An afternoon walk with dogs on Yateley Common

Sunday 5th October and the sun was shining, so I took the dogs over to Yateley common, where I enjoyed good views of both Dartford warblers and Stonechats.

Blow's Down Part II and Little Marlow GP

On Thursday 2nd October the Barred Warbler had once again been reported at Blow's Down so I decided to give it another go. I arrived around 12:45 and joined the other birders near the Barred warblers favourite clump of bushes. They had recently seen it, so I set up my scope and got my camera ready, I didn't have to wait long as it came into full view and started eating elder berries.
It then went back into the clump, The Stonechats were still on site so I had another look at these, the Barred warbler then flew up the hill to another smaller bush, so I went and had another look, seeing it as it again feed on berries on the top. Another bird for my UK life list.

2014 Year List = 225

I then headed to Little Marlow GP for the reported Firecrest, I arrived around 15:00 and set of around the gravel pit seeing 47 species the last being the Firecrest a little before 18:00.

2014 Year List = 226

Blow's Down Part I

Monday 29th September and as I was on holiday, I went to Blow's Down near Dunstable in the afternoon to look for the Barred Warbler. I few other birders were there when I arrived including LGRE, who had some great photo's of the Barred Warbler taken that morning. We waited and searched but the Barred Warbler was not seen or heard any more that day.

Twitch to Spurn for the Masked Shrike

Friday evening got all my birding kit and supplies ready for a 03:30 alarm on the morning of Saturday 27th September. Soon I was hearing the alarm, I loaded up the car and then entered Kilnsea into the Sat Nav at set of on the approx 250 mile journey up north, to Spurn a place I have never been to before. The roads were quiet and only the roadworks on the M1 with its 50mph speed limit, slowed me down, and I arrived parking up in the field set up for extra parking a little before 08:00.

I soon joined the other birders and enjoyed good views of the Masked Shrike as it moved up and down the hedge on the opposite side of the field, it was catching insects and I also saw it cough up a pellet.

After enjoying the Masked shrike (another new bird for me), I went for a walk around and set of to the Bird observatory, seeing a Wheatear on the way.

After a short sea watch where I added Red-throated diver and Pink-footed goose to the year list. I walked a little way down Spurn Point.

Looking back at the Bird  observatory.

As the tide had started to go out, waders started to arrive from their roost sites to start feeding on the exposed mud. Waders seen: Golden plover, Grey plover, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Bar-tailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank & Greenshank.

On my way back, I had a closer look at the Tree sparrows around the Bird observatory, when some Linnets landed of the wires above.

Back at the car park, along the fence were Whinchats and Stonechats, taking the days total to 47 bird species.
2014 Year List = 224
On my way home I went to watch my football team (Farnborough FC) play at Brackley Town in the FA Cup 2Q round, I arrived just after kick off, and watched them go in at half time losing 2 nil. After half time Farnborough started to play much better, as Brackley tried to sit on their 2 goal lead, but they failed as the game finished 2 - 2 with Farnborough unlucky not to win.

Two more for the yearlist at Titchfield Haven

Tuesday 23rd September started with a visit to my dentist for a check-up and clean, all ok, so as no calls in from work I continued down the M3 to Titchfield Haven, hoping to see the long staying Lesser Yellowlegs. I arrived around 10:30 and was told in the visitor centre that there was a reduced entrance fee do to disturbance as a working party were on site. I needed Lesser yellowlegs so paid and went in, walking towards the Meon shore hide another birder was coming out, so asked if he had seen the Lesser yellowlegs, he had from the Pumfrett hide, also two Little stints. I went round to the Pumfrett hide, and entered an empty hide, but soon found the Lesser yellowlegs as it was feeding on the north scrape in front of the hide. While in hear also had good views of Water rail, I spent the next four hours going around the reserve going in the Meon shore hide, Cottage hide, Suffern hide, Meadow hide and Knights bank hide, seeing 47 bird species.

2014 Year List = 221