Yesterday morning our Ireland trip was coming to an end so we briefly popped out to Glenveagh National Park in Donegal, mainly as a reconnaissance mission for future visits. Golden Eagles were reintroduced here in 2000 in the hope that they will be able to re-establish themselves as a breeding bird. See this link for more details http://www.goldeneagle.ie Our hopes weren’t high on seeing one though as the area is so vast, we were struggling for time and to be honest I’d much rather see them on the BIG Scotland trip that we’ll probably do next year.

Anyway we didn’t see an Eagle and we didn’t see great numbers of species here but there were some nice spots. About seven Ravens over (year tick), common woodland tits and finches including Long Tailed Tits, Coal Tit (of the Irish race of course), a Siskin and a Mistle Thrush. There were 30 Lesser Redpoll feeding in the car park and two of these I suspected were Mealy Redpoll (a potential lifer) based on the ID pointers I know such as size, colour etc…..however after checking the RSPB distribution map it seems that they don’t occur in Ireland! The whole task of Id-ing Redpolls has just got more confusing and I can’t find much about separating these two, its not even covered in Collins. I’ve posted a thread on Bird Forum to see if anyone can offer useful advice. Also saw two Red Deer sleeping.

Anyway…what an amazing trip, we’ve had a fab time exploring Donegal, got 5 lifers and lots of other nice birds, worked on our gulling skills (even managed to get Max interested – a reformed gull-hater!). We’ll definately be back there not too far in the distant future

Located within Donegal Bay on the north westerly coast of Ireland, Killybeggs Harbour leads out into the Atlantic and is one of Irelands biggest fishing ports. These two factors make it popular with gulls and gull watchers. I’m certainly no gull expert, but I’m very keen to develop my skills and knowledge in this area. Target bird for today was Glaucous Gull. The first promising spot was a fish processing centre, south of the main harbour. The workers kindly let us stand within their grounds, allowing a good vantage point for both the gulls visiting their facilities and also out over the water. On the downside it did stink.

The gulls visiting the processing centre were mainly Herring and a few GBBG, there were also Common and Black Headed about. Nothing unusual so far. Things started to pick up when we spotted a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers on the water, and then a few more (year tick). I began to scan gulls on the water and I found a very white gull swimming. Luckily it was in scopable distance and we were able to ID it as a first winter Iceland Gull (lifer) It later rested on the rocks. Also a Shag was preening with the Cormorants on the rocks (year tick).

We moved up to a more industrious part of the harbour just past the pier. We had just set up scope and I had a white winged gull resembling Glaucous but then all the gulls flushed from the rocks! The bird in question flew briefly back into sight a few times, but the views were not sufficient to rule out Iceland. We had a couple more Iceland Gulls and more Shags here. Hundreds more gulls turned up as some fishing boats had come in and it just became complete mayhem and it was also very cold so we went for fish and chips instead.

After lunch we returned to the spot. The gulls had returned to the rocks and I immediately found the Glaucous Gull (lifer). This time the views were excellent and its mighty size was apparent, stood next to the Herring Gulls. Also got some views of it in flight. There were also quite a few seals in the harbour.

Then something amazing and totally unexpected happened. I saw a small bird swimming not too far from the shore. I took this for a small grebe, but when I got it in my bins it was clearly some type of Auk. It had striking white wing patches and it was smaller than a Guillemot. It could only be a Black Guillemot in winter plumage (lifer)! I looked in Collins to confirm this. We had awesome views of the little fella. There is even a terrible digi-scoped pic which I might post when I return to the UK tommorrow.

Arrived in County Donegal yesterday after a pretty hairy landing in high winds at Derry Airport. I’m not the best flyer in the world anyway, so I was mightily relieved to be back on terra firma. Not much happened after that apart from my Dad’s garden bird feeding session which consisted of marauding hoards of Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and a Pheasant. There was also a Sparrowhawk over and we found some Fieldfare flocks in the fields near his cottage.

This morning we borrowed Dad’s car and firstly headed off to the new bird hide we’d heard about at Inch Lake on Lough Swilly. Along the way we saw several Hooded Crows, a year tick and a very welcome sight after a few years. A field near our destination held about 20 Whooper Swans (Lifer), lots of Greylag and scanning of the further goose flocks revealed small numbers of Greenland White Fronted Geese (year tick). Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting were some of the birds keeping us entertained on our walk to the hide.

When we got to the hide we found the area covered by it was very vast and it was quite overwhelming. Also our time here was limited so we contented ourselves by focusing on the nearer birds….found a little gem here – a redhead Smew! She was with the Goldeneye, there were also Teal, Wigeon, Little Grebe, GBBG and lots of other birds which were too far away to see.

Next we headed for Inch Island. This is connected to the mainland by a small causeway. We weren’t exactly sure where to go here so we drove round stopping off at various spots which looked like they might have some potential. Sightings around the island included Fieldfare, Common Gull, Brent Goose, Redhank, Bar Tailed Godwit, Knot and Oystercatcher.

Next stop Fahan Harbour. Highlights here (and these were good highlights) we had a GN Diver preening, continuing the great run of divers we’ve had of late. We then noticed some small brown jobs on the rocks….they were pipits. Powers of deduction and of course great birding expertise (hmm) helped us ID them as Rock Pipits (Lifer). For handy comparision a Meadow Pipit was considerate enough to land right behind the Rock Pipit in my scope, making the difference obvious to see. That Pipit deserves a pint of Guiness

Tommorrow we’re off to Killybegs to look at some gulls….lots of Iceland and Glaucous Gulls seen there lately, also a Kumliens Gull (not quite sure exactly what that is – its not in Collins). Will then spend the rest of the day either round Donegal Bay or take the Trip to Gleveigh National Park (home of the Golden Eagle Reintroduction project).

This morning found us twitching Scaups from the road bridge at Lea Marston & Coton in the wind and drizzle and with poor visibility (it doesn’t get much better than this!! ). Still with persistence, reasonable views of the Scaups eventually prevailed (year tick).

We then went to fields near Wilnecote Tip (between Dosthill and Kingsbury) where a Glaucous Gull was seen yesterday. Unfortunately there was no sign of it. Other large gulls present; LBBG, GBBG, Herring Gull, also a variety of Corvids feeding at the site and mobbing a Sparrowhawk (we also had a Sprawk over our house this morning). I later learned that the Glaucous had come in to roost at Coton.

Finally we went to Laundry Lane by Alvecote Pools to try our luck twitching Firecrests….our luck was in and one showed within 10 minutes of our arrival. Our fourth lifer of the year! It was a really active bird, busier than a Goldcrest and strikingly beautiful

Not at all bad going for a weekend that looked set to be a washout.

Choosing to take our chances against the rain and flooding that has blighted the Midlands over the past week we headed off to Chasewater yesterday morning. The main aim was to tick the Slavonian Grebe, which has been around for the last few weeks. Walking along the East side of the reservoir we soon had one of the two Great Northern Divers giving great views about 20ft from the shore, I never tire of these birds. Also two Kingfishers showed frequently.

Up by Jeffrey’s Swag, we found a feeding flock of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll (both year ticks), which was really nice. Also many Long Tailed Tits. We then had two Kestrels and a Green Woodpecker (year tick) whilst walking over the heathland. It was a mission to find a dry way round to the bay and Sailing Club to look for the Slav Grebe; there was no ‘dry way’ and our route involved wading over the flooded boardwalk, which was 7inches under! Thankfully I had my wellies on, so it was ok, if a little scary. Max on the other hand had not been so sensible and ended up with boots full of water!

We ended up walking a little bit too far round for the Grebe and looking over the Dam for it, when luckily we met a chap called Graham who runs the excellent Chasewater website (http://www.chasewater.org.uk/) – he put us right and gave us a lift back round to the right place…..where the Slavonian Grebe was right in front of us (lifer). Spent some time admiring this bird then we went with Graham to check for Med Gulls on the jetty. There was a fine adult Med Gull there amongst the many Black Headed Gulls and few Common Gulls. A very welcome year tick – one of my favourite gulls.

It had to be Draycote Water today…Draycote has had a most impressive start to 2008; in addition to the long staying Lesser Scaup (in residence since 28th Nov 07) other sightings have included Smew, Red Breasted Merganser, Slavonian & Red Necked Grebe, a Long Tailed Duck and even a Fulmar!

Arrived shortly after 8.30am and slowly headed up towards Toft bay having a good old scan for the Red Necked Grebe. Conversation with other birders revealed that the bird was last seen heading over towards Valve Tower. Maybe we’d have better luck with the Lesser Scaup? (About time we twitched it after all!!!) The LS was resting under the willows right at the back of Toft (lifer – first of 2008!) other birders kindly helped us find it, it wasn’t showing too well and I wouldn’t have been able to pick it out myself from that distance. Many Little Grebes and Goldeneye along Farnborough Bank; Gadwall, Wigeon, Pochard and a Kingfisher (year tick) in Toft Bay.

