Welcome to the 220 for 2022 – September update. It’s been quite a ride this month, with a slow start gradually gaining momentum to take us to a grand finale where some wonderful and exotic birds were seen. These autumn months are where the quest will prosper or falter. Gone now the threadbare summer months, to be replaced by a flurry of seasonal movements which can see birds from all over the Northern Hemisphere find their way to our shores. One only has to position oneself in, (hopefully), the right place at, (hopefully), the right time to reap the bounty. With that adage in our minds, we can unravel the tale of what has proven to be a month to savour.
10th September 2022 – a trip to London, ostensibly to watch the cricket, but actually to just meet with sport loving friends due to the test being cancelled on this day as a mark of respect to the passing of our wonderful queen. Having already paid for travel and accommodation (neither of which would be refunded), we all decided to simply meet up and enjoy one another’s company in the capital. It was whilst enjoying a mid-morning coffee at Greenwich that I realised we were surrounded by the raucous screeching of several Ring-necked Parakeets. Birding, and the year list was the last thing on my mind, but this was a new bird and couldn’t be ignored, so it entered the chart at number 210 for the year. I saw several other noisy members of this tribe in Battersea Park the following day, where they really have become the most noticeable member of the local avifauna.
13th September 2022 – time for another sea watch at Cley with Allan. As always, that’s primarily what we did – watch the sea. However, after a little while we both independently noticed a rather dainty, bouyant skua flying past us quite close to shore. The first thing that entered my mind was Long-tailed Skua (211), and pretty much as soon as I’d processed this, my companion voiced the same opinion. This dark phase bird tracked back on itself, its attention no doubt taken by some floating morsel, when we were able to appreciate its graceful lines, rather long, tapering rear end and lack of appreciable white flashes in the wings. To confirm its identity, a pair of larger, more robust Arctic Skuas entered the scene, providing a useful direct comparison of size, shape etc. My first confirmed LT Skua – brilliant.
Later at Kelling, we tried to locate the Barred Warbler that has been showing on and off for a couple of days. We hung around for an hour or so scanning the hawthorns and brambles, but could only find Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Stonechats. No Barred Warbler for us, or the other assembled birders, and in fact it was never heard of again. Moved on, flown to pastures new, predated, who knows? Compensation was provided by it being a lovely early autumn day with lots of insects to admire, none more welcome than a couple of wall brown butterflies which seem to be experiencing something of a resurgence this year.
14th September 2022 – ‘Here we go chaps’ I said as the raptor glided across my field of view, its white rump showing up nicely in the mellow light of another fine day. Elizabeth and I had been waiting patiently with an assembled group of eager birders on a slight rise in the main approach to Holkham beach, scanning the marshes for a sign of this rather special bird, a juvenile Pallid Harrier (212), that should have been winging its way from Asia to Africa, but had decided to give Norfolk a visit for a few days. Quite pleased to have latched onto the bird first, we were able to watch it distantly for several minutes as it hunted low over the rough grasslands and reedbeds before doubling back towards Wells and becoming lost from view. It displayed a rich rufous body, very dark upperparts with a lighter brown panel in the wings. Shame we couldn’t get a closer view, but there was no mistaking its identity. We hung around for a while hoping for a reappearance and perhaps a nice close-up pose for our cameras, but the bird was playing very hard to get. In fact, it disappeared shortly after, never to trouble Norfolk and its telescope encumbered birding fraternity again. All in all, we felt rather fortunate to have seen it.
Onwards then to Warham where, after a short walk along the track to the saltings, Elizabeth spotted the Hooded Crow (213) sitting in a pig field. We were very pleased to have come across this one so easily and were able to watch it feeding and flying around until something spooked it, whereupon it flew away from us and was lost to view.
20th September 2022 – there has been a young Red-footed Falcon cruising around eastern Norfolk for a week or two, spending its time hawking dragonflies between Winterton and Hickling. It appears off and on, but then seems to leave the birding radar screens for a few days before suddenly reappearing. Yesterday it was seen at Hickling when some superb photographs were obtained at close quarters, an opportunity I considered too good to miss. However, when I visited today there was no sign of the phantom falcon, all I could find were a couple of Hobbies zipping over the reed beds, momentarily giving cause for hope, but ultimately resulting in deflation, a sacrilegious feeling because Hobbies are lovely. This was the third time I’d tried and failed to see this bird, and getting a bit fed up, I resolved to go home and feel sorry for myself. That all changed when I had a quick look at the Rare Bird Alert app which contained temptation in the form of a Grey Phalarope inhabiting a small coastal pool at Salthouse. What to do? My conscience counselled against a long drive north because I’d kind of ethically resolved not to get into this twitching lark too much. Who am I kidding that’s all I’ve been doing since January! Off I went. An hour later there I was watching a lovely Grey Phalarope (214) frantically feeding on small insects amongst the usual ducks and gulls that reside on these marshland pools. Lovely bird, providing super views, and I’m glad I really have no scruples and threw my fragile resolve to the wind.
23rd September 2022 – having spent the night in Salisbury, we were in position early at a village on the edge of Salisbury Plain awaiting a rendezvous with a representative of the Great Bustard Group. This enterprise has successfully reintroduced these magnificent birds to Wiltshire, and for a modest sum you transfer to a 4 x4 to be escorted along little used, narrow farm tracks to search for the impressive birds. On this day, with billowing clouds scudding swiftly across the vast open skies of the downland, our luck was in. We had travelled no more than half a mile when we came across a drove of 20 Great Bustards (215) feeding in a field on our right. Our driver was surprised at how near and confiding these majestic creatures were, he exclaimed he had never seen them so close. We were indeed fortunate. This group comprised a pair of males who were strutting around on their own, and a larger group of females and young that were grouped together a couple of hundred yards away. When the sun swept across the rolling hills and illuminated the birds, their full beauty could be appreciated; spangled deep rusts, interspersed with subtle greys, deep black and white.
The birds were no longer in their spring finery but were nonetheless most impressive. As we sat quietly watching, we were quite taken with how the whole group could almost disappear when they frequently decided to sit down en masse, they simply blended into the grasses leaving only their grey necks on view. At this time, it would almost have been possible to drive past them without notice, such was the effectiveness of their camouflage. A rare privilege, leaving us with no hesitation in becoming members of this worthy charity, in no small part due to our very friendly and knowledgeable guide. If you find yourself in the environs of Wiltshire, like birds, wildlife in general and impressive landscapes, I would urge you to book a tour. Details of the project together with a wealth of historic information can be found here.
There was much other wildlife on view: Buzzards, Red Kites, Wheatears and a Hobby together with this lovely female Kestrel that, unlike any I’ve tried to photograph from my car in Norfolk, allowed close approach.
24th September 2022 – The following day found us on the slopes of the RSPB reserve at Labrador Bay in Devon. Here, in wonderful warmth and sunshine, we walked around hoping to find a Cirl Bunting. Our convoluted drive from our overnight accommodation, courtesy of the Satnav, was a bit hairy with lots of snaking around very narrow country lanes hardly wide enough for a pair of horses to pass (and we encountered several of those), let alone cars. I half expected Uncle Tom Cobbleigh an’ all to appear round a bend, but thankfully the aforementioned equines were all we had to negotiate. Once we actually found the reserve, the views across the Bay from our clifftop vantage point were quite stunning, with sparkling waters forming the playground for sailing craft and vessels of all kinds.
We looked for dolphins, but were disappointed, but did see a couple of clouded yellow butterflies, which in my eyes is just as good. But no buntings, that is until we took a return route along a narrow pathway bordered by tall hedges quite close to the car park. Here we came across a party of small birds that frustratingly flew quickly between the tall grasses of a field edge and into thick cover. It took a while, but eventually we got one of these in good view as it sunned itself in the hedge. Cirl Bunting (216), my first for the UK and a most welcome tick.
We had a long drive ahead of us to Land’s End, but with the lure of a rather exotic bird, made our way to a small village on the edge of Dartmoor named Bere Ferrers. Here, after a little waiting we were treated to the unusual sight of a European Roller (217) hunting around the area of a small churchyard. What a colourful character this one turned out to be, so out of place in an English village which probably hadn’t seen so many people visit in its history. The bird liked perching in full view on overhead cables and prominent posts, so was very easy to see. We had our fill and then retired to the local 16th century pub for a bowl of chips and celebratory pint. The Roller disappeared the next day and was never seen again!
A post chip stroll down to the harbour brought us into contact with a lovely gentleman and his grandson who had caught the birding bug and was on the lookout for an Osprey. I’d seen one as we approached and pointed it out, whereupon we watched the bird and chatted for a spell. The Osprey was joined by another of its kind and the pair wheeled around against a dramatic backdrop of dark, sun highlighted cloud until we really had to depart for the long drive southwest.
25th – 28th September 2022 – the catalyst for this journey to the Land’s End peninsular stems from a comment made by Denise a few weeks ago that she would like to see a Cornish Chough. Well, it just so happens that I was all too willing to aid this noble aspiration, having never seen a Chough in England myself. I admit my motives were not just Chough led, or for that matter cream tea and scrumpy oriented; the close proximity of excellent sea watching headlands also played a part in my thinking. But more of that shortly.
