Birding and other distractions

A sunny day was forecast so a revisit to Walmer was in order together with KC. The weather was certainly nice there and we soon saw a Queen of Spain Fritillary. During the course of the visit there were 3-4 in total, mainly basking on the path as before. They were generally more worn or damaged than those on 20th, one particularly so. As before getting a good underwing shot was a challenge though one individual proved more cooperative. Also seen there: one each of Painted Lady, Brown Argus, and Common Blue.

News broke shortly before midday of a Common Nighthawk in a garden at Wantage so I was on the road by 12:30. Arriving just before 3 p.m. I soon found the cul-de-sac where the bird was present. It was sitting on a garden fence and being watched by about 150 other birders. The bird seemed unconcerned by people 30 feet away, and sat tight when even red kites passed overhead, just glancing upwards to keep an eye on them. It occasionally changed position wobbling its body as it did so. Other birders were arriving all the time and by 3:30 I left them to it. The nighthawk apparently flew off high to the south at 7 p.m. so doubtful it will return to this area. Common Nighthawk  Keeping an eye on a Red Kite The bird was just behind the red Audi.

Following an interesting report yesterday of 3-4 Queen of Spain Fritillary at Walmer I headed there this morning after my visit to the dentist. Arriving at 11 a.m I soon found the site and was surprised that no one else was there. The particular area has a footpath around an abandoned wheat field flanked by a hedgerow. Weather conditions were ideal, calm and mostly sunny. I found a QoS after about 15 minutes when one landed on the hedge. It then flew off though settled on the path a short while later. Thereafter I started finding others on the path basking in the sun. They were reluctant to lift their wings to reveal the silvery-white underwing pattern, though perseverance paid off. I was joined by another observer, Nate, after about an hour and together we saw approx. five in total. On occasions two battled together in flight.  Most were in good condition and are presumably the progeny of a mated female that flew over from France in the hot weather during the summer. Hopefully, eg...

I had an hour at this site early in the morning  prior to our departure from Menorca. It was within walking distance which partly involved trekking around  Plajas Fornells. On the beach were two smart Audoins Gulls. There is a small wetland at Cala Tirant with an outlet to the bay. The area was quite good for waders, with approximately half a dozen each of Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover.  Passerines included several Willow Warbler, Whinchat, Blue Rock Thrush, Stonechat, Nightingales croaking from bushes, and the ever-present Sardinian Warblers.  Bee-eaters were frequently heard and seen in flight, plus a single Hoopoe also flew past. Audoins Gull Sardinian Warbler (female) Bee-eater Willow Warbler

The gorge is accessed from Cala Galdana though exploration was limited by a locked gate on the main access track. Nevertheless there was good habitat prior to that point, the site proving to better for birding than others I have tried  on Menorca. A couple of bright Willow Warblers were seen in hedgerows while several Nightingale were heard from within more dense scrub. Two shrikes were found, both juvenile Woodchat, plus a Kingfisher was heard. Raptors were represented by a pale morph Booted Eagle and an adult Egyptian Vulture. Willow Warbler Juvenile Woodchat Booted Eagle Egyptian Vulture Male Wall Lizard Algendar Gorge

Albufera des Grau is the largest wetland area in Menorca though birdwise I found it a bit of a disappointment. There were no waders to be seen from the two hides I visited, though a few passerines came very close: Spotted Flycatcher, female Sardinian Warbler, and Cetti's Warbler. A flock of 12 Bee-eater flew over, prior to a Red Kite. At Cala Galdana a gull flying along the beach caught my attention and then conveniently landed to confirm my suspicion that it was an adult Audoins Gull. Albufera des Grau Sardinian Warbler Sardinian Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Spotted Flycatcher Audoins Gull Cala Galdana beach

A planned trip to Shellness was hastily rearranged when news came through of a sandplover at Cliffe. KC and I arrived there at 9:30 though the bird had unfortunately flown off about 50 minutes earlier. Only four birders managed to see it. It proved to be a Lesser Sandplover, a species I had only seen once before, nearly 20 years ago at Pagham. Water levels on BB2 were ideal for small waders, and there was an impressive assemblage of birds. Approximately 200 Dunlin, 20 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Little Stint, 2 Ruff and single Pectoral Sandpiper were present.  Later, together with AF, we checked out Flamingo Pool though it was by now low tide on the river and relatively few birds remained on the pool. Lesser Sandplover. Photo by the finder Gus Wilson.