Red footed Falcon, Wilstone Reservoir, Herts

Two Red-footed falcons, a 1st summer and an adult were found a few days ago but only the youngster seemed to stay for the bank holiday Monday. When I arrived at about 6.45 am it was sleeping in a hawthorn tree in the middle of a field adjacent to the reservoir (cemetery corner). It soon flew to an exposed branch, where it was hassled by a crow and then flew to the North East.

Whilst in Holland, I found a juvenile Red-foot in my local patch, Teinhoven Plassen, but this is a UK lifer for me. These birds winter in southern africa and migrate to their breeding grounds in Eastern Europe, but several birds (usually 1st summers) turn up in the UK.

1st Summer male Red footed Falcon at Wilstone Reservoir

Red footed Falcon: UK lifer 266

Non-birding holiday in South Devon

Spent the last week holidaying in Devon with Mrs Sull so birding opportunities were limited. However, managed to negotiate a walk around Yarner Wood RSPB reserve. Our cottage was close to Aylesbeare common so also paid this site several visits.

Aylesbeare common
Managed by the RSPB, this is an area of lowland heath consisting of bracken and gorse and an ideal habitat for nightjars and Dartford warblers. On my first visit, I bumped into a fellow Oxfordshire birder, Jeremy, who I had previously met twitching the Spotted sandpiper in Hampshire. Within a few minutes we had noted a hobby, cuckoo, single dartford warbler and yellowhammer. The churring of several nightjars began as darkness approached, followed by great views of birds hovering and darting about (reminiscent of a very large hummingbird), wing clapping, and making their frog-like call. By the time we left, we had seen at least 6 individuals and heard more. Subsequent visits were made at various times of the day for the Dartford's but the best was at dusk, when several birds were singing including a couple showing well at the top of gorse bushes.

Yarner Wood
Mixed woodland on the slopes of Dartmoor with well marked trails and a large number of nest boxes. Pied Flycatchers were numerous, and with a bit of searching found 2 Redstarts. Wood Warblers were common and vocal, although only managed a fleeting glimpse of one. Unfortunately, did not hear or see any lesser spotted woodpeckers.

Male Pied flycatcher at Yarner wood

During a walk along the Jurassic coast watched the impressive site of a Peregrine falcon attempting to take a pigeon out at sea. Close-up views of sanderlings in summer plumage and rock pipits at Lyme Regis were enjoyed whilst fossil hunting. I took photos of two individual rock pipits that show variation within the species.

Rock pipit showing black legs

Rock pipit showing unusually light legs

Confiding sanderling on Lyme Regis fossil beach

Temminck's stint at Farmoor Reservoir

Some excitement down at Farmoor with the appearance of a Temminck's stint on the causeway. The bird was quite flighty, occasionally giving off its shrill call and associating with 3 dunlin and 2 sanderling. Despite seeing two a couple of days ago, thought I would go and see it because 1. might get a better photo than at Frampton and 2. one day I might have a respectable Oxfordshire list. The two sanderlings were approachable and I managed to get an okay photo in the diminishing light. Never seen a Temmincks before, then 3 in one week.

Temminck's stint at Farmoor reservoir (slightly better than the Frampton shot)

Sanderling on the causeway at Farmoor

Oriental pratincole and Temminck's stints

The Lincs oriental pratinicole had been at Frampton Marsh RSPB for a good few days and was now joined by temminck's stints. So feeling adventurous, I set my alarm for 3.45 am to get to Frampton by 6.30. Usually when I plan such an early start, I go straight back to sleep but this time was alert and eager to get going. On the way, several muntjac deer were seen on the roadside just outside Northampton. When I got to the Marsh, I decided to make a bee-line for the East hide where a birder was already leaving having not seen the pratincole. Had to wait for about 15 minutes before I found it sticking its head out of some grass on one of the islands. For the next couple of hours, it would periodically fly about in front of the hide before resting on the islands. I managed to follow it with the video facility on my FZ18 camera after a few failed attempts.

I then turned my attention to the stints. Checked every wader I could see - dunlin, snipe, godwits, avocet, lapwing, sanderling, ringed, little ringed and grey plover, oystercatcher, curlew sandpiper, ruff, redshank, knot, but no Temmincks. I had a feeling that it may be over the other side out of sight, so I walked towards the 360 hide and was proved right: not one but two stints were in full view. Standing next to a ringed plover you could clearly see their diminutive size.

Had an Eccles cake and a cup of coffee in the visitor centre and thought about stopping off at Welney WWT to see the bluethroat but decided against it and left for home.

video of oriental pratincole in flight. Little gulls
can also be seen in this clip

Oriental pratincole and little gull

Pratincole in flight showing white rump

Female ruff provided a momentary distraction from the pratincole

Record shot of the two Temminck's stints

Oriental pratincole : UK lifer 264
Temminck's stint : Uk lifer 265

One good tern deserves another

My mother in law is over from Germany this weekend and my wife arranged to take her to Exbury gardens in the New Forest. Didn't want to impinge upon their mother daughter bonding so thought I would drop them off, then spend a couple of hours on Brownsea Island. Brownsea is a great place to visit but the reason for my eagerness was the roseate tern reported during the previous week. after landing on the island took a brisk walk down to the reserve. Nearly come unstuck as the Dorset wildlife trust charge 2 pound for entry but I only had 1 pound on me. Kindly the wardens took pity and let me in half price.

