Lost and found :: 28 & 29 January 2023

I've been birding with Kevin Heath (@kev07713) for a while now and one of our biggest regrets is not going to see the penduline tits when they were in Weston-super-Mare in spring 2022. So, when reports of one in Bridgwater came out in the week there was little chance of us not going there on Saturday morning. We arrived to find a line of birders already surveying the area and a few out walking around the perimeter of the reedbed but none had seen our bird, so far. We parked up and walked around the area on the roadside scanning any movement we could see. After half an hour we decided to change location to the back pool as the bird had been seen there on several occasions and there were enough eyes on the roadside and who would likely raise the alert should they locate the bird.

We parked up on the edge of the housing estate and made our way into the park, stopping at a circular reedbed ... just in case. There was nothing to note but as we moved to leave, we picked out a Cetti's warbler which began feeding on the far perimeter - it soon disappeared without calling.

We reached a spot identified by Pagan Birder (@FegWitch) as where she had seen the bird and joined a couple of birders already staked out there. We waited and the other two eventually departed - we scanned around an I added a bullfinch to my year list. We were kept company by several stonechats that worked around the pool acting as substitutes for the penduline tit that had gone AWOL - stunning as they were, we were to be disappointed - the bird has not returned in subsequent days. We discussed what we would do next and decided to try for the Kentish plover again - high tide had just passed and there was more chance the bird would be visible on this visit.

We arrived in Burnham-on-Sea knowing that if the penduline tit was spotted we were not much further than 20 minutes away - we joined a single birder scanning with his scope from the esplanade. He had seen the bird on the island opposite so Kev started scanning to see if he could find it with the ten or so ringed plovers in view. It took a while, but Kev was eventually able to separate the bird from the other plovers and I dropped onto the scope to see it too. It wasn't easy but as others arrived from Bridgwater, we were able to help point them in the right direction, a courtesy we'd been afforded earlier. There were no signs that the small flock would make its way over and so we looked on Birdguides to if there was anything else around. We found reports of a green-winged teal at RSPB Greylake the day before and decided to visit as neither of us had been there and you just never know, we might locate the teal. These are probably the most complete Pleistocene Burtle Beds sequence in Somerset, demonstrating fluvial (or possibly glacial) gravels, marine intertidal silts and marine subtidal. A real resource to the many wildfowl that visit over the winter.

We stopped for fuel and to pick up some lunch, but it wasn't long until we pulled into the reserve car park and watched as an elderly couple filled up a feeder tray on the fence and retired to their car to watch the birds come in to feed (chaffinches and house sparrows mainly). We grabbed our kit and made our way through the entry gates. A boardwalk leads to the hide from the car park and as we stepped onto the boardwalk a couple passed coming the other way. We asked them about teal on the water and they confirmed there were hundreds - nice but we'd hoped there would be four and we would be able to identify our bird 😉. They also added that there were water rails feeding in the channel between the hides giving good views - hopefully they would continue ...

We reached a corner along our route finding an icy path and a pool of water after. I stopped to decide whether to step through the water or navigate round the mud when Kev marched through, opting for the muddy route. Wrong decision as his feet sank into the mud and up onto the bottom of his trousers - I took the water route and fared much better - thems the breaks. We pushed on and within a couple of minutes we were watching up to five water rails feeding on, and in the edge of, the icy channel. I continued to watch the water rails while Kev set up to scan the fields from the hide.

One of the birders in the hide said he'd been searching for 2½ hours and been unable to locate the teal - we suffered the same fate. We saw Cetti's warbler feeding around the same area and decided it was a great rerserve but that we were going to dip on this bird too. We considered stopping at Blagdon Lake on the way home to see the ring-necked duck, but it would be around 3.30pm by the time we got there and the bird had been recorded the previous day on the opposite side from the dam where we would park. We would stop elsewhere on the way home and see what we could find enroute.

We stopped once to view across a field containing pheasant, re-legged partridge, stock dove and woodpigeon and moved on.

