Sightings for August 2008
31st August, 2008
(Breydon Water)
Pick of the birds this morning were Black Tern (1), Little Tern (3), Whimbrel (1), Greenshank (3), Grey Plover (1) and Spotted Redshank (1+).
30th August, 2008
(Great Yarmouth)
Three Mediteranean Gulls were seen on the beach at Great Yarmouth and a Common Lizard was seen from the Asda car park.
29th August, 2008
(Hickling Broad)
The reported Marsh Sandpiper showed very well. Several Green Sandpipers, three Greenshanks, three Ringed Plovers, ten Common Redshanks, twenty Dunlin, fifteen Black–tailed Godwits and at least fifty Ruff were also there.
28th August, 2008
(Breydon Water & Burgh Castle)
An early morning visit to Breydon Water was timed just right. High tide meant that there was a variety of birds to be seen at a relatively close distance.
Four Common Sandpipers. a Whimbrel and a Little Egret were seen from the footpath that leads under the bridge from Asda car park.
Finding the hide shut due to vandalism, I found an elevated position and watched a variety of birds, including Golden Plover (500+), Black–tailed Godwit (50+), Common Redshank (50+), Curlew (30+), Ringed Plover (20+), Dunlin (50+), Avocet (150+), Common Tern (10+) and Shoveller (2).
Two Marsh Harriers were seen close to Burgh Castle. At least thirty three Egyption Geese were also at this location and several warblers were very briefly seen in the reed beds and remain unidentified.
Butterflies included Gatekeeper (10+), Speckled Wood (2), Small Tortoiseshell (3), Peacock (2) and Large White (5).
27th August, 2008
(Vauxhaul Holiday Park, Yarmouth)
A surprise find of a Sedge Warbler hunting insects in the canopy of the hallways in the main building.
26th August, 2008
(Norfolk)
Four Montagues Harriers (including one male) were seen at a secret location in the county. A family of four Common Buzzards, a Turtle Dove, a Common Whitethroat and a Northern Wheatear were also in the area.
25th August, 2008
(Titchwell RSPB)
An early morning visit to this popular RSPB reserve produced some excellent birds, but low water levels made photography very hard.
A female Mandarin and an Egyption Goose were amongst the numerous Greylag and Canada Geese. Two Spoonbills, several Little Egrets and a Grey Heron were seen at the same location. Two Curlew Sandpipers, a probable Wood Sandpiper, a single Greenshank, two Little–ringed Plovers, one Spotted Redshank and at least forty Ruff were the pick of the waders. Two Marsh Harriers and a possible (distant) juvenile Montagues Harrier were seen north of the reserve.
24th August, 2008
(Snettisham RSPB)
Whilst the family visited the beach, I decided to take advantage of the situation and quickly visit the RSPB reserve at Snettisham, which is arguably best visited from late Autumn to early Spring for the large numbers of geese that visit the area during these months.
Several Little Egrets were soon found, favouring the southern end of the reserve. A single Greenshank, at least one Spotted Redshank and three Ringed Plover (3) were seen amongst Lapwing (35+).
A Northern Wheatear was seen south of the hide, along with a small group of Meadow Pipits (7+), Goldfinch (10+) and Linnet (4+).
Good numbers of birds on the wash included Marsh Harrier (1), Golden Plover (100+), Grey Plover (10+), Shelduck (20+), Curlew (20+) and Black–tailed Godwits (20+).
Butterflies seen at the reserve included five Common Blue, two Small Tortoiseshell and five Meadow Brown. A male Sparrowhawk was seen at Dersingham.
23rd August, 2008
(Wolferton – Snettisham Beach)
An early morning visit to Wolferton Triangle in the hope of finding Golden Pheasant proved to be very frustrating (obvious signs of human disturbance). No sign of any Golden Pheasants, but I did manage to get good views of Muntjac Deer and Brown Hare
An hour was spent looking for the pheasants before deciding to move further south, where I found no fewer than thirty three Stone Curlews at a not so well known site just out of the county.
A family visit to Snettisham Beach provided distant views of waders. Knot (3000+), Black–tailed Godwit (30+), Curlew (30+), Whimbrel (1) and Dunlin (50+) were soon found and I am sure there could have been other species, but time was against me for this one. All the usual gulls were to be found, including Great Black–blacked Gulls, Lesser Black–backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black Headed Gulls.
During the course of the day, the vansite at Dersingam provided Common Buzzard (1), Marsh Harrier (2), Mistle Thrush (3), Dunnock (1), Robin (1), Grey Partridge (6), Red–legged Partridge (10+), Jackdaw (4), Swallow (10+) and House Martin (1).
