June has been a poor month for me in terms of birding, I've not really done any since my trip to Marshside at the end of May.

It's very frustrating being stuck in doors watching this nice weather go by day after day, especially being a night worker, it's a nightmare trying to sleep when the temperature is in the 70's.

Anyway, finally some time off and an opportunity to go out and about. I'd read on various internet forums that some Tawny Owls were showing well at Mere...

To day was good and bad...
Took the long road and made my way to the waters edge,yet again the birds were on the other side to meThere was a large group of Tuffed ducks to day,watched the Geese on the other side for a bit and managed to see the Bar-headed Goose,decided to walk round the edge as it was to hot to sit,saw a Treecreeper and The Shelducks out on the water they have two young.Walked on and saw a young Great Spotted Woodpecker a new one for the list,my camera was having...

Had the day off so was up at Eccup for 8.30 before it got to hot,didn't go to the lake to day but took the walk on the other side which takes you through open farm land past were they film Emmerdale,past wild medows and back pass woods and small coppice woods...
Plenty of Swifts and Swallows,Yellowhammers,and Skylarks singing their heads off..Met up with a lady who was doing the same walk,she said she comes most days and yesterday the farmer was cutting his crop,above the field there was...

Had a few hours this morning so went to Eccup,the weather was not great and in the end I did get rained off.
Managed to find a spot were you can get down to the waters edge
The Geese numbers seem to be back up,after the cule last year, with pleanty of Cannada Geese,Graylag and White Geese.There was four Herons lining the bank and I saw one Comorant (they are always at the other side of the lake no matter which side I go to)There was up to six Great crested Grebe that...

Please, wahtever you do. Do not take out White Horse insurance when booking a holiday with Thomas Cook.

I called the insurance asking if I could claim for the repair of my camera and was told to send the camera to Walsall, address on letter which was sent to me with the claims form on it.
Initially I was asked how much would it cost?
I said I did not know, I was just calling to ask if you insure for repair of cameras damaged whilst on holiday?
They suggested...