Self Found Birding

UK

2009-04-07T01:44:00.000-07:00

Gull Conference, Peterhead, Aberdeen, Feb 2009

Ringing Conference, Malton, North Yorks, Feb 2009

Papa Stour Sept/Oct 2008

Bressay Sept/Oct 2007

Scillies Oct 2006

Killybegs March 1998

19 March - Black-necked Grebe

2009-03-20T02:39:00.000-07:00

A big find bogey-bird in the bag today - Black-necked Grebe at Covenham Reservoir (Lincs). Initially passed off as a distant hunched Little Grebe, the apparent lack of bulk in it's bill kept nagging at me. A quick shifty to the opposite side of the reservoir soon sorted it out. Above is my worst shot of the bird, chosen to give it a real authentic rare feel......er, actually that's my best shot (usual excuses apply).

Other recent find have included Smew in Dumfries and Galloway and Hen Harrier in Aberdeens. Total on 141.

(Having looked at photo again, it's not actually that too bad).

Gull Conference, Peterhead, Aberdeen, 26th Feb-1 Mar 2009

2009-03-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

Martin Collinson's comment in his opening talk set the scene: ‘‘If you think you understand, you haven't been paying attention’'. I went in thinking I knew a little bit about gulls, and came out thinking I know next to nothing! Still, a fantastic few days, with both the talks and field birding both excellent. Talks focussed less on ID than expected and as hoped, but still presented new information, plus existing information in new ways. The racial ID and distribution of Lesser Black-backed Gulls is still a hot topic, as demonstrated by the number of talks devoted to the species. Stand out talk for me was by Martin Garner on new frontiers in Gull ID although the 1.5 hour epic (each speaker given 30mins!) deserves a mention. Looking forward to next one (in Crete!).

25th Feb - Ross's Goose

2009-03-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

After searching through several million Pinkfeet over the past year or so for 'a white one', I finally found one - a Ross's Goose! Seen past Eyemouth, Borders at 11.45am with Pinkfeet on Weds 25th Feb. Circumstances less than ideal (i.e. it could have been a bit closer in!). Presumably this is the same bird which has wintered in the Horsey area of Norfolk. It was seen flying NW over Happisburgh on the morning of Tues 24th Feb, and was then seen at Loch Leven, Perth & Kinross on Fri 27th Feb.

Steppe Gulls in Goa

2009-03-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

The three links below include photos of Larus fuscus barabensis, also known as Steppe Gull and ocassionally Baraba Gull. All were taken at Morjim Beach, Goa, India in mid-January 2009. Steppe Gull is a relevant in the context of British birding as it a potential vagrant to western Europe, although as the images demonstrate, claiming a vagrant could be fraught with difficulty.

Adults
Third-winters and second-winters
First-winters

Steppe Gull: adult

2009-03-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

Steppe Gull: 2nd-win and 3rd-win

2009-03-03T02:41:00.000-08:00

Steppe Gull: 1st-winter

2009-02-25T01:55:00.000-08:00

24th Feb

2009-02-25T00:38:00.000-08:00

All fairly run-of-the-mill winter birds so far, best being a calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near Richmond, North Yorks.

List total 131.

Ringing Conference, Malton, North Yorks, 21st Feb 2009

2009-02-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

Only had time to stay for the 4 morning talks, which covered various topics. First up was Ray Knock on ringing at Prine Edward Point in Canada - an easy-going talk and therefore the perfect introduction. Ray presented numerous photos of American passerines in the hand which certainly whetted my appetite for visiting the point. Next was Chris Redfearn on the benefits of recording brood patches. Chris looked at differences in brood patches between species at different stages during the breeding season, and then used these differences to make various calculations. I was interested in the possibility that differences in brood patches might be of use in the identification of similar species, such as acrocephalus warblers.

Following the break, Robin Ward provided an insight into trapping techniques of wildfowl and highlighted the lengths ringers will go to to trap such birds. I was mainly interested in techiques in ageing wildfowl, and Robin challenged published literature and introduced several new criteria. The last talk of the morning, and certainly the most humorous, was the history of Spurn by Ian Glaves.

An excellent morning made even better by bumping into some old faces.

Blyth's Reed Warblers in Goa

2009-02-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to Goa, one of the things I most wanted to do was study Blyth's Reed Warbler. It is ubiquitous and common in Goa, occuring in a wide variety of habitats, including deep within forests. Due to it's very skulking nature and the expansive greenery of Goa, they are difficult to see and more than often are just heard. Patience normally pays off however, and the species is nearly always found close to the ground. I made notes on a variety of aspects of it's identification, but paid particular attention to it's posture. I generally made comparisons with Reed Warbler - a species I am familiar with, although some comparisons might also apply to Marsh Warbler.

Banana Posture?
The so-called 'banana posture', in which both the head and tail are held erect at angles to the body, has been suggested as useful in the ID of the species. There is no doubt the species does occasionally adopt this posture as shown in first photo below, but I am doubtful that it is useful in separating this species from Reed and Marsh Warbler, as these two species also occasionally adopt the same posture. I did not note the species to adopt this posture persistently - only sporadically. The species seems to adopt this posture just before hopping onto a branch or taking flight as shown in the second photo below - the same bird as in te first photo but taken two seconds later, and does not adopt it when stretching up to feed as has been suggested - shown in the third photo below.

As is the case in many species, I noted Blyth's Reed to be far more dynamic in it's movements just after first light, with the tail most likely to be cocked at this time. Birds seemed become much less energetic later in the morning and during the rest of the day. Therefore comparing the posture of a Blyth's Reed Warbler watched early morning, to a Reed Warbler watched mid-afternoon, may not be a fair comparison.The species also flicks it's tail at the same time at which it gives a 'tak', and sometimes dips it's tail downwards a short distance. It sometimes appears very phylloscopus-like and in particular Chiffchaff-like, while at other times can appear very elongated and Reed Warbler-like - see the collage of 2 photos below. It would be interesting to compare the behaviour of the species on migration, on breeding grounds and on wintering grounds, where the response to different stimuli could be different in each case.

Call
Every single Blyth's Reed Warbler seen in Goa, of which there were many, were found by their fairly loud 'tak' call. This suggests the species is very vocal, but there were perhaps an unquantified number of birds present which did not call, and which were not seen. The species sometimes interupts it's 'tak' call with a rolling typically type churr, a call often given by Reed Warbler.

Colouration
The tone of Blyth's Reed Warblers is said to be a supporting feature in identification, but great care is needed. The colour tone of any individual can change instantaneously, and depends on such factors as the intensity of sunlight, camera settings, shadows of leaves and intraspecfic plumage variation. Even after taking all of these factors into account, each observer could potentially interpret and then describe colours differently due to the subtleties involved. The collage of 4 photos below shows the variable colouration of the species.

Other ID Features
Other features I looked for included the extent of supercilium in front of the eye, the primary emarginations and primary projection. These are all useful in separating the species from Reed Warbler, but accurately interpreting them in the field is very difficult and possibly not of much use - either good quality photos or a bird in the hand is probably the only way of recording these features correctly.

Stained Egrets

2009-02-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

An oddly plumaged egret in Lincolnshire, photos of which can be found here elicited some lenghty discussions on the internet, which can be found here. My impression is that the bird in question is a stained Little Egret, with the caveat that I wouldn't like to completely rule out possibility of Cattle Egret genes. The discussion surrounding this bird caused me to search for examples of stained egrets while on a recent trip to Goa. I quickly found several individuals whose plumage appeared to have become stained in some way, although not to the extent of the Lincolnshire bird. I managed to obtain photos of all the birds I found, all of which are below. In order, species shown in the photos are as follows: Little, Eastern Cattle, Eastern Cattle, Eastern Cattle, Little, Eastern Cattle. The staining on the birds below is mainly on the neck, suggesting that the colouration may have been picked up while the birds were feeding, and possibly while they had their heads submerged in water. It is interesting therefore that the Lincolnshire bird also shows dirty-coloured shoulders. The last Eastern Cattle Egret also shows dirty shoulders, but this could potentially be a bird showing buff pigments as part of it's normal plumage. The suggestion that the staining of egrets due to their diet is an interesting one.

Asian Openbill

2009-02-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

Cotton Pygmy Goose

2009-02-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

Streak-throated Swallow

2009-02-01T23:02:00.000-08:00

Striated Heron

2009-02-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

Montagu's Harrier

2009-02-01T22:58:00.000-08:00

White-browed Wagtail

2009-02-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

Shikra

2009-02-01T22:53:00.000-08:00

Wooly-necked Stork

2009-02-01T22:49:00.000-08:00

Brown-breasted Flycatcher

2009-02-01T22:37:00.000-08:00

Oriental Skylark

2009-02-01T22:35:00.000-08:00

Short-toed Lark

2009-02-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

Blyth's Pipit

2009-02-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

Richard's Pipit

2009-02-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

Western Crowned Warbler

2009-02-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

House Crow

2009-01-31T23:19:00.000-08:00

Bluethroat

2009-01-31T23:18:00.000-08:00

Indian Pond Heron

2009-01-31T23:14:00.000-08:00

Siberian Stonechat

2009-01-31T23:12:00.000-08:00

Clamorous Reed Warbler

2009-01-31T23:10:00.000-08:00

Long-tailed Shrike

2009-01-31T23:08:00.000-08:00

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

2009-01-31T23:03:00.000-08:00

White-throated Kingfisher

2009-01-31T23:02:00.000-08:00

Black-shouldered Kite

2009-01-31T23:01:00.000-08:00

Gull-billed Tern

2009-01-31T22:59:00.000-08:00

Greater Sand Plover

2009-01-31T22:58:00.000-08:00

Black-headed Ibis

2009-01-31T22:56:00.000-08:00

Western Reef-heron

2009-01-31T22:54:00.000-08:00

Brahminy Kite

2009-01-31T22:52:00.000-08:00

Great Crested Tern

2009-01-31T22:50:00.000-08:00

Little Egret

2009-01-31T22:47:00.000-08:00

Pied Kingfisher

2009-01-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

Indian Roller

2009-01-31T22:43:00.000-08:00

Little Green Bee-eater

2009-01-31T22:42:00.000-08:00

Osprey

2009-01-31T22:41:00.001-08:00

Orange-headed Thrush

2009-01-31T22:38:00.000-08:00

Oriental Honey-buzzard

2009-01-31T22:36:00.000-08:00

White-bellied Sea-eagle

2009-01-31T22:33:00.000-08:00

Blyth's Reed Warbler

2009-01-31T07:20:00.000-08:00

Paddyfield Pipit

2009-01-30T23:44:00.000-08:00

Goa 10th-25th Jan 2009

2009-01-30T08:49:00.000-08:00

A superb opportunity to study species such as Pallid Harrier, Brown Shrike and Pacific Golden Plover. Instead of admiring another multicoloured forest bird, I found myself preferring to chase invisible Blyth’s Reed Warblers and the like. Must however admit to being bowled over when a Malabar Pied Hornbill slipped into view, and Pomadour Green Pigeon is superb – especially it’s eerie song. All in all a great trip. Email for info on species/sites. Click on highlighted species for photos. Vital stats: 6000 photos, c260 species, 2 weeks and 1 horrendous insect bite.

11th: Hotel Beira Mar
12th: Candolim and Baga Hill
13th: Charao Island and Maem lake
14th: Morjim Beach and Fort Aguada
15th: Saligao and Carambolin Lake
16th:Dona Paula/Santa Cruz and Baga Fields
17th:Arpora, Siolim and Morjim Beach
18th:Backwoods Camp
19th: Backwoods Camp
20th:Backwoods Camp
21st:Bondla Zoo and Backwoods Camp
22nd:Backwoods Camp, Carambolin Lake and Hotel Beira Mar
23rd:Hotel Beira Mar and Charao Island
24th:Zuari River, Goa Velha and Hotel Beira Mar

Grey Junglefowl
Indian Peafowl
Lesser Whistling Duck
Ruddy Shelduck
Cotton Pygmy Goose
Spot-billed Duck
Teal
Garganey
Pintail
Shoveler
Wryneck
Rufous Woodpecker
White-bellied Woodpecker
Heart-spotted Woodpecker
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
Black-rumped Flameback
Greater Flameback
Brown-headed Barbet
White-cheeked Barbet
Crimson-fronted Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Hoopoe
Malabar Trogon
Indian Roller
Kingfisher
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Blue-bearded Bee-eater
Little Green Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Alexandrine Parakeet
Ring-necked Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Malabar Parakeet
Indian Swiftlet
White-rumped Needletail
Brown-backed Needletail
Asian Palm Swift
Little Swift
Pacific Swift
Crested Treeswift
Oriental Scops Owl
Brown Wood Owl
Spotted Owlet
Brown Hawk Owl
Sri Lanka Frogmouth
Feral Pigeon
Mountain Imperial Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Emerald Dove
Pompadour Green Pigeon
White-breasted Waterhen
Ruddy Breasted Crake
Purple Swamphen
Moorhen
Coot
Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpier
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Temminck's Stint
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Greater Painted Snipe
Black-winged Stilt
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Bronze-winged Jacana
Small Pratincole
Pacific Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Lesser Sand Plover
Yellow-wattled Lapwing
Red-wattled Lapwing
Pomarine Skua
Arctic Skua
Pallas's Gull
Steppe Gull
Heuglin's Gull
Brown-headed Gull
Lesser Crested Tern
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Great Crested Tern
Sandwich Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Osprey
Black-shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Black-eared Kite
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Short-toed Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Black Eagle
Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Crested Goshawk
Shikra
Besra
Oriental Honey-buzzard
White-eyed Buzzard
Indian Spotted Eagle
Booted Eagle
Rufous-bellied Eagle
Crested Hawk-eagle
Mountain Hawk-eagle
Kestrel
Little Grebe
Oriental Darter
Little Cormorant
Indian Cormorant
Little Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Great White Egret
Intermediate Egret
Eastern Cattle Egret
Western Reef-heron
Grey Heron
Asian Openbill
Purple Heron
Striated Heron
Night Heron
Glossy Ibis
Black-headed Ibis
Wooly-necked Stork
Lesser Adjutant
Indian Pitta
Asian Fairy Bluebird
Blue-winged Leafbird
Golden-fronted Leafbird
Brown Shrike
Long-tailed Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crow
Indian Jungle Crow
Ashy Wood-swallow
Indian Golden Oriole
Black-naped Oriole
Black-hooded Oriole
Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike
Small Minivet
Scarlet Minivet
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
White-throated Fantail
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
White-bellied Drongo
Bronzed Drongo
Spangled Drongo
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Black-naped Monarch
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Common Iora
Large Woodshrike
Common Woodshrike
Malabar Whistling Thrush
Orange-headed Thrush
Tickell's Thrush
Nilgiri Blackbird
Brown Flycatcher
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher
Brown-breasted Flycatcher
Taiga Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher
White-bellied Blue Flycatcher
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Bluethroat
Indian Blue Robin
Oriental Magpie-robin
White-rumped Shama
Indian Robin
Siberian Stonechat
Pied Bushchat
Chestnut-tailed Starling
White-headed Starling
Brahminy Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
Common Myna
Jungle Myna
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Black-lored Tit
Grey-throated Sand Martin
Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Streak-throated Swallow
House Martin
Grey-headed Bulbul
Black-crested Bulbul
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul
White-browed Bulbul
Yellow-browed Bulbul
Black Bulbul
Grey-breasted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Ashy Prinia
Zitting Cisticola
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Common Tailorbird
Green Warbler
Western Crowned Warbler
Puff-throated Babbler
Indian Scimitar-babbler
Dark-fronted Babbler
Jungle Babbler
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta
Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark
Malabar Lark
Oriental Skylark
Short-toed Lark
Thick-billed Flowerpecker
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
Plain Flowerpecker
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Crimson-backed Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Lotan's Sunbird
Crimson Sunbird
Little Spiderhunter
House Sparrow
Chestnut-shouldered
Forest Wagtail
White-browed Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Paddyfield Pipit
Richard's Pipit
Blyth's Pipit

Pallid Harrier

2009-01-30T06:56:00.000-08:00

Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark

2009-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

Yellow-wattled Lapwing

2009-01-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

Ruddy Shelduck

2009-01-30T05:53:00.000-08:00

Spotted Owlet

2009-01-30T05:40:00.000-08:00

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

2009-01-30T05:16:00.000-08:00

Black Drongo

2009-01-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

Nilgiri Blackbird

2009-01-30T04:37:00.000-08:00

Great Black-headed Gull

2009-01-30T00:26:00.000-08:00

Lesser Crested Tern

2009-01-30T00:16:00.000-08:00

Brown-headed Gull

2009-01-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

Steppe Gull

2009-01-29T23:47:00.000-08:00

Lesser Sand Plover

2009-01-29T23:25:00.000-08:00

Eastern Cattle Egret

2009-01-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

Marsh Harrier

2009-01-29T22:14:00.000-08:00

Indian Golden Oriole

2009-01-29T13:55:00.000-08:00

Ring-necked Parakeet

2009-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

Black-eared Kite

2009-01-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

Wire-tailed Swallow

2009-01-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

Intermediate Egret

2009-01-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

29th Jan

2009-01-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

A slow start due to being abroad. A decent hour at Staines Reservoir en-route back from Gatwick produced 2 flyover Ring-necked Parakeets, 1st-winter drake Scaup, Common Sandpiper and Chiffchaff. Other highlights few and far between, total list probably no more than 95. Roll on February

Hello....

2009-01-27T04:10:00.000-08:00

It's your third check that week of the weather charts - the weather is still looking good for tomorrow. Surely they can't fluff this? High pressure over the continent, low pressure over the channel and mid-October. The last few messages of day hint at good things - a few Yellow-broweds and an increase in thrushes. Choosing bedtime reading is easy - Lewington Rare Birds. You flick through the plates with wide eyes. Which status are you going to find - A, B, C or D? You arrive on the coast and it's crunch time. You step outside - first bird a Yellow-browed, 800 Redwing drop from the the, a Richard's Pipit bombs over, then you bang your head as you wake up.

You look out the window to see the trees shaking - for the ninth day running it's strong westerlies. Cape Clear is slowly disappearing into the sea - sinking under the weight of yanks, Tacumshin is struggling to keep up with it's flocks of Buff-breasts and AGPs, one minute Scilly is best and the next Shetland is best. Then the next minute, maybe even the Welsh islands are the best. The east coast certainly isn't the best, but that's where you're marooned, unable to rid yourself of yet another bout of Self Finder's Anxiety (SFA - symptoms include irritability, high temperature, increased likelyhood to swear when reading pagers, a tendency to behave like a bit of a *!£# towards persons who have recently found a rare; treatment includes rest, plenty of fluids, news that the Parula present on Cape Clear for the last 17 days has been re-identified as a Great Tit from photos, the finding of a Radde's Warbler or rarer).

Finding rares never runs smoothly - well almost never - very (very) occasionaly things go your way. And that's what keeps you going, that warm thought that maybe you just might possibly go out today and find a Thick-billed Warbler. But how do you go out and find a.....

Move to Shetland or keep thrashing your patch? Work the scrub slowly or cover the ground? Bird as a team or go solo? Spend every September on the Out Skerries? Who knows, but one thing seems to be universally agreed - finding rare birds is bloody difficult! But if it was easy, where would the fun and achievement be? Would you still be excused for stamping on your pager, as news came through of the upteen-zillioneeth Bluetail of the autumn (after you had spent 59 of the last 72 hours looking for one)? What qualities make a self-finder - rugged, hardcore and committed, or maybe you just need to be a bit simple.....

Make sure you check back for loads of pointless stories about days I went and found nothing, or the time(s) when what I hoped was a Rubythroat was actually a Robin.

Good birding......er, sorry finding.

p.s. have you ever secretly deep-down thought Orkney is best?

Killbegs March 1998

2008-12-28T07:21:00.000-08:00

Ross Ahmed, Chris Gibbins, Dave Foster & Mike Hunter

A birding holiday devoted to staring at gulls - brilliant! Target bird was the adult Thayer's Gull which eventually revealed itself after a bit of a search. A stupid number of white-wingers provided more than ample back up - 20+ Iceland Gull with numbers of Glaucs not too far behind. I'll never forget staring up and seeing a small flock of Iceland Gulls soaring on a thermal.

Amongst the throng were a vast array of plumages, potentially including gulls from a wide variety of compass points, attracted to the still bustling fishing industry. Several dark-winged Iceland Gulls and pale-winged Herring Gulls threatened to be Kumlien's Gulls and Glaucous x Herring hybrids, while some dark Herring Gulls posed as potential smithsonianus.

An amazing trip to perhaps the best gulling spot in the UK and Ireland. These days, Nimmo's Pier seems to have taken the crown as the top larids spot, but Killybegs will have it's day again. Hope to return soon.

Turkey 1997

2008-12-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

Turkey (Ichmeler and surrounds) 26 July-8 Aug 1997

Mallard
Cory's Shearwater
Purple Heron
White Stork
Short-toed Eagle
Elenora's Falcon
Lanner Falcon
Kentish Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Temminck's Stint
Yellow-legged Gull
Armenian Gull
Feral Pigeon
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Alpine Swift
Kingfisher
Bee-eater
Roller
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Short-toed Lark
Swallow
House Martin
Red-rumped Swallow
Pied Wagtail
Isabelline Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
Blue Rock Thrush
Blackbird
Moustached Warbler
Goldcrest
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Rock Nuthatch
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Jay
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin

Scillies 2006

2008-12-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

Scillies 7th – 14th October 2006

Nick Antcliff, Steve Chinnery, Walter Moss, Tucker Mooney

Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Red-legged Partridge
Pheasant
Little Grebe
Fulmar
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret (several Hayle, several Tresco/St Mary’s)
Grey Heron
Spoonbill (Tresco Great Pool)
Marsh Harrier (Tresco Great Pool)
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine
Water Rail (NA/WM only)
Moorhen
Coot
Oycstercatcher
Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Jack Snipe (NA only)
Snipe
Bar-tailed Godwit (Porthcressa Beach)
Whimbrel
Curlew
Redshank
Greenshank
Spotted Sandpiper (Hayle Est)
Turnstone
Least Sandpiper (Hayle Estuary)
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull (Dump)
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Sandwich Tern
Arctic Tern (NA only)
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove (NA only)
Kingfisher (Old Town Bay)
Wryneck (NA/SRC only)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Short-toed Lark (Penninis Head)
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Tawny Pipit (Penninis Head)
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Pied/White Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Redwing
American Robin (Tresco Rowesfields Crossroads)
Cetti’s Warbler (Marazion Marsh)
Reed Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler (NA only)
Whitethroat
Arctic Warbler (near Sunnyside Farm)
Yellow-browed Warbler (SRC only)
Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Longstones)
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Spotted Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Garrison)
Pied Flycatcher
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
Rose-coloured Starling (Star Castle and Green Farm)
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Common Rosefinch (Green Farm)
Lapland Bunting (Airfield – SRC only)
Reed Bunting

Bressay 2007

2008-12-22T10:23:00.001-08:00

30th Sept – 6th Oct

Ross Ahmed, Alex Ash, Chris Dodds and David Parnaby

On the whole, a big pile of tripe as the following lists aptly demonstrates:

Pink-footed Goose 1 lingering
Greylag Goose good nos
Mallard small nos
Eider small nos
Long-tailed Duck 1 Bressay Sound
Red-breasted Merganser small nos
Red-throated Diver
Gannet small nos
Grey Heron small nos
Merlin 1 Bressay
Oystercatcher small nos
Ringed Plover small nos
Golden Plover good nos a few sites
Lapwing small nos
Knot up to 34 Bressay Voe
Dunlin small nos
Snipe common
Black-tailed Godwit 1 juv Bressay Voe 30/9
Bar-tailed Godwit 2 Bressay Voe 30/9
Curlew good nos
Redshank mod nos
Bonxie sev Bressay
Black-headed Gull v small nos
Common Gull mod nos some sites
Herring Gull mod nos some sites
GBB Gull fairly common
Kittiwake small nos
Arctic Tern small nos
Guillemot small nos
Razorbill small nos
Black Guillemot small nos
Feral Pigeon common
Skylark 100+ in single crop field
Meadow Pipit good nos
Grey Wagtail 1 Bressay
Pied Wagtail v small nos
Wren good nos
Robin 2
Redstart 1 Crueton
Wheatear v small nos
Blackbird mod nos
Fieldfare small no
Song Thrush v small nos
Redwing up to c60
Blackcap 1
Garden Warbler total of 3
Lesser Whiethroat total of 2
Yellow-browed Warbler 1 Crueton, 2 Glebe, 2 Uphouse, 1 Gorie, 2 Ham
Chiffchaff 1-2
Goldcrest v small nos
Hooded Crow common
Raven mod nos
Starling up to 250
House Sparrow common
Chaffinch 1
Brambling up to 40
Twite common
Lapland Bunting 1 Ham

Pectoral Sandpipers closer than we think?

2008-12-22T06:01:00.000-08:00

The Yamal Peninsula (east of Ural Mountains) is at present cited as the most westerly breeding location of Pectoral Sandpiper. Evidence suggests however that they breed much closer to the UK than this, and indeed there could be a regular population within the limits of the Western Palaearctic. The high predictability of the arrival of adults in late summer, then juveniles in autumn indicates a relatively close breeding presence, as opposed to vagrancy from further off. Their arrival often noticeably coincides with late summer influxes of European breeding Dunlin. In 2008, of the 37 Pectoral Sandpipers in the UK between 3rd June-30th August, 12 arrived between 17th-21st July – mainly on the east coast. Dunlin also showed a peak at this time: 70 at Spurn on 10th July increased to 370 on 15th and 2000 on 16th, and 53 at Breydon Water on 8th July increased to 237 on 15th July and 410 by 23rd July. The arrival of Pectoral Sandpipers apparently regardless of weather conditions suggests they breed relatively close to the UK. Further support came from three different displaying Pectoral Sandpipers in late May-late June 2006 and 2007 in Norway (Birding World 21:26; Birding World 20:334-335). The challenge is now to locate a regular WP population.

Thank you to www.birdguides.com for use of their information.

Partial Albinism in Manx Shearwater

2008-12-22T05:37:00.000-08:00

On 13th August 2008, I was observing a good movement of seabirds past Pendeen Watch, Cornwall. The wind was force 6+ west with occasional rain showers and mainly dark cloud covered skies. The majority of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus were passing along a similar line relatively close inshore. Due to the overcast skies, light conditions and sea colour were both conducive to studying the finer points of their plumage. Therefore a bird which passed at c11.30 showing a fairly large pure white patch in the centre of it’s right wing, almost reminiscent of Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle, was immediately obvious. Due to the bird only being observed for little over a minute, it is not clear exactly which feather tracts, or how many feathers were white. The white feathers appeared to mainly include greater coverts, although it may have included some secondaries. The lack of reports of partial albinistic Manx Shearwaters suggests such cases are rare, but it has been recorded on previous occasions in Manx Shearwater (Brit. Birds 83: 22-23) and in Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus (Brit. Birds 83: 22; Brit. Birds 81: 235-236).

More Argies

2008-12-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

Just in case you weren't bored enough of argy Herring Gulls last time, here's another post which to really send you to sleep. All of photos taken while seawatching at Whitburn Obs (Durham) today. Large gulls pass close inshore daily at this site, but particularly in northerlies. Adult argentatus are often easy to pick out (except a few borderline cases), as the crashing white waves really bring out the contrasts in their plumage. This results in the underwings giving an appearance vaguely reminiscent of adult Slaty-backed Gull. Ooof....now there's a thought. Immatures, particularly juvs/1st-winters, are however more difficult to separate from argenteus, and it's often difficult to be certain.

Late News Yesterday: seawatching

2008-11-26T12:52:00.000-08:00

Weekends at the Bridges of Ross and boat trips are in, but east coast mainland seawatching is 'so yesterday'. Shakes when birding are generally associated with having found a monster rare, but shakes when seawatching are better associated with freezing your arse off. Who could could blame you for not wanting to sit on a hurting behind, ocassionally clicking the odd Gannet and duly celebrating as Manxies make into double figures, while messages roll in of 4000 Grey Phals past Irish headlands?

Gulls, sound recording, rares finding etc all made into Frontiers, but seawatching was avoided. But surely there are still new avenues to explore - even on the east coast mainland? With optics improving by the day (just heard Swarovski and Leica are poised to bring out new scopes), and cameras able to perform small miracles, here's a list of of the species I reckon could be whizzing past seawatchers unnoticed - even on the east coast! Re-set your radar, arm yourself with a camera and and these could be there for the taking. And ok, maybe it was just 400 Grey Phals, not 4000.

Bean Goose

Black Brant

American Wigeon

Blue-winged Teal

King Eider

American Golden Plover

White-rumped Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Ring-billed Gull

Caspian Gull

Brunnichs Guillemot

(and I'm sure there are plenty more....)

Caspian Gull finally!

