Stuffed myself with a B-B-Q on Sunday teatime so went Quail hunting in the evening to walk it off. Mostly the same as this morning with the odd exception.  A Kestrel was hoveringt over the field opposite the lake. Three Shelduck were in the field here the Stock Doves were feeding earlier (about twenty there this evening), a couple of Mallard flew over, and two Lesser Whitethrats were in a bush where the track ends on the corner.  On the way home I stopped off at the lake for a quick look and saw Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Redshank, Ringed Plover and a Pied Wagtail. In the trees behind was the usual Chiffchaff.

Whilst walking around Whitemoor, there was two lads with a Lurcher lype dpg, proberbly after hare. A friend of a friend contacted the farmer but he never showed.  They only legged it after they spotted me, watching them.  Mr Farmer is happy to get rid of birders who are standing and watching birds whilst people illegally hunting are fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Popped to the pub in Barton to see my known associates and on the way back, a Little Owl was on the road but it quickly flew into a nearby tree.

Other news. At Barton GP the Avocet was still showing; also a female Mandarin and a Raven.   

 

It was getting warmer by the hour and so a trip around Croxall before I hunt shade.  A Carrion Crow was having a peck around the lake edge, whilst Oystercatcher, Moorhen, Coot, and Mallard were sleeping under the willow (to the right of the lake viewed from the carpark).  Through the gates an a Common Whitethroat was scratching away. Also near was a Garden Warbler, Wren, and Chaffinch.  Two Great Crested Grebe were on the lake with some Canada Geese.  A couple of Magpies and Wood Pigeon were feeding on the track whilst two Mistle Thrush were disturbed by myself.  Singing and showing in the hedge row were Robin, Blue Tit, and Blackbird.  A Grey Heron was fishing on the far side of the lake with Black Headed Gull over head.  Two Mute Swan on the lake had four cygnets with them.  Greenfinch and Goldfinch were near the railway bridge.  From the East hide I saw Little Ringed Plover (only one today, hopefully thje other is sitting), Gadwall, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail (being chased by a lamb),  and a couple of Buzzards.  A Linnet flew over the hide.  Back on the main lake and two Common Terns were on the raft.  They kept flying away and coming back, always to the same spot and having a sort out before sitting down.  Hopefully they have bred and are sitting.  A few Tufted Ducks were on the lake and a Sedge Warbler was shouting from the reeds.  Too hot for me now so off for shade untill this evening. 

This time last year I heard my first Quail of the year, so fingers were crossed.  7.30am and it was already getting very warm.  A few Swallows were flying low over the rape whilst a Reed Bunting and Common Whitethroat were sitting on the rape by the car park.  In the opposite field were Skylark, Magpie and Carrion Crow whilst Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting were singing near by.  Other birds included Wren, Swift, Wood Pigeon, Linnet and Blue Tit.  On the stubble field (sharp bend on the rough track) there was 15 Stock Doves and a few Starlings feeding. A Black Headed Gull went over and the only other birds around were Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, and a Song Thrush singing near the houses past the microlight field.  Pretty quite all in all.

Have been visiting Whitemoor Haye in the evenings hoping to see or rather hear Quail.  Like most birders, I have heard them but never seen them.  Last year I heard my first Quail on the June 4th so, although I am early, the early bird catches the worm!  On the 28th of May I did the square walk and then the lake.  The usual stuff was around Whitemoor.  These included Reed Bunting, Skylark and plenty of them, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Corn Bunting of which I heard three key rattling, two stunning Yellow Wagtail sitting in a tree, Chaffinch, Linnet, Starling plus there noisy young, Swift, Blue Tit, Wren, Black Headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Dunnock, Cormorant over, Common Whitethroat, Stock Dove feeding in the stubble, Blkackbird, Mallard over, Yellowhammer, and Swallow.  On the lake, I managed to evade the grumpy farmer and saw Tufted Duck, House Martin, Common Tern, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Gadwall, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin and a Turnstone.

On the 29th of May, I didnt go around the lake, but extra birds included Lapwing, Buzzard, Tree Sparrow, Kestrel and Chiffchaff.

On Tuesday 29th May, a Honey Buzzard was reported flying up the Trent and Mersey Canal between Alrewas and Fradley.

To finish with Up the Rams. Sorry you Baggy fans but we are in the Premiership.  Don't now how long for mind, well done Derby.

Poor weather + late night + long day yesterday = chill day.  However, got up at 7 o'clock, not raining so got dog and set sail.  I was hoping for a possible Quail as there have been  a few reports around the country.  They showed up last year but rapeseed has been planted in the fields it favours as opposed to a cereal crop so we will have to wait and see.   A Common whitethroat welcomed me, so did some ever increasing drizzle.  Oh well, carry on.  Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Skylark, Dunnock, and Carrion Crow were showing.  A Pied Wagtail made a fly past along with a Magpie.  Chaffinch and Blackbird were calling.   A group of Tree Sparrow were noisily sheltering in a bush, with a Yellowhammer singing in the background.  A single Corn Bunting was rattling his keys.  Two Canada Geese and three Greylag Geese were foraging in the fields  and a Wren and a Robin were singing around the walk.  Jess upset a Pheasant.  That was it.  Not very good for Whitemoor but the weather was turning from drizzle to rain.  My plan was to take a look over the lake (avoiding the farmer whose mission in life is to keep all birders off the quarry lake), looking for the Turnstones which have been reported over the last couple of days, but rain stopped play.

Quick bit of news for Saturday 56th May - female Falcated Duck reported at Alvecote Pool in the morning, not seen in afternoon but Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser present, presume escaped.

I have never been here before and didn't know what to expect.  It is a perculiar reserve, but an excellent one.  Ity is basically shaped in a T.  At the bottom of the T is a carpark, straight up is the visitor centre which is a big hide.  To the left is three hide and to the right is three hides and they overlook a vast area of reed beds and lakes of differing size and depth.  From the carpark, Chaffinch,Wren, Swift and Tree Sparrow were noted, with Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon and Sedge Warbler on the way to the visitor centre/hide.  I took the path to the left of the T to the hides.  I looked out and saw about six Avocet, which was a nice suprise.  Then I picked up my binoculars, had a look around and there was hundreds of them.  Many were nesting, but some were feeding around the lakes and whizzing past the hides from one pool to the next.  Mixed with them was Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Coot Mallard, Pochard, Lapwing, and Little Grebe.  A Marsh Harrier made an appearance with its talons full of food and then the female appeared and they did a food pass (male flies with the food and the female flies underneath upside down very briefly and they pass the food over).  Whilst watching this, a superb Barn Owl was hunting over the far fields.  Reed Bunting, Swallow, Shoveler, Stock Dove, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Skylark, Pheasant, Greylag Geese, and Robin all showed up in and between hides.  In the farthest hide to the left (cannot remember the name), Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, and Redshank feeding and with them were two Little Stints. Also two Little Gulls were present. Fantastic!!!! Oystercatcher, Pied wagtail, Blue Tit, and Great Tit showing up too. Of to the hides to the right of the T and I picked up House martin, Ruddy Duck, Little Egret, Common Whitethroat, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Magpie, Great Crested Grebe, and Blackbird. In the second hide a Pochard was showing with 7 chicks, all diving even though they looked only a couple of days old.  In the last hide, I again had the Marsh Harrier showing well hunting around the pools.  A superb little reserve, one which I will be visiting again.   

Last year I booked myself onto a Skua and Shearwater boat trip aboard the Yorkshire Belle..  It took us out about three miles off shore looking for Sooty Shearwater, Mank Shearwater, Arctic and Great Skua.  It was a really enjoyable and well organised trip.  It is organised by Rspb at Bempton Cliff.  If you are interested visit www.rspb.org.uk/brilliant or www.eymg.freeserve.co.uk. Or you can phone 012620 850959. It leaves from Bridlington, which is about two and a quarter hours from Alrewas.  This year I decided to go on the Puffin Cruise, and it was fantastic.  I have visited Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs before but when you are on a small boat twnty foot from the face then you appreciate how big the cliffs are and how many birds there are.  In the harbour before setting out, there was Mallard and Herring Gull.  House Sparrow and Starling were food hunting around the prom.  On the sea a couple of Cormorants were drying their wings after a fishing trip, and Kittiwake and juvenile Herring Gull, and Great Black-backed Gull were around Bridlington Bay.  It took about half an hour to go across the bay to get to the cliffs for the first sightings of the breeding colonies. As the cliffs rose, Kittiwakes were nesting, with Fulmars whizzing past and around the boat.  Further along we found both Guillemot and Razorbill in there thousands, chilling out on the sea and also nest building and also sitting.  Then came the Gannet.  These huge birds (especially when then are flying directly over head) were nesting on every available bit of outcrop.  Their nests being constucted of anything from fisherman's nets and ropes to even crisp bags.  They are the Magpie of the sea.  These were very impressive birds gliding with no effort, the odd one diving as streamline as an arrow, and they were all around us.  Amongst all of these birds were proberbly the favorite one, the Puffin.  We came across a good number of Puffins, both nesting in burrows near Flamborough Head, to resting and feeding on the sea, and chilling on the rock ledges.  There is a few Shags nesting around the cliffs and a couple gave us good views.  The odd Common Gull was mixed in as well. On return, I picked out Oystercatcher and Pied Wagtail foraging along the rocky shore line.  If you can stomach a boat trip on the sea (unlike the woman on our boat who was rather unwell for the most), I recommend going on this trip,  as it is well organised, informative, great opportunity for photography, and different. 

