Spurn etc 19-24th October 2020

Mag and I started our trip off with a visit to Kilnsea Wetlands where relatively few waders were taking refuge at high tide, though there was a Spotted Redshank, two Ruff and a few hundred Knot. A Merlin and a Peregrine flew through, six Pintail were present and the Listening Dish Hedge held a female Brambling, 20 Reed Buntings and a good number of Tree Sparrows, which of course went on to be ubiquitous throughout our stay. 

 

Our next move was to clear out of the Spurn area and head to Johnny Brown's Common in West Yorkshire where the adult male BROWN SHRIKE showed well in the narrow strip by an arable field. Two Crossbills, a Siskin and 27 Fieldfares flew over.

 

We finished the day just outside the Spurn recording area at Skeffling, where it was too close to dusk for the Great Grey Shrike but a Short-eared Owl did show nicely, a Merlin flew through, four Kestrels hunted and 11 Fieldfares appeared.

The next day (Tuesday) started with a walk around Kilnsea, with a Firecrest near Sykes's Field and a Yellow-browed Warbler in the observatory garden being the highlights, along with nice views of a juvenile female Sparrowhawk in a hedgerow. We returned to Skeffling in the afternoon and enjoyed fantastic views of the Great Grey Shrike which hunted actively but payed no attention to us watching from the bank. It performed a couple of very long hovers and was quite a successful hunter. A juvenile Hen Harrier put on a good show, 300 Pink-footed Geese dropped in briefly, a Merlin passed through and two redpolls flew over.

Wednesday at Spurn produced seven Goosanders, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Short-eared Owl, 23 Twite, 12 Common Scoters, two Red-throated Divers, 25 redpolls, a House Martin, 13 Swallows and a Cetti's Warbler.

Thursday was the first good day for vismig, with a Lapland Bunting, a Great White Egret and a Twite headlining. As for commoner species, my very rough and conservative personal totals were 140 Siskins, 450 Goldfinches, 180 Skylarks, 90 redpolls, 80 Linnets, 20 Chaffinches, six Rock Pipits, 30 Meadow Pipits, three House Martins and six Swallows. 35 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 11 Pintail were also seen, along with the usual suite of Humber waders.

Kilnsea Wetlands had 10 Whooper Swans, six Black-tailed Godwits, a Pintail and three Mediterranean Gulls. Later, Skeffling again offered views of the Great Grey Shrike, a Merlin and two Marsh Harriers. We returned to the Canal Scrape in the evening to witness a murmuration of several thousand Starlings as they came in to roost, and we heard a Water Rail.

More vismig on Friday involved 44 Whooper Swans, 350 Pink-footed Geese, four Lapland Buntings, five Twite, five Yellowhammers, a Brambling, 230 Siskins, 20 Tree Sparrows, 140 Meadow Pipits, 10 Pied/White Wagtails, 60 Linnets, seven Rock Pipits, three Grey Wagtails, 19 Skylarks and nine Swallows. A Greenshank was on the Humber and a Red-throated Diver flew past offshore. Eight Black-tailed Godwits flew over Long Bank Marsh and Sammy's Point had a Short-eared Owl, 12 Grey Partridges (coveys of seven and five), two Bullfinches, three Yellowhammers, 11 Whooper Swans, 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, three Black-tailed Godwits, a Mediterranean Gull, a Peregrine, 35 Fieldfares, 

Saturday at The Warren signed our Spurn trip off with three Eiders, a Goldeneye, three Common Scoters, 40 Whooper Swans, six Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Merlin and a Peregrine. 

We stopped at North Cave Wetlands on the way home and located the adult drake Green-winged Teal among 600 Teal. There were also 70 Wigeon, 60 Gadwall, six Pochards and 20 Shovelers. A Green Sandpiper, nine Curlew, a Ruff, four Snipe and 47 Lapwings made up the waders. A redpoll, a Siskin, a Fieldfare, eight Little Grebes and a Little Egret were among the other birds noted. 48 Common Gulls was the highest number I've logged at any one site so far this autumn.

