No this is not a new site, suddenl;y discovered, with breeding and migrant raraties, it is a small feeder resevoir for the Trent and Mersey canal.  It is only a couple of acres in size, with about the same in woodland around the edge.  Myself and another work colleague have taken on the management of this site, and I have built an (at the moment), temporary feeding station.  British waterways are holding a couple of events in the coming months which I am helping with, one being a spring bird walk.  This is mainly for kids at easter so a temporary feeding station has been built.  However, I am trying to get it permanent.  It is not a site for a birding trip, but I decided to spend an hour this weekend photographing whatever was around for a display in the hide.  The birds I saw were Mallard, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Great Tit, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Canada Geese, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow and Grey Wagtail. 

This was the only birding of the weekend as I spent it doing various jobs, as well as being on call for work.  Unfortunately I have a huge pile of lovely smelling cow manure in the back yard that has to be dug into the garden.  Fantastic.

After wednesdays birding, I was left with one bird to chase.  There are a handful of Woodlarks on the chase.  I had a few sites to visit and, for obvious reasons, I will keep the site details quite.  At the first site I saw Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Song Thrush, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Magpie, Robin, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Pheasant, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. No luck there so it was on to the second site and I saw Mallard, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Mallard, Skylark, Blackbird, Woodlark, Robin, carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker and Wren.  As I was listening to a Skylark, out of the corner of my eye I saw a bird in a small tree.  I put the scope on it and it was my target, the Woodlark.  I managed to fire off a few digi-photos before a couple walked past and the bird, plus another Woodlark I had not seen, flew off.  Magic, I was well made up.  

 

I decided to pay a lot more attention to this site than I did on Wednesday.  I parked up by the field centre and spent a couple of hours walking around Tad and Blythe Bay.  the new hides are very good and I was suprised to find a large feeding station.  Nice.  the birds I saw today were Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Coot, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, Shelduck, Scaup, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Great-crested Grebe, Gadwall, Dunnock, Treecreeper, Wren, Black-headed Gull, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, and Long-tailed Tit. 

 

 

The next (and as it turned out, last), port of call was Croxall.  This used to be a nice quite reserve but over the last couple of years it has got incredibly busy with walkers, especially with dogs.  The last couple of visits I have seen dog walkers in the east side which they are not allowed.  I have seen people walking in front of the hide around the pool, and today there were fishermen and a bloke walking around the north side of the main pool with a camera, oblivious to the Ringed Plovers, Redshanks and Oystercatchers that he had scared off.    It would be no suprise when I say iIdid not enjoy this visit and will think hard again before visiting Croxall.   The birds I saw were Mallard, Teal, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Skylark, Black-headed Gull, Goldfinch, Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Rook, Skylark, Redshank, Chiffchaff, Lapwing,

Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Pied Wagtail and Wigeon.  Because of the disturbance, I doubt very much if there will be breeding Little Ringed Plovers on the east side.  What a shame.

 

I had planned for more birding but on the way from Blithfield to Croxall I got one of my headaches which I could not shake off all afternoon, so it has been an afternoon of watching football.  Hopefully I will have an answer to my headaches on Tuesday afternoon.     

I decided to have a day off from work and have a good day over Cannock Chase.  I planned to visit as many places as possible to try and target several birds.  I arrived at 7.00am in a thick fog, and this did not clear untill the afdternoon.  Gutted.  the chance of finding a Woodlark would be even tougher.  With the target birds in mind, I set off and walked quite a few miles covering several areas.  The total birds that I saw in the various places were Magpie, Robin, Green Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Song Thrush, Wren, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Bullfinch, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dartford Warbler, Raven, Skylark, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Blackbird, Great Tit, Woodcock, Goldcrest, Robin, Linnet, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Crossbill, Kestrel, Siskin and Redpoll.  My best bird of the day was the Woodcock.  Strange choice I know but people in the know, now where to get a Dartford Warbler or a Hawfinch or a Woodlark but where can you definately get a Woodcock.  I never saw one last year and was made up when it flew overhead. 

 

 

Because i had my dog, I could only view Blithers from the car park and as I was pretty knackered, I did not walk too far.  I also chose the wrong car park as the sun was low and most of the resevoir too brtight to pick out birds.  I did see carrion Crow, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Great-crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck, Dunnock, Cormorant, Great Tit and Pied Wagtail.  A very half-hearted look at this site I am afraid.

 

 

After a couple of hours at home, I decided to get the last hour of light at the main pool at Whitemoor.  I stayed by the pool for about an hour before a short walk around the lane hoping for the odd different bird.  On the main pool I saw  Corn Bunting, Song Thrush, Wigeon, Redshank, Mallard, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Teal, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Canada Geese, Barnacle Geese. Skylark, Robin, Grey Heron, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow.  Around the lanes I added Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Starling, Kestrel and Moorhen. 

