West Sussex - Pagham Harbour and Beyond - Quality not Quantity!

I took the journey east along the south coast Sunday to link up with Pete Alfrey for a day’s birding on the Monday. Pete Alfrey's Blog I was the first to stay in his new guest accommodation at his home in Siddlesham. After a very comfortable night having tested out all appliances within the caravan we set out to Selsey Bill to begin a sea watch with the regulars at the bill!

We arrive in the nick of time to start logging the birds moving out to sea! I quickly tagged the watch as a West Sussex tick fest as the species passed by. I missed the first Velvet Scoter (3) but caught up with a couple and a Long Tailed Duck which led the group flying east.

Red-throated Diver (51) was noted during this time along with a couple of Black-throated Diver! No Great Northern Diver but there was a few Red-breasted Merganser and a raft of Common Scoter on the sea to add to the list. A handful of Razorbill, an un-identified Auk and Kittiwake soon followed.

Black Brant top right. (orientallis**)

Pagham Harbour and a pre lunch visit to Medmery produced another highlight for us the number of Brent Geese that were in the fields across both sites was amazing (4.5K). 

**ID Handbook of European Birds by Duivendijk. Grey-bellied (nigricans) as correct nomenclature.

Pale Bellied Brent Goose (hrota)

There is a lot of discussion about the origins across the sub-species of this Goose but based on appearance we had good candidates for all sub-species at Church Norton mid afternoon.

Dark Bellied Brent (bernicla)

bernicla was the most common race in the fields with a couple of hrota and one very good candidate for orietallis! We both agreed this was a spectacular sight with the constant call resonating from the flock!

A visit to Marsh Farm had us connect with a handful of Cattle Egret in the field of sheep! I remember the days when I would twitch this rare visitor to the UK but established flocks roam the south these days!

We spent time at dusk watching the Marsh Harrier come into roost which again was amazing to see!

We logged 83 species during the day which included a lunch break which was entertaining as the BBC were filming a documentary at a busy Billy’s. Our whining at how low our day tally was had us told off by a producer for making too much noise! Funny!!

Dorset - Weymouth - Rodwell Trail - Hume's Warbler!

A minor conundrum presented itself this morning. The Ruff having departed Charminster Water Meadows could very likely land up on the farm with visiting Lapwing! Yesterday afternoon news broke of a possible Hume’s Leaf Warbler that was found by Nigel Taylor on the Rodwell Trail Wyke Road Weymouth.

Farm tick v County tick! Usually a straight forward choice!

The answer although slightly risky was to cover the farm early morning then wend my way after rush hour, traffic free to add this species to my Dorset tally!

As things turned out there was no sign of the Ruff and the journey to Weymouth was straight forward! The Hume’s was not showing upon my arrival at the Rodwell Trail but as more eyes arrived (Having messaged Brett!) the bird put on a good display of feeding in the Oak tree, Sycamore and other trees near the old railway platform!

I did not hear the bird call but the bird did call on occasion whilst it was flitting about amongst the branches and leaves. I have included several pictures of the bird so that you can look closely at it and decide for yourself!

I have consulted the Handbook of European Birds V2 by Duivendijk to improve my knowledge of Yellow Browed and Hume’s Leaf Warblers. I am still hopeful of finding a YBW on the farm!

The bird did seem overall paler than YBW with pale ear coverts. The bill was small and pointed and second wing bar was not as obvious on this bird.

If accepted this will be my second record having seen the Beachy Head bird on 31^st December 2007. If I remember correctly this bird called on a regular basis!

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - A MEGA Day on the Farm!

 

Today started at the crack of dawn at Bardolf Farm on the water Meadows. It seemed like another day at the office with all the usual suspects on the meadows! 

I was ready to move on from my watch point but something kept me there and twenty minutes later a Great White Egret sailed into view flying low NW and out of view. The bird must have been on the meadows but out of sight from Athelhampton Road! This species is becoming more common in the UK. A bird is regularly seen at Silverlake (Warmwell Gravel Pits) which is due south of the farm but this was only the third record of this species on the Farm!

Thinking that would be it for the day I continued my rounds visiting the Causeway pond where the Tufted Duck was still present with a surprisingly high number of Moorhen. A Coot joined the huddle of birds in the SW corner of the pond. This species is rare on the farm with irregular records. The bird disappeared in the vegetation so I made a plan to return later in the morning to get pictures.

I have been checking the gardens of Athelhampton house (which border the farm) for Hawfinch without success thus far. A return to the Causeway pond secured pictures of the Coot!

Time was moving on but instead of popping home for lunch I decided to check the mixed seed fields before going home. I was counting the Reed Bunting when a male Hen Harrier appeared quartering the west of the field. The bird slowly wheeled across the track and continued circling low above the crops eventually flying over the A35 and out of sight. This species has not been recorded on the farm since the 1990’s!

