More Bunting's!

I couldn't resist another go at getting a few

more shot's of these beautiful little bird's.

Lapland Buntings North Hill!

I couldn't believe my luck this morning when I

found 5 Lapland Buntings on North Hill, here in

Malvern. I travelled 4 hours to see these birds

for the first time two weeks ago, now there

here on my doorstep...Typical!

I started out with a walk around Chat Valley

and then worked my way up to the Beacon,

finally finishing off on North Hill. This is

my normal route, that way you can cover

pretty much all areas.

Chat Valley had very little, apart the normal

Green Woodpeckers probing into the hillside.

The walk towards the Beacon held a few

migrants with Willow Warbler and ChiffChaff

being the main one's. The Beacon it self had

very little to offer only Meadow Pipits, mind

you there were at least 30 so plenty to see.

No sign of any Wheatear...I was quite surprised.

North Hill...This area has produced some

cracking birds over time and today was no exception,

I could hardly believe my luck when I popped my

head over the top of the hill and was greeted by

what I thought was a Lapland Bunting, I only

managed a split second view at first but it was

enough to keep me looking.

I explored further, looking through the Meadow

Pipit's but nothing, It wasn't until I started my walk

down the hill that I noticed another one and

another, I'd found 5 birds in total, must be something

of a record.

I spent the next hour trying to get a few photo's

before a walker came over the hill and flushed them.

Here's a few shot's!

One Good Tern!

I had a quick trip over to Grimley New Workings

today straight after a night at work in search of the

two reported Juvenile Black Terns.

They've been there for a couple of days now but I

haven't really had a chance to go over. I got there

for first light this morning in the hope that they'd

still be there.

It didn't take me long to find one of them, they tend

to stick to the same area every year, but that was it.

Only the one could be found. The other one's probably

gone off to find somewhere a little warmer, and who

can blame him. I can feel that nip already!...brrrr!!

It was quite obliging, making several passes in front of

me over the couple of hours I was there, giving me a

chance to get a few shot's.

Apart from the Tern there were serveral Common Snipe

dotted about. At about 09.00 50-60 Canada Geese

decended on the pool, a quick scan through the flock reveled

only a couple of hybrids nothing out the ordinary.

3 Littel Egrets were still around, although quite distant. Quite

a few migrants were also found around the pool including

Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

As the day began to warm somewhere in the region of 400-500

House Martins with the odd Swallow in the mix decended on

the pool.

A good few hours birding, well worth the effort.

Minsmere In A Day!

I know...but it was worth it, no less than five new

birds for me. I'd been ploughing through the internet

all week trying to find something for the weekend

but couldn't make up my mind what to do. Saturday

night came and I still hadn't settled on anything

except I fancied something a bit special. I've got to

admit I don't usually travel too far for birds, a maxium

of a couple of hours in any direction is more than

enough for me.

I'd been watching the movements of the Lapland

Buntings all week, they were popping all over the

place even reports of fly over birds at Slimbridge.

I'd hoped for maybe one on the Malverns (wouldn't

that be nice) but nothing. In fact the next closest

ones were at Minsmere, where two had been

reported throughout most of the week. I guess my

mind was made up, Minsmere and Lapland Bunting's.

I must admit the prospect of a four journey didn't

excite me to much and to arrive in time for first light

would mean leaving my place at 01.30am. I sat a wrote

a couple of quick emails to try a gain a little more

information and soon had the replys back with what

I was after, so that was it I was all set.

Sunday morning came (very quickly) and I was soon

heading up the motorway. One thing about leaving at

that time of the morning was the roads where empty.

Completely void of traffic, so that made the journey

much more bearable. I arrived at Dunwich car park

just as it was getting light, I'd been recommeded to start

at the beach here and work my way down to Minsmere

because the Buntings had been showing more at the

north end.

I scoured the beach for a good hour and half with no

success at all. I'd all but given up until I spotted a couple

of photograhers heading my way. It turned out that it

was one of the guys I'd emailed the previous night (Jon

Evans) accompanyed by his mate (Ian Clarke or

"Sparky" as he likes to be called) A quick chat reveled

they'd had about as much success as me, they too

had made there way down the beach in pretty much the

same style as myself and had seen nothing. Jon had said

"they'll be here somewhere"....but with more searching

still nothing.

I made my way further up the beach until I'd reached

the Sluice. The Sluice was home to quite a few Swallows.

I could hardly resist a go at these beautiful little birds.

I watched them as they landed on various perches from

fences to sign post's but I'd noticed one individual was

landing on a dead tree. I waited for him to move off and

got myself into position then awaited his return. I didn't

have to wait long before he was back and only yards

from me.

With a few shot's in the bag I made my way back down the

beach for what I'd originally came for the Lapland Buntings.

As I walked down the beach I could see in the distance a

crowd had gathered near to the East Hide. I arrived to

find the Lapland Buntings had been seen but then lost

again, with continued searches from everyone soon found a

lone bird.

I quickly managed a few shot's before the hoards of people

started to gather. Quite close views at times.

Apart from the Lapland Buntings there was a Wryneck

reported in the North bushes. I managed to see it but

that was about it, photograhing it was another

thing, I did manged one shot but purely for records

purposes, I'm not going to embaress myself by posting it

on here. In fact apart from the Buntings everything

that day kept it's distance. Red Backed Shrike another

first for me kept very distance, to far for even the big

guns cracking bird to watch though.

I did manged to get quite close to a Wheatear on Dunwich

Heath which was nice although I was trying to find Dartford

Warbler. I did manged to see the Dartford Warblers, again

another first for me but they kept there distance as well,

again only managing records shot's.

With the rain clouds gathering fast and everything

at least seen although not photographed it was time to

head back. A good day all in all with another five new

birds to add to my ever growing list.

My Lucky Week!

Yep!...My luck has continued this week with more

great stuff from my local area the Malvern Hills.

Continued trips this week looking for migrants

has been very successful indeed.

Yesterday more Wheatear and a first for myself

a Whinchat. The Wheatear are probably some of

the most obliging birds I've come across at points

they were literally within a feet of me. Allowing me

to obtain probably my best shot's to date, in fact I

don't think I could better it.

The Whinchat was no different a very confiding
bird, again allowing me some very close views at

times. It's probably never seen a human before.

Watching me!

Looking for his next meal!


Really Close!


I managed to find another Redstart, they seem to

be all over the Hills this year.

Lunch in the shade!


Enjoying the sunshine!

I just hope my luck continues.

Draycote...Again!!

Yep... Another trip over to Draycote this time for

a Curlew Sandpiper. Looking through the news last

week it was pretty evident that Curlew Sandpiper's

were on the move, pictures were everywhere of them

from all corners of the country. When I see that there

were four at Draycote, I couldn't resist the thought of

another trip.

All I had to hope is that they hung on till the weekend.

The weekend arrived quickly and looking through the

news all but one of the Curlew Sandpiper's had gone

from Draycote. A juvenile still remained, so I decided

to shoot over on Sunday. I arrived early in the hope the

bird was still going to be around, luckily enough it was

and again on the Hensborough bank. I quickly spotted the

bird amongst Dunlin and Ringed Plover grubbing about

in the mud. I made my way slowly down to the waterside

trying my best not to spook them but they didn't seemed

to be bothered about me clunking my way down the

Rocks. I got myself into position not easy on rocks I can

tell ya!...especially lying on your belly, tends to stick in

the odd rib.

I got myself settled and waited for them to come to me. I

didn't have to wait long before the waders came along close

enough for me to get a few shots, although the weather was

pants, overcast and quite dark, not the best for photography

but good enough to grab a few record shot's of a very pretty

little wader and it was another first for me.

Continually feeding!

Apart from the Curlew Sandpiper a lone Black Tern feed

out in the middle of the reservoir always at distance. A

quick walk up to Toft Shallows found a Common Sandpiper

but not much else. I sat and scoured the water few minutes

in the hope the Black Tern would put in an appearance but

nothing. It wasn't long before the overcast skies turned to rain

and as it was getting quite heavy I decided call it a day.

I'd managed to get what I come for and was pleased wit my

efforts.

Draycote delivers again!!

What A Start!

After missing the Restart the other day on the Malvern's

I had to go and have another go. I had a couple of hours

of spare time this afternoon so off I went. The weather

started of well today with good sunshine but as the afternoon

wore on it started to become dull and overcast, still this

wasn't going to stop me.

I arrived in the car park unpacked my gear and

started my accent, within a few minutes I was on the

top, no sooner had I got my Bins out the rain started.

Great!...It didn't really come to anything other than a

few spot's, thank goodness.

At the top I was greeted by 20-30 Meadow Pipits, Unusual

I don't usually manage to see so many, I spent a little while

looking through them to see if there was anything other

than the Mipits but nothing!

I carried on my way over to what is known as Wheatear

Valley. I clambered down the hill and soon found the usual

few Meadow Pipits in the Hawthorns.

Think this one's in desperate need of a manicure!

A further look revealed Wheatear. At least

two, not very obliging though the best I could

manage today.

The main prize took a little more time to show his

self but He was more than worth the wait as I think

you'll agree, very obliging.

Occasionally dropping down on the ground

in search of a meal.

A nice way to spend a couple hours.

Up The Hills!

Yep!...I've been climbing the Malverns in search of a few

pictures. I've made two or three trips over the last few

days mainly around the British Camp area and occasionally

North Hill.

It's been pretty good too, nothing amazing but I did manage

to find my first Spotted Flycatcher's on the hill's the other

day.

Along with the Spotted Flycatcher's were Chiffchaff and

Willow Warbler however they kept themselves well hidden.

Other trips have produced Wheatear, the most I've seen

for a while in fact both in good numbers on North Hill

and British Camp.

My last trip to date was no different really, again Wheatear

although nowhere near as many. The Spotted Flycatchers have

gone but have been replaced with three Common Redstarts. I did

try to get a few shots of the Redstarts but all to no avail, not that

I didn't get any opportunity's but the majority of the time they

were either in poor light or tucked well in the Hawthorns and when

they did venture out in to the open they were too quick, maybe

next time. Along the hills Meadow Pipit could be found in fairly good

numbers too.

The hills also hosts quite a few raptors including Kestrels, Buzzards,

Peregrine and Sparrowhawks. I've managed to see them all at one

time or another through my recent visits but none more so than

the Kestrels.

At times some expectionally close views.

The above and below shots are from another area

where I've had success this year.