#indoorstoomuch

Yesterday afternoon after seeing a tweet from Bradders, it had been confirmed that the Phal at Vange was indeed a Wilsons. Luckily i had time to spare so after gathering my gear i was en route within a few minutes. The rain steadily got worse and it was awful by the time i arrived. After finding a couple of birders, they immediately put me on the bird - lovely stuff. Courtesy of Lee Evans Courtesy of Lee Evans Courtesy of Lee Evans

I spent about an hour at the Valley last weekend on both Saturday and Sunday late afternoon. Saturday gave up a Wood Sandpiper which is a good patch tick; although there has been a few this year already, i didn't have the camera so no photos but i did hear it calling as well as it flew periodically. Up to about 8 Green Sandpiper and 6 Snipe - all distant Also a wander around Aveley Bay and Ferry Lane - Common Sand, Ferry Lane.

What can i say - TWO MEGA'S, ONE DAY - Stonker! No photo's i didnt take any

I left with Paul & Martin and headed to Thursley in Surrey. I was looking forward to this. A chance to rid the outstanding list of Dartford Warbler finally and also get to see my first Nightjar. Of course i didn't go and see the local daytime bird at the Middlesex filter beds that showed for all very well all day, i wanted to do it the hard way; midges, more midges, bug spray, an hour plus in the car each way and dark nigh-time skies. We arrived and took a wander looking for initially Dartfords finally though ending up with some great views of my first Tree Pipit , a good few other birds all singing in the area. I think in the end i saw 4 but others were singing in the distance. It was to be about the Nightjar so we headed back to find our spot and wait it out, it was going to be promising with Paul and Martin hearing the first churning bird whilst we were on the Pipits. We made our stand and waited..... Luckily Paul hears a Dartford Warble...

Well as the name of the blog suggests - i don't get out much; however yesterday afternoon (bank holiday Monday) after a call from Martin i decided this is a bird i really wanted to see. In addition it would also be lifer for Dad and we were at my parents finishing off a BBQ. I've seen one of these before, it was the ridiculously close bird at West Canvey Marsh in September 2013 and was a juvenile so a stunning male was a must. Martin had left before us and had located the bird within 5 minutes of his arrival, shortly after we arrived and sure enough after a few minutes was on it. Great bird with some decent views, very mobile and fully aware of us at all times as it made its way around the scrub.

Well it was that time of year again where my parents and some friends go on a homage to Titchwell for some "birding". On a few occasions now i have joined them for one of their days at Titchwell. So my itinerary normally is to head up to Norfolk and arrive at Holme for about 11 and join them in the evening. Then spend the following, full day, with them at Titchwell. Choseley This year was slightly different as my little jaunt was luckily at the same time as 8 Dotterel had taken up residency at the fields around the drying barns at Choseley. I arrived and along with a couple of others were on them immediately, 5 in view, not great views though, but its a tick. I would come back again for another try. Life Tick! Holme So without delay i headed to Holme. I was there by 11.30ish and before getting out of the car had seen about 25 species on the NWT drive to the reserve centre. I was told of singles in the form of Turtle Dove, Ruff & Cuckoo. The Ruff ...