Twitching Locally

For much of this year I have tried not to twitch other people’s birds but to find my own (or at least hang around with people who often find decent birds). There is no doubt that this approach can lead to some pretty poor birding however today managed to combine both.

It was cold and very misty when we set out today across Worth Marsh (a sea watch was completely out of the question as visibility was so poor and everyone has given up on bush bashing). The first mile or so was pretty much birdless but as we approached the “shooters pool” a bittern took to the air and landed in amongst the reed bed. At some places bitterns have been 4 a penny this summer but they are a pretty scarce commodity in the SBBO recording area so this lifted the spirits immensely and ensured that whatever happened next it was still a decent day.

 The rest of the walk was still pretty quiet but with did hear 5 Cetti’s warblers (getting more numerous in the recording area I think) and spot a kingfisher disappearing down the north stream. The most significant concentration of birds being along the Worth Track which was alive with thrushes – blackbirds mainly but also song thrush and redwing and a lone fieldfare.

As we arrived back at the Obs the pager went – a grey phalarope had been seen at Pegwell - so Ian got his passport out and I drove him out to Pegwell – for Ian this is a major twitch.

We found the phalarope almost immediately and  could (just about) see it from the road but we went out onto the hover port to get a closer look and take a few record shots. There was no cover around so we didn’t try get too close in case we spooked it.

Grey Phalarope on a grey day

Back at the Obs (for a coffee) I was told that a jack snipe was showing at Restharrow so I went and twitched that too. It was pretty distant (over on the right hand side by the reeds) and the light was indifferent (or should I say crap?) but it bobbed its way around the reeds giving good if distant views. Most of the pictures are complete rubbish – the shutter speed not being able to cope with the bobbing but you can see what it is in a few of the pictures.

Jack Snipe

There were 3 other optimists in the hide with me and when they departed I was wondering whether the bird would come closer (with the hide being quieter) when everything took to the air – ducks, ~ 25 snipe and the jack so that was the end of that. As I got to the car I saw a flock of snipe going into land and a lone wader following them – so I assume they were all returning. Hopefully it will be there tomorrow and more cooperative.

So a self found bittern,  twitched jack snipe and grey phalarope and all in the recording area on the same day, so not a bad return;  though I did miss out on the long eared owl flushed from the Elms.

Eastern Black Redstart

Today I went a-twitching arriving at Palm Bay at 7.30am. I must admit with the clear night I was half expecting the eastern black redstart, which was first reported on Friday, to have disappeared.  Anyway on arrival I could see a couple of guys peering through scopes at something and when I arrived it was hopping around the tables outside the jet ski centre.

Almost immediately it went up onto the roof so it was out with the camera for some record shots...just in case it disappeared.

I needn’t have worried and within the hour there were about 20 birders present and an impressive array of photographic gear. Whilst the bird did go up onto the cliff face to rest on a couple of occasions most of the time it was in full view and it was  just a matter of deciding whether to follow it with the camera or to stand near to where it was known to feed and wait for it to come to you. I did both getting got shots from either approach.

This shot was from the follow the bird technique the bird remaining on the hand rail of the slipway for several minutes.

On the other hand we were chatting and watching the bird when it landed close by and allowed this shot.

This picture caught the bird at the point of flapping and shows the underwing - I didn't know they were orange under there as well but then again there are very few birds where I know the underwing.

Also around were a couple of standard black redstarts but these proved more elusive than the immigrant – the best place to get pictures being the roof of the jet ski centre.

 Normal Black Redstart

Several rock pipits spent most of the morning searching through the sea weed and these are a lot more tolerant of people than those we get at Kingsdown though in truth I didn’t spend much time on them. The colour ringed rock pipit yellow ring with black  APH is still around.

Rock pipit

Winter Visitors Arrive.

8th

As the wind had gone pretty much round to the south sea watching was off the menu so we decided to walk to the point – the first time in ages.  On reaching the sea and turning north we were immediately rewarded with 2 snow bunting 30-40 yards north of where the footpath from the Obs reaches the beach.  The rest of the walk to the 100 acre field was very quiet however with only a lone stonechat and a few mippits and sky larks being seen though a flock of ~ 25 brents flew south.

