14th October 2013

After the 7hr journey home from Spurn Y'day I decided to stay local today & headed to Shustoke Reservoir not much doing apart from upto 3 Rock Pipit & a confiding 1st Winter Arctic Tern weather was atrocious but still managed to get some pleasing shots.............

More Photos Here

13th October 2013

Had a day up at Spurn, East Yorks with good mate Andy Jones weather was looking rough & wet & have never been a fan of the place but it looked like the most likely place to have a fall of migrants!! We were not wrong with 4 Great Grey Shrikes,3 Ring Ouzel,1 Spotted Flycatcher,Chiffchaffs,Blackcap,1 Garden Warbler,2 Common Redpoll a self found Pallas's Warbler dozens of Thrush mainly Redwing & Song Thrush,Hawfinch,Robins everywhere a good fall of Goldcrest along with good numbers of Gannet & Brent Geese on the estuary with Knot,Dunlin,4 Greenshank,Grey Plover etc!! Not a day for the camera which only came out for 5mins at the Crown & Anchor for a few pics of Goldcrest!! A good day slightly spoiled by a bad accident on the M42 1/2 mile from my Jnc which put 4 1/2 hrs extra onto the journey.............

Shetland Isles 2013

Spent 9 days on Shetland from the 28th Sept - 6th Oct with Jules Allen, Bob Duckhouse & Adam Archer a good week with some good birds with 2 Lifers for myself (Sadly the biggest bird came the day after Archie left for Scilly) Bird of the week (5th for Britain Shetland special) Thick-billed Warbler quickly followed by Eastern Olivaceous Warbler!! Other Highlights inc Arctic Warbler,Common Rosefinch,Little Bunting,Brown Shrike,Pechora Pipit Eastern Subalpine Warbler,Lesser Yellowlegs,Pectoral & Wood Sandpiper + dozens of Yellow-browed Warblers!! Bird of the week for me personally was a self found Long-eared Owl at Quendale whilst looking for Warblers!! Some photos below.............

Pechora Pipit

Long-eared Owl

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Hooded Crow

Eastern Subalpine Warbler

 Little Bunting

Short-toed Lark

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

21st September 2013

A quick trip over to Lincs today with Tom Perrins & Archie Archer for the Blue-winged Teals at Boultham Mere!! 3 Birds present with the bonus of a hunting Hobby & 2 Bitterns picked up by Arch on the far side before taking flight & giving us several good close flight views............

15th September 2013

With the big news being a Great Snipe at Spurn,E.Yorks on the Sat night & speaking to Archie who was wanting to go but not able to drive due to a double hernia op a few days before we made the decision to wait for news on the Sun morning as the weather reports were not good!! A 7am txt saying the bird was showing had me quickly up showered,dog walked & parrot sorted & on my way to pick Arch up! A good run up & we were soon watching this superb bird down to feet which must be the best views ever had of a Great Snipe in this country & best of all a welcome lifer for both of us!!

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9th September 2013

Went back to Alvecote Pools today my 3rd trip in as many days! Still 5 Black-tailed Godwits present but so much more flighty & with the light not very good only stayed an hour or so..............

7th September 2013

Nothing planned after a week of nights but a txt from Adam Archer telling me he had 11 Black-tailed Godwits at Alvecote soon had me gathering my equipment & heading over!!! Showed very well at times but the light was tricky to say the least...........

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2nd September 2013

Headed over to Frampton Marsh,Lincs this morning to meet up with Dean Eades to discuss a trip early next year & to have a look for the Wryneck after setting out from the carpark & getting some general info on the whereabouts we set off! Wasn't long before i picked up the 1 bird on the bank which then proceeded to give us the run-around for most of the day a second bird was also seen in the area which was more confiding but would not come out into the open spending all it's time in deep cover!! A good day for the craic but not for pics..........

25th August 2013

With the weather looking good for a fall of migrants I decided to head for the North Norfolk coast early morning with what seemed like 1/2 the Midlands lads also seemingly having the same idea!! 1st stopwas Gramborough Hill where I was soon watching the 1st Wryneck of the day along with several Wheatear,Whinchat,Pied Fly's & Spot Fly's,then decided to yomp up to Blakeney to trying get away from the crowds adding several more Wrynecks (Probably about 6 altogether) more Whinchat,Wheatear,Pied Fly's,Spot Fly's & Common Redstart as well as other common migrants! A good day with more missed than seen but not every day you get multiple Wrynecks.............

24th August 2013

Headed over to Middleton lakes RSPB today for the long staying Great White Egret,my 2nd visit for this bird & again proved to be rather elusive & flighty venturing both onto Fisher's Mill pit (Warks) all the way down to North Pit (Staffs) managed a few shots but will probably head back for another go! also seen 2 Ruff,3 Curlew,Ringed & Little Ringed Plover.......