Recent photos

Masked Shrike - Kilnsea

Brent Geese - Warham Green

 

Red-backed Shrike - Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Penduline Tit - Titchwell RSPB

Spotted Redshank - Titchwell RSPB

Wood Sandpiper - Blacktoft Sands RSPB

Common Cranes - Guyhirn

Roesel's Bush Cricket - Kilnsea.  This is the most northern record of this species recorded in UK

Sooty Shearwater - Skua/Shearwater Cruise, Bridlington Bay

Puffin - Skua/Shearwater Cruise, Bridlington Bay

Fulmar - Skua/Shearwater Cruise, Bridlington Bay.   Bird in front is a blue Fulmare

Purple Sandpiper - Bridlington Harbour

Fulmar - Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Kittiwake - Bridlington Harbour 

Ruff/Redshank - Blacktoft Sands RSPB

Grey Phalarope - Cley NR

Nuthatch - Fradley Junction NR 

Chaffinch - Fradley Junction NR

Nuthatch - Fradley Junction NR

Chaffinch - Fradley Junction NR

Treecreeper - Fradley Junction NR

Coal Tit - Fradley Junction NR

Coal Tit - Fradley Junction NR

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Fradley Junction NR

Long-tailed Tit - National Arboretum

Up to November 9th

Well it didn't take long to not update my blog.  Last time I blogged I was struggling with a bad back gutted that the third ever Masked Shrike had been found in Kilnsea.  So what has been happening since.  On a health note I am up and er running, well walking anyway, but back to normal and I have been out birding as ever.
22-9-14, Whitemoor Haye.
7 Little Egrets, 151 Cormorants, 28 Wigeon, 4 Ruff, 4 Greenshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 4 Swallow.
27-9-14, Kilnsea.
A pre-organised trip saw me having a couple of days in East Yorkshire and the main question was whether the Masked Shrike was still present. Well, bang, yes.  It hung around and By 09.00 I was watching the third MASKED SHRIKE for the UK.  A right cracker.  Other birds included Pink-footed Geese, Grey Plover, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and Water Rail to name a few.
Easington Gas Terminal.
Last year this held a Yellow-browed Warbler so as we were passing we thought we would give it a go.  Nowt special.
Hornsea Mere.
Spent an hour or so photographing birds in flight, great fun.  Again nothing special.
28-9-14, circa Bridlington.
Today we had booked ourselves on the Skua/Shearwater cruise from Bridlington.  Whilst waiting to board I noted Kittiwake, Turnstone and Sandwich Tern.  After the cruise we found a few Purple Sandpiper along the walls.
Skua/Shearwater cruise.
It was great to get out on the boat, not done it for a few years.  Not a brilliant trip for skuas bit notable sightings were Common Scoter, several Puffins, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Shags, Little Gulls and some harbour porpoises.
Bempton Cliff RSPB.
With little reported nearby we headed for Bempton Cliffs RSPB as a Red-backed Shrike had been present and my mate needed this for a lifer.  5 minutes from parking and the bird was in the bag so we had a walk around the cliff tops with not much else to tell about.
29-9-14, Blacktoft Sands RSPB.
With little decent birds around East Yorkshire we headed home and decided to stop at this great reserve.  Notable birds were Wood Sandpiper, Tree Sparrow, Spotted Redshank, Snipe, Water Rail, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier and Pink-footed Geese.
2-1-14, Whitemoor Haye.
2 Greenshank, Tree Sparrow.
3-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
29 Tufties, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, Tree Sparrow, Sparrowhawk.
4-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
8 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Greenshank, Chiffchaff and c40 Tree Sparrow.
5-10-14, Alrewas GP.
16 Great Crested Grebe, 112 Tufties, 27 Coot, 30 Mallard, 2 Teal, 6 Pochard, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, 1 Snipe, few Wigeon.
Croxall Wides - part of Croxall nature reserve but viewed over river from national arboretum.
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret, Teal, Lapwing.
Whitemoor Haye.
83 Tufties, 4 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker.
7-10-14, Denham Green (somewhere NW of London).
Red Kite, Ring-necked Parakeet, Grey Wagtail.
Whitemoor Haye.
3 Little Egret, 6 Tufties, 3 Pochard, 7 Coot, 1 Grey Partridge.
9-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
1 Teal, 31 Tufties, 2 Pochard, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Coot, 11 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank.
12-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
News broke of a Shag at whilst I was at home just about to go out to check the pits so it was straight down to get a Staffordshire and site tick and a good one too.  It was soon located, viewed from the road.  Other birds included 8 Coot, 14 Tufties, 1 Raven, several Mistle Thrush and 5 Little Egret.     
National Arboretum.
Long-tailed Tits, Mistle Thrush, Raven, Teal.
Croxall Wides.
Teal, 1 Little Egret.
Alrewas GP.
9 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mallard, 126 Tufties and 32 Coot.
17-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
