Dipped Song Sparrow so had a great day at Bempton Cliffs

Brian phoned late Tuesday morning. Do we want to head up to Thornwick for a lifer Song Sparrow? Jimmy and I are in two minds, and Brian is unsure, so we decided to wait until the next morning.  

We set out at 4am and arrive at Bempton around 8am There is no report of the Sparrow,  we 

Decided to visit the cliffs in the hope that the Song Sparrow would be refound, and we are only minutes away if that happens.

As soon as we are parked up, we spot many Tree sparrows, and as we walk down to the sea, a Barn Owl gives a good display.

Once we overlook the cliffs, hundreds of seabirds are flying around and nesting on the cliffs: Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, and the wonderful Gannets.

We spend a few hours watching the fantastic spectacle this place offers, all the time watching for news of the lifer up the road, sad to say, looks like the bird had flown over night, so a bad dip, and next time, drop everything if possible and go there and then. 

We leave Bempton around lunchtime and head back down the A1 and stop off at Welbeck.

A few birders were already there, and we spent 2 hours looking for a Honey Buzzard without any showing. One of the fellows had been here since 9am and was still there when we left at 4 PM without seeing one. While here we do get to tick a Quail in the field opposite.

A little detour to Rutland gets us Osprey at Manton Bay, 2 adults with 2 chicks in the nest.

                                                                     

                                                                        

                                                                  

Puffin

   

                                                                      

Razobill

                                                                       

                                                                           

Treesparrow

                                                                      

Fulmar

                                                                

Gannet

White winged black Tern. Fen Drayton.

We hear of a White winged black Tern at Fen Drayton in Cambridge, Brian is free, and I have a few hours before picking up two of my grandchildren, 

So we meet up and head up to Cambridge on the M11; it's an hour's drive, so not a long trip.

We park and meet up with a local birder, who walks with us to Drayton Lake, where the bird had been spotted. 

As we arrive, we are told the bird had flown to the other lake, so off we go to find it, but as we head over there, we get about halfway when we are told it had flown back to the first lake.

Back at the lake, we get to see the Tern within minutes. It flies up and down the lake, and we get great views, but it never comes close to the bank.

We spent some time watching the  Tern before heading off to look for the reported Turtle Dove

But it never showed, and I don't think it was found on the day. Only one tick for the day, but a nice little trip with the time we had.

                                                                  

                                                       

 The White winged Black Tern, as near as it got to us.

Spotted Sandpiper and Great Reed Warbler, Cambridgeshire.

A surprise call from Brian asking if we wanted to head to Cambridgeshire for the Spotted Sandpiper, the surprise was that he had already been and seen the Sandpiper.  Both Jimmy and I were free, so we met up and set off to Grafham Water. As we get near, it comes out as not having been seen, so we head instead to RSPB Ouse Fen to try to get me a tick that the boys had already seen.  

With the car parked, we walk a short way down a grass track to Cranes Fen, and as we near the end of the track, we hear the Great-Reed Warbler calling long and loud, and then we get some really good sightings of it. 

I also get a tick when a single Crane flies along the tree line over the reeds and lands out of sight.

Next, we see a lot of Hobbies and we pick out a single Red-footed Falcon amongst them for another year tick.

We see that the Spotted Sandpiper has been seen again. So off we go to Grafham Water and park at Plummer car park.

Just a short walk and we spot the bird in a sheltered corner of the reservoir and get a cracking view of the first one with spots on. We have seen a couple of them, but only first-year birds with no spots. What a cracking-looking bird. 

                                                             

                                                             

The Spotted Sandpiper.

                                                                  

                                                                         

The Great Reed Warbler.

                                                                   

Minsmere, KGV res, and trip to Cambridge.

A short trip over the KGV reservoir with the boys gets me three year ticks. We walk up the ramp, and as soon as we scan the reservoir, we find seven Black Terns flying over the water. We are only on them briefly before they fly up high and away from view, and never come back while we are here.   

