NUTS OUT

Its that time of the year when Christmas is just round the corner the Autumn rarity season is over and theres geese and Arctic Swans coming in from Russia. Flock of 67 Pinkfeet over Neumann's this morning.

Being a good citizen I've got me 'nuts out' and brushed off the bird table ready for the winter garden bird fest. The House Sparrows that roost in the hedge we share with our neighbour are down to three but hopefully their numbers will pick up once word goes around theres food out. Along with the spuggies I counted one Wren and one Dunnock, truly riveting stuff. A calling Goldcrest two doors down stayed in its favoured Pine tree (do they like nuts?).

Up North near Norway it looks like our Shetland correspondent after finding yet another cracker on his local patch (Dusky Warbler) is heading south for a few weeks..must be missing the Manchester weather.

My garden Wren that could pass for a dude Dusky!...

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GLOSSY DUO

If you squint hard enough and use a bit of imagination theres two Glossy Ibis at the back of the pool....honest. Called in en route to Bristol (actually a Sat Nav short cut) to Catcott Lows Nature Reserve on the Somerset Levels. The two Ibis were easily seen feeding at the edge of the pool by the road in the pouring rain, I didn't even get out of the car.

Another species for the year list that's in serious doubt of reaching 260 never mind 300 (no chance).

UK YL 256

OBC BASH

A wet weekend in Norfolk and Debs and I are attending the Oriental Bird Clubs 25 yrs celebration at a very posh hotel in Hunstanton. And brewed especially for the occasion much to the surprise of The Bare-faced Birders (check out the blog) was the real ale as advertised above. Seriously strong with a thin head and a good body.....sounds like someone I know ? it went down a treat. I managed to miss all the talks cos being in Norfolk I took the chance to do some well earned birding with great views of 3 Shore Larks at Holme plus 5 Whooper Swans looking well out of place on the beach!

Over at the new construction site of Titchwell the feeders were certainly pulling in the birds....

and the Muntjac deer...

One new bird for the year list was all I could manage as the lure of Bare-faced Real Ale was overpowering, so I dipped out on Green winged Teal (yawn!), Lapland Bunting, Pale bellied Brent Goose? and Snow Goose. Back to the bash for some oriental nosh and a boogie to support a well organised volunteer run club that does great things out east, you should try it some time...www.orientalbirdclub.org

UK YL 255

REMEMBER THE PATCH 3

Got an early finish for once at work so made the most of it with a brisk walk from Comberbach through Marbury CP to Neumann's, No.1 and back.

I managed 46 species, nothing unusual apart from the returning Black Swans (their 3rd winter if I'm correct) plus over 500 Teal (no Green-winged yet!) and 20 Golden Plover.

Absolutely trillions of winter Thrushes pouring in from up North, many heard flying over the house late last night in the clear Autumn moonlight.

Looks like this Autumn has quietly (apart from the obvious South Shields blocker) sneaked by unseen. No Ryan Air ticks or Scilly double mortgage jobs as yet. Wonder if November which starts this Sunday has anything up its sleeve.....



Pod's Predictions till the end of 2009....

Purple Martin....over Whalsay

Long-tailed Shrike....grip back

Fox Sparrow....bloody Seaforth

American Great Egret yawn!

Yellow-browed Bunting....Northumberland

some South Coast Tesco car park long staying Yank warbler eg. CERULEAN

and maybe a misidentified Greenish Warbler in Cornwall...........bugger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


you heard it hear first chaps.



Whilst undertaking the above my research uncovered a rather embarrassing place in far off Newfoundland....

Should be good for finding that difficult to come by 'bush warbler'....?...or the never to be seen muff diver of darkest Ontario.....comments welcome.....!

and totally unrelated to anything but my its funny...tryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQeHVpgmrrE&feature=related....I must be getting old or sad or both or senile!!

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BEMPTON BANKERS!!!

A day out to the RSVP Gannet reserve at Bempton, Yoooorrrkshirrre with Groucho and the Wizzalmeister had us laughing at the antics of the Sunday Spotters. Having spent several hours surrounding the last viewing of the still present BLUETAIL near the bird feeding station, most of the Spotters stood around talking as loudly as possible instead of spreadingout and searching for this Eastern delight. How on earth do these dudes expect to see anything??
The Bluetail was a 100yards away up the lane and after several brief glimpses by Groucho then Wizzalmeister I finally had stonkin views as it hopped nonchalantly passed me in the roadside vegetation ..sorted! (my 3rd in Britain). Too slow once again with the new camera all I could manage image wise was a well watched local rat under the bird table at the feeding station.

Isn't it nice to know that all that hard earned donated dosh the RSVP collect off one and all, goes on supporting Yorkshire rats!!!!.......give me a gun someone please.

Just up the coast and within scoping distance from outside the reserve toilet block a 1st winter Red backed Shrike showed well to the Sunday Spotters, us included.

UK YL 254

GEORDIE WARBLER

EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER

WAE'AYE MAN its OML NFI!!!.............this little beauty was so nearly another Amur Falcon jobby thank god our North East friends were more on the ball than those dosy Yorkshire puddings further south. This is one of THE birds I've fantasised about finding for ages but my dreams have now been shattered for this particular species (my 4th this year after 3 in Laos) but as Malc said today theres loads more Asian warblers still probably to come...fingers crossed for that statement. If that Durham dude hadn't of taken his piccy of the 'Yellow-browed' we'd all be ECW less. Its now the longest staying ECW anywhere in the WesternPal and even the 'B' team have whapped it on....theres no justice for the 1st day boys. Cracking bird though what.

The birding posse encircle Trow Quarry awaiting tickable views of the latest 1st for Britain and 5th for the WesternPal. A Yellow browed Warbler (year tick) is also on show plus a pair of Blackcaps what a mega little haven this is.

Whilst out doing my job a minor detour into Draycote Water, Warwickshire (not litterally) boosted the yearlist with the very confiding Lesser Scaup thats been there on and off for ages...my 8th one in Britain.

UK YL 252

BRITISH LIFE LIST 508

ENGLISH LIFE LIST 467

WESTERNPAL 676

LATEST MERSEYSIDE SPOT THE BALL RESULT

A Mr Reina of Kirkby was our biggest loser of the week. He wrongly predicted the ball to be right of the man in yellow when actually its to the left as we all can see. We have sent him a consolation prize of a free eye test with Specsavers and a CD single 99 Luftballoon by Nena.

Our biggest winner of the week was this French chap from Lyon called Gonads, he correctly slotted home the winning goal in our mid-week match and gets free drinks all night in any Manchester pub of his choice.

The two events above have given this Spanish dago cause for concern as his job is now hanging by a thread but we praise his efforts and our Mancunia branch hope he continues the good work he's doing.