tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26957215266154742682024-03-13T10:03:21.957+00:00Archie's Peaky Birders Blog“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”
― George Eliot (1819-1880)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-88088863333668752912020-03-09T18:47:00.000+00:002020-03-17T21:58:34.731+00:00MEGA ALERT: The STELLER'S EIDER on Orkney<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Greetings folks. It's been a while. Sorry about that. Unfortunately my sense of well-being, humour and creative genius were all sapped from me by some kind of insidious viral infection. It wasn't SARS or coronavirus though. It was something just as physically debilitating and five times more mentally draining. I think it's commonly known throughout the world as 'marriage'. Oh well, lesson learned.<br />
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Anyway, I have a desperate urge to tell you all about our latest ridiculous birding adventure. Please bear with me as this post covers no less than four consecutive days and to be honest, I do tend to waffle on quite a bit.<br />
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<u><b>WARNING</b></u>: <b>This blog post may contain nuts, images of an indecent nature, mildly offensive material, profanity and flash photography. Do not continue if you are under the age of 23, have a history of heart problems or you are generally a bit of a miserable bastard.</b><br />
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Due to recent mental health issues, my decision making abilities have been somewhat impaired. This probably resulted in me naively organising a trip to the remote Orcadian outpost of Papa Westray for myself and a trio of other loons (I'm allowed to use the word in such a mildly offensive context because I am technically a type of lunatic, just ask my doctor). The target of our doltish pursuit was a web-footed wonder from the high Arctic, a young drake <b>Steller's Eider</b>. This a species of duck that has failed to put in an appearance around the shores of Britain for nearly twenty long years. There have been a number of spurious claims since then but all of them have turned out to be about as reliable as a Tory promise.<br />
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This rarity had originally been found by <i>Don</i> and <i>Sandra Otter</i> on their home island of Westray, towards the end of October last year. After making a few brief appearances on that island, it then relocated to the neighbouring isle of Papa Westray to the east. It initially settled into a bit of routine for a while as it fed along its favoured stretch of the west coast. With the onset of winter though and some rather fucked up weather systems, the bird understandably became more elusive and erratic in its appearances. With a tiny population of around eighty hardy souls, 'Papay' also suffers from a lack of full-time birder coverage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgJUTxsfBjMy-FStuKYt-rf5HV7WZmMvAhc4XROTyz-R5ZQRfTYETQhvQN79_DDrRX6afTUC5pDo6nT8wL127FfR4MtKyVrnBcP6WllcPSkFv8U0Ih-JZPANfZ7bbc7dVVdZbZkR5NT8/s1600/Steller+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1392" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgJUTxsfBjMy-FStuKYt-rf5HV7WZmMvAhc4XROTyz-R5ZQRfTYETQhvQN79_DDrRX6afTUC5pDo6nT8wL127FfR4MtKyVrnBcP6WllcPSkFv8U0Ih-JZPANfZ7bbc7dVVdZbZkR5NT8/s320/Steller+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finder's report - <b><i>Birdwatch</i></b> - December 2019</td></tr>
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It was therefore not too surprising that there had been just a miserly <u>eight</u> confirmed sightings of the bird for the whole of 2020. Interspersed with those welcome nuggets of positivity there were quite a few negative messages too. Although Papa Westray is only a small island, there is still plenty of rocky coastline and surrounding ocean for a such a small non-descript bird to blend into. So, with the odds stacked firmly against any intrepid birder successfully relocating the bird, why the hell did we decide bother? Well, as most of you seasoned birders will know, the thrill is in the chase. Plus we would be visiting a far flung corner of these fabulous islands that we had never set foot on before. Twitch on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ-asRH8rC4lOt0IqZjQ6jUq9v_JsGFQX29p_BFNwJPBjt7P9L9otVEIctMtezos9iE7k_Acucz48u_K5P2KkHxk6wsLLQEwzsXRuOCente6X72x3h6BBJv-V4gurX-TWlDDDITiyxvk/s1600/Steller+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ-asRH8rC4lOt0IqZjQ6jUq9v_JsGFQX29p_BFNwJPBjt7P9L9otVEIctMtezos9iE7k_Acucz48u_K5P2KkHxk6wsLLQEwzsXRuOCente6X72x3h6BBJv-V4gurX-TWlDDDITiyxvk/s320/Steller+2.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa Westray preparations!</td></tr>
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<u><b>Day One - The Great Northern Road Trip</b></u><br />
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It was Friday night on the 6th March when <i>Bart</i> and I met up with <i>Jase</i> on the outskirts of Wolftown (the current home of a far more suspect species of duck). For some strange reason there was an air of charged excitement among us, despite the eider not being seen since Tuesday afternoon. On that occasion, my fellow air crash survivor <i>Alan Whitehead</i> had relocated the elusive bird on the second day of his second visit to the island. Despite further searching, there had been no further sign. It would be down to us to change all that. We were relishing the challenge ahead but prepared for the inevitable disappointment. After a brief stop over in Cheshire to collect the malt loaf scoffing scouser <i>Paul Baker</i>, it was time to continue the five hundred mile journey to the very north of mainland Scotland.<br />
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<u><b>Day Two - The Highlands to Orkney</b></u><br />
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The arduous drive in the dark went relatively smoothly despite a few snow showers along the A9 between Perth and Aviemore. With plenty of time to spare, we decided to make a short detour to Embo for an early Saturday morning scan of the coastline. A drake <b>Surf Scoter</b> had been reported earlier in the week so it would have been rather rude to just drive past without having a quick glance at it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hpu2q6awxTsRPt8i0Y63HltmaCezxpYtLRVPETgPMsX57UCA3Slg2GyvDLe2vGZ4dmyeGxDbtUqfuSjSxsvq-j3B5U2WLMtNSDEkAUZu1avXF7xrjh5Th9cGcsNcdw0SIxciGVDQsSQ/s1600/Steller+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hpu2q6awxTsRPt8i0Y63HltmaCezxpYtLRVPETgPMsX57UCA3Slg2GyvDLe2vGZ4dmyeGxDbtUqfuSjSxsvq-j3B5U2WLMtNSDEkAUZu1avXF7xrjh5Th9cGcsNcdw0SIxciGVDQsSQ/s320/Steller+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embo, Highland - viewing north from the pier.</td></tr>
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Despite a thorough search for the freaky looking North American sea duck we drew a complete blank as we carefully scrutinised the huge raft of <b>Common Scoter</b>. It was the first 'duck dip' of the trip but fingers crossed, it would be the last. There was still plenty of birding action to savour though with a pair of <b>Pale-bellied Brent Geese </b>and<b> </b>small numbers of <b>Red-throated Diver</b>,<b> Slavonian Grebe</b> and <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>. We also enjoyed an impressive group of over 500 <b>Long-tailed Duck </b>and over a 100 <b>Common Eider</b>. We wished we could have stayed longer but we still had over seventy miles to travel along the winding Highland roads before we reached Scrabster.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP1S-0zeUd6G0ksXCA8-CHFFRFBHkEAlq83BWEItJPryb4PXQbhs3QZFB_BJtysHtnXJxif9iIFQl31d1I56h2Vj9lKdq5Nn0QY6HIICl9SEo-nHiZCt1Rf9LbDm6oQ-JMky3JN2OLPw/s1600/Steller+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1318" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP1S-0zeUd6G0ksXCA8-CHFFRFBHkEAlq83BWEItJPryb4PXQbhs3QZFB_BJtysHtnXJxif9iIFQl31d1I56h2Vj9lKdq5Nn0QY6HIICl9SEo-nHiZCt1Rf9LbDm6oQ-JMky3JN2OLPw/s320/Steller+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Scrabster, Highland.</td></tr>
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Upon arrival at the ferry terminal we were hoping for a lingering <b>Iceland Gull</b> or maybe a <b>Glaucous Gull</b> if we were lucky. Unfortunately we failed to find either so we had to make do with the odd <b>Black Guillemot</b> and a few small groups of 'real' <b>Rock Dove</b>. On board the <i>MV Hamnavoe </i>we settled on deck for a bit of sea-watching. Auks were well represented with plenty of <b>Razorbill</b>, <b>Guillemot</b> and a few more <b>Black Guillemot</b> here and there. It was bleak, cold and grey but the stunning location and the number of seabirds had already eclipsed anything back home had to offer. We reminded ourselves just how lucky we were to be able to indulge ourselves in such a pleasurable pursuit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0cxs3l-LaURZ7J6sEGkxVX0fxiCqPkeBhaNp9yvyGi4_Km_3otnRgnoF9P7ABObnrZzqNY5M5izm72ivpIc7gdoNc8ElBu96j0ZO3xJ7mMm9LCRqlOobGd9CG9PPb_9_NpiLpccu7HU/s1600/Steller+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1353" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0cxs3l-LaURZ7J6sEGkxVX0fxiCqPkeBhaNp9yvyGi4_Km_3otnRgnoF9P7ABObnrZzqNY5M5izm72ivpIc7gdoNc8ElBu96j0ZO3xJ7mMm9LCRqlOobGd9CG9PPb_9_NpiLpccu7HU/s320/Steller+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All aboard the good ship <i>MV Hamnavoe</i>.</td></tr>
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As we approached the island of Hoy we witnessed huge numbers of <b>Fulmar</b> as they glided effortlessly amid the daunting shadows of some of the highest cliffs in the whole of the United Kingdom. There were also small quantities of <b>Kittiwake </b>out at sea along with the usual <b>Herring Gulls</b> and <b>Great Black-backed Gulls</b>. As we neared Stromness we encountered a single <b>Red-throated Diver</b> near the harbour and a few pairs of <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXuwFR6q37KFysJVV_sToRSm6lXRdXTXl4Y5LMoazja5jsTSwgRLyn4e2aXqYSvVz0zBukzTtxPANd3Dx968c1CqMo6TeRr5v07dq0ia6qm8KZ1dGUCYR3e3QNuN0AHUWM1ocr8hvf0s/s1600/Steller+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXuwFR6q37KFysJVV_sToRSm6lXRdXTXl4Y5LMoazja5jsTSwgRLyn4e2aXqYSvVz0zBukzTtxPANd3Dx968c1CqMo6TeRr5v07dq0ia6qm8KZ1dGUCYR3e3QNuN0AHUWM1ocr8hvf0s/s320/Steller+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Paul</i> with the snow capped hill of Hoy in the background.</td></tr>
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As we disembarked the boat, the weather took a nasty turn for the worse. The strength of the wind increased and we were hit by heavy rain showers. Undeterred, we decided to drive north towards the village of Twatt (snigger) and the nearby Loch of Isbister. The first dapper <b>Hooded Crows</b> of the trip were spotted en route along with fields full of <b>Greylag Geese </b>and the occasional flock of <b>Pink-footed Geese</b>. Whilst surveying the area around the loch we stumbled upon a bird hide at the 'The Loons' RSPB reserve. It was here that we took shelter for a while and added a number of species to the trip list. These included <b>Whooper Swan</b>, <b>Shelduck</b>, <b>Gadwall</b> and <b>Shoveler</b>. A <b>Water Rail</b> was also heard squealing away concealed among the thick vegetation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf_VM7xRjzYNVzZe1Nga6HmxH85OWMnHn4HZKGmZhVxBl3beo_HwWtH9iUo1YRaWgcWNieEAuzGPEseShjWdiURHvJB1WD9lgK5ppe1UHWzSQzFTT9sdf1d8qU8ZDeYlJ-OK-FCJH5Lc/s1600/Steller%2527s+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1439" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf_VM7xRjzYNVzZe1Nga6HmxH85OWMnHn4HZKGmZhVxBl3beo_HwWtH9iUo1YRaWgcWNieEAuzGPEseShjWdiURHvJB1WD9lgK5ppe1UHWzSQzFTT9sdf1d8qU8ZDeYlJ-OK-FCJH5Lc/s320/Steller%2527s+7.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mural inside the hide at 'The Loons' RSPB reserve.</td></tr>
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With the north shore checked we then decided to make our way over to the south and try our luck from the disused Twatt airfield. As we made our way through the driving rain I stopped to check out one of the many goose flocks. Almost immediately I picked out a single <b>Tundra Bean Goose</b> among a small group <b>Pink-footed Geese</b>. As we carefully negotiated the muddy tracks through the airfield we flushed a mobile flock of around 40 <b>Twite</b>, another year tick.<br />
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In order to escape the strong winds, we took shelter alongside the old control tower of what was formerly known as <i>HMS Tern </i>during the second World War. Great lumps of decaying concrete come in quite handy when you are trying to scope birds during adverse weather conditions. A drake <b>Green-winged Teal</b> had been reported from this area earlier in the week but yet again we failed miserably in our attempts to pick it out among the many <b>Common Teal</b>. To be fair, a lot of the wildfowl were hidden away around the perimeter of the loch as they attempted to shelter from the elements. I was now becoming concerned at this disturbing trend - 'duck dip' number two of the trip.<br />
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Species noted in this area included a flock of around 150 <b>European Golden Plover</b>, 5 <b>Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit</b> and plenty of <b>Lapwing</b>, <b>Curlew </b>and <b>Oystercatcher</b>. In order to improve our chances of making a success of this trip, we decided to repent our sins and ask the Lord above for some birding assistance at the nearby 'Church of Twatt'. Our purest of intentions were scuppered though as we found the consecrated premises closed with a 'for sale' sign attached to it. This confirmed it for me. The trip was bloody cursed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpMd_DEGjwjM3-CPJ6yKabNyYjSTkaO1aY7MXmm1iTjGGzQC14R8Jplf7PUggeKfwQWbyizj9wgCmRs6qrwxxNltgKQG6KPT5hfS-X_29ufxURVma6sMalHZf-aIDqdPZ1EvzN0-p-AQ/s1600/Steller%2527s+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1272" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpMd_DEGjwjM3-CPJ6yKabNyYjSTkaO1aY7MXmm1iTjGGzQC14R8Jplf7PUggeKfwQWbyizj9wgCmRs6qrwxxNltgKQG6KPT5hfS-X_29ufxURVma6sMalHZf-aIDqdPZ1EvzN0-p-AQ/s320/Steller%2527s+8.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access denied!</td></tr>
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With mild exhaustion, foot rot and pneumonia setting in, we thought it best to head over to Kirkwall and find our accommodation for the night. We needed to rest up and conserve any energy we had left for our proper day of wildfowl hunting the following day. We soon settled into our quaint cottage, filled our bellies and sipped a few drams of single malt before turning in for an early (by our standards) night. My session of slumber was all going smoothly. As I lay there having erotic dreams about viking maidens skipping around stone circles while a pair of Ravens 'kronked' overhead, I was rudely awoken.<br />
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What the fuck was happening? As my bed vibrated beneath me, what can only be described as the sound of an asthmatic <b>Walrus</b> imitating the frantic call of a maimed <b>Rook</b> was consuming the whole room. In order to prevent any embarrassment I will not divulge the name of this horrible snore monster as I knew <i>Jase</i> was not intentionally disturbing my sleep. With my ear plugs failing miserably there was only one solution. I dragged my single mattress out of the bedroom, across the hall and laid it down in the only place in the whole cottage where there was adequate space. The bathroom. Fortunately there was just enough room to squeeze my makeshift bed into the wet area.<br />
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Surprisingly I was soon out for the count, that is until one of the lads needed a slash. Due to the occasional drip of the shower, I had positioned my head towards the toilet end of the tiny room. Big mistake. When a chap waddles into the unfamiliar surroundings of a bathroom while away from home and it's dark, the standards of piss accuracy are not quite as they should be. As a result, I received my second salty splashing of the day. The first was on the deck of the ferry on our way to Stromness.<br />
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<u><b>Day Three - Papay Here We Come</b></u><br />
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Finally, Sunday morning was here. It was time for the main event of the trip. Before heading off to the airport just outside Kirkwall, we traveled the short distance from our accommodation down to Peedie Sea (quite an appropriate title after what I had endured the night before). There are always a few birds to keep you entertained here and because it is the equivalent of a town park, most of those present are quite obliging. Today was no exception with at least 15 <b>Long-tailed Duck</b> showing very well indeed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQdOgQYggxZFNtd24suzu8YvJROJlxbR6biTCaAYyOqhdPTDP1XlHFir8lXmo5t48KFS6o3apS_nAPfBWLWH1cglSyP4gzA3nX_-V8J0qOMAMk0b_uu_voNd2NcbauDkwiWyX7wmZKoc/s1600/Steller+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1280" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQdOgQYggxZFNtd24suzu8YvJROJlxbR6biTCaAYyOqhdPTDP1XlHFir8lXmo5t48KFS6o3apS_nAPfBWLWH1cglSyP4gzA3nX_-V8J0qOMAMk0b_uu_voNd2NcbauDkwiWyX7wmZKoc/s320/Steller+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is nothing as dapper as a male <b>Long-tailed Duck</b>.</td></tr>
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Most of those loafing around on the water were handsome males trying their best to garner the attention of females with their gull like display calls and whopping tail erections. Other species showing well included small groups of <b>Goldeneye</b> and <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>, 42 <b>Wigeon</b>, 50 <b>Oystercatcher</b> and a few <b>Redshank</b>. Around the perimeter of the lake there were feeding <b>Rooks</b>, <b>Hooded Crows</b> and <b>Rock Doves</b>. This is definitely a birding location not to be missed if you are passing through Kirkwall or heading there to pick up supplies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmV8t2Kl7c8rXt09_LmpVO525FfpzNxPiE2IsO0STzrEG_QZ7la6Xb8wjUQTUfL2PbKlh1tX0oaqtrbjhheSZiTysg2u9iZS95r5kU879A_Z4TsrvW0cXtW0LhLouZlHsBam_CJ9qRl8/s1600/Steller%2527s+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1280" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmV8t2Kl7c8rXt09_LmpVO525FfpzNxPiE2IsO0STzrEG_QZ7la6Xb8wjUQTUfL2PbKlh1tX0oaqtrbjhheSZiTysg2u9iZS95r5kU879A_Z4TsrvW0cXtW0LhLouZlHsBam_CJ9qRl8/s320/Steller%2527s+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out those tail streamers.</td></tr>
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It was then onto the airport for our 10.30am <i>Loganair</i> flight. It was at this point that my flight anxiety started to concern me a little. I have always been a nervous air traveler but funnily enough the smaller aircraft never really bothered me too much. That was until a few years ago when I was part of a misguided 'charter flight' for an <b>American Redstart</b>.<b> </b>Instead of safely flying over to the island of Barra on the Scottish west coast,<b> </b>a few of us on board a <i>Cherokee Piper,</i> nose-dived into a soggy potato field on the outskirts of Manchester. I was determined to make the journey though. This time were we in the hands of responsible professionals. I kept telling myself that it would be fine.... as I dripped copious amounts of CBD oil into my dry mouth.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosFkX9KftlKxV_3tcq3iH1jlGsSLbNh8GFQ38gebmvmZp3aDbgeCeUZOLDWx4gLfot2ue6wwEF3XiiVakdQp5CNM4uFCnUxtFV6m479elY0kswKgScL2aSPf_fFJhB6hvPQOh9JqUNEc/s1600/Steller+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1280" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosFkX9KftlKxV_3tcq3iH1jlGsSLbNh8GFQ38gebmvmZp3aDbgeCeUZOLDWx4gLfot2ue6wwEF3XiiVakdQp5CNM4uFCnUxtFV6m479elY0kswKgScL2aSPf_fFJhB6hvPQOh9JqUNEc/s320/Steller+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Britten Norman Islander</b></i> - Twin Engine.</td></tr>
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I will not lie. I was absolutely petrified. The lads did a sterling job though in order to keep me as relaxed as possible. Due to the high winds, the twenty minute journey was a little bumpy but the pilot assured us that this type of plane that could easily limp back to safety, even if one of its twin engines failed. I was not sure my heart would have survived that type of scenario though. As we neared Papa Westray I did start to enjoy the experience, that is until we started to descend rather quickly to land. I closed my eyes and muttered a quiet prayer. As the tyres hit the concrete I breathed a huge sigh of relief. With that test of mental resolve behind me it was time to start searching for that pesky, little duck. Our window of opportunity was small. Every minute mattered.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgscq0dFgwOSMT-C9PKKeOoG6zRWlRDXuZDDnQ1mYOZZKCwadlU9OMwovTALVqOD0M94sQpEwbbMJKk7OGT2xpe3v-FYf5Mww1qqhJXqkWIXpQckmYNQdSKtTtaso3bcB9DNCWNyC-vHs/s1600/Steller+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1467" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgscq0dFgwOSMT-C9PKKeOoG6zRWlRDXuZDDnQ1mYOZZKCwadlU9OMwovTALVqOD0M94sQpEwbbMJKk7OGT2xpe3v-FYf5Mww1qqhJXqkWIXpQckmYNQdSKtTtaso3bcB9DNCWNyC-vHs/s320/Steller+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch St Tredwell, Papa Westray.</td></tr>
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Our first port of call was Loch St Tredwell towards the south-west end of the island. This was the very last location where the <b>Steller's Eider</b> had been seen. The trouble was, that was five long days ago. Where the hell had it been in the meantime? As we approached the site, it suddenly dawned on me just how tough our job would be. The loch was pretty huge with lots of well vegetated shoreline and sheltered nooks for a roosting duck to take refuge in. On top of that we were surrounded on all sides by plenty of rocky coastline. All ideal eider feeding habitat. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV5bTL70cTRoeJ6n7PcpkMNEv775KWRWLdtY7gmPGSptoHhrSX6sbe20SUcpEI3IKcamS_37v045sYHJGof4B5WiTBN4hPTgOyJCECsRGiSOr2KqKxDQkFP5UtBtHkTrnT-GLFx5lVec/s1600/Steller+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1575" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV5bTL70cTRoeJ6n7PcpkMNEv775KWRWLdtY7gmPGSptoHhrSX6sbe20SUcpEI3IKcamS_37v045sYHJGof4B5WiTBN4hPTgOyJCECsRGiSOr2KqKxDQkFP5UtBtHkTrnT-GLFx5lVec/s320/Steller+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Wick, Papa Westray.</td></tr>
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As we all silently scanned the north end of the loch, keeping our scopes still in the fierce wind was a huge challenge. It was due to these conditions that a very distant female <b>Goldeneye</b> got our hearts racing momentarily as it seemed to be sporting a bit of a stiff tail. Were we seeing things or was that tail just the tip of a wing as the bird preened? As we continued our search, a ringtail <b>Hen Harrier</b> effortlessly jinked past. It is always a privilege to see one of these magnificent birds of prey, especially in a wonderfully wild location such as this. To the east of us on the sea we picked out a few <b>Common Eider</b>, a trio of <b>Great Northern Diver</b> and small numbers of <b>Black Guillemot</b>.<br />
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At this stage <i>Jase</i> and I parted company with <i>Paul </i>and <i>Bart </i>as we decided to meticulously work the west side of the loch. The other two lads would head up to the coastal area around the airport and St Boniface Kirk, another of the bird's previously favoured locations. The conditions under foot were challenging to say the least. The huge amount of rain that had fallen over all parts of Britain over the past month seemed to have turned transformed every grassy field into a quagmire. We were up to our shins in mud for a lot of our hike around the loch's perimeter.<br />
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With just scattered groups of <b>Wigeon</b>, <b>Teal</b> and <b>Goldeneye</b> and smaller numbers of <b>Tufted Duck</b>, <b>Shoveler</b>, <b>Mallard</b>, <b>Gadwall</b> and <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b> we were confident that the target bird was not on the loch. This did not mean that it could not drop in for a feed or a bathe at any time of course. With this location covered we continued south-west and picked up the coastline south of Backaskaill. From here we made our way north keeping an eye along the shore and further out to sea. It was here that I saw my first pair of <b>Raven</b> of the trip, a bad omen for some but usually a sign of good fortune for me.<br />
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Healthy numbers of dabbing duck were encountered on Backaskaill Loch itself as well as around the thick kelp beds offshore. Our first <b>Moorhen</b> and <b>Coot</b> on the island were also seen here. Then, as I was scanning out to sea, a small, solitary, dark duck zipped past heading away from us. Due to the powerful winds I could not get enough on the bird to clinch the identification. I was willing it to land on the choppy water but unfortunately it just steamed on and disappeared around a distant headland. It was certainly worth following up. We continued north in slow, lumbering pursuit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd6gH5ArV-32fy2OWN3RpXBAsUJqs8g9UEq2vi2hyphenhyphenyfRtYWdQeI98B8UNsW-Lk5MFBdYDR1wux3BXnjoPgmW84-az7rS4uzbuioqt7gOEfd8KYZAwDpgR0O3fVVJ2AQfDZhTiiXfa0dc/s1600/Steller+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="1544" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd6gH5ArV-32fy2OWN3RpXBAsUJqs8g9UEq2vi2hyphenhyphenyfRtYWdQeI98B8UNsW-Lk5MFBdYDR1wux3BXnjoPgmW84-az7rS4uzbuioqt7gOEfd8KYZAwDpgR0O3fVVJ2AQfDZhTiiXfa0dc/s320/Steller+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knap of Howar, Papa Westray.</td></tr>
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As we continued on we stumbled upon the impressive Knap of Howar. Incredibly, this is just one of sixty important archaeological sites on this tiny island. These stone built dwellings are thought to be the oldest standing buildings in the whole of Northern Europe and date from approximately 3,600 BC. Only this wonderful hobby of ours would bring us into contact with such fascinating sites as a by-product of our efforts. From a birding perspective I could just imagine the Neolithic people of the island, struggling to work the land while the now extinct <b>Great Auk</b> fished offshore and <b>Fulmars</b> glided past throwing a curious eye their way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQPg-V-UIyzlib7_stf9iiQ02kUiYekWdkrue-bZOGpZ9xvoZ69NpXZXV2clUdMHw3RBS9qojsmdrL4jNxiNd0LZkd6QNmvbuwinuvHWjbfq8H_ykDobzzXGUurySUAc7InuburKfYt8/s1600/Steller+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1439" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQPg-V-UIyzlib7_stf9iiQ02kUiYekWdkrue-bZOGpZ9xvoZ69NpXZXV2clUdMHw3RBS9qojsmdrL4jNxiNd0LZkd6QNmvbuwinuvHWjbfq8H_ykDobzzXGUurySUAc7InuburKfYt8/s320/Steller+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last British pair of <b>Great Auks</b> were killed on Papay.</td></tr>
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As the late afternoon turned to early evening we reached the 8th Century church at St Boniface Kirk without relocating our mystery bird. A quick call to the other lads confirmed that they too had failed in their quest with an equal amount of effort expelled. As <i>Jase </i>sat viewing the bay to the north, I thought I might spend a few minutes tracking down my first Norse 'hogback' tombstone in the graveyard and check out the interior of this historic place of worship. As I sat quietly on one of the simple wooden benches I must admit to praying for a bit of divine intervention. We only had a few hours remaining on the island before our flight back to Kirkwall in the morning. We needed all the help we could get and I wasn't too proud to beg a little.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQrcoegAxIo4kpgFBHV1eKRNcnMS3Zn9X_hVZfyH-akT7HbBMyyjooijtFovGvgPbdOVRc7UAaHi2ZQ3ZgtFjgl7cJExQSmrjy86xXYddCmMTXa_hmy1AOYXIBfPggM_kvWKsbK9WvP4/s1600/Steller+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1280" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQrcoegAxIo4kpgFBHV1eKRNcnMS3Zn9X_hVZfyH-akT7HbBMyyjooijtFovGvgPbdOVRc7UAaHi2ZQ3ZgtFjgl7cJExQSmrjy86xXYddCmMTXa_hmy1AOYXIBfPggM_kvWKsbK9WvP4/s320/Steller+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <b>Fulmar </b>glides past at St Boniface Kirk.</td></tr>
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As we made our way back to the hostel, we were filthy, exhausted and ravenous. We had not eaten a morsel of food since our early breakfast. Going hungry would have been a small price to pay for seeing a <b>Steller's Eider</b> though. That's just the way us birder types roll. As a final kick in the gonads, the heavens opened as we hobbled south. We met up with the other pair and exchanged thoughts. We had another small window of opportunity tomorrow. We had no alternative but to dry ourselves out, grab some scram, have a good night of sleep and remain positive. We were not going to throw in the towel without a fight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BrA_K4hKccA3bKWVHZlQJtIQBUQACWtcaUzW1nOUEVEjYGz36QHAAeUIM8hnOIVKt_jVw8kNntozeeSR8v07IXCIevYVPLbO776Lo8wjnkHLY5udgKIlCV8o-nhf8jJdYaUYyXCdn1U/s1600/Steller+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1527" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BrA_K4hKccA3bKWVHZlQJtIQBUQACWtcaUzW1nOUEVEjYGz36QHAAeUIM8hnOIVKt_jVw8kNntozeeSR8v07IXCIevYVPLbO776Lo8wjnkHLY5udgKIlCV8o-nhf8jJdYaUYyXCdn1U/s320/Steller+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b>Great Auks</b> are long gone. The <b>Fulmars</b> remain.</td></tr>
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After a quick change of clothes and a brew, our most excellent host <i>Jennifer</i> agreed to head over to the hostel and open up the community shop especially for us. I was amazed at the choice of provisions on offer and there was even plenty of choice for an awkward vegan such as myself. As we all ate like Norse kings and knocked back a few drinks, we all agreed how remarkably lucky we were to be doing what we were. We had not found the eider but we vowed to head back up to Papay if the bird settled into a more reliable pattern later in the year. Yes, it was 'duck dip' number three of the trip but as the stars shone brightly above us and as <b>Oystercatchers</b> squabbled noisily in the dark, none of us were downhearted in the slightest.<br />
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Before heading to bed I asked one of my pals back home, what the chances of finding the bird in the morning were. She channeled all of her mystical, Irish gypsy energy and reached for her tarot cards. The first one she turned over was the '<i>Answered Prayer</i>' card. Even she was pretty taken aback by it. By drawing this card we had to be extra observant, take notice of our thoughts and take heed of our intuitive feelings. I dropped off to sleep with a broad grin on my face.<br />
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<u><b>Day Four - A 'Steller' Effort</b></u><br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnM7MB5_5vGEilt1ZE1O26GpWol5ock9i7kij4IUaBCke4iYsE29Msf7H78uAQtfWA4Z04TeOARSR6kAjbSlVQQjfkwGAOrqotk3f-Mm5IhzWWBfocun5PiB4JyTkUSvuBbwtgrTxSaQ/s1600/Steller+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnM7MB5_5vGEilt1ZE1O26GpWol5ock9i7kij4IUaBCke4iYsE29Msf7H78uAQtfWA4Z04TeOARSR6kAjbSlVQQjfkwGAOrqotk3f-Mm5IhzWWBfocun5PiB4JyTkUSvuBbwtgrTxSaQ/s320/Steller+18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First light on Papa Westray.</td></tr>
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Well rested, we were up and making our way towards Normandy at first light. After a brief discussion around tactics we decided we would stick together as one group for our remaining time on the island. We had about three hours of precious birding time before we needed to head back to the hostel, tidy our digs and drag ourselves up to the airport for the 11.31am flight back to Kirkwall.<br />
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It was decided that we would initially concentrate on the area around Backaskaill Loch and the coastline in that area. This was where I had seen a possible candidate for the <b>Steller's Eider</b> fly past the day before. It also had the highest concentration of wildfowl that we had encountered on the island. There were even greater numbers of birds than before, including increased numbers of <b>Wigeon</b>, <b>Shoveler</b> and <b>Teal</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpr4pctXAh-XTUysbs38jDkDa-zgqeHN7WVXsK9R5r9ZDXYVYA2DasCZQuiZOmanAXGWURt5T_lcvIRFPgmXrQwYFFav_Y_p_-hRTXd9nESNODyYx0jr9__w3jrV21snAV1o3bSud05I/s1600/Steller+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpr4pctXAh-XTUysbs38jDkDa-zgqeHN7WVXsK9R5r9ZDXYVYA2DasCZQuiZOmanAXGWURt5T_lcvIRFPgmXrQwYFFav_Y_p_-hRTXd9nESNODyYx0jr9__w3jrV21snAV1o3bSud05I/s320/Steller+19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jase</i> scans Backaskaill Loch.</td></tr>
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Once again we drew a blank but we remained positive, especially as the wind had dropped considerably and the sun was shining. It was truly glorious and it made searching everywhere so much easier than the day before. Satisfied that we had covered the area thoroughly we then retraced our steps back up to Normandy and made our way back down towards Loch of St Tredwell for the final throw of the dice. Instead of heading straight around to the extreme north-east corner, I beckoned the lads towards a track that <i>Jase</i> and I had ventured down before. Positioned at the northern tip of the loch this location afforded a reasonable view of the vast majority of the water surface.<br />
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Similar numbers of the same species were present this morning as there were yesterday. There did however seem to be a increase in the amount of <b>Goldeneye</b> using the loch to feed. As we all scoured the area from different vantage points I suddenly began to notice <i>Jase</i> acting slightly more animated than usual. I was in a position higher up the hill than he was, but I could see through my binoculars that he was gesturing us all towards him. As we squelched our way over the soggy field towards him I heard those words every desperate twitcher hopes to hear... "<i>Lads, I think I've got it</i>!".<br />
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Unfortunately the bird in question was continuously diving in a small area between us and the low morning sun. With <i>Jase's</i> instructions I was quickly locked onto the bird. Despite only seeing it in silhouette, the size, distinctive shape of the bill and flat crowned look all pointed towards it being the <b>Steller's Eider</b>. It then dived showing the arched wings as it threw itself forward. Fuck. It had to be the bird. No, it really was the fucking bird. You can imagine the scenes. Smiles. Laughter. Big bear hugs. More laughter. A surge of adrenaline rushed through every part of my body. We had done it.<br />
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Nearly a third of a century to the day, way back in 1987, <i>Jase</i>, along with a couple of other infamous West Midland birders had found the first <b>Lesser Scaup</b> for Britain and Europe. The unlikely location for that particular bird was Chasewater in Staffordshire. All these years on he had struck wildfowl gold once again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oLyIcUSvTRPSQqvxxU4fWt6PNn9aVS4UsAFFwi016pW8vRY_8wWmsjQeURlqVrVW0D297GUSAMlKDEwI2JgA8shIe0Lr0r9KFEUQ2FoUiIr4L__N5ir7CFem-Bnd52j2mgyi_Mb0U4I/s1600/Steller+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="511" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oLyIcUSvTRPSQqvxxU4fWt6PNn9aVS4UsAFFwi016pW8vRY_8wWmsjQeURlqVrVW0D297GUSAMlKDEwI2JgA8shIe0Lr0r9KFEUQ2FoUiIr4L__N5ir7CFem-Bnd52j2mgyi_Mb0U4I/s320/Steller+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Steller's Eider</b> (first-winter male) - Papa Westray.</td></tr>
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Not satisfied with the viewing conditions, we needed to head back up to the main road and make our way around to the north-east corner of the loch near South Wick. That way we would have the sun behind us for a while. We could appreciate a bit of feather detail and savour the improved views. After what seemed a lifetime, we all made it around to our original viewing position from the day before. There it was in all of its subtle glory, the first <b>Steller's Eider</b> in Britain for nearly twenty years.<br />
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Despite the distance, we could now make out the double wingbars either side of the dark speculum. These seemed rather more pronounced than in the initial photos of the bird from last year. It also showed a pale arc above the eye and the odd 'bumpy' looking bill shape was evident. Granted, this was not the most handsome of birds but to us it certainly felt like we were watching a full adult drake in all of its splendour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF-2MzZS6JD3UemuJ4bnWyuFOVKoucOGU0WP8PXmA2Ejks1vyd2c0SODX_Mm9HFDSgBV4OAb7m4a01ux3I6CNuZKMO4rdIlCP3cotgphY8MITRbsAidLy8dAmR1DXN5ywoMCf07-XpW0/s1600/Steller+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1514" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF-2MzZS6JD3UemuJ4bnWyuFOVKoucOGU0WP8PXmA2Ejks1vyd2c0SODX_Mm9HFDSgBV4OAb7m4a01ux3I6CNuZKMO4rdIlCP3cotgphY8MITRbsAidLy8dAmR1DXN5ywoMCf07-XpW0/s320/Steller+22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrate good times..... come on!</td></tr>
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The bird spent most of the time diving for food, mostly on its own. There were however a few <b>Goldeneye</b> feeding in the vicinity before a pair of <b>Common Eider</b> dropped in as a useful comparison. The smaller compact size, distinctive shape and darker coloration of the <b>Steller's Eider</b> alongside the female <b>Common Eider</b> were all very obvious indeed. At one stage the bird bathed and preened for a while showing us the stand out pale underwing.<br />
<br />
