Middleton Lakes pulls them in

Monday 29th May 2011
The Bank holiday brought out the usual crowds to Drayton Manor Park but a new attraction up the road at Middleton Lakes RSPB also pulled in the visitors. Despite a fresh wind and sporadic showers hardy Midlands birders were drawn to the newish reserve and there were plenty of birds on view. I hadn't got out of the car before a Hobby flashed over the Car park scattering the flock of House Martins feeding over the Reedbed next to the Heronry. On the new reedbed 'pool' the Curlew Sandpiper flock had increased to 3. There were still 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Stint, a Redshank, several Ringed Plovers and a couple of Little Egret. A Greenshank was also heard from the direction of the Fishers Mill pool. Scanning for waders on the Fishers Mill pool is much more difficult because of thr number of reed covered islands. From the screen the Greenshank was eventually located in company with a smaller wader I couldnt ID. The birds only showed their backs and quickly disappeared around the back of an island. At this point I was pleased to see J A, the Simon King of the West Midlands(although not quite as tall) I told him about the mystery wader. Fortunately it wasn't too long before it showed again and JA had it sorted straight away, juvenile Wood Sandpiper. There were still a few Common Swift and the odd scarecrow about as I walked back to the car to conclude a good couple of hours birding.