The North Run

Day One Saturday 13th June

We started of by leaving London at 10-15 our first stop was for brunch after witch we then decided as we were doing well on time we would have a look at Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint to see if we could find Honey Buzzard but with no luck but we did have a very light common Buzzard, On the lake we had Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck. We then headed for the Pennines with a stop at Wetherby Services for coffee and a cake then on to Moor House-Upper Teesdale  National Nature Reserve for Black Grouse where we  arrived at 17-00 we found 5 black cocks, after this we booked into our hotel. Then we took the road to Cow Green Reservoir across Widdybank Fell                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

where we had a lone Red grouse on the way to the Car Park other birds seen included Oystercatcher, Common Snipe  (drumming), Redshank, Golden plover, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Skylark, Mallard, Swallow , House Martin, Blackbird, It was nice to see all these birds on there breeding grounds, We then took a short walk from the car park where had more Meadow pipits and a Wheatear, Then as we left the car park we had a family of Red Grouse 2 adults plus 5 young On the way back down we had Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush and more swallows and House martin, Willow Warbler, and a hare, we did have a glimpse of what might have been a Ring Ouzel but could not relocate it, we then returned to have another look at the black grouse where we now had 9 Black Cocks. Then it was on to our hotel                                                                                                                                                        for our evening meal and what a meal it was washed down with a few pints, after witch my mate went for a short walk while I was sorting out some of our route for tomorrow, I then joined him and he said he had found a Common Sandpiper on the river we relocated it sitting on a rock in the middle of the river, so ending a good days birding

 

Day Two Sunday 14^th June

We were woken up at 10 to 5 this morning by a Cuckoo calling witch we found sitting on top of a tree, my mate went for a pre breakfast walk, while I finished sorting out the route for today, He had Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, and the Cuckoo being mobbed by Meadow Pipits, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Song Thrush. I then went for a pre breakfast walk and saw all the above plus I had a Male Merlin being mobbed by Lapwings. After Breakfast we then set of for Coquet Island on the Northumberland coast      

                     

our target bird being Roseate Tern, on route we had 2 Common Buzzards, Raven, Rook, Magpie...On reaching the coast we found the tide was out so we could not take the boat out to the Island, (you can only get to go round the Island you are not allowed to go on the Island) we then went to a watch point to view the Island where we had Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Shag, Cormorant, Eider. Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, and Grey Seals. We now decided to start heading South and our next stop was going to be a new site for both of us in North Yorkshire, Wykeham Forest Raptor Watchpoint for Honey Buzzard we arrived at about 15-30 after a slow drive we got caught up in slow moving traffic (witch at one point the police where trying to control we think they mad matters worse). We walked out to the viewing point and got talking to some one who said they had seen Honey Buzzard about 2 hours earlier plus Goshawk, we spent the next hour and a half with only 2 Common Buzzards, then when most people had gone at about 17-10 we had a Honey Buzzard come up over the trees we watched it for about  10 minutes  other birds seen or heard in the forest where Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Crossbill, Garden Warbler, Yellow Hammer, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw. We now set of looking for a B&B for the night witch we found a few miles down the road, my mate went for a short stroll to stretch his legs after all the days driving and he had Lesser Whitethroat, Red Legged partridge, and a selection of common birds. We then found a pub for our evening meal, after witch we had a walk along the lane near the B&B where we had Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Yellow Hammer, Red Legged Partridge, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, and a good find Tree Sparrow, we also had Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit and Linnet. We then decided to drive through the lanes to see if we could find the Barn Owl we had been told about but with no luck, we ended up back near the Raptor Watchpoint to see if we could find Nightjar but again no luck now as the midges where getting to us it was back to the B&B so ending another good days birding.

Day 3 Monday 15^th June

Today we awoke to rain so it was a quick re think on what to do as we had planned to go back to Wykham Forest for the morning, Instead we started to head south by the time we had got to York the weather had changed and it was now sunny and dry, So we decided to go to site we new for Montague’s Harrier after a short while we had the male quartering one of the fields we went to another spot to see if we could find any more Montague’s Harriers but no luck, but we did find a Turtle Dove sitting on the wires. But there was a storm brewing on our way to The raptor Watchpoint at Swanton Novers in Norfolk, we had a stout cross the road in front of us, we arrived at about 15-00 Hrs planning to stay for a couple of hours no sign of any raptors,  birds seen Skylark, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, but at 16-30 the rain started again so we stated to head for home looking for some where to eat the first little Chef was not serving food because of the rain (boy did it rain) we finely  found one that had just re opened after it was closed because of the rain then as we where leaving we heard that the rain in Norfolk was causing problems as some of the roads where closed because of flooding from then till we got back to London it was fine with a couple of light showers

So ended a very enjoyably but (mad) 3 days Birding

Was Hoping to put a short video up but I am having problems with uploading at the moment seem to have lost all my videos on my blog

Update

Not done much Birding over the past month other commitments have had a look at a few Orchids there will be a report of a trip I did with my mate to the North of England just need to sort it out then I will post, Of to Mull this Saturday for a week will post a report when I get back

Saturday 16th May

Today a trip in to the New Forest we new the weather was going to be bad for any decent bird watching our first stop was Aces Down to see if we could see the Honey Buzzard did have a buzzard come up but the wind was so strong even I was having trouble standing up could not identify what it was so a buzzard sp. Our next stop was to see if we could locate the Iberian Chiffchaff at Brokenhurst after a short walk we found said bird, Then we did a sea watch at Milford on Sea birds of note where Great Skua, Manx Shearwater. The rest of the day was just having a look around Lynington on the way back we had a Black Tern on the wind Surfing pit at Chichester by the A27. Other wise a very wet and windy day

Saturday 9th May

Breckland / Nene Washes

As I was back in London for the weekend my mate phone Friday night how about a trip to the Brecks. So we set of from his house about 20 past 8 our first stop was the comfort café for breakfast. Then it was of to Weeting Heath the Norfolk Naturalist Trust has a reserve there for Stone Curlew we duly arrived and asked the best hide to view from we where  told the west hide was best as we got there 1 was being watch and we had good views but a bit distance  as there is not a lot more to see we the set of for the RSPB reserve at Lakenheath. This is a area that we have been birding for the past 30 years and in creating this reserve from scratch we think they have done a very good job, Our target bird was Golden Oriole, On arriving we asked where the best place was for seeing the Oriole and the very friendly chap told us, So we set of along the path round the back of the reserve on route we had lots of Whitethroats, and head a cuckoo calling then as we came around the corner we could see a group of birders looking into the plantation so that is what we headed for as this was the place to see Orioles as we walked along we had Hairy Dragonfly, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Orange Tipped Butterfly, we also had 6 Hobbies feeding on the dragonflies  On arriving at the spot that every one was we heard a Bittern booming we then concentrated on see the Golden Orioles we had 2 Males flying around chasing each other and we also heard a Female calling, We the continued our walk to the end as we could still hear the Cuckoo calling and as my mate had not seen one this year we set out to find it after about a hour the bird finely flew out of the wood and sat on top of a bush well at least it stop me mate from moaning he had not seen one yet this year by now we had more Hobbies the count was up to 25, We then decided to return to the information centre as we past the spot for the Orioles we again had the 2 males and the female calling we then continued back along the track and again heard a Bittern Booming as we approached to chaps taking pictures a Bittern flew across the reed bed in front of us and yet more Hobbies we are now up to 30 then as we continued along the track we could hear the Cranes calling the other side of the railway I then spotted them fly low across the field where they landed in a ditch so we continued back to the info centre by now our Hobby count was up to 35+ birds there have been up to 47 seen over the past week, On arriving at the information centre we decide a well earned coffee was what was needed and we gave our information to volunteers on duty which they where glad of (this gives them a idea of what is about and how many Orioles there are)

Our next stop was the Nene Washes to see if we could find the Cattle egrets that had been present for the past week on arriving we had 1 along side a fence this was being harassed by 2 Little Egrets it then flew of and landed in a ditch where we found the other 2 so all 3 where seen, We then had a quick  look around  the back of the  reserve to see if we could hear Corn Crake (as there is a introduction program of the birds in this area) We then had a look at the pager to see if there was anything we could see on our way back to London we noted a Temminck's Stint in Bedfordshire so a quick look at the map and we said it is only just of the A1 so of we set to Willington Gravel Pits as we did not know this site it took us a while to find the pit we needed to look on but we did have a pleasant evening stroll around Birds see included 6 Little Ringed Plovers, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Linnet, Grey partridge, Mallard, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird then just we had decided to leave my mate said I will just have a look from the point over there and called me over the on the edge of one of the little islands was the Temminck’ Stint

So all in all another good days  birding

4th May

Climping & Arundel

Walked from the car park at climping beach towards Mill House we had Redstart, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Grey Partridge, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, then we found a small bird resting in the bushes after a short while this turned out to be a Tree Pipit. Our next stop was Arundel Wetland Trust as we got out of the car a Cuckoo flew across in front of us, Birds on the reserve included Great Tit,  Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch on the feeders 4 Cetti’s Warblers singing Common Tern, Black Headed Gull, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Oystercatcher (there is a pair breeding there) Redshank

Sunday 3rd May

Pullbourgh Brooks
Took a trip to Pullbourgh Brooks today to try and see if we could see Nightingale, We heard 6 singing and managed to see 2 of them,
It was a good day for warblers we had Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff,
Other birds seen Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal, Swift, Sand Martin, Swallow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Rook, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Sedge Warbler,

25th & 26th April

Bit late updating due to working hours over the past week here is a update for last weekend

