Window to Wildlife

The birding grapevine proved useful today when news came through of a juvenile Red-backed Shrike up at Mill Hill nature reserve. We quickly headed up there, where several other local birders were already on site. The bird was feeding in a large area of scrub, showing well, but not exceptionally close views. He was quite mobile, progressing through the scrub, but this was a good bird to find within our local area.  Red-backed Shrike

We joined Clive for the annual SDOS outing to Thorney Island. We started on the west side of the island, in rather cold and gloomy conditions for the time of year. We noted Cetti's and Sedge Warblers in the reedbeds, then a beautiful Kingfisher, a Kestrel hovering overhead and a motionless Greenshank. On the water at Little Deep we found several Gadwall, a Little Grebe, and a few Tufted Ducks and Coots. In the distance, we could just make out some Cattle Egret moving around the feet of the cattle, largely obscured by the long grass. However, generally it was pretty quiet, with far fewer birds than we have seen on previous visits. Kestrel After lunch, we set off along the eastern side, with much warmer conditions than we had experienced in the morning.  Scanning the landing lights, we were rewarded with our primary target for the day - an Osprey perched on top. We enjoyed  some decent scope views of this lovely bird. By the Great Deep and adjacent flooded fields we found g...

  Today was our last birding day, and we had a long  drive to the beach area at Vada. We broke the journey with a stop in the forest, hoping to add a woodpecker or Hawfinch, but although these were heard they were not seen. Red -breasted Flycatcher was again singing, and there were a few snatches of distant Wood Warbler, but the only new species seen was Greenfinch, camouflaged in the dappled canopy. On arrival at the coastal region,  we started our birding at an area of several scrapes and marshland. On the first one there was little new - just a  Northern Wheatear, egrets, and Shelduck. Walking on past a corridor of lush green reeds and rushes we heard calling Reed Warblers and a Reed Bunting  posed at the top of a tall stem. The next scrape was very productive and we had a flurry of great species. A flock of Mallard and Gadwall on the muddy bank concealed a Shoveler and Teal, both new trip ticks. There were plenty of waders here too, with Ruff, Marsh Sandpipe...

After a reasonable length drive, we took a walk within the Macin National Park, a biodiverse rich area with many plants and butterflies etc. With a change of habitat came a change of bird species. As we drove along the rough track to the reserve, the loud, jangly song of the Corn Bunting was heard and a number of birds were seen throughout the grassland valley. Next up was an Isabelline Wheatear perched on a rock, then dropping to the ground before returning to its original post.  Isabelline Wheatear One of our core target species for the day was Tawny Pipit,  and this was rapidly called by Bernie with his expert knowledge of bird song. The bird gave good, sustained views perched in a bush, but was sadly a bit too distant for photographs.  Continuing along the track, we noted enormous crickets, chirruping loudly from the grass, and many butterflies puddling on the damper areas of the track. At a rocky outcrop Alex spotted a resting Long-legged Buzzard. This soon took off ...

Today was our last day on the boat before transferring to a hotel in Tulcea ready for a couple of days of land based birding. As usual, pre-breakfast birding - was excellent, with Whiskered and Black Terns, Reed Bunting, a family of Mute Swans, both species of Pelican, Marsh Harrier, Squacco and Purple Herons all active around the boat. Overhead, a flock of Glossy Ibis and three night herons passed across. But the highlight of the morning was I finally heard a Bittern booming! I have never heard one before, and everyone else had been hearing them all week,  but it’s a pitch that I struggle with due to tinnitus, so I was thrilled to finally enjoy this iconic sound. White Pelican Our final small boat trip offered the usual tranquil ride and familiar array of birds. Four ‘fudge’ ducks, as Ferruginous Ducks are colloquially known showed very well, as did four Red-necked Grebes. One productive pool with large patches of lily beds contained vast numbers of Whiskered Terns plus some Black...

I  enjoyed another early morning from the boat roof, this time setting up with my scope to scan the reedbeds across the river. There was a slight mistiness to the air before the sun gained the strength to burn this away and clear the  views. It was fascinating to watch a singing Hoopoe perched on the tallest dead branch of a tree, nodding his head at the start of each burst of song, like a wooden balance toy that bends back and forth. I had never observed this behaviour before. In the shrubs behind the boat a Lesser Whitethroat was active, gathering food for his nest. A pair of displaying Rollers, demonstrating how they got their name, was another memorable experience not previously encountered. A Purple Heron stood motionless on the water’s edge, and small unidentifiable warblers flitted at the base of the  reeds, possibly Savi’s or more likely Reed Warblers. A Reed Bunting balanced on the swaying seed heads was visible through the scope. A flock of Black-winged Stilts f...

I woke with the dawn light, so climbed up to the roof top for an early morning birdwatch from the boat. It was so peaceful in the mellow morning sun, just quietly listening and watching the waking activity around me. A White Pelican lumbered slowly past at close range, a Tree Sparrow perched on a small dead branch of a nearby tree, whilst both Blue and Great Tits sang and twittered in the poplar trees beside the boat. Several Cuckoo flew over, calling constantly, and Black-crowned Night Heron and Purple Heron were both seen in flight before dropping silently into  the golden bathed reeds. A colourful Roller traversed the agricultural field and Pygmy Cormorants and Glossy Ibis passed overhead.  We set off on another boat trip after breakfast, much warmer than yesterday, with the wind having dropped significantly. It was very relaxing, and we saw many more of the water species seen previously, enjoying the opportunity to gain experience in recognising these species in a range of...