A Velvet Scoter in Derbyshire – A fairly mediocre kind of day turned out rather good, with an unexpected County Tick. We had decided to visit Carsington Reservoir, as there was a Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver and there is always a chance of finding a good bird at this site. We eventually saw the Slavonian Grebe from the Wildlife Hide, along with a couple of Willow Tit at the feeding station and a few Tree Sparrows – but the GND's (two of them) were from Millfields, so we decided to head-off there later. From Sheepwash Hide there were […]
Staunton Harold Reservoir is my local patch, being about 1-2 miles from home. I try to visit on a daily basis, usually stopping off at the main car park for 20-30 minutes first thing each week day morning before heading off for work and visiting at least early morning on a Saturday. During the migration periods of spring and autumn, visits are a little more regular. Staunton Harold Reservoir, South Derbyshire – The Dam Wall & Draw-out Tower. The Pier is usually covered in Black-headed Gulls and the odd Common Gull first thing in the morning. The 17th October saw […]
Friday 22nd November 2012, walking out the door of the house to head off to work and "Bang" just across the road 2 Waxwings in a neighbours Rowan Tree. Mad dash back in doors for Camera, totally unprepared, late for work as it is, managed a few quick frantic shots before flushed by Blackbirds. Just as I was getting back into the car, they came back to the same tree and commenced feeding. I was back at the house for 11am, as we were off to Wales for the weekend. A stunning morning, bright warm sunshine, no sign of Waxwings […]
Missed the Hoodie – drat… but a new tick – an Ivy Bee – NOT – Miss Identified !! You can't win em all, as they say. We missed out today (18th Nov) on the Hooded Merganser at Pagham Harbour, apparently seen to fly off late afternoon on Saturday 17th November. Well it had done this before, so we saw no reason to think it had gone or worse, may be the local Peregrine took it, well, we will never know. One of the most interesting observations at Pagham was a small colony of Ivy Bees (Colletes hederae). I'd not […]