As part of our second day in East Anglia we crossed into Suffolk and headed to Ness Point in Lowestoft in search of the over-wintering Black Redstart. It had been reported around the wind turbine and more up to date information put it in a compound just to the south. As we headed that way the bird flew up onto the balcony of the modern steel and concrete building beside us and showed well on the balcony rails before dropping back down to street level and flying over to the railings of the compound.....where it was harassed by a second bird! The two were then seen feeding and squabbling on the concrete pan in the compound. According to a local couple there had been up to three birds present. We had spotted a Purple Sandpiper on the sea defence boulders and 5 more were feeding on an old slipway, while a seventh was on boulders just to the left of that and provided some good photographic opportunities. Unlike the local Turnstones, C70 of whom were located on the roof of a large grey industrial building at least one street back from the promenade, thanks to the local couple.
We had no success looking for the Shore Lark at Kessingland nor the Snow Bunting flock at Pakfield, but those who missed the Glossy Ibis yesterday were able to add one when we visited Oulton Marsh on the way back to Hickling.
Dull weather again for the last day of our weekend, but the birding made up for it!
Back down to Pakefield Coastguards near Kessingland to look for the Shore Lark again, earlier, on what we hoped would be a quieter day. At first it looked like another blank, then one of the locals (the finder?) re-located it further down the beach than we had expected, feeding on one of the tidelines. Always wary, it was showing well until a passing couple were loud in their appreciation of it, when it flew off onto the shingle area beyond the 'lagoon'. Satisfied with our views and photos we headed off home via Cambridgeshire (see that thread)
Dull weather again for the last day of our weekend, but the birding made up for it!
Back down to Pakefield Coastguards near Kessingland to look for the Shore Lark again, earlier, on what we hoped would be a quieter day. At first it looked like another blank, then one of the locals (the finder?) re-located it further down the beach than we had expected, feeding on one of the tidelines. Always wary, it was showing well until a passing couple were loud in their appreciation of it, when it flew off onto the shingle area beyond the 'lagoon'. Satisfied with our views and photos we headed off home via Cambridgeshire (see that thread)
As part of our second day in East Anglia we crossed into Suffolk and headed to Ness Point in Lowestoft in search of the over-wintering Black Redstart. It had been reported around the wind turbine and more up to date information put it in a compound just to the south. As we headed that way the bird flew up onto the balcony of the modern steel and concrete building beside us and showed well on the balcony rails before dropping back down to street level and flying over to the railings of the compound.....where it was harassed by a second bird! The two were then seen feeding and squabbling on the concrete pan in the compound. According to a local couple there had been up to three birds present. We had spotted a Purple Sandpiper on the sea defence boulders and 5 more were feeding on an old slipway, while a seventh was on boulders just to the left of that and provided some good photographic opportunities. Unlike the local Turnstones, C70 of whom were located on the roof of a large grey industrial building at least one street back from the promenade, thanks to the local couple.
We had no success looking for the Shore Lark at Kessingland nor the Snow Bunting flock at Pakfield, but those who missed the Glossy Ibis yesterday were able to add one when we visited Oulton Marsh on the way back to Hickling.
A few of the team had arranged to try to catch up with the roaming Caspian Tern in North Lincolnshire on Sunday morning, when a text came in offering two places to go to see a European Roller at Icklingham in Suffolk. After a bit of sorting out and as two of the team needed to see the bird, we decided on Suffolk. We arranged to meet firstly in Huddersfield and then onto Wombwell near Barnsley with Kevin C, Dave W, Rob D at 6am. Heading down the A1 a Great White Egret was seen, then onto the A14 & A11 then A1101 a bit of mist soon went as we arrived at the bird, which was sat on wires at 75 yards distance, near to where a Roman villa used to stand! The bird flew a few sorties catching mainly flying insects then beetles, worms etc and pleasing an adoring crowd with its striking colours! A Green Woodpecker showed really well sat on a fence just further up the field. We met Steve K at the Roller area, who told us about the tornado that he had witnessed in Suffolk earlier this week.
