23/05/2016 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Spoonbill: A long overdue visit to BMW with hope to see the resident spoonies that take moved in over the last few weeks.

I wasn't disappointed I saw three  of the four birds and had some lovely views of Spotted Fly's too.

Spotted Flycatcher: Unfortunately I turned down a trip to Uist for the brilliant Black-billed Cuckoo, but with work on Sunday and Monday I had no choice.

Still it was really nice to spend my day at a great place, full of friendly faces, volunteers and staff and on a day like today with wall to wall blue skies and warm temperatures, there's no better place.

12/10/2015 Conwy RSPB

Spoonbill: Today I found myself back in North Wales after last week's Alpine Swift, but this time for three spectacular Spoonbill.

I arrived early afternoon where the trio were happily roosting on a scrape in front of Benrath Hide. I waited around 20 minutes before they decided to feed and put on a good spooning show!

One of the three birds had coloured rings attached to both legs and I have been informed that this bird was rung in Holland.

The folks on the other side of the country who regularly get Spoonbill are very lucky, as these birds are great and a welcomed addition in the North West.

I haven't seen many in the UK and even fewer in the North West, mainly Parkgate and Leighton Moss but I have never had them come this close and put on such a good show.





I watched them until they spooned their way out of view, by which time I was getting cold from the prevailing winds coming straight in to the hide so headed back to the warmth of my car.

Just take a look at that brilliant bill.

07/08/2013 Titchwell Marsh RSPB

Ruff: Our next stop on our second day in Norfolk was to the very excellent Titchwell RSPB nature reserve.

The ting with Norfolk is that the birding is ace! From the number of waders to the species it draws and Titchwell was no exception.

Lapwing: One of the first birds we saw was a female Marsh Harrier cursing over the vast reed beds. The scrapes were full of waders, Ruff, Lapwing, Black wits, Green Sands, Wood Sands, Spotted and Redshank but the highlight for me was very close views of a Little Stint.

Little Ringed Plover: (juvenile) I bagged another new tick with two female Red Crested Pochard which I believe breed at Titchwell.


This LR Plover was happily feeding right in front of the hide.

Sparrowhawk: All of a sudden all the waders lifted off the scrape as out of the corner of my eye came a female Sparrowhawk clutching what looked like a Starling.

Spoonbill: We decided to make a move and head back to the car for the long journey back up north when we stopped on the causeway looking over the scrape and spotted this elegant Spoonbill passing over.

Little Gull: We also spotted a single Little Gull sleeping on the scrape, this picture shows the difference in size between the Little Gull near the waters edge and the Black Headed Gull at the to of the picture.





We had a great trip birding and twitching around Norfolk where I bagged six new lifers which were Night Heron, Nightjar, Roller, Red Crested Pochard, Little Stint and believe it or not Common Scoter - on a brief sea watch but I'm hoping for better views one day as they were miles away. I will definitely  be back for more excellent Norfolk birding soon.

09/04/2013 Martin Mere WWT

Ruff: We soon wandered down to Martin Mere were I am still astonished to see how variable Ruff are, I mean if you were no birder you would not be mistaken to think they are a different species.

Take a look at this pale white ruff, absolutely stunning.

This darker Ruff's plumage looks nothing like what you would see in most books, from the Swan Link Hide we spotted at least 2 white headed Ruff 4 dark phase Ruff and at least 15  brown Ruff.

And look at this Ruff, presumably the females with their brown plumage phase. There were loads of theses normal looking Ruff, some with a white fronted face and others without. Even their legs can be different colors making identification even more tricky!

Lapwing: Other waders from the Swan Link Hide induced this Lapwing which unlike the Ruff  blackwit was very flighty.

Black Tailed Godwit: There was half a dozen blackwits from here too and once again put on a great show foraging right up close. We caught 2 Tawny Owl near the United Utilities Hide a Stoat and a female Wheatear all in the same area.

One thing that was striking was the lack of Whooper Swans from the last time I was here there was about 100 and this was only about 2 weeks ago . We only saw one pair from the Swan Link and one pair from the United Utilities Hide.

Spoonbill: I was made up to spot this Spoonbill knowing we had missed it earlier that day at Marshisde.

On the way home Scott said 'lets go see some Corn Buntings' and I said 'OK, but I doubt we will see any' and just as that sentence left my lips he said 'Oh, look over there' and there was a tree full of Corn Buntings.


Brilliant, two lifers in one day Corn Bunts and Black Grouse now that can't be bad!

14/06/2012 Leighton Moss RSPB

Bullfinch: I love Leighton Moss as its full of cracking birds, I went to see the Spoonbill and was treated to great views of a hunting male Marsh Harrier.

Half an hour spent at the feeding station was very productive as this Stunning male Bullfinch turned up to feed.




Along with the male there was also one female Bullfinch seen, she is the paler bird on the left and was a right fatty, constantly stuffing her beak.


 

Chaffinch: The most common finch in the UK and by far the most active on the feeders I counted at least nine individuals many where juveniles. Other regualr birds to note at the feeders where Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Graet Tit, Willow Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.





Spoobill: This was the reason why I went up to Leighton Moss, this Spoonbill has been hanging around the Eric Morecambe Hide for a few days now, and I was made up to see it.

Although my lens could only manage a record shot, the picture still shows off its general size and spoon shaped bill.

31/03/2012 Parkgate Marsh

Spoonbill: My FIRST UK SIGHTING

This bird has been hanging around Parkgate for weeks now and has been on the estuary over the winter but due to work commitments I have been unable to get out and see it.

Pink-footed Geese where flying feeding along the marsh behind the Spoonbill

It was snoozing just off the Donkey Sands Flash and very rarely moved to show its amazing spoon shaped bill. It was miles away I got good views in my binoculars but I only had my 300mm lens with me, which struggled with the distance, so I could only get these poor record shots.

Hen Harrier:  Ringtail showing really well of the end of school lane early this morning until it was mobbed y three Crows.