March 31st.

Little Owl...........Photo by (J Galletly).

Little Owl showed well today (J Galletly).

March 30th.

Yellowhammer (male).

Song Thrush.

7-30 / 9-10 nice and sunny but a cold south west wind. Still 5 Yellowhammers feeding around the paddock, also 2 Tree Sparrows again. 51 Pied Wagtails in the large ploughed field but alas no Wheatear yet. 2 Buzzards displaying overhead and 39 Sand Martins over the main pool, still 2 Redwing hanging on also good number of Song Thrush seen this morning.3 Chiffchaff in song and a Blackcap by the waterfall.(S Seal).
19 Goosanders roosted this evening (9 drakes) and a Greenshank flew in late at 19-50, (B Kington).

March 29th.

Yellowhammer (female).

Yellowhammer (male).

Yellowhammer (male).

Early start this morning 7-45 / 9-30, weather strong south west winds, clear sky and sunny. The reason for this mornings early start was to try a get some images of the Yellowhammers that were in the horse paddocks yesterday.Yellowhammers are not that common at Shustoke, just one or two records of single birds most years. I soon found 5 birds (2 males & 3 females) feeding about 30yds in but they were very nervous, and any movement made them fly into the hedgerows,as their is no entry into the paddocks it took quite some time to get a few decent record images .Also noted 3 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Redwing and 3 Buzzards displaying overhead.
S Seal.

March 28th.

Little Grebe...

Carrion Crow...

Afternoon session 14-10 / 16-20, weather strong south west, cloudy with periods of sunshine. Nothing much at all on the pool just the usuall Grebes , Little and Great Crested a few Tufties and Coots. 8 Snipe to the western end on the flashes, and a Buzzard over. Grey Wagtail on the shoreline and several Goldfinch around the car park. Along Bixhill Lane around 40 Pied Wagtails in the large ploughed field but no sign of yesterdays White Wag, 2 Tree Sparrows and 7 Yellowhammers (3 males) in the Horse Paddock.
S Seal, B Kington.

March 27th.

17-45 / 19-00 weather mild with light south west breeze. water calm, and clear sky. Goosanders had reached 21 by the time i left (8 drakes , 13 females) still a good number for this time of the year. Pied Wagtails were now upto 80+ in the large ploughed field also 1 White Wagtail amongst them. Grey Wagtail on the shore by car park and a Oystercatcher over. (S Seal , B Kington).

March 25th.

Late Evening 18-00 / 18-45, weather milder than late, with light north west wind.
90 Sand Martin and 26 Goosanders , 9 drakes , 2 sub-adult drakes and 15 redheads.
(B Kington).

March 24th.

Goosanders...........Late Evening.

Another late evening visit 17-15 / 18-10. Very cold north west wind, overcast light snow showers. all that and a Chiffchaff was still singing in the car park. The reason for another late visit was to check on the roosting Goosanders,which come in from nearby Ladywalk and off the rivers Tame and Blyth, when i arrived their was none. By the car park was one lone Redwing and a Grey Wagtail, 16 Wigeon noted on the main pool,and 45 Sand Martin. 2 Tree Sparrows again in the Horse Paddock, and along Bixhill Lane 54 Pied Wagtails and 4 Red Legged Partridge in the larger of the two ploughed fields.Back by the car park and the Goosanders had started to arrive (17-40), by the time i left at 18-10 their were 23 on the pool (7 drakes, 16 redheads). This is my personal best, and i managed a record shot of a pair in very poor light.
S Seal.....

March 23rd.

A late evening visit 17-25 / 18-30, weather cold skies clear water calm, light north west breeze.
Grey Wagtail was by the car park, 43 Wigeon feeding on the bank and mixed flock of around 300 Fieldfare and Redwing on the flashes . The first Goosanders came in at 17-50 1 male & 2 female, by 18-30 6 males & 6 females had arrived. Also seen 2 drake Shoveler, 8 Sand Martin and a Little Owl. (S Seal, D Hutton).
By 19-00 the Goosander total was 22 (B Kington).

March 21st.

Grey Wagtail.........by car park....................(Midland Bird Images).

Just a quick look from the car park 8-00 this morning, weather strong north west winds but clear skies. 47 Wigeon just left of the car park feeding on the grass, Kingfisher over main pool, 3 Buzzards battling against the winds, 1 Chiffchaff heard but not seen and a Grey Wagtail looking nice in the early morning sunshine, (S Seal). Two pair of Goosanders at the western end this afternoon (J Oates).

March 20th.

Weather overcast, damp, light north west breeze.
The first Sand Martins arrived on the pool today with 3 birds seen this morning. Its well known that the ducks make frequent visits between the pool and nearby Ladywalk and the lakes of Coton and Lea Marston, so its no surprise that 52 Wigeon arrived back on the main pool this morning. Very quite elsewhere around , just 24 Pied Wags , 12 Lapwing and 2 R L Partridge in the ploughed field along Bixhill Lane. (B Kington).

March 19th.

Weather sunny with a cold north west breeze. Very quite today with no sign of yesterdays pair of Scaup, just 7 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 3 Goldeneye (2fem & 1 male) on the main pool . And along Bixhill lane Tree Sparrow and Chiffchaff. (B Kington). Grey Wagtail (B Hazell).

March 18th.

Pair of Scaup.....main pool.............photo by (D. Hutton).

