Ifs, buts and maybes.

Working through a weeks photos there are always the goodies you can't wait to publish, the majority of out of focus rejects and a couple that get you reaching for the reference books.With proper research reality takes over from fantasy in most cases anyway. I have 2 birds I'm still not sure about. The quality of the images and the visability of the key ID features is crucial and unfortunately because of distance, etc. etc. these are not clear images. See what you think.
Shrike spp.

Shrike sp

Shrike sp

Shrike sp

Best bet is probably an adult female Red backed Shrike but 1w female Isabelline (dark tailed variant) had to be considered.

This bird popped up as I was trying to get a decent shot of the Shrike. So unfortunately I didn't give the bird the attention it deserved. Bigger than the House Sparrows around and the shape of the supercilium and 'hefty' bill suggesting Rock Sparrow?

Cyprus - 2015

6th -20th May 2015

Report on birds encountered on holiday on Cyprus. As usual Jan and I were based at Paphos but ranged into the Arkamas and as far as Limassol. We did our usual walks keeping a keen eye open for any bird activity. There was some evidence of late migration along the coast with parties of Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis on the move with small numbers of White winged Black terns and Collared Pratincoles on South facing shorelines. Warblers were in short supply but there was a large influx of Spotted Flycatcher just as we arrived and single Pied and Collared Flycatchers. Our regular 'patch' was at Mandria with a couple of recently ploughed fields and a stubble field getting almost daily attention. The reward was; Red backed Shrike, probable Isabelline Shrike,18 Ruff, 5 Collared Pratincole, 4, 2 and a single White winged Black Tern, Northern Wheatear, 2 Tawny pipits, Grey headed Wagtail a Black winged Pratincole and an as yet unidentified Lark.
Credit for one of the birds of the trip must go to Jan. On one of our walks on the Akamas Jan heard something - 'its either a frog or an Owl' well it wasnt going to be a frog. So I tried my usual one size fits all, Owl call. Well it worked, From the nearest tree came a single note from a Scops Owl and unusually it wasnt that hard to see.

Scop's Owl

I managed to get a few other shots of some of the species I've mentioned plus some of the regulars.

Tawny Pipit

Tawny Pipit

Collared Flycatcher

Purple Heron

Black Francolin

Griffon Vulture

White winged Black Tern

White winged Black Tern

Georgia - 2015

26th April -  2nd May 2015

Travelled to Tbilisi in Georgia via Istanbul on a tour organised by Birdfinders. From the airport we drove through the Caucasian mountains via the Krestovy pass to our base at Stepantsminder on the Terek river next to Kazbegi. We stopped several times at the pass and soon started picking up our target species such as Caucasian Snowcock on the snow covered slopes and Guldenstadt's Redstart, but by far  the commonest birds were Ring Ouzel and Water pipit on the lower levels. Despite a complete lack of sleep the previous night the adrenalin from seeing so many exciting birds kept us going. After a 5.30am breakfast day 2 began with a check of some areas of bushes not far out of the village. We saw our first Caucasian Black Grouse but struggled to see another target Great Rosefinch. We knew they were around but they were not showing at all. Until, having started to search on my own a male popped up right next to me on top of a bush. What a moment that was. I gently raised the camera and took a few shots. The bird seemed totally unconcerned and started to sing quietly. The rest of the group were some way away but eventually responded to my gestures. It was a great start to the week with all the group seeing 4 out of the 6 target species.During the remainder of the week we visited a number of sites around Kazbegi either in the river valleys or in the foothills of the mountains which towered above us. We saw a number of Raptors including; Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, Black Kite, Steppe Buzzard,and Peregrine soaring overhead and evidence of migration with flocks of Purple Herons and Demoiselle Cranes passing through the mountains. On the whole the weather was good although we did have prolonged rainfall on a couple of occasions. I should at this point mention the local drivers who ferried us about the mountain roads/tracks, which were challenging if not downright hairy.
Having failed to see Wallcreeper at a couple of sites in the pass we revisited the sites again where we found 2 pairs of Wallcreeper this time. I was particularly fortunate in having a close encounter with one of the birds.
The remaining two target species proved to be more difficult. Largely because they hadn't 'arrived' in any great numbers yet and because they weren't so obvious in the leafy habitat and the numbers of Common Chiffchaff and Willow warblers. Eventually by the end of the week Mountain Chiffchaff were arriving and Green warbler was also found on the last day close to Tbilisi.So an excellent weeks birding with quality birds throughout.

Great Rosefinch

Great Rosefinch

Guldenstadt's Redstart

Griffon Vulture

Horned Lark

Rock Thrush

Great Reed Warbler

Twite

Red backed Shrike

Wallcreeper

Wallcreeper

Off road

Water Pipit

Purple Heron

Thrush Nightingale

Red breasted Flycatcher

Rock Bunting

Wallcreeper

Alpine Accentor

Finally a big thankyou to the Birdfinders team for their organisation, knowledge and good humour.

Georgia - 2015

27th April - 2nd May 2015

Just a sample of the birds seen on last week's visit to Georgia with Birdfinders. A more detailed account to follow.

Wallcreeper, near the Krestovy pass, Georgia

Tame valley Birding - mostly

Thursday 23rd April 2015

A few snaps from the Tame valley over the past couple of days. Finally caught up with Garden warbler and Whinchat in Warks.

Whinchat, Kingsbury

Whinchat

Chiffchaff, Coton

Whimbrel, Middleton Lakes

Blackcap

Migrants in the Valleys

21st April 2015

Returned to Middleton Lakes to try and see the Warblers I had missed the previous day. I was partially successful with good views of Sedge and Reed warblers but again missed Garden warbler.

Sedge Warbler, Middleton Lakes

Sedge warbler

Grasshopper warblers were reeling in several areas of damp vegetation around the periphery of the reserve. Perhaps the bird of the day though was a Curlew Sandpier seen from the western screen.

Curlew Sandpiper

In the afternoon I walked around part of the flood valley of the River Anker near Caldecote Hall. The Sheep pastures and weed covered rough ground along this section of the river has often produced Whinchats in the past but none today. What I did see though was at least 9 Yellow Wagtails feeding amongst the Sheep.

Yellow Wagtail, Caldecote

The search for Migrants

Monday 20th April 2015

The search for migrants continued today starting Shustoke Res. and continueing through Lea Marston, Bodymore Heath to Middleton Lakes where I caught up with Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper warbler. According to Steve C. all the breeding warblers of the Tame valley had been seen over the day but Sedge, Cetti's, Reed and Garden had eluded me, as did the Whinchat. On the way home I did what is a regular walk at Mancetter near Atherstone just off the A5. The gentle hills often attract migrants and I was lucky to find a female Redstart, which rounded off the day quite nicely.