Utch 3/4/11 0720-0950, sunny and cool, wind mod' s/w.

The highlight of this mornin's visit to Utch was a Tawny Owl calling near the Dipper bridge! Sad I know but apart from the juv' we found a couple of years ago it's only my second record of a T'owl at Utch.

A summer plumaged Little Grebe on the River Tean pit was new in.

Still two Yellow Wag's on the islands but no sign of any White Wag's. At least thirty Mpipits were feedin' in fields near the dove.

A Bar-headed Goose was a new addition to the growin' list of escapees from nearby Rocester when it flew in with a Mute Swan. Or perhaps it really is wild, who knows? Early on there were just two Goosander present but by the time I'd walked along the river another thirty three had sneaked in while me back was turned. With this many present into April it makes you wonder just how many will stay to breed locally?

A single Ringed Plover was my ninth Utch year tick of the weekend, putting me back on course for another crack at the Utch 120 club title. Highlight among the waders today though was at least 20 Spoon-billed Sandpipers feeding along the north shore!

Tawny Owl 1, Yellow Wag' 2, Mpipit c30, Little Grebe 1, Ringy 1, Spoon-billed Sand' c20, Snipe 4, Curlew 1, Oyst' 3, Goosander 35, Teal 2.

And finally on a non bird related note I had a text from a top local birder and blogger on Thursday tellin' me that he was in Wolvo at a Chas and Dave gig!!!!! Now I know the lad is old before his time but bloody hell Chas and Dave? Mind you I'd better not say to much I'm off to the LG Arena in September to see a small blonde songstress with enormous lungs, ooooooooh errrr!!! Only I could book tickets for Iron Maiden and Dolly Parton at the same time.

That's all folks.

Utch 2/4/11, 1750-2000, sunny and mild, wind mod' s/w.

Hey up folks, a really enjoyable visit tonight made even more so by the none appearance of "ROTTWEILLER MAN" a classic example of dangerous dogs in the wrong hands!! Don't get me wrong there's no finer sight than a well bred rottie but in the wrong hands they can be lethal.

Plenty of migrants about this evening pour moi and the "deer hunter" with three very early Yellow Wagtails and five White Wagtails on the north shore of the main pit. The Yellow Wag's were nine days earlier than last year. At least six Chiff's were around the site.

Little Ringed Plovers have increased to ten. A single Common Sandpiper feedin' along the north shore of the main pit was the first of the spring. Still one Green Sand' present and a single Dunlin flew through calling as it made it's way north.

On the duck front still at least forty three Goosander present this evenin' also a male Wigeon and two Teal.

A flyover Little Egret had me fooled for a moment when it appeared from behind a passin' Helicopter, for a moment I thought the pilot was droppin' litter from a great height!!!

Yellow Wag' 3, White Wag' 5, Common Sand' 1, LRP 10, Green Sand' 1, Dunlin 1, Oyst' 5, Curlew 4, Little Egret 1, Wigeon 1, Teal 2, Goosander 43.

That's all folks.

Utch 1/4/11, 1745-1920, cloudy and mild, wind mod' s/w.

Hey up folks finally got to Utch this evenin' after almost a month since my last visit!! I managed to cadge a lift with the "deer hunter" himself, Mad Malc', cheers pal. The water level as dropped considerably since I was last there at the beginnin' of March and several little islands are now showin' along the north shore, perfect for migrant waders to rest and feed on as they head north to their arctic breeding grounds.Hopefully this year we can add something really decent to the wader list like a Bairds, White-rumped or Buff' Sand'. Nothin' of any quality this evening but I did pick up three Utch year ticks in the form of LRP, Sand Martin and Chiffchaff. A single immature male Goldeneye was on the main pit alongside a pair of Shelduck and eleven Goosander Goosander 11, Shelduck 2, Teal 1, Tufty 33, Oyst' 3, LRP 7, Curlew 6, Green Sand' 1, Chiff' 1, Sand Martin c50. A WORD OF WARNING!!!! ON THE WAY BACK TO THE CAR ME AND THE MAD ONE MET A NEANDERTHAL WITH A FETISH FOR GREEN WELLIES , "COUNTRYMEN" AND TWO OUT OF CONTROL ROTTWEILLERS! HE WEARS AN ORANGE JACKET, IF YOU SEE HIM WALK THE OTHER WAY. That's all folks.

