Birds and Moths

 of Burnham-on-Sea

Outside the Patch

Included on this page are photographs (old and new) of birds seen away from the Burnham area.

Cheddar Reservoir, 24th March 2008.

As is usually the case, rare birds turn up when I am working, and this Bonaparte's Gull was no exception. These photos were taken by my wife.

Bonaparte's Gull, Cheddar Res. 24th March 2008. ©W. M. Slade.

24th November 2007.

A trip up to the Midlands visiting relatives at the weekend provided the opportunity to look for a few gulls. The highlights were this 2nd winter Caspian Gull at Stubber's Green and a juvenile Glaucous Gull in the roost at Chasewater.





2nd winter Caspian Gull standing in the rain at Stubber's Green.

Glossy Ibis, 10th November 2007.

Portland, Dorset, 1st-4th October 2007.

A four day trip to the sunny Isle of Portland produced only a few scarcities, and common migrants. Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Woodlark, several Firecrests and Ring Ouzels and a Spotted Crake at Radipole.

Wheatear and Turtle Dove, Portland, October 2007.

Meare Heath/Walton Hill/Bridgwater, Somerset, 4th September 2007.

Probably the worst photo ever of a Purple Heron. Meare Heath.



Osprey, Shapwick Heath.



Rufous Grasshopper, Walton Hill.



Roesel's Bush-cricket, M5 Bridgwater.

Burtle, Somerset, 2nd April 2007

The Lesser Scaup was rediscovered on a small fishing pool near Burtle today. Where there was also a Aythya Hybrid (Tufted Duck x Ring-necked?).

Lesser Scaup, near Burtle, Somerset. 2nd April 2007.



Aythya Hybrid, near Burtle, Somerset, 2nd April 2007.

Cheddar Reservoir, 25th March 2007.

The twelve mile trip to Cheddar Reservoir was necessary this weekend when a Lesser Scaup paid a visit into Somerset. This is the first record for the county.

Drake Lesser Scaup, Cheddar Reservoir, 25th March 2007.







Greater Scaup, Cheddar Reservoir, 25th March 2007.



Great Northern Diver (adult?), Cheddar Reservoir, 25th March 2007.

Hayle, Cornwall, 16th March 2007.

A day out in Cornwall to see the White-billed Diver.

White-billed Diver, Hayle, Cornwall, 16th March 2007.





Spotted Sandpiper, Hayle, Cornwall. March 2007.

Upper Tamar Lake, Devon/Cornwall, 12th November 2006.

Long-billed Dowitcher.

Dawlish, Devon. 11th November 2006.

Long-billed Murrelet.

Cornwall, 29th October-3rd November 2006.

Spotted Sandpiper, Hayle Estuary.



Guillemots and Razorbills (about 15000 flew past in two hours), St Ives, 31st October.



Shag, Mousehole.



Turnstone, St Ives.

Meare Heath, Somerset, 23rd September.

Not sure that these three photographs really merit posting on the website, but here they are anyway.

Pectoral Sandpiper.





Juvenile Temminck's Stint.

Lower Bruckland Ponds, South Devon, 12th August 2006.







Red-veined Darter, South Devon, 12th August 2006.

Lucott Cross, Exmoor. 24th June 2006.

Woodchat Shrike, Lucott Cross, 24th June 2006.

Portland Bill 20th May 2006











Storm Petrels and Woodchat Shrike, Portland Bill, Dorset. 20th May 2006.

Laughing Gull, Porthcawl, Glamorgan. 14th January 2006.

Savi's Warbler, Westhay Moor, Somerset. 2nd May 2005.

Red Kites at Grigin Farm, Rhayader. 5th November 2005.

White Stork, Middlezoy, Somerset. 15th June 2005.

Snow Bunting, Cairngorm Mountain, 13th July 2004.

Baird's Sandpiper, Llandeggfedd Reservoir, Gwent. 4th October 1997.

Franklin's Gull, Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset. 19th March 2000.

Little Auk, Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset. 20th November 1982.

Red-backed Shrike, Portland, Dorset. 17th October 1998.

Richard's Pipit, Ashcott Corner,  January 1999.

Turkestan Shrike, Porlock Marsh, Somerset. 3rd June 2003.

Two-barred Crossbill, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. 21st February 1998.

Black-eared Wheatear, Portland, Dorset. 27th May 1985.

Bluethroat, Portland, Dorset. 24th April 1988.