Blurred Birding

The Last Post

2011-07-25T22:29:00.002+01:00

As you all know, well I think you do, I have got a little fed up of Blurred Birding and you could probably tell from the quality of my recent posts it's been a struggle. The real idea behind Blurred Birding was to poke a little fun at birding with poor images and generally take the mick (sorry mick) out of everything, which looking at some of my early feedback was not the best of ideas. As for the blurred shots, they are not as blurred as they used to be, so it renders the blog title pretty much out of date.

Here is the good news, I am not going chucking in the towel altogether because I have decided to set up a new blog, with a new name and it will be up and running soon. I will not dwell on the new blog here but incourage you check it out here "The Regional Tick". I will start posting on 30th July, any regional birder with a blog that wants to be linked to "The Regional Tick" just leave me a comment and I will get you on board.

Thanks to everyone that has supported this blog, its been a whole lot of fun.

Martyn Yapp

2nd July 2011

2011-07-12T22:35:00.000+01:00

Well what do expect, a wealth of posts, it is the middle of summer you know.

Volunteered to take my folks down to my sisters in Essex today, her property backs onto the River Crouch in South Woodham Ferrers, about eight miles from the sea, but very tidal and normally bird rich, however in recent years due to upgrading on the drainage it is not as marshy, marginally has it used be.

The tide was out and waders are naturally in short supply, however a single Avocet was a suprise, all I could manage in my two hour walk around the seawall was 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Redshank, a few Oystercatcher and 2 Curlew. A Common Tern briefly fished a water channel and 2 Common Shelduck were busy feeding in the estuary. Sedge and Reed Warblers were heard and a couple of Reed Buntings were noted. At least 3 Little Egret, 1 GBB and 60 BH Gulls were knocking around the area.

Considering my visit rate to this area is poor, winter is pretty good, I have managed to find in this small recording zone in past, both Red and Black-throated Divers, a Guillemot and two Velvet Scoter. At this time it is also home to a healthy flock oif Brent Geese and all the usual wintering waders, a two thousand Dunlin is not uncommon.

Question, the first butterfly is a Small Skipper, is the second image Esssex Skipper?

A couple of images of the estuary.

And finally a regular visitor the field at the bottom of the garden.

2/3rd July 2011

2011-07-04T22:22:00.000+01:00

25/26th June 2011

2011-06-26T22:50:00.003+01:00

Its the time of year that many birders pack up flogging around their local patches, for some it clicks over to insect watching, not me I have enough problems with birding.

Saturday was rather overcast and dull, Kay, Richard and myself met on Cannock Chase, I had trouble remebering what it looked like with leaves on the trees, think my last visit was for the Shrike.

Plenty of birds were busy doing there summer thing, two juvenile Stonechat were being attended by the adults, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit and Skylark were also seen. Two Buzzard and a couple of Green Woodpeckers finish off the visit, however this was slightly forced due to an approaching shower.

Blithfield produced two Common Sandpiper, a Common Redshank (later a Spotted Redshank was discovered in Tad Bay), 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plover and 4 LR Plover. The usual duck for the time of year were loafing around Tad Bay, these included 10 Common Teal, a few Shoveler, 1 Pochard and 50 or so Tufted Duck.

At least 10 Common Tern and a very plastic Cape type Ruddy Shelduck.

Onto Croxall, water levels were high again, however 4 Black-tailed Godwits graced what shoreline there was along with a single Redshank and Common Sandpiper. One Common Tern and 12 Oystercatchers were also noted.

The Black-tailed Godwits flew off.

I noticed on another "Midlands" bloggers site an image of a metal bird, the Seaking helecopter, just thought I would add one too, Lynx.

Due to Bev on Brownie duty in London, it gave me the chance to go out again today (Sunday), the insect statement at the beginning is a little untrue, but although I have wanted to in past, I have never been out specifically looking for Dragonflies and Butterflies.

I thought I would have a walk around Cuckoo Bank, Butterflies were everywhere, Ringlet, Small Copper, Small Heath, Large and Small Skippers were noted too as were many Meadow Brown.

Large Skipper.

Ringlet.

Four Spotted Chaser (I hope, I am sure someone will tell me otherwise).

No flies on him, well yes there was actually.

Martyn Yapp

Views of the Robin

2011-06-10T21:59:00.000+01:00

I cant help thinking the views of the White-throated Robin on Saturday will be like this. No ladder in my birding kit I am afraid, just a 4lb Lump Hammer and a Bolster Chisel.

For quick sale, German issue Periscope, used little use in 1945.

Birders have been busy practicing for such an occassion, this is the correct way.

Once you have mastered the sit position, make sure you get the right wall or you could end up looking stupid..

And finally, if a celeb British Birder can twitch Irish birds, then Irish birders can twitch British rarities.

Martyn Yapp

4th June 2011

2011-06-05T15:29:00.005+01:00

Gawd damn it, a day of missed photograph opportunities, you know the old photgraphers cliche, not enough light, well today there was too much light, the sun was rather unforgiving, well it was for me anyway, a rookie bird photographer and all.

A Common Tern spent sometime in Tenacre Bay picking items off the surface of the water, I just could not get it right, anybody tell me what I was doing wrong I would let me know. I though I would try and use a higher iso rating so that I could achieve a faster speed, however the AF seemed to be a little slow, I presume it was the white of the bird coupled with the very strong sunlight, or am I clutching at straws?

I won't tell you where I was but I came across a Lesser Whitethroat feeding young, the bird knew I was there and contact called all of the time, I took a few images and retreated. Again the quality is poor, looking into direct sunlight and beeing over shadowed by tall bushes, not good.

Blithfield today was very quiet considering the winds were in the right quarter, a single Redshank and a few LR Plover were all of note.

Martyn Yapp

29th May 2011

2011-05-30T19:29:00.003+01:00

New regional birds don't seen to come along that often anymore, so when the news broke of a Lesser Yellowlegs at Uttoxeter Gravel Pits I was naturally very interested, in fact very interested indeed, so I shot off at the speed of, errm the speed of a Vauxhall Astra 1.6.

UTTOXETER GRAVEL PIT - STAFFORDSHIRE 4.30pm

A poor turn for the bird this evening I thought, such a good bird, even nationally, with the weather forecast for Sunday been poor and all.
Everyone behaved and stayed on the main track. It showed well in the scope and in good light too.

The pits looked very good for waders, bringing back happy memories of Barton Gravel Pits in their hayday.

Images were nicked from Local Birding, taking a leaf out of my book and taking blurred images, well done.

Thanks to the finder, old Rockbirder and Peregrine fanciers himself Andy Barker for getting the news out fast.

A single Sanderling, double figure Dunlin, Ringed Plover and LR Plovers were good back up, as were 16 Goosander and a Curlew.
Martyn Yapp

28th May 2011

2011-05-28T21:59:00.009+01:00

CROXALL POOL - STAFFORDSHIRE 6.30am

Oh good, normal service as been resumed. No pager messages equals no birders, well that what it seems like to me, does anyone else just go out birding these days.

A couple of Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Tern, 60 odd Common Swift, 2 Swallow and a few House Martins was the pick of a meagre visit, to this boiling rarity hotspot...yeh ok.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE

I was hungry for ticks, the birds were just hungry. A delightful quadruple, or four to you lot were busy feeding along the shoreline.

And for anyone wondering about split second flight identification of Sanderling should not really confuse with Dunlin, the wingbar is mucher broader than the latter.

A Grey Plover in full summer dress was tucked away in Blithe Bay and a distant Osprey circled over the bay.

At least 5 terns were around during a rain squall, three of these altough distant were probably Arctic's.

The Deep End was again quiet, with only a single LR Plover of note.

With the wind levels increasing it was nice to have a look at this Kestrel hanging in the wind close to the Causeway.

With young Common Shelduck popping up all over the place here, raised tempers in the Blithe this afternoon, someone go too close.

Martyn Yapp

21st May 2011

2011-05-22T21:49:00.001+01:00

Is this the end of spring passage?

I am too long in the tooth to think that it is all over, but todays birding was pretty poor.

CROXALL POOL - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.00am

A Sanderling in full summer plumage was a good start fed with 11 Dunlin and the again newly exposed bit of mud. 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 LR Plover were around too and at least 3 Oystercatchers were seen. Terns were sparce, with only 2 Common Terns patrolling and on the odd occasion passing close to the hide.

Warblers were still in full force with all the common stuff present, noteworthy was 3 Garden Warbler, however my friend the ringed Sedge Warbler that sang close the hide was rather silent today, I recon he has found luuurrve, I think I saw him chasing another one around, arrr sweet.

With the BH Gulls breeding here, the BH Gull equivalent to the 663 Squadron were on high alert, taking to the air in battle formation to persue anthing that strayed in BH Gull airspace.

Common Tern that passed close to the hide.

Cormorant.

Linnet, that tried to pose for a picture close to the hide, alas the light was crap, mmm as always.

Last couple mof images at Croxall today, one of the many and vocal Common Whitethroats in the are and a Stock Dove comes to drinl on the east pools.

A walk to another local pit produced little more that Grey and Red-legged Partridges, waders seem to have evaporated.

Blithfield was dire, 4 Common Tern, 1 Ringed Plover truly were the only birds of note.

A nice 11 metre hide awaits everyone in Tad Bay, still have not seen anyone in it yet.

Martyn Yapp

14th May 2011

2011-05-15T16:30:00.000+01:00

Hoopoe in Walsall, West Midlands

2011-05-09T22:22:00.000+01:00

Not even sure if I should publish this, anyway this is all I know.

Whilst visiting my parents a neighbour knowing that I was a birder gave this image to my mom and said I would probably be interested. My mom immediatley identified it as Hoopoe, I taught her everything I know, besides my mom and dad once twitched one in Nottinghamshire, good yeh.

It transpires that this little beauty visited on a couple of occassions a back garden somewhere in Walsall West Midlands, upon asking for the whereabouts I was told that the finder would not release his address, apparently he once had a bad experience with the press, however I was assurred the bird had now gone. I can only presume that the date for bird was around 25th April 2011.

I have seen two Hoopoe in Walsall borough, of course there was one last year in Pelsall, what is it with Walsall and Hoopoe, maybe it's telling me that if I want to find a Hoopoe in the region I should start closer to home.

Martyn Yapp

Forgot to Mention

2011-05-09T22:00:00.003+01:00

Blithfield Reservoir is not known for it's spring unlike the Tame Valley, so they lead us to believe, so here is the proof, apart from the Grey Plover this weekend here is the images of the other unexpected waders on Saturday.

Thats your lot, 1 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover.

So if your spring birding demands more quality than this, then Blithfield is not for you, although I must warn you, stay away at your peril.

Martyn Yapp

8th May 2011

2011-05-08T22:06:00.004+01:00

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE

Just can't keep away at the moment, maybe I should have today.

A couple of regular (apparently) fisherman were fishing opposite the hide, of course it appears that they walk the edge to get there, what do they care about wildlife, I even watched the git try and land a fish, him and his mate farted about causing the line break during the final stages of landing leaving the fish whom looked extremely tired by the ordeal with a hook and a bit of line hanging from it's mouth.

I will also mention the idiot birders (there is a few of them too) whom are ill equiped to watch birds that are too distant for their binoculars, why walk past the hide and stand near the edge looking at the scrape, well an empty one actually, you have just flushed everything morons!

Don't get me wrong I am a quiet person and normally keep my opinions to myself, but birding is starting to get frustrating and seriously is hacking me off, I am sure it's since I started reading Birdforum too.

Beginner birders are quite frankly confused these days with the wealth of information that the internet brings, whatever happened to the good old days when a notebook and a bird guide was all you had and you learnt through long term study, not a five minute tick and run.

Oh gawd, I am off on one again, I had better shut up.

Anyway, water levels was rising whilst I was there, the Spotted Redshank flew out calling, it had been joined by a Greenshank, 2 Redshank and the Black-tailed Godwit. Ringed Plover had young so had escaped the boot of straying birders as I described above, regulars mind you. Don 't you think that regulars would know the wherabouts of breeding birds on their patch, not a bleeding chance.

Apart from a few passing hirundines, a few Swift and Common Tern nothing else stirred.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE

A single Black Tern was a year tick, I manged to find an absolute stunner of what was I am presuming was a male Grey Plover in full "chick pulling" plumage, alas it kept to the far side of Blithe Bay, so I can't share the pleasure with you, look on Local Birders blog, he has a "blurred" image .

In fact don't bother, I've nicked it. I am sorry, you had better check it after all I might get done for copying.

A couple of Common Sandpiper and LR Plover were noted as were 2 Hobby, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Goldeneye, 1 CommonTeal, 1 Shoveler and 20 LBB Gulls. Swift numbers had increased to 50 and only 4 Common Terns loitered around the northern end.

The rest of my time was made up with sitting around in the motor waiting for the big one to fly through.

Alas it never materialised, howver I did have some fun watching a couple of LBB Gulls feeding close to the edge and a Pied Wagtail gathering food along Admaston Reach.

Martyn Yapp

7th May 2011

2011-05-08T21:34:00.005+01:00

I feel has though I have attached myself to Croxall a little this spring, water levels are low and there is some room for waders. With the winds from the southeast today and heavy rain squalls in the offing, I needed to get there early.

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE 6.30am

It didn't take long for it to start raining, it didn't take long for me to find a full summer plummaged Spotted Redshank, bloody hell, what a stunner too, can't quite remember seeing one as full-on as this.

Not arf, a preverbial black beauty, if ever I saw one. All you would be beginners, and there's a few at Croxall, look at how the legs have turned black for summer plumage, marvellous.

For anyone wanting to know how to identify it in flight, here goes, a single white rump patch and no wing bars.

Other migrant waders this morning included 6 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, a single Black-tailed Godwit flew in and 2 Little Ringed Plover.

At least 8 Common Tern were also bombing around and Garden Warblers were up, at least 5 birds sang on the reserve.

A drake Garganey appeared from nowhere too and loitered around the scrape.

Martyn Yapp

3rd May 2011

2011-05-03T23:05:00.003+01:00

The first mad dash after work of the year.

WHITEMOOR HAYE - STAFFORDSHIRE 6.30pm

A female Dotterel had been found this afternoon in potato fields behind the microlight buildings. It showed well at times, its my first ever lowland bird in Staffordshire, what a cracker.
Nice to see a few birding faces on the scene too.

Usual excuses with the quality of the image, light believe it or not was not that good. I think this was taken on 1600ASA, there is a bit of grain going on in there.

Martyn Yapp

31st April/1st May 2011

2011-05-01T21:09:00.000+01:00

Superb weekend for birds, crap weekend for imagery.

Will catch up laters and tell you about the Common Crane I saw for three seconds at Croxall, meanwhile have a look at these....

Martyn Yapp

Recent News

2011-04-27T22:41:00.001+01:00

It all happening, I don't know where to start.

Firstly I decided to go big, like my personality I suppose, or is it my waistline, I don't know. I just want you all to appreciate my photography (thats funny, yes), all at no extra charge, not that I could charge for this crap.

I have had a reply regarding my possible "Russian" Jackdaw, the answer was a big fat no, not even Nordic which really has got me confused now. Here is a question for you, the image were the bird is back on, does anyone think the pale collar looks too wide and distinctive for Western Jackdaw?

Finally it looks as though there is an Iberian Chiffchaff in Staffordshire found by Neil Thorneycroft whilst doing some garden type work at a friends house in north Staffordshire. I must admit that on checking the birdforum post and the description of the birds song I was not convinced, it sounded more like a mixed singer, even the latter are uncommon. A sound recording was obtained of the bird on his phone which, although of poor quality does point a finger towards Iberian.

The point is, I feel a little guilty of posting negative comments regarding the bird and I can't help thinking that if I hadn't a few people may have attended on Bank Holiday Sunday, maybe I should keep my opinions to myself, ot is that what Birdforum is about.

The bird has only been seen by the finder again today despite a few local birders searching for it.

The song can be heard here on post No.2.

Oriental Turtle Dove

2011-04-27T22:06:00.000+01:00

Just thought I would post another image of this first class rarity, although it took me ages to go and see it.

23/24th April 2011

2011-04-24T22:10:00.001+01:00

Heard of Groundhog Day, well this was Groundhog Weekend, birding in circles, same same same same. Well no it wasn't actually, don't know why I said that.

