NT
On the 18th September:
1974
Today we started on Portland where with Chris Heard we found an immature Montagu's Harrier, a new bird for us. Also seen was a Red-headed Bunting, treated and still treated as an escape, a Ring Ouzel, 9 Kestrels, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 6+ Garden Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, a pair of Redstarts and 5 Golden Plovers. At Ferrybridge there were 2 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Golden Plovers and 2 Sanderling.
1976
An overnight drive to Birling Gap near Beachy Head, East Sussex, where we had come to see a male Sardinian Warbler, a new bird for us, initially we only had brief flight views, but, during the 4-5 hours we were there, we did see it perched in the open.
Also seen were 3 Wheatears, 5 Whinchats, a number of warblers including 14 Whitethroats, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit, 2 Golden Plovers and we found a Dotterel. On the sea there were masses of Gannets, lots of terns, c100 Kittiwakes and a Great Skua.
Later, we went to Dungeness where on an evening sea-watch there were 5 Black Terns, 18 Arctic Skuas and 2 Little Gulls.
1979
A drive to Cornwall, to Stithians Reservoir again, for the Solitary Sandpiper, seeing it in better light and for longer. Later, we went to Marazion Marsh where after a lot of time and effort an Aquatic Warbler was flushed from the rough grass around the pools into bullrushes in-front of the main reed-bed, in view on and off for about 10 minutes.
1980
Another trip to Steart where the immature Sabine's Gull was still there, also seen were good numbers of waders, 15 Wheatears and 3 Yellowhammers. From there we went to Durleigh Reservoir seeing a Pectoral Sandpiper along with a Green and 3 Common Sandpipers. Then to Chew Valley Lake where the Wilson's Phalarope was still on show, also seeing 3 Green Sandpipers, 24 Ruff, 5 Greenshank, 19 Spotted Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Gull, 4 Common Terns and 2 Black Terns.
1981
On the ferry from Le Harve to Portsmouth, at the end of a recce trip to Spain.
1982
Leading a Wingspan tour to Turkey, 1 new bird seen today.
1983
Leading a Wingspan Tour to Western Turkey.
1988
1998
On a filming and sound recording trip to Zimbabwe, 1 new bird seen today.
2005
A visit to Severn Beach for the high tide seeing 2 Little Stints, c100 Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plovers and a Knot. At Northwick Warth there were 280 Knot, c180 Dunlin, c100 Turnstone, 50+ Curlew, 30+ Oystercatchers, c30 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plovers and a Curlew Sandpiper.
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