A glorious morning at BGM

This morning Simon went to Bridge Triumph in Exeter to get some filters for his Bonneville. As he would be passing pretty close to Bowling Green Marsh it seemed daft not to hitch a lift. I'm glad I did as it was a glorious morning  & the tide was just right. I even managed to take my Year List to 170 with a Common Sandpiper from the hide. There were also flocks of over 50 Bar-tailed & Black-tailed Godwits & a few Knot. Unfortunately no Black-winged Stilt though!

There was an RSPB meeting of some sort in the hide so it was a bit busy, but I stayed for a while until even more people arrived, at which point I scarpered & went off to the estuary viewpoint. Nothing of note from there, except for the fantastic view. I'd forgotten my camera, but the phone did a fairly good job.

Looking South along the Exe from the BGM viewpoint

More Suffolk & a bit of Herts

Sunday was the last full day of our trip & we had to make our way across to Hertfordshire ready for Mary's flight back to Switzerland from Luton on Monday morning.

We're definitely showing our age....rather than an early start to cram in as much as possible, we actually indulged in some toasted Hot Cross buns for breakfast. No dedication!

A Spoonbill had been seen on Saturday at Boyton Marshes, an RSPB reserve on the coast between the Butley river & Ore estuary just South of our Youth Hostel at Blaxhall. We decided to give it a try, it would be another reserve explored even if we dipped again. We hadn't been there long when we heard a Sedge Warbler singing beside the path & we even managed to get a reasonable view of it. A new bird for the year. A Swallow then flew in & landed on the fence in front of us, only our 3rd of the trip. We walked along the raised bank bordering the estuary, which exposed us fully to the cold wind & occasional drizzle, but gave us good views in all directions, including Havergate Island, another RSPB reserve with limited access. We scanned for a while, but there were no large white birds (except for a field of Mute Swans). We just started heading back to the van when Mary spotted 3 large white birds flying in from the North, & yes, they had ridiculous bills! Fantastic! Another few minutes & they would have flown in behind us & we would have missed them. That's just what happened to the 4 other birders that had come in after us. They had spent a while scanning from the bank but were walking back across the low trail when the Spoonbills arrived. They were looking the wrong way when they flew in & would have been unable to see them through the reeds once they landed. If we'd managed to catch them before they left we would have let them know......but they'd gone when we got back to the van.

On the bank at Boyton Marshes RSPB

2 of the 3 Spoonbills, the other was following behind

Our final Suffolk stop was Alton Water, a large reservoir near Ipswich. We chose it as a Red-necked Grebe  had been there for a while, but of course we didn't find that. However we had a nice walk along the Northern arm, and as reservoirs go, it was quite nice with 'natural edges & marshy fringes'. We were going to check out the Southern half as well, but there was only an 'all day' parking rate which was a bit much for the short time we had to play with.

We headed West. The route plotted by the GPS took us pretty close to Amwell Gravel Pit near Ware in Herts, one of the first sites that we visited when we started birding. I knew there had been quite a lot of work done since my last visit a few years ago, so having explored lots of new places,  we decided to  finish with an old favourite.

There were a couple of new hides & a second level had been added to the old one. The highlight was a flock of about 40 or 50 Sand Martins, our first of the year. We also added a 'colchicus group' (ie non-ring necked) pheasant to the sub-species list.

Amwell from the view point

Well, that was about it. We spent the night about 15 minutes from Luton, and had a last minute bonus on our way to the airport in the morning when a Red Kite flew over. It was just inside Herts, which was a shame as it would have been another County on Mary's list had we been another mile up the road in Beds.

The trip had lasted 10 & a bit days. Mary had amassed a Year List total of 126 + 2 (although it may be more as we have a slight discrepancy in the list & we still have a pipit & a gull to work on!) spread over 7 counties (Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Essex, Surrey, Suffolk & Hertfordshire). I had added 21 + 1 to my list, which now stands at 168 + 2

We have an impressive list of rarities, unfortunately though most of them are birds we dipped!

