Gronk Fest

Easter Monday was a purely gricing day spending the morning travelling around the Burton area getting various gronks and other locos in the neighbourhood.

First port of call was Nemesis Rail at Burton, there are quite a few locos store around the sight we manged to bag, 73134 and 117, 56007,038,065,081 and 117, 45112, 47703 and 488, 08389,954,918 and 765 plus 09014 also noted were 20069 and 37905. .

73134 at Nemesis Rail Burton upon Trent

56065 at Nemesis Rail Burton upon Trent

47703 at Nemesis Rail Burton upon Trent

08389 at Nemesis Rail Burton upon Trent

I think this is 37905 

It was then on further down the A38 to Barton under Needwood to the LH Barton works which is now owned by Wabtec to see what gronks were knocking about.

A couple of ex industrial types could be seen from the old Little Chef car park but we didn't put any effort in to see what they were.
From the public foot path that runs around the back of the site we saw 08393, 891 and 913 in its Malcolm Rail colours which last year I had crossed fields to get a shot of it working away at Daventry. The remains of 08077 were also still on sight.

08913 at LH Barton

08891 at LH Barton

08393 at LH Barton

What remains of 08077 at LH Barton can't be long before it's broken up now

Then just before we headed on home we called in at the Bombardier depot Central Rivers to hopefully see the 08 there, managed to grab a shot from by the security hut.
66415 passed east bound while we were there on an MGR.

08943 ex PET II Crewe Works shunter in HNRC colours sits next to the micro Voyager at Central Rivers

Easter Weekend

Well with all of the snow last weekend stopping play for much more than a quick local drive around, no heading off to the Peaks with the A53 Buxton road being reported to be closed we didn't bother really heading out just doing garden birding and restocking with Sunflower hearts.

Siskin on Bamboo

Stock Dove on garden feeder

On Friday we headed for Attenborough near Notts a nice reserve and just shows what the Wildlife Trust can do pity we don't have anything similar in Staffs.
A cool breeze was blowing off the lakes but we wrapped up and plodded on regardless, from the bridge crossing the lake by the visitor centre we picked up Dunnock, Robin, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Egyptian  Goose, Tufted Duck, Coot and Mallard.

By the tower hide Lesley managed to see a Water Rail but I couldn't get on to it at first as I was down below looking after Gemma who was checking out the birds on the ground level with me. We did though manage a brief view of a Cetti's Warbler which was a nice year tick, from the hide we managed to see Red Crested Pochard, Golden Eye and a fly over Snipe.

Gemma

 Saturday was Bakwell Farmers market and also a trip to the Wee Dram (http://www.weedram.co.uk/), as my malt Whiskey supply was getting dangerously low which I believe is a criminal offence north of the boarder.  Coming home the more scenic route via Millers Dale for a coffee and then Peak Dale to grab a train shot or two, well after Worm Hill the road was down to single track with the drifts and the road to Peak Dale it self didn't look suited to a two wheel drive Fabia so I just saw what was around Tunstead instead.

High Peak industrial shunter

Hope Valley industrial shunter

Have to say their shunter High Peak looks quite a beast!

Today I had to get Gem out of the house for the afternoon as Lesley was on nights so need a spot of peace and quite and toddlers don't really do quite. So it was off to feed the ducks at Westport Lake and play on the swings.
Nothing really to get excited about on the lake itself but we did find a Tree Creeper right by the path and a couple of Chiffchaff showing Spring can't be too far away now.

Herring Gull

Tree Creeper Westport Lake

Tree Creeper relieving itself 

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Gone for a Burton

Saturday being forecast for being a rather dank and dreary day had us heading off to Burton Mere RSPB reserve it has a very family friendly visitor centre which has put some birders off the place but a nice warm hide and welcome from the great wardens there means we like the place. Plus it has some great birds usually on show.

On arriving we noted a rather empty car park, thus we new the Lesser Scaup had indeed done a bunk, as it turns out it hasn't travelled too far only as far as Shotwick, must like industrial architecture.

