Full house in Wyre Forest

                                                 Pied Flycatcher

                                                Common Redstart

                                                  Pied Flycatcher

                                                 Pied Flycatcher

                                                Speckled Wood

                                                     Redpoll

                                                      Dipper

                                                 Wood Warbler

The Wyre Forest is a local firm favourite for a days birding and I finally took a days leave to have an extended visit on Friday. The 5 1/2 hour session was a genuine pleasure from start to finish. It's rare that you manage to see all the species you want to but on Friday it was a full house. My sightings highlights were 2 Wood Warbler, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 6 Tree Pipt, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Dipper, Mandarin, Redpoll and Redstart. 

Sunday Double

Pied Flycatcher

Stunning morning

Frog ID please

Some off fella behind the bench

Pied Flycatcher

Black Tern

Black Tern

Black Tern

 

With very little movement being reported I headed to the Wyre Forest on Sunday to take advantage of the weather but also the cover available. I won't blog about every step of the morning as I've done that on a previous blog.

The star performers of the morning were definately the Pied Flycatchers. I didn't take a photo in the first hour of the walk but in one of the favoured spots a male bird perched superbly enabling me get take a few nice shots and also record a video clip. 

Word of warning if you are going, go early. The car park on Dry Mill Lane was at capacity as we left. We stopped in Bewdley for a spot of lunch as they had a food festival on before heading for home.

No sooner were we home when a Black Tern was reported for the second time at Earlswood Lakes. Earlswood is only fifteen minutes from home so I headed over to see this fantastic looking bird. The bird was reported on Engine Pool but thankfully it had relocated to Windmill pool. 

The bird sat perched on a buoy and only flew when flushed by one of the sailing boats. The Tern did not seem over fussed by the boats or the local rugby term that arrived for an afternoon swim ! Quite a sight. 

Wyre Forest spring delights

Wood Warbler 

 Treecreeper

 Tree Pipit

 Female Pied Flycatcher

 Male Pied Flycatcher

 Male Pied Flycatcher

 Wood Warbler 

Wood Warbler in great voice

With the reports of the American Bittern being sketchy and wind direction not great our planned trip was postponed so instead I headed to the Wyre Forest with Chris Lane knowing we would get cover from any wind. 

Parking at Dry Mill Lane we were quickly rewarded when 20 Redpoll flew over the car. Edging along the old railway line we quickly recorded the regular species before adding Willow Warbler & Blackcaps. It did cross our minds that we were a little early for some migrants including Wood Warbler but this worry disappeared quickly as we picked up 12 singing males some very close to the path enabling us to get some amazing views.

The regular spot of Tree Pipit was closed off so we had to walk further along until we got some improved views of the Pipits displaying, on the ground and then one landed knee height enabling me to get a few shots which I've failed to do previously.

In the same area we found our first pair of Pied Flycatchers investigating two different boxes and giving the local Blue Tits a good chasing off when they showed interest. The views we were getting were just fantastic and it's easy to take for granted this amazing location is just 30 minutes from home. 

A family of Raven past over followed by a calling Tawny Owl as we headed down to the Dowles Brook where a Grey Wagtail was feeding. We recorded Brimstone, Comma & Peacock butterflies along the brook. We had to work extra hard to find our only Dipper which was much further down than on previous visits. 

Our full counts were as follows :- 12 Wood Warbler, 10 Pied Flycatcher, 8 Tree Pipits, Tawny Owl, 2 Marsh Tit, 20 Redpol & a Dipper. We didn't count Willow Warbler, Blackcap & other species.

Scilly Season Day 3 - Day of the Dusky

Dusky Warbler

Dusky twitch at Lower Moors

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

View over Old Town

The Garrison

Stonechat

Firecrest

Love this birds

Stonechat

Great Northern Diver

Wheatear

Stonechat

Stunning weather

Worst places for afternoon tea & cake

A busy day started with a twenty-five minute run around the Garrison to get the blood pumping. With the waters still looking rough we opted to explore St Marys further with a long walk around the west coast.

A Pied Flycatcher was the first attraction at the very local Porthcressa which was sheltered and in the same corner of the beach there were 2 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, Rock & Meadow Pipits & another Black Redstart. Over head I picked up a Peregrine & a Sparrowhawk.

The Squire continued his own good form by finding yet another Leach’s & 2 Balearic Shearwaters. We then headed on to the Garrison which was a brilliant walk. We recorded at least 10 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear & a steady flow of Gannets.

The afternoon started well as were heading towards Lower Moors when a Dusky Warbler was reported on the pager at the same location.  We had arrived within five minutes but as per these species no sign. After a bit of patience & hunting another Dusky Warbler was reported the other side of the reserve, this time I picked up the bird quickly also adding a Willow Warbler to the trip list. As we headed back across Lower Moors our timing was perfect as the first Dusky showed well just off the path. 

