Craigs UK Bird Photos

Another days birding this time with Tristan and Mike. Mike drove us to Paxton Pits in Camb. We had amazing views of Nightingale, We must have saw at least 10 birds singing.

We heard but didnt see Turtle dove, We also had Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and my first Cuckoo of the year.

We then went to Fen Drayton NR for Temmicks Stint, we had to wait a little but it did finally appear from behind the island giving good scope views.

We had more views of Cuckoo and mike and I manged to here Cettis Warbler. We couldnt find the Gargney that had been reported that morning.

On the way home we stopped at Neummans Flash for cracking views of the breeding Black-Winged Stilts, we also saw a nest changeover.

Thanks for Driving all that way Mike.

4th May

I picked Tristan up and decided we would have a day at Leighton Moss in Lancashire. We started at Silverdale for some Orchids. Early Purple and Green Veined Orchid.

Then we had a look from the Eric Morcambe hide where we had better views of the Spoonbill.

Also from this hide was a cracking 2nd Summer Med gull.

It then came on the pagers that a Black Tern was at the public hide, when we got there it was showing distantly but then moved onto the hide behind the visitor centre where it gave good Scope views.

 

We also had good views of Marsh Harrier.

2nd May

Where do i start, well at Low meadows, i had my first Garden Warblers (2) for the site and the Year. At Soddy gap 30 Whimbrel, 2 Grashopper Warblers and 4 Sedge Warbler.

Then i decided to have a bit of a sea watch at Bowness Viaduct, on arrival phil was there and after 5 min we picked up a pale phase Pom Skua. After a littel while i Picked up a Black Tern, typical i needent of rushed for the one at Longtown yesterday!. Nothing much else to report. I drove past north plain with the window open and heard 5 Lesser Whitethroats singing between north plain and the Gate.

 

Then to Workington, nothing much but 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet and Kittiwakes. Then Siddick ponds where i heard and saw yet another Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Reed Warblers. Finishing up at Soddy Gap and Low meadows again but nothing new in.

May 1st

Tristan rang to say there was a Black Tern at Longtown ponds, so i thought i better go and have a look, very scarce in Cumbria. Cracking Views of a Summer plumaged bird.

At work in Ennerdale, Peregrine with food, Ring Ouzel Singing. After work i had a trip to Green wood near Loweswater where i had good views of Red Squirrel, Redstart and Nuthatch.

27th April 2008

The dog woke me up at 530am, so by 6am i was at St Bees in the thick fog, this wasnt looking good. Throught the mist i did see 5 Common Whitethroat and many Willow Warblers. A Whimbrel was calling from the fog, it then landed just in front of me. Still there seemed little about. I started heading back towards the car when i heard a Ring Ouzel from the fog. After a while the fog cleared for 15 minuites, in this time i had excellent views of the Whitethroats, Willow Warblers plenty of Wheatears probably Greenland Race and a cracking Male Ring Ouzel.

On the way home i nipped into soddy gap, where my first Grasshopper Warblers(3) and Sedge Warblers(2) had finally arrived and were happily singing away. 2 Common Sandpiper were now present. The 4 Pinkfeet were still present and the 2 Redshank had moved to Soddy  gap from Low meadows so there were just 6 Teal and a Wheatear there.

This afternoon, had a walk around Dearham and a Street called The went produced some surprising results, 1 Lesser Whitethroat which i dont see very oftern in Cumbria, never mind just down the road from my house. 4 Whimbrel flew over, 4 Wheatear in ploughed fields, Blackcap and Great spotted Woodpecker. Billiant end to my day and its only 3pm.

 

26th April 2008

Reached 200 species today. Tristan, Lachlan and i met Roy at the services, we started our days birding at Sizergh castle for the Hawfinch's again. What cracking views we had of a male and a female.

Next onto Lytham St Annes for the Ross's Gull, there was no sign so we went to the cemetary to try to find the Ring-necked Parakeets, we didnt see any but we heard one calling, thats good enough for me. Then the Ross's Gull was reported from Grannys bay. When we got there it was much further away, but was still good value. Whilst watching the Gull we also had 2 Whimbrel, Arctic Tern and Common Tern, nice year ticks.

We then had a look at Warton bank for the Glossy Ibis but dipped on him today, there were 3 Little Egret and a Peregrine. On the way home i saw my first Swift of the year.

We decided to finish of at Leighton moss where we saw a Green Winged Teal, Spoonbill and an Adult Med Gull, also really close views of a Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and over 300 Black-tailed Godwit.

21st-25th April 2008

At Low meadows was my first red squirrel, Hare, 2 Redshank still there, 150 Lesser BB Gulls, 2 Shelduck and 40 Herring gulls.

Soddy gap 96 Golden Plover, 4 Pinkfeet and the Common Sand still.

20th April 2008

Soddy gap hosted movements of Wheatear's 30+ in 45 min.

96 Summer Golden Plovers

4 Pinkfeet STILL, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff's, Willow Warbler's, Tree Sparrow's, and the usual stuff.

19th April

Ross's Gull had been reported on and off all week, so i asked the wife if she fancied a trip to Blackpool (which pi**ed Tristan off, sorry mate).So we left fairly early and decided to stop of at Sizergh Castle for Hawfinch, on arrival there was no sign so i had a walk around, seeing Marsh tit, Bullfinch, Heron and usual stuff. On returning to the car park i saw 1 Hawfinch land in one of the trees. I got another visiting birder onto it. A few more people turned up and so did a few more Hawfinch 6 in the end. They gave Stunning views both in the trees and on the ground, although very flighty.

 

We waited for news of the Ross's Gull until dinner, but nothing, so we decided to have a look anyway. On arrival i had a look from the windmill, where i saw a White Winged Gull very distantly, but didnt have time before it disapeared to decide what it was. There was an Iceland gull reported later.

Next stop was dinner in the car at Fairhaven Lake, nobody had seen the bird at all. This didnt look good. We drove a little further north got some cash out for an ice cream and started heading back toward fairhaven lake, but i decided to stop and check the beach's on the way back, first beach nothing but donkeys, then onto the second beach car-park, i walked onto the beach and there it bloody was sat in a pool on the beach, so i legged it back to the car to get my scope, and some pics. I put the news out and withing minutes there were 30 or so birds there happily watching It at very close quaters. I later found out that someone had been watching it for an hour, but couldnt put out the news because he had no credit on his phone, typical. I cant dowload the pics for some reason so heres the link to a few.

http://www.freewebs.com/shrike33/rosssgull.htm

2 lifers in the space of a few days, brilliant.

17th April.

Off to Newcastle and Swallow ponds where a Pallas's Warbler had been reported. I finally found my first ever Pallas's Warbler in the woods near to the screen hide. It was Singing merrily from the trees sounding very much like a Willow Warbler. This gave stunning views eventually down to 10 feet. Also there were, Drake Ruddy Duck, Yellow Wagtail, and Blackcap. Then i went to see Black-necked Grebes at a secret site i knew, it was nice to see 6 birds displaying.

On the way home i nipped into Low Meadows, where there were 2 Redshank.

15th April.

Very last week working in Juggar howe in North Yorkshire. highlights were Marsh Tit in Juggar howe. Tundra Bean Goose, European White-fronted Goose, Pinkfeet and Greylag at Scaling Damns.

13th April

Got back from Chesterfield fairly early so visited Low Meadows, where there were 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff Singing. After dinner we had a walk down the prom at Maryport, i was surprised to find 2 White Wagtail near the old paddling pool in the millenium garden, also 4 Swallow near the fort. Very little else of note though.

 

12th April

Trip to Chesterfield to visit sick in-laws. So i made a quick visit to Cromford Canal for Hawfinch on arrival to the rugby pitch, there was one showing brilliantly well, by the time i had got my camera set up it had gone.(Typical) Also there, were my first Blackcap of the year, male and female together.

Then to Carsington water where i had 4 White Wagtail and a Great-northern Diver coming into summer plumage.

Loads of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Swallows into double figures loads of Sand Martins (hundreds)and 1 House Martin. Then i saw 2 Little Owl courting.

4th April

Not done much birding lateley,just walks with the wife and dog, last week i had my first Wheatear (5) at st bees along with a couple of Ravens. There were more Wheatears (3) on the beach at Maryport.

At Low Meadow (Soddy Flash) i had my first Ringed Plover for the site.

Today i had a Redshank, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Bullfinch all at Low Meadows (Soddy flash) and 4 Pinkfooted geese at Soddy Gap.

Then onto Siddick ponds, when i arrived there were at least 20 Sandmartins circling the car  park and to my Surprise a single Swallow.I walked the old railway to Seaton which i had never done before. What a nice walk it was too. 18 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow warbler again first of the year and 8 Wheatear.

Spring Has arrived.

28th March

Went back AGAIN for the Ring-necked Duck at Bass lake, where the bird was showing  very well outside the hide, i was able to get some much better pictures.

My first Chiffchaff was singing in Powter howe wood.

Well a somewhat different Norfolk trip (in the Tent) weather wise, Rain, Wind, Sleet and Snow, it was a bloody awful first couple of days, I did look for the Great Grey Shrike at Kelling but it was a complete waste of time, i didnt see one bird, it was just too windy and wet, what was i doing out here. Ok so i went to see the geese at Martham Ferry, hoping it would stop raining, i did eventually get Ross's and Snow Goose in the pooring rain. Quick hot chocolate at horsey pump and to our surprise there were 2 Common Cranes in the nearby fields, (great). 

 

The next stop was Gorleston for the very pale Juv Glaucous Gull, it was showing very well again in the pooring rain, i got soaked. Turned out to be quite a succesful day in the end.

Saturday was much the same, so we went to Titchwell, where i had a first winter Med Gull

8 Brambling, Black Brent and Spotted Redshank, then family stuff. I also tried for Shorelark, but the weather beat me.

Sunday was a much better day, Shorelark was first on the agenda, cracking views but still a little windy for brilliant photos.

 

Cley produced very little, family stuff then Shag at Wells Harbour.

 

Finished of birding at Titchwell again, 4 Bramblings, Black Brant, Spotted Redshank, 2 Adult Med Gulls and lots of Ruff.

 

 

I did look for the White Crowned Sparrow a couple of times but seeing as they were no longer feedeing the birds it was a case of wasted time.

All in all a succesfull trip despite the weather.

20th March

Visited Sandsend again where the 11 Lapland Buntings were still Present

15th-16th March.

Brilliant weekend on the Saturday Tristan, Chris and I visited Ireland where Derek Charles took us on the adventure of a lifetime, pitty we didnt see much! No really we did get 1 Manxie from the boat with the usual sea birds, brilliant views of Barrows goldeneye and distant views of a Female Lesser Scaup. Bogey bird still was Ring-billed Gulls no sign, but on the sunday (when i wasnt there Derek found 3, TYPICAL). There had been a Fosters Tern for a while but this we dipped too. 3 Wintering Sandwich terns was a nice surprise and good numbers of Pale-bellied Brents. Thanks Derek!

 

 

On The Sunday, what an incredible day which made up for the dips of the day before tristan an I went to soulseat loch for cracking views of the male Lesser Scaup. If that wasnt good enough we found a very good contender for a 4th ever Pacific Diver on Loch ryan. I picked up what i though was a Black-throated Diver distantly got Tristan onto it and at the same time took my eye of it. Tristan couldnt decide what diver species it was and suggested Pacific (good Call Tristan), i found the bird again, neither of us could see a flank patch, the bill was tilted up slightly very similar to red-throated diver but not as strongly tilted, sat higher on the water and although there was nothing to compare it too we did feel it was slightly smaller than a BT Diver. Tristan then saw the dark marking on the under tail. We then went around the wigg for better views but could not relocate it. Later in The day Chris Baines relocated the bird along side a Black-throated diver which he suggested was slightly bigger. Lets hope its relocated and confirmed soon!!!!!

12th March

Went to Sandsend in North Yorkshire after work and found 11 Lapland Buntings (great).

1 Green Woodpecker, Shag, Red-throated diver and commoner stuff.

 

9th March
Quick Dip of the Ross's Goose AGAIN. But Greenland Whitefronted Goose was nice.

8th March

I picked Derek Tristan and Lachlan upfrom Wigton, then to Gretna to pick up Chris (full car this week). First stop was Loch Maben where we had a Red-headed Smew.
Then  to Strathclyde Country park to hopefully see the Ring-billed Gull which had been seen alllll week. Spent all day there and no bloody sign, this is a bogey bird for me it still a lifer. A Nodic Jackdaw and a couple of Hooded x Carrion Crows were a nice surprise.
We did find a putitive 3rd Winter Caspian Gull or is it a Herring gull, comments welcome. Then later in the gull roost i picked up a first winter Yellow legged gull, but no white winged gulls, although a day later there were 4, Typical!!! Oh a male Smew was a cracking bird on the river. This is a great spot for the gulls though.




2nd March
A Trip to Dumfries and Galloway and Torrs Warren produced usual woodland species but no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then quick look for any Geese but nothing.
Then to Stranraer and Bishop Burn for a gull feast picking up 1st Winter Iceland Gull, and 2nd Winter Kumliens Gull.

A trip to Grangemouth for the Spotted Sandpiper with the wife. Which i saw pretty quickly before it flew up stream pretty quickly. Searched the area for other things but nothing of any real note. Then to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel.
On the way back we stopped at Loch Maben where we saw a Long-tailed Duck.

20th-23rd February

Morning in Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay produced 4 Purple sandpiper, but very little else.

In Cumbria i had a day looking for Geese at Abbeytown, a Greenland Whitefront was a nice surprise and 8 Twite at bowness railings was a nice year tick.

An hours sea watching produced a Great Skua nice year tick, 32 Purple sandpipers a Fulmar, Gannet, Porpoise(s) and the usual suspects.

 

16th-17th February.

Very nice relaxing weekend. At Easton I decided to go and see the Ross's Goose that had been there all week, but typically it disapeared that day. It wasnt the end of the world though as the Red-breasted Goose reapeared instead, in Easton!!! Excellent.

On the Sunday i had a walk with the wife along the promenade at Maryport. 105 Knot, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Bottlenosed Dolphin suning themselfs in the water were the mornings highlights. Then Tristan rang to inform me of a Cattle Egret in Carlisle. This gave stunning views.

What a fun packed weekend, with what was nearly a disaster too.

