Northern (High) Lights!

On the 29th of October we had our first trip to Shetland! We were staying for 4 days on the island in a place called Lerwick. We expected the overall trip to take at least 5 or so hours but it took longer than that due to our Aberdeen plane being delayed for 2 hours! Once our plane was ready it took about an hour to land on Shetland. We headed straight over to our digs seeing many Hooded Crows and Ravens on our way. The short time we had was spent looking around the Lerwick area where we had a nice showy Black Guillemot and some distant Eider in the harbour.

Black Guillemot

 

A little further down the road we searched the area as it seemed a bit more remote and thankfully it was time well spent as my Dad came across 4 Otter!! There seemed to be 2 Adults with 2 young ones, it was a great experience watching them splash and play around in the water.

 

Otter

 

Day 2

Today was spent mostly trying to find something of our own around the area. We headed of to Sumburgh head but first we had a check at Sandwick to see if we could see a Great Grey Shrike which had been in the area but sadly we had no luck. Offshore though I managed to spot a distant flock of Long Tailed Duck which was nice. In every field we managed to look in you couldn't go away without seeing a Redwing or Fieldfare, there was tons! As we arrived at Sumburgh a Short Eared Owl flew over the car and then in front of the car distantly it was followed by 3 others!! 2 of them after a while landed on a wall which was nice to see.

 

Short Eared Owls

 

Once we arrived at the head, a good number of Twite were feeding on the ground right next to the car park! It was brilliant, they didn't seemed bothered one bit by us, Definitly the best views I have got of this species! In with the Twite was a single Brambling which was also nice to see.

 

Twite and Brambling

 

We had a little walk round Sumburgh Head but we didn't see much more than a few Chiffchaff, Gannets, Fulmars and another brambling.

 

Just outside Sumburgh on the shoreline we spotted tons of waders which included a few very nice Purple Sandpipers which showed pretty close at times plus just a little further down the road, on a little pool a good number of Turnstone showed well.

 

Purple Sandpiper

 

Turnstones

 

Afterwards we decided to visit Loch of Spiggie where on the loch there was good numbers of Whooper Swan, we had a count and we got about 70 in total. Also on the loch there was good numbers of Goldeneye and Wigeon. We then had a look on a beach where we spotted 2 distant Great Northern Divers and a few Kittiwake.

 

Whooper Swan

 

We then had a drive round to see if we could spot anything from the car. I am really glad we did this because from this I have got my best every views of Short Eared Owl. We were driving down the road when my Dad spotted it on a fence post and thankfully there was a layby right next to it! we managed to get out and get incredible views!

 

Short Eared Owl

 

After a while the Owl flew off and landed up on a hill just past the post where then we left it in peace. After another drive round we spotted a few Red breasted Mergansers which put a very nice end to the day!

Red Breasted Mergansers

 

Day 3

Today we decided to spend the day on Unst. We got two ferries across where on the first one we saw a Great Skua which was a very nice surprise. On both we also saw many more Black Guillemots. Once we arrived on Unst we headed to Hermanness as we heard there was a reserve there but unfortunately once we arrived we found out that it was closed! Although near the reserve we had a Twite and Brambling. We headed off towards another area when suddenly an Otter ran straight across the road! It ran across and posed nicely on a little hill where we got amazing views! after a couple of minutes it ran down into a ditch and into a pipe just under a small bridge. It was by far the best views we have got of one, a truly incredible moment!

 

Otter

 

We then moved on to Norwick to see what we could find. Firstly we went round a little coastal area where we had another Otter which was feeding fairly close to shore! But it didn't quite show as well as the other. Also we had a few Rock Pipits and Turnstones. After a while a woman very kindly let us have a walk round her garden as earlier that morning apparently she had Long Eared Owl, Yellow Browed Warbler and Firecrest in there. In a good hour or so search we didn't find anything other than a good number of Goldcrests.

 

We decided to spend the rest of the day on the mainland. We headed to Sumburgh to see what we could find. We saw 2 Brambling which briefly showed well in a few bushes on the head but other than that it was fairly quiet. Although it was nice watching the sun go down being surrounded by masses of seabirds.

 

 

Day 4

Today was our last day on Shetland. We spent most of the morning searching a few local areas but other than a Black Guillemot and lots of Hooded Crows we didn't see much else. I really enjoyed my time on Shetland and it is a place I will definitely visit again! I would say my overall highlight would either be the showy Otter or the showy Short Eared Owl as they were both amazing experiences!

