WRYNECK AT GOLDCLIFF

 Goldcliff lagoons is a reserve I have visited on several occasions, together with the neighbouring  rspb Newport Wetlands site. It consists of three bodies of water, and several hides and screens.  Only just across the Severn bridge into Wales, I tend to visit when there is something of note and in the past I have seen grey phalaropes and glossy ibis. 

This week, however, there have been reports of a wryneck, a member of the woodpecker family usually seen in autumn as a passage migrant. It had been favouring two particular areas,  a certain area of hedgerow near to a screen and an area near the seawall. 

Today was the earliest opportunity I  had, to make the trip into South Wales so I left early and arrived before 8 o'clock, somewhat surprised to find no other cars parked on the verge near the entrance.  I didn't know exactly which screen to make for but stopped at the first and had a quick look around  - finding a bird like a wryneck in a hedge was going to prove difficult, wasn't it? 

Whilst wondering where to start looking, I noticed a pale shape in the hawthorn opposite me - and picking up my binoculars realised that I'd found the bird already! A quick few distant photos then I thought I'd try and get a bit closer by going down the steps and coming out on the path - but by then  the bird had retreated into the bush and I could just make out its outline before it disappeared

Other birders arrived on the scene and I was able to point out where I had just seen it, but it took a while before it was re-found - further along the hedgerow!  This proved to be the game it played with us for the next few hours - a quick sighting  when one or two people who happened to be in the right spot managed some photos, then disappearing and coming into view up to twenty minutes later in a different spot. We could  sometimes see it as it flew between bushes but often it was at the rear of the hedge. A couple of birders found their way around the back of the hedge and managed to see it better so most people including me, followed at intervals, though I never managed a decent photo even when it reappeared.  Despite the sunshine forecast, the weather remained overcast and difficult viewing and photographing  conditions and I returned home late morning. It will be interesting to see how long the bird stays for.

AN AFTERNOON AT FARMOOR RESERVOIR

 With migration in full swing it is always pleasant to pop over to Farmoor Reservoir to see what is about and so this afternoon I did just that.

As usual the causeway provided some interest, in the form of a dunlin and a juvenile ringed plover - it is always nice to be able to see these little waders at such close quarters at this site. There were also the usual little egrets and a goosander which was sitting on the shoreline when I approached but quickly moved into the water. Both great crested and little grebes were also present.  Ospreys had been seen over the past few days apparently but there were none today. Athough they regularly pass through, I never actually been present when they have been around. At the Pinkhill hide I had a nice conversation with a couple from Marlowe, and although there we could see no birds to begin with,  both a common and green sandpiper flew in, and a group of five little egrets assembled on the opposite bank. 

goosander

little egret

nice to compare common and green sandpipers

ringed plover

disappearing into the surf

dunlin

I really like how the background 'stripes' compliment the colours of the bird in these photos

WADER FEST AT SLIMBRIDGE

 A quick visit to Slimbridge today produced a good number of waders, mostly on the Rushy Pen. including greenshank, snipe, redshank, spotted redshank, green sandpiper, knot, black tailed godwit and ruff. 

A bonus for the morning was a pair of glossy ibis seen at the waters edge on the Tack Piece. One had been seen yesterday, but today two were spotted, initially feeding apart but then heading towards each other and continuing to feed alongside each other. 

spotted redshanks

ruff

snipe

ruff

redshank

ruff

green sandpiper

glossy ibis

knot

grey heron

greenshank

BIRDS OF POOLE HARBOUR BOAT TRIP

I drove down to Dorset yesterday morning through some heavy showers and planned to spend the day around Christchurch harbour. Thankfully the rain stopped as arrived at my first destination, Stanpit Marsh where I spent an hour or so following the marked path around the reserve.  I didn't see many birds of note, apart from a curlew, and a large group of oyster catchers. As I walked, mallards flew up from the grass  where they had been feeding, allowing me to attempt some flight shots. 

On the other side of the harbour lies Hengistbury head, and with skies clearing, but with a brisk wind I took a walk round the headland, following a route described in a book I had recently acquired. I think the high tide and brisk wind were having an effect and birds seemed few and far between. However it was interesting to see  the row of beach huts ( which fetch up to £500,00 each!)  and there was a good view across to the Needles on the Isle of Wight. I stopped off by the 'Coast Watch' on the top of the headland building and was invited to look around by one of the four volunteers on duty which was interesting. Their job is mainly to  look out for anyone who might be in danger, around the coast, and alert the coast guard if necessary. They were currently watching a someone standing in a small RIB boat who had no life jacket.

After staying overI got up in  good time today to arrive at Poole Quay ready for the aforementioned  boat trip.  Today was my third trip with Birds of Poole harbour, a small charity which puts on regular birdwatching boat trips around Poole harbour with the purpose of not only, increasing their funding but also educating the public about the wildlife and birds which exist in the area. The 'Osprey Cruises'  in August and early September are timed  to make the most of the migration of ospreys passing through as they return south  to warmer climates after breeding in the UK. Poole harbour itself has 2 pairs of nesting ospreys. After the poor weather earlier in the week, this morning was   fine and sunny and the water completely calm. Hopefully this would prove good for osprey watching and sure enough,  within 15 minutes we had seen our first osprey.! As the main aim was to look for ospreys we spent most of our time in their preferred fishing area, with eight sightings over the three hours we were on the water. However, the birds remained fairly distant although could be seen easily through binoculars.  Only one bird made an attempt at diving for fish but was unsuccessful. As well as ospreys we spotted other raptors including sparrowhawk, hobby, marsh harrier, buzzard and kestrel. Sadly no white tailed eagles today though apparently one was reported perched just off Brownsea island, but of course had left before we arrived. 

In the reed beds we saw a bearded tit and heard water rail calling, and in the Brownsea Island lagoon there were numerous waders including   redshanks, greenshanks, dunlin, knot, turnstone, avocets,  ringed plover. We also had two sightings of a kingfisher . However, although there was room to move around on the boat, I found it  hard to get photos of the birds we saw, Generally they were too distant or there wasn't really enough time to focus before the boat moved on. 

mallard at Stanpit marsh

Christchurch priory

curlew

lesser black backed gull

View of the Needles from Hengistbury head

Coast watch station

view of Christchurch harbour

 A rather rough sea at Hengistbury head beach

Starling in the car park at Hengistbury Head

some of the many starlings in the car park

Closer view of the needles, the white rock is a reminder of the shape of a polar bear

A much calmer Poole harbour

                                                             A cardboard cut- out of the osprey

osprey hovering

Poole harbour

entrance to Brownsea island

gulls and sandwich terns

up to 30 Spoonbills