Yellowlegs and Spoonbills in Dorset......

29 Sept - A brilliant morning's birding. I managed to get to Lytchett fields early, my first visit to this excellent site, with very little traffic. Light was fairly poor, but not much rain, and after a bit of searching I located the Lesser Yellowlegs on French's Pool amongst the Redshank, and 4 Greenshank. Distinctive slender bill, long yellow legs and profile as it fed at the back of the pool. Also here, 3 Knot, Curlew Sandpiper and amazing numbers of Snipe. I then spent a couple of hours at the lagoon - excellent as usual, the highlight being 37 (!) Spoonbills with bills mostly tucked in as usual, but with bursts of activity. Also fantastic views of Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, with other waders including Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits, not too mention Avocets. 18 species of Wader logged in total, including 4 "shanks".

Twitcher's Gate

28 Sept - My first visit here for a while, and after a bit of a search I found the Black-necked Grebe that has been reported on and off for a while - diving actively in front of the heronry. I've seen five species of Grebe on pit 74 over the years, including Pied-billed Grebe - the only one I am missing is Slavonian. Also seen, a few passage Swallows and a Little Egret in flight. Good numbers of Wigeon are now back for the winter, with small numbers of Shoveler.

Otmoor......raptors and Purple Heron.....

24 Sept - A productive morning at a sunny Otmoor. 6 species of raptor seen including Marsh Harrier and 2 Hobbies. A cryptic flock of Snipe were resting in the reeds in front of the first screen. A short wait on the bridleway en return route was rewarded with a reasonable flight view of the immature Purple Heron over Greenaways. Well worth the trip.

Non-skulking Spotted Crake !

23 Sept - Excellent views of the very showy and confiding Spotted Crake at Slimbridge. Amazing to watch this secretive species feeding in the open on a small reedy pool. A good photo op. Also Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Ruff and a Green Sandpiper on South Lake.

More waders...........

15-16 Sept - A stop at Farmoor on 15th was rather quiet in hot and humid weather on 15th, with 2 Ringed Plovers (confiding as usual) and a Wheatear. Much cooler and fresher on 16th for another wader morning. The juv Pectoral Sandpiper was still present at Goldcliff, although rather distant. Also here the usual impressive array of species - 3 smart Spotted Redshanks with 11 Greenshank, a nice comparison in the Common Redshank flock. 2 juv Little Stints on the mud also 3 Ruff. A stop at Pilning by the Severn bridge gave distant views of Wood and Curlew Sandpiper for a 15-wader morning - and a Greenshank still on pit 132 in CWP. A relief to have cooler and fresher conditions at last, much more seasonal.

Autumn Waders.......

10/12 Sept - Some smart juvenile waders passing through at the moment, including a confiding Little Stint on the causeway at Farmoor, and the juv Baird's Sandpiper at Upton, with its distinctive long primary projection, crouching short-legged gait, smart clean breast band and medium slightly decurved bill, all very aesthetically pleasing.

Tarifa autumn raptor passage (and more.....)

8-10 Sept - No September is complete without a foray to Gibraltar and Tarifa to pay homage to the autumn raptor passage, one of nature's most spectacular European events. This year was no exception - a 48 hour visit produced hundreds of migrating raptors, with flocks of Honey Buzzards 30-40 strong spiralling on the thermals, and a supporting cast of White and Black Storks, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, a few Harriers, and several rarities - Ruppell's Vulture, Long-legged Buzzard and Black-shouldered Kite. Not forgetting the parties of Bee-eaters, and steady stream of hirundines including Red-rumped Swallows, along with Alpine, Pallid and Common Swifts and a single White-rumped. There was also a good selection of passage waders on the coast, principally at Barbate (here amongst the startingly pink Greater Flamingoes) including Greenshanks and Spotted Redshanks, Grey and Golden Plover, Whimbrel, and Bar-tailed Godwit, together with a single Little Stint amongst the Sanderlings, Dunlin and clockwork-toy like Kentish Plovers. The strait itself wasn't to be outdone - a good passage of close Cory's Shearwaters and a few Balearics, and plenty of Audouin's Gulls. La Janda flooded ricefields held huge numbers of White Storks with several hundred Glossy Ibis, also 25 Spoonbills, Black-winged Stilts, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff, also Tawny Pipit and Iberian Wagtails and 5 increasingly rare Turtle Doves on passage. Hunting Montagu's and Marsh Harriers are always a treat here and are to be expected. Altogether a busy but rewarding area, very hot though this year, but well worth it.

CWP 132 again

6 Sept - Lots of waders at CWP 132 this eve - a smart Greenshank, 8 Ringed and 5 Little Ringed Plovers, a Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, 7 Common and 4 Green Sandpipers. Also the usual Peregrine sitting on the bank. A very productive pit at present.

Pit 132 CWP (E)

2 Sept - This drained pit is proving something of a magnet to waders, and this evening 9 Ringed and 2 Little Ringed Plovers present, also Dunlin, Green and Common Sandpipers, and a flyover Greenshank (the same bird as last w/e?). A Peregrine was sat out on the gravel banks, and caused a mass disturbance amongst the geese. This pit will be worth watching over the next few weeks.

Farmoor

2 Sept - A quick diversion to Farmoor, and the Black-necked Grebe proved very photogenic. Also, the juvenile Black Tern more of a challenge against a shifting background. No sign of the Red-necked Grebe on a short search, but a female Common Scoter sleeping amongst the Great crested Grebes. No waders on the causeway today!

Waderfest

1 Sept - A beautiful morning for the first day of autumn, and an excellent 18 species of wader seen. Firstly to Goldcliff just over the Severn bridge, and the pools thronged at high tide - 7 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Little Stints among the Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, also 3 Greenshank and 2 Spotted Redshanks still showing traces of dark summer plumage. Oystercatcher and Turnstone were on the foreshore as the tide started to fall. Then, at Slimbridge, 5 more Curlew Sands, with Curlew, Green and Common Sandpipers, Redshank, Blackwits, Curlew and 5 Ruff also added to the tally. A very successful foray.