North Point Pools & Cley :: 30 September 2023

Friday night arrived, and it was time to decide where we might go birding the following day. Looking at the day's sightings it became apparent that most of the birds that might add to Kev (and my) list were in far flung corners of the country, and not really available on a day trip. There was one which might be good for a punt, a Wilson's phalarope over on North Pont Pools, Norfolk. There was the added incentive that it was close to NWT Cley Marshes and so (if time allowed) I'd be able to drop in and see the long-billed dowitcher that had escaped me despite having been around the area for over 11 months.

We arrived to find about a dozen birders already searching for the phalarope, mostly from the car park, but a couple from the track to the west of the main pool. We parked in a layby on the main road and viewed from the top of the lane, in the field margin on the righthand side - one other birder was using the same spot - this gave some elevation and might perhaps allow us to see better over the grasses along the water's edge. As we settled in, there was a 'negative news' update on our bird on Birdguides - terrific. Overhead flew lots of geese, including some pink-footed amongst a larger number of greylags.

Now, the Wilson's phalarope is a vagrant to Europe usually in August to October from breeding grounds in North America. UK records are usually 1st winter birds found in coastal pools and marshes – exactly the habitat we were looking at. This species is slightly larger than other phalaropes with a longer neck, a longer needle-fine beak, and longer legs. It commonly walks in shallow water or muddy edges, feeding on insects, often with its breast almost touching the ground. We set to scanning up and down.

Our companion gave up on this pool and went to look at another from the other side of the lane. We persisted and noted the large number of birds in the sky beyond and over the pools, really quite a good location. We spotted a greenshank to the west of the pool we were viewing and noted that it was feeding but not in the same manner as the bird we were looking for. I'd broken out my scope and so Kev and I were both surveying the pond when Kev called and said a bird had just left cover on the front edge - he thought it was our bird. He jumped off his scope and let me look - yes it looked good. He immediately called on the other birder to come and have a look as this is a new bird to us, but immediately the bird flew back into cover.

We waited for a short while but our bird did not re-emerge and so I suggested to Kev that I walk down the slope and see if there was a spot where we might be able to view along the water without the grass obscuring our view. The other birder said he was going to do the same, and so Kev packed up and came with us.

We walked down the lane, through the car park and onto the path beyond, still without being able to see the spot we had seen the bird return to. We stopped and scanned but couldn't see our bird - I think the others that had now joined us thought we'd mistaken a greenshank for the phalarope - we were pretty sure we hadn't. While I waited, Kev made his way further along the path and then up the hill behind giving much better elevation and views - after five minutes I followed. As I climbed the slope flocks of geese flew over - it felt like they would crash into us they were so low - a fantastic sight.

I hadn't quite reached Kev when he called that he'd found the bird - Tonto strikes again! It had relocated out of the main pool and to the most eastern one, as reported the day before. We hadn't even been able to see this pool from where we'd been standing originally. That was our bird, and while Kev updated Birdguides I dropped back down to the other birders to pass on the news - they followed up and we all got on our scopes - the bird was about as far away as it could be.

We decided to try and see the bird from the main road on the other side of the pools and so left the group. It was a bit of a yomp back, but we then had to walk along the hedge and field edge to get a view down into the pool. Initially there was no sign but after quarter of an hour or so my phone rang; it was Kev up ahead - he's climbed onto the road verge and could now see down into the pool and the phalarope feeding. Joining him it was possible to get decent views through our scopes - distant photos, and videos were still tricky.

It was a bit dicey on the verge as the road is narrow and so, after we'd had views, we dropped back down into the field margin to walk back along to the car. The phalarope did the decent thing and moved out and off the bank. A couple of other birders dropped in by us and we passed on all the intel we had; slowly we made our way back to the car.

The bird had shown well but always at distance. We might come back later if it was reported in the main pool, to get some better views and photos. For now, we had another mission - that long-billed dowitcher. It had been reported at around 9.35am, still having a lie-in on Pat's Pool from the Bishop's Hide. Off we trotted, parking at the main Visitor's Centre at NWT Cley Marshes.

Arriving at the hide we found there to be standing room only. A lady birder with scope and phone attached pointed out where the dowitcher was - it had been showing well at distance but had recently gone to sleep amongst a group of black-headed gulls and black-tailed godwits. The first thing I noticed was its size against the godwits - so much smaller, perhaps snipe sized. At this point the long bill was not visible as it was tucked along its back and the prominent supercilium marking was not on show. This bird is a also a vagrant to Europe with several records in the UK and Ireland each year as they leave from their breeding grounds in North America and Eastern Siberia.

We'd stand for an hour of so until the gulls moved away, and the godwits started to wake, preen and move out of the way. This left the dowitcher in the clear and standing beside a couple of remaining godwits.

