Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Chew Valley Lake, Avon

During an incredible autumn for waders at Chew Valley Lake it turned up this true gem, and a very nice find by whomever... My should I, shouldn't I, patience finally ran out after a few days and I made the trip. The day was very good, and would have been better if I'd bothered to go to Blagdon Lake on the way back home! Even so, 2 Long-billed Dowitchers and an adult Spotted Sandpiper (still showing some remnants of spots) along with the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper made for a most memorable day. I took some video which can be found on the link below. Lets just say the bird was distant and the video is fairly reflective of the views taken from the day!

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper video - click here

Isabelline Shrike at Porth Clais, Pembs

 John, Marion & Jon Best continued their 'year of the shrike' with another cracking find. This Isabelline Shrike proved very popular especially towards the end of it's stay when birders were also able to pick up Isabelline Wheatear (in Glamorgan) along the way! On the day I visited it seemed to have some foreign body attached under its right eye, like a tick or something similar? Later photos showed it had seemed to have dropped off. It was a stunning bird and some video of it feeding and sitting up in it's favourite hedge can be found following the link at the bottom of this post.

Isabelline Shrike video - click here

Long-billed Dowitcher at Kidwelly Quay, Carms

 Dominic Davison found this Long-billed Dowitcher at the end of September 2011; it went on to winter in the area and was seen regularly between the railway bridge and the road bridge into April 2012. I finally got round to videoing it by that stage and the footage can be seen by following the link at the bottom of this post.

Long-billed Dowitcher video - click here

Common Rosefinch on Skokholm, Pembs

This Common Rosefinch was trapped and ringed by Ron (?), Bob & Annie Haycock and released to the courtyard. It spent a week or so, around the buildings, making appearances during the tea breaks and providing timely boosts by also popping up during work time.

Lesser Grey Shrike at St. Justinian's, Pembs

 Marion Best found this Lesser Grey Shrike along the coast path, St. Justinian's. The bird performed very well for about a week for many a travelling birder. I visited the area on the same day as Steve Hinton and Matt Meehan, and we met the landowner who was intrigued by all the attention the bird was getting, but nevertheless most accommodating. Some video of the bird can be found by following the link at the bottom of the post.

Lesser Grey Shrike video - click here

OOC Sightings

Male Montagu's Harrier eastern Poland (DRWG)

 
Cattle Egret in summer plumage (Mallorca May 2011)
(c) C. Woodhead

 

Little Bittern at La Gola NR (Mallorca 2011)

(c) C. Woodhead

Caspian Tern with Little Tern (Mallorca 2011)

 (c) C. Woodhead

Glaucous Gull at Sandy Water Park (22/3/11)

(c) R. Mitchell

Blue-winged Teal at Sandy Water Park (21/3/11)

(c) C. Woodhead

3 Garganey from British Steel Hide, Penclacwydd (20/3/11)

(c) M. Hipkin

 Andouin's Gull at Ibiza harbour 1989 (c) DRWG

Red-necked Phalarope northern Norway 1995 (c) DRWG