My very first Scilly Pelagic took place during 15th -19th August 2024. John and I attended five pelagics, all very well organised by Scilly Pelagics (https://www.scillypelagics.com/). During the trips we saw 41 Wilson’s Petrel; 145 European Storm Petrel; 147 Cory’s Shearwater; 489 Great Shearwater; 20 Sooty Shearwater; 5,300 Manx Shearwater; 8 Bonxie; 1 2cy SOUTH POLAR SKUA; 3 Arctic Skua; 1 Pomarine Skua; 3 Mediterranean Gull; 1 Kittiwake; 1 Common Gull; present Herring Gull; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Great Black-backed Gull; Fulmar; 19 Arctic Tern; c20 Whimbrel; c700 SB Common Dolphin; 1 Risso’s Dolphin; 5 Fin Whale (inc i calf); 1 Minkie Whale; 12 Bluefin Tuna; 2 Blue Shark; 2 Sun Fish. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a photograph of the South Polar Skua, but others did, and it was well watched and photographed. Many thanks to Bob Flood and Joe Pender for a fabulous few days at sea and for the South Polar Skua, a new British bird for me. If you want to see seabirds up close and personal, get yourself on a Scilly Pelagic, simple.
I went back to India on 15th April 2024, flying out of London Heathrow to Delhi. A return trip for Tigers, as on my last trip some 20 years ago, I lost all my images due to X-Ray scanning. My good friend John Van-der-dol organised the trip through Asian Adventures, and during our 13 day stay, we visited Delhi, Little Rann of Kutch, Gir National Reserve, and Velavadar National Park, all in Gujarat State, then travelling to the Tiger Reserve at Bandhavgarh, in Madhya Pradesh for the last four days. My full album on the India trip can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/spinney_birder/albums/72177720317394470/
The Little Rann of Kutch is a desolate area of desert steppe and scrub, and is one of the last places that the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass exists in the wild. Highlights at Little Rann of Kutch were, the herds of the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, Nilgai Antelope, 100’s of thousands of Rose-coloured Starlings going to roost, large flocks of Greater & Lesser Flamingo, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-necked Falcon, a brief sighting of a Desert Fox, large flocks of egrets, storks and herons, and a variety of waders and other birds.
Little Rann of Kutch – Asiatic Wild AssLittle Rann of Kutch – Asiatic Wild AssLittle Rann of Kutch – Greater Flamingo Little Rann of Kutch – Lesser FlamingoLittle Rann of Kutch – Lesser FlamingoLittle Rann of Kutch – Chestnut-bellied SandgrouseLittle Rann of Kutch – Red-necked FalconLittle Rann of Kutch – Rose-coloured StarlingLittle Rann of Kutch – Rose-coloured StarlingLittle Rann of Kutch – Painted StorkLittle Rann of Kutch – Painted Stork
From the 18th April we spent the next three days at the famous Asiatic Lion Reserve at Gir National Park. Also known as Sasan Gir, it is a forest national park and wild life sanctuary, established in 1965 to protect the rare and endangered Asiatic Lion. Outside of Africa, it is the only place in the world where you can see a lion in its natural habitat.
The Asiatic Lion has a bigger tail tassle, bushier elbow tufts and prominent belly folds, than the African Lion which has a much bigger mane. The entire forest area in the park is dry and deciduous, which is the perfect habitat for Asiatic Lions. Gir is also home to 40 species of mammal and over 400 species of bird. We had several superb encounters with the lions, including a mother with 3 baby cubs. Also several sightings of Leopard, and a single Jackal, which felt a little safer, very close to our Jeep, after almost walking right into the lion family that we were watching.
Indian Nightjar and Savanna Nightjar were discovered roosting and we also had Mottled Wood Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Indian Scops Owl and 4 Spotted Owlet. A wide variety of birds were seen during our time in the Gir Park.
