25 July 2011

Haven’t managed to get over the Reservoir much recently but there are a few Hobby around at the moment with a couple of juveniles seen (as well as the adults). I also had a fly over Peregrine on Saturday. Lots of Whitethroat around the garden at the moment and I had a family party of Treecreeper and a Nuthatch in recent days. For the first time in nine years I have had no attempts at breeding by Tree Sparrow, however I noticed yesterday a Grey Squirrel checking out the nest boxes. I will have to take measures!

I also have a problem with a pair of Red-legged Partridge that have taken up residence in my garden. They seem to think that I am putting out grass seed for there benefit, so my lawn is still patchy!

Wednesday 20th July

Very quiet, the Common Sandpiper was still present and so were double figures of Common Tern. There was a Kingfisher on the river and a family party of Bullfinch fighting it out with a family party of Chaffinch for the occupation of a berry filled tree!

Lapwing numbers are around 40 but on the whole not much is calling and mid to late evening is not the ideal time to visit but needs must.

Coleshill Quarry held 3 LRP and a Green Sandpiper on Tuesday evening but the site is now that overgrown it has probably past is productive life from a birding point of view. That small area between the river and the footpath would make an ideal local nature reserve, similar to the Sandwell Valley RSPB, a small hide and a bit of management work and it could be a wader haven.

14th July

Had a pleasant walk around today with the wife and mutt. There were around 20 Common Tern with this years young – so they must have bred locally. There was also a single Common Sandpiper and I had a Hobby but all in all it was very quiet.

Scotland trip

I spent a week in Scotland hillwalking and birding at the end of June. It was really quiet bird wise as I chose to visit Blackdog Sands the day the White-winged Scoter decided not too. But we had a good day out and saw the King Eider at the Ythan.

King Eider, The Ythan Estuary

Common Sandpiper, Glen Almond

Whinchat, Glen Almond

Oystercatcher, Glen Almond

At the summit of my 200th Munro in Glen Etive

Thursday 7 July

After a break of a couple of weeks I managed to get over for an hour this evening, surprisingly the car park was nearly empty all but a couple of cars. Bird wise it was similar but a flyover Oystercatcher was welcome. There were around a dozen Common Tern all adults, hopefully as happened last year they will bring the fledged young and numbers will grow.

Lapwing numbers are starting to increase with around 40 birds now present. Hopefully I will be able to get over more in forthcoming weeks.