We stopped again having come across some cars along the roadside - I'd previously been lucky enough to see owls here and we decided to join them. We chatted to a couple of birders, both female - they confirmed there were regular barn owls and were there to observed and photograph - one had a very tasty camera body (Nikon Z9) ... maybe one day. It took about half an hour until a barn owl appeared - a raven calling in the distance, hares and roe deer running in the field. The light was lost but I took a few photos anyway - why change the habits of a lifetime. We were lucky enough to see three barn owls and one that flew past, along and down onto the road verge. All too soon the darkness arrived, and we all packed up to leave – we had one more view of a barn owl as it landed on a wall before departing away and over the horizon.

That evening I asked my wife if it might be OK to bird again on the Sunday as Kev had already been to Eldernell (twice) to see the various owls showing there … in fact would she like to come with me. The answer was 'yes' but it would cost me lunch. I didn’t suggest too early a start so made breakfast before departing and arrived at RSPB Nene Washes (Eldernell) by 9.30am. This an area of wet grazing that usually floods each winter and attracts important numbers of waterfowl and waders, including Common Crane. Various raptors are resident or regular visitors and large flocks of ducks, swans and geese spend winter in the flooded fields, including winter migrants. There is no access onto the reserve, but there are good viewpoints along the embankment for as far as you wish to walk.

We were here to try and spot one species in particular, long-eared owl. I'd only seen this once before and at Deeping Lakes in 2022 but the view was heavily obscured (see the reports by clicking here, including my previous visit to Eldernell). As we got onto the embankment, we saw some people strolling but no one actively on a bird. I'd got directions from Kev as to the favoured roost sight for the LEOs and called him when I was close. He reminded me of the gap in the hedge I was looking for and soon located it. Almost at the same time we were joined by another birder who immediately was on a bird, primarily as it was sitting out and clearly visible with the naked eye. Above this there was a second but buried so deep there was no chance of seeing much detail - one in good was tremendous though.

We enjoyed the bird for a while with other couples joining - viewing through my scope was a real pleasure and makes a change, as much of the time I don't carry it and use Kev's - I carry bins and a camera usually, but all three on this occasion. Those without scopes were grateful for us sharing and for them to see in detail. A real upgrade on a year earlier. After this we set off to where we could see a handful of birders looking into the wood - this was our second target. On the way two swans crossed in flight and I could see they were whooper swans and new for the year.

We reached the wood and joined the group watch a tawny owl roosting in a hole. The internet is full of photos of this bird showing very well and who was I to turn up this opportunity for a detailed look at this species. We set up the scope again and took our fill.

Pleased with our day we returned to the long-eared owl and Charlotte offered to drop back to the car to pick up our tea and coffee flasks. While she was gone the owl preened and opened its eyes briefly, but not long enough for any more different photos. Charlotte returned and we enjoyed seconds of the LEO, joined now by another birder. As we chatted, he realised that we'd met before at Dunston for the red-back shrike last year - it is a small world. I also worried about what made me memorable - let’s hope it is the Scottish accent. I called Kev on Whatsapp while my phone was connected to the scope, and he could then see what we were viewing. During our chat he mentioned the position he'd seen short-eared owls in this hedge during his last visit and we set off there, accompanied by the other birder.

It took only a couple of minutes until I located a single bird in roughly the location suggested, buried deep in the hedge. There were a couple of vantage points where you could see between all the branches and twigs to see the bird's head and shoulders but never completely in the clear. Still, what a magnificent view! Crouching at an angle I was able to take a few snaps. A dozen or so people stopped to see what we were looking at and enjoyed adding this to their lists. A couple more birds were flushed to our right and relocated further along the hedge.

Eventually we tore ourselves away and made for the car as it was now approaching lunchtime - I had a promise to keep. Before packing away I saw three swans (whoopers I though) and photographed them despite being distant. Later and on review, I was to find they were in fact Bewicks and looking on reports I noticed that three Bewicks are reported on an intermittent basis over the last weeks; another new species for the year.

We repaired to the pub for lunch and then started home - too long before the bird took to the wing and didn't want to chance my arm by suggesting we hang around for a few more hours.

Somerset meet :: 21 January 2023

I picked Kevin Heath (@kev07713) up at 5.45am and set out through the ice, cold and fog - the car was reading -4°C as we got into the countryside and the fog gradually worsened through Chipping Norton and Long Compton. Fortunately, it improved a little and made the journey a little less stressful, at least until I drove straight past our breakfast stop. What comes of focussing too hard on the road and not thinking ahead ... no major issue though and 10 minutes later we were sitting having a coffee and a roll and sausage. We left and Kev called his sister Karen (@hobbylovinglife) who we were to meet - with her partner in crime Dean (@worlebirder) - at Battery Point Lighthouse, Portishead. They were already almost there but we still had another half an hour to run, not helped by my earlier error ...

