Wednesday 27th February

Got a call from the Captain who was at Shustoke to say that he had a 1st Winter Med Gull in the roost by the time I got there he had also had an adult Med Gull. There were around 1,500 Black-headed Gull and a good few Common Gull, strangely there were very few large gulls.

I was a little late in getting over as they were ploughing the field behind my house and there were around 400 Black-headed Gull milling around but I couldn’t pick out a Med Gull – that’s one I wouldn’t mind on my garden list!

Wednesday 20th February

The adult Med Gull was in the roost again last night. The conditions weren’t as pleasant as Tuesday as it was a little “Baltic” with a cold easterly wind blowing. The bird was also at the far end of the reservoir. There was also an Oystercatcher (K Wimbush) which was flushed by the bird watching’s oldest adversary the “Dog Walker”. I did make it in time to see both birds although the Oystercatcher was closer to Nuneaton when I picked it up!

There was actually a bit of variety in the gulls as well. With around 150 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull and obviously the Med. I had to leave before 4.30 but I imagine there would have been a lot more by dusk.

Tuesday 19th February

Managed to get away from work a little earlier than normal and had a try for the two Med Gulls present yesterday. Steve Cawthray and Steve Haynes were on site and fortunately one of the birds was in the roost. There were around a dozen Goosander and a few bits and pieces.

Adult Med Gull (P Forbes)

Adult Med Gull (P Forbes)

Tuesday 19th February

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls, Monday evening (S Cawthray, S Haynes). One appeared to be the bird  seen last week whilst the other was in full summer plumage.

That was the week that was

Managed to get over a couple of times last week but it was quiet, a singing Skylark was the only addition to the site year list. Steve Haynes had a Med Gull on Tuesday on the reservoir and surrounding fields. The Captain searched for the Gull on Wednesday but it had departed but he did have four Goldeneye, by the time I got over in the afternoon, I didn’t even see the Goldeneye!

On a personal note (away from Shustoke) I spend the early part of Saturday (with the Captain) at Draycote seeing two Black-necked Grebe and the drake Smew. In the afternoon I visited Ladywalk where I saw Marsh & Willow Tit, two Oystercatcher, Little Egret and Shelduck.

Two Black-necked Grebe, Draycote, Warwickshire

Smew, Draycote, Warwickshire.

On Sunday the fields around Hollyland held 150 Chaffinch, two Brambling and 30 Yellowhammer. I made a big mistake on Sunday going to the gull roost at Chasewater, the mistake wasn’t going to the roost, it was taking the wife with me. Standing, searching through the gulls for two hours in the cold wasn’t what she had in mind. As of yet, three hours later she still hasn’t spoken to me. The good news was I saw Iceland and Med Gull!

The weekend

Yesterday Joy and I spent a couple of hours in the morning where we dropped onto a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the trees above the feeders that the Captain and I put in place last week. It wasn’t feeding on them but was in that area.

Apart from that 6 Goosander was the highlight. There was a flock of around 80 Siskin.

Today, Sunday in heavy rain I did the BTO wildfowl survey and all the numbers were well down especially Tufted Duck.

Thursday 7th February

Had a cold afternoon on my own at Shustoke, it is the first time in ages that I have walked around the Reservoir without bumping into anyone.

There were c.130 Pochard, c.150 Tufted Duck and seven Goosander, but there were few water birds around at all apart from the corner of the small pool. The feeding station that we set up, seems to have attracted more Squirrels than birds so far. I did have four new year ticks for the site with Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting, Snipe and Treecreeper. There was still a small flock of 20 or so Siskin but it was quiet on the whole.

Sunday 3rd February

Didn’t have much time at the weekend. But the Captain and I went over on Sunday morning with a couple of bird feeders. We have thought for a while that a few feeders might help to attract the rarer Shustoke birds. In the recent past Willow and Marsh Tit and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have been in the vicinity.

The only problem is filling them, so I you feel like taking seed around with you, feel free to fill them up. There are only two and they are on the right as you approach the bridge across the stream which goes to the Fishing Club. If you have a spare feeder please feel free to add it.

Bird wise it was very quiet with a count of 132 Pochard, 3 Gadwall, 15 Wigeon and few other bits and pieces. There were good numbers of Sisking and a small party of about 20 Fieldfare flew overhead.