Happy Birthday

Mrs Reg celebrated her birthday on Thursday. It would be very impolite of me to disclose her age, but if you add up the number of different butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies that I've seen this year, then take away the number of pectoral sandpipers I've seen, you'd have your answer.

We spent Friday with the family, walking around Draycote Water. I must point out that this was Mrs Reg's idea, and a decision that had been taken at the beginning of the week. However, when I spotted that a lesser scaup had turned up there on Thursday, I did afford myself a wry smile!





Lesser scaup at Draycote Water

Nice one, Mrs Reg. Many happy returns!

He Was The King

First up today is this picture of an excellent sycamore moth caterpillar, which I found in the front garden yesterday.



Onto today, and a patch walk produced a new tick, when a kingfisher was spotted in Tanners Green Lane. Never seen one there before, so a welcome surprise.

That takes the birds seen on foot tally to 79. By the way, it's me that's on foot - not the birds, silly!

The rest of the morning has been spent revamping my birding spreadsheet in readiness for next year. I might even show you a snippet of it next time.

I love spreadsheets, me.

Stay

If something good sticks locally for over a week, I do sometimes feel duty-bound to go and have a look at it.

As a result, the new Golf had its first birding-related outing this morning when my Dad and I paid homage to the pectoral sandpiper that has been at Draycote Water for over a week.







Pectoral sandpiper with a couple of dunlin

Also present was this juvenile bar-tailed godwit - a welcome addition to the year list.





Bar-tailed godwit

It's Been A While

Quite a few weeks since my last post, so I thought I'd better provide a quick update on events.

Last Monday Mrs Reg and I headed off to York for a few nights. The cat was duly delivered to the cattery, which is conveniently located not too far from Bittell reservoirs. I had received news of a number of greenshanks at the upper reservoir over the weekend and the lure was too much to resist. A quick scan revealed one greenshank - my first for the year.

During my stay in York I enjoyed several good sightings, despite it being a non-birding break. On Tuesday evening I spotted a pair of peregrines displaying over York Minster and a visit to Castle Howard on Wednesday produced a lifer in the shape of a black darter in a small reservoir located in Ray Wood. I also spotted a marsh tit in the woods.

It was such a nice day on Thursday that we decided to stop off at Fairburn Ings on the way home. Whilst there I added willow tit and tree sparrow to the year list, and there was another lifer - emerald damselfly, which was seen in one of the pools. Also, many common darters on site, and southern and migrant hawkers present too.

Since getting back, I have resisted the urge to do any twitching, though the pectoral sandpiper at Draycote Water remains appealing.

I'll finish on a sad note. After 11 years and 4 months, I am saying goodbye to my trusty Peugeot 306. Rupert, as he's affectionately known, has served me well, and in spite of all his little quirks he will be missed. In about an hour's time I'll be picking up my new car - a VW Golf named Yubbub. I hope I have as many great birding adventures in him as I did in Rupert.

Until next time, I'll leave you with some shots taken over the last week or so.









Red admiral, common darter, speckled wood and common blue damselfly all seen at Castle Howard







Emerald damselfly, brimstone and common darters at Fairburn Ings

Pop Goes The Weasel

Two of them in fact - seen running across the road near Shenstone yesterday. These are only the third and fourth weasels I have seen, and were the highlight of a morning spent with my friend Boyley, who has expressed an interest in becoming a birder.

I decided that the best way to spark his interest was to go to a few sites where we might see one or two elusive species. First up was Hopwood, where we had a look for a little owl. Sadly, the owl didn't put in an appearance so we headed to Upton Warren.

Here we had juvenile water rail, little ringed plover, dunlin, green sandpiper, common sandpiper and snipe - all decent spots for someone just starting their life list.

Just before we left, we were treated to good views of a peregrine that made a couple of passes over the Flashes.

Aside from the two weasels, Shenstone offered little of birding interest. Still, Boyley is on his way now with a burgeoning list comprising just under 40 species.

I'll leave you with a couple of shots taken in the garden on Saturday. The first is a rather tatty and forlorn-looking peacock. The second is the culprit that I rescued it from. Naughty boy!





Barney aka Faterpillar and the peacock

Darts Of Pleasure

A couple of new pics taken at work on Wednesday.



Common green grasshopper



Common darter

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

A trip out to Earlswood lakes this morning brought a couple of additions to the patch list - namely common sandpiper and lesser whitethroat. Sadly, no kingfisher, hence today's title.

A willow warbler in Tanners Green Lane, less than a mile from home, was also notable.

I have now surpassed 100 miles on the patch this year and accumulated 78 ticks thus far.

No pictures today as the camera stayed at home, but here a few shots taken at work on Friday.







Green-veined white



Speckled wood









Comma

Finally, it appears that silly season is now with us again, following sightings of Montagu's harrier and spotted crake at Upton Warren this weekend.

Methinks there could be a bit of twitching to be done over the next month or two!