25th May 2010 Moth Trapping in the back garden

Decided to do only my 2nd trapping of the year (the 1st drew a blank)with 19+ species caught with the highlights being Lime Hawkmoth,Pale Tussock,Oak Hook-tip,Buff-tip,Scalloped Hazel & a new moth for myself in the form of a Green Silver-lines

Gilfach Farm,Powys 24/5/10

After seeing some of the images on the web the last few days i decided to head west to the fantastic reserve of Gilfach Farm NR (aprox 5m N of Gigrin Farm Powys)my quest to photograph Pied Flycatchers (You cant fail honest!!) also seen were 2 Redstart,Raven,1 Spotted Flycatcher,Tawny Owl whilst Cuckoo & Tree Pipit were heard but i was too entranced with the Flickers (def a reserve to visit again especially in a few weeks when im told the Golden-ringed Dragonflies will be on the wing.

19th May 2010

Couldnt resist going back to Straw's Bridge NR,Ilkeston,Derbys this morning for another attempt,havin got back from my night shift i managed a quick hrs kip then headed the short hrs drive north to be rewarded with the bird almost constantly showing

Great Reed Warbler (Stunning views)





Typical view

14th May 2010

Record shots of the Great Reed Warbler below




I had a choice this morning either a trip to Frampton Marsh,Lincs for a lifer in the form of a Oriental Pratincole or a trip upto Derbys for a Great Reed Warbler (seen about 4 in the UK) yep i chose the Great Reed Warbler, a nice Hrs drive up the M1 to Straws Bridge nr Ilkeston soon had me watching a male Great Reed Warbler which showed well but was always obscure in the small reed bed it was singing from

14th May 2010

After being stuck in work all week & getting Txts of what i was missing at Coleshill Gravel Pits (Grey Plover,Wood Sand,Temminck's Stint etc)I was chomping at the bit so to say!! on arrival at the pits this morning i was met with the cheery greeting of Kev'Hippo'Groocock (The birdin Medic) Ur to late!!! (for the wood sand etc but not the Stints) short while later i had my 1st good bird of the day all what briefly, Whinchat which quickly flicked over the bank,on the actual pits i was soon watching the 2 Temminck's Stint & at least 6 Little Ringed Plover,2 Ringed Plover & an Oystercatcher (not a bad few hrs with 2 good Yr ticks)

Clayhanger Marsh 3/5/10

Just had to try again for the Hoopoe,my 3rd visit in as many days & with only a handfull of people on site it didnt seem as flighty.Patience payed off as they say if you don't succeed 1st time!!!

2nd May 2010 & 3rd May 2010

Headed back over to Clayhanger again today 3/5/10 for another crack at the Hoopoe but to no avail as there was a no show in the 3hrs i was on site,so headed over to Cannock chase for a few yr ticks Common Redstart & Pied Flycatcher heard but not seen but 2 Tree Pipit & Cuckoo were added to the Yr list & Wood Warbler heard by the carpark at seven springs




Headed over to Clayhanger Marsh,West Midlands on the 2nd for the Hoopoe only my 4th ever in Britain & my 2nd in the Walsall area (2006) The bird showed well but was very flighty but still a welcome Year tick,also good to catch up with a few old faces (Big thanks to Archie Archer for directions)

28th April 2010

(record shot of the Grasshopper Warbler above)

(below a cpl of images of 2 of the 5 birds present)



A quick walk up the pool this morning produced 2 singing Sedge Warblers & 1 Reed Warbler, I then decided to head over to Brandon Marsh nr Coventry for the 5 Black-tailed Godwits also seen in good numbers were Cetti's Warbler,Common Whitethroat,Sedge & Reed Warbler,Swift,4 Common Tern & 1 Grasshopper Warbler

25th April 2010

A quick walk up Seeswood this morning produced 1 gronking Raven low over the pool & 1 Common Buzzard before a phone call from Bob Duckhouse had me heading home for the car & a quick trip upto Baddesley Ensor for a singing male Wood Warbler.

24th April 2010

Above & below some photos of a Yellow Wagtail also Pied Wagtail






Early morning start around Seeswood produced 2 Reed Warbler (early date for the pool & a welcome Yr tick)1 Common Whitethroat & a single Swallow also my 1st Little Owl of the year,with the new arrivals in i decided to head out to Draycote Water which turned out to be quite a good move with 4+ House Martin,6 Yellow Wagtail (2 female type Blue-headed)2 Common Sandpiper,1 Lesser Whitethroat (Yr tick)1 Sedge Warbler,2 Great Northern Divers,14+ Little Gull (mainly summer plumage ad)1 Black Tern (Yr tick)2 Common Tern & upto 4 Arctic Terns (Yr tick)

23rd April 2010

After the good start to the day i decided to head over to Draycote Water for the drake Garganey which had been seen yesterday,the bird was still there off the windsurfing area with upto 10 Yellow Wagtail off Farnborough bank with 1 female type Blue-headed also ad Little Gull,1 Common Sandpiper,also seen 2 Brimstone butterfly,Small Tortoiseshell,Peacock & Large White





A great start to the day in the form of a (1st Summer male)Ring Ouzel on Seeswood Pool (1st record for the patch & only my 2nd Warks bird)also a Common Tern dropped in for about 20mins also my 1st Speckled Wood of the Yr

18th April 2010

Early start down to Paxton Pits,Cambridgeshire hoping to photograph Nightingales,no such look though as i only had 1 bird singing deep in cover (must be slightly late this Yr compared to last when there was several on site)so left & headed upto Brandon Marsh for the Avocet & a chance of a few yearly (Summer visitor) ticks,the Avocet was showing well from Teal pool but distant but with the noise coming from the 2 old boys in the corner jabbering on funny enough about noise & how to behave in a hide there was no chance of it coming nearer!! Cetti's Warblers seem to be still in good No's despite the cold winter which is a good sign!! Yearly ticks in the form of 2 Sedge Warblers & 1 Common Whitethroat

7th & 8th April 2010

7th April Shustoke Res
1ad Little Gull & 1 white Wagtail with several Willow Warbler singing on site

8th April Draycote Water
12 Yellow Wagtail & 1m Northern Wheatear

Brandon Marsh
3+ Cetti's Warbler,Sand Martins,2 Redshank,1 Ringed Plover