Pied Wheatear: Seaford, East Sussex

Today was the first day in a while that Brian and I were both free for a birding trip, so when he offered to drive to Seaford to give me a chance to see a Pied Wheatear, which would be a new addition to my life list if successful I accepted immediately.

We left at 5 a.m. and were driving along the Esplanade shortly before 7 a.m. We parked at the far end, leaving a short walk up the hill to the ruined walls of the old hotel. After a brief search, one of the other two birders present spotted the wheatear. As we joined him the bird popped up onto the brick wall. It would show regularly throughout the morning but would never stay in one place for very long.

The Pied Wheatear was my eighth addition to the life list this year, one I was pleased to see as I had missed the Landguard bird in November 2015.

A pair of Black Redstarts was also present. The female bird showed no fear and would walk right up to us several times. We also enjoyed close views of two Rock Pipits as they fed on the grass banks.

Pied Wheatears are widely distributed. They breed in SE Europe from NE Bulgaria, E Romania, and S Moldova to the S Urals, Mongolia, C&W Afghanistan, N Pakistan, NW Himalayas, and NE China, and winter in NE Africa and the SW Arabian Peninsula. 

It's only the 2nd record for East Sussex, the first being a male seen at Newhaven which was present from 7th-9th July in 1990.

Ruined walls of Hotel

Black Redstart

Rock pipit

1st winter female Pied Wheatear

The outside walls of the old hotel

Lapland Bunting, Staines Reservoir

A surprise visit from Brian, saw us heading around the M25 to Staines Reservoir. A Lapland Bunting had been present since the 4th and was still being reported this morning.

We parked outside the east entrance and walked up the slope to join three birders on the causeway. Their cameras were focused on the grass a short distance ahead and as we joined them, we saw the bird just a few feet away! It wasn't bothered at all by the attention it was getting. Occasionally it would fly a short distance onto the railings but would soon return to its favoured feeding area.

Before heading home I scanned the north basin and found two of the Black-necked Grebes that had been reported earlier.

Staines Reservoir entrance

Lapland Bunting

Long-billed Dowitcher, Rainham Marshes

When reports of a Long-billed Dowitcher being found at Rainham Marshes yesterday, Brian was well placed as he was visiting family only 10 minutes away. 

The reserve is only open from 9.30am - 4pm but you can view some areas from the sea wall. I waited to see if the bird had stayed overnight and with positive news that the bird was still present, we met up with Brian and arrived in the car park shortly after 10am. 

The dowitcher had been reported on Purfleet Scrape, only a short walk down the metal walkway from the reserve centre. We joined a small group of birders and saw the dowitcher immediately. It was feeding along the front edge of the reeds but soon moved to a small strip of land behind the main island.

I'd not seen a Water Pipit this year, so we walked the seawall and found a single bird feeding among the rocks east of Aveley Bay. It was flushed by people walking from the opposite end flying directly over our heads towards the reserve.

The dowitcher is the first record for Rainham Marshes and only the third record for London. The last record was in 1987 some thirty-four years ago at Staines Moor and the first ten years earlier at Staines Reservoirs.

View of Purfleet Scrape from sea wall

Long-billed Dowitcher with Lapwing

Asian Desert Warbler, Winterton Dunes NNR

I received an unexpected phone call from Brian this morning, "There's an Asian Desert Warbler in Norfolk, I'll pick you up". Brian arrived shortly after 8am and we were on our way. The journey up the M11, A11, and A47 was trouble-free and we arrived at Winterton-on-sea beach car park around 10.15. After paying for two hours of parking we headed off into the dunes. We passed several returning birders who pointed us in the right direction toward the bird's location. As we approached the growing throng of birders the bird flew up and headed into a nearby tree. At first, I struggled to see the bird among the tangled branches, but with helpful directions from other birders, I soon got my first look at an Asian Desert Warbler! While we were present it stayed faithful to a small line of trees and bushes.

Asian Desert Warblers breed in the deserts of Central and Western Asia and the extreme eastern parts of Europe. It winters in the far north-east of Africa and south-western Asia.

There have been 13 previous records in Britain in nine counties. Dorset, Essex, East Yorkshire, Cheshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Devon, Norfolk and Northumberland. The first was in 1970 at Portland in Dorset and the most recent on Holy Island in Northumberland in 2020.

In five days, I have added four species to my life list. All of which have been warblers. Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Arctic Warbler, and Asian Desert Warbler.

Asian Desert Warbler

While walking back to the car park I checked the news services and there was a Hoopoe twenty miles away in North Walsham. Thirty minutes later we are parked on Thirlby Road and watching the Hoopoe busily feeding on a small front lawn, seemingly oblivious to the people standing, crouching, and lying prone on the ground only a few feet away on the other side of the wall. 

Pale-legged Leaf warbler: Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire

On the 25th of September, an Arctic Warbler was reported in a copse behind the visitor centre at Bempton Cliffs in East Yorkshire. Three hours later it was reported as a "probable" Eastern Crowned Kingbird. The following day it wasn't seen and I thought that was the end of it. Then it's reported again Friday evening as a probable Pale-legged Leaf Warbler! after being sound-recorded. A bird that normally breeds in the Russian Far East, and North Korea, and winters in South-East Asia is present in East Yorkshire. 

There have only been two previous records in Britain. One was found dead on St Anges, Isles of Scilly in October 2016, having flown into a window of the lighthouse. Feathers were taken from the bird and sent for DNA analysis, confirming the bird was a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler and ruling out the very similar Sakhalin Leaf Warbler P. Borealoides. The other record was of a bird photographed and seen by several observers in 2012 at Portland in Dorset. However, it was impossible to establish which of the two species the bird belonged to. 

