Rather late but I eventually got my derriere up to Cannock Chase to find the stunning Nightjar.  I took my mother and a friend of the family and we got to the spot for about nine o'clock.  From there it was just a matter of waiting.  In the mean time I picked out Yellowhammer, Linnet, Common Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Wren, Carrion Crow and Green Woodpecker.  The light started to fall and the first Nightjar stirred into action.  Five minutes later a single Nightjar flew overhead before disapearing into the scrub.  Then another five minutes later and a second bird started top chur but this was the last action of the night.  It was a little disapointing but it is only my fault for not getting there earlier, however it is another one for the year.

In a fortnights time I have my first free whole weekend.  Although I am on call I am going to try to get some better birding in, I promise. 

I have managed to do a bit of dog walking/birding around Whitemoor.  These two walks were both evening walks after work and was hoping for the call of a Quail but I heard none so I think it is safe to say Whitemoor is now a non Quail site.  Both trips did not include a look around the quarry because of a various reasons.  Here is what I saw.

18th = Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Blackbird, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Swift and Swallow. 

22nd =  Corn Bunting, Jackdaw, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Carrion Crow, Linnet, Blackbird, Mallard, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Whitethroat, Greenfinch, and Black-headed Gull.

Hello all.  June and July birding for me this year is looking to be almost not existant.  This weekend I am working both days.  Next weekend is th Alrewas show which I always work there all day, and then there is a big party afterwards which will no doubt involve lots of real ale.  The next weekend I am also working the whole weekend.  But this does mean I will have four days off owing me and I am thinking about visiting Devon.  Keep reading guys and I will do my best to get out and do some birding when possible.  Cheers. 

With the light fading fast I decided on a quick scan over the quarry pool.  I saw Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Heron, Song Thrush (singing behind), Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Swift, Carrion Crow, Wren and Blackbird.  Unfortuately there was three people with a couple of lurchers trying to hunt the hares.  I have not seen one for months now, they have all been illegally killed.  I have the car reg and will be contacting the police.

Hooray, Iv'e been out birding.  I have finally dragged myself out to watch some birds.  It was a nice evening so I decided on a stroll around Croxall.  Tonight there must have been an insect hatch as there were hundreds if not thousands of Swifts flying around.  I remember experiencing this last year at Croxall.  Some of the birds came within a couple of feet as they flew passed.  I saw Swift, Magpie, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Common Whitethroat, Coot, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Lapwing, Mallard, Sand Martin, Shelduck and Grey heron upto the first hide.  Lokking out of there was pretty hopeless as the sun was low in the sky and the reflection of the water is sometimes blinding.  Through to the east side and I added Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Little Egret, and Wren.  Once the sun had settled enough I sat in the Main Hide and added Great-crested Grebe, Skylark, Redshank, Comon Sandpiper, Teal and Ringed Plover.  

I have finally written The Big Bird Quiz.  It has 100 questions on anything to do with birds.  All you do is send me a pound for the quiz sheet, fill as many questions in as you can and then after a certain period, the winner will recieve 60% of the takings.  The rest of the money will go to second and third place.  There are tough questions as well as easy ones.  If you want a go contact me on welshweasels@aol.com.  If you know your birds you will need this quiz.

My busy schedule continues with a trip to Waddington Air Show.  I am not a plane buff but I do enjoy going to these shows and this one did not disapoint, even though it took two hours of queing to get through the gates.  Never mind.  The highlight of the day was a Vulcan having its first flight after being rebuilt by enthgusiasts.  This plane was never going to fly again but the enthusiasts mange to get money together to get the girl flying again and it was a privalage to watch it flying again.  The Euro Fighter and Spitfire did an 'old - new' demo which I thought was brilliant.  The Vulcan also did a fly-by with a Lancaster.  The Lancaster then teamed up with a Spitfire and a Hurricane to form the Battle of Britain formation.  Living in Alrewas we see this formation quite often as they are always showing over the Arboretum.  Other planes included a Chinook helicopter, Apache Gunship and Tornados.  All in all an excellent day.

Golfing today but I did manage to walk the dogs around Whitemoor and the birds I saw were Wren, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Skylark, Common Whitethroat, Swift, Linnet, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, Jackdaw, Starling, Dunnock, Blackbird, Magpie, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Black-headed Gull and Kestrel.