Wells Wood

As usual with working, the times you cannot get out of the office are the times you hear the best report!

A load of lifers beckoned only a few miles away but I could not get out to see any of them!

My only free time was a couple of hours Sunday lunchtime so I elected to go to Wells Wood which is probably the nearest migrant hot spot from me.

I pulled into the car park and it was teeming with birders.

If you were not sure where to look it was easy. There was enough people to make a conga all the way to the drinking pool!

When I eventually arrived my main target bird, Red Flanked Bluetail had been showing well but disappeared 20 minutes earlier - typical!

I gave it 20 minutes but with time against me elected to walk a bit further.

Goldcrests were everywhere - I have never seen so many.

However, an eagle eyed birder next to me spotted a Pallas Warbler.

Although very flitty, it did come out well enough to get decent views and one good photo out of the 30 I took!

This was a lifer for me so really chuffed!

Back to the drinking pool and my luck had changed.

The birds had moved and was now further along the path past the drinking pool. I had a decent vantage point but the problem with woods is there is nearly always some branch or tree trunk in the way!
I got a couple of fleeting glances - enough to see the red but not the blue!

Eventually it moved to a branch that I had a clear view. Naturally, I wanted to get the view first then managed to get two quick photos before it disappeared again!

Still a lovely bird and yet another lifer!

I had now run out of time.

Hugely frustrated as I am sure I could have seen so much more.

Glancing at a hedge where a Buzzard had just flown past I noticed something dark. It was a long way away but careful scrutiny found me a skulking Ring Ouzel.

Photos is just a record shot as far to distant for anything decent!

Still a nice bonus for my two hour trip.

Working all week again so hoping that there are still good birds by the weekend!

Work Trip to Mallorca

Unusually, I was able to take Jen on this 3 night trip.

We stayed in Alcudia and apart from the first full morning, most of the time was our own.

After working hard Jen just wanted to chill out but I had heard of nature reserve very close to the town.

We had hired a car anyway and I found that the reserve was call S'Albufera and was 6 miles away.

After my hotel inspection I asked Jen if she wanted to come with me and to my surprise she said yes!

The reserve is on the coast road from Alcudia to C'an Picafort and there is a parking area.

From here you walk along a metalled path adjacent to the wide river. After some careful examination I noticed roosting Night Herons distantly on the opposite bank tucked well into the trees.

This path is around a mile long and leads to a visitor centre. I found out that the reserve is only open between 9am and 5pm which is crazy for birders but they were really helpful and provided maps of the reserve.

It was obvious that it was huge but to view all the main hides would be a two hour circlular walk which we took.

It is basically reed beds, freshwater lagoons and saltwater lagoons.

The potential for warblers was obvious but with a non-birder, stopping to hear birdsong amongst thick reeds was not on so I could only get Cettis, Reed and Marsh Warbler by song in passing.

The first hide was freshwater and apart from numerous Little Egret and Grey Heron, the most striking bird was Purple Galingule.

There were a fair selection of normal waders with Godwit (both types), Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover and Redshank in abundance.
However, looking at the mudflats I saw at distance a bird laying down - Stone Curlew!

Too far for decent photos but record shot below.

We walked round to the hides overlooking the saltwater lagoon.

Excellent views of Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black Winged Stilt and Whimbrel supplemented the same waders as the other lagoon.

In the distance three Flamingoes were preening and feeding.

As we were watching these (even Jen liked them!) there was a dark shadow and a magnificent Osprey complete with fish dropped to a nearby branch and fed.

We were able to get fantastic views, easily the best I have ever experienced of this super raptor.

However, Jen was birded out by this time so we went for a couple of beers then back.

I loved it and decided I would try and wangle another hour or so the next day. It cost me a facial in the spa but I did get out for a fleeting visit.

In addition to the many birds I saw on our first visit I added Stonechat and from the Saltwater hide.

At the freshwater I added Kentish Plover, Wheatear and Red Crested Pochard

Last bird of the day was a rather lovely Wood Sandpiper which gave great views.

I had been out longer than anticipated but this was such a great reserve I could have spent hours.

Considering I did not get away from any of the main paths and with numerous routes to take, you could easily spend a couple of days doing this reserve.

In the total of 3.5 hours I had I saw 63 species of birds and heard a few others I could not identify.

I urge you to give it a visit!

A Grand Day Out!

After looking at the weather forecast it looked like Sunday would be a perfect day for migrants with big easterly winds forecast so Jono and I planned for a day out.

Typically, the weather did not play ball so picking me up at 8.30, Jono and I headed to Kelling Water meadows in glorious summer sun with no wind.

As we were walking down I said to Jono that we would not see a Pied Flycatcher - a bird in the UK that has constantly alluded me. None here!

Still, plenty of common birds about but nothing particular on the pools. Nearby though we got views of Winchat, Stonechat and Meadow Pipits with a fly past Caspian Gull.

A fellow birder had tipped us off about Redstarts which were one of the target birds of the day.

Though we found the area where he saw them it seemed bird less so we moved on to the East Bank at Cley.

By now, it was almost tropical and Arnolds gave us very little other than the expected waders.

However, we got good views of Bearded Tit and I even managed a reasonable photo!

We did see a more distant male on the return to the car and my photo at distance looks like it could have been painted by Monet!

After a quick coffee break at the Cley Visitor Centre we made our way down to the hides. More waders with Greenshank and Green Sandpiper being the highlights and a nice close up of a Snipe.

Burnham Overy was next port of call but this was particularly quiet and looking through our binos gave us so little we gave it up as a bad job and made our way to Titchwell.

Another target bird of the day was Turtle Dove and following a tip off at the VC we walked the Meadow Trail to the newly finished Autumn Trail. Although Jono thought he heard one, we saw nothing so made our way to the main path.

The Freshmarsh gave loads of waders with Little Stints being close enough for photos.

As it was more practical we had already agreed to finish off at Holme so that Jono could leave me to get home with Jen and he would not have to double back to go home.

As we pulled in to the reserve, Fiona, who was on the gate told us to park up as a Turtle Dove was on the roof opposite. We quickly grabbed our cameras and although awkward for decent views got a record shot.

As we drove up to the parking area we spotted Gary, the Warden. He said that Pied Flys had been there most of the week but had not been reported today (surprise, surprise!) However, a female or juvenile Redstart was just in the bushes where he was working.

We parked up and managed to get fleeting views though nothing in terms of photos.

Jen made us a coffee and a cheese scone as a nice finish to the day.

Excellent day considering the weather though Pied Fly still needs to be found!

Icky Treat!

Busy Saturday morning but an Icterine Warbler had been seen at Burnham Overy Staithe and a lifer for me so I made a quick jaunt down.

I say quick but for those in the know, it is a long walk from the parking space on the A149 down to the dunes.

However, after the long walk I arrived at the site where a number of birders were scoping and photographing a bird.

The Icterine Warbler had just come out to play and sat very obligingly not more than 30 feet in front of us.

Often when you see a lifer for the first time it is a fleeting and not particularly rewarding glance. This bird was much more obliging and stayed on view for a good 5 minutes before flitting back into the bushes.

Not only did I get to see all the features but got a couple of decent shots to boot!

I got back home and low and behold there was a large covey of Grey Partridge in the back garden!

Having added a lifer in Honey Buzzard as a flyover earlier in the week I am getting a very enviable garden list!