A return to the water meadows added a Goosander and Snipe to the impressive days tally! I finished the day walking the fields on the east of the farm!

A day I definitely didn’t want to end! 

Dorset - Durleston Country Park - Red-Eyed Vireo!

Twitch mode is continuing with rarities still turning up in Dorset. A Red Eyed Vireo was trapped in the nets at Durlston Country Park and released in to a copse at the Visitor Centre Car-park. I had spoken to Pete Coe and Dave Bishop and they had an update that the bird was showing every fifteen minutes!

It wasn’t long before I was heading to Durleston Country Park hoping to add this species to my UK tally! I have seen this species at Laguna Blanca in Paraguay and in Colombia but a couple of Cornish birds had eluded me in years past!

There were a few birders present on my arrival. The bird was showing briefly as it slowly moved through the branches in the sycamore trees disappearing then re-appearing in the same area approximately 45 minutes later. The bird did not show again for most of the afternoon!

I was glad I made the journey in this direction despite the Red Necked Grebe still being present at Portland Castle! I have seen pictures and this bird has a large heavy bill which may suggest it could be an American Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps griseigena holboellii).

I will have to look for this bird tomorrow just in-case something comes of the identity further down the line!

Dorset - Longham Lakes and Gillingham - Twitch Twitch Twoo!

 

It is not very often that I go into full on twitch mode but today was one of those days! I started out taking a thirty minute journey to Longham Lakes to catch up with a long staying Velvet Scoter. The bird had eluded me on the South lake but was found by Paul who had agreed to jump up and down and wave if he found it after we had spoken!

My Camera decided at this opportune moment to have a breakdown and appeared to have frozen in I don’t want to take your pictures mode. A change of battery and some fiddling about did not change this so I improvised using my Galaxy A52s through my telescope! I cleaned the camera up put the batteries in my pocket and once I had returned to the car and re-assembled it the camera worked perfectly for the rest of the day! Gremlins!!

Having departed I made my way up to Gillingham where an Isabelline Shrike sp had spent a few days in a field off Pound Lane / Wavering Lane West. I arrived traversed the muddy track the bird popped up pictures were taken and the bird was nailed! This doesn’t happen very often I almost felt guilty for not having had to work for the tick! I stayed a while before making my way back home via a familiar route from my officiating days!

A Dark Eyed Junco was found in a Gillingham garden earlier on in the year therefore I wonder what is slipping through the net in this under-watched area of Dorset!

I enjoyed my days twitching and connecting with a couple of new species for my Dorset tally!

Dorset - Warmwell Gravel Pits (Silverlake) - Ring Necked Duck on East Lake!

The first winter finch count and WeBS was moved back a day from Sunday as there is a storm due to hit the area overnight. Heavy rain and winds of up to 50mph are expected which would not be conducive to a good count particularly for the finches.

The day was bright and sunny and I logged my first Farm Brambling as it buzzed its way east in front of the Causeway pond. This made me chuckle as Pete had predicted I would add this species to my farm tally having been trained on the call whilst with him in Bulgaria!

The meadows are soggy with the pools expanding in size. A small flock of Wigeon and Teal was noted along with the regular fair of Herons, Egrets, Moorhen and Little Grebe on the ponds. The finches were spread out over the farm but seemed to favour particular areas including the oasis on the farm at Chalk Pit.

A Ring Necked Duck had been found at Silverlake (Warmwell Gravel Pits) by Geoff and Chris during the morning so I popped over there late afternoon to catch up with this American migrant! The Goosander turned up on cue late afternoon!

Bulgaria - Day Five - Kaman Bryag and Sveti Nikola

This was our last day in the field and with the weather continuing with a brisk northerly blow the decision was taken to bird the village at Kamen Bryag. There was a good mix of passerines with mix tit flocks being checked for Yellow Browed Warbler. Bird of the day was not new for the trip list but flew in low over a field at the edge of the woodland. The Black Stork that breeds in woodland may have roosted in the woods before making its entrance. Less than a minute later the bird had crossed the field and was out of sight. Good job I looked over my shoulder or we would have missed it!

The gardens and open areas held Red Breasted Flycatcher who used walls and exposed branches to hawk insects from.

Black Redstart were also numerous in this and Sveti Nikola where we attempted to catch up with some Laughing Dove who did not make an appearance despite several visits during the day. After some tidying up on the plot and topping up the pond it was time to say ciao to everyone and make our way to the airport for some entertainment with the hire car company.

Please be wary when you hire cars abroad do not take anything for granted!