When we reached the point we took to the footpath inland of the beach so as not to disturb the wader roost and was immediately rewarded with  a merlin and a few minutes later we had a marsh harrier (female) then a ring tailed hen harrier.  Also seen were ~ 5 little egrets, 2 grey heron, ~ 15 curlew (spooked by one of the harriers) and right up on the point itself there were several rock pipits along with the mippits. At the very end of the footpath we could see ~25 seals hauled up on the river bank and as we retraced our steps a flock of 40-odd redpoll flew over.

The return leg was uneventful (i.e. pretty  birdless!) until we got close to the footpath back to the Obs where we found the 2  snow buntings had grown in number to 14.

After a coffee I went to the Chequers to check out the beach and the Cinque Ports golf course.  Walking north from the Chequers I found another flock of snow buntings (~20) but as I was getting  close enough to consider some photographs  3 more flew over. Needless to say these didn'ty land with the other 20, no, the whole flock took to the air and followed the 3 south. I gave up at this point as it had started drizzling again and to be honest it was so dark it was stupid to even consider a photograph.

The 9^th started with a heavy drizzle so we took refuge at Restharrow for the first hour. The curlew sand was still there as were 2 dunlin and 20+ snipe – no jack snipe though.

Curlew Sandpiper

Once it stopped raining we walked the Ancient Highway to the Chequers and back along the beach.  As we crossed the golf course a twite went over (calling) and on the sea front we found 25 snow buntings up toward the sailing club.  Again they were very skittish and couldn’t get close enough for a decent picture. As we walked the beach there was a steady trickle of goldfinch going south plus a few groups of siskin and one group of crossbills. The Cellars and the Elms produced 1 woodcock a piece, the latter in particular giving great views as it flew past me some 15 feet away.

After lunch I went back to try for some snow bunting pictures but the first thing I found was a pair of wheatear – unfortunately only northern wheatear.  

The 2 Wheatear

I eventually found the snow buntings south of the Chequers and had a couple of goes at getting some pictures.

Snow Buntings

As always the best approached seemed to be  to sit sat on the beach and hope they would come close. Well they got pretty close on a couple of occasions most of the time they were obscured by the beach vegetation and overall my pictures were disappointing. When disturbed ( dog walkers, beach combers, cyclists) they flew several hundred yards out to sea the back to the beach a long way off so beware - if you go looking for them it may involve a lot of walking.

After that I had a look for the short-eared owls but none had shown by 3.30 so I called it a day. (I did however see a marsh harrier out on Worth marsh).

Still it was good to see the winter visitors – both the snow buntings and the twite were year ticks.

Pier-ing into the Gloom

Saturday was a bit of a wash out until the phone rang – it was Chidders telling me that there were 2 guillemots at Dover and one was near the sea wall. Not one to look an gift-auk in the mouth I went down for an hour in what proved to be about the only dry(ish) part of the day.

The guillemot was out of camera range when I arrived but true to the assurances of Chidders it did come close on a number of occasions allowing some shots to be obtained despite the appalling light.

Guillemot





Despite the light I managed to get shots different stages of a guillemot dive - for those who don't know it dives by flapping its wings to go down and flies, like a long winged penguin, under water.
Whilst we were standing around waiting for the guillemot to return a wren flew from the seaward end of the pier and landed nearby - I assume it was a migrant but I didn't know wrens migrated.

Ocean going wren

Sunday dawned (just about ) with the wind in the north and a light drizzle so I sat in the car at Kingsdown and watched the ocean between 7.20 and 8.00.

There was quite a bit of movement with gannets (157 north) and dunlin (87 north) being the most numerous but I also saw 2 divers (assumed red throated), 3 guillemots, 17 lapwing, 18 shelduck, 11 wigeon and another 60-odd ducks further out that I couldn’t id. A few brent geese were moving but I’m not sure in which direction – 17 went north and 20 south. Highlight though was a bonxie that went north at 7.34.

At 8.00 I went up to Deal pier in the hope that a few things might be flying close enough to get some pictures.  The first bird I saw on reaching the end of the pier was a red throated diver flying north only 50 yards out and which sadly was the only one seen; needless to say I didn;t have the camera out.  Gannets were moving north for most of the session as were brent geese with the distant ones predominantly going south in large flocks (50+) and the close in ones going north in groups of about 20.

Gannet

There was also a good movement of ducks out there with mallard, gadwall, teal, wigeon and shelduck all being seen as well as a lone eider - though most of these were quite distant.

Shelduck

Assorted ducks

Lapwings continued to go past throughout the session as did dunlin.

Lapwing

Dunlin

Part way through the session I was joined by Steve Raynaert who earned his corn by spotting a little auk splash into the sea south of the pier then immediately take to the air and fly out to sea. I grabbed the camera and managed a couple of shots that show Steve was not delusional!!

Little Auk

By posting shots like these I will have to stop making fun at Phil’s pictures.
So 2 days mainly spent on piers but reasonably productive and most importantly I didn't get wet

Better to be lucky than good

The last few months have been pretty tough going both on the birding front and my (in)ability to get a reasonable photograph. Well today I’m pleased to say my fortunes took a change for the better.

For a change we went round the Sandwich circuit in the reverse direction.

The walk down to Restharrow scrape resulted in 40-odd fly-over crossbills (going south) and whilst the scrape only held common snipe, the curlew sandpiper and teal several of the snipe walked out right in front of the hide so despite the poor light some reasonable pictures were obtained:

Common Snipe

From the scrape we walked the Ancient highway to the Chequers then back along the beach. Not much was seen, a couple of stonechat, 40-odd mippit and a number of skylarks so it seemed we were continuing in the doldrums but things were about to take a turn for the better.

When we were opposite the sailing club Ian pointed out some swallows but as I looked at them something different slid into view.  My first thought/call was “swift”, then I said “no it isn’t” – the wing tips were blunt and the wings the wrong shape,-  then I decided it was and called “yes it is”.  I think Ian then said “pallid swift” because I stopped looking at the bird and dived for the camera. Unfortunately  it didn’t hang around long enough for me to get a shot off. Ian in the mean time was studying the bird as it disappeared south with the swallows never to return.

For the next 15-20 minutes Ian recorded what he saw and remained  convinced it was a pallid swift. My thoughts in this don’t really matter because I’ve never seen one hence didn’t know what the critical features were (though I do now!) . My contribution is really limited to the blunt wings and a large pale patch on the throat!

The rest of the walk was quiet with only a few gold crests to show for our efforts but in reality our thoughts were still on the swift.

After lunch I went back to Restharrow but the snipe were all sleeping and the only thing to fly in front of the hide was a kestrel.

Kestrel

At about 2.00 pm I went along the Ancient Highway hoping the short-eared owls would put in another visit; with the sun shining I was hopeful of some decent images.

Whilst I was there Martyn turned up as did several other people. Eventually the SEOs showed down towards  Dickson’s Corner  but unlike yesterday there didn’t fly along the verge of the Ancient Highway so we moved closer.

By the time we had stopped near the Lapland bunting track the SEOs had decided to quarter the field south of the sailing club. Some of us moved on to Dicksons corner - so one of the SEO went north and directly in front of the hide at Restharrow scrape and the other started hunting the sea wall alongside the golf course. Great views in the sunshine but no shots.

Our final position was back by the Lapland bunting track and there we watched the birds cruise past where we had started out and past Dickson’s corner........but they stayed away from us.  It was now getting late (nearly 4.00pm), the sun had disappeared  behind a cloud and it was clearly too dark for decent images so we packed up to leave.

Martyn drove off just as 2 things happened – the sun reappeared and one of the SEOs started flying towards me. It didn’t come very close but it was close enough and resulted in some good images. 5 minutes later I went home happy with my afternoons work.

Short-eared Owl

I know they say you make your own luck but do you?  If we hadn’t walked the circuit in the reverse direction and stopped at the scrape to photograph snipe it’s unlikely we would have seen the pallid swift.  If I’d left 1 minute earlier (i.e at the same time as Martyn) I wouldn’t have got the SEO shots.

I suppose my luck had to change some time but it does make you think - “Better to be lucky than good”.

Must try Harder

Up and out early this morning due to the clocks going back but unfortunately the birding did not repay the effort. The Bay was near deserted.

Around the estate all we found were a few gold crests and the odd fly-over siskin but other than that it was very quiet. A walk down to Chequers along the beach was similarly unrewarding - a few mippits and skylarks. The highlight of the morning was the curlew sand which remains in residence on Restharrow along with 15-20 common snipe.............no sign of the Jack though.

Curlew Sandpiper

After coffee and with the weather forecast promising a bright afternoon I went over to Grove to see the glossy ibis. It was there it took till 2 hrs for it to get reasonably close and by then (2.30) the light was going.

