Last week several low pressure systems moved quickly across the North Atlantic and struck the UK, bringing with them rain and strong winds. It meant a change to the calm, warm conditions we have been experiencing through most of September, to something a bit more autumnal. This provided the recipe for a good weekend's birding.
First thing on Saturday morning Meadow Pipits were streaming over, which is always a good sign of classic autumn passage conditions. I wished I had the foresight to have been out counting the Mipit movement, as there may well have been a new garden record judging by other counts across the country. The plan for Saturday had been to head for the flooded fields at Barway to look for passage waders and then carry on to the Ouse Washes where up to 2 Pallid Harriers had been recently frequenting. However, when reports came in from Grafham Water, firstly of a Grey Pharalope and of a Manx Shearwater shortly after, it signaled a change of plan.
We got to Marlow car park at Grafham in good time and made our way down to the shoreline where a small crowd had gathered to watch the displaced seabirds (found by Mark Hawkes). We were soon onto the Grey Pharalope, which was making several short flights before settling down on the water. Whilst it was sat on the water it was quite tough to pick out due to its small size and its grey plumage being a very similar colour to the surrounding water. Panning further across the water and we were quickly onto our second seabird of the morning - a Manx Shearwater. It was distant, but due to its larger size and contrasting black and white plumage, it could be easily fixed upon. At times the Shearwater drifted closer and good views could be had as it sat on the water. After a while it took flight with trademark stiff wings and drifted over the water away from us.
The rest of Saturday was largely written off as bands of rain made birding quite unpleasant. However, late in the day a text from Brendan Doe saying he had found a Pectoral Sandpiper meant we had to make a quick dash to the nearby Longstanton drainage lagoon. Unfortunately when we were only 5 minutes away from the site Brendan rang to explain the bird had disappeared. On arrival our first few pans across the lagoon were fruitless, with only the 2 Dunlin that were previously accompany the Pec Sand on show. I persisted searching and as I panned across the weedy southern edge of the lagoon thankfully the Pec Sand showed itself again. A top find by Brendan!
Overnight the weather calmed slightly, suggesting there could be good conditions for nocturnal migration. At 04:45 I was woken by the sound of noisy geese flying over. We regularly get Canada Geese in this part of Cambridge, but these were definitely not ‘honking’ sounds nor did they sound like Greylag. I was still half asleep but to me these sounded like Pink-feet. Checking my sound recorder later that morning and sure enough the calls were there and they were indeed Pink-footed Geese – a new garden bird. These weren’t the only highlights of the recording, as a group of Sandwich Terns had also flown over earlier in night.
First thing on Saturday morning Meadow Pipits were streaming over, which is always a good sign of classic autumn passage conditions. I wished I had the foresight to have been out counting the Mipit movement, as there may well have been a new garden record judging by other counts across the country. The plan for Saturday had been to head for the flooded fields at Barway to look for passage waders and then carry on to the Ouse Washes where up to 2 Pallid Harriers had been recently frequenting. However, when reports came in from Grafham Water, firstly of a Grey Pharalope and of a Manx Shearwater shortly after, it signaled a change of plan.
We got to Marlow car park at Grafham in good time and made our way down to the shoreline where a small crowd had gathered to watch the displaced seabirds (found by Mark Hawkes). We were soon onto the Grey Pharalope, which was making several short flights before settling down on the water. Whilst it was sat on the water it was quite tough to pick out due to its small size and its grey plumage being a very similar colour to the surrounding water. Panning further across the water and we were quickly onto our second seabird of the morning - a Manx Shearwater. It was distant, but due to its larger size and contrasting black and white plumage, it could be easily fixed upon. At times the Shearwater drifted closer and good views could be had as it sat on the water. After a while it took flight with trademark stiff wings and drifted over the water away from us.
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| Manx Shearwater - Grafham Water |
The rest of Saturday was largely written off as bands of rain made birding quite unpleasant. However, late in the day a text from Brendan Doe saying he had found a Pectoral Sandpiper meant we had to make a quick dash to the nearby Longstanton drainage lagoon. Unfortunately when we were only 5 minutes away from the site Brendan rang to explain the bird had disappeared. On arrival our first few pans across the lagoon were fruitless, with only the 2 Dunlin that were previously accompany the Pec Sand on show. I persisted searching and as I panned across the weedy southern edge of the lagoon thankfully the Pec Sand showed itself again. A top find by Brendan!
Overnight the weather calmed slightly, suggesting there could be good conditions for nocturnal migration. At 04:45 I was woken by the sound of noisy geese flying over. We regularly get Canada Geese in this part of Cambridge, but these were definitely not ‘honking’ sounds nor did they sound like Greylag. I was still half asleep but to me these sounded like Pink-feet. Checking my sound recorder later that morning and sure enough the calls were there and they were indeed Pink-footed Geese – a new garden bird. These weren’t the only highlights of the recording, as a group of Sandwich Terns had also flown over earlier in night.
With signs of overnight movement and early morning rain we thought we’d make a quick visit to the Research Park on the off chance that something had been grounded there. It was my turn to walk the dog, so as I headed off in the rain Dad got to sit in a nice dry hide. I had made it almost halfway around the nearby field when Dad rang to say they were 3 Whooper Swans on the lake. These were unlikely to fly off in the rain, and sure enough were still there when I got back to the hide. This is only my second record of Whoopers at the Research Park and the earliest birds I have ever seen locally.
As Sunday progressed the winds strengthened and moved around to a north-westerly direction – ideal sea-watching conditions. Luckily I was offered the chance to accompany Simon Gillings to do just that at Sheringham for the afternoon. We arrived at the eastern shelters around 14.00 and it was soon apparent there were plenty of sea birds on the move. Manx Shearwaters were passing in very good numbers, signalling we were likely going to have a good session. At about 15.30 Simon picked up a small very pale Skua flying west. It took me a while to get onto it, but luckily I managed to find it as it passed the nearest wind turbine. Its small size, very pale back and wings and general cold feel led us both to agree that it was a Long-tailed Skua - a new bird for me! A little later I spotted 2 Manx Shearwaters passing at close to mid range. With them was a bird flying much closer to the water and it clearly had a white rump! It was a Leach’s Petrel – a tough bird to see in Norfolk! Unfortunately I couldn’t get Simon onto it as it flew past quickly and very low to the towering waves (it was not on show most of the time). All in all it turned out to be a terrific sea-watch; certainly the best I have ever experienced. Below are our afternoon totals:
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| Whooper Swan - Cambridge Research Park |
As Sunday progressed the winds strengthened and moved around to a north-westerly direction – ideal sea-watching conditions. Luckily I was offered the chance to accompany Simon Gillings to do just that at Sheringham for the afternoon. We arrived at the eastern shelters around 14.00 and it was soon apparent there were plenty of sea birds on the move. Manx Shearwaters were passing in very good numbers, signalling we were likely going to have a good session. At about 15.30 Simon picked up a small very pale Skua flying west. It took me a while to get onto it, but luckily I managed to find it as it passed the nearest wind turbine. Its small size, very pale back and wings and general cold feel led us both to agree that it was a Long-tailed Skua - a new bird for me! A little later I spotted 2 Manx Shearwaters passing at close to mid range. With them was a bird flying much closer to the water and it clearly had a white rump! It was a Leach’s Petrel – a tough bird to see in Norfolk! Unfortunately I couldn’t get Simon onto it as it flew past quickly and very low to the towering waves (it was not on show most of the time). All in all it turned out to be a terrific sea-watch; certainly the best I have ever experienced. Below are our afternoon totals:
| 1 Eider (drake) | 2 Purple Sandpiper |
| c50 Common Scoter | c25 Arctic Skua |
| 2 Red-breasted Merganser | 1 Long-tailed Skua |
| c20 Red-throated Diver | c30 Great Skua |
| 2 Fulmar | c40 Auk sp. |
| 7 Sooty Shearwater | c20 Sandwich Tern |
| 150+ Manx Shearwater | 3 Kittiwake |
| 1 Leach's Petrel | 1 Little Gull |
| 250+ Gannet | 1 Mediterranean Gull |
| 1 Red-necked Grebe |
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| Purple Sandpiper - Sheringham |
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