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!