I did Croxall on both days. It was a pleasant surprise to find a male Ring Ouzel on Saturday feeding on the bank adjacent to the main hide, I have since found out it was seen on Good Friday, by someone that was unsure of what he saw briefly. So anyway I am claiming it....hehehe

I also saw it again today (Sunday) where it was flushed by a Blackbird (you know, the one that looks a bit like it but without the bloody great white crescent) onto the main rail embankment, were it procedded to fly over the pool to the back willows.

In saw my first Lesser Whitethroat yesterday along with newly arrived Reed Warblers. Sedge Warblers are well established and singing their hearts out and the place seemed full of Common Whitethroat and Blackcap.

A Hobby flew over along with 3 Black-tailed Godwits. All in all I super hour sat in the main hide.

I surprised myself by getting this record shot of the Blackwits, "the fastest Cannon 500D in the west", West Midlands that is.

Today 2 Cuckoo were knockimng about and 2 Garden Warblers were new arrivals on the embankment.

Waders surprisly are a bit thin on the ground, 2 Redshank, 3 LR Plover, a Ringed Plover and 3 Common Sandpipers was the lot.

I am bit embarressed to confess I ticked Kingfisher for the year today, cutting edge birder and all...yeh right!!

Well Blithfield Reservoir is famous for being crap during early spring, come to think of it, summer too. Today was no exeption, although coming out with that type of statement will get me eating a large portion of humble, pie that is, not Kate.

Still having trouble getting Kate Humble out my head for some reason!

Ok the upshot of it was Blithfield held 6 Dunlin, 17 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 LR Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, NO Terns, NO Little Gulls and NO Ospreys.

Tad Bay still had the feel of winter to it with 7 Eurasian Wigeon and 6 Goldeney present.

Sunday at Croxall I got to grips with a showy Sedge Warbler.

I have a good Blithfield year tick on Sunday, Red-legged Partridge, not an easy bird to find here as we have eat then all.

One of the Common Sandpipers and a poser of a Lapwing.

And finally to end this post, a identification masterclass of the small Plovers of Blithfield, firstly pronounced "Plova", not "Plow-ver", which gets me mad, a bit like the folk who spell Kestrel like this "Kestral", it's annoying, stop it.

Of course normally at Blithfield they are three hundred miles away and the hubble telescope would have problems, but here its pretty straight forward.

I bet you thought I was going to talk you through it wasn't you, no chance, get a field guide.

Martyn Yapp

More thoughts on Jackdaw

2011-04-22T08:47:00.002+01:00

There as been increased interest recently on race identication of Jackdaw.

Although there are some seven races reconised by Voous there is at least three which have been recorded in Britain.

Covus monedula spermolgus : Effectively "our" bird and resident throughout UK.
Corvus monedula monedula : Typically labelled as "Nordic" and increasingly found in UK.
Corvus monedula soemmeringii : Eastern Europe and Asia, most refer to as "Russian"

Whilst driving close to Blithfield Reservoir on the 3rd April I passed the very posh house with the stunning front lawns that is close to the junction of Newton Lane and Booth Lane in Dapple Heath. A couple of Jackdaws were feeding on the lawn close to the road, since I have had my camera I havn't really taken any images of Jackdaw and these were certainly close enough for me to do so, beside the camera was ready to go and on the front seat, although I was well aware that I would be pointing my camera at the house. One bird was in view and the other was obscured by one of the horizontal fence slats, once in view I noticed the pale collar and fumbled for the camera at which point a car passed and spooked the birds to the rear of the garden, this is when I grabbed these images.

Martin Garner and his Birding Frontiers website touched on "Russian" Jackdaws in Britain and having had a look at my images I can't help wondering if this bird belongs to this sub-species.

Apparently "Russians" have a paler nape than the nominate, shading to a distinct whitish line at the base, although the eastern birds in this group the pale line broadens to form a pale blotch at the sides of the neck, similar to "Nordic"

In addition to the pale head the above bird in its favour shows a disctintive full length pale collar, notice the black and contrasting crown.

What does anyone else think?

Martyn Yapp

Weekend 16/17th April 2011

2011-04-20T22:31:00.000+01:00

Not a fantastic amount of birding this weekend due to other type non-birding duties.

I manged a few hours Saturday visiting the A38 area, in particular Croxall.

Looks like most of the migrants have arrived, with Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler singing on site, also Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff are now well established.

At least 4 Common Terns were up and down the river, one bird came and sat on the scrape.

Waders were in short supply with just two Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover and a couple of Oystercatchers.

I went out later afternoon on Sunday and dropped in at Blithfield. 7 Yellow Wagtails and Wheatear were on the dam, a female Pintail and two Goosander were in Tad Bay.

I also fitted a hour in down Sandwell Valley, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 LR plover and A Common Sandpiper was seen, a bit more elusive was a singing Reed Warbler and it nice to see at least 8 Goosander still present.

From the top, two images of a Lapwing having a swill in Blithfield Reservoir, no wonder my water tastes crap.

Male Yellow Wagtail on the dam at Blithfield.

Finally make your own mind up up about the last one.

Martyn Yapp

Catch up time

2011-04-17T00:09:00.002+01:00

Sorry about the lack of decent posts recently, what being out of work for a little while didn't exactly inspire me do anything, anyway now I am back in work I should get back on track.

I have however been wondering how to carry on blogging and I feeling I want to move on from Blurred Birding, it's run it's course, so watch this space, when I know you will know.

Here are a few images from recent outings.

Of course the above are of Blue Tit (Croxall), Northern Wheatear (Undisclosed, Staffs).

I also bumped into what is probably a Nordic Jackdaw, very near Blithfield Reservoir, if there split anytime soon, it's on my list.

Northern Wheatear on the dam at Blithfield Reservoir, I love this shot because of the disappearing dam wall, note the two blurred trespassing gits on bikes, are the signs around the place that say "Permits Only" in arabic or something. In fact they flushes the gawd damn thing.

Hedge Accentor, or Dunnock to you un-educated lot.

This Pink-foot lingered at Blithfield, it might well have been plastic.

A bit of hanky panky at Croxall.

Skylark at my new secret Staffs site, rest assured if anything good turns up, the news will be out.

Lesser-blacked back Gull at Sandwell today 17/04.

Still see people having problems with telling Willow Tit apart from from Marsh Tit, forget the glossy head bit, just remember the winter footballs results, "panel result". Were the pale area comes from on the head I do not know?

I will end on the Grey Great Shrike on Cannock Chase that we saw on a mini bloggers day. A nice find by the youngest of the group was a flew over Red Kite, a bird I have not seen in the region for yeras.

Martyn Yapp

9th April 2011

2011-04-16T23:31:00.002+01:00

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE

Its been a while, but its now time for a rant.

Ok if you are a birder the above image will be straight forward to identify, granted its not one at Croxall, but really they all are pretty much the same, they comprise of a roof, seats and a couple of opening that you look through. The idea is that you are hidden away from nature, well birds in this case. Imagine a few waders in front this hide feeding away perfectly happy and unaware of your presence.

Got it, hidden away from nature, good.

Then why is that ill equiped birdwatching half-wits decide to walk past an hide with their "Mark Scheffle" opera type glasses and walk the edge of the pool and spook all and sundry away from the area I was quietly watching. I did have some images of them but have decided not name and shame.

Appologies to the couple of guys who using stealth walked under the side flap of the hide to view the far end, they jumped a little when I poked my head out of the hide and said "there is nothing left down there, due to folk not getting in the hide", with that I slammed the hatch and left.

The A38 area in Staffordshire has many areas that are good for birds so disturbing them from here isn't really a problem, there are many areas they can feed undisturbed. But that is not point is it, I want to see them here.

I notice that the Staffs Wildlife Trust is doing a visit here soon to show some folk what they have done to the river, why now when everything is breeding...phew I give up.

You know I can't even be bothered to post my sightings, I have lost my mojo....

Martyn Yapp

3rd April 2011

2011-04-04T19:59:00.011+01:00

Having had a warning light come on the motor yesterday I stopped at the services and looked in the manual, it said it could correct itself by switching the engine on and off, typical, anyway it went away. This morning the car was dead, luckily it wasn't electronic, it was the battery, it had died so the Green Flag man said. Anyway I did a bit of birding and went to Halfords in Lichfield. Whilst paying for the battery I noticed a counter display with key rings on, you the sort that spells your name in the style of a number plate (MART 1N), get my drift. I twizzled it around to look for name and knocked a few off onto the counter and I said to the blonde assistant "I don't know why I am looking, Martyn with a "Y" is never there". She said whilst twizzling the display around said, "Oh there are overs you could have and pointed to one that said OLD BANGER", errrm charming, thanks a bunch, what are you trying to say.

2nd April 2011

2011-04-02T16:02:00.002+01:00

41 THE LEYS - CHIPPING NORTON - OXFORDSHIRE 7.15am

I couldn't believe that I wasn't the only person there, I imagined sitting in the kitchen sipping tea and munching bacon sandwiches and having a chat with the house owner, no this wasn't the case. He opened the doors a little early, I got into the kitchen and failed to see it before it flew off. An hour later I was treated to brief views when it flew into the neighbouring garden. Word came around it was on show at the bottom of the road, as I was at the front it took me ages to get out of the house, I had only walked down the road a little way when I heard it had flown.

Well I got back to the kitchen in double quick time, the bird was there again, flying in and giving superb views as it fed on the birdtable. At this time there was only three of us in the kitchen, moments later in came the rest of the crowd all out of breath.

Whilst the bird was not in view today there was plenty going on around the well stocked birdtable. 35 Brambling, 1 Blackcap, 1 GS Woodpecker, 4 Bullfinch and a single House Sparrow.

Martyn Yapp

29th March 2011

2011-03-30T22:55:00.000+01:00

As a man of leisure, well this week I am, I start my new job on Monday. I thought I would spend a few hours birding with Bev.

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE 9.00am

Good grief the traffic was bad, it's a wonder that anyone gets anywhere.

Anyway I opened the shutter of the hide and was pleasantly surprised to a group of four grey looking dumpy waders on the scrape. Blimey Knot, apart from the fifty six that landed in Tad Bay, errm all those years ago, this was the largest party I had seen in the WM.

Also present was 1 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 LR Plover, 2 Oystercatcher and 5 Redshank. 2 Goldneye remain, 20+ Common Teal and 2 Common Shelduck were also present.

No hirundines was a surprise and the eastside was very quiet. Other than a Chiffchaff passerines were not really playing ball.

Martyn Yapp

27th March 2011

2011-03-28T09:07:00.001+01:00

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE 8.10am

A long awaited trip into Staffordshire, well it seemed like I had been away for ages.

A pleasant surprise was seeing 11 Black-tailed Godwits flying east over the railway line. Strange really I was alerted to a call that really sounded like and I am sure was Golden Plover, a 360 deg scan instead produced these.

The water levels look ok, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff and 6 Redshank were present. Ducks included 2 Goldneye, 8 Common Shelduck and 4 Shoveler.

Other migrants were Chiffchaff, two singing birds on the embankment that seemed content with chasing each other about the place and a party of 19 Sand Martin flew through.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE

It was like stepping back into February with the cold weather here

Sand Martin are well in and I saw around 75 birds around the Deep End, these included at least one Swallow. A Pink-footed Goose was with Greylags close to Ten-acre Bay, other than a few LBB Gulls the deeps was hard going.

Tad bay held the usual duck including just one Goosander. The causeway held a Little ringed Plover and two Oystercatchers.

Martyn Yapp

26th March 2011

2011-03-27T23:08:00.018+01:00

Ok boys and girls, the good news is, I will be back in work from the 4th April and I now feel a lot better in myself, the fact that I can put food on the table always helps mentally, any how I am back in the land of the living. Strange what not working does for you, although it has been less than three weeks I felt that birding was the last thing I wanted do and started to bird local, now the West Midlands county is not the most inspiring of places, but I still enjoyed birding in my old stomping grounds of Sheepwash and Sandwell Valley.

COVEN HEATH SEWAGE WORKS - STAFFORDSHIRE 8.20am

Dropped Bev off at work promising to pick her back up at 2.00pm, gives me a little time to carve some local birding out.

I have been keen on looking at this site ever since I found the large flock feeding finches and the like in fields adjoining the sewage works. Being as I am living on junction 10 of the M6, Coven Heath is pretty close by.

The finches as I expected have gone by the look of things, the field still held over a hundred Linnet, 1 Chaffinch, 6 Yellowhammer and 6 Skylark. Meadow Pipit featured today with at least 40 feeding along side the Linnet. A Grey Wagtail and a couple of singing Chiffchaff were also reminders that spring migration is underway.

SANDWELL VALLEY RSPB RESERVE - WEST MIDLANDS

I actually had a senior moment whilst driving here this morning, I decided to leave the M6 onto the M5 southbound which meant I had to leave at junction 1 and back track via the entrance the Swan Pool, not been here for a while, thought I would check it out being as I was passing.

A couple of other birders was on site and I managed to see the YL Gull they had seen fly off. Two Swallow and a single Sand Martin fed over the water and a flock of 50+ Meadow Pipit were in a field adjacent to the pool. A single Raven was mobbed by crows and flew over my head towards the RSPB reserve.

On the main reserve, freshly arrived migrants included two male Northern Wheatear which enjoyed feeding on the main island, a single Little Ringed Plover and 50 or so Sand Martin which were obviously brought down by the overcast conditions. A single Swallow was also noted.

4 Little Grebe, 2 Goldeneye and 6 Goosander also showed well. The resident Lapwing were altogether not too happy with the two adult LBB Gull buzzing around the place. The two Oystercatchers came in and fed on the island.

Add a few Shoveler, Wigeon and Gadwall gave an enjoyable couple of hours birding in the green lungs of Sandwell.

Light not so good today, the two Northern Wheatears.

Freshly arrived Little Ringed Plover.

One of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls, note the Sand Martin in the background, probably my best ever image of said species.

A not so freshly arrived male Gadwall, why do a lot of birders put an "e" in the name and pronounce it "Gad-well", a common problem.

A pair of Tufted Duck patrolled in front of the hide.

Martyn Yapp

Site Witheld......

2011-03-23T21:06:00.003Z

Verging on a MEGA these days, for some reason I was thrilled to see this male Ruddy Duck today. For any one whom does not know my thoughts on introduced species has not been paying much attention to this blog. North Amercian Ruddy Duck, as it's olde name suggests it is a very common American species and there it should stay, mans intervention of course as left us not really knowing if any of these handsome duck have ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean on their own. Instead they are being blown out of the water to save any cross contamination of the European White-headed Duck, if Ruddy Duck had any sense it would not want to hook with one anyway, ugly gawd damn things, or what. I cant help wondering when the first Sea-eagle carries off a screaming toddler that was left unattended on Mull (I suppose the toddler would have to smell of fish though), whether they will go the way of the gun too. Osprey, and this is my last word on this subject, I ask myself if I see good-uns at Blithfield Reservior every year now or are they the Swedish birds that have been introduced to Rutland Water, of course yet another bird, the Red Kite, is now all together a little tainted.

Oh and I saw a Carrion Crow too......

Martyn Yapp

Weekend of the 19th March 2011

2011-03-20T17:55:00.003Z

I am having a bit of a job kick starting my 2011 birding year, although I did pledge that I would not be so silly with my miles regionally this year, well this is going to be the case as I am now out of work, which of course worries me a little, however I have been busy applying for various jobs. Anyhow enough of that let's stay posititve.

I again checked out Coven Heath Sewage Works on Saturday morning, I was on call to retreave my partner from work early afternoon, so I had to be back at around 2.00pm.

The large of finches seems to be dispersing, 75 Linnet, 20 Chaffinch, 6 Yellowhammer (many singing) was all of note in that department. 28 Redwing fed in the verges of a horse paddock, several Blackbirds also took the liberty of joining in. All looks good for Ring Ouzel of course.

The other absentee were Pied Wagtail, just 8 noted.

Although I didn' t walk the canal today Chiffchaff, Bullfinch and Nuthatch were all heard.

SANDWELL VALLEY RSPB RESERVE - WEST MIDLANDS

With a bit of time to spare I decided to call in and have a little look around. I would have to say, that it looks ok at the moment, I could certainly see something dropping in.

Well I suppose it already had with a fine example of a Dunlin gracing the main island in front of the hide, almost a rarity at these small urban sites. A couple of Oystercatchers have taken a liking to the island.

2 Goldeneye, 75 BH Gulls, 2 Goosander and the usuals were all noted.

Of course the very territorial army of Lapwing didn't let the bird leave the waters edge.......

