PODS WORLD

DEJA VU AT THE FLASHES

2012-01-29T08:04:00.000-08:00

A text from Sandbach's finest alerted me to an adult Caspo Gull showing this Sunday morning at Pump House Flash. Unfortunately I was on a Sunday stroll with Wifey and pooch round the local patch so arrived way too late to add this good value gull to the list. Still there was a couple of nice Cheshire bonuses going about their business that just had to be digitally captured.
Scanning the gull fest on Pump House I came across one of the three Iceland Gulls that were commuting between here and the local Crewe tip.

Just like buses, non for ages then two in two days both nicely in Cheshire great stuff.
Luckily I spoke to one of the locals and was informed that 'The Ibis' was just up the road showing really well so moments later whap on it went. GLOSSY IBIS only my 2nd ever in Cheshire after I relocated (Marston Pools) the one seen on Neumann's Flash way back on 03/10/1992. 'strewth its been a long time coming!

All in all a pleasant hour spent just down the road at one of Cheshire's premier league birding hot spots, now if the two chaps above would just venture 12 miles North and grace my local patch life would be perfect.
We're just too bloody greedy us birders.

UK 2012 YEAR LIST - 137
PATCH YEAR LIST - 84

MOORE TIP GULL FEST

2012-01-28T05:47:00.000-08:00

Weather on Saturday morning was ideal for gulling, no wind and bright sunshine so off to the old stomping ground for a search of the tip gulls at Moore. Unfortunately its a bit of a bugger trying to get a decent view as everywheres fenced off but where theres a will (or a rare gull) theres a way.
Video of the melee...

With a bit of a find the right angle through the meshed fence I managed to locate a nice year tick in the shape of an Iceland Gull (comments welcome from the guru), one for the Self Found List.

Might I suggest its a 1st winter individual, here continue'th the education.

VOTE ERIC

2012-01-24T12:34:00.000-08:00

THE LEGEND WANTS TO BE THE NEXT BOSS OF LE FROGS...VOTE ERIC!

THE BEAST OF BIRKDALE

2012-01-23T14:03:00.000-08:00

Called in at Weld Rd, Birkdale (on route for a McBacon) just on the off chance the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull might be on show and low and behold there it was in all its buffy white splendour.

On the nearby roundabout a flock of 'Ivory Gulls' were sheltering from the strong NW winds.

Funny no news of them on Dudeguides!
On the Lancs mosses I searched in vain for the lone (now 2!!)Tundra Bean Goose in amongst the usual 4500+ Pinkies but not a sausage or a Tunny.

Probably best of the day though was a flock of 71 yes that's 71 Corn Buntings rummaging in a stubble field.
A fantastic flock, no wonder theres none on the Patch they're all up in Lancs.

UK YEAR LIST - 134

As for the Patch well now.....

Par for the course at this early time of the year would see one on 78 +/- 5, so being on 82 is nowt special. I've missed the two blockers so far Gregsy's Little Owl and Greg's Merlin, maybe a chance later in the year for Little Owl but Merlin bugger me more chance of Dave putting his list on FocalPoint. Still you never say never in birding cos anything can happen especially the unexpected, take the World Record breaking Black throated Diver last years at the death Mega that did the business for Greg and removed the trophy (my precious) from its rightful owner.

Footy wise the Champions go marching on as Arsene fecks up yet again...

and the noisy neighbours have really put their foot in it

What a feckin prat Bert o'chelli is....

ta ra

RETIRED PENSIONER THWARTS BLUE NOSES

2012-01-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

In a match that we had no hope of drawing let alone winning, critics were predicting a cricket score and it was just a case of lets keep the score down...The most successful manager ever to grace the English premier bench pulled off a blinding stroke of pure Guinness. Oldham's finest and as Mr Zidane said ''the greatest midfielder I've ever played against'' was re-introduced to the hustle and bustle of a do or die FA Cup tie (not so meaningless now eh!) against our second bitter enemy and came up trumps.

Bloody Roy of the Rovers stuff if you ask me...what a result. Bring on the BNP

BMW

2012-01-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

A trip out to Cheshire's newest premier league reserve today with Groucho and Mr Wizzal in search of geese.
Well I must say what a fine job the good old RSPB have done in creating what could potentially (bird wise) be a hot spot in the reserve starved North West. With its awesome trio of welcoming totty how could any birder pass up the chance of adding something 'new' to his or her list. Groucho below scans the wetlands for rare geese and year ticks...

Just round the back and over the fence the required flock of geese were grazing and in amongst them
2 Tundra Bean Geese a new Cheshire bird for yours truly (263). The flock also contained 55+ Eurasian White-fronts, Barnacle, Greylag, Canada and hybrid Canada/Greylag...nice! Down the road another flock of geese held 400+ Pinkies, 3 Barnacle and 8 EWFronts storming stuff, we'll soon be out doing Norfolk for rare geese that would save some birding fuel what.
In the finest tradition of 'Celebration Shots' Groucho went a bit OTT with his rather daring display...

ARSE!! (Paynus shows his anus)

turn the other cheek boy

The Tundra Bean Goose showing well to the gathered Cheshire elite

Could be a tough one for the CHAOS Committee me thinks?

UK 2012 YEAR LIST - 98

BOHEMIAN BEAUTY

2012-01-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

Whilst doing a satnav job through Sheffield en route to the office cos some pillock had crashed on the Woodhead Pass and thus closed it, a quick glance at the twitter feed alerted me to a duo of
Bohemian Waxwings apparently showing well in some local park. Adjusting the satnav and hey presto I'm only a Rory Delap throw-in away. 2mins later and its David Bailey time....

a nice padder for the Year List.

GAME ON

2012-01-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

All is quiet at Bittern Hide as the winter resident botaurus decides not to show for the gathered evening throng of Patch year listers.
There is stuff around though as I add a squealing Water Rail, two Spuggyhawks, fem Goldeneye, and a wee flock of Starlings to the Patch Yearlist that's already on 53 from an earlier Patch raid. Bird of the day though was the three Woodcocks, flushed from the shrubbery on Scarey Park. No need to venture in there again this year job done.
Looking from an optimistic point of view I've got another 96 species to find, see, twitch, grip back etc... during what's left of 2012 oh yeah! only 365 days to go (its a leap year, nice one extra day). With the new world record set by Mr Baker of 152 its going to take one almighty effort, some luck and some damn good birds to overhaul...bring it on I say.

2011

2011-12-31T10:54:00.000-08:00

2011 the facts and figures because we all know in the end its a numbers game...

MARBURY LIFE LIST - 193 one new bird added the last gasp BLACK-THROATED DIVER

CHESHIRE LIFE (not the magazine) - 262 with only the Leasowe RED-RUMPED SWALLOW being new

ENGLAND LIFE - 475 getting really hard without deliberate twitching intervention. I added four, two of which are still slightly pending ish - ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE, SLATY BACKED GULL, WHITE-THROATED ROBIN and WESTERN SANDPIPER

UK+IRE LIFE - 517 again we're all waiting as per for the BOU to rubber stamp these lifers - SB GULL, WT ROBIN, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER both the Irish Stejneger's and Jock Deglandi (could well be split) and bird of the year SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT awesome!

WESTERNPAL LIFE - 689 the trip to Madeira added 8 with YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON being the icing on the cake of a great trip. Spain added CITRIL FINCH at bloody long last. The UK as it does with SB GULL, WW SCOTER and RUBY.

WORLD LIFE - 2835 only 10 cos I didn't have any serious foreign sojourns. 7 Madeira, 1 Spain and 2 UK

LAST GASP MEGA

2011-12-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well he's (Greg) done it with a superb patch find in the shape of an adult winter plumage
BLACK THROATED DIVER this Thursday afternoon, doing what divers do best on Budworth Mere. The Patch World Yearlist record well and truly gazumped. 152 a big challenge for next year maybe?

and some video...

awesome dude!

NORFOLK GOOSE CHASE

2011-12-29T07:59:00.000-08:00

A day out to Norfolk with Groucho (now a car driver!!) and Robbo from Sandbach was not a hard decision to make, so off we set towards Buckenham in the Yare valley in search of rare geese. Arriving just after the regular flock of Taiga Bean Geese with a now tickable! Lesser White-fronted Goose intow had just flown was a bit of a blow, so we did a bit of wider area searching to no avail and headed to the North coast.
At Cley the very long staying Western Sandpiper was easily seen from Dauke's Hide within minutes of arriving. A welcome addition to my England List now on 475. A little bugger to get a piccy of though...

Bag of shite piccy wise but at least I saw it. We then legged it along the coast to Ticwell and got to grips with the rather showy Coues' Arctic Redpoll in with the Mealy/Lesser flock by the info centre. Typically the pager bleeped and the Lesser Whitefront was back at Buckenham Marshes with the Taiga Bean Geese.
Swapping the boy racer with an ex professional we made awesome time as we raced back across Norfolk to Buckenham only to be beaten by the fading light...bugger maybe next year.
Forgot to mention the 'grot goose' that was wandering round with the Canada Geese at Bucks, a Red breasted/Brent hybrid thingy?? yuk!

home Groucho...

TWO PINTS OF LAGER...PLEASE!!

2011-12-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

THEY DON'T MAKE'M LIKE THEY USED TO...AWESOME WHAT?

POWTER HOW

2011-12-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

Who or how you might say, well its a wee place right by the A66 in Cumbria right next to Bassenthwaite Lake. Home to Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts in the Summer, apparently.
Parking in the southbound layby a quick five minute walk takes you to a hide over looking Bassenthwaite Lake which is exactly what I did. Luckily I'd put my posh wellies on cos the tide must have been in...

From the hide its possible in summer to watch the local pair of Ospreys go about their business and if you're really blessed to get a glimpse of an English Otter or two. Not today though but I did see several Goosander, Goldeneye and a couple of Little Grebe.
The view from the hide looking South East ish towards Keswick and the snow capped fells...

Just down the M6 and right a bit (if you're heading South) is the RSVP's Bittern haven of Leighton Moss and nearby gracing one of the flooded fields outside the reserve was a juvenile Glossy Ibis (year tick).

Not great but you can just tell what it is I think. In the next field over a family group of Red Deer were looking for a sneaky way into the Leighton Moss Reserve (and they did eventually jump the fence).

thats all for now folks!
toodle pip.

BITTERN'S BACK

2011-12-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

A couple of sorties round the local patch this Sunday helped clear the mist from the Friday nights works Xmas party. (apparently I had a good time!!) Good job its only once a year. Anyway back to the Patch and a lap of Neumann's started the mini day list off followed by Haydn's Pool and then the evening Bittern Hide fest.
Species seen/heard...
Black Swan
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Shoveler
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Gt C Grebe
Cormarent
BITTERN
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Peregrine
Water Rail
Coot
Lapwing
Dunlin
Snipe
Curlew
BH Gull
Herring Gull
LBB Gull
Common Gull
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Stock Dove
Tawny Owl
Kingfisher
G S Woodpecker
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Redwing
Fieldfare
Goldcrest
LT Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Crow
Starling
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
that's 55 with a few embarrassing dips (but it was a grim day weather wise)
hangovers nearly gone as well.tut tut!

MR BEAN

2011-12-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

A sojourn in between surveys had me relocating a small flock of Tundra Bean Geese up in darkest Cumbria during the past week. Something I've been (excuse the pun) trying to find in the vast flocks on the Lancs mosses but to no avail. Seems to be a very good year for them with reports from all over the country this winter. Could this mean we're in for another freezing winter?

