October 30th 2010

A quick trip down to Oxfordshire this morning for the long staying Lesser Yellowlegs at Port Meadow,having seen some of the recent photos on the net i thought id have a go for it,alas the bird stayed distant on the flood the whole time i was present!! other birds on site included 200+ Golden Plover,3 Ruff,Dunlin & Redshank

Lesser Yellowlegs (Bird from Norfolk 07)

October 19th 2010

After 2 attemps finally connected with the male Bearded Tit at Napton Reservoir,Warks a much needed Warks tick taking me to 234 species for the county (Only bout 30 to go before i'm up with the very top Warks listers?)no pics as the bird was always distant & flighty but a quick visit to Draycote produced a Large Wainscot on the VC on the 18th (New for me) & a Green-brindled Crescent on the 19th

Large Wainscot




Green-brindled Crescent

October 17th 2010

A txt from Tom Perrins this morning alerted me to the fact a female Scaup was on Shustoke,so took a trip over early afternoon to try for a cpl of pics!! bumped into Paul Johnson on the way around who directed me in the right directiod & in passing asked how Marsh Lane was doing (Nothing much doing!! hope he was there later when a Lesser Yellowlegs dropped in briefly!!) anyway back to the Scaup which was in the east of the reservoir before being spooked & relocating on the anglers pool!!!
Scaup (female)

October 14th 2010

Solitary Sandpiper


With the chance of a world lifer in the form of a 1st winter Solitary Sandpiper in Devon the lure soon became to much,It had been present for a few days at Black Hole Marsh,Seaton & i just happened to have the day free,a quick call to an old friend (John Liggins) & all was organised for a 5:30am start a good journey down & we were soon watching this smart wader (35th record for Britain & Ireland) & not a nappy tick as Mr perrins put it!! the light was poor & wasn't expected to get any better so photos not the best,a celebratory breakfast American style at the Route66 diner & we headed for home (Other birds on site a juv Curlew Sandpiper several Dunlin,1 Little Egret & a few late Swallow)
Solitary Sandpiper

October 9th 2010

Lesser Scaup






Headed over to Draycote water today afer having a poor day in Norfolk on friday missing both my target birds of RB Shrike & Lapland Bunting (best birds seen RT Diver,2 Spotted Redshank & 3 Whinchat,1 Bonxie & about 30 Bearded Tit) again very quiet with the best birds being the target bird drake Lesser Scaup (eclipse) back for it's 3rd winter,1 Wheatear along Farborough bank & 30+ Redwing over.The Lesser Scaup was off Hensborough bank untill flushed by the motor launch from the sailing club then relocated to Toft where it showed well in the poor misty light!!!