Mediterranean Cliff Falcon and Honey Buzzards

Kent Twitch

On the way back home for the long Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday the indirect way from Hertfordshire to South Yorkshire via East Kent. How often do you get the chance to twitch an Eleonora's Falcon in GB?

The star of the star, the immature Eleonora's Falcon showed well as did the support act, a Red-footed Falcon. With thanks to those that made the viewing arrangements possible and smooth, first time I'd seen a 'donation wellie' in operation.

A bit more about Falco eleonora

The use of eponyms and honorifics in naming species has been questioned in recent years and whatever your views on such changes let's have a look at Eleonora, the name used for the powerful and enigmatic Falcon of the Mediterranean. The mention of the name "Eleonora" to a British birder, and indeed any others, can stop you in your tracks. There are just some species that deserves further attention, no matter how many you may have seen, and for me "Eleonora's" ranks up there alongside a diverse avian mix of Swallow-tailed Kite, Pallas's Warbler, Sabine's Gull, Bee-eater, Great Shearwater and Blackburnian Warbler. You'll have your equivalents, and I better quickly add Goshawk and Caspian Gull to the above.

I was lucky to connect in early June with what was GB's first twitchable Eleonora's Falcon present for over a week in east Kent, and I think there's only been 10 or so recorded over here. It put on a fantastic show, for me it's the ultimate Falcon as it can fly around in graceful flight like a small Falcon and then suddenly change gear and adopt the powerful flight and hunting style of a large Falcon, the Harrier Jump Jet of the avian world.

Maybe like some or many others I had little or no idea as to whom Eleonora was. In brief I understand the Falcon to be named after 14th Century Queen Eleonor or Eleonora of Arborea of Sardinia who is recorded as being the first ruler granting protection to hawk and falcon nests against illegal hunters, thank you Wikipedia. Very fitting to name it in tribute as Eleonora's Falcon, and carries the linkage to Queen Eleonor forward for future generations to gen up on.


Welbeck and Wykeham Forest Honey Buzzards

Both established raptor watchpoints famed for potential Honey Buzzard sightings found in north Nottinghamshire and North Yorkshire respectively.

A visit to Welbeck and from the roadside on a warm and mainly sunny day, but with light winds, only 3 sightings from a morning and afternoon watch. What was thought to be a new female Honey Buzzard to the area drifted right across the lake late morning, a very dark individual. This was followed by a paler individual up to the east in the afternoon and a couple of hours later it or another, much better looks, drifted north. The photos below are a record of the first sighting, and the second one is the bird seen in the third sighting but photographed here last year.

I connected with the following 8 of the 9 raptor species noted here during the day. It's not a bad site to watch from and good for knowledge sharing when studying the raptors. Not all about the raptors, Garden Warbler sang near to a Blackcap, good for comparison of the song, and a Yellow Wagtail flew regularly around the crop field in front of the watch.

A visit to Wykeham Forest and from the forest edge watchpoint on a cool, grey day, but with freshening NE winds, several Honey Buzzard sightings throughout the morning. One dark phase bird showed the most, but on a couple of occasions it dragged another dark phase plus the pale (Osprey wannabee) skyward. Wing clapping noted early on. Record photos below. Common Buzzard and Kestrel seen as well before twitching nearby Turtle Doves and Scaling Dam Reservoir's Woodchat Shrike.

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Birding Germany May 2022

First trip over to Germany (Baden-Württemberg) to see friends after the pandemic. A nice trip, good to catch up and the birding wasn't bad as well. A little cooler than usual for the end of May, especially so on visiting the Black Forest. Dry throughout apart from a brief shower on the Saturday and then on Sunday morning.

Black Forest and Weingartenermoor

Birded several sites at the NW corner of the Schwarzwald, and first up the woodland edge along the Black Forest High Street around the Hotel Schliffkopf. Tree Pipits sang from their lofty perches against a leaden sky on this cold Friday with Willow Warbler and Dunnock song providing a backdrop. The birding was slow, a pair of Hawfinches flew by and a group of 6 wandering Crossbills allowed a longer study. A Woodland Ringlet seemed to be struggling in the light but biting N wind by the track, but perked up when the sun broke through. Grey Wagtail singing at the nearby Ruhestein National Park Centre was a little unexpected and the final stop around the cafe of the Siebelseckle ski lift produced singing Black Redstart and White Wagtail. No Ring Ouzel as seen previously and the cool grey conditions produced no raptors, Pallid Harrier moved over here gliding up from the Rhine rift valley on one visit in April 2014. Whist birding may have been disappointing, the same cannot be said of the local cherry cake which showed well, briefly.