Guess which ones the Greylag?

toodle pip?

OLD PATCH STOMPING

2011-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Out for a stroll with pooch intow. For a change from the regular patch (can't be finding the potential record breakers more ammunition what) I ventured down to Moss Side or Moore Nature Reserve as its now called.

The view over Lapwing Lane Pool from my Dad's seat, Mia the pooch collecting firewood godbless her.
Down by the River Mersey the tide was out and from Norton Marsh Hide I could see a distant Little Egret. Ten years ago this would have been a mega find but now its just another heron going about its buisness, still though they do have that novelty factor. Very windy conditions (not me I hast'en to add) kept alot of stuff grounded and the hoped for Short-eared Owl(s) didn't perform. Theres 5 out there somewhere. One Tree Sparrow on the feeders but no Yellowhammers showed how windy it was, hence no stunning photos (cough!).

It was a long way off so suppose I should say Egret sp. you just never know these days.
From the hide on Lapwing Lane t'other old patch heron was just a bit nearer...

Met up with Moore Nature Reserve's finest patcher namely Mike Mullholland who's on 129 for the year (140 being the holy grail for Moss Side) so it looks like Marbury has done Moore once again, and it all starts again soon yipeeeeeeee!

ITS TOUGH AT THE TOP

2011-11-26T04:55:00.000-08:00

With the winter days getting shorter and that annoying time of the year approaches the Patch Year List race for 2011 seems to have grind to a halt. Last new bird was the Knot seen by yours truly and no one else. So Greg who's been stuck on 151 for ages needs to pull his finger out or he'll end up on the current World Record set by Gregsy way back in 2006 namely 151.

The table as it stands...

should be a nail biting few weeks what?

ITS GRIM DOWN SOUTH

2011-11-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

What better way to enhance ones list than join the growing trend of 'splitting' as is the case for the 'Eastern' Black Redstart that's performing superbly to a constant stream of insurance tick birders down on the beach at Margate, Kent. Easy to pop along too if you're a bleedin' Southerner but a bit of a trek for us Northerners.
I asked the question why? and got some half decent answers on Birdforum so joined the works team (+ LeDonis) and off we headed down south. God its a bloody long way to Margate, almost 2000 miles and you can whiff the pong of garlic from across the Channel once there, its so EU. For going the urge to have a peak at Margate's other more bizarre residents namely the Rose-ringed Parakeets (last year ticked in the epic 2006 Big Year) we made our way to Walpole Bay home for now to this 'potential' 1st for UK (if split and subsequently accepted of course). It showed stupidly well, down to 2m at one point. Hence for once I think I managed some decent piccys....

Twitch on...

Comberbach Paparazzi in action

News just in there's a Veery on the island of Muck thank heavens I saw the Lundy one.

MORE SHETLAND SHENANIGANS...

2011-11-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

The team aboard the Mainland-Yell Ferry looking for pies (and Penguins!!)

It certainly was a windy place (wondered why the tea tasted funny)

This stuff could easily produce a North Westerly blow
(always wondered what Penguins tasted like)

Ellesmere Port's finest tucks into his Penguin and Chips

Al had a way of attracting the local totty...after a bit of the udder or what?

Now thats what you call a fart!!!!!!

RUBY RUBY RUBY RUBY...

2011-11-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

Well what an October its turned out to be. First there's a must go for even though we all knew it would do one over night - RUFOUS TAILED ROBIN (bird finding on a monster scale, well done Mr Martin)

The legend that is 'Franco' and crew, even these guys dipped the Rufous tail but that's what makes these birds MEGAS in the second place (first place is their rarity and their value by buggering off early). One just had to be there though so Malc, Groucho and I got up seriously early and drove over to Wareham Greens to join the disappointed ensemble. We did have a rather nice breakfast in Wells, then worked our way to Holme for yet another Sibe. Paying yes paying!!! to get into this two tiered Bird Clamping Reserve meant we had to see the bird on show (or not as it was for most of the field craft deficient Brummy plebs). Using cunning, field craft, skill and birding knowledge gained over many a year we let the hordes flush the Red-flanked Bluetail towards us enabling me to get this epic shot of said Sibe.

Classic pose and if you didn't know it could so easily be one of Mr Martin's views of the Rufous Tail! (but no honestly its the one with the BlueTail) as not seen by the Brummy bunch...dudes!!! At least we sort of got some compensation for missing one of the birds of the year.

Several days later I'm up in deepest darkest Cumbria doing a survey when I get a phone call alerting me that the pager (that I no longer own) will go MEGA!!! and it will be a Monster Mega!!! Probably one of the most wanted birds on many a British Birders list...
a male SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT on godforsaken Shetland. Plans are made and passes out begged for from one's spouse. Thursday 20th sees Malc and I boarding a Flybe flight from Edinburgh to Sumburgh. We join up with the only other birder on the flight namely Mike Fosdick who kindly hires and pays for a hire car, topman.

The Stairway to Heaven

Thats why it stayed so long the Shetland Paparazzi were kept out

Shetland Paparazzi in action, this noisy twat has just flushed the Pechora Pipit that was showing awesomely well in the nearby vegetable patch. Only my 2nd ever in the UK, thats Pechora not twat!

The only photo I managed and yes it flew off...bugger!!

20 Birders for a Sibe Rubythroat quality

now thats a hire car eh? Bob the Birder from Unst (missing a C me thinks)

Comberbach's finest doing the business, KFC behind

As I didn't get any piccys of Ruby heres the next best thing...

OML

SHETLAND TOUR OCTOBER 2011..

2011-11-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Day.5 8th Oct

Another day down the south end of Mainland, Shetland and in the extremely windy conditions we add a few good padders to the trip list...Curlew Sandpiper, 5+ GN Diver, Long-tailed Duck and a float by dead sheep(nice). A walk round Mr Minton's local patch of Scatness produces 5 Snow Bunting and a lone common all garden Golden Plover. Not much else apart from a nice cuppa at Steve's abode (tick).

Scatness above what a local patch.

At Sumburgh Hotel or more precisely the road to the farm that's behind the hotel a certain interesting

'Eastern Yellow Wagtail' performed to the masses and its bovine mates.

Turns out its a 'Western Yellow Wag' that's gone grey!!!??? according to the ex vicar.

Shetland Bovine Appreciation Society...moooooooo!!

Action stations as the pager bleeps and we get a message via our underground contact who's on the Shetland local grapevine....Buff-bellied Pipit at Quendale. Another bloody tick for the sub 'B'Teamers.

The BB Pipit twitch is in full swing as we arrive 1min after its flown 1km+ up the Quendale valley to pastures unknown...the little fecker! Un perturbed by this set back some of us set out to relocate the boy and 30 minutes later I do the business and find the Yanky Water Pipit feeding on the road top left of the piccy.

the dudes fill their boots (and lists no doubt) with not a thank you or cheers mate to be heard...bast++ds

Shropshire's finest play it cool, just a year tick I presume?

As we're heading back to the car the oily Pallid Harrier does a flyby, what a place.

The rest of the week is a wind swept washout with only a distant Glaucous Gull, lone Rook and Tesco Purple Sandpipers to add to the triplist. Which was a respectable 107

(wonder what the frontier gang scored?)

Well that's Shetland for another year (or so I thought!!) and this time we certainly got some quality but still no Lancy or blocker, but theres always next year.

BALLOTELLI...WHY ITS ALWAYS HIM!

2011-10-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

CHEERS PADDY

SHETLAND TOUR OCTOBER 2011.

2011-10-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Day.3 Oct 6th

A day on the big island of Mainland and straight into action with a showy Little Bunting feeding on the road to Geosetter.

Not the best (but neither am I) the wet windy westerly gale not helping the viewing conditions. Another look at the Citrine Wag at Fleck Farm for the other image gatherers in the group. Funny how the bigger the lens the nearer one has to be and yes they successfully flushed it once again...field craft my arse! but there again not as bad as Shetland's infamous paparazzi 'The Huge Waldrop' his lens is so big he sticks it up the birds rectum (well nearly). Enough ranting and on with the tour...
At Levenswick we find 2 Yellow broweds in the garden where the Izzy Shrike had been yesterday...ouch! dip. Are'nt they just great little critters, you know its serious Autumn when these little gems appear.

The shike or another one like it, or maybe one completely different then turned up at the farm overlooking Loch Hillwell so off we ventured. Arriving just before the Shetland paparazzi I had great views of this newly in Daurian Shrike and imaged gathered like a gooden.

A wander round the world famous Quendale Mill produced 20 Twite, Pied Fly and 3 Siskin over plus a rather nice cup of tea.

Day.4 Oct 7th

Still on the big island the team crammed into the MPV and headed north for Collafirth to spend an hour looking for the RBF that had obviously done one over night. Kergord Woods produced bugger all just lots of continental Blackbirds and a few Crests. The team then split up, apathy already setting in with a few of the squad. I keep telling them ''if you don't buy a ticket you won't win the lottery'' or find the biggy. So off I go with Phil and Groucho for a bit of bird finding. A walk out to the sand bay at Quendale provides a Shetland tick in the shape of 2 Little Gulls but unfortunately no sign of the reported Sab's Gull. Wandering back passed the mill I can see a harrier perched on the wall of one of the houses that overlook Loch Hillwell....oh you beauty! its the slightly oiled (fulmar puke) juv Pallid Harrier. It flies off up the field and lands on another wall..

Birders appear from all directions as the news filters out. Down by the road theres a flock of distant Golden Plovers rumaging around one of the sheep fields and with them one newly found (not by us)

American Golden Plover...sorted!

no AGP piccy so heres a rainbow instead...could be a Mega at the end?

A little bit of a live action as Pod and The 'B' Team near Loch of Hillwell. Mr Wizzal at the wheel, Groucho co pilot.

and thats it for another thrilling installment...more to come (if i can b arsed)

SHETLAND TOUR OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

My last tour with the 'B Team' to Norway....whoops! I meant Shetland was way back in 2008 for the last week of September, prime time for Lancy etc. Our endeavours though were thwarted by the naff weather and all we got back then was Western Bonelli's, YBW, Barred Warbler and an Osprey. Pretty damn crap by any standards so this time I was hoping for a better showing and hopefully a tick or two.

Day.1 Oct 4th the team arrive...

A brief sortie out around the southern end of Mainland, Shetland got the trip list off to a good start and best of all a very obliging Citrine Wagtail performed well at Fleck Farm until the Shetland paparazzi got too close....

Day.2 Oct 5th...
The whole team...Mark'Groucho' Payne, Big Al Orton, Phil'Mr Wizzal'Woollen, Mike'Pie-eater'Stokes a bloke from Telford called Damon and Matty a chap from South Wales plus yours truly piled into our luxury 7 seater MPV and headed for Unst. First stop the mystery 'Belmont' Bunting that was either a Black or Red headed type, we'll see what the records say at the end of the year shall we.

grotty little bugger but rather cute as well don't you think. Below the Winnington Paparazzi in action.

Having had our fill of Belmont we head up to Norwick and do the legendary birder's garden up on the hill side. In it we see 2 YBW (finding one), 2 Pied Fly, 3 Rosefinch (finding one) and 4 Brambling fresh in from Scandinavia with a load of Redwing. The haven below full no doubt of skulking unseen Lancy's and PGTips.

scrubtastic what!

