Birds.........

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

2011-04-03T20:12:00.011+01:00

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.

2011-04-02T20:55:00.004+01:00

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.

2011-04-01T20:15:00.014+01:00

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.

2011-03-27T20:28:00.012+01:00

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!!!!!

2011-03-25T20:46:00.006Z

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?

2011-03-20T18:34:00.005Z

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!!!

2011-03-12T19:49:00.014Z

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'!!!!!

2011-03-08T18:53:00.003Z

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.

2011-03-06T19:37:00.005Z

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...........

2011-03-05T19:57:00.006Z

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".

2011-02-27T21:22:00.023Z

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.

2011-02-27T19:04:00.004Z

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!"

2011-02-22T18:03:00.005Z

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.

2011-02-20T18:39:00.003Z

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

2011-02-19T11:58:00.007Z

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.

2011-02-18T20:08:00.007Z

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?????

2011-02-13T18:21:00.007Z

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!!!!!

2011-02-10T18:57:00.006Z

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.

That's All Folks.

2010-12-07T20:59:00.002Z

Well folks after a visit to the doctors today complainin' of bloggers block, I've been told by the doctor that the only way I can be cured is to stop writin' complete crap on the internet! Failure to do so could lead to me eventually developin' huge sores on me arse as a result of spendin' hours on a stool for just a few lines of tosh. So that's it folks, I shall blog no more.

Well that's not exactly true I shall be keepin' me hand in as the unofficial bird recorder for the "Kingdom Of Cheesedale" at http://birdincheadle.blogspot.com/

See you at Utch when I nail the biggie next year.

That's all folks.

Utch 5/12/10 0845-1115.

2010-12-05T17:31:00.003Z

Despite a slight thaw yesterday there's still around six inch's of the white stuff covering the ground at Utch with all four lagoons now completely frozen. So with no open water at all, today's visit was a bit of a dead duck! A single Dunlin roosting among the Lappies on the ice and a rather weak lookin' Barn Owl seen three times around half ten were the only birds of note.

In the end as you can see I spent more time snappin' away with the old Mugimakki than birdin'!

But all was not lost on the birdin' front pour moi and Mad Malc. A tour of the local berry bushs around home this afternoon paid off when we got in on this winters Waxie action with eight of the pink punksters feeding on Cotoneaster berries!!!

For a couple of dodgy piccies of said punks check out my latest "serious" blogtastic offering at http://birdincheadle.blogspot.com

That's all folks.

Waxies a mile from Utch.............

2010-11-28T18:43:00.010Z

After checkin' virtually every bearing bush in Cheadle and around Utch this weekend for Waxwings it was no surprise at all when I had a text from RP this afternoon while I was ploddin' around a frozen Utch to say he'd found 35 of the little beauties on the other side of Uttoxeter, along Kingfisher Way and only a mile from UTCH!! Yet another scalp for the lad to pin to his self found belt, top man! A swift trot back to the car had me lathered up like the proverbial sweating pig! You can't have to many layers on this weather, it was minus 14 this mornin' around home.

As usual the waxies had flown by the time I got there but after we decided to split up I eventually picked them up as they flew high over Chaffinch Drive. A text to RP informin' him I'd relocated them was replied to with the news that they were back where they were originally, by the car!!! Back at the car I eventually managed to unleash the old Muggimakki and if I say so myself I've probably got the worst picture ever published of a flock of Waxwings.

The likes of messers Young, Cromack and Seal will be havin' sleepless night if they see this little offerin'.

Hopefully by next weekend they'll be at Utch.

That's all folks.

Utch 27/11/10 1200-1350.

2010-11-27T18:52:00.002Z

After around two inches of snow overnight I felt quite positive as I headed off to Utch with thoughts of perhaps a decent goose or even a Waxwing feeding on the glut of berries that can be found on the embankment bordering Utch. How wrong can you be? The best I could muster was a single flyover Snipe!

Me "old" mucker RP was on site and had seen nothing to get the pulse goin' so after a speculative check of the distant goose flock we decided to knock it on the head and hope for better things tomorrow.

That's all folks.

A little bit of luck........

2010-11-21T19:24:00.004Z

A stroll around Utch with Mad Malc' this mornin' produced very little apart from a couple of Redshanks that dropped onto Cottonmill Fm pool and a Chiffchaff feeding in a nettle bed near the River Tean. Definitely a bog standard Chiff' though because I heard it call.

A stroll along the bridle path at Croxden this afternoon with our Ellie and the hounds produced the goods though! As we were walking along I heard what sounded like Whooper Swans in the distance and before long we had 18 of 'em flying low over our heads and heading in the direction of Utch!!! Despite my best efforts I couldn't impress Ellie who was more interested in just running around with the dogs.

That's all folks.

Utch 0830-1130 20/11/10.

2010-11-20T15:03:00.004Z

I finally picked up a Yellowhammer this mornin' as it flew over the River Tean callin'. Until last winter Y'ammers were pretty easy to see at Utch but the severe weather we endured seems to have almost wiped them out locally. One that got away though was a flyover Rock/Water Pipit which flew over callin' as I 'scoped the main lagoon. I'm not to bothered about that one though seein' as me and RP had both species side by side at Utch in the spring!

Wigeon 49, Teal 31, Goosander 11, Pochard 6, Tufty 32, Goldeneye 1, Golden Plover 2, Snipe 2, Peregrine 1, Raven 2, Fieldfare/ Redwing a huge mixed flock of at least 500 birds, Yellowhammer 1, Rock/Water Pipit 1 flew north @ 0905.

That's all folks.

The Stork Has Landed!

2010-11-15T22:57:00.005Z

I thought summat was amiss when I pedalled past our Alexs house at six o'clock this mornin' and all the lights were on. Al' had gone into labour and our Lee had rushed her off to the NSRI just before I went past. Good job too because the little man was only minutes away from hatchin'! It's a good job they didn't wait any longer he was born at 0715. If you ask moi he must have bloody fell out!!!

A beautiful fair haired and blue eyed baby boy weighing in at just over 8lb. No name yet but I'll call him Tiger or Champ' anyway. All I need to do now is convince his dad that he'd be better off growin' up a Leeds fan.

Back to the darts now folks.

Nobbys Got A Whopper!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-14T18:10:00.011Z

Hey up folks I had a bit of a shock first thing this mornin' when I picked up our Nobby! First thing he said as we got out of the motor at Blake Hall to begin the Webs count was "feast ya mince pies on this mother ###### owd duck"! To my complete surprise he unleashed a huge new weapon and let me tell ya folks it's a proper whopper!!!! After seventeen years loyal service he's retired his trusty old Kowa and replaced it with a huge piece of optical artillery from Opticron. A very impressive piece of kit but I can't help thinkin' it could get mistaken for a rocket launcher and he could end up like moi many moons ago, sprawled across a panda car after the locals mistook me for a gunman!!!

Blake Hall, Hales Hall, Croxden and Dimmings Dale produced just a single Kingfisher.

Brookleys Lake came good though with nearly eight hundred birds, with at least 86 Mandarins roostin', swimmin' and even displayin'! Far to cold for thoughts of rumpy pumpy pour moi even with the heatin' on full whack!!! Despite their plastic tag it's a superb sight to see these stunnin' little ducks as they sit twenty to a branch high above the water in the overhangin' Oaks.

Between Brookers and Rocester we spotted a field full of free range xmas dinners and to reinforce their reputation of bein' a bit thick this chap had managed to get through the fence but was doin' his very best to get back over to his soon to be stuffed mates.

Over at the JCB Lakes an incredible 54 Goosander were makin' the most of the recently restocked South Lake alongside 7 Cormorants. With over £20.000 pounds worth of fish gone in recently they must have got through a good few quids worth just while we were there. Not only have my employers been restockin' the fish but they've also been addin' to the wildfowl collection. A collection that includes Hawiian Geese, Spotbills, Cape Shelduck, Bar-headed Geese,Fulvous Whistlin' Ducks, White-cheeked Pintail, Red-breasted Geese, Swan Geese, Snow Geese, Hooded Merganser, American Wigeon,Baikal Teal, Muscovies, Black Swans which had 3 newly hatched cygnets and worst of all two incredibly tame Common Eiders!!! The male bird was tryin' to join in a game of footy at one point!

After finishin' the Webs we decided to finish the day off at the recently re-flooded Utch to see if we could beat RP's new record count of 64 Goosander which beat the previous record of 61 which we set last February. When we got to the main lagoon we found young Fair Isle thumbin' through a BnQ brochure while he took a breather from his Webs count. He loves his DIY does our Steven just like moi. After a bit of a natter we split up and me, Norbert and The Whopper headed off to look for Fast Eddies Little Owl. Half way round we bumped into Teanfords Scilly Spotter RP who decided to join us in our search for the owl. Almost as soon as we had turned round we picked up a couple of Whoppers as they headed north over the quarry, a quick call to Fair Isle with news of the Whoppers almost finished him off when he failed to pick them up. This is something like the sixth or seventh record of Whooper Swan for the quarry in the last two and a half years and shows that these birds must be using the valley regularly as they move around the country.

Whooper Swan 2, Wigeon 31, Teal 59, Gadwall 2, Goosander 59, Mallard 330, Little Egret 1, Green Sand' 1, Kingfisher 1, Raven 4.

Despite our best efforts we couldn't beat 64 Goosander as they came into roost and so with old Norbert strokin' his huge weapon lovingly we decided to call it a day and head for the warmth of the motor.

Still no sign of that bloody stork!!!

That's all foks.

Missin' link appears at waxie twitch

2010-11-07T16:20:00.006Z

After a less than inspirin' visit to Utch this mornin' I felt the need for a good bird so when the pager revealed that there were still at least five Waxwings along Barnfields Road in Leek I decided to nip up for a quick shufty and a bit of a social.

As I pulled up I spotted old RP among the aviarazzi with his trusty Swaro/coolpix combo aimed at a rather battered lookin' Mountain Ash which was almost completely devoid of berries but which he assured me was being used because he had the piccies to prove it!!!! Top man. Sure enough the Waxwings were right above our heads in the top of an Ash tree and before long they dropped down to give crackin' views from about 25 feet away! True to form Id left the old Muggimakki slr 500 at home so it's google images again pour moi.

Then from the corner of my eye I spotted a lycra clad pensioner cycling towards us and despite his spec's steamin' up I recognised him as none other than Teans very own "World Waffling Champion" John "rabbit,rabbit" Carter who'd pedalled all the way from Cheadle on his mobility bike. If you've never had the pleasure of Johns company you won't be aware of his ability to never draw breath as he talks at you for what can seem like hours on end. After doin' a few stretch's to stop himself goin' stiffer John took up my offer of using my bins for a quick look and then complained that they needed cleaning!! Cheeky old git.

What followed next seems to happen to me on a rather too regular basis and I can't really do it justice but here's what happened. My mong magnet must have been workin' overtime because a Transit van full of scrap pulled up and what must surely be the missing link leaned out of the passengers window and for some reason started gurgling and gruntin' in my direction. Perhaps he's got a mongy mate that's my double? Anyway after exchangin' grunts and gurgles with me to the amusement of the crowd the link and his mate headed back into Leek before his carer realised he was out.

Not an exact likeness but very, very close. If you visit Barnfield keep 'em peeled owd duck.

That's all folks.

