Song Sparrow dipped at Thornwick Bay

When Brian phoned and said he was thinking of going to Yorkshire for the Song Sparrow, I should have just said yes. But it was mid-morning, and I was already busy with jobs around the house and reluctant to leave them, so we made plans to go early the next morning. We left home at 4am, knowing it had been a clear night in Yorkshire and chances of the bird moving on overnight were quite possible. Unfortunately, we arrived to negative news. 

Hearing this news, we decided to spend the morning at Bempton Cliffs, and if the bird was refound, we would be only a short drive back down the coast to it. Sadly, the Song Sparrow would not be found again throughout the day.

Disappointed, we still enjoyed a lovely morning at Bempton, watching the comings and goings of thousands of seabirds. Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, and Kittiwakes were present in huge numbers, with smaller numbers of Fulmars and Puffins. Tree Sparrows were seen in bushes around the reserve centre and along the seafront.

We left Bempton at lunchtime and stopped at Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint. We didn't see any Honey Buzzards but did connect with a Quail while we were there.

Before heading home, we made a small diversion to Rutland Water, where we enjoyed views of a pair of Osprey at the nest with two young. 

White-winged Black Tern: Fen Drayton Lakes, Cambridgeshire

Brian had a few hours free today and decided to head to Fen Drayton Lakes in Cambridgeshire, where a White-winged Black Tern had been present since the 4th. The reports on the way up had said it was present on Drayton Lagoon, so upon arrival, we headed to that lagoon, only to be told that the tern had disappeared after a heavy rain shower. After a quick scan of the lagoon, we headed back towards the car park to scan Ferry Lagoon, the other area where the tern had previously been seen. 

As we approached the area, another birder told us that the tern had been present on Ferry Lagoon, but it had now flown back towards Drayton Lagoon! Thankfully, the tern was seen flying over the Lagoon on our return. It was a case of walking along the grass bank and viewing the Lagoon from any available breaks in the trees.

One of the views of the Lagoon through the trees

White-winged Black Tern

Spotted Sandpiper: Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire

An unexpected phone call from Brian this morning asking if I wanted to go to Cambridge and try for the Spotted Sandpiper. 

By the time we set off, the bird had already been reported on the news services; however, as we were heading up the A1, the sandpiper was reported again, only this time it said "No further sign." So we changed our plans and headed twenty miles east to the RSPB reserve at Ouse Fen. Dad was busy when Brian and I saw the Great Reed Warbler on our previous visit, so this was a good opportunity to see it today. There had been no reports all morning, but it soon began singing as we approached Crane's fen, and it was quickly spotted at the back of the reeds. Dad added another year tick when a single Crane flew low across the reeds and dropped down among the reeds behind a line of bushes. Seven Hobbies were seen over the distant trees, and we picked out a female Red-footed Falcon hawking among them. Giving us all another addition to the year list.

A glance at the news services revealed that the Spotted Sandpiper had been refound. We headed west to Grafham Water and parked in Plummer Park car park. From here, it was a short walk north along the grass path. The Spotted Sandpiper was busily feeding along the shoreline. 

It was a very smart-looking bird and the first Spotted Sandpiper I have seen that actually had spots! The two previous Spotted Sandpipers I have seen were both 1st winter birds. It fed along the same area of shoreline until flushed by a Carrion Crow. However, it would return to the same shoreline after a few minutes.

Spotted Sandpiper

Shoreline, the sandpiper was feeding along

Blue-winged Teal, Rainham Marshes

When a female Blue-winged Teal was found at Rainham Marshes on Thursday, Brian, having dropped his grandchildren off at school, was already on his way to Rainham and quickly located the Teal upon arrival. This morning, he offered to drive me to Rainham, allowing me to connect with the bird. It's 18 miles from home, and we arrived at the car park around 7am, and the Teal had already been reported on the news services en route. We walked up the steps onto the seawall and joined a small group of birders already present. A quick scan of Purfleet scrape and a Whimbrel is found, a bonus year tick. A short distance away on a small body of water was the Blue-winged Teal. 

Unlike the obvious features of a drake Blue-winged Teal, the female has subtle features. It has white eyelids that are surprisingly obvious; the white loral spot at the base of the bill is even more obvious, it also has a dark eye stripe that meets the nape, and it has the powder blue patch on its upperwing coverts of the drake, which is normally not visible unless in flight or preening.

We watched the teal from our seawall position until the reserve finally opened at 9.30! allowing us to walk along the boardwalk past Purfleet Hide to get a closer look at the duck. It spent most of its time feeding along the channels, and occasionally it walked onto the exposed mud, revealing its yellow legs. and a very brief glimpse of the powder blue wing patch. 

Black Terns, KGV Reservoir

I was home this morning when seven Black Terns were reported at the KGV Reservoir. I was keen to make the trip, but Brian was busy dropping the grandkids off at school. After navigating the traffic, he picked me up, and soon afterwards, I was unlocking the reservoir gates.  We walked up the ramp to scan the south basin. We picked up the Black Terns straight away. All seven were flying together along the western edge. We had been watching them for twenty minutes when they suddenly gained height and drifted northwards. They would not be seen again.  A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing from behind the sailing club huts and Dad added another year tick when three Common Sandpipers were seen feeding along the edge of the causeway.

Looking north from the south basin

A day trip to RSPB Minsmere

This morning we had the opportunity to go birding, so we decided to spend it at Minsmere. We arrived shortly before 7am, having already had good views of Stone Curlews before entering the car park. We walked out along the North wall, hearing a Nightingale singing. Scanning the scrape from East Hide, we added Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern to the year list,  Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers were all seen. A Little Gull was also seen, and a Wood Sandpiper dropped in briefly; luckily, we all managed to see it before it took flight and wasn't seen again. Brian found a pair of Garganey feeding along the front of the distant reeds while scanning from the Public Hide. A single Spoonbill was seen flying overhead and bearded Tits were "pinging" from the reedbeds.

We had super views of a Bittern from the aptly named Bittern Hide, and dad saw his first Hobby of the year. On the walk back to the visitor centre, Brian finally saw his first treecreeper of the year. 

Sand Martin bank

View from East Hide

Med Gulls

View from the Public Hide

Bittern

Treecreeper

We left Minsmere and headed to Dunwich Heath, where we enjoyed good views of  Dartford Warblers. 

I ended the day having seen 93 species. 

Great Reed Warbler: Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire

An early morning call from Brian saw us heading up the M11 into Cambridge and a visit to Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, hoping to connect with the returning Great Reed Warbler. We arrived just after 8.15 and walked along the grass path towards the viewing mound, the same area where we connected with the bird last year. As we approached, we could hear the bird singing, although it had now moved further along the track and was now in a stretch of reeds bordering the canal. It followed the same routine during our four hours on site. It would start singing, allowing views of it through the reeds, but always remain towards the back of the reeds. It would occasionally fly across the canal to feed among the vegetation on the opposite bank, then return to the reeds in front of us. We arrived in dull and overcast weather conditions, which became brighter and slightly warmer as the morning progressed, which encouraged the warbler to climb higher up the reed stems, allowing for some very nice views.

While waiting for the warbler to show, I heard and then saw my first Cuckoo of the year. It was calling regularly and was seen in flight before it landed in a tree among the reedbed. A single Crane was watched flying low across the reeds, and a Bittern was also seen in flight. Several Swifts, Swallows, and Sand Martins were seen hawking over the reedbeds throughout the morning. As the temperature increased, a single Hobby appeared, giving me another welcome year tick.

Before leaving for home, we scanned the body of water known as "Cell 10" and found a pair of Garganey.

Part of the stretch of reeds the warbler favoured

The views of the majority of our sightings

Eventually it climbed the reeds

A very nice morning, watching some fantastic birds within a wonderful reserve.