Waxwings have been very scarce this winter, unlike the last two or three, when many hundreds arrived from Scandinavia. It seems that this winter the berry crops in Northern Europe have been good and therefore these birds have not errupted on their nomadic wanderings. Thankfully however, in recent weeks small numbers of Waxwings have arrived on […]
A weekend of two contrastingly different habitats. Saturday 31st January was spent in the Fenlands of Cambridgeshire & Lincolnshire and Sunday morning on the snowy moors of North Derbyshire. Along with RichardP and Glyn, we visited several Fenland reserves on Saturday in very grey and snowy conditions. Just managed to see the roosting Long-eared Owl on view
A few hours at my local patch produced a couple of year ticks and some good photo opportunities. Three Gadwall, a few Fieldfare and a Song Thrush moved my patch year list on to 50. I decided to spend some time at another local site, to try my luck with a few more photos, before
Saturday 24th January 2015, and I spent a day birding with Ian & Richard at various sites around Colwyn Bay and the Dee Estuary. Colwyn Bay has held several Surf Scoter in recent weeks and we were hoping to see these rare sea-duck amongst the vast flock of Common Scoter. Unfortunately our timing wasn’t quiet
Rutland Water never fails to provide a wide variety of winter Wildfowl. Only just over an hours drive from home, so a great place to pick-up a few “Year Ticks”. Today, Sunday 18th January, was no exception, with plenty of ducks and grebes and other waterfowl on offer. Smew can be difficult to year tick,
A visit to North Norfolk early in the year really kick starts the year list, and Sunday 7th January was no exception. We arrived at Titchwell early morning with plenty of common ducks and waders on view, including a small flock of wintering Avocet. From one of the hides a number of Shoveler were giving good
My first visit of 2015 to my local patch. A great morning with bright sunshine and blue skies. A total contrast to the Trent Valley, where it was thick fog, hampering our search for the local Great Grey Shrike. So a few common birds for the year – Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Jay,
We spent a day at North Shields Fish Quay, Northumberland on Saturday 3rd January 2015. The fish quay is a great place for “White-winged” Gulls during the winter months and we were not to be disappointed. Two 1st winter Glaucous Gull, a 2nd winter Iceland Gull and a “Viking Gull” (Glaucous x Herring Gull Hybrid)
