Red-throated pipit, Landguard NR

At 9.45am yesterday morning a Red-throated Pipit was found at Landguard NR. It remained at the Southern end of the common throughout the day. With only four accepted records of Red-throated pipit in Suffolk, the last of which was at Minsmere in 2001, this individual had many Suffolk birders hurrying to Landguard to bag a very welcome county tick. 

With heavy overnight rain forecast, we thought there was a good chance of the bird still being present this morning. Light rain was falling on route but it had ceased by the time we pulled into the car park along View Point Road. Leaving the car we headed along the path in front of the Observatory and made our way towards the Wardens Cottage. As we approached, we could see a small group of birders including LGRE scanning the shingle and grass near the boardwalk. The bird had been heard calling and had been seen briefly in the company of a couple of Meadow Pipits. As we started scanning the area the bird flew directly overhead calling. It dropped down onto the short grass and began feeding close to the concrete blocks.

It fed on the common for 15-20 minutes and then relocated to an area a short distance from the warden's cottage. I managed a few record shots using the phone held to the scope.

Red-throated pipit 

Red-necked Grebe: Roding Valley Lake, 3rd Visit

I made another brief visit to Roding Valley Lake this afternoon hoping the Red-necked Grebe would still be present. A quick scan from the West bank and I found it out in the middle of the lake.

I turned away from the lake as a Common Buzzard drifted across the cricket pitch and a Sparrowhawk flew across the top of the Willow Trees near the water's edge.

I'm not sure if the Buzzard or Sparrowhawk had spooked the Grebe, but it was nowhere to be seen when I scanned the lake again. No sign of it at it's favoured Southern end or along the Eastern side. Having walked around most of the lake, noting two Little Egret, three Grey Heron and two Terrapins (Red-eared) possibly? I eventually found the Grebe drifting along with a small group of Coots. The weather was dull and overcast and the Grebe remained distant, but I took a few shots all the same.

The local Canada Geese approached much closer. Trying to grab some of the attention away from the star bird.

Red-necked Grebe, Roding Valley Lake

As twitches go, there won't be a closer one to home than this. A five minute amble across the field and I'm standing at the edge of the lake. I had a quick look on Friday evening, but the light was fading fast and I only managed brief scope views before the light disappeared completely.

The weather forecast today was much more favourable and with the sun shining mid-morning I took another stroll over to the lake. It had been favouring the Southern corner for the majority of its stay, but upon arrival, the Grebe was way over in the Northern corner close to the over-hanging branches of the bankside Willows. However, within 15-20 minutes it soon returned to its favoured Southern corner. Cue the cameras!

Spotted Crake, Ingrebourne Valley

Another short trip today and a visit to the Ingrebourne Valley, where a Spotted Crake had been located yesterday. Arriving shortly after 8am, It's a short walk from the car park to the viewing screen, but there had been no sign of the bird so far this morning. After 30-45 minutes of scanning, Brian and his lucky jumper picked the bird out. It was moving through the short reeds to the left of the viewing area. It spent the next hour playing hide 'n' seek with us. Showing well at times, but it didn't like open ground and would run from one area of cover to the next.

Spotted Crake

Another year tick added to the list today and the last four days have produced 2 lifers and six year ticks.

White-winged Black Tern at Tyttenhanger

After yesterday's trip to Lodmoor and Portland in Dorset and the five-hour drive home, we stayed much closer to home today. Just a twenty-mile drive along the M25 and we arrive at Tyttenhanger fishing lakes.

The Tern had first been reported on the 12th originally having been reported as a Black Tern but quickly re-identified as a White-winged Black Tern. It had Favoured Willow Farm Fishing Lake throughout its stay. Park in Willows Activity Farm car park, follow the footpath to the river and cross the bridge to view. 

That was what we should have done, but unsure of the location we instead drove round to the fishing lake tackle shop. Luckily the guy running the Carp fishing lakes allowed us through the gate and to drive round to the bottom lake (Willows). This would not normally be allowed, but we were grateful he allowed it today.

