Little Stint

Post breeding Little Stint amongst the Dunlin on the Ferry Pool later morning 

Short-toed Bloody Eagle!

Temminck's Stint!

  

Not a lot to report around Seaford Head apart from a single Spotted Flycatcher in Harry's Bush. Things brightened up when a Temminck's Stint flew directly  north up the Cuckmere from the mouth where it's distinct tail pattern and alarm call could be seen/heard.  We later found out it was previously seen on the Scrape but no further sign since. Here's a few pics of the I phone NOT of the stint. 

       (Male Linnet by Cuckmere Scrape) 

     (Treble Lines Moth up Seaford Head)

The Herald Moth

Awful un imaginative blog title I know but here's the first Herald Moth of the year for me, in the moth trap this morning. Not the best photo or angle but I like to cause less disturbance as possible.

Worth the wait!

Mick Davis and I headed for the first summer GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO in Pembrokeshire Tenby Giltar Point (Wales) yesterday. All was going well the Cuckoo had been reported nice and early and continued to come up on RBA "showing well" Get in! We were half an hour away from site when there was a report saying the bird flew south across to a near by Island and appeared to land. This was slightly worrying but we continued to press on. 

As we arrived we were greeted by a mixture of happy and annoyed birders (the happy ones being the lot that had seen it!) we found out on site the reason the bird flew across to the island was because surprise surprise a couple of individuals decided they wanted to get closer than everyone else and spooked the bird. Mick had just driven 4 and half hours and we both decided to was far to far to just turn around straight away so we stuck it out! Whilst waiting there was little of note a few RAZORBILLS and GULLIEMOTS  out to sea followed by a GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. Mick and I had been waiting three hours and both decided things didn't look good and that we were only going to give it another half an hour before we headed of. Suddenly I got on a very quick low flying bird darting around the the hills and low vegetation. I quickly got the bins on the target and to my relief it was the GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO.  Few birders got on the Cuckoo in flight, in fact it was only me, Mick and one other birder that managed it so everyone was eager to know where it appeared to land. Mick picked it up on a near by clump of gorse which was when everyone came running! 

In the end good views were enjoyed by all and we spent a good hour and a half with GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. Mick managed to get some decent shots          

    All three shots above were taken by

    MICK DAVIS.

           My effort with the IPhone 4 

A memorable day in Scotland!

Well what a fantastic day Saturday was when Garry Bagnell, James Hammond, Andrew Lawson, Hugh and I decided to head up to Scotland (Argyll) for the AMERICAN HERRING GULL - a smart move!

As we arrived the bird had already been picked up roosting in the harbour with the HERRING GULLS. Though (typically might I add!) as we headed over towards the group who first picked up the bird today  every single Gull near enough took to flight including the AMERICAN HERRING GULL. Due to the poor light and the fact the sun hadn't even rose yet the obvious and  distinctive  tail band couldn't even be picked up in flight unless you were already on the bird!

We decided to expand are search and in a matter of minuets Garry picked the AMERICAN HERRING GULL on a house roof. Get in! Though a lifer I had been doing some extensive research in to Juv/1st winter AMERICAN HERRING GULLS and this individual is certainly 'kinder' than other 1st winter birds that turn up on our shores when its comes to identification due to how variable these Gulls are. The pale ear coverts, two toned

bill and the long large 'browny black' primary's really did stand out like a sore thumb and the retained juv scapulars were also quite noticeable. The bird was on view for around 5 minuets on the roof top before relocating to the flooded fields between the town and air port. Though now being viewed distantly everyone by now had got on the bird. 

As we had connected with the AMERICAN HERRING GULL so early we decided to head to Inverness for the AMERICAN COOT. I had wanted to see this Coot for a few months by now (or at least it felt like it!) so I was really glad Garry was up for the drive. On the way to Inverness we picked up a few localised species...Including RED GROUSE, CRESTED TIT etc

                  (Crested Tit) 

Finally we had made it to Inverness, Loch Flemming, the Loch was not the easiest of places to find! However the AMERICAN COOT was as the bird was on view straight away! Good close views were obtained by all and I was over the Moon! I have tried to work out how to upload my video of the AMERICAN COOT onto the blog but with no luck yet but will try again later. For now here is a record shot taken through the I phone 4.