LeopardLeopardJackalIndian NightjarSavanna NightjarIndian Scops OwlMottled Wood Owl.Indian Tiny Grass Blue
The 21st & 22nd April were spent at the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park. in the Bhavnagar District of Gujarat State. A 34 squrae mile grassland reserve famous for the Blackbuck Antelope, Indian Wolf and Striped Hyena. There are around 1800 Blackbuck in the park, and we saw several adult males and herds of females and young males. A family party of Indian Wolf and a single Striped Hyena, as well as a brief sighting of a Jungle Cat and several parties of Nilgai Antelope.
Blackbuck – A young maleBlackbuck – adult maleJungle CatStriped HyenaIndian WolfRain QuailNilgai – The Blue BullSpot-billed Duck
The 23rd April was a travel day from Ahmadabad to Jabelpur and on to Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. We then spent 24th – 27th at this fabulous Tiger reserve. The National Park is spread across the Vindhya Hills, and has a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer zone area of 400 sq kms. The habitat varies from deciduous forest and steep ridges, to huge grassy meadows, and is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger. We had a number of good Tiger sightings as well as seeing a large family party of Indian Elephant, a Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Chital (Spotted Deer), Samba Deer, Barking Deer and Gaur or Indian Bison. Many species of bird including Jungle Fowl, Red-headed Vulture, White-backed and Indian Vulture, Peafowl, Malabar Hornbill, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Indian Roller, Black-rumped Flameback, Orange-headed Thrush, to name but a few.
I flew back to UK on 28th April from Delhi, after a quite remarkable and memory filled trip.
Sloth BearWild BoarGaurChital (Spotted Deer)Indian ElephantGaurJungle FowlBrown Fish Owl
During 19 – 26 March we spent a week on Fuerteventura, the third year in succession we have visited this island. On the 21 March I spent an afternoon with my good friend Alan Conlin and his wife, who, just by coincidence, happened to be staying at the northern end of Fuerteventura, birding the Tindaya Plain.Â
One of my target birds and one I’ve never seen on the island was Cream-coloured Courser, and I was also keen to see Houbara Bustard again. Well, we had a great few hours birding, basically cleaning up on the target species. Several Cream-coloured Courser, a male Houbara Bustard, 14 stunning Black-bellied Sandgrouse, small flocks of Trumpeter Finch, several Berthelot’s Pipit and Mediterranean Short-toed Lark.
One morning two Hoopoe performed in the garden of the Hotel and also 2 Plain Swift and 2 Ruddy Shelduck as flyovers. An enjoyable few days away in warm spring sunshine……
Three Russian White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) arrived and set up base in fields at Ingleby, alongside the Rive Trent. They were first recorded in February and were still present on 5th April 2024. Albifrons, which is the NE Europe, N.Siberian race, is identified from the Greenland race, (A. flavirostris) by the pink bill colour, smaller size and not so bold black patches on the belly. I presumed that the three birds were a family party as the adults were with a first winter bird. I managed to see them fairly close to the edge of the river Trent on 16 March 2024, after recent flooding had closed access to the site area.
First winter Russain White-fronted GooseOne of the two adult Russian White-fronted GooseThe three Russian White-fronted Geese at Ingleby, South Derbyshire – 16/3/2024
RSPB Frampton Marsh, near Boston in Lincolnshire, is always worth a visit during the winter months. Even more so when a Lesser Yellowlegs is over-wintering, and looking rather smart after nearly completing its moult. Another spectacle was the thousands of Golden Plover and Lapwing, estimated at 10,000 each, being bombed by several Peregrines, so the sight of all these birds, along with thousands of ducks and hundreds of other waders, was simply fantastic to witness. With 2 Great White Egret, several Marsh Harrier, 6 Pintail and a few Goldeneye, it was a thoroughly enjoyable days birding, whilst managing to fit in a little photography on the way.
Well you’ve got to twitch a Cattle Egret when it’s right on your doorstep! A post went out on social media on 30th January, stating that a Cattle Egret was in a sheep field at Staunton Harold Hall, ten minutes from where I live, but unfortunately in Leicestershire by a couple of miles! So the morning of 31st January, I decided to go and look for it. Well I scoured the fields and areas where I thought it might be and couldn’t locate it, or any sheep for that matter. I did find 2 Red Kite, a Raven, five Nuthatch and a pair of Egyptian Geese, three Gadwall and three Little Grebe, but sadly no sign of the Cattle Egret.