We studied the bird for over ninety minutes and attempted some rather poor record shots between us all. To be honest though we were not too bothered about obtaining any frame-fillers, we were just grateful with our scoped views of such a rare and elusive little beast. We had succeeded in our quest. Whether it was having the courage to go ahead with the trip, the hard graft, an element of luck or maybe a little help from the birding Gods, who knows? I do know one thing for certain though. I will definitely be reducing the amount of sinning I get up to in future. I will also be having a quiet word with Her/Him/Them upstairs a bit more often.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw05NkgEwIzlmyXUS_YM_w8g9rRqFPuz1jI445tZ_DagIej1lCfwarVBjehDGrpoqW3Tg6SQwjyW8a-xdP30dtc1x1WUpliG1E4Rtk8yJ13AnHDctRCHDu6S35uU6ufQgWgWMZ468ltSs/s1600/Steller+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw05NkgEwIzlmyXUS_YM_w8g9rRqFPuz1jI445tZ_DagIej1lCfwarVBjehDGrpoqW3Tg6SQwjyW8a-xdP30dtc1x1WUpliG1E4Rtk8yJ13AnHDctRCHDu6S35uU6ufQgWgWMZ468ltSs/s320/Steller+24.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b>Steller's Eider </b>location.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Before heading back up to the hostel we walked the short distance up to the northern section of South Wick. After a quick scan of the sea I managed to pick out a very distant <b>White-billed Diver</b> that had been resident in the area for a while. Other species included a trio of <b>Great Northern Diver</b>, a few more<b> Common Eider </b>and a scattering of <b>Black Guillemot</b>. With the clock ticking we had no choice but to return to the hostel and prepare for our flight back to Mainland Orkney.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0CVkBV2POvPxAv8P35G1POiaNNaOyndSVZtZ0QZ-HqmV2EMSnfTuj5OyZq7MC27b3Nc0F50DHwFoqEyUTD7mcIwZR_DT2ep9CDYCdWtxMZeF9VhJXgHwy0-uVWxqoyUKdCVilf1GJLY/s1600/Steller+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1189" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0CVkBV2POvPxAv8P35G1POiaNNaOyndSVZtZ0QZ-HqmV2EMSnfTuj5OyZq7MC27b3Nc0F50DHwFoqEyUTD7mcIwZR_DT2ep9CDYCdWtxMZeF9VhJXgHwy0-uVWxqoyUKdCVilf1GJLY/s320/Steller+25.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lucky pants!</td></tr>
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<br />
It was such a beautiful day on Papa Westray that it was hard to leave the island behind. <b>Skylarks</b> were in song around the airfield and a modest flock of <b>European</b> <b>Golden Plover</b> passed over, calling as they went. At 11.30am our plane arrived to pick us up on its way from North Ronaldsay to Kirkwall. Upon boarding the aircraft we found a cheerful looking couple occupying the front two seats. Coincidentally it was the original finders of the <b>Steller's Eider</b>, <i>Don</i> and <i>Sandra Otter</i>. As we flew low over Westray, <i>Don</i> pointed out Loch of Swartmill where they had found the bird on the 29th October 2019.<br />
<br />
Upon arrival back at Kirkwall airport we thanked <i>Don</i> and <i>Sandra</i> for providing such a quality rarity to coax us this far north. We also wished them the best of luck in locating future feathered gems. Maybe they could find us a <b>Spectacled Eider</b> one day or perhaps a <b>Redhead</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0dqBbD1WsWEBUdHBq6EfQP5tTJXmgkTuWhe9osIJEHWkKZmiwmYogAj9psADVzDIgX92P-MS9Uk3haUt-p830GeK-6VgXe8AJVHdxyjM012kBcmpfrR9M20ofGE-gsKJn5x4FKe0mVI/s1600/Steller+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0dqBbD1WsWEBUdHBq6EfQP5tTJXmgkTuWhe9osIJEHWkKZmiwmYogAj9psADVzDIgX92P-MS9Uk3haUt-p830GeK-6VgXe8AJVHdxyjM012kBcmpfrR9M20ofGE-gsKJn5x4FKe0mVI/s320/Steller+27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Rousay from Aikerness Burn.</td></tr>
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<br />
With a bit of time to spare before our ferry back to Scrabster we drove up towards Evie in the hope of meeting up with Orkney based artist <i>Tim Wootton</i> for a bit of birding off the Broch of Gurness. Unfortunately he was back at Kirkwall working in the gallery but he did provide us with some up-to-date bird information. Within a few minutes we were watching a flurry of 32 <b>Snow Buntings</b> without even leaving the car, one of which was a colour-ringed bird. Other species of note included both <b>Great Northern Diver</b> and <b>Red-throated Diver</b> as well as 8 <b>Slavonian Grebe</b>, with one sporting its fine summer plumage. There were also healthy numbers of <b>Black Guillemot </b>as we scanned the channel towards the island of Rousay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwtGc54wHgzwSfUU8RAER6epoZDAUnfPcVYKUWINIA9ud_LLN14BDrFe9EXm2wCk1Bhcm_s_EAL58DBznPS_qwRw5a6jtOpr3GS0c4Yr7NvOa2RPqXYtpimU5CXeEE7Gn-J5E2O-2no8/s1600/Steller+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1320" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwtGc54wHgzwSfUU8RAER6epoZDAUnfPcVYKUWINIA9ud_LLN14BDrFe9EXm2wCk1Bhcm_s_EAL58DBznPS_qwRw5a6jtOpr3GS0c4Yr7NvOa2RPqXYtpimU5CXeEE7Gn-J5E2O-2no8/s320/Steller+28.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ring of Brodgar.</td></tr>
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<br />
Before making our way south to Stromness we had just enough time to circumnavigate the standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar. As with a lot of the historical sites around Orkney, this incredible structure dates back to the late Neolithic period - between 4000 and 4500 years ago. It is thought that a henge such as this would be used as a meeting place for important ceremonies involving feasting and commemorating the dead. A new bird species was also added to our trip list when a <b>Stonechat</b> popped into view briefly.<br />
<br />
As we were waiting to board the <i>NorthLink</i> ferry back to mainland Scotland, I received a message from <i>Tim</i> to see if we were making our way back over to Kirkwall to meet him. He said that he had something to show us before we continued our journey south. As we had to get the car checked in and onto the boat, we did not have the time to make it over to the gallery and back. I was gutted. A few minutes later he sent me a picture of a strictly limited edition piece of artwork he had worked on for us. We were absolutely blown away by his generosity. What a great guy and what a wonderful souvenir of an epic trip none of us would ever forget.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUSckg_EuZ-plvJXcmbo8p4xr_O7rs8E4R83bXgHWyQCsHc3oH2XvzjYWlMo7nLV92nz3ftg1iUaEGA2iKEYj5fkR7d0YXuXAUvPVJBnUv5lRahMkquw-aleIDGfims4w1Z6qQqm2HhU/s1600/Steller+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUSckg_EuZ-plvJXcmbo8p4xr_O7rs8E4R83bXgHWyQCsHc3oH2XvzjYWlMo7nLV92nz3ftg1iUaEGA2iKEYj5fkR7d0YXuXAUvPVJBnUv5lRahMkquw-aleIDGfims4w1Z6qQqm2HhU/s320/Steller+29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <i>Tim Wootton</i> limited edition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you have enjoyed reading this post (or even if you haven't) and could spare a bit of loose change, both <i>Tim</i> and I would be grateful if you could make a donation to the <i>Royal National Lifeboat Institute</i>. This charity is always in need of funds to support their vital work around our treacherous coastlines. Those who volunteer for this organisation put their lives on the line during every call out. We really appreciate your support.<br />
<br />
To donate please click here: <a href="https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate" target="_blank">RNLI - Donate Now</a><br />
<br />
Thanks a million.<br />
<br />
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b>Steller's Eider</b> in <i>Great Britain</i></span></u><br />
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This Arctic species breeds along the coasts of Siberia and Alaska and is definitely a duck in danger. Recent estimates indicate a global population of just 110,000 to 125,000.00 birds, most of which are confined to the northern Pacific Ocean. The population has undergone a severe decline. As recently as the 1960's there was thought to be a total world population of around 400,000 to 500,000 individuals. The species is thought to be affected by the reduction in the Arctic ice pack. Other causes of decline include both legal and illegal hunting, the ingestion of lead shot and the impact of oil and gas installations. <br />
<br />
Britain's first <b>Steller's Eider</b>, a sub-adult drake, was shot at Caister, Norfolk on the 9th February 1830 by local gunner <i>George Barrow</i>. It was purchased by <i>Isaac Harvey</i>, a well known taxidermist at the time who mounted it. It was then sold on to the <i>Rev George Stewart</i>, the Rector of Caister. <i>Stewart's</i> collection was later gifted to the Castle Museum in Norwich where the specimen remains and is still in remarkably good condition for its age.<br />
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For further information on this and other rarities, please refer to the excellent book '<b>First for Britain and Ireland 1600-1999</b>' by <i>Philip Palmer</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAj5ZQrrfZ5GVD4pmhNOwW0xoG-eUq-UWyH_9bdSsqs8wkr74SN46IzpYikF2XHm3F8b9aIbl_U8Q4yd-Q13Y2vVLe0KZKMS9rRglH1A7AHz1BUY1SX7tvoZz8L-o77aPl7xfo1O1UEn0/s1600/Steller+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAj5ZQrrfZ5GVD4pmhNOwW0xoG-eUq-UWyH_9bdSsqs8wkr74SN46IzpYikF2XHm3F8b9aIbl_U8Q4yd-Q13Y2vVLe0KZKMS9rRglH1A7AHz1BUY1SX7tvoZz8L-o77aPl7xfo1O1UEn0/s320/Steller+31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Britain's first <b>Steller's Eider </b>from 1830.</td></tr>
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If accepted, the Westray and Papa Westray bird will become just the 16th record for Britain. A full list of all previous British records of <b>Steller's Eider</b> are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>2000</b> - <b>Moray</b> - Hopeman - female from 16th to 18th November.<br />
<b>1996</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Fetlar - wing only of a male found on the tideline on the 31st March.<br />
<b>1976</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - North Ronaldsay - female from 16th to 17th April.<br />
<b>1974</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - Westray & Papa Westray - male from 25th October 1974 to 1st July 1982.<br />
<b>1974</b> - <b>Western Isles</b> - Voran Island, South Uist - two females on the 13th April only.<br />
<b>1972</b> - <b>Western Isles</b> - Voran Island & Dremisdale - male from May 1972 until August 1984.<br />
<b>1971</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Fair Isle - female from 9th May to 13th June.<br />
<b>1970</b> - <b>Aberdeenshire</b> - Rattray Head - male on the 8th November only.<br />
<b>1959</b> - <b>Highland</b> - Loch Fleet - female or immature male on the 22nd September only.<br />
<b>1949</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - Deerness, Mainland - male on the 13th November only.<br />
<b>1947</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - Wide Firth, Gairsay - adult male & immature mate from 5th to 19th January.<br />
<b>1845</b> - <b>Yorkshire</b> - Filey Brigg - male shot on the 15th August.<br />
<b>1830</b> - <b>Norfolk</b> - Caister-on-Sea - sub-adult male shot on the 9th February (see above).</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4Papa Westray, Orkney KW17 2BU, UK59.3506882 -2.900358359.2859387 -3.0617198 59.4154377 -2.7389968000000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-19284722353268807252017-06-14T22:12:00.000+01:002017-07-01T21:44:18.129+01:00A colour-ringed GREAT WHITE EGRET in Warwickshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhExmk5gWo1RxN3lKJflaYDS-wsPTaQOswtGFEaWfAJVWDL0OaRKfcgPrPurQ1eR-BCY2oiXlCv5N6m8vk6NEfXGRGMGm8SDnjeyUJ1rJtbahTvaX6BJnp3_EU_Dbv1CoM-6dwR0kMdE/s1600/DSC_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhExmk5gWo1RxN3lKJflaYDS-wsPTaQOswtGFEaWfAJVWDL0OaRKfcgPrPurQ1eR-BCY2oiXlCv5N6m8vk6NEfXGRGMGm8SDnjeyUJ1rJtbahTvaX6BJnp3_EU_Dbv1CoM-6dwR0kMdE/s400/DSC_3374.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great White Egret </b>(colour-ringed) by <i><b>S Rose</b></i> (14/06/17).</td></tr>
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On the 14th June there was yet another sighting of a <b>Great White Egret</b> on my local patch at Alvecote Pools SSSI. Over recent years this species has became quite a regular visitor to the area following a huge range expansion on the Continent and recent breeding attempts in southern England. I never take these appearances for granted though and so I made my way down to check it out myself after work.<br />
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During early evening, <i>Simon Rose</i> and I found it roosting over on Upper Pool. Upon closer inspection of the bird through the scope I could see it was colour ringed. The combination was white (or cream) over yellow above the knee on the left leg and blue over red over metal above the knee on the right. The most likely colour ringing project to have involved this bird takes place at Lac de Grand-Lieu in northwest France. Apparently over forty individuals are processed there each year. I have submitted the sighting via <i>Euring</i> but I have yet to receive a response. I would be interested to know if anyone else out there has also spotted this individual elsewhere in Britain or beyond, so please do not hesitate to get in touch. <br />
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In addition to the <b>Great White Egret</b>, we also had a trio of <b>Avocet </b>feeding on Teal Pool nearby. Believe it or not this was both a site record count and only my second, third and fourth sighting of this species ever on the patch, following my first one<b> </b>on the very same pool last year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oP1bjwr1ahVUDmokSK9EPq28ldlvU5K_kt89y74IlXdeeeH-W2n5ECQv3HhC7zuixzZ_A4nS-D7IrDYQOaJy9Buqx9qBwJaxPX6CNckOLG111rqHiM5ZlW5rFQUxpVsYF2e-Emzv5JM/s1600/DSC_3311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oP1bjwr1ahVUDmokSK9EPq28ldlvU5K_kt89y74IlXdeeeH-W2n5ECQv3HhC7zuixzZ_A4nS-D7IrDYQOaJy9Buqx9qBwJaxPX6CNckOLG111rqHiM5ZlW5rFQUxpVsYF2e-Emzv5JM/s400/DSC_3311.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Avocets</b> - Teal Pool by <i><b>S Rose</b></i> (14/06/17).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>GREAT WHITE EGRET</b> at <i><b>Alvecote Pools </b></i>2000-2017</span><br />
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It is hard to believe that it has been over seventeen years since I found my first <b>Great White Egret</b> at Alvecote Pools. On the 21st May 2000 I spotted a bird in flight heading directly towards me as I searched for <b>Little Owl</b> at the top of Laundry Lane. It flew low overhead and across the River Anker before veering over towards Mill Pool. At the time, this was the first record for Staffordshire and only the third for Warwickshire following the first at Brandon Marsh in 1992 and another at Packwood House in 1995. Since this sighting we have been lucky to have had perhaps a dozen different birds drop in at Alvecote. All sightings are listed as follows:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_sKHckvoaK7CxR9eVptDQDRM20K-oqTJW2gj1WqPb26WQERPBd7DcE3mw4IkUuKIWEW6JYvBeuganMnMW9juOYrP8ggzKkOZJwHDjn0hCDHZrPGM2Fl_Hc2zfaV7SHaREXE6P7oyr4/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="604" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_sKHckvoaK7CxR9eVptDQDRM20K-oqTJW2gj1WqPb26WQERPBd7DcE3mw4IkUuKIWEW6JYvBeuganMnMW9juOYrP8ggzKkOZJwHDjn0hCDHZrPGM2Fl_Hc2zfaV7SHaREXE6P7oyr4/s400/IMG_3556.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great White Egret</b> by <i><b>A Archer</b></i> (25/12/09).</td></tr>
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<b>2000</b> - Alvecote Pools - Laundry Lane & Mill Pool - 1 x bird on 21st May 2000.<br />
<b>2009</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool & Upper Pool - 1 x bird from 23rd to 25th December (see photo above).<br />
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<b>2015</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool - 1 x bird from 19th November to 5th December on & off.</div>
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<b>2016</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool - 1 x bird on 9th April only.</div>
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<b>2016</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool - 1 x bird from 8th to 17th August on & off.</div>
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<b>2016</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool - 2 x birds from 18th September to 9th October on & off (see photo below).</div>
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<b>2016</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool & Upper Pool - 3 x birds from 10th October to 29th December on & off.</div>
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<b>2016</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool & Gilman's Pool - 2 x birds on 30th & 31st December.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool & Gilman's Pool - 2 x birds from 1st to 6th January on & off.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool - 1 x bird on 2nd February only.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool - 2 x birds on 1st April.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool & Gilman's Pool - 1 x bird from 7th to 19th April on & off.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - Alvecote Pools - Mill Pool & Upper Pool - 1 x colour-ringed bird on 14th June only. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great White Egret </b>by <i><b>A Archer</b></i> (09/10/16).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Alvecote, Tamworth B79, UK52.638445999999988 -1.634892000000036227.116411499999987 -42.943486000000036 78.160480499999991 39.673701999999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-87763908812779750602017-06-10T21:19:00.000+01:002020-03-13T14:02:06.908+00:00MEGA ALERT: The ELEGANT TERN in West Sussex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Elegant Tern</b> - Church Norton, Sussex.</td></tr>
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It had been a hell of a tough week. As a committed socialist I was finding it difficult on Friday to contemplate how 13.6 million deluded wank spangles could vote for an inept old crone and a party that encouraged the sale of parts of our precious NHS, that cut benefits for the disabled, ill and elderly and slashed the budgets of our already overstretched education system. From a concerned conservationist perspective this was also an evil collective who were considering a free vote to bring back fox hunting with hounds, who defy science to cull badgers and who continuously fail to prosecute most who persecute our native birds of prey. </div>
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To add insult to injury, as I battled against the election night fatigue of the previous day, the 'selfservatives' were even considering joining forces with the 'Democratic' Unionists in a desperate bid to form a majority government. I really do fear for the future of this planet at times. In the face of adversity and depression though, I seek solace in wildlife and in the company of my wonderful like-minded pals.</div>
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Somewhere along the south coast of England, an extremely rare bird and a species that is native to the Pacific Ocean did lurk. On Wednesday it had been spotted briefly, at high tide on Hayling Island in Hampshire and on this very Friday it had also made another tantalizing appearance in the area before flying off east. The species in question was a pure, adult male <b>Elegant Tern</b>, confirmed by multilocus barcoding of its DNA. This colour-ringed individual had been present in a <b>Sandwich Tern</b> colony in western France during the breeding seasons on and off since 2002.</div>
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Despite the negativity surrounding the election result and the odds of this bird being relocated being pretty low, I was determined to take a positive stance and give it my best shot. What better way of banishing the blues than spending the day on the coast, sat on a sandy beach scanning the sea for birds. Luckily for me, two other keen birders had similar ideas and during the early hours of Saturday morning, I pulled on my lucky boxer shorts, gathered my kit together and was joined by <i>Jules Allen</i> and <i>Jase Oliver</i> on an expedition south. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the 'lucky pants' you cannot dip!</td></tr>
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There was no better location to start our search than Hayling Island, east of Portsmouth. If the bird had been seen there twice already this week then there was always a chance it may return. With a small group of birders staking out Sandy Point near Eastoke and a few more keeping an eye on Fishery Creek nearby, we decided to check out the area around Hayling Island Sailing Club, just in case it was missed by either group.</div>
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With the sun blazing, we were all initially in very good spirits as we methodically scrutinised every distant tern and gull that passed by. There is always something to knock you off kilter though as a report of a <b>Red-necked Phalarope</b> came through from <i>Middleton Lakes RSPB</i>, just a few miles from where I live. Perhaps we had made the wrong decision after all. As the time elapsed and the tide rolled in, we found nothing except for the occasional <b>Sandwich Tern</b> and <b>Common Tern</b> popping into view. As we started to discuss our lunch options and our strategy for the afternoon, a 'mega alert' sounded. Each of us nervously fumbled around for our pagers and phones. The <b>Elegant Tern</b> had been spotted about fifteen miles further east near Pagham in the neighbouring County of West Sussex. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The short dash from Eastoke to Church Norton.</td></tr>
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With <i>Jules</i> using his best <i>Lewis Hamilton</i> moves to neutralise the threat from the dawdling Saturday afternoon motorists, we made pretty good progress over to the western side of Pagham Harbour. There was one major problem though, the bird had disappeared. Unfortunately terns have a habitat of doing just that. To make matters worse, we hit rural gridlock as we approached the tiny hamlet of Church Norton. After more U-turns than <i>Theresa May</i> though, we eventually located a quiet place to park and we calmly made our way to where the rarity had last been seen.</div>
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As we trundled and moped across to the view point I suddenly caught sight of the small line of birders. Seasoned twitchers can tell a mile off whether a rarity is showing, just by tuning into the general mood and behaviour of the distant crowd. Just one glance at the nervous shuffles and the purposeful gestures of this particular posse sent alarm bells ringing. The <b>Elegant Tern</b> had returned.</div>
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What followed was about fifteen minutes of shear agony. The rarity had apparently flew back in and landed out of view among the breeding <b>Sandwich Terns</b> on a tiny offshore island. I set up my scope, composed myself, took a few deep breaths and waited. I was reassured by the chap next to me that it was definitely still there. With the tension mounting I foolishly decided to check my phone. At that exact moment though the bird spiraled upwards briefly, only to return back to the safety of the colony within a few seconds. <i>Jules</i> and <i>Jase</i> had both seen the tern and were obviously ecstatic, I on the other hand had not.</div>
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After a further five minutes of mental torture though the bird took flight once again, but this time I was ready for it. After missing this species in Devon and dipping it in Gwynedd back in 2002, the pain of fifteen years rapidly dissipated into the balmy, coastal air.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Elegant Tern</b> - Church Norton, Sussex. </td></tr>
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For the next hour or so we enjoyed some pretty decent scope views as the <b>Elegant Tern</b> circumnavigated the seabird colony several times before dropping back down into the vegetation. At one point we could also see it holding its bright, yellowy-orange bill aloft as it displayed to the other terns nearby. On two other occasions it also flew off purposely towards the sea before it thought better of it and double-backed. On the third occasion though it continued out of the harbour, over the shingle ridge and disappeared from sight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The modest <b>Elegant Tern</b> twitch at Church Norton.</td></tr>
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After a prolonged period of hand-shaking, celebratory fist pumping and post-twitch socialising, our attentions then turned to the other bird species in the area. As well as the numerous <b>Sandwich Tern</b> and <b>Black-headed Gull</b> there were also smaller numbers of the diminutive <b>Little Tern</b> to enjoy, some of which spent their time fishing the nearby creek, down to just a few yards. We also counted around forty <b>Mediterranean Gull</b> in the vicinity along with a very interesting pair of <b>Peregrine</b>.<br />
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We had taken a bit of a gamble driving all the way down from the West Midlands, however on this occasion it had been well worth the effort. '<i>He who dares, wins</i>' and all that good stuff. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Tern</b> - Church Norton, Sussex. </td></tr>
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Our day of birding was not over though, not by a long shot. By 6.00pm that same evening, <i>Jules</i> had safely driven us the 180 miles back north and taken us to one of our local patches, <i>Middleton Lakes RSPB</i> reserve. Following the long stroll over to East Scrape, we were soon watching the aforementioned <b>Red-necked Phalarope </b>we had briefly agonised over earlier on in the day. This was the first twitchable bird in the Tame Valley for over 17 years and what a little stunner it was too.<br />
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It was while watching this gorgeous gem spinning around that a report of yet another local rarity came through. There was apparently a <b>Cattle Egret</b> within striking distance, down at the adjacent Kingsbury Water Park. After a brisk walk along the canal, we entered the hide and there it was, a handsome summer plumage <b>Cattle Egret</b> roosting low down on the opposite side of Otter Pool, sheltering from the early evening drizzle. This was only my second sighting of this range expanding species following a bird that had graced nearby Middeton Hall with its presence during April 2009.<br />
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Yet another '<b><i>Best Day with</i> <i>British Birds</i></b>' as the classic book goes.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cattle Egret </b>- Warwickshire by <i><b>A Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>ELEGANT TERN</b> in <b><i>Great Britain</i></b></span></div>
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This species has a very restricted breeding range, spanning less than a thousand kilometres along the Pacific coast from southern California to the Sea of Cortez in northwest Mexico. It has a relatively small breeding population, estimated to be in the region of just 30,000 breeding pairs, of which more than ninety percent are in a single colony on Isla Rasa, Mexico. It winters along the Pacific coast from southern Mexico to southern Chile but mainly south of the Equator. </div>
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So how is it that this species can occur so far outside its range? A plausible explanation is that the odd <b>Elegant Tern</b> could perhaps join <b>Cabot's Terns</b>, which they tend to mix with outside the breeding season and cross Central America to the Caribbean with them on their spring migration. Once on the Atlantic side of Central America they could then disperse within the North and South Atlantic and pair up with either <b>Cabot's Terns</b> or <b>Sandwich Terns</b> when the opportunities arise.</div>
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As all keen birders in Europe know all too well, there have been records of mixed pairs of <b>Elegant Tern</b> and <b>Sandwich Tern</b> in France for a number of years. Please view this excellent article entitled, '<b><a href="http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5856" target="_blank">Occurrence of multiple Elegant Terns confirmed in Western Europe</a></b>' courtesy of <i><b>Birdguides</b></i> that covers this phenomena superbly. Within the article you will also be able to read about the history of our <b>Elegant Tern</b> labelled 'bird C' that is currently gracing the south coast of England.</div>
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As it stands, this species is yet to be formally accepted onto the British List by <i>BOURC</i>, however with this pure <b>Elegant Tern</b> appearing, it will no doubt make their decision much easier in accepting both this particular individual along with other past records. These are listed in full as follows:</div>
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<b>2002</b> - <b>Devon</b> - Dawlish Warren - adult on 18th May, then 8th to 9th July & again 18th to 19th July.</div>
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<b>2002</b> - <b>Gwynedd</b> - Black Rock Sands & Porthmadog - adult from 24th to 26th July. </div>
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<b>2005</b> - <b>Dorset</b> - Christchurch Harbour and Hengistbury Head - adult on 10th May.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - <b>Hampshire</b> - Hayling Island - adult male - 7th & 9th June.</div>
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<b>2017</b> - <b>West Sussex</b> - Pagham Harbour, Church Norton - adult male - 10th to 17th June at least. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special thanks to my comrade <i><b>Jan Charteris</b></i> for the use of his photographs.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Church Norton, West Sussex.50.755883626175063 -0.7616615295410156250.745838126175066 -0.78183152954101565 50.76592912617506 -0.7414915295410156tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-15638750593078679202017-05-29T16:59:00.002+01:002017-06-11T22:15:11.851+01:00A Corncrake in North Warwickshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the afternoon of 27th May I received a text message from another Alvecote Pools 'patch worker' to say he had stumbled upon a <b>Corncrake</b>. One of his dogs had flushed a strange bird from cover briefly whilst he was taking a stroll around Teal Pool. Convinced he had found something unusual, he staked out the bird and to his credit remained on site until it called. It was the sound of a singing male <i>Crex crex</i>! Surely not?<br />
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Unfortunately at the time I was staking out a bird of my own, a marvelous singing <b>Marsh Warbler </b>at Lakenheath Fen RSPB in Suffolk. There was no way I was cutting short our weekend away in East Anglia so I messaged a few local birders to see if they would head down and check it out. Unfortunately due a fair share of alleged, spurious sightings in the area over the years, none of them could, or would visit the site and check out the claim. A few of the replies I received could not even be reproduced here for fear of an in depth investigation by the <i>Independent Press Standards Organisation</i>.<br />
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Then on the evening of Sunday 28th May, another fellow Alvecote regular, <i>Simon Rose</i> made the same discovery, completely independent of the previous sighting. On this occasion he decided to record some footage of the bird with his phone and sent it through to me via the wonders of social media. There was no doubting this time, there was a <b>Corncrake </b>on my patch, the first record for the site since 1978. Any thoughts of spending another night in Norfolk were dismissed and we quickly downed our fish supper and departed Hunstanton at about 8.30pm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View only from here. Thank you.</td></tr>
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It seemed a little strange nervously twitching a bird a few miles from where we live, at this distance, especially as it would be dark by the time I got there. I eventually arrived on site just after 11.00pm and upon opening the car door the bird could be heard instantly. I was absolutely thrilled. The bird called constantly and clearly just a short distance from the metal gate overlooking Teal Pool until I left just after midnight. I headed down again at 5.00am and after a brief wait, it recommenced its repetitive repertoire. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mega 'twitch' on Monday morning by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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The <b>Corncrake</b> could be found breeding in reasonable numbers throughout the lower Avon and Severn valleys of the southern West Midland Bird Club recording area up until the 1930's and 1940's. Unfortunately the species fell victim to agricultural changes when mechanised mowing of its favored habitat earlier in the year destroyed nests and young. The last confirmed breeding attempt occurred at Chesterton in south Warwickshire in 1969. Records in the region were more or less annual up until 1972, after which, sightings and calling birds began to become exceedingly rare. This Alvecote bird is only the ninth confirmed instance in the County of Warwickshire since this year. These are listed in full as follows:</div>
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<b>2017</b> - <b>Alvecote Pools</b> - singing male at Teal Pool - 27th May to 7th June.</div>
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<b>2005</b> - <b>Kites Hardwick</b> area - one bird flushed several times whilst mowing set-aside - 25th to 26th August.</div>
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<b>2000</b> - <b>Clifford Chambers</b> area - one bird flushed several times whilst harvesting - first week of September (no date).</div>
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<b>1994</b> - <b>Packington</b> - one bird heard by local gamekeeper - 8th to 9th July.</div>
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<b>1988</b> - <b>Packington</b> - one bird flushed by local gamekeeper - 15th September.</div>
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<b>1978</b> - <b>Alvecote Pools</b> area - one bird heard - 9th May.</div>
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<b>1978</b> - <b>Newbold Comyn</b> - one bird seen & heard - 25th June, 30th August & 24th to 25th September.</div>
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<b>1976</b> - <b>Bodymoor Heath</b> - one bird flushed - 8th September.</div>
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<b>1972</b> - <b>Southam</b> - one bird calling for several days during the Spring (no date). </div>
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<u><b>Viewing Instructions:</b></u> Please park sensibly along the west side of Polesworth Lane (incorrectly labeled as Polesworth Road on <i>Google</i> Maps) only and do not block any gates with vehicles. There is no public access to this sensitive site without prior permission from the owner therefore do not enter the fields. The bird is audible from the metal gate at the southern end of Polesworth Lane (see map above). It has only been seen briefly in flight on a couple of occasions but it is still a real treat just to hear it sing, sometimes at very close range.</div>
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Thank you all for your cooperation.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-25960948613324246032017-05-14T22:13:00.000+01:002017-05-29T17:10:09.780+01:00MEGA ALERT: The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD on Orkney<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> - Orkney by <i><b>Steve Nuttall</b></i>.</td></tr>
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It was the afternoon of Saturday 29th April. I had been searching for Spring migrants down at my local patch in North Warwickshire and was enjoying the mellifluous sound of my first <b>Garden Warbler</b> of the year. For some reason I was not in possession of the pager, but as I was logging the sighting on the phone I noticed an unread text message from the lads at <i>RBA</i>. They had foolishly issued a 'mega alert' in respect of a female <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> up on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Usually such a text would have thrown me into a blind panic but on this occasion I just shook my head, chuckled to myself and carried on birding at the shear, comedic value of such a farce. I knew for a fact that all historic records of this species in Britain had been considered escaped cage birds.</div>
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As the days rolled by though and with an array of top listers, teeny tickers and paranoid insurance twitchers chartering small planes and booking scheduled flights, this little, nearctic b*stard of a bird started to stick in my craw. Could a wild example of this species make it all the way to our shores at this time of year? Yes, of course it could. Just like the <b>Hermit Thrush</b> that had made a remarkable appearance on Noss, Shetland just ten days before this bird had been found.</div>
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Later in the week I was offered at place with <i>Sean Cole </i>on a 'luxury cruise' out of Kirkwall to see the bird the following Saturday. Alas I had to decline his kind offer though due to family commitments. I had promised my darling, teenage daughter I would accompany her to a crucial promenade dance, dress fitting session. A prom and a <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b>. From one overpriced, American influenced sham to another. Actually, for what the gem encrusted gown cost I could have hired an helicopter and flew to Orkney. Then again she did look very beautiful indeed all dressed up like a little lady. Sometimes in life there are occasions that are way more important than any bird..... just sometimes!</div>
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With <i>Sean's</i> trip proving a resounding success and a fifth less costly than a charter flight, <i>Phil Andrews</i> and I seriously suggested having a punt the following weekend. The main issue though was the weather. It was looking far from ideal for a long journey through some treacherous seas in nothing more than a rigid inflatable. Undeterred though, I eventually managed to gather a crew of six other desperate souls to commit themselves to our Orcadian adventure. A plan was put in place and there would be no turning back, or would there? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supplies for the trip, including my lucky undercrackers!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As predicted, the adverse weather forecast scuppered our plans for a Saturday trip, with the skipper notifying us on Friday night that it would be way too dangerous to make the attempt. He did however confirm that a Sunday morning sailing looked to be possible. I checked with the rest of the party and everyone was still up for it, despite us not being due to arrive back in the West Midlands until 'wake up for work time' on Monday morning.<br />
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On Saturday evening our particular party of four, consisting of me, <i>Phil Andrews</i>, <i>Jase Oliver </i>and <i>Steve Nuttall</i> left Belvide Reservoir to embark on the long journey north. As always, there was plenty of banter along the way, in fact so much that at one stage my car actually became offended and scolded one of the passengers for using industrial language in her presence. This modern technology is pretty frightening at times but it did make us all laugh. Just before the Scottish border we met up with the other gentlemen who would be joining us, <i>Mike Doughty</i>, a fellow Warwickshire lad, <i>Steve McCann</i> from South Yorkshire, <i>Graham Megson</i> from County Durham and <i>Terry Stopher</i> from Suffolk.<br />
