At Long Last, a little to get excited about, Sunday saw two Shelduck and Lesser Spot with at least 6 singing Chiffchaff.
Today was even better, I was surprised to see the two Shelduck still present, but they didn’t stay long and departed in the direction of Ladywalk. At the far end there were c.60 Sand Martin wheeling around but try as I might I couldn’t find a swallow.
Back at home I was washing up when a bird in the recently ploughed field caught my eye, I got my bins which confirmed a female Wheatear, something I was expecting.
This evening Joy and I took went around the Reservoir again and we were rewarded with a Little Ringed Plover 150 yards from the car park. But the best was yet to come when I picked up a Little Gull resting on the water, it was an adult moulting into summer plumage, it was soon up and flying around. There were still c.30 Sand Martin late on, with the good news being that at last things are starting to happen.
The traffic this evening has been carnage, good luck trying to get to Shustoke.
Monday, 27 March 2017
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Tuesday 21st March
Despite an early arrival, I wasn’t early enough, it was bitterly cold and rather windy so I didn’t linger. The best I managed was a couple of Sand Martin.
Monday was a lot better with two pairs of Nuthatch on-site. A small flock of a dozen Fieldfare went over heading north with a couple of Snipe and a few Meadow Pipits in the usual place. There was still a single Pochard and Kingfisher was also seen.
The Alders behind the Fishing Club held a mixed flock of Siskin, Redpoll and Goldfinch. There were still several singing Chiffchaff but its still early for good numbers of Migrants. On a personal note the field behind my house has just been plowed and is attracting really good numbers of Gulls and looks promising for Wheatear in the next few weeks.
Monday was a lot better with two pairs of Nuthatch on-site. A small flock of a dozen Fieldfare went over heading north with a couple of Snipe and a few Meadow Pipits in the usual place. There was still a single Pochard and Kingfisher was also seen.
The Alders behind the Fishing Club held a mixed flock of Siskin, Redpoll and Goldfinch. There were still several singing Chiffchaff but its still early for good numbers of Migrants. On a personal note the field behind my house has just been plowed and is attracting really good numbers of Gulls and looks promising for Wheatear in the next few weeks.
Saturday, 18 March 2017
18 March
With some fine Spring weather I just had to find time for a little birding. The changing of the guard started with the wintering Pochard flock departing during the week, dropping from 30+ to just one bird by Thursday. The Wigeon flock which has been steady at five birds all winter departed on Wednesday. Wildfowl have been incredibly low this winter with no Shoveler, Goldeneye and just a single Teal so far this year.
Wednesday was a stunning day and I recorded 53 species during the morning which was the best I have managed so far this year. Whilst I saw nothing special there was just a lot more around, with a birds preparing for the breeding season. I had an enjoyable ten minutes watching a pair of Treecreeper doing the human equivalent of "Can I buy you a drink", There were a few singing Song Thrush and an obvious fall of Chiffchaff with several seen.
The weather returned to normal towards the end of the week being overcast and colder. A flock of 30+ Fieldfare flew over and I also located a flock of 8 Redpoll. On Tuesday four Siskin were seen. It has been an unusually poor winter for these two species as they usually occur in good numbers making the most of the food available in the riverside Alders.
Finally, on Friday during my second visit I came across three Sand Martin, which for me heralds the start of Spring. My earliest Swallow was on the 17 March so I will be trying hard next week to see another early arrival!
Elsewhere, at Whitacre Heath NR I saw my first Lesser Spotted Woodpecker for two years and that took six visits! Whilst a brief visit to Middleton RSPB saw a smattering of waders with Oystercatcher, Redshank and my first LRP for the year seen.
Finally, Severn Trent are introducing parking charges for the Reservoir, I wish they would introduce charges for people walking their dogs off the leads. I have noticed that over the years the car park has also become popular with Camper Vans and Mobile Homes as an overnight stop, I suppose it is cheaper than using the official Camping & Caravan Club sites which seem to be springing up all over the place!
Wednesday was a stunning day and I recorded 53 species during the morning which was the best I have managed so far this year. Whilst I saw nothing special there was just a lot more around, with a birds preparing for the breeding season. I had an enjoyable ten minutes watching a pair of Treecreeper doing the human equivalent of "Can I buy you a drink", There were a few singing Song Thrush and an obvious fall of Chiffchaff with several seen.
The weather returned to normal towards the end of the week being overcast and colder. A flock of 30+ Fieldfare flew over and I also located a flock of 8 Redpoll. On Tuesday four Siskin were seen. It has been an unusually poor winter for these two species as they usually occur in good numbers making the most of the food available in the riverside Alders.
Finally, on Friday during my second visit I came across three Sand Martin, which for me heralds the start of Spring. My earliest Swallow was on the 17 March so I will be trying hard next week to see another early arrival!
Elsewhere, at Whitacre Heath NR I saw my first Lesser Spotted Woodpecker for two years and that took six visits! Whilst a brief visit to Middleton RSPB saw a smattering of waders with Oystercatcher, Redshank and my first LRP for the year seen.
Finally, Severn Trent are introducing parking charges for the Reservoir, I wish they would introduce charges for people walking their dogs off the leads. I have noticed that over the years the car park has also become popular with Camper Vans and Mobile Homes as an overnight stop, I suppose it is cheaper than using the official Camping & Caravan Club sites which seem to be springing up all over the place!
Friday, 10 March 2017
10 March
It has been a very disappointing winter generally in the Midlands, but Shustoke itself has been the quietest I can remember in all my years birding here. I have been over quite a few times but there has been very little to write about.
Passerines have been practically non-existent, with no flocks of Redpoll or Siskin apart from around a dozen of the later around the turn of the year. Wildfowl numbers have fared little better, although there was a good flock of 150 Pochard during February. The Wigeon flock peaked at five and they were still present on the small pool yesterday. The roosting Goosanders have struggled to reach double figures this year as well!
I have seen just one Jack Snipe and up to six Common Snipe, but the main wetland area has been partly reclaimed and I have had no Snipe there at all.
In my garden I have had few birds this winter with a single male Blackcap for half an hour the highlight. I have also had up to three House Sparrow in the last month, in 15 years I have only recorded the species twice.
As most of you will now I will be moving out of the area soon, but I will not be too far away and intent to continue birding the Reservoir and hopefully, after being rather pre-occupied selling my property I should be able to keep the blog a little bit more up to date.
Passerines have been practically non-existent, with no flocks of Redpoll or Siskin apart from around a dozen of the later around the turn of the year. Wildfowl numbers have fared little better, although there was a good flock of 150 Pochard during February. The Wigeon flock peaked at five and they were still present on the small pool yesterday. The roosting Goosanders have struggled to reach double figures this year as well!
I have seen just one Jack Snipe and up to six Common Snipe, but the main wetland area has been partly reclaimed and I have had no Snipe there at all.
In my garden I have had few birds this winter with a single male Blackcap for half an hour the highlight. I have also had up to three House Sparrow in the last month, in 15 years I have only recorded the species twice.
As most of you will now I will be moving out of the area soon, but I will not be too far away and intent to continue birding the Reservoir and hopefully, after being rather pre-occupied selling my property I should be able to keep the blog a little bit more up to date.
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| Waxwing, Castle Vale |
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