Walked back towards the café, ready by now for a nice warm cuppa, but a crowd was gathering just in front of the visitor centre on Farnborough bank – we were greeted by delighted birders who informed us that the Red Necked Grebe had returned to its former spot! Awesome views of the RN Grebe followed (lifer), very close in at times.

After a refuelling stop at the café we walked up towards Valve Tower. News had just broken that a Great Northern Diver had just been found up that way and we also had a Smew to catch up with. Near the Valve we had a female Goosander (year tick) and we eventually saw the GN Diver, quite far out towards Biggin Bay by now. Still no Smew though, the latest news; the pesky critter was back in Toft.

Walked back round that way, taking in the Red Necked Grebe once again. Impressive numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare (both year ticks) feeding with Starlings in the fields off Farnborough. Also a Buzzard and Kestrel seen today.

Smashing end to the day – back in Toft the Lesser Scaup was now showing 20ft from the shore near the car park, this time allowing us to get a good look and be able to recognise the bird for ourselves. Also 9 Goosander. Oh, and we finally caught up with the Smew which had eluded us all day (although not for long! Nice year tick nonetheless).

A truly memorable day, not only because of all the great birds we saw but also because all the other birders (there were loads!) were super friendly and helpful J.

2008 hadn’t got off to the best of starts for me. I spent the first two days of it totally bed ridden with a virus, leaving me with a nasty cough, which is now a chest infection. I know hanging around cold, windy Midlands reservoirs seems like a foolish way to spend the best part of the weekend, but that’s what I’ve been up to…birds are the best medicine!

Yesterday we arrived first thing (8.15am -that’s one resolution going well!) at Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire to hopefully fulfil another of my resolutions – seeing a Black Redstart. One has been reported regularly over the past couple of weeks often as ‘showing well on the causeway’. We couldn’t fail, could we? Well yes we could, the little blighter was nowhere to be seen despite us putting in a few hours around the causeway. Lots of other disappointed birders out looking for it too.

We were a bit too wrapped up in finding this bird that we probably missed a lot of common birds which should have been year ticked, but we did see a few birds, highlights being Stonechats (very confiding), Meadow Pipits, a lovely Grey Wagtail, Wigeon, Goldeneye and a pair of Kestrels. A Rock Pipit was also seen (but not by me).

Also spent some time trying to get the Red Throated Diver, however although I thought I caught a glance of it, it was so brief and distant that I couldn’t be sure. To be honest I came home feeling very despondent to have dipped the Black Redstart.

Today the plan was to spend a couple of hours out birding at Upton Warren to build up the year list a bit. We got up a lot later today and I checked Birdguides about 10.30am-ish. I couldn’t believe my eyes – Black Redstart again reported from Blithfield!!! I thought it had gone for good! I reported this news to Max to gauge his reaction; he said ‘shall we go for it?’ Needless to say I didn’t need much persuasion.

By the time we got there (about 1.30pm) there were birders out in force working the causeway – guess what? None of them had seen it. It had last been seen around 8.30 this morning….everyone was left wondering where this bird disappears to in the daytime?? Clearly a lost cause so I decided to have another go at the Red Throated Diver, I’m pleased to say it was a lot nearer today, showing well and I found it with relative ease.

We decided to drop into Chasewater for the end of the afternoon. They have had some good stuff there lately; Great Northern Diver, Smew and Slavonion Grebe. Not to mention a few Glaucous Gulls, which is the next Gull I want to life tick.

We saw a Red Deer on the side road coming into Chasewater. Scanning the reservoir was a daunting task as the gull roost was coming in and there were 1000’s of Gulls (far too many to scan!). I went through some of the nearer lot and got Common, BH Headed, Herring, LBB and GBB Gull, I didn’t latch on to anything resembling a Glaucous. It made my day though to find a Great Northern Diver towards the back shore (two Divers year ticked in one day! J). The Smew is apparently is on the Swag Pool so we wouldn’t have been able to see it from where we were. Slav Grebe and Glaucous Gull…..I’m happy to leave them for another day.

I’ve just checked through my 2007 year list. It finished on 170, which I was really pleased with . Here’s everything I saw last year including my 39 lifers.