 

About a week after we arrived back from Shetland a few nice birds had taken up residence in my area so the weekend after was spent trying to locate those. We had a couple of target birds, these were the Ferruginous Duck in Washington and the Arctic Warbler in Mardsen. Our first stop was the Ferruginous Duck at Washington. There is a bit of a debate on this bird being wild or not as it is in a pen full of captive Ferruginous Ducks but on the other hand the wild one is fully winged and has no rings so in my opinion it is wild. Once we arrived there was about 7 or so people looking including us. As you imagine it was quite hard picking out the wild one but after a while one of the males took flight across the small pool and you could clearly see no ring so thankfully we had our bird! It was a very small pool so as you imagine it showed really well.

 

Ferruginous Duck

 

After a good hour or so watching the Duck we moved on to Mardsen in hope of seeing the Arctic Warbler. When we arrived we got news that it hadn't been seen for a good couple of hours. We didn't give up hope and we continued our search around the area. After another good couple of hours we thought we didn't have much chance but suddenly some birders started waving us over so we quickly rushed over and then there it was! Sitting on a branch for a good 30 seconds or so!. I didn't get any pics as I was to busy watching it through my bins. I was very pleased considering I missed the one at Spurn a few weeks back. A very nice bird!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Autumn Delights!

This weekend we travelled down to Spurn again, a few people suggested to us that it would just be as good as last weekend so we really couldn't wait.

We set off late morning and with a good couple of species already sighted we had high hopes. As we arrived we first checked the field opposite Westmere Farm for a Richards Pipit which had been present earlier that morning but unfortunately it was no where to be seen but the field was so big it could easily still be present. It wasn't a to good start but then someone told us about a male Black Redstart just across the road so we rushed over and soon enough there it was, sitting on a garden fence, showing really well, a top bird! We also had a chat with Andrew Dove who we have met at Spurn before and he told us about a few bits and pieces at Sammies Point like Yellow Browed Warbler and Ring Ouzel so we were going to have a look there but first we had a little walk across the Point but we didn't see much other than a couple of Reed Buntings.

Black Redstart

 

We got news of a Yellow Browed Warbler in the Crown and Anchor car park so we had a quick look there but we had no luck other than a Chiffchaff. We then started heading towards Sammies but first we had one last look at the Black Redstart where we had some more nice views but thanks to a few people who were watching it they told us hat the Richards Pipit was showing! We quickly went to the spot and although it took me quite a while to get on the bird I finally got to see it and got some nice views.

 

Richards Pipit

 

While we were watching it a Merlin flew over chasing some starlings. After seeing the Pipit we started our drive over to Sammies where on the way we had another Merlin fly over. Once we arrived we met Steve Furber who is someone I know of Twitter, after a while he kindly pointed out a Short Eared Owl to us which was hunting over the paddocks. We spotted a couple of Goldfinch feeding on some thistle which we stayed to photograph for a while.

 

Goldfinch

Short Eared Owl

 

On our walk we also had 2 Med Gulls fly over plus near the end we had brief views of a Barn Owl. On the walk back I saw a big bird flying over the Humber I looked through my bins to see that it was a Great Skua! This was a very nice surprise. Just as we were about to leave a Woman told us of an American Golden Plover on Kilnsea so we rushed over. As we were walking people were saying it had flown towards the Humber but then some people were saying its back so we quickly went up to the viewing area. As we arrived Matt Bruce (someone I know off Twitter) said it had flown off but thankfully he was just joking around and it was still present! Matt let me look through his scope and I got to see the bird well! I was talking to a few other birders when someone said there is 2!! So I went to go and have a look at the other but on this one there was much debate on weather it was one or not but from the sounds of it now it sounds like it was one! I thought the day possibly couldn't get any better! A truly incredible and memorable moment! I also got to chat to Jonnie Fisk as well who I have seen many times at Spurn before.

 

American Golden Plovers

 

After an amazing day unfortunately we had to leave but it has been by far one of my best birding days this year!!!

 

 

 

Superb Spurn!

This Weekend I was begging my Dad to take me to Spurn as it just looked amazing! On the Saturday there was Pied Wheatear, Citrine Wagtail, Olive Backed Pipit and tons of Yellow Browed Warblers so thankfully I managed to convince my Dad to go on the Sunday, I couldn't wait!