Utch 6/11/10 0950-1250.

2010-11-06T17:24:00.007Z

Hey up folks the best thing about todays visit to Utch was the weather. A crackin' autumn mornin' but sadly nothin' of note on the bird front. "Wagner" the local White-fronted Goose was back among the 'lags on the north shore but since he/she turned up in July it's goose has been well and truly cooked as far as being considered wild goes. If it had turned up in the last couple of weeks the word "plastic" would never have even crossed my mind and we'd be celebratin' another addition to the ever expanding Utch list.

Green Sand' 1, Snipe 20, Dunlin 1, Curlew 4, White-fronted Goose (feral?), Goosander 1, Wigeon 3, Teal 8, Mipit c30.

If you've read this before you'll know I'm a big dog lover and nothin' winds me up more than the anti-dog brigade. That was one of the reasons I stopped visiting Blithers more often but today one numpty really naffed me off when he let his mut run amok along the edge of the main lagoon. What a nobhead!!!! And if you don't believe me just look at this piccie of said mut running right in front of me!!!

I think this is one mut that could do with a spot of sit and stay owd duck!

While we're on about dogs this might give you a bit of chuckle! Late this afternoon I lobbed our hounds into the boot and set off up to Croxden to take 'em for a stroll. As I was drivin' along I thought they were a bit quiet and when I pulled up I realised why, I'd only gone and left the parcel shelf in hadn't I!!!! So the poor sods had been ridin' along in total darkness and probably wonderin' what the hell was goin' on?

That's all folks.

Hurry up lad.....

2010-11-05T15:05:00.004Z

Hey up folks if you see one of these things carryin' a good lookin' young lad give it a shove for me will you. My little grandson should have been here by now and the fact that he hasn't turned up yet means I won't be goin' for the the Yankie Bittern in Cornwall this weekend. Still some things are a bit more important than birds and birdin' eh?

That's all folks.

Not again!!!!!!!

2010-10-31T17:42:00.004Z

Hey up folks you'll never guess who I bumped into at Utch on Friday, none other than "Fast" Eddie Fox finder of both The Shrike and Dipper! Despite it being to say the least a bit damp old Edward still had his trusty trainers on but with his socks tucked in to keep the damp out!!!! While Eddie was gripping me off about the shrike he also slipped in the fact that he'd had a LITTLE OWL in the same area as the shrike!!! Bloody hell talk about rubbin' it in! Little Owl is still an Utch Mega and a definite blocker. In fact if it's true that Buzzards are scoffin' Little Owls on sight it could turn out to be the first and last record!

Yesterday was a complete blank on the birdin' front with a spot of the dreaded DIY early on with the help of Jans old man "Our Graham". How any one can enjoy DIY is beyond me I absolutely detest it and can not for the life of me understand how anyone can waste their precious spare time trawlin' around the likes of Wickes! I'd rather have me cream crackers removed with a hot blunt knife! As if that wasn't enough I then ended up goin' xmas shoppin' with our jan followed by an evening of ####### X Factor! Thankfully there was enough amber nectar on hand to dull both my senses and the pain of this #####.

Two visits to Utch today produced one or two bits and bobs but nothin' new for the Utch yearlist. One surprise this evening was several flocks of Starlings goin' overhead some of which ended up roosting in the tiny strips of phraggy that run along the edge of the quarry works.

0745-1020

Dipper 1, Golden Plover 61, Green Sand' 1, Snipe 4, Dunlin 2, Teal 12, Goosander 3, Cormorant 32, Raven 2.

1430-1645

Dipper 1, Kingfisher 1, Barn Owl 1, Curlew 4, Dunlin 2, Golden Plover 19, Goosander 14,

That's all folks.

U.T.C.H 400 Club

2010-10-24T19:13:00.004+01:00

Hey up folks, big day today! Today I became the founder member of the U.T.C.H 400 Club. This afternoons visit to Utch was my 400th in the two and a half years since RP first showed me what I was missin' while I plodded round Croxden. Four hundred visits and the best I've managed to muster is a poxey Purple Sand' in September this year! Yes I know Purp' is a good bird inland but I won't settle 'til I set up The Beast and find meself gawpin' at a crippler!!!!!

Nothin' of any real note today with highlights being 3 Ravens, a pesky male Peregrine and a sun tanned RP lookin' like he'd been tangoed after sunnin' himself on Scilly.

Goosander 22, Teal 40, Goldeneye 2, Golden Plover 3, Dunlin 1, Snipe 2, Raven 3, Peregrine 1.

While I was scopin' the main lagoon I heard several loud bangs comin' from the quarry works so I texted old "Hey Presto" the quarry manager to let him know there might be summat goin' on and perhaps gain a few brownie points for the future. BINGO! Six local numpties nabbed on site by the bobbies!!! After this I may well get "full" access.

That's all folks.

Clean kegs almost needed on A17!!!!!

2010-10-18T18:57:00.008+01:00

After the excitement of the Dipper on Friday at Utch it was a back to basics on Saturday with very little of note apart from a single Dunlin, Green Sand' and Willow Tit so the chance of a day out in Norfolk with my aging muckers Mad Malc' and Norbert sounded worth missin' a Sunday visit to Utch for.

So off we set yesterday mornin' around 0500 arrivin' at Warham Greens just after eight. How we got there in one piece I'll never know, Malc was drivin' the old Mystery Machine as if it was a formula one car and at one point on the A17 I almost shat meself as we missed an head on collision with a forty foot artic by literally a few feet as Malc pushed himself to the limit in his quest to be the first man down his road to join the 300 club!!!! Luckily pour moi I'd been for a tom tit before I left home otherwise it could have been a tad messy owd duck!

Two and a half hours at Warham produced zip! No sign of either the Pallas's or Yellow-browed Warblers only a single Chiff'. Good views of the dark-bellied brent's could prove useful later in the year if old David the Brent turns up again in Cheadle.

With a Little Auk up for grabs off Cley coastguards we hit the road again and after almost skittlin' several wellie wearin' toffs in Cley as they took their mornin' constitutional we arrived to find the auk had flown off! The only birds of note here were a single bonxie, around fifty Common Scooters and a Red-throated Diver preening close in shore. Despite drawin' another blank we decided to hit nearby Stiffkey Fen in hope of jammin' on to the Little Bunt' that was seen briefly on Saturday.

No sign of the bunta but plenty of birds on the scrape with two Bearded Tits showin' quite well close to the dyke. Lookin' at that scrape just emphasised pour moi how fortunate coastal birders are in comparison to inland birders. There must have been at least thirty Pintail on what is little more than a large puddle. Bloody hell last weekend I was chuffed with just one Pintail at Croxden which is one of the largest holes in Europe!!

News of a Yellow-browed at Muckleburgh had Malc's nostrils flarin' so off set at warp factor three in the old Scooby Doo Van. What followed next left both me and old Norbert completely shell shocked . Spying a blonde photographer the normally very reserved Malc' started chattin' and displaying to the young lady as if he were a Ruff at a lek!!! I've never seen the old chap seem so lively and animated. At one point he threw his coat down on the ground and beckoned her to join him despite other birders bein' present!!! Anyway it did the trick and she offered to show us all where the Yellow-browed had last been seen. The YBW was feedin' in a Sycamore and so when news of an RB Flicker at Holkham broke our blonde friend bade Malc' a fond farewell and strode off like a moden Lady Godiva minus the horse, well that's how the mad lad sees her.

Anyway back to birds and despite lookin' through tear stained bins our Malc' connected with the little swine almost immediately as it chased two or three Chiff's around but then gave directions to the wrong "tree"! The tree was a bush! Just then another lady birder turned up and fortunately for her Malc' only noticed her when she read out a pager message that said" RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL AT HOLME". That's when I stepped in and said "right lads no more ######' about let's go see a real bird!"

Three quarters of an hour later we were strikin' out across the dunes at Holme towards The Firs where the bluetail was bein' ogled by around fifty other birders. After around forty minutes we finally had a brief view as the bluetailed gem fed on the ground under the Sea Buckthorn. Luckily for us it then flew in our direction and dived into the scrub right infront of us. At this point I was right at the front of the assembled throng sittin' on the ground when my Fawlty Towers ring tone suddenly went off amid the silence of the crowd as we waited for the bluetail to reappear!!! Luckily pour moi I managed to locate me 'phone pretty quickly and switched it off but knew full well I could be facin' the wrath of our Jan later after ignorin' her call. Over the next twenty minutes the bluetail showed again briefly twice within' ten yards of us and just long enough to unleash The Beast on TARSIGER CYANRUS!

Amid all this one thing struck me and that was that a pal of mine has now seen three bluetails in a year and only just ticked Yellow-browed Warbler!!!!! How mad is that? It doesn't seem five minutes since I was moping around at home unable to get time off work to see the Winspit bird in '93, now bluetails have been relegated to nothin' more than almost typical late autumn migrants.

That's all folks.

DIPPER UTB!!

2010-10-15T18:27:00.003+01:00

It always astounds me how a little bundle of feathers can lift ya spirits and this afternoons visit to Utch proved the point perfectly. I've got to admit I haven't been meself just lately with one thing and another and missin' Utch Megas like Great Grey Shrike and Dipper hasn't helped one bit! But just hang on there owd duck because I'm now back on form and firin' on all cylinders after firmly connectin' with said Dipper along the River Tean this afternoon.

After checkin' the main pit which unsurprisingly held the juv' fem' Scaup that was at Brookers on Sunday( birds regularly commute between these sites) I strode off along the tean in search of our water lovin friend. Within five minutes I was punchin' the air as if i'd found a Black-throated Blue Warbler on Scilly as the Dipper zipped off low over the water towards the confluence with the River Dove, brilliant! Thirty yards further along I relocated it sitting quietly on the waters edge and with no further ado unleashed the full power of The Beast. Still can't get used to this Swaro' it's superb. Crackin' views of a locally scarce bird which was sadly not of the continental black-bellied race. But then again if it had been I'd have ben spoilin' me reputation for never findin' owt good.

Time for a few celebratory swift ones me thinks, that's all folks.

Gripped Again!!!!

2010-10-13T19:09:00.008+01:00

Plenty of good birds around over the last few days but apart from a juv' Scaup at Brookers and ringtail Hen Harrier at Swallow Moss I haven't seen any of 'em!!!!! So imagine my dismay when a text about another Utch Mega from the lover of knitted jumpers read "DIPPER @ UTCH ON THE RIVER TEAN" Oh for ####'s sake not again and unbelievably found again by my aging nemesis Farmer Fox!!! Only last week Fast Eddie came up trumps with a Great Grey Shrike which sadly didn't stick around long enough pour moi to connect.

Ten Golden Pullovers flying over Utch on Sunday afternoon put me on 127 for the year so if I'd connected with the Dipper, shrike and the Brambling that Fair Isle had on Sunday morning I'd have hit me target for the year of 130 with around ten weeks still left!

Wouldn't it be nice though if the Dipper was still around at the weekend and it turned out to be a Black-bellied Dipper from the continent! Oooooh 'errrr!

That's all folks.

Rare,rare,rare,rare,rare,rare........................

2010-10-09T18:43:00.004+01:00

On days like today I feel like lobbin' me pager in the bin. Rares everywhere and no chance of fillin' the car full of eager compadres to accompany moi on a trip to the east coast today or tomorrow. To make matters worse it's duck hunt w'end and being a man of my word I'm forced to do me rounds. Hopefully a decent dabbler or diver will brighten tomorrows proceedings.

