Birding and other distractions

Finally made the effort to see the pale phase Booted Eagle in Cornwall, the bird having been present for several weeks near Marazion. We planned to spend the weekend in the area, so had a leisurely start, leaving Kent at 9 a.m. The journey down took about 6 hours and after getting my bearings parked up at 3:30 on the A30 layby near Marazion, from which the eagle had been mainly seen. The bird hadn't been reported for several hours though by good luck it flew in over the distant pines within 10 minutes of arrival. It was initially seen together with a Buzzard but then flew north attracting the attentions of corvids in doing so. After a while the eagle then flew back towards the pines with Jackdaws in close proximity much of the time. By 4:30 p.m. there were no further signs and presumably it had gone to roost in the  pines. View from the layby

Near Cooling Church a field of millet had been left to seed, attracting a large flock of buntings and finches. It was alongside the road so afforded a good opportunity to study the flock. Around 200 birds were present in total, the main species being Chaffinch and Reed Bunting. Also present were about 30 each of Goldfinch and Linnet, plus four Corn Bunting, one if which was heard to sing. Two Brambling had been seen in the flock a few days earlier though were not present during my visit. A confiding Buzzard was in the churchyard, with a smart Grey Wagtail in a nearby field. Field of millet  Chaffinches feeding on millet Reed Buntings and Chaffinches Buzzard  Buzzard Grey Wagtail 

After checking out a BBS site near West Hougham it seemed a good opportunity to look for the introduced Chough at nearby Dover. From a layby on the A258 I picked up the flock somewhat distantly. They flew and landed on a fence, 16 birds in total. After a while the birds took to the air again and some made their way to the nearby aviary, where presumably supplementary feeding still occurs. From another road we were able to get somewhat closer views of the aviary, with at one point all 16 birds on the roof. Then to Broadstairs arriving at 4:15 to try for the Scops Owl which had been seen well the previous evening at the north end of Broadstairs cricket field. As it got dark an orderly line of birders scanned the favoured large Oak tree, one or two using a thermal imaging device. However, try as we might the owl did not show this evening, and we left at 6 p.m. 16 Chough near the aviary. Choughs The Scops Owl twitch

At home this morning entering WeBS data on the laptop when the phone pinged and I found myself looking at a message from Glenn Honey enquiring about the identity of a bird he'd just photographed at New Hythe. The bird was an American Yellow Warbler no less, which he'd found along the mill stream at the site. Needless to say I was in the car within ten minutes heading to New Hythe. I parked near the sewage farm and walked to where about ten birders were looking for the warbler. It hadn't been seen since the original sighting but fortunately a short time later the bird was found in alder trees near the sewage farm. It then remained in the area though was very mobile, flycatching from tree to tree. It was mild and sunny that day so favourable conditions for insectivorous birds, the proximity of the sewage farm being another factor. There were also numerous Chiffchaffs in the area, some often seen off by the Yellow Warbler as it defended the territory.  By mid afternoon the cro...

Quite mild today with spells of sunshine. We started at the observatory though the Hume's Warbler has seemingly moved on, perhaps to the trapping area. After a walk across shingle on the reserve we managed to see both Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver on New Diggings though the latter species was on the far side. I bought two Stephen Message paintings in the Visitor Centre which sadly looks set to close in the New Year. A close range Great White Egret was seen whilst eating lunch there. We finished the day on Walland Marsh finding the flock of Bewick's Swan, which numbered 23 birds, while in another area a single Whooper together with Mute Swans. Part of the Bewick's Swan flock. Whooper Swan

A lovely sunny day after a frosty night  I was interested to see if any habitat management had been carried out in pylon valley. To my disappointment it hasn't been touched, so now impossible to walk the central path from one end to the other. I really hope there are plans to carry out the work before next March otherwise so much wildlife will be displaced as it becomes more wooded. I managed to see a pair of Marsh Tit, with a brief snatch of song heard. A female Bullfinch also showed well.

  A Pied Wheatear had been present at this site for a number of days, so somewhat belatedly we set off to visit it today.  The weather in Sussex was beautiful, sunny with light winds. Fortunately the bird was still present, and was seen soon after arrival.  A female, it showed well on ruins of the old hotel, occasionally in the company of a Black Redstart. It was feeding well, with lots of insect activity in the warm conditions. By way of a detour on the way back we visited Arundel WT, somewhere I'd not been for a long time.  Close range views of various wildfowl were much enjoyed, especially the Harlequin Duck.  However, a female Baikal Teal caused some head scratching as to its identity. Seaford Head Pied Wheatear Pied Wheatear Black Redstart Harlequin Duck Spectacled Eider Common Scoter (female) Baikal Teal (female)