That Bloody Greenhouse and Cotton Dell BBS.

Hey up folks for the third weekend runnin' I've failed to even get a sniff of Utch because of this bloody greenhouse business! It's become a huge job involvin' a lot of work pour moi and to say I'm not happy is an understatement but the light at the end of the tunnel is insight now and hopefully I should be back in the saddle by next weekend.

Rumours of me bein' so fed up with it all that I chucked meself off the top of the garden wall are completely unfounded. I actually fell off and have the cuts and bruises to prove it, ouch!! Worse still as I landed by the side of the old punto I noticed we'd got a flat tyre caused by one of the felt tacks I'd been usin' earlier, double ouch!!!

Despite all this work I did manage to get out for a dawn start on a Breeding Bird Survey at Cotton Dell for the Staffs Wildlife Trust. The dell is one of my favourite places round here, not really a "hot spot" but always good for Dipper along the brook and woodland goodies like Wood Wobbler, Pied Fly' and Redstart.

The highlight of this mornin's visit was not one but two pairs of Mandarins involved in courtship flights through the trees of the dell. Yes I know they're considered "plastic" by the serious listers but I love to see these stunnin' little tree nestin' ducks. At one point one of the females landed in a large Beech tree about thirty feet up, above my head.

Other "real" birds included a pair of Dippers who showed superbly and a rather dashing male Grey Wagtail singing his heart out as he perched above the brook. Nuthatchs were very vocal with three male birds all havin' a go at the same time at my last survey point. At least three pairs of Stock Doves were in the fields above the dell. Two Chiffchaffs were my first of the spring.

I couldn't help takin' a few shots with the old Muggimakki, despite it being the start of spring and the place not yet being at its best it's still a nice place to spend an hour or two.

That's all folks.

Midas Mad Malc's Mammalian Mega!!!!!

A text from the mad lad this mornin' while I was at work, building high quality yellow tractors made me drop me spanner! The text read, in Malc's typically understated fashion "MUNTJAC @ POXEY THIS MORNIN". F####in' hell he's done me again!!!!! Once again working shifts at the crisp factory has paid off for me aging mucker. I've known that these collie sized deer are around locally for several years now and despite spending thousands of hours at Poxey I've still not seen one of the little buggas! Several of the locals have gripped me off in the past with tails of local Munties and now Malc' has joined the select band of local "Muntcateers".











Well done pal(he says through gritted teeth).







Apart from a single White Wag' at work it's been another completely bird less week pour moi as the "Greenhouse Gate" scandal continues but hopefully by the end of play tomorrow after another full day "dans le jardin" I should be ok to hit Utch on Sunday, fingers crossed on that one.









That's all folks.

Really Wild Barnie?

Hey up folks yet another Utchless weekend pour moi!!!! A hoped for visit this afternoon with Malc' was scuppered by this bloody greenhouse business! Anyway it's not been a complete loss this weekend bird wise. The two LRP's that RP found at Poxey yesterday were still present this mornin' and Malc' "found" a Barnacular Goose among the Can's at Hales Hall. This was a new bird for the Goose Mecca that is Hales Hall so it was a perfect reason for me to down tools and go chase the goose. Two minutes after I got there the goose was UTB as it fed among the Can's in the field above the pool.










Now normally I'd have just dismissed this bird as one of the local feral birds but earlier news on the pager of a "really wild" colour ringed Barnie at nearby Carsington Water left me with no choice but to try and get a poo sample from Malc's bird. After ten minutes crawling on all fours towards the goose flock I finally got a sample of poo and better still a primary feather!!!! So one way or another after DNA and stable isotope tests we'll know if the Barnie spent the winter at Utch or somewhere slightly wilder. If it's wild the mad lad owes me another pint!







That's all folks.

Greenhouse Gas!!!

Well I thought I'd had a crap week 'til I turned on the news and saw what's happened in Japan. After seein' that I feel a bit of a knob after lettin' a couple of narrow minded neighbours spoil the grand unveiling of our Jan's little greenhouse!!!! Any way here is said greenhouse and if you are readin' this Mr and Mrs T. Watt and Mrs S. Hitehouse I hope you're happy!!!

Well that's got that off me chest so back to birds eh. I haven't managed a single visit to Utch this weekend and as you can see I started this post on Saturday evening. Saturday saw me and old Norbert racin' around to make sure the Webs count was done so that on Sunday me and Jan could get off to the doggie "Download" festival , Crufts at The NEC.

