A Hobby Weekend

A trip to Surrey this weekend gave me the excuse to drag my Birder's wife to Otmoor to look for Turtle Doves on the way down.  Unfortunately despite extensive searching and hearing them purring away we just could locate them grrrrr.

European Roller

An hour after arriving in Farnham and having a lovely lunch with my Birder's wife and her Godmother, I happened to glance at my phone to catch up on the bird news and noticed that a Roller was showing just 5 miles away.  I hastily excused myself and whizzed over to Broxhead Common and after a 15 minute wait was soon watching the bird as it chilled out on a dead tree stump.  The Roller is such an iconic bird to me as I remember looking at photos of them in a colourful book of birds and Britain and Europe that I had and in fact still do have.  As soon as I saw the photo of a Roller it went on my wanted list along with Beeeater and Hoopoe.  Well, finally, 38 years later I have seen both my first Beeeaters (in Rome) and my first Roller in the same year.  After also seeing a Hoopoe in Rome last month, I just need Golden Oriole to make a truly exotic set of birds seen so far this year.

Hobby

The following morning I made my excuses again to my Birder's wife and her Godmother murmuring something along the lines of "I am just allowing you to enjoy girly chats with each other" and drove down to Selsey Bill.  Selsey Bill is supposed to be a good seawatching point and usually is but not this spring and after a 3 hour watch, we only managed a Great Northern Diver, plenty of Common Scoter, Little Terns, a few Gannets and one Arctic Skua.  The regulars who go down there are a jovial and friendly bunch - maybe some Warwickshire Birders could learn a few lessons from them in the art of not being grumpy.  I was given a tip off of a Turtle Dove at North Wall Pagham harbour by one of them and after a long walk from the RSPB car park heard the bird several times but again could not locate it, double grrrrrr.  On the way back to Farnham I took a detour to Thursley Common and was rewarded with great views of Hobby hawking (must have been about 5+ of them).

After fond farewells this morning we made our way home via Otmoor and had great views of Hobby (at least 5 of them) but again could locate any Turtle Dove, triple grrrrr.

Down to Gloster for a spot of birding

I just did not get round to any birding yesterday for some reason.  Looking at all the bird news services all the excitement seems to be around the coast at the moment and miles away and the most exciting thing nearby is a Red Necked Phalarope at Coombe Hill Meadows.  I therefore made my way down to Coombe Hill Meadows this morning and after several attempts decided to not risk parking down the lane but in the pub car park at the top of the road.  I was wise to do so as I witnessed many cars trying to negotiate turning around in a space you could not swing a cat in.

Coombe Hill Meadows was a delightful place to be this morning with many warblers singing their hearts including Chiff Chaff, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers.  A Cuckoo was also calling the entire time I was there.  The floods had a variety of birds including, Lapwing and Redshank and after relocating to a different view, I got a glimpse of the Phalarope, although not the best of views due a heathaze.

After looking at a map, I discovered that Highnam Woods was not that far away and decided to pay the reserve a visit.  Unfortunately the RSPB have closed the car park and I had to find a space in a layby nearby (not the safest of places to park).  My search for Nightingales proved to be fruitless and after half an hour I gave up due to the heat and hunger pangs, I will catch up with Nightingales hopefully in a couple of weeks time anyway.

Black Terns at last

After several failed attempts at trying to find Black Terns at Draycote Water a few weeks ago, I have been keeping an eye on Birdguides during the day for reports of any close by.  I have also taken to ensuring I have my bins with me at all times, which proved very beneficial when the Woodchat Shrike appeared recently at Brandon.

So, today when it was reported that 3 Black Terns were at Shustoke, I made the journey across Warwickshire during rush hour in order to try and see these beautiful birds.  After taking an hour to do less than 20 miles I eventually arrived at Shustoke and was not disappointed.  I could only find one Black Tern but it was a beauty and I obtained my best views ever (not close enough for a record shot but close enough to just be awed by it).  Great Birds.

Goodbye Scotland - Hello Farne Islands - Homeward bound

Eider

We left our B&B at 8:00am and made our way down to Seahouses in Northumberland.  En route we tried for the Surf Scoter at Musselburgh but were limited by time and only managed to find Velvet Scoters (however, this was my birder's wife's 3rd new species of the holiday).

