Lesser Yellowlegs: Titchwell, Norfolk

We arrived at Titchwell at around 6am to find it completely devoid of people. The reserves birdlife, however, was thriving.
The reduced water levels on the Freshwater Marsh had attracted plenty of waders. However with the sun already up, viewing conditions were challenging, so we headed towards the beach. A brief scan produced good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Oystercatchers, Sanderling and small numbers of Common Scoter.
Tidal Marsh held over forty Little Egrets, the highest numbers of Little Egrets I've ever seen in one location. With some cloud cover appearing, we made our way back to the Freshwater Marsh and quickly located the Lesser Yellowlegs out on the Tern Island. It was quite some distance from the hide, but Brian managed to grab the record shot below.

Along with the Lesser Yellowlegs, several other wader species were present including Black-tailed & Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Green & Common Sandpipers, Redshank & Spotted redshank, Dunlin Ruff, Avocet, Grey & Golden Plover and five Spoonbills.
Common Terns were present and a single Little Gull was found. Bearded Tits were "pinging" all around us and would regularly be seen dropping down onto the mud from the reed fringes.

Cley proved to be less productive. While scanning through the numerous Green Sandpipers trying and failing to turn one of them into a Wood Sandpiper a guy thought he had re-found the previous days Buff-breasted Sandpiper. This, unfortunately, turned out to be a Knot. Cley did, however, give us views of a stunning male Spotted Redshank. Whimbrel and Greenshank also added to the day's list total.

Little Stint: KGV Reservoir, Chingford

A Little Stint had been reported this morning at the KGV Reservoir in Chingford. Although only a few miles from home, I was unable to make the trip until this afternoon.

The Stint had been reported on the South basin along the edge of the causeway towards the Western edge. Upon arrival, we headed up the ramp and walked the reverse of our normal route scanning as we went. Along the Southern edge, we found 2 Common Sandpiper but little else. At the causeway, I scanned the edges several times but failed to find the Little Stint. Common Sandpipers were dotted all the way along this edge. Amongst the Common Sandpipers, I could hear a Green Sandpiper calling, but couldn't find it among the Common.

We decided to head back round to the sailing club hut and scan for the Stint from there. Several more Common Sandpipers were found along the edges and on the tyres of the platforms. 

Having almost given up on finding the Stint we began the walk back towards the ramp and watched three birds drop in, in front of us. And we're surprised to find the Little Stint feeding with two Common Sandpipers!

A trip just a few miles from home had produced the target bird and also 15-20 Common Sandpipers. I couldn't find the Black Tern that had also been reported but did finally manage to find the Green Sandpiper that I heard calling earlier.

Red-necked Phalarope, Oare Marshes

It's been a while but we finally managed some birding today. An early morning trip to Oare Marshes was our destination hoping the previous days reported Red-necked Phalarope had stayed overnight.

The journey was hassle free until we turned off the M2 at junction 6 to find the road completely closed! 

Luckily it wasn't a long detour and we were soon parked up along the entrance track at Oare. As soon as I stepped out of the car the Phalarope was seen, swimming and feeding right in front of the viewpoint. 

Red-necked Phalarope

A scan of East Flood also produced 10 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtail,

and at least 15 Little Egrets. 3 Little Stints had been reported the previous day, but scanning the flood several times we failed to locate any.

We left Oare and headed for Pegwell Bay, and found the small body of water behind the Jet garage easily enough. Unfortunately, the Pec Sandpiper was nowhere to be seen.

A  final stop off at Rainham Marshes also proved disappointing as we searched for and dipped the Marsh Sandpiper in the increasingly heavy rain.

The Marsh Sandpiper would be reported later in the day from Cliffe Pools!

So a mixed day, but it was just good to be out birding again.

Bonaparte's Gull returns for 6th year!

On the 7th June, the Bonaparte's gull was reported back at Oare Marshes. Having first appeared at Oare on the 22nd May 2013, if as seems more likely than not it's the same individual it has returned this year for its 6th consecutive year.

This morning we made the trip to Oare and immediately connected with it. It was busy feeding on the mud just East of the slipway. We watched it for 20-30 minutes before it took flight and headed across the Swale towards the Isle of Sheppey.

The stats on the Bonapartes Gull at Oare with first and last dates reported for previous years.

