4-5-11, Whitemoor Haye.

After feasting on delicious views of the Dotteral in the previous evening I was up early to see if I could relocate it before work. Birds noted were Skylark, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Common Whitethroat, Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove and Blackbird. No Dotteral this morning but it was again relocated in the evening.

3-5-11, Whitemoor Haye

Bloomin eck. A phonecall just before 17.00 hours had me zooming through the village to Whitemoor Haye. Just as I got to the rough track it came on the pager Dotteral at Whitemoor Haye. A quick scan followed by another drive and I was with a group of birders looking at a cracking female Dotteral. It was found by a lady dog walker in one of the potato fields. A brilliant record for Whitemoor Haye and Staffs.

2-5-11, Mystery gull.

Whilst in the hide I was checking through the birds on the shallows when I came across a gull which looked a bit different. It was slightly smaller than the Black Headed Gulls and had a completely white head with no markings at all, thin black beak, light grey mantle and black wing tips. Once I got these details (I didn't look at the legs), I got another observer in the hide onto the bird. Once I had done that he was puzzled so I tried to get a photo and as I got the camera out the bird took off with a few Black Headed Gulls. I never observed the bird flying as I was standing up but I got a quick glimpse of the birds flying away and they headed in a north east direction but it was not flying high. I searched the east side at Croxall but there was no sign of the bird. It definately was not a Little Gull as I only saw one of these last week and they are easy to pick out. Speaking to other birders Bonapartes Gull was looking good except for the lack of black on the head. I will go out later to see if it returns but anyone visiting the general area keep a good eye out, you never know.

2-5-11, Croxall GP.

As soon as I was up I planned to get straight to Croxall to see if the winds would bring anything in. I planned to stick it out in the hide for a few hours before heading off elsewhere although somnetime today I planned to sit down and do not a lot (which is what I am doing now, writing this blog). Around the main side at Croxall I noted Reed Warbler, Woodpigoen, Coot, Canada Geese, Common Whitethroat, Blackbird, Pheasant, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Carrion Crow, Sedge Warbler, Oystercatcher, .Rook, Wren, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, lapwing, Cuckoo, Black-headed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Ruff, Mute Swan, Ringed Plover, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Magpie, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Peregrine, Buzzard, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Geese, Yellow Wagtail, Sand Martin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Skylark, Grey Heron and Wigeon. A great morning but now time to chill out before work tomorrow.

1-5-11, Fradley Junction NR.

I was up at 03.00 for a dawn chorus bird walk which I was leading. 6 people turned up for what was a slow start but a nice morning. Birds heard and seen were Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Skylark, Mallard, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Canada Geese, Common Tern, carrion Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Black-headed Gull, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush, Common Whitethroat, Greenfinch and Grey Wagtail.

Whitemoor Haye.

After getting up early, if I sat down I wouldnt get up again so it was straight out to Whitemoor. First of all I checked out the main pool and noted Magpie, Pheasant, Chiffchaff, Mute Swan, Yellowhammer, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Chaffinch, Common Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Linnet, lapwing, Skylark, Canada Geese, Oystercatcher, Blackcap, Great Crested Grebe, Carrion Crow and Blue Tit. After parking up I started walking along the lanes before a phone call made up my mind to turn around and back to the car. Birds added were Wren, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Swallow, redshank, green Sandpiper, Corn Bunting, Robin, Buzzard and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Croxall GP.

The phone call was to tell me three Bar-tailed Godwits had just settled on the shallows on the main pool. These would be nice for a county tick for the year so as Whitemoor was quiet I quickly turned up at Croxall. Walking up to the hide, a phone call told me they were flushed by a Buzzard. Typical. Never mind, I was here now, the easterly wind was blowing well so we will sit and see what turns up. For the first hour it was highly productive before dropping off a little. Birds seen were Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Coot, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Wren, Chaffinch, Mallard, Gadwall, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Green Woodpecker, Black-headed Gull, Greenfinch, Song Thrush, Shoveler, Common Tern, Starling, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Shelduck, Swift, Starling, Teal, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Dunnock, Arctic Tern, Swallow, Grey Heron, Black-tailed Godwit, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Common Sandpiper and Kestrel. A great few hours here.

Whitemoor Haye.

After doing something else I headed for Whitemoor Haye as another Bar-tailed Godwit had been found on the main lake so it was a quick look over here before heading home and then too the pub. Birds noted were Robin, Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow, Greenfinch, Lapwing, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Mallard, Buzzard, Swallow, Black-headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Linnet, Dunnock, Blackbird, Magpie and Chaffinch. Bit tired now so chill out time at a pub.

30-4-11, Whitemoor Haye.

Just the one trip out today as I am planning to have a bit of a rest so it was off to Whitemoor Haye for a bit of birding. Unfortunately my legs have been giving me a bit of hassle so I stopped at the main pool before having a drive around to see what else I could find. At the main pit I noted Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Mallard, a small raptor which I only saw at the last minute before it flew into the sun then out of sight, Wren, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Common Whitethroat, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Mute Swan, Redshank, Carrion Crow, Greenshank, Starling, Wheatear, Skylark, Treecreeper, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Oystercatcher, Stock Dove, Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Black-headed Gull and Coot. Onto the the drive around the square I added Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Pheasant, Robin, Magpie, Grey Partridge, Greylag Geese, Pied Wagtail and I saw a Hobby flying towards the pits. Was that the bird which I lost in the sun? maybe.

29-4-11, Croxall GP.

After the dissapointment of yesterday it was back to good old local patch work. First place was Croxall quite early. A good walk around got me Sedge Warbler, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Mallard, Carrion Crow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Mute Swan, Starling on the main side. Going through to the east side and spending a bit of time in the east hide I added Rook, Buzzard, Greylag Geese, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Cormorant, Swallow, Little Egret, Gadwall, Pheasant, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Cuckoo flying over and a seemingly rare Kingfisher. Back towards the car and I added Dunnock, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Ringed Plover, Tufted Duck, Green Woodpecker, Reed Warbler and a Herring Gull.

29-4-11. Whitemoor Haye.

Over to olf faithful and before I left for there, there was a phonecall about the presence of Arctic Terns. A nice year tick so it was check the quarry pool first and then park up and head around the lanes to see what was about. Birds noted at the pool were Chiffchaff, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Greenshank, Coot, Swallow, Mallard, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Robin, Tufted Duck, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Magpie, Chaffinch, Yellow Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Tree Sparrow, Collared Dove, Great Crested Grebe, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat and my first Swift of the year. Not a bad list by just standing in one place by the pool. A quick drive to park the car at the house then a walk around the lanes produced Buzzard, Linnet, Skylark, Wren, Corn Bunting, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Wheatear, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove and Woodpigen. A great few hours with plenty of birds around.

29-4-11, Branston GP.

After a quick visit home to get some brecky/lunch I decided to head towards Branston to see what was around this active quarry. It was very windy but I persevered. Birds noted were Wren, Stock Dove, Linnet, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Pheasant, Common Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Skylark, House Martin, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Robin, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Litle Grebe, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Greatr Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Gadwall, Wigeon, Long-tailed Tit, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Rook, Moorhen, Chiffchaff, Black-tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Teal, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Greylag Geese, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap, Coal Tit and Blackbird. A good days birding all in all, a tad warm and very windy mind.