Window to Wildlife

 We departed Shropshire today, calling into Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve near Tamworth on our way home. We have not visited here before, but would do so again. The path initially passes through woodland, which was fairly quiet today, but we found Nuthatches in a tall oak tree, alerted by their call. Then Emilie spotted a Treecreeper in the same tree which she got her mum onto, but I didn’t manage to locate. It was great to see her confidence in her find, having had very recent views at Haughmond Hill and Gilfach nature reserve, and clearly describing its striped brown back and white belly. Continuing onto the wetlands, our target bird was a Wood Sandpiper, which duly revealed itself on a muddy bank, standing close to a Redshank and looking very diminutive in comparison. This was a lifer for Kate and Emilie, and they both had excellent views through my scope. Soon we found a Green Sandpiper too, enabling them to study the differences in plumage, with the Wood Sandpiper sporting a di...

 We were all up early to head off once again to Worlds End in Wales, arriving around 7AM for the Black Grouse lek. There were five birds present, and we enjoyed their displaying antics, with puffed up chests, fanned tails and splayed white feathers, running aggressively at each other and generally strutting their stuff. A supporting cast of Wheatears, with prominent white rumps in flight, Meadow Pipits and Stonechats all added to the entertainment.  Black Grouse displaying After drinking in this performance, we continued along the road slowly, searching for Red Grouse. A Skylark moved amongst the vegetation, and a shrub contained a few Whinchat, Linnets and a pale warbler, presumably a Chiffchaff. We reached the end of the road with no sign of Red Grouse, and I feared we were not going to find them this year. Just below the moor, a group of four Mistle Thrushes hopped across a field. Kate turned the car round, and we drove back along the moorland road, still searching hopefull...

We returned to this beautiful reserve which I had visited with Kate last year, and enjoyed a pleasant stroll beside the bubbling river. At this time of year, it was noticeably quieter than when we visited in May.  Bird of the day was the Spotted Flycatcher, with around half a dozen birds actively buzzing upwards to catch flies, or perched on fences, giving some fabulous views of a species that is now uncommon in Sussex.  Spotted Flycatcher Continuing along the path, Kate was thrilled to see her first ever male Bullfinch, with bold deep peach breast, thickset black cap and chunky bill. A yellowy young Willow Warbler foraged amongst the leaves in the same tree, and a paler Chiffchaff called as it flitted  through the vegetation below. A few Linnets, Goldfinches, Siskins and common tits were also busy in the hedgerows, and a family of Wrens on the shingle edge of the river provided some entertainment as they fluttered their wings and begged for food. Overhead a pair of Raven...

 We started our day with a morning trip to Venus Pools, where we found 25 species, the highlights being both Common and Green Sandpiper. Sand Martins and House Martins skimmed the water for insects, and Oystercatchers and Lapwings loafed on the mudbanks amongst the many Geese. At the woodland hide, Nuthatch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch were all making use of the feeders. Green Sandpiper From here we drove to Haughmond Hill, where we ate our packed lunch, before taking a walk through the woodland. A few Siskins called from the trees as we set off, and I managed to find a beautiful, bright male in my bins. Unfortunately an ‘off piste’ path led to Michael, in shorts, grazing his leg, causing him great distress and leading to sobbing complaints that he hates nature! Sticking to the marked paths now, it was fairly quiet on the bird front. However, sitting on a bench overlooking a wet, muddy patch beneath a thick bush, we enjoyed a super flurry of bird activity, with Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, M...

 We normally visit local heathlands to search for nightjars in June, but with other family commitments and holidays, time had drifted by. Now we felt we really ought to be getting on with the job, or we would miss our opportunity. The family, who had never heard churring Nightjars, were keen to come along, and we invited our ‘bird magnet’ Bernie, to join us and share his expertise. We chose to visit Lavington Common, a reliable site for Nightjars, meeting at 8.30PM. We started with a short walk on the common, where we found Stonechat and a somewhat distant but distinctive family of Dartford Warblers, with long tail clearly evident as they moved through the bushes. A new bird for the family, who were delighted! A yaffling Green Woodpecker was heard but not seen. Next we crossed the road to the Plantation, taking a track down the slope to the bottom of the common. We quickly heard churring Nightjars, with sound coming from different directions indicating more than one bird. Suddenly ...

 We made our annual pilgrimage to Oare Marshes today, accompanied by Sue, Steve and Bernie. Our primary target was the Bonaparte’s Gull, returning for at least its fourteenth year. We started at it’s preferred location, east of the slipway on the Swale, and with the help of a fellow birder soon located the bird, although a strong, gusty wind and bright, early morning sun glinting on the silvery mud made viewing difficult. Progressing along the track, and seeking shelter behind a bush, Bernie relocated the bird, and this time we had much better views, with its full hood, black beak, short stature, darker grey back and pink-red legs clearly visible. An accompanying cast of regular waders included Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank and a single Avocet. Bonaparte’s Gull We continued on to the hide on the edge of the estuary, where a family of Shelduck were feeding on the exposed mud and a single Little Tern hunted along the shoreline, yellow, daggered bill pointing sharply downwards as it...