Anglesey - Round Trip

With Shropshire in the bird doldrums, my annual Spring trip to Anglesey beckoned. Another listing barrier was destined to be broken - the 200 mark for the year!!

Black Guillemot at Fedw Fawr were probably the highlight as ever - even from the cliff top, they always manage to put on a great show, five were seen....










Choughs at South Stack nearly didn't get captured - driving off, a couple were in the field by the cafe - eating Leatherjackets!








Then, Cemlyn and the Tern colony - approx 200 Common Terns, catching and then squabbling over fish...








Even more Sandwich Tern, 800 estimated at present!






A few Seabirds added too and eight year ticks in all (up to 203) - a bit of a rush right now - I'm off to the Scottish Highlands now for a few days - hopefully a few birds will come my way, hope it stays dry and hope I don't get bitten too much!

150 up - One Turtle Dove and two Partridges.....

A useful encounter with a Turtle Dove in the Upton Magna area brought up the County 150 mark. Time will tell but I think last years tally is likely to be out of reach unless something spectacular happens. I also have to get to grips with Sanderling, Knot and Black Tern!!!

I'll have to rewrite the Christmas song for the sake of accuracy!

Here's the Turtle Dove dropping in.....











Plus the Partridges (Red legged)....






There wasn't a pear tree in sight!








Strictly for record purposes or very clever artistic use of reeds to depict (hide) a skulkng Reed Warbler at Priorslee....








Meanwhile at Venus Pool, a Green Woodpecker getting to grips with the ant problem? Every garden should have one!






The dutiful pair of Oystercatchers at VP are still sitting and instantly scramble to see off Corvids!!

East Yorks - Terns and Bonxie

I had to suffer the frustration of being up North accompanying Gemma with swimming committments whilst Shropshire enjoyed a 48 hour spell of decent birds!

Managed just one escape from my Sheffield Hotel and picked the one day that week that Spurn failed to supply a decent bird or two!

At least there was a year tick here - courtesy of one or two Little Terns near the hide at Beacon Lagoon








Is that ALL you could manage!!!






Hearing news of Black Terns and a Great Skua at Southfield reservoir (which just happened to be on my way back!) with half an hour or so to spare, it was worth a try!

No-one else was there initially and it didn't take long to find the Bonxie - the bulky frame obvious on the central embankment...






A brief flight closer.....






Then a retreat into the grass for a nap!








I counted at least seven Black Terns present plus a few Common Tern - all too distant though - and I had to get back! At least the day ended on a 'plus'......

Venus Pool - Greenshank

Whilst I might have been moaning about the lack of waders in Shropshire generally this year (and still do!) This weekend certainly got the County list moving.

Firstly, a fly through Whimbrel at 7.45 Saturday morning, unmistakeable - less than 50m in front of the hide and calling....

Then, a late start Sunday morning turned up a Greenshank - at least this bird stopped for all of a couple of minutes!












Before I could get news out (desperate stuff eh - a Greenshank is 'news'??) one of the feisty Lapwings literally 'dropped' on it - it briefly flew to the middle island then seconds later was gone.....






I was speaking to Andy just before the Greenshank flew off and he'd got a Ringed Plover at Mire Lake - once boredom had set in and having missed last Sunday's VP bird - I was off. A shot for the record of this one!






On a roll then with three new year ticks and hopes of a Cuckoo on Whixall moss? I also needed Hobby and there was no problem here - SIX were in view but generally distant on the mosses.






This was the the closest encounter!






I could hear Cuckoo calling and my luck really was in - assuming it was in the copse near to the main track from Furbers - I was amazed to drop on it nearby and out in the open!! About 100m away though, into the light / heat haze so don't go looking for feather detail here!






What a day - four County year ticks plus the Whimbrel from yesterday - knocking on the door of 150 now!!

Venus Pool - Dunlin

Only a Dunlin but a smart Summer plumage bird - busy feeding at the water's edge in front of the North hide today....

Stiperstones - Willow Wobbler

Catching up with images I finally got round to sorting those from a quick session on the Stiperstones last Saturday. I came across several Willow Warblers including one particularly engaging pair....

They were quite obliging for the camera, some of the nicest portraits I've captured of this common bird.










But then, they became even more engaging! The presumed male decided to impress his mate with a brief wing-flap display. Stood upright and waving his wing (arms??) - such cute images!! Do they make you smile??










Whether this is all down to anthropomorphism (how's that for new word of the day!) Assuming they appeal to you too - it's when creatures indulge in 'human like' activity?

I've said it before, common birds are well worth watching sometimes, they may just do something 'uncommon'!

Crosby Marine Park - Pallid Swift!!!!

The demons of yesterday's failed twitch were fortunately laid to rest today with an instant result at Crosby Marine Lake. Mind you, it nearly didn't happen! I'd turned down the offer of a lift with Andy and Damo the previous evening - that all changed when news came out of the Pallid Swift 'showing well' again....

The Enterprise was pointed towards Liverpool and with the empty bank holiday roads I was there in no time. Dank moisture laden skies didn't help photography but the 'Pallid' was fairly easy to pick out - most noticeable was the paler 'brown' appearance relative to the many Common Swift with which it was feeding. This pale colour also makes the eye-mask stand out.

Steady rain soon put the mockers on extended photography but at least a couple of record shots were in the bag! The classic wing shape (blunt tips) was not at all obvious even when looking at the photographs. There was some damage to the outer primary tips and maybe this was the reason why? The scaly appearance to the underparts was noticeable though when the bird got close and you can see this in the (OK I know they are dodgy) record shots too!








At about 11.00 and with rain now easing, the swift disappeared - over to Seaforth - keeping to this trend from previous days. And I made a swift exit too - calling in on Dolydd Hafren to see if the Great white Egret was in 'pose mode' view? It was - but only distantly .... in the shallow rapids of the river.....






Never mind, two good birds (one lifer!) to finish the Bank Holiday weekend on a positive note!!