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We would not meet up again until we pulled into a lay-by just south of Berriedale in the Highlands at around 6.00am. Here we spotted our first birds of the day, a <b>Red Grouse</b> up on a small patch of coastal moorland, a calling <b>Cuckoo</b> and a couple of singing <b>Willow Warbler</b>. As we continued north we also flushed a <b>Long-eared Owl </b>as it perched up at the roadside in the village of Berriedale itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John O'Groats harbour, Highland by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Less than a hour later and we finally pitched up within the pretty under whelming surroundings of the famous village of John O' Groats. I had only visited the site once before, during September 2009 to see another American vagrant, a <b>Sandhill Crane</b>, just over the water on South Ronaldsay. After a brief nap it was time to grab our gear, change into our waterproofs and see what birds we could find. It was soon evident that there were pretty good numbers of <b>Great Skua </b>heading east with at least forty birds gliding by in just over half hour. In addition we also had a trio of dark phase <b>Arctic Skua</b>, a winter plumage <b>Red-throated Diver</b>, modest numbers of <b>Kittiwake</b> and a single <b>Sandwich Tern</b>. Around the harbour we also enjoyed mainland Britain's most northerly colony of <b>Sand Martin</b>, a couple of <b>Hooded Crow</b> and a confiding pair of <b>Twite</b>.<br />
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It was while were watching these diminutive finches that the news we had been hoping for finally filtered through. I received a text from the Bird Observatory on North Ronaldsay to say the <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> was still present. So far so good. I tried to forget the fact that this species is a diurnal migrant though and could quite easily to a bunk at any time. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>MV Pentland Venture</i> at John O' Groats <i>harbour</i>. </td></tr>
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At 8.45am we boarded our first vessel of the day, the trusty <i>MV Pentland Venture</i> that would transport us to Burwick on South Ronaldsay. During this forty-five minute crossing rafts of auk were encountered with good numbers of both <b>Guillemot </b>and <b>Razorbill</b>, about a dozen <b>Puffin</b> and a few <b>Black Guillemot</b>. We also enjoyed a small group of <b>Arctic Tern</b>, a few <b>Gannet</b> and <b>Fulmar</b> as well as a single <b>Manx Shearwater</b>. It was already turning out to be a pretty good day for birding. </div>
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At 9.30am we had finally touched down on Orkney but we still had a hell of a way to go. Luckily <i>Mike 'Dog' Doughty</i> had managed to charm his way into the affections of the lovely old gal in the ferry booking office back at John O' Groats. As a result, she had arranged for an eight seat minibus to meet us at Burwick and transport us north to Kirkwall, all for bargain sum of £2.00 each return. Unfortunately, there was no sign of last weeks <b>White-billed Diver</b> as we whizzed past St Margaret's Hope but the rusty wreckage of the sunken warships off the Churchill Barriers are always a sight to behold.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boat can do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs!</td></tr>
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In Kirwall harbour it was now time to embark on our fourth stage of the trip via the <i>Millenium Falcon</i> of Orcadian waters, the 'Agricola' (meaning 'farmer' in Spanish). As we all eagerly climbed aboard our charter boat, there was a sense of high excitement throughout the modest craft. After packing our scopes and bags away in the small hold it was time to don our life jackets for the bumpy crossing ahead. Unfortunately this took us longer than expected which is unsurprising really as a fair proportion of us reside in an area of Britain as far as you can get from the ocean. Our nautical experience is pretty limited and this showed as one of our party foolishly yanked at a toggle he should not have done, igniting a gas canister which in turn blew up his safety device in an instant. It was all rather embarrassing for the individual concerned.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess who pulled the wrong toggle?</td></tr>
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After the laughter and the pointing had subsided, the skipper, with a shake of his head, finally decided to depart. As we sped past Shapinsay we encountered a large flock of around forty <b>Long-tailed Duck</b>. Between Rousay and Eday we had brief glimpses of both <b>Black-throated Diver</b> and <b>Great Northern Diver</b> as well as the usual auk species. It was then on through the North Sound with Westray to the west and Sanday to the east. As we passed through some strong currents and down a few high troughs it did start to get a little scary but with <i>Graham </i>at the wheel we knew we were in capable hands. After a ninety minute, white knuckle ride we had finally reached our destination, North Ronaldsay. After a tricky mooring we eventually landed safely on the southern tip of the island and made our way to the famous <a href="http://www.nrbo.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bird Observatory</a>, just a short brisk walk away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scanning the iris beds at Garso, North Ronaldsay.</td></tr>
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We had prearranged a lift with the observatory staff up to Garso towards the north of the island in their battered old Land Rover and after ten minutes or so we had arrived at the bird's favorite feeding area. This consisted of a modest patch of wetland habitat with a number of iris beds bordered by a dry stone wall on one side and the road on the other.<br />
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In nervous anticipation all eight of us set up our scopes along the road as our driver stepped carefully among the vegetation to gently coax the bird into view. It was sheer agony as every step she took failed to prompt the rarity out of cover. After around ten to fifteen minutes and with all the habitat covered there was no sign of the bird. We only had two hours on the island before we needed to make our way back. We were becoming desperate.<br />
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Then suddenly, a call came out from <i>Graham Megson</i>, 'There it is on the far wall!'. It had probably been there all along watching us from its vantage point atop a pile of rubble along a grassy bank. There it was, potentially the first acceptable record of <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b>, not just for Britain but for the whole of Europe. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> - Orkney by <i><b>Steve Nuttall</b></i>.</td></tr>
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The rarity sat peering around completely comfortable in its temporary surroundings for about ten minutes before flying across us and dropping down into the irises. About ten minutes later it appeared once more perched up on a post where it again provided us all with some great views. It then performed tremendously well on and off for the next ninety minutes or so, perched up calling from the wires overhead, on top of various walls either side of the road and occasionally on a collection of gas bottles in the backyard of one lucky islander. It was this particular area where it enjoyed drying off and having a preen before heading off to feed again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> - North Ronaldsay, Orkney. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above photos kindly provided by <i><b>Chris Bromley</b></i>.</td></tr>
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During the brief periods it spent out of view, we had the chance to congratulate each other on our success, grab a quick bite to eat and celebrate with a wee dram of single malt whiskey. As you would expect on such a wildlife friendly island there were also plenty of other birds to enjoy in the area. The calls of nesting <b>Common Gull</b> and <b>Curlew</b> filled the air, interspersed with 'pee-witting' <b>Lapwing</b> and the evocative sound of drumming <b>Snipe</b>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebratory selfie: <i><b>Oliver</b></i>,<i><b> Nuttall</b></i>, <i><b>Archer</b></i>, <i><b>Andrews</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Pride of Perthshire' among the buttercups & irises.</td></tr>
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In addition to the gulls and waders there were also plenty of <b>Greylag Geese </b>and <b>Arctic Tern</b> along with the odd <b>Shelduck</b>, <b>Great Skua</b> and <b>Wigeon</b>. Over the nearby loch, a mixed feeding flock of hirundine dashed around, consisting mostly of <b>Swallow</b> but with also small numbers of <b>House Martin</b> and a single <b>Sand Martin</b>. The surrounding fields contained around a dozen <b>Northern Wheater</b> along with several pairs of <b>Meadow Pipit </b>and <b>Linnet</b>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> - Orkney by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>. </td></tr>
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As the rest of the party slowly made their way up the road to meet up with our lift back, <i>Steve Nuttall</i> and I struggled to tear ourselves away. After such a long journey, I guess we just wanted to soak up every single moment of the occasion. As we hesitated, the <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> flew across us once again and eventually made its way over to the gas bottles for one final encore. Little did we know, as she sat there conditioning her plumage, this would be the last time the bird would be seen. If we had, I reckon we would have lingered just a short while longer. There is a chance this species may never be recorded in Britain ever again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All aboard the Land Rover. Next stop, Nouster.</td></tr>
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After squeezing into the cab and spilling over the back of the Land Rover, we headed back down to Nouster for our return sailing back to Kirkwall. After chucking a few quid into the collection bucket and thanking our helpful chauffeur, we had a quick scan of the bay. The most numerous species feeding among the seaweed was <b>Turnstone</b>, with fifty or so mostly summer plumage individuals picking their way methodically along the beach. There were also good numbers of <b>Sanderling</b>, a small group of <b>Dunlin</b> and at least six <b>Purple Sandpiper</b>. It had been a memorable few hours on one of Britain's most remote and wonderful islands.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> sighting duly plotted!</td></tr>
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We arrived back in Kirkwall at around 4.00pm. With no sign of the <b>White-billed Diver</b> on South Ronaldsay since earlier in the week, we decided to spend thirty minutes checking the small body of water known as Peedie Sea just a short walk from the quay. A <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b> had been frequenting the area on and off for the past couple of days so it was well worth a punt. Unfortunately there was no sign of it despite a few of the more usual <b>Swallow</b> feeding over the pools. The highlight at this site though was undoubtedly the small groups of <b>Long-tailed Duck</b>, some of which loafed just a few yards from the shoreline. Other species included <b>Mallard</b> and <b>Tufted Duck</b>, the usual gulls, a pair of <b>Common Tern</b> and a fly over <b>Whimbrel</b>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long-tailed Ducks</b> - Peedie Sea, Kirkwall, Orkney.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above photos kindly provided by <i><b>Steve Nuttall</b></i>. </td></tr>
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With the arrival of our minibus it was time to head down to Burwick for the ferry back to John O' Groats. At this stage the weather was glorious as we sailed back to Caithness through the bubbling waters of Pentland Firth. The tidal races of this particular strait are among the fastest in the world and are an impressive sight to witness. Viewing the waters and the bird life feeding here is worth the price of the crossing alone.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burwick and the Pentland Firth by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Now for the tough bit. To get home we were faced with a further 550 miles of road from John O' Groats back to the West Midlands. To complicate matters we were understandably exhausted, hungry and thirsty. The first leg of the journey back to Inverness was pretty easy for me to drive though, with the rugged scenery of the Highlands to the west and the deep blue of the North Sea to the east, spurring me on. After several false alarms at Wick and Brora we finally found a chippy that was open at Golspie. The mood at that point was nearly as joyous as when the <b>Red-winged Blackbird</b> had first appeared. We ordered our freshly cooked meals and sat along the coastal path demolishing them. It had been a pretty epic trip and yet another one to look back on in years to come with smiles on our faces. Life is all about making memories such as these.<br />
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The rest of the journey went pretty well and the birding continued right up until we approached Loch Moy when a male <b>Ring Ouzel</b> flew over the busy A9 and perched in the hard shoulder briefly. After a few brief stops for fuel and to stretch our legs, we finally arrived back at Belvide Reservoir at around 4.30am on Monday morning. A few hours later at this site, the American theme would continue when <i>Steve Nuttall </i>found a summer plumage <b>Spotted Sandpiper</b>, remarkably his third one on his patch. I on the other had to grab a couple of hours sleep before logging on and working from home.<br />
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All in, the trip cost us £119.00 each including fuel, the return ferry to Orkney and the charter boat to North Ronaldsay and back. I realise some of you may think that is a whole lot of cash to spend on a bird that may well be banished to Category D, or even E of the British List but to me it was money well spent.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2North Ronaldsay, Orkney, UK.59.383200383713287 -2.405138689843738659.318480383713286 -2.5665001898437385 59.447920383713289 -2.2437771898437386tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-25694064009421317412016-10-14T19:18:00.000+01:002017-05-20T23:13:14.685+01:00MEGA ALERT: The SIBERIAN ACCENTOR in East Yorkshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is very much a long, drawn out saga folks but please bear with me. I am no literary genius but hopefully I can convey a little of what I, and no doubt many other keen birders around the British Isles have felt and experienced over the past week or so.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siberian Accentor</b> - Easington by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>.</td></tr>
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What was probably my most stressful week in birding commenced on the afternoon of Sunday 9th October. I was faffing away in the yard, pondering whether to cut the the lawn, when I heard the pager wailing away from the kitchen. I threw the gardening gloves to one side and darted into the house to find <i>Nadia</i> stood there with a look of genuine concern plastered all over her lovely, little face. As she presented me with the troublesome device, the information facing me did not actually come as any great surprise. The inevitable had occurred. Following a mini influx into northwest Europe, a <b>Siberian Accentor </b>had finally made it across to Britain. This was the first record of this long anticipated and most sought after Siberian species into our region.<br />
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Almost instantly I came to terms with the fact that I would not be able to see this 'British Bird of the Century'. I was faced with a hectic working week and to make it even more difficult, the bird in question had made landfall on Shetland. It was all rather inconvenient. My thoughts then turned to my pals who were actually on the isles as part their annual trip, a trip that ordinarily I would also been a part of. Needless to say all those lucky lads enjoyed fantastic views of the bird that afternoon as it scuttled around a small abandoned quarry near Scousburgh, on South Mainland. I was thrilled for them all and also relieved they were not stuck up on Unst, just that little bit too far out of reach when the fateful news broke. Now that would have been one crazy drive south for <i>Jase</i>. To be honest, I never really suffer from 'bird envy' but this all felt a little different. This was perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this species in Britain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The jubilant Scousburgh quarrymen!' by <i><b>Jase Oliver</b></i>.</td></tr>
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A quick glance at the weather forecast for the Northern Isles that evening showed a clear, starry night. That, combined with the fact the bird had been frequenting less than ideal habitat on the top of a hill, did not bode well for it remaining in place for a second day. I was wrong of course. On Monday morning, news eventually filtered through that the bird was still present. I quickly made contact with a few local lads, one of which was on a scheduled early morning flight from Aberdeen and another who had buckled and snaffled a place on a charter flight. I wished them the best of luck and attempted to focus my efforts on the grueling work schedule ahead.<br />
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As the day progressed, the pain and suffering got gradually worse. It is hard to express to the 'non-twitcher' why we feel the way we do when a bird of such magnitude is out of reach. Personally I know I am pretty impossible to be around. I become terribly grouchy, irritable and snappy. As the stress levels increase, my concentration levels reduce and I find it difficult to keep still. The worst symptom though is the wild churning in the pit of your stomach. I estimate that it is perhaps 387% worse than the most gut-wrenching, chum-packed, pelagic trip you will ever embark upon. You try hard to put the whole ridiculous situation into some sort of perspective and cast your mind back to past glories of stunning bird species and memorable trips you have been lucky to be part of. The problem is, that inaccessible rarity will always be there, niggling away at the back of your dark, haggard, little mind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrSlnMciRg6dKJ5RelU4MwquhQn4iGU6XMqYmBUcmRrqU_pqtXe6uPcMo_WpGARdFS7JWnl5TSwdr0AMbX6haBXFgjUiYSfj4cKcHiBeb8AjiXEPn3cG-bNNuY_07BSRlEF2NBIAw8aw/s1600/image1%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrSlnMciRg6dKJ5RelU4MwquhQn4iGU6XMqYmBUcmRrqU_pqtXe6uPcMo_WpGARdFS7JWnl5TSwdr0AMbX6haBXFgjUiYSfj4cKcHiBeb8AjiXEPn3cG-bNNuY_07BSRlEF2NBIAw8aw/s400/image1%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siberian Accentor</b> - Scousburgh by <i><b>Tony Barter</b>.</i></td></tr>
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<br />
When you are reduced to this worrying state, you inevitably become desperate. At around lunchtime a tempting message appeared on the pager offering the final seat on a charter flight the following morning. It was a telephone number I recognised as the 'sideburned satanist' himself, <i>Dave Mack</i>. Within seconds I was discussing the logistics of the potential trip with him and promptly secured my place. Whilst I have never indulged in such an outrageous act of aviform based extravagance before, I have never completely ruled out a bout of so-called 'cheque book birding', if required. I always said that if a <b>Northern Hawk-owl</b> turned up at some far flung corner of the British Isles, I would have no hesitation in raiding my nan's building society account and eagerly handing over the required readies to some greedy pilot. In my opinion, a <b>Siberian Accentor </b>was up there in the rankings with such an iconic species as <i>Surnia ulula</i>.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUOnLiYQJv9ppO6JqFmqmqVZCmbDtrtiQkFiOZzz6qp7ltijHTvzV1S20g3dNI5dcz2CSBEwpZkKrn94NSCFJw7Hv1HdnyVU9RXi2Yws94HXWaxAuu1tLdckLsiNGxpz19zx6lqat9MM/s1600/IMG_8708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUOnLiYQJv9ppO6JqFmqmqVZCmbDtrtiQkFiOZzz6qp7ltijHTvzV1S20g3dNI5dcz2CSBEwpZkKrn94NSCFJw7Hv1HdnyVU9RXi2Yws94HXWaxAuu1tLdckLsiNGxpz19zx6lqat9MM/s400/IMG_8708.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siberian Accentor</b> - Scousburgh by <i><b>Steve Nuttall</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<br />
The next step was to secure a whole day off work. As I had recently received a promotion with a whole load of additional responsibilities I knew that I was really pushing my luck. "<i>You are f*@%ing joking aren't you</i>!?!" came the response from my usually relaxed and highly accommodating, twitch-friendly gaffer. After a few minutes of negotiation and promises to work my fingers to the bone over the coming weeks, he eventually granted me the permission I was hoping for. Just as I hung up the phone, the 'mega alert' sounded once more. A <b>Black-faced Bunting</b> had been found, and surprise, surprise, it was on Shetland, this time on the island of Bressay. As for the <b>Siberian Accentor</b>, well that continued to show well throughout the day, however there were concerning reports that it had become quite mobile as the day progressed.<br />
<br />
It was now early Tuesday morning and I found myself heading north into Yorkshire. After a quick detour to Potterick Carr to pick up <i>Dave</i>, we were on our way to a small private airfield near York, our pockets bursting with wads of unused twenty pound notes. On site, at the dark, damp village of Full Sutton we met up with <i>RBA</i> bird news operative <i>Will Soar </i>and another couple to complete the passenger list. This village is more infamous for housing deranged serial killers such as <i>Dennis Nilsen</i> at its maximum security prison than it is for acting as a base to assist mentally defective twitchers to fly from one end of the country to another.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtUNuSs7wyoAXdMjV350x8OHbMCGUf1xUhLTpotF3a293UKrGqOcf-MNV3hx30ftccVXy8xhi8VcsVwz74-kCqBgu_FrtgHAXo_q5DrM7xubFSo-uSLn7emjuCARylvji3Zi0ts2Bzpg/s1600/IMG_8629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtUNuSs7wyoAXdMjV350x8OHbMCGUf1xUhLTpotF3a293UKrGqOcf-MNV3hx30ftccVXy8xhi8VcsVwz74-kCqBgu_FrtgHAXo_q5DrM7xubFSo-uSLn7emjuCARylvji3Zi0ts2Bzpg/s400/IMG_8629.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Waiting for news on the Shetland bird!' by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<br />
As we nervously awaited the gloom of an autumn dawn to lift, the lack of positive news was excruciating. I paced around our 'executive departure lounge' praying that the bird would see fit to hang on for just one more day. As the minutes ticked by though I could not help but think about those clear overnight weather conditions and how the bird had become restless during the previous day. It was not too long before we were put out of our misery, the bird had indeed departed. We were truly gutted.<br />
<br />
Our attention then focused on the possibility of using this opportunity to twitch the <b>Black-faced Bunting</b> as a consolation prize. After careful consideration I decided to vote against it bearing in mind the bird had been pretty elusive as it fed within the dense cover of a crop field. Despite its undoubted rarity status I did not even consider this species to be in the same league as the <b>Siberian Accentor</b>.<br />
<br />
As a birding alternative, <i>Dave</i> and I decided to head east and attempt to find our own eastern vagrant at Flamborough Head. Our first search concentrated around Old Fall Hedge and the Plantation. Despite numerous <b>Chiffchaff</b> and <b>Goldcrest</b> flitting around the best we could do was a single <b>Common Redstart</b> and a few <b>Brambling</b>. We then headed down to the lighthouse area where we failed to see the reported <b>Olive-backed Pipit</b> with <i>Brett Richards</i>. It was still great to see good numbers of <b>Redwing</b> freshly arriving and streaming inland though. Our final location for the day was South Landing where we heard an elusive <b>Yellow-browed Warbler </b>calling away. Whilst peering down into the ravine my imagination ran away with me as I fantasized about another <b>Siberian Accentor</b> picking its way methodically along the stream there. I had a funny feeling another would appear this autumn, somewhere along the east coast and once again I would have to pull out all the stops in order to see it.<br />
<br />
Whilst Wednesday was spent in the office busily catching up with outstanding tasks, Thursday would be more relaxed but way more physically demanding. As part of my employers commitment to helping our local communities I had been granted time off to volunteer at our local <i>RSPB</i> reserve at Middleton Lakes. Along with a few more work colleagues we de-thatched a grassy embankment for the benefit of <b>Common Blue</b> butterflies and cleared a fairly large area of willow scrub to attract more breeding pairs of <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b>. By mid-afternoon we had completed our tasks. I was filthy, sweaty, dehydrated and pretty exhausted, however it was just the medicine I needed to smooth away the mental stresses and strains of the previous few days.<br />
<br />
As we took a stroll around reserve pointing out <b>Lapwing </b>and <b>Snipe</b> to our accompanying city folk, the pager emitted that dreaded wail once again. As I retrieved it from my pocket and took a glimpse of the screen I was practically knocked off my muddy feet. Unable to speak, I automatically stretched out my arm and presented the news to reserve warden and dear friend <i>Katie Thorpe</i>. I remember asking her "What time does it get dark nowadays?", "Errrrr it will probably be too dark for birding at around seven." she replied. It was a miracle, another <b>Siberian Accentor</b> had been found at Easington in East Yorkshire. Had the birding Gods rewarded me for my few hours of conservation work or was it because I was wearing my lucky <i>Spurn Bird Obs</i> hoodie? By the time I had ran back to the car park it was 3.30pm. I had just three hours to make the 180 mile journey to Easington in rush hour traffic. The odds were stacked well and truly against me but I just had to take a punt. <br />
<br />
I had only visited the mighty Spurn area the previous Saturday to witness the spectacle of autumn migration. That day, thousands of thrushes including <b>Redwing</b>, <b>Fieldfare</b>, <b>Blackbird</b> and <b>Continental Song Thrush</b> were very much in evidence along with the odd <b>Ring Ouzel</b>. Huge numbers of migrating <b>Robin</b> from the continent were also present along with hundreds of <b>Goldcrest</b>. Other crowd pleasers included <b>Woodcock</b>, <b>Jack Snipe</b> and <b>Short-eared Owl</b>. On the scarcity front we managed to pick up a couple of <b>Red-breasted Flycatcher</b> and single <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b>. The undoubted highlights however were a <b>Rustic Bunting</b> at Church Fields, Kilnsea and a rather obliging <b>Olive-backed Pipit</b> at Easington Gas Works. It was near this location where England's first ever <b>Siberian Accentor</b> had been found by <i>Lance Degnan</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSFOOgXlt_7S9pmcUO0Lt_Rvca4b0joBbMaNU4y9RALMS2yTdopSlOg2HoqxDspLJC8TZurTHX9cqBR4rRW1UlOaRy1EDJIvOYQX91DztXtt1NzXLSROLTkfjAsvsP9x6UAOZclsryPI/s1600/IMG_8707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSFOOgXlt_7S9pmcUO0Lt_Rvca4b0joBbMaNU4y9RALMS2yTdopSlOg2HoqxDspLJC8TZurTHX9cqBR4rRW1UlOaRy1EDJIvOYQX91DztXtt1NzXLSROLTkfjAsvsP9x6UAOZclsryPI/s400/IMG_8707.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Olive-backed Pipit </b>- Easington<b> </b>by <i><b>Steve Routledge</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<br />
Initially I made good progress north despite a few heavy rain showers, the infuriating middle lane hoggers and the odd speed restriction. As I approached Hull though, it all started to get pretty grim. There was heavy traffic congestion around the city and to make matters worse the light and the weather were beginning to deteriorate. After what seemed like a lifetime I eventually made my way through and continued east along the north shore of the River Humber. Just I was feeling positive though, a message came through to say the bird had flown off and had been lost to view. My heart sank, I was just twenty minutes or so away. Despite the foul weather I decided to continue onward and check out the site for myself. Upon arrival there was still enough light to see the odd <b>Robin</b> and <b>Dunnock</b> hopping around but alas the other, rarer accentor species was still nowhere to been seen.<br />
<br />
It is at times like these that I really start to question my sanity. What the hell had I been thinking? As dozens of native Yorkshiremen bounded around congratulating one another, there was I, silently shivering away, starring at a rusty rubbish skip in some old school playground. Just half an hour previously a <b>Siberian Accentor</b> had been hopping around that same skip just a few yards away, delighting the euphoric locals. I decided to depart the scene and head further along the lane to see if the bird was feeding inside the gas terminal compound as the <b>Olive-backed Pipit </b>had done a few days previously. Again there was no sign.<br />
<br />
As I slowly strolled back I witnessed what was probably the most sorrowful sight ever, in all my years of birding. A middle-aged fellow was leaning forward into the chain linked fence, on the phone to who I assumed to be his wife. He was trying his hardest to hold a conversation but while he was doing so he sobbed away uncontrollably like a distraught toddler. He had missed the bird by just a few seconds and was obviously taking it far worse than I was. I lingered briefly to check he was OK, patted him on his shoulder and headed for the shelter of the car.<br />
<br />
I now had a tough decision to make. Should I make my way back home and return on Saturday? Or should I spend the night in the car and hope the bird showed early enough for me to nail it then make my way into the office afterwards? If I took the second option I would need to get the agreement from my boss whose patience with me was already wearing very thin indeed. With no signal on my phone I decided to head back west towards Hull and submit my sheepish request via e-mail.<br />
<br />
Luckily, I have a lovely great aunt called <i>Dorothy </i>who lives in the village of Bilton, just east of the city. Hers is a house I have fond memories of from when I was a young lad. Many memorable weekends were enjoyed up here with my beloved nan and gramps. There were days out to Spurn, Bempton and Hornsea with her and my late uncle <i>George</i>. We would also head off to the Humber to see the huge ships slowly manoeuvre in and out of the docks and I can even remember the mighty suspension bridge being built. What sticks in my memory most though is the birds, hundreds of waders feeding out on the mud and calling overhead. Back then it did not matter too much whether or not I could identify them. I was just happy to soak up the whole spectacle through my terrible old pair of <i>Boots</i> binoculars. As a young lad brought up on a council estate in the landlocked West Midlands, these trips away to the coast meant so much to me. It was also the Christmas money I received from these fine folk that I used towards my first ever <i>Young Ornithologist's Club</i> subscription.<br />
<br />
Needless to say I was convinced by my aunt to stay over that evening. She was busily changing the sheets on her bed for me even before I had received a positive reply from my boss. After a slap up meal of haddock and chips together with a nice strong brew, we chatted away until late about the good old days. I was now warm, relaxed and content, so much so I almost forgot about the <b>Siberian Accentor</b> I hoped was all tucked up and roosting safely just down the road. Eventually, I received the reply I was hoping for. I was allowed to come into work a few hours later than usual that Friday morning.<br />
<br />
Just after 5.00am, following a decent night's sleep I was wide awake are raring to go. The weather throughout the evening had been extremely wet and windy so I was pretty confident the pesky eastern waif would still be in the area. The only real concern I had was whether the bird would show early enough. In order to drive back south to Birmingham and get down to a hard day's graft I needed to leave the site no later than 8.00am. I downed a strong mug of coffee, chomped on a few <i>Hobnobs</i>, hugged my aunt and off I went. Yet another trip to the Holderness coast beckoned. Would I be a little more lucky with my third attempt at seeing this b*stard of a bird?<br />
<br />
At around 6.30am I cautiously made way past the gas terminal, with its heavy police presence and entered the sleepy little village of Easington once more. Despite the darkness there were already a fair number of <i>Gore-Tex</i>-clad birders hobbling around the place. It was reminiscent of a scene from some 1970's zombie apocalypse movie. The usual stereotypical <i>Harold Shipman</i> lookalikes joined up with the <i>Benny</i> from <i>Crossroads</i> types who in turn mingled with members of the <i>Bill Oddie</i> appreciation society. A weekday twitch for a 'mega of megas' always brings out the retired throwbacks to the heyday of British twitching. Try and imagine a pre-battle scene from <i>Lord of the Rings</i> where axes and swords are replaced with scopes and tripods and the pretty, little elves are yet to turn up. This is kind of what one of these occasions can look like.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc2VIhenSY-U37fFeBTOGX7Ojfxs9bPoepOUkaiBi92L52WR_5M4PPKm-y_r5o5IUAunrt7chxQ3E0WLVPWgoazEi4ekGWHT83OMHy3YJ5KPeNHu7Cj_cjJg2ZvvB8CAfsIpS7-vW3k/s1600/IMG_8706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc2VIhenSY-U37fFeBTOGX7Ojfxs9bPoepOUkaiBi92L52WR_5M4PPKm-y_r5o5IUAunrt7chxQ3E0WLVPWgoazEi4ekGWHT83OMHy3YJ5KPeNHu7Cj_cjJg2ZvvB8CAfsIpS7-vW3k/s400/IMG_8706.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Dawn of the Easington Dead' by <i><b>Bill Urwin</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<br />
Ignoring the masses pitched up along the lane, I quietly slipped into the wooded area alongside the school and staked my claim to a prime position a little way back from the fence line. The atmosphere at this time was almost serene as everyone chatted in hushed whispers and shuffled gently into position. As the darkness began to slowly lift though you could feel the edginess in the air. Suddenly a bird flew into view and a huge surge forward ensued. It reminded me of being stood up on the Stretford End at Old Trafford as a kid during the early 80's. The cause of such panic was just a <b>Robin</b>. At this stage the fine guys of <i>Spurn Bird Observatory</i> started to lose their patience and urged everyone to step back towards the lane. Understandably most folk were reluctant to do this and deliberately sauntered back as slowly as possible like an annoying Premiership footballer being substituted in injury time when his team are a goal up.<br />
<br />
Just as the last birders had made it back to the lane, exactly the same thing happened again, another bird had flown in creating the second surge within a few short minutes. On this occasion though it was no false alarm. I lifted my bins and there, just a few yards away was a <b>Siberian Accentor</b>, perched on top of a skip and completely oblivious to the chaos it was causing. At this stage all hell began to break loose as around 500 eager birders tried their best to catch a glimpse of this amazing specimen. Behind me, other birders argued, shouted and jostled whilst some took it way too far resulting in a bit of a scuffle. I did my level best to filter out all of the nonsense though and enjoy the show.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn92ym8kuHK0qFcnFQeeM_ahMr48t6dTySHjj92X7VKA0wHDUFpq48a2lOL3diqSmMK2rcp_eLzRdpUZLu8HayjrujgbWZfQ8ZZP-zlCQap1X07WgZnwgiW7ww316vGkxvd-UrYckAvbM/s1600/AN6V5457-Siberian-Accentor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn92ym8kuHK0qFcnFQeeM_ahMr48t6dTySHjj92X7VKA0wHDUFpq48a2lOL3diqSmMK2rcp_eLzRdpUZLu8HayjrujgbWZfQ8ZZP-zlCQap1X07WgZnwgiW7ww316vGkxvd-UrYckAvbM/s400/AN6V5457-Siberian-Accentor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siberian Accentor</b> - Easington by <i><b>Mike Watson</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<br />
The bird performed remarkably well as it fed among the moss covered surface of the old school playground. It would occasionally fly up into cover briefly but would soon resume its feeding routine down on the deck giving everyone a chance to connect. Call me selfish but I admit to remaining in position for well over thirty minutes. I justified this by explaining to the organisers I would be leaving shortly to go to work. In any case, the bird was obviously settled and everyone would get their fill eventually. Finally, after six stressful days and three exhausting attempts I had actually witnessed a <b>Siberian Accentor </b>in Britain. It was another one of those days in birding that I will never forget.<br />
<br />
Following a pretty straightforward journey back south and a quick stop off at home for a shave and a change of clothes, I was back in the office in Birmingham for 11.15am. It was now time to put birds to the back of my mind for a while and use my charm and unrivaled work ethic to avoid disciplinary action. <br />
<br />
So you would imagine that this is the conclusion to this sorry state of affairs but you would be wrong. In my preoccupied state of selfishness I had not realised I was not the only person in our household who was suffering from a touch of bird envy. Of course it was now the weekend and <i>Nadia</i> wanted to see the accentor too.<br />
<br />
At around 4.45am we were collected by our pals <i>Kate </i>and <i>Fergus</i> and for the fourth time in a week I was off to County of the White Rose. Whilst the other three in the car were all quite apprehensive, I remained pretty cool, for obvious reasons. I guaranteed them that the bird would still be there and indeed it was. Despite there still being hundreds of folks who needed to see the bird, that Saturday morning was far more relaxed and civilised. The fine lads and lasses of <i>Spurn Bird Obs</i> were again on site acting as stewards and a structured queuing system was implemented. You waited your turn in an orderly line along the gas works perimeter fence and eventually you would receive a full, hassle free ten minute slot to gawp in awe of the stripy-faced critter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3umCcYlG1ZljfjRppV4LNyvKfzOc59RlfRUPgg3UqjcuGmy2c4DGbivr40bQs2A0UEuDb5dKcsGMGWR_7-50z_jBIBuBrUaw0zmXOxt6jsb2S8FZu4dxj7JQ9josMp73lnc6Q2_66ca4/s1600/_M1Z1042_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3umCcYlG1ZljfjRppV4LNyvKfzOc59RlfRUPgg3UqjcuGmy2c4DGbivr40bQs2A0UEuDb5dKcsGMGWR_7-50z_jBIBuBrUaw0zmXOxt6jsb2S8FZu4dxj7JQ9josMp73lnc6Q2_66ca4/s400/_M1Z1042_filtered.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siberian Accentor</b> by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b>.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<br />
