Paul's Birding Diary

Sunday 24th April 2016 Black-necked Grebe, Woolston Eyes It's been a while since my last post, and that's just down to not getting round to it! Anyway, here are some highlights from my trip with the West Midlands Bird Club to Woolston Eyes NR and Burton Mere RSPB reserve in Cheshire on Sunday. Woolston Eyes At Woolston Eyes, sandwiched between the Manchester Ship canal and the Mersey, Black-necked Grebes are the star attraction. I noted 12, all in stunning breeding plumage. A designated SSSI, the reserve comprises four large lagoons or 'beds' used in rotation for depositing material dredged from the canal. A footbridge bridge crosses a redundant arm of the Mersey to Number 3 Bed, effectively an island surrounded by the river. Access in normally permit only - details: www.woolstoneyes.co.uk     The footbridge, Woolston Eyes Other highlights of the visit included a female Marsh Harrier and two adult Mediterranean Gulls , plus my first Reed Warbler of the...

Saturday 6th - Sunday 28th February Great Grey Shrike, Crabtree Hill The first trip of the month was to the Cotswold Water Park with Mark, and a long walk (nearly 6 miles) covering several pits looking for Smew. It hasn't been a good winter for Smew and we drew a blank, but year-ticked Goosander , Goldeneye and Red-crested Pochard . Little Gull, Tack Piece, WWT The next morning I spent at WWT Slimbidge. After a quiet couple of hours I was just leaving via the shop and happened to see Martin and Neil. They told me there was a Little Gull on the Tack Piece, so I headed straight there in time to see it. A Bar-tailed Godwit , which I had thus far missed, was also on the Tack Piece with the Black-tailed Godwits , so that was a nice bonus. I've seen the Barwit a couple of times since on South Lake. Bar-tailed Godwit, South Lake, WWT Bar-tailed Godwit, South Lake, WWT The last two Saturday mornings I have spent carried out Winter Random Square Surveys. Last Saturd...

Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th January 2015 Siberian Chiffchaff, Shorncote, CWP Saturday morning I visited the Cotswold Water Park but confined my time to Shorncote, one of the last few parts of CWP I still enjoy visiting. Not one but two SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFFS were present along the stream, along with up to a dozen common Chiffchaffs . Also seen, a Water Rail (others heard), two Cetti's Warblers (another heard), a Grey Wagtail and a Stonechat . Siberian Chiffchaff - the same bird as the top photo - I didn't get a good shot of the other one Male Black Redstart, Sharpness Female Scaups from Robbie Garnnett hide, WWT On Sunday I spent the morning with Andy and Mark, starting at Frampton. A Tawny Owl  was the highlight. At Sharpness a male Redstart was showing well. At WWT the highlights were two female Scaup on the Tack Piece, where I also counted c120 Black-tailed Godwits and the White-fronted Goose flock were present along with the five Greenland White-front...

Friday 15th January 2016 Penduline Tit, Horsbere Brook FSA, Gloucester I spent Friday afternoon watching two male PENDULINE TITS at the Horsbere Brook Flood Storage Area in Gloucester. Penduline Tit is not only a county tick but also a lifer, one that has eluded me on more than one occasion previously. Also here were two Stonechats , a Chiffchaff , a Reed Bunting and 30 Snipe . On a very cold weekend I also saw a Great Grey Shrike at Horse Lawn in the Forest on Saturday, but very little about in the forest finch-wise. I did year-tick Marsh Tit , Mandarin and Little Grebe at Cannop Ponds.

Saturday 2nd January 2016 Grey Phalarope - almost a record shot! Happy New Year everyone! My New Year's birding got off to an excellent start on Saturday morning with a visit to WWT Slimbrdge. Two SCAUPS and two Egyptian Geese on the Rushy, and GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, LITTLE STINT , Ruffs and Peregrine on the Tack Piece were just the appetizer. Mike phoned just as I got to the Holden Tower at 9.35am to say James had found a GREY PHALAROPE on the Top New Piece, so it was straight to Zeiss Hide. By the time I made it round, the Phal had gone into hiding right underneath a tree in which a MERLIN was sat. The Merlin eventually flew off, but the Phal apparently stayed in hiding. Eventually it re-appeared but somehow it had sneaked to the other side of the scrape. I watched it for a while as it emerged into view several times and made the occasional flight. After dipping three previously in Glos, Grey Phalarope is a long-awaited addition to my county list. I finished off...

Saturday 12th December 2015 Great Northern Diver, Farmoor Reservoir I was hoping to get nice views of two Grey Phalaropes that had been present for several days, but unfortunately they had departed Farmoor Reservoir. Watching two juvenile Great Northern Divers fishing provided some consolation.

Friday 28th - Saturday 29th November 2015 Greater Scaup, WWT Slimbrige I have caught up with the five Greenland White-fronted Geese at WWT Slimbridge, and the obliging female Greater Scaup , the latter providing some nice photo opportunities.       Today I carried out a Winter Random Square Survey which just happened to be the square encompassing Coombe Hill Meadows. Aided by Andy and Mark, we totalled 43 species including: Cetti's Warbler 1 Stonechat 2 (pair) Shoveler 7 Shelduck 2 Teal 23 Wigeon 122 Mallard 26 Canada Goose 18 Water Rail 1 Hashtag Science!