28-7-13, Photos.

Sorry to bore you but these are some photos over the last few months.  I'm never going to win any prizes for my photography but it reminds me of some very special days out watching lots of special birds.

 

 



Caspian Tern, Rudyard.  What a beast of a bird, a lifer was brilliant but in Staffs as well, can't beat it.

Caspian Tern, Rudyard Lake.  And another of the tern but this time in flight.

Barnacle Geese, Whitemoor Haye.  Four plastic jobbies turned up and stayed for about a month although were soon reduced to three. 

Guillemots, South Stack RSPB.  Can't beat a day out in North Wales, and a visit to Anglesey is a must.

Little Egret, Conwy RSPB.  A very different site since the last time I visited Conwy but enjoyable non the less.

Sandwich Tern, Cemlyn Bay.  Back on Anglesey and another destination not too be missed.  I can photo Sandwich Terns all day, love em. 

Willow Warbler, National Arboretum.  This fellow was very vocal and couldn't resist a digi-photo effort.

Stone Curlew, Weeting Heath.  Another digi-photo effort of a cracking species on a day when they showed brilliantly.

Stone Curlew, Weeting Heath.  Just to show how well they showed, this was taken with my Sony A65 with a 500mm lens.



Red-footed Falcon, Lakenheath RSPB.  Probably one of my favourite birds I have had the pleasure to watch.  This adult male was an absolute stunner and my photographs can never do it justice especially with some rubbish settings.

Hobby, Lakenheath RSPB.  Also showing incredibly well were several Hobbies and this was just one  of them I managed to capture on film. 

 

Red-backed Shrike, Cley NNR.  I've chased several of these to get them on my British list without success but at last I managed it.

Wood Sandpiper, Cley NNR.  This cracking bird was showing very well just off the East bank.  Stunner.

 

 Avocet, Cley NNR.  The Avocet is a very photographic bird indeed.

Avocet, Cley NNR.  Another Avocet but this time digi-scoped.

 

 Marsh Harrier, Cley NNR.  I have seen many of these but this day 4 or 5 birds were showing brilliantly.

Common Sandpiper, Cley NNR.  This little fellow was happily feeding right outside the hide a few times.  Lush.

 

27-7-13, Whitemoor Haye errrr no wait a minute, Rudyard lake

I was up early after working the bar last night in a very busy canal festival and the first thing I did was check the internet for the Caspian Tern, flew off north-west it did.  Bugger.  I decided I would do some local sites before going to the Kings Bromley show.  after a shower and putting clothes on checked my pager and the Tern was back at Rudyard.  Sod WH, Rudyard here I come.  I know Rudyard well and was able to drive straight to the north end and down the lane and managed to find a place to park right next to where the a load of birders has congregated.  A few familiar faces were already in place and soon I was looking at my first Caspian Tern and what a stunner with a stocking orangey red bill, it was a brute of a tern.  My only slight disappointment was no Common Terns were present for comparison.  I managed a few photos as it stay stood on the mud for a good hour and a half despite the odd short fly around.  Eventually it decided it was hungry and we had great views of it in flight.  A cracking bird.  I'm now off to Kings Bromley show for the afternoon.

26-7-13, Whitemoor Haye.

With a nice day off I spent some of the afternoon walking around the local patch.  Birds of note included 50+ Goldfinch in several flocks, 3 Common tern, a couple of Yellow Wagtail including juveniles, 20+ Tree Sparrows, 1 Oyc, 2 only Mallards - the first I ducks I have seen here in a few visits, 3 Barnacle Geese still, 1 Common Sand, the Garden Warbler family, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Redshank and a single Little Owl.

In the evening I was working at the local canal festival but had a quick look on Staffs Bird News and Birdguides and was surprised to hear of a Caspian Tern at Rudyard.  I was quite annoyed as I have not turned my pager on for a bit, that will teach me, and I was doing nothing and could have nailed it.  Bugger  Hopefully it will still be around on the Saturday.

16-7-13

Whitemoor Haye.
For the first time in a long time I managed to check out the pool then have a walk around the lanes.  Birds of note included many Common Whitethroats, several, Tree Sparrows, 3 Barnacle Geese, 1 Common Sands, 2 Oycs, a single Arctic Tern which was a real bonus and a site tick for the year, and a House Sparrow by the pig field.

?.
The evening was good a so a phone call later and I was on the way for another evening of Nightjar watching with, hopefully, a bonus.  The evening was a little disappointing with very brief views Nightjars and no bonuses that we had hoped for.

15-7-13, Recent birding.

Those who know me will know my hate of hot weather, its just horrible and the last few weeks have been hell.  constant sweating, feel absolutely knackered, lots of weekend activities to do and because of these birding has been minimal.

20-6, Whitemoor Haye.
1 Gadwall, 1 Oyc, 3 Treecreeper (adult & 2 juvs), Garden Warbler, Corn Bunting and 2 Grey partridge.

24-6, Tiln, Notts.
An adult Melodious Warbler had been present for a few days and as I had a busy weekend doing nothing in Coventry the first time I could go was on the Monday evening.  A quick 1.5 hours and I was on site and quickly found the site however I was going to listen to my cd to try and learn the song of the Mel Warb but forgot however this soon was not a problem, process of elimination soon got me a song which started off Blackbird but then turned warbler.  Superb, now we just needed to see it but thios was proving difficult.  After fleeting glimpses I soon saw it perched on a low branch enough to see the bird and watch it sing for about 10 seconds before zooming off, enough of a view for a lifer.

25-6, Whitemoor Haye.
Back to the local patch.  14 Gadwall, 32 Mute Swan, 4 Barnacle Geese (!!!!!), Common Tern, 4 Oycs and 1 Little Owl.

25-6, ?.
With a great evening in prospect I headed for a location to watch Nightjars and Woodcocks.  Oooh, where could that be?  A pretty good night was had with outstanding views of both species however you can never choose who comes and stands with you, grrrr.

2-7, Whitemoor Haye.
No-one round here tonight :) and I noted a Quail singing in the cereal field between the quarry and the rough track (it was heard the next day in another field), 21+ Tree Sparrow, 2 Oycs 3 Barnacle Geese.

3-7, Whitemoor Haye.
3 Barnacle Geese, 22 Mallard, Common Tern, 1 Whooper Swan viewed from the gates to the Whitemoor Lakes centre, 4 Goosander, Corn Bunting, several Grey Partridge, 2+ Yellow Wagtail, several Tree Sparrow, 1 Little Owl, 1  Sparrowhawk, 3 Oycs.

10-7, Whitemoor Haye.
1 Redshank calling, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Barnacle Geese, 4 Oycs, Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler.