MAX'S BIRDING DIARY

Another visit to Brandon Marsh.

2012-01-24T03:45:00.000-08:00

I slipped up a bit on Saturday morning by not going after the Night Heron in Atherstone.I was in wimp mode and thought it too windy and wet to go over there.In any case I'd seen the one that visited Earlwood last year but when I saw the shots that Pete Walkden and Dave Hutton got that very morning I was regretting not going over there even though it was an escapee.

I should not have boasted about the pair of Blackcaps that were visiting my back garden because since I did I've not seen them at all.Redpolls are still paying an occasional visit but I have not seen the possible Mealy Redpoll again.

As soon as I saw that there might be a bit of brightness about on Monday I went over to Brandon Marsh.I headed to the Baldwin hide first but it was very quiet with only a couple of Goldeneye showing in the distance.A Great Crested Grebe did come close to the hide.

Things then livened up a lot when a pair of Great Crested Grebes started up a mating ritual.I was keen to watch this so I could pick up some tips to use on the attractive waitress in the cafe later on.Things went well for the male to start with but when he offered the female the "gift" his choice of a rotting leaf did not go down well and she swam off.I think she was after a Mulberry bag at least.

Things went downhill rapidly after that excitement because nothing decent was seen from all the other hides.There was a bit of excitement later on the Swallow Pool where I found a male Goosander.A bit far off for my lens but very nice to see one at Brandon.

Things still a bit poor locally.

2012-01-20T03:33:00.000-08:00

Not only has the weather gone a bit gloomy lately but very little is being reported locally so things on the shot taking front are not too good.

My nyger feeders in my back garden are faring better lately as a couple of Redpolls are feeding there occasionally during the day.Not having any luck so far in getting shots of a pair of Blackcaps that are also paying visits to my back garden the miserable so and so's only come when it's very gloomy.

On Thursday lunchtime I braved the showers and had a quick visit to Marsh Lane.I was pleased to see the ice had gone from the pools but it was still very quiet so no shots.The old lane was more productive but I failed badly to get a shot of the hand full of Yellowhammers in the trees.There were still several Redwings about to point the camera at however one of them didn't take too kindly to this and gave me the evil eye.

STOP PRESS Whilst writing this blog my eagle eye spotted the male Blackcap had come into my garden again.Quite pleased with the shots as it was raining and I had to hang the camera out of a narrow top hung window.

Out with the camera in the freezing cold.

2012-01-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

On Monday morning I was very brave and went out in the bitter cold to Brandon Marsh.I very wisely had put on loads of layers but I soon found it was a bit of a struggle to walk around and don't ask me how long it took to answer a call of nature.

After an hour walking around I'd not used the camera at all but did spot 5 Common Buzzards high above the path from the west marsh to the river hide.Too high for a decent shot but nice to see something.

Most of the ponds were frozen up so there was very little around but a female Bullfinch briefly paid a visit to bushes to the left of the Carlton hide.

After a long walk past the Newlands and the sheep field produced no birds at all I gave up and went home.

After some early morning shopping on Tuesday morning I nipped over to Marsh Lane.If anything it was even colder probably because the sun was very hazy.It didn't take long for my thermals to be penetrated so it was going to be a short visit.

The car park pools was iced up and there were no birds at all in view.The railway pool did have some open water but I couldn't spot anything unusual on show.About a dozen Golden Plovers landed on one of the islands but stayed for one second before flying off.

The channel in the marsh did have some running water and a lone Common Snipe was feeding there so I was able to get some shots.

By now I was frozen solid and had to race home before frostbite set in.

A trip to Dosthill Lakes.

2012-01-14T03:06:00.000-08:00

Keen to go to a site other than my usual haunts on Friday morning I went up to Dosthill Lakes to try for the Short Eared Owls that had been seen there again recently.

Got there at 11.00AM to find a cold but very bright winter's morning.I decided to walk along the bund next to the river but after an hour and a half I had seen no SEO's and had not used the camera at all.However all was not lost because the views across the RSPB reserve from the top of the hill (known as the pyramid) on this crispy clear morning were breathtaking and well worth the walk.Anyone with a powerful scope could sit there and scan the whole of the reserve.

I then retreated back to the car to eat lunch.I had finished my sandwiches and had just poured myself a drink when a couple of birds flying above the bund alongside the river caught my eye.Sort Eared Owls ? As I gabbed the bins to confirm the ID I spilt my drink all over my jeans.Absolutely wonderful!!!!!

Having cleaned my self down and trotted back to the place I'd seen them I was able to confirm that they were indeed SEO's.I was then joined by my friend Andy and we had pretty good but distant views of both the Owls as they hunted along the two westerly bunds and around the pyramid area for the next 30 minutes (1.00 to 1.30 PM).After this they became elusive and were only seen occasionally up to 3.00PM when I left.

If you are a birder and just want to see SEO's this is the place but if you are a photographer and want some good shots the place to go is Hanging Horton in Northants where there are up to 15 and they do come close.At Dosthill you have to be very lucky for them to get close but who cares because they are cracking birds.Here are a few shots take on Friday heavily cropped I'm afraid.

A bit of local birding.

2012-01-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

On Friday morning I shot over to Marsh Lane hoping that the 5 Pintails reported the day before were still on the Railway Pool.

It was a bright morning ideal for getting some shots when I arrived at just after 9.00AM but the Pintails had not stayed.Bugger Bugger !!!!!

I stayed for a couple of hours and visited most of the hides but could find nothing to point the camera at.Even Mr. Reliable the KF did not show.I found out later I made a major mistake in not joining a friend when he went over to the Railway hide because he had great views of a Merlin not too far from the hide.Bugger Bugger !!!!

On Saturday morning I went over to Brandon Marsh and again it was a bright morning ideal for taking some shots but would there be anything around.Luckily for me there was.There were a couple of Whooper Swans on the East Marsh pool.

After that things went downhill rapidly and the only decent bird seen the rest of the morning was a female Goldeneye.

By midday the clouds came rolling in and it became very gloomy so after a cup of tea I gave up and went home.

A quick visit to Marsh Lane.

2012-01-05T06:32:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday morning after I'd done some domestic chores and seen there was a little brightness in the sky I shot over to Marsh Lane hoping to beat the forecast bad weather.

Only one other car in the car park as I entered the car park hide.Couldn't see anything special from here although I did check out the Greylag Geese in case any of the White-fronted reported locally were amongst them but no luck.

Checked out the Northern causeway screen and found this Grey Heron pretending to be a Bittern.What a pity it wasn't.

Soon saw Mr.Reliable (the Kingfisher) but he was in the distance and it did not look happy as another Grey Heron was on the fencing where he usually batters his catch before eating it.

By the time I got to the Oak hide the clouds had rolled in and the wind was getting up.Saw a Water Rail straight away in the marsh but it soon shot back into the reeds when a Mallard arrived.The only shots I got in the gloom were a shots of one of the two Nuthatches on the feeders and one of a Reed Bunting.Pretty poor then.

Racing back to the car park I had another check on Mr.Reliable and it was a good job I did because he came pretty close to the screen and posed for some shots.What a pity that the light by this time was so crap!!!!

A couple of local trips.

2012-01-03T03:31:00.000-08:00

Spent most of Sunday morning down at Marsh Lane with the camera but although there were loads of Geese,Ducks and Gulls around particularly on the Car Park pool I could find nothing special to point the camera at.

The Kingfisher was again seen from the causeway screen but it seems to have found a new perch which is far too far off for a decent shot.

It was nice to see quite a few regulars down there starting off their year ticks so the chat was good in the hides.Most got up to 40 ticks which considering how poor this winter has been locally is a pretty good start.

When I saw that Monday morning was bright I decided to shoot over to Brandon Marsh to try my luck there and hopefully get some shots.I couldn't go over straight away because I had to go into Solihull to return a fleece lined jacket bought in the sales that looked so good in the stores mirror but was crap when I got it home.I wonder if stores mirrors are special and make you look good whatever you've got on!!!!

This delay prevented me from getting Brandon till nearly 11.00AM.When I saw the car park jam packed already I thought there must be a great rarity there but friends soon put me right the place was heaving with bank holiday walkers.As the place was so busy I spent all the time there round by the back gate and on the tip area with friends who were keen to avoid the crowds.

On the tip area where the bitter cold wind soon penetrated my thermals there were a few Common Buzzards about but to spot them soon enough when they came close to get a shot off was not easy as they appeared suddenly from nowhere.Here are my best efforts.

So what else was about.Not a lot really.Never saw a single Siskin or Redpoll and the Fieldfares were very thin on the ground.A Sparrowhawk suddenly appeared right above us but no one got onto quick enough for a shot.There were a few Redwings about but even they were thin on the ground.A tough day for photographers and extremely cold.Here are a couple of Redwing shots.

First trip out after xmas.

2011-12-29T06:14:00.000-08:00

Having stayed in for a few days by Wednesday I was ready to go out there and get some fresh air and exercise so after a bit of shopping I grabbed the camera and headed off to Brandon Marsh.

After wandering around for a couple of hours there was good and bad news.The early rain had stopped to leave quite a nice day but there was nothing around to point the camera at.The Carlton hide was particularly grim with only a Mallard showing during a 30 minute stay.Chatting to other birders in the hide who had been there longer than me we decided that because it can be so depressing in there it may be wise to get a Samaritans direct line phone installed to prevent any possible suicides on particularly bad days.

The only shot I managed in the morning was of a Water Rail that showed for all of 10 seconds from the EM hide.

At mid day I headed off to the cafe for a cup of tea.As usual I was cheered up a lot by the very attractive waitress who looked particularly good that morning.How can I lose 40 years !!!!!

I then headed to the back gate area where there were several Redwings and a few Fieldfares feeding on the berry trees.

Better still there was a small flock of Redpolls and Siskins feeding on the trees near the back gate.I was pleased to catch up with these chaps and get the first shots of the winter.It was not easy to get any decent shots as they love to feed upside down and this does not give a good shot.

Here is another shot of a Redpoll but this was taken half an hour ago through my office (bedroom really) window.I was pleased to see it because it was the first visitor to my niger feeder which I put up several weeks ago and as far as I know had attracted no birds until today.

A quick Marsh Lane visit.

2011-12-23T03:12:00.000-08:00

I had no intention of going out birding on Thursday morning but when out shopping mid morning I could see the weather was very pleasant so I thought a quick visit to Marsh Lane was in order.

As I was about to close the car park gates I spotted a great looking Common Buzzard sunning itself on the fence in the field opposite.The trouble was it was about 100m away and only just above the lie of the land.Oh for a big lens and someone to carry it around for me.Cheryl Cole perhaps!!!!

I then headed straight to the causeway screen to see if I could see a Water Rail but no luck.However the now regular Kingfisher was present.When viewing from the north causeway screen check out the fencing shown here as it likes to eat it's catch there.

It did come closer briefly.

On the way home I checked out the local berry trees in Bentley Heath which is pretty close to where I live.There are loads of different heavily loaded berry trees here and it was where last year I found a flock of Waxwings.The trees were very quiet but I did get a few shots of some Redwings.

A dire day out at Brandon Marsh.

2011-12-21T02:14:00.000-08:00

After some early morning shopping on Tuesday I raced over to Brandon Marsh keen to take advantage of the bright weather.Things went well to start with as I walked round to the Newlands and I managed a shot of a pair of Common Buzzards soaring high overhead.

Things then went downhill as I walked past the Wright hide because clouds rolled in and it became very gloomy.Bugger!!!! Did manage a shot of a Treecreeper.

Being patient in the East Marsh and the Carlton hides did no good because they were both very quiet.All I got was a shot of a Common Snipe and a Wren.

A dazzling smile from the pretty waitress in the cafe did cheer me up a little but I was soon depressed again when by the back gate I found it far to gloomy to get any decent shots of the flock of Siskins and Redpolls that were in the trees.This is my least bad shot.

I then gave up although it was only 1.30PM.It was too gloomy and so was I.

Caught in the rain.

