Today the bird group met up on the Cannock Chase, luckily I was able to go.  We were there to look for the illusive Wood Larks, we have tried several times before with no luck, maybe today would be different!!  We saw - Mistle Thrush,  Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit, Chiffchaff, Songthrush (heard), Chaffinch, Cuckoo (heard), Bullfinch, Wood Pigeon, Jay, Blackbird, Magpie, and yes a Wood Lark was seen.

I went on to Marquis drive where I saw Stockdove, Crow, Magpie, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Swallow, House Martin.  After some lunch I went over to another area on the Chase where I added Robin and a Turtle Dove was calling and showing well.  Then I went to Wolseley Bridge SWT  I saw - Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Great Tit and heard Song Thrush and Sedge Warbler.  It was good day especially as we saw the Wood Lark at last, only got to find that illusive Warbler that frequents the Chase now!!!

No birding this week and little chance of any next week, hopefully I'll get out again soon and update this blog.

Last night the group met up for an evenings walk on Cannock Chase to look for Nightjars Birds seen-- Wood Pigeon, Heron, Stonechat, Kestrel, Cuckoo (heard and seen), Blackbird, Songthrush, Great Tit, Crow, Hobby, Woodcock, Nightjar, we also heard Chaffinch, Willow Warbler and  Pheasant.  It was a  good evenings bird watching with great views of  a pair of Nightjars and good views of Woodcocks. 

On Monday the group visited Belvide Reservoir, we saw-- Red-legged Partridge, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Sparrow, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Coot, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Common Tern, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose,  Blackbird, Gadwall, Pochard, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Mute Swan, Little-ringed Plover, Little Owl, we also heard Song Thrush and Garden Warbler.

Day 4 early morning walk A lovely warm sunny morning, I saw-- Blackbird, crow, Rook, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Redshank, Marsh Harrier, Oystercatcher, Jay, Blackcap, Lesser black-backed Gull, Greylag Geese, Long-tailet Tit, and heard Green Woodpecker. 

 

The lovely sunshine didn't last and was replaced by heavy rain so the plan was for a day at Strumpshaw Fen was postponed! However around lunchtime the rain stopped so off we went to  Strumpshaw Fen for the afternoon birds seen -- Wren, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Crow, Rook, Swift, Mallard, Greylag Geese, Cuckoo, Coot, Pochard, Gadwall, Long Tailed Tits, Pheasant, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Marsh Harrier, Common Tern, Shellduck, Great-crested Grebe, Shovler, Blue Tit, Great Tit,  Chiffchaff, Hobby. I also heard Bitterns and did see a quick flash of what looked like one going across one of the channels of water!!!

 

Day 5  early morning walk .

 

later that morning we went over to Great Yarmouth for a very windy walk along Breydon Water birds seen-- Common tern, Kestrel, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Shellduck, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Swallow, Lapwing.

 

An evening walk back at Burgh Castle produced Shellduck, Avocet, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Blackbird, Swallow. There were lots of waders in the distance but as I hadn't taken my scope I couldn't see what they were.  However hearing a Turtle Dove cheered me up.  

 

Later on we went to Caister-on-sea and had a walk along the beach I saw- Little Tern, Ringed Plover, Swallow, Rook, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Herring Gull.

 

A Great holiday in a great place, total birds 86 incluiding 2 lifers or a possible 3 if you count the Egret!!!  Though it would have been more if it wasn't for the LBJ's and the BWG's (Big White Gulls)!!!  I also saw a Stoat and a Grass snake.

 

  Well I have just been on holiday for a week in Norfolk, the weather was good though very windy most days but we only had rain one morning.  Once I had unpacked I went for an evening walk to familiarize myself with the area.  We were staying at Burgh Castle which is the remains of a Roman Fort. 380 yards of wall still remain standing, some of which is about 15 feet high, and about 11 feet thick in parts it was built at the end of 3rd century AD. That's the history bit done, now onto the holiday and the birds.  There is a nice walk which goes along the river and the castle and later I found a path through a small wood to make a nice circular walk. The next morning I got up early for a pre-breakfast walk, it was cool and cloudy but on the way back the sun was shining.  

DAY 1. early morning walk Birds Seen -- Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Whitethroat, Magpie, Blackbird, Cuckoo, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Shellduck, Mute Swan, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Reed Bunting, Rook, Crow, Starling, Cormorant, Swallow, during this walk while I was watching a pair of Marsh Harriers  a bird flew low over my head it was an Egret but I couldn't see any yellow feet!! It did seem large for a Liitle Egret!!! All this happened in a second or two!! if it was a Great Egret it would be a lifer for me!!  Guess I'll never know .  back for breakfast and out again in the afternoon to  Hickling broad.