I have been looking for a place that I maybe could do some photgraphy, I could have just found it, I will let you know.

Today (Sunday) I was very limited in what I could do, so with the spare hour I had (yes I know) I decided a quick stroll to the hide at Sandwell Valley.

At least it gave me a year tick, 2 Sand Martins paused briefly over the hide before disappearing. A very plastic looking Barnacle Goose tried to get my attention, as did the local GC Grebes which paused from feeding for a quick dance.

There you go I have finished off with a Cormorant, again not seen in big numbers around here.

Martyn Yapp

12th March 2011

2011-03-12T20:40:00.001Z

Oh bloody hell not spring again, does this mean I will have to chase warblers around again to try and get an image.

Chiffchaff, today's effort, one out of 25 isn't bad.

And a Goldcrest with attitude.

I will fill in the rest laters..........

Lost my job during the week after 34 years with same company, what with the spine problem, things not going too well at the moment.

Martyn Yapp

5th March 2011

2011-03-07T22:16:00.002Z

Ok so I had better do a more traditional post this time and try and get back to normal on here before you all drift off due to lack of content.

I have decided to do a bit more of the exploratory type of birding this year without the urge to drop everything to go and see regional rarities, although saying that, I will move for good quality regional fare as normal.

COVEN HEATH SEWAGE WORKS - STAFFORDSHIRE 8.00am

Eyebrows raised I presume. I have done this sewage works before with similar fairly rubbish results, it's a little too tidy and very un-smelly, something that does not bode well for wintering cripplers I fancy. However it is surrounded by countryside, this year rather good looking stubble type fields and hedgerows, a bit of mess if you asked me.

One reason for me checking it out is that it is quite a bit closer to home, I really can't except the petrol prices at the moment, 1.30GBP for a litre, you are having a laugh, besides I face quite an uncertain time at work at the moment, so local is good.

The clinkers which seen to be covered with some sort of protective sheet held a single Grey Wagtail and no more than 10 Pied Wagtails, one Chaffinch and a dozen Carrion Crow, strange that, the clinkers are normally buzing elsewhere I go.

Interesting I found the rest of the birds in a field close by, a large flock of birds included 1 Brambling, 20 Yellowhammer, 20 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 150 Linnet, 100 Chaffinch and 10 Goldfinch the alders in the hedgerow held a flock of 20 Siskin, 2 Nuthatch and a Treecreeper. Add at least 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Redwing, 2 Jays, 2 Stock Doves you would have to agree the place has got potential, so hand off it's mine ok, I found it first.

A walk up the canal produced a single Little Grebe and a Mink.

Alas with the seemingly endless overcast and dull conditions photograhy proved very difficult, the Little Grebe was having non of it.

Maybe a change of blog name to Grainy Birding is on the cards.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 11.55am

Of course everytime I only do a single day of birding during the weekend, it is always the crap weather day, today was no exeption, I did the dam walk (maybe that should read damn walk), got wet and saw very little bar 200 or so BH Gull and 10 Common Gull loafing just off the dam.

A Great White Egret was found last week by Eric Clare (the jammy git, after I told him there was nout in the bay), problem was it looks as though it is only roosting there. A quick look from the road at 2.30pm produced nothing, Julian Allen turns up and catches me snoozing, we decided to go and check out the gull roost and come back laters.

We went in my car and left JA's car there, I decided to drive onto the deep end and use a fishing hut for a bit of shelter. Anyway 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 with nearly full hood and winter bird were in quite early, the 11 Pink-footed Geese were in fields at the back of Ten-acre Bay.

Mmm 5.00pm we had better go back to Tad Bay for the GW Egret, in hindsight I should not have took the car in, nor should I have the knig of bogged vehicles JA with me, you have got it in one, I got the car stuck in soft mud, a little panick and ten minutes later we managed to get it out, my car looking like it had been through a turd making factory, it was not nice. Thanks to JA for doing the dirty pushing bit, whilst I sat in the motor behind the wheel.

The GW Egret came in at 6.00pm and roosted low in the Willows at the top of Tad Bay. Some 75 Fieldfare came into roost nearby too.

Thanks to the new Blurred Birding recruit, Local Birding for the images, thought mine was bad..hehehe. Cheers m8, it really was almost dark at this point.

Martyn Yapp

Its not only Loch Ness

2011-02-28T22:48:00.001Z

I have just spent the last hour thinking of this post I just can't think of anything.

Found this at Croxall the other week, can't put down to a species?

Great Grey Shrike - Cannock Chase

2011-02-28T22:26:00.000Z

Oh I forgot, here is a couple of shots of the wintering Great Grey Shrike on Cannock Chase whilst it was in the hollybush, in "hollybush valley".

Oh and just to prove I can find these, I bumped into these in Cannock Town Centre sameday..........

Martyn Yapp

27th February 2011

2011-02-28T22:08:00.001Z

I know I know, again I have to say sorry for a very lack lustre blog at the moment. I bet you are all wondering how I am some two months post operation. Well that's you see, I am still feeling a bit on the weak side, I am struggling with my right leg at the moment, it just doesn't want to play ball and after a few hours on it, it bloody hurts, so I am down to a full mornings birding at the moment, even then I feel as though I have to rest a while. As my Physio said today, "you must remember it is still early stages for you after what you had done". I have also had a few symptons that put me in come back, so I am waiting a call off the consultanant over that one.........

Anyway welcome to a twitch free post, reading other blogs there visits to the Oriental Turtle Dove and Slaty-backed Gull seemed rather a nightmare, personally I can't get my head around that sort of thing yet, maybe I will regret it at some point, I doubt it, besides I have seen douible figure OTD's abroad, a bit of a dirt bird in my opinion. As for the SBG, nice one I would love to see it, a bid more of a birders bird, I wonder how many folk had to look in a field guide before they even set out for them.

I ended up at Blithfield on the Sunday and spent an hour in Tad Bay prior to lunch, typical that I was talking to Eric Clare on the causeway just before he went off to find a GW Egret in there, typical.

I did connect with the 11 on and off wintering Pink-fronted Geese as they flew into fields east of the deep end......

I know a bit bleak the blog at the moment, bear with me as I am trying to find a few new areas to cover in the limited time I have spent out birding, the light has been crap too for photos.....

Martyn Yapp

Normal Service Has Been Resumed

2011-02-12T22:28:00.000Z

3x24 Compact Binoculars Fishing Hunting Birding Glasses.

I bumped into these on eBay today, all your for £4.95pr, I would really love to see everyone wearing a pair of these at the next town centre Waxwing twitch, what a spectacle (errm) that would be. Can't help thinking we would all get arrested as potential perv's or something.

For some reason I instantly thought of Les Dawson as Cosmo Smallpiece and can't get the line "knickers, knackers, knockers" out of mind at the moment for some reason.

Martyn Yapp

Staffordshire Birds

2011-02-04T22:44:00.003Z

Martyn Yapp

29th January 2011

2011-02-02T21:55:00.002Z

To be or not to be, that is the answer..........

Well the arrival of a Great Northern Diver on Friday afternoon at Clayhanger Marsh was perfect for me, I could actually get there, flat terrain and easy access and not to far from home, perfect.

CLAYHANGER MARSH (RYDERS MERE) - WEST MIDLANDS 8.30am

Won't go into the sorded details to much, it was pretty clear that the diver present was infact an immature Black-throated Diver, in some respects a better bird for the locality.

I presume the finder took the flattish head profile and steep forehead this bird showed frequently and pinned it against Great Northern, it also sat high in the water at times hiding the "clincher" white flank patch. Of course as soon as you have done that, it would be hard to convince yourself that infact the bird was rather small in all departments, which in itself should set alarm bells ringing.

Not the best of images due to the light, image one clearly shows the diagnostic rear flank patch, it's lost in image two due to the bird sitting high in the water. Note the weak bill, compare to GND. Below is an image of an immature Great Northern Diver that was taken in March 2010 at Draycote, I know the images are not to scale but GND is a much much bigger and bulkier bird. The bill pretty much gives it away.

The bird also showed some dark markings around the throat and in certain postures looked like a chinstrap, thus a thought provoking moment or two considering Pacific. I was lucky enough enough to see the Welsh Pacific Diver having been away for the Yorkshire bird, although in the late 90's I clocked 100's whilst in Southern California, a particularly good year. In my opinion it would have looked "round headed" and of course would lack the flank patch and had already had dismissed this as a possibility before I had left.

Image below shows the chinstrap, note in the top image how this has disappeared into a smudgy area, something that Pacific wouldn't do, I think.

I hope the finders are not to upset, it can be a tricky subject when faced with a lone bird, besides birding a learning curve even for the more experienced, I wonder how many birders had to look up what the key points of Pacific Diver was.

At least 21 Pochard, 1 Goosander,14 Gadwall, 22 Eurasian Wigeon, Green Woodpecker, 3 Yellowhammer and a few Teal...All year ticks.

Martyn Yapp

Final Update of the Neck

2011-02-02T20:23:00.000Z

Ok I am well on the way to recovery now, Sergical Collar semi-removed, Consultant thinks the leg is just numbness and not weakness, so it should recover. I have had several walks with the collar off and I can tell there still is someway to go, neck hurts like crazy and it feels very stiff, leg gets increasingly stiff the effort I put into it, although my first physio appointment is this Saturday morning so that should help. A final appointment next Tuesday with the original Sandwell Consultant should pass me off ok to start work gradually again.

Martyn Yapp

2011 - Still a pain in the neck

2011-01-26T08:56:00.002Z

Greetings, a quick update to tell you all that my appointment to see the consultant at six weeks post operation has finally arrived and I will no doubt be able to have this gastly surgical collar off for good, I feel has though the neck feels a lot stronger than it did before, however there is still some discomfort and pain at certain times. The right leg is weak and will no doubt change my life slightly from now on, I can't see me getting it back, although I was told to expect that. I have done some walking locally as they suggest I do.

Anyway on a lighter note I have invented a new internet game, namely "Birding via Google Maps - Streetview". Easy game really, try and find images of birds in the streetview mode. I notice thaty streetview is available in Europe too. I would love to post some of my findings hear but I fear that copyrite issues just might be breached.

So a good starter is Blithfield causeway, 2 Mute Swan, Carrion Crow and a few Swift are all in view, Black-headed Gulls are tickable at New Brighton seawall as is Herring Gull and Oystercatchers can just be made out on the beach. Jackdaw is on a telegraph pole close to Devils Bridge in Wales, but red Kite eludes me at the moment..........

Ok, virtual birding is not great, but I am sure there must be some other stuff out there that the man in a van with a camera on a long stick must have snapped. Let me know..........

Just to show what I mean have a look here there is a White Stork in flight just to the right of the building, I think, zoom in and have a look, blurred birding at it's best. If you spin round and there is gull sat on the telegraph pole.......The Ebro Delta, Spain by the way, an area I have birded in, the chances of getting a Slender-billed Gull should be good, I will keep looking.

Martyn Yapp

2011 - Birding is a pain in the neck

2011-01-09T22:13:00.001Z

I was very clever today I manged to convince Beverley that whilst she was on the way to her Moms this morning it would be nice for me to to have a quick look at Stubbers Green on the way, after all it is only a pull in and bird type of site after all. What I was not prepared for was how much this hurt me and we all must take moving our necks whilst birding for granted. So after about fifteen minutues it was back to the comfort of the car. So there you go a quick sickbed update........

Of interest I could not really concentrate on birding, I really was feeling the cold as I had not really been out for over a month and I found it difficult to look into the scope. There were quite a few "larger" Gulls around this morning communting between here and Highfield Tip, but I found it impossible to keep track because of the constant looking up needed. Roll a couple of weeks time when the Surgical Neck Collar comes off, I take it, it will improve things...

Anyway anybody not got Short Eared Owls, Bittern, Bewick or Whooper Swans on their lists this year, from a formally active birder (at the moment) there seems nothing else being talked about.......Whatever happened to Cannock Chase, that was hot in the news in December....

Martyn Yapp

PS My partner having read my last post on the software thought it brought the company rep out in me and I was trying to sell it, I really didn't want to do that, I was hoping for some feedback, what does everybody else do.

Bird Journal Software

2011-01-06T21:45:00.009Z

Calling all birders that have a mass of hand scribbled bird notes.

How do you keep your bird records?

Up until the year 2000 I wrote mine in page per day diaries, noting places I visited, the times I visited and sometimes the weather conditions. Of course then there were my thoughts on the birds I observed, plumage detail and whether or not it was male or female, fly-over or showing well. After 2000 I decided I wanted to go paperless and used "Word 2000" on my PC, a simple word processed document, great stuff, this had the benifit on me being able to use and embed images within the text. At last my bird notes came alive with the all important image, however this probably led me to not take so many notes in the field, why should I, good enough bird there was always an image I could steal off the internet.

How do you look up what you have seen in the past?

Well, my answer to that is simple, I don't because most of the time I can't remember, occasionally I will flick through a diary and come across a page with a photograph stuck to it, or I will pop a disc into the PC and open in date order the odd page.

Of course thats all well and good, the last few years I have kept a eye on my regional yearlist, which manually presents many a problem, yes ok Excel or RBA provide "self adding up" documents, but then that really is only a list after all, how many did I see in January, what was my last date on that Wheatear I saw in October, have I seen a later one?

Well my personal burning questions have been answered in the new Bird Journal Software. The following is my own personal review of the software, I have used screen capture without their permission and presume I am no way in breach of copyright, besides what I am showing you is available on their website.

Once you have brought the software and downloaded it there is really little set up involved before you can start entering data.

You are able to design your own unique input screen, with various drop down menus if you like. I have asked to display common name, latin name, no count (thats if I have not bothered to count a common bird, like Coot for instance), Gender and notes. But you can tell it do what you want it do, 1st winter, 2nd winter, adult, immature...anything.

Ok, this what it looks like.

I have entred a trip that I did last year to the Malvern Hills to see the Lapland Bunting, the location, the date, start and finish time and optional weather all recorded, there is a general notes section at header too, which is really useful when you waffle on as much as I do, incidentally you are not restricted in the notes section either, just waffle away. So the birds I saw while I was up there is listed with any relivant optional notes.

The next image shows the entry screen. Very simple, pick the date, put the times in if you want (I do, it keeps my visits in running order during the day, sometimes I will go back to places later on, gull roosts etc), Country, pick your location (see later, you can edit locations from here), add general images if you want and then input your bird data, either by part typing in or via a complete checklist, easy easy easy.

Look at the way it has presented my images on the bird, the last image just shows what happens when I click on one of them.

I have also clicked on the photo info which opens a box that gives all the photographic details etc etc.....

Of course you can click on the species name here and taken then (I will show you with another species) to the species details, how many I have seen, images and entries pertaining to that bird. Of course if I want to change anything at this point it is easily done by editing entry and saving the changes.

The imaging side of things is great, it stores them as small compressed files, you can view them in a dated gallery, so all your years images are there. I was a little worried about this, the size of back-up and all that, but fear not, I have loaded over 350 images onto the database so far and when I changed PC the other week, the new back-up was less than 30 seconds all in. I currently keep my back up on a pen drive, no problems restoring either if you change PC's like I recently did.

Now the real sweet thing about this software is the way it handles locations, its all about heiracy. Let me try and explain, I bird the UK, I keep a UK list, I also bird in various counties throughout the UK, I am interested in my regional list, which is the four counties of the West Midlands Bird Club, hang on I am also interested in listing for Blithfield Reservoir, I could go on...so

Using the the heiracy of UK-WMBC-Staffordshire-Blithfield I can see my list for UK, WMBC, Staffs and Blithfield, so apply that to Warks, W Mids and Worc's I now can search on my WMBC only list if I want to, also Staffs, Warks and W Mids and Worc's only too...fantastic. Of course in the reporting section (Graphs) I can easily work out my individual site lists too.

So below shows how I put Staffs in the WMBC region and then used heiracy further for invidual sites, take for instance Barton Under Needwood, Captains Lane was were my first Staffs Cattle Egret was, I wanted to record the location as it was, not just a town, so I used heiracy. So thinking about it, you can take it further if you wish, take Blithfield for instance I could spilt it down into areas, UK - WMBC - Staffs - Blithfield Reservoir - Tad Bay or Deep End etc etc etc. Great for patchwork, the data it provides is great.

Notice how I have split Cannock Chase up, at the end of the day if I want to know many species I have seen on the Chase I just click Cannock Chase, it brings them all in.

