Classy Essex Birds!

Time seems to come round quickly and as our quarterly trip Jono arranged a days birding in Essex.

The day started with a 6am pick up at the Prince of Wales and when Jono turned up he advised that sadly Graeme was unwell so would not be coming with us.

The journey was uneventful other than Dave going on about how hungry he was and that chips seemed to feature in any sentence he uttered!

First stop Abberton Reservoir which is enormous and undergoing some major works at the moment.

It was just about light when we arrived at the first causeway and although the sun was starting to get up, there was a howling cold wind making scope work very difficult.

We saw a fair selection of the usual ducks plus Goosander but always on the fly past. There were a number of Little Egrets and Grey Herons plus an unusual cross breed goose (think Canada-Greylag) and an Egyptian Goose.

By now it was getting close to 9am so we made our way to the visitor centre and proceeded to the first hide.

Most birds were distant but highlights included Goldeneye and a red headed Smew.

The sun was really shining and the wind seemed to drop so we decided to make our way to Old Hall Marshes RSPB.

Dave and I had polished off our one round of sandwiches each and Dave had eaten his Mars bar. Jono had stuck with his homemade carrot and almond soup which he had chivvied up with cayenne - to little avail it seems!

Old Hall Marshes is huge.

Reports of a very rare Red Breasted Goose had bought us here and our first view across fields gave us a vast number of Brent Geese and a few Curlews. As we meandered round we saw enormous further groups of Brent Geese and Lapwings so realised that picking one special goose out of this lot was not going to be easy. It was not helped by the now gale force winds that accompanied us.

Dave made his first really useful contribution to the day when he found us a niche between bushes and field to observe some more geese. This proved to be a real find as for the frist time we were able to get out of the wind.

Jono and I set up our scopes (Dave had gone into lazy mode and just look through ours!) and this time the geese seemed to be different. Jono picked our some White Fronted Geese and Tundra Bean Geese which were both lifers for me. Taking photos was difficult as the birds kept down amongst the creases in the land but this was special nevertheless.

Wending our way across the marshes we had a great view of a a Peregrine Falcon snatching a duck and whisking it away. It landed on the marsh and although some distance away we had time to set up the scopes and see it sitting proudly on a rock. Too far for photos but really super!

As we had one more port of call we decided to go back and I certainly had given up hope of seeing the rarity we had really come for. Then we came accross another birder who had set up scope and seemed fixed on a bird amongst a mass of Brent Geese. Bingo! He pointed out the Red Breasted Goose and although the wind was fierce, the light was great so we all had brilliant views. Taking photos was like using your scope on a fairground ride but I got a couple of record shots nevertheless.

It turned out that this birder spent his time reading the rings on geese. For Jen, Louise or Wendy who think we are saddos going birding all day you should meet this chap. He makes us as exciting as stun men on a Bond film!

So it was off to Chigborough Lakes which Jono had researched. By now we did not have much daylight left. Certainly, this could be great as there is a mixture of lakes, woods and fields. We did not see much other than the usual suspects but did hear a Lesser Redpoll (I do not count this as a lifer as I have to see it first!). On the way back to the car we saw a few Canada Geese in a field and low and behold there were a pair of Barnacle Geese.

This meant we had seen eight species of Geese in our day which was amazing and had a total count of 82 species overall for the day - a superb count for December.

The PS of this trip was the stop at Maldon on the way home for Dave to have a massive portion of chips - poor lad he did looked starved!!!

Many thanks Jono for a great day out!

Minsmere and North Norfolk

Dave had been forced to take some annual leave and I had a couple of days left too so we decided to travel on a Thursday to Minsmere, go onto Bleydon Water near Great Yarmouth, overnight near Cromer then do some of the North Norfolk coast on the Friday.

So a 5.30 am start and an overcast but mild day led us to Minsmere.

We had not realised that the Environment Agency were shoreing up the coastal defences which meant that Minsmere was not as accessible as it normally would be and our favourite walk up to Dunwich Heath was out of the question.

It all looked a bit devoid of birds and the marshes and lagoons held Brent Geese, the odd Shelduck, normal ducks and just two Avocet and a few Black Tailed Godwits. Not even a Redshank or Plover!

Talk of a Melodious Warbler led us to the bushes by the Sluice but apart from a Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipits and a pair of Stonechat there seemed little about. Seawatching did produce Gannet but nothing else.

We had seen Marsh Harriers and the usual common birds but were about to give up when we came across a family of Bearded Tits in the reedbeds on the walk back to the Car Park. This was the best views we had ever had and although they were skittish, did manage a photo or two.

A quick bacon and sausage sandwich later we were off to Bleydon Water.

Journey time of an hour and the enforced stop by Dave for a huge portion of chips at a fish shop near Lowestoft later, we arrived.

What was immediately apparent was that there were loads of waders, geese and ducks. All were well out on the mudbanks meaning the scopes were essential. Nothing really special but Ringed Plover, more Avocet, Black Tailed Godwits, Bar Tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Curlew, Knot, Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank were added to the list.

On our way back to the car we noticed Skylarks and a lone swan which on further examination turned out to be a Whooper Swan though by this time light was against us.

Onwards and upwards we drove to Overstrand to the White Horse for our overnight stop. This looked a good move as the room was super and the bar had food and three real ale handpumps. However, the beer options were too strong and dark for our tastes so we decided to drive the short distance to Cromer.

Three pints of Wherry and a superb Indian later we were back at the White Horse for an early night.

They did not offer breakfast until 8am so we did not get away as early as we liked but it was a splendid full English, The Pub runs offers in the winter months and gives RSPB members a 20% discount meaning we paid a tad over £30 each for b and b - great value!

First stop of the morning was Cley.

Seawatching was fantastic as everything seemed to be close in compared to other visits.

Highlights were feeding Gannets, a flock of at least 25 Velvet Scoter and a lifer for us -  a pair of Little Auks.

On the small pool there was a single Curlew which stayed long enough for a photo and a flyby Snipe.

The main pool was heaving with ducks and geese with Brents, Wigeon and Teal predominating with a smattering of Pintails.

We added Ruff and Grey Plover to our ever growing list before walking back along the beach in the hope of Snow Buntings (no luck). A single Gull identified by Dave as a Med Gull - turned out to be a Black Headed Gull so no change in his Gull ID skills then!

The later than ideal start and gloomy conditions meant that after a quick coffee at the visitor centre we went straight to Titchwell.

This turned out to be an inspired move.

The main highlights were that the freshwater marsh was home to an enormous flock of Golden Plover which were just stunning to see.

The new Parrinder hide was packed so we went down to the beach for some sea watching. Though this was unproductive, the shoreline was teeming with waders and we added Oystercatcher.

By now, the light was fading fast and so we decided reluctantly to make our way back.

The final highlight of the day came as we looked in the ditch to the side of the path near the visitor centre.

Low and behold was a Water Rail. We had never had such excellent views of this elusive bird and although the terrible light made photography all but impossible I did manage a record shot for posterity.

Overall we had manged a very respectable 81 species and a super couple of days.

Family Holiday to the Algarve!

This started out as purely a family holiday in half term with Jen and Sophie.

In my travel job capacity I was offered a superb deal to stay at a new hotel (Martinhal)  and found out that it happens to be in the middle of a national park.

On further investigation it turns out that this is a hot spot for autumn migration so I did not hesitate to book!

We arrived after dark so had no real idea about the location of our 2 bed house until I woke up the next morning.

I opened up the balcony door to reveal a stunning heath and scrub landscape heading down a ravine to the beach and sea below.

I glanced down and saw a superb male Bluethroat (one of many new lifers for me). I had not even got my binoculars let alone camera and scope and by the time I had it had gone not to be seen for the rest of the holiday!

Over the next two hours I saw Sardinian Warblers, Wheatears and Stonechats by the bucket load and a Black Redstart which became a nervous regular visitor.

I did an hour or two on the balcony most days and got a great list just from here!

The next morning saw a fly by Peregrine Falcon and three new visitors.

The first was a Wryneck though it flew before I could get a great photo hence the record shot below but better views were given by a beautiful Ring Ouzel and Thekla Lark (again both lifers for me)

I decided to take a walk around the resort and found an area of pampas grass and gorse which gave me another lifer - Common Waxbill - which has a stunning red beak but was just too skittish for photos. Further on led to a small salt marsh and Little Egret, Turnstone, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover were common throughout my stay. However, the highlight was a group of Black Winged Stilts though they always kept their distance!

Prior to my trip I had been in contact with a guide - Simon Wates (http://algarvebirdman.com/) - who has lived in the area for a number of years. I had arranged to go on Monday afternoon with him and all day on Tuesday.

I met Simon who took me to the raptor viewpoint near Sagres which afforded some lovely birds on the way - Wood Lark, Crag Martin and Zitting Cisticola were both lifers again!

However, sadly, the viewpoint was quiet so we made our way back down to the scrub and trees.

The low lying fields near the cliffs gave a large flock of Chough and distant views of Little Bustard which scattered as we tried to get close enough for a photo!

In the wooded area I caught my first views of a Crested Tit - yes, another lifer!
There had been sightings of a rare Pallid Harrier which we decided to trace. Bingo - we saw this along with Hen Harrier too.

We then found a rare for Algarve Richard's Pipit and a fleeting first ever glimpse of a Dartford Warbler.

Another local bird - the Spotless Starling was also seen amongst the roosting flocks of Starling.

Simon then took me to a secret location to see Eagle Owls which has been breeding there for a number of years. As dusk approached we saw a fleeting glimpse of a Blue Rock-Thrush and just as we tried to follow this a stunning female Eagle Owl preening herself came into view. It was too dark for a photos but a memory I will not forget.

The next day took us to some wetlands in the Ria Formosa.

We started at the salt marsh close to the beach at Faro Airport.

Sea watching gave numerous Gulls and Great Skua and Cory's Shearwater - another lifer!

Back on the salt marsh there were a number of waders with Curlew, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Dunlin, Bar and Black Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Turnstones and Plovers.

Highlights were a Kingfisher distant but perched, Caspian Tern, a Spoonbill which was tagged in Holland and a superb White Stork.

We then went to Quinta De Lago via lagoons and marsh where I got great views of Greater Flamingo. two Sacred Ibis on a fly past and a soaring Booted Eagle (crappy photos but a record shot for yet another lifer). In addition there were more waders inclusing Avocet and Black Winged Stilt.

Sadly, the singing Penduline Tit eluded us and as I did not see this I will not include in my list!

On to the golf course at Quinta Da Lago which has a super pond which attracts all sorts of birds. We did not find the Little Bittern but got great views of Purple Swamphen which had been a target bird for me and another lifer.

The track back gave Crested Lark, Hoopoe and another new to me bird - Azure Winged Magpie!

After leaving the reserve Simon stopped at a local farm where we had seen a Black Shouldered Kite a few days earlier and low and behold there was a male sitting on a telegraph wire some distance away. It was too far to get anymore than a fuzzy record shot but a lifer nevertheless!

On our way back to our hotel we stopped off in the hinterland and enjoyed the cork oaks and hillside scenery. The trees produced Crested Tit again but all else eluded us.

Over the remaining two days I saw many more common species along with great views of the rarer migrants.

The list finished on 101 species of birds all seen and did not include the once I heard.

There were some super butterflies too including Clouded Yellow, Short Tailed Blue and Wall Brown amongst others.

This is a birding mecca and I urge anyone to visit.

Work trip to Fuerteventura

In my role as a Sales Director to a travel company I am sometimes required to visit hotels.

On Monday 3rd October I had to go to Fuerteventura and stayed at the Sheraton there.

I did not arrive until dark and had business meetings most of the next day. However, I managed a couple of hours birding on the Tuesday and nearly five hours on the Wednesday before my return flight.

Flying Ryanair meant no hold luggage and limited hand luggage so I had space for my binos and a my superzoom compact. It is always with regret I cannot take my scope but better than not taking anything!

The hotel is right on the beash with scrubland to both sides and a golf course to the rear.

It does not get light until nearly 8am so I managed about an hour before getting ready for my meetings.

