September 2014

21st. Brief flight views of the juvenile rose-coloured starling at Hern Lane, Barrow Gurney.

14th. Chew Valley Lake. It looks like the white-winged black tern has gone, with only 2 common terns present. Other birds included 2 hobbies, a whinchat at Heron's Green Pool, 2 green sandpipers, 2 common sandpipers, 2 black-tailed godwits, an Egyptian goose and a tame dunlin (Herriot's Pool). Photos of a juvenile sparrowhawk and the dunlin below.

10th. I nipped down to Woodford Lodge, Chew Valley Lake, after work to get distant views of the juvenile white-winged black tern there.

2nd-4th. A visit to Norfolk to catch up with a project I have running there. I took the 400mm lens and 1.4x extender. On the morning of 3rd I went to Weeting Heath where 6 stone curlew were still present. In the evening I visited Titchwell RSPB reserve and saw about 7 eider, sanderling, knot, bar-tailed godwits, grey plover, spotted redshank, about 15 curlew sandpipers and 2 little stint. In the surrounding countryside were a barn owl, and red-legged and a single grey partridge. Photographs of curlew sandpiper, avocets and ruff at Titchwell below.

On 4th I saw 2 spoonbills at Cley, and missed the rose-coloured starling at Weybourne which was last seen the previous day. One of the birds of the year was the approachable male red-backed shrike at Winterton Dunes. It was quite a walk to see it, but worthwhile. I failed to see any cranes between Horsey and Sea Palling.