MIDLANDS BIRDER

Garden Birding

2012-02-07T18:36:00.003Z

4/02/12

Sometimes garden birding can be insane!

Sometimes a bird which you see in a million other places can suddenly become a Mega rarity, and nothing is more sought after than a garden tick!

Before setting out for the day, i had a couple of hours to watch the feeders at my leasure, and dont you just love it when a cold front hits, birds flood to garden feeders like moths to a lighbulb!

It quickly became evident there was a few more Goldfinch today, with around 40c in the tree's and on the feeders, also in the tree's but unwilling to drop onto the feeders was a flock of 20c Greenfinch.

However, the main interest was around the 'scarcer' Finches.

4 female LESSER REDPOLL were visiting on and off throughout the morning, but 'our' male didnt land on the feeders (he was seen in the tree though)

However, one of my favorite Finches was about to make a comeback into the garden after a no-show all winter so far.

A female SISKIN dropped onto the seed feeder. The camera quickly came out and i was soon filming the bird.

However nice a female Siskin is, i still had that moment of exitement when the stunning adult male SISKIN dropped onto the feeders! What a Finch!

The bird spent some time on the niger feeder, accompanied by a female Lesserpoll.

However, the (By Far) highlight was a garden first! I was filming the above video, when an 'odd' finch dropped onto the fence, head on, 'odd face pattern i though'.It turned side on and flew onto one of the seed feeders.

LINNET!

female Linnet in the garden!

The white Pannel in the wing standing out like a sore thumb!

Linnet!

Bloody Linnet!

My dad quickly came in and saw the bird as it flew off the feeder, having only taken one seed. Despite being heard again a few times, i did not see the bird again, and am only left with memories of this first!

But that got me thinking, why is it we ignore birds in one place, and watch them intently at others?

Rarity value? a Linnet may be common on farmland, therefore undesirable, but quite hard to get in a garden context, therefore reaching a higer value?

Food for thought

Bartley again. (White-winger Heaven)

2012-02-06T20:05:00.005Z

3/02/12
After having only brief views of the Iceland Gull the previous friday i wasnt really happy, sure i'd ticked the bird for the year, but there was something not quite right, I fancied another Look.

We accidently arrived at the dam end of the reservior, but quickly found this to be to our advantage, with many of the small gulls alot closer in, however, the large gulls again seemed in the middle of the water. However i was soon scanning 70% of the thousands of gulls (the remaining 30% were into the setting sun),

and after about 20 mins, at 4:55, just as i was saying to a visiting birder that Iceland Gulls had been seen, i panned onto a white winger.

A 2nd winter ICELAND GULL

I quickly get the rest of the 'crowd' onto the bird, of which for one of them it was a lifer!

The light was still Ok, with it being perfect for a gull roost, and i was able to take a long range, shakey video of our white winged beauty!

This bird was quite easy to point out, as it spent the whole time near to the yellow boyd in the water.

However, as time went by, it became more and more obvious the there seemed to be two different birds in two areas of the flock, however it took untill 5:12 for me to confirm this, when both birds appeared within my scope, and i was able to get this image containing both of them!

My first double 'white-winger' day!

Now wheres my Glauc?

Sheepwash

2012-02-06T17:38:00.003Z

30/01/12
A visit after 6th form was very rewarding, not for rare species, but sheer numbers!
An outstanding flock of 66 POCHARD! was on the main pool, The highest specific count ive ever had here!
Also of note was a flock of 11 GOOSANDER, which as usual seemed to be over the other side of the pool wherever you went, a single Teal was heard calling and 3 Tufted duck were on the lake.
A male KINGFISHER shown superbly well on the river, although behind trees.
MB

Bartley Reservior

2012-02-02T15:50:00.002Z

27/01/11

Friday night birding is generally off limits, due to having to go shopping, however, with the lengthening days i saw a opporotunity to get out somewhere.

mmmm, A gull roost it is!

Bartley seemed to be the closest, and with the added attraction of an Iceland Gull roostin there, it seemed a good idea.

We just about manadged to get to 'scotland lane' at 4:40, with a mass of gulls already assembled, and to other birds already looking, i joined the crowd and after about 15 mins, the Iceland was called.

A Birder offered me a look through his scope and i saw a Juv/2w ICELAND GULL sitting amongst the mass of gulls. i thanked him for his kindness, and also the fact that he gave me the last few views of the bird before it totally dissapeared, not to be seen again before dark, and i didnt manage to locate it within my scope :(

As the birds all pitched up near the Dam end of the Reservior, the bird was quite far off, so here is a few 'From the file' photo's of a similar ICELAND GULL i saw at Stubbers green in 2010.

Hopefully i will be visiting Stubbers this weekend for more Gull action!

Also on the reservior was a flock of 6 Goldeneye showing quite well, if only it had been daylight, i could have had some ok footage of them!

Garden.

2012-02-01T16:10:00.004Z

22/01/12
Yes, Yes i know, Garden birds again!
But we had this stunning male Lesser Redpoll on our feeders!

Also, we are still getting visits from a smart Female Lesser Redpoll.

However, we have still to note a single Siskin on the Feeders! But there was an increase of them on the patch today, with around 20 seen, also the same number for Redpoll's, and a small flock of 4 Reed Bunting was at the Gadwall lake.

Ode to the RTD

2012-01-30T22:07:00.000Z

RIP

Eyemore and Trimpley

2012-01-26T19:27:00.005Z

21/01/12

As trimpley is the capital for Crossbills in Worc's, if not the midlands me and may dad decided to have a look up there as its only up the road, and with a few easy year ticks, it was one of those 'Mop up' Visits.

We parked in the Lower car park, and immidiatly on stepping out of the car, i heard a Crossbill calling in the tree's adjacent to me, i looked, but couldnt see it.

Suddenly however, a huge finch flock of 30c Siskin, 30c Goldfinch and a few Redpolls emerged from the larches where they soon settled again, but what also flown out was a flock of 9 CROSSBILL.

We quickly located the birds feeding in tree's just behind the row adjoining the road, and were showing quite well, despite being high up.

After about 30 Mins, we walked through the Wood down to the River, where we walked to the 'other end' of Trimply (from the Arley side), We quickly Picked up a multitude of Goosander's, Counting 13 by the time we turned off to check the Reservour.

Some of the Goosanders were showing well, Including this Stunning drake!

Amazingly, we walked the entire length of this stretch of river without seeing a sinlge Mandarin! which is highly unusual for this section of the river, which is famed for them being here!

However, i was releaved when, on scanning the 'baby' pool, i spotted a Drake and a female Mandarin sitting under the overhanging tree's, also on the pool however, was a female Goosander, which was showing very well!

As it was still early (about 3pm), we headed back up to the car, for a rest before coming back down to check the gull 'pre-roost' before they fly off upriver to Chelmarsh.

We again had a look for the Crossbills in the Wood, and this time, they were very mobile and hard to track down, and in 30 mins we only got quick flight views of the flock!

Again, we headed down to the Reservour, and i sat on the bench overlooking the 'Big' pool, however, 7 Goosanders were now on the small pool, and the Mandarins were still there.

An hour in freezing cold winds looking at the Gulls produced a flyover Common Gull, and ultimatly, a adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL! it touched down for about 2 seconds with a small flock of BHG, but soon took off with its companions, However, my hoped for 'White-winged' didnt drop in!

When i got back, i had some inspiration, so i drew a Drake Goosander, even annotated it if you couldnt tell :P

Garden Pictures

2012-01-23T18:22:00.001Z

14/01/12

21/01/12

BEAN GOOSE AT CHELMARSH!

2012-01-19T19:34:00.005Z

14/01/12
Jason from the Shenstone Birder again hit it lucky when he Re-located the 1st winter Bean Goose, about 10 miles to the west from its origional location.

I was releaved to hear news every day that the Goose was still present in fields at Chelmarsh, and on the Friday, i knew that was where i was heading the next day, But with my luck with these Geese of late being little over dire, i remained open to thoughts it wouldnt be there!

I had already briefed my dad that as we drive along the country lane if i shout 'Geese' then can he stop ASAP!

Well it didnt take long, and a few hundred metres after turning off the main road i shouted 'GEESE'

Down in the field by the waters edge was a flock of about 250+ Geese, about half and half between Canada and Greylag, However I quickly spotted the 'odd one out' and was soon taking photo's of my first TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE!

Although abit too far off for photo's, it shown well through the scope, always on the 'front' edge of the flock. I was actually strook by how distinctive it was within the flock, in contrast to what has been told to me about 'grey' Geese. I supppose if it was with Pink-foots it would be alittle harder, but with Greylags, Easy Peezy!

I cranked the Camera Zoom up for the closer photo's to try and get the orange spot on the bill, hence the terrible quality!

And i took a video of the bird preening in front of the flock.

I passed out the news the Bird was still there, and we headed off to the Res to try and see if the Diver was still here.

It wasnt!

And that was confirmed a few days ago, when another birder drew a blank on the diver, has it gone?

A large flock of Gulls had started forming on the dam, and 4 seperate 'watches' of the flock didnt reveal anything other than 6 GBBG.

A marsh tit was heard in the woodland. and a flock of 17 GOOSANDER was on the water.

I decided to use the hedge as cover and get closer to the geese, but with the sun behind the flock, and undulations in the field meaning half the flock wasnt on view, it didnt look good for the Bean Goose!

However, i was glad to see that with the 50c Greylags that could be seen proppely, the TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE was among them!

Although not very close (Photo's required alot of cropping), i manadged to get better photo's of the Goose, albiet into the light!

Im so glad im happy with a 'record' shot.

We didnt stay for the 'Full' roost, because i had to be at my Girlfriends house, but we very quickly dropped into the 'North end' to see if the diver was up there, Again a blank, But i was glad to get a site tick, a single female GOLDENEYE, and a female Wigeon in a quick 20 second stop!

Also had an added bonus of seeing 5 Red-legged Partridge along the track on the way out!

All in all, a Good visit, and Chelmarsh is still getting 'the goods'

I'll be back for more, and you never know, i may actually find something! Eventually!

Sheepwash has the Good's!

2012-01-18T16:02:00.007Z

12/01/12

An after 6th form visit with the 'Gornal Birder' at first left us bemused! after seeing flock's of Pochard over the last visits, we were suprised to see that every single bird in the flcok had dissapeared, and there wasnt a single bird on site! and there was only 5 Tufted Duck! However, that was a nice flock of 7 GOOSANDER on the Pool (5 more flew over) (5 Drk, 7F), we walked around to the raised path, and i spotted a small flock of Teal sitting on the bank on the other side of the Pool, had a scope view of them so Andy could see, when he shouted a Wader has just popped out!

I looked though the scope and saw a COMMON SNIPE there! Our first ever at the park!, an expected patch first!

We continued around to the Chemical pool for the Gulls, and this turned out ot be a good idea!

I had a quick scan across the pipe and came across a large, Black backed gull!

i was watching a GREAT-BLACK BACKED GULL! and not only that, there was 5 of them perched on the pipe!
I took some time to get some video and photo's as this was the closest ive been to a GBBG since having my new camera.

With LBBG for comparision.

After my fill, and leaving without a 'white-winger' we headed throught the mound tunnel towards the Marshy pools where the Shoveler was last time!

Imagine my shock when as the pool opened out in front of us, i spotted a female duck again! The female SHOVELER was still here, and this time, she stopped on the pool for me to get a photo.

With the light going quite quickly, we decided to head back home.

All in all a nice visit!

Patch

2012-01-17T17:45:00.008Z

8/01/12
As the Garden is within the boundries of the patch, this whole post will be as the 'patch'.

The feeders are still slow going, attracting a small number of Finches (20c), mostly Goldfinch and Chaffinch, with smaller numbers of both Lesser Redpoll and Greenfinch, we have yet to attract any Siskin yet, which should be here in 50+ flocks by next month!

In Contrast to the last time i saw them, only 1 Lesser Redpoll came down, but it was in the middle of the day, and therefore, i could get a better video! I still can improve on this video, and i hope to as the winter progresses!

So, after a bit of Photography in the Garden, i wandered out onto the Patch, i walked north, towards Blackstone. I had noticed the river was very high, and was hoping the river had broken its banks across the Grass field adjacent to the Blackstone Caravan site.

While walking up, i was supprised to see the small pool forming on the Riverside fields, I havent seen this happen for a few years, and therefore am looking forward to it (hopefully) expanding, while it may only look like a 60ft long puddle, It could bring a few good birds, particuarly if the other fields flood aswell, when we could be 'in the running' for a Wigeon or a Teal, maybe even some Waders!

The River had broken its banks and had created a small flood 'plain', Again, while not looking much for most people, this is a heavenly sight for me! Ducks gather here when the water is high as it gives them a current free place to rest, while not having as much potential as the Riverside fields, i had been within 20tf of a Goosander here, and there is always a chance that Mandarins might come and take a rest, and who knows what else!

The Patch was almost birdless, so i walked downriver to the southern edge of the patch. While walking through the town centre i noticed the Mini golf 'field' had flooded, and had a good load of gulls on it, once again, a load of potential! Nothing today though, other than many Skater type Teenagers on the adjacent ramps.

Just below the town centre, and after crossing over the Stour bridge i saw 2 GOOSANDER's sitting on a submerged log, i started snapping away.

And errrr, well thats it, a quiet day on the patch to say the least, but hopefully, some good 'goings on' with the patch's habitats, prehaps leading to a better day soon?

Hopefully I'll be there to find it!

The BIG boost

2012-01-16T14:12:00.005Z

2/01/12
Slimbridge
After a brief watch of my Garden feeders (Previous post) we headed down to slimbridge.

Upon Arrival, we headed to the Rushy Pen, as the Lesser scaup was seen here while we were driving down, however, it (and practically all the Ducks) had gone, There was only a few BEWICK SWAN'S and 100c PINTAIL here.

So then we headed up towards the Tack piece, where the majority of activity was, There was proberbly about 5000+ Birds on the flooded field, Thousands of Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, But also the largest flock of GOLDEN PLOVER ive ever seen 1600+ Birds in a tight scrum. A pair of Buzzards often flew across the field and the sight of so many birds in the air at once was breathtaking!

With the ranks of Commoner birds, there was 800+ Dunlin Intermixed, 40c Redshank, 30c Black-Tailed Godwit, 200c Curlew (Including birds on Estury) and 8 RUFF, including some 'white' males.

We then headed up to the Holden tower, and viewed the Goose flock, 210 Eurasian WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were here, with hundreds of Shelduck, Greylag, Canada and Barnacle Geese, However the 'Gypo' Egyptian Geese seen the previous day were nowhere to be seen (still to see a Gypo Goose). an Adult Peregrine was out on the Mudflats.

I was going to scan the Long ground pool as i remembered last winter the lesser scaup spent alot of time on there, but the sun was bouncing off the waters surface and you couldnt see anything,

Anyway, i heard news the Bittern was showing from the Zeiss hide, so we headed over there. By the time we had got there, it had moved back into cover, and the next painfully cold 1 1/2 hours was Bitternless, 2500+ Lapwing, and loads of Teal and Wigeon were in the field to the left of the hide but otherwhys it was quite!

News then popped up that the Lesser Scaup had been refound, on the Long Ground Pool!!

So we gave up on the Bittern and headed over for the Scaup

A quick look in the small hide next to the 'In focus' Shop saw the PINTAIL's extremly close.

Once in the Holden tower, the sun was on the pool again, so i took a video of White-fronted Geese feeding on th dumbles.

Eventually, a small flock moved onto the small pool in front of the hide, giving great views.

The sun Died out, and in the brief spell i manadges to locate the 2nd winter female LESSER SCAUP asleap with Tufted and Pochards, It soon woke up however, and i saw the huge white base to its bill, I quickly got as many people onto the bird as i could before the sun came out again. When the sun came back out we realised we hadent been to the South lake, so we walked down there for a look, a few Dunlin, Redshank and a single Blackwit & Great crested Grebe. However, there was also an adult COMMON GULL will the BHG flock, and i speculated whether it was the adult bird i saw the last time i visited?!?!?

With the sun lower in the sky, we went up for another look at the LESSER SCAUP.

Via the Knott hide, where a Wigeon flcok was only a few metres from the hide! (video is 0x camera Zoom on a 27x Eyepiece)

We got back up the Holden tower, and were treated to OK views of the LESSER SCAUP as it swam around. However this time i spent much more time guiding people onto the bird, for people who didnt know where it was (or didnt know the stand out features of Lesesr Scaup) it took an awfully long time to get them onto it. But eventually everyone in the hide saw the bird, and was left happy about the bird that had crossed the Atlantic to winter for its 2nd winter at Slimbridge.

The bird was too far away to even bother trying to get a photo!

Interestingly, i saw 2 ringed birds, a BHG with the leg ring 2P33 and a White-fronted Goose with a neck ring (YUM). The BHG almost certainly came from Cotswald water park at is it very similar a number to one i had a Upton, and with it being the same colour aswell (White, Left leg), it looks likely.

Highlights:

120+ Bewick swan

210 White fronted Goose

200+ Pintail

3000+ Wigeon

2000+ Teal

1 LESSER SCAUP

1 OYC

1600 Golden plover

5000+ Lapwing!

8 Ruff

1 Common Gull

4 Ravern

All in all, a very good start to 2012!

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

2012-01-11T16:02:00.002Z

A simple 'Pencil only' sketch

The Start to 2012!

2012-01-10T22:30:00.005Z

1/01/12
The first bird on the year list was a Robin singing at 4:35am in the glow of a streetlamp

On 2/01/12 when i got back to my dad's, i was quite looking forward, due to my dad having reported some Goodies on the feeders over the last few days! I had a look in the garden for about an hour from first light untill we headed down to Slimbridge.
However, the Brambling my dad had seen did not come back in, only the flock of 10c Chaffinch, However, i was left bemused at around 9am when 2 'pigeons' flew into the garden, one a standard Woodpigeon, but the other a gorgeous adult STOCK DOVE! in the garden, i had my Digi-scoping setup by the window already (I'd been photographing redpolls earlier) but the bird flew off before i manadged to get anothing on it, only the 2nd Stock dove thats ever been in the garden!

I was happy that our finch flcok had started building up for the late winter (our finches usually come into the garden in late january-Early February), and with the 20c Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch and 10 Chaffinch were a flock of 6 Lesser Redpoll's (although one was quite 'Grey'-The first photo- Idea's? Note Lesser redpoll also on feeder for comparison), The Redpoll's shown On/off in the early morning, but by the time some good light was shining onto the feeders the Redpoll's had done a dissapearing act!

The BIG one (2011)

2012-01-04T21:50:00.009Z

2011,

Although not exactly an amazing year for rare birds (for me anyway) i did have some amazing times, and this post is here to summarise it all!

January:

My year started on the 1st (obviously) with a trip into the Wyre, to see the HAWFINCH'S that were showing, in a few hours i counted 5 birds! The 3rd was a trip to Slimbridge where the year list took a BIG bump Upwards, Many highlights from the day,LESSER SCAUP,2 GREATER SCAUP, SMEW, and nearly 600 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE! amongst hundreds of Waterbirds! 8th was at Upton Warren, where we saw 3 WAXWING's, 13th i found a flock of 42 WAXWING's while on my dinner break at school in Gornal! 14th we visited Stubbers Green and Chasewater, a Cracking Drake SMEW and 7 Goldeneye being the highlights! 22nd- Trimpley Res, 2 WAXWING's were feeding in the car park and 56 Mandarin and 13 Goosander were on the river!

February:

Stubbers Green on 4th got me an ICELAND GULL and a few other gull year ticks, 5th saw me seeing a flock of 10 Goosander at Upton warren (the reserve record!) and 12th i had a Pink-Footed Goose at the same locality. On 15th Sheepwash had 40 Goosander!, Back to Upton on 18th, for better views of the Pink-Footed Goose, as well as the first returning Oystercatcher and Avocet! Upton again for 19th for a Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet and Pink-foot goose again. Also on 19th, we had 4 WAXWINGS in Kidderminster, and a flock of 30 at Finstall near Bromsgrove.

20th Revealed a patch revelation, 3 BRAMBLINGS were in the lickhill birchwood!, A Crossbill and 2 Mealy Redpoll were also on Patch!

21st saw a female Brambling still in the wood, and an increase in Siskin Numbers! Also that day, we paid homage to the Drake RED-BRESTED MERGANSER at Bittell, on 22nd a Brambling came into the Garden, as well as 15 Lesserpoll, 50 Siskin and 20 Goldfinch. 3 BRAMBLINGS were still in the nearby birchwood, as well as a early BLACKCAP.

25th revealed a flock of 48 WAXWINGS in the birchwood for about an hour feeding on mistletoe berries, sometimes in the same scope view as 2 BRAMBLING!

Later that day, we headed into the Wyre for 4+ HAWFINCH, 6 BRAMBLING and 2 DIPPER.

26th there was 2 BRAMBLING in the Garden with a single Lesser Redpoll.

March:

By 5th 10 BRAMBLING were in the Birchwood, as well as quite a large accompanying Finch flock, on 6th there was 14 BRAMBLING, on 12th there was our first multiple sighting of BRAMBLING in the garden.

18th saw a 2nd Summer MEDDITTERANEAN GULL at Upton, and also a stunning drake GOLDENEYE. 19, The Med gull remained and i also saw a Jack snipe. 27th saw the largest recorded flock of Brambling on the patch, with a staggering 24+ birds!

April:

2nd saw my first SWALLOW of the year! 2 Bramblings remained in Garden.

Also on 2nd, the pink-footed goose was still at Upton, the Avocet flock had shot up to 17, there was 8 LRP, a Blackwit, the Med Gull and my first Common Tern of the year.

3rd saw 14 Brambling still on the patch.

On 9th, a flock of 6 Brambling were in the Garden!

Again on 9th, we saw the Med Gull at upton, but joining it was also 2 near summer plumaged adult LITTLE GULLS! 19 Avocet was a huge number!

10th Was the 'Bloggers day out in Staff's' with any highlights, Great Grey Shrike, Red kite, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Wheatear and Stonechat amongst others!

My first Lesser and Common Whitethroat came on 19th and on 22nd we wandered into the Wyre, 5+ Redstarts, 8+ WOOD WARBLER and a male PIED FLYCATHER being the highlights among many Warblers. By 23rd Nesting was underway at upton, But passage had only just started (again) and a Dunlin was on show. the 29th and 30th at Upton was potentially the weekend this year, a WOOD SANDPIPER, a Greenhank and a WHIMBREL were showing on 29th, on 30th while at the Moors pool, i saw a flock of 27 fly over BAR-TAILED GODWITS!!! combined with the single that was still at the flashes that made 28 for the day, a reserve and county (?) record, the WOOD SANDPIPER and WHIMBREL remained, and 2 ARCTIC TERN were on the moors!

30th at Earswood saw 2 ARCTIC TERN aswell as a showy Mandarin.

May:

1st: My first Swift.

6th, i found 9 Mandarin on the patch at blackstone! and 3 Goosander, also the next day 5 Mandarin and 3 Goosander.

7th at Earlswood i found 2 summer plumaged adult LITTLE GULLSand an ARCTIC TERN!

on 14th I twitched the BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Bittell.

An amazing find for Matt G (the Earlswood Blog) saw me seeing a NIGHT HERON at Earlswood on 21st after a very long wait. Cheers Matt

27th: A female Mandarin with 11 chicks on the patch!

(The next bit is over the 2 months but i will put it all in june)

June: on 31st May, At Stackpole head in wales we saw 3 WHIMBREL fly in off the sea! as well as getting out usual wales birds such as the iconic Chough!

On 2nd we visited Strumble head, and saw 400+ Manx Shearwaters offshore, 3 Puffin flew past as well as large numbers of Many Seabird species (no odd species though)

Now came my Highlight of the year, on 12th, i found 3 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER and i was able to get some superb views over the next few weeks of them on feeders or in Tree's, and the fact they bred at the site made my year! Great Birding!

On 26th I found another female Mandarin on the patch with 3 Chicks, these went on to fledge while the 11 chicks were all predated!

July

2nd: 2 Redstart were showing at Upton, and an amazing flock of 12 Blackwits! On 12th I found a stunning male WHINCHAT at Sheepwash, which i also have down as one of my better birds of the year. on an Urban patch!!

On 23rd a Little Egret roosted at Upton. On 30th there was 2 Little Egrets at Upton, and an adult MED GULL roosted with the leg ring 5P5.

August:

5th Female Mandain with 2 fledged young on the patch, on 6th the female LESSER-SPOTTED WOODPECKER re-appears at the site briefly! and at Earlswood later in the day, a juv Dunlin shows amazingly well! The roost at Upton that evening had a 1st winter MED GULL.

on 14th a RUFF was at Upton.

