Local and worldwide wildlife adventures. Drone cameraman to TV's Nigel Marven. Dedicated Nikon user. Follow me on Twitter @chardbirder and Instagram: www.instagram.com/chardherper/. All images on this Blog are copyright of the Owner/contributors and cannot be used without written permission. All views expressed are my own. Translation to other languages available at the end of the page.
A text from Kevin Harris yesterday afternoon, had me racing to Chard res to try and see a Great White Egret that had just been reported. As I approached the reserve wood, Dave Helliar joined me from the opposite side of the meadow and we went to take a look from the hide. Alas, it had gone. This one has been reported a couple of times recently but is proving to be elusive. We left and went our separate ways, Dave back to his car on the west side of the res and me south towards Oaklands car park. I'd only walked about 20 yards when I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler call 3-4 times from the willows that edge the footpath. I turned to call Dave but he'd already disappeared! A quick phone call later and Dave joined the search. No sooner had he walked around the back of the willows, than it hopped out in front of me and called again, BINGO!
After that it showed intermittently. Good but brief views were had by Myself, Dave Helliar, Henry Squire and Andy Grinter. Dave somehow managed to get a record shot of it too, no mean feat considering how quickly it moved:
Yellow-browed Warbler, Chard Res: Dave Helliar
I cheated and took the following video grabs:
YBW: R. Harris
YBW: R. Harris
YBW: R. Harris
YBW: R. Harris
And the (very) short video clip itself, for what it's worth - TIP: don't blink or you'll miss it:
It was still present today - very vocal at one point and showing from time to time.
While Dave was photographing Red-Backed Shrike and Red-Breasted Flycatcher and I was having an altogether more boring day, Andy Grinter was in west Wales for the day getting close to this little beauty:
Isabelline Wheatear, Pembrokeshire: A. Grinter
Isabelline Wheatear, Pembrokeshire: A. Grinter
Isabelline Wheatear, Pembrokeshire: A. Grinter
Along with a few of the Northern variety too. Andy Grinter
Red-breasted flycatcher and red-backed shrike that is. When the pair appeared within days of one another at the Bridging Camp, Wyke Regis, Dave H. couldn't resist going to see them and although they were distant, they showed well and even together at one point!
Red-backed Shrike: D. Helliar
Red-breasted Flycatcher: D. Helliar
Move in a bit! RB Shrike and RB Fly in the same picture! Dave Helliar
Quick round-up from the weekend just gone - a little ringed plover was a good find for Chard res by Dave Helliar and was still there up to yesterday evening (1st October) at least.
LRP, Chard Res: Dave Helliar
LRP, Chard Res: Dave Helliar
Dave H. and Andy G. also caught up with the Common Rosefinch in the Obs garden at Portland too and grab :
Common Rosefinch: Dave Helliar
Common Rosefinch: Dave Helliar
Common Rosefinch: Dave Helliar
For myself, no such luck. Haven't had a chance to get out birding since I got back from Canada although a family outing to Lyme Regis on Sunday afternoon presented an opportunity to take a few photos.
Dunlin, Lyme Regis: R. Harris This leggy, long-billed individual was hanging out with a curlew sand before being flushed by a CWAD! The CS flew off but this one returned. Presumably a female alpina on bill length.
Thanks again to Dave Helliar (Dave, you're having a great Autumn already!) - this very obliging Melodious Warbler graced the Bill Quarry at Portland for the last couple of days, a little beaut and some great photos!
Looks like everything kicked off as soon as I left the country! Happened last year too, no sooner had I jumped on the plane to Canada, the short-billed dowitcher turned up at Lodmoor...at least that stuck around until I got back unlike many of these lovelies - thanks to Dave H. for the photos:
Little stint, Chard Res (I did get this one) 3rd record: D. Helliar
Lesser Yellowlegs, Exeter: D. Helliar
Lesser Yellowlegs: D. Helliar
Lesser Yellowlegs: D. Helliar
Osprey: D. Helliar
Crossbill, Chard Res: D. Helliar
Grey Phalarope, Chard Res: D. Helliar Found by Kev Harris - 3rd record
Grey Phalarope: D. Helliar
Spotted Crake, Seaton: D. Helliar
I'm sure the local birders are hoping I'll go away more often!
Dave and Andy headed off to Dawlish today to try and catch up with the young red-backed shrike that was reported early this morning. They not only managed to get that but saw an osprey further up the river too:
Red-backed shrike: Dave Helliar
Red-backed shrike: Andy Grinter
Osprey: Dave Helliar
Sparrowhawk: A. Grinter
Dunlin on close approach!: D. Helliar
Wall: D. Helliar
Fuligo septica: Andy Grinter Striking colour but less than stricking English name of 'dog vomit slime mold'
A call from Dave Helliar on Friday night alerted local birders of a knot at Chard res, only the second record for the site. Very rare to see inland at any time, it is a particularly good record for Chard res LNR and a good find by Dave. The bird had gone by Saturday morning:
Beer Head has been quite busy with migrants recently and on Monday Dave Helliar noted 30+ yellow wagtails, small flocks of meadow pipits, 2 wheatear, 5 whinchat and a couple of spotted flycatchers. There were a few other things of interest too:
Whinchat: D. Helliar
Whinchat and Wheatear: D. Helliar
Common lizard, Beer Head: D. Helliar
Jersey Tiger: D. Helliar
Hummingbird Hawkmoth: D. Helliar
Volucella zonaria - a true monster at 20mm in length!
D. Helliar
I had a nice surprise today when Dave phoned to say a possible wryneck had been seen in a private garden at Chaffcombe and the couple concerned wanted someone to come and verify it. Luckily I'm in a position to down tools and dash off if required so I grabbed my gear and jumped in the car without hesitation. On arrival I was greeted by the owner of the garden, Mr David Bracher, who advised that the bird had last been seen about half-an-hour before. Photos were produced on the gentleman's pc and it was indeed a wryneck. I then noticed a short turfed paddock close to the house and went to have a look, just in case. And there it was, sunning itself in the grass. I just had time to race back, grab my video gear and get a few shots of it before it disappeared into the hedge, not to be seen again for another 5 hours. Photos to follow...
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