Grot Finch fest, t'other ones in next doors garden.
The trip list was growing nicely with padders such as - Long-tailed Duck, Bonxie, Black Guillemot, RT Diver and the dark chocolate brown 'Shetland' race of Wren. Onto the end of the known UK birding world at the place of last years Lancy...Skaw. The farm we think was deserted so in we went for a gander finding a YBW, a female Blackcap with a white wing panel (most bizzare) and a very brief flight view of a lost forever never to be seen again Bunting sp...damn and double blast. The obligatory shot for the photo album had me wading into the North Sea...next stop Norway!!

Thence we joined the gathering throng of fellow birders and tourists for the pipit show at the school (after hours of course no paedos in our team for sure?)
Some teams were pure 'frontier' bird spotters like this motley crew ....

we'd all come to see the cracking OBP that performs on the swamp boardwalk behind the school...nice!

With the Olive-backed Pipit well and truly bagged (not Bagnalled note!) we nipped round the corner to Uyeasound and ticked off the flighty Barred Warbler and found another YBW by the Youth Hostel.
What a great days birding rounded off with a take-away curry and a few wee bevvies.

more to follow...

BLAST FROM THE PAST

2011-09-23T01:33:00.000-07:00

Oh dear me what a pity the 'long staying' Temminck's Stint that metamorphosised into a Long-toed Stint did a runner t'other day. Dashing the hopes of all those potential grip backers. Never mind they'll always be another as Ellesmere Ports finest always says. To rub salt into the wound even further heres a piccy of the last twitchable one way back in 1982 at Saltholme Pools, Cleveland. Seen the day after I'd just ticked Britain's first Little Whimbrel in South Wales...

Photograph by Ian Kimber one of my first twitching buddies.

Those reservoirs of East Sussex also provided me with another rather nice tick in the shape of my first ever Blackpoll Warbler seen in December 1994 at Bewl Bridge Res.

What a nice pair of blasts from the past eh! chaps. Fingers crossed this Autumn will hopefully provide some more goodies that I can grip back on some of you old timers such as...Yellow Browed Bunting, Black-billed Cuckoo and not to mention my biggest most easy yet to be seen Lancy.

Roll on Shetland...

ANDALUCIA ANGST

2011-09-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr Garcia and Mr Paterson your book 'Where to Watch Birds - Southern and Western Spain...SUCKS!!

Take for example the directions for the DuPont's Larks at Las Cuevas de los Medinas, instead of pristine steppe theres a bloody rubbish tip and recycling plant. Another dip for one of my most wanted WesternPal ticks.
Ah well at least our hotel was a little cracker that even had its own raptor passage to match Gibralter's during our week in sun drenched Andalucia.

The Al Andalus Hotel with the stunning Sierra Tejeda in the back ground.

The balcony list was rather delightful with regular Short-toed Eagle, Red-rumped Swallow and Spotless Starling. In the sierra behind I racked up (from the balcony) Black and Red Kite, Honey Buzzard, Hobby, lots of big raptors sp, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel impersonating a Lesser and several Hoopoes. On one day when the rare cloud descended over 200 Bee-eaters flew over, some viewable from the swimming pool.

Not to be phased by the rather dodgy guide book I ventured out in search of some elusive WesternPal goodies that needed bagging before more Spanish rubbish tips appear.

Having left it too late for the Lesser Flamingo(s) at Fuente de Piedra Laguna (they bugger off post breeding) I still gave it a shot just in case one had lost its sat nav. I arrived to find this premier Spanish reserve 'closed' for the day the staff probably having an extended siesta somewhere. Still I did see lots of Greater Flamingos (whoopy!) but non of its African counterpart.

and found this lost soul in a nearby field...can you spot the 'Iberian' Yellow Wagtail ?

Did what all photographers do and got too close...

whoops!!

On another expedition I ventured up into the Sierra Nevada passing Little Hollywood where they made all those memorable Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns (cool) in search of a bit of a Euro tarts tick but hey we all have one or two unless your Cheshire's finest now of Rotherhithe. 3000 feet up and its pine forest and dodgy ski resorts the home to a nice flock of 19 CITRIL FINCH...whap a doodle do!! unblocked at last.

sorted as we say in table topping Manchester.

Penultimate day and I forgo the pool, sangria and boobies and take to the hills for a final boost to the trip list.
For once the guide sort of gets it right and I'm on a disused railway heading into a mountain?

A view to nearly die for. On the bare rock above the tunnel 2 Rock Bunting, 4 Blue Rock Thrush and a Black Wheatear now thats more like it.

Spot the Blue jobby, could easily be the one I had on Scilly perched on Taylor's Island way back in 1999 from the mail boat before it was flushed by Knobski!!! shame.
One last try for DuPont's drew a blank but as Arnie said...''I'll be back''

'strewth give us a clue, the truth is out there somewhere. A case of One Steppe Beyond!!...groan.

One last piccy that just had to be taken (possible comment on the guide book maybe?)

adios amigos...

ps trip list a nice round 100.

SEA WATCHING BRIDGES OF ROSS STYLE

2011-09-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

ITS BEHIND YOU!

WAITING FOR MR FEA'S

AND WE CALL THIS A HOLIDAY!! (turn the sound up, you can hear the rain)

STILL THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS COMING TO THE GREEN ISLE...

THE REAL McCOY...LOVELY STUFF

WADER FEST

2011-09-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

The waders are literally pouring through the country at the mo with a mass of Curlew Sands, Wood Sands and Little Stints showing up all over the place. Patchers the length and breadth of the UK are filling their boots and more importantly Patch Year Lists with these mud loving gems.
The so called wet summer (its been well hot for many a day) has left Neumann's Flash and Haydn's Pool utter wallowing holes, perfect for waders. Back from Ireland my first port of call was to pay homage to one of my favourite waders...Wood Sandpiper, two of which were gracing Haydn's mud swamp along with 6 Green Sands, a Blackwit plus Gonzo the white Goose (great name Greg).
The Bank Holiday weekend also produced a flock yes! a flock of 4 Curlew Sands that gave me the run around before finally nailing them from The Mound thanks to Mr T, Ian and Robbo.

Today the 2nd Sept Greg has obviously got the listing god on his side as first he finds a RED KITE, majestically sailing over Scarey Park. Then twitches a juv Little Stint (3rd mud lover) on Neumann's that had us scratching are heads for a while. Thoughts of Baird's Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint and even Least Sand were rumoured but unfortunately better views were obtained and its ID clinched. Bloody educational stuff though, I even went out with a copy of Shorebirds just in case. Love it...
Crap phonescoped piccys of Stinty...

Pretty bad what? but just think if it was a Spoon-billed Sandpiper...oohhhhhhhhhh!

The Patch World Record Year List is now in serious danger of being gazumped and we still haven't had...Black necked Grebe, Scaup, Spotted Redshank, Knot, Short-eared Owl etc looks like Gregsy will have to cancel all his 2012 holidays to win his crown back, you just can't make this stuff up. What a TV drama it would make...we certainly have enough patch characters to fill Coronation Street twice over,

toodle pip for now readers

WAITING FOR IRENE

2011-08-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Just returned from an uneventful week of sea watching in Ireland. Based at our usual delightful cottage perched on the rocks above Kilbaha Bay just round the corner from world famous sea bird watch point of Bridges of Ross. The team of Gregsy and nephew Gregor, Knobski, Sooty and I took up our watch positions at the crack of dawn each day waiting patiently for Mr Fea's to fly by. Alas he didn't bother to show (yet again) as the weather required to bring him our way never really materialised until the end of the week and then still nothing.

The assembled array of diligent sea watchers scanning the sea for Mr Fea's, nearly as bad as Eddie Stobbart spotters.

Looking east at 6.30am (Insomniac time!!) the sun rises over Kilkee, Dan the Man and Powell junior already bored as the wind is from the south east and the sea a mill pond. Beauty sleep lost eh! chaps?.

One of the natural arches (bridges) from where the place gets its name.
As the going got tough some went fishing and caught the evenings supper. One of four humongous Pollock later to be barbecued (once marinated in lime, garlic and salt) in the pouring rain...oh joy. The triumphant captain Birdseye shows off his catch...

As we got even more bored with the non existant sea birds of a rare nature I turned the camera out of the bedroom window and zapped the local Irish race of Common Wheatear.

What a beauty.

Up on the nearby hillside I dipped on photographing the local Choughs but found a butterfly sheltering from the wind...one Common Blue (Irish form)

The cottage with a view to die for (not that its visible at 5am in the bloody morning) early birders get the early bird my Arsene Wenger (who's crying in the rain again, how many was it Arse...8)

nice what...

more to follow once I've posted the vids on utube

ttfn

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

2011-08-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

Whilst partaking in a Sunday afternoon cuppa with Mum and Wifey out in the front garden a smallish pale blue butterfly landed on the ivy next to the patio and Mum who's also called Ivy...
a rather unexpected garden tick in the shape of male HOLLY BLUE.

on the nearby Buddleia the Comma was still performing with several Large Whites.

As I was congratulating myself on gripping a Holly Blue for the garden a dragonfly zoomed in did a brief check of the front porch area then zapped off...one stonking COMMON HAWKER yes you guessed a garden first (too fast for the camera)...awesome what! Its just a pity the birds aren't performing as well as the insects but hey I'm not complaining.

NOISEY NEIGHBOURS NULLIFIED

2011-08-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

We give'm a two goal lead then put a bunch of youngsters on, shades of ''you win nothing with kids''...well you can shut the feck up you over paid primadonas. First strike to the REDS.

Nani of all people chasing down a ball, winning a challenge, staying on his feet to then score with aplomb...awesome what. Now for the League Cup...

TERN U-TURN

2011-08-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

The patch this morning was being hammered by the locals once again and as per usual the early 'birders' had scored with the early birds. Gregsy (aka Insomniac) had already seen a juv Med Gull and more importantly 2 fly over Crossbills before yours truly had risen.
Venturing out with pooch and wifey in tow I joined Vern and Mr T in the Old Hide to grill an educational Tern roosting with the Lapwings and BH Gulls on Neumann's North Island. Then again later with Robbo and exBT Dave et al.

Photo of the tern sp through exBT's scope...either Common or Arctic yes?.. but which one?
I initially plumped for Common due to the bill colour, length and shape. I always like to see Terns bills b4 I make a guess. Trouble is though the t'other bits didn't seem to fit. Short legs, dark grey mantle and wings plus a greyish wash to the underparts pointed to Arctic and the bill was all red(ish). So we Vern, Mr T, Robbo, exBT Dave and I convinced ourselves it was thus an Arctic.
Unfortunately we over looked the primary projection beyond the shorter tail seen well later by Greg (who else). Its a Common Tern after all.
Just to the right of the Tern was the juvenile Med Gull thankfully a bit easier to ID...

below some video footage of the above, I must warn you the language is rather industrial (turn it up for a laugh)...

Nothing much else doing Patch wise apart from Gregsy getting worried his Patch World Record Year List (151) is in jeopardy from the Greg steam roller. 'My Precious' I fear will be Hartford bound just after Christmas, still theres always next year what!!

Insect wise I've been to busy working and Batting (the vampire sort not cricket) and all I've got to show for this past week is a nice Speckled Wood from up in Cumbria somewhere.

a distant shot of one of three Hobbys seen at Whixhall Moss in a failed attempt to get White-faced Darter (once again)...

and even more distant views of The Isle of Man from Cumbria...

ttfn

SCHOLES THE LEGEND

2011-08-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

The end of an era as Paul Scholes says fairwell to an illustrious playing career.

A full house of 77000 for a testimonial was just amazing.