We then headed on round the costal path but were drawn into the tea shop ! A fine cup of Earl Grey & slice of Lemon Drizzle were demolished whilst watching a pair of Kestrel & the local Sparrow over looking the stunning bay.

Our yomp north west tracked the very edge of the island up and down on some tough terrain at times giving us amazing views of Tresco, St Martins then the outer islands. The best bird we found was a summer plumage Great Northern Diver but there were a handful of Curlew, many Shags & Oystercatchers.

As we edged towards the very top of the island two Firecrest showed brilliantly right next to the path. Whilst seeing a Firecrest isn’t unusual at this time of year what was brilliant was how close we could watch them.

Our final birds of the day were three Siskin, 20 Collared Dove and a Peregrine.

After day three the trip list was standing at 63. A cheeky pint at the bird count ended another very busy day.

Bank Holiday in Wyre Forest

Male Pied Flycatcher

Female Pied Flycatcher

Wood Warbler

Dipper

As per our tradition on Bank Holiday Monday, the wife and I headed to the Wyre Forest for a gentle stroll and enjoy the wildlife before the crowds arrived. Arriving early is essential with the car parking very limited on Dry Mill Lane. We didn’t have to wait long to see Tree Pipits as they were very active in their normal territories. I can’t actually remember seeing them this well before.

After crossing the patch into Knowles Coppice our first Wood Warbler was observed above us. This was the first of four Wood Warblers we saw singing around the forest.  A Dipper was showing along the Dowles Brook before taking off up stream to become the second addition for the year list. Our next find was a pair of Pied Flycatchers buzzing around the newly refurbished nest boxes. This is just a super place to watch this iconic species fleeting round above the bluebells within half an hour of home.  

After heading back across the brook we got another view of the Dipper and a Grey Wagtail before heading to Bewdley for an excellent breakfast and coffee.  

Ladwalk Sunday double

Female Pied Flycatcher

Black-tailed Godwit

 Great Crested Grebe

Common Tern

On Sunday afternoon I opted to head over to Ladywalk Nature Reserve for a bit of peace and quiet and to try and see my first Warwickshire Pied Flycatcher. Whilst I didn’t find the Flycatcher initially I did identify my first Garden Warbler of the year. His large eye caught my attention at first and further views revealed the grey necked side and short bill. Quite a bonus…………… I opted to walk round to the Riverside Hide where I looked over the lagoon to see a Black-tailed Godwit (my first for site), Oystercatcher, three Goosander and a late Wigeon among the highlights. A Sparrowhawk was hunting the reeds for a late Sunday lunch.

As I reached the path back towards the car park the female Pied Flycatcher appeared and sat on a branch looking straight at me. I even had time to take a couple of shots through the foliage. I’m really taking to Ladywalk, I find the number of hides spreads visitors out so it always seems quiet despite a full car park. In just a few months of membership with West Midland Bird Club I’ve seen some super birds there.

On the homeward journey I stopped in at Earlswood to see my first Terns of the years.

Black Stork & Red-backed Shrike at Migfest

 View on arrival

 Black Stork feeding in draining ditch

Black Stork allowing great views

 Black Stork displaying ring

Black Stork in flight

Black Stork location

 Touchdown Spurn

Red-backed Shrike

Long journey at Spurn

With an offer of a seat in the car to Spurn I duly booked Friday off work to make the journey north east. With decent northerly winds blowing I was hopeful of some movement on the sea but not so confident on the warbler front.

Leaving the house at 4.30am to meet up with Dave & Dave we made good time to arrive at Sunk Island at around 8am. After some initial head scratching as we got our bearings we duly located the ditch and the back end of a juvenile Black Stork. After ten minutes watching the bird Dave then stopped the farmer ploughing the field opposite who kindly gave us permission to follow patch of the side of ditch which led us getting some fantastic views of the bird feeding, preening in field and in flight as it headed a few hundred feet north. From our original viewing the bird looked black but once close you could definitely make out the dull brown/ green plumage and also its french white ring.

Satisfied by our early morning find we carried on to Kilnsea and found the previously reported Red-backed Shrike showing well in the Corner Field by Sunny Cliff Caravan Park. This juvenile bird was moving on the scrub in front of the old buildings. Two lifers in the same day and the Shrike was one of those birds I'd never had any luck with before.

From there we tried our luck to get a Long-eared Owl but despite our efforts the bird had gone to ground and it wasn't reported again during the day. Wanting to make the most of our time we headed to Spurn for some wader and sea watching. As high tide retreated there was thousands of waders including Redshanks, Grey Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit,Oystercatcher, Lapwing & Dunlin.  Walking down the steps from sea watching I picked up a female Pied Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler moving through.

Sea watching highlights included :- 2 Red-throated Divers, Fulmer's, 7 Great Skuas, 25 Arctic Skuas, 5 Common Scoter, Sandwich & Common Tern.