On 19th i had amazing views of a Hobby on the patch. 22nd saw another Sheepwash Mega, a juv Greenshank! on 26th i twicthed the Chelmarsh ARCTIC SKUA and was left with good impressions of this location!

on 30th I returned to Chelmarsh, and had MUCH better views of the ARCTIC SKUA closer in, aswell as 63+ Goosander! 30th we also went to Upton, where we saw 2 Spotted Flycatcher. Slimbridge on 31st saw me seeing a juv CURLEW SANDPIPER amongst the Esturine Waders.

September:

Started well on 3rd, when i had great perched views of a juv BLACK TERN at upton. On 4th, i caught up with the shenstone BLACK REDSTART on my 2nd try (Good find JK!) which shown quite well! 10th i was back at upton to see a Juv ARCTIC TERN with the company of my Girlfriend, on 12th we struck lucky againat Sheepwash, when I found 2 ARCTIC TERN and a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER! on 17th, i again saw 2 ARCTIC TERN at upton on Amys Marsh.

18th i again popped into Shenstone for another look at the BLACK REDSTART, which again showed well!

October:

A juv RUFF was briefly on the patch on 1st, my only patch first of the year! before flying off North upriver, Another Sheepwash Mega on 3rd with a Wigeon! Upton on 15th had a Pintail and 3 Common Gull (thats a good number at upton!) On 26th, we headed back down to Slimbridge, where we saw the first returning winter visitors, 3 Bewick Swans, 31 White fronted geese, An AVOCET and a CURLEW SANDPIPER were welcomed additions to the day! Our visit coencided with a rare Wheatear being found, so we went down for a look.

The PIED WHEATEAR shown superbly throughout the time i was there! An obliging rarity!, a northern Wheatear and a Merlin were also noted here!

on 30th i saw a very late SWALLOW on the patch, as well as 2 Goosander, Mandarin and Little Grebe.

A visit to the site revealed a brief look at the male LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER after a long absense!

November:

11th saw me seeing 2 1st winter drake RED BRESTED MERGANSERS at Fen's Pool's in the very late evening, i saw a Yellow legged gull ast Bittell on 12th.

On 21st, was overjoyed to see a stunning adult RED-THROATED DIVER on the patch! One of my highlights of the year! What a bird to see so close! (Thanks JK!)

On 27th, i made the trip up to Titterstone Clee for the DESERT WHEATEAR (Thanks again JK!), which shown amazingly!, we dropped into another Shrop's site on the way home, Chelmarsh and saw the RED-THROATED DIVER (same bird as the patch), A LITTLE GULL and 2 Yellow-legged gulls!

December:

3 CORN BUNTINGS were showing at Shenstone. on 7th i Found a first winter LITTLE GULL at Earlswood whcih stayed just long enough for MG to see it!

From now on the birding cooled down, clocking Goosander at Sheepwash and on the patch, although my last sheepwash mega of the year, a Female SHOVELER and 9 goosander.

On 28th 2 Yellow-legged gulls were at Chelmarsh in the Gull roost.

Now i will post a Video showing my favorite Birds/Photos/Videos from 2011, hope you like it!

I know this has been a long post, But thankyou for reading my blog over this last year, it has kept me going, and i can say, if it wasnt you lot, i would'nt be Blogging now, so thankyou guys for your support, and i hope you drop in throughout the next year too!

Thankyou all!

I know its late but i hope everyone has an amazing bird filled new year!

Cheers

Last few weeks of the year!

2012-01-03T19:51:00.004Z

19/02/11
Sheepwash
A single Drake Goosander was on the Main pool with 30+ Pochard and 11 Teal, 30+ lesser Redpoll were in the birches around the lake and an unknown amount of Siskin were heard!

Sheepwash 23/12
A female SHOVELER was on the marshy pools adjacent to the river before switching to the main lake, we failed to get any photo's or videos of this personal site first.
A flock of 9 Goosander was also on the main pool, with 20 Pochard and 11 Teal, 20 Redpoll were still in the Birches around the Pool

Blackstone (Patch) 27/12
my dads car had broken down, so we had to walk to his home from my nans in Bewdley, we decided to walk there via the patch, At Blackstone, a Drake and duck MANDARIN DUCK was on the river, which was very high and fast flowing, the first time ive seen a drake in a long time, and i didnt have my scope with me :(
Also showing well at blackstone was 2 Jay, which i would've had some amazing footage of, if i had taken my scope, but i didnt fancy it on a 10 mile round jorney!
40c Redpoll were at various locations between Blackstone and Lickhill!

Chelmarsh Res 28/12
Checked the Gull roost, Only 2 Yellow legged gulls came in, as well as a few GBBG and Herring Gull, the other 4000 Gulls consisted of LBBG and BHG, 19 Goosander were on the main lake as was a Wigeon, on the Marsh were 3 Teal.
Somehow we missed the Red-throated Diver!

Upton Warren 29/12
West hide at the Moors, spent most of the time watching the feeders.
10c Reed Bunting
1 Bullfinch
1 GS woodpecker
17 Curlew in A38 Field
1 Pochard and 50 Teal on the Pool

Patch Birding

2011-12-26T23:36:00.005Z

8/12/11
Patch Birding can be immensly annoying.
Why i hear you ask?
Lack of Birds?
Missed a rare bird?

No!
Generaly people is what annoys me!
With my patch being on the Riverside footpath, i get lots of walkers, most of which are respectful to the nature surrounding them!
However, you sometimes have one of those days where all those agrovating c**ts all come out at once, and that day just happened to be today!

Every single decent bird i saw was flushed over and over by a multitude of people!

A flock of 30c Redpoll at the Wigeon lake was continually flushed over a period of a hour while i was trying to wait untill they dropped down into the weeds infront of me, they started dropping down only to be followed seconds later by a rampaging dog running through the middle of the flock! I'm not Anti-Dog or anything, but when out in these places is it not better to keep Dogs on leads? To protect Wildlife and for the generaly health of the dog, especially on a riverbank! There are many more better places to let your dog roam in Stourport, Ive witnessed what happens when a careless dog owner lets their dog jump into the river, and let me assure you its a harrowing sight watching a dog drown! And sadly, the dog was never seen again!

Regular readers will know i have a particular problem with ignorant Dog walkers on my patch and im not just like this for the sake of a wintering Finch flock!

People who keep their dogs on leads, well done you! I salute you for your generosity!

Anyway, this is a bird blog!

A large increse in Finch numbers, with influxes of Redpoll, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and to a lesser extent Greenfinch!

A walk between Lickhill and Blackstone revealed 3 flocks of Redpoll sp numbering 100 birds in total! which smashes my overall record count! however this may include a degree of duplication, so therefore my record of 68 still stands as a single flock record count!

Unusually, a REDWING was showing well in a Hawthorn!

A female Kestrel was also showing well, eating its prey!

A Pied Wagtail was showing on a short cut grass field adjoining the river, one day there will be a Wheatear here!

A brutish looking Herring Gull was showing on the riverside fields harrasing BHG's

Happy Christmas

2011-12-24T22:15:00.003Z

Just a quick post to wish all 89 Followers and viewers of my blog Happy christmas and thankyou for your support this year, I wouldve packed blogging in long ago if i didnt have an audience to read about my often bird-less days too. so thankyou for that.

My posting this year have sometimes been few and far between, but im glad you have stuck with it and kept checking in.

I wont be back untill the new year now, when i will get up to date with my postings and then post my BIG year ender post, so i also wish all viewers of my blog a Happy bird filled new year.

Have a good un' everybody!

(Just a shame its not like last year, i want another patch Smew, Whooper Swan etc :P )

Cheers

Earlswood

2011-12-18T22:10:00.004Z

7/12/11
After the Gardening job had finished, we had about 30 Mins to spare before dark, so we thought a visit to Earlswood lakes would be in order.

I looked onto Windmill Pool first, where i saw a Female GOOSANDER and 7 TEAL. There was 31+ Pied Wagtails on the Engine Pool Island and then i went back to check the increasing number of BHG on Windmill pool, i Quickly caught sight of a very small bird, sitting on its own, well away from the Flock.

LITTLE GULL!

A 1st Winter Bird.

We walked around to the other side of the pool while i phoned Matt from the Earlswood Blog, who, as luck would have it, was on site at the time.

I manadged to get to the bird and take a quick, dark, record video of the bird before it took flight with the Gull flock.

We watched it Circle the Pool for about a minuite before switching over to Engine pool, where Matt saw it, i just about managed to get back to the causeway before it flew off in a south (ish) direction, and was lost behind trees.

I do love Little Gulls :)

Shenstone

2011-12-12T19:52:00.005Z

3/12/11
News tht the 'Shenstone Birder' had located a winter flock of Buntings/Finches was welcomed and we dropped into Stanklyn lane on the way to the Gardening job!

Quickly, a FIELDFARE was on show, picking off hawthorn berries with Blackbirds (Among them, a few black billed 'Scandinavian birds).

Anyhow, the flock of birds was here including a healthy amount of 7+ YELLOWHAMMER, including a few stunning males.

However, the Main target was the flock of Corn Buntings that have been seen, and we were lucky enough to see 3 birds sat on the far edge of the hedge near an overhanging tree, so therefore they wernt in the best position to photograph, but i tried:

Sheepwash- Duck Influx

2011-12-12T09:22:00.002Z

30/11/11

A visit to the Urban Mecca produced an influx in duck numbers, at the forefront, a Very large flock of 52 POCHARD. The flock contained more females than before so i am presuming that the influx is due to females arriving?

11 TEAL were seen from the raised path where they show very well (there starting to get used to walking people now!)

16 Tufted duck were on the main Pumphouse pool and johns lane pool,

Also on Johns lane pool, was a flock of 3 female GOOSANDERS.

A Grey Wagtail was showing on the river.

Chelmarsh

2011-12-01T20:24:00.002Z

27/11/11
After having my fill off the Desert Wheatear on the windy hillside, i decided to head to another Shropshire site.
Chelmarsh Res
Having a quick scan from the Sailing club revealed a very brief look at the adult RED-THROATED DIVER which had moved up here from the patch well up at the north end of the lake. There was about 2000+ Gulls on the water, and were just on the edge of scoping distance, Panning across the flock i picked up a small Gull. tiny infact, hawking around away from the main gull flock, Instant recognition kicked in:
Adult LITTLE GULL!
I watched for a brief moment, then handed the scope over to my dadwhile i text the news out, but when i got the scope back, it had dissapeared, i guess it just landed on the water with the gulls.

We there had a walk to the other side, near the hide, and here we were much closer to the Gulls, and i was able to pick of 2 Adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL's among the flocks, but the Little Gull had literally dissapeared!
We were treated to more views of the RED-THROATED DIVER at the north end and my dad saw it for the first time.
It was around this time that Sailing activities started taking place, and the Gulls were soon flushed to the north end, too far for the scope to see:

MB

DESERT WHEATEAR!

2011-11-29T21:30:00.003Z

27/11/11
As well as recieving news about the Great Egret at upton, on saturday morning i also recieved news on a Mega wheatear for the Midlands, a female DESERT WHEATEAR has been found up on Titterstone Clee hill by non other than fellow bird blogger, The Shenstone Birder!

So on Sunday morning we headed up there, so i can see my 3rd Wheatear species of the year in Britain, and to break my yearlist record!

I spotted the twitch as soon as we arrived, just below the car park, We parked in the upper car park and walked down, Seconds after joining the crowd i spotted the female DESERT WHEATEAR sitting on a steep bank not very far away, we watched it for the next 2 hours or so as i got to grips with this new species. And i was left how strikingly different it was to both Northern and the Pied Wheatears i have seen, I mean the Wholely Black tail was obvious to see at this range, as was all the features, but overall it looked paler than the 'other' wheatear's.
But despite at times the bird being very close (20ft), the gale force winds and horrible 'side light' were messing up every photo/Video i took, The scrum of photographers were having a ball with very good light behind them, But for my angle, the bird was in a constant shadow on one part of the body and complete sunlight on another, combined with the paleness of the bird, every image came out overexposed or just generally 'burned out'. But here are my Efforts:

I wont dwell on the long list of birds that was found after i departed, however it did annoy me quite abit, one being a would be lifer, and all 3 year ticks!

But the days birding didnt end there!

GWE

2011-11-29T21:14:00.002Z

26/11/11
A visit to Upton warren Moors pool was abit annoying, i woke up to recieve a text on my phone saying a Great Egret had been found there, it was around for a hour or 2, then flew to the flashes, then flew off south complelty, Oh well i thought!
But when i heard news that the bird had returned to the Moors pool i thought i had a chance, but only on my arival did i find out that the bird had flown off again as we set out, but this time, it did not come back! We spent a couple of hours looking over the ducks but there was very little there:
70c Teal
1 Snipe
15c Curlew
10c Shoveler
A Curlew:

MB

Patch Bird is Officially AWSOME!

