Some pics from Turkey

Not mine - but Pat's - finally a pic of a Kingfisher and she had to go all the way to Turkey for it!

And the gull - well I think its a Yellow-legged Gull.
I like this pic!

I had no pics from Shetland of mine! So I will beposting some of Hugh's and if I am lucky a couple from Jon - but that might be a while.

another lifer!

This time Citrine Wagtail...and what great views we got as well!

Another warbler species causing id problems...a Booted - wellthats what we thought but later re id as a Sykes Warbler!
Either way - another british tick! But what to do about it? Can I be sure in mm mind what I actually saw - should we go with the actual id?

I will ponder this a while!

Still 3 UK lifers was good reward!

Well the shetland local usuals - Paddyfield, Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler and Lancy still defeat me!

So to Fair Isle - actually the winds were in the wrong direction but we did enjoy a Honey Buzzard and 2 Little Gulls - an Adult and a 1st winter....the Little Gulls are a FI rare!
Bluethroat showed well .......

The bonus of a visit to FI - well a stay at Auld Haa with Tommy and Liz - the best food on FI by a street!
Good to see them again and Henry!

We returned via a flight up the east coast of Mainland (due to high winds) with fantastic views of Mousa!
Hugh was there to take us to Geosetter where I enjoyed eventually great views of a fab Red flanked Bluetail! My second ever!

Then my biggest ever bogey bird was seen just before our arrival at Sumburgh Hotel - Pallas warbler! No sign ....and unfortunately no time in the morning as I was on the 8.15 flight! Big error there!
I now see it was at Sumnburgh Farm in the morning of sat! that hurts!

What to do about next year?
I will be going to the Labour Party Conference....so can I then go for a couple of weeks to Shetland? Not sure but I really want to go for at least a week!Have to try to sort out dates soon!

2 lifers in one day!

I am watching the news and the phone rings - get your birding gear on - Swainson's Thrush!
Speedy change and out to the minibus.

I cant quite believe it! A possible second lifer in a day!

We arrive and its the biggest Shetland twitch ever.

Eventually the bird was seen - phew relief!

Its now Sunday and I think we will return to see if we can get better views with less crowd later this morning.

A lifer at last!

Great news - a lifer and not just any lifer!
Radde's Warbler here at Sumburgh Head in the 2nd quarry!
Came up on my pager at 1.39 and off i went - arrived with lots of birders watching and fortunately for me there was a space next to Paul Harvey - who happily directed me to where the bird was- and what a lovely bird- fortunately it was busy feeding and showed all the features nicely in the sun!
Hopefully some photographer will get a good shot!


This morning I was watching Redstarts - they are a really fine bird and a woodcock - and now a Bluethroat!

So on my 8th day on Shetland I have a Lifer! I shall celebrate tonight!

Unfortunately the Booted Warbler that was found yesterday but refused to show for me, was seen beautifully this morning by Hugh and I hear a couple of people who have been here with us for the last week. Thats a blow as it would have been a lifer for me - well I know which bird I want us to go for tomorrow morning as i expect it will have to wait until then.

Saturday

Here are a few photo's with thanks to Hugh Harrop.
Well between slow internet here on Shetland and travelling to Unst the blog has a bit of catching up!

I will stick to highlights and the dips not always sure that they were all dips as birds may have not stayed overnight!

So Sunday was the Arctic Warbler in sunshine and posing nicely besides roses!
Monday were three Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Esha Ness lighthouse - such pretty waders and quite confiding!
Tuesday was a real twitch - Buff-bellied Pipit a lifer for Jon and only my second ever! Eventually the bird did show and quite close to the minibus!

Meanwhile a White's Thrush was seen and then didn't show for the assorted twitchers!
Certainly are more birders on Shetland this year!

Wednesday we had a delightful and showy Arctic Redpoll on Unst.

Thursday it rained everywhere and boy did it rain!
I forgot to mention that Sunday and Monday the weather was positively hot for Shetland - well the sun shone and there was little wind!
That was made up for by Friday where the wind howled!
Severe weather warning put out so it was bad over night - gale force winds!
seasterlies so ther should be more good birds about!

oh those dips well David found a Redflanked Bluetail on Tuesday night on Unst and we spent a lot of time on Wednesday trying for it - no sign!
There was a drama in Quendale where a Paddyfield Warbler had been reported - but when we were there a very flighty warbler was found -Blyth's Reed Warbler.
This was re-found by us on Friday - after 90 mins walking through the lilies but even then I didn't get good enough views for me to id it! so Warbler sp it remains!
I did however self find a very nice Yellow-browed Warbler on Burra later that afternoon!

Totals for those who are interested?

11 Year ticks(as you know not so much birding this year!)
with 8 new birds for Shetland including Rook, Collared and Turtle Dove!But best of all were two Hawfinch on Unst on Wednesday!

Now for a day birding in the South to see whats landed in the storm - and another week on Shetland - going to Fair Isle on Monday!

Interesting birding.

I am sorry I was interrupted!

However I am again!

a year tick and a dip!

This morning a revisit to the lighthouse in sun! Arctic Warbler really showing well and a photographers dream.
Hopefully i will be able to post one of Jon Dunn's lovely images later!

Barred Warbler in the quarry.

Eventually we saw a lovely if elusive Yellow Browed Warbler at the mill!

The dip well .....a White's Thrush that had a huge twitch on at Sandwick!
Whilst the bird is still there whether we get to see it or not will be down to luck rather than fieldcraft!

Still it was a lovely day and we ended up with a Common Rosefinch that finally gave itself up to view thanks to Rob and his very well behaved dog!

The supporting cast wasn't bad for a days birding! More later!
Oh the title - actually two year ticks!
Awaiting that lifer!

Shetland birding

Arrived at Sumburgh Airport at 1.15 - at 2.10 I was watching a juv. Barred Warbler - very confiding! Hope for its sake its not too confiding otherwise the Farm cats might have a tasty morsel.

Then up to the Lighthouse to seek out the veru elusive Adult Arctic Warbler - well i arrived and immediately was able to see it and watched it in among the rose bushes for another few minutes! Very nice start!

Walked down to the quarry and saw a few birders leaving and with that so did my chances of spotting the Yellow-browed Warbler....probably decided enough being watched ! Still there is always tomorrow!

Assorted cast including Gannets, a Bonxie scaring the life out of some curlews! hooded crow and a Redshank marching about in a Shetland Pony fiels in Grutness!

Weather forecast is great for the next week - south-easterlies and gale force! Watch this space!

Photo of Arctic Warbler on Hugh Harrop blog....http://hughharropwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/

Shetland

Well I shall be off soon to Shetland for two weeks - including 5 days on Fair Isle!
Whoop...whoop as a friend of mine says!

I really need to get out in that fresh(!)air - smell the sea and just relax!

I may get the chance to up date my blog as I go - all depends on the internet connections and time!

My year list will grow - been so busy this year that the bird list is not up to its regular totals!
Hopefully so will my Shetland list and with talons crossed my UK Life List too!(grow that is!)

So in anticipation watch this space!

Big Butterfly Count

Read here for the results of the big butterfly count

Plants from Shetland 2

Edmudsen's Chickweed

Plants from Shetland

Heath Spotted Orchid

Lousewort

Ragged Robin

Tormentil

Yellow Rattle




Even I manage to photo a plant that cant move out of focus...I dont have any of Yellow Rattle that are in focus- 3/3 eek!

Pictures from Grove Ferry 11/08

These are all Pats photos....I need to look at her photos as she hasn't sent me the duck photos - hopefully she has some of the Garganey family! One problem with having a non birder photographing birds is you are never really sure that they have taken photo's of the more important birds - the Spotted Crake was too far but I did hope she had at least one shot of it! This will have to wait until her return from France.
Marc Heath has a record shot on the KOS site.

Sunset over Oare Marshes

Part 2 Kent

Dungeness in the sun!
First to the sea.....100's of Common Terns and usual Gulls.

then to reserve - no sign on route in of CE ....but was there earlier....to Denge Marsh Road and lots of waiting after the initial several seconds of flight by
Purple Heron seen - one adult! No photo much to the despair of the photographer!

Dip = Cattle Egret and GWE

Nice time at the Arc followed.

Then to Grove Ferry in pursuit of the Spotted Crake!

Lovely cross country journey from Dungeness via Folkstone to Grove keeping off the main roads!Kent countryside still difficult to beat!

Grove Ferry Inn parking snip at £1 a day!

