Banded Demoiselle - Middleton Lakes RSPB

Another trip to Middleton Lakes today picking up Little Gull for the year a stunning little gull so pretty, a nice sunny day and lot's of Banded Demoiselles Male and Females just stunning so beautiful and striking, we had 20+ :)
Also lovely views of Song Thrush, Common Redstart, Reed Buntings, Avocets and a beautiful close Lessser Black-backed Gull but we fear he was not well but we went the day after and he wasn't there so hopefully he was ok and flew off :)

Song Thrush

Reed Bunting

Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Avocet

Avocet

Little Gull 

Banded Demoiselle - Female

Banded Demoiselle - Male

Banded Demoiselle - Male

Banded Demoiselle - Female

Banded Demoiselle - Female

Banded Demoiselle - Female

Banded Demoiselle - Female

 

Draycote Water and Summer Migrants

Had a nice weekend at Draycote Water spending two days there walking round all of it both times and dipping on the Slav Grebe again, would of been lovely to see him as it would of been a Warwickshire tick, but it was still a nice couple of days, so enjoyable getting migrants, we got to see the beautiful Yellow Wagtails stunning birds, and also White Wagtail which Dave spent time explaining the differences between White and Pied after getting the chance to study them through bins you can clearly see the White Wagtail has a much cleaner look appearance very pale grey and paler wing pattern and looks more cleaner whiter underneath on the sides and a neater black bib whearas on the pied the bib extends more scruffy looking. I think hopefully in this plumage I would be able to pick one out now it's really nice learning I sometimes get frustrated because I don't see what Dave sees i'm like but the look the same but he makes sure I get there in the end and it's all part of the fun of bird watching being able to learn all the time and enjoy every minute of it as well :)
Never got a photo of the White Wagtail but can clearly see the image of him in my head and did get some photos of a Pied Wagtail which was nice with being able to see how different the pied Looks to the White Wagtail :)
Also got a record shot of the Great Northern Diver lol I know I know but i'm going to say it again I just love them lol just something about them :)

Monday Morning Dave took his car in for MOT, so we went for a nice walk round Seeswood had Wheatear and are first summer Common Sandpiper which was really nice.

Then news come through of Little Gulls and an Arctic Tern at Shustoke so we headed there in my car there was 3 Little Gulls which I just couldn't get onto in flight but then they were on the water so had lovely scope views they are so much smaller and the black head really stands out annoying that I couldn't pick one out in flight again I will get there the more bird I see the more I will get use to them and be able to pick them out. The Arctic Tern was still there got to see him sitting on the ball in the water and in flight stunning bird with those long tail streamers year tick for us both and another migrant a very enjoyable morning ( think Daves still recovering from my driving ) lmao 

Easter Birds - Little Ringed Plover, Garganey, Lesser spotted woodpecker and more

Brilliant Birding over the Easter Break, full of lovely birds, lifers, local ticks, year ticks.
Good Friday we went to Rutland Water was quite there not much about had nice views of Great White Egret and Curlew, was hoping to see Osprey but they were not on the nest.
On the Saturday and Sunday we stayed local checking the local sites, finally got to see Lesser spotted Woodpecker at Middleton Lakes over the moon so nice when you have been waiting to see a bird and nice that now I have seen the three species of Woodpecker.
We checked Coton Lakes and saw swallows, sand martins and house martin, spring/summer finally here, so enjoyable watching all the birds come in.
We then went onto Marsh Lane, there a Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover at car park hide, the Wheatear stayed quite distant but still nice views through bins, the Little Ringed Plover came closer allowing a few photos, I have fallen in love with these birds thing there so little and cute and beautiful with that yellow ring round eye.
Dave got a message whilst we were at Marsh Lane saying there was 2 Garganey at Seeswood Pool which is Dave's local pool, it was all units go go go !!! lol got to Seeswood and located them but they were very nervy and kept flying, but had nice view through scope and better the next day, very exciting felt special knowing it's Dave's local :)
On the Sunday we went to Kingsbury Water Park and saw a 1st winter Little Gull, was flying all around disturbance from the speed boat didn't help but did fly very close and had nice views, and did settle for awhile so got to see in more detail through bins from a distant.