Highlights of the Webs count were the drake Gadwall still at Poxey, a Green Sand' over the North Lake at Rocester and most surprisin' of all a Woodcock flyin' up Earls Rock Lake at Dimmings Dale. All three were new birds for each Webs list. A single Sand Martin flyin' south over the South Lake at Rocester was the first migrant of the spring pour moi and nice to see.

While I was at Rocester I unleashed the old Muggimakki on some of the rubber ducks in residence on the duck pond, well it makes a change from Google Images.

Crufts was as usual a celebration of everything dog with everything imaginable for sale from doggie socks to doggie bog roll, I kid you not!!. It's a crackin' day out for us dog lovers and this year me and our Jan decided to book early for "Best in Show" the culmination of the four days competition. The problem with these televised events though is that you've got a good chance of bein' caught on camera, and we were!! I got off lightly, I was just pointin' at the screen in a mongy fashion, our Jan' though was tippin' a bottle down her neck like one of the 'anley Park wino's. It was diet coke but you can't see that on the screen, oooophs!

Here's the Flat Coated Retreiver that won, I went for the little Basset that came second which just about sums me up, the nearly man.

That's all folks.

Oh my Gad'!!!!!

A text from Mad Malc' today while I was at work left me clock watchin' for the rest of the day. The lad had only gone and found my Holy Grail on the Sandy Lane pool at Croxden!!!!! A drake GADWALL.

As soon as Jan' got home I was straight in the motor and off up Croxden. By 1715 I was out the car and running up to the pool, a minute later and Anas Strepera was UTB and on the list for Croxden!!!! Yes I know it's only a Gadwall and I can see any number at Belvide or over towards Burton but it's the first one for moi at Croxden so it might as well be a lifer.

That's all folks.

Utch 6/3/11, 1630-1820, sunny and cold, wind light easterly.

A late visit to Utch this afternoon after spendin' the day catchin' up with a few jobs outside which with no sign of any rain even I couldn't get out of!!!








This evenin's highlight was not one but two Barn Owls in view at the same time! The first time I've actually had two in view at the same time at Utch. Still plenty of Curlews around but the best I could muster was 41 still a very good count but nowhere near the new site record of 65 set last night by the birder currently known as Steve Turner while me and RP were at Blithers for the Great White. The Goosander roost had 53 birds in it when I left, only the second time I've managed over 50 this year. No sign of yesterdays Dipper.








Barn Owl 2, Goosander 53, Pochard 6, Teal 13, Wigeon 27, Tufty 15, Great Crested Grebe 5, Curlew 41, Lapwing 114, Oystercatcher 6.








First thing this mornin' a quick nip round a normally bird less Croxden turned into a bit of a "duckfest" with 5 Teal, 3 Goosander and a Shelduck which as been present since Thursday.








That's all folks.

The Dipper's back...........

A quick visit to Utch this mornin' while I waited for our Schnauzer to get his barnet done produced nothin' apart from 37 Goosander on the main pit.



Another visit this afternoon however, with RP, left me momentarily speechless when a call from young Fair Isle with news that the Dipper was back on the River Tean 200 yards up from where we'd just left the lad sent RP into a panic and he set off along the river like a young Billy Beaumont in his prime tearin' through the French forward line!!!!! In the whole time I've known the lad he's never even broke into a trot before but the Dipper was a patch tick for the lad and he wasn't goin' to risk it flyin' off before he got there. Classic behaviour of an ardent patch watcher, suddenly a bird that he's seen many times before turns up on his local patch and if he hasn't seen it there before it might as well be a first for Britain!!!

After the Utch Mega the Great White at Blithers was a bit of an anti-climax as it flew into roost at 1800hrs but if it turns up at Utch in the mornin' I'll be one very happy birder.

That's all folks.

Chippers and Blacklands "George".

Hey up folks, after failing to fill the team bus last weekend, the Cheesedale Branch of U3A finally set off for Chipping Norton yesterday mornin'. Malc' and RP were on the bus for 0540 so it was just a case of pickin' Norbert and The Whopper up and we'd be off. After a bit of a struggle to get his huge weapon on board Norbert jumped in and off we sped. If all went to plan The Dove would hang around long enough for us to connect early doors and hopefully head off further south for the 'ampshire eagle.