2011-12-18T01:25:00.000-08:00

I was unable to take advantage of the morning's bright weather on Saturday because I had to make a visit to Solihull to complain about my new glasses so it wasn't till lunchtime that I was able to go out with the camera.

Although it was still sunny when I set out on the short drive to Marsh Lane it had become cloudy when I parked up.I then got trapped for a while in the car park hide when it started to rain.The only shots I took were of a Shellduck.The Bewicks had left the day before.

When the rain stopped I bravely risked the weather and went to the Oak hide but had no luck there and took no shots.On the walk back the rain started again and unable now to dash anywhere I got pretty wet by the time I got in the car.It's hard to believe this body many years ago used to burst through defences and score loads of goals.

Did I give up.No way!!! I decided to park up along the old road in a decent spot and wait to see what turned up.It was warm and dry in the car and the radio was playing in the background.Even I can be patient when it's like this.

I did have to be patient because it was an age before the first decent bird showed and it was a male Bullfinch.

I was about to give up because it became very dull and the rain was falling again when a large flock of Fieldfares turned up and fed on the berries.Quite pleased with these shots as they were taken in the rain.

A quick visit to Marsh Lane.

2011-12-14T06:06:00.000-08:00

Went over to Marsh Lane early this morning to take advantage of the bright weather but as soon as I arrived the clouds had covered the sun and there was even a bit of rain in the air.How wonderful !!!!

I was surprised to find the pair of Bewick Swans were still there on the car park pool.I thought these chaps didn't hang around long.Although I was pleased to get some more shots especially as I hadn't got any of them on the water the lighting was grim.

From the northern screen on the causeway I was chuffed to spot a Kingfisher with a fish on the top rail of the new fencing.This is a fair way off but I was pleased to see it as they are not common at Marsh Lane.

For once I was patient and it came quite close and I was able to get my first decent KF shots at Marsh Lane.To my knowledge it was in this area for at least an hour and it caught several fish so it might well become a regular visitor.

A day out at a couple of local patches.

2011-12-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

As soon as I heard on Monday morning that it was likely to be the best day weatherwise of the week I decided to go out with the camera.Whilst pondering where to go I had a timely text from Nic Barlow telling me that there were a couple of Bewick Swans on the car park pool at Marsh Lane.Not having ticked one in Warwickshire I sped over there.

Walked into the hide at just after 9.00AM and soon spotted them not too far away at the back of the island in front of the hide.Had to be patient as they were both asleep but did finally manage a few shots.

I then decided to drive over to Brandon Marsh where it was bright and not too windy.There were only a couple of people in EM hide when I entered it at not long after 10.30AM so I thought there couldn't be much around but I soon found a Common Snipe.

A bit later a Water Rail showed for a few seconds and I was able to get a few shots.This was the first WR I'd seen for ages so I was pleased to get some shots.

I slipped up a bit later on when I was looking in the wrong direction when a Peregrine flew high right over the hide and I couldn't get onto it quick enough to get a decent shot.

I then went down to the Carlton hide.On route I met two birders coming back the first said "There's nothing up there mate" and the second said the same but used much stronger language.The hide was empty when I got there so I could eat my lunch in peace but before I could get it out I saw this Kestrel who paid a short visit.

When the Kestrel left a Green Sandpiper also paid a short visit but it soon left because it could find no mud to feed on (the pool is now full).

Shortly after I had the first of a couple of personal calamities.The first was when a dollop of salad cream from a roll I was eating landed on my bins.What a burk !!!! As I was cleaning them and making a right mess a KF landed right in front of me on the perching pole.Of course it flew off before I could ready the camera.Bugger Bugger !!!!

Feeling grumpy I left the hide and headed to the cafe for a cup of tea little knowing I was heading for personal calamity number two.When I tried to fill my cup no tea was coming out of the pot so I tipped the pot up higher and an air lock or something must have been freed because the tea pored out like a dam had burst.It went all over the table and my bins were hit again.What a burk!!!!!! When I cleaned everything up all I salvaged was a half cup of tea.Bugger Bugger !!!!!!

A bit sheepishly I left the cafe and went round to the back gate to try for some Siskins and Redpolls because so far this winter I have not managed any decent shots of these chaps but I couldn't find any.I did get some shots of a few Redwings that were on the berry trees there.

A visit to Marsh Lane.

2011-12-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd better make another visit to Marsh Lane on Tuesday morning because I've hardly taken a shot down there in the last couple of months mainly because I seem to have missed anything decent that's been down there.I thought if I don't get some shots soon I may be in trouble with Nic Barlow when he writes this quarter's report.

It was very cold when I got there and my mood did not improve when a trio of regulars down there told me that there was not much about.After a quick walk round having found nothing to point the camera at I decided to give the Old Road a go.The Old Road was very good last year so fingers crossed.

I had a bit of luck straight away because I spotted this Common Buzzard (juvenile ?) on a distant post in the field opposite the gate.

I soon found some Redwings but I'm blowed if I could get close enough for a decent shot.

I had much better luck a little later when a lone Fieldfare landed in a nearby berry tree.

There were quite a few Yellowhammers in the trees but with the light fading and my slowness in getting onto them all I could get was this crappograph.

Fieldfares.

2011-12-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

Prevented on Friday morning on going to Draycote Water with a couple of friends by an "any time during the day " visit by a Central Heating engineer.He was coming to repair my boiler which, like me, is clapped out I went out locally looking for Fieldfares once he had left.

I love Fieldfares but this year I had failed to catch up with them and had not got any shots.On a return journey from Brandon Marsh last week in a paddock on a country lane near Fen End I had spotted a couple of them on a berry tree so I headed over there just after lunch hoping that they might be still around.Using my car as a hide (How shrewd am I) I parked up in an adjacent lay-by and got the bins out for a scan round.

So were the two Fieldfares still there ? No they weren't.There was about 150 of them flying all over the place.The trouble was that they were very nervy and disappeared off into the distance several times only to reappear suddenly from a different location.Great birds.Here are a few shots I managed to rattle off.

A decent day at Brandon Marsh.

2011-12-01T01:49:00.000-08:00

Although it's a while since my last post I have been out and about but have not seen anything to point the camera at.Two visits to Marsh Lane and an earlier visit to Brandon Marsh produced no decent birds to see other than some distant views of Golden Plovers.So on Wednesday morning I was not filled with any confidence when I set off once more to Brandon Marsh.

Luckily it was bright and the wind had dropped down to a breeze when I got there at 9.30AM.I headed straight to the Baldwin Hide hoping for some shots of the pair of Goldeneyes that had been there recently.I soon spotted them but I had to be patient for them to come into range of my lens but when they did I still struggled to get decent shots of the drake which showed the green tinge in the head but did not blow out the whites.

From there I headed to the East Marsh hide but the only decent birds on show were 60+ distant Golden Plovers.Far too distant for my lens.

I then headed down to the Carlton hide which has been my bogey hide for months now not having taken a shot there for ages but it was nice to see a lot of water there now.Determined to get shots of anything there I pointed the camera at a Grey Squirrel.How low can you sink!!!

Then I tried to turn this chap into an exotic wader.

So then another poor visit to the Carlton hide.Well no actually I am pleased to say.At 10.45AM from the reeds of the pool you can see way off to the left of the Carlton hide a large bird rose and flew behind the trees and across the reeds right at the back of the Carlton pool before dropping out of site.It was a Bittern!!!!!! I did manage a couple of shots which pleased me no end as they are my first Bittern shots this winter and considering it was a long way off and only in view for a few seconds the shots are pretty decent.

A day out in the countryside.

2011-11-24T06:47:00.000-08:00

Having been invited the day before by those two top Warwickshire wildlife photographers Kath Everitt and Geoff Haynes to join them on a trip to an open air theatre I found myself early on Wednesday morning setting off to meet up with them.

So where was this "open air theatre"? Well it was in a set aside field in deepest Northamptonshire two miles west of the small village of Hanging Houghton.So what was on show? An exhibition of hunting and flying by a group of Short Eared Owls.If they turned up that is.

We got there just before 11.30AM and immediately saw a pair of SEO's on the set aside field (sorry I should say the open air theatre). Here are a few shots of these cracking birds before they flew off.

After 20 minutes they flew off and a long intermission followed of over an hour when nothing was showing.Unfortunately by this time any early brightness had gone and it became a little gloomy.Getting a bit bored I wandered over to the hedge line and was lucky to be in a decent position when one appeared again just after 1.00PM.It appeared to catch something and settled down to eat it.

Although a bit far off I did manage a few shots and if you look carefully you can see the vole (?) it's eating.

After this at least five of them were on display flying all over the place.Wonderful to watch but for me damned hard to get a shot of as I'm blowed I could keep them in focus as they zoomed around.I'm pretty certain I broke the world record for the number of out of focus shots taken in one session.Here are a few I managed in focus well nearly in focus.

Just before we left one of them posed for us as it settled on a small bush.Oh for a big lens and of course someone to carry it as I'm blowed if I could.Great day.

Coming down to earth again.

2011-11-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

After being both entertained and mesmerised by a couple of Short Eared Owls last Saturday at Dostill I came back down to earth this morning when a visit to Brandon Marsh was a almost a total washout on the birding front.

Things started well when in the Steetly hide we saw a Bittern fly in from the East but the miserable so and so landed in the reeds right at the back and was not seen again as far as I know.Things went rapidly downhill after this bit of excitement because we saw nothing from any of the hides and there was a complete lack of any birds in the trees and hedgerows.Desperate to use the camera I took shots of some toadstools.Hells teeth !!!!!!

By the sheep field we did spot a raptor high in the sky which one or two of us thought might have been a juvenile Peregrine but we were wrong.It was a Kestrel I think ????

After a lunchtime cup of tea in the cafe and a chat to the very attractive waitress (who had flowers in her hair today) I gave up and went home.

Fun and games at Dostill Lake.

2011-11-13T03:22:00.000-08:00

Ever since I'd seen my first ever Short Eared Owl several days ago at Dostill Lake I was dead keen to go back and try to get some better shots but the recent damp gloomy weather had put me off going.So when the weather man on Saturday morning said it would get a bit brighter by mid morning I decided to shoot over there.

Knowing that Kath a fellow photographer was also keen to get some shots I persuaded her to join me and we met up in the car park at 11.15AM.As usual there was good and bad news.The bad was it was still very gloomy and any bright interludes were thin on the ground but the good news was that whilst still in the car park I spotted a SEO gliding down the side of the central bund.It then landed on a small tree so we raced down to the decking area in front of the centre to rattle off some shots.It was distant but who cares we had spotted one straight away.

It quite quickly flew off.

We then made what turned out to be a great decision.We decided to walk down the pathway next to the big bund on the western side,picked a spot about half way down and just waited for one to turn up.Quite quickly one landed on the bund about 60m away.

For the next hour and a half we had numerous views of two of them flying around.One even flew low over our heads but my shouting "It's only a Gull" didn't help us getting a decent close flight shot.Here are a few of the shots I took from this spot.

I'm not going to complain because we had some good views over a long period (pity it was so gloomy) but the peace and quiet was spectacularly shattered when this chap roared down the lake and everything flew off.

After all it is a water ski lake and the very young skier put on a tremendous show.

You can't win them all.

2011-11-09T06:26:00.000-08:00

No.You cannot win them all and today I didn't win in fact I got badly defeated.

In the middle of some household chores on Wednesday morning I received a text from Kevin Grocock and then from Kath Everitt both telling me that a Purple Sandpiper was on the Spit at Draycote Water.

I was in a quandary whether to go or not.I'd seen the last one at Draycote (in fact I found it at the Outlet).I'd got some decent shots of one a few years ago at Titchwell.The weather forecast was poor but despite all these points against going I went just to get a Warks year tick.

On route there I got a text telling me it had flown to the small island. Bugger !!!! When I started to walk down the Farborough Bank in very gloomy weather John Judge told me it had flown off again possible to the Inlet. Bugger !!!!!

