Had a rather busy week, so birding has been at a premium, although today for a change I visited Middleton Lakes RSPB. There was little on the feeders although there was a carpet of Brown Rats under them.
It was rather quiet with a pair of Hobby, one adult and a jug feeding over the reserve. We were scanning Jubilee when all the birds went up, I scanned for something overhead, but nothing, then I picked a Raptor up headed south-east over the trees in the distance. I was surprised to see a Marsh Harrier, how it managed to spook everything from that distance came as a surprise. It was a cream-headed bird and it just continued on its way.
On the North Pit there was a good variety of wildfowl including a Pintail, in all honesty it was too warm for birding so after a three hour stint we headed home.
Friday 20 September 2019
Monday 16 September 2019
Sunday 15th September
FARLINGTON MARSHES
We had a rather eventful Saturday resulting in a loss of a few hours sleep, so it was a pleasant surprise that news broke of an Easter Olivaceous Warbler at Farlington Marshes, Hants. This is a bird that I needed so we decided to wait for news the next morning before committing ourselves to the drive.
As it happens it was seen very early so after a coffee we took a steady drive to the south coast and arrived in two and a half hours, with Motorway all the way. We parked up and made our way to where the bird was performing well. We were around 30 yards away but as usual some needed to get closer. What followed over the course of the next two hours summed up what is wrong with birding. Firstly, cameras outnumbered telescopes by about six to one, one or two photographers appeared not to even have binoculars! The fieldcraft/good manners was crap with people wandering between birds and the bird. At various times people were claiming the bird when it was Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Robin and even Blue Tit!
Joy and I got good views and relocated the bird in a Sallow, the assembled crowd then joined us forming an orderly line in front of us, as I said – no manners!
Having had a couple of interrupt nights sleep we left for home and I had a leisurely afternoon watching the conclusion of the cricket.
We had a rather eventful Saturday resulting in a loss of a few hours sleep, so it was a pleasant surprise that news broke of an Easter Olivaceous Warbler at Farlington Marshes, Hants. This is a bird that I needed so we decided to wait for news the next morning before committing ourselves to the drive.
As it happens it was seen very early so after a coffee we took a steady drive to the south coast and arrived in two and a half hours, with Motorway all the way. We parked up and made our way to where the bird was performing well. We were around 30 yards away but as usual some needed to get closer. What followed over the course of the next two hours summed up what is wrong with birding. Firstly, cameras outnumbered telescopes by about six to one, one or two photographers appeared not to even have binoculars! The fieldcraft/good manners was crap with people wandering between birds and the bird. At various times people were claiming the bird when it was Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Robin and even Blue Tit!
Joy and I got good views and relocated the bird in a Sallow, the assembled crowd then joined us forming an orderly line in front of us, as I said – no manners!
Having had a couple of interrupt nights sleep we left for home and I had a leisurely afternoon watching the conclusion of the cricket.
Saturday 14 September 2019
Friday 13th September
Started off with a walk around Shustoke but apart from five Common Sandpiper it was pretty quite, the stubble field has been ploughed over but the Linnet were still present, though maybe only c.80 present.
Joy and I then drove to Draycote for our first visit of the year, we used to visit monthly and probably will again in the future, now nearly all the road works are completed making it a little easier to access now.
We started off along the dam finding a Wheatear and then a Turnstone at the end of the dam there were two Ringed Plover and a Ruff feeding on the edge. Whilst scanning through the far bank a Greenshank flew through my field of view and it would be the only sign all day. There were around a dozen Teal from the hide and a single Common Sandpiper.
The next stretch was quiet apart from a pair of Raven closely followed by a pair of Sparrowhawk. Between the Valve Tower and the outflow there were eight evenly spread Little Egret taking the days total to c.15. At the Outflow there were three Shoveler, Wigeon and a Gadwall. Along the southern shore it was relatively quiet apart from three or four Common Sandpiper and another or the same Ruff.
Joy and I then drove to Draycote for our first visit of the year, we used to visit monthly and probably will again in the future, now nearly all the road works are completed making it a little easier to access now.
We started off along the dam finding a Wheatear and then a Turnstone at the end of the dam there were two Ringed Plover and a Ruff feeding on the edge. Whilst scanning through the far bank a Greenshank flew through my field of view and it would be the only sign all day. There were around a dozen Teal from the hide and a single Common Sandpiper.
