BLACK-WINGED KITE! 22nd July 2023

I’d like to think that I’m fairly quick off the mark for major rarities. But not really anymore. Whilst it may sometimes still be true, the realities of work and family mean it’s not always possible to drop everything. I’m ok with that (honest), and if I miss the odd bird then so be it, Nobody sees them all, well almost nobody.

In April, Britains first but long anticipated Black-winged Kite was photographed in Powys. This time I had gone straightaway, but the bird had already moved on. No one was particularly upset given the high likelihood of another soon, but I think we were all surprised with one coming so quickly as this bird did. Who knows, perhaps it’s the Welsh bird. 

On Monday 17th July, news came out late evening of one at Horsey on the Norfolk Broads. It had been seen by a casual but reliable birder who was sure of what he’d seen. Unfortunately I’d come home from work with a stinking cold earlier in the day and so was in bed asleep as news broke. I woke at 2.30am to see my phone stacked with messages, but I was still unwell and had critical meetings on Tuesday anyway. And on Wednesday too. It was a bad week all round. Those able to move connected early on Tuesday morning, but the bird soon disappeared as raptors so often do. An hour or two later it was seen about 10 miles away, and that seemed to be that.  It didn’t return to its roost in the Broads that evening, to the disappointment of the few gathered birders.

Yet on Wednesday morning it was at Horsey again and seen intermittently in the day. It must have  returned the previous evening, but unseen in this vast and largely inaccesible area. For those who were free to go, Wednesday evening was a good shout, and as hoped the bird showed again as it headed to roost. Some made it, many didn’t, but it was roosting again. A Thursday am raid mobilised many, but I was still tied-up (not only with meetings but the long-planned Avian Ecology social; I could hardly ditch the team!). There was a general assumption that it could return to Horsey on Thursday, so when news came through that it was showing I barely glanced (mid-pizza), and hoped for a weekend lingerer. I completely failed to register that it had been refound at a different roost site in Felixstowe, some 50 miles south of Horsey. When I did finally notice my heart sank, it really was on the move. This could be the last chance given the low odds of being refound miles away. But I was already out, several beers in and had commitments the next morning anyway. Sure enough Friday at dawn it showed well to those gathered - again until around 9.30 when it drifted north. Game over, or take a punt and head east?

I was finally free to go on Friday afternoon, but given the lack of news, huge areas involved and (being most honest) a grim hangover I decided against the 4.5 hour speculative drive. The hangover intensified in the afternoon so I went to bed and slept for a few hours before chilling for the evening. There would be another, no need to fret, I told myself repeatedly...

But at 10pm, an image of the kite was posted by a photographer. It was reportedly taken in Essex a couple of hours earlier, but the location wasn’t divulged and there was a little cynicism. Thanks to some top sleuthing by Sam at Birdguides, it quickly became apparent this wasn’t a hoax. When asked the togger wouldn’t divulge the actual location though, and said it had flown off anyway. More sleuthing revealed the toggers’ Facebook page showed he generally took photos of raptors along the coast near Colne Point.

The 10pm cryptic Facebook post.

Was this enough to go on? I thought so (perhaps compounded by my upcoming holiday and limited available twitching time). Surely it couldn’t have gone far at that time of day. It was worth a punt and I decided to go overnight. Unsurprisingly others declined due to the vagueness, or were unable to go so late. Nevermind, I’m happy enough solo twitching thesedays. I was on the road just after 11pm, and aside from some road closures along the A14 it was an easy enough journey. That earlier afternoon nap had been a massive blessing. I pulled-up near St Osyth at 3.30am and attempted some sleep in the car, without success. I napped as best I could and waited. By 4.45am I could see well enough. It was cloudy with a cool breeze as I surveyed the emerging landscape. Like the rest of East Anglia, the coast is low lying and mostly arable farmland, protected by a sea wall. There were no easy or obvious routes to the lower coastal area, but I could see there was an abundance of good looking habitat for raptors down there. It was the logical place to look. I was prepared to stick it out for the weekend and told my self to stay focussed on the search; it may be a needle in a haystack but I wanted to give it a good go, and anyway the bird couldn’t be that far away (yet) given it was photographed in the evening. This had to be the area.

I chose to drive round the corner to a modest vantage point. It was barely light, but Marsh Harriers quartered and Kestrels hovered over the distant coastal ground. The view was restricted here and the road ahead adorned with private signs as it passed through a complex of houses and a farm. But it was very early and maps showed some form of a road to the best looking area, so I went anyway, taking care not to disturb residents and hoping there are no dogs. At one point, after passing most of the houses,  I stopped and put my scope up to scan a decent looking area but it was still largely out of view. 

