Roermond Lakes, Holland, 26/12/1990

Overcast, windy, squally.

Birds all seen on lakes or on vegetation around lakes, either on the ground or on the wing: Coot in large numbers, Pochard, Mallard, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mute Swan, Magpie, Moorhen, Blackbird, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Stock Dove and Carrion Crow.

17 species including 0 new species.

RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, 16/12/1990

Bright, sunny, clear and cold.

Birds on journey: Chaffinch and Pheasant, and Mute Swan on fields at pumping station at Snettisham.
A group of birds on scrub-type sea vegetation revealed: Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Skylark.
Two Pink-Footed Geese flew overhead with white tail, dark edged wings, dark head and high-pitched 'honk'.

On pits: Coot, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Mallard, Goldeneye, Greylag Goose, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler and Teal.
Birds seen in vegetation around pits: Wren, Robin, Dunnock.
Birds seen out on mud-flats: Gadwall, Shelduck, Common Gull, Curlew, Knot, Golden Plover, Brent Goose, Redshank and Wigeon.
Other birds seen on marsh/scrub vegetation: Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Grey Heron and Canada Goose.

33 species includig 0 new species.

RSPB Titchwell & RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, 27/10/1990

Cloudy, cold, squally rain.

Birds seen on or around brackish lagoons at Titchwell: Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Brent Goose (in their normal large numbers at this time of year), Shelduck, Teal (also in large numbers, male and female), Gadwall, Lapwing, Herring Gull, Moorhen, Coot, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Ruff (which was in winter plumage with orange-red legs, white-edged wing-coverts, although I could not identify it immediately and needed to look at other books), Wigeon, Grey Heron, Shoveller, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Mallard, Turnstone, Curlew.

Birds seen on the sea from Titchwell's sand dunes were: Great Crested Grebe (winter-plumaged), Eider, Great Black-Backed Gull, Cormorant, and on the beach: Sanderling, Black-Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover.

Birds seen in vegetation whilst returning to carpark were: Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Long-Tailed Tit and Blue Tit.

At Snettisham there were mainly waders and gulls: Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin, Knot (in usuall large flock), Black-Headed Gull and Great Black-Backed Gull.

34 species including 0 new species.

RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, 24/10/1990

Clear, bright and cool, turning cloudy and cold.

Birds seen on journey to reserve: Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Jay and Pheasant.
Birds seen on fields and salt flats around the gravel scrapes: Moorhen, Lapwing, Black-Headed Gull, Mute Swan, Skylark, Kestrel.
Birds which were seen on the rather deserted lakes as the tide was very far out were: Coot, Mallard, Little Grebe in winter plmage of rather white colours, a Red-Breasted Merganser seen from afar and not seen when in the hides, Redshank, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Wigeon which were gradually turning from eclipsical plumage to distinctive plumage.
Wren was on a post outside the hide. Greylag Goose, Magpie, Starling, Pochard were other birds seen on or around the scrapes.
A group of birdwatchers, when asked, identified a Shore Lark on the tide-line, about a metre from the path, about 30 yards away from us. The bird had a beautiful yellow face with black mask and chest, compared to the rest of its light brown plumage, eventually the bird cam closer and after going into a hide, and re-emerging, the bird came to about 10 yards, upon which the markings were easily seen with the naked eye, an excellent view of a new bird species to me.
The birds seen from a hide looking out onto the mud exposed by the low-tide were: Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, large clouds of Knot seen in the far distance and Curlew.
Other birds seen on the scrapes were: winter-plumaged Great Crested Grebe, Teal, Gadwall and an eclipsed-plumaged Shoveler. Other birds seen walking back to the car were Great Black-Backed Gull and a possible Kingfisher.

34 species including 1 new species.

The Ouse 'Point', King's Lynn, Norfolk, 30/09/1990

Cloudy, windy and heavy, squally rain.

All birds seen on the river or on the marsh grass or mud: Black-Headed Gull, Cormorant, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Greenshank, Meadow Pipit, Great Black-Backed Gull, Grey Plover, Lapwing and Common Tern.

