Golf all day so a quick walk with the dog.  I took my bins but not my notebook as I was not expecting much.  The usuall stuff was around but I had a suprise in the back fields.  It was a sunny morning with lots of bird song and activity.  A couple of birds caught the corner of my eye so i turned to look at it and lifted my bins.  There was a couple of Lesser Whitethroats feeding around this bush and then i spotted two reddish looking birds fly to the ground and then back onto a branch.  Two Common Redstarts.  They were an excellent start to what turned out to be a good golf trip.

Sunny mornings, parents on holiday meant lots of dog walking.  I do a nice walk which takies me out of Alrewas through the back fields to the weir on the River Trent, upstream to Alrewas lock, through the village along the canal to the park, and back home.  There can be some good birds seen, especially out in the fields (as well as good crops of blackberries, some of which are in my freezer). 

20-8-07 - Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Swallow, Collared Dove, Long-tailed Tit, Common Whitethroat, Great Tit, Mute Swan, Black Headed Gull, Goldfinch, Mallard, Carrion Crow, Greenfinch, Lesser Black Back Gull, House Martin, Moorhen, Starling, Pied Wagtail, and Jackdaw. 

21-8-07 - Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, Grey Heron, several distant unidentifyable warblers, Mute Swan, Blch Headed Gull, Goldfinch, House Martin, Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Moorhen, and Mallard.

Decided to spend a couple of  hours here.  Unfortunately it was longer because it absolutely chucked down and we couldn't be further from the car.  Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Mallard were from the car park.   Singing Robins, Swallow, feeding Common Terns, Magpie, Carrion Crow, and Wood Pigeon were along the path upto the first hide.  Moorhen and Canada Geese were added at the hide.  There was two well grown juvenile Common Tern chicks on the raft and there was also another couple on the far bank.  Two younger juveniles were still on the raft.  I just wander if the two on the bank were the first successfully fledged chicks from Croxall.  It would be nice.  Lapwings were dotted around the shoreline.  At the East hide, two Little Egrets were flying around the reserve.  Two Black Headed Gulls were chilling out near the scrape.  Cormorants were feeding on the lake.  A Sparrowhawk flew acrooss the lake, wwile a Kestrel was hunting over the meadows.  A small group of Goldfinch were flying around near the hide.  A possible Buzzard lifted from some nearby trees and flew right to left before going out of site.  There was three of us in the hide and this bird seemed to cause a bit of head scratching.  it seemed to be a larger bird than a Buzzard (hard to tell with no comparison but there are always  Buzzards around and gut feeling told us it looked bigger).  There was also a light patch on the right wing.  I thought it could have been a tag, but another person in the hide said it was a yellow wing patch on the upper wing.  We sort of aggreed it wasd possibly a juvenile Buzzard but we were still thinking about it for some time.  After a couple of hours in the hide it was chucking down so we had to leg it to the car, the worst weather coming as we walked along the track.  Fantastic!

Other birds seen on that day was a Garden Warbler by the tunnel.

 

Late news.  A Marsh Harrier was seen on 7-8-07 from the East hide.  It lingered for a few minutes, enough for the spotter to get a positive ID.  Nice one

First of all I will return the thanks to Martyn the Blurred Birder for linking my site to his, and welcome any readers who visit through it.

SLAVONIAN GREBE AT CHASEWATER was the message on the pager saturday evening so up early and off for a long search.  Not a lifer for me but it would be a Staffs tick.  For anyone who doesn't know Chasewater, it is a large canal feeder covering about 250 acres.  There is usually a lot of disturbance during the day (one of which I will rant about later), but it still attracts some good birds.  There is a large Gull roost in the winter months with Iceland, Glaucous, and Caspian Gull most evenings.  Recently a Snow Bunting showed well on the South Shore and up to three Great Northern Divers lingered for a few weeks. 

