Dippers are Very Common in Hartlepool

Almost 12 months ago, I twitched the UK's 3rd White Tailed Robin in a garden in Hartlepool. Little did I know that 1 year on I would be back in the same place attempting to connect with the UK's first Western Orphean Warbler for 21 years.

I was out the house by 3:15 am and on site in Hartlepool for 6:45 am. The dull dreary weather encouraged the premise that the bird would "not go far" in these conditions. But despite this there was absolutely no sign by the bowling green by 09:30 am by which time the realisation had dawned that I and perhaps 50 others had well and truely dipped. That's 2 failed twitches in a row now ! There was some suggestion that the bird was not of good health and may have perished in the night. I guess we will never know?

So by 10am I was at Saltholme RSPB, and after scone and coffee I went for a look round. The obvious target species was Yellow Wagtail & several showed quite well:

Yellow Wag

Saltholme apparently holds the largest inland Common Tern colony in the UK and birds frequently appear overhead:

Common Tern amongst a backdrop of Industry

Other higlights included 3 Little Gulls.

Some other images from the day:

Vixen

Greylags

Skylark

Stock Dove

Swallow

End of An Era

As part of my 50th birthday, Patricia had booked us overnight at the Lodge on the Loch Hotel. Unfortunately, news of my mother's death (albeit expected) earlier in the day put a completely different perspective on the occasion. Indeed, I thought seriously about cancellation but in the end felt that the beautiful setting on Loch Lomond might be appropriate for quiet reflection.

View from the Room

Long Hot Summer ??

Temperatures in Glasgow this week have been up to 27 degrees, a record for May apparently. Rachel was off to Alton Towers with the school and this meant dropping her off at 1:30 am and as a consequence I had had the 25th booked off work for some time. It just so happened to coincide with the good weather and an opportunity for some birding was not to be missed.

I was out the house before 7am heading North towards Aberfoyle and onward along the largely single track road to Inversnaid. The Inversnaid Hotel is popular with "Lochs & Glens" tour buses and I met 3 coming from the hotel as I headed along. Now from experience, they don't reverse for you but fortunately I met them all at bits of the road where there were easy passing places. Not so the lorry in front of me who had to do an awkward manoeuvre up a farm track in order to let one of them pass.

Anyway just after 8am I was in the 'upland' car park at the RSPB Inversnaid Reserve and was quickly enjoying lots of Cuckoos (still appear common in this part of the world). Nice also to get the female's bubbling calls. 3 Whinchat and 2 Spot Flys were welcome year ticks. 'Hairy Beasties' were showing well:

The next target species were Black Grouse, but despite spending a good time scanning the hillsides with my new Swaro EL32's, with their massive field of view, I could not connect.

By 9:30 am the heat was already beginning to build and I headed for the shade of the main Inversnaid Reserve with its oak woodlands and Bluebell carpets:

The usual target species were quickly located:

Pied Fly

Tree Pipit

Wood Warbler

Other birds included 2 singing Garden Warbler, Blackcap and lots of Redpoll and Siskin. The banks of Loch Lomond produced at least 2 Common Sand & 1 Dipper.

Off up Loch Lomondside again tomorrow for a meal at The Lodge on the Loch (yet another 50th birthday treat!). Weather still forecast as "glorious" for tomorrow so looking forward to that.

Arctic Terns

Rachel had a cheerleading competition at Braehead today. She needed dropped off at Braehead at 7:45am. I was in need of bird seed and Lochwinnoch RSPB shop is just down the road. Since Lochwinnoch does not open at that time in the morning, I busied myself over at Bowling Harbour for an hour or so. 7 Arctic Terns was a welcome year tick.

Scottish Bird Fair

Visited the Scottish Bird Fair today with Patricia & Rachel. It was not nearly as big as the Rutland event, but then again I think I knew that before I went.

My first stop was the optics tent to try the new 8x32 EL Swarovisions. I was seriously impressed ! My Leica 8x42BA's (bought at the original Scottish Birdfair in 1997) are currently on E-Bay & if they do sell I will of course have to order a set of the Swaros. Dangerous places optics tents !!!!!!!!!

Since we did not get there until lunchtime we were quickly starving and in need of a bite to eat. Unfortunately, the organisers had seen fit to only have one hot food outlet. This resulted in us queueing for 35 minutes for a burger. If the event is repeated next year they will need to rethink their catering.

Otherwise the event was alright. It would have helped if the weather had been better (dull, with a cold wind off the Forth). Obviously nothing can be done about the weather but maybe they could have done with more exhibits ? Maybe that will come in time ?

Lakenheath & Bill Oddie

After my disturbed night, I headed off to Titchwell at 6am. Well worth the effort however, with 2 Red Crested Pochard, 4 Egyptian Geese and a probable female Merlin on a beautiful sunny morning.

After checking out the B&B (I'll not be back) it was off to Lakenheath (just into Suffolk). I was looking forward to it. Last year's visit was spoiled by the poor weather and I was keen to 'catch up' with some of the reserve specialities we missed last May.

Weather conditions were good with only a light breeze. The River Little Ouse soon produced Hobby and at one stage there were at least 4 birds hawking.

Hobby

Hobby

The only disappointment was the Cranes no show. Garganey provided some compensation:

Always a bit distant- croaking call distinctive

The Joist Fen Viewpoint was also good, with Hobby frequently seen and Marsh Harrier almost constant. Just like last year, a Bittern put in a good flight view and a Water Rail showed very well. Bearded Tits "pinged",Cetti's "exploded" and a Garden Warbler 'fair belted it out'. All this was interspersed by a male Golden Oriole "whistling" from Trial Wood.

All in all a fantastic place. It would have been good to get the Cranes, but as they say you can't see everything. No sign of Turtle Dove at the back of the car park, but had the added 'bonus' of Bill Oddie showing well in the car park. First time I have happened across him 'in the field'.

A quick dark along the A14 to Newmarket and continuing West to Huntingdon and on to the A1 just South of Peterborough saw me home for just after 11pm. Added bonus of a Red Kite over the motorway in West Yorkshire.

Better Weather & Things that go Bump in the Night

After a hearty meal in the Marine Bar in Hunstanton and a few Strongbows (1 step up from Merrydown) I had a good night sleep in my 'haunted' B&B. The landlady commented that the door closer made some 'funny noises' but I was completely unprepared for the "scream" at 2am. It appeared to come from the bottom of the bed and I assumed it was the door closer and being so tired quickly fell back to sleep.

Next morning dawned sunny if a tad windy, but that soon abated to leave a glorious day if still a touch cool. My destination was Cley via another failed attempt for 'funny' Pheasant at Wolferton. Plenty of Chinese Water Deer however.

Cley was as usual a pleasure. Spoonbill on Bishop Marsh was the first 'goody'- more goodies tomorow. There were oodles of Swifts and smaller numbers of House Martin & Swallow. I had heard a Whitethroat from the road down through Blakeney but had my first proper look at Cley. I tried to photograph a singing male but it's a bit far away:

Avocet in the sunshine

Shelduck

A Cetti's warbler was singing close to Dawkes hide and showed comparatively well for that species.

Marsh Harriers were much in evidence frequently quartering the marsh and a few Little Egrets were seen:

Little Egret - don't see this evey day at home.

Heading back round towards the VC, Bearded Tits were "pinging" and 1 male was seen reasonably well in flight.

Round on the East Bank my first Sandwich Terns of the year were seen. At least 2 Little Terns were off the shingle bank as well as lots of bloody wind turbines that are now completely spoiling the view. At least 5 Wheatear also present in this area.

Turning for 'home' the visitor centre beckoned me with cake and coffee but not before a Hobby flew through. After cake and coffee I headed back to Dawkes hide where there were 4 1s Summer Litle Gulls hawking insects:

At 5pm I headed up to Salthouse Heath in the hope of Nightingale, Turtle Dove & Wood Lark. A singing Garden Warbler was about the best I could muster.

Back at the B&B I did not sleep particularly well ! At midnight I awoke with cramp and spent some time walking round the room trying to get rid of it. Next I woke with indigestion and to what sounded like a bee buzzing on the window. I drew back the blinds and could see no bee. The sound stopped and there was no sign of a bee in the morning. Then of course there was the obligatory "scream", this time at 4am. I was finding the room a bit uneasy and decided to go out to Titchwell at 6am. Now I suppose the "scream"was the door closure and the bee was the radiators cooling and the cramp was walking round Cley and the indigestion was the previous evening's steak and mushroom pie. But there again maybe I should phone Yvette Fielding just in case ? 

Englands' Driest County?.................. Pah!

A full week off work at this time of year is not a luxury I get very often, but as I approach 50 I decided to damn work and bugger off to Norfolk for a few days.

Despite all its droughts and hosepipe bans I never seem to get good weather in Norfolk and so it proved again this year. Well at least on day 1.

As usual I travelled down overnight and was at the fabulous Frampton Marsh by 6am with the added bonus of a Barn Owl already in the bag (beside the A1 in Nottinghamshire). As per usual great views of Little Ringed Plover:

LRP in morning sunlight

Avocets and BlackTailed Godwits abounded and there was also Ruff and a single Summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper. Bonus bird was a Black Winged Stilt :

BW Stilt

Dark Bellied Brents were also a delight, such a neat Goose and not one we in Scotland see every day:

Dark Bellied Brents in flight

Lots of Reed and Sedge Warbler singing,but this year disappointingly no Yellow Wagtail or Corn Bunting. Best of the rest included Garganey (1 male), Little Egret & 2 1s Little Gulls. With the wind beginning to pick up and cloud increasing I headed for a hearty breakfast at the local Little Chef.

1st Summer Little Gull

Little Egret in early morning sun

After breakfast I headed East into Norfolk and an unsuccessful look for Golden Pheasant at Wolferton. By the time I reached Titchwell it was raining and there was a strong North Westerly blowing. Norfolk is not meant to be like this I want warm South Easterlies. Nonetheless Titchwell was entertaining and the new Parrinder hide although cosy was not the 'state of the art' structure I had imagined.

Parrinder Hide

It was good to see the new flood banking which I hope will safeguard the freshmarsh for many years to come.

My year list was continuing to tick over with Little Tern and Common Sandpiper being logged. Other waders included Grey Plover and Bar Tailed Godwit. 3 White Wagtails were also noteworthy.

Avocet on a dull afternoon

Drake Shoveler

Several Cetti's Warblers accosted my ears as I headed to find a B&B in Hunstanton. My room was haunted but a bit more about that tomorrow.