That's got that off me chest so back to to days visit to Utch in search of the shrike found in midweek. The plan was to give Utch a thorough goin' over and perhaps cover a couple of Webs sites today to give me a bit more time tomorrow if something pops up within shrikin' distance! Guess what though, I'd only been there an hour when our Jan' was on the blower uttering the words every birder dreads " what time will you be back because I've got to do some shoppin'?" "Bloody hell I've only just got here!!!!!" I said. "Well you've got no yoghurts for ya snappin" said a mildly put out Jan "#### the yoghurts!!!!!!" said I before makin' a sharp U-turn realising full well that I'd be goin' to bed early without any supper tonight after my outburst over the yog's.

Utch 1150-1320

Teal 23, Pintail 1, Redwing 20 heading s/e, Chiffchaff 1.

That's all folks.

Gripped!!!!!

2010-10-06T20:05:00.003+01:00

Oh the joy of dark nights!!!! No chance of gettin' out after work now so you can imagine my burst of expletives when a text from "Fair Isle" informed me that a bloody Great Grey Shrike as been turned up at Utch today and I haven't got a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere near until Saturday morning at the earliest. How I'd gladly have given up all those Iberian Grey's I saw last week in Portugal for a shrike at Utch. For a patch worker like moi it would mean far more than missing the Woodchat at Whitemoor which would have been a county tick for all but the lucky three! Hopefully it will stick around 'til the weekend and be viewable from the footpath.

Top marks to the finder, former farmer Eddie fox! I bet he was well chuffed especially after gettin' caught out of bounds a few weeks ago. TOP MAN.

That's all folks.

Elvis Alive!!!!

2010-10-03T11:18:00.007+01:00

Hey up folks long time no blog eh? A bout of Bloggers Blues brought on by a lack of quality birds at Utch apart from a Purple Sand' and juv' Spot'shank found by lover of jumpers Steve "Fair Isle" Turner when he was unsuccessfully twitchin' the Purp' as been cured with a trip to Portugal with the family. Despite it being a "beach" holiday I still saw plenty of good birds with crippling views of Rock Buntings in freezing conditions at the top of Foia being the highlight as well as good numbers of Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles, Egyptian Vultures, , Black and White Storks plus all the other usual suspects you'd expect at this time of year in the Algarve.

The real highlight of the trip though came in the car park at Beliche close to Cabo de San Vicente where I bumped into none other than The King Of The Quiff himself ELVIS AARON PRESLEY as he took in the breathtaking coastal scenery before disappearing quicker than the Purp' at Utch!!!

The other main highlight of the last month has been me finally getting a new 'scope after ten years excellent service I finally traded in my trusty Kowa for a Swaro' ATM 8O HD with a 25x50 wa eyepiece. What a monster!!!! It's that good I've christened it THE BEAST. This seems to have put our Jan on edge though because every time I say it's time to unleash THE BEAST she quickly runs up stairs and bolts the bedroom door behind her!!!!!!

Off to Utch now in the Pouring Rain!!!

That's all folks.

Utch 27/8/10 1505-1650.

2010-08-27T21:06:00.004+01:00

A poor show at Utch this afternoon with two adult Dunlin being the highlight! An adult Common Gull was among the blockheads.

Dunlin 2, Common Sand' 1, LRP 2, Common Gull 1, Shelduck 3, Teal 13, Shoveler 1, Goosander 1, Mandarin 1.

A call in at Croxden on the way home producd the "bird of the day" a Common Sand'! Yes it's a bit over the top but wader wise this year at Croxden, Common Sand' is more than welcome. This next three weeks at Croxden "normally" turn something of note up, something of note could mean something as common as a Little Egret but it's still a MEGA up here. Anyway hope it's a good un but not when I'm in Portugal!!

That's all folks.

Ellie Grace Big Four Today!!

2010-08-27T13:29:00.004+01:00

Our beautiful little granddaughter is four years old today "Happy Birthday El'" from Nana Jan and Grandad xxxx.

Utch 25/8/10 1830-1920.

2010-08-25T22:08:00.002+01:00

I was torn tonight between nippin' up the M6 for a buchas at the Long-billed Dowitcher in Northwich or another visit to Utch. In the end Utch won and I'm glad it did because the dowitcher flew off at around 1810 when I would have been "half way there....... livin' on a prayer" by then!

Five Black'wits were the highlight tonight. They flew in over Cotonmill fm at c1900 and immediately turned round and flew of again! Other than that there was very little on show apart from the four Shelduck from last night.

Black'wit 5, Green Sand' 1, Common Sand' 1, LRP 2, Shelduck 4.

That's all folks.

Utch 24/8/10 1830-2010.

2010-08-24T21:23:00.005+01:00

A quick tour of North East Staffordshire's top birder less hotspot this evenin' again failed to turn up anything decent. The last decent bird was RP's Wood Sand nearly two months ago! It's bird less times like this that test even the most ardent of local patchers. What I'd have given tonight for summat like a Knot, Kittiwake or Little Gull all of which were only eight miles away at Blithers this evenin'.

A single Ringed Plover and a flyover Greenshank were the "highlights" this evenin'.

Ringed Plover 1, LRP 9, Greenshank 1, Common Sand' 2, Green Sand' 2, Shelduck 4 juv's, Yellow Wag' 2, Peregrine 1.

That's all folks.

Utch 22/8/10 1820-2010.

2010-08-22T20:43:00.002+01:00

Still no quality at Utch this evenin'. A crackin' evenin' for a stroll though, we'd better make the most of 'em cos the nights are closin' in quickly and before we know it we'll be stuck inside night after night! God I hate dark nights!!!

Greenshank 4, Green Sand' 6, Common Sand' 3, Dunlin 2, LRP 2, Snipe 1, Goosander 2, Shelduck 1, Teal 13, Yellow Wag' 13.

That's all folks.

Utch 21/8/10 1240-1540.

2010-08-21T21:42:00.003+01:00

Naked Birdin' seems to be the latest thing if you look at Martin Garners excellent new blog "Birding Frontiers" it's all about birdin' without optics and all the other paraphernalia we carry around nowadays. Well today I was semi naked! No don't worry I haven't been wanderin' around Utch with the old crown jewels hangin' out, nothin' of the sort but I did feel rather lost and nervy with NO PAGER! Yes me pager has died and I can't seem to get through to anyone at RBA so I'm relyin' on The Alkborough Two to keep me up to date until I can get it sorted.

Nothin' of any real interest today infact the only real talkin' point was the fact that I didn't have a coat when the heavens opened and I had to dash for shelter under a hedge

Greenshank 3, Green Sand' 6, LRP 6, Common Sand' 5, Dunlin 1, Snipe 1, Shelduck 2 juv's, Yellow Wag' 7, Redstart 2, Sedge Warb' 1, L'throat 2.

That's all folks.

"watch where ya treadin' owd duck!"

2010-08-19T18:12:00.005+01:00

Hey up folks, let me tell you a little story about something that happened at work today. Every detail is for once sadly and completely true!

Earlier this mornin' my team leader Dogtanian said I was wanted outside in the kittin' shed but he didn't know why. "Where's the kittin' shed?" I said "I'll show you" said Dogtanian who obviously thought he was missin' out on something, how he would later regret bein' so nosey! So after donnin' the compulsory Hi-vis vests we trooped of outside to see what was occurin' ?

As we walked into the shed through a large roller shutter door two Swallows flew out and almost knocked me block off! From over at the far end of the shed one of the lads shouted "you've just trod on that bird!!! "WHAT BIRD?" We both asked as we turned round to see a juv' Swallow doin' the dyin' fly spinnin' around on its back. " Oh shit that bird" I quickly rushed across and picked it up as the poor little sod drew it's last breath! How unlucky was that? If they'd only said that they needed me to move a bird then Dogtanian probably woudn't have come with me and the poor little sod would have been still alive tonight and dreamin' of spendin' the winter in the sun!!!

So you can say that old Dogtanian really put his foot in it this time!!!!!!

That's all folks.

Tickin' like a tart!!!

2010-08-18T21:06:00.004+01:00

Well after finally nailin' a Tree Pipit securely to the Old Pox' List after fourteen years on Monday the last thing I expected was another addition so soon! But then just as i was jumpin' in the car after a bird less hour on the viewpoint me mobile went off with a message from my nemesis the newly crowned Baron Croxden or as he's known to his fans Mad Malc' lettin' me know that he'd got two Spot' Fly's over the far end of the quarry right where I had the Pipit!!!

Then RP turned up just as I was about to roar off,can you roar off in a punto? "Spot Fly's follow me!" So off we roared in a mini convoy with Paul Rogers warbling away to the Bad Co. classic "Bad Co." What a tune! Five minutes later and we were just in time to 'scope one of the fly's before it flew off into the edge of the wood.

Nice one Baron!

That's all folks.

Utch 17/8/10 1815-2015.

2010-08-17T21:50:00.002+01:00

With a report of four Spot'shanks at Blithers and up to eleven Ruff at Belfield I hit Utch with high hopes of a good bird at last tonight. As usual the birdin' gods failed to play ball but three Greenshank and a crackin' juv' Whinchat wasn't to bad a result.

Greenshank 3, Green Sand' 6, Snipe 3, Common Sand' 1, LRP 7, Teal 34, Shelduck 1, Y-front 1, Yellow Wag' 3, Whinchat 1 juv'.

That's all folks.

Site Tick!!!

2010-08-16T20:24:00.003+01:00

Hey up folks back at work today after an almost completely bird less three week break and as soon as I got outside at snappin' time a juv' Wheatear flew up from between two tractors! First of the autumn.

Today's best bird though was a single Tree Pipit this evenin' at Croxden which flew up in front of me and the dogs and gave crackin' views through the 'scope. A long overdue species at poxey and a site tick to boot!!! Also at poxey this evenin' were a fem/juv Mandarin and two Teal.

That's all folks.

Utch 15/8/10 0915-1200.

2010-08-15T19:44:00.008+01:00

Meet Hansel and Gretal two of several "donations" to the local avifauna at Hales Hall, presumin' they are a pair any offspring will will be tickable under the latest Cheesedale Recordin' Area Guidelines which have just been published in the local rag.

The only thing of note on todays Webs duck count was two Yellow Wag's which flew over Hales Hall callin' at 0650. Yep I know they aren't ducks but they're still a good bird for Cheesedale!

No need for a full check of the Utch today with RP already on site but plenty of time for a natter as usual. The light north easterlies seemed to have done the trick with a bit of an influx of Yellow Wag's which numbered at least ten and possibly up to fifteen. Duck numbers were up with twenty two Teal the highest total since the spring. Very few waders on show but a juv' Greenshank showed well on the pool by Cottonmill fm.

Greenshank 1 juv', Common Sand' 1, LRP 1, Gypo 10, Shelduck 1 juv', Teal 22, Shoveler 2, Yellow Wag' c15, Reed Warb' 1, Sedge Warb' 1, Garden Warb' 1, Chiff' 2, Willow Warb' 1, Willow Tit 1, Swift 1, Peregrine 1, Stramshall Man 1.

