Little Egret

The Little Egret is a beautiful bird, a migrant that 10 years ago would cause a stir, but now is spreading naturally north, and can be easily seen from South Wales to Norfolk, bringing pleasure to a lot of birders when it unexpectantly lands on their patch.
In my opinion it is a better, more graceful version of the Heron, and I hope it spreads more over the country. Here is a picture that I have drawn of one, paintings never been my strongpoint!

 Good Luck out there, Gornal Birder.

Drawings

From now on I have decided to post some of my drawings, generally the pictures are influenced by recent events.
Here is a picture of the infomus Ruddy Duck, the most wanted on DEFRA's list, a beautiful bird that has been reduced to possibly less than a hundred, just because the White Headed Duck in spain can crossbreed with it.
Next week is the Little Egret

Good Luck Birding-Gornal Birder.

Teal, Pochard, and a Parakeet!!!!

Me and Midlands Birder had decided to go to Sheepwas Urban Park, and when we got there it looked like it was going to be dull, with not much activity, but after scanning the lake we noticed some Teal over the other side in front of the Sand Martin Bank. When we got closer we noticed that there were 9 Teal, with a few pochards swimming around them.

After this we went across the back of the river and suddenly MB shouts PARAKEET!
We quickly relocated it and then we followed it as it was constantly mobbed by magpies, and took these photos. Later we found out it was a Alexandrine Parakeet due to the purple on its wings, probably an escapee, but it was  a welcome suprise.

If you want to see some brilliant videos and pictures, go to Midland Birders blog, good luck out there, Gornal Birder

Artic Tern at Sheepwash

This morning I got a text from Midlands Birder saying that Martin Yapp(who has a blog called Regional Tick) had spotted an Artic tern at sheepwash urban park, so I thought I would check it out, of course after the usual waiting for half an hour on a bus that needed to go a mile, terrible!!!

When i got there i checked to see where it was last spotted, on the rocky islands flying around that area, and it was perched on a rock near the waters edge. I think because it was a juvinille it didnt seem to mind me, even when I was perched on a rock 20-30 meters away, only flying when a Lesser Black Back Gull took a peck at it, and shortly landing again on the rocks.

Also got an ok picture of an adult and Juvinille Great Crested Grebe.

Good Luck Out There, GB.

Its a Wigeon

First off, hello im Gornal Birder and I generally birding with fellow blogger Midlands Birder. anyway today we went to Sheepwash Urban Park, in Great Bridge, and today there seemed like it was gonna be a wasted trip, with b h gulls and the usual birds when MB spotted a wigeon, MY FIRST WIGEON!

We followed it round the pool and spotted 3 Teal accompanying it later by the rocky islands. also we spotted 2 Jay, c6-7 G C Grebes, 2-3 Little Grebe, a Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawks and some Tufted Ducks. Also got an ok pic of this Little Grebe.

 Good Luck Birders Out There!