Up with the Lark

Sorry for the rather cheesy title, but I really struggled to come up with one for this post!

8th

The only birding I've really managed on previous days was Tuesday, which was a day off work.

I did my usual walking route zigzagging to the Obs and back via various promising spots.  However, today was not promising for stuff on the ground as it had been a clear night, and the morning was completely clear too.  A little was going on overhead, but there had clearly been a clear-out of things like Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

Nevertheless, the ramble started really well with a nice late Lesser Whitethroat feeding on Elderberries in the garden of the derelict house at the beginning of Barleycrates Lane, then whilst I was watching it, 3 Redwing flew out of the leylandii hedge, calling.  A classic case of summer meets winter.

The rest of the walk to the Bill was largely uneventful, though watching 2 Buzzard and 3 Peregrine interacting was thrilling!

On arrival at the Obs, there were as usual some great moths to look at.  The main highlights were the scarce migrants, and lifers, of a rather worn Dewick's Plusia.

But even rarer, was this Small Marbled.  Here it is by a teaspoon to give you some idea of it's lack of stature!

 

Among the other top species was this wandering Large Wainscot.

 



And this fresh Brick.

 

Although these have been featured before, I did like this formation of fresh Mallow and Black Rustic.

 

 

 

As well as this striking form of the common Lunar Underwing.

 



Continuing the theme from my last post of spectacular things (other than moths) found around the moth traps, today this solitary wasp Eutanyacra picta was hanging around.  Thanks to Gavin Broad for the ID.

I decided on a slightly different route back to usual, and discovered there had been a real influx of Robin overnight, with many found, some in odd places.  One small area of bushes by Cheyne Weares held three in close proximity.  These bushes also held a single Goldcrest, which is my first on the island this autumn.

I wound my way home via Wakeham and Watery Lane, which held a few more Wheatear than most places, as well as a single Whinchat.

Today

The reason why I've not been out birding much lately, is solely down to working at Bridport, which means I'm not free till gone 2, which is pain.  This may have affected my chances of seeing the Thrush Nightingale that was trapped yesterday, though in truth as it wasn't seen after release, I would have been very lucky to have been in a position to see it.  Anyway, when I heard that a Short-toed Lark had been found this morning, I was understandably pessimistic.

I rushed straight to the Privet Hedge at the Bill this afternoon, to see a single person walking up the path the bird had been on, and no-one else around!

I sauntered up the hill, only to find at the top, that I was faced with the Short-toed Lark on the path!  I rushed to get my scope out of my bag, but as I did so, it flew off, and where it flew to was unseen.  Great. 

Myself and this other bloke had a bit of a walk around, but there was no sign.  I stayed put scanning  the privet paths, while the other chap went off to search elsewhere.  After a while, I looked down the hill to see another birder coming up, only to notice the bird was back on the path between us!  I rushed back up to try and alert the other birder, but he was now off in the distance so it took some time (I can't wolf-whistle!).

I returned to the bird, only to find the other guy walking up the path, almost at the top!  Well, apparently he hadn't seen the bird right in front of him and had flushed it!  Yet again, we were stuck with no bird and not a clue of it's presence, as the Saunders' arrived.  After a while I got a bit bored, and decided to get a different view from the bottom of the hill.

As I got there, I noticed a bird on the path, it was it!  I don't know how it sneaked around like it did without us seeing it so many times! 

Anyway, it went on to show brilliantly, and it came within metres of the observers, as you will see from my video.

Believe it or not, despite about a million being reported, I'm yet to even glimpse a Yellow-browed Warbler.  It's not high on my list of priorities, but it would be pretty poor getting through the autumn without seeing one given this influx!  I'll keep trying. 

Perhaps I'll see one in Norfolk which I'm leaving for on Sunday for a 5 day trip.  On my way via Surrey, I may be able to go for the Two-barred Crossbill that's currently being elusive there in addition.  Fingers crossed!

Grotfinch, Wotfinch?

Previous days

Not a great deal to relate from Dorset from the last 6 days, as I've been either working, or off elsewhere.

My couple of visits to Ferrybridge on the way to Bridport haven't produced much, except a varying number of Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail over, and my first Grey Plover of the autumn here. 

On Friday afternoon I was determined to find something of note on the island, despite the fierce wind (though being easterly, it did have some promise).  But, my checking of Lancridge (that I thought'd be sheltered, but it wasn't!), Old Hill, Penn Castle Woods, and Wakeham produced nothing of interest on the bird front.  This nice Dark Bush-cricket was the only highlight at Wakeham.

 



Over the weekend, I returned to my old stomping ground of Surrey in preparation for my leading of a coach trip to Keyhaven on Sunday.  I was therefore able to make a visit to my old patch, Tice's Meadow, on Saturday afternoon.

 

Great to see the old place is still producing the goods, as a Little Stint was present, only the third site record.  It was very mobile about the workings, and was also often chased by the Lapwing!

 

The other highlights from my 4 hour vigil here were a late-ish Hobby, and Green and Common Sandpipers.

 

The coach trip on Sunday with the RSPB Guildford group went very well, with 52 people heading around Keyhaven Marshes.  The weather was kind, and we amassed a list of 89 between us, quite possibly a record for the group.  The highlight was a very showy Spotted Redshank, but we also enjoyed the likes of Raven, Greenshank, Water Rail, Kingfisher, and Hobby.  One couple saw a Marsh Harrier and one lucky (and very reliable) member had a Woodcock fly past them! 

 

This was my first outing as a leader for a coach trip, and I really enjoyed it.  I think it went rather well!

 

Today

 

I got back home from Surrey late morning, and with messages reporting a decent fall on the island, I wanted to get out immediately.   

 

I also had to do some dreaded shopping, so I decided to combine the two!  I went to Tescos, and walked from there.  With the number of Yellow-browed Warbler around the country, and with one seen at the Obs earlier, any patches of Sycamores were the focus of my attention.

 

I walked from the car park along the path towards Perryfields Quarry, then along the old railway cutting onto Yeolands Quarry and back via Bumpers Lane.

 

There were Blackcap everywhere, and a similar number of Chiffchaff too.  I came across a particular migrant hotspot at Perryfields, where the bushes were jumping with stuff!  This included a single female Redstart, a Whitethroat, and a Spotted Flycatcher.  The wonderful area:

 

 

 

The rest of the walk didn't really live up to that benchmark, but there had certainly been quite a fall of Blackcap and Chiffchaff everywhere.  I hate to think how many there were on the whole island!

 

A message from Martin that the juvenile Common Rosefinch (sometimes nicknamed 'Grotfinch' for it's very plain appearance!) from previous days was showing again, had me heading down to the Obs mid-afternoon.

 

The bird had apparently been associating with the garden House Sparrow flock, but a two hour vigil viewing the edge of the Obs garden failed to produce it.  It would be a lifer, and I'm hoping (no matter how boring it's looks!) that it will show again in subsequent days.

 

The visit was enlivened first by Joe showing us a Grasshopper Warbler he'd caught.

 

 

And secondly from my viewing of the moth traps, which produced a lifer amongst other highlights.  The new one was the migrant, the well-named Delicate.

 

 

 

Other goodies included the striking Black Rustic.

 

 

And the quite common Large Ranunculus.

 

 

I took the route back home via Barleycrates Lane, and was quite astonished to see the small horse field by the entrance carpeted with birds.  Amongst the 50 Pied Wagtail were one or two White, 5 Yellow (if I see one tomorrow it will be my latest ever, same applies for Whitethroat), and 10 Wheatear.  Also in with the Wagtails was one rather striking individual, which I initially thought looked good for a 1st-winter Citrine.  Then I realised it had a yellow vent, and closer inspection also revealed dark lores.  With such a grey back, I can only think it's some sort of 'eastern' Yellow Wagtail.  I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't at least try to get a photo.  Maybe tomorrow.

 

Back to Bridport this week, and Ferrybridge will yet again be rubbish due to the tides.  Oh well, I guess I'll have to make do with twitching other peoples finds on the Island in the afternoons.  Hopefully they'll be plenty to choose from, as we enter the best time of year!