Cracking Wryneck

Up earlyish this morning - and off to Invinghoe. Lots of people there to see if they could spot the birdie - a fortunate spot of a common redstart - and then I went for a final look to see if the birdie was around - only me there - and bingo! The WRYNECK was sitting in the bush!
I called it in and then bumped into Roy who sent it to the locals. Quite chuffed!

Wryneck at Ivinghoe

Redstart 

Another Spotted Crake Dip

A drive after work to Kent (Grove Ferry) produced yet another dip on this species. It's now officially my bogey bird

Lake Windermere Goosander

A lovely weekend in the Lakes with AD's family , Jon spotted a water bird that I identified as a Goosander. Fortunately two were very close to the campsite given that its a massive lake quite a result . Interesting to see them hunt in a pair and try to push the fish out of the waters edge. Sad that one had fishing line out its bill
Pleased with this pic - great light that morning

Goosander at Windermere

Wall Butterfly Lifer #27

A trip to Walney Island (South End) near Barrow on Furness with AD produced a lifer butterfly - a
WALL flitting about in the sunshine

Wall

A pair of Common Scoter  out at sea - some distant record shots

Common Scoter

We're off to sea a gull, a Boneparte's Gull

A birthday visit to Heysham produced an adult BONEPARTE'S GULL for the second time of asking - the first time on my own before breakfast, then with AD ! 

Boneparte's Gull

Lifer (300 miles and 40 quid!)

A trip to Broomhead Reservoir near Sheffield on Stsurday morning produced a timely sighting of a TWO BARRED CROSSBILL - Lifer #279.
A distant shot acquired, had to get back to Berko for lunch with Debz and then copious beer on the Boat for Leon's birthday. Made it back by 14:58 - 2 mins to spare .
Possibly my longest twitch - except for the courser , so longest self driven twitch to date !

Two Barred Crossbill - completes the Crossbill Group!

Birding at the ressies

A trip and stay back in Herts allowed an injection of kickboxing and some ressie action - some shots over the last few days from Marsworth, Startops and Tringford

An Eclipse Male Mandarin

Common Scoter still

Juvenile Fox at Tringford

Herring Gull at Marsworth

Juvenile Common Tern also

Pec Sand Year Tick at Eton

A trip to Eton Common this morning produced a quick few minutes of a PECTORAL SANDPIPER - maybe the same one I saw there last year

Year tick # 178

Pec Sand at Eton Wick

Finemere Wood

The butterfly wood produced a few nice shots today on a stroll with Denz .... 

Peacock with a curly tongue

Peacock 

White Admiral

Silver Washed Fritillary

Small White

Yellowhammer

Back at the ressies with a year tick

Went to Startops this morning and saw a COMMON SCOTER (female)
#177 for the year

Female Common Scoter