Ripley Killdeer

January is usually a quiet time of the year for national twitching. Looking back through the past few years of my blog posts there was only one national twitch in this month (for the Northern Waterthrush) so I wasn't expecting anything this year. So when on Wednesday news broke of a Killdeer it was most unusual. What's more it was not on a distant Scottish island like they usually are but rather down in Hampshire, an eminently twitchable distance for me. What was not to like? It was found on Wednesday morning and I did contemplate cancelling all my meetings and rushing off but in the end decided against it. Instead I planned to go the next day after a morning meeting. I messaged a couple of birding friends who were both happy to tag along for the ride and the plan was set. All that was needed now was for the bird to be still present the next morning.

The bird duly obliged by staying put overnight so late morning I picked up PL and EU at a convenient rendezvous point and we set off on the drive down the A34 to Hampshire. The weather was decidely inclement and we regularly drove through heavy rain showers on the way down. As we headed along the familiar route there was the usual banter about past twitches and what we'd all seen and missed over the years. All classic stuff and thoroughly enjoyable. After what has been a rather stressful few weeks for me it felt really good to be out and about on a days birding with a couple of birding pals. We realised that the last time the three of us had been out on a national twitch together had been the Aquatic Warbler at Upper Beeding back in 2023 - good times! As we drove I mooted the idea of stopping off for the now-resident Great-tailed Grackle in Holbury on the way back. Having seen it myself when it was first discovered in Calshot, it would be nice to revist it in its new urban setting. PL had not yet seen it at all and was very keen. EU had already seen it in both settings but was happy to pay it another visit. 

Finally we turned off the A31 onto a very minor B road that lead south through the windy back roads of deepest darkest Hampshire towards our destination. The bird news services had warned about difficult parking and had suggested some parking sites quite some distance away from the bird. However, looking at the map I could see quite a few suitable locations pretty close by so had set the Sat Nav accordingly on a hunch that we would be OK. In the event, my hunch proved correct and we found a nice place in a layby no more than 100 yards from the path towards the bird. Given the showery weather I put all my waterproofs on before heading off towards the path. Then it was a walk of about 600 metres past a pig field on the right and a hedgerow on the left that was bordering a small farm reservoir. At the far end was a group of about 30 or so birders with scopes all pointed to the far side of the reservoir to a boggy field. This was the moment of truth! 

There was no need to worry, the bird was still there and several people offered views through their scopes of the target. Tick - and relax! It was hunkered down facing away from us, partially obscured by a small ridge with just its head and upper body visible. There it was, looking a bit cold in the dank conditions. I set up my scope and was just sorting out my digiscoping gear when a shout went up that a White-tailed Eagle was flying behind us along the boundary of the field. We all swivelled to look behind us and sure enough there was the unmistakable flying barn door. What a bonus! I'd certainly not been expecting that! It had been a few years since I'd last seen one so this was very nice to see. 

After the excitment of the eagle interlude it was back to the star bird. Eventually it got up and started to wander about so I was able to appreciate it in all its plovery glory. There were the classic twin breast bands and the long tailed, long necked look. All very nice! I set about taking some video and then trying to phone scope it. The persistent rain wasn't helping and my results were no more than record shots but still nice to get.

Some digiscoped footage of the star bird

 

Three phonescoped record shots

 

Looking across the corner of the reservoir to the boggy field beyond, where the Killdeer was located

The obligatory twitch shot of the crowd admiring the bird

After about an hour I checked in with the other two who were both happy to head off so we retraced our steps to the car, stopping for a celebratory selfie in the rain on the way.

"We've just seen a Killdeer!" - three wet but happy birders

Back at the car I set the Sat Nav for Holbury where the Grackle was located, some 45 minutes away. The bird had relocated here after first making landfall at Calshot where it had been found. On the way we stopped at a small village for much appreciated lunch and some hot drinks. Then it was back on the road through the familiar expanse of the New Forest and then back onto more major roads before finally arriving at Holbury. Then it was down a couple of side roads to a corner where EU assured us the bird was always located. We pulled up and before we even got out of the car I spotted the unmistakable silhouette of the Grackle, sitting on top of a metal pole in its favoured garden. We got out and took some photos but with its high perch, it was rather back-lit and harder to photograph properly. It then proceeded to have a little fly around, perching on several telegraph poles for extended periods of time, making it even less photographable I tried to tempt it down with some crumbled up flapjack on the grass but it was clearly too well fed as it wasn't interested. 

The Grackle turning its nose up at my flapjack offering

So it was time for another celebratory selfie before we got back in the car.

The three of us and the "Hand of God" pointing out the Grackle on the pole behind us

 

With it now being rush hour the Sat Nav was saying longer to get back but we didn't mind. We stopped off on the A34 at a service station for hot drinks where a lovely roost of 100+ Pied Wagtails were all gathered on the roof and then in the neighbouring trees. Finally we were back at the rendezvous point where the other two disembarked and we all headed home. It had been a lovely day out with a couple of very nice target birds seen and a lovely Eagle bonus. Top craic!