22-6-11, Updates.

Hi Im still alive. June and July is silly season for me (not Scilly season) as I have loads on, both work and private life. Also I have been bitten again by the fishing bug and have been having a few nights on the rivers and canals. However I have been out a couple of times so when I get more time I will update.

10-6-11, Derbyshire Kestrels v Durhan Dynamos.

Not bird news (Kestrels in the title mind) but had an evening at my first T20 cricket match. I am not a huge fan but dont mind watching the odd bit of cricket. Couldnt go to a test though, yawn. It was a good night really with lots of boundaries and music etc. Derbyshire posted 182 in their innings, not a bad score I was told but Durham came in and started well and were doing all right but had a poor couple of overs leaving them needing 15 off the over. Some stunning bowling and Derbyshire ran out winners by 5 runs. An enjoyable night and will try and get there again, this time incorporating a few real ale taverns.
On call for a week so birding will be limited. Just hope the robin hangs around for a week!!!!

9-6-11, Whitemoor Haye.

Before I go onto tonights gentle walk around Whitemoor Haye, this weekend I was planning to pop up th A1(M) (I think) to Harlepool to catch up with the mega that is a White-throated Robin however I popped into work this morning and was begged (well almost) to cover on call for a week. Mmmmm, what do I do? Hartlepool or some half decent money for my holiday to Lesbos next year? It was a difficult decision but I plumped for the on-call, thinking that maybe the bird would not stay around. Theres always next weekend!!!!


Onto tonights birding and me and the dog went for a walk around the lanes and noted Woodpigeon, Swift, Wren, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Swallow, Starling, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Rook, Stock Dove, House Martin, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Skylark, Common Whitethroat, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Skylark, Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellow Wagtail, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Garden Warbler, Magpie, Robin, Lapwing and Mallard. A look at the pool and around the adjacent trees and I added Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Song Thrush, Shelduck (which had about eight chicks with it), Sand Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Dunnock, Blackcap, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Jackdaw and Pied Wagtail.

There has been lots of, lets say, discussion on what birds can be mentioned on blogs due to recent activity on birdforum regarding Pied Flycatchers. It has now been decided that bloggers should not mentio any catagory A birds during breeding season in the hope that eggers will not get any news on breeding cat A birds. I understand why these rules have come in but I think it has gone a tad too far. Soon we will be reporting about the odd Blue Tit, Great Tit and maybe a Mallard. There was also the night I went to find the Wryneck on Cannock Chase. Four birders were very vocal about Dartford Warblers in Staffs (cannot mention where cause of eggers). I was about forty feet away from these people as the openly and quite loudly talked about exactly where they had been watching the birds. They did not know me from Adam. Yes there has to be some control of pictures and blogs but banning people from mentioning the birds is, in my opinion, a bit too far. However I have removed one bird from tonights list that I have seen and is on the cat 1 list.

6-6-11, Alrewas GP.

As I worked Saturday I had today off so after doing a few things first thing I headed off from the house, walking dalong the A38 then I was at Alrewas pits. Birds noted were Robin, Black Headed Gull, Swift, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Reed Warbler, Magpie, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Starling, Jackdaw, Coot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Great Tit and Buzzard.

National Arboretum.

Onto the arboretum and birds noted were Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Swift, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Common Whitethroat, Sand Martin, Swallow, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Wren, Starling, Carrion Crow, Garden Warbler, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Sedge Warbler, Jackdaw, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer and Stock Dove.

Junction Pit.

A quick scan over Junction Pit (where the water levels seems to be a bit higher of late) and I noted Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Geese, Common Tern, Buzzard, Coot, Linnet and a couple of Tufted Duck.

Croxall Wides.

I was not going to go to Croxall today as I was a bit knackered and had to finish the arboretum before a slog around Whitemoor so I had a nice seat and a good scan around the river wides at Croxall. Birds noted were Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Sand Martin, Swift, Black Headed Gull, Grey Heron, Redshank, Starling, Common Tern, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Chaffinch, Lapwing, Coot and Shelduck.

I decided to knock Whitemoor on the head as I was too knackered so I went home and had a kip!

5-6-11, Croxall GP.

Working all day Saturday and with todays forecast wet I got up early and made the most of the dry morning and headed to Croxall to see what was about. Birds noted on the main side were Sedge Warbler, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Mallard, Garden Warbler, Reed Bunting, Swift, Blue Tit, Wren, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Black Headed Gull, Robin, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Reed Warbler, Song Thrush, Coot, Pheasant, Swallow, Blackbird, Blackcap, Magpie, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Canada Geese and Gadwall. Through to the east side and I added Cormorant, Rook, Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing and Little Egret. There was very little showing from the east side so I soon headed back under the tunnel to go back to the car. On the way I added a single Common Tern and a single Greenfinch.

Whitemoor Haye.

With no rain clouds in sight I went to the usual patch to see what was about. I was also quite keen on hearing the Quail which has been present for a few weeks but which I have not yet heard let alone seen. The main reason for this is it has always been windy and with the noise from the hedgerows and trees its been difficult to make out a weak 'wet-my-lips'. Birds noted around the quarry pool were Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Canada Geese, Gadwall, Swallow, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Greylag Geese, Wren, Linnet, Skylark, Starling, Great Crested Grebe, Swift, Mute Swan, Carrion Crow, Oystercatcher, House Martin, Shelduck, Redshank and Buzzard. From there it was park the car up and head off round the lanes. Birds added were Blackbird, Tree Sparrow, Rook, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Robin, Stock Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Common Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk, Greenfinch, Magpie, Collared Dove, Garden Warbler, Blue Tit and Pied Wagtail. Not a bad haul of birds from Whitemoor considering the time of year it is.

5-6-11, Long-tailed Blue.

Do I have any fans of butterflies which read my blog? Reason being I found a butterfly in my kitchen tonight and the curious nature of me needed to know what it was. I photographed it, headed for my reference books and stumbled on Long-tailed Blue. More work on tinternet and it turns out to be a very rare butterfly which is mainly recorded from late July to September.

I managed to get the shot below for records and have emailed the local wildlife group so that a record could be made but if anyone knows who keeps records of moths and butterflies then I could get directly in touch with them.

Excitement over. I emailed Birdguides incase they wanted some insect news and they have replied saying the pupae most likely came from some vegatables and then turned into a butterfly in the house. Oh well, never mind.