Tristan and I got to Mikes on the Thursday night about 7pm, by 1030pm we were in the Travel lodge in Long Sutton. (Nice driving Mike). Early Friday morning the boys had there brecky, then we were off, first stop was for Golden Pheasent at Wolfroton Triangle, which Mike and I connected with very brief views of a Male and a Female. Next Stop was our Main event the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley. It hadnt been seen as yet, but on arrival we were able to pick it up fairly quickly, but photographs were difficult as it wouldnt stay still too long.

After a couple of hours, Mike and I decided to nip to Salthouse for the Snow Buntings and hopefully Lapland Bunting, leaving Tristan to try and get some decent photos off the Sparrow. On Arriving at Salthouse we were privie to a magnificant spectical of at least 60 Snow Buntings, i hadnt realised just how big these birds are.

Someone then pointed out a Lapland Bunting, although looking at my pics i think there were 2 birds, brilliant all target birds seen so far.

Next stop for Mike and I was a site i knew would garantee us Dartford Warbler, and lo and behold there was a male and female, although too brief.

We then picked Tristan up on our way to Holkham where we spotted a few Dark-belled Brent Geese, with one Black Brant, another target species of ours.

Holkham Monument was our next stop for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was getting slightly late, so we wern't surprised when we couldnt find any. Quick look at the map we umed and ared, could we get to Norwich and Wacton for the reported Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Ok lets give it ago. We got there about five, missing the bird by about 30 min. We did get nice views of a nominate Barn Owl, not to worry we would try again in the morning, (or would we).

We decide to head to Norwich and our second Travel lodge off the trip. DISASTER the car started to brake down, we just managed to roll up outside our Travel Lodge (lucky or what!) where the AA took the car to the nearest garage.

By 11am the next day the car was fixed. We gave the Owl the miss as Mike wanted to see Common Crane so we drove all around the Horsey area with no luck. Next stop was Cantley for the Bean Geese which seem to have disapeared although we did see good numbers of European White-fronted Geese. In the same area was Green Sandpiper, Female Scaup and 3 Water Pipit all nice year ticks. We then finished our day back at Wacton Common where we had brilliant and prolonged views of the Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Nominate Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl. Fantastic finish to the Day. Back to the Travel lodge.

Last Day turned out to be as good as the first. Although we missed Golden Pheasent at Wayling wood, but plenty of Marsh Tits. We found ourselfs at Thetford missing Goshawk due to the massive amout of distubance by a bike race. We did get nice views of a singing Woodlark however.Then Mike told us of a well known Smew site which i cant remember the name off, Mike thought he had a glimps of a Redhead, but bird of the day so far was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which is a species Tristan and myself hadnt seen for a few years, and was on top of our trip list.

Brief Trip to Ely for yes Muscovy Duck and Small Race Canada. (Oh the Shame). Pending cat C

.

Welney was our next stop, Bewick Swan was a priority for me and luckily we got a group of 8 on the main road to Walney.

At Welney we got the 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Merlin, Whooper swans and usual other stuff, missing the Common Crane.

Back to North Norfolk, where a Rough Legged Buzzard had been pinned down at Burnham Norton, cracking Scope views, we picked up a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier too.

Then came a report of a Great Grey Shrike at Kelling Heath, my favorite site. On arriving,i thought i knew where i was going, but the pager messages were all wrong, but luckily we found some birders and they told us the way. Within minuites we were watching a cracking 1st Winter Great Grey Shrike.

Last stop was Cley for Avocet, Ruff and the usual contenders, what a cracking end to a cracking weekend.

109 Bou Species logged over the weekend.

 

2nd February

Had an excellent day in  Lancashire/Burnley area with Derek oh yeh Tristan came along too.

Started off in Cumbria looking for Hawfinch at Sizergh Castle , but no sign of any today, this made me think this day is gonna be a day of dips, Luckily that wasnt to be, We got to Burnley for the Waxwings, and after a couple of detors and some valuable directions from a kind women, we saw 2 on Oxford st. After an hour of fantastic views and a few photos they flew off.

Next stop was Barrow for the Slavonion grebe and some lunch. Again this gave fantastic views but on arrival took some seeing due to it diving continuosly.

 

Next stop was Padiham where a week ago a Great Grey Shrike had been reported, i thought this would be a difficult bird to see (I thought it had probably gone no reports all week). We walked up to and past the area it had been seen in but no sign, so we started walking back to the car, at which point i saw a grey blob in the middle of a hegde a couple of huindred yards away, was it rubbish, No! it was the Great Grey shrike pheww. What a good day this was turning out to be.

Last stop Warton Bank near Preston for the long staying Glossy Ibis. Once there again there was no sign, but after about 10 min Eagle eye Derek spotted it coming out of a ditch quite distant, Tristan had walked off, so i gave him a ring to get here quick, but then it flew off and out of site. Luckily it only took a few minuies for Tristan to see it as it took flight again and disapered back onto the marsh. What great end to the day. BRILLIANT!!!

January 26th and 27th

Salterbeck hosted 2 Med Gulls and a drake Goosander. Flimby Rugby pitch 2 Med Gulls, Mandarin duck still on river.

Off to Bass lake to hopefully see the 2 Slavonion Grebes, but to no avail, so off to Linksfiled tarn where there was a Jack Snipe reported, luckily there it was sat out in the open giving good scope views.

 

January 20th

Same old Sh*t really, off to Workington for more Med Gulls, Nordic Jackdaw and Mandarin Duck all Still present. Oh Yes and a cracking Drake Red-breasted Merganser. And RN Duck Stilll on Bass lake.

 

January 13th

Tristan and Brian Unexpectedly turned up at my door, so i thought i better go out then and show them some birds. First they wanted to see Med gull, Flimby nothing, Siddick ponds nothing, Workington None and salterbeck None where had they all gone, i had six on Friday?

So next was the Mandarin Duck i found a couple of days earlier, i had been told it was on the river yesterday. So off we went, yes! there it was in full view, everyone seemed happy. Bit of breakfast at Tescos, then off to salterbeck. Looking throught the Gulls again there was nothing, then Tristan said "isnt that a........." i said yes a Nordic type Jackdaw, id seen a bird much brighter than this a couple of years ago in the same area. So we may have missed the Med gulls but Nordic Jackdaw sure made up for it. I seem to be on a role at the moment.

 

January 12th

Just a quick trip to Siddick Ponds tonight for Bittern, just the one seen very breifly, but good views of Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk and I heard a few Water-rail.

January11th

Had a full days birding started of at Salterbeck reservor where there were three Med Gulls 2 adults and a 1st winter. Then to Beckermet to see if the reported GW Egret was present, but no sign. A walk up the river produced 2 Dipper. Then to Parton where there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Med gulls an adult and a 1st winter. Workington harbour produced nothing, and then to Siddick ponds which produced an adult Med Gull (think it was the same as 1 of the Salterbeck birds) and a Cracking Drake Manderine duck, scarce in Cumbria. Finally finished at Soddy Gap which produced 8 Goosander and cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl.

January 5th

Trip to Grangemouth produced my first lifer of the year, Spotted Sandpiper, weather was very poor so no decent photos, F*****g Weather. This bird is just starting to get its spots.

January 1st and 2nd

78 Species

Nice start to the year, Went back to cardoness for the Cattle Egret, Red Kite at Loch ken, RN Duck at Bass lake and Grey Partridge at soddy gap.

 

 

 

 

 

31st December

Last day of the year Female RN Duck still there still to far away for photos.

Up to Whinlatter Forest where i saw at least 12 Common Crossbill and a good contender for a Parrot Crossbill. Whilst i was photographing the Common Crossbill i came across a larger Crossbill, but before i could grill the bird i took 3 photos and it flew off, shit! In the end It was seen as a 1cy male Common Crossbill, so you live and you learn!

Anyway heres the a couple of pics that turned out.

 

30th December

Just when i thought this month was over, i found a Female Ring-necked duck on Bassenthwaite lake. Miles away so apologies for the poor photo, i think you can see what it is.

Also today 5 Brambling and small movements of Pinkfeet, total 920 

29th December

Brilliant end to the month, tristan his son and i visited Dumfiries for great views of Cattle Egret, at one point it landed on the side of the road and decided to walk accros the road dodging the traffic.

 

16th December

Had a great day today Green-winged teal at siddick ponds. Also Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal.

Then after the second time of asking i finally saw the Red-breasted Goose on Newton Marsh, along with 5000 Barnacle geese and a white barnacle, 122 Whooper swans and 70 Twite.

Soddy Gap hosted my first Gadwall for the site, with 4 Goosanders 25 Wigeon and a load of Teal.

Well last month of the year, not going to reach that magical 300 mark, oh well maybe next year. 

Good start to the month went back for the Desert  Wheatear near Scarbrough and managed some record shots this time.

 

Also managed a very confiding (although too close for decent photos) Black-Throated diver in Scarbrough harbour and 1 Little Auk flying North. At work Peregrine, and 2 Woodcock .

Have a go at this its great! http://www.miniclip.com/games/snow-line/en/

Another days birding this time with Tristan and Mike. Mike drove us to Paxton Pits in Camb. We had amazing views of Nightingale, We must have saw at least 10 birds singing.

We heard but didnt see Turtle dove, We also had Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and my first Cuckoo of the year.

We then went to Fen Drayton NR for Temmicks Stint, we had to wait a little but it did finally appear from behind the island giving good scope views.

We had more views of Cuckoo and mike and I manged to here Cettis Warbler. We couldnt find the Gargney that had been reported that morning.

On the way home we stopped at Neummans Flash for cracking views of the breeding Black-Winged Stilts, we also saw a nest changeover.

Thanks for Driving all that way Mike.

4th May

I picked Tristan up and decided we would have a day at Leighton Moss in Lancashire. We started at Silverdale for some Orchids. Early Purple and Green Veined Orchid.

Then we had a look from the Eric Morcambe hide where we had better views of the Spoonbill.

Also from this hide was a cracking 2nd Summer Med gull.

It then came on the pagers that a Black Tern was at the public hide, when we got there it was showing distantly but then moved onto the hide behind the visitor centre where it gave good Scope views.

 

We also had good views of Marsh Harrier.

2nd May

Where do i start, well at Low meadows, i had my first Garden Warblers (2) for the site and the Year. At Soddy gap 30 Whimbrel, 2 Grashopper Warblers and 4 Sedge Warbler.

Then i decided to have a bit of a sea watch at Bowness Viaduct, on arrival phil was there and after 5 min we picked up a pale phase Pom Skua. After a littel while i Picked up a Black Tern, typical i needent of rushed for the one at Longtown yesterday!. Nothing much else to report. I drove past north plain with the window open and heard 5 Lesser Whitethroats singing between north plain and the Gate.

 

Then to Workington, nothing much but 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet and Kittiwakes. Then Siddick ponds where i heard and saw yet another Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Reed Warblers. Finishing up at Soddy Gap and Low meadows again but nothing new in.

May 1st

Tristan rang to say there was a Black Tern at Longtown ponds, so i thought i better go and have a look, very scarce in Cumbria. Cracking Views of a Summer plumaged bird.

At work in Ennerdale, Peregrine with food, Ring Ouzel Singing. After work i had a trip to Green wood near Loweswater where i had good views of Red Squirrel, Redstart and Nuthatch.

27th April 2008

The dog woke me up at 530am, so by 6am i was at St Bees in the thick fog, this wasnt looking good. Throught the mist i did see 5 Common Whitethroat and many Willow Warblers. A Whimbrel was calling from the fog, it then landed just in front of me. Still there seemed little about. I started heading back towards the car when i heard a Ring Ouzel from the fog. After a while the fog cleared for 15 minuites, in this time i had excellent views of the Whitethroats, Willow Warblers plenty of Wheatears probably Greenland Race and a cracking Male Ring Ouzel.

On the way home i nipped into soddy gap, where my first Grasshopper Warblers(3) and Sedge Warblers(2) had finally arrived and were happily singing away. 2 Common Sandpiper were now present. The 4 Pinkfeet were still present and the 2 Redshank had moved to Soddy  gap from Low meadows so there were just 6 Teal and a Wheatear there.

This afternoon, had a walk around Dearham and a Street called The went produced some surprising results, 1 Lesser Whitethroat which i dont see very oftern in Cumbria, never mind just down the road from my house. 4 Whimbrel flew over, 4 Wheatear in ploughed fields, Blackcap and Great spotted Woodpecker. Billiant end to my day and its only 3pm.

 

26th April 2008

Reached 200 species today. Tristan, Lachlan and i met Roy at the services, we started our days birding at Sizergh castle for the Hawfinch's again. What cracking views we had of a male and a female.

Next onto Lytham St Annes for the Ross's Gull, there was no sign so we went to the cemetary to try to find the Ring-necked Parakeets, we didnt see any but we heard one calling, thats good enough for me. Then the Ross's Gull was reported from Grannys bay. When we got there it was much further away, but was still good value. Whilst watching the Gull we also had 2 Whimbrel, Arctic Tern and Common Tern, nice year ticks.

We then had a look at Warton bank for the Glossy Ibis but dipped on him today, there were 3 Little Egret and a Peregrine. On the way home i saw my first Swift of the year.

We decided to finish of at Leighton moss where we saw a Green Winged Teal, Spoonbill and an Adult Med Gull, also really close views of a Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and over 300 Black-tailed Godwit.

21st-25th April 2008

At Low meadows was my first red squirrel, Hare, 2 Redshank still there, 150 Lesser BB Gulls, 2 Shelduck and 40 Herring gulls.

Soddy gap 96 Golden Plover, 4 Pinkfeet and the Common Sand still.

20th April 2008

Soddy gap hosted movements of Wheatear's 30+ in 45 min.

96 Summer Golden Plovers

4 Pinkfeet STILL, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff's, Willow Warbler's, Tree Sparrow's, and the usual stuff.

19th April

Ross's Gull had been reported on and off all week, so i asked the wife if she fancied a trip to Blackpool (which pi**ed Tristan off, sorry mate).So we left fairly early and decided to stop of at Sizergh Castle for Hawfinch, on arrival there was no sign so i had a walk around, seeing Marsh tit, Bullfinch, Heron and usual stuff. On returning to the car park i saw 1 Hawfinch land in one of the trees. I got another visiting birder onto it. A few more people turned up and so did a few more Hawfinch 6 in the end. They gave Stunning views both in the trees and on the ground, although very flighty.

 

We waited for news of the Ross's Gull until dinner, but nothing, so we decided to have a look anyway. On arrival i had a look from the windmill, where i saw a White Winged Gull very distantly, but didnt have time before it disapeared to decide what it was. There was an Iceland gull reported later.

