Local Willow Tit

Great views of a local Willow Tit at Walkerwood Reservoir today in the winter sunshine

Hume's Leaf Warbler

Excellent Sunday birding trip to north east as usual. First off Long Eared Owl at Fairburn Ings. Also seen were a Green Woodpecker and a Willow Tit Then onto Whitley Bay for a very obliging Hume's Leaf Warbler. Like a slightly washed out Yellow browed warbler with a distinctive double syllable call. Also pleasant surprise of 2 Waxwings here too. We finished off with a Tundra Bean Goose at Boldon Flats and various ducks including a female Scaup at Tophill Low but sadly no Grey Phalarope. Final sighting was a hunting Barn Owl at dusk

Baikal Teal

Good scope views in windy conditions of the Baikal Teal at Marshside Marsh Southport. Other sightings included  Willow Tit at Pennington Flash and Mediterranean Gull, Twite and Bar tailed Godwit at Heysham

Best Images of 2011 Pre Blog

just a few images of some of the birds seen in 2011 before I started this blog. Stunning pictures of Dotterel taken by Dave Evans

Grasshopper Warbler and more

Managed to get some birding done this lunch. Went to Altrincham sewage works and got great views of a reeling grasshopper warbler. I'd left the camera in the car so quickly went back to get it and spent an hour seeing or hearing no more sign of it. Typical! Also present were willow warbler, chiffchaff, and blackcap, a whitethroat and a nice sparrowhawk over.
Then went to Astley Green where there were lots of yellowhammer, and a lovely willow tit. A single whimbrel was in a field sadly no sign of cuckoo, crane or hobby.

I finished off in Rochdale at Kingsway business park where incredibly there are 4 ruffs in summer plumage. I hope they hang around as a couple of the males are starting to develop some neck/breast feathers. Also present were 2 wheatears and several ring and little ringed plover

Yorkshire Trip

Myself and Dave Evans had a day in Yorkshire yesterday Saturday 3rd. March. We headed first to Fairburn Ings where it was very quiet. We went onto Wintersett and Anglers C.P. where we got good views of the long staying American Wigeon on Anglers followed by decent but distant views of the Drake Smew on Wintersett. The Black necked Grebe took a bit more work But we eventually got onto it with good views through the scope. We also found a very nice Willow tit in the trees calling loudly. It was then onto Old Moor where we failed to see or hear the cettis warbler but were rewarded with a Peregrine and good views of the Willow Tit and finches on the feeders. We also saw a pair of Long tailed tits building a nest.