A trip down south

After not making the trip to see the Semipalmated Plover on Hayling Island last weekend, I decided to take the plunge and try for it this weekend instead.

It took well over two hours to reach Black Point on Hayling Island and I was certainly glad to arrive after a horrendous journey on the M3 where the visibility was practically zero due to torrential rain.  There were about 60 birders there already and I settled in at the end of the pack (not sure if a group of twitchers/birders can be defined as a pack) and sat down to wait for the tide to come in.  After an hour of waiting, you could visibly see the tide moving waders off the mudflats in the distance.  However, it then started raining and continued to do so with driving wind for the next hour which made it near on impossible to try and look at anything through bins or a scope.  Despite being cold and wet, it was nice to see the waders coming in and flocking together.  The roost gradually got bigger and bigger and contained a mix of Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers and Sanderlings but by 4:30pm, with no sight of the Semipalmated Plover, I had had enough and decided to leave (many other birders had already left due to the conditions).  However, just as I was leaving, someone had spotted the Semipalmated Plover and I managed to obtain views of the bird through the scrum that then ensued.   I was too cold and wet though to bother to obtain a record shot and also every single piece of equipment seemed to have sand on it.

This morning after drying off my jeans and rucksack at my sister's house (who lives not that far away from Hayling Island), I set off for Mudeford Quay in Dorset where I obtained a brief view of the Roseate Tern there battling the wind.  I waited for another hour but could not find it again.  My next stop was then Sturt Pond at Milford to view a Red Breasted Goose associating with Brent Geese.  I wonder if it is the same bird that was with Brent Geese at Farlington Marshes last year?  I then decided to make my way back home with a stop at Beaulieu Road Station to see if I could find a Great Grey Shrike.  It always surprises me how small shrikes are but despite a good look around, I could not find the one which has been in that area for a few days.

As the wind was really beginning to get stronger, I decided to make my way home and made just one 10 mile detour in order to see my first Hoopoe (above) of the year (in the UK).

Twitch to Rutland Water

After a lovely evening and welcome home dinner by my birders wife on Saturday evening, I woke up yesterday to breaking news of a Leach's Storm Petrel that had been seen at Rutland Water, along with a Grey Phalarope.

A Leach's Storm Petrel was at Draycote Water a few years back and I always regretted not going to see that bird and therefore we decided to take the opportunity to have day out and finish off my holiday in style.

The bird was fairly difficult to spot on the water but eventually we both obtained good views of it flying (being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls).

The Phalarope was no where to be found but we decided to stick around the area for the rest of the day and just as we were leaving, news came out that it had been relocated. So, we turned the car around, headed back and after a brief walk soon had good views of the bird feeding about 20 feet away.  The below photograph gives a good indication of how small Phalaropes are compared to Black-headed Gulls.

Grey Phalarope and Black-headed Gull

Shetlands Day 8 - 12/10/2013

My final day on Shetland and another early start to make the most of my final morning before my flight at 11:25am.  Again we worked the surrounding area nearby the hotel but unfortunately could not find anything new.

In summary, a great time was had by us all even though we did not manage to travel to Fair Isle.

Other birds that we saw on our trip included:- Redwing, Bonxies, Long Tailed Ducks, Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemots and Red Throated Divers.  Mammals and cetaceans included Otters (practically everyday), Harbour Porpoise, Grey and Common Seals and a Hedgehog.

Shetlands Day 7 - 11/10/2013

The beautiful Wilson's Phalarope

News had broken the previous evening of a Wilson's Phalarope at Sand, Shetland Mainland and a Pechora Pipit at Toab.  So, we made an early start, making our way back South across Unst and then Yell and by mid morning had connected with the stunning Wilson's Phalarope, a truly brilliant bird and one that I have always wanted to see.  Also, a Shetland first for Judd, so everyone in our group was very satisfied with the start to our final day.  Next on our list was the Pechora Pipit and after a search in the nearby gardens we found the bird in vegetable field. After a while, we soon obtained good views of the bird as it briefly alighted on a fence before disappearing into some cabbages but as per usual I managed to obtain one of my classic flight shots!!

Pechora Pipit - Honest!!

We spent the remainder of the afternoon in different sites in the nearby area, including Sunburgh Head on which we obtained cracking views of another Blyth's Reed Warbler.

Blyth's Reed Warbler in very unlikely habitat

Also, nearby at Quendale we found another Long Eared Owl (right out in the open) and a Siberian Chiff Chaff.

Long Eared Owl

Shetlands Day 6 - 10/10/2013

Our final day on Unst and we made the most of it by getting up early again and working nearby gardens to try and find any skulking migrants.  Unfortunately, the only things we could find were commoner birds such as Blackcaps and Chiff Chaff.  We also paid a visit to Clingera, Baltasound to try and find a Red-backed Shrike that had been reported but unfortunately could not locate it.

Twite on a wire

Mid morning we decided to go back to the areas we had covered the previous day including a garden at Valyie where Blyth's Reed Warbler and Long Eared Owl had been reported for the past few days.  One of our group managed to find the Long Eared Owl in the top branches of a Pine and I spotted a pale grey bird as it flew from almost under my feet. After spending some time, we eventually obtained decent if not brief views of the bird to identify it as a Blyth's Reed Warbler.

We eat our lunch back at Skaw in the hope that the Little Bunting had not moved on (but it obviously had) and then spent the afternoon in Uyeasound looking for (but not finding) Mealy Redpolls.  However, we did obtain great views of the resident Twite and a handsome Whooper Swan.

