With the poor visibility around Alrewas, I decided to give birding a rest today, and be ready for a good day tomorrow.  I am on call over night so no drinking allowed and a I will have a fresh head in the morning. 

I would like to say thank you to everyone over the last year for reading this blog.  Since it started on May 10th, 2007, I have had 15388 visitors to this blog. To me that is a staggering amount of hits and I thank everyone.  I have met many more people this year including fellow bloggers Martyn (Blurred Birder), Kay and Max (Brightside Birding), and Richard (local birding for local people), and linked to many other blog sites. 

I have not had the best of years birding wise, missing out onh easy birds like Spotted Flycatcher, Tawny Owl, Great Skua, Sooty Shearwater and Woodcock to name just a few.  The summer was busy for me so birding wa put on hold, and then in the autumn, I had a month were I could not drive.  In that period I missed out on ten lifers I could have got, plus sea watching.  I also decided not to go to Norfolk this year but I am going in the spring of 2009.   

My aim next year is to get over 300 in my bird list, visit new places, and do more birding than ever. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone.

 

Whilst I am writing this, news is coming through that Billy Davies is to become the new Forest manager.  I cannot believe it.   We are sliding big style and Forest are going to be flying.

 

Personally, I hope Derby do not sign Nigel Clough.  I follow Burton as that is my home town and he is doing an amazing job.  If he went to ever went to Derby or Forest (god help him), he will forever be compared against his old man.  There is no way he could live up to that legend.  Stay at Burton Nigel, bring the Brewers to the league.  Up the Brewers.

Dog walking and birding around Whitemoor produced the following.  Magpie, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Lapwing, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Starling, Robin, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Canada Geese, Blue Tit, Black-headed Gull, Linnet, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Fieldfare, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Whooper Swan, Buzzard and Great Tit.  There were good numbers present of many of the small birds, especially Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings which seemed to be everywhere along the walk.  I stopped off at the quarry pool on the way home and added Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Redshank and Gadwall.  The Wigeon were showing particularly well as they were feeding on the grrass quite close in, but a mix of myself and the farmer rounding up his sheep, startled the birds and they all flew into the water.

 

 

After doing a few things, I got out to Croxall for the last hour and half of light.  From the car park I saw Teal, Mallard Jackdaw, Wren and about ten Lesser Redpoll were feeding in the alders.  I was trying to get a photo but they were very active before flying off.  Upto the Main Hide and I added Wood Pigeon, Robin, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Redshank, Moorhen, Wigeon, Pochard, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Grey heron, Black-headed Gull, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Canada Geese.  As I had my new wellies on, I decided to have a look for a Jack Snipe.  This, unfortunately, means walking through the marshy, tufty grass, a good place for Snipe.  I walked, once, through a small area and lifted about 25 Snipe, but never came acroos any Jack Snipe.  The Snipe lifted, made a noise, and then settled further away, and I made sure I didn't upset them twice.  I then continued walking around the east side and added Rook, Meadow Pipit, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Great Black-backed Gull, Pheasant, Magpie and Coot.  On the way back to the car I added Redwing, Goldcrest and Chaffinch.   

I decided to head into Nottinghamshire for a couple of birds.  The first one was a year tick.  A Lesser Scaup has been at this site for some time and I had to get it on my year list.  I arrived at the site and I thought it was going to be a nightmare as the lake is fairly huge.  I started scanning the near shore and almost immediately hit on the Lesser Scaup.  It was a bit of luck as well as it was with a load of Tufted Duck.  It was definately the bird though with the angular peak on the head quite obvious.  Other birds I saw from the site were Coot, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Pochard, Shoveler, Mallard and Lapwing. 

 

29-12-08, Barton in Fabis. 

 

Next on the list was a new bird for me, but a contentious one.  A Ruddy Shelduck has been around the area for a couple of weeks.  I understand that these birds are as plastic as they come, and I have read all of these birds came from escaped individuals but where do you cross the line.  Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Osprey to name a couple have all been re-introduced and somewhere, sometime, surely you have to say they are now wild.  I do not want to cause a huge debate on this issue, just enjoy the bird for what it is.  After walking down the wrong footpath, I eventually found a field full of Mute Swans.  Scanning the field I came acroos the Ruddy Shelduck.  It was quite a nice bird with nice colourings.  I had a go at some photos but have not seen them yet.  Other birds present were Starlings, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Long-tailed Tit, Collared Dove, Wren, Golden Plover - about 25 birds flew overhead, Moorhen, Stock Dove, Mute Swan, Meadow Pipit, Egyptian Geese, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and Robin.

