A weather forecast that indicated heavy rain all day was proved wrong!  It was low cloud scudding quickly across the sky in a strong southerly wind but is was mild.  We saw a total of fifty eight species, which considering the effect of the strong wind on the smaller species was a good total.  This was particularly so as we saw Snow Bunting as well as Short-eared and Little Owls. The general species list was truly excellent.

Birds seen on trip

This was a joint trip with the Vale of White Horse Group, and a very popular one as over fifty of us travelled. It was our first Saturday one for many years and, as we'd thought when planning the visit, the day proved to be much quieter on the motorways than on a Sunday, our usual trips day. The weather stayed fine, but with a brisk wind. The star bird, a Bittern, didn't reveal itself until just before we left the Centre, but many of our party managed to observe it. Water Rail and an early Garganey, still in partial eclipse plumage, were also seen by virtually everyone. The most exotic wild bird seen throughout the day was the Rose-ringed Parakeet - there were up to seven in the trees near the feeding station. A Water Vole sat chewing vegetation near a small bridge, and seemed at times to be posing for those photographing it. Most dabbling duck species were present but wading birds were scarce, presumably due to the very high water level, with only Common Snipe and Lapwing spotted. However, it was still a very worthwhile day out.

Birds seen on trip

16 Mar 2008  

Abandoned due to heavy rain.

27 Apr 2008

This was another joint trip with the Vale of White Horse RSPB Group which, as planned, resulted in comparatively low fares due to an increase in participants.  It was an overcast morning and, despite the forecast of heavy rain, remained dry throughout the day.

When we arrived, Tim Appleton, the manager of the reserve, who was off-duty but happened to be at the Visitor Centre, gave us a short talk and read out the latest bird list.  Most of us headed to the Heron and Wigeon hides which overlook Manton Bay where a pair of Ospreys had a platform nest on a pole.  On arrival at the hides we found another Osprey perched on a second platform, closer to us than the other one, guarding a fish it had caught, perhaps trying to attract a mate.  One bird later flew past clutching a fish almost as long as itself.  Three Mediterranean Gulls spent all day on a small island in front of the Visitor Centre, as did a good number of Common Terns and several Black Terns.  Small bird species were singing here and there all round the site, including a couple of both Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers.  The sand martin bank was a hive of activity, and one of our Group's keen-eyed observers noticed far out beyond it a lone Greater Scaup, a fine end to the day.  The combined total of bird species seen by the two Groups was 78, with a further 6 heard.  A marvelous day's birding.

Birds seen on trip

18 May 2008

Thirty eight of us left Oxfordshire by coach and were met up by another three at the site.  As this was another joint trip with the Vale of White Horse Local Group it clearly showed the benefit of joint trips.  The weather was bright but relatively cool and this may have been reflected by the number of sightings that were made.  We had good views of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Wood Warblers and a Tree Pipit.  These were however much less in number than we had hoped.  However the quality of the views more than made up for the lack in numbers.  Peregrine Falcons were not as easily seen at Symond's Yat as previously which tended to confirm that the coldness had caused  some reticence! 

A total of forty eight species were seen.

Birds seen on trip

15 June  2008

Seven RSPB group and two West Oxon Field Club members met up at the Thatcham reserve on a bright evening, but with dark clouds on the horizon.  However, once a brief hail shower had passed, it remained fine.  As we walked from the visitor centre car park along the edge of the main open pool (Thatcham Lake) we watched Common Terns nesting on a raft and Sand Martins also nesting, but in an artificial sand-bank - a very large box of sand with holes in its front, supported above the water on stilts.  Small bird species were singing all round the reserve but were very difficult to see.  We did however get good views of Sedge Warblers and Long-tailed Tits. 

On arrival at Bucklebury Common we heard several Tawny owls calling.  Then Woodcock started their roding flights, grunting and squeaking as they flew over.  Finally, at half past nine, a seemingly lone Nightjar started its coarse purring song and, from time to time, flitted to and fro. It sang almost continually until we left at a quarter past ten.

Birds seen on trip

The day was one of those wonderful early autumn days with brilliant sunshine, a light wind and quite warm.  Forty four of us arrived at Portland Bill and set off to note what could be seen.  An early visit to the observatory told us that as the wind during the previous night had been even lighter than it was in the morning, most of the migrating species would be well on their way south.  However we set off and had magnificent views of a Melodious Warbler showing off beautifully in a bramble.  

                                                    © Ian Kilshaw

The Little Owl was in its customary roosting place. 

                                        © David Roberts

Some of the group had the good fortune to see a Eurasian Wryneck.

  The number of birds seen at the Bill wasn't high but we moved on to Chesil Beach and then on the Lodmoor RSPB Reserve where we saw many more.  There were many Yellow Wagtails in a flock, which was a delight to see.  In all we saw fifty seven species, some of which could be classified as excellent.

  Birds seen on trip

On a typically foggy Indian summer morning six of us travelled from the Redbridge park-and -ride to a village church car-park near to the Project site where we met two other members of our party.  We all then moved on to a farmyard rendezvous where our guide for the visit met us.  It was still foggy but, during the short Land Rover ride to the hide which overlooks the release site, the visibility improved no-end and our first sighting of Great Bustards was when two flew low over the vehicle  -  a marvellous start to our visit because most visitors don’t see the birds flying!  As we watched from the hide the mist cleared and in the sunshine we watched up to seven great bustards moving in and out of the vegetation grown to provide food for them. We also saw two Common Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, plus several small bird species during our visit.  After lunch we travelled to the Hungerford reserve located in the town’s water meadows.  During a pleasant stroll in the warm sunshine we encountered a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a noisy Cetti’s warbler and a couple of tit and finch species, but little else.  Nevertheless, we’d enjoyed an interesting and informative morning. At the Great Bustard Project Centre we also saw the place where Stone Curlew breed each spring.

