Rutland Water 6/9/15

With a catch up with old mate Mark Maddox the previous afternoon which involved a short walk down at Caldecote looking for Wheatear and Whinchats and a pint up the Taproom,we decided on having a few hours out the next day which seen us at Rutland water Lagoon 3 held around 150 Tufted duck,Gadwall,Teal,Pochard,2 Common Snipe and about 7 Green Sanpipers.
Lagoon 2 we picked up a Greenshank for the day also a Hobby on our way to Lagoon 4,where I managed to pick out a single female Pintail and a lone Shelduck quite a few Egyptian Geese also present,unlike when I lived in North Lincolnshire these was a real scarce sight.
Had a great few hours thanks to Mark for driving !!!

Melodious Warbler 14 - 6 - 15

With this only being the 3rd record for the West Midland and today being the best day weather wise it was a must go,with good mate Mark Maddox eventually turning up at the wrong house and he soon realised we set off,on arrival along with John Judge at the same time we headed off down the track we could soon hear it singing it's head off after managing a few shot and a video we then headed off towards home so Mark could get Spotted Flycatcher for the year,it wasn't long when we found them and spent a short while with them we got back to the car when Mark asked where his camera bag was well it's not here he had only left it on the floor with the Warbler so we made our way back,I wonder how many people get a Melodious Warbler twice in a day in Warwickshire,back on arrival Lee Evans had arrived on site.

Middleton Lakes 8 - 6 - 15

With a nice day forecast I decided to head off to Middleton,before I even got my camera set up a Hobby was high up mobbing a common Buzzard and a Raven soaring above the farm gaining height.
I reached Fishers mill and had another 2 Hobby within seconds of each other,I reached Jubilee Wetlands and walked clock wise round with 7 Ringed plover,1 Little Ringed Plover,1 Common Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper.
As I reached the path to North Hide another Hobby was up in the air catching Dragonflies and a Grasshopper Warbler started reeling just to the right of the path,on North pit 4 adult Avocet and only seen 2 of the young,Oystercatcher,Ringed Plover and plenty of LBB Gulls present which 1 made a snatch of a young coot but a black-headed gull started to chase it and the young coot was dropped lucky escape,a Kingfisher sat along the river and a male Kestrel was hunting along the path.
On the way back I made a slight de-tour to find the local Spotted Flycatchers which didn't take me long as I was watching a pair of Treecreepers when 1 flew into the same tree so not a bad day.

Gibraltar Point 23 - 5 - 15

With having a long weekend at Skegness Brian and myself decided that we would spend the Saturday at Gib point,We arrived at the main car park to have a look at what had been seen but was 3 days out of date,so we parked up at beach car park and headed for the hides and enjoyed so time watching 3 Spoonbills.
2 Cuckoo's was watched chasing each other around.
A few photo's of the Spoonbill from the day.

Shustoke Res 29-4-15

With some sunny spells forecast I decided on heading off out for the first time since returning back to Nuneaton,So I headed off over to Shustoke knowing I would pick up a couple of year ticks.
I arrived about 10.30 and took a full walk around counting 2 Common Tern, 7 Common Sandpiper,a few House martins mixed in with the Swallows and Sand martins and at least 6 Grey Wagtails which some was feeding young, 2 Common Whitethroat and a single Common Buzzard soared over the fields,after about 2 hours the rain/showers started so called it a morning.

Far Ings Marsh Harriers 11 - 4 - 15

With it being a nice afternoon I thought I would go and enjoy a walk around the local reserve,and try for the Barn Owls again but must have been a bit windy for them,but I did enjoy watching the Marsh Harriers around Ness pit with at least 100 Swallows and Sand Martin and a brief view of a Bearded tit as it flew in to the reeds before it started pinging.