Ouse Washes and Grafham 29 May 2013

Northerly winds murk and rain until 09.30 and then intermittently later, ideal conditions for grounding migrant waders heading for the Arctic tundra. 

Covered the Ouse Washes from Welches Dam north eastwards to just beyond the railway bridge from 07.30 to 13.30 followed by an hour along the dam at Grafham Water.

Good numbers of waders were on the Washes; c. 70 Ringed Plovers most of which were race tundrae;  3 Golden Plovers flew north, 2 Grey Plovers were near the railway bridge until spooked by a Marsh Harrier then flew north with 10 Ringed Plovers; a Curlew Sandpiper was more settled with Dunlins and Ringed Plovers in front of Stockdales Hide, 17 Dunlin -  a mix of alpina and schinzii, 5 Sanderling, a Little Stint on a pool with Ringed Plovers near the railway bridge flew over to the east side of the washes when disturbed by a quad bike. While arctic tundra bound waders were struggling to reach their breeding grounds the first 4 Avocet chicks of the year were attempting to feed, 8 Black-tailed Gowits  were counted and at least 7 Snipe were drumming during a slightly brighter period late morning. 

Other species noted were c. 20 Little Egrets, 1 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier, 5 male Garganey, 2 Hobbies and, a male Whinchat near the railway bridge. 

An hour along the dam at Grafham delivered 4 tundrae Ringed Plovers, 1 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin,

c. 200 Swifts and a Hobby.  

The murky Ouse Washes

Curlew Sandpiper - distant digiscoped record shot

Little Egret in classic foot paddling stalking pose

Dunlin and Sanderling - Grafham Dam 

Ouse Washes - 27 May 2013

A very pleasant early morning walk north along one hundred foot drain from Mepal to Oxlode in bright sunshine and with an increasingly fresh southerly wind. 

c. 25 Little Egrets, 1 adult male and c 5 'cream crown' Marsh Harriers; 2 male Garganey one of which was keeping very exotic company in the form of a drake Mandarin; 1 Wood Sandpiper was on the best looking though distant wader pool;11 race tundrae Ringed Plovers; 9 Black-tailed Gowdwits; 2 Turtle Doves, 5 Corn Buntings plus the usual commoner species. 

A rather scruffy 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier

Drake Mandarin and Garganey

Grafham Water - 24 May 2013

Another day with fresh winds, initially from the south-west, then later in the afternoon veering north-east with heavy showers again. 

Two visits today to the dam from 0630-0800 and Hill Farm, Mander and the south end of the dam 1530-1700. 

3 Yellow-legged Gulls; 3 Arctic Terns were off the dam early morning with 1 off the fishing lodge later in the day; 8 Common Terns. The heavy afternoon showers had brought down numbers of hirundines with c. 300 Swallows, c. 60 Sand Martin and c. 100 House Martins off Hill Farm there were also c. 400 Swifts. 

A single Little Ringed Plover was on the dam late afternoon on 25 May, little else noted though in a two hour trawl of the north side of the reservoir apart from 6 Common Buzzards and 2 Red Kites. 

Grafham Water - 23 May 2013

A cold north-westerly wind, cloudy in the morning with occasional very heavy showers developing.

The dam, Mander and lagoons areas were covered early morning with a briefer visit to the dam and Hill Farm areas late afternoon..

3 Sanderlings were on the dam in the morning with just 1 left by late afternoon, a first-summer Turnstone was also on the dam as were 6 Oystercatchers. An Arctic Tern resting on the dam flew off high ENE early morning with a second bird off Mander. A male Avocet flew over the dam and headed toward the lagoons, there were 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 adult, 1 second calendar year and 2 third calendar years). 
A Spotted Flycatcher was at the north end of the dam and c. 150 Swifts were counted. 

Lammas Meadow & Grafham - 20 May 2013

A north-easterly breeze and overcast.

Two Siskins early morning at Lammas Meadow appeared to be on territory, a single Arctic Tern flew ENE along the Ouse valley. 

Later 1 Hobby, 1 Turnstone, 3 Common Sandpipers, c. 60 Swifts and 6 Yellow Wagtails were on or over the dam at Grafham Water.

Pyrenees and the steppes of Huesca - 16-19 May 2013

A short trip with the old gang to this fantastic area. A great variety of habitats are accessible within a relatively small area ranging from cereal and semi-desert tableland steppe through Mediterranean type scrub to the verdant valleys and craggy peaks of the Pyrenees. 

Despite losing most of a day to heavy snow in the Pyrenees a day which was earmarked for treeline and alpine meadow specialists, a four day trip delivered the following selected highlights: Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Goshawk, Lesser Kestrel, Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Dupont's Lark, Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Blue RockThrush, Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Black-eared Whetear, Subalpine Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Wallcreeper, Red-backed, Woodchat and Iberian Great Grey Shrikes, Alpine Chough, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting and a host of other interesting species. 

Tableland steppe El Planeron reserve north of Belchite

Dupont's Lark - perching on the side of low scrub typical singing position.
At least  6 birds began singing before dawn, this bird showed particularly
well later at about 07.30 singing from this low perch and in song flight. 

Spectacled Warbler - near Candasnos, Monegros

Short-toed Eagle - one of a pair engaged in display above Sastago, Monegros

Short-toed Lark - El Planeron - Belchite

Corn Bunting - a common bird of the Monegros cereal steppes

Nightingale being typically showy in a small orchard at Belchite

Rock Sparrow - Belchite monument 

Wheatear  form libanotica,  Belchite monument. Quite obviously different
to nominate: slightly smaller with a stronger bill, paler ashy grey upperparts,
less buff on underparts and a narrower tail band are the obvious features but
more subtle  differences combined to form a very distinctive jizz.

Lammergeier - Hecho Valley 

Wallcreeper - record shot - Boca El Infierno, Hecho Valley. After a three hour intermittent
watch of this known site, this fabulous species appeared and stayed for ten minutes
before heading off up the valley. In this case persistence paid off as the Wallcreeeper
was sighted within 15 minutes of our last reasonable departure time from the valley.
Bird of the trip by consensus. 

Grafham Water - 14 May 2013

A very fresh morning with cold south-westerly winds and clear skies, cloud increasing during the day with heavy showers in the afternoon. 

From 06.30 - 10.00 covered the dam and lagoons areas with a return visit to the dam and Mander viewpoints from 3.00 - 4.30.

A quiet morning with just 1 Dunlin on the dam, 1 third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Avocet on the lagoons, 1 female Wheatear on the dam and c 50 Swifts. 

The afternoon showers brought in Swifts with c400 present and hirundines with c 260 Swallows and c 150 House Martins. A  Sanderling had joined the Dunlin on the dam and 2 Whimbrel flew through high north-east. A single Arctic Tern was off Mander and just two Common Terns were present.

Sanderling 

Common Swift