Coastal Birding in Essex today

Old Hall Marshes (8.45am-11.15pm): Spoonbill - 3 immatures on Abbott's Hall managed retreat; Bar-tailed Godwit - 37 on Tollesbury saltings with 2 Red Knot & 11 Turnstones; Little Ringed Plover - 6 (5 Bale, 1 Irongate); Northern Wheatear - 2 along the seawall;

Abberton Reservoir (6.30am-8.30am & 11.30pm-2.30pm): Ruff- 16 (11 hide bay, 5 Layer Breton); Black-tailed Godwit - 390 (of which 315 were in hide bay); Spotted Redshank - 8, including 2 juveniles and Little Gull - 2 on the island (Daryl Rhymes)

Nottinghamshire BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - work planned for this week

The adult BAIRD'S SANDPIPER is still present on Chainbridge Scrape area of the Idle Valley NR for it's 4th day at least. It represents the second record for Nottinghamshire and the Idle Valley Nature Reserve.

NB: Anyone not yet been to see this bird should do so ASAP. Essential management work which was due to take place on the Chainbridge Scrape area of the IVNR, was immediately postponed last week when the Baird's Sandpiper was located. Unfortunately it may have to take place as early as Tuesday next. 10th August 2010, as the contractor has other commitments for using the equipment required to do this important management work. The work area is some distance from the favoured area of the Baird's Sandpiper but the work will involve/create some noise but hopefully little or no disturbance.

Regards, Derick Evans - Head Warden, Idle Valley Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Juvenile CATTLE EGRET now in Cambridgeshire

Richard Thomas has found a CATTLE EGRET roosting in the egret roost at Needingworth Pits (present at 7.20pm and roosted). It is on the pit at TL366733, however it is best viewed from the footpath alongside River Ouse, accessed from Brownshill Staunch or Berry Fen.

Birds of the week

Steve Clifton obtained these excellent images of the Cleveland WHISKERED TERN

Moulting adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS in early autumn are always a finders nightmare and this August has been no exception. Darren Robson's bird in the North West of England at Port Carlisle (Cumbria) still remains this afternoon whilst another adult, this one present for its third day, was at Lodmoor (Dorset) until mid-morning, when it was flushed and flew strongly east. Martin Cade managed to obtain a selection of images of the bird before it flew off and these can be browsed on the Portland Bird Observatory website. Both individuals are very similar in plumage but note how attenuated this species can look from certain angles. The Dorset bird is a paler individual.

In Cheshire, the adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS remains for a 5th day at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB Pools (intermittently showing well from the main hide), whilst on the opposite coast, the very long-staying juvenile WHISKERED TERN continues to grace Saltholme Pools RSPB (Cleveland).

A CATTLE EGRET spent a couple of days with Little Egrets at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) this week (3rd-4th) with another still present in the Dungeness are (Kent). Dungeness RSPB also still harbours the GREAT WHITE EGRET and 3 PURPLE HERONS (the two adults and one of their juvenile offspring), whilst in Somerset, at least 3 LITTLE BITTERNS remain at Ham Walls RSPB on Loxton Marsh.

The moulting male HOUSE FINCH of ship-assisted or captive origin continues in East Prawle village (South Devon), favouring the gardens behind the Shippen and the Piglet Stores

A COMMON CRANE has been intermittently visiting fields by the Railway Pit at Hoveringham GP (Notts) in recent days, with another at Cley NWT Reserve (North Norfolk) today, favouring stubble fields NE of Walsey Hills and south-east of the Serpentine Meadows. Nearby, the adult HOODED CROW remains close to the Eye Field.

It is all set to be a bumper autumn for EURASIAN SPOONBILLS with the Norfolk colony flourishing but for now 14 birds still remain at Cley Marsh.

The passage of WOOD SANDPIPERS is now increasing, whilst OSPREYS are reaching the South Coast in numbers, including four in the Poole Harbour area (Dorset). Return migration too of common warblers, Yellow Wagtails, Tree Pipits, Whinchats, Common Redstarts and Pied & Spotted Flycatchers is now underway, with good numbers at South Coast coastal locations.

In Orkney, a long-staying ALPINE SWIFT continues to linger on South Ronaldsay, flying to and fro over Burn Farm and environs close to the Tomb of the Eagles at Burwick. Much longer staying is the BEARDED SEAL near Bibb's Pier at Finstown.

On Shetland, an adult drake SURF SCOTER remains at Trondra, whilst in the Outer Hebrides, a moulting adult PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was seen.

After reports of its recapture on Sunday afternoon, it transpires that the adult Grey-headed Swamphen is still in the roadside ditch at Saltney (Clwyd) and was today the victim of children throwing stones at it. The National Media have also shown a great deal of interest in the bird.

In IRELAND, the first-summer NORTH AMERICAN HERRING GULL remains at Blennerville (County Kerry), the LAUGHING GULL at Ballycastle (County Antrim) and the first-year GLOSSY IBIS at Tacumshin (County Wexford).

Keyhaven (Hampshire) this morning

At Keyhaven Marshes this morning 1 Northern Wheatear, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns; on Keyhaven Lagoon 3 Greenshank,1 Mediterranean Gull and on Fishtail Lagoon, the Little Gull, Garganey, Wood Sandpiper and a brief view of a Water Rail, another Greenshank and 3 Common Swifts (Jackie Hull, http://www.twoowlsbirding.co.uk)

ALPINE SWIFT on South Ronaldsay, Orkney

I managed to see the bird between 10.45 and 10.55 this morning. From Burwick I had walked up the Cleat Road to about 200 or 300 metres beyond the entrance track to the Tomb of the Eagles. I scanned the area behind the Tomb of the Eagles visitor centre and fairly quickly picked up the ALPINE SWIFT. It was an impressive bird, particularly when I was able to see it in flight with a Common Swift in the same view. I managed to get views of the bird in the scope but thought better and closer views could be had from behind the Tomb of the Eagles visitor centre, so walked back to Burwick, picked up the car and 20 minutes later was at the back of the visitor centre. However I looked for about 25 minutes without success. I couldn't see the 2 Common Swifts that I had also seen earlier either.I'm sure the bird is still around, so for those going to see it, a drive up the Cleat road (the road up to the Tomb of the Eagles) to beyond the entrance of the Centre might be a good first step. You are much higher here than the visitor centre and get a good view of the surrounding area (Barrie Hamill)

Recent Dungeness Sightings

Wigeon – three on 28th July. Pintail – six on 28th. Garganey – two at the ARC site on 1st August. Bittern – one near Makepeace hide this morning. Cattle egret – one found in field by the access track on 1st and seen near Makepeace hide this morning. Great white egret – one at Denge Marsh, daily. Purple heron – one or two seen daily in the Denge Marsh area. Common buzzard – one flew over on 28th July. Hobby – one seen on 1st August. Whimbrel – two near the access track on 1st. Greenshank – one at the ARC site on 27th. Green sandpiper – up to three all week at the ARC site. Common sandpiper – up to three all week at the ARC site. Turnstone – one on 28th. Garden warbler – two at the ARC site on 1st. Willow warbler – several at the ARC site on 1st.

Christine Hawkins Visitor Centre Manager, RSPB Dungeness