Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Two very brief views of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today at Moore N.R. No time to get a pic sadly. I will be back!! Several Lesser Redpolls seen and heard. Also good views of a Goldcrest. Must say I am really enjoying using my new Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32 bins. Brilliant wide field of view and extremely bright, sharp images. Think they are a steal for a third of the the price of Swarovskis.

Snow Goose

Managed to connect with a Lesser Snow Goose blue morph feeding with Pink footed geese in fields at Eagland Hill Lancashire. Distant scope views though. We moved the car to another point but failed in the next 2 hours to relocate the bird among several hundred Pink foots. Also had excellent views of a Barn Owl hunting and saw large flocks of Skylark and some Yellowhammer.

Golden Pheasant

What a day spent yesterday in Norfolk and Suffolk. First off was a Golden Pheasant at the Wolferton Triangle. We bagged Red-legged  and Grey Partridge from the car. Then onto the coast where we failed to pick up a rough-legged buzzard at Burnham Overy Staithe and also failed to see the Shorelark seen recently at Salthouse. We did see however 25 Snow Buntings on the shingle.
We then headed south to Dunwich Heath where we were quickly onto 2 Dartford Warblers although we were hampered by the cold fog which made photography impossible. Lifers for me and Dave. We finished off at Waveney Forest and had cracking close views of a Rough-legged Buzzard flying past despite the dense fog.

Barn Owl

Some distant shots of a Barn Owl hunting at Hesketh Bank

Siberian Chiffchaff

Dave Evans went to Middleton for the Siberian Chiffchaff today which was showing well with the other 2 chiffchaffs and a Kingfisher

Gullfest!!

Myself and Dave went to Anglers C.P. for the gull roost today. Two first winter Caspian, a third winter Yellow Legged Gull, a first winter Glaucous gull and a Kumlien's Gull. Dave was so pleased he has got all the gulls for his year list in one go!!
My dreadful phone scope shots are included as record shots. More pics and info are posted on the Barnsley site  http://barnsleybirds.blogspot.co.uk/

                                                                          Caspian

                                               

                                                                          Glaucous

                                                             

Lesser Scaup

Myself and Dave Evans had a fantastic birding day in North Wales yesterday. First off was the drake Lesser Scaup at Shotton Pools. We then went walking over to some distant swans to have a better view and as we approached a male Hen Harrier appeared giving great views. The swans were a mix of Bewick and Whooper. We then went to Anglesey to Benllech in search of a Velvet scoter seen yesterday. No joy but plenty of other birds to see at sea including Red-throated diver, Common Scoter and Black Guillemot.
It was then over to South Stack where we got crippling views of Chough. We also saw several Ravens.
Last stop was Conwy RSPB where we saw Siskin and several Lesser redpoll. Best of all though was a stunning Firecrest which eventually appeared in bushes near the pond where it has been showing on and off all winter. What a result and the end to a truly excellent and very enjoyable birding day.

Siberian Chiffchaff

Went over to Middleton this morning to see the Siberian Chiffchaff. Also present were 2 normal Chiffchaffs This made an excellent comparison. Flighty bird more active than the other normal variants. Very pale with buffy supercilium black bill and pale buffy breast wiht no hint of green in head mantle or breast. Hint of a faint wing bar which is often noted for tristis. Didn't here it call but it has been heard occasionally in last few days to give the characteristic flat almost Bullfinch like call unlike the standard riding alarm call of a normal Chiffchaff. really struggled to get a decent photo due to poor light and the bird being so active.