Stormy Weather

Swannery Birding Highlights Of The Week...

Monday 21st to Sunday 27th October 2013...

Bird Of The Week...

There were high winds and high water for much of the week so when workmate Charlie found a Grey Phalarope on meadow pool on Wednesday it was slightly less of a surprise than when I found the last one in calm conditions a couple of weeks back. Still a good find though nevertheless...
 

First winter Grey Phalarope (with Teal) meadow pool Wednesday.
 © Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography

I arrived at Meadow Hide just in time to see the phalarope fly off towards The Fleet, where I relocated it a few minutes later, feeding like a conventional wader, on Shipmoor Point, across the embayment. Later searches however were in vain. Thanks go to Charlie for the use of his photos.
 

First winter Grey Phalarope (with Teal) meadow pool Wednesday.
 © Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography

 

Other Waders...

Due no doubt to the high water levels there isn't much to report, the Lapwing flock reached forty and a flock of ten Snipe were seen in flight (plus a few others dotted around) but disappointingly the only other wader was a single Ringed Plover...
 

Wednesday's Ringed Plover on the virtually submerged Bund.

 

Gulls...

As last week, nothing to report really, just all the expected species including fifty plus Mediterranean Gulls most days and yet again no late terns.

 

Waterfowl...

As they are not that regular this far up the Fleet, eleven Dark-bellied Brent Geese settled in the embayment on Monday were probably the highlight, although that is discounting the possible Todd's Canada Goose that is still in residence. The two drake Scaup are still present too, although one was often absent. As it hasn't been reported at Radipole or Lodmoor, where is it getting to?



Pochard and Tufted Duck numbers (along with Coot) are now building up.



And dabblers too have been seen in good numbers. Here a few of the Teal, Pintail and Wigeon but Shoveler, Gadwall and of course Mallard have all been present too.



Other Water Birds...

Nothing of note, just the expected species (and still no Glossy Ibis!).

 

 

Raptors...

The highlight was again the Marsh Harriers, at least one juvenile and the regular male...

 

The male Marsh Harrier over 'The Weasley's Reed-bed'.

 

Passerines...

The rough weather made the search for migrants a difficult one. There was however a small influx of thrushes, mainly just swelling the numbers of the commoner three species but the few Redwings noted were the first of the autumn. There was perhaps a few more Robins and Stonechats too but no other chats or flycatchers (not even a hoped for Black Redstart). The resident Cetti's Warblers were still outnumbered by Chiffchaffs but the only other warbler was a Blackcap, the first for weeks. A few Bearded Tits were the first since last autumn but only one was glimpsed, the others calling from deep within the reed-beds. Visible  migration was mostly restricted to a few hours on Thursday morning with a few Skylarks, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Siskins passing overhead. A few Grey Wagtails, Rock Pipits and Reed Buntings were also around but it was hard to tell whether they were on the move or settling for the winter along with all the other usual passerines. Unfortunately there were no late swallows or martins this week and even more  disappointingly, given events elsewhere, no late swifts!

 



Meanwhile Elsewhere On The Fleet & Off The Chesil...

A juvenile Sabine's Gull roamed between Abbotsbury Beach and West Bexington on Saturday and Sunday and was joined by a Leach's Storm Petrel briefly on the latter day, with perhaps both moving to Chesil Cove later in the day; whilst at Ferrybridge up to two Black Brants were seen in the week. I'm afraid I didn't go for any of the above birds but if predictions of a massive storm hitting the south coast overnight are right I'm hoping for a few Leach's and maybe a Sabine's in the Swannery embayment tomorrow, or hopefully something even more exciting...so watch this space!