September started off with a bang at Westport, with Spotted Flycatcher, Barnacle Goose, Little Egret and Lesser Whitethroat all seen in the first seven days.
digibinned shot of the Westport Spotted Flycatcher
Our first trip of the month was to Kilnsea on Saturday 5th. We had good views again of the juv Black Stork at Sunk Island and a Red-backed Shrike was by the Blue Bell. The wind was a strong NW and conditions for sea watching weren't ideal. We did manage a few distant Sooty Shearwaters, Manx Shearwaters and Arctic Skua. The MigFest was in full swing, and we were shown a huge Convolvulus Hawk Moth sat in a sandwich box. Finally, we managed a few flight views of a Barred Warbler.
Convolvulus Hawk Moth
Black Stork at Sunk Island
juvenile Red-backed Shrike
Saturday 12th September was spent in Staffordshire; the highlight being two Great White Egrets at Branston GP and the Common Crane again at Blithfield, this time in Tad Bay.
Great White Egret at Branston GP
Common Crane at Blithfield
Saturday 19th September saw a quick dash up to Flamborough Head, where the probable Eastern Subalpine Warbler reappeared for the first time since the 1st. We only just arrived in time to see it before it disappeared for the afternoon. We also saw a Swift (my latest ever in Britain) and a quick sea watching spell saw three Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver and a Black Tern past. The following video should sort out any identification issues the bird has.
We then headed across Yorkshire to Nosterfield, where an obliging juvenile Woodchat Shrike showed well.
juv Woodchat Shrike at Nosterfield
And so on to the mega at Dungeness. On Tuesday 22nd, a flycatcher sp at Dungeness was thought to be an Arcadian Fly, obviously a British first. There was no way of going down on Tuesday, but I eventually managed to get Wednesday off. CJW did likewise and we were fairly hopeful that following a day of rain, the bird wouldn't have built its strength up yet and would stay another day (stay now stay now). Unfortunately as we drove through Kent and the sun started to rise there was a deafly silence from Dungeness. We parked up and we were surprised by how few birders were actually on site. We spent about four hours looking around, but eventually at 11:00hrs, and with a count of just six birders left on site, we headed off. On the reserve at Dungeness we saw a Great White Egret and Cattle Egret.
On the way home, we called in at Vange Marshes in Essex. A strange reserve in several ways. Firstly, you walked underneath a road then cross a railway line. The reserve itself had various viewing mounds, but the pools were very distant. We did though have stunning views of the Wilson's Phalarope. The full frame photos below show how close it came to us.
This makes Ham Wall look a picturesque place
These two pictures are actually the way in to Vange Marshes
CJW suggests to Russ one possible direction that the trains could come from
CJW and Russ hastliy walk across the main line to London
Following a quick visit to Westport, we headed off to Norfolk where an ICTERINE WARBLER had spent a few days at Burnham Overy Dunes. We headed off from Staffs as soon as we received positive news, something that works on occasions and we may try it again. Following the long walk out on the boardwalk, we were soon having excellent views of the Icterine Warbler feeding in an apple tree. The sun was out and it was a very pleasant location to enjoy the start of autumn. It was also a tick for GAS.
Icterine Wrb in Norfolk. Picture taken in strong sunlight
Saturday 22nd August
The end of August was largely spent birding in Staffordshire, and it turned out to be quite enjoyable. Blithfield started to be a hive of activity. On 22nd August we managed to see one of the Osprey plus Redstart below the dam
Osprey in Tad Bay
Monday 31st August
Following another Saturday spent at Belvide, Branston and Blithfield, I was allowed out due to technical reasons on Bank Holiday Monday. Unfortunately, it was forecast to rain all morning. I arrived at Westport at 0700hrs and did a quick check to see if any waders were along the shore line. I decided to head off while the rain was at its heaviest, and made the short journey to Croxden Quarry - my first ever visit to this site. The previous night's Spoonbill was still present, but looked a bit miserable in the rain and just stood there.
Spoonbill at Croxden Quarry
I then returned to Westport and managed to do one lap. News was coming through from Blithfield and Belvide of waders dropping in, so eventually I headed to Blithfield and the nice dry hide in Tad Bay. I managed to get a seat next to the legend that is Mr Georgie Brain with one of his groups of birdwatchers. The partial s/pl Knot and one Sanderling were still present plus a count of 53 Ringed Plovers (unlike Mr Mant's total of 115)
Knot in Tad Bay
Whilst talking to ESC, I received a phone call from PJ. He announced there was a Staffs tick for me at Berryhill. Finally I thought, RING-NECKED PARAKEET on my list. Alas it wasn't to be. But it was my other huge bogie bird, WRYNECK. I've only dipped on three in the county, so I quickly packed my scope up and headed off out of the hide. I hurtled back up to Stoke, parked in my secret Berryhill parking space and headed out to this small grassland area lying in the shadow of Westport.
I walked to the Lapland Bunting paddock but there was no one in sight. I rang PJ and he said Nick Pom was walking towards me waving. I couldn't see him either. Panic set in as I envisaged a double dip of WRYNECK and a waving NICK POM. Then following further directions, I found the correct area and there, finally, was a waving Nick Pom (He'd been waving at another birder lost in the grass).
I stood in the small group with PJ and Rich Powell, and soon joined by the Tony Jackson crew and The Clayheads No.1 Stalker. The Wryneck eventually popped up in view and continued to show on and off for the next two to three hours. The area was full of birds, and reminded me of the hedge at Westport on a good day. There were 2-3 Spotted Fly, a Pied Fly plus loads of Chiffs, Willow Wrbs etc. I finally headed for home, soaked from my knees down due to walking in the long, wet, grass guiding birders in, and with my scope, bins and camera all rather damp. It was a fine Bank Holiday Monday in Staffs though.