Day 1. Hickling Broad -- Common Crane( A lifer), Marsh Harrier, Redshank, Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Shellduck, Swift, Swallow, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Blackbird, Crow Rook, Egyptian Goose. I was hoping to see a Bittern, though I did see bird flying in the the distance that could possibly have been one!!!  

 

Day 2. early morning walk a Very Windy cool morning.  Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Shellduck, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Blackbird, Crow, Rook, Marsh Harrier, Great Tit, Cormorant, Whitethroat.

DAY 2. RSPB  MINSMERE  Nightingale(a lifer), Magpie,  Black-headed Gull, Reed bunting, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Mallard, Shellduck, Barnacle Geese, Swallow, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Redshank(in summer plumage), Pintail, Redshank, Bluetit, Sparrowhawk, Tufted Duck, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Ringed Plover. this place was just full of birds some of which I had trouble identyfying!!!  I heard Bitterns calling, but unfortunatly didn't see any!!

 

Day 3. early morning walk Blackbird, Rook, Crow, Black-headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Shellduck, Grey Heron, Egyptian Goose, Skylark, Robin, Dunnock, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Sedge Warbler, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Linnet, I heard Reed Warblers and Chiffchaff.

 

Today was a non birding day, well in theory anyway!!!  But the walk produced -- Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Kittiwake, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Common Terns, Greenfinch, Black-headed Gull, Whitethroat, Crow, Mallard, Moorhen, Rook, Magpie, Dunnock, Herring gull.  Not bad for a non-birding walk!!!   

Today the group had arranged to meet at Branston Water Park, however the weather gods were against us as it poured with rain!! so a diversion to Croxall seemed the best option. Whilst waiting in the car at Branston we saw--- Mallard, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Coot and Moorhen. At Croxall we saw--- Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Sand Martin, Common Tern, Ringed Plover, Black-headed Gull, Redshank, Grey Wagtail, Canada Geese, Mallard, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Lesser-Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Great-crested Grebe and a few of us who 'lingered longer' saw Yellow Wagtail.  After lunch as it had stopped raining we had a walk along the river at the National Memorial Arboretum where we saw-- Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Blackbird, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Mallard, Goldfinch, Crow, as we walked along my friend said she wished she could see a Yellow Wagtail close up, as the one we saw at Croxall was in the distance, and low and behold one appeared on a nearby tree as if by magic!!

This year the birds are nesting in the garden again.  In the nest box there are Great Tits, at the top of one of the hawthorn trees is a pair of Wood Pigeons, I suspect that Dunnocks have a nest in the Ivy, but why oh why!! do the Blackbirds nest in the Ivy just a few inches from where they nested last year when the Magpie ate their eggs and young!  Once again the rotten Magpie has had em again!!!  They appear to have now abandoned that nest.  I used to think garden birdwatching was relaxing and pleasant!!!! 

On Monday we met up at Croxall for a mornings birding we saw -- Canada Geese, Teal,  Great-crested Grebe,  Common Tern, Ringed Plover, Goldeneye, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck, Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Mallard, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Curlew, Swallow, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Linnet, Rook, Chaffinch, Skylark, Buzzard, Magpie. The Curlew giving us great views in a fly past whilst calling. At Whitemoor we saw -- Pied Wagtail, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Black-headed Gull, Mute Swan, Redshank, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Shellduck, Mallard, Teal, Yellowhammer, Robin, Dunnock, Stock Dove,  Wood Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Crow, Rook, Magpie. 

I had a walk around my local patch today I saw - Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tt, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Wren, Great Tit, Crow, Magpie, Greenfinch, Collared Dove.  It was nice to hear the Chiffchaffs calling and actually get a view of one.  The birds were all low in numbers but as there were a fishermen about this could account for it.  The area would be a lot better if people would not use it as a dumping ground for their rubbish!!!!! Maybe I should make a list of all the rubbish instead of the birds I'm sure that list would be a lot longer!!!!!

This morning we met at Belvide it's been ages since I have been here! Birds seen -- at the feeder station Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Great Tit, Blue tit, Willow Tit, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Robin, Around the reservoir -- Songthrush, Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Coot, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Lapwing, Redshank, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Shoveler, Teal, Great-crested Grebe, Crow, Rook, Greylag Goose, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Pochard, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Snipe, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer.  Back at the Feeder station we added Great-spotted Woodpecker.  After lunch we went to Cannock Chase where we saw -- a large flock of Crossbills, Stonechat, Jay, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Stockdove, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Rook, Crow, Robin. Also a fox and some deer.  A short visit to another area of the Chase produced --Blackbird, Willow Tit, Pheasant, Jay, Robin, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Kestrel.  On the drive home we added Red-legged Partridge and Jackdaw to our list.

