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.