Mainly Ladywalk.

Monday 16th March 2009

Travelled down the M40 on Saturday, I knew with such inviting weather Jan and I would see good numbers of Red Kite but we were staggered to see 49 !

After a great weekend in Surrey with my sister and her family I thought I'd try to do some local migrant spotting today. Early days I know but with favourable weather there might be something around.

There's always something, some issue, with a good many local birding sites: at Shustoke, its dogs. Dogs on the banks, dogs in the water, dogs chasing balls dogs chasing each other. Lots of dogs no birds. Moving on after stretching my legs around the reservoir, I scanned every likely 'Wheatear field' but could find nothing. A few Red legged Partridges but no migrants.

Ladywalk is always good value for a couple of hours or three and so it proved. After a bite to eat in the car park I was greeted by a Chiffchaff singing its heart out from the top of a Poplar tree. At the Sainsbury's hide feeding station there was a hive of activity with Brambling, at least 3, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Marsh tit and a host of commoner species.

Other species seen around the reserve were Shelduck, Goosander, Great spotted Woodpecker, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper and Tawny Owl.

Finally, Steve Cawthray pointed out some 'Hot lips' Fungi. I havent got a clue what they are called but if anyone does know feel free to let me know before I do myself a mischief rummaging around in the attic for my old Observers book of Fungi.

STOP PRESS :Potential First for Britain

Friday 13th March

I can confirm it. I am now old. I've had my suspicions for some time: you know, moaning a bit about lack of respect, having to sit down occasionally, but I've fought it. My head can still be turned by a pretty ankle - I've just got to turn it more slowly. So whats brought this on then. Bloody Morrisons thats what. Every assistant, every check out person even the woman in the Petrol station called me 'dear'. If anyone else, Red nose day, Friday 13th or not calls me that I shall not be pleased. Perhaps 'dear' is a Coventry thing just like 'Me Duck' in Leicester. Anyway it makes me feel old and I dont like it. Even 'foggy', 'flat pint Bob' and other forms of abuse I put up with at my Thursday night watering hole aren't as bad as 'dear'.

I visited Morrison's on the way back from Brandon Marsh, where the highlight was a Blue-winged Shoveler.(See photos) A potential first for Britain if accepted but it may have to be supressed to avoid disturbing the workparties.

Other species included: Willow tit, Common Snipe, Kingfisher, Green and Great spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Redwing c20, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Water Rail and Cetti's warbler.

First of the Year

Thursday 12th March 2009

Back to birding today, starting in a nice bit of Warwickshire countryside around Church Lawford- Bumbling Bears country. No sign of winter thrushes around Lawford Heath just a few Skylarks but the thick roadside hedgerows near Church Lawford held a small numbers of Tree Sparrows and a small flock of Yellowhammers.

As I reached Draycote it started to drizzle. After renewing my annual car park permit and checking the ex-cafe for Moths I set off to Toft. Not many people about and not too many birds. The Red necked Grebe had moved further round towards Toft bay. On the way back a Great northern Diver had moved in quite close to the pontoons. After a coffee it was time for phase 2, a walk to the valve tower. At Rainbow corner I caught sight of my first summer migrant, a single Sand Martin. (121)Continueing round, half a douzen Goosanders were still present but no sign of the Rock pipit which had been around for the previous couple of days. A second Great northern Diver was close in on Draycote Bank. It was defintely a second bird as the photograph shows it has an extended upper mandible.

The pager had been telling be of a Kumlien's Gull at Shawell, Leicestershire all day but having failed on a previous visit for an Iceland Gull there I wasnt exactly going to race over there. However, looking at the map it was fairly close to Draycote and an easy route so I thought it was worth a go. By now it was a nice spring day with pleasant sunshine and a light breeze. I was surprised there was no-one on site when I got there as there had been a number of pager messages and Kumlien's although not a full species are not that frequent in the Midlands. I scanned the few gulls on the pool with no luck but with a constant stream of new gulls dropping in there was a good chance it would come in later. Birders also began to drop in and with more eyes focussed it wasn't long before the 2w Kumlien's Gull was found. It showed well both in flight, on the water and on the bank.

