Red Necked Phalarope, Slimbridge, 11th October

As we know, Slimbridge is nearly on the way back from Newton Abbott to Cardiff.......

Squacco, Newton Abbott, 11th October

Dan and I twitched this stupidly approachable bird in a town centre park. We thought it had gone, because when we arrived, the only birder present was stood some distance from his scope, hands in pocket. As we got nearer, we realised that the bird was about 30 feet from him (and us!), on the wall around the pond. Dipped on Cirls at Exminster, however........

Portland Weekend

Another good weekend at Portland earlier this month. The highlight was the Arctic Warbler twitch, a lifer for us all. Yellow-browed Warbler at Reap Lane, a Lesser Whitethroat at the Obs along with Bittern, Pectoral Sandpiper and Bearded Tit at Radipole were all year ticks for me. We also enjoyed prolonged views of Water Rail while looking for the Spotted Crake. Natuarlly it showed on the Sunday evening. A juvenile Spoonbill at Lodmoor concluded the weekend.

Isles of Scilly, 6th October

Whilst in Cornwall, a £20 day trip from Penzance to St Marys on the Scillonian brought me 3 "lifers" and 2 year ticks. Spotted Sandpiper (shown), Sora and Blackpoll Warbler all showed well, and Yellow Browed Warbler and Jack Snipe were welcome bonuses! I still had time to pop to a couple of pubs. Sea watching was poor, just a couple of Bonxies and Stormies on a calm day. Gill enjoyed clothes and art shopping in St Ives, so a good day was had by all.

Long Billed Dowitcher, Drift Res, Cornwall. 2nd October

This long stayer was only 20 mins from where Gill and I were staying in Cornwall, so we had to pop along to see it. Lovely, obliging bird. Gill saw it first. I was scanning the far bank, when she pointed out that it was in fact about 30 yards in front of us!