Spurn Point

 Tuesday

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.

Bempton Cliffs

 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.

Little Marlow GP September

 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

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Colour ringed "Orange AN3T"

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.

Little Grebe - A adult and a Juvenile.

Otmoor with Bourne End U3A

 This was a morning trip to Otmoor with a few members from Bourne End U3A. 

We recorded 48 species of birds of which 4 were only heard calling.  The top bird in terms of rarity and difficulty in finding was a Grasshopper Warbler which appeared fairly close to us near the entrance track.  We saw up to seven Cattle Egrets with five in one group feeding very close to some cattle and another two in the distance near some other cattle.  

Other good finds were a Greenshank, Hobby, Water Rail, Curlew and Garganey which was in eclipse plumage and asleep most of the time, making identification a little tricky.  

Curlew - Asleep in front of the first screen

Little Egrets - Also in front of the first screen.

Little Egrets - Three different birds on the Greenaway.

Greenshank and Little Egrets

Garganey - asleep most of the time.

Unfortunately no photos of the Cattle Egrets which were very distant most of the time.

Great Crested Grebes Family

Great Crested Grebe always seem to breed fairly late at Little Marlow, this year being no exception.  On 10th August I saw the family party below.  Interestingly there was another Great Crested Grebe on a nest just 25 metres away.

The family right next to the nest

Two youngsters being a little adventurous

One youngster taking a ride.

Marsh Warbler in Bucks!!

 In all my years of birding in the county I have never had the chance to see a Marsh Warbler.  Then while I was visiting family in Lancashire I heard that one had been found in the M Keynes area.  I thought it would probably leave before I could get there but then heard that a female was present and breeding was possibly taking place.  So the birds did not depart and I was able to visit reasonably early on 10th June.

I soon found the singing male managed to get a few photos as it continued to show between 7:45 and 9:30am.  It was fairly close and so it was fairly easy to separate it from Reed Warbler, which was nearby.  Of course as soon as it sang it was fairly obviously with a lot of mimicry.

For more on this significant birding event in the county visit https://bucksbirdclub.co.uk/marsh-warblers-breeding-attempt/ 

Marsh Warbler - Not easy to photograph as usually in fairly thick vegetation,
so these photos all taken in one place.

Marsh Warbler - This digiscoped image shows the pale edges to the primaries very well.

Note that the posting of this was delayed at the request of the county recorder in order to keep disturbance to a minimum and to allow the pair to breed.

Shelducks Breed at Little Marlow

 Shelducks have been present during the Spring months for several years but it was not until this year that we saw any young.  This is a first breeding record for this species at the site. It is not clear where the actual nest was.

Unfortunately several of the ducklings perished over the next few weeks but four were still present on 10th August.  Hopefully they will return next year.

Shelducks - The pair with seven ducklings on 30th June.