back to the day and as I set off anti-clockwise around the lake there was no sitings of the bird as of yet.  The previous day had the bird staying in the north-east corner, with me parking in the south.  Around the building and up to the dam I saw plenty of Swallows, Pied Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Magpie, Mallard, Common Whitethroat, Coot, and Mute Swan.  On to the dam (east side), and there were a few gulls still on the water.  A quick scan and I saw Great Black Back Gull.  Also on the water were a few Great Crested Grebe with their ever growing humbugs.  Along the dam I picked up Carrion Crow, Black Headed Gull, and Wood Pigeon.  Speaking to two birders walking towards me, there had been no sighting of the bird in the north-east corner and that they were off to the north-west corner.  I decided to walk around the north shore, around thge sailing club.  I was expecting to see the little woodland birds, instead I got next to nothing.  Grey Heron, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Blackbird, and Robin.  Not a lot.  On the way past Jeffreys Slag and the pager came to life with news that the grebe had been seen in the north-west corner, right where I was.  A good ten minute scan of the large bay and I picked up a adult Slavonian Grebe feeding near the reeds on the far bank of the bay.  It spent most of it's time underwater but I got some good views in between.  Antway back down the west side towards the car and i got Moorhen, Common Tern, Blue Tit, Great Tit, and a few Lapwing around the water skiing centre. 

Ok, rant time.  Whilst walking down the west side there were about fifteen Mute Swans chilling out about tem metres from the bank, having a feed and a prune.  A boat with a water Ski behind had been whizzing around the lake and it was now heading north along the west bank.  The group of swans were in front of the boat but a fair way away.  a sense told me to look through the bins and as i did the boat drove straight through the middle of the swans , one only just got out of the way, and the skier went around the group with the rope over their heads.  I could not believe my eyes.  Fortunetaly the boat was marked P20. As soon as i had my stuff in the car I drove around to the ski centre and spoke to the person in charge.  He told me he did not tolerate this kind of driving and would sort it out!!!!  Nothing more I could do so I left.  For those who are regular there lookout for boat P20.

Two dog walking sessions around the square :- Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Black Headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Linnet, Stock dove, Canada Geese distant and highlighted against a black stormy cloud, Yellow Wagtail, Kestrel, and Kestrel.  On the lake was Coot 26, Mute Swan 24 + 2 cygnets, mallard, Great Crested Grebe.  There was also a father and son fishing on the far bank of the lake so no chance of any waders (15-8-07).

starling, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Mallard, Collared Dove (a tick for me at Whitemoor), Magpie, Stock Dove, blue Tit, Buzzard, Grey Heron.  Did not have a look over the lake (16-8-07).  

The lack of Swifts recently lead me to walking around my back garden with my neck tilted backwards and i saw two flying through.  Are they the last i will see this year?  What a strange feeling!!!!

Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, and Great Crested Grebe, were around the island.  Upto the hide were the odd Wren, and Blue Tit.  Coots were a plenty along the edges.  I popped into the hide just for a quick chech on the terns and a Grey Heron was perched on a pile of brash on the opposite bank and standing next to it was a Little Egret.  Not very often you can see them next to each other.  Off to the east hide and  Magpie and Carrion Crow were around the fields.  From the hide, Lesser Black Back Gull and Black Headed Gull flew past, whilst a Kingfisher flew onto the Willow tree in front off the hide and began fishing from it.  Unfortunately it perched behind branches so a photograph was out of the question.  Around the hide were Robins and several warblers which again stayed hidden.  A solitary Common Sandpiper was feeding amongst several Canada Geese but no more waders to be seen.  Other birds around were Mallards, Swallows, a  Buzzard, Stock Dove and a Green Woodpecker.  Back at the main hide I counted four tern chicks, three looking more like the parents and one still a bundle of brown fluff but quite large.  I bumped into a couple who counted five chicks on the Friday night. 

Dog walking duties on both days got me Moorhen (which i only saw after nearly hitting it whilst throwing a banana skin into a field), Canada Geese, wood Pigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, starling, kestrel, Lapwing, Common Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Buzzard, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, and Wren (5-8-07).

Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Kestrel, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, carrion Crow, Linnet, Buzzard, Black Headed Gull, Chaffinch, Common Whitethroat, Goldfinch (7-8-07).

After a long day I popped to Blithfield on the way home.  i walked about half way along the causeway hoping for some tern action.  Common Terns were the only ones present from what I could see.  Common Sandpiper, Pied Wagtail, and Ringed Plover were on the causeway.  Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, and Canada Geese were swimming on the resevoir.  Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Stock Dove, and Herring Gull were overhead.  

The walk to the sea was tiring but I didn't want to leave without one more look for the Ibis so I walked to the hide.  This time there had been recent sightings so I sat down and set up the scope.  Within five minute it was showing.  A GLOSSY IBIS was walking in and out of the hidden ditches.  I watched it on and off for about twenty minutes with some very good views.  A great day was now brilliant. 

 Opposite the Marshside reserve was a track which cut through the saltmarsh and to the sea.  About a three quarter of a mile walk led to the sea.  A long walk but well worth it with brilliant views of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Knot, Grey Plover and Redshank, flying along the coastline pre high tide.  Meadow Pipits were common along the walk, with Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Cormorant, Great Black Back Gull, Little Egret, a single Sandwich Tern, Shelduck, Carrion Crow, Peregrine chasing waders, and Swallow.

Armed with a new pair of glasses, I arrived at the reserve after fighting my way through local traffic and cursing my satnav for telling me, about ten miles before the reserve, to turn left for half a mile, turn right for a mile, turn right for half a mile and then turn left back onto the road I turned off earlier.  I knew this because before I was following an ambulance.  When I joined the road again it was miles up the road!!!!!!!!  Anyway I got there.  This place is mainly marsh (hence the name)  there is no access onto the reserve, just a couple of roadside hides and viewing screens.  Quite different from the normal reserve (whatever that is).  Walking to the hide I saw Black Headed Gull, Greenfinch, Black-tailed Godwit, Mute Swan, Mallard, Lapwing, and Starling.  With loads of small pools to look at I headed for the hide.  A Glossy Ibis has been around the reserve for the last few weeks.  Birds present included Wood Pigeon, Little Egret, Coot, Great Black Back Gull, Ruddy Duck Cormorant, Swallow, Canada Geese and Greylag Geese.  A small island outside the hide had a Common Sandpiper feeding around the fringe.  Two Snipe were feeding amongst the reeds and a pair of Oystercatchers  were flying around the reserve.  Waders around the pools included Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, and Ruff.  Small birds were present too -  Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Sedge Warbler and Skylark.  Teal, Tufted Duck and Moorhen fed on the pools, and Kestrel, Herring Gull, and Magpie flew across.  Not a bad list of birds but no Ibis.

Not sure if I have mentioned this site before.  It is a small RSPB reserve on the Wirral near a little village caled Burton.  It only has one hide which seats about fifteen people so it is not advertised.  However, over the last few years it has had some excellent birds.  It consists of three pools with little ponds scattered around, excellent for waders and divind ducks.  Unfortunetaly I left my binoculars at Croxall the previous evening and so i was 'binless'.  From the carpark there was Blue and Great Tit on the feeding station.  I was the first there and opened the hide shutters to reveil a mass of waders.  Most of them were Black-tailed Godwit, about 1500 was the count by the warden, but on closer inspection came a few more birds.  Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Lapwing, Dunlin, Redshank, and Knot were feeding amongst the Blackwits.  Large groups of Canada Geese were on number one pool and amongst them was two Spoonbills.  I saw these from the walk down to the hide but they never raised their heads from being asleep, but from the size they were not egrets.  This time though, one managed to have a yawn and they were obviously Spoonbills.  I have not seen these birds for a few years and this was my main reason to come here.  Fantastic.  Little Egrets were present over on the border pool (named because the Welsh/England border runs through the pool).  Moorhen, Mallard, Coot and Teal were feeding around the pools.  I spotted a small brown bird wading through the reeds at the far end of the main pool.  It was a juvenile Water Rail, quite common here.  In fact another one ran between reeds in front of the hide a bit later on.  Wren, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Swallow and House Martin almost rounded off the list.  Two Green Sandpipers appeared from somewhere just as I was packing up.  Quality.  I am sure I would have had a few more birds if I had Had my 'bins'.  Never mind.  Off to a local place to buy some new ones now.  

From the carpark there was Mute Swan, Common Tern fishing, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Moorhen.  Swallows were overhead and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew out from a nearby tree and called across the lake.  A few pairs of Great Crested Grebe and a few chicks (almost fully grown mind) were around the lake with a couple of Grey Herons, Cormorant, and Lapwing standing gaurd around it.  Blue Tit, Chaffinch, and Wood Pigeon were in the trees.  On the East lake a Common Sandpiper was feeding on the now fully exposed muddy area in front of the hide.  A Kingfisher was using the nearby Willow tree to fish from but the tree was preventing any photos.  Back over at the main lake, a Snipe was feeding out in the open, only a few Canada Geese were on the lake edge, and a load of Starlings were feeding on various grasses.

