22/03/2012 The Great Orme

Lapland Bunting: Today I went bunting hunting up on the Great Orme. I started along Marine Drive there where loads of the regular gulls and a few stone chat with a few grey seal bobbing around the rocks like corks. My aims was to head over the visitor centre and then make my way around the lime stone paths, it was here I bumped in to two nice birders from who were on the same hunt.

They advised me the Lapland bunting where last seen yesterday on the lime stone paths so I made a beeline for that part of the Orme.

Snow Bunting: I was aimlessly wondering around when I was lucky enough to again bump in to theses two birders who were with a gaggle of other birders, they told me the bunting just flew in my direction, but is missed them. We then turned to see both Lapland bunting forging amongst some rocks at our feet, brilliant.

Stonechat: (male) After filling our SD cards with pictures we then turned to see a snow bunting on the path behind us, what a super bird. After taking my fill of pictures I said good bye and headed home spotting a couple of raven and a peregrine.

19/10/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Nuthatch: My birthday and Christmas’s have all come at once, now I am a proud owner of a Canon 100-400mm 4.5 L series lens and I am made up! I was on my own on the reserve today and unable to get out of the Visitor Centre to play with it so I stayed around the feeders.



I placed some nuts one the log below the feeders and the well names nuthatch was straight on them hovering each one up before the rats and squirrels got to them.

Tawny Owl: I was also lucky enough to see this tawny owl spying on me from beneath the ivy, brilliant bird to see.

15/10/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Hobby: Birdwatching is the best Hobby ever! Watching this spectacular bird of prey hunting right over my head, outside Burton Mere Wetlands decking area swooping and stooping while catching Dragonflies was simply awesome.

This late record for the reserve has been showing well all week, other highlights include a late Avocet a couple of Whooper Swans and the Yankee – Long Billed Dowitcher came back.  

09/10/2012 Leighton Moss RSPB

Bearded Tit: It was a stunning morning at Leighton Moss before I started my working with volunteer’s course as it was clod but calm and clear. I headed straight down to the grit feeders down towards the public hides and came across a huge gaggle of birders at least 20 people standing and waiting in the cold. I took my place, at the back of the crowd and waited and waited then I was treated to stunning views of a female tit. I waited another 2 hours hoping for the male to show itself but had to settle for the just views of the female.

 A lifer for me (:


The one that got away, this must have been the best, sharpest image I took of the tit but unfortunately the bloody bird was looking the wrong way!

Marsh Tit: Other birds of note on the day where 2 Whooper Swans at Lillian's Hide and Marsh tits on the feeders.

01/10/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands

Long-Billed Dowitcher: I had a phone call this afternoon from somebody on Burton Mere Wetlands while I was on the reserve working, they were saying they think they have found a Long-Billed Dowitcher but needed some identification help as they were not 100%.

 So me and Dan rallied the troops and headed down to see, it was among several Black-Tailed Godwits. Another lifer, made up!


Other highlights from the past few days at Burton Mere Wetlands are: Golden Plover, Greenshank, Hen and Marsh Harrier.