A stream of birdwatchers walked out onto the marshes via the sea-wall and a few days later in a local newspaper it was revealed that there had been a long-billed dowitcher in the locality which I missed because I didn't go out on the sea wall.

11 species including 0 new species.

RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, 12/09/1990

Cloudy, bright, cool, warm.

Collared Dove, Kestrel, House Sparrow, Pheasant and Black-Headed Gull seen around sluice marshes. Other birds seen along sea wall in marshes were Shelduck, Mallard, Swallow and Linnet seen on field.
Moorhen and a flash of metallic blue revealed a Kingfisher flying into reeds next to a dyke.
Cormorant was seen flying over gravel-pits.
Redshank and a grey, slender, green-legged bird with an upturned bill with white tail and rump underwings and a 'kew kew' call identified a Greenshank, a new bird.
A Wheatear was seen near the path around the gravel pits. Lapwing and a female Marsh Harrier (distinctive cream head and wing forewing) were seen over the gravel pits.
Birds seen from hide on gravel pit were either juveniles or moulting adults as they lacked distinguishing plumage marks.
Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall (which also appeared to lack many features of plumage).
Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover and Dunlin seen feeding in shallow part of scrape.
Birds seen out on mud-flats were Curlew, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Great Black-Backed Gull and Common Gull and very large numbers of Knot.
Birds seen whilst walking back to car were Grey Heron, House Martin, Grey Partridge and Woodpigeon.

38 species seen including 1 new species.

Brancaster Beach, Norfolk, 25/08/1990

Bright, cool.

The tide was out exposing the mud and sand on which there were numerous feeding birds: Black-Headed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Black-Tailed Godwit, a small pale wader with a black line along shoulder and side was a Sanderling (a new bird) and Redshank.
Birds seen on marsh/scrubland were Swallow and Linnet, also Woodpigeon.

11 species including 1 new species.

King's Lynn - Sheringham - Weybourne, Norfolk, 23/08/1990

Hot, bright.

Birds seen on journey: Swallow, Starling, Woodpigeon, Kestrel and Lapwing.
No noteable birds seen in Sheringham as I didn't go down to the sea-front.

Birds seen on the shingle-beached Weybourne coast flying up or down the coastline out at sea were Fulmar, Black-Headed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Oystercatcher, Great Black-Backed Gull and a small flapping-flighted gull with dark underwing identified Little Gull.

On the reed beds at Weybourne were Mallard, Moorhen, Herring Gull and House Martin.
Birds seen on the return journey via the coast-road past Cley and Hunstanton were: Curlew, Mute Swan and Egyptian Goose at Cley, and Swift, Pheasant, Grey Heron and Stock Dove seen elsewhere mainly in the fields.

22 species including 0 new species.

German-Dutch Woodlands & Venekoten, Germany, 16/08/1990

Cloudy, mild.

Birds seen at meadowlands: Chaffinch and large numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin all feeding and congregating for migration. Stonechat seen on fence posts and diving into grass for food. Also Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon seen.
Birds seen at various wooded areas were Jay, Great Tit and Wren.
Just before riding to the lake a flying Cormorant was seen over Baggersee and a Grey Heron was heard squawking.
On Venekoten: Coot, Great Crested Grebe and Mallard were seen.
On lakeside trees a group of birds included Blue Tit, White Wagtail and Tree Pipit (feeding young).
On a path to Baggersee another feeding party included Chiff Chaff, Nuthatch as well as blue and great tits and a crested tit was heard also possibly goldcrest.
On the way home other birds included Robin, Magpie and Blackbird.

22 species including 0 new species.

Elmpt Woodlands, Germany, 08/08/1990

Overcast, warm.

Many young Blackbirds seen in trees and many scrabbling in undergrowth. Short-Toed Treecreeper seen high amongst branches of trees. Robin, Wren, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Nuthatch all seen feeding in trees along path way.
Willow Tit and Marsh Tit were distinguished from appearance and call notes. Willow Tits 'larger head' appearance and 'loose' feathers on head and more extensive black crown on chest, also a distinctive zi-zurr-zurr-zurr. Contrasts with smaller appearing Marsh Tit with glossy crown and different call-notes; more 'strident'.
Song Thrush and Blue Tit seen also near other trees.
Swallow, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Magpie, White Wagtail and Woodpigeon were seen in surrounding fields; most were seen in cow-field.
Blackcap with a possible garden warbler seen thick brambles next to road.

