Both pleasure and frustration. 19/5/2011.

On what was a really pleasant morning I set out to visit Sculthorpe Moor Reserve, a site run by the Hawk and Owl Trust ( www.sculthorpemoor.org ) and an area I'd never visited until a couple of winter's ago. It's one of those woodland/wetland areas that is just a joy to be within, even if you don't see very much. Justifiably it boasts the presence of both Marsh and Willow Tit complemented by a wide variety of other passerine species, breeding Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl and Golden Pheasant. Whatever the provenance of the latter the male bird is an absolute gem to behold, but very often proves elusive and demanding of a patient stake out at one of the hides. As previously I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

After lunch I moved on to Cley on Norfolk's north coast, a site run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
After calling in at the modern, self sustaining eco-friendly Centre to see a friend who works there, I set out along the East Bank adjacent to the vast reedbed.

A leisurely stroll provided views of a pair of BEARDED TITS and a further single male, always a species I enjoy catching up with. The paired birds were indulging in an energetic round of chasing, possibly a precursor to them settling down to breed.

Continuing on I reached the famed "North Bank", its shingle line extending as far as the eye can see in both directions.

An examination of the history of this area is spellbinding, indeed in the Three Swallows pub in the village there is a fascinating collection of old photographs of the area and its inhabitants. In the Middle Ages the Cley Marshes were covered by the sea at high tide and boats could navigate along channels into a harbour located near Cley Church. A series of banks were built in more recent times to protect the village from flooding, and to create more areas for grazing and such assisted in the establishment of what is now a premier reserve. Recent extreme weather events have seen the reserve flooded as the fury and force of the North Sea surged over and through the protective "North Bank". A simple visual assessment of how tenous is the permanence of the reserve can easily be arrived at by looking along the shingle embankment and imagining how circumstances must be in the midst of a winter storm.

Today, however, was pleasant, sunny and allowed full benefit to be taken by walking along the raised embankment, which I did all the way to Salthouse and back. My efforts were directed at seeing a couple of SHORELARK which have been in the area for some time. Usually a winter visitor these birds have hung on way beyond the usual time of departure. As can be seen from the photograph the landward side of the bank plays host to a variety of vegetation, squatting low as it does away from the force of the wind. Eventually the birds were pinned down within an area of this cover close to the access point from the East Bank showing that , somehow , I had initially walked past them! Whilst it had been a frustrating afternoon I suspect the bracing atmosphere had been of more than a little benefit and had acted as the prelude to the final reward.

Yet another good day!

Hectic, but successful, day. 18/5/2011.

A further visit to Titchwell RSPB Reserve provided much the same species but with markedly better views of 3 Temmincks Stints, the male Red-crested Pochard, several summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits and an absolutely resplendent Grey Plover in full summer plumage. The occasion also provided an opportunity to obtain photographs of the new, almost futuristic, Parrinder hide which has taken place alongside major habitat and flood protection work which was completed recently.

Very modern and poised , I suspect , to receive some recognition award from the architectural community. My only major gripe is that there is no longer a sill on which one might rest a telescope given the "big sky" viewing windows. It's now necessary to use a tripod ( not always easy in a packed hide ) or to have the piece of kit that clamps onto the shelf below the windows
( another bit of equipment to carry!).

Whilst there I received a call from my son, Matthew, advising a Gull-billed Tern had been picked up at Kelling flying in a westerly direction and that there was a good chance of it reaching Titchwell. Alerting other people I waited for well over an hour, but with no luck, only to find out later it had flown past ten minutes after my departure.

I'd moved elsewhere and had the benefit, somewhat deflated after receiving the news about the tern (!),of seeing several SPOONBILLS at a site where they were present last year too. A measure of compensation in some respects and an opportunity to have a chat with the warden as well. Other birds present were Little Egrets and Egyptian Goose, besides a variety of wetland and woodland species. On returning to the car I got a further call from my son, ably acting as Controller in far off Sheffield, that the tern had reappeared at Titchwell.

A somewhat focussed journey followed, together with a splendid response from the short, fat hairies as I negotiated the main footpath of the reserve at "retirement speed" and there it was, GULL-BILLED TERN, resting up on a small island and providing excellent views. The wholly black, stubby bill, shallow fork to the tail and stocky or robust appearance all came through well from a bird that was doubtless from one of the north European breeding colonies. And then , after only a few minutes, it flew off, disappeared , but then re-appeared and flew off to fields south of the reserve where it proceeded to systematically quarter the area. A narrow escape for me, as views were then somewhat distant and nothing approaching the magnificent lens filling images of the foregoing few minutes. Phew!

And so the return journey to "base" in the early evening was much more jubilant than had been that taken in the afternoon.