We arrived and heeded the warning of a steep slope down to the car park and the icy conditions, parking up next to Karen's car. We could see Karen and Dean out on the point and scoping the rocks - hopefully they would be on the birds we were here to see. We made our way over, said our hellos, and were told that there were at least two purple sandpipers on the rocks at the far end but mostly obscured by the seaweed. We viewed through the scopes and soon found them scurrying around - we decided there were three. It was still cold and around -2°C - I was glad I'd put my gloves in my jacket pockets. To our left we heard and then saw curlew but there wasn't much else out on the water. The tide was going out quickly after the 6.00am high tide and we discussed the plan of action - Karen and Dean were going to go and tick the local Hume's warbler at Compton Dando while we would visit Burnham-on-Sea to try and find the Kentish plover. We would then meet up at RSPB Ham Wall and see if we could add the American Wigeon along Shapwick Heath and then the lesser scaup on the RSPB reserve.

Karen and Dean were first to get away, but we would soon be on our way arriving at Burnham-on-Sea with reports that the Kentish plover was likely to be seen from much the same place as when we visited in October. It was now 9.05am and the tide was out, exposing the beaches - we joined a handful of birders on the promenade, and they relayed that a couple of them had seen our bird 20 minutes earlier but on the very far island - some of them had apparently not. The bird had left with a group of circa 8 ringed plovers and headed further away and out of sight. We scanned the beach just in front of us and picked out four ringed plovers but not our target bird. There were plenty of dunlin, shelduck and avocets plus a few grey plovers in view - despite searching for an hour and a half we weren't able to find any signs of our bird. We decided to put this down as a dip and climbed into the car to make for RSPB Ham Wall and Avalon Marsh'sShapwick Heath (opposite one another).

We arrived at RSPB Ham Wall, put on our boots and made our way out along the main path through Shapwick Heath to where the American wigeon had been showing. We arrived to find only a couple of people in place, possibly as our bird was asleep and head tucked into its wing. We watched and waited as the wigeon lifted its head for seconds at a time and hoped it would give better views. Eventually it turned, walked a couple of feet, and went back to sleep - just walking far and long enough for a couple of photos. A little later it walked back giving another few seconds of opportunity for a photo. While we waited, we watched occasional marsh harriers over the back of the pool and a pair of stonechats along the front. There were frequent calls from Cetti's warbler behind but all we could see were a small flock of long-tailed tits feeing in the scrub and hedges.

Kev had a call from his sister to say she and Dean had arrived in the car park and so we made our way back, stopping to watch a chiffchaff on the way. We met by the cars and ate our sandwich lunches while we decided on the plan of attack. A couple of Karen and Dean's friends spotted them and came across for a chat after which we set out onto the reserve - apparently there had been no sighting of the lesser scaup all morning but we would go and have a look anyway - the water would be frozen and the chances were slim. We stopped on the bridge to watch a couple of chiffchaffs feeding some distance away and then moved on to the path aiming for the Avalon Hide. We stopped to watch a goldcrest and then Karen called a lesser redpoll, then two. A number of people stopped to see what we were looking at - they were far from obvious and difficult to keep eyes on even when you knew roughly where they were.

Before we got much further, first a pair and then a third raven flew over, cronking as they went - this was then followed by close passes from a couple of marsh harriers, a male and then a female.

We walked on down to the Avalon Hide but couldn't reach it as the path was under water and impassable. We saw some stonking redwings and as we watched a couple of water rails seemed to have an altercation, not far ahead but out of view. Frequent calls kept us in place, as did the accompanying Cetti's warblers on all sides. Eventually Kev was rewarded with a view of a water rail scuttling across the ice as it traversed a narrow channel. I missed that pass but took up position in case of a return. A quarter of an hour or more passed where we watched chiffchaff feeding and walking on the ice, then a Cetti's warbler dropped into view but down into the reeds soon after. A female reed bunting dropped onto the seed tops ahead and looked so settled I had to take a photo.