The moulting adult was seen immediately on arrival, Putting on a superb aerial display throughout our visit.

Least & Stilt Sandpipers at Lodmoor

A surprise text from Brian last night, and we are meeting up at 4.30am this morning heading for Dorset. Arriving around 7.30 we quickly fed the car park meter and headed off towards the Bandstand to view the scrape. Luckily the small group of gathered birders put us onto the Least Sandpiper immediately. It was busy feeding along the back edge of the scrape.

Little Stint & Least Sandpiper

While viewing the Least Sandpiper we are told that the Stilt Sandpiper had been seen earlier but that it had flown to an area out of view. We moved round to the Western footpath and began scanning the birds present. After a few brief scans, a single bird flew in from the South. Checking it out through the scope confirms the ID as the Stilt Sandpiper. Two lifers within an hour of arriving!

Stilt Sandpiper

Moving on to Portland, we receive negative news on the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, so move on to the Observatory Quarry and after a brief scan, we locate the Wryneck tucked away among the rocks on the opposite side of the Quarry. It briefly appears on the rocks and then drops down onto the Quarry floor.

The Buff-Breasted Sandpiper despite a lengthy search remained elusive and didn't re-appear. The Hoopoe proved just as elusive and we failed to find it during our visit.

Citrine Wagtail, Minsmere RSPB

Pulling into the car park at Minsmere this morning, we headed off along the North path to find the East Scrape covered in sea mist. Visibility was poor with only the island directly in front of the hide clearly visible. 

An hour or so later and the mist began to clear and a more detailed scan of the scrape could begin. Several Pied Wagtails were showing well and while scanning through these the Citrine Wagtail appeared. Landing on the long grass bank it quickly dropped below the bank and out of view. It took flight and during the next two hours, it favoured a small island around post 9. Eventually, it took flight again and headed towards the area around the West Hide and was lost to view.

Good numbers of other birds were feeding out on the scrape and these included Green and Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Ruff, Snipe, Water Rail, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Lapwing and Dunlin. 

We made our way round to the West Hide and managed to re-locate the Citrine Wagtail close to number 2 post. It remained distant but Brian managed to grab the photo below.

Citrine Wagtail 

Woodchat Shrike: Chipping Sodbury, Gloucester

Having dipped at least four Woodchat Shrikes in the last few years, two of which were in my home county, I was very keen to try for the Gloucestershire bird. First reported on the 30th August it was still present yesterday evening. 

The forecast for today was not good, with light rain in the morning and heavy rainfall for the whole afternoon. Nonetheless, we set off shortly after 5am and arrived around 7am. The rain had already started to fall as we set off across the common in search of the Shrike. Luckily the original finder was just heading off on his morning circuit of the site and gave us some good pointers as to where to begin searching. 

The rain became heavier and it wasn't looking good, but sightings of several Whinchats and Redstarts were very welcome. With the Whinchat needed for a year tick. 

Shortly after 8am, the rain eased and with a break in the clouds, the Shrike suddenly appeared at the top of a small bush!

It's not a good feeling dipping a bird, but thankfully we haven't experienced that feeling very often. Woodchat Shrike though has proved an exception for me, today I've finally managed to see one!

I would have been happy to go straight back home after seeing it, but being close to Slimbridge and never visited before to seemed rude not to visit.
We started off by visiting the hides that looked out across scrapes and grassland, finding truly wild birds like Green and Wood Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Wagtails, and Common Crane.

Sir Peter Scott

We then spent the remainder of our visit walking around the captive bird pens. Although captive they do give you a great chance to get up close to birds normally seen at a much greater distance. Slimbridge has a huge collection of birds, allowing close views of ducks such as Canvasback, Cinnamon Teal, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Hooded Merganser. Several species of Geese were also on show including Red-breasted, Bar-headed, Bean, and Pink-footed. Several species of Flamingo were also among the collection of the wetland centre.

We found it a very enjoyable place to visit, just a shame we went on a day that it rained the entire time spent there. Hopefully, we can pay it a return visit in more pleasant weather conditions.