Today we all met up at Chasewater, which as many of you may already know can be a 'trifle breezy' on the best of days.  Today the car park was turned into a dust bowl, things didn't look good for a mornings birding!!  Anyway we had a good walk around and this is what we saw - Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Goldeneye, Lapwing, Gadwall, Sand Martin, Jay, Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit. I also heard my first Chiffchaff of the year.   Just as we got back to the car for some lunch the heavens opened!!  After lunch we headed over to Whitemoor haye where we saw- Tufted Duck, Redshank, Canada Geese, Barnacle Geese, Mallard, Lapwing, Goldeneye, Pied Wagtail, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Greylag Geese, Robin, Teal, Crow, Rook, Wood Pigeon, Heron, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Starling,there was also a Skylark singing, couldn't see it though. On our way back via Cannock Chase  we saw - Yellowhammer, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Magpie, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Willow Tit.

At last I managed get out for a days birding again, we decided on Cannock Chase as Crossbills had been seen also the Hawfinch, neither of which I had seen this year or in fact for a long time, I also hoped to catch a glipse of the Waxwings before they upped and left!!  on our way to Cannock Chase we saw - Red-legged Partridge, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Pheasant, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Starling.  Cannock Chase - Raven, Great Tit, Crossbills, Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Chaffinch, Jay, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Kestrel, Robin, Hawfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Jackdaw, Willow Tit, Blackbird, Crow, Kestrel.  After a break for lunch we went to Wolseley Bridge to see what we could see there - Canada Geese, Mallard, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Kingfisher, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Magpie.  Not a bad day out especially as I hadn't been birding for ages, shame I couldn't find any Waxwings though!!!

I hope to get out and about again soon and update this blog.  In the meantime I am enjoying reading everyone else's.

Today I went for a short walk around my local patch this is what I saw- Blackbird, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Black-headed Gull, Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Starling.  I also took some photos while I was there see 'my local patch photos'.  

On Sunday I decided to take part in the 'Big Garden Birdwatch' I sat by the window for an hour and made a note of what I saw, well I didn't see much! 1 Blackbird, 2 Bluetits,  2 Dunnocks, 1 Great Tit, 8 House Sparrows, 1 Robin.  I think the birds know that I want to count them and stay away, as I normally have over 20 House Sparrows in the garden and 4 or 5 Blackbirds as well as quite a few Dunnocks and Magpies.  And Guess what the next day all the Sparrows as well as the others I mentioned were back on the feeders!!!! 

I do hope I am able to go out and do some proper birding again soon!! 

This morning I went for a short walk with my other half, we went to the area near the old rifle ranges, unfortunatly we didn't see many birds but this is what we saw - Great-spotted Woodpecker, Crow, Magpie, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and a small flock of Coal Tits, we also saw a Fox.  It was a lovely sunny morning, though it was a bit cold!  I hope to able to go out again soon, as I seem to be way behind my fellow birders and bloggers with my sightings.   

Sorry I have not added to my blog recently I hope to be able to go out birding again soon.

The title on this report should be Chasing Waxwings not Chasewater!!!!!!!!!! Anyway this afternoon we decided to try and find either the Hawfinch on The Chase or the Waxwings around Chasewater, we decide on the later.  When we got to a very cold Chasewater we looked from the bridge over the toll road for them suddenly we saw a large flock of birds in flight which could have been them, to far away to tell!!! so we decide to have a walk around to see if we could see any sign of them, but had no luck.  Then we went back to look across the water at Chasewater, a nice chap told us where the waxwings were so off went.  when we got there, again no sign of them, then a chap in a van stopped and gave us directions to where he had seen them.  So off we drove again,   had a look around and nothing to be seen just as we got back to the car there was a flock of birds in flight again to quick for us to get a look.  So with that and the failing light we gave up!!!  So not a good start to the year I can only hope it will improve!  Birds we saw at Chasewater - Crow, Blackbird, Tufted Duck, Starling, Great-crested Grebe, Heron, Cormorant, Coot, Black-headed Gull, we saw lots of gulls coming in but my Gull knowledge is too poor to ID them all. Perhaps we should have gone for the Hawfinch!!!