James' Birding Diary

20th

On a day out in London, 4 White Pelicans in St James' Park were quite a surprise!

19th

A flyover Fieldfare was the highlight of an afternoon spent studying chicken behaviour at Wytham farm.

17th

I indulged in a day off to see the Brown Shrike at Staines Moor today. On the way I heard a Water Rail scream, and a couple of  Ring-necked Parakeets flew over calling loudly, a real treat for me. It was amusing to watch the long-distance twitchers getting excited over the parakeets whilst the Londoners stood there looking bored (and presumably muttering about the twitchers!). The shrike eventually showed distantly after a little wait, during which time several Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails flew over. I occasionally heard the calls of Redwing and on one occasion Fieldfare (my first of the autumn). A few Stonechat were also present. A London Wetland Centre patchworker whom I met on the way to the shrike kindly offered me a lift to Staines Reservoirs, and as we were leaving Staines Moors the Brown Shrike popped up again, much closer this time. I was annoyed not to have a camera!

On arrival at Staines Reservoirs some birders were watching a Black-necked Grebe at the back of the reservoir! Staines reservoirs is a well-known site for this species, so I had hoped I might find one there. Scanning the rest of the water did not produce much of note, apart from 3 Ruddy Ducks and an interesting grebe which I thought could be Red-Necked Grebe, but it was too distant and windy, and I eventually lost it. However, the Black-necked Grebe had now moved round the side of the reservoir, and after waiting a while I was treated to amazing views as it showed down to about 10m! Again, I was annoyed not to have a camera!

Walking back to the bus station another Ring-necked Parakeet flew over, but this time landed in view! Unfortunately it wasn't a male, but still a smart bird. On the train journey back from Reading to Oxford I saw several Red Kites and a couple of Buzzards. I thought about stopping at Didcot and searching for the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, but (perhaps unwisely) decided not to as I had arranged to go birding with Matt again this evening.

The evening visit to Port Meadow with Matt was moderately successful, although it was getting dark so we concentrated more on calls rather than visual ID - not the best plan on only your second birding trip! He did have the opportunity to consolidate his Carrion Crow and Greylag Goose ID skills however, and learnt the calls of Blackbird and Robin. Highlights included a female Tawny Owl which called in Burgess Field, and flyover Wigeon and Lapwing as we were leaving.

15th

During a conversation this evening I suddenly became aware of 'seep' calls overhead: Redwings, my first of the autumn!

10th

A late morning trip to Port Meadow with Matt Field, whom I was taking on his first birding outing, saw bare soil where the floods usually are, despite it having rained non-stop for the previous two days. There wasn't much about, but a small flock of Lapwing was present and 6 Golden Plover took flight as we walked across the meadow. The highlight of the morning was a Red Kite which gave spectacular views as it flew right over us. Matt was impressed!

9th

A Sparrowhawk flew over Paradise Street (my new accommodation) mid morning.

4th

With one day to pack there was no chance to go birding before I had to leave for my second year at Oxford. The floods at Port Meadoware non-existant at the moment, so I decided to go for the long-staying Sabine's Gull at Blenheim. After a 15 mile round bike round I was annoyed to have dipped the bird and then find out that I had been misinformed about its presence yesterday (it had in fact last been reported on the 1st). Good views of a Buzzard being mobbed by what appeared to be the entire corvid population of Blenheim park added interest, as did a Kingfisher and flyover Yellow and Grey Wagtails, but they were little consolation, especially given the fact that rarities were starting to be found around the coast, including a few Yellow-browed Warblers back in Norfolk.

29th

On my last morning at Les Courmettes I located a Cirl Bunting where the strange call had been coming from yesterday. I heard a probable Orphean Warbler, but soon had to leave for the airport.

I was pleased with my identification of a distant flyover Yellow-legged Gull on the way to the airport!

28th

Another morning walk produced good views of Cirl Bunting, and a couple of flyover Rock Bunting in the usual place. A Short-toed Treecreeper was calling nearby.

After work I followed the bellowing of a nearby red deer stag, and eventually obtained good views of it with two females. The Crimson Rosella called briefly, and another interesting call had me confused - a series of Blackcap-like 'tecks' with hoarse screeches interspersed, similar to a Red-backed Shrike alarm. Needless to say, I couldn't locate it! A non-birder saw a yellow bird fly past her, and I wondered whether she had seen a Golden Oriole, but I did not hear one.

