Call of the Arctic...

Arrived at Holme in Norfolk at 0700 courtesy of a lift from Paul Welling - cheers Paul - to search for the Arctic Warbler present for much of the week. Efficient as ever, Paul even had Arctic Warbler calls on tape in the car so we could do some revision before arriving on site. Not that listening for the dipper-esque call did us much good, as the bird stubbornly refused to call or show until after 09:00. Despite sub-optimal viewing conditions - the bird was often high and hidden in pines against the light - we eventually managed reasonable views though these were the best photographs I could muster. Confused by the byzantine structure of Holme's complex of 'pay-per-view' nature reserves, we weren't quite sure whether the bird was on the NWT reserve (Judean People's Front?), NOA land (People's Front of Judea?) or even Natural England's (the Romans?) NNR. Although tempted by the nearby Red-Necked Phalarope, when that turned out to be on a splinter reserve we decided to head home in the hope of saving marriages and seeing our children before bedtime. A new bird for Britain for me.

Out of place wader

Couldn't resist going to see this juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper which had pitched up on a lawn on a housing estate on Portland without so much as a puddle in which to wade. I thought it didn't look too well but, encouragingly, it later relocated to Radipole Lake where it might have more luck finding something to eat. A very unlikely location for any bird, let alone a rare one.

More Durlston migrants

Many migrants on show on a fine morning walk around Durlston today with Hamish Murray - Blackcap and Whitethroat were particularly numerous, with Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Sedge Warbler and Garden Warbler also present. No sign of yesterday's Common Rosefinch, but saw my first Durlston Dartford Warbler and managed to catch up with a Wryneck - either a long stayer or possibly a new arrival choosing the same habitat as last week's bird. Juvenile finches were well represented by this large charm of Goldfinch, and a more solitary Bullfinch.

Weymouth reserves

Rounding off a quiet day in Weymouth, this Little Egret strikes a balletic pose landing at the Lodmoor RSPB reserve. An Elephant Hawkmoth larvae strikes a more aggressive one on the boardwalk at Radipole Lake. A Marsh Harrier was at both reserves (or possibly the same one), plus Curlew Sandpiper, Knot, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank at Lodmoor.

Ferrybridge waders

Pretty quiet on Portland this morning - one Balearic Shearwater past on the sea, a few Whinchat and Wheatear around the fields - so spent much of the day at Ferrybridge waiting for the tide to push in a nice selection of waders. Sitting in the mud waiting for them to come to us seemed like a good plan, but we didn't bank on children (who can be forgiven) and blokes laden with fishing gear (who can't) from diligently walking past us to flush everything in sight. Still, passable images of a very buffy Curlew Sandpiper, a single Sanderling and a few Dunlin were obtained. Bar-tailed Godwit and many Ringed Plover also present.

Durlston and Morden

No sign of the Wryneck seen at Durlston earlier today but many Adonis Blue present, including this fresh female. A single Osprey again at Morden Park Lake later in the day, with a good mixed flock of tits, warblers and Spotted Flycatchers in the woods by the lake. This juvenile Song Thrush posed unperturbed on the path, allowing a close approach.

North Kent revisited

A glorious day to visit some old haunts in Kent and renew a dormant birding partnership with Matt Jones. Like me, Matt is a former Kent resident who trumped my move to Dorset by becoming domiciled on New Zealand's Stewart Island with only Kiwis, Penguins (and loyal partner Jules) for company. Was it something I said? Despite high rolling with Kakapo and world listers in his adopted land, Matt is still able to enjoy the familiar sights of Green Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtails, Little Grebes and Avocets (all pictured here) on the North Kent marshes. Reed Warblers, Wheatears and Whinchats were also very much in evidence today. Birds that can fly clearly now appear as things of wonder to Matt...

Starting at Oare and working our way down to Grove Ferry, we were able to marvel at the continuing success of the former and the lack of visible water and mud at the latter, which seem to decrease with every visit. There has clearly been some investment in new facilities at Grove since our last visit, with new hides, a pond dipping platform and some sort of bus stop structure for visitors to enjoy - but you fear the full benefits of this investment might not be realised if the the reedbeds aren't managed a bit more to allow the same visitors to see what's in them! Looking up proved more fruitful, with a pair of Hobbies adding a dash of drama to an otherwise sleepy reedbed.

For images of the more exotic wildlife Matt is used to in NZ, check out his website.