Next stop was dinner in the car at Fairhaven Lake, nobody had seen the bird at all. This didnt look good. We drove a little further north got some cash out for an ice cream and started heading back toward fairhaven lake, but i decided to stop and check the beach's on the way back, first beach nothing but donkeys, then onto the second beach car-park, i walked onto the beach and there it bloody was sat in a pool on the beach, so i legged it back to the car to get my scope, and some pics. I put the news out and withing minutes there were 30 or so birds there happily watching It at very close quaters. I later found out that someone had been watching it for an hour, but couldnt put out the news because he had no credit on his phone, typical. I cant dowload the pics for some reason so heres the link to a few.

http://www.freewebs.com/shrike33/rosssgull.htm

2 lifers in the space of a few days, brilliant.

17th April.

Off to Newcastle and Swallow ponds where a Pallas's Warbler had been reported. I finally found my first ever Pallas's Warbler in the woods near to the screen hide. It was Singing merrily from the trees sounding very much like a Willow Warbler. This gave stunning views eventually down to 10 feet. Also there were, Drake Ruddy Duck, Yellow Wagtail, and Blackcap. Then i went to see Black-necked Grebes at a secret site i knew, it was nice to see 6 birds displaying.

On the way home i nipped into Low Meadows, where there were 2 Redshank.

15th April.

Very last week working in Juggar howe in North Yorkshire. highlights were Marsh Tit in Juggar howe. Tundra Bean Goose, European White-fronted Goose, Pinkfeet and Greylag at Scaling Damns.

13th April

Got back from Chesterfield fairly early so visited Low Meadows, where there were 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff Singing. After dinner we had a walk down the prom at Maryport, i was surprised to find 2 White Wagtail near the old paddling pool in the millenium garden, also 4 Swallow near the fort. Very little else of note though.

 

12th April

Trip to Chesterfield to visit sick in-laws. So i made a quick visit to Cromford Canal for Hawfinch on arrival to the rugby pitch, there was one showing brilliantly well, by the time i had got my camera set up it had gone.(Typical) Also there, were my first Blackcap of the year, male and female together.

Then to Carsington water where i had 4 White Wagtail and a Great-northern Diver coming into summer plumage.

Loads of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Swallows into double figures loads of Sand Martins (hundreds)and 1 House Martin. Then i saw 2 Little Owl courting.

4th April

Not done much birding lateley,just walks with the wife and dog, last week i had my first Wheatear (5) at st bees along with a couple of Ravens. There were more Wheatears (3) on the beach at Maryport.

At Low Meadow (Soddy Flash) i had my first Ringed Plover for the site.

Today i had a Redshank, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Bullfinch all at Low Meadows (Soddy flash) and 4 Pinkfooted geese at Soddy Gap.

Then onto Siddick ponds, when i arrived there were at least 20 Sandmartins circling the car  park and to my Surprise a single Swallow.I walked the old railway to Seaton which i had never done before. What a nice walk it was too. 18 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow warbler again first of the year and 8 Wheatear.

Spring Has arrived.

28th March

Went back AGAIN for the Ring-necked Duck at Bass lake, where the bird was showing  very well outside the hide, i was able to get some much better pictures.

My first Chiffchaff was singing in Powter howe wood.

Well a somewhat different Norfolk trip (in the Tent) weather wise, Rain, Wind, Sleet and Snow, it was a bloody awful first couple of days, I did look for the Great Grey Shrike at Kelling but it was a complete waste of time, i didnt see one bird, it was just too windy and wet, what was i doing out here. Ok so i went to see the geese at Martham Ferry, hoping it would stop raining, i did eventually get Ross's and Snow Goose in the pooring rain. Quick hot chocolate at horsey pump and to our surprise there were 2 Common Cranes in the nearby fields, (great). 

 

The next stop was Gorleston for the very pale Juv Glaucous Gull, it was showing very well again in the pooring rain, i got soaked. Turned out to be quite a succesful day in the end.

Saturday was much the same, so we went to Titchwell, where i had a first winter Med Gull

8 Brambling, Black Brent and Spotted Redshank, then family stuff. I also tried for Shorelark, but the weather beat me.

Sunday was a much better day, Shorelark was first on the agenda, cracking views but still a little windy for brilliant photos.

 

Cley produced very little, family stuff then Shag at Wells Harbour.

 

Finished of birding at Titchwell again, 4 Bramblings, Black Brant, Spotted Redshank, 2 Adult Med Gulls and lots of Ruff.

 

 

I did look for the White Crowned Sparrow a couple of times but seeing as they were no longer feedeing the birds it was a case of wasted time.

All in all a succesfull trip despite the weather.

20th March

Visited Sandsend again where the 11 Lapland Buntings were still Present

15th-16th March.

Brilliant weekend on the Saturday Tristan, Chris and I visited Ireland where Derek Charles took us on the adventure of a lifetime, pitty we didnt see much! No really we did get 1 Manxie from the boat with the usual sea birds, brilliant views of Barrows goldeneye and distant views of a Female Lesser Scaup. Bogey bird still was Ring-billed Gulls no sign, but on the sunday (when i wasnt there Derek found 3, TYPICAL). There had been a Fosters Tern for a while but this we dipped too. 3 Wintering Sandwich terns was a nice surprise and good numbers of Pale-bellied Brents. Thanks Derek!

 

 

On The Sunday, what an incredible day which made up for the dips of the day before tristan an I went to soulseat loch for cracking views of the male Lesser Scaup. If that wasnt good enough we found a very good contender for a 4th ever Pacific Diver on Loch ryan. I picked up what i though was a Black-throated Diver distantly got Tristan onto it and at the same time took my eye of it. Tristan couldnt decide what diver species it was and suggested Pacific (good Call Tristan), i found the bird again, neither of us could see a flank patch, the bill was tilted up slightly very similar to red-throated diver but not as strongly tilted, sat higher on the water and although there was nothing to compare it too we did feel it was slightly smaller than a BT Diver. Tristan then saw the dark marking on the under tail. We then went around the wigg for better views but could not relocate it. Later in The day Chris Baines relocated the bird along side a Black-throated diver which he suggested was slightly bigger. Lets hope its relocated and confirmed soon!!!!!

12th March

Went to Sandsend in North Yorkshire after work and found 11 Lapland Buntings (great).

1 Green Woodpecker, Shag, Red-throated diver and commoner stuff.

 

9th March
Quick Dip of the Ross's Goose AGAIN. But Greenland Whitefronted Goose was nice.

8th March

I picked Derek Tristan and Lachlan upfrom Wigton, then to Gretna to pick up Chris (full car this week). First stop was Loch Maben where we had a Red-headed Smew.
Then  to Strathclyde Country park to hopefully see the Ring-billed Gull which had been seen alllll week. Spent all day there and no bloody sign, this is a bogey bird for me it still a lifer. A Nodic Jackdaw and a couple of Hooded x Carrion Crows were a nice surprise.
We did find a putitive 3rd Winter Caspian Gull or is it a Herring gull, comments welcome. Then later in the gull roost i picked up a first winter Yellow legged gull, but no white winged gulls, although a day later there were 4, Typical!!! Oh a male Smew was a cracking bird on the river. This is a great spot for the gulls though.




2nd March
A Trip to Dumfries and Galloway and Torrs Warren produced usual woodland species but no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then quick look for any Geese but nothing.
Then to Stranraer and Bishop Burn for a gull feast picking up 1st Winter Iceland Gull, and 2nd Winter Kumliens Gull.

A trip to Grangemouth for the Spotted Sandpiper with the wife. Which i saw pretty quickly before it flew up stream pretty quickly. Searched the area for other things but nothing of any real note. Then to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel.
On the way back we stopped at Loch Maben where we saw a Long-tailed Duck.

20th-23rd February

Morning in Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay produced 4 Purple sandpiper, but very little else.

In Cumbria i had a day looking for Geese at Abbeytown, a Greenland Whitefront was a nice surprise and 8 Twite at bowness railings was a nice year tick.

An hours sea watching produced a Great Skua nice year tick, 32 Purple sandpipers a Fulmar, Gannet, Porpoise(s) and the usual suspects.

 

16th-17th February.

Very nice relaxing weekend. At Easton I decided to go and see the Ross's Goose that had been there all week, but typically it disapeared that day. It wasnt the end of the world though as the Red-breasted Goose reapeared instead, in Easton!!! Excellent.

On the Sunday i had a walk with the wife along the promenade at Maryport. 105 Knot, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Bottlenosed Dolphin suning themselfs in the water were the mornings highlights. Then Tristan rang to inform me of a Cattle Egret in Carlisle. This gave stunning views.

What a fun packed weekend, with what was nearly a disaster too.

Tristan and I got to Mikes on the Thursday night about 7pm, by 1030pm we were in the Travel lodge in Long Sutton. (Nice driving Mike). Early Friday morning the boys had there brecky, then we were off, first stop was for Golden Pheasent at Wolfroton Triangle, which Mike and I connected with very brief views of a Male and a Female. Next Stop was our Main event the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley. It hadnt been seen as yet, but on arrival we were able to pick it up fairly quickly, but photographs were difficult as it wouldnt stay still too long.

After a couple of hours, Mike and I decided to nip to Salthouse for the Snow Buntings and hopefully Lapland Bunting, leaving Tristan to try and get some decent photos off the Sparrow. On Arriving at Salthouse we were privie to a magnificant spectical of at least 60 Snow Buntings, i hadnt realised just how big these birds are.

Someone then pointed out a Lapland Bunting, although looking at my pics i think there were 2 birds, brilliant all target birds seen so far.

Next stop for Mike and I was a site i knew would garantee us Dartford Warbler, and lo and behold there was a male and female, although too brief.

We then picked Tristan up on our way to Holkham where we spotted a few Dark-belled Brent Geese, with one Black Brant, another target species of ours.

Holkham Monument was our next stop for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was getting slightly late, so we wern't surprised when we couldnt find any. Quick look at the map we umed and ared, could we get to Norwich and Wacton for the reported Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Ok lets give it ago. We got there about five, missing the bird by about 30 min. We did get nice views of a nominate Barn Owl, not to worry we would try again in the morning, (or would we).

We decide to head to Norwich and our second Travel lodge off the trip. DISASTER the car started to brake down, we just managed to roll up outside our Travel Lodge (lucky or what!) where the AA took the car to the nearest garage.

By 11am the next day the car was fixed. We gave the Owl the miss as Mike wanted to see Common Crane so we drove all around the Horsey area with no luck. Next stop was Cantley for the Bean Geese which seem to have disapeared although we did see good numbers of European White-fronted Geese. In the same area was Green Sandpiper, Female Scaup and 3 Water Pipit all nice year ticks. We then finished our day back at Wacton Common where we had brilliant and prolonged views of the Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Nominate Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl. Fantastic finish to the Day. Back to the Travel lodge.

Last Day turned out to be as good as the first. Although we missed Golden Pheasent at Wayling wood, but plenty of Marsh Tits. We found ourselfs at Thetford missing Goshawk due to the massive amout of distubance by a bike race. We did get nice views of a singing Woodlark however.Then Mike told us of a well known Smew site which i cant remember the name off, Mike thought he had a glimps of a Redhead, but bird of the day so far was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which is a species Tristan and myself hadnt seen for a few years, and was on top of our trip list.

Brief Trip to Ely for yes Muscovy Duck and Small Race Canada. (Oh the Shame). Pending cat C

.

Welney was our next stop, Bewick Swan was a priority for me and luckily we got a group of 8 on the main road to Walney.

At Welney we got the 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Merlin, Whooper swans and usual other stuff, missing the Common Crane.

Back to North Norfolk, where a Rough Legged Buzzard had been pinned down at Burnham Norton, cracking Scope views, we picked up a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier too.

Then came a report of a Great Grey Shrike at Kelling Heath, my favorite site. On arriving,i thought i knew where i was going, but the pager messages were all wrong, but luckily we found some birders and they told us the way. Within minuites we were watching a cracking 1st Winter Great Grey Shrike.

Last stop was Cley for Avocet, Ruff and the usual contenders, what a cracking end to a cracking weekend.

109 Bou Species logged over the weekend.

 

2nd February

Had an excellent day in  Lancashire/Burnley area with Derek oh yeh Tristan came along too.

Started off in Cumbria looking for Hawfinch at Sizergh Castle , but no sign of any today, this made me think this day is gonna be a day of dips, Luckily that wasnt to be, We got to Burnley for the Waxwings, and after a couple of detors and some valuable directions from a kind women, we saw 2 on Oxford st. After an hour of fantastic views and a few photos they flew off.

Next stop was Barrow for the Slavonion grebe and some lunch. Again this gave fantastic views but on arrival took some seeing due to it diving continuosly.

 

Next stop was Padiham where a week ago a Great Grey Shrike had been reported, i thought this would be a difficult bird to see (I thought it had probably gone no reports all week). We walked up to and past the area it had been seen in but no sign, so we started walking back to the car, at which point i saw a grey blob in the middle of a hegde a couple of huindred yards away, was it rubbish, No! it was the Great Grey shrike pheww. What a good day this was turning out to be.

Last stop Warton Bank near Preston for the long staying Glossy Ibis. Once there again there was no sign, but after about 10 min Eagle eye Derek spotted it coming out of a ditch quite distant, Tristan had walked off, so i gave him a ring to get here quick, but then it flew off and out of site. Luckily it only took a few minuies for Tristan to see it as it took flight again and disapered back onto the marsh. What great end to the day. BRILLIANT!!!

January 26th and 27th

Salterbeck hosted 2 Med Gulls and a drake Goosander. Flimby Rugby pitch 2 Med Gulls, Mandarin duck still on river.

Off to Bass lake to hopefully see the 2 Slavonion Grebes, but to no avail, so off to Linksfiled tarn where there was a Jack Snipe reported, luckily there it was sat out in the open giving good scope views.

 

January 20th

Same old Sh*t really, off to Workington for more Med Gulls, Nordic Jackdaw and Mandarin Duck all Still present. Oh Yes and a cracking Drake Red-breasted Merganser. And RN Duck Stilll on Bass lake.

 

January 13th

Tristan and Brian Unexpectedly turned up at my door, so i thought i better go out then and show them some birds. First they wanted to see Med gull, Flimby nothing, Siddick ponds nothing, Workington None and salterbeck None where had they all gone, i had six on Friday?

So next was the Mandarin Duck i found a couple of days earlier, i had been told it was on the river yesterday. So off we went, yes! there it was in full view, everyone seemed happy. Bit of breakfast at Tescos, then off to salterbeck. Looking throught the Gulls again there was nothing, then Tristan said "isnt that a........." i said yes a Nordic type Jackdaw, id seen a bird much brighter than this a couple of years ago in the same area. So we may have missed the Med gulls but Nordic Jackdaw sure made up for it. I seem to be on a role at the moment.

