Ribble to Amazon!

Return to the mosses and the mere.

2012-01-25T21:36:00.002Z

Juvenile Glaucous Gull at Weld Road car park, Birkdale 25 January 2012.

Tundra Bean Goose (centre) with Pink-feet on Downholland Moss, Lancs 25 January 2012.

Hesketh Out Marsh was back to something resembling "full fitness" on Monday morning (23 January) with ringtail Hen Harrier on the approach road to the reserve and then over the weedy field next to the car park as I pulled up.

For the first time this winter there were respectable numbers of Pink-footed Geese in the eastern fields, some 2000 or so with an adult Greenland Whitefronted Goose and two adult European Whitefronts arriving with Pinks from the south later.

The 70 Whooper Swans were accompanied by 3 adult Bewick's and a Merlin could be seen perched on the fenceposts nearby.

Back on the RSPB reserve the saltmarsh was rapidly being flooded by the incoming 9.4m tide with 2 Marsh Harriers and a Merlin present, 8 Gadwall, hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, single Little Egret and 14 Snipe present. A walk to the end of the seawall revealed 8 Barnacle Geese amongst another 2500 Pink-feet present and a couple of Grey Partridge.

Tundra Bean Goose today.

Last chance for a bit of Ribble birding today so I headed out to the SW Lancs mosses early, starting with Downholland Moss in hope of Bean Geese again.

The Pinks were a bit flighty and mobile at first but lucky me, there were a few of the 2000 or so grazing in the short grass. Thankfully one of these birds was a Tundra Bean Goose and I picked up the orange legs on one of the first "sifts" through the flock.

I soon picked up a pair together, both having nice bright orange legs, but their bills covered in mud! Even so, the chunky bill of one of the birds was obvious, compared to the accompanying Pink-feet (one orange-legged Pink-foot has been seen here recently). Neck-collared IJF Pink-footed Goose was in the flock again too (it was here Saturday morning).

Tundra Bean Geese, Downholland Moss 25 January 2012.

A light aircraft flushed all the Pinkies into a nearby enclosure so I opted for a quick tour of the rest of Downholland and Plex Moss where 5 Buzzards and a flock of 30 Fieldfares were the only other birds of note.

Next stop today was Weld Road on the Ribble coast near Birkdale where this juv' Glaucous Gull was showing very well indeed. Same bird I've seen here in the raging gales over the New Year and a couple of times up at Marshside even before Xmas. First photo opportunity though and there is a second winter bird around that I've still not connected with.
A flock of 25 Goldeneye was all I noted on the Southport Marine Lake before joining Graham Clarkson at the Marshside Sandplant where we saw Great White Egret, 6 Little Egrets, Merlin, Short-eared Owl and hundreds of distant Pinks. Graham headed off for the mosses to look for the Beans as I headed to TC's for a bacon and sausage barm via Crossens Outer where there were 5 Barnacle Geese with the Pink-feet and a Marsh harrier being mobbed by a Peregrine.

I ended the day at Martin Mere WWT listening to a reserve first in the shape of a Cetti's Warbler, found while I was watching the Beans this morning. At least 2000 Pink-feet came onto the reserve in the late afternoon with 38 Barnacle Geese and of course there were loads of Whoopers. Kingfisher outside the United Utilities Hide was a year tick, 2 croaking Ravens are always a delight and I returned to the reed-bed walk for sunset where the Cetti's was calling frantically (I didn't make a lot of effort to see it) and ringtail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harriers wheeled over the reeds at dusk.
One of my best South Ribble / SW Lancs birding days for quite a while.

Day out to the local duck brothel.

2012-01-22T19:13:00.002Z

Whooper Swans on the mere today.

I spent a pleasant six hours at Martin Mere WWT today, the perfect site for birding in these rather unpleasant wet 'n' windy conditions we're experiencing at the moment. Apart from the constant sound of inane drivel, Velcro and smell of flask coffee in the hides it was very enjoyable with some decent birds on the reserve today.

This Bewick's Swan (adult between two Whoopers, above) showed well from the United Utilities Hide, spending its time on the Plover Field. Thanks to the birder who had already found it, saving me going through the 1700 or so Whoopers.
Female Brambling and Willow Tit at the Janet Kear Hide are good local birds and the only ones I'm likely to see anywhere in the Ribble Estuary regional Park this winter, with Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders too. Plenty of Tree Sparrows around the grounds and I counted 95 Pochard and 27 Tufted Duck between the mere and the Harrier Hide, 30 Ruff with c. 2000 Lapwings and the odd Oystercatcher and two or three Black-tailed Godwits were around the mere. But it was the geese I was really interested in, with a thousand plus Pink-feet coming in late afternoon, dictating a return to the Ron Barker Hide as I was making my way to the exit.

Glad I took the "about-turn" as I located 2 European White-fronted Geese with the Pinks. They were too far off for a photo but there is a male Sparrowhawk there somewhere. Best of all a Ringtail Hen Harrier appeared while I was going through the geese; the first local bird I've seen all winter.
The wind was dropping late afternoon so hopefully the next few days will be a bit better for local birding?

Too windy!

2012-01-21T14:51:00.000Z

A quick SW Lancs run around this morning was a little unproductive, but birding was very difficult in the sometimes gale-force westerly wind, often with the odd squally shower thrown in for good measure.
About 40 Twite were on the beach at Southport opposite the Marine Lake but I failed to find the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull on the beach at Ainsdale so I headed inland to the mosses. An initial circuit of the southern part of Plex and adjacent Downholland was disappointing. Hardly any grounded geese (although there was a fair bit of disturbance today) until I arrived at the western end of Downholland where 280 Pink-feet included neck-banded birds IZU (which I've seen before, more than once) and IJF. I eventually found around 3-4000 Pinks on the deck on the northern half of Plex but the poor light, distance and strong wind defeated me, even in the car!
Not a total waste of time though (with the neck-bands already submitted to the WWT) and I'll be back for more soon.

Lochmaben American Wigeon.

2012-01-20T20:24:00.001Z

Drake American Wigeon, Kirk Loch (Dumfries & Galloway), 20 January 2012.

With the winter days drawing out a little there was an opportunity for a bit of "spotting" after working in Dumfries & Galloway today. The weather was pretty grim but I had enough time to call in at Lochmaben on the way to the A74(M) on the way home for a quick look at the drake American Wigeon.

Lucky for me I found it almost straight away with Eurasian Wigeons on Kirk Loch. It was a bit distant, but good through the 'scope. This is presumably the returning bird from at least last winter and most likely the bird that Angie and I found at Mersehead in December 2008 (later relocated at Caerlaverock).
Several Goosander, Goldeneye, a few pairs of Gadwall and some Tufties on nearby Castle Loch but unfortunately the weather closed in soon after these photos were taken so I headed south to Lancashire.

Spot checks.

2012-01-14T18:09:00.001Z

Pink-footed Geese on Marshside beach this morning.

Just enough time to stop at a few choice Ribble points this morning in some fantastic winter weather (at last!):

Plastic Fantastic on the Marine Lake.

Southport Marine Lake
Female Goosander, 14 Goldeneye, 14 Tufted Duck and leucistic female Red-crested Pochard that drifted off into the middle of the lake with its Mallard buddy.

Female Goosander, Southport Marine Lake 14 January 2012.

Marshside shore
260 Pink-footed Geese and a Peregrine.

Marshside RSPB from Hesketh Road
Marsh partially frozen but still hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, pair Tufted Ducks and 700+ Black-tailed Godwits.

From Marshside Sandplant
Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine and the juvenile Glaucous Gull over the saltmarsh.

Late afternoon delight.

2012-01-14T14:31:00.000Z

Inner Ribble Estuary, 13 January 2012.

I spent a couple of afternoons (12th and 13th) walking the inner estuary this week with the highlight being two Short-eared Owls found while I was counting these (60) roosting Cormorants opposite Lea Marsh.

HOM's been pretty quiet of late but the Whooper herd is building nicely with around 75 birds in residence at the moment. There were at least 500 Pink-footed Geese on the outer saltmarsh too, but far off and no chance of finding anything just yet. Two Buzzards and a Peregrine the only raptors of note at HOM but a day-flying Barn Owl was nice.
Three Whooper Swans near Longton were the first wild swans I've had east of the Douglas this winter and a Bay-winged (Harris's Hawk) with jesses heading towards the village must be one that has been hanging around the Ribble (and bred apparently) for a while now.
I couldn't find the American Wigeon on the inner Ribble opposite Clifton Landfill but there were far fewer wigeon on the river. Goosander (female) and Common Sandpiper were good winter Ribble birds; shame the same cannot be said about the two Bar-headed Geese with 96 Greylags. Hutton marsh was heaving at high tide: 225 Curlew, 2000+ Lapwings, 120+ Dunlin, 250 Canada Geese and a single Pink-foot. No shortage of the latter as I could see a cloud of 3000+ Pinks in the distance over Banks/Crossens.
The stubble fields, whilst not as alive as last winter (all those Bramblings and the odd Lap' Bunting) still held 75 Skylarks and 10 Stock Doves.
Local Brickcroft reserve still has drake Pochard, duck Gadwall, duck Goldeneye and singing Mistle Thrush already.
Four Brown Hares in the local fields of Longton Marsh yesterday .......

REGUA tour reports.

2012-01-08T20:15:00.000Z

The Ornitholiday's tour report for the two REGUA tours in the Atlantic Forests of Brazil (September 2010) are now on line here.

Grey-winged Cotinga, Pico da Caladonia, September 2010.

Baldpate still about but .....

2012-01-08T15:17:00.000Z

I was thinking of having a look at the American Wigeon again this morning. However the grim, grey conditions with constant drizzle and the news that the Baldpate had defected north of the Ribble, kept me from the riverbank and I joined Graham Clarkson for a look at Hesketh Out Marsh instead.
The weather didn't help with poor visibility but we did OK with 4 adult Bewick's Swans with 83 Whoopers in the fields, 6 Gadwall on the lagoon, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Partridge, Sparrowhawk and several Dunlin and a Golden Plover with a Lapwing flock over the reserve. At least 12 Tree Sparrows were in the hedge near Dib Lodge on the approach road to the reserve and 150 Linnets were flitting around the reserve in a couple of flocks but no sign of any Twite unfortunately.

American Wigeon on the Ribble.

2012-01-07T16:25:00.001Z

I've been waiting for a chance to have a go at relocating the drake American Wigeon found on the Ribble between Christmas and New Year. A rather feeble attempt the day following the first sighting on the Douglas (where it was discovered) was hindered by atrocious weather. Today wasn't much better and I have to admit to being more than a little surprised when I was confronted with the above while searching through Wigeons on their main Inner Ribble gathering.
The Wigeon flock (there was about 500 on this stretch) was a little skittish to say the least and the strong wind made capturing a record shot all the more tricky.

Drake American Wigeon (front, right) with Eurasian Wigeons, River Ribble (Lancs) 7 January 2012.

Other birds seen today included 1500+ Teal, many Pink-footed Geese, mostly flying north apart from a single on the deck with Canadas, 30 Greylags, one or two Little Egrets, 2 Peregrines, 5 Grey Partridges and 16 Corn Buntings.
Not too bad for walking distance from the house (albeit a long walk!).

Longton Marsh, 7 January 2012.

Bewick's Swans.

2012-01-06T18:10:00.001Z

Bewick's and Whooper Swans at Hesketh Out Marsh, 6 January 2012.

The first decent birding weather of 2012 encouraged Andy Bate and me onto the Ribble Estuary this morning. The "bright morning" didn't last too long but long enough to give the much neglected Hesketh Out Marsh a decent look where we found 3 adult Bewick's Swans in with 78 Whoopers.