A pair of Scaup were found on the main pool this afternoon, they were asleep most of the time at the eastern end. The last record of Scaup at Shustoke was a first winter drake on the small pool during Nov 06. Also present this evening Tree Sparrow and Chiffchaff at the back of the sailing club and before we left 6 Goosanders had arrived (3 drakes, 3 redheads) S Seal, D Hutton.

Earlier today a Little Owl , Grey Wagtail and another Chiffchaff in the car park (B Kington).

Previous Scaup Records.

1......Oct 73 (imm drake)

2......Mar 76 (Pair)

3......Mar 77 (Pair)

4......Nov 79 (female)

5......June 81 (imm drake)

6......Dec 94 (imm female)

7......Mar 96 (imm drake)

8......Dec 96 (female)

9......Jan 97 (female)

10.....Nov 97 (female)

11.....Nov 06 (1w drake)

S Seal............

March 16th.( Late Evening)

Late evening 17-55 / 18-40,
24 Goosanders roosted this evening, only 7 came in before dusk. Also a Barn Owl circled the sewage farm then flew over the fields at the western end at 18-30 ( B Kington).

March 16th.

A late afternoon visit in hope of a few migrants 15-00 / 16-15 , weather overcast strong north east wind. Sailing boats were still out on the main pool so all the ducks had moved off, I walked slowly around in hope of an early Chiffchaff as Lee had found one the previous day, but no such look. I had also hoped for Sand Martin over the main pool but alas no look again. Down at the eastern end a small group of Tufted ducks, 8 Little Grebe and 29 Great Crested Grebe. The small pool being more sheltered had several more Great Crested Grebes, 38 Tufted Duck but no Wigeon at all. 2 Green Woodpeckers were feeding on the short grass and 2 Greylags flew west. Along Bixhill Lane still a small number of Pied Wags in the ploughed field, this field is looking good and should bring in Wheatear and Yellow Wag. Two Red Legged Partridge were still along the back edge of the field, and around 30+ Lapwing. Next onto the horse paddock and to my suprise 1 Tree Sparrow in full view along with small numbers of Goldfinch, Chaffinch , Greenfinch, 1 lone Redwing and 11 Long-tailed Tits. Back to the car park and a pair of Goosanders had just landed at the western end a Kingfisher flushed from the overhanging vegetation, and around 70 Wood Pigeons flying west.( S Seal).

March 15th.

Weather, Overcast light south west wind.
A quick look from the car park this morning at 9-00, just one pair of Goosanders left from last night, and around 60+ Wigeon feeding over the far side. (S Seal). This afternoon the first Chiffchaff back calling from the hedgerow by sewage treatment works, (L Johnson).

March 14th.

Weather dry sunny and light southerly winds, 14-30 / 16-00. Very quite at the pool today, a steady walk around with Kay and Max (thanks for the company guys), found 68 Wigeon on the main pool, and 35 on the small pool, also 11 Little Grebe and around 20 Great Crested Grebes. Smaller numbers of Tufted and Coots noted today. Along Bixhill lane still around 20 + Pied Wagtails, a small party off Lapwing and only 2 Red Legged Partridge. No Tree Sparrows again at the Horse Paddocks and smaller numbers of Chaffinch and Goldfinch. I made a return visit at 18-15 on my way home and found that 15 Goosanders had come into roost again at the western end of the main pool (9 redheads & 6 drakes). S Seal.

March 8th.

8-30 / 9-40 a strong south west wind overcast. Water levels are now increasing. Main pool very quite only 1 Grey Wagtail and 3 Pieds on the shore line, wildfowl numbers 19 Great Crested Grebe, 68 Wigeon (all feeding around the small pool), 28 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 37 Mallard, 62 Coot, 2 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swan, and 8 Moorhen. Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and 5 Redwing feeding on the short grass around the small pool. Along Bixhill Lane 33 Pied Wagtails feeding in ploughed field, the field looks good for Wheatear and Yellow Wags ?. Also present along the lane several Goldfinch, 4 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer, and 4 Red Legged Partridge. Around the Horse Paddock 2 more Redwing, Song and Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch , no sign of any Tree Sparrows. Back at the car park a drake Shoveler noted at the western end, nice to see these at Shustoke , they are more frequent at nearby Ladywalk and on cliff pool Kingsbury where the water levels are lower , all the Pochard now seem to have moved on. Also present this morning 2 Grey Heron, 2 LBB Gulls and a Common Gull. (S Seal).

March 7th.

Drake Wigeon on the small pool.

A steady walk around late afternoon, south west wind sunny.
3 Grey Wagtails along the shore by the car park, very little on the main pool . Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers by the small pool, 37 Wigeon and18 Pochard still also 3 Gadwall and a female Ruddy Duck. Along Bixhill lane 2 Yellowhammers and 7 Linnet and 2 Red legged Partridge at the back of the ploughed field. Around the Horse paddocks it was very quite but 1 Tree Sparrow found feeding with the Chaffinchs. Back at the car park i noted a redhead Goosander had come onto the main pool, looking a little further to the western end i saw 5 more Goosanders 3 more redheads and 2 drakes.Gull numbers were down but 19 Common Gull and 26 Lesser Black backs noted. (S Seal).

March 1st.

A quick visit and view from the car park this morning at 8-00, overcast and very strong westerlies 7. Viewing made difficult with the wind, one female Goosander and around 50+ Wigeon, very little else seen on the main pool.
(S Seal, D Hutton).