Lowlights: (Twitches we dipped on)
Hume's Leaf Warbler (Wyke Regis, Dorset)....again
Richard's Pipit (Wyke Regis, Dorset).....again
Puffin (Portland Bill, Dorset) ......NEVER seen one
Glossy Ibis (Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset)....got it later
Spoonbill (Middlebere, Dorset)......got it later
Spanish Sparrow (Calshot, Hants)
Hawfinch (Lakeside Country Park, Hants)
Glossy Ibis (Chelmsford, Essex)....got it later
Long-tailed Duck (Abberton Resv, Essex)
Red-necked Grebe (Alton Water, Suffolk)


Highlights: (Successful Twitches/ good birds we saw):
Long-billed Dowitcher (Shapwick Heath, Somerset)
Bearded Tit (Shapwick Heath, Somerset & Minsmere, Suffolk)
Ring Ouzel (Portland)
Common Redstart (Portland)
Rose-coloured Starling (Hordle, Hants)
Glossy Ibis (Minsmere, Suffolk)
Stone Curlew (Minsmere, Suffolk)
Great Grey Shrike (S Hollesley Heath, Suffolk)
Spoonbill (Boyton Marshes, Suffolk)


Had the sole purpose of the trip been to twitch, I would have been disappointed with my list, especially as some great birds were turning up near Exmouth!! In particular the Ring Ouzel & Redstart that were about a 5 minute walk from my house! However, we had a great time exploring places we hadn't been to before & visiting lots of new reserves. I drove 1090 miles & have come home for a rest......apart from nipping out to the Otter yesterday to see the Purple Heron of course!! It kindly waited for me to get home before flying off!

My Year :List total 169 + 2

Suffolk......part 1

I'm now blogging from the comfort of home, having returned from my wanderings yesterday. Postings were prevented by dodgy signals & lack of time. This is a round-up of the highs & lows of the last few days of the Mystery Tour.....

Ever since we've been birding, Mary & I have been meaning to visit Minsmere RSPB on the Suffolk coast. We finally made it on Friday & we weren't disappointed. It's a mixture of woodland, wetland, heathland & coast & has a large visitor centre & lots of hides.
As we were driving into the reserve I mentioned that it was nice to be going birding rather than twitching for the day, at least we couldn't dip again. At that moment we came across a couple of cars parked up & several scopes & cameras all pointing in the same direction. Of  course we stopped to investigate & there it was, a Glossy Ibis. After 2 failed twitches in Dorset & Essex, we had come across one by accident!

In the reserve we started off by walking East along the North Wall where we saw a couple of Bearded Tits, followed by several Red-throated Divers a few minutes later from the beach. So far so good, all new birds for Mary.

Minsmere looking South from Dunwich , with Sizewell in the background

We diverted North onto the adjoining Dunwich Heath National Trust reserve when we were told that Dartford Warblers & Whinchats were cavorting in the bushes, but we didn't find either, or even a Stonechat, despite the enormous expanse of Gorse & Heather. However, what we did find was a chap with a huge lens who showed us photos of a Stone Curlew which he'd taken on his way into the reserve. That would be a new UK bird for both of us. I think we were particularly cool, staying for another 10 mins of Whinchat hunting before heading back to the van.

Mary doing some  relaxed Whinchat hunting

We added a Firecrest to the list on our way back to the car park, a nice bonus for Mary.

We easily found the spot where the Stone Curlews had been seen. We scanned the field for a while & had just taken a photo of the location where Stone Curlew had been (as usual) when we found an oddly shaped stone....

There were 2 of them & we managed to get quite good views of them from the road. Mary even managed to take a video with her Lumix down the scope. We were 2 very happy bunnies & celebrated with a late lunch before heading back to the Visitor Centre.

A Garganey & a Caspian Gull had been seen in the morning. I got quite excited, thinking I'd be able to put into practice the Caspian Gull lessons from Gavin's 'Not Quite Scilly' blog....however, as soon as I found out that it was a 2nd Winter bird & not the 1st Winter that I've been trying to get to grips with, and that it was in with loads of other juvenile gull, I decided to give it a miss. I know when I'm out of my depth!

We headed to the South Levels to look for the distant Garganey, which of course we couldn't find, but we did find a rather nice Spotted Redshank. It was changing from Winter to Summer plumage so looked quite different to the one I'd seen on the Exe back at the start of March.

A raptor in a tree in the distance dropped down into the reeds before we could identify it. As we walked back towards the Bittern Hide we came across a couple watching a Sparrowhawk eating a Snipe. They'd seen it fly into the edge of the pool with the Snipe & hold it under the water for a couple of minutes to drown it before tucking in! It was probably the same bird we'd seen drop into the reeds. We watched it have tea, eating the only Snipe we've seen on the trip. I don't think we can put it on the list though.....

As we walked into the Bittern Hide a chap was just leaving & kindly pointed out a Bittern that was just emerging from the reeds below the hide. We've heard plenty of booming on the trip, but it was really nice to actually see one.

View from the Bittern Hide. The Bittern was in the right/front of the reeds. 