The third Bewick's (with a dirty face) and a Whooper at HOM this morning.

We heard a Lapland Bunting three times at the western end of the reserve but failed to see it (it was with Skylarks) and Pink-footed Geese were overhead throughout our time at HOM, with several hundred flying to the Fylde.

Single female Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Gadwall and 9 Grey Partridges were the other birds of note at HOM. Oh, we could see the Great White Egret way out on Banks / Crossens too.

We made our way to Weld Road after a bite to eat but the Glaucous Gull wasn't around. Undoubtedly the juvenile I had fly past Marshside just before Christmas, I had a quick look at this injured bird a couple of days ago from the car in a gale. It's still about but had headed south along the coast towards Ainsdale before we arrived.

Last stop Marshside RSPB where 19 European White-fronted Geese could be seen with 14 less convincing Barnacle Geese near Sandgrounder's Hide. A Water Rail flew right past us and landed under the bank and there's no guessing just how many Black-tailed Godwits are on Marshside at present (although if I had to I'd go with more than five thousand!). A few Golden Plovers (maybe 25) with several hundred Lapwings, thousands of Teal, Wigeon, fewer Pintail and Shoveler and many Pink-footed Geese seemingly prefering the saltmarsh than the inner marsh at the moment.

A good day.

Steady New Year Start.

2012-01-01T20:01:00.001Z

Female Hen Harrier, Bowland (Lancs) June 2009.

Bit of an inauspicious start to 2012 with some dreary mid-winter weather and few new arrivals of late. A dull, drizzly morning did little to inspire me out on the marshes on this New Year's morning and a lunchtime excursion to Marshside was the best I could muster. The "regular" Euro White-fronted Geese were on show there, 22 of them albeit more distant than of late and 13 Barnacle Geese with a few Pink-feet. On Crossens Outer Marsh there were 3 more Barnacle Geese with the Pinks, a Whooper Swan, a Peregrine, hundreds of Golden Plover, a couple of Ruff and an Andy Bate who stopped to wish me a Happy New Year!
I had a quick look for the Glaucous Gull on Southport beach but no joy; just a Stonechat. Mind you, not many of those on the Ribble nowadays. At least 28 Little Egrets in the marine lake roost at dusk but I couldn't see the Great White.

I haven't seen a Hen Harrier on the estuary this winter and with just four breeding pairs in England last year it's a worrying situation.

Blustery again.

2011-12-29T19:54:00.000Z

Another day with no photos thanks to some grim weather in the north-west. Very strong westerly winds and another big tide as I watched Longton Marsh flood from the banks of the River Douglas and no sign of yesterday's reported drake American Wigeon. Well worth the effort though as I've never watched this part of the estuary on a big tide before. Truly spectacular with many waders (hundreds of Dunlin and Golden Plover, thousands of Lapwings) looking for a refuge on the rapidly disappearing marsh. A tight flock of 22 Bar-tailed Godwits alongside 25 Grey Plovers were the most noteworthy birds, being so far up the estuary, but there's plenty of Wigeon to look through for this little gem over the next few days.

Gale force at Marshside.

2011-12-28T16:12:00.000Z

Barnacle, Pink-footed and Eurasian White-fronted Goose on Crossens Inner Marsh, Lancs 28 December 2011.

Very, very windy today with gale force westerly winds making birding difficult on the estuary. Plenty of geese to look through at Marshside once again; the Whitefronts were in their usual spot (21 counted) with a single Barnacle in the Pinks.

Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Pink-footed Geese on Marshside today.

Nel's Hide was a welcome refuge today as the wind gained strength around midday, with the 9+ metre tide flooding the saltmarsh. Some birders were struggling against the wind and virtually breathless as they entered the hide!

Eurasian White-fronted Goose at Marshside, Lancs 28 December 2011.

Thousands of Wigeon and Teal mingling with Shovelers, Pintails and Gadwall and at least 5000+ Black-tailed Godwits on Rimmer's Marsh. The small gull roost held nothing of interest, at least while I was there.

Pink-footed Goose, Marshside 28 December 2011.

Another Barnacle Goose out on the partially flooded Crossens Outer Marsh with a few hundred Pink-feet. Two Peregrines on half-submerged logs, 200+ Golden Plover and a few Ruff dotted amongst a couple of hundred Dunlin pushed off the estuary by the wind-swollen tide.

Not often you get the opportunity to photograph Barnacle, Whitefronts and Pinks on the Ribble.

Decent morning on the estuary.

2011-12-27T14:16:00.000Z

I drove round to the Fylde shore of the Ribble Estuary for a change this morning in hope of seeing the Tundra Bean Geese on Lytham Moss. Expecting to have to sift through a large flock of Pink-footed Geese to find my target birds I was rather disappointed (at first) to notice a lack of grounded geese as I drove across the moss in the early morning murk. Minutes later I was delighted to discover that I had to sort through all of one Pink-footed Goose to find the five Tundra Beans!

Tundra Bean Goose, Lytham Moss (Lancs) 27 December 2011.

In fact the Pink-foot stood out like a sore thumb amongst the 5 Beans; all pinky-grey below and much colder grey (not brown) above, even if the orange legs and bill patch of the Beans couldn't be seen.

Tundra Bean Geese on Lytham Moss this morning.

Some big skeins of Pink-feet overhead from time-to-time, but they didn't land. At least 15 Whooper Swans on the moss this morning too.

Nice neat black tail with white edge visible on this shot.

The drizzle gave in so I headed down to the estuary and checked Fairhaven Lake where the two Scaup were swimming around with a few Tufties and 9 Pochards.

Scaup on Fairhaven Lake, Lancs 27 December 2011.

Great White Egret at Warton Bank (Lancs), 27 December 2011.

The Great White Egret (one of two on the estuary at present) was showing well on Warton Marsh off the end of Bank Lane this morning. Two Black Swans in with 14 Whoopers and a few Mutes there along with several Little Egrets.

Tundra Bean Goose at Lytham Moss, Lancs 27 December 2011.

Quiet day on the Ribble.

2011-12-26T16:36:00.000Z

Another dull, blustery photo-less Ribble day today. Hesketh Out Marsh, flooded by the 9.7m tide was a little quiet with Merlin, Marsh Harrier, 41 Whooper Swans, 350 Golden Plover (in with Lapwings, off which there were at least 5000 on the estuary today), Grey Plover, several Snipe and 400 Dunlin the most noteworthy birds this morning on the marshes. A nice flock of 17 Eider on the Ribble as the tide rushed in was a fine sight.
A late afternoon walk with Angie and the pooch gave me another chance to grill the Marshside geese, but still no Beans. Plenty of Pink-feet of course and 24 Eurasian White-fronted Geese showing well on their usual Crossens patch (if only the Beans were as reliable). Fourteen Barnacle Geese out there, single Marsh Harrier on Crossens Outer and at least 5 Little Egrets heading towards the Marine Lake to roost.

Festive Ribble session.

2011-12-24T13:07:00.002Z

Quick look at Hesketh Out Marsh this morning with the tide (9.4m) produced thousands of birds pushed off the Ribble including 2000+ Lapwings, 20 Golden Plover and a few hundred Wigeon moved onto the RSPB reserve with several hundred Teal.
Five adult Bewick's Swans were my first of the winter on the estuary with 35 Whoopers (10 juvs) on the flooded fields.
Still no Hen Harriers this winter (very worrying) but a single Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine were hunting the marshes this morning. No Merlins but very fee Skylarks on the saltmarsh to hunt on with the mild weather. Just one small flock of 20 Pink-feet.

Morning Ribble Blitz.

2011-12-20T22:05:00.002Z

Nicked a few hours on the Ribble at Marshside this morning, hoping to see the Tundra Bean Geese found at the weekend.
The conditions were typically "UK December" - dark and dreary, making distant goose viewing difficult.
The Euro Whitefronts were still on Crossens Inner; 22 if them in fact. Still 13 Barnacle Geese out there, but no looking so convincing in with the Canadas today.
I gave in on the Beans as most of the Pink-feet seemed to be on the tall saltmarsh. I guess they're out there with them somewhere. Scanning the outer marsh had its rewards though as a brute of a juv' white-winged gull headed south. It was barrel-chested and I'd put money on a Glaucous Gull. A dash to the sandplant failed to relocate it out on the estuary but 2 Lapland Buntings flying over was a nice surprise as they haven't been seen for a few weeks as far as I know.
Otherwise it was all the regulars like Whooper Swan, Marsh Harriers and of course the marsh was smothered in Wigeon, Golden Plovers and Blackwits.
Looking forward to getting back for some more over the Christmas break ......

Glossy Ibis at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancs 16 December 2011.

2011-12-19T16:53:00.001Z

Angie and dropped into Leighton Moss on the way up to Scotland on Saturday afternoon to see the Glossy Ibis. Well worth the detour.

Martin Mere WWT today.

2011-12-12T17:24:00.001Z

The mere 12 December 2011.

Angie and I popped down to the Martin Mere Wetland Centre today which made a pleasant change. Surpisingly the Grey Phalarope that turned up while I was in Colombia was still on view from the Ron Barker hide. It spent most of its time bobbing around at the back of the lagoon so I could only manage a record shot .........

There were of course plenty of Pink-footed Geese with a couple of Barnacle Geese (just about see them in the Pinks in the photo above) and several Eurasian Whitefronted Geese, although they were a bit elusive at times.
Hundreds of Whoopers on the mere, 30+ Ruff, many Pochards and Tufties and stacks of dabblers too. At least 3 Marsh Harriers on show most of the time we were there.
Drove out to the coast afterwards with another herd of Whoopers just inland of Banks and the first check of the Marine Lake at Southport this winter was a bit quiet with just 12 Goldeneye and 5 Dabchicks on show among the huge raft of Coots there.

Back on the Ribble patch.

2011-12-10T22:58:00.000Z

Eurasian Whitefronted and Pink-footed Geese with Wigeons at Crossens Inner Marsh, Marshside today.

Didn't have to set the alarm clock for the first time in over a month so it was late morning by the time I made the Ribble Estuary today. Crossens Inner was a real feast of winter birds with thousands of wildfowl including at least 15 Eurasian Whitefronted Geese with the Pinks. Graham Clarkson gave me a tip regarding some of these at close range on the east side of the marsh at digiscoping range from the public footpath.

Adult and first winter Eurasian Whitefronted Geese on Crossens Inner Marsh, 10 December 2011.

There were also at least a dozen Barnacle Geese on the marsh and in the Pinks I found an old friend. Blue neck-band B2S Pink-footed Goose was on Crossens Outer on 17 October 2010; one of the Svalbard birds that normally winter in the Netherlands or Denmark, this individual has been with Pinks in Norfolk and in Lancs after being banded in Denmark in 2003.

Pink-footed Goose B2S (centre) on Crossens Inner today.

A few hundred Golden Plover, several hundred Blackwits, a Ruff and thousands of Wigeon, Teal and Pink-footed Geese were on the marsh with Marsh Harrier and several Little Egrets on the Crossens Outer.
A late afternoon visit to Hesketh Out Marsh was fairly quiet apart from 100+ Whooper Swans, 475 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Gadwall, female Pintail, 2 Ravens and 4+ Twite.

Colombia: Last morning in the Guajira.

2011-12-08T15:32:00.000Z

Just enough time for a quick post before leaving for the airport. A few pics from our final session in the Guajira "desert" (very green, lush and muddy after so much rain). A fitting end to a month's birding in Colombia with Ornitholidays .......

Orinocan Saltator, Perico.

Chestnut Piculet, Perico.

Glaucous Tanager, Perico.

Colombia: Last few pics.

2011-12-08T02:39:00.000Z

Collared Aracari near Minca, Santa Marta Mountains.

Yellow-tailed Oriole near Minca, Santa Marta Mountains.

Colombia: Golden-breasted Fruiteater.

2011-12-06T00:58:00.000Z

Golden-breasted Fruiteater below El Dorado, Santa Marta Mountains.

Colombia: Santa Marta Mountains.

2011-12-05T18:58:00.000Z

Santa Marta Parakeets, San Lorenzo Ridge 5 December 2011.

Just back from a morning on the San Lorenzo Ridge above El Dorado. These Santa Marta Parakeets showed well in the dull, drizzly conditions.

Colombia: Back to Santa Marta.

2011-12-05T01:16:00.000Z

Black-and-white Owl near Minca, Santa Marta Mountains.

Nearing the end of the second Ornitholiday's Colombia departure now, spending the final few days in the north. The day started with Chestnut-winged Chachalaca and as we climbed above Minca we had super views of Black-and-white Owl roosting near the road.

Whooping Motmot.

Colombia: Moustached Puffbird.

2011-12-04T03:43:00.001Z

An excellent few days at RNA Reinita Cielo Azul produced the Turquoise Dacnis, Niceforo's Wren, Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo and Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird. Shame that we couldn't get to that singing Recurve-billed Bushbird or that Yellow-throated Spadebill but this Moustached Puffbird was some consolation. Sooty-capped next year then?

Colombia: El Paujil and RNA Reinita Cielo Azul.

2011-12-04T03:39:00.000Z

Broad-billed Motmot.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar.

Violet-bellied Hummingbird.

Lesser Kiskadee.

Golden-headed Quetzal.

Broad-billed Motmot.

Colombia: Pied Puffbirds.

2011-12-04T03:30:00.000Z

Pied Puffbirds near El Paujil.

Colombia: Puffbird hat trick and a lifer.

2011-12-04T03:27:00.000Z

Not a bad day at El Paujil with three species of Puffbird and a last gasp lifer in the form of a male Bare-crowned Antbird ......

White-whiskered Puffbird.

The Black-breasted Puffbird was a bit distant ......

And didn't get much better in the murk through the 'scope.

Barred Puffbird.

Colombia: Back to the Magdelana Valley.

2011-11-27T04:36:00.000Z

Apical Flycatcher near Payande this afternoon.

Watching Apolinar's Wren at La Florida, Bogota 26 November 2011.

Left Bogota this morning after clinching extra close views of the endemic Apolinar's Wren in the marshes there, arriving at Ibague this evening after a stop for the endemic Velvet-fronted Euphonia and Apical Flycatcher.

Yellow-hooded Blackbird, La Florida (Bogota) 26 November 2011.

The endemic Apical Flycatcher.

Colombia: Back in Bogota.

2011-11-26T03:28:00.000Z

Bogota Rail at Guasca, 25 November 2011.

Emerald Toucanet at Monterredondo, 24 November 2011.

Had some time in the field with Carl Downing yesterday between tours, enjoying a full day out at Monterredondo on the east slope near Bogota. We only heard the Cundinamarca Antpitta and Brown-breasted Parakeets in the distance, but enjoyed some good birding with Ochre-breasted Brush-finch the highlight for me personally.

Chingaza NP.

Restarting the route again this morning we enjoyed a good day in Chingaza NP, these Brown-breasted Parakeets being the highlight of the day.

Brown-breasted Parakeet, Chingaza NP, 25 November 2011.

Bogota Rail.

We ended the day at Guasca where a couple of Bogota Rails showed very well in the late afternoon.

Colombia: Up to the San Lorenzo Ridge.

2011-11-23T02:26:00.000Z

Early morning over the Santa Marta Mountains from the San Lorenzo Ridge.

Strong-billed Woodcreeper,

Colombia: El Dorado, Santa Marta Mountains (today).

2011-11-21T18:46:00.000Z

Brown Violetear.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

Black-capped Tanager (male).

Black-capped Tanager (female).

Blue-naped Chlorophonia (male).

Black-fronted Wood-Quails.

Colombia: Russet-throated Puffbird.

2011-11-21T18:20:00.000Z

We were able to watch and photograph this Russet-throated Puffbird in the deserts near Camerones yesterday.

Colombia: Magdalena Valley to the Santa Marta Mountains.

2011-11-21T18:13:00.000Z

Birding Reserve Reinita Cielo Azul, Colombia.

Blue-and-yellow Macaws near El Paujil.

Keel-billed Toucan near Minca, Santa Marta Mountains.

King Vulture near Minca.

Colombia: Landslides, detours, coffee and even a few birds.

2011-11-21T02:26:00.000Z

The 4 Short-eared Owls, Marsh Harrier and drake Green-winged Teal I was watching on Crossens Marsh at dusk on 7 November seem a far cry from the Santa Marta Mountains here in Colombia (with WiFi!).

Not had a lot of time for digiscoping but here's a few of the shots so far (taken in the brief spells when it's not raining).

Northern Screamer near El Paujil.

Laughing Falcon at El Paujil.

Barred Puffbird at El Paujil.

Ribble goose counting.

2011-11-06T20:34:00.000Z

Arrived at the sandplant peninsula at Marshside early this morning for the co-ordinated Pink-footed Goose count (very difficult in thick fog) and after a slow start Merlin, Peregrine and Marsh Harrier appeared. I was very pleased to hear the distinctive call of a Lapland Bunting at 0730 and although I couldn't isolate the culprit in a flock of Skylarks and Greenfinches overhead it didn't sound very high up. A large thrush-sized bird diving into the cover of the bushes had me deserting my vantage point briefly as it looked like a Blackbird with a "tchack-tchack" call as it flew into the sunlight. A couple of Redwings, several Blackbirds and 2 Chiffchaffs was all I found but no Ring Ouzel as hoped for. However I did get good views of 2 Lapland Buntings on the rubble with a flock of Greenfinches, so it was worthwhile.

Barnacle Goose with Pink-feet on Crossens Outer Marsh this morning.

I picked up 2 Barnacle Geese as I sifted through the Pink-feet, one on Crossens and the other on the Marshside RSPB reserve on Rimmer's. Plenty of waders and wildfowl as expected (including several hundred Black-tailed Godwits), 6 Whooper Swans and 50 Golden Plover the most noteworthy. The Great White Egret was still on Crossens Outer early morning too.

A check of the coastal bushes and Sycamores south of Southport failed to produce anything more than a few Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest with a few Siskins overhead. Back to Marshside for a stroll along the edge of the golf course, giving the willows and bushes a bit of a grilling but still no joy.

Late afternoon at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh yielded little apart from the single dallying Avocet, a Merlin, Marsh Harrier and a mystery falcon that I can only put down as a hybrid of some sort.

Last few days on the Solway .....

2011-11-03T22:10:00.001Z

Drake Green-winged Teal, Mersehead RSPB 2 November 2011.

Barnacle Geese in front of the Avenue Tower at Caerlaverock WWT today.

Barnacle Geese from the Saltcot Merse Hide at Caerlaverock.

Caerlaverock WWT.

Mersehead Green-winged Teal yesterday.

Two more Teals and another GWE.

2011-11-02T19:06:00.000Z

Sunday 30th started with a check of the tit flocks in the coastal parks near Southport with a quick stop at Outer (4 Barnacle Geese with Pinks and thousands of Wigeon) and at the Hesketh Road platform, Marshside (female Bullfinch - rare here). Nothing in the park tit flocks ...

I couldn't resist another stop at Crossens on the way to Hesketh Out Marsh and found this drake Green-winged Teal - my third in less than a week!

Helping out with an RSPB event at HOM meant a walk to the outer seawall at breach 4 where we were able to view north across the Ribble to Warton Marsh where there were 2 Great White Egrets. Avocet in the Oystercatcher roost, 50+ Golden Plovers in with Lapwings, perched Peregrine, Merlin and Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harriers were seen before we set off back along the wall.

Taking a detour to view the creeks on HOM east I discovered a flock of 100+ Teal and immediately noticed a Marbled Duck in with them. Presumably the bird seen just across the river at Freckleton Naze several weeks ago, it may have been in this inaccessible part of the reserve for some time. Unfortunately the whole flock was spooked and flew into the sun, darting over the RSPB reserve, splitting with some birds heading out to the river. A search of the creeks (rapidly emptying with the falling tide) failed to locate the bird, even if the second Green-winged Teal of the day was some compensation.

Great White Egret at HOM.

2011-10-29T18:06:00.000+01:00

I couldn't get out for the high tide on the Ribble around midday today so I opted for an early visit to RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh anyway. Nothing much from the ramp at the eastern end of the reserve so I walked the seawall to Karen's Viewpoint where the first bird I clapped eyes on was this Great White Egret! The strong wind and drizzle was soon forgotten as although there have been several recent records, this was a HOM tick for me. No rings on the legs.
A walk to the west end of the reserve was pretty quiet apart from small numbers of Pink-feet overhead, 3+ Little Egrets and 19 Whooper Swans on the reserve. These joined some more in the fields at Hundred End, totalling 57 in all. At least 350 Golden Plovers on Banks Marsh East and hundreds of Teal on HOM as the creeks started to fill.
Wonder what else was found once the reserve flooded?

Marshside 28 October.

2011-10-28T23:39:00.000+01:00

Thought I'd head down to Marshside for the big tide today and although there was nothing out of the ordinary, quality was certainly replaced by quantity. Literally thousands of birds on the South Ribble Marshes today, many displaced from the long saltmarsh grasses by the ten metre tide.

I started at Crossens well before the tide covered it where there were hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, 850 Godlen Plover, 950 Dunlin, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 35+ Ruff and 3 Grey Plover. Marsh Harrier and Merlin hunted the outer marsh where up to 9 Little Egrets and a family party of 5 Whooper Swans were feeding. Raven on the marsh too.

Joining (well, not quite) the birders gathered on the sandplant, I waited for the tide to come in with the hope of a Short-eared Owl or two pushed out of roost by the incoming waters. No joy there but hundreds of Pink-footed Geese were close in and Rock Pipits and Twite flew over the peninsula.

A couple of Sparrowhawks were given a hard time by Carrion Crows but I gave in around 1PM and headed for the RSB reserve where the best I could find was 3 Barnacle Geese with the Pink-feet on Sutton's Marsh.

Two Teals.

2011-10-27T17:40:00.000+01:00

Drake Green-winged Teal, Mersehead RSPB (D&G) 25 October 2011.

I've had very little time for birding after work in SW Scotland this week with the shortening days. However a couple of hour-long sessions at RSPB Mersehead were very enjoyable indeed with this drake Green-winged Teal on the wetland outside the Bruaich Hide on Tuesday being the pick of the bunch. It was a bit elusive even though it was at close range, hiding in the wet grassland for long periods.

At least 2000 Barnacle Geese were outside the hides on Monday evening with 700+ Pink-footed Geese coming into roost on Tuesday. I've never seen the reserve so full of birds, no doubt due to the high water levels at the moment.

Male Hen Harrier, several hundred Starlings coming into roost (harassed by at least 2 Sparrowhawks), parties of Yellowhammers and House Sparrows in the hedge and huge numbers of winter wildfowl made it a very busy couple of hours leading to dusk on both evenings.

Black-tailed Godwits, Mersehead RSPB.

Snipe at Mersehead.

Outings to the Ribble Estuary have been unspectacular of late but there were a few more birds of note at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB last Sunday (23rd). More passerines on the reserve now with 15 Tree Sparrows in the farm hedge and scores of Skylarks over the saltmarsh. The latter is no doubt responsible for the increased time put in by the hunting Merlin, with a female chasing larks over the reserve most of the time I was there. Marsh Harrier was the only other raptor of note at the weekend with150 Golden Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, Avocet and 2 Twites with Linnets being the other birds of note.

Drake Green-winged Teal (centre), Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB 27 October 2011.