I did have a bit of luck a little later when I spotted a flock of nine Brent Geese way down towards Toft flying East.So I got a Warks year tick after all.

I then joined a couple of other birders and we headed to the Outlet hoping the PS had landed there but no luck.I can only presume it had gone but you never know with Draycote Water.

As it was getting even more gloomy and rain was threatening I decided to go home but when I got to the sailing boat park I spotted a Kestrel on top of one the masts.Using my incredible fieldcraft skills I was able to get close and rattle off a few shots.I was chuffed to get these shots in the gloom (it was raining by this time) as I've struggled this year to get ant Kestrel shots at all.

Well it's about time.

2011-11-05T02:35:00.000-07:00

All my birding friends have seen one and nearly all of them have got shots of one ( some of them have got cracking shots) but yours truly,despite birding for seven years,has never seen one.What am I talking about well a Short Eared Owl.So when I heard that as many as four had been seen earlier in the week at Dostill Lake I thought I must get over there because it's about time I saw one.

So after lunch on Friday despite the poor weather forecast I headed over to Dostill Lake.I'd never been there before but it was easy to find being just north of Kingsbury on the A51.As usual there is good and bad news.You get a great view over the lake from the elevated car park but you are a long way from the bunds which the Owls favour.It was free to get in which was great but it cost £3 to get out which was not.

I got there at 1.30PM and had no luck scanning the bunds that run along the lakes when another birder showed up at 2.00PM and as luck would have it I knew him.Just as we had a good chat for 15 minutes Andy called out the magic words "There's one on the far bank and there's another on over there".They were both about 300m away.

Yipppeee!!!! At long last a Short Eared Owl (well two of them actually).A life tick and a Warks year tick (I think Dostill lake is in Warwickshire ????).

Here are a few shots.Not much good but for once I don't care seeing these cracking birds for the first time was enough for me.I did make a mistake by staying by the centre as the Owls were always way off in the distance.If I go again I will walk down the path along the west bund and hope they come a bit closer so I can get some decent shots.

Yet another day out in the sunshine.

2011-11-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

As soon as I had finished some early morning shopping on Tuesday and had seen it was going to be another nice day I thought I'd better go out with the camera.

I wasn't sure whether to go to Marsh Lane or Middleton Hall or Brandon Marsh but decided on the latter as I knew some friends would be down there.This was a mistake as I later found out Marsh Lane had a Black-tailed Godwit,two Dunlin and an Egyptian Goose.Bugger Bugger !!!!!

When I was walking past the sheepfield I was convinced a large brown bird flying low over the bushes was the Short Eared Owl but when it landed high in a distant tree I realised it was a Common Buzzard.Bugger Bugger !!!!!!

When I got to the Wright hide I could see that there were 50+ Golden Plover on the far side of Willow Island but before I could get round to the EM hide something put everything up and they had flown off.Bugger Bugger !!!!!

I saw nothing from the Carlton hide or the Teal Pool hide but had a bit of luck from the Baldwin hide when a hand full of the Golden Plovers returned and settled on Willow Island.

After a cup of tea in the cafe and a chat with the very attractive waitress I headed round to the back gate area where Keith Yates put me onto a few Siskins and Lesser Redpolls in the Alder trees.These were my first of the winter for these chaps.Managed a few shots but nothing special.

I don't know if anyone else spotted the glaring error in David Attenborough's latest programme "The Frozen Planet" where he clearly said he was visiting the coldest places on earth.He went to the North Pole (fair enough).He went to Antarctica (fair enough). He didn't go to Ice Station Draycote known to all who go there in the Winter as the coldest place on earth.What a glaring omission!!!!

Out birding in the sunshine.

2011-10-29T02:49:00.001-07:00

As soon as I saw that Friday was probably going to be the best day weatherwise of the weekend I thought I'd better grab the camera and get out there so off I headed to Brandon Marsh in bright sunshine.

Got there at 9.30AM and as I met up with a couple of friends in the car park Brandon was covered in a pretty thick mist.Hoping that the mist would soon lift we decided we would take the path past the sheep field to see if we could find anything but it wasn't till we got near to the Wright hide that we found anything to point our cameras at and that of all things was a Dunnock.Oh Dear!!!!!

The mist then started to lift and for late October it became a lovely day but finding any decent birds didn't improve and we found nothing at all from any of the hides on the main path.Two of us soon got fed up seeing nothing in the Carlton Hide so we headed back to the Baldwin hide where someone had seen the New Zealand Scaup earlier in the day.

As we entered the hide we were a little dismayed to find it occupied by a couple of families and when one of the fathers said to his daughter "Pass the bird book Jenny I think I can see a Whooper Swan" my mate and I whispered "Amateurs".However when I scanned the lake I was amazed to see a lone Whooper Swan not that far away and I was forced to eat humble pie and say to him "Well spotted".I was very pleased to see it because I haven't got any decent shots of a Whooper Swan and I missed out not long ago at Draycote Water when some flew off before I could get near them.

A Mute Swan soon chased off the Whooper towards Willow Island where it then went to sleep probably completely knackered having just flown in from Iceland.I then had a go at finding the NZ Scaup which for me is not easy as it looks a lot like a female Tufted Duck.I found it eventually and got a few shots.Although it hangs around with the Tufties it doesn't like them much and constantly has a go at them.

The only other decent birds I came across were a couple of Nuthatches but they were on the Cafe feeders so the only shots you can get is through the windows which ruins your shots.Now I know this shot is no good but it shows how good a shot you could get if you could get near the feeders in the open.

The struggle to get decent shots continues.

2011-10-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

Worried that my camera would soon get rusty due to lack use taking bird shots I hurried over to Brandon Marsh again on Tuesday morning hoping that my poor efforts last Saturday would not be repeated.

Got there just before 10.00AM to find a sunny and quite warm morning with only a light breeze blowing.Things on the camera front started badly because I missed shots of some Redwings and a lone Fieldfare that were just past the sheepfield because they would not show themselves in the open.Not much to ask.

Then when I found a couple of Goldcrests in the New Hare covert I failed to get even one shot off as they were too fast for me.Things got even worse because when I saw everything on the East Marsh pool had panicked and had flown high in the sky I couldn't get round to the hide fast enough to see what had caused the the panic.It was a Peregrine.I found this out later when friends showed me their shots of it on Willow Island.Bugger Bugger !!!!! Don't you love it when that happens!!!!

I did get excited just for a moment when this chap was flying round the EM pool .......

......... but when it landed it was only a Pigeon.Bugger Bugger!!!!!

Did have a bit of luck when this Willow Tit (I hope it is a WT and not a Marsh Tit) that landed briefly along the main path.

One of my targets this Autumn is to get a flight shot of a Jay with an acorn in it's mouth.Time is running out but I did manage some half decent shots near the tip area.

A bit further along the tip area I located a couple of Common Buzzards but they were two fields away.One did come a little closer but not close enough for a decent shot with my lens.

The other one landed at the top of a tree but was still a long way off and my hopes it might come my way were dashed when the miserable so and so went back the way it came.

Out birding in the sunshine.

2011-10-23T01:10:00.000-07:00

As soon as I saw that the sun was shining on Saturday morning I thought I must get out there with the camera but where to go was a problem.Nothing decent had been seen locally for ages now with the exception of last week's Spoonbill at Draycote.

As far as I knew the flashes at Upton Warren had dried out as had all the pools at Whitacre Heath.Marsh Lane and Brandon Marsh had been quiet for ages and nothing had been seen at Shustoke Res. for a while now.Middleton Hall gets some decent birds but is not too good for photographers as everything is far too far away unless you've got a monster lens.I'd been to Draycote earlier in the week so I opted for Brandon Marsh again as I knew that there would be a few friends there.

Got there just before 10.00AM to find a very pleasant sunny morning and as expected there were a lot of friends about.So a decent day then? No there was one thing missing.Some birds to point the camera at!!!! It was very very quiet.

I spent a long time both before and after lunch round the sheep field and and Newlands areas hoping for a glimpse of the Short Eared Owl but no such luck.I think I've got a better chance of seeing Cheryl Cole dancing in the sheepfield than I've got of seeing a SEO there.Mind you thinking about it I would rather see Chery Cole.

Mid afternoon I gave up and headed back home.All I'd got after a lot of walking round were some pretty poor shots of a Common Buzzard,a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk all at distance from the Carlton Hide.Not worth posting!!!!!

Had a bit of a surprise this morning as I was eating breakfast watching the TV news in the lounge.A movement in the front garden caught my eye.It was not one of the cats that visit my garden it was a badger!!!!!!!! It scurried through my garden,crossed the road and went under a neighbour's hedge.Bearing in mind that it was after 8.00AM and I live in the middle of an estate in Knowle this was an amazing spot.

Another trip to Draycote Water.

2011-10-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

Although there had been a frost overnight it was sunny on Thursday morning so after finishing a few chores I went over to Draycote Water again.

I got there at just before 10.00AM to find a chilly morning but it was bright and pretty calm.Just the weather then that usually finds Draycote Water quiet on the birding front so I was not too hopeful as I set off to the Spit along the Farborough Bank.

It was very quiet as expected but there were 5 Dunlin and a few Linnets on the Spit but that was all.I was then joined by Francoise and we decided to walk back towards the centre where half way along the bank we met up with Richard Mays and Bob Hazell who had seen very little.

Half an hour later as Francoise and I were trying for shots of a Goosander we noticed Bob was racing back along the bank towards us but not before I got a few shots off.

A gasping Bob then told us 6 Whooper Swans had just landed in front of the Inlet and off he went again charging down the path.I am now going to call Bob "Breathless" as nearly every time I speak to him he is racing off to see a bird and he is out of breath.Very nice of him to stop and tell us though.

Well Breathless Bob was very shrewd after he left us because he hijacked a Severn Trent van and was driven round to the Inlet.Francoise and I had to trudge very slowly round there but I was shrewd enough to take a long distance shot from the Sailing club (about a mile away from the Swans).

This turned out to have been a good move because just as we had walked past the picnic area they flew off down the pond southwards.Did I get any decent flight shots? No I didn't far too far away.I did get a Warks Year tick though.

A Visit to Brandon Marsh.

2011-10-19T06:36:00.001-07:00

Not having been out with the camera for a few days and despite the fact that a strong cold wind was blowing I decided on Tuesday morning to pay a visit to Brandon Marsh.

I got there just before 10.00AM but did not head round the reserve straight away because I was in dispute with admin. (they said I hadn't paid my subs but I had and what's more they had cashed the cheque) and I wanted to sort them out.So going into aggressive mode I very quickly had the matter cleared up satisfactorily.I am pretty scary when I am in aggressive mode!!!!

One shot high on my wish list is to get a shot of a Jay with an acorn in it's mouth and I got the opportunity very quickly when I spotted one in the woods but the distance and the gloomy conditions resulted in a few crappographs I'm afraid.

I then headed out to the Steetly hide to join a couple of friends.The Steetly hide is a small hide but just lately at Brandon this has been the only hide that you have a chance of seeing anything and to prove this at one time there were 9 people jammed in there this morning.I was surprised it didn't collapse.

Kingfishers have been very reliable here and one turned up pretty soon after I entered the hide.It did a bit of fishing but despite the fact there were 5 photographers having a go no one got a decent flight/diving shot including me but I was able to add to my empty water shot collection.

When the KF flew off I did spot a Water Rail but it was a long way off having a bath.This was the first WR I'd seen for ages.After it finished it's bath it then did a lot of wing flapping and running around.Pity it was a long way off.

Things got no better when visits to all the other hides drew a blank and a walk to the Newlands and the Sheepfield was also fruitless.Keith Yates had seen the SEO again on the sheepfield but that was at dawn so it was no surprise when I didn't see it much later on in the day.

Even a chat to the very attractive waitress in the cafe failed to cheer me up.I was undoubtedly suffering from post Spoonbill depression.

A Spoonbill in Warwickshire.

