Well next the Sea - Harbour

 

October 20th



Our annual visit to Wells Norfolk, having arrived the previous day, we stayed for the first time at Pinewoods near Wells Wood.

I have to say that after this visit, its likely we will not stay anywhere else, Pinewoods was superb and the location close to the Beach/Harbour was perfect for walks.

With news relayed to me by my amigos, of a Desert Wheatear in the vicinity of the Lifeboat Station, dawn saw me in position at the Harbour.

As you can imagine, plenty of Geese leaving roost, skeins of distant Pink Foots, smaller numbers of Dark Bellied Brents. I kept an eye on the Geese, some arriving down the coastline overhead, and I noted some small numbers of Greater Whitefronts as a few of us searched for the Desert Wheatear. I had a look and got some photos as you do of the White Front’s and moved on looking for the Wheatear.

Going through photos later, showed a Tundra Bean Goose present in with the White Fronts!

Eventually located the Wheatear distantly on some gabion cages, before moving onto the roof of the Lifeboat Station itself, got some dodgy photos as the bird stayed distant.

I left others watching it and moved on, Red Throated Divers were present along with a single Red Breasted Merganser landing in the channel.

Also noted Red Kite and Common Buzzard going out over the sand early and against the wind, towards East Hills. I would suspect that both species were flying out checking for any overnight Geese casualties roosting on the mudflats/salting’s.

Lots of other birds present, nice to see close Bar Tailed Godwits and with the easterly wind a few birds going over, Brambling and Siskin being the pick of the bunch.

48 species recorded, another highlight was a female Merlin heading towards East Hills low over the sand at speed, possibly looking to flush a wader.

A very good morning.

 

Beckton Sewage Works - October 2026

With easterly winds I had a good look round and it paid off with 2 new birds for the year, both mega rare at the Barrier and both Red Listed.

First up was a Yellowhammer, declining fast from our countryside, this was feeding on the ground along the sea wall path with Pied Wagtails. Unfortunately it immediately flew on my appearance, straight over the fence and was then lost to view, I was unable to get a photo of it. This represents only the 2nd ever record for the Barrier for me, the last was seen on March 8th 2008!

The second record was initially 3 Lapwing sitting on the mud, another very rare bird for this part of the world, we just don't seem to get them in this area. I was able to get photos of these and remarkably as I watched them, another flew flock north, fairly low and the 3 went up and joined them. Counting them all, I arrived at exactly 20 birds.

Again an extreme rarity for the Barrier for me, only 2 previous records - January 15th 2011 and March 2nd 2018.

It pushed the year list onto 95, so only 5 now to reach the annual target.

I was also present at the right time, to see a very large super yacht called Kismet heading down river, certainly the largest yacht I have ever seen.
Quite spectacular to see it passing, looking it up after shows it is owned by a billionaire not surprisingly.

In regard to other winter species, 5 Black Tailed Godwits were present along with 4 Redshanks, both species will now increase with the approaching cold weather.

Parliament - September

I visited on Sunday 27th, not quite the sunny weather I was hoping for, but it didn't rain so can't complain.

Arriving at my usual spot, it was a little while before they showed, both arriving from the west.

Good to see that both were actively hunting, the male often disappearing for long periods hunting elsewhere, but the female hunted and stayed faithful to Parliament.
As I have mentioned before, the Elizabeth Tower is only occasionally used by the Peregrines to hunt from, however on Sunday morning it was used extensively by the female.
I would suspect with the removal of the nearby Luffer Crane at Norman Shaw, which gave them the height for hunts, they have now switched to the next tall structure, the Elizabeth Tower.

During the course of the morning, she launched 7 hunts from the Tower, all ended with failure and all targeting and intercepting Feral Pigeons. There was a fairly large flock just beyond St. Thomas's and 3 times she went for these, once the male joined her as they pair hunted the flock.

I record all birds going over Parliament, there were no other migrants going over to hunt so it seems their attention was set solely on the Feral Pigeons.

A number of Ring-Necked Parakeets also flew past, but these were ignored, they are usually the smaller male's speciality being more agile. Additionally passing Wood Pigeons were ignored, she could take one no doubt, but the heavier pigeon would be a bit of a struggle for her to carry.

I was present for nearly 4 hours, when I left for a look round the Park, she was still hunting from the Elizabeth Tower.
She could also have likely taken a Black Headed Gull given their numbers and density, fairly light and easier to carry. They do take them, but I would suspect as a last resort when hunger really starts to kick in, probably after a good number of failed hunts on Feral Pigeons.

In regard to other birds, 20 species recorded in, or over Victoria Park and the River, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker being the stand outs.

Spain Day 4

 

Friday - September 18th

Parque Fluvial

7.40 - 11.00a.m

A really good morning starting off at the usual dawn, not 1 but 2 Night Herons flying around calling in the murk, again they headed off up river.

After Tuesdays visit, I had decided to give this venue more of a bash and explore upriver, as the light increased 4 Grey Herons and 3 Little Egrets dropped in and flew upriver also, so obviously a good food source further up which I needed to explore.

Again as per the earlier visit, the Yellow Wagtail roost was further evident in the large reed bed, birds leaving in flocks probably totalled around a 100 birds.

Heading up river showed lots more good habitat and scrub, but it was impossible to get close to the river and get a clear view due to the height and density of the Spanish Cane, however I did see the 2 Night Herons again briefly.

Moving on it I saw at least 4 Spotted Flycatchers and I at last caught up with Waxbill, 6 of them seen in the reed bed, I have missed these on every visit.

Heading towards the Sea produced 2 Red Rumped Swallows en route and on the sea, 11 Cory’s Shearwaters moving westwards.



On the walk back I also caught up with a Zitting Cisticola near the main pool, before then looking up as you do and spotted a Raptor. A little high but this turned out to be a light phase juvenile Honey Buzzard, a good bird and not a phase I have come across often and see well enough, another patch tick.

43 species recorded which is the highest count I have recorded here.

To top it off I then had not 1 but 2 Monarch Butterflies, I was told that there is a colony breeding around the province of Malaga so a good result, I last saw these little beauties in New Zealand.