Woodland Ringlet

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

Heading north back towards the Karlsruhe area and back in the Rhine rift valley, we stopped off at Weingartenermoor an area with woodland trails and a lake hidden within, with the exterior characterised by smallholdings and a wooded hillside to the east. It was as if it was a different day, mainly sunny skies and feeling warm late afternoon. The woodland had many Blackcaps and singing Short-toed Treecreepers, the lake mainly held Coots and a few ducks/geese with Red Kites overhead. On exiting the trees Common Buzzards could be seen circling the hillside where a silhouetted Honey Buzzard flew along the treeline giving a 'wing clap' before drifting into another shallow valley. A Grey-headed Woodpecker gave perfect flight views on flying out of the woodland, the smaller size, more in proportion structure than its larger Green cousin obvious, more subtle rump and of course, a distinctive grey head.

Waghäusel

The marshland to the north of Karlsruhe, a famous birding site especially popular to see Purple Herons. A visit on the Saturday lived up to expectations. Purple Herons attended their tower nests, Marsh Harriers hunted the reedbed which held an elusive Great White Egret and summering Bluethroats. At least one of these relatives of the Nightingale sang from cover as the day cooled, showing mainly at distance whereas Common Nightingales were almost exclusively hidden in the thick scrub, one flying across the path providing the only view. Back in the reedbeds Reed Warblers were common, Bearded Reedlings less so, and a reeling Savi's Warbler popped up for a bit. Cuckoos were everywhere, Turtle Dove noted and the nettlebed areas held singing Marsh Warblers. Overhead Red Kites, Black Kites, Common Buzzards and Hobby shared the skies with White Storks. Back at ground level Black-necked Grebes were very surprisingly not noted, were they hiding away? Plenty of Red-crested Pochards and Common Pochards present as was a lone drake Garganey. A clearance in the reeds held Greenshank, Lapwings and Little Ringed Plovers. A pair of Black Woodpeckers in flight to nearby woodland was a nice surprise, one of which showed later atop a pine tree at great distance.

Purple Heron

Bluethroat

Black Woodpecker

White Stork

Marsh Warbler

Black Kite

North of Karlsruhe

The smallholdings and paddocks that are dotted across the countryside, edged by woodland are characteristic of the rural areas of the Rhine rift valley. A local walk on the Sunday yielded a handful of singing male Common Redstarts in small orchards, their Black Redstarts dominate nearby suburban roofs and TV aerials, and the hedgerows held 4 territories of Red-backed Shrikes. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were everywhere and a couple of Green Woodpeckers flew by. A male Golden Oriole sang from somewhere within the Poplar canopy of the woodland edge, the woodland holding Chaffinches, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and shy Hawfinches amongst other species such as Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. As the morning brightened up White Storks circled the villages, as did both Red Kites and Black Kites and Common Buzzards.

Common Buzzard

Red-backed Shrike

A nice long weekend, many thanks to friends Chris and Sue et al.

Early May Bank Holiday 2022 - Regal Birding

Back home for May Day Bank Holiday weekend and a Saturday afternoon up on the South Yorkshire moorlands where a Ring Ouzel sang alongside Stonechats and the afternoon sun brought out a basking Common Lizard.

Common Lizard

Willow Warblers in full song in a moorland Beck and the heather packed with Meadow Pipits. Up high a Red Kite tangled with Buzzards, one of which was a pale form. After 4pm a raptor low over the moor flying away flashed white underside, thought it was the pale Buzzard, but it didn't look right. I kept on it and it soon started to gain height and circled in the valley drifting north, revealing itself to be the equal top raptor in the World, an Osprey, sharing top position with Goshawk and Eleonora's Falcon. The latter not (yet) on the Barnsley list. The Osprey had probably flown W up the Beck and then drifted out over a Clough. A local Buzzard had seen the migrant raptor, flew in to investigate and after a bit of a tangle they drifted apart. The Osprey didn't seem to know where it was going, headed NW then it came back S and then more determined it flew strongly to the SW towards the reservoirs over in Upper Derwent Valley. 

