Blog

Sunday 11th July'10 Dungeness at last...............

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:17:00 -0400

Having spent a fair chunk of Saturday at Dungeness I did n't imagine I'd be back so soon!

Jenny and I took the boys to Lullingstone to look for butterflies late morning, probably later than was ideal, but we'd been having a lazy morning.

We walked to the golf course and found the grassy banks on the edge of the fairways alive with Dark-green Fritillary's. It was quite spectacular, I'd estimate that there were around 200 Dark-green Fritillary's on the wing. A single Marbled White flew past and there were plenty of Small Skippers.

Bird-wise it was nice (and sadly now unusual) to hear several Turtle Doves.

We drove to Eynsford Castle for a picnic - the kids idea! Sitting in the shade of the huge flint walls my pager alerted me to the discovery that the White-tailed Plover that has been doing something of a circuit around England had finally got to Kent and was now on the ARC pit.

The boys did not want to go to Dunge - a water-fight at home was apparently more of a lure so I dropped them and Jenny at home and shot down to Dungeness.

Lullingstone

Dark-green Fritillary

Twelve-spot Burnet Moth

As I arrived at Dungeness and drove towards the south end of the ARC pit I could see a small crowd assembled. I drove past, clearly they were not watching anything. Just then my phone rang - Marcus Lawson said" it's showing from the viewing screen". I turned the car round, shouted the news to James Hunter and some of the assembled birders and drove back to the north end. A few minutes later we were enjoying fair views of the fabulous White-tailed Plover. The first record for Kent and my 350th species for the county.

As the afternoon passed to evening the light conditions improved and we got some very decent views with scopes and photographic opportunities got better too. As I'd now driven the 60 odd miles back to Dunge I decided to stay 'till dusk and not worry about missing the World Cup Final - I'd catch the highlights.

ARC looking south towards the point.

White-tailed Plover - first for Kent and my 350th species for the county!

After nearly 3 hours watching the plover I joined James Hunter and Andy Lawson to look for roseate tern at the fishing boats and along the beach near the patch. We were not in luck but we had close to 40 Med Gulls - mostly adults and a few juveniles. A smart male Black Redstart feeding along the power station perimeter fence was a bonus.

Saturday 10th July'10 Dungeness..............

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:09:00 -0400

I got to Dungeness just before 0700 and went straight to Denge Marsh road where almost immediately I got a view of a Purple Heron flying back to it's nest. Early morning light conditions made viewing poor from the road so I headed off to the reserve and walked out to Hookers Pits and spent some time on the viewing ramp overlooking the main reedbed. I had a Bittern in flight and the reedbeds were a hive of activity with Bearded Tit's, Cettis, Reed and Sedge Warblers particularly obvious. Marsh Harrier's have bred again and before I left the reserve I had a couple of Hobby's over the lakes by Boulderwall Farm.

Yellow-horned Poppy

Common Tern -rafts look to have brought back Common Terns to breed at Dungeness

Next I had a good look at the ARC pits. The southern end looks particularly good at the moment with lots of shallow water and small pools. I had several Little-ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover and a first-summer Little Gull in amongst a small flock of Black-headed Gulls. Little Egret added to my growing list of herons!

I drove onto the Ness and saw the fog rolling onto the western side, the fog horn had already started. However, on the east side near the Lifeboat Station Prospect Cottage looked stunning in the sunshine.

Prospect Cottage

Late morning I drove back round to Denge marsh road and found Mike Cottrell and John Tilbrook still waiting for a view of Purple Heron after a 90 minute wait. Sure enough within a few minutes one duly flew in! I stayed and chatted for an hour during which time we had several more views of Purple Heron and good looks at a Great-white Egret - heron species number 5.

It was around 20 C with a cool breeze when I left Dunge around 1300 and 30 C when I got to my boy's school fete in Orpington.

Saturday 26th June '10 East Kent........

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:55:00 -0400

Five hours raptor watching produced a single distant Honey Buzzard, a single Red Kite, several Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel in rather less than ideal conditions with lots of haze.

Birds were generally in short-supply which is rather in keeping with this time of year -perhaps I should have gone looking for butterflies!

A lunch-stop at Oare was pleasant but also rather quiet, a few Black-tailed Godwits and Avocet and little else.

Nearby at Luddenham church Spotted Flycatcher's are present again this year though today I had brief views of an adult with a small tortoiseshell butterfly in it's bill and far too distant for 'photos.

Thursday 24th June '10 Goathurst common

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:40:00 -0400

A hot sunny day gave way to a hot sultry evening. I was due to play tennis but decided that it was just too hot, instead I opted to go looking for Nightjars. It was a lovely long summer evening, only just past the longest day and with a near full moon.

Over the past 30 years I've watched Nightjars at many sites in Kent but sadly some have become unsuitable due to habitat change. The biggest problem is that many areas of coppice are no longer worked and this excellent habitat for Nightjars all too soon becomes virtually useless to wildlife. I did not want to go too far tonight so opted to explore an area near Ide Hill that I used to find Nightjar's on; Goathurst Common.

When I arrived I was stunned by just how un-common like the area has become. It was perhaps 10 years ago that I birded this area and the conifer plantations have taken over and left mainly wide rides left. I called a mate, Chris Gibbard, to see if he had any info and he basically said that a Nightjar had been churring in the oak under which I stood as I made the call! Sure enough, soon after 9.30 a male started churring and I eventually got some good views. I had a look around but as well as finding little suitable habitat I heard no other Nightjar.

Pleasingly I also had a roding Woodcock and 3 glow worms.

Some of the old former coppice in the area now stands nearly 30 foot high, I had a Fallow Deer in it but nothing else.

Sunday 20th June '10 Sussex..............

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:56:00 -0400

After a lazy start, it was fathers day(!), we headed out to Sussex and to explore Nyman's Garden, a National Trust property that we regularly drive past on the A23 as we head down to Grandma's.It was a lovely warm, sunny day.

It was rather beautiful, as expected, but to two six-year olds after a while perhaps a bit restrictive! The largely ruined house was a draw and they liked exporing the remaining rooms and chatting to the custodians as they filled in the inevitable kids quiz but the gardens were of limited interest. They got bored, we got irritated. Eventually our patience began to wear thin and we left to look for a picnic spot.

A short drive later and we were in the heart of the Ashdown Forest.

We had our picnic overlooking the valley leading to the airmans grave and then spent a couple of hours wandering around Old Lodge.

It was the perfect finish; hardly a person in sight, plenty of birds and lots of sticks, hiding places, streams and trees to climb for the boys.

Redstart were everywhere and I saw a few juvs as well as at least 5 males. Tree Pipit were still singing, a Woodlark had a brief sing and it was good to see a Spotted Flycatcher. Not a sight nor sound of a Dartford Warbler.

Sat 19th June '10 Elmley

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:19:00 -0400

Elmley

Despite the frequent showers I made the most of the day and had some good birds at Elmley RSPB on Sheppey. Redshank and Lapwing along the access road looked to have had a good breeding season and there were a fair number of Yellow Wagtails.

On the scrapes the highlight was undoubtedly the 3 Spoonbill which broke all the rules by actually getting up and wading around feeding. Also on the scrape were c12 Spotted Redshank, plenty of Avocet and a scattering of Black-t Godwit.

I had a Hobby on the walk back and found someone scoping a very obscured Long-eared Owl in the orchard by the car-park.

Lapwing

Skylark

Spoonbill

Hare

Redshank

Sun 13th June '10 South Foreland

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:04:00 -0400

South Foreland lighthouse

We had a lovely family afternoon out on South Foreland today with fabulous warm sunny weather affording wonderful views acroos to France. After a tour of the lighthouse we wandered along the clifftop path until we were overlooking the port of Dover. Plenty of Fulmar's but just a few Kittiwake were seen and none nesting. We had good views of an adult Peregrine flying along below us.

The French coast from South Foreland was amazingly clear today and through a long lens looked much closer than 22 miles.

Fulmar

Peregrine

Langdon Cliffs, South Foreland.

Sat 12th June '10 Marmora's Warbler.......

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:01:00 -0400

When Paul Matson rang me on Thursday and said he was thinking of going for the Marmora's Warbler in Gwent I had to admit that as I'd seen the Sizewell bird I hadn't even considered it. Paul said that it was about a 3 hour drive from him in Sussex and he was keen to go so we hatched a plan to go and I suggested starting at Nagshead RSPB reserve in the Forest of Dean.

We left deepest darkest Sussex around 03.00 and got to Nagshead soon after 05.30. Now woodland birding can be difficult stuff and I was a bit worried that we were past the peak for song, especially for pied fly and wood warbler. After an hour we'd had neither, not a peep, and I was beginning to wonder if we hadn't got it badly wrong! Then Paul found a female Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker and a few minutes later a superb male Wood Warbler was in full display overhead in a magnificent stand of beeches. We'd only heard brief calls from Pied Flycatchers until a female showed well along the access road as we strolled out.

We left Nagshead soon after 07.30 and less than an hour later we were on moorland at Blorenge near Abergavenny. The Marmora's Warbler was on view quite soon after we arrived, singing from the top of an isolated holly bush fairly distantly. Thereafter it was often on view but mostly quite distant with one or two exceptions when it popped up quite close but sadly not in good light for photos. Around 50 or so people were present to enjoy this hugely rare bird. We had Tree Pipit, Cuckoo and a superb male Whinchat in the area.

moorland at Blorenge

We spent the rest of the morning driving slowly north through the Brecon Beacons up a minor road through Llanthony to Hay on Wye. Despite our best efforts we saw very little, the streams just yielding Grey Wagtails and on the slopes the odd Wheatear. With an England match on early evening we called time soon after noon and headed home.

Breacon Beacons nr Llanthony.

Wed 2nd June '10 heard but not seen..........

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:03:00 -0400

I met up with Marcus Lawson this evening; our wives and offspring were all together on the coast enjoying the half-term sunshine so we went birding. After a spot of dinner a la Lawson (cheers mate!) we headed to Pembury and stopped briefly at the water works where we saw a female Mandarin with 7 small ducklings.

We met up with Josh Jenkins Shaw and walked into Tudeley Woods to look for nightjars.

A Hobby shot through a heathland clearing as we waited for dusk but overall it was rather quiet.

It got to 9.30 and still not a sound apart from the roar of traffic from the nearby A228. Around 10.00 we heard a distant Nightjar churring and walked around to the other side of the clearing but still heard nothing our side.

We walked back to our original spot and were on the verge of leaving when a bird started churring from the closest tree, unseen, and continued for several minutes. After a few moments of silence it started up again at the far side of the clearing; we never saw it move!

A Tawny Owl hooted as we trudged back in the dark. I can't remember the last time I failed to see a Nightjar having heard it.............

Sat 29th - Mon 31st May. Bank Hol wanderings...

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:39:00 -0400

Saturday 29th May

Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire

Paul Matson and I spent the morning in the Brecks, the early afternoon at Welney and the late afternoon at Wilstone Reservoir near Tring in Herts. It worked well enabling us to miss most of the rain and still do quite well for birds.

At Lakenheath RSPB we had a Red Kite, 2 Bittern, Garganey and heard Golden Oriole. It was overcast and dull but dry. I'd hoped it would be a hive of activity but in reality it was a bit quiet and whilst it was pleasing to get 6+ Cuckoo's we did not get a Gropper nor Crane.

Late morning we left Lakenheath and drove the short distance to Welney. The long-staying Bluethroat remains "in territory"; singing, displaying and chasing anything that comes too close. We had some nice views and a combination of the weather and the length of it's stay meant there were no crowds. Two drake Garganey were out on the pools together with c50 Black-T-Godwit and small numbers of Avocet and Redshank. Watching a single Snipe drumming I was suddenly aware that it's now sadly a rare sight in the south-east.