You can also see that I have now 299 locations entered into the database, considering all I have up to date is UK 2010,2009,2008,1989,1988 and a trip to Portugal in 2007 loaded, I have a long way to go.

All the above is easily set up by editing locations, a pop box appears and you input your own data, you can use grid ref, lat and longtitude and give each location a description. Of course whilst putting in your bird data you have the oppertunity to upload some general images, so you can keeps a dated recorded of areas.

Notice on the location to the left how I have entered some data for Portugal, I wanted to make sure that I could isolate my Algarve list just in case I went back to a different part of Portugal at sometime, but was also interested in keeping the birding localities into the various regional municipalities, so Faro for instance I went I birded the Airport Waterworks, Ludo Farm, Praia do Faro etc etc, so when it comes to seeing what I saw it will be included in the World list, Eorope list, Portugal list, Municipalities list, birding locality list...simples

You can also download at no extra cost the British Butterfly and Dragonfly lists too, you can can invent your own lists too, no like our local stringers I mean you can input a new bird list, lets say the WMBC list and work from that. It also lists all sub-species and they plan to keep the software up to date taxonomically, if fact I have already had an update since I had it.

The only downside I can see, is that it lists everything alphabetically, but I think they are working on that one.

I will leave you with a screenshot of 2010 personal WM Bird Club Wheatear sightings, fairly normal really result being as I don't look at breeding sites, with peaks in Spring and Autumn, buit it does show that I saw the late at Blithfield, which just missed Decemeber....

I really do have a gap in my common birds notes being as I physically went to see my first ever rare bird in 1987, Whooper Swan that wintered in Sandwell Valley, a bird I went back to see time and time again, adding more and more common birds each time. Sadly those notes never made it, I kept some rough notes in 1988 only to do a "potted highlights" type of thing in the front of my 1989 diary, which is sad really because I have lost all my first dates of the common stuff. I have decided not to worry about all that and just enter what I have put down in visible historic notes...

The moral of the story to all would be beginners is keen field note taking, alernatively put it in Bird Journal from the beginning............

Have a look at there website here you can also download a trial version, thats how I found it.

Martyn Yapp

Happy New Year

2010-12-30T22:17:00.000Z

Just a quick post to let you know I am still alive, which to tell you the truth is a start.

22 days post operation and I am hopefully on the road to recovery. Nothing major to report in the process apart from neck pain, weakened right leg and various amounts of numbness and tingling around the toes and fingers, the latter should disappear in time, as for the leg I am not so sure, but await my first post operation appoint at the QE, when I dare say will learn more. The surgeon was quite adamant that there should be no physio before I have seen him, which should be sometime late January I think.

I am not holding a great deal of hope of any birding until then, so the blog content will be thin, well thinner than usual.

Just before I go I notice that the West Mids Blog scene is waining a little, I have an excuse not to post, it would be nice to see some more folks join in the fun, lets face I need some reading material in January.

Right folks, chin up.....Crap that hurt.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Martyn Yapp

End of 2010 Birding

2010-12-13T09:49:00.003Z

As I said in my last post, I had thought my birding for 2010 had come to an end, well it has, with a bang too.

From having the MRI scan results last Thursday I have spent three days in the QE in Birmingham where I have had Anterior Cervical Discectomy/fusion, an operation that has removed the disc between C4/5 and C6/7 in the upper spine/lower neck as they had slipped and was causing some dangerous type pressure on my spinal cord, which according to the consultanant could have resulted in paralysis, which considering the speed of the symptoms gave them enough concern to get me in quick. The discs are replaced with some sort of bionic material and screwed up with titanium plates. Anyway the operation appears to have been a complete success although I will have to wear a full surgical collar for a minimum of six weeks after which I will be sent to Physio. I still have some numbness to my toes and my right leg still feels weak, but this is coming and going, so I feel as I might well have got away with it, we will see. I was told that the operation is normally performed to stop further damage, normally what is lost is lost...so I await anxiously the eventual outcome.

So 205 for 2010 it is, a poor year in regional standards, typically I have saw many birds I didn't see last year, the biggest problem bird this year was Short-eared Owl and wouldn't you just know it, Berry Hill gets two easy to see birds, can I count them please.

I might do a year round up later, I currently can't spend much time on the keyboard due to pain.

Martyn Yapp

PS If you look up Anterior Cervical Discectomy on U-tube the operation is on there.

PPS I am told there are so Waxwings about, is that right?

3rd December 20101

2010-12-03T16:34:00.000Z

Oh well my birding year listing seems to have come to an abrupt end.

Yesterday saw me seeing a consultant Neurosurgeon, whom informed me that I had slipped a disc and it appeared from my scan that urgent action is needed.

Well he reffered me to the head consultant at Birminghams Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a phone call later from his secretary saw me up at his surgery at 4.30 last night.

He agreed with the initial findings but informed me that there were two vertibrae prolaspes which need almost immediate surgery due to the fact they are both pressing into my spina cord causing these symptons. The operation that involves the removal of two of my discs, they replace the disc with a cage and will mean hospital food for five days.......

Long term prognosis is good, but this is all about relieving the pressure on the spinal cord, so what's happening at the moment will remain....

Looking on the brightside I at least now know what it is, on the downside is there were no potential Waxwing trees around the hospital grounds..tut

Martyn Yapp

27th November 2010

2010-11-28T21:44:00.002Z

Well events of the last few weeks look as though it might hinder my birding for a while.

To cut a long story short I have felt some numbing to my upper legs, making them feel like lead, to make matters worst I have been also been getting shooting pains in the same area, my legs feel as though they are made of lead really to the point that I want to drag my right leg behind me! I managed to see a Doctor the other week whom said it sounded like Siatica and prescibed painkillers, needless to say they did nothing, still a littled concerned I managed to see my proper Doctor who immediatley ruled out Siatica and tested all my reflexes and suggested that I have had some sort of "event" around the spine and sent me directly for an urgent blood test on Wednesday, by Friday I had a MRI scan on my upper neck and spine, next week I have an appointment with a consultant Neurologist............

Too be continued I suppose, so if anyone is going to find something good, can you make sure I can see it from the car please.

Anyway I did do a bit of birding today.

BRANDON MARSH - WARWICKSHIRE 7.30am

Arrived pre-light at the rail bridge over looking the sheep field. Gave it at least a hour to no avail, a few finches were seen to leave the conifers, these included a single Brambling Went onto the reserve and hobbled down to the path by Newlands......

The information board said it all.

A small area of open water held small numbers of Shoveler and Teal. Around 30 Lapwing were stood on ice along with a couple of Common Gull. A noteworthy flock of around 50 Siskin were feeding close to the main hide.

I could take anymore so I left the area but decided to call in on Stubbers Green on the way home.

The 3rd winter Iceland Gull was present on the frozen lake along with a cracker of an adult Caspian Gull....

The above image of the Caspian Gull does not do this bird justice, it also darkens the appearance of it upperparts.....

The few duck that were here were viewable from the bridge.....

Martyn Yapp

14th November 2010

2010-11-21T22:27:00.001Z

Today I decided that another trip to the Cadet Hut area of Cannock Chase was in order, although like someone I know that had racked up 25 hours birding time before seeing the Shrike, I felt today was the day....

CANNOCK CHASE - STAFFORDSHIRE 8.00am

A walk to the butts produced 4 fly-over Brambling, 81 Starling and a Common Snipe. I searched the quarry area and the track that runs parrallel to the Tackeroo car park to no avail. 20 or so Lesser redpoll were in the area along with what looked good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare.

I had nearly given up when I decided to walk the main track away from the Cadet Huts again, the Great Gret Shrike was perched high on a Silver Birch between here and the disued quarry, result.

Not the best image in the world but beggars can't be choosers, anyway the Treecreeper and the jay are marginally better.

I decided to leave the area and have a look at Croxall. 3 Goldeneye, 55 Common Teal, a male Pintail, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 9 Pochard and 4 Gadwall were on the main pool, water levels were high. The embankment held a Willow Tit, the odd Chaffinch and Bullfinch, whilst the east side produced 3 Redshank and a Green Sandpiper. Reed Bunting were taking advantage of the reeds as their names suggests.

News broke of a flock of Waxwings back on the Chase, oh well something to finish off on. I bumped into 14 Waxwings as I approached the area, they were nervous and feeding on Hawthorns close to the road.

Here you go, the worst image of a Waxwing on the net this year......

News broke of a Hawfinch, opposite the Tackeroo car park, the rest of the afternoon was searching in vain for it.

Martyn Yapp

13th November 2010

2010-11-21T21:40:00.000Z

Well well, knock me over with monopod, there is some seriously good news in Warwickshire for me today.

SHUSTOKE RESERVOIR - WARWICKSHIRE 8.00am

Well believe it or not folks that there is a Red-breasted Merganser, a bird that I did not see in the region last year.

Actually when I got there and looked over the wall from the car this bird was right under the wall, but drifted out of sight pertty quickly, it was so close at the time it through me into a bit of a senoir moment, surely at this time I was looking a t a Goosander, anyway it disappeared so I went over to the north shore were the bird had always been reported from.

Another birder was over there, strangely enough with exactly the same spelling christian name as me had just seen the bird briefly. It surfaced, again the senoir moment continued because I felt it "looked" too big, anyway I came to my senses and systematically picked off the identification features, you know, small upturned bill, without the hook, uniform grey underparts and eventually the dark line through the white wing panel........

I must admit to feeling a bit rusty of identification features just lately, it would help if I could retain some of this information in my limited grey matter.

There was a nice selection of duck present including Goldeneye, Shoveler and Pochard.

DRAYCOTE WATER - WARWICKSHIRE 12.00am

I decided to have a walk around here because there were reports of Snow Bunting in the week, it's the knid of place you could just stumble across something.

Well not today anyway........

A fairly quiet visit with just 5 Goldeneye and Goosander by the Valve Tower, 52 Common Gull, 396 Tufted Duck and 2 Wigeon. A small party of rRdwing fed around the margins along with 2 Siskin.

Martyn Yapp

7th November 2010

2010-11-21T21:00:00.001Z

November already, my regional list on a pretty desperate 203, considering I finished on 215 last year, I fear that in terms of quality 2010 is going to be a poor one. Swings and roundabouts spring to mind, I mean this year of have seen plenty of birds in the region that I did not see last year, for instance Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Skua, Franklin's Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Grey Phalarope, Dotterel, Lapland Bunting, Temminck's Stint, and White-winged Black Tern, so why am I down on last year.....

I am missing Red and Black-throated Divers, Long-tailed Duck, Firecrest, Twite, Little Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whiskered Tern (Gulp), Spoonbill, Woodchat Shrike, Quail, Pomarine Skua, Sabine's Gull, Ring-necked Duck, Spotted Crake, Manx Shearwater, Rose-coloured Starling, Snow Bunting and Aquatic Warbler, of course there are some out and out "not every year birds", but I would have thought there would have a twitchable Barwit or Little Tern. I suppose the biggest tart is Short-eared Owl at the moment.

Of course Red-breasted Merganser (sniggers because I know what is coming next week) and Red Kite are just mythical regional birds for me at the moment..............I suppose this years dips like Leach's Petrel, Bearded Tit (5 hours I spent looking for that) and Woodchat Shrike hurt like hell, but still....

Anyway it appears I have developed a problem with my sciatic nerve, which as basically made my right leg feel dead, almost to the point were I feel I should drag my leg behind me, something that as got me really worried, must get it sorted.

Why did I tell you that I hear you say, well this morning I went for a limp around Cannock Chase and not suceeding to see what looks like is going to be a wintering Great Grey Shrike.

A large movement of Woodpigeon today which involded some 2071 birds, 5 Skylarks followed suit as did 20 Redwing and 8 Fieldfare. Two raven gave good views around the disued quarry ( more like a hole in the ground).

With the leg pain I decided to move onto Blithfield were I could at least bird from the car and have a short walk down to the Stansley Wood hide.

Amazingly the immature Little Ringed Plover was still present in Tad Bay, now on it's own, it's mates the two Ringed Plover obviously off to warmer climes....

Martn Yapp

6th November 2010

2010-11-07T20:37:00.002Z

Whoops Sorry I have not caught up with the blog, I hope I ain't losing my mojo for blogging.

Thanks to the kind offer from Julian Allen I was able to catch a ride into Cornwall to the American Bittern that was frequenting the Walmsley Sanctuary. This small area of wetland lies less than 1km inland from the Camel Estuary near Wadebridge. Actually I had forgot what twitching as a passenger was like, come to think of it I would positively recommend it, no stress, sleep when you want, great..........

Anyway I was picked up at the very sensible time of 7.00am, due to the fact the bird was proving a popular twitch it was considered that arriving later would be more comfortable. After an uneventful drive down, apart from the regional listing debate we arrived at around 11.00am and made our way to the stilt hide overlooking the marsh. We couldn't get in the hide but luckily the area was viewable from below the hide through the wooden slats.

It wasn't too long before the bird appeared directly in front of us, emerging from the reeds and strutting around in the open for a while, what a stunner.

I decided not to take my camera because of the probable crush, maybe I wish I had, I might have got something on it. We spent at least two hours here and were rewarded with more good views. We eventually managed to get in the hide too, I must admit the whole front row was taken up by the 100-500 brigade, they were not going to budge for anyone.

An adult Whooper Swan fed in a ditch to the right of the marsh which was strangely invisible from below the hide. Double figure Curlew, a single Shoveler and the odd winter Thrush was all that was noted.

We decided to leave the sanctuary of the sanctuary and headed off to find a bit of estuary. Afer a couple of dead ends we finally found the small village of Tregonce, which via a permitted public footpath leads down onto the "Camel Trail" and overlooks part of the estuary.

75 Pale-bellied Brent moved around the area at high tide, a single Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 2 Med Gulls and many Little Egret kept us entertained until we had to start the long drive back to the Midlands.

Martyn Yapp

30th October 2010

2010-11-01T15:47:00.000Z

Another pre-dawn trip onto the North Staffs Moors to look for Short-eared Owl ended in complete failure, I must admit that I am going through a forced lazy period due to a foot problem that may need surgery and what looks like a trapped nerve that seems to want to make one of my legs seem weak and wobbly, I know I must be some sort of freak, will let the Doctor sort that one out, meanwhile I was able to sit in the relative comfort of the motor scanning areas suitable looking areas around Swallow Moss....

Soon got fed up of looking at nothing bar numerous overflying Fieldfare and Woodpigeon and set off back towards mecca.

Well quite not mecca, but Blithfield must be close.

A quick look from the Sailing club produced nothing on the water, however a Northern Wheatear flew close to the car, although I can't remember for sure this is probably my latest region record.

Although in Tad Bay a record breaking Little Ringed Plover remains with two Ringed Plover, this is the regions latest ever record of said species, surprises me as to why they don't ever try and winter anyway here in the UK. although I don't think they are partial to coastal salt like Ringies are. I am sure the LRP thinks that it is a Ringed Plover anyway, it even fed like them whilst I was there.

The only other thing of note was a pesky Peregrine that did its best to catch duck, but failed each time.

Martyn Yapp

23th October 2010

2010-10-31T22:12:00.000Z

I really hate this time of year as a regional lister, dark nights without a chance to go and see a midweek bird.

A Bearded Tit was seen at Napton Reservoir in Warwickshire on the 18/19th, typically it was not paged again, so it really left me thinking that it could of course still be there. So an early morning Saturday visit to avoid the increasing winds later that day was planned. To cut a long story short I spent around five hours, yes five hours waiting around the reedbed just in case it should appear. I must confess in that five hours, yes five hours I did think I heard it "ping" but it would have been so easy to have just mis-heard something else, I mean I now realize that distant Yellowhammers come somewhere close, believe it or not.

The water level was lower than I had ever seen it before so Water Rail was no real problem, with at least three seen. Snipe, Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler was all noted. A party of 60 Common Gull came into bathe briefly and a Kingfisher zapped about the place. Skylark were still on the move with around 12 birds flying over.

Martyn Yapp

21st October 2010

2010-10-24T08:39:00.001+01:00

Any rare birds turning up in the week had better not do so on Thursday as I am committed to help out my partner Bev on that evening.
There you go, from exhilaration of finding my first skua at Blithfield to utter frustration, due to the fact a Leach’s Petrel turned up out of the blue at Chasewater on Thursday 21st October , with no chance of me going….damn damn damn.

I am not sure why I am frustrated really, it's a bird I have seen many of in the past, granted not in Staffordshire, but luckily I don't keep a Staffs bird list yet, maybe I should.

