Blue-winged Teal, Douglas Water 14th June 2019

A drake Blue-winged Teal appeared at Douglas Water in Lanarkshire last Wednesday. Looks like it's the long staying bird at Mellon Charles near Ullapool relocating, since it disappeared about a week previously. A lot closer to home, so I decided to make the trip north today.

I departed mid-morning and arrived on site early afternoon. There were no birders in the area and it wasn't until I scanned Douglas Water with the 'scope, from the minor road above & to the west, that I picked up the drake Blue-winged Teal, which was loosely associating with five Teal in the middle of the small area of water. Views were constant whilst I was on site although a bit distant, but satisfactory. It was really difficult getting even a half decent photo with the distance, the blustery wind & the bird feeding quite a lot with its head below the surface.

Baikal Teal, Kilnsea Wetlands 23rd May 2019

A drake Baikal Teal was spotted arriving at Spurn yesterday morning by some visiting birders, 23rd May 2019. The bird settled on Kilnsea Wetlands, accompanied by a drake Wigeon. Although I have seen Baikal Teal in the UK previously, that was the bird at Caerlaverock on 10th March 1973. At the time this was the first UK record. However, the record was later removed. So, I made my way over to East Yorkshire, arriving mid-afternoon.

The drake Baikal Teal was on show from the hide at Kilnsea Wetlands immediately I arrived & for the whole time I was there. Range was mid-distance & with the bird feeding constantly meant most of the time its head was under water! With time good views were obtained of this colourful eastern vagrant. Hopefully, this one will be accepted!

Video by Pete Hines

Spoonbill, Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB 17th May 2019

A trip over to Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB earlier today proved very fruitful. Although there had been three Garganey on the Main Scrape, there was only one when I arrived on site, as a Peregrine cruised over the scrape pursued by a flotilla of Gulls, Shelducks & others.

Having walked round to Marsh Covert Hide, as I exited the hide a Spoonbill in full breeding plumage settled on the highest point of the Heronry, easily viewable from the path, providing excellent views. There was a Cattle Egret in full breeding plumage on the island from MCH & a Greenshank on the pool.

So, together with Grey Heron & Little Egret, four species of Heron/Egret, missing only Great White Egret. I heard only one Cetti's Warbler singing, with brief views.

Iberian Wagtail, Leasowe 28th April 2019

A race of Yellow Wagtail known as Iberian Wagtail was found on Kerr's Field at Leasowe last Friday 26th April 2019 by local birder Stan Davidson. The second record for Britain & first for Cheshire & Wirral. The bird was not seen yesterday, but appeared again today in the same place.

I was busy on Friday & couldn't make it over to Leasowe, so was very pleased to be driving over there this afternoon. There were quite a few birders on site along the road to the Lighthouse, scanning Kerr's Field. The Iberian Wagtail appeared on the edge of the field quite close to the road. However, it was often so close it couldn't be seen over the vegetation growing between the road & the edge of the field. Another obstacle was the fence, which the bird seemed to be able to hide behind whenever I tried switching from bins to 'scope. When it ventured a bit further out into the field it was a lot easier to see.

It was good to see a couple of old birding friends whilst on site, Pete Hines & Mark Garner. Mark had to shoot off sharpish, but I spent an enjoyable time catching up with Pete.

Previous record:
2015 North Yorkshire - East Lea, Filey, 22nd April (M. J. Pearson)

Video by Pete Hines

In the previous couple of weeks there had been quite a few good birds in the Leasowe area. On Wednesday 17th April I saw my first local adult male Redstart. All the others I've seen have been female/immature types. The next day, Thursday 18th April, an amazing site of a flock of 5 Ring Ouzels in the paddocks & my first local adult male Pied Flycatcher. As with Redstarts, previous sightings have been of female/immature types.

Discovery: The Chase - 2. Back From The Dead

DISCOVERY: THE CHASE - 2. BACK FROM THE DEAD (96kbs-m4a/19mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 4th February 2019

The Night Parrot was supposed to be extinct and became a legend among birdwatchers in Australia: a fat, dumpy, green parrot that lived in the desert and came out at night. The last bird seen alive was promptly shot dead in 1912.

Over 90 years later, a decapitated Night Parrot was found beside a fence in outback Australia, and the hunt for a living bird was on. Ornithologists descended onto the arid plains of Australia’s vast arid interior, but it took another seven years for a single photograph of a live bird.

Incredibly, a population of night parrots had survived. Their exact location is kept secret, and people are still looking for more – or more precisely, listening for more, using acoustic traps to identify calls.

Dr Ann Jones from ABC Australia takes a huge microphone for a spin in the desert to join the hunt for the legendary Night Parrot.

(Photo: Ullala Boss is a Birriliburu Indigenous Ranger, Elder and Traditional Owner and knows the dreaming stories of the Night Parrot. Credit: Dr Ann Jones)

Sounds Natural - Bill Oddie

SOUNDS NATURAL - BILL ODDIE (320kbs-m4a/68mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 1st January 2019

From the Bar-Tailed Godwit to the Black-Winged Stilt.

Back in the days when BBC Springwatch wasn't even a twinkle in Auntie's transmitters, Bill Oddie from 'The Goodies' tells Derek Jones about his longstanding love of bird watching, and his travels to see them - aided by recordings from the BBC Sound Archive.

Producer: John Burton.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1973.

Sounds Natural - Peter Cushing

SOUNDS NATURAL - PETER CUSHING (320kbs-m4a/70mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 5th December 2018

Award-winning actor Peter Cushing takes a break from making horror films to discuss his enthusiasm for the British countryside and its wildlife - aided by recordings from the BBC Sound Archive.

Peter tells Derek Jones how he used to spend hours with his late wife Helen watching wild birds from their home on the estuary at Whitstable in Kent.

Peter Cushing, OBE: born 1913 - died 1994.

Producer: John Burton.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1972.