Hooray.  Just before breakfast I went and found the Cattle Egret.  It was in a horse paddock along Captain's Lane and showing very well.  The bird me and my mother went to see in Fretherne was very distant and the views were very obscured.  This bird showed well and I got some great looks at it.  A great Staffs tick.

 

 

After feeling great and ready for a days birding yesterday but was stopped by fog, typically today I didn't feel good and the weather was great.  I managed to get to Whitemoor but mainly stayed in watching football.  Me and Jess stopped off at the quarry poll before driving up to the swans.  The birds I saw were :- Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Redshank, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Pied Wagtail, Goldeneye, Pochard, Great-crested Grebe, Ruddy Duck (suprisingly, a new site bird for me), Tufted Duck, Wood Pigeon, and Canada Geese. 

I was kitted up for a good days birding after missing out in the last couple of months.  With the dissapointment of the shrike, I heade for Attenborough to hopefully see the Penduline Tit.  I have been to this site a few times and if you can put up with the general public, the birding here is good.  The drive up was rubbish because it was fog, fog, fog, all the way and the forecast was for it not to get better.  At the site i followed a few birders up to where the tit roosted.  On the way I saw Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Cormorant, Great-crested Grebe, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Blackbird, Coot, Mallard, Grey Heron, Robin, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Reed Bunting and Tufted Duck.  At the reed bed, it was a matter of scanning the reeds and look for any movement.  The bird had been seen earlier but when I arrived it had not been seen for some time.  Scanning the reed beds was as much fun as watching Derby at the moment, and any movement would undoubtedly turn into a Reed Bunting.  After a while a chap next to me spotted the bird.  It was quite a distance away, and the directions he gave where pretty basic.  "Its on top of the reeds over there"?????  Again he piped up that it was showing.  This time a few birders asked for some proper guidance.  This time I got it, my first PENDULINE TIT.  Not stunning views but it was definately the bird.  It showed in the spot for a minute or so until it flew off.  The next ten minutes was the odd birder, me included, getting sightings of the bird over a wide range of thr reed bed.  Again, not stunnining views, just glances.  Then it went quiet.  A large group of birders had changed positions the first time it was seen to get better views on another bank.  News had filtered through that the bird had lifted out of the reeds, flew high up and onto another pool.  I was happy with the views I got a dcided I would go the opposite way and have a look in the hide.  I was confronted with about 8 large brown rats, along with Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Great Tit and Greenfinch.  I got some pics but not brilliant.  I headed back to the car and on the way I added  Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Pheasant, Stonechat and Greylag Geese.  With the weather not improving, I headed home. 

 

 

I was pottering around at home and decided to do a bit of photography from my own hide, the Dunnock Hide.  I came back into the house to have a look at the pager and a Cattle Egret had been seen south of Barton.  I got straight into my car and had a drive around the lanes but I could not locate the bird.  Later on news camr through that it was on Captains Lane.  I had driven down that lane previously but no-one was around. 

Saturday afternoon I watched the mighty Welsh beat Australia in a fantastic game of rugby.  Having lived in Wales for ten years and being in pubs with very passionate fans, I watch the Welsh rather than the English.  Thats the knighthood for me down the pan.

I am writing this early Saturday morning before I set off.  In the words of Baldrick, today "I had a cunning plan".  But in the words of Victor Meldrew "I don't believe it". I am refering to the Steppe Grey Shrike.  Since it has been in the country I have not been well enough to drive.   This weekend was my first chance, and I also took delivery of my new toy, a 500mm lens, so great shots were on the menu.  Unfortunately the shrike was also on another menu, a raptors menu.  It is believed to have been eaten by one as the bird is no where to be seen but feathers are on the site.  Typical.  I hope the raptor chokes on it.  I am now searching for other places to go and a Penduline Tit at Attenborough looks as good as any.  See you later. 

