WRYNECK ! - Salford Priors GP (September)

Wryneck (F Peplow)

Wryneck

Wryneck

Peppers double at scene of the Wryneck

Whinchat

Common Buzzard

Weasal

Whinchat

Whinchat

Hobby

Common Redstart

Wigeon

Starling

An excellent September for us at Salford Priors. The clear highlight was Wryneck, which became our 208th species at the site. The Wryneck was found by Francis, who had a tremendous year of finding birds locally. Four of us managed to connect with the bird.

Francis was then on the main pit when a Whooper Swan flew in on 30th September. That was our 126th species of the year, now just six behind last year's total.

3/9 - West Midland All dayer 67 species

8/9 - Wryneck

9/9 - 4 Whinchat, 1 female Redstart

11/9 WeBS Count 28 Little Grebe, 24 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 21 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese, 4 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 270 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 25 Tufted Duck, 50 Coot, 10 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Herring Gull with 20 Lesser Black-back, Kingfisher, 50 Swallow, trickle of mipits, Grey Wagtail, 1 Whinchat on hedge at back of main pit, Cettis Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler,  4 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 45 Chiffchaff, Jay, 2 Ravens and 45 Goldfinches at Marsh Farm.

13/9 - 4 Stonechat

18/9 - 22 Little grebe, 10 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 21 Mute Swan, 62 Greylag, 30 Canada geese, 7 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 6 Teal, 250+ Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 23 Tufted Duck, 55 Coot, 4 Swallow, 80 House Martin, 13 Meadow Pipit, Cettis warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 3 Raven, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel & Red Kite.

19/9 Golden Plover over

23/9 31 Mute Swan, 15 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Water Rail, 40 Meadow Pipit, 6 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, Little Egret.

24/9 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 4 Swallow, 10 Wigeon

28/9 Clouded Yellow butterfly, 4 Stonechat

29/9 Whooper Swan, 80 Meadow Pipt, Common Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat, Ringed Plover, 2 Water Rail, 15 Wigeon

30/0 Whooper Swan, Common Sandpiper, Whinchat

COMMON NIGHTHAWK (MEGA !) in Wantage, Oxfordshire

Buzz, Buzz, my phone making me casually look right to the phone on my desk. I had to read the alert three times but there it was. Oh my days..............

This was a MEGA of epic proportions that needed an instant departure. Typically, the Squire had left his phone at home and was out at work. Fortunately, his son saved the day by running around the corner to tell him to get home quickly as I was en route. Most birds we twitch these days are three hours away, so to get something within ninety minutes was an absolute gift.

Wantage resident, Lee Farmer discovered the bird sitting on his  garden fence at 7am. He considered it might have been a Sparrowhawk, but thankfully informed a friend who considered it to be a Nightjar. They, in turn, contacted Ian Lewington the County Recorder, who went to investigate thinking it would be a Nightjar, a very good record for the county anyway. Following Lee's permission and volunteers were in place to manage the crowd, news was released.

Our journey was very smooth, following the parking instructions, but we were still very close to the birds' location. We duly paid our £10 donation each when the volunteers told us "it's on the fence behind the red audi". We were both expecting to view down a long garden with a queuing system, but no, there was the northern american rarity just sitting in the open in the cul-de-sac off Springfield Road. It was simply amazing.

There were around 40 birders present (including twitching buddy the Captain) which grew to double that during our amazing visit. The bird had a stunning cryptic plummage which no doubt gave the bird confidence it was in a safe location. Every fifteen minutes, the bird shuffled in half-circle motion, rocking from side to side. Speaking to another birder, it was identified as a female juvenile by a dull white patch on its primaries, lack of white on the tail and a barred throat patch.

You can only think the juvenile was blown off course in the recent hurricane over Canada, but in truth no one will actually know. What I can confirm is that over £4,000 was collected for two local charities, a hospital spinal unit & Little Foxes, a wildlife charity. There were over 400 very happy birders, that is for sure.

The bird took flight south at around 7pm and there was no sign the following morning, very much as predicted.

The Common Nighthawk is a very rare visitor with there being just 25 British records and three in Ireland.

YouTube Video from Oxon Birding

Spoonbill at Meon Valley, Long Marston

 

A very late start to my birding on Sunday as I was puppy sitting. A couple of local nature group had seen a Spoonbill on some scrapes at Long Marston which was only 25 minutes away so I thought I would give it a go before visiting the pits.

To access the permissive footpath you need to park on Station Road and enter through the steel gates as shown in my last image. The footpath is very new and in great condition, so no need for alternative footwear. I reached the first scrape in around five minutes when I found four Common Snipe feeding. The site looks very good for waders although I'd recommend taking a scope as you are viewing from a distance.

The Spoonbill was partially hidden but you could make it out if you stood on a bench. With the Spoonbill getting in his forty winks, I started scanning for other birds. The next thing I knew was that the Little Egret called which spooked the Spoonbill making it take flight. The Spoonbill did two super laps including flying over new houses, before returning to deep cover.

Will make sure I call in again...............

Norfolk birding & racing

 Pallid Harrier

Sandering & Dunlin

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

Spoonbill

Golden Plover

Avocets

Black-tailed Godwit

Golden Plover

Ruff

Golden Plover

Redshank

Wader flocks at Snettisham

Egyptian Goose

My annual leave year finishes each September and faced with the option of using it or using it, I decided to take a two-day visit to Norfolk. The first day would be around the north-west coast line before I headed east for a day at Yarmouth Racecourse (My 51st in the UK). 

It seemed like a long time since I'd been birding along the coast road and it was a pleasurable experience. I visited three separate locations and my sightings were as follows:-

RSPB Snettisham

10 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Grey Plover, others waders numbers I didn't count but the numbers were large of Bar & Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, 2 Marsh Harrier, 11 Spoonbill, 6 Pink-footed Geese, Great Skua & Turtle Dove.

RSPB Titchwell

Bearded Tits,Teal, 8 Ruff, Great White Egret, 500 Golden Plover, 6 Spoonbill, 25 Avocet, Black & Bar-tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Teal, Grey Plover

Holkham

Pallid Harrier & Pink-footed Geese

Dotterel on Cleeve Hill

I've seen Dotterel a few times over the years, but in all honesty, they have never been very close. I'd admired from a distance when birders have had crippling views on the Great Orme in spring and I've been tempted to go many times.

I didn't need any second invitation when an adult & juvenile was found on Cleeve Hill, high above Cheltenham Racecourse. I wrapped up my work for the day quickly before driving to the car park where the masts are (GL54 4EU). To find the birds, I needed to head north west to the distinctive memorial tree.

Upon reaching the tree, I found two birders who had been there for two hours and not seen the birds. They were convinced the birds had moved on but I was in no mood to give up easily. It didn't take me ten minutes to locate the birds much to the delight of the others birders.

After getting a few record shots, I decided to just lay down and just wait for the birds to edge closer. The juvenile was very interested and came within four feet whilst the adult watched closely.

It was a real pleasure to spend some quality time with a species I've always wanted to see.