A good end to a good week

It seems that birds are finally starting to move into and through the area, But I was a little shocked by the reports of three Waxwings in Wilnecote and only about half mile from where I work.
Waxwings have been quite scarce this year after the "invasion" of last year, so I got up there straight after I'd finished work.
On arrival I was told they had been seen some ten minutes earlier but had been chased off by some territorial Mistle Thrushes.
After waiting for another ten minutes the birds re-appeared and after whistling Jullian Allen to let him know they had returned I got to photographing.
The light wasn't ideal and the birds stopped in the treetops because of the Mistle Thrushes, But all in all a good end to a good week.

Scaup

Yesterday, after a fruitless hour and a half around Kingsbury, I returned home only to find I'd received a tip off from Tom Perrins,(Cheers Tom), about a female Scaup on Hemlingford water, only about a quarter of a mile from where I'd been.
Well I got ready to return to the water park only for it to start snowing very,very heavily.Being on two wheels I decided not to risk it and to hope it stopped around.
Dashed straight there after work only to find around 50 Pochard and a few Tufted duck.
Disappointed, I decided to head on over to Broomey Croft for a quick scan from the hides.
On entering Skan hide I was asked by Tim and John the pilot where I'd been and when I told them a couple in the hide said that they had been watching the Scaup on Hemlingford water at around dinnertime.
There was nothing else I could do, so I whizzed back to Hemlingford and after about 15 minutes of scanning I located the duck in mid water.
Then as soon as I had located the scaup it started to feed, and if anyone has ever tried to photograph a diving duck while it is feeding they will know what a fun half hour I had getting the above shots.

So glad

After finishing work I was in two minds whether to check Kingsbury water park or head straight home.
The forecast this morning had said snow and the wind had changed to a bitter North easterly so any sensible person would have gone home.So you guessed it, I went over to Kingsbury to check out Broomey Croft.
Nothing much of note on either Canal or Cliff pools only the pair of Shelduck and a single Redshank, so what to do?
I never go to the Sita hide, But with the wind whipping along I thought a quick march up the canal would get the blood pumping and keep me warm.
So glad that I did because as soon as I open the hide window I was greeted with the sight of a superb male Smew.The light was not good at all but I managed to get a few record shots.After such a result it didn't feel half as cold walking back along the canal!

Me & my big mouth

I had to go and say the "s" word didn't I, and the result was over 3 inches of snow and a very invigorating ride from Sutton to Tamworth at 03:00 this morning for work!
Well I have decided not to use the "s" word again until I've seen my first Blackcap, we can't have snow after that, can we?
Straight after work I went to Broomey Croft where there were at least 5 Oystercatchers scattered over Cliff & Canal Pool with 2 Shelduck also present still on Cliff.
The Cormorants posed well warming their wings in the sun, as did a robin and Blackbird.
It was also nice to see quite a few family's out birdwatching, maybe a knock on from the big garden watch?

Almost Springlike

Managed a couple of hours along the Tame Valley today in conditions that were almost springlike, and if a comment like that don't bring 3 foot of snow and temperatures into the minus's, nothing will.
A quick scan at Middleton lake saw nothing but the normal Teal and Shoveler however the highland cattle were close enough for a quick photo.
On to Broomey croft where the numbers of duck has dropped even more than last week with single figures of Shovler on Canal Pool, where there was three figures a couple of weeks ago.
Two Shelduck were new arrivals on cliff pool with Redshank present and Greensandpiper also reported.Two Buzzards were also enjoying the sunshine and the thermals over Cliff Pool.

Finally

Squeezed an hour in at Cliff Pool after work and finally caught up with a Redshank for a year tick.
Missed a Buzzard ripping a gull's carcass to bits by about 5 minutes, so you get photo's of the Carrion Crow that appeared as soon as the Buzzard had left.
Other birds there were 35 Teal, 4 Goldeneye, 1 Shelduck plus all the usual suspects.
The lack of decent birds led me to trying my hand at an arty sunset.

Ice, Ice, baby

Not a celebration that Vanilla ice is back in the charts, But actually connecting with an Iceland Gull at Stubbers Green.
After hearing of my fathers exploits on Saturday afternoon,(Glaucous, Iceland & Med Gull in about 2 hours), and being layed up with a bad back, I rushed up there at the first opportunity.
After a quick scan I notice the gull half way across the lake, taking in the delicate build & size in comparison to the other gulls.
If I had to age the bird, I'd take a guess at 2nd winter.
Further searching of the gulls didn't reveal any sign of the Glaucous Gull.
Heavy snow showers put me off going up to Chasewater so only the one out of three!

Stubbers conundrum

After pulling a double shift and finishing at 07:15 this morning, there was only one thing to do, hit the red bull and go birding! The red bull was in fact Tesco's own brand which is just as good.
Anyone from Tesco's reading who wishes to sponsor me to the tune of a DSLR & lens, please get in touch!
Well, first port of call was Stubbers Green in Aldridge, where there were 6 Goosander, but only a few gulls compared to normal.There was only one gull which appeared different and after the Glaucous fiasco or last week I'll leave it up to those more knowledgeable,(Again), to decide.(Please comment)
From there it was over to Broomey Croft where the first Oystercatcher of the spring had returned from its wintering on the coast.
Little else of note apart from an exodus of Shoveler, with numbers down to 14 on Cliff Pool.

Not much time, not much about!

A few quick visits along the Tame Valley are all that I have managed in the last few days due to workload.
Monday was a very quick look in on Middleton lake where there were 50+ Teal on the lake and a little Egret that made me do a double take, as it was on the same field that the Cattle Egret was on last year.
Tuesday was a walk around Broomey Croft,which I think is going to become my patch.
No sign of the Jack Snipe that had been reported, But the water levels are returning to normal and the Shovelers posed quite well on the ice.