A volunteer warden told us about a Water Rail that was showing on and off very well just to the side of the visitor centre and offered to throw a bit of seed out to lure in the shy little chap, and no sooner than a couple of hand fulls were thrown out out he popped. Always a pleasure seeing these birds and more than made up for not seeing the Lesser Scaup (even if it would have been a lifer). It also allowed me to try out my new toy, a Canon 400mm f5.6 lens, its great bit of kit, I do love a bit of camera gadge, only my bank balance and wife keep my spending in check.

Water Rail Burton Mere

Other birds on show from the visitor centre were Golden Plover, Redshank, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, Teal, Shovler, Black Headed Gull, Tufted Duck and Coot.

Wandering down to the other hide which faces Inner Marsh Farm, we also noted Siskin and Nuthatch.

From the far hide there was not a great deal on show but we did see a pair of Greenshank which added to the tally quite nicely and a year tick to boot.

Weekend Jaunt

It was a case of playing Daddy Day Care over the weekend, Saturday was just an odd job day buying Mothers day cards and going around Stone Farmers Market to buy various treats to feast on.

Sunday was meant to be the big day out but with Gem teething I didn't get that much sleep so that plan went out the window so it was off to Westport Lake to feed the ducks which Gem always loves and meant I could at least get some fresh air and exercise.
Nothing out of the norm to be found although watching a Great Crested Grebe fish close in was a privilege and a pleasure to watch and was good to share the experience with Gem, although she though the ducks that came for the bread much more funny and even eat some of the bread her self.

On a garden birding front the Siskin numbers keep building up, on Sunday a record count of 20 was to be had along with a supporting  cast of 4 Goldfinch, 2 Brambling (1 male 1 female), 3 Bullfinch, 2 Willow Tit plus the other usual garden species.

The afternoon was spent gricing my other vise in life alongside birding, real ale and malt whiskey. I like to spread my sins around! A quick drive up to the fueling point at Basford Hall only got me a sick fugly (004), the electric depot didn't hold any treats just the usual sad line up from the industrial estate.

Fantastic Plastic

On Saturday I found out about the male Hooded Merganser, I decided to take a chance and cross everything that it would turn out to be the real deal, so grabbing Gem and the light weight pushchair and headed off down the A50.
As per the Red Footed Falcon it meant crossing fields and climbing styles with a pushchair this is no easy under taking but we made it in one piece and I managed to see the bird although also the news that its wings were clipped thus most likely it was an escaped bird. Well it was good to see and better than viewing them in captivity. Then tried Locko Park for the Drake Smew but with a bitterly cold wind we didn't hang around so after a quick scan and no bird on show we headed off home for a warm and to go and watch Peppa Pig.

Sunday was a flying visit to Copmere to try again for a Smew but this time a female/Red Head. Copmere is one of those places that is not really birder friendly with no great places to view the mere. After finding a spot to look across the mere we couldn't pick out the bird. We did see plenty of Goldeneye, Wigeon, Little and Great Crested Grebe plus the other usual wild fowl. So another unsuccessful trip.

Doxey Marsh

Sunday being a nice day we decided to go for a wander around Doxey Marsh just outside of Stafford, just hoped the water levels would have dropped allowing us to walk around and not require a raft for Gem's pushchair.

Creswell Flash water levels were very high so we did wonder what we were letting our self in to. Not much on show, just the usual Teal, Tufted Ducks a couple of Cormorants and Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls.

On the actual reserve a few path look they have had there levels raised by a bit of gravel thrown on top to raise the levels allowing you to get around. Although you still needed wellies to reach the screen, after going for a paddle and reaching the screen it was not really worth the effort with no sign of the Water Pipits just a few Shelducks on show.
Walking along by the river a bird calling Pipit like flew over but not knowing the Water Pipit call I couldn't say just what it was.
From the hide nothing really exciting to watch although Lapwing was added to the list alongside Goosander and Grey Heron, but was just nice to be out and about.

Then it was off back to the car via the park for Gem to have a go on the swings and slide.

Garden Birds

Well with the weather definitely in the pants category a day at home playing Daddy was the name of the game after the joys of a spot of supermarket shopping.

Quite a good mix on the garden bird front with Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Siskin (up to 4 birds now) and Brambling on the finch front. Great, Blue, Willow, Coal and Longtailed on the Tit front. Plus the usual Collared Dove.

Male Siskin

Female Brambling

Astbury Mere Visit 2

Today we had meant to be heading off to Derbyshire to see the Hawfinch at Cromford but with the weather forecast as it was and what we woke up to it was a quick change of plan.

So off we set to re-visit Astbury Mere, I was intending of visiting here this weekend anyway just we ended up going a day early.
At least this time the place wasn't full of prats in Lycra although the light wasn't great for shots at least the full dull meant I didn't have to worry about the position of the Sun, a chap who taught me a great deal about railway photography always reckoned on high cloud being the best light again no worries about the Sun's position but still a decent amount of light to take photographs.
A few other birders were knocking around and pointed us in right direction of where the Slav Grebe was hiding out, still in the opposite corner from the visitor centre.

Slavonian Grebe Astbury Mere

On a garden birding front Lesley had told me about a pair of Siskins that had been visiting the garden over the last few days, well today I finally got a chance to see them for myself, and they were one of the fist birds to visit our feeders, so a nice garden tick, the male Brambling is still hanging around although we didn't see the female today.

Yesterday I submitted 3 shots to the Keele Open Photography Competition/exhibition, fingers crossed now that at least one gets accepted for exhibition, up to now I have been quite lucky and had photos exhibited on previous attempts. These are the three I have selected, I will find out on the 18th if I have been successful.

Dosthill Water Ski Lake

No I have not taken up a new sport, I am more likely to break a leg or something if I gave this ago or at least end up swallowing a lot of the lake.

We were there to hopefully see the pair of Long Tailed Ducks that had taken up residence.

After a fun drive there (Sat Nav's really take you on some interesting routes) we eventually found the spot and vowed to plot our own route home straight up the A51.
As per usual we didn't know if the birds were still around and to find them meant a bit of a trek, this usually is no problem but a pushchair on soggy grass was tough going especially up the hill at the far end of the lakes.

Well our luck was in and we were soon watching this life tick of a duck, we eventually managed to see the pair although always too distant for even a record shot.
Other wild fowl there were plenty of Shoveler, Gadwall, again loads of Tufted Duck and the odd Wigeon as well.
Other birds noted were Meadow Pipit, Sky Lark, a large group of mixed Redpoll  and Siskin.

On a garden front our single male Brambling has now been joined by a female.

Astbury Mere and Martin Mere

Tried a new potential railway photo location yesterday which appears to have potential although mainly for Eastern moves although traffic coming from the East should be just about alright, but maybe better from the road bridge further along.

Any way back today's birding.

First port of call was Astbury Mere at Congleton in a very sunny Cheshire, this low winter light does rather make it tricky for photography, give me an over cast day with high cloud any day.
Was rather busy when we arrived as there was a race on around the lake, so the place was full of neon Lycra, why people jog is beyond me I have yet to see a happy jogger when I have been out.
Any way we soon found our target bird of the Slavonian Grebe we didn't bother hanging around for the Scaup firstly we had already seen one for the year and secondly the joggers were getting in the way and causing everything to head for the middle of the lake.

It was then off to Martin Mere I had promised to take Lesley here once the weather and her shifts allowed, so off we headed North, we had our fingers crossed of seeing the Woodcock that had been sighted on and off from the Janet Kear hide.
The Swan Link hide held the usual suspects, Whooper Swan, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Ruff and Pink Feet. Allowing for a few shots to be grabbed including a nice ruff action shot.

Off to the Janet Kear hide, getting there we discovered someone had found the Woodcock and were helping others get on to the bird, I eventually locked on and the bird even came out of its hiding spot and allowed for some great views. This was only the second time we have seen this species the last time being at dusk in Norfolk so at least this time we could appreciate its markings.

So quite a successful days birding.