Ferry to South Uist - Scotland trip (Day 2)

As we packed the car in Stontain the Black Duck swam past heading towards the shoreline behind the local shop & petrol pump. Had we just been very lucky ? Next stop would be Mallaig where we would need to cross to Lochboisdale, South Uist by ferry. The roads were quite difficult and the crossing was a bit rough. We had hoped to find a white winger in the dock but we had to be content with a smart pair of Eider's, Great Northern Diver and a Great Black-backed Gull.

From South Uist we drove up through Benbecula, the central island, before reaching North Uist in fading light & driving rain. These Red Deer were visible from the bed & breakfast bedroom window. One of the ferryman tipped us off to try the Stepping Stones restaurant (one of only two places to eat in winter months) which was excellent and set us up for a big days birding for day three.

Strontian Black Duck - Scotland trip (Day 1)

Strontian Black Duck

Loving pair

Superb views from the river bank

View towards Glencoe

Stunning passing through Glencoe

Not a bad view of the room

Next morning the Duck was practically outside the hotel

Slavonian Grebe

In mid January I received a Twitter message from the Captain in North Wales asking if I fancied a trip to the Outer Hebrides in mid February. After initially thinking it was a joke & picking myself up off the floor, a plan was hatched to head up for a long weekend to visit the island and hopefully see the American Coot and also the legendary Black Duck in Strontian en route. 

A 3am get up wasn't exactly what you need ahead of a non stop birding weekend but par for the course. After a quick changeover in Wrexham we headed north stopping in Lancashire to watch the Pink-footed Geese rise from the salt marsh over our heads.

The scenery was very dramatic as we headed through Glencoe towards Strontian. We stopped a number of times including once where we picked up a pair of Slavonian Grebes & Red-throated Divers.

I'd done plenty of research on the American Black Duck so certainly didn't expect it to be an easy task to find him. Apparently some birders had visited the site three times and had never seen this pesky Duck. We walked every step from the bridge to the mouth of the river in vein as there was no sign except for the ducks hybrid youngsters, a number of Hooded Crows, Curlews & an Otter.

Heading back over the bridge into the village, two ducks flew straight over us from north of the river to land towards the mouth. One looked very dark raising our hopes, so we scurried over the river bank towards that direction. Imagine how pleased we were when the American Black Duck was on the river with it's mate just watching us not at all fussed, almost enjoying the attention as I took a few hand held shots in the fading light.

Both satisfied with our sighting we retreated to the Strontian Hotel where we had a lovely meal & raised a toast to the American Black Duck. 

Willow Tree Fen Bluethroat - personal MEGA

 Glorious Bluethroat

 Photo taken from six feet

Photo path side

 Feeding on flooded grass

 Last shot before journey home

Spot the bird

Video (Steve Black)

Since I started birding the Bluethroat was always one of the species I'd drop everything for (well almost). I certainly didn't expect a text from the Squire at 7.15am on a February morning "Fancy the Bluethroat ?" I'd only just thawed out from Draycote so didn't even check the bird news that evening. A quick check on Twitter revealed positive sightings & photos so after dropping Dusty at his footy match I was off to Alcester where the Squire was waiting in his battle tank of a new car. 

I think the Squire was getting his own back from Cornwall as his new foot down style on the roller-coaster roads of Lincolnshire certainly got the stomach churning. I was relieved to get some air as we got out of the car at Willow Tree Fen. We were very hopeful of connecting when a birder called to us from his car "you won't need your scope lads, it's at your feet". 

We quickly marched up the 400 yard gravel patch where a dozen birders had stunning views in previous ten minutes. Surely not........ there were no worries as after about ten minutes the bird, a first winter male, showed brilliantly along side the patch and came within six feet at times taking no notice of its audience. 

It was a fantastic experience only lessened by the freezing wind. On occasions the bird fed on the flooded grass to the left of the patch clearly showing it was very much at home.

