Tree Pipit - Cannock Chase

We headed to Cannock Chase today it appeared to be quite again when we first got there but then we were walking along and Dave said he could hear a Redstart so we walked into the woody area and soon located him, stunning bird and nice views through bins.
Then Dave had a female Cuckoo go over but I never saw it was a little dissapointed after hearing one last time and also hearing one on my local patch but just not having luck seeing one lol
On the walk back down the Path there was a Tree Pipit just sitting on the log not bothered by us at all so we went closer still no reaction so we took some photos then he even flew to the log right behind us then he flew into the grass feeding still not bothered by us we took the chance to get some more photos this was awesome to get photos of such a lovely bird and a bird that are usually not showy like this, Dave was over the moon as he has seen many Tree Pipits but never been able to photograph them like this before, we both had very big smiles :)
We then went back to the car and went to a different part of Cannock Chase to look for Wood Lark we decided to leave the cameras in the car lol
On the walk down we saw another Redstart which was lovely then we walked abit further and Dave went Cuckoo I went where where he said on the post over there, yeppy I was over the moon my first Cuckoo of the year :) As we walked round and closer he didn't move then we walked closer and he flew even closer to us lol my best ever views such a stunning bird we were both happy to just have views like this but a bit gutted we didn't take cameras lol
Had been a great day two year ticks at Cannock and great views of both :)

Black-necked Grebe, Common Scoter and Migrants

With News coming through on the Wednesday of a Black-necked Grebe at Shustoke, was gutted because I had work and Dave was going to work, was hoping it would still be there the next day Dave was on nights so he said if news comes through its still there message him at eleven, I was in Morrisons when the twitter alert came through it was there I was so excited but it was still early so waited till eleven then messaged Dave, then of I went to met Dave at Shustoke a new driving adventure not helped by a road closure and a phone directions that take forever to reroute but I got there in the end it was very distant but still lovely to see such beautiful birds and very happy to have him on my year list :) and so nice to see one at Shustoke, I got an extremely distant record shot can just make him out lol :)
He was still there on the Friday but was playing hide and seek he was really close to the edge on the other side so Me and Dave walked round there and then no sign of him at all vanished and Dave went back later on in the evening and he did the same again lol would of been nice to photograph him but just so glad I got to see him and feels like a proper warwickshire tick being at Shustoke.

On the Saturday we headed to Cannock Chase it was very quite there heard a distant Cuckoo and it wasn't until the walk back we saw Tree Pipit had lovely views so made it worth while :)

Whilst at Cannock Chase news had come on Twitter that there was a Common Scoter at Shustoke lol (hmmm the amount of times Me and Dave walk round there and don't find anything) lol

We headed back Went to Middleton Lakes first and picked up Common Whitethroat and heard Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler, we then headed to Shustoke for the Common Scoter I was so excited we arrived and Tom and other birders were there, they said it's distant over the other side, Dave went to get scope but stoped to talk to some birders which seemed like forever I was dying to see the Scoter lol  Dave got him in the scope for me and a big smile appeared on my face, gorgeous bird, we then decided to walk round as it seemed quite close on the other side but by the time we got round there it had gone slightly more out but looked like it was coming closer again so we went up the bank had my best views ever but hard to photograph light kept changing but got a couple of record shots :) 

On the Sunday we went back to Middleton Lakes on the evening and we saw Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler this time but gained another two heard only lol Reed Warbler and 

Grasshopper Warbler, hopefully we won't have to wait to long before we see them lol

It has been a really enjoyable couple of day's looking for migrants is so exciting and the

Black-necked Grebe and Common Scoter was a very welcome added Bonus and even the Common birds at Middleton Lakes are beautiful Robins flying and landing next to you and a very showy Dunnock I love them all :) Oh and a very big Turtle at Middleton looked massive with a yellowy shell lol 

Also got a Moth Lifer this weekend Common Quaker only the one Moth but still nice and this morning Dave found a little mirco on the wall outside which was also a new one for me Eriocrania Subpurpurella beautiful goldy shiny colour but couldn't get a photo he flew of before I clicked camera grrrr such tricky little things lmao :)