Black-faced Bunting at Spurn

News of a Black-faced Bunting at Spurn on 20th October and I had no chance of making the journey on the day. I had family commitments on 21st but had a long awaited free day today so despite the clear night forecast and the risk that the Bunting might have moved on I persuaded Jim to join me on the twitch. Dad was ruled out with the long drive and long walk factors along with his commitment to get Mum to a lunch date. I picked Jim up at 3am and had a reasonable drive up the M11/A14/A1/A15/M180 etc arriving at Spurn at 7am. We walked out towards the point along the sand for a mile or so to meet the five other birders that had arrived before us. The news was negative and we waiting an hour before deciding we'd move along the road a bit incase the bird was still around but had moved further down the road. After a few steps we had a bird fly out of the grass away from us and as we turned the guys behind us that had decided to stay put pointed to the spot where the bird had dropped in. After a short wait and with the help of a thermal we knew the bird was still in the grass but we didn't know it was the target until it moved out into the open to fully reveal itself. I put news out to encourage those waiting on news and then grabbed a couple of record shots.

The Black-faced Bunting is a difficult bird to connect with in the UK. There are only nine accepted records in the UK with the first in 1994 and the last in 2022. (several records are still under consideration from 2023/2024) 

Roe Deer at Spurn

Spurn Lighthouse

Black-faced Bunting

Black faced Bunting 

Black-faced Bunting

After connecting with the target we decided to walk out to the point meaning we'd walk around six miles in total with much of that on soft sand which eventually took it's toll on us both. Our reward for the long walk was a Merlin, Shore Lark, Eider (which was a year tick) Yellow-browed Warbler, Rock Pipit, Redpolls, three Whooper Swans, lots of wader action and the expected migrant thrushes and Chats. Three Red-throated Diver and a Guillemot on the sea added to the day list which totalled 71 species

The Bunting is my third new bird this year with the Booted Eagle and Zitting Cisticola bring my life list to 453 and my year list to a respectable 239 considering the lack of days out etc etc. (I could add 20 sub species to this list making 473 if I included them)

Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath

I took my grandson to school this morning and with some free time on offer I decided to use it by heading up the A12 towards Dunwich. It was a nasty journey with road closures at Orwell bridge and road works all the way but I arrived mid morning paid a fiver to park the car on some gravel that belongs to the national trust and walked out to the gathered birders that I presumed were watching the Turkestan Shrike. Indeed the bird was showing and showing well. I enjoyed watching it for an hour before heading back down the A12 for the school pick up. I saw three Dartford Warblers and a Stonechat whilst there and also bumped into a few birding friends too which was nice. The Turkestan Shrike was feeding well and I saw it catch a Dragonfly, a Bee, several small honey bees or wasps and a few other bits that had the misfortune to fly within thirty feet or so of the butcher bird. It would return to a regular branch to eat and occasionally take a catch into the gorse to impale it in it's larder for later. 

This is my second Turkestan Shrike following the Bempton bird of July 2022 but this being a first for Suffolk has nudged my Suffolk list along to 283 and my year list along to 236.

Formerly assigned to Isabelline Shrike and since split to Daurian (Lanius-Isabellinus) and Red-tailed Shrike or Turkestan Shrike (Lanius-phoenicuroides) this bird is at home in central Asia hence it's rarity value in the UK with just eleven previous records. 

Year list now 236 (Suffolk list now 283)

Pec Sand at Stanborough gravel pits in Herts

I couldn't find time yesterday to do the short 30minute run up the A1 for the Pectoral Sandpiper found at Stanborough gravel pits on Coopers Green lane but after a bit of family stuff this morning I decided to pop up for it. I parked near the cottages after asking a local if it would be ok and he pointed me to an area that wouldn't offend anybody allowing me to park up and walk across the main road to the pits. I saw a group of four birders to my right by a large oak tree and joined them to find the Pec Sand was on the pit below with three Snipe, some Mallards and Teal. I watched the bird for a while before heading back to the car after adding another tick to my Herts list and indeed my 2025 year list too which now stands at 235.

Pec sand at Stanborough gravel pits

Canvey point and Bowers marsh

With my daily routine now involving school runs, football lessons, ballet classes, swimming lessons and even church visits as well as the day to day care for Suzanne time for birding remains limited but being that these duties are still taking me to Rainham several times a week and with Rainham being just a twenty minute drive to Canvey Island I've managed to grab a few hours to watch the sea at Canvey point. My first visit was in a strong Westerly and didn't deliver much on the sea at all but the Wader count was impressive with hundreds of Oystercatcher, dozens of Curlew and Ringed Plover plus a few Dunlin, Turnstone and singles of Greenshank, Sanderling, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit along with lot's of Cormorant and Little Egret.

Kestrel

This week saw the time spent with Northerly and north easterlies so the sea was a little more productive.

Plenty of Arctic Skua action and a frustratingly distant view of a "probable/possible" Long-tailed Skua along with missing both LT Skua and Pomarine Skua minutes after I'd left. A Puffin was seen flying at pace down river and a couple of distant Auks moved down river too. Lot's of Terns were seen including plenty of Sandwich. Several Gannets all of which appeared to be this years birds. Two Spoonbill and a Great Egret flew across from Kent as did a Rock Pipit which landed on the foreshore giving me an unexpected year tick. Waders continued to follow the tide and cross the river and included all the above plus Grey Plover and some distant Avocet. Little Gull and Med Gulls were noted and a Red throated Diver was seen drifting from the pier down river. Eight Grey Heron flew from Essex to Kent in one flock and my first Brent Geese of the Autumn were noted with a total of nine birds in three groups. Upto fifty Common Scoter were seen in three groups and Wigeon flew east in good numbers. Nineteen pintail, a few Teal and four Shelduck added to the duck numbers on my visit. Swallows hawked up and down the tide line getting ready to head south too.

