The evening roost at Little Marlow GP has gradually increased in size over recent weeks, although very variable from day to day. Apart from the five regular species of gulls, a few scarcer species have put in an appearance over recent days. A 1st Winter Yellow-legged Gull was rather distant and in dark conditions so no photos, but I did manage to video the other two scarce species below.
This 2nd winter Iceland Gull has visited the lake at dusk most evenings over the past week. It spends the day feeding at nearby rubbish tips.
This 2nd winter Caspian Gull is colour ringed Yellow "P:0P3" and was ringed as a chick in a Polish colony in May 2020. It was spotted out in the North Sea in September 2021, before turning up in Holland and then at Little Marlow on 13th Nov and again today (27th).
This was a morning visit to the site with Bourne End U3A. Most of the photos were taken from the new hide. There were three Great White Egrets at least spread around the lake plus several Little Egrets. The Red-crested Pochards were a surprise as was a flock of 150-200 Golden Plover that flew overheard at one point.
An interesting size comparison above and below between Great White and Little Egret.
With a Ruffe (or Pope) catch. It caught three in about five minutes!
Kingfisher - taken through trees along the path along the SW bank.
The same or another Kingfisher sat on the bank for some time but flushed by a runner.
Red-crested Pochard - A pair swam out from Draycot Bank. Not a common bird here.
I managed a quick visit to Lodmoor RSPB Reserve as the light was beginning to fade. Sightings included 3 Great White Egrets (7 reported earlier in the day), 3 Little Egrets, 10+ Black-tailed Godwits, 6+ Dunlin and c150 Mediterranean Gulls!
Among the 300 or so Gulls was just 1 Common Gull and this colour ringed Herring Gull. This individual was stood there as though he owned the place and I thought there would be quite a few previous reports. However that was not the case and a swift response from the ringer showed that it was ringed in Coverack, Cornwall in July 2018. This was the first sighting since it was ringed!
Herring Gull - Black 591
Sika Deer - The short video clip below shows this stag and a female emerging from the reeds.
On route from Spurn Point to Lancashire, we diverted to see the long staying White-tailed Lapwing. The car park was almost full and the bird had plenty of admirers but as it was easy to see and the hide was not very crowded. We were fortunate in that a Bluethroat that had been there several days, was also present but the hide much more crowded. Not great during the Covid pandemic! Other birds seen included Bearded Tits, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Marsh Harrier.
Then a long slow journey back to Leyland in heavy traffic.
White-tailed Lapwing - My second UK sighting after one at Dungeness in 2010.
A short video of the White-tailed Lapwing
Bluethroat - Not always easy to see but often in partial view along the front of the reeds.
Katherine and I arrived in steady rain on Tuesday afternoon after leaving Bempton an hour or two earlier. Due to the rain we decided to go to the hide at Kilnsea Wetlands where at least we would be dry. There were a good variety of birds on view including a Caspian Gull, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, Dunlins, Black-tailed Godwits, several Ruff, a single Snipe and a variety of wildfowl and Gulls.
Ruff - several were present at Kilnsea Wetlands
Little Stint - Three were feeding over at least two days.
In the evening we drove over to Sammy's Point and saw at least four Short-eared Owls hunting and what was presumably two separate pairs flying high in the air close to one another and circling around for a few minutes. An excellent end to the day.
Wednesday
We decided to start with some Viz Mig at the Warren where good numbers of Meadow Pipits were heading south along with a variety of other species. A brief sea watch included eight Red-throated Divers, three Arctic Skuas, two Manx Shearwaters and plenty of Gannets. A Pied Flycatcher at the ringing hut was nice but brief. This bird had been ringed the previous day by ringer Sarah.
Then a walk around the triangle. It was generally quiet the highlights being another Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher and six Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Then a walk along Beacon Lane was also quiet for passerines with the highlight being a small flock of Golden Plover landing quite close. A larger flock, possibly containing the recently seen Dotterel, landed much further away and unfortunately could not be viewed.
Pale bellied Brent Geese - On the Humber. Recently arrived.
Spotted Flycatcher - In front of Cliff Farmhouse
This Pied Flycatcher was camera shy!
Golden Plover - A small flock conveniently landed close to us by Beacon Lane.
Thursday
Another day, another seawatch. This time the Long-tailed Skua that had been reported in recent days, put in an appearance and a Sooty Shearwater flew north. A flock of Little Gulls, a single Arctic Skua, ten Red-throated Divers, Sandwich and Common Terns, some Guillemots were the supporting cast.
With no news of migrants around the area we decided to walk along the peninsula, crossing the breach along the way. A Hoopoe had been seen the previous day so there was the chance that we might come across that (but we didn't). We reached the lighthouse and turned back ( 1km short of the point but still a decent trek). Along the way we saw up to 20 Wheatear, lots of Meadow Pipits, an Arctic Skua, two Yellow Wagtails and plenty of Swallows.
On reaching the breach on our return, it was approaching high tide and the gathering waders was very impressive, especially when a Hobby flew through and tried to take one! There were perhaps six thousand waders including Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plover, both Godwits, Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Curlew.
Then we returned to Kilnsea Wetlands where there were plenty of birds to look through. Mostly the same species as before but with two juvenile Caspian Gulls (one wearing a German colour ring). Six Avocets and a Spoonbill were nice.
Wheatear - conveniently perched along the peninsula.
Some of the remains of mans attempts to tame the sea were littered along parts of the North Sea side of the peninsula.
Wire sculpture near the lighthouse.
A short video clip of a small part of the waders
at the breach a while before high tide.
Friday
Our final seawatch produced four Arctic Skua and about twenty Red-throated Divers flying south, plus the usual species. Then back to the Observatory to load up for the journey home. Just outside the Obs was a Whimbrel.
Just as we were about to leave I heard the radio report of an Isabelline Wheatear that had just been found near Easington! A short time later we would have missed this news and been on the road.
So a stop off in Easington and a walk down to the rocks to join a group of about ten birders already watching the bird. Strangely my only other sighting of this species in the UK was about half a mile further south!
Whimbrel - The only one we saw.
Isabelline Wheatear - On the rocks next to the Easington Gas Terminal.
Then off to Blacktoft sands to try and see the White-tailed Lapwing.
Kathrine and I had a few days booked at Spurn Obs and we decided to take in Bempton Cliffs on the way.
The impressive Bempton Cliffs where large numbers of Gannets
were still present but the various Auks had all left the breeding cliffs.
The first target bird was "Albert" the Black-browed Albatross that had made the cliffs his/her home for several months. He was conveniently sat on the cliff when we arrived and I managed a few shots. A little later he then flew down onto the water where we watched him drift off towards Bridlington.
Black-browed Albatross in one of the favoured positions on Staple Newk.
A short video clip of the Albatross on the cliff
The second bird was a real Mega. A Green Warbler which had been present for almost a week. We were very fortunate in that the bird showed very well after just a ten minute wait. A further wait of 45 minutes produced one other view. It was extremely difficult to photograph as it constantly moved but the three rather poor photos below do show the important characteristics.
Green Warbler -
Yellow supercilium and breast but white underparts further back
Wing bar and ring on leg!
Soon after we saw the Green Warbler the rain started and which continued for most of the rest of the day. So we headed off to Spurn Point.
Knots are a scarce species in Bucks, so when one dropped in on 9th September I decided to take a look later that day. However when Adam Bassett went to see the bird a Glossy Ibis dropped in, so it was drop everything and go! Unfortunately the Ibis must have flown off a minute or two before I got there (It was a first for the site) but the Knot did stay for a few days. This was a bit surprising as it was chased by Jackdaws on several occasions.
Knot - It was often seen feeding close to Black-headed Gulls.
A short video clip of a Greenshank which was photo bombed by two Moorhens!
Also present was a colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull. The bird was ringed in March 2011 at Pitsea, Essex. Since then it seems to spend the breeding season in Friesland, NETHERLANDS moving to the UK after breeding. The movements of this bird can be seen at http://www.ntgg.org.uk/map/FA39778
A day or so later I came across this adult and a juvenile Little Grebe. They are not very regular at this site and probably only my second sighting this year.