2011-10-15T02:59:00.001-07:00

Having walked far too far the day before at Draycote Water resulting in very stiff legs when I got up on Friday morning I planned to have an easy time at Brandon Marsh just strolling round to a few of the hides.Well it didn't take long for this plan to collapse.

I'd only just got into the Steetly hide when I received a text from Kath "Just heard that there is a Spoonbill at Draycote Water" I thought this cannot be true there had been nothing from Birdguides and texted Kath back accordingly.I then got distracted as this chap turned up and briefly landed on the perching pole.

When the KF departed I sent a text to Bob Hazell who I knew would be on his circuit round DW "Is there a Spoonbill at the pond today?" He soon replied "Not to my knowledge".Well that's was it then no Spoonbill!!!!!.

A quarter an hour later my phone rang and it was a breathless Bob " Max gasp gasp there is a gasp gasp Spoonbill at the gasp gasp Outfall". What had happened was that Bob from the North shore had spotted the Spoonbill way over at the Outfall and was racing round to see it when he phoned me hence all the gasps.Very nice of him to phone me.Observers later told me Bob was running at great speed and along the Farborough bank women with prams,children joggers and cyclists were swept aside as he raced along like a runaway train.Nothing stops a birder getting to a good bird.

When I found out that Kath's news was kosher I abandoned my BM visit and set off to DW.I hadn't travelled very far down the A45 when my phone went again.OH NO!!!! I thought it's flown but it was Kevin telling me it was showing well.

I parked up and set off to the Outfall but by the time I'd raced up the hill and was at the back of the Sailing Club my heart was racing so much I had to rest up after all I'd seen Spoonbills before and had got some decent pics in Norfolk.All this was was a Warks tick so no need for a heart attack.I eventually got there to join up with several Warwickshire birders and find the Spoonbill showing well about 30 metres down from the pathway.

It was a juvenile but still a cracking bird.

An hour later one of the fishing boats came too close and everything took off.Luckily the Spoonbill returned after a while giving an opportunity for some flight shots.

A visit to Draycote Water.

2011-10-13T07:13:00.001-07:00

On Thursday morning as soon as I saw that it would be a calm day and it would brighten up later I decided to go over to Draycote Water.Got there at 10.00AM to find it calm but a bit chilly and pretty dull.

I went down the Spit and soon saw a Rock Pipit which was great because it was a year tick for me but I'm blowed if I could get near enough for a shot.I met up with Richard,Mark and Bob at the Spit but except for a couple of Dunlin they had seen nothing.

Bob Hazell then decided to join up with me on a walk to Rainbow presumably so he would see more birds.No hang on that's not right!!!! I joined up with Bob so I could see more birds.Sorry Bob.

On the walk to Rainbow we did not see much but there were loads of Skylarks passing over on migration.A bit hard to get a shot but I did get one.

At Rainbow I was pleased to see a female Red-crested Pochard was still there despite the efforts of a couple of fishing boats.Not great shots but I was happy because although I'd seen some before I did not have any shots.

Along Draycote bank before we got to the Inlet we spotted at least seven Yellowhammers on the wall but before we could get close a walker coming the other way scared them off.Only got this distant shot.

We were then joined by Francoise and Alan by the Inlet and they had not seen anything that we had not seen.There was a Goosander just past the inlet but by this time it was very dull so no decent pics (excuses excuses).

It was so dull when we reached the Centre on the way back I decided to give in and head home.

Brandon Marsh.

2011-10-12T02:31:00.000-07:00

After doing some early morning shopping I went over to Brandon Marsh on Tuesday morning despite the poor weather to try and see the Short Eared Owl (never seen one) and the Hen Harrier (seen one but no decent pics) recently reported there.

Got there just before 10.00AM and headed past the wind pump to the sheep field in very dull weather.I hadn't gone very far past the wind pump when I saw a raptor flying around in the distance.The Hen Harrier????

Having learned the lesson years ago you don't check out a bird first you rattle off as many shots as you can then check later.When the bird flew off I checked out how good my shots of the Hen Harrier were.It was a Sparrowhawk !!!! Bugger Bugger!!!!

After that excitement I checked out the sheepfield and the Newlands for my target birds but saw nothing at all.I then joined some friends in the Carlton hide and they had had no luck either.A stay of well over an hour in that hide and not one of us had cause to use our cameras.It was dead.We did find out later that the SEO was seen over the Newlands.

Off to the cafe for a cup of tea where as usual the pretty waitress cheered me up and took my mind off my lack of shots.Thinking about it she looked so nice I've had to upgrade her from "pretty" to "very attractive".

As we were enjoying our tea we spotted a couple of Nuthatches on the feeders out side the cafe and we could not resist trying to get some shots even though they had to be taken through the window glass.The shots were a bit washed out but were all I could manage on a poor day with the camera.

A week ago I set up a feeder station in my garden based on a mini version of the one at Whitacre Heath (a very mini one!!!).To date as far as I know no birds had paid it a visit but this morning a Coal Tit had a brief look but soon flew off unimpressed so my plans to get some great winter bird shots are not looking good at the moment.

A Draycote Water visit on a foul day.

2011-10-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

Being president of the Fair Weather Birders Club it was a brave decision I took this morning in deciding to go to Draycote Water when the weather was very poor.

There were two reasons why I decided to go the first being that all the regulars down there keep telling me you get some great stuff there when the weather is foul and secondly after cocking up the AF micro adjustment on my camera/lens on Tuesday and getting only crappographs at Brandon I was keen to see if my latest effort was OK.

Arrived at 10.00AM and well wrapped up I set off along Farborough Bank to the Spit.I immediately realised I had not wrapped up well enough because there was a freezing north westerly wind howling straight into me and within a few seconds I could feel my blood freezing up.Ice Station Draycote was back!!!

I was pleased to get a few shots of a couple of Meadow Pipits down on the grass bank.Pleased because the wind was making hard to steady the camera and the results were good enough to indicate that the latest micro adjustment was looking fine.

I finally struggled up to the Spit and met up with Richard,Mark and Francoise all of whom were struggling with the icy wind.They reported that nothing decent had been seen so far but there were a couple of Dunlin on the Spit foreshore and a lone Rock Pipit (this I did not see which is a shame as it would have been another Warks tick).

I soon had to make my way back before frost bite set in.On the walk back I was blowed if I could see any Rock Pipits but just as I had nearly got back to the centre I spotted 2 cracking looking Grey Wagtails drop down onto the rocks.The cold forgotten I then pursued them back up the pathway to try and get some shots but they kept moving on before I could focus on them.I gave up a bit later on when I realised that they had lured me nearly all the way back to the Spit.

I think I will think twice before I head back to DW if the forecast is bad.Mind you if something great dropped in I'd be off there like a shot.

A few disappointing local trips.

2011-10-05T01:09:00.000-07:00

I've not done a post for a while now but it's not because I haven't been out it's because when I have been out I haven't seen any decent birds let alone taken any shots.

Last Friday I went over to Draycote Water knowing that because of the fine weather I would be very lucky to see anything decent as DW is a bad weather place but I did fancy a bit of a walk.I couldn't walk to the spit as there were 3 fishing boats almost on the foreshore so I walked round to Rainbow.I did find a Curlew Sandpiper near the outlet but the shoreline is so far away from the path now due to the low water levels it's not easy to ID birds let alone get a shot.

Had lunch sitting on the wall at Rainbow where I was joined by Francoise who showed me this shot she took a few days ago at the inlet.It clearly show two top birders/photographers and Kath.

On the walk back to the car park I again saw nothing of note except a Peregrine that annoyingly flew off before coming close so only a crappograph.

I went to Marsh lane on Sunday morning and although there were loads of Gulls,Geese and Ducks nothing of note showed to point the camera at.On Monday afternoon I had a walk down the Hatton locks canal but the wind was very strong and I saw nothing at all.So that was 3 local trips and only one crappograph to show for the trouble.

I was keen to go out with the camera on Tuesday as I had been dabbling with the camera's micro adjustment facility which allows you to fine tune the AF to get sharper shots.Great if you know what you are doing.I don't !!!!! With this in mind I went over to Brandon Marsh to test out what I had done.

Met Kath in the car park and we headed to the Steetly hide because this had been the best hide recently but when we got there it was closed as vandal damage was being repaired.Oh Dear!!!!

We had seen nothing from all the other hides on route to the Carlton Hide which was very quiet as well.After half an hour a kestrel appeared but didn't come very close but I did manage a few shots.This is the best which shows that my dabbling with the lens micro adjustment facility might not be a success and I may have to go back to the drawing board.

We then went on a walk round and although we found a lot of Goldcrests but seeing them let alone getting a shot was very difficult.Here is my best shot which as you can see is a crappograph.

After a visit to the cafe where the pretty waitress cheered me up a lot telling me about her trip to Rome I went to the tip area to see if I could see any raptors cruising in the warm conditions.There were a few Common Buzzards about but my shots weren't great and I'm not sure if this was down to the birds not being close enough or it was down to the lens micro adjustment.

So four local trips and no decent shots.Oh Dear!!!!!

Some local birding.

2011-09-29T03:26:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from a few days birding in Norfolk I thought I'd better do some local birding especially as the weather was good so on Tuesday morning I shot over to Brandon Marsh.

Went to the Steetly hide first where a KF paid a very brief visit and a Grey Wagtail showed for a while but no decent pics.Visits to the River hide,the Teal pool and East Marsh hides were a waste of time as they were all very quiet.

I then went down to the Carlton hide (the hide that died) hoping that the Hobby which showed so well for several of my friends on Saturday would turn up.Well it turned up all right but the miserable so and so stayed over the Newlands for a while then disappeared for good.Bugger Bugger !!!!

Not a good visit then but to stop it being a total disaster two things saved the day.Firstly the weather was excellent and it was a pleasure to walk round.Secondly on the main path between the Teal pool and Carlton hides (and not at Elstree film studios nor on the set of the latest James Bond movie ) I met up with the most attractive young lady I've ever seen.My brief chat to her consisted of lots of stuttering and drooling.What a stunner!!! The problem I've got now is that I must text Scarlett Johanssen and tell her that I no longer love her and she is not going to be pleased.

Woke up on Wednesday morning to find I was still drooling over the Brandon beauty and the weather was great again.I decided I would have a go at the BN Grebe at Napton again to see if I could improve on my previous shots.

Got there just before 10.00AM and found the weather was excellent and only a couple of fishermen there.Because of the sun I walked to the southern end of the reservoir where I soon found the BN Grebe but it was well over 50m away.After an hour's wait it still stayed too far off for pics but soon after a friend joined me it slowly came closer enabling me to get some shots.

At midday I went the short drive to Draycote Water.Walking down Farborough bank I knew that I would be lucky to see anything because when the weather is as fine here there is nothing about usually and this proved to be correct because by the time I got to the Spit I'd not seen any waders at all.A bit different from a week or two ago.

I then decided to have lunch and I went down onto the grass bank and found a nice spot.I'd just finished my first roll when I noticed a bird on the top of the hedging so I got the bins out and was chuffed to bits to see it was a Stonechat a bird I hadn't seen for a couple of years.Finished my lunch and set about getting some shots if I could get close enough.

After shuffling down the bank several times when the bird had flown off I found a decent spot and waited patiently (about an hour) for it to return and come close.Luckily for me it did.

A Norfolk trip.

2011-09-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning I decided to go to Norfolk and luckily I was able to book up a few days at one of my favourite hotels.Although the forecast was for bright weather the strong westerly wind that has been blowing in Norfolk for a while now was forecast to continue and even I know this reduces the chances of seeing some decent migrants.However on the plus side I knew that quite a few of my friends would be in Norfolk that week.

Wednesday

Set out early in the morning and arrived at Thornham harbour car park not long after 9.00AM.It was deserted except for two other cars that had just arrived and you can image my surprise when Steve Seal and Anne got out of one car and Di Stone got out the other.What are the odds of that happening.

After a quick chat a quick look round the harbour creeks revealed nothing except some very distant waders I headed off to Titchwell.Visits to the Fen hide,the Island hide and than the new Parrinder hide were a great disappointment with no birds being any where near the hides.Birders with powerful scopes could see some Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers but they were a long way off.OH Dear!!!! To make matters worse the wind was very strong.