Even King Eric (the only King by the way) and Pele were out shone by the midfield dynamo and what a goal he scored to kick off the 6-0 thrashing of New York Cosmos.

Fred the Red entertains the Stretford End

England's greatest ever midfielder does a lap of honour as he bids farewell to Old Trafford.

My god he will be missed.

QUALITY

A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE

2011-08-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

Was out in the Irish Sea last week doing a bit of surveying here's a few piccys and video of the trip.

Our cruise liner for the day the Halcyon Days with the survey lookout perched on top the wheel house.

In the lock watching the water level go down prior to entering the River Mersey below....

Burbo Bank Wind Farm just off the Wizzal coast.

Back in the lock as the water level rises we're dwarfed by the Irish Truck Ferry from Dublin.

Ornithologically we saw one Arctic Skua just off Hilbre Island, about 500+ Manx Shearwaters most sat on the sea in the mill pond like conditions. Lots of Guillemots many with youngsters a sign they've had a good breeding season. 100+ Gannets and Kittiwakes and one lone adult Little Gull. Add to that several close encounters with Grey Seals and three sightings of Harbour Porpoise made for a pleasant days
surveying.

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REDSTART AND END

2011-07-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

One week later and theres now TWO Redstarts on the Patch, both skulking in the scrub by Bund Hide like Pittas in a rain forest...unbelievable stuff. Well and truly nailed by one and all of the Patch regulars I would think. One of those Black ones now would be a great grip back for yours truly having missed last years blocker by several hours.
Been doing a fare few miles for the firm this past week and have managed to nip into a few sites on the way...

SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY somewhere near Stratford-upon-Avon

SMALL COPPER in Staffordshire

PEACOCK also Staffs

and at the weekend a really splendid Garden tick in the shape of a superb COMMA

feeding on our huge(ish) Buddlia along with LARGE WHITE and SMALL TORTOISESHELL

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THE FUTURES RED

2011-07-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Cor blimey mate these London Buses are moving in packs. Text arrives just as I'm in t'office (luckily)...REDSTART calling near Bund Hide. Its great having an understanding boss and one who keeps a Patch Life List as we join Greg (who else) and ex BT on the Bund footpath. A movement a flash of red and a vibrating tail and whap one rather young looking juvenile Redstart skulking in the shrubbery.

Thats my 2nd one (on the patch) actually but at the time I thought it was a Patch Lifer so high fives ensued all round. Amazing how such a drab commonish summer visitor can instill such joy but thats Patching!! folks.

Changing the location to Cumbria, I was once again over nighting in the delightful Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater and have been watching the progress of a pair of Spotty Flys which have nested right next to the beer garden entrance doorway...doh! Well glad to say they got at least three little Spotties to fledge successfully.

Two down one to go

Well done Mum

and Dad

The place is not just a beer and food mecca but the views are rather nice as well. Check this one out from the bath looking out the bathroom window...

shades of Mount Doom in Sumatra me thinks?

Halcyon days

and heres one of the Redstart that could easily be a Pitta sp!

Patch Pitta!!

PATCH YEAR LIST - 135

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LONDON BUSES

2011-07-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

You heard that saying...''London Buses''...wait for an age then three come along together. Well bugger me if the good old Patch hasn't just done a London Buses in July of all months. Started off Saturday with news that at fecking long last someones done a bit of trimming in front of one of the hides at Neumann's. Bund Hide to be exact and hey presto we all get a flippin year tick (well most of us low listers anyway)...

Trimmed better than a Brazilian Beaver, now all we need is a napalm strike on the reed bed in front of Scrapyard Hide and a muslim extremist with a dodgy waistcoat in the Old Hide (take the place out for good).
Scored with the family party of Water Rails (piccy yet to be acquired) from Bund Hide, where on earth have they been hiding. Then doubled the months patch year ticks with a grip back Hobby over the back of Haydn's Pool (well trimmed reed bed note!).

One of the very nicely coloured Blackwits showing well on Haydn's Pool.

The treble came up with a Grey Wagtail over on Kid Brook Spit on Budworth Mere surely the latest that I've ever had patch year list wise. Interestingly if we look at the stats...

134 on 18th July 2011

134 on 11th Sept 2010...grand total 144

134 on 13th May 2006...grand total 150 (2nd highest Patch Year List ever)

then theres still time and birds to be had before the fat lady sings. Clutching at straws I know but 'my precious' will not be given up lightly.

ttfn chaps

MORE CREEPY CRAWLIES

2011-07-16T04:04:00.000-07:00

Out surveying this week in deepest Lancashire and up in delightful Cumbria. Once again the weather was scorching at times and thus ideal for some more insecting.
To my surprise whilst at a top secret location somewhere in Lancashire I noticed a 'fritillary' flyby. Having never seen one of this type of butterfly before this year it just shows that with a bit of effort and getting your eye-in what can be achieved. Turns out it was a Dark Green Fritillary...not as rare as one thinks! missed it with the camera but got the supporting cast.

LARGE WHITE

COMMON BLUE

GREEN VEINED WHITE

SMALL TORTOISESHELL

Up in Cumbria on route home I nipped into a few likely places just on the off chance...

BLACK DARTER

Pair of AZURE DAMSELFLIES doing the business

COMMON DARTER female

thence it was back into Lancs and a first for me the butterfly mecca of the North...
Arnside Knott

and just before the rain came a quick twitch of said sites mega.

HIGH BROWN FRITILLARY real buggers to get a piccy of, as you get near they zap off into the tree canopy where I got the shot below as it went to roost.

can you see it?

DARK GREEN FRITILLARY

GATEKEEPER

and just one more not a butterfly or dragonfly but a moth. No I'm not going to start a moth list but the name of this little critter is rather cool...

MANCHESTER TREBLE-BAR MOTH

Its about time something avian happened what with all these Yank waders about and Greenshanks surely the Patch is due a goodie or two, so off out to find the blocker.

ttfn

HUMMER

2011-07-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Out and about this afternoon in deepest Staffordshire. Sat on a south westerly facing flower covered hillside surrounded by butterflies catching the sunshine and guess what I didn't take my camera...aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
So out came the mobile (Sony Ericsson Vivaz) but I have to say it was not upto the required standard for insect capturing but heres a couple that nearly came close...

COMMA

not a Butterfly but something even more awesome a HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH

(thats another insect list to start!!..well maybe)

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ANDERTON NATURE PARK

2011-07-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the insect theme I tried my hand at id'ing some of the specialities on show at the dragonfly pond at Anderton NP. Theres a very helpful info board that says the waters far too salty for fish so its great for breeding odonata. Well the salt must have gone cos the pond was loaded with fish...Chub i think? but still there was some action.

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY male

EMPEROR DRAGONFLY male

COMMON DARTER female (I think thats right)

FOUR-SPOTTED CHASER female

BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY male

The above certainly give one a challenge identification wise and getting a decent piccy which obviously helps with the id as you can pick up segment detail etc.

ttfn

INTER INSECTS

2011-07-02T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was up in Cumbria this week and couldn't resist the temptation to boost my Butterfly and Damselfly lists. Not that their anything to shout about anyway ( my insect lists) but with the weather being hot and sunny plus the time of year what better way to spend your lunch hour. Some of the little buggers are so difficult to id in flight that taking pictures is a must. Here's a few I got from various places.

SMALL HEATH

GRAYLING

RINGLET

DARK GREEN FRITILLARY

EMERALD DAMSELFLY female

AZURE DAMSELFLY female

SIX-SPOT BURNET (a moth i know but it was very obliging)

Thats your lot for now. Next installment will be a few Dragonflies etc from the Patch hopefully.

ttfn

BANANAS IN THE PARK

2011-06-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

Gregs latest attempt at 'stealthing' didn't seem to be working...

ANOTHER GOOD TERN

2011-06-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

Shock horror theres life in the old Patch year list yet. Having not added a new species since Spot Fly way back in May almost 7 weeks ago I managed to find 3 Common Tern bombing around the mere yesterday afternoon. Only a grip back but at least I'm still up there...just! Gregsy somehow has stealthed his way into second place even though he's spent more time overseas than patch bashing.
Down at Neumanns a quick on route to work look in had me finding a 3rd summer (I think) Yellow Legged Gull much to the gripping of Robbo who'd just birded the flash. Two finds and a patch year tick not a bad haul in 7 weeks!! roll on the return wader passage.

phonescoped record shot of yesterdays obliging Yellow legged Gull moulting its coverts yes

PATCH YEAR LIST - 131
TOTAL PYL - 145
SELF FOUND PYL - 111
GARDEN YL still not seen a Swift! - 48

ttfn

WHATS IT LIKE TO SEE A CROWD

2011-06-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

Bluenose fans were in shock yesterday as their Wastelands Stadium was for once almost full, unfortunately several coaches got stuck in traffic on the M62 so The Bell end let the day down.

TAKE THAT and party.

MADEIRA MAGIC (Part.2)

2011-06-19T03:46:00.000-07:00

Having dysoned the land lubbers we set sail and joined MadeiraWindBirds for three one day (2.30pm-9.30pm) consecutive ocean pelagics. We knew the boat was smallish but were quite surprised when we actually came face to face with it, moored in the marina where the Rock Sparrows were nesting.

''we need a bigger boat'' as Roy Scheider once famously said...

heading to a top secret location somewhere to the North East of Madeira as discovered by Israel's finest ...

The ploy used by WindBirds is to drop a chum bomb (frozen block of fish and whatever) at said location and as the chum melts we switch off the engines and float passed/along side the chum slick. At the end of the slick we power up and head back to the chum bomb and float passed again etc etc.
The chum slick works a treat and no sooner are we drifting when the first seabirds come in for a feast.

ZINO'S PETREL

The star of the show more tickable than a glimpsed shape on a foggy mountain top

FEA'S PETREL with a BULWER'S PETREL just in shot

CORY'S SHEARWATER with a BULWER'S and the chum bomb

life on the Ocean wave

MADEIRAN PETREL

BULWER'S PETREL with Madeira in the background

The team in action

BLUE SHARK eating the chum bomb...end of birding!

Bird of the trip...WHITE FACED STORM PETREL

Mission accomplished

Trip highlights (Pelagics)

Zino's Petrel 5

Fea's Petrel 9

Pterodroma sp 14

White faced Storm Petrel 1

Madeiran Petrel 2

Bulwer's Petrel 50+

Cory's Shearwater 200+

British Storm Petrel 6

Manx Shearwater 5+

Sabine's Gull 2

Great Skua 2

Arctic Tern 1

Common Tern 1

Lbb Gull 1

Yellow legged Gull 30+

BLUE SHARK 1

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE 2

ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN 5+

COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN 20+

MADEIRA MAGIC (Part.1)

2011-06-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Have just returned from a splendid six days birding holiday in Madeira. The aim to clear up on all the available Madeiran endemics both at land and at sea. I've split our adventure in to two parts, this first section detailing the islands land based birds.
First up and probably the most required bird to see and not Madeiran at all was the long staying 3rd for the WesternPal mega YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON, which gave it's self up in the morning post awesome firework show on the harbour front on the evening of my arrival in Madeira.

The moulting immature YC Night Heron showing well on the marina breakwater till some plonker flushed it...doh! it didn't fly far though honest.

With the heron safely bagged we turned our attention to the endemic land birds and headed up into the mountains. Note everywhere in Madeira is either up hill or down hill, nowhere is it flat except the airport runway. Get a hire car with a big engine and purchase some crampons this place is a Wainwright walkers paradise. Having negotiated our 100th hairpin bend we arrived at the Ribeiro Frio with its Laurel covered hillsides and walked (the level!!!) levada (drainage channel) to the Balcoes view point.

