Microbirdology

There have been a couple of fleeting sightings of Osprey on the Axe this Spring. Let's hope that is prelude to a few birds staying longer in the Autumn to feed up for the migration.  Of note, for me, was the Hoopoe at Waggs Plot, just north of Axminster.    The Hoopoe is one of the most exotic-looking birds to grace British soil. In the UK, the Hoopoe is technically classified as a scarce passage migrant. It does not have a permanent resident population in the UK. Instead, most sightings occur when birds migrating from Africa to mainland Europe "overshoot" their destination and land on the British coast. On average, approximately 100 birds are recorded in the UK each year. Cirl Bunting at Stantyway Farm.  The Cirl Bunting is one of the UK’s most celebrated conservation success stories. A close relative of the yellowhammer, this small, sparrow-sized bird is distinguished by its striking facial markings—the males sporting a bold black chin and eye-stripe set agai...

Not the best of weather, but what would you expect in the UK at the end of March!  It felt like the winter visitors had more or less left but the summer migrants had not yet arrived in numbers. Partly due to the timing but also the cold winds in the UK and storms on the continent holding them back. Egrets and Heron, mostly at Cley The usual suspects on the excellent feeders at Sculthorpe Moor A number of raptors, incuding the almost mythical Little Owl at Abbey Farm . A poor picture because of the distance and shooting directly into the sun. Note to self, visit in the afternoon!  The Barn Owl was hunting on the fields near St Benets Abbey. Treecreeper at RSPB Titchwell Goldcrest at Holme , Dunnock at Sculthorpe , Water Rail at Cley and Missel Thrush at Sandringham And finally, a Common Crane at Old Beetley.

Catching up with a few birds seen relatively recently. The Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham has been a long-staying, very confiding bird.   This is a asian subspecies group of the Black Redstart that occasionally appears in the UK as a vagrant.   There have been fewer than 25 accepted records in British history, mostly along the eastern and southern coasts. In its native range (Central and Eastern Asia, including the Altai Mountains and Himalayas). It breeds between 2,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level. They normally migrate south to India or northern Africa for the winter. The Red-flanked Bluetail near Dereham. This is a small, robin-like bird that has transitioned from a legendary "mega-rarity" to a scarce but annual visitor to the UK. While most sightings occur on the East Coast during autumn migration, it is increasingly found wintering in the UK. There is also an individual that has been wintering at Crockham Hill Common in Kent. The species breeds across a...

Until very recently, the Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) was considered a "mythical" bird for UK birdwatchers. However, this may now be changing, possibly due to climate change and a northward expansion from its traditional homes in Africa and Southern Europe. The Black-winged Kite is a small, strikingly beautiful raptor that looks more like a cross between a falcon and an owl than a typical kite. Plumage: It has a distinctive blue-grey back, a pure white underside, and prominent black "shoulders" (wing patches). Eyes: It is famous for its piercing blood-red eyes, which are forward-facing, giving it an owl-like appearance. Hunting: Unlike the scavenging Red Kite, the Black-winged Kite is a specialist hunter of small mammals. It is most often seen hovering with high-frequency wing beats, similar to a Kestrel, before dropping vertically onto prey. Date Location Significance April 2023 Montgomeryshire...