A dirty weekend of twitching! Derbyshire, Pembrokeshire, Gloucestershire then home!

Well, I've not had a weekend birding like that for a while. Actually to call it birding would be an exaggeration - it was out and out shameless twitching, and it felt good!

Our original plan had been to go straight to Pembrokeshire overnight on Friday but the weather forecast was terrible for the southwest on Saturday. Instead we decided to head for Derbyshire first, then drive to Pembrokeshire on Saturday afternoon (driving through the rain), stay near Haverfordwest on Saturday night and having seen our target down there on Sunday morning to head home during the rest of Sunday. And it went pretty much to plan with an additional bonus on the way home.

Leaving Justin's at 03.00 we were having breakfast under the golden arches in Chesterfield by 06.00 and then parking up on the carpark on the Chatsworth estate by about 06.45. The organisers of the birding operation the Dukes Barn Outdoor Centre had laid on a free one-way shuttle minibus to the village of Beeley about a mile away to prevent the village being overrun with cars and it worked like a dream. We were in the grounds of the outdoor centre pre-dawn awaiting the light. A Tawny Owl called and loads of Redwings were flying over calling making us a little nervous because it had been a clear starry night. More Redwings and a few Fieldfares started emerging from the gloom in the hedges and after about half and hour the shout went up for the Dusky Thrush. It was feeding on apples in a small orchard and despite the poor light and big crowd I was able to get some nice views of it feeding back-on in an apple tree, turning its head occasionally. We stayed at the site until about 12.30 and saw it 3 times, once at distance in a grassy field and finally back in the orchard for prolonged and very good views where I was able to get a few snaps. In between sightings there were several dashes but getting around, through hedges and narrow gaps in walls etc combined with the generally flighty nature of the bird meant it wasn't easy to connect with every time it showed. The hospitality of the guys at the outdoor centre was superb - trays of bacon rolls, coffees and teas for sale, loos to use and smiling faces. As Justin said 'I don't get treated this well at home'!   Other birds were almost incidental but we had Grey Wagtail, 2 Nuthatches, Treecreeper, 4-5 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, Mistle Thrush and a couple of Siskins.

We dragged ourselves away from the site just after lunch and made our way via Derby then the M6, M42, M5, M50 etc into SW Wales. The weather was awful so driving through it rather than trying to bird in it was a good call. En-route we used Booking.com to book a cheap B&B in the village of Spittal north of Haverfordwest arriving there at 18.30. A meal and couple of beers in the local pub The Pump on the Green and we hit the sack knackered!

A quick DIY breakfast and a short drive later and we were stood outside a row of houses at Croft Villas in the village of Camrose. A Song Thrush completed the list of 6 thrushes in a weekend and then within about 15 minutes the Masked Wagtail popped up onto a roof top. During the next hour and a half it went on to show superbly well on the road, pavement, walls, gutter and rooftops. The birder who found it invited us into his back garden at no.5 and it gave some great views feeding on top of a mole hill at c15 feet range. This 'personata' race of White Wagtail has been split by the Dutch but nobody else yet. Nonetheless a real looker and a 1st for Britain.

We left the site at about 10.00 just as the other crew from Norfolk (Ian Brittain, Ghost and others) were arriving and made our way back through south Wales. News the broke of another goody in Tewkesbury and a quick look at the map revealed we were passing within 2 miles of it. It would have been rude not to! By 14.00 we were gazing up at a superb male Eastern Black Redstart flitting about on the tower and roofs of Tewkesbury Abbey. It showed nicely if a little distantly but eventually came down into a tree for some memorable views. A couple of Grey Wagtail fly-overs and Magpies gathering to roost was the cue for our departure and we were home at 18.30 in time for tea - and some sleep!

Tops marks to Andy for doing all the 800+ miles driving and both boys for the customary laughs and banter!       

Cattle Egret, Surlingham, 8 December 2016

On my way back from Norwich I decided to take the small detour to Surlingham to haved a look at this little beauty. Parking in the carpark of the Ted Ellis reserve at Wheatfen I strolled back north along the track and immediately clapped eyes on the Cattle Egret, not surprisingly feeding amongst the cattle. I spent a good bit of time here with the bird all to myself which was very pleasant.
Not much else there except a few Fieldfares, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Buzzard.

An interesting Great Grey Shrike, Sutton, Suffolk, 27 November 2016

Having seen photographs of the Great Grey Shrike of the last few days from Sutton Belinda and I headed that way today. I was particularly keen to see this bird as it looks very good indeed for a 'homeyeri' bird. It was present on arrival luckily but although scope views were good it was too distant for me to get my camera out. Even in flight at distance the amount of white in the tail and secondaries was quite striking.

After a brief chat with Peter Ransome and Bruce Root we then struck out on what turned out to be an 11.5 mile walk taking in Sutton Heath, Upper Hollesley Common, Rendlesham Forest and Shottisham. Along the way the only birds of much note were good numbers of Siskins (at least 100), a flock of c60 Chaffinches, a plethora of Coal Tits (including 6 together), a single fly-over Redpoll sp, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and 2 Common Buzzards. Not exactly mind-blowing stuff but the exercise was just what we needed after both shaking off shitty fluey colds!

Photographs (not mine, courtesy of Sean Nixon!), showing the extent of white in the secondaries and tail of the Sutton Great Grey Shrike. The tail feathers in particular point towards 'homeyeri' with the outer 2 completely white and even the 3rd only having black along half it's length.  Most educational!