Mr Whooper

We finished the day off back at Clingera, Baltasound and managed to find the Red Backed Shrike and splendid little Goldcrest.

Shetlands Day 5 - 09/10/2013

Day 5 of my Shetlands Trip was spent on a new Island for me, Fetlar, in pursuit of a Rustic Bunting, a pleasurable day, especially when the bird showed well (eventually) and in good company, catching up with old acquaintances including Ashley from Oriole Birding.  Below is another classic photo of mine in which I like to test my own ability to spot the bird among the foliage.

Rustic Bunting - Honest!

As there did not seem to be many other birds on Fetlar, we managed to catch an early ferry back to Unst (via Yell) and made our way to the most northern house in the UK at Skaw to look for Little Bunting.  The wind had really picked up by the time we arrived and was a chilling Northerly making it definitely feel that we were far up North but alas the Little Bunting had decided to make the wise decision in moving on and so we had to console ourselves with the opposite. Also, nearby was a pale Chiff Chaff showing traits of the Siberian sub species.

Tame Snow Bunting at Skaw

Enroute back to the hotel we paid a visit to a garden where we knew there were Hawfinches and before and using then Minibus as a hide we had the best ever views of one feeding in full view  within feet away - Amazing.  Also, nearby was a (Eastern) Lesser Whitethroat.

Very obliging Hawfinch

Shetlands Day 4 - 08/10/2013

Subalpine Warbler being non skulky

Another half day of waiting to see if we would get a flight to Fair Isle and after a morning's wait, the flights were again cancelled.

It was decision time for Shetland Wildlife to amend our holiday from a Fair Isle based one to a Shetlands Mainland based one instead and after discussing with us, we were soon on our way northbound for Yell and Unst (with all our onward travel and accommodation rearranged - all very impressive I have to say).

Enroute, we visited Mid Yell to spot an Eastern Subalpine Warbler which was putting on a performance very unlike the Subalpine Warblers I have seen abroad.

We arrived at our final destination late afternoon and after a great meal and quite a few beers, retired to our beds ready for another early start the next day.

Shetlands Day 3 - 07/10/2013

This was meant to be the day we were to fly to Fair Isle and to keep a long story short, after spending most of the day sitting at Tingwall Airport, the flights were eventually cancelled due to bad weather.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Honest!!

Shetland Wildlife were again very efficient in organising alternative accommodation for us all for the night and on our way to our new hotel(s), we again tried for the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.  This time the three of us in the group who had not yet seen it obtained good views and I managed to take the world's worst photo of one.  One of the enduring memories I will have of this holiday was seeing two of my trip companions "chest-bumping" in celebration that I had finally connected with the bird.

The good news for me was that my new hotel had a Valhalla Ale on tap but cannot remember which one!!

Shetlands Day 2 - 06/10/2013

An early start was in order for our first expedition which was to go out and find a Lesser Yellowlegs.  Unfortunately, despite extensive searching, we could not find the bird - Our 1st dip of the day.  We therefore headed back to the hotel for breakfast.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

After breakfast, we headed over to Hoswick to view the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.  Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side with persistent wind and rain showers and after about 2 hours of staring at a bush with no movement besides the odd Chiff Chaff or Blackcap, we gave up - Our 2nd dip of the day.

We then decided to head over to Voe to try for an Arctic Warbler but despite an extensive search we could not find it, although we did come across a lovely Red-breasted Flycatcher, which was a welcome addition to my year list.  So, our 3rd dip of the day was not too bad.

Upon hearing that an Arctic Warbler had been seen in Lerwick, we then headed over there but could not find that bird either - 4th dip of the day.

On the way back to the hotel we tried for the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler again.  I managed to see the head of the bird for a split second but feel I could not count that as a "tick" and therefore we again dipped making it an impressive 5 dip day.

Shetlands Day 1 - 05/10/2013

I had been keeping an eye on the wind the week before I was due to travel up to the Shetlands and was not anticipating much from the trip, as the forecast was a shift from South Easterlies to South Westerlies.  After sitting in Glasgow airport and then on the runaway and then back at the terminal because Air Traffic Control had decided to reroute my final leg of the journey to Sumburgh, my mood slowly became that of despair.  As, while I was pulling my hair out in a soulless airport terminal, many birders were enjoying mega's such as Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Thick-billed Warbler on Shetland Mainland.

I finally arrived at Sumburgh Airport and was met in arrivals by Judd from Shetland Wildlife who was to be my (well, our group) guide for the week.  I had decided to travel with Shetland Wildlife as it was my first foray to the Shetlands and I wanted a hassle free time where all food, accommodation and travel details had already been arranged (and they were very efficient with all of this).  I also felt a guide may be in order as I would be venturing into new birding territory and areas of identification where I at times would probably require assistance (we all have to start somewhere and I ain't afraid to admit that there are areas of birding identification that I still need to hone).

Thick-billed Warbler torpedo

Anyway, Judd whisked me away in a minibus to Geosetter, where a group of about 50 twitchers or birders (choose which ever expression you prefer) were gathered round a crop field in which the Thick-billed Warbler was hiding.  It had been agreed with the landowner that a controlled flush of the bird could be carried out by  Shetland Wildlife and two of them made their way to where the bird was last seen.  This allowed everyone present to obtain good clear flight views of the bird.  My photo shows the bird in torpedo mode.  Also in nearby bushes was a Yellow Browed Warbler.

On the way back, I was dropped off so that I could view a Short-toed Lark which obligingly dropped onto the driveway up to our Hotel.

Short-toed Lark

After two lifers within 30 minutes, I was again more excited as to what the following days would produce and during the evening met my companions for the following week ahead