Saturday 30 May 2015

Not a bad day!

May 30 - an excellent haul of species today.......first of all, distant views of a Honey Buzzard in the New Forest, with Goshawk and Hawfinch also seen, and Wood Warbler and Firecrest heard. Then positive news from Titchfield, and superb close views of the long-staying Greater Yellowlegs,now in summer plumage. A Med Gull was on a nest among the Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns. Then a well-timed text had me returning home via the eastern sector of the Water Park, and distant scope views of a female Red-necked Phalarope on pit 125, a real CWP mega. 4 Hobbies fed overhead. A good day!

Monday 25 May 2015

Saturday 16 May 2015

Black-necked Grebes, and a Hobbyfest

May 16 - good views of the 3 summer-plumaged Black-necked grebes on pit 74, found by Nigel Pleass this morning. Also 3 Hobbies feeding over pit 74 and at least fourteen over 57/42/41 feeding on insects. A spectacular sight.

Friday 15 May 2015

Farmoor excellent as usual......

May 15 - A Black-throated Diver still at Farmoor for its second day in full summer plumage, but unfortunately in the centre of F2 so record shots only...... Also a superb summer-plumaged Sanderling on the causeway, together with a Dunlin - a Cuckoo calling - 15 or so Common Terns - and a Yellow Wagtail at the water works.

Thursday 14 May 2015

North of the Border

14 May - A sunny West Highland day on Ben Vorlich, Arrochar, and a good selection of mountain birds on territory - 3 Cuckoos calling, a singing Whinchat, 3 Tree Pipits and many Meadow Pipits, 3 Wheatears, and a singing Ring Ouzel heard. Also flyover Ravens and Hooded Crows, and Siskins and Redpolls around the forest edge. A quick look at the Esk mouth at Musselburgh revealed far fewer waders and duck than a winter visit, but 21 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the tide edge, 2 Whimbrels flew over and 3+ Curlew feeding. 80+ Oystercatchers were gathering to roost. Eider numbered over 100 and a pair of Goosander and a pair of Wigeon also present.

Monday 11 May 2015

Shorncote......and a Spoonbill!

May 11 - A pleasant couple of hours early morning at Shorncote, with a few waders around, namely 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Dunlin, together with 3 migrant Ringed Plovers, 2 LRPs and 15+ territorial Lapwings, including an adult with 2 chicks. 3 Yellow Wagtails were seen briefly, and posed for the camera. Warblers were singing everywhere including 4 Sedge and 2 Reed, Whitethroat, 2 Garden, a Blackcap, with at least 4 Cetti's. A Cuckoo flew over and a Green Woodpecker called. At least 14 noisy Common Terns were displaying, hopefully they will breed on the island.
A quick return visit after work was required when I was informed about a Spoonbill which had arrived at pit 74. Distant scope views were had, and the bird, an adult, even woke up briefly to preen and show its bill.......

Sunday 10 May 2015

Saturday 9 May 2015

Thursday 7 May 2015

Election Day birding

May 7 - a bit of evening sanity, before the long night begins........my first Grasshopper Warbler of the year, singing at Knighton, also there Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. Earlier, at CWP, a total of 7 Hobbies at pits 57, 42 and 74. A brief view of 3 Sanderling at pit 74 that flew off, also 2 LRPs and 2 Little Egrets there. A good Warbler chorus and a close Nightingale seen and heard.

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Swifts......

5 May - The first Swift of the year over the house this morning, despite the gales and rain.....spring is trying to win out.

Monday 4 May 2015

Spring morning in the Water Park

May 4 - A lovely Mayday bank holiday morning, still and sunny, and CWP bursting with Warblers of 9 varieties - only Grasshopper missing - also 4 Cuckoos and 3 Nightingales heard.

Sunday 3 May 2015

Farmoor in May......

May 3 - I managed a couple of stops at Farmoor this w/e, the highlight being close views of a flock of 5 migrant Sanderling on the causeway, together with 4 Dunlin - and Whimbrel heard calling overhead. Also seen - 2 Yellow Wagtails with the Pieds, a brief Little Gull and a Hobby feeding low over F2.

Friday 1 May 2015

CWP Hobbies......and Blakehill migrants

1 May - another quick stop at CWP to try to photograph the Hobbies, up to 4 seen feeding over pit 57 and 1 or 2 fairly distant pics taken.
At Blakehill, a productive hour, with a Yellow Wagtail in the cattle field and Wheatear and Whinchat along the fence line. Also 7 Whimbrel still, and a singing Lesser Whitethroat.