First the easy 'Madeiran' race of Chaffinch with its distinctive green mantle and pale pink breast. Surely a potential split even its call/song is different.

From the view point we scanned the valley of Faja da Nogueira and located two pigeons flying below us. Trocaz Pigeon duly added with several Plain Swifts above the forest around the rocky crags. On route back along the levada we heard and eventually found 5+ Madeiran Firecrests giving brief views as they zapped around in the trees, hence no piccies.

Diabolical record shot of a third Trocaz Pigeon seen by walking up the Faja da Nogueira below.

Having cleared up on the endemic land birds, all two of them we booked on the Zino's Petrel night expedition up the highest mountain Pico do Arieiro with Madeira Windbirds.
This bizarre trip started at our hotel in Machico where Hugo and Catarina picked us up in their minibus and drove up the mountain as night time fell. Arriving in the dark we disembarked onto the freezing, fog/cloud enshrouded car park and walked to the required 'viewpoint'. With the wind reaching gale force we lined up along the precarious mountain path to await the incoming petrels and drank tea!!.after what seemed like an age a haunting wail of a noise emanated from the rock face below us. It was a calling female Zino's Petrel sat on its nest in the cliff below. A male called in reply, higher pitched and out into the abyss below its wing beats could be heard as it neared the mountain top. One passed within feet of my face, a black mystical shape claimed by the local Shepherds to be the soul of a lost herdsman....spooky! A Manx Shearwater called from a nearby hillside to add to this altogether odd birding experience. And that was it, one more brief shape in the night and we left cold, wet and a little disappointed as the weather had scuppered our night. The forth coming pelagics would have to deliver the required positive ID tick, no shape shifters for me.

Next day we ventured eastwards to the Sau Lorenco Peninsular in search of a Macronesian endemic or two. In the car park a pipit could only be one thing here...Berthelot's Pipit a bird I'd seen many moons ago on Tenerife.

Not very appealing but a good trip tick non the less. We also had/heard various Macronesian endemic sub species of the following...Kestrel, Buzzard, Red legged Partridge, Goldfinch, Quail and Rock Dove. Down in the nearby marina on a volcanic rockface a pair of Rock Sparrows were nesting.

also around that well known Macronesian endemic thats synonymous with the Atlantic Islands the Canary showed well.

In the town where we were staying Machico some well vegetated gardens alongside the river provided some habitat for an introduced African species namely Common Waxbill that added some colour and interest to the small Madeiran bird list.

I also found an American vagrant unfortunately not of the ornithological variety but something that one or two of you might of seen on Scillies.

Monarch Butterfly a Madeiran visitor or resident ?
On the adjacent walls in the warm sunshine there were many Madeiran Wall Lizards basking.

and that's your lot for now. Will be blogging part 2 of Madeira Magic asap....

WHITE THROATED ROBIN...OML!

2011-06-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

We're sat around the hotel bar in the evening feeling glad all over as we've just been out on a Madeiran Pelagic care of MadeiraWindBirds and celebrating our good fortune with a few beers...Zino's Petrel, Fea's Petrel, White-faced Storm Petrel and hordes of Bulwer's and Cory's Shearwaters.
''wonder whats in the UK''...(it is June no less) a brief search on the web provides the answer and immediately the evening celebrations are in tatters...
WHITE THROATED ROBIN....you must be joking!!!!...aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

''its never gonna stay''
''Spring one dayer, surely?''

as we align our prayer mats to face East we realise our seawatching holiday has just had its heart ripped out...''the feckin jammy bastards''...

but all is not lost, we continue our pelagic quest and rack up Madeiran Petrel plus the Madeiran island endemics Trocaz Pigeon and Madeiran Firecrest and to add a bit of grip back value the long staying 3rd for WesternPal...
YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON (take that and party)

The team return back to Britain some booking earlier flights in a desperate attempt to connect with the Hartlepool blocker...............

nothing doing in the Doctor's garden...

or the allotments where it was first trapped but wait a call from Comberbach's finest, running Birders!! its been relocated. I grab our borrowed ladder throw it under Gregsy's car and run to the bowling green just in time to see the WHITE TROATED ROBIN land by the roses...

wow!!!! what a crackin bird and what a grip back. High fives all round.

the admiring hordes quench their listing thirsts on this tick for all MEGA!! I manage to get some film footage as it performs (almost shows off) on the Bowling Green fence...

oh look who's that stealthing for a better image?...

its non other than bluenose himself....

it was with much smugness that I relpied to all the Monday texts...sorted! what a close call...phew!!

CRUMMOCK WARBLER

2011-05-31T14:12:00.000-07:00

Some mostly Southerners I bet, say its grim up North. Well feast your eyes on this splendid vista my friends what an awesome view and rather nice piccy if I say so myself. Standing on the North end shore of Crummock Water, Cumbria looking south towards the lofty peaks of Red Pike and High Stile (couple more Wainwrights for the Gregsy's to climb) this could be coming to a 2012 calender near you soon.

Main reason I was here (in between surveys honest boss) was to year tick that getting most elusive warbler...namely Wood Warbler. And I did so with relative ease seeing and hearing one by the footpath to the lake plus another trilling nearby.

Coming to the end of May now and the year list is falling way behind pack leaders (sorry u don't count Dan) Doc and Robbo, who seem to be dysoning every new migrant/rarity etc with consummate ease. So what better way to cheer myself up than with a visit to a local Cumbrian hostelry just down the road from Crummock at Loweswater. The Kirkstile Inn (nothing to do with Starship Enterprise captains by the way) provided the necessary liquid pick me up...

Bit of an odd picture actually if you're a Real Ale fan you'd suss it immediately.

Beer in the glass is actually Grasmoor Dark Ale and not Loweswater Gold which of course is a golden brown colour to be sure. Bloody nice pint though in a crackin pub with delightful food...whats that about a year list?

On the way home next day I passed this sign on the M6

TTFN

N...N...N...N...N...NINETEEN!!

2011-05-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

NOW THATS COOL

DUFF BUFF

2011-05-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well at least one bindipper has his uses as Frank id's a dudes mysterious wader on No.6 tank at Frodders.
Turns out its a stonkin BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER...nice one!
The Comberbach Cabbie (aka Malc) picks me up and off we race to join Cheshire's finest, gathering in the pouring rain on the track over looking No.6 tank. Pleasantries are exchanged between the supporters of UNITED and the followers of Everton's neighbours in the form of some outrageous hand gestures, much to the bemusement of the gathered throng. Trying to hold up 19 fingers whilst driving the bumpy track proved most difficult. The Buffy showed well (ish) on the mud below the bank, flying several times but returning with its associated wader flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

the best I could achieve with a wet scope and driving rain.
Thats my 3rd Buffy in Cheshire. First one way back in Aug 1981 also Frodders. Then having just been on Scillies Oct 1983 where I had three together on St.Mary's golf course, I returned home went down to the ICI tank at Frodders and duly found another.

Taken using a Pentax ME Super camera with a Sigma 600mm f8 mirror lens, those were the days.
For the sake of completeness its my 14th in the UK and 5th in the NW...now for a Patch one please!

19 THATS 19 USB

2011-05-15T00:35:00.000-07:00

LEGENDS UNITED

MAY DAZE

2011-05-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Whilst rumaging around in Big Wood for Greg's Spotty Fly I came across another thus saving ages of neck breaking searching . My next Spot Fly (on the patch) will probably be this time next year in Big Wood again...funny old game this year listing.
Out and about this past week up in deepest Cumbria so called in at Bassenthwaite for the 'regular' RSVP Ospreys. Once I'd climbed (surely a Gregsy Wainwright walk) upto the required viewpoint one of the watchers informed me ''oh you can'y see the Ospreys from here'' !! what? ''they've built a new nest somewhere else''...

well I did a bit of stealthing and hey presto one nest, incredibly viewed from the nearby main road past the lake...sshhhhh!

the male Osprey phonescoped hence the poor quality but hey its free

Next day its over to YoOORRRRrkshire!!! and to the sound of twangging banjos...d d ding ding ding ding ding ...ding ding! to carryout a breeding bird survey. Bizarrely I found this wee chap...

Young Ozzy (new breeding species for Yorkshire what)

Sunset over Neumann's

PATCH YEAR LIST - 130

SQUEAKY BUM TIME FOR GREGSY

2011-05-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

Since my last patch score update things have gone ballistic. As you would expect for the end of April/beginning of May period birds are flooding in helped by the exceptional flow of Southerly/Easterly air and warm weather from the continent.
Taking the Patch Total List it went sort of like this...

22 April....no.130 BLACK TERN on the mere, don't know who actually found it.
26 April....no.131 SMEW a bloody Smew (patch lifer) in April and I'm stuck up a jock mountain plus the years second WHINCHAT.
29 April....no.132 ARCTIC TERN predicted and gripped, a one day jobby
30 April.... a truly awesome day that will live in patch folklore forever with patchers running everywhere mostly to Neumann's. first up AVOCET (2) then a HOBBY and then a LITTLE GULL. Out on the bike later I found a summer plum GREY PLOVER that for once stayed long enough for most to twitch it (bugger!!) and several SWIFTS.
1 May....another MARSH HARRIER (patch lifer) and I dipped by minutes, Gregs second of the year!
2 May....no.138 WOOD SANDPIPER Gregsy only, most probably the Moss Side bird I'd old patch ticked the previous day...

3 May....no.139 RED BREASTED MERGANSER found by yours truly, a tricky female (called it right just for Fred) on the mere.

6 May....no.140 SANDERLING and not as DudeGuides reported a Little Stint!!!
7 May....no.141 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER back in Big Wood

Most of the above found by Greg, who seems to be on a mission to break Gregsy's Patch World Record (151) and get his hands on the new trophy (my precious). In 2006 on May 7th my year list was on 130 (finished on 150) and last year I was on a paltry 114 but rallied due to superb year long coverage by the locals to finish on 144. Stats wise its looking good for a record, hopefully I'll catch the blighter up (Greg on 134 and stealthing Dave on 131?) and take it into the Christmas/New Year holiday period but as they say ''its a funny old game''.

PATCH YEAR LIST - 129 thats 91.5% of total
Since Whimbrel I've added...
120....Garden Warbler
121....Greenshank
122....Arctic Tern
123....Avocet
124....Swift
125....Ringed Plover
126....Little Gull
127....Grey Plover
128....RBM
129....Sanderling

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MAMMAL MAGIC

2011-05-06T03:34:00.000-07:00

Following on from my epic two peak triumph, the backup team (Debs and pooch Mia) and I headed further Northwest to Ross-shire and the scenically stunning area of Loch Torridon. Staying at the delightful Ardlair Guest House for two nights we experienced some awesome happenings.

Firstly the most wonderful (sorry Mum) scones I have ever eaten whilst sat admiring the view...

Secondly the nightly comings and goings of the local Pine Martins...

please excuse the poor footage but we had to keep the kitchen lights on as Mrs MacDonald had no spot light outside unfortunately. So theres lots of odd reflections in the window. Big buggers aren't they the Pine Martins that is.

Third on the list of goodies was a most obliging Otter that gave awesome views to us on the edge of Loch Torridon whilst it caught then ate crabs sat out on the rocks. Twice it performed and on both occasions I was cameraless bummer!

