Foggy start to November 2015

Monday 2nd November and a foggy start to the month, after driving to Sheffield for a call, I went to the Lincolnshire coast on my way home, hoping that there would be no fog, but arriving at RSPB Freiston shore the fog was just as bad. Anyway as this was my first time here I had a walk around, seeing: Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Grey plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Herring gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin. Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Great tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow, Goldfinch, and had a look in the old WWII defences.

Wednesday 4th November, and after working in High Wycombe I drove to Tring reservoirs Hertsfordshire, and had good views of the drake Ring-necked duck, also saw the following: Little grebe, Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Red-crested pochard, Pochard, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Golden plover, Lapwing, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Great spotted woodpecker, Pied wagtail, Wren, Robin. Blackbird, Cetti's warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.

Friday 6th November went with two of my sons and a couple of their friends to see Mötley Crüe on their final tour with Alice Cooper as support at Wembley Arena. I remember the first time I saw Mötley Crüe live, it was at Monsters of  Rock 1984 Donington Park when they were the opening act.

Wednesday 11th November, as I was working in Havant so made the short drive to Lower Test Marshes Hampshire, to see the CACKLING CANADA GOOSE, also saw Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Mute swan, Canada goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Buzzard, Pheasant, Water rail, Moorhen, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Kingfisher, Great spotted woodpecker, Meadow pipit, Wren, Robin. Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow, Chaffinch, Roe deer & some bees had made a large nest box their home.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 200

Friday 13th November and before work I had a quick walk around Hurley Lock seeing: Cormorant. Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Mallard, Red kite, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked parakeet, Green woodpecker, Pied wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Starling, Chaffinch, goldfinch & Siskin. I went back to Hurley at lunchtime and added Little grebe, Great crested grebe, Sparrowhawk, Pheasant, Feral pigeon, Kingfisher, Great spotted woodpecker, Wren, Blackbird, Coal tit & House sparrow.

Monday 16th November and I went up to Coventry for some calls, and as I finished early and the EURASIAN CRAG MARTIN had been reported again at Chesterfield Derbyshire. I put in the address for St Mary & All Saints church and set of hoping it would return to fly around the Crooked spire. I arrived a little before 13:00 and joined the other birders, some had been waiting all morning, I was lucky as after around 15mins the Crag martin reappeared and flew around the crooked spire, and I managed to get a record shot, as it whizzed around overhead, also seen while waiting Feral pigeon, Black-headed gull &  Pied wagtail. So another new bird added to my life list.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 201

Wednesday 18th November, after working in High Wycombe, I dropped into Little Marlow gravel pit, on my way home seeing: Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Grey heron, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted duck, Red kite, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot,  Lapwing, Black-headed gull, Common gull, one of the Lesser black-backed gulls was a Dutch ringed bird (White with WO), Herring gull, KITTIWAKE, this was a surprise and needed for the year list, but the Kittiwake looked tired/unwell as it just bobbed around near the bank, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Wren, Robin. Blackbird, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Starling & Goldfinch.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 202

Friday 20th November, Working near Aldgate today so I had a lunchtime walk around The Tower of London.

Thursday 26th November, Tracey, Tracey's brother, one of his friends and I went to the O2 Greenwich to see Simple Minds with The Stranglers supporting, for another great night of live music.