NORFOLK 21ST - 27TH SEPTEMBER 2008

Our NORFOLK AUTUMN MIGRATION tour from 21TH – 27TH September 2008 got off to a great start on DAY ONE with a Red-necked Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper being the highlights. Other notable species today included ten Little Stint, three Curlew Sandpipers, 100+ Ruff, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, sixteen Spotted Redshank and three Pink-footed Geese. Pied Flycatcher and Bearded Tit rounded off a brilliant day. Sea watching dominated DAY TWO with an astonishing count of 96 Great Skua seen off Sheringham. Other counts included a Leach’s Storm Petrel, two Balearic Shearwaters, seven Arctic Skuas, one Sooty Shearwater, ten Manx Shearwaters, thirteen Red-throated Divers, thirteen Black-legged Kittiwake and one Little Gull – wow! A Marsh Harrier and Spotted Flycatcher as well as more Ruff, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper were the main interest away from the sea. DAY THREE saw our group find a Radde’s Warbler at Wells Woods during a fall of common migrants that included Redwings, Goldcrests, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers and Brambling. Also present today during a fine selection of birds were a Great Grey Shrike, two Yellow-browed Warblers, five thousand Pink-footed Geese, as well as more seabirds including another Balearic Shearwater, Manx Shearwater and more Great and Arctic Skuas and Red-throated Divers. Amazingly on DAY FOUR, we found another Radde’s Warbler – this time a much more obliging bird at Burnham Overy, whilst superb views of a Lesser Grey Shrike were also much appreciated by this most fortunate of groups. Good numbers of common migrants including Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Redstart, Brambling and Song Thrushes were also noted as were Grey Plover, Marsh Harrier and Eurasian Siskin. DAY FIVE was another corker as we caught up with a cracking Blyth’s Reed Warbler at West Runton, as well as another two Yellow-browed Warblers and some welcome trip ticks in the form of Tawny Owl and Eurasian Jay, as well as more good numbers of Eurasian Siskin, Goldcrest, Song Thrush and smaller numbers of Pied Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. The final morning on DAY SIX and another good bird in the form of a Red-backed Shrike for a trio of this genus of scarce migrants for the tour. We also saw another Yellow-browed Warbler, Bearded Tit and Spotted Redshank to finish the tour on a very respectable 131 species. Why not join us for some of the UK’s best autumn birding when we will run this tour from 20th – 26th September 2009

FAIR ISLE 13TH - 20TH SEPTEMBER 2008

Our Fair Isle tour in 2008 soon became our Fair Isle and Shetland tour as bad weather meant we were delayed on the mainland for two days. A record total of 121 species was noted with many highlights. For rarity value out third Lanceolated Warbler in as many tours took star prize, but the supportng cast of a Western Bonelli's Warbler, a stunning Honey Buzzard that allowed scope filling views as it sat exhausted on a hill top, a full adult male Red Spotted Bluethroat, a Wryneck, two Yellow-browed Warblers, two Barred Warblers, a Red-backed Shrike and a brief Thrush Nightingale for one of the group were also much appreciated. Lapland Bunting, Twite, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Whooper Swan, Slavonian Grebe, Osprey, four Sooty Shearwaters, Pink-footed Geese, Wood Warbler and Short-eared Owl were also seen, while a major fall of Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat, Common Redstart, Willow Warblers, Northern Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroats and Grasshopper Warblers involving hundreds of birds was a spectacular sight. We also enjoyed amazing views of an Otter at Sumburgh Head that seemed totally oblivious to our resence until it reached approximately five metres distance and a pod of at least three Atlantic White-sided Dolphins joined us briefly onthe way home from the Good Shepherd. We are still uncertain about whether we will be able to run a tour in 2009 as the observatory is due to close for refurbishments, but if you wish to put your name forward for a provisional tour with dates to be announced early in 2009, please contact the office.

16TH - 21ST SEPTEMBER 2008

Sixteen Common Chiffchaff, fourteen Eurasian Siskin and four Water Rail were at Kenfig Pool on the 16th and a Little Gull was at Sker, while a Yellow Wagtail and Common Greenshank were at Lavernock Point. The 17th produced an Osprey at Port Talbot and two unseasonal Hawfinch at Forest Farm Cardiff and the 18th saw a Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and forty Black-tailed Godwit at Rhymney Estuary. A Merlin was at Llanrhidian Marsh on the 19th, when two Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit and a Whinchat were at Mewslade. A Common Goldeneye was an early arrival at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir and a Short-eared Owl was at Mynydd Eglwysilian. A Peregrine, Common Redstart and Whinchat were at Kenfig Pool on the 20th, while the 21st saw ten Common Teal, a Northern Shoveler and two Tree Pipit there. Two Pied Flycatcher were at Pant Norton, an Osprey was at Llanrhidian Marsh and a Black-necked Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull were in Cardiff Bay.

8TH - 15TH SEPTEMBER 2008

The 8th produced six Whinchat, a Common Redstart, a Dartford Warbler and four Common Snipe at Llanilid. A Sandwich Tern and nine Northern Wheatear were at Kenfig Rivermouth, while a nice selection of migrants at the pool included two Ruddy Duck, Garden Warbler, four Eurasian Wigeon, five Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and sixteen Common Chiffchaff, as well as a Common Nuthatch – the first on the reserve for four years. Two Red-billed Chough were at Locks Common, Porthcawl and two Spotted Flycatcher were at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. A Eurasian Hobby, three Tree Pipit, 1600 Barn Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, two Spotted Flycatcher and two Lesser Redpoll were at Lavernock Point. Another Wryneck was at Pant Norton, Ogmore Estuary, along with another two Spotted Flycatchers. On the 9th, yet another Wryneck was present this time at Kenfig Pool, where there were also two Garden Warbler and a Ruddy Duck. Two Spotted Flycatcher and a Yellow Wagtail were at Pant Norton and six Black Terns, fifteen Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns were off Porthcawl. Two Red-billed Chough were again at Locks, Common, Porthcawl and a Common Tern was at Rhymney Estuary. Two Spotted Flycatcher and two Lesser Whitethroat were at Lavernock Point. The 10th produced yet another Wryneck, this time at Cosmeston Lakes. A female/immature Merlin was at Sker Farm, a Manx Shearwater was offshore there and a Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroat were at Kenfig Pool, as well as a Ruddy Duck again on the pool. A Common Redstart and two Tree Pipit were in Maesteg and a Yellow Wagtail and 300 Barn Swallow were at Lavernock Point. A Eurasian Hobby and Spotted Flycatcher were at Rhymney Estuary. On the 11th, a Grey Phalarope was at Kenfig Pool, two Whinchat were in Tondu and a Common Redstart was in a Cardiff garden. On the 12th, a Black Tern was at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. The 13th produced Wrynecks at Pant Norton and Cosmeston Lakes and a Common Greenshank was at Kenfig Pool. The reserve was busy with a Black Tern, Merlin, two Whinchat, eighteen Common Buzzard, a Little Egret, 54 Eurasian Siskin, a Mediterranean Gull and a Spotted Flycatcher. On the 14th, a Red-billed Chough was at Sker, along with a Yellow Wagtail and twenty Eurasian Siskin and twenty Common Chiffchaff were at Kenfig Pool. The 15th produced 63 Red Knot and 650 Common Redshank at Rhymney Estuary, three Yellow Wagtail, a Common Swift, two Common Crossbill and a remarkable 8000 Barn Swallows per hour at Lavernock Point.

