Down on the south coast Phalarope

With a week off and some decent weather on sunday decided to head down to Dungeness and hope one of the Grey Phalarope in the area would stick around.

First stop was around the beach at Dungeness where there a few Wheatears around and a stonechat was calling but not seen and in the bushes quite a few Warblers mainly Chiff-Chaffs and Willow Warblers.

Then headed to RSPB wetland where I spent most of my time around the Burrows Pit getting good views of a Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warblers and Chiff-chaffs in the scrub. While out on the main body of water a Great White Egret, Little Egrets and Grey Herons was hunting along the edge of the water while the highlights out on the water were Shoveler, Pochard, Teal,Tufted Ducks and Great-crested Grebes. Then moved around to the Arc Pit where had a nice plumaged Wigeon a few singing Cettis Warbler and 18 Golden Plover in with the Lapwings.

Wheatear down by the beach

Willow Warbler in the bushes

Then headed for the Cuckmere Valley a beautiful area with the seven sisters a big draw for the walkers but despite this a Grey Phalarope was showing really well well feet from the path in a section of the river so spent quite a bit of time with this stunning bird.

Feeding Grey Phalarope

Then finished up with a walk around the main Lagoon on site where I had 2 Green Shank, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper and a few Little Egret feeding with a Wheater and 3 Stonechats around the scrub.

Female stonechat

Male Stonechat

Woburn Park and more

On sunday a nice trip out with the RSPB St. Albans group to Woburn Park lots of woodlands were seen at the woodland entrance with a flock of over 20 Siskin seen from the carpark. From the Woodland entrance a Blackcap was heard and we had a good views of a Treecreeper and a brief view of a Spotted Flycatcher in with the tit flocks while lots of vocal Nuthatches  and great Spotted woodpeckers were around and good numbers of  Mistle Thrushes were seen flying over.

In the main park we had a few more Siskin fly over and a group of greenfinches feeding in the tree while overheard Red Kite and buzzards were seen. By the 1st ponds lots of Deer were seen with Red Deer, Sika, Chinese Water Deer, Pére David's Deer and Fallow Deer seen in good numbers. Around the 2nd pond a few waterfowl were seen with Little and Great-crested Grebe and a pair of Mute Swans with five young were we were lucky enough to find 2 Green Sandpipers feeding along the edge while in the nearby stream good views were had of a Grey Wagtail feeding under the bridge.

Pére David's Deer

White Fallow Deer

Soaring buzzard

Then in the afternoon a few of a headed to Panshanger Park near Hertford were we had a nice walk around with a lope of the main lakes were the Little Grebes seemed to have done really well with good number of youngster were seen seen with easily 15 birds over the two lakes. While walking around the back we had a brief view of a Hobby before walking further round where a Osprey floated into view quite high up before being joined by a Hobby a magical moment.

Osprey high up

Bluethroat on the east coast

With the weather last saturday looking good for some fall headed to the east coast started at Winterton Dunes as there been a few decent birds recently got there after the rain a few Swallows and Linnets were around while a flyover yellow Wagtail was heard. Then came to a few people who where watching a super looking Bluethroat around a big gorse bush, which kept popping out and then vanishing but at time quite happy feeding around the gorse.

Bluethroat

After watching the Bluethroat for a while walked around the scrubby area for a while where I had a Stonechat, Blackcap and big group of House Sparrows.

Then headed to Warham Green to see what was around fairly quiet but a few tit flocks which held a few Goldcrest and Chiff-chaffs. Around the Field edge had a Single Hare and a Whitethroat and Yellowhammer in the Hedges and out on the estuary lots of Curlews and Redshanks calling but ended the day with a lovely Sunset

Coastal Sunset

Day on the coast

On saturday when out with dan to the norfolk coast original plan was to go to Cley first but as Red-back Shrike was showing down the road headed to nearby Kelling Water Meadows not a site visited before but looks promising with the rows of hedge with a Bullfinch heard on the walk to the main water body. At the main body of water had views of a few waders mainly Dunlin and Ruff feeding on the shore edge and Skylark, Linnets and singing Yellowhammer in the farmers field behind. afte racross the water views of the Red-backed Shrike moved down to the hedgeline where it was showing pretty well feeding and also good views of a feeding Ruff and Wood Sandpiper and a few Finches and Reeding Buntings. Then walked up the path where a female Whinchat was on the wooden post.

Young Red-backed Shrike

Wading Ruff

Moulting Male Reed Bunting

Then headed to Cley first stop was the walk up to the beach stopping at the pools with Little Egret, Redshank, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plover and just a couple of Avocets. Had lunch on the beach with a Seal going past and hunting Sandwich and Common Terns along with a summer plumage Common Gull. Then headed along to the hide where Black-tailed Godwits and ruffs where feeding in front of the hides with the Lapwings with a distance Greenshank and a possible White Wagtail which Dan found. After a little while a few Bird of prey flew through with hunting Hobby, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel.

Black-tailed Godwit in flight

Landing

Flock in flight

Feeding Ruffs

Flyby Marsh harrier

Last stop of the day was a Titchwell where we when to the wader scrape with distance views of 11 Spoonbill (later 13) where the waders where showing really well with Dunlin and at least 8 Little Stint in front of the hide. Further out a mixed flock of Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers, Redshanks, a pair of Curlew Sandpiper and after a good look a Spotted Redshank. Then walked down to the beach where on route had a nice flock of summer plumage Grey Plovers. on the beach biggers numbers of Common Terns and Sandwich Terns and a big roost group of Oystercatchers along with about 5 Sanderling feeding on the shoreline.

Feeding Little stint

Little stint next to a Dunlin showing the size difference

10 of the 11 Spoonbill where were together

Hexton Chalk Pits and Pegsdon hills

On sunday had a nice visit to Hexton Chalk Pits the first thing that caught my eye was the number of Brimstones out on the wing more than I seen together so far this year.

Feeding Brimstone

Then my eye was caught to a lone Painted Lady feeding in the knapweed seen a few this year mainly on the coast which was quite active but always great to see.

Painted Lady

But the main reason was to see the Chalk-hill Blues despite been late in the season still a good few Hundred easily on the wings quite busy usually chasing off each other but still a few managed to pose briefly for me!! Other butterflies on the wing were Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and the white Species though only a single green-veined White.

Female Chalk-hill Blue

Feed male Chalk-hill Blue

Male fully spread

Then while watching this came across a few Grasshopper and crickets my personally favourite was the Roesel's Bush Cricket which I don't see that often and also the Meadow Grasshopper and the Common Field Grasshopper were around

Roesel's Bush Cricket

Meadow Grasshopper

Then ended the afternoon with a walk around Pegsdon Hills with a nice walk with agood number of Holly Blue on the Ickleworth way and few Chalk-hill Blues on the top of the hill with the hightlight a nice Spotted Flycatcher showed itself briefly at the top of the valley.