Only a couple to add

Tuesday 31st January 2017
An expected addition to this year's County list came in the form of 4 Tundra Bean geese found just up the road in fields around Seeswood pool by Dave Hutton. The birds showed well in a flock of a couple of hundred Greylags and Canada geese.

Tundra Bean goose, Seeswood pool, Nuneaton

Tundra Bean geese

4 Tundra Bean geese

Tundra Bean Goose

Bean geese

Mixed fortunes at Ladywalk yesterday nice flock of Lesser Redpolls for the year but missed the Bittern/s by a whisker.

Today I contented myself with a short patchwalk around Caldecote . Highlights of which were 3 Stonechats (2 males), a Sparrowhawk with only a couple of tail feathers left and a Kingfisher.

County listing

Wednesday 25th January 2017

I'll try and keep this County Year listing thing going in the form of a regular report. Most of my birding is local patch Birding and in-County stuff but I have been known to go for the odd 'Twitch'.
So today I had another go for the Sibe Chiffchaff, with a little more success this time. I also added Peregrine to the list at Ladywalk together with Water Rail but missed out on the Bittern. As a matter of no interest my 2017 Warwickshire total is 86 species.

Peregrine, Ham's Hall

Water Rail, Ladywalk

County Year listing

Wednesday 25th January 2017

This week my search for birds has taken me to the North and east of Warwickshire. In the east to Rugby, to see Waxwings and to Draycote Water to see a Red necked Grebe, Smew and Scaup. These are the headline birds of course as I am keen to see as many species in Warwickshire in the year as I can, but I try to keep my eyes open for any species of note.
In the North I had a fruitless search for Siberian Chiffchaff but did pick up my first Common Sandpiper of the year at Ham's Hall Distribution Park and visits to Alvecote pools produced Great white Egret and Stonechat.

Smew, Draycote Water

Red necked Grebe

Common Sandpiper, Hams Hall

Common Sandpiper

Photos from the Hairdressers

Saturday 21st January 2017

A selection of shots of the Waxwings at Hillmorton, Rugby.

Waxwing, Rugby, Warks

Waxwing

Waxwings

Waxwing

Waxwing

Waxwing

Waxwing

Glaucous Gull and Bearded Tits

Wednesday 18th January 2017

A set off with the intention of looking for a Glaucous Gull on the Bubbenhall pools but I didnt quite make it. I overshot Pagett's Lane and found myself driving past a thick hedge through which I could make out Gulls, a lot of gulls. At the first opportunity I turned off on to Watery lane where I could look at the Gulls in safety in a field of winter wheat. It wasnt too long before a juvenile Glaucous Gull was picked out. A great start to the day despite the misty damp weather.

Glaucous Gull, juv. Bubbenhall

I eventually moved on to Napton Res. Although the light was poor there was barely a breath of wind so good conditions for Bearded tit finding. As usual it was some time before my quarry was seen. There were a lot of reeds to scan but eventually some moment was detected. Several birds could be seen working their way through the reeds occasionally showing in the tops near the pointed end of the reed bed. I focused on one stunning male.

Bearded Tit, Male, Napton Reservoir

Beared Tit, female

Waxwings - the gathering

3rd January 2017

News that the lone Scout Waxwing had been joined by 18 other members of its flock warranted another visit to the Triumph factory, Hinckley to check the score for myself. In fact the score was Waxwings 23, Birders 1. Unfortunately the gloomy weather didn't do them justice so I moved on to stretch my legs on the Caldecote trail. I counted 77 Fieldfare on the meadow but little else. I looked for a Pine Bunting along the hedges but couldn't even find a Reed Bunting. No sign of any Stonechats and only a single Meadow pipit.

Waxwing, Hinckley. (taken Yesterday)

2017, Waxwing

3rd January 2017
                                                            HAPPY NEW YEAR

No Birding on New Year's Day, now that's a first. Got out pretty sharpish next day though on news that the awaited first Waxwing had had turned up locally (within 3 miles is local) even if it is in the neighbouring County, Leicstershire. I suppose I must have taken hundreds of photos of Waxwing over the years but I can't resist taking a few more when the opportunity arises.

Waxwing, Hinckley, Leics.

Waxwing

My favourite images of 2016

1st January 2017

Some of my favourite bird images home and abroad in 2016

Bittern, Ladywalk N.R. Feb

Lesser Kestrel, Morocco June

Little Bunting, Shetland Isles. Oct

Dalmation Pelican, Lake Kerkini, Greece. Feb.

Desert Warbler, Western Sahara Feb.

Sandwich Tern, Draycote Water Sept.

Dunn's Lark, Western Sahara Feb.

Spotted Redshank, Middleton Lakes RSPB Aug.

Spotless Starling, Morocco June

Red breasted Flycatcher, Shetland Isles. Oct.

Garganey, Ladywalk N.R. May

Great northern Diver, Draycote Water, Jan