First for Britain

Just a quick post before we head for Shetland at the end of next week. A phyllosc Warbler that had been first seen at Bempton RSPB on the 25th September  first identified as a Arctic Warbler then a Eastern-crowned Warbler , but with some excellent work was sound recorded and identified as a Pale-legged Leaf-Warbler, a first live bird for Britain. A bird picked up dead in 2016 was confirmed as a Pale-leeged Leaf-Warbler. So insead of myself, John Hague, Dave Gray going to our regular game of satuarday non-legue football, another birding mate Neil Howes picked us up for the 2.5hr drive to east coast of Yorkshire and Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve. We knew there was going to be a lot of birders but fair play to the the RSPB wardens and volunteers who managed the site excellenly,  and also to all the birders who behaved themselves. If you were patient and stood still, eventually you would get decent views of the bird, and we all did. 

A couple of record images are bleow. 

Pale-legged Leaf Warbler

Thanks as always for stopping by, bringon Shetland

Leicestershire & Behond

 In a couple of weeks Dave, Andy and myself will be on our way to our anual pilgrimage to the Shetland Isles, so I thought I'd post a few images from a few local places around Leicestershire and beyond before we go. On Satuardays, along with our other mate John, we go to different non-league football grounds around the country, with a bit of birding before hand. Talking of John - I've just bought a 100/400 Canon lense from him, so I'm looking forward to using it up on Shetland

Avocet Frampton Marsh RSPB Lincolnshire

Glodfinch, Frampton

Black-tailed Godwit Frampton

Avocet, Frampton

Caspian Tern, Eccup Reservoir West Yorkshire

Shag, Stoney Cove Leicstershire

Graet Crested Grebe feeding a chick at Stoney Cove Leicestershire

Great Crested Grebe Stoney Cove

Great Crested Grebe chick having a stretch

Diving Great crested Grebe

Common Buzzard Stoney Cove

Yellow-legged Gull, Cropston Reservoir Leicestershire

Sparrowhawk, Cropston Reservoir

Kingfisher, Cropston Reservir

Mandarin Duck, Thorton Reservoir

Black-headed Gull Tornton Reservoir

Thanks for stopping by, and I'll post about our exploits when we return from Shetland.