19 species, 0 new species.

Wegberg - Elmpt, Germany, 22/07/1990

Cool, bright, sunny.

Wegberg: White Wagtail, Robin, Woodpigeon, House Martin, Swift, Blackbird, Sparrowhawk (which had something in its claws and was seen later soaring with a nearby Buzzard; long tail, short wings), Buzzard: which was very vocal. Mistle Thrush.
A number of tits feeding in the trees were identified as: Long-Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Crested Tit also Short-Toed Treecreeper were seen on tree trunks as was Great Spotted Woodpecker which tapped for food on trunks and branches. Chaffinch and Nuthatch (also on tree branches searching for food).

On the trip home: Kestrel and Carrion Crow.

18 species, 0 new species.

Bruggen Camp Woods & Niederkrutchen, Germany, 14/06/1990

Overcast.

Crow, Swift, Black Redstart, White Wagtail, Kestrel, Woodpigeon; all seen on the 31 squadron site.
Song Thrush, Tree Pipit, Chiff Chaff, Robin, Coot, Dunnock, Willow Warbler, Starling; seen around woods on camp and open-common-type areas.

Niederkrutchen: Lapwing, Mallard, Moorhen seen in extensive reeds. Also a possible Yellow or Grey Wagtail seen flying up river and a Muskrat was seen in a pool on the opposite side of the road to its damn-like nest.

Elmpt Woodlands, Germany, 31/05/1990

Bright, sunny.

Many birds seen feeding young birds: Great Spotted Woodpecker seen at nest hole feeding quite mature young birds which appeared fully feathered and almost ready to fly.
Others seen were: Blue Tit, Great Tit and Marsh Tit, Blackbird and Nuthatch; all had two or three youngsters in tow as adults searched frantically for food for begging young.
Other birds seen were: Chaffinch, Jay, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackcap, Carrion Crow, Swift. Also seen were Short-Toed Treecreeper which is a bird I haven't seen in these woods for some-time if at all; they also had youngsters.

14 species including 0 new species.

Elmpt Woodlands, Germany, 30/05/1990

Bright and sunny.

Usual woodland birds: Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Marsh Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Blackcap, Chiff Chaff, Woodpigeon. Two very noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard and whilst watching the birds at close quarters the cause of the agitation became apparent. A Weasel cam past at about 1 yard, so close that I could have touched it. It had a mouse or vole clamped in its jaws and eventually scampered off into the undergrowth as I continued to watch the woodpeckers.

Later on whilst I watched a hole in a tree for any activity I noticed a Bank Vole scampering through the undergrowth. Whilst I cycled near farmlands I saw: Collared Dove, Swallow and Starling.

The song of what I believed to be a garden warbler made me stop and see if I could see the actual bird. However after a while of listening and a few sightings I concluded that I had seen only blackcaps.

14 species including 0 new species, with no binoculars.

Bruggen Camp Woods, Germany, 26/05/1990

Bright and sunny.

At 31 sqn. site: Swift, Carrion Crow, a nesting pair of Kestrels who left a lot of pellets, droppings and animal intestines around the immediate area of nest.
White Wagtail, Linnet and Redstart which was nesting in a hole in the wall of a building, which was a new bird, identified by black neck, orange underparts, including tail, pale forehead and grey upperparts.

Seen at rally-car site: Coal Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Wood Warbler.
Seen at camp pond: Mallard, Coot, Grey Heron, Buzzard and Blackcap and Willow Warbler seen in vegetation around pond.
Whilst following Cuckoos song two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and later on the cuckoo was also seen.
Other birds seen else on camp were: Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Jay and Magpie.

26 species seen including 1 new species.

London to King's Lynn Return Journey by Train, Norfolk, 17/04/1990

Variable, bright, showers.

