Wood Warbler - Binn Green

I'd not seen a Wood Warbler for a few years, and so was really pleased to hear that one had been seen not far from me. I got up nice and early so as to beat the traffic and crowds, and was in place by 6am. I could hear it singing from the moment I stepped out of the car. It was hopping between branches and going up into the canopy, but all the while was really belting out it's lovely song. It was quite dark in the woodland, so I had to wait a little while for the sun to penetrate and give me some light. The longer I stayed the better the light got. Such great birds, that have travelled from Africa to spend it's summer with us here in the UK.

Wood Warbler

Padley Gorge Wood Warbler

I visited an brilliant place in the Peak District recently, called Padley Gorge. I parked at the bottom and made way up the gorge. A brilliant woodland and fast running water through it's rocky centre. 

Birds were singing everywhere. There were a pair of Dippers to start me off, and I lost count of how many Pied Flycatchers I saw and heard. It was one of the best places I had visited for these. Common Redstarts were competing with them, plus the numerous Wrens, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. At the top, I found a couple of pairs of Spotted Flycatchers zipping around the tree canopy.

What I had really come for was the Wood Warbler. A bird I have only seen a few times, its one I'd not seen for a good number of years now. It was worth the 5am start and I even found two singing males. 

A cracking male Wood Warbler

Male Pied Flycatcher. They were so busy collecting food for their young, they would drop down in front of you like a Robin and then fly back to their branch,

The female Pied Flycathcer

One of the many Common Redstarts

Wood Warbler

I spent a good while in the New Forest with my ears open for a Wood Warbler. None were forthcoming, although they had been around. Strangely when I got home it appeared there had been one almost on my doorstep and showing itself very well.
I'd only seen one previously that had stuck around for a couple of weeks in Bramhall a few years ago.
Brilliant little birds, with a great song that makes their bodies shudder. It's similar to the Willow Warbler but has bright yellow upper parts and lovely white under parts.
This one was still singing as the rain and then hail came down. It made it a lot easier for me to find him.

2011 Highlights (Part 1 of 3)

Approaching the end of the year, I thought I'd try and pick out my birding highlights of the last 12 months. There have been many this year in a list of 138 different species seen.

In no particular order, here we go. The year started well with an invasion of Waxwings from Scandinavia. I was fortunate to see some on four separate occasions from Stockport to Macclesfield. Listen for the trill that these birds make. It’s quite unmistakeable.

As Spring and Summer arrived so did our migrant birds, and as luck would have it so did a Wood Warbler, not far from my house in Carrs Wood, Bramhall. A fantastic bird, gave brilliant views for several weeks. A real delight, and a first for me.

My first encounter with Waxwings came in Wilmslow, where this shot was taken.

I liked this shot in black and white. These Waxwings were seen in Edgley, Stockport.

The Wood Warbler, which sang non stop for several weeks.

Wood Warbler again. This time getting ready to sing.