Birding and other distractions

A bright spell this afternoon encouraged me to look for Adders at the local patch. To my surprise I found one within five minutes in DV. However, finding another proved more difficult, and it was about 45 minutes later that one was seen in TF. This second individual was well hidden so that only the tail end was visible. Coal Tits were very vocal this afternoon, and I also heard Bullfinch on a couple of occasions. The first time was in a hedgerow on the north side of DV, where a pair were eventually seen. However, only the female showed well enough to photograph. I also located a pair of Bullfinch in TF, though didn't actually see them. Adder in DV. Adder in TF. Female Bullfinch No access to PV!

A dull, blustery day, with intervals of rain. However, it was fortunately dry whilst at Penshurst this afternoon, the attraction there being recent reports of Hawfinch. We managed to see some Hawfinch from the churchyard though they were actually present in nearby grounds of Penshurst Place. They favoured a line of Yew though occasionally flew into adjacent bare trees. Up to eight birds have been reported here although we saw four perched up plus another in flight only. Their characteristic call was heard on occasions. A distant Red Kite was also seen. Hawfinch

My first visit to this reserve in Somerset. We had fortunately left the rain behind in Cornwall. At least five Great White Egret were seen, this now a breeding species in the county. However, the undoubted highlight was a female Merlin, initially sitting on a low tree at the back of the flood. It then flew low over the water, flushing Teal and Lapwing in the process, before catching a Snipe very close to the nearby Treehouse hide. It fed on the unfortunate wader for about 15 minutes, affording a remarkable view of the falcon. To end the day a male Hen Harrier was seen, albeit at some distance. Merlin Merlin with prey, a Snipe Great White Egret Common Snipe The flood

We started the day at the Hayle estuary where the tide was receding. It was a bright sunny morning after overnight frost.  Plenty of birds to be seen, especially gulls though I could find nothing out of the ordinary amongst them. However, whilst scanning with the 'scope I picked out five Goosander, including three drakes. Waders included singles of Whimbrel and Greenshank. From there we headed to Penzance hoping to catch up with the wintering Pacific Diver. However, it proved unsuccessful in spite of several sites being checked, and in the company of other birders. A number of Great Northern Divers were seen, also four Purple Sandpiper and a flock of approx. 75 Sanderling. A brief visit to Sennen produced the hoped for Chough, with two individuals in a field close to the road. Two drake Goosander, plus a Shelduck  Female Goosander with Black-headed Gull Purple Sandpiper  Shag (immature) Shag Sanderling  Chough Sennen cove

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