After a bit of a balls up with the old sat-nav we finally pulled up in a very wet and cold Chippers around half eight. Why I bother with a sat-nav is any body's guess, after spendin' twelve years on the vans and doin' a fair bit of twitchin' over the last twenty or so years it's not like I can't find my way round!!! Anyway no sooner had we pulled up than the Three Musketeers were off along the High Street leaving moi to get sorted and lock up the bus. Guess what? In my haste to catch up with the lads I forgot me bins! Unfortunately I didn't realise until I got that "naked" feelin' you get when you go for your bins and they're not there and by this time I was a quarter of the way to The Leys and the dove, aaaaaaaaarrgh!

Eventually I got to number 41 to find the lads were already in the kitchen with around twenty other birders grillin' the dove, not literally of course. The dove was perched in a large bush at the back of the garden just lookin' at us, god knows what it was thinkin'? "Look at those nobheads lookin at moi" probably, but after a few minutes with the bird not movin' we decided to let some other newcomers have a buchas and go back in a bit, hopefully with time to to get to grips with the birds salient features. While we were away havin' a brew Mrs Akers decided to start cookin' brekkie on the Arga and the under floor heatin' kicked in. As you can imagine by the time we got back it was seriously warm in there!!!!!

After refuelin' back at the bus we headed back for the dove but by now it was chuckin' it down and we were soaked by the time we got there. Most birders know that a quick change in temp' can have a drastic effect on your optics and this proved to be the case, especially with my Leicas, they were completely misted up!!!!! The dove was now waddlin' around in the garden and I couldn't see a bloody thing through me bins and to make matters worse I was in exactly the wrong place in the scrum so the frame of the patio doors was also in me way!!! Talk about panic I was like a blind man with a naked woman lyin' right infront of him, all I kept sayin' was "I can't see it, I can't see it, where is it, where is it???"

Eventually thanks to the lads lettin' me use their bins I managed to get some good but brief views of the bird on the ground and on the fence rail before it flew off into next doors garden. Phew!!!! Rufous Turtle Dove(orientalis) UTB! While I was panicin' positive news of the eagle in 'ampshire and the Yank Wigeon at Rushy Common came on the pager and meant we were back on the road pretty sharpish once we'd all had good enough views.

Less than an hour later we were at Rushy Common where we hoped to add another lifer to Malc's rapidly expandin' list, American Wigeon. Unbelievably I forgot me bins again and had to nip back to the bus for 'em while the lads headed off up the path. No sign of the Wigeon but to be honest I think we were lookin' on the wrong pit because when the flock of Eurasian Wigeon took off and dropped right in front of us there was no sign of our yankee target. RP picked up a redhead Smew but I didn't even see that!

Another hour later and we were steamin' through Newbury headin' for Old Basing east of Basingstoke. I don't know if you've ever been to Newbury but they've got some rather strange statues placed in the middle of the roundabouts as you go through town. This one below called "Eb and Flo" made me look twice because some local wag has strategically added a little bit extra !!!!!!! If you look at the picture below of the original statue you'll notice that "Flo" in the middle has had a "Brazilian". What caught my eye faster than a Red-foot at Utch was that "Flo" has definitely had a nice little trimmed up "Jack and Danny" added recently!!!!!!

After the shock of seein' Flo's "Jack and Danny" we eventually arrived at Blacklands Farm just outside Old Basing where the juv' White-tailed Eagle had been seen a couple of hours before. No sooner had we pulled up than the local version of Hyacinth Bucket pulled up behind us. She'd seen us pull up in the village to ask for directions and spotted Malc' lookin' rather dashin' in the front of the car and decided to follow us hopin' to have a word with our dashin' compatriot. While Malc' was sortin' her out we headed up to the mound where local celebrity birder "Blacklands George" was holdin' court and slatin' one of his birdin' rivals. The local corvids must have got tired of listenin' to "George" because they'd started throwin' themselves onto the barb wire fence in front of us!!

