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.......

26th July & 27th July 2013

With domestic bits & bobs to do on my day off (Fri) I'd planned an easy afternoon when news broke of a Caspian Tern at Rudyard Lake,Staffordshire a txt from Tom Perrins asking if I'd like to join him after he finished work for the 1 1/2 hr trip north was a no-brainer!! Good views but a little distant for my liking so headed back on the Sat morning only for the bird to again be distant but still a cracking bird for the midlands region & only my 2nd in Britain............

21st July 2013

Had only just got back from Shropshire when a txt asking if I fancied goin upto Lancashire for the Bonaparte's Gull arrived from Archie so arranged to pick him & Jules Allen up & off we set!! As soon as we got to Heysham Power Station we were on the bird but it remained rather distant on the sea before finally coming closer for a cpl of mins by the outflow!! Not brilliant photos but still a nice bird & only my 3rd in Britain & the 1st in Summer plumage.............

20th July 2013

Hadn't got much planned so when Steve Seal phoned & asked if I fancied another crack at the White-faced Darters etc on Whixall Moss,Shrops!! Met up with Steve & Ann at the carpark & made our way up the track to the small pool where we were soon having good views but photographing them was a completely different challenge but after a good few hrs & many horse fly bites we had some reasonable images......

White-faced Darter

Black Darter (Teneral female)

(male)

Common Hawker

14th July 2013

With a cpl of weeks of night shifts out the way I decided to head back up to Shropshire for some pics of the Heath specialities with Large Heath & White-faced Darters & Silver-studded Blues being the targets

Large Heath

Common Hawker

Black Darter

White-faced Darter

Silver-studded Blue

After finishing here headed up to good mate Steve Seals to view some of his Moth trap results with 7 new Moths for myself inc Lilac Beauty,Beautiful Snout,Northern Spinach & Green Arches for photos go to my website!!

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7th July 2013

With the mid summer lull in birdlife continuing I had promised good friend Steve Seal the chance to see his first Golden-ringed Dragonflies & Keeled Skimmer!! After meeting up at Cramer Gutter,Shropshire we were soon having fantastic views of both target species with an added bonus of Steve finding a cpl of Slow Worms (made my day!!) We then headed upto Whixall Moss for Large Heath & White-faced Darter which were duly bagged along with Black Darter,Common Hawker,Brown Hawker & a cpl of Silver-washed Fritillaries! Finally headed over to Prees for the Silver-studded Blues a good day with no less than 4 new species for myself & a good few for Steve & Ann.....