Blue-winged Teal, Rainham Marshes

When a female Blue-winged Teal was found at Rainham Marshes on Thursday, Brian, having dropped his grandchildren off at school, was already on his way to Rainham and quickly located the Teal upon arrival. This morning, he offered to drive me to Rainham, allowing me to connect with the bird. It's 18 miles from home, and we arrived at the car park around 7am, and the Teal had already been reported on the news services en route. We walked up the steps onto the seawall and joined a small group of birders already present. A quick scan of Purfleet scrape and a Whimbrel is found, a bonus year tick. A short distance away on a small body of water was the Blue-winged Teal. 

Unlike the obvious features of a drake Blue-winged Teal, the female has subtle features. It has white eyelids that are surprisingly obvious; the white loral spot at the base of the bill is even more obvious, it also has a dark eye stripe that meets the nape, and it has the powder blue patch on its upperwing coverts of the drake, which is normally not visible unless in flight or preening.

We watched the teal from our seawall position until the reserve finally opened at 9.30! allowing us to walk along the boardwalk past Purfleet Hide to get a closer look at the duck. It spent most of its time feeding along the channels, and occasionally it walked onto the exposed mud, revealing its yellow legs. and a very brief glimpse of the powder blue wing patch. 

Black Terns, KGV Reservoir

I was home this morning when seven Black Terns were reported at the KGV Reservoir. I was keen to make the trip, but Brian was busy dropping the grandkids off at school. After navigating the traffic, he picked me up, and soon afterwards, I was unlocking the reservoir gates.  We walked up the ramp to scan the south basin. We picked up the Black Terns straight away. All seven were flying together along the western edge. We had been watching them for twenty minutes when they suddenly gained height and drifted northwards. They would not be seen again.  A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing from behind the sailing club huts and Dad added another year tick when three Common Sandpipers were seen feeding along the edge of the causeway.

Looking north from the south basin

A day trip to RSPB Minsmere

This morning we had the opportunity to go birding, so we decided to spend it at Minsmere. We arrived shortly before 7am, having already had good views of Stone Curlews before entering the car park. We walked out along the North wall, hearing a Nightingale singing. Scanning the scrape from East Hide, we added Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern to the year list,  Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers were all seen. A Little Gull was also seen, and a Wood Sandpiper dropped in briefly; luckily, we all managed to see it before it took flight and wasn't seen again. Brian found a pair of Garganey feeding along the front of the distant reeds while scanning from the Public Hide. A single Spoonbill was seen flying overhead and bearded Tits were "pinging" from the reedbeds.

We had super views of a Bittern from the aptly named Bittern Hide, and dad saw his first Hobby of the year. On the walk back to the visitor centre, Brian finally saw his first treecreeper of the year. 

Sand Martin bank

View from East Hide

Med Gulls

View from the Public Hide

Bittern

Treecreeper

We left Minsmere and headed to Dunwich Heath, where we enjoyed good views of  Dartford Warblers. 

I ended the day having seen 93 species. 

Great Reed Warbler: Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire

An early morning call from Brian saw us heading up the M11 into Cambridge and a visit to Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, hoping to connect with the returning Great Reed Warbler. We arrived just after 8.15 and walked along the grass path towards the viewing mound, the same area where we connected with the bird last year. As we approached, we could hear the bird singing, although it had now moved further along the track and was now in a stretch of reeds bordering the canal. It followed the same routine during our four hours on site. It would start singing, allowing views of it through the reeds, but always remain towards the back of the reeds. It would occasionally fly across the canal to feed among the vegetation on the opposite bank, then return to the reeds in front of us. We arrived in dull and overcast weather conditions, which became brighter and slightly warmer as the morning progressed, which encouraged the warbler to climb higher up the reed stems, allowing for some very nice views.

While waiting for the warbler to show, I heard and then saw my first Cuckoo of the year. It was calling regularly and was seen in flight before it landed in a tree among the reedbed. A single Crane was watched flying low across the reeds, and a Bittern was also seen in flight. Several Swifts, Swallows, and Sand Martins were seen hawking over the reedbeds throughout the morning. As the temperature increased, a single Hobby appeared, giving me another welcome year tick.

Before leaving for home, we scanned the body of water known as "Cell 10" and found a pair of Garganey.

