Devil Birder
A personal account of British birding
Twitches
Iam only 15 and still have school contsantly on my back so twitching is relatively limited, however, I have found recently that I can twitch more than I previously thought I could and have gathered up several rare and scarce birds over the last 4 years.
2009 twitches
Caspian Tern, Norfolk, 4th July 09
My fourth on-the-day bird of the year, and all in a row! My parents and I were leaving for a weekend in Norfolk and after about three miles, we got a message come through on the pager of a Caspian Tern at Welney. The sat-nav was appropriately altered. The journey didn't seem that bad, and I was encouraged my positive news coming through every so often. At last, we arrived and got postive news. I rushed off to the Buxton Hide and connected with this wonderful bird very smoothly. It was asleep half the time but the other half of the time it was brilliant, showing its huge, thick bright red bill, stretching and preening. It flew briefly once then flew north. I went round some of the other hides with James Grundy after this, where we heard a Turtle Dove and saw many male Ruff, good numbers Yellow Wagtails and Whooper Swans as well as Little Ringed Plovers (including juveniles), Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets.
The next day was spent at Lakenheath at Weeting Heath were I got a second and a third British tick, Golden Oriole at the former site and Stone-curlew at the latter. A brilliant weekend with 2 lifers (Caspian Tern +Stone-curlew) and three British life/year ticks (those +Golden Oriole).
White-winged Black Tern, 'Surrey', 11th May 09
A bit of a 'naughty' twitch. After my first day of work experience at the London Wetland Centre I hurried off and got the train from Barnes station to Ashford (Surrey) where I met Kevin McManus and we walked for 20 minutes or so to Staines Reservoir for the White-winged Black Tern. Straight after yesterday's Black-winged Pratincole, this was my 3rd on-the-day twitch of the year. We got to the entrance, and started the anxious walk all the way to the small crowd half way along the causeway where we successfully connected and watched the bird for about 15 minutes before we had to leave in order for me to avoid getting caught by my parents who thought I was birding at the Wetland Centre after work (I know its no big deal, I think it's ridiculous that I apparently can't catch a train to somewhere other than Hackbridge by myself), I failed and got the train that would get me to Barnes Station just after 6, when dad was due to pick me up from the Wetland Centre. I gave in and owned up to this great crime knowing that it would be impossible to get to the Centre, a mile or two away, get a parking token from the visitor centre and get to dad in the car park in less than 20 or 30 minutes, in which case he'd know something fishy was going on anyway. Much to Kevin's (and in a way, my) amusement, when I got home I was sentenced to 3 days without computer, pager or mobile phone. How I long for the days when I can have freedom to do stuff like this without all this crap when I come homejust because of a short train journey to see a bird.
Black-winged Pratincole, Kent, 10th May 09
We picked up Kevin McManus before heading down to Reculver for the Black-winged Pratincole that had been found that day; this was my second on-the-day twitch of the year so far. My parents dropped us off and we grabbed the stuff from the boot and made our way to the bird hastily, asking the first person we saw directions and whether it was still there. It was a good kilometer or so of a walk and it was an anxious and rushed walk that seemed to take ages, we neared the crowd and breathed a sigh of relief as we unfolded the legs of the tripod and tried to get onto the bird, it was fairly hard getting onto it at first but we did it in the end and what a relief it was to see that bewildered, beautiful little Wader sitting in front of us. Kev didn't need it but it had been years since his first bird. Pleased and rather chuffed that we could grip one or two of our mates off, we left after about half an hour. Even better, we both got a London tick on my doorstep local patch aftewards in the form of a spectacular Wood Warbler at Banstead Downs. A brilliant day!
Crested Lark, Kent, 3 May 09
A trip for this bird was in order before it disappeared so I spent this Sunday travelling down to see the Dungeness Crested Lark, which almost everyone else seemed to have seen by then. We parked up, and went over to a small group of birders, they were trying to find a Wood Warbler, I really wanted to see that but the Crested Lark was the priority so reluctantly left, remembering where the Wood Warbler was meant to be and joined the larger crowd that was trying to locate the Lark. It wasn't more than 10 minutes or so before the bird flew over, showing the chesnut underwings and lack of a white trailing edge to the wing. I saw it in flight one or two more times but just missed it on the deck. In this time, the Wood Warbler was showing right in front of us and I found a female Common Redstart in the same spot. Three year ticks in one little spot- score! This was followed by a brief and fruitless seawatch and a trip to the ARC side of the RSPB reserve before we headed home.
White-throated Sparrow, Hampshire, 11 April 09
A quick, on-the-day, twitch took place for this bird at Old Winchester Hill, it didn't take too much stress and time to locate the bird despite the bustling crowd. My first view was brief to say the least as I glimpsed it fly up from the undergrowth and heard it call. We then moved around to the other side of the hedge and waited. Before too long, the Sparrow made an appearance and it showed better by the second. Shaking, I got my camera on it...'F e' flashed onthe control screen- noooo noo noo no no no! Yes, the one time there was an aperture error on my camera in probably half a year and it happened when a White-throated Sparrow was showing beatifully in front of me. So I got no photos, but at least I got such a brilliant bird and a very good tick!
Great Grey Shrike, East Sussex, 15 March 09
After dipping the New Forest bird, I succesfully connected with a spectacular and showy individual at Pannel Valley Farm NR.
Ring-necked Duck, Hampshire, 6 March 09
After dipping a Great Grey Shrike, nailing Purple Sandpiper and Hen Harrier and seeing the Red-breasted Goose again, there was time enough to go to Frith End Sand Pit with Phil Wallace on the way home from our day out. It was a stunning bird. We got told off for unintentionally tresspassing and couldn't stay long, though, which was a shame.