I really expected the South Ribble Marshes to turn up a goodie this autumn with the plethora of Nearctic waders on our shores of late. The drake Green-winged Teal I chanced upon at HOM this morning was my first half-decent local "self-found" for some time, even if it had a consolation prize feel about it. Still two GWT's in a week shouldn't be sniffed at I suppose.

I first saw it in the creeks on the reserve but as the 10 metre tide flooded the saltmarsh it came into view again. Awful light and still pretty far off though, so just record shots.
More birds on the reserve with the big tides as usual, mainly wildfowl with several hundred Teal, 2 Pintail, 6 Gadwall and 100+ Wigeon. The first 6 Whooper Swans of the winter were at HOM today and there's plenty of Pink-footed Geese in the area but not settling to feed at HOM just yet. Avocet, Knot, 2 Greenshank, 12 Snipe, 35+ Dunlin and 30+ Black-tailed Godwits on or over the reserve with 700 Oystercatchers, 50 Golden Plover and 550 Lapwing on the Ribble shores before being pushed off by the incoming tide. At least 8 Little Egrets around, single Merlin on the other side over at Warton, Siskin, Redwing, 6 Fieldfares and a flock of 33 Jackdaws overhead and 2 Rock Pipits flitting around the outer marsh.

Green-winged Teal at Mersehead.

Ross's Goose.

2011-10-21T02:21:00.000+01:00

Ross's Goose with Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries & Galloway 20 October 2011.

The Ross's Goose at Caerlaverock WWT on the way home from Dumfries & Galloway was this week's highlight I suppose, but in a few days with few birding opportunities there were some quality Solway moments.

Drake Shoveler, Mersehead RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway).

A late afternoon visit to Mersehead RSPB on a cold afternoon on 19th produced a Short-eared Owl over the rough ground in the eastern part of the reserve. Shorties are a bird I don't often see in D&G so this one was a nice surprise as it rose into the cloudless sky, being mobbed by Corvids. It was the second owl of the day, with the local Barn Owl seen as I left Southerness for work in the early hours of the morning.

Mersehead RSPB from the Bruach Hide, Dumfries & Galloway 19 October 2011.

With high water levels the reserve is full of winter wildfowl including many Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Pintail. A few Pink-footed Geese were on the wetland and the Barnacle Goose numbers have swollen to c. 5000 in the area since my visit last week. A Kingfisher was my first in D&G for sometime now. Barnacle Geese over the caravan as I arrived "home" for the night was a spectacular sight and sound.

A fraction of the 5000 Barnacle Geese in flight east of Mersehead RSPB, 19 October 2011.

Two Whooper Swans circling the fields at Loaningfoot near Southerness were my first birds of the day as I left for work on 20th. The Ross's Goose discovered at Caerlaverock WWT last week was still about and although there was no news I gave it a try.

The view from the Avenue Tower at Caerlaverock WWT, 20 October 2011. The Ross's Goose sticks out like a sore thumb!

A brief stop to view from the approach road to Caerlaverock Castle produced a few mobile Barnacles and 150+ Pink-footed Geese but nothing white so I headed for the reserve.

The Ross's Goose was showing well from the Avenue Tower with 2000+ Barnacle Geese in Field 3. I spent most of the late afternoon watching it seeing Ringtail Hen Harrier there as well.

Earlier in the week I called in at Milton Loch near Crocketford where a female Scaup was with 105 Tufted Ducks, 70+ Wigeon fed on the grassy banks where a couple of redhead Goosanders were loafing. Nice to see a decent sized flock of Aythya ducks and hopefully this loch will attract something interesting this winter.

Across the Folly Pond towards the Solway from the Farmhouse Tower, Caerlaverock WWT, 20 October 2011.

Shortie and Snow Buntings.

2011-10-15T10:20:00.001+01:00

Early morning dog walking at Longton Marsh today; not spectacular for overhead migrants (just a few Redwings and Fieldfares) but this Short-eared Owl more than made up for that. It flew out of the seawall bank below us, found a grassy patch but was then harassed by crows and departed to the west and over the River Douglas.

Two female Snow Buntings flew out of a stubble field towards the river but I couldn't relocate them unfortunately. Few Redshank, a Greenshank, 100+ Wigeon and small numbers of Curlew on the river. Green Sandpiper flew over and a dozen Grey Partridge in the fields. I pity whoever gets to count all those Canada Geese on tomorrow's WeBS though.
Lunchtime at Banks was pleasant if not spectacular with just one each of Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint being the best birds. A Peregrine made scanning through the 70+ Dunlin and 700+ Golden Plover difficult, flushing the waders and hordes of Wigeon frequently. Grey Plover, a handful of Redshank, single Green Sandpiper and 7 Little Egrets being the other "notables". I waited for a flock of Long-tailed Tits to pass at Cross Bank Covert, but nothing else with them as far as I could see. It's that time of year again (Yellow-browed at Fleetwood this morning).

Fieldfares plus.

2011-10-14T09:10:00.000+01:00

Today (13th) saw Fieldafares arrive in some numbers in SW Scotland. I could hear flocks passing over in low cloud and every now and then they would appear, one a group of 77 birds flying west.

I did a bit of birding in the Galloway hills in the afternoon where one flock of 700 Fieldfares were grounded in a pasture surrounded by trees. A few Redwings in with them as well.
Male Black Grouse on a stone wall was a nice bonus as I toured the hills by car. Still a scarce bird in Dumfries & Galloway I think.
Heading back south I stopped on the Solway at Redkirk Point and Browhouses where there were some decent flocks of Pink-feet, 2 Whooper Swans, 1000+ Golden Plover, 7 Grey Plover and several Goosander and Goldeneye.

Solway harrier and winter thrushes.

2011-10-13T07:16:00.002+01:00

Pink-footed Geese.

Quick late afternoon visit to Mersehead RSPB yesterday (12th) where a fine 2CY male Hen Harrier was definitely bird of the day. My first male of the autumn after a couple of females seen in the Galloway hills this past week.

Mersehead RSPB, Dumfries & Galloway.

Plenty of Barnacle Geese in now (2000+), 100+ Pink-feet and an increase in wildfowl with the rising water levels on the reserve.

Pink-footed Geese at Mersehead RSPB 12 October 2011.

Redwings seem to be arriving too. I had 5 at New Abbey on 11th, a couple at Kirkcowan yesterday and they are "seep-ing" overhead as I write and wait for the sun to come up this morning.

Solway goose dusk flight.

2011-10-11T20:02:00.002+01:00

Driving back from Dumfries this evening I noticed a cloud of geese over the fields just north of Southerness. Ten minutes later I was watching 2000 Barncle Geese with 300 or so Pink-feet in the stubble between Loaningfoot and West Preston.

A flock of 47 Twite on the wires was impressive but when all those geese took flight and overhead towards Mersehead to roost well, that was something else indeed ....

Solway so far.

2011-10-11T14:21:00.002+01:00

Long-billed Dowitcher (centre) with Teal on the Folly Pond at Caerlaverock.

This is getting worrying. Calling in at Caerlaverock on the Solway shore of Dumfries and Galloway resulted in yet another successful attempt at seeing a rare wader on the way to working in Scotland.
The juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher showed reasonably well on the Folly Pond, albeit sleeping for most of the three quarters of an hour or so I was watching it.
Plenty of Barnacle Geese around the WWT reserve now, a few Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits plus the usual winter wildfowl.

Folly Pond and Farmhouse Tower, Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway).

My first Redwing of the autumn was heard over Southerness during an unscheduled stop in the evening with Spotted Redshank calling clearly as it headed towards the beach early this morning.

Guillemot off Southerness Point.

Roosting waders at Southerness Point.

An enforced stay in the Southerness Point area today was rather productive around high tide with roosting waders including many Oystercatchers, 2 Knot, 30 Curlew, 120 Sanderling, 100 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plovers, 22 Golden Plover, a Grey Plover and 50 Turnstones. I failed to find any Purple Sand's though. A couple of Red-throated Divers, Red-breasted Merganser and an unfortunate looking Guillemot were the only birds of interest on the sea.

Twite at Southerness.

I heard Water Rail in the reeds during the return walk to the caravan across Gillfoot Bay where Whinchat and Chiffchaff were found in the bushes. At least 36 Twite on the rocky shore feeding on grassy seed-heads too.

"So it's come all the way from Slavonia, wherever that is?"

2011-10-09T22:10:00.001+01:00

Slavonian Grebe pretty close to the shore of Fairhaven Lake today.

I took the easy option today and drove to the north side of the estuary for a look at the Fairhaven Slavonian Grebe after a couple of days birding the Ribble marshes for that elusive North American wader (there just has to be a yellowlegs, buff-breast or dowitcher out there somewhere).

Slavonian Grebe, Fairhaven Lake 9 October 2011.

It was close to the bank during my time at the lake, but feeding well and most of my views were reminiscent of the above photo than the one below.

I called in at Newton Marsh en route to Fairhaven where there was nothing out of the ordinary but numbers of Wigeon and Teal were building with a few Shoveler present.

A late afternoon visit to Marshside was very pleasant, if not spectacular. Still 2 Curlew Sand's from Nel's Hide, several hundred Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 26 Golden Plover and 35+ Ruff all seen. Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese arrived as dusk approached and watching from Fairclough's Pool I noted at least 6 Little Egrets heading towards the Marine Lake to roost and a juvenile Merlin dashed low over the pool, passing close to the platform and flushing the flock of Black-tailed Godwits.

More Curlew Sand's.

2011-10-08T18:02:00.001+01:00

Curlew Sandpiper, Marshside 7 October 2011.

Only time for a couple of hours at Banks Marsh this afternoon, where I bumped into Nick Godden who'd been birding the Ribble coast in search of something new without any joy. We did manage a Little Stint and 5 Curlew Sand's at Banks, but that was about as good as it got. Three Grey Plovers on the splashes were vocal too. A 600+ flock of Golden Plovers kept us busy in hope of something from across the pond, but that'll just have to wait for another day.
Lots of mobile Pink-feet in the area with one Barnacle Goose in a flock heading up-river. Marsh Harrier was the only raptor in these wet 'n windy conditions and a Raven headed across the NNR.
Kingfisher, 2 Gadwall and 16 Tufted Ducks on the local Longton Brickcroft NR while walking the dog ..... that's about it.

Autumn evening stroll.

2011-10-07T19:52:00.000+01:00

Still blowing a strong WNW wind this afternoon so I walked the dog along the seawall at Hesketh Out Marsh to see if anything had been blown in. Just the usual suspects on show: 3 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, an Avocet and a Wheatear. Five Swallows over the saltmarsh and 40 Pink-footed Geese coming into roost from the north were the only "movers" this afternoon.

Millie enjoyed it though .......

Marshside 7 October 2011.

2011-10-07T15:08:00.001+01:00

Curlew Sandpiper, Marshside RSPB 7 October 2011.

Four of the eight Curlew Sand's feeding in front of Nel's hide at Marshside this morning.

Back on the Ribble this morning. Strong westerly wind blowing and a few Leach's Petrels and Sabine's Gulls knocking around so I checked Southport beach and the marine lake first but no sign of any wind-blown waifs.

The hides at Marshside were perfect for this mornings conditions ("perfect" and "hides" are not words you'll find in the same sentence with me very often) and there was plenty to see.

Rimmer's Marsh was packed with birds: 500+ Black-tailed Godwits, 50+ Redshanks, 12 Ruff and 8 Curlew Sandpipers. The Curlew Sand's showed a nice variety of moult; some retaining all juvenile feathers, others with first winter scapulars and mantle feathers coming through.

Lots of wildfowl of course with hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, a few Shoveler, Gadwall and Pintail feeding on the floods. Several hundred Pink-footed Geese came in mid-morning and by the time I left there were 1500+ on Sutton's Marsh with a single Barnacle Goose.