Looking back towards the village of Torridon below the big mountain, part of Beinn Eighe National Park home to Golden Eagles, Ptarmigan and Dotterel none of which we had a sniff off.

Moving as far west as you can go on mainland Jockland you'll come to the famous Inn at Applecross.

home to a delightful Real Ale...

out in the pub garden with a view across to the Isle of Skye (not the bit in the back ground its further left out of shot), Debs waits (red flag) for the best fish and chips north of the border to arrive.

Thats all for now folks next post will be a Patch update and my god has it been busy. (too busy almost to be blogging). Missed a Smew aaahhhhhhhh!! and another Whinchat whilst up here.

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BEN NEVIS OR BUST

2011-05-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

It was with daunting excitement (or was that dread) that we set off on our ascent of the UK's highest mountain. After scaling Scafell Pike yesterday I was surprisingly feeling non the worse for my exursions and stocked up with extra energy bars confident I could bag the big bugger.

100m from the summit, I'm in a cloud wet freezing trudging through snow but the ends in sight.
Its taken me 2.5hrs an hour longer than up Scafell Pike with the same bloody outcome at the top...viewless. A quick photo session, turn round and head back asap.

Passing Mr Fit (still coming up) and the two mini huskies then Jane further down I broke the cloud layer after two hours descent my legs now aching in places I never had places. Another hour and I reached base camp by Ben Nevis Visitor Centre where Debs whisked me off for a hot bath and hot chocolate...saved!

Thats my climbing career over with (sod your Wainwrights and Monroe bagging) think I'll stick to birding and beer tasting.

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THATS MY NEWT...

2011-04-30T04:39:00.000-07:00

Just prior to the big climb I was over in deepest Wales on the search for Newts and other such amphibians. We managed to catch and photo several see below...

female Smooth Newt

male Smooth Newt

male Palmate Newt

Leech...yuk!!

just hanging around

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LONG WAY FOR A ROUZEL

2011-04-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

As some of you I hope read (and acted upon) my earlier post on Gregsy's 3 Peaks Challenge well the day came and up we went. Leaving the comfort and ridiculously posh breakfast of The Wasdale Head Inn our team - Gregsy, Jane his misses, Wilf and Phoebe their canine mini huskies and I headed upwards towards Scafell Pike.

The lump in the middle is Scafell Pike, our route to base camp 1 is via the gully centre piccy. To say it was easy would be boasting but 5 minutes after Mr Fit himself summited (mountain climbing term for reaching the top bit) I wandered up and sat down to eat my energy bars, much to his amazement.
1 hr 35 mins if anyones counting, not bad for a rather unfit, slightly over weight balding beer drinker.

Scafell Pike Summit team Wilf, Gregsy and Pod (Phoebes out of shot eating other climbers butties and Janes still en route)...Sir Edmond would of been proud. Thats the first (and last) time I'll be conquering England's highest mountain me thinks. Now for the jock biggy.
ps. managed to see a male Rouzel on the descent, ruddy hard work for a year tick what!

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HAYDN'S GARGANEY

2011-04-22T04:23:00.000-07:00

Haydn's Pools latest innovation to keep the reeds down, so we can all see the splendid array of ornithological goodies that its attracting at present. Thursday and the predicted Garganey (pair) turned up to delight the swarm of local patchers most of whom had dipped the earlier Whinchat found by Vern and Mark including yours truly (rats).

Bank Holiday Friday and everyones out patch bashing apart from Gregsy who's probably half way up Snowdon on his epic Three Peaks Climb.
Malc comes up trumps and finds the years first Lesser Whitethroat in song/calling by the pipe bridge gorge, we all troop over and whap it on. Walking back round Neumann's a quick glimpse from Bund Hide and I grip back Whimbrel. Two birds fresh in en route to Scotland where I'll be in a few days climbing Ben Nevis (oh great!). Just packing the suitcase now with Black Terns coming in from the East...cest la vie.

PATCH YEAR LIST - 119 of 129 total

CUCKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

2011-04-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived with the Patch's first Cuckoo of the year and what a showy bugger it was. Heard, seen and photographed now that's what I call a year tick. Crossing 'Uplands' (part of Anderton CP) en route to Gregsy's Cuckoo I heard 3 Groppers, all fresh in and reeling their socks off. Also new for the year for me anyway was an obliging Sedge Warbler on Neumann's...

who you lookin at?

Surprisingly nothing else of note was discovered probably due to everybody rushing round like they do on Scillies ticking/mopping up other Birders finds and not actually looking for owt else (or is that me being cynical). The day did have that feel about it like there was something lurking just round the next bend of the path.

A sort of half hearted daylist produced 61 species and I never ventured into Marbury CP (bloody kid fest plus Eastern Bloc exiles having barbeques in the woods and the Great Budworth armada was on the mere..so I was informed)...nice weather though!

A solitary (careful now) tick for the ailing Garden list came in the form of a very vocal Song Thrush..

and that's about it for the weekend, one in which the BlueNoses of Mancunia seem to be celebrating the fact they've already won something...mmmmm come on u POTTERS!!!

Jesus I've got a bitter taste in my mouth and its not blue.

Scores on the doors...

PATCH YEAR LIST - 116 of 124 total

the missed/not yet gripped jobbies - Marsh Harrier (fat chance), Red Kite (maybe), Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, Merlin (more chance of seeing Harry Potter), Barnacle (usually gives himself up), Whimbrel, and Greenshank

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GREGSY'S THREE PEAK CHALLENGE

2011-04-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

My good friend and fellow patcher John Gregory is doing a sponsored 3 Peaks Challenge (Snowdon, Sca Fell and Ben Nevis) this coming April Bank Holiday in aid of the Oriental Bird Clubs fight to save the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

PLEASE sponsor him via this link...Gregsy's 3 Peak Challenge.

Thanks for your support.

EARLY BIRDS...

2011-04-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

Seems like everybodys saying Spring has sprung early this year but on checking through my Birder's Diary earliest dates for the Patch not really. Only Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler have been earliest records for me so far. Does of course depend sometimes on when, where and who is finding the stuff and if its Friday then one would usually wait till the weekend to go and whap it on.
Since I last blogged I've added Barn Owl, Blackwit, Yellow Wagtail and Reed Warbler.

The only Spring migrant I keep getting close to for piccies is Willow Warbler so here's some more shots...

I'll not give up the day job just yet!

now if I took this in October on Scillies mmmmm?...

PATCH YEAR LIST - 111 (hop, skip and a jump as Mr Shepherd used todo)

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GAME ON...

2011-04-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

April on the Patch and the ante has been up'd already. Greg finds a fly through Marsh Harrier!!! I reply with a grip back Yellowhammer. A text from the leader '' good 2 c ur keeping up ''....
RED RAG TO A BULL moment me thinks.

Spring jobbies now flooding in, especially down south with Hoopoes, Red rump Swallows, Alpine Swifts etc all over the place. Theres also a Red-flanked Bluetail !!!!!

We get...

a White Wagtail on No.1 thats not year tickable (Patch wise) and a singing Willow Warbler...

still onwards and upwards let the battle continue and every birder for himself (but please keep the info texts coming).

PATCH YEAR LIST - 107 of total 114

A FEW BITS AND BOBS...

2011-04-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

Harnser by the Mere (Pod gets arty).

Couple of days down in deepest Wales this week and typically I didn't take my camera cos Metcheck predicted naff weather especially overcast skies. So what happens I find a pair of Mandarin that show there t*ts off and even better a stop at the roadside to scan for Goshawk and theres a pair of Xbills performing like Yanky waders on St.Mary's Golf Course (no Gos though).

A phone-binned piccy of a nice drake Mandarin at a secret location in deepest Wales. With not much to do in the evening one had to partake in several of the local brews (well it would be rude not to)...
first up a canine tasting hair of the dog cider

and to see me to sleep a cracker from Cardiff Brewey Brains...

and may your god go with you.

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'' WHERE'S THE SOAP? ''...

2011-03-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

...''YES IT DOES''

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HIGH TIDE TICK FEST...

2011-03-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

I was over Southport way t'other day having a spot of lunch in between surveys and just happened to time it right with a mega high Spring tide. Up at the Crossens Marsh end looking over towards Blackpool way the salt marsh was gradually disappearing before our eyes under the encroaching Irish sea. Thousands of waders, ducks and geese were moving ever closer inland then taking flight to move onto Marsh side RSVP reserve and safety.
Several thousand Pinkies were still around (birds I've probably seen ten times over this winter) and in amongst them a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Barnacles and a rather obliging (thank heavens) Tundra Bean Goose.

spot the Bean Goose

a highly cropped shitty image of a rather good bird for the Southport local patchers.

Out on the flooded salt marsh a Ring-tail Hen Harrier, fem Merlin and male Peregrine were having a field day munching on the washed out voles and stuff.

Just down the road and across from the free car park by the sand plant another good value duck was performing well to the gathered masses...a 1st winter drake Lesser Scaup no less.

formation duck display team Junction Pool, Marshside RSVP

back to work...

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GROT GOOSE...

2011-03-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

If you've been down to the mere (Budworth Mere, Cheshire) this weekend you've probably seen and/or heard the latest addition to the growing list of 'Grot Geese' that we seem to be attracting...

searching tinternet it appears this 'thing' is whats known as a Steinbacher Goose...a cross between German domestic Greylag types and a Chinese Goose...looks like its done one over the gulag fence and ended up on Budworth Mere, honking away in a Germanic Chinese accent...lovely what!

On a more positive note i:e my Local Patch List, I've now moved up into 1st place (until Greg gets back off holiday) and gripped back Jack Snipe (Ashton's Flash) on my 6th attempt...nice! and with the returning Redshank pair and a plethora of Chiffchaffs I'm two away from 100. Looking good Podster...careful dear chap remember the diabolical Black Redstart dip of last year. The hundred up (individually) before the end of March now thats a dam fine Local Patch me thinks. Bring it on....

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FISHERKING RETURNS...

2011-03-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Down on the local patch (thats Marbury Country Park/Neumann's and Ashton's Flashes and Anderton CP plus everywhere inbetween...if you didn't know already) things are hotting up nicely, the weather for one, the Year List Challenge (Patch and Garden) and the birds. We've already passed the 100 mark without any Spring migrants being added to the total, which currently stands at 104. Of the Spring jobbies to arrive theres been Chiffy 4+ and a good size flock of Sand Martins 26+.
Some winter stuff is still knocking about, 'Boris' the Bittern shows really well most days especially when you're not looking for him. A great selection of wildfowl most recent addition two drake Common Scoters (guess who?) and 'Barney' the Barnacle made an appearance yesterday just when I was away in deepest Mid-Wales Red Kite counting.
A welcome sight was the Kingfisher showing awesomely well from Bittern Hide this afternoon. The harsh winter hasn't been kind to them and I've yet to see two together.

Both above phone scoped hence the shaking video and rather vignetted piccy. (how many cameras have you got Pod!).

From further afield I managed to catch up with one of the Snow Buntings at Kinmel Bay...not that I'm doing a year list that is but I'll try and give Doc and Robbo a run for their money (Irelands in the UK is it not?)

PATCH YEAR LIST - 96

UK (not Ireland) - 163

GARDEN - 38

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PADDY SCOTER TWITCH...

2011-03-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Nipped over to the Emerald Isle on Saturday with the 'A' Star team (Gregs and Sooty) for a Euro Twitch.
With reports of the 'White-winged Scoter' being relocated/sussed out/positively re-ID'd etc by some English upstarts, news soon spread of the bird in question being a full blown Scoter with white wings of the sub species.. STEJNEGER'S SCOTER...soon to be (or is in some taxa lists) a tick in its own right.
With a name like that and the fact its a world tick no umms and ahs just get that ruddy flight booked...so we did.

So off we set on our Paddy Tour (no photoshop required, its a real bus...priceless)

the team arrive at Rossbeigh on the West coast of Ireland where the 'Ring of Kerry' starts

the truth is out there (as they say in the X-files)...

What follows is true honest. We arrived at the beach theres two Irish birders watching the Stejneger's Scoter and we get distant but very tickable views through a selection of top optical hardware, thanks to their precise directions. Cheers fellas.
Realizing the 'A' Star team have scored said mega joins up with three Common Scoters and flies further out into the bay (bloody miles away actually)...queue the Bagnall bus and his lordship aka the IQ40 club overlord himself, fresh off the plane from Stansted to Kerry...
'' wheres the Scoter ''?
'' gone out to sea 2 minutes ago, good luck chaps''...we depart and head up the coast grinning like the Cheshire Cats we are.

Five miles along 'Kerry's Ring' and theres a view point looking over Castlemaine Bay with its scattered flock
of 2000+ Common Scoter, 50+ Great Northern Divers, 25+ Red Throats and loads of auks but no Stejneger's to be seen. Ignoring the look for the Yanky duck I do a bit of mammal spotting and find a cracking Otter swimming just below where we are viewing...

actually it could be the Castlemaine Bay monster!!

With nothing else to see we head off in the direction of Cobh near Cork for the House Crow picking up a chatty Yorkshire birder who's next door neighbour to Ian Botham no less.

At Cobh pier...

rats wrong flavour...

oh bugger! wrong flavour again...

We wander round this very European town in search of the ship assisted House Crow but its done one for the day. Never mind no doubt we'll be back in the Autumn.

The pier or whats left of it where the Lusitania tied up the day before it was torpedoed. On it sat this beast of a Great black-backed Gull...

Down the road we got some hot local gen and soon were watching yet more gulls of a predictable Irish nature at Cuskinny Local Nature Reserve.

2nd winter Iceland Gull and ad.winter Ring-billed Gull (ad Common Gull on the left)

same Iceland Gull with an ad.winter Med Gull.

Job done what better way to end the day than some Irish Black Gold

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POLLY...NOT...GONE!

2011-03-11T02:33:00.000-08:00

Having nipped into Blackpool to dip on Ring-necked Duck I was reminded of another 'ringed-necked' bird just down the road. So dodging the coffin carriers and mourners at Lytham Crematorium I sneaked round the various headstones listening for the tell tale raucous call of the resident green parrots...

4 Ring-necked Parakeets showing rather well in the righthandside trees by the golf course...sorted!

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WEEKEND WANDERINGS...

2011-03-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

Oh I wonder where the Podster went this weekend...NOT!! just could not resist the lure of a really good 'gull' are you having me on dear chap or what?...no honest this one is what it says on the tin a cracking, showing well full monty...BONAPARTE'S GULL and not a bloody tip or bunch of Bagnallers to be seen anywhere...nice!

The first one I've seen in 15 years (my fourth in the UK and 2nd in the North West) a good value year tick thats apparently in its 3rd returning year. Lets hope it does a New Brighton Iceland Gull.

Now theres a tester for a photo ID competition what.
Well seeing as I was so close to the Big Rock otherwise known as South Stack it would have been rude not to have paid a visit. At the T junction where you turn right and go up the hill to the 'Stack' (land of Black Larks etc) in the field to the right a pair of Chough doing what corvids do...

and in the field to the left one now resident so it seems Hoodie Crow plus a Stonechat for good measure.

At the end of the world or Worlds End cos after you've driven there it does'nt half feel like that, a wee southern esk skulking Sylvia warbler has taken up residence. With Black and Red Grouse plus Great Grey Shrike and flocks of Crossbill on show this part of North Wales was certainly pulling in the crowds.
Got some s**t piccys of the 'Dartford' Warbler, one of which really had me scratching my balding pate some what...see what you think??

Is it me or are those big white moustache's...don't get me wrong I'm not dissing the Dartford but my it does have a look of Subalpine about it what? ps piccy not photoshoped in anyway just enlarged a bit.

Today (Tuesday) I was out on the Lancs mosses doing a bit of survey work and watched the sun rise...

Down on the farmland this immature Kestrel was just waking up and allowed a close approach (no big lenses for me).

On Downholland Moss I found a huge flock of Chaffinch (200+) rummaging about the stubble. Associated with this mini Quela like mass were 20+ Corn Buntings, that getting rare to see farmland specialist.

thats all for now folks so chin up my fellow Reds fans all is not lost, keep the faith and we shall prevail...19 is on the cards and what price another treble...

Darty was actually a North West Region ( the old Birdline - North Wales, Cheshire, Lancs, Cumbria...Northwest area) tick...no.316 (I think it needs a bit of a Spring clean)

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RAVE...ON...

2011-03-05T04:22:00.000-08:00

Mere side path this morning was awash with bird spotters out to get a glimpse of our star resident female Lesser Pecker, looks like the news has filtered through to the masses. Two more Lessers were calling in Big Wood so be prepared for hordes on Sunday.

Out on the mere we still have a great selection of ducks with Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufty, Wigeon and a couple of Goldeneye.

From Bittern Hide yesterday evening 'Boris' was seen skulking in the reeds, hopefully he'll get stuck in with t'other one present and we'll have a breeding pair. That'll then get the RSVP interested and we can then ban fishing, sailing, snorkeling etc...bring it on (getting more grumpy old man as the years go by what).

Spot the Bittern (he's called Boris not Spot by the way)

The Grey Herons this time of year in fact anytime of the year are rather obliging, giving one a decent chance of a nice piccy or two.

Our resident pair of Ravens are gearing up for another breeding season with the male quite vocal at the mo.

Still not sure that Spring has or is about to sprung as today it was decidedly chilly if not dam right freezing. Don't put the thermals away just yet me thinks. Two weeks though and we'll be watching Sand Martins on the mere yippee!

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OUT AND ABOUT...

2011-03-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

Been out and about with the artillery in tow. Got this piccy of an inquisitive Robin whilst waiting for the no show Lesser Pecker at Marbury, which I've seen twice but never through the camera lens. Up in the regular 'pecker tree' were this pair of Wood Duck...bizarre!

Parked up at a secret location in Lancs (I was out surveying) had this albino Stoat running about. Brown headed, white bodied with a jet black tail, cool mammal what? a real bugger to get a good piccy of though.

Down at Downholland Moss the Pinkies are still about, most though have started to move North now Spring is on the way.

a bit closer me thinks...

Over at Birchwood Pool on Moore Reserve (not a rare gull in sight...typical!) this Pochard was camera shy.

very camera shy...

The view from the West Hide at Pumphouse Pool...no sign of the 'regular' Glucose Gull

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OLD STOMPER UPGRADE...

2011-02-20T02:06:00.000-08:00

News filtered my way as it does now and then of a rather decent duck showing rather well down the old stomping patch of Moss Side (no not that one in Mancunia)...a 1st winter male COMMON SCOTER

no dork I said Scoter not Scooter...

oh you mean the Germanic Techno wizards...NO NO! ...Scoter...one 0 not two

very funny ha ha!.............SCOTER..........DUDE!!

Thats more like it although the piccy does not do it justice (rain, wind, crap light, etc).

Showing from Halfway House on the Manchester Ship Canal, Moore Patcher will be well gripped off.

Last one and only other one for that matter (down Moss Side) was way back in the days when I birded from my bike...06 Sept 1982 on the pools by the swing bridge (just off patch) hence the upgrade.

MOSS SIDE LIFE LIST - 148 (yes I know needs some work)

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RETURN OF THE TREBLE C's

2011-02-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

As the saying goes ''you can't keep a good man down'' and just like Take That (the return) the 2005 British Year Listing phenomenon known as the Comberbach Casuals Club (CCC's) regrouped on Thursday 17th for a most memorable twitch. We were joined by Ellesmere Ports finest Big Al who with Doc, Malc and I set off in the wee hours heading south to the home town of Top Gear stalwart Mr Clarkson namely Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire...ok ya!
Easily locating the stakeout house at dawn we wondered whether the owner would open up and let us in to view the now sacred back garden. Time went by and the curtains remained firmly closed, so as birders do Big Al and I wandered off to find our target bird. Searching various nearby back passages!! and gardens nothing showed except the local Collared Doves and Woodies.
Then shock horror, looking back at the house (no.41) the queue of patient birders outside was gone!!! sherbert frosties!!! fergal sharkey!!! run.....
Reaching the front door (curtains now open) all that remained of the twenty or so birders waiting outside was a pile of shoes and boots in the front garden. Had some alien vapourised them with a laser or what? no their gripping us off inside...rats bottom!
A birder came out (no he wasn't gay) with that smug look on his face, we knew then our walkabout could cost us dear. '' its showing well in the back garden, shoes off and get in there '' said smuggy face.
Al and I entered the kitchen to find about twenty birders huddled in front of the patio windows bins raised, cameras clicking grinning like Cheshire cats Malc and Doc at the front. The owner took our £5 donation to his holiday fund? whilst his wife made toast and coffee (not for us I may add). Raising my bins I looked at the rusty backed feathery blob sat in the hedge and instantly they steamed up. With now twenty four plus people in the kitchen the toaster and kettle going full pelt the room was almost tropical no wonder my bins steamed up...feck! and double feck! A couple of birders moved out and I quickly moved in closer cleaned my steamed up lenses and hey presto superb views of one..
ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE still thank god perched up in the hedge 20 feet away.
Shaking the owners hand (I was also tempted to kiss his wife but sense prevailed luckily for her) I thanked him and exited stage right now smug faced too. Outside I collared Chris Gooddie author of the greatest book ever on birding namely The Jewel Hunter and thrust my camera into his most capable hands instructing him to record said occasion (thanx Chris).

With the first mega of the day nicely under our belts we pointed the Comberbach Chugabug in the direction of Londinium and headed east for our second vigil at Rainham Tip, oh the joys of birding what?
I should point out here for Stattos looking on that I've already whapped on Oriental Turtle Dove up at Stromness on Orkney in 2002 but the Chipping Norton bird is a different race and in England so insurance is the name of the game for me. Malc, Doc and Al on the other hand can get out the red pen once home...tarts!

We sped east along the M40 day ticking numerous Red Kites and joined the M25 pre-work rush hour not a good move but somehow we arrived just over two hours and a wee stop later at Rainham. The skies were grey, visibility naff and the wind rather chilly just like up north eh!. We made our way along the cycle track that borders Rainham Tip home to some 5000+ gulls of various species and subspecies...oh what joy. As previous we lined up with about fifty other hopefuls and started to scan the detritus of East London.
Time passed and nothing of note not even a rumour was forthcoming but then it happened....
a mobile rang, a shout went up, birders started running...''its on Werrington Marsh now''...run (thats twice today). Headless chicken mode then ensued as birders ran, walked fast (me), stumbled etc their way 500yds or so to an elevated section of the cycle track overlooking Werrington Marsh just west of Rainham RSPB reserve. More panic as scopes were focused on a group of loafing distant gulls...
'' anyone got it ''...'' directions please ''...'' which one is it ''...'' where the feck ''
the gulls took flight '' shit no ''...'' oh bugger '' but several remained one luckily our target bird whap and oml

one pristine huge mother of a gull... SLATY BACKED GULL in all its splendour (for a gull).
Still some 'birders' couldn't get on the boy, one dork named Gary (guess who) was running around shouting ''who's got my scope''...rats arse a quality YouTube moment missed.