Heavy rain started late morning but we retreated to a hide and carried on birding until hunger drove us to the WWT cafe.

It was still pouring down as we headed south-west towards Tring around 2 pm. It was very slow going with loads of lorries and lots of standing water but as we got near Tring the sun came out and the rain stopped.

We spent about 90 minutes at Wilstone reservoir watching the first-summer Red-footed Falcon, 5 Hobby's and something in excess of

1,200 Swifts! They rather stole the show. A few hundred House Martins and several dozen Swallows were mixed in with the swirling mass.

Had a Cuckoo and about 20 Common Terns too.

All in all a rather good day.

Bluethroat

Sunday 30th May

A couple of hours on chalk downland not far from home at Shoreham was very productive for butterflies today.

I'd targeted Dingy and Grizzled Skipper's and was not disappointed. Thank's James for the tip-off!

Brimstone,Large White,Peacock,Common Blue c20, Dingy Skipper c15 and Grizzled Skipper 4+ all seen well.

Lesser Whitethroat,Whitethroat,Chiffchaff the only birds of note.

Common Blue

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Monday 31st May

Elmer,Barnham....W Sussex

We went down to stay at Grandma's the previous afternoon.

Not birding today just family bike rides and walks along the beach, but then again I'm always birding.........

We took the kids on a bike ride along a new cycle route between the villages of Flansham and Barnham this morning. Lots of reedy dykes and hedgerows and fallow fields. Reed warblers, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats,Reed Buntings,Yellowhammers, Swifts,Swallows and House Martins. A couple of spots looked really good for gropper but I heard nothing.........

In the afternoon we walked from Elmer to Climping beach. A scattering of Sandwich Tern's feeding close inshore and a few Gannet's too. Just a handful of Sanderling on the beach and a single Little Egret. Very quiet on the land - just Whitethroats, several pairs along the mile or so of beachside bushes. Best bird was a Hobby, over the kids park on the Elmer Sands Estate - can't recall seeing one before in this area. Edward got a really good look and ran off to grip off his brother!

Sun. 23rd May '10 Denge Wood

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:23:00 -0400

With the weather forecast looking good a family outing to Denge Wood near Canterbury to look for Duke of Burgundy Fritillary was soon put in motion.

Our arrival was delayed by extensive road closures around Waltham because of a marathon race meaning that we got to Denge Wood soon after 11.00, much later than intended. Next we found about a dozen cars parked -badly! - all around the entrance we use forcing us further down the road.

We strolled down the track to Bonsai Bank trying not to tread on the numerous glow worms crawling across the path. Alexander started his usual bug-gathering patrol whilst Edwards stick collection just keeps on growing!

Bonsai Bank looked stunning - lots of Lady Orchids and clearly some excellent management has been going on this past winter to remove scrub and control the spread of trees.

It did not take long to find some "Dukes" and we all had great looks. Also had an immaculate Green Hairstreak.

Jenny said she'd go and get the lunch and bring it back, I said let's all go back but she said it would save time and she'd enjoy the walk. She rang 40 minutes later to say she was lost ! I was..............a bit annoyed and tempers frayed! How could she get lost - answer, she thought she'd find a short-cut! Worse of all she'd got lost on the way back to us so she had all the food! I'll say nothing about women and navigation.............nothing!

We had lunch at the car and then as we'd run out of time to go back to Bonsai Bank we explored some of the short-cut!

Duke of Burgundy Fritillary

Green Hairstreak

Lady Orchid

Fly Orchid

Bluebells

Saturday 22nd May '10 East Kent

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:23:00 -0400

As I drove into fairly thick mist heading over Wrotham Hill I though it might be local but as I headed east it became more extensive.

When I got to my destination, overlooking woodland near Canterbury, I could barely see 500 yards and so raptor watching was rather pointless.

Mike Cottrell and John Tilbrook appeared having read the same weather forecast - sunny and very warm.............

It took an age to clear. In the meantime a few others joined the party.

Soon after 11.00 the birding commenced. Highlights over the 6 hour's I was present were at least 2 Red Kites, 4+ Hobby -including a spectacular two Hobby robbery of a female Sparrowhawk quite close to us and just a few feet off the ground - 6+ Buzzard and 2+ Sparrowhawks. Cuckoo, Swifts, and common woodland/field birds helped fill in the gaps in activity.

I dropped in at Oare Marshes for a quick look on the way home. Highlights there were 2 drake Garganey, a summer plum SpotShank and c300 Black-t-Godwit.

Garganey

Sat 15th May '10 Dungeness .........Purple patch..

Thu, 20 May 2010 03:32:00 -0400

I picked Mike Buckland up just before 05.30 and drove down to Dungeness hoping that we might get something on a sea-watch despite the less than ideal forecast which had been for light westerly winds. As we drove across Romney March the temperature dropped to just 1*C, so much for Spring then!

We were sea-watching by 06.30 and that was about all we could do since very little flew or floated past- the wind was a light north-easterly! Our tally was meagre -a couple of distant Bonxies and small numbers of Common and Sandwich Tern's, a single Little Tern and a few Common Scoter. There was a steady trickle of Swallows

We gave it up soon after 08.00 and birded Denge Marsh down to the gully. We had over 20 Whitethroat, several Cuckoo's, c10 Wheatear and a female Whinchat. Best of all we had several brief but good flight views of a Purple Heron which in the light of the RSPB's announcement that they are breeding is safe to mention now !

After a quick break for breakfast in New Romney we resumed our birding on the ranges where we had little new bar a couple of pair of Stonechats. Back on Denge marsh we started to pick up the odd Hobby and a fair few Swifts and noticed that there was a column of birds over the ARC pits so we drove over to check it out.

