Bermuda Short-changed

Stranded in Bermuda on the Hotel internet thanks to the latest Hurricane (Thurs 15th Sept 2pm local time). 2 days extra stay in high winds and rain is not ideal but could still manage to top the tan a bit more.

Failed to get a confirmed sighting of the Bermudian Longtail but have some nice ones for the international list with a few photos.

Yellow Crowned Night heron

Greater Kiskadee (common and loud)

Belted Kingfisher (female)

Lesser Yellowlegs

Grey Catbird

Mourning Dove (as common as Collared)

Water Thrush

Could not find the big Scotland update on the blog but enjoyed Mrs Twitchell's barby comedy.

Have a nice day now.

SjS

Barbecue Birding

With my pursuit of Sharpe having stalled significantly, I decided to devote my weekend to hedonism rather than cold, damp birding. We therefore went to a friend's house for a barbecue on Saturday afternoon, which ended shortly after Mrs Twitchell stumbled into a prize hydrangea bush and ended up face down in the lawn.

However, I am not blogging to riff on her embarrasmment.

One of the reasons she had been driven to drink was that another barbecue attendee happened to be a very keen (and good) birder, and Mrs T therefore spent most of the afternoon listening to tales of Corn Buntings at Bempton, and BTO survey squares.

He is an absolutely top fellow, and was able to offer some words of advice for my quest. He has the same constraints as me (i.e. children) but my hope is that I can get a day out with him before the end of the year, to begin to learn how to do this thing properly.

If my score suddenly shoots from 144 to 200, it will be his work, not mine. His UK life list is in the 360's.

Should Have Gone to PecSavers

Went to Frampton Marsh on Saturday as nothing new since The Pavillion at Chatsworth!

Several interesting reports of things like Spotted Crake, Wood and Pectoral Sandpipers and the odd Turtle Dove. 2 hours later and NOTHING. Got close to a sleeping Pectoral but no joy so headed back to the main RSPB shack. 30 yards short I asked my final 'see owt good' to 2 expert types. Yes they said - 20 yards away was the US Vagrant - about 50 reports a year in the UK. Great views and the usual look through someone elses scope and the Pectoral was all mine mine mine. It even did a duo feed with a snipe.

I then asked the warden where the Turtle's were. He gave me the full low down and said within 10 mins walk they were almost guaranteed. 'Almost' was the case. So 1 new addition in about 6 weeks. Summer is rubbish. Roll on the Autumn and then Christmas when Helen has promised to buy me a massive Swarovski scope by selling 'her' car to put up the capital.

This is my new rarity for the year, beating the GWE, Spoonbills and Bearded t*t.

Yours,

Bittern and Untwisted.

SjS

Sewage, Not Garbage

For some reason I had previously eschewed the prospect of a trip to Altrincham Sewage Works - one of my local birding haunts. I suspect it must have something to do with the name.

However, two recent trips have delivered a pair of wood sandpipers and a single green sandpiper, with virtually no scent of rotting human excrement. Good news all round.

It is also a site well known for yellow wagtails and grasshopper warblers - both needed for my list, but so far I have not had the pleasure.

Heavy gauge metal fencing does interfere with the view somewhat, and I do have a vague sense that an aggravated mugging may be just around the corner, but hey - a tick's a tick.

I will be making more trips to the shot pot / pit in due course.

Anyone fancy an early Sunday morning trip to Carr Vale, after a quiet night in Chez Vegas next weekend?

Night of the Jar

In response to Twitchell's success in Cornwall I was inspired to go Nightjar hunting on Monday night. Clear skies, warm(ish) and not much wind, so ideal for the hunt. Arrived at the woods (where local RSPB walks go each year) at 8.15 to try and work out where the best spot was for the one or two pairs that are there. Saw a few things and kept hearing a distant cuckoo. By 9.30 I had worked out the heathland area to steak out and this was confirmed when a dog walker said 'you looking for nightjars as well'. He directed me to Peter - fellow twitcher at the other side of the heath. Bins and torches at the ready and an instant roding woodcock flew above the trees as the light started to fade. Peter put the mockers on things a bit by asking where I'd parked and then proceeded to confirm this was where the 'men' hang out late at night - his phrase was slightly homophobic to say the least. Anyway, the churring began by 9.45..........half an hour later we were hearing and not seeing even though he'd seen them flying catching moths before at this spot.
I lost patience and yomped to the noise and was rewarded when 2 nightjars flew off their perch within 10 yards of me and all was well. 'Wow', I recall saying. Saw one of them again at close quarters as I walked back to the spotting zone and said goodnight to Peter at 10.40.

Torch out down darked path back to the car and heard a number of voices as a number of cars had joined mine in the George Michael zone. I stayed focussed and as a bloke said at work, avoided seeing another woodcock. Home for 11.05 after a bizzare evening.

Evans Lee