Anyway in listing terms it means that JA pulled one back, my hard work of finding the Arctic Skua was wiped out within a week, right I still need Short-eared Owl, any about?

Martyn Yapp

16th October 2010

2010-10-24T08:33:00.001+01:00

Here we go again, the highs and lows of regional year listing, I do go on about this subject a lot, I am sure.
Well today was a hard work, a pre-dawn drive to the North Staffordshire Moors saw me sitting on the top road overlooking Swallow Moss a good half an hour before first light, spooky.

Fellow North Staffs blogger Andy Barker had found a ringtail Hen Harrier last Sunday, surely it was going to stick around for the winter? Julian Allen my fellow regional year lister had snook it in during the week, his 200th bird of the year. Most folk go to see these type of birds roost, technically it should happen the other way around too.

Dawn had past with little of note apart from three Red Grouse, a couple of roosting Fieldfare sprung to life and flew off, several over flying Meadow Pipit and two Common Snipe.

Luckily the Hen Harrier appeared briefly over the grassy area next to the road leading away up hill from the moss, not brilliant views but never the less a ringtail Hen Harrier. A group of 65 heather hugging low flying Fieldfare shot through, superb.

News of a couple of adult Whooper Swans at Tittesworth inspired me to go and have a look. Parking in the road to avoid the two squid parking fee I got to the viewing area in time to see them flying out over the dam. Apart from the that, there was little of note on the water apart from a couple of Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal and a fly over Goosander. A Nuthatch fed on the feeder nuts outside the visitors centre.

The Weaver Hill produced very little, so it was onto Blithfield Reservoir.

The plan was, deep end, Tad Bay and finish with a sit in Beechtree Point hide. Well two out of the three I did. The deep end was rather quiet and my visit coincided with rain. Tad Bay was busier than I expected so I spent longer sieving through the wildfowl.
Pochard, Tufted Duck and Eurasian Wigeon numbers were on the increase, my first Goldeneye of the Autumn, 31 Golden Plover and around three hundred Lapwing were on the mud. A Ruff was also present.
I was on my way home and I stopped to quickly check with Trevor Hardiman who was sitting on the causeway, if there was anything in Blithe Bay.

You know when you lift your bins and see something, you know what it it, call it and then go about trying dispute your initial claim, well this was one of those moments.

“Get on this Trev”, looks like a Skua flying low over the water towards Blithe Bay. A bit of panic set in from me, need my scope, it was in the boot over road. “Errm you know I suppose it could have been a Peregrine, I mean the gulls have not gone up in the bay, I bet it’s flew over Stansley Wood avoiding disturbing them, although it seemed very pointy winged (a technical term, that)”.

“Thinking about it if it was a Skua it could have come down on the water, I will have a scan”……

Anyway enough of that waffle, straight to the point , an ARCTIC SKUA was sat on the water, just off the Blithe Bay side of Beechtree Point, it spent less that two minutes there after I had picked it up before we loft the bird, due to me taking my eye off the bird whilst trying to alert the pager services and various folk,
A dark phase individual with little our no white in the upperwing mentally noted whilst I saw it in flight, too distant to age, but maybe points to an immature, I don’t know…….

My 203rd bird for 2010 within the region.

Martyn Yapp

10th October 2010

2010-10-10T21:27:00.003+01:00

I had my first Autumn wander over Cannock Chase this morning, low cloud greeted me at 7.30am, it was more like winter up there. A rather large flock of Redpoll was feeding on the ground in the bottom of Sherbrook Valley, a scan of these 300 or so birds in flight did not produce any white rumps. Several Siskin flew over and there were still a few Meadow pipits struggling through. I manged 12 Redwing, a Mistle and a Song Thrush just prior to leaving the site. A small tit flock at Chase Road Corner held three Goldcrest and a male Bullfinch.

I decided to go and check an area of to be developed wasteland near Fradley, a flash pool close to Tesco Distribution Centre was said to have held LRP, Ringed Plover and a migrant Little Stint in spring.

A Northern Wheatear was a surprise, may be thats going to be my last one of the year.

Other stuff included several Skylark, Linnet and Meadow pipit. Two Common Buzzard and a Kestrel also entered my notebook. At least 75 Black-headed and one L.B.B Gull were on the flash.

I must admit I should probably spend a bit more time over here bodging and poking, although wasteland ain't normally my thing, wasteland does however come up with the good from time to time, as Tesco say "Every Little Helps".

I naturally moved on to Blithfield Reservoir, avoiding the A38 valley of doom only to find it rather quiet and dull. A Rock Pipit remained on the dam, 7 Dunlin and 3 Ringed Plover were the sum total for waders. A Brent Goose was reported flying up Blithe Bay, I shot round but could not see it/them.

I manged to photograph the Dunlin, the light was good and I honestly sat down and thought about what I was doing. A Little Stint was reported here yesterday, strangely enough the report was 5 Dunlin and 1 Little Stint, however yesterday all everyone else could see was 6 Dunlin.

Did the observer imagine a Little Stint, did he not stop take a close look at the group of birds, look at the bill lengths. Of course there well could have been a Little Stint there at some stage, however I fear not.

Martyn Yapp

9th October 2010

2010-10-09T20:41:00.001+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, live from "The Crucible" that is Blithfield, introducing "Ronnie The Rocket".

Actually come to think about I had better explain this to my worldwide viewers, that is if there are any of course.

We still have the obsession of abrieviating bird names, like Meadow Pipit is "Mipit", so Rock Pipit is "Rocket", see what I mean. Now Ronnie refers to one of UK's top Snooker players who method of play is fast earning him the the title of Rocket........

2nd October 2010

2010-10-06T23:19:00.002+01:00

I heard an article on the news this morning stating that bad grammer is being used in emails within most companies in the UK and I am pretty sure they are suggesting that if it continues there will be that much jibberish talked in emails we will all be talking an "alein" language in the future, she said. I am just glad it does affect me, thats all...hehehe

I remember a question in my English Language exam, one I still have nightmares about. It was in a section asking for the meaning of certain phrases, "Red Herring", instead of putting something like "a misleading comment", I answered "an oily fish found in saltwater", she must have had a right giggle about that one when marking the exam paper, I suppose. I am pretty sure I was away when then covered punctuation, however.

I will just mention Modus Hopper Random blog again, a cracking post on there about using the chance of species landing on a backyard bird table, in order to see which football match he would attend.

So what of birding I hear you say, well to tell you the truth, not a lot.

I decided to give the Weaver Hills another crack, it was hard going too, all I had to show for it was a couple of Northern Wheatears, 40 or so decked Meadow Pipits, 28 Skylarks, 5 Swallow, 1 Raven, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Alba Wagtails over and a Common Buzzard.

A small tit flock on the top contained two Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and a couple of Coal Tits.

Blithfield produced a couple of juvenile Little Stints, 28 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover. There was still a couple of Northern Wheatear and the odd Swallow knocking around, whilst a juvenile Common Tern sat on the shore with the Black-headed Gulls. Eurasian Wigeon numbers were on the up, over fifty seen in Tad Bay, with a couple down the deeps.

Have a look at this image of a Yellow-legged Gull thats knocking around at the moment, why does all literature seem to stop at 3rd year, is it because a 4th winter is basically an adult, anyway I will get my head around it one day, I just seem to be confusing myself more and more these days, now I can study some images....

Martyn Yapp

26th September 2010

2010-09-28T00:02:00.001+01:00

Malvern Hills must look a rather big obstruction in a birds movement southwest, come to think of it, northwards too. It's a bit of a blot on the landscape, although a pretty spectacular one too, with many a vulcanic type valley carved out of the hillside.

I have not birded here many times but regular watchers this time of the year usually pull something out of the bag.

Lapland Buntings were intially discovered near the summit of North Hill, not able to go to see the flock earlier in the week as now dwindled to one bird, may I say what a beauty it is too, the stiff cold northerly wind looked to keep the visiting birders down, unless they were all in Norfolk of course.

Martyn Yapp

25th September 2010

2010-09-27T23:54:00.000+01:00

Gambling, I have never been a gambler, I can't afford to gamble, I would probably lose my missus or car knowing my luck (if I had the choice, I wonder which one I would part with?). Then why do we all do it when it comes to birding, well I do anyway, I love the challange, second guessing the natural world is extremely difficult. So with Modus Hopper tactics today I was really pleased that the randomness picked out Draycote Water, why I hear you say. Friday afternoon saw the winds pick up from the north, presumably catching out few seabirds in the North Sea, inland Norfolk witnessed a large number of inland bound birds like Bonxie, and I think Cambridgeshire had the odd Arctic Skua and Sabine's Gull. Anybody in the know should realy have been at Draycote Water, it does have a proven track record with these kind of things, anyway I was there, Lesser Scaup is a good regional bird, in fact a bloody good regional bird, a very important list filler in the scheme of things.

DRAYCOTE WATER - WARWICKSHIRE 8.45am

One thing for sure it was mighty cold and the wind cut through me on Farnborough Bank, Bob the Birder was here to, so we embarked on a walk towards Toft Bay, surely the duck would want to shelter. A few migrants were around with several Yellow Wagtails and a few Meadow Pipits decked. Overhead was difficult to judge although we saw several Skylark and I heard at least three Siskin. A immature Peregrine was also seen. Hang on a minute, no duck, at least 198 Tufted Duck were counted from Toft Bay, only a female Pochard and five Eurasian Wigeon were amongst them. Ok what next, lets check the area over the otherside, Rainbow Corner, this is were the bird was originally found.

This is where it all went horribly wrong, my instinct was right, a call to Bob from John Judge telling him that a Gannet was flying over the Country park top cart park, we were passing the visitors centre in thick hedge and bush cover, we had no chance besides the hill was probably in the way too. A quick run to the first open bit we could get to was all to no avail, the bird had already disappeared down the valley, a regional lifer down the pan, I was gutted, Bob was going to chuck himself in off the valvetower. Oh well, it's good fun, I love it!

Bob left me at Rainbow Corner, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was by the outflow, but little else apart from an adult an immature Common Gull. What should I do now, I was starting to lose faith.

After eating and having 5 minutes snooze back at the car I decided to again walk to Toft Bay, I sat in the hide and scanned the Tufted Duck fock, there was now over three hundred of the damn things, BINGO, the drake Lesser Scaup was there, asleep, in fact there always asleep are they not. Year tick 200, get in my son.

Even in the distant horrible images "le bump" can be seen, The top two images are Yellow-legged and Comon Gull.

Somehow even though I got the bird I set out to see, I still feel my days experience has damaged my feelings about regional listing, a waste of time and money, 31.12.2010 spells the end to all that nonesence, incidentally I hope the Lapland Bunting is still there tommmorow on the Malverns, got to see that little beauty...ha ha ha.

Martyn Yapp

Modus Hopper Random

2010-09-25T06:29:00.002+01:00

Wierd title I know, let me explain. Well errm it's like this, our kids blog Modus Hopper Random follows his antics around the country watching football at grounds that he has not been too, I presume with all the football league stuff done he is now "ticking" off the real minor league stuff, you know one step above above Sunday football.

So what as this got to do with my beloved birding, well listing I suppose, it's all down to "ticking" off football grounds and keeping a list of grounds, what I do like with Modus Hopper though it is all now all down to chance, the throw of a dice or two which at random sends our kid across the country to watch football.

So here am, 6.00am Saturday morning wondering what to do regarding this morning birding, Lesser Scaup at Draycote or Lapland Bunting in Worcestershire, should be any easy choice with Lapland Bunting but yesterdays displacement of seabirds now makes we worry, should I be standing on hill, escpecially with Skua's about inland, we all know of Draycote record, don't we.

So in true Modus Hopper style you are about to witness (well your not really) me toss a coin, heads Draycote, tails Malvern's. It's only a penny, thats all I have, hope I don't lose it at the back of the warbrode or else I will look silly.

Spinning, lands, it's HEADS, it's Draycote.......................

Report to follow.

Martyn Yapp

PS Check the Modus Hopper Random by clicking the link.

24th September 2010

2010-09-24T21:35:00.000+01:00

You know going to see a new bird for the year should leave you with a nice happy feeling, why does the Pectoral Sandpiper that I saw at Upton Warren this evening make me feel gutted.

It was only late afternoon that I had decided to travel south to see the bird that had flew in sometime today, I had to call in at the parents house to get the back up pair of bins and scope. Now this is where the trouble started, junction one blocked at the island, an approach road aslo blocked by police, the escape route into Oldbury junction two heavy, I thought about not going and knocking this year listing stupidness on the head, it was only a Pectoral Sandpiper I kept telling myself, besides I will pass the reserve on Saturday on the way to the Malverns.

No I had to press on, M5 and the masts overlooking the reserve were in sight, a phone call from Worcestershire Birding telling that a Bonxie was on the flashes, prompted me to hurry a little, well a bit more than hurry if you know what I mean.

Parked up at the Outdoor Edification Centre only to be told that the Boxnxie had flown off just some 7 minutes previous, well well well, what I can I say, to rub more salt in my servere open wounds I saw some superb shots of bird when I got into the hide.

Can't wait for 2010, let normality reign again in my life.

Oh by the way I did see the Pectoral Sandpiper, which I think is 199 for the region thus far, it fed with four Common Snipe. A Water Rail, a few Swallow and Shoveler were all that was of note, with a very nervous group of Black-headed Gulls coming into roost.

Martyn Yapp

18th September 2010

2010-09-22T20:54:00.002+01:00

Oh blast here we go again, no post since the last time, I bet you all are wondering what the hell I have been up to.

Well it is that frustrating time of the year again, work really does get in the way of regional year listing, I mean it is currently 7.25pm and it is as black as a bag outside, little chance of getting to see the 5 Lapland Bunting that are gracing the Malvern Hills, a good regional record, vital they get on the year list I suppose. The one good thing about them is that there as been a mass invasion with flocks over a hunderd on some of the northern islands.

Of course there was the big logistical problems the other night with a Leach's Petrel at Coton and a Grey Phalarope at Grimley, I reacted to the Leach's but by the time I had got to junction 1 of the M6 it was paged as flying off, so southbound to Grimley I hear you say, well no, that had gone as well. Of course tragically another, yes another bird dropped into Upton Warren just prior to dusk, no chance of getting there.

Luckily, or maybe unluckily the bird was there next day, I was was in heavy traffic and just turning onto the car park when a Leach's Petrel was found at Belvide Reservoir, damn damn damn there was no chance of me getting there, a/ the traffic was a nightmare and b/ I had arranged to meet Bev back at her parents in West Bromwich, there was just not enough time, besides the bleeder had flew off at 6.55pm, I probably would not have seen it. Of course if I had of seen the Grimley bird last night, it would have been a different story and I would not be typing this stuff with tears in eyes.

Of course the entry on the 9th September sums this year up, I even have the sneaky feeling that the Little Tern that cost me the Woodchat Shrike was not one, don't get me wrong a good evenings birding but I would not have done the hundred mile round trip, it was fun being the organizer of the Woodchat twitch from about 40 mile away. By the way appologies to anyone in my phone contacts that I didn't phone, I just thought that you just would not be able to make it.

With Lapland Bunting in mind last weekend and this one too I have been having a snoop around the Weaver Hills, I am sure that all Birdforum folk think that it is only Berry Hill with it's Spurn of Staffs nickname that will score one. If thats the case why is it only covered by the odd birder, Lapland Bunting will only be found if you are out looking for them.

Check these out, it might help.

Lapland Bunting Calls

Interestingly Saturday on the Weavers started off with a strong NW wind just after first light, but within the hour it had turned due west, good job I didn't go to the Wirrell, it must have died in the bum shortly after first light.

It was shortly after first light that I very probably heard a Lapland Bunting but frustratingly I couldn't see it, I still have a sneaky feeling that the Weavers is not that good for vismig, they seem to pass over high, however it still is work in progress, so watch this space. I suppose that it tied in nicely with the one that SN had over Belvide and BL heard at Hanchurch, the Belvide one some 20 minutes after mine, who knows I can't get too excited about it due to the fact there was a lot of other factors going on, like the bloody constant mooing of one particular cow, a noisy tractor below and a distant party of tinkerling Goldfinch. Oh well may be next time.

Meadow Pipits streamed through before the change in wind direction, some 180 birds moved south between 0700-0815. 4 House Martins over, a single Chaffinch and around 50 Swallow fed over a nearby wood.

I have been told my blog has been lacking humour just lately, I just have struggled to find anything funny about regional birding just lately, however I did notice this on the Weavers.

