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Friday 30 December 2016

St Asaph and Llandudno, North Wales.

My second rare thrush back in the UK.

Other birders.
Very good friends Sharon and John picked me up in Albrighton along with another friend of theirs Paul and we all headed off up into North Wales to St Asaph which is just to the south of the A55. 
Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).
During the drive up I saw Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).
Male Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
We parked in the town and then walked up the road running near to the river and out on to some fields on the edge of the River where after a while a small group of birds built up waiting for the star bird a Black-throated Thrush (Zorzal Papinegro / Turdus atrogularis) which had been around for a couple of weeks or so. 
Waxwing (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
Whilst we waited we saw Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tits (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).
Waxwing (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
After a couple of hours with out any luck a guy casually strolls over and said he had just had the Thrush near the Chapel just up the road so I headed over, told John, Sharon and Paul on the way. 
Waxwings (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus).
They went in along the river and I took the road, I walked past a small Alley way and saw them coming along it and just passed the Chapel I checked a short Cul-de-sac and found the Black-throated Thrush in an almost bare berry tree. 
Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).
I thought do I take a quick photo or get the others???? I turned around and found the others without taking a shot and even though it was one about a minute later when got back to it the bird had gone.
Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).
I spent a while searching for the bird but eventually went and tried to get some shots of some Redwings back by the car and some time later was joined by the others after they had all had good views of the bird.
Snow Buntings (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).
News had come on line about 50 or so Waxwings (Ampelis europeo / Bombycilla garrulus) on the B&Q carpark in Llandudno so we headed there and soon found that the birds were still on site and some times gave very close views in low berry trees but they were continually flushed by shoppers and the light was so bad getting photographs was hard going but they were stunning just to see.
Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).
Our next stop was out on the far end of West beach, Llandudno where we had great views of 3 Snow Buntings (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) at close range on the edge of the Dunes. 
Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis).
In the same area we saw Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) x6, Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and several Rock Pipits (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).
Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).
Our final stop of the day was on the prom in Rhos-on-sea where we scanned the rocks as it was low tide and the sea picking up Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Guillemot (Arao Común / Uria aalge) and a couple of Red-throaded Divers (Colimbo Chico / Gavia stellata) before headed back to Albrighton after another superb days birding, thanks to Sharon and John for taking me again.
Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

Thursday 29 December 2016

Milford Common, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

A frosty morning walk with Martin, Julia and Harry.

We drove out to Milford Common with Harry the dog to give hime a good run and for us to get a good walk. I took the bins but saw very little just Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Dunnocks (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).














Wednesday 28 December 2016

Belvide Res, Aqualate Mere, Trench Pool and Priorslee Lake, Stafffordshire and Shropshire.

Another mornings birding locally in the UK.

Smew (Serreta Chica /Mergus albellus) and a Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).
I started by going up to Belvide res where the day before there had been a Grey Phalarope (Falaropo Picogrueso / Phalaropus fulicarius) but the bird had gone over night but I did get views of a female type Smew (Serreta Chica /Mergus albellus) along with Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
My next stop was out in Shropshire at the hide on the shore of Aqualate Mere near Newport, as I walked out to the hide I saw Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and 3 Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) which flew through.
Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
Once I was in the hide I saw much the same species as at Belvide but added Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Marsh (Carbonero Palustre / Parus palustris) and Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) as well as a group of Mute Swans which swam in front of the hide and went to sleep.
Coal Tits (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).
I walked back to the car once I was frozen to the bone and had a warm on my way across to Trench pool where I added little new to the days list except for Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).
Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
My last stop was at a windy and cold Priorslee lake but with one quick scan I could see nothing new so I called it a day and went back to Albrighton.
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).
That evening we went for an Indian Meal in the Village which was very nice.
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) Adult.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) immature.

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Northern Shovelers (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
The Girls on the special Coffee's

Monday 26 December 2016

Priorslee Lake, Telford and Chetwyn Pool, Newport, Shropshire.

A Boxing mornings walk and a bit of birding on the way back to Albrighton.

Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina).
After a lazy start Jayne, David and I went for a walk through Priorslee down to Priorslee Leveling Pool just off the M54 where I left Jayne and David to make their way back and had a look around the pool. Out on the water I found Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
On the margins and in the trees I also aded Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).
After some lunch Jayne and I made our way back towards Albrighton via Telford centre for a bit of shopping and the out to Newport to have a look at the lake at Chetwyn. We parked and I walked along the roadside looking over the estate wall at the pool where it was low enough and I saw many of the above species but added 20+ Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major). We then headed back to Albrighton and had a nice quiet evening and early night.
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).

Sunday 25 December 2016

Priorslee Flash, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire.

A great Christmas Day with a pleasant walk around the flash.

Male Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).
Female Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).
Christmas day started with a very nice breakfast around at David and Pauline's son's (Daniel) which was superb. We went back around to David and Pauline's and then went for a walk with David around the flash to give Pauline space in the kitchen. On the flash I found several species including 20+ Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser), 40+ Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula). 
Winter plumage Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).
After the walk we settled down to a superb Christmas lunch and a couple of drinks before a quiet afternoon and evening, Thanks David and Pauline. (and Dan).
Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).
Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser).
Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser).