Barred Warbler and Red necked Phalarope

Saturday 18th. August had myself and Dave off to Spurn nice and early. We stopped off on the way at Bank Island in Wheldrake where a Red necked Phalarope had been seen the previous day. No joy but a cracking spot consisting of some water and flooded fields. It was alive with Snipe and a Spotted Redshank was on view. Also several Greenshank and Green Sandpipers.
Onto Spurn we saw Reed Warbler, a cracking Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and a lovely female Sparrowhawk. The main target though was a Barred Warbler and after a lot of waiting around we had two brief flight views of the elusive bird confirmed by a couple of expert birders including Steve Webb who is allegedly "number one" bird spotter as he proudly told one of the Spurn staff birders!!
We were about to sack the day when the bird messenger came up with a Red necked Phalarope at Frampton. So off we went. What a superb site it is too. Hundreds of Black tailed Godwits, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Dunlin, Wood Sanpiper, Ruddy Duck and a fantastic adult Red necked Phalarope. A great day with two lifers for me and five for Dave.

Long-billed Dowitcher

I went to Slimbridge WWT today and had a real struggle to see the long staying Long-billed Dowitcher. When I arrived all the Black tailed Godwits were resting with their beaks tucked in and it was impossible to pick out the lone American wader. After two hours the birds suddenly flew up and quickly back down and became more active with some feeding. It was then that the Dowitcher became evident at the front of the other birds feeding furiously. Much smaller than the Godwits, all dark, long beak and paler green/yellow legs. It has lost its lovely orange colour over the last week as it continues to moult. It still has a little orange on the undertail coverts and good scapular markings. I managed a distant record shot.
The only other notable sighting today was a Goshawk soaring over forest from the M6 in Staffordshire seen from the car!

Roseate Terns again!

I wasnt satisfied by our earlier trip to Coquet Island with one poor view of a distant Roseate Tern from a bobbing boat so I went back this morning to South Shields at Sandhaven Beach where there have been several adult and juvenile Roseates for a few days.
I was quickly rewarded with excellent views of a juvenil Roseate Tern on rocks to the the side of the South Pier. An adult was seen flying round but didn't land and I was unable to lock onto it with the camera. After about an hour I walked back and observed a growing number of Common Terns resting on the sand. After 20 minutes a pale bird appeared which was an adult Roseate Tern where I managed some record shots and good views in the scope. Job done!
Also seen were Turnstones, Sanderling, Fulmar, Linnet and Rock Pipit

Honey Buzzard......Finally!

After at least 4 trips to Wykeham Forest and no definite sightings of Honeys just Common Buzzard and Goshawk on every visit, I turned to Wellbeck Raptor Point in Nottinghamshire. I went last weekend and saw Goshawk, Osprey, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. I also had one brief gliding raptor that looked like a honey but was gone below the treeline in a flash. A free morning yesterday and with the weather looking decent I went again. I had two good views of a dark probable female Honey Buzzard at 10.30 and 12.15. The second time it was seen it soared up and then suddenly dropped height like a whiffling goose. Spectacular! It was a great reward for the hours of failure until yesterday. Also seen were a Goshawk and several Common Buzzards

Redstart

Immature Redstart today at Castleshaw Reservoirs in hedge on Dirty Lane between lower and upper reservoirs. A great find by Mark Rigby a few days ago and posted on Manchester bird site.

Collared Dove

Often overlooked but Collared Doves are quite stunning to look at especially if you get up close. We have a pair that frequent the garden feeders daily and in the evening sunshine look fabulous. I never appreciated how red that eye was!