Unfortunately, family commitments meant we had no chance of making the trip. We watched the continued reports of the bird's presence and were encouraged by the fact that overnight rain was forecast for each of the next few nights. Finally, we had a clear day, rain again last night and with a clear day ahead this could be our only chance of connecting with it. 

We left at 3am and arrived at Bempton shortly after 7am. 30-40 birders were already searching the area, with several thermal imagers directed toward the scrub bordering the track. An hour passed without any sign, and then a guy with a thermal said he had the bird deep within the undergrowth. I followed his directions but failed to see the bird. The next 30 minutes proved very frustrating, Guys with thermals were calling out directions, then someone said "There it is, just below the Great Tit". Well, I couldn't even find the Great Tit! Then suddenly I saw it moving through the tangled branches heading right. I moved with it and managed good views as it sat briefly on an open branch. As I watched it a Sparrowhawk came through and landed on the branch below the warbler! Thankfully it flew off almost immediately having failed to make a kill. The Pale-legged then flew across the road into the area with bird feeders. An hour later I saw it again, this time it sat out in full view as it foraged low among the trees.

 

First reports on 25th

First reports that it was a Pale-legged leaf Warbler 27th

Where I saw the bird during the 2-3 hours present

Having enjoyed good views of the bird, we decided to head to Flamborough where an Icterine Warbler and a couple of Red-Breasted Flycatchers had been reported. Within a few minutes, one of the Red-breasted Flycatchers was spotted flitting about in a Sycamore. I was keen to see the Icterine Warbler, having dipped this species more than once including one at Wells Wood only last month. I staked out the reported area but there was no sign, Brian wandered back up the path to get another look at the Flycatcher. Ten minutes later my phone rings, it's Brian and he's watching the Icterine Warbler! I quickly tell the other birders present. As I reach Brian I can see the bird low down in some scrub by the side of the path. Before Dad reaches us the bird takes flight, but it only flies a short distance into some Hawthorn and brambles. Finally, I'd seen my first Icterine warbler. 

Red-Breasted Flycatcher

Finally, my first Icterine warbler

As we left Flamborough there was news of an Arctic Warbler at Spurn. This would be another lifer for Dad and me. Brian had seen one previously in Norfolk but drove the extra fifty miles to give us a chance to connect with our third lifer of the day. Upon arrival, we were told the bird hadn't been seen since 9.30am, but one birder said he had heard it recently. Brian decided to check another area closer to the Discovery Centre and shortly afterward phoned to say he had found the bird! We quickly joined him and enjoyed crippling views just feet from the footpath.

Arctic Warbler

We walked the track to the Heligoland Trap where a couple of birders put us onto a Barred warbler and we also found a Spotted Flycatcher in a Sycamore tree.

Before starting the four-hour drive home, we stopped at Kilnsea Wetlands, where we picked out the American Wigeon. It spent most of its time asleep, but occasionally popped its head up revealing the distinctive head pattern. 

American Wigeon asleep 

A great day's birding with three lifers,(Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Icterine Warbler and. Arctic Warbler) and seven additions to the year list.

Thanks to Brian for all the driving 

Red-backed Shrike at The Naze

A 5am text from Brian this morning saw us heading up the A12 to The Naze Nature Reserve. The reserve is on the Naze peninsula, north of Walton-on-the-Naze, and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. We had two main targets, a Red-backed Shrike and a Wryneck. However with clear skies overnight we would not have been surprised if both birds had moved on. 

We arrived shortly before 7am, parked in the reserve car park close to Sunny Point, and headed down the steps to walk the central path. Hawthorn, Gorse, and Brambles bordered the path on both sides. We hadn't walked far when Brian spotted the Red-backed Shrike. After several sightings, I wandered off to search for the Wryneck. I walked the seafront path and managed views of Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Redstart, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, and several commoner species, but failed to find the Wryneck. 

Seafront path with the Naze Tower in the distance

Red-backed Shrike

Before heading home we took an eight-mile detour to Shelley in Suffolk where a Purple Heron had been present since the 1st of September. We joined four other birders scanning Gifford's Flash for any sign of the heron. Although it hadn't been seen all morning, we scanned the area and after thirty minutes it decided to pop its head above the reeds. It gave several good scope views before it took flight and landed out of sight. We walked along the road and scanned the area from the roadside gate, finding it close to the fenceline among the reeds.

Gifford's Flash

Several views were similar to this

phone hand-held to the scope 

View of Gifford's Flash from the roadside gate

Nightjar, Wanstead Flats

I was home yesterday morning when news broke of a Nightjar at Wanstead Flats! Wanstead Flats is only eight miles from home, Brian was at his father-in-law's, so we had to make a quick detour so he could grab his bins and camera. A short drive along the M11 and we were soon parked in the Centre Road car park. The report said "One roosting in Long Wood" From the car park it was only a walk of five minutes, where we soon joined the small group of assembled birders. The Nightjar was perched on a thick bare branch among numerous tangled branches. We watched it for 10-15 minutes until a squirrel came through and disturbed it. The Nightjar stretched its wings, lifted its head, and suddenly flew off.  It headed towards the other end of Long Wood, but before we could try to relocate it, a Wryneck was seen. We had the general area that it flew towards but after an hour we had failed to find it, and with the car park time running out we left for home.

Nightjar was roosting on the thick bare branch in the centre of the photo