News of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Titchwell had me back looking at birds rather than insects. The BB Sandpiper was found late on Friday, and with a house views on Saturday morning it was mid-morning before we could set out. News was the BB Sandpiper had flown at 7.30 am so we stopped at Swanton Novers Watchpoint to look for Honey-buzzards. As soon as we got out of the car we were onto 2 birds circling together a Common Buzzard and a Honey-buzzard. Dispite no news on the BB Sandpiper we headed for Titchwell anyway. We picked up a further 2 Common Buzzards on route. At Titchwell the BB Sandpiper was long gone but the Knot flock continues to grow, we viewed a Spoonbill that was actually feeding rather than sleeping and 15+ Spotted Redshank were on the Freshmarsh with a sprinkling of Greenshank amongst them. The sea was flat with loads of tern offshore, i watched a small group of immature Eider awhile before a dark bird with 2 Tern caught my eye. A juv/dark morph Pomarine Skua drifted west continuing to harass the tern. Walking back a Painted Lady butterfly was on the main bath along with a few Small Copper and a Ruddy Darter was by the Meadow Trail.
[Edit] After looking at past records, photos and advice, i've changed my thoughts on the Skua sp. and now favour the more likely Arctic Skua, considering time of year, weather etc.
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Seriously a Pom Skua at the begining of July, You obviously so it well enough to tell it apart from a more likely Arctic Skua, But not well enough to see if its a Juv or Adult?
ReplyDeleteDark Phase Poms are so much rarer than Dark phase Arctic Skua and with the senerio a hot day, no wind, flat sea isn't Arctic more likely?
I spent some time considering this myself. The bird was with two Sandwich Tern and instantly struck me as being rather large and the underside was distictively dark. Poms were seen from Flamborough Head both the day before and after. Although unlucky i concluded Pomarine (prob Juv.) over the accepted more likely Arctic.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know non-breeding adult Poms would be the only birds moving this time of year and one was seen moving south from Flamborough the day after your sighting. But Flamborough is a long way away and could of had completely different weather. Seems more likely to have been Arctic to me the fact its (prob juv) where the difference between juv and adult is very different would suggest maybe not great views? As for the large size Arctic's are bigger then Sand Terns anyway.
ReplyDeleteI've had a look at records for Juv Poms and looked at a few pictures of Pom/Arctic and i've changed my thinking towards the more likely Arctic. On the day the 'gen' just felt right. Thanks for your advice, it's nice to know people are reading my blog.
ReplyDelete'On the day the 'gen' felt right' that's a great quote. Now changing your mind as someone has questioned it seems strange to me. Just because no records have occured before doesn't mean that it cant (otherwise their would never be a first for Britian or Norfolk) it was unlikely and seemed odd to me the fact you couldn't decided between Dark Phase Adult or a Juv, you have a healthy year list it seems your just after ticks, hoping rather than identifying, seeing whats 'been around' because its 'been around' looking through your older reports there are a few would be questionable, but I wont worry about them. Just for the future I would take your time over identifying and take a second look to make sure or even take a picture you have some excellent shots already.
ReplyDeleteMore haste, less speed is probably good advice, though i hope htat my ID skills are not that bad. The good thing is in Norfolk you are never far away from an experienced birder who wil put you straight and give you advice, hopefully a few hours in the shelter at Sheringham will improve my seawatching skills. Again thanks for the advice.
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