Bugger.

Whilst some really decent birds are showing up on the east coast,  Masked Shrike - Spurn, Yellow-browed Warbler - Flamborough, Barred Warbler - Holy Island, Red-breasted Flycatcher - Kilnsea, Olive-backed Pipit - Wells Wood and Gibralter Point to name just a few, I am stuck at home watching the light drizzle or mizzle fall nursing a really sore back.  Gutted.  Hopefully the Masked Shrike will hang around for a week, I am in East Yorkshire next Saturday birding for a couple of days hopefully.
Below are a few photos taken through the last few months.

Grey Plover at Titchwell RSPB

Grey Partridge at Whitemoor Haye

Tufted Duck at Fradley Junction nature reserve

Wren at Tictchwell RSPB

Yellowhammer at Whitemoor Haye

Yellow Wagtail at Whitemoor Haye

Spectacled Warbler at Burnham Overy Staithe

Redshank at Burham Overy Staithe

Little Terns (adult and young) at Burnham Overy Staithe

Marsh Sandpiper at Frampton On Severn. The bigger bird is a Ruff with the sandpiper to the right.  You may need a magnifying glass!!!

Robin at Middleton Lakes RSPB

Woodpigeon at Titchwell RSPB

Gadwall at Cley national nature reserve

Avocet at Cley national nature reserve

Garganey at Willington gravel pits.

Female Shovler and chicks at Cley national nature resrve

Drake Shoveler at Cley national nature reserve

 

Great White Egret at Branston Water Park 

Pacific Golden Plover at Middleton Lakes RSPB

Night Heron at Seaswood Pools

Little Egret at Croxall gravel pits

Whinchat at Middleton Lakes RSPB

 

Egyptian Goose at Rutland Water

W/C 15-9-14

This start of this week I was away on a mini golfing holiday, mini as in length of break not the type of golf!!  Anyway we were up in Shipley in South Yorkshire and during one of the nights I lay awake enjoying a Tawny Owl outside the bedroom window.  I enjoyed the hooting however my golfing mates were not too keen.  Every night it was pretty vocal and as I am known to like birds to them all, I was moaned at big time.  Get a life boys.  We also had several Red Kites flying over.The highlight was not the golf, that was pretty pathetic, but I found a gorgeous ale, Ilkley Gold.  Absolutely stunning.

I was home Wednesday night and Thursday I fancied a bit of birding and wanted to catch up on a couple of waders, one being on of my favourite birds.  The destination was Middleton Lakes RSPB.  Birds noted included Willow Tit, several Chiffchaff, Wigeon, loads of Gadwall, several Little Egret, at least 6 Ruff, a cracking male Whinchat, 2 Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper (one of my favourite waders), Cetti's Warbler and at least 4 Hobbies, and great views too.

September up to Saturday 13th.

The first half of September has had me visit the local gravel pits quite a lot.  It felt like Whinchats were seen at almost every location in the country, with reports coming from everywhere.  I have previously seen them at WH and I was keen to find my own, I love these birds, one of my favourites I think however so far so bad.  I had a training course up at the Tees barrage and we stayed over so the next morning I headed to Hartlepool headland. The weather wasn't at all right for sea watching however I did see a Manx Shearwater at a distance, brilliant close views of a Kingfisher and also caught up on Eider. 

That's about it really, pretty much up to date now.  Birding has been limited as I have been quite busy with other things on during the summer but I have never lost sight of birding.  Hopefully from now I will try and keep on top of this blog and also I will put on a few photos I have taken.  You haven't missed that too much have you!!!!!!!!

August

The majority of August was spent around the local lakes with 5 Black Terns at WH being a real bonus.  Not a lot special was around as it was the time of year when birding goes a tad quiet just before the migration.  I had a great day at Birdfair spending loads of money and then at the end of the month a fishing trip to Gloucester was an ideal opportunity to catch up on a nice Marsh Sandpiper.

July

I was pretty busy with other things this month so birding was at a premium however I did take advantage of the odd situation.  I was in wales for a weekend drinking but had Saturday morning spare so I hired a car and shot off to South Stack RSPB and Holyhead harbour for a few year ticks. cemlyn would have been nice but I ran out of time.  Once again the rest of the month was local gravel pits however news broke on 26th about a Pacific Golden Plover at Middleton RSPB.  Blimey, I needed that but it was too late on the Saturday to get up there by the time I found out.  Sunday I headed for Whitemoor Haye but I was constantly checking my pager and as soon as news of the bird being present I was up there like a flash and soon after I had PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER in the bag.  A stunner albeit a bit distant.  The next day and my mate wanted to go, I was happy to go back and the bird was well close, great views, some decent photos.  Afterwards it was a small trip to Seaswood lake where a Night Heron had been present a while.  We were soon on it, a good nights birding. 

June

Only a day after returning from Norfolk when a mega bird turned up at Burnham Overy Staithe.  It stayed a while but a week later and it was too much, a car full was organised and a fun day was had ending with a SPECKTACLED WARBLER in the book. An evening on the chase and I heard several Nightjar but never saw any but saw a juvenile Long-eared Owl.  The rest of the month was full of visits to local gravel pits with nothing special found.

Hello

Well its been bloomin ages since I updated this blog.  I don't know if it is worth resurrecting but I do want to give it a go.  To catch up I am going to do brief accounts of each month up to the present day so lets start with may.

May.
Got out and about in this month, visiting Whitemoor Haye (WH) pretty regular as well hovering up migrants such as Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Whinchat and Common Sandpiper.  At the end of the month I spent a few days in Norfolk which resulted in a lifer for me, a female BLACK HEADED BUNTING.  Quality.  As well as that year ticks kept coming including Osprey, Stone Curlew, Nightingale, Little Gull, some cracking Hobbies, Bearded Tit and Grey Plover.