Saturday 25^th April

Decided  to go and see if we could see Dartford Warbler this morning so we set of driving north of Chichester on the A286 at West Dean we had 2 Common Buzzards and a Red Kite, Then it was on to a site for the Warbler we arrived and after a short walk we found 3 Dartford Warblers singing and 1 showed well, after having a lunch break we then decided to go to Selsey Bill to do a sea watch after settling down I was rewarded with Gannet, 1 Artic Skua, 2 Pomarine  Skuas, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Swift, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Swallow

Sunday 26^th April

Did a late afternoon walk around part of Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve we started at the car park at Church Norton walked down to the harbour where we had Grey Plover, 5 Little Egrets, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, and sitting on the rocks in the harbour was a Common Seal, We the walked along the shore line towards the severals where we had Wheatear, Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, and a Cetti’s Warbler singing, we the took the path between the severals where we had Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Linnet, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great & Blue Tit, and then found a nice Lesser Whitethroat, Then it was back to the car with the usual carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Pheasant.

On the drive back as we where going through Sripney village we had 2 Turtle Doves sitting on some wires

22nd April

Took the short walk to Tesco at lunch time to get my lunch in the small copse by the car park I found a Male Pied Flycatcher,

Then on the way way back to Chichester I went via the north wall at Pagham harbour nature reserve to see the Pectoral Sandpiper which I found and some one let me have a look through there scope as I only had my bins with me hoping not to miss to much at Pagham this Spring, Did miss the Dotterel at Climping last weekend as I was back in London still you can not see everything

Monday 20th

Left home in London at 1/4 to six this morning for my Monday train trip back down south to work in Littlehampton
Have a nice sleep on and off until we reach Billinghurst then I'm into some bird watching from the train birds seen this morning included Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Starling, Kestrel, then as we past between Arundal & Amberly I had a Common Crane in the fields by the side of the railway and has we approached the junction at ford there was a nice male Perigrine sitting in a field to my right
other birds Herring gull, Black Headed Gull, Magpie, so not a bad start to the week,
Then when I got back to Chichester tonight Had the Male Perigrine sitting on the roof top opposite my flat

Saturday 18th April Day out in Kent

Dungeness & Grove Ferry

Back in London for the weekend so I decided I would go birding with my mate we have now been birding together for over 30 years

We decided that a day out in Kent was on the books but where do we start Dung or Grove, We left my house and headed for the motorway just as we reached the M25 I looked at the Pager and found that there was a Hoopoe at Dungeness so now we new where we would be going first. So after a quick and enjoyably breakfast Dung here we come

Dungeness
On arriving at the observatory we parked and had a walk around the mout as we could not see any birders looking for the Hoopoe there were a small group of birders looking in the shrub(we found out later that they were looking for a nightingale) our walk around the mout produced very little Linnets, Meadow Pipits and we found 3 Whitethroats in a bush as walked towards them 2 flew of leaving 1 in the bush after a short while we realised that it was a Lesser Whitethroat but not showing very well but it was singing. Then I noticed some birders coming back across from the trapping area as they got closer we asked about the Hoopoe and they told us where to look after short while we found the Hoopoe but it then flew the other side of the power station road into the desert area, Now we had a look around the shrub but there was not a lot more to see in the way of migrants so it was of to do a sea watch as there had been a few Skuas seen earlier in the morning, But no luck with Skuas we did have Gannet, Kittiwake, A small movement of Sandwich Terns, and some Common Terns over the patch, other birds seen where 18 Whimbrel 1 Bar tailed Godwit,25 Common Scoter. Flying by. We the drove back past the ARC pits where had a Little Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank, Our next stop was the RSPB reserve to see what else might be about not a lot on the main reserve but there was a few bits to see on the ARC pits on arriving at the car park we set of down the track we could hear Cetti’s Warbler & Sedge Warbler singing, After a short while we heard a Cuckoo but we did not manage to find it, My mate had gone on a head of me then called to say he thought he had a Reed Warbler I caught up with him and after a little while we did manage to find the Reed Warbler, We had a Marsh Harrier flying around over the back of the pits, We then had a look from one of the hides and found 3 more Little Ringed Plover, & a nice Male Garganey, Other birds seen in the Dungeness area Herring Gull, Common Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shell Duck, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, & a large number of Stock Doves so it was now time to leave Dungeness and head for Grove Ferry where there had been some migrants seen

Grove Ferry Stodmarsh Nature Reserve
On arriving we parked and started the walk to the viewing area I spoke to a birder who gave us some information our first bird of note was another Lesser Whitethroat but a bit different from the one at Dung as this was showing and singing very well, we then had a look at the viewing area where we found 6 Greenshanks, 1 Ruff, Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover & a Yellow Wagtail and yet another nice Male Gargeny ( must say I do like watching Gargeny) we also had Swalloow, Sand Martin flying over the water, Then took a walk around to the Hide where we found 3 more Little Ringed Plover & Hose Martin,
We now decided to have a drive around the back roads to see if we could find Nightingale but with no luck we did have what we thought might be a Garden Warbler but could not find any where to park to try and locate it

So all in all a nice and pleasant days birding