Sifted through all the godwits in search of a dowitcher but it's gone to Caerlaverock instead (just got back from D&G last night - Grrrrr!), but this flagged Blackwit was all I could find.

W-W-T twitching success shock.

2011-10-07T01:20:00.001+01:00

Solitary Sandpiper, Nateby (Lancs) 4 October 2011.

That'll be World's Worst Twitcher .....

Sunday morning (2 October) was co-ordinated Pink-footed Goose count in Lancs but there were no Pinks roosting at Hesketh Out Marsh so I concentrated on some of the overhead movement as birds headed south in the gloomy conditions. A Grey Wagtail, 6 alba wags, 117 Meadow Pipits, a Mistle Thrush, 23 Chaffinches, 6 Reed Buntings and 11 Skylarks passed over in the hour I spent watching from the seawall. Peregrine, Raven, Sparrowhawk, 3 Greenshank and 10+ Snipe were the other birds noted before I headed home for breakfast.
I was at home when "MEGA" news came through of a Solitary Sandpiper on the Fylde west of Garstang. Thinking that a MEGA was an ice-cream (rarities are still "Cripplers" to me) and the fact that it was raining I decided to stay in and watch the North London derby on the box.

Sunday was not a good day.........

The Solitary Sand' twitch.

Monday dawned, Solitary Sand' still there.

So I went to Crossens Outer and Banks Marshes on the Ribble. No trans-Atlantic rarities for me but a reasonable morning with 2 Little Stints, at least 13 Curlew Sandpipers, 28 Ruff, 500+ Golden Plover, 175+ Black-tailed Godwits, 50+ Dunlin and 20+ Snipe on the floods. I saw at least 4 Marsh Harriers too, 3 Peregrines and a cracking female Merlin. In fact birds were everywhere with thousands of Wigeon and Lapwings and hundreds of Teal and Pink-footed Geese making it feel like autumn for real at last.

The Nateby pool. Could easily be Brazil or Peru, couldn't it?

On Tuesday I gave up trying to find my own stuff and went to work. Work is in Scotland at the moment and the route takes me past Nateby where there happens to be (still there as I write) a Solitary Sandpiper; a Lancs first no less.
Yes, the Ribble Rapid Response Unit went for this bird on its third day and this was a very well organised twitch indeed. Parking supplied by the farmer at £4.00 (good value in my book - hassle free), a stroll through the fields to the pool where the bird was feeding alone. Only a small gathering of appreciative birders - I like to spend my time in the company of more birds than birders nowadays (lucky that flock of Teal flew in though or the ratio would have been in the birder's favour!).
I was quite interested to see the site as well. Very reminiscent of the type of pools / ponds I see Solitary Sand's on in South America really. Success then and a rare twitch for me. Top listers need not worry though. I've seen Solitary Sand in the UK before in Cornwall (Stithian's Res I think?) and a couple on Scilly. Very nice all the same though and hats off to serial rarity finder, Stuart Piner for a fabulous discovery.

Not much to report from the Solway this week (although I didn't have much spare time). It was good to see the Barnacle Geese back, with 80 on the reserve at Mersehead and a single with 300+ Pink-feet near our caravan north of Southerness. Otherwise pretty quiet apart from a Hooded Crow near Creetown.

Oh yeah ....... it's MAGNUM.

Weekend Ribble sightings (so far).

2011-10-01T16:43:00.001+01:00

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh, 30 September 2011.

Back on the Ribble for the last of the month's big tides yesterday (10 metres). I started at Hesketh Out Marsh a couple of hours before the tide with 14 Jackdaws in a single flock (bit of a HOM rarity) and a couple of Goldcrests in the hedgerow before walking up to the seawall to view the saltmarsh. The first flock of 80 Dunlin held a Little Stint and at least 2 Curlew Sandpipers but as usual at HOM, they didn't hang around long.
Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Merlin provided the raptor action for the day but as the tide covered the saltmarsh birds were displaced off the estuary and thousands of waders began to wheel around in the sky above the flooded marshes. At least 5 Curlew Sandpipers and 4 Little Stints were with the Dunlins and Ringed Plovers, with 3 Grey Plovers, a Ruff, 7 Greenshank, single Avocet and 750 Golden Plover finding "islands" to rest on as the water came in. Up to 16 Snipe were put up and 3 Pintail flew across the RSPB reserve. Funny how few of these I see here when they are so common on the north shore of the Ribble. No geese, no harriers but a nice count of 525 Teal on the reserve once the water had filled it.
Passerines pretty scarce apart from the 'crests and a Chiffchaff, but a steady southerly movement of Mipits, several Swallows and 3 Siskins (see BirdTrack for huge recent Siskin movement details).

Whooper Swan with Black Swan, Banks Marsh 1 October 2011.

We started the month with an early walk with the dog along the seawall overlooking the River Douglas at Longton Marsh was OK, especially as it's only five minutes from the house. Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, 25 Greylag Geese, 18 Snipe, 6 Corn Buntings and Chiffchaff all noted with a steady stream of Meadow Pipits heading south.
Late morning at Banks: Whooper Swan (present in the area since last week), a Black Swan, 180 Pink-footed Geese (which reminds me - goose census early doors tomorrow), numerous Wigeon, Merlin, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, 680 Golden Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, a Knot, 300+ Dunlin, 12 Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint, Snipe, 30+ Redshanks, 5+ Tree Sparrows and a couple more Goldcrests in the Natural England office bushes. Siskin overhead here too.

On the Solway.

2011-09-30T08:10:00.001+01:00

Golden Plovers (foreground) with Knot and Oystercatchers in the Southerness Point roost,.

Back from a few days in Scotland. Nothing unusual to report and definitely no "Indian Summer" where I was working thanks to the "Dumfries Micro-climate" as usual.

Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plover on the beach in Gillfoot Bay, Southerness Point.

I didn't get too much free time for birding but the beach at Gillfoot Bay was littered with waders the other evening including an impressive 450+ Sanderling. They were in the company of Ringed Plovers and a few Dunlin but I couldn't find anything else with them unfortunately.

Sandwich Terns in Gillfoot Bay.

A spectacular gathering of waders roosting at high tide on the point included a pack of 500+ Knot, 600+ Oystercatchers and a few Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlews. No Purple Sandpipers as far as I could see, but every chance one or two were hiding amongst the rocks with the Turnstones there out of sight.

Knot, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew at Southerness Point.

A very pleasant walk along the shore at Carsethorn produced the usual Whimbrel (they appear to be resident here), with at least 3 on the beach. More Knot here (600+) - something I've not noted at Carsethorn in large numbers before and the usual huge Redshank flocks that the Nith appears to be very good for.

Whimbrels with Redshanks and Ringed Plovers at Carsethorn.

A single Grey Plover flew by as I scanned for any Scaup, which I didn't see but a few hundred should be here this time next month. A flock of 95 Turnstone with a few Dunlin showed nicely on the beach opposite the Steamboat Inn at high tide.

Barnacle Geese had started to arrive (although I didn't see any myself) and there were 6 Whooper Swans on the Solway near Gretna at the weekend so winter is just around the corner. With this weather (away from Dumfries at least), it's hard to believe.

Turnstones and Dunlin at Carsethorn.

An Eye for a Bird?

2011-09-23T10:28:00.000+01:00

"An Eye for a Bird" by Eric Hosking was my first book on birds that wasn't a field guide. I was probably twelve or thirteen when I read it and it had quite an effect on my early birding years. The late Eric Hosking is of course well known as an accomplished, skilled and pioneering bird photographer and although I was not particularly interested in bird photography at the time, I found this book a fascinating insight into the world of birds and birding. Minsmere became a "must visit" place; eagles, harriers and Bitterns became "must see" birds and drift migration and huge wader roosts (see the chapter on Hilbre) just had to be experienced. "An Eye for a Bird" ignited my interest in travelling further afield in search of birds (particularly waders as I lived in land-locked Hertfordshire) and later re-reads were undoubtedly the catalyst for an interest in birding outside our shores. Above all it was a book written by a man absorbed in birds and dedicated to his family.

Margaret Hosking at REGUA, September 2011.

Eric's daughter Margaret was at REGUA with us over the last fortnight so it was nice to chat about "An Eye for a Bird" with her. The above photo shows Margaret photographing a Crescent-chested Puffbird on the approach road to the Guapi Assu Lodge at REGUA this month.

Here it is ......... I dare say Margaret's photo is better though!

Full of western promise?

2011-09-22T23:27:00.003+01:00

Northern Wheatear, Hesketh Out Marsh 22 September 2011.

Garganey (right) with Teal, Banks Marsh 22 September 2011.

I was expecting a few waders from across the Atlantic locally (after the fast moving weather systems battering the Lancs coast while I was in Brazil), but arrived back in Lancashire late on Monday evening to the news that the Grey Phalarope located initially by Bill Aspin by the A59 bridge over the Ribble and subsequently by Pete Bainbridge on the river by the docks, was still present. Having a poor track records with local phalaropes of late (Red-necked and Grey disappearing the day after I arrived back from abroad), I wasn't too optimistic but decided to take the dog for a walk along the Ribble and see if it was still about on Tuesday morning.

A very educational morning:

When BBC NorthWest Tonight weather forecast says "Rain easing by early morning", they mean the forecasters don't get up until nearly midday.
It's very tricky birding with a 18 week-old puppy on a lead.
It's no fun carrying bags of dog pooh and birding (makes sure you have a dog with you if you do this!).
Digiscoping is impossible with a puppy on a lead.

But more importantly I DID see the Grey Phalarope on the Ribble near Penwortham Bridge. After 3 local Red-necks (Marshside and 2 at Martin Mere WWT) this was most welcome and many thanks to Bill and Pete for finding and relocating this bird.

A lunchtime message about a Sabine's Gull reported at Marshside had me heading out again but no sign unfortunately. Plenty of birds around though including several hundred Pink-footed Geese on Crossens Inner Marsh, as many Golden Plover at Crossens Outer and Bank's Marshes, 2 Green Sands at Banks and Avocet, 2 Marsh Harriers, Greenshank and 2 Sparrowhawks at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB.

A Red Kite lingering at Martin Mere WWT was yesterday's target bird but typically for me at this locality I made hard work of seeing it. It finally appeared in gusty conditions, hanging over some distant woods best seen from the Ron Barker hide. By mid-afternoon a few Pink-footed Geese were dropping in and 12 Ruff fed in front of the hide. Very autumnal.

Late this moning I headed back to Preston (without the dog) in hope of getting a photo of the phalarope (it was still there yesterday). However I couldn't find it and after an hour of searching I gave up having seen Kingfisher, Grey Wag', several Goosander and a single Common Sand'.

A mid-afternoon visit to Hesketh Out Marsh started slowly, improving as I wandered back along the seawall with 160 Pink-footed Geese overhead, immature Marsh harrier over the saltmarsh, Greenshank, Avocet and 4 Wheatears noted too.

Late afternoon overlooking the NNR at Banks was most rewarding: Garganey, 2 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Green Sand', 107 Golden Plover and a Ruff were all on view near Old Hollow Farm.

Return from REGUA.

2011-09-20T08:19:00.000+01:00

Green-headed Tanager.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

Back from Brazil after a fabulous two weeks plus at REGUA. Our final evening saw us night birding again with some great views of Giant Snipe, Spot-tailed Nightjar, Scissor-tailed Nightjar and a passing Nacunda Nighthawk. The latter is a scarce bird in the area and this record (maybe a REGUA first?) is hot on the heels of the small flock we saw last year a little further afield as we travelled back one late afternoon from a day excursion to the coast.

Grey-headed Kite from the lodge garden.

Our final morning was spent in the Onofre Cunha forest patch where we walked the "Trilha de Araponga" (Bellbird Trail). We saw a few Bellbirds of course but mostly immature males and Rufous Motmot performed very well there once again.

REGUA: Any puffbird day is a good day.

2011-09-17T20:08:00.000+01:00

Buff-bellied Puffbird from the 4x4 Trail at REGUA this morning.

Early start once again with White-browed Blackbirds in the fields (above) shrouded by mist and a magical Atlantic Forest swathed backdrop. Can't beat it!

We spent the whole morning on the 4x4 Trail in REGUA where the highlight (for me) was a pair of Buff-bellied Puffbirds on the stretch above Casa Anibal. Haven't seen one of these for many years (Ubatuba in the 90's?) so I was very pleased indeed. A slightly less showy Crescent-chested Puffbird was appreciated nonetheless.

Barred Forest-Falcon, 2 Black-and-white Hawk Eagles with a Black Hawk-Eagle in the air together (!), Red-necked Tanagers, Rufous-headed Tanagers, Spot-billed Toucanet and a few Red-cowled Cardinals made it another great morning's birding.

Can't remember a better week than this in the Atlantic Forests (and I've done quite a few).

REGUA: Serra dos Orgaos.

2011-09-17T19:18:00.000+01:00

Blue Manakin.

We visited the Serra dos Orgaos NP yesterday (16th); my first time for many years. A raised walkway has been constructed since my last visit when we walked the rocky trail up to the elfin forest to see Grey-winged Cotinga (much easier at Caledonia!).

Sharpbill.

I can't remember seeing (or hearing) so many Sharpbills at one site, their high-pitched "dropping bomb" song ringing out throughout the forest. A few in the mixed species flocks too.

Plenty of action the whole time with passing banks of cloud making life interesting at times as we walked through the mid-levels of the trees, peering down to the forest floor from time to time.

It's a great way to bird the Atlantic Forests as long as there's not too many in a group of course. No leaf-litter noise as you walk the trails and less chance of "Neotropical neck" with reduced gazing up into the canopy as most birds pass at eye-level.

One of three Spot-billed Toucanets that perched beautifully above the trails as the cloud rolled in!

Some great additions to our trip list included many Brazilian and Atlantic Forest endemics and regionally restricted birds like Brazilian Antthrush, Black-billed Scythebill, Pin-tailed Manakin, Pale-browed Treehunter, Rufous-capped Spinetails, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser and White-throated Woodcreepers were all seen well.

Black-goggled Tanager.

The higher elevation (than REGUA) of 1100 metres gave us different selection of birds and the bird flocks were very impressive indeed. Many Brassy-breasted and Brown Tanagers led the line with Sharp-billed Treehunters, White-browed and Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaners, Green-backed Becard, Scaled and Planalto Woodcreepers, Yellow-eared and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers as the air filled with the sound of bellbirds and Hooded Berryeaters. The pool near the car park had Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers too.
We ended the day in a subtly different habitat (dryer forest) above nearby Teresopolis where Aplomado Falcons, Curl-crested Jays, White-vented Violetear, Ultramarine Grosbeak, Spix's Spinetail, Rufous-capped Antshrike and Glittering-bellied Emerald finished the day off nicely.

Aplomado Falcons.

REGUA: Back to the coast.

2011-09-16T01:12:00.001+01:00

Greater Yellowlegs.

Lesser Yellowlegs.

White-cheeked Pintail.

We took another day trip to the coast today (15th) in hope of some more waders and a bit of Restinga birding. The coastal woodland and scrub of Praia da Concha (below) was very good indeed and we were soon watching Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Restinga Antwren and Sooretama Slaty-Antshrikes.

Best of all we saw a Black-backed Tanager for the second year running; a tough bird to see in this habitat and yet another of eastern Brazil's threatened species.

The sea wasn't as rough this week and although we didn't find any Magellanic Penguins (last year was good for them here) we managed great views of Brown Boobies (above) fishing close inshore, Cayenne and South American Terns.

Cabo Frio.

Burrowing Owl.

Little Blue Heron.

Little Blue Herons, Great Egrets (below), Pied-billed Grebe, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilts, a Pectoral Sandiper, Semipalmated Plovers, a Royal Tern and several Roseate Spoonbills were on show at the marshes and mangroves as we headed back to REGUA in the mid-afternoon.

Greater (left) and Lesser Yellowlegs.

REGUA: Cotinga heaven.

2011-09-14T16:19:00.001+01:00

Shrike-like Cotinga, REGUA 14 September 2011.

Really pushing our luck now. After a busy start to our walk on the Sao Jose trail this morning the bird activity seemed to die down with increased humidity. We'd retraced our steps to the area where we heard Shrike-like Cotinga at the weekend but no sign this morning. Nice early mixed feeding flock action though: White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, Greyish Mourner, Unicolored and White-flanked Antwren, Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers with Dusky-capped Flycatcher new for the trip.
A walk along the lower part of the trail produced little really (no sign of last weekend's Southern Antpipit or Black-cheeked Gnateater) so we had a look at the new tower hide site. This Shrike-like Cotinga was picked up in a mixed feeding flock of ant-tanagers, Grey-hooded Attila and Plain-winged Woodcreeper; first located bashing a huge caterpillar against branches. I had no idea these cotingas joined feeding flocks as we've normally located singing birds here at REGUA in the past. REGUA has to be the most reliable site to find this bird, but it was still a nice surprise even after yesterday's haul of cotingas.

REGUA: Cotinga day.

2011-09-14T01:00:00.001+01:00

Grey-winged Cotinga, Pico Caledonia 13 September 2011.

A day trip from REGUA to the highlands near Nova Friburgo was very successful indeed. The threatened Grey-winged Cotinga is probably easier to see here than any of the other three localities it is currently known from. It lives in the humid elfin cloud forests around 2000 metres above sea level and is endemic to the Atlantic Forests of eastern Brazil.

Black-and-Gold Cotinga, Pico Caledonia 13 September 2011.

We also managed to see the only other member of the genus Tijuca today; the Black-and-Gold Cotinga. It lives at lower altitudes than the Grey-winged and is best looked for by searching the canopy.

Pico Caledonia today: Fire is the greatest threat to the Grey-winged Cotinga.

I was saddened to see how much of Caledonia had been burnt by recent fires. With the dry season coming to an end the threat must be reduced but the rains can't come quick enough for this area.

Today was without doubt one of my most memorable days in the Atlantic Forests, with so many rare highland species recorded. Our Cotinga treble was completed late in the day in the lower sections of Caledonia when Leonardo discovered a pair of Swallow-tailed Cotingas high on a ridge.

Leonardo Pimental on Pico Caledonia today. Note the burning forest patch!

Other birds today: Velvety-Black Tyrant, Highland Elaenia, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Green-winged and Thick-billed Saltator, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Pallid Spinetail, Bay-chested Warbling-Finch, Large-tailed Antshrike, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Plovercrest, Rufous Gnateater, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Giant Antshrike, Buff-browed Foliage-Gleaner, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Diademed Tanager, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Blue-billed Black Tyrant, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo all recorded today.......

Many thanks Leo!

REGUA: Bellbirds!

2011-09-13T00:40:00.000+01:00

Bare-throated Bellbird, REGUA 11 September 2011.

REGUA guide Adelei and I took a trip out to one of REGUA's newest properties yesterday morning where we watched at least 8 Bare-throated Bellbirds in the forest canopy. They started "clanging" around 0630 and this male was still at it at 10.00 when we left. One emergent tree had at least 4 bellbirds visiting its topmost branches, mostly females and immature males throughout the morning. Several Rufous-capped Motmots and a few Black-necked Aracaris and Channel-billed Toucans were seen during the outing as well.

REGUA: Long-tailed Potoo.

2011-09-13T00:14:00.000+01:00

Not easy to see from this angle?

We took the truck out to the 4x4 Trail this afternoon and the Long-tailed Potoo was in residence.

But with a minor adjustment ........

Long-tailed Potoo seen well!

A very pleasant afternoon, even if the weather wasn't great, with Rusty-margined Flycatcher, White-thighed Swallow, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Green-headed Tanagers, Yellow-eared Woodpecker and a smart Laughing Falcon with a snake in its talons all seen. Green-winged Saltator from the garden and White-bellied Seedeater this morning were new for the trip too.

REGUA: White-barred Piculet.

2011-09-12T22:44:00.000+01:00

One of the tour group members discovered this White-barred Piculet at its nest on one of the REGUA wetland trails at the weekend. This is the red-crowned male, but we watched the female swapping places with him at lunchtime today.

REGUA: Looking back .......

2011-09-12T18:21:00.001+01:00

Capybaras.

Just had a look at the REGUA sightings / visitor's book and I first visited REGUA from 22 - 26 June 2004. I remember it well; walking the trails with rangers but the wetland was little more than a damp pasture at the time. Whistling Herons (above) were quite at home but a sight such as the one below with large numbers of Capybara alongside White-faced Whistling-Ducks was out of the question really.

REGUA: Dry forest birding.

2011-09-12T11:21:00.001+01:00

Dedo de Deus ("Finger of God") in the Serra dos Orgaos NP.

Another day trip from REGUA takes us across the mountains to the drier interior part of Rio de Janeiro state. Crossing the pass in the Serra dos Orgaos NP there is a good excuse to stop for a photo or two in the Atlantic Forests and see what's about. Half-collared Sparrow and Sharpbill were quality species seen on a brief stop here the other day before heading towards the state border to the arid forests near Carmo.

Streamer-tailed Tyrant.

Pastures with low lying damp areas will often hold the Streamer-tailed Tyrant (above) as long as there are sufficient perches around. Crested Black-Tyrant is a good chance in these roadside scrubby areas too.

Remnant dry forests near Carmo.

The dry forests near the town of Carmo still support the endangered Three-toed Jacamar (below); this has also been a reliable site for another Brazilian endemic, the Serra Antwren too. Interestingly recent research has shown that the Serra Antwren might actually be conspecific with the Restinga Antwren of coastal Brazil.

Three-toed Jacamar.

REGUA: Around the reserve.

2011-09-12T01:31:00.001+01:00

White-eared Puffbird.

Out and about the reserve at REGUA over the last few days, covering the wetland, forest trails and open country. Despite very windy conditions yesterday morning this White-eared Puffbird showed well in its favoured spot in a cleared area just outside the reserve.

Masked Ducks.

The wetland is very popular with REGUA guests, being on the Guapi Assu doorstep. Masked Duck is a bit of a REGUA speciality and very easy to see. We found 10 females on one lagoon the other morning.

Capped Heron.

REGUA wetland at dusk with Orgaos mountain range as the backdrop.

I spent yesterday evening counting the Cattle Egret roost and made it 838 (plus 5 Great Egrets!). Incredible to think this marvellous wetland has been developed from what was just a damp pasture several years ago.

REGUA: Day trip to the coast.

2011-09-12T01:17:00.001+01:00

Lesser Yellowlegs.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Brazilian Teal.

A day out from REGUA to the coast east of Rio de Janeiro produced a variety of birds and a change from forest birding.

Snowy Egret.

Roseate Spoonbill.

Plenty of waders on the pools and saltpans, mostly Lesser Yellowlegs with a few Greater Yellowlegs, a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Grey Plovers and Black-necked Stilts.

Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpiper.

Black Skimmers, Cayenne and Cabot's Terns (more about those here), White-cheeked Pintails and Brazilian Teals about too, before we headed to the mangroves.

Pectoral Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs.

No sign of any Clapper Rails today but great views of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons to be had before heading to the beach.

Mangroves near Carbo Frio.