Let the complaints begin although I would be interested in other peoples comments.

This site is just north of Barton, parking down an unnamed lane along Armitage Hill just north of the high school.  By following the footpath, you come across a couple of pools and then over a working quarry.  If you keep going on along this path you eventually come to Branston Water Park.  This is why this place is also known as Branston GP.  Anyway, it was a great morning so I decided to spend a couple of hours and see what was around, possibly hoping for a Smew.  The birds I saw up to the pools were Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird and House Sparrow.  On and around the pools I added Coot, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Teal, Grey Heron, Greylag Geese, Redshank, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Pochard, Canada Geese, Dunnock, Great Tit, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Mute Swan, Rook, Robin, Buzzard, Wren, 12 Curlew, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Cormorant, Long-tailed Tit, Fieldfare, Shoveler, Linnet, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Starling, Stock Dove and Kestrel.  A great list of birds and I really enjoyed the couple of hours here this morning.

 

 

Mid-afternoon (after a bit of shopping), I fancied walking around the Croxall reserve.  It was a bit dull, but from the carpark I saw Jackdaw, Teal, Mallard Pied Wagtail and Wood Pigeon.  Upto and from the hide I added Magpie, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Moorhen, Robin, Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, Redwing, Lapwing, Peregrine, Snipe, Canada Geese, Wigeon, Cormorant, Buzzard and Chaffinch.  I then went to the East Hide and from here I saw........nothing.  Not a dickie bird.  Not worth hanging around here and, after only adding Rook to the list, I headed to the car adding Wren, Bullfinch and a nice Willow Tit, a cracking little bird to end my visit on.

 

 

With little light remaining I decided to have a look across the pool by the quarry entrance.  Birds I saw were Mallard, Magpie, Pheasant, Wigeon, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Goldeneye, Teal, Starling, Linnet and Kestrel.  A large flock of small birds - about 1500 at least - flew overhead as I was packing up.  I could not tell what they were and I followed them with my bins to see if they settled but they headed towards where the pigs are and I lost them.  It was a very good flock and I just wonder what was in them.  A pretty good day, lets see what tomorrow brings.  

I was feeling good today and decided to get out early with the dog.  Crossbill has been missing off my year list for the past couple of years so I 'went a huntin' for the little fellows.

 

 

I have been wondering where this place is for some time and eventually found it.  I had a walk around with my dog and saw the following species.  carrion Crow, Magpie, Great Tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Wren, Fieldfare and Black-headed Gull.  No Crossbills but it was a good walk.  Following the path from the Rifle Range area, I came towards Sheerbrook valley.

 

 

From here to the car park I saw Black-headed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Goldcrest, Carrion Crow, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Kestrel, Grey Heron and Bullfinch.  Not the most impressive of lists from either site, but a good walk.

 

 

There had been sightings of a Hawfinch at a feeding station at Brocton Coppice.  Not knowing where this was, I headed towards Freda's Grave where I know people put out food on a regular basis.  I saw Great Spotted woodpecker, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Bullfinch and Blackbird.  I was now rerady for a drink so it was off to the cafe at Marquis Drive.

 

 

This is a handy place because there are two feeding stations, one for birds and one for homo-sapians.  After collecting my food and drink, I took my camera to the feeding station and had a look what was around.  On the tables there was Nuthatch, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Brambling, Redpoll, Dunnock, Jay and Greenfinch.  A busy little place today with good numbers of most species. 

 

 

I decided to head for Stubbers Green for a bit of gull id.  Not my speciality, but if the gulls were present, it was time for some practice.  After a few wrong turns, I found the place and on arrival a chap told me I was in luck.  Two Caspian Gulls were present.  I saw my first and only Caspian Gull at the beginning of the year at the Chasewater roost.  It was very distant.  He told me where the third-winter bird was and I got on it straight away.  With its long legs, long neck and beady eye, once I had seen it it was pretty obvious and I could find it when it flew off and came back.  The other bird was a second-winter and the chap was saying that although it is a Caspian Gull, there was doubt to begin with due to slight differnces in plumage, but this seems to have been ironed out and it is staying a Caspian Gull.  For more detailed information, look at the Chasewater website.  It is advertised on this blog, just click the link.  I managed to fire off some shots.  Hopefully one will be ok.  It is a very impressive bird.  As usual, I had a look around and other birds present were Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Starling, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Blackbird and Goldfinch.  There was also a strange looking blacky-blue Mallard thingy bird.  I have a photo to show.  Thanks to the two guys I met up there, most interesting.

 

Not a bad day all in all.  Not the greatest of lists but it was nice to get out and enjoy some basic birding.  Mid afternoon turned cold so I was off home to light a fire.

I did go for a walk yesterday but only round the village and the birding was not exactly stunning.  Today I went to Croxall.  I got there about 9ish and from the car park I saw Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Teal and Mallard.  Walking up the track I saw Dunnock, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Robin, Goldfinch, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, Wren, Redshank, Goldeneye, Lapwing, and Black-headed Gull. Onto the east side and there was not much around except for a couple of Pheasants, a single Rook, and a single Stock Dove. Back to the Main Hide and I added Canada Geese, Wigeon, Moorhen, a tailless Grey Wagtail (therefore it must have been a Grey), and a group of 8 Snipe. 

My eyes were playing up so I don't know if I will be going anywhere else today.

Still feeling rubbish but I had to go for a walk and deliver a few cards and presents.  I was then going to walk around the fields and do some token birding.  However, my dog is afraid of gun shots and when one goes off, she legs it home.  I delivered the said stuff and started walking over the back fields when a shot was fired miles away.  End of walk unfortuately.  Birds I did see were Magpie, Collared Dove, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush and Carrion Crow.  Rubbish really.  Will try and get out for a bit tomorrow hopefully.

 

Heres wishing you all a Merry Christmas, I'm off to the pub (for medicinal purposes of cause)!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about the lack of quantity but I have been ill and busy getting ready for Christmas.  I decided to get a walk in around Whitemoor and saw the following:- Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Reed Bunting, Wren, Blackbird, Canada Geese, Mallard, Kestrel, Linnet, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Buzzard, Fieldfare, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail and Sparrowhawk. 

On the 14th of Dec I reported a strange bird.  It was Snipe like but black with a white rump.  Martyn fron Blurred Birder contacted me with a possibility, a Green Sandpiper, and I thought that was a great call.  I saw the bird again today.  It was in the field with the pigs and lifted when a Sparrowhawk upset it and some Starlings.  I saw the bird briefly before losing it behind a pile of dung.  It was very dark but I think Martyn's suggestion is not far off the mark.  I will keep my eyes open. 

What a garbage day, totally rubbish.  I was up at 5.30 for two reasons.  One is that it is my body clock time, and the other is me and my mother were going to pop to Asda (the Alrewas Birder shops at other supermarkets) at Minworth.  I could not believe it when I awoke to rain, and it lasted well into the afternoon.  There have been a few Waxwings around Minworth but I couldn't pick any out roosting through the mist and rain.  The rain eventually turned to drizzle before clearing up mid afternoon and I got the dogs for a walk around Whitemoor before darkness fell.  The birds I saw were Starling, Black-headed Gulls c350, Lapwings c300, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw c300 lifted at one point, Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Reed Bunting, Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow c60, a group of 40 were flying around + 20 singles, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Magpie c22, Goldfinch, Redwing, Fieldfare, Kestrel 3, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Blackbird and Grey Partridge.  Not the best birding Whitemoor has to offer but the numbers of some birds were pretty impressive.

As I am writing this, my throat is very sore and I think a cold (aka Man Flu) is about to burst on to the scene.  What timing. 

I was working on one of the locks around Fradley Junction when I looked up and saw a load of Wood Pigeons flying out of a wood.  The birds did not stop coming and, at a rough guess, there was easily 2500 plus.  What a sight.

Was having a walk along the canal in Alrewas to check the river when I had cracking views of a Kingfisher.  I see them further in the countryside around Alrewas but this was next to the road.

I was not feeling 100 % today so I started off at Whitemoor with my mom and the dogs.  The hedgerows were very busy with birds all the way round, the busiest I can remember for a long time.  My bird list was as follows:- Magpie, Tree Sparrow 6, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Lapwing, Starling, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Linnet c30, Reed Bunting c15, Chaffinch lots, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese, Robin lots, Fieldfare few, Redwing lots, Cormorant 9, Pied Wagtail, Yellowhammer few, Long-tailed Tit good flock + Blue and Great Tits, Dunnock few, Corn Bunting 1, Goldfinch and 1 Kestrel.  Oh yes, and a car well parked in a field with a very young couple sitting inside it asking us to tow them out.  Lots of birds, it was very nice.  Unfortunately I was not up to anything else for the rest of the day. 

I don't like doing this but whilst I was looking through the Lapwing flock, a strange bird caught my eye.  I only had my bins with me but I first noticed this bird flying awayfrom me.  The rump was white  and the bird was black but it was smaller than the Lapwings.  At first I didn't bother, I thought I had seen wrong.  Another scan through the birds as they started flying picked this bird out easily.  It was basically a Snipe but black all over apart from a white rump.  It flew like a Snipe too.  I lost it as it flew towards Alrewas direction but it could have come down anywhere.  I dont usually put anything like this on because it gives me a bad name but both my mom and I saw this bird.  It was too big to put down as an LBJ so I suppose it goes down as the one that got away.

The last couple of weeks, weather wise, has been great.  Frosty in the mornings, cold, but sunny, perfect.  Now the weekend is coming and I am back to full fitness, the forecast is great...............not.  Rain at the weekend.  fantastic.  Will try and get out over the weekend but it is not looking good. 

 

 

Whilst at work, and hard at it too, I was sorting out my truck when I heard some alarm calls from various birds.  Looking up I saw two Sparrowhawks doing what appeared to be a version of the velosaraptor (not too sure on that spelling), attack in Jurrasic Park.  One was stalking a flock whist another scarred the, mainly, Siskins near to the first one.  None appeared to be caught whilst I was watching.   

Is anyone who has a blog with Windows Live happy with their blog.  It has all changed in the last week and bits are missing.  The main bit is the visitor counter.  If no-one is reading the blog, there is no point in writing things.  If anyone knows where the counter is know please let me know.  Mind you I could have no visitors and just keep talking rubbish about anything and anyone and no-one.....................................................................................................

The usual dog walking this morning but after some quite heavy snow showers.  Birds seemed to be a bit less active, couldn't blame them either.  i saw Magpie, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Greater Black-backed Gull, Buzzard, Tree Sparrow, Canada Geese, 102 Lapwing with 2 Golden Plover with them, Mallard, Mute Swan, Chaffinch, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Yellowhammer, Pied Wagtail and Redwing.  I did not have time to scan the pool, maybe later.

 

 

I took my mother out this morning and to begin with, we went to have a look at the Cattle Egret.  We saw one in Fretherne at the beginning of the year but very poor views.  This one was showing very well.  I might get down there again to get some good photos.  Along with the egret was Fieldfare and Greenfinches.

 

 

We decided to go and have a look for the Waxwings up on the chase.  My mom has not seen these for a couple of years and I wanted to go for a walk and possibly some photos of the birds.  When we arrived the single bird was showing on and off.  After about half an hour we decided to go for a walk.  The sun was shining on and off and there was a bit of snow on the ground.,  It was fantastic.  Other birds we saw were Redwing, Magpie, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Fieldfare around where the Waxwing was showing.  A walk further afield produced Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Reed Bunting, Coal Tit, Meadow Pipit and Green Woodpecker.  We walked back to the car and the Waxwings and tripled in number.  I got some average photos before decideing a hot chocolate was in order. 

 

 

After some food, shopping, and dropping my mom and the dogs off, I decided to do a little late afternoon birding.  I went and had a look on the pool which I couldn't do this morning.  I saw Chaffinch, Jack Snipe (new bird for me on this site - 3rd in as many days), Goldeneye, mallard, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebem Magpie, and Carrion Crow.  Waste of time really.  There wasn't 15 birds in total on the whole lake.

 

 

The last hour was spent at Croxll.  With a nice sunset and a threat of snow, i wandered around the reserve.  I saw Black-headed Gull, Teal, Pochard and Mallard from the car park.  Walking up to the Main Hide I saw Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Redwing, Goldfinch, Wren, Tufted Duck, Snipe, Moorhen, Goldcrest, Cormorant, Great-crested Grebe, Carrion Crow, Starling, Grey Heron, Goldeneye, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Buzzard and a Ruddy Duck.  A quick look in the East side and I added Rook and Sparrowhawk.  Back towards the car I also saw Greenfinch. 

 

A pretty mixed bag of birds for the day, with good weather to go with them.

Dog walking duties were the only source of birding on my first day off as I was going family visiting.  It was very cold around Whitemoor but it was fantastic.  Birds I saw were Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Lapwing, Starling, Lesser Blacl-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Tree Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Goldcrest (a possible new bird for me at Whitemoor - two in two days!!!!), Magpie, Cormorant, Wren,Dunnock and Reed Bunting.  I did not have time to get to look at the pool as time was limited but there did not seem much on there anyway.