Other birds reported throughout the day included:- Sanderling, Little Egret, Lesser Whitethroat, Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, and Green Sandpiper.  I make that seven different wadeing birds.  Not bad.

Had a nice evening stroll with the dog around the Whitemoor sqaure and saw the folowing:- Magpie, Swallow, Grey Heron, Common Tern, poss Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Linnet, Carrion Crow, Stock Dove, Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Starling, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Wren, Swift, and Swift.  On the lake was:- Coot, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Tufted Duck.

As you may have noticed I have been putting a few blogs in list format when around Whitemoor Haye.  I am not getting lazy, these are when I walk the dog and I leave my scope in the car and just take out my 'bins'.  As it is quiet around, the bins are all I need, however I will soon be back out with my scope.

Had a quick check on the hides due to a number of youths hanging around along the main track.  All was fine.  Again just a list for you.  Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Common Tern + upto seven chicks, Mallard, Grey Heron, Starling, canada Geese, lapwing, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, and Barnacle Geese.  A chap in the hide also saw two Dunlin.  Hopefully the start of a few waders now we have a muddy shore line once again.

I was on dog walking duties so a walk around Whitemoor on both days did the trick and included some birding.  Nothing much about so will give you the list.

30th = Starling, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Kestrel, Magpie, Swift, Dunnock, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Blackbird, Common Whitethroat, Swallow, and Carrion Crow.  On the lake was Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, and Common Sandpiper.

1st = Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Little Egret, magpie, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Swift, Swallow, Wren, and Blue Tit. On the lake was Mute swan, Little Grebe, Canada geese, Coot, Grey Heron, Mallard, and Common Sandpiper. 

Feeling tired after a morning at Belvide so went for a quick walk.  Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck and Mallard were around the lake with two Oystercatcher on the island.  Several Common Tern were around the pool and on the raft along with upto eight chicks.  Sedge Warbler was singing in the reeds near the hide, and Grey Heron and Black Headed Gull around the edge.  From the second hide I saw Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Cormorant, Starling, Barnacle Geese, Green Woodpecker, and Carrion Crow. 

Another early morning and a forty minute trip to Belvide.  This is a reserve owned by West Midland Bird Club and entry is by permit.  The site is covered by the blog which is descibed under custon list, below my profile.  The guy who writes the blog is an excellent birder who is mad keen about the place (a bit of an understatement as he recently clocked up his 4000th visit)!!!  Anyway a site well worth reading, I do every day.  The reserve is the south shore of the resevoir which is about a mile long (ish), and has three hides.

In the carpark I picked up Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove and Greenfinch whilst putting by gear on.  I always walk to the furthest hide and then work my way back.  Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe were on the shore line.  A Greater Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the trees.  Common Terns were feeding around the resevoir and carrying food back to the young on the reafts (they have had an excellent year so far).  Robin, Carrion CrowChaffinch, Moorhen, Wren, Dunnock, and Blue Tit showed along the way.  Mute Swan, Black Headed Gull, Gadwall, Canada Geese, and Coot, were on the water.  Loads of Sedge Warblers were singing along the way,whilst Swift, House Martin, and Swifts filled the air.  Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Starling, and Song Thrush completed the list up to the hide. Not bad and i haven't got into any of the hides yet.  In the first hide juvenile Goldfinch were with their parents.  Mallard, Lapwing, Ruddy Duck, Pochard and Greylag Geese were around the small island.  A juvenile Blackcap was being fed by its mother.  Two Green Sandpiper flew west over the reserve, thought about landing, and then carried on north west.  A Buzzard was flying around the wood on the north shore.  Down to the next hide and I got Stock Dove, Sand Martin, and a Willow Tit which was on the feeder.  The guy who writes the blog then came into the hide and told us that four Common Scoters were on the lake. He showed us where they were and I got some dodgy photos.  On the way to the last hide and i got some Long Tailed Tits in the willows.  At the last hide I got some better views of the Common Scoter.  A few Cormorant flew over and a Grey Heron was over the back of the resevcoir.  A small feeding station is situated between the last hide and the car park and on there was Marsh Tit and Nuthatch.  An excellent place for a mornings birding.  Well worth a visit if you get a chance. 

A quick look over the pool whilst on the way home got me:- Yellowhammer, Magpie, Canada geese, Great Crested Grebe, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Chaffinch, Linnet, Shelduck, Little Egret, Black Headed Gull, Mute Swan, and  Great Black Back Gull.