On the Sunday morning it didn't look to good as there didn't look like there was any sign of any of the birds accept the Yellow Browed Warblers but that was still good enough for me! As we were about to set of news came through of the Citrine Wagtail still being present so that was great news! When we weren't to far away we got news of an Arctic Warbler and a Little Bunting being trapped and ringed. For the Little Bunting we were only about 5mins away but we got a little stuck in traffic so unfortunately we missed it.

Once we arrived we went to Churchfield to see if we could spot the Arctic Warbler but sadly we missed that to! After a while of waiting we headed up to Canal Scrape in search of the Citrine Wagtail. Thankfully it was still present and showed amazingly well, it was right in front of the hide! It didn't seem bothered what so ever, such a tame bird. Definitly one of my fav birding highlights this year!

Citrine Wagtail

 

After watching the Wagtail for a while we headed up to the Warren to see if much was about. On the way a Merlin flew over our heads which was very nice to see! A Yellow Browed Warbler was showing in some trees just behind the ringing area where we managed to get some nice but brief views also in the trees there was a Willow Warbler flitting about. After we had a walk on the triangle where some people pointed out a Redstart to us which was a nice surprise, it was quite distant but still nice to see.

 

Redstart

 

A little further down the path we spotted a Wheatear on some rocks near the Humber which showed nicely plus a Lesser Redpoll perched up nicely on a bush.

Wheatear

Lesser Redpoll

 

We then went to the Crown and Anchor car park where we added 2 more Yellow Browed Warblers to our list, both were pretty flighty but still very nice to see, I managed a record shot of one of them plus in the trees there was a couple of Goldcrest.

 

Yellow Browed Warbler

 

We then went to Canal Scrape to get seconds of the Citrine Wagtail but unfortunately it was no where to be seen however we saw a couple of Jack Snipe, one was fairly distant but my Dad spotted one which was really close and showed really well along with a Common Snipe.

 

Jack Snipe

 

Just as we were about to leave we got news of the Arctic Warbler being present but still we didn't see it. After a top day it was out time to leave.

 

 

 

Wonderful Woodchat!

This morning I went through my usual rota of checking if anything unusual had been spotted in my local area and it came to my surprise that a Woodchat Shrike had been spotted at Nosterfield! This was quite unexpected as I would usually think of a Woodchat turning up at the coast plus brilliant news was that Nosterfield was only about half an hour away! As far as I knew we weren't doing anything this afternoon so as you expected we spent this afternoon looking for the Woodchat.

Upon arrival the bird was on show straight away which was brilliant news! For nearly all the time it stayed within a little patch of broken branches, thistle and bushes apart from one time it flew up onto a fence post. It was fairly distant but thankfully we had brought the scope for once! It was much better looking at it from the scope. This Woodchat was a Juvenile which aren't quite as nice as the adults but it was still quite a striking bird. Through the scope you could see whenever it flew a couple of big white wing bars which stood out very clearly and made it very distinctive. This is my 2nd Shrike in a week (Red Backed at Spurn) and my 3rd this year! Here is a few record shots of the bird, they are pretty awful but it was pretty distant!

Woodchat Shrike

Spurn Migfest 2015!!

Before the weekend of the 5th and 6th I was really looking forward to attending the Spurn Migration Festival. I look forward to it every year as it can always produce some goods. This year at the migfest I was doing an event called Young Birder of the Year where myself and 2 other young birders were taking part (Findlay Wilde and Evie Miller). This was taking place on the Saturday morning at around 9:30am. On Saturday we set of at about 7am for our 3rd Migration festival!!

Before we arrived at Spurn we had a good bit of time to spare so we used that time to try our luck and search for the Sunk Island Black Stork. Good news was that news came out of it still present when we were just 10mins away!! Thankfully we got to see this cracking bird even though it was right at the back of a ditch, some people let us look through their scopes where we got great views. The Black Stork is Definitly one I have always wanted to see, I was really pleased to have seen it plus I have found out that it was ringed in France this year and that another one of its siblings is also in the UK! A great bit of info!!

Black Stork

 

Once we arrived it wasn't long before we started Young Birder of the Year but before it was great to catch up with Findlay and Evie. The Young Birder of the Year was part of 5 different stages which included Sea Watching, Lab, Bushes, Estuary and Vis Mig. All of these stages were very enjoyable and it was great fun to be taking part. On the Sea Watching stage I even managed to see a cracking Sooty Shearwater which was a first for me! I think the one I found hardest was the Lab test as this was on bird call id and feather id and I wasn't to good on that but still it was good fun!

 

After everyone had completed their stages we had to wait half an hour to get our results so in that half an hour me and Findlay went off to find the Red Backed Shrike in corner field and as soon as we arrived the little beauty was already on show! across the field sitting of a fence giving great views! Unfortunately we couldn't stay long so we then quickly rushed back up to the Warren to get our results. In some bushes next to the Warren a Pied Flycatcher gave some very nice views!

 

Red Backed Shrike

 

When we arrived at the Warren a nice buffet had been prepared for us which we all seemed to enjoy. After we had finished all of us got ready for the results unfortunately though I didn't win but I wasn't to bothered as I was pleased just to take part and have fun in the competition. Findlay won the competition, Well Done! I hope they do this again next year as I really did enjoy it plus thank you Nick Whitehouse and the Friends of Spurn for organising the event.

 

Afterwards me, Fin and Evie went to go and have another look at the Red Backed Shrike where it showed in more or less the same place but we had very nice scope views. We all then moved down the way of the Crown and Anchor where we saw a very showy Spotted Flycatcher plus a Pied Fly was also on show but it was very flighty. The Pied Fly at the Warren showed a lot better and gave nice photo opportunities.

 

Spotted Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

 

After watching some Knot, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the Humber we then moved to Westmere Farm in search of a Barred Warbler which had just been found. We waited and waited but with nothing accept Willow Warblers and huge amounts of Swallows we then had a walk to Kilnsea Wetlands where me and Fin managed to find some Med Gulls which were a nice surprise. Other than a couple of Dunlin and Little Egret there wasn't much else. We then decided to go and do a bit of Sea Watching where we had 4 Sooty Shearwaters, Arctic Skuas, Gannet, a couple of Auk sp, Red Throated Diver and a few Terns. After almost an hour of sea watching we headed back of to Westmere Farm to get ready for our Young Birder of the Year prizes and of course the Hog Roast!

 

That evening we all got out Hog Roast and then all got presented with our prizes, I got a copy of Martin Garners Challenge series Winter, a Trophy, Membership for Spurn and a 2 night stay at the Warren! After that we had a talk from Yoav Perlman who gave a very interesting talk about migration of birds in Israel, some amounts of birds they got were huge! After we said our goodbyes to Fin and his Mum Heather as they were leaving that evening. After me and my Dad headed of to the Crown and Anchor to put an end to a top day!

 

Day 2  

After sleeping in the car we decided to start the day off with a seawatch. After a good amount of species going past yesterday we had high hopes for today but it turns out we hardly saw a thing! The sea was very quiet with only just a couple of Gannets going past. We waited a little longer but then we had news of a Barred Warbler opposite Bluebell Café so as you could imagine that was our next destination. Thankfully the bird was showing upon arrival making its way through the backs of bushes but after a while it flew a little further down the road and showed exceptionally well! Right at the front of the bushes! It showed like that for a good 5-10min before flying across to the Caravan site and out of view. A cracking bird and Definitly the best views I have had of this species.

 

Barred Warbler

 

We then moved on to see if we could get any better views of the Red Backed Shrike but unfortunately it didn't come any closer. After watching the Shrike we went down to Westmere farm to see if we could see another Barred Warbler but this one seemed to be very elusive so we just then decided to carry on back up to the Warren to see if any ringing was taking place. The ringing was a great success as we got to see several Lesser Redpolls, Lesser Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit. The Redpolls were amazing to see up close. The Redpoll isn't a species I haven't seen to well in the past so it was a great experience to get to see them like this.

 

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Whitethroat

 

Afterwards we went on a guided trip down to the point with Evie and her Mum Lorraine where we got see a nice range of species. We went down on the massive army truck Spurn had got where we spotted from it good numbers of Kestrels and we spotted many species of wader flying over the Humber. One of the first birds we spotted as we got off was a cracking wheatear which gave some very nice views. After we walked round some bushes which looked ideal for many different bird species but all we saw was a very vocal little Wren. After we had a little talk from a Lifeguard at Spurn which he told us about what he does and how often he goes out. Then after that we headed off back to the Warren where on the way we spotted a nice Whinchat sitting up on some bushes. Once we arrived back it was then sadly out time to leave so we said goodbye to Evie and Lorraine and then we headed off back home after a very memorable and exciting Migfest!

Cant wait for next year!!!