21st November 2009

Shustoke Res

After getting the call from Tom Perrins this morning letting me know the Great Northern Divers were still present I decided to get up & forget about my sleep till later (Nights last night) gave Rich Dawkins a call & we headed over, the Juv was showing in the corners to the left of the carpark then a call from Archie Archer to say the adult summer bird was showing well at the other end had us making our way down to try for a few shots!!

19th November 2009

Shustoke Res

2 txts (cheers Tom & John) in a matter of mins alerted me to the fact a juv Great Northern Diver was at Shustoke Res,Warks,with being on lates i wasnt overly fussed as we get them annually at Draycote but when Tom Perrins txt aagain to say a 2nd bird was present & was in near full summer plumage that was a different matter!! 20 mins later with the help of Steve Haynes & Lee Johnson (the finder) i was soon watching this cracking looking bird (No photos just hope it stays until the W/E)

15th November 2009

Headed over to Draycote Water again this morning with Rich (Tricky Dicky) Dawkins with the intention of getting some better shots of the drake Green-winged Teal (better shots obtained but still need to get the sun over my shoulder!!) other birds present Raven,Ruddy Duck,Goldeneye,Tufted Duck (numbers picking up again)4 Goosander & 1 Great Northern Diver (not seen by myself but deffo there!!)

12th November 2009

With not much about locally & the weather due to change i decided to head over to Draycote Water again whilst on my way a txt came thru from John Judge saying that a drake Green-winged Teal had been found in Toft (Yet another good find by Bob Hazell) The bird is probably last winters returning bird!! good views if not a little distant & into the sun not making it ideal for good pics

6th November 2009

Draycote Water,Warks

A call from John Judge (Draycote Recorder)had me gathering my camera gear & making haste to the water for a Purple Sandpiper (Rare in Warks!! 1st since 87 i believe? )& a Warks County bird for myself also present 5 Dunlin & 4 Shelduck

29th October 2009

Staines Moor,Surrey

Travelled down again today to see if I could obtain any photos with Rich Dawkins & John Liggins on arrival the bird popped up in the bushes not to far away on the N of the River enabling a few shots to be taken with my Sigmonster (300-800mm)with 2x converter on!! Well worth the 2nd visit the bird continued to show on & off for the next hour or so but somewhat more distant.

17th October 2009

Staines Moor,Surrey

found myself travelling South today for the Brown Shrike in Surrey with Rich Dawkins today good but distant views also 200+ Ring-necked Parakeets & 150+ Red Kites on the journey there & back the only spoil of the day was breaking down on the M25 (not recommended)

8th & 9th October 2009

2 mornings spent at Draycote Water with the Lesser Scaup giving superb views with other highlights being 3 Twite,fem Red-breasted Merganser,Black-necked Grebe,2 Rock Pipit,1 Yellow-legged Gull,4 Swallow & 5 Redwing

1st October 2009

Yet again i find myself back over at Draycote Water with the highlights being Yellow Wagtails (good No's) Rock Pipit & a ad eclipse drake Lesser Scaup (found by Bob Hazell)

20th September 2009

Draycote Water yet again with juv Ruff,1 Bar-tailed Godwit,Dunlin,Ringed Plover & Pectoral Sandpiper all still present

19th September 2009

Draycote Water again with 1 Juv Ruff,2 Ringed Plover,1 Bar-tailed Godwit & the Pectoral Sandpiper

14th September 2009

Draycote Water

A trip over to Draycote Water this morning straight from my Nightshift for the Pectoral Sandpiper,the bird was soon located in Toft along with 3 Dunlin & 1 Juv Ringed Plover