I woke up this morning, opened the curtains and wondered what that bright light was in the sky. A stunning morning, with the first sight of blue sky and sunshine for well over a week. I decided to spend a few hours at my “Local Patch” at Staunton Harold Reservoir. A few little surprises were in store, one of which was a “Real Surprise”. Viewing at long range, I was almost certain I had found the first Goldeneye for Staunton Harold of the year, looking like a female. So I had to check-out the far end later in the morning. A Green Woodpecker “Yaffled” and flew along the fence line as I walked along the tow-path  towards the Ticknall Arm. The usual flocks of Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Mallard were on view but little else of note. So I decided to head-off to the southern end and the Calke Arm to see if I could re-locate my female Goldeneye.

Upon checking the “South Wood” inlet I found 2 drake Goldeneye, 3 Little Grebe and 20 Teal. Parking up at the “Round Car Park”, there were plenty of birds at the feeder, so decided to check these out later. When I got down to the waters edge, I quickly discovered the female Goldeneye and another Little Grebe. Back at the feeding station, and to my utter amazement, I found a male Tree Sparrow. This is the first time I’ve seen a Tree Sparrow at the site for nearly two years. I really hope this is the first of many as Seven Trent invested heavily in a Tree Sparrow program some years ago, which included erecting a number of suitable Nest Boxes and some land and habitat management. We will see. A Tree Creeper was calling, and so during the morning I managed two “Patch Year Ticks” taking my total to 94.

I spent a thoroughly enjoyable hour photographing common birds coming to the feeder. Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Nuthatch, Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch and of course the Tree Sparrow. In the warm and bright winter sunshine, it was ideal for photography and so it is not always about photographing rarities, in my book if Blue Tit was a rarity, you wouldn’t half travel some miles to see one!

Blue Tit – above four images – Tony Davison©

Coal Tit – Tony Davison©

House Sparrow – male – Tony Davison©

Nuthatch – Above three images – Tony Davison©

Tree Sparrow – male – Above two images – Tony Davison©

November is the traditional time of the year for a rare Wheatear to arrive on our shores. This November was no exception and almost bang on time a Pied Wheatear was discovered on Unst in Shetland and 3 Desert Wheatear arrived, 2 in East Anglia and 1 in Kent. Despite the three day bird syndrome, we decided to head off on Sunday morning, 9th November, for the two birds in East Anglia. A first winter male at Lowestoft in Suffolk and a female 8 miles up the road at Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk, near Great Yarmouth. All three birds seemed to arrive around the 6th November 2014.

We arrived at Lowestoft, Suffolk and the weather was awful. There had obviously been a lot of heavy overnight rain and it was still raining as we arrived at the site. Much to our surprise, as there had been no media messages, the first winter male Desert Wheatear was showing well but looking pretty pathetic, very wet and very bedraggled. Not an ideal candidate for a photograph. We decided to head off for some breakfast and re-visit when the weather improved. A few hours later and the sun was shining, as was forecast and the Wheatear looked a different bird. Talk about metamorphosis! In fine weather, the Desert Wheatear performed to a small, but appreciative group of birders. What a star little bird and certainly one of my highlights of 2014. Desert Wheatear breeds in North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, so I’m sure it was very grateful to the mild weather and warm winter sunshine that had generated a wealth of small insect activity along the birds favoured piece of sea wall. Not far away at Ness Point, we relocated the juvenile Red-backed Shrike, it was favouring a small compound area around the wind turbine and although it had been in the area for well over a week, the bird had not been seen in recent days.

We decided to head off for another Desert Wheatear, this time a female, that was on show at Gorleston-on-Sea, just a few miles along the coast, northwards towards Great Yarmouth. The first time I have seen two Desert Wheatear in the UK in a day. The female was another little poser and showed well on the sand below the promenade. Even the locals, enjoying a Sunday stroll, were  watching the bird.

At Great Yarmouth sea front, we had around 20 Mediterranean Gull on the beach, of varying ages and several posing for the camera with a number being colour ringed. We finished off the day with 2 Rough-legged Buzzard hunting over the marshes at Breydon Water, before our journey home. So the year list moves on to 232 and getting respectable at long last!

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – At 10:30 it was very wet and bedraggled, looking very sorry for itself and very hungry – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Lowestoft, Suffolk – By mid-day and in warm early winter sunshine, what a transformation – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Note the all black tail – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Lowestoft, Suffolk – A very confiding bird, not at all afraid of the small group of birders taking photographs and generally enjoying it – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Just having a stretch – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – In bright sunshine the bird took on a more “desert-like” appearance, beautiful sandy buff and apricot tones – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Energetic in feeding mode – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Plenty of active wing stretching, getting ready for a long journey, as the bird was not seen on Monday 10th November – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – 1st winter male – Lowestoft, Suffolk – One of my  bird highlights of 2014, a simply stunning and friendly individual. So many “Keeps” – Tony Davison©

Desert Wheatear – Female – (Above 2 images) – Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk – Another obliging individual. Two in a day was a first for me- Tony Davison©

Mediterranean Gull – Adult winter – Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – Plenty on the beach but most were very flighty and unapproachable – Tony Davison©

Mediterranean Gull – 1st winter – (Above 3 images) – Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – With care, this bird was very approachable – Tony Davison©

Mediterranean Gull – 1st winter – Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Mediterranean Gull – 2nd winter – Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – Note the black markings in the primaries, indicating 2nd winter, also the colour ring 2H40 – Tony Davison©

The week of 13th – 16th October will probably go down as one of the best arrivals of rare birds on the east coast of Britain in recent modern birding. It seemed that an endless supply of migrants were arriving every day. However for some of us, we had to wait till the weekend and as always, it was basically all over by the time Saturday 18th October arrived. However trying to make the most of a bad job, myself, Glyn and RichardP made our way to Spurn YWT, on the coast of East Yorkshire. It was rather overcast at first with a very warm and strong SW wind. It did brighten up later in the day and was very warm in the autumn sunshine. The warmth brought out a few Migrant Hawkers – it is the middle of October !!

Best birds during the day were a single Yellow-browed Warbler and a smart Great Grey Shrike. Plenty of Goldcrest about, they seemed to be in every bush. Several Chiffchaff, small numbers of Stonechat, a single Redstart at Sammy’s Point and three Swallow at Kilnsea. Plenty of Brent Geese activity and large numbers of common waders out on the humber estuary. Hard work slogging around all the lanes and roads for little reward. Nevertheless, the Great Grey Shrike was a year tick, so year list moves on to 228.

Goods numbers of Brent Geese were flying between the fields and the estuary at Sammy’s Point- Tony Davison©

A large flock of Brent Geese create fantastic shapes and silhouettes – Tony Davison©

Part of a large flock of Brent Geese heading out to the estuary – Tony Davison©

Goldcrest were everywhere. Incredible little migrants – Tony Davison©

Jenny Wren – This little fella was following around a small party of Goldcrest – Tony Davison©

A rather late female/1st winter Common Redstart at Sammy’s Point – Tony Davison©

A fine little flock of Jacob’s Sheep at Kilnsea – what a stunning ram – Tony Davison©