We arrived at Seahouses in the nick of time to board our boat for a trip round the Islands and onto Inner Farne.  As per usual, the trip was fantastic with close views of Kittiwakes, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants, Eiders and Atlantic Grey Seals.  Other birds seen were Gannets, Sandwich Terns, Arctic Terns, Rock Pipits, Chiff Chaff and Lesser Whitethroat..

Razorbill

Guillemot

Sandwich Tern

The following day, we then made our way home, via Beadnell Bay (to see Little Tern) and Hauxley NR with the outside chance of Roseate Tern.  Unfortunately, we saw no Roseates (as it is slightly too early in the year) but did see Common Tern and Great White Egret.

We then had a long journey home (only to see today that we missed out on a Collared Flycatcher by one day - Oh well, you can't have everything).

Scotland Day 4

I just could not sustain getting up early again and we decided to get up a bit later and have a lazy day.

Stoat!

We went first to Loch Garten again and paid our respects to Odin the Osprey who was having a scrap with a Crow.  The feeders were quieter than normal but did hold a couple of Red Squirrel which are always nice to see.

We then decided to investigate how much it would cost to park at Loch an Eilein and turned around after we saw the rip-off prices charged by the Rothiemurchus Estate.  A park at the side of the road not far from there gave me Cuckoo, a hidden singing Wood Warbler and a surprise special guest in the form of a Stoat.

In the afternoon, we decided to walk round Loch Morlich where we saw a distant view of Black Throated Diver, Goosanders and displaying Goldeneye.

The bonus birds of the day were roding Woodcocks over our B&B - Excellent!

Scotland Day 3

After seeing only the briefest of views of a Black Grouse the day before, I decided to get up early for the third day in a row (leaving my birder's wife in bed) on Sunday and made my way over to Tulloch Moor arriving there at 5:00am.  On the way over there, I got great views of several Roe Deer and 5 Red Deer (including a stag) as they crossed over the road in front of my car.

As I arrived, a tour

Crestie!

group were already onto a male Black Grouse who displayed nicely for about 15 minutes.  When he disappeared from view I decided to make my way over to the Caper watch and got onto a male Caper straightaway.  I was on a roll and decided to then leave the hide to go and search for Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill.  A pair of Cresties were very obliging by appearing on the feeder in the car park straighaway and a brief walk round the shores of Loch Garten then got me onto a male Scottish Crossbill just above me on top of a pine feeding away on a cone.  Just as I got my scope onto it, it flew off and despite a 30 minute wait it did not reappear.  At this point it was 7:00am and I decided to make my way back to the B&B via a spot where I know there are Dippers and Otter and found both - What a morning!

Brown Hare

So, before breakfast I managed to see Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Otter along with Dipper, Meadow Pipits, Siskin, Coal Tits, Sparrowhawk, Goldeneye and a Tree Pipit.

Slavonian Grebe

After breakfast and making my birder's wife green with envy, we made our way over to the Findhorn Valley and spent several hours searching for Golden Eagle and were rewarded with a brief glimpse along with views of Raven, Kestrel, Buzzard and Peregrine.  The slopes of the valley held the usual Feral Goats, Brown Hare and a pair of Ring Ouzel and the car park at the end held Lee Evans (on one of his many Scottish Tours).

We decided then to go onto Loch Ruthven where
we saw splendid views of Slavonian and Little Grebes and our first Hooded Crow in the surrounding fields.  The way back to our B&B was made via Lochindorb (yet again), where we finally managed to see one Black Throated Diver along with a fishing Osprey.

Osprey

Scotland Day 2

Willow Warbler

We decided to get up early again on Saturday morning and whizzed over to Tulloch Moor to try and see Black Grouse lekking. After a half an hour wait and distant calls of a male, we decided to give up and drove the short distance to the Caper watch instead at Loch Garten.  I was not optimistic at seeing a Capercaillie as it was now 7:00am and due to the number of people leaving the car park as we arrived, I thought we had missed our opportunity.  However, after only being in the hide for five minutes a male came into view briefly.  This was just enough time for me to see it briefly and haul my birder's wife over to the scope for her to bag her first new species for the weekend.

We then legged it back over to Tulloch Moor to see if any Black Grouse were showing, bumping into a Warwickshire Birder (Dennis, who I always seem to bump into everywhere except for Warwickshire) on the way.  Unfortunately the Grouse were not showing but, while we waited, we were serenaded by Willow Warblers and Meadow Pipits and a distant Cuckoo.