As I did a car pulled up alongside me. I was expecting to be chastised for my presence, but the driver asked what I was looking for so I told him about the kite. He said he’d not heard of that, then said he had heard something but didn’t know where. I then realised he had a large camera set up on the drivers seat. He had to be the vey same togger, but he was quickly off and evidently being evasive. 

So I continued along the lane, through a farmyard (again adorned with private signs), past a couple of large houses and finally to open ground. The area large ahead looked good, and as I reached the end of a hedgerow the view opened up.

And there - immediately in the first field - was a hovering BLACK WINGED KITE. Holy crap. It was 5.25am. Immediate success. I’ll admit to a massive rush and punching the air. I immediately put news out on the WhatsApp groups and settled to watch it do it’s thing. You rarely get a chance to enjoy such a rare bird alone.

My initial 'proof of life' handheld digi-bin shot - evidence!

It continued to hunt a small area and seemed settled. Of course I’d left my camera in the car as this was  supposed to be just an initial walk, so after a couple of terrible (but vital) handheld digi-scoped shots I marched back to the car and drove back to the area on the hope it would remain. I parked further along the lane where my togger friend was now set up to photograph it (so much for it flying off last night). At this point he admitted it was him that had seen it the night before, but he thought the area was sensitive. Complete bollocks given we were stood on a tarmac road which can be reached by public footpath. He then asked me not to put out the location, but I already had so just played along for a while in the knowledge others would soon start to arrive. He even tried not to show it to the first arrival, a local birder who’d picked up on my WhatsApp news, despite it being sat there right in front of us as he spoke.

The bird sat nonchalantly on a nearby bush for an age, proving wonderful views. An exquisite bird, although a bit too far for me to do justice with the camera.

My phone-scope shots doing a fine injustice

Perhaps 30 minutes later a couple more cars arrived and anxious faces turned to smiles. Aside from our togger pal that is, who appeared furious and soon stormed off (after offering a mouthful to the new arrivals). He'd said he was concerned as the lane was private, but it was clear he just wanted the bird to himself. Numbers of birders begun to build, but the bird continued to perform and there were no difficulties with access or viewing. Non-birder locals were friendly and helpful, no-one was upset at our presence.  

I lingered all morning, enjoying prolonged views and being social with old friends. I was in no hurry, for once. 

As the morning progressed the kite began to range over  a wider area. It started to warm up around 9am and at around 9.20am it drifted east along the sea wall and I lost it behind trees. Time to leave for me, but some of those who'd waited on news sadly got there too late. 

I meandered home in buoyant mood and slept very well.

What. A. Twitch. What. A. Bird. There's no skill in twitching, but seeing a bird like this and having a gamble pay off had been a massive rush.

Above and below by Sean Nixon. Stunning.

That's me on 568, but seems crass to talk about numbers for this bird, and we're about to lose a few anyway I hear.

Peregrine Success 9th July 2023

I've mentioned the Lostock Works Peregrines many times and the adult male has been a regular fixture on my visits to the Rudheath Lime Beds (often being seen whilst collecting the keys as he watched over the nest site).  After some very heavy recent rain, I optimistically returned to the beds in the hope of water, and therefore autumn wader potential.  On collecting the keys I had a look for the peregrines on the works, but saw nothing and assumed they had fledged. 

Up on the beds the 'flood' is anything but and remains bone dry for now, but with the current forecast that may change. 

But the trip was still worthwhile, as it turned out the whole Peregrine family has relocated to the pylons centrally within the beds. The three juveniles were raucous and inquisitive, putting on a fantastic show for the next hour or so and at least one of the adults chaperoned them. 

Wader-wise there was only 1 Oystercatcher present, and a single adult and two Shelducks were the only wildfowl. Plenty of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet activity indicated a good season for those species at least, but waders have fared badly.

Separately last week (on 6th) I spent a couple of hours at Frodsham in the evening. Highlights were a breeding plumage Spotted Redshank amongst a throng of Black-tailed Godwits and Common Redshanks. Around 40 Dunlin were present, along with a handful of Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers. Autumn is coming. The highlight though was lovely views of a hunting Barn Owl.

Quail, Bonsall Moor, Derbyshire 28th June 2023

Common Quail are one of those birds that I haven't made enough effort to see (or even hear) often enough. They not common, but are annual, even in Cheshire, but the vast majority are heard only. These elusive little Coturnix rarely break cover, remaining steadfastly in the chosen grassland or crop. If you see a quail at all you've done well, but even then it will most likely have been in flight. There was a bird locally last weekend that didn't linger, but served to give me the kick I needed to make an effort. I've seen quail before of course, but in my entire birding life only brief glimpses on the ground or flight views. And none at all for many years. 

