Welney WWT, Cambs

A terrible weather forecast gave the feeling that at last we would have to brave a very wet and windy Welney.  In fact we were very lucky.  It was very windy, but we only had one light shower during the whole day and it was mild.  The wind meant that w did not get the chance to see many of the smaller birds but we saw plenty of swans, geese and ducks and a few waders.  In all we saw forty nine species which considering the weather was not bad.  The highlight to me was excellent views of Pintails near at hand plus of course the many Whooper and Bewick's Swans.

Birds seen on trip

RSPB Poole Harbour Boat Trip & Studland NNR

The weather was not up to the normal standard that we are used to!

Twenty seven of arrived in Poole and once we had joined the boat it started to rain and it rained the whole time that we were afloat.  However it did not stop our enjoyment.  The highlight was the sight of a flight of eight Long-tailed Ducks which flew round the boat for about three minutes.

After lunch, and with the weather having improved, we went to Studland NNR where we had sights of Greater and Lesser Scaup.

In all we had 59 different species and some of us managed to get a good sighting of Dartford Warbler and others a view of a Slavonian Grebe.

All in all, an excellent days birding.  Just a pity about the rain on the boat.  In good weather the experience must be magnificent.

Birds seen on trip

The car trip to these lovely site in the Nene Valley was rewarded by having 51 species for the day.  The main highlights were Little Stint and hordes of Tree Sparrows.  It really is a lovely place to see these delightful birds.  The weather remained dry all day and the temperature was relatively mild.

21 Apr 2002 

A wonderful day's outing.  The weather started partially cloudy but improved progressively through the day to end with a cloudless sky, little wind and a very mild temperature.

The birding was also excellent.  Twenty five of us enjoyed beautiful sights of Swallows, Sand Martins, House Martins, Pied Flycatchers and Redstart.  It really felt as though we could enjoy the summer from then on with the arrival of these summer visitors.  To that we also had a great view of Dipper and Grey Wagtail.  All together we had forty six species.

What a great place to do one's birding.

Birds seen on trip

12 May 2002

Another wonderful day's birding.  The weather was as normal for our field trips, sunny and mild!  The walk itself would have made the day worthwhile, but to be able to add the birding was just perfect.  A relatively small party left for Beaulieu Road station and commenced our walk from there.  We saw in all over fifty species and many of those in quite good numbers.  It was a first time to the area for me and it will not be the last. 

Birds seen on trip

Friday 17th May

Fourteen of us left Oxfordshire to meet up eventually in Bamburgh.  In fact of those ten met up at Fairburn Ings RSPB Reserve for lunch.  It must have been an indicator as we arrived over a period of less than five minutes.  The highlight of that day was an excellent view of a Mediterranean Gull.  The weather was quite promising, sunny though windy and a little cooler than we had left in Oxfordshire.  When we arrived in Bamburgh we spent some time looking around the area and saw a probable Common Scoter.

Birds seen on trip

Saturday 18th May

On Saturday morning we left for Seahouses to join a Billy Shiels trip to the Farne Islands.  However the weather was not good and we were told by Billy Shiels himself that we  would not be able to land on Staple Island, but the chances were much better for the following day.  We decided to change our plans and to visit Holy Isle instead.  The weather improved during the morning and we were able to see over seventy species.  The highlight was an excellent view of a Common Scoter from about 20 metres.  It made up for the doubt of the previous day!

Birds seen on trip

Sunday 19th May

On Sunday we made the rearranged trip to the Farne Islands.  The views of the Kittiwakes, the Guillemots, the Razorbills, the Shags and the Puffins were fantastic on Staple Island and the sights of Arctic Terns breeding adjacent to the pathway together with Eider on Inner Farne was truly breathtaking.  A number of us were attacked by Arctic Terns protesting their nests.  Fortunately we were wearing hats and came to no harm.  The most memorable sighting was of two Roseate Terns breeding about 40 metres away.

Birds seen on trip

Monday 20th May

A few of us the went to Low Newton on the return journey.  A small but compact lake site adjacent to the Northumberland coast.  We saw Kittiwakes among many other species there.

A really excellent trip which lived up to our best hopes.  Twelve of us got a least one life tick on the trip and a number got two.  What more could we have asked for?

Birds seen on trip

22 Sept 2002 

Nineteen of us left Headington Hill Hall at the early hour of seven.  The forecast for the day was good and in fact that is the way the weather turned out to be.  A light northerly wind but not strong enough to keep the temperature down.  It was partly cloudy.

The birding was excellent, we got seventy six species during the day with excellent sightings of a Little Owl.

On Portland Bill we saw many migrants on the southbound passage including Spotted Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, House Martin and even a late Swift.  Warblers were seen in abundance including Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and we also heard and possibly saw a Firecrest.

An excellent days trip and one which set us up for our forthcoming visit to the Isles of Scilly next month.

Birds seen on trip

12 - 19 Oct 2002

Scilly Isles visit

Friday 11th October

Four of us travelled to the Exe Estuary RSPB Reserve on the way to Penzance

Birds seen on trip

Saturday 12th October

Before arriving at Penzance five of us met up at the Hayle Estuary RSPB Reserve.

