November 28th.

Common Pochard...........photo by S Seal.

Large flocks of Common Pochard winter on the region,s larger lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits, but is a scarce and sporadic breeding species.Within the region, a significant change in winter distribution began in 1980,s when large flocks first gathered at the new purification lakes at Coton/Lea Marston. Shustoke Reservoir is also frequently used as a refuge when birds are disturbed from elsewhere. But over the last decade numbers have dramatically declined.
Oct04, 210...... Nov04, 281...... Dec04, 160.
Oct05, 17....... Nov05, 35....... Dec05, 73.
Oct06, 37....... Nov06, 49....... Dec06, 56.
Oct07, 11....... Nov07, 28....... Dec07, 65.
Oct08, 9........ Nov08, 21......

S Seal.....

November 28th

A drake Teal was a slightly unusual record late morning in the centre of the main pool, this represents only the 4th record for the site during this autumn/winter period so far. A drake Ruddy Duck was also present again on the main pool. Pochard numbers increased to 21. Although the Siskin flock in the eastern corner of the site had decreased in size compared to yesterday, there are now 3 Lesser Redpoll mixed in with the group. Other birds noted were 8 Goldcrest, 1 Willow Tit, Treecreeper, Kingfisher, 2 Common Gull and 6 RL Partridge.
L Johnson...

November 27th

Duck movement has continued over the last few days with no sign of any Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck or Wigeon today. The drake Gadwall was still present on the small pool with another drake new in on the main pool. Tufted Duck numbers had increased greatly, with 106 this morning. Also recorded were 10 Pochard, 4 Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper, 45 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll.
L Johnson...

November 24th

Another quick walk around the pools produced 9 Pochard, 1 Ruddy Duck (female), 1 Gadwall (drake) and a Goldcrest. New in were 2 drake Wigeon on the small pool, hopefully the start of the returning wintering flock.
L Johnson...

November 23rd

Little of note this morning in a brief walk around the main pool. Birds noted were 9 Pochard, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper and 10+ Siskin. There seemed to be good numbers of Song thrush around, with 3+ in the horse paddocks and at least 5 with 20+ Redwing and 10+ Blackbird at the western end.
L Johnson...

November 19th

This morning saw further increases in duck numbers, with Tufted now up to 75, Pochard numbered 16. Also present were a Gadwall and a female Ruddy Duck. There was no sign however of Mondays Goldeneye. Other species noted this morning include 9 Golcrest, 3 Treecreeper, 1 Willow tit, 5+ Coal tit, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and 11 Red legged Partridge.
L Johnson...

November 17th

A quick walk around the main pool in the rain this morning saw another increase in duck numbers. Pochard were up to 14 while a female Goldeneye was a new arival, as was a drake Ruddy Duck. Other species noted included Gadwall, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 6 Goldcrest and a Redpoll (over).
L Johnson...

November 16th

Another increase in Pochard numbers this morning to a total of 10. 1 Redpoll flew over the main pool. Goldcrests numbered 11 with at least 2 treecreeper. A Grey Wagtail was the only other bird of note. Highlight of the morning was a weasel, present on the railway embankment for several minutes before heading off into the fields north of the railway.
L Johnson...

November 14th

The main centre of interest this morning was around the horse paddocks and adjacent field, where a reasonably large flock of finches was present. The majority of the flock was made up by Linnets, which numbered around 50. Also present were 20+ Chaffinch, 10+ Greenfinch, 5 House Sparrow, 1 Yellowhammer (female) and a Meadow Pipit. There was a small movement of large gulls heading south over the main pool early morning, this contained 2 Herring Gull and around 30 LBB Gull. Also noted this morning were 5 Pochard, 3 Bullfinch, 6 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 18 RL Partridge, Grey Wagtail, 6 Skylark (over), 60 BH Gull and a Common Gull.
L Johnson...

November 13th

Some duck movement over the past few days has resulted in a drop in the number of Tufted duck on site, with 44 recorded this morning. There was also no sign of the female Ruddy duck. Pochard numbers on the other hand had increased from 3 drakes on Tuesday to 7 (4 drakes and 3 ducks). The first recorded wigeon at the site for this winter period flew over the main pool mid morning, the flock numbering around 30 continued north along the Tame valley. Other species noted were Grey Wagtail, 9 Goldcrest, 20 Siskin, 100+ Redwing, 80+ Fieldfare, RL Partridge, 17 Phesant and a Gadwall (drake).
L Johnson...

