Oh woh, and thrice Woh

Friday 31st August 2012
I was having such a good day at Cannock Chase, the skies were blue the sun was up, there was nothing more for me to do 'cept watch birds but its raining, raining in my heart. Another 60s classic, I think. Anyway all was going well. I'd managed to find the Whinchat and there was a good supporting cast of chase birds: Stonechat, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Raven x3, Whitethroat and Willow warbler great even got a few images of the Whinchat and then the message. ' Adult Roseate tern at the Water Park, Kingsbury. Theres me 40 minutes away from my car. Oh woh, thrice woh !! I tried, at least I tried but in the end failed by a few minutes. Well done to all the lads who did make it I didnt need it for my County list but its a dam good bird for Warks.

Whinchat, Cannock Chase, Staffs.

 

A good day, mainly at Blithfield

Thursday 30th August 2012

Common Redstart

No not Blithfield, about 1mile from home on a local patch on the way back from Blithfield Res. A nice end to the day. Full story after my Thursday evening pint so expect a few spelling mistokes.
Friday 31st August 2012
Goats Milk was on form last night at the Church End tap but to go back to the start of the day at Blithfield Res. Staffs. From the causeway there were a number of Terns offshore coping with a gusty wind. Mostly Common terns with 5/6 Black terns. There was also a juvenile Little Gull sitting on the water with a few Black headed Gulls. Walking round the shoreline a small wader appeared in rapid flight low over the water- a Sanderling. I lost it as it headed back to the causeway but despite despite a short search it could not be relocated. A juvenile Osprey was also seen over the woodland before gaining height and heading off North West.
From the Tad Bay hide there wasnt too long to wait before the juvenile Marsh Harrier put in an appearance albeit distantly over the corn field the other side of the bay.

Marsh Harrier, Blithfield Res. Staffs

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Common Redstart, Caldecote Bushes, N. Warks.

If only

Tuesday 29th August 2012
I'm not asking for sympathy, I know I wont get any but Ive just experienced an ' if only' moment. If only I'd gone into the garden 1 minute earlier, if only I'd checked the skies to the west first and not the east, if only the sun hadnt come out at that precise moment, if only Id had my bins with me instead of wasting a minute searching for my car keys to get them - I could have confirmed that the long winged Raptor fast disappearing to the south west being mobbed by a large gull was in fact an Osprey. Probable = zilch, zero, nowt, even for a garden tick.

He's a dedicated follower of fashion

Monday 28th February
It was going to be a day for Birding. Blithfield looked good with regular sightings of Marsh Harrier but did I really want to go that far. I headed off down the A5, keeping my options open. I'd only got as far as the Merevale estate near Atherstone when I made a decision. A spot of visible migration, there were excellent views from the North facing slope overlooking Legion Wood. Vis migging as it known by those who know involves viewing the skies from some such prominent position and watching or listening to what flies over. Its very fashionable at the moment. Almost as fashionable as Redstart watching. I gave it a good half hour. From my viewpoint I could look north across a corner of Leicestershire on to some distant Derbyshire hills. After half an hour I decided there wasn't much migration going on, visible or otherwise. A couple of Swifts and a handful of hirundines appeared and disappeared but I couldn't tell if they were small groups moving through or a single group moving round the ridge.
Moving on to Mill pool, Alvecote, I had a result. A Greenshank, it flew around Mill pool before settling down on Teal pool. There were also two Common Redstarts in the hedges and half a dozen Sand Martins.

Greenshank, Mill pool Alvecote

Greenshank

Greenshank

 It was just good to see some new birds, but Im afraid despite my best efforts the Greenshank proved the high point of the day. Lea Marston, Haunch Lane, Hurley and Shustoke were all very quiet.



 

A walk around Caldecote

Sunday 26th August 2012
A Wheatear was  in the potato fields, opposite Caldecote Hall, possibly the same bird as seen mid week. Other than that there were perhaps 30 House Martins and a few Swallow but not much else. A few Skylarks, Stock Dove and Lapwing were also seen. The Gull flock had broken up probably moving on to other fields more recently ploughed. Another birder reported Yellow wagtails still about but I didn't see any. Other birds I did see included: Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Great spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting and Grey Heron.

Quiet Weekend

Sunday  26th August 2012
Entertaining and being entertained was the order of the weekend, so not much birding. A Hobby at Fishers Mill was the best bird and the Beer Festival at the Wood Farm Brewery was the best entertainment. A good sixties band and good Ale, Now thats what I call entertainment! Birding will resume next week with a local Wryneck or Spotted Crake high on the agenda.

2-1 to the Spot Flys

Wednesday 22nd August 2012
First Spot. Flies of the Autumn at the patch. 2 birds today: 1 in the bushes, another a bit further up the canal. Common Redstart could only manage 1 despite some skulking juvenile Robins trying to confuse the issue. An appreciative crowd of one witnessed events. Large number of Peacock butterflies on the wing today.

Spotted Flycatcher near Caldecote

Spotted Flycatcher, posing like an RBF

Spotted Flycatcher 2