Bank Holiday Weekend Birds

Also over the Bank Holiday we picked up some good Year Ticks and Migrants, Garden Warbler, Garganey and Whichat had my best views of Whinchat such lovely little birds I managed to get a record shot.
Also great views of Swifts there was loads at Middleton must of been 50+ :)
Also had nice views of Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler even though I didn't realise intill it was too late lol he was showing of in the same tree as the Lesser Whitethroat managed to get a quick record shot but not very clear.
We also had a nice hour at Marsh Lane, the Black-tailed Godwit was still present but distant but my highlight was the Sand Martins perched up on the wire outside and viewable from hide there amazing birds love them :) Nice views of Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Commom terns and Mediterranean Gull.

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 :)

  

      

Warwickshire Lowlands- Spotted Flycatchers and more

Had a brilliant morning we decided to do some bird watching on the Warwickshire lowlands we had at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 + Skylarks and 3 Yellow Wagtails.
We were hoping we would find a Redstart but no luck but was so much fun finding are own birds and always a pleasure seeing Spotted Flycatcher. Also got my first photos of  Painted Lady Butterfly :)    

Stone Curlew, Ring Ouzel, Nightengale, Firecrest and more

An early start on Sunday for the Stone Curlews at Weeting Heath, Norfolk, lifer for me and so lucky because we got excellent views, Daves best views of them aswell was really nice to have the chance to see these birds and photograph them, the man that worked there was so nice and helpful :)
These birds are just out of this world, that big yellow eye, and beautiful brown patterned plumage and yellow beak, such eye catching birds :)
We then went to Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire where I sore my first Nightengale lovely to see and hear we had walked all the way round and hadn't seen any but then as we were walking back up Dave heard one then we start there and it showed :)
Then as I thought we were heading home, but as we were driving I kept thinking none of these sign posts are saying midlands, then I saw the signpost for Mepal in Cambridgeshire and had read before that there was Ring Ouzel there, and I said are we going to see Ring Ouzel and Dave said yes bless him I had driven him crazy all weekend about Ring Ouzels lol, we got there and it was an old airfield and I was thinking I bet they won't be here, but Dave found them in no time, five of them just out of this world to finally see them, lovely views through scope, love these birds so much there's just something about them :) and it was extra special because Dave went out of his way to get them for me, best boyfriend in the world, and I promise not to moan again lmao all the birds today have been amazing but the Ring Ouzels really made my day :)
Also on today's travels I saw my first Firecrest at an undisclosed location, beautiful little bird so bright and cute :) so happy to have seen one.
Monday morning we popped to Middleton Lakes before Dave took me home, and got 2 more lifers Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat that's 11 lifers this weekend unbelievable :)