A rare appearance today from Stramshall Man who was twitchin' the feral Y-front for insurance purposes. Sadly no sign of said Y-front while he was there so it meant a long drive up the road to home.

That's all folks.

Utch 14/8/10 0800-1050.

2010-08-14T17:29:00.004+01:00

The best couple of hours at Utch for a while with the highlights bein' 3 juv' Greenshanks that touched down briefly at 1005 in front of an incomin' shower before movin' off again and Redstarts now up to 3!!! Two fem' imm's and the crackin' male still in hawthorns near the Dove.

Greenshank 3, Green Sand' 7, Common Sand' 1, LRP 4, Goosander 2, Shelduck 1 juv', Y-front 1, Gypo 10, Yellow Wag' 2, Redstart 3, Sedge Warbler 1, Lesser' throat 1, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warb'1, Chiff' 1, Swift 1, Peregrine 1 juv'.

Duck count tomorrow and hopefully a Gargoyle or two!

That's all folks.

Redstart!

2010-08-10T10:51:00.009+01:00

At this time of year I usually start doin' a spot of bush bashin' at Hales Hall Pool on the edge of Cheesedale lookin' for any migrant wobblers, flycatchers and chats that have stopped off on their way south. Today was a bit of a red letter day with a Redstart flashin' right in front of me just as one of the lads from work stopped for a chat! Needless to say it never showed again while I was there. Although it's only a mile to Hawksmoor and the Churnet Valley where Redstarts are regular breeders it's only my second record for the site.

With the Redstart at Hales and a pager message revealin' a Whinchat at Potteries Birdin' Mecca Berryhill I thought I'd give Tickhill ago but didn't expect to much with these seemingly permanent westerlies. Oh how wrong can you be! First hedge I looked in produced 2 Redstarts! After that it went rapidly downhill at Tickers with not even a sniff of a 'chat but I wasn't complain' after the recent run at Utch. As you can see from the picture below a 'scope is a must at Tickers. Make a note of that ready for when you're watchin' the biggy up there this autumn!

Next stop Utch and unbelievabley 2 more Redstarts! Both birds were in Hawthorns near the Dove. One was a corkin' male!!! Very little else at Utch not even a Green Sand'!

Quite a day really in local terms pour moi it's the first time I've ever had Redstarts at three different sites away from breedin' sites.

No Idea what the fly is, have you? Answers on a postcard please.

That's all folks.

Cotton Dell...........If you've never bin, try it!

2010-08-09T19:16:00.004+01:00

A stroll with Jan and the hounds around the beautiful SWT Res' that is Cotton Dell yesterday made me realise just how lucky we are livin' in Gods Own County, all we need is a bit of coastline and we'd have it all.

Do me a favour though try and not to go when I am(just joshin' owd duck). But if you do go there's two pubs in Oakie where you can refuel!

Andy.

Utch 9/8/10.

2010-08-09T18:56:00.005+01:00

Tell you what folks I'm glad I went for that Bairds the other day with me mad mucker because it's gettin' pretty desperate at Utch. Never the less optimism won over common sense today and I put in another two shifts . One just after brekkie and again around tea time after an afternoon watchin' a couple of juv' Peregrines and their dad puttin' on a show and givin' the local pigeons a scare or two!

Highlight at Utch today was a trio of Common Terns, an adult and two juv's that had turned up this afternoon and gave cripplin' views down to c30ft as the two juv's rested on the mud right by the path.

Common Tern 3, Green Sand' 1, LRP 4, Common Sand' 1, Yellow Wag' 7, Egyptian Goose 7.

That's all folks.

Utch 8/8/10 0940-1215.

2010-08-08T19:17:00.005+01:00

A later than planned visit today after watchin' the Leeds match first thing this mornin'. Not the best start to the new season made even worse by the fact that we lost to old Mr Fake Tan himself Robbie Savages Derby! Nice to see some old clips of my boyhood heros at half-time though, Peter Lorimer and Eddie Gray. How much would they go for today?

Back to birds, Yellow Wag's continue to come through in good numbers with at least twenty around this mornin'.

Yellow Wag' c20, L'throat 4, W'throat 4, Chiff' 1, Reed Warb' 1, Kingfisher 1, Green Sand' 6, LRP 12, Dunlin 1, Common Sand' 1, Gypo 6.

If you're wonderin' about the cow picture fear not so am I!!!

That's all folks.

A Refreshin' Change.......

2010-08-07T19:33:00.005+01:00

After the last couple of weeks in the birdin' doldrums at Utch it was nice to finally to grips with a good bird this afternoon, the Bairds Sand' at Lound courtesy of Mad Malc' and the all new "Mystery Machine" . It was the first proper trip out of the county since that mad week at the end of May when we had White-tailed Plover, Ib' Chiff', Mammies Wobbler, Great Reed Wob' and a stunnin' adult sum' plum' White-winged Black Tern which I first saw in Salop before it moved to Belvide.

This is how birdin' should be, just pull up, walk twenty yards to view the target bird happily feedin' alongside a juv' Dunlin among Lappies and then when you've grilled it in preparation for it's arrival at Utch, walk the twenty yards back to the car. The pager message said it was showin' distantly but it was probably around 150 yards away which with a decent 'scope still gives you pretty good views.

Back at the "Mystery Machine" I bumped into "The Blurred Birders" rival Jules Allen and his young apprentice Tom who like us were goin' for a look at the Black-necked Grebe on Neatholme pit. Lucky for us though we bumped into an over sexed birdin' pensioner who told us it was at least a two mile walk for the grebe. That was enough to turn us back towards the car especially with a ninety mile trip back home and a far more accessible grebe on offer at Belvide.

After a crackin' bird all we need now is a good result at Elland Road and a drop of the old Danish love juice to finish off a good day.

COME ON LEEDS!!!!!

Utch and Blithers 6/8/10.

2010-08-06T17:00:00.006+01:00

Today saw me at Utch earlier than of late since family duties meant I'd be on call for taxi drivin' duties from around ten.

Two new additions to the Utch year list today in the form of a Goldcrest and a rather dodgy Y-Front among the 'lags that had obviously eloped with one of them from the nearby "pain in the birders arse" that is the free rangin' wildfowl collection at my employers base in Rocester!!! So that takes me to 124 for the year if I take into account dodgy category D escapees from Rocester.

It's funny though, I spent all last winter hopin' for a Y-Front and one finally turns up in soddin' swinin' August with a bunch of feral grass guzzlin' Greylags!

Most of yesterdays Gypos were still pres' and Yellow Wag's had risen to at least 13 but the highlight of a rather rushed visit was 2 Greenshank that literally dropped in just after 8 o'clock and then took off almost instantly and flew over to the dark side.

Greenshank 2, LRP 7, Common Sand' 1, Dunlin 1, Green Sand' 1, Gypo 5, Yellow Wag' 13, Willow Tit 1, Kingfisher 1.

With taxi drivin' duties complete and me old dear back at home I gave old Vaughanicus a ring and said I'd meet him at Blithers seein' as I couldnt twist his arm for a quick trip up the M1 for a shufty at the Bairds at Lound.

Lurkin' in the carpark at Blithers munchin' on a pickled gerkin was none other than Blithers very own Captain Caveman lookey likey Ricardo Berry or as the kids used to say at his old school"ooh Richie Berry, ooh Richie Berry, ooh Richie Berry, ooh Richie Berry"(one for all Stokies and Wolvo fans there). A quick chuckle with Ricardo revealed that he'd been pourin' scorn on Boy Georges recent records and he wouldn't be buyin' anymore!!!

A quick check of Blithe Bay produced zip apart from seven Little Egrets and four Common Sand's.

Tad Bay wasn't that much better either with another three egrets and a couple of Blackwits.

Little Egret 10, Common Sand' 4, Black'wit 2, LRP 5,

That's all folks.

Utch 5/8/10 1500-1645.

2010-08-05T20:19:00.005+01:00

Yes,yes I know but it's got that dull at Utch I've resorted to takin' pic's of cows in fields!

A very slight improvement today with eight Gypos waddlin' around on the "new scrape" infront of the earthmovers. A juv' Dunlin was new in and Yellow Wag's had risen to ten.

Egyptian Goose 8, Yellow Wag' 10, Dunlin 1, Common Sand' 1, LRP 4, Green Sand' 0, Kingfisher 1.

That's all folks.

News Gets Out Quick At Blithers!!!!!

2010-08-05T18:48:00.009+01:00

A lack of birds at Utch yesterday mornin' meant I couldn't resist another trip up the road to Blithers and hopefully a few more birds than we've been gettin' at Utch this last few weeks.

As soon as I got into Blithe Bay I spotted our Graham movin' stealthily towards the hide. Three Little Egrets were a nice surprise as they stood preenin' at the mouth of the Blithe but as I scanned right I spotted another four along the banks of the river and then another five flew up!!!! Bloody hell!!! Now I knew why our Graham was movin' so steadily, he was countin' 'em in the hope that it would mean yet another site record for GJM. With this in mind and knowin' that news can be a bit sluggish gettin' out of Blithers I was straight onto RBA with the news knowin' full well that GJM would be gobsmacked about the news comin' through on his pager since he was the only birder present or so he thought.

Five minutes later and GJM was walkin' back and the first thing he said was "I bloody new it must be you who'd put the news out!" MOI??? "Nobody else is daft enough!" said Blithers top lister. Can't argue with that can I but it did give me a giggle.

Apart from the egrets there was very little else at Blithers. One sad note though was the shockin' discovery that someone had stolen a plastic sleeve from the noticeboard in the Stansley Wood hide which led to Sir Roger of Milford(he of Belted Kingfisher fame) questioning "why I ######' bother?"

I'd gone off Blithers but you don't get this entertainment at Utch so I might start spendin' a bit more time there if only to exercise the old chuckle muscles.

That's all folks.

Utch 3/8/10 1800-2000.

2010-08-03T20:36:00.002+01:00

When's the weather goin' to improve? Surely some easterlies can't be that far away!

Naff all tonight, in fact less than last night apart from half a dozen Yellow Wag's, which as nice to see as they are don't really get the old pulse racin'.

Green Sand' 6, LRP 17, Common Sand' 6, Snipe 3, Yellow Wag' 6.

Today's highlight was a fem/juv Pied Fly' at the top of Greendale which is the latest I've seen locally by a mile.

That's all folks.

Utch 2/8/10 1945-2125.

2010-08-02T22:14:00.002+01:00

Finally got to Utch late on this evenin' after Jan's session at the Fat Club(she's not fat more like round at the edges, like moi). Anyway after tonight her body is a once again a temple, I said more like a mosque and seconds later i got a swift kick up the arse as I headed for the car.

Tonight's highlight was the record count of thirteen Green Sand's which I think could well be beaten before the end of my forced three week break.

Green Sand' 13, LRP 32, Common Sand' 3, Snipe 3, Lapwing 180.

That's all folks.

Utch 1/8/10 0835-1150.

2010-08-01T19:00:00.004+01:00

Another quiet mornin' at the office produced zip!!! Well I wouldn't call a superb juv' Peregrine zip but after it had finished tazzin' about aimlessly there wasn't much left on site. There were however still the usual suspects providin' avian backup.

LRP 25, Common Sand' 3, Green Sand' 8, Oyst' 2, L'throat 3, W'throat 5, Yellow Wag' 2, Peregrine 1 juv'.

