Sandhill Crane in Scotland....

24 Sept - I decided to go ahead with my pre-planned walking trip to Scotland, but had to modify the itinerary as a Sandhill Crane conveniently arrived from North America....excellent views of the bird for an hour or so at first light at its roost on Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve - before it flew off to feed. A major UK rarity. Photos 2-3, courtesy Joseph Nichols on Birdforum. Also seen - approx 15,000 Pink-footed Geese, newly arrived to winter or move further south. Nearby, the Ythan estuary held a good selection of waders including 30+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 50+ Curlew, 100+ Redshank, 15+ Ruff and a Little Stint, as well as 100s of Lapwings and 50+ Golden Plover (photos 1,4-6 JM). There were also 10 Golden Plover in a flock on the summit ridge of Ben Chonzie in the afternoon.

Lapland Bunting at Farmoor

17 Sept - Very good close views, and good photo opportunities, with a Lapland Bunting on the causeway at Farmoor in blustery, showery conditions. A female or immature bird, but still strikingly marked, very streaked with chestnut in the wing panels. A rarity inland. Photos JM.

My very dear friend Carol died this evening. I will greatly miss her.

More vagrant Waders - in Glos

16 Sept - A successful morning looking for waders in Glos. First, the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lydney (the first county record) and I saw it well but briefly on the riverbank, distinctive with strongly scalloped scapulars, indistinct breast sides and overall pale colouration. Photo (1), copyright Tom Mabbett. Then, at Slimbridge, a guided walk out onto the Dumbles (2) at high tide gave excellent views of the juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper (3,4, JM), and a juvenile Dotterel flew in. Also at Slimbridge on the estuary and from the hides - 20+ Knot, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 50+ Redshank, and 2 Sanderling with 50+ Ringed Plovers and 100+ Dunlin, and a Green Sandpiper.

Pennington - vagrant waders

15 Sept - A visit to the south coast a few days after westerly storms, and a couple of vagrant waders seen - firstly a Baird's Sandpiper (1) from North America on Butts lagoon, small with a long primary projection and fairly short legs - and a Grey Phalarope (2) on Normandy Marsh. A very good selection of other birds seen - a flock of 5 Spoonbills flew low west - but I had no card in my camera! also seen - at least 36 Mediterranean Gulls (11-13), a mixture of adults and immatures - 25+ Little Egrets (14-15) - at least 10 Greenshanks (5-7) and 3 Spotted Redshanks - a smart Curlew Sandpiper - 2 Ruff and 2 Knot - 20+ moulting Eider offshore - and a couple of migrant Wheatears (16). Other waders included Black-tailed Godwit (8-9), Curlew (10), Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover and Redshank. Sandwich Terns were fishing offshore and 2 Cetti's Warblers were calling. Photos 3-16 JM.

Sabine's Gull

11 Sept - Excellent close views of one of my favourite birds, a Sabine's Gull (see entry for 8 Sept....), a juvenile of this highly pelagic species that has been at Belvide reservoir for several days, blown in by the recent severe gales. Striking plumage especially in flight, seen feeding in elegant tern-like manner, with black/white/brown upperparts obvious, with slightly forked, black-edged tail. Also very close views on the water, when scaling of the upperparts seen, and appearing marginally smaller than nearby Black-headed Gulls. My best ever view of this species and a great photo-opportunity. I'm quite pleased with the flight shots, taken on manual focus with a very mobile bird in windy conditions.

Straits of Gibraltar 9 - 10 Sept

A brief trip to Tarifa for the autumn raptor migration, courtesy of Air Miles (1). A fairly strong easterly wind and sunny weather. A steady stream of raptors moving, Booted (7-8) and Short-toed Eagles (9-11) being obvious, and some birds especially Honey Buzzards (12-14) were also moving much higher, only visible through binoculars. Two Black Storks (17) and an Osprey (15) moved through, also a stream of Swallows, with Red-rumped Swallow, Pallid (18-19) and Alpine Swift also being seen along with several flocks of Bee-Eaters. The resident Griffon Vultures were usually in evidence (16).
An evening drive around La Janda (20) produced at least 500 White Storks (21), as well as 6 Marsh Harriers and 3 juvenile Montagu's Harriers (22-23). 4 Glossy Ibis (24) and an immature Spoonbill were seen in flight.
A late evening and early morning visit to Tarifa beach (25) gave views of various waders, including Kentish Plover (28-29), Sanderling (30), Whimbrel, Redshank and Bar-tailed Godwit, as well as good views of at least 20 smart Audouin's Gulls (26-27). The adjacent rough fields held a Tawny Pipit and a flock of Yellow Wagtails. A few Cory's Shearwaters were moving offshore early morning in typical lazy looping flight. All in all, a fairly impressive tally of birds for a day and a half! All photos JM.

Honey Buzzard - 91
Booted Eagle - 139
Short-toed Eagle - 33
Black Kite - 5
Osprey - 1
Montagu's Harrier - 3
Marsh Harrier - 5
Sparrowhawk - 6
Lesser Kestrel - 9
Black Stork - 2
White Stork - 500
Glossy Ibis - 7
Spoonbill - 1
Bee-Eater - 78
Alpine Swift - 3
Pallid Swift - 25
Red-rumped Swallow - 3
Audouin's Gull - 20
Cory's Shearwater - 7
Kentish Plover - 31
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2
Whimbrel - 8
Sanderling - 30
Turtle Dove - 5
Tawny Pipit - 1