Stiffkey, Holme and Thornham Harbour

 Mag and I were heading to Spurn for a week and took the chance to divert to north Norfolk to mop up on a few birds. Most pressing was the RUFOUS BUSH CHAT which showed nicely out on the saltmarsh at Stiffkey. For various reasons I've barely been able to go for any of the major rarities this autumn but this is the bird I cared most about, so I'm very glad I managed to sneak over there... Seven Red Kites over the saltmarsh was the highest number I've seen in Norfolk and a Kingfisher flew along a channel. We then popped in to Holme where we enjoyed good views of a Red-flanked Bluetail near the village car park (five Lesser Redpolls and 30 Redwings there too) and finally to Thornham Harbour, where the Pallas's Warbler fed in the low bushes without a care for the small crowd surrounding it.

Isles of Scilly 7th-14th October 2020

After a couple of roadside Barn Owls in Wiltshire on the drive through the country, Phil, Ian, Mag, Paul and I reached Penzance harbour for a week on Scilly. This being my earliest Scilly trip so far, I hoped for a slightly different experience, with a subtly different suite of staple species and perhaps a few more rarities compared to my recent holidays there. The state of play as the Scillonian III chugged gently towards the archipelago, a Manx Shearwater the 'best' bird to pass us, was that an American Golden Plover was currently holding centre stage... but we remained hopeful!

As things turned out, we had timed it just right, for once! The first day was slow as we settled in (a Cetti's Warbler, a Water Rail and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits the best) but on day two we twitched said American Golden Plover successfully on Tresco (though dipped an Arctic Warbler which had been found the previous afternoon). As we made our way back to the quay for the return to St.Mary's, we had that rare thrill of a mega alert sounding about a bird just around the corner!!! It was news of a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER by the Great Pool! Haring it over there, we were almost first on the scene and enjoyed brief views in the pines before it melted away. The tension grew as every minute passed and every birder joined the crowd but before too long the very mobile bird was relocated and went on to give fantastic views, with patience. Being so jammy with this dream of a bird made up for the one I very narrowly missed back in 2011. 

Other highlights from Tresco that day included a Lapland Bunting, four Pink-footed Geese, four Golden Plovers and a Yellow-browed Warbler. Back on St.Mary's, we tried for the Swainson's Thrush - another new arrival (things were kicking off!) - but dipped, though we did have a Merlin, seven Pink-footed Geese, a Greylag (a Scilly rarity), a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and a Water Rail.

The Friday started with a walk around Peninnis Head, where two Crossbills and seven Pink-footed Geese flew over, as well as a Raven. Two Sandwich Terns were in Porthcressa Bay. On St.Martin's, with a fair bit of work we eventually managed good views of the RED-EYED VIREO in the pines at Middle Town, my second in Britain. A Yellow-browed Warbler showed well at Little Arthur Farm and waders included a Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Sanderlings, seven Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank. A Peregrine was stationed on a rock offshore.

A long walk around St.Mary's on the Saturday delivered brief views of the Barred Warbler at Watermill, plus a Wheatear, two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Sanderlings and five Siskins. We caught a late boat to Bryher, where we dipped the/a Swainson's Thrush but had seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese en route. Another long walk back on Mary's produced views of the Pectoral Sandpiper and a Great White Egret at Porth Hellick, along with a Cetti's Warbler, four Greenshanks and a Water Rail there. At dusk we tracked down the Wryneck at Deep Point.

Sunday was another St.Mary's day and it felt like there were more common migrants on offer. My personal Yellow-browed Warbler total for the day was 11. We successfully twitched the Nightingale at the dump and other highlights included Pectoral Sandpipers at Porth Hellick and on the airfield, a Jack Snipe at Lower Moors, a Whimbrel heard at Deep Point, three Whinchats, six Redwings, six Snipe, two Cetti's Warblers, three Sandwich Terns, nine Greenshanks, 10 Swallows, a Kingfisher, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Ravens, five Wheatears, 20 Siskins, five Water Rails and the seven Pink-footed Geese with the Greylag.

Highlights on day six included both Lapland Bunting and Snow Bunting showing well on St.Mary's, with six Yellow-browed Warblers, three Crossbills, 30 Siskins, a Wheatear, three Whinchats, a Peregrine, a Sandwich Tern, a Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and the geese forming the supporting cast.

On the last full day, we vowed to settle the score with the Swainson's Thrush and get the earliest boat to Bryher. Before heading down the quay, we connected with the new-in Mandarin as it flew over Porthloo, and had the Red-breasted Flycatcher along the Lower Broome Platform. Other bits included a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers, plus a flyover Crossbill, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 11 Sanderlings and a Water Rail.

