Rose coloured Starling in the rain

On Monday 16th June after work I travelled straight to Pinewood Avenue, unfortunately a Sparrowhawk had just dashed through the garden where it usually was and walking down an alleyway I saw Ricky F who indicated he had it in a bush, we got some good views of the fine Rose - coloured Starling perched in the bush if partially obscured. We retraced our steps to the alleyway and looked across the garden to see it. It later flew back to Pinewood Avenue and was seen along the edge of a roof in the company of 8 other Starlings. It perched just below the apex of the roof as well as hopping up to stand on the very top of the roof. At 7.45pm it flew strongly east.

Dash for Rosy Starling at the Harbour

Sunday 15th June journey back included Red Kites near Membury and Newbury services. Tweet of a RC Starling at Pinewood Avenue, no sign there but at 7.45pm Andrew Easton relocated at the Harbour viewed from the South Pier, so a dash there following Paul & Jane F, we reached the harbour viewing from the northern arm of the South Pier, around the area by the helicopter station shed, the bird had been seen but was out of view however it flew across the harbour, I spotted the fine adult Rose- coloured Starling it in flight and on the distant rocks by SLP. Before they all flew back and the bird was seen on rails close by showing lovely pink and jet black plumage. Before it finally flew in a group of around 40 Starlings heading west, the bird was amongst the leading birds of the group at the top of the group in flight.

Wales: Cymisfael Stream 14th June

During the morning of Saturday 14th June, I took a stroll down to the Cymisfael stream. Turning right towards the bridge I saw a fine male Bullfinch flying away. Walking back along the road running parallel with the stream, I was delighted to see a Dipper fishing in the water not far away. Walking further along where the area opens out to fields and the river snakes away west, I carried onto the first bridge, saw a Beautiful Demoiselle and 5 rattling Mistle Thrush, a family group (?), flew and perched at the top of a distant tree before flying off. By the other bridge another Beautiful Demoiselle seen looking over in the opposite direction. Walking back just by the edge of the wood looking up the stream a Dipper was seen perched on a rock preening itself. Walking back just before the bridge, I was delighted to see first one then 2 Dippers and they kept flying up to an area below a knotted trunk area of a fallen tree, surely a Dipper nest here. Watching discreetly from the bridge, both the Dippers fished from the edge and by the rocks. 4 Dipper seen in total. Walking back near Mum's house a calling Raven flew up and over he road, croaking as it flew.

Wales: Skomer 13th June

A trip to Skomer and I was amazed to find despite arriving at 9.10am, both the boats for 10am and 10.30am were fully booked. But never mind, I booked onto the 11 o'clock boat and walked up to the Marloes peninsula deer park with the hope of seeing a migrant Woodchat that had dropped in yesterday. It hadn't been seen so far, I had no luck either but I was keen to see if I could find any Chough. As I walked to the end of the peninsula, "keeyah" calls meant they were nearby. I noticed a lady birder sitting and watching 2 Chough just around 30 feet in front of her on the short grass here, great views were had, albeit straight into the strong sun. They then flew round the cliff face and 1 bird perched beneath the cliff top feeding by the sand, I managed a few pics here. They then flew around the edge of the cliff face. By the left hand side I saw a load of cattle and made my way over there where at first I saw a Raven on the cliff edge. Then 2 Choughs feeding in the long grass. I sat down watching them as they slowly walked towards me, oblivious of my presence. I admired their lovely jet black plumage glistening in the strong sunlight and their longish down curved red bill and long red legs. They continued to walk towards me until one bird was barely fifteen feet away, photography was tricky with the birds often obscured by the long grass and as the bird came closer and closer it was mostly obscured and a couple taking the cliff path flushed them and they flew a fair way right away from me. Walking back I saw a few 3 Razorbills, 5 Guillemots and fewer 2 Puffins on the sea below. The 2 Chough were then feeding on the grassy edge over to the right. Walking up the hill to go back was tough as I had to get back to the boat by 10.50am and hadn't allowed much time to do it with the Choughs showing so well. The boat took us over and walking up the steps, 2 very close Razorbills, 2 very close Guillemots and a Puffin were seen. Walking to the stop stage, another close Puffin seen. After the obligatory talk from the Warden volunteers, I made my way to the farm to take the converter off the camera. Then headed for the Wick to see the Puffins, taking the coastal path here within 10 minutes of the wick, I was delighted to see a very pale Short- eared Owl fly in from the left flying right and heading for the marshy area by the hide. At the Wick, several hundred c250 Puffins seen. Many Puffins seen standing with burrows either side of the path, spending just over an hour here I only saw 3 Puffins come in with Sand Eels stuffed in their bills. The one close bird, I couldn't get to in time because of the sheer number of people here c40 with one person even lying on the ground blocking any quick access which was disappointing. Several 3 Fulmars drifted by on the air currents, a Raven calling frequently flew by too. Walking around, by a rocky outcrop, a Chough was seen to the left under a rocky cliff face. Around 10 Meadow Pipits, 6 pairs of Oystercatchers seen too. On the way back down the steps I took full advantage of the close Guillemots and Razorbills and also enjoyed seeing around 60 Puffins swimming on the sea close by, but again several people had taken the best spots for viewing/ photography.

