Plan for today was to visit a few sites as well as watch the grand prix.  However, I did not bank on the weather!  First of all, the gravel pits north of Barton, south of Branston.  Usually very good and numbers of species today did not dissapoint.  Birds noted were Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Robin, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Linnet, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, chaffinch, Collared Dove, Coot, Mute Swan, Little Egret (3), Mallard, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe (loads + young), Stock dove, Canada Geese, Common Whitethroat, Pheasant, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Gadwall, Teal, Cormorant (125 flew over from Drakelow direction), Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Moorhen, Herring Gull, Green Sandpiper (5), Sand Martin, Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Coal Tit, and Green Woodpecker.

I spent a fair chunk of the morning here so I headed home to watch the grand prix.

 

30-8-09, Dunnock Hide. 

 

With about an hour before the start of the grand prix, I decided to get a bit of work done in my mini reserve.  For those who don't know, I have an area at the back of my parents garden which I have a hide, an area of "anything grows" plants and some feeders.  The area is about 15 feet wide by about twenty feet long.  I leave it to grow all year and then have one clear out about this time of the year when the seeds have fell.  Today was the day.  I got most of it cleaned out but had great fun with all of the mini-beasts in the area.  There were loads of spiders crawling around plus woodlice, earwings and loads of other things.  I have took some before photos and will take some after photos to light up your evenings.  On the bird front, I built the hide in May 2007 and have currently built up a listof 16 species, which aint that bad for such a small area.

 

Just as the grand prix ended, I was about to head out when it started raining, and it didn't stop untill early evening.  Plans out of the window then.

 

 

Finally the rain has stopped so after tea I decided to get out before it gets dark.  I had about half an hour by the quarry pool and saw Mute Swan (2), Stock Dove (2), Mallard (5), Carrion Crow (2), Canada Geese, Starling, Greenshank (1), Meadow Pipit, Black-headed Gull, Swallow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon and Magpie.

 

 

With Whitemoor not very productive, I fancied a walk up to the hide to see if anything was on the main lake.  A walk from the car, a look from the hide, then back to the car (not around the East side as I had my dog), birds noted were Wood Pigeon, Wren, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great-crested Grebe, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Dunnock, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Robin, Magpie, Tufted Duck, Teal and Blackbird.  Looking out from the hide, I had a small shock when I noticed no tern rafts.  Had they sunk?  Had someone swam out and messed with them?  Have they been removed?  Before I headed back to the car I walked to the far end of the pool and found the rafts.  I assume the wind has blown them into the corner, maybe the ropes have broke or something.  Oh well, a bit of a dissapointing day as I had other places I wanted to visit but we cannot help the weather.

 

  

My MS has flared up over the last couple of weeks, due to over work and busy weekends apparently.  I promised the nurse, my boss, and myself a rest this weekend.  A Ring-necked Duck has been seen at this location for a few days now.  It is only in Stoke so I decided to go first thing in the morning.  I checked Birdguides before I went and a mega in the form of an American Black Tern was showing at Farmoor in Oxford along with a White-winged Black Tern.  After a bit of homework I decided a) carry on to Stoke, b) do what nurse and boss were promised, c) the American Black Tern is a sub-species so not a lifer, d) the White-winged Black Tern would be a nice year tick, e) I always stick to never driving far on a Bank Holiday (for reasons I shall keep to myself for fear of retribution). 

 

On arrival Westport (a new site for me), I headed for the south west corner as it had been favouring this area.  A quick scan through the ducks and I soon picked up an eclipse Ring-neck Duck.  That was the easy bit.  The hard bit now was to figure out if it was the genuine article or one from a place such as nearby Rocester.  Following the "bible"* everything seemed to be in place with this bird.  The recent weather were also suitable conditions for an American bird.  As I am one of the worst birdwatchers on this panet, I will not be adding this to my year and county list yet.  I read a comment saying that when it gets its full plumage, the true id might become known.  We will have to wait and see.  I had a walk around the lake and added Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Black-headed Gull, Mallard Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great-crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Chiffchaff, Grey Heron, Magpie, Robin, Wren, Kingfisher, House Martin, Swallow, a single Swift, Willow warbler and Collared Dove.   With a few things to do at home including rest and F1 qualy, the afternoon was probably booked up.

 

* = Collins bird guide, black book.

 

 

I was getting a bit bored after the F1 qualification and decided to go for a walk with my dog, around Willington.  On arrival, the wind was quite gusty around here but I was still confident of a few birds.  The lane upto the platforms is usually alive with birds.  Today was not the case and it was going to be a struggle.  I did the three platforms in turn, with not much on the first two, and the furthest one I hung around for about an hour.  Again not much but it was better.  The birds noted were Robin, Kingfisher, Mute Swan, Coot, Common Tern, Kestrel, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Great-crested Grebe, Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Snipe, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Teal, Greenfinch, Wren and Blackbird.  I was thinking about a new location on the way home ie. Branston gravel pits, but I decidec whilst here, I might as well walk to the canal scrape.  Here I added Canada Geese, Pied Wagtail, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Linnet, Common Sandpiper, Great Black-backed Gull, Bullfinch and an over keen photographer with all the gear but no idea.  He was having a stroll along the far shore line and pushing all of the birds over to my side of the pool.  On the way back to the car I added Stock Dove and Sand Martin to the list.  Home time now to watch Man U v Arsenal.  

