Blithfield Black Redstart

After reading reports all week of the Black Redstarts ( 1 each at Gailey and Blithfield) it was a toss up of which one to go and see.
Decided the M6 might be a total pain to drive down it was off to Blithfield.
At first there was no sign but I soon found the bird hoping around the end of the smaller of the two new ditches.
Along with the Black Redstart there were plenty of Linnet and Fieldfare on show plus Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Goldfinch around the area.

Birthday Birding Bonanza

Decided to treat myself to a day out birding as it was my birthday, and with Lesley allowing me to go where ever I fancied a pointed the car towards North Wales.
First port of call was Kinmel Bay near Rhyl for the Snow Bunting two gents were already in position and photographing these little beauties so I did my best stealthily approach and joined them enjoying close up views of these fantastic little fellows. Also seen there was a lone Meadow Pipit and Greenfinch, missed out on the Twite which was a shame.
Next was the near by Marine Lake where a Great Northern Diver has taken up residence, these was soon found even before I got of the car, and was spending most of it's time half way between the island and the path closest to the road.
As it was getting towards lunch we headed for the RSPB reserve at Conwy this has a great coffee shop and can hold some good birds. Not that much around Siskin, Reed Bunting, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Chaffinch, Teal, Grey Heron and Red Shank all being noted, no sign of the Firecrest.
Finally before heading home we called in at Rhos on Sea to add a few waders to the list even though it was low tide I managed to see Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper, Curlew, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher.

A great days birding and not a bad list for only 3 1/2 hours birding less travel time between the sites.

Doxy Marsh Short Eared Owl

Popped down to Doxy Marsh near Stafford this afternoon, it was full December gloom with a rather cool breeze blowing so not ideal weather but we were still hopefully we might see something.
And boy did we see something after just about entering the main body of the reserve we saw a bird of prey quartering the fields, at first we thought it was the resident Kestrel but we soon realised it was in fact a Short Eared Owl, we watched it for about 30 minutes before the drizzle and cold got the better of us and we headed back to the car.
Also seen around were Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Canada Goose, Goosander, Snipe and Grey Heron.

Attenborough

As I have a few days off we popped along the A50 to Attenborough we were going to head for Heysham or North Wales but the weather forcast wasn't very baby friendly for either of those two places so we went east wards instead.
Not much around just the common stuff but with the sun shining and the promise of a nice lunch it made for a pleasant walk if a liitle cool.
Managed to see Snipe, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Wigeon,  Teal, Gadwall, Shovler, (Lesley also found a male Golden Eye but I couldn't see it as I was on baby duties at the time), Lapwing, Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch and Stock Dove around the feeder plus Pied Wagtail in the car Park.