Part of the flock of Waxwings on Capper Lane, Lichfield
A collection of shots from the Waxwing flock around Lichfield, Staffs. There were several groups in the area but the total was probably between 100 and150 birds.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Waxwings
A collection of shots from the Waxwing flock around Lichfield, Staffs. There were several groups in the area but the total was probably between 100 and150 birds.
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Staffs Birding
Saturday 24th November 2012
South Staffordshire offered a bit of varied birding in a limited area which was what was needed with heavy rain forecast around Lunchtime. A Great Northern Diver off the dam at Blithfield Res.was an easy start but the Great grey Shrike on the Chase proved much more elusive. If the keen eyed JA couldn't find it it wasn't there. As the skies darkened the rain began to fall but there was still one call to make on the way home and with luck I wouldnt even have to get out of the car. In Lichfield a flock of Waxwings had been seen regularly over the past few days on an industrial estate. Sure enough they were still there in trees close to the road in the pouring rain, occasionally dropping down to feed in a Rowan tree.
South Staffordshire offered a bit of varied birding in a limited area which was what was needed with heavy rain forecast around Lunchtime. A Great Northern Diver off the dam at Blithfield Res.was an easy start but the Great grey Shrike on the Chase proved much more elusive. If the keen eyed JA couldn't find it it wasn't there. As the skies darkened the rain began to fall but there was still one call to make on the way home and with luck I wouldnt even have to get out of the car. In Lichfield a flock of Waxwings had been seen regularly over the past few days on an industrial estate. Sure enough they were still there in trees close to the road in the pouring rain, occasionally dropping down to feed in a Rowan tree.
Great Northern Diver, Blithfield Res., Staffs.
Great Northern Diver
Great northern Diver
Waxwing, Lichfield, Staffs.
Waxwing
Waxwing
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Waxwings arrive
Spent the morning getting freaked out by the light show from the NationGrid lorries opposite the house. They're re-laying gas pipes through the whole estate so the traffic can be a bit chaotic at times but the National Grid boys are throughly professional and very well organised.They didnt miss a beat even during the heaviest rain this morning. It was a great relief when Dave Hutton alerted me to some Waxwings sighted on the other side of Nuneaton.The rain had eased by mid day so it was a relief to have an excuse to get out of the house. There was no sign of the birds when I arrived but it wasnt too long before 3 Waxwings flew in to a tree quite close to a heavily berried Rowan. The Waxwings were very wary of the 3 Blackbirds ans single Redwing which were also feeding on the berries. After 2 failed attempts to land in the Rowen the birds flew off, but I doubt if that will be the last of them with so many berries left.
Waxwings, Nuneaton
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Paddyfield birding
Tuesday 20th November 2012
Set off with the intention of looking for the Long tailed Duck at Drayton Basett after checking the estate bushes for Waxwings and also popping in to Stoney Delph to see if the Pintail was still there. It wasnt. Pressed on to Middleton with the rain starting to fall and the skies to the west looking threatening. I passed a couple of couples and a chap from Derby. Nobody had seen either the LTD or the Sandpiper but there had been reports of the Sandpiper being seen in the morning. I carried on as the rain started to come down. By the time I reached the 'new workings' it was raining steadily and visability was poor. For once I'd got my trusty 'scope with me and started to assemble it with a view to scanning the water's edge near the pump. No need. I wiped the water off the lens and checked to see if I could see anything at all. Sure could, there was the White rumped Sandpiper motionless back to the prevailing weather. A bit of luck. The rain was now sheeting down, the backs of my jeans were already soaked, it was time to get the front soaked and head back. On reaching the Fishers Mill bridge there was a lot of bird movement. Fieldfare, Redwing, and a large flock of, maybe 60 Chaffinches flying from the canal side hedge into the stubble field and back. I saw 2 Bramblings in flight but there may well have been more with more birds on the ground further into the field. It would have been great to work through the flock but with the rain and wind continuing it was time to call it a day. https://twitter.com/Bob_the_Birder
Set off with the intention of looking for the Long tailed Duck at Drayton Basett after checking the estate bushes for Waxwings and also popping in to Stoney Delph to see if the Pintail was still there. It wasnt. Pressed on to Middleton with the rain starting to fall and the skies to the west looking threatening. I passed a couple of couples and a chap from Derby. Nobody had seen either the LTD or the Sandpiper but there had been reports of the Sandpiper being seen in the morning. I carried on as the rain started to come down. By the time I reached the 'new workings' it was raining steadily and visability was poor. For once I'd got my trusty 'scope with me and started to assemble it with a view to scanning the water's edge near the pump. No need. I wiped the water off the lens and checked to see if I could see anything at all. Sure could, there was the White rumped Sandpiper motionless back to the prevailing weather. A bit of luck. The rain was now sheeting down, the backs of my jeans were already soaked, it was time to get the front soaked and head back. On reaching the Fishers Mill bridge there was a lot of bird movement. Fieldfare, Redwing, and a large flock of, maybe 60 Chaffinches flying from the canal side hedge into the stubble field and back. I saw 2 Bramblings in flight but there may well have been more with more birds on the ground further into the field. It would have been great to work through the flock but with the rain and wind continuing it was time to call it a day. https://twitter.com/Bob_the_Birder
Middleton Lakes RSPB
Good views of the White rumped Sandpiper yesterday despite the damp conditions but no such luck with the Long tailed Duck, which showed very well apparently in the SW corner of Fishers Mill pool 10 minutes before I got there. If I hadnt taken a detour to look for Waxwings I'd have seen it. I followed up reports that it had relocated to the far side of north pit but there was no sign. Some consolation in getting good views of the W R S and a flock of some 9 Dunlin flew through but with the rain continuing I decided to squelch my way back and relocate to the cafe after checking some stubble and hedges for Brambling.
Thursday, 15 November 2012
White rumped Sandpiper in Staffs.
Thursday 15th November 2012
White rumped Sandpiper, Drayton Bassett, Staffs.
White rumped Sandpiper
White rumped Sandpiper
W R Sand.- size comparison with Pied Wagtail
After disappearing for nearly 2 hours midday the White rumped Sandpiper flew in to some islands near the front edge of the scrape to give good views. Also on site 2 Green Sandpipers and a Stonechat.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
White rumped Sandpiper at RSPB Middleton lakes
Wednesday 14th November 2012
The north pit of the RSPB reserve at Middleton Lakes has been partially drained to allow work to be done on the ajoining pit. It has created suberb wader habitat which has attracted 3 Redshanks and a White rumped Sandpiper at the moment. Although distant the bird fed, flew, preened and even swam while I was there and I'm indebted to those friends who allowed me the use of their telescopes. Which were a good deal more use than my camera.
The north pit of the RSPB reserve at Middleton Lakes has been partially drained to allow work to be done on the ajoining pit. It has created suberb wader habitat which has attracted 3 Redshanks and a White rumped Sandpiper at the moment. Although distant the bird fed, flew, preened and even swam while I was there and I'm indebted to those friends who allowed me the use of their telescopes. Which were a good deal more use than my camera.
White rumped Sandpiper, Drayton Bassett,Staffs.
Early Birders
Local resident wondering what was going on, went largely unnoticed
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