I am writing this blog up at 08.19 having done my birding already, reason why in a minute.  I went to top up the feeders in the resevoir but first I thought I would have a look for the Cuckoo which is present in the area.  Boaters tell me they hear it most mornings and I heard it the other morning.  I was just hoping it was close and could be photographed.  I got my gear out but couldn't find my field glasses.  Strange, until I remembered hanging them on a post at Whitemoor yesterday and cannot picking them up.  Ooops.  I had a quick look for the Cuckoo but no luck and without my bins I felt pretty useless.  Birds I saw and heard were Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Mallard, Chaffinch, and Common Whitethroat.

 

 

I got to the quarry pool hoping the bins were hanging on the post and guess what, they had gone.  No suprise, so I got the scope out, had a quick look and gave up.  The birds I saw were Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Mallard, Lapwing, Skylark, Starling, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush and Linnet.  So now its off to Middleton to spend lots of money I dont have.   I am an idiot and I hope the finder enjoys their new Hawke bins.  With the forecast also very warm for today, I will be seeking the shade of the lounge as me and heat dont get on well.   

Little birding today for various reasons.  Took the dogs for a walk around Whitemoor and saw Swallow, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Skylark, Chaffinch, Corn Bunting, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Common Whitethroat, Lapwing, Starling, Buzzard, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Swift, Linnet, Stock Dove, Blue Tit, Yellowhammer, Yellow Wagtail, Red-legged Partridge, Great Tit, Moorhen and Kestrel.  At the quarry pool I added Black-headed Gull and a sleeping duck which turned out to be a Ruddy Shelduck.  I could only see the back and rump and it was distant but I was pretty sure of my ID.

Had other things to do over weekend so been a bit slack on the birding front.  On the good side though, feeling better and hopefully going to spread my wings and go a little further field this coming weekend, but first today.  I was on dog walking duties so Whitemoor it was as the first destination.  Watching the weather I decided to do a bit of birding here and then get a couple of birds, one for life, the other for the year, all this before dinner as it was going to chuck it down after!!!  On to Whitemoor and around the square walk I saw Wood Pigeon, Yellowhammer, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Corn Bunting, Skylark, Magpie, Mallard, Dunnock, Blackbird, Wren, Blue Tit, Linnet, Jackdaw, Shelduck, Tree Sparrow, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Robin, Buzzard, Stock Dove, Canada Geese, Chaffinch, Greylag Geese, Common Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Red-legged Partridge, House Sparrow and Pheasant.  On the way home I stopped at the quarry pool and added Golden Plover (1 in full summer plumage), Common Tern, Pied Wagtail, Redshank and Black-headed Gull.

 

 

Yesterday came news of a Nightingale on this site by the canal.  Unbelievable.  I had planned a trip to go to Paxton Pits to get my life tick this year but I could not make it.  I never imagined one coming to almost my doorstep.  However, reading Richard Powells blog, the chance of seeing this bird was slim.  I was going for it anyway but one problem, I aint seen one or heard one.  No problem for this 21st century boy as I have bird calls on my ipod. Get me!!!!!! Armed with evertything I set off for my intended quarry and lifer.  On the way to the area I saw Pied Wagtail, Great Tit, Mallard, Canada Geese, Great-crested Grebe, Song Thrush, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Tufted Duck, Wren, Chaffinch, Skylark, Bullfinch, Sedge Warbler, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Magpie, Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Cormorant, Blue Tit, Moorhen, Swallow, Starling, Dunnock, Herring Gull, Common Whitethroat, Common Tern and Willow Warbler.  I had been listening to the Nightingale call on my ipod and started walking down the canal towards the lock where it was heard about an hour earlier.  I had no luck hearing the bird and a couple came past asking about the bird which I told them I was not really sure what I was listening for.  They headed up towards the lock and managed to locate it using a recording.  we watched for the next hour and half.  The bird called well and I managed to get an ear in on the bird but it never showed.  Thats the way it goes and I will try and get one next year.  Walking back to the car I added Robin,and Stock Dove.

 

 

A pair of Garganey had been showing on the Canal scrape for the last couple of days, so this was my first destination.  From there I was then to visit all of the platforms before home.  The birds I saw were Wood Pigeon, Robin, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Great-crested Grebe, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Starling, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Rook, Skylark, Shoveler, Gadwall, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Sand Martin, Oystercatcher, Reed Warbler, Common Tern, Cormorant, Canada Geese and Wren.  Well, no Garganey here, and no Nightingale at Branston but it was a good morning out and about local.  Now, back home before the rain.

 

 

Well, bar from a couple of drops of rain, this afternoon was rain and thunderstorm free.  Needing to rest before work tomorrow, i did not venture anywhere but I played ball with my dog and did a bit of back garden birding, clocking what was in the garden and what flew over.  In the garden I saw Starling, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Wren, Dunnock, Great Tit, Goldcrest and Goldfinch.  Birds that flew over the garden were Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Swift and Jackdaw.  Ok, not stunning birding but better than nothing.  Bye for now.       

My energy and enthusiasm levels are very low so I am trying to get out a bit each day and slowly build up.  A Wood sandpiper had been here last weekend but not reported for the last couple of days but I thought I would take a luck.  I visited the three stages and then popped to the canal scrape hoping for said bird.  Ubfortunately it didn't materialise but it was a nice steady walk and I saw the following :- Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff, Wren, Carrion Crow, Common Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Moorhen, Coot, Sedge Warbler, Magpie, Swallow, Great-crested Grebe, Great Tit, Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck, Swift, Reed Warbler, Common Tern, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Mallard, Redshank, Lapwing, Dunlin, Sand Martin, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Little-ringed Plover, Pied wagtail, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Little Grebe, and Green Woodpecker. 

I have just booked my B&B in Norfolk for this Autumn.  I did not go last year as I was giong this week but I obviously couldn't make it.  Really looking forward to it.    

A horrible couple of weeks continue.  I have had to have a week off work as my symptoms started to worsen last Wednesday.  With this and the, seemingly, permanent rain, I have not really been out.  The avid readers in you will have noticed where I have been and what I said about the place.  I should have stated that during the week it is genarally quiet but the weekends are horrible.  Saying that, as I walked down the track, a bloke with two dogs was coming back towards the car park.  He had no control over the dogs and they ran all over the place and pestered me.  Don't know what they would be like with other dogs!  It is these people who this reserve could do without, no control; over their dogs and they should not be allowed on places like this.  Fortunately this was the only problem of the visit and I saw loads of birds, nothing special but lots of species.  Rant over and the birds I got were Sedge Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Canada Geese, Chaffinch, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Magpie, Wren, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coot, Dunnock, Black-headed Gull, Blackcap, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Gadwall, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Great-crested Grebe, Robin, Blackbird, Kestrel and Carrion Crow on the main side.  Through to the east side and I added Rook, Kingfisher, Goldfinch, Pheasant, Skylark, and Sparrowhawk.

I was booked on a fly-fishing day through work.  We met up at Gailey at 08.30 and fly-fished until 2.30.  I caught a big, fat zero but I saw quite a few birds.  Swift - loads of em, House Martin, Mallard, Great-crested Grebe, Chaffinch, Tufted Duck, Black-necked Grebe - two, Mute Swan, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Little Grebe, Common Tern, Wren, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Goldeneye, Coot, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, and wood Pigeon were all present.

Unfortunately the steroids I had last week have not worked properly and I have worsened a little therefore I have a week off to rest so not sure what birding is to come.  Sorry.  

By reading my profile, you would know I work for British Waterways.  Usually my job is on the customer service team (I wont go on about what I do, too much to tell), but I am currently on a secondment to the Enforcement team, walking the canals and taking down information on boaters on my computer. Well thats it in a nut shell anyway.  Today I was walking from Barton Turns to Fradley and I decided to do a list.  I am always on the look out for birds so today I noted what I saw or heard.  The list is as follows :- Blackcap, Swallow, Greenfinch, Mallard, Mute Swan, Wren, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Common Tern, Robin, Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon, Garden Warbler, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat - heard only, House Martin, Coot, Starling, Sedge Warbler, Great Tit, Canada Geese, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat, Dunnock, Lapwing and Chiffchaff.  Thats pretty good going on any reserve.  I suppose the canals are one long reserve.  To add to this, I wrote down the butterflys I saw and they were Green-veined White, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Large and Small White, and 2 Brimstones.  All this and  I was working.  Great.

