Pec Sand.......

30 Sep - An afternoon trip up to Newbury area and after a bit of searching by several of us at the Watermeadows, good views of the Pectoral Sandpiper feeding in the company of several Snipe. A smart bird, scaly upperparts indicating a juvenile bird, with the sharp pectoral breast band, slightly decurved bill and yellow legs. I never tire of seeing American waders, shorebirds are among my favourites anyway, amazing to think of the journey that this bird has undertaken from Arctic Canada in a few short weeks.

Cattle Egret

29 Sept - A few minutes down the road today to Clattinger Farm, and good views of the Cattle Egret that has been present for a week or so, feeding with the herd of Belted Galloways. Cattle Egrets seem to be gradually colonizing the U.K., with another sizeable influx of birds this autumn, and this is my second sighting of this species in CWP. Grey Heron and Little Egrets also seen today, but I couldn't find the Great White Egret at Eysey to make it 4 Heron species in a day. A fairly late Hobby also seen over the Spine Road near Lower Moor.

Pallid Harrier

26 Sept - Several Pallid Harriers have been seen this autumn, mostly juveniles and presumably reflecting the ewestward spread of this bird as a breedeing species. Currently 2 birds are in residence, at Welney, and nearer at Therfield. I headed to the setaside fields at the latter location where the bird has been sen for the last week or so, and it was fairly elusive today according to 1 or 2 locals that have paid it several visits - but it appeared over the fields briefly at 2pm, having flown in from the east - after dropping into the long grass for a couple of hours it was more obliging at 4.30 and quartered the fields then soared up and circled gradually gaining height - good views of the distinctive dark contrasting collar, with buff-rufous underparts. My first ever juvenile, having seen a male at Elmley quite a few years ago, and one or two overseas, but never with the opportunity to study the bird in the scope before. Well worth the trip - also Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite and Buzzard around the setaside area.

A Nearctic visitor

25 Sept - A morning trip to Lodmoor was in order to see one of my favourite North American waders, a very elegant Lesser Yellowlegs, and the bird was still presnt on a perfect but chilly autumn morning, feeding at close range on a fairly small pool, and confiding for the camera. Several family groups of Bearded Tits were flying around calling in the calm conditions, and I had a couple of brief views of birds perched up in the reeds before they dropped down to feed. Also a 1st-winter Med Gull and a nice party of Black-tailed Godwits, together with Ruff, Dunlin and Snipe.

No Spoonbills ..........

23 Sept - A family party of 5 Spoonbills spent the night at Slimbridge in the heavy rain, and seemed settled on South Lake early morning, but they departed prior to my (and others) arrival, the prospect of 5 birds at close range being too good to resist. The usual waders present including one of the Spotted Redshanks on South Lake, but the best sighting was the very confiding female Garganey, probably my closest-ever views of this species.

Grey Phalaropes galore

22 Sept - There's been a big influx of Grey Phalaropes inland due to several days of westerly storms, and as the birds are probably displaced and exhausted they tend to stay for a day or two. This morning I went up to Charlecote north of Moreton-in-Marsh where a juvenile bird was seen on the pool in the NT grounds, and as I expected it had stayed overnight, and was spinning happily at close range on the lake in the cloudy but bright morning light - I had half an hour or so to admire it (and take quite a few photos) - they are one of my favourite birds, aesthetically pleasing, nearly always confiding, and being a bird of the far north having that sense of the untamed wilderness areas where they spend the summer. Very enjoyable. En route home I received news that a Grey Phalarope had been found in the Glos section of the Water Park - the first for many years - and I managed a quick look at the bird in the by now steady rain, as it fed at the northern end of pit 57 - I later discovered after referring to the county avifaunas, that it was only the second ever CWP sighting, the first being in the Wilts section after the Great Storm in October 1987. A real local mega!

Early morning Slimbridge

19 Sept - A fairly brief stop at Slimbridge pre-opening before an admin day, fairly quiet, no Phalaropes despite the wind ....... Ruff and Avocet quite obliging in the early morning sun, a flyby from the resident Marsh Harrier, and lots of Warblers calling in the hedgerows. Water levels still low, autumn rains still needed for the wintering birds. A fairly late House Martin over the garden in the afternoon.

CWP scarcities

18 Sept - A couple of good sightings today - firstly my check at Eysey revealed the Great White Egret hunting, though surprisingly concealed at times in the sallows - and then, courtesy of Kim Milsom, 3 Sandwich Terns frequenting pit 74 on and off, and they obligingly did a flyby at 6.40pm, calling loudly, when I stopped to look for them.

Autumnal CWP

16 Sept - Despite the blustery westerlies, still a good suite of waders on pit 132 - Greenshank, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, and Dunlin. A large female Peregrine was eyeing up the wader flock but didn't go for them while I was there...... also Little Egrets and a close Red Kite.

