Sunday 28 August 2011

West Side Story

Plenty of birds around to see this weekend, and still a day to go with the bank holiday tomorrow.
Yesterday's birding began at Swineholes Wood again, to see if there were more Spotted Flycatchers around than the week before. Well, there were at least 10 of them this time. An amazing sight really, never seen that many Spot Flys together. Also a Tree Pipit and plenty of flocks of tits and warblers.

Uttoxeter Quarry had a pretty good selection of birds, considering there isn't much mud for waders. But in addition to a single Ruff with the Lapwing flock, look around and there's a few migrants on offer, including one each of Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart.




Later on Andy managed to find a Whinchat, which thankfully I go onto this morning, although too late for the Spotted Redshank.


But after that, what the heck, lets twitch the Pectoral Sandpiper at Branston.

The bird was seen around a flash in what has been described as the west side, which is true as it's a bit further west to the other gravel pits. The pager directions were advising to use a footpath that I never used before from Dunstall, from the road that runs between Barton-under-Needwood and Tatenhill.

But Dunstall is an area I do know well, when I was a little lad I used to collect conkers round here with my dad, just as he used to collect conkers when he was a lad with my grandad. So if you're after some good quality conkers, go to Dunstall!

But as it's too early for conkers just yet, this a Pec Sand.


Plenty to see around Blithfield before going home. Tad bay still had the Osprey in it's favourite tree, 1 Garganey and 1 Black-necked Grebe still. Spotted Redshank and Sanderling in and around St. Stephens Bay, 4 juvenile Black Terns from the causeway, Little Stint and 2 juvenile Little Gulls in Blithe Bay.




No comments: