Spain trip list May 2104

Craig Shaw: Spain Year List for 2014 SEO Record(s) 1 to 128 of 128 total.

1 Gadwall Anas strepera  
2 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos  
3 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa  
4 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus  
5 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis  
6 Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea  
7 Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus  
8 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis  
9 Little Egret Egretta garzetta  
10 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea  
11 White Stork Ciconia ciconia  
12 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus  
13 Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita  
14 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia  
15 European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus  
16 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus  
17 Black Kite Milvus migrans  
18 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus  
19 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus  
20 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus  
21 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus  
22 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus  
23 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus  
24 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus  
25 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo  
26 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus  
27 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus  
28 Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus  
29 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni  
30 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus  
31 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo  
32 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus  
33 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio  
34 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra  
35 Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax  
36 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus  
37 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola  
38 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula  
39 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus  
40 Sanderling Calidris alba  
41 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea  
42 Dunlin Calidris alpina  
43 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica  
44 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos  
45 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus  
46 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia  
47 Common Redshank Tringa totanus  
48 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres  
49 Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii  
50 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus  
51 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis  
52 Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica  
53 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis  
54 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus  
55 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto  
56 European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur  
57 Little Owl Athene noctua  
58 Tawny Owl Strix aluco  
59 Common Swift Apus apus  
60 Pallid Swift Apus pallidus  
61 Alpine Swift Apus melba  
62 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer  
63 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster  
64 Hoopoe Upupa epops  
65 European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis  
66 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major  
67 Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra  
68 Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla  
69 Crested Lark Galerida cristata  
70 Thekla Lark Galerida theklae  
71 Woodlark Lullula arborea  
72 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris  
73 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica  
74 Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica  
75 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum  
76 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris  
77 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava  
78 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea  
79 White Wagtail Motacilla alba  
80 Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes  
81 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes  
82 European Robin Erithacus rubecula  
83 Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos  
84 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros  
85 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra  
86 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola  
87 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe  
88 Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica  
89 Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura  
90 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius  
91 Common Blackbird Turdus merula  
92 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti  
93 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis  
94 Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus  
95 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus  
96 Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta  
97 Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata  
98 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis  
99 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin  
100 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla  
101 Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli  
102 Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus  
103 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla  
104 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata  
105 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus  
106 European Crested Tit Parus cristatus  
107 Coal Tit Parus ater  
108 Eurasian Blue Tit Parus caeruleus  
109 Great Tit Parus major  
110 Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla  
111 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator  
112 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius  
113 Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax  
114 Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula  
115 Northern Raven Corvus corax  
116 Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor  
117 House Sparrow Passer domesticus  
118 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis  
119 Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia  
120 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs  
121 European Serin Serinus serinus  
122 European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris  
123 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis  
124 Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina  
125 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes  
126 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus  
127 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia  
128 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra  

Bee Eater

Just a quick blog post as im a very happy chap, Bee Eater flew over me whilst out on Patch with the dogs tonight, did a couple of circuits of the New Sewage works then drifted off North. I picked it up on call as it flew over.
2 Reed Warbler in the Sewage works pond tonight and a female Bullfinch with a tailless Bullfinch.
I didn't have the scope but I wouldn't have got a shot anyway as it never perched.
Brilliant Patch and the miles walking the patch have finally paid off.  :-)

Patching

Well Ive come back from Spain after seeing loads n loads of really good birds, but ill blog about that later..
Back n the patch this week has been quiet in general but I have managed to pick up a couple of patch ticks.
Monday I found  Reed Warbler singing by the New Sewage Works pond. Today I heard Terns at sea 9 Common Terns then another patch tick Little Tern joined them. Really Pleased. 
A Stonechat was  nice on the Old Sewage Works fence. Otherwise quiet.
Ill be starting my Spain trip tonight seeing as the rains come in.