If I'd seen this many birds at Croxden I'd have been havin' palpitations. For those who aren't familiar with Croxden it's a large hole in north-east Staffordshire that very rarely gets owt good.

That's all folks.

Utch 31/7/10 1630-1850.

2010-07-31T23:54:00.002+01:00

Highlights this evening included a brief male Redstart in the cow field hedge, female Wigeon among the Mallards and three juv' Little Egrets that flew in from the dark side at 1755.

Little Egret 3, Redstart 1, Yellow Wag' 1, LRP 15, Oyst' 4, Green Sand' 5, Common Sand' 4.

That's all folks.

Sat' Nav' Blunder at Blithers!

2010-07-30T19:29:00.008+01:00

Hey up folks never managed to get to Utch today so you can bet ya bin's that there's summat paddlin' around right now! I did however manage to get to Blithers for another session in the shed and it proved quite worthwhile on the bird front with a Garganey and 1st sum' Med' Gull again in Tad Bay.

Forget the birds though, today's highlight for a packed hide was a kamikaze pensioner who'd obviously not realised that his sat' nav' had taken him onto the far shore in Tad Bay. He must have had a sherry or two before leavin' the old folks home though because instead of turnin' around he decided to carry on along the shore towards the Tad and before long he was up to his axles in the mud.

He was initially spotted by top Blithers lister Manty who alerted us all to what was goin' on just as the poor sod got stuck. From then on we all forgot the birds and listened to our Grahams runnin' commentary. The poor sod didn't get an ounce of sympathy from anyone in the hide because almost to a man we'd all done the same thing at one time or another, some had even done it twice!!! Unlike moi who's never done that but did crash into one of those huge tree stumps that run along the far shore in Blithe Bay many moons ago and ended up with just fourth and reverse gears and ended up reversin' almost a mile back back to the causeway and then drivin' the eighteen miles home in fourth!!!

Anyway back to our hero who after havin' a quick look at the situation decided to start shovin' a few nice green branches under the wheels to give him some traction.

After tryin' this several times and sinkin' ever deeper the owd duck decided to have a brew which I thought was pretty cool for someone of such a mature vintage

It was at this point that our Graham(he of the big lists) started to uncharacteristically feel sorry for our hero and if it hadn't been for The Cakeman stoppin' him he'd have been down to his Y-fronts and givin' it the old breast stroke across the bay.

What struck us all watchin' was that he never once seemed to think about callin' for help, perhaps he was to embarrassed. Anyway I hope he got out eventually the soft old sod!!!!

That's all folks.

Utch 29/7/10 1805-2000.

2010-07-29T22:16:00.004+01:00

Hey up folks after a day of catchin' up with Birdtrack and scorin' brownie points with Jan I was lookin' forward to a good couple of hours relaxin' birdin'. Oh how wrong can you be??? The night ended up with me and Mol' bein' chased off by the manager who'd turned up on speck for a quick security check. Thankfully when I bumped into him on the way back to the car he didn't seem to realise it was me he'd been after and gave me his number just in case I saw anybody up to no good!!!

He also told me that after a security alert at the quarry the other night at about half eleven, the local bobbies had searched a blokes van who was parked on the access road that runs alongside the A50. Not only was he dressed in full leather gear but the back of his van was full of "exotic" ladies undies and other tools of the trade!!! Needless to say after a good giggle they let the poor sod go without chargin' him/her.

What with the streaker and now a bloke in a gimp suit it might be an idea to start birdin' Utch in twos just to make sure you're safe.

LRP 17, Green Sand' 5, Common Sand' 1.

That's all folks.

Utch and Blithers again 28/7/10.

2010-07-28T20:55:00.010+01:00

Only a quick one tonight I'm afraid, just got back from a liquid tea with Jan after she finished work and the Strongbow is provin' rather soporific.

As you can see from the photo above work as started on the next phase of excavations at Utch which means they are workin' slap bang in the middle of the main lagoon but it didn't seem to make much difference to the birds that were present.

Nothin' new on the wader front apart from an adult Dunlin. Highlight was a load of Gypos that must of caught the bus from nearby Rocester because there's no way they could have flown after eatin' all that free nosh at the JCB site.

Gypo Goose 10, Dunlin 1, Green Sand' 1, Oyst' 2, LRP 7, Common Sand' 3.

After Utch I headed off to the high security site that is Blithers. After gettin' through security I headed for Tad Bay and for the second time in two days I found myself sittin' in a hide!!! I'm beginnin' to get that used to it I'm considerin' cuttin' an hole in the side of me shed.

Not a bad hour in the shed with a 1st summer Med' among the blockheads and 2nd sum' YLG struttin' around on the mud.

Med' Gull 1, YLG 1, Black'wit 5, Common Sand' 1.

Word in the shed was that yesterdays Sanderlint was still on the causeway so I decided to nip round to see if I could get a snap or two with the old Mugimaki 750 SLR. With images like this I bet Steve Young is crappin' himself!!!

That's all folks.

Utch and Blithers 27/7/10.

2010-07-27T18:34:00.007+01:00

Well after last nights episode at Doxey it was nice to actually get good views of a bird or two today. Sadly pour moi they weren't at Utch despite two visits. Todays highlight at Utch was a flock of 9 Yellow Wag's that got up from below the main track. I eventually ended up with 12 birds in total.

Utch o930-1050 and 1435-1510.

Yellow Wag' 12, Willow Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Green Sand' 1, LRP 7, Common Sand' 3.

While we were at Doxey last night top mid's lister Jules Allen told me he'd had two Med' Gulls at Blithers over the weekend so even though I can't be doin' with how Blithers has changed over the last few years, for the worse in my opinion, I thought I'd pick up a new key and then have a look round to see if Manty had missed owt on his mornin' rounds.

Blithe Bay alone held more than Utch: Common Tern 8, Black'wit 1, Redshank 1, Dunlin 1, Common Sand' 3, Little Egret 1 and 3 Yellow Wag's.

Tad Bay produced the goods with two Med' Gulls among the BHG's, a corkin' juv' and a first summer bird, both showin' well from the first hide. Perched in the hide were Blithers stalwarts Paul Hide, Clapper and Manty who all greeted me with "BLOODY HELL! What are you doin' here?" At one time you'd never have got me in the hide I always preferred the plank even when it was rainin' but the new regime decided to get rid of it. Shame that, new isn't always better.

Manty then had a call sayin' the ad' Little Stint was on the causeway so along with Mr Hide we shot round for a shufty. Guess what? It wasn't a stint it was a Sanderling!

Back at Croxden tonight I finished clear fellin' the VP and no sooner had I put me scope up and a Hobby flew right in front of me! Get in, Cheesedale year tick number 116 I think, must find that list.

That's all folks.

The Thrill Of The Chase.......

2010-07-26T22:57:00.004+01:00

Hey up folks, little of note at Utch this mornin but I did bump into the manager and he was tellin' me that the next excavations will force the birds nearer to the main path because that's where all the water is now bein' pumped to!! Brilliant, just in time for the juv' Wilsons Phal' and no worries about gettin' a good view.

Hobby 1, Green Sand' 4, Curlew 1, Oyst' 1, Common Sand' 1, LRP 16.

A spot of prunin' was called for this evenin' on the viewpoint at Croxden, yep that's right prunin', well what's the point of a viewpoint if there's no view? So I whipped out the old secateurs and did it me self! And not a bad job too, even if I do say so me self. Once the view was restored I settled in for a spot of gullin' and soon picked up the juv YLG among the hordes of Lesser's below the VP. Then jolly old RP turned up and while we were havin' a moan about the Doxey Cattle Egret guess what came on the pager? Would you Adam and Eve it, "Staff's, juv' Cattle Egret showin' well from the main hide at Doxey".

If I'd been at home there's no way I would have gone for it tonight but minutes after tellin' RP I'd pick him up en route after droppin' Moll' off at home we were racin' along narrow country lanes with Scandinavian Symphonic Metalers "NIGHTWISH" beltin' out of the speakers. Not that RP was any the wiser, he thought we were listenin' to Kiri Te Kanawa the Kiwi warbler of posh tunes. At one point as we sped round a bend like"The Stig" in a reasonably priced car, we had a huge slice of luck when the bobbies sittin' waitin' for unsuspectin' Staffs birders completely missed us when they were lookin' the wrong way!! Result or what?

By the time we got to Doxey the light was fadin' fast but thankfully North Staffs RSPB's head honcho John Booth was leadin' the way and lite up the path with the sparks comin' from his slippers as he blazed a trail towards the main hide. Half way along the path we bumped into up and comin' young twitchers Steven Turnippers and Russ "car" Toon who yelled something about RP and logs as we raced past.

Once in the hide a quick glance across the water brought us down to earth rather quickly. The egret that had been showin' well now resembled a white plastic bag as it sat preenin' at the back of the bush and that's where it stopped apart from a brief moment when it stretched it's neck and wings! I've never been so underwhelmed since I "ticked" a Black-throated Blob in a Bush through a nice Mr Gantletts Questar somewhere in Norfolk many moons ago.

A major surprise tonight while I was earwiggin' in the hide was the revelation that a top mid's lister had recently moved into sheltered accomodation after bein' turfed out by his old dear. Thankfully he's settled in well and has made friends with "thwarden".

That's all folks.

ALEX "HURRICANE" HIGGINS 1949-2010.

2010-07-26T14:27:00.005+01:00

Along time ago in the Kingdom of Cheesedale I stunned my careers teacher when she asked me what I wanted to do when I left school? This genius is one of the reasons my answer was "a Snooker player miss".

Don't worry i'm not goin' all Princess Di' but what a player!

Utch 25/7/10 1305-1530 and the "S" word!

2010-07-25T18:08:00.005+01:00

Hey up folks family commitments meant an afternoon visit was the best I could hope for today. I've never been a fan of birdin' at this least active part of the avian day and today was typical with very little of note apart from a single Hobby causing havoc along the east coast and a juv' Peregrine flappin' around aimlessly.

A single juv' Dunlin was the only new wader today and that didn't stay long after the Hobby went over.

Curlew 11, Oyst' 10, Green Sand' 2, Common Sand' 2, Dunlin 1 juv', Hobby 1, Peregrine 1 juv', Yellow Wag' 2, RLP 4- 1ad' with 3 juv's.

One of the first messages on the pager this mornin' was " Staffs, Cattle Egret left Grey Heron roost at Doxey Marshes at 0535". What?? Why was somebody at Doxey at half five in the mornin'? I'll tell you why because the bird had been seen goin' to roost on Saturday evenin' and even photographed yet the news was not released until the bird had left the roost this mornin'!!!!!! Who ever was guilty of suppressin' this bird should have their bin's confiscated and then be skewered with a rusty old tripod leg!!

Better go for a lie down in a dark room me thinks.

That's all folks

Utch 24/7/10 0715-1005.

2010-07-24T11:25:00.004+01:00

Willow Tits were almost guaranteed at Utch before last winters severe weather, which I thought had wiped them out locally. So one this mornin' in the cow field hedge was a nice surprise and a Utch year tick to boot!

Else where around the site warblers were showin' well, Blackcaps were feedin' young, Reed Warblers were carryin' food, Whitethroats still singin', Lesser'throats showin' well, Garden Warbler and a young Willow Warbler in phragy on the edge of Cottonmill pool. A Buzzard with two juv's near Spath Farm was a nice surprise.

