Kristian's Wildlife Blog

After just about catching up with the Baird's Sandpiper at Meols on the Wirral last night, I came home to find news that a Grey Phalarope had been found at Elton Reservoir, only 20 minutes from home. The light had already gone by this point, and I wasn't massively confident it would stick until today. I finished work and dashed over to Elton, a bit concerned there had been no reports for about six hours of the bird. However, as soon as I arrived a very kind couple by the sailing club gave me directions and within seconds I was watching it in the centre of the reservoir. Distant but unmistakeable! Over the next half an hour or so I moved around the reservoir, hoping to get a bit closer, but it stayed resolutely towards the middle, alternating between periods of feeding and resting. I definitely can't complain though, it's been a proper bogey bird for about a year now, and I never expected it to be a local site that it turned up on!

Several months back, Austin, Carl and myself booked a long weekend on the St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly, with the aim of going on a few pelagics trips. This was off the back of several reports of Scopoli's Shearwaters, though as the time grew nearer we hoped the Red-Footed Booby that had been lingering on Bishop Rock lighthouse would stick around! Day 1 - Thursday 24th We drove down early Thursday morning, setting off from Manchester at about 1am and arriving in Penzance just after 7am. I'd been to the Scillies only once before, last October to twitch the Blackburnian Warbler. I was already looking forward to the Scillonian crossing, the wildlife seems to start as soon as you leave the bay at Penzance! Within the first 30 minutes the numbers of Manx Shearwaters was already racking up, and the first of many Common Dolphins were showing extremely well close to the boat. As we entered more open water, I soon started to pick out my first Cory's Shearwaters - I shamefu...

With a busy week of work including a two-day (and slightly overwhelming) FISC botany training course and a few surveys, I was glad to be able to go out with my camera towards the end of the week. Our location was a new one for me, and I didn't really know what to expect. Arriving just after 6am with Austin driving, we couldn't fail to miss the Long-Eared Owls at the site. With birds calling from various perches in broadleaved and coniferous trees, we didn't really know where to look! We think there might have been between 6 and 10 birds present, but it was difficult to tell. My lens isn't famed for its zoom, so this gives an idea of how close they were! This individual was particularly smart When awake, the owls would constantly emit their distinctive begging calls The majority of birds appeared to be immature birds, though the remnants of juvenile plumage were more difficult to spot in some individuals. They were remarkably tame, often perched asleep within metres of ...

While working in Staffordshire and with a bit of time to kill I headed down to Arrow Valley Lake where a Tundra Bean Goose of unknown origin had been present for about two weeks. Arriving, my heart sank a bit when I saw the stereotypical 'duck pond' of Canada Geese , Mallard , Mute Swan , Greylag Geese and Coot congregating around people throwing bread! However, I couldn't see the Tundra Bean Goose in this flock, so made my way around the lake. Entering the quieter areas there were quite a few Great-Crested Grebes and a single Common Tern on a buoy. Eventually, at the far southern end, I picked out the Tundra Bean Goose in a small group of Greylag Geese. Making my around to that area, I had excellent views of my first of this species. While some of the Greylags approached though, the Bean Goose was much more wary, always the furthest out. I watched it fly a couple of times and noticed it was unringed. Pretty decent views for my first Tundra Bean Goose At this time of ye...

A quick post-work trip to Leighton Moss with Carl this evening in the hopes of connecting with the Long-Billed Dowitcher which had been present on the saltmarsh pools for a couple of days. This Nearctic wading bird is a species I've technically seen, with brief and distant views at RSPB Titchwell late last winter. However, with this bird still in summer plumage and apparently showing quite well I was super keen to see it. After about five seconds in the Eric Morecambe hide I managed to spot the Long-Billed Dowitcher in amongst a small group of Redshank . It was fairly distant but unmistakable, spending time roosting followed by brief periods of feeding. It took off a couple of times and on the third time landed fairly close, giving even better views. The light was always poor, but the colours really stood out! There was plenty going on around the pool too - in addition to lots of Redshank (including well-grown chicks), there were lots of Lapwing , plenty Avocet , Curlew , a Common...

For our family holiday this year we decided to head north rather than south for once, spending just over a week on Mull. My experiences of Scotland are relatively limited, especially for bird watching. I was hoping to spot some of the Scottish specialities and get some close encounters with some of the other wildlife on the island. Wednesday 28th We travelled up towards Loch Long, where we were staying the night before catching the ferry from Oban the following day. With most of the day spent driving, it was good to catch up with an Osprey hunting over Loch Lomond during a brief stop - my first of the year. At our stopping point, near Luss, there were also lots of Common Sandpipers , a pair of Little Ringed Plovers , a Red Kite over and the first of many Hooded Crows . A family of Eider greeted us in the evening on the inlet of Loch Long which was adjacent to our hotel. Thursday 29th Reaching Oban mid-morning, we were queueing up for the ferry when I spotted a couple of Black Gui...

Yesterday, me and Austin made the relatively short journey up to Kendal for the Common Rosefinch which had been hanging around a private garden for several days. After arriving and quickly identifying the garden, which could only be partially seen from the road, we waited for about half an hour with no sign. However, we then noticed a birder walking up a nearby lane and he informed us the bird was singing and showing well along a line of trees at the bottom of the path. We rushed down only to get the news it had just flown off! We waited for several more hours but eventually had to leave with no sign! Typically, the bird was reported first thing again this morning, so I decided to give it another go. After arriving and walking down the lane to a small group of birders, I met the news that it had just been seen again! I waited with the group for about 30 minutes before a lady spotted the Common Rosefinch well hidden in a small tree in the garden. The bird was distant and obscured from ...