Slow steps into September

   Spotted Flycatcher

Lesser Whitethroat

Pintail

Common Redstart

Grey Herons

Wigeon

Wheatear

Yellow Wagtail

Wheatear

  Shoveler

Final table for West Midland All dayer

A much more sedate week after five days around Spurn. I have shown two new birders around the site in recent weeks, Lloyd from Pershore/Worcs & Peter from Stratford. Both mornings were very enjoyable and we managed to shake a few birds out of the bushes which both enjoyed.

Lloyd was lucky to see at Spotted Flycatcher at close quarters at Marsh Farm,  this is the first time I've photographed this species on the site.

On Saturday, a number of us did our normal Saturday shifts which coincided with the West Midlands all dayer event. We managed to record 79 species which was very pleasing. Species missed but recorded the following day were Golden Plover (over), Tree Pipit, Pochard, Water Rail & a Swift. Peter joined myself and Jon on Sunday for a very enjoyable session. 

Access at the moment has become more difficult due to the game keepers from Ragley. We have asked for some clarification but not had any responce. Very disappointed given we speak to dog walkers, runners and report occurances to them.

Studley Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

 

Spotted Flycatcher

Grasshopper Warbler

Spring views

Studley Castle

Young Roe Deer

"I think I've got a Flycatcher", now that's a text I like to see on our local sightings group. This was quickly confirmed as a Spotted Flycatcher in the south grounds of Studle Castle. 

With the Castle closed due to COVID-19 we all managed to get up and enjoy the bird at close quarters.  Studley is having a fine year with 88 species recorded in a small area. The Grasshopper Warbler is also still present within a couple of miles. It was great find by Mark Clarke who had never seen the species before.

Annual Dorset & Devon birding

RSPB Ham Wall

Marsh Harrier

Common Redstart

Little Tern

Dartford Warbler

Common & Sandwich Tern

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

Love a good donkey

Sedge Warbler

Purple Sandpiper & Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper

Spotted Flycatcher

Black Hole Marsh

Black Hole Marsh

Swallow

Gold Cap views

Dunlin on the Cobb

Coffee & cake time

Shelduck (Black Hole Marsh)

My annual spring migration break delivered it's normal great selection of birds in Dorset & East Devon. No lifers to reports but quality birds netherless & some super habitats.

I called in Ham Wall on the way down south where the sightings included Great White Egret, Bittern, Garden Warbler, Hobby & Marsh Harrier. On entering Dorset I headed to Lamberts Castle to check in on the returning Common Redstarts.

The Dartford Warblers took longer than normal to find at Aylesbeare Common unlike the Stonechats that were very vocal. I called in for my annual visit to the Donkey Santuary on the way back to Lyme Regis. 

Despite unfavourable winds I tried Portland for a day. Starting with a session of sea watching which the highlight was an Arctic Skua & 26 Common Scoter. Up at Ferrybridge, the Litte Terns showed very well & I also recorded a flock of Barnacle Goose, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin & Knot. I then headed to Lodmoor where there was excellent birds including a Ring-necked Duck, Sandwich & Common Tern, Little Gull & a Bearded Tit.

At least two Nightjar were back on Trinity Hill although it was disappointing to see another car park closed. It didn't feel partiucally safe there in all honesty. The local Dippers could be observed at close quarters in Lyme Regis and the first juveniles had been seen.

A quiet wood in East Devon provided me with my first two Spotted Flycatchers of the year & a high tide visit to Black Hole Marsh returned a Whimbrel, 12 Blacl-tailed Godwits, a Little Egret & some very teritorial Shelduck.

My final day was spent around Lyme Regis where I had some great views of the Purple Sandpipers on the Cobb. A Dunlin & Turnstone were also present. A Fulmer & 2 Common Scoter passed also. I then headed to Gold Cap where I've wanted to walk for many years. There were many amazing views of the Jurassic coastline whilst sightings were limited to Whitethroats and Linnets.

Wyre Forest & Grimley birding

Spotted Flycatcher

Tawny Owl

Little Gull

As close as it got

Different angle

Flight shot

Only time witnessed together

An extended weekend was on the agenda and I was certainly ready for it. A new fitness campaign has started which certainly gave me more energy but also a few aches. There is no cheating as all the sessions are recorded through a heart rate monitor. Anyway on to the birds. I started with a long session of monitoring on Thursday afternoon & evening at the pits but nothing new to report. 

On Friday I thought I'd have a few hours in the Wyre Forest near Bewdley. I did my normal circuit but had to work pretty hard to find some species. I didn't see any Pied Flycatchers which was odd but did record three different Spotted Flycatchers. Only a single Tree Pipit was in the top field but a male Redstart was in good voice before flying into the forest before I could raise my camera. Three Wood Warblers were singing on territory and my only additional find was a Tawny Owl which was getting mobbed by a party of Jays.

A good evening of live music at Feckenham Cricket Club made it a slower start on Saturday feeling the effects of the Cloudy Cider. After doing the patch (seperate blog to follow) I went to see two showy second summer Little Gulls at Grimley. The patch watchers there have had a great spring. One of the Gulls stayed loyal in the same location whilst the other didn't stop feeding for the full duration of my visit.