Summer Migrants 2016

Had a great few days picking up Migrants local we got Sand Martin, Swallow and House Martin all in the one day, the Swallows and House Martin were earlier than last year by about 11 days :) but the Sand Martins were later by about 11 days, Also we got Little Ringed Plover. (26/03/16) then the following day we picked up Wheatear (27/03/16)
On the (31/03/16) we got two more Migrants at Farmoor Res, Oxon, Common Tern and Willow Warbler excellent to get them in March :)

Draycote Water - Ruff, Ringed Plover and Little Ring Plover

A great morning at Draycote getting up close and personal with the Ruff, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover, and learning that patience really does pay off :) We sat down on the stones and just waited and eventually we had superb views they were right in front of us I was amazed the feeling of having beautiful birds so close is an amazing feeling is my fav part of birding.
We got some nice photos but just watching them go about there business is a great experience.

 

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.

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 :)