August 6th 2010

With the weather dull & overcast i didnt go out untill late,having read J.Judges Draycote birding site for Y'day i decided to head over for the 3 Dunlin seen,after a quick walk upto the Outlet the Dunlin were soon found in the company of 2 juv Little Ringed Plovers (but getting photos was a different matter) the birds are great when singular but get multiple arrivals & they seem to be more nervous as was proved today so i had a concerted try for the LRP's instead as it's 1 species ive never really had the chance to photograph properly.....

Little Ringed Plover (Both Juv)






Dunlin (Adult Moulting 6/8/10)


Swallow(juv)



Dunlin (Photos from 4/8/10)

August 4th 2010

With the amount of rain over the last 12hrs i decided to try Draycote hoping that something might have dropped in a full circuit only resulted in 5 Common Sandpiper,1 juv Little Ringed Plover,2 Common Tern,1 Eygptian Goose & a very confiding Dunlin ( 1 of my favourite waders) photo's below

August 3rd 2010

A quick look on Birdguides alerted me to the fact a Cattle Egret was showing at Eyebrook Reservoir,Leics,so a quick run around i collected my camera gear & set off for the bird,within the hr i was soon watching the bird on the far side of the inlet with 5 Little Egret a good year tick but a little distant for good photos

July 31st 2010

With not much about locally or nationally decided to give Draycote a bash after rain showers thru out the night & morning surely something must have dropped in? I was rewarded with a nice adult Sanderling nr Toft (photos below) also seen Yellow Wagtail,6 Common Tern,6+ Common Sandpiper,1 Oystercatcher & Hobby

July 30th 2010

Another quick trip out to Brandon to see if i could get any better photos of the Green Sandpipers (2 birds present)

28th Jult 2010

Kingfisher




Green Sandpiper


An hr spent at Brandon Marsh in the Carlton hide this morning photographing the juv Kingfishers & Green Sandpiper would av stayed longer but gobby turned (tellin poor old max how to take a photo,don't listen Max ur doin fine!!) up ensuring that most things for a thousand yrds buggered off,decided to head off for Draycote water but a massive fuel leak on the car changed all that so limped off to the garage!

25th July 2010

King Eider




Purple Sandpiper



Knot


Common Seal

I was intending to make this trip up north to Filey,N.Yorks with Steve Seal but the weather charts suggested it was going to be poor weather so Steve & myself decided the previous night not to go however finding myself wide awake early i decided to head off anyway,the weather by the way was glorious,sunshine from the time i got there till when i left at noon,the target was the 1st summer King Eider only my 2nd in Britain other birds seen included 1 Purple Sandpiper,10+ Common Tern,Sandwich Terns,Razorbills,Kittiwakes,Knot,Turnstone,Common Eider & a cpl of Whimbrel (heard only)

19th July 2010

Trapped again overnight with about 25 species caught with 1 new for the garden & 1 a new moth for myself highlights being 3 Scalloped Oak,1 Antler Moth,1 Burnished Brass,1 Nutmeg (New)2 Calamotropha Palludella (New for Garden) best of last nights catch below

Burnished Brass



Nutmeg


Calamotropha Palludella


Antler Moth



Scalloped Oak

16th July 2010

White-tailed Plover


Made the long trip down to Kent today to Dungeness for the White-tailed Plover (or Lapwing if U prefer) didn't set off till late as i waited for news on arrival i was soon watching the bird although somewhat distant (I think with the strong winds today most birds seemed to be keeping their heads down)I was hoping for some decent pics but the bird just didnt want to play ball!!! headed over to the nearby Denge Marsh for the Purple Herons (Bogey bird & still is!!) good views of the Great white Egret but missed the Herons several times throughout the day but on the + side according to a local source the warden counted 7 chicks today?!!? other birds seen 4+ Hobby, Green Sandpiper,Mediterranean Gull,Little Egret & Marsh Harrier