I cheered up a bit when I spotted a Whinchat from the main pathway.

I then headed for the beach and was pleased to find this handsome Wheatear on the derelict building rubble.

Went further down the beach to try for some shots of some Sandwich Terns that were being very noisy calling out.

Out on the sea there was a distant Arctic Skua flying low over the water.Not a great shot but the first one I've ever taken.

I was very pleased to spot a Red-throated Diver in Summer plumage not that far out but when I tried to get a shot it dived and I never saw it again.Also far out to sea were several juvenile Gannets.I tried to get some shots but they were too far out for me to get decent ones.Here are my best.

I then had a bite of lunch and headed towards my hotel but first had a walk round Morsten harbour.This in the past has been a good place for me but it was very poor today with all the creeks empty of birds.A tough day so I was pleased to head to the hotel mid afternoon.

Thursday

As I was staying in Kelling I decided that I would spend Thursday in the nearby Cley area.I parked up at the end of the East bank and headed to the Bishops hide and when I entered I was surprised to find it empty.The reason was soon apparent there were cows all over the scrape and there were hardly any birds to see.Bugger Bugger !!!!

I then headed along the East bank.I quickly met up with Kevin Grocock and he said words that would be repeated a lot on this trip "It's dead there's nothing about".After a chat I headed along the bank to the beach not confident of seeing anything let alone taking any pics.there were quite a few Bearded Tits darting about but the very strong wind was keeping them low down.Did manage one poorish shot but pleased to use the camera.

After finding nothing at all on the shingle beach I then had a bit of luck when I spotted an Arctic Skua chasing a Tern and was chuffed to bits at getting some decent shots much better than yesterday's effort.

I then went to Wallesly Hill NR just across the road from the end of the East Bank.I climbed up the steps and joined another birder there on the platform but in the next hour all we saw were 2 Chaffinches and a Dunnock.Hells teeth this is not good.

Went to the centre for some lunch reminding myself that this is a very expensive place to eat having been caught out badly here in the spring.There were only a couple of people in the queue to be served in front of me but it took the two waitresses an age to serve them.I later found out that they were both zombies out on day release into the community.

I then spent most of the afternoon wandering around Salthouse beach area including climbing Gramborough Hill but besides some Meadow Pipits and a few Linnets the place was dead.OH dear!!!

Friday

Kevin Grocock and I wishing to change our luck planned to meet up at 9.00AM in the car park at Wells Woods.Paid the exorbitant car park fee for a couple of hours and headed off with Kevin to check out the woods.It was a lovely sunny morning and the wind had died down a lot but that's where the good news ended because after a 90 minute walk round we saw nothing at all.The place was dead.Oh Dear!!!!

We decided to give up but when we got back to the car park things got even worse for me when I had a £50 parking penalty stuck on my windscreen.Bugger Bugger !!!! The car park ticket had fallen off the shelf and onto the floor.I went to sort out the parking attendant and give him a piece of my mind (well actually I apologised and pleaded with him to let me off and he did).

Kevin then went to Holkham and I headed to Cley coastguards.After a bit of lunch I had a walk to the Eye field were I found several Wheatears but nothing else.Birders told me not to walk to the North hide as it was dead (that word again).I then made a shrewd move as I walked across to the beach,sat down on a lump of concrete and did some sea watching.

Not long after I had sat down I noticed some waders on the shoreline about 30 metres away so using my superb fieldcraft skills I shuffled slowly towards them and got pretty close to find two Golden Plovers and a Turnstone.What cracking looking birds Golden Plovers are when you get close.

A few metres to the right along the shoreline these chaps suddenly flew in.

Waiting patiently these four Bar-tailed Godwits slowly came close enough for me to get some shots.

I then walked westwards from the car park to try for the two Whinchats seen there in the morning.I had to be careful not to wander too far from the car park as the route was all shingle and on shingle I have a maximum range of about 600 metres.If I go any further I cannot get back without aid as my legs stop working.

I'd gone a fair way when I found both of them sitting on a wire.

I then got carried away trying to get some shots but the damn so and so's kept moving further away everytime I got close.I suddenly noticed I was a long way from the car park and was in trouble getting back.They must have known about my problem and were trying to finish me off.the cunning devils!!! I set off back and was very relieved to make it back to the car park some time later.This is the only shot I got of them after all that trouble.

On the walk back I did have the pleasure of seeing a Sparrowhawk whizzing over the shingle.

Saturday

Before I set off home I spent the morning at Titchwell.I had hoped that I would have more luck with the camera from the hides but sadly this was not the case and yet again there was nothing to be seen anywhere near the hides.

Had better luck on the main path when I found some Bearded Tits.

A little bit further along the main path I greatly impressed a couple of birders when I pointed out the spot I'd seen the Whinchat on Wednesday when it flew in from nowhere to land in the same spot.

On the beach the tide was a long way out and the mussel beds were exposed which attracted loads of Waders.It was a great site but hard to get close enough for decent shots.

I was surprised to see this Kestrel racing along the beach.

After lunch in the cafe I headed home.An enjoyable trip with very nice weather except for the wind but no rarities and not many decent shots.

A half decent day at Brandon Marsh.

2011-09-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

Got up Thursday morning to see it was looking like being a nice day so a bit reluctantly I headed over to Brandon Marsh.I was reluctant because I'd done poorly there on recent visits but I need not have worried because it was quite a decent day with the camera as it turned out.

First I'd like to post an update on the poor looking Manx Shearwater I relocated at Hatton locks on Wednesday afternoon.I'd like to think it was this blog and a couple of texts I sent that had something to do with the fact it was taken into care on Wednesday evening.

Back to the Brandon visit which started well even before I had driven through the main gate because I spotted a Wheatear on the grass to the right just before the gate.I was pleased to get some shots because the ones at Draycote had given me the run around recently.

I then headed for the Steetly hide and found it empty but my luck held and after a couple of Green Sandpipers paid a visit a KF turned up and put on a show for 20 minutes.It did a lot of hovering but I'm blowed I could focus on it so I had to settle on a couple of perched shots.

I then walked the jungle path to the River pool hide which also was empty.Nothing interesting there except a juvenile Reed Warbler showed briefly in the reeds.

Visits to the East Marsh,Teal pool and Carlton hides were a waste of time with nothing about remotely interesting.All these hides were empty.Were people avoiding me ? I did have some fun on the main path between the Carton and EM hides when I had a battle with a couple of Goldcrests trying to get some shots but failing badly.

I then headed for the cafe for a cup of tea and a chat with the pretty waitress.Inside the cafe I met up with Keith Yates and he told me there were upto 3 Wheatears and 2 Whinchats around one of which had been seen not long ago in the scrubland to the north of the coach park.

Dragging myself away from the pretty waitress I thought I'd have a go for the Whinchat particularly as it would be a Warks year tick for me.After half an hour I located it about 75 metres in the middle of the scrubland and the miserable so and so never moved any nearer in the next hour.The best of my shots are so bad that they cannot even be labelled as crappographs.Please don't laugh too loud.

Bridge 53.

2011-09-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Bridge 53.That's an intriguing title to this post.Well I hope it is but that's for a bit later.

On Wednesday morning I got up and found I was in superwimp mode.I'd done a bit of tree branch sawing yesterday afternoon and now I'd got back ache and shoulder pains.How pathetic !!! However the sun was shining so I loaded up with Ibruprufen and headed out with the camera to Draycote Water.

On the way I headed to Napton Reservoir to see if the BN Grebe was still there.It was but a long way off so I had to be patient till it came into range of my camera.However when it did the sun was directly behind it so very tricky to get any shots .What a moaner !!! Cracking bird though.

I then went to Draycote Water but by this time the sun had gone in,the clouds had rolled in and of course the wind was blowing strongly so when I met up with Kath I was only too pleased to take her to Napton to see the BN Grebe.We soon found it at the top end and she managed some great shots.

Whilst at Napton the bird text alert went off to tell me the Manx Shearwater unbelievable seen on the canal at Hatton Locks by Bridge 53 was still there so as it was on my way home I shot over there.Parked up at Hatton Locks car park and raced down to Bridge 53 (yes I did race it's downhill).

Got to Bridge 53 no birders and no bird Bugger Bugger !!!!!! As I struggled back up the path I was still in birding mode and a fair way away from Bridge 53 (by lock 38) I spotted this chap on the bank.I immediately noticed we had something in common we were both completely knackered.

Off again to Draycote Water.

2011-09-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

I had not planned to go out birding on Friday but when I heard that the forecast for the weekend and into next week was pretty foul I thought I'd better make the effort before the weather closes in.There was only one local patch to go for and that was Draycote Water as this was the only place some decent birds had been showing.

Got there just before 10.00AM and headed down the Farborough bank in pretty dull and windy conditions.I soon got onto a couple of Wheatears but they were not playing ball and I couldn't get near them.Also on the bank itself there were at least a dozen Yellow Wagtails flying around but again couldn't get any shots as they favoured the lower slope well out of the wind.Did get to use the camera when I spotted a Cormorant on the foreshore.

Half way down to the spit there was a mixed flock of waders (Dunlin and Ringed Plovers) that was flying around.Managed a couple of flight shots.

Finally got to the Spit and was surprised to see that I had it to myself.Thinking there must be no birds there I was pleased to spot the Little Stint straight away.Got a few shots no better than the last efforts on Wednesday but this time I got some flight shots.

As I was having a bite of lunch on the wall half way back to the centre I spotted this Greenshank catching a fish.Here are some shots as it does some fishing, catches the fish and flying off before a BH Gull tries to grab it's catch.

Battling the wind at Draycote Water.

2011-09-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I was not going to go out birding this morning because of the weather but when the weatherman said that the wind would be dropping to a breeze and it would be mainly dry I decided to chase some waders at Draycote Water.

Got there at 9.30AM and headed for the spit but when I took my first step along the Farborough Bank a howling wind blew my favourite cap off my head.If it hadn't been for my amazing hand to eye co-ordination allowing me to grab my cap in mid air it would have been hanging off a tree in deepest Leicestershire in no time at all.The wind had not dropped to a breeze it was blowing a howling gale.Wonderful!!!!

Battled my way to the Spit and was pleased to see some Waders including a Little Stint.Here are some shots all taken at the Spit.

I then had decided to give up and go home as the wind was too strong for me but luckily I met up with Richard Mays and Colin Potter near the centre and they put me onto a distant Little Gull and a Black Tern.Even better they spotted a Manx Shearwater also a long way out but giving good views in their scopes.

For the next couple of hours I tried to get some decent shots of the MS but failed.Every time I tried to get anywhere near it it would fly off into the distance.Managed a few crappographs but still nice to see.

Here's one I took earlier.In fact on 23/09/09 off the Farborough Bank at 9.30AM.

Yellow Wagtails.

2011-09-03T07:37:00.001-07:00

Carrying on from the last post here are some shots of the Yellow Wagtails that performed very well on the sailing club roof at Draycote Water last Friday lunchtime.

Although it was excellent conditions for taking shots I still managed to mess up loads of shots in particular when I had the 1.4 tele converter attached.Most of those were out of focus.

Here are a couple of shots of the juvenile.

These two shots are of the three adults that were on the roof.

A couple attempts at flight shots which I found far from easy.

I also tried to get shots of them chasing flies which was very difficult to say the least.Here are some of my better shots which if you have very good eyes show the fly they were after.

Another trip to Draycote Water.

2011-09-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

On Friday the weather forecast was very good so this fair weather birder thought he'd better go out with the camera and try and get some shots but where to go was the question.There were only two local patches that had been recording decent birds Middleton Hall and Draycote Water but as the former was very poor for getting shots I went for Draycote Water.

Got there at 9.30AM to find the weather was so good I was able to set off in full summer gear. Decided to head for the inlet being vary careful to avoid the spot where on Wednesday I bounced the camera on the tarmac footpath.Didn't see much till I got to the picnic area just past the sailing club where there was a mixed flock feeding in the trees including this (I think) juvenile Chiffchaff.

I didn't see anything of note then till I'd nearly reached Rainbow Corner where I spotted one of the Greenshanks.A little later on when I got to the inlet it had flown down and joined two of his mates.

I then had the "spot of the day" and managed to get a shot.It was of that Warwickshire birding legend Bob Duckhouse in a typical smooth,sophisticated and cool pose.

On the way back I saw a couple of Common Sandpipers and some Ringed/Little Ringed Plovers and this what I hope is a Yellow Legged Gull.

The best fun was when we found four Yellow Wagtails catching flies from the sailing Club roof.Will put any shots on the next post when I have processed them.

Some more local birding.

2011-09-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week I popped over to Marsh Lane hoping the Black Tern was still about so I could get a better shot than last Sunday's crappographs.

The good news was it was still there but the miserable so and so still was a long way off so no better shots.Although I've seen these chaps several times over the years I've yet to get a decent shot.

I made a major mistake on Tuesday morning by deciding to cut down a dead conifer in my back garden myself rather than calling someone in.It's unbelievable to think that this body nearly half a century ago use to burst through defences and score spectacular goals but now cannot even cut down a small tree without getting completely exhausted.Half an hour after completing my task I was pretty certain that my right arm had died.What a wimp!!!!

So on Wednesday morning I was very knackered as I arrived in the car park at Draycote Water which did not bide well as you have to do a lot of walking there if you want to find anything.As I struggled up to the centre things got dramatically worse when my camera detached itself from my lens (my lens is attached to my carrying strap) and bounced on the tarmac footpath.My heart stopped and I let out a piercing scream.Luckily the darned thing still worked and just like me is looking a bit battered.

Once my heart started to beat again I decided to walk to the inlet rather than to the spit which is a risk for me because the inlet is a point of no return for me and if I go any further to get back I have to call in the rescue services.

The weather was great and it was a nice walk.There were a few waders about including Common Sandpipers,Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers and a couple of Greenshanks (No Little Stint).

At the inlet the trees there were quite lively with birds including Chiff Chaffs and Lesser Whitethroats but were too lively for me to get any decent shots.

This morning as I was eating breakfast this chap landed on a distant neighbours roof.At first I hoped it was something special (the white neck patch fooled me) but I am pretty certain it's a juvenile Sparrowhawk (?)

A couple of local visits.

2011-08-28T03:48:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning I went over to Brandon Marsh which as it turned out was a bad move because it was very quiet with very little about.

Luckily for me I was able to team up with a couple of friends which eased the pain of not being able to point the camera at anything.It was well into the third hour together that we had our first bit of action when a Sparrowhawk landed very briefly in the bushes to the left of the Carlton hide.

The only other birds of note where a couple of Green Sandpipers on the Teal Pool.

Early on Sunday morning I went over to Marsh Lane hoping that yesterdays Black Tern was still about.

The first bird I spotted was one of the Black Swan/Mute Swan signets which I'm sure would be a good question in a bird ID quiz.

Shortly afterwards I spotted the Black Tern which was good news but there was bad news as well because it favoured the spit by the River hide which was a long way off.Too far for a decent shot.

When it did fly I managed to mess up most of the shots.If a bird is in the sky I can get some decent shots but if it is against a tree background I'm in trouble.I did fluke one OK shot.

Struggling this week to get some shots.

2011-08-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

I have struggled this week so far to get any decent bird shots mainly because there is nothing of note around locally.

On Sunday morning I made an early trip to Marsh Lane and although is was very pleasant in the sunny weather there were no birds of note around to point the camera at.The only bird of interest was a Common Sandpiper although later in the afternoon I believe someone got a male Common Redstart down the Old Road.

Monday morning I met up with a friend who wanted to go to the Middleton Hall reserve.I was not that keen as the birds are too far off for my lens but it was a lovely morning and we did see a couple of Little Egrets,a lone Black-tailed Godwit and a couple of Greenshanks.Others had seen the Wood Sandpiper but we didn't.It will be a better place for me when they build a hide.

Did a bit better when I went to Draycote Water on Wednesday morning.I decided to walk down the Farborough Bank and soon got onto a couple of Yellow Wagtails on the water edge.

When I got to the spit I joined some other birders and I realised straight away that the group was a gathering of some of Warwickshire birding legends.Local birding royalty in fact.There was Richard Mays,Bob Hazell,Colin Potter,Bob Duckhouse and me.Well all right not me but I was standing with them.

The stretch of shoreline from the centre to the spit held quite a few waders.Here are a few shots which were taken from distance mainly because the water is so low now that the waters edge where the waders feed is a fair way off.

Don't laugh too loud but here is my best shot of the Black Terns that were whizzing around over the water but in my defense they were miles away.

Brandon Marsh.

2011-08-20T01:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday morning I thought I'd go over to Brandon Marsh as I hadn't been there for a while.I entered an empty Steetly hide just before 9.00AM with fingers crossed I might be able to point the camera at something decent.

I was in luck because I soon found six Green Sandpipers scattered around the muddy areas of the pond.

These soon decided to fly off in the direction of the river and the next hour produced nothing except a Common Buzzard that quickly flew past.

I then walked down the jungle path to the River Pool hide but there were only a few Mallards there so I quickly moved on.As I got to the end of the broadwalk to the River Pool hide I noticed the Willows and adjacent trees were very active with birds most of which were Chiffchaffs but then I saw a couple of other birds which much to my delight turned out to be one of my favourite birds.

I didn't expect to see any Spotted Flycatchers this year as their numbers had been drastically

reduced but I've been very lucky having seen them in five separate local locations and have seen at least twelve different birds including these two at Brandon.

I then went to the hide that's died (Teal Pool) and it was dead.The East Marsh hide was deserted and I could find nothing of interest to see on the islands.A visit to the Carlton hide was worth the effort but only because I had lunch there.There were no birds at all to see in my 45 minute stay but I did receive some interesting news whilst in there when a couple of friends had been able to get shots of a Marsh Harrier a few days earlier.

I then walked past the Wright hide and round past the golf course back to the centre but hardly saw anything at all.It was all very quiet.I did get a shot a what I think is a juvenile Chiffchaff but that was all.

To cheer myself up I thought I'd visit the cafe and have a chat with the pretty waitress but the cafe was closed ( a water leak).Knowing it wouldn't be my day I headed home.

A Trip to the Chilterns.

2011-08-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

The birding locally was a bit flat and the forecast was good so on Monday morning I headed down the M40 to the Chilterns to try for some Red Kite shots arriving at the NT car park at Watlington Common at just before 10.00AM.

Just as I came out of the wood onto the common I was stupidly lured into the bushes on the left of the path by a complete stranger.He said "Have you come for the Silver-spotted Skipper ?".Worried that this might be code talk for something very sinister I responded with a harsh "What" He said "The butterfly".Very relieved I told him no but I would like to see it.

I've very little knowledge of butterflies but he was chuffed to see it and had come all the way from Merseyside to do so.He showed me the silver spots on the underside which appeared to be important so I can only assume that they are rare.

I've been to Watlington Common twice before this visit and each time there have been loads of Red Kites around often swooping low over the Common.You could pick a spot, plonk yourself down and let them come to you.However this time was completely different I could only see two and they were literally miles away.Oh Dear.

By the time I reached the end of the Common just before it slopes down steeply and sat myself down on the bench there I hadn't seen a single Red Kite.Was it just a bad Kite day or had they all moved on.

Half an hour later two did start cruising the field well below me and I managed my first shot of the day of one which appeared to have caught a mouse.

It was still pretty quiet for the next hour except for this chap who was cruising the area.It might have been looking for me as I had gone through a radar trap a few days earlier on route to Draycote.

My first bit of luck happened as I was eating a chicken role when one came pretty close and I was able to rattle off a few shots.

Fed up with trying to take shots and eat my roll at the same time I suddenly had a brilliant idea and I threw the remainder of the roll out onto the common.My new best friend immediately got interested and I was able to get some closer shots.Suddenly it did a wing flap and it swooped down and grabbed my roll before flying off with it's lunch.Wow!!! Not many people can say they shared lunch with a Red Kite.

A few minutes later it turned up again looking for more food but I decided to eat the last roll myself.This did not please my new best friend and it stared down at me as it flew off calling out angrily saying I'm sure "You tight fisted git".

I then went down to the little town of Watlington and after a quick drink in the pub at the bottom of the hill I had a walk round the town.I saw no more than three Kites on the Common but saw at least six flying round the town so this might be the better place to see them.

Although I only had a twenty minute spell with these cracking birds on the Common it was well worth the visit.

Another trip to Draycote Water.

2011-08-13T02:28:00.000-07:00

Having enjoyed seeing loads of waders earlier in the week at Draycote Water I thought on Friday morning I would have another go.

The weather on my previous visit was pretty grim with a howling wind blowing being worse down the Farborough bank but there were loads of decent birds to see.This visit the weather was great it was warm and calm but there were few birds to be seen.I think there is a lesson here.

Things started well as I walked down to the Spit when this wader was flying round high in the sky calling out all the time.Trouble was I couldn't ID it.

When I got to the Spit the only bird on view was a Greenshank which was nice to see.It didn't stay long as it was spooked by a fast moving cyclist.

Things went downhill after that as I struggled to find something to point the camera at despite having a bit of a walkround.Only successes I had were a juvenile Yellow Wagtail (well I think it is) on the sailing club roof and a distant view of a Kestrel.

Chasing after a Wood Sandpiper.

2011-08-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

When on Tuesday morning I found out a Wood Sandpiper was still at Draycote Water I did some early morning shopping and then raced over there arriving just after 10.00AM.

I headed straight down to the spit on the Farborough bank where I found several waders including a Sanderling but no Wood Sandpiper.

I then decided to head down to Toft where someone had seen it earlier in the morning.I was chuffed when I found it on the water's edge in Toft just before you get to the hide but it was a long way off so I set myself down hoping it would come a little closer in range of my lens.After nearly an hour it did come a little closer but then flew off to just past the picnic area where it stayed for only a couple of minutes before flying off again.I was very pleased to get a few shots.

I then headed back to the Spit to try and get some shots of the Wheatear that everyone else had seen but I kept missing.As I stood by the wall scanning the rocks and saying out loud "Where the hell are you" it suddenly popped up only a few feet away.It looked straight at me and it's expression said "You tosser" and it flew off.I then had to use all my fieldcraft skills to get some shots.

By this time the wind kept blowing my hat off so I had to stuff it in a pocket.The wind was so strong it reminded me of sailing round Cape Horn in a three master tea clipper in a full gale (mind you that might have been a dream).

I decided to go home then but as I walked towards the centre Dave Hutton raced by and said there was an Icelandic race Black-tailed Godwit by the picnic area just past the sailing club.Not wishing to show my ignorance that I hadn't heard of one I said I'll see you there.It was a nice looking bird but was a bit far off to get a decent shot.

Some Kingfisher shots at last.

2011-08-08T07:18:00.001-07:00

Went across to Brandon Marsh this morning for the first time in a week or two.

I decided to go to the Steetly hide first and for a change spend at least an hour in there.Usually I see nothing from this hide and leave after only a few minutes but this time I would give it a good go.

After 15 minutes all I had seen was a couple of Mallards but then a Green Sandpiper dropped in on the far shore which was nice but a bit far off for a decent shot.Exactly on the half hour a KF flew in and landed on the perching pole but flew off almost immediately Bugger Bugger !!!!! It's not that I haven't got some KF shots but the fact that the last two years I've struggled to get any shots at all.

I need not have worried because 10 minutes later the KF returned and stayed for 20 minutes putting on a very good display.

A quick look in the Carlton hide showed 5 Green Sandpipers on the pools but not a lot else.

Just before heading off to the cafe for a cup of tea and a chat with the pretty waitress I did see from the Baldwin hide a Common Tern catch a flying fish.

Marsh Lane early in the morning.