1. Arctic Tern (Lifer)
2. Avocet
3. Barnacle Goose
4. Barn Owl
5. Bar Tailed Godwit
6. Bearded Tit
7. Bittern (Lifer)
8. Blackbird
9. Blackcap
10. Black Headed Gull
11. Black Tailed Godwit
12. Black Throated Diver (Lifer)
13. Blue Tit
14. Brambling (Lifer)
15. Brent Goose
16. Bullfinch
17. Buzzard
18. Canada Goose
19. Carrion Crow
20. Cetti’s Warbler (Lifer)
21. Chaffinch
22. Chiffchaff
23. Coal Tit
24. Collared Dove
25. Common Crane (Lifer)
26. Common Gull
27. Common Sandpiper
28. Common Scoter
29. Common Tern
30. Coot
31. Cormorant
32. Corn Bunting (Lifer)
33. Cuckoo
34. Curlew
35. Curlew Sandpiper (Lifer)
36. Dunlin
37. Dunnock
38. Egyption Goose
39. Feral Pigeon
40. Fieldfare
41. Fulmar
42. Gadwall
43. Gannet
44. Gargeney
45. Goldcrest
46. Golden Plover
47. Goldeneye
48. Goldfinch
49. Goosander
50. Goshawk (Lifer)
51. Great Black Backed Gull
52. Great Crested Grebe
53. Great Northern Diver (Lifer)
54. Great Spotted Woodpecker
55. Great Tit
56. Greenfinch
57. Green Sandpiper (Lifer)
58. Greenshank
59. Green winged Teal (Lifer)
60. Green Woodpecker
61. Grey Heron
62. Greylag Goose
63. Grey Partridge
64. Grey Phalarope (Lifer)
65. Grey Plover
66. Grey Wagtail
67. Guillemot
68. Hen Harrier (Lifer)
69. Herring Gull
70. Hobby
71. House Martin
72. House Sparrow
73. Jackdaw
74. Jack Snipe (Lifer)
75. Jay
76. Kestrel
77. Kingfisher
78. Kittiwake
79. Knot
80. Lapland Bunting (Lifer)
81. Lapwing
82. Lesser Black Backed Gull
83. Lesser Redpoll (Lifer)
84. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Lifer)
85. Lesser Whitethroat (Lifer)
86. Linnet
87. Little Egret
88. Little Grebe
89. Little Gull (Lifer)
90. Little Owl (Lifer)
91. Little Ringed Plover (Lifer)
92. Little Tern (Lifer)
93. Long Tailed Tit
94. Magpie
95. Mallard
96. Mandarin (Lifer)
97. Marsh Harrier
98. Marsh Tit
99. Moorhen
100. Mediterranean Gull (Lifer)
101. Meadow Pipit
102. Mistle Thrush
103. Merlin (Lifer)
104. Mute Swan
105. Nuthatch
106. Osprey
107. Oystercatcher
108. Pectoral Sandpiper (Lifer)
109. Peregrine
110. Pheasant
111. Pied Wagtail
112. Pink Footed Goose
113. Pintail
114. Pochard
115. Raven
116. Red Breasted Merganser (Lifer)
117. Red Kite
118. Red Legged Partridge
119. Redshank
120. Redstart
121. Red Throated Diver (Lifer)
122. Redwing
123. Reed Bunting
124. Reed Warbler
125. Ringed Plover
126. Ring Ouzel (Lifer)
127. Robin
128. Rook
129. Ruff
130. Ruddy Duck
131. Sabine’s Gull (Lifer)
132. Sanderling
133. Sand Martin
134. Sandwich Tern
135. Sedge Warbler
136. Shelduck
137. Shoveler
138. Skylark
139. Smew (Lifer)
140. Snipe
141. Snow Bunting (Lifer)
142. Song Thrush
143. Sparrowhawk
144. Spotted Crake (Lifer)
145. Spotted Redshank
146. Starling
147. Stock Dove
148. Stonechat
149. Swallow
150. Swift
151.  Teal
152. Treecreeper
153. Tree Sparrow
154. Tufted Duck
155. Turnstone
156. Turtle Dove (Lifer)
157. Water Rail
158. Wheatear
159. Whimbrel (Lifer)
160. Whinchat
161. White Fronted Goose (Greenland Race) (Lifer)
162. Whitethroat (Lifer)
163. Wigeon
164. Willow Tit
165. Willow Warbler
166. Wilson’s Phalarope (Lifer)
167. Wood Pigeon
168. Wren
169. Yellowhammer
170. Yellow Legged Gull