In the end I was blessed with a short pass of the returning water rail which is my first of the year. There was more action as the water rails interacted again. We were going to be disappointed by the lesser scaup as the water was completely frozen over - however Karen looked on her phone and saw that it had been reported on Noah's Lake over on Shapwick Heath just 20 minutes before. We packed up and made our way - we lost Dean and then Karen as I rushed along and they stopped to talk to friends - this would be a lifer for me but not for the other three. We watched great-white egrets and buzzards sitting out on the ice as we made our way.

It was a long yomp as I dragged Kev along with me to where the pin had been dropped on Birdguides - "female at Noah's Lake mid-afternoon" was the information provided. I reached the spot and could see hundreds of ducks in silhouette, including my first pintail of the year. It wouldn't be possible to pick it out like this ... Kev caught up and I asked a birder coming the other way if he knew how the bird had been spotted - it had been him that had found it three quarters of an hour before and he confirmed it wasn't where we should be - apparently we were meant to be viewing from a hide back down the path and to the west of the lake. It would have been good to have this information in the update ...

I apologised to Kev for dragging him here and we made our way back and received a call from Karen to ask where we were - she and Dean were already there. Damn. We eventually arrived at the hide and joined the other two. Kev set up his scope and began to scan, trying to follow instructions from two birders as to where we should be looking. Karen and Dean got on the bird just before Kev but between diving and trying to pick it out I couldn't get on it through either of the scopes - frustrating for me and the people trying to share the sighting. Eventually I got there and added another lifer. Kev remarked on how much more difficult it was to see than the male at Staines in the week.

Content with our views we worked back to the car and parted with Karen and Dean as they went off to watch the starling murmuration - I had to get home as I was to go out and meet some friends in the evening. We exited the car park which was now rammed, and the road verges were also lined with cars as far as the eye could see - apparently there are up to 600,000 birds in this flock at the moment and are a very popular sight - great to think so many people are interested.

Year List:  116

A Day Out in Norfolk :: 15 January 2023

Saturday's weather was forecast to be wet through lunchtime into the early afternoon – on Friday night I’d had said I'd be birding on Sunday instead. Kev (@kev07713) was more adventurous and on Saturday went to see the Sabine's Gull and got wet for his troubles – he did get in touch to say he was interested in birding on Sunday too - there were lots of good birds in Norfolk and so we agreed to meet early and have a day out. We stopped near Kings Lynn for breakfast and before arriving at Holkham we had already enjoyed skeins of pink-footed and Brent geese over.

We parked the car on Lady Anne's Drive to visit Holkham Beach, hoping to see shore larks and snow buntings. Our friend Adrian Sparrowhawk had seen some grey partridge in the fields by the car park and so we hoped to connect with these. The wind was brisk, it was cold and by the time we got to the beach there was a light drizzle - not what we had expected. There were Brent geese, shelduck and meadow pipits along the beach as we made for the roped off area. As we got close we met a birder coming the other way telling us he hadn't been able to locate the shore larks but we needn't have worried - as we approached we saw ten birds arrive and start feeding - they were our shore larks. We stopped for a few minutes enjoying them scuttling around.

As I took some photos, Kev and a couple of other birders continued on and located a flock of snow buntings, distant and often flying over to the other side of the dunes. One of the birders made for the sea and other side of the dunes to our right, but then he appeared to locate something to our left – after only a short time he broke away from whatever was there and made for the water's edge. We were curious and followed, spotting a single snow bunting actively feeding. I walked in close and allowed the bird to close the gap between us, giving the opportunity for some photos. The wind was again brisk but strangely not quite as bad as on the other side of the dunes.

We left the snow bunting in peace and I made for the water's edge, spotting three red-breasted mergansers out in the surf. I made my way back to Kev and he pointed to a larger raft of the same working right to left, effectively following the birds I'd seen. We scanned to see if we could find anything else and as we did, two sanderling flew past and followed the birder ahead of us - we set up the scope and watched them running in the tide.

We had a big day planned and so we wasted no time, making our way back to the car but stopping at the hut by the car park where grey partridge can often be seen. We scanned across the fields and Kev nudged me and said there were six just out in front - he laughed when I still wasn't on them and told me they were much closer than I was looking. We moved round and under a tree from where I could take photos. In various directions small numbers of black-tailed godwit fed and a very pale buzzard could be seen against a distant hedge.

