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

23rd June 2015

Headed down South to Pagham Harbour,E.Sussex for the long staying Hudsonian Whimbrel & the Greater Yellowlegs at Titchfield Haven,Hants 2 very good year ticks having had the showy Yellowlegs in Northumberland a few years ago & Hud Whimbrel at Gwent a long time ago (when it was still regarded as a sub species of Whimbrel) An enjoyable few hrs & 2 mega lifers for Donna (taking her upto 222 Species total & 217 for the year)  Cpl of record shots below..........

14th June 2015

Headed down to Narborough,Norfolk today for the showy Marsh Warbler that had been present a few days, we were on site by 7am & had good views although the weather wasn't the best a good year tick & also my best ever views & another lifer for Donna after a cpl of hrs we headed off to Titchwell & the North Norfolk coast picking up another lifer for Donna 2 Spoonbill also the usual species & a bonus S E Owl............

12th June 2015

A txt of Vince Garvey on Thurs afternoon asking if I was at the bird? had me on tenterhooks a quick txt back inquiring what bird & the response being Melodious Warbler Nr Marsh Lane,W.Mids or VC38 Warks to us County listers...a few expletives made as I was at work till 9pm but luckily I'd booked the Fri off for my birthday (would it stay?) Anyway early Fri morning Donna & myself made the short journey over & even fron a cpl of hundred yrds away I could here the bird singing......... Result a good County bird & lifer for Donna....................

2nd June 2015

A call from John Judge alerted me to the fact a stunning female Grey Phalarope in full summer plumage had turned up at Brandon Marsh,Warks, being on nights it took me several mins to gather my thoughts so a quick shower & a msg to Donna to get herself ready for a unexpected lifer!!! After picking Donna up from Shirley we headed over finally arriving to an already packed hide but none the less superb (If a little distant) views of this stunning bird.... Donna's 214th  species (209 for the year)

30th May 2015

Had a change of scenery today & headed to Gloucestershire for some Butterflies with Marsh Fritillary being the target,we finally arrived at the 1st site after a few wrong turns but were soon rewarded with stunning views a lifer for myself with Donna adding Small Heath & Dingy Skipper to hers after a few hrs we headed over to a cpl of other nearby sites with Small Blue,Forester (Moth) & a stunning Wood Tiger (Moth) something a little different to birds but a fantastic day.............