indie birder: Great Spotted Cuckoo, Portland, Dorset

I had an interesting and enjoyable weekend from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th June 2016. It started after work with a gig in Leeds, then a music festival in Leicestershire, a morning on Portland Bill and a trip to Somerset.

The trip to Portland was, of course, to see the young Great Spotted Cuckoo, which had been around Southwell on Portland since 13th May. So, nearly a month later, I'd finally found a free day to get down to it. I'd arranged with fellow West Yorkshire birder Joel to be picked up, post-festival, from my brother-in-law's in Derby at 05:30 Sunday morning. In normal circumstances, this isn't such an early start, but after countless beers and bad kebabs at Download, and going to bed at 02:00, I'm glad I wasn't driving. Thanks Joel.

On arrival at Reap Lane at 09:30, we found a handful of birders staring into bushes around 20 metres away. Looked promising. The bird was roosting, apparently in its favourite roost site. Unfortunately it wasn't easy to see the whole bird, with the head obscured, except for the few occasions it preened. Hence, my photos are somewhat lacking!

Great Spotted Cuckoo, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016 (Canon SX40)

Great Spotted Cuckoo, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016
(Digiscoped: Opticron GS 665 and iPhone 5)

A large, shaggy bird, with typically dropping wings and a long tail. The wings were a dark chocolate brown covered in white spots. The tail was the same brown colour, with white edges and tips. Dark brown hood on the head (which could be seen briefly as the bird preened and shifted position), with a dark eye and bill. Underparts a dirty cream colour, with a yellowish neck, throat and upper breast. Large, scaly pale grey legs.

Great Spotted Cuckoo notes, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

The cuckoo eventually flew, looking like a small falcon, towards the Observatory, and we didn't see it again despite heading down that way. During a brief sea-watch from beside the Lobster Pot Café we had 3 Manx Shearwater, 10+ Fulmar, and Guillemot and Gannet.

Portland Bill, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Some moths were still left in and around the moth trap at the Obs, including Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Privet Hawk-moth, Cream-spot Tiger Moth, Common Swift, Small Magpie, Heart and Dart, White Ermine, and Light Brown Apple Moth.

Common Swift Moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Cream-spot Tiger Moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Light Brown Apple Moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Privet Hawk-moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Small Magpie Moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

White Ermine Moth, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

In the chalky, dry grassland around the Obs were Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Painted Lady butterflies. An unringed White Stork was reported at Steart Marshes WWT reserve. Although not directly on the way home, it wasn't too much of a detour, especially for a potential lifer for both of us. So we headed off to Somerset, with a spider Enoplognatha ovata hitching a lift with us.

Enoplognatha ovata, Portland, Dorset - Sunday 12th June 2016

On arrival, we find the White Stork had just flown high north east around 45 minutes ago, and hadn't come back. Disappointing, especially after the bird had been present for around two days. Well, we were here now, the weather was glorious, and the reserve looked really promising (and very new), so we went for a wander.

Arty shot of a pylon at Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016

We mostly had our eyes to the skies, scanning for thermalling storks, but did manage a few insect sightings too.

Black-tailed Skimmer (male), Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016

Common Blue (female), Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016

The scrapes were quiet, probably due to the state of the tide (out, we suspected), but we did enjoy the Little Egrets, noisy Oystercatchers with young, and mating Little Ringed Plovers.

Little Ringed Plovers, Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset - Sunday 12th June 2016

We drew a blank on the White Stork, and the info in the sightings book wasn't helping either (a report of the White Stork from earlier and sightings of the college bus...), so headed home. A successful day, regardless.