Carlton Marsh

A few things id not seen this year were at Carlton Marsh so as it was bank holiday we had the time to go have a look round, its a nice walk even without any birds.
Even better was there were loads of birds.
A nice list Little Stint, Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler, Yellow Wagtail Greenland Wheatear and a couple of Swift. Also a Green Sandpiper and a couple of Little Stint was nice.
On the patch tonight a Grey Plover flew over the NSW

Little Stint

 

 

North Norfolk

Had the day in North Norfolk not really birding as it was Rachels day really but did stop at a few places including Horsey where 2 Cranes were showing quiet nicely from the road by the Mill.

 

We then bumped into Thomas and his friends ;-)

 

 

Bit more birding Salthouse famous Black Swan was showing very well. Pics taken on my phone

Had a Walk around the producers market on Kelling Heath CP and then onto the heath to see if any Turtle Doves were in yet, they weren't. A few nice Green Hairstreaks though.

Had a look off Cley, a few Sandwich Tern passing, 2 Little Ringed Plovers were year ticks otherwise nothing of great note.
Spent a little time at Morston Quay where we were extremely lucky to finally find a Spoonbill, (my bogy bird this year) very brief views as it landed then dropped into a creak. Plenty of Little Egrets and a few Brent Geese Still. Nice Prawns in Vinegar too ;-)
Visited a friend where we had Red Legged Partridge in the garden.
On the Way home we past Horsey Mill again where a Crane was still present but had moved to the opposite side of the road.
All in all a very nice mixed and relaxed day.

On the Patch tonight

A good evening on the patch tonight, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and better views of the 2 Grey Partridge.

Stuff

Yesterday I saw the 2 Grey Partridge again at the new sewage works, although they didn't want to come out in the open. Lesser Whitethroat singing too otherwise a its been quiet.

Today patch was fairly quiet again so did a short seawatch, 4 lots of 9 Common Scoters, weird they were all in 9s (honest it wasn't the same flock flying round n round. Also  a flock of 5. 3 Very distant Terns if I was a betting man id would go for Sandwich Tern.
Did some chores ready for our trip to Spain next Saturday.. woohoo...
Then whilst rach was shopping I watched Breydon water from the bridge. Nice views of Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel, lots of Whimbrel today. 3 Greenshank, 20 Avocets, and 10 Ringed Plover with fewer numbers of Dunlin. A distant white bird flying could have been a Spoonbill, it could also have been a Little Egret but the heat haze made id impossible. 4 Sandwich Tern sat on the sand. Lastly a few Black and Bar tailed Godwits.

Patch Gold

It was a long day at work so it was a late finish but the dogs still needed a walk so off we went around the patch, it was very quiet with the odd Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaffs. It wasn't until I got to the New Sewage works that things started to happen. 2 Very scarce Grey Partridge by the main gates a patch tick, then flew off west when a couple of ladies walked past a little too close. Made it to the ponds when a black bird flew into the trees with what I thought was pale wing patch's. When I found it sat in the tree I was surprised to see it WAS a cracking looking Male Ring Ouzel. After this it went quiet and time for tea...Typical though It was just a Binocular day never took scope.

Burgh Castle

Had a lovely morning at Burgh Castle, arrived at high tide so there were just a few waders roosting.
As the tide dropped 5 Greenshank, 2 Summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Whimbrel and an Avocet came into view.
A Pinkfooted goose was lingering with a handful of Greylags and Canadas.
Marsh Harriers put on a great close display and a hybrid hoodie turned up.
Butterflies were Orange Tips, Large and Small Whites and a Green Veined White. A Hairy Dragonfly put in a nice early appearance.
Later on we missed a Spoonbill. Doh!
Lovely morning in the sun.
Below a Spot Red and Greenshank.

Spring has finally Sprung.

On the Patch during the week has been fairly quiet, but Firecrest singing by the church, more Whimbrel 1 in fields behind the Church and then 3 together at the Old Sewage Works, my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year. Common Whitethroats all over the place and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.
102 Species now hit for Corton alone this year.
Few pics of Chiffchaff and Whimbrel.

So back to today.. Amazing is all ill say. A Wryneck had been at Benacre all week but I never imagined it would stay for the weekend. My plan for today was to cover the patch then go over to Benacre to look for the Wryneck, the plan change when a Hoopoe was found on Kessingland Beach so headed straight over there at 7 this morning. Photographers were pushing the bird all over the place so it wasn't looking very good and initially only saw the hoopoe in flight. So I headed to Benacre with Rob instead, its within walking distance luckily. On Arriving at the Wryneck site we were to be disappointed with a no show since 530. We gave it a little while and was just about to leave when someone spotted it, but very briefly. After another short wait it finally gave itself up showing really nicely.

A Whisked Tern had turned up at Minsmere whilst watching the Wryneck it had headed out to sea so went and did a short seawatch just incase I  was lucky enough to pick it up going past. I wasn't that lucky. 3 Sandwich Terns though. My first Sedge Warbler of the year and a Ring Ouzel in the Sluice bush's.
Back at the Hoopoe spot people were still chasing but I did manage to wait long enough for it to come to me just briefly as I tucked myself away hidden slightly. No field skills some people.
I was cold an damp now so headed home.. Brilliant mornings birding.

Nightingale

So its been a busy bank holiday weekend and I was shattered and didn't really want to get up early this morning so stopped in  bed till 7 and was out door by 7-15 (still too bloody early). Very glad I did though as I walked around the bend at the start of the patch I was greeted with the familiar sound of a Nightingale, I had to listen twice and then make sure no one was using a tape. They weren't it actually was a Nightingale singing BINGO patch GOLD. Managed to get a mini twitch going, always glad when everyone gets to see my birds. First Twitchable one in the area for years and only a 2nd for Corton. James picked up a female Marsh Harrier and a couple of Swallows .
The morning carried on in the same sort of vain as I walked to Radar lodge and back picking up 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Yellow Hammer patch tick and then 2 Greylag geese flew right over my head another patch tick. A Whimbrel flew over and 70-80 Sandmartin were on the cliff top. A cracking male Wheatear was the last bird here.
 Back at Corton church my first Common Whitethroat of the year and another at Corton NSW.
 By now it was 11am so thought id go back see if the Nightingale was still about but in the 15 min I was there no sight or sound.
Home time to sit In the sun writing me Blog... done! ;-)

Bit of everything.

Last week at work was very quiet until Thursday when the  lizards were spotting loads of migrants so I was a bit miffed I was at work missing it all. So I went out after work but couldn't find there migrants so had to find me own. Started amazingly as I spotted a cracking Hobby although in truth I only saw it flying away but put it down as a Hobby but then luckily met Rene who watched the bird fly right over his head.
The other really nice bird was a Common Swift my earliest ever!!!  A Quick story, I was honestly thinking if I saw a swift this early what would it be then in an instance the Swift flew over.. Fate??? who knows ;-)
Anyway I was disappointed that I was heading back to Cumbria tonight to sort my other house out, fit a couple of Storage heaters and do the garden and cleaning so my birding in Suffolk this weekend was going to be limited unfortunately. We stopped over in chesterfield (mother in laws) then headed to Cumbria next morning.
Our only stop was to Bassenthwaite Lake for Osprey which showed nicely. Oh yeh and a Red Grouse over Stainmore Pass.

During Saturday in between sorting the house Tree Pipit, Stonechats and a quick stop into my old patch Soddy Gap 8 Tree Sparrows, 5 Wheatear.

Now to Today. Left Cumbria at 6 am as I was just dying to get home. Dotterel and Ring Ouzel were on my radar for once I got home. These had been found at Kessingland. I didn't really think they would stick but luckily for me stick they did and great views of both. Spent quiet a bit of time with the Dotterel and new friend Danny too. Thanks also goes to the lizards for keeping me updated.
So the weather wasn't great but just good enough for some record shots.
Oh how I love Suffolk! Back to the patch tomorrow.

 

 

And some of the Ring Ouzels 4 males in total.