Coombe Hill

31 May - A morning visit to Coombe Hill (1,2) in sunny warm weather. The female Red-necked Phalarope still present (5, photo copyright Mark Coller). Also the 1st-summer Little Gull (3,4) still feeding over the pools, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew, Yellow Wagtails and a singing Redstart. Good numbers of the commoner Warblers singing. At CWP, a quick walk along the Thames Path at pit 57 revealed at least 4 Hobbies feeding high over the lakes, and an obliging singing Garden Warbler(6). A Hobby flew over the garden at home in the afternoon. Photos 3,4,6 JM.

New Forest

27 May - A very successful morning on the northern edge of the New Forest before the fine weather broke. first stop Acres Down raptor viewpoint, where a Goshawk flew over and returned with prey, and then my main target appeared - a male Honey Buzzard (2) with typical flat wing profile, which displayed right overhead with sky-dancing and then glided off to the north. Very smart with dark carpal patches, barred tail, a small head profile and very distinctive compared with Common Buzzards that were also in the air. Also at Acres Down - singing Tree Pipit, Woodlark, a brief perched Hawfinch and a singing Cuckoo. A walk at Hampton Ridge before returning home finally produced a singing Dartford Warbler - and very obliging too, photos 3-7 - numbers of these special birds appear to be well down after the freezing winter and spring temperatures. Ps - The Kestrel I saw this afternoon was my 8th raptor species of the weekend......Peregrine, Hobby, Kestrel, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Buzzard and Honey Buzzard.

CWP Hobbies.....

26 May - The current fine spell is perfect for insect-feeding Hobby flocks, before they disperse to breed, and I saw 8-10 yesterday afternoon, and a flock of 7 this afternoon, feeding high over pits 57/42 area, the best part of the Water Park for them. Superb birds. Photo JM. And a Cuckoo heard from the house this evening! First of the spring.

Black Mountains

25 May - A morning walk over Black Hill and Hay Bluff in fine weather - a Peregrine circled over my head several times, and I flushed a Red Grouse - a Cuckoo sang on and off throughout the morning, and I also heard a Redstart. Meadow Pipits were abundant on the moor.

Loch Insh and Killiecrankie......and pit 74 once more

16 May - The journey home broken at Loch Insh reserve, an impressive floodplain (1,2) full of breeding waders, with Curlew and Lapwing in evidence - Goosander and Goldeneye on the main loch. Killiecrankie gorge held at least 2 singing Wood Warblers audible from the car park on a quick stop. And the home patch......a stop at pit 74 CWP, in warm spring sunshine by Scottish standards, was productive - after a good variety of waders while I was away, a Sanderling remained, also an Oystercatcher and 2 Redshank - and 4 Hobbies superb appeared overhead feeding on insects, then vanished again.

More Ptarmigan and Grouse.....

15 May - A walk up Carn a'Mhaim in the southern Cairngorms, and small numbers of Red Grouse, and excellent close flight views of a pair of Ptarmigan. Common Sandpipers calling on the R Dee and a male Wheatear on the cycle ride.

Lochnagar - Black Grouse etc.......

14 May - An excellent day on the 5 Munros in the Lochnagar group, and more birds seen in calmer conditions, birds seen including numerous Red Grouse and several Wheatears, but the highlight was a lekking group of 15 Black Grouse by Loch Muick, seen fairly well before they flew to the forest, several birds sparring with each other. Another seen very close to the road on the drive out, also a displaying Curlew over the moorland.

Loch Garten and the Cairngorms.....

13 May - An afternoon visit to the Osprey centre, in very windy conditions, and the male bird perched near the nest tree, which was swaying in the wind. A good view of a Red Squirrel from the hide as well. On the drive - Curlews, Oystercatchers and Lapwings, also a few Red Grouse and a flyby Merlin. A Common Sandpiper and a Dipper on the River near Braemar.

Upland Birds.......

12 May - A walk over the Glas Maol Munros in initially fine, deteriorating, weather produced views of Red Grouse, and, higher up, Ptarmigan, also displaying Golden Plover and Dunlin. Back at the car a Buzzard flew over mobbed by one of the local Merlins. The prolonged cold weather has delayed the arrival of passerines such as Wheatear and Meadow Pipit on their breeding areas. A Ring Ouzel heard by the car park.

Scotland.....

11 May - Day 1 of the first Munro trip of the year, and en route from Glasgow to Braemar, in evening sunshine, I took in the Ospreys at Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld, where the male bird was incubating on the substantial nest. The A93 up through Glenshee gave flight views of Red Grouse, and Common Gull colonies, with Oystercatchers and Lapwings along the rivers.

Pied Flycatcher at Swillbrook, CWP.

10 May - A Water Park rarity this morning, the male Pied Flycatcher still present and singing by Swillbrook (on the Glos side) in cloudy, breezy conditions. Fairly elusive in cover, and mobile, but I managed a record shot. Only 10 yards from Wilts, where I have never seen one! 100s of Swifts and hirundines feeding low over the lakes in the poor weather, later joined by a Hobby when the sun appeared briefly. Also 15 or so Common Terns in the area. A Cuckoo flew over the Thames path, and Warblers heard included Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. A Nightingale singing by Twitchers gate at pit 74, and 2 Dunlin, 2 LRP and a Redshank on the scrape.

Mallorca 4-8 May 2013

An excellent few days based in Pollensa, combining birding in the mornings with afternoon relaxation. Two visits to Albufera provided several highlights and photographic opportunities - the lagoons gave excellent close views of breeding and passage waders, the former including Kentish Plovers and Black-winged Stilts, the latter including Curlew Sandpipers, Greenshank and Little Stints. Herons included quite a few Purples, mostly seen in flight - a close male Little Bittern in flight - and breeding Squacco, Night Herons and Little and Cattle Egrets. Great Reeds and Cetti's, a Moustached and a Savi's were among the Warblers singing in the extensive reedbeds. Raptors included an obliging perched Osprey, and numerous Marsh Harriers and Eleonora's Falcons. Audouin's Gulls were around Alcudia Bay and along Pollensa beach, and flocks of Bee-Eaters were migrating along the coast, mostly picked up on their liquid call. The Boquer valley early morning was very scenic, and in addition produced the resident birds - a brief Balearic Warbler being the highlight - with Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and more Eleonora's falcons, along with presumed migrant Booted Eagles and a Black Kite. migrant passerines here included a Wryneck and a Woodchat Shrike. En route to the airport, the dramatic Castel de Santueri held a small colony of breeding Alpine Swifts, along with Crag Martins and a chorus of Nightingales in the scrub. Finally, the salt pans at Salobrar produced a single Greater Flamingo, more Curlew Sandpipers, and breeding Avocet and Stilts. A excellent few days, sunny weather, and photos to follow.

Swifts return.....

4 May - The first Swift of the year flew over the house this morning, despite the cloud and drizzle.....

Gropper revisited......

2 May - This time the Grasshopper Warbler was a little more cooperative, once I spotted it within the bush where it was reeling at pit 43......photos JM. Also a Hobby at pit 57.

Grasshopper Warbler skulker.....

May 1 - My best view with the camera at pit 43 early morning......