18th December & 21st December 2014

Been a little quiet on the blogging front just lately but I have been out & about but getting back to basics & just birding more rather than out just with the camera,so the last few months have been spent travelling locally & afar watching commoner species with the girlfriend (Who's only really recently got more into birding ) On the 18th I picked Donna up & travelled the short distance to Ryder's Mere,Pelsall for the juv Great Northern Diver where I knew Donna would get fantastic views

Then on the 21st we headed over to Draycote Water,Warks for the female Common Scoter which was showing well!! Both birds Donna had seen recently but you can't beat close up views.......

26th & 27th September 2014

Last cpl of days of my holiday were spent at Draycote Water with quite a showy Greenshank........

23rd & 24th September 2014

Spent a cpl of days locally again at Shustoke Reservoir photographing the 1 remaining Ruff & a confiding juv Ringed Plover..........

21st September 2014

With news breaking of a juv Masked Shrike breaking on Sat morning a few txts/calls were made but nobody was interested in going straight away so  a few more txts made making arrangements for the Sunday were made, after a nervous drive up with Leics birders John Hague & Dave Gray & Warks banking birder Archie news filtered thru that it was still present!! A cracking day with plenty of laughs & a good supporting cast of birds with 2 Red-breasted Flycatchers,Redstarts,Wheatears,Spotted & Pied Flys & a showy Barred Warbler..........

19th -20th September 2014

Had a few hours around Shustoke on the Fri afternoon & Sat morning! The 4 Ruff still present, Garganey,Common Sandpiper & new in juv Ringed Plover & a fly thru Greenshank........

13th-14th September 2014

Decided to stay local over the weekend & headed over to Shustoke reservoir a quick walk round produced 3 Ruff all juv males with a juv female joining them on the Sunday!! Iv'e always loved waders & given time & patience can become very confiding which proved so with 1 of the juv males on the Sat & then the female on the Sun..........

More Photos Here

3rd September 2014

Popped over to Draycote Water,Warks for the Juv Shags that had been present for a cpl of days only 1 left by the time I got on site but it showed very well........

1st September 2014

With a few days off work the chance to head back to Norfolk for a second go at the confiding Red-backed Shrike at Winterton Dunes proved to be the right choice with the bird performing  very well with just the 4 of us there......

More Photos Here