Author Archives: pnbrown13blog

** MEGA ** Hudsonian Whimbrel

by in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

23/10/2015 I had the afternoon off work to go to Pagham Harbour to see the Hudsonian Whimbrel that was found there the day before. I arrived there about 2 pm and was told the bird had flown across the harbour five minutes before. After a long wait I decided to go to Selsey to get something to eat. I got some chicken and chips and parked overlooking the sea. A soon as I started to eat I thought I had better check my pager in case there was any news, it had just been seen again at 7.40pm, so I immediately drove back and managed to see it in flight almost as soon as I arrived back on site. It was seen flying around harrassed by a gull and then rather distantly feeding on an island in the middle of the harbour. Then it was back to the car for some cold chicken and the journey home. Unfortunately I did not manage to get any pictures of the bird but here are some pictures of the harbour and the sea from the shingle ridge.

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Blacktoft Sands RSPB

by in Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Montagu's Harrier, Tree Sparrow | Leave a comment

Stopped off at Blacktoft Sands on the way to York to see Danny. The star birds here at the moment are a pair of Montagu’s Harrier which I was hoping to see. After a wait of about an hour and a quarter I spotted the pair over the reedbed although quite distant. They stayed on view for 10 minutes or more. The male was seen to mob a Marsh Harrier on a number of occasions. There were a lot of Marsh Harriers and Tree Sparrows around the reserve.

Montagu’s Harrier

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Fox

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Tree Sparrow

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New Forest

by in Goshawk, New Forest, Wood Warbler | Leave a comment

A day out in the New Forest yesterday.  I had hoped to see a Honey Buzzard but when I arrived at Acres Down the two people there had seen one displaying and overhead about 10 minutes before my arrival at 9am. There were frequent sightings of Goshawk during the next 3 hours but no further sign of any Honey Buzzard. I did manage to see a couple of Wood Warblers and a few Dartford Warblers at other sites.

Wood Warbler

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A very rubbish, distant and heavily cropped shot of a Goshawk.

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Nightingale

by in Cetti's Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Nightingale | Leave a comment

Little Paxton Gravel Pits is one of the best place to see Nightingales. They can be easy to hear but a lot harder to see. It took a while but eventually one came out in the open for a few seconds. Another difficult bird to see but easy to hear is Cetti’s Warbler. Here is a rather poor picture of one from today at Marston Vale Country Park. I also managed a few shots of Common Whitethroat here.

Nightingale

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Cetti’s Warbler

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Common Whitethroat

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**MEGA** Hudsonian Godwit

by in Great White Egret, Hudsonian Godwit | Leave a comment

A Hudsonian Godwit was found at Shapwick Heath NR last Saturday whilst I was at Southend for the football. I was going to see it the next day but it was not reported that day or for the next few days. It was however seen again a few days later. I decide to go for it early Saturday morning and was hoping to get back in time for Luton’s last game off the season. Left at 3.30am Saturday morning arriving at Shapwick Heath just after 6.30 am. Luckily the bird was present when I arrived. I also managed to see Great White Egret, Bittern, Cetti’s Warbler, Garganey and Kingfisher. I was back in time to be down the pub by 12.30 and Luton beat Stevenage 2-0. Here are a few poor record shots of the bird, it was nearly always quite distant in dull conditions.

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Great White Egret

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