Jan 2015 - Pomarine Skua in Lancs

Following on from the excellent start to the year in East Yorkshire, a trip to Slimbridge was made on 3rd January. As with most weekends in January, it was forecast to rain and so we thought there would be plenty of cover for us. The female Ferruginous Duck was found in the Asian Pen and showed quite well. We also had 110 White-fronted Geese, plenty of Bewick's Swans, six Barnacle Geese and a Merlin. 

Ferruginous Duck at Slimbridge

The following weekend, the 10th January, strong winds were forecast but we battled on, visiting a few sites in Staffordshire before we finally gave up and went home. Highlights of this day were a fine Black Swan at Whitemoor, where there were good numbers of Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows seen. 

The 17th January saw a trip down to Devon where three PENDULINE TITS had been showing frequently during the week at Darts Farm near Topsham. We were the first car in the car park, and as we were getting our kit together, another car pulled up. Next thing someome was shouting we couldn't park there! It was only the Clayheads No.1 Stalker Ian "The Stalker" who had followed us all the way down the M5 from Stoke just to see where we were going. Such dedication. We waited three hours for the PENDULINE TITS to appear, but they didn't. We headed to Broadsands were the Cirl Buntings showed well in the car park, plus some good sea watching in the bay saw a Velvet Scoter, several Great Northern Divers and three Black-necked Grebes. 

 Cirl Buntings at Broadsands

Last stop of the day was in Brixham Harbour, where seven Purple Sandpipers showed very well on the breakwater. In fact we were standing above them and looking down at them. We also saw this stunning Oystercatcher.

And so on to Sunday 25th January and a trip to Lancashire. First stop was at Pilling for the Pomarine Skua. Unfortunately it isn't looking it's best anymore, and spent most of our visit walking around a field like a rabbit. (Actually as we were walking along the path, I did think it was a rabbit before I lifted my bins. Not many birders have mistaken a Pom Skua for a rabbit). We also had good views of the flock of c70 Twite.

 

Next stop was at Rossall Point for the wintering SHORE LARK. The grassy area where it frequented was full of dog walkers and people walking about. We knew there was no chance of it being there. We headed down to the beach. I wanted to head to the right, PJ wanted to go left. We went left, walked only a few steps when a large ish bird flew past us. I saw where it dropped and amazingly there was the Shore Lark.

Shore Lark by Phil Jones

We headed down to Blackpool for the TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE at Mythop. We found the large flock of Pink-feet, but we could only view from the car or else we would have flushed them. We pulled up next to the only other car watching them, and he shouted out directions for us. PJ even managed to get out of the car and knocked on his passenger door window. We were really struggling and just couldn't get our eyes on to it, despite the goose being fairly close. Then I found the bird he was watching. Sadly, its legs were a rich pink, rather than orange. We left, but we did see some Whooper Swans nearby.

Whooper Swans by PJ

We had decided we wanted to end the day at Chaswater, following the previous nights report of a possible THAYER'S GULL in the roost. There was a good turn out for the roost, with quite a few of Staffordshire's active birders assembled. The roost wasn't a massive one, but we did manage a 2w Yellow-legged Gull, 3w Caspian Gull and an adult Iceland Gull.

Iceland Gull at Chasewater

3w Caspian Gull at Chasewater

1st January 2015 - Little Bustard, Yorkshire

I have to confess but I'm not a fan of New Year celebration. I don't know the words beyond the first line of Old Land Sign and it irritates me when people endlessly wish me Happy New Year when the year is only minutes old. How do they know it's going to be a Happy New Year? It could turn out to be a right crap year. For me last year was a bit of a tricky one (When "Golum" walked past me at the Yellow-rumped Wrb twitch I knew I wasn't in A1 condition). So this year me and my wife decided not to wish each other a happy new year at all. Goodbye 2014 - and a warm welcome to 2015.

 A beautiful first sunrise of a new exciting year

We were always planning a New Years Day trip as we do every year (and that's another reason not to have a late night). This year we decided on North Wales. Unfortunately, the forecast was pretty dire, and we didn't fancy a wet day like we had in 2014. So a quick check of the forecast, the east coast was dry and we planned a trip to Norfolk.

