Day Four: Maggie

While waiting for the cab a Bobolink flew over the guest house. Then started the birding day by working Lapa with Darryl. We found a Red-eyed Vireo and 2-3 Indigo Bunting. 

Indigo Bunting. One of two to three birds in the bottom of Lapa. 

Lapa Valley.  We were working our way up this valley when news broke of a Magnolia Warbler in nearby Ribeira da Ponte. We hitched a ride with the SPEA guys and after a frantic few minutes we managed to see the bird.

First pics of the Magnolia Warbler with Vincent Legrand. The bird kept flitting around in the upper dense canopy making it pretty difficult to get a good view. Eventually everyone managed to see it ( and despite the news getting lost in translation)

Spent the afternoon walking back to the village by which time the sun was out and it was a pleasant day.  

View over the middle fields towards Flores in the background 

Then ended the day processing the moth trap contents from the night before. Quite a few moths I have no idea what they are. Is this one a Goldspot?

More Corvo moths here: http://peteralfrey.blogspot.pt/2012/10/corvo-moths.html

Day Three: Wood Thrush!

Wood Thrush (Finders story here: http://gwentbirding.blogspot.pt/)

Vincent photo: http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=50730

 

Darryl moments before finding the Wood Thrush

Wood Thrush twitch

Woodcock in Fojo

White-rumps on the airfield

Adult White-rumped Sandpiper

 

Internet connection is bad so I'll be be brief. Went to Fojo with Darryl, he found a Wood Thrush while I was standing next to him in the deepest darkest part of the valley, then it took about two hours for us to get the news out and others in, in between there was a mystery wood warbler calling over our head (which I think is an American Redstart) and then we walked back to the village and saw a load of waders.

Darryl and I got our dinner and drinks paid for and now we are discussing the waterthrush again.

Few moths last night including Slender-burnished brass, Scar Bank Gem, Large Yellow Underwing and some as yet unidentified ones.

Day Two, Arrival on Corvo

Northern Waterthrush, Camp Site 

Cliff Swallow, one of four birds

 

Spent the morning killing time on Sao Miguel before getting the 130pm flight to Corvo. As usual landing safely on the small airstrip was a welcomed surprise and on arrival we were greeted with news of Cliff Swallows and a Tree Swallow flying over the village cliffs. Within a few mintues we were watching four Cliff Swallows and four House Martins flying around together but unfortunately no sign of the Tree Swallow.

Darryl and I then popped into the only shop on the island to get some glue for Darryl's boot (which has split in half)  and a hair band for me as the strong westerlies keep blowing my hat off.

We spent the last hours of the day checking the upper fields and admiring the new sea bird compound that has been completed by SPEA.

On the way back to the guesthouse, in failing light, we came across a Finn pointing frantically at a puddle and then noticed a Northern Waterthrush bathing on the edge.  

Then to the Windmill for dinner and now still got to check the moth trap.

27 birders on the island today.

Azores Autumn 2012- Day One: Wader Invasion

White-rumped Sandpiper at Mosteiros, Sao Miguel. One of 23 birds present at this site. Large numbers of White-rumps have arrived on the Azores in the last few days including 100+ at Cabo da Praia, a flock on Santa Maria, 30+ here and smaller numbers on the other islands. 

A lot of variation in the juvenile/first winter birds with varying states of moult and also variation in the amount of rufous tones in the upperparts. This is a rather crisp looking bird

This juvenile/ first-winter has lost many of its coverts on the right wing 

A rather bright and rufous toned juvenile/ first-winter

An adult White Rumped Sandpiper showing worn coverts 

Juvenile Semi-palmated Plover (White-rumps in background). One of three juvenile birds at Mosteiros 

Juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper 

Adult and juvenile/ first-winter American Golden Plovers. Part of a flock of 10 birds (the largest flock for the WP?) present west of Calhetas

10 American Golden Plovers

 

On our way to Corvo (Darryl and I) and we stopped off at Sao Miguel for our connecting flight tomorrow. We met up with Gerby and had a look around the Sete Cidades lakes (dead) and then went to Mosteiros where we had 23 White-rumps, 3 Semi-p Plovers and 1 Semi-p Sand. Spent most of the day taking photos of them but explored a bit along the north coast and found a flock of 10 yankie golden plovers. We had a look round the harbour at Ponta Delgada for the last bit of light- 1 juvenile Spoonbill was the highlight.

Hopefully Corvo tomorrow if the weather permits.

All the Azores bird news here: http://azoresbs.weebly.com/

Darryl's account of today here: http://gwentbirding.blogspot.pt/

 



 

Low latitude depression currently over the Azores presumably responsible for this wader invasion.

Autumn birding and mothing

A couple of first-winter Yellow Wagtails on 100 acre 

A major passage of House Martins today with over 500 in an hour moving north west

An influx of Pied Wagtails with 18+ on site 

Barred Sallow 

Lunar Underwing (at last)

 

Johnny's gone AWOL at the moment so Beddington bird sightings are now here:
http://beddingtonfarmlands.org.uk/#/sightings/4569288203

Quiet September day

Juvenile Kingfisher- Juvenile aged by dark breast band and dark on feet, the forth juvenile we have caught this autumn

Migrant Hawker 

Autumnal Rustic 

Beaded Chestnut

 



Migration has dropped off quite a bit. Very little on the deck and bushes- 4 Yellow Wagtails over, 100+ Swallow, 6 Green Sandpiper,1 Snipe and a few Chiffchaffs. About 7-8 Jays about including 5 moving south this morning.
A few moths last night including Autumnal Rustic (new one for me) and Beaded Chestnut.

Vis Mig

4 Wigeon- new arrivals with 15+ Mallard 

Red Underwing 

Garden Tigers growing in the bugry tank

 

Plenty of vis mig today with 400+ Swallow, 100+ House Martin, 15+ Sand Martin, 15+ Chaffinch, 50+ Mipits, 2-3 Reed Bunting, (just remembered 2 Mistle Thrush a couple of days ago) and Nick had a Wheatear and Yellow Wag on the mound (Tank had a Whinchat yesterday).

4 Wigeon were a new arrival and looks like there has been an influx of Mallard too.

Had a Red Underwing in the trap last night. My Garden Tiger breeding programme is going well- I rounded them up today to have a count-about 25.

Had three meetings this week regarding various Beddington Farmlands issues and green improvements round here. A few signs of hope. The Mayor has sent back the ERF planning application saying it is not compliant with the London Plan and want issues such as loss of MOL and negative aspects to wildlife and the nature and country park addressed. Can't be a bad thing.