A bit of local birding.

Early Sunday morning I had another look in Knowle churchyard to see if I could find the Spotted Flycatchers again.

I don't know if it was the peeling bells that scared all the birds off but I saw very little and definitely the not the Flycatchers.The only thing I did get was very wet not from any rain as it was a nice morning but from the long grass in the churchyard which soaked my boots,socks and the bottoms of my trousers without me realising at the time.What a burk!!!!

In the afternoon having got depressed with England's bowling against Pakistan in the one dayer I decided to have a quick look at Marsh Lane.

From the car park hide there were 6 Common Snipe on the grass in front of the hide.

A juvenile Water Rail showed from the causeway screens but too close for me to get a shot.As I crossed the stream I spotted 2 Hobbies flying around but they did not stay for long so I only managed a few shots.

As I walked to the Railway hide I spotted several Common Buzzards soaring high in the sky calling out to each other.Here a couple of shots of the one who did come a little lower.

Earlswood Lakes.

Because the weather was bad in the morning I had decided to stay in but when the lunchtime match (Everton V Man. Utd.) was looking to me like a draw I decided to chance the weather and go to Earlwood Lakes to see if the Black Terns were still present.

The bad news first the match turned out to be an exciting 3 - 3 draw.The good news was that the Black Terns were still there and even better news was that as I walked towards the causeway I met up with Pete Walkden.He kindly guided me to the best spot to try for some shots which was along the path to the yacht club.

There were 3 juveniles wizzing around everywhere and my god they were a devil to lock onto.I managed to take an enormous amount of crappographs with very few decent shots and most of those were of empty skies,trees,yachts and local housing.These are a few of the better ones.

We did have a problem on the walk back when a small bridge you have to cross was blocked by a yobbo who would not get out of the way.Pics taken for forwarding to the authorities.

Raptorfest at Marsh Lane.

After my morning at Knowle Churchyard I decided to have a quick look in at Marsh Lane.It was a good move as it turned out with many raptors on view enjoying the sunny afternoon.

Saw a Kestrel in a nearby tree by the main gate but it flew off as soon as I closed the gate.As I got out the car a Sparrowhawk flew above my head and over the crop field area there were 7 Common Buzzards soaring and calling out.

As I walked down towards the causeway I met up with John who said a Hobby was about some where and blow me down if it didn't appear flying over the car park pool straightaway.Well I shot off and positioned myself in what I hoped was a good spot to try for some shots.

It zoomed around the causeway area on and off for about 10 minutes.Trying to get shots of a fast flying Hobby is a thrill that's better than a passionate kiss with Cheryl Cole and I should know!!!!!

Trouble was I didn't have it all my own way as my friend was taking the p*** a bit as it kept flying over me out of the sun like a world war 2 fighter pilot so lots of shots were crappographs.

Here are some of shots of it flying.

Here are some shots of it with food/eating.

Another Visit to Knowle Churchyard.

I must be getting religion late in life because I made another visit to Knowle churchyard for the second time in a week on Thursday morning.I was after the Spotted Flycatchers again because I needed cheering up after a grim visit to Draycote Water on Wednesday morning.

Now I am the last person to have a go at Draycote Water because it has been excellent lately but on Wednesday morning it was very poor for photographers.To start with it was very gloomy with a mist shrouding everything,there was only a lone wader (Ringed Plover) on the Hensborough Bank foreshore and all the good birds present (RN Phalarope,6 Black Terns,a Little Gull and a Little Tern were tiny blobs in a powerful scope.

The only bit of excitement was a distant Hobby catching a Swallow(?) and flying off to enjoy his meal.Got a very distant shot but you can just make out it's catch that is if you look very hard.

Well back to my visit to Knowle churchyard.I could not find the Spotted Flycatchers which I saw on Tuesday morning but I did find a bit of action when I walked round.I thought I was trying to get shots of a Goldcrest that was pinging around in the trees as they do but when I got the shots home I was wrong yet again.

I'm not really sure what I had got shots of I can only suggest a Chiffchaff.Please let me know what you think.Here are a few shots.

Knowle Churchyard.

This morning whilst waiting for the bakers to open (the lazy swine does not open till 8.30AM) I took a stroll round the nearby Knowle churchyard.I've done this before but not seen much but this morning it was pretty lively.

The best spot was a family of Treecreepers who took no notice of me standing 3 metres away as they fed on a tree trunk probably because my camera was half a mile away!!!! Raced back home and grabbed the camera but there was no sign of the Treecreepers when I returned.Typical!!!!

As I was there I decided to take a good look round and was pleasantly surprised to find at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers whizzing around the gravestones.What is it with these chaps they seem to love churchyards.Are they religious or what.I've been lucky to see a lot of them this year all locally and all in churchyards.

Here are a few shots none of them much good as I couldn't get near them at all.They were around for about 15 minutes before deciding to rest up high in some trees.

Another trip to Draycote Water.

Having stayed at home on Friday doing some gardening mainly battling with the weeds that grow everywhere including the driveway and the patio (I'm damn sure that as soon as you weed one area they return as soon as your back is turned.) I needed to go out with the camera and I played it safe and went to Draycote Water.

Saw Pete Walkden in the car park as I arrived.Now I had previously decided to ignore him when we next met because I was so jealous of all the cracking shots he'd taken recently (the last one being a super shot of a Wryneck).

Of course I didn't and we walked to the Hensborough bank together which in itself was a bit of a mistake because Pete, even though he's carrying a huge lens and tripod, walks very quickly and by the time we'd climbed the steep incline up past the centre I was gasping for air.

On the wader front there were still 6 Ringed Plovers.

Also there were at least 4 Dunlin.

The Curlew Sandpipers had been reduced to a lone juvenile.

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The only other bird of interest I spotted was a distant Yellow-legged Gull which was the first I'd seen for a while.

Good to see many old friends but the best was a little later when I sat by the mobile cafe and had a coffee with local birding legends Steve Seal,Richard Mays and Pete Walkden.It was like sitting at the top table at a royal wedding.They were talking about birds I'd never heard of so I wisely just kept nodding my head.

A couple of local trips.

Another fine day on Wednesday so off I went with the camera.Decided not to go to Draycote Water as I'd been too often lately so I went to Brandon Marsh.

So how did I do? Well the weather was great,the reserve looked a treat and the company was good but the birds were very thin on the ground.Saw a KF briefly,a Green Sandpiper and a distant Buzzard and that was it.

The day got worse when I got home when I received a text "4 Curlew Sandpipers at Draycote Water.Bugger!!!!!

After I'd done my chores on Thursday morning I went to Draycote Water.Got there at 9.45AM to find the car park nearly empty.Not a good sign specially as Curlew Sandpipers don't hang around usually (2 hours at Marsh Lane on Sunday).

I got even more worried when I got to Hensborough bank as there was not a single person let alone a birder by the wall.They had obviously gone and I'd missed out again.As I walked along the bank I noticed Dave Hutton well camouflaged on the rocks and he said the magic words "3 Juvenile and 1 adult Curlew Sandpipers just a bit further on".

I soon found them with a few Dunlin and managed a few shots of these cracking birds.

The Sanderling was also still about.Great to see so many waders together in Warwickshire.

The waders were a little flighty and I was able to get some flight shots.