15th November - 6th December 2015

A quiet few weeks spent mainly local with a few trips further afield in between looking for a little motor for Donna.... A call from Archie asking if I was going for the Crag Martin at Chesterfield had me declining as we were busy looking at cars luckily it stayed around for another week allowing us very nice views as it fed in the Town centre 15/11/15, my 2nd in Britain in just over a year..... on the 22nd November whilst checking Coleshill GP's for Jack Snipe I caught a glimpse of  a Short-eared Owl at the far end of the pits where we then had cracking views of 3 birds quartering the set-aside field across the river with a bonus Barn Owl.....

On the weekend of the 28th we made our way over to the West Mids/Staffs border for a Hoopoe at Hinksford after what seemed a eternity the bird finally dropped in just as we were leaving,my 5th in the midlands but another lifer for Donna.....

On the 29th November we headed to Farmoor Reservoir for the Grey Phalarope which showed very well but the weather was awful out of over 800 photos I only kept a cpl,worth the visit as it was Donna's best views & 1st in winter plumage after the SP Brandon bird....

Weekend of the 5th & 6th December again spent locally at Hams Hall & Coleshill GP with a bonus lifer for Donna in Jack Snipe (Her 240th species this year) also had Barn & Short-eared Owl,Woodcock & our 1st Siberian Chiffchaff of the winter on the now annual site at Edison Rd outflow.

3rd October -17th October 2015

A busy cpl of weekends with not much photography but quite a bit of birding on the 3rd October Donna & myself headed to Slimbridge,Gloucs for the Semipalmated Sandpiper it was distant but good scope views but a welcome addition to both of our Life lists on the 4th October we headed North to Spurn,E.Yorks where we had a cracking day with Arctic Warbler,Little Bunting,3+ Yellow-browed Warblers,Great White Egret & a cracking Juv Citrine Wagtail (3 Lifers for Donna) & Citrine being a long awaited 1st for myself..........

On the 17th October we headed for the East Coast to Wells & Holkham Woods in Norfolk where we had a stunning days birding on a very dull day with Red-flanked Bluetail , Hume's Leaf Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler & a distant Isabelline Shrike with other commoner birds over inc Redwings,Fieldfare,3 Crossbill & Brambling a cracking day with Donna bagging 6 new birds taking her upto 239 Species (235 for the year)

26th August 2015

A few hrs spent at Draycote water along Hensborough bank with Ruff (& Reeve) several Ringed Plover (Ad & Juvs) Dunlin & 1 Little Ringed Plover (Juv) Unfortunately a lot of disturbance so birds were very wary but still good allowing Donna some nice views...........

17th August 2015

With news of a showy Icterine Warbler at Burnham Overy, Norfolk over the weekend we decided to wait & have a drive down on the Monday without the weekend crowds! A fantastic bird & yet another lifer for Donna taking her upto 226 species overall & 222 for the year!! We also had Grayling & Wall Butterflies (Both lifers for her) & a Garden Tiger.........

More Photos Here

15th August 2015

A Ruff showing well at Draycote water was a good opportunity for Donna to get up close with these fantastic waders...........

8th August 2015

With a juv White-winged Black Tern being found at Westport Lake,Staffordshire I decided to take Donna up for a new bird & welcome year tick for myself & with the Red-footed Falcon being nearby a 2nd visit.......

19th-29th July 2015

With the Summer lull in full swing I've spent the last few weeks locally doing Dragons & Damselflies & Moths etc with the highlight being Small Red-eyed Damselfly (new for myself)

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Emerald Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Common Darter

Emperor Dragonfly

Common Blue Damselfly

11th July 2015

With news coming thru of a 1st Summer Red-footed Falcon nr Stoke,Staffs on the Fri morning I decided a leisurely drive up on the Sat morning rather than the hectic afternoon rush hour on the M6... Donna & myself arrived on site just after 9am & were rewarded with decent views a good bird & only my 4th in Britain & the 1st for a good few years but more importantly a lifer for Donna & a bonus tick with a Black Redstart sharing the same fence line for her taking her upto 224 Species with 220 this year.........

2nd July 2015

With an unexpected 2 days lay off from work due to problems on the French side of the channel causing parts shortages I decided to give the Melodious another bash, I picked Donna up & we arrived on site about 2-30 with no 1 else present we set up & apart from a cpl of birders who came & went we had the bird pretty much to ourselves!! After 20+ visits the bird finally popped up 25ft away out in the open on the gorse!!! Job done ...............