Birds seen on trip

Day 1

Welney WWT reserve

Twelve of us met up at Welney on a cold, dull and threatening day.  The Welney Visitors Centre was without electricity owing to a problem with water storage leaking which meant that we were unable to get a hot drink whilst there.  A strong NW wind meant that it was very cold and we spent a lot of our time in the main hide before venturing out to other hides.  We had excellent views of at least three Marsh Harriers which were the highlights of the visit. 

Marsh Harrier © Reg Cox

Whooper Swans were arriving on their migration all he time and a few Bewick' Swans had also arrived.  Heavy rain started to fall around 3 o'clock so we decided to go to Old Hunstanton via Wolferton Triangle where we once again failed to see Golden Pheasant!  We arrived at Caley Hall Hotel, where as usual we had a very warm welcome and were looked after extremely well.

Birds seen during the day

Day 2

Snettisham RSPB Reserve and Titchwell Marshes RSPB Reserve

The weather had taken a spectacular turn for the better!  Wall to wall sunshine with a moderate NW wind, though still rather cold.

Group on beach at Titchwell RSPB Reserve © Ian Kilshaw

Geese had started coming in well and there plenty of Pink-footed Geese and Greylag Geese.  Migrant swans were not apparent.  Snettisham gave us the expected excellent views of numerous waders and geese whilst Eurasian Spoonbills were seen at Titchwell. We had spectacular views of a pair of Water Pipits.

Water Pipit © Reg Cox

On the beach at Titchwell we had Sanderling running almost under our feet some two hundred yards from the water line.  

Sanderlings © Ian Kilshaw

The highlight of the whole trip was a flock of a dozen or so Snow Buntings, again, only a matter of a few feet away for several minutes.

Birds seen during the day

Day 3

Snettisham RSPB Reserve, Holkham & Cley NWT Reserve

The weather remained good and we made a start at Snettisham RSPB Reserve at dawn to see the flights of birds from the Wash, where they had been roosting, to the fields.  The Pink-footed Goose numbers had not reached the maximum by any means so the numbers of them leaving was less than we had hoped, nevertheless they made a fantastic sight.

Pink-footed Geese at dawn © Ian Kilshaw

  However the tens of thousands of various Gull species made up for that as did the several flocks of between seventy and a hundred Eurasian Curlew.

Holkham was in many ways a disappointment as far as the smaller birds are concerned though two species of Woodpecker were either seen or heard..  However we saw many species of Goose as well as Duck.  Dunlin as usual were everywhere.

Dunlin © Reg Cox

Marsh Harrier again showed well. Waders were present in fair numbers and a brief glimpse of Horned Lark was seen by two of the group.  Twite were also fairly plentiful and clearly seen.

Cley NWT Reserve gave good views of waterfowl and waders.  The light at the two latter sites was fantastic for photographs.

Little Grebe © Ian Kilshaw

Birds seen during the day

Day 4

Titchwell Marshes RSPB Reserve & Flitcham Abbey Reserve

The weather was a little more cloudy with the wind round to the SW.  It remained rather cold.

The re-visit to Titchwell gave us some species that we had not seen earlier on the trip such as Red-necked Grebe seen on the open sea, Green Sandpiper, Wren and Redwing as well as good sightings of a solitary Eurasian Spoonbill.  Amongst the numerous Golden Plover were very much obviously Grey Plover.

Grey Plover © Reg Cox

The visit to Flitcham Abbey, a first for the group showed what a good site it was, with Mistle Thrush seen on the way.  We saw several species of Duck and Wader but could not see the Little Owl that was present nor the Water Rail.  The journey home gave us Red Kite as we neared the Uppingham release site.

What were the main memories that we will take from the visit to Norfolk?  Clearly the outstanding views were of Snow Buntings and March Harrier. The accommodation at Caley Hall Hotel, Old Hunstanton, was as usual excellent.

 The weather also played an important part in our enjoyment.

Birds seen during the day

Birds seen on the whole trip

Another joint trip with the Vale of White Horse Group saw forty five of us arrive at the reserve.  The weather was cloudy, though relatively mild.  Light drizzle had been forecast but in fact it only materialised on the journey back home.  Relatively high water levels within the reserve meant that there were not the number of waders that we had anticipated though the species count was higher than our last visit and stood at sixty one.  There were several good birding moments.  One was a very large raft of Common Eider just off the harbour and easily seen, another was the fact that we got views of Dartford Warbler and for many the large number of Dark-bellied Brent Geese was inspiring.

Birds seen on trip

8 of us travelled by car and met up at the Bury Down car-park on the Ridgeway.  After an extremely wet Saturday, the weather was overcast and cold but with little wind.

During the walk down to and through West Ilsley we saw Common Buzzard, Kestrel and several small bird species, including a small flock of Goldcrests.  Then, on our route back up from the village towards the Ridgeway, we glimpsed a Short-eared Owl flying low on the horizon and very soon afterwards had a good view of one perched on a shrub, its ear-tufts raised indicating that it was aware of us.  It was eventually joined by at least three others and together they hunted, either by flying low over the tufted longish grass, ideal for habitat for their prey species, or by perching and watching for movements in the vegetation.  While we were watching the owls two Red Kites circled above and a distant Peregrine was spotted by several of our party.  All morning over the higher ground a flock of up to eighty finches, mainly Linnets, flew to and fro, agitated by a hunting Sparrowhawk.  On this exhilarating morning walk we logged 32 species.  

Birds seen on trip