To the mound and then to look at the brand new hide next to deep water and then on to the hide where the Spotted Crake had been seen.....long wait as one two three Water Rails kept us on our toes!
Whilst waiting we were treated to some lovely interactions between Coot parents and young, Garganey adult female and her brood plus a nice variety of other ducks and waders.

At 5.15 I said lets give it 15 more mins and lo.....just beyond 2 water rails a slaty blue back is glimpsed before all vanish!

at 17.30 out comes the Spotted Crake lurking along the reeds and as far away as possible....but eventually giving good views of all the salient id features and as a Water Rail obligingly decided to feed next to it -good comparisonswere made!

Eventually they chased each other off!

So to Oare.......

by now it was getting late so a swift visit rather an introduction to the delight
that is Oare.




Photos to be added

Two days out Part 1 Sussex

Monday found us wandering around Sussex - first Ardingley Reservoir in the Loder Valley to try to photo a posing Kingfisher....nope the nesting adult Kingfishers had said goodbye to their fledglings and were seen leaving the roosting site!

So on to East Grinstead for coffee as the delightful village coffee shop was shut!

Thence to Weir Wood Reservoir where a friendly local birder engaged in conversation and happy bird watching - whilst my friend went into the hide to take photographs.

Common and Green Sandpipers among the grey herons (many) including lots of juvs...successful breeding season by the looks!

No sign of the hoped for Osprey altho a couple of other regulars joined us and good banter took place.

So then it was to where?

Bough Beech? or further south?

Pulborough - thoughts were - Pats not been - a nice cafe (for coffee) and loo stop!
What might be about not high on the list altho oner of the guys talked about the possible Butterflies......

pleasant day if over cast.....

wandered around P......

so now where?

Burton Mill Pond - well been there before but much liked so off we went......


Not huge numbers of birds sen but Dragons and Butterflies were about.

Dungeness 03/08 part 2

Dungeness , Dragons and almost dipping!

On Tuesday Bob and I were goingto go to Minsmere (Fudge Duck, Little Gulls and Dartford Warblers for me- Fudge for Bob and whatever might be about in Suffolk!)but when I got to his house - at 7am it was well the Cattle Egret was seen yesterday at Dunge and we both wanted GWE - and surely I wouldn't dip it for a third time?

I was hopeful of Sandwich Tern and maybe Little Tern also....so we went to Dunge!

It turned out to be a lovely day and Dragons and Damsels and Butterflies were everywhere!

I also ran into a couple of my friends attending a Bumblebee talk in the afternoon!

Yes - we saw a couple of Sandwich Terns out on the patch - lots and lots of Gannets - the usual cast of sea gulls and Harbour Porpoises!

We went to Dunge and heard the Cattle Egret had been seen early morning from the Screen....not visible.....

drove down the road - still no sign - so off to Denge Marsh Rd

Hounslow Heath Nature Reserve

A quick jaunt down the road to Thursley produced a lovely Wood Sand.

Went for an amble around Hounslow Heath after looking at a couple of Planning issues.

Saw one Rabbit, one Rat and lots of birds despite the fact it was very cloudy humid and overcast! It was quiet until you stood and waited....

Wren, Blackbird, Blue,Great and a large flock of LTTits.Herring Gulls, Crows and Magpies with Wood Pigeon and Ferals.Kept hearing the Yaffle and finally saw a Green Woody!
Then came the Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and then the unexpected year tick- Garden Warbler! Later on another Garden Warbler- typical!

I didn't go over to the River Crane as it was getting on and I wanted to watch the last evening of the European Athletics Championships!That can wait-Butterflies seen Meadow Brown, Small Copper and Large White - that I could id and a black Insect with red wings which looked menacing!

(Heard that Little Owls are back in Osterley Park on Saturday when I ran into a friend as we were leaving OP...good to catch up with Hugh again)
Yesterday we had some good views of a very large Dragonfly and some pretty Blue Damselflies (?) where is that book?
So a little search on the net is required here!


Cattle Egret at Dungeness along with the GWE so I wonder?

Maybe it will be Kent?
Then Frank is back - seems to roost at a Staffs reservoir....long time since I have seen one and this is a lovely male adult!

Ok Athletics on -----

White-tailed Plover

Yes - get in!

in 2007 I was in Espana when a WTP came up on my pager - in Scotland - no chance to go to see it.
So when I saw the wandering WTP that was in UK - thn Holland - then at Rainham I wondered would I ever be free to go to see it.

I cant complain - I was In Shetland having a great time, I was busy working on council business and attending a Conference which was very helpful but that bird!

I was on my way to friends in SE London for the World Cup Final and dinner and I knew just down the road was my bird!

Monday came and a meeting and tour of MOgden Sewage Works......then Zeta to walk and freedom!
Zipping off to Kent under gathering black clouds....

as I approached the M20 Breznet turn off the sun was out! The sun shines on the righteous - was the bird still there? Nothing worse than looking at the pager and nothing since the morning...when it had flown towards the reserve - where was it , had it gone?

Arrived at the arc pit none the wiser - about 3.30 ...birders walkking back to the car park - still there? yes!

At the screen it was jammed full a bloke in suit trousers and little bins was staring over the next bit of the screen....others in the distance were on the bank.

Where is he? Brilliant directions and there was the quarry!
Up went the scope and what a stunning bird! So - would you like to look through my scope- due reward to the bloke who had escaped work early!

We then spent a pleasant 3/4 of an hour watchingWhite-tailed Plover - apt name feeding and being territorial - a hapless Oystercatcher was harried from his area...
a feisty bird!

The bloke left - and I stayed another 15 mins just enjoying the bird who did a little circuit so every now and then came inro full view! 389 Uk bird!

I the went to the Dunge Centre - to use the facilities - collect water and off to Denge Marsh to see how the Purple Herons were and maybe a year tick of a GWE!

(more later)


Andy Lawson's photo's follow

Red-necked Phalarope

To Fetlar - last time I was here it was to see a Taiga Flycatcher!
This time it was to see a female RNPhalarope (all talons crossed)...there was always the chance that any females may have already left - and left their male partner looking after the children!
However we were fortunate and there was one and showing well...well when you could locate her!

Scope views so we didn't flush her and hand held compact record shots. But she was a beauty!

Wheatear - family

At the Sumburgh Hotel was a pair of Wheatears nesting in a wall. It was great to be able to watch the parents feeding hatched chicks. One day I managed to set up my scope and digi scope a couple of record shots.
We went to Unst for a couple of nights and on our return the chicks had fledged which was really good to see. No pics from me of the fledglings.I am hoping that I will soon be geeting some pics from Alan - whose photos are much better than mine- and will be on my blog.
The pics are of a female Wheatear - even the male(looked a bit worn!) who I also saw but didn't hang around long enough for a pic!

Arctic Skua

Back to Gannets

Hedgehog in Chiswick

No photo as I was more concerned with the large mature Hog who I found in the middle of the road as I drove a council colleague home after a clp meeting!Camera was in car...but...

I thought oh no is s/he dead as I spotted a hedgehog in the middle of this side street nr Chiswick Park tonight. Ed checked him/her out and s/he was breathing!

So I got one of my towels out of the car and after discovering the parks gates were locked and the gaps too small to drop a hog through - I picked a nearby garden and placed her/him gently on the lawn.

It was really cool - I could feel the hog breathing and no panic...
Talons crossed for its continued life....

First hog I have ever seen in London!

Gannets

Bonxies

Bonxies- the Shetland name for Great Skua.Fits them perfectly!

Puffins

Shetland in June

Overxast skies greeeted us as we arrived at Sumburgh Airport after a relatively trouble free flight(s) up from Heathrow.

As we may be going to Mouse tonight and I hadn't slept well I decided a lay down was in order or would I watch a match of the World Cup?

Neither I ended up birding...it was the sighting from my window of a Bonxie(year tic)
that was enough - must go out! No rain - even the wind and cloudy skies were forgotton!


Actic Terns all around in the skies these dainty beauties were entertaining and then in roared the GBB guls - gbh was about to begin! But the sheer quality og the flying from the Arctics was enough to keep most of their feed for their young!

Eiders - females on the sea with young. Another year tick!

Gradually edging towards 200!

Went for a walk up to the lighthouseand read about the Puffling....but the weather was the kind to keep Puffins underground or out at sea fishing!
But Kittiwakes and Guillemots and Razorbills plus the gulls and the presence of a Bonxie or two or three keptt me busy.

Wheatear ....and another - a Shetland new bird for me.....(as were the Razors and Guillemots.....)

I missed an Arctic Skua - so eyes will be peeled .....
and there were Twite about again where .....but they are on the expected list.....
(common scoter was also seen....a unusual siting here....)

