A local walk

An area of scattered Hawthorns which attracts a number of passage migrants such as Redstart in the Autumn as well as good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare in winter.
Fieldfare
Redwing

Spoil heaps from local Quarries

Paths cut across stubble fields which attract flocks of Skylark, Meadow pipit and Linnet

Skylark

The river Anker

The flood meadows attract passage migrants such as Wheatear and Yellow wagtail in spring,

Reed Buntings are regular in river side vegetation and hedges

Bridge over the river Anker

Open fields and hedges attract Whinchat on passage

The area of rough grassland and Docks are worth checking for Stonechat while Grey Heron can be seen anywhere along the river.

I only got the briefest of glimpses of Kingfisher today but they can be seen from several bridges which cross the river.

The flood meadows support at least 4 Kestrel

Rough grassland and fragments of Woodland, which still support Nuthatch,Treecreeper and both Great spotted and Green Woodpecker.

Rough grassland

Lane down to the Riding stables

The Sheepfields are good for Yellow wagtail, and even attracted Blue-headed Wagtails 2 years ago.

The Coventry canal, there must have been some sort of competition going on near the Marina. I often wonder why fishermen need poles to allow them to fish 6 inches from the far bank when they could just walk round to the opposite bank and use a 'normal' rod. All the blokes were in deep concentration or bloody miserable as they either completely ignored me or grunted a response when I quipped that I was too old to be limbo dancing under or hurdling over the poles that stretched over the tow path.

I only managed to see a single Redpoll today , but the canal side Alders usually have flocks of Goldfinches and sometimes Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.

The canal continues north passing Mancetter and Atherstone before leaving Warwickshire near Polesworth.

The Anchor pub, journeys end.

Wednesday 28th December
Seems like I haven't been out of the house over Christmas so a bit of exercise was needed today.So I took the camera out for a bit of a jaunt. The walk is about 5 miles using paths and canal towpaths around the hamlet of Caldecote which is between Nuneaton, Atherstone and Hartshill. Other birds which have been seen on this walk in the past include Great white Egret, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Reed warbler and Tree sparrow.