On Bryher, thankfully the SWAINSON'S THRUSH (another British second for me) showed without too much difficulty as it gorged on Pittosporum berries. We took a chance on a vague report of an AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT on Shipman Head Down, which was more straightforward to find than we thought. A couple of Snipe and a redpoll flew over.

In the evening, back on St.Mary's, we enjoyed a very showy Little Bunting at Porth Hellick as it fed on a track just yards away, where the goose flock flew over and waders included five Greenshanks and 14 Ringed Plovers. 

The final day, we remained on St.Mary's and finally managed good views of the first-winter Red-backed Shrike behind Longstone cafe as we had cream tea! My first four Fieldfares of the autumn flew over and a Whinchat moved through Porthloo. An exciting minute at Salakee saw a Merlin fly through, to be immediately followed by first Scilly Hobby. Other highlights included a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Greenshanks, three Yellow-browed Warblers, five Swallows, a Wheatear and four Siskins.

The crossing back to Penzance, as we reflected on an exciting week, again had a Manx Shearwater as just about the only bird of real note, aside from a Common Gull - the first of the trip, a flock of four Grey Herons well out to sea, and the usual Guillemots and Razorbills

Oare Marshes KWT

A morning's birding with Magnus featured the two main stars of the current Oare show: the returning adult BONAPARTE'S GULL and the adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Other highlights included a Turtle Dove heard purring, three Water Rails, a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and a few Avocets, four splendid summer-plumage Knot, a vocal flock of 21 Whimbrel, three Ruff, 21 Mediterranean Gulls, 32 Little Egrets, a minimum of five Bearded Tits, a Marsh Harrier and three Yellow Wagtails.

 

Cutthroat Bridge and Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint

Just under an hour after arriving at Cutthroat Bridge, on Derwent Moors east of Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire, the now famous juvenile Lammergeier made a sudden and imposing appearance. It went on to perform on-and-off for the next hour, including a couple of really quite close flybys and a good minute under siege by a Buzzard. A flock of 10 Ravens flew through, while two Red Grouse, a Curlew and two Mistle Thrushes were on the slopes across the road. A Willow Warbler was in full voice, while three Siskins, two Sand Martins and two Grey Wagtails flew over.


A stop at the Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint in Nottinghamshire on the way home delivered fine views of a male Honey-buzzard, along with two Goshawks, two Hobbies, a Red Kite, five Buzzards, a Wheatear, 40 House Martins, 20 Sand Martins, a Little Egret, six Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Shelducks with five young, and a singing Reed Bunting.

Portland Bill

A dash to Portland Bill was successful in getting views of the/a Yelkouan/Menorcan-type shearwater among rafting Balearic and Manx Shearwaters. I'm not sure how comfortable I'd ever be with this bird being a tick due to the Menorcan 'problem' but it was educational, as they like to say, to see a Yelk-type among the two confusion species. A small flock of Common Scoters flew by and there were small numbers of Guillemots, Gannets and Razorbills offshore.

Balearic Shearwaters

Holy Island

Having left on positive news, I got to Holy Island for the second safe crossing period of the day then tracked across the dunes to reach the small crowd well-spaced around some small pines. It didn't take long to secure views of the ASIAN DESERT WARBLER but good views required more patience. Towards the end of my two-hour stay, it flew right into the tiny pine I stood next to, then moved to another stand where it was really rather obliging, allowing nice scope views of this characterful - and extremely rare - bird. With so many good SLRs pointed at the bird, I didn't fuss too much about my own photography. The ghost of my desperate chicken-pox dip in Kent a few years ago was truly laid to rest.

Ashton's and Neumann's Flashes

Plan B was swiftly conjured up and engaged, so instead of Georgia, Ingrid and I headed north for a week with her family in Scotland. We stopped off at Ashton's Flash, where to my relief I located the 2cy male WEST SIBERIAN STONECHAT in our strict time limit. 63 Curlews, displaying Lapwing, a Cetti's Warbler and three male Reed Buntings in the car park were among the other birds noted.

