26th April 2015

When the twitter alert went off that an Adult Night Heron had been seen at Attenborough NR,Notts I just had to go!! This being the bird that brought Donna & myself together after Donna got in touch about the local bird last Summer on Seeswood Pool which unfortunately had done a bunk.......... Donna's 197th species in Britain with 180+ being seen this year alone...........

12th April -25th April 2015

The last cpl of weeks have been spent mainly looking for Summer migrants & trying to get Donna upto the 200 Species mark!! I had promised 200 by the end of the year but that figure should be passed within the next week or so...... Anyway in the last cpl of weekends we've added goodies like Osprey at Brandon Marsh,Black-winged Stilts at Middleton Lakes,Stone Curlew at Weeting Heath with other good birds like Whimbrel,Nightingale,Firecrest,Dipper,Redstart,Pied Flycatcher,Grasshopper Warbler,Ring Ouzels,Cuckoo,Yellow Wagtail etc so all going well!! A few highlights below.........

9th &10th April 2015

Every morning before work I checked Seeswood pool with the Garganey finally departing overnight on the 9th/10th tried getting better photos of the Garganey but they were just so flighty but managed a cpl of record shots also picked up Red Kite on the 10th which was only the 2nd record for the pool.......

6th April 2015

Headed back to Farmoor hoping to do the Red-necked Grebe in better light but it seemed everyone had the same idea & the bird was not as photogenic so gave up after having a quick play with a cpl of Brimstone butterflies & headed to Standlake,Oxon for the Ring-necked Ducks (3m 1F) which showed well but distantly into the sun but still a welcome Year tick for myself & yet another lifer for Donna ........

4th April 2015

Out looking for migrants in the Tame Valley this morning picking up House Martin,3 Little Ringed Plover good numbers of Swallow & Sand Martin & also the returning mixed/switch singing Siberian/Common Chiffchaff at Coton Lakes when a txt came thru from Nick Barlow informing us that there was Wheatear & Little Ringed Plover at Marsh Lane so off we went!! Donna's best views of both species were had but only managed photos of the LRP which was still quite distant......

The LRP was just coming nearer when i recieved a txt from Kath informing us that a Pr Of Garganey were on my local patch of Seeswood Pool (Only the 4th & 1st Spring record) A quick trip thru the lanes & we were soon watching these delightful ducks & yet another lifer for Donna.........

28th March 2015

Headed down to Farmoor Reservoir,Oxon for the stunning Summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe the bird showed well but the weather was not the best & very dull & overcast but another lifer for Donna..........