EAST YORKSHIRE 6TH - 11TH SEPTEMBER 2008

OUR first tour to EAST YORKSHIRE in autumn 6TH – 11TH SEPTEMBER 2008 produced some quality migrants and got off to a flying start at Spurn with a Shore Lark and a Long-tailed Skua on the first day, as well as a Great Skua, four Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver, sixteen Common Scoter, two Common Redstart, two Eurasian Hobby, seven Whinchat, two Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat, as well as many more common migrants. DAY TWO saw Barn and Tawny Owls, Icterine Warbler, four Sooty Shearwater, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers and Common Redstarts again. DAY THREE was wet and windy, though Mediterranean Gull, four Ruff, Bar-tailed Godwit, two Barn Owls, 300 European Golden Plover, seven Little Egret, Corn Bunting and a Little Gull was still a pretty good haul. DAY FOUR produced a Black-necked Grebe at Tophill Low, as well as good numbers of common migrants, and fifteen Little Gulls, seven Common Eider, eight Common Scoter, thirty Ruddy Duck, Northern Pintail, Red-throated Diver, three Common Sandpiper, Common Swift, Grey Partridge and a Little Owl. The morning of DAY FIVE saw more Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat and other common migrants as well as the first Common Greenshank in a fantastic trip total of 129 species.

1ST - 7TH SEPTEMBER 2008

September began with the Osprey present again at Wernffrwd, where there were also three Black Terns, thirty Red Knot and a breeding plumaged Grey Plover. Fifteen Mediterranean Gulls and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Blackpill, a Common Tern was at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir and a Spotted Flycatcher and two Black Terns were at Kenfig NNR. A further four Black Terns, five Northern Fulmar and two Northern Gannets were off Porthcawl. A Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Hobby and a Yellow Wagtail were at Llanilid. A Green Sandpiper and Spotted Flycatcher were at Lavernock Point. Another busy and windy day on the 2nd saw four Black Terns, an Arctic Tern and a Little Tern at Sker, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, Black Tern, three Little Terns, 69 Sandwich Terns, eight Common Eider and two Grey Phalarope at Wernffrwd and another Grey Phalarope at Ogmore Estuary. On the 3rd, three, possibly four Grey Phalarope were at Wernffrwd and three Little Terns were at Loughor Bridge, while three Grey Phalarope were at Ogmore Estuary and another was on Kenfig Pool. At Port Eynon, two Arctic Skuas, sixty Sandwich Terns, fifteen Common Terns, two Arctic Terns and six European Storm Petrel passed east. On the 4th, more sea watching produced four Grey Phalarope at Porthcawl Seafront, along with two European Storm Petrel, an adult Mediterranean Gull and four Common Scoter. A Yellow-legged Gull and Green Sandpiper were in Cardiff Bay and another three Grey Phalarope were at Ogmore Rivermouth and another remained at Kenfig Pool. A Tree Pipit was at Lavernock Point. A female Pied Flycatcher and a Grasshopper Warbler were the highlights of another very wet day at Kenfig Pool on the 5th, while a Black Tern was at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. An adult Little Gull and 300 House Martins were in Cardiff Bay and a Wryneck was at Locks Common, Porthcawl. On the 6th, a Whinchat and a Common Tern were at Kenfig Sands, while a Lesser Whitethroat and two Black-tailed Godwit were at the pool. Three adult Mediterranean Gull were at Locks Common, Porthcawl, where the Wryneck was also still present. On the 7th, three Common Terns and a Peregrine were at Kenfig Sands and the Wryneck was again at Porthcawl. Three Whinchat were at Lan Farm and four Grey Partridge and three Yellowhammer were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm.

SOUTH WALES CUSTOM TOUR

A South Wales custom tour on the 1st and 2nd Spetember 2008 produced some excellent birding despite some difficult conditions. At least ten Black Terns were noted , along with a Little Tern, Arctic Tern and Common Tern and an Osprey and a Peregrine were watched hunting over the estuary at Wernffrwd. Three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were a surprise and a mimimum of sixteen Mediterranean Gulls included birds in all plumages.
A Grey Phalarope was a bonus find at Ogmore Estuary and we also saw Goosander, Northern Gannet, Northern Fulmar, Red Knot and a breeding plumaged Grey Plover. Passerine migrants were in short supply in the windy conditions, so we were happy with Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler.