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

Popped out to Upton Warren yesterday morning, primarily in search of Siskins for a late year tick, as somehow they still remain an embarrassing omission from our 2007 year list. Didn’t see any despite our best efforts and we were dismayed to hear we’d missed a flock of 50+ near The Flashes by an hour (whilst we were still chasing round the Moors Pools for them!). We had also missed a Brambling.

Despite the Siskin disappointment we did enjoy watching a pair of GS Woodies, lots of Goldcrests and a pair of Bullfinch. I heard three Cetti’s Warblers around The Moors. Anyway here’s my list of Birding New Years Resolutions, which I hope are acheivable targets and will bring me lots of enjoyment and also help improve my skills in 2008.

1. To reach the coveted milestone of 200 on my life list. Not too far off now – it should be achievable (hopefully!) to get 20 new birds within the year. My game plan is to target specific common birds that I’m missing and spend time trying to stake them out and also go to a few twitches (within reasonable distance).

2. To have confidence in my own abilities and to try to look on the positive side; i.e. not get so frustrated when I dip a bird or fail to clinch an ID before the bird clears off. Its all part of the birding experience (or so I keep telling myself ).

3. Spend more time birding in Woodland habitats; I want to see new woodland birds like Woodcock, Crossbill and Hawfinch.

4. Join West Midlands Bird Club; something I’ve been putting off for some time. I’m planning frequent visits to Belvide and Blithfield, both great places which turn up many a good bird, looking forward to checking out some of their other reserves too.

5. Find a Black Redstart…it will happen this year, it will, it will.

6. Improve on Gull identification. I’m ok with most adult gulls and the smaller juvy ones (as long as I get a good look). Need to improve on the juvs of the larger Gull species and also to practice with ID-ing Gulls in flight.

7. A lot of the birds I want for my list are seabirds, Great Skua, Shearwaters, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Razorbill and Little Auk. Last year we booked to go on a Puffin Cruise with the RSPB, but it was cancelled due to stormy seas. Definitely planning to visit a seabird colony this year, most likely to be Bempton Cliffs in East Yorkshire. Also to practice seawatching whenever the chance arises.

8. Some revision of bird songs and calls is definitely in order.

9. To get out more and get up earlier, we did well last year to start off with but became more lazy as the year wore on. Hopefully we can keep up a better momentum this year.

Well that should be enough to be getting on with for now. Happy New Year and happy birding to everyone!

Thursday morning we did the touristy thing for our last day in Norfolk and took a boat trip out to Blakeney Point to see the seals with the rest of our party. There were some beligerent folks on the boat, who insisted on bringing with them dogs of grisly bear size propotions – why on earth?? Anyway, there were good numbers of both Common and Grey Seals on the point, lots of pups as well. Quite a few GBB Gulls hanging around the pups, no doubt hoping for a seal pup to die. Spectacular numbers of Knot, Dunlin and Brent Geese visible from the boat. Also much smaller numbers of Sanderling – always an entertaining bird. On the way back into shore, we saw a couple of interesting pipits, didn’t look like Meadows, I would hazard a guess at Water Pipit; these had been reported around the area in the last few days. Unfortunately as we were moving and didn’t get a proper look, it was an inconclusive sighting. Would have liked to get a proper look as I need more pipits on my list and badly need to get to grips with Id-ing them.

Here’s a pic of the Seals from the boat trip.

In the afternoon we went off on our own, firstly to the beach at Wells. The plan had been to spot a Shag, which is still missing from our year list and had recently been reported from the harbour. We should have checked the tide table, as the tide was right out, making a Shag in the harbour highly unlikely. Had a scan over the beach and although there was nothing unusual about, the swirling flocks of waders, particularly Knot and Dunlin, were a sight to behold. Scanned the rocky area, in hope of a Purple Sandpiper – none of those around, but there were a few more Turnstone, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Bar Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Curlew.

We then decided to head back to Salthouse for a final stab at those elusive Lapland Buntings. The flock of Snow Buntings were quickly detected once again and as mobile as ever. After walking over the shingle ridge and back down again we were able to get within 10 feet of about 20 Snow Buntings that had settled on the shingle. I love these birds! I spent a while checking through them – they were all Snows. However, a smaller group of about 5 Buntings then appeared on the grass near the car park – I got them in the scope and found 2 Lapland Buntings (lifer!). We were ecstatic about this – our 5^th lifer of the trip and 180 now on our life list! Also delighted to have achieved most of our target birds for the trip (apart from Purple Sandpiper and Waxwing).

Our luck was just about to run out though. En route back home we stopped at Roydon Common near Kings Lynn, to look for a Great Grey Shrike reported on Bird Guides. We didn’t find it, despite spending a couple of hours there. My excuse is that is was too windy and I’ve heard they don’t like the wind, that had also been the story when we recently looked for one at Cannock Chase. We saw a Sparrowhawk, Coal Tits, Great Spotted Woody and we had a Merlin come over. It was a such a great holiday, some great ticks and I got used to our new scope – what a difference it makes to our birding! I’ll be back soon with news of latest sightings and with my new years birding resolutions (something I’ve been contemplating throughout my holiday).

What better way to spend a clear, bright Boxing day morning than at Titchwell RSPB? Well we couldn’t think of one and and after spending most of the day yesterday consuming excessive amounts of xmas pud, chocs, baileys etc it was clearly time for fresh air, exercise and of course, birds. On arrival we tried for Brambling on and around the feeders, but alas it wasn’t to be, although the feeders were as busy as ever with the expected Tit and Finch visitors and a very festive and friendly Robin scuttling around under our tripods.

There was a Marsh Harrier and a few Little Egret on the walk down to the sea. Wildfowl included Pintail, Gadwall, Pochard, Egyption Geese and Brent Geese. I was keen to look for a Red Crested Pochard (potential lifer), which had been reported a couple of days ago, but I didn’t find it and I wasn’t sure if it was still about. On the lagoons we had Dunlin, Lapwing tons of Golden Plover, Ruff, Redshank, 7 Avocet and I was very pleased to find two nice Spotted Redshanks. Near the beach we had a flock of Linnets and a couple of Skylark. The beach was good, lots of Knot also Sanderling, Turnstone, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Bar Tailed Godwit, a few Grey Plover and Ringed Plover and GBB Gull. There were a couple of Goldeneye and a Great Crested Grebe close in on the sea.

Later we took my Mum for a walk at Blakeney Marsh. It was a bit galling to see a very handsome, but untickable male Red Crested Pochard as part of a small wildfowl collection there, after trying to find one at Titch. There was the expected array of waders again on the marshes including more Grey Plovers.  A great finish to the day; we had Barn Owl out hunting (a lifer for my Mum) and we walked back watching the sunset over the marshes.

Pics of Blakeney Marshes

What better way to spend a cold winters afternoon in Norfolk than at Stubb Mill Roost (near Hickling Broad)- the famous ‘Raptor Roost’? We were here back in March, which was too late for a proper winter raptor roost although we saw lots of Common Cranes that time, which is what we had been after. This time we had high hopes for two of our target birds - Merlin and Hen Harrier.

We arrived at Hickling NWT just before 2.00pm at set off on the walk to the viewing platform. On the way up we had a few Fieldfare, 3 Green Woodpecker and a couple of Jays. On arrival at the watchpoint a Kingfisher went by up the stream as we were setting up.  As we started to get our eye in we spotted loads of Marsh Harriers; checking each one just in case it was a Hen Harrier. There was also a Kestrel out hunting. Gradually the viewing platform filled up with birders and the air became heavy in anticipation.

Whilst scanning I came upon a harrier in my scope - I knew immediately what it was and got Max onto it whilst checking its ID features just to be sure – slate grey upper body, white rump, black wing tips – a magnificent male Hen Harrier (lifer)! Amazing views of it too; I couldn’t believe my eyes and my heart was all of a flutter! Quite a few birders in the assembled crowd got onto it before it disappeared from view.

Shortly after, a Sparrowhawk passed by, then a Barn Owl could be seen hunting over the foreground. Over in the distance to the left a huge flock of totalling hundreds of geese were up; presumably Pink Footed Geese. Finally we had a Merlin dash by (lifer), too quick to get a good look, but quite clearly a Merlin and this was confirmed by other birders calling it out. A ringtail Hen Harrier was also called out by another birder but he only saw it briefly and no one else got onto it. The Cranes didn’t put in an appearance before we left, but we came away very happy. Plenty to celebrate this evening in The George, Cley Village - home of the famous ‘Bird Bible’ – I would urge anyone who is passing to stop and have a scan through, simply amazing!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! J

Sunday morning began with a walk down the raised path to the East of Cley Marshes to the beach. We had a pair of Stonechat showing well and skeins of Brent Geese passing over. Wildfowl on the pools included Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, and Gadwall. Other notable sightings were Little Grebe, about 200 Golden Plover, also Dunlin, Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew, 3 Marsh Harriers and 3 Little Egret.

Arriving at the beach we decided a bit of seawatching was in order. Being from Birmingham this isn’t exactly my birding forte (in fact thats something of an understatement), but its something I am keen to improve on. It was a damn near impossible task previously with our old Opticron Mighty Midget scope, but using our recently purchased Swarovski for its first official seawatch made the job much easier and enjoyable. There were many divers out at sea some too far to try to ID but closer in we found 3 Red Throated Diver, I was very pleased with this – another of our target birds and a lifer!

Later that day we had a long walk of about six miles; a round trip of Cley and back to the cottage with the other members of our party. We walked out through the village past the windmill towards Cley Beach car park then along the beach and bank round along the main road. The walk produced many more Stonechat, also Reed Bunting, Oystercatcher, 2 more Little Egret and we watched a Kestrel eating his lunch on a post. From the beach we had 2 more Red Throated Diver. Along the walk back along the raised path the flock of Golden Plover we had seen earlier took flight, which made a stunning spectacle. There were 3 Barnacle Geese on the grassy field before the main road – probably feral? More blogging to follow shortly including my visit to the Stubb Mill Raptor Roost on Christmas Eve.

Here are a couple of pics from the walk.

 Max by Cley Windmill, my Mum in the background.

 Cley Marshes, a lovely sight in the afternoon sunshine.

Arrived in Norfolk yesterday for seven days. If I had my way I would be out birding all day every day but apparently there’s a little thing called Christmas going on and some of our party don’t quite share our love of birding. We’ll be out as much as we can though; sloping off for some early morning sessions and also dragging the non-birders on ‘scenic walks’, which will hopefully turn up a good bird or two! I’ve been hoping for a few lifers whilst I’m here…..Snow and Lapland Bunting, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Red Throated Diver, Purple Sandpiper and maybe even a Waxwing (if I’m very, very lucky which I doubt!).

After arriving in Cley yesterday afternoon we popped out to Salthouse for an hour, after the Snow and Lapland Buntings that have been reported there. The light was fading which made things difficult but after about 15 minutes we saw a flock of about 40 buntings. There were definitely Snow Buntings (Lifer!) but it was hard to see them in the poor light and we couldn’t make out if any Laplands were present. There was also a nice female Stonechat present. Other notable sightings included Sparrowhawk, Turnstone, Redshank, Common & Black Headed Gull. We had a Marsh Harrier over Cley on the way past.

Back at Salthouse this morning, we had much better views of a smaller flock of Snow Buntings (about 20), we spent some time familiarising ourselves with them, lovely little things J We haven’t managed to pick out any Laplands yet though. Other birds at Salthouse included Herring, Common & BH Gull, Little Egret, around 200 Brent Geese grazing a field, Teal, Wigeon, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, and Kestrel.

Back to the cottage for a bacon sarnie, then out for a walk at Holkham Pines with our non-birding companions. We had about four more Marsh Harriers there, Jays, Long Tailed Tits, two Stonechat, Goldcrest (heard), Curlew, Lapwing, usual winter wildfowl again, also Shelduck and skeins of Pink Footed Geese coming in. We managed to interest the other members of our party in a few birds. I think they quite enjoyed seeing the Goldeneye and Little Grebes that we showed them on the pool. Not a lot out on the sea (but poor visibility), a few GC Grebes and Cormorant close in. The beach was quiet too, just a few Oystercatchers on the shoreline. In total 42 species seen today. We also saw a Muntjac Deer on our walk back to the car park.

Me and my other half Max ready for birdy action at Holkham.

Yesterday we headed eastwards to Rutland Water. We were particularly keen to see Sabine’s Gulls as they were reported here on Friday and the past few days has seen quite an influx of them on inland waters in the UK. We weren’t disappointed as we had spectacular views of 2 juvenile Sabine’s Gulls (lifer) shortly after arriving at the Fieldfare Hide. They were unmistakable with that stunning wing pattern and they came flying quite close in at times. We also saw one swimming for a bit until it got pestered by a group of Black Headed Gulls.  We also had many juvenile Arctic Terns (lifer), which helped address the difficulty of separating ‘commic’ terns and I finally felt that it could be properly ticked.

Other notable sightings from Rutland yesterday included Tree Sparrows on the feeders near the visitor centre at the Anglian Birdwatching Centre, 3 Little Egrets, Pintail, Dunlin, Snipe, Ruff, Redshank, Hobby, Green & GS Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Common Gull, Great & Lesser Black Backed Gull and an adult Yellow Legged Gull, which was a year tick. We also saw a Hare at close quarters. We tried to look for a Red Throated Diver at the dam at the other end of Rutland Water as one was reported there yesterday, unfortunately there was no sign of it but that wasn’t too much of a blow after the two lifers of the day.

This morning we decided to try our luck twitching the Grey Phalarope, which has been present Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire for the last few days. We found the Grey Phalarope (lifer) very easily, it was a great little bird and was very tame; the photographers managed to get very close indeed (2-4 feet). My other half managed to get a digi-scoped shot (see below). There was also a Knot nearby.

Finally we had a Buzzard flying near our house when we returned from our adventures mid-afternoon. This might not seem remarkable, but it’s a good garden tick for us, living as we do in an urban area of South Birmingham. It doesn’t happen often but it’s the third time I’ve seen/heard a Buzzard in the area.