Great Reed Warbler at Green Park Reading

Thursday 22nd May I drove to Clapham, near North Clapham tube station for two calls, I then got the tube to Aldgate for another call, and while here a storm came through with a lot of thunder and lightning, heavy rain and hail stones, during this storm it was reported that the Shard was hit by lightning. I finished my third call of the day, and read a report on a Great Reed Warbler at green Park Reading. I returned to my car at Clapham and drove to Green Park, and found the gathered birders watching a small reed bed, in which the Great Reed Warbler had last been seen in around 20-30mins before I arrived.

After a while brief views were obtained, then some calls were heard, eventually it started to sing, what a voice, and then good views as it moved higher up in the reeds, with Reed warblers also it the reed bed, the size difference was easy to see. After the White stork and Temminck's stints this was another bird I had not seen for a long time, the last one I saw was at Frensham little pond Surrey on 5th June 2002.

2014 Year List = 187

Two Temminck's Stints at Tyttenhanger GP

After yesterdays Terek sandpiper today after work I made the relativity short drive from Hurley to Tyttenhanger GP, a new site for me and the long staying Temminck's stints, would be the first I have seen since the two I saw on 20th May 1999 at Field Common Lane Walton-on-Thames.

I parked up in the fishing club's car park, paying my £2, and asked an angler which way to the main gravel pit, I walked down a path and over a footbridge, to the main gravel pit.

I soon saw two small waders, these were Little ringed plovers, and after some searching found the two Temminck's stints, feeding along the waters edge in and out of the vegetation. Further round there was a hide, so I walked round and got better scope views of the two stints.

On my way back to my car a Whitethroat flew up into a bare bush, and started singing away.

2014 Year List = 186

Terek Sandpiper Twitch 20th May 2014

Tuesday 20th May I started work near Watford, and then drove to Coventry for another call, after I had finished this 2nd call, I looked at Birdguides for the days sightings. I quickly spotted the Terek sandpiper reported at Covenham reservoir, Lincolnshire. As this was a bird I had never seen before, I looked up where Covenham reservoir was, and found it was a little over 100 miles away from where I was. So I put into the SatNav as the destination the church at Covenham St Mary and set off. I reached the village and saw a local in his front garden, so I pulled over and asked directions to the reservoir, he was very helpful, and I told him about the Terek sandpiper. I arrived at the car park, and asked another birder if the Terek was still here, he told me he had just got back to his car and told me where to go, walk up the steps to the top of the reservoir bank and walk to all the other birders. I quickly walked the last part of this journey, and got onto the Terek sandpiper with my binoculars, it was with a little gang of waders, a Redshank, Dunlin, Sanderling and a Common sandpiper. I then setup my scope getting great views and then I took some record shots, as the gang moved up and down the bank around this corner of the reservoir.

Terek Sandpiper

Sanderling

Dunlin

I returned to the car park very happy, I packed up and as I was about to drive away a wagtail landed in the car park, it was a Yellow wagtail, my first of the year, so I got out of my car and quietly got out my camera and got some shots before some arriving cars made it fly away.

2014 Year List = 185

Churchyard Spotted Flycatchers

On the way home from Hurley on the 19th May, I made a detour to Swallowfield church for the reported Spotted flycatchers. I walked around the church three times before I located the two Spotted flycatchers high up in the trees, one flew and settled on a dead branch, and I managed to get some record shots

2014 Year List = 183

Trying out the new Fujifilm SL1000 around Hurley Berkshire

On Monday 19th May, I was working on a site in Hurley Berkshire, so at lunchtime I took my new Fujifilm SL1000 out, so I could have a play around with the settings and menu's.

Starling

Woodpigeon

Jackdaw

Rook

Canada Goose

Greylag Goose

Red Kite

Better record shots for the Blog from now on, also a thank you from Birdlife Malta.

I have now got a Fujifilm Finepix SL1000, so no more camera hand held to my scope shots, so its going to be better record shots for the Blog from now on, :o)

The thank you postcard from Birdlife Malta.

Garden Warbler at Little Marlow GP

Thursday 15th May and I was working on a site in Hurley, so another lunchtime walk at Little Marlow GP, I saw 39 species of bird, added Garden Warbler to my year list, enjoyed watching him singing away.

2014 Year List = 182

Cattle Egret & Caspian Gull at Little Marlow GP

Monday 12th May and back to High Wycombe for work, and while there received messages about a Cattle Egret and 1S Caspian Gull at Little Marlow GP. So at lunchtme went to LMGP, and met Lee Evans at the parking area near the sewage treatment works. Walked out to view the spit where the Cattle Egret was on the far side with Grey herons and Little egrets. Closer on the spit was the 1S Caspian gull and a Little ringed plover.

2014 Year List = 181

Coward's Marsh near Christchurch Dorset

Wednesday 7th May, and I had been working down in Bournemouth, so after work I went to Howard's marsh to see the two Glossy ibises. I parked up down Marsh lane and some other birders leaving confirmed that they were still here.

I walked to the gate to view Coward's marsh.

The Glossy ibises were straight out in front and one had a White ring with Black D748

Also seen over the marsh were a large number of Swift, Swallow, Sand and House martins. A pair of Goosander flew upstream (River Avon) and a Hobby was hunting over the river.

2014 Year List = 179

Little Marlow GP 2nd May

Another day working in High Wycombe, so another lunchtime at Little Marlow GP, where I added Swift and Kingfisher to my year list.

2014 Year List = 177