Itchen Valley CP

On the 30th July I picked up Ashley Howe at around half 7 in the morning! 15 mins later we were at our destination Itchen Valley CP where we hoped for the signing Grasshopper Warbler. Whilst we walked joking around saying that people had heard a Wren and thought they had a Gropper but at that exact moment it started to reel giving me and Ash the chance to pin down its location In hope of seeing this elusive species in Hampshire.

When we pinned down the area that it was in we met two lovely people Maggi Short and her husband collin. Later on Simon Ingram arrived but had to jet off to work so only had it singing however me and Ash had great views of the bird a short while after. We then went back to my car and travelled the short journey to Lakeside CP but there was anything of note there!







Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Itchen Valley CP!

Rye Harbour, Stodmarsh NNR

Today my Dad and I went off in search of our 2nd Terek Sandpiper this time at Rye Harbour and again in East Sussex. On arrival we were told the bird had flown off to the river but a few mintues later someone had picked it up feeding at distance. Although fairly distant the views were good enough to be able to tell it was a Terek Sandpiper and in the end the views were quite nice until the bird took flight at around half 2 with a Redshank and headed high and fast towards Dungeness. Subsequently we drove off to Stodmarsh NNR to look for the Whiskered Tern and Red-Footed Falcon and we managed to see the Whiskered Tern without any trouble but due to having a 1st summer male Red Footed Falcon in Hampshire a few weeks ago we didn't stay to look for the Red Foot so we left and arrived home at around half 7.

What a couple of days down in the south along with Thrush Nightingale and Little Bittern a few weeks previous it can't be bad.

Beachy Head, Friday 30thMay

Yesterday My Dad and I ruhsed down to Beachy Head, East Sussex for a signing male River Warbler and due to road traffic didnt arrive on-site till about 7pm. On arrival the bird wasn't calling until a bird flitted up and into a tree and revealed itself as the River Warbler by signing. Later on the crowd had a great view in the open on the nettles well at least i did and from then on was again more flight views and occasionally seen perched. We left at ten to nine and arrived home at around half ten.

Shatterford

Last nite my Dad and I went down to Shatterford Bottom in search for the 1st Summer Male Red Footed Falcon that had been present all afternoon! When we arrived there was only a few Hobbies and some bastard biting midgies present and we found out that the bird had last been seen heading over the road therefore we strolled across the road to find it perched on a little bush, good views were held especially wen it flew passed at around 4oft but sadly the light was poor so only a very poor record shot was managed. We left around half 8 when we could see that the bird wanted to roost in a fir tree close to the road where we were stood.







Red Footed Falcon Taken in poor light

Portland and Lodmoor

Yesterday My family and I went down to Portland in search of quite a few things, first off an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler which wasn't the main target as I had one a few years back at the same place however the main bird was a Thrush Nightingale and the Little Bittern at Lodmoor. On arrival we dipped the Red Rumped Swallow by about 20 minutes so we decided to head off to Portland to try and see the Thrush Nightingale but yet again there was no sign for about an hour and a half so we sat round the Obs quarry till about half 4 only managing to hear the Nightingale which was annoying because t didn't show so we couldn't tick it.

We then moved back down to Lodmoor to try and see this Little Bittern but that hadn't been seen for over an hour aswel so as you might see a pretty dire day or so we thought!

At around half 5 a man shouted Bittern but unfortunatley none of us saw it as all were looking through a hirundine flock to try and find the Red Rumper but shortly after I found the bird again this time perched at the top of the reeds giving all present good views and it then flew left over the reeds towards beachdown way and this is when we left for Portland again.

We arrived back at the Obs quarry to find everyone starting to run so we did the same and there it was the Male Thrush Nightingale sat right out in the open on a bush and it showed for about 20 secs at the most but a good enough view to tell what it was. A look for the EOW was fruitless so we decided to head home.

Once home o shit we forgot the scope so luckily put a message out on rba and some kind man had found it so all good and a good day out!

Female type Little Bittern perched in reedbed at Lodmoor RSPB

Poor record shots of the Little Bittern at Lodmoor RSPB.

Click Images for larger!

Lytham St Anne's

On Saturday my Dad and I travelled up north to Lytham St Anne's for the adult Ross's Gull that had been seen there the day before. This bird is another one that has eluded us for a few years so was hoping to connect with it and by early morning there was no sign so we decided to head to Marshside RSPB where we saw plenty of avocets, Blackwits and the usual stuff and then after an hour or so we decided to head back to Fairhaven Lake in hope that it would turn up and as we arrived bleep bleep Ross's Gull so we quickly drove a mile down th road to see it sat on the beach sheltering from the wind, we waited another hour or so and had stunning views of this adult gull down to 30ft and some good photo's was taken. We left at around half 4 arriving home shortly after half 8.






Ross's Gull taken at Lytham St Anne's, Lancs



Adult Ross's Gull taken at Lytham St Anne's, Lancs

Little Crake, Exminster Marshes

Today my dad and I travelled to Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon for the superb male Little Crake which had been showing down to 20ft but we had heard that this bird was extremely difficult to photograph despite its close proximity.


We arrived on site at around half 11 to find the bird had just flown to ourside of the reeds which was unviewable however after 10 or so minutes the bird flew back across the ditch and continued to show well but the problem now was the reeds and the wind, just as u got the bird in focus a reed came into view and then it unfocused and it kept doing this repeatedly so only a few record shots were managed. We left at 3:00pm after it had disappeared 4 about 3 hrs.






record shot of the Male Little Crake at Exminster Marshes Devon.