Redstart 1 fem/imm', Willow Tit, Yellow Wag' 6, Reed Warb' 1, Blackcap 4, Lesser'throat 3, Whitethroat 3, Garden Warb' 1, Willow Warb' 1, Green Sand' 4, LRP 10, Oyst' 7.

That's all folks.

Site Tick! Utch 23/7/10 1800-2000.

2010-07-23T22:23:00.003+01:00

If only eh? Yes I've managed to finally nail a Redstart at Utch. At least two have been on the pager for Utch since Wednesday and knowin' that they tend to stick around at this time of year I decided to play it cool and hang on 'til today. After checkin' the "Big Hedge" with no luck I eventually found one of them, a fem/juv', callin' loudly in the "Cow Field Hedge". It showed briefly but long enough to find it's way onto the old Utch list. That's the beauty of this place it's just like startin' birdin' all over again.

Also new in tonight were 6 Yellow Wag's and a Ringy.

Redstart 1 fem/juv, Yellow Wag' 6, Green Sand' 8, Curlew 8, Oyst' 3, Common Sand' 2, LRP 23, Red-legged Partr' 2.

A quick call in at Croxden on the way home produced a juv' Shelduck, juv' YLG, Oyst and Peregrine.

That's all folks.

Dipped Again! Chasewater 22/7/10.

2010-07-22T21:00:00.003+01:00

I've always been a glutton for punishment so last night I headed off with Mad Malc' for another stab at gettin' a good look at the Franklins Gull at Chasewater. No luck again as it flew off five minutes before we got there and then when it was relocated we got to where it was and it flew off with the Blockheads it was roosting with! Brilliant! Despite the temperature droppin' rapidly, one well known local was actually shiverin', we stuck it out 'til just after nine and then drew stumps and called it a day.

Back at home first message on the pager was "Chasewater Franklins Gull at dusk" . Why do we bother?

Despite missin' Frank we did manage to see a juv' Peregrine runnin' amok and also an adult Med' Gull so it wasn't a complete loss.

Still with gulls at Croxden tonight a juv' YLG showed well below the VP and was later joined by an adult just before I left at 2020. Also 2 LRP's and an adult Peregrine.

That's all folks.

BACK IN BLACK 21/7/1980-21/7/2010.

2010-07-20T20:50:00.004+01:00

Quite simply the greatest rock album that was ever made! Thirty years of pure genius.

Utch 20/7/10 1745-1945

2010-07-20T20:29:00.002+01:00

Tonight's visit(100th in 2010) nearly got aborted when Frank came on the pager as I got there but I decided to plod on and boy am I glad I did!

LRP c45, Wood Sand' 1 juv', Green Sand 8, Oyst' 9, Curlew 4, Common Sand' 3, Dunlin 1.

LRP's along with Green Sand's are a feature of birdin' at Utch but this is a bit different, the local birds must have been joined by migrant birds displaced by the weather because over the w'end there were very few LRP's around and I was beginning to think they'd shipped out early.

It's been quite a year so far for waders in numbers with tops goin' to 55 Dunlin, c45 LRP's and 17 Oyst's. All we need now is that one quality bird which needless to say will not be found by moi despite my best efforts.

That's all folks.

Stock Takin' and Dippin'! 18/7/10

2010-07-18T19:57:00.007+01:00

Hey up folks Webs stock takin' day today and these pesky free flyin' critters are part of the JCB collection at Rocester which is one of my sites and is full of other interestin' stuff that would get the old pulse racing momentarily if they turned up at nearby Utch. Wildfowl are always suspect at the best of times but round here everything has to be checked right down to the last feather!

After checkin' Hales Hall and Brookers and pickin' Jan up from her mornin' scourin' graveyards for long lost rellies I decided to break from the stock take and hit Chasewater for a second helpin' of Franklins Gull after it came on the pager as still present "but distant". A quick call to a long time birdin' pal with the offer of a lift which was turned down, finally confirmed what I've suspected for a long time now the lad is sufferin' from domestic strife or to give it it's medical name Henpeckeditus . It's sad but it looks like me old mucker has finally fallen by the wayside.

Anyway an hour later I was standin' on the dam at Chasewater in the rain with no sign of FRANK and very few birders lookin. After an hour and a chat to former Blithers regular Mike Inskip with nothin' more than a couple of YLG's on show I decided to hit Utch on the way home, finish the stock take and finally call at Croxden.

Utch 1335-1520

No sign of the Wood Sand' while i was there. The highlight bein' cripplin' views of a Lesser'throat and a crackin' count of seventeen Oyst's!

Oyst' 17, Green Sand' 4, LRP 5, Lesser'throat 3, Shelduck 1.

The best I could muster at Rocester was a single Common Tern perched on one of the steel birds in the middle of the north lake.

One last look at Croxden before home produced four Ravens overhead and an adult YLG among the LBBG's below the viewpoint! Brilliant, out all day and the bird of the day is a mile from home!! A Cheesedale year tick which puts me on 115 I think but can't be sure because I've lost me list.

That's all folks.

Utch 16/7/10 1845-2005.

2010-07-16T22:12:00.002+01:00

Crippling views of the juvenile Wood Sand' this evening as it fed with three LRPs along the east shore.

Wood Sand' 1, Green Sand' 3, LRP 15, Oyst' 3, Shelduck 1.

That's all folks.

Chasewater 15/7/10 "a tremor at Tesco's".

2010-07-15T23:03:00.007+01:00

Hey up folks for the second night runnin' plans for a night of wedded bliss were hastily scrapped but this time it was a Staffs Mega!!! FRANKLINS GULL @ CHASEWATER!!!! After missin' the Blithers bird this was one bird I wasn't goin' to miss.

Then I realised Jan had just gone out in the car and she wouldn't be back until nine! Shit, shit and double shit!!!! A few calmin' deep breaths and two text's later I was out of the house and runnin' the mile across cow pat laden fields that lie between my humble abode and Powells Palace. With some nifty footwork and the odd Lionel Messi style body swerve I arrived at RP's spotless but very out of breath and with legs that hadn't felt that bad since I last dipped on Blakeney Point.

Jolly old RP had just wolfed down a rather tasty Jau frezi Ruby Murray, but in his haste to get off for what would be his 350th British tick he forgot like I had the night before to drop a log in the bog! Oh dear, by the time we got to Tesco's at Uttoxeter he was virtually diving out of the car as he pulled up in the mother and child spaces. What followed next can only be described as a bit of a tremor and probably caused a sunami at Blithers ! Back in the car and a stone lighter RP put his trusty size thirteens flat to the floor and just after eight we pulled up at the sailing club at Chasewater. After my earlier exertions there was no chance of me breakin' into a sprint the best i could manage was a hurried shuffle towards the assembled great and good of the staffs birdin' scene. Friendly as ever, old Bernie Smith got me straight onto the Franklins as it roosted with Blockheads in the middle of the almost empty res'. Not the best of views in poor conditions but when it popped it's head up it brought more than a little delight to RP and moi.

It was nice to see a few faces I haven't seen for a while includin' Fair Isle, Nick Pom', Sylvia Staffs, Budgie Burgess, The Moorehen, The Nut and best of all The Cakeman(not my words) old Eric Samuel Clare who was goin' on about Utch gettin' Blithers birds. With the record Blithers as got it will take a long time to even come close to touchin' it and with very few people coverin' Utch, it will take even longer.

Many thanks to the finder, Graham Evans I think, for gettin' the news out so quickly and to my curry lovin' mate RP for the lift, TOP MAN.

That's all folks.

Utch 14/7/10 2020-2100 Sorry Jan......

2010-07-14T21:31:00.003+01:00

After checkin' the forecast last night and seein' heavy showers forecast for this afternoon and evenin' there was no doubting where you'd find moi tonight."Incredibly" the forecast was miles out and so I decided to start the wedding anniversary celebrations early and take Jan for a Ruby Murray. Big mistake!

When we got back home the idea was to watch a film and...... but then I checked me 'phone and a message from RP read "Wood Sand' @ Utch", before Jan's derriere had hit the settee I was back in the car and on me way!

Trying to cover ground quickly with a bellyful of Lamb Dupiaza is not easy but tonight I could have given Paula Radcliffe a run for her money. At one point I thought I might need a few dock leaves but thankfully I managed to hold it in and got to me old "mucker" just as the Wood Sand' decided to pop into view, get in there!! Within a couple of minutes it flew out of sight behind a mound and I can tell you that for once I was glad to see the back of a bird so I could get back home for a #####.

Nice one RP.

That's all folks.

Utch 13/7/10 1810-2000.

2010-07-13T21:25:00.004+01:00

Hey up folks, let's get the nogger out of the way first and congratulate the sons of waiters( only jokin' Toni in Puerto Pollensa, top man) after they rode the tide of Dutch cloggers to win the World Cup for the first time. Whatever happened to "The Beautiful Game" played by the likes of Johan Crufts, Johhny Reprobate and Johan knee-skin?

A good couple of hours at Utch this evenin' in the rain with the highlight bein' a twenty minute Greenshank that dropped in at 1925 and flew off east over the border into the dark side at 1945. Green Sand's were back up to eleven which beats the previous highest count of ten set last year. Common Sand's were back up to five.

A juv' Little Egret brought back memories of the Rudyard bird from nearly twenty years ago that caused a real stir in staffs and meant I had to rush round pickin' everyone up to make sure they saw what was in those days a rare bird!!! I went up to Rudyard every day for a week!! How times change eh?

Greenshank 1, Green Sand' 11, LRP 19, Common Sand' 5, Oyst' 8, Little Egret 1.

That's all folks.

Utch 11/7/10 1100-1320.

2010-07-11T17:40:00.004+01:00

Very warm day at times again today although the strong w/sw wind did it's best to keep temp's down. The best i could come up with was a single Black'wit roosting among BHG's on Leasowes pit before moving onto the main pit and a flyover Kingfisher. Almost a complete clear out of Green Sand's with just one present today.

Black'wit 1, Green Sand' 1, LRP c25, Kingfisher 1, Common Tern 1.

In the end I ended up snappin' a few 'fly's. Nothin' juicey though just ya run of the mill stuff.

That's all folks.

Utch 10/7/10 1900-2100.

2010-07-10T21:59:00.004+01:00

Bloody hell it's waaaaarm! So what better reason to take our Ellie for a paddle in the ice cold waters of the top lakes at Dimmings Dale. Typical four year old is our El' at first she wouldn't even dip a toe in but within ten minutes she was in up to her knees once she realised Grandad wouldn't let her fall in. She enjoyed it so much that she wants to go back tomorrow with our cozzies!!!! I don't think so, not even for our El'.

Sorry about that folks you'll just have to indulge a very proud Grandad once in a while.

Highlights at a very warm Utch tonight were a double figure count of Green Sand's, 2 juv' Yellow Wag's and an adult Common Gull.

Green Sand' 10, Curlew 11, LRP c20, Common Sand' 2, Oyst' 3, Common Gull 1, Yellow Wag' 2 juv's, Sedge Wobbler 2.

Blakehall in the moro for me final TTV and possibly a quick visit to Utch before we settle down to watch the dutch choke on their Oranginas. Even my liking for top dutch arrow chucker Raymond van Barneveldt can't stop me cheering on the sons of waiters to a glorious win and better Spanish holidays for all of us!