Heard at the evening meal these missed birds and the sightings by several people of ....Otter ...grrlll!

The trip to Mousa was postponed ...due to the swell.
Watched the end of the Cameroon game - at least it was exciting and then bed - in the daylight! Simmer dim does exist - light until 11 at least and then again this am 4!

off around the South Mainland today.....

Purple Herons

Well Dungeness called last week - Purple Herons(yr tic) yes-RFFalcon - nope
Yellow Wagtails (Yr tic) - Yes and Yellow=legged gulls (Yr tic) with some rather hansome Med gulls!

Stand out birds these - on way home I heard there was a Hoopoe in Surrey - well the directions were wrong and I didn't even see any birders where I went! big dip!

I heard lots of peeps dipped as well - please if you are bothered enough to report a bird get the site correct! You must know where you are!!!!

Yesterday Common Rosefinch came up on the pager and I couldn't go grrrll.

Still I am going to Shetland on saturday for a week so I should add some nice birds to my list even if nothing rare shows....and maybe Otter - a Shetland tick!

Puffin, Red-necked Phalarope,Storm Petrel, Black Gulliemot, Great SkuaorBonxie as they are called - so there are 5 yr ticks and finally reach the 200!

Photo's of birds seen over the w/e

These are all Phil Wallace's - amazingly he was down in Wales on Saturday - got there much earlier than us...and went to nagshead as well!
On Sunday he came to Richmond Park after I had left!
Phil takes a good photo - so I shall share his now...for those of you who dont know what a Marmora's Warbler looks like here is one!
Followed by a Pied Flycatcher - I just love these birds and then a red backed shrike- I think they might come out in the reverse order we will see!

Phew - a Lifer!

Bob and I were all set for Saturday in Norfolk watching raptors - in particular Honey's and Monty's!

But Honey's appear few and gfar between and there is some doubt over a couple of sightings...

and then tere was the rare,,,,a bird neither Bob nor I had seen in this country, well I hadn't seen it anywhere!
Friday evening Bob rang...."about this Warbler"..."where in Wales is it?""I'll look it up and get back to you".
Meanwhile I am enjoying an Indian takeaway from one of our favourite resturants and a fine wine - al fresco and chatting about my friends latest trip- this time to Sorrento...loooking at her photo's of birds taken to id them or check the id....
there was a scurry....eek...what is it? Well superb a Hummingbird Hawk Moth - I say dont run away get your camera ready!

it was not a Hornet (nope we saw one on Saturday and it was a reall big b*****!)

Not one HHM but two!

Bob rings - near Gwent - oh easy say I ...shall I drive?

That was the beginning,,,,yes and we got to see the Marmora's Warbler singing his little heart out - poor chap even building a nest....if a lady Dartford should happen across his path she will be captured forthwith!

Lots of Tree Pipits , several Whinchats, a Cuckoo who continued calling every now and again and the mood was right! An easy twitch.
So there was a Lifer plus 3 year ticks for me and a Joe Ray birder tick!
That was an unexpected surprise and a very nice one to finally meet another young birder who is serious about our hobby.

On to Westwood Wood in Monmouthshire ....to spy another Iberian Chiffchaff....and a Wood Warbler altho the hoped for Redstart didn't materialise ....the habitat was good for one...but...

so then on to Nagshead in the Forest of Dean....as we went we of course kept bumping into the birders we either knew or who had been for the Marmora's!

Yes indeed Pied and Spotted Flycatchers later.....very nice day for me altho the close weather is not my favourite and the sun decided to hide behind cloulds so we couldn't look for a particular butterfly Bob was after...we ended at the Raptor watch point seeing little altho there was a pair of Painted Ladies to admire!

So a handful of Red Kites and lots of Buzzards - no Honey's....and a Kestrel or two - oh a Raven....most noteable of the rest.


Back home via a nice Pub for dinner - try to remember the name?

Sunday am was catch up time on the previous day's cricket a spot of Cllr duties and then a race to Richmond ark where a reported Red-backed Shrike had come up on the pager.

I walk in having parked myu car outside the park with bins...as I arrived I recognised a familar "Gibster" and Glen a a young chap with the bird in his scope...nice one!

Watched the adult male being harrassed by Blue and Great Tits and Greenfinches...catching insects and a particularly enjoyable bumble bee!

Good to catch up with Seth and his Big Butterfly year.....