North Wales Holiday, March 2017

I have just got back from a birding holiday in North Wales. The cottage was within half a mile of an estuary, and a stream ran literally past the front door. The stream had some very nice birds, including Dipper and Grey Wagtail, and occasionally the odd Grey Heron flew up stream. Lower down, near the estuary, the stream held a pair of Goosander. I went for a day trip to Lake Vyrynwy RSPB, and found a Great Tit's nest in a sand bank. Also, out of the Capel Coed hide, on the feeders, I saw large numbers of Siskins, as well as a handful of Chaffinches, and a male Pheasant, plus numerous squirrels feeding on the ground. Back on the estuary, I saw Little Egret, Oystercatchers aplenty, and at least five Red-breasted Mergansers, many Mallards, and similar numbers of Canada Geese, without anything of interest among them. Also in the way of ducks, there were several Shelduck, and even a surprise Pintail. Whilst on holiday, I saw my 100th bird of 2017 - Treecreeper in the trees near the cottage. It was a little surprising to have such a common species as my 100th, but all the same a nice little bird, and later on I found three plus in the same area.

Cuckmere Haven 01/03/2017

Awful weather today, to visibility was poor. Despite all this, there were plenty of birds to be seen, although mainly on the water, as the passerines appeared to be (sensibly) taking to  the shelter of the sparse bushes and trees. The only birds that were not sheltering the storm were a couple of Meadow Pipits, which kept us amused when there was nothing else to be seen. The best birds of the windswept area were a single adult Mediterranean Gull, and a Glaucous Gull on the meanders, and there were at least two Snipe on the lagoons, along with the best bird of the day, which was a single GREAT WHITE EGRET, which was braving the rain on the lagoon.

Beachy Head and the Pevensey Levels 15/02/17

Today I went down to a windswept Beachy Head, where there was not much around. There were at least four pairs of singing Skylarks around the visitor centre, where my trip was mostly based. The other common birds were a pair of Pied Wagtails on the roof of the buildings, and a few Meadow Pipits that flew over. Of course there were several gulls milling around, mostly Herring Gulls, but I picked out at least one each of Common, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls amongst them. The most exciting bird on Beachy Head was, however, a single Twite (local rarity) that was flying around the rough grassland next to the public footpath. It was calling distinctly, and giving good views. Leaving Beachy Head after it had vanished, I made my way to Horse Eye Levels, on the Pevensey Levels, not too far away. It was getting on for late evening by then, but I located a single Bewick's Swan amongst the numerous Mute Swans, and later I saw a Merlin hunting low over. At first it was quite distant, and I had hopes of Hen Harrier or Short-eared Owl, but it was neither. Still, the Merlin was lovely to watch, albeit for a brief period.

Crowborough 1/02/2017

An absolutely horrible day today, all misty and murky, so that visibility was probably about 10% at most. All the same, somebody reported Waxwings in the Warren, so I drove over there. The car was parked on the roadside verge, and getting out, I walked towards some trees which I thought might be suitable for that species. A Coal Tit suddenly called out of the murk from one of the pine trees on my left, and then, through misted binoculars (I am not sure whether the binoculars were misty or the weather!) I saw three birds at the very top of a tree, half faded out. The binoculars showed a bird which was slightly smaller than a Starling, by my reckoning, but I couldn't be sure what they were. Then, out of the blue, a trilling bell-like noise came to my ears. hat really is quite a thrilling noise, and the one that I wanted to hear. Sure enough, the mist cleared a little for a moment, and the crests became visible. All the same, I was quite glad to get back into the car and dry out!

Dungeness RSPB 06/01/2017

A trip down to Dungeness today to see if I can get the 200...birds included Great White Egret, a Water Rail which came out into the open allowing excellent photos to be taken at the Scott hide, a Little Grebe outside Christmas Dell hide, and a fabulous, but sadly female Smew which also showed on Burrowes pit, constantly disappearing. The real highlight, of course, was the male Ring-necked Duck on one of the pits near to the farmhouse. It was mingling with many, many Tufted Ducks, and Coots, and had it not been for help from another friendly birder I might not have ever seen it. As it was, it was only a brief glimpse, as It was constantly on the move, and frequently disappeared from the view of the scope. But I saw it. This is the Water Rail.

Bough Beech Reservoir, 03/01/2017

An attempt to make 200 different bird species this year led me to take a trip out to Bough Beech Reservoir again. And, sure enough, the goods were delivered. I didn't make 200 that day, of course, but several 'good' birds were added to the list. I have to admit here that some debatable bird species were added to the list, including the introduced Mandarin, of which there were at least two pairs. Ducks were plentiful along the shores of the reservoir, and I saw Mallard, Tufted Duck, and also, to my delight, a male Pochard, which I only found by careful scanning of the long line of ducks. At least six Mute Swans were on the bank some way down the reservoir, and there were a few Canada Geese to go with them. Waders were not absent, and I saw a single Green Sandpiper, which flew from the main reservoir side onto the mud (quite wet at this time of year) on the other side of the causeway, although I quickly lost it as it disappeared behind the island.