Cyprus Trip Report

Cyprus birding in mid to late March was pretty good. I was taken aback by how established the summer visitors were at that time of the year. Not used to seeing Nightingales, Wrynecks and lots of Swifts and Swallows for example so early in the season. Highlight of the trip? For me it was the female Pallid Harrier present late into the trip one afternoon at Paphos Headland (shown below). It patrolled the grassland of the archaeological site when Hooded Crows allowed, and presented a good id challenge. Getting ready for when one gets sighted back home at Low Moor, Midhope. Surely not out of the question :)

Also, a video compilation from the trip at https://youtu.be/rqFmCBGMQb0

Glaucoides to the left of me, Glaucoides to the right of me and a Black-necked Grebe in the middle of Aveley Pool

Arrived at the Stone Barges on the long walk to Rainham RSPB (14 Apr) with the knowledge that about an hour earlier an Iceland Gull was reported in the area. Presumably the bird of last weekend which had been seen during the week as well. Not many large gulls were on show so I started to walk down river. A few hundred yards east of the Stone Barges large gulls were beginning to gather in the middle of the Thames slowly drifting up river on the incoming tide. They had come off the landfill, typical behaviour, and also to be expected was that one minute there were a dozen present and then moments later a hundred dropped in. I scanned the flock and an immature Iceland Gull was drifting by. After a few minutes it flew to and landed on the Stone Barges jetty. Over the next few minutes another 'flotilla' of gulls had developed. A scan revealed another Iceland Gull in the mix, a whiter individual than the first with grey showing through on the closed wing. A quick look back at the jetty and the first bird was still present. I followed the floating Larids back to the Stone Barges where several other birders were scanning the gulls. As the paler bird drifted out of view, we then studied the original bird. It was tricky to see amongst the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls on the jetty and best viewed from the right. Time went by and the paler Iceland Gull flew onto the jetty and all of a sudden one birder picked up a third bird, in plumage similar to the original bird. All 3 spent a fair amount of time roosting before the two 1st summer types flew off down river (one later drifted back up river and beyond the Stone Barges). The presumed second summer remained and then came to bread giving everyone a good look. Alos from the Stone Barges at least 3 Common Terns flew down river, my first of the season.

Several records shots of two of the birds below, check out some fine photos from Shaun Harvey of this gull at
Valley Birding.

How old were the Iceland Gulls? In the past the practice was to label as 1st winter then 1st summer and repeat the sequence through to adult plumage. A trend perhaps due to better understanding of moult patterns gave rise to calendar year labelling of birds, especially gulls, but can this always be applied?

On site at first I thought the second (paler) bird was a 3rd summer, but then wondered if it was an advanced 2nd summer. Looking at the literature still not 100% sure of its age, but I'm favouring 2nd summer if such terminology is still being used. The first bird looked like a typical 1st summer from my experiences, and I think the same of the third bird, although a little more advanced, it had a paler eye.

• Bird 1 - dark eye and two-toned bill appearing black-tipped. Missing a primary on the left wing when seen in flight.
• Bird 2 - strikingly white with grey saddle, not extensive grey but on closed wing in certain light looked to have grey on the wing. Pale eye and bill had a pale tip beyond the black band. Bill more yellow in tone than the others. Looked clean winged in flight.
• Bird 3 - as Bird 1 in upperpart tone, eye appeared paler but not as striking as Bird 2. Hint of a pale tip developing on the bill. Missing primaries on both wings in flight.

Lots of good birds seen on the reserve that day. Whilst watching the passage Black-necked Grebe a Red Kite showed briefly in the distance over the Target Pools mid pm before heading fast to the south west. Lots of Buzzards moved through during the day helped by temperatures rising to the high teens and a southeasterly tail wind. I saw about 10 of the 30+ tallied, but my count may have included a few local birds. Marsh Harriers took to the skies and my first Hobby sighting of the year with one hawking insects over the Eurostar line. Swallows still thin on the ground (2), but I heard my first Willow Warbler and UK Lesser Whitethroat of the summer. The Great White Egret continued, still maintaining it's half a mile birder exclusion zone!

More photos of the Iceland Gulls at 'Latest UK Bird Photos'.

Early Spring Birding including a genuine white-winged gull

A twitch north to Scotland, South Yorkshire moorland birding magic and this time, a genuine white-winger.

The (American) White-winged Scoter is a relatively new addition to the British list (2013) following the first off the Aberdeenshire coast in 2011. This North American cousin of the Velvet Scoter has appeared a handful of times in Scotland since and debate continues as to how many different birds have actually been seen. An adult drake of this species on the Firth of Forth offshore from Musselburgh, Edinburgh present before Easter - would it linger to be twitched?

