20 Feb 25 - Luxembourg: Haff Reimich Birding

When I was planning where to visit after Pete Moore & I had seen the Spectacled Eider & I had dropped Pete to head into Amsterdam, I was focusing on visiting Luxembourg for the first time and trying to see Grey-headed Woodpecker. Grey-headed Woodpecker would be a Western Palearctic Tick and they look noticeably different to the subspecies I've seen in Nepal, India, Thailand & Tibet. One of the better-looking sites in Luxembourg was Haff Reimich. While there were a number of eBird sightings for the species at that site, there hadn't been any in the previous six months. It wasn't clear if that just down to a limited number of local observers using eBird or the species still be uncommon there. However, Haff Reimich looked to be the best site in Luxembourg that I could find.

Haff Reimich: Luxembourg is on the top (West) bank of the Moselle

I arrived around 23:30 at Haff Reimich and found there were plenty of parking spaces around the Biodiversum centre. This is a museum and admin centre for the nature reserve. As I didn't have any accommodation booked, the sleeping bag was pulled out for a night in the Focus Hotel. I had a good night's sleep, before waking just before dawn. It was a cold & crisp start to the day, but the weather looked like it would be a good sunny Winter's day, even if the temperature was only going to be a few degrees. Still there was no bitterly cold Texel wind to spoil the day. After brewing some coffee and having breakfast, it was time to head off to explore the reserve.

The lakes are surrounded by light woodland which has a very high water table

Haff Reimich is a series of reed-fringed lakes surrounding by light woodland. The reserve is next to River Moselle which forms the boundary between Luxembourg on the West bank and Germany on the East bank. It lies at the Southern end of the Mosel wine country and the hillsides were covered by vineyards.

Great Spotted Woodpecker: This was the only Woodpecker species I saw, although both Middle Spotted Woodpeckers and Grey-headed Woodpeckers occur

There was a nearby clearing where group activities could take place.

Owl sign in the clearing

Nuthatch sign in the clearing

This Kingfisher sign was the final sign I could find

It was time to explore more of the reserve.

All the hides have steep roofs: Perhaps they have to be able to cope with days of good snowfall

The first of a number of lovely-looking reed-edged lakes: There wasn't a lot on view from this hide, so I quickly moved on

The next hide overlooked a larger lake

There was a lot more activity on this lake: There were some Great Crested Grebes, Shoveler, Gadwall, Coot and Canada Geese on this lake. Mosel vineyards covered the neighbouring hills

A Shrine to St Donatus by the vineyards on the far hillside: According to the internet, St Donatus is a patron against lightning strikes & is often linked to St Florian, who is the protector against May frosts. The two together are often invoked to protect the wine harvest

Great Crested Grebe: While there was nothing I couldn't see back at home, the Birds were more photogenic

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Gadwall: Male

Coot: It was good to see good number of Coot, which is sadly a declining species in the historic Isle of Purbeck

A track between two larger areas of reedbeds

An important patch of open ground in the reserve

This open ground was a nesting area for Little Ringed Plovers: It is also home to Sand Lizards, Blue-winged Grasshoppers and Green Tiger Beetles

Another hide overlooking another lake

This lake had a flock of thirty Pochard: Once a regular wintering sight at Studland, this species disappeared around 2010 after the introduced Carp decimated the weed and underwater habitat at Littlesea

Pochard: Males

Pochard: Males with one female

Egyptian Goose: I saw a number of these introduced Geese

After a couple of hours exploring the reserve, it was time to head back to the car. This Short-toed Treecreeper was the highlight of the visit to this impressive reserve.

Short-toed Treecreeper: I could remember that Short-toed Treecreepers have a brown flank patch and there were a number of differences to the wings, but I couldn't remember what those differences were

Short-toed Treecreeper: This was a good excuse to read up on the differences in the wing pattern with Treecreeper

Short-toed Treecreeper: The outer edge of the buff wingbar at the base of the primaries does not curve back on itself on primary 4, whereas, it kinks back on itself on the wing of a Treecreeper. The alula has a small pale tip which curves back along the outer edge. A Treecreeper's alula has a large pale tip, without the pale outer edge

Short-toed Treecreeper: The primary tips have well-defined triangular or diamond-shaped white tips on Short-toed Treecreeper. In comparison, Treecreepers have pale tips that look like the Nike logo

Short-toed Treecreeper: Phil Saunders mentioned that Treecreepers on the continent are mainly an upland or coniferous forest species, whereas, Short-toed Treecreepers are more likely at low level. Not, that that will help much if another vagrant Short-toed Treecreeper turns up at Portland

Short-toed Treecreeper: The best view of the toes. This is the feature I'm least likely to use as an identification feature

Treecreeper: A Studland Treecreeper for comparison (25 May 14)

The three storey Biodiversum centre dominates the lake nearest to the car park, yet it also merges perfectly into the area.

The Biodiversum centre

The Biodiversum centre also features different local stone building styles, including this Great Crested Grebe wall

The Biodiversum centre is a museum, art gallery and admin centre for the reserve. There is a section dedicated to the periods of human history in the area.