It then strolled around the edge of a small island in the water, feeding, preening, and really just staying on the move. However, this lasted just a few minutes - then it was back to sleep on the island. Out at the back of the pool a little gull dropped in - a year tick for me.

It looked like we'd had as much as we'd get for the foreseeable. We noted that a white-billed diver had been reported on the beach in the last hour and so decided to skip lunch and make for there. There were a handful of birders on the pebble beach scanning through scopes, but none had the diver in sight - it had apparently drifted off earlier and been lost to view. We chatted with the others, some of whom were local and seawatchers - that was lucky. Out on the water we had lots of razorbills, juvenile gannets (plus three adults), a raft of scoters, multiple fly-by red-throated divers, and a handful of guillemots.

The number of birders grew and we watched as wheatear and a marsh harrier flew in off the sea. A single arctic skua was called from further down the line, and a couple of Caspian gulls landed out on the water - but too distant for photos. One of the birders was an Ambassador for Kowa and was discussing optics and camera photo Apps with a few of the guys - I admitted that I hadn't registered for this event and listened in. In many ways it was not applicable to me as my scope is not really up to the mark when it comes to phonescoping - I concentrate my funding on a camera body and lens.

All too soon we had to depart as I was going out to see friends in the evening - the journey home was smooth, we stopped for a sandwich on the way, and I just had time for a shower before I was back out. Two lifers, two more new for the year - another great day birding.

Pembrokeshire & Farmoor Reservoir :: 23/24 September 2023

One of the most memorable periods in British birdwatching history occurred just before and over the weekend, with an almost unprecedented fall of American land birds. Of particular interest to us was Britain’s third magnolia warbler, reported at St. Govan's Head aside the Stackpole Estate. There was also a melodious warbler nearby, and who knew what else ... still more might be found. There was even the offer of grey phalarope at Goldcliff Pools on the way home. However, every plan has a drawback - in this case it would be an early rise ready for a 3.00am departure. But it would be worth it for the opportunity to join our friend Nick Truby (@old_caley) who has visited the previous day and connected with both warblers.

Kev Heath (@kev07713) and I set off and enjoyed a smooth run all the way to St. Clears where we stopped for a breakfast, waiting 10 minutes for opening time. There was no time to waste and so it was very much a pit stop and we were back on our way with coffee in hand. We had a slight issue with the postcode as it left us quite distant from the car park, but we re-programmed the SatNav and it then dropped us right in the correct car park. We booted up and joined the birders looking for the magnolia warbler - more than 50 already there, but the bird had yet to be located ... it wasn't entirely clear which side of the white tape barrier the bird might appear, but odds were that it would be the sunny expanse of low scrub north of the car park. We scanned on both sides and waited.

Overhead choughs and ravens serenaded as they relocated at sunrise, and we waited for any sign - the magnolia warbler had gone to roost the previous night and people had been there, some overnight, and in place from before first light. It was likely to still be there …

The magnolia warbler is an extremely rare visitor from North America that breeds widely in the boreal forests of Canada. It was added to the British List following the finding of an individual on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly in 1981. Although it is small and very active, the Magnolia Warbler is not as difficult to observe as some warblers, because it often stays low in shrubbery and short trees. It forages by hopping along branches, gleaning insects from conifer needles, leaves, and twigs taking most insects from the underside of vegetation.

After about 45 minutes a shout went up - the bird was here and had been spotted in the bushes on the brow of the hill, on the sunny side as hoped. At least we wouldn't be looking into the sun. It had dropped down and it wasn't for another 15 minutes or so that the bird gave itself up to general view - tick, and 299 for the year for Kev. Having dropped down again it reappeared in a hawthorn bush to our right and I managed to see it as it dropped again, reappearing further behind by some honeysuckle flowers. It was lost again and I still didn't have a photo. The watching mass had now grown to what must be approaching 100 birders, now spread out around the expanse of scrub.

We then had some of our best views as the bird fed on the front side of a distant bush. Now I could get a photo although from distance - I should have followed Kev round but had stayed put where it had been seen last. Views now lasted for a few minutes rather than seconds, but I stayed put. There were then continued glimpses at distance, but the bird refused to come near enough for a closeup. Again, I should then have relocated to where Kev stood as the bird showed closer to him - I kicked myself and went to join him, spending the rest of our time on site there, waiting for the bird to show again. We'd wait another 30 minutes and then go and see if we could find the melodious warbler - the magnolia didn’t show again in this time.

We made for the car and as we did so, more and more people appeared to do the same - it became apparent that something was afoot ... a Canada warbler had just been reported 15 minutes along the coast. All those that had seen the magnolia were now on the move to catch what would be the UK's first Canada warbler - we'd struck lucky. The chap that had found the magnolia a few days before was apparently the finder of the Canada as well - amazing! The finder (Toby Phelps @phelpstoby1) was in place as we arrived in the first cohort, we all congratulated him. Now to relocate the bird ...