2008-11-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Caspian Gull has been top of my wants list for ages. I see it as a representation of all that is good about current UK birding - a product of pushing things forward a bit, indulging in looking closely at birds and a real birder's bird. Definitely one of my fave species.

After countless lookalikes, wannabees, definitely maybes, wholly unconfirmed reports and (.....er think you get the point), I finally found the real thing - a crisp 1st-winter on Saturday gone. As a devoted Flamborough local patcher would say I 'twitched the find' - it was a designed down the last detail, taking a trip to Grafham Water (Cambs) to do it.

No photos of the find, but here's the 3rd-winter at Potteric Carr which I called in for on the way back for a plumage tick (plus a Yellow-legged Gull).

Time to look at Gulls!

2008-11-14T23:09:00.001-08:00

Right autumn's over, but the fun doesn't stop there. Time to starting looking at gulls (er...and geese). Here's a bunch of images from my favourite gulling site - Ellington in Northumberland.

This brute argentatus had clearly just finished beating up a British Herring Gull, with the scars to show it. Or had it been rummaging around in red paint on the tip?

Another argentatus, and just prove one comes from the north, check out the still growing P9 and P10. Many argenteus had completed their primary moult well before now. The short summers in high north do not leave birds with much time to breed, moult and migrate. This bird perhaps started it's moult late, or perhaps it started it early then suspended just before during it's migration south.

A Caspian Gull lookalike, while also managing to be reminiscent of a 2nd-w Ring-Billed Gull. Suggesting Caspian are the extensive black subterminal band on P5, dark eye, grey starting to 'eat into' black primaries - perhaps more so on right wing, extensive grey adult-type wing coverts and mainly white head. Suggesting Herring is the thick, short-looking bill, large eye, faint streaks on head and short-looking tibia. Polish intergrade?

Shot showing slight variations in apperance of Canada Geese. The front bird in particular (of which there was a second similar-looking bird present) showsa narrower white band on face, slightly darker upper breast, a slightly smaller size and a stubbier bill.

Idealyc: a throng of large gulls scrumming it out for space on the water at Linton Lane NR. Gulls using the tip at Ellington bathe at this Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve.

Papa Stour

2008-11-14T00:24:00.000-08:00

It's late September and after months of build up a team including Steve Addinnal, Chris Bell, Tim Cleeves and Ken Shaw embarked on the ultimate self-finding mission to Papa Stour. Where? A small island just of the west mainland of Shetland. It promised much, and the time approached nearer, this was looking like 'it' - our greatest moment. Fair Isle had more sibes than you could shake a stick at, Foula kept hitting the jackpot and the mainland was weighing in on the action. The history book were about to be rewriiten - the islands only rare was back in 1972 - a Green-winged Teal. Crikey, things were really looking good - visions of what we were going to find never left my mind for hours - the excitement was intense. And we found.....

NOTHING

(and I didn't just do that for effect, we really did find nothing. Mind you, we only had 1.5 days on the island in the end - the rest of the week was spent on the mainland - so it was probably awash with bluetails and White's Thrushes on day we missed. Better luck next time. I would have liked to have inserted photos of all the rares we found below, but here's some a lovely landscape shot instead, and a nice map).

Self Found 2008

2008-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

Details of this year's adventures can be found here

Listing

2008-11-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves lists, particularly birders (go on admit it) - so here's three more.

The ones I should have found....

Ring-necked Duck

Surf Scoter

Black-necked Grebe

Spotted Crake

White-rumped Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Ring-necked Parakeet

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Great White Egret

Caspian Gull

The ones I would like to find.....

Dusky Warbler - I've done one half of the two (Radde's) but need this to complete the set. One every finder needs to do at some stage.

Pacifc Golden Plover - rare and an ID challenge - that moment when you realise everything fits neatly into place must be bliss.

Blyth's Reed Warbler - ditto Pacifc Goldie.

1st for Britain - the vast majority will not do it, but it's good to dream....could I already have (co-) done it.... (shot by M Newsome)

Red-flanked Bluetail - one of the orginal dream sibes, and although (nearly) everyone is finding them these days, it would still be great.

Blackpoll Warbler - surely a yank passerine is a must? I could have picked any, but a Blackpoll is more likely than most.

something silly - Little Bustard, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Hawk Owl, Pallas's Sandgrouse....need I say more?

Arctic Warbler - unlike it's eastern counterparts Greenish, Dusky and Radde's, it remains genuinely rare.

The ones I wouldn't like to find...(only kidding)

Tengmalm's Owl on private land - best not go there

flypast Herald Petrel - unlucky

Slender-billed Curlew - life changing, 10 years later and the saga continues

1998 Wilson's Snipe - are the orignal finders still alive?

Kermadec Petrel under a tree - who would believe you?

Five of the best

2008-11-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

So, you've found your sites, what do you do when you get there? Don't ask me! I'm constantly changing my mind, proving theories one week, then disproving the same theory the next week. Below is this week's train of thought. Terms and conditions: this page is subject to change.