Walking through the gardens of the hotel I caught a glimpse of something I had not seen before. A closer look gave me the endemic Fuerteventura Chat - my main target bird. This used to be called the Canary Island Chat but since it became extinct in its only other location - Lanzarote - it has been renamed. Sadly. low light and the male bird fluttering in and out of foliage provided me with nothing more than a shaky record shot too poor to show but a really good start.

Walking down to the beach there were a number of rock pools to the side. This gave me Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Whimbrel and my first ever Kentish Plover but I was in the open here so could not get great photos but still a pleasing view.

I had already run very short of time so walked back to the hotel. The gardens were seperated from the beach path by wooden railings which meant you could peak through them at the lawns and bushes within.

A gap in the hedge gave me great views of Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail (blue headed morph) and my first Berthelot's Pipit. There was enough light and birds were close enough to get a few pics.

Looking at my watch I now realised I had 40 minutes to get breakfast, shower and be at my meeting so did not give more than a glance at the Swifts flying over, the Robin singing or the numerous Collared Doves.

Five hours later and a successful meeting concluded I was able to get out for some late afternoon birding.

This time I ignored the beach area and walked to the Golf Club. There is very little inland water at this time of year so hoped I might pick up a few birds around the water features.

My first bird was a Pied Flycatcher which is a lifer for me so was very excited. Little did I know that I was to see loads in the next 24 hours! Also near the entrance was a scrubby area and this gave me a small group of Trumpeter Finches - another lifer and all within 2 minutes. I got a record shot of a female but it was hazy and the Pied Fly would not stay still!

As I entered the Golf Course I caught sight of two Ravens sitting in the shade. A crappy photo later (they took off as soon as they saw me) and I made my way to the man made lakes. By the mesh fence I also saw an beautiful day flying moth (again saw loads over the course of the visit) which Jono helpfully identified as a Crimson Speckled.

By now there were a number of Pied Flys but could not get a decent photo - the two best below!

My walk continued and looking at some distance to a lone tree gave me my first ever Wryneck! I could not get too close and as golfers were approaching took a quick photo but a real thrill for me!

I eventually found the water feature and was surprised at how little there was! A Ruddy Shelduck was the highlight but only Mallard and some hybrid Muscovy Ducks showed.

Nearing the exit I saw numerous Spanish Sparrows with House Sparrows and Canary Chiffchaffs were everywhere.

A great few hours so back to the hotel and a couple of beers and quiet dinner. I decided on an early night as I had the whole of the next day until 3pm.

So, Wednesday I was up at 7am and had an enormous breakfast on the basis this was my last free meal at the hotel and decided to walk along the coast to a tiny hamlet called Las Salinas which produces salt for the island. The walk was open with sea and rocks to one side and a massive expanse of scrub to the other. It was 31 degrees and I had no sun protection.

The scrub provided a Tawny Pipit (another first) and distant views of two Grey Heron.

On the rocks were Sanderling, Little Egret and Grey Plover along with numerous Yellow Legged Gulls (or simply Gulls as Dave would call them!)

After a long walk I finally got to the salt pools and there were just three waders. A Ringed Plover and two others with decurved bill. They were quite different in size and one had a much longer bill. I was sure the smaller was a Curlew Sandpiper but unsure of the other. I sent the photos to Jono who thought they may both be Curlew Sands but it was a possibility that the larger was a Stilt Sandpiper. I am currently investigating but have posted both photos below.

I then noticed a scurrying out of the corner of my eye and saw a Chipmunk on a wall followed by a huge Monarch butterfly. I was torn but took a quick shop of the rodent before finally getting a resting shot of the Monarch - a wonderful sight!

I made my way back to the hotel and just as I neared civilisation saw a small barranco (stream or gully) which had a little water. This was real find as it gave me Pied Wagtail, a large Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Finally I took the time to look through the wooden fence surrounding the hotel garden and was really glad I did! Apart from more Yellow Wags, Berthelot's Pipits and Hoopoe I saw a Winchat, a female Red Throated Pipit (another lifer!) and a lovely male Redstart.

Inside the hotel grounds I was just about to put my camera away when I glanced a pretty dragonfly which is not an area of expertise for me but Jono has identified at a Red Veined Darter.

All in all a great few hours birding. I love my job!!!