17th September 2016

Not a great deal about but Little Stint had been at Draycote Water in the week so we headed over but as is typical the bird had done a overnight flit..... however undeterred we still decided to do a full circuit picking up 10 Dunlin,7 Ringed Plover,Wheatear,3 Yellow Wagtail & a cracking juv Knot which gave superb views........

11th September 2016

With news breaking of a Baird's Sandpiper at Upton Warren,Worcs on Fri 9th I decided to wait & see what would happen knowing fully that it would be a right scrum on the Sat morning so Donna & myself stayed local at Middleton lakes picking up 2 Curlew Sandpiper,1 Little Stint,3 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit & an impressive 17 Bar-tailed Godwit over calling also a very confiding Grey Heron juv but in poor light..........

On the Sunday morning we again decided to go to Middleton Lakes 1st knowing that if the Sandpiper was present the light would be better late afternoon.. We only got as far as the feeding station at Fisher's mill where the juv Heron was again showing very well & a juv Hobby over the carpark before we finally headed off to Upton Warren for the Baird's only my 2nd regional bird but another lifer for Donna.........

3rd September 2016

Headed over to Draycote Water,Warks where the birding was slow & weather rather wet but still managed 8 Ringed Plover,3 Common Sandpiper,9 Little Egret,Yellow-legged Gull,Green Woodpecker, 2 Red-legged Partridge,Hobby,4 Raven & 2 juv Shag............

28th August 2016

Again stayed local & did Shustoke Reservoir with not a great deal present apart from a cpl of Common Sandpiper upto 44 Little Grebe & 80+ Great Crested Grebe with Donna bemoaning the fact we never find anything there!! A short while later we had a Ruff which was quite confiding & put a smile on Donna's face & just goes to prove it's worth persevering......

21st August 2016

Decided to stay local after a stormy night hoping for an inland seabird! 1st stop was Middleton lakes with Wood Sandpiper & Spotted Redshank but both distant for photos & a fly over Hobby!Not much else so a quick check of the news & staring back at me was Gannet at Marsh Lane so a march back to the car & off we headed finally arriving about 45mins later! A County tick for Donna & only my 2nd.......

The bird stayed around till late afternoon before flying off strongly & was eventually found at Thornton Reservoir,Leics where unfortunately it went down hill & was found dead several days later....a sad end to a cracking bird.