Sunday evening, I was chilling after been out most of the day.  My pager was god knows where and rubbish on the tv.  About eight o'clock, I got up to have a drink when I heard my pager bleep.  I decided to have a look what was around.  GREAT REED WARBLER AT CATHOLME GP SHOWING WELL ON AND OFF.  Absolutely gutted.  A well decent bird on my door step and I slobbed out all evening.  Big Lesson.  Anyway, decided to pop up after work, so got out my bike, loaded my gear and got to Catholme.  I suppose these should go down on a "green list".  i have been here before but didnt know where i could go so was suprised when I entered the complex.  The first thing you see or rather hear is a few thousand Black Headed Gull nesting on the islands in one of the pools.  Common Terns were gracing the sky with their dancing flights.  But straight to where the Great Reed Warbler had been spotted on an djacent pool.  Reports going around were that it was seen at four o'clock so about fifteen of us stood on the bank and waited.........and waited. ............and waited.  Whilst this was going on there was Mute Swan, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Reed Bunting, Redshank,and Shelduck sharing the pool.  Wood Pigeon, Swift, Sand Martin, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Oystercatcher, Lesser Black Back Gull, and Herring Gull were all spotted over the lake.  A Cuckoo was calling on the far bank, and a Green woodpecker came flying over.  Upto three pairs of Mediterranean Gull was counted on the islands with the Black Headed Gulls, well spotted whoever it was.  A Wren shouted at me as I walked past a bush on the way home.  But alas, no sign of the Great Reed Warbler.  It will have to wait to grace my tick book.

Well, after watching that FA Cup, I had to make up for wasting an afternoon.  The Rams aint got no problem.  We (Staffordshire Wildlife Trust) had an open day today, trying to encourage younger people into the hobby we love.  As a warden, I stayed in the East hide at Croxall.  At first look out of the hide you would think you would be lucky to see ten birds, let alone ten species, especially now as vegetation is growing quickly.  The key to this hide is patience.  i arrived at the hide about 9.30am.  Before reaching there I had Canada Geese, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Song Thrush, Black Headed Gull, Coot, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Chaffinch, Tufted Duck, and Grey Heron.  Settling down in the hide, I had about an hour and a half before families would be turning up, breaking the silence.  Firstly I hunted the Little Ringed Plover hoping they were with chicks.  Alas no sign however news on this later.  Around the flash was a Shelduck, Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher with 2 chicks, a couple of Redshank (which were very flighty throughout the day), Pied Wagtail, and Starling.  On the main lake was Great Crested Grebe (carrying food to a chick), Canada Geese, Mallard, a lone male Shoveler (female was seen last weekend, hopefully sitting on eggs), and a Mute Swan.  Around the pool and flash , I spotted Wren (which was nest building near the hide), Common Tern, Reed Bunting, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Rook, Skylark, Swift, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit (which is nesting inside a tree), Blue Tit (nesting in a box), Kingfisher, Starling, Moorhen, Treecreeper and a few Magpie.  In all, I had 33 species in about five and a half hours, not bad I think.  On the way back, i saw the Ringed Plover on the main lake with Sand Martin flying over.  And then Robin, Blackbird and Goldfinch before reaching the car.

