Squacco Heron, Attenborough NR, Notts.

Squacco Heron, Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottingham
Squacco Heron, the bird drew large numbers of local admirers, also some, like myself travelling as far as from the West Midlands. The Squacco's favoured feeding area, under a railway bridge over the River Erewas allowed good viewing from the adjacent road bridge and prevented the over enthusiastic getting too close.
Squacco
Squacco

Squacco

Operation Daylate

2nd November 2011
Operation Daylate began in the early hours of Monday morning. It was a typical early morning jaunt with a local fox carrying a rat and a Barn Owl seen on route to the secret airfield hidden on an Industrial estate somewhere in North Yorkshire. Skylarks could be heard as the other members of the group arrived as dawn broke. The air was full of expectation. The pilot arrived, the mission was set. We lounged in the easy chairs or paced the worn carpets of the reception area. We waited for word. Communications, so vital to the success of the mission, were checked and re checked. Our 'eyes on the ground' was in position, waiting, searching. As the minutes rolled by anxiety started to show. Still no word. Another group had travelled by sea and would now be on site but still no intell. Contigencies were discussed as the minutes turned into hours with still no sign of our objective. Things were becoming serious, we could not longer hide our disappointment with the odd witty remark or tales of twitches past. Deadlines were set and reset but 'GO' never came, the Siberian Rubythroat had gone. The mission was aborted - a day too late. The views of Squacco heron at Attenborough Nature Reserve on the way back were no consolation.

Pied Wheatear in Gloucestershire

Pied Wheatear, 1w female - Oldbury on Severn, Gloucs.
Pied Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Pied Wheatear

Pied Wheatear

Pied Wheatear

Severn Bridge

Wednesday 26th October 2011

In the shadow of the Severn bridge lies Thornbury Sailing Club which played host to a delightful 1w female Pied Wheatear today. The bird favoured the Sailing club buildings and thanks to the good will of the members of the club, birders were allowed free access to the site and enjoyed excellent views of this unexpected visitor to the western side of the UK.

New arrivals

Tuesday 25th October 2011
Its been a frustrating few days. After getting over the irony of the Siberian Rubythroat turning up at 'our' patch a couple of days after we'd left the Shetland Isles, I chickened out of the opportunity to go back twice. Once because of the fact I knew I would be severely sea sick and the other due to the imminent arrival of my second grandchild. Good birds continued to arrive but I backed losers everytime; Rufous tailed Robin, Scarlet Tanager....alot of mileage for nought. The Scilly ticks continued to nag but I didnt want to be away for more than a day. The arrival that really mattered was on Sunday, a little girl. Mother and baby doing fine. I can catch up with Northern Waterthrush and Siberian Rubythroat another time. Arrgh!

Grey Phalarope at Daventry

Grey Phalarope, Daventry C.P.
Grey Phalarope
Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

21st October 2011
Rather than brooding over the Rubythroat twitch which I decided against I took myself of to Daventry for another go at the Grey Phalarope. Scant consolation I know but it was something and at least this time the bird was close enough for a good look and even a couple of snaps.
22nd October 2011

My patch watch around Merevale near Atherstone was interupted by a phone call about another potential twitch to Cornwall. T S and I agreed there was no point in setting off straight away but there might be something on tomorrow. I resumed the walk around Legion Wood but it was generally quiet both on the ground and overhead.

Little to report

Tuesday 18th October 2011
After the activity of the weekend, the birding action is experiencing a bit of a lull with very few new birds being found while the strong westerly/north westerly airflow continues. The southern end of the Tame valley seemed very quiet with only a single Green Sandpiper at Lea Marston and the same at Cliff pool. A handful of Fieldfare were seen to fly over and there seems to be a population explosion of Coots but little else to report.

Left overs

Curlew, Pool of Virkie
Olive backed Pipit, Baltasound
Search for the American Buff-bellied Pipit, Quendale
American Buff-bellied Pipit
Eider, Grutness

Local Brew

Porpoise, Quendale Bay

Long tailed Ducks, Grutness Bay

Black Guillemot

Guillemot

Sea Urchin

View from the digs

Common Seal

Monday 17th October 2011

A final few images from the Shetland Isles trip and a comment on another dip this Autumn. I knew it wouldn't be there or even if it was I wouldnt see it for one reason or another. No I knew from the start there was no chance of adding Rufous tailed Robin to my list. Why did I go then when the whole episode had dip written all over it ? Its a birding thing, we'll leave it at that. Anyway taking the positives, it was great to be back in Norfolk on such a glorious day, but are there always so many birdwatchers about? After leaving Wareham Green John Terry and I moved on to Holme NOA where it was good to see so many familiar faces. The West Mids was well represented. We can dip as well as any of them. I did get good, albeit brief views of the main attraction, a Red flanked Bluetail. Amazing really, considering the bird was very mobile and the large number a people on site. The only other highlight was a roosting Tawny Owl.

PS Respect to the Welsh Rugby team in the World Cup !