Once again the rarity showed exceptionally well feeding in its favourite area. Another early morning start and lack of quality sleep the night before were all but forgotten as the crippling views helped energize my soul. With everyone now pretty chuffed it was time to move on to Kilnsea and see what other birding delights awaited us. As with the week before, those relentless easterly winds had continued to bring in the <b>Redwings</b>, <b>Robins</b> and <b>Goldcrests </b>in decent numbers. There had to be other special birds lurking somewhere among them all and indeed there was.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3-xw_rt1NGOlbz1DYvL7EyxOpNsBDrpyhGBKKjqaOI10wnI3Zke2Bj9xEXnQf1tLrOrXrhbFWuP0mHfWD1LIRDV23tznS_8uhS6sjOR6HwNHGeLXjzIdyfpdzCubIEVVEsq4XEvUBo0/s1600/_M1Z1549_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3-xw_rt1NGOlbz1DYvL7EyxOpNsBDrpyhGBKKjqaOI10wnI3Zke2Bj9xEXnQf1tLrOrXrhbFWuP0mHfWD1LIRDV23tznS_8uhS6sjOR6HwNHGeLXjzIdyfpdzCubIEVVEsq4XEvUBo0/s400/_M1Z1549_filtered.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shore Lark</b> - Kilnsea by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>.</td></tr>
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<br />
Our first stop was at The Bluebell where a <b>Shore Lark </b>performed like a star feeding unconcerned around the car park. This is a species that is not quite as common in Britain as it used to be during our winter months, and was my first sighting for a good couple of years. We then moved up to the Crown and Anchor pub for a mooch around, however our visit was cut short when news of a trapped <b>Pallas's Warbler</b> was received. After a quick romp around to Church Fields we enjoyed in-the-hand views of the gorgeous sprite before it was safely released. Other species in this area included a few <b>Brambling</b>, <b>Redpoll</b> and <b>Siskin</b> as well as the resident <b>Tree Sparrows</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJiD18WqWx3T8n1mmJBrT9gXGq5GC-HXPAdC8lMhFZyA2EVdEk10lJopBPhKX6Nt8OSFcTshkqwRXfdzqbaGSu4lyebMKkXj6lfchP7qkdjSsS5Ts-I4YVRGzwHUHi3m-ksCGkCvnGf8/s1600/IMG_7537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJiD18WqWx3T8n1mmJBrT9gXGq5GC-HXPAdC8lMhFZyA2EVdEk10lJopBPhKX6Nt8OSFcTshkqwRXfdzqbaGSu4lyebMKkXj6lfchP7qkdjSsS5Ts-I4YVRGzwHUHi3m-ksCGkCvnGf8/s400/IMG_7537.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'<b>Pallas's Warbler</b> showing well!' by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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With <b>Woodcock</b> flying past at regular intervals and a few late <b>Swallow</b> and <b>House Martin</b> heading south you really did not know where to point your binoculars at times. There were masses of birds absolutely everywhere you looked. We then decided to try for one of the <b>Dusky Warblers</b> which had been reported and so we headed down to the canal zone. It was not long before we could hear the distinctive 'teck' repeating away, deep from within a small patch of reeds. After a bit of selective 'pishing' though it suddenly appeared, providing us all with superb views.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlhmjA_Mdoh9vT6w7yfwOgVw6VYinwYlo2uhvTlIGRY_UZ68gKY0VCfmtKL6jS4Az4ZdwG7G9zslEu6nr_q9pl4H8syV0jnTv01Nhu3NCZzpdTSAuCdNDAyiGeaJGDQvQgG1Tbsgf99M/s1600/_M1Z1665_1_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlhmjA_Mdoh9vT6w7yfwOgVw6VYinwYlo2uhvTlIGRY_UZ68gKY0VCfmtKL6jS4Az4ZdwG7G9zslEu6nr_q9pl4H8syV0jnTv01Nhu3NCZzpdTSAuCdNDAyiGeaJGDQvQgG1Tbsgf99M/s400/_M1Z1665_1_filtered.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dusky Warbler</b> by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>.</td></tr>
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As we made our way south towards 'the breach', a <b>Black Redstart </b>was a nice year tick around the old observatory site. At this point a few skeins of <b>Pink-footed Geese</b> passed over along with the odd <b>White-fronted Goose </b>among them. As well as the feathery highlights, it was also great to share the day with some friends who we had not seen in a while. There was also a large contingent of familiar faces from back home, everyone of them strolling around with broad smiles on their relieved faces. The 'Peaky Birders' of the West Midlands really do know how to enjoy themselves on such occasions.<br />
<br />
Before heading off, we stopped over at Kilnsea Church where two different <b>Pallas's Warblers</b> showed well on and off in the early afternoon sunshine. The final bird before we left was a mobile and often elusive <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b> in the Crown and Anchor car park. It had been a splendid end to a pretty manic week.<br />
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Oh, I forgot to mention. As we enjoyed this Spurn spectacular, the peace was momentarily shattered by yet another 'mega alert'. Remarkably a third <b>Siberian Accentor</b> had made landfall in Britain, this time near Saltburn in Cleveland. There was absolutely no way I was bothering with that one though. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Siberian Accentor</b> in <i><b>Great Britain</b></i></span><br />
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This species breeds throughout the taiga zone of northern Siberia across to the western side of the Ural mountains. It spends the winter months mainly in northern China and Korea with a few birds also reaching Japan. Obviously this the first time in our rich ornithological history that the <b>Siberian Accentor</b> has graced our shores however the rest of Europe seems to have done quite well in the past. During October 1987 there was even an 'invasion' of three birds into Sweden.<br />
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What has occurred this October though is totally unprecedented with a host of birds turning up in northwest Europe. As it stands at the 12th December, a total of 237 birds have been recorded since the 24th September including 79 in Sweden, 75 in Finland and 12 in Denmark. Since 15th October a further <u>eleven</u> birds have also made it to Britain, therefore all sightings so far, are as follows:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Shetland</b> - Scousburgh, South Mainland - 9th to 10th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>East Yorkshire</b> - Easington - 13th to 19th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Cleveland</b> - Huntcliff, Saltburn-by-the-Sea - 15th & 17th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>County Durham</b> - Hendon South Dock, Sunderland - 16th to 18th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Northumberland</b> - Holy Island - 18th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Shetland</b> - Troila Geo, Fair Isle - 20th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Shetland</b> - Kirn O'Skroo, Fair Isle - 22nd October 2016. </li>
<li><b>Shetland</b> - Lund, Isle of Unst - 22nd to 27th October 2016. </li>
<li><b>Orkney </b>- Deerness, Mainland - 24th to 28th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Northumberland</b> - Holy Island - 25th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Shetland</b> - South Dale, Fetlar - 26th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Northumberland</b> - Newbiggin-by-the-Sea - 29th to 30th October 2016.</li>
<li><b>Highland</b> - Avoch, Black Isle - 6th to 13th November 2016.</li>
<li><b>Highland</b> - Invergordon, Highland - 8th to 14th February 2017. </li>
</ol>
Please note that all of the above records are pending acceptance. Once the Records Committee of the <a href="https://www.bou.org.uk/british-list/maintaining-the-british-list/" target="_blank"><i>British Ornithologist's Union</i></a> accepts the Shetland bird as the 'First for Britain' then the rest will follow. I am already looking forward to the 'Report on Rare Birds in Great Britain' article ..... in the October 2020 edition of <a href="http://britishbirds.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>British Birds</i></a>!<br />
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<u><b>2017 Update</b></u>: On the 18th May 2017 it was announced by the <i>BOU</i> that <b>Siberian Accentor </b>had officially been added to Category A of the British list.<br />
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There have also been unconfirmed sightings of probable birds at Seahouses, Northumberland on the 16th October and at Thorntonloch, Lothian on the 20th October. I am pretty sure we will receive a fair few more before the autumn is out and maybe one will spend the winter in a garden somewhere. Keep checking beneath your feeders folks!<br />
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This blog has been brought to life by the following wonderful people - <i><b>Tony Barter</b></i>, <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>, <i><b>Steve Nuttall</b></i>, <i><b>Jase Oliver</b></i>, <i><b>Steve Routledge</b></i>, <i><b>Bill Urwin</b></i> & <i><b>Mike Watson</b></i>. Thank you for the photos chaps, I really appreciate it.<br />
<br />
Special thanks <a href="http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Finders_in_the_field_Siberian_Accentor_Easington_Yorkshire.aspx?s_id=385593560%20via%20@RareBirdAlertUK" target="_blank"><i><b>Lance Degnan</b></i></a> for finding the Easington bird and to <a href="http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i><b>Spurn Bird Observatory</b></i></a> for organising the event. Their team of volunteers did a superb job in handling what was in theory, a nightmare scenario . Please donate generously folks!<br />
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Extra special thanks and love goes to my beautiful wife <i><b>Nadia Archer</b></i> for putting up with me and my fragile mental state during the past fortnight. Extra special thanks also go to my aunt <i><b>Dorothy Champkin</b></i> for the free board and lodgings on that horrible Thursday night 'dip'. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7Easington, East Yorkshire.53.652310213781007 0.1157127501953709753.642899713781006 0.095542750195370979 53.661720713781008 0.13588275019537097tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-34423937450250100582016-09-10T20:58:00.000+01:002016-09-17T08:20:39.810+01:00The BAIRD'S SANDPIPER in Worcestershire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQb2JR0dbRqmMczVDnh-SFynJL1ev7QBx89d_4t7O4LGkw_bKbv2y86iME3it6jVMzG5RmDx4__VTXj3Z7-LMuY9wk_jpNrMqG8fEtsIpk9QUMRKZRFM-xWb0qp-v_DADhmnLpgjXE64/s1600/_M1Z9138_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQb2JR0dbRqmMczVDnh-SFynJL1ev7QBx89d_4t7O4LGkw_bKbv2y86iME3it6jVMzG5RmDx4__VTXj3Z7-LMuY9wk_jpNrMqG8fEtsIpk9QUMRKZRFM-xWb0qp-v_DADhmnLpgjXE64/s400/_M1Z9138_filtered.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> (juvenile) by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As we disembarked the <i>Scillonian III</i> on Friday night I heard my usually reserved birding partner <i>Phil Andrews</i> utter a sudden series of unrepeatable expletives. Initially, I thought he had lost the car keys which would have been fair from ideal bearing in mind the 300 mile trip home. I had witnessed <i>Jase Oliver</i> suffer a similar panicked reaction when he lost our keys up on the Isle of Unst, Shetland a few years back. For <i>Phil</i> though this was far more serious. A possible <b>Baird's Sandpiper</b>, a rare, flattened looking American shorebird had been reported from his local patch, Upton Warren. Not only was this a potential new patch tick for<i> Phil </i>but it was also a whole new species for the County of Worcestershire.<br />
<br />
As we dried off and scoffed our meal in a Penzance chippy that evening, we scrambled around for some clarification. Within a few minutes I received a text from <i>Kay Donaghay</i> to advise us the identification had been confirmed by 'The Warren' stalwart <i>John Belsey</i>. During the arduous journey back north, <i>Phil </i>was wracking his fatigued brain in order to figure out a way of delaying a few pre-planned fatherly duties and getting down to the reserve as soon as he could. In the end though he accepted that sometimes family does need to come first. He would have to pray to the birding Gods (both the old and the new) that the bird would linger for a third day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARrOAG5PeLyRAmdhQsLCLx3uAXeptGHLeeBFFPG44ma65fF0qbohMSexS_m7j-g5T03Ak38t-FmvtbJWJmpr0Vk-gSwQuuiGfutO5pTb6hRZNGVMbs8oBOEjo-Iz8t5E8_0uckC58OC4/s1600/IMG_7474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARrOAG5PeLyRAmdhQsLCLx3uAXeptGHLeeBFFPG44ma65fF0qbohMSexS_m7j-g5T03Ak38t-FmvtbJWJmpr0Vk-gSwQuuiGfutO5pTb6hRZNGVMbs8oBOEjo-Iz8t5E8_0uckC58OC4/s400/IMG_7474.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Flashes' of Upton Warren NR.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Despite the foul weather we did make pretty good time in getting back up to the West Midlands. I finally hit the sack at around 2.00am, awoke at 6.30am and by 9.00am I was heading back down the M5 again. Despite my tiredness, the drizzle and the gloom, there was no way I was missing out on such a top notch species for this rarity starved region of ours.<br />
<br />
As I entered the top floor of the claustrophobic Avocet Hide I immediately stumbled upon a few welcome and familiar faces. Within a few seconds I was watching the bird as it meandered around the muddy margins at the far side of The Flashes. The bird would occasionally take flight for a short distance following a spot of bullying by a moody <b>Moorhen</b> but on the whole it seemed relatively settled.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVkFJ4RpfR1AE2fkpRYrEWgGkSOvToMB-YO0Za5JlgVfiMXNED6XH_Qhu6vkQRXUg1Wzldd8LE2NZ1tU1YH0V5mloAYtdv1IeEyRjfCbtGjb-31xtDJt5OAIS96Q92AF3U3ddVo5aiJo/s1600/_M1Z8997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVkFJ4RpfR1AE2fkpRYrEWgGkSOvToMB-YO0Za5JlgVfiMXNED6XH_Qhu6vkQRXUg1Wzldd8LE2NZ1tU1YH0V5mloAYtdv1IeEyRjfCbtGjb-31xtDJt5OAIS96Q92AF3U3ddVo5aiJo/s400/_M1Z8997.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> (juvenile) by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>. </td></tr>
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Even through the early morning murk the bird performed very well indeed showing off its range of identification features. The <b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> is a small, short-legged wader but with a long, slim appearance. The primaries project well beyond the tail. In a juvenile bird such as this, the overall plumage tone above is quite buff with the upperparts neatly scalloped. It has a breast band recalling a diminutive, squat looking <b>Pectoral Sandpiper</b> but is less well defined. The head is rather plain but well streaked with an indistinct paler supercilium and light spot above the lores. In flight, it is unlike the similarly shaped <b>White-rumped Sandpiper</b> by having an all dark rump in addition to having thick white tips to the greater coverts and and a pale window across the base of the primaries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OuY6IfexKVlRXYNMK1AI5eEHP3h-zBD7-D8gOQQTsQs-ztY-_jt0Z5H5eaN5fapV00bR7YSGt0EY8MvV2CrnNEZ-hk8xiUxlpglaIWt3D6LvdyUQ5SjXyGQf1MjiXydUrsGjxivI0oQ/s1600/_M1Z9199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OuY6IfexKVlRXYNMK1AI5eEHP3h-zBD7-D8gOQQTsQs-ztY-_jt0Z5H5eaN5fapV00bR7YSGt0EY8MvV2CrnNEZ-hk8xiUxlpglaIWt3D6LvdyUQ5SjXyGQf1MjiXydUrsGjxivI0oQ/s400/_M1Z9199.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> (juvenile) by <i><b>Dave Hutton</b></i>. </td></tr>
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Other highlights on site at this fantastically managed reserve included an <b>Avocet</b>, a <b>Curlew</b>, 3 <b>Common Sandpiper </b>and a <b>Kingfisher</b>. It was then time to head back home, put my feet up and tune into watch the Manchester derby (I wish I had not bothered).<br />
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By the way, just to let you know, by methods unknown, <i>Phil </i>did actually manage to get on site at some stage during the afternoon. Who knows what promises he had to make to his wife or what degree of charm was used. I am just glad he managed to see it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN55BASqdLejRHIOjImvTGeTDTVfvG9cLv3AT1tJfbc0bna9syGqFceYIa1z5zododCStdNX19HRXZ-UPmVomKhREWu5oplhMoqerWHTzvPspY8Jmid2bahzYpKhPfgAVS3m0mbZ3Auk/s1600/IMG_7472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN55BASqdLejRHIOjImvTGeTDTVfvG9cLv3AT1tJfbc0bna9syGqFceYIa1z5zododCStdNX19HRXZ-UPmVomKhREWu5oplhMoqerWHTzvPspY8Jmid2bahzYpKhPfgAVS3m0mbZ3Auk/s400/IMG_7472.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Snapper Richards</b></i> gives the thumbs up!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>BAIRD'S SANDPIPER</b> in the <i><b>West Midlands Region</b></i></span><br />
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The <b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> was named in honour of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Fullerton_Baird" target="_blank"><i>Spencer Fullerton Baird</i></a> (1823 to 1887) who was for many years the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. The first record for Britain was found on St Kilda, Western Isles on 28th September 1911. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Eagle_Clarke" target="_blank">Dr William Eagle Clarke</a> suspected the bird was something rare and promptly peppered it with lead. Upon closer inspection it was found to be an adult female in winter plumage.<br />
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The species breeds in upland, high-arctic tundra ranging from the extreme eastern edge of Siberia across North America to northwestern Greenland. As the young develop and no longer require brooding by their parents, the adults abandon them and begin their migration. A month later the juveniles follow.<br />
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The adults migrate to their wintering grounds in South America via a narrow route through the Great Plains of North American while the youngsters follow over a much broader front. This is one of the reasons why juveniles are often found along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts during the autumn as well as being fairly regular vagrants to Britain and Ireland. It is suspected that they may cover up to an incredible 4,000 miles nonstop.<br />
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There have been just three previous records for the whole of the West Midlands region, incorporating the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the metropolitan county of the West Midlands. All records are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>2016 </b>- <b>Worcestershire</b> - Upton Warren NR - juvenile - 9th to 16th September.<br />
<b>2005</b> - <b>Staffordshire</b> - Chasewater - adult - 12th September only (late identification from photos).<br />
<b>1996</b> - <b>Staffordshire</b> - Blithfield Reservoir - juvenile - 2nd to 7th November.<br />
<b>1996</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - Draycote Water - juvenile - 28th September only </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-90996903681181272542016-09-09T18:42:00.000+01:002016-09-15T18:54:17.405+01:00MEGA ALERT: The AMERICAN CLIFF SWALLOW on the Isles of Scilly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaTqLKxnSEqSjU8xl3nU1M9lnTReWM4LjUqj2HiXDufOG8ZUe16yvwMIOA7Mjc-83h4l8revMNxtieLeuWgvtarEuBM22U-iXdqDtFG74iP0DGW1heNKFAjK1O03-m6sOfO0m1YDfBv8/s1600/14285496_546709792186152_2011198063_o%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaTqLKxnSEqSjU8xl3nU1M9lnTReWM4LjUqj2HiXDufOG8ZUe16yvwMIOA7Mjc-83h4l8revMNxtieLeuWgvtarEuBM22U-iXdqDtFG74iP0DGW1heNKFAjK1O03-m6sOfO0m1YDfBv8/s400/14285496_546709792186152_2011198063_o%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>American Cliff Swallow</b> by <i><b>MP Goodey</b></i>.</td></tr>
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On the 24th of this very month <i>Nadia</i> and I will be heading over to one of our favourite birding locations on the planet to do the decent thing and tie the knot (neither Red or Great). The locality dear reader will no doubt be one of your most beloved places too..... the most splendid Isles of Scilly.<br />
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So with a few weeks to go it is usually the case for the groom to arrange some last minute alterations to his suit, to ensure his shoes are nicely polished and for him to rehearse a heart warming speech or two. Well that was the plan. For the keenest British birders though, this is the time of year where 'plans' should be avoided at all costs. For the next few months we need to make sure our schedule is as clear as possible. All social engagements should be avoided, all DIY tasks need be put on hold and most importantly of all, you should always keep a few annual leave days at work spare. If any of that fails though you could always feign injury or develop pneumonia in order to secure a sneaky bit of time for twitching that ultimate autumnal rarity.<br />
<br />
Last Tuesday, some thrilling news filtered through from the aforementioned 'Fortunate Isles'. An <b>American Cliff Swallow</b> had been located on St Mary's. I soon mentioned to <i>Nadia</i> that I thought it prudent to head south west and ensure everything was running smoothly at the wedding venue. Maybe I should sample a few more hors d'oeuvres up at the Star Castle just to test the quality of the lobster consomme? Okay you may think this is just another one of those lame excuses we birders throw selfishly into the arena of desperation every now and then. And yes, you would probably be correct but remember folks, things can go wrong. Just a few days before, <i>Will</i> and <i>Kate</i> nearly had their trip to the islands scuppered due to foggy conditions.... ones heart really does bleed for one, does it not?!<br />
<br />
Anyway, by some miracle the bird continued to show on and off throughout the week and by some even greater miracle, I along with <i>Phil Andrews </i>found ourselves sitting there in the executive lounge of Land's End airport on Friday morning sipping filter coffee and scoffing hot toasted tea cakes. We had taken the plunge and secured a couple of places on the first available flight that day. By 8.20am our small plane had spluttered its way over a rather small yet choppy looking section of the Atlantic Ocean and we were excitedly touching down at St Mary's airport.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjv0HKkrKZ0Lp6Sz2GQRNwiHT2I7pTYz8VYjMsSQPC7tnA9NIYBLCT5WgvYQ9rpLaOTnGi4sQcl5J_apD4S80qX6o1QwgBAnGdK2XpDuV8t3E1yWHWjIzfWsGlrJL67HYZ6J0S98D3A4/s1600/IMG_7424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjv0HKkrKZ0Lp6Sz2GQRNwiHT2I7pTYz8VYjMsSQPC7tnA9NIYBLCT5WgvYQ9rpLaOTnGi4sQcl5J_apD4S80qX6o1QwgBAnGdK2XpDuV8t3E1yWHWjIzfWsGlrJL67HYZ6J0S98D3A4/s400/IMG_7424.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transport from Land's End to St Mary's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In no time at all we were positioned on site at Higher Moors and within the first few seconds a single hirundine swooped low over our heads. That would have been way too easy though, it was just one of our native <b>Barn Swallows</b> feeding eagerly in preparation for its perilous migration down to South Africa for the winter. As we made our way methodically down the boardwalk towards Porth Hellick Pool we scrutinized every small movement in the sky. With no sign and with just a couple of other birders assisting with the search we decided to split up. <i>Phil</i> opted for the <i>Stephen Sussex Hide</i> overlooking the pool whilst I concentrated on the loop trail.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamTGoPC1U_YTfh_Odi1odARoUmQ_E4AWR0mWhjhNPFbX9Xi1K-YxUjwkCAk_b5GeB80pUH0Lr_ZP9-B_sz7PFkeTFy4ZkIgWsMTnO0SAHgyECHlVjetyyymMCY5Tm-OvOYVcZfY1WBgI/s1600/IMG_7434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamTGoPC1U_YTfh_Odi1odARoUmQ_E4AWR0mWhjhNPFbX9Xi1K-YxUjwkCAk_b5GeB80pUH0Lr_ZP9-B_sz7PFkeTFy4ZkIgWsMTnO0SAHgyECHlVjetyyymMCY5Tm-OvOYVcZfY1WBgI/s400/IMG_7434.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porth Hellick roll of honour!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a hour or so and with just a single <b>House Martin</b> providing a nanosecond of hope there was still no sign of the <b>Cliff Swallow</b>. The bird had been present until late the previous afternoon and with the gloomy early morning conditions it surely had to be somewhere around the island. At this stage we bid farewell to the showy juvenile <b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b> strutting around the pool and made our way up to Carn Friars to check there. As with Higher Moors, there were plenty of <b>Barn Swallow</b> but still no sign of our target species. We then made our way around to Porth Hellick Down and finally across to the bay area.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKfSvnoeSfHeFX0JK9lBWcGaJSm9vlfGBoqaeRDZ7c3TZ3lIWO3U8IlMIog6HTkcZFA9mEJOn0g6B7DOYzt-9kKXbbCSgm8r8HYcWedsnQcHp-iF0qKr_d4_PXdEdT6txPP6qEMKuMWY/s1600/IMG_7426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKfSvnoeSfHeFX0JK9lBWcGaJSm9vlfGBoqaeRDZ7c3TZ3lIWO3U8IlMIog6HTkcZFA9mEJOn0g6B7DOYzt-9kKXbbCSgm8r8HYcWedsnQcHp-iF0qKr_d4_PXdEdT6txPP6qEMKuMWY/s400/IMG_7426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Loaded Camel' at Porth Hellick.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At this point a little smidgen of fear began to creep in with <i>Phil</i> even whimpering out the ultimate line in negativity "Perhaps it's dead!" As I made my way along the tideline to check the bay for waders and clear my head a little, <i>Phil</i> continued to search the seaward side of the pool. As I was about half way across the beach my pager gave off a brief 'chirp'. I looked down expecting to see a message waffling on about with some minor Scillonian scarcity but no, the <b>Cliff Swallow</b> was showing and even better news, it was just a few hundred yards from where I was standing. I sprinted across the sand and jumped over the bank, nearly defacing the memorial to <i>Sir Cloudesley Shovell</i> in the process. I yelled over to <i>Phil</i> who clearly had not received the same message. <br />
<br />
Viewing the pool between the scrub from the bank we could only pick out the usual <b>Barn Swallows</b> and the single <b>House Martin</b> from earlier in the morning. Where the hell was it? Had it been just a brief fly through? With no sign we then scooted around to the nearest hide where an intimate gathering of birders were silently scanning the pool. Within a few seconds we were on to the bird, our first ever <b>Cliff Swallow</b> in Britain. With the pressure now off and with the adrenaline rinsing away the tiredness, we calmly made our way back to the <i>Stephen Sussex Hide</i> where hopefully we could secure a prime position.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsNKeWmro6JUnpXjozsSL_MHCVxJ08oATpVw2PsbwfcT43yCGeNzUJpItOYXaKRI1d3qMDX0bLtHjXJ73vSEzeq-NNjOBUgGoJdA8dfHi5MJTLJ5lj2URoqN0yTpnP0QIn1um7ITWRes/s1600/14315730_546709652186166_901205542_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsNKeWmro6JUnpXjozsSL_MHCVxJ08oATpVw2PsbwfcT43yCGeNzUJpItOYXaKRI1d3qMDX0bLtHjXJ73vSEzeq-NNjOBUgGoJdA8dfHi5MJTLJ5lj2URoqN0yTpnP0QIn1um7ITWRes/s400/14315730_546709652186166_901205542_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>American Cliff Swallow</b> by <i><b>MP Goodey</b></i>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR6ww8xeAS23evhiiUT6LViS_MY5olCFC24UY-FMG-ROg6n6wxeAOu2JR9pO4W9JmLrifNXl-ib_RZNHCMUYt94-9XnXC0_SYfJ-TCEfHraoI6CF3ftQump0gvd1v-_4DTB7rOtv0i7w/s1600/FullSizeRender%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR6ww8xeAS23evhiiUT6LViS_MY5olCFC24UY-FMG-ROg6n6wxeAOu2JR9pO4W9JmLrifNXl-ib_RZNHCMUYt94-9XnXC0_SYfJ-TCEfHraoI6CF3ftQump0gvd1v-_4DTB7rOtv0i7w/s400/FullSizeRender%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>American Cliff Swallow</b> by <i><b>P Hackett</b></i>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For over two hours just a handful of birders and I enjoyed this incredible bird to the maximum as it wheeled around the far side of the pool. For the majority of this time it was actually the only hirundine on show which made it easy to pick up again after disappearing briefly behind a willow or pine. Even when it rose high in the sky you could still identify it by the stocky structure, the short straight-ended tail and broad wing base. As it approached closer and with it viewed against the vegetation the large rosy rump patch became obvious as did the pale collar and forehead patch.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsCG2UaS1wYnSToZraSwyo3Yj6pW-y9G9s8m8nKFOWK9IX_ocw29Iz9KaxMtZCO50BVkkSJljtYhPTURY5TpYIwHqfWA9YWzXxfi_xLQW22tqr6a0ofB8_3qvxF4OIWXJYP2qJ7OtncI/s1600/IMG_7438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsCG2UaS1wYnSToZraSwyo3Yj6pW-y9G9s8m8nKFOWK9IX_ocw29Iz9KaxMtZCO50BVkkSJljtYhPTURY5TpYIwHqfWA9YWzXxfi_xLQW22tqr6a0ofB8_3qvxF4OIWXJYP2qJ7OtncI/s400/IMG_7438.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porth Hellick Pool, St Mary's by <i><b>AS Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Other species on site included the juvenile <b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b> again, 10 <b>Greenshank</b>, a <b>Redshank</b>, 3 <b>Dunlin</b> and a <b>Common Sandpiper</b> as well as a <b>Kingfisher</b> and a couple of very confiding <b>Water Rail</b>. Unfortunately there was no sign of the <b>Temminck's Stint</b> from the previous few days. This diminutive wader is a top notch rarity on the islands, so much so that there have been nearly twice as many Scilly sightings of <b>Semipalmated Sandpiper</b> since 1970.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprchZNPxkvCftVZv08VuVaDSjWYhZ1tuTHa2qMOoTiHvlxJr7iuXEP9QXKhoSWDyRNSGrCQVIvrgrycFx5z-58-yCS5wlBQBrX9gU10MWvyDgMfl5-WdS-DXnH_0Zb0FX9lLw3AdO368/s1600/IMG_6070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprchZNPxkvCftVZv08VuVaDSjWYhZ1tuTHa2qMOoTiHvlxJr7iuXEP9QXKhoSWDyRNSGrCQVIvrgrycFx5z-58-yCS5wlBQBrX9gU10MWvyDgMfl5-WdS-DXnH_0Zb0FX9lLw3AdO368/s400/IMG_6070.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b> (juvenile) by <i><b>AS Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS2-H-oEBT8jp7mazdvhB4qGdxWXE0b2N8DEP89Ur-QzrIbvhpn3IjAtv5oV9pTdjS3quxDbmecnUUTpl425_J3Cl2kJyW_KQ8Bq4tYASafe84HEj3akKJFJdvbXFO5pcs229mh4o15o/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS2-H-oEBT8jp7mazdvhB4qGdxWXE0b2N8DEP89Ur-QzrIbvhpn3IjAtv5oV9pTdjS3quxDbmecnUUTpl425_J3Cl2kJyW_KQ8Bq4tYASafe84HEj3akKJFJdvbXFO5pcs229mh4o15o/s400/IMG_3462.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b> (juvenile) b<i><b>y P Hackett</b></i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At about 12.30pm the peace was shattered as about a dozen or so birders who had chanced the crossing over on the <i>Scillonian III</i> started to arrive. This coincided with the <b>Cliff Swallow</b> going missing for a short while until I managed to pick it up once more at the extreme seaward end of the pool. As we had intended to walk back along the coast via the airfield we thought it only right to see if we could view the bird from a different perspective. We were glad that we made the effort too as the bird showed remarkably well with a small group of <b>Barn Swallow </b>feeding low over a weedy field at very close range.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAnVpd1iPv3cKBMHDwUvhd_ohDBnfwRmTOHQ_icXXLe9yj7etfaUqbNNcmN2Y3eHZ_aseW9ZiuGp9Y_t4pOXNN0DSMF6b_XUm2CKXqj9VvaNmMvAE9MHdj7XtcDjkwI-XmJYqifiDwZA/s1600/14285491_546709795519485_785012773_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAnVpd1iPv3cKBMHDwUvhd_ohDBnfwRmTOHQ_icXXLe9yj7etfaUqbNNcmN2Y3eHZ_aseW9ZiuGp9Y_t4pOXNN0DSMF6b_XUm2CKXqj9VvaNmMvAE9MHdj7XtcDjkwI-XmJYqifiDwZA/s400/14285491_546709795519485_785012773_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>American Cliff Swallow</b> by <i><b>MP Goodey</b></i>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unfortunately a small group over eager birders were not satisfied with such views and promptly jumped over a ditch and entered the actual field. I have been visiting this wonderful place for a fair few years now and have always tried to be a decent birding citizen. A part of this is to respect the rights and privacy of the islanders who have tolerated some questionable behaviour in the past. It could be that certain individuals had permission to enter this area but I would always encourage folk to think and not follow the crowds however tempting it may be. Good manners benefit all of us in the long term.<br />
<br />
At this stage we decided to take the coastal footpath around to Tolman's Point, absorb the dramatic scenery and grab a bite to eat in Old Town. Before doing so we enjoyed great views of a <b>Dotterel </b>feeding in the grassy margins alongside the airport runway. Other species in this area included a moulting adult <b>European Golden Plover</b> and a trio of <b>Northern Wheatear</b>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hftzBrSJ2hJqhHBZAMrmteJFU6yjnNMqMApgXFA8Ob8Skdnob93W0F0LcZf6IsQgZZ2dc2uobE-_G9G7yal9cKVvTWbSBB3RCKLCm1rBTPJC19dKYfhz0DHGZ3a3RCbVLXdhMVmUCtY/s1600/IMG_7453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hftzBrSJ2hJqhHBZAMrmteJFU6yjnNMqMApgXFA8Ob8Skdnob93W0F0LcZf6IsQgZZ2dc2uobE-_G9G7yal9cKVvTWbSBB3RCKLCm1rBTPJC19dKYfhz0DHGZ3a3RCbVLXdhMVmUCtY/s400/IMG_7453.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selfie with Giant's Castle in the distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Following an excellent snack and a celebratory bottle of ginger ale at the Old Town Cafe we strolled the short distance across to the Standing Stones area of Lower Moors. It was here we eventually connected with a smart first-winter <b>Red-backed Shrike</b> in the afternoon sunshine along with a couple of juvenile <b>Whinchat</b>. It was then onto Porthloo where the only shorebird of note was a single <b>Whimbrel</b> among the forty or so <b>Oystercatcher</b>.<br />
<br />
We concentrated our final search around the golf course but just like the previous day there was no sign of the two <b>Buff-breasted Sandpiper</b> from earlier on in the week. The only birds present were several <b>Northern Wheatear</b>, a few <b>European Stonechat</b> and <b>Meadow Pipit</b> as well as a large flock of <b>Linnet</b>.<br />
<br />
Both pretty exhausted we headed across through Hugh Town and down to the quayside to board the <i>Scillonian III</i>. It was here we spotted our first <b>Sandwich Terns</b> and <b>Turnstones</b> of the day in addition to a few <b>Shag</b> fishing around the harbour.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScBlHc5Q1Qbx8FbC4CEtnWUEcisdZ3VSToi3Z_pdWF1B5Tx6gjDuMuE9Nd1HIY8v5ndbwZXxBBCGBmp0nYJCJNl32o4zpQI8anK_8eipwWAxuvTliwdGGm7hAccVD0xFaCZ3lpaQHnwA/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScBlHc5Q1Qbx8FbC4CEtnWUEcisdZ3VSToi3Z_pdWF1B5Tx6gjDuMuE9Nd1HIY8v5ndbwZXxBBCGBmp0nYJCJNl32o4zpQI8anK_8eipwWAxuvTliwdGGm7hAccVD0xFaCZ3lpaQHnwA/s400/IMG_7467.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transport from St Mary's to Penzance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With a broad front of low pressure due to follow us back east, the
crossing was predictably choppy. In our minds though this was a positive
and hopefully we would be able to pick up a few decent seabirds as we
sailed back to Penzance. It was not too long after we had passed the
eastern end of St Mary's when our first large shearwater appeared, a
distant <b>Cory's Shearwater</b>. Luckily though, several more
individuals of this species were encountered along the way including
some birds outrageously close to the ship. Other highlights included 4 <b>Sooty Shearwater</b>, 6 <b>Manx Shearwater</b>, 3 <b>Balearic Shearwater</b> and 4 <b>European Storm-petrel</b>. We also encountered a large flock of <b>Gannet</b> and a few <b>Fulmar</b> following a decent sized pod of <b>Common Dolphin</b> as well as the odd <b>Kittiwake</b>.<br />
<br />
As we approached Penzance harbour, that forecast rain storm eventually
caught up with us and soaked us through as we hobbled over to the car
park. There was only one thing for it. We made our way around the corner
to <i>The Pirate's Rest</i> chippy for a dry off and a delicious meal of Britain's most famous dish. A truly superb end to another autumn adventure. Luckily for me though I would be back here in a few weeks time, to wed the girl of my dreams and to hopefully snaffle my first rarities as a married man. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>American Cliff Swallow</b> in <i><b>Great Britain</b></i></span><br />
<br />
This species breeds throughout North America from western Alaska to Nova Scotia, the United States and south as far as southern Mexico. When it is not turning up in Britain by mistake it usually spends the winter in South America from Brazil to Chile and Argentina. If accepted, this sighting will constitute only the tenth record for Britain. The full list of sightings goes something like this:<br />
<br />
<b>2016</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Mary's - 6th to 10th September.<br />
<b>2001</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Agnes - first-winter - 26th October, St Martin's - 26th to 27th October & St Mary's - 28th to 30th October.<br />
<b>2000</b> - <b>Hampshire</b> - Titchfield Haven - 1st October only (presumed same as Dorset below). <br />
<b>2000</b> - <b>Dorset</b> - The Verne, Portland - 29th to 30th September. <br />
<b>2000</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Mary's - 28th to 30th September.<br />
<b>1996</b> - <b>Church Norton</b> - juvenile - 1st October only.<br />
<b>1995</b> - <b>East Yorkshire</b> - Spurn - juvenile - 22nd to 23rd October & again 28th October.<br />
<b>1995</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - Tresco - juvenile - 4th to 5th December.<br />
<b>1988</b> - <b>Cleveland</b> - South Gare - juvenile - 23rd October only.<br />
<b>1983</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Agnes - juvenile - 10th October & St Mary's - 10th to 27th October.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special thanks to <i><b>Martin Goodey </b></i>and to <b>Paul Hackett</b> for their excellent photos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-61486404697814194262016-09-03T23:41:00.000+01:002016-09-12T18:41:17.479+01:00Frampton Marsh & Football - A Day Out In Lincolnshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Whilst every other birder worth their salt was up in the north of Lincolnshire hoping for a glimpse of a distant <b>Western Swamphen</b>, I decided to head to the east of the county for a day of tranquil birding and a spot of raucous non-league football. Do not fret readers, I have not turned my back on the twitching scene, I just managed to see the very same bird at Minsmere RSPB the previous month.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLwNw0GRd1vwfcppck-NJln5LZZ29ZxzDRsU13XQe0TsIjroeo8MPhn90Oj8nPEiwoLRCw9mHy98UN-AF48YfBPGpTfyoE32ka4uAOHI7la-T7gNvhdgHPg-d2fA7ARc5sUpuDNAYnZc/s1600/IMG_7317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLwNw0GRd1vwfcppck-NJln5LZZ29ZxzDRsU13XQe0TsIjroeo8MPhn90Oj8nPEiwoLRCw9mHy98UN-AF48YfBPGpTfyoE32ka4uAOHI7la-T7gNvhdgHPg-d2fA7ARc5sUpuDNAYnZc/s400/IMG_7317.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sunflower plantation at Frampton Marsh RSPB.</td></tr>
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I arrived at the impressive Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve around 9.00am and was surprised to find just a couple of cars parked up. The first stop was to the largely deserted 360 Hide where a juvenile <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> was feeding just a few yards away. Further out, there was a large group of around 90 <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>, circa 70 <b>Dunlin</b> and 6 <b>Little Stint</b>. It was refreshing to just perch up out of the wind, relax in the comfortable surroundings and enjoy the shorebird spectacle unfold. Eventually a few more <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> came into view as well as the odd <b>Avocet</b> too.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhe5TmVmPpUyIgbrteSRcPADKcQXdMyHRVOKBYYXHe1y39hF5kg6jwqbwY_6OmLsXfUA_fTnXElHw2oMN3mOvaUd7Rm0sNxmtO4_P3YB3Ccx2C6CIc_Qf2z9FJ7WzLWENPtfW1VCC_P8/s1600/IMG_5902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhe5TmVmPpUyIgbrteSRcPADKcQXdMyHRVOKBYYXHe1y39hF5kg6jwqbwY_6OmLsXfUA_fTnXElHw2oMN3mOvaUd7Rm0sNxmtO4_P3YB3Ccx2C6CIc_Qf2z9FJ7WzLWENPtfW1VCC_P8/s400/IMG_5902.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> (juvenile) - Frampton Marsh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEy_0WQ3xYfYCnLA6vV2iOhxo5nSwLjN5P30dxJfsmWeRTX-vnw_kviY9K4jYgTmW7uiUfsh11Q-Qtm0Vdvz1B9DNWnhYJg3dNT9YeZUsQqQDRsdFbaZKGsg_JkB6fchyphenhyphenjUzlVKWbAkU/s1600/IMG_5912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEy_0WQ3xYfYCnLA6vV2iOhxo5nSwLjN5P30dxJfsmWeRTX-vnw_kviY9K4jYgTmW7uiUfsh11Q-Qtm0Vdvz1B9DNWnhYJg3dNT9YeZUsQqQDRsdFbaZKGsg_JkB6fchyphenhyphenjUzlVKWbAkU/s400/IMG_5912.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> (juvenile) - Photos by <i><b>AS Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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I then made my way around to East Hide were the distinctive '<i>chew-it</i>' call of
a <b>Spotted Redshank </b>could be heard along the approach track. After a
careful scan of the marsh below the sea wall I eventually picked out at
least four birds consisting of two smart juveniles and two adults in their frosty winter plumage.
There were also plenty of <b>Little Egret</b>, <b>Lapwing</b>, <b>Ringed Plover</b> and
<b>Common Redshank</b> to scan through as well as another hundred or so <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b> and a reasonable flock of <b>Eurasian Wigeon</b> too. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpH4KnTMcVz5p-uEkH6k1W1tJVARVnWF2mJ3bkRmUleE25_g6Bk1Lybr-3cHUwdlQB_AQ_pBqvkIMEikh33w8MSGExVINkARc2SmxaXFJSZ6syb0FfEiVMxzsCkZdPgELa4caRAX4jNo/s1600/IMG_5954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpH4KnTMcVz5p-uEkH6k1W1tJVARVnWF2mJ3bkRmUleE25_g6Bk1Lybr-3cHUwdlQB_AQ_pBqvkIMEikh33w8MSGExVINkARc2SmxaXFJSZ6syb0FfEiVMxzsCkZdPgELa4caRAX4jNo/s400/IMG_5954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-tailed Godwit</b> (juvenile) - Frampton Marsh.</td></tr>
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From the hide itself there was not a great deal of activity as most of the waders were roosting, including a single <b>Greenshank</b>. There was however a juvenile <b>Little Stint</b> performing well as it worked its way up and down, feeding on the northern side of the lagoon. A quick scan of The Wash itself from the bank produced a pair of distant <b>Dark-bellied Brent Geese</b> and a few more <b>Little Egret</b>. On the return journey a <b>Whinchat </b>was flushed along the access path and a number of <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> passed overhead.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Stint</b> (juvenile) - Frampton Marsh.</td></tr>
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Following a tip off by the <i>RSPB </i>staff member, <i>Chris Andrews</i> (brother of my all-star twitching companion <i>Phil)</i> I decided to search a lesser known area of the reserve opposite the visitor centre for <b>Turtle Dove</b>. There had been four birds present in the area earlier in the week however I could only locate the odd <b>Stock Dove</b> and <b>Collared Dove</b> in their usual location. On the small reservoir nearby there were decent numbers of <b>Little Grebe</b> and a varied selection of common wildfowl including a couple of <b>Pintail</b> and a few <b>Pochard</b>. A trio of <b>Northern Wheatear </b>were feeding in the surrounding also farmland and both <b>Green Sandpiper</b> and <b>Common Sandpiper</b> were disturbed from a roadside ditch.<br />
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At this stage the heavens opened and I thought it wise to make my way back to the car. As I did so a sodden <b>Hobby</b> was spotted looking particularly sorry for itself as it sat hunched up in a ploughed field. After a quick change out of my soaked birding attire it was then a quick run up to Boston for the footie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">York Street, the home of Boston United.</td></tr>
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As a lifelong <i>Manchester United</i> fan I became disillusioned with the whole farce that is the Premiership a while back. The lack of atmosphere at games, the ridiculously high ticket prices, the inconvenient kick off times and the continuous stream of overrated, millionaire players were all contributing factors to why I decided to get my football fix elsewhere. The Glazer takeover of <i>United</i> was ultimately the final straw. There was no way I was going to line the pockets of some greedy American billionaire and his family. Some <i>United</i> fans have said I have committed the ultimate sin and turned my back on the team I love. I always maintain however it was them that abandoned the likes of me!<br />
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I had always enjoyed watching non-league football when not following the reds and I would often support my local team <i>Tamworth FC</i>. In 2005 however, a bunch of frustrated Mancunians decided enough was enough and decided to form a club we could call our own. It was at this stage I became a founder member and co-owner of <i>FC United of Manchester</i>. Over our short history we have risen from the Second Division of the North West Counties Football League to the 'heady heights' of The Conference North, just a couple of divisions below the football league. During this time we have gone from ground sharing with the likes of <i>Bury</i>, <i>Altrincham</i>, <i>Stalybridge Celtic</i> and <i>Curzon Ashton</i> to owning a fantastic ground in Moston, North Manchester, all financed by the fans.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The FC United crowd at Boston, that's me in the top right.</td></tr>
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A visit to the historic York Street stadium in the centre of Boston is always a treat for the non-league football enthusiast. It is like being transported back to the days of old with its steep concrete standing terraces, chips and gravy and proper floodlights in each corner. Sadly this may have been our final trip here as <i>Boston</i> are currently building a brand new stadium on the edge of town which should be completed in time for next season.<br />
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As for the game itself, <i>FC United</i> took a shock 1-0 lead in the rain only to be pegged back with penalty kick from the Pilgrims. <i>FC United</i> then made it 2-1 before once again <i>Boston</i> grabbed a well deserved equaliser to make it 2-2 before halftime. The second half was a much tighter affair but FC United managed to hit a 69th minute winner following a mix up in the Boston defence. This was only our second win of the season with the three valuable points hopefully helping to consolidate our place in this demanding league come the end of the season.<br />
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So there you have it, a superb morning of birding followed by an entertaining 3-2 victory for my football team. What more can a chap ask for hey?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Frampton, Boston PE20, UK52.934337 -0.033122000000048527.4123025 -41.341716000000048 78.4563715 41.275471999999951tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-28553290998759220132016-06-17T20:14:00.000+01:002016-06-18T07:31:41.749+01:00The LONG-TAILED DUCK at Alvecote Pools, Warwickshire.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long-tailed Duck</b> (female) by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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As I was driving home from work yesterday I noticed an intriguing bird related message pop up on my <i>Twitter </i>feed. The infamous Alvecote Pools stalwart <i>Roy Smith</i> had found a female <b>Long-tailed Duck </b>on my local patch. After brief detour home to pick up my gear, I was soon perched on the north side of Mill Pool along with Warwickshire birding veterans <i>Steve Haynes</i> and <i>Bob Duckhouse</i> who were already watching the scarce sea duck. Admittedly she was a bit of a scruff bag, rather distant and all bleached out in the strong sunlight, but she became a fantastic new addition to my patch list and only the fourth site record in 82 years. With the pollen count extremely high and a moody, teenage daughter to feed I did not hang around for too long though.</div>
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Luckily our special visitor did the decent thing and decided to hang around for another day. On my second visit this evening I decided to approach from the village side of Mill Pool for enhanced views. The bird was pretty obliging as she dived and resurfaced in the slightly deeper channel along the southeast side of this very shallow pool. It was from this position where I managed to secure a few record shots. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long-tailed Duck</b> (female) by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>. </td></tr>
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The <b>Long-tailed Duck</b> is a scarce visitor to the West Midlands region and mainly turns up during the cold autumn and winter months where it can often linger for an extended stay. Sightings away from the main large deep water reservoirs such as Draycote Water, Chasewater, Belvide and Blithfield are far less common. It is therefore not too surprising that the species is extremely rare at Alvecote Pools, a series of shallow subsidence pools left over from the old coal mining days.<br />
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After thumbing through my historic collection of <b><i>West Midland Bird Club</i></b> reports from 1934 onwards, I have managed to uncover the following records for Alvecote, in addition to the most recent sighting:<br />
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<b>1953</b> -<b> Warwickshire </b>- female - 20th December only.<br />
<b>1969</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - male in summer plumage - 28th June to 13th July (The first summer record for the region).<br />
<b>1983</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - 4 x birds part of a large scale nationwide movement - 13th November only.<br />
<b>2016</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - female - 16th June to 17th June.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-42270503449337466272016-05-28T23:22:00.000+01:002016-06-12T10:47:48.851+01:00MEGA ALERT: The BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO on the Western Isles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> by <i><b>Dean Eades</b></i>.</td></tr>
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The drama started way back on the early evening of the 22nd May. As I was cleaning myself up after a hard day grafting in the garden, I heard my pager wailing away from the dining room. Usually, that distinctive siren sound induces a mild sense of panic. It is usual for me to make a mad dash for that flashing piece of retro electrical hardware, eager to discover what mega rarity some lucky 'agent in the field' had located.<br />
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On this occasion however I just continued scrubbing away at my finger nails, donned my Marigold rubber gloves and rinsed out the sink. The reason for the apathy was that over the previous few weeks, the rare bird information services had been suffering from some kind of nervous breakdown resulting in a worrying case of premature 'rarity alert' ejaculation. If it wasn't a message in respect of a goldfish gobbling pelican from some dodgy French circus, it was the unreliable, second hand news of some wide ranging, hand-reared vulture. In my opinion they had been crying wolf much too often recently. To be honest this wasn't even a proper wolf, with a nasty nip, a ferocious snarl and an instinct to bone your leg. Oh no, this wolf was more like the aging, stringy-haired, spray-tanned simpleton who once minced around on 'Gladiators' during the 1990's.<br />
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Eventually I picked up the pager and took a quick peek. Ha, just as I had suspected, an alleged report of a <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> on the Western Isles. Yeah right. What would one of those be doing on this side of the Atlantic Ocean at this time of the year? This is a species that very, very, very occasionally lurks in bare autumnal brambles hungrily digesting its own internal organs in some remote south western outpost of Britain. Even its bill superficially resembles the razor sharp, soul harvesting scythe of doom, wielded by the grim reaper himself. It is a species that epitomizes the terrible fate that most transatlantic vagrants will eventually suffer. <br />
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I was just about to pick up my phone and cancel my pager subscription when I received a text from my pal <i>Dave Hutton</i>. Attached to that text was a photograph by his fellow bird photographing mate <i>Dean Eades</i>. It was a zoomed in head shot of a red-eyed, black-billed, mega rare American cuckoo. <i>Dean</i> had arrived on North Uist just the day before and was conveniently shacked up in a caravan just down the road from the bird at Bayhead. As that Sunday evening progressed, even more gripping photographs appeared on line. I was absolutely stunned.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJgfoaBP4lqCozilrF2UDjMJb3g5O0XiOC5W89oJSoKMlP7yir0wo5cpjxOisuobhaiGDpLtQyj8nE0axIjqObhGw60ovNyKrpO_dTfGT8-UrR8IT_-PAzC1RNz5JpyOZirmud1MtvGs/s1600/image1%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJgfoaBP4lqCozilrF2UDjMJb3g5O0XiOC5W89oJSoKMlP7yir0wo5cpjxOisuobhaiGDpLtQyj8nE0axIjqObhGw60ovNyKrpO_dTfGT8-UrR8IT_-PAzC1RNz5JpyOZirmud1MtvGs/s400/image1%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> on North Uist by <i><b>Dean Eades</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Unusually for me I was unable to drop everything at work during the week
and head north. I had way too much to do, plus my colleagues had
already booked time off with the bank holiday weekend approaching. I simply needed to 'man up' and accept that if I was ever to see a Black-billed Cuckoo in Britain, it would be probably be one of those tragic, emaciated
individuals on some wet September morning or windy October afternoon
over on some gale battered Scillonian island. <br />
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As the week progressed however, and as the bird continued to show well on and off, I needed to put some kind of contingency plan in place. Muted discussions were held between other interested parties regarding the logistics. In the meantime, it seemed as though everyone else who needed this mighty blocker were successfully connecting, whether traveling by the traditional ferry route from Skye, an expensive scheduled flight from mainland Scotland or an outrageously over-priced charter flight from various locations in England.<br />
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By Thursday morning I was getting rather twitchy. The bird was still there and we now had to take the matter seriously. There was a slender chance that the cuckoo would still be present during the weekend, gliding around the Loch Sandary area, picking off the local caterpillar population as it flew from croft to croft. I prayed to the birding Gods, both the old and the new, to help keep the bird healthy and remain safe from harm. A team was gathered from all corners of the English Midlands, me representing Warwickshire, <i>Jules Allen</i> representing Staffordshire, <i>Phil Andrews</i> representing the West Midlands (and sometimes Worcestershire) and finally <i>David Gray</i> representing the king-stealing county of Leicestershire.<br />
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As is usual with such long distance twitches it was <i>Phil</i> 'the birding cyborg' <i>Andrews</i> who would take the wheel, based on the fact that the rest of us would probably be fast asleep by the time we reached Sandbach Services on the M6. It was therefore the least I could do in sorting out the accommodation for an overnight stay on the Saturday. On Friday morning the news that we were all hoping for eventually filtered through, the bird was still present. <br />
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At 1.00am on Saturday morning we all gathered at <i>Jules's</i> house in Walsall to embarked on the long, arduous drive to the Isle of Skye. It was a journey that <i>Jules</i> had already undertaken the week before after spending a fortnight touring both Speyside in the Highlands as well as the Uists themselves. Unluckily for him he had left North Uist just two days before the <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> had been found. His enthusiasm for a follow up trip was not diminished however, bearing in mind the magnitude of the rarity we had in our sights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLUGH7jtqQXmJCpjmisVa_wVdfv13zmkwvJ3341U8vLhhvoJyLWWSHwZnCdY4NsSGA0IGXbh2D5_V2_O95M6L_Gz6HemPmgBwqupCz9Mqjch_iQByACvikhXFbdpNID-8GHO2hiqmeHg/s400/IMG_5754.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Commando Memorial with Ben Nevis in the distance.</td></tr>
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As we passed the Erskine Bridge west of Glasgow it was now light enough for the bird to be relocated. We waited nervously with baited breath for positive news via <i>Dean Eades</i> who promised to be out looking as soon as he could bring himself out from beneath his snug duvet. We were also in contact with <i>Dan Pointon</i> and his posse who were also heading north for the same reason. Then came the message from <i>Dan</i> we were all dreading, there had been no sign of the cuckoo between 5.00am and 6.00am following a search by <i>Paul Baker</i> before he caught his ferry back to Skye. </div>
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There were no such messages of optimism from <i>Dean </i>to eliminate the pain either. By the time we reached Fort William the mood in the car was becoming extremely tense indeed. After filling up with fuel we decided to head to an aptly named Scottish sounding, fast food restaurant to help lift our spirits. </div>
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Whilst waiting in the queue for my McPlasticy egg muffin to be cooked, a scruffy looking fellow emerged from the gents toilets with a huge satisfied grin on his face. His distinctive swagger seemed to exude a certain degree of confidence. Never had a gentleman left a public convenience showing this level of euphoria with an accompanying 'lazy lob on' since <i>George Michael</i> did, shortly before his arrest in connection with a Beverly Hills based sexual indiscretion in 1998.</div>
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No, this is not what you are thinking folks. This individual was not in fact the infamous, unkempt 'Big Issue' selling lookalike of a twitcher known as<i> LGRE</i> but it was our very own long distance driver <i>Phil Andrews</i>. The reason for the glee smothered all over his face was not due to him having been lovingly brought off by in the toilet cubicle, oh no this was way better than that. He had received a message to say the <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> was still present. Needless to say we were all pretty ecstatic. </div>
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With the pressure now off slightly we all started to relax a little and enjoy the occasion. In hindsight this seemed a tad over exuberant bearing in mind we still had nearly nine hours to go until our arrival in Bayhead. We finally reached Kyle of Lochalsh and crossed the bridge over to the Isle of Skye at around 10.00am before making our way to Portree. Here we spent a while basking in the warm sunshine at the Eros Centre while a distant <b>Golden Eagle</b> soared, <b>Raven</b> wheeled over the hillsides and <b>Siskin</b> passed overhead. </div>
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We then made our way across to the port of Uig to pick up our ferry tickets and enjoy a spot of lunch in the bar. More top birds were enjoyed at this location with a pair each of both <b>White-tailed Eagle</b> and <b>Golden Eagle</b> along with the odd <b>Common Buzzard</b>. Out in the harbour, a number of <b>Black Guillemot </b>were present along with a <b>Common Eider</b> and a few <b>Shag</b>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw0_itYW10sMi5BH4_0hIIkTr_LI_NDfN5thhKvOQYlXp_CPo2X_KOub1T6kbvPsxnmHJZT21VTZHqMQSubmoCbjyyrwmUuH9rkr_kIybS0EuROdEPklsuLoHiIpcbKlptQ1Th1A0WQM/s400/IMG_5016.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Guillemot</b> at Uig Harbour by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Due to a technical issue in trying to squeeze a truck on board, our vessel left about fifteen minutes behind schedule. Fortunately though, good progress was made across the calm waters of The Minch and we arrived more or less on time. As a consequence of the fine weather there was not a great deal of birds to see during the crossing. Apart from several small groups of <b>Guillemot</b>, the only other highlights were the odd <b>Puffin</b> and <b>Razorbill </b>along with a few more <b>Black Guillemot</b> and the odd <b>Fulmar</b> and <b>Gannet</b>. Marine mammals made proceedings slightly more interesting with plenty of <b>Harbour Porpoise</b>, a small pod of <b>Bottlenose Dolphin</b> and the occasional <b>Grey Seal</b>. </div>
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We finally docked at Lochmaddy at around 4.00pm. It was then a nervy and frustrating twenty minutes or so before we were allowed to disembark the ferry and sort out our hire car. Typically we were the last party to receive our keys and whilst we were left standing around becoming increasingly stressed out, all other birders were already racing across to the western side of the island.</div>
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Eventually we arrived on site around Loch Sandary near Piable. Judging by the various small groups of birders scattered around, the bird was obviously not on show. There was only one thing for it, we had to relocate the rarity ourselves. With around thirty keen birders and over five hours of daylight remaining our chances seemed pretty good. We met up with <i>Dean Eades</i> who had actually been watching the bird around ninety minutes before we arrived. He helpfully pointed out the area to which it had flown towards. This then became the area most of us concentrated our search upon. </div>
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A further ninety minutes passed by and a touch of tiredness and despondency had begun to set in. Despite us all being pretty exhausted, we continued scanning the fence posts and various clumps of vegetation hoping the American vagrant would reappear. A couple of <b>Common Cuckoo</b>, our more familiar European version, were present and would momentarily cause a snatch of excitement as their distant silhouette propelled their way between the crofts surrounding the loch.</div>
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Suddenly, the purposeful gait of one lonely birder could be seen rapidly making his way across to another group of birders over in the distance. All of them were then seen to quicken their pace away from where we were searching. We instinctively began to follow in the same direction when one of the group came to an abrupt halt, turned around and started waving frantically towards us. </div>
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The chase was on and after what seemed like a lifetime and a near case of heart failure, we eventually arrived to where a small excitable group were assembled. The bird was apparently perched among a tiny clump of willows within a small garden but it was now unfortunately out of sight. A few of us hopped over a fence in order to gain an alternative perspective and quietly and carefully made our way around to the other side of the garden. Here we found <a href="http://joshrjones.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/north-uist-and-back.html"><i><b>Josh Jones</b></i></a> pointing towards a pallid looking shape among the same patch of green willow. I lifted my bins with shaking hands and bang, there it was, my first ever sighting of a <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> anywhere on the planet.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTGI1ViPVfgBlqjJDJ10CoAxQh1NoG7yauW_hIhOLdBWMQfK44P28IaTda4a0ZnPCNG49Q14C-groHGPedKcPJmxDP-62x4-a5karQdQtwFI-OXNhIMAlbx6907AfbENXcZHYU8V4tGw/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTGI1ViPVfgBlqjJDJ10CoAxQh1NoG7yauW_hIhOLdBWMQfK44P28IaTda4a0ZnPCNG49Q14C-groHGPedKcPJmxDP-62x4-a5karQdQtwFI-OXNhIMAlbx6907AfbENXcZHYU8V4tGw/s400/IMG_5055.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> on North Uist by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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The bird stared back at us all, surveying the area with its beady red eye from its vantage point just a few yards away. After about five minutes it then flew out of the willow clump and into a nearby garden where it attracted the attention of a pair of disgruntled <b>Meadow Pipit</b>. This became the theme for the next hour or so where it would perch up for a while scanning for food before moving between gardens and crofts. It would remain on show almost continuously though as it utilised the many fence posts and lengths of barbed wire from which to search for its next meal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzqZgBJplHAWbqAF5i6MzkZAbSw0RjiREd6o_4UAKSDxYzSXYFlyBn75hkL3jT3OnJlML99mB9y9BelKJS15-Aw63fU_BeRx0nABMQJ9bf_UPgV-XrECpKuacT6pcR6lSbFdB-7bNUS4/s1600/Black-billed+Cuckoo3-0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzqZgBJplHAWbqAF5i6MzkZAbSw0RjiREd6o_4UAKSDxYzSXYFlyBn75hkL3jT3OnJlML99mB9y9BelKJS15-Aw63fU_BeRx0nABMQJ9bf_UPgV-XrECpKuacT6pcR6lSbFdB-7bNUS4/s400/Black-billed+Cuckoo3-0297.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> by <i><b>Steff Leese</b></i>.</td></tr>
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We had done it. After a painful week of forced patience, a five hundred mile drive and a two hour boat ride thrown in, we had finally achieved our target. We were a select band of lucky birders to have witnessed a once in a lifetime event, a <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b> on completely the wrong continent during a beautiful British spring day in May. In birding terms it really doesn't get much better than this.<br />
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Between sightings of the bird there was much in the way of smiles,
celebration and handshaking. A bunch of birders from the northwest even
cracked open a bottle of single malt whiskey and whipped out five shot
glasses to toast the occasion. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUChshle_-iVo2bXEr8RLUEvWCQGkDJopsOwkWUn7oYO325Pk-xHXEwtpU2KsfdZlON7KtmoPYYpmCRTHv7gYItulwqpeSG_S42YcYmi1HCPJE2eB78x2M_pmQCOU1b4I6davH-2PaDek/s1600/IMG_5797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUChshle_-iVo2bXEr8RLUEvWCQGkDJopsOwkWUn7oYO325Pk-xHXEwtpU2KsfdZlON7KtmoPYYpmCRTHv7gYItulwqpeSG_S42YcYmi1HCPJE2eB78x2M_pmQCOU1b4I6davH-2PaDek/s400/IMG_5797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prime cuckoo habitat, Loch Sandary by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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As we walked back to the car we could now finally relax and soak up the atmosphere of these magical islands. The sights and sounds of a thousand breeding waders, <b>Oystercatcher</b>, <b>Lapwing</b> and <b>Redshank</b> could be savoured from every direction and the mellifluous song of the <b>Skylark </b>seemed to be on one continuous musical loop. If there is any such place as a British birding paradise, then this is it my friends.<br />
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Wearily, we then made our way south to Carinish to drop off our gear at the bed and breakfast. As we unpacked the car, the sounds of calling <b>Twite</b> could be heard and a <b>Northern Wheatear</b> popped up into view. After introducing ourselves to our friendly hosts we then sped off towards the Lochmaddy Hotel for a celebratory drink of our own and some much needed grub. The birding here though never stops as we ticked off both a handsome male <b>Hen Harrier</b> and several <b>Short-eared Owl </b>on our journey to and from the hotel.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Day Two</b></u></span><br />
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Despite four grown, snoring men sharing a row of just two and a half beds we all slept remarkably well throughout the night. This in spite of me being touched in an inappropriate manner at one stage. Upon peering out of the bedroom window at dawn the first bird we encountered was a quartering <b>Short-eared Owl</b> followed by a single <b>Twite</b> feeding unconcerned on weed seeds just a few yards away. What a great start to the day.... the birds I mean, not the intimate grope.<br />
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We then made our way north to Balranald RSPB reserve where hopefully we would encounter a <b>Corncrake</b> or two. As we slowly made our way down the lane towards the visitor centre we promptly heard our first bird calling away close to the roadside. A stroll back and forth along the same lane produced at least another three individual males '<i>crex crexing</i>' away from the safety of the lush vegetation. Unfortunately we failed to see any bird but that has to be expected at this stage in the season.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrqKYP4FEJTfcwEUcGg5sYkgZRgV9a3fcthi3QARCdViN1XE0TyQeauFyRmYJTFoS39RiElz7EKoLM_TWFx6z6H6A4CTglhj-gVXsW4x72zo9CETcUAhStLYTfNh_Ab_gDv87-IhgHYM/s1600/IMG_5090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrqKYP4FEJTfcwEUcGg5sYkgZRgV9a3fcthi3QARCdViN1XE0TyQeauFyRmYJTFoS39RiElz7EKoLM_TWFx6z6H6A4CTglhj-gVXsW4x72zo9CETcUAhStLYTfNh_Ab_gDv87-IhgHYM/s400/IMG_5090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Gull</b> at Balranald RSPB by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Other birding highlights included a single <b>Whooper Swan</b> and a couple of <b>Wigeon</b> as well as impressive numbers of 'common' breeding waders and their chicks. We were all in fits of laughter at one stage as a young <b>Lapwing</b> chick scarpered away from us across a furrowed field a little too fast, only to trip over and accomplish a triple somersault. I take great pleasure in watching human beings go a cropper, however this was million times better. I'm sure a couple of <b>Rock Dove</b> feeding nearby chortled to themselves too. A few graceful <b>Arctic Tern</b> were present feeding around the loch and displaying <b>Dunlin</b> and drumming <b>Snipe</b> were also a sight to savor.<br />
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Before heading back for breakfast we called in at Loch Sandary again to see if we could relocate the cuckoo. A few mates from the West Midlands were heading over on the morning ferry so we were keen to help out and put their minds at rest. Unfortunately we failed in our quest to relocate the rarity however two more calling <b>Corncrake </b>were heard and yet another <b>Short-eared Owl</b> passed through the area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgli30Oa5u58_htaZJABaMvPb0NFW5vVZS7WSTSQTC-nmIy3CiPsgzioFzdhT4WggtivE6iUNygHIHbQas8_ivKtVfj67RUueNvdJPKGCzKoovUlJ-wHgTxd60NI-opgUAUZZe0WIYoZVM/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgli30Oa5u58_htaZJABaMvPb0NFW5vVZS7WSTSQTC-nmIy3CiPsgzioFzdhT4WggtivE6iUNygHIHbQas8_ivKtVfj67RUueNvdJPKGCzKoovUlJ-wHgTxd60NI-opgUAUZZe0WIYoZVM/s400/IMG_5113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short-eared Owl </b>on North Uist by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Between Bayhead and Criminish we encountered several more <b>Short-eared Owls</b> along the roadside, no doubt hunting as often as they could in order to satisfy the requirements of their hungry chicks. Following a tremendous breakfast we bade farewell to our lovely hosts and made our way south across the tidal island of Grimsay and onto the isle of Benbecula. There were still a few more hours of top quality birding to enjoy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_wn34-kIJueYYabilTC5E0QLWKu3_tqcdDuVMoP8ZulcS5mwCui5olOhyKuvXMSID87Sal7-XhZayRsbYYYYzgzguv6sOH4QWnEI3UpijwJnwCa-vxHvrA2CTcFQkB4kGyyQn33rFN0/s400/IMG_5818.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Uist from the Benbecula causeway by <b>Adam Archer</b>.</td></tr>
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The first port of call was a shallow loch where we hoped to locate one of the most stunning of all the world's shorebirds. Viewing from a safe and respectable distance at the roadside we were soon watching a sexy female <b>Red-necked Phalarope</b>. A few minutes later, this original bird was joined by two rival males who were obviously both keen to attract her eye.</div>
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Whilst admiring these beautiful birds <i>Phil</i> made his way further along the road where he managed to locate another three phalarope. What a result. In addition there were also two flamboyant looking male <b>Ruff</b> lekking away nearby as well as a winter-plumage <b>Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit</b>. Other species of note included a <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>, a pair of <b>Arctic Tern</b> and a single <b>Common Buzzard</b>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-necked Phalarope </b>on Benbecula by<i><b> Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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We then made a quick trip across to the aptly named Stinky Bay, a fantastic place to watch waders feeding along the beach at very close range. Here we found a sizable flock of <b>Sanderling</b>, many of which were in their smart summer attire. Among them were smaller numbers of <b>Dunlin</b> and a similar number of <b>Turnstone</b>. There were also a few <b>Ringed Plover </b>among the usual <b>Oystercatcher</b> and <b>Redshank</b>. Offshore there was a fine summer plumage <b>Great Northern Diver</b> along with a dozen <b>Common Eider</b> and a pair of <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stinky Bay, Benbecula by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, with time running out we needed to make our way back northeast to Lochmaddy in time for the ferry ride back to Skye. Yet another pair of <b>Golden Eagle </b>were spotted distantly from the harbour along with a <b>Common Buzzard</b> and a few <b>Raven</b>. An <b>Arctic Skua</b> passed by heading inland and a <b>Shelduck</b> was belatedly added to the trip list. As the ferry pulled away from North Uist both <b>Red-throated Diver</b> and <b>Black-throated Diver </b>were spotted fishing in the bay and finally a <b>White-tailed Eagle</b> was perched up proudly on rocks as we sailed by. An impressive and fitting end to our short time spent on the spectacular Western Isles. The crossing itself was pretty uneventful birdwise, with the exception of a single <b>Great Skua</b> and a few <b>Kittiwake</b> and <b>Fulmar</b>. <br />
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Then came the difficult part, heading back south on a Sunday afternoon with the customary slow moving tourist coaches and violent rain showers hindering our progress. Not even a hour long traffic jam alongside the western shore of Loch Lomond could dampen our spirits though and why would it? Especially when a <b>Wood Warbler </b>or two can be heard singing as you sit in a stationary car with the windows rolled down and the sun shining.<br />
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We eventually arrived back at <i>Jules's </i>abode just 48 hours after we had originally set off. We had certainly packed in as many birds, as much drama and a fair few laughs during those epic two days. Here's to the next adventure. I can hardly wait.<br />
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<b>THE END</b> </div>
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Special thanks must go to <b><i>Phil Andrews</i></b> for single handedly driving us way in excess of one thousand miles without any assistance whatsoever. Thanks also go to the legend <a href="http://www.birdmad.com/"><b><i>Dean Eades</i></b></a> for his help before arriving on the island and allowing me to use a few of his photographs. Big thanks to the lovely <i><b>Steff Leese</b></i> for the use of her photograph too.<br />
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Also, we cannot forget the finder of the <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b>, <i><b>Richard Levett</b></i> for making his remarkable discovery. Without this amazing find, none of the above would have been possible. Thanks a million <b><i>Richard</i></b>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO</b> in <i><b>Great Britain</b></i></span><br />
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This species breeds from Alberta eastwards across southern Canada and through the northern and central United States south to Oklahoma and eastwards to North Carolina. It is thought to spend the winter in the northern parts of South America, however the distribution is poorly known. It has been recorded primarily from Colombia east to western Venezuela and south to central Peru, though it possibly also occurs in eastern Peru and northeast Bolivia.<br />
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The first record for Britain occurred in 1932, when an 'American cuckoo' flew into a shed on Tresco, Isles of Scilly and promptly expired. <i>Mr A F Griffith</i> then exhibited the specimen at a meeting of the <i>British Ornithologist's Club</i> in December of that year as a <b>Yellow-billed Cuckoo</b>, a species that had already occurred ten times at that point in history. At the next meeting the bird was discussed by <i>Dr P R Lowe</i>, who proved the bird to be an immature <b>Black-billed Cuckoo</b>. The doctor made the new identification from the diagnostic tail pattern of the species. <br />
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If acceptable the North Uist individual will become only the 15th record for Britain. All records are listed below:<br />
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<b>2015 </b>- <b>Western Isles </b>- Loch Sandary area, North Uist - adult - 22nd to 31st May.<b><br /></b><br />
<b>2014</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - Holland House, North Ronaldsay - first-winter - 23rd October.<br />
<b>1990</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Mary's - 10th October (found dead 11th October).<br />
<b>1989</b> - <b>At Sea</b> - Sea Area Forties on Oil Platform Maureen taken into care 30th September.<br />
<b>1985</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Mary's - first-winter - 12th October.<br />
<b>1982</b> - <b>Cheshire</b> - Red Rocks, Hoylake - first-winter - 30th September.<br />
<b>1982</b> - <b>Devon</b> - Barnstaple - first-winter - 21st to 22nd October (caught and released).<br />
<b>1982</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Mary's - 21st to 23rd October (found dead 24th October).<br />
<b>1982</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - St Agnes - juvenile - 29th August (found dead 30th August).<br />
<b>1975</b> - <b>Cleveland</b> - Redcar - trapped and ringed - 23rd to 24th September.<br />
<b>1967</b> - <b>Devon</b> - Lundy - first-year female - 19th October (found dead 20th October).<br />
<b>1965</b> - <b>Cornwall</b> - Gweek - moribund individual - 30th October.<br />
<b>1953</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Foula - exhausted individual - 11th October (found dead 12th October).<br />
<b>1950</b> - <b>Argyll</b> - near Southend, Kintyre - first-winter - 6th November (found dead 8th November).<br />
<b>1932</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - Tresco - immature - picked up dead after hitting a wall - 27th October.<br />
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If you ever wish to see a <b>Black-billed Cuckoo </b>in Britain and you are way too sensible to go rushing off to remote parts of the country, then you do have another option. The first British specimen from 1932 can be found in the Isles of Scilly Museum. In addition to this, the 1950 bird is on display at the Glasgow Museum & Art Gallery and the 1953 bird is at the Natural History Museum in Tring. The only other known specimen, from Devon in 1967, can apparently be found lurking in the archives of Leicester Museum.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4Bayhead, North Uist, Western Isles.57.588226595535573 -7.457689046859741257.58796059553557 -7.458319546859741 57.588492595535577 -7.4570585468597415tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-72225649389509521572016-05-28T21:27:00.000+01:002016-06-01T21:30:39.475+01:00The Black-billed Cuckoo on North Uist by Alex Jones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-20986599724456928752016-02-21T18:38:00.000+00:002016-02-24T19:37:37.334+00:00The HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL & Co in Cornwall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dramatic Mount's Bay from Trenow Cove.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I never need much of excuse to head down to Cornwall, even if it may be due to work commitments. With a quick job to carry out on Monday morning, I decided to head southwest a day early and get a spot of winter, seaside birding under my belt. While it is not to everyone's taste, I just love hiking along the deserted coastal footpaths and doing battle against the elements at this time of year.</div>
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Following a 1.00am departure from Warwickshire and a quick kip at the birder's traditional stop-over site of Exeter Services, my initial port of call was a blustery Stithians Reservoir. Here I enjoyed great views of a mobile <b>Slavonian Grebe</b>, a long overdue 'Cornish tick'. Other sightings included a female <b>Pintail</b>, four <b>Goldeneye</b> and a mixed flock of <b>Redwing</b> and <b>Fieldfare</b>. </div>
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I then continued my journey west, stopping off at Helston along the way. It was here where I could not resist paying the boating lake on the outskirts of town a quick visit to check on a particularly obliging adult <b>Whooper Swan</b>. It is pretty unusual to get so close to this 'wild' species of swan and it will be interesting to see how long this bird lingers at this unusual location. Whilst it did pay a bit of interest in the Sunday morning 'crust-chuckers', it did keep a respectable distance and there was no sign of any rings to suggest captive origin. I am willing to give it the benefit of doubt, like the drake <b>Wood Duck</b> I saw at the same site a fair few years ago whilst twitching a <b>Ring-billed Gull</b>...... only joking folks!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whooper Swan</b> (adult) - Helston, Cornwall.</td></tr>
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Following a quick circuit of the lake I then headed across the road to check out the local sewage works. Up to three <b>Common Chiffchaff</b> were found fly-catching around the pans along with a couple of <b>Grey Wagtail</b> and several <b>Pied Wagtail</b>. Along the perimeter fence, several<b> Goldcrests</b> were spotted and a <b>Firecrest </b>was heard calling several times, but unfortunately not seen. There was also a small flock of <b>Siskin</b> feeding in the birch and alder. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat Cove looking eastwards.</td></tr>
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It was then onward to the quiet village of Perranuthnoe on the south coast. From here I took the coastal footpath west towards Marazion to search for a Cornish mega-rarity. A thorough search of Boat Cove produced just a <b>Little Egret</b>, a few <b>Curlew</b> and a number of <b>Oystercatcher</b>. Undeterred, I then continued my way further along to the more substantial Trenow Cove. Searching this location was a daunting prospect with the vast rocky shoreline easily able to swallow up and conceal a small, American wading bird.</div>
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Further searches produced the same species already mentioned, in addition to several pair of <b>Rock Pipit</b>. There was hope though. The tide was coming in pretty quickly and this would in theory make my task slightly easier. As I waited, I decided to check the sea where a couple of <b>Black-throated Diver</b> showed particularly well on the choppy water. As much as I tried, I could not string either of them into the much rarer <b>PACIFIC DIVER</b> that has spent a number of winters in Mount's Bay since 2007. Other species of note included a pair of <b>Red-throated Diver</b> and several small groups of <b>Guillemot</b>.</div>
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It was while tracking yet another <b>Curlew </b>in flight that my luck suddenly changed. As the bird landed, I noticed that it had sought out a small flock of the same species to snuggle up with. At the edge of this group there was a smaller, duskier looking bird with a stonking eye stripe. This was the bird I had been eager to see, Cornwall's first and only <b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b>. a first-winter individual. The bird initially spent the majority of time sleeping until it was eventually disturbed by the incoming tide. At this stage, fantastic scope views were enjoyed as it poked around the rocks for a while and preened in the open for about thirty minutes. It then took flight in an easterly direction and was lost to view. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hudsonian Whimbrel</b> (digiscoped) </td></tr>
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As I happily skipped back to the car for lunch, I stumbled upon the bird once again, this time in Boat Cove. The tide had also brought in larger quantities of both <b>Oystercatcher</b> and <b>Curlew</b> along with much smaller numbers of <b>Turnstone</b> and the odd <b>Common Redshank</b>. As the water encroached further, the <b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b> became agitated once again and flew high east. This was another opportunity to view its all dark back and rear end, features that distinguish it from our familiar Eurasian whimbrel species.<br />
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After devouring my packed lunch, I continued onward through Marazion and Penzance until I reached Newlyn harbour. It was time for marathon session of <i>Laridae</i> appreciation. Observing gulls at a location like this sure beats a gloomy West Midlands reservoir roost in the middle of winter. You are able to sit back, relax and study the intricacies involved with aging the different species without straining your eyes and developing hypothermia. Having said that, <b>Caspian Gulls</b> and <b>Yellow-legged Gulls </b>are pretty hard to come by all the way down here in the extreme southwest.<br />
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Initially the number of large gulls around the fish market was disappointingly low, however I soon picked up the head of a curious juvenile <b>Glaucous Gull</b> at it peered down at me from the edge of the roof. All gulls then took flight and spread out around the town, calling noisily as they went. These consisted mainly of <i>argenteus</i> race<b> Herring Gulls</b> along with small numbers of <b>Great Black-backed Gulls </b>and the odd <b>Black-headed Gull</b>. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glaucous Gull</b> (juvenile female) - Newlyn. </td></tr>
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Whilst waiting for the flock to settle down I decided to turn my attention to a bit a sea-watching again. In the relatively calm waters off Tolcarne Beach there were two <b>Great Northern Diver </b>as well as the odd <b>Guillemot</b>, <b>Cormorant </b>and<b> Shag</b>. Along the shoreline itself there were also plenty of <b>Rock Pipit</b> and a few <b>Pied Wagtail</b>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glaucous Gull</b> (juvenile female) - Newlyn.</td></tr>
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With the gulls refusing to settle down, I then made my way over to the Penlee Lifeboat Station to check the general area. Almost immediately I picked up the same juvenile <b>Glaucous Gull</b> as before as it loafed among the moorings. Whilst trying to secure a few photographs, an extremely friendly, salty old seadog advised me that another bird was perched up on the harbour wall. No sooner had the fisherman chugged off in his little boat than the second bird appeared and almost landed on top of the first. This new bird was an absolute brute, similar in size to a <b>Great Black-backed Gull</b>, a large male bird no doubt. What a treat it was to enjoy not one, but two of these scarce visitors from the Arctic at such very close range.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glaucous Gull</b> (juvenile male) - Newlyn.</td></tr>
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With a fabulous day drawing to an end, I travelled the short distance around the coast to the beautiful village of Mousehole (pronounced <i>mow-zel</i> in Cornish). It was here I positioned myself at the excellent <i>Rock Pool Cafe</i>, grabbed a brew and started my quest to find a troublesome first-winter <b>AMERICAN HERRING GULL</b>. A bird had been present in the roost at St Clement's Isle the previous night so my fingers were crossed that it would reappear this evening. I have seen this recently split species up in Scotland before, but it would have been a bonus to add it to both my English and Cornish lists.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mousehole - from the Rock Pool Cafe.</td></tr>
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After over a hour of scanning, I finally picked up a possible candidate. This young herring gull type was extremely dark below, with a distinct cut off above the chest, a pale head and a pink-based bill with a dark tip. Unfortunately before I could study it further it dropped down into one of the ravines on the island. I was pretty gutted not to get a view of the wing pattern or the tail. It was all pretty frustrating, but that is 'gulling' I suppose.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>American Herring Gull</b> by <i><b>K Mullarney</b></i></td></tr>
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With the cafe about to close, I joined a small group of local birders up in the car park where most of us hung around until dark without any further sign of the bird. Despite this disappointment it had been another truly memorable 'dawn til dusk' birding extravaganza in my favorite of all the English Counties. It was then time to make my weary way back up the A30 to Launceston to spend the night at my dad's place in Egloskerry.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Michael's Mount selfie!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Trenow Cove, Mount's Bay, Cornwall.50.11451060406052 -5.452625349121035550.094149604060519 -5.4929658491210356 50.134871604060521 -5.4122848491210354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-3916721539005666762016-01-22T18:12:00.000+00:002016-04-25T22:12:02.496+01:00The HOOPOE in the West Midlands region<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"<i>That beautiful stranger, the hoopoe, has found its way upon several occasions into different parts of our district; I once saw one myself near the Dove whilst fishing there.</i>" </div>
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<b>Sir Oswald Moseley, 2nd Baronet of Ancoats - 'The Natural History of Tutbury' (1863) </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoopoe</b> - Wall Heath. Photo by <i><b>Vince Garvey</b></i>.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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On the 25 November 2015, news emerged that a <b>Hoopoe</b>
had been spotted the day before on the outskirts of Kingswinford. A
quick search of a recently landscaped quarry at Wall Heath, on the
Staffordshire and West Midlands border then confirmed its presence. As I
write, this wonderful bird is about to make its two month anniversary
at the location and becomes one of the longest stayers of this species to our region. </div>
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Although
a scarce visitor to Britain, this species is widespread throughout
central Europe, Asia and North Africa. The nominate race <i>epops</i>,
breeds throughout the upper middle to lower latitudes of Europe through
to south-central Russia and north-west China and south to north-west
India. This race can also be found in north-west Africa and the Canary
Islands. Despite being a bird of warm boreal, temperate, steppe,
Mediterranean and subtropical zones, there are over thirty breeding
records for Britain. The last confirmed attempts were in 1977, when four
pairs nested in southern England but failed to fledge any young and in 1996 when a pair successfully fledged three young in Montgomery, Wales.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoopoe</b> - Wall Heath. Photo by <i><b>Craig Reed</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Before the onset of winter this race migrates south to spend the season
in small numbers in North Africa and around the Mediterranean basin. It
is thought that most birds however spend the winter in Africa, south of
the Sahara. It is therefore most unusual to find a <b>Hoopoe</b> spending the winter as far north as the West Midlands of England.</div>
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Despite
the unlikelihood of finding this species in our region during the colder
winter months, we do have other records from this time of year (since 1960) as
follows:</div>
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<b>1995 - Warwickshire</b> - Wood End, Fillongley - 3rd to 27th December.</div>
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<b>1991 - Worcestershire</b> - Honeybourne area - 16th November only. </div>
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<b>1989 - Worcestershire</b> - Offenham Cross - 29th to 31st January.</div>
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<b>1985 - Worcestershire</b> - Droitwich - 11th November. Upton Warren - 13th to 25th November. </div>
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<b>1984 - West Midlands</b> - Kings Norton, Birmingham - 28th February and the 14th March. </div>
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<b>1983 - Warwickshire</b> - Honington area - 23rd November 1983 to late May 1984.</div>
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<b>1974 - Warwickshire</b> - Stratford-upon-Avon - 16th February only.</div>
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<b>1967 - Staffordshire</b> - Cannock Chase Reservoir (now Chasewater) - 18th November only. </div>
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As
you can see from the above, the only other record to rival the stay of
the Wall Heath bird is the one from Warwickshire during winter 1983/84. The Warwickshire record from
1995 runs a close third.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoekJFwkYHGQ5WAmTP0yIHpEbORLcuTVKOkygnY-_gi-qCJSn62jCz7uNqFlN-qfNGAp2aYLUkFU8jiXGrqLIhQSypg4LYbhRXSl7q9uCzor_5rfw-QbTiWqWuot0uXFQlqe8LhN-MdE4/s1600/12376528_675559392586813_3244499078679012860_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoekJFwkYHGQ5WAmTP0yIHpEbORLcuTVKOkygnY-_gi-qCJSn62jCz7uNqFlN-qfNGAp2aYLUkFU8jiXGrqLIhQSypg4LYbhRXSl7q9uCzor_5rfw-QbTiWqWuot0uXFQlqe8LhN-MdE4/s400/12376528_675559392586813_3244499078679012860_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoopoe </b>- Wall Heath. Photo by <i><b>Craig Reed</b></i>.</td></tr>
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The first accepted record of this species for our region was way back in 1830, this was followed by 22 records up until 1933. Strangely, there is then a thirty year gap before a further 58 records between 1947 and 1978, of which 44 occurred after 1957. Since this time sightings then diminished with only 36 birds being recorded between 1979 and 2000. On a more positive note though, there have been a slight increase again with a further 37 records since 2001.<br />
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All sightings since the turn of century are listed below. Please note that sightings from 2013 onward are pending formal acceptance by the relevant County Recorder:<br />
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<b>2016 - Worcestershire </b>- Romsley - 21st to 24th April.<b> </b><br />
<b>2015 - Staffordshire/West Midlands</b> - Wall Heath - 24th November to 31st March 2016.<br />
<b>2015 - Warwickshire </b>- Stratford Town FC, Stratford-upon-Avon - 7th May only.<b> </b><br />
<b>2015 - Worcestershire </b>- Camp Lane Pits, Grimley - 15th April only.<b> </b><br />
<b>2015 - Worcestershire </b>- Cloverleaf Interchange, Redditch - 4th April only.<b> </b><br />
<b>2014 - Worcestershire </b>- Westwood Pool - 26th May only<b>. </b><br />
<b>2014 - Warwickshire</b> - Priors Marston - 14th to 17th April.<b> </b><br />
<b>2013 - Worcestershire </b>- Stourport-on-Severn - 17th to 18th October.<b> </b><br />
<b>2013 - Staffordshire </b>- Kingsley, Cheadle - 22nd April only.<b> </b><br />
<b>2012 - Worcestershire </b>- Coney Meadow wetland, near Salwarpe - 15th April only.<br />
<b>2011 - Worcestershire</b> - Upper Bittell Reservoir - 23rd July only.<br />
<b>2011 - Worcestershire</b> - Baxter College, Kidderminster - 17th and 21st July.<br />
<b>2011 - West Midlands</b> - Solihull - 13th July only (possibly the same as Earlswood).<br />
<b>2011 - West Midlands</b> - Manor Farm, Earlswood - 4th July only.<br />
<b>2011 - Worcestershire</b> - Rous Lench - 15th May only. <br />
<b>2011 - Worcestershire</b> - Upton Warren - 9th April only.<br />
<b>2010 - Warwickshire </b>- Long Lawford - 5th June only.<br />
<b>2010 - Staffordshire</b> - Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme - 4th to 5th June. <br />
<b>2010 - West Midlands </b>- Clayhanger Marsh, Brownhills - 29th April to 9th May.<br />
<b>2010 - Warwickshire</b> - Salford Priors Pits (singing male) - 25th April only.<br />
<b>2010 - Worcestershire</b> - Lower Moors - 10th to 13th April.<br />
<b>2009 - West Midlands</b> - Rowley Regis - 9th May only.<br />
<b>2008 - Staffordshire</b> - Berry Hill Fields, Stoke-on-Trent - 30th May only.<br />
<b>2007 - Staffordshire</b> - Whiston - 10th May only. <br />
<b>2007 - Worcestershire</b> - Upton Warren - 1st May only.<br />
<b>2006 - West Midlands</b> - Reedswood Park, Walsall - 28th September to 9th October. <br />
<b>2006 - Worcestershire</b> - Ryden Farm, near Charlton - 5th May only.<br />
<b>2006 - Staffordshire </b>- Heathcroft, Ingestre - 5th May only. <br />
<b>2006 - Warwickshire</b> - Montilo Farm, Harborough Magna - 29th April only.<br />
<b>2005 - Warwickshire</b> - Moat Farm, Ullenhall - 17th April only.<br />
<b>2005 - Worcestershire</b> - Winyates Green - 13th April only.<br />
<b>2004 - Staffordshire</b> - Bishops Wood - 31st May to 1st June. <br />
<b>2004 - Warwickshire</b> - Woodloes Park estate, Warwick - 14th May only.<br />
<b>2004 - Warwickshire</b> - Sweet Knowle, Preston-on-Stour (pair) - May (no date).<br />
<b>2003 - Staffordshire</b> - Croxhall Lakes - 12th May only. <br />
<b>2003 - Worcestershire</b> - Hunnington - 25th March to 30th April.<br />
<b>2002 - Warwickshire</b> - Meadow Farm, Harbury - 17th to 18th October.<br />
<b>2002 - West Midlands</b> - Marsh Lane NR - 17th to 19th April. <br />
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I make this a total of <b>154</b> records (8 pending acceptance) of <b>Hoopoe</b> for the whole of the West Midlands region for the 185 years spanning 1830 to 2015. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoopoe</b> - Wall Heath. Photo by <i><b>Matt Lissimore</b></i>.</td></tr>
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As you can see from the sample above, the vast majority of sightings for the region, and indeed for the rest of Britain occur during spring. This is wholly expected for a sub-Saharan migrant. If you combine this perhaps with a southerly airflow and cloudy conditions it is not surprising that some birds overshoot their intended breeding destinations. </div>
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There seems to be a shallow decrease in British <b>Hoopoe</b> sightings in recent decades despite more observer coverage. During 1968 to 1998, 124 were seen per year on average but the five highest year totals were all before 1989. This reflects the decline and range and contraction that has been evident in Europe for more than a century and especially since the mid-1950's. </div>
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With the species becoming harder to connect with year on year in Britain, it is always worth a trip out to see one of these fantastic birds, especially if it is relatively local. <i>Nadia</i> and I visited the site on a miserable, cold day between Christmas and New Year. Despite the cool and wet conditions, the bird seemed to be feeding well and looked to be in pretty good condition. I wonder if this individual will repeat the feat of the Warwickshire bird of the mid-1980's and hang around until spring?</div>
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Many thanks to all those who offered me the use their photographs for this blog. Thanks also to those who provide updates regarding the bird's status on a regular basis. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Wall Heath, Kingswinford, Staffordshire.52.505930125988058 -2.188682556152343852.501097625988059 -2.1987675561523439 52.510762625988058 -2.1785975561523436tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-87368364265124434442015-10-17T09:21:00.000+01:002015-10-23T08:30:20.671+01:00MEGA ALERT: The WILSON'S WARBLER on the Western Isles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This epic story began way back on the afternoon of Tuesday 13th October, when news was received of a <b>WILSON'S WARBLER</b> being discovered on the Western Isles of Scotland. I am sure when the finders, <i>Tony Marr</i> and <i>Roy Dennis</i> originally spotted this lustrous, American gem flicking around in a tranquil garden on the Butt of Lewis, they would have been oblivious to the shear panic it would create amongst keen rarity chasers the whole length of Great Britain.</div>
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Having just spent a fortnight off work, trudging around Shetland starring at rarities, there was no possibility of securing a leave of absence from my commitments, especially when I would need two consecutive days to twitch the bird by boat. That evening, after speaking to former Isle of Lewis resident <i>Martin Scott</i> about the how the bird was located, its elusive nature and the denseness of the garden it was favouring, I was resigned to the fact that this was an autumn rarity I may need to pass on.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETK_tRAhDgLemR52GoHerDSd5UMsIJzGEisDBxtUc5iGifYoTpOAMQSNlBMHmosk_gaD6BkO5VAKf5988rp4FBic0R-K9TkMBku6StoN-9qJlx5SbPHUkXeTvCabVgdcrYizGM8ZgASc/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETK_tRAhDgLemR52GoHerDSd5UMsIJzGEisDBxtUc5iGifYoTpOAMQSNlBMHmosk_gaD6BkO5VAKf5988rp4FBic0R-K9TkMBku6StoN-9qJlx5SbPHUkXeTvCabVgdcrYizGM8ZgASc/s400/IMG_2590.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilson's Warbler</b> (first-winter male) - Isle of Lewis.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Stu Elsom</b></i></td></tr>
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As the week progressed however and with the bird still being present I was starting to harbour some hope. Surely it would not linger until the weekend? On Thursday night, following a day of hard graft helping to create <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b> habitat at a local <i>RSPB</i> reserve, I received a message from Worcestershire based, rarity specialist <i>Sean Cole</i>. He was looking to head north, straight from work on Friday afternoon and crucially, he had space in his car. With my usual birding brethren otherwise engaged with more important matters in life, I was extremely grateful to him for coming to my rescue. A few belongings were thrown into the boot of my car that night in anticipation of what potentially lay ahead.</div>
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On Friday morning after a nervy hour or two, positive news finally came through that the <b>Wilson's Warbler </b>was still there. Arrangements were confirmed and before I knew it I found myself up in Cheshire that evening for a rendezvous with <i>Sean</i>, Cornish birder <i>Keith Pellow</i> and fellow Warwickshire bear, <i>Mark Payne</i>. We were on our way to Scotland. It was a huge gamble, especially considering the huge amount of rarities which had been hitting the east coast over the previous few days.</div>
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The trip up to the Isle of Skye passed by pretty rapidly bearing in mind the distance of over 500 miles involved. There was plenty of joviality and laughter despite the worryingly clear skies up above. We were also treated to some remarkable historical tales of twitching legendary British rarities like <b>Brown Thrasher </b>(Dorset 1966) and <b>Wallcreeper </b>(Dorset 1969 & Somerset 1976)<b> </b>courtesy of <i>Keith</i>. </div>
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We also sat there awestruck as <i>Keith</i> relived his encounter with the only other <b>Wilson's Warbler</b> to reach Britain. Yes, that is correct, he did not actually need this 'mega' species for his British list, in fact it was him who confirmed the identity of the initial bird on his local patch of Rame Head in Cornwall thirty years ago. He was the only birder available at the time who had past experience of the species following a trip to Bermuda a few years before. </div>
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Can you remember that atmospheric photograph of a bird peeking out amongst a tangle of leafless branches published in '<i><b>Rare Birds in Britain & Ireland</b></i>' by <i>Cotteridge</i> and <i>Vinicombe</i>? Well that snapshot was taken by the very fellow I was sharing this trip with. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at Uig, Isle of Skye.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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We eventually arrived at a chilly Uig harbour around 4.30am where we immediately settled down for a few hours rest in a peaceful corner of the car park. Remarkably, we all managed to get a reasonable amount of sleep under our belts before dawn broke. Then again, most of us were exhausted after suffering four stressful days of pre-twitch tension and one of us was in a state of heightened relaxation bearing in mind he did not even 'need' the bird.</div>
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In order to pass the time and steady my nerves I decided to have a wander around the village. It had been a calm, star-filled evening. To make matters even worse, reports came through that the <b>Wilson's Warbler</b> had shown exceptionally well the previous afternoon, appearing spritely and full of energy. It had obviously recovered from its arduous journey across the Atlantic and was ready to embark on the next leg of its mysterious migration.</div>
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As I made my well up the hill out of Uig, checking the gardens for birds, I received two text messages simultaneously from <i>Steve Nuttall</i> and <i>Phil Andrews</i>. It was just after 8.45am, a hour before our ferry was due to depart. As I read the first message I leapt into the air with a mixture of pure joy and relief. Despite the favourable weather conditions, the bird was still present. With the other lads down at the quayside I fumbled around in an attempt to share the important news. Frustratingly, <i>Keith</i> was the only one to bother answering my call. In true chilled out, Cornish fashion, he nonchalantly relayed the message to the other birders in the harbour as I headed back down the hill strutting along the lane like some kind of smarmy, birding pimp.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lads scanning for wildlife off the Uig to Tarbert ferry.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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As we boarded the ferry we were all beaming from ear to ear but we all knew there was still a long way to go. After a hearty breakfast and a hot brew we were ready to head up on deck to search for seabirds. The crossing over to Harris could not have been smoother and almost immediately we were enjoying tremendous views of a <b>Minke Whale</b>. There were also several small pods of <b>Harbour Porpoise</b> throughout the journey. Birdlife included a couple of<b> Great Northern Diver</b>, <b>Great Skua</b> and <b>Arctic Skua</b> among the expected <b>Gannet</b>, <b>Fulmar </b>and <b>Kittiwake</b>. There was also the guaranteed sightings of several winter-plumaged <b>Black Guillemot</b> along with small groups of <b>Common Guillemot</b> and <b>Razorbill</b>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the port of Tarbert on Harris.<br />
Photo by<b><i> Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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As we entered the beautiful port of Tarbert we could also make out a pair of distant <b>Golden Eagles</b> soaring over the sun-drenched mountains to the south of the village. It was already turning out to be one of those special days life throws up for you occasionally. Unfortunately there was no time to admire our immediate surroundings and within minutes of docking we were heading north, through the rugged scenery of Harris and onto the the Isle of Lewis. The closer we got to Port Nis at the northern tip of the island, the more tense I become. Just a few miles from our destination we even sped past an adult <b>White-tailed Eagle</b> as it flew adjacent to us near Dail Bho Dheas. Ordinarily we would have screeched to a halt and clambered around for our scopes but alas we had a more pressing appointment.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b>Wilson's Warbler</b> twitch at Port Nis.... civilised hey?<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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As we arrived at our destination we were greeted by <i>Tony Marr</i> and quietly escorted to the rear garden of the property where the bird had been favouring. Unfortunately we had missed a brief sighting by just a few seconds but were reassured by <i>Tony</i> that we should expect it to reappear within thirty minutes or so. As the time passed by and as I stared into a small cluster of stunted apple trees I tried to envisage the bird going about its business but I struggled. It was all becoming too much to handle. </div>
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After a long, lingering forty five minutes or so, there was a sudden movement in the top of a sycamore tree just to the left of us. <i>Sean </i>had got the bird in his bins first and within a few seconds a small group of us were watching Britain's (and <i>Keith's</i>) second <b>Wilson's Warbler</b>. To our astonishment it then flew right towards us and into the apple trees where it fed continuously for over fifteen minutes just a few yards away. We were all absolutely gobsmacked into a stunned silence. Well I say <u>all</u>, one particular birder began to emit various grunts and groans more akin to the disturbing sounds the average <i>NGBer</i> might make upon stumbling upon his first 'jazz mag' in a hide at Cley. I was tempted to throw a reassuring arm around him but I am sure just the slightest of touches would have finished him off.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilson's Warbler</b> (first-winter male) - Isle of Lewis.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Stu Elsom</b></i></td></tr>
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Without warning the bird then took flight to undertake its feeding circuit once more. We managed brief views of the bird around the small conifer plantation next to the garden but it always showed best when it returned to the apple trees. With the pressure off, I then began to savour the crippling views of one of the most memorable birds I will ever see in these wonderful isles of ours.</div>
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By this time, more birders had arrived off the Ullapool crossing with a few others arriving via an expensive charter flight from Nottinghamshire. It was all starting to get a little cramped in the restricted viewing area and so we made the decision to move on. We paused for a while around the harbour in order to take in the wonderful scenery and reflect on the morning so far. It would take a while for the experience to sink in.</div>
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Other species of note around the garden included a few <b>Hebridean Wren </b>and <b>Stonechat </b>along with a calling <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b>. A few <b>Twite</b> and <b>Redwing</b> also passed through along with a <b>Common Redpoll</b> and a <b>Brambling</b>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Nis, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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We then made our way south where we encountered a ringtail <b>Hen Harrier</b> near North Galson before continuing onwards to Lower Barvas to search for eagles. Despite scanning the area around the old cemetery we could only locate several <b>Common Buzzard</b>, <b>Raven</b> and <b>Hooded Crow</b> lurking around the rabbit warrens and sheep fields along with a single <b>Sparrowhawk</b>. There were also 35 <b>Lapwing</b>, 13 <b>Golden Plover </b>and 5 <b>Common Snipe</b> frequenting the area along with a large flock of <b>Redwing</b>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Barvas cemetery, Isles of Lewis, Western Isles.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Late in the afternoon, close to exhaustion, we made our way south towards Stornoway to find our accommodation for the evening. After getting settled in our digs we enjoyed a well deserved lounge and the odd brew before heading into town to celebrate the events of the day. A few beers and single malts were downed and a couple of games of pool were played before we made our way back home for food, more drink and a long night of peaceful slumber. It had been a perfect day of high octane birding. We needed to recharge our batteries for another long day tomorrow.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An endangered mountain Jaguar stalking <b>Golden Eagles</b>.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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As we woke on Sunday morning it had been our intention to head back up to Port Nis for another glance at the <b>Wilson's Warbler</b>. It had initially been clear throughout the early part of Saturday evening before clouding over during the early hours. In contrast to the glorious weather the day before it was now cool and murky. With no positive news by 11.00am the bird had obviously departed overnight. We had succeeded in seeing the bird by the skin of our teeth. You could say we were extremely jammy but in this twitching game you sometimes need to be prepared to make your own luck.</div>
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Despite it being far from ideal raptor viewing weather we decided to head out west anyway. After a quick scan of the mountain range in the South Shawbost area I picked up the shape of an eagle perched up way in the distance. You can always know you have an eagle in your sights when the <b>Hooded Crows</b> mobbing it appear to be <b>Starling</b> size in comparison. Upon closer inspection through the scope the bird was confirmed as a magnificent adult <b>Golden Eagle</b>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vast expanse of the western side of Lewis.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Moving further up into prime 'goldie' habitat we eventually scored with our second adult <b>Golden Eagle</b> in the area. This time we enjoyed superb flight views as it flew slightly below us, into a ravine and eventually out of sight. Once again, <b>Raven</b> and <b>Hooded Crow</b> were everywhere and a single <b>Red Grouse</b> was flushed. After a fruitless search around the beautiful hamlet of Carlabhagh it was then time to make our way back to Stornoway for our ferry ride back to mainland Scotland.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handsome <b>Hooded Crow</b> at Stornoway harbour.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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The trip back to Ullapool was pretty quiet overall with just a single <b>Pomarine Skua </b>and several <b>Arctic Skua</b> being the birding highlights. As with the crossing yesterday, there were also several sightings of <b>Harbour Porpoise</b>. We eventually docked just after 5.00pm but I was still over 500 miles away from home. As with our journey on Friday night though, the hours rolled by pretty quickly considering the distance. Time always flies when you are having a good, old laugh I suppose. </div>
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During a brief stopover in Perth for food, we bumped into <i>Keith Vinicombe </i>and his pals. Unfortunately they had arrived off Shetland just twenty four hours too late and had dipped the <b>Wilson's Warbler</b> earlier in the day. I always feel pretty gutted for decent folk like them who have made such a massive effort for no reward. As we all know too well, this hobby can be pretty cruel at times.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'<b>Team Wilson</b>' (minus <i>Sean</i>) at Carlabhagh, Isle of Lewis.<br />
From left to right: <i><b>Keith Pellow</b></i>, <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b> (me) & <b style="font-style: italic;">Mark Payne.</b><br />
Photo by<b style="font-style: italic;"> Sean Cole</b></td></tr>
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After bidding farewell to the lads in Cheshire, I continued my journey back to Warwickshire alone, finally arriving home around 2.30am on Monday morning. My alarm clock would be sounding at 5.45am but did I care? Of course not, I had had one of the most enjoyable weekends of birding ever, with some of the finest fellows you could wish to meet...... and I had watched a <b>Wilson's Warbler</b> at point blank range, in the autumn sunshine, in one of my favourite birding locations in the country. It just does not get any better than that.<br />
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Extra special thanks to <i><b>Sean Cole</b></i> for driving and organising the trip to absolute perfection, even down to providing evening meals for us all on Saturday night and plenty of snacks to keep us all going throughout the weekend. Also big thanks to <i><b>Mark Payne</b></i> for the laughs and to <i><b>Keith Pellow</b></i> for simply being an old school birding legend.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b>WILSONS WARBLER</b> <i>factfile</i></span><br />
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This species breeds from Alaska south through the Rocky Mountains to southern California and northern New Mexico and east across Canada to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia as well as in some of the bordering states of the United States. It is more common in the west although it is also one of the five most abundant breeding 'wood warblers' in Newfoundland. It spends the winter months mainly from the northern regions of Mexico down to western Panama. It is also found in the extreme southeastern area of Texas, along the upper Texas Gulf coast and throughout southern Louisiana.<br />
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The eastern population of this medium-to-long distance migrant move south to the Gulf coast, which they then follow around to their wintering areas without apparently crossing the sea. The breeding grounds are vacated in early August with the arrival on their wintering grounds from early September. Taking this migration strategy into consideration it makes the chance of a bird being displaced extremely unlikely, as a result the two British records are very special occurrences indeed.<br />
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It was named by <i><b>Alexander Wilson</b></i>, in tribute of himself, and why not considering he was the first person to describe the genus. <i>Wilson</i> (1766 to 1813) was a pioneering American ornithologist and one of the first to study American birds in their native habitats. He was actually born in Paisley, Scotland, just 250 miles southeast of where the Western Isles bird was found. Originally a poet and an advocate of workers rights, he was sent to prison for writing satirical verses attacking unscrupulous employers, the original ASBO birder!<br />
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Upon his release in 1794 he emigrated to the United States where he worked as a village school master. It was at this time he began to collect material for a comprehensive study of America's birdlife. From 1808 to 1813 he published seven volumes of his work <i>American Ornithology</i>. An additional two volumes were also published following his death. He also had <b>Wilson's Storm-petrel</b> (1820), <b>Wilson's Plover</b> (1814), <b>Wilson's Snipe</b> (1825), <b>Wilson's Phalarope</b> (1819)<b> </b>and <b>Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise</b> (1850) named in his honour. In addition, he also laid claim to <b>Wilson's Thrush</b> (1817) until it was renamed <b>Veery</b> in later years.<br />
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As touched upon above, there have now been just two records of <b>Wilson's Warbler</b> in Britain with another in County Cork, Eire during September 2013. There are no other accepted records for the Western Palearctic however there is an unconfirmed report of a sighting in Greenland. Both British records are detailed as follows:<br />
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<b>2015</b> - <b>Western Isles</b> - Port Nis, Isle of Lewis - first-winter male - 13th to 17th October.<br />
<b>1985</b> - <b>Cornwall</b> - Rame Head - male - 13th October only.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My <b>Raven</b> pals at West Side, Isle of Lewis.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Sean Cole</i></b></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Port Nis, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles.58.493811563343975 -6.226694583892822358.493293063343977 -6.2279550838928222 58.494330063343973 -6.2254340838928224tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-46972800563456864802015-10-17T08:30:00.000+01:002015-10-23T08:36:47.936+01:00WILSON'S WARBLER footage by Pete Hines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Port Nis, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles58.49371624779392 -6.226823329925537158.492678747793917 -6.2293448299255374 58.494753747793922 -6.2243018299255368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-8967060060997963202015-07-12T20:29:00.000+01:002015-07-14T21:14:42.998+01:00The RED-FOOTED FALCON in Staffordshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b> (first-summer male)<br />
Brindley Ford, Staffordshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Late last Thursday night, there was exciting news of a <b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b> that had been photographed earlier that day just north of Stoke-on-Trent. Despite a few local birders following up the lead, there was no sign of the bird by dusk. Unfortunately, it seemed as though a regional <i>MEGA</i> had slipped through the net.<br />
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The following morning though, a few tenacious clay-heads decided to give it another shot and at around 7.00am <i>Phil Jones</i> relocated the bird, a handsome first-summer male (the bird, not <i>Phil</i>). It was a very long day in the office that Friday as news, both positive and occasionally negative filtered through. Then came the inevitable gripping photographs from pals who had seen the bird, just to add to the agony.</div>
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At around 3.30pm, I finally abandoned work and took the 'highway from hell' M6 motorway north from Birmingham up to the Potteries. A few hours later I had finally reached the sun-drenched, former colliery site of Chattersley Whitfield and within seconds I was watching the bird. The falcon showed remarkably well as it scoured the area for insects around a horse paddock.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b> (first-summer male)<br />
Brindley Ford, Staffordshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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As the evening progressed, more and more familiar faces showed up to admire the bird. A good number of West Midlanders were in attendance as was the odd twitcher or two from further afield. One of those was the infamous '<i>Andrew Ridgeley </i>of birding' who strutted around bedecked in fake snakeskin slip-ons, Persil-white terry towelling socks, a skimpy pair of goldcrest smugglers and not a great deal else! To be honest I was quiet surprised to see him on site bearing in mind his staunch <i>Nigel Farage </i>style political views. Perhaps this was an eastern European immigrant he actually welcomed making landfall in his precious, 'over-crowded' country.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scruffy miner takes a peek after a long shift down t'pit!<br />
Photo by<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Adam Archer</i></td></tr>
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Other birds on site included a curious <b>Little Owl</b> perched up along the perimeter fence at the back of the paddock, the odd <b>Kestrel</b> and a flock of 8 <b>Mistle Thrush</b>. It was pretty difficult to tear myself away from such a regional rarity showing so well, but with hunger finally getting the better of me and after a few hours of excellent views, I headed back home very happy indeed. At last, I had managed to see a <b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b> in the West Midland Bird Club recording area. This was a long overdue 'tick' for the vast majority of Staffordshire County listers with the last truly 'twitchable' bird being over forty years ago.</div>
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<b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b> (first-summer male)</div>
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Brindley Ford, Staffordshire.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></div>
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Following a strenuous Saturday spent watching non-league football and sampling local cider at an ale festival in Hereford, Sunday was planned to be a day of quiet reflection and recuperation. By the afternoon though I had become restless and after a quick visit to see <i>Nadia</i> and a rather showy <b>Water Rail </b>chick at Sandwell Valley RSPB, I decided to head back up to Stoke-on-Trent for seconds of the <b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b>.</div>
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This time I had remembered to pack my binoculars and bridge camera and not just my scope as I had on Friday evening. Once again, the falcon performed incredibly well for the crowd as it hunted around its favoured horse field. Unfortunately, it seemed as though a few photographers were not quite satisfied with the bird's already confiding nature and had decided to provide a bit of supplementary feeding. As well as the usual mealworms being offered there were even rumours of locusts being thrown into the paddock the previous day. In my opinion it is about time that a bird photographer's 'Code of Conduct' was introduced in order to put an end to such stupidity.</div>
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Between bouts of raptor appreciation there was also a juvenile <b>Black Redstart</b> to enjoy nearby. With plenty of suitable, secure breeding habitat around the colliery site and reports of an adult female bird too, surely this had to be a locally fledged bird.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Redstart</b> (juvenile)<br />
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Chatterley Whitfield Colliery, Brindley Ford, Staffordshire.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b>RED-FOOTED FALCON</b> in the <i><b>West Midlands Region</b></i></span></div>
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This continental species of falcon breeds in a band that stretches east from Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary through Russia as far as the Lena River. The European population is estimated at between 23,000 and 55,000 pairs with around ninety per cent of these breeding in Ukraine and Russia. The main wintering areas are in Botswana, southwest Africa, South Africa and western Zimbabwe.</div>
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Although a regular spring overshoot to Britain their numbers fluctuate year on year. As touched on above though, this is an extreme rarity in the West Midland region and if accepted, the Brindley Ford individual will be just the eighth record for the entire region.</div>
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All previous records are as follows:</div>
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<b>2003</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - Wormleighton Reservoir - first-summer male - 15th May only.</div>
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<b>2002</b> - <b>Staffordshire</b> - Essington Quarry Pools (sex & age unknown) - 27th July only.</div>
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<b>2001</b> - <b>Worcestershire</b> - Westwood Pool - adult female - 15th May only.</div>
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<b>1977</b> - <b>Staffordshire</b> - Brewood - male - 23rd August only.</div>
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<b>1973</b> - <b>Staffordshire</b> - Chasewater - immature male - 28th May to 6th June.</div>
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<b>1967</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - Middleton Hall - immature male - 14th to 21st May.</div>
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<b>1870</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - Welford-on-Avon - adult male - June (no exact date).</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7Chatterley Whitfield, Brindley Ford, Staffordshire.53.078249422575418 -2.177975177764892653.077056922575416 -2.1804966777648924 53.07944192257542 -2.1754536777648927tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-22354414054440538042015-06-29T13:16:00.000+01:002015-07-14T08:13:03.163+01:00The MELODIOUS WARBLER in the West Midlands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Melodious Warbler</b> (singing male)<br />
Mercote Mill Farm, Cornets End, West Midlands.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b></td></tr>
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During the early part of the afternoon on the 11th June, exciting news emerged of a <b>Marsh Warbler</b> singing just a stone's throw away from the private Marsh Lane Nature Reserve near Hampton-in-Arden. A hour later, following better views of the bird by the finder <i>Alan Dean</i> and <i>Nick Barlow</i>,<i> </i>the identification received an upgrade to either an <b>Icterine Warbler</b> or a <b>Melodious Warbler</b>.</div>
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Whatever species it was, I needed both of these scarce <i>Hippolais</i> warblers for my Warwickshire County list* <u>and</u> my West Midlands regional list. Finally by 3.00pm, after close scrutiny of the song and further improved views, the identification was clinched as a definite <b>Melodious Warbler</b>. Obviously, I was eager to leave work and get myself to Cornets End as quickly as possible.</div>
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* <i>Along with the vast majority of Warwickshire birders, I do not recognise the 'metropolitan county' of the West Midlands for bird listing purposes and follow the old '<a href="http://www.warwickshire-dragonflies.org.uk/wdg/odonata.php#ViceCountyDetail">Vice County 38</a>' recording structure.</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Melodious Warbler</b> (male)<br />
Mercote Mill Farm, Cornets End, West Midlands.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b></td></tr>
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Upon arrival at Mercote Mill Farm there were just three other birders on site. After an agonising twenty minutes or so I eventually heard a brief snatch of song followed by fleeting views of a pale-coloured, beefy looking warbler in the bright early evening sunshine. From the bird's uncooperative behaviour I could understand why it had taken a while for the correct identification to be confirmed. Following a further wait of around thirty minutes the <b>Melodious Warbler </b>then showed amazingly well out in the open, belting out its fabulous song from various vantage points on both sides of the bridleway. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Melodious Warbler</b> (singing male)<br />
Mercote Mill Farm, Cornets End, West Midlands.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b></td></tr>
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The rare visitor from southern Europe performed well for a while before disappearing into a patch of gorse and immediate falling silent. As familiar faces from around our region started to gather, eager as I was to see the bird, there was no sign or sound for well over two hours. Then, just as folks started to get a little desperate and despondent, the <b>Melodious Warbler</b> appeared once again, singing loudly just above our heads. The time was a little before 8.00pm. The bird then started to become restless and even left its small territory to fly along the entire length of a nearby hedgerow for a while. Fortunately, it returned to the favoured area of scrub before dusk where everyone eventually enjoyed decent views. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Melodious Warbler</b> showing shortish primary projection.<br />
Mercote Mill Farm, Cornets End, West Midlands.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b></td></tr>
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As I write, the bird is still present (up until 29th June) and is still tenaciously holding territory in a vain attempt to attract a mate. Even when in full song this is a species that is not usually that easy to observe in comparison to its more conspicuous cousin the <b>Icterine Warbler</b>. With a little patience though you can be rewarded with some stunning views, as demonstrated by this collection of fine photographs provided by <i>Dave Hutton</i>. </div>
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During my visits I have heard quite a selection of mimicry, with <b>Whitethroat</b> being the most common. Other species copied include <b>Blackbird</b> (alarm call), <b>Song Thrush</b> ('<i>zit</i>' call), <i>colybita</i> <b>Chiffchaff </b>(contact call) as well as both <b>Swallow</b> and <b>Sand Martin</b> and very rarely the 'zerrrrr' of a <b>Wren </b>has been heard. If any visiting birders can add to this repertoire then I would be grateful if you could let me know.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Melodious Warbler</b> (male)<br />
Mercote Mill Farm, Cornets End, West Midlands.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b>MELODIOUS WARBLER</b> in the <i>West Midlands</i> region</span></div>
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As most keen birders will already know, seeing this species in Britain during spring is a very rare treat indeed. The vast majority of <b>Melodious Warblers</b> that occur in Britain are young birds recorded from August until mid-October following their presumed random dispersal from their breeding grounds in southern Europe. As would be expected, most of the records in Britain occur along the south and southwest coasts of England from Dorset to the Isles of Scilly at this time of the year.</div>
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In Europe the species breeds throughout the Iberian peninsula and France, north to the southern parts of Belgium, southeast Netherlands, southwest Germany and southwest Switzerland. There are also breeding populations on the island of Corsica, throughout Italy and out over to western Slovenia and northwest Croatia. In northwest Africa it can also be found albeit far less abundantly in northern Morocco, northern Algeria and in northwest Tunisia.</div>
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During winter the species non-breeding range consists of tropical west Africa from the Gambia, southern Senegal, southern Mali and Nigeria south to the Guinea coast and extending eastwards to central Cameroon.</div>
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From a British perspective we were averaging around 32 records of <b>Melodious Warbler</b> per year around the mid-1990s however this has now fallen to around 20 records per year, despite an increase in observer coverage. This may well reflect a decline in the species overall breeding density despite a slight increase in their range northeast in recent years.</div>
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Taking all of the above into consideration, it is therefore far from surprising the species is an extremely rare visitor to our region. The only other records are as follows:</div>
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<b>2000</b> - <b>Warwickshire</b> - Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve - Adult - 3rd June only (trapped and ringed) - <i>Andy Hale</i>, <i>Fred Stokes</i> and <i>Dave Stone</i>.</div>
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<b>1996 </b>- <b>Staffordshire</b> - The Westlands, Newcastle-under-Lyne - 20th May only - <i>WJ Low</i>.</div>
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From a historical perspective the first official record of <b>Melodious Warbler</b> for Britain was of a bird killed near Looe, Cornwall on the 12th May 1905. There is a degree of controversy regarding this initial record however as a previous bird was allegedly shot dead some years before on the 30th April 1897 at Burwash, Sussex. Unfortunately this earlier record became tainted as the skin came into contact with the infamous <i>Mr George Bristow</i>. It was therefore later dismissed and rejected as part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings_Rarities">Hastings Rarities</a> scandal.</div>
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Special thanks to <i>Alan Dean</i> for initially finding the bird and for providing all us rarity starved West Midland birders the opportunity to sample an avian taste of continental Europe right on our doorstep. An excellent account from <i>Alan</i> along with a study of the song and identification pointers can be found on his website at <a href="http://deanar.org.uk/general/articles/melodious.htm">Birds In Particular</a>.</div>
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My thanks and appreciation also go to <i>Dave Hutton</i> for letting me use a few of his excellent photographs here. It has taken him multiple visits and many hours in the field to finally get a series of shots he is happy with, being the perfectionist that he is.</div>
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This particular blog post is dedicated to the memory of West Midlands birding legend <b><i>Eric Philips</i></b> who sadly passed away suddenly on the 30th May 2015. A moving tribute to the great man by <i>Steve Nuttall</i> can be found at <a href="http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/Belvide84/2015/05/31/belvide-31-5-15-showery-wnw-3-4/">Belvide Birding</a>. The many comments at the end of <i>Steve's</i> post show just how well regarded he was by all who knew him. </div>
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<i><b>Rest in peace Eric, the birding community of the West Midlands will miss you greatly. </b></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 1970's caricature of <b><i>Eric</i></b> by <i><b>Bryan Bland</b></i>.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Cornets End, Warwickshire/West Midlands.52.420429206781641 -1.666746139526367252.418008206781643 -1.6717886395263672 52.422850206781639 -1.6617036395263671tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-21801465261158068112015-06-29T13:10:00.000+01:002015-06-29T13:57:42.157+01:00Video Footage: The Melodious Warbler by Philip Parsons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-70952664010943298402015-06-15T17:44:00.000+01:002015-07-14T08:10:23.171+01:00The CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING on Bardsey Island - Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A view from Porth Meudwy towards Aberdaron.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></div>
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Whilst stuck in traffic just north of Southampton yesterday, I briefly considered taking a second shot at the <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b> we had dipped just twenty four hours before. Throughout the day I had received pager messages reminding me of the bird's continued presence around the lighthouse on Bardsey Island. I also received calls and texts from frantic mates asking what I was doing and what the logistics were for getting over to the Welsh island.</div>
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With work commitments the following day there was no way I would be able to make it. If I was to put my efforts into a further attempt then it would need to be later in the week. Then, whilst visiting our birding friends <i>Kate</i> and <i>Fergus</i> in Stratford-upon-Avon, my mind began to drift. I knew <i>Nadia</i> could sense my twitchiness and she looked concerned. I joked that we should all head to Wales overnight. Despite the room being full of bird nuts, the house fell quiet and I was looked upon as if I should be sectioned with immediate effect.</div>
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Whilst heading back home something snapped inside me. Maybe it was the fact that crossings on the Tuesday looked risky and the crossings on the Wednesday had already been ruled out due to the weather forecast. I told <i>Nadia</i> that I would text my boss to see if I could book a day's holiday. If by some miracle he would agree to such a ridiculous request at 10.00pm on a Sunday evening then I would make my way over to Wales. Within a few seconds I had received a text in response to say 'OK'! I could hardly believe it. There was now just the small matter of getting a few hours sleep and seeing if anyone else from the West Midlands was crazy enough to join me.</div>
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Initially there was no interest from the usual suspects and other lads I knew who were on their way were already fully booked. Then just as I was nodding off, <i>Jase Oliver</i> texted me to say he had changed his mind. He agreed to be at mine place at 00.45am for an extremely early departure. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaJFcQ5mAFKhKZ5AYuJeTeoB9bLbnrma2oqiHNHauqiZyDL5pegfURLtk4sFIjfB1rbh_Cqk_ogwWUVJlPBZ1BXu-iUwUHHVJyI3HGdlE352C4F2A-I6iI6LAT9THKdSGbMbdYcL4yv8/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaJFcQ5mAFKhKZ5AYuJeTeoB9bLbnrma2oqiHNHauqiZyDL5pegfURLtk4sFIjfB1rbh_Cqk_ogwWUVJlPBZ1BXu-iUwUHHVJyI3HGdlE352C4F2A-I6iI6LAT9THKdSGbMbdYcL4yv8/s400/IMG_0345.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Colin Evans</i> - The man for all your Bardsey boating needs!<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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The journey was a true test of our endurance but sharing the driving and downing a strong coffee or two meant we arrived safely at Porth Meudwy just after 4.00am. There were already plenty of empty vehicles parked up which meant only one thing, the queuing for the boat crossing had already started in ernest. We quickly grabbed our kit and scrambled down to the quayside where we found a crowd of bleary-eyed reprobates shuffling around in the half light. A gentleman with a scrap of paper then lurched forward to take our names. A list had been made and thankfully we were both secured on a crossing. The only problem was, we were down for the third boat which was not due to leave for Bardsey until 9.30am.</div>
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To be fair, the hours passed by pretty quickly with plenty of banter and laughter with <i>Steve Nuttall</i>, <i>Dave Jackson </i>and the rest of the West Midlands brethren. We also received news that the <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b> was still present at around 7.00am which managed to stem the nervousness slightly and keep birders fairly relaxed. The only tense moment came when the boatman <i>Colin Evans</i> arrived and was immediately mobbed by a well known year lister who happened to share the same surname. There were accusations that names had been put onto the list who were not even on site and that the number of folks on the list did not match those of us waiting at the quayside.</div>
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In the end we managed to assure <i>Colin</i> that everything was organised and at 7.30am the first consignment of a dozen eager birders were off. In all, it was agreed that seven trips would be made throughout the day and that would be the limit. Unfortunately birders continued to arrive as the morning progressed. Unfortunately for the latecomers they would need to come back early the following day or find an alternative way across to the island.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The favoured feeding area in the compound.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Just before 10.00am, <i>Jase</i> and I were on site and in prime position at the lighthouse. The word on the street was that the bird had been coming to seed within the compound about every forty minutes or so but would only stay for a short while before flying off again. It was also spotted singing from a patch of gorse nearby but would go missing for agonisingly long periods. The birders already on site were obviously happy that they had connected with the bunting but had been disappointed by the brevity of the views.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of beautiful Bardsey looking north from the lighthouse.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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As the clock ticked away the resident <b>House Martins</b> and<b> </b>the odd <b>Northern Wheatear</b> and<b> Pied Wagtail</b> were the only birds to be seen around the lighthouse. A scan of the gorse produced many <b>Meadow Pipit </b>and <b>Linnet</b> along with the occasional <b>Stonechat</b>. This was exactly the same roll call as Saturday. Over a hour had passed and there was still no sight or sound of the elusive mega rarity. The look on <i>Jase's</i> face said it all. I reminded him we still had plenty of time, as I handed him my hankie to blot away the tears welling up in his desperate eyes. If required, we would be able to stay on the island until 5.30pm.</div>
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Then at around 11.15am a mystery bird flew low over the cropped turf right in front us, bounded over the stone wall and landed in the seeded area. I could see movement amongst the thrift but initially I could not make out any features on the bird at all. All of a sudden, the top of a steely blue head appeared along with a beady, black eye framed by a cream coloured orbital ring. It was the <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b>. I did my best to call out instructions and ensure as many people could get onto the bird as possible. Eventually though the bird appeared out in the open and showed well as long as you were in the right position. Panic then ensued amongst the crowd and I sensed the bird was becoming agitated. After a few minutes of it nervously feeding it then flew off towards the area of gorse and promptly disappeared. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING (male)<br />
Bardsey Island, Gwynedd.<br />
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.bbfo.org.uk/">Bardsey Bird Observatory</a></td></tr>
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We had done it. All of the pain, nervousness and fatigue evaporated in an instant. The dip just forty eight hours previously was now well and truly laid to rest. We had really done it. I turned to <i>Jase</i>, shook his hand and slapped him on his back. He did the same back to me but not quite as gentle. At times like this though I always spare a thought for my pals who are not there to share the moment with me, especially <i>Steve Allcott</i>, <i>Tony Barter</i> and <i>Steve Richards</i> who we had made the journey with on that fateful Saturday. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Twitch on.... that's me in the cream cap!<br />
Bardsey Island, Gwynedd.<br />
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.bbfo.org.uk/">Bardsey Bird Observatory</a></td></tr>
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At last we could now relax and enjoy the occasion but I was hungry for more prolonged views. Finally, about a hour later the bird flew in once again. This time the crowd were more settled and remained deathly quiet as the bird fed happily just a few yards away. The exemplary behaviour resulted in the bird remaining in view for a full twelve minutes. This was ample time to appreciate such a wonderful bird in amazingly beautiful surroundings. The sun had even decided to make an appearance on what had started out as a particularly dull and overcast day.</div>
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We remained on site for a further hour or so but the bird did not return for a third time. With our stomachs rumbling we made our way down to the cafe to grab a bite to each and quench our thirst. After all the excitement and with the adrenaline levels now beginning to get back to some kind of normality, tiredness began to kick in. We took a slow walk back down to the quayside in hope that we could catch an earlier boat back to the mainland.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dozen happy birders on the return trip to Porth Meudwy.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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Other species encountered around the island included a flock of 73 <b>Common Scoter</b> offshore and two pairs of <b>Chough</b>. There were also a trio of <b>Raven</b> in flight over the mountain as well as many <b>Gulliemot</b>, <b>Razorbill </b>and <b>Kittiwake</b> around the rocky shoreline. The odd <b>Puffin</b> and <b>Gannet </b>was also spotted from the boat on the return crossing.</div>
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Well what a hectic three days of early starts, lack of sleep, highs, lows and awesome birding that turned out to be!</div>
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Special thanks must go to <b><i>Steve Stansfield</i> </b>and the rest of the superb staff and volunteers at <a href="http://www.bbfo.org.uk/"><b>Bardsey Bird Observatory</b></a>. They were all really supportive during the 'no show' on the Saturday and fantastically well organised and patient during our time there on Monday. To check for updates please see their excellent blog at <b><a href="http://www.bbfo.blogspot.co.uk/">Bardsey Wildlife</a></b>. A special mention must also go to the boatman <b><i>Colin Evans</i></b> for his efforts in getting as many people over to the island as he could. </div>
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Me (left) and <i>Jase</i> (the other one) with Bardsey to the rear.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Dave Jackson</i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b> in <b><i>Great Britain</i></b> </span></div>
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The breeding range of this species is restricted to southeast Europe and the Middle East. It breeds in Greece, Albania, western and southern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan and spends the winter in Sudan and Eritrea. If accepted this will be just the sixth record for Britain and the first for Wales. We await the first record for England with baited breath. All previous records are as follows:<br />
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<b>2014</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Burkle and Boini Mire, Fair Isle - Male - 27th April to 2nd May.<br />
<b>2008</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - Sangar, North Ronaldsay - First-winter male - 19th to 21st September.<br />
<b>1998</b> - <b>Orkney</b> - Stronsay - Male - 14th to 18th May.<br />
<b>1979</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Fair Isle - Male - 9th to 10th June.<br />
<b>1967</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Fair Isle - Male - 10th to 20th June (trapped and ringed on 14th June).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof of our attendance.<br />
Courtesy of the <b>Bird Journal</b> App'</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Bardsey Island, Aberdaron, Gwynedd.52.7497495863149 -4.799308776855468852.744944086314895 -4.8093937768554689 52.7545550863149 -4.7892237768554686tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-87612178421885943462015-06-14T09:20:00.000+01:002015-07-14T10:33:08.115+01:00GREATER YELLOWLEGS & HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL on the English South Coast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the slight disappointment of the previous day it was time to brush myself down and pick myself back up. The ideal way for me to do this is to get back out in the field as soon as possible and immerse myself in whatever delights nature has to offer. Luckily <i>Nadia</i> was also keen to make the most of her day off and so we decided to get up early and head south. There had been a stunning male <b>BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR</b> of the eastern race <i>melanoleuca </i>showing well in the New Forest, Hampshire yesterday. The plan was to make that bird our priority and then explore the area for butterflies and dragonflies.</div>
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Unfortunately for the second day in succession though, the pesky rare bird had other ideas. As we made our way down the A34, a message was received to say there was no sign of the wheatear. Our tactics were changed and instead of branching off west we decided to head east along the south coast. As we made our way past Portsmouth another golden nugget of rarity news I had been dreading came through. The <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING </b>had reappeared on Bardsey. I was far from surprised and although it was difficult to swallow I was determined to block it out of my mind and enjoy our day. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bee Orchid</b> at Pagham Harbour RSPB.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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The first port of call was Pagham Harbour in West Sussex, an area that carries an anti-Archer curse as far as I am concerned. Over the years, I have always failed to see whatever special vagrant had been there the day before. Out of all the rarities and scarcities that have turned up at this famous site, the best I have done is a singing <b>SAVI'S WARBLER</b> and that remained hidden out of sight all day. As we arrived along the west side of the estuary near Thrift Shelf, it appeared as though the jinx was still in place. An <b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b> that had been showing since first light had decided to fly off and roost on an island and out of sight just ten minutes before we arrived.</div>
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After a scan of the area for a while we managed to find a couple of <b>Whimbrel</b> and <b>Curlew</b> as well as a trio of <b>Bar-tailed Godwit </b>but unfortunately there was no sign of the American <i>Numenius. </i>With the weather looking to take a turn for the worse we decided to cut our losses and return to the site at low tide instead. A quick scan of Ferry Pool on the way back to the RSPB visitor centre produced my first Green Sandpiper of the year, at long last. Also feeding in this area were 6 <b>Avocet</b>, 88 <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b> and few <b>Common Redshank</b>.</div>
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We then stopped of to gather supplies for a picnic and headed back west and into Hampshire where we hoped for better luck with another American shore bird. The sun was now beginning to shine and the temperature increased considerably as we parked up in the pleasant village of Titchfield. After weaving our way through the dozens of irresponsible dog owners and their unruly mutts we eventually reached Posbrook Floods. We were told on our way down that the adult <b>GREATER YELLOWLEGS</b> was showing well however upon our arrival there was no sign. It had apparently strutted off out of sight to roost with the godwit flock. Could our luck get any worse? After trying numerous different positions along the path though, I eventually spotted the obscured bird fast asleep with its head tucked under its wing.</div>
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All we could do was relax in the sunshine, scoff our <i>M&S</i> meal deals, enjoy the surroundings and wait. Eventually, the stunning wader reappeared and started to feed back out in the open where we enjoyed fantastic views. It was interesting to note it feeding with a bit of a sweeping Avocet type motion in comparison with the stop and probe action of the accompanying 70 or so <b>Black-tailed Godwits</b>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>GREATER YELLOWLEGS</b> (adult)<br />
Titchfield, Hampshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Aitken</i></b></td></tr>
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I had only seen one other <b>GREATER YELLOWLEGS</b> in Britain before, a first-winter bird up in Northumberland during November 2011 so it was great to connect with an adult bird in all its summer finery. After feeding for a while it eventually headed back out of sight, much to the annoyance of those birders just arriving. Once again I managed to find it roosting through a narrow gap in the willows but the views were far from ideal. With the afternoon whizzing by we decided to give the dreaded Pagham Harbour another shot before heading home.</div>
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<b>GREATER YELLOWLEGS</b> (adult)</div>
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Titchfield, Hampshire.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Dave Aitken</i></b></div>
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Earlier on in the afternoon the <b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b> had been spotted distantly from the east side of the estuary before flying back towards Church Norton. With the tide now well on its way back out, we were hopeful that the bird would pop out from where it was hiding and show itself for a while. We arrived back on site to find plenty of birders scanning the area but still there was no sign. Whilst <i>Nadia</i> snuggled down for a nap I continued to search the area but once again all I could find was the odd <b>Curlew</b>, <b>Whimbrel</b> and <b>Bar-tailed Godwit</b>. A couple of <b>Little Tern </b>and <b>Common Tern </b>passed through and a <b>Hobby</b> made a brief appearance.</div>
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As we had to be back in Warwickshire that evening to see friends we decided that 4.30pm would be the deadline to call it a day. As the clock ticked away and I began to grow weary from the two consecutive early mornings I noticed <i>Kev Hale</i> strolling by. It appeared that he was also a victim of the evil Pagham curse. Whilst we stood there moaning and feeling sorry for ourselves for while I heard a whimbrel type call. As I lifted my bins there it was, a dark-rumped whimbrel with darkish underwings flying south. Luckily the bird landed nearby amongst a pair of our usual pale-rumped European birds and started to feed.</div>
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<b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b></div>
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Pagham Harbour, Church Norton, West Sussex.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Dave Aitken</i></b></div>
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Unlike the solitary <b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b> I had seen in Cumbria in 2007, it was useful to view this bird in the company of its European cousins. The American vagrant was a sandier brown colour in comparison and had a noticeably longer bill with a distinctive pinkish base to the lower mandible. The head markings were way more defined and there were buffy tones to the vent. It was one distinctive bird indeed. </div>
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We watched the bird for about twenty five minutes as it picked out small crabs from the surface of the mud, waved them around for a while and swallowed them whole. It is always tough to turn your back on a rarity that is showing so well, but eventually we had no choice but to head back northwest. It had been pretty exhausting but nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable day.</div>
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<b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b></div>
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Pagham Harbour, Church Norton, West Sussex.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Dave Aitken</i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b> in <i><b>Great Britain</b></i></span></div>
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Up until 2011 the <b>Whimbrel</b> of the Old World and the New World were lumped together as belonging to the very same species. A split was then announced by the <i>British Ornithologist's Union</i> following research into the morphological distinctiveness and corresponding differences in DNA of <i>hudsonicus</i>. If accepted, the Pagham bird will become only the ninth individual for the British Isles and just the third for England. All previous records are as follows:</div>
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<b>2013</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Mid Yell & Whalefirth, Yell - Juvenile - 30th September to 2nd October.</div>
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<b>2009</b> - <b>Western Isles</b> - Bornish, South Uist - Juvenile - 12th September only.</div>
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<b>2008</b> - <b>Isles of Scilly</b> - Porthloo, St Mary's - Juvenile - 5th to 28th September.</div>
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<b>2007</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Buness, Fair Isle - Adult - 29th to 31st August.</div>
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<b>2007</b> - <b>Cumbria</b> - Walney Island - First-summer - 14th June to 19th August.</div>
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<b>2002</b> - <b>Gwent </b>- Goldcliff Pools - 3rd to 4th May (presumed to be the same bird as 2000).</div>
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<b>2000</b> - <b>Gwent</b> - Goldcliff Pools - 6th to 7th May.</div>
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<b>1974</b> - <b>Shetland</b> - Out Skerries - 24th July to 8th August.</div>
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<b>1955</b> - <b>Shetland </b>- Malcolm's Head, Fair Isle - 27th to 31st May. </div>
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<b>HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL</b></div>
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Pagham Harbour, Church Norton, West Sussex.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Dave Aitken</i></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Pagham Harbour, West Sussex.50.757011215546328 -0.7640647888183593850.754499715546331 -0.76910728881835932 50.759522715546325 -0.75902228881835943tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-27058757585218563122015-06-13T22:45:00.000+01:002015-07-14T10:40:28.934+01:00The CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING on Bardsey Island - Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On Wednesday the 10th of June it was was brought to the attention of Britain's tick obsessed birders that a <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b> had made landfall on the relatively accessible island of Bardsey in North Wales. Unfortunately there was only one brief sighting of this extremely rare vagrant near the bird observatory. Despite an extensive search there was no sign at all during the rest of that day or the following day either. Then, just as we all thought the trail had gone cold, the bird reappeared once more, early on Friday afternoon in the south of the island. A couple of brief views were obtained but the bird was highly elusive and extremely mobile and once again the rarity disappeared with not so much as a sniff of the bird again by dusk.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In preparation of our visit to Cymru!<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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After weighing up the pros and cons of heading to Bardsey we eventually made a group decision to make the journey west and give it our best shot. With my risk assessing brain in overdrive I estimated that we only had about a 5% chance of success. The lads thought it cynical of me but I was just trying to be realistic and not set our expectations too high. Then again, I had a far better chance of seeing a <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b> over in Gwynedd than I did moping around in North Warwickshire. </div>
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After finding a <b>BLACK KITE</b> and seeing a <b>Melodious Warbler</b> in my home county earlier in the week, I knew the chance of something else as mouth-wateringly rare dropping in locally would be miniscule. We were relatively safe to turn our backs on the West Midlands and head across to Cymru for a day. </div>
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After a very early start we arrived at Porth Meudwy just west of Aberdaron at about 7.15am. After a hike down to the beach we were greeted by the familiar face of <i>Steve Richards </i>who quickly informed us that a boat load of a dozen eager birders had already departed. As we awaited the next crossing in the rain, a <b>Chough</b> showed well and the local <b>Fulmar</b> population wheeled around the cliffs providing a bit of pre-twitch entertainment.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bardsey crossing: <i>Steve Richards</i>, <i>Jason Oliver</i> & <i>Jack Oliver.</i><br />
Photo by<i> <b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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On the rapid crossing over to Bardsey we encountered the odd <b>Shag </b>and <b>Cormorant </b>as well as several <b>Manx Shearwater</b> gliding by. As we approached the island we also saw several <b>Puffin</b> with good numbers of both <b>Razorbill</b> and <b>Guillemot</b> too. As we docked we were greeted by <i>Steve Stansfield</i>, the warden of the Bird Observatory who provided us with a plotted history of the bunting's movements and a few rules to adhere to during our brief visit. Following our induction, we then split into small groups to begin the search.</div>
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With the first group of birders having already covered the southern section around the lighthouse we decided to grill the western side and northern tip of the island. As we made our way through the fields dodging the sheep and cattle we could see that both <b>Meadow Pipit</b> and <b>Linnet </b>were present in decent numbers along with several <b>Northern Wheatear</b> and the odd <b>Stonechat</b>. Every single passerine we encountered was scrutinised. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site of St Mary's Abbey.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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Although the island is just over a mile long and only half a mile at its widest point, it was soon pretty evident that a degree of luck, as well as hard work would be required if we were to relocate the rarity, especially with the blustery and damp weather conditions. As we approached the old ruins of the 13th century St Mary's Abbey, I stopped briefly to pay homage to the 20,000 Saints that the island is known for. Maybe one of them could take control of my spiritual side and point me in the right direction? With only thirty other birders bothering to make the journey to Bardsey we needed all the assistance we could muster, whether it be alive or dead.</div>
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A steady walk scanning Mynydd Enill, the rocky, gorse strewn ridge along the east of the island looked pretty good for harbouring a <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b>. All we could find though were the usual suspects, mainly <b>Meadow Pipits</b> and <b>Linnets </b>along with the occasional pair of <b>Chough</b>. After a quick search around the Bird Observatory, <i>Steve Richards</i> and I decided to head back south and concentrate around the lighthouse and the southerly tip.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bardsey Lighthouse (built 1821)<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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The area around the lighthouse was busy with feeding <b>Oystercatcher</b>, <b>Linnet</b>, <b>Meadow Pipit</b>, <b>Northern Wheatear</b> and <b>House Martin</b>. There was also the odd pair of <b>Rock Pipit</b>, <b>Pied Wagtail </b>and <b>Stonechat</b> along with a few <b>Starling</b>. Offshore there were a scattering a <b>Shelduck </b>and an estimated 30 <b>Grey Seals</b> loafing in the bay. Despite our best efforts there was no sign of our target bird and so we concluded the search back along the main track that runs north to south along the length of the island.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Seal</b> on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Seals</b> on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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After just over three hours of searching, our time on the island had come to an end. Although disappointed at not seeing a <b>CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING</b>, I had thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Bardsey is a beautiful island full of character and history. In medieval times, it was said that three pilgrimages to Bardsey had the equivalent benefit to the soul as one to Rome. I was convinced that the bird was still lurking in some quiet area of Ynys Enlli (Welsh for 'the island in the currents') and I had a sneaky, little feeling that a second pilgrimage would be required sometime soon. I honesty did not believe we had heard the last of this elusive visitor from southeast Europe.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bardsey Island, Aberdaron, Gwynedd.52.754684851109104 -4.7925281524658252.7498793511091 -4.80261315246582 52.759490351109108 -4.78244315246582tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-61287076859466463212015-05-08T21:05:00.000+01:002015-05-17T18:18:37.323+01:00The ROCK PTARMIGAN of Cairngorm National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The early morning mist over Loch Garten.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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After the rigours of the previous day, it was quite a struggle to roll out of bed this morning, especially as the temperature outdoors was way below zero. To make matters even worse, a quick glance of the early morning news confirmed my worst fears. We were to suffer another five years of tory rule and this time they had even managed a clear majority. I was determined not to let the election result get me down too much and after scraping a thick layer of ice off my windscreen, we carefully made our way south to Loch Garten RSPB. </div>
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From a bitterly cold visitor centre we soon picked up a couple of <b>Osprey</b> perched up near the famous high security nest site, silhouetted against the rising sun. Unfortunately there was no sign of any <b>Capercaillie</b> during our brief visit but we did see an alpha male via the CCTV set up. In order to help thaw out our toes, we decided to take a hike around the woodland adjacent to the loch. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nadia</i> freezes in the forest!<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Despite our best efforts we failed in our quest to find any <b>Crested Tits</b> but it was great to see and hear a couple of <b>Cuckoo</b> around the forest. Unfortunately it is becoming a species we are now very lucky to connect with back home in the west midlands of England. Other species included a few <b>Greylag Geese</b> out on the loch, male and female <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b>, a <b>Treecreeper</b> and a displaying <b>Tree Pipit</b>. There were also plenty of <b>Willow Warbler</b> in song and<b> Siskin</b> calling as they flew overhead. Having now worked up a healthy appetite it was now time to head back to our accommodation in Grantown, warm ourselves up a little and tuck into some rather special Highland smoked kippers for breakfast.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nadia</i> taking a quick breather on the way up.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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After a hearty feast we were ready for action once more. We decided we would take advantage of the beautiful, clear weather conditions and take a hike around the Cairngorm mountain range. A good proportion of birders tend to cheat a little and take the train up the mountainside from the ski centre. We like to do things the traditional way however, and after making sure we were well wrapped up, commenced our trek up towards the Cairn Lochan area. There were plenty of <b>Northern Wheatear</b> and <b>Meadow Pipit</b> as we made our way along the track together with a few pairs of <b>Red Grouse</b>.</div>
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Finally, after about ninety minutes of hard toil, the slopes that were once dominated by the growth of heather further down gave way to a more barren, rock strewn terrain. We had now entered the habitat of our target species. A few moments later whilst pausing for a rest, <i>Nadia</i> frantically waved at me, then pointed to an area just to my left. As I lifted my binoculars I immediately picked up a pair of <b>Rock Ptarmigan</b> slowly picking their way amongst the boulders right next to the hiking trail. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rock Ptarmigan</b> (male)<br />
Cairngorm National Park, Highland.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rock Ptarmigan</b> (female)<br />
Cairngorm National Park, Highland.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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No matter how many times I see these birds it is always a huge thrill just to sit quietly for a while and admire them going about their business, usually at very close range. This a species that seems to ignore any birder or curious walker invading their territory for a short while. They just slowly strut around their bleak surroundings with a certain degree of confidence. They have every right to appear so self assured too as this remarkable animal can withstand weather conditions in winter that would cause the average ill-equipped human to perish within a matter of hours. </div>
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<b>Rock Ptarmigan</b> (male)</div>
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Cairngorm National Park, Highland.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></div>
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Despite their confiding nature it is always important not to cause any undue disturbance to these birds. I find that if you just position yourself nearby, keep quiet and very still they may even come over towards you, given a little time and patience. There is no other experience quiet like it in British birding just to soak up the sights of such wild scenery and a<b> Rock Ptarmigan</b> or two combined with the sound of the wind, the <i>cronk</i> of a <b>Raven </b>and the <i>croak</i> of this hardy, little grouse.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pointing out another pair of <b>Rock Ptarmigan</b>!<br />
Photo by <i><b>Nadia Shaikh</b></i></td></tr>
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The name ptarmigan originates from the Scottish Gaelic word <i>tarmachan</i>, which actually means croaker. The silent '<i>p</i>' was added in 1694 by <i>Sir Robert Sibbald</i>, a professor of medicine at the University of Edinburgh through his influence of the Greek language. The first part of its scientific name <i>Lagopus</i> is derived from the Ancient Greek meaning 'hare' (<i>lagos</i>) and 'foot' (<i>pous</i>) in reference to its mammal like legs and feet. The second part <i>muta</i> comes from the modern latin word mute in reference again to croaking song of the male <b>Rock Ptarmigan</b>. </div>
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<b>Rock Ptarmigan</b> (male)</div>
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Cairngorm National Park, Highland.</div>
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Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></div>
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In all we managed to see at least six different birds, including four males. I am sure we could have found many more but unfortunately the icy conditions became pretty dangerous the higher we ascended into the snow. With the breeze picking up slightly and the effects of breakfast starting to fade we decided to slowly edge back down to the ski centre. Once again, we managed to see several <b>Red Grouse</b> at lower altitudes and we were also lucky to chance upon a pair of <b>Ring Ouzel</b> as we approached the car park. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nadia</i> with Loch Morlich in the distance.<br />
Photo by <b>Adam Archer</b></td></tr>
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Before embarking on a late afternoon session of woodland birding we made our way to our favourite eating place in the area, <a href="http://mountaincafe-aviemore.co.uk/">The Mountain Cafe</a> in Aviemore. The food there is absolutely amazing and is just what you need after a hard day of Highland birding. We thoroughly recommend it.<br />
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Afterwards we made our way over towards Loch Garten and took the long, bumpy track down to Forest Lodge. A long, slow walk around the pristine Caledonian pine forest there finally produced a pair of <b>Crested Tit</b> showing well and constantly calling. Other highlights included a calling <b>Capercaillie</b> (not seen), a handsome male <b>Common Redstart</b> and singing <b>Tree Pipit</b>. Other species included a couple of <b>Cuckoo</b>, several <b>Siskin</b> and over a dozen <b>Willow Warblers</b>.<br />
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It was then back to our wonderful home from home, <a href="http://www.kinrosshouse.co.uk/">Kinross House</a> in Grantown to enjoy a hot shower, put our feet up and toast the day with a dram of single malt whisky or two.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-81359520457662609712015-05-07T22:41:00.000+01:002015-07-14T08:40:59.379+01:00The HARLEQUIN DUCK & KING EIDER in Aberdeenshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As a staunch socialist I had feared the worst about todays General Election result for weeks. I had a terrible feeling that those slimy, fox hunt supporting, badger culling, anti 'green crap' Tories would sneak into power for another five, long years. With that in mind, <i>Nadia</i> and I decided to escape the millions of avaricious, self-centred English for a few days and join our more forward thinking brothers and sisters north of the border.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Don - complete with <i>Nadia</i> and the <b>Harlequin Duck</b>.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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We took turns at driving through the night and finally arrived in the granite city of Aberdeen just after 6.30am. Our first port of call was the wonderful Seaton Park in the north of the city where hopefully we would find the long staying first-winter drake <b>HARLEQUIN DUCK</b>. This particular bird had initially been located along this stretch of the River Don back on the 4th January 2015 and since this time had slowly moulted into a handsome looking bird. </div>
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Unfortunately one of our pals <i>Jules Allen</i> had dipped the bird twice in recent days so we prepared ourselves for a long, thorough search despite our tiredness following the long drive north. After an unsuccessful scan of the white water off the old toilet block, we decided to head downstream as far we could and then slowly make our way back. Incredibly though, within minutes of setting off for the hike, our main target was flying upstream towards us. We enjoyed a close pass but then lost the bird as it continued at pace around the corner and out of sight. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>HARLEQUIN DUCK</b> (first-winter male)<br />
River Don, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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We then headed back up river towards the recently developed housing estate around Papermill Grove. Despite the construction work going on in the area, most of the riverbank was still accessible and it was not too long until we were watching the bird once again. The <b>HARLEQUIN DUCK</b> then continued to perform like a dream as it dived for food beneath the surface of this fast-flowing river just yards away. The energy it must use whilst swimming against the force of the water must be huge but the morsels of food it was finding were obviously well worth the effort. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nadia</i> looks on in amazement!<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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After a thirty minute feeding frenzy the bird had obviously eaten enough for breakfast and started to meander downstream a short distance. It then began to preen in order to ensure its plumage was in tip-top condition for the next strenuous search for food. At this stage the bird just loafed around a short distance away before resting up on the riverbank, completely oblivious to <i>Nadia</i> and I standing there with huge smiles of satisfaction beaming across our faces. We soaked up the views for a short while before taking the decision to let it rest undisturbed.</div>
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Other birds along the river included a <b>Dipper </b>feeding nearby, a couple of <b>Common Sandpiper</b> and a <b>Kingfisher</b> flying downstream. In the park itself there were a couple of pairs of <b>Oystercatcher</b>, a single <b>Stock Dove</b>, the odd singing <b>Blackcap</b> and a <b>Treecreeper</b> was also spotted. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>HARLEQUIN DUCK</b> (first-winter male)<br />
River Don, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>HARLEQUIN DUCK</b> (first-winter male)<br />
River Don, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.<br />
Photo by <i><b>Adam Archer</b></i></td></tr>
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After a celebratory breakfast we then continued north to the village of Newburgh for our next main target of the day. Despite the glorious sunshine there was a strong north-westerly breeze to contend whilst I scanned the Ythan Estuary from the end of Inch Road. There were plenty of <b>Common Eider</b> feeding as the water drained from the estuary on the ebbing tide, as well as the odd group of <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b>. Shorebirds included a couple of <b>Whimbrel </b>and <b>Bar-tailed Godwit</b> along with larger numbers of <b>Oystercatcher</b>, <b>Redshank</b> and <b>Curlew</b>. In addition there was a large gathering of <b>Arctic Tern</b> towards the inlet with smaller quantities of <b>Common Tern</b> amongst them.</div>
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I was just about to throw in the towel and head over to an alternative viewpoint when I finally spotted the species we were both hoping for, a stunning, summer-plumaged drake <b>KING EIDER</b>. This species of the Arctic coastline of Europe, Asia and North America has been making regular appearances in this particular area of Aberdeenshire since 1967. I have called in to see this very same bird before during previous trips to Scotland but never had I enjoyed such fantastic views. Usually it just seems to sit there asleep on a distant sandbank but on this occasion it showed just fifty yards away feeding well on small crustaceans.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>KING EIDER</b> (summer-plumaged adult male)<br />
Ythan Estuary, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Whilst soaking up the rare sea duck from further north, a trio of <b>Long-tailed Duck</b> flew in to feed at the waters edge. Upon closer inspection the group consisted of two, full summer plumaged males, complete with their flamboyant tail plumes and a single female. To be quite honest I could have stood there watching the constantly changing scene for the rest of the day but with the winds getting stronger we decided to continue our journey further north once more.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view looking north from Portsoy harbour.<br />
Photo by<b><i> Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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After a short journey towards the northern coast of Aberdeenshire we arrived in the former fishing village of Portsoy around lunchtime. After a quick nap on the quayside we braved the blustery conditions to scan for our final rarity of the day. This location has been a regular spot for <b>WHITE-BILLED DIVERS</b> over the past few years and only last month, numbers reached double figures. It is usually best to view the birds from one of the boat trips that are organised occasionally but there was no way any small boat was leaving the harbour today. Despite a few hours meticulously scanning the rolling swell I failed in my quest to find a single bird. The only divers I saw was an extremely distant <b>Great Northern Diver </b>and the odd <b>Red-throated Diver</b> flying past. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Eider </b>(summer-plumaged adult male)<br />
Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Seabirds offshore included many <b>Gannet </b>and <b>Fulmar</b>, <b>Shag</b> and <b>Cormorant</b>. There were also small numbers of <b>Common Eider</b>, <b>Guillemot</b>, <b>Razorbill</b> and three <b>Sandwich Terns </b>flew west. There were also a couple of pairs of <b>Rock Pipit</b> singing their hearts out and showing well around the harbour. The only wader species noted was a mobile flock of <b>Turnstone</b>. With the conditions refusing to settle down and with <i>Nadia</i> threatening to spend a fortune in a local pottery shop it was time to make a move.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sea Thrift</b> along the harbour walls.<br />
Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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Around tea time we eventually arrived at our cosy bed & breakfast in Grantown-on-Spey. Despite us both being pretty exhausted, we decided to take advantage of the long, spring days and after guzzling a quick brew, we headed out into the nearby Anagach Woods. It is always a privilege to take a relaxing stroll through such pristine ancient woodland with its incredible sights, sounds and smells. Sometimes actually pinning down a few birds to see comes second to just absorbing the atmosphere of such wonderful surroundings. </div>
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After a bite to eat in Grantown, the day ended with our final species of the day, three fantastic <b>Woodcock</b> spotted displaying from our bedroom window as we prepared for a well deserved night of slumber. It was to be another early start for us the following day.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Seaton Park, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.57.174975626863315 -2.1111238002777157.174437626863316 -2.11238430027771 57.175513626863314 -2.10986330027771tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695721526615474268.post-19144772096105877452015-05-04T21:38:00.000+01:002015-07-14T08:49:46.134+01:00The RED-THROATED PIPIT in Derbyshire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday, whilst down in Somerset, our relaxing meander around the wonderful Avalon Marshes was rudely interrupted by some snippets of pesky bird news. Firstly, the gentleman who stood next to us whilst we were watching the <b>HUDSONIAN GODWIT</b> announced there was a <b>WHISKERED TERN</b> at Draycote Water, a long overdue 'Warwickshire tick' for me. Later in the morning, surprising news emerged from the border of Derbyshire and Greater Manchester that a summer-plumaged <b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> had been located by a birder surveying <b>Northern Wheatears</b> on Ludworth Moor. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgf8lcrg4GfCVXh1LJWqNhBWZKaDO4BkGCf9Q11n-uhFn8PdHT0b1jH9jEfaQui2aL6ACeH1b0A3lQbKwVsR_xhPF3FgKnE6G1xd3psxwnZvuPaW1tPEkoBvZ14ul7etQwGR06pSj798/s1600/_M1Z6361_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgf8lcrg4GfCVXh1LJWqNhBWZKaDO4BkGCf9Q11n-uhFn8PdHT0b1jH9jEfaQui2aL6ACeH1b0A3lQbKwVsR_xhPF3FgKnE6G1xd3psxwnZvuPaW1tPEkoBvZ14ul7etQwGR06pSj798/s400/_M1Z6361_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> (summer male)<br />
Ludworth Moor, Derbyshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b>.</td></tr>
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We were having a great time in the west country though, so there was no way we would be making a move back north until sundown. There was simply far much to enjoy around Ham Wall RSPB and Shapwick Heath NNR with booming <b>Bittern</b>, bubbling <b>Whimbrel</b> and hawking <b>Hobby</b> just a few of the highlights. It was also great to enjoy a laugh or two with a few familiar faces from the East Midlands, West Midlands, Devon and Lancashire while were down there too.</div>
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Obviously with birding, there are many ups but inevitably there will be the occasional down. Unfortunately I missed out on a <b>Kentish Plover</b> in the high tide wader roost at Stert Point at dusk. This was probably due to a couple of twonks disobeying instructions and disturbing the shorebirds earlier on in the day. Due to my insatiable appetite for dirty 'aviphoric' fixes I needed a positive to cancel out this minor negative. It seemed as though the aforementioned <b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> had gone to roost. Surely it was worth a punt on paying it an early morning visit? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ludworth Moor, Derbyshire/Greater Manchester<br />
Photo by <b><i>Adam Archer</i></b></td></tr>
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At 6.30am, <i>Dave Hutton</i> and his lovely birding companion <i>Donna</i> picked me up and we were off. I had a feeling we were in for a pretty good day as a female <b>Peregrine</b> followed us down our street. Following a leisurely drive through the rolling Derbyshire landscape and such picturesque towns as Ashbourne and Matlock we arrived and Ludworth Moor in under a couple of hours. Just a few minutes previously we had received the news we had all been waiting for, the bird was still present. To be honest I had visions of it awaking from its roost amongst the sedge and continuing with its northerly migration as soon as the sun was up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpmTLEd7s6SDwWMCZcwUabauuuAGp7hU1BST3HfYfVgJpx1JL0yq254KRDX59NYBAUbFeAiD1mgd2GDZHEUuBFYSbsPhs5OWtbEj5m1wCsi4SxmD0H1MlwQ8nY69AD_FVUQ2swCKzH2I/s1600/_M1Z6347_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpmTLEd7s6SDwWMCZcwUabauuuAGp7hU1BST3HfYfVgJpx1JL0yq254KRDX59NYBAUbFeAiD1mgd2GDZHEUuBFYSbsPhs5OWtbEj5m1wCsi4SxmD0H1MlwQ8nY69AD_FVUQ2swCKzH2I/s400/_M1Z6347_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> (summer male)<br />
Ludworth Moor, Derbyshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b>.</td></tr>
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Within minutes of strolling up to the birds favoured sheep field I heard the distinctive drawn out '<i>peeeez</i>' call but where on earth was the bird? I looked around skyward but failed to see any pipit in flight, only for another birder to shout out that it was perched on the drystone wall just a few yards away. The bird then flew a short distance and began feeding amongst a couple of <b>Northern Wheatear</b>. There it was, a stunningly beautiful summer-plumaged <b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b>. The bird then performed like a star in front of no more than twenty other mesmerised birdwatchers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ayoqHgJ4zy2TajGrSlTEw_9PU47CF-TSyfLqjVkddMHI_STU4wxnMLkeitCioRQTFZLDOx72aGb1obx2m_2cYKIeUjgzJhQJCjrURiY_HqAzddivBB93R1zGdH6KnkQ3PEzqxqhq6Ro/s1600/_M1Z6539_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ayoqHgJ4zy2TajGrSlTEw_9PU47CF-TSyfLqjVkddMHI_STU4wxnMLkeitCioRQTFZLDOx72aGb1obx2m_2cYKIeUjgzJhQJCjrURiY_HqAzddivBB93R1zGdH6KnkQ3PEzqxqhq6Ro/s400/_M1Z6539_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> (summer male)<br />
Ludworth Moor, Derbyshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b>.</td></tr>
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As a few other cars pulled onto Gun Road the bird flew once more and disappeared out of sight. It was then over a hour before it was relocated again much to the relief of those latecomers who had waited on positive news before making the trip. As before, the bird showed very well indeed as it picked around for morsels of food amongst a small flock of <b>Meadow Pipit</b>. At one stage it even sat stationary for about ten minutes and appeared to utter a quiet sub-song, confirming my suspicions that it was indeed a male bird.</div>
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Although not a new British species for me it did almost feel like one. I had only seen one other <b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> well before, a first-winter individual on Mainland Shetland during October 2008. I had also heard other birds in flight on the Isles of Scilly and Shetland over the years. This really goes to show that it is far from being an easy species to see in Britain these days despite it breeding as close to us as northern Scandinavia.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RED-THROATED PIPIT</b> (summer male)<br />
Ludworth Moor, Derbyshire.<br />
Photo by <b><i>Dave Hutton</i></b>.</td></tr>
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Thanks to <i>Dave </i>and <i>Donna</i> for putting up with me for the day and for the lift up north. A big sloppy kiss to <i>Dave</i> too for letting me use his excellent photographs of such a stunning rarity.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5Ludworth Moor, Derbyshire/Greater Manchester.53.415466338641082 -2.001657485961914153.41310033864108 -2.0066999859619141 53.417832338641084 -1.996614985961914