So I finally get to see a Wryneck in the county. And in the month of August, I've managed to see a Red-footed Falcon, Black Tern with white wings and now a Wryneck all in the fine City of Stoke-on-Trent.
Respect the badge!
The Berryhill Wryneck - 3rd record in the city since 1970
Pied Fly at Berryhill. The weather was slightly inclement
Taking advantage of the
ailing Greek economy, myself & Mrs PJ decided on a cheap week in the
sun as there are some cracking deals to be had at the moment especially
in Greece.
There would be no new
birds on offer in Greece, there rarely are, but its very nice all the
same and 100% better than being at work !! Our Studio was in the quiet
resort of Ligia, habitat nearby mainly consisted of Olive groves and
fields and there was also a partially dried up stream down the road
which attracted a few bits & bobs.
Birds seen during a week
of 'very' casual Birding included most of the usual suspects - Bee
Eaters, Sardinian Warblers, Red rumped Swallows, Alpine Swifts, Little
Owls etc..
Red-rumped Swallow
The stream produced Little Egrets, Common Sandpipers, a very confiding Greenshank, Black headed Wagtail and a Kingfisher
Greenshank
The Butterfles &
Dragonflies are always worth a look, there were varoius Dragonflies along
the stream most of which I struggled to get close to and photograph but
I did manage a decent pic of a Red veined Darter, and a Southern
Gatekeeper was a tick for me.
Southern Gatekeeper
Red-veined Darter
We had a pleasant day on a
boat trip visiting the remote islands of Kalamos & Kastos and once
again as I have on previous visits to the smaller Greek islands I
scanned the beaches & caves looking for Monk Seals. There are
supposedly still a few of them around these Ionian island but once again
I dipped out, the closet I got was seeing one their favourite caves,
they were, of course, out for the day.
It had been a steady plod through July, but August started off with news that Bee-eaters had bred in Cumbria this year and the RSPB had set up a watchpoint. Having not seen Bee-eaters in Britain since the breeding pair in Co. Durham in 2002, it was an easy trip to make up north. We had to wait nearly two hours for one to show, and it wasn't really that cold, just a little bit dull.
The first Saturday for visiting and there was quite a crowd
Both nesting sites were opposite, but only one was partly viewable
Just the one Bee-eater was on show while we were there
On the way back home we popped into Arnside Knot for a short butterfly session. We did fairly well, seeing Northern Brown Argus, Scotch Argus and a few Dark Green Fritillaries, but I managed to miss a HIGH BROWN FRIT that Grizzly Adams photographed whilst I was further up the slope.
Most of the DGF were quite faded
A Northern Brown Argus
Can see for miles from the top
Following a few days break on the south coast, I continued my holiday with a trip to Spurn on August 5th. Not only was this day my birthday, but it also coincided with a Black Stork being present there. At first, only the top of its head was visible, and that only came up when a Short-eared Owl flew near to it. Eventually it took flight, and then landed again out of view in the ditch.
Stunning views at first of the Black Stork - this was one of its better showings
This Short-eared Owl showed well while we waited
On the way home, we popped in to see the Sabine's Gull at Pennington Flash. It was showing rather well at the time we visited.
Sabine's Gull at Pennington Flash, Gtr Manchester
On Friday 7th August, my last day of my holiday, I dropped the family off at the Trafford Centre and headed off for another visit to Arnside Knott. Despite there being no wind and more sun than my visit a few days previously, the difference in butterfly numbers was quite amazing. There were loads of Scotch Argus out, but hardly any D G Frit were left. I met two butterflyers at the top with camera and casually asked what they had seen. It was only a High Brown Fritillary showing rather well on some flowers.
The all important underwing shot
Saturday 8th August started off at Westport as usual. It was quite a lousy visit and at the end we stood by the visitor centre waiting for the SABINE'S GULL from Pennington Flash to drop in (it had flown off but did return later). I then spotted a tern sp being chased by a BHG. I quickly searched my internal library, checked the dark mantle and put out the news that there was a juv BLACK TERN at Westport. I woke CJW up, and PLo soon arrived. After all, it's not a bird we have everyday down at Westport. It was PLo who questionned the dark mantle, and after checking his very useful Collins app, also commented on the startling white rump. One thing that drives you on to make almost daily patch visits in the hope of finding something decent. It doesn't happen very often but on this occasion I totally foooked up. All because I got the two mantle colours the wrong way round. I thought WWBT had a pale mantle. Oh well, a site first as well. Congrats to PLo and CJW for questionning what they saw. And when the 2015 report comes out, it's their initials that will appear first.
Two photos by Dave K. Very useful for him to be on site, looking at his pics to sort the ID
The rest of the day was spent at Pennington Flash again, and then onto Preston where we dipped the long staying RING-BILLED GULL. We did see this gull though, chilling or just down on his knees?
On Sunday 9th August, following our visit to Westport, I followed CJW up to Chatterley Whitfield to see the Red-footed Falcon again (like we did on most days). It was at the top at first, then flew down to the bottom bit where it showed extremely well. And there was just the two of us there to enjoy it. As I drove off I glanced back at it and it was still sat there. We didn't realised this would be the last time we saw it. It flew off at mid day, eventually relocating in Lincolnshire. Such a relief, but at least we all managed to succesfully get this bird to leave Stoke under it's own steam.
And finally, a visit to Blithfield on Monday 10th August saw a Blithe Bay tick with another Common Crane for Blithfield.
