A1 Birding

  I thought I would mix things up a little this year and go to Scilly in the third week of September.  I saw no major rarities but some top birding and a nice selection of common migrants plus a very interesting pelagic. The Saturday afternoon was mostly gentle birding but I finished up on the airport when the planes had finished and connected with an Ortolan Bunting albeit quite distantly and I saw a Lapland Bunting briefly. Goldfinch                                                      Northern Wheatear Ortolan Bunting On the Sunday I had a nice walk around Bryher, where I had a Wryneck briefly, but it went into deep cover and despite watching the area from several angles I never saw it again. I also had Pied Flyctacher, Whinchat and Willow Warbler before getting the boat back to St. Mary's. As the airport was closed I thought to give the Sho...

  Hearing that good numbers of waders were gathering at Frampton, I was there just after high tide and counted 18 Little Stints and 35 Curlew Sandpipers, although the latter were generally farther away and only on one occasion did I obtain a passable record shot.  Also seen during the day were large numbers of Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Snipe.  There was also a little fall of Yellow Wagtail.           Little Stint Curlew Sandpiper Common Snipe Ruff Yellow Wagtail

August means waders at Frampton Marsh.  Always a lovely reserve to visit, although nothing spectacular this time, except for superb views of a Spotted Redshank.  During a spot of lunch, a charm of Goldfinches were a nice distraction, coming to drink from a puddle in the car park.  Also seen were plenty of Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Dunlin and a Wood Sandpiper. Spotted Redshank   Goldfinch

I was up with the lark to get down to see a local Barn Owl, which had young in the nest.  I chose a suitable position and waited for about three quarters of an hour when a bird appeared and hunted in front of me.  Incredible views of this beautiful owl. Barn Owl