Footpaths with me in mind.......

I wonder if thin people get a little upset when they see this kind of thing?

I popped in at Blithfield Reservoir later, the juvenile Little Gull was still there along with 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, a Northern Wheatear, a single Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and an immature Ruff.

Sorry about the lack of images today I had a bad day in the Saturday office, besides there is nothing up the Weavers to photograph, well there is grass if you like that sort of thing.

Just remember "there may be gold up them there hills".

There was a bloke with rather a large pastry filled with Steak & Kidney here, when asked what he was doing he said he was trying to see how heavy it was, I asked him to explain, to which he sang "Somewhere over the rainbow, weight a pie".

And you wanted more humour.........

Martyn Yapp

PS I might have used that joke before............

11th September 2010

2010-09-12T20:36:00.000+01:00

New birds at Blithfield Reservoir today included a cracking 1st winter Mediterranean Gull that was with around a hundred Black-headed Gulls close to St Stephen's Bay.

A single Black Tern was also present down the deeps having to battle with a torrential downpour.

A further three black Tern, a juvenile Little Gull and a juvenile Common Tern was off Beechtree Point. Other than that it was pretty standard stuff, although an Osprey flew over mid afternoon, possibly up to 6 Ruff and 5 Greenshank were present around the place. 3 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and a Redshank was also seen.

Martyn Yapp

9th September 2010

2010-09-09T23:01:00.003+01:00

A quick dash to Draycote Water after work to dip out on Little Tern was frustrating, although even more so for Julian Allen who had the pleasure of me telling him I was watching a Sandwich Tern fly over Farnborough Bank, it did not stop either, whoops.

Although on a regional birding level I saw Red-necked Phalarope, 8 Black Tern and 2 Little Gulls which ain't bad, but and this is a big but. I was about to be floored.

A phone call from Stuart Collins aka Alrewas Birder informed me that he was watching what must have been a Shrike species at Whitemoor Haye and he some images, I asked him a couple of questions which to me confirmed that it was a Shrike of some description, so I put the wheels in motion and got the two most local birders to assist, after all there was less than half an hour of light left, it had to be clinched.

Anyway it was, just three birders including the finder saw it, an immature Wooodchat Shrike. I must admit after the weekend of easterlies I couldn't help thinking it was going to be a RB Shrike.

Look away now, if you do not want gripping.

Thanks to the quick thinking of Alrewas Birder who got the image and more importantly thank god has got that awful music off his blog, we can all enjoy this 1st for Staffordshire, gawd damn it.

Martyn Yapp

4/5th September 2010

2010-09-09T22:44:00.003+01:00

A bit of rushed post this week due the demands of regional listing.

Managed to see a Blithfield Reservoir mega the wekend in the form of a Cuckoo, it only stuck around for long enough for me and the Local Birder to take some snaps.

The Curlew Sandpiper was still around the deep end and three Ruff graced Blithe Bay. The Ruff were all feeding in some well sticky mud, all the birds had to use a fair bit wing flapping to lift themselves out from time to time.

Sunday saw two Arctic Terns drop in during a shower and 3 Common Terns were new in. 2 Common Swifts were also seen over the causeway, probably my last of the year.

What was I presumed was a Yellow-legged Gull breezed over the dam calling.

Martyn Yapp

Blithfield Hotel

2010-09-04T22:21:00.000+01:00

I promised myself I would never do anything like this on my blog.

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper books in.

All this migrating really does play havoc with unwanted underwing odours.

Ok check into Blithfield, concrete bay suite and and feshen up.

Right, a little bit of drying.

Sorted, I will be checking out tomorrow...........

Martyn Yapp

29th August 2010

2010-08-31T23:40:00.000+01:00

I went back to Blithfield Reservoir today and spent a long time just sitting around just in case the strong winds and regular pulses of rain would bring something in. It cleared up in the afternoon and the sun came out.

I had a chat with a birder/photographer yesterday and he always uses his camera on manual, which errm frightened me to death, you see I have only just got past the point of being able to switch it on. Never the less some Black-headed Gulls were loafing and feeding off the dam, the strong winds held them up, the back ground was great, so I had a go....

It was the first time I had took control of my camera manually and I am pleased with the results although I know there are some shadows here and there, but I felt I had got them sharper that I have before. Oh well will think about manual next time I go out.

The Osprey showed a little better today in Tad Bay.

Two Turnstones were new arrivals in Tad bay with 10 Ringed Plover. I picked up a party of waders flying in and settling with the above. 13 immature Curlew Sandpipers, superb. They were a little flighty, the Turnstone did disappear which accounts for the one below close to the causeway, sometime after.

Other waders present were 1 LR Plover, 31 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin anf 4 Greenshank. two Northern Wheatears were close to the causeway and around 5 Common Terns were knocking around.

On a final and sad note, wave goodbye to Common Swifts, they have nearly gone, 12 here today, right where's the Prozac, I will need it to get through the winter.

Martyn Yapp

28th August 2010

2010-08-30T20:42:00.003+01:00

Well increasing winds can be good, inclement weather can also be good, but not really when it's westerly.

I was aware that a year tick in the form of a Curlew Sandpiper was probably still going to be at Belvide so I headed off to Blithfield to await further news, as you do.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.00am

An Osprey was circling Tad Bay, it did not however come close enough for a photo and I was sure as hell not going to chase it.

It did however give me chance to get to grips with my camera and have a look at some close Ringed Plover (21) and Dunlin (7).

It was also nice to see our home bred Oystercatchers still knocking around, although one of the adults as disappeared. I have included the images below (not very good I know) to document the immature Oystercatchers plumage. Note the pale leg colour and dark eye with the adult on the right, the second image shows the pale fringed immature feathers on the upperparts.

At least 8 migrant Spotted Flycathers were noted around the reservoir along with Kingfisher, Little Owl, 1 Eurasian Wigeon and 8 Common Swift. 500 House Martin flew into Tad Bay briefly.

BELVIDE RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 1.30pm

A routine twitch to see the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (199 WMBC) did not let me down. Plenty off other stuff on offer here including 9 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 6 Greenshank, 1 Curlew, 3 Hobby over the dam, 3 Common Buzzard (Photo), 2 Pintail and a Willow Warbler (Photo) that thought it was a Blue Tit.

Martyn Yapp

27th August 2010

2010-08-30T06:15:00.000+01:00

After a phone call telling me that Paul Jeynes had a immature Gannet fly low through Stubbers Green which was seen a few minutes later turning back whilst over Pelsall (quite frankly I would too), it had to be worth a shot, after all now that I live close to junction 10 of the M6 it is not exactly too far.

Gannet is a bird that I need for the WMBC region, what a tart too I hear you say, well I seem to remember driving past one at Coton in Warwickshire because I had forgot to pick my pager up one afternoon and I refused to go for the dying bird at Upton Warren.

It will come, I am sure.

Martyn Yapp

21st August 2010

2010-08-22T07:42:00.001+01:00

I managed to miss the four Spotted Redshank that had graced Tad Bay, Blithfield Reservoir on Thursday evening. A very important bird in the regional listing scheme of things, they do not come that often, with only one or two sightings per year within the region if you are lucky and prepared to move for them.

Just a few diehard Staffs birders on site to share my misery of the "dip"with, although 4 juvenile Little Gulls were enough to keep me entertained off the causeway.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.15am

I arrived early in the hope that the Little Gulls would still be here so I could try to take some images. To my surprise a couple of the birds were using Admaston Reach to rest, so it was just a case of moving slowly down the shoreline in my car.

The light was not good, I am not really happy with these, in fact I am not really happy with my photography full stop, maybe next year I will start to concentrate on it a little instead of all this dashing around.

A juvenile Ruff was the only wader in Blithe Bay, whilst 5 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank were close to Admaston Reach and the causeway. Little Egrets are still around but are steadily decreasing in numbers. There are still plenty of Common Tern in various plumages to get your teeth into and Black-headed Gulls seem to have shot through the roof today, with at least a 500 birds down the dep end alone.

It was also nice to see a family party of Little Owls nearby, this one not really giving a hoot to the approaching photographer.

A text message from telling me a juvenile Spotted Redshank was present at Clifton Pit near Worcestershire had me leave Blithfield just as the rain squalls began, with luckily was not fatal. About an hour and half later, after getting stuff in traffic on the southbound M6 I arrived at the pit.

Clifton Pit although as limited habitat for waders is very close to the River Servern and regularly produces a good selection of birds. The Spotted Redshank (199, get in my son) gave me the run around choosing two pools and frequently flying between the two of them.

Decent views of this "Dusky" as it associated with a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. Add around 15 Yellow Wagtails, this was a good end to my birding day, although again silly miles for what is a common bird nationally.

Get ready to wave goodbye to our summer visitors, this Swallow will pack his rucksack and head off to Africa for the winter, jammy sod!

Martyn Yapp

14th August 2010

2010-08-15T22:57:00.003+01:00

When I arrived at Blithfield Reservoir this morning it was still raining and the wind blew in from the northwest, which of course is not really favourable, however it clicked around to east of north, so I decided to stay here all day.

With many squall type showers it was really difficult to go and look far from the car, besides I had forgotton any wet weather gear.

All 13 Little Egrets were around the deep end, eight sat on the causeway when I arrived, but all quickly dispersed around the rest of the site when the fishermen started to arrive.

Whilst trying to get some images of these freakish yellow footed herons I could hear a large tit flock feeding just below the causeway, a few immature Willow Warblers, Chichaff and Chaffinch were amongst the commoner stuff, on the near fence severel Swallows sounded nervous, for good reason too, in cometh an adult Hobby to persue them, luckily it did not take one.

All this action in the first twenty minutes, what's next, well this is when it slowed, a move to Tad Bay to dodge the rain produced 12 LR Plover and a female Pintail. Common Teal numbers are increasing with well over fifty birds now present, for the plastic lovers there were plenty of Barnacle Geese around, maybe Deffra should take out them next?

Blithe Bay heald six immature Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Shelduck and 12 Goosander.

Back to Deeps for a lounge around ten-acre produced little bar a second year type Yellow-legged Gull, this bird as been around a while and pops up in most bays, think I took the image today in Blithe Bay on my second visit.

Yes, my second visit produced 7 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover on Admaston Reach, around 5 Common Sandpipers were also seen. At least 13 Common Tern rested here too.

A Greenshank preferred the St Stephen's Bay.

Now having seen the A-Team the other week, the words "I love it when a plan comes together" springs to mind. A second visit to Tad bay in better light.

Almost immediatley picked up a raptor soaring in the northern corner, a quick look with the scope produced my first Marsh Harrier of the regional year, get in my son (197), what a cracker too, probably an immature, but to be honest the upperwings was not really seen and all my views were mainly head on. It basically flew over Stansley Wood towards Blithe Bay.

Martyn Yapp

7th August 2010

2010-08-09T22:06:00.004+01:00

Well another birder free day until I got Belvide, thus proving that birders only go to sites that have a selection of birds available to see, all probably in Notts I dare say.

CROXALL POOL - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.15am

Again ther main pool looks good, again the main pool was rubbish, although I might get slammed for not paging the 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and 8 Common Terns that were there. Add a single Hobby, 50 Sand Martin and 20 or so Lapwing, that was that for the pool, although I thought I heard Greenshank. The pool side willows were again full of warblers including a single Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat.

I am still suffering with lack of field time with my camera, I really need to stop birding and try to take images, now that is difficult at the moment, but next year, maybe.

It was nice to have a few of the Common Terns fly past the hide, the light was crap, what do you think?

It is not too difficult to see that I like taking images of birds in flight. I should imagine that the top image is a trick of the light, the upperwing "wedge" that I mentioned in my last post is not normally that obvious.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 9.15am

My new found raptor watchpoint produced zero for the half an hour I spent there, boring boring boring. Mega quiet here with just one Dunlin seen in Tad Bay along with 3 LR Ploveers. Even the record breaking numbers of Little Egret were not evident, 3 down the deeps and two up the Blithe arm, was all I could see.

Right regional twitching.....

BELVIDE RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE

Black-necked Grebe that has been rather absent from the region this year and ceretainly not twitchable for a weekend birder, although it seemed to attract a large gathering, now why is that.?

It showed well in the south-east corner, not well enough for my camera though. A rather grubby immature.

A few other waders were present, including 2 Ruff, 5 Greenshank (photo) and 10 Black-tailed Godwit. Raptors included 2 Hobby and several Common Buzzard.

Thats it for another week....

Martyn Yapp

30th July 2010

2010-08-01T21:42:00.003+01:00

Sorry guys for the slow, small and unfunny posts of late, of course birding can be slow this time of year, but when doing a regional list there is really no such thing as a quiet time, every second counts. I have given up quite easily this year on Quail, the Whitemoor Haye birds have proved very difficult to see, the area they are in does not help though, the farms hench men are constantly about to make sure there is no casual trespass, although I do condemn trespass I have been known to bend the rules slightly in the name of birds. I am pretty sure that my nearest rival Julian Allen also as spent many a hour here without sucess. We seem to be fairly close in the scheme of things, I know he has seen Marsh Harrier, but not Dotterel, Sandwich Tern or Kittliwake all (apart from Dotterel, but has done in the past) should make an Autumn appearance, if you are in the right place at the right time. We both have not seen Red Kite or as there been a twitchable Black-necked Gtebe, which seems bizarre.

My total so far for this year in the four counties of the West Midlands stands at 195, I am not in a position to tell you how I am fairing compared to this last year, however what I can tell you is I will NOT be doing it next year, hopefully I will do more bodging and tatting around with my camera, you never know I might find more...

Anyway is blogging in the West Midland area dying a death, I notice some prevelent bloggers in the recent past taking it easy on the sphere, time for me to step up a gear me thinks, nothing like pinching readership whilst they sleep in. By the way if you do visit here, clink the follow button to the right, I could do with a few more followers.
I have only birded the one day this weekend, still plenty of stuff to do in the apartment.

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.15am

The wildlife trust has made a good job of a wader scrape just past the main hide, not sure why I am telling you all this, I want it all to myself, besides there's really been nothing on it yet.

Today was no exeption, 4 Ringed Pllover, including two recently hatched young and one Dunlin in full summer plumage was all I could manage. The edges held one Common Sandpiper and 18 Lapwing. Duck numbers are low, but did include a female Shoveler. The eastern marsh was dead, but 4 Common Tern patrolled and a Kestrel took pleasure in looking at me.

However the railway and and the scrub around the edge of the pool was alive with varies family feeding parties, including Common Whitethroat, Blackap, Garden, Willow and Reed Warblers (pictured).

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 9.30am

Very quiet I thought, with two Dulin in Tad Bay and three on Admaston Reach. A fly through Whimbrel that appeared to want to land in St Stephen's bay, but was duly dispatched be a dog walker. There was no sign of yesterdays Garganey, but a 1st summer Med Gull was in front of the hide. Unlike the Chasewater bird this had a it's winter head on and presumably had yet to moult as it's outer primaries as they were all black. It didn't fly of course, nor was it close enough for a picture.

Add a couple of Little Egrets in Concrete Bay, a Northern Wheatear and a couple of Yellow Wagtails in Ten-acre Bay, that was about it, althouigh Common Terns were certainly in double figures and on the move.

The next images, not very good I know, demostrate the Common Tern under wing wedge, Arctic Tern show a neat pencil line along the primaries. Just though I would mention it, lots of folk struggle with that.

I decided for some reason to finish off at Doxey Marsh, I suppose I was expecting to see a wealth of birders looking the Cattle Egret, well I saw no one and had to be content with sharing the reserve with around 150 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper and the odd Chiffchaff.

Martyn Yapp

24th July 2010

2010-07-24T20:50:00.001+01:00

Well another gull day today, with a juvenile Meditteranean Gull putting in a appearance at Blithfield Reservoir. Initially sat in Tad Bay, eventually flew to Blithe Bay and to my suprise flew to the island close to to Ten Acre Bay during the afternoon, giving some super views.

Med Gull is a bird that I could photograph all day, saying that only I took my first shots of one only last week, they also are still semi scarce in our region, not sure what the attraction is but they are super birds, sort of a Black-headed Gull with attitude.

Will catch up with the rest of the laters.......It involved my being the only birder at Chasewater. watching the star bird of the summer...Who still need it?

Martyn Yapp

Balcony List

2010-07-21T09:49:00.000+01:00

Actually the title of this blog post is a little misleading, being as I have not got a balcony even, but it sounded good. Anyway the apartment list is underway, I won't bore you with the common stuff, but what I will bore you with the plastic stuff.

