26th April 2013

With a few days off work & the chance of a Brit tick up in Yorks (Rock Thrush) or the chance of photographing Nightingales in Lincs I opted for the latter (whilst the Rock Thrush is a cracking bird it was reported as distant & I for one would rather photograph birds than just add a tick in a book!!!)  Arrived at Whisby a little late in the day & a quick txt to Dean Eades had me pointing in the right direction (Cheers mate) After a 3hr wait the 1 bird jumped out of the undergrowth for about 20secs! I think an early morning visit will be on the cards when they seem to sing & show better!!

14th April 2013

Back over at Shustoke this morning hoping for more migrants found another Arctic Tern (Different bird to Yesterday with a different head pattern & a notch in its left wing!! but again some black in the bill) also 2nd winter Kittiwake still with plenty of Sand Martin & Swallow going over

13th April 2013

Over in the Tame valley this morning looking for migrants! 1st stop Coton lakes where at least 3 Willow Warbler were singing also a single House Martin over the hide,then down to Shustoke picking up 1 Common Tern & a  Arctic Tern which still had a little black in the bill photo below alongside the Common for comparison showing the subtle differences....

12th April 2013

With a long weekend after a week of nights the chance to get out & about looking for newly returned migrants soon had me over at Shustoke Reservoir searching the 2nd winter Kittiwake was still showing at the west end...

Whilst a walk round the reservoir added a single Sand Martin & 2 Swallow before being alerted to the fact a Black Tern was gracing Draycote Water, 1/2 hr later myself & Bobby D were soon watching it a nice find & early considering how late everything else seems to be!!! I soon moved on with 2 Yellow Wagtail,1 White Wagtail,2 House Martin,Sand Martin & several Swallow along the bank with a Peregrine overhead!!

7th April 2013

With a family christening in the afternoon,It was just a few hours in the Tame Valley planned looking for migrants! 1st stop Shustoke where the 2nd Winter Kittiwake was showing incredibly well!! I see on BF gobby has put it down as a 2nd summer or 3rd calendar Yr but the wing pattern doesn't look as advanced with still a lot of black traces certainly more than would be expected of a 2nd Summer also still some black in the bill!! Anyway back to the birding met up with Adam 'Archie' Archer when news of a Killdeer in Lancs broke!! Oh dear a lifer for me 10 mins later after securing Archies motor somewhere safer we were on our way with a quick phone call explaining I might just miss the christening ( Unrepeatable words back down the phone but hey ho!!) Long & short of it we dipped but whilst parked up Archie received  a call alerting him to the fact a female Bearded Tit had been found by Martyn Yapp & Kay D at Dosthill Lake,Warks & even worse it was showing very well!! Just over 2hrs later we were on site having superb views!! Thanks To Martyn & Kay also Tom for the updates on route..... & yes i'm still in the doghouse for missing the christening......

More Photos Here

6th April 2013

Call me mad but when the news came out that the Garganey were again on Cannop Ponds,Gloucs I just had to try again!! This time good mate Andy Jones was in the passenger seat & a quick 200 mile round trip for probably the best views I've ever had of wild Garganey........

5th April 2013

With a few days off work was hoping to get out & about but a mouth abscess put paid to going out Thurs woke up Fri feeling slightly better so decided to head down to Cannop Ponds,Gloucs for the Garganey which have been showing very well for a few days!! Big mistake as they'd departed so feeling rather fed up headed for home after a quick look at the Mandarins present in good numbers here!!

Arrived home got changed & was just heading out when a cpl of txts came thru 1st Steve Haynes letting me know he'd got a Kittiwake on Shustoke reservoir (Then an Identical msg from the voice of the Tame!! Tom Perrins!  much appreciated as always!!) showing well,a quick change & I was on my way!! Met up in the car park some 20 mins later with Steve & Bobby D & we were soon enjoying good views with the added bonus off 2 Little Ringed Plovers showing reasonably well so not a bad way to end the day!!
Kittiwake being a 2nd Winter bird going on plumage..