Passage & breeding birds at Pits

Marsh Harrier (Mark Clarke)

Marsh Harrier (Mark Clarke)

 Female Ruff

 Sanderlings

Sanderlings

 Stunning Goldfinch

 Mute Swan family doing well

 Tawny Owl

Tawny Owlet

It's been a very busy last ten days at the pits with some quality waders passing through and our resident breeding birds generally doing well. Going down most evenings when not working hasn't given me much chance to update the blog

Passage picked up last Thursday when two Dunlin & a Ringed Plover came through. On the same day a pair of Common Tern were seen at the main pit but also Abbots Salford (AW).  A juvenile Tawny Owl was calling from the east side of the pits.

A Sanderling was a nice find on Friday morning which was linked to some inland migration across the county. The Ringed Plover was still present whilst there were 50 Swifts and 200 House Martin's feeding low.

On Saturday I was very hopeful of finally recording our first Black Tern of year but no luck on either of my visits. The Sanderling surprisingly stuck over night whilst there were also 60 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, & 12 Swift but no Black Tern. A Red Kite was hunting on east of main pit late afternoon whilst a Cuckoo was calling on the south pit border.

Our second Ruff of the year was waiting for me on Sunday whilst a Great Crested Gebe was also on the main pit. 

Bank Holiday Monday didn't start well when Mark and I discovered a Tawny Owlet in the road. Very sad, it looked like the owlet had tried to fly from its breeding tree to the mothers roosting spot. Later in the evening we did find the parent bird sat back in the roost tree. Down at the main pit 3 Sanderling's all in slightly different plumages were feeding. The Common Terns were copulating increasing the chances they may bred again locally.

Very positive evening with a new Tawny Owlet in the roost tree which was really pleasing for myself and Mark who have put in a lot of time in trying to find the pair of local Tawnys. No real change on the main except 4 Sand Martin whilst two Great Crested Grebes were on the central lagoon.

On Wednesday I was stuck working late delivering a running project to 170 people when the Squire text me as he had found a Marsh Harrier roosting on Wheatear Hill by the main pit. Wow, what a brilliant record and our 118th species of the year. The session was made even better when he recored the Terns, Cuckoo & a Redshank.

Suffolk double - Marsh & Savi's Warbler at RSPB Lakenheath

Marsh Warbler - Video

Marsh Warbler

 Song time for Marsh Warbler

 Mooing about in Suffolk

Sedge Warbler

 Marsh Harrier

 Fenland

 Viewpoint (Marsh Warbler by trees on left of photo)

Cropped Stone Curlew

 Long walk ahead

 Stunning habitat

Savi's twitch

The chance of recording two lifers proved too much on Sunday as I headed to RSPB Lakenheath in Suffolk. Leaving around 4.45am the journey proved trouble free but a bit boring in all honesty, it seemed longer than 2 hours 40 minutes. On arrival, as I passed the visitor centre, a Nightingale burst in song and showed itself quickly which was a real bonus as I didn't know they were present.

As per usual the target birds were at the furthest point from the car park. The sun was out with a slight breeze so the thirty five minute walk was pleasant enough stopping for some splendid views of Sedge Warblers & Cuckoo's. 

From the viewpoint I could see where the Marsh Warbler had been reported. That took another five minutes to reach using the path along side the river. I was expecting both of the days targets to prove troublesome to locate however the Marsh Warbler was sitting up in the reeds giving up a real rendition of song. Binoculars gave me good views but the scope enabled me to see the bird in great detail. 

Satisfied with the views and a couple of record shots I then continued down the patch to where the Savi's Warbler could be heard and seen on occasions. This bird had been a real blocker for me and was reeling on and off during the hour I was present but it took forty minutes to get the view I wanted.

The reserve looked fantastic and it was great to see both birds well with the backdrop of flying Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and Cuckoo's. As I headed back towards the visitor centre I met a birder from Essex whom I shared a good rattle with before two Garden Warblers burst into song as we went our separate ways.

