Red Necked Grebe at Farmoor Reservoir, oxon

Great day went to Farmoor Reservoir for the Red Necked Grebe took us awhile to locate him and was far out but Dave new he would come in closer we waited and in no time we were having stunning views, beautiful looking grebe, the dark orange, red neck really stands out, the light was bad but still had excellent views and a few photos, and love it when they dive running to where it's going to come up which Dave is brilliant at working out :)

Trittiford Mill Pond and The Dingles

Finally got to see the Little Egret feeding in the River a nice change from him sitting in the tree lol
He didn't seem bothered by me at all, but did fly off when a dog jumped into the river.
This Little egret was at The dingles and there was still one little egret at the Old Mill Pond in the tree.
Trittiford itself was very empty today even the swans had gone, there was two buzzards flying low, large numbers of long tailed tits around trittiford, slade lane and the dingles also a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the tree. Hopefully soon we will have some summer Migrants fingers crossed :)

  

brueton park, solihull 23/03/15

Had a stroll round Brueton park today lot's of people about, most of the birds seemed really shy, a Reed Bunting flew right by me saw me and flew off  lol but got a few snaps of the common birds checked to see if the Tawny owls were there but no sign, was nice just strolling round listening to the birds in song :) Dunnock sat on a post for ages singing so nice :)

Hawfinch Forest of Dean and lifer's at Middleton Lakes :)

Lovely weekend with my boyfriend as always :) Saturday we stayed local Went to Middleton lakes, Shustoke and Marsh Lane, got to see my first Cetti's Warbler at Middleton Lakes, saw it first fly off but then as we were walking back round there was one perched in the branches it's tail flicking lovely to see :)
We went to Marsh Lane in the hope the Black Tailed Godwit would still be there but it had gone :(
but got nice views of the Snipe again and got to see the Black Swan so beautiful.
 On Sunday we headed to Forest of Dean for the Hawfinch, amazing views watching them come down and eat, very easily disturbed though and cars and people going by kept disturbing them, I'm not very good at being quite but at least I never honked my horn like Dave lmao bless him there's him telling me too shushh and then he goes and sits on his horn, i'm still giggling as I sit here and write it :)
Really struggled with photo's today because of the light but managed to get a couple of record shots and im over the moon to of had such good views, and so nice to sit there watching them and watching other birds come down had great views of Mistle Thrush oh and nearly forgot the sheep, lol Mr sheep come troddling over to where the Hawfinch's come down and feed don't think Dave was impressed and there's me clicking away taking photos of the sheep it was cute :) lol
We then headed back to Warwickshire area and went to Middleton Lakes, and I picked up another lifer, Dave really is amazing I was looking through my bins and couldn't see anything but he is so good at spotting birds ;) lol  brilliant weekend :)

Yellow Browed Warbler, Sand Martin's, Waxwing and Glossy Ibis

Another jam packed weekend full of brilliant birds, On saturday me and Dave headed to Sedgebarrow for the Yellow Browed Warbler, took a little while to get good views was a lively little thing, but got nice views out of bins and with the naked eye, but couldn't get a photo, but just happy to off seen him a lifer for me and year tick for Dave.
We then headed back to Warwickshire to Shustoke where I picked up another lifer Sand Martins when we got there we could see a few through bins over the other side so we walked round, and more and more kept coming in 30 + was amazing watching them get excited and calling as new ones came in almost like lost friends reunited, had superb views through bins and with my own eyes they were flying all around and over head, loved them  :)

On the Sunday we went to Corby, Northants for the Waxwing I was very excited was really dying to see a Waxwing, we walked round and couldn't find her, really didn't think I was going to get the chance to see it, thought typical most likely gone of somewhere else, but then we was walking back down path and one of the other birders said it's here in the tree, the smile on my face :) over the moon to finally see a Waxwing, it was just sitting in the tree wasn't bothered by us, flew on top of the tree so was lovely to see it right in the open, then back inbetween the branches feeding on berry's amazing to be able to have clear view with your own eyes off such a stunning bird.
We then headed too Gonalston, Notts, for the Glossy Ibis another lifer for me, as soon as we got out of the car it was showing well on the field in the pond, then came even closer out in the open on the field not at all bothered by us, had such great views feel so grateful too not only be seeing wonderful birds but being able to have such good views is a dream. Lovely bird you can see the greeny, purple in his plumage.
Photos today were hard work because the light was bad but got a couple that came out clearer, i'm just so happy to off seen the birds and so grateful too my boyfriend for taking me to all these places to see such wonderful birds i'm very lucky :)

Trittiford Mill Pond update March

Things have been quite not as many gulls just Black headed Gulls but there looking stunning with a lot in summer plumage, 2 Grey wagtails present again hadn't seen them for about a month.
A  common female Pochard been at Trittiford for a few weeks now.
All five cygnets still present with the 2 adults, on the 10th of march there was two extra cygnets and 2 adults.
Little egret still present at Old Mill pond, was two there still a few weeks ago but the past few times I have been have only seen the one.
Goldcrests over the Dingles and Greenfinch, and a large number of Chaffinch's, also on Slade lane walkway through to Trittiford the frogs are busy mating there so noisy lol :)
It's so nice walking round this time of year seeing spring starting to blossom, had my first butterfly of the year as well, small Tortoiseshell :)
This month I have enjoyed just walking round and observing the birds watching them pair up and the magpies collecting nesting materials, and birds changing into summer plumage it's lovely and a pleasure to watch :)    

Bempton Cliffs, Filey Briggs and Holbeck, North Yorkshire and Belvide reservoir, Staffordshire

Had a very successful weekend and very enjoyable, Saturday we started at Bempton Cliffs extremely windy there. I picked up four lifers, Razorbill, Guillemot, Kittiwake and Gannet. All so amazing to see but think the highlight has to be the Gannet's they look like ornamental, stunning birds and watching them display to each other was a lovely sight :) Had nice views of Tree Sparrow too and Fulmar.
We then headed to Filey Briggs 2 more lifers including Shag finally, always nice when you have been waiting awhile to see a bird :) and saw Common Eider beautiful male :)
Also had great views of Purple Sandpipers, Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Knot, and got some photos of them all.

We then went onto Holbeck, Scarborough for the Mediterranean Gull, Dave's friend Dean and his girlfriend Alicia was there so nice to finally meet them, and added banter to the day with Dean he full of life bless him lol and Alicia is so lovely was an honour meeting them both. 

Had superb views of the Mediterranean Gulls, couldn't believe how they were just sitting there so close, was so enjoyable seeing them in different plumages, and being able to take lot's of photos was a brilliant added bonus, was so nice being able to have time to photograph an amazing Gull and try different settings on camera, and the weather had brighten up and the winds calmed downed :)   

Had a great day all thanks to my gorgeous boyfriend again, :) 

 

On Sunday we went to Belvide Reservoir for the Velvet Scoter which was another lifer for me, was distant but had nice views through scope, we then went onto Staffordshire Moors but the rain started to come down heavy so we didn't see anything but was really nice seeing all the scenery :)

The whole weekend had been amazing 7 lifers, and on the way home from Dave's to mine on Monday we saw Redkite by Seeswood pool which is a Warwickshire tick and then we Saw a Raven which was in West Midlands which is a local tick for me :) all great bonus for the brilliant weekend.