2011-11-22T21:25:00.005Z

20/11/11

Rather than just saying the event im going to include the surrounding birds before the birdy bits.

While at my girlfriends house late in the daylight hours on sunday a text popped up on my phone, mmm, i wonder what that will be, what i did not expect was when i opened it it to read that someone had found a Diver on MY patch!

I mean, if my girlfriend was to comment, she would maybe be able to describe my face when i saw that text, because i couldnt see it, however i can expect it to be somewhere in between Confusion, Disbelief and Anger! I wasnt annoyed that someone else had found the bird, just the bird chose to be found when i couldnt get to it!

Oh to be a Patch Birder!

Needless to say, i winced evertime i saw a Txt pop up, 'Red Throated Diver on the Severn!'

21/11/11

An early morning text from Birding Today said the bird was still there, and within an hour i had sorted out a plan to get down there after 6th form! A very last minuite plan to say the least. Me and the Gornal Birder, were going to catch 2 Busses and a Train and then a lift at the other end to the site!

A mamoth task considering how shit public transport is!

We got out of Lessons at 12:45 and power walked home, picked up my Bins and scope and Went straight for the Bus, A horid time on the busses got my exeptionally Mad ( the Gornal Birder can vouch for that!), but luckilly, we arrived at the train station about 2 Minuites before our train arrived! Our first stroke of Luck!

Jason from the Shenstone Birder Blog had very kindly offered to give us a lift from the Train station down to the northern edge of the patch, to our target!

As you can expect, a bird of this magnitude on the patch is Momentous, On a patch scale this bird is about as rare as Pacific Diver is in the UK, Add to that the fact that this was a river, the bird had no real reason to be there (there wasnt any particuarly strong winds blowing inland), and the Bird being an adult, It just seems totally bizzare!

And imagine the relief when i laid my Bins onto the Bird!

A stunning winter plumaged RED-THROATED DIVER simply paddling about on the river, giving amazing views, litterally scope filling! Words can describe what seeing that bird ment, On My Patch, My Patch that nearly 100% of the time you see nothing on!

A RED-THROATED DIVER, looking so out of place on a short section of the river!

I really have not much else to say, Gobsmacked, Awstruck, Disbelief! Awsome Patch bird!

A Female Goosander was in Bewdley town centre.

Special thanks to Jason K for his lift from the train station in my time of need, really apriciated, and as you said in video 3 (?), when i get a car your more than welcomed to hitch a lift if you need it :P lol

Patch birding is the BEST!

Oxford

2011-11-22T21:07:00.003Z

A school Trip to Oxfordm lead to me seeing a RED KITE fly over, and singles of both PEREGRIBE and KESTREL, however, not a single Buzzard!

I also saw 3 Deer, which i tentativly identified as 2 Red deer and a sinlge Fallow deer (the 2 very large Reds were seen on the way there, then a Fallow on the way back)
MB

Sheepwash- Return of the Goosander

2011-11-22T20:44:00.003Z

14/11/11
An after 6th form visit ot the local mecca, Resulted in me and the Gornal Birder seeing a Male and Female Goosander on the pool, the light was dire, but ive been waiting for a Drake Goosander for ages, so took a film anyway.

Otherwhys there was little out of the ordinary here, so i made an effort to count the flocks of duck, 29 Pochard and 16 Tufted Duck was also present, as well as 9 Teal.
MB

A Jay, A Nuthatch and a Harris Hawk!

2011-11-22T16:43:00.006Z

12/11/11
A post of little words.
Garden Feeders

Upper Bittel Res
Dipped a Bean Goose and Hawfinch, a Jay shown quite well

13/11/11
Harris Hawk on the Patch
(you will have to watch untill the end of the video for the bird to move)

Red-Breasted Mergansers

2011-11-16T20:17:00.004Z

11/11/11

After hearing news of 2 RED BREASTED MERGANSERS at Fens Pool's at about Midday i was quite annoyed that i couldnt go straight there, with my dad picking me up later to go back over to stourport.

But as luck would have it, with about 30 mins untill dark, my dad arrived, and we made the short journey to Fens Pool's, Middle Pool to be specific!

We parked in the car park and i had a quick scan, the far end of the pool was already in darkness and you couldnt see much, but there wasnt any Merganser like shapes, so i scanned along the bank, going through a tufted duck flock i layed my eyes on 2 1st winter Drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, i immidiatly got the scope and took a few videos in the now almost non existant light!

The Video and videograbs show just how dark it was, only around 10 Minuites before you could just see the bush in front of you!

Anyway, a Happy twitch :)

A nice 'tick' for the West mids region!

Sheepwash

2011-11-16T19:51:00.001Z

31/09/11
Not very much to get exited about really!
7 Teal, and 10 Pochard the only things of note
MB

Patch birding, Hangers on.

2011-11-09T18:09:00.003Z

30/10/11
Here we are, a couple of day before the start of November, Summer a distant memory, No more Warmth, no more Cuckoo's, Swallows or Swifts, the Icons of Summer.
Bring on the Winter i say, i want it to snow! For selfish Patch reasons really, but i am genuinly looking forward to the winter!

But anyway, Here i was Stamping my Patch, I decided to walk south this time, to check up on the Gadwall lake, which i havent been to for some time.

There was abit of Vismig in the morning after the light fog had cleared, Mostly consisting of Skylarks, but with many Redpoll and Meadow Pipits intermixed.

I decided to walk about a hundred metres off my usual walk past the Baisins in the town centre, i usually just walk straight down the river as quick as possible to get past the crowds in the town centre, but as i was early, there was nobody about, and less and less people visit now its getting colder!

But i had a walk along the shore of the 'Big Baisin', had a check through the small amount of Gulls, but there was little else of interest, one day i will see something good here! However, i was truily shocked wher i heard a 'chittering' noise coming from above, a reminder of Summer, as a (presumably) juvenile SWALLOW flew over!, I didnt get really exited, but tbh, any 'late' summer bird is quite good, and this easilly beats my last 'latest date'.

The fact of the matter is, these summer migrants are staying longer, and we are getting more hangers on. so dont think were out of summer yet!

I continued downriver, saw a few Tit flocks flitting about.

Later in the day, i walked upriver to Blackstone, and i was shocked when i saw a seasonal MEGA! a winter adult LITTLE GREBE was feeding on the river, as with the swallow, this bird is not expected to be here at this time of year, only generally appearing later on in late december/january! It quickly swam to the opposite bank and dissapeared amongst the overhanging willows.

In contrast to the last few visit's, A female MANDARIN was presant, but in regularity with the summer, GOOSANDERS were still presant, with 2 female types (i think the 2nd bird is a juv, or at least 1st year)

The first Female GOOSANDER was showing on a fallen tree.

While the second was showing much closer just south of the road bridge, allowing me to get some headshot footage

A MARSH TIT calling was my first on the patch this autumn, having not witnessed any breeding behaviour this year.

Today i went fishing

2011-11-03T17:13:00.002Z

28/10/11
Many of you will not know, that i am both a birder and a fisherman, despite having fishing taking a back seat for some time.
Me and my dad got out today to a place called wellfield Pools in shropshire, this has always been one of my favorite places to go fishing!

Well thats all good i hear you say? But what does it have to do with a birding blog?

Well, as well as being very good for fish, it is also very good for farmland birds!

Over the coarse of the day i watched Vismig of many species, and the day total of Skylark must be 100+, with them constantly 'rippling over' and i do mean constantly, 50+ redpoll sp were also flying about, but consisted more of a feeding flock than migrating birds.
A single BRAMBLING (my first of the autumn) flew over, but at 3:47 the highlight of the day flew over, i Heard the distinctive 'chipping' of CROSSBILLS and i imidiatly looked up and around in circles, where were they, i cant count a heard only bird!!
But i was releaved when 2 large 'green' female finches with crossed bills flew over my head, only my 3rd crossbill's of the year!
5+ Raven were flying around,a nd Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Coal tit, Redwing, fieldfare and Chaffinch were in the surrounding conifers, In the plowed field that is overlooked from where the car was parked, there was a Convoy of 20 Red legged Partridge

And i also caught quite a few fish :)
MB

PIED WHEATEAR!

2011-11-02T19:26:00.007Z

26/10/11

As i have already hinted at, As a planned trip to Gloucestershire was already in place, it was a remarkable stroke of luck when a decently rare bird was found nearby!

So after our ounting to the Capital of plastic birds we headed further down the A38 to a place beside the severn estury

Oldbury on severn

The sailing club was nestled n the banks of the river in quite pleasant surroundings, flat open ground, mudflats stretching far into the river, just north of the the Severn bridges in the distance, and looking north to a Power station,

We walked down to the crowd, and i soon saw the bird, a Superb PIED WHEATEAR feeding atop the roof of the sailing club building.

A Gathering of people was expected, can you spot yourself??

The bird was constantly active, but sometimes stopped and stood still, enabling me to get some photo's:

For me, one of the standout features was the tail pattern,(video grab below) which was obvious even to someone with very limited 'wheatear experiance'. with Northern and Isabelline wheatear being the only others i have seen. But the 'grey' ish tone was also quite outstanding too, I dont class myself as being particuarly good at 'feather detail' Id, being better at Looking at the 'whole' bird, but i did noticed the primary projection was really long! and the bird became quite distinctive, even when a female Northern WHEATEAR decided to join it.

Sometimes the bird would drop down onto the ground and give superb views, often less than 30ft away! However, when on the ground, it was even more active than on the roof, and with the increasing bufferty wind, it became harder to gain decent photo's/Video's

However, it wasnt just the Wheatear on show, as mentioned, there was also a 'northern'

A stunning female MERLIN flew through over the top of the sailing club and onto the estury where it decided to have a chase of a Redshank, It flew up the channel behind us, giving stunning views and flew further up and being lost to view, still chasing the Redshank!

A sinlge Rock Pipit was here also, A scattering of Dunlin on the shore, and a Grey wagtail and a Common Gull flew over, we decided to leave just as the rain was about to hit, lucky we left at the time we did, because it rained heavilly!

A happy twitcher :) Rare bird showing amazingly, nice light (untill the rain) and Non of the crowd being dickheads, what more can you ask for?

Slimbridge

2011-11-01T22:15:00.004Z

26/10/11
As a long staying Spoonbill had taken up residence from the zeiss hide we decided to head down there to maybe catch my bogey bird, we planned the trip for the wednesday!
On the tuesday night i found out the spoonbill was still there, and also a Pied wheatear had been found not far away, mmmm.

While heading down there in the early morning, i noticed on the @Slimbridge_wild twitter site that the spoonbill was still there.

We went straight for the Zeiss hide, but after a single scan of the area, No spoonbill, 'I know where this is going!'

Yes, once again i dipped a spoonbill!

However, i cant compain because a Juv CURLEW SANDPIPER was showing from the hide with the Lapwing flock:

An AVOCET had also taken up residence, which was nice to see as it had been some times since the upton birds had departed! A single GREENSHANK was in the far corner with around 1000 TEAL!

A large flock of about 300-400 GOLDEN PLOVER flew over south.

After spending some time here hoping the bird white bird with a spoon as a bill would fly back in (it didnt) we decided to look around, Maybe it flew off to another part of the reserve?

Errr, No, so yeah!

Other than the flock of 87 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT on the south lake, it was quiet here.

The TEAL here were showing well!

We then had a quick look in the Rushy Pen, and saw the 3 BEWICKS SWAN that were fresh in after a couple of days, and as always, showing very well!

The usual winter flock of PINTAIL was also showing well, but not looking amazing, with most of the birds being in 85% 'normal' plumage, I guess i will wait untill the winter to get a video of a full plumaged drake.

Then heading up to the Holden tower we had a look on the feeders, and a female Great spot woodpecker was showing.

From the tower, a flock of 31 EURASIAN WHITE FRONTED GEESE were showing well! and it was the closest i have seen the flock here! They eventually flew off towards the Zeiss hide, where they landed!

Then, we decided to head back around the reserve for a 2nd check for the 'Big white bird with the spoon for a bill', A check of the South lake revealed a single adult COMMON GULL which was showing nicely!

And a look at the Zeiss revealed much the same as before!

So then, i was feeling twitchy!

Lets move south!

Chelmarsh Res.

2011-11-01T18:28:00.004Z

25/10/11
Like i explained when the Arctic skua was around here, i found this place for the first time and i quickly thought it could become one of 'my' birding haunts, and without knowledge on any good birds we headed over there to have a look, and hopefully see a few 'winter' ducks.
Saying that, i was actually quite saddened that only tufted duck and 4 WIGEON were the only birds that represented this type, i had also hoped that the large greylaf flock would harber a 'wild' goose, but the entire goose flock had gone!
30 odd lapwing were on the dam. there wasnt much doing on the water, so we walked the hedges, untill be struck gold, a particualr strech of bush held lots of birds. 5 YELLOWHAMMER including one gorgeous male was showing

As this is usually a bird i always seem to miss, was quite happy to see them, the birds associated with 10+ Reed Buntings, as well as a multitude of finches, including a flock of 40+ flighty Linnet, 5 Redpoll sp flew over, and 5 Siskin was in the small birch trees near the hide at the north end, it was quite odd to hear skylark singing on such a cold, despite bright and sunny day.
2 Marsh tit were seen along the enterance road to the sailing club as was 2 Treecreeper in a mixed tit flock.
The large flock of roosting gulls that was present just before we left was looking into the sun, so, other than a quick look through, i didnt really 'grill' them.
On the roads coming away i spotted a very large flock of gulls in a roadside field, we pulled over and i had a scan through them.
400 odd Gulls, all every single one was either a LBBG or a BHG, not even a herring!
However, in the same field, was also c30 Pheasant, and 6 RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.

MB

Sheepwash MEGA (Almost)

2011-10-19T21:01:00.005+01:00

17/10/11

A cloudy Rainy day at sheepwash with The Gornal Birder was unprommising, however the spells of clear skys followed by rain had potential to 'drop' something, but other than a flock of around 40 Redpoll which brielfy touched down (there was also another 10 already feeding in the bushes with goldfinch).

I picked out a flock of 6 TEAL near the sand martin bank and later 3 more birds joined (4 m, 5 f) and i was able to video them

A GREEN WOODPECKER was showing on the river bank, allowing good views.

But while we turned around corner a PARAKEET flushed from in front of us!

It lead us a merry chase for a long time, giving only flight views and one brief, distant and badly lit views. I thought i had a ring necked parakeet!

However after a long time, the bird finally gave up and perched upon a bush and ate berrys, that Bill looks abit big, and should ring necked have purple in the wing, mmm, I think i may need to review my videos, so then when at home i quickly got certain it wasnt a hoped for ring necked, so what was it?

The good old google search came out, 'Green Parakeet', non of those were my birds. 'green parakeet with purple in wing'

Alexanderine Parakeet!

Thats the one!

It all seemed so clear in hindsight!
Oh well, its only a Parrot ;P

Certainly brightened up the day though

Raven

2011-10-19T20:55:00.002+01:00

Here is a Raven i Digi-binned as it flew over my head:

Grimley

2011-10-18T21:38:00.003+01:00

16/10/11
I dont want to talk about this day, so i wont, and local's may suss why!
Here are some Gadwall's:

MB

Upton warren

2011-10-18T21:15:00.005+01:00

15/10/11
A drop in at the moors pool, revealed a very 'gully' session, as a large flock of Gulls had taken over the pool, amongst the flock was 4 Herring:

3 1st Winter COMMON GULLS;

amongst the usual large quantities of BHG and LBBG.
However, the star bird of the evening goes to a female PINTAIL which flew in and circled the pool before settling and swimming towards us with a flock of mallards (they are good for something!)

This bird was very good at hiding, and often dissapeared for periods of up to an hour! eventually however, all people on site got to see it,

Also of note was an eclipse male WIGEON, at dusk, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER flew in and landed in amys marsh.

Sandwell valley RSPB

2011-10-18T20:51:00.005+01:00

7/10/11
A couple of hours spent slowly wandering the paths around forge mill lake, It was quite quiet, but as i havent been to the valley for almost 4 years! i felt like a visit was in order.
In fact i owe alot to Sandwell valley, i picked up almost all the ducks i have seen for the 1st time, i still remember the day when a scopeview (not my scope may i add) had 3 lifers, Shoveler, Teal and Goosander! Yes, that bad!
However, for all the 'Common' lifers i saw, i was extremly happy on my first visit one august day many moons ago, to see a Black-tailed Godwit feeding in the marsh with 5 Green sandpipers, I thought it was a mega!, But saying that, i ticked Godwit and sandpipers before i had a Lapwing!
How far i have come!
But anyways:
Like i said, birdwise it was quiet, so i took a few video's of a few commons around the lake, including some bird i ticked here years ago:

A Shoveler, still a gorgeous duck:

And a Lapwing: however quite common, i still end up watching them, particuarly when their flying around on a freezing winters day 'wheezing' with there huge flappy wings!;

We walked around to the remains of the old visitor centre, such a shame to see it in the state it was, maybe the price to pay for having an urban reserve which is so open to the public?

However, he is the view looking from where the visitor centre once stood:

Highlight of the visit was hearing a WILLOW TIT, however, a repeat visit is needed to get this on the year list!

7 female/Juv GOOSANDER were on the river, A pair of Gadwall were on the lake, as was c10 Shoveler and the same amount of Teal, as we were leaving we noted the flock of Goosander roosting on the lake.

Sheepwash mega!

2011-10-06T23:00:00.003+01:00

3/10/11

Again, an after 6th form visit to Sheepwash urban park was in order, with my co-sheepwash patcher the GORNAL BIRDER (with his new blog).

As we were walking around the pool it became obvious that there wasnt much of note, however while scanning near the 'sand martin bank', i picked out a duck.

An eclipse drake WIGEON!

we decided to head around to the raised patch where we were treated to much closer views with the light behind us, giving great photo and video opporotunities!

It was the first i have ever seen at the park, and a very nice addition,

However, the only other birds of note were 3 Female TEAL, which somehow always were on the other side of the pool where ever we were standing!
MB

Patch first!

2011-10-06T16:57:00.004+01:00

When is it that you know birding cant get any better?

When you get a patch first of cause, and not just a poxy little, 'i should have seen one here, but ive never really caught up with them tick', no i mean a fully blown WTF is that doing here tick!

As regualr readers of the blog will know, my last moment of that was when i found the 2nd winter drk Smew on the river, and the other a week before that with a Whooper swan, However, patch birding can be Dry and stail most of the time, but just once in a while, you find something special.

1/10/11

Got out quite early on the patch, walking upriver at 7:30 to try and get some videos of the Mandarins and Goosanders, slowly working my way up with a trickling stream of both MEADOW PIPIT 'seeping' and SKYLARK 'rippling' over.

On a plowed field there was 10c Lapwing (most were hidden behind bushes) and Many Pied wagtails were flying over, suddenly a flcok of 40c Swallow appeared, but immidiatly headed south in the fine conditions.

I has worked my way up to the riverside field at 7:56

It was at this point i heard a strage call, one that i couldnt recognise, i spun around to see a wader flying in low over the fields, head on, i couldnt put a name to it, but it allighted

and pitched down in a shallow ditch in the field i was standing adjacent to.

A juvenile RUFF!

I didnt know what to do, pick up my phone and tell someone, get my scope up and take a video, or continue looking through my bins, well i didnt have to choose, because the bird chose for me, and after no longer than 10 seconds it took flight and flew off climbing rapidly as it went.

Looking back on the time, i proberbly didnt hear the ruff call,(which is what i said when i passed on the news) because im under the impression they dont call much (if at all)??

But i believe that what i may have been hearing was another wader, a Snipe (which i had also never knowingly heard calling, but i did see one on the riverside fields just after the Ruff), so at least im better at IDing a bird than by calls,

The thing is, if i didnt hear that call, would i have seen the RUFF?, because at the time i was scanning hedges, maybe just abit of good luck that got me onto the bird.

But who knows,

The rest of the walk was tainted by the fact that i didnt even get a photo of this patch first, and i spent a fair bit moaping,

When i finally arrived at Blackstone, i quickly found 2 Female type MANDARIN, of which i got a video, but not the Drk i was after.

And the 2 GOOSANDER were still at Blackstone, an adult female (our summering bird) and a juv bird.

3 KINGFISHER were fishing in the river, as well as 100's of fishermen
MB

Patch

2011-10-05T20:15:00.002+01:00

30/09/11
All activity was at Blackstone, i hadent got down to the patch for some time, so even though i only had 20 mins before dark, i decided to give it a go.
I quickly spotted 2 GOOSANDER on the rocks below the bridge but walked on very quickly, ,lots of space to cover.
At the usual spot, i picked up 4 Mandarin in the shodows of the overhanging trees, hardly visable, at this point i heard a familiar call come from somewhere, i heard a TEAL!A i scanned up the bank ans squinted really hard looking for a tiny duck in the non existant light, and i found it, a female TEAL!, the first i have ever seen 'on the deck' on that patch, and the first this far north up the patch.
I was treated to stunning views of both Pipistral and possibly greater horseshoe bats and while watching thes flying feet from my head, i saw a GREAT CRESTED GREBE on the river, again, as with the TEAL, abit of a MEGA at this time of year, but i decided to head home now as it was extremly dark,
A LITTLE OWL and 2 TAWNEY OWL were heard calling.
MB

Sheepwash

2011-10-04T19:14:00.001+01:00

26/09/11

Highlights from sheepwash was the return of winter visitors.
A single female TEAL, was showing well.

A GREY WAGTAIL was also showing quite well on the river.

And 6 drake POCHARD had returned.

MB

Earlswood

2011-10-04T17:18:00.002+01:00

24/09/11
A total of 50+ PIED WAGTAIL dropped into the Engine pool island to roost.

BLACK REDSTART, take 2

2011-09-21T21:43:00.002+01:00

18/09/11
Back for the BLACK REDSTART at shenstone, which was being quite elusive for the entirity of my vigial.
and the only time it did decide to stop flitting around was when you could only see its head and back, so being well stubbern

As can be seen from the photo, the light was behind the bird and completly messing around with the camera, and i just couldnt get a propper sharp video, add this to the fact that the only time the bird fully came out was when i was looking through foliage, and again i couldnt focus right.
But oh well, its a BLACK REDSTART:

A couple of meadow pipit flew over.
MB

More ARCTIC TERNS!

2011-09-21T21:40:00.002+01:00

17/08/11
A drop into upton warren in the late evening produced 2 ARCTIC TERN (yet again, and adult and a juv), a single SNIPE was on the islands, as well as a single GREEN SANDPIPER.
At the flashes it was dead, 27 CURLEW and a few teal
MB

Patch again.

2011-09-21T19:39:00.003+01:00

17/09/11
As the field at lickhill had been plowed, there was a large amount of gulls, which ment i kept coming back here on/off all day.

A smoke Breathing BHG

A 3rd Winter LBBG was on the field.

However, this Juv LBBG was on the Baisins in the town centre while i was trying (and failing) to get a film of the GREY WAGTAIL i had seen, the closest i got was when you could hear it calling on one of my videos of the LBBG:

However, the highlight of the day, was when a gorgeous HOBBY bolted over the Garden towards the river just as i was leaving to check the plowed field:

This leads me on to my other garden birds:
A Goldfinch:

A Long tailed tit:

and this Collered dove, which was 'washing' in a rainstorm to let the water run down its feathers by raising its wing:

15 LAPWING were seen on another Plowed field, just to the north of Lickhill
MB

Patch.

2011-09-21T19:29:00.003+01:00

16/09/11
As i hadent been on the patch for a few weeks now, i was anxious to get back, no matter what time, i was dropped off not long before sunset and headed downriver.
There was very few birds about due to the time of day, however, a KINGFISHER was darting back and forth along the river and 4 MANDARIN were at Blackstone, including the drake which was now back to show its pluamge in all its orange glory!

I took this opporotunity however, to see how many TAWNEY OWL'S i could hear, on the journey from Blackstone to Lickhill, i counted 7 Different calling birds, which included 3 males, all but one of which were on the Ribblesford wood side of the river.
After darkness had fell, a flock of 15 LAPWING appeared against the slightly paler sky as they landed and roosted on the riverside fields!
MB

SHEEPWASH MEGA DAY!

2011-09-20T21:44:00.006+01:00

12/09/11
An after college visit to Sheepwash was very rewarding, although on our walk around the main Pumphouse pool we didnt see anything at all, other than BHG, but as i had a new camera, i thought i would try a pic or 2:

After takin many photo's of adult and 1st winter BHG we headed over to the Chemical pool, to hopefully find a 'Real' Gull.
But no such luck, Not even a herring Gull, but here is a juv LBBG:

However, a Brief sudden exitement hit me when i saw a Tern drop down to feed around the Pool, litterally coming in from nowhere!, just dropping out of the sky, 1 raise of my bins and i knew i was watching a moulting adult ARCTIC TERN, it fed vigorously around the pool from 3:18-3:24, where it then flew out to the north, climbing high as it went,
The whole time it was there, it was constantly harrased by the LBBG and BHG on the pool.

We then walked through the 'mound tunnel' to check out the marshy pools, there was nothing there, so we walked towards the Tame bridge, where a long tailed brown bird flew across in front of us,
Not imidiatly recognising it, i looked up at the Dead tree it flew upon, and was amazed to see a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, as the wind was very veyr strong the bird was blown off the perch very quickly, but i manadged this pic before the final gust pushed it off the twig.

A long wait followed, and after an hour and not seeing it, we were leaving, but for some unknown reason i looked back, and there it was, perched on a small Birch tree!

Scope down, camera out of pocket, up to eyepiece, 'SPOTTED FLYCATHER'

After this i went back to the main Pumphouse pool, and Quickly spotted an ARCTIC TERN, however, this was not the adult bird i had just seen, this was a Juv bird! it tried to take some photos but they didnt come out very well, this bird was present from 4.50- 5:10 when it flew off.

And that was that, other than the Main Highlight birds, nothing else was seen, as is the way with sheepwash!

Oh, and the 4 Cormorant were checked for Shags, but there were all 'Bog standard'

Upton Warren

2011-09-20T21:28:00.004+01:00

10/09/11
A brief visit to the Moors pool for the Juv ARCTIC TERN that had been seen with the Girlfriend.
Well we only walked just down the path and i saw the Tern, Translucent primarys an all, as it dip fed over the pool, however, it failed to land at any point, so therefore no pics or videos!
However, A BARNACLE GOOSE (certainly Feral) was keeping its distance form the Canandas:

It always Remained in its little bit of space,
I spotted a DUNLIN probing about on the other side of the pool as well as a COMMON SANDPIPER.
Unusually, a Collered dove flew over north, an Adult SHELDUCK was on the islands, and this Juv BULLFINCH was on the feeder below the hide:

MB

BLACK REDSTART

2011-09-20T18:57:00.006+01:00

4/09/11

When news came out early morning that the BLACK REDSTART was still at shenstone i was very happy, and i was even hapyer when i was putting my scope down overlooking the area where the bird was, and luckilly, it didnt take it long for it to show.

It landed up on a small Birch?? tree moving away from its 'normal' area because of a the buzzard from the night before sitting on a post and on the ground there.

The bird flew to the far end of the Paddock into the top corner, and stayed here for the hour or so we were there, it didnt come closer, and didnt give much chance to get anything decent ) photo wise on it.

As already mentioned, the BUZZARD was still showing very well, but this time in very good light.

Terns

2011-09-20T17:53:00.003+01:00

3/09/11

As the all dayer was taking place, i was allowed to drop into the reserve early while my dad went off to the saturday job while i plodded around the moors.
On entering the west hide at the moors, i quickly (within 10 secs) spotted a HOBBY bolting through towards the eddy.
It also wasnt long before the BLACK TERN seen in the morning re-appeared, often dip feeding with a Common Tern, both of which were Juv birds, after abit of time watching the tern as i hadent seen one the previous year i headed up to the north moors hide, as a Cetti's warbler had been seen, But while exiting the hide and past the concrete hide, i saw the black tern Landed, and jumped into the hide to get some photo's:

however, after 2 1/2 hours of nothing but a single Dunnock, i gave up and walked across the C'way, were a Goldcrest was heard.
before reaching the hide i was told that some food was being offered in the concrete hide, so with the temptation of free food, i headed over there, and spent the next 30 mins watching Black Tern, Barnacle Goose, and 2 Common Sandpiper around the pool while eating a Bacon Sarnie! Nice way to do birding!
It was now, a buzz, a Bleep of a viberate went through the hide, as one by one we recieved news on a Black Redstart that had been found at shenstone near Kiddie,
So we said our fairwells and shot across there, however, after spending lots of time looking at nothing but Robins, we gave up, however, a Juv Buzzard was showing very well on the fence posts.

I didnt really expect the bird to stop around, so i was abit gutted considering we had already driven through shenstone/stone earlier in the day without stopping.
Little did i know
MB

Slimbridge, our yearly August visit

2011-09-19T15:10:00.002+01:00

31/08/11

There are reasons for both why i like, and why i hate this place.

Scanning the Distant wader flocks from the Holden Tower over high tide was annoying, as every time i called a bird out, i was ignored (or even laughed at!!!), only for an older person to call it out ages after me, to be greeted by, 'oh, where is that then?'.

Seriously Pissed me off alot that did.

Everybody was Commenting on how the small waders were too far away, but they really wernt, even through my low 27x Magnifiaction eyepiece i could pick out birds easilly, and with the 60x some of the scopes had (and believe me, there was some better scopes than mine in that hide) i dont see how anyone could moan about not being able to see them,

Yes, maybe my eyesight is better than some other peoples (being called perfect by my optition!), but dicrediting other peoples sightings due to age is just wrong, and a very easy way to piss someone off!

I could see a CURLEW SANDPIPER in with the flock on the front edge, even if you didnt believe me! (and anyway, i saw another at the Mid point later in the day)

After being royaly P'd off by other birders, i thought it was about time to be P'd off by some dudes, South lake here we come!

A spotted Redshank was claimed, but other than a pale Common Redshank, there was no bird that even resembled one, nor had one been reported, a Nice flock of 100+ Black-Tailed Godwit was standing in the shallows,

after a bit we left, to one of the wrost hides in the world:

However, Via a 'plastic' Redshank!!!!, Yes, thats right, a captive REDSHANK!!!

A single GREENSHANK, and 5 RUFF (all female) were showing from the hide, on a very quiet (wader wise) flash, Lots of ducks though, but other than Wigeon, Mallard and Teal, with a few shoveler, there wasnt much more.

Then to the Middle point hide, Again a few birds here,

4 Little Egret

4 OYC

50c Ringed Plover

50c Black-tailed Godwit

34 Golden Plover

10c Knot

1 Sanderling

100c Dunlin

1 Curlew Sandpiper

as well as many, many Curlew.

Many Passerines around the Mid point, 3 Wheatear, Meadow pipits over, a single Skylark and many Yellow Wagtail.

Highlights (combined for whole day):

4 Little Egret

1 Hobby

2 Peregrine

50c Ringed plover

34 Golden Plover

300c Lapwing

10c Knot

1 Sanderling

100c Dunlin

1 Curlew sand (5 seen by others)

7 Green sandpiper

30c Redshank

1 Greenshank

200c Black-tailed Godwit

111+ Curlew

6 Ruff

20c Yellowe wag

3 Wheatear

Post Twitch birding

2011-09-19T15:06:00.002+01:00

30/08/11
After seeing the Skua for the 2nd time, we then headed over to Upton Warren, where was saw 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER sitting on the Hawthorn hedge to the south of the flashes main hide, it was quite quiet otherwhys, with 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Juv Shelduck, 30+ Teal, 11 Curlew, and many Reed Warblers in the Hen pool.
While in the Hen pool, we also saw both Water and Common Shrew
MB

ARCTIC SKUA, revisited

2011-09-14T16:27:00.002+01:00

30/08/11

As aformented, i had planned to visit Chelmarsh again, and the following tuesday, there we were.

We didnt know if the bird was presant or not, as we only had 'it was there yesterda' news, so how relieved we were when after a couple of mins of scanning, i picked up the ARCTIC SKUA again, sitting on the water, quite close into the bank, we then walked back so we could walk up the public Bridleway on the west side of the Res', from here we were treated to much better views of the Skua, and plumage detail could be seen, A dark morph Juv Arctic Skua, what a bird, Many times today it took to the air and harassed the LBBG that flew in after they fed on nearby fields,

The Skua would chase the birds, occasionally even pecking at the birds tails to get the Gull to disgorge its meal, lets just say the tactic worked quite well, and the Skua got lots of Food, and unusually for seabirds, it looked in extremly good health, oftern taking short flights (but often returning to the same spot), I spent some time studying the bird, and taking a few notes (both mental and written) to aid future occurences with the species, or even the whole skua group, as i have only seen one skua species, and 1 bird!

This is how the Res' looked from the public Bridleway, showing lots of potential, however i notcied a sign saying that the water is kept at high levels so there is no wader shore, other than the dam.

Which was why this was Created!

A small, shallow marsh, which although small, has amazing potential, having had Ruff, Spotted Redshank and currently holding a Grey Phalarope, it looks like with more coverage, this place could do some great birds!

So my first few visits to the Res made a huge impression, hopefully this is only 2 of many future visits (and its not that far away!)

Also noted:

120 Greylag Goose (actual count)

1 Snow Goose

63+ Goosander!!!!

1 Yellow wagtail (again on dam)

1 Peregrine flew over

10c Teal on marsh

A site Mega, to a regional MEGA!

2011-09-14T16:14:00.004+01:00

26/08/11

When news emerged that a Juv Arctic Skua had been found at Chelmarsh Res i was imidiatly thinking it wouldnt stay long, how wrong i was.

On friday, when my dad picked me up i sneakilly asked to have a visit, and to my suprise, a few hours later, there we were, pulling into the sailing club at chelmarsh!

It didnt take long to locate the bird sitting distantly on the other side of the Res near the Dam, and it flew once for no reason, and flew a tiny little closer, still way too far for digiscoping, but you cant blame me for trying.

We were treated to 'satisfactory' views of the bird as it sat on the water, not really doing much.

I vowed to return to chelmarsh in the following week, skua or not, because it looked quite good.

There was also a large (80c) flock of Greylag goose and in amongst the flock was a single adult Snow Goose, which flew over our heads a few times.

There was 23 Goosander and a single Yellow Wagtail on the Dam.

SHEEPWASH MEGA!

2011-09-13T20:40:00.002+01:00

22/08/11
My sheepwash regiem had reached its pinical today, with a Sheepwash MEGA!!
We walked in our usual way, scanned the fields the usual way, and was left dissapointed, maybe the lake would be better?
We Stopped on the north side of the pool near some stratigically placed boulders for seats, scan over the Gulls, Nothing (Not even a tern!!), scan the water, again, Nothing, scan the Mud ridge.

Ding ding ding, Hit the Jackpot.

Even from here i could see imidiatly that i was watching my first sheepwash GREENSHANK!
A Greenshank, at sheepwash, a puddle in great bridge, with a greenshank on it!!
Scope came out of the bag, but by the time i had set it up (very quickly may i add) the bird had gone, and we hadent seen where it flew off, without calling. could our Greenshank have only been down for less than a minuite?

We walked around the pool, onto the raised path, but there was still no sign of the bird, it had gone.

Or so we thought,

On the tiny Johns lane fishing pool, there was a small strip of mud littered with bottles and empty strongbow cans, and roosting on the waters edge was a marvelous juv Greenshank, blisfully preening and sleeping, we walked around so we were opposite the bird on the other side of the pool and scoped it.
Here it is:

However, other than the star bird, there was nothing else, at all, nothing to eat away at the Greenshanks glory!

There was a few Dragonflys about though, with:

1 Common Darter

2 Southern Hawker

2 Brown Hawker

and Numerous Common Blue damselflies.

a search for the Blue-taield's failed.

Morton Baggot and Upton Warren

2011-09-13T18:06:00.004+01:00

20/08/11

A trip to Morton baggot was almost pointless, and other than this Peregrine, there was not much else about, 2 Green sandpipers were on the pools as well as a few Teal, and 86 Greylag geese were sitting in a field.

To be completly honest though, Upton was the same, and it was just standard fare and the same 'stuff' that had been around for some time.

Over all there was 9 Green Sandpipers over the reserve (2 at moors, 7 at flashes), however my largest flock of 5 Common Sandpipers was noteworthy at the flashes, with my top counts only usually being 3 birds.

A Water rail popped out the reeds for abit.

A Juv Shelduck was at the flashes, as well as 81 Lapwing , the Juv Redshank, 30 Curlew but a suprise was when i spotted a Snipe Probing the mud around the base of the reeds at the back of the 2nd flash.

2 Yellow wagtail and a Meadow Pipit flew over

A few more Patch Goodies

2011-09-12T18:39:00.002+01:00

19/08/11

The day looked superb, so i decided on some skywatching, however, nothing flew over!
I was amazed owever, that when i was heading home, i was treated to amazing views of an adult HOBBY as it chased a swift for about a minuite around low above the woodland and the adjacent field, I have never been treated to as good views as i did, and i have never seen a Hobby actually attack something with intent, so to see how agile it was was awsome!
Easilly by favorite raptor.
Oddly, there was a flock of 13 LAPWING sitting on the riverside fields, which is unusual because i dont usually get even a single bird untill november time, so to see a flock this early was a suprise.

A KESTREL shown very well sitting on a fence post at the riverside fields also, and a YELLOW WAGTAIL also flew over calling.

MB

Patch Goodies

2011-09-12T18:26:00.003+01:00

18/08/11
A walk from Lickhill to Lincomb lock was quite, and only a Lesser Whitethroat and a kingfisher were worthy of note, a few Reed Warblers were hainging on in the Reeds at the Gadwall lake.

However at Lincomb Lock i was suprised to see an amazing flock of 10 COMMON TERN, the largest flock i have even seen on the patch.

Drop IN.

2011-09-08T20:53:00.003+01:00

14/08/11
I was meeting my girlfriend today, but when news came through of a Ruff at Upton, and needing it for the year list, i did abit of planning with my dad, so we dropped into Upton before i had to meet her, and hopefully still be on time.
Well, it worked, we walked down to the Main flashes hide, but while walking past the Bench, i heard a Yellow Wagtail calling, but i couldnt work out whether the bird was on the field or flew over, we looked for abit, but with time restraints, we gave in.
Walked into the hide with a few people watching the Juv Female RUFF as it stalked the waters edge with 2 Common Sand, 7 Green sand, Yesterdays Dunlin and the Redshank.

It wasnt long however before people in the hide heard the YELLOW WAGTAIL too, and it was even more suprising when a Female alighted on the dried out 2nd Flash, we watched it for about 5 mins as it stood motionless before flying off low west. we had to leave now, but we had the Yellow wag on the Transmitter field very briefly, before it again flew off west.

And after all that, we were only 5 mins late :D

More Waders!

2011-09-06T18:09:00.005+01:00

13/08/11
We once again dropped into earlswood lakes to see if any waders were about, and you can imagine my immense suprise when the juv DUNLIN was still probing away along the edges of the Engine pool island, however it had moved onto the near shore, and was showing a mere 40ft away, and with the light, i got some decent (for me) pics of the bird:

After watching the dunlin, we headed over to Upton Wrren, where a nice few waders were down. here is a nice little trio:

(Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Green Sandpiper)

A single Juv RINGED PLOVER was picking away around keeping close company with the adult DUNLIN, A single juv Redshank was showing, as was 6+ Green sand, and 2 Common sand.

29 Curlew roosted, and 9 Common Tern came in with the Gulls.

Devil's spitful NR and patch

2011-09-05T19:50:00.003+01:00

12/08/11

As i was early on getting to Blackstone, i decided to walk over to devils spitful, my local heathland, however the heath was dead, with nothing in it at all, however scouting the habitat was good, because some of it looked amazing, the heath could maybe grow abit bigger (as it is doing) but the birch woodland and adjacent large farm field looked good for certain birds.

TBH it was the wrong time of year for me there, but 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Red-legged Partridge were noted in the fields before the railway bridge, eg before the heathland, on the cultivation fields.

I know the spitful is very underwatched, but that is because even at the 'right' tmes of the year, it still fails to get a decent bird, however i can see this being a nice place to visit in the winter for redpolls, and in spring for maybe some scarcer birds.

On the patch, the 3 Mandarin still remained with us, as did the female Goosander, which had moulted its primarys completly and was sitting on the opposite bank of the river

All in all, a succesful patch visit

Sheepwash insects

2011-09-05T19:42:00.002+01:00

8/08/11
With bird activity limited to only 3 Common Tern, i tunred to the insects, and particualrly dragonflies around the site.
I found 5+ Blue-tailed Damselflies, among numberous Common Blue, and a few Azure Damselflies.

I found this moth Called a Latticed Heath.

And a couple of Brown Hawker dragonflies were showing, including one which obligingly perched on nettles for me!

Upton Warren Roost

2011-09-05T19:31:00.002+01:00

6/08/11
The upton roost was all about getting anotherMed gull, hopefully a full juv plumaged plumaged bird.
Our MEDITERRANEAN GULL treat did happen, However as can be seen from the photo and video, the bird had already started moulting its Scapulars, and this was almost complete.
The bird was watched for about 40 mins or so before sunset.

However, there was a very short list of follow up species.
7+ Green sand
3 Common Sand
32 Curlew
1LRP
1 Little owl
5 Common Tern
MB

Earlswood

2011-09-05T09:16:00.003+01:00

6/08/11
With news that the water levels at the lakes was extremly low, and there having just been a rainstorm, we though we would check the lakes for waders:

Firstly, i found this Yellow Underwing moth on a conifer hedge while we were cutting it back, it was one of about 20 that flew out, i took a couple of snaps, then placed it into another conifer so not to be desturbed.

When we got to the lakes, it looked amazing. we walked around to the c'way and soon spotted a DUNLIN probing away in the mud, it shown well from the road, and came to within about 40ft.

The light however, was dire, and it had almost gone and with another shower coming in, it seemed like almost night time!

There was also a large number of around 20 Pied wagtails feeding around the shoreline of engine and windmill pool.

Suprises.

2011-08-25T16:36:00.002+01:00

6/08/11

While i was Stomping around 'the site' looking at juv Goldfinch's, Greenfinches, and a multitude of Goldcrest i was amazed to see a small woodpecker fly onto a tree in front of me about 60ft away!

I quickly Realised that after 9 weeks of no sightings, the Female LESSER-SPOTTED WOODPECKER had dropped in, Sadly before i had my scope up the bird flew off, and despite searching, i couldnt find her again, even on checking the 'woodpecker tree' ( this is a favored tree for all 3 species of british woodpecker) which was in the direction she had flown off.

Nice to know she (they??) are still in the area, and hopefully many more views and photo's as the leaves fall off the tree's.

Mandarins Fledge

2011-08-25T16:20:00.003+01:00

5/08/11
The Mandarins on the patch are now fully self dependant, with the 2 Juv's been noted almost half a mile away from where the female was resting, the 2 'young uns' are sticking together, and were showing well on exposed riverbed rocks.

However the biggest suprise was when the long staying female Goosander reappeared roosting on the rocky shore below the road bridge, this bird in the spring seemed to have wing damage, leaving her unable to fly long distances, however it seems like she has recovered on a part of the river i havent been watching and reappeared at Blackstone, the early stages of Wing moult were noticed. 3 Willow Warbler were calling amongst many Chiffchaff.

A single Kingfisher zipped along the river.

Roost Birding

2011-08-24T11:56:00.002+01:00

30/07/11

At Earlswood i found both Holly Blue, and Purple Hairstreak Butterfly in the Garden.

As we were quite early, we decided to drop into the Moors pool, as a pair of Little Egret had been seen there, it didnt take long to spot one as if flew from the broadmeadow pool to Amys marsh, but we had wondering if the other had flow, untill the 2nd bird flew in from the south and landed in a tree on the east side of the pool, 2 Water rail were calling and 15 Greylag geese were on the island but otherwhys it was quiet.

We had just gotton back into the car, when a text came through, Adult Med Gull in flashes roost.

Within 10 Mins we had walked down to the hide, to be told that the bird had again flown off,

however, less than a minuite later i picked the bird up flying back in, and we watched it throughout the evening, taking occasional short flights. It was obvious that the ird was ringed, and after a long time, i finally read it to say 5P5, early indications show that this bird may have come from Poland!!

The 2 Egrets flew over and circled then flew back to the moors.

A single Juv LRP was on the flashes, as was 60c Lapwing, 10+ Green sand

2 Common Sand, 31 Curlew, 5 Common Tern were amongs the Gulls, and the Little owl was showing on the chimney

Sheepwash

2011-08-23T15:30:00.003+01:00

27/07/11

As some of you may know, i have been 'working' sheepwash abit more regularly recently (about once a week), the low water levels giving hope for some urban waders.

Today only a single wader was in residence, a single Common Sandpiper, however the highlight was a family flock of Grey Wagtail showing well on rocks on the north-east side of the main pool consisting of an adult male, an adult female and a single juv-1st winter.

2 Stock Dove were on the 'meadow' field that held the Whinchat, before the grass was burnt and then mown >:(

A single Common Blue Butterfly was showing,

And a Brown Hawker dragonfly evaded the camera

Wader exidus- Enter Egret

2011-08-23T13:31:00.003+01:00

23/07/11

What was a Quiet evenings roost stayed that way!

An Avocet had left leaving 2 juv birds and there was 8 LRP untill 8:45pm where 4 birds jumped into the air exitidly calling, circling the Pools over and over, untill eventually flying off south.

Migration in action!!

A total of 16 Green Sandpipers were dotted around the pools, as was 54 Lapwing.

With the BHG dropping in it was nice to see 2 ringed birds again, which were presumably the same from last week, 5 Common Tern dropped in with the Gulls, and as it reached darkness a total of 32 Curlew was reached.

We were about to leave when a white heron flew in and landed on the sticks at the back of the 2nd flash at 9:10pm,

Little Egret!

We watched the bird for about 15 mins before the dark had well and truily fallen.

Patch Mandarins.

2011-08-22T19:11:00.003+01:00

21/07/11

A female type Mandarin ( not the same as the Breeding bird due to the bill pattern) was showing very well on the small caravan site pool.

22/07/11

I was awoke at 4am by a pair of Tawney owl in the tree in the Garden

Lingering Avocets

2011-08-11T16:57:00.001+01:00

16/07/11
Amazingly, the 3 Juv Avocets were still with us 3 weeks or so after the rest of the flock had left.
Migrationwise it was quiet, with 10+ LRP, a single Dunlin, 12 Green sand, 2 Common Sand and 29 curlew in amongst the Lapwing and BHG.
With the Roosts hotting up now with the posibility of a med gull i am ever hopeful, however tonight was quiet.
so i looked for ringed gulls.
and i found 2:
Juv (White ring, right leg 21A5)
Adult ( White ring, Right leg, 2K44)
I will post the deatils on the rings when i have it
MB

SHEEPWASH.

2011-08-07T23:12:00.002+01:00

12/07/11

A nip over to Sheepwash urban park was needed, i never expect to see much when i visit here, but today, a single bird shon above the rest!

I had just walked through the main enterance on Sheepwash lane and was walking past a meadow type field with long grasses and scattered wildflowers.

I was just thinking that the habitat looked quite good for a passing Chat, However what happened next was totally unexpected,

I saw a Passerine sitting atop a yellow wildflower head quite close to the path, I cant explain it but when you get that feeling you have got something good before even raising your bins.

and a good bird it was:

A gorgeous WHINCHAT!!

And not only that a stunningly plumaged male Whinchat, in practically all its spring splendor!!

I was treated to Amazing views of this amazing bird at about 30-40ft range.

You have to remember, Sheepwash is an overgrown puddle in the middle of the hustle and bustle of a ferantic city, and to attract a common bird is hard work at a site like this sometimes.

I hadent got my scope with me, and if i had i would have been parading some decent photo's/videos here, but i had to try and digibin some photo's, and it didnt work, i couldnt pick up the bird at all holding my bins in one hand and my camera in the other to the lens.

Only when the bird flew to a tree about 100m off could i locate where it was sitting, but this was out of the range.

If you look at the photo you can just about see the white tail sides and white supercillium, and also note the stance.

I was treated to great views for around 40 mins from the main track as it went about feeding up, the bird then dissapeared ( i looked away to watch a Stock Dove fly past when it must have flow off) and wasent seen again all day.

To be fair, the rest of the walk was extremly quiet, 11 Common Tern were hawking over the pool, 2 Sum plum Little grebe had a fledged chick, and 2 Garden Warbler were found in a nettle bed.

so i took the opp for some Insects:

Gatekeeper: easilly the most common Butterfly today 15c of them.

Common Blue Damselfly

And thats it for another day at sheepwash

Upton Egret

2011-08-07T22:52:00.003+01:00

9/07/11

As we walked Past the Hen Pool at the flashes i quickly notcied a LITTLE EGRET flying over going north with some BHG.

This bird later roosted at the Moors, and on entering the hide i was told by fellow Upton birder Andy P that the bird had been on the deck for a few minuites before flying off.

Amazingly 3 Juv AVOCET remained at the back of the flash, and there was a good scattering of waders,

Including this Black-tailed Godwit

10+ LRP

13+ Green sand

1 Common sand and 30 Curlew were the other waders noted as well as Lapwing and the Godwit.

Fill in's

2011-08-04T18:41:00.001+01:00

9/07/11

Amazingly at 8:05 am our 2nd Garden record of Bullfinch was in the garden, just like last time, a pair flew in, however this time they stuck around for a few minuites and fed on some seed from the floor.

At earlswood later that day, i found my first Purple Hairstreak, as well as 2 Comma and a red admiral.

3 Goldcrest were in the trees bordering the garden.

Patch Mandarins still going strong

2011-08-02T14:55:00.003+01:00

8/07/11

Blackstone was teeming with warblers, both adult, and fledged Juveniles

Our family of Garden Warblers was showing well!!! sitting on top of a hawthorn sunning themselves and preening in the evening light.

2 adult Lesser Whitethroat were our first returning birds of the autumn, and seemingly along a 100 metre stretch of hawthorn hedge a Blackcap was flitting about in ever bush.

A few Common Whitethroat were 'scratching' away in dense bushes.

a male and female Kestrel were perched on the rock face behind the farm.

Chiffchaff's were commonplace with then 'hweet' ing from every suitable patch on the walk.

The walk was uneventful untill we reached the female Mandarin with her 3 chicks, which to say shown superbly would be an understatement.

They were feeding at my feet!!!!

Waders

2011-07-25T20:24:00.006+01:00

2/07/11

Upton Warren was superb!!

The usual early Autumn waders were on the move again, Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, and Less noticable movements of both LRP and Lapwing.

We stopped near the bench, as a Pair of REDSTART has been seen for a couple of weeks, but we had failed to connect.

However today was different and both male and female Redstart shown well as they used the hedge and the fence as a launching post for catching insects in the Transmitter Field. A great bird to catch up with and a nice Upton Tick having failed on so many redstarts before.

However as mentioned, the waders were here!!

A stunning flock of 12 Summer plumaged Black-Tailed Godwits had taken up residence for the day, and showing well in the gorgeous evening light, iluminating the Orange tones in the plumage.

Interestingly, the flock of 12 was seperated into 2 flocks, and at no point did a bird from one flock

move over to the other flock,

5 birds were feeding just out from the hide amongst the islands and the remaining 7 were feeding together on the south shore

Here is the 7 from the south shore.

A particular bird ( the one which is on its own in the photo's) shown particuarly well, and i took many images and videos.

However there was also many other birds around, 6 teal were new in.

The Wader numbers consisted of 1 OYC, 15 Avocet, 18!! LRP (not including the 2 unfledged chicks), 13 Lapwing, 12 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 BT Godwit, 3 Curlew.

A little owl was peched on a telegraph pole at the top of the hill, and the Redstarts shown occasionally.

Patch Update

2011-07-25T19:38:00.001+01:00

2/07/11

Feamle Mandarin with 3 Chicks still at Lickhill

Later that day, i had my 3rd Midlands Red Kite of the year , when one flew south over the M42 at Bromsgrove

Patch Gold- Again

2011-07-11T16:39:00.002+01:00

1/07/11

With the patch having some birds, i have got into a routine of visiting the patch on friday evenings.

Starting by walking down from Blackstone to Lickhill.

There was lots of Activity around 'the Willows' at Blackstone with the family party of Garden warbler still, and 3 Treecreeper, However having spent over an hour in one spot i failed to find anything more.

But while walking down the river i found an eclipse Drk Mandarin, an a female Mandarin swimming about on the river, i just thought it could be the pair that bred at Blackstone with them staying in the area after their failed breeding attempt.

A Little owl flushed from a riverside tree, at the riverside fields, and it was a great relief to see that the female Mandarin with the 3 Chicks still had all 3 Chicks

Fill In's

2011-07-11T14:20:00.002+01:00

26/06/11

RED KITE flew south along the A449 at Wall heath by Roberts farm shop, My first for West Mids county, and was also seen in Staffs.

29/06/11

Sheepwash UP.

A single LRP and Common Sand was the highlights, although another highlight was a Stock Dove in with the flock of Woodpigeons.

Patch Gold

2011-07-07T13:53:00.005+01:00

26/06/11

Patch

With Birdlife becoming a bit scarce, i decided to do a little butterfy/drangonfly watching or whatever you call it.

However that doesnt mean there wasnt birds around.

I will start with the bird news.

On the Feeder a Juv Siskin was feeding:

But the Highlight was where i was told about a breeding pair of mandarin on the patch AGAIN,

a different pair to the Blackstone pair, this one had hatched 4 Chicks, but by the time i saw them (2 days after they were first seen) there was only 3 chicks, all going strong on the riverbank.

I had Around 45 Mins sitting with the Female Mandarin and her 3 Chicks, at quite close quarters.

Look how cute the Chicks are:

And the Mother Panting in the intense heat.

Firstly the Mandarins were on the opposite bank, but they soon swam over towards me, and preened on the bank around 3 Metres from me!!!!

SOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!

On the insect front, i was looking for one thing in particular, i had been told some info off Jason K ( Shenstone Blog) of where to find Scarlet Tiger moth on the patch, I didnt actually walk as far as where he said he knew there was some,

On the way up the river bank, i was looking out for Comfrey plants as this is where i had been told to look, and it wasnt long before i spied 2 Scarlet Tigers perched on the plant.

The patch was absolutly teeming with Butterflys

100C Ringlet

100c 'White' Butterflys

30c Skipper sp

8+ Small tortoiseshell

20c Marbled White

10c Meadow Brown

5 Green Veined White

1 Small Copper

I took many photo's ( mostly of the gorgeous Marbled whites)

Also around were a few Damselflies.

2 Beautiful Demoiselle

Loads of Banded Demoiselle

10c White Legged Damselfly,

There was also many others which i couldnt Identify

Return Migration.

2011-07-07T13:10:00.004+01:00

25/06/11

With new birds (particually waders) returning to the county it was nice to see a BLACK-TAILED GODIT feeding on the Flashes at upton Warren.

The recent dry weather had left the water levels very low, but there was some decent birds around.

A pair of LESSER WHITETHROAT were feeding along the track by the bench, and showing well.

Also, my First return Green Sandpiper was feeding on the Flashes.

Highlights:

1 Teal (drk)

2 OYC

17 Avo

10 Lrp + 2 Fledged young + 1 chick

1 Green sand

1 Black-tailed Godwit

20 Curlew

3+ Garden warbler

2 Lesser whitethroat.

LSW

2011-07-07T12:48:00.001+01:00

17/06/11

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker's were seen again briefly, but no decent views,

2 Nuthatch nearby

18/06/11

Once again the LSW's shown briefly

LSW Revisited.

2011-07-04T12:51:00.002+01:00

12/06/11

I just Couldnt resist it, Knowing where a pair of Lsw were, i just had to go back for more.

On entering the Woodland i checked what i presume to be the Lsw Favorite tree, as i have seen the female Pecking away an this tree 3 times., I watched her for some time, and showed a couple of walker by people who were interested about the 'Rare Woodpecker's'.

I still couldnt believe my Luck when i saw these birds again, what Birds.

The bird flew off into a Small wooded area and i walked into the clearing with the feeders, there wasnt any LSW there so i continued on to check another area which has been favored, i did get a couple of brief views, so walked back around the the cleering and waited silently,

Untill my target flew in and dropped dowm onto the Feeders.

The male LESSER SPOTTED WODPECKER!!

When you see a bird in comparison to a fat Ball you realise truily how tiny they are,

Tidgy little Woodpeckers, I took a Video and a single Photo before the bird flew back into the tree's, and i decided to head back.

A check of the patch revealed a Nuthatch which shown well, as well as a few Gs Woodpeckers.

MEGA!!!

2011-07-01T13:36:00.004+01:00

12/06/11

Since i started birding about 9 years ago, i have always wanted to have a good view of a Lesser Spotted woodpecker, but during that whole time i have failed to locate many birds at all, with proberbly all my sightings of the species maybe equelling just into double figures of birds, and many of those views being Crap, or distant.

This has lead to this species becoming one of my 'priority' species, as on a yearly basis i usually get 1, but other years i could have 3, and then next have none.

And with some Healty competition with myself to beat my yearlist record ( 172 species) i just had to get these ' Hard to find species', and then just hope there was a good crop of rarities that drop in within reach.

Obviously my lists dont get that high, and my twicthing range is quite small, so sometimes that can make it difficult to get some of these species.

I decided to go for a walk at a place i have Nicknamed 'The Site', and i was walking up one of the tracks next to some feeders when suddenly a bird flushed up off the Feeder, i was left bemused for a second, the bird flew into a small tree where it Perched, and i was able to get my bins onto a stunning LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER clinging to a branch around 20 Ft from me!!!

I immidiatly Phoned my dad, who agreed to come out in the pouring rain to try and see this bird.

A single LSW is unusual enough, but when Another bird flew in from another tree behind me i was left gobsmacked!!

I couldnt believe that i was watching a pair of LSW with great Bin views.

The Female bird flew further away and landed on a bare tree, and started picking at the wood, this was my first opporotunity to film a LSW ever.

The bird spent a few minuites here, then flew back towards me by the feeders.

At this point i dropped away from the feeders, and put my scope up, and trained it on the feeder, it was only a matter of minuites before the Male bird again dropped onto the Feeder. And i took some videos ( the light was really bad so all images are video-grabs)

However once again, the shocking happened, and while Filming the male bird on the feeder, the Female bird also joined him.

Having the Feat of finding a pair of LSW was slightly put down when as we were scanning the tree's, my Dad located a 3rd LSW, this one a Juvenile bird, and quite recently fledged by the looks of it, indicating Breeding close by, and when i saw the birds fly up to a hole in the side of an Oak tree i was left certain this is where they had Bred. I only briefly saw the Juv LSW.

I went on to see all 3 British Woodeckers that day, having loads of GSW, most being Juv's, and 2 Green Woodpecker, A Feamle Blackcap also visited the feeders.

I couldnt believe my Luck, A breeding Pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker!!!!

Owl (In the daytime??)

2011-06-30T20:15:00.003+01:00

11/06/11

All was quiet, it was the middle of the year, and the birding doldrums had started,

However to Birghten up the birding front at Upton Warren, was a gorgeous little owl, which obligingly perched on a post in a field for ages.

(Sorry, it doesnt do much)

A cuckoo was seen to fly into a tree with a proccesion of Magpies.

On the Flashes was 3 Green Sandpiper's, heralding the start of return wader passage.

Patch

2011-06-29T20:29:00.004+01:00

5/06/11

I did visit the patch this day to see if the mandarin chicks were still around, however in the week i had been away, it seems the chicks had been predated, and the mother had gone missing, so i left the patch feeling sad about the first breeding attempt failing.

10/06/11

I was dropped off at Blackstone and i searched the area again, And there was loads of activity around the Hedges and riverside willows here, and after about 30 Mins of looking around, i was rewarded by a stunning Spotted Flycatcher Flycatching off an Oak tree, I always struggle to see this bird on a year to year basis, so to have one on the patch was great, the lasr one i had was 4 years previous when i spotted a Juvenile in the Autumn further south on the patch.

The Garden Warbler male that had been singing for week must have slyly Atracted a mate, because In the willows area there were 9 Garden warbler, Obviously a family party, and i was treated to some stunning views as i just stood still on the path. 3 Blackcap were here, including 2 females, but no Juv's were located, Chiffchaffs had started singing again, and The whole area just seemed busy.

However the highlight came when as i walked through a field ( adjoining a caravan site) i noticed a small brown duck in the Goat pen, i raised my bins to see a female Mandarin duck feeding away at the scraps of seed, food that had been left out for the goats and chickins, I checked the wings, and it had a full set, and while talking to the person that looks after the pen, she told me the bird had been visiting for over a week after about 8pm!!

Would the loss of her chicks have forced her to try to seek company with a goat, or has the draw of free food attracted her, as it has done with so many mallards in the past.

Wales- The End

2011-06-29T20:18:00.002+01:00

4/06/11

On the journey back from wales, the weather was alot more 'Raptor friendly' and this perfect weather resulted in auite a few raptors.

From Pembrokeshire to The border with England i counted 26 Red Kite, My 2nd highest count ever.

This eclpised the 11+ Buzzard that i had, but tbh, after we left wales i started texting, and so probs missed all the buzzards.

However a Highlight from the journey was a stunning female GOSHAWK seen In a pinewood around Centrel Wales.

A Hobby, and so far my only Hobby of the year, was seen In herefordshire somewhere.

And thats it No more Wales for another year :'(

But some amazing birds to come.