Melodious Warbler on Skokholm, Pembs

During a work party week on Skokholm Island this Melodious Warbler was still hanging around, having been ringed near to the start of the month by Steve Sutcliffe. Mike Young-Powell didn't take long to relocate it on arrival to the Island (15/9/12) and we watched this bird for the last time on the morning of 17//9/12. It was quite mobile on the first day , but during our last sighting it sat up very obligingly in an Elder bush preening, bundling through the branches and participating in some very lazy fly-catching! Some video of the bird is found on the link below

Melodious Warbler video - click here

Pectoral Sandpipers on Skokholm, Pembs

 In complete contrast to last year, when I spent some time on Skokholm involved in the work parties and the Island was very dry, this year the ponds were in a much healthier state. Water was found in North, South and Winter Ponds and they also offered some very inviting muddy shores. A long staying Pectoral Sandpiper was joined by a second (both shown in the photo below, long stayer at the front) and a 3rd bird (above) arrived the day after the 2 birds had left.

Short-billed Dowitcher at RSPB Lodmoor, Dorset

This Short-billed Dowitcher was only the 2nd to have been recorded in Britain, although another bird turned up on the Scillies not long after this one to represent the 3rd ever, for Britain. Certainly this bird was well marked, with strong barring on the tertials and rufous tones around the breast were quite noticeable, and key features. One thing that struck me about this bird was how heavy its bill looked, especially at the base. Maybe, this was an effect given by the shorter bill length, but to my eyes it made the bird itself look a bit heavy. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to call into Slimbridge on the way home, but the Kidwelly Long-billed and the 2 at Chew, last year, to my mind seemed to be much lighter looking in build, especially abound the head, neck and bill. I took some video of this bird which is found on the link below.

Short-billed Dowitcher video - click here

Spotted Crake at RSPB Greylake, Somerset

On my way to Greylake, I was thinking to myself this is going to be a nightmare waiting for this bird to show. On arrival at the mud-pan, and before I'd managed to take the scope from off my back, it walked into view. I spent about 2 1/2 hours watching it from first light and it spent almost half of that showing well, often right in the open and sometimes alongside Water Rail or Moorhen. I managed to take some video of it which can be found on the link below.

Spotted Crake video - click here

Baird's Sandpiper at West Angle Beach, Pembs

This juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was found by Clive Hurford. It was extremely confiding, although some reports of this bird suggest it moved from the beach occasionally. During my visit it took to the air  for a short period to fly around with 2 Dunlin, but soon returned to the beach. Some video of the bird can be found by following the link at the bottom of the page.

Baird's Sandpiper video - click here

Gull-billed Tern at Penclacwydd WWT

This very nice Gull-billed Tern was found by Rob Taylor, it was roosting with a small gull flock which also contained a 1st summer Little Gull. The Gull-billed Tern spent a few days commuting between Penclacwydd and the shore south of Loughor Bridge (relocated here by Barry Stewart). Some video showing the bird at both locations can be found on the link below.

Gull-billed Tern video - click here

Cream-coloured Courser at Radnor Hill, Herefs

 The stuff dreams are made of! I read the account that describes the events surrounding the finding of this bird and although envy might describe the dominant emotion that I was feeling, it also brought great hope that one day... Anyway this bird is what legends are made of and coming away having watched it perform in front of me, sometimes at close range, left me top of the world. These pics are still frames taken from the video I took, found on the link below.

Cream-coloured Courser video - click here

Ring-billed Gull at Cardigan, Pembs

 This long staying Ring-billed Gull, now in its 3rd calendar year, was found by Richard Dobbins when it first turned up as a 1st winter bird over a year ago. The returning bird announced itself to me almost immediately, on my arrival, when it flew overhead with a decent size fish being pursued by a Herring Gull. The Herring Gull never looked close to catching it, and soon gave up with the Ring-billed Gull consuming its prize midair. All in all it was quite impressive. It's snack was to my advantage because it remained fairly stationary, and approachable, allowing me some video opportunity. The video can be found on the link at the bottom of the post.

Ring-billed Gull video - click here

Common Yellowthroat at Rhiwderin, Gwent

 A stunning Common Yellowthroat was an amazing local patch find in Gwent. I visited a couple of days after the dust had settled and the bird performed to a delighted and respectable crowd. Some video of this bird can be found following the link at the bottom of the post.

Common Yellowthroat video - click here