One last thing, this was by the back door when I went to work this mornin', anyone got any idea what it is? I can't find it in what few books I've got. Answers as usual on a postcard please.

That's all folks.

Utch 9/7/10 1830-2020.

2010-07-09T22:32:00.003+01:00

Well if you didn't know already you do now folks, today is the first anniversary of my old mucker RP's moment of Utch birdin' glory! A year ago today I was at a barbie soggin' it down me instead of at Utch as usual when me phone rang and RP's rather shaky voice uttered the words" where are you I've got a Spoonbill at Utch"!!! Needless to say you could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather! All I could do was carry on suppin' and hope it would still be there in the mornin'. True to form and my usual luck it was gone by the time I got there the following morning. Happy anniversary pal.

At Utch tonight a nice increase in the number of Green Sand's around with 8 scattered around the site. Two Ringed Plovers were among the LRP's. Another nice surprise tonight was an adult Common Tern with a single juv' over the main pit.

Green Sandpiper 8, Ringed Plover 2, LRP 24, Common Sand' 2, Curlew 2, Oyst' 5, Common Tern 2.

That's all folks.

Utch 7/7/10 1910-2030.

2010-07-07T22:33:00.004+01:00

Ever the optimist I hit Utch this evenin' in the hope that this mornin's prolonged rain had forced any waders that might be on the move early to check out North East Staffordshires wader hot spot. Alas it wasn't to be and there was actually fewer waders around than on Monday. Every cloud has a silver lining though and this meant I could get back to see the demise of Klause Meines love children after a flyin' header from Spains very own Capitan Caveman, Carlos Puyol!!!! Viva Espania!

Oh yeh birds, the only bird of note tonight was a single Yellow Wag', first of the autumn?

Green Sand 4, Oyst' 4, Curlew 4, Common Sand' 2, LRP 18, Yellow Wag' 1.

That's all folks.

Utch 5/7/10 1810-1940.

2010-07-05T21:22:00.006+01:00

A message on the pager this a'noon reporting 9 Barwits at Blithers meant a change of plan this evening and a quick recce of Utch just in case they'd upped sticks and dropped in at Utch. Sadly no sign of the 'wits but still a nice smattering of mudpeckers on show. Tonight also saw the first juvenile BHG and another two broods of Tufties on the pit by the River Tean.

LRP 19, Common Sand' 6, Green Sand' 5, Curlew 6, Oyst' 7 and 12 Lappies.

On the way home i called in at a well known breeding sight for Peregrines to see if there was any sight of the two juveniles that fledged nearly a month ago. Guess what? No sign and do you know why? Because two camera toting members of the aviarrazi were plonked right above where not just the juv's normally favour but the adults as well, brilliant!!!! Well done lads.

The picture above was taken at Belvide by one lucky snapper last winter and along with the other million on the tinternet is proof if we need it that there is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO GET WITHIN TOUCHIN' DISTANCE OF BREEDING BIRDS, RARE OR OTHERWISE!!

That's all folks.

Utch 4/7/10 1230-1430.

2010-07-04T17:32:00.005+01:00

Well after a crackin' "Night Of The Dog" and a touch to much of the amber nectar it meant I didn't get to Utch until dinner time. The very strong south westerly wind meant it felt more like autumn than mid summer.

As you can see from the photo' there's a lot less water now than a couple of months ago and there are lots of little scrapes for the next Staff's biggie to paddle around on! White-rumped Sand' would go down rather nicely me thinks. Nothing of any real note today apart from four Green Sand's, a pair of Mute Swans on the River Dove with SIX cygnets and a female Mandarin flying round over one of the fields.

Green Sand' 4, Common Sand' 5, Oyst' 6, LRP 10, Common Tern 1, Sedge Wobbler 1. Mandarin 1.

A stroll round cereal fields on the way home failed to turn up any Quail, now that would be a real Cheesedale blocker!

That's all folks.

"well I'm baaaaaaaack.....back in black!"

2010-07-02T20:28:00.004+01:00

Hey up folks, haven't posted for a couple of months after being on species protection with the Cheesedale Home Guard but the latest issue of Classic Rock mag' forced me to make the effort. If you've never had long hair and worn ridiculous cloths(not to bed) and don't like rock n roll it will mean nothing to you but THE VOICE OF ROCK Ronnie James Dio as popped his elfin clogs! When i first heard from Bert The Beard at work I was gutted and went home to play Dio's "Holy Diver" full blast followed by the Rainbow "Rising" album and Black Sabbaths "Heaven and Hell". Everyone a true classic and the musical equivalent of Jose Mourinho winning where ever he goes. Can't see him turning up at Elland Road to soon though, eh oh. Ronnie is and will always be a TOPMAN.

With that off my chest it's back to birds and birding from today, well not quite. Tomorrow sees me and Jan at our very own Cheesedale version of the Download Festival "NIGHT OF THE DOG V". Needless to say copious amounts of the local brew will be taken so birdin' may get off to a slow start on Sunday.

That's all folks.

Cheesedale World Birdin' Record Smashed!!!

2010-04-24T21:54:00.006+01:00

Hey up folks, before we get to Utch I've got to first of all congratulate the new holder of the record for the fastest ton in Cheesedale Birdin' history, young Mad Malc'. He's hit the ton a full three weeks earlier than the previous record set by moi in 2005 with a Marsh Harrier at Croxden. Young Malc' hit the mark last night with a singin' Gropper where I work!!! No real surprise there, last year there was two singin' birds there. I wasn't completely put to shame, I've hit the ton myself today with two year ticks in the form of singin' Garden and Reed Warblers at Croxden. Not bad eh?

Also at Croxden today were: 2 Mandarins, 6 LRP's and 2 Curlew.

Utch 1810-2000

The female Scaup showed well this evening on the main pit, it seems like it may have paired up with a male tufty so we may have some interestin' aythas knockin' about locally later in the year. Still 6 Goosander and 2 Mandarins were again on the stream. Nothin' new on the wader front but still 6 Common Sand's around.

Scaup 1, Mandarin 2, Goosander 6, Shelduck 4, Common Sand' 6, LRP 6, Oyst' 1, Curlew 1, Yellow Wag' 3, White Wag' 3.

The weather forecast looks promising for tomorrow so it'll be a dawn raid on Utch, then back for brekkie before probably spendin' the rest of the day back at Utch to see if owt drops in.

That's all folks.

Utch 22/4/10 1735-1950.

2010-04-22T21:16:00.003+01:00

Hey up folks, no there wasn't a Whinchat at Utch this evenin' but there was one at work this dinner time and a proper little cracker it was too! In the kingdom of Cheesedale they are just about annual so it was much appreciated by me and Big Geoff, Land Powers top stacker driver! Also another two Wheatears on site, that's an incredible 19 Wheatears through the site since Monday.

Jan was late from work again so transport was provided by fellow Cheesedalien Mad Malc' and The Rock Wagon. Top man. Very of little of note this evening at Utch. I'd hoped for a nice drake Garganey or perhaps something better but the only thing of note was an increase in Common Sand's which were up from 1 to 6.

Common Sand' 6, LRP 6, Yellow Wag' 2, White Wag' 3, Shelduck 2, Eurasian Teal 5, Goosander 3.

That's all folks

Whitearses everywhere!!!

2010-04-19T21:05:00.005+01:00

Oooooh yes!!! After two very poor springs for Wheatears around work I hit the jackpot today. Not just one but twelve of the little beauty's in fields below the factory at snappin' time, problem was i found them with just ten minutes of the break left!

Soon as I could this evenin' I was back around work and managed to find two more but the flock of twelve had all already moved on. They must have come down after light overnight rain followed by a heavy shower around dawn. A break in the cloud mid-afternoon must have encouraged them to continue north. Nearby Spurn o Staffs (Berryhill) had 31 Wheatears this mornin and a Whimbrel as well!

That's all folks.

SEDGE WOBBLER!!! Utch 18/4/10 1050-1150.

2010-04-18T20:20:00.005+01:00

Well after a bit of a moan on BF about this sunbathin' weather beein' crap for passage it seems as though the birdin' Gods decided to stop me in my tracks by producing a singin' SEDGE WOBBLER this mornin' in the small reedbed opposite Leasowes fm pit!!! Yes, I know you must be thinkin' I've gone mad(madder) but despite plenty of habo there's only been one previous record and that was a singin' bird last year that RP had, but failed to see so this was definitely a Utch Mega! I was determined to see it so after crashin' through the hedge i managed to get into a position where if it popped up I'd be onto it straight away. Thankfully after a brief wait it popped up in full view!!! Get in there you beauty It's so much nicer when you don't have to wait around for hours unlike the singin' Nightingale that we spent hours tryin' to see last spring at Branston and failed. That's local patchin though, for me this little Sedgey might as well have been a Berkley Square Songster.

Despite only beein' at Utch for just an hour I still managed to weigh in with four Utch year ticks includin' the WOBBLER. That means I'm now on 97 and nearin' the ton again and it's still only April.

Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Nuthatch 1, Goosander 9, Shoveler 2.

A stroll round Cotton Dell this afternoon with Jan and the hounds produced a singin' Tree Pipit near the old college but no sign of the big woodland three. Two RLP's were in fields on Cotton Banks. No birds meant a bit of a play with the old Mugimaki in this beautiful part of Staffordshire.

That's all folks.

Utch 17/4/10 1730-1950.

2010-04-17T21:06:00.004+01:00

A beautiful day again today, far to nice to even think of a good bird poppin' in at Utch, and that's exactly what happened!!!! Naff all, not even a Greenshank or Whimbrel, both of which have been seen just over the Dove in the dark side. After the Wag' Fest passage seems to have come to a complete halt, either that or everything is just carryin' straight on overhead. One good thing though is as you can see from the picture, the pumps are goin' well and the water level is droppin' rapidly with several small islands now visible on the main pit and hopefully if the water levels continue droppin' we will finally get a really decent wader, one to get the armchair birders off their #####!

Even the one thing i did expect to appear, The Bare Arsed Knacker Flasher failed to show! For those who don't have a Scooby Doo what I'm goin' on about we have a local naturist at Utch who likes nothin' better than wanderin' round Utch completely bollocko on a warm Saturday afternoon! All he wears is a baseball cap and his shoes and the reason he wears a cap is to hide his Speedos under it for when he bumps into some poor sod. The first time me and RP bumped into him he was running on the spot starkers, ten seconds later he was two fields away with his Speedos on.

Goosander 17, Eurasian Teal 11, Mandarin 1, Shoveler 3, Goldeneye 1, Common Shelduck 3, Green Sand' 2, Oyst' 2, LRP one or two, Chiff' 2, Meadow Pip' 18.

That's all folks.

Utch 15/4/10 1825-2005.

2010-04-15T21:41:00.004+01:00

Back down to earth with a bump this evening after the recent Wag' Fest's and Rock Star. The only highlight was bumpin' into a rather dapper lookin' RP. Bird wise very little to report despite at one point me hallucinating about a Common Sand'.

Eurasian Teal 9, Shoveler 1, Shelduck 2, Goldeneye 1, Green Sand' 3, LRP 6, Eurasian Curlew 4, Oyst' 2.

That's all folks.

Robin's Family Slain In Tragic Accident.