Numbers fluctuate annually but there seem to be quite a few around so far in 2023. Birdguides had been reporting three calling birds in Derbyshire as 'showing occasionally' - which in quail terms is the equivalent of 'easy to see'. Or at least that you're in with a shot. The location, Bonsall Moor in the Derbyshire Peak District, was about 1.5 hours drive, but I've been telling myself to make more effort with those regular bird species that I've only seen rarely. So I headed over early(ish), arriving around 8am and with the intention of staying no more than a couple of hours before heading to work. 

The favoured fields were rather lovely hay meadows, full of life. Skylarks and Meadow Pipits abounded but as I approached not a quail to be heard. Moments later, however, a bird started calling close to the lane I was stood on and, almost immediately, a second bird flew in towards it and giving a really good flight view. Immediate success of sorts, but the possibility of on the ground views was my reason for the journey. I stayed and stayed, playing the usual game of cat and mouse, interrupted briefly by a juvenile Common Redstart in the hawthorns. At least three quail called, but they were quite mobile and of course deep in cover. At times they were very close - close enough to hear them 'croak' before bellowing out their highly recognisable 'wet-my-lips' call. I deployed the thermal camera but even that was unsuccessful; the grass was evidently very dense, but it's probably also true that the the call never comes from the area you think. I did manage three more good flight views so considered the trip a success, and decided to head off. 

It was 12.30, I'd been here for 4.5 hours, although had made several work calls and even attended a video conference from the car. I walked back to the car for a drink, but decided to give it one more go after I'd recharged. It felt unfinished.

At this point I realised there was a public footpath across one of the meadow fields used by the birds. I headed across then, at the end of the meadow, veered towards a wall and settled. It seemed like a good spot, so I gave it a blast. A bird called immediately and close. Moments later I realised it was sat on the stone wall around 40 feet from me. Incredible! Few people manage to see a quail well, yet this bird just sat there. It even allowed me to reposition to photograph it. Mostly it sat and stared, but did let out a few brief calls from its lofty perch. After perhaps 15 minutes it clambered down the side of the wall and disappeared in to the meadow grass. Wonderful stuff. 

It had seemed a long shot to see one on the ground when I set off this morning, and it had take a fair few hours of effort, but I definitely wasn't expecting that to happen. I was on a birding high after this one. A day early birthday present that was as good as any new bird.

An Evening on the Moors, Saturday 24th June 2023

I don't visit the uplands on the Cheshire / Derbyshire border often enough, and certainly not in the evening. This visit was by virtue of an opportune moment as I'd agreed to ferry Karen and pals to and from an event near Macclesfield. In between taxi duties there were a few hours spare and the weather was glorious. 

I'd mainly hoped to see Short-eared Owls; it's been reported as a good vole year and subsequently larger than usual numbers of breeding SEOs are in the uplands. 

However I first stopped at Cut-thorne Hill, a patch of keepered moorland next to the road. As I got out of the car there was immediately a displaying Golden Plover in the air. I love their slow flight and evocative call up as they display. Over the next 30 minutes or so several birds displayed, sometimes together, and others piped away from deep in the heather. I've seen Golden Plover in this spot many times, but I have never seen a signing Common Snipe in Cheshire and so a bird sat 'chipping' on a roadside post was a treat, especially as it allowed me to photograph it without concern. I suspect it had chicks nearby.  Several Curlews and multiple Red Grouse watched me from a distance, all no doubt keeping guard over chicks. On the adjacent pasture, several Lapwings and fully grown chicks wandered amongst the sheep. Cut-thorne is always good for waders, far better than other nearby sites. I expect that is entirely attributable to predator control by the gamekeepers. I have to say we need sites like this as wader numbers continue to plummet. Of course raptor persecution is not acceptable, but we birders also need to balance our views with the positives that well keepered estates provide. 

Next up was just a few hundred yards to the Danebower quarries, where the deep valley with it's local landmark chimney stack has always been the most regular spot in Cheshire for Ring Ouzels. I have to say more often than not I fail here, but on a roll this evening I immediately found a pair just below the chimney and watched them feeding for some time. The female was seen with a bill full of food, so no doubt there are nestlings nearby, and a third bird was signing from further up the valley. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were foraging here, along with several Wheatears (including scaly juveniles). 

Next to the highest ground and right on the border - Derbyshire Bridge. I paused and scanned and pretty much immediately picked up a Short-eared Owl further down the valley and well in to Derbyshire It was close to a track so I repositioned and was soon enjoying fantastic views; at one point it came over to check me out and circled several times. I can only assume there was a nest nearby so I quickly retreated.

The light was just starting to fade, so I decided to watch the sunset and scan the moors close to the Cat'n'Fiddle pub. Two Red Deer were a surprise, but mostly the moors grew quiet as the sun dropped. Karen called a little earlier than I'd anticipated, so I set off back down towards Macclesfield. Another Short-eared owl was circling the roadside grassland close to Hindsclough Farm - this one well inside Cheshire.

It had been a really excellent evening. I should do this more.