WWT Severn Wader Festival

14-15 Sept - A fairly quiet wader festival according to reports, with the best of the bunch being the continuing presence of 3 Spotted Redshanks, one of which was obliging close to the Robbie Garnett hide on afternoon of 15th. Otherwise, some good views of cryptic Snipe, and Avocet, Redshank, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit all present as usual, with a Greenshank from Zeiss hide over the high tide period. A Little Stint flew by calling on 14th. No nearctic waders despite the recent westerlies, but always something to see and usually at fairly close quarters to the hide. A Grey Wagtail is also being obliging at the moment, on the stream right in front of the Rushy hide.

GWE

14 Sept - The Eysey GWE seems to be fairly reliable at the moment, and as it's only a 2-minute diversion I checked for it today, and managed a record shot as it fed among the sallows as usual. Also a flyover Snipe.

A Spotted Crake........

12 Sept - An evening visit after work to a site fairly near home, to catch up with a Spotted Crake, a very scarce migrant through inland wetlands (and even rarer breeder). The bird duly appeared on the reed edge just before sunset, the orange tinge to the bill indicating an adult. Crakes have an understated subtle attraction in their intricate plumage, and their skulking behaviour always exciting birds to see. Also a Greenshank flying around calling.

Tarifa 5-8 Sept

A very successful return visit to the Straits of Gibraltar for the raptor migration, earlier in the month this time, hoping to catch the main Honey Buzzard passage. The wind was westerly, initially stronger but becoming lighter as the week progressed. Weather predominantly sunny with morning cloud, and persistent rain on the last day. Raptor passage was steady. My hunch regarding HBs paid off with an amazing early passage at Algarrobo watch point on 7th Sep - skipping breakfast and arriving shortly after sunrise, an amazing 3,500+ (three thousand, five hundred!) birds passed over heading SE towards the straits between 0830 - 1000h, at first flying very low, then gradually higher as the thermals started to develop. On arrival a constant stream of birds was visible as they left their roost in the nearby inland oak forest and headed for Africa - smart males, more barred females and dark juvs making for a masterclass in plumage. The Spanish counters remarked on it being an exceptional passage and I was very fortunate to witness this amazing spectacle, with camera to hand! Both here and at Cazalla, Booted and Short-toes Eagles, Black Kites, and both Griffon and Egyptian Vultures were passing, with smaller numbers of Marsh and Montagu's Harriers and Black Storks. There was also a passage of Swifts, mainly Pallid but with a few Alpines mixed in, along with a stream of hirundines, while the liquid calls of Bee-Eaters indicated flocks passing high and out of view to the naked eye. As always migration in action is exciting as the unexpected can always happen at any time - a juvenile Bonelli's Eagle also flew over Algarrobo on morning of 7th. Ruppell's Vulture is a speciality at Cazalla and birds were seen both 6th and 7th, as the vulture flock was attracted to a bovine carcass in the nearby valley. I also had the great honour if meeting eminent ornithologist and author Ian Newton OBE FRS at Algarrobo, as he had been in Tarifa for a migration conference. Los Lances beach is always disturbed by kitesurfers but early morning held a few waders including a juv Bar-tailed Godwit, together with the usual Kentish and Ringed Plovers, Sanderling and Dunlin. A flyby Hoopoe here was a bonus. Two short visits to La Janda revealed the ricefields to be fairly dry, but good numbers of Glossy Ibis now seem to be resident, along with White Storks. A few immature Spoonbills were also present, along with Marsh Harriers and a single juv Monty's. A flock of 4 Turtle Doves here was sadly noteworthy as this species continues to be hunted despite its continuing decline. A tourist afternoon at Vejer de la Frontera allowed a quick stop at Barbate estuary - a very good selection of waders here including Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank and smart summer-plumaged Grey Plovers, as well as a juv Black-winged Stilt and more Kentish Plovers - and a flock of 50 or so Greater Flamingoes. All in all a very enjoyable few days, a great area for a holiday with added birding excitement on tap!

Pit 132 at Kempsford

2 Sept - A walk around pit 132 which always looks excellent for waders. A Greenshank present for a few days still on view (after some time looking) and a Peregrine sitting on the gravel bank while 3 Hobbies hawked overhead! The raptor list completed by 2 Red Kites and several Buzzards. Snipe and Yellow Wagtails in flight, surprisingly no Green or Common Sandpipers, and a Grass Snake also seen basking in the sun.

Shorncote

1 Sept - A new month and a hint of autumn in the air at Shorncote. No sign of the Great White Egret this week, a nice flock of 3 migrant Green Sandpipers, and 2 Hobbies hawking for dragonflies later in the morning, an adult and a juvenile. A flock of 36 Lapwings over, and 2 Yellow Wagtails. En route home, a Kingfisher and a party of 4 Snipe flew past Twitcher's gate at pit 74.