An American Black Tern – Chlidonias surinamensis, had been frequenting Covenham Reservoir for some time and having just got back from Shetland and the bird still around, it was worth the trip to this reservoir in Lincolnshire. American Black Tern looks very similar to our Black Tern with the exception of some very subtle plumage differences. Dark flanks and a grey underwing, a lack of a solid dark cap with a paler crown. Paler sides to the crown. Dark scapulars with narrow buff fringes and pale grey wing coverts all help to distinguish the bird from Black Tern – Chlidonias […]
We set off for Aberdeen on 23rd September in anticipation of seeing the Sandhill Crane that had been discovered at St. Combs, Aberdeen. We managed to see the Crane along with a few Lapland Buntings before we caught the Ferry to Lerwick, Shetland. My second Sandhill Crane in the UK. (Photo1- Sandhill Crane – St.Combs). Our trip to Shetland was specifically timed to coincide with the arrival of rare & uncommon migrants that are attracted to the islands. Shetland is one of the best places in the UK for finding rare birds during September & October, the prime […]
For the past few days now the UK has been battered by the remnants of the USA Hurricane Katrina. Inevitably numerous seabirds have arrived on inland waters. One of the pick of the crop is a juvenile Sabine’s Gull that arrived at Belvide Reservoir in Staffordshire several days ago and still present this weekend. An adult summer plumaged Sabines Gull arrived at one of the large London Reservoirs. These are Pelagic Gulls and are rarely seen inland. Also at Belvide this morning was a Manx Shearwater totally out of place on a reservoir. This bird should be heading off south […]
My wife & I spent last week in Dorset. One of our favourite holiday locations is the area of Studland & Swanage. The tail end of Hurricane Katria began to affect the coastal area on the 5th September and there were several hundred Mediterranean Gulls in the Studland Bay area. Also 3 Balearic Shearwaters were off Durslton Head early morning. Durlston Country Park had plenty of migrant warblers during the week with Blackcap, Common Whitethroat & Chiffchaff being particularly numerous. Eight Spoonbills were on Brownsea Island lagoon, seen from our Ferry heading into Poole Harbour on the […]