24th October - Titchfield Haven

A day out away from Four marks i met up with Ian early morning, the tide was already high despite the fact that it was a 13.00 high tide.  It was also quite overcast in complete contrast to the forecast clear skies and sunshine.  What sun there was was filtering through the clouds.

I wanted the chance to see the Siberian Stonechat that had been at Titchfield for the past week.  The Siberian Stonechat, Saxicola Maurus, was split from a subspecies of the European Stonechat to a species in its own right in 2011, but I had never seen one before, and as this was also a first for Hampshire I wanted the chance to see and compare with the many European Stonchats reported with it.  Ian had also seen it a week ago which did put some pressure on!

The reserve though does not open until 9.30, so we spent  the time watching the sea, and the Meon.  On the sea wall a confiding Rock Pipit showed off.

While around the visitor centre two Cetti's Warblers were calling, and also gave brief views.  Once the reserve was open we made our way to the Meadow Hide, pausing at the Walkaway pond to see the amazing show of Fly Agaric fungi.  The large ones were at least 12 centimetres across the cap, but it was the group that I enjoyed, as I have never seen so many together before.

The hide was quite busy, and immediately you were struck by how many Stonechats there were.  They would use the fence, the bramble, the reed mace and any tussock of grass that gave a view point to perch on.  In total there must have been well over a dozen birds present.

There were also a large number of jays about, flying across in front of us, in amongst the grass, and perched along with the Stonechats on the fence

This time of year they tend to get overlooked, but they are quite spectacular birds in their own right.

While we were looking for the Stonechat three Swallows flew through, a Sparrowhawk unsettled the Lapwing on the scrape, and a young Marsh harrier would put in brief appearances upsetting the gulls and cormorants.

We searched and scanned but never finding a pale looking individual.  In the end we decided the plan for the day should not be compromised, and we left the hide.  The intention was to walk along the coastal path to Warsash.  As we walked along the road, the now high tide had pushed the Turnstone on to the wooden groynes.

We stopped off in the busy Meon Shore Hide, there were several waders present such as distant Snipe and Avocet, and closer in this quite photogenic Redshank.

And a winter plumaged Black-tailed Godwit (which turned out to be an omen)

The walk was largely uneventful.  There was little to nothing on the sea, and in the bushes and hedges only the odd call of a Goldcrest.  In the fields approaching Hooks Link there was a large flock of Brent Geese, I estimated it to be about a thousand.

A raven called above us, and as we watched a field two Peregrine flew over, in no particular hurry, but you knew they would be causing havoc somewhere soon.  We were also unlucky in the search for the Little Owl at Beam Cottage.

Around the links we encountered several Common Darter, a calling but hidden Cetti's Warbler, many more Jays and a large flock of young Goldfinches.

The stop to remove clothes now that the sun had arrived produced a single Clouded Yellow that flew around the reeds but never stopped for a photograph, while the pools were surprisingly empty despite the very high tide.

On the way back we the Brent Geese numbers had increased and there was a very confiding Stonechat amongst the bramble.

A little further on, from a small clump of bramble a Dartford Warbler came out, there almost as quickly disappeared from sight, and never showed again.

Bird Guides had reported the Siberian Stonechat as having been seen at 11.40, 30 minutes after we had left the hide.  We had made good time on our walk back, and this meant that we might get at least 45 minutes in the reserve before they closed at 5.00pm

As we arrived at the Meadow Hide we were told it was showing on the fence.  We spent some time trying to string European Stonechats as being pale enough in the setting sun, on a distant fence wire.

I then noticed a bird at the top of a bush in the field south of the fence, it was pale Stonechat size, and behaving just like the others using the prominent perch to look down.

This was it, but then it dropped down out of sight.  We waited, but it didn't reappear so we went into the hide just as one of the staff turned up to say they would be locking the hide.  Almost immediately it appeared at the top of the bush again.  This time the views were longer and I managed some more very distant pictures.  in this the bird looks quite pale, with for me the appearance of an autumn Wheatear, or maybe a Whinchat.  There is not much black in the area around the head.  The spread tail though is distinctive with the dark feathers and the glimpse of the rump shows no streaking unlike that found in the Stonechat.

It dropped to the ground again, and became very difficult to find amongst the similarly coloured grass.  Every so often it would hop up onto a tussock, but was clearly nervous of the other bolder European Stonechats.  We were then told we had to leave the hide.

