January 2nd

After yesterday's excitement of seeing a Cormorant at Netherton's Reservoir, I returned today with bated breath, but atlas the Cormorant had gone, not that stopped the rest of the birds down there, putting on a display, was it, the mild weather??, I'm not sure, but if you just stood, you could be forgiven, for thinking, it was  the first day of Spring, from the birds in the tree, singing and chatting, to Coots posturing and chasing one another, YES I did say Coots                                       
                                                                                                   

but my firm favourite to see down there, is the Grebe's, and yes one had returned, I had seen it on New Years Day, but in my excitement over the Cormorant, I had forgotten to mention it

I think he/she is A Great Crested Winter Grebe, but my knowledge of Bird names are limited, as I have only just started on, my getting out and about quest with my camera, so if anyone knows their birds, feel free to let me know, if I get any wrong, so on wards, what else was over there, well, Gulls galore, a couple of Morhen's, and a group of Mallard Ducks, all very animated and vocal.

two Gulls chasing one another 

Mallard Ducks, but there seems to be one slightly different to the others and I haven't a clue what breed it is, so again if any one knows feel free to let me know.

the other none water birds, that was flying and chirping around, was a couple of Robins, loads of male and female Black Birds, Carion Crows, Magpies and my two favs ( well one I don't know the name a tiny little Black and white Bird in the tree) and the other a Blue Tit.

So those are my gems from January 2nd 2013, so hopefully there will be more coming out for an airing on January 3rd, till I blog again, stay safe and healthy and get out there, there's plenty to see 

bye for now 

  

First of all Happy New Year, to one and all, well on this first day of 2013, I woke up to a full moon in the sky, followed by brilliant Sunshine, what could anyone more ask for, so donning my boots grabbing my Camera, off I trott to Netherton Reservoir, what was I expecting to see well, coots, gulls, ducks and maybe if I'm lucky, a Swan, but "Oh Boy" was I surprised.

All my life I have lived and played as a child around Netherton Reservoir, many a day with my string tied empty Jam Jar and green fishing net, but never have I seen this sight.

The first thing I noticed as I approached the first bench at the top of the Reservoir, was the noise the Gulls was making and the display they was showing, my eyes was immediately drawn down by the Canal House and the opening, my eyes quickly scanned across the reservoir and there to my amazement a large bird, brown in colour on a buoy ,with wings out stretched, has if drying them off in the sun, I knew what I was seeing was special, but what was the bird.

It wasn't a Grebe, it was way too big, but it dived down like a Grebe under the water, all I could do was snap away, what was this bird doing on a Reservoir in the heart of the Black Country, what was the Bird called, would it be there tomorrow, we will have to wait and see, I will endeavour to go and see, I rushed back to look at the pictures, knowing all too well this is not the best camera for long range shots, but I tried my best with what equipement I had, so here goes with my photo's

 
I hope these pictures are enough for people to identify it, so if there are any bird people out there, please let me, what it actually is, I'm leaning towards a Cormarant, but I'm still not sure, please get in touch with me if you know, but what a New Years Day present I had and little ole Netherton Reservoir, in the heart of the West Midlands, who would have thought ;)

Have a great New Years Day

Andrea