T'other gulls returned and the flock settled back down, Slaty sat down and had a preen. Job done. Two Asian megas in the bag before noon the CCC'S are back.
Home chugabug.

Got home and checked the list software and guess what its a flippin WORLD TICK no less.
WORLD - 2826
WESTERNPAL - 675
UK+IRE+IOM - 511
BRITAIN - 502
ENGLAND - 471

GRIP BACK...

2011-02-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning quick in and out down by the Boat Club pre-work finds me gripping back Brambling (2m+1f) . Showing rather well giving me a chance for a few piccys and video via the phone. Having now gripped back Ruddy Duck and Pintail I'm up with the leading pack just! its gonna be an interesting year.

ttfn

EAST COAST HOOVER...WELL NEARLY

2011-02-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

As Brucey would say ''good game...good game'', lets play spot the Shorelark. Theres at least one there somewhere honest! This could be the worst photo I've ever taken.

Got an invite over to Stukey(Stiffkey) for the weekend (cheers J and J), so packed the wife and doggy in the car and of we ventured eastwards. Dawn found us (good girl) wandering the coast in search of Rough-legged Buteos and geese, oh yes just when you thought Pod could not get enough in Lancashire he's filling his boots over in wind blown Norfolk. First up the c.150 Euro White-fronted Geese at Holkham Fresh Marsh with a stray!!! Barnacle attached (see its not just Marbury that gets'em) Thence onwards to Ticwell and its new super duper space age hide.

Bit naff inside what with its wind down shutters (glass) and twirly seats. No bog! but some curious local stone effect walls just right for having a slash behind (not that I did honest!)
There was a decent bird on show but try as I might the ruddy wind and light were both awful, so a blurry shot was all I managed of the wintering Water Pipit. At least you can see the crucial ID features on it.

Nearby this cracking winter plum Spotty Red was most obliging.

Scored some nice year ticks (not that I'm year listing heaven forbid)...
Rough legged Buzzard at Holkham marsh
Velvet Scoter off Ticwell
Ross's Goose!!! near Burnham Norton
Yank Wigeon off the East Bank, Cley
an English...Northern Harrier from Ticwell
thats all for now folks...ttfn

NOT QUITE THERE YET?...

2011-02-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

RED KITE mid Wales

Wing tagged RED KITE (does that make it plastic?)

RED KITE looking at me looking at him.

Lesser Black-backed Gull adult winter race intermedius (I think?)

on Ainsdale beach.

Lesser Black-backed Gull ad.winter race graellsii (I think?) also on Ainsdale Beach.
Just a bit of practice pre possible Essex Slaty Gull twitch...yawn!

ttfn

BIZARRE BITTERN...

2011-01-31T10:46:00.000-08:00

Found this reed bed dwelling fellow 15 feet up a tree in Coward's Wood this afternoon...a most bizarre sight, letter to British Birds me thinks. Please excuse the naff piccy but as usual I didn't have any of my cameras with me so its a phone scope jobby. I was actually twitching the male Defra Duck found earlier by Greg (does this man have a job?), a nice grip back on the leading pack. The 4 Pinkfeet were also back with the Canada flock in the Kidbrook fields then later on the mere itself. Still a good selection of wildfowl on Bud mere with Greylag, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Tufty, Pochard , Goldeneye and Shelduck all in good numbers ish. February tomorrow so its eyes peeled for Scaup and Pintail (grip back) plus ears cleaned for that calling Lesser Spot.
Virtually thrown in the proverbial towel already for the 2011 Garden Year List what with flocks of Goosander buzzing Sooty's estate down in Staffs and the taxi man hoarding every finch in Comberbach god knows how I'm gonna get some garden ticks to me self. Still alls fun in love and listing what?

GO FLY A KITE...OR TWO!

2011-01-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

Down in Mid Wales today and still trying to get a decent Red Kite piccy. The buggers just won't keep still but with ppp...patience and perseverance it just might pay-off. Great to be out and about though despite the 0'c windchill factor.

Found this Bearded-Reed Bunting nearby a new rare Welsh subspecies or it was in disguise but forgot the spectacles.

YEAR LIST CHAMPION...AGAIN!

2011-01-22T04:49:00.001-08:00

Not one for blowing my own trumpet (loud cough in the background) but as posted by my good friend Gregsy on the Focalpoint website the piccies of the 2010 etc Patch Year List Trophy Awards show I'm rather chuffed. Having fought off the opposition last year just at the death (cheers Dave) its going to be a tough year holding on to such a fine trophy...something that the local City fans at the bar in The Spinner have never seen for 34+ years (my were they envious)

Lets hope the birds keep a coming as per last year and just maybe a new World Record might be achieved. As for the garden list well the spoons got my name on it me thinks?

THE WEEK THAT WAS...

2011-01-22T02:25:00.000-08:00

The hugely underwatched potentially awesome pools complex by the River Mersey at Wigg Island Community Park. Out on the adjacent salt marsh the regular flock of Canada Geese still had the diminutive Lesser Canada Goose and its bodyguard Barnacle Goose in tow. Fully winged no rings and not coming to bread can't believe its being dismissed so lightly. Lesser Canada Goose

Could this be the Patch 'Barney'

Whilst out earning my crust and collecting ornithological data I found my 2nd

GREAT WHITE EGRET in three years, flying west over Ince Blundell (most probably the Southport bird on tour) a great start to the day finished off nicely with the usual flocks of Pinkies heading to roost...eat your heart out Mr Scott.

Blow me a bird in the garden and on the bird table...note the niger seed still untouched. I'll take a piccy in a month and we'll see how far its gone down or not. Whilst the opposition up the road are getting Great Crested Grebes !!!! coming to their feeders, its gonna be a tough year ( get that wooden spoon polished)

Below a piccy showing our new water feature in the back garden this should hopefully entice last years patch Dipper to reappear, just don't tell Gregsy.

have a nice day!

HINDSIGHTS A WONDERFUL THING...

2011-01-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

Don't know what these two are grinning about as the most possibly probable 1st for the UK didn't show all day, despite the usual dodgy rumours. Yes I was at Rainham Saturday with the other 1000+ hopefuls, probably the biggest twitch (and dip) in Londinium ever. Tip fest 2011!!!

The camera shy birders scoping the working tip face for a glimpse of Dom's Gull but alas it proved elusive. Looks like a meeting of the Fence Society. I did though find an adult Caspian Gull and an adult Yellow legger so all was not in vain.

The line starts here, poor chap on the right is about 2 miles from the working tip face and yes he dipped.

On a more positive note the 2011 Big Garden Year List got a boost with this Mistle Thrush showing well in the tree thats probably going to supply 50% of what we get at No.2. On a bugger me note the Yellow legged Gull that graced Neumann's Flash on Sunday afternoon (Greg on a mission) was I would guess with the flock of 40+ Herring Gulls that I counted over the garden heading South East ie Neumann's direction...rats bottom! must brush up on my gull in flight ID.

2011 GARDEN YEAR LIST...18

DOUBLE WHAMMY...

2011-01-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

Drew the short straw this morning and got doggy walking duties. Well bugger me I just might do it more often after this mornings haul of patch padders. On arriving at Bittern Hide I peered out into the gloom and there fishing near one of Vern's follies (the tern nesting platform, anyone got a tug boat) was a female Goosander...nice!
Walked down to the mere and two maggot danglers were preparing to set sail...oh dear!...flush time me thinks? A scan of the usual haunts and bang, patch padder number two a preening Little Egret on Kidbrook spit....2nd patch text of the day goes out.
The mere (Budworth) looking really good with masses of wildfowl floating about...
8 Goldeneye
100+ Wigeon
several Gadwall
50+ Teal
various Mallard
30+ Shoveler
1 Shelduck
8 Pochard
25+ Tufties
fingers crossed for a Lesser Scaup or Smew or both (greedy us local patchers)

PATCH YEAR LIST...somewhere like 65+ ish me thinks a touch of quality over quantity at the mo.

ps didn't BLACKPOOL do another double whammy this week...sorted!

WONDERMERE

2011-01-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Travelling back from South Jockland after a couple of days surveying I nipped off the M6 and headed for Ambleside (at the very top end of Windermere). The pager had reported on Sunday a couple of nice year ticks, so having earned my keep I fired up the SatNav and went twitching.
I arrived at the carpark by the Windermere ferry and there were birders scopes up looking interested (a good sign).
'' anything about'' (he asked knowingly)...''yeah the Long-tailed Ducks here but the Grebes disappeared and I've just found a red head Smew''...''top man, where?''...
Spent the next ten minutes grilling the LT Duck and Smew through the scope in superb light, brilliant stuff never ever seen anything on Windymere before. Also present 15+ Goldeneye and 10+ Little Grebe (this is where they all are).
To cap a good day I drove back down the road towards Kendal stopped in the first layby I could find and hey presto theres the Red necked Grebe being chased by the Windermere ferry (it flew back northwards after a few minutes)...home James.

HE IS LEGEND

2011-01-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

START THE END OF SEASON PARTY DOWN THE M62 (WESTEND)

GIGGS LEGEND

DEATH IN THE POND

2011-01-08T10:31:00.001-08:00

The big winter freeze has finished off the Common Frogs in our minature garden pond. Found three of them floating on the surface, bloated and white eyed. No Grey Herons on the garden list this year...rats!

ROY'S ROVERS R DEEP IN CHICKEN S##T

2011-01-05T14:14:00.000-08:00

HALAL BLACKBURN 3 -1 ROY'S ROBBERS

AND IT GETS BETTER...

BEYONCE PERFORMS

2011-01-03T03:57:00.000-08:00

Ronnie looks on as the rest of the local patchers play catchup with 'Beyonce' the Bittern as it sort of shows in the far reed bed. I'd earlier seen it fly down the mere, scope views obtained (luckily I had it out and erected!!) and drop to where it was now. An attempt by Bath chair Boy (aka Insomniac1) to 'leap' over the fence and go in proved fruitless...bloody flusher!

Not much else of note really with the mere still 95% frozen and a horde of bank holiday revellers flooding the park paths if there was owt about then its done one. Still a good addition to the well started 2011 PYL, lets hope its a sign of things to come.

SWANFESTA

2011-01-03T01:13:00.001-08:00

A picture paints a thousand words or in this case provides proof in the pudding.

1 BEWICK

8 WHOOPER

1 BLACK

1 MUTE

21 GREYLAG

2 CANADA...what a way to kick off the 2011 Patch Year List. (and they've since done one)

WAXING LYRICAL

2011-01-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

A couple of the wee flock of Waxwings (phone scoped) actually live on the Patch at Neumann's Flash this Sunday afternoon the 2nd of Jan. No extended ladder views required as the foursome showed very well to the appreciative patch locals. With the Bewick/Whooper fest still down Dark Lane and 'Beyonce' the Bittern (seen by Insomniac's better half) back in Coward Reedbed it was a great start to the birding year.

Also kicking off on its sort of inaugral year is the 2011 Garden Year List...the feeders in the gardens (front and rear) etc have been stocked to bursting but theres sod all in my garden at the mo. Hung the preverbial turkey carcass up and not seen a sausage on it yet...feck! Still as they say its a marathon not a sprint......................

2011 PATCH YEAR LIST (PYL)...about 20 ish

2011 GARDEN YEAR LIST (GYL)...4