I have been in the West Midlands for my Nephew's Christening and after visiting Brandon Marsh near Coventry yesterday, I made a trip to Hamstead in Birmingham today, to visit the RSPB reserve; Sandwell Valley.

I was last here in a very cold and snowy February when building work had not long started on improving the centre and facilities. Sadly, not long after this, the centre was subject to an arson attack.

I arrived today to find only half of the building still standing,...

It's hard to believe that almost 15 months have passed since my first visit to Brandon Marsh. It was the day after the birth of my nephew, Nathan, I struggled with a hangover in the heat, taking very shaky photo's and feeling sorry for myself!!

I've just returned from the West Midlands for Nathan's Christening. I'm happy to report that he is now a wriggling, giggling, non-stop baby machine only content with ripping off Uncle Alan's glasses and trying to poke me in the eye with them...

Despite the pouring rain, I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to Leighton Moss this morning and arrived a little after 8am to find the reserve shrouded in fog too.

I headed along the causeway to the public hide to begin with and here saw many, many Swifts and Swallows criss-crossing and skimming the water. There was a couple of adult Great Black-backed gulls sitting on the near island and three juveniles sitting on the water. It goes without saying that there were numerous Coots and Mallards....

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...

I had arranged to meet up with Bassist on Thursday at Marshside near Southport. There has been recent sightings of Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and a drake Garganey we were both keen to see.

Due to a prior appointment with my dentist and then good old British Rail, it was 12.30pm by the time I got there. Bassist had called me while I was on the train to say that the Curlew Sandpipers were right outside Nels hide and I should go straight there.

I jumped in a taxi at...