I then opted to make the short drive to Weeting Heath to see the Stone Curlews. I arrived at the same time as a RSPB group on a day trip who clearly enjoyed the company of each other more than the birds. 

The drive home was longer than expected as I had to divert to avoid a nasty accident but with two lifers in the bag the extra thirty minutes was worth it. 

Sanderling & Marsh Harrier at Upton Warren

Two Sanderling

Two Sanderling

Marsh Harrier under attack

 Marsh Harrier

 Black-tailed Godwit

Avocets 

Coot chicks

After completing my morning walk around Salford Priors I headed over to the Flashes at Upton Warren for a quick visit. This ended up being about four hours with the reserve being full of good birds as well as catching up with Terry "Gullman" Hinnet and fellow pitter Mike Inskip.

Two Sanderling were the original star attraction and were showing well with three Dunlin. This was the first sighting of the species since May 2013. The waders were creeping closer to the hide when everything was flushed by a Marsh Harrier hunting the far reed bed. The larger gulls mobbed the Harrier every time it tried to get near to the reeds until it eventually gave up and headed south. 

Other sightings included a Black-tailed Godwit, two Oystercatchers, Cetti's Warbler, two Shelduck, Lapwings with 11 chicks, a Shoveler, four Gadwall, 34 Avocets with just one chick & five Little Ringed Plover. Finally there were three Common Tern on the education reserve as I headed back to the car.

Marsh Harrier lifts the gloom

 Pochard

Stonechat

Two weekend visits to the gravel pits of which both started with a blanket of fog over Salford Priors. For recording purposes I will only blog Sundays sighting if there was nothing additional on Saturday.

Pophills remains very quiet with the waders seeming to prefer the quieter main pit since the drainage works has been completed. It will be interesting if this is the case when we have some genuine north westerly winds blowing.

Viewing on the main pit was very difficult due to the fog but the two Pintail were still present with three Shoveler and Teal. A Ringed Plover was the only wader on view other than a Common Sandpiper.

Sadly no Turtle Dove in the old workings before heading to the migrant traps behind Marsh Farm. First find was two Lesser Whitethroats and whilst watching those a Stonechat popped up into view. I managed to grab a quick digiscoped photo but the light was all wrong to catch this passing juvenile bird. Along the same hedge line a Greater Spotted Woodpecker was showing off and there were also Blackcaps, a Sedge Warbler and Song Thrush.

The bottoms lagoons looked good again with recent rain but sadly there were only three Green Sandpipers to record. Three Skylarks took flight has we headed to the middle lagoon where two Pochard had returned to. 

Up on the bunds I was moaning about the lack of raptors and good birds when a Kestrel hovered right above hidden pools and then another raptor caught my eye. Instantly I knew it was a Marsh Harrier and I then scoped it as a juvenile by its dark brown colour with gold crown. It did one circle as it reached the bottom of reserve but sadly it continued its journey south. This was the second Marsh Harrier recorded this year at the site with the previous one being at the start of May. 

No patch ticks for the year but a nice morning once the fog had lifted. 

Warwickshire Bird Race

 Red-legged Partridge - a valuable point

 Jon on the lookout

On the hunt for a Treecreeper

 Marsh Harrier (file photo)

On Saturday Jon and I represented Salford Priors GP in the Warwickshire bird race competing against other pro-active patches.

105 species were recorded by the teams across the county and looking at the findings I think we bagged the top bird when a first year Marsh Harrier past over us heading south.

A good day was had by all but joined up area's seemed out of balance. 

The final results :-

1. Ladywalk/Coton/Shustoke                      84
2. Brandon Marsh                                      77
3. Morton Bagot/Haselor/Middle Spernal      76
4. Salford Priors                                         75
5. Charlecote                                             71
6. Earlswood                                              65
7. Draycote Water                                      64
8. Farnborough                                           58
9. The Dump                                              53

Surprise of the day was the poor result for Draycote Water. Roll on next May !

Montagu's Harriers at Blacktoft Sands

Male Monty treats us with a fly past

Garganey

Marsh Harrier

Greenshank

Heading up to Yorkshire for a couple of days took me north east past the small town of Goole where RSPB Blacktoft Sands is located. It took about two hours from the Midlands which was ideal for a break and thankfully the reserve was open when I arrived at 8.30am.

An RSPB volunteer in the visitor centre offered a friendly welcome and some advice regarding the reserve lay off. First bird to catch my eye was a male Marsh Harrier flying close over the reeds.

After about ten minutes the pair of Montagu's Harriers came into view. It is only the second time I have seen this species so to see them glide through the scope was a superb experience. 

It's great that they have returned for the second year running to the Humber. Only seven pairs nested last year in the UK, making them critically endangered and imperative to ensure every pair raises young, which the Humber pair did last year. So lets hope that they stay and breed successfully again, it certainly looks positive at the moment.

The Monty's are sub Saharan migrants and its thought that this was causing them problems as they migrated through areas in Europe where they shoot birds of prey, however radio tagging of some of the adults revealed that it is still persecution in the UK that is contributing to their continued decline. What shame on those who carry out such selfish acts which of course are against the law and a criminal offence. The birds are best viewed from Townend and Singleton hide, the birds will have Species Protection Wardens carrying out a 24hr guard on the site.

As I started to explore the rest of the reserve I located a pair of Garganey on the bank of the first hide whilst a Greenshank was also present. It was great to see some of the pairs of Avocets whilst I also noted two Ruff amongst the reeds.

After a great couple of hours it was back in the car to head to Bempton.

Winter sunshine at Cley

Avocets on the marsh

Twitchers delight

Brent Geese

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harriers in food transfer switch

Marsh Harrier

Pink-feeted Geese along Beech Road

Cley has made a remarkable recovery since the great storm surge 12 month ago and it was hard to believe Seal were swimming along the road which we crossed on the way to the marsh.

There was a nice selection of birds to watch including Avovet, Little Egret, 200+ Golden Plover, Pintail, Ruff, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveller, Gadwell, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, 2 Stonechats and of course the magnificent Marsh Harriers which treated us to some fantastic views. 

We then headed up Beach Road where there were massive numbers of Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese feeding in the fields. A stunning sight once again. 

Looking out to sea there was a good number of Red-throated Divers and 1 Black-throated Diver which I was particually pleased to see as it had been an omission on my year list up to this point. A Grey Seal was feeding off the beach.

Lemon drizzle, coffee and Marsh Harrier at Slimbridge

Not long now for the Bewicks arrival

View from the Ziess

Pintails

Shelduck hybrid 

Wigeon

White-fronted Geese

Marsh Harrier

Captive Crane

Lesser White Fronted

Black-winged Stilt

With the boys indoor cricket season not starting for another week both the wife I set out early for a trip down to Slimbridge. Taking advantage of the early entry for members we were watching the birds on the Rushy pen by 8.20am.

None of the Bewick Swans had arrived which was a shame but a strange Ruddy Shelduck did catch the eye but it seems some type of hybrid. There was 30+ Pintails of which some were very close to the hide.

We then headed straight to the Holden Tower as high tide was approaching. As always there was a great array of birds to been seen. I was good to see the first four of the Lesser-fronted geese had arrived.   Whilst a juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting along the Dumbles edge. A fantastic spectacle for every one in the hide to observe. Other sighting from the Holden were :- 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Little Stint with a flock of 100 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, Peregrine, 30 Curlew, 40 Golden Plover, 200 Barnacle Geese and a serious numbers of Wigeon.

Down at the Ziess Hide the Marsh Harrier allowed us closer views, the best attempt at a digiscope is shown above. Teal numbers were 800+, 3 Spotted Redhanks, 1 Greenshank, 8 Avocet !, 12 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 40 Black-tailed Godwits. Always a great place to watch birds.

We did take in a couple of the enclosures where we watched a pair of Black-winged Stilts very closely in the tropical house before watching the Cranes and Lesser White-fronted Geese.

The morning was finished off nicely with a slice of lemon drizzle and a cappuccino before heading back up the M5.