Birds seen on lakes and in fields and patches of vegetation: Coot, Mallard, Pheasant, Song Thrush, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Black-Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Great-Crested Grebe.

The highlight of the journey and the whole holiday was two Short-Eared Owl which appeared to be either fighting or courting. It was still a few hours until dusk and the birds were oblivious to the train. They were identified by typical straight-winged flight and yellow-brown plumage and medium/large size.

16 species including 0 new species.

River Tweed Walk at Dusk, Galashiels, Scotland, 16/04/1990

Cold.

Rook in river-side rookery. Mallard, Gooseander and Oystercatcher on river or river-side. Two Dippers also seen exhibiting unusual behaviour, they appeared to be either a courting pair or a couple disputing territory - they flew up and down the river forcing one or the other under the water also their peculiar song was heard which I have never heard before.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was also seen flying over the river towards trees.

Galashiels - St. Abb's Head, Scotland, 15/04/1990

Bright/cloudy, very windy.

Birds seen on journey: Rook, Black-Headed Gull, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Starling, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Red Grouse (in heather by roadside), Lapwing, Herring Gull, Greenfinch.
On Mire Loch: Mute Swan.

There was a surprising lack of birds on the cliff-faces, the majority of birds were on the sea (Kittiwakes were still pairing-off perhaps?). We saw absolutely no razorbills or guillemots either on the cliffs or on the sea which seemed very unusual.
Birds seen were: Kittiwake, Gannet, Shag, Cormorant, Linnet (single pair on grassy tops), Fulmar, Lesser Black-Backed Gull and birds in woods nearby carpark: Yellowhammer and Goldcrest.

22 species seen including 0 new species.

Grey Mare's Tail - Galashiels, Scotland, 14/04/1990

Cold, heavy, showers.

Carrion Crow, Rook, Black-Headed Gull, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck were all birds seen in locality whilst driving to the Mare's Tail.

Birds seen at the Tail and on return journey were: Meadow Pipit, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Kestrel, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Song Thrush, Starling, Greenfinch.

20 species including 0 new species.

Train Journey from Brize Norton to Edinburgh and Car Journey to Galashiels, 13/04/1990

Variable.

Birds in fields: Pheasant, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw and birds on lakes and seen on coastline 'beaches': Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great-Crested Grebe, Coot, Blackbird, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Fulmar, Lapwing, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Starling and Eider (also including other birds seen on journey).

19 species including 0 new species.

Local Forest Western-Central Germany, 01/04/1990

Bright, sunny, warm.

Birds on local patch of woodland all birds heard in song: Blackbird, Robin, Chiff Chaff, Song Thrush, Wren, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Nuthatch and Woodpigeon.
Skylark and Carrion Crow on nearby fields.

Birds seen at other woods near Venekoten including birds on other lakes in area: Jay, Teal, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Coot, Great Crested Grebe and Buzzard.

20 species including 0 new species.

Xanten - Rees - Bienen, Germany, 14/01/1990

Cold, dull, misty.

Birds seen on oxbough lake at rendez-vous point were Coot, Greylag Goose, Shoveler, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great-Crested Grebe, Grey Heron and Great Tit and Bullfinch (in trees nearby).

Birds seen on drive between areas were Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pheasant, Kestrel, Carrion Crow and Gooseander (on lake).
At other lakes birds seen were Teal, Pochard, Shelduck, White-Fronted Geese, Cormorant and Great Black-Backed Gull.
Whilst on canal-side walk birds seen were large number of Lapwing, also Goldeneye, Water Pipit (new), Buzzard, Bewick's Swan.

Also on field trip whilst observing large numbers of White-Fronted Geese in fields possible Pink-Footed Geese and Bean Geese may also have been seen, however due to short length of time for observation birds could not be definitely identified as so were presumed to be juvenile white-fronts.

Also of interest was a very unusual pale-phase Buzzard which was first thought to be an osprey, because of an unusual colour it was thought to [be] juvenile as it lacked eye-stripe of adult ospreys. The bird also seemed to have a crest, however after a discussion in which the bird was scared into flight by a dog the flight positively as a Buzzard.

29 species including 1 new species.