September 2017 - only two birding trips, both in Hampshire

September 2017, well I only managed two birding trips, both in Hampshire.

Monday 18th September, day booked as holiday, was a busy day at home, started when CSR caravan service arrived to give the caravan it's yearly service. The window cleaner turned up next, and I noticed a neighbour was having a new TV aerial installed. So I contacted the company and got them to take down our redundant aerial, so at one point all three were doing their thing. All the time I knew about the grey phalarope down on Hayling Island, and was hoping to drive down when everyone had departed. It must have been around 16:00 when everyone had finished and left, so I jumped in the car and arrived around 17:00 on Hayling Island, parked up and made the short walk along the Hayling Billy Trail, where I spent around 30mins watching the GREY PHALAROPE, also noted were Cormorant, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-headed gull & Robin.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 205 (Hampshire year list = 179)

Thursday 21st Sseptember 2017, and as I was on call for work, I drove down the A3 to spend a few hours at Farlington marshes. Where I added three to both year and Hampshire, birds seen: Cormorant, Little egret, Canada goose, Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed plover, Grey plover, Lapwing, Knot, LITTLE STINT, CURLEW SANDPIPER, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed godwit, Redshank, Black-headed gull, Great black-backed gull, Meadow pipit, Robin, BEARED TIT, Carrion crow & Starling.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 208 (Hampshire year list = 182)

One good tern deserves another

Wednesday 16th August, and a day on call, so drove down to Hayling Island (Black Point) to see the terns. I soon found Andy Johnson, who put me on the White-winged black tern. It was over on the West Sussex side, with a Black tern. We watched and watched, Andy left to do his rounds, I wandered down to view the end of black point and the mud flats opposite. On the deck were two terns, which turned out to be an adult Common tern but the other was an adult Roseate tern. I put the news out, but they both flew out into the harbour, before more Hampshire birders arrived. Andy returned and again we watched the WWBT & BT and watched, and eventually they came over to the Hampshire side of Chichester harbour, giving nice close views. Birds seen: Cormorant, Little egret, Oystercatcher, Ringed plover, Grey plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed godwit, Bar-tailed godwit, Curlew, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Sandwich tern, ROSEATE TERN, Common tern, Little tern, BLACK TERN, WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Starling & House sparrow.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 24

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 198 (Hampshire year list = 174)

I left Hayling Island, and spent the afternoon walking around Farlington marshes, seeing: Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Shelduck, Teal, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Ringed plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Green sandpiper, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Pied wagtail, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Goldfinch & Linnet.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 35

Friday 18th August, and today I was working near Staines reservoirs, so I went up there at lunchtime, seeing the following: Great crested grebe, 500+ Cormorant, one large group roosting on the bank, Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted duck, Little ringed plover, Common sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Common tern, RING-NECKED PARAKEET, Swift, Swallow, Pied wagtail, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Starling & Linnet.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 28

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 199

Monday 21st August, and after work took the dogs for a walk around Busta Triangle Eversley, where I saw and counted the following: Canada Goose (69), Egyptian goose (12), Mallard (10), Tufted duck (1), Little ringed plover (1), Lapwing (14), Green sandpiper (1) & Robin (1).

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 8

Tuesday 22nd August, and I was working in High Wycombe, so at lunchtime went to Lodge hill Saunderton Lee Buckinghamshire, seeing Red kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, HOBBY, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, YELLOW WAGTAIL two were feeding around some cattle, Pied wagtail, Robin, Goldcrest, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow & Starling.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 14

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 201

Wednesday 23rd August, and I tried another new place to walk the dogs, after work. I drove down the lane past St Mary's church, parking up at the end. I then followed the footpath into Warren heath Bramshill, where I saw the following: Canada goose, Woodpigeon, Tawny owl, Nightjar, Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Swallow, Robin, Chiffchaff & Carrion crow.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 10

Tuesday 29th August and as on call, went down to Farlington Marshes and added three for the year list, and four for the Hampshire list: : Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed plover, Grey plover, Lapwing, Knot, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew, SPOTTED REDSHANK, Redshank, Greenshank, Common sandpiper, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Sandwich tern, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Yellow wagtail, Pied wagtail, Robin, WHINCHAT, Stonechat, Whitethroat, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Goldfinch & Linnet.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 49

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 204 (Hampshire year list = 178)

On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at

On Tuesday 4th July as I was on call, using some local knowledge received from the Hampshire bird group on Facebook, I went to Longparish. I parked up near Testwood trout fishery and started to look around and soon found the bird I was there for, SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. A pick-up truck drove out of the fishery, it stopped and the driver asked me want I was looking for, I pointed out the spotted flycatcher, after this he said I could go in and have a look around, which I did. I then came out and followed the road going around the fishery, birds noted: Little grebe, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Mallard, Tufted duck, Red kite, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Kingfisher, Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Swallow, Pied wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Goldfinch.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 32

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 183 (Hampshire year list = 170)

I then drove down to Fishlake Meadows, I parked up and there was another birder leaving, he had not seen the reported Osprey. I crossed the road and went to the view point, and I scanned the dead trees and I soon found the OSPREY. Other birds seen: Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Grey heron, Mallard, Coot, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Great black-backed gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Kingfisher, Great spotted woodpecker, Wren, Blackbird & Magpie.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 16

