Black Terns at CWP

31 Aug - a day of thundery showers, 3 juvenile Black Terns dropped into pit 74 late afternoon after a shower then moved off after a few minutes. Also there, a brief view of a Sandwich Tern, 3 Snipe, a Curlew, 2 Little Egrets and a Green Sandpiper heard calling.

Semipalmated Sandpiper and 6 Spoonbills!

30 Aug - an excellent morning. First, the Semipalmated Sandpiper (upper 2) was roosting on the beach at high tide, with Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover. Smaller in size, short slightly decurved bill, diffuse sides to breast markings and no V on upperparts. Also there, 2 Arctic Skuas flew through chasing the terns, and Grey Plover and Common Scoter flocks were seen in flight.
Then via the A35 to Middlebere, and this time the 6 Spoonbills (lower 2) were present on a rising tide, seen well both feeding and in flight. A couple of birds indulged in some mutual preening, all showed some black ni the primaries indicating they are 2nd year birds. Also here one of the Ospreys was still present, and a Hobby circled over the reeds by the entrance track. A Dartford Warbler was seen by the car park. The wild heathland on Hartland Moor looked impressive in the sunshine.

Middlebere again....

25 Aug - a morning visit to Middlebere for the high, then falling, tide and the Spoonbills were absent, but birds included a perched Osprey (pic), a flyover Hobby and Peregrine, 236 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Avocets, 2 Greenshank, 7 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and a dozen Little Egrets. The Spoonbills turned up in the afternoon of course....
Later a walk on Studland heath produced a Common Hawker and a brief view of an Adder as it glided away into the heather, also a couple of flyover Ravens.

Raptors and a Night Heron....

24 Aug - 7 Red Kites and a Hobby livened up a butterfly trip to Aston Rowant in the Chilterns. Nearby later, an adult Night Heron (photo) was giving excellent views, roosting in the open on a pool, at a private site that cannot be publicised.

Blakehill odds and ends

23 Aug - a butterfly trip that produced a couple of good views of Hobby including one circling right overhead - also a Wheatear and a female Redstart, together with Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a family party of Buzzards.

Brownsea Island - waders in close up

21 Aug - an excellent afternoon over on Brownsea Island, close views of the waders from the hides - 80+ Avocets (4th), 100+ Black-tailed Godwits (2nd), 17 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Knot (5th), 4 Grey Plover and a Curlew Sandpiper, together with Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher (bottom), Dunlin and Redshank. 25+ Little Egrets (3rd) and Sandwich and Common Terns(top), feeding young, were also on view. A Red Squirrel was at the feeding station by the villa. Earlier in the day, 11 Little Egrets were at Swineham Point, and a Cetti's Warbler was heard.

Stilt Sandpiper at Coombe Hill Meadows!

19 Aug - a frantic drive to Coombe Hill Meadows after a glance at the pager, then a jog down the canal path to the Grundon hide - a moulting adult Stilt Sandpiper feeding with 2 or 3 other waders until flushed by a Sparrowhawk (just 5 Mins after I arrived!) and flew north - decurved bill, elegant long legs, chestnut/brown plumage with flank barring still visible (photos, copyright Richard Tyler and John Sanders). Unbelievable record, a first for Glos. Also present, 4 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, and Common and Green Sandpipers. Glos 08 year list now 175.

Red-necked Phalarope at Saul

14 Aug - an evening visit to Saul Warth on news of a Red-necked Phalarope - a moulting adult, seen distantly and in silhouette - feeding actively and spinning in typical Phalarope fashion. Also present on the flash, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, 4 Snipe and 2 Ruff together with Green Sandpiper and Redshank. I didn't see the flock of Knot reported on the estuary, which was irritating as I haven't seen one in Glos this year yet. Year list now up to 174....

CWP waders - and a Hobby

9/10 Aug - on the 9th, a quick look at the new scrapes at pit 74, before the forecast wind and rain arrived, produced an impressive flock of at least 300 Lapwing, also 2 Green Sandpipers - a flock of 8 Snipe gave a flypast accompanied by a lone Dunlin. A Hobby flew close over the A419 at Latton en route home.
A check on 10 Aug produced 8 Curlew, 5 Dunlin, a Common and a Green Sandpiper - also an adult Common Tern with 2 juvs.
The new scrapes look as if they will be worth checking for migrants over the autumn.

Lesser Grey Shrike in Dorset

7 Aug - an early morning visit to Hartland Moor, near Middlebere, and I found the Lesser Grey Shrike on the fence posts - my 2nd in the UK, and only the fifth Dorset record. I had good views in early morning sun, it then flew to the gorse and the oak trees by the R Corfe - my photo upper record shot. Later, a visit to the Middlebere hide at low tide (high tide would be more productive) gave brief views of 4 Spoonbills as they flew across the creek - also seen, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls. A Crossbill flew over calling.
In the afternoon, a Peregrine was spiralling over the road at Durdle Door.