Lapland Buntings on North Hill, Malvern

Two of the Lapwing Buntings

Jumping in the wind

Lapland Bunting

Stunning plumage

Half way

Views down over Malvern

Small Copper

We don't get many rarities in the midlands so when four Lapland Buntings were reported on the Malvern Hills we were always going to give it a go espically as we were heading back up the M5 from Devon. 

North Hill is a good stiff walk and it is always a bit easier when you know there is a nice bird at the top.Dispite the strong wind we found a Small Copper taking shelter on our side of the hill. As we rose higher we picked up two Stonechats followed by good numbers of Meadow Pipits and a Wheatear.

The Squire kindly hung around where the birds were seen to guide us to the exact location. As if by magic two of the birds duly landed on the path to give us some terrific views. The birds fed and occasionly jumped over the gusts of wind before taking off calling on their merry way. 

A very nice way to end a lovely week.

Scillies - Day 4 - St Agnes delights

St Agnes

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

Pipit & Bunting search party

St Agnes views

Wheatear

Pint at the Turks Head

Red-throated Pipit

                                                    Yellow-browed Warbler

Time for a change of scenery. Having never been to St Martins and with birders reporting it being very quiet I decided to head over to St Agnes instead. It was nice to just wander about for the morning without chasing anything in particular. 

I took an early lunch sat on the beach just happy watching a distant pod of Common Dolphins through my scope whilst a couple of Wheatears dived around me on the large stones.

As I edged round the island I heard a zipping over head which then stopped as the bird landed in a field at the top of the hill. Thankfully as I reached the brow of the hill there were three birders watching this Red-throated Pipit. I'd only seen one previously so this was a real bonus. The bird look flight at regular intervals with the Meadow Pipit flock. 

In close proxitity was a Lapwing Bunting showing really well. As well as taking some decent photos I managed to scope the bird on maximum capacity allowing me to see every little detail.

A Red-backed Shrike got spotted mid afternoon but despite looking in all possible locations I couldn't repeat the sighting I had there last year.

A bird that I watched at very close quarters was a Yellow-browed Warbler. This little beauty was flying close to the beach. Birding is just amazing when you witness moments like this.

I wrapped up my afternoon with a pint at the Turks Head before heading back to St Marys.   

A Red-flanked Bluetail was found in the closing minutes before the boat left but sadly only 3/4 birders got lucky. The bird was not seen again.  

A day Avon Birding

Brean Down Salt Marsh

Brean beach

Raven 

Stonechat

Great White Egret

Sunday took me down the M5 into Somerset to try and catch up with a couple of species I've been missing on year list. The destination was Brean Down which is a few miles south of Weston-Super-Mare. Parking was a very reasonable winter rate of £1 for the whole day.

Leaving the car park a couple of Stonechats watched me head down towards the farm and salt marsh. The farm is a regular haunt for a small flock of Twite however despite two prolonged searches I didn't have any luck. 

As a walked along the sea wall a Peregrine hunted for an early breakfast over the salt marsh whilst a Sparrowhawk flew past the fields behind. The tide was low so waders were  restricted to Curlews, Lapwings, Snipe and Redshanks. As I was observing a flock of Linnetts a Water Pipit landed by the stream behind the second gate ! A real bonus. 

There were a handful of birders on the site and I had a good chat with a local only for the Lapland Bunting to fly over with a handful of Sky Larks. As hard as I tried I could not locate the Bunting on the ground but I did get another flypast. The birds seems to rotate between the marsh and the field. Fair play to those who got an image.

As I headed back the car a Raven was hounding the local Jackdaws and there was another two Stonechats enjoying the late morning sunshine.

The temptation to head back via Hawling was obvious but instead I stopped in at Chew Valley Lake. Not knowing the area I just drove around the perimeter until I found a place to stop. By pure luck the place was Herons Green where I could see a Great White Egret in the channel. I quickly set up the scope and grabbed a few nice digiscoped images. Other sightings included a Great Northern Diver, flock of Goosander, 2 Egyptian Geese, Snipe,  60+ Cormarants, 10 Shelduck, 30+ Pintails, Wigeon, 3 Little Egret, Grey Heron, Great Black-backed Gull and many of the normal wildfowl. Chew Valley Lake is a place you really need a full day to make the most of it and I need to remember not to go back via Bristol on future visits. The Clifton Suspension bridge didn't compensate for the shocking traffic.

This area is an area that seems to getter better and better for birds unlike most counties and the new reserve at Steart Marshes should be another great place to visit. I will be visiting there in 2015 for sure.