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 184 (Hampshire year list = 171)

I then went to Tundry Pond, hoping for Hobby, but there were none here, did see the following: Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Mallard, Red kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Water rail, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Green woodpecker, Swallow, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Blackcap, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Goldfinch & Reed bunting.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 28

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 184 (Hampshire year list = 171)

Then I continued my Hobby search, at Hitches Lane country park Fleet, again no hobbies, but did see: Mute swan, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Mallard, Red kite, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Woodpigeon, Black-headed gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Swallow, House martin, Dunnock,  Song thrush, Reed warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Great tit, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer & Reed bunting.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 26

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 184 (Hampshire year list = 171)

Thursday 6th July and on my way home from working on a server in Elland West Yorkshire, I went to East Leake Nottinghamshire for the Bee-eaters. I found the car park set up by the RSPB, paid my £5, and walked to the view point. I joined the other birders and visitors and was soon looking at them as they sat in there favoured tree, I let others have a look through my scope, while I took some record shots. They were soon flying around and catching prey and calling, what a great call, a very pleasant mellow, liquid prruup. I then started to make a note of the other birds on site as I slowly made my way back to the car park. Little grebe, Greylag goose, Mallard, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Little ringed plover, Lapwing, Green sandpiper, Woodpigeon, Swift, BEE-EATER, Sand martin, Swallow, Pied wagtail, Dunnock, Blackbird, Reed warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue tit, Magpie, Carrion crow, Goldfinch & Linnet.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 26

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 185

RSPB RESERVE CLIFFE POOLS KENT ENGLAND   13  JULY 2017

I was on holiday Thrusday 13th July, and after going to the dentist in the morning, I drove to RSPB Cliffe pools Kent, to look for the Marsh sandpiper. I parked in the main car park, and with directions given by a returning birder, I started the long walk to the view point. I joined the half-dozen of birders on the view point, I was soon looking at the area where the Marsh sandpiper was last seen, I did see a smaller wader but the shimmering heat haze was distorting the distant views. We started a waiting game, waiting for one of the passing clouds to cover the sun, we hoped that a number of clouds would do this but they all missed, eventually one did. The heat haze went and we all were back on our scopes, we all were rewarded with good scope views, as it fed and made short flights as it was harassed by the Avocets, in these short flights I noted its white back, another bird on my life list. Also good to see the Black-winged stilts doing so well. The cloud passed and the heat haze returned, and with no cloud looking like it would cover the sun, I made my way back. birds seen: Little grebe, Great crested grebe, Little egret, Greylag goose, Shelduck, Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, BLACK-WINGED STILT, Lapwing, Black-tailed godwit, Redshank, MARSH SANDPIPER, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Skylark, Wren, Blackbird, Reed warbler, Whitethroat, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow & Goldfinch.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 30

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 187

I left Cliffle and drove up to Sandon Hertfordshire to look for the Laughing dove, I looked all around the area near the church, but it was a no show. However I enjoyed watching spotted flycatchers and house martins. Birds seen: Grey heron, Mallard, Red kite, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, House martin, Blackbird, Spotted flycatcher, Jackdaw & Goldfinch.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 11

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 187

It had been a while since I had a seabird fix, so early on Sunday 16th July, I made my way up to RSPB Bempton cliffs East Yorkshire, it was a nice quiet drive up. The weather was perfect, and that great smell greeted me as I got out of my car, and got ready for my visit. Had a good look around the reserve as I walked up and down the cliff top paths, seeing the following: FULMAR, Gannet, SHAG, Kestrel, Herring gull, KITTIWAKE, GUILLEMOT, also saw the Bridled form of guillemot, Razorbill, PUFFIN, Feral pigeon, woodpigeon, Skylark, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Wren, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Starling, TREE SPARROW & Linnet.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES 22

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 193

On my way home I decided to go for the Caspian tern at Baston & Langtoft pits Lincolnshire. I managed to locate the pits, started to look for the tern on different pits, when I noticed a group of birders. So I jumped in the car and joined them, only to be greeted with negative news and midges. Went back to the car and got out my insect repellent, and handed it around. The tern had not been seen since the morning, but I stayed after the others drifted away. I was hoping it would return to roost, but it didn't - dipped :o(
Birds seen: Cormorant, Little egret, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Shelduck, Mallard, RED-CRESTED POCHARD, Tufted duck, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little ringed plover, Lapwing, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, common tern, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Sand martin, Blackbird, Chaffinch & Goldfinch.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 25

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 194

Wednesday 19th July and Tracey & I went to Sandown Park, for horse racing & Sir Tom Jones.

Friday 28th July and work sent me up to Keighley for a days work. So before I went, I had a look on a map to see what was around, and that's when I saw Ilkley moor. I remember singing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at with the cub scout pack when I was Arkela (leader), so that was my lunchtime walk sorted.
You can drive up most of the way to a parking area near the transmitter mask. I walked to the Trig point and then to Cowper's cross and then up to the East buck stones and then back to the car. Birds seen on the moor and in the higher fields on the way back down: Greylag goose, Kestrel, a good number of RED GROUSE seen and heard, also lots of grouse droppings and also found some red grouse feathers, Swift, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Wren, Wheatear, Goldfinch & Linnet.

TOTAL No. OF SPECIES = 10

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 195