Appears most days, calls constantly. Bev has already named (her?) Gerty, something I am trying to discourage of course.

Martyn Yapp

17th July 2010

2010-07-19T21:35:00.002+01:00

Right I am back, missed me?

I bet you are all fed up of looking at that image of one of the West Midlands best looking and coolest birders, yeh?

Now I have sorted the smooth move in our new accommodation, I am at the stage were I might be able to venture out in the field. As it happens I have missed nothing apart from the possibilities of seeing Quail, not that the Staffordshire bird is playing ball.

My new water supplier is South Staffs, which is great I suppose, every drop I use drops the water levels at Blithfield Reservoir, on the downside though, does this mean I have to stop piddling in it.

July is always good for birding, most birders are still gaining brownie points with summer activities, whilst adult waders speed back to there wintering grounds.

CROXALL POOLS - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.15am

It's been looking good, alas as the water level is controlled by the river, the pool was high covering most of the wader scrape. Still a couple of Ringed Plover and LR Plover held on, along with a single Redshank and 2 Common Sandpiper. Another Redshank and Little Egret were over the eastern side.

Wanting to get my camera back in action I had some fun with a Reed Warbler, I am afraid it won, even though it did show well at times.

Next stop Blithfield Reservoir avoiding the Whitemoor Quail. The bays held 2 Greenshank, 9 Redshank, 9 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 8 L.R Plover. Common Terns numbered about eight, whilst the family party of Common Shelduck (12) moved around the deeps. Oystercatcher have also bred with 2 fluffy young birds just off the causeway. A immature male Pesky Peregrine made regular dashes into Tad Bay. A female Pintail was an early arrival.

All this DIY takes it toll, I was awoken from my slumber down the deep end by GJM sitting besides my car shouting "SKUA", how embarrassing, needless to say there was not a skua in site, the only skewer I have seen at Blithfield was holding a trout above a barbeque.

Cormorant.

STUBBERS GREEN - WEST MIDLANDS

Well I was lucky enough to grab back the Franklin's Gull at Chasewater last night on it's second day, gulp that would have been a bit of an embarressment should it have gone, you know, Staffs tick and all.

Anyway my cunning plan was to relocate it this afternoon at the above, a plan that Richard the local birder also had in mind.

An hour later we were getting board of looking at the same L.B B, 6 Herring and 50 or so BH Gulls, although a Common Sandpiper and a Common Tern did put in a brief visit, so it was off to Chasewater.

CHASEWATER - STAFFORDSHIRE 3.00pm

Well well the Franklin's was already in, it still looked tired, reluctant to wake up, although I suppose I would be if I had flown the Atlantic a couple of days before. Also at least 4 Yellow-legged Gulls were present and two immature Hobby were over the north shore.

A Redshank, Dunlin and a few L.R Plover was the only waders present.

Walking back the the car park a 1st summer Meditteranean Gull provided me with my first ever shots of my favourite gull as it came to bread on the mini model boating lake. Move over Franky, I want some of this.

A plumage I must confess not to seeing many time before and may I add not very well covered in recent literature.

There you go, I'm back.

Martyn Yapp

Team Leader Yapp

2010-06-19T07:18:00.001+01:00

OMG, whilst sorting my stuff out I found this, it was years ago, I don't look any younger either.

Taken at Sheepwash UP on a Sandwell Council "let's have a look at what we have ruined" day.

Notice the Swift Audobon 8.5 x 44 Bins and the "Mitchell Beasley" Guide, blimey I was a right dude back then, oh and the strap across my shoulder was the binocular case, gulp, did I do that.......

Martyn Yapp (Team Leader)

13th June 2010

2010-06-15T06:19:00.001+01:00

I just had to get out birding today, even if was only for a morning.

BLORENGE - GWENT 7.00am

I finally cracked and went to see the stunning Marmora's Warbler that is defending territory near Blorenge in Gwent, as a birder said on the internet somewhere, the only place in the UK to rhyme with Orange, which I thought was funny for some reason. The bird showed exeptionally well to the ten people that were here and at one point sat on a wire fence within 10 foot, mind blowing.

Alas my camera is slightly poorly at the moment and is away under warranty, so I am afraid there is no images.

A life tick, which along with Balearic Warbler I saw some years ago of Majorca completes the set of "Marmora's".

If you want so want to see what it looks like, have a look at Dave Hutton's website here. I wouldn't recomend it if you have not been though.

I stopped off at the Flashes at Upton warren on the way back, at least 2 Green Sandpiper were already here on the way back form the breeding grounds, Avocet have sucessfully bred again this year and there were plenty of Little Ringed Plover about.

Posting will be a little erratic for a while I move out of my ancestral home (Hotel Yapp), into more modest accommodation with my long suffering partner Beverley, whom seems content to surround me with pictures of Jon Bonjovi,, little does she know I have at least 420 images of past rarities I need to hang somehwhere and I am the one with the hammer.

Martyn Yapp

Bon Jovi @ the O2 Arena

2010-06-11T20:15:00.000+01:00

Been to see Bon Jovi twice this week, videos can be seen @ http://www.youtube.com/user/purplestorm32

Images courtesy of my partner purplestorm32 @ http://www.youtube.com/user/purplestorm32

7th June 2010

2010-06-09T19:09:00.000+01:00

Heavily involved with domestics this month, more on that later. I did manage to pop out this evening for the cracker of an adult White-winged Black Tern that graced Belvide Reservoir all day. luckily for me.

My camera is poorly at the moment, so no pictures.

I leave you the latest image of the Little Shearwater that is currently on Lundy.

I thank you.

Martyn Yapp

22nd/23rd May 2010

2010-05-30T06:41:00.002+01:00

Sorry about the lack of updates recently, I will bring you all up to speed in a while, but at the moment it looks like I will not be birding at all over this bank holdiday weekend and a couple of weeks thereafter, so bear with me.
It is typical that a Red-necked Phalarope, Curlew Sandpiper, Quail and an half hour Marsh Harrier have turned up thus far, all regional year ticks of course.

A poor post I know but I will leave you with images of the strange Carp-Fest at Croxall on Saturday, a singing Willow Warbler and a Treecreeper taken at Blithfield Reservoir.

The only new bird this weekend was Spotted Flycatcher.

I did however have a strange encounter with a naked couple sat near the shore at the top of Tad bay, Blithfield Reservoir on Saturday, they seemed happy enough with no clothes on, they even brought a picnic. I know you lot are going to be disapointed, I did take some evidence pictures but decided to delete, my younger readers would not have coped.

A Monday evening trip onto Cannock Chase gave me two welcome year ticks, Woodcock and cracking views of a male Nightjar.

Martyn Yapp

16/17th May 2010

2010-05-16T23:27:00.001+01:00

I will combine the weekends efforts into one post this week and let my images do the talking.

A couple of regional ticks came in the form of a Turnstone at Blithfield Reservoir and a Sanderling at Chasewater, I went on to find a couple more Turnstone around the A38 Gravel Pits and two Whimbrel, which promptly flew off.

I was pleased on Sunday to spend nearly a hour with a Wood Warbler on Cannock Chase, I probably would still have been there now if it wasn't for a pager message regarding a Quail (here we go again) at Whitmoore Haye.

Not sure why the Quail was put onto the pager network, it seems that it is on a strictly private area close to the second pit, unfortunatley these days it appears that the owners of Sittles Farm are not that keen on anybody being out there and this morning told a well known ASBO birder that he would "do" him for trespass. Anyway I went over earlier and did not hear a thing.

Wood Warblers are simply stunning, a true bird of the forest, put so much effort into it's song.
Turnstone at Croxall Pools.
Black-headed Gull fly catching at Croxall Pools.
Whimbrel A38 GP
Immature Song Thrush, Cannock Chase.

Martyn Yapp

12th May 2010

2010-05-14T19:30:00.002+01:00

A bit of a twitch tonight to Coleshill Gravel Pit.

Three Temminck's Stint graced the same pool that the Grey Plover chose the weekend. A little flighty at times but eventually getting good views as they fed happily on the mud. The Wood Sandpiper was also still present, which was nice.

No pictures today but interestingly the sixth bird this year that I did not see last year, mmm I wonder?

Martyn Yapp

10th May 2010

2010-05-14T19:26:00.002+01:00

You see I do hate the pager, a message regarding a possible Marsh Warbler at Coombe Abbey CP and two Dotterel on Bredon Hill, OMG which one.

Easy, possibles are not the thing to chase and being it would have been a touch early for a migrant Marshy anyway I decided to go south to Bredon Hill.

I accessed the hill at 6.15pm which was good going being as I did not finish work till 5.00pm via Ashton under Hill. It was under hill too, a 20 minute vertical hike to near the summit (notice how I make it sound like K2) got me into position overlooking a ploughed field with 2 cracking Dotterel in.

I shared the walk up there with Chris Grady from Wildlife Imaging I stood pondered a record shot with my 100-400 Zoom, he got his 600mm Canaon out complete with comvertor, gulp i immediatley fely inadiquate, but was highly hourned when he told me to bolt my camera on his lens. The light was crap, but it felt great to have such a weapon in my hands, whoooo matron. Thanks a million.

Now theres a bit of a blocker!

Martyn Yapp

9th May 2010

2010-05-14T19:10:00.002+01:00

I crept into Chasewater early doors to try and sneak a Sanderling in, but of course it was to no avail. The Knot and Greenshank was still in place, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover and 5 Common Sandpipers patrolled to excess of mud that is araound at the moment.

I really hate my pager, it gave me the message a Marsh Harrier had been seen over Newlands Reedbed this morning. Mmm what to do, right ok, five quid on the toll road and 30 minutes later saw me pulling into the popular reserve of Brandon Marsh.

Blimey, was it popular or what, anyway I spent at least one and a half hours scanning the area. Plenty of Common Buzzards were seen along with a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and the odd Reed Bunting. I quickly checked the the main pool and saw 2 Ringed Plover, 4 LR Plover, 1 Redshank and two proud parents (Oystercatcher) with three "ickle" balls of feathers, all say arrrrrrr.

Whilst waiting for the non showing Marsh Harrier this Common Whitethroat came and had a look at me.

Right back on the wader hunt, Drayton Bassett is normally a great venue in spring. Well it ain't this year I can tell you, with 1 Dunlin and the odd LR Plover all that was seen. 2 drake Eurasian Wigeon remained, 3 Common Tern and a Green Woodpecker just about made into my notebook.

I needed more, so I did a couple more locatations in along the A38, this privided me with yet another Dunlin.

Early Sunday evening, not even a year tick and on the way home when I had a message that there was a Grey Plover at Coleshill Gravel Pit.

Saved by the bell, well ring tone actually.

Not ever a easy or guaranteed bird here in the land locked counties, phew!

Martyn Yapp

6th May 2010

2010-05-14T18:47:00.000+01:00

Not a brilliant day, in fact writing this well after the event it was not a brilliant weekend.

Waders are in short supply this year, so is suitable weather for them too, not suprising then really is it. Todays forcast of patchy rain with a bit of an associated NE wind I thought just may have prompted something, but again the N which stands for northerlies or it birding term nothing of course always seems to stop everything in it's tracks.

Blithfield was frustrating with the only decent wader, a Greenshank only being heard from the dam, an Arctic Tern battled it out opposite Beechtree Point with 3 Common Terns, 4 Northern Wheatear and 2 Yellow wagtails were on the dam.

A bit of excitement for a split second saw a probable Yellow-legged Gull fly over the dam with 4 Lesser-blacked Gulls.

I sat down the Deep End for a good hour really expecting something to fly in.

I decided to leave here to go to Chasewater, a Sanderling had been reported this morning, a year tick even.

The weather started to close in, the showers were more frequent and it became apparent that the Sanderling was not here, however a Knot in partial summer graced the shore along with a Greenshank, a Dunlin, 5 Ringed and 5 Litte Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Tern and 20 or so Sand Martin.

My car boot catch started to play up a bit today so I gave it neck and returned home to try and fix the problem.

Not really a camera day either.

Martyn Yapp

6th May 2010

2010-05-06T17:40:00.000+01:00

On holiday this week so I had a chance to pop out birding today. Spent a couple of hours at Belvide Reservoir this morning. Hobby was main draw and they did not let me down, although my photography skills did, why does they always have to keep moving for gawd sakes

Martyn Yapp

1st/2nd May 2010

2010-05-03T08:01:00.002+01:00

Ok so I bet you all wonder how I am doing in this regional year listing thingy don't you. Well I have an update, firstly I am annoucing my retirement from such foolish things next year to concentrate of birding with my camera, this racing around the region is not really birding anyway, even folks that do County listing must be mad, although going to see interesting and rare species must not be frowned upon, the way forward in personal birding development I think is to watch and observe new stuff, locally or abroad.

Total for the four counties this year is 179, I only have Woodcock, Nightjar, Spot Fly and Hobby of the dead cert summer visitors to get, the rest are in the bag so to speak. Waders should come soon but the likes of Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank and of Temminck's Stint are never guaranteed. It seems to have been a good spring so far for Marsh Harrier in the region and in true Martyn style I have not seen one, although after a call from JA the other night I reckon I could have got to Ladywalk just prior to dusk to see the immature male. Winter stuff has been harder to come by, as I write I am aware that a Short-eared Owl is at Chasewater, need it. I have seen four species that I didn't see last year, GG Shrike, Sandwich Tern. Kittiwake and of course Hoopoe, but things like RT Diver, Hawfinch and RN Grebe are all missing. As for Red Kite, the are extinct I think.

Stupid stuff so far this year is Blithfield to Draycote Water for Black and Arctic Terns and North Staffs to Lower Moor in Worcestershire for a Hoopoe, yes yes I know, the ozone layer and all that, but what the heck, there was a Graganey on offer too at Draycote which I dipped and the Hoopoe twitch was succesful, so why not. Of course ok if you like spending most of your birding day driving.

Julian Allen is not too far behind, but has not seen Kittiwake or Sandwich Tern yet, so if anyone sees one in the region, supress it. I have been too kind to JA, even showing him Goshawk and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on one day, Yapp Bird Tours of the WMBC Region specialises in hard to see birds.

Right enough of that waffle here goes the weekend.

Met up with JA and did a Worcestershire special to mop up a few specialist birds of our southern most regional county.

Met at Upton at 7.30am, I arrived at 6.30am just to catch up with Cetti's Warbler (pictured below), a Ruddy Shelduck (pictued below) also graced the Moors Pool, an Upton Warren regular thought this is what I had come to see, heaven forbid I am glad there was no one else in the hide who new me, my reputation would have been in tatters, never the less, a nice bird, paired with a Common Shelduck. Of course Ruddy Shelduck is not on the any countable list yet, it is still floundering on my "P" list, errrm plastic that is, but I am pretty sure a true vagrant has probably made here at some time, who knows, that is why I hate introductions so much, I hear we are to shortly have Common Cranes close by in Somerset soon, so anybody that has not seen Common Crane in the region yet, get a move on.

The reedbed was alive with the sound of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, fantastic.

I even scored with a pair of Lesser Whitethroat in the willows around the education centre car park.

We then toured a few specialist sites in the county and added a few more species including Turtle Dove.

A quick tour of the Wyre Forest taking any area suitable for the summer breeders only gave us two Wood Warblers (pictued below), one of which showed well by the Drymill lane car park.

If any one knows how to take pictures of flying hirundines drop me a line, but you will have to make do with these mud collecting House Martins for the moment.

Enough time to go to the hide on the flashes at Upton Warren where a cracker of a 1st summer Med Gull (pictured below) sat in front of the hide on the spit. Avocets (pictured below) were all active, jigging around and generally making a noise, whilst 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 L.R Plover and a Redshank all entertained the hide full.

A Jay paused along the track, another species I had not come close to taking a photo of.

Strange the Wyre Forest did not produce Pied Flycatcher, I had to take action on Sunday and go to North Staffordshire, Dimmingsdale near Alton.

No problems in locating them either, I did not do a good job with the camera here, I got a bit confussed with the settings and blurred most of them.

I decided to go onto the moors and look for Dotterel, I am sure it turned northerly with rain when I was the co-finder of a trip of five in 1993 on the old glider station opposite the Mermaid Public House..

Here is a grip picture for you taken by legend Keith Stone the regions finest rarity photographer, I really do miss him out there, it was always good to see him next to the car with the boot up selling his images, we even sometimes stopped to look at the birds photograph before we saw the bird, god those were the days. Hope you are well Keith.

I didn't see anything of note up there with areas covering including Morridge Top, Gib Tor although I did hear a Grasshopper warbler at the latter.

I finished off at Blithfield where 3 Arctic Terns appeared to come in and join the two Common Terns, 5 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin flew throught the deep end, two Common Sandpipers and 4 Little Ringed Plovers also showed well around the deeps.

I know that one Swallow (pictured below) does mot make a summer, but there was definatley a few more than that around today.

My biggest problem as a birder is getting past hirundines when they are about, it is so difficult, even when I did not have a camera I would pause and try and take in these avian superstars.

Common Swift was estimated at around 1500, small numbers of Swallow, House martin and Sand Martin (pictured below).

Martyn Yapp

25th April 2010

2010-04-25T19:20:00.001+01:00

Spring is so magical, when you see birds like this I always know that I am still in the right hobby, gets the heart beating a bit faster..........

Oh and a bit of a fright at Blithfield...........

I will catch up laters..........

24th April 2010

2010-04-25T06:49:00.001+01:00

What started off calmly ended up with another cross county drive.

Cannock Chase was hard work this morning and I ended up seeing very little. At least 5 Northern Wheatear were present in the Sherbrook Valley, which really was the highlight of my visit. The Pied Flycatcher did not play ball, a couple of Redstart, Tree Pipit and Stonechat were also noted.

However Green Hairstreak appeared fairly common today, my first butterfly image of the year.

Popped into Blithfield Reservoir and had a look around the dam area. At least 10 Northern Wheatear (one pictured above) were feeding around the fish farm and sheep field, a single Yellow Wagtail was on the dam and little else apart from two Swallows were noted.

A pager message informing of a Black Tern, Garganey, 10 Little Gull and 4 Arctic Tern at Draycote Water had me pondering as to whether to go over there or not.

To follow....what do you reckon, go for it?

21st April 2010

2010-04-23T23:19:00.000+01:00

It's a good job last nights trip into Warwickshire didn't cost me seeing these two Wood Sandpipers at Doxey Marsh. They were found yesterday and were performing well on the sluice scrape opposite the raised veiwing platform.

I suppose in year listing terms at a local level Wood Sandpiper is a must bird, they seen not to be as common now in our region.

The birds was just a little out of range for my camera and the light was harsh, besides I had parked on the B&Q car park and they shut at eight, anyway excuses excuses, here you go.

Other stuff around this evening was my first Sedge warbler, a Yellow Wagtail, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 L.R Plover, Oystercatcher and 2 Goosander. Hirundines again were in evidence, with House Martin also noted.

Martyn Yapp

20th April 2010

2010-04-23T23:09:00.000+01:00

Reacted to a couple of pager mesaages that said 1 Arctic Tern on Borrow Pit (Snowdome) in Tamworth, which was later updated to say there was now two birds present. I have birded this pool before many years ago and knew the views would be good.

Alas there was no sign of the Arctic Terns, instead there was two Common Terns sitting on the moored boats occassionally flying off and food exchanging...oh well!!

A few Swallow and Sand Martin were also present.

I ended up at Helmingford Water in Kingsbury Water Park thinking that if there was any Arctic Terns around maybe they would be here. Alas not a sniff, strong sunlight didn't help matters althought 14 Yellow wagtail and 1 White wagtail fed on the cut grass areas close to the pool. An arrival of around 20 House Martin was also noted this evening.

Martyn Yapp

18th APRIL 2010

2010-04-23T19:37:00.001+01:00

Right with yesterdays attempt at only birding and not twitching I went out with a very open mind and really thought what the heck lets mop up a few more summer visitors.

CANNOCK CHASE - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.35am

A super day weather wise, I had to be quick folk with be out here too.

Concentrated in the Sherbrook Valley but included a walk on Anson's Bank.

Highlights were a stunning male Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo and three Tree Pipits. A male Northern Wheatear gave me a bit of a shock as it perched high on a conifer at the bottom of the Katyn Memorial track. Other than the odd Stonechat, a flew over Canada Goose and two Swallows, that was about that.

Top two Grasshopper Warbler, next Tree Pipit and finally a male Yellowhammer near Freda's Grave.

I transferred to Branston via the River Trent meadows at Colwich and Handacre and saw nothing more than a couple of Little Ringed Plover and three Sand Martins.

BRANSTON WATER PARK - STAFFORDSHIRE

Just managed to get to the sandy pit and scope up a fine Black-tailed Godwit in full summer plumage when a call from Steve Nutall telling me the paged Whimbrel at Belvide were looking settled, damn damn damn. I finished scoping the pit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank and 2 Common Snipe, 16 Common Shelduk was all I could muster, right I've gone.............

BELVIDE RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 2.00pm

No problems with the six Whimbrel that was sat on the dam, a favourite of mine actually and I had to wait over two hours before they flew to the north shore calling, a great call, look it up, it's one of the best. They were eventually flushed by a Common Buzzard and flew out west.

Only manged to get four of the damn things as they flew away.

There seemed a bit of movement here when the cloud cover came in this afternoon, a single Dunlin and Ringed Plover were new in, and I saw my first two Common Swift of the year as I was leaving, whilst Hirundines started to build up.

Last two images, top is a Northern Lapwing struting about in front of one of the hides. Finally look away if you don't like to see bird porn, last image is a male Euirasian Coot going "at it" down in the marsh.

Martyn Yapp

17th April 2010

2010-04-23T18:59:00.004+01:00

This is it, this is the day I have waited for all year, a day with nothing to dash around the region for, not a tick in site Ok stop right there, it didn't last long, read on.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.28am

I had intended to have a steady stroll around the deeps with my camera in hand, but soon got put off by the high water levels, although skip this kind of area at your peril, stuff does not always want to land anyway.

"One small step, one small step for birdkind", well I think that is what he was saying as this Oystercatcher strutted down the causeway. Actually since I have started taking pictures I have found myself putting words into their mouths, arrrgh am I turning into Johnny Morris of the Animal Magic fame.

The Great Crested Grebe checked me out, shame I blew my whites, errrm that now sounds like an advert for Daz or something. The Pied Wagtail just looked at me puzzled.

Checked the causeway, Blithe, the dam and the deep end for migrants and rather failed in that quest with only one Yellow Wagtail my first migrant Common Sandpiper anmd three Swallow, add the odd fly over L.B.B Gull and 10 Eurasian Wigeon and that is your lot.

This is when it all went pear shaped because Richard the Local Birder texted me to say he was sitting the hide at Aqualate Mere and reads the contents of the very private Aqualate Bird Log Book, I mean the contents of Magna Carta is more accessible, even the contents of the later are generally well known, unlike at Aqualate sightings book. Anyway there as been a Whooper Swan in the area for ages, strangely I did get to hear about last week but thought it had already gone, Richard told me it was seen last Wednesday. I had got to go for it.......

COLEY MARSH - STAFFORDSHIRE 12.34pm

An interesting area along the disused railway embankment over the road. It overlooks a pool/marsh, the Whooper swan had been getting in fields beyond this area. A rescent scarecrow placement was keeping the swans out of the field, I had to look elsewhere.

Luckily I found it on a small pool within the grounds of Aqualate Deer Park and was viewable from the main road. A much welcome year tick, phew........

There you go, a blast from the past, a blurred image, I do so miss it.

Also seen today in the area was two Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Buzzard and a Common Snipe.

BELVIDE RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 3.45pm

I couldn't resist popping into here on the way past to see the Greenshank that was found this afternoon. Easy enough that, also seen was a few L.R Plover, Common Ssandpiper, a single Little Owl and Reshank.

The Gazebo hide gave good photography opportunities, which judging by my shots I didn't take.

Most of Belvide's birds, well residents anyway always wear "bling" as pictured on the above Blue Tit.

Martyn Yapp

11th April 2010

2010-04-11T23:42:00.006+01:00

First of all I would like to extend a warm welcome all my new followers, now at 42 which is amazing being as I write such garbage all the damn time, I wonder if I could send out some subliminal messages in my musings, mmmm what could it be, let me think. Anyway whilst I ponder, thanks a lot I will get around to following you all too.

I had a early morning stroll around a known site for Grasshopper Warbler on passage and to my surprise there was one there, the northeast winds kept was cool and it appeared to reel onlt when the sun came out, then it was only weak and short, never the less it did eventually show well, although I stuffed up the images.

Other stuff around on site on proving a little more cooperative were Skylark, Linnet and Chiffchaff.

Enough of that, on to Blithfield Reservoir where a few more migrants should be awaitng.

A single Fieldfare quietly fed in a copse below the dam, 2 fine male Yellow Wagtails fed on the dam, these were my first of the year, but winter kept hitting back with a couple of Goosander flying over. 33 Goldneye were in tad bay along with a couple of Shoveler, 10 Eurasian Wigeon and the odd Common Teal. At least 8 Common Buzzard were viewable from Stansley Wood hide whilst 2 Raven passed over the deep end.

Just above is my first ever image of a Tree Sparrow.

Oh and here is the cheeky chappy Great Spotted Woodpecker playing peak-a-boo with me in Stansley Wood.

Here I am......

No over here.....

Alright then, I give up!

I was going to apologise for the poor Gropper image, but what the heck, I am sure I have lost readers due the improvement of my images.

Martyn Yapp

Subliminal Message 1 - Go beat up a stringer this weekend.

10th APRIL 2010

2010-04-10T19:18:00.003+01:00

Details of this epic high mileage day to follow, but Worcestershire's Hoopoe eventually shows itself. It even felt a little like Spain.

Martyn Yapp

5th April 2010

2010-04-06T00:16:00.001+01:00

Big metal birds...wow.

Sorry I know I am going to get a bit of stick and this is not the blog, but I would like to share these with you, it's been a bit of a secret passion burning away with in me for some years, plane photography I just want to disappear and go and do some, civil and military mainly, so there you go, you now know.

Whilst I try and get some practice in with this new found camera technology I thought I would have a little practice, combining a day out with a couple of hours at Manchester airport, glad I took my anorak with me! It was cold what was you thinking?

Alas non of the big stuff was coming in, so I had to make do with these tiddlers.

Martyn Yapp

4th April 2010

2010-04-06T00:01:00.001+01:00

Yet another couple of yearticks early this morning in the form of a Jack Snipe and two Willow Warblers on Cuckoobank. A quiet visit here with only the resident Skylark, Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings and Linnets making my notes, although eight Gadwall and a couple of Mute Swan were present on the central pool.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE

I had intented only staying a short while here but ended up staying for the rest of the day. The increased westerlies and overcaast conditions brought in a few more hirundines including 1 House Martin and 30 or so Swallow, the Little Gull was proving difficult to see in the choppy conditions but was still present north of the causeway with around 150 Black-headed Gulls.

The single Northern Wheatear gave good views on the dam, whilst a lone Pink-footed Gull fed with Greylag Geese in Tenacre bay. 6 Oystercatcher and a couple of Little Ringed Plover were also knocking around the place.

Rumours circulated the pond that the six grey geese were in fact Bean Geese, anybody know anything about that, these birds have been here for ages now and I would like to know peoples thoughts. They was not in Tad Bay when I got to the hide.

Other birds noted were 3 Goosander, 2 Common Shelduck, a male Pochard, 4 Bramblings and a Willow Tit arround the feeding station.

Top three are all of the male Northern Wheatear, fouth is a very over exposed Pink-footed Goose and finally the last is a record shot of one of the male Brambling around the feeders.

Martyn Yapp

3rd April 2010

2010-04-03T23:39:00.001+01:00

Another great days birding.

BERRY HILL - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.30am

Another pre-light start with the onset of what was going to be a "nice" day in weather terms. Two Ring Ouzel have been present here since Thursday, most who wanted them saw them on Good Friday so I was keen to catch up. Any doubts I had of them splitting the scheme was soon out my mind when I entered Stoke on Trent airspace, a grey and miserably overcast with the odd spit of rain, the had to still be there.

They was, they showed quite well too in the paddocks under the transmitter. A cracker of a male and a well marked female caught worms at some pace, occassionally flying in the hawthorns along the fence line. The female, a well marked individual and seemingly much debated to it's sex on the Birdforum, however it appears to me as nothing more than a well marked bog standard, anyway the nominate "torquatus" is said to always fully retain it's chest band anyway, this bird showed a typical brown cast over the chest band and the rest of it's upperparts making it slightly darker in appearance than the than the male.

A much needed year tick came in the form of a Red-legged Partridge that flew across the fields to the left of the transmitters. A couple of Northern Wheatear, 40 or so Meadow Pipits and the odd Skylark was also noted.

Other birds noted whilst up there was 50 Meadow Pipit, 2 Northern Wheatear, a Common Buzzard and a few Skylark.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE

Reacted to pager message regarding a Sandwich Tern seen by GJM whilst birding deep in Blithe Bay. The bird flew through Blithe Bay and disappeared towards the deep end, now Blithfield does have a track record of holding the interest of such birds due to the expanse of water on both sides of the causeway, so I had to gamble. It took me over half an hour to get here due to traffic in and around Uttoxeter, so I decided to plonk myself on the causeway and call GJM. He hadn't seen since and I could not relocate it.

GJM after some half an hour joined me on the causeway just as an Osprey appeared circling the deep end, it duly disappeared and a few seconds later another bird was seen at the bottom of Blithe Bay, surely two birds, the deep end bird could not have possibly made it there in that space of time.

Whilst scanning the deep end amazingly I picked up the Sandwich Tern circling high above the reservoir, it then vanished at which point we thought it had flew out, little did we realise it later performed well north of the causeway for an assembled crowd of north Staffs birders, so this bird was present for at least two hours, in which time I had only seen it once. Shame more people didn't react, they might have seen it.

An adult Little Gull and Common Tern also fed to the north of the causeway, both birds guaranteed here in the right conditions.

The 6 Pink-feet were also still present and enjoyed three or four flights today, being seen over Duckley's and the dam. Maybe they are thinking of departing soon.

A male Wheatear fed on the dam spillway.

The heavily cropped images below show the Osprey popping out for a takeaway and returning having been to the deep end fish shop. The bottom image is of the dam with the sailing club in the background.

Martyn Yapp

27th March 2010

2010-03-30T19:39:00.001+01:00

I will start off with a small thank you to John Harris for correctly identifying the deer in the last post as Fallow, to be honest I have never took too much interest in this before and didn't even realise there was two (may be three including the Red population) species of deer on the chase. Apparently it is the white rear end and spotting that gives it away, I must admit I thought a time they looked a bit chunk, I had this new camera gizmo thingy so I could start focusing (ha ha) on all things identification, maybe I should slow down and have a think about it.. So there you go, I didn't know that, you can learn something new every day.

Right talking of slowing down in the region my hand was forced north again being as the pesky Brent Goose hadn't been eaten by the good folk of Cheadle, did I have to see it, too bloody right I did.

BLAKES HALL FISHERY - STAFFORDSHIRE 7.00am

Brent Goose : Why should I anyway, I had no problems with it this time, strange that. It didn't seen to associate with the Canada Geese although it is that small a pond it really didn' have much choice.

Brent Goose (Dark-bellied) : Look nothing swimming around by it.

Other stuff included 9 L.B.B Gull, 1 Mistle Thrush, 10 Starling, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Oystercatcher and a few Canade Goose.

WEAVER HILLS - STAFFORDSHIRE 9.10am

Met up with RP and did a bit of a search of this hilly grassy cold site. Anyway, the first summer migrants were here with 3 Northern Wheatear (2 female) near the main access road. Up to 24 Meadow Pipit were noted and the odd Sklark was in song. Add a few Common Buzzard and Linnet and that was pretty much that done.

BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR - STAFFORDSHIRE 1.30pm

To our surprise a Common Tern graced the area in between Beectree Point and the causeway, equalling the site and Staffordshires earliest bird. Viewing wasn't brilliant and the game of is it Common or is Arctic began due to the rather strong strong sunlight at the time, although structuarally the bird was never going to be Arctic.

5 Pink-footed Goose remained in Tad Bay and around 30 Sand Martin were noted. The feeders were still attracting a single female Brambling (3 reported earlier including a male), 1 Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull and 6 L.B.B Gulls were seen, whilst raptors were in good supply including several CommonBuzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk. Winter visitors are dwindling with 16 Goldeneye and 7 Eurasian Wigeon noted and in cintrast at least 3 Chiffchaff were present.

30 Pied Wagtail and 3 Reed Bunting fed near Blithe Bay.

Martyn Yapp