Wader movement!!!

19/02/11
with the Avocet and OYC been year ticked the day before news filtered through early morning that a black tailed godwit had been seen on the flashes we decided to head down there via a couple of flocks of waxwings..
1st stop ws Broadwaters in kidderminster where a large flock had been seen early morning, but by the time we got there only 4 birds remained, But still, its still 4 of my favorite birds.....
we watched them for 15 mins from the car park opposite the chip shop, when they flew further up sion hill and we left for finstall....
However while we were driving along i sudgested we dropped into HURCOTT POOL, as a bittern had been present there a few weeks previous, Needless to say 20 minuites later, we returned to the car, bitternless with only 2 Marsh tit.

so onto Finstall and the flock of 30 WAXWINGS, all of which shown superbly on a rowen tree there, but the birds were quickly flushed (accidently may i add) by a homeowner and after 20 minuites they did not return so to upton warren.
ON ariving at the flashses i was told that the bird had not been seen, But after about an hour the bird gave up its position, and jogged along the east shore of the flashses before flying to the field to the south of the flashses where it remained out of view behind the reeds for some time, But did pop out a few times with its accompanying curlew....
The pink footed goose flew over with the greylags going south, and the 1st winter Drk WIGEON was still grazing the shore and the AVOCET was still asleap


MB

SHOCK!!!!!!

16/01/09
or the first time in age's i acted upon 'preasant last few days' news, but if i did get the bird in question then it would be an area MEGA.
at bewdley in the AM had 5 goosander fly over all heading south.

then i popped into kidderminster to see if the collins bird guide was in stock but they didnt have it

SO, now to

HURCOTT POOL

this pool is a treasure trove, the habitats are diverse and looks amazing
for about 15 mins i scanned from the car park, but there was nothing on the almost frozen lake or in the reed's.

a rambler(with big birding interest) said that the best viewpoint was further up, so we follow him to the point, a good view of the surrounding reedbeds produced nothing, my dad had a brief wonder off to look around while i stopped and scanned.....

a further 5 mins passed and my dad reappeared, and stood about 50m down the path from me talking to the ramber, then i saw it BITTERN........., it flew for about a metre then dropped onto a patch of flattened reeds showing quite well as you could see its whole body. my dad and the rambler quickly appeared and i pointed out the bird, now slowly working its way left behind a tree. i quickly ran off to a closer viewpoint and scanned where the bird had come down, bugger, its gone back in........

about a minuite passed then i noticed the smallist movement right in front of me about 15 metres away. OH MY GOD

i immidiatly grabbd my camera and rested my bins on the fence, this is what i saw:

there stood the BITTERN, in full view just 15 metres away, the only thing i regret was not bringing my scope(not the best idea when you go into kiddie town centre). a dog walker went by and i asked him to tell the pair i left behind to come down......

they came down and were also gobsmacked, who could believe it, a bittern this close, and in kidderminster, WOW, for about 30 mins, the bird stayed in this location briefly moveing to get closer to the water, ive never seen one walking in the open before and now reaslise exacly how slow the birds are, they live in a slow mo in a fast paced world.

while we gawked at the bird i continued takeing videos of the bird as i dought i will get this close to another in some time...

i know this video isnt the sturdiest but ther bittern does move watch.....

i also heard a water rail, a nuthatch was seen and an amazing roosting flock of 60c magpie in trees opposite where i was stood, something to do with the weather maybe? never seen it before.

i am trying to get over there again next weekend, and with my new scope(should be getting it this saturday). cant wait for both.

MB