 

January 12th

Just a quick trip to Siddick Ponds tonight for Bittern, just the one seen very breifly, but good views of Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk and I heard a few Water-rail.

January11th

Had a full days birding started of at Salterbeck reservor where there were three Med Gulls 2 adults and a 1st winter. Then to Beckermet to see if the reported GW Egret was present, but no sign. A walk up the river produced 2 Dipper. Then to Parton where there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Med gulls an adult and a 1st winter. Workington harbour produced nothing, and then to Siddick ponds which produced an adult Med Gull (think it was the same as 1 of the Salterbeck birds) and a Cracking Drake Manderine duck, scarce in Cumbria. Finally finished at Soddy Gap which produced 8 Goosander and cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl.

January 5th

Trip to Grangemouth produced my first lifer of the year, Spotted Sandpiper, weather was very poor so no decent photos, F*****g Weather. This bird is just starting to get its spots.

January 1st and 2nd

78 Species

Nice start to the year, Went back to cardoness for the Cattle Egret, Red Kite at Loch ken, RN Duck at Bass lake and Grey Partridge at soddy gap.

 

 

 

 

 

31st December

Last day of the year Female RN Duck still there still to far away for photos.

Up to Whinlatter Forest where i saw at least 12 Common Crossbill and a good contender for a Parrot Crossbill. Whilst i was photographing the Common Crossbill i came across a larger Crossbill, but before i could grill the bird i took 3 photos and it flew off, shit! In the end It was seen as a 1cy male Common Crossbill, so you live and you learn!

Anyway heres the a couple of pics that turned out.

 

30th December

Just when i thought this month was over, i found a Female Ring-necked duck on Bassenthwaite lake. Miles away so apologies for the poor photo, i think you can see what it is.

Also today 5 Brambling and small movements of Pinkfeet, total 920 

29th December

Brilliant end to the month, tristan his son and i visited Dumfiries for great views of Cattle Egret, at one point it landed on the side of the road and decided to walk accros the road dodging the traffic.

 

16th December

Had a great day today Green-winged teal at siddick ponds. Also Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal.

Then after the second time of asking i finally saw the Red-breasted Goose on Newton Marsh, along with 5000 Barnacle geese and a white barnacle, 122 Whooper swans and 70 Twite.

Soddy Gap hosted my first Gadwall for the site, with 4 Goosanders 25 Wigeon and a load of Teal.

Well last month of the year, not going to reach that magical 300 mark, oh well maybe next year. 

Good start to the month went back for the Desert  Wheatear near Scarbrough and managed some record shots this time.

 

Also managed a very confiding (although too close for decent photos) Black-Throated diver in Scarbrough harbour and 1 Little Auk flying North. At work Peregrine, and 2 Woodcock .

Have a go at this its great! http://www.miniclip.com/games/snow-line/en/

Another days birding this time with Tristan and Mike. Mike drove us to Paxton Pits in Camb. We had amazing views of Nightingale, We must have saw at least 10 birds singing.

We heard but didnt see Turtle dove, We also had Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and my first Cuckoo of the year.

We then went to Fen Drayton NR for Temmicks Stint, we had to wait a little but it did finally appear from behind the island giving good scope views.

We had more views of Cuckoo and mike and I manged to here Cettis Warbler. We couldnt find the Gargney that had been reported that morning.

On the way home we stopped at Neummans Flash for cracking views of the breeding Black-Winged Stilts, we also saw a nest changeover.

Thanks for Driving all that way Mike.

4th May

I picked Tristan up and decided we would have a day at Leighton Moss in Lancashire. We started at Silverdale for some Orchids. Early Purple and Green Veined Orchid.

Then we had a look from the Eric Morcambe hide where we had better views of the Spoonbill.

Also from this hide was a cracking 2nd Summer Med gull.

It then came on the pagers that a Black Tern was at the public hide, when we got there it was showing distantly but then moved onto the hide behind the visitor centre where it gave good Scope views.

 

We also had good views of Marsh Harrier.

2nd May

Where do i start, well at Low meadows, i had my first Garden Warblers (2) for the site and the Year. At Soddy gap 30 Whimbrel, 2 Grashopper Warblers and 4 Sedge Warbler.

Then i decided to have a bit of a sea watch at Bowness Viaduct, on arrival phil was there and after 5 min we picked up a pale phase Pom Skua. After a littel while i Picked up a Black Tern, typical i needent of rushed for the one at Longtown yesterday!. Nothing much else to report. I drove past north plain with the window open and heard 5 Lesser Whitethroats singing between north plain and the Gate.

 

Then to Workington, nothing much but 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet and Kittiwakes. Then Siddick ponds where i heard and saw yet another Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Reed Warblers. Finishing up at Soddy Gap and Low meadows again but nothing new in.

May 1st

Tristan rang to say there was a Black Tern at Longtown ponds, so i thought i better go and have a look, very scarce in Cumbria. Cracking Views of a Summer plumaged bird.

At work in Ennerdale, Peregrine with food, Ring Ouzel Singing. After work i had a trip to Green wood near Loweswater where i had good views of Red Squirrel, Redstart and Nuthatch.

27th April 2008

The dog woke me up at 530am, so by 6am i was at St Bees in the thick fog, this wasnt looking good. Throught the mist i did see 5 Common Whitethroat and many Willow Warblers. A Whimbrel was calling from the fog, it then landed just in front of me. Still there seemed little about. I started heading back towards the car when i heard a Ring Ouzel from the fog. After a while the fog cleared for 15 minuites, in this time i had excellent views of the Whitethroats, Willow Warblers plenty of Wheatears probably Greenland Race and a cracking Male Ring Ouzel.

On the way home i nipped into soddy gap, where my first Grasshopper Warblers(3) and Sedge Warblers(2) had finally arrived and were happily singing away. 2 Common Sandpiper were now present. The 4 Pinkfeet were still present and the 2 Redshank had moved to Soddy  gap from Low meadows so there were just 6 Teal and a Wheatear there.

This afternoon, had a walk around Dearham and a Street called The went produced some surprising results, 1 Lesser Whitethroat which i dont see very oftern in Cumbria, never mind just down the road from my house. 4 Whimbrel flew over, 4 Wheatear in ploughed fields, Blackcap and Great spotted Woodpecker. Billiant end to my day and its only 3pm.

 

26th April 2008

Reached 200 species today. Tristan, Lachlan and i met Roy at the services, we started our days birding at Sizergh castle for the Hawfinch's again. What cracking views we had of a male and a female.

Next onto Lytham St Annes for the Ross's Gull, there was no sign so we went to the cemetary to try to find the Ring-necked Parakeets, we didnt see any but we heard one calling, thats good enough for me. Then the Ross's Gull was reported from Grannys bay. When we got there it was much further away, but was still good value. Whilst watching the Gull we also had 2 Whimbrel, Arctic Tern and Common Tern, nice year ticks.

We then had a look at Warton bank for the Glossy Ibis but dipped on him today, there were 3 Little Egret and a Peregrine. On the way home i saw my first Swift of the year.

We decided to finish of at Leighton moss where we saw a Green Winged Teal, Spoonbill and an Adult Med Gull, also really close views of a Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and over 300 Black-tailed Godwit.

21st-25th April 2008

At Low meadows was my first red squirrel, Hare, 2 Redshank still there, 150 Lesser BB Gulls, 2 Shelduck and 40 Herring gulls.

Soddy gap 96 Golden Plover, 4 Pinkfeet and the Common Sand still.

20th April 2008

Soddy gap hosted movements of Wheatear's 30+ in 45 min.

96 Summer Golden Plovers

4 Pinkfeet STILL, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff's, Willow Warbler's, Tree Sparrow's, and the usual stuff.

19th April

Ross's Gull had been reported on and off all week, so i asked the wife if she fancied a trip to Blackpool (which pi**ed Tristan off, sorry mate).So we left fairly early and decided to stop of at Sizergh Castle for Hawfinch, on arrival there was no sign so i had a walk around, seeing Marsh tit, Bullfinch, Heron and usual stuff. On returning to the car park i saw 1 Hawfinch land in one of the trees. I got another visiting birder onto it. A few more people turned up and so did a few more Hawfinch 6 in the end. They gave Stunning views both in the trees and on the ground, although very flighty.

 

We waited for news of the Ross's Gull until dinner, but nothing, so we decided to have a look anyway. On arrival i had a look from the windmill, where i saw a White Winged Gull very distantly, but didnt have time before it disapeared to decide what it was. There was an Iceland gull reported later.

Next stop was dinner in the car at Fairhaven Lake, nobody had seen the bird at all. This didnt look good. We drove a little further north got some cash out for an ice cream and started heading back toward fairhaven lake, but i decided to stop and check the beach's on the way back, first beach nothing but donkeys, then onto the second beach car-park, i walked onto the beach and there it bloody was sat in a pool on the beach, so i legged it back to the car to get my scope, and some pics. I put the news out and withing minutes there were 30 or so birds there happily watching It at very close quaters. I later found out that someone had been watching it for an hour, but couldnt put out the news because he had no credit on his phone, typical. I cant dowload the pics for some reason so heres the link to a few.

http://www.freewebs.com/shrike33/rosssgull.htm

2 lifers in the space of a few days, brilliant.

17th April.

Off to Newcastle and Swallow ponds where a Pallas's Warbler had been reported. I finally found my first ever Pallas's Warbler in the woods near to the screen hide. It was Singing merrily from the trees sounding very much like a Willow Warbler. This gave stunning views eventually down to 10 feet. Also there were, Drake Ruddy Duck, Yellow Wagtail, and Blackcap. Then i went to see Black-necked Grebes at a secret site i knew, it was nice to see 6 birds displaying.

On the way home i nipped into Low Meadows, where there were 2 Redshank.

15th April.

Very last week working in Juggar howe in North Yorkshire. highlights were Marsh Tit in Juggar howe. Tundra Bean Goose, European White-fronted Goose, Pinkfeet and Greylag at Scaling Damns.

13th April

Got back from Chesterfield fairly early so visited Low Meadows, where there were 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff Singing. After dinner we had a walk down the prom at Maryport, i was surprised to find 2 White Wagtail near the old paddling pool in the millenium garden, also 4 Swallow near the fort. Very little else of note though.

 

12th April

Trip to Chesterfield to visit sick in-laws. So i made a quick visit to Cromford Canal for Hawfinch on arrival to the rugby pitch, there was one showing brilliantly well, by the time i had got my camera set up it had gone.(Typical) Also there, were my first Blackcap of the year, male and female together.

Then to Carsington water where i had 4 White Wagtail and a Great-northern Diver coming into summer plumage.

Loads of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Swallows into double figures loads of Sand Martins (hundreds)and 1 House Martin. Then i saw 2 Little Owl courting.

4th April

Not done much birding lateley,just walks with the wife and dog, last week i had my first Wheatear (5) at st bees along with a couple of Ravens. There were more Wheatears (3) on the beach at Maryport.

At Low Meadow (Soddy Flash) i had my first Ringed Plover for the site.

Today i had a Redshank, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Bullfinch all at Low Meadows (Soddy flash) and 4 Pinkfooted geese at Soddy Gap.

Then onto Siddick ponds, when i arrived there were at least 20 Sandmartins circling the car  park and to my Surprise a single Swallow.I walked the old railway to Seaton which i had never done before. What a nice walk it was too. 18 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow warbler again first of the year and 8 Wheatear.

Spring Has arrived.

28th March

Went back AGAIN for the Ring-necked Duck at Bass lake, where the bird was showing  very well outside the hide, i was able to get some much better pictures.

My first Chiffchaff was singing in Powter howe wood.

Well a somewhat different Norfolk trip (in the Tent) weather wise, Rain, Wind, Sleet and Snow, it was a bloody awful first couple of days, I did look for the Great Grey Shrike at Kelling but it was a complete waste of time, i didnt see one bird, it was just too windy and wet, what was i doing out here. Ok so i went to see the geese at Martham Ferry, hoping it would stop raining, i did eventually get Ross's and Snow Goose in the pooring rain. Quick hot chocolate at horsey pump and to our surprise there were 2 Common Cranes in the nearby fields, (great). 

 

The next stop was Gorleston for the very pale Juv Glaucous Gull, it was showing very well again in the pooring rain, i got soaked. Turned out to be quite a succesful day in the end.

Saturday was much the same, so we went to Titchwell, where i had a first winter Med Gull

8 Brambling, Black Brent and Spotted Redshank, then family stuff. I also tried for Shorelark, but the weather beat me.

Sunday was a much better day, Shorelark was first on the agenda, cracking views but still a little windy for brilliant photos.

 

Cley produced very little, family stuff then Shag at Wells Harbour.

 

Finished of birding at Titchwell again, 4 Bramblings, Black Brant, Spotted Redshank, 2 Adult Med Gulls and lots of Ruff.

 

 

I did look for the White Crowned Sparrow a couple of times but seeing as they were no longer feedeing the birds it was a case of wasted time.

All in all a succesfull trip despite the weather.

20th March

Visited Sandsend again where the 11 Lapland Buntings were still Present

15th-16th March.

Brilliant weekend on the Saturday Tristan, Chris and I visited Ireland where Derek Charles took us on the adventure of a lifetime, pitty we didnt see much! No really we did get 1 Manxie from the boat with the usual sea birds, brilliant views of Barrows goldeneye and distant views of a Female Lesser Scaup. Bogey bird still was Ring-billed Gulls no sign, but on the sunday (when i wasnt there Derek found 3, TYPICAL). There had been a Fosters Tern for a while but this we dipped too. 3 Wintering Sandwich terns was a nice surprise and good numbers of Pale-bellied Brents. Thanks Derek!

 

 

On The Sunday, what an incredible day which made up for the dips of the day before tristan an I went to soulseat loch for cracking views of the male Lesser Scaup. If that wasnt good enough we found a very good contender for a 4th ever Pacific Diver on Loch ryan. I picked up what i though was a Black-throated Diver distantly got Tristan onto it and at the same time took my eye of it. Tristan couldnt decide what diver species it was and suggested Pacific (good Call Tristan), i found the bird again, neither of us could see a flank patch, the bill was tilted up slightly very similar to red-throated diver but not as strongly tilted, sat higher on the water and although there was nothing to compare it too we did feel it was slightly smaller than a BT Diver. Tristan then saw the dark marking on the under tail. We then went around the wigg for better views but could not relocate it. Later in The day Chris Baines relocated the bird along side a Black-throated diver which he suggested was slightly bigger. Lets hope its relocated and confirmed soon!!!!!

