JONNY74

Took a trip to one of Ruth's recent destinations in North Wales. Started of at the Scoter rich Pensarn for a couple of hours sea watch. Had some great views of both Common and Velvet Scoter but no sign of any of the recent Surf Scoter that have been about. Also present were good numbers of Red throated diver of which I counted at least 8 on the water.
Moved on in the afternoon along the coast to have a scout for the Snow Buntings and Ruth's nice Black Redstart at Kinmel bay. Got the Snow...

Went to the RSPB reserve Inner Marsh Farm yesterday morning and was greeted with a very unusually quite hide with nobody about at all. No sign of the Bittern thats been hanging about recently. And not a great deal happening on the pools either apart from loads of duck mostly Teal, Pintail and Wigeon. Quite a few Pink feet flying over as well.
The highlight of my visit was on my walk back to the car where I had 2 Water Rail feeding in the small wood by the boardwalk. And also around the wood...

Got a chance to get out today after a busy few weeks. So took advantage and headed off early to Moore NR near Warrington. Chose Moore to strengthen my new year list with some woodland species and also the Bittern thats been there the last few weeks. And maybe even the star of the reserve (only my opinion of course) the Lesser spotted woodpecker.
Never got the Bittern or Woodpecker but still got some good woodland birds including my first Treecreeper and Redpoll of the year. There were really...

Been staying up at Haverigg in Cumbria with family since the 27th December until yesterday. So i've been away from my computer hence my inactivity. But got a decent amount of birding time in especially around the RSPB reserve at Hodbarrow. The reserve is on the doorstep so I had a few nice early morning walks around there. There are quite a few duck of various species around there at the moment. With a few hundred Teal, Tufties, Pochard and Gadwall mixed together. There were the highlights as well...

Went to Crosby marina today to catch up with the Grey phalarope as it's only up the road from me. The bird was showing really well on the small boat lake at the north end of the marina. Probably the hardest bird i've ever tried to digiscope as it never sat still for more than a couple of seconds. Saying that the photographers with the 40 foot lenses never helped. Chasing the bird from one end of the lake to other until it flew off and over the fence on to Seaforth NR. Now don't get me wrong i've...