We birded the Restinga (a coastal scrubby woodland, threatened by development for leisure industry) where we found the rare Restinga Antwren (more on that later), Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike and Hangnest Tody-Tyrant.

REGUA: Out on the trails.

2011-09-11T22:56:00.001+01:00

Grey-hooded Attila.

Plenty to see on the REGUA trails this week and not bad in the garden either. This Rusty-margined Guan (below) was on the bird table and we've just been watching Paca (large Neotropical rodent) with Nine-banded Armadillo last night.

Rusty-margined Guan.

Interesting Atlantic Forest birds seen while out walking the REGUA trails include Rufous-capped Motmots, Bare-throated Bellbirds, Pin-tailed and Blue Manakins, Oustalet's Tyrannulet, White-bibbed Antbirds and much, much more.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl.

So far we've heard a couple of Shrike-like Cotingas but failed to lure one into view. Plenty of time though ......

Plain Parakeet.

Most parrots and parakeets are usually fly-overs, identified by calls but these endemic Plain Parakeets have been very confiding indeed.

Yellow-throated Woodpecker.

Some nice mixed bird flocks have included Spot-breasted Antvireo, Unicolored Antwren, Lesser Woodcreeper, Yellow-eared Woodpecker and this fine Yellow-throated Woodpecker. The Atlantic Forest race has a red throat though!

REGUA: Day out in the mountains.

2011-09-11T18:29:00.001+01:00

Male Surucua Trogon, Macae de Cima, September 2011.

Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Macae de Cima, September 2011.

We take a few excursions to other sites in the state of Rio de Janeiro during our stay, normally at least one of these takes us to the highlands. I was keen to see Macae de Cima, having visited Pico Caledonia several times to compare the sites. Despite hot and windy conditions we did very well indeed bagging a smart male White-bearded Antshrike in a patch of bamboo. Apart from this highlight we also saw Scale-throated Hermits, Amethyst Woodstar, White-throated Hummingbirds and Brazilian Rubys on the feeders; Shear-tailed Tyrants and Black-and-Gold Cotingas in the elfin forest canopy and Yellow-browed Woodpecker lower down.En route we stopped at a roadside feeder where we were ab;e to watch a variety of Atlantic Forest frugivores like Green-headed Tanagers, Ruby-crowned Tanagers, Golden-chevroned Tanagers and Brassy-breasted Tanagers as well as the endemic Sombre Hummingbird.

REGUA: First week over.

2011-09-11T00:56:00.002+01:00

Male Brazilian Tanager.

First of two week's tours finished today (10 September) at REGUA with over 300 species recorded on the reserve and during three offsite excursions.

Glittering-throated Emerald.

Highlights included Russet-winged Spadebill, Oustalet's Tyrannulet (first for me for many years), Giant Snipe, White-bearded Antshrike, Sharpbill, Restinga Antwren, Serra Antwren, Three-toed Jacamar, White-necked Hawks and some quality coastal birding near Rio.

White-tufted Marmoset.

The "quiet" midday period has been spent watching the garden where these White-tufted Marmosets have kept us entertained. A Nine-banded Armadillo called in this evening too.

A productive spotlighting session last night added Scissor-tailed Nightjar and Common Potoo to the tally, whereas this roosting Tropical Screech-Owl was more obliging, being easily visible at its daytime roost near the REGUA office.

REGUA

2011-09-09T20:07:00.000+01:00

First few days of the Ornitholidays REGUA tour done. Very hot this year (no rain yet and almost cloudless skies the whole time so far) but that's not held the birds back.

Swallow-tailed Hummingbird.

We spent the first morning around the lodge garden after our long flight, recording over 50 species without leaving the Guapi Assu Bird Lodge grounds. A Crane Hawk in the trees at the back of the garden was perhaps the most surprising arrival and a Temminck's Seedeater in song was welcome as we haven't seen one since.

Violaceous Euphonia.

An afternoon stroll around the wetland produced the usual Masked Ducks, White-faced Whistling-Ducks and Brazilian Teals and we just had time for a view of Rufous-sided Crakes dashing through gaps in the reeds before the hordes of Cattle Egrets began arriving for their evening roost.

Yellow-headed Caracara.

Last Ribble birding before Brazil trip .

2011-09-02T09:18:00.001+01:00

Wheatear at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 1 September 2011.

Waders, including Curlew Sandpipers and Sanderlings gathering on the Banks "splashes", 1 September 2011.

A last pre-Brazil Ribble visit produced little more than the expected, but very worthwhile nevertheless. I visited Banks before high tide and was treated to at least 13 Curlew Sand's, 2 Sanderling and a White Wagtail with 4 Yellow Wag's. Wildfowl are coming in daily now with 240 Wigeon, 12 Pintail and 2 Shoveler on one pool at Banks.

A high tide visit to HOM saw the reserve completely flooded by the high tide and by consequence, more birds on view. Birding the reserve and the floods on Banks Marsh East / Hundred End I recorded 6 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 7 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 2 Green Sandpipers, 6 Ruff, 70+ Golden Plovers, 9 Greenshank, 19 Ringed Plovers, 10 Snipe and 2 Yellow Wagtails. This fine Wheatear was in the car park as I returned to the car.

Excellent birding at the moment on the Ribble ........

Little Stint joins the Curlew Sand's.

2011-08-31T16:35:00.000+01:00

Graham Clarkson and I enjoyed another excellent wader gathering at Banks Marsh on the Ribble Estuary today: 700+ Grey Plover, 70 Golden Plover, 1000+ Dunlin, 250+ Ringed Plover,300+ Knot, 4 Sanderling, a Turnstone, a Ruff, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Little Stint and at least 15 Curlew Sandpipers. Wildfowl are starting to be attracted to the splashes too with 80 Wigeon and 20 Teal present today. The seawall, tracks and fences at Old Hollow had at least 7 Yellow Wagtails with 12+ Pieds and a juvenile Whinchat while the willows held 45+ Tree Sparrows. Raptors included Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Peregrine.
A quick dash to the Marshside area produced 6 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Peregrines, 2 Ruff, 15 Golden Plover,2 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon and 30+ Teal on Crossens Outer Marsh. The RSPB reserve was a bit quieter with just 2 Little Egrets, 11 Golden Plover, 180 Redshank, a Snipe, 50+ Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Wheatears.

More Curlew Sand's!

2011-08-30T15:54:00.003+01:00

Another lunchtime big tide today and the Ribble Estuary NNR was certainly packed with waders. The splashes on Banks Marsh were full to the brim with water so most birds were either roosting or feeding distantly in the grass making life difficult as I 'scoped from the seawall. At least 900 Grey Plovers and 300+ Knot produced a grey hue to the floods, broken only by the odd black or rosy belly of the few individuals still in summer plumage.
A cloud of Dunlins was the main attraction here, even if scrutiny was tricky due to the distance from the seawall and the marauding Peregrine spooking the flock quite frequently. At least 5 Curlew Sandpipers were with them, unsurprisingly given the widespread influx the UK is experiencing presently.
Ringed Plover (300+) made up the majority of 'the rest' with single Sanderling and Turnstone looking most out of place on the marsh. Single Green Sandpiper, 56 Golden Plover, a Wheatear and at least 2 Yellow Wags were a tad easier to find nearer the seawall at Old Hollow.
Two more 'Ribble Days' before the Brazil trip, both with decent tides.

Wet 'n windy.

2011-08-29T20:02:00.001+01:00

Back on the Ribble patch with Graham Clarkson today in a blustery WNW wind and squally showers at Hesketh Out Marsh. Bit more action with the 9+ metre tide pushing a few waders onto the RSPB reserve, even if they didn't dally to feed. Most were Ringed Plovers, with a few Dunlins and the usual Greenshanks were darting in and out the creeks. Large numbers of Oystercatchers flying up-river ahead of the tide (at least 700) but just 3 Golden Plover over the west end. Passerine interest was limited to just a couple of Wheatears and an increase in Meadow Pipit numbers, with 2 Marsh Harriers being the best of the raptor action.

We paid a quick visit to the pools on the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve after HOM and 'scoping from the seawall at Banks we picked up a couple of Curlew Sandpipers in with 100+ Dunlin and 250+ Ringed Plover. A Peregrine was sat out on the marsh.

Little hope of photography in such windy conditions so a snap of a dozing Solway Curlew Sand' above. Bigger tide tomorrow so let's see what that brings in.

Solway Curlew Sand's.

2011-08-28T23:57:00.001+01:00

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Newbie Mains, Dumfries & Galloway 28 August 2011.

Just back from a very pleasant couple of days on the Solway with Angie. It was still a little quiet on the Dumfries & Galloway shore but we did see at least 12 Curlew Sandpipers in the wader roost at Newbie Mains at lunchtime today. All were very smart juveniles with nice crisp white feather edgings to the upperparts and buff tones to the breast sides. They were in with Ringed Plovers rather than the usual Dunlins; in fact we saw very few Dunlins the whole time we were there.

A fraction of the 1400+ Oystercatchers at the Newbie high tide roost today.

Browhouses, Dumfries & Galloway 27 August 2011.
12 Goosander, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 100+ Greylag Goose, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Tree Pipit, 6 Tree Sparrows.

Dornoch, Dumfries & Galloway 27 August 2011.
200+ Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Turnstone, 5 Golden Plover, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin.

Southerness Point, Dumfries & Galloway 28 August 2011.
50 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 6 Dunlin, 148 Sandwich Terns.

Newbie Mains, Dumfries & Galloway 28 August 2011.
15 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1400+ Oystercatcher, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 25 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 2 Knot, 120 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 12 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Black-tailed Godwit.

Slim pickings locally.

2011-08-25T18:24:00.002+01:00

Tufted Ducks, Hesketh Out Marsh 25 August 2011.

Still pretty quiet on patch at the moment. The small tides aren't helping much but a quick look down on the river this afternoon showed that there's precious little down there to be pushed onto the marshes anyway. Hopefully this will all change with the big tides this weekend.

Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings on the Ribble Estuary, 25 August 2011.

"Highlights" (if you could call them that) would be what looked like a family party of Tufted Ducks on Hesketh Out Marsh East this afternoon (only my fourth record for this stretch of the Ribble), a flyover Greenfinch this afternoon a Rook flying south yesterday morning (first HOM records this year I think) and still up to 6 Yellow Wagtails on the RSPB reserve at HOM.

Barn Owl has been showing well in walking distance of the house on Longton Marsh with Little Owl vocal at dusk there too. A nice "owl trio" was completed one evening when we arrived back hone just in time for the local Tawny Owls to start calling.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 21 August 2011.
370 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 50 Teal, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 3 Little Egret, 8 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 3 Yellow Wagtails.

Longton Marsh, 21 August 2011 (dusk visit).
14 Greylag Geese, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 5 Yellow Wagtails.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 22 August 2011.
4 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Greenshank, 4 Yellow Wagtail.

Longton Marsh, 22 August 2011 (dusk visit).
45 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper, 35+ Curlew, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 24 August 2011.
37 Teal, 200 Mallard, 12 Wigeon, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 6 Greenshank, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Rook, 1 Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Tree Sparrow.

Ribble Estuary and Hesketh Out Marsh, 25 August 2011.
3 Little Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck, 11 Coot, 6 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 600+ Lapwing, 770 Black-tailed Godwit, 110 Golden Plover, 10 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 4 Common Tern, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Greenfinch.

Ornitholidays at the Birdfair

2011-08-22T11:16:00.002+01:00

Not something I usually stick on the blog but Ornitholidays is a company that has supported REGUA for some years now.

Ornitholidays from Digital Spring on Vimeo.

Yellow-eared Woodpecker (a Brazilian endemic) at Carmo - one of our excursions from REGUA.

