Bird Atlas 2007-11 part two

A very different tale to the previous visit over my survey area. Not many species but some new stuff, most exciting of which was a female Stonechat on the western edge of the quarry. Another surprise were a number of Teal on the smaller ponds accompanied by a rather out of place looking Cormorant. Plenty of Skylark but still no House Sparrow....Next visit spring.

Dark Green Fritillary

I had the latest edition of the Leicestershire Ent Soc newsletter this week and it was bumper packed. A very good read. Of real interest was a short article about a visit to Browns Wood by an emminent local lepidopterist who recorded the above butterfly. Don't you just hate it when that happens on your local patch.......

Fox

Today I stumbled across what appears to be a fairly newly dug Fox earth on my lunchtime wander. It's in quite an obvious spot with little cover in an area heavily frequented by dog walkers. Let's hope all goes well and I will try to keep my eye on them this spring.

Leicester City

Despite my passion for lower league Scottish football (The Mighty Ayr United) I am still a Leicester lad and support my home team despite my Scottish roots. Thats why I have posted this. Any LCFC fan from the last 25 years will be sent flying down memory lane at 1000 miles per hour.......Enjoy

Trap Result 21/02/09

First night of the year. Managed to superglue the vane assembly together with a few other running repairs but sadly no moths....To be fair the temperature dropped and the wind was up but I just wanted to check everything was in working order. Maybe next time.

Waxwings - Thornton

About time........Cracking

Rutland Water & Eyebrook Reservoir 20-02-09

A cracking day out with Andy. A total of 77 species with 14 species of Duck and 4 species of Owl. Here are the highlights -

Barnsdale Area - 2 Black Necked Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Barnacle Geese (!)

Sykes Lane / The Dam - 3 male and 2 female Scaup

Egleton Visitor Centre - Barn Owl, Smew, Goosander, Egyptian Geese

Eyebrook - Dunlin, Golden Plover, Pintail, Tree Sparrow and Green Winged Teal

Great Easton - Short Eared Owl, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite

Thornton Reservoir - Little Owl

Some really good county birding - Cheers to Andy for driving

Thornton Reservoir 17/01/09

A full circuit today but with little reward. 3 different Green Woodpeckers, several Nuthatch and not a lot else to be honest. As ever the bulrush (Typha spp.) around the reservoir had feeding signs of Limnaecia phragmitella. On holiday this week and off out with Andy Smith somewhere on Friday, Rutland and Eyebrook beckon. Hope the Ospreys are still there...........

RIP - Lux Interior - October 21 1946 – February 4 2009

Sad news that the legend that is Lux Interior, frontman of The Cramps, passed away last week. I've been a Cramps fan for longer than I remember and had the pleasure of meeting Lux, Poison Ivy and Nick Knox many years ago before a gig at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. A true off the wall genius and will be sadly missed. Can't believe we'll never get to see them play again. A quote from J.H. Sasfy's sleeve notes to their debut EP memorably noted, "The Cramps don't pummel and you won't pogo. They ooze, you'll throb."

Lunchtime

Little to report of late but at lunchtime today the riverside near work was home to a group, numbering 40 plus, of very confiding Redwing. Fabuolus birds and always good to see. Large numbers of Goldfinch seem to present at the moment along with Long Tailed Tits and Treecreeper in Belgrave Gardens.

The Lakes

Little birding done sadly but a huge great house with well stocked feeders in the garden. Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were regulars and other highlights included Nuthatch, Fieldfare and Tawny Owl. Other notables were a Peregrine on the A6 near Lancaster and a drake Goosander on Windermere. I did note a gaggle of birders in an odd location on the way home but then realised, after spotting a couple of road signs that it was the Forest of Bowland area so perhaps they were looking out for the Eagle Owls that have been breeding?? Who knows. On a sad note due to Jed having to have a spell in hospital we have had to cancel the week in Norfolk later in the month. Can't believe it that it comes through for that week. Oh well, maybe next year.