Saturday 25th October 2014

   As i said earlier in the blog, no Scilly for me this year.....so when a Yellow-billed Cuckoo turned up at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, typically it was on a Thursday, so the weekend wait began......

   Oh well, as is usual with Yellow-billed Cuckoo's, it won't be there in the morning, they never are....But, this one was.....its still only Friday, will it be there Saturday???? It was seen to go to roost in a bush Friday evening, so there was a chance. What to do, do i go straight to Porthgwarra, and risk the scrum if its seen first thing, or do i go half way, to Davidstow Airfield for the American Golden Plover?

Ringed Plover
   Well, i choose the latter one. No sign of the AG Plover......there was a flock of Golden Plover that flew over, but in the gloom, it was impossible to pick it out. After about an hour of nothing, but rain, i finally found some waders, a Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin.......not really a wow moment......

   There was also no news on the Cuckoo, which had either died, or done a bunk....

   So, one last bird to aim for, the Pallid Harrier at Steart WWT.

Dunlin
   Sadly my luck held, and there was NO sign of that either.......

   So, what started out as a 2 Megas and a Scarce bird day, turned into 'bugger all day' instead.....

   Oh well, thats birding aint it!



Sunday 19th October 2014

     Wells Wood, and especially the 'Dell' was the first stop this morning. There were a few little flocks of Redwings there, and we then had a Red Kite over. On the walk to the Dell, a Yellow-browed Warbler called from near the Caravan park. But, today the noticeable bird was Jay, they were flying around every couple of minutes, could have been the same ones, but after wandering around the rest of the wood, they were everywhere.....must have been quite a big invasion, wish it had brought other stuff with them.....

'Possible' Siberian Chiffchaff
    Actually at the Dell, there were 4 Common Buzzards, and now 2 Red Kites flying around. A couple of Chiffchaffs, and a possible tristis type Siberian Chiffchaff. But sadly none of the migrants from last week....bugger.

   Anyone got any thoughts on this Chiffchaff?







Pink-footed Geese
    Another pointless search for the Rough-legged Buzzard at Holkham, just some flyover Pink-footed Geese. A Grey Partridge was probably the best bird.....










   One of the birds i had been hoping for, that had been one of many migrants seen last weekend, was Long-eared Owl. So when was reported from Walsey Hills, along with 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, that was the next stop........or was it? We got to the Walsey Hills car park, and drove straight past....the car park was full, and there were cars all along the road there too. So, we went to Salthouse, forgetting that, there was NO beach car park anymore, what a real shame, i used to really like it around that car park..........Snow & Lapland Buntings, Shorelark, Waders including Purple Sandpiper have been just some of the birds i have seen there in the past. Wont be so easy anymore I'm afraid. So as we drove back to the Wallsey Hills car park, someone pilled out, and i pulled in, good timing....

Long-eared Owl
   The Long-eared Owl, showed well, but there were so many people it was hard to get close enough. The light was really harsh from one side too, as you can see from these photos....

Long-eared Owl














 
   Will come back later, when the crowds die down, as long as they don't flush it first!!!!!!

Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Adult)
  So, back for the Phalarope, this time it was even harder to photograph today, as the light was too strong. It was there, but no photos this time. But, the light on a flock of Dark-bellied Brents was too much for me to resist. As there were adults, juveniles and family parties, i took quite a few photos too...

   Another quick trip to Stiffkey, produced the Yellow-browed Warbler again, but this time, it only showed very briefly when i arrived, and disappeared, it was still there though as i heard it call. But i didn't see it again....
Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Juvenile)

       The Chaffinch migration was still going on  
    though, and this time there was a Brambling
    amongst them......











Long-eared Owl
   Right then, lets try the Owl again. This time not so many people, and i actually heard one of the Yellow-browed Warblers too. The Owl had moved slightly, and so it was slightly more covered up, but still showing quite well...

   So a trip to Norfolk without visiting Titchwell.....shame the migrants had disappeared, but still a decent weekend.

   Will be back again soon...................









Saturday 18th October 2014

   Another Norfolk weekend this weekend, as there had been a brilliant fall the weekend before, i hope some stick around this time................

   First stop was Holkham, to look for a Rough-legged Buzzard, which sadly didn't show. So onto Cley beach car park, and then the Eye pool, its not a big pool, but there was no sign of the Grey Phalarope.......it was there though, it was hidden in the small amount of sedges growing along the north edge, you wouldn't believe anything could hide in there......it did come out though!

   In the actual Eye field, there was a flock of Golden Plover and another of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a few Skylarks and a late(ish) Wheatear too.
Golden Plover
Dark-bellied Brent Geese
   Sadly, it turned out to be another of those days, everything had gradually disappeared, leaving just a few stragglers, mainly Yellow-browed Warblers. There was one at Stiffkey campsite wood. From there we could see over the marshes, the Rough-legged Buzzard had been seen there too. We didn't see it, we had Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Curlews there, while watching the Yellow-browed Warbler. Also while watching one, we had at least 2 more calling, so 3+ in the small wood there.

Yellow-browed Warbler
   This bird was on show most of the time we were there, nearly 3 hours, in a very small Ivy bush and Elder, but photos?????? Got a few, but they either had a branch through the head, or the bird looked the wrong way, what a pain..................







Yellow-browed Warbler









SEE WHAT I MEAN...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





   The other 2 seemed to be on a circuit with a flock of Tits etc., so never stopped long enough for pix, and i actually didn't see either of them. The flock did include Great, Blue, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, & Goldcrest. The one noticeable bird though was Chaffinch, there was an almost continuous stream of them while we were there. Little flocks of 6, or sometimes 10/12....but nothing else with them.

   A return to Holkham, still didn't get to see the Buzzard though.............better luck tomorrow huh!











Friday 17th October 2014

   After 2 days of a Bonxie (Great Skua), being seen at Chew, i gave up and went....as i had not seen one at Chew before, it seemed i should.....

   Sadly, the light was crap, and the bird didn't come close enough for any, even half decent, shots.

Great Skua
   So, this one will have to do....i know its absolute shite but hey.......


Sunday 12th October 2014

   As not going to Scilly this October, due to knee op cock-up by the NHS, what to do to find migrants....oh well Portland's not a bad place to start is it?

   First stop...Ferrybridge, the tide was in, so not a lot there sadly. Oh well, Portland Castle next. This was rather quiet too, windy & cold there, but the Winter plumaged Black Guillemot was seen from there.....could it be the same bird as last Winter, returning? Its in exactly the same place....!

   Oh well next stop Reap Lane, Rose-coloured Starling the target, would it be there....YEP! It showed quite well in a garden, but showed even better in the horse field opposite the stables, and then in the brambles along the lane. Nice bird too, usually they are pretty tatty looking birds, but not this one...

Rose-coloured Starling (Juvenile)
Rose-coloured Starling (Juvenile)














Rose-coloured Starling (Juvenile)














   Sadly, a look around the Bill, and then Radipole produced bugger all else............

   The best things were quite a few new Moths, thanks to Martin bringing his home catch to the Obs.

   This is a link for this day on my Moth Blog.