 

After the showers came a nice evening so I jumped on my bike and pedalled to Croxall, stuffed my bike in the hedge and went for a walk.  Birds noted were Canada Geese, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Robin, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Mallard, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch, Great-crested Grebe, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Teal, Tufted Duck, Greenshank (2), Black-headed Gull, and Common Tern.  Through to the east side and I added Jackdaw, Rook, Stock Dove, Green Sandpiper (5), Coot, Green Woodpecker (2), and Long-tailed Tit, Heading back to find my bike, along the main track, I added Little Grebe (2) and Blackbird..

A nice evening so I decided to have an hour at Whitemoor, looking over the quarry pool.  Unfortunately it was still very quiet, and the water levels still high.  Birds noted were Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greenshank (1), Robin, Canada Geese, Wood Pigeon, Mallard and Jackdaw. Never mind, still beats watching Eastenders. 

Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper still at Croxall on the main pit (Birdguides).

On last weeks adventures, I mislaid my pager.  I have looked everywhere for the dam thing but no sign.  Not only will it cost me, but I do miss that beep.  On Saturday I was fishing so no birding.  Pagerless, I was unaware of the Wood Sandpiper at Croxall.  Sunday, me and my mother were off to Birdfair at Rutland Water but I was up early and headed off to Croxall to see if the sandpiper was still present.  I had the dog with me so we headed for the Main Hide.  On the way I noted Robin, Carrion Crow, Teal, Lapwing, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Wren, Tufted Duck, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great-crested Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Goldfinch.  From the Main Hide I also added Goldeneye, Black-headed Gull, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Reed Warbler, Common Tern, Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Kingfisher (2), Greenshank (1), Dunlin (2), Ringed Plover (4), Wood Sandpiper (1).  I nearly gave up on the Wood Sandpiper but as I was starting to put my stuff away, it casualy strolled right in front of the hide.

 

 

Although this was not a birding trip, I scanned some of the lagoon from the optics tent, and then we wenmt down to see the Osprey from the road bridge.  Birds noted were Cormorant, lapwing, Mallard, Teal, Green Sandpiper, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Swallow, Little Egret, Pochard, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mute Swan, Magpie, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Wood Pigeon and Grey Heron. 

My plan this week was to try the odd gravel pit for the chance of some wadre pasage.  Bittern (I know, not a wader) - Willington, Wood Sandpiper - cropping up at various places,  weather - pretty sunny.  that was the plan until my work colleague went down with swine flu.  In the last two days I have biked 58 km to cover the work.  Another 20 on Thursday and Friday = severe tiredness, especially in this heat.  Looking forward to Birdfair on Sunday although I have to go to the Birdnet stand and admit that I have lost my pager.  That will cost me a few quid I am afraid.  Never mind.  I have also just booked myself on the Skua/Shearwater cruis out of Bridlinton.  Regular readers will know I go on this most years.  On a good day it is brilliant, on a bad day, forget it.  I might venture out tonight to see what Whitemoor has to offer, but dont hold your breath as the water levels are still high, too high for waders me thinks. 

Another trip down to Ely yesterday, to practice for the fishing match we are in (BW that is).  It resulted in a few fish caught and a destroyed pole due to the very strong wind.  The proper match is on September 5th, when I hope the weather is a bit kinder for fishing.  Today, I had the morning free and now I am currently waiting for the Sky engineer to come and repair Sky which has not worked for several days.  I didn't fancy going to far as I was a bit knackered so, whether I had a green moment or a fitness moment, I decided to mount the scope on my back, bins in the bike saddle and ride the bike to various sites.

 

 

First site and I decided to walk around to the east side, check the hide, then go to the main Hide.  Birds noted were Wren, Grey Heron, Canada Geese, Cormorant (I counted 88 birds flying over together, plus several ones and twos on and over Croxall), Mallard, Reed Warbler, Great-crested Grebe, Coot, Magpie, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Wood Pigeon, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Snipe (2 were flying over the east side flash, and then a bit later there was 8 feeding opposite the Main Hide), Jackdaw, Black-headed Gull, probable Hobby (flying right and away into the sun but jiss indicated Hobby), Rook, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Stock Dove, Kestrel, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Pied Wagtail, Teal, Ringed Plover and Robin.

 

 

A quick bike ride to the quarry pool and I noted  Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Mute Swan, Common Sandpiper, Wren, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Robin, Dunnock  and Linnet.  From here I decided to ride around the 2 mile square road.  I noted Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Mallard, Blackbird, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Whitethroat, Lapwing, Grey Partridge (4), Tree Sparrow, and Starling. I also saw a flock of around 100 birds which included Goldfinch, Linnet and House Sparrow.  They were feeding in the field with the pigs.  Next stop, the arboretum.