After an hour there was still no sign of the eagle but several Red Kites showed well as they moved around the area. A stunning male Sprawk showed brilliantly when it perched on the fence right in front of us after an abortive dash at the local finch flock, what a corker! An heavy downpour saw everyone dashin' for the shelter of their cars including "Blacklands George" who instantly kicked in his stereo and started beltin' out "Careless Whisper" by that famous frequenter of men's bogs George Michael. As soon as the rain had passed over we were back in position and ready for the eagle. Old " Blacklands" was still in the motor and rubber neckin' to Whams Greatest Hits! Then just as "Club Tropicana" was in full swing the juv' White-tailed Eagle appeared above the treeline about a mile away but still looked absolutely massive compared to the crows and Buzzards that were mobbin' it!!!!!! A quick shout from his mate and "Blacklands" was back on the mound givin' a runnin' commentary. I've got to be honest he's probably seen hundreds of White-tails but his enthusiasm was almost childlike and really nice to see rather than the tick and run efforts of many birders nowadays. Eventually the eagle gave crackin' views as it moved towards us before flyin' over the road and out of sight, absolute crippler!!!!! A superb bird and only the second one I've clapped me mince pies on. The first was back in 1999 at Cockley Cley after twitchin' the Ivory Gull at Aldeburgh first, that wasn't a bad day either.

With everyone more than happy with the days haul we hit the road back north with Iron Maiden's "Live after Death" and the mighty Quo's "Live at the Glasgow Appollo" albums blastin' out and stoppin' owd RP from gettin' his beauty sleep. A good day with a bunch of mates.

That's all folks.

Utch 27/2/11 1455-1805, cloudy and cool, wind light n/w.

Hey up folks, I finally managed get to Utch this afternoon for the first time since last Sunday after spending yesterday in Chippers and Old Basing but the finer details of that little jolly will have to wait 'til later. This afternoons visit though was yet another example of just why I love ploddin' round me local patch far more than twitchin' nowadays even if yesterdays trip was a good un.





Amazingly news of a Great White at Blithers got out before dark but it couldn't pull me away from Utch and just as I was beginnin' to nod off while I waited to count the Goosander comin' into roost I picked up a large flock of Curlews droppin' into fields north of the main pit, my instant reaction was "bloody hell there must be hundreds of the buggers comin' in!!" A quick spot of hedge hoppin' and the flock was in front of me just long enough for me to flush 'em, "shit,shit and double shit!" Quick rough count as they flew off, 75! Almost straight away they landed in fields by the Dove, several counts produced figures of 64,66,64, 63 and 64 again so I settled on 64 as the final total!!!! Ten minutes after landin' they were off again heading n/w. A crackin' count and probably the biggest count I've ever had in the whole of Staffs never mind Utch.





Over the last couple of years we've managed some crackin' wader counts with highlights being 45 LRP's, 55 Dunlin, 13 Green Sand's, 18 Oyst's, 15 Blackwits and now 64 Curlew! Constant effort will eventually be rewarded I'm sure with a proper crippler but don't expect me to find it!!!





A Shelduck and flyover Grey Wag' were new additions to the old year list. Goosander peaked at 37 and a Barn Owl was showin' from 1725.





Curlew 64, Oyst' 4, Goosander 37, Wigeon 40, Gadwall 1, Shelduck 1, Teal 34, Pochard 10, Tufty 21, Mallard 122, Willow Tit 1, M'ipit 26, Barn Owl 1.





That's all folks.

"fake tan my arse!"

Hey up folks a completely unbird related post but I've got to ask the question. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MEN TODAY???????

A bit of light hearted banter at work about male grooming and the use of MOISTURISERS left me completely gobsmacked! One of the lads whose identity I will not reveal but his surname ryhymes with Cadbury, revealed that before a night out he pops on a drop of the old FAKE TAN, for f###s sake if you were meant to be orange, you'd be orange!!!!! Not only this but he also waxes his back, gets the scissors out to give the old tickle tackle a bit of a trim, dyes his balding pate and even mentioned about gettin' his nails done!!!!! How long all this takes I don't know but after all that I can only assume he drinks f###in' Babycham!!!!!! Unsurprisingly the same lad is a Westlife and Take That fan, say no more!

I must confess though I've had to get the old scissors out on me bushy'brows over the last couple of years, I was gettin' compared to a Long-eared Owl. And me nasal hair was gettin' so long that I could plait it but even trimmin' that isn't as bad as FAKE TAN!!!!!

That's all folks.

Utch 20/2/11 1435-1735, overcast, cold, wind light s/e.

Despite a later than planned start after our Ellie stopped again( I must try and make her visits less enjoyable) and the miserable conditions, today's visit was one of the best so far this year with the highlight being a near record count of twenty nine Curlew coming into roost. Goosander were still coming into roost as I left with the total on forty seven at 1730. Oystercatchers are now up to four.