Some non-avian highlights from Borneo

I've just started to work through some of my photos of 'things other than birds' from our trip to Borneo back in March/April. Well with these dark nights and our next trip (Cuba in March 2017) being a way off I've got to keep amused!
I've not got as far as Orangutan or Proboscis Monkey yet but here are a few I have got round to.

Red Percher

Bearded Pig family 

Maroon Langur

Silvered Langur

Jentik's Squirrel

So, it was a Stejneger's Stonechat!

New has broken today that DNA analysis has confirmed that the Landguard stonechat from early October was indeed a Stejneger's Stonechat.
Modern DNA sampling may not be the best way to get confirmation of a new bird but at least this individual was pretty distinctive in the field too! As I noted at the time this bird was also very different in behavoir to what we're used to in what is usually a very confiding genus.

Norwich Waxwings, 17 November 2016

You know when you've been birding a long time when Waxwings turn up in localities you've seen them in before!
The Jenny Lind Playground is just around the corner from where I've seen them in previous years but you can't tire of these trilling beauties.
Initially they weren't very co-operative with just 3 birds putting in a couple of brief appearances but then there were 12, then c20 and finally I found the full flock of 34 in tree tops above the football courts. They soon decended to lower level and did some brief berry scoffing before disappearing again.
A Grey Wagtail flew over but that was the only other thing of note.

  

Velvet Scoter - a Norwich mega! 9 November 2016

Despite the inclement weather a Velvet Scoter at Whitlingham was too good an opportunity to pass up.

After the customary avoidance of a carpark fee I walked along the south side of Great Broad (noting the hybrid Greylag x Swan Goose on the way) and picked up the scoter in line with the island. A brief break in the rain allowed me to try a few hasty phone-scoped efforts before it closed in again. Also on the broad were a female Goldeneye, c15 Pochard, a group of 9 Little Grebes plus numerous Tufted Duck and no doubt 'Russian' Coot. Other wildfowl included Teal, Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose and Shoveler.

A wet walk a bit further gave me a nice Green Woodpecker on the path and a Grey Wagtail that landed briefly in a small inlet. I then beat a retreat back into the dry!

    Velvet Scoter

 Greylag x Swan Goose hybrid

Hedgehog Rescue!

I nearly stood on this young Hedgehog tonight as it was right outside our back door! Grabbed the gloves and relocated it to the orchard.

Earlier, on a walk around the Starston area a Little Owl entertained and there were winter thrushes (Redwings and Fieldfares) everywhere. A Red Admiral is still hanging on in the garden and tonight our local Tawny Owl has started calling.

A local Black Redstart, Tivetshall St Mary, 6 November 2016

After the excitement of yesterday and with the weather due to close in by late morning I popped across the A140 for half an hour this morning. It took about 20 minutes but eventually the female/1w male Black Redstart popped up on the fence of the farmhouse next to Owl Barn and showed in a few spots. Due to the distance and me not wanting to disturb the residents on a Sunday morning I couldn't get any pics. Birds were everywhere in Rectory Road - a couple of small groups of Fieldfares on the move, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Bullfinches, c20 Goldfinches, Common Buzzard and 2 Grey Wagtails over.

The photo below may help anyone looking for it

American Cliff Swallow shenanigans, Minsmere, Suffolk, 5 November 2016

Remember remember the 5th of November - I won't be forgetting this one in a hurry!

News of the American Cliff Swallow broke at c16.00 yesterday and reports that it may have gone to roost near Bittern Hide at Minsmere meant only one thing - a pre-dawn vigil on the Suffolk coast.

With the first glimmers of light we positioned ourselves outside West Hide and within about 20 mins we'd got the shout that it was over the North Wall with Swallows. Cue and wheezy panicky run! As we reached the area near the Sand Martin colony cliffs by the visitor centre a small group of hirundines appeared above our heads and bingo - the American Cliff Swallow was amongst them. After a couple of reasonable views the group moved off over the scrapes and went missing for a while. Luckily they were back within about 30 minutes and went on to show superbly around the pastures on the north side of the North Wall. The flock of 7 Barn Swallows and the star bird spent some time sat in hawthorn bushes which is something I thought I'd never see.

Into the bargain a Great White Egret flew over near West Hide, 5 Bewick's Swans south over the North Wall and several small groups of Siskins were also on the move.

Breakfast in the Lighthouse Cafe in Lowie followed then a drive through the lanes to Limpenhoe. Initially the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling was 'lost' but the owners of The White House there kindly allowed us into their garden and Jus found it within minutes once we went around the back of the house. Several Fieldfares were chakking about plus a single Redwing, a distant flock of Pink-footed Geese got up and a male Marsh Harrier was over the marshes.

I parted company with Jus and Andy at this stage and decided to head to Carlton Colville where a little patience was rewarded with 2 Waxwings on Rectory Lane.

I finished the day at Kessingland North Beach where a Woodcock flew 'in-off' and a Common Buzzard flew through but there wasn't much else about.

The autumn is going out with a bang and another WP and UK tick! 

 American Cliff Swallow (excuse the poor phone scoping attempt!)

The twitch at Minsmere

Rose-coloured Starling, Limpenhoe

Waxwing, Carlton Colville