HOODED WHEATEAR

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Hooded Wheatear, Ovda, Israel April 2018

IT WAS MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS since I last had a close encounter with a Hooded Wheatear. Apart from one brief look in Oman, my last meeting with this amazing bird was in the vast canyon of Metzoke Dragot in Israel’s Dead Sea region, with friends David Hind, (the late) Keith Regan and Nick Watmough. This was a time when I was very much into birding in Israel and I made several visits in my early twenties before the intifada really got going and I turned my attentions elsewhere. Wheatears are some of my favourite birds and with its extra long legs and bill, this one in particular literally stands out among them. It was also one of the first new birds I saw in Eilat on my first visit there. I had just dropped my bag at the notorious Max’s Hostel and headed out towards the north fields and there it was, a fantastic male Hooded Wheatear, almost at my feet and right on the edge of town. I can remember it like it was yesterday. This was a time when there were no hotels on the North Beach and tamarisk scrub stretched all the way from there to the saltpans. As time has gone by (and I have also got more into bird photography) I have hoped for another close encounter and with no luck in Oman, where they are quite scarce, Israel represented my best chance. It was therefore a very exciting moment to call one on the April 2018 Birdquest tour there, out on the desolate Ovda Plain, just looking over my shoulder in case anything had sneaked in behind us, like so often happens in wide open places.

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Hooded Wheatear has a wide range from Egypt to western Pakistan but there are not many countries within this area that are still relatively safe for visiting western birdwatchers so consequently there are not too many opportunities to see one. Something else has struck me about them that adds to their appeal. They are often inhabitants of remote wild desert canyons, met with briefly before they make long flights across chasms to become simply a black-and-white dot on a distant rock face. However, an encounter with one on a desert plain is often a different prospect. The Ovda Plain bird appeared to approach and investigate us. ‘How did you know it would not just fly off when we approached it?’ said André. I guess this might be a difference between a breeding bird and a simply curious wandering one?

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TWO DOWN, FOUR TO GO - COMMON SCOTER AT BARROW

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Common Scoter, Barrow Lower Lodge

THE COMMON SCOTER WAS STILL PRESENT ON BARROW LOWER LODGE near Clitheroe early this morning. Found yesterday, news was not spread widely until evening. I guess most people have seen tons of them in East Lancs already but to see one on such a small lake/pond is very special. Incredibly this is of course the second scoter species, which has occurred on this tiny water body, following the Velvet Scoter in Dec 2009/Jan 2010. It did not look too well early on but perked up when an endless series of dog walkers passed by, frequently swimming into the middle of the pond. Occasionally it swam right up to the crash barrier by the road, presumably checking out the Mallards and swans there. The light was terrible this morning with numerous sleet showers and as I crouched next to the McDonald's rubbish bin several folks chucked their dogshit bags in just inches from my head and one guy pulled up in a car and threw a pile of baby nappies in too. Well I guess I can't have it both ways as I often moan that people don't put their dogshit bags in any kind of bin but I felt like asking the nappy guy if he didn't have a bin of his own. [later we counted a combination of 20 dogshit bags and actual dogshits along the entrance track to Longridge Fell. What is wrong with these people? The dirty bastards. ] Anyway, back to the scoter. While we stood back away from the lodge it decided to take flight for no apparent reason and flew straight towards us, before veering around, crossing the A59 and landing on Barrow Upper Lodge, where it went back and forth from the main lodge to the small upper pond. Eventually, it flew off north and out of sight. Seven Goosanders, nine Tufted Ducks, a Great Crested Grebe and a cormorant remained on the upper lodge, which is being drained in connection with the housing development there. I thought the fact the lower lodge is now surrounded by houses, fast food franchises and industrial units would mean there wouldn't be another good bird there but clearly not, although another one of the remaining four scoter species seems unlikely!

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Common Scoter, Barrow Upper Lodge

FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING

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THE CALLS OF CURLEWS ECHOED ACROSS THE VALLEY at Ribchester today, the first birds returning from their wintering grounds nearer to the coast. There have been oystercatchers around pretty much all winter as well as a few lapwings but I always associate the return of the curlews with the first signs of spring along with Snowdrops in the church yard and the earliest bird song. Today's walk along the river to Red Bank and back produced two new birds for me here. The first was Dipper, a long awaited prospect, one flew from the river up the stream past the Roman Bath House first thing. I know they have been see further up this stream but this is the first time I have seen one by the river. The second was a Greylag Goose, flying west down the valley (before today I had seen more Greenland White-fronts here than Greylags!). A Green Woodpecker calling loudly at Red Bank was probably a visitor from the woods at Hothersall Hall, where they are more regular.  Oystercatchers have increased to 32 on the meadow by the river opposite Red Bank and other signs of spring were birds, which are now singing including Chaffinch, Dunnock and Wren. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers was in the wood at Red Bank, where the male was drumming. The morning's total was a very respectable 56 species, only 3 off my highest total and although some trickier birds like goldeneye, sparrowhawl and skylark put in an appearance other regulars like kestrel, Little Egret and kingfisher were missing.

MERLIN BRIGHTENS DULL DAY!

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A FEMALE MERLIN DASHED ACROSS THE RIVER heading north over Boat House, with the trajectory of a missile, in hunting mode, its fast wingbeats powering it on. Only the second I've seen in Ribchester (the first was over the house) but the first I've seen on my regular birding walk, which takes me along the riverbank from St Wilfrid's School to Red Bank and back via Boat House and Lower Barn. Today's total was 57 species, 7 over par for this winter's walks and although it did not include some regulars it also included another two new ones for this winter - Canada Goose (a small flock of 33 that flew over the village and was later feeding on the fields opposite Red Bank, which also included a Pink-footed Goose) and Tawny Owl (calling from Hothersall Hall in mid morning).

A Peregrine was screaming at a buzzard by the power lines above Red Bank, I think the large number of starlings has attracted it and so far Peregrine has featured on over half of my walks. Eight buzzards were logged today, as well as a pair of Ravens, two kestrels and the (?) Little Egret. A Teal flying upstream at Red Bank was only my second record this winter, only one Little Grebe was seen at Red Bank but the Kingfisher was back by the school in Ribchester. A major feature of today's observations was a southward passage of Woodpigeons, totalling 134 and easily my highest total of the winter, maybe ahead of the cold front on the way later today. Starling numbers had increased to c.740 and Fieldfares to 73 and Black-headed Gulls were also up at c.960.

Goosander was absent again and the general lack of sightings might be owing to persecution. I've only seen it on 4 out of 7 counts this winter. This figure used to be 100%. The bailiff tells me that RADAC has a license to shoot them and cormorants. It is a shame that the aims of one group of conservationists is at odds with that of another. I am sure they do some good work in maintaining habitat along the banks of the river but I wish they would not shoot birds.