Patch Mega!

After a report from Alan C of a RB Fly on the patch today, I went straight down for a look. It was a fruitless effort however as nobody on site saw the bird, and there was only one observer at 9:30, no further sign since. I managed to hear a Firecrest (2 Still Present), 4 YBWs and a Redstart. While looking for the RB Fly, I got eyes on a Large Raptor coming in off the sea. After I got my bins on it, I come to the conclusion that it was a Harrier sp! I presumed it was Marsh Harrier because there had been a few about and it was most likely, however after having a good look at the shape, I decided it was a HEN HARRIER! I shouted across to Bob, Brian and Darren who were standing with a few other birders who all got on the bird, and came to the conclusion that it was in fact a Hen Harrier, as a couple of the birders there had the Harrier in their scope and got the white rump showing nicely! One of the birders also managed a nice shot of it as it was flying away, my 2nd ever on patch, fantastic!! Better have another prediction as is tradition now! With these westerly winds coming in, I'm not hopeful, but Red-Breasted Flycatcher re-appearing would be nice...


Hen Harrier

Mini-Fall 2-3/10/13

Visit to patch this evening prove very productive! Me and Daniel McGibbon had a wander around the bushes and on our way to the willows, we got eyes on a female-type Redstart that dived in near the 2nd viewpoint. In the end, we had 2 Blackcap, Redwing, Song Thrushes and a few Goldcrest in the bushes. A Jack Snipe also flew over while we were scanning. The wetland held an absolute mega on the patch in the form of a COOT! My second of the year! Just as we were leaving, we were told to hurry along the track towards the 2nd viewpoint by PA and JM, and when we got along there, they told us they had just got eyes on a Firecrest, a full lifer for me and Dan! On waiting a few moments, we got some smart views of it, although elusive, excellent bird and a cracking find!

I went back down this morning to try and get some photos, and apart from 3 YBWs calling loudly from the bushes, there was very little else around. However, after a while the Firecrest was re-seen and I managed to get it in front of my camera in the willows near the wetland, showing well at times! Also had patch yeartick number 153 in the form of Little Grebe on the wetland, a cracker! Back for more tomorrow, I'll try this again... RBFlycatcher tomorrow please?

Firecrest

YBWs

Following yesterdays Bluethroat, I headed to patch this morning. Dipped Bluethroat before I got a chance to see it, but found another Yellow-Brow in the Gut, and also patch yearticked Short-Eared Owl that came in off the sea, brought me up to 149. Not aiming too high, but some flycatchers tomorrow please? Any kind would do!

Yellow-Browed Warbler

Bluethroat please...

As a follow-on from yesterday's post, my last line was "What will tomorrow bring? Winds once again looking very good, Bluethroat please...". This morning my wish was granted, I got up early and found a Yellow-Browed Warbler in the willows north of the wetland. I then left and went to college, only to get a phone call from Alan Curry to tell me Nick had found a Bluethroat on the 3rd Mound, which panicked me! As soon as I got a chance, I was back down! Absolutely cracking views of a female Bluethroat on the 2nd Mound - lifer!! Showing down to about 6ft and showing off to the crowd. I then moved to the island and got some cracking views of at least 4 YBWs on the island, also got a Brambling which was a full patch tick, mega!


Totals from the patch today:

10 YBWs (at least)
Brambling
6 Redwing
6 Goldcrest
Bluethroat
Loads of Chiffchaffs and Robins
Black Redstart (female)
Blackcap etc etc.

Bluethroat

Brambling

Autumn!

It's not autumn until the Yellow-Brows start arriving, and that's just what happened today. After promising numbers building up on the continent, it was only a matter of time before they hit Britain, and the winds overnight and today brought them in. I saw 2 at St. Mary's this afternoon. What will tomorrow bring? Winds once again looking very good, Bluethroat please...

Yellow-Browed Warbler

American Goldie 20-21/9/13

At the start of the year when I said the words 'I fancy an AGP on patch this year', I never thought for a second it would happen, but thanks to James Spencer, I have added it to my British Life List and Patch List. Excellent bird, unfortuantely I couldn't get down for it on the 19th, but was there first thing yesterday and today. Back for more tomorrow! Magic!

My Best Efforts so far.

Also managed to finally patch tick Buzzard this afternoon with 2 hunting over near the railway line, 73 Pink-Feet went over at 11:00 and added Coot to my Patch Yearlist, only my second ever on patch, MEGA! 

Algarve Birding

I have been away in Portugal for the last couple of weeks with the family, but also managed to get some birding in including a bird tour through Simon (The Algarve Birdman), So here goes, I got no less than 17 lifers, including:


• Southern Grey Shrike (20+)
• Caspian Tern (4)
• Little Bittern (5) (Big Target)
• Common Waxbill (Common!)
• Black-Headed Weaver (Common at Quinta Do Lago)
• Cory's Shearwater (seen Scopoli's before but spent hours watching Cory's yesterday for East Coast experience! Also got a lot of experience on Balearic Shearwaters and saw over 300 in 2 hours)
• Black Kite (3)
• Honey Buzzard (3)
• Little Bustard (6, big target of the trip)
• Red-Necked Nightjar (another target species, sitting in the middle of the road at dusk)
• Thekla Lark (everywhere)
• Woodlark
• Short-Toed Lark (3)
• Spectacled Warbler (3)
• Melodious Warbler (4)
• Western Bonelli's Warbler
 • EAGLE OWL (fantastic looking bird! Spent hours waiting when it finally flew across and landed on the opposite cliff where it posed for 2 hours!)
• Roller

Also got endless numbers of Woodchat Shrikes, Blue Rock Thrushes and Black Redstarts. Red-Rumped Swallows were fantastic as well and spent a long time attempting to photograph them.

 Azure-Winged Magpie

 Black-Headed Weaver

 Common Waxbill

 Little Bittern

 Little Bustard

 Melodious Warbler

 Red-Rumped Swallow

Thekla Lark

Eagle Owl