As we walk around, I get a tick when we spot 3 Common Sandpipers, and a Lesser Whitethroat gives me tick number 3.  On the walk round, we meet up with Stewart and Harry, always nice to see them.

Next up, we plan a trip to Minsmere in Suffolk. 

On the way into the car park, we stop by a gate where we have seen Stone Curlews before and get lucky when we have a good view of one in the scope, not needed for a tick, but always good to spot such a funny-looking bird.

We head up to the east hide, along the smart boardwalk that saves us having to walk along the sand, so much easier on the old legs.

In the hide, we soon see Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern for a couple of ticks. Bartail and Blacktail Godwits in nice colour, along with Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, show well.

A birder upstairs calls out that he has a Wood Sandpiper in view, so we shoot up there and all three of us tick it, along with a Little Gull.

Brian finds a pair of Garganey once again. We don't need them for a tick, but people in the hide did, so good for them. 

As we walk around the reserve a single Spoonbill flies over and we hear Bearded Tits.

When we enter the Bittern hide, we are put on a single Bittern just coming into view, and it 

walks right out into the open to give the packed hide good, long views of it. 

While in the hide, I get my first Hobby of the year on top of a bush.

A quick run up to Dunich gets Jimmy and me a tick when we follow a local up the track to see 2 Dartford Warblers. A good day's birding, and I end up with 6-year ticks.

                                                            

Bittern

 

Baikal Teal at Wilstone reservoir.

A female Baikal Teal was reported on Wilstone reservoir. We get the call from Brian, Are we going, and within 15 minutes, we are on the way to the M25 for a 45-minute trip to see the duck.  

On arrival, we find the small car park full. Brian decides to sit and wait for a space. Jimmy and I set off to find the duck, and we climbed the steps and saw a small group up by the top corner, so we headed up to them, and they had the Baikal Teal.

It's a scope job as the target is over the far side of the reservoir.

Brian soon joins us, and we all have another year tick.

While here we also tick House Martin and Swift. 

                                                    

The Baikal Teal, just a record shot.

                                     

                                                   

                                                   

  

 

Lakenheath, Cavenham, KGV res, Fisher's Green.

We fancy a trip to Lakenheath to get the year list moving, only 70 miles from home, we are parked up and walking the track before 7am. 

Heading down to Joist fen overlooking Washland pool, we spot Godwit, Little Egret, Great Egret, Garganey, Heron, and Bittern booming along the track, also Lapwing, Redshank, and a few Snipe. A single Swallow gives me another tick.

We walk down the track behind the hide to search the fields for Cranes, but no sign of them.

After a sit down on the bench to recover from the walk, it's back up the bottom track where we find Reed Warbler, which turns out to be the first of the year here.

A little bit disappointing not to see the Cranes, and we had hoped to see or hear our first Cuckoo of the year.

Only a short trip now to Cavenham, where, after an hour looking, Jimmy found a single 

Stone-Curlew, and we all got on that for a year, tick.

While scanning, we get our first Wheatear and again only one. Not needed for a tick, but great view of a couple of Woodlark. Never went anywhere else, just headed home, but a really nice morning with the boys.

Jimmy and Brian had been over the KGV reservoir and got 5 ticks, so I don't want to miss out and head over the next day. 

The first tick is Sandmartin, with many flying around. After a bit of a search, Arctic Tern and Common Tern are found. No sign of the Common Sandpiper or Yellow Wagtail that the boys had seen the day before, but 3 ticks is better than none, and my own fault for not going with them. 

Brian paid a visit to Fishers Green and got a couple of ticks in Garden Warbler and got a few singing Nightingales, which prompted Jimmy and me to head over the next day.

We arrived early and found the gate down to the farm car park open, which was a bonus.

For the first hour, we hear nothing, so we take a walk and soon find a Garden Warbler, which is a year tick for both of us. 

A walk back along the path towards the Bittern hide, and we get to hear our first Nightingale of the year, and as we walk, we get a few bursts of song, but never see any; it's a shame, but will be back, and I'm sure they will show. 

So, a nice few days getting out in nice weather and adding a few ticks.

