Hols

Just got back from a fortnights holiday in Dorset where the change of scenery was both refreshing and challenging.
Being based in Weymouth I was only a brisk walk from both Radipole & Lodmoor where wader passage seemed well under way.Dunlin,Black tailed Godwit,Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper were all "bagged" in the first week.
The second week produceed a tricky calidris that was first thuoght to be a Litle Stint, but turned out to be a Semi-palmated Sandpiper.
Iv'e posted a couple of record shots but much better can be found courtesy of the great Martin Cade at http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/oi_semipalmated_sandpiper_050810.htm
A two hour seawatch from the end of Portland proved fruitful with Manx, Balearic and Sooty Shearwater, but a call in at Ferrybridge was scrapped due to poor weather.
It was also nice to see quite a few Med Gull of different ages and I'm 90% sure I'll be able to age any that I see in the Tame valley.

Franklins Gull at Chasewater

It was nice to finally catch up with the Franklins Gull at Chasewater after not being able to get there till Sunday and blanking then!
After about an hour watching from the south shore we were signalled by a group of birders in front of the sailing club.
Had they found the bird or were they just being friendly? well there was only to find out and that was to take a quick yomp over to the north shore.
Was nice to meet and talk to Alan Sherlock who's tales of birds past and present make the walk pass quickly.
On getting to the sailing club the bird was resting, but its eye ring was still visible.The bird was then spooked and joined a group of Juvenille lesser black backs on land and then on the water.
The bird itself was not as dark on the back as I thought it would be and on the water it appeared very long winged.

More Grey Plover

Just a few slightly better shots of the Grey Plover.
Not sure this bird is going to be stopping, as with all the rain we have had lately the water levels in the Tame Valley rise rapidly, which usually move any waders present on.

Grey Plover at Cliff Pool

With Fridays Grey Plover not being reported yesterday it was rather a plesant surprise to find the bird still present today.
After the poor passage this spring it's nice to know that there is still the chance of the odd rarity popping up.
Not a lot else though just 4 Common Terns, 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Shelduck plus all the usual suspects.The Lapwing flock has also incresaed in size to over 50 birds.

Twitch - Purple Heron

Got the chance over the weekend to go to Dungeness and try for the Purple Herons.
Set off at the ungodly hour of half two, with my Father, Brother and friend john, with the plan being to stop off for the Iberian Chiffchaff at Walderslade.
After finding the correct area at the second attempt, the Iberian Chiffchaff was found by its significantly different call, showing with five other Chiffchaffs.
From there it was onto the far side of the Denge Marshes where we spent half hour looking out over the marshes for any sign of the herons.
After blanking there we went onto Dungeness RSPB where after about an hours wait the heron exited the reed bed and flew across the reserve. Unfortunately my brother and father had gone back to the car but luckily enough as they returned to the hide the heron flew back across the reeds giving good flight views for all.
After navigating around the M25 and a quick stop at Magna Carta Lane for the Parakeets we decided to finish they day at Wilnstone Reservoir to try for the Red Footed Falcon that had been reported.
On arrival the bird was flying over the reservoir with four Hobby's for company, the bird was quite easy to pick out though.
The rain then started to come down heavily so we decided to call it a day.
All of the significant birds seen on this trip were in the air for most of the time so digiscoping was impractical so there is only a very distant shot of the Purple heron and what looks like the Common Tern gymnastic team.

Barren patch

After the Grey Plover & Temmincks Stints at Coleshill,I was hopeful that a few waders might have dropped in on Cliff Pool over the last couple of weeks.
However, there has been nothing, nowt, nada, zero, zip, bugger all out of the ordinary apart from a couple of reports of a pink footed goose and a Bean Goose.
Probably a case of miss identification but you never know.
An Oystercatcher appears to be sitting on eggs on the horseshoe island and most of the other resident species have got young, apart from Great Crested Grebe.
Took a couple of snaps of damselfly's, which I think are common blue and blue tailed.
I'm sure my brother will put me right...IF I'm wrong.

Temminck's Stint at Coleshill gravel pit

Having awoke this morning at 01:30 for work, yes I do really have to get up that early, I found that I had a message informing me that there were 3 Temminck's Stints at Coleshill gravel pit.
Having never been there before I did a quick search on Google earth, checked the local forums for info and then found directions on Tame Valley Birding.
Well the day at work really dragged on and I eventually finished at about half one and shot straight over to the pits.
A couple of departing birders told me where to go and within minutes I was scanning the pit.
Having been told they were over there a minute ago, it took me about 5 minutes to locate 2 birds in a different area.
The birds were feeding happily, but being harassed by Little Ringed Plovers.
After about an hour one of the birds departed leaving only a solitary bird for anyone trying later in the afternoon.