I had a close look at the Barnacle Geese but, with a hazy light, there are only four left and I think the wild ones have gone.

 

A good bonus day with a couple of nice year ticks.  Bring on the weekend.     

On my last report I mentioned that ale would take preference this weekend.  Well I was gutted to learn that I would have to miss the beer festival as I had to make a mercy dash to Wales.  Long story, dont ask.  That was Saturday.  This morning (Sunday), I was at odds as to what to do.  The chase would be heaving, Croxall would have loads of dog walkers and I did not fancy driving to far.  I had heard about the Avocet at Branston gravel pit (note that I am using the correct title everyone) and thought that would be as good as anywhere.  It was a lovely morning at seven am and walking down towards the pools I saw Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Lapwing, Skylark, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Wren, Blackbird, 4 Red-legged Partridge, Robin, and House Sparrow.  On the various pools I added Coot, Teal, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Cormorant, Shelduck, Gadwall, Greylag Geese, Song Thrush, Magpie, Pheasant, Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, Great Tit, Rook, 2 Coal Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Avocet, Shoveler, 6 Redshank, loads of Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper,  Not bad for a start.  I was heading back towards the car when I had a text from Martyn Yapp.  we met up, went back to the Avocet, and then back towards the cars.  On the way back, I also saw Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, Starling and Yellowhammer. 

 

 

With nothing planned, we both decided on Whitemoor Haye for any migrant spotting.  With Sand Martin, Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover coming into the country, this was as good a place as any.  we first scanned the pool and got Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Snipe, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Wigeon, Buzzard, Stock Dove, Oystercatcher and Skylark.  We took a walk around the lanes to spot anything.  We added Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Wren.  Back at the main pool and, after a phone call from the Brightsiders who were heading this way, we decided to scan the pool and wait for them.  We added Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, redshank, cormorant, Barnacle Geese, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Linnet, Greylag Geese, and a White-fronted Goose which Mr Yapp and another birder decided this bird was a Eurasian and not the Greenland bird.  Kay and Max showed up and we had a good luck at the Barnacle Geese.  They seemed to be a bit smarter than the others.  Wild birds verses feral perhaps.

 

 

I do hate been not able to name a site but I have been asked to keep it quite.  It is also quite hard to write about the visit.  I will just write a list of birds that I saw.  Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Robin, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Rook, Black-headed Gull, Wren, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Coot, Pied Wagtail, lesser Black-backed Gull, Moorhen, gadwall, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Oystercatcher, pheasant, Teal, Shelduck, herring Gull, redshank, Mute Swan, Skylark, Starling, Smew, Wood Pigeon, Little Egret, Cormorant, Dunnock, Kestrel, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Greylag Geese, Magpie, Song Thrush, Short-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and Raven. 

I apologise for not giving out any more info and hopefully, one day this site will become accessable.

 

All in all a great day out considering nothing was planned.  Thanks for the company Martyn, Kay and Max.     

A bit of good news to end the week on.  Martyn Yapp (formerly Blurred Birder) has decided to resurect his excellent blog but has chnged the name to Record Shot Birding.  Well done mate, correct decision.  Welcome back. 

After only a couple of beers on a Saturday night, I made the decision to search for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  Success would be amazing, failure would be damaging.  After yesterdays attempt, I decided to get there a bit later so I was on site at 08.15.  Again I headed straight for the northern end, and again, there was a few folk.  A single bird had been showing since 07.00 and was last sen 08.15.  Gutted.  After talking to a few regulars I had a walk around the lake.  Now the next bit I am not making up, it is the truth.  One or two birds were then seen every now and again until I left at 11.00.  If I was south of the lake, the bird was at the northern end.  If it was in the south end, I was looking in the north.  Most of the birders there had views of one flying at least.  At 10.00 I was in the northern area and no-one was around.  Taking a steady walk to the south end of the pool, as I got there at 10.10, the pager went off, "Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Allestree in north end at 10.00".  No-one was there, I was on my own.  How could this have been.  I was with two othere birders at this point and we could see no-one.  I decided to head in that direction and came acroos a single birder.  I asked if he aw the birds and he had just come from that area with no luck, and had not seen anyone.  We were in the area within five minutes and no birders and no bird.  I had had enough and left at 11.00, feeling very dejected and very de-motivated.  Birds I did see were Robin, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Magpie, Blackbird, Canada Geese, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Jackdaw, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tufted Duck, Coot, Greylag Geese, Great Tit, Siskin, Blue Tit, Moorhen, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Treecreeper and Carrion Crow.