Give yourself plenty of time to collect / return a car including taking videos of the car pre and post hire. Keep any receipts of purchases as evidence. Go with the agent to check his/her pre post assessment of the car! Record conversations with staff on your phone!

Our issues began with their credit card machine not functioning for credit cards (they offer the best protection against fraud!) it worked when a debit card was presented! A charge was added for our delayed flight! 

We had to put oil in the car or risk being marooned in the middle of nowhere because SIXT had not checked the oil levels as they should do after ever return. Fortunately we had not gone far before lights on the dashboard began flashing and could resolve the issue at a petrol station despite it being late at night!

Pete has already had a refund of e400 which was taken from his account to cover the addition of oil to the car (No breach of T & C's despite being told there had been!) and an offer from SIXT to pay for what we had to purchase! I don't think this would have happened had we not stood our ground, got the local police involved and threatened legal action! 

However all has ended well! We had a fantastic trip logging 121 species. I added a couple of lifers as well! 

I look forward to our next adventure!

Bulgaria - Day Four - Cape Kaliakra and Durankulak Lake

The wind had picked up overnight and had changed direction to a northerly which caused a drop in the temperature. Cape Kaliakra had fewer of the regular species migrating but there were a noticeable increase in migrating Sparrowhawk.

Alpine Swift were flocking together much lower over the cape which gave opportunities to take some photograghs!

A Black Stork was a notable sighting for the time of year. The bird negotiated the edge of the cliffs parallel to the roadside.

We made our way over to Durankulak mid morning to meet up with our good friend Pavel Simeonov who runs Branta Bird Lodge Tours and is a founder of Bed and Birding which offers accommodation to birders in a variety of countries.

We took a drive down through the lakes and fishponds recording a couple of Whiskered Tern one of which was a juvenile bird. The edges of the reed-beds were searched for passerines with Chiffchaff the most numerous. Penduline Tit and Water Rail were heard within these areas.

A Ferruginous Duck was a pleasant addition on the lake.

A flock of Eurasian Spoonbill were also noted in flight over the lake.

During our search I finally caught up with Pygmy Cormorants which were flying low into the reeds!

A species that I missed in 2017 and was very high on my Bulgarian wish list was Dalmation Pelican a single bird drifting in across the lake. This was my second life bird of the day!

Late afternoon we moved down to the beach where there was a steady procession of gulls including Yellow Legged, Mediterranean and a couple of Black Headed on the sea. A Caspian Gull was also observed as it flew close to the shoreline.

Several flocks of duck including Pintail and Pochard were noted traversing the Black sea. A small flock of Greater Flamingos were also seen in transit.

On the beach Ringed and Little Ringed Plover along with Sanderling and a Dunlin were noted.

After having disturbed what appeared to be a Locustella type warbler along scrub at the top of the beach we drove down to the ringing camp where three juvenile Purple Heron were noted at dusk. These birds were very vocal and looked like they may have been preparing to migrate!

Bulgaria - Day Three - Cape Kaliakra and Shabla Tuzla

The third day of the trip began at Cape Kaliakra which was experiencing a southerly biased wind which changed the numbers of each species traversing the area. Species counts were much lower than the previous days count. A mixed flock of ducks was noted including Shoveler and a Yellowhammer where the new additions to the trip list.

There was an increase in Sardinian Warbler to five with one female noted. Red Throated Pipit, a Serin and a flock of Alpine Swift were noted on passage. Red Breasted Flycatchers were still present in the area.

There was a small passage of Corn Bunting, Chaffinch numbers were down considerably on the previous day. Black Redstart were fewer and more scattered across the site.

The afternoon was spent at Shabla Tuzla which is part of the Shabla lake complex. My bird of the day Greater Flamingo was present here in reasonable numbers. There was a good mix of duck featuring Pintail, and Teal with a flock of Tufted Duck and Pochard noted flying over the Black Sea. Black Necked and Little represented the grebes on the lake. A small group of Great Egrets were also present.

A couple of Black Throated Diver was also noted on the sea one still in its breeding plumage. There was a large gull roost a few miles further down the beach but they sadly did not disperse our way when disturbed by walkers on the beach.

We met up with Pavel and Tatiana late afternoon to search for a Yellow Browed Warbler in some woodland. We were not successful in relocating Pavel’s find but at arrangement was made to meet at Branta Birding Lodge at Durankulak Lake tomorrow. It had been ten years since my last visit there and I am looking forward to my visit!

The day was generally quieter with the trip list after today’s visit standing at 98 species! The wind changes overnight to a Northerly bias which may improve migration across the Cape.

Bulgaria - Day Two - Kape Kaliakra and Karmen Bryag

Day Two began back at Cape Kaliakra and more amazing vizmig this time with thousands of Chaffinch with Brambling amongst them! Wrens were more numerous with birds being chased by Yellow Legged Gulls as they attempted to make the last 100metres to shore! Sadly not all individuals were successful!

