Kentish Plover - Audenshaw Reservoir, Manchester

Coming back from a meeting at work on Monday morning to discover an excited message from Alex exclaiming a fine male Kentish Plover had been found on Audenshaw Reservoir in Manchester, it was therefore a tense wait until the end of the day to see whether the bird would still be present and whether or not we would get there in time.

Luckily however, despite the inevitable tedium of the M60 and the associated almost standstill rush hour traffic, we arrived at Audenshaw Reservoir to news that the Kentish Plover was still there and showing well on Reservoir 3. Eventually locating the right hole in the fence to get in (it has been a good few years since my last visit and the old gap had been mended) we were soon on our way around the expanses of water and over to the western edge of the reservoir running alongside the motorway in pursuit of our plover.

Kentish Plover - Audenshaw Reservoir

After a 20 minute walk in the biting cold and bitter wind (who’d have thought it was April?!) we caught up with the small group of assembled birders and scoped out along the shoreline to try and pick out the Kentish. Bingo – we soon had our target, and the bird proceeded to show incredibly well, feeding along the water’s edge right in front of us and taking advantage of the high quantity of flies congregating above the water’s surface.

With both Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers associating on the same stretch of bank as the Kentish, the differences between the three were extremely apparent – the much cleaner white of the Kentish Plover stood out from a distance, and the rich ginger cap, incomplete black breast band and the neat black markings on the head were also clear to see.

Having seen Kentish Plovers in both Spain and Portugal, as well as the extremely similar Snowy Plover in America (both species themselves split from the African White-fronted Plovers) it was great to finally see a British bird at last – although I don’t think any of us expected for one to turn up on the concrete banks of Audenshaw reservoir of all places!

A far cry from a shingle beach down south - the concrete edges of Audenshaw! 

Kentish Plover is also a fantastic bird for the North West - the previous county record for Greater Manchester was over 35 years ago, while another unexpected individual was recorded on my local Neumann’s Flash way back in 1991. The female at Cockersand Abbey in May 2011 (slightly before my twitching days) was the last twitchable North West opportunity however, and this was a bird I regrettably didn’t travel up for at the time.

Once a British breeding species with a particular stronghold at Dungeness in Kent up until the 1930s, Kentish Plovers sadly now only occur annually in very small numbers on passage, usually at coastal locations in the southern counties. The birds will often get pushed on by tidal movements (only being one-dayers as a result) so this was a bird that I had been struggling to get back for the last 5 years, especially as very few tend to reach the northern counties!

Still present the next day and showing well on the banks of Reservoir 3, this was a brilliant local bird that any North West birder would have been mad to miss, and although it appears to have departed on the morning of the 27^th, the majority who needed it will most certainly have left happy after achieving stunning views of what was a fantastic little bird!
  

Alex's great video of the Kentish Plover

Portugal Birding - Tuesday 16th February 2016 (Day 3 - Castro Verde and Faro)

With our final day in Portugal dawning and with brilliant blue skies weather-wise, we checked out of our hotel and left Lagos for the last time, making the journey up north to the well-known plains around Castro Verde an hour and a half away. Hoping our toll passes from the hire car company were working as we sped through countless check points, we were soon at our destination to begin the search for one of the species we were both most looking forward to seeing – Great Bustard.

The entrance to the Great Bustard Reserve in Castro Verde

Arriving at the gates to the popular Great Bustard reserve at Castro Verde, we were disappointed to find them closed, and without a guide we were sadly unable to enter. However, scanning the surrounding plains the habitat looked ideal, so we took the car down a nearby side-road in an effort to locate any wandering Bustards. Searching the distant fields, I soon locked on to three large birds heading distantly left - surely our target.

The fields around the reserve - ideal habitat for Bustards

Being just too far away to confirm and quickly disappearing behind a hill, we decided to try and relocate them in the car, driving around the reserve and following the roads down to Viseus before heading east towards Guerreiro. Expecting dusty and potholed tracks in our hunt for the Bustards, it was a pleasant surprise to be met with road surfaces all in excellent condition even in this remote area – a reoccurring theme we noticed throughout our time in Portugal and putting the British roads to shame! 

As we stopped to scan, the cries of Black-bellied Sandgrouse echoed overhead, and we were treated to several flyover flocks during the morning. Like elsewhere in Portugal, the fields were teaming with bird life, and we encountered masses of larks and Corn Buntings in the lush grasses either side of the road. 

The lush fields of Castro Verde

Iberian Grey Shrikes and Spotless Starlings were a regular sight perched on the wires, while White Stork nests seemed to adorn every other telegraph pole, the huge structures balanced on specially placed platforms. 