Canada Warblers are steely blue-grey above and bright yellow below, with an obvious whitish eye ring. The most noticeable feature is the broken black necklace across the chest - it lacks the striping along the flanks of the magnolia warbler we'd seen earlier. It moves rapidly, hopping and fluttering between branches in the undergrowth. Typically, it is found in low vegetation, especially wet woods and thickets, feeding on insects; usually up to 3 feet above ground. Sometimes hard to see in this dense cover, but it is said to be not especially shy, and a patient observer can usually get good looks. It is one of the longest-distance migrant warblers; winters in South America having relocated from the breeding grounds in the north.

Dozens of people were now in place and were searching around the area. As soon as anyone stopped for a look and spoke, the assembly relocated up and down the narrow lane - newly arriving cars attempting to pass the large number of bodies. It was mayhem. We searched for 45 minutes to an hour but eventually decided to go and see if we could find the melodious warbler as it been reported earlier - we could always come back if/when the bird was re-found.

We made the journey of just under an hour and found the car park easily. There were a handful of birders in position, but they reported that the bird had not been seen for a couple of hours - it had shown spectacularly well earlier and had been possible to watch it feed even without the use of bins. We set up and started scanning the low hedge it apparently favoured.

The melodious warbler is a scarce migrant to the UK in spring and autumn from its breeding grounds in south-western Europe; it winters in West Africa, from Gambia and Senegal, East to Nigeria and Cameroon. It is rather silent on passage but sings quite frequently in winter areas and around periods of arrival and departure. With autumn migration beginning in earnest this month, it's usually time to scrutinise passage warblers as they undertake the long journey south. Melodious warblers are arrive regularly in the UK, but in small numbers - they remain scarce enough to qualify as notable finds anywhere in Britain. It would be a lifer for both Kev and I.

A bird dropped out of view on the far edge of the hedge before any of us could get on it. In less than 10 minutes a bird hopped onto a stick to our right, picked up first by Kev. He called it out and asked if that wasn't what we were looking for - it was! - 300 for the year for. Kev, and what an achievement! In only a few tens of seconds it was gone and although we picked it up again as it worked right, it would soon go awol. Despite working up and down the hedge we would not find it again - the other birders had decided to leave and we did too, mainly because the Canada warbler had been found and was showing.

We arrived back at the copse where the Canada warbler had been reported earlier and were confused by the number of cars, but the lack of people. We parked the car and made our way back to find that the trees were full of people, all waiting to see the warbler. There must have been 75 or more people actually in the trees and lining the area where the bird had been spotted last. The only way we'd get a view was to join them.

Kev saw it first when a chap (Martin) called it when high in a tree at the back, 301 for Kev - I heard his call but couldn't pick out the bird - lacked the line that Kev got from standing beside him. It was a good half hour before I managed just a fleeting glimpse as the bird came up from the ground and into a low scrubby bush (and out of view) - just a second or two and no hope of a photo. People kept joining but instead of staying at the back they often pushed in front, blocking our view. It seemed unlikely that we'd get any better view as we were getting blocked from all angles - we hadn't been in a great spot before and viewing conditions were appalling. We left the copse and found Lee Evans going in the other way; he posted an update on Twitter of the situation we all found ourselves in. We then bumped into Alan Boddington (@alanbodd) who was finding the conditions challenging and decided to go and see the melodious for now.

We waited for a while but there was no let-up in the crowd, and so we headed for home. It was now too late to drop into Goldcliff Pools and so a grey phalarope would have to wait.

I'd gone to bed late after friends had visited for the evening, and so I didn't get up early. At about 8.45am my phone pinged away. I stretched out, picked up the phone and read that the Farmoor Reservoir grey phalarope was still there (had dropped in the previous day). I jumped out of bed, got dressed, grabbed a coffee from my machine and was on the road within 15 minutes. I pulled into the site finding there were not too many cars, and on the causeway could see that there were a handful of people with bins, scopes and cameras. They were presumably on the bird and as I approached, I could see Adrian Tysoe and Bryan Manston (@BryanManston) and then the phalarope on the water's edge. I was soon taking photos but after only a few minutes it took to the wing and relocated further down and further off the causeway.

Can there be a more beautiful bird that visits Oxfordshire? – this juvenile grey phalarope - about the same size as a starling for those that may not know. Records of this small Arctic visitor peak from mid-September through December. Normally occurring offshore but storm-driven individuals can also be found on large inland waterbodies such as Farmoor.

Gradually the bird swam back in to the edge and I managed a few photos before I had to leave - I hadn't had any breakfast yet and I'd been out all of the previous day. I walked back to the car with Adrian and caught up his news.

What a weekend it had been - four ticks, of which three were lifers. One a first and another a third UK record. This weekend will take some beating!