We got into the car and looked on BirdGuides to see if anything had been reported locally and it just had ... a white-tailed eagle over the Freshmarsh. We decided that this was next on the list and made for the laybys along the main road that overlook the area from an elevated position. The first layby was full of birders viewing white-fronted geese - I jumped out quickly and took a couple of photos - Kev couldn’t really get off the road and so we couldn’t stay. We made our way to the next layby which was empty. We hurried out and set up by the gate, looking down across the marsh. Kev's kestrel was again perched on a tree making taking a photo less easy against the sky but after a few minutes it dropped down onto a fence post - the grass in the field was a better backdrop.

We watched red kites and marsh harriers hunting but there was no sight of the white-tailed eagle. We were joined by a couple of other birders and within about 5 minutes one called the eagle as it came from right to left, followed by flocks of lapwings and geese. It reached the scrub and trees directly in front, stopping to perch on a bare tree, after which it dropped down onto a bush but still hundreds of metres away. Views through Kev's scope were good, but it was hard to get photos or videos either with the camera or phonescoping.

Having struck lucky we decided to test our luck some more and made for Brancaster Beach to see if we could spot the Hume's warbler for the third time. As we approached the spot we saw a group of birders waiting in front of some trees, closer to the car park than we’d seen it on previous visits - the bird was apparently showing every ten minutes or so. It only took a couple of minutes until the Hume's popped into view and hopped through the branches - in under a minute it was gone again, dropping down into the undergrowth.

It was approaching lunchtime and we decided to go to Cley Marshes to see if we could catch up with the long-billed dowitcher - it hadn't been reported that morning but you just never know ... on the way back to car Kev picked out a spoonbill on the reedbed close to the car park and I made my way round for a record photo, after which Kev spun round in the car and picked me up.

We set off for Cley happy with our day - it was all going to plan, even adding the eagle. We came to a sudden halt as we spotted a barn owl in a field to our left, out hunting in daylight. Kev reversed to a gap in the hedge, and we sat entranced for a few minutes as we watched the bird initially on the ground and then quartering the field.

What a day we were having! It wasn't long before we sat having lunch in the Visitor's Centre at Cley Marshes and I added my first avocets of the year from the comfort of our seats. The lady taking our order seemed to be having a bad day but he other staff were very cheerful.

Finishing up lunch we saw that the dowitcher had been reported just ten minutes before and so we made for the East Bank and where a line of birders were camped out. We spotted a bonus stonechat on the way and stopped for a good 45 minutes - the dowitcher had scuttled into the grass and presumably had gone to sleep. Who knows how long it was going to take to show again, if at all ... we'd found a bird that hadn't got the memo and we would dip for the first time today. We wanted to end the day at Warham Greens and hopefully spot hen and pallid harrier as we had at the end of December. We departed and read that it would be 3.45pm before the dowitcher would be reported again. The harriers it was then.

We arrived at Garden Drove and turned up the lane hoping the rough terrain wouldn't cause any issues to Kev's car - the car slewed a little on the mud as we made our way. We reached the top but were unable to park as there were about a dozen horses and riders - youngsters in tweeds. It took at least five minutes of waiting for them to make a move to allow the queue of cars behind us to park up on the concrete pad as we'd been instructed to do. We made our way down to the marsh and joined a handful of birders already in place, some of whom had seen the pallid harrier disappear into the field behind some time before - the galloping horses in that area may not help our cause.

We scanned around with the scope and saw numbers of marsh harriers plus a single shore lark but there was no sign of hen harrier or the pallid harrier. We waited for a good 45 minutes before Kev picked out an approaching hen harrier through the scope - we all got on the bird (a ringtail) but it never got close enough to even attempt a photo. It wasn't then until around 4.15pm when the pallid harrier appeared and dropped at distance but still in view - it was tricky as a merlin went over while we were all trying to get on the pallid and everyone was a bit distracted. Annoyingly the pallid harrier stayed put until the light was almost gone and we didn't get to see it hunt this time.

We pulled stumps and headed back to the car adding another few grey partridge along the way. It was one of our best ever days birding and we'd seen almost everything we'd targeted, other than the dowitcher. Someday ... in fact the dowitcher is now being reported on the Freshmarsh at Holkham - if only while we were there.

Year List:  103