BIRDS EVERY WHERE NOT A TICKABLE IN SIGHT

  Rea, Weaver, Great Grey and ural owl to name a few all at Twycross Zoo

  A Little Egret flew in from the North West and messed about with the Elephants for a while then flew off the way it came. Possible wild even though there is a captive colony at the zoo but if wild it wasn't even a year tick oh well..

On Tour Again 13th July to 28th July

   This tour started with the prospect of buying a Static Caravan near Skegness. so we drove to the site where we parked up the Motor home and settled in. A Hobby made a pass over the site while i was filling the water tank. House Martins, Swifts, Swallows and Goldfinches all over the site.

   The following morning we viewed the Caravan and bought it on the spot, a bargain not to be missed.

   A walk up to the dunes produced very little. A woodpigeon, Lapwing, Sandwich Terns and single Gannet. On Sunday the only thing worth viewing was a Peregrine.

   Next we headed towards home and drove straight passed and onto Evesham for yet another Country and Western festival. not a lot of birdin just a lot of booze gun smoke and great fun but did find Buzzards, Green and Great spotted woodpecker, Turtle Dove and swifts around the site.
   Here we were joined by the three grandchildren and headed off for a week in Norfolk. A visit to Titchwell found usual stuff to be expected along with distant views of  6 Spoonbills.

Scotland

   A tour of Scotland with some plans of where to go and what to see.

the weather how ever had other idea's of what was going to be possible. Misty,Cloudy and drizzle prevented a lot. the high tops where for ever hidden in cloud and so we never got to go high. Still a good and enjoyable trip and can't wait to go back.

   En route from home. travel was through the night and so didn't get to see a lot until around  6-30 Friday morning and mostly birds were corvids and buzzards, a few pinkfoots and 1 Oystercatcher at Stirling on a traffic island on the A9. 

   Arrived at Glenmore Forest campsite and immediately had rested Tit on a feeder along with Chaffinch and Coal Tits. by the time my Camera was set though all that was left was a Red Squirrel robbing the nuts.

    We headed off Saturday Morning with a wander around the lanes and a stop at Poorhouse wood Grantown on Spey. had dipper and Corvids, Buzzards, Pinkfoots around the lanes and in the woods Scottish and Common Crossbills High up but nothing else except more Coal tits. Was hoping for Capercaillie hat trick as the last two time I have been here I have had a male Caper but not to be this time.
   arrived back at the motor home and my wife Angela wanted to know why a big black Turkey would be loose in the woods here in Scotland as one was just outside 20 minutes ago. now does that take the piss or what.
   We headed away from the Cairngorms through Inverness and down the side of Lochness. No Monster just a Red Kite. then arrived at our next campsite at Uig Isle of skye with worse weather and visibility condition's than in the Cairngorms.
   following morning brought slightly clearer visbility and Eider out on the bay were found along with Raven, Rock Dove and Hoodied Crows

   Hung around at Uig for two nights in the hope the weather would clear but not to be so headed south.
next camp site we stayed at was Glen Nevis at the foot of Ben Nevis and we never saw more than half way up with all the low cloud.. Did get a bullfinch here as well as a loud Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming first thing in the morning. Also a pair of Goosander on the river.

   We left Scotland and headed South with our next stop Cumbria and a site at Methop Fell that produced Nuthatch and Treecreeper and 2 female with 5 male Goosander.

   Now sat at a Midland Campsite just off the M42 and got this Pied Blackbird LOL nice never come across this befor but have seen one all white back in the 80's at a london park.

Otmoor  Oxfordshire

   Year list ticks  were Skylark, Reed Bunting, Grey lag Goose, White-fronted Goose and Snipe. other birds of note were several Red Kite, Kestrel and Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Mute Swan and a Reeves Pheasant.

Farmoor Oxfordshire

   WInd got really High here and it's really open . good start to the visit with year ticking Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Northern Diver and to finish time spend with the Grey Phalarope. Wind and High Water made photography difficult but a great little bird to say the least.

Night Heron in Athertone

    After failing to start the 8 seater because of flat battery again. made the the journey in the motor home for yet another potential lifer just up the road at Atherstone. Only to discover the bird is wearing what appears to be a Zoo Ring.
 O well next time maybe.

NORTH NORFOLK

North Norfolk Trip  January 17th 

   En Route to Norfolk the year list kicked off with Red-legged Partridge, Mallard and Lapwing. also a Buzzard and a couple of Kestrels but No Kite along the A605

Fist stop Fakenham

   Pulled in at the lay by near Morrison's and walked along the old Holt road. more like a muddy track. The Great Grey Shrike did show but mobile and distant. also year ticked Robin, Great spotted Woodpecker and Mistle thrush.

  A stop off at Holkham For a quick look before heading off to Hunstanton and the campsite.

   Holkham produced a mixed flock of around 500 Pink-footed and Brent Geese before a female Marsh Harrier put the lot up and off towards Brancaster.

January 18th

   A quick look at the beach while the rain has stopped and found
Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Curlew then headed off.

Titchwell Marsh

   A freindly Robin, Goldfinch and a Blackbird hung around the picnic area. before the Life tick Arctic Redpoll showed high up in the trees before flying off again.

 
A walk along the path to the beach produced
  Water Rail, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Shelduck, Pintail, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Redshank, a pair of Marsh Harriers. off shore my second lifer 
Long-tailed Duck.


   Homeward bound


   More year ticks with Red Kite, Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Gull and Egyptian Goose and also another Marsh Harrier.