Warwickshire

A good forecast for Sunday mean't I could get out and

try for a few shot's, The venue I choose was Draycote,

with a detour to try and find the Great Grey Shrike

reported earlier in the week at Grandborough as well.

I set out nice and early so I could get there for first

light. On arriving I made my way to the spot it had

reported and had a good scout around.

I spent a good half an hour looking around with no

joy, apart from about 300 Linnet's and a Sparrowhawk

that was trying to crash their party causing havoc.

It wasn't long before before I was joined by another

birder also trying to locate the Shrike, He wasn't there

5 minutes before he whislted and said "over there".

I looked up to Telegraph Wire's where he had pointed

and sure enough there it was. A first for me, It looked

much bigger than I expected.

I stayed for the best part of a couple of hour's watching

it and trying to get a few decent shot's. I really didn't

expect what I see as I watched the Shrike going about it's

buisness hovering just like kestrel would before diving on

it's prey. It was great to see but bloody hard to photograph,

here's are a photo, Purely for my records really.

I made my way over to Draycote next to see what I could

get there. I arrived to find a jam packed car park and a

Warden on the gate explaining to everyone "I recommend

you turn around as we have no more room". I could believe

it no way was I turning around without first having a look, My

turn came and he explained the situation to me but saying "you

can try if you like you may get lucky". To cut a long story short

I got lucky, as I went in a car pulled out of a space. I was in there

like a Rat up a drain pipe.

The rest is history as they say..I made my way around the lake

taking photo's of all it's resident's although I didn't quite get

them all. Here's a few shot's of what I did manage to get.

Kestrel!

Great Northern Diver!

Little Grebe!

Goldeneye!

Goosander!

Smew!

A cracking days birding and a few nice photo's

too boot!

Redwings

Snow!...and plenty of it.

One thing good about it is that it gave me another

opportunity to get a few photo's of the Redwings.

They've been visiting the berry bush in my garden

for a week or so now and have all but stripped it.

The last few remaining berries were too low for

them to reach, I took the opportunity and cut the

remainder off and strategically placed them on the

top of the bush giving me chance to get a shot or two.

I didn't have to wait long for them to descend!

Upton Warren NR

Well, I braved the elements today in the hope
of a few photo's. My choice was Upton Warren
NR as it's been a little while since I last visited.

I arrived at first light as I always do (best time

I think) In the hope of a glimpse of the now resident

Bitterns, I settled myself down in the Hobby hide

on North Moor's pool where there regularly

spotted. I watched patiently for a good two hours

but nothing showed, well apart from a Water rail

and a Fox both making good use of the Ice.

I made a move over to the Moor's pool as I thought

I stood a chance there, I thought at least the feeding

station would keep me busy while I waited, with the

cold weather still hanging on the feeders remained busy

all day.

In the few hours I was there I'd spotted male and female

Bullfinches, male and female reed bunting's along with

Long tailed tit's, Great tit's, Blue tit's,Dunnock and a Great

Spotted Woodpecker that was after the Fat.

On the floor beneath the feeders were probably even

more busy with Coot, Moorhen,Mallard and at least three

Water rail all taking advantage of the spillage's.

Through most of the day we were aware of a few raptor's

hanging around, while watching the feeders a male Sparrowhawk

made a pass but was unsuccessful, A buzzard soared overhead

and a Raven went over but the one that got us going was a female

Sparrowhawk that dropped in, in front of us giving me a perfect

opportunity for a few decent photo's.

In the Garden

Just a quickie!

Over the last week I've noticed a few of Redwing
flying around in the Cemetary behind my garden.

I've been waiting patiently all week for them

to find the berries that I have my garden so I could

get out and get a few photo's.

They eventually found them today and here's what

I got!

Eymore Wood

Ok here we go again. This time a trip to
Eymore wood was planned to try and catch
a glimpse of the reported Crossbills.

Reports of Crossbill's have been pretty high

over this last week,sometimes as many as 60.

I set off early to stand a good chance of seeing

them, as I made my way down the slippery road

towards the wood I spotted a pair of eye's

looking at me it was a Tawny Owl.

A good start to the day. I think I've probably only

seen one other in the two years I've been

birding, mostly heard.

Once it got light I had a good scan of the larches

that they had been reported in but no sign I probably

had a good hour scouring the branches but

nothing, well a few Coal tits.

I decided to take a trip through the woods

down onto Trimpley Reservior to see what I

could find there, on the lower pool I found 10 LBG's

and probably something like 50 BHG's sitting

on the ice but that was about it apart from a

few mallards anyway.

I then took a trip up to the main reservior

to see what was on there, as I made my way

around the pathway I spotted a Peregrine feeding

on the tower with something in it's claws

(not sure what it was bit to far really seemed

like he was enjoying though) again to far for a shot.

Apart from the mentioned Peregrine there was

little else to speak of really apart from the

common stuff.

I made my way back to the top car park of the

wood to have another good search, on my way

back I went round the opposite way on the small

lake to see if I'd missed anything first time round.

I'm glad I did. I found about 20 Siskins amongst

5-6 Goldfinches a Nuthatch in the woods

Great spotted woodpecker a pair of Bullfinches, all

to far for photo's though or in the wrong light..

Typical.

I eventually got back to the top car park and settled

down to search again for the elusive Crossbill's. I

didn't have to wait long before I had my first brief

glimpse's of them (probably about 5-6) Great! at last.

It makes it so much better if you get what you come

to see, I managed one photo and that wasn't the best

really, still at least I got one.

I spoke to few other birders that told me there were few

Goosander along the river and possibly Mandarin.

I took a walk along the river and found the Goosander

and the Mandarin although the later was right over

on the far bank and pretty impossible to get a

decent shot (maybe next time)

I continued to walk back a forth through the

Woods and around the reservior never really seeing

anything like the reported amount of Crossbill's.

I did manage a nice shot of a patient Kingfisher

which rounded the day off nicely.

I thought I'd also mention that I spotted some 43

different species through'out the day, which I thought

was pretty impressive.
The list included Buzzard, Peregrine, Kestral,Tawny Owl,

Mandarin, Goosander, Crossbill's,Siskins and Goldfinches

to name but a few.