Birds seen on trip

Fourteen of us met up at Penzance Heliport where we were greeted by Peter Basterfield who was to be our leader for the trip.  The weather was mild with a light northerly wind and what was also important to us, it was mild.  The flight to St Mary's was very good. We were met at St Mary's by Vaughan Ashby, the Tour Operator, BirdFinders, who ensured that we were safely on the bus for Beachcomber Hotel.  After a brief time to settle in we left on our first birding excursion.  The highlight was seeing a Bluethroat, though not particularly clearly.

Birds seen on trip

Sunday 13th October

The weather took a distinct turn for the worse.  A very strong north westerly wind had developed during the night and this was accompanied by heavy rain. By lunchtime the rain had cleared and we were treated to excellent views of a Bluethroat at a distance of no more than twelve feet.  It was walking in the grounds of one of the island cafes and stayed in the area for the next three days at least.

Birds seen on trip

Monday 14th October

It remained mainly cloudy with the strong wind still blowing from the northwest.  The improved weather gave us excellent sightings of many birds, though initially none were particularly rare.  However during the afternoon we got excellent views of Firecrest and Red Breasted Flycatcher.  One of the group, who had broken away got a view of Common Rosefinch.    We spent quite a lot of the day searching for a Yellow Browed Warbler which had been reported as being in the area but with no success.

Birds seen on trip

Tuesday 15th October

The weather continued with a full blooded gale but with some rain showers.  We saw the Red Breasted Flycatcher again and also saw a Ring Ouzel.  One of the things which had struck us so far was the tremendous number of Song Thrushes there were on the island.  Everywhere we went we saw fields full of them.  It was a beautiful sight and a reminder of what it must have like in the early part of the last century in England.  Another feature was the sight of a number of late departing Barn Swallows and House Martins on their way south.  The Yellow Browed Warbler evaded us again!

Birds seen on trip

Wednesday 16th October

Thankfully it was a dry day, though the wind remained rather blustery.  It was our first visit to one of the other islands, St Agnes. It was also a little colder.  The birding was also better!  We managed to see Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Barred Warbler and a Lapland Longspur.  The Yellow Browed Warbler still managed to get away!

Birds seen on trip

Thursday 17th October

We decided to set out for another of the other islands, Tresco.  The weather was mainly sunny and mild and the wind had dropped considerably.  The birding was even better.  We got, Ring Necked Duck (a very scruffy looking juvenile), Greater Scaup, Eurasian Woodcock, Richard's Pipit, Black Redstart, Eurasian Siskin, Snow Bunting and at last Yellow Browed Warbler!  Tresco lived up to its reputation!

Birds seen on trip

          The group on Tresco © Anne Clark

General view of Tresco © Anne Clark

Jeff Lampert, Wendy Black and Ian Kilshaw among others looking at the Richard's Pipit

© Anne Clark

Friday 18th October

The party split into two groups.  One went to St Martins and the other decide d to stay on St Mary's.  The weather long sunny periods with a moderate wind.  We managed to see Short Eared Owl, Common Kingfisher, Citrine Wagtail, Barred Warbler, Yellow Browed Warbler, Isabelline Shrike and Common Rosefinch. 

Birds seen on trip

Trip leader Peter Basterfield with Reg Cox and Ian Kilshaw © Anne Clark

Saturday 19th October

Our last day!  Moderate cloud with a light southerly wind greeted us on waking and we set out for a last chance to get some birds before breakfast.  We got excellent views of Water Rail, Common Kingfisher, Jack Snipe and Lesser Whitethroat.

We had been concerned before arriving in the Scilly Isles about possible swamping by too many bird watchers.  In fact there was only one occasion in which there was any sense of the number of people on the islands.  That was during the twitch to see the Isabelline Shrike.  On that occasion we heard about the arrival of the bird on the pager and we were at the far end at the time!  We set off at high speed and arrived at Tolman's Cafe to see many people coming in the opposite direction.  

View of the trail to see the Isabelline Shrike © Anne Clark

We followed a snake of people for a couple of miles and arrived at the end of the runway.  The hooters were sounding and it was clear that it was not possible to cross immediately.  Once the hooters had stopped several hundred anxious people crossed and saw the shrike about 30 metres away.  We got excellent views of the bird  and on turning round we saw between four and five hundred others looking through their telescopes.  Fortunately there was plenty of room for everyone and there was never a feeling of being crowded.

Birds seen on trip

David Rolfe and Reg Cox looking at the Isabelline Shrike © Anne Clark

How did we rate the trip?  A first class experience.  Every member of the group got at least one lifer whilst as many as thirteen were recorded for some.  The long standing high pressure over Europe for the previous two months had meant that there were no American vagrants but this was made up for by the number of Siberians that came through.  Would we go again/  The answer was a clear yes.  Were we happy with service provided by Peter Basterfield and BirdFinders?  An unqualified yes to this as well.

Well done Peter!

The weather started off with the bus traveling through a tremendous downpour.  It remained total cloud cover for the whole day though it was mainly dry.  In fact we had two heavy showers and fortunately we were in hides at the time.  The birding was excellent with sixty seven species being seen by the group.  The highlight was probably seeing all three species of woodpecker on one trip!  We did see excellent views of Kingfisher.

Birds seen on trip

A mixed day of weather.  Fairly heavy rain was mixed with dull periods.  Not our usual weather!  We saw forty six species of which the Ring-necked Parakeet was the favourite of most of the group.

Birds seen on trip