At Lackford Lakes N.R. we went to see an immature Glossy Ibis that had been around since the 4th of June. After a short walk we sat in a hide and enjoyed good views of the bird as it fed on the margins of the small pool. Also here: - Hobby, Common Tern, Egyptian Goose and lots of wildfowl in heavy moult, nice small reserve run by Suffolk Nature Trust.
We pressed on to Cavenham Heath, to hopefully find Stone Curlew, only a couple of miles from Icklingham, but as the road was very poor had a walk followed. As we got onto a bridge over the River Lark, birders could be seen watching something. We headed back to the car and went in the opposite end of the heath. We met some birders and they sent us right to were a single Stone Curlew was sat/incubating, the bird did not move very much as we watched it for 30 minutes, nice to see though. A Woodlark was heard then it promptly landed on wires above our heads and sang some more for us, that was special! Masses of crows in the area entertained us as another Hobby spooked them into the air.
As time was getting on a bit we decided to try Idle Valley nature reserve near Lound in Nottinghamshire. During the drive north, up the A1, something unusual happened, Dave W who had driven all the way, up till now, had to vacate the drivers seat as I had failed to keep him fully awake with all my stories! Rob D & Kevin C wanted to see Red Crested Pochard for their year list and a couple were soon found also in eclipse plumage. An unseasonal Whooper Swan and lots of Banded Demoiselle damselflies were seen to end a long day. We reached Wombwell by 6-15pm and back to Rochdale by 8pm. Many thanks to Dave W for the invite and his driving, we must do it again sometime.
Quick trip over the border to add Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone to our trio list. For once the Purple Sandpipers were easy with six out on a jetty before they moved to feed among the boulders of the sea defences. Around eighteen Turnstone were also active along the same short section of the defences.
Alde Estuary - Hazelwood Marshes. 11th September 2019 10:30 - 15:00 hrs.
Spoonbill x 20 Osprey x 2 were seen yesterday.
Also did walk to Snape Warren and return; other birds seen included: Hobby Avocet Little Egret Shelduck Redshank Oystercatcher Common Sandpiper Mute Swans Long Tailed Tits Reed Bunting Chaffinch Blue Tit Great Tit Goldfinch Wren Swallows House Martin Rooks Crows Jackdaw Cormorant
The forecast for East Suffolk was better for today than tomorrow so we headed over to Minsmere, ticking off Red-legged Partridges en route, including a pair on the A14 slip road. A quick stop en route to pick up Dartford Warblers produced another Wood Lark, in full on display mode, and our first actual sighting of a Cuckoo.
On to Minsmere itself and first to Bittern hide for a good flight view. Then round to the scrapes where we ticked off Common, Sandwich and Little Terns, a collection of Gulls including 2 Little Gulls and the Kittiwake group, unseasonal drake Pintail and Wigeon, and all the usuals including the 'plastic' Barnacles and the even more 'plastic' but obviously fecund Bar-headed Geese. A Swallow posed nicely at the Sluices and we watched hunting Hobbys and quarreling Buzzards/ Harriers from the Public Hide. A Green-Hairstreak showed nicely among the Common Blues and Small Coppers on the North Wall, there was a Green Woodpecker on the Heath and another Cuckoo at North Bushes, the Ant-lion larvae were busy excavating and eating and the Belgian apple pie was delicious We stopped on the way out of the reserve for a croaking Nightingale, headed to Dunwich for an excellent meal at The Ship, then out for another good evening's birding featuring the same trio of species as the previous night. Another great day in good weather. Combined trip total 99 seen and 2 heard
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Saturday 1st of June 2019 11:37:51 PM
A good day here in sunny if sometimes brisk weather.
Fairly quiet from Bittern Hide in the morning with two brief sightings of a Bittern and one Hobby arcing out across the reed beds from the right of the hide. A Cetti's Warbler and a handful of Bearded Tit darting across channels were the other birds of interest along with quartering Marsh Harriers and a steady passage of Mediterranean Gulls. A Glossy Ibis was seen distantly along the drain leading from The Sluice, mobbed by gulls, before turning back towards East Hide, so we headed around to view the Scrapes. Lots of Mediterranean Gulls (34 breeding pairs here plus non-breeders) and a group of 10 Kittiwakes proved to be the main birds of interest (discounting the feral Barnacle and Bar-headed Geese), We made our way around the Scrapes and back along North Wall to The Pool, catching up on some of the reserve's other wildlife.
After the obligatory cake and refreshment we headed in the direction of Dunwich Heath to check out a site for Nightingales and were rewarded with several bursts of sub-song and a brief glimpse as a bird changed locations in the trees. Updated news from Bittern Hide had us heading back to see another couple of Bitterns, a very close fly-past from a male Hobby and a good view of the sub-adult Purple Heron as it channel-hopped. The bird disappeared behind a curtain of reeds but we eventually spotted it giving 'head only' views from half way along the channel. It was too windy to have any chance of hearing the elusive Savi's Warbler near Island Mere Hide, so we gave that a miss and headed off for an evening meal in Dunwich. A good selection of plants and wildlife seen today.
Started our East Aglian long weekend at Weeting. The eastern end of the reserve is gradually becoming overgrown, perhaps due to the scarcity of rabbits compared to recent years and the western end pair are again mostly down the hill, but we had good views of a pair 'over the road' together with their youngster this afternoon. When we called back this evening, these birds were out of site , but one of the west end birds was foraging in view, eventually flying off with a large worm. Also here were at least 1 singing Woodlark and a Hobby.
From here we headed into Brandon to Gashouse Drove. After sitting out a downpour we had cracking views of the Wood Warbler as it rocketed about over our heads singing, Always a great bird to see and hear.
Edit for late night brain freeze. " the western end pair of Stone Curlews"
Started our East Aglian long weekend at Weeting. The eastern end of the reserve is gradually becoming overgrown, perhaps due to the scarcity of rabbits compared to recent years and the western end pair are again mostly down the hill, but we had good views of a pair 'over the road' together with their youngster this afternoon. When we called back this evening, these birds were out of site , but one of the west end birds was foraging in view, eventually flying off with a large worm. Also here were at least 1 singing Woodlark and a Hobby.
From here we headed into Brandon to Gashouse Drove. After sitting out a downpour we had cracking views of the Wood Warbler as it rocketed about over our heads singing, Always a great bird to see and hear.
As is customary on our January trip we headed to Lowestoft for Saturday lunch at Ness Point. The tide was quite high, with waves breaking over the sea defences along one stretch, which didn't bode too well for our target waders, but we managed to find 4 Purple Sandpipers in a sheltered area between the sea wall and the defensive line of boulders. A Rock Pipit was here and 20+ Turnstone were in the vicinity.
Hearing that the Waxwings in Beccles were showing well we headed back into Norfolk that way and discovered that the two birds had now become four.
Late Friday afternoon, around 4-30pm, I got a call from Mark K, he said, There is a Cliff Swallow at Minsmere. Apart from being a bit shocked an Eyebrowed Thrush had also been discovered in Northumberland (it was never refound). Just as we all had thoughts of this bird rich autumn finally running down this happens! Talk about a dilemma, we firstly got a team together, then had various discussions about whether to go overnight or wait for news. We decided to go overnight and arranged to meet at Fairburn Ings at 3am, Darren W, Nigel S, Mark K and myself and Bob K, who drove, all headed down the A1. After leaving the A14 at Stowmarket the usual 30 mile slog seemed to take an age on small twisty roads and the Satnav also seemed overworked.
Upon reaching Minsmere the car park already looked quite full and lots of birders were milling about in the early morning gloom. We headed off towards the Bittern hide area through the wooded part of the reserve when lots of birders were seen heading towards us, some at great speed! The Cliff Swallow was still present and flying about with 8 Barn Swallows over the Sand Martin colony. We made good progress amongst the masses and all had a brief look at the bird flying above our heads. Success again for the, Strike whilst the iron is hot brigade. What a really nice bird the first winter Cliff Swallow is! We headed into the area known as the Stone Curlew field (they are summer visitors) The bird returned to the same area after about 15 minutes and was on show for around 30 minutes perched up preening, flying around with its Barn Swallow mates and sometimes landing on the ground, it showed really well. We all had the customary handshakes and decided on a return to the car for some food and a drink. Whilst at the car, a gentleman was in such a rush to see the Cliff Swallow that he slipped on some wood right at the side of us and fell to the ground with a right crash. I just said, Man down he did not see the funny side but we all did! We returned to have seconds of the bird but it was only seen in flight and was spreading itself out over a bigger area. I had time to have a chat to Steve Gantlet (the very top lister in Britain) which was quite informative. Even Lee Evans was in attendance to watch this rare American bird. We had a walk down to the East hide to watch the 5 Berwicks Swan`s and lots of wildfowl on the reserve.
It was still only 11am when we headed onto Dunwich Heath to try to find the Dartford Warblers that reside there. When the sun came out around 4 birds were seen by the team and a few pictures were taken. With not much more rare bird activity in and around Suffolk / Norfolk we decided to head off home. Our trusty Satnav took us home via Norwich and the A47 and onto everyones favourite road the A17. We stopped at The Farm Café near Sutton Bridge and all enjoyed a good meal and had a laugh about our best visits to this café. We dropped the lads of at Fairburn Ings and both got home around 6pm. We all had a new bird and Bob K had something special to celebrate, his 500th species on the UK400 club, well done Bob! Thanks to both drivers Bob and Darren and to everyone, thanks for your company and lots of laugh`s that we always have. Great, memorable day`s birding.
Bad Times and Good Times (and a rest in between). 31/7/16 & 2/8/16
I dont often chase after birds that might not get accepted by the great bird gods, but, I had a lapse and thought about the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall. I saw a message from Dave W, from Huddersfield, on RBA asking for a lift or offering transport to see the bird. Steve K has always wanted to do a silly night trip to Cornwall, this could be a chance? Along with Bruce from Stretford we all piled into Bruce`s car at around 4am and set off for Restronguet Creek, just south of Truro. We arrived around 10-30am and searched this beautiful part of England for the pelican, without any luck. We met a few locals who told us all about the bird and one kind lady showed us a picture she had taken! It became apparent that the pelican was not in the area. At 2pm a local birder told us that the bird had flown off around 2-30pm on Saturday and a few minutes later a message came on RBA news repeating the same. We all said we would not have made the journey if we had known this earlier. A few Whimbrel on the creek didnt really soften the blow for the journey home. But the news of a Western Purple Swamphen at Minsmere, Suffolk had us all thinking. Good company and a good day out in nice sunny conditions was had by us all. A new bird for the dip list then. We reached home by 10pm.
Monday morning dawned and a tired dipper woke up to find that the Western Purple Swamphen at Minsmere had been elevated to a mega!! Mark K in York was contacted and a team was put together with young Ellis from York our third member. A 4am meet at Fairburn near Castleford was arranged with myself at the wheel. The journey down was fairly uneventful with scattered rain and mist in patches. The oil on the road kept me on my toes as we slid our way towards Minsmere, the news on the Swamphen was positive, this added a couple of mph, and we reached the premier reserve at around 8-45am. A damp spell welcomed us as hurried to the south hide area, about 30 birders were watching something, and it was the Western Purple Swamphen. The bird kept close to the reed fringes, disappearing for short spells, but showed really well at around 100 yards distance. We all watched, what is potentially a first for the United Kingdom, for about an hour and enjoyed watching the birds feeding habits. Along with a squealing Water Rail we all enjoyed the moment and exchanged handshakes as is the norm, when you get a lifer. In other parts of the reserve we saw: - Stone Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and lots of other types of waders. After catching up with a few old birding friends at Minsmere we had a drive up onto Dunwich Heath and saw about 3 Dartford Warbler`s, what smart little birds they are. They carried food to their nestlings and must have had a good breeding season as it is likely to be their second brood at this time of year?The journey home was made a bit more interesting by the driver of a Post Office articulated vehicle trying to push me off the road. The A14 by this time was full of waggons and was a bit of a nightmare to be honest, upon reaching the A1 we stopped for a nice coffee, then pressed onto to Fairburn. At 5pm I dropped the lads off and got onto the M62 which looking more like a car park, finally reaching home around 6-30pm. The journey home always seems easier when you see the bird though, excellent trip out. Need a rest now, but what`s this, a trip to Cornwall again next Sunday to try for the pelican, well go on then!