 

 

I have not been here for a bit so I used this as a short cut to the Junction Pit and Alrewas gravel pit.  Whilst biking through I saw Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Swallow, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Stock Dove, Cormorant, Coot, and Kingfisher.

 

 

This pit is situated on the National Arboretum but I class it as a seperate site.  It is a couple of pools, about three acres big, and then an area which is half sand/mud and then water.  A bit similar to the silty pit at Branston Gravel Pit.  It is at the far end of the arboretum so I feel it is underwatched big style.  It can and does attract lots of waders gulls, and warblers.  I am thinking of approaching the arboretum and asking if they would consider a screen, or at most, a hide.  It could be a resting place after a good walk, and good to watch whatever is on the pools.  Anyway, birds noted here were Green Sandpiper (at least 5 birds), Lapwing, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Kingfisher, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Cormorant.

 

Alrewas Gravel Pit.   

 

Last site and, again, I have not been here for ages.  Not much present and , after a chat with the local farmer, I headed home for a cup of tea.  Birds noted though were Grey Heron, Moorhen, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, and Skylark.

 

 A very enjoyable morning visiting local sites, and I totalled 46 species.  Now the inevitable long wait for a repair man.   

    

Baird's Sandpiper in Norfolk.  Crane/Stork species in Shropshire.  Collared Pratincole everywhere but Staffs (time yet).  Even a Bittern at Willington GP's nr Derby.  I went to Whitemoor Haye to see not a lot,  and I saw not a lot.  Well it wasn't that bad but it was not brilliant.  I was tempted with Willington but the Bittern has only been seen a few times over the last week or so.  Would be nice to see one this year though.  Back to business and I plonked myself down by the quarry and had a look at what was present and what was passing over and through.  Birds noted were Carrion Crow, Magpie, Canada Geese, Common Sandpiper (1), Chaffinch, Linnet, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Lapwing ( 207), Black-headed Gull, Wren, Collared Dove, Starling, Herring Gull (juv), Ringed Plover (1), Swallow, Mallard, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Snipe (8), Oystercatcher (1), and Greylag Geese.  In amongst the Lapwing there was a wader which I couldn't get the scope on to ID.  I think the lack of waders is down to the high water levels.  It was only the Sandpiper which was by the pool.  All other waders were passing over.  And guess what.......more rain is on the way.

My apologies to anybody who keeps a ckeck on this site often.  I have been away for a few days on a golfing holiday with work (yes, I said golfing), up in south west Scotland.  Before this though, I managed a couple of birding outings (only local though).

 

 

I had an early morning visit before the dog walkers and the "Ive had a big dinner and few pints and need to walk it off somewhere" people verge on the reserve and use it for anything but.  It was a pleasant couple of hours and I noted Reed Warbler, Great Tit, Canada Geese, Coot, Blackbird, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Moorhen, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Common Tern, Mute Swan, Bullfinch, Peregrine, Dunnock, Common Whitethroat, Black-headed Gull, Wren, Rook, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, ChiffChaff/Willow Warbler - showed briefly in the tree next to the hide but could not ID it properley - Blue Tit, Sedge Warbler, Kestrel, Pochard, Teal, Collared Dove, Greylag Geese, Buzzard and Goldfinch.

 

 

My plan was to do a few places locally but, instead I was invited to go and see a band in Burton late afternoon, along with a few beers.  So after a few jobs I decided to take the dog for a walk around the fields around Alrewas.  I noted Wood Pigeon, Greenfinch, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Starling, Mallard and Mute Swan.

 

I drove up to Scotland on the Tuesday morning and arrived at my B & B mid afternoon.  I had a few hours to spare before I was meeting up with some friends and, after looking on several maps, I headed for Mersehead RSPB reserve.  This reserve is situated on the A711 between  Dalbeattie and Kirkcudbright.  As with most of the good birding sites in this area, it is a good place in the winter with ducks and geese. 

 

 

This reserve had two hides and a square walk which took in the coast, dunes and some woodland.  The hides overlook sevberal pools and reedbeds.  Birds noted were Starling, Swallow, Common Gull, Chaffinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Wren, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Spotted Flycatcher, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Curlew, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Canada Geese, Great Tit, Buzzard, Pied Wagtail, House Martin and Grey Heron.  It was a pleasant way to spend an hour.

 

 

God knows how you say it, I will leave it to you.  On the way to meet everyone for the first golf match, I had an hour to spare and between my B & B and the golf course was a big forest with a road running through it.  I decided to do a bit of birding whilst driving, with the odd stop when, and if, necassary.  Dipper has also been seen here regularly.  Birds I noted were Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Herring Gull, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Chaffinch, Jay, Common Gull and House Martin.  Nothing brilliant but a nicer way to arrive at the club house.  

 

It was not a birding holiday so anything I did was a bonus.  In the next few weeks I will have to go the Ely in Cambridgeshire to practice for a fishing match with work.  My first practice match was today (9-8-09), and I have another next Saturday, so birding will again be by chance I'm afraid.