Napton Reservoir

Whinchat

I spent a couple of hours at the very "under watched" Napton Reservoir this afternoon, which gave me three year ticks in the form of a male Whinchat, House Martin and Hobby (2). While trying to locate a very close and vocal Sedge Warbler, the long staying male Whinchat obligingly posed for me, one of the best I have ever seen! A list of sightings can be seen at the end of this post.

Whinchat

With this weed, I thee wed! Great Crested Grebes

Mallard Cuties!

Bathtime! Pied wagtail

Reed Bunting

Today's Sightings:

Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Pheasant; Great Crested Grebe; Buzzard; Sparrowhawk; Hobby; Coot; Black Headed Gull; LBB Gull; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Skylark; Sand Martin; Swallow; House Martin; Pied Wagtail; Yellow Wagtail; Dunnock; Robin; Whinchat; Song Thrush; Blackbird; Blackcap; Whitethroat; Lesser Whitethroat; Sedge Warbler; Willow Warbler; Chiffchaff; Wren; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Starling; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Reed Bunting.

You Can't Beat a Robin........WWT Ashlawn Cutting.

Juvenile Robin

A quick but pleasant walk along the Ashlawn Cutting this morning hoping for some migrants. They were present, sightings list at the end of this post, but were not wishing to have their images taken! As the title says, "You can't beat a Robin....." which is just as well as Robins were the only birds opening up for a picture! Pleasing to get a year "tick" in Lesser Whitethroat.

Juvenile Robin

Robin

Oh, and a Blue Tit!

Today's Sightings:

Robin, Blackcap, Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; Mistle Thrush, Magpie, Carrion Crow; Jackdaw; Collared Dove; Dunnock; Goldfinch; Rook; Starling; Green Woodpecker; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Song Thrush; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Wren; Canada Goose; Willow Warbler; Chiffchaff; Bullfinch; Black Headed Gull; Long Tailed Tit; Lesser Whitethroat; Jay; Mallard; Moorhen; Skylark; Linnet; Greenfinch.

New Forest - 26th April 2015

Crossbill

A day out in the good company of the Coventry and Warwickshire RSPB Group saw us heading into the New Forest for a walk centred around Beaulieu Road Station area. It was a good birding day, not in the quantity of species but in good quality birds. Unfortunately, the birds remained distant and mobile, providing a challenge for my Canon 100-400 lens and the result was heavily cropped recod shots!

Even before I got on the coach, I was treated to the activities of the Coventry Cathedral Peregrines. The male bird dispatched a pigeon and landed with it on the nest site ledge, where it remained for about five minutes. It then took flight from the ledge, soon followed by the female, but they disappeared over the ring road. They must have enjoyed the pigeon away from the nest as they returned ten minutes later without it. An excellent start to the day!

Peregrine (Coventry)

The day was to provide a number of year ticks, the first being excellent views of Red Kite, from the coach, on the journey south. The day was also provided a three year tick of Crossbill, a two year tick of Woodlark, and further year ticks of Redstart and Dartford Warbler. A list of the days sightings can be found at the end of this post.

Who can resist the Ponies?

Woodlark

Crossbill

Redstart

Mallard Fly Past

Woodland Oddities

Today's Sightings:

Peregrine (Cov); Buzzard; Red Kite (journey); Kestrel; Pied Wagtail; Starling; Blackbird; Jackdaw; Pheasant; Carrion Crow; Rook; Magpie; Jay; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Black Headed Gull; LBB Gull; Mallard; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Song Thrush; Wren; Robin; Chaffinch; Cuckoo; Redstart; Blue Tit; Blackcap; Swallow; Willow Warbler; Stonechat; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Great Tit; Curlew; Skylark; Chiffchaff; Green Woodpecker; Dartford Warbler; Woodlark; Goldcrest; Crossbill; Siskin; Little Egret; Lapwing; Mistle Thrush; Meadow Pipit; Goldfinch; Shelduck (journey); Stock Dove.