A very quick visit to Amwell at lunchtime to try to catch up with the reported Norfolk Hawkers and Scarce Chaser (or Chasers?). When I arrived I met people who had been looking for several hours, with only one possible and brief view of two Norfolk Hawkers, apparently driven off by Emperors. I wasn’t hopeful, and did indeed fail on the Norfolk Hawkers, but did manage a male Scarce Chaser; these are only the first records of both species in Hertfordshire.
Earlier in the day, a Red Kite circled over Foxton, viewable from my office window.
Was set for another attempt at the Hudsonian Whimbrel last night, but it went missing all afternoon, and wasn’t seen again until the evening. It did the same today, but a message came out at 5:30 to say it was still there. Unfortunately the M25 was like a carpark (I actually changed direction from anti-clockwise to clockwise!) and so it took and age to get there. Arrived in rapidly fading light at high tide and began a sprint to the bird. Bumped into a birder coming the other way and was told it had flown into the middle of the harbour out of view. Terrific. Decided I’d spend the night in the car and try in the morning as I didn’t fancy another drive down.
(although to be fair I guess they were just relaying a message). One of my worst dips ever, not because of the distance (it only took a couple of hours) but the bad luck I seemed to have. To add insult to injury, there were apparently three Whimbrels (apart from the Hudsonian). I got on to all three and watched intently. One bird looked highly promising until it flew and revealed a nice white rump! Year ticks I suppose.