2011-08-07T03:43:00.001-07:00

Having stayed in on Saturday early on Sunday morning I went on the short trip to Marsh Lane.I got there at 7.30AM in bright sunshine but it was a bit chilly in the strong breeze.

I had a bit of luck when I met Brian Harris on the path leading to the River hide (a hide I rarely visit) but when Brian said there was a Godwit showing on one of the islands I headed off there to see if I could get a shot.It was a bit distant and didn't stay long before flying around a while before landing on the car park pool.

It showed pretty well from the car park hide for a few minutes before flying off North.Any doubts about it's exact ID were swept away when it showed it's tail to reveal it was a Black-tailed rather than a Bar-tailed Godwit.

A little later after we had had a good look round the reserve we found a Little Egret had landed on the end of one of the car park pool islands.Of course it had to be the furthest island from the hide but nice to see.

An early morning trip to Draycote Water.

2011-08-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

As I hadn't been over to Draycote Water for many weeks I thought it was about time I went there so early on Friday morning off I went.

I got there just before 8.00AM to have a look round before Joe Public flooded the place and was pleased to see only one car in the car park.I headed straight down to the Spit because friends yesterday had seen a few waders there including a Wood Sandpiper.I didn't find the Wood Sandpiper but there were 3 Dunlin ,1 Ringed Plover and 3 Little Ringed Plovers.Although it was a bit gloomy it was nice to see some waders.

I then headed along to Toft.On route saw a couple of Yellow Wagtails but couldn't see the Wood Sandpiper there.I did spot a Common Sandpiper that looked like it was next to a large dollop of ice cream.I also found the Red-breasted Merganser but the miserable so and so stayed way out on the water and I could only get some crappographs.

I then went down the road to Napton on the Hill as I'd got a couple of shots of the Spotted Flycatchers for the vicar in whose churchyard they had bred this year.Always good to keep well in with these chaps as you don't know if it might be needed in the future.

The churchyard was pretty quiet bird wise probably because some noisy mowing was being done.Did find a bush though that was covered in juvenile Long-tailed Tits which was quite a site.

Thinking the Spotted Flycatchers had legged it back to Africa by now I was pleased to spot one high up in a distant tree along the edge of the graveyard.

Baddesley Clinton.

2011-07-31T01:07:00.000-07:00

I have now got a new favourite local patch.It's the NT property at Baddesley Clinton which is only three miles from where I live.

With all my other local patches being very quiet lately it has been pretty good in comparison with Blackcaps,Nuthatches,Goldcrests etc. showing pretty well but the stars for me are at least two Spotted Flycatchers that do their stuff not far from the manor house moat.

There are two problems with this place as a local patch : 1. If you are not a member of the NT it costs a fortune to get in and 2. The place can be extremely busy around the grounds which is not good if you are trying to get shots of a bird.Yesterday I was homing in on a pair of Goldcrests which were showing well in a conifer tree when a couple of children appeared and they were playing that popular game "Who can shout the loudest".The Goldcrests were last seen heading for France.

Here are a few recent Baddesley Clinton shots.

Don't you hate it when this happens.

2011-07-29T01:25:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to prevent people getting bored with this blog I thought I'd better say straight away that again this post includes references to Spotted Flycatchers so if you wish you can leave this blog now.In my defence this time it was not by design I stumbled on some by chance.

Having stayed in on Wednesday and as soon as I completed my chores yesterday morning I had a look round some local areas to see what was about.The quick answer is absolutely nothing so after lunch as there were no birds about I thought I'd take out my landscape camera down to the NT property at Baddesley Clinton which is only a couple of miles away.The birding camera/lens was left at home.Oh Dear!!!!!

Got some shots of the church and of the moated Elizabethan manor house.

Because there was some scaffolding round parts of the house I walked round to the northern side to see if I could get some more shots which hid the scaffolding when my eye caught a small bird that darted over the moat caught a fly and landed in small tree.No way I thought surely not a Spotted Flycatcher!!!! It was and there were two of them that were using this small tree close to the path as their base for catching flies.They were no more than 4 metres away and were not bothered by my presence.I thought these chaps were scarce this year but I've been lucky enough to see nine of them in four different locations all in Warks/West Mid.

Initially I was not bothered by not having my birding camera with me because I've got loads of shots of them this year but when a pair of Blackcaps landed in the same tree and two juvenile Nuthatches were in another nearby tree I cracked and decided to race back home to get my camera.

There is always trouble when need to have a speedy journey and my journey was no different.When you leave this place you have to go out via the shop which was empty when I arrived earlier but now it was full of members of the Very Slow Moving Old Ladies club who must be having a day out here.When I finally got out the drive home was OK but when I swept into my drive one of my next door neighbours insisted I looked at the plants she'd just put in.The drive back was pretty quick and I was chuffed to find a parking spot in the busy car park right by the entrance but when I got out the car I saw the "Disabled" sign.Bugger Bugger !!!!

I finally got back to the small tree about half an hour after I had left but I was completely knackered and much worse there was no sign of any birds.Bugger Bugger !!!!! I think this young Song Thrush felt sorry for me because it came over to try and cheer me up.

As I was knackered I was happy to plonk myself down and wait to see if they turned up again.I eventually found them but they were now high up in the taller trees.After quite a long wait one did come down to the smaller tree but it didn't hang around long.I was chuffed to see these chaps again because seeing them here was a big surprise and any non churchyard pics of them are rare for me.

Churchyards.

2011-07-27T02:36:00.000-07:00

I think I am in great danger of becoming a ghoul or even a necromancer because just lately all the birding I have been doing has been in churchyards.

Last week I went to the churchyard at Napton on the Hill twice,Tuesday morning I had a look in Knowle churchyard while I was waiting for the bakers to open, in the afternoon I went to Berkswell churchyard and yesterday morning I was wondering around the churchyard at Napton yet again.

There is a good reason.Whilst all my local patches are very quiet churchyards at the moment are the best spot to see something decent and in particular one of my favourite birds the Spotted Flycatcher.They do seem to favour churchyards which are the only places I seem to see them.They must be very religious birds and are C of E because I've never seen one in the churchyard of another denomination.

I think I saw a Spotted Flycatcher in the Knowle churchyard on Tuesday but I couldn't be certain as I hadn't got my bins with me.In the afternoon I got two at the Berkswell churchyard but only at distance and in the trees at the back.They didn't not venture on the gravestones.I did get a shot of a Green Woody which is not a great shot but I was pleased as I cannot get near these chaps.

Went yet again yesterday morning to Napton on the Hill churchyard.There usually four Spotted Flycatchers flitting around the gravestones here but I struggled to find even one.I eventually found one on the lower graveyard and in the twenty minutes it showed it gave a great display of fly catching and chasing butterflies.

Called in at Brandon Marsh on the way home.The only thing of interest we saw was when walking in the field near the river and we stumbled on a couple doing something much better than birding in the long grass.No pics !!!!!

Out early on Saturday morning.

2011-07-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Starved recently of seeing any decent birds to point the camera at I decided early on Saturday morning to go to the churchyard at Napton on the Hill where you have a decent chance of seeing a Spotted Flycatcher.

Another reason for going again was that although I've seen these chaps over the years quite a lot I haven't got a decent shot which is a pain because I've got some nice shots of Pied Flycatchers and I hardly ever see them at all.I've even got some close ups.

As I got half way to Napton I noticed I'd not put my outdoor boots on and was still wearing some lightweight shoes and even worse I hadn't put on my birding cap. Bugger Bugger !!!!

Got there just after 8.00AM and soon managed to get my shoes soaked as I walked across the wet grass in the churchyard to get to a decent spot.Things got even worse then as it started to drizzle and as I sheltered under a tree dribbles of water dropped onto my hatless head.Wonderful.

No more moaning because the Flycatchers were out and about.There are at least four of them there and if anyone says there are six I wouldn't argue with them.They were a bit flighty but I managed to get some decent shots.

Didn't stay too long because when a woman approached me and said " Are you the wedding photographer ?" I realised a wedding was imminent.

The struggle to get decent shots continues.

2011-07-21T02:43:00.000-07:00

Having been trapped indoors for a few days with all this rain this fair-weather birder thought sod it and went across to Marsh Lane Tuesday lunchtime for a quick look round.It was gloomy but not raining when I drove into the car park.

On the car park pool I thought I'd spotted something good when I saw three ducks but after a while I realised they were juvenile Shellducks.The rest of the pool was quiet with only the odd LRP flitting about on the islands.

From the causeway I tried to get some shots of the many Common Terns whizzing about with fish in their beaks presumably for their chicks but my efforts were very poor because of the gloomy weather (excuses excuses).You can tell how poor my shots were this is my best.

From the Oak hide I was pleased with seeing a couple of Common Sandpipers which I haven't seen for while.

Mid morning on Wednesday I went over to Brandon Marsh for a couple of hours.Again it was a bit gloomy but the rain had held off.Managed a couple of shots of what I think is a young Chiffchaff by the sheepfield but there was nothing else about.

The only thing on offer from the Carlton hide was a couple of the long staying Green Sandpipers and nothing else. A KF flew through twice but never stopped the miserable sod.

In the woods I looked for Green Woodpeckers and Jays for a shot or two but these two chaps must be the most nervous of all birds because you cannot get any where near them before they fly of to the next county.All I got was a distant shot of a Jay.

Struggling to get any decent shots.

2011-07-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

I suppose you should expect it this time of year but I have struggled this last week to see any decent birds to point the camera at.

Last Monday at both Whitacre Heath and later in the day Marsh Lane I could not find anything interesting to get any shots of so on Wednesday I went to Napton on the Hill which has been great lately with the Spotted Flycatchers showing well every time I've been.

When I got to the churchyard it was soon obvious it was having a bad day with no birds showing at all let alone the Spotted Flycatchers.What had happened the day before apparently was that the farmer had mowed the field next to the churchyard and the noise had dispersed the birds.On a walk to the windmill did manage some shots of a Blackcap (I think a juvenile and not a female).

On Thursday I went to Brandon Marsh.As I walked down the main path I convinced myself that I would be lucky to find anything and so just enjoy the walk in the nice weather.This plan was dashed almost immediately when I bumped into Martin by the wind pump and yet again early that morning he'd got some cracking shots of the Cuckoo being fed by the Dunnocks.Observers saw me turn green with envy as I looked at his shots.Of course I searched for ages but never saw it.

You can tell how poor the birding was that day as the only shot I took was of this dragonfly.

To have a chance of seeing the Cuckoo Martin says you must get there at 7.00AM so I made the effort on Friday morning and was in position at 6.50AM but after a patient search I drew a blank.Bugger Bugger !!!!!

Had a quick walk round and I can see why real birders go out early because there were loads of birds about particularly from the Carlton hide which was awash with Warblers but only a quick fly by by a KF.

I then shot off to Napton on the Hill to see if the Spotted Flycatchers had returned and they had.I hadn't even opened the churchyard gate when I saw four of them two of them on the church itself and another two flitting about on the gravestones.I though we're OK here I'm going to get some great shots but they were very lively and after only ten minutes they had flown off.Did manage a few shots before they flew off.

A couple of local trips.

2011-07-12T02:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning I made my usual trip to Marsh Lane getting there just before 8.00AM.

Although it was pretty early it was a warm and bright morning ideal for getting some shots but unfortunately there was nothing new around for me to point the camera at other than a LRP chick that was too far away for my lens.

I did manage a few decent shots of a Sedgie that came close to the side of the Oak hide.

Monday morning I reluctantly agreed to join a friend who was going over to Whitacre Heath.I say reluctantly because my friends have got more patience than me and are happy to sit in the Scrape hide for hours waiting for the KF's to turn up.After a couple of hours of only seeing some Common Whitethroats I left the hide to have a walk round.

After lunch I headed to Marsh Lane hoping the warm still weather would lure a Hobby in hawking for dragonflies but no such luck.I'm doing badly this year for these chaps.