27th

Today we had the whole day off, so I was determined to make the most of it and set out early. The first bird I saw was a Spotted Flycatcher and there was plenty of Phylloscopus activity. One particularly bright bird caught my eye, and I eventually caught brief views of its gleaming white underparts and pale green wings - my second ever Bonnelli's Warbler! I then heard the same unusal call that I had heard yesterday with Andrew, quite close by, and followed it. However, I was not quite prepared for the sight that greeted me when I located the bird: a large red parrot with blue wings, tail and throat! I made notes, from which I identified it back home as a Crimson Rosella (native to Australia and unfortunately non-migratory!). Nearby I saw the second female Rock Bunting of the trip, and confirmation of my suspicions about the jangling call came in the form of my first Cirl Bunting, a male. I planned to do a full circuit of the reserve, including climbing the Pic des Courmettes, so moved on. A little further along the track a few small flocks of Woodlark were foraging on the ground, and a Redstart showed briefly in a bush. Some aggitated calls caused me to look up as a magnificent male Goshawk flew low over the woods. On the edge of the woods a Firecrest showed well, and some vaguely familiar calls led me to discover a Short-toed Treecreeper. I soon began to hear several of these and realised I had been overlooking them - clearly I had forgotten all that Poland had taught me after only a few months! The activity died down as I began to climb the Pic. I failed to locate another probable calling Orphean Warbler. I was hoping for some raptors since Golden Eagle, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures all bred nearby and I was able to see the whole of the Gorges du Loup from the mountainside, but I had no luck. However, the view from the Pic was amazing and unlike anything I had experienced before when climbing mountains in the UK. I stayed there for some time hoping for a large raptor, but the only bird I saw was a migrating Swallow. Just as I was leaving, a movement on the ground caught my eye and I was rewarded with a gorgeous male Rock Bunting - unquestionably bird of the trip! As I made my way back down to the house I noticed a few Black Redstarts, but it was now mid-afternoon so there was little else around. I felt I had definitely made up for the frustration of the previous few days.

It was nice to see a fox standing in the middle of the road as we drove to Tourettes-sur-Loup for an evening out.

26th

Having listened to several of the likely species on my mp3 player I was determined to locate them this morning. I soon recognised the song of Woodlark, and this made me have second thoughts about yesterday's probable Red-breasted Flycatcher - both songs go down the scale, but Red-breasted Flycatcher is more haphazard, with the odd note out of place (it sounds like a Willow Warbler crossed with a Chiffchaff!). A Tree Pipit showed quite well. Some gruff calls from deep inside the Green Oak woods were very interesting, and it seems likely that they came from an Eagle Owl, a species known to breed in the reserve. However, I had no chance of seeing it, and the calling stopped soon after it had begun. Andrew then joined me in time for the best bird of the morning: a flurry of movement in bushes as we rounded a corner had us chasing shadows, and I glimpsed several Phylloscopus warblers before locking onto one bird with my scope by pure luck - a smart female Rock Bunting, my second lifer of the trip! As we headed back to the centre, a powerful disyllabic call which sounded very out of place even here caught our attention, but it proved very elusive and we soon ran out of time.

25th

I didn't go out this morning so was not expecting so see anything today. However, as work finished for the day a fellow volunteer pointed out a couple of raptors passing overhead. I dashed inside for my bins, but unwisely lent them to the volunteer before taking a look myself, by which time they were no longer directly over us. They were clearly large, but the size was difficult to gauge at that height. However, I did notice an important characteristic in that the underparts were pale with no obvious markings. Short-toed Eagle flashed through my mind as I lent my bins to another volunteer, Andrew Mann, who was also a birder. This was another mistake, because not having had much experience of raptors I had forgotten to check if the throat and upper breast were dark, and Andrew could not make it out by the time I remembered. However, he had seen Short-toed Eagle before, and was fairly confident that that was what we were looking at. However, the jizz when gliding did not appear quite right to me, as the wings were bent at the carpal but the rear edge was clearly not straight as the Collins suggested it should be. Fuming, I decided to err on the side of caution and banish the raptors to the ever-growing pile of 'probables'.

24th

I got up early to fit in a bit of birding before work, and was excited to find myself surrounded by a bewildering cacophony of alien songs and calls. I also soon discovered that birding the area was made extremely difficult by the restrictive electric fences used by the goat shepherds who graze the area. Unable to lock onto any of the fleeting movement, I tried to concentrate on the distinctive calls. A jangling call reminiscent of Corn Bunting was probably a Cirl Bunting, and I was almost certain that a very clear song which ran down the scale like the song of Willow Warbler was Red-breasted Flycatcher. However, I wanted to see the birds before I could be certain.

23rd

Getting down to the work of renovating the centre immediately, I had little time for birding today. A brief stroll in the afternoon produced nothing of note, mainly because there is very little activity at this time of the day in hotter climates. However, it was interesting to finally see a hummingbird hawkmoth at rest when one became trapped in the kitchen.

22nd

Besides visiting my grandparents, the primary reason for my visit to France was to volunteer on a nature reserve called Les Courmettes, managed by a christain conservation organisation called A Rocha. I had visited the reserve previously with my family and besides the stunning scenery my fondest memory of the place is of my first and only Bonelli's Warbler, so I hoped to see some new species during my stay. I was not disappointed - a short walk quickly produced a female Collared Flycatcher and an elusive pipit which was probably a 1st-winter Red-throated, though I could not be sure given my brief views. A Yellow Wagtail flew over calling. All 3 birds were passage migrants, and reflecting on this I wondered why I was stupid enough not to go out after the unexpected thunderstorms of the previous week. Other wildlife of interest included some large ants with enormous heads, and consequently jaws which I wouldn't pick a fight with!

In the evening rutting red deer were bellowing constantly, often quite nearby!

21st

The Sardinian Warblers and a Firecrest were calling again around the flat this morning.

In the afternoon a visit to Tourettes-sur-Loup produced 2 Buzzard and a Raven, and a flock of hirundines composed mainly of Crag Martins - presumably the very same flock that Simeon and I saw 4 years ago in the same area, bringing back fond memories. A clouded yellow flew past.

A gecko was on one of the walls of the balcony this evening, but quickly moved into cover.

20th

3 more large raptors flew past, followed by a large passage of hirundines. A flock of Serins flew through calling.

19th

4 large raptors drifted south, following the line of the hills, but were too distant to identify. Now much more aware of the calls of Sardinian Warbler, I started to hear them regularly and realised that there were at least 3 individuals in the vicinity. A male Firecrest showed well.

18th

A red squirrel entertained me as I watched from the balcony this morning, listening to the same unfamiliar calls from the previous day, with the addition of Sardinian Warbler which eventually showed well, as did a Firecrest briefly. A Serin flew over calling.

17th

Having left for France this morning, I spent the evening birding from the balcony of my grandparents' flat in Vence, notching up a large raptor sp. (the first of many during my stay!), a flypast Hobby and various calls which were probably Orphean Warbler. An interesting Phylloscopus call initially reminded me of Yellow-browed Warbler: I soon realised that it was not quite as high-pitched and was more drawn out, though it was very piercing. A swallowtail butterfly flew past briefly.

16th

A short evening seawatch off Gore Point at Holme was a little annoying, with a lot of activity but poor conditions, making it difficult to identify birds. There were plenty of shearwaters and skuas, though only a few were identified as most were very distant. A winter plumaged Black-necked/Slavonian Grebe on the sea evaded identification due to the viewing conditions. I also had a probable Cory's Shearwater west on the horizon, showing textbook jizz, but I was not able to see any plumage features and since I have only seen one before I didn't feel confident enough to call it. A report of a Wryneck found at the site whilst I was present was especially annoying since I had planned to search for passerines after seawatching, but it was too dark.

12th

With a smattering of rares on the Norfolk coast yesterday and the promise of more to come, Simeon and I decided to go all in and spent the day at Burnham Overy dunes. There was a lot of activity as we stepped out of the car shortly after daybreak, with the mists still swirling over the marshes. A variety of species could be heard flying over, and a tit flock was moving down the hedgerow. However, things soon dried up, and though migrants were present they were in short supply. The highlights included 2 Wheatear, 4 Grey Wagtails, a Hobby, and an apparently migrating Marsh Harrier. I decided to have a quick look at the sea, and I immediately realised things were happening. A probable juvenile Sabine's Gull flew through, which I was sadly unable to be sure of as there was also a large passage of Kittiwakes, several showing a very dark back, causing me to have doubts. This was quickly followed by a close Balearic Shearwater, found by Simeon, which partially made up for it. A few Arctic Skuas, 2 Manx Shearwaters and a lot of Gannets added interest to my short seawatch, though I decided (incorrectly) that passerine hunting would eventually prove to be the more worthwhile activity and moved on to Gun Hill. All I found here was a brief flash of something that looked large-ish and birdlike dive into cover and then refuse to reappear, despite extensive 'bashing'. A Corncrake? Who knows. Checking the harbour, a few Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were present on the mud. I noticed an interesting wader on the other side, which was approximately Redshank size when seen next to one, but appeared slimmer and showed yellowish legs. It didn't look right for juvenile Redshank, so with Lesser Yellowlegs as a possibility racing through my mind I moved closer along the bank. To my extreme annoyance I couldn't find anything which even closely resembled the bird when I got to a resonable viewing distance, and despite spending over an hour there during the day it didn't reappear. A Water Rail called from a ditch nearby. Just as I had given up on the wader and was leaving for the last time, Simeon spotted a Buzzard going west, but we soon realised it was in fact a Honey Buzzard; the second one we had found this week!

Burnham Overy had proved reasonable, but after exhausting its resources we still had time to play with and opted for a late afternoon seawatch at Holme. When we arrived the sea was glassy, the calmest we had ever seen it! A beautiful sight, but disappointing nonetheless, especially when we got home to find out that several Sabine's Gulls and Leach's Petrels had been seen around the coast. We decided we should have called it a day after the Honey Buzzard, and headed for home.

10th

This morning 2 Siskin flew over at the house where I spent the night in Norwich, near the UEA campus. On my return journey I walked back via Denver Sluice, where my attention was instantly grabbed by the wind - it was fairly gentle, but coming straight up the river, from the north-east, for the first time since I could remember! I saw at least 6 pairs of Great Crested Grebes, heard a pair of Kingfishers and caught brief glimpses of 5 juvenile Yellow Wagtails in their usual spot amongst the herd of cows. I don't know why Yellow Wagtails favour this area so much, but it makes for very hard viewing (particularly when the bull is about!). A few Swallows were flying downriver, marking them as emmigrants rather than passage migrants.

9th

The moth trap was fairly average, producing a handful of autumnal species but no migrants.

8th

A day spent searching for the Pallid Harrier in the hope of obtaining better views was unsuccessful. However, there wer plenty of hirundines moving through as they were yesterday, and 4 Buzzards flew over.

A pair of Great-spotted Woodpeckers were showing well in Denver.

7th

Took Simeon for one of our classic after-school twitches this evening; we went to Haddenham to see the Pallid Harrier. After a short wait in which I found a female Wheatear and tried to turn a silhouetted Buzzard into a Pallid Harrier, the real deal flew past distantly. We were able to see enough to tell that it was a male, but not enough to pick out the 'dirty' areas which mark it as a subadult, so perhaps it was nicer that way! However, it didn't reappear so we left for home without better views. Other birds of note included a few Yellow Wagtails and a female Wheatear.

6th

Whilst practising for the NOA cricket match Simeon and I had a pale-phase Honey Buzzard over Denver, being mobbed by a gang of corvids. They were so preoccupied with molesting the unfortunate bird that a Sparrowhawk glided through completely undisturbed!

3rd

A Southern Hawker on the grape vine in  our garden was identified by the unbroken green bands on the segments at the end of its tail, and provided a nice comparison with a probable Migrant Hawker at the garden centre near Downham Market a few days ago, which was noticeably smaller.

A quick visit to Welney this afternoon produced an adult Hobby and 2 flyover Yellow Wagtails, amongst clouds of migrating hirundines. We also watched a brood of Swallows leave their nest! I managed to photograph this youngster with Simeon's phone:

We were surprised to see an adult Whooper Swan in the fields on the way back, as this is not usually where the over-summering injured birds stay and it looked to be in full health. Could it have been a returning migrant?

1st

A warm night meant that the moth trap was reasonably successful, with over 100 moths of 26 species. Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character made up the bulk of the numbers and a Red Underwing and 2 Rush Veneers added a touch of class, the latter being the first record for Denver of this immigrant micro. A Centre-barred Sallow and Frosted Orange were heralds of the change in season. A steady trickle of Swallows and a Chiffchaff calling whilst I was checking the trap reminded me that autumn is not too far round the corner!

A Kestrel flew over mid morning and a young Spotted Flycatcher (presumably one of the young from the pair that bred here this year) visited the pond.