5th May
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.
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