Great Knot or Great Dot?

15 July - It's a couple of years since I've been to Norfolk, but Great Knot is one of my favourite East Asian waders, its a striking and declining bird with an amazing migration to and from Australia - so the adult at Breydon Water, only the 4th record for Britain, was too good an opportunity to miss on a day off work - even though I saw the "Great Dot" in Cleveland back in 1996. Great Yarmouth is not an easy place to get to, especially with roadworks en route, so I arrived after the bird had joined other waders in going to roost prior to high tide. We then spent several hours waiting for the tide to turn, during which time I had 3 good views of the bird in flight, as it showed its striking black neck/upper chest band and its dumpy shape. It then appeared on the falling tide and we had good but distant views of it on a mudbank - chestnut back, black neck, slightly decurved bill and fairly short-legged dumpy shape all seen. It then flew out to the estuary and fed, still identifiable distantly due to its size and shape. Really satisfactory views of a very rare and iconic wader, and well worth the trip. Other birds seen over the high tide period - Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, 3-400 Avocets, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank, 5 Greenshanks and 1 Spotted Redshank. Also 6 Little Egrets - and 4-5 Mediterranean Gulls, in plumages ranging from ad - 2 year - juvenile. My first 2-3 Sandwich Terns of the year were with more numerous Common Terns. Photos JM, including v distant record shot of the Great Knot (more of a Dot, 5).

A memorable Raptor day.......

14 July - A very successful trip down to the New Forest on a sunny warm morning, and my best ever views of Honey Buzzards at Acres Down, with 1, then 3 birds in the air for 40 mins - probably more active as the young have hatched? Very good views of the flat-winged, fairly compact profile and languid flight (3,4) - 2 birds were interacting with 2 soaring Goshawks at times. One had greyer plumage, presumably a male, another obviously a brown female type. Dark carpal patches on the underwing obvious at times. Common Buzzards also seen for comparison. Crossbill, Siskin and Hawfinch also in the area. At Slufter's Pond (5), a cooperative Dartford Warbler (6) was singing although mid-July. On the way home, I checked an area in Wiltshire with a pair of Montagu's Harriers breeding and the male (7) flew across the road in front of me as it hunted the fields - excellent view of the narrow-winged profile and buoyant flight and smart plumage pattern. A six-raptor day - Honey Buzzard, Buzzard, Red Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Goshawk and Kestrel. Photos JM - Monty's print, RSPB.

Round House Farm........

9 July - An evening visit to Round House Farm, pit 306, in the eastern CWP but still in Wilts. I haven't been to this pit for a while but it has low water levels and exposed mud, perfect for waders, and the elegant Wood Sandpiper still present, along with 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 LRPS (a family party of 2 ads and 2 juvs) and 4 Little Egrets. Definitely a pit worth watching during the autumn migration.

Bridled Tern reappears.......

8 July - This superb photo by Paul Hackett shows the Bridled Tern which has returned to the Farne Islands for a second year. Just as photogenic as it was when I saw it last year.

Pre-breakfast Night Heron........

8 July - An early morning trip up to Cheltenham, and the adult Night Heron still on Pittville Park lake, I watched it catch several fish over a half hour period, though it remained partially concealed in cover. It then moved into thick vegetation to roost. Photos JM in rather dull light.

New Forest Raptors.....

4 July - A morning in the New Forest for raptors (and insects)....at Acres Down, fine but breezy, and a probable Honey Buzzard appeared amongst 20+ Buzzard sightings. Also - an amazing overhead encounter between a Goshawk (1-3) an a mobbing Carrion Crow - and Peregrine and Hobby also seen. En route, 7 Red Kites and a Sparrowhawk added to the list. Another Hobby flew over at Slufters Pond. Also seen/heard in the Forest - a flyover Hawfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Crossbill and Tree Pipit. 2 more Red Kites flew over the garden at home at 5.30pm.

The Short-toed Eagle.......

2 July - This amazing shot of the Short-toed Eagle was taken on 30 June in the New Forest by Alan Lewis........superb