Black Tern and Curlew Sandpipers at Grafham Water

13th September 2025

It seems to be an unprecedented year for Curlew Sandpiper migration this autumn with up 30 birds being recorded at some sites and 11 at Grafham Water so time for a visit. We made our way round to the Valley Creek Hide where most of the action had been and met Mark Hawkes who said that this morning there were only four present.

Once in the hide we could indeed see the four Curlew Sands accompanied by a couple of Dunlin and three Ringed Plovers. Unfortunately because of the incredibly low water levels they were very distant and after about half an hour all flew off in one flock across the reservoir. So I wonder where they had gone?

We waited a while to see if they would return when a pair of Greenshank flew in and started to feed on the shoreline. Still distant but a much larger bird so some shots were possible.

At that point one of the birds started bathing so it was just a matter of time before it would have a wing-flap or short flight to dry off.

The hides are set in woodland and on the margins was a large Hawthorn bush with dead branches protruding, so ideal for a Spotted Flycatcher. And as is often the case, this individual was fairly confiding.

Further along the bank back towards the cafe a Great White Egret flew past and landed in the small  harbour used by the fishing boats, and started to feed.

The outer wall of the harbour is a rubber boom and was being used by juvenile Common Terns to loaf around while waiting for the adults to bring them food.

There was also a Black Tern feeding out on the reservoir and it too was using the boom as a resting point between feeding flights.

We then moved to the dam to see if we could relocate the Curlew Sandpipers. There were very few birds along such a long dam, but we did manage to locate a single Common Sandpiper and a couple of Ringed Plover and Dunlin.

And then on the only bit of wet mud on the dam were the four Curlew Sandpipers.

Well, we have had some good days at Grafham Water, mainly during the winter months but today beats all, certainly in terms of diversity.

Chats Galore at Ivinghoe Beacon

6th September 2025

Autumn migration is well underway now so time for a visit to Ivinghoe Beacon.The path down through the scrub from the car park towards the sheep pen field was exceedingly quiet with just one Chiffchaff calling, so on towards the fenceline leading to the pens. As I dropped down to the field it is always nice to be greeted by one of the site's specialities, the Harebell.

The fenceline and the area of scrub below Gallows Hill held a number of birds including Sky Larks, single Meadow Pipit and Whitethroat, but the vast majority were chats.

Most of the Stonechats were in heavy moult.

This one seems to have moulted its whole tail.

Only one male was near the end of its moult.

But the stars of the show today were the 5+ Whinchats. In my experience Whinchats have reduced in numbers over the years as I used to photograph them regularly in spring and autumn, but these days I tend to only photograph them once a year.

Well another great day at The Beacon and also good to catch up with Ashley Cox and benefit from his local knowledge.