Glossy Ibis

The birding was quite good in the intervening 2 hours with 3 peregrines showing, one spending most of the time on the deck, at least 3 marsh harriers (juvvy, female and a male) and a male hen harrier showing several times – though always over by the river.

Juvenile (and distant) Peregrine

By 3.30 I was back on the Ancient highway and settled down to wait for the hope for short eared owl. I didn’t have to wait long because one soon appeared hunting over the golf course and giving stunning views - views that my photographs failed to duplicate. I should have upped the ISO because the slow shutter speed (only ~ 1/250) meant everything was blurred.

Short-eared Owl

This bird hunted down to the Chequers when I lost sight of it but a few minutes later it re-appeared working it’s way north over the Willow Farm (RSPB) area of Worth marsh.

A little later I spotted 2 SEOs over the rough pasture down by Dickson Corner so I moved down to there. One of the birds disappeared immediately but the other hunted in that area for the next 10 minutes or so  – though the light by this time was fading fast and even using ISO 100 I could only get 1/400 to 1/500^th of a second.

Short-eared Owl

So brilliant views but rubbish photographer.........as my teachers would always say "Must try harder".

This weekend at Sandwich

This weekend I broke with my normal routine and went over to Sandwich - though because time was short I didn’t go to the coffee shop on either occasion! The reason for the switch with routine was the report of a Pallas’s warbler in the Elms Friday afternoon.

To be honest I was a bit peeved when I read about the Pallas’s. As normal I had been at Sandwich most of the morning but on Friday our progress was particularly slow. Eventually we were rewarded with a yellow-browed warbler which was very active but if watched for long enough did give good if fleeting views. I did get the camera out but never got close to getting a shot. So despite being at the Bay for 3 hours I didn’t in fact make it to the Elms (I’m not sure what time the Pallas’s was found).

Anyway I was up with the bats (it was still dark and the larks were still asleep) and stopped off at Restharrow waiting for it to get light enough to search for the Pallas’s.  A quick scan showed the curlew sandpiper was still around as was one of the dunlin, plus teal and ~ 10 common snipe. After a few minutes I was joined by another birder (Steve Arthur – who I don’t think I’d met before) and I put him onto the curlew sand and in return he put me onto a jack snipe.  Eventually the snipe moved and treated us to the classic bobbing behaviour.

About 30 minutes later Steve and I let to searching for the Pallas’s.  There were already several other birders in the Elms but they’d had no luck...........and 90 minutes I had the suffered the same and gave up. About all I saw there was a fire crest. I told everyone I saw about the jack snipe (I had left my phone at home) including Steve Raynaert’s who made my day by getting some great shots of the little beastie.

Common Snipe

Today I went to the scrape again first thing – lots of snipe, the curlew sand, a water pipit but no Jack snipe. After that I walked to the Chequers across the golf course hoping for a Lapland bunting or a rare wheatear. As it was I got neither but I did spot a short-eared owl coming along the sea wall at about 30-40 feet. I think it had just come in-off because it didn’t seem to be hunting and almost immediately landed in some rough. A few minute later it was flushed by a dog and started coming in my direction but the excitement was short lived and it re-landed - I didn’t see it again.

From the Chequers I went to the sea wall then north to the Gullies seeing skylarks, mippits and a few linnets. In Big Gully I found a mixed flock of tits (LTT, blue and great) and a couple of chiffchaffs with a third heard. As I was leaving Little Gully I first heard then saw a small flock of gold crests and whilst looking at these move through the tree tops an equally small bird flicked across my sight showing a very pale yellow rump. I got nothing else on the bird but the only bird of that size I know with a yellow rump is a Pallas’s. Try as I might I didn’t see it again and within 5 minutes I’d lost the whole flock. I searched the Elms but no sign of them there either so I called it a day.

Short-eared owl coming into land

On the drive home I saw Steve Raynaert along the Ancient Highway and as we chatted we spotted a(nother?) short-eared owl high and heading west over Worth Marsh. After a minute or two it turned back and flew high overhead before coming down on worth Marsh just north of the caravan park (in the field where we normally see the geese). We couldn’t see it on the ground but had managed some record shots as it went down.

This afternoon I whilst watching goldfinch on the feeders a green woodpecker landed in the garden and provided the best shots of the day.........or even the month.

Green Woodpecker