Dipped the Song Sparrow at Thornwick

When the Song Sparrow was refound at Thornwick on 10th June I came very close to going mid morning but with the Jims reluctant to drop everything and go we decided to set off early on 11th to hope the bird was settled but we did have concerns with the forecast clear night ahead. Setting off at 4am on Wednesday morning we arrived at 8am on negative news of the bird so decided to have a morning at Bempton Cliffs a mile up the coast hoping the bird would be refound and we could pop down and connect with it. It wasn't refound.

At Bempton we enjoyed the usual targets of House Sparrow, Puffin, Gannets, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Guillemot all well into their breeding routines. A Barn Owl gave a short fly over too and a Cormorant flew by which I'd hoped was a Shag still needing that for a year tick.

We left at lunchtime and stopped at Welbeck on the way back down the A1. We jammed on a Quail calling nearby but didn't see any Honey Buzzard in fact a guy had been there since 9am and hadn't seen any all day. Our last stop on the way home was Rutland Water where we year ticked Osprey in Manton bay with the adults on the nest with at least two young.

Year list now 214

Linnet

Puffin

Razorbill

Guillemot

Razorbill

Fulmar

Razorbill

Tree Sparrow

Razorbill chick

Gannet

Guillemot chick

Red-backed Shrike at Fen Drayton

I headed back up to Fen Drayton this morning with a couple of hours free time I was hoping to find a Turtle Dove as they'd given me the slip on Friday.

Arriving at 6am I walked out along the track north of Ferry Lagoon and could hear Turtle Doves calling straight away. I managed two views of a couple of different birds but always distant. Like Friday Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whitethroats were a constant back drop and a few Cuckoo were heard and seen. A single Cattle Egret flew over Ferry Lagoon towards Drayton and as I watched a Kingfisher a surprise Bittern flew over towards the car park area. News broke of a Red-backed Shrike being found along the entrance track so I headed off to see if I could connect with that and it didn't take long to get good scope views of the male bird as it hunted along the bottom of a distant hedge and whilst watching I had Grey Partridge in the field and a single Hobby over. Yellow Hammer and Skylark added to the chorus before I drove back to reserve for another hour watching the many warblers to be enjoyed here.

The evening saw me take the Jims around to Chobham Common for our annual Nightjar fix. To our surprise the Jarring started nice and early with the first bird heard at 9.15pm before sunset. We enjoyed several birds jarring some calling some wing clapping and had views of three birds. We also saw double figures of Woodcock as they flew across calling between 9.15 and 10pm. Three Dartford Warblers were heard and seen around 8pm too to add to the enjoyment of the evening visit to the area around Monument Car park.

Year list now 209 after todays additions.

White winged Tern at Fen Drayton

Well birding time continues to be very limited with all my commitments, a family holiday in Norfolk over half term didn't give any free time as I devoted the week to making sure my grandchildren enjoyed their break. I did have Raven and Treecreeper on the garden list whilst away but that's about as good as it got. My last birding day was a couple of hours with the Glossy Ibis on 23rd May so when I found a couple of hours free today I headed up the M11 to Fen Drayton just an hour from home. The White-winged Black Tern was found on Drayton Lagoon and I enjoyed watching it but it remained in the middle of the lake for most of my visit so photography with my little 400mm lens was challenging to say the least.

Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Cuckoo were among the best of the other birds encountered on site but no Turtle Dove gave themselves up on this visit.

year list now 204

Glossy Ibis at Cornmill meadow Waltham Abbey

I had a couple of hours spare this afternoon and enjoyed some time at Cornmill Meadow in Waltham Abbey. Best bird was a Glossy Ibis which fed non stop on the scrape, Little ringed Plover and Lapwing were present and nine Little Egret came and went. There was a constant chorus of Cuckoo, Cetti's Warbler, Wren and Water Rail and a Grey Heron flew over as did three Common Buzzard. This is my second Lee Valley Ibis but I'd forgotten to add the first to my Lee Valley list so that's now been corrected.

The hide needs a bit of work

Hudsonian Godwit at Titchfield Haven

I had a free day today and decided despite the weather I'd head down the M3 to see my second ever Hudsonian Godwit. The Jims decided the weather was forecast to be too poor for them to make the trip so it was a solo run for me. Despite Titchfield Haven not opening until 9am I still set off early and by 6.30am was walking the track at Thursley Common. I year ticked both Redstart and Tree Pipit and enjoyed seeing a couple of Woodlark and several Willow Warbler along with a single Hobby before I left deciding I'd give the Honey Buzzards at Woolbeding a go on the way down the A3. I scanned the sky for almost three hours without joy before setting off for the last leg arriving at Titchfield Haven at 12pm. Car parking paid I walked out to the hide and paid the volunteer the requested £5.50 (first time I've ever had an old person discount)  

Thursley Common

The Hudsonian Godwit performed well during my couple of hours on site but was a little distant in poor light making photography challenging with my little 400mm lens. It was nice to see young Avocet and Mallard, Gadwall and Shoveler all paraded with their chicks too. Med Gull was seen amongst the breeding Black-headed Gulls and a few Common Tern looked to be on territory too.

Hudsonian Godwit

Drake Gadwall in post breeding moult

Gadwall

Gadwall and chicks

An hours delay on the London orbital car park meant for a long trip home but overall it was a nice days birding.

year list now 203