When we arrived 8 Hobby's were hawking low over the lakes adjacent to Boulderwall Farm in a strengthening breeze. After a few minutes they had mostly moved higher and further away. We walked the willow trail and heard a Garden Warbler and then went to the Hanson Hide where we watched a Spotted Flycatcher - sadly not a common sight anywhere in the U.K. these days.

It was after 2pm and we felt we'd pretty much exhausted what the peninsula had to offer and headed off onto Romney Marsh. In the Cheyne Court area we had a couple of Hobby's, several Marsh Harrier's, 10+ Yellow Wagtails and a few Corn Bunting. Where are all the turtle doves?

It was good to catch up with Pete Simpson in the morning - now a rare visitor to these shores.

Hobby

Sunday 9th May '10 BTO and beyond.........

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:47:00 -0400

I finally got round to doing my first survey visit for the year on the newer of my BTO breeding bird survey 1 km squares this morning. It''s largely woodland on chalk downland near Lullingstone in NW Kent.

It was overcast and dull but dry.

The woodland is a real mixture. Lots of old coppice left untended and some impressive standard broadleaf trees. There are a few pockets of larch and clearings and the 1 km square takes in a patch of arable and a small area of grazed land.

Since last years visit a few clearings had been created - basically old copice removed and the standard trees largely left intact.

In the woodland like last year I had lots of Blackcap, a few Chiffchaff and pleasingly Turtle Dove. I also had a Marsh Tit. Out on the hedgerows near the arable and grazing I saw Yellowhammer and Whitethroat.

I was back home by 10.00 and after much debate the kids said that they wanted to go on a bike ride so the next few hours were spent getting to and from Petts Wood and cycling around the bridlepaths.

Late afternoon I sneaked off to see the Iberian Chiffchaff at Walderslade near Chatham. I did not get there until about 5pm but it was still singing and showing very well in a small oak. When I first arrived I located it by it's strange contact call, a sharp disyllabic call. It sang for quite long spells and I got some reasonable photographs. The bird has been resident now for over a week on this patch of woodland in a mosaic of housing on chalk downland. I had a Lesser Whitethroat but little else.

Iberian Chiffchaff

I spent an hour at Cliffe Pools to finish. A flock of 19 Greenshank flew over the second viewing mound as I arrived and 2 Spotted Redshank flew in. A few lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatchers were present.

A Short-eared Owl was quartering the ground between the viewing mounds for much of my stay.There were plenty of Whitethroats singing and a few Sedge Warblers.

I ended the day just below the radar tower listening to Nightingales and a Cettis Warbler.

Monday 3rd May '10 Lenham........

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:45:00 -0400

I'd returned from Morocco late the previous afternoon and hoped to spend the day with Jenny and the kids but as she wasn't feeling great it turned into a morning at home and then a need to get them outside for a while to run off some energy! News of a Hoopoe near Maidstone led me to suggesting that we look for that and then maybe go for a walk nearby. The boys said yes so offf we went.

The bird was near Lenham and we found some lovely single-track lanes to drive through before emerging at the site which was adjacent to the M20 and the high speed rail link.

It was cold, windy and felt more like March not May. The bird had been seen along a strip of land bordering the Eurostar line and you could freely access it. To the boys it was amazing, standing just a few yards away from speeding trains. There were also fallen trees to climb so they were set up! I could not find the Hoopoe or much else in the strong wind but kept searching and climbing the odd tree.

A call from Jenny at 5.30 reminding me that I should be on the way back led to one last sweep before we jumped into the car. I could not resist one last drive up and down the lane bounding the site with frequent stops and scans. Right at the last gasp I found the bird feeding in the open and we all got scope views before it flew across in front of us and disappeared into a farm. I could not relocate it but feeling elated I drove home.

Wed 21st April to Sunday 2nd May '10 - Morocco

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:38:00 -0400

Wednesday 21st April

When Mike Buckland and I flew out of Gatwick at 06.30 on one of the first commercial airline flights after 6 days of closed UK airspace it was with a sense of relief and disbelief. We'd only been sure we were flying at 10pm the previous evening so we'd packed in a hurry and neither of us had got much sleep by the time Mike picked me up at 03.30. The previous few weeks had seen the trip threatened by my problems getting leave and then just when that was settled the ash cloud appeared! We'd re-booked the flights once and were expecting to have to cancel alltogether if the flight on Wednesday was unable to depart.

The Easyjet flight landed on time and we were the first off the aircraft, the first through passport control and once re-united with our baggage it was time to find a hire-car and get out of Marrakech. Pallid Swift and House Bunting were scored almost immediately we left the airplane.

Just after 10.00 we were driving south out of Marrakech in glorious sunshine heading for the Atlas Mountains.

We paused to photograph a Southern Grey Shrike and noted Woodchat Shrike, Serin, White Stork, and Turtle Doves but decided to push on and make our first proper stop in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

Despite being very warm and late morning our first stop yielded Western Orphean Warbler, Hawfinch, African Blue Tit and African Chaffinch. The air was filled with the sound of Nightingales and Serins. We also encountered our first kids asking for "dirham,bonbon,stilo".

foothills of the Atlas Mts

Atlas Mts

We motored on into more spectatcular mountain scenery and stops became more frequent , then we had our first Moussier's Redstart and we came to a complete stop! Simply stunning. A few kms further on we had a showy singing male Moussier's and we spent a while photographing it. We also had Subalpine Warblers, Chough and a Melodious Warbler.

Subalpine Warbler - male, nest building

Moussier's Redstart

We hoped to get to Oukaimeden in time to have a shot at some of the high-level specialities today or at least to get a feel for the area so we drove on ever higher into the Atlas. Before we got into Oukaimeden we'd added Firecrest, Long-legged Buzzard and Dipper. On a wall just below the small dam below the village we had a flock of around 40 Rock Sparrows.

into the High Atlas

A barrier barred our passage along the road into Oukaimeden but after paying a few Dirhams and enduring the hard-sell tactics of a scruffy bunch of moped-riding locals brandishing fossils, minerals, walnuts and necklaces we were on our way. We stopped at the Hotel Ju Ju which had been recommended by other birders - it looked like the only accomodation! - and secured a room, dropped off some gear and headed out with about 2 hours of daylight left.

