15th-17th January 2013

Spent the last few days either at Ladywalk or nearby Edison Rd trying for the Siberian Chiffchaff/s & the Firecrest!! Good views of both birds but no photographs due to various reasons infact the 16th didn't see either bird so spent a few hrs photographing Common Chiffchaff in -2.5 deg conditions,however finally on the 17th I managed to get photos of not 1 Siberian but 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs (Both calling & neither ringed so with the bird seen on Sunday which was ringed this makes 3 in the area!!) Also had the Firecrest showing well but briefly allowing a cpl of shots!!

 Common Chiffchaff (above) Firecrest (below)

Siberian Chiffchaff (Record shots but just happy to get some pics of the elusive buggers....)

12th & 13th January 2013

Spent the last 2 days at Ladywalk NR & nearby Edison Rd outflow trying for pics of the Firecrest & the (Presumed) Not By Me!! Siberian Chiffchaff failing on both counts the Firecrest showed well on the footpath near the river but was always high or deep in amongst the branches!! The Chiffchaff was constantly on the move on the 12th but wanting to get good views & hear it didn't even try for photos on the 13th it was elusive all day only bein seen a cpl of times & calling a few times!! The bird seems to show all the features needed for Siberian & the call seems spot on!!So with no photos of both target birds just had a play with the common birds near the feeders with a bonus Waxwing high up nearby!!

5th January 2013

Headed over to Upper Longdon,Staffs this morning for a crack at the returning Great Grey Shrike,spent a good few hrs waiting around watching it from distance/into the sun etc so decided to give up & head for the car! Was just nearing the top carpark when the Shrike flew past,a quick check in the right hand corner of the  clearfell & sure enough the bird was sitting low down & close enough for some reasonable photos with the 2x conv on!! After about 15mins off having the bird all to myself & it getting closer the crack of broken twigs/branches & the bird was off!! looked over to see a birder with his scope probably a good 100ft closer (Just don't get it!! I was happy the bird was happy feeding, just bad fieldcraft then he had the cheek to say bet you got some great shots!!! "Yeah no thanks to you  Ya Numpty" ) Rant over pics below.........

2nd & 3rd January 2013

Most of the 2nd was spent over Stubbers Green,W.Mids looking for Caspian & Iceland Gulls to no avail only getting 1 2nd W Yellow-legged Gull amongst the Herring & Great Black Backed Gulls. Photo below

The 3rd was a lot more productive!! Out & about with Andy Jones we started off at Upper Longdon,Staffs with the Great Grey Shrike showing well (No pictures as it was more of a birding day!!) Then off to Swithland Reservoir,Leics for the Velvet Scoters (2 females still present with 1 showing quite well) Photos below

We then headed back to Warks looking for & just missing the Firecrest at Hams Hall (But some of the lads who dipped on NYD managed to connect!!) before heading for Lea Marston where the Long-tailed Duck has been joined by a 2nd bird also female Scaup still present,finished the day off at Shustoke with both the Great Northern Divers showing well (Scope views) Not a bad day at all!!!

1st January 2013

A nice leisurely start to the New Year picking up the Great Northern Divers at Shustoke & Long-tailed Duck &  female Scaup at Lea Marston before moving on to the outflow off Edison Rd,Hams Hall which is always good for wintering Chiffchaff!! 1st bird I lifted the bins to was a cracking Firecrest (a great start to the year) But with the camera left in the car I was cursing as it was so close in brilliant light!! A quick phone call to Tom Perrins who put the word out,with many New Years day listers arriving throughout the day even though it was particularly elusive most went home happy!! Only managed 1 photo after running back for the camera!!