15TH - 21ST JUNE 2009

On the 15th, a Spotted Flycatcher was in Maesteg and a Common Cuckoo was on Sully Island. A Eurasian Hobby was at Crymlyn Bog, Swansea, along with two Red Kites. The 16th produced a surprise late migrant in the form of a Woodchat Shrike at Rhossilli Downs, Gower. On the 17th, two Whimbrel and a Little Egret remained at Rhymney Estuary, but heavy rain washed out any chance of checking on the shrike. The 18th saw a return to better weather and the Woodchat Shrike was again at Rhossilli and 35 Manx Shearwater were off Sully Island. On the 19th, the Woodchat Shrike was again present at Rhossilli as it was again on the 20th. On the 21st, an Atlantic Puffin was among large numbers of Common Guillemot and Razorbill, Manx Shearwater and Northern Gannet at Worms Head, Gower.

17TH - 20TH JUNE 2009

Our NORFOLK 17TH – 20TH JUNE 2009 got off to a flying start as DAY ONE provided a fifteen minute long view of a stunning pair of Golden Orioles near the nest, as well as a Eurasian Hobby, Stone Curlew, Firecrest, Tree Pipit, Common Cuckoo and Grey Wagtail. DAY TWO produced superb views of Honey Buzzards, four Eurasian Spoonbill, breeding plumaged Little Stint, three adult Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Ringed Plover and Little Tern, while the evening excursion produced four European Nightjar, seven Eurasian Woodcock and a Barn Owl. DAY THREE saw the tour finish on a high with close and prolonged views of a male Montagu’s Harrier, as well as Wood Lark, Bearded Tit, Corn Bunting, Little Owl and breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank, Red Knot and Bar and Black-tailed Godwit in an excellent total of 120 species.

8TH - 14TH JUNE 2009

On the 8th, 1000 Manx Shearwater, 100 Northern Gannet and fifty Black-legged Kittiwake were off Mewslade, South Gower and a Sandwich Tern was at Wernffrwd, North Gower. The 9th saw a Eurasian Hobby in Cardiff and a Little Egret and Whimbrel at Sker Point, whilst the 10th produced two Grasshopper Warbler and a Whinchat in Maesteg and two Tree Sparrows in Monknash. On the 11th, two Sandwich Terns were off Porthcawl and a first summer Mediterranean Gull at Lamby Lake. The 12th saw a Common Cuckoo at Kenfig Pool and two Cetti’s Warblers at Cadoxton Ponds, Barry – a new bird for the site. The 13th produced a very unseasonal Ruff and Common Teal at Kenfig Rivermouth, while a Common Crossbill, two Grasshopper Warbler and four Tree Pipit were in Maesteg. On the 14th two pairs of Whinchat and a Peregrine were in Maesteg.

1ST - 7TH JUNE 2009

The 1ST JUNE produced three European Nightjar in Maesteg and seven Grey Plover, four Bar-tailed Godwit and sixteen Sanderling were on Kenfig Sands. On the 2nd, twenty six Black-tailed Godwit and a drake Eurasian Wigeon were on Kenfig Pool. On the 3rd, a European Storm Petrel was off Tusker Rock, Ogmore, a second summer Mediterranean Gull was in Cardiff Bay. On the 4th, three Honey Buzzards were in the Neath Valley and three Sandwich Terns were at Kenfig Sands, while the 5th produced a Common Quail in the Vale of Glamorgan and two Pied Flycatcher in Maesteg. Torrential rain on the 6th meant no news, while the 7th saw a Wood Warbler, three Tree Pipit and three Common Crossbill in Maesteg.