Brown Hawker (3+) and Common Darter (4+) dragonflies were also seen at the vansite, along with Brown Hairstreak (4+), Large White (3), Small White (10+), Red Admiral (6) and Meadow Brown (2) butterflies. Brown Hare (7+) and Rabbit (50+) were also seen in and around the vansite.
22nd August, 2008
(Dersingham, Norfolk)
The start of a family holiday in Norfolk, hopefully spending 2 – 3 hours each morning, birding in the immediate area of Snettisham and then Great Yarmouth.
On arrival at the van site, we quickly establshed that area was good for Green Woodpecker (up to four heard) and Grey Partridge (at least seven in the field next to the site).
Woodpigeons are obviously doing well in the area with over a hundred seen in the immediate area. At least five Pheasants were in the same field as the Grey Partridges. A Tawny Owl was heard as darkness approached
22nd August, 2008
(Etherley Moor)
House Sparrow (20+), Tree Sparrows (4+), Great Tit (2+), Blue Tit (2+), Coal Tit (2+), Long–tailed Tit (4+), Chaffinch (1) and Greenfinch (3+) are still visiting the feeding station. Not heard or seen Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer or Song Thrush for over a week now, so they have probably moved on for the winter.
The recent spells of sunshine has at last brought some butterfly activity into the garden. Three days ago there was counts of at least twelve Small Tortoiseshell, three Large Whites and a Green–viegned White. This morning there was no Small Tortoiseshells, but instead there was at least ten Peacocks, two Red Admirals and a Small White.
21st August, 2008
(Low Barns)
Spent a relaxing hour in the west hide this afternoon hoping to see and hopefully photograph Kingfisher. Plenty of fish in the pond, but the vegetation was far too overgrown for any decent photographs and the viewing poles for the kingfishers have strangely been removed.
Two Mute Swans, several Mallards and a Tufted Duck were on the water, with Moorhen (2+) and Coot (3+) also seen. A Green Woodpecker, two Grey Herons, upto five Swallows and the regular Hooded Crow (hybrid) showed briefly. The Hooded Crow appeared to have something wrong with it’s right eye.
A single Kingfisher was seen on the small pond (south of the hide), before flying off towards the River Wear.
20th August, 2008
(Bishops Park)
A Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail were on the River Wear. Swift (1), House Martin (10+), Swallow (1), Willow Warbler (10+), Chiffchaff (2), Long–tailed Tit (4), Blue Tit (4+) and Great Tit (2) were in a small wooded area on the outskirts of the park. A Sparrowhawk was also seen.
9th August, 2008
(Greenside)
Juvenile Black Stork in field near Greenside. Nothing else seen other than a single Kestrel, a reasonable number of Swallows and two House Martins.
8th August, 2008
(Bishops Park & Escomb)
The bird activity during these late afternoon visits to both these locations suggested that Autumn is rapidly approaching.
Both locations had three or four good size groups of birds, each containing Willow Warbler (10+), Chiffchaff (5+), Great Tit (2+), Blue Tit (6+), Coal Tit (2+) and Long–tailed Tit (10+).
Single Sparrowhawks were seen at both locations and reasonable numbers of Swallows were passing through. A Kingfisher was on the River Wear at Escomb.
6th August, 2008
(Etherley Moor)
Plenty of activity round the feeding station this week, with families of Great Tit (2+), Blue Tit (3+), House Sparrow (10+) and Tree Sparrow (3+) visiting on a daily basis. At least one Willow Warbler is feeding on greenflies, which have covered the small trees behind the feeders.
3rd August, 2008
(Hartlepool)
An hours seawatch proved to be very quiet with Manx Shearwater (4 north) and Arctic Skua (1 south) being the only highlghts. Other birds seen included Gannet (10+), Guillimot (40+), Kittiwake (30+) and Cormorant (10+). Elsewhere on the Headland, two Arctic Terns were amongst a handfull of Common Terns. A reasonable amount of Gulls were on the rocks, but the only waders to be found were approximately twenty Turnstones.
Two Mediteranean Gulls were at Newburn (1 adult and a very quick view of a probable 2nd winter). Black–headed Gull (50+) and a further twenty Turnstones were also at this location.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to check the marshes, but I did manage to see what could have been the regular wintering Yellow–legged Gull at the Tees Barrage.
The Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer continue to display at Etherley Moor.
1st August, 2008
(Teesside)
A good day for waders on Teesside today with two Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Stint, several Ruff, two (possibly three) Wood Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, at least three Greenshanks, five Common Redshank, seventy Dunlin, eighty summer plumaged Knot, six Ringed Plover, several Common Snipe and five Avocets being seen on Saltholme Pools.
Great Crested Grebe (2), Little Grebe (2), Grey Heron (3), Little Egret (5) being the other birds showing well.
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