Nethergong Birding

With some nice sunshine forecast for this morning, I decided on a trip over to Nethergong to see if any new birds could could found as the year list has somewhat haltered. I left home at 6.30am where I cycled the 20 minute journey in the dark which was actually quite nice. Good number of Thrushes could be heard calling as I made my way along the lanes. I arrived just before 7am where after parking up, I collected my tripod and camouflage coat which I had brought down the night before. I have decided to set myself a Kingfisher challenge and see if I can get any better quality shots than I did the other day. I have positioned a stick, albeit not the best looking one which I might have to change on the stream and a few metres away, I have a place where I can sit quietly, sheltered by some bushes and a wooden fence. It gives me a nice view of the post but I think I will have to purchase some camouflage netting so I can get really comfortable and move around unnoticed. After a walk around, I settled in position for an hour or so when the sun broke through and despite seeing the Kingfisher on a few occasions whizzing up the stream, it didn't stop to check out the post. I suspect it may take some time but hopefully I can persevere and get lucky sometime. With my legs seizing up, I spent a few hours walking around the site which is now closed to the public which allows me to walk anywhere in peace and really check the site out. I managed to see or hear 52 species today which included a new bird for the year when a Brambling (106) was heard calling as it flew over. A bonus bird and one which I thought I had a chance with. Other birds noted included 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, c30 Fieldfare, c15 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Jay, 2 Stonechat which showed incredibly well and allowed me to grab a number of pleasing images of this species, possibly my best yet.

Stonechat (male)

There were 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 4 Pheasant, 2 Common Buzzard, 16 Cormorant, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Reed Bunting, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 17 Skylark west, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Blackcap, 1 Merlin chasing groups of Starling, 1 Snipe, 4 Siskin and 1 Yellowhammer.  Before I left I met up with the owner of the site, Jed, who informed me that he had seen a Little Grebe on the lake a few days earlier but wasn't sure if it had moved on or not. This would be a new bird for me at Nethergong so I shall make a point of taking some time to look tomorrow morning in between staking out the Kingfishers.    

 Stonechat (male)