Anglesey Abbey

No birding today (Michelle's birthday and I had a lot to make up for!), but whilst walking around Anglesey, two Garden Warblers were heard.

North-east Norfolk

Went to the coast for a day out with the family. Weather not great. Strong wind, heavy showers and quite cool, though with some sunny periods. Started at East Runton where Sam went surfing before fish and chips for lunch and on to Beeston Regis and Sheringham Commons to look for Pugsley’s Marsh Orchid. Not being too great with Orchids, I’m confident that with Tom’s help I managed to find a few pure forms amongst the Pugsley x Southern Marsh Orchids. Other flowers included Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Twayblade, Common Spotted Orchid (not in flower), Bog Bean, and Cuckoo Flower.

We then went on a good walk around Sheringham Park amongst the amazing Rhododendrons. I was fairly sure I found a singing Firecrest, but unfortunately could not confirm it and had to leave it.

Finally we went to Cley, but it was very quite by usual standards. Just a few Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, and Marsh Harriers were noteworthy, though we did not stay long as the wind was strong.

Before leaving for Norfolk, a Blue-tailed Damselfly was in the garden first thing.

Moths, Red Kite, and Fowlmere

Left the moth trap out overnight. Quite a cool breeze so a small catch:

Poplar Hawk-moth
Garden Carpet
Heart and Dart
White Ermine
Muslin Moth
Treble Lines
Flame Shoulder
Marbled Minor
Rustic Shoulder-knot
Light Emerald
Plum Tortrix (or maybe Orchard Marbled Tortrix?)

Just outside the village, a Red Kite was feeding on a Badger road kill. Fowlmere was very quiet in the rain, though it did bring in a large (for Fowlmere) number of Swifts (around fifty) and three House Martins.

Fowlmere

Very early start (5am). The Cetti’s Warbler was actually seen, as well as several Turtle Doves and Cuckoos. The male Firecrest in the breeding pair was eventually heard, though not seen.

Fowlmere

Usual: Cetti’s Warbler, Turtle Doves heard. Plus a dead Mole.

Red-footed Falcon

A Red-footed Falcon at Wilstone. A Herts mega! One of my favourite birds and an adult male to boot. Was perched in a tree when I arrived late afternoon, but later flew around with two Hobbys which made for an excellent comparison (though none was really needed.) Beautiful silvery primaries contrasting with the slate grey and red. A wonderful sight.

Two Red Kites was seen nearby on arriving and leaving (may have been the same bird) as well as a Buzzard when I left. About thirty Common Terns were on the reservoir.

Botanic Gardens

A brief walk at lunchtime: Great views of a swimming Grass Snake; Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, and several Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonflies.

Dragonflies

Another baking day (26 °c in the shade.) Went to Fowlmere for an hour when it had cooled down at 5pm. Usual stuff, including Cetti’s Warbler (heard), Turtle Doves, and a Garden Warbler (though I think one of yesterday’s may actually have been a Blackcap, which seem to be doing very well – including the pair in our garden which were actively stripping the Apple Tree of caterpillars first thing.)

But best was the year’s first Dragonflies:

Azure (or Common?) Damselfly
Hairy Dragonfly x 5+
Large Red Damselfly

Fowlmere

A baking afternoon: Several Turtle Doves and two Garden Warblers heard.

Shepreth L-moor

Two Reed Warblers (first ever) as well as three Lesser Whitethroats and a Holly Blue (also a first.)

Blue Tit was new for the office window!

Fowlmere

Very quiet during a short walk with Sam. Did manage to show him displaying Turtle Doves (at least three) and a calling Cuckoo. We also heard the Cetti’s Warbler.

Jay was a also added to the Cambridge office window list.

Fowlmere

First visit for some time this morning. Both Turtle Doves (at least five, but probably more) and Lesser Whitethroats (at least four singing males) seem to be doing very well.

Minsmere

After staying at my parents, myself and Tom went to Minsmere to try for the French wing-tagged female Montagu’s Harrier. Unfortunately, despite being present all week it seemingly chose today to depart and it wasn’t seen. Despite that we had an excellent time:

Garden Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler x 5 (1 seen.)
Avocet x 30+
Black-tailed Godwit x 3
Mediterranean Gull
Hobby x 3
Little Tern – two pairs
Turnstone x 3

A Turtle Dove was calling from my parent’s garden as I left early evening.

