Sunday 15 May 2016

Attenborough

We had decided in the week to pop along for a day at Attenborough but the added chance of bagging a Purple Heron was a bonus, in the end no Purple Heron or Black Tern, but plenty of Warbler in total we saw 7 different species on only a short lazy stroll and picnic lunch these were Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Common White Throat, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and finally Reed Warbler. Ok nothing fantastic but made for a wonderful day out and very pleasing on the ear hearing all of these song birds.











Sunday 8 May 2016

Lazy Sunday

Had one of those lazy sunny Sunday's today just doing odd jobs in the morning and then heading off for a family walk, we decided on Down Banks I always loved the place as a kid playing in the stream and Gemma was no different plus I had an excuse to relive my youth as well.
Plenty of bird song surrounded us with Blackcap, Willow Warbler calling alongside a bit more special bird a Wood Warbler not my first for the year that was at Ford Green (in terrible weather) so hearing singing its heart out in the sunny woodland glade really lifted the spirts it truly felt like late Spring early Summer.

Not great shots but it was rather distant



Saturday 7 May 2016

Audenshaw Reservoir

With the reappearance of the Kentish Plover on Friday we chanced that it would still be around come Saturday and made our way North. We found the area and eventually the best spot to park up and the gap in the fence and was soon yomping around the reservoir in search of our target.
But soon after talking to a few fellow birders our hopes were dashed there had been no sign of it all morning once again the bird had disappeared as soon as Saturday came around.

We did see its cousins in Ringed and Little Ringed Plover along with Dunlin and a single Sanderling which had started to molt into Summer plumage which for us was quite different to see as we are only use to seeing them as Winter grey plumaged birds.