European Roller: Icklingham, Suffolk

Mid-morning on Wednesday a European Roller was reported along Icknield Way in Suffolk. Brian was already planning the trip, but unfortunately, I was unable to join him as I was awaiting a hospital follow-up phone call. 

The bird had stayed faithful to the same area throughout Thursday and when it was reported again today Brian offered to take us. It's a stunning looking bird and it tempted Robert to join us. Upon arrival, we found a parking spot in the overgrown layby opposite the sheep field and cautiously crossed the A1101 to join a small group of birders already viewing the bird. There were several natural gaps among the trees all along the front edge of the sheep field and all were occupied by birders.

The bird didn't disappoint and it gave stunning views throughout our visit. At one point it caught a worm and after returning to the telegraph wires made very short work of it.

This was only my second sighting of a Roller, the other being at Horsey in Norfolk back in 2013. The views at Horsey were at a much greater range however than this individual.

Below is the sheep field the Roller was frequenting. Using the trees and fence posts bordering the field and also the telegraph wires. 

Bee-eaters: Breydon,Water Norfolk

There were no plans this morning, but that soon changed when Brian rang and asked if I wanted to make the trip to Great Yarmouth and hopefully connect with the nine Bee-eaters that had been seen around the allotments at Gapton Hall.

We left at 9.30 and were expecting heavy traffic on route, thankfully we enjoyed a trouble-free journey and two hours later were pulling onto Gapton Hall Road, only to be told the Bee-eaters had flown off and had not been seen since! We walked to the allotments and began searching, Twenty minutes later another birder thought he had a single bird perched in a tree at some distance. 

We headed back to the car and drove round to the Rugby club car park and took the track leading towards the farm and was rewarded with stunning views.

River Warbler, Ham Wall

The River Warbler had been present since mid-day on Friday the 4th June and Brian had travelled down on Saturday to view it. He had given me the opportunity to travel with him but I had declined. I had received my 2nd Covid jab the previous day and having had complications from the first decided it would be safer to remain at home just in case it happened again. Thankfully I was fine, but I had missed the opportunity to add another lifer to my list. 

The Warbler had remained present throughout the whole of the following week and Brian kindly offered to drive back so I had a chance to view it.

We left at 4.30am Saturday morning, with 167 miles on the M25, M3 and A303 ahead of us. Checking on route for any news of the bird's presence. Thankfully as we neared Ham Wall news came through that the Warbler was indeed still present. 

We headed off along the footpath and as we crossed the 2nd bridge we could already hear the River Warbler Reeling. The bird was showing to within 2-3 metres of the footpath as we joined the line of birders already present. We stayed for over 3 hours and the bird showed for the majority of that time. There were brief spells where it would drop out of sight, but would soon reappear at the top of a reed stem and start reeling again. Several Bitterns were heard Booming and two individuals were seen in flight. Great White Egrets were plentiful and were seen in flight frequently.

River Warbler

The return journey home was broken up by a stop at Thursley Common. Where we heard and soon viewed several Dartford Warblers on the heathland. Our other target, Redstart proved much more challenging, but we eventually had good views of two males. The small pools dotted around the heath were a magnet for Hobbies with several close encounters during the visit. Cuckoos were calling close by and a single Woodlark was found feeding on the ground close to the car park. 

Thursley Common

The life list now sits at 397, slowing edging towards the 400 target.

Collared Pratincoles, Dungeness

We set off early this morning with clear skies overhead, but as we approached Dungeness we found a thick sea mist had descended over ARC Pit. Hanson hide was still closed, so we headed along the shingle path towards the viewing screen. This screen was also boarded up but a short distance beyond it we found our target bird, a Glossy Ibis. Luckily it was relatively close to the bank enabling us to pick it out through the thick mist.

We returned to the reserve and although the main gate was still locked the public footpath was open. We joined three other birders along the track, all hoping the Collared Pratincoles present yesterday had stayed overnight. The mist made visibility challenging, but we managed to pick out a couple of Great White Egrets. There had been no sign of the Pratincoles until the warden came down the track to tell us two had been seen flying over the sheep fields bordering the path to Denge Marsh. We quickly spotted one and then two birds hawking over the fields. The mist had by this time cleared and unbelievably a third bird appeared! Before leaving we had several sightings of all three birds in the same field of view.