I did bump into a young friend ( Martin ) whilst walking round ML who luckily for me still had in his camera some stunning shots he took last week at Brandon Marsh of a Dunnock feeding a huge Cuckoo chick.Amazing shots.

Martin : I know you sometimes check this blog so if you don't mind could you send me some of your shots.Send them to maxmary@tiscali.co.uk.

Out birding on Saturday.

2011-07-10T07:31:00.001-07:00

Having not been out with the camera for a few days I was determined to venture out on Saturday fingers crossed I could avoid the showers that had been forecast.

Pretty early in the morning I set out for the churchyard at Napton on the Hill hoping that the Spotted Flycatchers would show better so I could get a decent shot and also hoping the chicks had fledged.I arrived there at just before 8.00AM and had the place to myself.

I settled down under a tree and waited.Yet again there was good news and bad news.The good news was that I soon saw an adult and a couple of juveniles not far from where the nest had been.The bad news was the early morning brightness disappeared and clouds rolled in,the wind got up and it got pretty chilly.Bugger Bugger !!!!

I did get a few shots but because the chicks had fledged they were pretty mobile and I kept losing them and each time I found them they were in the gloom.After a couple of hours I gave up and headed over to Brandon Marsh.

When I got to Brandon and before I headed to the Cafe to see the pretty waitress I looked for the Cuckoo that had been seen recently being fed by a Dunnock "near the wind pump" but I failed and never saw it.

After lunch I joined a couple of fiends in the Carlton hide which for a change was OK.There were five Green Sandpipers feeding on the mud and a couple of juvenile Redshanks that were famous last week because they had been ID on the Teal Pool as Wood Sandpipers causing several birders to race over to see them.

The other thing of interest was caused by me because on seeing a young Grey Heron on the water I said "Everyone has got a shot of a Heron with a decent sized fish in it's mouth but me and this one doesn't look like it's going to change that".Blow me down but a few minutes later it came out of the reeds with what I was told was a decent sized Tench.

Then half an hour later it came out of the reeds again this time having caught a pretty decent Perch.Fascinating watching it turn it round and swallow it whole.

Fun and games in a churchyard.

2011-07-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

Still feeling chuffed about seeing my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year however briefly last week in a churchyard in Berkswell on Monday morning off I shot chasing them again but this time heading for a churchyard a bit further away in southern Warwickshire.I had planned to meet up with the Nuneaton Model (Kath) there as she had not got any decent shots of one.

I got there at 9.30AM to find a warm and bright morning and a very peaceful churchyard.It didn't take me long to find a Spotted Flycatcher on a distant bush and within a few minutes using my excellent bird behaviour knowledge and superb fieldcraft (what a load of rubbish that is) I located a "staging platform" a pair of them were using before they darted into the nest with their catch.The trouble was this "staging platform" was a very gloomy bush next to a large tree.Not so good for pics then!!!!

The Nuneaton Model eventually arrived having got lost on route.Women drivers eh!!!!! We then settled down to try for shots in the gloom of the bush but with the distance we had to stay from the nest and the dull conditions I struggled very badly to get any decent shots.Here are some shots where you can see how gloomy it was.

Mid morning a woman came out of the church to tell us "We encourage birders to visit the churchyard and you are welcome to enter the church turn right and help yourself to tea and coffee and if you see anything please enter it in the sightings book" How about that then!!!! makes a change from a shouted "What the hell do you think you are doing.Clear off "

After lunch we spotted a third Spotted Flycatcher that favoured the ridge line at the top of the church which of course was a fair way off.The disappointing thing was that the birds today were not using the gravestones as a base for catching insects which is where you've got a good chance of getting decent shots.I'm not going to moan too much because it was an excellent day's birding even though decent pics were very hard to get.

Here are a few shots of the one that favoured the church roof with a large butterfly.

Marsh Lane.

2011-07-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

Early this morning I went on my usual Sunday visit to Marsh Lane.Got there well before 8.00AM and found it surprisingly warm.

Didn't find anything new there and the 3 little Egrets reported on Saturday were not present as far as I could see.There were loads of Reed/Sedge Warblers near the causeway flitting around in the apple trees and on the reeds.

A lone Shellduck made a nice reflection shot on the railway pool but nothing else new was showing.

After a nice lunch I was in my back garden reading a very good book which had just got to a very tense court room scene when a blackbird started screeching out it's alarm call.After enduring this for an age I reluctantly stopped reading and looked up to see what all the fuss was about only to see a Sparrowhawk dart into a conifer tree.Like a flash I went and got the camera hoping it would show itself again.

Spotted Flycatchers

2011-07-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last year I had two different places to go and see Spotted Flycatchers one of them being Berkswell churchyard but this year despite several visits to both places I've drawn a blank and not seen one at all.

Early this morning when checking out blogs on the net I saw that Kevin Grocock had got some nice shots of one at "a Warwickshire churchyard" the day before.Thinking that he may have got his shots at Berkswell I went over there to have a look and after a bit of a search I found one on a distant tree right at the back of the churchyard.

Right I thought I'm in here but as I rattled off a couple of shots it flew off.It was then that Kevin kindly texted me to tell me where he'd seen his Flycatchers and it wasn't Berkswell so I was very lucky to go there and find one.Mind you I never saw it again that morning.

A very mixed day birding.

2011-06-30T01:20:00.000-07:00

Decided early on Wednesday morning to go over to Brandon Marsh as I hadn't been there for a while.This turned out to be a very poor decision.

My route there is through Kenilworth then to drop onto the A46 for a mile then onto the A45.This usually is a decent route but yesterday as I went down the slip road onto the A46 I was met with the driver's nightmare a completely blocked road and you of course you can't go back up the slip road.Bugger Bugger !!!!

Half an hour later I had crawled along to the A45 turn thinking I was now home and dry but oh no the A45 east was closed.Bugger Bugger Bugger !!!!!! So after nearly an hour after setting out I was heading back the way I came.

I eventually got to Brandon Marsh having used a very circuitous route but things if anything got worse because after a couple of hours walking round I saw nothing at all and never used the camera once.I was a broken man as I headed to the cafe. I was dragging my feet,my shoulders were slumped and there were small tears in the corner of my eyes.However one smile from the pretty waitress in the cafe cheered me up no end.

After a cup of tea and a bit of oggling I left and headed over to Marsh Lane which is on my way home.What a good move that was because as I entered the Car Park hide a cracking looking summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit was showing.I was able to move into smiling mode the morning's depression forgotten.Also it was a Warks Year tick.

It was a fair way off but a long wait was rewarded as it came much closer.

An early visit to Marsh Lane.

2011-06-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Early on Sunday morning I went over to Marsh Lane and was surprised to find it a bit misty and and quite chilly.The heat promised for later on had not yet materialised.

From the Oak hide this handsome chap showed quite well.

Not to be outdone this very young Pied Wagtail flew very close to the hide and inspected all of us in the hide before flying off.

Had to have a quick look before I left for the Tawny Owl chicks which were very hard to find and only a pair of young eyes spotted one high in a tree.Can you see it ?

Visited by a House Sparrow.

2011-06-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Stayed in Saturday so no birding but I did get a visit in the back garden by this young chap.

He was a very adventurous young chap not being content to wait for his parents to turn up with some food he was happy to hop around the shrubs in my back garden.This caused his parents lots of trouble trying to find him in the undergrowth but of course they did eventually did.

Not a bad day out with the camera.

2011-06-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

Decided early on Friday morning to join up with Kath and visit Whitacre Heath to try for the KF's that had been showing well on the scrape.

We entered the hide not long after 9.00AM and thought we had it to ourselves but well hidden under camouflage netting in front of the hide near the perching poles was Brian.He soon joined us in the hide but already had taken some great shots.

After a long wait nothing much was happening so we had to entertain ourselves with getting some shots of a Common Whitethroat that was looking for insects in front of the hide.

After a another long wait a KF turned up but the miserable swine soon left without even one attempt at catching a fish.Got some shots which are not amongst my best but are the first I've managed this year.

From nowhere a Green Sandpiper dropped in for a few minutes.

Then we spotted a very lively Stoat to the right end of the scrape that was dashing around a lot.Too far for my lens but Kath and Brian got some great shots with their big lenses.

As it was lunchtime and I'd left my lunch in the car I decided to head off to Marsh Lane which was on my way home leaving Kath and Brian in the hide waiting for the KF to turn up again.

As it turned out this was a good move because I had a huge piece of luck as I searched for the Tawny Owl chicks.Somehow I spotted them high up in a tree quite a long way away from the nesting box and very well hidden.What cracking looking birds.

Tawny Owls

2011-06-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

As it was sunny and warm today I popped over to Marsh Lane lunchtime to see if I could see the Tawny Owl chicks inside the gloom of their nesting box.

Having stared into the gloomy depths of the box from the main path about 70 metres away for half an hour and seeing no movement at all I gave up and went to a couple of hides.Sometime later I thought I'd have another go before I dashed home for a cup of tea but yet again there was no movement in the box.

Just as I was about to move into swearing mode something in the tree a few feet above the box caught my eye.My God it was one of the Tawny Owl chicks!!!!! I then spotted the other one just a bit to the right of the box.Both of them were out.

Here are a couple of my first Tawny Owl shots.I know they are crappographs but they were taken from about 70 metres away and it was gloomy in the depth of the tree but for once I don't care a jot.I was chuffed to see these cracking young birds let alone get a shot.

Lots of birding but no decent birds.

2011-06-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

Although I've been out locally a few times in the last few days with the camera two visits to Brandon Marsh,two visits to Marsh Lane and a couple of visits to local churchyards has produced no decent birds to point the camera at.

I've spent a long time in the Carlton hide at Brandon Marsh recently and if it wasn't for good company the distinct lack of birds on view would surely have sent me insane.The only good bit of news from this hide is that KF's are showing more regularly now.Some birders have seen them on the nearest pole but I haven't been that lucky and have only seen them at distance usually on the far pole which is way out of range for me.

At Marsh Lane there are loads of the usual suspects but nothing new as far as I could see.To entertain myself this morning I tried to get shots of some LRP's that were zooming around.Not an easy task.

The title of this post is a bit misleading because I did get a life tick this week.Although I've been birding for six years I'd never seen a Tawny Owl.How bad is that!!!! Well at Marsh Lane there are a pair and although extremely difficult to see because of the distance and branches in the way I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of one in the gloom of a tree.No pics of course but fingers crossed.

Manx Shearwaters.

2011-06-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

You can tell I've nothing decent to report since my last post because I'm harping back into the past but the recent Springwatch TV programme about the Manx Shearwaters on Skomer island reminded me when I saw one in Warwickshire a few years ago.

I did not know until the TV programme that they were nocturnal,nearly all of them went to Skomer to breed and in the winter travelled all the way to the bottom of South America.This info. made my encounter with one even more impressive.

On the 23rd. of September 2009 a friend and I had been trying to get shots of Yellow Wagtails on the Farborough bank at Draycote Water.After a while we gave up as we couldn't get near them so we started to walk along the bank wall heading to the spit.

It was 9.30AM when we spotted this (to us both) strange bird about 30 metres out on the water.Almost immediately it took flight but we managed a few shots before it flew off west.It wasn't till a birder we showed the shots to a bit later that we found out it was a Manx Shearwater.I now know how lucky we were that day.

A quick visit to Marsh Lane.

2011-06-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

I decided this morning to have a quick look round Marsh Lane but going via Berkswell first to see if the Spotted Flycatchers that were there last year had returned.

Had a good look round the churchyard but failed to see any Spotted Flycatchers in the area that they frequented last year.Last year everywhere I went I saw them but this year I haven't seen one at all.I'm also doing very badly with Hobbies one of my favourite birds having had only a couple of distant views.

Went over to Marsh Lane for a quick walk round.Spent a fair bit of time walking along the stream line checking out the trees as Tawny Owls have been seen there recently.But not by me!!! Too gloomy in there and loads of ivy to hide them.

The visit was not a waste of time because there were some young Reed Warblers waiting patiently in the reeds to be fed by their parents.