Christ on a bike

Today it happened as follows: Yellowthroat in the bean fields, Chimney Swift over the bean fields, American Barn Swallow over the bean fields, Indigo Bunting in the bean fields, Chimney Swift over the village whilst having a quick coffee, probable (requiring a quick lit. check to confirm) Trinidade Petrel off the west end of the airport (two very close views of a dark-morph for me and Pete, four other observers had one view and three missed out), Semi-P Plover on the airfield and Pied-billed Grebe on the road in the village. "Anything anywhere" is rapidly becoming the saying out here. I also missed a few of the long-stayers and a flyover possible Least Bittern.

It is all too much...

TRINIDADE PETREL, for f**ks sake!

Sweeeeet

A stonking male Black-throated Blue was turned up by Fred today and, following a little effort to refind the female of a few days ago, I can now claim to be the first (and at present) only birder to have seen a male and a female on the same day in the WP. Not the worst claim to fame.

One man down, another on his way

Duncan left today, although he did have time to find a Killdeer first. Peter did not leave today but did get diagnosed as having bronchitis... the team is mortally wounded.

Finding them all... FINDING THEM ******* ALL

Peter Alfrey and myself just found a second for the Western Pal, and unblocked a 50 year wait in Europe - SUMMER BLOODY TANAGER - PULL THAT OUT OF THE FUCKING ONION BAG!!
Four and a half hours later everyone on the island had seen it.

Whilst awaiting the other birders on here I picked out a flyover Yellow-rumped Warbler (ziiit), luckily it ditched (briefly) and three of us got on it.

Must dash, more fields to bash.

Seeing them all... SEEING THEM ******* ALL

1 Black-throated Blue, 2 Yellow-rumped, 2 RB Grosbeaks, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 2 Yankee Swallows...

Ola ladies

Morning all, sunny Corvo calling, just a quick update. The real fun has begun: 2 yankee barn swallows, 1 yellow-rumped warbler, 15 black ducks/hybrids, 1 'greenland' redpoll, 1 lap bunt, 4 snow bunts, 3 more white-rumps, another semi-p plover, a flyby probable spot sand and cory's sat on the roads at night... like a pig in shit is the phrase that springs to mind.

More (pics, etc.) to follow...

Arriving in style

Nice to fly into Corvo by private jet...

First-up: Terciera

A full day on Terceira was spent touring round the wetlands. Cabo provided the best entertainment although a flyover Great White Egret (probably a yank) near Porto Oceanio wasn't too bad either. The yanks at Cabo included: 1 Semi-P Plover, 2 Spotted Sands, 2 Lesser Legs and 9 White-rumps.

Gripped

Wilst I was putting in the hours at Llandegfedd, Uskmouth and Goldcliff today (dipping Common Scoter and seeing naff all); the girlfriend, whilst out shopping, was bagging Red Kite (something I am yet to do this year). Once again, the ornithological Gods show what a shabby lot they are. Didn't manage a single year-tick today, however, I did see the leucistic Lapwing for the first time in 2006 (whoop-dee-doo).

Chlidonias Invasion

The number of Black Terns being reported on Birdguides today was pretty impressive. A quick evening visit to Llandegfedd Reservoir proved the invasion had made it to Gwent, seven fed along with a single Common Tern out from the fisherman's car-park (albeit quite a way out as the water level is pretty low).