The Twitchy Road - Western Sandpiper - Ortolon - Pacific Golden Plover - American Black tern

The distance from Hampshire to the Highlands seemed a long way to drive so I planned to make a few stops at whatever interesting rarities were present en route.

Monday 16th June 2025

First was Great Bustard. After 90 minutes walking the permissive path and another 90 mins slowly driving the tracks a female bird suddenly came into view, flying past Enford Farm.  I only saw it for the 10-20 seconds or so it took to pass by.  At least I'd finally witnessed this amazing (reintroduced) species having drawn a blank at this same location five years previously.  Earlier that morning, a couple of Apaches flew directly overheard firing blanks from their 70mm cannons.  I half expected some casings to land on my van.

The Desert Wheatear at Keynsham was scheduled to be the next stop, but I've missed it by a day, and it wasn't seen again after Sunday 15th June.  Instead, I decided to change course from West to East and take the M1 North via a Ferruginous Duck at Drayton Water.  After battling the (at first) confusing paid parking system and a short search for the bird, it was to be seen sat obligingly on a pipe close to the path until until some canoeists approached and spooked every duck in the area.

I parked my campervan on a friend's driveway in York that night and the next, (we saw a sprightly Hedgehog approach my van before scampering away assuming after smelling our presence), taking the opportunity to visit Askham Bog the following day (17th), and attempted to pick out a Willow Tit calling.  None were forthcoming sadly.  Askham Bog is a unique reserve, the first reserve acquired by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.  Definitely worth a visit.  I stumbled across a Common Treecreeper nest in the narrow hollow of a birch, a chick waiting patiently, it's bill just noticeable through a long thin opening.  It retreated and stopped it's high pitched begging calls on seeing me, seemingly surprised by my presence as I was with finding it, several feet from my face.  Also noted there, some flora, of which I am still largely ignorant; meadow thistle (locally scarce?) and common spotted marsh orchid.

18th June 2025

In the morning, I decided against visiting Hornsea Mere for the Great Reed Warbler and instead went directly towards Wykeham Forest and the Ortolan that had been present for a few days.  I followed Google Maps to the wrong car park and had to drive for a further 15 minutes to find the right spot.  Although there's nothing wrong with the first area, (the entire area is picturesque), I didn't want to miss my chance to see the bird.

On arrival I found approximately 50 people waiting for it to pop up again.  I had missed it's most recent showing by 15 minutes, exactly whilst I was sat in the wrong car park.  But Wykeham is a very nice spot anyway, and I'll try to visit it again on the way back South.

The Ortolan was elusive for the first 45 minutes before finally showing itself three or four times before going to ground amongst in a field of cereal crop.  I visited the nearby raptor watchpoint before leaving, seeing plenty of Common Buzzards but no Honey Buzzard.  A semi distant male Goshawk was present but views were fleeting.

From there, I set my sights on Pacific Golden Plover at Cowpen Marsh the long summer day giving ample opportunity to fit it in.  I arrived at 4.55pm, had a quick scan, but could not locate the bird.  Frank Golding turned up, who I think I'm meeting for the second time and together we waited, deciding how to best look for the bird.  After an hour, before we could try and relocate the bird, a local birder got the word that it had been found just a few minutes up the road, and off everyone set.  It didn't move much over the next 30-45 minutes and remained relatively distant whilst I was there.  I drove on towards Northumberland after 30 minutes...

...and arrived late that night on a farm site 15 minutes from Long Nanny.

19th June 2025

On awaking the following morning, I headed there directly to try and see the (many time) returning American Black Tern.  After an hour myself and another travelling birder were yet to see it, but admired (and ducked) Arctic Terns in the meantime.  After a large tour group arrived, the tern wardens went down to the colony flushing many of the unseen birds amongst the grass, and one, the Black Tern finally revealed itself.  It flew up and down for some 10 to 15 minutes, giving the assembled throng something to remember, before settling down out of sight once more. 

Next, the aim was to have a look around the coastline of Seahouses to hopefully spot an interesting tern.  It was a lovely sunny day and the retired masses and golfers were out in force.  I searched hopefully for a Roseate Tern off shore and enquired about a boat trip, but it was all too busy for me, and so I decided to drive to St Abbs Head instead, perhaps visiting Coquet Island for Roseate on my way south.

Arriving mid afternoon, and having never been there before, I took 90 minutes to do a loop to the lighthouse, lagoon and cliffs.  Garden Warbler stood out, as did the familiar smell of a seabird colony.  Hundreds of Guillemots and Razorbills breed along the cliff tops here.  Before long, I had to continue my journey, and had already decided on an additional two hour detour to Maidens in Ayrshire for the long staying Western Sandpiper.  With almost three hours on the road, I wasn't able to make it there before daylight dimmed, so resorted to sleeping ten minutes from the destination next to a secluded unmarked forest where Tawny Owl hooted at dusk.

20th June 2025

The Western Sandpiper showed remarkably well during the morning, hopping about on one leg for much of the time despite having a perfectly functional pair.

I spent about three hours there in total, enjoying the bird's antics and the peace and quiet of this small harbour.  Around midday, I would head towards my next stopover, somewhere, anywhere North of Glasgow (after a stock up in Paisley), and ended up sleeping in a forestry car park North of Fort William.

The Northbound twitching odyssey complete for now, I planned to head NW to see some Scottish specialities and take in the wilderness.  However, the weather would change dramatically on the 22nd, from 25+ Centigrade bright blue skies and light breeze to strong winds and heavy rain/ cloud throughout. The planned six hour hike to see Ptarmigan and other mountain birds would fail... for now.

Next up... Highlands