Coombes Valley

Paid a visit with Gemma to Coombes this morning actually felt like spring which of recent weeks it really hasn't so was good to be out and feel the Sun on our faces.

Walking down from the visitor centre we picked up the usual warbler suspects of Willow, Garden and Blackcap, even managing to get shots of all three which for me is good going, OK they wont win any prize but I am happy with them.

Down by the bridge area you could hear plenty of Pied Flycatchers calling, managed to see a pair using one of the boxes in the area and help a few folk get on to the birds.

By the pond area again Pied Flycatchers could be heard and saw a male briefly over by the river.

Up the rather muddy Woodcock walk I managed to pick up Tree Pipit which were displaying, in a style not far removed from Wood Lark. Still have not seen Redstart here this year, although having seen a pair at last week in Wales there is no rush or great need to.

Well I have had this week off so the birds have come at a steady stream rather than a one off weekend rush.

The week started off with a trip to Coombes up near Leek, this can be a great place to see Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, I say can be as you are not always guaranteed those killer views that you get at other reserves but its fairly local so its worth an odd visit.

Walking down to the bridge over the river we picked up Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff plus Goldcrest, we did get a brief view of a Pied Flycatcher by the bridge but only a really brief view the high light being a pair of Great Spotted woodpecker that are nesting right in front of the bridge a made for great viewing.

Not too much birding was done till latter in the week although a visit to the Peaks firstly at Magpie Mines near Bakewell did produce Meadow Pipit and Sky Lark.

On the way back home we firstly called in at Dane Bower Quarry still no Wheater around here, I am just unlucky or is this bad weather holding them back? Any way cutting across Axe Edge there were plenty of Red Grouse including a couple of single females hanging around.

On Thursday we headed off North firstly calling into Martin Mere having their toddler Thursday, a free half bag of seed if you have a nipper! Here we were really lucky and managed to see a Curlew Sandpiper in near Summer plumage! up to now we have only seen the more drab Autumn plumaged birds so this was a real bonus. Other birds sighted were Dunlin, Ruff again in near breeding plumage, Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Stock Dove plus the other usual suspects for this time of year there.

Calling in at Marshside on the way home (which everyone else seemed to be doing, we saw 4 other people we had seen at Martin Mere there) not much else was seen, the high water levels there wont have helped looks like a few Avocet nests have been washed out. Did see a pair of randy Black Headed Gulls though.

Lastly comes today, and our annual pilgrimage to Lake Vyrnwy this is a great place for birding and the only place I know of a 100% chance of seeing Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, and this year was no exception with all three been bagged, in fact we were tripping over Pied Flycatcher again Lesley had one right in front of a hide I though was outside the hide bugger!! We did also bag Peregrine, Willow Warbler, Dipper, Buzzard, Raven, Siskin and Blackcap.

Weekend Jaunts

Well weather wise the weekend was great, although I didn't get too much birding done with a few other jobs that needed doing first taking priority.

On Saturday I did manage a quick walk around Doxey Marsh, which in places is still under water, they really need to sort this place out and make it a bit more user friendly.
Quite a few different species around with plenty of Blackcap singing and a few Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff as well. From the hide there was a lone Redshank a pair of Little Ringed Plover. The Swallows were putting on an aerial display to one another which was good to watch.

On Sunday I decided to go and see the Crane again, it was much better conditions to watch this great bird meaning I could spend more than a quick flying visit. Other birds around were Grey Heron, Blackcap, Wren and Willow Warbler. Talking to another birder there last weekend he mate picked up a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker there, although I wasn't lucky enough to see one of these fine looking little birds.

Catch Up Time

It feels like ages since I have had anything to write about as I have been successfully not seeing anything if that can be judged to be a success, I sure you catch my different such as last weekends successful failed attempt at seeing the Green Winged Teal at Hales.

Any way catch up time. Back in the those distant early days of March not too much birding was actually done although a successful dip of the Longatiled Duck near Rhyl was completed on the 3rd March, although Gemma and me had a nice walk along the river seeing plenty of other stuff including a lone Red Breasted Merganser on the walk.

The following day was spent enjoying my other vice in life trains, I am a double anorak birder and train spotter trying beating that!!

Back to birding, on the 25th March it was time to try and see some Red Grouse and Wheater plus Dipper. So it was off firstly to the moors, crossing Axe Edge we soon got Red Grouse plus the odd Meadow Pipit for good measure. Getting to Dane Bower there was not a sniff of any Wheater just more Meadow Pipit and the odd Curlew calling from some where near by.
It was then off to see the Dipper at Wye Dale but firstly a slight divert to the Peak Forrest for a class 60 shot hopefully, my luck was in as 60059 in DB pink came by with the bonus of 31190 in the sidings.

It was then off to Wye Dale getting there it appeared alot of people had had the same the same idea, since the old railway tunnels have been opened up for walkers etc the place has got alot busier. But it still does have a 100% track record of Dipper along the river not as many at it use to but you are still guaranteed to see one and a chance to photograph these smart looking birds.

And finally to this weekend with working on good Friday reading the reports of the Common Crane at Stafford was painful, but with the all being well I hoped it would still be there today and for once my luck held and I managed to see the bird although at a distance, but a life tick is a life tick. Also had the bonus of seeing the pair of Garganey which although closer avoid my camera, although they came out in the open after I left typical!! So no photos so here is a shot of a Dunnock instead.

Having to get back to feed Gemma and pop into work to read a few micro results meant I was fairly close to Berry Hill and after Martyn had told me about the Ring Ouzel being there it was worth a visit and I even managed to see it, although again not for a photo so here is one of a Black Bird you will have to imagine the white bib for your self.

So in all I have been out and about but not seen an awful lot although toady was fully successful so maybe my luck is changing, any way Gemma had a good day as you can tell.

Cannock Chase

On Sunday afternoon we finally managed to get out and do a spot of birding deciding with the fine weather do a spot of Shrike hunting on the Chase. The Sat Nav took me a rather scenic route via Penkridge and what felt like most of the Chase, but being a fine day the drive was quite enjoyable although not very direct or quick.
We managed to find the spot OK (and on the way home a much more direct route), round the pull in were Great Tit and Chaffinch and a Buzzard flying over head on the other side of the road from the parking area.
Checking out the clear felled area I was expecting a larger area for some reason, and as is always our luck the bird had been seen but wasn't around while we were there although we did have a bonus in the shape of a pair of Woodlark which was a lifer for Lesley. Having Gemma in her back pack meant I had to keep fairly mobile she tends to get bored if I stand in one place for too long.

On a garden birding note the male and female Brambling are still visiting which was a nice year tick.

Tim.

Aye Up Duck

Headed for Attenborough on Saturday afternoon for a bit of a walk and hopefully find the female Smew that has been there for a few days now.
The place was packed as ever and took a while for us to find a parking space.
As always we first popped into the visitor centre to look at the notice board just in the entrance to see what was around, the board confirmed the Smew was still around but always declared the bonus bird of a Female Scaup! This would be a lifer for Lesley and me was the hunt was on!
Heading up along side the Church Pond where the Scaup was last seen towards the Main Pond it was a total duck fest, picking up Red Crested Pochard, Tufted and Mallard in a bread feeding frenzy along with a couple of Mute Swans and Coots. In Church Pond itself we added Gadwall to the duck list, and soon picked up the Scaup by the Tern platform with a couple of Goldeneye as well.
In the small patch of Church Pond right by the Church we watched a pair of Sholver going around in circles feeding would be enough to make me quite dizzy and sick if i did it, unsure what the watching Heron made of it all, but made for some nice camera shots.

Reaching the bridge which crosses the Main Pond where a couple of birders said we should just about to be able to see the Smew (although we were told it kept disappearing behind a few of the islands) we found a couple of Goosanders but no Smew. But being such a large pool it was probably in there some where we just didn't have the time to go hunting for it.

Welsh Wanderings

With high tide due at around lunch and a fine forcast given out Lesley, Little Gem and me headed off to North Wales for the day.

First port of call was the marine lake at Rhyl for the long staying Great Northern Diver, soon found the bird although initially at the opposite end to where we had parked so we moved around and managed some great close in views allowing me to get a few shots.

Great Northern Diver at Rhyl Marine Lake

Cormorant at Rhyl Marine Lake

It was then the short drive to Kinmel Bay for the Snow Bunting, there were less on show then when we visited just before Christmas but still there were 6 birds on show plus Greenfinch and a single Meadow Pipit all taking advantage of the seed put out.

Snow Bunting Kinmel Bay

The last place we were due to visit was Rhos on Sea where we planned to have lunch and hopefully see some Purple Sandpiper, we didn't get any Purple Sandpipers but we did get Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the wader front plus a Shag a bit further along just beyond the small church.

Turnstone at Rhos on Sea

Oystercatcher heading off to roost at Rhos on Sea

Black Headed Gull at Rhos on Sea

Dunlin at Rhos on Sea

Shag at Rhos on Sea





Park Hall

Just had a short walk around Park Hall today, Lesley and me just fancied getting some fresh area with out travelling too far, not the most push chair of friendly places but still a nice local place to visit.
Getting there we straight away noticed the visitor centre has now vanished which is a shame.

Plenty of Bullfinch were seen around the site with one group being made up of 6 females alone.

We headed for the area of pine wood that usually at this time of year hold a few Long Eared Owls, now we have never self found any owls here we just walk around straining our necks till they hurt and then head home empty handed. But this time we found a lone bird within 2 minutes of looking and all by our selves!

On the way back to the car we spotted a group of small birds in a pine tree top checking them they turned out to be a group of finches mainly Goldfinch but with two Redpolls mixed in for good measure.

Freda's Grave

Yesterday was all about lazy birding, we decided to head down to Cannock Chase to a spot called Freda's Grave as it has a great little feeding area plus a patch of heath that it relatively push chair friendly.
As it was rather windy we thought the heath birds would be keeping their heads down so we just stayed in the car and watched the comings and goings around the feeding area.
The seed brought in Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Willow, Great, Blue Coal and Longtailed Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Magpie, Nuthatch and Dunnock.
There was a flock of mixed Siskin and Redpoll's that kept popping down for a drink in the puddles along the track but the odd bird did come for a drink around the feeders allowing for a few shots.
Lesley spotted a Tree Creeper on one of the Hawthorn trees just along the track which added to the total.

2012 Start

Well it's been a quite start to the new year with no mad dashing around getting those ticks, the year is but young and there is plenty of time.

As a quick re cap of last year I managed a healthy 174 species last year which is one up on 2010, this is quite good as due to the arrival of my daughter post mid August birding became a little restricted. I have learnt though which local reserves are push chair friendly and which sites have good baby facilities.

Back to 2012, so far birding has been restricted to the garden which has got me Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great, Coal and Blue Tit, Lesley has also bagged Willow Tit.

We did manage a quick trip out to Aqualate Mere on the Shropshire/Staffs boarder always a nice little spot although can be a bit of a wind trap.
Managed to see on the drive there Buzzard, Kestrel, Lapwing, Redwing and Fieldfare.
At the Mere I managed to get Chaffinch, Willow, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Reed Bunting, Coot, Buzzard, Moorhen, Mallard plus Black Headed Gull.
Was really busy there with the car park being full and the hide was standing room only when we turned up unsure if everyone was just out for a walk or the pull of the Bittern was bringing them in.