Donington Church Yard, Albrighton and Donington Nature Reserve and Green Lane, Albrighton, Shropshire, Britain.

Some short periods of Sun so I got out for a couple of walks.

Ebird List for the Nature Reserve.

Ebird List for Green Lane.

 

Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone).

As I could see the first Blue Sky of the trip to the UK I decided to go out for a while with the Bin's and see what I could find around the Village, I started by parking at Donington Church and as I was half way through putting my coat on I heard a call which instantly recognised as a Rose-ringed Parakeet (Cotorra de Kramer / Psittacula krameri), once I managed to get my head out of my coat so that I could see, I turned around and found that there were 3 of them sat in one of the large trees at the back of the Grave Yard.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Unfortunately just as I reached the camera they all called loudly and flew off up the row of trees towards the railway and bypass, later as I was just leaving the reserve to come back to the car I am pretty sure I heard a single bird call a couple of times down near the Fire station.

Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo norteño / Acanthis flammea).

In and around the Church I saw Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus).

Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo norteño / Acanthis flammea).

I crossed the road and scanned the large stubble field find a good number of Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) feeding along with a few Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) which was sat up on the hedge.

Common Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

I walked around to the pool and took the track up to the nature reserve gate but the path was blocked by a fallen tree, there were a couple of other large trees down so it looks like the storm the weekend I arrived took it toll on the reserve.

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

As I walked this section I added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

A local landmark, the windmill.

I then went out onto the nature reserve proper where I saw many of the same species but also added Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and a couple of Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo norteño / Acanthis flammea) a species I always like to see.

Looking down to RAF Cosford, the Aerospace Museum and off in the distance the Wrekin.

I returned to the Church Yard where I bumped into another birder and we had a chat, later via a Facebook post I had put on the Reserves page I found out it was Andy Blodwyn and whilst I was talking to him I picked up 2x Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) and a Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

I returned to the car and went up to Green Lane, I parked in Elm Road and walked up past the old windmill and then out onto the fields, as I did this I checked the hedges and the irrigation pond for Austin Roses, on the walk I saw House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), a nice flock of 60 or so European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) which circled the crop fields to my right and a single Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) before heading back to Mom's.

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia).

Telford Town Centre, Priorslee Flash and Albrighton in Shropshire and Willenhall, Staffordshire, Britain.

Shopping, Family and Chilling.

 

I started the day by heading over to Telford shopping Centre to get a few more bits, I then popped to the Priorslee Flash for a few minutes to see what was on the pool.

I saw Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).

Whilst I was sat by the pool I called Brother-in-law David to see if they were in and I was pleased they were so I popped around and had a coffee and a chat with Pauline and David before heading back to Albrighton.

Later I was off again and over to Willenhall to spend the evening with Great Friends Sharon and John, Sharon did a very nice meal and we planned our first birding trip with them for the visit, looking forward to it.

Albighton, Shropshire, Britain.

Cold damp day in Albrighton.

 

I didn't really do anything today except for a bit of catch up work on the Laptop as every time I looked out the window it looked grey, damp, dismal and uninviting so I stayed in.

Birds from the window included Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

There were also a couple of Tree Rats-Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) which were seen scuttling around between the plants.

Middleton Lakes RSPB, Warwickshire, Britain.

A nice morning birding with friends from Spain under greyer skies than we are used to.

Ebird List for the Hall Lake.

Ebird List for Main RSPB reserve.

Middleton Hall Lake.

I arrived at Middleton Hall early and had a walk back along the entrance road to check the lake where I found good numbers of birds which included a Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and 3x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

I walked back to the car park and I was soon joined by friends Kiersten and Richard who I am more used to birding with down in Southern Spain where we all live and as much as I enjoyed their company I prefer to spend time with them down in Sunny Granada Province than in a cold, damp, grey UK.

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

However we did have a very nice walk around a new site for me at Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve, we did a 4.5km or so walk along some rather muddy paths, at several points its very obvious that the local birds are used to being feed and the come in very close and even feed from your hand.

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

New smaller passerine species included Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Common Blackbird, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo norteño / Acanthis flammea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Larger birds seen were Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Out on and around the water we saw good numbers of species, some seen earlier but new species included 3 nice male Common Goldeneyes (Porrón Osculado / Bucephala clangula),  Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and a rapid fly through from a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis).

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) on the Mobile.

We returned to the car and then headed to the Dog Pub in Whttington village where we had a very nice meal and a drink, It was also nice to met Kiersten's Dad who had used to be a volunteer at the lakes we had just been to.

Kiersten photographing the very approachable European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

I had the Pan fried Liver with Mash and it was superb, just missing very nice lump of crusty bread to mop up the sauce which I didn't want to leave, Thanks Kiersten and Richard.

We all headed off, I went just down the road to see Son Alan, Daughter-in-law Becki and the little monsters Ryan, Zach and Finn, it was great to see them all for a while but they had got the builders in doing some tasks so I headed off back to Mom's.

Albrighton, Telford and Donington Church Yard, Shropshire, Britain.

A second day of catching up with things.

 

I was up and then finished unloading the car seeing Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and then Mom and I went over to Telford Town Centre as I need to do a few bits of bank stuff, visit Specsavers for a repair and a stationary shop for some new notebooks. 

After we had done what we needed we headed back to Mom's and then I went up to Donington Church Yard to clean up Jayne's plaque and some of the masses of leaves that have blown up against the wall.

For a personally sad place it's quite a nice spot where I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica) and Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula). 

Enjoyed a couple + of these.

Later in the evening John (Mom's Partner) and I popped up to the Harp and had a couple of pints of real beer.

Albrighton and Telford in Shropshire, Britain.

First day in the UK.

I was up and about by 08:00 after a good nights sleep, Mom, John and I were soon off over to Telford to do some shopping and then once we were back I went up to see my brother for a while and then just  chilled.

Got the essentials to get through Christmas and the greyness.

Birds included Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

La Man's to Calais and onwards to Albrighton in Shropshire, France and Britain.

A difficult drive North.

 

I set off again at 06:00 and made a longer route around Rouen due to it's low emotions zone which made me do an extra 60km making it very Eco-friendly as there is no way of passing the city with out entering the zone and as I had not known about it until just before I set off and could not get a car sticker to make passing through the city legally.

All the way north it rained and basically from the time I left Spain and until I arrived in Albrighton I only switched my windscreen wipers off in the Channel Tunnel.

Birds seen during the drive included Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Once I was under tunnel I made my way along some immensely busy motorways with huge amounts of traffic, heavy spray and dwindling light which made for a scary drive but I was in Albrighton and at my Mom's by 17:00, knackered but safe.