Sunday 20 January 2013

20th Jan

Snow, snow and more snow; it has not stopped all day. I did not think we were in the SE corner of the country so this has come as a shock. Not able to get out so content with feeding the birds in the garden. Hopefully I can increase the number before the Big Garden Birdwatch. Still have an odd Jackdaw present(must read the article in BB to work out which of the plumage genetic defects it has got)  BUT the big news is that I reached 50 species for the garden when a Meadow Pipit was spotted this afternoon running around under the bushes in the front garden; the only snow free spot.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

16th Jan

Went out with Godfrey and Ken though it was rather too cold for comfortable bird watching from a wheelchair. On the basis of news and with the chance of getting a lifer for Godfrey we went to Banbury. Managed to see the birds without getting out of the car and Godfrey was happy with a warm birdwatch and three Waxwings sitting in a roadside small tree. Back to Brandon and a warm cup of tea before a quick sprint up to Newlands and back to blow some cold air through our hair. Most of the duck were on Swallow Pool with the Black-headed Gulls and two Redshank the best from East Marsh Pool. The sun was directly in our eyes from Baldwin hide so did not bother sitting down just went out for another blast of winter sun.

Friday 4 January 2013

2013

Well here we are; I'm going to take this year as it comes, though I will have my fingers crossed until the artificial valve is fitted and it works. Hopefully then I can get back to my reasonably active life style of two years ago.
Went out for a trip round some of the local water bodies to find some of the rarer birds of the midlands. As ever I forgot the camera so perhaps that ought to be my New Year's resolution; always take it out with you. Thus no pictures but Warwickshire produced Great Northern Divers, Firecrest and Long-tailed Duck and over in Leicestershire/Northamptonshire were Velvet Scoters, Great White Egret and Waxwings. Not a bad start to the year and all seen in the dry!!