 

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Little Owl at the flats.

I had a few hours spare on Wednesday before a visit from my youngest son. So I called Brian to see if he fancied a quick trip over Wanstead Flats to see if we could find one of the Little Owls that are over there for a year tick.

Brian is free so we meet up and it's only 15 minutes before we are walking the flats after getting the car parked, it's off to search.

We spent a little time in the first copse without any luck, as we walked to the next one we met Marko, he had just seen a pair and steered us in the right direction.

Knowing we have the right tree helps and after 10 minutes Jimmy spots one of the Owls and we are all getting a great view of it.

With only a limited time we never got to see the pair, which was a shame.

But a tick is a tick and nice to get out if only for a short time.

                                                               

The Little Owl

Nice trip to Breckland with the sun shinning, 5 year ticks.

We wanted to head off to Breckland on Wednesday. The weather forecast tells us that it is going to rain all day, so that put paid to that.

The next available day was Friday, and the weather was much better. We had a time restriction as I had to be home by 2pm to pick my grandchildren up for a weekend stay.

I left to meet Brian at 6am and arrived at Lynford Arboretum in Suffolk around 7.30.

We spend a fair amount of time at the gate, and the birds are coming in and out to feed on the floor and drink at the little puddle in the middle of the strip. Also, nuthatches and coal tit came to the feeder.

While watching, we see a massive flock of Chaffinch coming and going, and then, a single 

Brambling showed to give us all a year tick.

A nice walk down to the bridge was very pleasant, with the sun warming up.

It took a while before Jimmy and I got a second year tick when Marsh tit came to feed on the bridge pillar where we had put some food there for it. On the path down to the bridge, we spot a large flock of Siskin.

Brian walked over to the paddock to see if he could find any Crossbills. We stayed on the bridge and got another year tick as a Treecreeper climbed up the tree in front of us. I always love watching these funny little birds.

We think we hear Crossbill, but couldn't get onto them to confirm, so no tick there.

Off now to look for Goshawk, that is not too far away from Lynford. On arrival, we found the lay-by packed but did get parked up.

Jimmy and Brian get to see a Goshawk within minutes; I missed seeing it as I wanted to sit and have a snack in the car, a bad mistake as it took nearly 3 hours before my turn came. It's worth the wait when we see a single Goshawk give a great display to give me tick number 4.

The birders here got us onto a Woodlark, a short walk back up the road for tick number 5 for the day. This turned out to be a great day, just what we needed.

Marsh Tit

                                                      

                                                                 

Siskin

 

                                                                    

                                                                 

Treecreeper

  

                                                             

                                                                           

                                                                        

                                                           

                                                       

 

two local ticks.

A quick visit to Fisher's Green our local patch in the hope of ticking a Green-winged Teal for a year tick before they lump them together later this year.

Brian needs to get out after his father-in-law's funeral and has had it rough of late.

So we pick him up from home and 20 minutes later we are looking over the Goose field, a few people there put us straight on the Teal so not a hard tick.

We never hung about so that was the only tick for the day.

This morning we saw that a Red-necked Grebe had been seen at Walthamstow Wetlands, another local place that is only a short trip for us and is where we pay for our permits to the KGV res.

Parked up we walk the short distance to Lockwood Reservoir where we meet up with a fellow who walks the res nearly every day and he points the Grebe out to us, as we watch over the next hour it comes close for good views of the bird and its yellow beak.

Once again it is only a quick visit so only one tick but the year total is slowly creeping up to 140.

                                                                      

                                                    

First visit of the year to Dungeness, 7 year ticks

Brian needed a break and it was really good to pay our first visit of the year to Dungeness. 

On the way to the beach, we stop along Dungeness Road and scan over New Diggings.

We are looking for a Long-tailed duck. 

It's not long before Brian picks it out along with a single Red-throated diver for a couple of year ticks for us all. 

Up on the beach as expected the sea is calm and apart from a flock of 20 Red-throated divers, a few Gannets, and hundreds of Cormants, it is very disappointing tick-wise.