Part of the stretch of reeds the warbler favoured

The views of the majority of our sightings

Eventually it climbed the reeds

A very nice morning, watching some fantastic birds within a wonderful reserve.

Baikal Teal, Wilstone Reservoir

A female Baikal Teal was found at Wilstone reservoir yesterday, and when it was reported again this morning, we decided to make the trip. After an hour's drive around the M25 and up the A41, we arrived at the parking area, which was full! Brian dropped Dad and me off and waited for a space to become available. We walked up the steps and along the embankment towards a group of birders we could see in the distance. A quick scan and we spot the Teal. It's swimming back and forth along the shoreline on the opposite side from us. It was distant, but through the scope we managed to get excellent views. 

hand-held phone shot through the scope

Hirundines were seen in large numbers above the trees, mainly Sand Martins, but several Swallows and our first House Martins of the year were seen. Swifts were also seen for another addition to the year's total.

RSPB Lakenheath

This morning, we visited the RSPB nature reserve at Lakenheath. The Little Ouse River runs along its northern edge and forms the border between Suffolk and Norfolk. We followed the top path along the river towards Joist Fen viewpoint. The washland was quiet, but we noted Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Snipe, and Lapwings. Sedge Warblers were very vocal, singing from the reedbeds, and we heard our first Reed Warblers of the year. A pair of Garganey were found on a smaller body of water along the path from the washland. We heard several Bitterns "booming" but failed to see any Cranes on this visit. While looking for the cranes, we did find a Great White egret and two Cattle Egrets.

View from Joist Fen viewpoint

Whitethroat

View from the New Fen viewpoint

On the way home, we stopped at Cavenham Heath and found a single Wheatear, my first of the year. After many searches, I eventually found a single Stone Curlew. A Woodlark showed well among the grass, and Skylarks and Stonechats were much more abundant.

Booted Eagle, Manston Kent

A pale-morph Booted Eagle was first reported in Cornwall on January 12th, and it remained there until April 1st, with unconfirmed reports again on the 2nd and 4th. Brian had considered making the trip during this time, but the six hundred miles round trip and 12 hours of driving plus plenty going on at home always proved good reasons not to go. The bird had been missing since early April until yesterday evening when it was reported some 360 miles away in Broadstairs, Kent. It was first reported at 17.49 and seen several times during the next two hours until it tried to roost in trees along the railway embankment. Unfortunately, it was flushed by the local corvids and was last seen heading further west along the embankment. 

Broadstairs is eighty miles from home and much more appealing than the 300 miles to Cornwall. But would the eagle still be in the area? Brian was keen to make the trip, thinking that if we put ourselves in the area, we might have a chance if it appeared. After some doubts and several texts, I agreed to make the trip.

Brian picked me up at 5.30am, and we arrived in Broadstairs shortly before 7am. We had no clear idea where to park or which area to view. Luckily, as we approached the first roundabout, we saw Barry W and Jake set up on the grass bank. We joined them and were told that another eight birders were watching from Cliffsend. Two and a half hours later, Barry got a call that the eagle had been seen and was heading west towards Manston. We scanned the skies but failed to see the bird, so we drove into Manston village. Barry jumped in the car with us as he was in contact with the other birders through the Kent WhatsApp group. We scanned several areas, and at least fifteen Buzzards were seen from one layby and another six from another spot. Three Sparrowhawks, four Red Kites, and two Kestrels were also seen. But there was no sign of the eagle! We jumped back in the car, and as we drove along Spitfire Way, Barry got news that the eagle was in the air again with a Red Kite. As we headed back along the road, a Red Kite was spotted. We parked by the Polar helicopter entrance, jumped out of the car, and scanned the skies. At first, all we could see was a single Red Kite. After another scan, a second Red Kite was seen, and closely behind it was the eagle! We watched it for several minutes, managing good views through the bins and scope. It eventually drifted further north and was lost to view. It wouldn't be reported again today. The gamble had well and truly paid off. We dropped Barry back off at his car and headed home, eager to beat the Friday traffic through the Blackwall Tunnel. 

Barry and I watching the eagle 

Where we watched the eagle 

KGV Reservoir and Wanstead Flats

On the 9th of March, a Drake Garganey was reported on the north basin of the KGV Reservoir. When it was still being reported on the 12th, Brian and I walked the four miles around the south and north basins, but the Garganey proved very elusive and we failed to locate it. On the south basin, we found one of the Great Northern Divers and as we reached the causeway, we spotted one of the Black-necked Grebes. The north basin was more productive, we managed to find the other Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe along with the Slavonian Grebe. A drake Smew was showing relatively close as we approached the northern end. I managed to add two-year ticks from here, those being four Sand Martin seen flying across the bottom edge of the reservoir and a Raven was seen flying toward one of the buildings on the west side. It eventually landed on the tower platform. We could hear Red Kites calling from the trees on the opposite side of the River Lea and I took a photo of one of them through the scope. On the walk back we had good if distant views of a Black-throated Diver.

12th March

The Garganey was still being reported each day since our visit, so Brian and I revisited the site on the 12th. We saw a Great Northern Diver, Drake Scaup, and a Black-necked Grebe on the south basin on the walk up towards the causeway. As we approached the north end of the north basin we met three other birders who said they had seen the Garganey but that it had disappeared and not been refound since. We scanned every bird as we walked around the reservoir, but there was no sign of the Garganey. As we approached the causeway on the walk back we spotted the Slavonian Grebe and then as we scanned the south bank, there was the Garganey! It was asleep among a mixed group of Tufted Duck, Teal, and Gadwall. A Dunlin was also seen feeding along the edge of the causeway bank.

 

Garganey (centre of photo)

19th March

This morning Dad wanted to try to see a Little Owl, so with limited time we popped over to Wanstead and with some help from Marco we eventually managed to locate one among the ivy-clad trees. At first, it was well hidden among the leaves but it soon moved out onto the open branches.

Lee Valley and Walthamstow Wetlands

13th

A couple of local trips this past week, the first to Lee Valley to see a Green-winged Teal. It was reported to be on the "Goose Field Pond" I know this area very well, as it was my local patch for many years. We parked in the farm car park and walked across the bridge taking the path down towards the weir. We could see a small group of birders looking across the river as we approached. The Green-winged Teal was asleep at the back edge of the pond. 

Green-winged Teal

15th

Yesterday a Red-necked Grebe was reported on Lockwood Reservoir at Walthamstow Wetlands. It was still present at 5pm, so we decided to head over there early this morning. Walthamstow Wetlands is the largest European urban wetlands nature reserve, the size of 500 football pitches, and has ten reservoirs. Lockwood was the last to be created and it's the largest. 

We crossed the road from the gatehouse and walked towards the reservoir. Having climbed the steps It didn't take long to locate the grebe, it was still in the southern corner as of the previous day. 

Red-necked Grebe

A morning visit to Dungeness

Brian had a free morning today, so we decided to visit Dungeness. It was a frosty start, but dry and sunny. We stopped briefly at the gate along Dungeness Road and scanned new diggings. A Red-throated Diver was quickly spotted and Brian found the Long-tailed Duck soon afterwards. A nice start to the day with two new additions to the year list.

A seawatch from the beach was disappointing, virtually no wind, meant there was almost no movement of birds. The continued decommissioning of the power station meant no water was being pumped out from the two outflow pipes, which used to create the area known as "The Patch" The only sightings at sea were of 30-plus Red-throated Divers, large numbers of Cormorants, and several distant Gannets which was the only new addition to the year list. Two Peregrines were the only notable birds seen while walking back to the car.

At Scotney GP's we found a flock of fifty-plus Tree Sparrows and scanning the adjoining fields I spotted a ringtail Hen Harrier. It was quartering the surrounding fields and would flush huge numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover into the sky. At Cockles Bridge we added another year tick when we found four Cattle Egrets feeding among the sheep. Before heading home we drove around Walland Marsh and found the forty-eight Bewick's Swans and a single Yellowhammer among a finch flock.

The day produced seven new additions to the year list, Plenty of commoner birds are still absent from the year list. Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, and Barn Owl are all still missing from this year's list. 

Year list now stands at 137

Tundra Bean Goose, Wanstead Flats

On Sunday a Tundra Bean Goose was found by Tony B on Wanstead Flats. It was among a mixed flock of Greylag and Egyptian Geese. 

When it was reported early this morning Brian texted to say he was heading over there. He picked me up on the way and we were parked in the car park off Aldersbrook Road by 9.15. The flock had been reported west of Alexandra Lake, but only four Egyptian Geese were present when we arrived. We walked south behind the lake and located the goose flock on one of the football pitches in the distance. The Bean Goose was quickly found among them.

We stood with a group of six birders watching from a distance and the flock seemed relaxed and settled until a dog off the lead ran straight through the flock and up they went!

They flew off east but circled back and landed on Alexandra Lake. 

Tundra Bean goose

Yellow-browed Warbler: Verulamium Lake, St Albans

We had a free morning today, so headed into Hertfordshire and a visit to St Albans. All was going well until we tried to park the car. The parking meter wasn't working and the phone number they asked us to ring was proving very frustrating, so after downloading yet another parking app we could eventually walk out to Verulamium Lake. We had been told that the Yellow-browed Warbler had been seen again this morning in an Oak tree on the west side of the lake. We followed their directions "Walk along the west side of the lake and where the lake narrows there's a Willow tree on the water's edge, opposite that is the Oak tree the warbler was in" Unfortunately there was no sign of the bird when we arrived. We spent the next hour searching all the bushes and trees in the area, but there was still no sign. We had been talking to Rupert E the original finder, and as he started a circuit of the lake he called to say he had found it!

Yellow-browed Warbler

St Albans Cathedral was very close, We had been told that a Black Redstart had been showing at the west end of the Cathedral, and sure enough, it appeared within a small dark diamond-shaped vent within the tallest window underneath the cross. It had seemingly entered through a small broken pane and was according to locals feeding on Ladybird Larvae. This is probably the same bird we saw in January of the previous year feeding around the picnic area.

St Albans Cathedral

The dark diamond-shaped vent at the top

 

We had some time left and decided to visit Lemsford Springs. The 4 Hectare Nature Reserve is known for its Watercress beds, and the lagoons are fed by springs, so they never freeze in harsh weather. We met the warden Barry at the gate and gave him a small donation before heading along the track to the In Focus Hide. We were hoping to see Jack Snipe, and Barry had told us there was one on-site. We saw four Green Sandpipers which were very vocal, five Common Snipe, and a single Grey Wagtail. Eventually, we managed to locate the Jack Snipe, helped by a Green Sandpiper that walked into the channel it had been hiding behind.

All three target birds we set out to see this morning were seen, and the year list moves to 127.

Glaucous Gull: Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

This morning was our first full-day birding of the new year. We headed for Norfolk, the first stop being Old Hunstanton. We were hoping the Glaucous gull that had been present since the 11th of December would still be present. We parked near Hunstanton Golf Club and took the permissive footpath crossing the fairway towards the beach. I'd checked the tide times before setting off, it was low tide when we arrived, but I hadn't thought about the channels running from the sea straight up the beach to the dunes! Brian had wellies on so the channel was no problem, Dad and I only had walking boots on and didn't fancy wet feet all day. I  found an old plank of wood and put it across the channel which was enough to allow us to cross. We joined Brian, who had already seen the Glaucous Gull, but it had flown off in the direction of Holme! All we could do was wait and hope it would return. We scanned the shoreline and had views of Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Knot. A seawatch only produced Fulmars and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser. Brian had walked further along the beach and called to say he had found a flock of six shorelarks. There was still no sign of the Glaucous Gull, so Dad and I  walked back to scan through the gulls resting on the beach. Several scans later there was no sign, and then suddenly its head popped up above the shingle ridge. Another birder joined us and said he had watched it fly in while walking towards us.

Old Hunstanton Beach looking back towards the Lighthouse

Glaucous Gull

Brian had walked back towards a dead seal, hoping to photograph the gull on the carcass. While waiting, he called to say there was a Peregrine resting on the beach.

Peregrine

We stopped briefly at Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham. We walked over to three birders who were looking for the Long-billed Dowitcher. They were checking birds in the distance when one said "I don't know much, but could that be it" It was, and it was right by the fence!

Long-billed Dowitcher

Stiffkey was only five miles away. We parked behind the Red Lion pub and walked across the road to view the flood. We scanned the flood from the roadside and found the Ibis immediately. The Glossy Ibis was first seen here on November 5, 2023, and it's been almost ever-present since then. 

We spent the remainder of the day at Titchwell, enjoying views of Tawny Owl from the boardwalk. Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover, and four Red-breasted Mergansers were all seen on the Tidal marsh, and Common and Velvet Scoter were seen from the beach.