As we came out of the reserve and onto the road, a young Kestrel was hunting over the reeds close to the road.  So intent was it on finding a meal for the night it was not concerned about me getting close with the camera, the net result was a wonderful portfolio of photographs that show the amazing ability this little falcon has when hunting.  Holding the body still while the head searches below.  I just love the focus in the eyes.  While not being extra pin sharp due to the failing light, the higher ISO provides a watercolour feel to the photograph.  Even though I say so myself I am pleased with them.

It was another fitting end to another enjoyable day.

20th September - Pagham & Warsash

Time for a break and the chance to find some real water birds, I headed to Pagham Harbour to meet up with Ian, and hopefully find some interesting birds.  It was very still and slightly misty, but not cold.  On arriving at in the car park I could hear the call of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and walked around to the discovery zone to see on sitting in the tree behind the feeders.

We walked the path to the outlook over the road to the ferry pond, with the still conditions the water looked like a mirror, and it was perfect conditions for searching for waders.  Unfortunately all the waders seemed to be at the back of the pond.  There were six Spotted Redshank, five Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, Snipe and a Greenshank.  Closer in though were five Black-tailed Godwits, one of which was still showing some breeding plumage.  The still water making for some lovely reflections.

At the back of the pond was a Buzzard, that suddenly realised a young rabbit was about.  The Buzzard made several attempts to catch the rabbit, but the rabbit managed to get away, but stupidly did not head for the available cover, and finally the Buzzard got it right and stayed with its prey until it was obviously dead.

Also at the back of the pond were four Wheatears seen on the fence posts, and a Stonechat.

A young Peregrine flew across the pond, and did not seem to disturb any of the waders.  We watched it fly away and out over the the aerial where it upset a few Starling but made no effort to hunt.

From the ferry we drove down to Church Norton.  A walk around the church yard only found a few Chiffchaffs and a Robin, it was very quiet.  Out in the harbour the tide was still high, and large numbers of Oystercatchers and Curlew could be seen on the islands.

We made our way around to the spit, and then set up by the metal works.  Immediately we saw a Kingfisher on the metal bars.

Turnstone were sitting on the wall, and as I scanned through them I noticed another Kingfisher beyond the turnstone.

The Kingfishers were very mobile, and we saw one catch and eat a fish.  One Kingfisher would fly closer to us on to the bank, but as I went to take the picture it flew off.

As the tide fell, the waders appeared, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper being the pick of the bunch, but too far off for a picture.  With the falling tide large flocks of Wigeon flew in, and with them a few Pintail.  A single Sandwich Tern flew through, and a Wheatear dropped down in front of us very briefly.

Walking back we stopped around the bushes, a juvenile Green Woodpecker sat on a post, but apart from a Willow Warbler there was nothing else of interest.

Back at the visitor cntre we had lunch and discussed where to go next, the North Wall or Farlington, but news of a Wryneck at Hooks Links in Warsash changed those ideas, and we set off there.

When we arrived we were informed that the Wryneck was showing well, but had been disturbed by a dog on the beach.  Wryneck has been my bogey bird, I have twitched many, but never managed to see one, I have stood looking at bushes and grassy banks many times and nothing has ever appeared.  Was it possible today could be the day.

We arrived at the site and there was nothing there, the words "it was showing well" ringing in my ears.  We had plenty of time and we settled in to wait and see.  A Peregrine flew over, and circled up into the sun, and then dropped in attack mode by missed and then flew off.

I could hear Dartford Warblers calling, and eventually a juvenile appeared from within the gorse.

There were in fact two Dartfords present, but still no sign of the Wryneck.

A Kestrel flew along the line of the gorse, hovering in search of dinner.

We debated walking up the beach, and then coming back in the thought it might come out back onto the grassy area.  Then I saw a bird fly out of the gorse on to the shingle.  I walked a little closer, and flushed what could only be the Wryneck, but it flew back into the gorse.  We waited again, and was finally rewarded when it flew into a clump of bramble on the beach.  The first pictures I took were over exposed due to the pictures of the Kestrel. Fortunately I realised and was able to get these shots.

What a beautiful bird, about the size of a Song Thrush, but with exquisite markings in different shades of brown and grey, from behind the dark brown stripe on the back would change thickness in the light.  It hopped around looking for food, but was ever watchful turning the head in the fashion that gives it it's name.

Then it flew back again, and was lost in the gorse.  I was elated, at last a real live Wryneck, and I had managed to photograph it too, I had a big smile on my face, but then Ian found it again at the bottom of the gorse bush, and it was clearly feeding in a rut in the grass.

It was distant, but the view in the scope was excellent.  But then a jogger came by, and despite attempts to alert him, he ran straight past the bird and it flew away over the gorse and out of sight.

