I think it’s safe to say that today was a good day. The
weather was glorious and the wildlife was on top form. It started as soon as I
got there really, or rather as soon as I was really there, because as soon as I
got there I crashed and had a power nap.
Upon awakening from my nap I immediately began to search
the pond for Little Terns and anything else that may be around. There was some
other stuff around, namely 2 Spurn ticks for me; Tufted duck and Little Grebe.
The Tuftie was a drake just leaving eclipse. It spent most of its time that I
saw it with the Little Grebes, of which there were 3; and adult and 2
juveniles. The grebes stayed all day though I think the Tuftie may have left as
I did not see it during the afternoon.
-Tufted Duck with Little Grebe
We then had a bit of a lull after that. In fact the whole
day went into a bit of a lull, probably because it was so hot. There were very
good numbers of Yellow Wagtail around, at least 6 but probably more, and off
all different shades, ranging from scratty brown to fairly fresh yellow. A
juvenile Marsh Harrier made and appearance too, drifting over north bank and
avoiding the ponds for the most part, which meant that the terns were not
disturbed in any way. There was also a Black Tailed godwit that spent the day
on the ponds, adding to the wader diversity. Alas it was not a summer plumaged
individual but it was appreciated none the less.
The morning livened up significantly when I was on my way
back from long bank around mid morning. It was quite warm by now, and came back
to find a Common Lizard chillin on the doorstep of the hut. Of course as soon
as it saw me it bolted, but the only place for it to go was inside the hut. It
only stayed in a few minuets as I went into the hut myself in order to keep the
exit clear and usher the lizard out. Of course I had the wrong lens but managed
a few shots with my compact when the lizard sat rather obligingly on the ladder
near the door. It was certainly a different experience on the job…
-Common Lizard
On the way to lunch down Beacon Lane I kept my eyes open
for the lesser whitethroat but I could not find it. I did find numerous Common
Whitethroat including a few juvs, but they tended to be skulky and difficult to
see fully. Also on the lane I found a lovely Willow Warbler, which is
unsurprising now their passage has started. It was very photogenic and allowed
me to get some really decent shots of it, thought there was a bit of branch
rather unhelpfully in the way.
-Willow Warbler
It remained quiet until pretty much going home time. But
as I was about to leave early because it had been so quiet, a pale phase Arctic
Skua flew by not far off shore. It did not cause much disturbance but I stayed
in order to make sure it did not return and bother the birds. It was a nice
individual, very clear with well-defined features, clearly visible as it moved
along the coast.
-Arctic Skua
So that finished me off for my day shift. So, where was
all the wildlife? Well it all came during the evening’s seawatch which was very
productive bird-wise but damaged my already fragile credibility significantly.
I started at around half 6 with a few guys, though by the
end there was quite a crowd. It started very slowly, the tern passage barely
getting going. However, but half 7 it began to pick up and good movements of
Common, Sandwich and Arctic Terns began to move through. Picking up the Commons
from the Arctics in a mixed flock is not something I can do with ease, but by the end of the evening I gave it a go with
2 Terns that drifted down, calling them as commons. Apparently they were both
Arctic! I also made a blunder with a Gull that landed on the beach. With the
light it looked like it had yellow-legs, so I called it. As it moved towards
the shore though its legs cleared and it turned out to be a Herring Gull.
Wonderful!
However, that’s enough of the negative, what about the
positive. Well, as I said there was good movement of Terns going through, but
there were also a few waders. There were a few Knot, Sanderling and Dunlin, as
well and the usual Whimbrel and Oystercatchers. Tim spotted 2 Juvenile Med
Gulls that flew through, even landing on the sea for a minute or two before
moving on.
The real highlights, though, started when there was a
bizarre wader call from overhead. I of course had no idea what it was, but the
others all jumped to their feet with Wood Sandpiper, only my second ever of
course. It was quite high up, and without the call I would probably not have
noticed it and certainly never identified it, but it was a new experience, if
not a sadly brief one.
At 8.00 came the real star of the show. There had been
one possible juv black tern moving far out to sea, but the guys were
identifying it from its jizz and none really sounded overly convinced. Either
way, I’m not sure I saw it. But at 8.00 a large group of terns came through
reasonably close to the shore. I followed them and thought I had picked out a
Black Tern in with them. I was about to call it for someone to look at, when
another birder sat outside the hide called it first, loosing me possibly my
best self-find ever. But this bird was closer than my first, so I decided to
grab some record shots. It was at that moment that the unthinkable happened,
when a pair of Arctic Skuas appeared, going the opposite way up the same line.
Of course the terns went mad and scarpered all over the place. The Skuas
started chasing the Sandwich Terns but the other terns disappeared and I was
left searching the horizon frantically looking for my Black. Fortunately Paul
pointed them out to me, as they had gone straight up and I would have missed
them otherwise. We then found the Black, adult black I must add, and I was able
to get some record shots to maintain my 100% lifer photo record for this year.
-Black Tern (With Commons)
We called it quits at around 8.45, having totted up a
decent number of species (Well, they had for me). The final thing to move
through was a flock of Common Scoter at 8.36. It was quite a seawatch, very
successful, and I think I am getting to grips with it a bit more, the more I do
it.
And that wraps up today. It’s been a very enjoyable but
very relaxed kinda day, not too much tern bother and plenty to enjoy in the
warm weather.
The Daily
Oystercatcher
Today marks a new turn in the Oystercatchers. For the
first time I recall seeing one of the chicks alarm call and move independently
of its mother. That means that at least one chick now knows how to handle
itself should to encounter a predator on its own. Their progress has been
outstanding, and its good to watch them develop these final skills. I note that
I have not included a picture of them for some time, so here’s a nice family
portrait to show just how much they have changed.
-Oystercatcher Family
Species List:
Beacon Ponds: Sandwich
Tern, Little Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Gull, Black-Headed Gull,
Shelduck, Mallard, Reed Bunting, Swallow, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Marsh Harrier,
Little Egret, Yellow Wagtail, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Woodpigeon,
Linnet, Redshank, Mute Swan, Black-Tailed Godwit, Sand Martin, Bar-Tailed
Godwit, Sparrowhawk, House Martin, House Sparrow, Whitethroat, Blackbird,
Whimbrel, Pied Wagtail, Arctic Skua, Grey
Seal, Common Lizard, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Large White,
Wall Brown, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ruddy Darter, Emperor, Migrant Hawker,
Blue-Tailed Damselfly,
Seawatching: Guillemot,
Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Little Tern, Dunlin,
Gannet, Swallow, Common Gull, Wood Sandpiper, Black Tern, Arctic Tern, Meadow
Pipit, Arctic Skua, Herring Gull, Sand Martin, House Martin, Oystercatcher,
Knot, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Redshank, Sanderling,
Whimbrel, Common Scoter, Grey Seal