The next stretch was quiet apart from a pair of Raven closely followed by a pair of Sparrowhawk. Between the Valve Tower and the outflow there were eight evenly spread Little Egret taking the days total to c.15. At the Outflow there were three Shoveler, Wigeon and a Gadwall. Along the southern shore it was relatively quiet apart from three or four Common Sandpiper and another or the same Ruff.
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| Ruff, Draycote Water |
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| Turnstone, Draycote Water |
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| Wheatear, Draycote Water |
Wednesday 11 September 2019
Wednesday 11th September
I visited the Reservoir in the morning specifically to check out the stubble field for potential Whinchat as I need it for my Shustoke year list. On arrival seven Shoveler were flying round, for a change I thought I would check out the River Blythe, birding the fields towards Ladywalk. It was a bad move as the path was very overgrown, it took ten minutes of pulling out Himalayan Balsam and brambles before I could cover the 20 yards to freedom. I needn't have bothered there was very little apart from a Little Egret.
I made my way back around the Reservoir where I couldn't locate the Ringed Plover, whilst at the east end there were two Common Sandpiper, also absent were the two Wigeon.
On arrival at the stubble field I walked into the middle, then made my way along adjacent to the road, there was no sign of yesterdays Wheatear but in the distance I saw the flock of c.120 Linnet flying round.
I though I might as well check them in case they might have dragged something good in with them. I did see a bird perched on stubble but it was too far away to have an idea what it was. I made my way closer when the flock took to the air in panic and I was astonished to see a female Merlin making its way at speed through the scattering Linnets. It appeared to have been unsuccessful but nonetheless passed quite close giving great if brief views before it carried on over the Reservoir, I lost sight of it as it made its way westward. In 20 years I think its my 4th record and a fitting bird to be my 110th for the year!
In the afternoon I visited Wishaw again, but it was far too windy, a few each of Meadow Pipit and Skylark was the best I could manage. I did though connect with a Hobby that I disturbed from an Oak tree as it was enjoying lunch, it flew off with what looked like a Swallow hanging from it talons.
I made my way back around the Reservoir where I couldn't locate the Ringed Plover, whilst at the east end there were two Common Sandpiper, also absent were the two Wigeon.
On arrival at the stubble field I walked into the middle, then made my way along adjacent to the road, there was no sign of yesterdays Wheatear but in the distance I saw the flock of c.120 Linnet flying round.
I though I might as well check them in case they might have dragged something good in with them. I did see a bird perched on stubble but it was too far away to have an idea what it was. I made my way closer when the flock took to the air in panic and I was astonished to see a female Merlin making its way at speed through the scattering Linnets. It appeared to have been unsuccessful but nonetheless passed quite close giving great if brief views before it carried on over the Reservoir, I lost sight of it as it made its way westward. In 20 years I think its my 4th record and a fitting bird to be my 110th for the year!
In the afternoon I visited Wishaw again, but it was far too windy, a few each of Meadow Pipit and Skylark was the best I could manage. I did though connect with a Hobby that I disturbed from an Oak tree as it was enjoying lunch, it flew off with what looked like a Swallow hanging from it talons.
Tuesday 10 September 2019
Tuesday 10th September
After a good day yesterday I found myself visiting the Reservoir again, on arrival a Common Sandpiper flew from the edge. The Ringed Plover was also still present together with two more Common Sandpiper, unfortunately it was soon flushed by a dog and as far as I’m aware it carried on going. Yesterdays two Wigeon were still there as were a pair of drake Gadwall.
I checked around the small pool seeing Treecreeper (missing from Saturday) then decided to check out some of the areas I had covered on Saturday on foot. I carried on towards Furnace End and checked out the churchyard, then worked my way through the fields back to the Reservoir.
The stubble fields on Bixhill Lane still held c.100 Linnet and c50 Goldfinch and today a single Wheatear, why could I not have connected with this on Saturday.
In the Afternoon I visited the Wishaw area where I saw 2 Whinchat, there were c.50 Swallow, Yellowhammer and a few of both Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
I checked around the small pool seeing Treecreeper (missing from Saturday) then decided to check out some of the areas I had covered on Saturday on foot. I carried on towards Furnace End and checked out the churchyard, then worked my way through the fields back to the Reservoir.
The stubble fields on Bixhill Lane still held c.100 Linnet and c50 Goldfinch and today a single Wheatear, why could I not have connected with this on Saturday.