It did not take long to find a Seebohm's Wheatear just outside the village by the first ski-lifts. We moved further up along a gravel track and followed it as it wound alongside a long narrow valley. Suddenly we had a Crimson-winged Finch on the track and stepping out of the car we found several more. We left the track and walked down a steep rough hillside and found dozens more! Before the fading light ,cold and hunger drove us back to the hotel we spent ages creeping around the valley bottom photographing the finches and a couple of stunning Shore Lark.

As we had n't eaten since Gatwick dinner was rather welcome and hot soup, tagine of beef and apple pie went down a treat!

Shore Lark

Crimson-winged Finch

Oukaimeden

Thursday 22nd April

We were out before dawn into the cold, thin mountain air. We drove out along the same track we'd taken the previous evening noting several Black Redstart, Crimson-winged Finches, Shore Lark and Rock Sparrow. We reached the head of the valley as the light began to improve but the road got very rough and we turned back. We were hoping to get some more photographic opportunities in better light with the finches but they proved very jumpy. We were much luckier with a stunning Seebohm's Wheatear, and back near the chair-lifts a mixed party of Chough's were quite approachable.

Oukaimeden

Seebohm's Wheatear

Red-billed Chough

Alpine Chough

After breakfast we birded around Oukaimeden, driving up to the radar station to scan across the High Atlas for raptors but surprisingly saw just a few Kestrels. The scenery was stunning and the weather perfect. Aware that we had a lot on our itinerary for the day we left mid-morning and drove back down the same road we'd taken the day before.

Oukaimeden

Black Redstart

Oukaimeden

Oukaimeden - alpine meadows

Back amongst the cultivated lower slopes of the High Atlas we had a couple of productive stops. We eventually taped in a Levaillant's Green Woodpecker on terraces filled with fruit trees and walnuts and had great looks at African Blue Tit.

African Blue Tit

Levaillant Green Woodpecker

On the way up the previous day we'd seen a pair of Black Wheatear's attending a nest in a stone wall. Today we stopped and found that the adults were feeding a single fledged youngster and got some nice pictures. A stunning Moussier's Redstart proved super showy.

Black Wheatear

Moussier's Redstart

Leaving the valley below Oukaimeden we headed south-west over a minor road towards the Tiz n Test. Mike thought the habitat looked good for Tristram's warbler and stopped to play a "tape" several times. As we drove off after another attempt he shouted stop and sure enough he'd heard a superb male singing just off the road. We had excellent views, and usefully saw a male Subalpine in the same area.

heading towards the Tiz n Test

Tristram's Warbler

The rest of the day was spent driving slowly south-west through some lovely scenery, never far from a river though that ranged from a mountain torrent to a broad, braided river. We stopped frequently for birds and to photograph the view.

Tiz N Test

Al lower elevations we had several Western Olivaceous Warblers in roadside tamarisks and found several more Levaillant Green Woodpeckers.

Western Olivaceous Warbler

Our last stop was a well known stake-out for Red-necked Nightjar just outside the village of Taffingoult in an area of argana forest.

We arrived at 19.00 and stayed nearly 2 hours adding Quail, Barbary Partridge and Long-eared Owl to our trip-list before getting fantastic views of a pair of Red-necked Nightjars.

After a 30 minute drive we finished the day not far from Taroudant at the L'Arganier D'Or, an Augerbe just off the the main road heading towards Agadir. Again no hot water but good food and comfortable after a long day in the field.

Friday 23rd April

Just after dawn we set off towards the coast with a fair bit of driving to do today and several important target species in mind.

We made it through Agadir before the traffic really got going and headed north up the coast road. A few miles south of Cape Rhir we stopped for a break and to check out some roadside scrub. Southern Grey Shrike, Black-eared Wheatear and Spanish Sparrow were all seen and as we were about to leave Mike played a tape of Tchagra with spectacular results. We soon had 3 birds displaying around us and got some great views.

Black-crowned Tchagra

We drove up the coast road as it climbed out of Tamri and passed a checkpoint. Within a few minutes we were running alongside a broad sandy plain with scattered bushes and grassy tussocks and suddenly we had a small group of Bald Ibis in flight over the plain heading back towards Tamri. A few kilometres further north we came across a small group of Bald Ibis feeding quite close to the road. We had some good views but the light was terrible for ‘photos.

After further exploration of the coastal plain we decided to head back towards Tamri and just short of the town we took a rough track that headed along the headland and then descended close to the shore on the north side of the rivermouth. To our delight we found a small group of Bald Ibis feeding in the open and they were quite confiding.

Tamri

Bald Ibis

With the morning ebbing away and the heat rising we birded the rivermouth from the south side seeing Moroccan Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Fan-tailed Warbler, Purple Heron and Audouin’s Gull. We grabbed some food in Tamri, drove south and stopped near Cape Rhir to eat and sea-watch. In the haze we picked up distant Gannet’s and the odd Cory’s Shearwater.

Tamri -rivermouth

Cape Rhir

just south of Cape Rhir

Soon after 14.00 we drove south for our last target species of the day, Plain Martin. The site we had was a good 100km south of Agadir and traffic was quite heavy so we did not get to the wadi at Tassila until about 16.30. Apparently it's been a very wet winter in Morocco and the water level in the wadi was quite high so after failing to walk along the edge we resorted to walking through the mosaic of little fields along the edge, dodging crops,livestock and climbing over bunds - it was hard work! After about an hour, as we were on the verge of chucking it in we had a single Plain Martin, with Swallows, flying overhead. Result!