       (American Coot, Loch Flemming)

Awesome company to go with an Awesome trip!

    

Scaup and Bewick's!

The female SCAUP was still showing well today in the flooded field to the left of Greatham Bridge this morning at 12:40am. The number of wildfowl has increased massively since my last visit to Coldwaltham due to how flooded the area now is! 

    (Female Scaup Coldwaltham and yes 

      You had better get used to these awful 

      Pictures!) 

On the way back we stopped at Bury for the BEWICK SWANS. All ten were on view (including 3 juvs) but distantly! View from Bury Sewage Works looking down onto the flooded fields. 

Sibe Chiffy

The SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF is still showing around  Steyning Sewage Works today at 3:30pm amongst five COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS. 

An Oak Beauty - What a Beauty!

With the recent increase in temperatures I decided to put the Moth Trap out last night. I was searching through empty egg box after empty egg box and thought I was going to turn up empty handed. Then on the last egg box exactly I found this Oak Beaty...

                    (Oak Beaty Moth)

This species typically files in late February, March and through to April.

Pagham Harbour

Off to North Walls today though little of note I'm afraid... A SPOTTED REDSHANK was showing in the flooded field west of the Breach Pool before flying East. In the harbour there was 200+ GOLDEN PLOVER accompanied by 40 PINTAIL and 17 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS. 

On Pagham Lagoon the SLAVONIAN GREBE was still showing well on the West Side corner. 70+ MEDITERRANEAN GUILLS (mainly adult birds but 2nd Winters also present.)

    (Slavonian Grebe on Pagham Lagoon) 

Myrtle Warbler and Red Flanked Bluetail Saves The Weekend!

Typical! The day I, Mike Booker, Dan Booker, Harry Ramm and Kevin McCoy head for the CHINESE POND HERON in Hythe, Kent the bird doesn't show for the first time since the news has been publicised and is still undoubtably in the gardens around the housing estate. To me this wasn't a surprise given the increase in observers  1.  Because it was  Saturday and 2. This bird could well be the real deal or as close as its ever going to get! Although these ardeola Herons are near enough impossible to tell apart in Non Breeding plumage, the Maroon feathering now forming on the crown, nape and neck certainly suggests this is indeed a CHINESE POND HERON it has also been suggested the age of this individual is a 1st Winter though its still certainly debatable whether its a true, genuine vagrant. All was not lost though because Mick Davis was on hand too cook us a fantastic fry up back at his place, top work Mick!

On the Sunday I headed up with Garry Bagnell and John Lees for the MYRTLE WARBLER in Co Durham. John picked me up at 11:20pm and we headed straight to Garry's. Although on most twitches I'm anxious I was quietly confident with this one... The bird had been present since the 27th of January (first being picked up in a big garden birdwatch) it has been happily feeding away on the suet stuffed in those coconut shells which implied to me and others its probably going to over winter though ironically as I write this blog post the bird has not been seen all day today! We arrived around 6am and got an hours kip by the time we woke it was early sunrise. We headed to the grassy area where you view the bird from and after a 15 minuet     wait I first picked it up in the tree line above our heads. All diagnostic features could be appreciated straight away including that dazzling lemon yellow rump and the distinctive check check call which was always a indication the bird was never far away. 

After we left the MYRTLE WARBLER and headed out of Co Durham we decided to head for the RED FLANKED BLUETAIL in the  Shire Valley, (a beautiful place) Gloucestershire.  The bird was first picked up on Monday the 3rd of February! Making it Britain's first recorded over wintering RED FLANKED BLUETAIL. It was only a 5 minuet wait before it put in an appearance happily feeding on the Mealworms placed down for it on a small lump of earth and grass. I managed to take a record shot through my I phone 4 but this 100% does not do this bird justice!

      (Red Flanked Bluetail Shire Valley)

This was a bloody good trip managing to see both target birds (two lifers for me!) and appreciating both of them. 

     (Looking down onto the Shire Valley)

P.S I know this is only my first blog post but I plan to keep them coming as regularly as possible.