Magical Mull - Day 1

Mull

Loch Lomand

Ferry to Mill

Hooded Crow

Oystercatcher

Common Buzzard

A trip to Mull has been on my bucket list for very long time and after months of anticipation we set off at 5.30am for a long weekend. The early start paid dividends as we missed two accidents and even with two stops in Cumbria and the Lake District the journey only took seven hours.

Just before Oban we stopped at a small Garden Centre called Poppies that had a fantastic café over looking the loch and we were soon watching Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, Common Sandpipers, Eiders and Hooded Crows. The ferry journey over took about 40 minutes where we saw our first Black Guillemots, Gannets  & Manx Shearwaters of the trip. Landing in Craignure in blazing sunshine was a real delight and it looked liked we had timed our break perfectly.

Our hotel was the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa situated just two minutes from the ferry the hotel had fantastic views of the loch. To eat our meals looking out to such a wonderful view was a total pleasure. Even the hot-tub had an amazing view. We took advantage of the spa facilities before having the first of three fantastic meals.

Black Tern flies through for Warwickshire Bird Race

 Black Tern (Flying right of island)

 Black Tern (Perched on island)

Dunlin watching Little Ringed Plover

Second Turnstone of spring with two Ringed Plover

My own visits to the pits have been either side of a weekend away in Mull so I will try and combine all the received sightings where possible.

Our first Dunlin of the year was seen on 5th May and stayed for the rest of the night before heading north. A Whimbrel was also recorded by Paul when it dropped into the main pit later in the evening.

Saturday 7th May was the date of the Warwickshire bird race however it was left to Jon to lead us to 76 species from his visit with highlights being two Avocets that stayed part of the morning on the long island on main pit before flying off calling at 10.15am, a Grasshopper Warbler reeling by the main pit, 36 singing Reed and ten singing Sedge Warblers around the pits, Cuckoo, Siskin, Kingfisher and the most surprising was perhaps hearing two Water Rails “sharming” in the big reed bed. 

Late in the afternoon Ann & Noel found a Black Tern which is another great record for the site. This is only the third sighting of the species at the pits. They were also recorded at Abbots Salford. The Bird Race finished with the site finishing joint second with Earlswood on 77 species, a great effort considering resources available to call upon. (Full details here) 

On my first day back from Scotland I visited the pits late morning and recorded two Ringed Plover, a Turnstone and a Common Sandpiper.

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.

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………………………….

Abuko (Day 6 Gambia)

Abuko

How many signs ?

Green Touraco

Giant Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Western Grey Plantain-eater

Violet Touraco

Abuko maain lagoon

Hammerkop

Broad-billed Roller

Palm-nut Vulture

Giant Kingfisher

Darwin Field Centre

Red Colobus Monkey

Mallick in action

The calming down Wasp sting

Just a few hundred metres across the road from the rice fields was the undisputed number one reserve in Gambia, Akubo. Abuko is 259 acres and enclosed in a 2.5 meter fence. It is among six protected wildlife management parks and covers an area of 105 hectares (roughly 2 sq. km). The park  is rectangular with a surrounding narrow strip around its boundaries acting as an extra buffer zone

Today, Abuko is the Gambia's most visited tourist attraction receiving approximately 33,000 visitors per year. One interesting fact is that it is the nearest tropical forest to Europe. Fifty types of mature tropical trees have been recorded in the protected area.

It has been estimated that there are over 290 bird species living within the forest. Birding within forest environments is always more difficult so this part of the day was about quality of which we most definitely achieved. We started with a perched female Giant Kingfisher, the largest Kingfisher in the world, which was probably the same size as a Rook. We then reached the Darwin Field Centre where we rested from the hot sun and got further views of both the male & female Kingfisher. It was very peaceful and I was delighted to see my first Violet Touracos. A Broad-billed Roller sat within a short distance watching me closely. A Palm-nut Vulture was going to and from its nest high in a palm tree on the opposite side of the lagoon whilst a Hammerkop collected nesting material. A pair of Great Grey Hornbills were displaying as Mottled Spinetails buzzed around them.

As we left the centre I was stung by a demon wasp on the back of neck. After a few chosen words (not ones I’d repeat to my mother) another birder came to rescue by treating the sting. I did have to cope with a large swelling for the rest of the day trip. The pain of the sting first disappeared when I started watching my first Green Touraco, what a bird. Views were very much on and off but this was a real wow moment, simply awesome.

The trip list had moved to a very pleasing 134, 16 away from my target.

Lamin Rice fields (Day 6 Gambia)

Great White Egret , Squacco Heron & Hammerkop

Straited Heron

Greenshank

Black Crake

Squacco Heron

Black-shouldered Kite

Senegal Thick-knee

Broad-biller Roller

Busy morning

More stunning habitat

My second trip with “King of Guides” Mallick Suso was to Lamin Rice Fields & Akubo. I’ll split the blog into two to accommodate my many photos. The rice field was around 35 minutes from the hotel. The dawn was amazing, sun rising and dawn chorus in full swing. There were awesome birds everywhere. The first channel we reached contained two Hammerkops, Black Egret, Squacco Heron & a Greenshank. It was just stunning. I picked out my first Giant Kingfisher in flight to which Mallick shrugged "I’ll get you much closer than that" ! Whilst watching a Night Heron, Mallick picked up a Straited Heron, yet another first.

Mallick was impressed that I found an African Crake which is a very difficult bird to find and in the same view we watched a Black Crake & African Rail. Further new species were added included Red-chested Swallow, Pied-winged Swallow, Black-shouldered Kite and African Harrier Hawk. It was great to see a Senegal Thick-knee much closer than I had previously. This was definitely a great place to spend a few hours. In addition to the fantastic selection of birds it was great to see the locals working close up on their land.