A 5 hours drive (29 Mar) from South Yorkshire to Edinburgh had the delights of the morning rush hour traffic around Newcastle to contend with, where the fog on the Tyne lingered. The coastal run into the borders was pretty spectacular and relatively traffic free. Arrived on site (10:30) to news that the very rare Scoter had been present earlier but then flew west towards the harbour. The Firth held small scattered groups of Velvet Scoters with Eider and Goldeneye also present. A handful of Long-tailed Ducks were busy moving from one side of the Esk river mouth to the other. All of these seaducks and the rare drake Surf Scoter offshore would have usually warranted much more prolonged and closer scrutiny, but where was the very rare Scoter? I scanned the sea and to the west soon picked up a drake 'Velvet' Scoter type with a pronounced white eye tick patch swimming with a group of 4 definite 'Velvets'. One of the locals had seen the same bird and there it was, the adult drake (American) White-winged Scoter. Spent the next couple of hours studying this bird as it kept company with Velvet Scoters at a reasonable distance offshore, at one stage flying strongly east before doing a U-turn. It was never close for photos but gave comfortable 'scope views on a not so choppy Firth under good light. On several occasions it's North American Surf Scoter pal was in the same field of view. Of the (American) White-winged Scoter as well as the eye tick, the bill had less of a pale patch which was pinkish in colour and not yellow as for Velvet Scoter, and the bill shape differed with a bit of a bulge at the base of the upper mandible. This was difficult to make out, but noticeable at some angles. I'm sure the brownish flanks were evident during some wing flaps... to a degree!

On now making time to study the other seaducks I manage to pick out 3 Slavonian Grebes moulting into summer plumage. This made them difficult to pick out against the dark water as they just seemed to melt away! Several Red-throated Divers and Guillemots present offshore. At the river mouth flocks of Oystercatchers, Curlews and Bar-tailed Godwits flew by, moving from roosting to feeding sites.

A photo looking west to Edinburgh from the Esk river mouth at Musselburgh on the day, whereas the (American) White-winged Scoter shown below was photographed several years before in Washington State, USA (2008).

Home in South Yorkshire where the diverse landscape makes for brilliant birding. However, the varied weather always has a part to play in the birding day. This trip included sunny days where it was quite mild in sheltered spots, with April showers featuring shortly after Easter. However, Easter Monday (02 Apr) saw a deluge of snow for 3 hours in the morning catching many road users unaware around Sheffield and on the cross Peninne approaches.

Visited Old Moor RSPB during the afternoon thaw on Easter Monday. One adult Mediterranean Gull present on the mere in its summer finery, and the Swallow hawking insects over the water looked out of place against the snowy and now misty backdrop. A Bittern 'boomed' from the reedbeds.

The South Yorkshire moorlands were magical. Buzzards and Kestrels patrolled the skies with a couple of Ravens noted. Curlews dominated the rough ground and chipping Snipe were a delight. Oystercatchers also back on territory, likewise a pair of displaying Golden Plovers. A flock of over 250 'Goldies' at a staging site nearby were preparing for more northern climes. A small flock of 9 Common Crossbills 'jipping' in flight as they moved from one moorland plantation to another (03 Apr). A migrant Red Kite was upstaged by a passage Osprey that moved north up the Strines valley at lunchtime the same day (03 Apr), with another Osprey flying north in the same area the following morning (04 Apr). This second bird was tracking the moorland edge to the west. Always nice to see these beautiful fish eating raptors, especially on migration. As well as their distinctive plumage, the hanging nature of the slow long circles they make in the sky are pretty characteristic as is when they change tact, launching themselves into a long fast power glides maintaing a distinctive shallow M-wing profile. Moreover, study a migrating Osprey and see how little they flap. It's very much a case of gliding and flapping only when they have to.

A few days beforehand (31 Mar) I was driving along the moorland edge along Mortimer Road mid afternoon where a group of big white 'blobs' were close inshore at Strines Reservoir. Mindful of passage Whooper Swans being noted in the region, I stopped to have a further look. Good job I did as the 'blobs' turned out to be a vocal flock of about 60 Whooper Swans (57 or 58 with 10 - 20% being immatures). After the event I understood they were seen earlier in the day over Sheffield and then departed either the same evening, or overnight?

Back at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London (07 Apr) where the sunny morning skies gave way to increasing cloud on a mild and brisk southerly wind. The weather promised visible migration but it was not to be. The reserve held a variety of birdlife including very vocal Redshanks back on territory, noisy Cetti's Warblers, several winter ducks remaining and stunning Marsh Harriers patrolling the site. Less expected yet most welcome was an immature (1st summer type) Iceland Gull. It stuck out like a sore thumb as it joined Herring Gulls picking at the surface of the Thames on the edge of Aveley Bay, as it 'glowed' in the morning sunshine. From here a scan from the river wall back onto the reserve produced a sighting of a Great White Egret (cannot get used to the Great Egret name!) that had been in residence for a week or so. For such a large species it could be difficult to pick up in Rainham's marshland habitat, and only gave itself up at 1/2 mile range as it fed apart from the several Little Egrets gracing the reserve. Later on from the balcony a Peregrine provided entertainment as it made sure another flew off up river.

More photos from this period at 'Latest UK Bird Photos'.

Cyprus - end of trip

It became hot on Friday (23rd) touching 30C with a southerly wind. It brought in a few rarities. Highlights towards the end of the week included:

Thursday 22 March - adult male Pallid Harrier(s) at Anarita Park and Nata Ford, Alpine Swift at Anarita Park and Desert Wheatear continued at Cape Drepanum.

Friday 23 March - twitched a Cream-coloured Courser (Mandria) and found a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater later afternoon at Paphos Headland, where a rt immature Pallid Harrier patrolled the grasslands.

Saturday 24 March - loads of Black-headed Wagtails moving on the south coast and a Desert Wheatear (female) was at Mandria.

Many thanks to everyone who helped me during the visit, very much appreciated, a trip report to come with a video compilation.

Unseasonal winter gems and a fake white winged gull

February 2018

The wintering Avocet frequenting Aveley Bay continued with 24 noted (10th). Just across the river wall Rainham Marshes RSPB attracted other waders at high tide on this day including up to 100 Black-tailed Godwits. Whilst the swirling flocks of Godwits and whistling Wigeon were a fine sight in the late afternoon twilight, it was a matter of life or death for the performers. A big female Peregrine was after its tea! She looked regal sitting out on the winter marsh surveying the mayhem overhead. Earlier in the day a singing male Blackcap near Purfleet station was undoubtedly a winterer.

The following day (11th) I twitched the Little Bunting found a few weeks earlier in  North London up at Walthamstow Wetlands. This example of the secret winterer lived up to the species' reputation as it showed briefly that morning for 10 mins just after 09:30 with a repeat performance as it perched up and flitted about its favourite bush above a patch of scrub again at 10:05. Then there was no further sign up until leaving at 12:00. Sightings of the rare Bunting were mainly alongside several Reed Buntings but occasionally on its lonesome. It called on one occasion as it and a Reed Bunting chased each other away from the bush. Nearby the dapper drake Scaup showed well on Reservoir No. 4 swimming with its Tufted Duck and Pochard mates.

Mid February (17th) birding in London included a walk down the Thames shore from near the Stone Barges to the RSPB centre at Rainham Marshes (17th). Whilst a nice variety of waders were on show, the partial summer-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull roosting amongst the many Black-headed Gulls at Cold Harbour Point was my highlight. Only picked it up on zooming in to read the code of a colour-ringed  (yellow) adult Black-headed Gull a few gulls to its right (to be chased up but looks like a local Rainham/Pitsea bird.) Of the waders approximately 100 each of Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits were seen and my first Oystercatchers of the year back along this stretch of the Thames. In the afternoon the sun warmed up the air giving a couple of pairs of local Buzzards to take to the skies to the north of the Eurostar railway line. The warm air encouraged many birds to start singing including Song Thrushes and Reed Buntings.

Connected mid-pm with the 3rd winter Caspian Gull at Eagle Pond, Snaresbrook (18th) before it flew off north west, having been absent on  visiting the site fron 09:00 to 10:00. Picked it up by its top heavy swimming jizz, 3rd winter is not a plumage I've seen often. A visit in between to Thames Barrier Park produced no notable gulls on the rising tide.

Back at Walthamstow Wetlands (24th and 25th) to look for the Little Bunting. Several hours dipping on the 24th, but as it was seen after I left a return visit was on the cards the following morning. The drake Scaup was seen from the train  on the first visit. On the return visit the Little Bunting flew into the tree by the path calling as it landed. Barely glimpsed before flying into the hedgerow and dropping down into the scrub half way between the hedgerow and the seed tray. All in a blink of an eye just after 10:00. It remained hidden until just before 13:30 when it appeared out of nowhere sitting close to a male Reed Bunting in its favourite bush. The first photo below doesn't do it justice, it showed brilliantly in good light conditions allowing for a good study. After most of the crowd had seen it, it flew into the scrub and made its way to the seed tray where it was present for about 5 mins before returning to the bush, to melt away into the cover. Whilst waiting for the star attraction birders were entertained by a pair of Peregrines patrolling the north London skyline, two grunting Egyptian Geese, screaming Ring-necked Parakeets, and a nice study of Reed Bunting in varying plumage. Cetti's Warblers had made it to this urban wetland. It was a cold sunny day and the easterly wind was beginning to bite, signalling the onset of the weather pattern dubbed the 'Beast of the East'.

March 2018

Travelled back home to Yorkshire by coach Friday Eve (2nd March), Storm Emma was taking on the Beast and produced a band of light snow that hit London earlier in the afternoon, dragging it's heels on moving north that evening. Travelling up the M1 the coach made light work of the wintriness. Birded my local patch the 'Wath Area' (3rd and 4th) and with my dad and several patch regulars connected with the Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest found a few days earlier in bushes and scrub bordering the River Dearne. The river skirts the north and east side of RSPB Wombwell Ings. Good views of both over the weekend, a shame the Richard's Pipt of recent days didn't show. I believe the study of the Pipit resulted in the finding of the 'Yellow-browy' and rare 'Crest'. Nevertheless, Yellow-browed Warbler Wath Tick #192 for me.

On the Saturday walking by the floodbank just before 09:00 following the river and a Water Pipit called. I didn't react immediately, just a Water Pipit, then the cogs turned... this was South Yorkshire not Rainham Marshes where Water Pipit is seen and heard on a regular basis in the winter months. It's a bit scarcer up here, only my 2nd sighting back home. I picked it up perched on a snag by the main bend in the river, a typical winter-plumaged bird. It flew across the river settled briefly on the far bank before taking off calling heading towards the road bridge. Presumably the flighty bird seen earlier across the Dearne Valley Parkway at Old Moor RSPB. In flight it flashed it's white outer tail feathers.

Other birds of note were singles of both Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose touring the area with the many local Canadas and Greylags. Whereas the 'Pink-foot' is probably of Icelandic origin, can a wild origin be attributed to the Barnacle? Clutching at straws for a Wath, Barnsley and Yorkshire tick! With Wombwell Ings mostly frozen over the river held more than just it's scarce passerines. Teal, Tufted Ducks and several Goosander were present as were Meadow Pipits looking out of place at the edge of the river. A Chiffchaff and several Goldcrests present and a couple of Grey Wagtails were more typical of this environment. A glance back onto the floodplain of the Ings revealed a Little Egret looked fed up as it cowered from the cold wind, with Lapwing and Golden Plover adding to the variety. Over the field to the south the Hawfinch continued its stay peering down on passing traffic from Broomhill Flash car park where a pair of Bullfinches were also present.

A couple of sorties onto the moorland edge. The scenery glowed in the late winter snow, but as a slow thaw was starting the air misty if not foggy making skywatching not possible. Nevertheless, the feeders at Low Moor and Broomhead Reservoir (Rushy Lane) attracted a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers at the former, and Coal Tits dominated the latter. Sadly no Crossbills on show.

Back at Rainham and the wintering Avocets still frequented Aveley Bay (10th March) but fake news, namely a fake 'white-winged gull' resting on the Stone Barges gantry. This colour-ringed (black) individual, too far to read the ring, had the feel of a leucistic bird... adult Great Black-backed Gull? It turns out to be a 5th winter of this species, ringed in Norway, with thanks to Twitter correspondents for the details.

More photos from this late winter period at 'Latest UK Bird Photos'.

Cyprus midweek update

Lovely weather continues in Cyprus and it's comfortable for birding. Migration continues but a bit of work is needed digging out the gems. Highlights from Tuesday and Wednesday include:

Tuesday 20 March - a Red-throated Pipit on the deck, Ruppell's Warbler and Bonelli's Eagle.

Wednesday 21 March - a couple of Desert Wheatears (Timi Beach and Cape Drepanum), GS Cuckoo, E Bonelli's Warblers and Cyprus Warblers.

Latest boc record photos below

Cyprus first few days

Back on Cyprus and enjoying the migration with the temp in the mid to high 20s. Selected highlights so far include:

Saturday 17 March - 250+ Slender-billed Gulls at Larnaca Airport Pools North.

Sunday 18 March - Isabelline Wheatears Mandria.

Monday 19 March - Bimaculated Lark Akrotiri GP and 2 or 3 SE Owls in off, Squacco Heron and BE Wheatear Phassouri Reedbeds. Hen Harrier Anarita Park where 5 Crane sp quickly lost to view flying north pm.

Nice to catch up with local and visiting birders. Some cropped boc photos below