One thing that struck me is how much energy Lappies waste! During the whole time I was there the Lappies spent almost the entire afternoon flying aimlessly around despite the complete lack of disturbance. I never saw a soul all afternoon!!!! And probably never will 'til some one puts up a hide and makes a car park.

Wigeon 187, Goosander 47, Teal 24, Gadwall 2, Shoveler 2, Pochard 14, Curlew 29, Oystercatcher 4, Green Sand' 1, Willow Tit 1, Barn Owl 1.

Earlier this afternoon a text from RP helped me to pick up Oik for the old Cheesedale list and a quick shufty at Poxey produced 6 Goosander, four on the old lagoon and two on the lagoon below the VP.


That's all folks.

Utch 19/2/11 0830-1030, constant rain, wind light s/e

A very wet visit to Utch this morning found the birdin' godz in a good mood and perhaps feelin' more than a bit sorry pour moi after my groans last night over missing the chance to go for the dove and gull.





One last check of Leasowes pit produced a nice, partial summer plumaged Med' Gull standing on the mud among the Blockheads, get in there!!! A real Brucie Bonus and only my third at Utch. Almost as soon as I got onto it the whole flock took off and I had to make do with flight views as the birds moved off south towards Blithers. Yet another example of the number of good birds that use the site briefly as they move along the Dove Valley, only half an before I'd checked the same pit with only a flock of c120 Lappies on the mud.





The Med' and a pair of Shoveler on the main pit brought my 2011 Utch 120 year list upto 65.





Med' Gull 1 ad', Wigeon 172, Goosander 11, Pochard 14, Teal 29, Tufty 20, Oystercatcher 2.





That's all folks.

The Dove and Gull.

Hey up folks I was hoping to finally be in either Chipping Norton, Rainham or even better both this weekend but once again the birdin' gods have "pissed on me chips"!!! Not a single regular first team member is available for selection this weekend and with the old finances due to take a battering in the next couple of weeks I can't really run to a solo trip so the dove and gull will have to wait a little longer before they can grace me notebook. This bostin' photie of the dove by Roger Wyatt which I acquired from good old google images(and wasn't covered by copy wright) just adds a bit of salt to the old wounds in a masochistic sort of way!

I suppose if I was really desperate I could put a message on the pager with the offer of a lift but knowin' my luck I'd end up with some psychotic wierdo from the planet zog carrying a large lens and bulging wallet. No Thanks, I'll take a couple of hours at Utch instead.

To make things worse I'm on taxi driving duty tonight so I can't even drown me sorrows in a bath of Holsten Pils. But you never know it could be Lady Lucks way of setting me up for the biggie at Utch tomorrow morning, dafter things have happened.

That's all folks.

Gurneys Pitta or Oik?????

Well after my all clear from the doctor and consent to start bloggin' again' this isn't how it was supposed to be!!!!! Yesterdays Winter Atlas and Webs counts was enough to put me off birdin' for life with the highlight's being a single Oystercatcher at the JCB Lakes at Rocester and a chance meeting with the birder formerly known as "Fair Isle", ' castles very own Steven Turner who was countin' ducks at Utch.

Today's been one of those very rare days indeed! A completely birdless day. With our Ellie stoppin' last night, rain early on this mornin' which didn't stop all day and then our Theo(the newborn babe) needing looking after this afternoon I gave up in the end and decided to try and sort out my "man flu" once the kids had gone home with a drop or two of twelve year old malt from Speyside(Crested Tits etc.....). It seems to be workin' but it didn't stop me feelin' more than a tad envious after a call to me old mucker Andy "######" Latham who's just got back from Thailand!!! His tales of Spoon-billed Sand's, White-faced Plovers............ and Gurneys Pittas put yesterdays Oik well and truely in its place!!!!!!

That's all folks.

Clean Bill of Health!!!!!

Hey up folks, well after my sudden early retirement before crimbo due to certain medical problems related to blogging I can now announce that after a two month rest with just the odd word or two on my attempt at serious bloggin' "Birding Cheadle", which was pretty dour stuff to be honest, that I'm back!! And as you can see from this piccie of moi pedalling to work there were no serious after effects and I'm still looking in superb condition for my advancing years!!!

So hopefully at least over the next couple of months I can entertain you before I get to busy birdin' at Utch and around home.

That's all folks.