2010-04-14T17:31:00.004+01:00

Tragic news as emerged this afternoon, of the accidental "slaying" of an unfinished clutch of Robin eggs in a Staffordshire factory early this morning. The unlucky robins had decided to build a nest on top of some m8x70 pins. When the nest was discovered by the local Birdman, everyone was made aware and the area was put out of bounds to non-Robin Strokers.

After four days the female had laid four eggs and all was goin' well until this mornin' when balding local computer game fanatic and telly addict "X BOX" returned to work after a spell on the sick after spiflicating himself while being harassed by a snake eyed team leader screaming "faster, faster, faster,faster"!!!!

Owd X Box got right into his stride after his lengthy lay off and proceeded to get his work area back in order. Sadly no one had mentioned the fact that the bits of paper hanging out of the box was in fact a Robins nest and he duly picked it up and emptied the contents straight into the bin!!!!!!! Only later when the Birdman went to check on the nest to see if egg numero cinq had been laid was the full horror of the mornings events revealed. By then it was to late and despite the pleading of Top Plasterer and Stunt Digger Driver "Young" Johnny Bradders it was decided that nothin' could be done and a short service was performed by Works Brief Mark "fishman" Show.

Sad but True.

That's all folks.

Utch 13/4/10 1735-1950 Wag' Fest Part Two.

2010-04-13T21:40:00.002+01:00

Brrrrrrrr! God it was cold tonight, I'm still checkin' to see if owt's fell off. Another nice movement of wagtails through Utch this evening, this time of the yellow variety. Also one White Wag' among a few Pieds.

A fine summer plumaged Dunlin fed on the north year but seemed to have moved on by half seven. Good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins fed over the main pit but i couldn't find any House Martins among them, still a bit early yet.

Yellow Wagtail 13, White Wagtail 1, Dunlin 1, Green Sand' 2, LRP 4, Snipe 2, Mandarin 2, Teal 14, Goldeneye 1, Shelduck 2, Shoveler 2.

That's all folks.

Utch 11/4/10 0750-0950/

2010-04-11T19:54:00.003+01:00

Hey up folks after last nights rock n roll master class from Aussie rockers AIRBOURNE I was still buzzin' when I got to Utch this mornin'.

Bird of the mornin' must be the stunnin' male Canary....er sorry Yellow Wag' that fed on the north shore. It really was that yellow. Two singin' male Blackcaps were new in, one by the old barn and one in the edge alongside Leasowes fm pit. A pair of Shoveler fed along the north shore before bein' almost beheaded as two dodgy lookin' Gypo Geese dropped in after an incredible journey of over a mile from the nearby JCB Lakes. One of the pair, a very dodgy lookin' individual looks like the result of to many close family relationships, if you get my drift! I've definitely seen that one at Rocester. Funnily enough this is my first record of Gypos at Utch, it just shows they don't move that far. Havin' said that though I've seen quite a few around Cheesedale.

Blackcap 2, Yellow Wag' 1,Shoveler 2, Shelduck 2,Eurasian Teal 5,Goosander 1,Coot 16, Green Sand' 3, LRP, Oyst' 3.

After Fridays Wag' Fest' I couldn't find a single one this mornin' but it was nice to see that i'd jammed onto a bit of a movement of alba wag's judgin' by the amount of birds that were comin' onto the old pager, especially around the north west.

No chance of a return visit this evenin' after spendin' the rest of the day with Cheesedales very own Charlie Dymock, our Jan', I was cream crackered! Thankfully she hasn't done away with the old t cups yet.

That's all folks.

Wolverhampton Civic 10/4/10 1930-1045.

2010-04-11T07:06:00.003+01:00

Absolute Hyper Zonky Mega Crippler!!!!! 100% Pure Rock N Roll!!!!!!

Utch 9/4/10 1705-1930.... and The Musical Dippers

2010-04-09T21:21:00.010+01:00

Hey up folks, what a bostin' afternoon, didn't even bother with a coat today!Another crackin' couple of hours patch watchin' produced an incredible 15 WHITE WAGTAILS feedin on the north shore. It got to the point where i was hopin' the next bird wouldn't be one because it was gettin' so ridiculous. One or two birds would be more the norm'.

The female Scaup was still present with her male tufty boyfriend. Still 21 Goosander on site but no longer considered newsworthy by RBA. Apart from the Wag's, the only new bird in was a female Goldeneye which seemed to have come in late on because i didn't pick it up 'til after seven.

White Wagtail 15, Meadow Pipit c40, Pied Wag' 7, Green Sand 1, LRP' 4, Oyst' 4, Snipe 1, Eurasian Teal 12, Greater Scaup 1, Tufty 31, Common Shelduck 2, Goldeneye 1, Barn Swallow 5, Sand Martin 6.

If you read the last post you'll know me and Jan were off to Wolvo to see Canadian Rockers Theory Of A Deadman. Well it doesn't happen very often but every now and then a band that sounds great on "vinyl" turns out to be a real letdown when you finally get to see them live. TOAD are one of these bands, the lead singer who will remain nameless put on a terrific show but nothin', or very little came out of his mouth!!!! The best he could muster was a strained growl. In fact he'd have been better off mimin'!! In birdin' terms we came away with that same feelin' you get when you've just driven half way across the country, waited patiently for eight hours in the cold and rain before finally admittin' you've dipped. It was that bad.

The only thing that stopped it bein' a complete waste of time and money was the first act on HALESTORM featurin' stunnin' lead singer Lizzy Hale, what a voice! Never sang a duff note and she plays guitar as well, like a young Anne Wilson or better still JOAN JETT from the Blackhearts!!!

That's all folks.

Utch 6/4/10 0650-0850.

2010-04-06T10:35:00.003+01:00

Hey up folks, no sign again of the "interesting" Water Pipit or the female Scaup either this mornin' and nothin' of any real note apart from a Treecreeper and one or two LRP's knockin' about. No sign either of Birdwatchin' Mag's target bird the old Green Sandpiper. Last night we had four of 'em. Still two White Wag's on the north shore.

White Wag' 2, Chiff' 2, Oyst' 3, LRP, Shelduck 1, Goosander 3, Swallow 1, Sand Martin 4, Treecreeper 1.

No chance of a return visit this evenin', I'll be in Wolvo at the Wulfran Hall to see Canadian Rockers THEORY OF A DEADMAN. Should be good.

That's all folks.

Utch 5/4/10 070-0900 and 1650-1850.

2010-04-05T20:33:00.005+01:00

Hey up folks, only a quick one tonight because the second half of FROST is on in twenty minutes and I've been told I can't miss it!!!!

Managed to get to Utch for seven this mornin' despite a bit of Bow Time last night followin' the Pipit Fest. No sign of last nights ROCK STAR but the "interestin" Water Pipit was still on the east shore. No sign either of the female Scaup this mornin' but she was back tonight.No sign of the pipit this evenin' despite a thorough search.

Totals for today: Water Pipit 1, Green Sand' 4, LRP 4, Curlew 1, Oyst' 5, Goosander 7, Shelduck 2, Scaup 1, Gadwall 2, Chiff' 3.

That's all folks.

Utch 4/4/10 1615-1915.

2010-04-05T06:16:00.002+01:00

Hey up folks, today's unsettled weather produced the goods pour moi and RP this evenin' with a site first in the form of a ROCK PIPIT! It popped up in the background just as I'd got onto the second record of WATER PIPIT for Utch, a crackin' near full summer plumaged bird! To complete the picture a smart White Wag' was feedin' in the same area. The nice thing about it though was once again it shows how birds are constantly movin' through the place after they weren't picked up earlier by other birders.

Rock Pipit 1, Water Pipit 1, White Wag' 1, LRP 4, Green Sand' 2, Oyst' 4, Curlew 1, Scaup 1, Mandarin 2, Goosander 7, Wigeon 3.

That's all folks.

Rock Wagon!!! Elderly Rockers Hit Suffolk.

2010-04-03T20:34:00.009+01:00

Hey up folks, with the hope of this weeks Lesser Kestrel reappearing somewhere in sleepy Suffolk and Mad Malc also needin' Pallid Swift we hit the the road just after half four this mornin' once we'd picked up Norbert from the Meir. Weston Coyney millionaire Vaughan dropped out at the last moment so that meant there was a small amount of room in Malc's tiny KA or as it's now known "The Rock Wagon".

First stop Kessingland Sewage Works for the Pallid Swift. As soon as we parked up Malc' was off like a shot leavin' moi and old Norb' to lock up the Rock Wagon. He needn't have rushed as you could see it feedin' overhead as soon as we got to where the "crowd" had gathered. Despite the light we had bostin' views as it fed about thirty feet over our heads!!! The fact that it was the only bird there was also a bit of a bonus, there's nowt worse than tryin' to get onto or give directions to a rare apus or hirundine feedin' among hundreds of its commoner cousins.

Back at the Rock Wagon and old Norb' had a narrow escape when he was attacked by a "Brambling" his words not mine, whch wrapped its thorny arms around Norb's trusty mackintosh "Russel". It's the only coat I've ever heard of that's got a nickname! Still no mention of the kestrel so we headed up the road to Ness Point, Lowestoft for a buchas at the tamest Purple Sand's I've ever seen. With the Purp's only about ten yards away even the old Mugimaki managed to come up with a couple of decent record shots.

While we were there we bumped into the two extras from "Last Of The Summer Wine" again who we met at the Welsh Black Kite, you might remember them, one is a dead ringer for Stokes Tony Pullis. Back in the car Malc' revealed that the Purps were a lifer as well!!!! With two lifers under his belt Malc couldn't hold back and he whacked up the volume on his latest gizmo in the Rock Wagon and we belted through Lowestoft with Iron Maiden pumpin' out of the speakers. When you consider our combined ages are around 160 you can imagine how we sad we must have looked but hey who gives a ####!!

Still no sign of the kestrel so we decided to have a trot round Minsmere and if there was still no sign we'd head home.

I don't know what it is but i never feel comfortable at these top notch reserves, perhaps it's because they are just that, comfortable! I've never been a fan of hides and thats where the best views are at these places, from a hide. While Malc' was havin' a power nap me and owd Norb' had a look round. Half way round we had the shock of our lives when a stunnin' young lady walked up the path with her beau in tow wearin' the most revealin' pair of leggin's you've ever seen!!!! Put it this way the old Jack and Danny was far from hidden and when old Norbert saw her he nearly choked on his false teeth. Later back in the Rock Wagon Malc' revealed that he'd also seen Jack and Danny and ended up havin' to clean his spec's after they steamed up!!!!

Bird highlights included good views of a Cetti's Wobbler, upto 10 corkin' summer plum' Med' Gulls and distant hazy views of a juv' Glaucous Gull and a drake Garganey.

With Jack and Danny still the main topic of conversation we hit the road with Malc's gizmo turned up full and we rocked off home to the likes of Bad Co, Kiss, Kansas, Queen(not my car) George Thorogood, Journey, Foreigner, The Boss and many, many more but it wasn't 'til the mighty Quo came on that i really got goin' singin' lead vocals and givin' it the old 70's shoulder number while Malc' played drums on the steerin' column and Norbert played a mean lead guitar in the back!!

On a more serious note Malc' revealed that he doesn't own a single AC/DC tune and thinks they are #####!!!! How this never came to light before I'll never know but he's a mate so I'll let him off.

That's all folks.