Ibiza

Balearic Warbler and Eleonora's Falcon bagged on holiday in Ibiza. Great views of Audouins Gull, Sardinian Warbler, Greater Flamingo and Firecrest

Iberian Chiffchaff and Spring migrants

Excellent early Spring weekend. Stayed local Saturday and saw Ring Ouzel Wheatear and male Merlin Cheesegate Nab.
Then onto Spurn for Sunday where the surprise was a singing Iberian Chiffchaff. Also saw drake Garganey Firecrest and first Swallows of the year

Firecrest

Got a brief view of the long staying Firecrest this lunchtime at Silkstone Sewage Works as it mixed with a group of Goldcrest. Too quick for a photo and I didnt have time to stay longer. Great to see only half an hour from home

Norfolk Rarities

An amazing day in Norfolk yesterday. Red-flanked Bluetail , Isabeline probable Daurian Shrike in Holkham Pines plus 3 Firecrest and hundreds of Goldcrest. Blyth's Reed Warbler in Well's Wood and Olive-backed Pipit on Muckleburgh Hill. Three lifers on a single day hasn't happened since our Cornwall trip. Brilliant!

Spurn

Quick dash to Spurn on my free Wednesday afternoon produced good views of  Dunlin feeding close to shore, Firecrest, Jack Snipe, many Goldcrests and the American Golden Plover

Yellow-Browed Warbler, Firecrest and jack Snipe

Lovely warm sunshine at the east coast for some quality birding at Spurn today. Highlights were good views of Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest and a bobbing Jack Snipe. Also seen were Curlew Sandpiper Grey Plover and Sparrowhawk.

Firecrest and Black-necked Grebe

Mixed bag this weekend. Arctic Tern Swillington Ings. Bittern heard booming. A flock or about 15 Yellow Wagtails and singing Blackcap Fairburn Ings. Firecrest, Avocet sitting on eggs and Yellow Wagtail at Spurn.
Today a quick visit to Altrincham sewage works produced 2 Black-necked Grebes and yet more Yellow Wagtails.

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.

Sublime Norfolk

Yesterday myself and Dave Evans had an early start for a day's birding in Norfolk. We got to the Wolverton triangle by 9 and spent an hour going round and searching on foot to no avail. We decided on one more circuit before moving off to the coast and unbelievably there by the side of the wood on the grass verge was a magnificent Golden Pheasant. I rushed to grab the camera but by the time I had it in hand a horse rider had gone past and spooked the bird which returned into the undergrowth not to be seen again.
We then moved onto Burnham Overy Staithe and quickly saw a large flock of 50-70 Lapland Buntings. They could be viewed in flight but when they landed in the stubble field they disappeared underneath the grass! It was obviously not going to be the best day for photography. We moved along the coast to Holkham in search of firecrest and rough-legged buzzard but the trees appeared lifeless and it seemed hopeless to find a small bird in the large wooded area. We went 100yds west of the end of the drive and suddently saw a small bird fly into low undergrowth and start flitting about in true gold/firecrest behaviour. As we had earlier seen a Goldcrest we needed a good view and the Gods were with us as it moved up into the tree where it ws clear we were watching a beautiful Firecrest. The bird books really dont prepare for you how bright and exquisite this little gem looks in the flesh. A truly unforgettable experience to see my first one and this rivals the first Hawfinch I ever saw.
No rough-legged buzzards were seen but there was a Common Buzzard close by and an unusually raptor like Wood Pigeon !
We moved to Wells and quickly saw the Black Brant present with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. There was another goose that intermediate features between a black brant and a brent goose.
It was then onto Buckingham marsh where we had a distant scope view of the long staying Lesser white fronted goose present with 70-80 Taiga Bean geese. A nice male Marsh Harrier flew by on the walk back to the car. We then drove the short distance to GreatYarmouth and incredibly we had parked at the exact point along the coast where the Velvet scoter was present about 50m out to sea!
Finally we went to Bradwell and saw a fine looking Ruddy Shellduck in a group of Egyptian geese. Quite an incredible day where we were successful in all target birds. Norfolk continues to be a mecca for birding and will no doubt draw us back soon

                                               Above a very approachable Pink-footed goose.

                                            Above is the Black Brant goose hiding his head!

Above is a shit picture of the Firecrest we saw!

Above are the pretty Egyptian geese

                                           This is the even prettier Ruddy Shelduck

                                                Record shots of the female Velvet Scoter

                                                          Male Marsh harrier