SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER: A great autumn morning at warham Greens today noting two BARRED WARBLERS [one just west of the car park, and one just west of the gibbet]. One bird in particular showed very well as it fed in the sueda by the coastal footpath with some House Sparrows! Also noted were the first COMMON REDSTART of the autumn, 29 Common Whitethroats, 13 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 1 Common Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Golden Plover, 1 Common Greenshank and 1 Whinchat. At Wells Woods, a Pied Flycatcher was on the South side of the Dell plus 15 Common Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Blackcap and 2 Bullfinch.

 

THURSDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER: 72 species recorded at Warham Greens/Stiffkey Fen this morning including 23 Common Whitethroat, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 1 Common Chiffchaff, 100 European Golden Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 11 Common Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Black-necked-Grebe, 8 Eurasian Spoonbill, 2 Ruddy Duck, 2 Dunlin, 6 Ruff and 100 Black-tailed Godwits

 

TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST: Wells Woods this evening 1 Pied Flycatcher, 7 Willow Warbler, 9 Common Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Common Whitehroat, 3 Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, Bullfinch and Jay.

 

MONDAY 30TH AUGUST: Seawatching at Sheringham 0630-0800 produced a EUROPEAN STORM-PETREL heading slowly West about 250m offshore plus 26 Great Skuas, 9 Arctic Skuas, 108 Common Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 25 Northern Pintail, 1 Common Shelduck, 25 Eurasian Wigeon, 10 Dunlin, 10 Common Scoter, 50 Northern Gannets, 1 Northern Fulmar, 3 Black-legged Kittiwakes, 30 Sandwich Terns and 10 Common Terns. The recent inclement weather and North-esterly winds have also bought an array of scarce migranst to the North Norfolk coast with Booted Warbler, Greenish Warbler, three Wrynecks, two Barred Warblers, Bluethroat, two Icterine Warblers, three Red-backed Shrikes and several Pied Flycatchers seen over the last 48hrs. Many of these birds probable made landfall during the awful weather on Thursday and have only just been discovered!

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NORFOLK SHOREBIRDS 22ND - 27TH AUGUST 2010

 

MONDAY 23RD AUGUST: A really good early autumn days birding started our Norfolk shorebirds week off in style. A huge low pressure hurrying through in the early hours brought heavy rain and strong winds, and so we started the day with a seawatch from the promenade at Sheringham. A very respectable total of twenty four Arctic Skuas passed East in one hour, and we also noted two adult Little Gulls, juv Black-legged Kittiwake, one hundred Sandwich Terns, thirty Common Terns, eleven Common Scoter, thirty Common Teal, five Northern Shoveler, forty Red Knot, ten Grey Plover, one European Golden Plover, forty Northern Gannets and one Ruddy Turnstone. After a coffee, we headed along the coast to Wells Woods and spent an hour or so wandering around the Dell and drinking pool in search of any migrants that may have been grounded by the inclement weather. We saw little other than two Eurasian Jay, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Common Swift, three Blackcap and three Bullfinches, until we located a large tit flock. This added at least ten Common Chiffchaffs, another two Blackcaps and a smart Lesser Whitethroat. After lunch, we moved on to Cley and headed out to Dauke’s Hide overlooking the central pools. Three Green and one Common Sandpiper, seven Dunlin, twenty Black-tailed Godwits, ten Ruff, two Whimbrel, one Grey Plover, two Common Greenshanks and a Common Snipe were noted, while a highlight was the distant flight views of a COMMON CRANE which appeared to land somewhere East of East Bank. A Barn Owl then drifted across the reedbed and two Marsh Harriers appeared, making for a successful hours birding. Moving round to the beach car park, four Northern Wheatears were along the fence, and a Norfolk rarity in the form of a HOODED CROW feeding in the Eye Field. From North Hide, two EURASIAN SPOONBILLS could be seen and large numbers of duck comprised mainly Common Teal, Gadwall and Eurasian Wigeon. Another three Green Sandpipers were seen, and one hundred Dunlin hosted three LITTLE STINTS, looking neat in juvenile plumage. Five Little-ringed Plovers, one Common Greenshank, fifteen Ruff and three Yellow Wagtails completed the scene, along with a family of Chinese Water Deer.

