January 17th 2010

Short trip out today for the Bewick's Swans off the Bretford/Church Lawford Rd (A428)only 1 visible with the other 16 on the opposite side of the rd in the dip! so headed off back into the Grandborough valley for another crack at the Great Grey Shrike, the bird was showing well but just to distant for any photos,will have to try again prob Tues & hope it's 3rd time lucky?

10th January 2010

The chance of a Warks tick in the form of a Great Grey Shrike in the Grandborough Valley finally tempted me out for the 1st time in 3 wks a quick phone call to Dog for details on the bird & road conditions & i was on my way to pick Rich up 1/2 hr later & some fun driving down Hill rd (Skating rink) we pulled up behind several other birders cars & made the short yomp upto the assembled mini twitch! after about a 1/2 hr wait the call went up,showed well but distant but neverless a new Warks bird putting me on 232 for the county!! other birds seen upto 600 Linnet & female Merlin.
Dropped into Draycote on the way home for a few Year ticks with 2 Great Northern Divers & 3 ad Yellow Legged Gulls being the highlights