Swifts

Swifts added to the GMSL office window list. They’ve also taken residence once again in the roof above our bedroom.

Lesser Whitethroat

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the garden opposite. Unfortunately I couldn’t get it on to the garden list!

Peregrine

A Peregrine went over the garden this evening. A massive tick! It was closely proceeded by a pair of displaying Buzzards.

Great Tits are nesting in the Apple Tree, and Robins have fledged and are feeding along the path to the station.

Oriental Pratincole

With Tom, I went to Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire for the Oriental Pratincole. A new bird for both of us, we had great views, with all the relevant identification points clearly seen. We then spent the next couple of hours until dusk walking around this incredible inland reserve, and recorded the following:

Curlew Sandpiper x 4
Dunlin
Avocet – several.
Oystercatcher
Little Ringed Plover – several.
Ringed Plover
Ruff – several, including two summer plumaged males.
Brent Goose x c.200
Yellow Wagtail x 3
Wheatear x 4

Speyside (Day 3)

Cairngorms:
Tom and I had planned to have another go for Ptarmigan at dawn, but we awoke to heavy rain and could not see the mountain tops. We therefore packed up camp early and breakfasted, by which time it had cleared. Leaving Erul we then made another attempt, seeing six displaying Red Grouse but no Ptarmigan.

Loch Garten:
We then collected Erul and headed to Loch Garten for more photographs and another Crossbill attempt. We didn’t have long as we needed to begin the long drive back to get Sam in bed at an early hour as he had exams the next day.

We walked around a trail where I had previously seen both Crested Tits and Crossbills fifteen years earlier, and stumbled upon a giant Wood Ant nest that had been there a huge number of years (from before my last visit.) During the circular walk we also saw four more Common Sandpipers and three Goldeneyes, as well as a few Red Squirrels. Just as we were packing the gear away, Tom connected with a male Crossbill that turned out to be a Scottish Crossbill; just about the last bird we saw. Definitely couldn’t make it into a Parrot (that will have to wait), but a final new bird for Tom.

A few Ravens were noted on the drive home.

Speyside (Day 2)

Cairngorms:
After sleeping in until 10am (we were all shattered), we had a camp fry-up before taking the Funicular Railway to the top of the Cairngorms. Myself and Tom climbed higher looking and failing to see Ptarmigan (we saw no birds at all!) whilst Sam stayed with Eurl around the restaurant.

We then descended to look lower down. I managed to find a Meadow Pipit (the only bird I saw on the mountains all day!) but Tom and Erul had more luck with flight views of a Ptarmigan.

Findhorn Valley:
Wanting to get the the Findhorn Valley we had to call it a dayby early afternoon. Leaving Erul at Loch Morlich, myself and the boys went alone. Sam’s decision to come along was a last minute one, but we were very gland he did as he was integral in what happened in the finding of the Black Stork…

e-mail to Kevin Davis, county recorder for Highland:

“Last weekend, my two sons and I visited the Speyside area to try and get the Scottish specialities. It was the first time for my two sons (aged thirteen and ten), and about fifteen years since I last visited!

Anyway, on Saturday 18th May from mid until late afternoon, we drove the Findhorn valley looking for Golden Eagle and other raptors. Unlike my eldest son, my youngest isn't really a birder but seems to have a knack for picking out raptors whilst driving (very useful on foreign holidays!) and as it turned out we were very glad he came along. We were stopped just east of the Farr Road junction when he picked up what he said was a very distant large bird. His directions were appalling(!) but when I eventually got it my eldest son (who was still looking in the wrong place) asked if it was an eagle, to which I replied "No, but it is something very interesting, get on it quick!"

It was heading towards us from the south-west and viewed from head-on. All I could make out at first was that it had very long, square-ended, wings, with 'fingers' on the end and a very obvious bend in the wing half way along, slightly raised above the horizontal. This gave a 'sinister' looking Black Kite impression, though clearly too big and completely wrong for that species. Not expecting to see a Stork in the Findhorn Valley it took me several seconds to realise what we were looking at before I said rather excitedly announced that it looked like a stork. However due to its head-on approach, and the improbability, I was still unsure at this point. Fortunately it was still heading towards us and as it came closer the angle of our view changed so that we could clearly see it had trailing legs and a long bill on a protruding neck. My son then agreed with me that it was a stork; though only thirteen he is a competent birder for his age and has seen several species of stork abroad, including Black.