The Rock Pipit took my year list to 233 and equaled my worst ever year total so there's some positivity at last. I'm still to tick Long-tailed Skua for Essex but I've come close this year at least with a probable and a couple of very close misses.

Guinea Fowl blocking the road into Bowers marsh

25 Spoonbill at Bowers marsh

Roll on to 28th and I took my grandson to play football in Dagenham after which I took a short detour down to Bowers marsh. The target was a Red-necked Phalarope which showed at distance after a short wait. 25 Spoonbill roosted on one of the islands and the wader count included a single Grey Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers along with numbers of Snipe, Ruff, Blackwit, Lapwing and Avocet. Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Grey Heron, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Hobby and Buzzard made up the best of the rest and the Phalarope pushed the year list to 234.

With time being so limited I'm struggling to get the camera out of the bag at the moment but fingers crossed I find a target to point it at sooner rather than later.

Arctic Warbler at Wigborough in Essex

 Yesterday saw me pinch a couple of hours between duties so I chose Dungeness to waste those two hours.

Ten Arctic Tern, Two Balearic Shearwaters and two Little Terns giving me three year ticks among the many Sandwich and Common Terns. Gannets were present in good numbers and a single Kittiwake was noted amongst the gulls that included Gt black backed, Lesser black backed, Herring, Common, Black-headed and Med Gulls. A Black Redstart and Wheatear were seen at a quiet Galloways before ten minutes at the wader roost in Littlestone gave numbers of Ringed-plover, Knot, Dunlin and Sanderling plus another two Wheatear. Cattle Egret and GW Egret were both seen along with quite a gathering of Swallows and Sand Martins before I dipped the reported Wryneck but did find another seven Wheatear.

Common Whitethroat

Waders at Littlestone

Sanderling

Black Redstart

News came out last night whilst I was otherwise tied up of an Arctic Warbler being found at Wigborough by Sean N.and this morning I had already agreed to take my grandson to football in Hornchurch at 10am but I took a punt and ran up to Wigborough knowing that I literally only had fifteen minutes once there before I'd need to head back down the A12 to keep my commitment for the football. I arrived to news the bird hadn't been seen for a while and with the car park full and having no time for the long walk back from Abberton I parked blocking cars in aware that if somebody walked back towards the cars I'd need to follow them which is what happened. I took their space and now had just five minutes but as I walked back into the churchyard Dave B had refound the bird along the adjoining tree line and I managed some lovely views in the short time I had left. I made it back to get George to his football with fifteen minutes to spare.

The Arctic Warbler is not just a year tick but an Essex tick too so I'm pleased I tried and even more pleased I managed to see it largely thanks to Dave. The bird is only the second ever in Essex following one at the Naze back in 2004. I've previously seen two Arctic Warblers in Britain (Wells 2017 and Spurn 2024) 

St Stephens at Wigborough in Essex

Year list now 232 and just one away from not being my lowest ever

The Essex list moves to a modest but respectable 283

couple of local trips

The family care commitments continue to be a priority for me, Suzannes having more bad days than good and the grandchildren are still giving me great joy as I spend spare hours in their company during the school holidays. My daughter in law has her treatment plan agreed and that starts next week so I continue to support her as much as possible too. Sometimes life is challenging and these difficulties underline how much we all need a relief from the stress and worry and for me that's birding.

I've enjoyed a few hours on Chingford plain with Wryneck the clear highlight and an unexpected Grasshopper warbler a bonus along with the usual Treecreeper, Nutchatch, Gt Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. Whitethroat, Hobby, Buzzard and Kestrel the best of the rest here.

At Wanstead I found my first Pied Flycatcher of the year but lost it before the Jims caught up with me and we didn't refind it. A Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear and Whinchat were also seen on the flats.

Spotted Flycatcher

Today I was at my sons in Hornchurch for an hour or two so popped down to Coalhouse Fort where I found a Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper among the mixed flock of 100+Ringed Plover and several Dunlin. Also on the mud were 40+ Curlew and a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Coalhouse point

With the above trips my year list now stands at 228 and only 5 behind my worst ever year of 233.

Purple Sandpiper at Landguard

Time has not been my own for a while now but this morning I woke early and decided to run up the A12 to Landguard hoping I might find a migrant or two. Walking out onto the common I quickly picked up three Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Whitethroat. A large flock of Linnet and Goldfinch were busy feeding with a flock of House Sparrow and a Robin for company and among them a Tree Sparrow which I think is a first for Suffolk for me. Further along the common I found three Wheatears. A Whimbrel and three Oytercatchers flew over and Sandwich Terns dived in the harbour before I reached the pier and eventually found a Purple Sandpiper feeding. I watched the bird for over an hour and found it fascinating how the bird pays so little attention to the incoming tide where at times it would be completely covered by the waves but would stand its ground and carry on feeding as the waves dropped. The walk back gave views of Willow Warbler and Black Redstart but I failed to find the reported Pied Flycatcher.

Back home and a Wryneck reported on Chingford plain had me getting back in the car but a two hour search wasn't successful although the bird was refound as we drove home. We did see a Grasshopper Warbler found by Ian L. which gave the Jims a year tick. 

Year list now 224

The following morning saw me pick up Jim at 7am for another try for the Wryneck and I managed to refind the bird and get the half a dozen other birders onto it.

Year list now 225