A fellow birder from East Sussex that we got talking to tells us that he had seen a large flock of Tree Sparrows at Scotney G P.

So off we head to find them and 2 Peregrine Falcons are seen on the pylons as we head back to the car.

Parking just off the road, we head down the path toward some men working with diggers.

Thinking it will be a long walk we get a nice surprise when the Tree Sparrow is seen within a few minutes in a few bushes along the path, about 50 seen.

Jimmy picks out a Ringtail Hen Harrier as it puts up hundreds of Golden Plover and Lapwing.

 A  ride round to Walland Marsh where we see 48 Bewick's Swans. not needed for a tick but nice to see. And as we drive around a single Yellowhammer is ticked.

At Cockles Bridge 4 Cattle Egrets are seen in a Sheep field so a quick stop to get a photo or two.   

2 off the Cattle Egretrs

2                                                 

Tundra Bean Goose Wanstead ( local tick )

We hear a Bean Goose had been found over Wanstead flats among a flock of Greylags and a few Egyptian Geese. 

 Brian pops by home and we talk about going to tick the bird but he has too much to do, so we put it on hold until Monday morning, we get a call and Brian is free to go, so we meet up and head to the flats, only 20 minutes away but not at that time of morning and it is slow going.

Parking the car at Alexandra Lake we see no sign of the Geese. So we round the side of the lake and head off over the flats where we soon spot a large flock of Geese.

Picking out the Tundra Bean Goose is easy once its head is up and the bill colour shows and is a bit smaller, so a nice easy year tick and back home in 20 minutes.

Brian not having the best of times at the moment with both his Mother and Father-in-law both 

passed away over the last few weeks. 

So he has a lot of stuff going on and it was nice to see him get a break from it all even if it was only a couple of hours.

The Tundra Bean Goose

Three tick's in Hertfordshire

We get a call from Brian, Fancy going for the Yellow-browed Warbler at St Alban's in the park by the Cathedral.

We have a real problem paying for the car park it costs us 30 minutes of birding time, a couple of birders tell us they have just seen the Warbler and point us in the right direction to find it.

After we sorted paying for the car park we walked down the river to near the bridge and started searching, after an hour we did not find it.

We get talking to a fellow named Rupert and he was the birder that first reported the bird, after a while of looking, he finds the bird and puts us onto it.

Loads of views of the Warbler but the light is not too bright.

After we had seen enough of the Yellow-browed we headed up the road to the Cathedral and it was not too hard to get a view of the Black Redstart as it came onto the broken window by a black grill on the end of the building for an easy year tick.

A Peregrine is sitting on the roof and always nice to see.

It's only 7 miles to Lemsford Springs and with the frozen weather, we think a Jack Snipe may have come to the running water for food. The warden was at the gate because indeed a Jack Snipe had been seen and a few birders had beaten us there and he was letting a few people in at a time. By the time we got our stuff out of the car, it was our turn to head down to the second hide to find a few people in there, we were told where the Snipe had been seen, about an hour ago and it was a fair wait before we get a view of the bobbing bird.

So a short trip to Hertfordshire gets us three more year ticks. total up to 127-year ticks.

The Yellow-browed Warbler.

 

Great Day in Norfolk Birding.

Jimmy and I meet with Brian at 5.30 on a cold morning to set off to Norfolk. A Glaucous Gull

has been seen on Old Hunstan Beach. Two& a half hours later we parked just off the beach near the golf club and took the path up to the beach in search of the dead seal where the Gull had been seen feeding.

Brian had wellies on so he got over the water before us and got a quick view of the Gull before it flew off not to be seen for another two hours. We got our sighting of it when we spotted it standing with a few Oystercatchers near the water's edge about 60 yards away from the seal for an excellent view of it. 

Shorelark was next on the list and we found three, not too far away up the beach, A couple of birders we met told us that they had just seen a flock of them a long way down the beach, so maybe about 8 in total.

While here we added to our year list with a large flock of Turnstones, Sandling, Fulmar, knot, and a Peregrine Falcon that landed on the beach near the dead seal.