A day off as I have a hospital appointment so I had an early visit to Croxall.  It was my favorite kind of day, Cold, frosty and sunny with plenty of birds.  I walked up to the main hide and saw Mallard, Teal, Redwing, Magpie, Wren,, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Carrion Crow, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Great-crested Grebe, Shelduck, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, and Lapwing.  On to the east side and I added Rook, Grey Heron, Redshank, Starling, and Long-tailed Tit.  Back to the Main Hide and I added Snipe, Canada Geese, and Pied Wagtail. I was hoping to have a look for any Jack Snipe which could be around but there was another chap doing photography so I did not want to upset him.  I was also going to have a go photoing (is this a proper word????) the Goldfinch but I left my automatic thingy in the car.   

 

 

As usual it was off to Whitemoor to see if anything was around.  At the quarry pool there was Lapwing, Starling, Magpie, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow (bet you didn't think these birds could swim did you), Wigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Wren, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull and Tree Sparrow.  Moving on to the rough track I saw , from ther car, Moorhen, Long-tailed Tit, Skylark, Grey Heron and Linnet.  I had a look for the swans on the bend and at first I could not see them.  Then in the far distance I saw a head and it was a Mute Swan, so I set up the scope and scanned through the heads afew times until I saw the single Whooper Swan.  Other birds around were Canada Geese, Starlings, ree Bunting, Blackbird, Jackdaw and Redwing.

Now off to hospital to sit in a waiting room for hours.  Deep joy!!!  

 

 

Todays birding was a double bonus.  The first bonus was that I was doing any birding at all.  The weather forecast was rubbish so I had planned to chill out and do a few jobs, but a break in the weather and a good bird in Staffordshire saw me off in the car.  The second bonus was meeting not one, but two fellow bloggers.  I arrived in the car park and met Kay and Max from Brightside Birding.  Nothing was planned, it was all by accident.  A very nice couple, we walked to the dam in cold, blustery conditions but it was not raining (yet!).  It was not a day to look at every bird but I noticed Redwings, Wren, and Goldcrests up to the dam.  Once at the dam there was a group of birders, at the far end, looking at the same spot.  Lifting the bins, there was a sandpiper looking bird on the wall.  After only seconds of being there, a chap decided he wanted to stroke the bird (a tad exaggerted but you know what I mean), and the bird flew off the wall, down the dam and into a stream flowing away from the dam.  If that was not bad, it started sleeting quite hard.  Within seconds we were soaked and freezing.  Unfortuately we could not tell if this was the Spotted Sandpiper.  Half an hour went by and with a new position, Kay noticed a bird in the stream.  It was looking good.  A few more birders turned up and we all agreed we were looking at mine, Kay's and Max's first SPOTTED SANDPIPER.  All of the waiting in the sleet and cold weather was well worth it.  Then we were joined by Richard Powell from Local Birding for Local People.  We watched the bird around the stream untill a bloke appeared right next to it (see Richards blog for photographic evidence, do you know this chap?).  The Spotted Sandpiper then took off and back up on the dam.  There was then the usual rush to get as close as possible.  We stayed off the bird as it went to the far side of the dam.  We then walked up to the group only for someone to frighten it onto the path.  Everyone got grat views as it fed on the grass path untill a dog walker spooked it to the other side of the dam.  Again the mad dash was on, and again we positioned ourselves on the dam away from the group as the bird was walking to us.  It passed straight by us and we took as many photos as possible.  Once it had gone passed, myself, Kay, Max and Richard decided we had had enough and walked back to the cars.  On the way back I added Black-headed Gull, Cormorant, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Grey Heron, Blue Tit and Chaffinch to the site list.  A tea was much needed in the small, overpriced cafe.

It was great to meet Kay, Max and Richard and I hope we meet up again soon for more birding.  Cheers guys.    

A Spotted Sandpiper has been reported at Tittesworth Resevoir.  I saw it late on Birdguides.  Hopefully it will be there tomorrow.

