Western Swamphen: Accepted by BOURC!

More good news after arriving home, another addition to the life list!

Taken from the BOU website

Red-Necked Phalarope, Abberton Reservoir

With positive news that the Red-necked Phalarope had remained at Abberton into its second day, we made the fifty mile trip around mid-morning.

Upon arrival, we quickly joined the handful of birders already present and found the Red-necked Phalarope immediately.  It remained distant throughout our stay but occasionally ventured close enough to obtain some nice scope views.

An added bonus was the presence of a Pectoral Sandpiper. Viewing was proving difficult with the heat haze and distance involved. But again some nice scope views were had when the bird moved around the muddy spits while feeding. 

The reported Spoonbill from earlier this morning had moved on by the time we arrived, but a Great White Egret was showing well at half the distance of the pec Sandpiper.

Hide/viewing screen at Wigborough Bay

While watching the Phalarope we were entertained by the Red Arrows. Almost certainly from the Clacton Air Show held today. The final sighting of the day was a fly over Spitfire.

Caspian Tern: Hickling Broad, Norfolk

The Caspian tern was first seen on the 16th August at Rush Hill Scrape. it has spent its time computing between Rush Hill Scrape and Breydon Water. Preferring to roost at Breydon and spend most of the day at Rush Hill.

Still, present yesterday evening and with Brian having a few days off work we made the trip this morning. Arriving at Potter Heigham we parked up by the Church and headed off along Church Lane. This was a new site for me and it could have proved tricky to find, luckily Brian knew exactly where to go having visited previously. A few twists and turns along grass paths and then taking the path through the woods we soon arrived at the hide. The Caspian tern showed immediately flying backwards and forth beyond the scrape. 

Eventually, it headed back towards the scrape and landed close to the tern raft among flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings, giving superb scope views. A passing Hobby put many of the roosting waders up into the air and the Caspian Tern took flight with them. 

The scrape held several species of wader, including Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Avocet and also a single Little Stint.

The Caspian Tern suddenly appeared to the left of the hide, allowing Brian to grab the below shot as it heading back towards the scrape.

Caspian tern

A new addition to the life list for me!

Long-billed Dowithcher: Oare Marshes, Kent

Early morning call from Brian and we are on route to Oare Marshes. Having parked up in the car park by the causeway we walked back along the entrance track to scan the East Flood. A beautiful morning weather wise, but as is normal here viewing conditions were not good from the West. We scanned along the margins and managed to locate a couple of Curlew Sandpipers feeding among a group of Dunlin. 

With no sign of the Dowitcher, we headed for the East side, stopping several times to scan for any sign of the Bonaparte's Gull, finding it quickly among Whimbrel, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits and numerous Black-headed Gulls. Now without the black hood, it had on a previous visit two weeks ago.

We continued around the seawall and joined the two other birders on the East side of the Flood, who told us that the Dowitcher had disappeared into the reeds. After a brief wait, we were soon getting superb scope views of the Dowitcher. It began feeding along the edge of the reeds in the company of several Lapwing, Godwits and a single Snipe. 

After watching it feed for 15-20 minutes it then took flight and landed at the end of the reeds among a flock of Godwits, Lapwings, Ruff, Dunlin, Redshank and another pair of Curlew Sandpipers.