Eccup Reservoir, West Yorkshire

My second visit to Eccup to see the Red Kites. The first time I had a distant view thanks to the RSPB volunteers. But this time I got a lucky and amazing view just as we were walking back to the car as one came from nowhere near the sheltered pool and flew off over the coniferous forest. It was so close I could clearly see it's wing tag. Superb. Also seen were a large flock Canada Geese, Mallards, Goosander, Widgeon, Graylag Goose and Pochard.

RSPB Garden Watch

As a paid up RSPB member and volunteer I of course did the RSPB Garden Birdwatch this year. My hour started very slowly indeed but picked up half way through with a new garden tick (Jay), and ended in a full feeding frenzy. As usual, low on numbers but high on species the only daily absentees were House Sparrows and Collared Doves...

Blue Tit - 3
Magpie - 1
Great Tit - 2
Blackbird - 2
Jay - 1
Dunnock - 1
Nuthatch - 1
Robin - 1
Chaffinch - 1

Huddersfield Waxwings

200 Waxwings were reported to be in the Mecca Bingo car park. After 2 visits I saw around 50 first flying then feeding on berries. A few days later around 70 appeared in a tree behind our house and up to 10 perched in our tree giving me a garden tick! 20-30 was more common for a few more days and they were clearly eating the yellow berries of a neighbours tree (and indeed I observed them doing so). I did attempt a digiscoped photo with reasonable results for a hand held effort...

Tegg's Nose Country Park, Cheshire

A flock of 15-20 Bullfinches sighted on the peak of Tegg's Nose, Cheshire. After reporting this on Bird Forum I was advised to report it to country recorder so I wrote a letter confirming the ID but stressed the flock size was unclear. Double figures is quite rare, 13 were recored in Cheshire in 2003.

Bird Watching So Far

I've finally decided to be a bit more organised in recording my birding habits as my interest in the hobby is growing and growing. I used to go birding as a kid and after turning 30, buying some new bins and joining the local birding club, I'm back. And so this blog is an attempt to document what I see, plans for the future, upload sketches, include dates, times and anything else I care to jot down and indeed up to date bird lists. I will try and date to the best of my ability so I may look back to compare, research, contrast and laugh at badly mis-recognised species. I will also link, where appropriate, to sites such as BirdForum, RSPB etc in a "further reading" kind of way as much as I can.

Being a blog I will not however rely on this lovely free server to hold it together for the rest of my days and will frequently print off my posts and file them away in the a nice bright orange folder I bought in Wilkinsons... no expense spared.

And so to beging I will recount my bird watching trips and events so far. These are only rough and ready accounts and include local places I'll often be going back to. It's just a quick introduction and after this initial section I will try and keep things more throrough and up to date.

USA - West Coast
I wasn't "back into birding" then, but did manage to see a Blue Jay, Californian Condor (very rare), Brown Pelicans and some species of Hummingbird (in Hollywood). The Pelicans were everywhere, flocks frequently flying out of the coastal mist. The Jay was flitting around a wood and the Condor at the Grand Canyon! Impressive.

USA - East Coast
I was into birding again this time, so armed with a USA field guide I saw quite a few common species: Downy Woodpecker, Great Egret, Grackle, Mourning Dove, Red Winged Blackbird, Black Capped Night Heron, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Mocking Bird, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Brown Headed Cow Bird and American Robin. And my venues were Boston Common (MA), Central Park (NY), Rockport State Park (MA), Gunstock State Park (NH) and Plum Island (NH)... a place I really want to go back to.
We also managed to completely avoid "The Loon Center" not realising what it was... whoops.

Keldy, North Yorkshire
A short holiday in a lovely log cabin in North Yorkshire, the first holiday we took since being back into birding. I even bought some seed to tempt species to the veranda. So my long weekend produced... Pheasants, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Starlings, Robin and two firsts... Treecreeper and Marsh Tit.

Bronte Caravan Park, North Yorkshire
This great camp site has it's own lake and wildlife area and I saw Swifts, Black Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Shelduck, Chaffinch, Mallard and Canada Geese. A nearby country park provided possible sightings of Linnet and Meadow Pipit although I'm not at sure.

Martin Mere
I didn't do much birding on my only visit to Martin Mere so far as it was the North West Bird Fair but I did see the 100s of Whooper Swans.

Fairburn Ings
I've been here a couple of times and is my closest "proper" reserve which has so far produced... Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese, Black Swan, Cormorant, Bewick's Swan, Lapwing, Mute Swan and Long Tailed Tit.

Denaby Ings
The place I used to bird as a youth. Since returning I've only seen Coot, Pochard and Heron so far.

Old Moor
Only popped in for a look and saw masses of Lapwings. Definately be spending much more time here.

Angler's Counry Park
This place has produced my biggest list so far in only 2 short visits... Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, Swallow, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall, Graylag Geese, Common Tern, Starling, Wood Pigeon, ChiffChaff, Robin, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Yellow Hammer, Tree Sparrow, Black Headed Gull, Kestrel, Cormorant, Lapwing, House Martin and Mallard. Shame it's such a pain to get to but it is great.

Blackmoorfoot Reservoir
A local reservoir that requires patience and luck but that can, apparently, through up some treats. So far... Black Headed Gull (winter plumage), Kestrel, Mallard, Goldeneye, Wren. Last time there were also a large flock of "something" but I've still no idea what it was.

Bude
A holiday in Devon which provided House Martins around our farm cottage and dozens of Goldfinches pushing down dandilion clocks to get at the seeds! I could have watched them for hours. I also began to look ar gulls more as I'm quite clueless with seabirds... Shearwaters? Fulmars? I did however ID Wheatear on the cliff tops (see watching Bill Oddie programmes definately teaches you things... white arse wasn't it?).

Blackpool
Again, much seabird and waders learning to be done but unconfirmed sightings of Sanderingling, Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatcher. Learn and return! (and Laddie can run on the beach too).

Garden
I try and feed everyday the garden birds everyday, mainly with sunflowers seeds, peanuts and suet cakes. My best visitors so far are Bullfinch, Nuthatch and Waxwing.

Local Patch
My Local Patch is behind our garden which follows a path between gardens and farmers fields. There is also substantial but inaccessible woodland at the edge of the fields which I'm sure hide many great ticks. So yay for scopes. The best sightings so far have been Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Long Tailed Tit, Heron, Nuthatch, and Fieldfare.