Monday 9th April 2012

   After finding out there was a very high tide yesterday and this morning, i decided to head to Aust Warth first thing. There were at least 3, probably 4 Short-eared Owls there and a female Merlin. But the weather was absolutely rubbish!

Sunday 8th April 2012

   Trip to Devon today to try and pick up on a few odds and ends which were about. Started off at Dunster to look for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker again, nothing this time. We did have a pair of Dipper collecting nesting material. A Grey Wagtail, at least 6 Treecreepers and some Marsh Tits were the best we could do.

Marsh Tit

   Next stop was Little Haldon, where there had been a Hoopoe for a few days. No sign of that either. But we did manage at least 5 Crossbills and a few Yellowhammers.
   Then Broadsands for Cirl Buntings, there were at least 6 or 8 there. Also a Willow Warbler there.

Cirl Bunting (Female)

Cirl Bunting (Male)

   A Purple Heron at Budleigh Salterton was our next target, no sign of that either. then onto a very quiet Bowling Green Marshes RSPB. A good day, but could have been so much better.

Saturday 7th April 2012

Fallow Deer

   Visit to the Forest of Dean today. Rainy and horrible weather put paid to any real searching of Nagshead RSPB though. We sat in the Campbell hide and waited. Nothing much bird wise, a Nuthatch collecting mud for its nest hole was it! A Fallow Deer Doe came slowly out of cover and gradually there was a bit of life. In the end we had 4 Stags and 5 Does and also 4 Wild Boar. Sadly they stayed just in enough cover to not get any pix, except the first Doe!
   There were a few Mandarins on Cannop ponds, but not a lot else.

   Stopped off at Aust Warth on the way home and there were 4 Short-eared Owls there.

Thursday 5th April 2012

   An afternoon, after work trip out to Chew. Saw me photographing the Long-tailed Duck again, from Whalley bank. It now looks as though it is almost in summer plumage, not sure if they get full adult plumage in thier first summer or not. still nice to see though.

Long-tailed Duck

   I also managed to photograph, what looks like a 1st summer male (judging by the wear on the wing feathers), Little Ringed Plover at Herons Green. I was told there was another LRP at Stratford and then 3 more on the dam.

Little Ringed Plover

Monday 2nd April 2012

   Went to check out an area in Bristol, that i had been told had a pair of Peregrines. Got there and actually saw three! The local pair chased off, what looked like a young bird. Sadly, they kept away from the camera, maybe next time?

  Afternoon at Chew.

  Spotted & Common Sandpipers at Herriotts this time. Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins in  a decent sized flock. The Long-tailed Duck and Egyptian Goose were seen at the Picnic area near the Dam. Also a pair of Garganey from Stratford hide.

Sunday 1st April 2012

   April already, migration time????

   Portland and Weymouth today hoping for some migrants. Found out when i arrived at the Obs, is t was a bit quiet. Also found out that the day before they had a ringing record, 600+ birds ringed. Today they rang 6!!!! Typical.
   After a quick look around the Bill area, with no real luck, went off to the Reap Lane, Barleycrates Lane area. In the trees around the Stables there, there were a pair, well male and female anyway, Black Redstarts and a male Common Redstart. So a bit better. Swallows and Wheatears around the area too. Went back to the Obs to be told there were 2 Ring Ouzels near Barleycrates Lane, so back there then. Sadly we didnt see either of them, but i did manage to hear one 'chacking' away briefly. Very quiet though really.
   Went down to Radipole RSPB. Two Willow Warblers were in the Buddliea near the duck feeding area. At least 2 more around the reserve, quite a few Cettis Warblers were around as usual, but NOT showing, as usual!

Willow Warbler

Tufted Duck

   Last but not least had a quick look around at Wyke Regis, to try to find the Richards Pipit which had been around for months. No sign. But, did have a male Stonechat and still quite a few Red-breasted Mergansers on the Fleet.

Saturday 31st March 2012

  Somerset Levels today.

  Started at Greylake RSPB, sadly it was rather quiet. We left and headed for Catcott, as i drove through Moorlinch i spotted a Red Kite flying over. A bit of a bonus after Greylake. Catcott was very quiet too.
  Travelled back via Chew. Spotted and Green Sandpipers at Herriotts. The female Long-tailed Duck was still off the dam. Also had a flock of Sand Martins and my first Swallows too.

Tuesday 27th March 2012

   An after work trip to Chew, to look for the Richardsons Canada Goose. Searched Herriotts pool for an hour or so, looking at all the Canadas there. They all gradually disappeared, 2 or 3 at a time until there were only about 2 pairs left. Then out of the blue a birder friend said "Whats that?", looked up to see the Richardsons flying in. It landed at the back of the pool near a Shelduck. Amazingly it is about the same size!!! About ten minutes later it was gone again, flying off around the back of the pool.

Sunday 25th March 2012

Common Yellowthroat (1st Winter Male)

    Third time lucky for some photos of the Yellowthroat???

    Yes, not quite what i would have liked, but at least i finally managed a shot, which looks like a bird
(possibly, see what you think).


   Onto the Forest of Dean after, but rather quiet. Did manage Goshawk again from New Fancy view though.

Saturday 24th March 2012

   An afternoon visit to Chew today. The Spotted & Green Sandpipers were both at Herriotts pool still. Heard a report of some Little Gulls in the middle of the lake, so went to Stratford hide. There was a drake Greater Scaup there, fooling a few birders into thinking it was the Lesser. Sadly, even though all the duck seemed to be in the Stratford bay area, there was no sign of the Lesser Scaup. There were a pair of Ruddy Ducks there. Maybe i should not mention that, as they will only get shot! Could see the Little Gulls, but still distant.
   Went around to Woodford and got better/closer views of them from there. There were 6 in total, all adults.