Stone Curlews and Honey Buzzards

31 May - a morning visit to the New Forest via Salisbury Plain in the continuing fine, warm weather. First stop the scrapes near Everleigh and 2 Stone Curlews were obvious in the cool of the early morning - one bird on the nest and one nearby preening and looking watchful. Then on to the New Forest and first stop Bolderwood, where a Firecrest was heard singing - next on to Acres Down, and between 8.30-10.15 I had one reasonable view of a Honey Buzzard as it soared southwards - typical profile with flat, floppy wings. Also several views of Goshawk and Common Buzzards were numerous - Wood Warbler heard singing and Siskins flew over. Then a quick stop at Nomansland and at 11.50 another, slightly closer view of a Honey Buzzard as it soared with a Common Buzzard for comparison - all in all a satisfying morning....in the evening a hunting Hobby flew over the garden mobbed by Swallows alarm calling.

Lakenheath and Wicken Fens, then Avocet at CWP!

25 May - a morning in East Anglia en route home from Stansted. My first visit to Lakenheath RSPB, and a very impressive reserve. Marsh Harriers a common sight over the extensive reedbeds, a couple of Hobbies seen and a brief view of a male Bearded Tit. Highlight was the Golden Oriole nest visible in the poplar plantation, with good views of the incubating female. After a brief visit to Weeting Heath, and an even briefer view of a Stone Curlew, I visited Wicken Fen, mainly for dragonflies but I had good views, after a short wait, of the Squacco Heron on Baker's Fen. Also there, 14 Little Egrets and a displaying Snipe. A female Marsh Harrier also seen at Wicken, and Cuckoos abundant (above, 2) and singing in the heat of the day. Then in early evening, I arrived at Waterhay in the CWP and jogged to the hide - the Avocet was still there! My most-wanted CWP and Wilts tick (record shot above, 1). An excellent day!

Sweden 21-24 May 2009

21-24 May - an excellent 4 days in southern Sweden's Black River valley, again with Daniel Green (see Feb report). A dramatic change in the landscape, from snow and ice to marsh and thick undergrowth. Highlights included Great Grey (7), Ural (8) and Tengmalm's (9) Owls - close-up Black-throated Divers(11,12) - singing Thrush Nightingale (14) and Wryneck - White-tailed Eagle, Hen and Marsh Harriers - nesting Cranes (1), Whooper Swans (13), and Black Terns and Little Gulls over the marshes - a pair of Three-toed Woodpeckers (15) at the nest - lekking Black Grouse - displaying Wood (10) and Green Sandpipers - and migrant waders including 8 Temminck's Stints. Mammals included a LYNX on the roadside one evening, also Moose (16) and Red Squirrel. The landscape is truly memorable, the silent forests giving an amazing sense of space.

Spoonbill at Coombe Hill Meadows

19 May - an evening visit to Coombe Hill gave flight views of the immature Spoonbill from Grundon hide, then much closer views on the water's edge from Long Pool hide. A small amount of black in the primaries. Photo, copyright Brent Stephenson. Also seen - 2 Curlews, a Raven over, and Sedge and Reed Warblers and Whitethroat heard. Swifts much in evidence, screaming in small groups.
A quick look at CWP in the way home produced 2 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 LRP and 2 Curlew.

Scotland, 14-15 May

14-15 May - a brief trip, the main objective accomplished being the ascent of Liathach on the 14th - see www.scotmunros.blogspot.com. The 15th was cloudy, windy and showery, and the legs were very stiff, so a morning of birding produced the expected pair of Ospreys at Loch Garten, seen doing an incubation changeover - also 2 Red Squirrels (upper, JM) and 2 Siskins (middle, JM) at the feeders. Loch Vaa held a superb pair of Red-throated Divers, and then a quick look at Loch Ruthven produced 2 pairs of Slavonian Grebes (lower, JM). Other birds seen included a pair of Red Kites at Garve and a Greenshank on Loch Gowan, also Common Sandpipers scattered around several lochs.

Black Terns at CWP

13 May - after a couple of days of easterly winds, misty weather brought 4 Black Terns down to pit 74 this evening, viewed from the gate.

CWP waders

11 May - in a strong easterly wind, I couldn't find any Black Terns in the Water Park, but a quick check at Kent End Quarry produced no less than 8 species of wader - Lapwing, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1+ LRP, 1 Turnstone still, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, a Whimbrel and an incubating Oystercatcher.

Forest of Dean

9 May - a morning visit to Nagshead in sunny but slightly breezy conditions eventually produced 2 singing Wood Warblers on the long trail, one was very obliging (photo,JM). Five Pied Flycatchers were heard around the short trail, but none seen as up in the canopy. A Cuckoo also heard. A Tree Pipit sang briefly in the clearfell area N of Cannop Ponds, but I could not hear any Turtle Doves at Oakenhall Woods ??too early.

The previous evening (8th), a few waders were on Kent End Quarry at CWP after showery weather, including a Turnstone - only my 2nd ever in the Water Park. Also seen - Curlew, Dunlin, LRP and Ringed Plover.

Extremadura, 1-3 May 2009

1-3 May - a successful short trip to central Spain, with a night at Finca Santa Marta(2,3). A very impressive tally of birds for 1.5 days birding - a plethora of raptors including Montagu's(14) and Marsh Harriers, Spanish Imperial, Booted(13)and Short-toed(1) Eagles, Black(8) and Red(9) Kites, Black(7) and Griffon Vultures, 3 Black-shouldered Kites and a couple of migrant Honey Buzzards. The dehesa and steppes produced 4 Rollers(11), many Bee-Eaters(4) and Hoopoes, Great(12) and Little Bustards and Calandra and Thekla Larks. Monfrague gave good views of Alpine Swift(10), Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow(5), as well as Black Stork(6) at the usual nest site at Penafalcon. An evening visit to Almaraz wetlands gave good views of 6 Purple Herons(15), a Night Heron and several Gull-billed Terns, as well as Collared Pratincoles and Black-winged Stilts. The reedbed held singing Savi's and Great Reed Warblers, and a calling Purple Gallinule - a flyover Grest Spotted Cuckoo was a real bonus.
Finally, a detour through the Sierra de Gredos en route back to Madrid produced amazing views of Rock Thrush(16) and Bluthroat(17) near the Plataforma car park! Returned home early hours of 3rd, tired but satisfied. All photos JM.