I had a couple of rubbish days but woke up this morning after the first good nights kip in ages and was feeling quite good.  I took the dogs around the square walk at Whitemoor and I saw Pheasant, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Wren, Tree Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Swallow, Lapwing, Magpie, Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, Robin, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Linnet, Mallard, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Canada Geese, Buzzard, Dunnock, Corn Bunting, Whinchat, and Shelduck.  Without doubt, the bird of the day was a cracking Whinchat.  I have seen them at Whitemoor a few times, but not in the last three years, the last one I saw was in Spain three years ago.  Well made up with this little cracker.  Feeling pleased with myself I headed for the quarry pool and added Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Greylag Geese, Great-crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Sparrowhawk, and Pied Wagtail.  I met up with Martyn of Blurred Birder fame and we had a walk back for the Whinchat which was still showing well.  As every good photographer, my camera was safely tucked up at home!!!!!!!!!!  With things to do, this would be my only birding today but it was really nice to get out.  

Today, this blog is two years old, and in the last year I have had 18,836 hits.  Bloomin incredible.  Thanks to everyone who has read it and keep coming back for more. 

I went straight from hospital and had a walk around Willington to try and up my energy levels rather than go home and just sit.  It was a very blowy place but I was rewarded with a few birds, 2 of which were year ticks.  I visited the three platforms and then started walking to the canal scrape but decide it was a few steps too much.  Here is the list of what I saw, bare in mind in was blowing a hooley so the birds were hiding well.  Starling, Swallow, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Swift, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Wren, Mute Swan, Mallard, Great-crested Grebe, Coot, Common Tern, Sedge Warbler, Dunlin, Canda Geese, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Sand Martin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Common Sandpiper, Moorhen, Lapwing, Gadwall, Cuckoo, Redshank, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin, Blackcap, Magpie, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, and Dunnock.  The Dunlin was a nice summer plumaged year tick and the other year tick was a long overdue Common Sandpiper.  Although I was tiring towards the end, it was a nice, relaxing walk and this could be the best hobby I could have to help my fight against my disease.

 

 

This is cheating really, but i pulled up by the quarry pool, got my stool out and sat ans birdwatched.  I stayed for about an hour, had a small walk around the woody area behind, and then had a drive and scan around the square.  Birds I saw were Yellowhammer, Greylag Geese, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Lapwing, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Blackcap, Robin, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Skylark, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Magpie, Garden Warbler (which i had great views of and wish I had my camera with me), Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Starling, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Grey Partridge, Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Wheatear, Linnet, Buzzard, Dunnock, Swift, Grey Heron, Pheasant, and Pied Wagtail.  Not a bad few hours birding, very enjoyable.     

I am off sick for the week as every day I have to go into hospital and get a drip feed of steriods.  They act as a massive anti-inflammatory hit on the area I am suffering.  Currently my whole left hand side is getting very numb but I am feeling a slight improvement so the drugs are working.  Unfortuanely I am feeling very tired.  However I got my stuff out and walked around Branston Water Park which is only a small walk and saw the following.  Canada Geese, Mallard, Moorhen, Sedge Warbler, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Swift, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Reed Bunting, Great-crested Grebe, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Cormorant, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Cuckoo, Wren, Mute Swan, Carrion Crow, Common Tern, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Swallow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, and Goldfinch.  A pretty good list for a msmall session around the park.  The highlight being the single Cuckoo which flew overhead and over the water park heading in a northely direction.  Just before this, I was having a think where I could go and see one for the year list and this beauty turned up.  Fantastic.

 

 

I thought I would go and have a sit on my trusty stool by the pit pool and see what was around.  I got yellowhammer, Robin, Blackcap, Redshank, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Ringed Plover, Robin, Canada Geese, Wood Pigeon, Linnet, Wren and Chaffinch.  Not brilliant but at least I was out birding again.     

 

I had been asked to do a Dawn Chorus along with Lichfield RSPB leader, Bob Russon.  Although feeling rubbish, me and my mom turned up at 04.15.  It was still dark but there were a few people already there.  On Friday I had 7 people booked in but, suprisingly, by Saturday night, we had 13 in total, plus me and Bob.  It was a pleasant couple of hours, not the best dawn chorus as it was light rain on and off, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.  We walked from the car park, a little down the canal, and then around the resevoir to the bird hide, before going to the cafe for a brilliant cooked breakfast.  The birds we heard and saw were Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Robin, Pheasant, Mallard, Robin, Wren, Canada Geese, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Common Tern (I am sure if we had a raft there, they would breed), Great-crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cormorant, Coot, Swallow, Starling and Tree Sparrow which is nesting in the roof of the British Waterways building.  Again, not brilliant but at least I got out for a couple of hours. 

 

Today (5-5-09), I am going into hospital to be put on a steroid drip.  Hopefully I will be feeling better by the weekend, although I am on call so can only stay local.