Our first port of call was Sennen Cove, a diversion engendered by us not willing to pay the hefty car park charge for Land’s End itself. I don’t object to car parking fees, but it’s not as though they have to paint the cliffs and tidy them up. Just a tourist rip-off in my opinion. Anyway, as we were sipping coffee overlooking the rather splendid sweep of beach, a ‘Ker-chow’ call reached our ears, similar to, but higher pitched than, the numerous Jackdaws whizzing around. A few seconds later a pair of Choughs (218) floated past and proceeded to fly around the lifeboat station and perch on handrails etc. After the local Collared Dove chased them off, they seemed to land behind a row of houses close to the beach. There, sure enough, they had retired, perched as bold as brass atop a garden bench a few feet from a set of patio doors from which, if you were resident, you would have been able to tickle their chins. Quite an impressive garden bird. Another pair of birds joined them, and it seemed they were awaiting feeding. This rather imploded my romantic vision of how we would find these birds; playfully riding the air currents of some remote rocky cove necessitating a lengthy walk. Instead, here we were just a few metres from the car park watching them patiently awaiting handouts from the locals. Doesn’t matter, they are still ace birds, and represent a real success story of recolonisation. Long may they prosper.
During the course of our short break at the south-western tip of the country we experienced strong north-westerly winds and accompanying squalls and chill. During every mid-morning period, a short drive took us to Pendeen, where from the cliff top some remarkable bird movements could be observed. Thousands of Gannets and auks streamed past the headland, having been blown along the Bristol Channel and now funnelling back out into the Atlantic. Amongst them were good numbers of Kittiwakes, and for those few hardy observers hunkered down against the wall of the lighthouse, a good passage of various shearwater species. I restricted myself to observations from the car, where eventually I managed to see singles of both Cory’s Shearwater (219) and Balearic Shearwater (220). Whoa, hang on! 220? Isn’t that the target for this little soiree? Yes indeed, and we celebrated in style with a packet of the very finest mini cheddars and a cup of milk less tea. No pics of the last pair of species I’m afraid, they were just specks in the scope – albeit important ones.
The birding part of the trip ended with some confiding Rock Pipits back at Sennen Cove, and a party of over 30 Choughs being blown around the cliffs at Pendeen. Quite a week.
Well, that was a blast. I never expected to reach the target with 3 months to spare.
As expected, Tim and Darren have continued to add to their tally, with both at the 200 point (or as near as dammit). You can read about Darren’s monthly birding here. He really has excelled with his local patch, being way ahead of anyone else and putting himself into a pretty much unassailable lead.
Sean has got some good birds during September, and as always you can immerse yourself in his adventures by clicking here. Elizabeth and Ros have struggled to add much to their tally, but then they aren’t as stupid as the likes of me and have a life to lead. I’m sure they will add some goodies over the remainder of the term. And that leaves young Allan who finds himself prised off the bottom of the table and looking enviably at the places above him where the air is thin. Expect him to rise through the ranks before too long now he has fewer work commitments and more time on his hands.
What now that the target has been reached? Set a new one I suppose. Is 240 doable? Is 250 remotely possible? Does anybody care? Just keep plodding on and see what happens I think. There’s still loads of lovely birds to see, and whilst the madness is on us all we may as well embrace it. Watch this space.
For other articles in this series click here.
Participant | Overall Score | 5K Challenge | Garden List |
Barry Madden | 220 | 76 | 32 |
Tim Oxborough | 200 | 63 | |
Darren Archer | 199 | 115 | 51 |
Sean Locke | 166 | ||
Elizabeth Dack | 155 | ||
Allan Archer | 153 | ||
Ros Burrough | 148 | 66 | 43 |
Excellent blog as always. Loved seeing the photos. Your new camera seems to be giving you great results considering the light hasn’t always been on our side.
I am surprised I have reached 155 as I don’t travel far and don’t consider myself much of a birder! I have probably seen more but don’t know what they are especially when it comes to Gulls and Waders.
Thanks – new set up is pretty good, I’m pleased with it. 155 is a very good tally and there’s still nearly 3 months left. Forwards to the 200!!
Stunning Roller pics
and a great record of the way the year has been so far.
Hard to catch the top two but I can still be competitive for the 3rd and 4th place play off.
Thanks. I still think it’s wide open and you have a good chance. A few tasty autumnal strays and you’re back in the mix. In any event it will be an interesting 3 months and adds a bit of spice to the years birding.