After a brilliant hour we made the short drive to Deeping High Bank to see the reported Great Grey Shrike right next to the bridge. With frozen fingers & toes it was back in the mobile tank for drive back home. Quite a day.................

Oystercatcher is only change

Another quiet week at the pits with very little change except the return of our Oystercatcher. Let's hope he finds a more secure place to build this years nest.

Combined sightings from Jon & Chris include the following :-

4 Little Grebe, 20 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan, 273 Greylags, 2 domestic x greylag crosses, 111 Canada Geese, 1 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 152 Teal, 182 Mallard, 27 Shoveler (almost a record I think), 17 Pochard (central lagoon), 71 Tufted Duck, 1 male Goosander (main pit), 1 Sparrowhawk calling in plantation, 11 Buzzards, 101 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher (Pophills), 155 Lapwing, only 3 Snipe, not many gulls (60 Black-headed, 10 Herring, 1 Common Gull and 4 LBB), 2500 Woodpigeons. Few small birds – 10 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, a flock of 22 Linnets and 2 Reed Buntings.

There are still 70 Golden Plover on the Broom Turn but they do roam around the local area. 

Bit chilly at Draycote

 Red-necked Grebe

 Little Grebe

 Goldeneye

 Quality scones at Draycote

 Wolston Waxwings

Best photo in impossible light

Very cold easterlies greeted us on Saturday so after some sports taxi duties myself and Mrs D headed to Draycote Water for a brisk 5K walk. The good thing about the weather was the lack of visitors (in fact I didn't see another birder) the bad thing was they were probably right as it felt arctic when the wind was blowing in your face.

The after walk cakes & coffee was certainly better than the birding to be fair but we still managed to see the abundant Goldeneyes, Red-necked Grebe (by valve tower), two Scaup & six Tree Sparrow that were doing their best to avoid being seen.

On the way home we stopped in Wolston to catch up with a flock of 40 Waxwings taking advantage of a late berry feast. 

Whilst certainly not the best mornings birding this year, it was good bit a exercise and a lovely scone. 

Iceland Gull is brummie show off

The more time you spend birding the more you come to appreciate a good gull. Birding in the midlands has few advantages being land locked however there are always opportunities to see some rare gulls. Whilst I'd seen two Iceland Gulls already this year a juvenile had been discovered on Moseley New Pool in Swanshurst Pool in Birmingham, this was a great opportunity to see the species at close quarters.

Taking about 25 minutes from work I was quickly parked up with a minutes walk of the lake. The first twenty minutes passed without any sign of the bird then suddenly it  flew in from the north to land within 50 metres on the water and then got out allowing me to take a few quick shots. 

I switched the camera onto the tripod as the light wasn't ideal but it was certainly worth it as I managed to capture the bird in a few different locations around the lake over the next hour. It was interesting to see the bird close up and it was certainly bigger than my impression of watching them through my scope. Before leaving I found Morton Bagot patch birder Richard Harbird on the near side of the lake, we had a good catch up & moan about a lack of birds on our patch before going our separate ways.

For those who are not aware Iceland Gulls actually breed in Greenland & North Canada but not in Iceland !

Russian White-fronts land in Sandwell

Determined not to sit at my desk and waste every lunch time this year by just carrying on with daily duties I headed out on Tuesday the short drive to the back end of RSPB Sandwell Valley. Parking at Forge Mill farm I was pleased to find the reported flock of 32 White-fronted Geese eating well to the north of the farm. I had to be happy to scope the birds from the roadside as the path at the back of the farm was closed due to bad weather. 

Pleased with seeing the geese I walked over to the main lake to have a scan in the remaining time of my lunch break. First bird to catch my eye was an Oystercatcher that flew past me. A single Wigeon was feeding under the willows whilst a female Goldeneye was at the west side. Sandwell Valley regulary gets excellent Goosander roosts and I managed to record 30 birds of mixed sexes. The only other species of note were 12 Pochard.

Not a bad lunch break………..