Perspectives on Frampton Marsh RSPB Reserve.

I was so taken with my visit to the above reserve that I thought it worth setting out a selection of photographic shots I took whilst I was there. It's certainly worth a visit!

This is just a general view across the site with the reserve Centre in the far background and an impression of the site's features.

Another general view of the site in a different part of the site which also shows the retining embankment giving prtection too from any incursion of the sea across this very flat and exposed landscape.

The site's drainage is managed by an intensive pattern of ditches, which also play host to species like Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler and doubtless many others too during migration times.

One of the interesting features on this reserve is this artificial "wall" which provides breeding sites for a very thriving colony of Sand Martin.

The reserve itself is located in a very open landscape and every effort has been made to provide nesting sites for bird species not directly associated with the wetland habitat. This nestbox "city" obviously serves such a process and assists in widening the species diversity of the reserve.

All in all an interesting site in a fascinating part of the English countryside.

Incursion into Lincolnshire! 17.5.2011.

For some time I've been meaning to arrange a trip to Frampton Marsh RSPB Reserve on the western side of The Wash. What a superb site! Essentially it's a wetland site behind a saltmarsh area with accompanying grassland areas and a variety of hedge lines and more composite areas of scrub cover. All the usual facilities are available at the Centre, together with several hides, making up for a site that it's very easy to spend a whole day at. I did , and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

For me the highlights were species like Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer, which are absent or in low numbers on Islay. Added to this were three Temminck's Stints , Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, a flock of Black=tailed Godwits, Avocet, numbers of Ringed Plover and Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Snipe and several Dunlin. Duck included Mallard, Gadwall, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Wigeon, plus Grey lag, Canada and dark bellied brent Geese, little and Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen and Mute Swan. Complementing these were Sedge and Reed warblers and several Whitethroat plus Little Egret. A fascinating, artificial "wall" for breeding Sand Martins was something to admire as well as the dyke system which allows management of the various wetland.

A day well spent!

North Norfolk introduction! 16.5.2011.

The north Norfolk coast has such a plethora of good sites on offer it's always difficult to decide where to go each day! After an al fresco breakfast on the edge of a saltmarsh with accompanying yelping Redshank, overflying Avocets, some absolutely stunning summer plumage Grey Plover, displaying Shelduck, nearby feeding dark-bellied Brent Geese that have not yet undertaken their return journey to their distant breeding grounds in Russia, the time was ripe to visit one of the real hotspots of the area, Titchwell.

The RSPB reserve produced some fine birds: Red-crested Pochard, Marsh Harrier, warblers aplenty ( Reed, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge, Whitethroat } and a good variety of waders ( Lapwing, Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Black and Bar=tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover and a Whimbrel} and a similar array of waterbird species, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Canada Goose, Grey lag Goose, Brent Goose, Great crested Grebe and Little Grebe.

Later a trip to Cley Reserve produced a Lesser Yellowlegs, a couple of Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank and the first Little Egret of the trip. Not a bad day!

Southward ho! 15.5.2011.

Previous to an early start, and in the quiet hours of a Sunday morning, it was interesting to see a Lesser Black=backed Gull collecting nesting material from an area of derelict land within the built-up outskirts of Glasgow, a rather apt reminder that, if allowed to do so, birds will live in routine harmony with ourselves.

Journeying southwards on our busy motorway network usually holds little of interest, and today was no exception, although commoner species like Woodpigeon and various corvids occurred throughout. Stopping off in Sheffield provided the first Swifts and a welcome break to sort out various arrangements re cars, Matthew meeting up with me in Norfolk and an opportunity to catch up on the latest bird news, of which there was a tantalising excess of news!

Late afternoon saw my departure on the final leg of my journey into north Norfolk and an increasing number of species being picked up from roadside locations, ranging from Blackcap and Reed Warbler to Kestrel, Stock Dove and Red -legged Partridge. A not altogether disappointing start!!

The adventure starts! 14.5.2011.

A busy day getting everything ready before being away, ostensibly to get some work completed on the car, see family, shop (!) and, of course ,carry out some intensive birding. Whilst Islay is a wonderful place in some respects, its location means that many of the migrants that regularly occur on the east coast of Britain only reach Islay very occasionally, and the celebrated "falls" of Continental migrants are not really experienced at all. So the main objective of the next couple of weeks is to try and connect with a few of these migrants, as well as visiting a number of celebrated birding spots to pick up on a whole variety of species with a more southern distribution. I suspect this is when the action starts on Islay!!!

The late ferry and subsequent journey through to Glasgow provided very little of interest but the time was invaluable as far as "planning and plotting" ahead was concerned. More encouraging was news of a whole variety of good birds in different parts of the country which served to whet my appetite!! Ever onward!!

Somewhat sour skua watch.

Sour, well wouldn't you be? Out at just after 0500 hours, after plans to be on Jura had necessarily to be altered, with the intention of gaining some respite by completing a seawatch and, hopefully , connecting with some of the various skua species that have been passing the Outer Hebrides or even turning up in the Solway. All the usual "culprits" were in evidence.... Manx Shearwaters , Fulmars, Gannets , Kittiwakes, Shags, Arctic Terns, passing Whimbrel, passing Red-throated Diver, Auks galore but of skuas, not a smell, hint, raised expectation or even a mis-identification!!

Back for breakfast at 0800 hours and then a further three hours. Nothing!! I am convinced skuas, other than the odd bird, pass to the west of Ireland and cut across to the Outer Hebrides, unless they decide to cut across the bottom of Ireland , enter the Solway and take the overland route. However, in times past , colleague and friend, one Andy Schofield used to have skuas passing east along the southern shores of Islay. Whether these then went up through the Sound of Jura and gained height to pass NE above the Great Glen is a matter for conjecture. Certainly something similar happens in autumn with birds passing Chanonry Point, Inverness and continuing WSW into the Great Glen area, although we never appear to receive the benefit of "descending" birds along our north coast so they possibly continue west at height along the north coast of Ireland. Fascinating stuff!

as far as today goes, yours well and truly skewered!!

Waders to the fore! 11/5/2011.

A bit of a mixed day weatherwise but generally acceptable!!

A couple of small parties of "Greenland" Wheatears near home, all females as far as I could establish, showed migration still to be in full swing. Suddenly too, Swallows appear to be in increased numbers and generally distributed. On Loch Indaal a flock of around 80 Bar-tailed Godwits , all still in winter plumage, were avidly feeding prior to continuing on migration and a party of Whimbrel in nearby fields showed their passage still to be continuing and vocal Arctic Terns moved mechanically to and fro along the shore.

At the RSPB Reserve at Gruinart the Wood Sandpiper was still present along with a number of resplendent male Shoveler, several Wigeon , both males and females, and at least three male Gadwall. Several adult Grey Heron hunted over the pools and periodically departed back to their nest areas. Throughout a Corncrake called incessantly as if spurred on by the occasional rain showers.

As I returned home two Cuckoo erupted from the garden followed, soon after,, by the wonderful bubbling call of the female bird. Later news that at least four Corncrake ae now in the general vicinity of the village which suggests birds have arrived in the last few days.

May I take this opportunity to make mention of the American Birding Association. At the beginning of the year I renewed a previous membership which, for whatever reason, went astray. On querying what happened I received a personal E-mail from the new President, Jeff Gordon, putting things right and passing on good wishes. May I simply say that it's a great organization and if you're interested in American birds then join! Regular magazines , occasional conventions, a regular Newsletter and an infrastructure that is geared to support birders and with a good web site. Follow it through!!

May I also draw your attention to a critique ( bit of a rant I suppose ) that I've put on one of my other Blogs ( Conservation Concerns.....see the link opposite or http://www.conservationconcerns.blogspot.com/ ) that deals with Scottish sporting estates and raptor persecution, as dealt with in a recent BBC TV documentary. Blood boiling stuff!

10 th May,2011. Divers save the day!

The strong winds of late finally appear to have settled down somewhat having provided another period of easterlies and south easterlies in spring, a sure fire invitation for us to receive a period of westerlies!!

The day provided an opportunity to be on Jura , although the outcome was a little quiet in many respects. Best of the bunch were two Greta Northern Divers during the day, one in full breeding dress and the other not quite there and looking a little scruffy. Two or three Red-throated Divers were around, including one that flew past very close at eye level calling and then completed a U-turn and disappeared back up the Sound.

A lot of birds are now on breeding territories with Common Sandpiper in good numbers along both shores. At the beginning of the day the fresh southerly wind encouraged both Buzzard and Sparrowhawk into display over the Islay coast. Of interest was a small movement of Swallows south down the Sound, almost as if they had overshot on their first attempt at returning to their breeding grounds and were readjusting. By contrast a pair of Canada Geese had no doubts about their conviction towards their final location as they flew north along the Jura coast all the way up the Sound and beyond. An examination of records on Islay over, say, the last five years would show a small, but well defined migration or temporary presence of birds developing in spring. Last summer also showed breeding birds and an itinerant party of non-breeding birds on Jura suggesting a gradual extension from the mainland.

As the afternoon closed so did the weather, with a heavy downpour and more cloud in evidence. It's to be hoped that, even with the recent cold winds , the bright and dry weather of late is not the only prolonged interval we receive! Certainly as I listened for Corncrake from home around 2215 hours the calling of a lone Cuckkoo inserted some optimism towards this still being summer!!