During the morning of 31st December, the third report this winter of a LITTLE BUSTARD came thru on the airwaves; this time a bird seen, again in flight, at 08:30hrs. But this time, unlike the Dorset and Sussex birds, the bird was seen again at 11:07hrs in flight in the same area. Discussions and planning took place and we came to the decision that it was probably a bit too late in the day to set off (3hrs + journey we thought meaning 15:30hrs arrival??).

The destination for our trip was sorted. The LITTLE BUSTARD was relocated and sat in a field all afternoon. A record breaking seven Clayheads were travelling in two cars. All of my family were out baby sitting so I had the house to myself. I was in bed before 21:00hrs!!

I was up at 03:50hrs as I'd finished my sleep. Pops picked me up and CJW at 05:00hrs and off we set. PJ was in PLo's car along with RSu and JSu. The roads were surprisingly quiet for a New Years Day morning. The year ticks were flooding in. First bird of the year was a Robin singing outside the house, and the second was a Barn Owl somewhere just after Beverley.  

We turned off the main road into Fraisthorpe and we were stunned to see cars parking already. I felt we were a long way away from the field, and so I stuck to the original instructions and headed for the beach car park. As we drove down the road and past the crowd, it became obvious that this was a big twitch. The crowd already assembled in the dark was quite a long line. Cars were parked in every available bit of verge. We carried on until we reached the car park, only to be told by the car in front that it was full, and the overspill car park was locked. We turned around and found the first bit of verge to park on. At just after 08:00hrs we stood in place. It was windy, and dull, and there was a brown bird to be found in a field full of kale. Surprisingly it didn't take to long for the Little Bustard to be found. I had a brief view through my bins but then took ages to find it in my scope. It was a lot closer than we expected. And there was my third bird of the year - a Little Bustard. 

An incredible bird and an incredible start to the year. And yes, I have seen them abroad as well, but nothing beats seeing one on the Yorkshire coast. It was just like a twitch from the old days. A huge crowd, loads of Staffs boys, good craic and an absolute mega of a bird. It's days like these that you remember and treasure for years to come.

And the Little Bustard just sat there. Pecking at the vegetation on occasions, the odd neck stretch but that was it. We would have liked to have seen it fly, but in this wind it wasn't going anywhere.

 Little Bustard, Fraisthorpe, East Yorkshire. 1st January 2015.

At 10:00hrs, we decided to head off for a bit of year ticking. First stop was sea watching off Flamborough Head. It wasn't too bad a session with Gannet, Guillemot and Fulmar all present plus star bird, a Red-throated Diver flying past. PJ rang us about a possible Rough-legged Buzzard that was sat distantly under a bush not showing well. When we arrived, we were soon watching the distant possible Rough-legged Buzzard sitting under a bush, but it wasn't showing well. Opinion amongst the crowd was divided. Some said they couldn't tell what it was from this distance but felt it looked like a Buzzard, others said they thought it looked more like a Buzzard, but they couldn't tell from that distance. (We did receive confirmation later from PJ that the bird was in fact a Buzzard).    

We then joined the large convoy heading towards the wintering Blyth's Pipit. We took a more scenic route courtesy of the sat nav, but we still arrived moments before PJ and PLo. The Blyth's Pipit was feeding on a patch of waste land behind the KFC this time. It was here that PLo finally reaped the benefits of his carefully chosen footwear for the day - white trainers. He was able to run over the mud and leap from mound to mound as the poor pipit was flushed if it kept it's head down for more than two minutes. We had several flight views, one view on the deck and then a better view in a tree. All good fun and a marvellous way to end the day. Another good gathering of Staffs boys (including Stalker Ian who had managed to avoid us at Fraisthorpe). A two tick day for CJW as well. Edging ever closer to the @NGBirders 200 Club.

Finally, another video for you all. Of course, it's a little busted!

29th December 2014 - Wakefield, West Yorkshire and review of year

I managed to get a few days off this year in between Christmas and New Year, and so when a possible THAYER'S GULL was found in West Yorks, it fitted in nicely with visiting the wintering BLYTH'S PIPIT near to Pugneys CP.

I arrived at Mirfield just after 08:00hrs, but it took quite a while to suss the area out and for all the birders to get together. We had an Iceland Gull fly over, but the flock of large gulls never really settled, and when they did they were out of view on warehouse roofs. Eventually they circled and all flew off. 

The Blyth's Pipit was only 25 minutes away so I headed over. I stood for an hour waiting for something to happen and then it did. One of the locals very kindly walked through the area, and out popped the Blyth's Pipit. A brief flight along with a nice call and it landed on the other side of the road in a culvert...with short grass. This allowed everyone to get a decent view and the cameras were clicking away.

  

 

 

 Blyth's Pipit near to Wakefield, West Yorks

This is the grass where it showed so well

This is where it hides until it's organised flushed out.  

Satisfied with my views, I headed over to Pugney's hoping that the possible Thayer's was going to roost again. I told the posh bloke from Bedfordshire standing next to me at 14:30hrs that the roost wasn't going to form, as there were only about ten large gulls present. By 15:30hrs it wasn't quite at Chasewater levels, in fact there were only about 50 gulls present. Having done a roost before, I just had that gut feeling. There was no sign of the Thayers in a much reduce sized roost was the official line. I stood for nearly two hours on a frozen bank, and I have to admit, I gave up before it was dark as I was just absolutely frozen. Heaters on full all the way back thawed me out nicely.

And so that's it for 2014. No need to review the year as you can read all about it on my blog. And so 2015 will begin in a few days time. And what do we expect next year from us? CJW hopefully will reach a listing milestone and finally get to join the @NGBirders 200 Club. BUBO says he's about 12 short, so maybe by the second weekend in January he should get there. He also is celebrating his 60th birthday next year. A celebration trip is already being planned. Fingers crossed and Staffordshire birding will kick into life again soon. It's been quite a quiet spell or even quiet a quite spell recently, but we'll keep plodding on looking for that big one. Maybe next year we'll do a Barrymore and strike it lucky and find a big one. 

Big thanks this year goes to the other three Clayheads who had to drive me around during January and February when I was unable to drive. Much appreciated and hope you all enjoyed finally being able to walk faster than me for a short time. 

Apologies now. 

First to PJ. PJ offered to take me up to Tittesworth to see the Lesser Scaup. It was a bird I wanted to see as I'd been putting the news out daily whilst in hospital. So what better way to announce my return to birding than a trip up the moors. However it was only five days after I'd come out of intensive care (true fact), and maybe looking back it was a bit too soon. But I managed it, we saw the bird and PJ dropped me off outside my house. The last thing I said to him as I got out of the car was "Watch the balls". (We have low lying street furniture in the street and if you forget about them and drive forward, it hurts the car a bit). Poor old PJ did me a huge favour, took me out, then wrote off his car outside my house. 

Secondly to CJW who had to watch as I walked/stood on the slippiest bank in the world while watching the Gloucs/Wiltshire Red-flanked Bluetail. It was only four weeks after surgery and he was slightly worried as to what happened if I fell over. (I would have split open again Chris and made a mess of your car)

 Stunning days indeed. The bank was incredibly slippy so we stood on it.

And for my bird of the year?

Take your pick

See you all in 2015. 

6th December 2014 - The Strange tale of the Westport Smew

I'm not sure whether you know this or not, but it's December now, and the days aren't as long as they are in June or July. Back in the summer, I could easily visit Westport before work, arriving before 06:00hrs on some days to give the site a thorough grilling. In December though, morning visits are out of the question and even afternoon visits are a bit of a rush. I do try and visit the lake every afternoon during the week, but if I get held up at work or stuck in traffic then there's no chance of making it. 

On Wednesday 3rd December, I arrived quite late in the afternoon, parking up at 15:45hrs. As the light was already fading, I didn't bother with my wellies and just walked round in my work shoes. This meant I stuck to the paths and I didn't stand on my usual jetty to scan the lake. I counted the tufted and pochard as per usual, highlight being a drake Goldeneye and I returned home. Run of the mill visit. Happens every night.

