Slimbridge Waders

29 Sept - An excellent selection of waders at Slimbridge this morning - the juvenile Red-necked Phalarope on the pools distantly from the Holden Tower (photo, copyright Martin McGill), and 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint out on the estuary with the Dunlin, also a Sanderling with the Grey Plovers which numbered about 40. From the Zeiss Hide, 2 smart Spotted Redshanks going into winter plumage with the Redshank flock, also a Greenshank. A Knot also close to the hide and a Kingfisher calling. The Long-billed Dowitcher on South Lake with 150+ Black-tailed Godwits.

Pec Sand at Eton Wick

21 Sept - I had to go to Surrey to a meeting today, so on the way back I made the small detour off the M4, and had good vews of the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Eton Wick by the Thames. Photos, 1 copyright Graham Jepson and 2, Ashley Stow. 3 Red Kites were over the M4 west of Windsor.

Straits of Gibraltar.....

13-15 Sept - A brief visit to Tarifa for the raptor migration at the Straits of Gibraltar (1-6), the winds were westerly on 13th, then swung to easterly on 14th, and good numbers of raptors seen - over 300 Booted Eagles (10), and over 150 Short-toed Eagles (7-8), mostly on the morning of 14th. Rather few Honey Buzzards (12), only 30, but that included a flock of 13 on 13th. Also 24 Egyptian Vultures (11) and 39 Black Kites counted. A high total of 47 Black Storks (13) seen, also a flock of 13 Bee-eaters, and 1s and 2s of Red-rumped Swallows totalling 11. Photo no 9 shows a bird I think is a juvenile Honey Buzzard, initially I thoght it was a dark phase Booted Eagle..... Early morning seawatches both mornings pruduced a total of 50 Cory's Shearwaters and 30 Audouin's Gulls. Two visits to La Janda ricefields (14) gave very good views of Montagu's, total 22 birds, (16) and 28 Marsh Harriers - several melanistic Montagu's seen, a couple of Montagu's also seen at Tarifa. Black-shouldered Kites (15) were fairly obliging at La Janda, also here 7 Glossy Ibis, hundreds of White Storks (18), an immature Purple Heron (17) and a Woodchat. Photos JM - the birds were mostly fairly high though, in sunny, windy conditions.

Brownsea Island....

8 Sept - A good mix of birds on Brownsea lagoon in hot sunshine today, including 16 Little Egrets, 25 Avocets, 70+ Black-tailed Godwits and a Greenshank. Sandwich and Common Terns fishing around the boat crossing from Sandbanks. Also a Peregrine hunting at Dancing Ledge, Durlston Country Park, last evening.

Short-billed Dowitcher!......

6 Sept - Excellent views of the juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor, roosting at the edge of the juncus - fairly chestnut/rufous, with chestnut tertials, and a dark-capped appearance. I have seen both the UK records of this species, the first being at Rosehearty in Grampian back in 1999. Photo, copyright Kevin Lane. Also - a female Marsh Harrier soared over, which was a Dorset tick! and 13+ smart Med Gulls with the BH Gull flock including 2 juveniles and 2 ringed birds. Also 20+ Sandwich Terns and a Yellow Wagtail over.

Raptors.....

5 Sept - A Hobby cruising slowly over the garden at lunchtime today, mobbed by Swallows, and a Red Kite over the M4 at Newbury this afternoon.

Marsh Harrier etc at Slimbridge....

1 Sept - An excellent couple of hours at Slimbridge - the highlight being a female Marsh Harrier (1) - my first ever at Slimbridge - flying south across the Dumbles, mobbed as it went. The Long-billed Dowitcher still present, this morning from the Zeiss Hide, with the Godwit flock - also there, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a Knot, 3 Ruff, a Green Sandpiper and 20+ Redshank, with another 50+ Redshank on South Lake. A Little Egret gave very close views from Robbie Garnett hide (2). Good numbers of Hirundines overhead. Photos JM.