Thirty Years Ago - August 1996

3^rd August

A very early start with Tony and Kettle to get up to Breydon Water for dawn.  Fortunately it only took us a few minutes to locate the flock of four White-rumped Sandpipers out on the mud!  All were adults and over the next hour perfectly acceptable views were had as they fed amongst the Dunlin.  My first since 1990 and more than all the others combined!.  There were lots of other waders too with Curlews, Whimbrel, both Godwits, Shanks, Ruff, Oystercatchers, Ringed and Golden Plovers.

A revitalising breakfast at MacDonald’s and then onto the Fritton Red Kites which were found almost upon arrival and we watched them glide gracefully over the woods [Eds: To think I now live up here and see them most days when I poodle out…].

Northwards to Fulmodeston where a similarly short wait for the pair of Honey Buzzards was needed and we even had them displaying over our heads and a couple of Common Buzzards added a touch of the west country. [Eds: They were still scarce back then]

A nightmare journey south saw us at Hanningfield Reservoir and its rather smart Pectoral Sandpiper.  LRPs and a Wood Sandpiper were added to the already impressive wader day list. The woods were full of butterflies

4^th August

A rather waderless morning at Cliffe Pools although we  did see six Little Egrets and a a pair of Barn Owls at nearby Cooling.

10^th August

Back to Abberton with the Bacons for a fresh juvenile White-winged Black Tern that was hawking with Black Terns showing the contrasting dark saddle well.  There were lots of waders with plenty of Ruff and an unexpected flock of 17 Curlew Sandpipers.  Yellow Wagtails zoomed around and there were many hirundines and a high flying Hobby. The Kestrels had fledged early on their pylon nest and had been replaced by the Hobbies which now had one large chick.

11^th August

A cool and damp day at St Margarets with Andrea and Thomas. There were lots of gulls and a lone Rock Pipit on the quayside.

17^th August

A frantic afternoon dash to Hemel Hempstead where a Blue Rock Thrush had been found on the BP HQ building.  Unfortunately it show multiple sign of having been in captivity – a real pity. [Eds: I have still not seen one in the UK]

18^th August

A wonderful day spent at Lydden Down with Kettle and Tony.  We saw 27 species of butterfly including my first Silver Spotted Skipper and Adonis Blues as well as several Wart Biter Crickets. [Eds: This is still the only time I have seen this species]

26^th August

Minsmere was our first stop and not for the first time this year it was a butterfly and not a bird.  The warden took the assembled group along a private ride where several Queen of Spain Fritillaries had been residing for a couple of weeks and with it already warming up, it did not take long to fine two sunning themselves on the path.  Rich, black spotted orange uppers and a greeny hint to the body fur and underwing covered with silvery mirrors.  They were very rapid flyers. Brown Argus, Small Copper and Clouded Yellows were amongst other species seen.

Down on the reserve we ambled around where the Purple Heron was once again performing well in the reedy area behind the West Hide.  Much darker than when I saw it in July.  Perhaps it was the first bird from June? The scrape was almost dry but we did find a lone Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshanks.

Marsh Harrier were evident but nothing was taking any notice of them except for skittish Green Sandpipers.  Eight Spoonbills dozed on the Hidden Pool where they preened and dozed.

Tea and scones and the south again to Abberton Reservoir where more waders were seen  along with a host of duck that included an eclipse drake Garganey.  A single Black Tern dipped down with some Common Terns.  Around at the causeways we found a Black-necked Grebe and Wood Sandpiper which were both new birds for Andrea.

31^st August

A bright, early morning visit to Dagenham Chase for migrants with four Whinchat, 15 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 45 Willow Warbler [Eds: can you imagine that sort of count nowadays?], eight Chiffchaff, eight Whitethroat, 15 Lesser Whitethroat, two Spotted and a single Pied Flycatcher but there was no sign of the Wood Warbler.