20th October 2013

Hadn't really planned anything for Sunday as I'd got the dreaded man-flu but when Archie txt to say that there was a Hoopoe showing well at Annesley, Notts & that he would drive I wasn't going to miss out!!We arrived on site to get the dreaded call that it had flown off but we carried on regardless certain that we would re-find it which we did,with quite a large crowd gathering Darren Chapman & myself left them to it & went to an area where Daz had said it favoured & sure enough the bird came in exactly where he said (Nice one mate) Also had 3 Black-necked Grebe on one of the pits an enjoyable cpl of hours........

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19th October 2013

With news breaking of a Semipalmated Plover in Hampshire during the week I put out a cpl of txts about going sat morning & the seats were quickly filled by Adam Archer & Mike Feely!! We made our way down to Hayling Island & after a few false starts the bird finally flew in giving distant but reasonable views thru the scope before flying off & being relocated on the beach about 5mins drive away! Where the quite large crowd gathered & again had good scope views over a prolonged time although the weather wasn't the best!!! Not the most inspiring bird but a lifer for all 3 of us....

15th October 2013

Went back over to Shustoke for the Arctic Tern & to give my Canon 600f4is a proper try (As I hadn't been so far impressed by it!! compared to my Sigma 300-800) Arrived to find the bird still present but distant within minutes the bird was heading back towards me & I quickly told Max Silverman to get himself into position & get his shots whilst I set my gear up,the bird showed well for the next 1hr or so before spending a lot more time down the other end of the res..........

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.............

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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.............