2nd April 2017 (Hampshire)

Lewis and I headed over to Posbrook Flood this afternoon for the stilt. On arrival, other birders pointed out a Barn Owl roosting in a hollow Tree. While we were watching it, a Water Vole appeared on the steam in front of us and gave great close up, though breif views.

Barn Owl - Posbrook Flood

We walked along to the main flood where the BLACK-WINGED STILT was sleeping on the far side of the water. Eventually it woke up and started feeding. It circled the whole pool eventually ending up close enough to get some decent record shots. Also of note was a female Pintail and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

BLACK-WINGED STILT - Posbrook Flood

Easy to forget just how long those legs are!

1st April 2017

Stopped off at Langford Lakes on the way home to search for the Jack Snipe, as I haven't seen one since 2014. Walked along to the Meadow Hide. Scanning produced plenty of Snipes, and my first 2 Green Sandpipers of the year. Eventually, I saw one of the bobbing Jack Snipe in the vegetation to the right of the pool. This was followed by the other bird, but both stayed mostly under cover the whole time I was there so I had to settle for some poor record shots:

The 2 Jack Snipes - Langford Lakes

Green Sandpiper - Langford Lakes

28th March 2017

Being in a town with barely any water; black-headed, herring and lesser black-backed gulls are the only regular gull species, despite various others occurring nearby at Sutton Bingham.

Looking out of the window this evening I saw two larids flying north, but one was tiny! I rushed to the back of the house with my bins and sure enough it was a 2nd winter Common Gull! A species I've been waiting ages to see in Yeovil! Really pleased to have finally connected with this gull on patch.

25th/26th March 2017

Was in Hampshire/Wiltshire yesterday when news broke of an iberian chiff at Yate in Glouc, a species I've been keen to connect with after not being able to go for multiple birds last year. On the drive over, I had 3 Red Kites, 2 near Thruxton and another somewhere in Wiltshire.

I arrived just after 3pm. There were several chiffchaffs moving about including one striking individual, showing bright yellow and white to the underparts. Sadly, I didn't see it again in the next few hours, neither did I hear any song.

Woke up this morning and saw it was still present, so made another trip up. Arrived at about 11:15, and I could immediately hear the bird singing. After a short while, I managed to get onto the IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF through the thick vegetation, and in the next hour we had good, if a bit obscured, views of the bird singing. It certainly seems that a morning visit gives the best chance with this bird.

IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF - Yate

13th March 2017

Headed down to Tatton, Dorset with Lewis this afternoon to try and catch up with a cattle egret. No luck, but we had 2 Red Kites from the car window. Moved to Portesham to continue the search where we eventually picked out a single Cattle Egret.

Cattle Egret - Portesham

Headed to Abbotsbury but dipped on the garganey, however did have a good selection of wildfowl including 5 fine Long-Tailed Ducks.

Long-Tailed Ducks - Abbotsbury

A look at Portland failed to produce the hume's warbler.

Portland Bill

18th February 2017 (Lincolnshire and Kent)

Left home for Lincolnshire at 4am this morning, and had a single Red Kite from the A1(M).

Once I arrived at Willow Tree Fen, it was a 40 minute wait before the Bluethroat eventually emerged from the reedbed and fed at close range on and around the main track. Very happy to have finally caught up with one after dipping several previous birds.

Bluethroat - Willow Tree Fen

Had another 2 Red Kites when driving back down the A1(M). Next stop was Monkton, Kent to look for the taiga bean geese, a species I've needed since IOC was adopted. Two other birders who arrived at the site at the same time as me showed me the field were the geese were ussually seen, however there was no sign. The others decided to search elsewhere, but I investigated some greylag calls in the next field where I found the 2 Taiga Bean Geese. A little perseverance can go a long way! Also had a pair of Ring-Necked Parakeets.

Taiga Bean Geese - Monkton

The greylag-like build and long, wedge-shaped bill and head is quite different to tundra bean.

I headed back over to Milton Creek after hearing that the pine bunting had reappeared, but scanning through the yellowhammers and reed buntings failed to produce the target bird. The final stop was dungeness to try for caspian or iceland gull, however a thick sea mist made this an impossible task

All in all a good day, seeing both the lifers I originally went for.

12th February 2017

Headed down to Dorset to seach for cattle egrets today. A look at Portesham and Langton Herring produced nothing but Little Egrets and a few Ravens.