Green -winged and Blue-winged Teals

Having spent the morning putting the finishing touches to Dad's new front gates and fence, we headed for Wilstone Reservoir which is part of a complex of reservoirs known as Tring Reservoirs. We were in search of a drake Green-winged Teal. After climbing the forty-two steps we headed round to the hide and quickly located the Teal in front of one of the islands. It was distant for photos but we enjoyed super scope views.

Green-winged Teal

View from the hide

A Blue-winged Teal had been reported at Marlow and we were now only 20 miles from the site.  We used the car park along Pound Lane, but we could have parked along Lower Pound Lane. We followed the track past the kissing gate for around 800m and found the Lower Grounds Pools. The Teal was feeding along the edge of the reeds on the right-hand pool. It was the only bird present on that pool.

There is some debate as to the credentials of this bird, but it's on my year list unless it's proven not to be.

Belted Kingfisher. Samlesbury, Lancashire

On the 8th of November last year, a birder/fisherman was spending the day fishing on the River Ribble in Lancashire when a Belted Kingfisher came flying down the river towards him! You can read his account of the sighting here. There were a few sceptical remarks about the sighting but after no further confirmed sightings for sixteen days the bird was finally found in a tree bordering the River Ribble north-east of Brockholes LWT. To have any chance of seeing the bird you needed to navigate a steep muddy vertical slope and there were also warnings about keeping an eye on rising water levels. 

The last sightings at Brockhill were on the 30th of November, and it wasn't until the 20th of December that the bird was again found. This time along the River Darwen at Samlesbury. The bird could be very elusive, with numerous birders dipping it and having to make several trips before eventually connecting with it. 

We had resisted the temptation of making the trip for nearly five months with many contributing factors stopping us, but today we cracked and made the trip. 

We left at 2am and despite a detour off the M6, we arrived around 6am. We climbed the bridleway, walked through the metal gate, and headed around the edge of the field to the viewing area. We were the only birders present at this time. I had just set the scope up when we heard the distinctive call of the Belted Kingfisher. A quick scan and Brian found it perched in a tree bordering the river. We enjoyed fantastic views of the bird as it began fishing and returning to riverside branches. We also heard it calling several times. 

We left and headed back to the car, but before leaving we scanned the river from Roach Bridge and found pairs of Dipper and Grey Wagtail.

River Darwen from Roach Bridge

We drove the eighteen miles towards Banks Marsh, hoping to connect with a Snow Goose, not really having or knowing the exact location we needed. We took a chance and parked at Old Hollow Farm and walked up the bank to view the marshes. Within seconds I had spotted the Snow Goose. We were thinking we might get a very distant view of a white dot among the many thousands of Pink-footed Geese but we were viewing the bird at relatively close range. We also enjoyed views of a Todd's Canada Goose after meeting and getting directions from the original finder of both birds further along the grass bank.

Snow Goose

At the metal gates before the car park, we watched Tree Sparrows collecting nesting material and heading for nearby nest boxes. Brian walked the grass bank eastwards looking for Twite and spotted a Merlin perched on a post. As we joined him to view the Merlin the twite flock was found and they took flight when the Merlin came hurtling through them. The flock headed back towards the entrance gates and we followed them.

Twite

Little Owl, Wanstead

The improvements in weather conditions recently tempted us to go looking for Little owls at Wanstead Flats today. We only had an hour to search for them, so we began in an area where we had seen them on previous visits. As we entered the small copse I managed to spot a single bird perched in the fork of a tree high up.

Having spotted the Little Owl so quickly allowed us time to go searching for Wheatear, on the walk around the Skylark fenced-off area we bumped into Marco, who took us to the area he had seen Wheatear in a short time before. A quick scan of the area and the wheatear was soon found. 

Wheatear

White-tailed Plover, Frampton Marsh

We arrived at Frampton Marsh around 7.30am and shortly after leaving the car park we met another birder who informed us he had seen the White-tailed Plover on North Scrape and it was showing well from East Hide. As this was our main target for the day we headed straight round to East Hide. Upon entering the hide the plover was indeed showing well, busily feeding among the mud and reeds. It was much closer than I was expecting it to be. 

We had seen this same bird at Blacktoft Sands in Yorkshire back in November last year, but at a much greater distance than today. After leaving the hide we scanned the South Scrape and managed to find three Little Stints and two Little Ringed Plovers, both additions to the year list.

We walked the sea wall back towards the main track and found a single Whimbrel out on the saltmarsh and Spotted Redshank and a drake Garganey on the pools of Marsh Farm grasslands.

A very enjoyable few hours, with stunning views of the White-tailed Plover and we managed six new additions to the year list. 

Breckland Birding, In search of Goshawks

It's been a frustrating few days, Storm Eunice bringing 70 mph winds, heavy rain, hailstones, and fallen trees. Having checked the weather forecast last night, there seemed to be a vast improvement, with clear skies and sunny spells throughout the morning, giving us a chance to go searching for Goshawks. We set off early and arrived just after first light at Santon Downham, hoping to connect with Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The walk down to the Little Ouse River gave super viewing of several singing Woodlarks.

We walked our normal route looking and listening for any presence of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Robert spotted a single bird high up on a broken tree branch. thankfully it stayed long enough for all to enjoy. We spent the next hour watching both male and female birds coming to various trees, with almost constant drumming throughout.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

With an eye on the weather, we set off in search of Goshawks. Reaching the site we joined a small group of birders and began scanning the distant trees. It wasn't long before we were enjoying our first views of Goshawks. Plenty of Buzzards were present and we watched a Goshawk mobbing a Buzzard several times. We followed one Goshawk flying low across the treetops and watched it land at the top of a pine tree, giving some fantastic scope views. Some of the best views of Goshawks I have ever had. A couple of hours later, we decided to leave, but as we were about to drive off another birder called us back saying he had spotted a White-tailed Eagle flying among the Buzzards! We all jumped out and enjoyed good if brief views of the bird before it disappeared north.

Brian reported the Eagle sighting and received news back that it was G463 a male from the IOW reintroduction programme. It was the first of the IOW eagles to cross the English Channel last year spending time in France and Denmark before returning to England.

Goshawk perched in treetops

Lynford is about eight miles away and would be our final stop before heading home. As we approached the car park, there was a small group of birders looking closely at some ivy-clad trees. We joined them and were told they had seen a Firecrest. We could see it flitting about among the ivy and soon it popped out onto the outer branches.

Firecrest

After spending some time enjoying the Firecrest we scanned the feeding area by the wooden gate. It was alive with birds, Plenty of Yellowhammer, Brambling, Siskin, Nuthatch, and Coal Tit were seen and a single Hawfinch also dropped in to take advantage of the scattered seed.

Both main targets were seen and both gave stunning views, along with a supporting cast that only added to a super day's birding.

American Robin: Eastbourne, East Sussex

The last twitchable American Robin on the UK mainland was back in 2010 when one was present from the 10th-18th November in Exeter, Devon. At that time I had just began to travel further afield from my local patch, but a 400 mile and 8-hour return trip in a day didn't even enter our thoughts at that time. However, I didn't think it would be over 11 years before I had another chance of seeing one!

I was sitting at home yesterday when news broke of an American Robin present in Eastbourne. The bird wasn't reported until 3.46pm. With no chance of getting there before dusk, we had two choices, either wait for positive news or go and hope it was still present. We left at 5.15am and received positive news as we were approaching Eastbourne. There were roughly 40 birders already present and we were told the Robin was in or around the bushes behind the garages of the cul-de-sac. It didn't take long before I had my first view of an American Robin, but it was fleeting and not the view I had hoped for! Thankfully during the morning, the bird was seen multiple times giving fantastic scope views perched up in various trees and bushes. 

 

Plenty of familiar faces were seen today and some names put to others, Birding trips to residential areas are not my favourite, but there was no hint of any problems from birders and the locals were very friendly with some taking the opportunity to look through my scope to view the bird. I hope this continues and everyone who visits in the coming days behaves responsibly and respects the surroundings and the residents. 

Birders and residents viewing the bird

While watching the Robin we realised that the Hooded Crow at Polegate was only four miles away. A quick drive along the A2270 and A27 and we had spotted the Crow in the trees behind the Mcdonald's before parking the car.

Hooded Crow

On the way home, we took a short detour to Iford, and although we took the wrong path we managed to pick out the Bean Geese among the White-fronted Geese along the track from the church.

American Robin was right up there on my wish list, and it didn't disappoint.

King George V and Abberton Reservoirs, Essex

Friday 4th

An hour or two on Friday was spent walking the South basin of the KGV Reservoir. A smart-looking Black-necked Grebe was found in the southwest corner for a welcome addition to the year list. We scanned the North basin from the causeway and picked out two Scaup among a large raft of Tufted Ducks, and the Red-necked Grebe first seen on the 11th December was also found, this time in the Southeast corner of the North basin, possibly pushed onto the North basin by the presence of windsurfers.

Scaup

Black-necked Grebe

Saturday 5th

This morning we visited Abberton Reservoir and found a single Red Crested Pochard among the rafts of Tufted Ducks and Pochard. Six Cattle Egret were still present at the farm and the viewing area at Abberton Church proved productive with Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe both found in front of the pumping station and eight Bewick's Swan were also seen from here.

Cattle |Egret

Snipe

We returned to Layer Breton Causeway and found the Long-tailed Duck among the massive rafts of Tufted Ducks and Pochard that had moved across from the main reservoir. It was still some distance from the causeway.

Long-tailed Duck

The White-fronted Geese however were very close to the causeway, and within the flock of thirty-one White-fronts, there was a single Pink-footed Goose. On the opposite side of the causeway, we counted at least seven Great Egrets and found a redhead Smew feeding in front of the reeds.

White-fronted and Pink-footed Geese

Smew

A cold but very enjoyable morning, two new additions to the year list brought up the 150, but it was nice just to enjoy some close views of some special birds.