First Ring Ouzel is April addition

Midweek Ouzeling

 Chiffchaff

 Chiffchaff

Common Sandpiper

First brood of Canada Geese

 Turnstone

Our local idiotic dog walker

The last few days of April and the start of May brought some more nice birds to the pits.

On Tuesday evening I was searching for a Winchat seen by Jon, near the central lagoon, when I flushed a male Ring Ouzel from the scrub. The bird flew into cover and headed up on to the bunds. After Paul arrived we both headed up the bund and I got a terrific flight view across the area into one of the drainage ditches. Ring Ouzel is a species I’ve been desperate to record on site, finally the patience had paid off.

Saturday was very quiet but I did record my first Swifts over the south lagoons. I got some amazing views of the Chiffchaffs by the railway line that certainly made the morning worth the splodging round in the mud. On the main pit, the Oystercatcher was trying to keep a large number of Herring Gulls away from its second nest of the spring.

Jon and I did a full site visit on Sunday the highlights we recorded were two Golden Plover in summer plumage flying over, seven Common Sandpipers and 14 Swifts.

With heavy rain showers forecast for Monday afternoon I held back my visit until then. Just as I was getting ready, Mike Inskip called to say a Turnstone was on the main pit. The bird was still there on arrival and was feeding on the main island. Sadly the bird was flushed by our local dog walker who despite walking past myself and Paul, climbed down to waterside and flushed the Turnstone, Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. Mind blowing………………………….

Hudsonian Godwit draws crowds at Meare Heath

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit

Great White Egret

My first Swift of the year

Bittern

Bittern

Bittern

Twitchers delighted

Great White feeding

I'm never one for crowds so when I was offered a lift to see a Hudsonian Godwit at Meare Heath, Somerset that arrived on the 25th April I quickly declined due to it being a mega twitch.

The arrival of the Godwit was a very welcome bird for twitchers every where as it unblocked a rarity that had slowly acquired mythical status over the 32 years since it was last twitchable in Britain.

Only two Hudsonian Godwits have ever made it to Britain. The first was at Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire on 10th September to 3rd October 1981 before it was relocated that same autumn at Countess Wear, Devon. Here it remained from 22nd November to 14th January 1982 and was then presumed to have gone until, amazingly, it reappeared at Blacktoft Sands from 26th April to 6th May 1983.

After the final Blacktoft appearance the trail really did go cold but the species remained just about on the radar thanks to a one-day bird at Slains Pools, Collieston, Aberdeenshire on 26th September 1988. Since then, however, there has not been a sniff of one in Britain.

What makes this species a particularly special find here is that it is not always an easy bird to see in its home range of North America. It breeds very locally across Alaska, the northwest Canadian Arctic and around the western fringe of Hudson Bay but then undertakes a direct oversea migration to northern South America, largely missing out the ‘lower forty-eight’ states. From here it continues south to its winter quarters in the southern half of South America, some reaching the very southernmost tip of the continent.

For those who were twitching in the early 1980s this was one of the highlights of a real ‘golden era’ which also yielded such delights as Little Whimbrel, White-crowned Black Wheatear, Green Warbler, American Redstart and Varied Thrush. A repeat of any of these other ‘early 1980s blockers’ would now also generate something of a stampede.

Many of the places frequented by Black-tailed Godwits are well-watched nature reserves and this is something of a ‘standout’ bird. The striking black underwing is of course the thing to look for but the photographs of the bird in Somerset also show quite well its relatively narrow upper wing-bar compared with that of Black-tailed Godwit. (Source Rare Bird Alert)

The bird looked to have moved on after being mega twitched so when it returned for a number of days I had an early start on Saturday down the M5 to see the Somerset superstar. On arrival I was pleased to see a new car park had been opened which will also site a visitor centre next. Good to see a great reserve like Ham Wall getting the facilities it deserves.

Heading straight up the path a Cuckoo and Garden Warbler were in good voice but was over looked by most birders having just the Godwit on their mind. Reaching the first reed bed a Bittern was sat on the edge showing very well and occasionally booming for a mate. 

There was no mistaking where the Godwit was by the lines of scopes and cameras. I quickly located the bird on the far side. In all fairness it wasn't the hottest looking bird in my opinion however when taking flight you could see the dark under wings. 

Two Great White Egret were feeding on the same part of the reserve whilst Marsh Harriers were observed passing over. Other highlights included Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Hobby and 15 Swifts that were my first of the year.

The new toilets can't be built quick enough for many. I'd never seen so many middle aged men crossing their legs !