In the Afternoon I visited the Wishaw area where I saw 2 Whinchat, there were c.50 Swallow, Yellowhammer and a few of both Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
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| Two Common Sandpiper |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Two Wigeon |
Monday 9 September 2019
Monday 9th September
I worked on my bird notes this morning as it was raining, but I was itching to get started, so after lunch I made my way to the Reservoir.
From the car park there were a lot of hirundines, mainly composing of House Martin, with smaller numbers of Swallow with about 20 Sand Martin. I started my walk but was disappointed that there were so many dogs off leads with their owners shouting and screaming at their Mutts that were not well trained. I wouldn’t mind but most don’t bother to pay for parking which makes my wonder why I have purchased a permit!
Anyway, surprisingly I had four Common Sandpiper fly in and land briefly (flushed by dogs), then further along I picked up a Ringed Plover my first of the year (109). A Hobby was perched in a tree just the other side of the river and showed really well. At the far end a couple of Wigeon were the first of the Autumn. I made my way along the path beside the railway line and was annoyed to see three Pheasant, try as I might I could not find any on Saturday.
Light rain started to fall so I changed my plans and made my way back to the main Reservoir rather than my initial though of trudging down the back lanes. The fields off Bixhill Lane held an impressive c.120 Linnet, then I heard a Greenshank calling, my second this Autumn, it took ten minutes before I actually saw the bird as it circled round for a little while before heading off in the direction of Ladywalk.
Back at the car park I could only locate Common Sandpiper along the edge, but at least there were a couple of Shoveler resting below the car park to end the trip.
All-in-all a good day with four species that I failed to see on Saturday.
From the car park there were a lot of hirundines, mainly composing of House Martin, with smaller numbers of Swallow with about 20 Sand Martin. I started my walk but was disappointed that there were so many dogs off leads with their owners shouting and screaming at their Mutts that were not well trained. I wouldn’t mind but most don’t bother to pay for parking which makes my wonder why I have purchased a permit!
Anyway, surprisingly I had four Common Sandpiper fly in and land briefly (flushed by dogs), then further along I picked up a Ringed Plover my first of the year (109). A Hobby was perched in a tree just the other side of the river and showed really well. At the far end a couple of Wigeon were the first of the Autumn. I made my way along the path beside the railway line and was annoyed to see three Pheasant, try as I might I could not find any on Saturday.
Light rain started to fall so I changed my plans and made my way back to the main Reservoir rather than my initial though of trudging down the back lanes. The fields off Bixhill Lane held an impressive c.120 Linnet, then I heard a Greenshank calling, my second this Autumn, it took ten minutes before I actually saw the bird as it circled round for a little while before heading off in the direction of Ladywalk.
Back at the car park I could only locate Common Sandpiper along the edge, but at least there were a couple of Shoveler resting below the car park to end the trip.
All-in-all a good day with four species that I failed to see on Saturday.
Sunday 8 September 2019
Saturday 7th September
THE ALL DAYER
I decided that I would participate in the West Midlands Bird Club “All Dayer” covering Shustoke Reservoir and surrounds.
I started at 7.00am and it was a damp start although the weather did improve during the course of the day. From the car park I saw an unexpected Shoveler, whilst a pair of Hobby spend the next two hours trying to catch one of the near 200 hirundines.
In no particular order I saw Kingfisher, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Common Sandpiper before heading off towards Hogrills End near the Tamworth Road to check the fields for Wheatear, Redstart, Whinchat etc., were I saw none of said birds. The damp meadow alongside the river at Furnace End produced my first unexpected species whilst checking out a roving tit flock I picked up a Spotted Flycatcher, my first on site for the year. Bixhill Lane didn’t produce the expected Meadow Pipit or Skylark.
I arrived back at the car at 11.00am on 50 species, I went home for breakfast/lunch and watched the cricket for an hour. At 1pm I headed out again checking the roads behind Hogrills End where I picked up Kestrel, House Sparrow and Starling! None of the fields held much at all and I was surprised not to find any Rook amongst 100s of Jackdaw and Carrion Crow.
I then drove to Shawbury Lane and followed the footpaths down to Shustoke and back. I added a few species including my first Yellowhammer for the year, I also added Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk and a Herring Gull. I also found another Spotted Flycatcher which was unexpected.
