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

Searching for migrants at Wells Wood, Norfolk

Brian and I spent the morning at Wells Wood, hoping to connect with a few migrants before they depart for warmer climes. We walked along the western path and scanned an area set back from the path. The tallest trees held a massive mixed flock of birds. We had only paid for two hours of parking and most of that was taken up by going through the vast amount of birds within these trees. Spotted Flycatchers were seemingly everywhere, Garden Warblers, Chiffchaffs, and Willow Warblers were all present in large numbers. Pied Flycatchers were also present but in much smaller numbers and a single Redstart was found.

After paying for another two hours of parking we walked a circuit and found a single Wood Warbler among the roving mixed flock. An Icterine Warbler had been reported but we failed to find it despite extensive searches.

Spotted Flycatcher

 

Wood warbler

We dropped in at Titchwell before heading home. The White-rumped Sandpiper failed to show, but we enjoyed good views of a Little Stint feeding alongside a Little Ringed Plover and a few Dunlin. The Paddocks at the far end of the overflow car park had a Hawfinch feeding among the hawthorns and more Spotted Flycatchers were also present. Brian managed to see the reported Grey Headed wagtail, but it moved behind one of the horse sheds before I could see it. The rain began to fall and when it got much heavier we decided that was our cue to head for the car and begin the journey home.

Little Stint and Dunlin