Year and Lifer ticks

Date: 
25th September - 3rd October

Location:
Weymouth,Newton St Loe, Greylake, Steart Marshes, Clifton Pits, Slimbridge

Species Highlights: 
Med Gull, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Common Scoter, Buzzard, Spotted Crake, American Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stonechat.

Observation: 
A busy few days after getting back from Cyprus starting off with a trip to Weymouth with Mr. Chard hoping to see the Long Billed Dowitcher which had been  there but on arrival it appears it had gone so we made do with what was there.

Little Egret always entertaining

2 Sandwich Tern

We then moved on to Radipole Mediterranean gulls but little else until chatting to another birder who told us about the Common Scoter.

Managed to get down to its level.

Never see them this close so very pleased,

Thursday a normal patch walk all very quiet until almost home a 3 Buzzards gave me a few photo opportunities.

Amazing how 3  Common Buzzards can look so different!

Work, then Monday out with Lauren to increase our count towards #200 and a good start ar Greylake with walking in the hide a Spotted Crake, a Lifer for Lauren i'd seen one before at Slimbridge 2016, but still good to see.

Right in front hide, it doesn't get much better. 

This was the Crake swimming to cover not to return out for us.

30 mins a way and on a roll we went to Steart Marshes as a  American Golden Plover was showing.... at around 1/4 mile away!

Lauren even got a flight shot.

But a lifer for us both and another year tick, we can always improve picture ... I hope!

Starlings a walk back to car park.

Wednesday i was free a deiced to try for the Pectoral Sandpipers at Clifton Pits, on arrival a group of Welsh birders had also just arrived so we started to scan the flooded fields, i walked further down to where it had been showing with no luck, the Welsh Boys were stood looking over hedge so i joined them and they had the 2 birds along with Ringed Plover, Dunlin.

A little more distant than i would like, but a horse walked up to them making them fly.

The flew and landed in there normal puddles but on the far side.

Managed to get a bit closer again nice and low.

Drove back via Slimbridge and popped into the South hide and the Black Tern was still about. 
Very tricky to focus on and light was awful, but happy with a few shots.

Best one of the day.

On to today and a patch walk not many photo opportunities but a very good count 47 species. 
Highlights being this smart female Stonechat, first for the year, also on top fields Linnet, Skylark and Meadow Pipits.

Apart from Teal on the lake not much change there Coot and Morhen still good numbers at 4 each. Almost home and this Buzzard suddenly appeared much too close but got this rushed shot....there either too close or miles away!
If you've looked at Blog leave a comment, and say its crap :)

Wayne Year Bird List: 192
Lauren Year Bird List: 182

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MY200BIRDYEAR completed

Date: 09-12/12/2018

Location: 
Dorset, Devon Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Overcast with a bit of blue

Species Highlights: 
Little Bunting, Black Redstart, Surf Scoter, Common Scoter, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow Browed Warbler, Black Necked Grebe.

Observation: 
In the pursuit of my last 2 species to get to 200 for the year we decided on doing the miles Monday morning and headed down to Portland first Chiswell to be more precise and the Little Bunting which had been showing well, a early start and we arrived by 8:30am. Chatting to another birder and the Little bunting landed almost at our feet!

It made a few attempts to feed in the very busy Pebble Lane, cars, fishermen and people made it fly up and disappear but after 5 mins it came back.

A female Black Redstart was also flitting around the rooftops.

The Little Bunting is a First for me and Lauren and my 199th bird of the year.

As we had a few miles left we left after 30 mins and checked out Ferrybridge and Sandsfoot Castle, Red Breasted Merganser were the best of these location all very distant so we continued  on down to 3 beaches headland in Devon just short of Broadsands.

From the coast path we spotted the Scoters, 1 fw Surf Scoter, 5 Common Scoter. another life tick although i'm not counting it on my Life list as picture was awful!!
But counted it on my year list making 200 birds, whoohoo.
(lauren now on 190)

On a high we made the short drive to Broadsands car park where a Yellow Browed Warbler had be showing along with Siberian Chiffchaff. 
The chiff didn't take long to find we homed in on the birders in the corner of the car park on spotted it.

At least 2 of these in the bushes along with other normal Chiffchaff. 

Noticed this also, left hand picture from Devon / right hand picture from patch this year.  I think it's a Siberian Chiffchaff, only had one picture so won't add this year but, i'll look harder next year.

Saw the Yellow Browed Warbler a few times but couldn't get a picture, had brilliant views through binoculars, It all seemed a bit familiar as Lauren got a picture back in 25/10/14 at Radipole but his bird was still not on my life list.

So was very pleased to eventually get a picture.

These are Laurens pictures as it landed where she was stood!
So ended the day on 202 birds for me and 192 for Lauren a excellent day. 
Still a couple of birding trips left before the end of 2018 so still a chance Lauren will get the 200 too.

Back on patch but wednesday this week as got the dreaded dentist today, so wandered through Bath Mill with not much to report. Top fields again all very quiet, had a call from Tony and I knew Anne were out on patch looking for that Dipper so headed towards lakes.

In churchyard orchard af few bird were feeding on the fallen apples Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Redwings.

A single Fieldfare also, I wonder if it's the same one that seemed to stay in the orchard last year ??

30+ Ramblers greeted me at Waterfall, scarring away anything that would have been about.
so waited for them to move on .

Nothing much on lakes but met Tony & Anne and wandered up to where I'd seen Dipper, The Ramblers had just rambled through, just after they'd disappeared we heard a high pitched whistle followed by gunshots and gun dogs running around in top woodland, giving us little chance of seeing anything!! No Dipper was seen.

I left and walked back along back drive and was pleased to see a few Common gulls.

15 birds seen mixed up with Black Headed. 
That was almost all until I could see my house and crossing the Brook in Bath Mill a Little Egret took flight! A neighbour told me 2 weeks ago he'd saw an all white heron on brook so very pleased to see it so close to home.

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