An early morning start saw a trip to the area around Shenstone, Worcestershire with a fellow birder Stuart from Bromsgrove which while photographically unrewarding proved to be a nice few hours in the fresh albeit hazy morning air wandering around the lanes and scanning the fields and hedgerows. In fact a nice change from being in more or less one spot down at the reserve, although by the time I got the the reserve later in the day I was glad to plonk my backside down on a bench for a while.
The visit yielded, Redwing, Fieldfare, Yellowhammer, Dunnock, Blue / Long tailed / Great tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, ChiffChaff, a solitary Kestrel and 5 Buzzard. Attempts were made to get some shots but the best of the bunch for my part was a non too good shot of the Yellowhammer.
After some refreshment I made my way down to my usual patch of Upton Warren and headed initially for the Moors for a while, giving the Bittern a miss as I have seen it the last two days running and even though soon it will be off on its travels. I then made my way to the Flashes for a quick visit that ended up being a little more prolonged than I had planned.
The trip this time yielded Kingfisher, Buzzard, Avocet (5), Little Ringed Plover (3), Curlew (2), Snipe (5), Redshank (2), Lapwing, Teal, Chaffinch, Bullfinch (3 pairs), Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Robin, Blue / Great / Longtailed Tit, Wren, Shell Duck, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Pheasant and Black Headed Gull.
A reasonably long day by the end with the bins but a pleasant day all round, even if the photographs weren't forthcoming but it isn't just about being able to get some pics (although a nice in focus and not behind a twig photograph of the Yellowhammer wouldn't have gone amiss). Below one of the Redshank in the failing sunlight at the end of the day's birding.
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