22nd May - 15th August 2013

17th  July - 7th September 2014

20th  June - 23rd August 2015

08th  July - 5th September 2016

08th  July - 6th September 2017

With little activity on East Flood, we headed back up the road and found a Turtle Dove feeding on some waste ground and Brian located a Little owl perched in a tree close to the hide overlooking East Flood.

A short detour while on route to Elmley added a second-year tick and eventually some nice views of a Spotted Flycatcher.

Spotted Flycatcher

The drive along the entrance track at Elmley produced several sightings of Yellow Wagtails along with Skylark, Corn Buntings Lapwings, Redshank, Marsh Harrier and Hare.

Skylark

Hare

A Hit and Dip day at Dungeness

We started the day at Rye Harbour hoping the Terek Sandpiper had stayed overnight. Unfortunately, after a two-hour search, there was no sign of the bird. The islands on Ternery Pool held impressive numbers of Med Gulls and Sandwich Terns. Two Common Sandpipers, six Ringed Plovers several calling Cuckoos and single Little Ringed Plover and Black-tailed Godwit were the best we could manage.

Dungeness was more rewarding with a smart Kentish Plover dropping onto a small shingle island on Burrowes Pit. We enjoyed some nice scope views before making room for the growing crowds. A Hoopoe had been present the previous day along Dengemarsh Road so that was our next destination. After negotiating the narrow roads, busier than normal today due to the fact that there was a triathlon taking place, we pulled up along Dengemarsh Road. Birders already on site had seen the bird and gave us a general area of where it had last been seen. After 20-30 minutes of scanning the fields, the Hoopoe suddenly flew up and was promptly harassed by the local Magpies. It circled back around and landed briefly in the sheep field before taking flight again.

A brief drive along the entrance track at Elmley on the way home gave a few photo opportunities. A Little Egret was busy trying to catch small fish. Which it did easily and frequently.

Elmley is normally a good place to see Yellow Wagtails, and one individual showed well on a gate post.

A Corn Bunting showed well on a roadside post.

There was also plenty of evidence of successful breeding seasons of lapwings and Redshanks and Coots, with plenty of youngsters seen.

Redshank chick

Coot chick

A morning visit to RSPB Lakenheath

We spent a very enjoyable morning at Lakenheath today. Starting with a quick look at the new photography hide, which looks out onto a small area with feeders and some positioned perches with mature trees bordering the back and one side.

New photography hide 

Cuckoos were calling throughout the visit and we enjoyed some nice flight views of two birds. Bitterns were heard "booming" regularly and we had flight views of three individuals from Fen Hide and Joist Fen and also found another Bittern sitting among the reeds from Fen Hide. A single Hobby was seen flying across the reeds and we managed good scope views when it landed in a tree West of the viewpoint. The reedbeds were alive with Reed and Sedge Warblers as well as Reed Bunting and Whitethroats. Several Bearded Tits were also heard "pinging". On the return walk, Brian picked out a drake Garganey on the flood for another year tick. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the morning was when the warden decided to use the toilets and found a live mole running around inside the cubicle!

Purple Heron and Dotterel in Norfolk

As we approached Norfolk this morning, we decided to switch our plans and head first for Cley hoping to connect with the Purple Heron. Parking up along Beach Road we walked up the steps onto the West Bank and joined a small group of birders already present. The late change of plans paid off immediately as the Purple Heron was seen in the ditch. It soon took to the air and landed in the middle of Cricket Marsh. The local Lapwings began to harass it and it quickly took flight again heading towards the far side of the field and landing among the reeds.

Purple Heron

We left Cley and headed West towards Docking. Parking up along Choseley Road we began scanning the fields for any signs of the previous days reported Dotterel. Two Grey Partridge, two Wheatear, two Oystercatcher and a single Golden Plover were found before the three Dotterel were found. It was only 8.30am and both targets had already been seen. 

Titchwell was only a short drive away and we decided to spend the rest of our time here. Red-crested Pochard was added to the year list with two birds seen. The Freshmarsh held good numbers of Sandwich Terns and also two Little Gulls and at least three Common Sandpipers.

Common Sandpiper

A scan of the flooded fields on the Thornham side of the main path produced a single Spoonbill. Three Little Terns were seen from the beach for another year tick along with Knot, Sanderling and Turnstones and a Grey Seal was watched as it hauled itself onto the beach and promptly went to sleep.