Waders at KGV Reservoir

Brian and I made another early visit to KGV Reservoir this morning, arriving at 6am. I was hoping to add Arctic Tern to my year list, and after a couple of scans of the south basin, we did just that. Three flew past us at close range, but carried on heading north. Another Scan of the south basin revealed seven Common Terns resting on the buoys. Scanning the eastern bank as we walked towards the causeway added a new site tick for me when we found two Whimbrel. A single Oystercatcher flew across the basin heading south, and a single Common Sandpiper was also seen.

As we approached the north-east corner of the north basin, we could see some waders resting on the bank. Looking through the scope, we could see several Common Sandpipers and two Greenshanks. We counted sixteen Common Sandpipers before a Thames Water vehicle came along the top path and flushed them all. Other birds seen during the four-mile walk were Peregrine, Cuckoo, Yellow, and Grey Wagtails, Redshank, and Wheatear.

Greenshank & Common Sandpiper

Whimbrel

Grey Wagtail

The same afternoon, while sitting at home, a Hoopoe was reported at Hunsdon in Hertfordshire. Only 14 miles from home, I phoned Brian to ask if he fancied going. As soon as he agreed, we met up and headed towards Hunsdon. We found the parking area without any trouble, but finding the footpath proved more challenging. Luckily, a birder returning to his car gave us directions, and we were soon looking across a large lawn running alongside a stream. The Hoopoe was seen immediately, but remained distant throughout our visit. It spent the entire time we were there feeding along the bottom of the tall hedge in the middle of the photo. The homeowner was happy for us to stand at the bottom of the garden, but didn't want people walking across his lawn, so we stayed an hour or so before heading home.

The garden

Tawny Pipit, Landguard NR

I awoke this morning with no intention of going birding, but that all changed when I checked the news services and saw a Tawny Pipit reported at Landguard in Suffolk. The first report was vague to say the least. It just said "Tawny Pipit, Languard, one". Not knowing if this was just a flyover, I decided to wait for a second report. Once a second report came through, it was time to phone Brian. I  knew he had been on the school run with his grandchildren, and when I rang him, he was at Rainham Marshes. "Tawny Pipit at Landguard, are we going?"  Of course, the answer was yes. 

We arranged to meet Brian in Brentwood, and Brian drove the remaining seventy-five miles to Languard. After parking the car, we headed out onto the common towards the roped-off area. There was a small group of birders already present. We were told the bird hadn't been seen for 10-15 minutes, but was probably below the bank. Thirty minutes passed, and suddenly the bird appeared. We enjoyed watching it for several minutes, until a Ringed Plover flushed it. 

The bird was found again on the common, where it stayed for a few minutes before heading back into the roped-off area. The bird became more elusive and wasn't seen again before the car park ticket ran out.

Brian had dipped this species twice before, and I was with him when we made the trip to Cogden in Dorset the day it decided to leave, having been present for five days previously!

Tawnt Pipit

Can you see it?

Rainham Marshes & Red-rumped Swallow at KGV

Recently, it's been all local birding, Roding Valley, KGV Reservoir, or Rainham Marshes. This morning, Brian and I spent the morning at Rainham. Yesterday, he'd seen a Spotted Redshank on Wennington Marsh, and I was hoping it had stayed overnight. Walking to Serin Mound, we found the Spotted Redshank still feeding in what was now a very small patch of water. From here, we crossed the road and headed up the slope, and quickly added another year tick when we spotted a Corn Bunting perched on a scaffold pole. A Wheatear was also seen as we descended the slope back towards the reserve.

We walked the sea wall, noting Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, and Ringed Plover out in the bay. The bushes and scrub areas were alive with Cetti's Warblers, Blackcaps, Wrens, Sedge Warblers, and Common Whitethroats. We stopped by the turnstile and added Garden and Willow Warbler to the year list. Then I heard the reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler, which I believe is the first record for Rainham this year. A couple of Common Terns were flying around the sailing club, and a Great Egret flew overhead. The threatening dark grey skies had now turned to rain, so we headed for the car. 

News came through of a Red-rumped Swallow at KGV, so we decided to head that way and hope for a second report. That report duly came, so off we went. The bird had been reported at the north-east end of the north basin, as far from the entrance gate as possible. As we reached the causeway, we stopped to chat with the finder Ian L, who told us the bird was still present. We'd scanned through every hirundine we saw on the way up in case it had flown our way. We reached the north-east corner, expecting to find several birders, but there wasn't a single birder present. There were large numbers of hirundines flying along the channel and along the reservoir bank, but we couldn't find the red-rumped among them. Then, suddenly, the swallows gained height and headed east!

We were joined by three other birders, and another three were scanning from within Stewardstone Marsh. We spent another hour looking through all the hirundines still present without any luck. Then we got a call to say the Red-rumped had been seen at the causeway. But as we reached the causeway, we were told the bird had flown off south! We were about to give up when it was spotted heading straight towards us. It flew around our heads, giving fantastic views before heading back north.