Rough day with the dodgy wildfowl

My car needed a service this morning, has this got anything to do with birding? No, but I thought I would include it anyway.

After this I went for a look down in Sleddale which is in Cleveland North Yorkshire. It was a fantastic few hours with the highlight being:
-Merlin
-Kestrels
-Buzzards
-2 Peregrines
and 1 cracking Rough-legged Buzzard (lifer 277).

The circumstances under which the Rough-legged Buzzard was found are somewhat humorous. Here was myself and a few others scanning way in the distance and a young man named Harry said something like “Here’s the Peregrine.” Then it was all a bit of a blur when it dawned it was the Rough-legged Buzzard hovering in the air. We had fantastic views as it flew right past us and over into the valley. It allowed us time to study most, if not all the features of Rough-legged Buzzard.

It’s another one of those birds that I looked at in bird books and thought I would never see. Another dream of mine that has now come true.

I brief stint in Chester-le-Street Park at the new wildfowl zoo produced some fantastic views of presumed wild female Mandarin, Whooper Swan, and Scaup. A nice end to a fantastic day!

Until next time, Foghorn out!

More Red-flanked Bluetails arrive upon UK shores

The records I added in my last post HERE I have added again below in orange. New records I have changed to yellow so you can see the new records since the past post.

Shetland - Fair Isle – 27/09/2010 – (2)

Suffolk - Croton – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Norwick,Unst – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Fife – Fife Ness – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Isle of Whalsay – 30/09/2010 – (1)

Suffolk – Pakefield – 30/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Geosetter – 08/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Tresta – 08/10/2010 – (1)

Northumberland – Newbiggin – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Northumberland – St Mary’s Island – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Wells – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Cleveland – Saltburn – 10/10/2010 – (1)

Orkney – Queenamidda – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Burnham Overy Staithe – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Weybourne – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Lothian – Scoughall – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Waxham – 12/10/2010 – (1)

Co.Cork – Cape Clear – 12/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Kergord – 14/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Boddam – 15/10/2010 – (1)

Borders – St Abb’s Head – 16/10/2010 – (1)

NEW RECORDS SINCE:

Shetland – Fair Isle – 16/10/2010 – (1)

Suffolk – Lowestoft – 17/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Holme next the Sea– 17/10/2010 – (1)

Devon – Lundy – 18/10/2010 – (1)

Isles of Scilly – St Martin’s – 19/10/2010 – (1)

Hampshire – Sandy Point  – 19/10/2010 – (1)

So by my calculations that’s 21 (old records) + 6(new records) which is 27. So there have been 27 Red-flanked Bluetails reported so far this year in the United Kingdom pus an additional bird in Southern Ireland which would make the total 28.

Thanks to the anonymous poster who informed me of the vagrancy of Red-flanked Bluetails in the United Kingdom over the past few years. Here are the results for the past 6 years including this years total as it currently stands:

2010: 27 (new record total + second record ever for Ireland (1))
2009: 7
2008: 13
2007: 8
2006: 4
2005: 2

Already 2008’s whole year total has been doubled! Who knows how many of these fantastically stunning species we will see this autumn upon our shores.

(Red-flanked Bluetail – © Craig Shaw)

Another cracking bird at St Mary's Island

I had a brief stint out this afternoon when I read news of a Pallas’s Warbler at St Mary’s Island up in Northumberland. I have wanted to see one of these for a while so I went up with a few local lads. It took us a while but we eventually got some pretty good and tickable views of the bird as it went about its business in the undergrowth. As usual the Goldcrests were showing very well.

Just how many Red-flanked Bluetails have been in the UK this year?

Having seen my first exactly a week today and then a more showy bird a day later at St Mary’s Island, I thought I would take a look at how many Red-flanked Bluetails have been seen in the United Kingdom so far this year. I will also include Southern Ireland due to its geographical location being near the UK. I have compiled all the records below showing county/region, relative site, date (first sighting), and number seen at that location on that date. I will give a total tally at the end of the blog post, throughout the list I will start with the first record and work my way up until today.