I finished on 62 species but still hadn’t seen a number of regular birds. I got home and watched a little more cricket before heading out hoping for a few species of gull at the Reservoir. Unfortunately the gull roost was poor but I did pull back Bullfinch and Greenfinch so I ended up with a reasonable total of 64 species, which considering I was on my own I was happy with.
I then arranged to meet Steve Haynes at the Griffin to swap notes and have a well earned pint.
It was feasible to have added, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rook, Pheasant, Swift, Treecreeper, Little Egret, Common Gull and maybe another wader or wildfowl species so it was quite possible to have reached 70 species.
I decided that I would participate in the West Midlands Bird Club “All Dayer” covering Shustoke Reservoir and surrounds.
I started at 7.00am and it was a damp start although the weather did improve during the course of the day. From the car park I saw an unexpected Shoveler, whilst a pair of Hobby spend the next two hours trying to catch one of the near 200 hirundines.
In no particular order I saw Kingfisher, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Common Sandpiper before heading off towards Hogrills End near the Tamworth Road to check the fields for Wheatear, Redstart, Whinchat etc., were I saw none of said birds. The damp meadow alongside the river at Furnace End produced my first unexpected species whilst checking out a roving tit flock I picked up a Spotted Flycatcher, my first on site for the year. Bixhill Lane didn’t produce the expected Meadow Pipit or Skylark.
I arrived back at the car at 11.00am on 50 species, I went home for breakfast/lunch and watched the cricket for an hour. At 1pm I headed out again checking the roads behind Hogrills End where I picked up Kestrel, House Sparrow and Starling! None of the fields held much at all and I was surprised not to find any Rook amongst 100s of Jackdaw and Carrion Crow.
I then drove to Shawbury Lane and followed the footpaths down to Shustoke and back. I added a few species including my first Yellowhammer for the year, I also added Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk and a Herring Gull. I also found another Spotted Flycatcher which was unexpected.
I finished on 62 species but still hadn’t seen a number of regular birds. I got home and watched a little more cricket before heading out hoping for a few species of gull at the Reservoir. Unfortunately the gull roost was poor but I did pull back Bullfinch and Greenfinch so I ended up with a reasonable total of 64 species, which considering I was on my own I was happy with.
I then arranged to meet Steve Haynes at the Griffin to swap notes and have a well earned pint.
It was feasible to have added, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rook, Pheasant, Swift, Treecreeper, Little Egret, Common Gull and maybe another wader or wildfowl species so it was quite possible to have reached 70 species.
Wednesday 4th September
I don’t twitch often but I have been tempted by a Brown Booby in Cornwall. The bird has never been reliable and I had correctly decided not to travel twice as the bird had been rather elusive.
However, an apparent 2nd bird was located on The Lizard and had been playing ball for a couple of days, I couldn’t make Tuesday but with the bird going to roost on Tuesday evening, Joy and I decided to travel early Wednesday in an attempt to get my first UK tick of the year. We were due to take a passenger but he failed to find my house and ended up somewhere near Shropshire!
The journey down was uneventful although it was a little nervous as there was no news until 9.00am by which time we were only 30 minutes away. We parked on the National Trust car park to find the bird had landed out of sight on an offshore island. We walked down to find a spot to view from when a sudden squall hit. An hour later and there was still no sign, a few birders had walked a mile or so along the coast to view the far side of the island. It became apparent that they were watching the bird, so Joy and I decided to walk that way, there was a surprising amount of climbing involved plus we had to negotiate a couple of Devil Dogs at the rear of the cafe! We had just got to the top of the climb to be met by birders coming back telling us the bird had flown – Joy shot me a look and we made our way back.
The light looking south into the bay was challenging, with lots of glare and reflection, after a while someone picked the bird up and we continued to watch it in poor light for a while before the bird flew past the headland where we were and gave great views as it flew past before it disappeared back to its perch out of sight.
We hung around hoping it would come back, whilst doing a little Seawatching, where several Manx Shearwater and a single Balearic flew past. It was rather windy and the light was poor so at 1.00pm we decided that we had better start making our way home.
Near Exeter we decided to visit Alyesbeare Common where we eventually connected with a single Dartford Warbler but little else. We eventually arrived home at 7pm and slept really well.
However, an apparent 2nd bird was located on The Lizard and had been playing ball for a couple of days, I couldn’t make Tuesday but with the bird going to roost on Tuesday evening, Joy and I decided to travel early Wednesday in an attempt to get my first UK tick of the year. We were due to take a passenger but he failed to find my house and ended up somewhere near Shropshire!
