Sanderling- Upton Warren

16/06/12

I recieved news that a Sanderling has been seen on the flashes, and with the shocking weather outside, i was quite sure it would stick around the day.
By the time we were able to get onto site however, the bird had somehow dissapeared, and hadent been seen for about an hour. Anyhow, we still went down for a look, and its a good job we did!
Sanderling is one of those species that pass through the county in small numbers, most of the time only staying a day, so therefore, it is often a hit or miss species on a year to year basis within the midlands.

We sat down, but could see a small wader running the edges of the mud anywhere, and after about an hour, everyone in the hide was coming to the conclusion that the bird had flown.
2 drake TEAL were new in, and my first of the 'autumn'.

We were just about to leave and head to my girlfriends house when i had a last scan, and while scanning the end of the 'peninsular' in front of the hide, i was drawn to a movement just behind the now overgrown island. Immidiatly, i knew that this was what we were all waiting too see.
"There it is, the SANDERLING is here" was the shout, and a flurry of directions were given, and soon everyone was watching the bird.
 Soon after, the bird appeared fully from behind the vegitation, and immidiatly became extremly mobile around the flashes, moving from one island to another in quick succesion. Occasionally however, it settled long enought for us all to get a decent view, and with a brief glimmer of sunshine, i was able to take a picture that wasnt grey.

Looking remarkably Little stint like with its red neck, i wsa shocked, as earlier the bird had been described to me as 'quite pale', which i presumed ment it was in winter (type) plumage, or at least a pale colour, but when it emerged i saw a spring plumaged adult, a very nice looking bird!

(Sorry about the odd effect within the video's when panning, Youtube has changed the video somehow and messed it up, will be back to normal next post)

The bird mainly spent longer periods on the mud type islands, as could be expected from an esturine wader, and it was when on the mud that i was able to get some videos.


It was far more restless on shingle islands however, as shown here.



After some time watching the bird (a year tick), we decided to head off, already late for visiting the girlfriend.
MB

RED KITE

15/06/12
While driving past the Kingfisher hotel in Kingswinford, a moulting adult RED KITE flew low over the top of the car, flying east. My 2nd kite within half a mile of here in two years!
MB

Patch- OTTER!

9/06/12
Having just arrived back from Wales, after a short period of shopping i was back on the patch, and the highlight was showing very soon after arrival, i walked through the gap in the limestone following the riverside footpath, and as the view opened up over the river i saw something in the water. With just its heas showing, i immidiatly recognised it as a OTTER! The first wild Otter ive ever seen!!
The size alone showed that this individual was a dog Otter, and i was treated to superb views of it in the water on the opposite bank, about 50ft away, It just sat in the water, with its head showing. then would suddenly dive to resurface a few seconds after! What a way to get a lifer!
Awsome!
After a minuite or two however. It disapeared under some overhanging trees, and didnt re-appear.

The remainder of the walk back home was rather un-eventful, and i didnt really see much, but that didnt matter, i saw a dog OTTER on the patch!
MB

Wales 2012

9/06/12And thats was that!
Another week in Pembrokeshire had been and gone, with only two days birding! The rather atrocious weather leaving much of the rest of the weekend useless for that purpose, although lots of time was spent with my girlfriend, Out and about with her, and with family, so the weather didnt affect things too much!

The usual RED KITE count taken place on the way back was in better weather, with it being sunny most of the way! (Sods law!) but we were left shocked at the MASSIVE floods around the river adjacent to the road coming into Llandovery, Massive area's had been covered by flood water and looked amazing. If only we had stopped for a scan :(

The c20 mile radious of Llandovery agian was the hotspot. And we reached a total of 27+, Which was nearing the highest total iver ever had!

We paused in Llandovery where i got a few photo's of the Kites as they soared over chimneytops in the town centre!
I also had a very nice ham salad baguette from the cafe opposite the 'castle car park'.
I returned home about 3, and i was only the patch soon after!
MB

Stackpole Head- PUFFIN'S!

6/06/12

Stackpole head has always been a favorite area in Pembrokeshire, a nice mix of birds, nice beaches and stunning sea cliffs. It always makes for a decent couple of hours, even if theres not many birds about!
Over the last few years, there has been a seeming decline in numbers of everything here, so my hopes wernt exactly too high. However, all the 'usual' suspects are still around, just in less numbers!

The weather everyday since the Sunday had been rather atrocious, and therefore all birding time was pritty much canceled! We did witness the Lifeboat docking at it's station on the Wednesday, and a quick walk along the beach in Tenby during howling wind and driving rain lead to a suspected sighting on a Skua sp. However, the views were ever so brief as it ducked in behind a wave, with no bins, and when using one of the telescopes on the seafront (which were terrible btw!) i couldnt relocate it. Which is a shame, because ive only ever seen one skua previously!

On the thursday morning however, there was a gap in the weather, and i had a PAINTED LADY buttefly on the plants outside the window.

Later in the day, moving to Stackpole head, it was similarly sunny, but with a very gusty wind. It didnt takes long before we started picking up the birds, Skylarks were (as usual) everywhere! And Meadow Pipit were 'seeping' all around us.

A couple of WHEATEAR also joined us on the cliff top, and after abit of time, a female approached us, and gave stunning views!

Soon after, we were also joined by the male bird. Presumably a 1st summer because of the brown tinged wing feathers.

What a stunner!

However, the main reason for visiting these cliffs was to try and see one of the Icons of coastal birding in Wales. The CHOUGH.

We soon picked up a flock of these birds calling from the other side of the head, and we soon located then on the cliff edge.

We were treated to views of an immature bird. A plumage which previously i have never seen, which was now fully indipendant from its parents.

And talk of the devil, Here are the two stunning corvids! Glossy black with blood red bills and legs.

And just flying out to mob one of the ever present Herring Gulls.

The birding here is not just confined to the cliff tops. Clinging on to the vertical rock face below is a bustling colony of seabirds, with both the 'common' Auks well represented. And, as we were a week later than most years, most of the colony were in attendance, and we were treated to large numbers on hte cliff faces, and forming rafts below us on the swell.

And it was while scanning these rafts that i picked out a few white faces. Even at the extreme range we were from the bird (1/2- 1 mile) i could easilly tell that i was watching a PUFFIN on the water! Great stuff!
I knew they were here from previous sightings, however, i had never seen one actually perched/swimming, so it was great to get views of them in the water.
We moved along the cliff, closer to where the birds were, and soon realised that there was infact more than one bird here. And i soon counted 6 birds swimming about, including these two birds, which swam on the sea not too far away.

A SHAG was near the top of the cliffs at its nest.

However, i was soon distracted by the numbers of ROCK PIPIT which had decided they wanted to show well, and i was soon in the presence of a showy male bird, which casually stroled around about 30ft away, often pausing to sing or preen.

A couple of times. the bird was knocked off ballence by the strong winds, which made for some odd poses!

We were also treated to amazing views of this bird, whch showed a very ragged tail.

All in all, a very good visit, and it was nice to see Stackpole 'back on form'.Decent birds, ok weather, what more could you ask for?

MB