White Stork nest

Raptors were also in abundance here, and we encountered several Common Kestrels, Common Buzzards, Red Kites and even Marsh Harriers – the latter a species I wouldn’t normally associate with this type of habitat. Sadly, the Lesser Kestrels eluded me yet again - something that will have to be put right with a trip to Extremadura in the future!

Marsh Harrier - an unexpected sight on the plains of Castro Verde

Approaching the patch of fields the Bustards looked to have flown to, we stopped the car at regular intervals to scan the surrounding plains, the heat haze making viewing somewhat difficult. It wasn’t long before Alex’s eagle eyes spotted one however, and getting me on it, we quickly noticed a further two individuals feeding with the first, gradually moving up the slope. Finally, a long-awaited lifer for both of us in the form of three magnificent Great Bustards.

More than likely the three birds we had spotted flying near the start of the reserve, we watched as they fed in the short grass, an iconic species in these parts and a bird we had both been wanting to see for some time. Despite the distance and heat haze, we managed a few record shots through the scope and admired the sheer size of these incredible birds. 

Extreme record shot of a very distant Great Bustard!

Even though flocks of up to 60 had been reported recently, these three individuals were the only ones of our trip, despite driving the tracks around Castro Verde until well in to the afternoon.

With a whole scattering of Great Bustard records around Castro Verde and the area being a well-known and important site for them, the best thing for anyone looking for them is simply to drive around the area, stopping the car and scanning for any movement on the plains. The fields around the reserve are a particularly good location for sightings if you can’t get on to the reserve itself, and the eBird map below shows the hotspots around Castro Verde.

Distribution of Great Bustards this year from eBird

Southern Spain Trip Report - Day 3

Day 3 - Thursday 14th August 2015

Awaking exceptionally early and still bleary eyed as we travelled along the quiet Spanish back roads in the inky darkness, we headed towards a local site for Red-necked Nightjars. Not too far from Manilva, this is a great location for the species and nightjars are often seen sat on the many dusty tracks that wind their way through the heathland. Larger than our European Nightjars and with a distinct rusty orange patch on the back of the neck, Red-necked Nightjar was another key target of the trip and one that I was especially keen to see.

With dawn starting to break as we drove up the hill towards the site, the abandoned apartments looked especially eerie in the darkness and definitely made us glad we were in a vehicle! Mediterranean warblers welcomed the morning, with snatches of beautiful song coming from the many Sardinian and Subalpine Warblers perched on the heather. A smart male Woodchat Shrike sat on the gorse also provided great views as we drove slowly by.

With the light now rapidly approaching and the area now illuminated by the early morning sunshine, I was slightly sceptical as to whether the nightjars would still be active, and sure enough the only sighting we had that morning was a possible fly-by seen by Alex in one of the small heather clearings.

With the morning now well and truly upon us we admitted defeat (though not before Alex and Chris had managed to get themselves stuck on a steep slope!) and with the day still ahead of us we decided to make our way down to Tarifa where a pair of Common Bulbuls were nesting for their second year. Normally found in Africa, the pair had made the jump to the European mainland, and with successful breeding in both 2013 and 2014, it is looking like these pioneering individuals may slowly start to colonise the southern tip of Spain.

Arriving at the woodland track in question, we made our way down the path towards the houses where the birds had been nesting. With the surrounding trees clearly rich in birdlife, we enjoyed several Spotted Flycatchers perched on the fence, before an odd looking Chiffchaff caught our attention. Showing a bright yellow supercilium in front of the eye we watched as it was joined by a second bird, both with particularly yellow breasts and white bellies.

With Common Chiffchaffs only wintering in southern Spain, there was no question that these birds were the closely related Iberian Chiffchaff. Formerly treated as just a race of Chiffchaff in the past, Iberian Chiffchaffs were recently split due to a range of differences including vocalisations, morphology and genetics.

Another brown warbler caught our eye in one of the opposite trees, and watching carefully we were intrigued to see it had an especially long bill. With pale lores and an exceptionally broad, heavy bill, we soon realised we were watching a Western Olivaceous Warbler! Found only in southern Spain and North Africa, this was a great bird to catch up with so early in to the trip – our planned sites for this species were nearer to Seville.

Pleased with this surprised addition to our trip list, we headed off down the track in search of the Bulbuls, the heat of the southern Spanish sun now really starting to kick in as the temperatures soared. An obliging male Woodchat Shrike sat on the wires for us to admire, while the thick spiny plants and cacti highlighted the dry and arid conditions of the area. Keeping our eyes peeled, we scanned the gardens adjacent to the houses, but after a long wait with no sign of the Bulbuls, we decided to head back and carry on to our next site.