The light was harsh and we could not really see any plumage details at this point, but luckily it carried on (in what seemed like a constant glide) in the same north-easterly direction and pretty much went over our heads. Though quite high it was clear that the underside consisted of completely black wings, neck, head, and tail, with a white 'body' and axillaries. I tried in-vain to make out the red legs and bill, but could not do so and they just appeared dark. However, I'm sure this was down to the harsh light (it was very bright) rather than it actually being so, though I must admit I still find this surprising as in my experience it is often visible from some distance.

As soon as it was out of view I made a quick description with a very poor sketch. I can send this to you if you wish but it does not really add anything. Although 100% positive of the id, we then checked through the Collins field guide we had in the car, in order to confirm it. Just for the sake of completeness I also went about looking at other illustrations to rule out any other possible species including Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, White Stork, Common Crane, and even Grey Heron.

I have the time of the sighting down at 4:40pm, though I'm not entirely sure how accurate this is as it was some time after that I looked at my watch (and therefore guessed how long it had been since the sighting.) I attempted to get news out, but had absolutely no reception on my mobile phone. It wasn't until several hours later when we were at Loch Ruthven that I managed to get a signal and so sent a text message to Birdguides.

I hope this description is satisfactory. If you require any further details, then please let me know.”

The only downside of the above is that we missed Golden Eagle (though I had a probable.) We did however see the following:

Buzzard x 6
Dipper – pair.
Common Sandpiper x 6
Wheatear x 10
Red Deer

Farr Road/Loch Ruthvern:
We then drove to Loch Ruthvern via Farr Road, seeing the following:

Whinchat
Red Grouse x 4
Sparrowhawk
Green Sandpiper
Raven
Slavonian Grebe – only a single pair (rather different and worrying compared to fifteen years ago when they were plentiful.)

Loch Morlich:
We finished the day with a barbeque on the beach at Loch Morlich listening to Tawny Owls.

Edit (15/05/2010): A Black Stork has today been reported in the Highlands at Loch Shin about 75 miles NNW from where we saw it. Almost certainly the same bird.

Edit (18/05/2010): A Black Stork was seen flying over the north tip of North Uist and then on Harris, in the Western Isles today. Same bird?

Edit (03/06/2010): Possibly the same bird?: 31/05 at Waternish Point, Skye. 02/06 at Ungirsta and then Burrafirth, Unst, Shetland (about as far north as it is possible to get in the British Isles.)

Edit (14/06/2010): Lee Evans has posted the following on his UK400 website: "The adult Black Stork that has been ranging widely over Northern Scotland in recent weeks and has now pitched up on Unst on Shetland is bearing a white ring inscribed '50P9'. This bird was ringed in the nest in Hungary on 26 June 2007 and last registered there on 17 September 2008. In early spring 2009, it was in The Netherlands from 29-31 March."

Speyside (Day 1)

This short trip to the Scottish highlands was undertaken with Tom and Sam, as well as brother-in-law Erul. It was to involve camping at Loch Morlich, some fishing, and birding. My main target was Parrot Crossbill (which nobody knew existed when I last visited fifteen years ago!) and to show Tom as much of the Scottish specialities as possible, particularly new birds for him (pretty much everything apart from Golden Eagle, Black Grouse, and Crested Tit.)

Loch Garten:
We arrived at about 4:30am at Loch Garten after an overnight drive. We dozed for about an hour in the car before setting off on the “Caper Tour.”  A couple of Ospreys were at the nest (first of about ten seen that day). and after a nice male Redstart by the hide. Eventually, after about an hour, a male Capercaille was eventually found and seen well by all.

Trouble with the car meant we had to wait around Loch Garten for the next couple of hours for help, fairly close to the car. We took the time to photograph Red Squirrels and looked in vain for Crested Tits and Crossbills (of which a few were heard.)  Goldeneyes and Common Sandpipers were on the loch and Siskins were abundant.

Grantown on Spey:
After setting up camp at Loch Morlich I then left the others to fish (they successfully caught Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout for dinner!), whilst I headed to Grantown on Spey to look for Parrot Crossbills. None were found, and only a few Crossbills were heard. The woods were very quiet though I did briefly see Tree Pipit, Wood Warbler. Four Buzzards were also noted before I headed back to meet the others.

Aviemore:
After cooking our fish and relaxing around the camp site we went to the “Speyside Wildlife” heated hide to look for Pine Marten. This was pre-booked and we were all looking forward to it very much. En-route to the hide we saw Roe Deer as well as a large number of Red Deer. However, the Pine Marten proved very elusive before a male eventually showed about 11:30pm. Unfortunately both Tom and Sam were fast asleep and I struggled to wake them. However we eventually all got great views only a few feet away before we stepped out of the warm hide into -1°C night for a cold night’s camping!

 

Fowlmere

Rather dull:
Snipe
Lesser Whitethroat
Grey Partridge x 4 (2 heard only.)
Turtle Dove x 3 (2 heard only.)
Cetti’s Warbler (heard only.)

Fowlmere

Very brief evening visit: Grasshopper Warbler heard and a Wheatear (probably different from yesterday.)

Fowlmere

Two visits: One in the morning by myself, and one in the evening to view the Foxes (which we saw) with the family. Like yesterday, a strong Northerly made viewing difficult though it had died down somewhat by the evening and the rain was showery rather than continuous like yesterday.

Cetti's Warbler – heard only.
Nightingale – seen briefly in the evening, but heard during the day.
Wheatear – male
Turtle Dove
Barn Owl – seen whilst waiting for Foxes.

Fowlmere Dawn Chorus with a Nightingale, and an Arctic Skua at Amwell!

Was at Fowlmere for 5am with Tom and Sam to help with the Wildlife Explorers Dawn Chorus event. Unfortunately a cold wind and heavy rain made it difficult, but I at least recorded the following, with at least one of the children getting views of most of it:

Cetti’s Warbler – heard only.
Nightingale
Fox – one cub.
Turtle Dove
Grasshopper Warbler – heard only.

I then went to Amwell on my own and in torrential conditions, just about saw a Skua. It was claimed as a Pomeraine but unfortunately, the views I had were inconclusive and I considered it to be a probable Arctic Skua. However, it was later seen further down the Lea Valley at KGV, were bizarrely it came out as a Pom, but was later changed to an Arctic!

Edit (03/05'/2010) : Sent in reply to query from Lee Evans:

“I'd be very surprised if it wasn't the same bird, particularly as I wasn't convinced it was a Pom' anyway! I only picked it up at the far end of Amwell and it was continually going away from me. Conditions were appalling and I wasted valuable seconds trying to get my 'scope on to it which turned out to be useless anyway as it was steamed up. However it did turn slightly when past the far island and it didn't appear to have the bulkiness or the heavy chest of Pom', and also appeared long winged. I couldn't do better than put it down as a Skua sp., probably Arctic, but I was told it was a Pom'. Given the views, I wasn't in a position to disagree.

I later met Bill Last and told him about the Skua, and that it was apparently a Pom', but said I didn't see it well enough to claim it and had a slight doubt about the identity. Later Mick Illet (I think) phoned Bill to say there was a Pom' on KGV and so we assumed it to be the same bird. He later called me to say the Pom' was actually an Arctic.

As I say, I couldn't do any better than Skua sp, probably Arctic, and if it had indeed been a Pom', certainly could not have 'ticked' it on the views I had. As you say, two birds in the Lee Valley in May would be an amazing coincidence.”

Also seen at Amwell:

Common Tern x 10
Garden Warbler
Redshank x 2
Hobby x 3
Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Yellow Wagtail
Linnet x 4
Cetti’s Warbler x 2 (heard only.)

Finally I had an evening walk around Shepreth L-moor where two Grey Partridges were recorded.

Fowlmere

No sign of any of the reported birds (Common Crane – flyover, Nightingale, and two Water Pipits – male and female!?) Just the first Whitethroat of the year and the first views of one of two Turtle Doves. The Cetti’s Warbler was a heard-only as usual.

Also, a Garden Warbler at Great Abington and the first Swifts were over the garden early evening.