The day that you don’t go over! @**&£*@($(%@@@

This hurts!

Thanks to the original photographer (stunning pic – considering he was slicing the mainbrace at the time), and Bobby D who’s website I borrowed this from. I haven’t managed to get over this week, nor next as I am Hillwalking just 86 Munro’s left. I will try and get some Scottish species to put on the blog when I get back. It should start to liven up a little soon. The only report I have received is of four Common Tern (Bobby D).

Red-necked Phalarope, Shustoke Reservoir
Sunday 29th May 2011 (Not June as in pre-corrected post)

I just want to cry!!!!!

Sunday 19th June

Very much the same as yesterday although there were a lot more family parties of birds with lots of juveniles around. At least four family groups of Blackcap were observed. Whitethroat as well we plentiful. There was a singing Skylark on Bixhill Lane whilst the field of Oil Seed Rape in that corner again provided plenty of finches.

Lapwing numbers have hit double figures “10” and there appeared less Terns than yesterday. Also I am pretty sure that I had a sub-adult Caspian Gull briefly last week, I only had my bins with me the only features I picked up were the long bill and as it flew away it had a large area of black on the tail. I only mention it as there have been a couple seen at Dosthill and it is worth keeping an eye out for.

Apologies to all gull enthusiasts for the vague description.

Saturday 18th June

Had a walk around this morning and as expected it was rather quiet. There was an adult Grey Wagtail and a juvenile near the carpark, and I assume that they have bred nearby. There were around ten Common Tern and Lapwing are starting to reappear although at the moment they are still in single figures.

There were the usual warblers singing around the site although Willow Warbler appear to be thin on the ground this year. As I tend to stay in the immediate area I don’t know if that is a general trend or just locally. I had another Reed Bunting at a different site today. I also observed family parties of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Recent bits

Have not been over for a week, but did have the best views ever of a Hobby near Shustoke, it was just sat in a tree by the footpath no more than 30 yards away, it obviously thought that I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t believe how gentle it looked – unlike most birds of prey.

There are a couple of singing pairs of Yellowhammer on the ouskirts of Shustoke Village and Little Ringed Plover have bred successfully nearby.

Hopefully, weather permitting, I will get over at the weekend.

Saturday 11th June

Took a walk over around 9am and did my usual circuit. It wasn’t a bad day, there were a few Whitethroats and Blackcap singing, with lots of family parties of birds in evidence.

To the seasoned birder there was little to write home about – but I did see 45 species which good for this time of year. There were a pair of Little Grebe at the east end and a pair of Gt Crested Grebe have decided to try nesting at this end now. All seven pairs that were near the car park have failed.

I saw a single Willow Tit at Warbler Corner and that area also held Whitethroat, Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper and Coal Tit.

The Oil Seed Rape field in the south-east corner held a mixed flock of 150 finches with lots of Linnet, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.

There was also a singing Reed Bunting on the South Shore this is addition to another pair that are breeding in the wet meadows at the west end.

Sunday 5th June

Quiet, very quiet – or so I thought, I actually saw more than I was expecting – which wasn’t much. Highlight was a 1st summer Common Gull, boring I know but unusual for this time of year, and to be fair it wasn’t stopping and went straight through.

There was a single Common Tern, no doubt they will be more regular when the bring their youngsters here later in the summer to feed. It appears Shustoke provides a reliable food source but little in the way of nesting habitat. The other good bird today was a Redshank which was a surprise. Anyway until next time.

Stuck at Work - Wondering

I have received an email today from Mark Fennell to say that were two Red-necked Phalarope at Shustoke reported on Sunday. I will not be able to get over until later but if anyone can get over and see if they are still present I would appreciate it.

regards

more later.

Not much more

Needless to say Sundays Red-necked Phalarope were well gone. I didn’t get over on Sunday but I did manage a trip on Monday after the rain. And although they could be easily missed I didn’t see them then. I had a scan yesterday after work and drew a blank.

Later No.2 son dropped Joy and I + dog at Bentley Woods and we walked back through the lanes via Botts Green and across the Tamworth Road, then around the back of the reservoir. There were a couple of pairs of Spotted Flycatcher at Bentley Woods but the lanes on the way back were very quiet. While not scientific there appeared to be a decline in Song bird numbers from previous years. I didn’t see or hear Little Owl, Tree Sparrow, Lesser Whitethroat, Skylark or Garden Warbler. There were only four singing Yellowhammer heard which is way down on previous years.

At the reservoir a couple of Chiffchaff were singing and a single Green Woodpecker.