Shelford, Nottinghamshire

This morning my Dad and I made the 2 and a half hour journey up to Shelford, Nottinghamshire for the juvenile Long-Tailed Skua that had been present the week before. On arrival the bird was distant feeding on insects etc apart from a couple of times where it flew up past the crowd giving excellent views. Whilst waiting for the Skua to give a better view and allow a photo opportunity we found a very confiding Wheatear.

And finally the skua landed near to the path allowing time for a photograph and a nice view, we then left for home at about 5.45pm with some pleasing photos.

Wheatear in the same field as the LTS.

Long-Tailed-Skua in serach of food

juv Long-Tailed-Skua

Juv Long-Tailed-Skua

Juv Long-Tailed-Skua

Juv Long-Tailed-Skua

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Farlington Marshes

This morning my Dad and I yet again went to Farlington Marshes at around 11.30am in hope of seeing the Spotted Crake but even after a five hour wait we couldnt see it but this was probably due to two kids and a women who decided to stand on the edge of the ditch and throw stones.

Other bird included 3 wheatears, 2 Hobby, 1 Curlew Sand, 50+ Grey Plover, 2 Water Rail and a very confiding Dunlin on the seawall which we suspected was the bird that got caught by a Sparrowhawk but was dropped shortly after.

Showy Dunlin on the seawall

Showy Dunlin on seawall

Showy Dunlin On seawall

Showy Dunlin on seawall

Showy Dunlin on seawall that had presumbly been caught and

then dropped by a Sparrowhawk

Lapwing that was on the exposed mud

Starling that we saw on bramble bush

Starling Flock that was encountered in the bushy area

Wheatear that we saw on seawall near main lake

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Farlington Marshes again

This evening my Dad and I went down to Farlington Marshes again in search of the Spotted Crake and again in proved a waste of time. Other birds of note were Kingfisher, 3 Curlew Sands (all juvs) and we managed to locate the merlin perched distantly from the seawall.

Stanpit Marshes

This evening my Dad and I shot down to Stanpit Marshes for the Wilson Phalarope at 5.00pm. Despite the pager saying that it was showing well this wasn't the case, the scope views were indeed excellent but for photography it was far too distant even for digiscoping.
While watching the Phalarope fly off to a nearby channel due to the rapidly rising tide we scanned through the waders to see what we could find, they included:
70+ Dunlins
5 Curlew Sands (all juvs)
2 Bar-tailed godwits and a Knot amongst the more commoner species. We then returned home at 7.00pm.

Botley

During my paper round this morning at 7.30am I had a Hobby which flew Low over botley and then headed NE. This is the second time I have had a Hobby over Botley in a period of a few weeks.

Hayling Island and Farlington Marsh HWT

A later start today arriving at Hayling Island at around 10.45am for the juvenile Red-Backed Shrike that had been present the evening before. On arrival there was no sign of the bird west of the approach track but a closer inspection revealed the bird on the east side of the track near the entrance to Mill Rythe Holiday Park.The bird showed well throughout our stay but was a little bit too distant for any photographs.

A short while after we made the short journey west to Farlington Marshes HWT in search of the 2 Spotted Crakes but after an hour searching we still drew a blank. Other birds seen were 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 7 Knot, 60+ Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sands and hundreds of redshanks. We then returned home at 2.00pm.

Elmley Marshes RSPB

My Dad and I left Southampton at around 5.15am arriving at Elmley Marshes RSPB at 7.15am. We came here in search of the one thing, a Long Eared Owl that had been present the week before in the orchard.

On arrival we quickly found ourselfs looking at a stunning hobby perched in and oak tree, closer inspection then revealed a Barn Owl sat in the box. Further up the track we found yet another Owl, this time in the form of a Little Owl which was again in the oak trees. (not bad for 15mins birding).
A few minutes later we found it, a superb Long Eared Owl perched in a hawthorn in the orchard.
After a few photos of the LEO we moved up to the hides which was an exhausting walk to say the least, at the hides there wasn't much of note except 2 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Common Sands, 1 Green Sand, 2 Avocets and a few Ruddy Ducks.

We then scanned the Swale in search of an Osprey which had also been present the day before, within 5 mins of searching we found the Osprey hovering over the estuary in search of fish. Shortly after it was joined by another Osprey and they continued to fly up and down the Swale in search of food.
Then we made the dreaded hike back to the car and had a well earned lunch break.

After this we returned to where the LEO was roosting to see if it had woken up and if the photos could be improved and we wasn't wrong. It had woken up and was preening for quite some time.
In the field behind we noticed loads of Yellow Wags mostly juvs but there was some smashing adults mixed in. Also we found a Spotted Flycatcher that was sat along the fence row and it was unusualy tame allowing me to get within 10ft of it.
We then went home arriving back at Southampton at 5.30pm.




The Long Eared Owl that was present in the orchard



The tame Spotted Flycatcher that allowed a close approach.



Two Ruddy ducks that we saw around the reserve.



Hirundines were plentiful including this young Swallow.




Yellow Wagtail that was present in the fields behind the orchard.

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