Up to twelve thousand years ago, the locals had a nomadic lifestyle and lived in simple animal skin tents

By seven thousand years ago, the locals had switched to a farming lifestyle and built more permanent huts

Two and a half thousand years ago, the Bronze age huts were more sophisticated

This Goshawk dominates the ceiling of the Biodiversum centre

Wild Boar: This is a regularly-occurring species in the local woodlands

Beaver: I thought I might have seen some signs of Beavers in the reserve

Hawfinch: Another common local species

It was time to head into the city of Luxembourg to have a look around. I will cover that in the next Blog Post.

20 Jul 18 - Some Of The Resident Birds At Studland's Littlesea

Since I found the Purple Heron at Littlesea, I've spent a lot of time looking to try & relocate it during the daytime. I suspect it spends its time feeding at Littlesea, but generally tucked into the reed edges, hence my lack of sightings. However, I have had the chance to get some nice photos of some of the other commoner residents, while I've been looking.

Dabchick: There are a few present most years at Littlesea

Great Crested Grebe: Two pairs have bred this year at Littlesea: this youngster is probably only few days old

Great Crested Grebe: One of the parents of the other pair which had a nearly fully grown youngster with a Roach

Great Crested Grebe: The same parent with the large youngster. The other parent seems to have lost interest in feeding this youngster

Great Crested Grebe: There is also a larger group of non breeding individuals on Littlesea

Great Crested Grebe: Bad hair day

Canada Goose: This family successfully raised these two large youngsters at Littlesea this year

Mediterranean Gull: Moulting adult. Littlesea lies between South & Knoll Beaches and Brands Bay & forms a regular stopover place for a quick freshwater bathing site for the local Gulls

Although I've not seen the Purple Heron during the daytime I have seen it on a number of occasions as it's gone to roost. Unfortunately, it has settled into a habit of going to roost in poor light & remains elusive during the day. Still if it continues to stick around maybe I will eventually get lucky.

Purple Heron: Juv. This individual looks like it is going to become a resident for the next few weeks at least (21 Jul 18)

1 Jan 15 - The Poole Harbour Pelagic

Today was the traditional Poole Harbour Pelagic which has been running on the 1st Jan every year for about 12 years now. The boat left from Poole Quay at 11:00 allowing a full three hour pelagic before returning. Occasionally in previous years we have almost left the confines of Poole Harbour to allow for a look for Purple Sandpipers on the groynes at the Poole Harbour mouth, but this year, we didn't get that far. Therefore, there is generally little chance of seeing more than a selection of Divers, Grebes, Duck as well as a look over the seawall at the Brownsea lagoon and any other Waders we bump into along the edges of the harbour. But it is a great sociable day out with many of the local Birders as well as a good selection of Birds.

This is always a popular pelagic

The trip started off pretty normally with a few Great Crested Grebes, Red-breasted Mergansers & a Great Northern Diver as we headed for the Harbour mouth. No sign of the Purple Sandpipers on the groynes (they had been seen earlier, but there were so many grockles out for a walk, I wondered if some new shops had opened on the beach).

Great Crested Grebe: A common species in Poole Harbour

Shag: Another common species in Poole Harbour

Onto Brownsea, where a good selection of typical Waders were on view by looking over the sea wall,  including Greenshank, Redshank, Grey Plover, good numbers of Avocets, as well as various commoner Ducks & a single Spoonbill.

Brent Goose: This individual was on the water just off the Brownsea breakwater. Another common species in Poole Harbour in the winter

Carrying on, the two Sandwich Terns that had been around the Harbour mouth at first light put in an appearance for everybody. It is an unusual year when we miss Sandwich Tern on the first of Jan pelagic. This was followed by the appearance of the 1st Winter Little Gull that had been hanging around off Furzey Island for the last couple of days (that is a more unusual species given the lack of recent Winter storms). The obligatory look for the Furzey Island Golden Pheasants on the slipway was tried, but none seen today. You really need a couple of hours more than than two minutes we gave it as we cruised by. Then it was onto Newton Bay on the West side of the Goathorn Peninsula from Studland. I always enjoy a look along this part of the coastline as it is an area that is difficult to view from the land as most of it is private & the views from public access paths are distant. This produced a selection of typical Waders & this Spoonbill.

Spoonbill: This one in in Newton Bay was one of three seen today. A species we rarely miss on the 1st

Spoonbill: As the great Father Jack (from Father Ted) would eloquently put it - arse

Normally, we would continue onto the Ower/Fitzworth Bays before reaching Arne. But today the tide was too low & we had to return towards Brownsea. A good thing, as on the return somebody at the back of the boat picked up a Black Guillemot. This has probably been around the Poole Harbour area now for about three weeks. In that time, it has been seen for about 15 minutes off the Harbour Mouth, then a week later I refound it off Old Harry (where it was on view intermittently for an hour) & then seen for a minute yesterday at the Harbour Mouth. After the shout went up, the boat was turned around & the twitch was on. A few minutes later, this Poole Harbour rarity finally gave itself up to the boat.

Black Guillemot: This is only the third individual in Poole Harbour this millennium

The initial Black Guillemot twitch: We had to go around again as half the boat were down tucking below tucking into soup & cheese

Finally, a big thank you to Mark & Mo for inviting us all onto the boat. Also a big thank you to Justin for bringing along some stunning local cheeses (I can recommend you pop into the the Town Mill cheese shop if you are in Lyme Regis). A great day out. Finally, if you are thinking it's not really a pelagic, then we were in the second largest natural harbour in the world & Black Guillemots are a pelagic species.