POLAND 28TH MAY - 4TH JUNE 2009

Our POLAND tour 28th MAY – 4TH JUNE 2009 was another tremendous success with 135 species recorded. DAY ONE produced Black Woodpecker, two male Golden Oriole, several Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Eurasian Hobby, Black Redstart, seven Montagu’s Harrier, three Marsh Harrier, large numbers of White Stork and a few Hawfinch en route to Bialowieza. An evening walk around the Czar’s Lake produced three Great Reed Warbler, five Common Rosefinch, Icterine Warblers, European Serin, Spotted Flycatcher and Sedge Warblers. DAY TWO produced an array of superb birds that included calling Corncrake, as well as lekking Great Snipe, Lesser Grey Shrike, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Collared Flycatcher, River, Barred, Wood and Marsh Warblers, Lesser and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Common Crane and Grasshopper Warbler. On DAY THREE, we were hampered by some poor weather in the morning, but still managed to find several Collared Flycatchers, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike and Hawfinch during the day and three Eurasian Woodcock, a showy Thrush Nightingale and a superb Pygmy Owl during our evening excursion. DAY FOUR and temperatures were a lot higher today, though the afternoon was interrupted by a whole series of thunderstorms and torrential rain. Our walk in the ancient remnant forest exceeded expectations as Three-toed, White-backed and several Middle Spotted Woodpeckers were noted, along with another first year male Red-breasted Flycatcher and Hawfinch. We also saw Red Squirrel and Red Fox. Grey-headed Woodpecker and another Thrush Nightingale were seen before the rain on the eastern side of the village and Wryneck and Red-backed Shrike were also noted. Once the rain had stopped, we went back out until dusk and added a splendid male Little Bittern at the Czar’s Lake, while displaying Green Sandpiper and Eurasian Woodcock and calling River Warblers and Corncrake rounded off another excellent day. DAY FIVE was transfer day, though a super stop at Siemianówka Reservoir added a large number of birds for the trip such as Whiskered, White-winged Black, Common and Black Terns, four White-tailed Eagles, Great White Egret, male Citrine Wagtail, Penduline Tit, Garganey, Common Hoopoe, an adult Caspian Gull, Great Grey Shrike and Turtle Dove, while more Lesser Spotted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Great Reed Warbler, Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers, Hawfinch and Black Woodpecker made for yet another superb day. DAY SIX was our first day in the marshes and despite heavy rain in the morning, we were rewarded with a very showy Aquatic Warbler, as well as several Common Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit and Marsh Harriers. Our first Savi’s Warbler was also a very showy bird, as were four European Bee-eaters and a male Syrian Woodpecker, but a Spotted Nutcracker was only seen briefly in flight. Northern Shoveler, Little Ringed Plover and Whooper Swan were also new for the tour. Other interesting species included a further three White-tailed Eagles as well as Montagu’s Harriers, Common Crane, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Green Sandpiper, Great Reed, Icterine and Marsh Warblers, Common, Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns. We also had excellent views of Elk and a Stoat carrying a Water Vole in its jaws. DAY SEVEN was our last full day and it started well with a Black Stork near the hotel, along with another Black Woodpecker and four Wood Lark However, the weather deteriorated fast and most of the day resembled early winter with menacing black clouds scudding across the sky as a freezing wind whipped torrential showers over the marshes. Incredibly, we had excellent views of White-spotted Bluethroat, male Ortolan Bunting, Penduline Tit, White-tailed Eagle, Black Terns, Great Grey Shrike and Green Sandpiper, as well as many more White Stork and Common Cranes. DAY EIGHT produced new trip birds in the form of Bullfinch and Common Treecreeper as well as another White-tailed Eagle, a pair of Great Grey Shrikes, a very showy Thrush Nightingale and another Black Stork, which rounded off a hugely enjoyable trip despite some difficult weather conditions. We return from 1st – 8th June 2010 and this tour is sure to be popular again, so please BOOK EARLY if you are interested in joining us.

NORTH EAST ENGLAND MAY 2009

The first of our two tours this year ran from 29th May - 5th June and while it was a little quiet for scarcer migrants, the weather was fantastic with hot temperatures and clear blue skies throughout. That said, a singing Marsh Warbler was still evry good bird to see and the full array of species included Roseate Tern, Barn Owl, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Black and Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Common Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, Atlantic Puffin, Red Kite, Whinchat, Tree Pipit and the amazing seabird colonies made for a memeorable tour for all concerened.

HUNGARY 16TH - 23RD MAY 2009

This was a custom tour organized for birding and agricultural interests and both proved to be very successful for the small group of participants. For the most part glorious blue skies and hot sunshine was prevelant - and to my eyes these are the right conditions to visit the vast putsza or steppe in. Great Bustard was as ever a prime target and the birds showed very well, while Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-footed Falcon, Ferruginous Duck, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Saker, Aquatic Warbler, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Caspian Gull, Grey-headed and Black Woodpeckers, Caspian and Black Terns, Barred Warbler, European Bee-eater, Wryneck, Pygmy Cormorant, Great Reed, Icterine and River Warblers, Collared Flycatcher, Long-eared Owl, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Black-crowned Night Heorn, Bluethroat, Marsh Warbler and Golden Oriole ensured that a pretty decent bird list was enjoyed too. We will return to this excellent all round destination in May 2010 when we will run the full birding tour again.

25TH - 31ST MAY 2009

The 25th saw five European Nightjar, Common Cuckoo and six Tree Pipit at Ogmore Forest, another five European Nightjar were at Llanwonno Forest and another two in Maesteg. Three more Common Cuckoo and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were at Llanilid. Both Eurasian Hobby and Honey Buzzard were seen in the Neath Valley. On the 26th, two Common Cuckoo were at Kenfig Pool and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Lower Monkton Farm. The 27th saw four European Storm Petrel, 2550 Manx Shearwater, sixteen Common Scoter, two Sandwich Tern and fifty five Northern Fulmar off Porthcawl, while the 28th produced two Garganey in Cardiff Bay. On the 29th, a Red Kite was over Porthcawl. The 30th produced a Turtle Dove at Cosmeston Lakes and a Common Greenshank at Llanilid, a Pied Flycatcher again at Coed-y-Bedw and five European Nightjar, four Tree Pipit, two Garden Warbler and two Wood Warbler at Llanwonno Forest. Four Common Cuckoo were in Maesteg on the 31st and eight Whimbrel were at Kenfig Pool.