We looked for it, but could only find this Wheatear

That was it though, a very successful day, at last a Wryneck, so we set off back to the car, and into the Rising Sun for a celebratory pint!  Fantastic!

23rd - 24th August - Day 15-16; Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort, Sabah, Borneo

We had decided that we should get up early to enjoy the most of our last two days of the holiday.  If the weather was to go to form we would be due a rain storm in the afternoon, so we had taken the chance to book a visit to the Orang Utan Rehab centre they have at the Rasa Ria. 

We were by the pool at 7:30, and despite the length of the shadows the sun was already very hot.  The view out across the beach was quite dramatic with the long shadows of the palm trees.

I had a walk around the gardens as there were small birds buzzing about and settling in the trees and palms.  I managed to photograph this Red-throated Sunbird feeding on the palm tree flowers.

Further along I found this Common Iora, we had seen a few in the different locations but this was the best photographic opportunity I had.

Another first from a photographic point of view was this Oriental Magpie Robin.

As the morning went on we enjoyed the sunshine and the facilities.

Early afternoon and it was our time to visit the Orang Utan reserve.  The Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort started out with an Orang utan Care project that aimed to rehabilitate the most iconic species in Sabah. Today though, a Nature Reserve has been established in collaboration with the State Wildlife Department with the aim of protecting a 64 acre ecological space to help facilitate rehabilitation programmes for more endangered species of faunas endemic to Sabah.

The greatest threat to Orang utans is habitat loss due to mechanised logging. Under ideal conditions, these solitary animals roam the forest in search of widely distributed food sources. The reduction of suitable habitats is forcing Orang utan populations into smaller areas, which cannot support them. In addition, Orang utans have a slow reproductive rate. Females have only one baby every 7 to 8 years.

Young Orang utans are also threatened by poachers who capture them to be sold as pets. The mother is often shot in order to gain access to the baby.  This programme takes young abandoned Orang utans, cares for them and looks to rehabilitate them into the wild by replacing the teaching they would normally get from their mother.  Once they reach a suitable age, typically around 6-8 years old they will be transferred to the Sepilok centre for the next phase of their rehabilitation, before hopefully reaching the final step, release into the jungle in Tabin.

The reserve had three youngsters, two males aged four, and a female aged three.  As with Sepilok the area they live in is natural to the habitat of Borneo, and there are trees producing fruit.  As a result they may not appear at the feeding station.  However we were lucky and the two males were present, and we were treated to some lovely scenes

Leaving the Orang utans and returning back to the pool the cloud came over masking some of the sunshine, but thankfully it never rained, only our second day without rain on the holiday.  The cloud also produced a spectacular sunset as we sat and enjoyed the Happy Hour.

Next day we were up early again, today though we had a hard stop at 14.30, as we were having to leave at 16:00 for our long journey home.

Once again there was some activity early on around us in the trees and out on the beach.  A pair of White-breasted Woodswallows had been flying around yesterday, but this morning they were settled on one of the floodlights.  Clearly they were a pair, and one could be seen bringing food for the other.

I finally managed to get a photograph of the lightning fast Munias, this is the Chestnut Munia

A House Swallow also perched nicely on one of the volley ball net poles.

It is quiet at the time we were up, and the reptiles take advantage of the warm boardwalk to fuel up first thing in the morning.  If you got to close they would scurry off under the boardwalk, where it appears they stayed during the day.

An amusing event was the arrival of a White-breasted Waterhen.  It kind of creeps about with a walk-run style, and appeared from behind a palm tree, and then searched under the vacant sun beds, before dashing off and away from us.

I went off to explore again, but couldn't find anything new about, however when I returned back to the sun beds, a black and white bird flew up into the tree above us.  This was a Pied Triller, and was to be the last new bird of the holiday.

We were both suffering a it from the last day fidgets, and Helen after returning to the room called me over to see something she had found.  I couldn't see it at first but as I searched under the sun bed she was pointing at, and eye was looking back at me, it was reminiscent of a scene from Jurassic Park.

It was a Monitor Lizard, not a big one, only a metre long, but like the waterhen, it had found out that there was the possibility of food under the beds.  It walked away from us, totally unconcerned with our presence.

As the sun rose higher we settled down for some final rays, and before we knew it the time to leave had come around.  It was the end of what we both called a “challenging” holiday.  It had been very hot and humid, and there were parts which in hindsight I would not have undertaken.  I wish too I had researched a little more into the potential for wildlife viewing in certain areas especially Sarawak.

That said I know we both have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Malaysia and Borneo.  We have experienced some wonderful encounters, met some very friendly people, and seen some amazing things.