06/09/2025 Rutland Water Reservoir, Oakham

Grey Phalarope: A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was sighted at Eyebrook Reservoir this is not only an uncommon visitor from North America, but a lifer for me, after dipping a few in the past. 

So, I decided to drive down on Saturday, leaving very early to get there for first light. However my bad luck with Baird's continued and the bird did a bunk over night.

As a consolation I went across to to Rutland water to see the long staying grey phal. Low water levels at Rutland Water caused by recent hot weather have exposed previously submerged parts of the old landscape, which has been a real draw for waders. 

They are a rare inland sighting, grey phalaropes are usually seen along the coast, so their appearance at Rutland Water is considered a rare and exciting event.  Like other birds that appear inland, this individual was likely blown off course by strong winds during migration. 

The bird was observed swimming and feeding fearlessly, even close to people, and was seen eating bloodworms and zebra mussels. 

These smart little birds never fail to fulfil the hopes or expectations of a having a good birding experience. Confiding, bold and photogenic they are great, definitely a nice consolation after dipping the  Baird's.

15/01/2022 Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire

Grey Phalarope: Arriving with the hopes for finally adding Richard's pipit, a bird which has been in the area since early December and finally settled in the top field at Filey I thought this would be a sure thing. 

I shouldn't have been so naive, my years of twitching should have have made me more realistic....there is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to twitching.  

 

When Damian Young and I arrived it was foggy, thick freezing fog at that!

Despite what the misleading weather apps said, we were promised blue skies. This is probably the reason the bird had moved further around or even became less active and wasn't seen the day we were there. 

Still, there is no better place for a dip then Filey. it's a great place and offered great views of two grey pahls feeding off the end of the Brigg, purple sandpipers and a great northern diver.

Purple Sandpiper: Filey brigg is famed for its purps where during late summer and autumn, purps from Scandinavia, Svalbard, Greenland and some Arctic islands migrate to the UK for the winter.

They can be found on rocky Brigg, especially the seaweed covered breakwaters. Look out for flocks of turnstones, searching for food amongst the seaweed and you will see these dumpy little birds alongside them.

Interesting colour ringed and flagged individuals feeding amongst the turnstones, with information from Will Scott that shows the birds were possibly by Poppy Rummery and the team at Filey Bird Obs at Filey Brigg itself?

So another Richard's pipit dip under my belt, looks like I will have to wait a little longer. 
 

30/11/2020 Marshside, Southport

Grey Phalarope: This bird had spent a few days on Rimmers Marsh, which is located at the back of Marshside opposite Stanley High School.  This is the second  grey pahl that has been recorded this year at Marshside, and thankfully this one was much more visible than the last.

 The weather had been a mixed bag during the week and as usual I had been busy with work so when the opportunity to  do some work close to Southport came I jumped at the chance. 

Phalaropes have a very strange way of feeding, by spinning around and around in the water to bring small creatures to the surface, picking up this food without slowing down as they frantically spin. 

Pretty cols to watch. 

This bird didn't stop feeding and spinning and drew a small crowd. Again being outside there was plenty of space to social distance and everyone was well behaved.   

22/09/2018 Crosby Marina Lake, Sefton, Merseyside

Grey Phalarope: This morning I woke up to the news that Pete Kinsella had found a very showy grey phal on his local patch only to have a full schedule.

Today was my sisters baby shower in Chester, so I thought I would have no chance and no luck at seeing this bird, I thought by the time I was done it would have been spooked off and flown back out on to the Mersey.

But after filling my face with some lovely cake and hummus finger sandwiches as part of the afternoon tea and playing some dubious baby related games I was thrilled to hear the bird was still there.

Not only on the marina lake but on the small boating lake beside the gigantic one!

I've seen plenty of grey phals but not like this, this bird was swimming right past my lens, my face even, in many cases it was almost too close, if there is such a thing!

Grey Phalaropes are remarkable birds that spends its winters out at sea, feeding around cold current upwellings, where there will be plenty of food. Their migration is entirely over the sea, unlike the other two species of phalarope, which will migrate across land.

And its during the strong windy, stormy weather of September these little birds get blown off course and close to shore and sometimes into marina lakes, ponds and estuaries.

Such a super little bird, especially one so confiding!

07/02/2016 Abberton Reservoir, Colchester, Essex

Drake Smew: There are a few things I really do cherish, family, Dawn and birding so mixing all three on my recent trip to Essex was great.

Dawn and I traveled down to see Eddie Izzard, a childhood favourite of mine who was performing at the Palace Theatre London so we thought we would stay at my mums in Essex.

We drove straight to Colchester hoping to get a lot closer to drake Smew than I have before, but was a little disappointed as the birds were still a little way off.

In the end I counted 3 redheads (females) and 2 drake (males).

Grey Phalarope: Although the Smew kept their distance we struck lucky as while we enjoyed a slice of lemon drizzle and a cup of tea we were informed that a grey phal had turned up.

Apparently the day before a Sanderling was reported this was not really chased up and the old regulars were saying it was probably the grey phal.

So once I finished my amazing slice of cake I made my way down to Gwen's Hide where the bird was busily feeding on the edge of the reservoir.

Again the bird was distant but a great year tick and a great record to see for Abberton.

27/10/2013 Gronant

Grey Phalarope:  This was my second visit here in two days as yesterday Dawn and I took a trip to see this little cracker, but we were on a tight schedule and we only had an hour or so.

Within that hour the bird didn't really move from the farthest end of the pool. Needless to say I was gutted as we had to go and I knew if I put some proper 'birding' time in the phal might of come closer.

But today I had time to wait and the wait paid off!

The phal came incredibly close, constantly swirling and feeding.

Before the bird came close another birder spotted a Lapland Bunting in the sand dunes, but after a quick look we only had a fleeting glimpse and a short call.

What a bird!

Well worth muddy knees and elbows and the embarrassment of showing my bum crack to the world, while laying on the ground, camera poised!

It was also nice to bump in to all the old BMW regulars and catch up with Paul Brewster, Rhys Richards and Bob, hopefully these autumn storms will blow something special here and we will all be out doing a local twitch next weekend.

Ring Tail Hen Harrier: Always nice to see where ever you are!