Red-breasted Goose, West Sussex, 22 February 09
A successful twitch, but not without quite a bit of effort. The bird showed well breifly with about 1000 Brent Geese in the fields at East Head, West Wittering. Further success was had with 3 Tundra Bean Geese at Chichester GPs just afterwards. These two species got my British list to 222.
CLICK HERE FOR A RED-BREASTED GOOSE PICTURE
CLICK HERE FOR A TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE PICTURE
King Eider, East Sussex, 18 January 09
My first twitch of the year looked set to be unsuccessful, as I stood anxiously watching the sea at Rye Harbour NR (I did get Scaup, a lifer, here though). My good friend Kevin McManus called me to say his pager had told him the bird had been relocated at Jury's Gap. Off I went. sure enough, I joined a large crowd of birders (Including LGRE) and connected with the beautiful male King Eider. I got myself a third lifer simultaneously, Red-throated Diver). An enjoyable day with some great birds.2008 twitches
I travelled with a fellow Beddington birder, Kevin McManus, to see this bird and it was a fantastic bird, showing well and very beautiful.
This stunning bird was one of my most exciting twitches ever, and certainly the rarity which has given me the best views. It showed down to as close as one or two metres!A great London bird too. The bird and the scenery at sunset made this a magical experience.
Green Heron, Hythe, Kent, 26 October 08
Above: Green Heron
I travelled with Phil Wallice to see this bird the day after the news broke. We got great views (though even better views were had just before we arrived, of it fishing in the open). 6th record for Britain, 1st for Kent and the south-east (and the first in Britain east of Cornwall and south of north Wales).
Great White Egret, Beddington SF, London/Surrey, 21 September 08
A local twitch at one of my local patches got me this national scarity and pretty big Surrey/London rarity. It was also a first for Beddington SF. It flew NE (to Minsmere where one was seen 2 hours or so later, presumably) just minutes after I arrived.
Above: Great White Egret
Cranes, Dungeness, Kent, 31 August 08
I couldn't resist heading down to 'Dunge' for the two long staying Cranes, and I wasn't disappointed!
Above: Cranes
Red-backed Shrike, Burton Mill Pond, Sussex and Spoonbill, Pulborough Brooks RSPB, Sussex, 1 June 08
Twitched two scarcities down in Sussex on the same day. Both showed very well.
Above: Red-backed Shrike
Above: Spoonbill
2007 twitches
I didn't go on too many twitches this year, but more than average for me I suppose. I didn't get many photos of the rarities this year.
Great Grey Shrike, Cliffe Pools, Kent, 14 October 07
I decided I had had enough of not having seen Great Grey Shrike so I made my way to Cliffe Pools to see one that had been seen recently. It took me a while to find the right spot but I found it eventually and joined the gathering of birders and got pretty good, though fairly distant views.
Above: Great Grey Shrike
Pectoral Sandpiper, Pulborough Brooks, Sussex, 16 September 07
A juvenile had been reported from one of my favourite sites so it was worth a shot and sure enough I got good, though distant, views of a juvenile. It was before the days of me phone-scoping and it was too far for the SLR so no shots, sorry!
Spoonbill, Grove Ferry, Kent, 24 June 07
I made the journey to this wonderful site to see an immature Spoonbill (+ tick it off my year list) which, like many other rare birds, gave good but distant views. No photos!
Squacco Heron, Erith Marshes, London, 3 June 07
My first Heron twitch and a pretty rare and good looking one at that. I enjoyed this bird with a small crowd of other admirers for quite some time.
Above: Squacco Heron
2006 twitches
A very quiet year for twitching for me, just Spoonbill at Oare and the Long-billed Dowitcher.
Long-billed Dowitcher, Oare Marshes, Kent, 8 October + 5 and 19 November 06
This must be my most seen rarity, seeing it at three different occasions; I must have really liked it! It was a great bird and wintered at Oare. Unfortunately, despite seeing it three times in little over a month in 06, for some reason I didn't go in 07 to get it on my year list.
Above: 1st winter Long-billed Dowitcher on the 5th November visit
Spoonbill, Oare Marshes, Kent, 11 June 06
Around a year after the last Spoonbill I saw here (which was my first ever), I travelled down to Oare to see one of my favourite scarcities again and get it on my year list. It was sleeping most of the time and a bit further than last time but a cracking bird. Is that 4 rings on its legs!?!
Above: Spoonbill
2005 twitches
My first, and best year of twitching. This was when I was relatively new to birding and loved the idea of travelling fairly long distances to see rare birds (not that I don't now). Unfortunately a lot of the memories are rather faded.
Sociable Plover and Penduline Tits, Rainham Marshes, London, 18 December 05
My best twitch ever and probably my best day's birding ever with four lifers, three of which I have not seen since.
The lifers were Sociable Plover, Penduline Tit (no photos unfortunately), Black Redstart and Dartford Warbler (the only one that I've seen since). I had a really good time that day.
Above: Sociable Plover (the paler bird in the middle- the worst shot I've ever taken!?!)
Above: Little 11 year old David with some of the twitchers present
Above: Black Redstart
Above: Dartford Warbler
Collared Pratincole, Rainham Marshes, London, 3 July 05
One of my first twitches the new RSPB reserve before it officially opened. We got lost trying to find the site and got there in the evening but it was worth it with cracking views, it flew very close to us at times.
Above: Collared Pratincole
Black-winged Stilt, Pulborough Brooks RSPB, West Sussex, 24 April 05
My first ever successful twitch and I wasn't disappointed. I didn't digiscope in those days but attempted with some handheld digiscoping and got some poor record shots taken at a pretty big distance with a fujifilm s5000!
Above: Black-winged Stilt- my attempt at digiscoping the bird
Above: Black-winged Stilt-my record shots taken with just my old fujifilms5000