Osprey

A bit of twitching on Sunday, connected with the immature drake King Eider on the coast at Marske-by-the-Sea, a Yorkshire tick. It showed well in calm conditions but whilst fairly close in it was a challenge for a phone scoped record photo. A scan to the left and a group of 3 Red-throated Divers had a Black-throated Diver alongside with a Great Northern Diver just a scope's width to the left. Are Great Northern Divers getting more commonplace wintering on the North Sea coast?

King Eider

Late morning and decided to chance the bird of the year/decade/century Yorkshire's Black-browed Albatross, driving the scenic route along the coast past Whitby and Scarborough to Bempton Cliffs RSPB where 'Albie' had been seen around the cliffs on a couple of occasions that morning. Arrived to uncertain news, it had been in the area but was on the sea and had probably drifted out of view. After about 30 minutes whilst at Bartlett Nab viewpoint news came over a RSPB radio that it was flying past the next viewpoint to the south, Grandstand. A bit of a panic and a scan to the right towards Staple Newk, and there it was circling around the cliff edge with Gannets. A wander down the coast path to beyond the Staple Newk viewpoint and was lucky to enjoy 'Albie' arcing around Staple Newk for about 30 to 40 minutes, occasionally landing out of sight on the cliffs. It then did a final loop and glided out to sea on bowed wings where it landed not too far out, and drifted slowly south. Apart from the rare visitor 'Seabird City'  looked impressive and the Tree Sparrows by the centre can be, but shouldn't be, taken for granted. A Corn Bunting jangled from the fields/hedgerows.

Black-browed Albatross

Back on the moors on Monday and similar birding to Saturday, Osprey aside, and with a Redstart singing from a wooded valley. Mountain Hare now in 'sum-plum'.

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Summary - Cyprus March/April 2022 - Charadrius carlsbergensis

Nice to spend a week birding in Cyprus at the end of March (26th) into April (2nd), first trip abroad since the start of the pandemic. Focussed on the Paphos area and Cape Drepanum in the west and a bit of birding in the south centre and south east at Akrotiri and Larnaca/Cape Greco respectively. 

A brief summary for the moment, 120 species seen without too much chasing around, concentrating on seeing day to day changes at several sites. Arrived as the weather had become more Spring like and started to kick off bird migration, I got the impression it was behind schedule. This was apparent as I did not connect with any Flycatchers or Shrikes throughout and only saw Cyprus Wheatears at the end of the week. Weather, dry throughout and mild to warm at the end as the winds switched from a northerly or western bias to a more southerly one. In other words one or two fleeces became should I wear one?

Paphos Area

Slow birding on the Headland but a nice variety of species seen, birding inside and outside the archaeological complex equally as rewarding. Always good to study the 'Flava' Wagtails along the perimeter fence, most Black-headed or Black-headed x, but several smart Grey-headed and Blue-headed examples picked out. Red-throated Pipits starting to get their summer garb and Northern and Isabelline Wheatears seemed ever present.   Always a diverse collection of species at this site, be it a flock of Purple Herons overhead, an adult Mediterranean Gull loafing on what appeased to be a bird-less sea, to Hoopoes flushing from dirt tracks and a Short-eared Owl arriving 'in off'. A humble Tree Sparrow with its gregarious 'domestic' cousins was unusual, a bit of a rare, glad I got a second look!

Red-throated Pipit

Tree and House Sparrows

A few miles east of Paphos checking Mandria's Lark Corner and vicinity added to the trip list, no two visits were the same, a candidate Siberian? Stonechat got my attention, always welcome guidance on id. A few miles inland Asprokremmos Dam was lacking in flycatchers but not in its beauty, and a few miles more, Anarita Park hosted a fine Finsch's Wheatear at the start of the period.

Finsch's Wheatear

Siberian Stonechat?

Akrotiri

One visit made, slow for passerine migration at the church, but made up for with a Short-toed Eagle hunting the area that held a fly by Pallid Harrier. Akrotiri Marsh was impressive, more variety and numbers of species at the Lower Hide than the Tower Hide, including the obligatory Spur-winged Plovers, Heron/Egret bonanza with all 3 Egrets present, Bittern, Purple Heron, Spoonbill and Glossy Ibis noted.

Purple Heron

Short-toed Eagle

Larnaca/Cape Greco

More birding done at the latter, but the star of the show at the former.

Cape Greco birdy on 2 visits made only, the penultimate evening and most of the last day. Highlights included fly over (European) Bee-eaters, 'at last they finally arrived' Cyprus Wheatears, Spectacled, Cyprus and Rüppell's Warblers and an in off Pallid Harrier. Tawny Pipits, Short-toed Larks, Wryneck and Nightingale noted, but did the Laughing Dove arrive in off or one of the rapidly increasing local birds having a wander?

Cyprus Wheatear

Larnaca Sewage Works Pools held wild Ruddy Shelducks, large gulls shimmering in the heat haze, a Little Gull that looked like it would be eaten by one of the big ones at any moment, plenty of Teal, Shovelers and a few waders. But, nearby the following day and only a few hours before leaving the island probably the best wader in the world, Caspian Plover, i.e. Charadrius asiaticus carlsbergensis was chilling out with a group of Kentish Plovers. The adult male Pallid Harrier flying in front of, and then hanging over the car around the corner barely got a second glance, surely a birding faux pas!

Caspian Plover

A nice trip and with thanks to birders who helped me both online and in the field, sorry not to catch up with you all, a full trip report to follow.

Easter Birding 2022

Back home at Easter and the moorlands coming alive. Buzzards patrolled the ridges and nearby tree clad reservoirs, some had more trees than others following felling last year. Merlin are back, a Short-eared Owl tangled with a Buzzard at distance, more likely a wanderer than summer resident, and Ring Ouzels were back on territory and in song, although Stonechats tried to out sing them. More returning summer visitors included Swallows to upland farm buildings and Willow Warblers that turned up the volume as the week progressed from the valley bottom, but a returning Pied Flycatcher at one location was focussed on getting its bearings as it remained silent. Redstarts appeared to have declined in recent years so a singing male "whirring" from a Beck was nice to note, and a Tree Pipit "buzzed" by one morning, will it stay to nest, or is this species to be just seen on passage, only time will tell if it hasn't done so already. Roding Woodcock noted at dusk.

Ring Ouzel

Woodcock

Mountain Hares showed their varied Spring collection, snow boots still in fashion.

Mountain Hares

Elsewhere, Old Moor RSPB looked impressive with a booming Bittern barely audible over the din of Black-headed Gulls that went silent when Marsh Harriers took flight. Buzzards were up high and Sparrowhawks displayed.

Capital Birding - January 2022

Back at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London in January 2022 where an unseasonable Spoonbill took up residence, the presence of 5 wary Barnacle Geese that arrived in December may suggest Category A origin, and the reserve was crowded with wintering Ducks and Waders. Pintail looked very smart feeding in the sunshine lighting up Purfleet Scrape where Shovelers, Wigeon and Teal also fed, and a handful of Curlews roosted at high tide. Nearby over the river wall about 40 Avocets combed Aveley Bay for food and 95 Black-tailed Godwits huddled together further to the west. A nice variety of birds on and near the reserve also included the wintering Dartford Warbler, many Stonechats, confiding Kestrels and patrolling Marsh Harriers. A Raven took a serious dislike to other Corvids (not forgetting to add the 'r' here) one Sunday morning and the following Saturday 2 Ravens flew low over the reserve. An adult Peregrine tormented allcomers along the shore late January before heading off over the landfill. All 5 expected Gull species present throughout with yellow colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls noted later in the month, the yellow and "2" first digit indicating they were ringed locally, details tbc. But, not to forget the star of the show a fantastic 3rd winter Caspian Gull present on the Target Pools during the afternoon of the 15th. At the same pool a lone Ruff was active amongst resting Lapwings and a couple of Water Pipits were airborne, calling in flight. They seem to give the 'Wist' call quickly as if embarrassed to call, wanting it over. This is in contrast to the wintering (Scandinavian) Rock Pipits present on the Thames shore who appear to want to be heard as they call a stronger 'Weest'. All subjective of course. Of note, a visitor from a collection in the form of a Black Swan looked great on the reserve and on landing on a misty Thames during one visit mid month. The local Mute Swans weren't happy!

Away from Rainham Marshes RSPB I twitched the Little Bunting present in South East London, it was very confiding and nice to see.