Caspian Tern

After missing the Caspian Tern on Wednesday evening and the bird not being seen at first light on Thursday morning,  I thought I had missed my chance of adding a UK lifer in my home county of Cheshire.

However, 19.45 last night the phone rang and it was Dan Pointon telling me the Caspian Tern was back. No time to waste, a quick dash across town to pick Ashley up then an even quicker, but within the law !!,  dash a couple of junctions up the M6, and in no time we were on site, amid a lot of familiar faces from the Cheshire birding scene.  Included in these was the "Legend" that is Uncle Phil Woollen,   who kindly emailed the bottom three photo's to me this morning  - (Cheers Phil)

 It's there somewhere !

 Caspian Tern

 Another

... and one more.

Sacred Ibis in Shropshire

As we are only around 35 minutes from where this bird had been recorded Alex and I decided to go and see the Sacred Ibis this morning.  Armed with the information from Bird Guides we arrived on site mid morning - Please note: if you go and see this bird please ask the permission of the landlord to use his car park.  

It had been recorded earlier that day near to bridge 9W but was not there when we arrived.  We carried on approx. 300m further down the tow path and were rewarded with these excellent views.

A few photos from the breeding season

It's been a while since I posted a blog for a couple of reasons. Firstly I was unwell in May and regrettably had to cancel the trip we had planned to Norfolk.  Secondly it has been the breeding season and that means survey season, so I have been out in the field fulfilling my consultancy/breeding bird survey obligations.  Everything has calmed down a bit now so I am hoping to get out and about a bit more and get some leisure birding in so that I can share information and locations on the blog.  Client confidentiality does not allow me to share locations for the pictures posted below that I have taken over the last couple of months - but still some nice ones for you to enjoy. 

 Reed Bunting

 Chough

 Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding chick

 Great Spotted Woodpecker

 Swallow

 Blackbird

 Long-eared Owl

...........  and again

 Shelduck

 Wheatear

 Corn Bunting

 Yellow Wagtail

 Meadow Pipit

Dunnock