The travels continue....
DIARY PAGES
2005
DECEMBER 2005
What a nice start to the month a Sociable Plover !! I was enjoying the Red-throated Diver @ Blithfield, Staffordshire when the news broke. So a quick dash down to Rainham Marsh RSPB rewarded me with some nice views, I just hope it stays long enough for a second visit. I tried a second visit for the Sociable on the 9th but I picked the foggiest day of the year. It was seen once briefly by the warden as it flew across the Thames. Whilst I was down south I decided to take a look at the Hooded Merganser @ Chilham. I'm not sure where this bird has come from but there's no denying it's very smart. On the 13th I decided to avoid the crowds @ the Buff-bellied Pipit and try for the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler @ Filey, a species I've missed on several occasions. I did manage to get a very brief view on film, however the bird proved very difficult to pin down for most of the time. I had a great day @ Draycote water, Warwickshire on the 20th as they currently have 3 Great Northern Divers, at least 4 Hawfinch by the visitors center and a couple of drake Smew. Hawfinch is still quite a rare bird for Warwickshire so its nice to see these are giving great views. A trip to Cardiff gave me the opportunity to grab a look at the Laughing Gull @ Porthcawl, this 1st winter bird was perched on a post for my entire stay giving excellent views. I spent the 29th in Somerset looking for the Black-throated Thrush. After a brief view in the morning it vanished for hours but was later re-found in a ditch yards from where it was originally seen. It gave great views, as did Kingfisher, Merlin and Redwing. I spent the 30th locally at Upton Warren and enjoyed the Bittern for an hour in front of the west hide, I normally just get a quick glimpse in flight if I'm lucky.
NOVEMBER 2005
A slow start this month again due to heavy work commitments, however I did manage to catch up with a few of my favorite birds - Divers. Locally I managed to see the Black-throated Diver @ Chelmarsh Reservoir, Shropshire on more than one occasion. Secondly the stunning Summer plumaged Great Northern Diver @ Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire. This is the first time I've ever seen a Great Northern in summer plumage, the bird spent most of its time under water feeding. A Green Heron @ Anglesey - was a real surprise, a superb bird, shame about the weather. After 4 attempts I finally managed to get some decent footage of the Upland Sandpiper, well worth the effort as this was a stunning bird. I decided to try my luck with the Grey-cheeked Thrush @ Potter's Bar and I wasn't disappointed. The bird showed really well, at times too well and too close to film...., but who's complaining!!!
OCTOBER 2005
A few firsts for me this month. The first time I've been to the Scillies, the first time I've been on a Helicopter & the first time I've seen Upland Sandpiper & Blackpoll Warbler. The trip to the Scilly Isles was amazing, what a beautiful place. I managed to see the very obliging Spotted Sandpiper & the equally obliging Sora. The Blackpoll warbler showed well at times but sadly the bird was too fast for my camera. It was nice to finally catch up with the Upland Sandpiper in Cornwall although I only managed to see it briefly in flight. The 5th proved to be an interesting day, firstly a Squacco Heron found fishing on a small pond in the middle of Newton Abbot was amazing, you had to see it to believe it, and secondly I witnessed a fight between a Snipe & Jack Snipe @ Slimbridge WWT, the Snipe actually came off worse. The Red-necked Phalarope, also @ Slimbridge, showed really well in front of the Robbie Garnett hide. A trip to the Wirral on the 6th and yet another Phalarope, this time a very obliging Grey Phalarope on New Brighton marine lake. I was both pleased & surprised to hear the Arctic Warbler, @ Portland, had stayed for a third day. It gave me a chance to finally catch up with this species. I popped into Grafham Water on the way home to catch up with the White-rumped Sandpiper. It was a real joy to catch up with the extremely photogenic Paddyfield Warbler @ lothian.
SEPTEMBER 2005
What a superb start to the month a Booted Warbler @ Winterton dunes, Norfolk, showing very well at times. Sadly I missed the Lesser Grey Shrike @ Spurn but had some consolation with a Wryneck, Juv Rosy Starling & two Red-backed Shrike's. The Shrike @ the point was very obliging. I hadn't been out since the 3rd, due to work commitments, so it was nice to spend my first day out in two weeks watching the Little Crake @ Slimbridge WWT. The bird showed superbly for over half an hour in front of the Ziess hide. I finally managed to catch up with a Lesser Grey Shrike, a very obliging one @ Spurn Point on the 25th, shame it had lost it's tail. A trip to Cornwall on the 28th was a disappointment as I dipped on the Upland Sandpiper, however the very obliging Long-billed Dowitcher @ Drift Reservoir and a Dotterel, at Nanquidno valley, soon put a smile back on my face.
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