A Few UK Species Site Questions (1 Viewer)

Given that the start of this year birding wise has already matched my total for all of last year in terms of new species, I kind of feel now is the time to get on the ball in regards to those frustrating species still missing from my UK list. A bunch of them I just haven't been in the right place or at the right time to see them, which is fine, but some of the rest I feel I should be able to do something about with a bit more forward planning.

So basically, if anyone could pitch advice on any of the following topics, I would greatly appreciate it!

Cornwall Pelagic Trips in August
The plan is to be in Cornwall in August this year which hopefully is a better time for pelagic species than Spring which is when I'm usually down. Hopefully I'd be able to book on a boat trip, but was wondering if people had specific recommendations as to which the best ones are (and what times of the month?). Targets would be all petrels, all skuas and all shearwaters except Manx.

A Raptor Watchpoint
Two UK raptors remain missing for me - Goshawk and Honey Buzzard so the best idea would seem to go to a raptor watchpoint with a good record of them. Really as I don't drive my options are limited to largely either places along the Sheffield/Nottingham/Leiciester/London etc trainline or within a sensible train daytrip from London. Welbeck seems the best option, but are there any others?

A few other species:
On the same location requirements as the previous, any suggestions for very reliable sites for any of the following:
Crossbill
Grasshopper Warbler
Woodcock

Thanks in advance for any help!

Alex , I don't think Welbeck was very good last year. I'd try Wykeham near Scarborough.
For grasshopper warblers and woodcock, surely there are sites near your home if you ask around local birders?

cheshirebirder said:

Alex , I don't think Welbeck was very good last year. I'd try Wykeham near Scarborough.
For grasshopper warblers and woodcock, surely there are sites near your home if you ask around local birders?

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Yeah, I'd heard Welbeck was disappointing last year which is part of why I was wondering if there were any other alternatives.

With grasshopper warblers, while there are theoretically places you can get them near me, I've never had any luck in visiting them, and last year the place that was (I heard subsequently) the best place for them locally got cleared for warehouses .

Woodcock seems to be a bit of a similar circumstance - my understanding is that the places to see them are realistically more down the opposite end of the county which aren't really connected well by public transport.

Alexjh1 said:

Yeah, I'd heard Welbeck was disappointing last year which is part of why I was wondering if there were any other alternatives.

With grasshopper warblers, while there are theoretically places you can get them near me, I've never had any luck in visiting them, and last year the place that was (I heard subsequently) the best place for them locally got cleared for warehouses .

Woodcock seems to be a bit of a similar circumstance - my understanding is that the places to see them are realistically more down the opposite end of the county which aren't really connected well by public transport.

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The first place I think I ever encountered both Woodcock and Grasshopper Warbler was Souther Wood, which I guess isn't too far from you. I'm not sure they breed there nowadays unfortunately though.

I'd suggest that Woodcock might be a bit easier to find at this time of year rather than in the summer. They should be wintering in woodlands near you and a bit of tramping around off the main paths might be productive. It perhaps depends on how you want to see them though - roding is a bit more of a spectacle than one careering off rapidly.

'Reliable' places for Crossbill are a bit hard to come by because by their very nature they're an unreliable bird. They're potentially possible in any coniferous woodland though. Woods like Wakerley and Fineshade have been good for them at times in the past, but I don't know about now. The Breckland area can be pretty regular for them, or Wells Woods perhaps.

Spurn in autumn is a good place to find Woodcock - I had a bunch of them last autumn anyway with minimal effort, including one on the deck from a hide.

As a Hampshire birder I am bound to extol the virtues of Acres Down in the New Forest for Goshawk and Honey Buzzard (Gos are showing well right now) though how you get there without a car is beyond me.

John

Acres Down could be done in theory via train and bike there a train station at ashhurst, google says cycling is half an hour

cheshirebirder said:

Alex , I don't think Welbeck was very good last year. I'd try Wykeham near Scarborough.

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Wykeham is possibly a good place, although it's difficult to get to if you don't drive.

Welbeck is always a tough place to see anything and if you do see anything it's usually distant. You have to be lucky with Goshawk, they usually give just a brief glimpse as they dash through. I have them on my local patch in Russia band though I walk there every day for several hours, I had just three sighting last year.

Any skulking Warblers are best looked for as soon at they arrive when they sit and sing for long periods and are generally much easier to see.

Budby Common in Notts in winter is good for Crossbills, Thursley is too I think near London, again, winter will be better when they flock.


A

I'm afraid that all of the local sites where I used to see Grasshopper Warblers with any regularity were on so called brownfield sites and as such have been developed on one by one. The last reliable site in the Corby area has indeed fallen victim to a speculative warehouse development and last year I only had a one day wonder bird in Laundimer Wood between Weldon and Brigstock. If I find any this year I'll post the details on the Birding in Northants part of the forum.

Woodcocks unfortunately appear to be suffering too locally and I'm not aware of any sites for roding in the Corby area but the bird report may list some places worth checking out. A dusk visit to Brookfield Plantation may well turn up a migrant or too before they depart in the next week or two but if you do go wear some wellies, it's muckier than a teenager's thoughts there at the moment.

Good luck in your searches,

James.

Hi,
Concerning Cornwall Pelagic Trips in August.

Alexjh1 said:

Cornwall Pelagic Trips in August
The plan is to be in Cornwall in August this year which hopefully is a better time for pelagic species than Spring which is when I'm usually down. Hopefully I'd be able to book on a boat trip, but was wondering if people had specific recommendations as to which the best ones are (and what times of the month?). Targets would be all petrels, all skuas and all shearwaters except Manx.

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There are (at least used to be trips) from Penzance and the Scillies. Cornwall in August is an excellent time for pelagic species with Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis), Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis), Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus), Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Great Skua (Catharacta skua), Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus), Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus), Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus ) and maybe even a Fea´s or Cape Verde Petrel or a Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) to detect.
Booking a boat trip is essential, and my specific recommendations is to use as much boat trips over at least 2 weeks from as many harbors as possible. Maybe you know that link:
http://www.bird-lens.com/2013/08/31/pelagic-specialities-on-bird-lens/
Cheers

On thing to be aware of concerning the Penzance pelagics is that they do cancel them if not enough people have booked. I've been caught out that way. If the winds are right, you might be able to see many of your target species from Gwennap Head, though as you don't drive it would involve a taxi or bike.

If you do decide to visit Wykeham and are staying locally, it is also good for woodcock at dusk (I go nightjarring there every year and I almost always see them)

Crossbills were showing brilliantly at Lynfoiird Arboretum this winter just gone, although I don't know if you are planning any trips to Norfolk. Groppers tend to be fairly reliable at Lakenheath RSPB, though again getting there at dawn without a car might be tricky.