Ptarmigan

After breakfast we made our way over to the Cairngorm again after receiving a tip-off that Ptarmigan were showing at the top cafe.  En route we stopped by another area I know about for lekking Black Grouse and saw a brief but highly unsatisfactory view of a solitary male.  We then proceeded to the Cairngorm, paid out the exortbitant day fee for the Funicular Railway and soon found ourselves at the viewing platform being buffetted by 30mph gusts.  I managed to see a couple of Ptarmigan distantly as they took to the wing briefly but other than that it was hopeless trying to keep bins still in those conditions, so we retreated to the cafe for a well deserved coffee and a cake.  After shifting seats several times, we managed to obtain a window seat and 15 minutes later I managed to pick out two Ptarmigan in the distance (just dots in my scope).  Again, this view was not very satisfactory but just as we were watching those two birds, I noticed something in the corner of my high and chanced upon two more of them just below the cafe.  My birder's wife was ecstatic, as Ptarmigan had always been high on her wanterd list and she had now bagged her 2nd new species for the day.  To top things off, we then glimpsed a male Merlin as he flew off in front of the train on the way down.

For lunch we decided to trek over to Insh Marshes, which, although very nice, with great views over the marshes from the nearest hide did not have very many birds. The highlight for the visit was seeing several Roe Deer wading across the floods.

As we had a  limited time in the afternoon before having to sign into our B&B, we decided to go up to Lochindorb again for the Black Throated Divers but again they were hiding.  However, we did manage to see a Red Grouse, making our day of birding a 4 Grouse day.

Scotland Day 1

After the excitement of the day before, with me finally seeing one of my Unseen Birds in the UK, I awoke early on Friday morning so that myself and my birder's wife could get started on our journey up north.

For some reason the journey seemed to go on for ever and after crossing the border it started to rain which did not improve matters.  In fact, for the rest of the day it rained and rained and rained.

Odin the Osprey

Upon arrival in the Cairngorms, I made for the Cairngorm itself with the hope of seeing Ptarmigan on the slopes.  Unfortunately, we were not lucky and had to content ourselves with great views of very charming Snow Buntings feeding on seed in the car park along with distant calls of a Ring Ouzel and Red Grouse.

Next stop was then Loch Garten for the Ospreys and an outside chance of Capercaille (although I was doubtful that they would be showing in the afternoon).  Odin the Osprey was showing well, near the nest site and outside the hide an obliging Crested Tit gave us our first Highland specialty.  After checking into the Boat Hotel where we had decided to stay as a treat for our first night, we ventured out again in the rain for a drive up to Lochindorb for the Black Throated Divers. Unfortunately due to the wind and rain being so bad, they must have been sheltering up somewhere.

We decided to give up due to the tireless rain and retreated to our hotel for a slap up meal and the most expensive round of drinks I have ever encoutered.

Not a great start to the weekend away (except for the amazing food and nice room at The Boat).....

Woodchat Shrike

As news broke that there was a Woodchat Shrike at Brandon, I was on my way to work and felt gutted as history of Shrikes at Brandon Marsh have not been great with the last one only staying for an evening (and me missing it) .

As the morning progressed, I kept my head down and managed to wangle an early lunch and got up to the area at midday. As I made way round the reed bed I heard a Gropper reeling but decided to pay no attention as my quarry was the Shrike and it did not disappoint, an absolute cracker and my first ever for the UK (one of my Unseen Birds finally seen).  Due to time constraints I had to leave after 5 minutes but spent an extra 10 minutes listening for the Gropper which had decided to keep quiet, so I gave up and headed back to work.

After an appointment to get my head mowed, I decided to go back to Brandon with my camera to obtain some distant record shots and to try and nail the Grasshopper Warbler at the same time.

The Shrike was still performing to an adoring crowd and after snapping my record shots, I decided to take a stroll to a different part of the reserve by the Golf Course and was soon rewarded when I heard two reeling Grasshopper Warblers and after about a five minute I glimpsed the bird as it emerged from dense cover to reel in front of me (blurry shot below, as the light was failing).

A brilliant days birding fitted round work and home commitments.  It was also nice to meet some birders again I had not seen for while.