Owls! The Long and Short of it

To celebrate my birthday we decided to go searching for owls. We began with a trip to Deeping Lakes in Lincolnshire, a series of flooded gravel pits. We were hoping to kick the day off with views of Long-eared Owl. Arriving at first light we headed towards the hide overlooking the main lake. On previous visits, we had seen them roosting on the island in front of the hide. However, recent reports had been of a single bird favouring the waterside trees to the right of the track before the hide. We scanned the trees without success, several more searches from different viewing spots along the path eventually paid off when Brian located the owl among the tangled branches.

Long-eared Owl

From here we decided to head North East and visit Frampton Marsh. The wind by now had really picked up and made viewing conditions challenging to say the least. We picked out six Ruff among the hundreds of Lapwing and Golden Plover for a year tick but failed to find either of our other targets Little Stint or Spotted Redshank. We enjoyed good views of a female Peregrine and watched a Kestrel finishing the remains of a recent kill and before leaving we found six Whooper Swans in distant fields.

Before heading home we made a detour to Eldernell hoping to see our other target for the day Short-eared Owl. We found three! Two roosting in trees in front of a barn and another perched on a pile of logs a short distance away.

Hand-held phone to scope shot

Short-eared Owl

A Glossy Ibis had been reported earlier in the day, but on arrival, we were told it had gone missing for over an hour. Undeterred we walked the bank towards the area of trees it was last seen in and found the Ibis instantly! It was probing the soft mud in front of the trees.

Glossy Ibis

On the walk back we saw several Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier. We waited at the car park hoping to spot any Cranes coming into roost and managed several sighings. A group of four flew along the distant tree line and dropped into the reeds and another four and then a larger group dropped into the fields allowing for some good scope views before the light had completely gone.

Red-breasted Goose, South Woodham Ferrers

We have been keeping an eye on the movements of the Red-breasted Geese since their arrival at Holliwell Point in November. However, the 9km walk had put us off as well as having already seen this species in Essex previously. It remained faithful to the Holliwell site until it crossed the River Crouch and appeared among the Brent Geese flock at Wallasea on the 8th of January. We made the trip on the 9th but although the Brent Geese flock returned to Wallasea there were fewer numbers in the flock and the Red-breasted Goose was not among them. 

Recently it had been moving west along a fifteen-mile stretch of the River Crouch visiting Blue House Farm EWT and then South Woodham Ferrers. When it was reported again today we made the trip parking at the Marsh Farm CP car park and headed along the river bank to view the fields. The Red-breasted Goose was spotted immediately as it was feeding at the front of the main group. 

We then began scanning through the main flock and managed to find two Black Brants and a pale-bellied Brent Goose among the large flock of Dark-bellied.

Black Brant

Pale-bellied

Lee Valley Smew found at last!

Having spent the morning searching and ultimately failing to find any Smew at Lee Valley yesterday, Brian tried again this morning and this time got lucky when he found the redhead in the same corner we searched extensively yesterday!  On receiving news from Brian that the male Smew was also in the same area we were soon on our way. Thankfully both birds were still present and showing well when we arrived.

Holyfield Lake

Smew

While we were sitting outside the discovery centre hoping the flock of Siskin would put in an appearance a Kingfisher flew along the river and landed among the riverside branches opposite us. 

Embarrassingly I had not seen a Jay in any of my trips out this year, but thankfully that ended when one was found on the way back to the car today. 

Wildlife Discovery Centre

Hawfinch at St Andrew Church, Bramfield

A surprise call from brian this morning saw us heading for Bramfield in Hertfordshire and a visit to St Andrew church. We arrived to find a single photographer on-site. We joined him and it wasn't long before the first Hawfinch flew in. We managed to see a maximum of six birds while there and they all favoured the taller bare trees behind the Yew trees in the church grounds. When they did drop down into the yews it always seemed to be into deep cover.

St Andrew Church at Bramfield

There was plenty of activity among the Yew trees with Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Nuthatch, and Goldcrest all seen feeding among the branches.

Redwing

Hawfinch

Dungeness and Hume's Leaf Warbler at Bockhill Farm Wood

A day's birding in Kent started with a visit to Dungeness, arriving at the beach for a seawatch at first light. We were greeted with thousands of Cormorants on the sea. Gannets were present as were large numbers of Razorbills with much smaller numbers of Guillemots among them and Several Red-throated Divers were seen moving along the coast. At "The Patch" we found a 1st winter Little Gull among the numerous commoner gull species. Many of the Razorbills seen earlier flew in and landed on the sea a short distance from the gulls. On the walk back to the car we found a pair of Black Redstarts within the power station compound and a Raven was perched on the power station roof.

Sunrise at Dungeness

The Patch

A brief visit to the viewing screen overlooking Arc Pit failed to locate the Smew, but we added Bearded Tit to the day and year list totals.

After a brief stop at Scotney GP to tick the feral Barnacle Geese we went in search of Swans and managed to find a flock of 34 Bewick's and then a flock of mixed swans containing Mute, 2 Bewick's and 5 Whooper.