We finally left the reserve at about 7pm, having spent the whole day there & still not having had time to go round the woodland loop or visit all of the hides. I would definitely recommend a visit.

By the end of  Friday Mary had added 9 new birds & was on 115 + 1 Sub-species. I had added the Stone Curlew & was on 163 +1

There are so many sites nearby in the 'Where to Watch Birds' book that on Saturday we were spoiled for choice. Our direction was determined by a Great Grey Shrike that was shown on Birdguides about 20 mins to the South of us on Hollesley Heath. It had been there for a few days, either on the wire fence of an MOD property or on the wires by a pig farm. We found a spot that fitted the bill & a 2 minute scan found the bird on the MOD fence. We actually got fairly close & watched it flit between the fence & nearby trees.

Mary photographing the Shrike

We stayed in the vicinity & birded around the Alde estuary. It was very pleasant, but we didn't find anything of note. At least Mary finally added Dunlin to her list at number 117!

Iken Cliff on the The River Alde..... no Cliffs in sight

North Warren RSPB had a very impressive list in the book. We went there with high expectations & were totally unimpressed. It was an area of wetland but we struggled to figure out how to access it & when we finally found a path, there wasn't much to see. It was so boring I didn't even take a site photo! We'd lost interest so didn't even try to find the area of woodland. The extremely naff RSPB map didn't help as usual. We've complained to RSPB staff whenever we get the chance. They're all style & no content, & certainly don't expect to navigate by one.

No birding trip would be complete without a visit to a sewage works/ chalk pit/ quarry/ outfall or power plant. Being next to Sizewell, the choice was easy! We started at the beach to see the Kittiwake colony on the offshore installation (not quite sure what it is exactly). There were hundreds of them & they were a new bird for my Year List.

Kitttiwakes & Cormorants

A nice back-drop!

We then treated ourselves to a coffee in the Sizewell Cafe before having a nice wander around the Sizewell Belts, an area of woodland & meadows that borders Minsmere & the power station. It was quite a long pleasant walk although we didn't see much until we were heading out as it was starting to get late. As we passed an open area in the trees I said "there should really be a Barn Owl quartering over that field". Cue Barn Owl! Mary is now calling me a witch! We sat & watched it for at least 20 minutes, it was fabulous. It was also a new Year bird for us both

Looking for dinner.....

Mary had added 7 new birds & was on 122 + 1
I had added 2 & was on 165 + 1

To be continued......

Rustic rewards

Yesterday we were compensated for our stay in the rustic hideaway by a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that started singing whilst we were walking back to the van.

We were heading for Blaxhall in Suffolk. Mary needed to do some shopping, so under duress we called in at Bluewater shopping centre.

I checked Birdguides to see if there was anything nearby and found a Glossy Ibis just South of Chelmsford & only a few miles off our route. It had been in a pond near to the Fox & Raven Pub for a while; sounded easy. Sure enough we found the pond, but no Ibis.

The Fox & Raven PH,  the pond, and no Glossy Ibis

There was also a Long-tailed Duck on Abberton Reservoir in Essex. A chap I used to work with always used to rave about it as a birding venue, so we decided to do a spot of exploring & hopefully pick up the duck. We did the exploring but of course……no duck. There was quite a lot of work being done around the reservoir, and it was probably the wrong time of the year, but it was all very uninspiring  The only interesting thing was a large Cormorantry (if there is such a word!), apparently one of the biggest in the country. They're meant to be mainly the Continental sub-species (Sinensis), but they're really hard to identify, especially when at the distance that these birds were. We took a few photos & will see if we can measure the angle of the gular pouch at some stage…..if we can actually see the gular pouch that is.

Mary on the causeway at Abberton Resv

We had quite a long way to go, so headed straight to Blaxhall from there. I had no new birds & Mary had 3, the Lesser Spotted W/P, a Green Sandpiper that had been in a boggy pool in a field near the reservoir, a Red-legged Partridge that she had spotted in a field as we were driving.

My Year List still on 162 + 1

Mary's Year List on 106 + 1

Double-Dip Depression

 We stayed in the back of beyond yesterday, so had no signal. More of that later.

We spent a few minutes in the woods around the hostel, which didn't get us any good birds, but an overhead  squirrel pooed in Mary's eye! We decided to have a morning exploring a few Hampshire sites, starting off at Acres Down, which is apparently the best place to see raptors in the county (according to Where to Watch Birds in Britain). It was quite cold and overcast so we weren't optimistic but thought we'd give it a go. It did brighten up a bit so we gave it a while, but we we didn't see anything, not even a buzzard. It was a nice view though. Whilst keeping an eye out we also booked our accommodation for the night. There were 2 hostels close together in Dorking which was on our route, I read the summary info & they both sounded OK so I just picked one. I learned a valuable lesson……more later.

