Poland 21-26 May 2012

A very enjoyable, small group spring trip to eastern Poland with guide Waldemar Krazowski. Two full days in Bialowieza primeval forest, then two days at the famous Biebrza marshes. Excellent weather, sunny and not too hot, with only one afternoon thunderstorm. The countryside is generally unspoilt, and has good forest cover, with traditional farmland birds plentiful, as they used to be in Western Europe decades ago. The primeval forest at Bialowieza was really excellent, especially early morning, and highlights here included - Pygmy and Tengmalm's Owls at the nest, Woodpeckers including Black, Middle Spotted, and 2 pairs of White-backed Woodpeckers feeding young, Collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers, and raptors including Lesser Spotted Eagle and Honey Buzzard. Village and wetland areas within the National Park were excellent, with Barred, River, Great Reed and Icterine Warblers being seen, Hawfinches were numerous, and the wet meadows held noisy Corncrakes and Thrush Nightingales. One evening we visited a Great Snipe lek where birds were jumping and displaying at dusk. Red-backed Shrikes and Whinchats were numerous, and every village holds White Stork nests. Black Storks were also seen in flight over the forested areas. Biebrza marshes are a vast area to the west of Bialowieza, and held large numbers of Marsh Harriers, White-winged Black, Black and Whiskered Terns, Warblers including the endangered Aquatic, White-tailed Eagles, elegant Montagu's Harriers, Bluethroats, drumming Snipe, calling Spotted Crake, and an amazing array of passage waders including Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpipers, a Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank and Ruff (including males with ruffs). On the way back to Warsaw we visited a small Bee-Eater colony, and a breeding site for Roller, now very rare in Poland. Approx 150 species seen, in impressive numbers, with good photographic opportunities - pics to follow.

Black Terns at CWP....

20 May - A quick evening visit to pit 74, and finally I saw 2 elegant Black Terns for the year list.

Coombe Hill Meadows

19 May - A quick morning visit to Coombe Hill meadows, north of Gloucester, and no sign of the Red-necked Phalarope seen first thing - water levels very high, and waders seen included a Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers, a Curlew in flight, and a calling Redshank. A Yellow Wagtail was seen, and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats were singing.

Garden Hobby.....

16 May - A wonderful view of a Hobby as it flew low and fast over the garden in the sun this evening, exciting all the local Swifts, Swallows and House Martins.

Sedge Warbler....

13 May - Photos of a singing Sedge Warbler in the CWP (1-2), also plenty of Whitethroats and Garden Warblers, and a Little Ringed Plover at Kent End.

Otmoor

12 May - An excellent morning visit to Otmoor in sunny, but slightly cool and breezy conditions. Looking like a real wetland after the rain, with drumming Snipe and good numbers of Redshank and Lapwings (5). 3-4 Grasshopper Warblers were singing, along with Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats (3) and Lesser Whitethroats. Up to 8 superb Hobbies (8-9) were hawking over the reedbed mid-morning, and at least 5 Red Kites (6-7) were around along with Buzzards. A Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove were calling along the bridleway. A Grass Snake (10) was sunning near the car park. A pair of Common Terns (4) were over the reeds, and a Little Egret and a female Wheatear were outside the hide. An enjoyable spring visit after the recent miserable weather, the Swifts and hirundines were enjoying the sun for once. Photos JM.

Squacco Heron at Blagdon

11 May - An afternoon visit to Blagdon Lake, and excellent views of the Squacco Heron (2-4) on the flooded fields at the top end, feeding in the open, and very photogenic. Also seen - a Hobby (6) and good numbers of Swifts (5). A Spotted Flycatcher was feeding around the car parking area. Photos JM.

Cuckoo......

11 May - My first view of a Cuckoo this year, having heard several, this bird was feeding on caterpillars at Blakehill. The first sunny day for several weeks, but still a strong, cool NW wind.

Plovers

8 May - Very wet again in the Water Park, with the Waterhay car park totally flooded. At Kent End, 5 Ringed Plovers fed around the flooded pools and 2 Little Ringed Plovers were displaying. 2 Lapwings were also displaying over the field. A Cuckoo was calling from pit 68.

Dotterel

6 May - An evening visit to Balscote in Oxfordshire, and excellent views of the Dotterel, brightly-plumaged so presumably a female (pic), which has been present on and off for a couple of weeks. Also there, a summer-plumaged Golden Plover, a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail.

Red-rumped Swallow etc.....

5 May - A morning visit to Goldcliff, just across the Severn bridge, and after a wait, good flight views of the Red-rumped Swallow in a large mixed flock of 100s of hirundines and Swifts (photos, 2, Gwent birding, 3 JM). Very distinctive gliding flight and colouration. A good mix of other species seen at the wetland reserve - Peregrine, Hobby, 30+ Avocets at the colony, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshanks, a summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, 12+ Little Egrets, 5 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail. A quick stop at pit 57 in the CWP en route home looking for Hobbies was very successful, with 6 being seen, some perched and hawking for insects at close quarters in the SE corner of the lake. Photos 4-5, JM.

Watery Water Park

4 May - Unbelievably high water levels, with the Thames overflowing and Waterhay car park submerged (3). Swifts and hirundines desperately looking for food, and feeding low over the lakes - I saw my first Hobby of the year over pit 57 briefly, and waders included 8 Whimbrel in the usual field by pit 83 (1) together with 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Oystercatchers (2), and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the bank at pit 74, one in entirely brick-red summer plumage. A Common Sandpiper was by the gate at 74, and Common Terns were in reasonable numbers. The Nightingale was also still singing at pit 74. All it needs now is some decent weather.....photos JM.

Scotland continued....

3 May - My 3 days of arduous hillwalking in Mullardoch/Affric finished last night - overall, not huge numbers of birds seen, as very cold for the time of year with extensive snow cover at higher levels. Species seen included 3 Ptarmigan (3) and 2 Red Grouse (2) at higher levels, also Golden Plovers displaying (1), a Dipper on a stream at 2,200 ft, a drumming Snipe, a male Wheatear at 3,600 ft, and singing Tree Pipits and Cuckoos. Good Eagle country, but none seen (I was without bins for weight reasons!)