29th March 2012

With the weather looking good decided to head down to Denbighshire,Wales for Black Grouse!! arrived on site a little later than planned due to M6/M54 jnc closed but got there in the end only to be reversed into by some prat in a faded Corsa (but the less said about that the better) anyway at least 8 male were lekking today with a single female flying thru!! also had Raven a Pr of Peregrine,4 Stonechat, Meadow Pipits everywhere & a male Dartford Warbler

March 2012

The last week or so has been all local stuff looking for Spring migrants!! With Chiffchaff in most areas 4 Northern Wheatear (3 at Middleton RSPB) an early Garganey drake on Middleton Hall pool from the 18th till 27th at least (4 trips & never really came close enough for a good shot (Photo below) Blackcap male at Shustoke also a drake Scaup both on 29th............

16th March 2012

Stayed local today looking for migrants in the Tame Valley,quite a few Chiffchaff now singing but apart from that very quiet!! I'd just dropped in at Coleshill GPs when a txt came thru from Tom Perrins alerting me to the fact a Northern Wheatear was at Wishaw (not familiar with the area so a few missed turns etc before i pulled up alongside Tom) Tom duly pointed the bird out before he returned to domestic duties!!! I set the camera up & waited for the bird to come closer,which it did several times but normally behind the car or at acute angles where i just couldn't get a shot off!! after about an hr the bird finally popped up directly to the side of me allowing a few shots!!

  

11th March 2012

After avin a few days of work Andy Jones finally got himself into gear & we headed for the South coast Pagham W.Sussex the location Paddyfield Warbler the target (A tick for both of us & my 3rd tick this Yr!!) on arrival the bird showed practically straight away but always a little distant for cracking shots so on with the converter & 50 shots later i wasn't complaining a cracking bird which showed well sang nearly constantly whilst on site!! & with back-up birds like Cettis Warbler,Chiffchaff not a bad start!!! A 60mile diversion to Hordle in Hampshire for the 1st summer male Rose Coloured Starling (my 1st for at least 15yrs) which proved elusive but showed well thru the bins but not really photographable!!! a short stop at the Dark Eyed Junco which was in the area but not looked for then a head up north for home!!