Greater Yellowlegs & more

Saturday 11th April  We popped out this morning with no idea that Jackie and I would end the day with a British tick.  We started at Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes, finding the Little Gulls were still present and added Common Tern to the year list was a good start.  The Tern Hide was quite full with photographers but they were not quick enough to capture the Peregrine as it zipped by very close in front of the hide.  It then went after a Tufted Duck which dived just in time not to be on the breakfast menu.

Next we headed off to Ocknell Plain to try and find the Great Grey Shrike and failed. So we headed to Stewarts Market Garden to have lunch and get a few plants for the garden, quite mundane.  Well we were on the way back home and news broke of a Greater Yellowlegs at Titchfield Haven, couldn't resist and forty five minutes later we were in the hide watching it. Though a little distant to get the best photographs main thing, it was there and we were watching it. Great way to finish the day.

Greater Yellowlegs - Titchfield Haven, Hants © Nick Hull

Sunday 12th April  Our Sunday monthly group met at Durlston starting with a couple of Ravens.  There was a lot of bird song with the usual resident species like Chaffinch, Dunnock and Greenfinch and newly arrived Chiffchaffs seemed to be everywhere.  A splendid male Redstart was a new migrant and several Swallows flew in off the sea.  A Kestrel was seen hunting continually on our walk, and a pair were seen copulating on the cliff from the view point. A distant Peregrine and three Buzzards were pursued by the Jackdaws.  

Male Kestrel Durlston CP. © Nick Hull

Tuesday, 14th April  Today our Tuesday group were at Stanpit Marsh, again hoping to see migrants but the sea fog was not helpful!  As we walked through the gates on to the marsh itself a few birds flitted around the bushes.  One sat up on the bush briefly giving a burst of song, a Common Whitethroat!  There were two that kept going down to the grass and back up to the bush accompanied by a couple of Dunnocks.  A lovely start that was never really topped.  A couple of Mediterranean Gulls flew across calling and we could hear the harsh call of distant Sandwich Terns, later we watched 3 in the channel with two sat on buoy.  Sand Martin and a few Swallows flew through.  There were few waders including Curlew and Redshank, a few remaining Brent Geese on the marsh.  A delightful flock of Linnets and we surprised a Green Woodpecker as we past one bush!  We finished with a couple of male Blackcaps in the blossom of a Blackthorn tree.

Sandwich Tern - Stanpit Marsh © Nick Hull

Wednesday, 15th April   Another group today and this time we were at Hartland Moor and Middlebere.   Nick and I arrived early, a male Dartford Warbler sat up on the gorse was the first bird we saw.  We had a walk down to the cottages and the highlight were four Spoonbills flying over us really quite close.

Immature Spoonbill Middlebere © Nick Hull

After introductions I lead the group off up the tramway and we checked off many of the usual heathland species, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird.  We then had a number of Meadow Pipit several were doing their parachute displays.  Stonechats were also in good numbers scattered across the heath in their pairs.  We had Skylark singing but no one managed to find it in the clear blue sky. Several Dartford Warbler were seen one pair gave us some excellent views.  We also recorded good numbers of Green Tiger Beetles they seemed to be everywhere, we also had five species of butterfly Small White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Brimstone.

On our return walk we had a trio of Buzzards which gave us at first an aggressive display by one male bird having ago at another that was trying to muscle in on his partner and we saw some talon grappling by the pair, reinforcing their partnership.  Joe picked up a high Sparrowhawk which quickly cruised out of sight.  We ended the walk looking into the Wytch channel where we added a few common waders and duck.