Gotta admit it was a twitch for me, my first of 2016, but with a potential first for Britain on offer it would have been rude not to!!
Did the 500 mile round trip with my best birding mate & we saw the Western Purple Swamphen immediately on arrival at its favoured pool, 'South Girder' behind South Hide. This Frankenstein's Moorhen showed well on the back edge of the lagoon in the sunshine giving a few Mallards the frights of their lives as it appeared behind them out of the reeds, very comical! On the same lagoon a Water Rail showed on the reed edge too and a Bearded Tit skimmed over the reeds. From the coastpath viewpoint we watched Spotted Redshank, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets and a few Little Gulls on the lagoons. Further round two Stone Curlews showed well on the fields specially managed for them. Nearby a Hobby flew over. We had a good explore of the reserve and added some good non-bird sightings too (see other thread). Great fun in the sun and well worth the effort (just don't mention the M6 ).
Not really a "twitch", but managed to wangle a few days down in Suffolk.The Western Purple Swamphen, ( what a name! what a bird !) showed well at times ,behind South hide at Minsmere.We'll go and explore Dunwich and Westleton Heaths tomorrow.A few pics below.
Visited Lowestoft on Saturday for lunch during our visit to Norfolk. The area at Ness Point seems to have had a good buffeting since last year and it took us a while to find our target - Purple Sandpiper. Eventually, as John Rayner focused on a Rock Pipit, a Sandpiper displaced it and we found 5 close in on the rock sea defences. 25 Turnstone were on the breakwater as well
May 18th; As part of our East Anglian long weekend Riggers, Karen F, Mike Ausberger and I visited the Minsmere area this morning. We toured Dunwich and Westleton Heaths before the reserve opened, ticking off several Dartford Warblers, Tree Pipit, at least 2 Wood Larks and moving Garden Warbler onto our seen list. On the reserve Spoonbill and Curlew-sandpiper were our self-founds for the day, Little Tern, Cetti's Warbler, Bittern and 3 Sanderling were the best of the rest. Plenty of Cuckoo's about too. . A burst of song from a Nightingale brought the car to a sudden (but safe) stop on the way off the reserve, as we headed up to Horsey to connect with the Dotterel there. Although the bird continued to sing within feet of us it remained formly on the heard list.
I had to visit my mother in Lowestoft this week and as we left to set off for home in Lancashire we saw a waxwing in the tree by the A12 in the Moron Church grounds. Luckily my husband had to wait to get out of the road so i could have a good look at the bird. So far this year I haven't seen any waxwings in our area of preston
Took a trip down to East Anglia this week and managed to get some incredible birds including Golden Oriole, Black Winged Stilt, Black Necked Grebe, Woodlark, Darfrod Warbler, Cuckoo, Bittern, Little Gull, Nightingale, Hobby, Cetti's Warbler and much, much more from some great sites. Without having to write it all out and post pictures on here,
Please take a look at the trip report and images here: http://www.birdingnorthwales.blogspot.com
Spent 3 days at minsmere and the first day in particular was a treat(very wet and windy the other days).got there at 5.30 and went to island mere hide and within the first hour a pair of otters appeared right in front of the hide,a water rail was showing just as well,water vole swam across the channel,5 bearded tit working their way along the reeds,cetti's warbler seen,bittern in flight and 4 marsh harrier in the air at one time.on the walk to bittern hide a cetti's warbler popped up and was singing in a small tree right above our heads!two green woodpecker(which were everywhere)also perched in a tree and a cuckoo calling then getting mobbed and seen off by a group of small birds. A walk round the scrapes produced over 20 common 5 sandwich 1 little and 1 arctic tern and finally after searching through,say,a million gulls found a Mediterranean gull.as I was filming it a grey plover walked past!also present on the reserve were red deer an escaped flamingo avocets turnstone(3 one in summer plumage)redshank barnacle and Brent goose dunlin(sum. pl)4 bar tailed godwits(1 sum. pl)swift sparrowhawk buzzard pintail nuthatch treecreeper hare stoat muntjac(1 fine looking male) lesser whitethroat and a nightingale singing feet away from us near the work centre but frustratingly out of sight.lots of other stuff about but would take far too long.one more memorable thing was a bittern coming out into the open right in front of island mere for over an hour.special. Dunwich heath produced red legged partridge green woodpecker kestrel wheatear stonechat and finally the rock star that is the Dartford warbler.Mel managed to get some nice 'legs akimbo' shots of it aswell as some other nice ones.also nice to see it perform its song flight.a really memorable trip all round...