Woodchat Shrike - photo by Alex Jones

Driving down to Tarifa, the locality’s fame as a raptor migration hotspot was clear to see, with a fantastic number of Black Kites, Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles and Griffon Vultures all seen making their way across the perfect blue skies. With Africa visible from the coast, we were rewarded with great views of this magnificent continent looming across the sea - where the raptors would ultimately be travelling to.

Africa!

Getting out of the car in the small car park at Playa de los Lances, Alex immediately shouted “Little Swift!” Looking up, a small swift was quickly flying just above head height, the small white square rump clear to see, before it zoomed off over the road and out of view. Completely out of the blue and not expecting to see any this trip due to not visiting any of the breeding sites, this was a fantastic spot by Alex! Whilst not a lifer for the three of us after catching up with the New Brighton bird back in 2012, this now meant that we had seen all 5 species of swift on the trip!

Little Swift from New Brighton, UK in 2012

The beach at La Playa de los Lances

Heading towards the hide to check the beach for terns, several Kentish Plovers could be seen on the sand, their paler markings, longer legs and smaller size distinguishing them from Ringed and Little ringed Plovers. With the beach quite busy with surfers, kite-flyers and walkers and with no terns present at all, my attention was turned to the many Fiddler Crabs scuttling around on the sand in front of us. With one claw bigger than the other, it was fascinating to watch as they fought between themselves and defended their burrows!

Fiddler Crab

Crossing the marshy area towards a large stream cutting through the sand, Chris picked out a Short-toed Lark foraging amongst the grass. Having only seen Lesser Short-toed Lark before in northern Spain, it was great to finally catch up with this closely related species. Distinguished from Lesser Short-toed Larks by the unmarked chest and breast as opposed to the well streaked breasts of the Lesser Short-toed Larks, Greaters are also much more rufous and yellow in colouration, with a dark patch on the side of the breast.

Marshy area near the beach

I watched it feeding amongst the grass for some time before seeing what else the vegetation had to offer, however a Kingfisher streaking past down the stream like a lightning bolt of electric blue and a very close Kentish Plover by the side of a small pool were the only other birds of note.

Kentish Plover - photo by Alex Jones

Dung fight.....

...where Chris came off worse

Deciding to head back to the apartment ready for a dusk return to Manilva and another crack at the Red-necked Nightjars, Chris refuelled with one of his absolutely vile (non)microwaveable pizzas before the three of us headed back to the heathland of that morning. Re-analysing the grid reference I realised that we hadn’t gone far enough down the track this morning, having only stopped at the bridge crossing the busy road below. Continuing down the track, it was immediately clear that this was much better habitat for Red-necked Nightjars, the rocky terrain, boulder strewn track, thick heathland and tall pine trees ideal habitat and reminiscent of the heaths I’ve seen Nightjars displaying in back in Britain.

Chris's vile pizza....

Arriving at a likely area with good open views either side we parked up and scanned the horizon for any dark silhouettes crossing the skyline in front of us. With darkness starting to close in and dusk approaching, the sound of the various warblers’ last songs before roosting filled our ears. Then, as I turned, a large dark shape swooped past the three of us though the warm evening sky just a few metres away, the wings and size unmistakeable as our first Red-necked Nightjar! Barely above the heather, it glided silently along before being enveloped in the darkness and lost to view. 

Ecstatic and wanting further views of these amazing birds, we waited until night had completely fallen before getting back in the car and heading along the dusty track to search for more nightjar activity. Now in complete darkness and with an absence of any street lighting or the glow of nearby civilisations, we drove carefully and slowly along the narrow road, our headlights on full beam to illuminate the route.

Spotting something glowing in the distance that reminded me of a cat’s eye in torchlight, I squinted through my binoculars trying to make out a shape in the darkness. Certain I was looking at a perched Red-necked Nightjar, I alerted the others, confident I had seen the tail moving. With Chris reckoning it wasn’t even alive and merely part of the tree, the three of us kept our focus and sure enough the bird took off from the branches and hovered gracefully in the air, before alighting back down amongst the dusty boulders on the track ahead. Now fully illuminated by our car’s headlights, we could clearly see the bird right in front of us, it’s absolutely huge saucer-like eyes shining in the bright light. Hovering and flapping above the track at regular intervals, we watched awestruck, the larger size apparent compared to European Nightjars and just managing to make out the rusty red neck when on the floor through the binoculars.

Reaching down to get my camera, I looked up again only to find the bird had gone, slipping away in to the darkness unnoticed.

Heading back along the rocky tracks happy and relieved that we had managed to connect with the Nightjars, the headlights illuminated a scorpion species in the sand – my first ever one in the wild – although further investigation sadly revealed it had vanished when we stopped to get a better look. With several feral dogs barking at the car on the way down to the town, we were again glad to be in the safety of a vehicle, and we returned to the apartment for our final night before heading further west towards Jerez and Seville.