West Midlands/Warwickshire local patches. (9 Viewers)

[senatore]

I also went to Draycote yesterday morning.The place must have been full of BF members!!!! As Hippo says the weather in the morning was great and for the first time in ages I was hot when out birding.

Allthough it was pleasant walking around seeing all the birds that were about I had a frustrating time with the camera.

I spotted a fabulous looking Grey Wagtail on the walls by the outflow and ,using my fieldcraft skills(HaHa) just as I got close enough to get a decent pic. a guy on a bike arrived noisily to check on the water levels.The Wagtail flew off never to be seen again.

Later I spotted a great looking Yellowhammer on top of a hedge enjoying the sunshine but each time I crept close enough for a pic it flew a few metres down the hedge just out of range.After this was repeated a few times I gave up.

I quickly found the Great northern Diver in it's usuall spot by the valve tower and this time it was close to the shore.As I got in range for a decent close shot it dived and of course it came up about 50 metres away.Again as I got within range of the camera it dived again and came up the other side of the valve tower.This was repeated for 40 minutes with me only getting distant shots.It finally dived for the last time and I never saw where it came up.


A bit frustraing with the camera but a great day out otherwise.

Max.

 

[Duck_Pond]

I popped down to Lower Bittell yesterday in the hope of seeing the 3 lesser spotted woodpeckers, allegedly seen there. No sign of them. Saw a chap walking along who asked if I had seen them and then went on to say that he walks down the path virtually everyday and hasn't yet seen them either!

Did see a few goosanders, and a bit closer this time, though the light was fading and I could only shoot at a high ISO. Then, just as I thought I'd get some decent shots, a pair of horse-riders appeared and scared them off. So Max, I know how you feel!

 

[jeff]

the first time in ages I was hot when out birding.

I have that trouble all the time ;-)

PS. Anyone who know what i really look like (just think elephant man and you'll be close), no comments please, hope Steve hasn't still got the rear end shots

 

[Kevin Groocock]

[QUOTE=jeff]I have that trouble all the time ;-)PS. Anyone who know what i really look like (just think elephant man and you'll be close), no comments please, hope Steve hasn't still got the rear end shots [/QUOTE]


Start of the male menopause????


Kevin

 

[senatore]

Good luck on the Norfolk trip Duckpond.Not to put you under pressure we will expect some great pics of some rarities.

Seen by others in our area yesterday:-

Tundra Bean Goose and Common Sandpiper at Marsh Lane.

Avocet at Draycote Water.

Max.

 

[xFritzx]

im off to spend a week in rural bavaria from tomorrow, if i stumble across anything interesting ill post it in the trip reports section. Lets hope i can find a black woodpecker!

 

[Kevin Groocock]

im off to spend a week in rural bavaria from tomorrow, if i stumble across anything interesting ill post it in the trip reports section. Lets hope i can find a black woodpecker!

Lucky you! Good luck & enjoy. Look forward to the reports.


Kevin

 

[Duck_Pond]

I can confirm that there are lesser spotted woodpeckers at Lower Bittell. I saw 2 myself, this morning (could have been the same bird twice I suppose). Second time my camera had one of those moments where inexplicably it won't fire. To say I was annoyed is an understatement.

However, did also see a pair of goosanders, and finally got some reasonable shots of those, plus a hat-full of pics of long-tailed tits.

 

[Reader]

Good luck on the Norfolk trip Duckpond.Not to put you under pressure we will expect some great pics of some rarities.

Seen by others in our area yesterday:-

Tundra Bean Goose and Common Sandpiper at Marsh Lane.

Avocet at Draycote Water.

Max.

Sorry Max

The Tundra Bean Goose was wrongly reported as it was a Pink Foot.

John

 

[Gaz Shilton]

Popped down to Whitacre Heath early today and allthough it was very heavy underfoot it was nice to walk through the woods with the sun shining.The woods were alive with birds and the woodland hide was very busy with the more common birds.

Steve Searle was set up at the carpark feeders when I got there but the LSW had not paid a visit.It had not shown when I left at 10.20AM so I hope it showed for those birders who had waited patiently.

Max.

WHere exactly is the reserve in Whitacre Heath? I live in Hartshill and have passed by on way to Kingsbury WP but never found the reserve. Would quite like to see the LSW if still there.
Many Thanks.

 

[Reader]

WHere exactly is the reserve in Whitacre Heath? I live in Hartshill and have passed by on way to Kingsbury WP but never found the reserve. Would quite like to see the LSW if still there.
Many Thanks.

Hi Gaz

Are you a member of one of the Wildlife Trusts (Warwickshire, Worcestershire etc). If not you won't be able to get in. The gate is padlocked with a coded lock.

The LSW isn't going on the feeders anywhere near as much as it did. It tends to go into the woods now, which makes it quite hard to see.

John

 

[KayD]

Invest in a case of Red Bull, and forget sleeping for a while.

I'm sat at my desk, pining for a day off. Got a week off soon, when I'm planning to head east to Titchwell Marsh and Minsmere. Also hoping to see some different scenery, so both cameras will be used!

Ah it's raining now, so that makes me feel a little better. Still, the morning has been glorious, and I'd rather have been sat in a hide somewhere than here at my desk.

Spotted another goldcrest in my back garden last night - so I'm hoping to see it / them during the year for some better photos.

I'm also hoping my hangover will dissipate by lunch...

Hi Duck, when are you off to Norfolk? We are off there ourselves on 20th and will also be crossing over into suffolk for our first visit to Mimsmere. Havn't been out birding for a few weeks, so nothing to report. Saving it all up for Norfolk can't wait

 

[abagguley]

I can confirm that there are lesser spotted woodpeckers at Lower Bittell. I saw 2 myself, this morning (could have been the same bird twice I suppose).

Hey DP - I may have seen you up there - I've been trudging up & down that path twice a day for weeks trying to get a decent pic of the LSW's, without much luck.

Attached is the best I've managed so far.

There was a male there around 8:30 this morning, up near the top towards Upper Bittell, in one of the dead oaks. I expect I'll pop back this evening - I'll be the depressed-looking bloke who's spent an hour not seeing woodpeckers for the n-thousandth time...

Adrian

 

[Nick May]

I would like to know how to get to Whitacre as well please, I'm a member of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Nick

Hi Gaz

Are you a member of one of the Wildlife Trusts (Warwickshire, Worcestershire etc). If not you won't be able to get in. The gate is padlocked with a coded lock.

The LSW isn't going on the feeders anywhere near as much as it did. It tends to go into the woods now, which makes it quite hard to see.

John

 

[senatore]

Sorry Max

The Tundra Bean Goose was wrongly reported as it was a Pink Foot.

John

Thanks John for that info.I was at Marsh Lane this morning and the ID was still being discussed.

Max.

 

[senatore]

I would like to know how to get to Whitacre as well please, I'm a member of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Nick

Hi Nick,
The reserve is situated on the left hand side of the lane that goes from Whitacre Heath to Lea Marston (if you come from Whitacre Heath) and is approx. half a mile from the start of the lane.The reserve is not signposted but the entrance gate is a tubular metal one with a coded padlock.You should see cars parked beyond the gate.The code for the padlock is in the Warwickshire Wildlife documents that they sent you.

Max.

 

[senatore]

Popped down to Marsh Lane this morning and amongst the better birds seen were:-

2 Sand Martins,1 Common Sandpiper,4 Redshanks,2 Common Snipe,1 Water Rail,7 Ringed Plovers,1 Little Ringed Plover (yesterday),3 Oystercatchers,2 Buzzards,1 Goldcrest and 8 Long-tailed Tits.

Reported by others yesterday:-

Rock Pipit at Draycote Water.

4 Jack Snipe at Ladywalk.

Max.

 

[Duck_Pond]

Hey DP - I may have seen you up there - I've been trudging up & down that path twice a day for weeks trying to get a decent pic of the LSW's, without much luck.

Attached is the best I've managed so far.

There was a male there around 8:30 this morning, up near the top towards Upper Bittell, in one of the dead oaks. I expect I'll pop back this evening - I'll be the depressed-looking bloke who's spent an hour not seeing woodpeckers for the n-thousandth time...

Adrian

It's a better shot than I've managed from there so far! If you spot a bloke hunched from the weight of his camera around his neck, green wellies and an Animal ski-jacket on, then it's me. My pics from yesterday resemble a rag on the side of a tree, and a blurred shot of one in the woods.

I popped up to Kingsbury today, and saw zip! So went down to Whitacre Heath and had a fine day. Got some good shots of an LS Woody, nuthatch and shoveler, all of which, until today, had evaded my lens.
The sparrowhawk dived in once, but was out before I could get a shot off. As usual!

 

[Steve Seal]

It's a better shot than I've managed from there so far! If you spot a bloke hunched from the weight of his camera around his neck, green wellies and an Animal ski-jacket on, then it's me. My pics from yesterday resemble a rag on the side of a tree, and a blurred shot of one in the woods.

I popped up to Kingsbury today, and saw zip! So went down to Whitacre Heath and had a fine day. Got some good shots of an LS Woody, nuthatch and shoveler, all of which, until today, had evaded my lens.
The sparrowhawk dived in once, but was out before I could get a shot off. As usual!

Hi Ducky
I here the lessers showing at Whitacre again, its been missing for a few days now. Nice to know its still around.
Steve.............

 

[AndyC]

I've just picked up on this thread after a day out at Brandon Marsh. Seems I'm going to have to try to get to a few more local patches rather than all the longer distance Norfolk sites!