, Little Tern, last three Little Bittern.

Little Bittern at Stockers Lake

Paul Frost's Little Bittern pics. River Colne, Rickmansworth

 

European Roller

A trip to East Yorkshire with Paul. A long drive to Aldbrough in East Yorkshire was worthwhile as we had great views of the long staying European Roller. Also noted at Bewick Hall where we parked; 6 Tree Sparrow.

On the way home we stopped off on the Ashwell to Bygrave Road where we were delighted to see 3 Turtle Dove. Also noted; Lesser-whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge.

Some of my hd, 3d, scratch n sniff, high quality pics below. The first eight turquoise blobs in a cultivated field are European Roller, the next three lbj's on a barn roof are Tree Sparrow, next three grey/brown bird in a bush Lesser-Whitethroat and final pic if you look closely you can just make out three Turtle Dove shaped blurs. Enjoy!

Lakenheath Oriole's and Cuckoo's

On a recent visit to Lakenheath with Brendan we met northwest birder and photographer Paul Foster. He has posted some great Oriole and Cuckoo pics on his blog; http://paulifos.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/cuckoos-and-orioles.html

Pics from Saturday

Paul's pics from saturday; Barn Owl, Crane, Hobby and Marsh Harrier at Lakenheath. Corn Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail, North Hertfordshire between Bygrave and Ashwell.

Paul's pics below;

Flew Southwest

Monday 4th June 2012.
A planned trip to East Yorkshire with Dave, Paul and Brendan was cancelled because the European Roller "flew southwest" on sunday evening. As no further reports had been posted that evening we decided to head for Norfolk and in particular a couple of sites where we might see "Montie's". On route news came through that the Roller had been seen in it's usual place, however, as we were already in North Norfolk we resisted temptation.

On route near Walsingham a wing tagged Red Kite was noted.

We drew a blank at our first "Montie's" site and same result at the second.

Next stop was Titchwell which was really busy people wise. Nothing out of the ordinary here, the highlights being; Little Gull, Little Tern, Fulmar, Bearded Tit, Red-breasted Merganser. From here we returned to one of the alleged "Montie's" sites. No Montie's (of course!) but we did note; Grey Partridge, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Buzzard, Yellowhammer and a possible Quail ran quickly across the farm track but too distant to confirm i.d.

With nothing much reported in Norfolk we decided to head for Lakenheath in search of Crane's.

Lakenheath; Golden Oriole (singing), Bittern (booming), Bearded Tit (pinging), Cuckoo, Hobby, Garganey, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier-up to 20 birds seen including several pairs performing  "food pass", Barn Owl-prolonged views hunting over ditch's, Crane-2 adults foraging for food, it is believed these birds have young but reeds too tall for us to see them.

On the way home we stopped off on the Ashwell to Bygrave road in North Hertfordshire. A great way to finish our day as not only did we see the recently reported Turtle Dove but we also had outstanding views of the following; Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Partridge.

Paul managed some pics and they will be added soon.

Otmoor

A visit to Otmoor with Paul and also a brief stop at Bledlow.

Otmoor; Turtle Dove, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler (reeling), Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Snipe (4 drumming), Curlew, Redshank, Buzzard, Swift, Cuckoo, Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Bledlow; Nightingale.