26-3-14, Ladywalk NR

Today I had a site visit in Bath before going to our Gloucester office.  On the pager I noticed the Bittern showing at Ladywalk.  Now last year I had a nightmare with Bitterns.  In February I went to Hams Wall and heard them booming but no sight and I then in May I was at Lakenheath where there were loads booming but I saw none.  I was just never going to see one last year.  On the way home I decided I would have enough time to visit Ladywalk NR before the sun went down and so with a good trip back I arrived at the reserve at about 17.20.  A ten minute walk I was in a hide overlooking the feeders (sorry don't know any names) and within minutes  was watching a beautiful Bittern hunting in the reeds.  I was well made up.  Also noted were 5 Goosander, 2 Oycs and several Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler plus a constantly calling Green Woodpecker and a nice Willow Tit.

25-3-14, Whitemoor Haye

With my new role in CRT I am in my own car so on the way home I am free to go where I want ( I used to drive a tracked van and could only go straight home after work).  This means I can pop anywhere straight after work.  Yee haaaa.  Tonight I thought I would check the lake for any migrants and count the ducks.  Unfortunately there were boaters on the lake so ducks numbers were low.  7 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 16 Tufties, 13 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Gadwall, 2 Oycs, 2 Redshank and 2 Mute Swans.  Woopeeee.  In recent weeks a speed boat and about six sailing boats have turned up on the lake and so I think this summer it will be as busy as Chasewater.  Deep joy.

Up to the weekend beginning 22-3-14

Hi folks or just folk.  Its been bloomin ages since I last updated this blog so I will do a quick update and give you the best of each site over the last few weeks.

27-2-14, Home.
Made up when a male Blackcap was feeding on the feeders in the back garden.

2-3-14, Alrewas GP
16 Mallard, 53 Wigeon, 8 Coot, 30 Tufted Duck, 4 Goldeneye, 9 Gadwall, 1 fem Scaup, several Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Duck.

2-3-14, National Arboretum.
Several Fieldfare and plenty of Redwing.

2-3-14, Junction Pit.
4 Mallard, 18 Teal.

2-3-14, Croxall Wides.
2 Redshank, 2 Grey Wagtail.

2-3-14, Whitemoor Haye.
25 Tufted Duck, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 411+ Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Little Owl, 3 Goldeneye, 88 Golden Plover.

8-3-14, Whitemoor Haye.
34 Tufted Duck, 89 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, 17 Mallard, 35 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 2 Grey Partridge, 5 Tree Sparrow, 8 Yellowhammers, 1 Little Owl.

8-3-14, Fradley Junction NR.
3 Goosanders.

9-3-14, Worlds End.
12 Black Grouse.

9-3-14, Llanddulas.
Red-throated Diver, thousands of Common Scoter.

9-3-14, Pensarn.
On the 6th attempt I finally located several drake SURF SCOTERS in with thousands of Common Scoter.

9-3-14, River Dane near Flash.
Dipper, Grey Wagtail.

9-3-14, Knotbury.
Red Grouse, Curlew, Raven, Sparrowhawk.

11-3-14, Whitemoor Haye.
17 Mallard, 31 Mute Swan, 2 Oystercatcher, 31 Coot, 40+ Tree Sparrow, 15+ Yellowhammer, Treecreeper, 2 Shelduck.

11-3-14, Alrewas GP.
16 Mallard, 157 Wigeon, 26 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 2 Oystercatcher, 9 Goldeneye, 1 Coot, 8 Teal, 1 Long-tailed Duck, several Chiffchaff, Redwing.

12-3-14,  Hopwood.
Great Grey Shrike.

13-3-14, Branston GP.
Wigeon, Little Grebe, Teal, Gadwall, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Shelduck, Water Rail, Ruff, Cetti's Warbler, Ringed Plover, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker.

17-3-14, Elford.
Corn Bunting.

17-3-14, Whitemoor Haye.
24 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 13 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Shelduck, 86+ Wigeon, 25+Yellowhammer, 14+ Tree Sparrow, 2 Snipe.

21-3-14, Whitemoor Haye.
35 Tufted Duck, 25 Mallard, 5 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 36+ Yellowhammer, 23+ Tree Sparrow, 12 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Owl, 3 Meadow Pipit.

22-3-14, Whitemoor Haye.
40 Tufted Duck, 19 Mallard, 4 Coot, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Shelduck, 1 Redshank, 8 Tree Sparrow, 14 Yellowhammer, 3 male Wheatear, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Oystercatcher.

22-3-14, National Arboretum.
Chiffchaff, Jay.

22-3-14, Croxall Wides.
Little Grebe, Sand Martin.

22-3-14, Alrewas GP.
27 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 18 Coot, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 5 Goldeneye, Sand Martin.

23-3-14, Belvide Reservoir.
Nuthatch, Willow Tit, Chiffchaff, Goldeneye, Sand Martin, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Velvet Scoter (my first Staffs bird), Scaup, Gadwall, Long-tailed Duck, Snipe, Water Rail, Tree Sparrow, Tawny Owl, Pochard, Teal, Shoveler.

23-3-14, Cannock Chase - Abrahams Valley.
Common Crossbill.

That's me up to date.  Sorry for leaving it so long and I will also aim to throw in the odd photo soon.