Wednesday 31 January 2018
31st January 2018
Connected with another Yeovil Hawfinch today at the college roundabout briefly before it flew east. I'm considering a Yeovil Year List (100 species is currently my target) so glad I managed to get one before the end of winter.
Monday 22 January 2018
20th/21st January 2018
Headed to Pen Mill sewage works this morning in hope of an overdue patch tick - reed bunting. I headed around the west side and then started down the very rough track down the east side. I never even realised it was here. I quickly found large numbers of Goldcrest present and eventually ran into my first patch Chiffchaff of the year, followed by many more. Quite a few looked brown or greyish, but there were no obvious candidates for siberian chiff (I'm reluctant to count any that don't call anyway). Eventually I picked up a firecrest call, however I failed to locate it. After a fairly long wait it started calling again and I managed to pick out the Firecrest up above my head.
With no sign of any reed buntings, I continued along the river towards Lyde Road end, all of note being 3 flyover stock doves - it seems this species is much commoner along the Southern Outskirts. With nothing more of note in the Lyde Road area, I decided the cross the wooden bridge, new I think since my last visit? I was able to continue along the river bank until I noticed a group of birds back along the river. Through my bins I could make out Goldfinch and another brown bird, perhaps even a reed bunting? I got a closer look and saw they were 2 Lesser Redpolls, still not a bad bird for the patch. I accidently flushed them trying to get a closer look at the whole flock, and several birds flew down the stream back towards the bridge. I had several views of them as I walked back, counting at least 3 birds. Eventually they settled by the river, with some birds coming down onto overhanging vegetation to feed giving much closer and prolonged views. I counted at least 5 birds. Checking through the birds on the river again, I noticed one was much paler and colder-coloured than the others. On closer inspection, it showed gleaming white wing bars with no trace of brown or buff on the wings bars or underparts. I didn't have my scope on me, so I quickly grabbed a few free-hand shots through the bins. After a while, the bird with 2 lessers came up into the adjacent tree, and now I was certain this had to be a Mealy Redoll! It was strikingly pale, especially when the birds were viewed head-on where it had an all-white appearance.
I knew that this is a real rarity for Yeovil, but it wasn't until I got home that I realised that there had only been 10 previous Somerset records. I hoped the bird might remain until the following day so someone else could connect. I headed back with my scope between heavy rain showers in the hope of some better pictures, but only had a single flyover Redpoll. A little compensation was had with a long-overdue patch tick in the form of a pair of Stonechats by the river, followed by a third bird at the car park (on any other day I'd have been over the moon!). Also good to run into Adam and Richard whilst on site today.
With no sign of any reed buntings, I continued along the river towards Lyde Road end, all of note being 3 flyover stock doves - it seems this species is much commoner along the Southern Outskirts. With nothing more of note in the Lyde Road area, I decided the cross the wooden bridge, new I think since my last visit? I was able to continue along the river bank until I noticed a group of birds back along the river. Through my bins I could make out Goldfinch and another brown bird, perhaps even a reed bunting? I got a closer look and saw they were 2 Lesser Redpolls, still not a bad bird for the patch. I accidently flushed them trying to get a closer look at the whole flock, and several birds flew down the stream back towards the bridge. I had several views of them as I walked back, counting at least 3 birds. Eventually they settled by the river, with some birds coming down onto overhanging vegetation to feed giving much closer and prolonged views. I counted at least 5 birds. Checking through the birds on the river again, I noticed one was much paler and colder-coloured than the others. On closer inspection, it showed gleaming white wing bars with no trace of brown or buff on the wings bars or underparts. I didn't have my scope on me, so I quickly grabbed a few free-hand shots through the bins. After a while, the bird with 2 lessers came up into the adjacent tree, and now I was certain this had to be a Mealy Redoll! It was strikingly pale, especially when the birds were viewed head-on where it had an all-white appearance.
Mealy & Lesser Redpolls - Yeovil
I knew that this is a real rarity for Yeovil, but it wasn't until I got home that I realised that there had only been 10 previous Somerset records. I hoped the bird might remain until the following day so someone else could connect. I headed back with my scope between heavy rain showers in the hope of some better pictures, but only had a single flyover Redpoll. A little compensation was had with a long-overdue patch tick in the form of a pair of Stonechats by the river, followed by a third bird at the car park (on any other day I'd have been over the moon!). Also good to run into Adam and Richard whilst on site today.