17 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Tufties, 1 Merlin.
18-10-14, Warham Green.
Over the previous few days there was big numbers of birds making landfall in Norfolk, Yellow-browed Warblers, Barred Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatchers etc plus an Isabelline Shrike.  Friday I ummed and arred but eventually gave up, managed to get some digs Saturday night and was on the road at 04.00 to try and nail the shrike.  Things don't always go to plan and after an hour at Warham Green it was pretty obvious the shrike had gone, in fact a lot of birds had cleared out and with high winds birding was going to be tough.  Rough-legged Buzzard being the only decent bird.
Cley NNR.
A Grey Phalarope had been present on a pool near the beach, I didn't really have time to go round the reserve so it was to the beach and then find the Grey Phalarope. This was not hard and a few photographs later I was off to the next site.
Salthouse Beach.
Lapland Buntings had bee reported here, I decided to have half an hour as you never know what might turn up, Snow Bunting, Shorelark, Lapland Bunting.  It was few years ago I had my pone and only Lapland Bunting on Salthouse Beach, the same day I twitched the White-crowned Sparrow in Cley-next-the-Sea.  Today In was also in luck when I found 2 Lapland Buntings on a fence.
Wells Woods.
This can be a great site this time of year however I aw very little.
Holkham Pines.
As with the last site this can be brilliant this time of year and indeed a Pallas Warbler, Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warbler had been seen and was seen whilst I was there however the tit flock was moving through the pines very quickly, wind assisted  and needless to say I never got on any of the birds.
Titchwell RSPB.
Having had a fairly disappointing day I decided to head for Titchwell to at least see several birds and do a bit of photography.  Notable birds were Black-tailed Godwit, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, 40+ Little Egrets, Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover, Mediterranean Gull, but what turned out tom be bird of the day was found whilst I was twenty feet away, a Penduline Tit.
19-10-14, Guyhirn.
After an enjoyable but disappointing day I headed home but wanted to visit a couple of sites on the way and I was told of this site the previous day.  I searched for the Chill Out café, pointed by scope over the road and I was watching 7 Common Cranes.
Rutland Water.
I was hoping for Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes here.  No luck with them but I noted Great White Egret, Tree Sparrow, Marsh Tit, Green Sandpiper and a close Kingfisher.
20-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
33 Mute Swan, several Tree Sparrow, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 21 Lapwing.
23-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
22 Mute Swan, 40+ Tree Sparrow, 45 Lapwing, 5 Mallard, 21 Coot, 16 Tufties, 1 Shoveler.
25-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
1 Little Grebe, 16 Coot, 111 Mute Swan, 120 Lapwing, 3 Grey Partridge.
26-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
19 Little Egret, 120+ Cormorant, 188 Lapwing, 20 Tufties, 16 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Coot, 126 Mute Swan, 8 Mallard, 2 Teal.
National Arboretum.
Redwings, Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk.
Croxall Wides.
Teal, Green Woodpecker, Redwing.
Alrewas GP.
43 Tufties, 11 Mallard, 1 Green Sandpiper.
29-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
45 Lapwing, 90 Mute Swan, 19 Coot, 17 Mallard, 7 Teal, 2 Tufties, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Tree Sparrow.
31-10-14, Whitemoor Haye.
Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge.
1-11-14, Whitemoor Haye.
10 Tufties, 55 Pochard, 22 Coot, 39 Mallard, 7 Little Egret, Goldcrest, 98 Lapwing, 200+ Golden Plover, 12 Grey Partridge, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer.
2-11-14, Whitemoor Haye.
46 Coot, 6 Tufties, 15 Mallard, 188 Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow.
Alrewas GP.
Jay, 9 Mallard, 74 Tufties, 4 Coot, Mistle Thrush.
Junction Pit (pool within National Arboretum).
Cetti's Warbler.
Croxall Wides.
Pochard, Teal, Little Grebe.
8-11-14, Whitemoor Haye.
52 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 84 Tufties, 156 Pochard, 66 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 31 Mallard, 15 Wigeon, 211 Lapwing, Fieldfare, Redwing, Tree Sparrow.
9-11-14, Whitemoor Haye.
59 Tufties, 4 Wigeon, 43 Pochard, 58 Coot, 350+ Lapwing, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Teal, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow.
National Arboretum.
Redwing, Goldcrest.
Junction Pit.
Cetti's Warbler.
Alrewas GP.
65 Lapwing, 5 Teal, 59 Tufties, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Mallard, 3 Coot, 4 Wigeon, 3 Pochard.

Once I have sorted them out I will get a few pictures rom the last few weeks and I will also try and keep this blog up to date much quicker.

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.