With things to do and rugby to watch I opted firstly for the water park to try out some photography.  Recently my digi-scope photos have been coming out washy. (Can't think of any way else to describe it).  My thought was that the camera was not making a proper contact on the scope lens therefore light could bounce off the eyepiece and back up the camera lens.  I messed around with a rubber washer, cutting out the middle, and attached it around the camera lens so when the camera and eyepiece came together, the washer would seal the joint.  Results later.  It was a cold day but a nice day and it was not until late morning before I got out.  It was not too busy around the water park and I took a nice slow walk around the lake.  Birds I saw were Moorhen, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Redwing, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Tufted Duck, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Gadwall, Pochard, Dunnock, Wren, Pied Wagtail, Bullfinch, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wigeon, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, and Robin.

Having looked at the photographs I think my bit of rubber has done the trick.  I will put the photos up later.  

 

 

I had a bit of time so I had a drive to see if the Whooper Swan was still around.  Driving up to the area I saw Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Starling, Kestrel, Lapwing, and Carrion Crow.  By eye the swans were difficult to see as they had moved further into the field and deeper grass.  With the scope I could see the heads above the grass as they chewed.  I saw Mute Swan, Canada Geese, and 1 Whooper Swan.  On the way to the quarry pool I saw a female Sparrowhawk in the hedge right next to the car.  We eye-balled for about thirty seconds before I reached for the camera but it flew off.  On to the pool and I added Mallard, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Robin, Goldeneye, Pochard, Great-crested Grebe, Teal and I heard a Redshank.  A pleasant few hours without having to travel miles. 

I am still suffering so it was another trip on the bike.  No beer on Saturday night so I was up well early on Sunday morning.  I got the bike ready and just about to set off then it started raining.  The birding gods were not looking down on me at the weekend.  Saturday till 2ish I was busy then I was going birding.  Saturday till 2ish it was sunny then it rained for the rest of the afternoon.   Up early Sunday and it rained.  By about 7.45 I had had enough so I got on my bike and headed to Croxall.  It was light drizzle but the optics kept getting wet.  I perservered and saw the following.  Fieldfare, Wren, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Canada Geese, Blue Tit, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Teal, Moorhen, Redshank (at least 13 seen), Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Redwing, Great-crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Greenfinch, Mute Swan, Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Dunnock, Cormorant, Chaffinch, Wigeon, Pheasant, Coot and Blackbird were seen on the west side.  On the east side I added Little Egret (2 seen), Rook, Starling, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Jackdaw, Skylark, and Lesser Black-backed Gull. 

 

 

I battled through the ever persistant drizzle and stopped off at the quarry pool.  Here I saw Redwing, Blackbird, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Fieldfare, 9 Goldeneye, Pochard, carrion Crow, Mallard and Pied Wagtail.  From here I biked up the road and along the rough track.  Around this area I added Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Wren, Dunnock, about 200 Mute Swan, about 300 Canada Geese, about 100 Greylag Geese, 1 Whooper Swan and Yellowhammer.  It was difficult to count the swans and geese as they are in tall grass all close together so you cant see them feeding or sitting down.  After that it was a bike back home for a nice big greasy breakfast.

 

 

I wanted to go somewhere else for the rest of Sunday and as the weather was finally picking up, I decided to go on one of my good circular walks.  This walk took me from my house over the A38 to Alrewas gravel pit, walk past the gravel pit onto the National Arboretum and to Junction Pool, then turn left, under the viaduct and up to Catholme, over the fly-over, on to the canal, and walk back to Alrewas.  Around the gravel pit there was Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Pochard, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Mallard, Wren, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Blue Tit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Redwing, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Mute Swan and Great-crested Grebe.  About the usual stuff for this place, but it is always worth a visit here.  In the past we have had Red-necked Grebe, Smew Whooper Swan and wintering Chiffchaff to name a few.

 

 

Onto the arboretum and in particular, Junction Pit or Pool, whatever it is it is usually good depending on the water levels.  Today the levels were high so no chance of any waders.  The birds I saw were Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Fieldfare, Redwing, Kingfisher, Black-headed Gull, Kestrel, Mallard, Wigeon, Coot, Canada Geese, Wren, and Siskin.  Pretty quite. 

 

 

This area is basically a rough track with fields all around.  The track eventually takes you over Catholme fly-over and on to Barton.  Around this area I saw Siskin, lesser Black-backed Gull, Great black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Pheasant, Cormorant, Stonechat, Dunnock, Little Egret, Green Woodpecker, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Kestrel, Mute Swan, Wood Pigeon, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Wren, Fieldfare, Redwing, Skylark and Robin.  There were loads of Fieldfares and Redwings and I had a go at digi-scoping them.  I will put some up (you lucky things), but I seem to get my pictures looking a bit wishy-washy.  I have one idea which I will have a go next weekend but if anyone can help, leave a message.

 

 

When I got over the A38 catholme fly-over, it was down onto the canal and walk through Wychnor.  Birds noted here were Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Chaffinch and Dunncok.

 

 

The last stretch was from Wychnor into Alrewas and then home.  Birds seen around here were Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Wren, Mallard, Wood Pigeon, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Wigeon, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Magpie and Great Tit. 

All in all a good walk with a few birds seen and a few rubbish photos taken. 

I have written this on Tuesday evening.  When I got home Sunday, I had a quite intense headache which lasted about an hour.  The next day (Monday), I got to work and for the first time in nearly a month I could see well enough to drive.  Excellent, but still suffering with headaches though.  Can't wait for the weekend.

 

This is looking like another missed weekend.  Two weeks ago, I would have gone up to East Yorkshire for a days birding and could have had five lifers.  I cannot think what they were now.  This weekend looks the same.  Steppe Grey Shrike, poss Canvasback, Two-barred Crossbill and Red-flanked Bluetail all hanging around and showing.  With no hospital tests coming up conclusive, it looks like my years birding has finished, apart from my few local patches.  Mind you it does stop me going to Chasewater and pretending to looik for Iceland, Glaucous and Caspian Gulls.  What fun I am missing!!!!!

My congratulations go to Alan and Ruth of The Biggest Twitch as they broke the world record for species in one year.  They actually acheived the target on 31st October so I am a bit slow.  Well done guys.

I am going to put some new photos on the blog as I am sure you are fed up with planes by now.

I had a busy weekend, doing various jobs on Saturday and Sunday as well as watching Derby getting robbed by a crap referee and watching Hamilton become World Champion.  I have Monday off as I am seeing the eye specialist in the afternoon so I decided to load myself and my bike and visit Croxall.  It was a bit overcast and damp on site but I saw Canada Geese, mallard, Teal, Wood Pigeon, Kestrel, Great-crested Grebe, Gadwall, Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Wren, Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Tufted Duck, Goldfinch, Redwing, Goldcrest, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Tit, Wigeon, Lapwing, and Carrion Crow upto the Main Hide.  Through to the east side and I only added a Buzzard.  Back towards where I stashed my bike and I added  Pochard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Snipe, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, and Starling.  

 

From Croxall I biked to Whitemoor haye and set my scope up at the quarry lake.  I saw 3 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron,  62 Pochard, 6 Goldeneye, several Tufted Duck, 57 Mallard, 20 Wigeon, Canada Geese, and Carrion Crow.  Frm the lake I biked up to the rough track where I saw a load of Mute Swans grazing last Saturday.  Before I got to them, I found about 300 Lapwing, several Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Starlings, and 25 Golden Plover.  A Blackbird flew across the road on the way to the swans.  I got to the bend and looked through about 200 Mute Swans and found 1 Whooper Swan and a load of Greylag Geese.  After getting a few digi-scope pictures of the Whooper Swan,  I headed off home for my appointment, but added a fabulous Sparrowhawk flying low along the hedge and then onto the road where I lost it.  A Blue Tit also made my list.  Again, I did struggle with my sight but it was a good morning.