Birds of the day were a flock of Alpine Swift that were noted circling the ruins.

A flock of six White Pelican flew in to the vicinity of an offshore fishing boat remaining in this area until the boat moved off.

Less Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the area but there were more Skylark and a few Hooded Crow moving across the peninsular! There were not as many ground birds as yesterday but what were there was still an amazing sight to see!

A Honey Buzzard was noted flying out across the Black Sea with a Marsh Harrier and several Sparrowhawk in the area. A return to the plot mid morning had us return our focus to Kamen Bryag! 

Red Backed Shrike were noted on the steppe outside the village with a sea of Silver Y moths across the scrub! The Syrian Woodpecker pair are still in the village but no sign today of the Grey Headed Woodpecker.

A Common Redstart gave us both amazing views as we walked the track.

Bulgaria - Day One -Cape Kaliakra and Kaman Bryag

The next five days where birding was to be the focus on Bulgaria with Pete Alfrey who has secured a plot of land NW of Varna. Our flight from Gatwick was delayed which resulted in a late arrival at the guest house which is walking distance from the plot. I have had some technical issues which has resulted in the loss of some of my photos Pete has kindly given permission to use some of his photos.

Sunday morning saw the early birds venture to Cape Kaliakra to watch what turned out to be some impressive vizmig with Chaffinch and White Wagtail featuring heavily in the movements. Out to sea Great Cormorant and Shag were patrolling the coastline with Yellow Legged Gulls in good supply. There was a handful of Common and Sandwich Tern in the area but little in the way of ducks and divers but it was still 18C in the region.

Sardinian Warbler by P Alfrey

Bird of the day was a trio of Sardinian Warbler that popped up just of the road opposite a portaloo. A Hoopoe was noted flying in off the coast later in the morning and has be noted on eBird as a late arrival.

Elsewhere there were plenty of Black Redstart around the ruins with a few Wren, Willow Warbler and numerous Chiffchaff.

A Red Backed Shrike and Red Breasted Flycatcher was noted at the weather station.

A Crested Lark posed nicely for the camera in front of the gates to the old settlement.

Honey Buzzard by P Alfrey

Raptors were represented by a couple of juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, and a juvenile Hobby.

White Stork by P.Alfrey

A White Stork was also noted coming in off the sea and was later seen at close range in a field on the edge of Kaman Bryag.

Grey Headed Woodpecker by P. Alfrey

A visit mid afternoon to meet Dylan and the boys who were working on the plot saw me inadvertently flush a Nightjar by the small compost tip. We then ventured out into the village noting a Grey Headed Woodpecker which is the first record for this area.

A couple of Syrian Woodpecker was also not along with a Hawfinch. Late evening saw an amazing pre roost flight of Chaffinch and White and a Yellow Wagtail in a field. Black Redstart was also noted on the edge of a garden commuting between a nearby field.

Having gone to a local restaurant the drive back was greeted with a low flying Barn Owl. Little Owl were also heard during the night.

A good first day with more to follow!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Dodging the Cattle for a Pintail!

A return to the farm today had me checking the growing pool at Puddletown Water Meadows. The cattle were in the field by the pool therefore some stealth was required to dodge them and reach the pool without flushing the wildfowl.

The cattle are very curious and friendly but they are very difficult to shake off once they have spotted me. I got in and out to the willow tree (which features top left in the photo) to nail the Cattle Egret without a single mooo! This pool is on a hot streak of birds and I look forward to the hatches going down to provide a greater surface area of water!

A Pintail which I have aged as juvenile / 1^st winter male was on the pool with the Mallards. The birds face and neck still showing juvenile traits and the coverts, tertials and flanks blueish grey indicating a male.

A Red Kite appeared over the ridge late morning and I took a walk through the fields to an oasis for passerines on the farm. This area was loaded with birds Blackcap, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Starling, Tits, until a Sparrowhawk pitched in! 

Birds are turning up again across Dorset (Abbotsbury Tawny Pipit, Red Footed Falcon) but I do like the solitude of the Farm!

Dorset - Weymouth and Portland - Cattle Egret to End the Weekend!

The Heights Hotel Autumn Birdwatching Break this past weekend was warm and sunny which provided the ideal conditions for birding in Weymouth and Portland. The Ironman was being held on the Sunday which resulted in numerous road closures from Dorchester down to Weymouth. Trip summary here. Dorset Bird Tours .

The only addition to the tour was a Cattle Egret which had been seen by Jodie earlier in the day flying along the coast. This bird settled in a field with some Dexter cattle at Southwell! This is a new addition to my growing Portland tally!