Seatown & Orcombe Point, Devon :: 16 September 2023

We set out, this week as a three: me, Kev (@kev07713) and his wife Karen (@karenheath62). We were going to try for the woodchat shrike reported the previous day in Seatown, Devon and it was a good run down so we left early. An hour into the journey and we started encountering spots of rain on the windscreen - by the time we stopped for breakfast in Bridgewater the rain was hammering down. The forecast for Seatown suggested it would be raining there too, perhaps clearing from 9.00am. We'd take our time and wait for the weather to start to clear through - it was still raining when we departed but not as heavily.

We arrived and took an alternative path up to the location, mainly to avoid the very steep climb to the top of the hill. We arrived to find a couple of birders in position - they hadn't laid eyes on the bird and had been searching around the hedgerows for well over an hour. We joined the search but could only find mipits, goldfinch, bullfinch, blackcap, blackbird, woodpigeon, magpie, fly-through swallows, and a great-spotted woodpecker. There were numbers of jays perching on trees, bushes, hay bales and on some farm equipment - they could be seen with food and dropping to the ground presumably to stash it. At one point Kev saw something through his scope that caught his eye but, in the end, decided it was probably a stonechat - saw some later.

Hours passed but we couldn't get a sniff of our target bird. A wryneck was reported an hour along the coast and so reluctantly we made our was back to the car - we were the last remaining birders. It was late lunchtime and we'd be pushed for time when we got there, but we were hopeful that we might still get something out of the day.

We found a place to park on a lane that would cut down the distance to the bird's last location. On our walk across the fields to the cliffs we came across four wheatears and numbers of house martins. We then met another birder who confirmed the positions of all the reported sightings in the last 24 hours or so.

We set off checking as we went - you just never know. Eventually we got onto the coastal path and started up the slope, checking carefully. Time was running out. Kev was just ahead and called to say that he'd seen the bird come up off the ground and go low into a large bush. The wryneck is a small woodpecker just slightly larger than a sparrow and most likely to be seen on autumn passage in August and September. They feed almost exclusively on ants and, unlike most other woodpeckers, are seen mainly on the ground and do not often climb up vertical trunks or branches. It is a regular autumn migrant in small numbers, mainly to sites near southern coasts

We set up and waited for any movement. Another birder arrived and left before the bird started to show - we called him back - this was a lifer for him. The path had been busy and so we were lucky to have fallen fortunate in our timing.

It had been 10 minutes or so, but the bird had climbed through the bush to about seven feet up and came to the front. It worked round and back, popping back and forward into cover. It soon was out of view and then flew down the path and into another bush. It then flew again, even further back, and into another bush. We waited for 5 minutes but it had gone to ground again and we had to go as I would be at least 45 minutes late home to go out to friend's for the evening.

It had been a frustrating day for us but in the end, it had been salvaged by Kev spotting the wryneck as it made for cover. Another bird closer to his 300 year (so close now) and another tick for the year for Karen and I.

South Gare :: 12 September 2023

I was attending a meeting of the Banbury Ornithological Society and afterwards chatting with Sandra and Adrian Bletchly. They mentioned that they were travelling north the next day in their new van (unmistakeable apparently as it is orange) to eventually visit Shetland but stopping occasionally on the way; they would visit the brown booby at South Gare. As it happened, I was also heading to the northeast on Tuesday for an all-day meeting and hoped to be able to get away early enough to drop in there myself. We joked that we might see one another. Talking to Alan Peters (warden of the Bicester Wetlands reserve), he and a couple of others had been there early that day, seen the bird, and returned for this meeting - they were feeling a bit weary.

Tuesday arrived and with work over I set out on time and plugged in the brown booby's location into the satnav. No stops on the way and I was driving along the narrow road onto the point at South Gare when I saw an orange van pass me, going in the opposite direction. No sooner had I seen the van than a WhatsApp message pinged on the screen from Sandra to say they'd just passed me - the bird was showing well 😁.

It was less than a mile to the stop and I jumped out the car, grabbed my camera and scope, and made for the handful of birders scanning on the water. I looked on the buoys through my bins but couldn't see the bird so asked my fellow birders - apparently it had flown just a few minutes before and was likely on the water further back down the bay. We scanned for 10 minutes or so until one of the other chaps picked it out on the choppy water. While I'd seen it, it was a very small tick.

The bird was picked up again on the water, floating right but most of us didn't get onto it before it was lost again. Another 10 minutes passed and this time the booby was flying, and I picked it up just before it was level with a buoy. I snapped off a few photos as it flew across, back to what was supposed to be its favourite perch - it disappeared amongst some gulls and was again lost from view.

I waited for a few minutes and the birders started to disperse - it was time for me to make tracks to my hotel and to meet colleagues for dinner, so pulled stumps. What a lucky coincidence to have such a lovely bird so close to where I was staying.