Common Nighthawk ( Lifer) IN Oxfordshire.

Just about to settle down to read my morning paper, when we get a phone call from Brian saying have you seen it yet, no is the answer what is it, he tells us to stand by as a lifer has been found in Oxfordshire and if it gets confirmed we will shoot off for it

A Common Nighthawk had settled on a garden fence at 7 Springfield Road.

It was reported at 11.56 am and we wait till it is reported again and that is all we need to set off for it, we meet up and are on our way by 12.30, it's 90 miles away and we have a trouble-free journey, and arrive around 2 pm, the parking is easy and only 5 minutes from the bird. 

A fellow was waiting at the top of the road with a bucket for a £10 donation to stand in the road to view the Nighthawk sitting on a garden fence, with the fee paid we are all watching another Lifer and only 10 yards away from us.

It's a cracking-looking bird and is not disturbed by the large crowd that was building very fast.

While we were looking at the Nighthawk I would say a crowd of two hundred or so had made their way to see the bird by the first hour that we were there. A nice crowd with many familiar faces, always nice to meet up with them.

Nighthawk

A nice day birding at Dungeness.

We decided to have a day at a favorite place of ours Dungeness in Kent.

Galloways is first up as Jimmy and myself need Whinchat for a year tick and it is not long before we see a few flying from bush to bush along with many Stonechat and the odd Whitethroat.

It's up to the beach hide now, with not much wind and no locals about, hopes are not high.

After an hour or so things start to move, a flock of Scoters passes by then a few Gannets.

One Arctic Skua is seen and over the time spent on the beach, we see another 11.

An adult Pom Skua flys past.A Sparrowhawk is seen heading out to sea and an Oystercatcher was also seen. Seals and Porpoise and the odd Guillemot add to a nice morning.

We had been joined by a few more birders, so nice to have a chat with them before it's off to Boulderwall farm which is just inside the reserve entrance gate.

First, we spot a Great-white Egret quickly followed by a Glossy Ibis, and while watching them at least 9 Cattle Egret fly in and land, so a nice little stop here.

We hardly ever go onto the reserve and instead head back over the road to Hanson hide.

This was a pleasant surprise as the scrapes looked really great after some work was done on them.

A Snipe was showing well right in front of the hide and the cameras were clicking away.

Looking out over the scrapes the best bird we see is a Black Tern and that was later joined by another one.

A large flock of Golden Plover had settled on a scrape and 4 Common Sandpipers were showing well. Ringed Plover and Black-tailed Godwit are seen.

Then we spot a Little Stint to round off a really nice day. We end up with 3-year ticks and that was good as all we wanted was a nice day out and that's what we had.

 

The Snipe in front of the hide.

One-off the Whinchat

A Sparrowhawk was seen on a drive around.

Dungeness

Again Dungeness away from the beach.