randombirder

Took the opportunity today to head out into the Cambridge fenlands.  The draw being a mega Baikal Teal and the outside chance of connecting with an American Wigeon. A first visit to Fen Drayton RSPB reserve and I was mighty impressed with this site.  The reserve is a complex of lakes, all of which look great for birdlife. The target bird was a fifteen minute walk from the main car park.  En route, a couple of Blackcaps were singing from the scrub and two smart male Bullfinch flew across the guided busway.  On the water, at least three drake Goldeneye were still present with a few females. From the hide overlooking Moore Lake (pictured above), the drake BAIKAL TEAL showed well in the bay behind the small islands.  A stunning bird, its credentials questionable, but maybe a future armchair tick. A Little Ringed Plover flew onto one of the islands in front of the hide.  At least four Cetti's Warblers were singing around the reserve. ...

Dull and misty weather conditions this morning for a walk round Walthamstow Marshes that soon lifted into something a little more pleasant. Bird song was in full chorus with Dunnock and Chiffchaff particularly vocal with a dozen of the latter seen/heard.  An increase in Blackcap numbers was also evident with some vociferous males accompanied by a couple of females with a total of six seen.  A single flyover Meadow Pipit , a female Reed Bunting , and a female Sparrowhawk were noted.  A Sand Martin flew low over the river footbridge by the Ice Centre. Dunnock - Walthamstow Marshes

Middlesex Filter Beds was surprisingly quiet this morning albeit for the song of the more common species. Of note a single Chiffchaff , a pair of Tufted Duck , a pair of Gadwall , and an overflying Sparrowhawk were present. Waterworks NR produced my first Sand Martin of the spring with a single bird flying east.  The Cetti's Warbler was particularly vocal today as were two Blackcap , and two Chiffchaff , one of which had an interesting inflexion to its' last two notes.  On the water, three Little Grebe , a pair of Shoveler , a pair of Tufted Duck , and 15 Teal were noted.

First stop Stockers Lake, walking round one half of the reserve in the hope for hirundines returned a fair selection of species including four Goldeneye (1m, 3f), a flyover Little Egret which was probably one of the half a dozen currently resident on site, over 100 Black Headed Gull , three singing Chiffchaff , two high-flying Red Kite , a drake Red-Crested Pochard , a distant soaring Common Buzzard , and a flyover Lapwing . Heading along the causeway between Bury Lake and Stockers, a male Blackcap was heard singing from woodland adjacent to Bury Lake, and the Cetti's Warbler burst into song among the brush along the shoreline of Stockers Lake. Wandering up to the Grand Union Canal, the flooded field at Stockers Farm was well and truly flooded and is showing promise for migrant waders. Stockers Farm The field held 11 Wigeon , eight Teal , and five Lapwing .  There were two Green Woodpecker and two Mistle Thrush on the field opposite the track. ...

A cool but pleasant morning.  First a walk on my circuit round the horse paddocks produced four singing Chiffchaff , two singing Blackcap , and a flock of 20+ Linnet in the front paddocks. Waterworks NR hosted the continuing Cetti's Warbler that sang on my arrival, with a final count of 23 Teal , two Shoveler , two Gadwall , five Little Grebe , Reed Bunting , singing Chiffchaff , a flyover Jackdaw , and two Grey Heron . Ring-Necked Parakeets at Waterworks NR

Cool and clear this morning but the wind was brisk and biting.  There was plenty of rain last night so I was hoping for some grounded migrants this morning. Heading straight over to the horse paddocks at Walthamstow Marshes, three Northern Wheatear were present that included two fine males best viewed from the path that runs adjacent to the relief channel. My first of the spring but I'm sure there will be many more passing through these parts as migration really gets into full swing. Also around the horse paddocks were two singing male Blackcap  with one seen well amongst the bushes next to the tarmac path, three singing Chiffchaff , and a single flyover Meadow Pipit . Waterworks NR produced the singing Cetti's Warbler along with 19 Teal , two Gadwall (pair), six Pochard (5 drake), four Tufted Duck (3 drake), two Little Grebe , singing Chiffchaff , singing Blackcap , six flyover Shelduck , a single Grey Wagtail, a male Sparrowhawk , and a Kestrel .

A reasonable selection of birdlife this morning despite the cool and drizzly conditions this morning that was soon to clear.  A single Fieldfare and three Redwing were busily feeding in the front paddocks at Walthamstow Marshes whilst four different Chiffchaff were singing away along the main path that runs past the horse paddocks.  A Blackcap was also heard in full song. The grey conditions conceded to a bit of blue sky making it feel very pleasant.  Waterworks NR looked great again this morning and despite the modest amounts of open water at this site, there were plenty on duck still present.  The Cetti's Warbler called infrequently from Bay 16, and there were counts of 18 Teal , four Shoveler , two Pochard (pair), two Tufted Duck (pair), two Gadwall (pair), five Little Grebe , two singing Chiffchaff , a singing Song Thrush , three flyover Grey Wagtail , and a Redwing .

A cool cloudy morning in East London and the hope for some early migrants. Walthamstow Marshes was quiet with nothing present on the horse paddocks apart from a singing Chiffchaff and three Redwing near to the Lea Bridge Road. The Waterworks NR looked great this morning.  Two flyover Shelduck headed west and the water bodies on the reserve held a total of 14 Teal , six Pochard (four males), seven Little Grebe , seven Shoveler , and a single Reed Bunting .  A typically explosive Cetti's Warbler was my first for the reserve and good views of this usually skulking reed dwelling species were enjoyed from the reed bed by the Sand Martin nest 'cylinder' from Bay 16.  A single Meadow Pipit called and flew briefly over the old Pitch and Putt site. Moving onto Middlesex Filter Beds and having observed a pair of Kingfisher  on my previous visit, I was surprised to see the pair again sitting low amongst the foliage along the relief channel.  This time, th...

This was a safe twitch.  Well, as safe as a twitch can be.  The distance between home and bird posed the real challenge, how to plan a trip in the shortest amount of time possible whilst minimising the possibility of the bird deciding 'to do one'. After I had booked my return flight to Inverness, anxiety set in.  Six days still to go before departure, this long-stayer couldn't possibly leave the idyllic surroundings of the Scottish Highlands?  These highly charged perturbations I surmise are the emotions that drive adrenaline fuelled twitchers round the country chasing rare birds.  I'm sure the bird itself has something to do with it. The bird was still present when I boarded the easyJet flight from Luton Airport.  A foggy morning but no delays, an hour and ten minutes later and ahead of schedule, the shoreline of the Moray Firth emerged from beneath the cloud as we started the final approach into Dalcross, and I started to twitch. Trouble-free and...

It still feels like winter.  With the first true summer migrants now starting to trickle through, there are still plenty of our winter visitors around waiting for the appropriate moment to disappear back to their breeding grounds. Catching the train from Hackney Downs and alighting at Cheshunt, I decided to explore an area of the Lea Valley that is renowned for delivering good birding throughout the year.  Today didn't disappoint. Heading from the station, I navigated the paths along the western side routing past Cheshunt Lake and up towards Holyfield Lake.  There were plenty of Redwings looking fidgety and flighty with up to 60 observed on my rounds with a couple seen singing from lofty positions among the treetops.  En route, four Bullfinches (two pairs) with the males looking mighty fine, two Chiffchaff in song, and two flyover Siskin were seen at various points.  On Holyfield Lake, around 120 Wigeon were still present. Heading down towards Fi...

A bit of a surprise visit by a pair of Kingfisher  today at the Middlesex Filter Beds.  Having visited this particular site over the last couple of years, Kingfisher sightings have been limited to around half a dozen although they are regularly seen further down-river.  Having had one flash past me, it was then joined by a second bird.  They carried out a courtship display, flying round in circles before flying off.  This was after the female sat low down against the bank having a jolly good preen.  Hopefully this is a precursor to successful breeding somewhere locally along the River Lea. Female Kingfisher - Middlesex Filter Beds 10/03/14 In addition, there were two Chiffchaff of which one was singing, and three Grey Wagtails on site.  I had a fruitless search for the Firecrest which was reported later on in the day. Earlier at Walthamstow Marshes, there were two Fieldfare and a single Redwing along with Song and Mistle Thrush...

Highlights from a surprisingly fruitful week-long trip to Pafos, Cyprus.  This was a classic non-birding trip, ie. pack your bins and hope that something interesting turns up.  Due to ill health, the main aim was to rehabilitate and so all the sightings were made around the locality. Staying at the four star  Kefalos Beach Village  conveniently located between the Archealogical Park and the harbour provided the perfect opportunity to explore the headland. 2nd March Dull and overcast, discovering later that this was due to a threatening sandstorm further inland.  Next to the hotel was a bare patch of land, a set-aside safeguarded for future development perhaps but for the time being, an area that produced some early migrants.   Desert Wheatear This stunning male DESERT WHEATEAR  (a lifer) was the first bird seen on the trip having been brought down by the storm.  To have this by the hotel was a real surprise as was the supp...