Montagu's magic

Woodland walk at Weeting Heath

Stone Curlews

 RSPB Titchwell

 

Little Tern

Cley

On Saturday I headed to Norfolk with Upton Warren birders, Mike, Jarrad and Craig as a spare seat was available. An awful forecast delayed our departure and scheduled route, so we headed straight to Weeting Heath. This small reserve duly delivered it's fantastic Stone Curlews who were very active unlike on my previous visit. Two chicks had been reported in recent days but I could not locate them. In total we observed 4 adult birds including three displaying. On the woodland walk which starts close to the west hide we all heard a recently arrived Stopped Flycatcher which we then located just above us. A superb start the day.

We then headed to North Norfolk's Choseley Barns via the Wolferton Triangle to see 8 Dotterels showing well in a crop field. The area is regarded as Norfolks best site for Corn Bunting but we only managed to locate one at a distance but we did finally see a Grey Partridge (Red Legged Partridge also present) which has been outstanding on my year list. A single Yellowhammer treated us to a couple of fly passes also. 

Then it was the five minute drive to RSPB Titchwell, probably the best nature reserve in England as you never fail to see some amazing birds. I would recommend the Cornish Pasties from the cafe as once again it hit the spot and recharged me for the walk down through the reserve to the beach. 

We got as far as the reed bed pool when two Garganey dropped out of the sky. The male was a real stunner and a target bird of the day. The only time I'd seen these ducks before was at a distance and sleeping so we got good views even though we had to stand on tip toes. Above us the recently arrived Swifts were so close you could have caught them. Yellow Wagtails flew over and a flock of late staying Brent Geese were present on the marsh land to the left of the path.

A Little Tern offered us some superb view as we moved closer to the beach. I managed to grab the above image using the camera I use for digiscoping. Photos were very difficult all day given how strong the wind was. 

Sea watching was very difficult with the swirling sand but there was good passage of Sandwich Terns, a couple of more Little Terns, Gannets, Common Scoter whilst Sanderling and Dunlin could be seen along the coast. Sadly no Eiders or Great Crested Grebes. Other sightings included March Harrier, Spoonbill, Oystercatcher, Avocets, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Pintail, Turnstone, Oystercatcher. Whatever I write it doesn't do justice to a trip to Titchwell.

Next stop was a roadside viewpoint that Craig had researched as a good view for raptors. Within the first five minutes we observed Marsh Harriers displaying and Common Buzzards enjoying the thermals. We were just about to leave when one of the other birders on the other side road called "Male" in which we didn't need any second invitation to see the bird he found was a male Montagu's Harrier. What a bird, simply stunning. The bird really stood out against the greying skies and it was amazing to watch the birds powerful and elegant wingbeats giving an impression of total ease. I'd never seen a Montagu's before and he was a bird I will always remember.

Final stop was Cley Marshes however we dipped a pair of Temminck's Stints which had been flushed an hour before we arrived. Highlights were 5 Little Egrets, Spoonbill, Wheatear and two flight views of a Bearded Tit. A super days birding despite Mike reversing his car into me before heading off to home much to the amusement of Jarrad and Craig.

Whimbrel at Grimley to round off April

Whimbrel at Grimley

April ended with a real flourish with some great birds in North Wales and I finished the month with an evening walk over at Grimley. 

A Whimbrel was feeding behind the willow trees on the east shore. The bird was first reported on Sunday so it was unusual that it had been hanging around. Three Common Tern graced the old bridge railings in the centre of the water whilst else where there was several Little Ringed Plover, good numbers of Sand Martins, Gadwell, Cormorant, Redshank and a several Lapwing including 3 recently fledged birds.

On the way back up the causeway towards the car a flock of hirundinidae passed over including my first Swift of the summer. I did call in at Holt on the way back but there was not really anything different.

At the close of the month my year list stood at 209 whilst on Birdtrack it 206 in 86 locations. 

Those birds in April who I've not managed to catch up with yet are Wood Sandpiper, Garganey,  Hobby and Swift. Whilst I'll be hoping to see Spotted Flycatcher and Nightingale in May.

Operation Swift

Every summer we get screaming Swifts around the house which always gives us a great deal of pleasure to watch from the garden, so this year with the help of my Dad I've installed 2 Swift nest boxes on the house. 

Swifts are generally one of the last spring migrants to arrive, but the first to leave. Swifts are now on the Amber List  meaning they're birds of conservation concern. Their numbers have declined dramatically in the past 10 years and one of the possible reasons is that their nest sites are being destroyed.

Whilst a small number of Swifts have been reported nationally we are still awaiting the first one in Bilbury Close. I will of course post any updates.