2cy male West Siberian Stonechat

Sedgeford, Wells, Holkham, Thornham and Burnham Norton

Sedgeford first thing this morning produced fine views of the male EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL on the dung heap by the road. 60 Fieldfares, a Redwing, a Red Kite, a Marsh Harrier and a Yellowhammer were also logged.

male Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Sedgeford

Wells was the next stop, where the faithful juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was successfully twitched, with two Golden Plovers in a nearby field and skeins of Pink-footed and Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying in (what was presumably the known Black Brant hybrid was clocked among the latter).

Rough-legged Buzzard at Wells

Holkham was rewarding, with nice views of four Shorelarks and 42 Snow Buntings in the roped-off area, while the sea produced four Long-tailed Ducks, several Velvet Scoters among vast rafts of Common Scoters, plus small numbers of Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe. Other birds included a field full of 75 Snipe, six Ruff, 12 Grey Partridges, 100 or so Golden Plovers, a White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese, Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Egyptian Geese and a Fieldfare.

Snow Buntings at Holkham

Shorelark at Holkham

Common Scoters off Holkham

Long-tailed Ducks off Holkham

Velvet Scoters in with Common Scoters off Holkham

Grey Partridges at Holkham

Ruff at Holkham

Snipe at Holkham

Thornham harbour offered the relic winter flock of 10 Twite, along with a Rock Pipit, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and trip ticks such as Mediterranean Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.

Twite at Thornham harbour

Curlew at Thornham harbour

Today's dusk vigil was at Burnham Norton, where we had a Short-eared Owl, a Great White Egret, a Barn Owl, good numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese, three Cetti's Warblers, a Bearded Tit and four Egyptian Geese.

Whipsnade Zoo

Today saw my inevitable return to Whipsnade Zoo, this time with Ed Stubbs and Sam Jones, and this time the adult male BLACK-THROATED THRUSH duly performed very well. It divided its time feeding on berries in its favourite bush, and dropping to the ground to pull the occasional worm from the adjacent pig pen.

adult male Black-throated Thrush

Other birds included a Red Kite, a Mistle Thrush and around 50 Redwings. The highlight of the journey back was a flock of around 40 Lapwings near London Colney.

Gills Bay-St.Margaret's Hope ferry and Papa Westray

With George Kinnard, John Lees, Liz Costa and Hugh Price in tow, I boarded the Gills Bay-St.Margaret's Hope ferry after a long overnight drive from Sussex. Black Guillemots, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Shags, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and a flock of six Great Northern Divers welcomed us to Orkney. To my shame, this is my first time on the islands. We then drove to meet our boat charter at Kirkwall, Will taking us to Papa Westray. About an hour's bumpy ride later we disembarked and met Jennifer, the kind islander who has been ferrying visiting birders in her electric car to St.Bonniface Kirk, the eider's favourite spot. Fred Fearn had already been watching the bird before he lost it drifting south. I was initially unperturbed but as the sun began to approach the horizon and the bird was nowhere to be seen, my mind began to wander to thoughts of having to stay on the island overnight with few facilities. Having walked a mile or so south, George and I returned to the others at St.Bonniface, where Jennifer was collecting our cash to deliver to the charter skipper as we sent him away, resigned to a night on Papa. Just after Jennifer drove away, George picked up the 1cy drake STELLER'S EIDER in his scope. It was quite distant for us, but close in at its favoured by north of the kirk. Elation and deep sighs of relief all-round, we went on to enjoy the bird for the rest of the usable daylight, calling Jennifer and the boatman to change plans so that we could get back to mainland Orkney that night after all! Other stuff on Papa included Purple Sandpipers, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Black Guillemots, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, Raven, Common Scoter and so on. A filling curry in the evening was a fitting celebration.

1cy drake Steller's Eider off Papa Westray

St.Mary's

We completed a circuit of the island today. We enjoyed a tranquil lunch at Watermill Cove in the company of a juvenile SPOTTED SANDPIPER. It was seen off briefly by our first Kingfisher of the trip but soon returned for other birders to enjoy. After carefully comparing images, it seems likely to be a different bird to the St.Agnes individual. Other highlights today included a Black Redstart, two Merlins, three Common Scoters, 75 Sanderlings, a Greenshank, a couple of Bramblings, five Siskins, two Wheatears, a Firecrest, three Skylarks, a Swallow, two Sparrowhawks, two Water Rails and nine Kittiwakes.

juvenile Spotted Sandpiper

St.Mary's and Tresco

An initial walk on St.Mary's through The Garrison saw us encounter the BLUE ROCK THRUSH again, showing at much closer range, and a heard-only Yellow-browed Warbler. We scoped across to Samson and counted a record total of eight Spoonbills, while a summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver was feeding just off that island and five Bar-tailed Godwits were in flight with a flock of Curlew. Two Mediterranean Gulls were in The Roads. A Black Redstart was on The Garrison and we had three Wheatears and a Brambling. A Stock Dove on a rock off Porthcressa Beach was out-of-place.