12th March

Went to Sandsend in North Yorkshire after work and found 11 Lapland Buntings (great).

1 Green Woodpecker, Shag, Red-throated diver and commoner stuff.

 

9th March
Quick Dip of the Ross's Goose AGAIN. But Greenland Whitefronted Goose was nice.

8th March

I picked Derek Tristan and Lachlan upfrom Wigton, then to Gretna to pick up Chris (full car this week). First stop was Loch Maben where we had a Red-headed Smew.
Then  to Strathclyde Country park to hopefully see the Ring-billed Gull which had been seen alllll week. Spent all day there and no bloody sign, this is a bogey bird for me it still a lifer. A Nodic Jackdaw and a couple of Hooded x Carrion Crows were a nice surprise.
We did find a putitive 3rd Winter Caspian Gull or is it a Herring gull, comments welcome. Then later in the gull roost i picked up a first winter Yellow legged gull, but no white winged gulls, although a day later there were 4, Typical!!! Oh a male Smew was a cracking bird on the river. This is a great spot for the gulls though.




2nd March
A Trip to Dumfries and Galloway and Torrs Warren produced usual woodland species but no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then quick look for any Geese but nothing.
Then to Stranraer and Bishop Burn for a gull feast picking up 1st Winter Iceland Gull, and 2nd Winter Kumliens Gull.

A trip to Grangemouth for the Spotted Sandpiper with the wife. Which i saw pretty quickly before it flew up stream pretty quickly. Searched the area for other things but nothing of any real note. Then to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel.
On the way back we stopped at Loch Maben where we saw a Long-tailed Duck.

20th-23rd February

Morning in Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay produced 4 Purple sandpiper, but very little else.

In Cumbria i had a day looking for Geese at Abbeytown, a Greenland Whitefront was a nice surprise and 8 Twite at bowness railings was a nice year tick.

An hours sea watching produced a Great Skua nice year tick, 32 Purple sandpipers a Fulmar, Gannet, Porpoise(s) and the usual suspects.

 

16th-17th February.

Very nice relaxing weekend. At Easton I decided to go and see the Ross's Goose that had been there all week, but typically it disapeared that day. It wasnt the end of the world though as the Red-breasted Goose reapeared instead, in Easton!!! Excellent.

On the Sunday i had a walk with the wife along the promenade at Maryport. 105 Knot, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Bottlenosed Dolphin suning themselfs in the water were the mornings highlights. Then Tristan rang to inform me of a Cattle Egret in Carlisle. This gave stunning views.

What a fun packed weekend, with what was nearly a disaster too.

Tristan and I got to Mikes on the Thursday night about 7pm, by 1030pm we were in the Travel lodge in Long Sutton. (Nice driving Mike). Early Friday morning the boys had there brecky, then we were off, first stop was for Golden Pheasent at Wolfroton Triangle, which Mike and I connected with very brief views of a Male and a Female. Next Stop was our Main event the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley. It hadnt been seen as yet, but on arrival we were able to pick it up fairly quickly, but photographs were difficult as it wouldnt stay still too long.

After a couple of hours, Mike and I decided to nip to Salthouse for the Snow Buntings and hopefully Lapland Bunting, leaving Tristan to try and get some decent photos off the Sparrow. On Arriving at Salthouse we were privie to a magnificant spectical of at least 60 Snow Buntings, i hadnt realised just how big these birds are.

Someone then pointed out a Lapland Bunting, although looking at my pics i think there were 2 birds, brilliant all target birds seen so far.

Next stop for Mike and I was a site i knew would garantee us Dartford Warbler, and lo and behold there was a male and female, although too brief.

We then picked Tristan up on our way to Holkham where we spotted a few Dark-belled Brent Geese, with one Black Brant, another target species of ours.

Holkham Monument was our next stop for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was getting slightly late, so we wern't surprised when we couldnt find any. Quick look at the map we umed and ared, could we get to Norwich and Wacton for the reported Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Ok lets give it ago. We got there about five, missing the bird by about 30 min. We did get nice views of a nominate Barn Owl, not to worry we would try again in the morning, (or would we).

We decide to head to Norwich and our second Travel lodge off the trip. DISASTER the car started to brake down, we just managed to roll up outside our Travel Lodge (lucky or what!) where the AA took the car to the nearest garage.

By 11am the next day the car was fixed. We gave the Owl the miss as Mike wanted to see Common Crane so we drove all around the Horsey area with no luck. Next stop was Cantley for the Bean Geese which seem to have disapeared although we did see good numbers of European White-fronted Geese. In the same area was Green Sandpiper, Female Scaup and 3 Water Pipit all nice year ticks. We then finished our day back at Wacton Common where we had brilliant and prolonged views of the Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Nominate Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl. Fantastic finish to the Day. Back to the Travel lodge.

Last Day turned out to be as good as the first. Although we missed Golden Pheasent at Wayling wood, but plenty of Marsh Tits. We found ourselfs at Thetford missing Goshawk due to the massive amout of distubance by a bike race. We did get nice views of a singing Woodlark however.Then Mike told us of a well known Smew site which i cant remember the name off, Mike thought he had a glimps of a Redhead, but bird of the day so far was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which is a species Tristan and myself hadnt seen for a few years, and was on top of our trip list.

Brief Trip to Ely for yes Muscovy Duck and Small Race Canada. (Oh the Shame). Pending cat C

.

Welney was our next stop, Bewick Swan was a priority for me and luckily we got a group of 8 on the main road to Walney.

At Welney we got the 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Merlin, Whooper swans and usual other stuff, missing the Common Crane.

Back to North Norfolk, where a Rough Legged Buzzard had been pinned down at Burnham Norton, cracking Scope views, we picked up a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier too.

Then came a report of a Great Grey Shrike at Kelling Heath, my favorite site. On arriving,i thought i knew where i was going, but the pager messages were all wrong, but luckily we found some birders and they told us the way. Within minuites we were watching a cracking 1st Winter Great Grey Shrike.

Last stop was Cley for Avocet, Ruff and the usual contenders, what a cracking end to a cracking weekend.

109 Bou Species logged over the weekend.

 

2nd February

Had an excellent day in  Lancashire/Burnley area with Derek oh yeh Tristan came along too.

Started off in Cumbria looking for Hawfinch at Sizergh Castle , but no sign of any today, this made me think this day is gonna be a day of dips, Luckily that wasnt to be, We got to Burnley for the Waxwings, and after a couple of detors and some valuable directions from a kind women, we saw 2 on Oxford st. After an hour of fantastic views and a few photos they flew off.

Next stop was Barrow for the Slavonion grebe and some lunch. Again this gave fantastic views but on arrival took some seeing due to it diving continuosly.

 

Next stop was Padiham where a week ago a Great Grey Shrike had been reported, i thought this would be a difficult bird to see (I thought it had probably gone no reports all week). We walked up to and past the area it had been seen in but no sign, so we started walking back to the car, at which point i saw a grey blob in the middle of a hegde a couple of huindred yards away, was it rubbish, No! it was the Great Grey shrike pheww. What a good day this was turning out to be.

Last stop Warton Bank near Preston for the long staying Glossy Ibis. Once there again there was no sign, but after about 10 min Eagle eye Derek spotted it coming out of a ditch quite distant, Tristan had walked off, so i gave him a ring to get here quick, but then it flew off and out of site. Luckily it only took a few minuies for Tristan to see it as it took flight again and disapered back onto the marsh. What great end to the day. BRILLIANT!!!

January 26th and 27th

Salterbeck hosted 2 Med Gulls and a drake Goosander. Flimby Rugby pitch 2 Med Gulls, Mandarin duck still on river.

Off to Bass lake to hopefully see the 2 Slavonion Grebes, but to no avail, so off to Linksfiled tarn where there was a Jack Snipe reported, luckily there it was sat out in the open giving good scope views.

 

January 20th

Same old Sh*t really, off to Workington for more Med Gulls, Nordic Jackdaw and Mandarin Duck all Still present. Oh Yes and a cracking Drake Red-breasted Merganser. And RN Duck Stilll on Bass lake.

 

January 13th

Tristan and Brian Unexpectedly turned up at my door, so i thought i better go out then and show them some birds. First they wanted to see Med gull, Flimby nothing, Siddick ponds nothing, Workington None and salterbeck None where had they all gone, i had six on Friday?

So next was the Mandarin Duck i found a couple of days earlier, i had been told it was on the river yesterday. So off we went, yes! there it was in full view, everyone seemed happy. Bit of breakfast at Tescos, then off to salterbeck. Looking throught the Gulls again there was nothing, then Tristan said "isnt that a........." i said yes a Nordic type Jackdaw, id seen a bird much brighter than this a couple of years ago in the same area. So we may have missed the Med gulls but Nordic Jackdaw sure made up for it. I seem to be on a role at the moment.

 

January 12th

Just a quick trip to Siddick Ponds tonight for Bittern, just the one seen very breifly, but good views of Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk and I heard a few Water-rail.

January11th

Had a full days birding started of at Salterbeck reservor where there were three Med Gulls 2 adults and a 1st winter. Then to Beckermet to see if the reported GW Egret was present, but no sign. A walk up the river produced 2 Dipper. Then to Parton where there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Med gulls an adult and a 1st winter. Workington harbour produced nothing, and then to Siddick ponds which produced an adult Med Gull (think it was the same as 1 of the Salterbeck birds) and a Cracking Drake Manderine duck, scarce in Cumbria. Finally finished at Soddy Gap which produced 8 Goosander and cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl.

January 5th

Trip to Grangemouth produced my first lifer of the year, Spotted Sandpiper, weather was very poor so no decent photos, F*****g Weather. This bird is just starting to get its spots.

January 1st and 2nd

78 Species

Nice start to the year, Went back to cardoness for the Cattle Egret, Red Kite at Loch ken, RN Duck at Bass lake and Grey Partridge at soddy gap.

 

 

 

 

 

31st December

Last day of the year Female RN Duck still there still to far away for photos.

Up to Whinlatter Forest where i saw at least 12 Common Crossbill and a good contender for a Parrot Crossbill. Whilst i was photographing the Common Crossbill i came across a larger Crossbill, but before i could grill the bird i took 3 photos and it flew off, shit! In the end It was seen as a 1cy male Common Crossbill, so you live and you learn!

Anyway heres the a couple of pics that turned out.

 

30th December

Just when i thought this month was over, i found a Female Ring-necked duck on Bassenthwaite lake. Miles away so apologies for the poor photo, i think you can see what it is.

Also today 5 Brambling and small movements of Pinkfeet, total 920 

29th December

Brilliant end to the month, tristan his son and i visited Dumfiries for great views of Cattle Egret, at one point it landed on the side of the road and decided to walk accros the road dodging the traffic.

 

16th December

Had a great day today Green-winged teal at siddick ponds. Also Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal.

Then after the second time of asking i finally saw the Red-breasted Goose on Newton Marsh, along with 5000 Barnacle geese and a white barnacle, 122 Whooper swans and 70 Twite.

Soddy Gap hosted my first Gadwall for the site, with 4 Goosanders 25 Wigeon and a load of Teal.

Well last month of the year, not going to reach that magical 300 mark, oh well maybe next year. 

Good start to the month went back for the Desert  Wheatear near Scarbrough and managed some record shots this time.

 

Also managed a very confiding (although too close for decent photos) Black-Throated diver in Scarbrough harbour and 1 Little Auk flying North. At work Peregrine, and 2 Woodcock .

Have a go at this its great! http://www.miniclip.com/games/snow-line/en/

Another days birding this time with Tristan and Mike. Mike drove us to Paxton Pits in Camb. We had amazing views of Nightingale, We must have saw at least 10 birds singing.

We heard but didnt see Turtle dove, We also had Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and my first Cuckoo of the year.

We then went to Fen Drayton NR for Temmicks Stint, we had to wait a little but it did finally appear from behind the island giving good scope views.

We had more views of Cuckoo and mike and I manged to here Cettis Warbler. We couldnt find the Gargney that had been reported that morning.

On the way home we stopped at Neummans Flash for cracking views of the breeding Black-Winged Stilts, we also saw a nest changeover.

Thanks for Driving all that way Mike.

4th May

I picked Tristan up and decided we would have a day at Leighton Moss in Lancashire. We started at Silverdale for some Orchids. Early Purple and Green Veined Orchid.

Then we had a look from the Eric Morcambe hide where we had better views of the Spoonbill.

Also from this hide was a cracking 2nd Summer Med gull.

It then came on the pagers that a Black Tern was at the public hide, when we got there it was showing distantly but then moved onto the hide behind the visitor centre where it gave good Scope views.

 

We also had good views of Marsh Harrier.

2nd May

Where do i start, well at Low meadows, i had my first Garden Warblers (2) for the site and the Year. At Soddy gap 30 Whimbrel, 2 Grashopper Warblers and 4 Sedge Warbler.

Then i decided to have a bit of a sea watch at Bowness Viaduct, on arrival phil was there and after 5 min we picked up a pale phase Pom Skua. After a littel while i Picked up a Black Tern, typical i needent of rushed for the one at Longtown yesterday!. Nothing much else to report. I drove past north plain with the window open and heard 5 Lesser Whitethroats singing between north plain and the Gate.

 

Then to Workington, nothing much but 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet and Kittiwakes. Then Siddick ponds where i heard and saw yet another Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Reed Warblers. Finishing up at Soddy Gap and Low meadows again but nothing new in.

May 1st

Tristan rang to say there was a Black Tern at Longtown ponds, so i thought i better go and have a look, very scarce in Cumbria. Cracking Views of a Summer plumaged bird.

At work in Ennerdale, Peregrine with food, Ring Ouzel Singing. After work i had a trip to Green wood near Loweswater where i had good views of Red Squirrel, Redstart and Nuthatch.

27th April 2008

The dog woke me up at 530am, so by 6am i was at St Bees in the thick fog, this wasnt looking good. Throught the mist i did see 5 Common Whitethroat and many Willow Warblers. A Whimbrel was calling from the fog, it then landed just in front of me. Still there seemed little about. I started heading back towards the car when i heard a Ring Ouzel from the fog. After a while the fog cleared for 15 minuites, in this time i had excellent views of the Whitethroats, Willow Warblers plenty of Wheatears probably Greenland Race and a cracking Male Ring Ouzel.

On the way home i nipped into soddy gap, where my first Grasshopper Warblers(3) and Sedge Warblers(2) had finally arrived and were happily singing away. 2 Common Sandpiper were now present. The 4 Pinkfeet were still present and the 2 Redshank had moved to Soddy  gap from Low meadows so there were just 6 Teal and a Wheatear there.

This afternoon, had a walk around Dearham and a Street called The went produced some surprising results, 1 Lesser Whitethroat which i dont see very oftern in Cumbria, never mind just down the road from my house. 4 Whimbrel flew over, 4 Wheatear in ploughed fields, Blackcap and Great spotted Woodpecker. Billiant end to my day and its only 3pm.

 

26th April 2008

Reached 200 species today. Tristan, Lachlan and i met Roy at the services, we started our days birding at Sizergh castle for the Hawfinch's again. What cracking views we had of a male and a female.

Next onto Lytham St Annes for the Ross's Gull, there was no sign so we went to the cemetary to try to find the Ring-necked Parakeets, we didnt see any but we heard one calling, thats good enough for me. Then the Ross's Gull was reported from Grannys bay. When we got there it was much further away, but was still good value. Whilst watching the Gull we also had 2 Whimbrel, Arctic Tern and Common Tern, nice year ticks.

We then had a look at Warton bank for the Glossy Ibis but dipped on him today, there were 3 Little Egret and a Peregrine. On the way home i saw my first Swift of the year.

We decided to finish of at Leighton moss where we saw a Green Winged Teal, Spoonbill and an Adult Med Gull, also really close views of a Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and over 300 Black-tailed Godwit.

21st-25th April 2008

At Low meadows was my first red squirrel, Hare, 2 Redshank still there, 150 Lesser BB Gulls, 2 Shelduck and 40 Herring gulls.

Soddy gap 96 Golden Plover, 4 Pinkfeet and the Common Sand still.

20th April 2008

Soddy gap hosted movements of Wheatear's 30+ in 45 min.

96 Summer Golden Plovers

4 Pinkfeet STILL, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff's, Willow Warbler's, Tree Sparrow's, and the usual stuff.

19th April

Ross's Gull had been reported on and off all week, so i asked the wife if she fancied a trip to Blackpool (which pi**ed Tristan off, sorry mate).So we left fairly early and decided to stop of at Sizergh Castle for Hawfinch, on arrival there was no sign so i had a walk around, seeing Marsh tit, Bullfinch, Heron and usual stuff. On returning to the car park i saw 1 Hawfinch land in one of the trees. I got another visiting birder onto it. A few more people turned up and so did a few more Hawfinch 6 in the end. They gave Stunning views both in the trees and on the ground, although very flighty.

 

We waited for news of the Ross's Gull until dinner, but nothing, so we decided to have a look anyway. On arrival i had a look from the windmill, where i saw a White Winged Gull very distantly, but didnt have time before it disapeared to decide what it was. There was an Iceland gull reported later.

Next stop was dinner in the car at Fairhaven Lake, nobody had seen the bird at all. This didnt look good. We drove a little further north got some cash out for an ice cream and started heading back toward fairhaven lake, but i decided to stop and check the beach's on the way back, first beach nothing but donkeys, then onto the second beach car-park, i walked onto the beach and there it bloody was sat in a pool on the beach, so i legged it back to the car to get my scope, and some pics. I put the news out and withing minutes there were 30 or so birds there happily watching It at very close quaters. I later found out that someone had been watching it for an hour, but couldnt put out the news because he had no credit on his phone, typical. I cant dowload the pics for some reason so heres the link to a few.

http://www.freewebs.com/shrike33/rosssgull.htm

2 lifers in the space of a few days, brilliant.

17th April.

Off to Newcastle and Swallow ponds where a Pallas's Warbler had been reported. I finally found my first ever Pallas's Warbler in the woods near to the screen hide. It was Singing merrily from the trees sounding very much like a Willow Warbler. This gave stunning views eventually down to 10 feet. Also there were, Drake Ruddy Duck, Yellow Wagtail, and Blackcap. Then i went to see Black-necked Grebes at a secret site i knew, it was nice to see 6 birds displaying.

On the way home i nipped into Low Meadows, where there were 2 Redshank.

15th April.

Very last week working in Juggar howe in North Yorkshire. highlights were Marsh Tit in Juggar howe. Tundra Bean Goose, European White-fronted Goose, Pinkfeet and Greylag at Scaling Damns.

13th April

Got back from Chesterfield fairly early so visited Low Meadows, where there were 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff Singing. After dinner we had a walk down the prom at Maryport, i was surprised to find 2 White Wagtail near the old paddling pool in the millenium garden, also 4 Swallow near the fort. Very little else of note though.

 

12th April

Trip to Chesterfield to visit sick in-laws. So i made a quick visit to Cromford Canal for Hawfinch on arrival to the rugby pitch, there was one showing brilliantly well, by the time i had got my camera set up it had gone.(Typical) Also there, were my first Blackcap of the year, male and female together.

Then to Carsington water where i had 4 White Wagtail and a Great-northern Diver coming into summer plumage.

Loads of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Swallows into double figures loads of Sand Martins (hundreds)and 1 House Martin. Then i saw 2 Little Owl courting.

4th April

Not done much birding lateley,just walks with the wife and dog, last week i had my first Wheatear (5) at st bees along with a couple of Ravens. There were more Wheatears (3) on the beach at Maryport.

At Low Meadow (Soddy Flash) i had my first Ringed Plover for the site.

Today i had a Redshank, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Bullfinch all at Low Meadows (Soddy flash) and 4 Pinkfooted geese at Soddy Gap.

Then onto Siddick ponds, when i arrived there were at least 20 Sandmartins circling the car  park and to my Surprise a single Swallow.I walked the old railway to Seaton which i had never done before. What a nice walk it was too. 18 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow warbler again first of the year and 8 Wheatear.

Spring Has arrived.

28th March

Went back AGAIN for the Ring-necked Duck at Bass lake, where the bird was showing  very well outside the hide, i was able to get some much better pictures.

My first Chiffchaff was singing in Powter howe wood.

Well a somewhat different Norfolk trip (in the Tent) weather wise, Rain, Wind, Sleet and Snow, it was a bloody awful first couple of days, I did look for the Great Grey Shrike at Kelling but it was a complete waste of time, i didnt see one bird, it was just too windy and wet, what was i doing out here. Ok so i went to see the geese at Martham Ferry, hoping it would stop raining, i did eventually get Ross's and Snow Goose in the pooring rain. Quick hot chocolate at horsey pump and to our surprise there were 2 Common Cranes in the nearby fields, (great). 

 

The next stop was Gorleston for the very pale Juv Glaucous Gull, it was showing very well again in the pooring rain, i got soaked. Turned out to be quite a succesful day in the end.

Saturday was much the same, so we went to Titchwell, where i had a first winter Med Gull

8 Brambling, Black Brent and Spotted Redshank, then family stuff. I also tried for Shorelark, but the weather beat me.

Sunday was a much better day, Shorelark was first on the agenda, cracking views but still a little windy for brilliant photos.

 

Cley produced very little, family stuff then Shag at Wells Harbour.

 

Finished of birding at Titchwell again, 4 Bramblings, Black Brant, Spotted Redshank, 2 Adult Med Gulls and lots of Ruff.

 

 

I did look for the White Crowned Sparrow a couple of times but seeing as they were no longer feedeing the birds it was a case of wasted time.

All in all a succesfull trip despite the weather.

20th March

Visited Sandsend again where the 11 Lapland Buntings were still Present

15th-16th March.

Brilliant weekend on the Saturday Tristan, Chris and I visited Ireland where Derek Charles took us on the adventure of a lifetime, pitty we didnt see much! No really we did get 1 Manxie from the boat with the usual sea birds, brilliant views of Barrows goldeneye and distant views of a Female Lesser Scaup. Bogey bird still was Ring-billed Gulls no sign, but on the sunday (when i wasnt there Derek found 3, TYPICAL). There had been a Fosters Tern for a while but this we dipped too. 3 Wintering Sandwich terns was a nice surprise and good numbers of Pale-bellied Brents. Thanks Derek!

 

 

On The Sunday, what an incredible day which made up for the dips of the day before tristan an I went to soulseat loch for cracking views of the male Lesser Scaup. If that wasnt good enough we found a very good contender for a 4th ever Pacific Diver on Loch ryan. I picked up what i though was a Black-throated Diver distantly got Tristan onto it and at the same time took my eye of it. Tristan couldnt decide what diver species it was and suggested Pacific (good Call Tristan), i found the bird again, neither of us could see a flank patch, the bill was tilted up slightly very similar to red-throated diver but not as strongly tilted, sat higher on the water and although there was nothing to compare it too we did feel it was slightly smaller than a BT Diver. Tristan then saw the dark marking on the under tail. We then went around the wigg for better views but could not relocate it. Later in The day Chris Baines relocated the bird along side a Black-throated diver which he suggested was slightly bigger. Lets hope its relocated and confirmed soon!!!!!

12th March

Went to Sandsend in North Yorkshire after work and found 11 Lapland Buntings (great).

1 Green Woodpecker, Shag, Red-throated diver and commoner stuff.

 

9th March
Quick Dip of the Ross's Goose AGAIN. But Greenland Whitefronted Goose was nice.

8th March

I picked Derek Tristan and Lachlan upfrom Wigton, then to Gretna to pick up Chris (full car this week). First stop was Loch Maben where we had a Red-headed Smew.
Then  to Strathclyde Country park to hopefully see the Ring-billed Gull which had been seen alllll week. Spent all day there and no bloody sign, this is a bogey bird for me it still a lifer. A Nodic Jackdaw and a couple of Hooded x Carrion Crows were a nice surprise.
We did find a putitive 3rd Winter Caspian Gull or is it a Herring gull, comments welcome. Then later in the gull roost i picked up a first winter Yellow legged gull, but no white winged gulls, although a day later there were 4, Typical!!! Oh a male Smew was a cracking bird on the river. This is a great spot for the gulls though.




2nd March
A Trip to Dumfries and Galloway and Torrs Warren produced usual woodland species but no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then quick look for any Geese but nothing.
Then to Stranraer and Bishop Burn for a gull feast picking up 1st Winter Iceland Gull, and 2nd Winter Kumliens Gull.

A trip to Grangemouth for the Spotted Sandpiper with the wife. Which i saw pretty quickly before it flew up stream pretty quickly. Searched the area for other things but nothing of any real note. Then to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel.
On the way back we stopped at Loch Maben where we saw a Long-tailed Duck.

20th-23rd February

Morning in Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay produced 4 Purple sandpiper, but very little else.

In Cumbria i had a day looking for Geese at Abbeytown, a Greenland Whitefront was a nice surprise and 8 Twite at bowness railings was a nice year tick.

An hours sea watching produced a Great Skua nice year tick, 32 Purple sandpipers a Fulmar, Gannet, Porpoise(s) and the usual suspects.

 

16th-17th February.

Very nice relaxing weekend. At Easton I decided to go and see the Ross's Goose that had been there all week, but typically it disapeared that day. It wasnt the end of the world though as the Red-breasted Goose reapeared instead, in Easton!!! Excellent.

On the Sunday i had a walk with the wife along the promenade at Maryport. 105 Knot, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Bottlenosed Dolphin suning themselfs in the water were the mornings highlights. Then Tristan rang to inform me of a Cattle Egret in Carlisle. This gave stunning views.

What a fun packed weekend, with what was nearly a disaster too.

Tristan and I got to Mikes on the Thursday night about 7pm, by 1030pm we were in the Travel lodge in Long Sutton. (Nice driving Mike). Early Friday morning the boys had there brecky, then we were off, first stop was for Golden Pheasent at Wolfroton Triangle, which Mike and I connected with very brief views of a Male and a Female. Next Stop was our Main event the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley. It hadnt been seen as yet, but on arrival we were able to pick it up fairly quickly, but photographs were difficult as it wouldnt stay still too long.

After a couple of hours, Mike and I decided to nip to Salthouse for the Snow Buntings and hopefully Lapland Bunting, leaving Tristan to try and get some decent photos off the Sparrow. On Arriving at Salthouse we were privie to a magnificant spectical of at least 60 Snow Buntings, i hadnt realised just how big these birds are.

Someone then pointed out a Lapland Bunting, although looking at my pics i think there were 2 birds, brilliant all target birds seen so far.

Next stop for Mike and I was a site i knew would garantee us Dartford Warbler, and lo and behold there was a male and female, although too brief.

We then picked Tristan up on our way to Holkham where we spotted a few Dark-belled Brent Geese, with one Black Brant, another target species of ours.

Holkham Monument was our next stop for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was getting slightly late, so we wern't surprised when we couldnt find any. Quick look at the map we umed and ared, could we get to Norwich and Wacton for the reported Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Ok lets give it ago. We got there about five, missing the bird by about 30 min. We did get nice views of a nominate Barn Owl, not to worry we would try again in the morning, (or would we).

We decide to head to Norwich and our second Travel lodge off the trip. DISASTER the car started to brake down, we just managed to roll up outside our Travel Lodge (lucky or what!) where the AA took the car to the nearest garage.

By 11am the next day the car was fixed. We gave the Owl the miss as Mike wanted to see Common Crane so we drove all around the Horsey area with no luck. Next stop was Cantley for the Bean Geese which seem to have disapeared although we did see good numbers of European White-fronted Geese. In the same area was Green Sandpiper, Female Scaup and 3 Water Pipit all nice year ticks. We then finished our day back at Wacton Common where we had brilliant and prolonged views of the Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Nominate Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl. Fantastic finish to the Day. Back to the Travel lodge.

Last Day turned out to be as good as the first. Although we missed Golden Pheasent at Wayling wood, but plenty of Marsh Tits. We found ourselfs at Thetford missing Goshawk due to the massive amout of distubance by a bike race. We did get nice views of a singing Woodlark however.Then Mike told us of a well known Smew site which i cant remember the name off, Mike thought he had a glimps of a Redhead, but bird of the day so far was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which is a species Tristan and myself hadnt seen for a few years, and was on top of our trip list.

Brief Trip to Ely for yes Muscovy Duck and Small Race Canada. (Oh the Shame). Pending cat C

.

Welney was our next stop, Bewick Swan was a priority for me and luckily we got a group of 8 on the main road to Walney.

At Welney we got the 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Merlin, Whooper swans and usual other stuff, missing the Common Crane.

Back to North Norfolk, where a Rough Legged Buzzard had been pinned down at Burnham Norton, cracking Scope views, we picked up a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier too.