 

TUESDAY 24TH AUGUST: A day of dodging heavy showers today as we retraced a lot of yesterdays route to consolidate some of our views of the waders seen. However, we started by heading south into the fringes of Breckland where we located a small pre-migration gathering of STONE CURLEWS in potato fields near Swaffham. About seven birds were seen, but many more were probably hidden among the runnels in the field. Heading straight back up to the coast, we stopped next at Kelling and wandered down the lane to the water meadows. Not much was seen here, with a Green Sandpiper and three Dunlin the only waders present. Sand Martin, Little Egret and Common Linnet were new trip birds though. At nearby Cley, we headed down East Bank to view Arnold’s Marsh. Rain stopped play here really, though we did see about one hundred Black-tailed Godwits, ten Dunlin, Common Greenshank, three Yellow Wagtails, European Reed Warbler and Marsh Harrier before it did so. From Dauke’s Hide, numbers of birds were lower than yesterday with ten Ruff and fifty Black-tailed Godwits, though the COMMON CRANE flew overhead and gave much better views. At the Beach car park we sat out a rainstorm, getting good views of a EURASIAN SPOONBILL flying out to Blakeney marshes in the process. From North Hide, about fifty Dunlin hosted four LITTLE STINTS, but this time very close to the hide allowing great views. Two Green Sandpipers, two Little-ringed Plovers, one EURASIAN SPOONBILL, three Ruff, three Yellow Wagtails, one Pink-footed Goose and one Common Greenshank were also seen, with a superb pale phase adult Arctic Skua harassing the Sandwich Terns off the beach as we walked back towards the car park.

 

WEDNESDAY 25TH AUGUST: We spent the day in the Norfolk Broads today, starting at Breydon Water where we arrived around high tide to find large numbers of birds roosting on the saltmarsh at the eastern end. This included particularly big flocks of Eurasian Curlew and Pied Avocet, and smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Common Redshank and European Golden Plover [the latter including some birds still in breeding plumage]. One or two Bar-tailed Godwit were also picked out and overhead, a Eurasian Hobby circled distantly with a Marsh Harrier. A smart second-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL dropped in right in front of us, giving some great views as it preened among the Black-headed Gulls, and four Little Egrets were also present. Moving on to Hickling, we walked out along the Weaver’s Way to view Rush Hills scrape, though unusually high water levels meant there was little of note here other than Common Teal, Northern Shoveler and Gadwall. Great Crested Grebe, Common Treecreeper and Marsh Tit were new for the trip, however, and we enjoyed lunch by the picturesque church at Potter Heigham before moving on. Cantley was our next stop, and the British Sugar factory settling lagoons. Again the main pool held an awful lot of water, but the far pool was being drained and hence proved far more attractive to waders. Five Black-tailed Godwits, three Common Greenshanks, ten Ruff, four Green Sandpipers and one Common Sandpiper were seen, with large numbers of Common Teal, Eurasian Curlew and Northern Lapwing also present. A nice Eurasian Hobby caught a dragonfly overhead, and three Water Rails were seen, including a particularly obliging youngster. Finally at nearby Strumpshaw, a short session in the main hide added further views of Marsh Harrier, European Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff and a fly past Common Kingfisher, rounding off the day nicely.

 

THURSDAY 26TH AUGUST: A very wet and miserable day today, certainly the worst weather for birding in of any 2010 tour! The rain was relentless, and at times it made seeing anything virtually impossible. We started with a short seawatch at Sheringham as the North-easterly wind, which had seemed so promising for migrants, was whipping up the waves and hope for passing seabirds was high. Unfortunately though, literally nothing was moving and so after about half an hour we decided to move on and try and look for passerines. Wells Woods at least provided some shelter from the wind, and with perseverance we managed to locate a large tit flock at the drinking pool and sift through for migrants. Good numbers of phylloscopus warblers were feeding low in the woodland understorey and included at least ten Common Chiffchaff and five Willow Warbler, the latter nice freshly marked juveniles. Common Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Eurasian Jay were also seen, though we were now so wet that we had to return to base to put on some dry clothes and take a breather from the weather. After lunch, we ventured out again to Stiffkey Fen and here we did extremely well, finding a juvenile BLACK-NECKED GREBE which is always a good bird to see in Norfolk. Common, Green and our first WOOD SANDPIPER of the week were also present, along with small numbers of Ruff, Dunlin, and Black-tailed Godwit. A juvenile EURASIAN SPOONBILL gave superb close views, and just as we were leaving two more flew in to join it. Moving on to Cley, we finished the day from the shelter of the North Hide. Three LITTLE STINTS were still present and we also noted five Whimbrel, Green Sandpiper, fifty Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and Red Knot.

 

FRIDAY 27TH AUGUST: Our final morning saw us rise early to be at Snettisham in time for the high tide wader roost. This unfolded in spectacular fashion, with thousands of shorebirds flying off the estuary to roost on the pits at the RSPB reserve. Red Knot, European Oystercatcher and Bar-tailed Godwit were most numerous, with Common Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Dunlin also in large quantities. Twelve Spotted Redshanks were roosting outside Sanctuary Hide, alongside seven Common Greenshanks, two Grey Plover, Green and Common Sandpipers. Many Common Terns were also feeding here and Egyptian Goose, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Grebe and three Northern Wheatears were also seen. Offshore, a Great Skua gave fantastic views as it devoured a Common Shelduck! A LITTLE STINT was also picked out roosting on the beach with large numbers of Dunlin.

 

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Sooty Shearwater, Great Skua, Grey Phalaropes and Northern Gannet, Isles of Scilly Pelagics 2010 by Ashley Saunders. Some more [better!] images to follow from tour participants.

 

CORNWALL AND ISLES OF SCILLY PELAGICS 13TH - 18TH AUGUST 2010

 

FRIDAY 13TH AUGUST: The group met at the quay in Penzance this morning for the 0915 Scillonian III sailing to St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly. The crossing was rather quiet birdwise, though was at least pleasantly calm. Manx Shearwaters were numerous, however, and around 250 birds were noted in groups of varying sizes. Small numbers of Northern Gannet, Northern Fulmar, European Shag, Common Guillemot and Razorbill were also noted, as well as two small pods of Harbour Porpoise. On arrival we were met by Bob Flood and checked in to the Mincarlo Guest House before our 1400 rendezvous back at the quay for our first short range pelagic on board the MV Sapphire. We headed south of the archipelago and began a drift and chum technique for about two hours, and though seabirds were generally in short supply we noted some interesting species. Great Skuas gave superb views as they came to harry the gulls following our boat, and Manx Shearwaters were seen in small numbers as we steamed. Black-legged Kittiwake were also in attendance including the first juveniles of the autumn in Scillonian waters, and eventually the EUROPEAN STORM-PETRELS began to appear as we drifted. The fresh Northerly winds meant we drifted nearly four miles with the engines cut, and this created quite an extensive slick by chumming continuously. A BALEARIC SHEARWATER was attracted by this and made several very close passes to the stern, often settling on the water. A Common Tern passed through and of course Northern Gannets and Northern Fulmar were common. As we began to steam back towards the islands, a pod of Dolphins was spotted in the distance, and on closer approach we were surprised to find that they were BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS, an uncommon species in these waters and especially in these numbers, with over fifty animals present. They proceeded to bow ride the boat, playing in the water just below the bow and intermittently jumping from the water right under our noses. One or two leap clear of the water and some even made acrobatic back flip leaps out of the ocean, providing a magical sight and great end to our first day on these islands.

 

SATURDAY 14TH AUGUST: A very frustrating day today started brightly enough, but the seabirding was desperately slow and the run of excellent fortune which we have enjoyed on this trip in recent years did not materialise. Heading out through the archipelago we did well, picking up four Little Terns on the rocks which are a very good bird for the islands. Sandwich and Common Terns were also present and two Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone and Common Greenshank were also along the tideline. As we headed out into the open sea, we began steaming and chumming in a North-westerly direction towards the Seven Stones Reef. The first Manx Shearwaters were noted and actually we had a large crowd of gulls, Northern Gannets, Northern Fulmars and Black-legged Kittiwake behind us. An Arctic Skua was nice, flying right up the stern for everyone to get good views. Once we began to drift and chum over the reef, good numbers of EUROPEAN STORM-PETRELS were in attendance, and two Great Skuas hung around for most of the day. Plenty of Common Terns visited us, along with a single juvenile Arctic Tern, and a SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen briefly. A MINKE WHALE was unfortunately only seen by Ashley. Our fisherman Jim was catching well with Mackerel, Whiting, Red Gurnard and a large Pollock landed, though a Cuckoo Wrasse was carefully returned to the water and not added to the chum! A long drift failed to bring in any other interesting species over a three hour period, so we began to steam again before heading back in to the islands. This produced an obliging SOOTY SHEARWATER which came right up the stern and landed on the water, giving great photographic opportunities. It was then time to head back in for a wash and brush up ahead of our evening get together and meal at the Pilot’s Gig Restaurant.

THURSDAY 1ST JULY: A truly spectacular days wildlife watching around the New Forest in very warm conditions. Our first location was the magnificent odonata site of Upper Crockford Stream where we were literally overrun with dragons and damsels along a two hundred metre stretch of the brook. GOLDEN-RINGED DRAGONFLY was found easily and we had some stunning close range views in flight, on the ground and a female ovipositing in the stream. Broad-bodied Chasers were abundant, and Beautiful Demoiselles were easily photographed as they played among the vegetation. Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Dark Green Fritillary were frequently seen, and SILVER-STUDDED BLUES were on the wing over the heather allowing plenty of great views, though we potted one in order to examine the intricate underwing markings. Keeled Skimmers were also abundant and both Common Blue and Large Red Damselflies added to the list, along with an early female Common Darter. Our big [or small!] target here was the rare and localised SOUTHERN DAMSELFLY which we found in the streamside vegetation, allowing close examination of the intricate markings of the upper two abdominal segments which separate it from close congeners. As we wandered upstream some larger pools opened up and here Emperor Dragonfly was on the wing and two Bullfinches were in the bushes. Avian interest continued then as we found two DARTFORD WARBLERS in the gorse and heather, which we watched for about fifteen minutes. Stonechats were also in the vicinity here, and on the way back to the bus a great photographic opportunity arose with Dark Green Fritillaries. Moving on we spent some time ‘bugging’ around the environs of Hatchet Pond. The small pools around Hatchet Moor were very good for Black-tailed Skimmer, and we also noted a Red-eyed Damselfly here. Walking up to the source of the stream, both Black-tailed and Keeled Skimmers could be seen together and we found Azure Damselfly amongst the Common Blues and SOUTHERN DAMSELFLIES. Another great rarity though came in the form of three SMALL RED DAMSELFLIES which were perching in the streamside vegetation allowing close views. Birds noted here included nine Common Sandpipers  together, a singing Reed Bunting, juvenile COMMON REDSTART and two Common Snipe flushed from the stream. At nearby Hatchet Pond itself, we walked along the shore to view the stands of Bogbean around the stagnant pools, a spot which was literally alive with Black-tailed Skimmer, An ovipositing female Emperor allowed some good shots to be taken and we also noted another Red-eyed Damselfly and Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chasers. Our next target fell easily as we found three DOWNY EMERALDS feeding back and forth under the overhanging trees at the far end of the pools, a great way to round off the ‘morning’, though it was now 1430! Lunch was the next target, and we had a very enjoyable break in Bealieu for sandwiches and coffee. A leisurely afternoon was then spent in the ancient woodlands near Denny Lodge, and birds and butterflies came in equal measures. Common Treecreeper, European Nuthatch, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Coal and Marsh Tits, Spotted Flycatcher and COMMON REDSTART were all noted, the latter incredibly numerous and we saw males, females and juveniles. A flowering bramble in a clearing allowed us to approach closely and photograph SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARIES, a real treat indeed. PURPLE HAIRSTREAK was less obliging and not seen by everyone, as they flitted among the high branches of the oaks. Speckled Wood and Grey Wagtail were final list additions for the day .