The journey down was uneventful although it was a little nervous as there was no news until 9.00am by which time we were only 30 minutes away. We parked on the National Trust car park to find the bird had landed out of sight on an offshore island. We walked down to find a spot to view from when a sudden squall hit. An hour later and there was still no sign, a few birders had walked a mile or so along the coast to view the far side of the island. It became apparent that they were watching the bird, so Joy and I decided to walk that way, there was a surprising amount of climbing involved plus we had to negotiate a couple of Devil Dogs at the rear of the cafe! We had just got to the top of the climb to be met by birders coming back telling us the bird had flown – Joy shot me a look and we made our way back.
The light looking south into the bay was challenging, with lots of glare and reflection, after a while someone picked the bird up and we continued to watch it in poor light for a while before the bird flew past the headland where we were and gave great views as it flew past before it disappeared back to its perch out of sight.
We hung around hoping it would come back, whilst doing a little Seawatching, where several Manx Shearwater and a single Balearic flew past. It was rather windy and the light was poor so at 1.00pm we decided that we had better start making our way home.
Near Exeter we decided to visit Alyesbeare Common where we eventually connected with a single Dartford Warbler but little else. We eventually arrived home at 7pm and slept really well.
Tuesday 3 September 2019
Monday 2nd September
I was at Shustoke early, but it was quiet, I scanned the Reservoir from the car park but apart from a couple of Gadwall it was dead, even the large number of gulls present recently must have been off foraging. I dropped down of the embankment having decided to cross the river and go round the back of Hoggrill’s End. The field on the other side of the river is starting to fill with Willow Scrub which held good numbers of Chiffchaff and a couple of Whitethroat but the hoped for Whinchat never materialised.
This year has been notable for biting insects and mosquitoes, I have suffered badly with bites and walking through this field, again saw me on the menu!
Again, as with yesterday Yellowhammer have proved elusive and I still haven’t seen one yet for Shustoke. I followed the Tamworth Road, then dropped down walking through the sheep paddocks, under the railway then along the southern perimeter of the Reservoir. Back at the car park I got the scope out and picked up a distant Peregrine and a couple of closer Common Sandpiper.
I returned late evening to search through the gulls which had returned and there were loads, but try as I might I could not find a Med Gull, although there were double figures of Herring Gull.
Sunday 1st September
I spent the morning walking around the Wishaw area starting at Blind Pit Lane where the first bird of note I saw were three Grey Partridge which I put up from the edge of a stubble field.
With most of the fields having being harvested I though there might be a few birds around, there were certainly plenty of hirundines which in turn led to a Hobby early on. There were small flocks of Linnet, Goldfinch and small numbers of Meadow Pipit and whilst it has been a couple of years since I have seen Corn Bunting in the area, I have been disappointed with the fact that Yellowhammer appear not to be present. I have covered this route a few times in 2019 and have yet to locate any singing birds.
Joy and I mulled over going to Cornwall for the Brown Booby but the bird has been very sporadic, and having so much on at the moment I couldn’t get a couple of days away. As it happened it proved a good move as the bird has not been seen.
I walked up around the church and down the the Cock Inn where the same or another Hobby passed overhead. I then headed down Wiggins Hill Road before cutting along the lane to cross the canal onto the Kingbury Road. I saw a few Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff plus another pair of Hobby, I was hoping for Wheatear but I could not find any.
With most of the fields having being harvested I though there might be a few birds around, there were certainly plenty of hirundines which in turn led to a Hobby early on. There were small flocks of Linnet, Goldfinch and small numbers of Meadow Pipit and whilst it has been a couple of years since I have seen Corn Bunting in the area, I have been disappointed with the fact that Yellowhammer appear not to be present. I have covered this route a few times in 2019 and have yet to locate any singing birds.
Joy and I mulled over going to Cornwall for the Brown Booby but the bird has been very sporadic, and having so much on at the moment I couldn’t get a couple of days away. As it happened it proved a good move as the bird has not been seen.
I walked up around the church and down the the Cock Inn where the same or another Hobby passed overhead. I then headed down Wiggins Hill Road before cutting along the lane to cross the canal onto the Kingbury Road. I saw a few Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff plus another pair of Hobby, I was hoping for Wheatear but I could not find any.
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