Starting in Blithe Bay, not a lot at all really. 2 Dunlin, and a Kingfisher around the small pool.
When arriving at the hide in Tad Bay, fellow blogger Martyn, aka The Blurred Birder was there. Just as well I left my camera at home, to save on duplication of images! Good to meet up with you at last Martyn!
Martyn pointed out the Garganey to me, two of them in fact. Also in Tad Bay were 2 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and also a personal Blithfield first. Instead of just flying over, 3 Raven landed into the bay.
For once I didn't see Osprey. In fact three have been seen during the week. So that's Ozzy, Sharon and another. Rather than naming them after their offspring (Jack, Kelly and the other one who didn't want to be on telly), I'm going with "Geezer", a fellow member of Black Sabbath.
Sunday 3rd August.
Willington Gravel Pits.
Its been ages since I did any birding in the Trent Valley. That'll change when we get more into the footie season (come on you Brewers!). 9 Black-Tailed Godwits from the third platform.
It was great to see so many juvenile birds around, reward for the good work that the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have done here. The place seems to be overrun with young Coots and Moorhens. Also a good number of juvenile Black Headed Gulls, Common Terns and Great Crested Grebes.
Onto Drakelow next. There was a Hobby here, Grey Wagtail (surprising for August), 1 Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher.
Feeling nostalgic, I decided to pay a visit to the Newbold Quarry pit. Part of the Branston Gravel Pit complex, even though it's nearer to Barton Under Needwood. However, it's not Barton Gravel Pit, because that complex is nearer to Walton-on-Trent. Makes sense to me!
I haven't visited this pit for about seven years, and to see it so full with water was a real disappointment. Back in the mid-nineties it was a mixture of islands and varying levels of water, that attracted Blue-Winged Teal amongst other species. I hope Uttoxeter Quarry doesn't go the same way.
No comments:
Post a Comment