I had planned to go and see the Lesser Scaup at Holme Pierrepont and a Green-winged Teal nearby but I had had enough for one weekend.  Fortunately, five minutes into the drive home it started raining so the correct decision was made.  I apologise if you are feeling suicidal after reading the above but this weekend has had a quite negative effect on me.  Possibly fortunately, next weekend, birding will be limited if not non-existant as Friday night is a beer festival and Saturday I am going on a Leo Sayer (all dayer) to the beer festival with some mates from work.  God knows what Sunday has in stall. See yer.  

I have been out and about today and failing miserably, but before I start writing my blog, I want to mention Blurred Birder.  Martyn 'Blurred Birder' Yapp has hung up his blog to dry.  It has been a fantastic read and I am very sorry someone took exception to his comments and have forced him to quit.  when I first started this blog I had a cross word to say about a comment in his blog.  To his credit he apologised and re-worded the comment.  I completely forgave him, replied saying thank you for altering the blog, and now meet him quite often and respect his birding ability greatly.  R.I.P Blurred birder.

 

Now a moan.  I have just come back from Whitemoor Haye.  I was scanning the quarry pool but I also noticed about twelve birders walking around the quarry.  IT IS OUT OF BOUNDS, PRIVATE PROPERTY, NO ACCESS.  I would love to get in there and scan the far pool but I respect the landowners wishes.  One day, a good bird will turn up, a few muppets will get into the quarry and then that will be it.  Please keep out of there and respect the landowners wishes for no access.  

 

Right, down to what this blog is really about, birding.

 

 

For the past week or so, a few Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers  have been present, and as this is my bogy bird, I decided to spend time here to correct it.  I arrived about 7ish and found the lake and headed towards the north end.  There were a few folks there but none had located the birds. I was not sure what to do so I decided on walking around, listening for the call, rather than standing in one place.  By 9.25 there had been no sight nor sound and, because I had somewhere to be, I had departed by 9.30.  the birds I did see were Collared Dove, Blackbird, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Canada Geese, Moorhen, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Magpie, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Mistle Thrush, Tufted Duck, Carrion Crow, Robin, Greylag Geese, Long-tailed Tit, Great-crested Grebe, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Cormorant, Wren, Blue Tit, Siskin, Goldfinch, Redwing and Rook.  

On arriving home, within minutes my pager beeped "Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Allestree Park at 09.30."  This was a blow as I spent a fair while there with no success.

 

 

This is a new site for me,one which I have seen quite regular whilst at work.  It is based near the Ventura shopping park in Tamworth.  It is a pool and the River Tame and grassland.  The birds I saw were House Sparrow, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Carrion Crow, Starling, Moorhen, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Robin and Blackbird.  NNot a bad little site.

 

With the dip of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on my mind, I decided to head home via the main pool at Whitemoor Haye.  I have had a rant, above, so I will not mention that again.  Birds I saw were Lapwing, Starling, Redshank, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Skylark, Barnacle Geese, and Goldfinch.

Two notes of interest :- there were 42 Goldeneye present on the pool, more than I have ever seen together, and the Barnacle Geese, through there leg rings, are the real deal.  I cannot remember where (see Brightside Birding for more detail) but they are true wild ones.  Brilliant. 

After yesterdays flying visits, I was planning a session on Cannock Chase. this all came to a stop when a) I drank lots of beer on saturday evening so had to wait until safe to drive and b) the weather was gorgeous and I thought every Tom, Dick, Harry and birder would be out.  Instead, after a phone call from a known drinking associate (KDA), I decided to walk to Barton to meet up with two kda's at a pub.  Before you start, I was drinking pints of orange cordial.  It was a very pleasant walk.  I took Jess and my camera but nothing was worth photographing.  The birds I saw on route were Wood Pigeon, Starling, House Sparrow, Wren, Goldfinch, Collared Dove, Magpie, Great Tit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Grey Partridge, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Mallard, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Dunnock, Coot, Robin, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Yellowhammer and Jackdaw.  Nice.

 

 

A White-fronted Goose of the Greenland race had been reported at Croxall whilst I was out.  This was interesting for me in three ways:- 1) I did not have a photo of this goose, 2) It would be a site tick, and 3) I had never seen the Greenland race (I think).  I arrived at the car park and it was rammed.  there was a fair few folk come to see the goose.  From the car park to the East Side I saw Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Carrion Crow, Robin, Great-crested Grebe, Pochard, Goldeneye, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Canada Geese, Pink-footed Geese, Wigeon and Pied Wagtail.  The Pink-footed goose was a site tick.  There were two in with the Canada Geese, presumably two from the flock been seen at Elford and Whitemoor Haye.  Onto the East Side and I added Grey Heron, White-fronted Goose Greenland race, Cormorant, and Meadow Pipit.  The goose actually flew in as I was walking around the scrapes, searching for it on the pool.  I took a few photos and made my exit.  Back towards the car I added Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Jackdaw, Redshank, Goldfinch and Wood Pigeon.  In the car park I met Dave Scattergood and as we chatted 4 Shelduck and 2 Goosander flew overhead.  Nice.

 

I managed to get most of the birds I needed to catch up on so now I need to kickstart myself and get out and about, and stop saying the word nice.  See you around.        

I have been pretty slack of late and have missed several birds for my year list.  I decided that today, instead of birding, I would visit site after site for a specific bird.  Not pretty I know, but I needed to start catching up and kick start my birding year. 

 

 

I had to walk the dogs very first thing so Whitemoor was my destination.  There was a slight sprinkling of rain as I was walking around but it was a nice two mile walk.  I saw Canada Geese, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Moorhen, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Skylark, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Wren, Lapwing, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Tree Sparrow, Blackbird, Buzzard, Robin, Starling, Blue Tit, Wopod Pigeon, Cormorant, Great Tit, Black-headed Gull, Kestrel, Grey Partridge, Great Spotted woodpecker, Pheasant, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Collared Dove.  On the way home I stopped off at the quarry pool and added Wigeon, Redshank, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great-crested Grebe, Gadwall, and Barnacle Geese. I was hoping for the Pink-footed Geese but I could not see any.

 

 

This site has been kept a secret on the request of various people.  Several Long-eared Owls have been roosting in a particular bush for some time now.  The identity of the area has been kept hidden due to the nature of the area.  If word got out, they would be in danger for sure. (That does sound really snobbish on my account, doesn't it).  I arrived at the site and did not think they were there.  I was giving up hope when I saw a small shape.  I got my bins on it and there was a Long-eared Owl.  I then found another.  Cracking birds and cracking views and I just feel sorry that not more people can go and visit this site.  However, real ale given in vast quantities could easilt change a mans mind, hint, hint.  Only joking.  Othere birds present were Robin, Canada Geese, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon.

 

 

I popped in here hoping for a white-winged gull or two.  I did not stay too long but I saw Coot, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Skylark, Jackdaw, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Mute Swan, Wood Pigeon and Great-crested Grebe.

 

 

A Black Redstart has been present a couple of weeks so a cross-Brum trip and I was on site.  It is an area of waste land where the bird is staying, and as I got on site there were several birders lying around and the Black Redstart was showing very well for them.  they must have been getting great shots.  I did not bother getting my camera out and joining them but I got a few digi shots before heading off around the corner.

 

 

Yes, i went for the Firecrest once again, and yes, the bird did not appear.  One bloke had been there ll morning with no success. I stayed for about an hour and a half with no luck.  the only birds I saw were Blackbird, Wren, Robin, Grey Wagtail, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Teal, Mallard, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, carrion Crow and Goldcrest. 

 

I was struggling on where to go next.  I had planned Albert Village for some white-winged gulls but, talking to a bloke at Hams Hall, he said the gulls would not be present as the tip shuts early.  That put me in a muddle.  I decided for a drive past, before going home to have some dinner.

 

 

I had driven past this site about two hours earlier coming from Hams Hall.  I had got home, tucked into my fish and chips, and looked on birdguides.  Albert Village Lake had a Glaucous, Iceland, Caspian, and Mediterranean Gull present.  Gutted. That will teach me for listening to others advice.  I nailed my dinner, got my dog and headed up to the site.  Having never been here I did not know wehere to park.  Eventually, i sussed everthing out and I was walking down a hill towards the lake.  There was a group of birders present but I started scanning to find anything myself.  Scanning the big gulls I easily picked up the Iceland Gull.  Looking through, I could not find anything else so I joined the group.  Nothing else was present of note, but a helpful chap, who kept throwing the stick for a happy Jess, had seen a Yellow-legged Gull.  He was going to put me on it and show me how to distinguish one on the water.  Unfortunately it had flown off.  Other birds present were Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Coot, Little Grebe, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Mallard, Common Gull, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Pochard, Skylark, Starling, Wood Pigeon, and Magpie.  This is a cracking site for seeing gull close up and I am going to get to the site a lot more to sort my gull id out.  But I was happy finding my own Iceland Gull, instead of somebody else pointing it out to me.

 

 

With a bit of daylight remaining, I fancied somewhere else.  It was a bit too late for anywhere of note so the Pink-footed Geese were to be sought after.  A drive around added Snipe, Stock Dove and Goldeneye to the mornings list.  Having stopped at several spots for the geese, I ended up looking from the quarry pool.  I got a couple of digi shots of the Barnacle Geese and I did a bit of scanning of the distant fields.  I picked up a group of Canada Geese and then I saw about 6 Pink-footed Geese.  There could have been more but they were so distant.  Another birder stopped by, asking if they were present, and I put him onto them, and he was happy.  A bit of a hectic day, not too much proper birding, but i caught up on a few target birds, and got some good shots of some. 

Hopefully I will use this to kick on with my birding.