Woodchat Shrike, Torver Low Common, Cumbria. 9th May 2006

News of a Woodchat Shrike had me driving up to Torver in the Lake District today. Having never seen one, this was a must to connect with. The bird had been frequenting a walled area on Torver Low Common.
There were only a handful of birders present when I arrived in the car park. I got good views with me binoculars, the set up me camera.
The bird obviously had a circuit, and it was easy to get up close to the bird. It was feeding well, and dropped many pellets whilst it rested.
A beautiful day, in a superb scenic area, and wonderful weather. What more could you ask?

Laughing Gull, Marton Mere,Blackpool,Lancashire. 14th April 2006

A superb day today. News of a Laughing Gull had me scrambling to nearby Marton Mere on the outskirts of Blackpool, where it had been seen in the caravan park. It didn't take long to see the bird either, as it was coming to bread being thrown by children watching the ducks. Photographic opportunities were plentiful, as the bird landed on the fence where we were stood. It stayed for a while before going to roost on the mere, no doubt after having eaten to much.

Humes Yellow Browed Warbler, Mardon, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. 5th February 2006

Ive been up to Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear today, for a Humes Yellow Browed Warbler. Its the first Humes that I've seen and I met up with me good friend and Geordie local, Tom Tams. He'd seen and photographed it yesterday, so knew exactly where it would be. It took a while to find, as it obviously has a large circuit, but it did come into view several times, and although it didnt come really close, I was reasonably happy with a few images. A typical Phyllosc warbler, it flitted about in foliage and never kept still.

Grey Cheeked Thrush, Great Wood Country Park, Cuffley, Hertfordshire. 20th November 2005

Ive had a long drive today down to Cuffley in Hertfordshire for a superb Grey Cheeked Thrush. 

Its my first vagrant American thrush and it was very much well worth the trip. I set off at 1am to get there for first light, and on arriving at the Country Park, it was obvious the bird was pulling 'em in. There were loads of twitchers about, but locating the thrush was very difficult. Add to that, the very muddy slippy conditions underfoot didnt help.

There were a few shouts but all proved fruitless. This afternoon though, I was just in the right place at the right time, when the thrush popped up unexpected on a tree stump. It didnt stay long, but I managed a few images before it scurried off in true Catharus characteristics

Wryneck, Aspinall Way,Horwich,Lancashire. 9th September 2005

My new camera lens arrived today. A nice, brand new Canon 500mm Image Stabiliser. I was unpacking it when I got a call from Ian Corbett, that a Wryneck was at Howrich near the football ground. Superb! There was no time like the present, and to christen the lens straight away, so thats where Ive been this afternoon.
I loaded me camera case, and set off down the M6 and M61 and arrived 40minutes later. Id been given directions to Aspinall way, which was on the shopping complex. There were a handful of birders assembled on the path so I decided to walk to the opposite end of the path, as the bird seemed to be heading that way.
Both Steve Round and myself, squatted in the bushes as the bird approached and the bird walked right towards us both, offering blinding views, even settling to stretch its wings. It got so close as it walked by that focus was unachievable.
I was very happy with the results and the lens performed superbly.
Im now itching to get out with it and improve my photography by waiting for the next bird to twitch, (and photograph).