Still a trickle

Tuesday 30th July 2013
Spent a pretty unrewarding morning at the Southern end of the Tame valley today. Water levels were predictably high so the likelihood of finding any passage waders was not good. It was the hot pants connection though that put me on the right track. A message from a reliable source listed a number of sightings at Shustoke Res. mid-day including a pair of .......Dunlin, an adult and a juvenile. Any interest in hot pants is a passing phase, interest in birding is for life.

Dunlin, Shustoke Res.

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

The first trickle

The movement  of waders returning from their breeding grounds has begun in the West Midlands. The first trickle of birds has been noted at the usual wetlands sites. Black tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Turnstone, Wood Sandpipers, Knot and Greenshank among the early returners. Hopefully water levels will allow plenty of gravel and mud to be exposed when the main wader passage occurs so that a good variety of shorebirds including a few 'yanks' will be 'available' to West Midlands birders. After such a poor  late summer/autumn last year the signs are good with Wood Sandpiper and Turnstone seen at Brandon Marsh in the last few days.

Caspian Tern, Rudyard Lake, Staffs

Caspian Tern, Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

The day began with the now regular 'Crossbill' walk in Bentley wood. This time, however, in the company of Steve H. Its good to have ears in woodland and Steve has excellent ears. We had to make do with a single fly over for sometime before we had two separate flocks settle in the tree tops. We reckoned a total of 29 Crossbills were seen. I hadnt taken the pager out so it was mid afternoon by the time I found out about a Caspian Tern in the West Mids. The shall I, shant I debate didnt last long so I was soon on my way. The journey was tedious with a good deal of slow moving traffic and finding the viewing point proved harder than it should have been but it was all worth it to see the Caspian Tern flying around and then landing on the mud/grass at the Northern end of Rudyard lake.

Common tern

Thursday 25th July 2013
A few images from Shustoke and District

Common tern

Common tern

Common tern

Common tern

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Monday 22nd July 2013

Spotted Flycatcher with Purple Hairstreak Butterfly, North Warks.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Ever heard of the Royal Teens?

Tuesday 16th July 2013
A rather more dignified bit of birding in the Tame valley today, some might say boring but I prefer dignified. Any excitement was provided by a Tufted Duck with 8 or so ducklings crossing the fast A 4091 near Bodymoor Heath. Pleased to report all the family survived the crossing, and then, as if that wasnt enough excitement, a Munjac raced across the road in front of me near the entrance to Kingsbury Water park. Highlights of the morning's birdwatching were 2 Green Sandpipers on the mud at Middleton Hall lake, at least one Ringed plover, several Little ringed plovers and a Little Egret at Jubilee wetlands, RSPB and a Kingfisher and at least 9 juvenile Common tern on Cliff pool, Kingsbury Water Park.
PS I am now the proud owner of a brand new pair of M&S shorts.

Pacific Golden Plover - Rutland Water ( a shorts story)

Monday 15th July 2013
After a somewhat lethargic weekend I decided on a walk round the Caldecote patch this morning I badly needed the exercise and I had rather neglected the area of late. There was plenty of hirundine activity around the village and the river Anker looked in good nick, with plenty of fish and Dragonfly life. Birdlife was quieter but Greater spotted Woodpecker, Skylark and a couple of juvenile Yellow Wagtails were noted. I was about halfway round when news of a probable Pacific golden Plover at Rutland Water came up. I was enjoying my local walk but the chance of a Midlands tick and an excuse to get out and about led to an about turn back to the car. The road from Market Harborough across to Eyebrook Reservoir through Medbourne is one of my favourite bits of countryside in the Midlands by the way. Not surprisingly the car park was pretty full and after paying my dues I enquired as to what direction I should head in. 'Its a long way' came the cheerie reply. Ok, I'm up for a good walk even as the mid-day temperature approached 30ish. I decided on scope rather than camera, I was going to be  a proper birder today. So off I sets scope over the shoulder when it happened. The elastic holding up my shorts gave up, it had simply had enough. Like a good deal of my kit it had seen better days but having got this far I was going to carry it was just a case of holding everything up with one hand and carrying tripod etc with the other.
LGRE went hurtling past me, I'd have given him a good run for his money if I hadnt been so inconvenienced by my apparel. There was no need to rush anyway, no bird in its right mind was going to go very far in the heat of the day. There was plenty of room in the hide initially so it was easy to find the plover in the scope standing on the rocks of a bund, surrounded by Lapwings and Little Egrets. The Pacific golden Plover moved very little while I was there, only coming down to the waters edge to drink now and again. Although quite distant and a little hazey the bird gave the necessary views: front back and sides. An Osprey circled overhead but as the hide became crowded with more birders arriving it was time to leave. I was in need of some hydration, the visit to M&S to get some new shorts would have to wait until tomorrow.

Dunnock - unusual behaviour ?

Monday 8th July 2013
Saw a Dunnock in the garden today use a feeding technique I've never seen before. The bird appeared to deliberately fly into a dwarf Rose plant and then feed on the Aphids it had dislodged. At least thats what appeared to happen. The Dunnock may have accidentally flown into the Rose and just taken advantage of the Aphids on the path which resulted. Certainly the action was not repeated to my knowledge, but the fact that bird was immediately aware that the food was available and began feeding as soon as it landed makes me wonder if it was a deliberate ploy. Has anyone else witnessed similar behaviour?

Dunnock

Dunnock

Bridled Tern on the Farne islands

Tuesday 2nd July 2013
Travelled up to Seahouses, Northumberland over night with the two Johns, Holtham and Bowden and Tony Shepherd to catch the early boat to Inner Farne. This was my first visit to the Farnes and as we approached the jetty it was the atmosphere created by the sights, sounds and smells and constant movement of a multitude of seabirds species that was amazing. In the area we had access to, Arctic terns were the predominant species with Puffins, Sandwich Terns, Guillemots, Razorbill, Kittiwakes and the predatory large Gulls. As the boatload of birders stepped ashore we were greeted by the wardens who quickly put us on to the Bridled tern on rocks quite close to the jetty in amongst the Arctic terns. The tern would frequently fly around but then return to the same general area giving great views to the appreciative onlookers, although at times, the Bridled Tern would go missing altogether. Many thanks To John B. for driving.

Bridled Tern, Inner Farne,Northumberland

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Arctic Tern

Arctic tern

Arctic Tern