Saturday 2 September 2017

Red Necked Phalarope at Oare Marshes plus a Visit to Chipping Sodbury

30th  &  31st August  at Oare Marshes

Red Necked Phalarope.


On Wednesday 30th August news broke of a Red Necked Phalarope on the East flood at Oare Marshes , i was soon heading there in the hope of seeing it.




It wasn't long before i arrived on site and the Red Necked Phalarope was showing very close to the pull-in , despite the awful weather conditions (heavy rain & overcast) the Phalarope put on quite a show, here are a selection of the photos i took.






Red Necked Phalarope.


The Red Necked Phalarope was a new bird for my Oare Marsh bird list.


Long Billed Dowitcher.

The Long Billed Dowitcher was also present on the East flood and showing very well near the Pull-in , some real quality birds on this superb nature reserve at the moment , i had 19 different wader species over the 30th & 31st plus there were a couple i missed too !!!

Having a scratch.


Both the RNP & LBD were present  on the 31st as well plus i also saw the adult Bonaparte's Gull on the East flood , here are a couple of record shots of it.



Bonaparte's Gull.


1st September   Chipping Sodbury


Woodchat Shrike.


On Friday the 1st of September i was invited to go to Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire to see the juvenile Woodchat Shrike , i haven't seen one for a few years now and being a bit of a Shrike fan i happily accepted the invite (thanks mate).

The Woodchat Shrike was always distant but good scope views were obtained , it was quite loyal to an area of bushes on the common and was actively feeding , i saw it catch a Bee at one point.


Whinchat.


There were lot's of other birds around on the common including at least 10 Whinchats , 2 Wheatear , 2 Common Redstarts (which were a year tick) & several Common Whitethroats , 1 Lesser Whitethroat & several Yellow Wagtails.

2 Whinchats.