Avez-Vous un Cuppa?

Here's a roundup of some of the stuff I've seen down the local patch in the Soar Valley over the last month. These have included the long-staying Glossy Ibis at Wanlip Meadows LRWT , the one day twitchable Great White Egret at Cossington Meadows LRWT.  A nice looking 2 winter Yellow-legged Gull,  and a  Juvenile type Black Tern  at Watermead CP South . 2nd Winter Yellow-legged Gull at Watermead CP South Another shot of the Yellow-legged Gull at Watermead CP South. Record shot of the Great White Egret at Cossington Meadows LRWT. Juvenile Black Tern at Watermead CP South. A sleeping Glossy Ibis at Wanlip Meadows LRWT.  

Along with my mate John Hague and Pete Jessop we have all decided to do a Soar Valley year list. The challenge of the year is to see hopefully up to 140 species over the year. So the first week highlights have been the elusive Bittern at Watermead CP North, the "down at your feet" Mandarin on Worcester Lake, up to six Woodcocks in the recording area and the Owl show at Cossington Meadows. So going to press I have currently seen 71 species in the valley, with John on 74 species and Peter not too far behind. So as there said "Game on!?"........................

Sometimes you think why did I bother going out Birding as this was one day when nothing went to plan?! The plan of the day was originally for myself, John and Brian to go to Norfolk, but as John had a bit of man flu we decided that it wasn't the best idea to be stuck in a car for two hours with someone coughing up there guts!! So me and Brian decided instead to check out a few sites in Leicestershire. Well to cut a long story short, we dipped on any Jack Snipe in the Soar Valley , there was no interesting Gulls at Albert Village Lake , no sign of any Corn Buntings at Oakthorpe and to top off a great day absolutely nothing of note at Swithland Reservoir !!! Hopefully as spring is approaching this day will be a distant memory when I'm chasing the spring migrants all over the county in the next few months?