Once in the hide, I started checking out all the terns for the roseates but all were either sandwich or commons. I hoped that they were fishing in Poole Harbour and would soon return and after about 45 minuted my wish was granted as I located them on a nearby island. They had sneaked in whilst I was scanning the periphery of the lagoon. Worth the wait however, with great views of two birds each showing the characteristic large bill and pinkish chest. Yet another memorable birding moment. Caught the boat back, found that I had a parking ticket but didn't care, I had seen roseate terns.

Roseate tern with a second bottom right of shot

Sandwich terns frolicking with disinterested gull

Common terns on Brownsea lagoon

Roseate tern : Uk lifer 263

Parachuting in Snelsmore Common

I've been looking for places near my home in Wantage to which I can pop out when in need of a birding fix. Snelsmore common is on the B4494 between Wantage and Newbury and is noted for its nightjars, tree pipits, woodcocks and possible woodlark. It comprises a range of habitats including heather and gorse, scattered small trees, broad leaf and evergreen woodland.
I was welcomed to the car park by a blackcap, great spotted woodpecker and mistle thrush with the songs of willow warblers and song thrush filling the air. Walking through the woodland I noted coal tit and long tailed tit before entering the heath area. Whitethroats were common and a number of tree pipits could be heard and seen on the treetops. The tree pipit is a bird that I have always liked and Snelsmore is a great place to watch their display. They fly upwards singing then parachute down on rigid wings and periodically would forage on the ground. I also used this opportunity to take some photos (see below). Watched the pipits for about 30 minutes then took a stroll around the park. Other birds observed included a single garden warbler, chiffchaff, sparrowhawk, green woodpecker, red kite and kestrel.

I will definitely be visiting this place regularly with a few evening trips to watch the nightjars and woodcock.

Tree pipit in Snelsmore Common

Tree pipit singing

Tree pipit foraging on the ground

One wedding and a hoopoe

I had arranged a bird race around glamorgan on Saturday but forgot that my wife and I had been invited to a wedding in North Wales. Instead, I checked for any sightings along the route from Wantage to Wales. Noticed that a Hoopoe had been reported at Clayhanger Marsh for over a week, and would only involve a short detour from the M6 toll. My wife kindly agreed that we could stop on the way home from the wedding, so on Sunday morning I checked my pager and was pleased to see that it was still there.
When I arrived at the Marsh, no birders were around. I usually prefer to locate the birds myself but on this occasion I was eager to find it quickly as I did not have much time. Started scanning the fields around the Marsh but no sign, although a few wheatears were dashing about. Finally managed to find it with the help of a birder who had appeared from a group of large horses. The hoopoe was showing well but at a distance so I didn't manage to take any photos. Right next to the hoopoe was a female whinchat, the icing on the cake. A group of birders arrived followed by one of the horses who came over to see what the fuss was about. Took a fast walk back to the car to avoid a scolding for taking too long (had one anyway), and then ended up stuck on the M40 for ages due to an accident.

Seen plenty of hoopoes in Germany, Portugal, Spain and when I lived in Greece. Finding one in the UK that would stay in one place until I got my binoculars on it was going to be more tricky, so I was glad of the positive outcome. Will be interesting to see how long it does stay at Clayhanger.

UK lifer 262

Hoopoe taken at Porto Pollensa, Majorca, 2008

Recent trip to Dungeness and Rye Harbour (Apr 9th)

Once a year my mate Jenx, the birding lawyer, and I go on a birdwatching weekend. This year we travelled down to Kent to focus on Rye Harbour and Dungeness. The weather was fine but the lack of wind resulted in lack of migrants. Still, had a great weekends birding with the following highlights :2 Slavonian grebes, yellow wagtails, marsh harriers, sedge warblers and cettis at Dungeness RSPB, common scoters, gannets and kittiwakes out at sea and a black redstart on the power station wall. Could hear a peregrine calling from the power station but a local birder told us not to point binoculars into the area as the authorities have been known to question birders on the back of anti-terrorism laws.
At Rye harbour there was a flock of golden plovers in summer plumage, avocets, grey plover, knot, dunlin, redshank, large numbers of sandwich terns and Mediterranean gulls, a single brent goose, sanderlings and ringed plovers (but no little ringed plovers). The appearance of a Peregrine caused a moments excitement over the tern pool.

Dungeness Slavonian grebe

Redshank at Rye Harbour

Med gulls at Rye harbour

Arctic terns and Oxon spoonbill

Spoonbills are rarely seen in Oxfordshire but one was reported yesterday at Port Meadow and then Farmoor Resevoir. This, along with the desire to find arctic terns, led me to a cold and rainy early morning walk along the causeway. 2 yellow wagtails and a single dunlin were on the causeway and 2-3 arctic terns fishing on the far side of F2. Watched 4 pied wagtails flying with a carrion crow taking it in turns to attack it. Would have been nice to have seen the spoonbill but lived in holland for a few years (near flevoland) where there are lots of them. Was happy to see the terns though, and even happier when I bumped into Dai, a local birder, who kindly gave me a lift back to the car park.

arctic tern : UK lifer 261

Dunlin on Farmoor causeway taken sometime during the winter