Before heading for home we took a detour hoping to connect with the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Bockhill Farm Woods. Parking at the monument we took the path down to the woods and heard the warbler calling almost instantly. Seeing the bird proved far more challenging, but eventually, after following little movements among the trees we enjoyed some excellent views.

Monument at Brockhill Farm Woods

Bockhill Farm Wood

Wallasea Island

An early morning visit to Wallasea Island today, hoping the Red-breasted Goose would arrive with the Brent Geese flock to feed on the fields by the entrance track as it did yesterday.

We quickly found several Corn Buntings before walking out towards the hide. A Ringtail Hen Harrier appeared in the eastern corner and a Green Sandpiper was found on Pool Marsh. Brian spotted a Peregrine perched on a post out on the marsh and headed that way to photograph it. I headed for the hide to get a closer view of the three Spoonbill we had seen earlier on Fitzroy Lagoon. We added Pintail to the year list when 20+ were seen on Darwin Lagoon among the numerous Wigeon and Teal. The Brent Geese flock eventually appeared on the fields but unfortunately, the Red-breasted Goose wasn't among them. 

Before heading for home we managed to add Mediterranean Gull to the year list with a visit to Southend-on-Sea. 

Sunrise at Wallasea

Looking toward Pool Marsh

Below is one of Brians's photos of the peregrine.

Peregrine

Little Bunting, Bexley

Another short trip this morning, saw us head down the A2 to Bexley where a Little Bunting has been present since the 14th December. We were going to follow the directions we had from the bird news services "Walk across the field to the kissing gate and climb the short slope to view" Luckily we met Geoff K as he returned from seeing the bird and he told us the Bunting was in fact feeding on the muddy path some 400m beyond this point. It showed no concern for the birders watching and photographing it and happily continued to feed on the grass seeds on and bordering the path.

Little Bunting

Lee Valley, Epping Forest and local birding

A trip to Lee Valley started well when I added Red-legged Partridge to my year list. Five birds were seen in fields before reaching the farm. The trees bordering the farm held a nice flock of Chaffinch and within that flock were at least five Brambling, for another year tick. Redwing and Fieldfare had been two glaring misses, but today both were seen together in trees around the farm.

Seventy Acres Lake proved less productive, There was no sign of the Bittern or the redhead Smew even after a fairly lengthy search. The only addition to the list was a Water Rail from the New Wildlife Discovery Centre.

A very smart-looking Silver Wood Duck was found along the River Lea.

Silver Wood Duck

Before heading home we stopped at one of the Epping Forest car parks and very quickly found several Mandarin Ducks. A Treecreeper was also added to the year list. 

January 6th

Brian still needed Red-necked Grebe, so I offered to go with him to King George V Reservoir, hoping it would still be at the site. The first bird found was the juvenile Great Northern Diver.

Great Northern Diver

The Red-necked Grebe proved more difficult, usually, it is found in the south end of the South Basin but it was nowhere to be seen. Walking towards the causeway we found several Little Grebes and Great Crested Grebes and another scan from the causeway gate eventually located the Red-necked Grebe. We scanned through large rafts of Tufted Ducks and found a smart drake Scaup among them.

Scaup

After arriving home dad said he had a job to do in Wanstead and with the now regular Caspian Gull just around the corner in Snaresbrook we jumped in the car with him. The bird was spotted while driving past Eagle Pond. We parked the car and enjoyed watching it for a short while before returning home.

Caspian Gull

First Norfolk trip of 2022

Having delayed the trip to Norfolk yesterday, We set off for Titchwell this morning, stopping on route at Southery where we found four Bewick Swans before adding Fulmar at Hunstanton.

Titchwell produced a few decent birds, with Great Egret, Great Northern Diver, and Water Pipit the best of the fifty-plus species seen. 

Sanderling

Island Hide

We left Titchwell and headed for Holkham, stopping briefly at Wells to tick a Cattle Egret. After parking along Lady Anne's Drive we headed off along the footpath and emerged onto the beach. We reached the roped-off area and quickly found the four Shorelarks. The saltmarsh held 50+ Snow Bunting which we were enjoying until a dog off the lead went bounding through the flock the owner seemingly unconcerned. Before leaving we scanned the sea and had views of three Velvet Scoter and a nice raft of Common Scoter.

Pink-footed Geese

The new year begins locally at King George Reservoir

Normally we would spend the first day of the new year on the Norfolk coast, but with Brian unable to travel due to a hospital trip we decided to stay local and visit the King George V Reservoir. We weren't looking for big numbers, instead, we were hoping to connect with two local rarities. The first of which was a Great Northern Diver. We found it on the Western side of the South Basin. 

Great Northern Diver

The second target a Red-necked Grebe was proving much more elusive, but eventually, it was found in the South-Western corner of the South Basin on the return walk.

Having managed to find both target birds we then spent the remainder of the visit scanning the reservoir for additions to the year list, adding two of the three winter duck species when both Goldeneye and Goosander were seen. 

Apart from a couple of windsurfers from the Sailing Club, the sheep were the only other things present on the walkout to the causeway.

Not a big total to start the year but we were happy to have connected with our targets today.