The raptor viewpoint (or not as the case may be) at Acres Down

 

Then we went to Beaulieu Road, an area of heathland to the East of Acres Down. As we walked up the track parallel to the railway line, we were impressed to see our first Swallow of the year fly by. There were also quite a few Curlew and a surprisingly large number of Reed Buntings. We had a Pipit that we think may have been a Tree Pipit, but it disappeared before we could make a positive ID. Mary did manage to fire off a few shots so hopefully when we download onto a large screen we may be able to decide if it was a Tree of just another Meadow Pipit. There were a few Siskins in the Car Park, but other than that nothing of note.

Beaulieu Road (although it isn't one)

Time for a spot of Twitching, so we headed to Calshot in search of the Spanish Sparrow that's been hanging about since the start of Jan. It hadn't been on Birdguides for about a week, but it's not been shown for a while before & then reappeared. 

We spent about 1 ½ hrs staring at House Sparrows. We chatted to a few friendly locals, including the lady who's garden Pablo had been frequenting. She came home after we'd been there a while, said she hadn't noticed him for a while & checked her garden for us. He wasn't there. 

The Spanish Sparrow aka Pablo Was Here....

Hawfinches had been seen in Lakeside Country Park, Eastleigh (Hampshire) which was almost on our route. We decided to give it a try. We did, and despite our best efforts didn't find any. 

Dipping is becoming a bit of a habit...in Lakeside County Pk

We set off towards our hostel at Tanners Hatch. We received a phonecall from the warden giving us directions, which has never happened before. This is when we discovered the bad news….

This is the bit I'd read about the hostel:

"This picturesque self-catering cottage in National Trust woodland is a relaxing rural retreat for a countryside activity break. Set in the Surrey Hills, with a network of footpaths and bridleways on the doorstep, the hostel is ideal for walking and cycling holidays"

This is the bit that I hadn't:

"The hostel is 0.75 miles down an unlit and unsurfaced track, so please bring a torch. Customers can unload at the hostel (by pre-arrangement), but the nearest parking is 0.75 miles away. All washrooms are outdoors"

A few expletives were uttered as it was getting late. It took ages to find the entrance to the incredibly rough track to the hostel even with the warden's directionsl. No one is allowed to park there, so I dropped off Mary & the bare minimum of kit & drove back in the dark to leave the car in a National Trust Car Pk. I was not looking forward to the walk back in pitch black in the woods, so was relieved when another chap parked up to walk down to the hostel. 

It is actually quite a nice place to stay, but not when it's just a quick stop over. It was an experience to say the least with its triple decker bunks & outside loos & showers.

At least there was gas & electricity & even ice cubes....

.....and comprehensive H & S info (we were on the 1st floor)

At least we added Tawny Owl to the trip list & Mary's Year List as it was calling as we unloaded the van. 

My Year List 162 + 1

Mary's Year List on 103 +1

Dorset Dips to Hampshire Ticks

I didn't manage to blog last night, I was just too pooped!

We started out sea-watching from the Portland Bird Observatory where we'd spent the night. Murphy's Law struck when I saw a Red-throated Diver fly by whilst Mary was in the loo. I have it & she needs it for the Year List.

Pete, the very helpfull ringer had told us that a couple of Puffins usually hang about off the Bill. I've never seen one, so we headed down for a look. There were lots of Razorbills & Guillemots, but no Puffins. We saw a Peregrine dive bomb a bird, no idea what as we only saw the feathers explode & float down to the sea. I was on the phone booking a hostel at the time & the first I knew of it was the loud 'whoosh' of the diving raptor that gave me such a start that I think I may have shocked the YHA lady with an expletive as I ducked!

I was really disappointed at my lack of a Puffin. It's the one bird I'd really like to see. Oh well, another time!

We are definitely masochists as we stopped off at the Bridging Camp in Wyke Regis for another go at the Richard's Pipit. We got quite excited a couple of times, but they were just Meadow Pipits. Quote of the day was from a lady walking towards us as we arrived. The sun was behind us & I had the scope in the back pack. She said that I'd frightened her as I looked like an alien!

Stopped at Radipole RSPB in Weymouth as a 2 Glossy Ibis had been there earlier. No sign of them either! At least while watching a Buzzard, 3 high up House Martins flew into view - first for the year.