Shetland - Fair Isle – 27/09/2010 – (2)

Suffolk - Croton – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Norwick,Unst – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Fife – Fife Ness – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Isle of Whalsay – 30/09/2010 – (1)

Suffolk – Pakefield – 30/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Geosetter – 08/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Tresta – 08/10/2010 – (1)

Northumberland – Newbiggin – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Northumberland – St Mary’s Island – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Wells – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Cleveland – Saltburn – 10/10/2010 – (1)

Orkney – Queenamidda – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Burnham Overy Staithe – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Weybourne – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Lothian – Scoughall – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Waxham – 12/10/2010 – (1)

Co.Cork – Cape Clear – 12/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Kergord – 14/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Boddam – 15/10/2010 – (1)

Borders – St Abb’s Head – 16/10/2010 – (1)

So with all of those records I make it that there has been 21 Red-flanked Bluetails in the UK so far this year, and 1 in Ireland. No doubt more will appear before the year is out.

(Red-flanked Bluetail - St Mary's Island - © Craig Shaw)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

A Seawatch to Remember

Have you ever heard the saying that you wait ages for 1 bus and then they call come at once. Well Pomarine Skuas are much the same, after having waited a good few months going on perfect conditions to Whitburn Observatory they have managed to evade me. But today I saw about 20 odd, one flock of 6 or 7 birds! I had 2 adults with full spoons, they are fantastic looking birds. I can moan about having not seen Long-tailed Skua until I see one, if I ever do.

Just before the Skuas started passing Mark alerted everyone that a Little Auk was going past the observatory. Don’t panic! Thankfully I managed to stay calm and got onto the bird in time and I had it alongside either a Guillemot or a Razorbill. It was easily about 1/3 the size of the Guillemot or Razorbill. I was glad the Little Auk was near to the Guillemot or Razorbill as I could compare the size and see just how small the Little Auk was in comparison when they were together in the same scope view, helped to confirm I was on the right bird. 2 more went past and although some others managed to get onto them I didn’t manage to do so.

After the seawatch I had a look at Sunderland North Dock where I got my best views ever of Lesser Whitethroat and Barred Warbler in the field. Both feeding quite happily and fairly active.

A quick call into Seaton Pond was thrown out the window when John Bridgelens came over for a chat. Couldn't get away! On a serious note it was good to catch up with you again John. Sadly no sign of the Great Grey Shrike whilst I was there today.

(Click on images to enlarge)

(Pomarine Skua -  © Derek Charlton)

(Barred Warbler - © Derek Charlton)

2 lifers with Little Auk and Pomarine Skua, a bogey bird no more.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

A bird free afternoon (not)

..well this was the plan until very inconsiderately 6 Snow Geese turned up at East Chevington Northumberland. So I headed up and was delighted when they were still there as well as a single Pink-footed Goose and a small flock of Barnacle’s. I have attached a photo or two below. After this I went to Cresswell and saw the Scaup which were also a long awaited year tick.

Click on images to enlarge

(Snow Geese - Andrew Kinghorn)

(Snow Geese - Andrew Kinghorn)

This morning I went to Seaton Pond to see the Great Grey Shrike and returned on the afternoon and saw it again and it was a bit closer. Fabulous views and managed a half decent photo.

(Great Grey Shrike - Seaton Pond - Andrew Kinghorn)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Some are Blockers, no more

At the ennd of January this year I made a post about some of my blocker birds that I just couldn’t seem to see. Here was my post saying what my blockers are/were:
http://andrewkinghorn.blogspot.com/2010/01/blockers-do-we-all-have-em.html

So here is the same list in the same order but with updates:

1) Wood Sandpiper – Thankfully this bird is no longer a bogey of mine and I saw my first at Saltholme RSPB on the 27/04/2010, after this bird I saw many. I guess things happen that way.

2) Sooty Shearwater – A long seawatch on the 02/08/2010 at Whitburn thankfully paid of with brief but distant views of a bird. However after this initial sighing I have seen some more and one exceptionally well right in close.

3) Pomarine Skua – STILL a bogey I am afraid. Missed one that flew past Whitburn Obs, me and nearly everyone else on the Obs just couldn’t get onto it.

4) Common Crossbill – A male at Kielder whilst looking for Goshawk was my first. I saw a few that day but got cracking views of this male perched on top of a pine.

5) Bewick’s Swan – STILL a bogey I am afraid. However with winter knocking on the door could I finally be in with a chance of seeing one of these beauties?

6) Bean Goose – Thankfully on the 19/02/2010 Bean Goose stopped becoming a bogey and became a reality. I can’t remember how many I saw of the top of my head but I got some satisfactory views in the fields around Cresswell Pond of a few birds that had the diagnostic orange legs of Bean Goose. Due to poor weather I was glad that I eventually got views where the ID could be clinched beyond all doubt.

7) Woodcock – Thankfully on the 15/02/2010 I finally flushed a Woodcock whilst helping a friend do his tetrad for the BTO. After this bird a while later I flushed one at Bollihope Quarry and got far better prolonged views.

8) Wood Warbler – I am not going to say where I saw my first because it’s such a rare breeder in Durham but I saw it on 08/05/2010. It was nice to have a male with his beautiful plumage singing his head off right in front of me. I also had one in the first big fall we had in the trees in front of Borough Hall at Hartlepool.

So only two bogey birds remain. I hope I can finally take these of my list by the end of the year.

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Red-breasted Flycatcher & Greenish Warbler

Can you remember back at the start of September when I saw the Greenish Warbler at The Leas in Durham? Can you remember when I said "!!!MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW SOON!!!"? Well I am a man of my word. So one month late here ar Dougie's other great images of the bird below.

(Click on any images in this post to enlarge them)

(Greenish Warbler - © Dougie Holden)

(Greenish Warbler - © Dougie Holden)

(Greenish Warbler - © Dougie Holden)

(Greenish Warbler - © Dougie Holden)

To see my origional post about the Greenish Warbler then see this post here: http://andrewkinghorn.blogspot.com/2010/09/day-pretty-much-waisted-at-st-marys.html

Red-breasted Flycatcher - Whitburn - 12/10/2010

This evening I returned to Whitburn Costal Park and managed some far better views of the Red-breasted Flycatcher than the views I had managed on Saturday gone, I saw the white tail sides whilst it was perched up as well as in flight as it darted. It was also nice to see it cocking its tail up to give that typical behaviour of the species. It was good to catch up with Mark again especially considering he got some good photos of the Flycatcher as well as he discovered a Common Nightingale after I had left, first in the county since 1984! I heard it before I left but never saw it, Mark didn't know at the time what it was but discovered what it was after I had left. Drat, hope its there tomorrow.

Here are some of the pictures showing the sort of views I had of the bird this evening. Again by clicking on each image it is enlarged.

(Red-breasted Flycatcher - © Mark Newsome)

(Red-breasted Flycatcher - © Mark Newsome)

(Red-breasted Flycatcher - © Mark Newsome)

(Black-breasted Flyarbler - Saturdays bird ;) © Mark Newsome)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

2 Red-flanked Bluetails, 1 Dusky Warbler, and 31,564 Goldcrests

Or so it seemed over this weekend!

Friday
I was out on Friday down at Hartlepool and we had a cracking day at the headland with the now resident Woodchat Shrike putting in a show again for my mate, it was a lifer for him. Also a distant but elusive Yellow-browed Warbler was a nice year tick for me as time was running out for me to see this species in 2010. I also had at least 8 Brambling including a male at Saltholme RSPB whish was also a year tick for me. The weather was superb with thick mist/fog/cloud or whatever you want to call it. It all looked very good for Saturday.

Saturday
So as Saturday dawned I picked up a few lads and we started at Whitburn Country Park but we had missed the Great Grey Shrike and I had to contend with a single Ring Ouzel, Stonechat and Whinchat as a consolation. The Ring Ouzel was flirting with the nets but never went in I don’t think. On getting back to the ringers hut one of the lads told us there was a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the other side of the country park and so we made out way, enter Martin Finey! He pulled into the entrance just in time so we jumped into his car and got to the area where the Red-breasted Flycatcher was pretty quickly. There was no sign for a while but after some patience I and two other of the local lads got onto it briefly for about 10 seconds when it was high up in the tree flitting about. We had pretty good views and enough to confirm that it was the flycatcher. LIFER! Some others thought they had it a while later feeding on berries but I was very sceptical when looking at it and the general consensus after I had left was that it was a Blackcap and not the Red-breasted Flycatcher. I was pretty happy that I actually saw the bird in the end and saw it reasonably well to claim it as a lifer; I have had less showy birds in the past that’s for sure! We should have hung around for another couple of minutes as after we had left it showed again pretty well I believe, drat! Then another Red-breasted Flycatcher was caught minutes after. Double drat!

Our next port of call was the Red-flanked Bluetail that had been seen at Newbiggin. We parked up and took the never ending walk along the side of a gold course to a small jungle that held a Ring Ouzel and a few other things such as Brambling. After a good hour or so we left and headed of when I turned around and saw some guys waving us back. We ran back and managed some fleeting glimpses of it in the bushes as well as in flight. Minutes later I got it in the bins perched up for about 10 seconds to which I said something like “Choar! Look at that!”, Red-flanked Bluetail has been one of those birds I have really wanted to see in Britain, it’s nice it has now become a reality. After this we left for Tynemouth where we stood for a long time whilst we looked at a small jungle of undergrowth and saw nothing but it was good to have a chat and catch up with Duncan Fraser.

Sunday
I spent most of yesterday in Northumberland with a brief stint at Whitburn later on in the afternoon hoping I could find my own rare/scarce bird hiding away in the now famous Trow Quarry. We started off paying through the nose at St Mary’s Island for a parking ticket, we put in 70p for 1 hour but I thought we might have needed more to have a chance of seeing this Red-flanked Bluetail. We waited for a while and then the wave came from a guy who had seen it going about its business in some undergrowth. I had good but obscured views until it flew past us. I signalled to Martin to go back to where we had come from because I thought it would be seen there. I was right and it appeared pretty quickly, I was looking in the undergrowth in this distance but discovered it was sitting on the fence post and wire fence pretty close! We had some stunning views as the pictures below show. What a bird, far better than the views we had obtained the day before when we were at Newbiggin. Also we had some amazing experienced with Goldcrests literally only feet away and not scared at all of us, they were right out in the open. A few people could have literally picked them up. Doubt I will ever get as good views of this species in the UK again.

We were both keen to see this Dusky Warbler having dipped it the day before. So we pulled up at the car park in Tynemouth and were greeted by news that a Shorelark was in the car park only feet away from my car on the top of the hill feeding amongst the grass. I decided I would put some money in the meter before going to see it, whilst doing this it took flight and I never saw it! Martin managed to see it but thanks to the councils putting parking meters at these car parks I missed the bird, does my hate for car parking meters show at all in this post? I put £2 in thinking we would be there for a while but as soon as we arrived it was tacking and we picked it up nearly straight away. From then on we had some fantastic views as it went about its business feeding and moving around in the undergrowth allowing the masses to view all the distinguishing features of Dusky Warbler though the legs appear to not be quite right for Dusky and more similar t that of Radde’s. However the uniform underparts with the undertail coverts looking perfect for Dusky it was clear that this was the species we had been looking at.

Our last port of call was Whitburn where we had to fork out more money to get through the Tyne Tunnel; I really hate giving my money away to causes which I don’t think need the money! We didn’t see much at Whitburn apart from loads of Goldcrest and a few Siskins. I was gutted to read this morning that if we walked south for about 500yards there was a Great Grey Shrike and 2 Red-breasted Flycatchers present whilst we were there, still we had a good day and I couldn’t grumble.

(Red-flanked Bluetail - © Derek Charlton)

(Red-flanked Bluetail - © Craig Shaw)

(Red-flanked Bluetail - © Craig Shaw)

(Dusky Warbler- © Craig Shaw)

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Green Heron in Cornwall

I have seen footage of the bird that has been posted on Youtube.

I have only one thing to say on the matter:


Until next time, Foghorn out!

Get out of my dreams and onto my British list!

You get days when everything comes to pass and other days when you are sorely let down. Saturday was in the middle between this, I went to Holy Island with Jason T to twitch the Great Grey Shrike and to also see what turned up whilst we were there. We were not disappointed with pretty food views of the Great Grey Shrike both perched up and flying. Other than that it was very quiet with Redstart being the only other highlight.

We spent the morning in Durham with the ringers who re trapped the Barred Warbler minutes after we had arrived, late morning birders strike again!

(Great Grey Shrike - © Craig Shaw)

I have not had much fortune with Great Grey Shrikes so was really pleased to finally see one after having dipped one at Harwood Forest earlier on in the year. What a bird!

Until next time, Foghorn out!

Warblers of the Reed

I thought I would have a look at three of the reed warblers that occur in the UK. I thought I would try and learn the songs just incase I ever need to know them; you can never be to sure in this game! Or of course for those who travel the world its always good to know what song belongs to which reed warbler. So sit back, turn up the volume, relax, enjoy, and compare your reed warbler songs:

(For best results turn up volume quite loud so you can hear the calls clearly. NON of these recordings are mine and the copyright belongs to thoose who made the recordings, NOT me. No copyright infirdgement intended)

Species: Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Status in UK: Common and widespread, though lacking from most of Scotland.
Recording:



Species: Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Satus in the UK: Rare with about 235-240 records ever.
Recording:



Species: Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Status in UK: Rare with about 95-100 records ever.
Recording:


Hope you enjoy these types of posts. Don’t forget to leave a comment and if you’re not a follower please become one.

Until next time, Foghorn out!