Bar-tailed Godwit,Red-breasted Merganser, and a flyover of Pink-footed Goose plus Brent Goose. so a good addition to the list.

A short ride to Stiffkey for the Glossy Ibis. Parked up in the car park by the Red Lion pub and a walk across the road to sport the Ibis within minutes, so back in the car it's off up the road to Holkham stopping on the way at the gate to tick White-fronted Goose and then off to park in Lady Ann's drive where we speak to a fellow who asked us if the bird he had in his scope was the Long-billed Dowitcher, and how lucky is that when Brian confirms it is indeed the bird another good year tick plus Snipe seen while there.

Off now to Titchwell on the walk up to the beach Jimmy and I hear and then see Bearded Tit. A fellow birder tells us that a Tawny Owl was in a tree with Ivy just around the boardwalk, so that's where we head, the tree is easily found as a board is in place to tell us where it is, so an easy tick. An escaped Black-winged Stilt is seen as a Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover, Avocet, and Common and Velvet Scoter.

Off home now and on the way we spot a large flock of Whooper Swan in a field somewhere also Red-legged Partridge seen. A really lovely day birding with the boys adding 28-year ticks taking the year total to 124.

Glaucous Gull

Peregrine

Long-billed Dowitcher

Abberton, Copthall, KGV res, Bramfield, Watercress NR.

We love to get out on New Year's Day to start a new bird count, but this year it's horrible weather, so we decide to wait until the second day before we go.

With the uncertain weather, we only head to Abberton as that is in Essex and only an hour away from home. We get some nice ticks the best being 4 Bewick's Swans, Scaup, Smew, Goosander, and a bonus tick when we sport the long-staying Canvasback.

Nice to see John P and we meet a new face who tells us about a place called Copthall we have never been there and he meets us there to show us where to head for the best views.

Just a small area to park the car we had to wait till someone moved.

We took a short walk around a field where we set the scopes up, it's not long before we saw a Short-eared Owl, it was perched on a bare bush. It took off to fly around the area to be joined by another Shortie to give us a real show always so nice to watch Owls.

Then a Merlin is seen sitting on a post always a good bird to spot. We are told that Hen Harrier is often seen here, we didn't stay that long so never saw any that's a shame.

 A really nice place that we will go back to.

On the 3rd it's off to our local KGV reservoir where we tick a Black-throated Diver and a Great-northern Diver. As always nice to meet up with Harry.

On the 4th it's off to see Hawfinch at Bramfield church, we see 3 as soon as we arrive and get to see one feeding on the ground amongst the leaves, a Songthursh also seen. A bonus when here in the bus shelter across the road is filled with books to swap with over people so grabbed a couple for Jean and will bring some to replace next time up this way.

Just 14 miles away is a really lovely little nature reserve Watercress NR, so of course that's where we headed off to. Again not too many parking places as it sits just behind a small row of houses and residents rightly so fill most of the road.

In an hour or so we spent here we saw Redpoll, Siskin, Nuthatch, and Water Rail, and to round the trip off a beautiful male Bullfinch was seen flying around the bushes and then came to the feeders.

Total up till now 96 .

American yellow Warbler, to see the old year out. ( Lifer )

We hoped the Yellow Warbler would hang around until the three of us could find the time to head off to see it.

So on the 27th Dec, we met up with Brian and set off to New Hythe in Kent, it's not a long journey, and on arrival, we parked and took the path to join around 200 birders already here.

We stood around for over four hours and I spoke to the boys about giving it up, we agreed to give it another half hour. time;s nearly up when the whole group started to move down the path at pace as someone had heard it. 

I took up a good spot and saw the target bird on a bush next to a large red container, it only sat there for a couple of minutes before flying up and over the container and heading back up to the Alder trees where we had all been standing for so long, it flicked about the trees and gave the very large crowd now numbing over 400 a short view of it. So well worth the time spent and a good day meeting loads of people we see from time to time on our trips.

Not able to get any photos of the bird but this is a small part of the massive crowd.

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