Microbirdology

We stopped off at WWT Slimbridge, on the way there, and on the way back, to look for the White Spotted Bluethroat.  My wife saw it briefly, but I missed it completely. I also went twice for the Woodchat Shrike at Dawlish and failed again. So, on the whole, it was not the most successful few days! Luckily, the D artford Warblers were showing at Aylesbeare, with juveniles in evidence. Cirl Bunting at RSPB Labrador Bay There were still some Pied Flycatchers in Yarner Wood on Dartmoor A few random shots from south Devon.

Skomer Island, located off the southwestern coast of Wales in Pembrokeshire, has a rich and varied history. Archaeological evidence suggests human activity dating back to the Iron Age, with remnants of ancient field systems, stone walls, and hut circles still visible today. In later centuries, the island was used for farming, particularly during the medieval and post-medieval periods. By the mid-20th century, human habitation ceased, and Skomer was designated a nature reserve in 1959. It is now celebrated for its seabird colonies, especially puffins and Manx shearwaters, and is managed for conservation and scientific research, attracting visitors and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world. We visited in late May and there an estimated 43,000 Puffins on the island.  Most chicks were not hatched but there was plenty of activity, with birds leaving and arriving back on the island.

The usual trip down to Seaton.  On the way down we tried for a Purple Heron at Shapwick, next to Ham Wall.  No luck but we did get a cameo appearance by a Bittern , a first for the year. The big surprise was the Black-winged Stilt that stayed on the Black hole Marsh for multiple days.  Originally there was a male and female. Both flew off on the 8th but the female returned on the 10th May.  The Black-winged Stilt ( Himantopus himantopus ) is a striking wading bird with long pink legs, a slender black bill, and contrasting black-and-white plumage. It is a rare breeder in the UK, but sightings have become more frequent in recent years, especially in southern England, likely due to climate change and habitat creation in wetlands and nature reserves. Black-winged Stilts are migratory and typically do not remain in the UK for winter. Instead, they migrate south to warmer regions. Most European birds spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa, although some may also overwinter...

Red-footed Falcons at Carlton Marshes, Suffolk Red-footed Falcons are rare visitors to the UK, typically seen during spring and autumn migration. These small, graceful birds of prey breed in Eastern Europe and winter in Africa. In the UK, sightings are sporadic, usually along the east and southeast coasts, and most often involve young birds or males. This year there seems to have been quite a few reports, including Ouse Fen - very distant birds and Carlton Marshes - where five birds were roosting in plain sight.  Sadly on the day I visited, it was cold, windy and dark - so there was almost no flying. Revisiting the Stone Curlew at Weeting Heath, Norfolk The Stone-curlew is a rare, ground-nesting bird found in the UK, mainly in dry, open habitats like chalk grasslands and arable farmland in southern England, particularly in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Wiltshire. It is a summer migrant, typically arriving in March and leaving by October. During winter, Stone-curlews migrate to southern S...