sounds like a cracking 3 days there chris,shame about the nightingale being out off sight but i bet that song is still singing in your head nice one with the dartford warbler,jealous now
Spent 3 days at minsmere and the first day in particular was a treat(very wet and windy the other days).got there at 5.30 and went to island mere hide and within the first hour a pair of otters appeared right in front of the hide,a water rail was showing just as well,water vole swam across the channel,5 bearded tit working their way along the reeds,cetti's warbler seen,bittern in flight and 4 marsh harrier in the air at one time.on the walk to bittern hide a cetti's warbler popped up and was singing in a small tree right above our heads!two green woodpecker(which were everywhere)also perched in a tree and a cuckoo calling then getting mobbed and seen off by a group of small birds. A walk round the scrapes produced over 20 common 5 sandwich 1 little and 1 arctic tern and finally after searching through,say,a million gulls found a Mediterranean gull.as I was filming it a grey plover walked past!also present on the reserve were red deer an escaped flamingo avocets turnstone(3 one in summer plumage)redshank barnacle and Brent goose dunlin(sum. pl)4 bar tailed godwits(1 sum. pl)swift sparrowhawk buzzard pintail nuthatch treecreeper hare stoat muntjac(1 fine looking male) lesser whitethroat and a nightingale singing feet away from us near the work centre but frustratingly out of sight.lots of other stuff about but would take far too long.one more memorable thing was a bittern coming out into the open right in front of island mere for over an hour.special. Dunwich heath produced red legged partridge green woodpecker kestrel wheatear stonechat and finally the rock star that is the Dartford warbler.Mel managed to get some nice 'legs akimbo' shots of it aswell as some other nice ones.also nice to see it perform its song flight.a really memorable trip all round...
Spent the last week on holiday in Suffolk. Very cold and windy but no rain until Friday. Nice to meet Ian Woosey and Jimmy Meadows again at Minsmere plus two others I didn't know. I realise now that one was Geoff Hargreaves who I'd not met before and the other I'm guessing might have been Rob Thorpe.
Highlights (can't begin to compete with Sean's trip)
Minsmere - 63 species including
Nightingale - good view in North Bushes Spoonbill - over Scrape Cettis Warbler Mediterranean Gull Bittern and Bearded Tit - flying over Island Mere Little Tern and Little Stint - on Scrape Marsh Tit in woodland
Westleton Heath - Hobby, Dartford Warbler and Stonechat
Snape Maltings - Garden Warbler
and finally Cuckoo from the cottage we were staying in.
We stopped on the way out of the reserve for a croaking Nightingale, headed to Dunwich for an excellent meal at The Ship, then out for another good evening's birding featuring the same trio of species as the previous night. Another great day in good weather. Combined trip total 99 seen and 2 heard
).
. A burst of song from a Nightingale brought the car to a sudden (but safe) stop on the way off the reserve, as we headed up to Horsey to connect with the Dotterel there. Although the bird continued to sing within feet of us it remained formly on the heard list.
