The Right Choice....Again !

Date: 15th February 2016

Location: Sand Bay > Uphill

Weather: Blue Sky, Cold Wind

Other Species: Chiffchaff, Stonechat, 2 Dartford Warbler, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Shelduck, Redshank, Ringed Plover, 1 Short-Eared Owl - Of Note - 27 Species Total

Observation: Blue skies so headed to Sand Bay first. Within minutes of arriving a Chiffchaff was busy scurrying in the undergrowth but popped out for this picture.

After a quick search we spotted the female Dartford Warbler sunning her-self.

After a few pictures the Male flew in and perched nicely on top the Sea Buckthorn, and started singing with his scratchy song.

We wandered along to Sand Point car-park, to carry on with the lucky streak of the Firecrest, unfortunately no Firecrest, but there was a beautiful female Stonechat.

Whilst looking at our pictures so far, a Sparrowhawk came coasting along the skyline of Sand Point and landed for a few pictures before a Magpie chased her off.

Leaving Sand Bay on a high point, we headed for Uphill, we waited for the Short-Eared Owl for about 3 hours, after no sign we walked around the windy estuary with the tide still receding and seen a few waders including Ringed Plover, Redshank and Oystercatcher and also 4 Shelduck. We headed back to the van and packed up to go, suddenly the Short-Eared Owl appeared quartering in the field next to the road and headed back to the field we were stood for 3 hours!

We quickly put our kit back on and headed back to the field hoping to see him hunting again, with no luck. As we walked back to the Van, he was hiding in the grass in the field closest to the road, on spotting him he immediately flew back to the other field, where we tried our luck once more, this proved successfully and he was nicely perched along the headline.

All in all, a very successfully if not cold day!

Thanks For Looking !