Sunday, 12 January 2025

2024 - Autumn and end of year birding

First up, Cyprus 10 days in total starting towards the end of September through to the first Saturday of October. Weather steady around the 30C mark. Surprisingly calm with only a few afternoons characterised with a stiff, yet refreshing westerly breeze. Mainly light and variable breeze from day to day for the morning push of raptors out over Akrotiri. Amazing autumn for raptor passage in which the stream of passage Honey Buzzards overshadowed by other species. I was lucky to see 20 raptor species during the visit, highlight was finding a Saker Falcon which was the first recorded on the island in 6 years plus great views of multiple Lesser Spotted Eagles and several Levant Sparrowhawks.

Honey Buzzard and Lesser Spotted Eagle

Saker Falcon

Back in GB twitched a couple of "possibles", that need DNA tests of samples to firm up the identification. The Shrike at Gillingham, Dorset thought to be Isabelline Shrike and then the 'Eastern' Stonechat at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk, that looks to be Amur Stonechat. Whilst both may be confirmed they could be lost as species with the shake up of the world bird list talked about for this year. 

Shrike sp.

Stonechat sp.

As autumn progressed Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, delivered its usual wintering (Scandinavian) Rock Pipits and a very smart Dartford Warbler showed well early one November morning along the perimeter. Great White Egret sightings continued into November and 2 flyover Goosanders late that month were noteworthy. Across the Thames the wintering Black-tailed Godwit flock held a colour-ringed individual ringed in Kent in 2020. It has been seen at The Wash and in Iceland as well as in this area back in October 2022 and January 2023. Yellow-legged Gulls noted including a returning green-ringed (now 3rd winter) from the Camargue.

Yellow-legged Gull

Back in South Yorkshire where local Raven and Red Kite were most welcome and early November saw Pink-footed Geese on the move. On the moorland edge passage Brambling seen, and after a long lean spell, Crossbills could be seen on occasion with sightings at the year end as well. Saw a couple of the Old Moor RSPB Caspian Gulls around Christmas time, a fine reserve holding a variety of winter visitors.

Caspian Gull - 2nd Winter

Twitched the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland that gave itself up in flight with (Northern) Lapwings. A good supporting cast with in excess of 50 Twite moving along the dunes here in the the Druridge Bay area where Pink-footed Geese moved to find daily feeding grounds. On the sea the Common Scoter flock held several Velvet Scoters. The 'slick' of Scoters attracted many Red-throated Divers, up to 2 Black-throated Divers and a diminutive Slavonian Grebe that looked like it would be squashed whenever the Scoters dived in unison. Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes completed the diverse gathering of waterbirds on the sea. Nearby many Goldeneye on one of the inland pools and further inland Hen Harriers flew over a grassy hillside sometimes alongside a Marsh Harrier, allowing for nice studies of the the flight profiles.

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Sunday, 27 October 2024

Birding Cyprus 26 Sep to 05 Oct 2024 - Summary

Back on Cyprus to take in the raptor migration at Akrotiri at the end of September into early October 2024. Please find a summary below. Many thanks to those who helped me in the field and online. 


Falcons

Didn’t disappoint. (Common) Kestrels present throughout and at least one with pale underwings could have been a Lesser Kestrel, but the strong sunlight can make all Kestrels having noticeably pale underwings. However, one adult male Lesser Kestrel complete with peachy breast flew through the Beehives one afternoon even “rolling” to show its grey wing crescents. Hobby seen throughout and several sightings of Red-footed Falcons with multiple birds present at times. In terms of numbers probably an even split of distinct (juvenile, male and female) plumages seen. Eleonora’s Falcons readily seen over Akrotiri visiting from their nearby summer haunts, yet to migrate south. A few Peregrines about the peninsula including one juv/imm. hunting over the Beehives area and a pale adult type over the Water Tower, the plumage suggestive of ‘brookei’ the expected subspecies in the Eastern Mediterranean.  Most unexpected was the large Falcon that appeared over the Beehives mid-afternoon on the first birding day. With the naked eye I thought it was the pale adult Peregrine seen earlier at the Water Tower, but through bins the first view confirmed otherwise revealing brown upperparts. Almost immediately it turned revealing dark underwing coverts contrasting with flight feathers and heavily streaked underparts becoming denser further down the body. Took and circulated a record "boc" photo, Saker Falcon. It showed too briefly but remained in the area and others connected with it over the next three days. I saw it on two of those with perhaps the last sighting of it leaving the peninsula by the Water Tower (29/09). A scarce visitor to the island and I believe the last was back in 2018.

Red-footed Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

Saker Falcon


Accipiters

(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk a given be it local birds or those on the move. Most if not all of the Accipiters readily identified on wing profile and most sightings comprised singles either hunting over the peninsula, especially Akrotiri Marsh, or moving through on migration. Sometimes seen together with another but once in a small group, more on that below. It has been an exceptional autumn for Levant Sparrowhawk on Cyprus, is this a one off? I had brief looks of a Levant Sparrowhawk called out at the Beehives (28/09) and the next day I picked up a Levant Sparrowhawk flying over the Beehives and the brown and white underpart streaking on the body gave it away as a juvenile. I nearly dismissed it as the first (Common) Kestrel of the afternoon as it flew head-on over towards the western edge of Phassouri Forest. Prolonged views of juvenile Levant Sparrowhawk followed at the Water Tower on consecutive mornings at the end of the trip (04/10 and 05/10) both birds arriving from the north and heading out south. Both birds were photographed and I got the snaps of the one on the 5th shown below. This was seen coming in at distance where the pointed-ish wing profile was made or enhanced by dark primary tips, a feature noted on 2 possible/probable/candidate/definite Levant Sparrowhawks seen earlier that morning circling above the water tower with the small group mentioned above of 4 (Eurasian) Sparrowhawks. Interestingly one of the (Eurasian) Sparrowhawks mobbed one of the suggested Levant Sparrowhawks quite a few times as they circled overhead slowly drifting south. So connected with 4-6 Levant Sparrowhawks over the period, can’t grumble with that!

(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk

Levant Sparrowhawk

Buzzards

Honey Buzzards moved through seen every day with big numbers at the beginning of the trip and a clear drop off on reaching October. The commonest raptor and the one to judge any other large raptor by in terms of size, structure and flight profile. (Common) Buzzard not so common, one Buteo (nominate) seen and one (Steppe) only, nice to get my second views of the latter. The white “swoosh” of the underwing flight feathers a key feature. Several sightings of Long-legged Buzzard touring the peninsula, always nice to see.

Honey Buzzard

'Steppe' Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Harriers and friends

Marsh Harriers commonplace with some moving out but most attracted to Akrotiri Marsh remaining in the area and regularly seen over the nearby Beehives. Several sightings of juvenile Montagu’s Harriers noted mostly over the Beehives. The one shown below was debated, I’m calling it as Montagu’s based upon the primary tips being dark all or most of the way along the length plus a dark edge to the primaries. I think the neck mark whilst strong, but thin, is within range of Montagu’s. Black Kites seen throughout including a movement of at least 12 one afternoon over the Beehives. Some of these showed big pale primary windows maybe indicative of an eastern population. Osprey noted on occasion from the Water Tower most at distance along the coast except for the one shown below which appeared directly overhead on the first birding day of the trip.

Black Kite

Montagu's Harrier

Osprey


Eagles

A wandering Bonelli’s Eagle is usually a given over the peninsula and sightings throughout. Multiple birds around as noted by an astonishing group of 5 juveniles seen in the air together over Akrotiri Plain from the Water Tower (02/10) and an adult noted on a couple of dates. Sought after were Lesser Spotted Eagles and this seemed to be an exceptional year for sightings, and perhaps a week or so earlier than expected. Seen on many dates and at times 2 together with a minimum of 3 one afternoon. Towards the end of the period one over the Beehives was mobbed by the adult Bonelli’s Eagle mentioned above. The Lesser Spotted Eagles showed well with most views of the underparts but upperwing seen as well and quite a few looks at the rusty spot on the nape that was more easily seen from the photos than in the field. At times looked like a big Marsh Harrier (with drooping hands) or a mini barn-door. Short-toed Eagle was to be expected and typical behaviour of one bird lingering on the peninsula flying around when it felt like it. As the trip moved into October chance of Booted Eagle and on the last morning (05/10) a dark morph literally dropped out of the sky into Akrotiri village where it was soon back up in the sky alongside a rather upset Hooded Crow. It flew off east towards Lady’s Mile.

Bonelli's Eagle

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Booted Eagle




Please click here for a full trip report.

Please click here for a birding video compilation.





Sunday, 20 October 2024

2024 - Summer Birding - Highlights inc. Great White Egrets on the move

Summer Birding 2024. You could argue that summer and early autumn birding morphs into one. Taking the astronomical definition of the period 21 June 2024 to 23 September 2024, but surely autumn birding starts on 01 July a marker in the calendar any year for the first returning waders.

This period both starts and ends with honourable mentions for Great White Egret. On the last Saturday of June two of these majestic Herons graced Rainham Marshes RSPB, London where there was a start of autumn birding feel with returning singles of Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew feeding on the low tide in Aveley Bay. As with last summer Red Kite discovered the landfill site, but this unlike last year this turned out to be a fleeting visit.

As we moved into July and a chance to twitch the Black-winged Pratincole at Finningley, South Yorkshire which was literally by the border with Nottinghamshire, quite a big Yorkshire Tick. For me this now stands at 351 and for Yorkshire Birding Listers League purposes add two more  (Fea’s-type Petrel, Flamborough Head Aug 2003 and a couple of Isy/Red-tailed-type Shrikes at Kilnsea Oct 1991 and Bempton Cliffs Summer 2022). Though both will soon drop by two with the lumping of the Redpolls. The Pratincole showed reasonably well allowing for the following record photographs. 


Black-winged Pratincole

Elsewhere in July newly fledged Tawny Owls called on most evening walks in south Hertfordshire and similarly when I was back on South Yorkshire’s moorland edge. The latter held churring Nightjars and patrolling Woodcock at dusk. But late July signifies the return of Yellow-legged Gulls to the Thames hoping for Caspian Gulls soon after. Over a dozen juv. Yellow-legged Gulls sighted along the river about the Thamesmead peninsula, and on one visit Mediterranean Gulls appeared out of nowhere at high tide gatherings of the Black-headed Gulls. An adult flew down river with the remainder comprising 4 juvs. including the one below. Whimbrel sounded off in the distance on one visit and Peregrines started to move around with a pair of juvs. attacked a high-tide roost of Black-headed Gulls, honing their hunting skills.  One sticky July evening produced a suburban Peregrine that seemed to be floating in a sky that was like plasma. 



Yellow-legged Gull

Finally into August and on one mid-month visit 2 juv. Caspian Gulls showed on the river at Thamesmead where Yellow-legged Gulls remained on all visits. Early one warm evening a string of silver birds flew low fast along the north side of the Thames at this site, a flock of 50+ ‘Commic’ Terns that included a dozen Black Terns in various degrees of moult. They headed towards the city and must have carried on their journey as they had not returned downriver during the following walk west. ‘Autumn’ Hobby sightings started as early as the 10th July with a juv. chasing anything it could over Rainham Marshes RSPB, London. Were the 4 Ruddy Shelducks that spent some time at Rainham's Aveley Bay wanderers from the Netherlands, potential Category C tick?



Caspian Gull

Ruddy Shelducks

End of August and a good time to spot Ospreys moving south for the winter. Passage birds shown below seen at different sites during the period. 


Osprey

Into September and Spotted Flycatcher noted again, this time at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London where Hobby sightings continued as expected for late summer and Great White Egret continued. Whinchat seen on one visit and Black-tailed Godwit numbers increased and passage Ruff seen. Just before the end of the period and jumping back in South Yorkshire where Hobby sightings continued, we had a more unexpected sight of 6 Great White Egrets flying over a moorland reservoir heading north. A great time when the birding seasons come together with Swallows and House Martins on the move, Spotted Flycatcher still being seen plus my first skein of winter Pink-footed Geese on the same day as the Egrets. Of those Great White Egrets flocks of 6 and 41 moved through Spurn the same day (18th), perhaps suggesting a more widescale movement taking place. Easy to say that the 6 were the same as those that flew over Upper Midhope? At least 2 remained at Rainham Marshes RSPB as the season drew to a close, a site that saw 2 Spoonbills drop out of the sky looking for somewhere to have a snooze.

Great White Egret

Spotted Flycatcher


Pink-footed Geese

Spoonbills


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Sunday, 7 July 2024

2024 - Spring Birding - A bit of a birding Purpurea patch

At the start of the season Ring Ouzels had returned to their Peak District moorland haunts by the end of March where they gave their monotone song and surveyed their summer home from rocky crags. As is typical they disappear quickly either to breed locally in relative silence or head further into the upland cloughs. Stonechats in song flight and Meadow Pipits numerous, as were Curlew who were already several weeks back on the moors. Before the month was out an Osprey headed north along the eastern edge following the ridge slowly at first then adopted a power glide and that was that, it was out of here! Buzzards circled lazily and Kestrels hovered patiently but its smaller relative was in more of a hurry.



Birding on Cyprus around mid April and whilst it may be a couple of weeks or so after favoured visits for Spring birding it was still good, and can be recommended. This time of year offers the chance of seeing later summer visitors such as newly arrived Eleanora's Falcons and Rollers, but you may struggle to see any passage Sylvia Warblers and migrating Harriers. Highlights on this visit included Great Snipe, many Little Crakes and a confiding Baillon's Crake plus unexpected views of Corncrake and Quail. Not to forget a couple of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater sightings and the returning Rollers and Eleanora's Falcons. Please click here for a summary of the birding trip.







In early May back up on the Peak District moorlands where the becks held Willow Warblers and Cuckoos could be heard as could a singing male Redstart hiding away in the canopy. The first sightings of Hobby at the start of the month a time when returning Nightjars 'churred' as Woodcock patrolled a woodland edge at dusk.

Mid May visiting friends in Germany and birding Waghäusel (Wagbachniederung nature reserve) in Baden-Württemburg between Karlsruhe and Mannheim. A summer home to a variety of marshland and reedbed species and famous for its colony of Purple Herons. Bluethroats and a range of Warblers were on offer this Spring and nice views were had of Great Reed Warbler, Savi's Warbler and Marsh Warblers. Bluethroats were elusive but many Red-backed Shrikes present over a couple of visits as were Turtle Doves. A diverse variety of species can be seen or heard here in Spring on this reserve be it Short-toed Treecreepers and calling Golden Oriole in bordering Poplars the chance of passage Ospreys overhead and northbound Waders on the muddy margins, and a glance on the pools can reveal Black-necked Grebes swimming alongside Red-crested Pochards. On the first visit 1 or 2 Ospreys sighted this time plus 2 Honey Buzzards over the two visits and passage Montagu's Harrier also observed. The latter was unexpected as was a Black Woodpecker that flew in front of us over a field, no doubt heading to the forest away to the east. Please click here for a summary of the birding trip.





Moving forward to late May and Honey Buzzards sighted in the UK at Welbeck RWP, Notts. One a wing damaged male, looked quite shocking to see the extent of the missing inner secondaries. In this period and back in the Peak District where a passage Marsh Harrier was most welcome and an Osprey circled a reservoir before heading East in a typical power glide.




When birding in early Spring in the south east at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London there are clear differences between Summer migrant arrival times compared to back up in South Yorkshire. I remember many years ago watching a Glaucous Gull at the end of March whilst listening to a Sedge Warbler in full song during a sleet shower. 'Glaucs' and sleet are probably both now official rarities in the south east! Hobby showed well over the marshes from mid April this year with a gathering of 10 on one visit giving a wonderful flying lesson from the Serin Mound. No Serins here for what is about 12 years or so. Swifts moving through from a similar time and the river produced a movement of Arctic Terns alongside the to be expected Common Terns on one weekend visit when a couple of silent Sandwich Terns almost slipped by unnoticed. Cuckoos present on most visits later in the period and several hidden Lesser Whitethroats were nice to hear, as were 2+ Corn Buntings that sang from the landfill sides. Elsewhere and Black Redstarts just about hang on in the capital with 2 noted singing in April with still the possibility of singing birds continuing to be heard as we move into summer.







A good Spring's birding haul, but birding highlights continued late in the season. A visit to Rainham Marshes RSPB, London (Saturday 08 June 2024) and on walking back to the RSPB centre along the river wall a screaming gull over the Thames wouldn't stop shouting. A look revealed it was mobbing an Osprey that was trying to shake it off, shake it off. The pair flew low overhead and headed north over the reserve before the gull got bored leaving the Osprey to drift off north in peace over the A13 pylon line.


Next day I was back on site and thought watching a Red Kite flying low west up river over a group of passage Ringed Plovers would be the day's highlights. But, on entering the reserve and starting the walk down the ramp 2 large birds in flight caught my attention as they headed slowly east over Aveley Pools. The lead bird was a Grey Heron but the one behind it was clearly different. Another Ardea Heron but both smaller and darker. With relatively recent experience of this species in Germany and Cyprus - couldn't be a Purple Heron, could it? Hurried down to the seats overlooking the reserve and the Heron of interest was now continuing towards the Cordite woodland where I could now see the head profile, typical Purple Heron and the upperparts and overall colouring suggested an immature. It was soon gone behind the woodland so I hurried along to the next look out in case it came back to the marshes. Thankfully it appeared slowly drifting back over the woodland only to land out of sight on the edge of the Winter Pools. These flight views confirmed immature Purple Heron. I got my camera ready as it soon took off and headed out back east/northeast and out of sight. I put the news out on and returned to the centre to let other on site visitors know. Almost immediately it was picked up again this time flying in front of the centre heading west along the southern boardwalk where it appeared to go into Aveley Bay only to make a sharp turn and eventually settled out of sight near Aveley Pools. It was seen a few times in flight by others later in the day including as it left the reserve heading south east. A much better photo than my record photo below, and taken by another observer can be found at Birdguides - Review of the Week: 3-9 June 2024.



Before the summer solstice 2 or 3 Great White Egrets showed on the reserve and Red Kites seemed to discover the landfill as they did for a brief period around the same time last year.

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