I went back home and we decided to head back to the Hall and have some lunch in the nearby Stables Courtyard. As we arrived, I decided to walk to the edge of the lake area to scan, just incase the Egret was present. As I was walking towards the area, I received a tip-off that the bird was back, so it was, much to my delight. After lunch we headed back home, I picked up my camera and made my way back to the Hall. Perfect timing as the bird was showing well, as they say. A great end to a great day birding around my local area, with two Great White Egret, six Little Egret, a female type Goosander, 17 Wigeon as other highlights.
A male Black-throated Thrush had taken up residence at Tophill Low Nature Reserve, near Bridlington in Yorkshire. I had been meaning to go and see this bird, and eventually timing and a suitable day all fell into place. Along with a good photography pal, we made the journey on 16th January. A cold but bright and sunny morning, ideal conditions. Some great year ticks fell in place.
After a distraction on route to look at a mixed party of 70 Whooper and 4 Bewick’sSwan, we arrived at Tophill Low just as the site was being opened up for the day. After a 15-20 minute walk, we arrived at the birds favoured location, and after 10 minutes or so, I managed to locate the bird feeding on berries in Hawthorn scrub. What a smart looking bird, a real vagrant from the taiga forests of Siberia. Single birds find their way to Britain every so often. It’s a real treat to see one, especially when it’s a male. Eventually it moved into more central scrub and showed quite well. Whilst walking back to the car park, a Cattle Egret flew over. We finished off the day at Bridlington Harbour and had a session with the local Purple Sandpipers. A great day out.
During this winter 2023-2024, the UK has been the host to an invasion of Bohemian Waxwings (Aka, Pink Punks due to the account of their Pink Crests). A rather large flock gathered at Hassop, near Bakewell, providing superb opportunities to see these birds at close quarters. The flock, around c300-400 at its best, but regularly around 200 birds, was quite a sight and one of the largest in Derbyshire for many years. We paid them a visit on 29th December 2023, and I was able to obtain some pleasant photographs, as they were making frequent visits to a hawthorn bush by the main cafe centre. Despite large numbers of visitors, including reasonable numbers of visiting bird-watchers, the Waxwings were quite obliging if one was patient, and kept a reasonable and sensible distance.
Here are a few highlights of my year so far. From 1st Jan to Feb 2023.
I have been watching a local Kingfisher on and off for a few weeks, and after some searching, I managed to find its regular favoured spot during early January.
A trip to north Norfolk on 5th January, kick-started the year list, and all the long staying rarities were still around. So Barrie & I picked up Hume’s Warbler, Pallid Harrier, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Red-necked Grebe, Russian White-fronted Goose, Hen Harrier and a stunning White-tailed Eagle. We had 80 odd species during the day.
So far local patch birding at Staunton Harold Res has resulted in me find a juvenile Mediterranean Gull on 14th Jan, and 3 fabulous Avocets, a new bird for the site, made a brief appearance on 10th Feb.
I eventually saw a few distant Hawfinch at Cromford on 21st Jan and a very obliging Little Grebe.
A trip into Cambridgeshire on 18th Jan resulted in some good views of Barn Owl, and a flock of 20+ Corn Buntings.
A visit to Welney WWT Reserve on 24th January was slightly disappointing, due to foggy conditions, but calling in at Eyebrook Reservoir on our way home, salvaged 5 Smew (3 Redheads and 2 Drakes).
On 28th January a “Twitch” to Langstone Harbour in Hampshire, for a stunning adult summer plumaged Sabine’s Gull. Such an unusual occurrence at this time of year.
Finally a morning spent with Dippers in the Derbyshire Dales, and another “Twitch” to Bradford on 19th February to see four long staying Waxing that were feeding on berries on a local housing estate.
