August 2013

This year has been non-stop from start to finish with no signs of slowing up yet; and again this month was no different. But there were two trips in particular this month that were worth sharing. The first followed on from my recent trip to Mexico when I got the opportunity to swim with Whale Sharks; I then jumped at the chance to go swim with Basking Sharks off Coll and Tiree in the Inner Hebrides a few weeks later. An exhaustive overnight drive to Oban to catch the Mull ferry allowed us (myself and Josh Jones) to get great views of fishing Harbour Porpoise, and a nesting White-tailed Eagle. Moments later we were aboard a small fishing boat heading out towards the Small Isles.

The previous weeks trip out was a total waste of time, but thankfully the seas were alot less choppy this weekend and the waters around the northern edge of Coll seemed surprisingly sheltered. This was where the first of numerous Basking Sharks and a single Minke Whale were seen surface feeding. There were a few false alarms to get into the water where the sharks promptly dived and disappeared but once we had discovered the knack of subtly getting into the water without scaring them, it got surprisingly easier to get close to them, but Christ was that water cold!! Even with a 7mm wetsuit on!! Note the Jellyfish just below my hand that stung me...

I had only been back from Scotland a few hours before I started to plan another trip up there. Now the story of the Swinhoe's Petrel is a confusing one. After a drought of almost twenty years since the three Tynemouth birds from 1989-1994, a similar scenario seemed to be unfolding on Fair Isle. A couple of weeks ago Fair Isle birds obs managed to trap and ring an individual on an overnight ringing session. Needless to say this bird was seen released and never seen again; so no need to panic I thought. That was until the observatory trapped a Swinhoe's Petrel again. Rather remarkably a different bird. This bird was then trapped the following night, and then the next. It took a few nights of successful trapping before we twigged that this bird was surely gettable, which set the wheels in motion in try and organize a charter to Fair Isle late afternoon to return the next morning.

A fair bit on planning ensued and I eventually formed a hardcore team to fly up from the East Midlands early evening, where we wasted time around the obs till it was dark enough to start the petrel ringing session.

Unlike the previous night, there was not-a-peep out of the Swinhoe's till gone 00:30, when it started to sing and fly above our heads at close range but we still couldn't see it! A Leach's Petrel joined in too, and a good 40-odd Storm Petrels had been trapped. It was tantalizing to be so close to such a rare bird without seeing it and it just felt as if it would be one of those nights where we simply weren't going to be lucky enough and the bird would avoid the nets. More and more time passed and I was giving up hope despite the fact we could still hear the bird singing. Once again it flew around us, without us seeing it, singing as it went when the song came to a sudden end. A slight kerfuffle around the nets and a very pleased warden began to walk towards the hut with a bag, with a singing petrel inside it.

Once in the hut; this is what he pulled out:

Within a few minutes, the bird was processed again (weighed), quickly photographed and released; not to be seen again that night. This unique experience was possible one of the best highlights of my birding career so far!

Highlights elsewhere this month included the Long-billed Dowitcher at Pennington Marshes (Hampshire - 2nd), Citrine Wagtail at Marazion Marshes (Cornwall - 24th) and Booted Warbler at Climping Beach (West Sussex - 27th). August was pretty bloody good actually.

Oh, and I was at Pendeen on that infamous morning when the Red-billed Tropicbird flew underneath us below the rocks. Although the seawatching was good that weekend with a number of large shears passing, sadly the guy down the bottom of the cliff never thought to share his sighting of the Tropicbird until 30 minutes later. Once the Tropicbird had been long gone.

March 2013

March has started in the same style as February with a trip to Scotland to continue filming for my final media project. A month certainly makes a difference up here and the mountains were much easier to work with under much finer weather conditions. Ryan Deal and I arrived on the 1st to clear blue skies. Our first port of call was an undisclosed site to see a rogue Capercallie that treated us to outstanding views. I have always wanted to see one of these rogue birds and certainly wasn't disappointed. Once the bird found us, displayed a little, it wasn't long before it calmed down and went back to feeding in Pines. It was quite a sight to see the bird take flight just metres away.

Next stop was Mount Cairngorm, where my aim was to film Ptarmigan on the summit. It was still perfectly clear and Ptarmigan appeared to be in abundance here, as were Snow Buntings. Within a few hours I had completed my objective and collected all the footage I required so despite being early afternoon we decided to check out the area where the Snowy Owl had been reported. We made it Garbh Uisge Beag where the bird had last been reported but no sign so began the tiring walk back as time was already getting on. Inevitably though, the bird was reported once we got back to the hostel from the next valley over.

On the 2nd the weather had closed in and Cairngorm was shrowded in thick cloud. So instead visited Lochindorb to film Red Grouse and the River Spey for Goldeneye and Dipper. The evening was spent in the pub with Josh Jones, Kit Day and James Hunter who were on their way down from the Outer Hebrides.

The 3rd was again similar to the previous so again we couldn't try for the Snowy Owl. We started with Black Grouse and Crested Tits before heading off to the Lecht Ski Centre where Mountain Hares really gave me the run around!! Eventually I managed to approach one close enough to obtain footage suitable for my project.

However, weather for the 4th looked much more promising. We hired crampons and shortly after dawn made our way to the summit and then in the direction of Ben Macdui to spend our final day looking for the Snowy Owl. Low cloud was frequently rolling in, several times we became disorientated as you loose sense of direction and also distance but every now and then the cloud lifted so we could get back on track. Within 3 hours we had made it to Garbh Uisge Moi. The cloud once again conveniently lifted as I set out scanning, we walked the entire circumference of the valley checking likely exposed rocky areas to no avail. Thick cloud was on its way back in and just about to cover some rocks when I noticed a familiar outline. Ryan missed it at first as it disappeared from view so quickly but after several minutes of waiting the cloud retreated; and sat in amongst the rocks was a stunning male Snowy Owl. Simply incredible to see it in such a natural habitat surrounded by snow; far better than the bird I had previously seen on a moor in Cornwall. We watched the bird for a matter of minutes, Ryan got the shots whilst I got some footage before the inevitable happened. The cloud came in and we couldn't see no further than 50 feet infront of us but once it lifted several minutes later the bird had gone! We have no idea where it went and couldn't relocate it afterwards but judging by the displaying Ptarmigan it was no longer in the vicinity.

 

After Scotland I spent a few days at uni in Cumbria before continuing south to Hampshire where my visit was equally brief. With just enough time to see a few birds in the county that included the Pennington Marshes Green-winged Teal and Farlington Marshes Spoonbill and wintering Red-breasted Goose amongst the Brents. The remainder of the month was spent in Israel.