November 2008
The Desert Wheatear at Sandwich Bay.
08/11/08
Female Desert Wheatear seen this morning.
As intended, I was at Sandwich Bay this morning, at 07.30 a m, and parked along the Ancient Highway, in the area that the Desert Wheatear was seen yesterday. Allan Ashdown and Steve Ray were already huddled behind an old pill box, along side a fairway on the Golf course, and 5 minutes after I joined them, the bird was spotted. While waiting, I noted a Merlin, flying fast and low over the golf course and off over the fields behind us, and also 3 Swallows were seen, late leavers. A female Stonechat was observed, trying to perch on the top of a gorse bush, but continually being blown about in the strong South Westerly wind. The Desert Wheatear was watched, as it steadily made its way towards us, before being spooked by a dog, and flying off to the other side of the golf course. Dylan Wrathall, whom had arrived from the other side of the golf course returned to the other side, and Allan and I, along with a few other birders followed suit. We were treated to some great views from the other side, and being low down in a gully, we were sheltered from the wind, which helped in obtaining some photographs of the bird. Another new bird for me, my life list ever increasing, which is pleasing. Home to watch the Gunners beat United 2-1, it does not get much better than that.