Glossy Ibis at Cornmill meadow Waltham Abbey

I had a couple of hours spare this afternoon and enjoyed some time at Cornmill Meadow in Waltham Abbey. Best bird was a Glossy Ibis which fed non stop on the scrape, Little ringed Plover and Lapwing were present and nine Little Egret came and went. There was a constant chorus of Cuckoo, Cetti's Warbler, Wren and Water Rail and a Grey Heron flew over as did three Common Buzzard. This is my second Lee Valley Ibis but I'd forgotten to add the first to my Lee Valley list so that's now been corrected.

The hide needs a bit of work

Hudsonian Godwit at Titchfield Haven

I had a free day today and decided despite the weather I'd head down the M3 to see my second ever Hudsonian Godwit. The Jims decided the weather was forecast to be too poor for them to make the trip so it was a solo run for me. Despite Titchfield Haven not opening until 9am I still set off early and by 6.30am was walking the track at Thursley Common. I year ticked both Redstart and Tree Pipit and enjoyed seeing a couple of Woodlark and several Willow Warbler along with a single Hobby before I left deciding I'd give the Honey Buzzards at Woolbeding a go on the way down the A3. I scanned the sky for almost three hours without joy before setting off for the last leg arriving at Titchfield Haven at 12pm. Car parking paid I walked out to the hide and paid the volunteer the requested £5.50 (first time I've ever had an old person discount)  

Thursley Common

The Hudsonian Godwit performed well during my couple of hours on site but was a little distant in poor light making photography challenging with my little 400mm lens. It was nice to see young Avocet and Mallard, Gadwall and Shoveler all paraded with their chicks too. Med Gull was seen amongst the breeding Black-headed Gulls and a few Common Tern looked to be on territory too.

Hudsonian Godwit

Drake Gadwall in post breeding moult

Gadwall

Gadwall and chicks

An hours delay on the London orbital car park meant for a long trip home but overall it was a nice days birding.

year list now 203

Temminck's Stint at Blue house farm

I dropped my grandson at school this morning and popped down the A127 to Blue house farm to check out the reserve again and try something different.

Two Cuckoos called as I walked out to the hide along with the expected Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler etc The area of farmland seperated by a fox proof fence was thriving with lot's of young Avocets and Lapwings on show. Redshank were present but I couldn't find any young and a pair of Little ringed Plover ran around on a distant shingle bank. Oystercatcher look settled and there are many Barnacle Geese among the Greylags and Canada Geese.

From the hide looking over round marsh I found five Greenshank, a Ruff, two more Little ringed Plover, two Blackwits and eventually two Stints. One was a Temminck's but I didn't see much of the second. I'd later see three Stints distantly and based on profile alone I thought they were all Temminck's. The Ruddy Shelduck was seen along with a smart pair of Yellow Wagtails and a probable very distant White Wagtail. A late Snipe swam across from one of the islands and disappeared into the grass. Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Peregrine and Kestrel entertained whilst trying to get better views of the Stints which remained elusive and distant. I saw 69 species on this brief visit.

The year list ticked over to 200 with the Temminck's Stint.

Back home and three newly fledged Robin have spent the day feeding in the garden. 

 

A return to Cambridgeshire

Dad's been busy lately and missed a couple of good birds so I offered to take him into Cambridgeshire this morning and he jumped at the chance. Our first stop was Ouse Fen where he quickly year ticked Great Reed Warbler which was very vocal and gave several views from within the reed bed. A Crane flew into the reeds giving Dad another year tick and we picked out a female Red-footed Falcon hawking with seven Hobby. Two Bitterns and a Cuckoo added to the total before we headed off to Grafham Water where we again very quickly located the Spotted Sandpiper helped by a couple of toggers hiding along the shoreline as they snapped away at the bird. I joined one and had decent views although I found the light challenging in the darkest corner of the reservoir but managed a few acceptable results.

The year list nudged along to 199 with the Red Footed Falcon.

Spotted Sandpiper at Grafham Water

I dropped the kids at school again yesterday and then popped over to Rainham for an hour to check if the Blue-winged Teal was still there so I could let Dad and Jim know. It was and I did but they had other things on so couldn't make the trip.

I had a planned visit to my brother in laws in Tiptree but Suzanne wasn't feeling well enough so that was postponed last minute. With the evening now free I decided to run up the M11 to see if I could see the Spotted Sandpiper at Grafham Water. The Jims again had other commitments so this was a solo run. 

I arrived to find the bird had been showing well but had recently flown out of view into the tree cover. As I scanned a small gap in the trees I found the bird deep under cover feeding on a small mud patch and I managed to get the other birders onto it although views were only as it wondered in and out of view. For two hours it remained deep in the cover area but I had entertainment in the form of a pair of Yellow Wagtails bathing, a Whinchat and Wheatear near the sola panels, 3 Little ringed Plovers and singing Willow and Garden Warbler.

The trees the bird decided to hide in for two hours

At about 6pm the bird flew out and landed in front of me allowing me to get some images which is why I'd waited so long. It was a smart bird and the first spotted Spotted Sandpiper I've ever seen with the last being a juvenile bird. The car park now had to be paid and I managed to get in just before it clicked into it's fourth hour so at £2 an hour the bird cost me £6.

year list now 198