Radipole RSPB......manky ducks

Then for a change of scenery we went to explore Studland NNR. It was quite an interesting habitat, but not as nice as Arne, which we visited quite a few years ago. We did feel quite conspicuous with bins, scope & camera in the vicinity of a naturist beach! One chap (fully clothed) saw us walking towards him up a path & dived off the path into the gorse bushes, never to be seen again!

View of Pool Harbour & Studland NNR

Stayed in Swanage, and had an early start at Durlston Head. We had never been before, but were thoroughly impressed. The scenery was fantastic & we had more superb views of Razorbills & Guillemots. They make a great noise too, and are quite entertaining the way they all dive together when they are startled. We were hoping for a Puffin or Dartford Warbler, but no joy. Still, the walk was worth the effort despite the lack of new birds.

Sea & gorse to check

Middlebere on Hartland Moor NNR was the next stop. We had been told that the place was alive with Dartford Warblers & several Spoonbills had been reported recently. Yet again we were disappointed, no Spoonbills to be seen & we were hailed on in the hide. As we walked back out from the hide, Mary suggested a slight detour onto a ridge & we were glad she had. I spotted a grey bird vanish into a gorse bush & shortly after a stonking male Dartford Warbler appeared on the top of the bush. At last, a new bird! Maybe our luck was changing.....

Dartford Warbler tick

Off to Hordle in Hampshire in search of a Rose-coloured Starling. It has been there a while & has been hanging about near the War Memorial. Our problem was trying to find the Memorial, but once we did it was a cinch.....a chap was there pointing a huge lense into a tree! Easy!

Popped down to Pennington Marsh on the coast. Another interesting habitat which turned up a Whimbrel (new for both of us), a Greenshank & 46 Turnstones for Mary. We were now cold & knackered & headed for the YH in Burley.

Nanook of thre North at Pennington Marsh

A mixed couple of days, lots of dipping but some fantastic areas explored.

I'm now on 161 + 1
Mary on 99 + 1 (no longer bottom of the Year List Race)

A Bridging Camp too far

We spent the morining, and part of the afternoon, in a frustrating & fruitless search for the Richard's Pipit & Hume's Leaf Warbler in Wyke Regis. Birdguides showed the pipit as having been in the Bridging Camp at 1030, well we were there then and we didn't see it, or anyone else who had. After trying for both birds we left at about 1130 to go Ring Ouzel hunting. However, we ended up loo hunting & by the time we finally found one, the pipit sighting was on Birdguides so we decided to have another bash. And then whilst there, the warbler was sighted, so of couse we had another go at that. April Fools or what! It was spookily similar to our failed visit in December, but with a bit more sunshine.

Entrance to the Bridging Camp, some-time home of the Richard's Pipit

The Hume's Leaf Warbler was here, unfortunately not at the same time as us

Time for the Ring Ouzel hunt. 3 had been sighted in Barleycrate Lane earlier, so we headed there. We came across a very nice chap that we had met on the Bill yesterday. He had seen a male & female, and not long after we arrived a male gave us a nice look as he flew the length of the hedge. He came out again a short while later, but wished he hadn't when he was chased by a dive-bombing Sparrowhawk. Luckily he escaped unscathed.

Mary hoping for another Ouzel fly-by

We were then told of a spot where Common & Black Redstarts had been seen a short walk away. Off we went, with a bit of a spring in our step after finally seeing a new bird. We managed to find the spot, the landmark being a ginger horse! There were 3 Black Redstarts hopping on and off a stone wall but we couldn't find the Common Redstart. After about 20 mins we were chatting away & I casually put my bins up & looked in a tree. I was so startled by the stonking adult male Common Redstart right in front of me that all I could do was point & stutter incomprehensibly at Mary...... luckily it hung about for a while so we both had fantastic views.

The Common Redstart was in the trees at the end of Reap Lane

Happy, we went for a wander along the cliffs and had a post Ouzel snoozle.....

Me.....

and Mary..

Last stop of the day was some relaxing seawatching at Portland Bill. Mary added a few species to her list (Razorbill, Gannet, Shag & Rock Pipit).

The Youth Hostel was full tonight, so we are now in a room with curving walls...the Portland Bird Observatory. Interesting, if a little chilly. Yeterday they broke their record for catching and ringing birds, with over a hundred an hour. Today they had 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs & a Bullfinch!

Home for the night.......Portland Bird Observatory

My Year List now on 157 & 1 sub
Mary's Year List now on 87 & 1 sub