Our day on Tresco was successful, with an ISABELLINE WHEATEAR found by Steve Broyd, a more obliging Yellow-browed Warbler, an adult male Waxwing flycatching from wires, two Black Redstarts, juvenile drake Scaup, two Pochards, 30 Siskins, a Swallow, a Peregrine, three Snipe, three Greenshanks, four Redshanks, a Water Rail and two Wigeon.

Isabelline Wheatear

adult male Waxwing

1cy drake Scaup

Back on St.Mary's in the evening we managed flight views (and more importantly calls) from the RED-THROATED PIPIT found on Peninnis Head, before it cleared off towards Gugh/St.Agnes.

St.Mary's, St.Agnes and Gugh

We headed round to The Garrison before getting a boat over to St.Agnes, at least that was the plan. On the way along Porthcressa beach, we passed Dick Filby and Tim Vaughan who were on their way to Peninnis Head. Not long afterwards - while we were on the Lower Broome Platform - Dick radioed out that they'd had a Chestnut-eared Bunting fly from one of the lower fields on Peninnis! We wasted no time in charging over there, but it soon became clear that they bird had moved through as quickly as it reappeared. We figured our chances of being heroes in relocating the bird were comparable with our odds of finding a new mega on St.Agnes - and there were British ticks on offer on that island for some of the team - so at the last moment we decided to resume the original plan. We were of course the only birders on the boat to St.Agnes, but it turned out to be a good move!

A productive day on St.Agnes saw us connect with the SUBALPINE WARBLER and the SPOTTED SANDPIPER, while we spotted two Lapland Buntings and a Merlin. Other stuff noted included a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Greenshank, a Willow Warbler, 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, good numbers of Redwings - with a few Fieldfares mixed in, three Wheatears, a Grey Wagtail, three Siskins and a Skylark. Stepping a few feet onto Gugh paid off with a big Scilly tick when a Yellowhammer flew east over us!
 

1cy Spotted Sandpiper on St.Agnes

1cy Spotted Flycatcher on St.Agnes

The only birds of note seen and heard on St.Mary's before/after our trip to Aggy were a juvenile Hen Harrier over Peninnis Head, two Ravens over Porthcressa Bay and a Water Rail at Lower Moors, plus a Wheatear on Porthcressa Beach, scores of Redwings and a Grey Wagtail. A Lapwing flew from St.Agnes to St.Mary's while we were on the boat.

Penzance, Scillonian crossing and St.Mary's

While Ian, Phil, Mag, Paul and I waited on the Scillonian III, we enjoyed a summer adult Red-throated Diver fishing just off the boat. A Grey Wagtail and a few Shags were around, then we set off. The way over was quiet, but there was a Sooty Shearwater, three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie, as well as decent numbers of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Gannets, and a couple of pods of Common Dolphins.

adult summer Red-throated Diver

Our first day of birding on St.Mary's saw us eventually connect with the BLUE ROCK THRUSH on Peninnis Head after what felt like a painful foreverness, and a couple of near-misses, but in reality we were very lucky compared to others who have truly struggled to see this bird. We connected with no other rarities or scarcities by sundown, but a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a small number of Wheatears and Stonechats were around, and at Lower Moors in the evening we heard three or so Water Rails.

1cy Blue Rock Thrush on Peninnis Head

Galgorm

A magnificent twitch with George Kinnard to Galgorm in Country Antrim saw us connect with the adult male COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Along with a small crowd, including Niall Keogh, Toby Carter, Austin Morley and the Viles crew, we admired the bird for hours at its day roost just by the road, then enjoyed spectacular views of the bird hawking along the River Maine at dusk, often passing within inches of us. We also enjoyed Irish Coal Tit, a flock of redpolls, a Siskin and a Grey Wagtail.

