Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow at Rutland Water on 14th Sept 2007

Finches at Rutland Water

Greenfinch

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Little Egret

Little Egret at Rutland Water, Leics on 14th Sept 2007

Robin

Robin at Thorpe Hall, Peterborough

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tits at Thorpe Hall, Peterborough

Chiffchaff?

A scruffy Chiffchaff (probably) at Thorpe Hall

Moorhen

Moorhen chick at Rutland Water, Lagoon 3, Leics. on 5 Sept 2007

Ruff

Adult Ruff at Rutland Water,Lagoon 3, Leics on 5 Sept 2007

Greenshank

Greenshank at Rutland Water, Lagoon 3, Leics.

Lapwing

Lapwing at Rutland water, Lagoon 3, Leics.

Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper at Rutland Water, Lagoon 3, Leics.

Snipe

Snipe at Rutland Water, Lagoon 3. Leics.on 3 Sept 2007

Great Crested Grebe

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe At Ferry Meadow

Mute Swans at Rutland Water

Family of Mute Swans at Rutland Water, Rutland on 14th July 2007

Just missed it!

An empty Dragonfly larval case in Peterborough garden

A slow start--A hectic end

Banded Demoiselle and friend

A morning visit to Deeping Lakes was so devoid of activity that I had to resort to taking pictures of Damselflies. The real excitement started mid afternoon when the presence of a DARK-EYED JUNCO was reported at Langham, Norfolk. Hour and a half later we were at house No.10 with about forty others standing like sardines on a very small patio designed for a family of four. One hour later we were still standing like guardsmen all looking into the sun onto a small lawn still looking for a small dark bird--oh to stretch out and move around. After a while you get fed -up with being prodded with scopes and banged with back-packs. All this was forgotten, however, when some one announced the The Bird was at No. 6. A mass exodus occured; even if you didn't want to go the crowds momentum carried us along.On arrival at No.6 which was as compacted as No.10 even before we arrived all we could see was a bank of very excited six foot birders. Even before we had chance to carve out a viewing hole one of the six foot birders pronouced The Bird had flown over the fence---ie back to No.10. Back we went, this time however we were at the back of the throng instead of in the front row. 'There it is' was the cry. So forgetting any etiquette or decorum we had to recall our rugby scrummaging technique and force our way to the front, yet again. And there it was the little dark drab beauty feeding on the lawn! Another life tick and a happy end to a hectic end of the day

Pheasants and Chicks at Eldernell

A Swallow at Eldernell

What larks eh! ---pip lad.

AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER-APRIL 2008

Skylarks at Blackbush Fen

A Stroll around Ferry Meadows

Moorhen

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Blackbird

Little Bittern

A record shot of the Little Bittern

A quick dash to Tichwell resulted in good but brief views( perching in the reeds and in flight) of the recently arrived Little Bittern. Our luck was in since we only waited for about 30min to see this minutive Bittern but unfortunately the luck didn't hold for we got absolutely saturated by a fierce Norfolk squall on the way back to the car.

Father's day at Flamborough Head

Gannets at Bempton Cliffs

Gannet

Gannets

Gannet

As a surprised treat for father's day my son, Aran,organised a day touring around the cliffs at Flamborough. Firstly a 3 1/2 h boat trip from Bridlington on the Yorkshire Belle took us to the 400ft high cliffs to witness the Spaghetti junction of the bird world with Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Kittiwakes and Fulmars travelling at different heights between their nesting sites and feeding grounds---a spectacular sight. After retuning to port we then moved to Bempton Cliffs for an alternative view down onto the nesting sites.The day was brought to a welcomed climax when we connected , after 2h, with the Great White Egret at Tophill Nature Reserve, East Yorks.

''CONGRATULATIONS''

Squacco Heron

BIRDWATCH MAGAZINE_JULY 2007
Squacco Heron

Squacco Heron

Squacco Heron

May I be the first to congratulate myself on reaching 300 British List Species, not with the beautifully coloured Squacco Heron twitched at Erith Marshes, London on 4th June but with a Rose-ringed Parakeet(Ringed-neck Parakeet) which flew over us as we approached the Heron site. This success coupled with good views of the Marsh Warbler at Rainham Marshes later in the day further increased my life list.

A day in Norfolk

Blackheaded Gull

Shoveller

Mandarin

Although no decent photo could be had of the Booted Warbler at Blakeney Point the above were taken along the North Norfolk coast on 2nd June.

Swallow

Swallow at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough on 24th May 2007

A Birding week

Sedge Warbler At Minsmere

Avocet at Minsmere

Barnacle Geese at Minsmere

Greylag Geese at Minsmere

Purple Heron at Minsmere

The week started well with a visit to Tichwell to see Little Gull, little Tern and ,eventually, Temmink's Stint. Next location was Lakenheath where after four visits in three years we obtained superb views of two Golden Orioles along with a tremendous number of displaying Hobbies,around twenty in number, however we did dip on the Cranes which were keeping a low profile due to the high winds. An early morning visit to Over Fen on the 20th May also resulted in disappoinment as the short staying Semi-palmated Sandpiper had flown overnight. My disappointment was short lived since a visit to Minsmere was successful in witnessing two Purple Herons on the ground and in flight; also my first Turtle Dove of the year