Then came a report of a Great Grey Shrike at Kelling Heath, my favorite site. On arriving,i thought i knew where i was going, but the pager messages were all wrong, but luckily we found some birders and they told us the way. Within minuites we were watching a cracking 1st Winter Great Grey Shrike.

Last stop was Cley for Avocet, Ruff and the usual contenders, what a cracking end to a cracking weekend.

109 Bou Species logged over the weekend.

 

2nd February

Had an excellent day in  Lancashire/Burnley area with Derek oh yeh Tristan came along too.

Started off in Cumbria looking for Hawfinch at Sizergh Castle , but no sign of any today, this made me think this day is gonna be a day of dips, Luckily that wasnt to be, We got to Burnley for the Waxwings, and after a couple of detors and some valuable directions from a kind women, we saw 2 on Oxford st. After an hour of fantastic views and a few photos they flew off.

Next stop was Barrow for the Slavonion grebe and some lunch. Again this gave fantastic views but on arrival took some seeing due to it diving continuosly.

 

Next stop was Padiham where a week ago a Great Grey Shrike had been reported, i thought this would be a difficult bird to see (I thought it had probably gone no reports all week). We walked up to and past the area it had been seen in but no sign, so we started walking back to the car, at which point i saw a grey blob in the middle of a hegde a couple of huindred yards away, was it rubbish, No! it was the Great Grey shrike pheww. What a good day this was turning out to be.

Last stop Warton Bank near Preston for the long staying Glossy Ibis. Once there again there was no sign, but after about 10 min Eagle eye Derek spotted it coming out of a ditch quite distant, Tristan had walked off, so i gave him a ring to get here quick, but then it flew off and out of site. Luckily it only took a few minuies for Tristan to see it as it took flight again and disapered back onto the marsh. What great end to the day. BRILLIANT!!!

January 26th and 27th

Salterbeck hosted 2 Med Gulls and a drake Goosander. Flimby Rugby pitch 2 Med Gulls, Mandarin duck still on river.

Off to Bass lake to hopefully see the 2 Slavonion Grebes, but to no avail, so off to Linksfiled tarn where there was a Jack Snipe reported, luckily there it was sat out in the open giving good scope views.

 

January 20th

Same old Sh*t really, off to Workington for more Med Gulls, Nordic Jackdaw and Mandarin Duck all Still present. Oh Yes and a cracking Drake Red-breasted Merganser. And RN Duck Stilll on Bass lake.

 

January 13th

Tristan and Brian Unexpectedly turned up at my door, so i thought i better go out then and show them some birds. First they wanted to see Med gull, Flimby nothing, Siddick ponds nothing, Workington None and salterbeck None where had they all gone, i had six on Friday?

So next was the Mandarin Duck i found a couple of days earlier, i had been told it was on the river yesterday. So off we went, yes! there it was in full view, everyone seemed happy. Bit of breakfast at Tescos, then off to salterbeck. Looking throught the Gulls again there was nothing, then Tristan said "isnt that a........." i said yes a Nordic type Jackdaw, id seen a bird much brighter than this a couple of years ago in the same area. So we may have missed the Med gulls but Nordic Jackdaw sure made up for it. I seem to be on a role at the moment.

 

January 12th

Just a quick trip to Siddick Ponds tonight for Bittern, just the one seen very breifly, but good views of Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk and I heard a few Water-rail.

January11th

Had a full days birding started of at Salterbeck reservor where there were three Med Gulls 2 adults and a 1st winter. Then to Beckermet to see if the reported GW Egret was present, but no sign. A walk up the river produced 2 Dipper. Then to Parton where there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Med gulls an adult and a 1st winter. Workington harbour produced nothing, and then to Siddick ponds which produced an adult Med Gull (think it was the same as 1 of the Salterbeck birds) and a Cracking Drake Manderine duck, scarce in Cumbria. Finally finished at Soddy Gap which produced 8 Goosander and cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl.

January 5th

Trip to Grangemouth produced my first lifer of the year, Spotted Sandpiper, weather was very poor so no decent photos, F*****g Weather. This bird is just starting to get its spots.

January 1st and 2nd

78 Species

Nice start to the year, Went back to cardoness for the Cattle Egret, Red Kite at Loch ken, RN Duck at Bass lake and Grey Partridge at soddy gap.

 

 

 

 

 

31st December

Last day of the year Female RN Duck still there still to far away for photos.

Up to Whinlatter Forest where i saw at least 12 Common Crossbill and a good contender for a Parrot Crossbill. Whilst i was photographing the Common Crossbill i came across a larger Crossbill, but before i could grill the bird i took 3 photos and it flew off, shit! In the end It was seen as a 1cy male Common Crossbill, so you live and you learn!

Anyway heres the a couple of pics that turned out.

 

30th December

Just when i thought this month was over, i found a Female Ring-necked duck on Bassenthwaite lake. Miles away so apologies for the poor photo, i think you can see what it is.

Also today 5 Brambling and small movements of Pinkfeet, total 920 

29th December

Brilliant end to the month, tristan his son and i visited Dumfiries for great views of Cattle Egret, at one point it landed on the side of the road and decided to walk accros the road dodging the traffic.

 

16th December

Had a great day today Green-winged teal at siddick ponds. Also Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal.

Then after the second time of asking i finally saw the Red-breasted Goose on Newton Marsh, along with 5000 Barnacle geese and a white barnacle, 122 Whooper swans and 70 Twite.

Soddy Gap hosted my first Gadwall for the site, with 4 Goosanders 25 Wigeon and a load of Teal.

Well last month of the year, not going to reach that magical 300 mark, oh well maybe next year. 

Good start to the month went back for the Desert  Wheatear near Scarbrough and managed some record shots this time.

 

Also managed a very confiding (although too close for decent photos) Black-Throated diver in Scarbrough harbour and 1 Little Auk flying North. At work Peregrine, and 2 Woodcock .

Have a go at this its great! http://www.miniclip.com/games/snow-line/en/

Another days birding this time with Tristan and Mike. Mike drove us to Paxton Pits in Camb. We had amazing views of Nightingale, We must have saw at least 10 birds singing.

We heard but didnt see Turtle dove, We also had Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and my first Cuckoo of the year.

We then went to Fen Drayton NR for Temmicks Stint, we had to wait a little but it did finally appear from behind the island giving good scope views.

We had more views of Cuckoo and mike and I manged to here Cettis Warbler. We couldnt find the Gargney that had been reported that morning.

On the way home we stopped at Neummans Flash for cracking views of the breeding Black-Winged Stilts, we also saw a nest changeover.

Thanks for Driving all that way Mike.

4th May

I picked Tristan up and decided we would have a day at Leighton Moss in Lancashire. We started at Silverdale for some Orchids. Early Purple and Green Veined Orchid.

Then we had a look from the Eric Morcambe hide where we had better views of the Spoonbill.

Also from this hide was a cracking 2nd Summer Med gull.

It then came on the pagers that a Black Tern was at the public hide, when we got there it was showing distantly but then moved onto the hide behind the visitor centre where it gave good Scope views.

 

We also had good views of Marsh Harrier.

2nd May

Where do i start, well at Low meadows, i had my first Garden Warblers (2) for the site and the Year. At Soddy gap 30 Whimbrel, 2 Grashopper Warblers and 4 Sedge Warbler.

Then i decided to have a bit of a sea watch at Bowness Viaduct, on arrival phil was there and after 5 min we picked up a pale phase Pom Skua. After a littel while i Picked up a Black Tern, typical i needent of rushed for the one at Longtown yesterday!. Nothing much else to report. I drove past north plain with the window open and heard 5 Lesser Whitethroats singing between north plain and the Gate.

 

Then to Workington, nothing much but 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet and Kittiwakes. Then Siddick ponds where i heard and saw yet another Lesser Whitethroat, and 2 Reed Warblers. Finishing up at Soddy Gap and Low meadows again but nothing new in.

May 1st

Tristan rang to say there was a Black Tern at Longtown ponds, so i thought i better go and have a look, very scarce in Cumbria. Cracking Views of a Summer plumaged bird.

At work in Ennerdale, Peregrine with food, Ring Ouzel Singing. After work i had a trip to Green wood near Loweswater where i had good views of Red Squirrel, Redstart and Nuthatch.

27th April 2008

The dog woke me up at 530am, so by 6am i was at St Bees in the thick fog, this wasnt looking good. Throught the mist i did see 5 Common Whitethroat and many Willow Warblers. A Whimbrel was calling from the fog, it then landed just in front of me. Still there seemed little about. I started heading back towards the car when i heard a Ring Ouzel from the fog. After a while the fog cleared for 15 minuites, in this time i had excellent views of the Whitethroats, Willow Warblers plenty of Wheatears probably Greenland Race and a cracking Male Ring Ouzel.

On the way home i nipped into soddy gap, where my first Grasshopper Warblers(3) and Sedge Warblers(2) had finally arrived and were happily singing away. 2 Common Sandpiper were now present. The 4 Pinkfeet were still present and the 2 Redshank had moved to Soddy  gap from Low meadows so there were just 6 Teal and a Wheatear there.

This afternoon, had a walk around Dearham and a Street called The went produced some surprising results, 1 Lesser Whitethroat which i dont see very oftern in Cumbria, never mind just down the road from my house. 4 Whimbrel flew over, 4 Wheatear in ploughed fields, Blackcap and Great spotted Woodpecker. Billiant end to my day and its only 3pm.

 

26th April 2008

Reached 200 species today. Tristan, Lachlan and i met Roy at the services, we started our days birding at Sizergh castle for the Hawfinch's again. What cracking views we had of a male and a female.

Next onto Lytham St Annes for the Ross's Gull, there was no sign so we went to the cemetary to try to find the Ring-necked Parakeets, we didnt see any but we heard one calling, thats good enough for me. Then the Ross's Gull was reported from Grannys bay. When we got there it was much further away, but was still good value. Whilst watching the Gull we also had 2 Whimbrel, Arctic Tern and Common Tern, nice year ticks.

We then had a look at Warton bank for the Glossy Ibis but dipped on him today, there were 3 Little Egret and a Peregrine. On the way home i saw my first Swift of the year.

We decided to finish of at Leighton moss where we saw a Green Winged Teal, Spoonbill and an Adult Med Gull, also really close views of a Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and over 300 Black-tailed Godwit.

21st-25th April 2008

At Low meadows was my first red squirrel, Hare, 2 Redshank still there, 150 Lesser BB Gulls, 2 Shelduck and 40 Herring gulls.

Soddy gap 96 Golden Plover, 4 Pinkfeet and the Common Sand still.

20th April 2008

Soddy gap hosted movements of Wheatear's 30+ in 45 min.

96 Summer Golden Plovers

4 Pinkfeet STILL, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff's, Willow Warbler's, Tree Sparrow's, and the usual stuff.

19th April

Ross's Gull had been reported on and off all week, so i asked the wife if she fancied a trip to Blackpool (which pi**ed Tristan off, sorry mate).So we left fairly early and decided to stop of at Sizergh Castle for Hawfinch, on arrival there was no sign so i had a walk around, seeing Marsh tit, Bullfinch, Heron and usual stuff. On returning to the car park i saw 1 Hawfinch land in one of the trees. I got another visiting birder onto it. A few more people turned up and so did a few more Hawfinch 6 in the end. They gave Stunning views both in the trees and on the ground, although very flighty.

 

We waited for news of the Ross's Gull until dinner, but nothing, so we decided to have a look anyway. On arrival i had a look from the windmill, where i saw a White Winged Gull very distantly, but didnt have time before it disapeared to decide what it was. There was an Iceland gull reported later.

Next stop was dinner in the car at Fairhaven Lake, nobody had seen the bird at all. This didnt look good. We drove a little further north got some cash out for an ice cream and started heading back toward fairhaven lake, but i decided to stop and check the beach's on the way back, first beach nothing but donkeys, then onto the second beach car-park, i walked onto the beach and there it bloody was sat in a pool on the beach, so i legged it back to the car to get my scope, and some pics. I put the news out and withing minutes there were 30 or so birds there happily watching It at very close quaters. I later found out that someone had been watching it for an hour, but couldnt put out the news because he had no credit on his phone, typical. I cant dowload the pics for some reason so heres the link to a few.

http://www.freewebs.com/shrike33/rosssgull.htm

2 lifers in the space of a few days, brilliant.

17th April.

Off to Newcastle and Swallow ponds where a Pallas's Warbler had been reported. I finally found my first ever Pallas's Warbler in the woods near to the screen hide. It was Singing merrily from the trees sounding very much like a Willow Warbler. This gave stunning views eventually down to 10 feet. Also there were, Drake Ruddy Duck, Yellow Wagtail, and Blackcap. Then i went to see Black-necked Grebes at a secret site i knew, it was nice to see 6 birds displaying.

On the way home i nipped into Low Meadows, where there were 2 Redshank.

15th April.

Very last week working in Juggar howe in North Yorkshire. highlights were Marsh Tit in Juggar howe. Tundra Bean Goose, European White-fronted Goose, Pinkfeet and Greylag at Scaling Damns.

13th April

Got back from Chesterfield fairly early so visited Low Meadows, where there were 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff Singing. After dinner we had a walk down the prom at Maryport, i was surprised to find 2 White Wagtail near the old paddling pool in the millenium garden, also 4 Swallow near the fort. Very little else of note though.

 

12th April

Trip to Chesterfield to visit sick in-laws. So i made a quick visit to Cromford Canal for Hawfinch on arrival to the rugby pitch, there was one showing brilliantly well, by the time i had got my camera set up it had gone.(Typical) Also there, were my first Blackcap of the year, male and female together.

Then to Carsington water where i had 4 White Wagtail and a Great-northern Diver coming into summer plumage.

Loads of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Swallows into double figures loads of Sand Martins (hundreds)and 1 House Martin. Then i saw 2 Little Owl courting.

4th April

Not done much birding lateley,just walks with the wife and dog, last week i had my first Wheatear (5) at st bees along with a couple of Ravens. There were more Wheatears (3) on the beach at Maryport.

At Low Meadow (Soddy Flash) i had my first Ringed Plover for the site.

Today i had a Redshank, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Bullfinch all at Low Meadows (Soddy flash) and 4 Pinkfooted geese at Soddy Gap.

Then onto Siddick ponds, when i arrived there were at least 20 Sandmartins circling the car  park and to my Surprise a single Swallow.I walked the old railway to Seaton which i had never done before. What a nice walk it was too. 18 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow warbler again first of the year and 8 Wheatear.

Spring Has arrived.

28th March

Went back AGAIN for the Ring-necked Duck at Bass lake, where the bird was showing  very well outside the hide, i was able to get some much better pictures.

My first Chiffchaff was singing in Powter howe wood.

Well a somewhat different Norfolk trip (in the Tent) weather wise, Rain, Wind, Sleet and Snow, it was a bloody awful first couple of days, I did look for the Great Grey Shrike at Kelling but it was a complete waste of time, i didnt see one bird, it was just too windy and wet, what was i doing out here. Ok so i went to see the geese at Martham Ferry, hoping it would stop raining, i did eventually get Ross's and Snow Goose in the pooring rain. Quick hot chocolate at horsey pump and to our surprise there were 2 Common Cranes in the nearby fields, (great). 

 

The next stop was Gorleston for the very pale Juv Glaucous Gull, it was showing very well again in the pooring rain, i got soaked. Turned out to be quite a succesful day in the end.

Saturday was much the same, so we went to Titchwell, where i had a first winter Med Gull

8 Brambling, Black Brent and Spotted Redshank, then family stuff. I also tried for Shorelark, but the weather beat me.

Sunday was a much better day, Shorelark was first on the agenda, cracking views but still a little windy for brilliant photos.

 

Cley produced very little, family stuff then Shag at Wells Harbour.

 

Finished of birding at Titchwell again, 4 Bramblings, Black Brant, Spotted Redshank, 2 Adult Med Gulls and lots of Ruff.

 

 

I did look for the White Crowned Sparrow a couple of times but seeing as they were no longer feedeing the birds it was a case of wasted time.

All in all a succesfull trip despite the weather.

20th March

Visited Sandsend again where the 11 Lapland Buntings were still Present

15th-16th March.

Brilliant weekend on the Saturday Tristan, Chris and I visited Ireland where Derek Charles took us on the adventure of a lifetime, pitty we didnt see much! No really we did get 1 Manxie from the boat with the usual sea birds, brilliant views of Barrows goldeneye and distant views of a Female Lesser Scaup. Bogey bird still was Ring-billed Gulls no sign, but on the sunday (when i wasnt there Derek found 3, TYPICAL). There had been a Fosters Tern for a while but this we dipped too. 3 Wintering Sandwich terns was a nice surprise and good numbers of Pale-bellied Brents. Thanks Derek!

 

 

On The Sunday, what an incredible day which made up for the dips of the day before tristan an I went to soulseat loch for cracking views of the male Lesser Scaup. If that wasnt good enough we found a very good contender for a 4th ever Pacific Diver on Loch ryan. I picked up what i though was a Black-throated Diver distantly got Tristan onto it and at the same time took my eye of it. Tristan couldnt decide what diver species it was and suggested Pacific (good Call Tristan), i found the bird again, neither of us could see a flank patch, the bill was tilted up slightly very similar to red-throated diver but not as strongly tilted, sat higher on the water and although there was nothing to compare it too we did feel it was slightly smaller than a BT Diver. Tristan then saw the dark marking on the under tail. We then went around the wigg for better views but could not relocate it. Later in The day Chris Baines relocated the bird along side a Black-throated diver which he suggested was slightly bigger. Lets hope its relocated and confirmed soon!!!!!

12th March

Went to Sandsend in North Yorkshire after work and found 11 Lapland Buntings (great).

1 Green Woodpecker, Shag, Red-throated diver and commoner stuff.

 

9th March
Quick Dip of the Ross's Goose AGAIN. But Greenland Whitefronted Goose was nice.

8th March

I picked Derek Tristan and Lachlan upfrom Wigton, then to Gretna to pick up Chris (full car this week). First stop was Loch Maben where we had a Red-headed Smew.
Then  to Strathclyde Country park to hopefully see the Ring-billed Gull which had been seen alllll week. Spent all day there and no bloody sign, this is a bogey bird for me it still a lifer. A Nodic Jackdaw and a couple of Hooded x Carrion Crows were a nice surprise.
We did find a putitive 3rd Winter Caspian Gull or is it a Herring gull, comments welcome. Then later in the gull roost i picked up a first winter Yellow legged gull, but no white winged gulls, although a day later there were 4, Typical!!! Oh a male Smew was a cracking bird on the river. This is a great spot for the gulls though.




2nd March
A Trip to Dumfries and Galloway and Torrs Warren produced usual woodland species but no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then quick look for any Geese but nothing.
Then to Stranraer and Bishop Burn for a gull feast picking up 1st Winter Iceland Gull, and 2nd Winter Kumliens Gull.

A trip to Grangemouth for the Spotted Sandpiper with the wife. Which i saw pretty quickly before it flew up stream pretty quickly. Searched the area for other things but nothing of any real note. Then to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel.
On the way back we stopped at Loch Maben where we saw a Long-tailed Duck.

20th-23rd February

Morning in Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay produced 4 Purple sandpiper, but very little else.

In Cumbria i had a day looking for Geese at Abbeytown, a Greenland Whitefront was a nice surprise and 8 Twite at bowness railings was a nice year tick.

An hours sea watching produced a Great Skua nice year tick, 32 Purple sandpipers a Fulmar, Gannet, Porpoise(s) and the usual suspects.

 

16th-17th February.

Very nice relaxing weekend. At Easton I decided to go and see the Ross's Goose that had been there all week, but typically it disapeared that day. It wasnt the end of the world though as the Red-breasted Goose reapeared instead, in Easton!!! Excellent.

On the Sunday i had a walk with the wife along the promenade at Maryport. 105 Knot, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Bottlenosed Dolphin suning themselfs in the water were the mornings highlights. Then Tristan rang to inform me of a Cattle Egret in Carlisle. This gave stunning views.

What a fun packed weekend, with what was nearly a disaster too.

Tristan and I got to Mikes on the Thursday night about 7pm, by 1030pm we were in the Travel lodge in Long Sutton. (Nice driving Mike). Early Friday morning the boys had there brecky, then we were off, first stop was for Golden Pheasent at Wolfroton Triangle, which Mike and I connected with very brief views of a Male and a Female. Next Stop was our Main event the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley. It hadnt been seen as yet, but on arrival we were able to pick it up fairly quickly, but photographs were difficult as it wouldnt stay still too long.

After a couple of hours, Mike and I decided to nip to Salthouse for the Snow Buntings and hopefully Lapland Bunting, leaving Tristan to try and get some decent photos off the Sparrow. On Arriving at Salthouse we were privie to a magnificant spectical of at least 60 Snow Buntings, i hadnt realised just how big these birds are.

Someone then pointed out a Lapland Bunting, although looking at my pics i think there were 2 birds, brilliant all target birds seen so far.

Next stop for Mike and I was a site i knew would garantee us Dartford Warbler, and lo and behold there was a male and female, although too brief.

We then picked Tristan up on our way to Holkham where we spotted a few Dark-belled Brent Geese, with one Black Brant, another target species of ours.

Holkham Monument was our next stop for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was getting slightly late, so we wern't surprised when we couldnt find any. Quick look at the map we umed and ared, could we get to Norwich and Wacton for the reported Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Ok lets give it ago. We got there about five, missing the bird by about 30 min. We did get nice views of a nominate Barn Owl, not to worry we would try again in the morning, (or would we).

We decide to head to Norwich and our second Travel lodge off the trip. DISASTER the car started to brake down, we just managed to roll up outside our Travel Lodge (lucky or what!) where the AA took the car to the nearest garage.

By 11am the next day the car was fixed. We gave the Owl the miss as Mike wanted to see Common Crane so we drove all around the Horsey area with no luck. Next stop was Cantley for the Bean Geese which seem to have disapeared although we did see good numbers of European White-fronted Geese. In the same area was Green Sandpiper, Female Scaup and 3 Water Pipit all nice year ticks. We then finished our day back at Wacton Common where we had brilliant and prolonged views of the Dark-breasted Barn Owl, Nominate Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl. Fantastic finish to the Day. Back to the Travel lodge.

Last Day turned out to be as good as the first. Although we missed Golden Pheasent at Wayling wood, but plenty of Marsh Tits. We found ourselfs at Thetford missing Goshawk due to the massive amout of distubance by a bike race. We did get nice views of a singing Woodlark however.Then Mike told us of a well known Smew site which i cant remember the name off, Mike thought he had a glimps of a Redhead, but bird of the day so far was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which is a species Tristan and myself hadnt seen for a few years, and was on top of our trip list.

Brief Trip to Ely for yes Muscovy Duck and Small Race Canada. (Oh the Shame). Pending cat C

.

Welney was our next stop, Bewick Swan was a priority for me and luckily we got a group of 8 on the main road to Walney.

At Welney we got the 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Merlin, Whooper swans and usual other stuff, missing the Common Crane.

Back to North Norfolk, where a Rough Legged Buzzard had been pinned down at Burnham Norton, cracking Scope views, we picked up a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier too.

Then came a report of a Great Grey Shrike at Kelling Heath, my favorite site. On arriving,i thought i knew where i was going, but the pager messages were all wrong, but luckily we found some birders and they told us the way. Within minuites we were watching a cracking 1st Winter Great Grey Shrike.

Last stop was Cley for Avocet, Ruff and the usual contenders, what a cracking end to a cracking weekend.

109 Bou Species logged over the weekend.

 

2nd February

Had an excellent day in  Lancashire/Burnley area with Derek oh yeh Tristan came along too.

Started off in Cumbria looking for Hawfinch at Sizergh Castle , but no sign of any today, this made me think this day is gonna be a day of dips, Luckily that wasnt to be, We got to Burnley for the Waxwings, and after a couple of detors and some valuable directions from a kind women, we saw 2 on Oxford st. After an hour of fantastic views and a few photos they flew off.

Next stop was Barrow for the Slavonion grebe and some lunch. Again this gave fantastic views but on arrival took some seeing due to it diving continuosly.

 

Next stop was Padiham where a week ago a Great Grey Shrike had been reported, i thought this would be a difficult bird to see (I thought it had probably gone no reports all week). We walked up to and past the area it had been seen in but no sign, so we started walking back to the car, at which point i saw a grey blob in the middle of a hegde a couple of huindred yards away, was it rubbish, No! it was the Great Grey shrike pheww. What a good day this was turning out to be.

Last stop Warton Bank near Preston for the long staying Glossy Ibis. Once there again there was no sign, but after about 10 min Eagle eye Derek spotted it coming out of a ditch quite distant, Tristan had walked off, so i gave him a ring to get here quick, but then it flew off and out of site. Luckily it only took a few minuies for Tristan to see it as it took flight again and disapered back onto the marsh. What great end to the day. BRILLIANT!!!

January 26th and 27th

Salterbeck hosted 2 Med Gulls and a drake Goosander. Flimby Rugby pitch 2 Med Gulls, Mandarin duck still on river.

Off to Bass lake to hopefully see the 2 Slavonion Grebes, but to no avail, so off to Linksfiled tarn where there was a Jack Snipe reported, luckily there it was sat out in the open giving good scope views.

 

January 20th

Same old Sh*t really, off to Workington for more Med Gulls, Nordic Jackdaw and Mandarin Duck all Still present. Oh Yes and a cracking Drake Red-breasted Merganser. And RN Duck Stilll on Bass lake.

 

January 13th

Tristan and Brian Unexpectedly turned up at my door, so i thought i better go out then and show them some birds. First they wanted to see Med gull, Flimby nothing, Siddick ponds nothing, Workington None and salterbeck None where had they all gone, i had six on Friday?

So next was the Mandarin Duck i found a couple of days earlier, i had been told it was on the river yesterday. So off we went, yes! there it was in full view, everyone seemed happy. Bit of breakfast at Tescos, then off to salterbeck. Looking throught the Gulls again there was nothing, then Tristan said "isnt that a........." i said yes a Nordic type Jackdaw, id seen a bird much brighter than this a couple of years ago in the same area. So we may have missed the Med gulls but Nordic Jackdaw sure made up for it. I seem to be on a role at the moment.

 

January 12th

Just a quick trip to Siddick Ponds tonight for Bittern, just the one seen very breifly, but good views of Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk and I heard a few Water-rail.

January11th

Had a full days birding started of at Salterbeck reservor where there were three Med Gulls 2 adults and a 1st winter. Then to Beckermet to see if the reported GW Egret was present, but no sign. A walk up the river produced 2 Dipper. Then to Parton where there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Med gulls an adult and a 1st winter. Workington harbour produced nothing, and then to Siddick ponds which produced an adult Med Gull (think it was the same as 1 of the Salterbeck birds) and a Cracking Drake Manderine duck, scarce in Cumbria. Finally finished at Soddy Gap which produced 8 Goosander and cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl.

January 5th

Trip to Grangemouth produced my first lifer of the year, Spotted Sandpiper, weather was very poor so no decent photos, F*****g Weather. This bird is just starting to get its spots.

January 1st and 2nd

78 Species

Nice start to the year, Went back to cardoness for the Cattle Egret, Red Kite at Loch ken, RN Duck at Bass lake and Grey Partridge at soddy gap.

 

 

 

 

 

31st December

Last day of the year Female RN Duck still there still to far away for photos.

Up to Whinlatter Forest where i saw at least 12 Common Crossbill and a good contender for a Parrot Crossbill. Whilst i was photographing the Common Crossbill i came across a larger Crossbill, but before i could grill the bird i took 3 photos and it flew off, shit! In the end It was seen as a 1cy male Common Crossbill, so you live and you learn!

Anyway heres the a couple of pics that turned out.

 

30th December

Just when i thought this month was over, i found a Female Ring-necked duck on Bassenthwaite lake. Miles away so apologies for the poor photo, i think you can see what it is.

Also today 5 Brambling and small movements of Pinkfeet, total 920 

29th December

Brilliant end to the month, tristan his son and i visited Dumfiries for great views of Cattle Egret, at one point it landed on the side of the road and decided to walk accros the road dodging the traffic.

 

16th December

Had a great day today Green-winged teal at siddick ponds. Also Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal.

Then after the second time of asking i finally saw the Red-breasted Goose on Newton Marsh, along with 5000 Barnacle geese and a white barnacle, 122 Whooper swans and 70 Twite.

Soddy Gap hosted my first Gadwall for the site, with 4 Goosanders 25 Wigeon and a load of Teal.

Well last month of the year, not going to reach that magical 300 mark, oh well maybe next year. 

Good start to the month went back for the Desert  Wheatear near Scarbrough and managed some record shots this time.

 

Also managed a very confiding (although too close for decent photos) Black-Throated diver in Scarbrough harbour and 1 Little Auk flying North. At work Peregrine, and 2 Woodcock .

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