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

Cissbury Ring and Farlington Marshes

Val kindly agreed that I could go ringing but shoot off at 9am as I'd played it cool with the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler yesterday and was beginning to worry. It turned out to be a productive ringing session, with Spotted Flycatcher and Reed Warbler the headline birds caught by the time I left. At this point we had also processed 39 Blackcaps, 15 Goldcrests and six Chiffchaffs. Birds noted included a juvenile Peregrine, three Siskins, a Tree Pipit, seven Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 15 Meadow Pipits, two Yellowhammers, a Bullfinch, 40 House Martins, 10 Swallows, two Ravens and a Tawny Owl.

Spotted Flycatcher at Cissbury Ring

After eventually getting parked at Farlington Marshes, the EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER gave itself up nicely to the appreciative crowd, with a Garden Warbler nearby and two flyover Yellow Wagtails.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Farlington Marshes

The Lizard

I met Dick Filby off the M25 and we pressed on through the night for my third attempt for Brown Booby in Cornwall over the last few days - every other day I'd made the journey! After the two failed attempts, I was very much hoping this further sleepless night would have a positive result. It wasn't quite a case of hoping for a 'third time lucky' as, insanely, the Lizard bird was a clearly younger and different individual to that which had so far evaded me (despite the species never being seen in Britain before a couple of weeks ago).

The odds were more favourable for this trip, the bird having been seen to settle at the back of its favourite rock the previous evening, though much like the moon the far side of this particular rock could not be seen from terra firma. It wasn't seen again by dusk but it was assumed, as it hadn't been seen leaving, that it was roosting out of sight.

Our first hour-and-a-half on site was anxious, and the inevitable sense of dread at the thought of another dip built up with every passing minute. It was such a moment of relief and joy, therefore, when just after 8am the 2cy BROWN BOOBY launched itself from behind the rocks and performed a couple of close fly-bys, delighting the crowd! It almost settled in view on one of the nearest rocks then had another fly-around before resting more distantly, but in perfect view with a scope.

Brown Booby

A flock of seven Chough was a real treat, and the sea had a Sooty Shearwater and good numbers of Manx Shearwaters and Gannets. Two Ravens flew over.

Pulborough Brooks RSPB and Pett Level

I spent the morning with Phil at Pulborough Brooks, were we whiled away a happy couple of hours grilling the North Brooks. The long-staying Wood Sandpiper was on view there along with eight Green Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, three Little Ringed Plovers, 22 Lapwings, a Mandarin, a Little Egret, three Grey Herons, 13 Teal, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, three Kestrels, a Buzzard, 11 Swallows, two Sand Martins, two House Martins, a Reed Bunting, 96 Greylag Geese, two Gadwall and two Shovelers. After seeing two Ravens flew over the reserve, I was blown away by the sight of a flock of 15 following in their path, though uttering just one soft 'cronk' as they went. Three migrant Willow Warblers were along the trail, including one in song, as were small numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. One spot we passed had three Bullfinches feeding on the ground, and we had a further four of these elsewhere, along with three each of Treecreeper, Whitethroat, Nuthatch and Whitethroat, plus a juvenile Stonechat, three Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 12 Linnets, a Goldcrest, two Skylarks and two Coal Tits.

Wood Sandpiper at Pulborough Brooks RSPB

After a couple of errands at lunchtime, Ingrid and I treated ourselves to a drive over to Pett Level. The light was not in our favour and it a bit breezy but we picked out the drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK soon enough - a lifer for Ingrid - in the left-hand corner of the eastern pool amid a mix of Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Ducks and Teal. 40 Sand Martins hawked over the pools, where a Little Egret was resting, and two Sandwich Terns flew along the sea wall.

drake Ferruginous Duck at Pett Level

Pagham Harbour

A ridiculously early alarm was set and I made for Pagham in the dark. As daylight came about I made my way towards the North Wall from Rookery Lane and scanned the two tussocky fields the bird was seen in yesterday, with no luck. Standing on the North Wall, I clocked the SQUACCO HERON flying in from the west. Hesitantly, it landed on the little rife by the further field for just a few seconds before taking flight again and heading south. Only my second in Britain, and a major county tick, this was a nice result before starting work but I vowed to return for further views in the next couple of days if the bird continues to show. The calls of Greenshank and Whimbrel echoed beyond the wall, while a juvenile Sparrowhawk and a Cetti's Warbler were also vocal.

Squacco Heron