More Waxwings

Nice but wet morning at Soddy, I donned the Waterproofs and Wellies and had a good wader through the site., 1 Waxwing heard calling half a dozen times then found in a hedge by houses with Redwing and Fieldfare at 9am. The Thrush's all moved on but i didn't see the Waxwing go with them, although there was no more call after this so it must have gone with them.

A nice blocker got back, my first site record but the second for Soddy.
Due to the weather being so bad i never took my camera, or my scope, first time ever probably, typical really.

Loads of Ducks, Goosander, Goldeneye, Pochard, Wigeon, Mallard and Teal. The Teal then moved to the Smaller pools.

80+ Common snipe, couldnt find the anticipated Jack Snipe unfortunatly.

Plenty of Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Redpoll, Siskin, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark.

P.s its been a quiet week, due to work commitments, and its dark before and after work now...

 

Stumpy

Not much birding done today but i did catch u with Stumpy the Adult Winter Med Gull at Workington again.

More waxwings

Well after me chores this morning i nipped out for an hour to look for waxwings, that turned into half a day as i did find some at Marks and Spencers Car park in Workington. Once again the light was crap and it was drizzling making it again impossible to get a decent photo of the Waxwing, this was the best i could do... PLEASE let the sun come out and let me see some Waxwings..

 

I will keep trying, one day the sun will come out and ill have enough light to get a decent photo...

Soddy and Lancs

Well Yesterday it was a case of Covering Soddy gap again. The only things new in were an Adult Green ringed Med Gull and a Pinkfooted Goose with the Greylags, seems to have linked up with the Greylags for the past couple of years.

Today However Keith and i decided to try and get the Wood Sandpiper that had been reported with the Lesser Yellowlegs at Aldcliffe Marsh in Lancashire.
We couldnt find the bleeder but the i managed much better views of the Lesser Yellowlegs.

We finished the day in the hides at Leighton Moss. Nothing special of note unfortunately but 2 Marsh Harriers.

 

 

 

Soddy and Siddick

Well its pouring down so i had an hour in the gym and then Jamie (dog) and i had a wander around Siddick Ponds and Soddy Gap in the rain. Nothing really at Siddick, a single Goosander and Few Teal and 2 Whooper Swans was it really.
Onto Soddy Gap and the list was a little more impressive.....

Good selection of ducks, 60 Mallard, Tuftie, Pochard, Goldeneye, Wigeon, 40 Teal and 140 Goosander.

Siskin, Redpoll, Bullfinch. Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest.
35 Snipe came flying in from god knows where.
Few Black headed and Herring Gulls.
That was it really

Waxwing

Well i was in Workington this morning doing me chores when 8 Waxwing flew over calling, nice start to the day. So after me jobs i went on the search but couldnt find the Waxwings or any trees which might hold some. So now having the need to see some more and close up i headed to Kingstown in Carlisle. When i arrived there were no sign of any on the rowan trees but i did see five flying around the tops of some Silver Birch a few streets away so i made my way around there but they had gone. I sat for a while when they dropped back in but after 30 seconds they were gone again. I made my way back to my original spot where again i waited but nothing for about half an hour. Eventually the five dropped in but the movement of lorries and people around this area made them very flighty. Then a group of seven dropped in again for a matter of seconds then they were away and the five dropped in again, so theres 2 groups of at least 12. I managed a few really crappy shots again in the gloom, wind and the heavy drizzle so i just gave up and came home. The weather had really closed in by now.. Shame really i love Waxwings and would love to photograph them on the ground as a couple of people have done from this site, but there was no way today!

Amazin Ollie!!!

Well today i got up cleaned the van and thought hmmmm where should i go today.... Fife erm yeh ok, that Eastern Olivaceous warblers been screaming at me for 3 weeks now. So i was on my way but first stop was Carlisle for some cracking Waxwings, pity it was grime light and pissing down AGAIN!

So i gave these birds half hour as i sat in the van waiting for the rain to stop, it never so i moved onto Fife, arriving just after lunch. i notice a Surf Scoter had been reported from Lower Largo and as i was passing i stopped to look at this first, nervously ;-). I scanned the sea a few times, great views of Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks and Slavonian Grebe, Red Throated Divers, Eider and Shag. Eventually a long way off i spotted the Male Surf Scoter, OK scope views but that was it.
Probably would have been closer to Ruddons Point.
So now onto Kilminning for the 3 week old Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, a lifer for me but i really hadn't been able to muster the enthusiasm to go see it till now. I got to the favoured car park and immediately i could hear it calling and then bingo my first views, pale, large and cracking!!!! WOW well worth the trip and the easiest lifer Ive had in years.

 

So by 3pm i had seen all my target species so went back to look for the Surf Scoter, by now the swell was much worse and i couldnt find it...
What a Very Very good day though.....