Anyway, finally I could go out on the patch, which is what I had wanted to do from the start. One more piece of toast and I was on my way, though not for long. The pager kicked into life just as I had completed the SSSI and Broom Fields with news of Guillemot flying west past Crossness. Gah! Another awesome seabird flying up the river on strong westerlies. What goes up must come down, so off to Rainham I went and plonked myself on the balcony, there to watch the river. Which was dead. I picked up a Sanderling on the Crayford foreshore, but it was otherwise very quiet.
On the Serin Mound, Paul wasn't having much luck either. That was until the Raven flew past him. Knowing I was on the balcony looking for auks on the river, he quickly called me, and I ran through the visitor centre to scan over the A13 where it had been flying.
I'll save you the agony, I didn't get it. I think needing to squeeze through the door sideways may have slowed me down. Also, I think it had been dropping steadily, and perhaps I wasn't looking in quite the right direction. Still on the phone he told me it had dropped just as I got onto where it had likely been flying. Another one that got away, and an exellent London bird. Bummer, as they say, and a bit of a downer. I was almost unable to believe that I had been so close to seeing it and had missed it, but there you go, that's birding. I missed an Arctic Skua by approximately the same margin earlier in the year and managed to claw it back. This is the second time in recent days that a Raven has been seen in the area, so I'm hopeful of picking one up soon if I spend enough time on the reserve.
Still on the ramp, my phone rings again, this time it's Johnny A from Beddington with the good news that the Pectoral Sandpiper has been relocated. Up, Down, Up, Down. I wasn't quite sure which this was. On the one hand it was a bird I had never seen in the London area, and one more towards 200. On the other hand there was a Raven nearby and the possibility of a Guillemot drifting down on the ebbing tide, and, as I have mentioned, Beddington is a right old trek.
Obviously I went to Beddington as that was the most hypocritical option available. It didn't take nearly as long as I remembered, perhaps because I took the motorway instead of trying to navigate across South London. Once there I followed Johnny's directions and found the lagoon. It didn't have a Pec Sand on it. Arse. I scanned the three lagoons for over an hour before Johnny joined me. He concurred that I wasn't just being useless and that it genuinely wasn't present, so suggested we look at the pools at the top end of the farm that it had been favouring a couple of days ago.
We went cross-country - no way would I ever have found the correct route, the site is enormous - and eventually arrived at the pools. Nothing doing. Hmmm. For some reason I decided I'd have a quick look at an unlikely looking pool with no muddy fringes, and there it was, feeding on a small island. Result! The cap was extremely rufous, I can see why Johnny had considered Sharp-tailed for a moment initially.
Such a smart bird, and easily the best view I have had of one. I approached to the edge of the pool, as close as I could get to it, and took a few record shots. With all the nonsense over the London year-list record attempt last year, I'm trying to document as many of the birds that I see as I can, either with a photo, or by seeing them with someone else present. And anyway, I like taking photographs, as you probably know by now. When I get a moment, I'm going to create a London 2010 page on this blog so that people can check up on me. For now though, here is the proof.
I'm highly impressed with how well your London Year List is going Jono, and looking forward to seeing what #200 is. The late Rupert Hastings was first to get 200 in London, in 1985. His account is in the '85 LBR, and well worth a read. If you don't have/can't get a copy I'll scan it and email it to you.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering how a modern day 200 compares, and I have to say I suspect it might be easier now. Despite the ever present difficulties with getting around the LNHS area, I get the impression that London birders are FAR more communicative than they were 25 years ago, plus bird news is INSTANT! Also, you now have more species, eg. Herring AND Y-L Gull, Rock AND Water Pipit, plus easy-peasy Buzzards, Red Kites and Peregrines.
Mind you, we did have Willow Tit!
I agree, I am sure that it is easier now. In addition to the ready availability of news, the London grapevine and camaraderie that exists here is second to none.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am burdened with children, which presents its own difficulties birding and twitching, I am not burdened with a job, and there are more than a few birds on my list which I would not have been able to get had I been at work, so I've a definite advantage there.
As far as species go, I suspect that in 1985, in addition to Willow Tit, it was probably significantly easier to find Nightjar, Grey Partridge and possibly a few others as well, so perhaps swings and roundabouts on that front.
I had not known that Rupert Hastings had done it, so well done him. I reckon that not too many people are stupid enough (like I am) to attempt it, so the list of people who have made 200 or close to it is probably a short one. Did you ever have a go as a youf?
Yep, same year as Rupert (and how I remember the hideous ups and downs that you refer to!) - I got 193. Technically I wasn't a youf either. Not quite sure how come I'm still married and solvent...
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