Collared Pratincole

We headed for the beach, but the mist was so heavy sea-watching was impossible. We got lucky when a single Sandwich Tern flew along the beach for a much-needed addition to the year list.

We dropped in at Oare Marsh on the way home and with the help of a local birder managed to scope a distant Turtle Dove perched on a telegraph pole. and a male Eider was found resting on a shingle bank at the mouth of the creek for an unexpected year tick.

Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Spurn. A Day late again!

Having left home at 4am, we were approaching Kilnsea when news came through on the pager that a Purple Heron had just flown over the "Triangle". As I was reading the news out the bird flew directly overhead and seemed to land behind us at Kilnsea Wetlands. Shortly after parking the car, the Purple Heron was again seen in flight, pursued by a Grey Heron. 

We didn't know at the time but this was to be the highlight of our time spent at Spurn. We walked along the beach and headed towards Middle Camp. But after two hours of searching, it was clear the target bird had moved on overnight!

The walkout to Middle Camp

Disappointed we decided to head up to Bempton Cliffs, which was our original destination when leaving home this morning. 

Bempton Cliffs

Arriving at midday we quickly added Tree Sparrow to the year list. The hedges bordering the overflow car parks were alive with them.

We were hoping to see Puffins and looking over the platform we found two resting on the nearest cliff ledge, with several more loafing on the sea below. A Barn Owl made a brief appearance, hunting along the edge of the top field. 

The cliffs and sea were alive with thousands of Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars, and kittiwakes.

Although we dipped the Eastern Subalpine Warbler we still had a cracking day. 

The four-hour return journey home was broken up by a detour to Rutland Water where we enjoyed views of a pair of Osprey feeding a chick.

Gannet

Razorbill

Dipping a Tawny Pipit!

Setting off this morning we were hoping to connect with the Tawny Pipit at Cogden. Stopping on route at Longham Lakes we found the Whiskered Tern resting on a buoy in the middle of the south lake. It soon took to the air and made several circuits of the lake but always remained distant during our visit.

Whiskered Tern

At Cogden we parked up in the National Trust car park and walked the shingle beach. A small group of birders were already doing the same. Although two birders thought they had seen a fleeting glimpse of the Pipit, we failed to find it and after two hours of searching decided to head towards Portland, stopping on the way at Ferrybridge where several Little terns were present for another addition to the year list.

Cogden

At Portland, we heard news of a Chough being present, and after walking towards the "Hut Fields" we found the Chough busily feeding on the cliff edge.

Chough feeding area

Chough

On the walk along the seafront, we encountered several Rock Pipits, which entertained us by displaying in the sky and then parachuting back down among the rocks. 

Rock Pipit

Scanning the sea from Portland Bill we saw numerous Guillemots and Razorbills resting on the sea and several were also seen on Pulpit Rock. A single Shag was also seen flying through adding to the day's total and the year list.

A report of a Roseate Tern present among the Common Terns at Lodmoor persuaded us to make a brief stop before heading for home, but we failed to find it and it was later reported in the bay at Greenhill.

The Tawny Pipit will have to go on my dipped list having failed to find it, and the fact it wasn't reported all day may mean it had moved on the previous evening. 

Although we dipped the tawny Pipit it was good to be at the coast again and I managed to add six additions to my year list while enjoying some fantastic scenery.

Woodchat Shrike, Rochford

On the journey home from Frampton yesterday, news filtered through of an adult Woodchat Shrike present at Rochford in Essex. Having only seen one before in this country, a juvenile at Chipping Sodbury in 2017, I was very keen to see an adult bird, and the fact it was in my home County strengthened my feelings. Unfortunately, the diversion from where we were would have added at least two more hours onto our journey, so we decided to wait and hope it stayed overnight.

Fortunately, it was quickly found this morning and we were soon heading along the M25 and A127 towards Rochford. We Parked in Mill Lane and from here it was a short walk along the public footpath to a small gathering of birders standing along the far edge of the field. The shrike was spotted before we joined them. When the wind became stronger the shrike would shelter lower down among the branches, occasionally reappearing in the more open areas only to disappear again.

Woodchat Shrike

Time was limited, but Wallasea was only 5 miles away, so we had time for a brief visit. We were hoping to see Corn Bunting and luckily we found one sitting in a bush very close to the entrance track.

It was a brief trip this morning but a rewarding one with a new addition to my Essex list and two to my year list.