TEMMINCK'S STINT AND YELLOW BROWED WARBLER AT SLIMBRIDGE

After a journey, somewhat lengthened by traffic and road closures, I arrived at Slimbridge shortly after opening time, where I was hoping to find a Temminck's stint and a yellow browed warbler  which had been recorded at the centre over the past few days. At the Rushy hide from  where the stint had been seen, the few birders present told me they hadn't seen it, though encouragingly they said it often arrived slightly later in the morning. However, they did point out a turnstone on one of the islands, an unusual bird for the centre which after a while, flew closer so that it was only about 5 metres away and  I watched it as it fulfilled its name, by turning over the stones with apparent ease, considering their size in relation to the bird! 

  I visited the other hides on the walkway then returned hopefully to the Rushy hide, but still no Temmincks stint. Oh well, I'd have to hope for better success with the warbler, which I'd just heard was showing quite well in the trees just before the Kingfisher hide. As I reached the area, I joined a group of birders had binoculars pointing at something, and I was soon shown where the bird was. A tiny bird, with a definite yellow 'brow' and pale wingbars, it was hard to pick out apart from some movement amongst some leaves. Every now and then it was just possible to see its identifying features and it gave an occasional call. Just to confuse us, it was also joined by a goldcrest ( of a similar size)  and a chiffchaff. With the sun behind it, it was hard to get enough light on it for a photo, even if had been in sufficiently in view. However I was pleased to get another year tick.

Just before I left the centre  to return home I decided to pop into the Rushy hide once more - but this time it was full of people with binoculars and cameras...the Temminck stint had returned and was on the first island! I squeezed into a space and tried to take what pictures I could, before it flew and landed  a little closer .

 After several minutes of frantic photographs from all the birders present,  it flew off and went to the furthest corner of the Rushy Pen,  and out of sight - maybe that's where it had been all morning....

autumn colours at Slimbridge

female teal

redshank

turnstone

the turnstone had just lifted this stone...

pintail back for the winter

snipe

a tiny Temminck's stint

Temminck's stint

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.