I fancied watching the FA Cup today - check out the opposition for The Rams next year!!!!!!!!!!  Anyway, stayed local and went to Croxall.  Sunday is an open day so better do a check, ready for the crowds. From trhe car park a Grey Heron was having a kip, a Garden warbler was singing near the entrance, and Moorhen and Tufted Duck were on the pool.  A Mistle Thrush came whizzing over head, heading for the Arboretum.  Up to the hide i spotted Canada Geese, Wren, Coot, Herring Gull over, lots of Swift again, a Song Thrush singing high in a tree, Great Crested Grebe, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, House martin, Common Whitethroat and Swallow. A couple of Mute Swan were on the main lake plus the one sitting on her nest opposite the hide.  A few Greenfinch were busy feeding by the hide.  Through the tunnel Carrion Crow and Rook were feeding on the ground, with a couple of Pheasant.Five plus Common Tern were flying along the river.  Shelduck, Lapwing, Starling, and Redshank were around the scrape.  The pair of Little Ringed Plover were showing but unfortunately no sign of chicks. However I saw her around the nest and she did sit but then got up, had a scratch around the nest, and then flew off to the scrape.  A Cormorant was chilling by the pool, with Goldfinch and Reed Bunting flying around.  A single male Shoveler was on the pool with lots of Canada Geese.  Two Grey Wagtails were spotted to the right of the hide on the mud looking rather smart, also in the same area , a Wren was giving it some and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker was having a feed. A Kestrel was hovering over the fields and then a flash of electric blue and a high pitch call brought the arrival of a Kingfisher to the pool.  Last year produced a Kingfisher on almost every visit, but recently there have been no sightings at all.  Anyway, it was back.  Back on the main pool, I saw twoRinged Plover plus one chick, a Common Sandpiper, and a noisy Sedge Warbler back by the car.  Quite a good list by the the end of short session.  Now for football............. 

A short, but very windy walk along the gravel pit pools was a nice start to the day.  We were greeted with a Chiffchaff and a near to where we park the car.  Walking up the lane produced Wren, Chaffinch, Willow Tit, Swift, and Blackbird. From the first platform were  Coot plus one chick, Cormorant on the island, Black Headed Gull, Sedge Warbler being noisy in the bushes and Oystercatcher and Common Tern on the island.  Carrying on to te secon platform, we (me, my mother and my dog) got a Common Whitethroat.  Off the second platform, directly in front of the spit/island were sleeping Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, and Lapwing.  To the the left of the island, the windy air was full of Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin, and occasionally, the odd Swallow.a few Reed Buntings were climbing up the reeds to let rip with their song.  At the far platform Dunlin were being busy around the little islands, which also held e few Little Ringed Plover. A Mute Swan was behind on the anglers pool whilst a Buzzard was soaring over the far side.  On the way back to the car we also picked up a Robin, followed by a cracking pair of Bullfinch.  Not a bad start to the day even if a little windy.

Back to work this week, hence little birding.  First of all well done Derby, we are of to Wembley and West Brom had better watch out!!!!

Anyway, back to matters in hand.  A bit of bad news followed by good news.  The Little Ringed Plovers have been nesting in between the flash and the lake, and I have been watching them for some time now.  We have had a fair bit of rain lately and unfortunately the nest has been covered by flood water.  I had a look around the flash and located one LRP having a sleep, not a typical busy parent feeding chicks.  I kept looking for the second bird hoping for some chicks but failed.  Hopefully they may be spotted at the weekend but it is not looking good.  However, whilst looking for the LRP I saw the Oystercatcher plus two chicks, great news.  A Common Sandpiper was on the water near the bridge, and hundreds of Swifts were whizzing around the site, some birds flying within a foot of my head.  The Ringed Plover was opposite the hide on the main lake, along with a couple of Common Terns.  On the main lake, activity was very laid back, with a few Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Mallard. 

 

Ok, we were lucky but we will take it. 

Spent a good hour in the East hide and ounted 22 species of bird.  Not bad for that hide.  The Little Ringed Plover was still on the nest with partner feeding by the pool.  a pair of Reed Buntings were nest building near the scrape.  Lapwings were like scud missiles, taking off into the air to rid the Carrion Crows.  Two Redshank were moving between the srape and the pool. Canada Geese were in plenty along with the goslings. Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Rook, were all nesting, single Shelduck, Oystercatcher, and Gadwall were around the pool. Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, and Garden Warbler, dotted around the reserve. A cracking couple of hours for this small reserve.

As it was a nice morning, I decide to drive to Derbyshire, to Lathkill Dale NNR.

A Greater Spotted Woodpecker greated me at the entrance.  Walking along the river, I saw several Dipper, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and a cracking Redstart. I walked for a mile or so and then came back adding Blackcap on the way.

Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Mallard, Swift, Swallow, Jackdaw, Coot, and Moorhen where also seen.