Isolation
It's works for Fair Isle, it works for Covenham Reservoir and it works for the 4 (give or take) lone bushes at the Snook on Holy Island. We all know why islands such as Fair Isle are good, but the isolation thing definitely seems to work on much smaller scales. This autumn, instead of knacking my neck staring up into a vast stand of sycamores, I've opted to thrash (not literally) those windblown, stunted hawthorns in the middle of dunes slacks. Results (naturally) were mixed but I'm sticking with this one for the time being.

Positivity
Mysterious, introspective and subconscious, maintaining a positive approach really is essential. If your 'head's up', you more likely to have a second scan through the Goldie flock, more likely to pursue the flighty and elusive acro and more likely to persist in getting a better look at the Herring Gull's tail. And before you know it, you've added AGP, Blyth's Reed and yank Herring Gull to your find list - as if by magic.

Focus
You've just arrived in the field, having read the 'Firsts for Britain' book in bed the night before. You're fired for rares, and the weather seems promising....but after 2 hours of hard work you've seen next to nowt. Your head drops and you begin to think about [insert a more pleasing thought]. This is point at which you need to dig a little deeper to maintain that initial focus, remember what you came out for (to find something good) and mentally recount the finding of the Rufous-tailed Robin.

Preparation
Don't do it and your birding day proceeds as follows: arrive at estuary for low tide and realise everything's approx 320 miles way, depart to check the gull flock only to find the dog walkers got there first, plan to thrash the bushes to realise the birder's got there first, then finish things off with a scan of the completely silhouetted duck flock.

Homework
Finding White Storks is easy but Brunnich's Guillemot, juv Pacific Golden Plover and female Pine Bunting less so. Might take years of practice this one, but my guess is that there are a frightening number of cryptic species right under our nose. Learn these species, and you're onto a winner.

Underwatched! Underated!

2008-11-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

Finding your own birds is tricky, but surely the key is to find your own sites first of all? It's giving the game away perhaps, but a here's a quick rundown of some of my faves.....

Covenham Reservoir, Lincs
Rare bird gold....and again just to make sure, rare bird gold. Everytime I pop my head over concrete wall I see massive potential here....the flock of 1 White-winged Black and 16 Black Terns, Grey Phal and Manxie in a light westerly, all 5 grebes within 2 months, the water white with gulls, an enormous number of feeding hirundines etc etc. Not quite sure how it works - 'it's near the coast' seems the most obvious explanation but there are many similar sites equally as close to the coast, which do nowhere near as good. My best guess is it's isolation - I can't think of any other sizeable stretches of water for miles. Any birders passing this site are obliged to check it!

Donna Nook, Lincs...(yes Lincs again - take note of the theme beginning to arise)
Up until this autumn, I would have placed this in both the underwatched and underated categories. But having seen it swarming with birders on several days in October, perhaps the underated category is sufficient. I've had a soft spot for this site ever since I first visited in May (perhaps finding RBF and RB Shrike were something to do with that). The Lincs coast seems to be a continuous wall of sea buckthorn and elders, but you get impression stuff is more concentrated at Donna Nook. It's feel rare, and this year's Steppe Grey Shrike (well almost...just up the road actually) and Pallas's Gropper add weight to the theory. While Gib is busy taking on Blakeney Point at the bottom end, Donna Nook is giving Spurn a run for it's money at the top end.

North Cave Wetlands, East Yorks
First of all, a massive well done to the people who have created such as fantastic reserve here, turning an old gravel pit into something pretty special. Expectations of crap pond with a pair of Mute Swans and a few Coot were totally blown out of the water when I first visited in April this year....piping Avocets everywhere, a double-figure flock of north-bound Whoopers, the contrasts of a group of s/pl Blackwits and so on. It's recently handed me Green-winged Teal, but the potential is large.

Amble Braid, Northumberland
Just north of the Cresswell-Druridge-Hauxley circuit, and too far south of the Lindisfarne circuit, this easily viewed patch of esturine mud fails to grab the attention it deserves. Waders, wildfowl and gulls - all in decent numbers - are all on hand to pull in vagrant goodies. Several visits during this year haven't produced as yet, but the potential is obvious. Distant memories of seeing a Long-billed Dowitcher here (1998?) proves it can do it.

Derwent Reservoir, Durham/Northumberland
I really should visit this site more often (or should that read, 'I really should visit this site'). Not quite sure which county it's in, but there's plenty on offer....a massive evening gull roost, a biggish goose flock, decent numbers of ducks, plus waders (if the water levels drop). And don't forget to scan the ridges for raptors. It might attract an odd birder during the day, but I never heard of anybody brave enough to tacke the huge (mainly Common) gull roost. Definitely underwatched, and probably underated. A recent Spotted Sandpiper springs to mind.

Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire
The locals probably know all about this one, but mention to others and you'll receive a blank expression. Birderless and full of birds - perfect. Do a search on Birdguides and be wowed by this year's list of rares.