2007 has been an excellent birding year for me.  I have met lots of new people, seen loads of good birds and been to loads of great places.  In total I have added 25 new species to my life list, now at 274, and I saw 226 species this year.  My life list is not the best because when I started birding, I lived in North Wales and I used to work six days a week and sometimes seven so i was limited.  I moved back to Alrewas at the end of 2005 and it has kicked on from there.  Local birding is my favorite, the main place being Croxall and I have visited there 76 times.  I have been to places like Lincolnshire x2, East Yorkshire x3, North Yorkshire, Wirral, North Wales, Bay of Biscay, Norfolk, Cambridgshire and Suffolk.  Next year I already have a few trips planned and few species I need to get,  and hopefully my main aim is to get my life list to 300.  Well happy birding for 2008 and I will see you next year.  Happy New Year.    

I havn't been here for sometime but thought I would have a walk around.  It is located in between Walton and Catton.  A few years ago it hosted a Great Grey Shrike two winters on the trot so it is always worth a walk around.  Today however produced not a lot.  Redwing, Wren, Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Pheasant, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, and Red-legged Partridge were all present.

I park on the lay-by on the A38 to get to this lake and the field with the swans in, north of Alrewas, is just on the other side.  This morning there were no swans at all but at 13:45 there were 75 Mute Swans.  Back to the gravel pit and I saw Carrion Crow, Magpie, Tufted Duck (31), Little Grebe (2), Black Headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe (8), Coot (9), Lapwing (42), Goldeneye, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Robin, Teal (3), Wren and a Stonechat which I have made my bird of the day (I will go and drop off a hand full of seed as a present tomorrow)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like this place - always busy with walkers but lots of birds and good views of most of them.  It is hard to describe the shape of Branston Water Park but to simplyfy it, picture an egg on its side and flatten the bottom.  With the egg facing left, the car park is a third of the way up the bottom side.  Heading out from the car park to the canal is ther rest of the flat side, turn left and the path follows the top side of the egg to the point.  Then the bottom side of the egg is the woodland bit back to the car park.  Confused now!!!!  Anyway the flat side of the egg and the top side to the point of the egg produced Black Headed Gull, Coot, Robin, Canada Geese, House Sparrow, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Tufted Duck, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Mallard, Pochard, Wren, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Great Tit, Cormorant, Gadwall, Wigeon, Moorhen, Teal, Shoveler, Grey Heron, Fieldfare, Kingfisher and Magpie.  The bottom side of the egg produced Greenfinch, Siskin, Collared Dove, a Sparrowhawk which whizzed through the feeding station scattering Blue and Great Tits in all directions, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Goldeneye and 34 Lapwings overhead.  

Just a quick visit to count the swans with 156 Mute Swans but no sign of the Whooper Swans that I saw at Croxall.  In the same field there was several Black Headed Gull, a 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a flock of about 30 Starlings.  Driving around I also saw Blackbird, Stock Dove, Kestrel, Long-tailed Tit, magpie and 2 Teal on the floods.  I stopped off at the lake and added Great Tit (no it has not developed webbed feet and started paddling, it was in the hedge next to the pool), Mallard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Coot, Goldeneye,and Pochard.  

This is my last days birding of 2007 as I have to do to work tomorrow so I visited a few places today, the first being Croxall.  Canada Geese, Moorhen, Dunnock, Wren and Mallard from the car park.  Teal, Tufted Duck, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Robin, Wood Pigeon and Grey Heron half way along the track.  Then between here and the Main Hide there was an explosion of species.  Goldeneye, Pochard, Wigeon, Great Tit, Fieldfare, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Cormorant, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Coot and Redshank all present.  That really did not leave to many birds to see around the east side, and so was the case with only Rook, Kestrel and Long-tailed Tit added to the list.  The scrape and pool were all but empty with only 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard and Great Crested Grebe and 2 Coot present.  Back on the main side and I added 2 Mute Swans and 2 Whooper Swans which flew over heading towards Elford, and 17 Lapwing. 

Belvide has hosted some nordic Jackdaws (Ihaven't heard of them either).  Steve Nuttal has done an excellent job by finding these and getting some decent photos to show the differences, they have a pale ring around the neck.  To see these birds and other superb photos look at his Belvide blog, address is listed below.  Well done Steve.

I am counting the Mute Swans around the area.  Whitemoor Haye had 139 Mute Swans and the fields just north of Alrewas had 109 Mute Swans and 2 Whooper Swans.

I havn't been able to do a wildfowl count for a few weeks so this was the aim of this visit.

Grey Heron - 3

Wigeon - 152

Mallard - 63

Tufted Duck - 36

Teal -131

Great Crested Grebe - 3

Coot - 5

Moorhen - 5

Pochard - 53

Shelduck - 2

Little Grebe - 1

Goosander - 5

Goldeneye - 2

 

The main highlight was the five Goosander that paid a breif visit to the main lake as i was trudging back to the car.  Other birds seen over the reserve were :- Cormorant, Pheasant, Redwing, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Grey Wagtail, Black Headed Gull, Magpie, Redshank, Lapwing, Rook, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Blue Tit, Starling, kestrel,  and Bullfinch. 

Feeling well I went for a walk around the water park and maybe a bit of digi-scoping.  Unfortunately Boxing Day does something weird to people, they all go for a walk.  Young, old, stiletoes, flip flops, anything, they all decend on various places and walk.  Ok I was in a public place but every where this seems to happen.  Next year on Boxing Day I will go to an island on my own and no doubt a boat full of daytrippers will crash on it.  Anyway back to reality.  The birding was not bad but I didn't do much digi scoping apart from one shot, a Kingfisher fishing from the reeds.  The camera I am using is a Nikon Coolpix 4500 with an attachment made from SRB Griturn.  Unfortuately the scope must not be up to quality as the picture is not brilliant.  Look at Steve Nuttal's pictures on the Belvide blog, same camera, different scope, stunning pictures.  2008 will herald the arrival of a new scope for me I think.  The rest of the birds I saw walking around were Black Headed Gull, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, Mallard, Cormorant, Blackbird, Robin, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Gadwall, Pochard, Wigeon, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Kingfisher, Magpie, Herring Gull, Little Grebe, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Pigeon, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Shoveler.

Drivibg=ing home from Whitemoor Haye I remembered there had been a few Mute Swans in the fields north of Alrewas, before Wychnor, so I had a look and a count and I saw 107 Mute Swans and 1 Whooper Swan.  If you a lucky, I might try and get a photo of it later - bet you can't wait.

A quick visit to see if there were any Whooper Swans with the Mute Swans.  In total I counted 108 Mute Swans but no wild swans.  The Black Swan was still present (have a look at Blurred Birder blog about that swan and other escapees around county - very good).  Other things around included Magpie, Moorhen, carrion Crow, Starling, and Black Headed Gull.  Species numbers were low as I drove round counting the swans.  I did stop off at the lake and had a look.  Redshank - 2, Mallards, Tufted Duck - 20, Wigeon - 52, Teal - 76, Pochard - 17, Goldeneye -1. 

With my back still sore I decided not to do a wildfowl count but to just walk around and see what was about.  Song Thrush, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Goldcrest, Black Headed Gull, Chaffinch, Wren, and Magpie all seen from around the car park.  Walking up to the Main Hide I saw Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Collared Dove, Fieldfare, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Wigeon, Starling, Goldfinch, Pied wagtail, and Dunnock.  Through to the East side and a Kestrel was perched on the gate.  Other birds on that side included Rook, Jackdaw, Shelduck, Grey Heron, and Robin.  Back towards the car and I picked up Great Tit, and Bullfinch for the trip list.  It was very nice to get out after xmas day and being layed out with a bad back.

I will wish all a Merry Christmas. 

Thought I would pop out, stretch my legs and my back, walk the dog and my godson and see if there were any birds around.  There were 124 Mute Swan spread around the site, 1 Redshank feeding on the floods by the quarry entrance, Carrion Crow, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Redwing, Starling, Black Headed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, 211 Lapwing in various fields, the main flock were in the field by Fine Lane with the bird of the day (or birds) 112 Golden Plover.  I put the info on birdguides but they never showed the info.  Fieldfare, Herring Gull, and a single Snipe rounded off the walk.

A Long-tailed Duck has been hanging around this nature reserve for a few days now so I had to get there for a year tick.  After an hour drive I arrived in a industrial estate and found (eventually) a rough road which led to a car park and to two pools.  I statred walking and saw Mallard, Black-headed gull, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Carrion Crow and Blackbird on or around the first pond.  I walked trough a small wooded area which covered one side of the first pool, came across a small clearing with a fishermans staging and the Long-tailed Duck appeared from underwater.  I managed to get my camera out and get a couple of photos before it dived and swam over the far side.  By now I was not feeling very well at all and had a quick walk to the other pond to see what was about.  Teal, Magpie, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Grey Wagtail were all spotted but I didn't stay long as I had an hours drive and was feeling rubbish. 

I took the dog for a walk and armed myself with my bins.  When I go on these walks, I cannot go back home untill I get 30 species.  I saw Blackbird, Starling, Fieldfare, Mute Swan, Bullfinch, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Black Headed Gull, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Cormorant, Pheasant, Greenfinch, Redwing, Goldfinch, Little Grebe, Stock Dove, Mallard, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Coot, Jackdaw, Robin, Grey Heron, Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Snipe, Lapwing, and Kestrel.  34 species I think.....not bad for about one and half hours.

This is another place I should have visited before but never had the chance.  It is a hard place to explain as it is spread over a large area but basically it is a load of pools, and lots of fields and hedgerows.  I had a reason for coming here and it was a Firecrest that has been on site for, I think, about four weeks.  I saw my first and last Firecrest about four years ago in Ellesmere Port of all places, so I thought I would make an effort to see it.  It had been showing down a road called Laundry Lane.  A map and my Tom Tom did not know where it was, so I drove to where the lakes were and hoped to find someone there.  I found a alne with about four cars parked up so I took a gamble and parked up, got my gear, and started walking down.  I saw Great Tit, Black Headed Gull, Wren, Blue Tit, and Robin.  Near the end of this short lane there was a few people including my friend from Croxall, Ken Stamps.  They had seen the Firecrest but it was mobile.  After a bit of searching, one of the blokes located the bird, and in the oak tree there was a Firecrest.  I also saw Goldcrest, and Long-tailed Tit.  The Firecrest soon made a disapearing act and, after a bit of searching for it, it was classed a hiding, so me and Ken decided to walk back up the lane towards the car for another bird which has been seen quite often arounfd here, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  We had a look and found Bullfinch, Fieldfare, Dunnock, and Chaffinch.  I then went over to the lakes, walked round a few and found Mute Swan, Pochard, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Canada Geese, Magpie, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, and Coot.

Have fancied coming to Draycote Water for some time.  Visited it once to try and get a Black-throated Diver but firstly struggled to find the car park (I had been golfing and had no directions, it was a visit by chance), and secondly saw little due to fog.  This time I went armed and dangerous, found the car park, and was going for a particular reason, a Lesser Scaup.  It has been around for some time now and I thought this would be my best oppurtunity.  I was up early and in the car park by dawn.  The resevoir is bordered ny a large dam, and grass/woodland.  The north end seems to be the best place for most birds, and where the Lesser Scaup has been showing.  There was a three quarter mile hike along a long concrete wall to reach Toft Bay in the north end.  On the way I saw Robin, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker from the car park.  Herring Gull, Wren, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-back Gull, Wood Pigeon, Goosander, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Goldeneye, Kestrel, Jackdaw, and Great Black-back Gull.  Once at Toft Bay I stood on the concrete road which goes around the resevoir.  Here I saw Wigeon, Teal, Pochard and the LESSER SCAUP.  It was showing quite well near a flock of Wigeon so I decided to set up my digiscoping gear for some shots.  There were a couple of other birders here as well, one with a video camera and another with a big lens.  The concrete road seemed to be a decent place as we were not scaring any birds and the Lesser Scaup was showing well.  However, as you will see from a photo I took, it was not near enough for the bloke with the big lens and he had to walk down to the waters edge and this pushed the bird out a bit.  Why don't these people listen?If you have seen my Grey Phalorope pictures from Blithfield, I photographed this bird close but I let it come to me - the bird had a choice.  Here the duck did too, and that was to move further away.  Anyway less moaning, more info.  After photographing it, I walked on a little to a small hide and had a look around.  Redwing, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Starling, and Buzzard were seen.  After about an hour and half on site, I decided to walk back and managed to get Rook and Magpie.   

I had just left the British Waterways yard on my way home when I saw a Barn Owl fly up from the road verge.  Proberbly looking for some food.

 

Other news from the pager.

 

A Snowy Owl has been reported near Newark on Trent on the River Trent.  This report has not been confirmed as yet.  Also a Great White Egret has been seen over Ladywalk NR by Hams Hall.  A Firecrest and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker have been reported along Laundry Lane at Alvecote NR near Tamworth.