Rule Britannia

Wednesday 11th March 200

Whats the connection between Waxwings and Pork pies? Nothing really except they both conspired to make the day a little more interesting.

Havent managed any 'real' birding this week yet but visited the Waxwings again. Its amazing how Waxwings can bring people together. In fact, 'Its been emotional,' I've met people I haven't seen for years, I've met people who live next to me I never knew had the slightest interest in birds and Ive met people who are always there.

Anyway about this Pork pie or should I say Game pie. It all started when Jan decided our rear entrance needed tarting up. She bought a Wrought iron mat thing from a mega garden centre at Stapleton near Hinckley. Well it may have looked pretty but it was pretty useless as well. It fell to bits just looking at it let alone threatening it with a pair of dirty wellies. Anyway as I didnt have much to do between getting checked over at the George Eliot and dismantling a garden shed I suggested taking it back. It was while I was at the garden centre that I couldn't resist buying a Poachers Game pie for my lunch. It ticked all the boxes: Made in Leicestershire, bought in Leicestershire and eaten.....as soon as I got home.

Now I'm not trying to muscle in on the established Pie Blogs of varying repute but for me, a self confessed devotee of the Pork pie there is something rather English about Bird watching and eating Pork or Game pies.

New Moth for garden tonight - Common Quaker

Bad hair day

Monday 9th March 2009

Well, what a todo today! I couldnt resist going for third helpings of our local Waxwings and what happens ? The local press turn up. So whats the big deal, clearly a quiet news day in Nuneaton on Anker. So lets take a some photos of a few people standing on a grass verge next to the A444. That'll fill a micro column. The few get fewer as a couple of blokes melt into the background and are lost to view as the photographer approaches. I feel a bit of a prat as I stand there in the forefront, camera in hand, hair all over the place, being photographed for just being there. Do I smile, look up in the trees, look totally disinterested? I'm just not used to the Celeb culture. Why should they be interested in somebody who isnt drunk and disorderly? One of the reasons I became a birdwatcher was that it was something I could do without having to worry about what I looked like - and now this.

Apologies for yet more images of Waxwings but at least these are locally sourced.

Waxwing Celebration

Sunday 8th March 2009

The weather forecast and a family celebration meant an early start if I was going to have another look at the local Waxwings. It would also be quieter first thing so hopefully the birds would be feeding rather than waiting to feed high up in the trees. The birds were still there when I arrived and looked so much better than yesterday in the early morning sunlight. It wasnt long before I was joined by other birders and it was clear the birds would be a popular attraction on a sunny Sunday. I left early as Jan and I had to get over to Stratford for her sister Gill's 60th birthday do which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

At last

Saturday 7th February 2009

It had begun like many Saturdays in March, as a quiet birding day. Quiet in a birding sense as we wait for the arrival of the first migrants. But not quiet in a Julian Allan 'Whoops I've just dropped the window' in the hide at Coton sense. It actually didn't make any difference, the 2 female Scaup on the far side seemed obliveous to the Howitzer like explosion from the hide. Even the nearby Common Snipe were more alarmed by a couple of foraging Mute Swans than the seismic upheaval going on in the hide. No harm done then. Julian was in fact acting as Chaffeur to Tom for the day who in turn had offered to show his appreciation by buying Julian lunch which we all agreed was a dam fine thing to do. I decided to join them for a coffee at least, however, just as we arrived at the cafe at KWP Tom suggests I look at my pager. Would you Adam and Eve it. 4 Waxwings on my own doorstep in Nuneaton, the coffee would have to wait. On arriving on site there's no sign of the 4 Waxwings reported but more worryingly no sign of any trees or bushes which might encourage them to hang around. For nearly an hour I walk round the adjacent roads and avenues with no luck until walking further up the Weddington road I finally find not 4 but 15 Waxwings (120) in a large Willow tree next to the River Anker next to the Old Eds. Rugby ground (close to the site of the infamous Nuneaton Black bellied Dipper).

I phoned up a few local friends and put out an update on Rare Bird Alert. At last I'd caught up with Waxwings in Warwickshire.

And by the way The Old Eds won their match against Old Laurentians.