Stonechat - Yeovil
Tuesday 9 January 2018
7th January 2018 (Cornwall and Somerset)
Headed down to Cornwall this morning. First stop was Newquay for the Ring-Billed Gull which showed on arrival. All my previous sighting have been fairly (or very) distant adults at Blashford, so this was an educational bird. It didn't seem to mind my presence, however photographing it was made difficult as it was frequently disturbed by dog walkers.
Next stop was Porthpean. Scanning produced 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Brent Geese, a few Fulmars, plenty of Gannets and a couple flocks of Common Scoters. They were distant, but didn't seem to contain anything different. Eventually, someone picked out the 3 Surf Scoters (1 1st winter male and 2 female types), the Velvet Scoter and the Long-Tailed Duck all together just off-shore with no Commons Scoters to sort through!
The final planned stopped was Dozmary Pool where the LESSER SCAUP was showing on arrival, though remained alseep for most of the time I was on site.
Having connected with all target birds by 1pm, I decided against the american wigeon and matford marsh and headed to Shapwick Heath to gamble for the ring-necked duck, and if I had time cattle egret. Both car parks were packed when I arrived at 3pm, I forgot it was starling roost season. With only a few hours to find I bird, headed out towards Noah's Lake. I spoke to a group of birders as I walked up, they said they had spent a few hours searching and were giving up, maybe my gamble hadn't payed off after all. I got to the first section of water, near the turning for the Noah's Lake Hide. Scanning the tufted ducks up the channel, there was the Ring-Necked Duck!
Unfortunetly, I didn't catch up with the guys from earlier. I planned to look for cattle egrets at Sharpham Park next, but as luck would have it, 4 Cattle Egrets flew over the path on my way back to the car! They're almost certain to follow in the footsteps of the great whites, at least on the Somerset Levels. Also of note here were 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Bullfinch and a Great White Egret.
A very satisfying days twitching to kick off 2018!
Ring-Billed Gull - Newquay
Next stop was Porthpean. Scanning produced 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Brent Geese, a few Fulmars, plenty of Gannets and a couple flocks of Common Scoters. They were distant, but didn't seem to contain anything different. Eventually, someone picked out the 3 Surf Scoters (1 1st winter male and 2 female types), the Velvet Scoter and the Long-Tailed Duck all together just off-shore with no Commons Scoters to sort through!
1st winter male Surf Scoter - Porthpean
Velvet Scoter - Porthpean
The final planned stopped was Dozmary Pool where the LESSER SCAUP was showing on arrival, though remained alseep for most of the time I was on site.
LESSER SCAUP - Dozmary Pool
Having connected with all target birds by 1pm, I decided against the american wigeon and matford marsh and headed to Shapwick Heath to gamble for the ring-necked duck, and if I had time cattle egret. Both car parks were packed when I arrived at 3pm, I forgot it was starling roost season. With only a few hours to find I bird, headed out towards Noah's Lake. I spoke to a group of birders as I walked up, they said they had spent a few hours searching and were giving up, maybe my gamble hadn't payed off after all. I got to the first section of water, near the turning for the Noah's Lake Hide. Scanning the tufted ducks up the channel, there was the Ring-Necked Duck!
Ring-Necked Duck - Shapwick Heath
Unfortunetly, I didn't catch up with the guys from earlier. I planned to look for cattle egrets at Sharpham Park next, but as luck would have it, 4 Cattle Egrets flew over the path on my way back to the car! They're almost certain to follow in the footsteps of the great whites, at least on the Somerset Levels. Also of note here were 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Bullfinch and a Great White Egret.
A very satisfying days twitching to kick off 2018!
1st January 2018
Started my year list with a trip to Ninesprings Lake which produced the usual Mandarin, a few Treecreepers and Little Grebes and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk plus the escaped blue-winged goose. I didn't get the water rail I was hoping for, but a decent start to the list at least.
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