American Black Tern

The weather is awful here on Sao Miguel- the main Azorean island. I managed to have a look around Lagoa Azul and pyllo wood for a couple of hours this morning but saw nothing apart from fog, rain and four Eurasian Wigeon. I gave up in the end and came back to Ponta Delgada and an American Black Tern was flying along the sea front while I was looking for a restaurant.

This weather is bad- strong winds and fog. I heard David Lindo and Stuart Winter are stuck on Flores for the forth day and I am not sure if Pierre-Andre and Simon made it to Corvo- last I heard they were stuck on Faial.

Looks like this weather is scattering and dumping birders as well as birds.

THE AZORES

I literally can't wait to get on the Azores and I fly out tonight. It has been an exciting week across the archipelago with Northern Waterthrush, Grey Catbird, Belted Kingfisher, Western Sandpiper, American Redstart, Tennessee Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Parula, Buff-bellied Pipit and more. Photos and news here:
http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery11

www.birdingazores.com/?page=recent

Here's a couple of shots from previous years (top to bottom, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mourning Dove, Semipalmated Plover, White-crowned Sparrow and Lagoa Azul, Sao Miguel) :

Short-eared Owl from the obs

When I was 14, a Short-eared Owl at Beddington flew close by me- staring me out as it moved silently past at head height. I think it cast a spell on me because this has been my all time favourite bird to this day. To see one from my window over Beddington, now 24 years later was very satisfying.

A better shot here of presumably the same bird yesterday here:
http://surreybirding.blogspot.com/

BIRD WALK

It was too wet to have a good look round, too windy for land birds and we didnt' get any good views of anything interesting so I didn't get any photos. Therefore I have not got a lot to report from todays bird walk. Here's a pretty picture instead and a link to a nice song from our band, (which is what I do when the birds play up :-)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Sg5zrUITU

Or if you fancy a not so nice song then click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNV_RI2wMyk

Birding Azores: Corvo Scores

Things have got off to a good start on Corvo (top pic, the smallest Azorean island) . Rarity paparazzi Vincent Legrand, found a Northern Parula within 5 minutes of walking into one of the valleys. Photo (amazing photo) here:
http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery11

I'll be on Corvo next week so I am hoping this one hangs it there. Also beginning to worry about what else they are going to find before I can get there!

All the Azores bird news here: http://www.birdingazores.com/

Ruff at the Farm

A juvenile Ruff was the highlight of the day but other migrants included 4 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper and 8 Snipe. Wildfowl numbers continue to climb with 200+ Teal, 15+ Mallard, 45+ Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck and 15+ Tufted Duck. There is a Linnet and Goldfinch flock on the mound, with a few Meadow Pipits about, 4 Siskins flew over, 2 Reed Buntings were also on the mound. Good numbers of hirundines today with 200+ House Martin and 50+ Swallow.

Above: The birdwatching hide at Beddington Farmlands with the eco village Bedzed and Hackbridge behind.

BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS LATE AUTUMN BIRD WALK TOMORROW

All are welcome to a bird walk at Beddington Farmlands tomorrow morning. The walk meets at Hackbridge Train Station at 0915 and will last 1.5 to 2 hrs. We hope to see many migrants including species such as Little Stint (above) and Stonechat (below).