November 11th

Not much change from last week with similar numbers of duck, including the 3 Pochard. A single Brambling was again present along the railway, although proving to be rather elusive. A female Ruddy duck was new in, spending most of the time in amongst the coot at the eastern end. The only other species not recorded for a few weeks to be present this morning was Tree Sparrow; a few of which were in the horse paddocks, mixed in with a large group of House Sparrow and Greenfinch. Other species noted this morning were 7 Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, 80+ Redwing, 20+ Fieldfare, 20+ Siskin, 2 Sparrowhawk and Kingfisher. Finally on a sad note, the last remaining Mute swan cygnet from this years brood was found dead just north of the car park.
L Johnson...

Nov 6th - Gull roost

After the 3 Caspian's this week I took the chance to do the roost in the hope that one or more may come in tonight. It soon became apparent however that my luck had run out after the Lesser spot and Brambling this morning. The gull roost had decreased greatly in size since my last look on Sunday. LBB Gull's numbered just 100 with 300+ BH Gull and just 15 Herring Gull. Interestingly Common Gulls were up to 6 (from 4 on Sunday). The most notable bird in the roost was an albino Black headed Gull. Other birds of note were Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail.
L Johnson...

November 6th

Not much change on the pools this morning with the usual suspects around the site. Until that is, when checking the hedge line along the railway. My luck suddenly changed while looking through a mixed tit flock. As I was searching through the flock a Brambling flew in calling from the south and landed in trees on the opposite side of the railway. After admiring the female Brambling for litterally seconds, a bird caught my eye flying between tree trunks through the back of the same headge, soon revealing its self as a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. After hanging around for all of about 30 seconds the woodpecker then flew off west along the railway. This represents the first record of both of these species at the site this year. The 5 or 6 mixed tit flocks around the site this morning also produced high counts of 4 Treecreeper and a total of 21 Goldcrest (equaling my previous highest count of this species for the site). Also noted this morning were 8+ Siskin, 1 Redpoll (over), 5 Meadow Pipit, Kingfisher, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 GS Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 GC Grebe, 48 Tufted Duck, 1 Gadwall and 3 Pochard.
L Johnson...

Report - November 4th

A 1st winter Caspian Gull was reported to be present in the gull roost at 16:45. Never recorded at the site until Sunday...now 3 in a week!

November 3rd

Another unusual record at the site this morning, this time in the form of a female/1st winter Blackcap. The bird was present in the horse paddocks to the south of the main pool. It will be interesting to see if it over winters or was just passing through. Other species noted this morning were 15 RL Partridge, 1 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 8 Goldcrest, 5+ Redpoll (over) and at least 10 Siskin. Although Tufted duck numbers seemed slightly lower than yesterday Pochard were up to 3, all of which were drakes.
L Johnson...

Nov 2nd - Gull roost

After the adult Caspian this morning I decided it was about time I did the gull roost. This evening left me wondering why i didn't do the Shustoke roost more often. Shortly after my arival the adult Caspian gull from this morning came into the roost, quickly followed by an adult Yellow legged Gull and another Caspian Gull, this time a sub adult. Other gulls numbered 92 Herring Gull, 400+ LBB Gull, 400+ BH Gull, just 4 Common Gull and 1 GBB Gull (2nd winter). To round off the evening a Dunlin flew in calling from the east and circled the pool before heading off to roost along the southern shoreline.
L Johnson...

November 2nd

The highlight this morning was in the form of an adult Caspian Gull. The bird was present in the centre of the main pool in the company of an adult Herring Gull. Both birds were present for around 25 mins before departing high to the east at 11:00am. This represents the first ever site record of Caspian Gull. Also noted this morning were 20+ LBB Gull, 3 Greylag Geese, 50+ Redwing, 40+ Fieldfare, 20 Chaffinch, 30+ Goldfinch and 3 Goldcrest. Duck numbers appear to have increased again with 58 Tufted duck, 2 drake Pochard and a drake Gadwall
L Johnson...