Sunday 24 July 2011

Ooh it's a Sanderling, and some Crossbills

So what have I got in store this time reader? Well yesterday, met Martyn and Kay at Blithfield. A bit of a selection on offer, which included a Greenshank, 6 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover in Blithe Bay.


In Tad Bay were 6 rather early Snipe, 27 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Wigeon and the Osprey which, like the shopkeeper on Mr Benn, appeared as if by magic.

Over at the deep end, a Yellow-legged Gull was stood on one of the buoys, and in Ten Acre Bay were 2 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers and this Sanderling.


Next was a "Local Tours" guided walk of Uttoxeter Quarry. Other than 4 Green Sand, there weren't too many other waders around, just 1 Common Sand, 1 Oystercatcher and 2 LRP's. But we did manage to see some nice family parties of birds in the hedgerows, including 4 Redstarts and 3 Lesser Whitethroats. Also a Hobby.

Whilst at the quarry, I was alerted to a sighting of some Crossbills. So when it was time for Martyn and Kay to return back to that place known as the West Midlands, I took myself over to a patch of larches, between Cheadle and Alton.

There were about 12 Crossbills there, those that I could see well were all juveniles. But it wasn't easy looking into the sun. So today, I had another look, and that's all I've done birding-wise. Managed to find a couple of juvenile Crossers, and eventually this one came out of the shadows.


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