Blakehill

17 Sept - An early morning visit on a beautiful misty autumnal morning. A busy morning - A flyover Peregrine and a hunting Kestrel, a flyover Snipe calling and heading steadily SW, 2 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a calling Jay - and a definite autumnal feel with a steady movement of Meadow Pipits and groups of Swallows, and calling Skylarks - 2 Wheatears still present, Warblers including Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, and a group of 6 or so Reed Buntings.

Moor Green

16 Sept - A look at the juvenile Black-winged Stilt at Moor Green which has been present now for several days - possibly a UK-bred bird in view of the time of year and the nature of the occurrence? Characteristically long-legged, with pale dusky imm plumage. Also present for comparison, Greenshank and 2 Ruff, 8 Snipe, and Green and Common Sandpipers.

Wryneck!

15 Sept - A rare local opportunity for chance look for a Wryneck, one of those scarce migrant species that always gets the pulse racing in birders. A drive over to Sodbury Common, and an initial brief glimpse of the bird perched up, it then dropped between some bushes and after a few minutes wait we spotted the Wryneck feeding, Woodpecker-like, on the hillocks between the bushes. Amazing cryptic bark-like plumage, it moved unobtrusively among the tufts, sometimes only its head visible. Probably my best-ever prolonged views of the species. Also present on the common - Redstart, Wheatear and Whinchat.

East coast waders

6-11 Sept - A few days in Norfolk within striking distance of both Cley and Titchwell. A decent total of 22 wader species seen, no rarities but several scarce migrants including 3-4 smart Spotted Redshanks and several elegant Greenshanks at Cley, and a Curlew Sandpiper and a very confiding Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell - as well as good views of both Black-tailed and especially Bar-tailed Godwits - good numbers of Ruff - and Knot, Sanderling and Turnstone on the beach, a flyover Whimbrel, and a high-tide Curlew flock at Cley. Snipe were present but fairly elusive, and Avocets still at both sites after the end of the breeding season. Also seen - Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret and Mediterranean Gull.

Nearctic wader etc .....

4 Sept - A high-tide visit to Goldcliff, across the Severn bridge, and good ‘scope views of the juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper from the hides, alongside a Little Stint in the Dunlin flock. Small, pale, short-billed, stint-like feeding action, plain upperparts, A surprising lack of larger waders except for 2 Ruff, but a distant Marsh Harrier and Red Kite. In CWP, a quick look at Eysey produced 2 LRPs and a Green Sandpiper, with a flyover Marsh Harrier, and a male Sparrowhawk, both struggling in the strong wind.

Blakehill

3 Sept - An evening visit in fairly calm conditions produced a line up of no less than 8 Whinchats along the fenceline, accompanied by 4 Wheatears - an impressive spectacle.

Skye Munro bagging

31 Aug - 2 Sept - A few wet days on Skye but despite this some decent birds seen while walking/ climbing. The absolute highlight was an amazing view of a Golden Eagle, my closest ever in the UK...... as we started the walk in early sun, I heard Ravens calling behind me and I turned to see a magnificent Golden Eagle flying at eye level no more than 30 meters away, dwarfing the Ravens - a stunning view of the broad wings, large bill and the all-dark plumage of an adult bird. The same afternoon an adult White-tailed Eagle soared over the road near Carbost, and a pair of Red-throated Divers on a loch in Glen Brittle, where the beach also held a few passage waders including Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Overall, an autumnal few days, but a few good sightings.