Ornitholidays has teamed up with the staff at REGUA in Brazil to plant a tree for everyone who travels with them each year. We'll be visiting the Ornitholidays plantation next month during the tours to REGUA when we stay at the Guapi Assu Bird Lodge there.

Spotshank but little else.

2011-08-20T19:55:00.001+01:00

Our 13 week old chocolate lab' Millie at Hesketh Out Marsh today.

Today's Spotted Redshank was the highlight of this weeks visits to the South Ribble Marshes with a small arrival of wildfowl including a couple of Pintail and over a hundred Teal present at Hesketh Out Marsh now. Still very few waders around "my patch" on the inner estuary, but it appears there's plenty from Crossens Outer Marsh with over 4000+ Ringed Plovers logged there on the last WeBS.

Banks Marsh, Ribble Estuary NNR 15 August 2011.
400+ Ringed Plover, 50+ Dunlin, 300 Lapwing.

Banks Marsh, Ribble Estuary NNR 17 August 2011.
180 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 65 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 17 August 2011.
7 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 8 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Grey Partridge, 1 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler.

Southport Beach 18 August 2011.
2 Little Egret, 200+ Oystercatcher, 75 Ringed Plover, 30+ Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Dunlin.

Hesketh Out Marsh and Hesketh Sands (Ribble Estuary), 19 August 2011.
2 Mute Swan, 7 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 120 Teal, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Oystercatcher, 550 Lapwing, 4 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 1 Whimbrel, 30 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 12 Greenshank, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB (seawall only), 20 August 2011.
4 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 2 Ringed Plover, 3000+ Starling.

Ribble Estuary WeBS

2011-08-14T16:42:00.002+01:00

Today's Ribble WeBS sector from HOM east round to the Douglas.

Out counting on the inner estuary this morning between Hesketh Out Marsh and the River Douglas. I also managed to count the feeding and roosting birds on the north shore at Warton Marsh and across the Douglas on Longton Marsh.

Lots of birds as expected, but very few Redshank and most disappointingly hardly any Dunlin. I managed to find a few other bits and pieces apart from the wildfowl, waders, terns and gulls including 9 Yellow Wagtails, a Swift, 3 Corn Buntings and 10+ Tree Sparrows. I called in at the RSPB reserve at HOM to pick the car up but it was quiet apart from 2 Wheatears, Greenshank, 10 Little Egrets and a Marsh Harrier.

Estuary totals: 1 Little Grebe, 15 Cormorant, 10 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 5 Little Egrets, 49 Mute Swans, 1 Black Swan, 57 Greylag Geese, 911 Canada Geese (most on Longton Marsh), 61 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 1 Eider, 43 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 823 Lapwing, 110 Golden Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 61 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 62 Curlew, 4 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 23 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 28 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 197 Black-headed Gull, 4 (2 juvs) Arctic Terns, 3 Common Tern.

Magnificent Merlin

2011-08-13T19:47:00.001+01:00

Merlin (note metal ring on left leg) with prey at Hesketh Out Marsh, 13 August 2011.

I joined Graham Clarkson, Dr Alan Bedford and the Edge Hill University Birdwatching & Beyond group at Hesketh Out Marsh this morning where we were rewarded with superb views of this Merlin. We watched it for some time from the seawall as it sat on this stump plucking and tearing at its prey.

Corn Bunting at HOM today. Strong buff tones and fresh plumage indicate juvenile plumage.

Juvenile and adult Corn Buntings, Hesketh Out Marsh 13 August 2011.

Plenty of birds on HOM today including 2 Marsh Harriers, 12+ Greenshanks, 3-4 Ruff, Snipe, 6 Black-tailed Godwits and 12+ Little Egrets with yellow Wagtail over the car park as we paused for a brew. About a dozen Golden Plovers with 300+ Lapwings in the fields and the NNR was littered in birds including 400+ Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Little Egrets and 800+ Canada Geese. A tight flock of 4 Ringed Plovers and 3 Dunlin flew across the RSPB reserve with a Little Stint lagging behind. Two Red-legged Partridges in the fields near the viewpoint is a decent record here (greys more common at HOM).
A walk to the River Douglas produced some good birds too, mainly on Longton / Hutton Marshes and the fields of Hesketh Out Marsh East:

3 Peregrines (2 adults and a juv' together on Hutton Marsh, 1096 Canada Geese, 102 Greylag Geese, 22 Mute Swans, 1 Black Swan, 11 Yellow Wagtails (the best flock we've had for some while here), 5 Corn Buntings, 27 Tree Sparrows and 5+ House Sparrows.

WeBS tomorrow - should be good ......

Could be better ......

2011-08-11T17:12:00.000+01:00

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 9 August 2011
Quiet .......
2 Little Egret, 10 Teal, 2 Greenshank, Ruff, Dunlin, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 11 August 2011
Still quiet ......
1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egret, 2 Teal, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 20 Redshank, 18 Curlew, 2 (adult + juvenile) Yellow Wagtail.

The reserve much wetter after the recent heavy rain with a few damp areas in the inland fields. Hopefully these will produce a few waders like last autumn if we get some more downpours.

Some bigger tides at the weekend so hopefully some better birds. What I'd give for one of these ..........

American Golden Plover, Pantanal (Brazil).

Some more photos from the Pantanal .........

American Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbill.

Little Blue Heron.

Bare-faced Ibis.

But the Pantanal is perhaps best known for the world's largest parrot .......

Hyacinth Macaw.

Greater Rhea ......... in the garden!

And in the grasslands ........

Red-legged Seriema.

And if you get really lucky ........

Jaguar, Pantanal September 2008.

A few more shots from past Brazil trips ........

2011-08-10T12:31:00.000+01:00

Bare-throated Bellbird (Atlantic Forest endemic), Intervales State Park, November 2008.

Black-and-Gold Cotinga (Brazilian endemic), Itatiaia NP, November 2008.

Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Intervales State Park November 2008,

Atlantic Rainforest, Intervales State Park November 2008.

Male Frilled Coquette (Brazilian endemic) at the Hotel do Ype feeders in Itatiaia NP, November 2008.

Black Jacobin (Atlantic Forest endemic), Itatiaia November 2008.

Brazilian Ruby (Brazilian endemic), Itatiaia NP November 2008.

Saw-billed Hermit (Brazilian endemic and classified as "Near Threatened" by BirdLife International), Ubatuba November 2008.

Surucua Trogon (Atlantic Forest endemic), Itatiaia NP November 2008.

Green-headed Tanager (Atlantic Forest endemic), Itatiaia NP November 2008.

Saffron Toucanet (Atlantic Forest endemic), Itatiaia NP November 2008.

Olive-green Tanager (Brazilian endemic), Itatiaia NP November 2008.

Rufous-bellied Thrush (common), Intervales State Park, November 2008.

Plush-crested Jays just over the border at Iguacu (Argentina) where Atlantic Forest still exists.

All quiet on the estuary.

2011-08-07T22:23:00.001+01:00

Masked Ducks (drake above, ducks below), REGUA September 2010.

Once again the photos have nothing whatsoever to do with today's birding exploits but birds were few and far between this evening. A leisurely amble along the seawall with Graham and Jonty at HOM improved after a slow start, the reduced numbers of birds undoubtedly being a consequence of the smaller high tides at the moment.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 6 August 2011.
5 Little Egrets, 51 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Greenshank, Ruff, 30 Golden Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails.

REGUA

2011-08-07T00:18:00.001+01:00

Back to tour leading duty next month with two tours to REGUA in Brazil. Take a look at their website and read all about the good work done here conserving and creating Atlantic Rainforests (one of the world's most threatened ecosystems). Better still, stay there, enjoy the birds and contribute to the cause at the same time!

In the forest: Crescent-chested Puffbird (Brazilian endemic).

Clearings: Tropical Screech-Owl.

Wetlands: White-faced Whistling-Ducks.

Wetlands: Masked Ducks.

Wetlands: Brazilian Teal.

Off site excursions (dry forest): Three-toed Jacamar (Brazilian endemic).

Highlands: White-throated Hummingbird (Atlantic Forest endemic).

Estuary birding.

2011-08-06T18:57:00.002+01:00

REGUA's wetland in Brazil. I'll be there in a month.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 5 August 2011.
3 Little Egret, 5 Teal, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, ad' + juv' Avocet, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Corn Bunting.

A walk out to the River Douglas produced very little apart from 3 Yellow Wagtails but at least 25 Little Egrets were flushed by aircraft off the Ribble opposite Freckleton Naze Point. Presumably the late summer egret roost is starting to build.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 6 August 2011.

4 Wigeon, 57 Teal, female Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Avocet, Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroats, Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Corn Buntings.

Walked across the HOM saltmarsh to view the Ribble Estuary where most birds were on the Warton side on the Fylde ..........

5 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Golden Plover, 410 Lapwing, 325 Dunlin, 255 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Curlew, 75 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 1 Turnstone.

Wood Sandpiper

2011-08-05T10:23:00.007+01:00

4 August 2011.

It appeared pretty quiet at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB until a soft "chiff" call was heard and a Wood Sandpiper flew in and landed on the pool next to me near the seawall. Photo opportunities remain tricky and the above image was the best I could get given the distance and heat haze.

Still 11 Greenshanks in the high tide roost despite the lower tides, roosting with 6 Dunlin and 50 Lapwings on the reserve pools. At least one Avocet remains on site and Sparrowhawk and 2 Yellow Wagtail near Karen's Viewpoint being the other birds of note.

A quick visit to Banks Marsh near Old Hollow Farm yielded 25 Grey Plover, 10 Ringed Ploverand 225 Dunlin roosting on the pools with a Green Sandpiper calling out on the NNR somewhere. A Wheatear perched on Ron Jackson's hide as we scanned the pools.

3 August 2011.

Two Sandwich Terns flying up-river off Hesketh Out Marsh on 3 August were presumably the same seen at high tide the previous day. Single Ruff, Marsh Harrier and Common Swift were noted and a Weasel crossed the road as I drove up to the car park. Two Yellow Wagtails, 2 Golden Plovers and 20+ Tree Sparrows were noted at Banks Marsh.

Crossbill and Sandwich Terns.

2011-08-02T17:35:00.006+01:00

2 August 2011.

Another visit to Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB at high tide produced some interesting birds today. A Crossbill heading SE and calling as it went, was I believe a new bird for HOM. The big tide pushed a lot of waders (mainly Redshanks and Dunlins) onto the reserve near one of the breaches, making a spectacular sight until they were displaced by the rising water levels there too. Two Sandwich Terns heading up-river as I was counting the wader roost were new HOM birds for me.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 2 August 2011.

2 Little Egret, 21 Mute Swans, 88 Canada Geese, 19 Greylag Geese, 69 Teal, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Kestrels (10 on posts on the NNR), 135 Oystercatcher, 225 Dunlin, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 75 Curlew, 22 Greenshank (record count?), 175 Redshank, 7 Common Terns, 6 Arctic Terns, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Sand Martins, 3 House Martins, 2 Ravens, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Corn Bunting.

The 'usual' butterflies were seen today, but a Brown Hawker dragonfly was my first here this year.

Pectoral Sandpiper and first Merlin of the autumn.

2011-08-02T17:26:00.005+01:00

1 August 2011.

Called in at Martin Mere WWT for a look at the Pectoral Sandpiper that's been around for a week. Plenty of Lapwings and a few Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits on the reserve as well.

High tide (9.5m) at Hesketh Out Marsh proved interesting as the RSPB reserve was inundated, pushing many birds out of the creek. However the first Merlin (a female) was perhaps 'bird of the day', indeed Marshside RSPB and Martin Mere WWT recorded their first autumn birds today too.

Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, 1 August 2011.

12 Little Egret, 15 Greylag Geese, 8 Teal, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, 5 Kestrels, 10 Greenshank, 10+ Avocets, 49 Golden Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 7 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler.