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.