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 ...............

Melodious Warbler 12th June - 28th June 2015

Probably made about 18+ visits over this period along with Donna hoping for that 1 shot.......  (The bird is still present this morning  30/6/15)

Many more Photos Here