Spoonbill - Bowling Green Marsh
Curlew Sandpiper - Bowling Green Marsh
Wood Sandpiper - Bowling Green Marsh
A family of 4 black swans on the estuary was a surpise as well.
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
29th August 2016
Had a look from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh this evening. Highlights included 2 each of Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank, singles of Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and Pintail and several Bar-Tailed Godwits and Whimbrels.
A family of 4 black swans on the estuary was a surpise as well.
A family of 4 black swans on the estuary was a surpise as well.
Saturday, 27 August 2016
27th August 2016
Had a brief look at Ham Wall around midday producing 4 Great White Egrets among the other usual species. I was somewhat surprised to find this Little Stint from VP2 alongside a Ruff.
Also had lots of Iberian Water Frogs in the pools by the visitor centre. Apparently the Marsh Frogs here have recently been re-identified as this species.
Little Stint - Ham Wall
Also had lots of Iberian Water Frogs in the pools by the visitor centre. Apparently the Marsh Frogs here have recently been re-identified as this species.
Iberian Water Frogs - Ham Wall
Thursday, 25 August 2016
25th August 2016
Had a walk along the coast path from West Bexington this morning. The walk up to the white house produced a few uncommon migrants, but when walking back I located one of the Wrynecks quite distantly on a fence post. It was flushed down into the field and wasn't relocated before I left.
Thankfully, the second Wryneck was showing much better closer to the car park. Counts of commoner migrants came to 3 Tree Pipits, 5 each of Yellow Wagtail and Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 1 Hobby and a Painted Lady.
Wryneck - West Bexington
Thankfully, the second Wryneck was showing much better closer to the car park. Counts of commoner migrants came to 3 Tree Pipits, 5 each of Yellow Wagtail and Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 1 Hobby and a Painted Lady.
Wryneck - West Bexington
Whinchat - West Bexington
Monday, 22 August 2016
22nd August 2016
Headed down to Weymouth again today. A brief look at Lodmoor produced singles of Little Stint, Common Sandpiper, plenty of Med Gulls and this Jersey Tiger.
Next stop was Radipole Lake where there were singles of Garganey, Water Rail, Ruff and several Common Sandpipers, Sand Martins and Med Gulls.
Common Sandpiper - Lodmoor
Jersey Tiger - Lodmoor
Next stop was Radipole Lake where there were singles of Garganey, Water Rail, Ruff and several Common Sandpipers, Sand Martins and Med Gulls.
Garganey - Radipole Lake
Water Rail - Radipole Lake
Ruff - Radipole Lake
Mediterranean Gull - Radipole Lake
Black-Headed Gulls - Radipole Lake
Sunday, 21 August 2016
20th August 2016 (Cornwall)
The weather for this morning was forecast as stong westerlies, so some Cornish seawatching was in order! The winds had a little northerly until midday when it turned to solid westerly, so first headed to Porthwarra for 7am.
On arrival, I was somewhat dismayed on the lack of shearwaters, so I was quite happy when I got on my first Manx Shearwater of the day (I had surprisingly few manx from PG). Not too long after, I got on my first Cory's Shearwater which was quickly followed by several more; It turned out to be a great day for Cory's and I tallied up a total of 43 by midday. There was a real lack of anything else so was pretty relieved when another birder helped me get onto 2 distant Great Shearwaters together. Also had a breif view of an apparent 3rd Great Shear at great distance, flight action was certainly more energentic than Cory's but that's the only feature I got on it before losing it. Also of note here were 2 Choughs and an Ocean Sunfish.
Relocating to Pendeen at midday turned out to be a good decision, as shortly after arrival I got onto some Storm-Petrels followed by smashing views of a Great Shearwater close in. Continued watching here until 17:30 by which time I'd also tallied 1 Cory's Shearwater, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Balearic Shearwaters, 19 Storm-Petrels, 2 Great Skuas, 1 pale-morph Pomarine Skua, and another 2 Choughs.
Stopped off at Point Quay on the way home to catch up with the DALMATIAN PELICAN. Big enough bird that I managed to pick it out before I even got out of the car.
I'm not convinced this bird stands much chance of being accepted by the commitee after such a long stay, but still a very impressive bird.
Overall a great day considering the wind conditions weren't quite perfect, and allowed me to tick off some overdue seabird species for my list. I look forward to the next storm that blows into Cornwall!
Porthgwarra
On arrival, I was somewhat dismayed on the lack of shearwaters, so I was quite happy when I got on my first Manx Shearwater of the day (I had surprisingly few manx from PG). Not too long after, I got on my first Cory's Shearwater which was quickly followed by several more; It turned out to be a great day for Cory's and I tallied up a total of 43 by midday. There was a real lack of anything else so was pretty relieved when another birder helped me get onto 2 distant Great Shearwaters together. Also had a breif view of an apparent 3rd Great Shear at great distance, flight action was certainly more energentic than Cory's but that's the only feature I got on it before losing it. Also of note here were 2 Choughs and an Ocean Sunfish.
Cory's Shearwater - Porthgwarra
I gave up trying to photograph anything out to sea after this.
Relocating to Pendeen at midday turned out to be a good decision, as shortly after arrival I got onto some Storm-Petrels followed by smashing views of a Great Shearwater close in. Continued watching here until 17:30 by which time I'd also tallied 1 Cory's Shearwater, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Balearic Shearwaters, 19 Storm-Petrels, 2 Great Skuas, 1 pale-morph Pomarine Skua, and another 2 Choughs.
Pendeen
Chough - Pendeen
Stopped off at Point Quay on the way home to catch up with the DALMATIAN PELICAN. Big enough bird that I managed to pick it out before I even got out of the car.
DALMATIAN PELICAN - Point Quay
I'm not convinced this bird stands much chance of being accepted by the commitee after such a long stay, but still a very impressive bird.
Overall a great day considering the wind conditions weren't quite perfect, and allowed me to tick off some overdue seabird species for my list. I look forward to the next storm that blows into Cornwall!
18th August 2016
Got a text from Tim this morning about a garganey at SBR. I haven't seen one yet this year so decided to go and have a quick look for it. I couldn't locate it from the northern or southern end, but other species of note included 3 Common Sandpipers, a Little Grebe and my first Clouded Yellow of the year. Also of note was a Feral Pigeon, technically a tick for me at this site.
16th August 2016
Headed down to Weymouth today and had a look at Ferrybridge which produced 2 Little Terns, 2 Wheatears and 3 Med Gulls amongst the commoner species. Radipole Lake produced lots of Med Gulls but otherwise nothing really noteworthy.
Had a look at Culverwell, Portland this evening for the melodious warbler but it didn't show, the best species managed included a few Ravens and singles of Whitethroat and Sparrowhawk.
Reed Warbler - Radipole Lake
Willow Warbler - Radipole Lake
Cormorant struggling with an Eel - Radipole Lake
Feral Pigeon - Radipole Lake
Always know it's a slow day when I'm photographing these.
Had a look at Culverwell, Portland this evening for the melodious warbler but it didn't show, the best species managed included a few Ravens and singles of Whitethroat and Sparrowhawk.
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