Wales: Dinas 12 June

After having to endure a horrendous 9 hour 50 minute journey to Wales (normally a 6 hour journey) lon Wednesday 11th June (hour queue to Dartford Bridge) accidents on the M25 and three accidents on the turn off to the M4 and around Reading and Newbury I needed some good birding the next day. On June 12, Mum and I visited the excellent RSPB Dinas reserve. having first seen Nuthatch come down to food scrapes in Mum's patio. On the journey there 1 Red Kite seen near Carmel, one Red Kite seen by Manordeilo. At Dinas, along the boardwalk just 30 yards from the car park I heard a Redstart singing and along the main boardwalk on the left hand side 2 Pied Flycatchers brought food to a nearby nest box often perching on branches nearby giving good views. The other side another 2 Pied Flycatcher seen plus a Nuthatch. Reaching the wood, I heard the trill of a Wood Warbler and looking across I saw up to 3 Wood Warbler showing reasonably well here. The target was Redstart and we had view of around 7 male Redstarts and 3 female Redstarts along the left west path. A pair of Redstarts was seen on the hill path initially and a newly fledged juvenile was perched on a branch, further along another juvenile Redstart was seen fairly high up in the tree against the sun, whilst in the wood, I hard and saw 3 male Redstarts were singing. One gave really good views and posed quite well for the camera. I also heard Tree Pipit also. A Beetle was seen on the path plus Wren and Song Thrush and Siskins were heard on a couple of occasions. By the river Grey Wagtail was seen too. Back on the boardwalk the Pied Flycatchers showed again by the nest box and a lovely male Redstart was sprawled out appearing to sun itself on the left hand edge of the boardwalk path. Driving back another Red Kite was seen at Manordeilo.

Walberswick Savi's Warbler

Yesterday Sunday 9th June at 7pm in the evening I drove to the Walberswick Hoist Covert car park and walked out to the mill, joining Dave H and several others looking from the path just north of the mill looking over the reeds. I heard hear snatching of the buzzing call as I walked up. One bloke arrived and said he could see the bird perched up on the dead reeds at the back, we couldn't see it. A newly arrived Alison & Chris A and we saw good views of an immature 3 Bearded Tits by a nearby dyke. Looking out to the beach area, a fenced off area and there were 5 fine Little Terns flying around, great to see them. I made up my mind to explore down the path extending westwards, Chris joined me and we walked down to the ridge path at the end. We looked but couldn't see the Savi's only hearing it occasionally very distantly. We looked at Reed and Sedge Warblers, one a piece and heard a distant Cuckoo. At around 8pm we decided to walk back and 100 yards from the mill we looked across a large cut reed area and could hear the buzzing clearly, I spotted a bird perched up a third of the way from the top it was brown with a very thick tail, extending out at the middle tips of the feathers. It was moving its head from side to side, it was the excellent Savi's Warbler. It then disappeared it had flown across east past the cut area and at reeds further back near a single birch tree. Chris refund the bird and having rung the others, we enjoyed almost continuous views of the bird singing from near the top of the reeds again the really thick tail was clearly seen, it turned around and showed its whitish throat pale buff on the breast long bill moving from side to side as it called its distinctive buzzing call. You could spot the bird more easily through the bins rather than the scope and sometimes it was obscured by reeds just in front. A Grasshopper Warbler started reeling the other side too.

First Hummingbird Hawk Moth for 2014

Between 4.35 to 4.40pm today, Saturday 7th June I spotted a superb Hummingbird Hawk Moth flying around the Red Valerian feeding on the nectar of these flowers. The Moth was seen again fleetingly at both 5.10pm and 5.28pm too. Also in the garden the naturally occurring 3 Southern Marsh Orchids are starting to flower in our middle flower bed.