Birding in the general area was quite productive and we had Bee-eater, lots of Fan-tailed Warblers and W. Olivaceous Warblers, Magpie and Stone Curlew. Soon after 18.30 we started to drive north, by-passed Agadir and headed east. Just after dusk we drove through the gate in the old city walls of Taroudant and into a world of chaos! Cars, bikes,donkeys,motor-bikes,lorries -nose to tail but moving and all the time just avoiding collisions. We quickly found a room in the Hotel Saadiens-good old Lonely Planet- and soon after were sitting in the main square drinking beer and waiting for the food to arrive.

roadside scene nr Tassila

Saturday 24th April

A day of great contrasts. We started with a tour of the ancient town of Taroudant and finished hundreds of kilometers east and what seemed a world away in the desert near Ouarzazate.

We had a guide in Taroudant, allied to our hotel, he was excellent and for just a few pounds showed us all over the ancient quarter, into the souks and to a few selected shops where at one point I found myself bartering for a carpet! We escaped unscathed.

Taroudant

Heading east we passed through rolling plains with scattered argan trees. Despite looking superb for raptors we had just a single

Short-toed Eagle, a Long-legged Buzzard, a Black Kite and several Kestrels. Larks everywhere - largely Short-toed and Thekla.

argan trees

argan nut

kasbah at Taliouine

On desert-like plains east of Taliouine we found a Roller perched on roadside bolders and the first Desert and Red-rumped Wheatears.

Hundreds of Short-toed Larks were singing and displaying and we had a number of small groups of Trumpeter Finches.

Roller

Red-rumped Wheatear

As we drove through a petrol station and handful of scattered buildings incongrously plonked in the middle of a desert plain we were amazed to see a Thick-billed Lark fly across the road and land on the verge. As we performed a rapid U turn we were equally amazed to find it still feeding on the verge and got some great looks.

Thick-billed Lark

A tiny wadi a bit further on held 2 Common Sandpiper's and our first Cream-coloured Courser's were seen soon after.

The scenery started to get rather spectacular.

Closer to Ouzazate we came across a large wadi with cultivated fields and stands of palms and had Melodious and Tristram's Warblers,

Bee-eaters, White Stork, Turtle Doves, House Martins and loads of Nightingales.

We drove into Ouarzazate at dusk and after a bit of bother with closed roads found the Hotel Saghro - another Lonely Planet recommendation- and booked in for the night.

Sunday 25th April

We spent the entire morning birding the northern shoreline of the huge Barrage El Mansour Eddahbi which starts on the very eastern edge of Ourzazate. An immense body of water we had to be content with driving along tracks that took us to small bluffs overlooking the reservoir. There was not much exposed mud but we found plenty to look at. The highlights were Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Ruddy Shelduck, Black Tern, Collared Pratincole, Little-ringed Plover, Short-toed Eagle and 12+ Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. We added Marsh Harrier and Sand Martin to the trip list too and had plenty of larks, wheatears and Trumpeter Finches.

Barrage El Mansour Eddahbi

Trumpeter Finch

scenery btwn Ouarzazate and Boulmalne Dades

Boulmalne Dades

After just a couple of hours driving we arrived at Le Soliel Bleu, "the" place to stay according to all the birders recommendations, overlooking the start of the Tagdilt Track. We secured a room though that was easy as the owner said that the volvanic dust problem had led to a number of cancellations. Then we had lunch which was excellent and rather filling. Eventually we prised ourselves away from the hotel and drove out to the edge of town.

The track begins by a small army base - we were warned off by armed soldiers when we lingered too close 'photographing a House Bunting!

Sadly the start of the Tagdilt is also the town dump and plastic bags are strewn everywhere - they are a real problem and commonly seen littering many areas of the country.

Fortunately we were soon in wonderful desert habitat and the birding just got better and better.

Tagdilt Track

Bar-tailed Lark

Temminck's Lark

Thick-billed Lark

Lanner Falcon

The afternoons highlight was undoubtedly the showy male Thick-billed Lark!

Other birds seen included Lanner Falcon, Montagu's Harrier, Cream-coloured Courser and a good selection of wheatears and larks.

At dusk we returned to the excellent Le Soleil Bleu for great food and wine.

Monday 26th April

After a very good run of fine weather we walked out just after dawn and found a strong wind blowing. It was bright and sunny but made birding a lot more challenging in the open desert. We watched more from the shelter of the car and from behind any cover we could find.

It was still very productive and early on we were amazed to find a flock of at least 25 Thick-billed Larks. Crowned Sandgrouse was seen but we just could not connect with Magreb's Wheatear despite having a site for a breeding pair. Late morning we decided that we would probably struggle to add anything else and headed off east. Our final destinantion today was Erg Chebbie on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

Hotel Soleil Bleu

Tagdilt Track

Cream-coloured Courser

Hoopoe Lark

After a couple of hours driving we turned off and spent a while exploring the Gorge du Todra.

above 3 - Gorges du Todra

As we headed back out of the Gorges du Todra we drove into a short-lived but violent thunderstorm which caused some flash-floods.

We stopped many times along the road finding many common migrants such as Bee-eaters, Swallows and Redstarts, in trees and fields, perhaps downed by the weather.

As we moved further south east we ran into a sandstorm and then more flooding.

Crested Lark

Turtle Dove

sandstorm

desert flooding

We turned off the tarmac late afternoon and drove along a track into the desert towards Erg Chebbie. We had a site en-route to check out where birders had recently had Dunn's Lark. We had a look but it was too windy and we saw little in our brief look before rain drove us back into the car. As dusk approached we began driving the remainder of the 15 km rough desert track to Erg Chebbie heading for the Hotel Jasmina. A team of Spanish ringers had been resident all spring and the Hotel is recommended by many birders.On arrival we had a friendly greeting and were soon settled in and booked on a half-day desert 4x4 excursion the next day.