But then it went bang and pop. I received an email sent from a gentleman with whom we'd had a few reports sent into Staffsbirdnews in the past. The email contained a photograph of a redhead SMEW taken at Westport at 13:00hrs. Smew is quite a Westport mega with only a handful of sightings in the past. I've sort of missed two previously over the years and still needed it for my list. 

The doubts started to go round my head. Had I missed it in my haste? Had I been complacent and not done a proper check? Could I really have counted the ducks with the Smew under water all the time? Did my bum really look big in these trousers?

I convinced myself that the Smew must have flown off and I wasn't really complacent and sloppy. PLo said he would check the lake in the morning and so all was calm. By the time he had arrived, DK had already been on site since 07:30hrs and there was no sign. But it then transpired that another visitor had seen the SMEW whilst walking around at 15:45hrs. Exactly the same time as I arrived. He'd rang another birder to say he had thought he'd seen a SMEW (thanks for passing the message on), returned to his car to fetch his bins but when he returned to the lake at 15:55hrs there was no sign. The mystery deepened when DK said he'd been checking the gulls at 14:30hrs and seen no SMEW. It was all very odd. 

Thursday and Friday afternoon produced no further sightings and we spent from 07:30hrs to 10:00hrs on site on Saturday morning. We wandered off to the pits still discussing the mystery of the Smew. 

Then, PLo rang me to say he'd met Simon Middleton (the original finder) by the top pool who told him the SMEW was again present. PLo checked and there it was. He rang us, we put the news out and hurtled back along the A50, arriving at Westport about 45 mins later. The boys on the bank hadn't seen the Smew for ten mins but following an anxious wait, it was found again in the bottom corner. It was the largest gathering at Westport since the last time something was found (CJW's Glaucous Gull maybe?), and we saw the Suttons, the Carthy's, Karl, Bill M, Gronk, young Bromley plus several faces I didn't recognise, along with PLo and PJ.

This is the 5th record of Smew at Westport, the first for 17yrs. It's also my 3rd Westport tick of the year, even though my year list total is one of the lowest for quite a few years. Photos below are taken by PJ.

1986 - A drake was seen on February 23rd and March 1st.

1991 - Two redheads were seen on February 17th.

1996 - A redhead seen on December 9th.

1997 - A redhead arrived on January 29th with a party of Goosander and was still present the following day.

2014 - A first-winter drake was seen on 3rd and 6th December.

 

Nov 30th 2014 - Great Grey Shrike, Swynnerton Old Park

November 2014 had been a largely forgettable month for those with British lists of over 250. I'd not left the county and had mainly been watching the gravel pits, hoping to strike it lucky. The best bird so far had been the early Smew at Belvide.

Finally on the last day of the month, a few bits appeared for us to see. Originally we had hoped to go to Cleveland to see the ISABELLINE WHEATEAR but it did a Thursday night flit instead of the usual Friday night. So we decided to stay in Staffordshire instead.

After finishing off at Westport, we all met up at Hanchurch where a Great Grey Shrike had been found the previous day. By the time we arrived, the Shrike was already being watched by a small crowd of North Staffordshire birding stalwarts. It put on a fine display as it fed in front of us, perching on the stumps and coming quite close at times.

 

A small gathering of North Staffordshire's birders

The video and the drawing

Phil Jones latest artwork

We were heading off towards the East Staffs pits when we received news of a GREEN-WINGED TEAL came on from Derbyshire. We were heading that way and it was still relatively early so it fitted in nicely with the day. It took CJW ages to find the site as it was just by the junction of the A38 and A61 - a roundabout we fly round many times on the way east (sorry Flyboy but not that type of flying!). All we knew was that it was on some floods. We drove down the A61 a short way, parked up and walked back to view the floods. Second teal I saw was the Green-winged Teal. It was as easy as that. Petty we were standing next to such a busy road.

The flood field just before the roundabout at the A38/A61 junction. A new site for us

And so we finally arrived at the gravel pits where the highlight of the visit was a very large gull roost. We managed to find at least three Yellow-legged Gulls, adult Mediterranean Gull and a fine adult Caspian Gull. It's amazing what you can see in Staffordshire.

A few photos of the Caspian Gull