6-11-10, Whitemoor Haye.

With the on set of Autumn/Winter its down to just weekend birding. A few busy days had caught up with me and with an almost sleepless night on Friday night it was just a couple of sites today as i had a busy Saturday night ahead. After a very mild week it was nice to leave the house at dawn with the weather feeling very fresh. Whitemoor Haye first and I parked up at the house and headed off along the roads. Birds noted were Wren, Tree Sparrow, Robin, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Linnet, Skylark, Pheasant, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Great Tit, Grey Partridge, Dunnock, Magpie, Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Yellowhammer, reed bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kestrel which didnt want its photo taken. No Whooper Swan today with the Mute Swans. Onto the lake and with the sun being very low and very bright today I could make out loads of birds but only what sp[ecies on a small part of the lake cause of the brightness. I did make out Tufted Duck, Pochard, teal, Great Crested Grebe and Lesser Black-backed Gull and Redshank plus Goldfinch in the trees behind.

6-11-10, Croxall GP.

A quick dash home for some breakfast then it was off to Croxall to see what was about.A walk up the main track got me Dunnock, Wren, Coot, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Robin, Magpie, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Grey heron, Black-headed Gull, Redwing, Blackbird, Redshank and Lapwing. Instead of going into the hide I headed straight for the east side and walked to the hide. After looking at a birdless pool for tem minutes I headed back to the main hide adding nothing from venturing under the railway line. From the main hide I added Goldeneye, Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Pheasant, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail and about 20 Snipe. I had a good look through the Snipe but couldnt find any Jack Snipe unfortunately. Nothing was added on the way back to the car so it was off shopping, a quick hours rest watching the first half of Wales v Australia in the rugby before heading out to do the local fireworks dispaly and partake in consuming a few fine ales afterwards. Good fun.