Steve Arlow took the Westcliffe Ring-billed Gull images above and Adam Hartley those of today's Northern Grey Shrike and Portmeadow Red Knot in Oxfordshire
FRIDAY 29 JANUARY
I had limited time today so target birding was the order. Just as well in some respects, as the northerly wind was bitingly cold. Although the temperature reached 6 degrees C, it felt more like minus 3. It was mainly dry and clear, with the odd wintry shower.
WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA (ESSEX)
Timed my visit to coincide with high tide and at midday was very pleased to see an old faithful - the adult winter RING-BILLED GULL which I now believe is back for its 11th winter. The bird was showing fabulously well, down to 20 yards on the groynes, and was in fine fettle, very easily picked out from an assortment of Common Gulls by its thicker yellow bill with strong black band, larger size and structure, paler grey mantle and striking pale, pearl-coloured eye. It also lacked the prominent white primary windows of Common Gull (being largely uniform black on the outer feathers) and had much paler leg colour.
Wembley birder John Fordham was delighted, as it was a new bird for him. I was delighted too - it representing my 156th species of 2010. However, 'Rossi' seemed relatively uninterested in my prestige Orange & Lemon Chequers but they were snapped up by the flock of 37 Turnstones on the ramp !
As usual, the bird was favouring the beach and groynes 50 yards west of the Rossi's Ice Cream Parlour and restaurant on the esplanade. Three adult MEDITERRANEAN GULLS were also present and showing well, one bird already acquiring much of its summer hood.
Just offshore, a BLACK-THROATED DIVER was showing well.
Parking on the esplanade costs 80p per hour.
Driving back, a LITTLE EGRET was standing by a small pool on the south side of the A12, just west of the M25 junction.
CHISELHAMPTON (OXFORDSHIRE)
At approximately SU 582 988, north of the B4015 and half a mile west of Chislehampton village, a NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE was favouring a line of Hawthorns and hedgerow for a second day. From 1445-1515 hours, the bird was showing well in the afternoon sunshine at 80 yards range from the road. I sat and joined Adam Hartley in the freezing wind and he both videoed and photographed the bird (see his images above). At one stage, the bird dropped down on to the ground and reappeared with a Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) in its beak, which it then carried 30 yards along the hedgerow and after several pecks, impaled it on a branch. It then started to eat it.
PORT MEADOW FLOODS, OXFORD (OXON)
My last port of call was Adam Hartley's local patch which was in full winter flood. There were large numbers of birds present, including 560 Wigeon, 220 Teal and 280 Greylag Geese, as well as 3,000 or more Black-headed Gulls, 450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and smaller numbers of Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls (28).
Most noteworthy were a single Great Crested Grebe, 3 PINTAIL (two drakes), 8 Coot, 200 Lapwing, 3 European Golden Plover, a single Common Redshank and best of all - 4 RED KNOTS (present for their second day).
Small birds were represented by 5 Meadow Pipits and 12 Pied Wagtails
I had limited time today so target birding was the order. Just as well in some respects, as the northerly wind was bitingly cold. Although the temperature reached 6 degrees C, it felt more like minus 3. It was mainly dry and clear, with the odd wintry shower.
WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA (ESSEX)
Timed my visit to coincide with high tide and at midday was very pleased to see an old faithful - the adult winter RING-BILLED GULL which I now believe is back for its 11th winter. The bird was showing fabulously well, down to 20 yards on the groynes, and was in fine fettle, very easily picked out from an assortment of Common Gulls by its thicker yellow bill with strong black band, larger size and structure, paler grey mantle and striking pale, pearl-coloured eye. It also lacked the prominent white primary windows of Common Gull (being largely uniform black on the outer feathers) and had much paler leg colour.
Wembley birder John Fordham was delighted, as it was a new bird for him. I was delighted too - it representing my 156th species of 2010. However, 'Rossi' seemed relatively uninterested in my prestige Orange & Lemon Chequers but they were snapped up by the flock of 37 Turnstones on the ramp !
As usual, the bird was favouring the beach and groynes 50 yards west of the Rossi's Ice Cream Parlour and restaurant on the esplanade. Three adult MEDITERRANEAN GULLS were also present and showing well, one bird already acquiring much of its summer hood.
Just offshore, a BLACK-THROATED DIVER was showing well.
Parking on the esplanade costs 80p per hour.
Driving back, a LITTLE EGRET was standing by a small pool on the south side of the A12, just west of the M25 junction.
CHISELHAMPTON (OXFORDSHIRE)
At approximately SU 582 988, north of the B4015 and half a mile west of Chislehampton village, a NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE was favouring a line of Hawthorns and hedgerow for a second day. From 1445-1515 hours, the bird was showing well in the afternoon sunshine at 80 yards range from the road. I sat and joined Adam Hartley in the freezing wind and he both videoed and photographed the bird (see his images above). At one stage, the bird dropped down on to the ground and reappeared with a Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) in its beak, which it then carried 30 yards along the hedgerow and after several pecks, impaled it on a branch. It then started to eat it.
PORT MEADOW FLOODS, OXFORD (OXON)
My last port of call was Adam Hartley's local patch which was in full winter flood. There were large numbers of birds present, including 560 Wigeon, 220 Teal and 280 Greylag Geese, as well as 3,000 or more Black-headed Gulls, 450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and smaller numbers of Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls (28).
Most noteworthy were a single Great Crested Grebe, 3 PINTAIL (two drakes), 8 Coot, 200 Lapwing, 3 European Golden Plover, a single Common Redshank and best of all - 4 RED KNOTS (present for their second day).
Small birds were represented by 5 Meadow Pipits and 12 Pied Wagtails
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