After a filling meal we bumped into the same group of Scandinavian's we'd met briefly on the Tagdilt. They asked if we'd seen the Egyptian Nightjar and right on cue one flew over our heads across the courtyard!

dusk at Erg Chebbie

Tuesday 27th April

Sleeping in a hotel perched beside classic sand dunes on the edge of the Sahara Desert we could hardly turn down the photographic opportunities provided by sunrise so we were up just after 05.00 and trudging through sand to a ridge to soak it up.

It was fantastic and well worth the effort. Soon after the sun rose we set off to bird the many tamarisks that stood just below the Auberge Jasmina. Highlights were W. Bonellis Warbler(10), W. Olivaceous Warbler(4), Spotted Flycatcher(5) and Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, and a few Willow Warblers.

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

After breakfast we met up with our guide and jumped into his Toyota 4x4 and headed off east into the desert.

Over the next 4 hours we got a great selection of desert species plus our 2 main targets - Houbara Bustard and Desert Sparrow.

He knew the area amazingly well and stopped frequently to point birds out. A little oasis he took us to was rather superb, the water attracting Desert Lark, Redstart and Yellow Wagtail in the short while we were there. He finished with Desert Sparrow which was nesting in the base of a raven's nest in an isolated tree.

desert oasis

bellamite fossils

Houbara Bustard

Crowned Sandgrouse

Desert Sparrow

Whinchat

We took a short break after our 4x4 adventure and chilled out in the shade witha drink.

We decided that we'd give the Dunn's lark site another look before heading off to Lake Merzuga which we hoped would give us a few extra birds for the trip. It was still rather hot when we got to the stretch of desert with grassy patches but we wandered out. Almost immediately we had great looks at a an adult and juvenile African Desert Warbler. We split up and combed the area and 30 minutes later Mike gave a shout and sure enough Dunn's Lark was on the list!

African Desert Warbler

Dunn's Lark

Around half an hour later at 16.45 we arrived at Lake Merzuga and were both immediately struck by what a great place it was. A huge shallow lake with muddy margins and a large area of reedbed and reed fringed pools, unsurprisingly on the edge of a desert it was a magnet for birds.

Initially we scoped the waterfowl and found 200+ Marbled Duck, c40 Ferruginous Ducks,350+ Ruddy Shelduck and along the far bank over 500 Greater Flamingo. Gull billed Terns flew over the lake and Kentish Plover fed on the sandy shoreline. We drove up onto a bluff for better views and added Great-white Egret, White Stork, Spoonbill, Squacco Heron and Purple Heron. Waders included Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Curlew Sandpiper,Wood Sandpiper, Black-t Godwit and Collared Pratincole.

Yellow Wagtail

Greater Flamingo

Lake Merzuga

As the light began to fade we drove to the edge of the town of Merzuga and found Pied Fly, Spotted Fly, Whinchat, Redstart and c20 Bee-eater in tamarisks. We took some photos of the sun setting over the dunes and drove back in the dark to Hotel Jasmina stopping to look at Kangaroo Rats en-route.

The Egyptian Nightjar showed again tonight.

Wednesday 28th April

Out pre-dawn again today and the sunrise was even more spectacular. Not sure I could easily tire of this place its simply breathtaking.

Still plenty of Bonelli's Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers in the tamarisks but also a couple of Pied Flycatchers and we spent a while looking at Olivaceous Warblers and were quite satisfied that we had both Western and Saharan. Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler also seen. After breakfast we headed off, lots to look for today.

Pied Flycatcher

Before we left Erg Chebbie we went in search of Desert Sparrow but found none at our stake-out spot which made us more than a little glad that we'd seen a couple on the 4x4 trip! This species was once common here but now there's just hundreds of House Sparrows....................

White-crowned Wheatear

We drove out of Erg Chebbie and mid-morning birderd around the town of Risani. The Gosney Guide recommends a place for Saharan Olivaceous and it was spot-on and was also a good spot for Blue-cheeked Bee-eater and Fulvous Babbler.

Blue-cheeked Blue-eater

Saharan Olivaceous Warbler

Risani

Soon after 11.00 and with temperatures soaring we drove a few miles out of Risani to a well-known stake-out for Pharoah eagle Owl.

The birds frequent a rocky ridge which sits over a wadi. A number of birders had warned that local kids had started demanding payment for escorting you to the spot and that it was getting out of hand. A small "donation" was OK but being several of them operating a scam sounded a pain and you have to leave your car for quite a while which leaves you rather vulnerable! We approached with care and were pleased to find the place deserted -perhaps it was a case of mad dogs and Englishmen..........

It took about half-an hour to lug our gear down the wadi but it was well worth the walk and we had great views of 2 adults.

Pharoah Eagle Owl

It was approaching 1300 when we left Risani and drove north through Erfoud and onto Er Rachidia. As we reached the town we swung west along the N10 towards Goulmina with Scub Warbler our target. The desert here was predominantly low sparcely spread vegetation with srubby areas and odd trees along wadis.

Southern Grey Shrike

Fulvous Babbler

Thursday 29th April

Dupont's Lark -juvenile

Lesser Short-toed Lark

Rock Sparrow

White Stork

Spotless Starling

Red-knobbed Coot

Hawfinch

Friday 30th April

Atlas Flycatcher

Cattle Egret

Saturday 1st May

Crested Lark

Calandra Lark

Sun 18th April '10. Elmley

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:36:00 -0400

I should have been packing for Morocco and looking forward to nearly 2 weeks of solid birding with Mike Buckland but with the Icelandic volcano still spewing ash and U.K. airspace closed for the 4th consecutive day our chances of getting away looked bleak.

Mike and I had discussed matters last night when a bunch of us had met for a meal. If all else failed we'd go to Scotland for a few days!

Late afternoon Mike 'phoned to say that Easyjet had cancelled the flight so we re-booked for Wednesday morning. Fingers crossed!

Jenny and I took the boys to Elmley for the afternoon and stayed until late enjoying the sunshine and peace and quiet.

As we drove down the access track there were lots of Lapwing and Redshank displaying and birds now sitting on eggs. Yellow Wagtails were dotted around and quite a few Little Egrets. As we got close to Kingshill a quick scan looking west revealed the unusual sight of a lot of Mediterranean Gulls spread across the freshmarsh, some displaying. Getting out of the car you could easily hear their distinctive calls filling the air. I scoped the marsh and counted over 70 adult Med Gulls, speaking to the warden Gordon, later in the day, he'd counted close to 100 at one point., something he'd never encountered before at Elmley.

After showing the boys a Little Owl in one of it's usual perches in the oaks we set off for the hides.

We had around 20 Whimbrel on the fresh marsh on our walk to the hides and several Sedge Warblers.

Once at the hides overlooking the scrape we found that Avocets were as usual staking out their territories and chasing most of the other waders. A few Black-tailed Godwits were present and as it was high tide a small number of Turnstones. Whilst duck numbers were heading towards their spring dip there were still several hundred Wigeon present and despite a good search I could not find any Garganey.

A slow stroll back saw us characteristically one of the last out of the car park and pausing to watch Hares alongside the access track saw us home far later than intended.

Pheasant

Black-tailed Godwit - it had an injured leg, is that why it remains in winter plumage?

Sat 17th April '10 BTO Breeding Bird Survey

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:31:00 -0400

Early morning found me sitting in my car just outside Hextable village waiting for the mist to clear so that I could start my BTO breeding bird survey. It's the 17th year that I have surveyed this square, I started the year the survey began in 1994, and it's been fascinating watching how the birds on my square have so often mirrored the national trend.

What really surprises me is that I am still recording a small but stable population of Corn Buntings. In fact this year there looks to be perhaps 4 pairs which would be the most I've recorded. Given the national plight of this species I find it even more extraordinary when you consider the relative proximity to Greater London. The 1 km square takes in a mix of arable, predominantly winter wheat, some paddocks and some of the village of Wilmington which is now on the edge of "greater" Dartford and has mostly modest gardens. It's a fairly level area of land but from the high point you can see that the sight is bounded by the A2 to the north and the M25 to the east. It's classic "green belt" land; hemmed in by some of the busiest roads in Britain and on the outskirts of it's biggest city.

I strolled around on my usual route; still plenty of Skylark, a few Swallows, Chiffchaff, Blackcap but no Whitethroat as yet. Pied Wagtail's look to be breeding and Ring-necked Parakeets have unfortunately moved in.

I'll return in late May to do my second visit and see what else has arrived.

Sat 10th April '10 Summer migrants pour in.....

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:47:00 -0400

I started at New Hythe on a lovely bright, warm sunny morning. I spent 90 minutes walking around the Leybourne side and had a single silent Nightingale hopping about beneath the buddlea and a couple of Willow Warblers, 6+ Chiffchaff and 20+ Blackcap.

Soon after 0900 I decided that New Hythe had little more to offer and I fancied a change of scenery so I drove over to the Ashdown Forest and birded Old Lodge in glorious sunshine with temperatures heading towards 17C.

Redstart is one of my favourite species and a spring male takes some beating. I saw at least 8 at Old Lodge today including a group of 4 that spent most of the time chasing each other around a copse of silver birch. Elsewhere at least 2 males were singing and appeared to be already on territory and I had 4 Tree Pipits in the damp valley in the centre of the reserve. There were birds everywhere and of note I had a Raven, 6+ Siskin, 4 Redpoll and 4 Nuthatch.

After lunch overlooking land south of Old Lodge I decided to finish the day on the North Kent marshes at Cliffe where Ring Ouzels had been reported.

I got to Cliffe Pools around 16.30 and when I got to the second viewing mound 2 male Ring Ouzels were still on view, feeding in the long grass beyond the drainage ditch. Out on the flood there were plenty of ducks by no sign of the garganey reported earlier. Two Greenshank were visible from the first viewing mound. It was quite cool with a stiff northerly breeze and soon after 19.00 I'd had enough and set off home.

Old Lodge, Ashdown Forest, Sussex

Chiffchaff

Old Lodge, Ashdown Forest, Sussex

Tree Pipit

Redstart

Monday 5th April '10 Dungeness

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:08:00 -0400

With the weather set fair and winds from the south forecast Dungeness looked a good bet for summer migrants. We were not to be disappointed. Our first stop was the ARC pits and no sooner were we out of the car than we could hear a Sedge Warbler singing. We had no luck with the penduline tits but the flooded boardwalk was of huge interest to the boys with the usual consequences! A Yellow Wagtail flew over and several Chiffchaffs were singing. Out on the water the wildfowl count was much diminshed with only a small group of Goldeneye of note.

At the seaward end of the ARC we had 2 White Wagtails in company with a couple of pied for good comparison.

Driving around to the old lighthouse we had a Black Redstart near the new lighthouse, a Wheatear by the Britannia pub and several Stonechat.

Pied Wagtail - this showy bird was collecting food near the old lighthouse.

We parked near the old lighthouse and in glorious sunshine walked across the shingle towards the gorse, heading for the "desert" and trapping area. Whilst I was busy photographing a Linnet, Jenny found a Firecrest. We spent ages watching it , even the boys got looks.

The trapping area itself was a big disappointment, virtually birdless, and very wet.

Linnet

Firecrest

After a brief chat in the Obs with Dave Walker, "assistant" Dave and GIll Hollamby we decided to have lunch on the top of the moat. It was sunny and very pleasant but yielded few birds.

We spent the early afternoon at the Brenzett Air Museum on Romney Marsh which is fascinating and a labour of love for a sadly diminishing band of volunteers.

Late afternoon we returned to Dungeness and walked around the reserve, for much of it in the company of Ray Turley. Several Slavonian Grebes showed well though they looked rather odd in their transitional winter/summer plumage.