30th and 31st March 2013

With hardly any migrants around locally I decided over the easter weekend to have a crack at the Jack Snipe at Marsh Lane,West Mids, called into the Fishing lodge to pick up my day pass & reserve key then down to the reserve & into Oak hide where Pete Walkden was already stationed!! No sign but after an hour or so the bird appeared briefly showing well before being spooked by a Teal then a Sparrowhawk  which went in after the Common Snipe!!

Nice to get the bird for the Year but it would have to be another trip over on the Sunday! Arrived at the fishing lodge at 9am picking up a pass & key (I would join but i probably wouldn't use it enough over the Year) Arrived in the hide to no sign so i settled down for the cold wait (Very cold wait!!!) Pete arrived about  1 1/2 hrs later & it had only shown very briefly so we sat & patiently waited when it broke cover about 25ft away from us but always slightly obscured,after what seemed like a lifetime it came out into the open! Cracking views the only thing missing was the sunshine (Still can't have everything!!)

4th March 2013

Dropped the car off for its MOT this morning & took a leisurely walk home not expecting to do anything but after getting onto my road I could see the familiar shape of Waxwings in a silver birch by the Aldi store! Put the news out straight away via the networks (Birdguides,FB & numerous txts) & went & got the camera! I was soon joined by Bobby D,Alvin.Burton & Bri Berry where we had fantastic views of 20 possibly 21 with 1 bird stunning itself on a house window & eventually flying off after about 20 odd minutes!!! A nice start to the week & even better the car passed!!!

3rd March 2013

Spent the best part of 16hrs at Ladywalk trying to get the final numbers on the Sibe Chiffchaffs ring to no avail infact only managed a cpl of shots in all that time as the bird is constantly on the move & more mobile in its wanderings managed another letter which narrows the bird down to 1 of 16 (Better than 266!! but still not  good enough) a cpl of shots below

17th February 2013

With another fine day forecast i finally decided to head off to Norfolk for the Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford, I arrived on site at about 10:30 & was soon wathing the bird down to a few feet however the bird remained constantly in the shadows & being stubborn i never really like to go above iso 400 i took a chance on getting any shots at all! (But being less than 2hrs away if it stays I'll be back!!) After spending a good few hours in good company with plenty of people coming & going I decided to head off for the car...... shots below......

After leaving the Dipper & heading for the carpark I noticed a few people looking down the river towards me before realising a Otter was swimming towards me & was soon joined by another,which then performed for the next 20 odd mins sometimes close enough to touch (What a fantastic sight!! & totally unexpected)

16th February 2013

With the weather looking OK & the chance to get a near summer plumaged Great Northern Diver in the bag a couple of calls were made to Steve Seal (Me old mucker from days gone by now residing in deepest Staffs) Pete Walkden & Vince Garvey,with Pete & Vince agreeing to meet on site & Steve driving to mine! A nice steady drive thru thick fog it was looking ominous but eventually the fog lifted just outside Cheltenham to reveal sunshine & a call from Pete saying bird was showing well but flighty,luckily we were nearly there!! Arrived to find Pete & fellow Midlands Photographer Carl Day happily clicking away along with several others soon joining the merry throng!! A good few hours spent togging,laughing & catching up before we departed & headed for home......

29th January 2013

At Ladywalk NR again looking to get more pics of the 3 Siberian Chiffchaff  present i'd managed pics of both the un-ringed birds but not the ringed bird however after getting good views of the said ringed bird & not hearing this bird for definate doubts set in & after consulting with several well known midlands birders inc Alan Dean the consensus is that this bird should be left un-assigned to either Tristis or Fulvescens also ring details have been sent to the BTO but we are missing at least 1 letter & 1 number from the ring so the bird is narrowed down to 1 of 256 birds but rather than bore you with the details it will stay as Chiffchaff sp photos below of the 2nd Siberian Chiffchaff (Update on the ringed bird after hearing the bird for definate on the 7/2/13& 8/2/13 giving classic sibe calls & consulting with A.Dean this bird should be treated as a Fulvescens (Intergrade? or Western Siberian Chiffchaff 1 for the scientists!!) But with 3 birds on site surely a fantastic record inland for multiple sightings!!

The ringed Chiffchaff sp

21st January 2013 - 27th January 2013

With the harsh weather taking a grip it was a case of get out if & when on the 21st a quick trip up Seeswood Pool produces a 1st winter Dunlin on the ice a nice surprise & the 1st for a few years!! next time out was over to Ladywalk NR & nearby Edison Rd on the 26th  for Firecrest & Siberian Chiffchaff also picked up a pale Chiffchaff at the outflow which wasn't calling & whilst it resembles a Sibe it's best left un-assigned to race (Despite the Voice of Hartshill who claims to be an expert on these birds saying otherwise!!) Photos below of the Firecrest & pale bird at Edison Rd along with a Collybita for comparison!!

27th January 2013
Back over to Ladywalk NR,Warks & finally managed some nice pics of the 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs present photos below.............