The Littles prove a problem

Greenshank, Cliff pool, Kingsbury W.P.

Greenshank

Hobby, Cliff pool

Hobby

Whinchat, Caldecote

Whinchat

Thursday 9th Sept. 2010

Having a problem catching up with Little birds, Little tern yesterday, Little Stint today but the days Migrant watch had started in spendid style at Caldecote Hall with no fewer than 5 Whinchats along the river. The recently harvested Bean fields had a small flock of, maybe 13 or so Skylarks and a single Meadow pipit. After lunch I moved on to Coleshill Quarry. I'd had a report of 3 Little Stint flying through Ladywalk from Steve Cawthray but the search proved fruitless. At Cliff pool, Kingsbury Water Park there were 2 Hobby, 2 Little Egrets and a Greenshank.

One good Tern ?

Dunlin, Draycote Water

Ringed Plover

Wednesday 8th Sept. 2010

Went to Draycote Water again this morning in the hope of adding Little tern to my County year list. It was quite misty over there which I took as a good sign the bird might still be there. There was little wind as the process of scanning the reservoir began. A Little Gull and 3 Juvenile Black terns was a good start. The visability improved and it was good to see the Red necked Phalarope still there having escaped the attentions of roosting gulls. I met up with Steve Cawthray, a stranger to these parts, but anxious to add the Phalarope to his County year list. We searched for some considerable time during which we kept a look out for the Little Tern, before we finally relocated the Phalarope. We had one or two sightings of possible Little tern but all very distant and we dismissed them as Common tern. Steve provided lunch in the form of half a large Pork pie which I was very grateful for before he left to organise a work party at Ladywalk N.R.

I wandered back towards Rainbow corner. There were 3 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin on Hensborough Bank. A Hobby appeared briefly no doubt eyeing up the large flock of House Martins for a possible meal. On Draycote Bank a tern flew past quiet close which I instinctively tried to photograph as it went past. I thought no more about it until met up with Bob Hazel who mentioned amongst other things that he'd recently seen the Little tern again and that what I had assumed at distance was a Common tern had in fact been the Little tern. We picked out a small tern which kept landing on the water amongst groups of Black headed Gulls. The tern did indeed look small in comparison but at such distance I felt unable to make a positive identification.

Red necked Phalarope at Draycote Water

A happy bunch

Spot the spot, see Dave Hutton's Blog site for images of the bird itself

Tuesday 7th Sept.2010

Having spent a good deal of Monday driving up and down motorways I had plenty to do of a domestic nature today. However, the best laid plans were thrown into confusion when I got a barrage of texts (well 2) saying there was Red necked Phalarope at Draycote water. Despite further messages that the bird had flown and was being looked for I carried on and was relieved on arrival to see a small, but beautifully proportioned group of birders clearly focussed out on the water. A quick look through Terry Southgate's scope confirmed they were indeed looking at the Red necked Phalarope (166) It was distant, swimming backwards and fowards in continual motion. As we watched somebody picked out a couple of Black Terns and then John Judge who had left a few minutes earlier phoned up to say there was a Sandwich tern flying over the water. It was turning out to be quite an interesting few minutes.

In the late afternoon I found myself at Coleshill Quarry. There still wasnt much water but it was worth a quick look. A Greenshank was heard but not located and a Common Snipe was seen on the edge of a small pools. At Shustoke there was still several Common terns, a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.

A bad case of wind

Spotted Flycatcher, Bempton RSPB

Pied Flycatcher

Monday 6th Sept 2010

Drove up to Bempton, E.Yorks. today with Dennis Woodward on news that a Brown Flycatcher was still present near Buckton. We didnt see it. The sightings seemed a little vague but after a mist net was erected in the small patch of Gorse where the bird had been seen in the previous day there were no further sightings. Why it was necessary to put up the nets I havent a clue but the real villian of the day was the wind which moved round to the south with increasing strength. Although the dell with the Gorse was partially sheltered, most birds were staying low and under cover. Willow warblers, Garden warbler and Redstart showed occasionally but no sign of the Brown Flycatcher. We gave it a couple of hours. Back at the RSPB we checked the bushes round the car park. There was a Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatchers and a Red breasted Flycatcher which gave the briefest of glimpses. Dennis was in need of sustenance, I needed a drink so we headed for the cafes in Flamborough. Both closed. What! No Flycatcher and no Breakfast, how bad could it get. Luckily for me I'd got emergency rations in the form of a Pork pie but Dennis had to settle for a chocolate bar from the Post office.

We checked out the gulley at South landing, the top part was well sheltered from the wind but there was very little activity.

Local stuff

Reed warbler, near Caldecote,Warks

Reed warbler

Reed warbler

Reed warbler

Southern Hawker

Migrant Hawker, Alvecote pools

Bean harvesting

Ridin' shotgun

One for the pot

Friday 3rd September 2010

Its become a bit of a habit but the bushes near the Coventry canal near Caldecote have become part of my daily routine. Today the first bird I saw was a Redstart but it became elusive which is birder talk meaning I didnt see it again. I did see the Reed warblers again though and this time managed to get some reasonable photos. Todays birding was interupted though by some lads in a Land Rover driving round with shot guns. I nodded at them and they nodded at me and we both went about our businesses. Things got interesting later on though when the Bean harvester went by with a guy riding Shotgun. Gawd knows what elf and safety would have to say about it but its an age old country activity. He was popping away at the rabbits as they ran out of the Bean field across the sheep pasture.

I moved on to Legion Wood near Grendon where there was a few Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs and a single Goldcrest near the parking area but little else. Moving on to Mill pool, Alvecote I met up with Roy who had just picked out 3 Pintail from the large number of Wildfowl on the pool which also included a few Wigeon.

Total number of bird species reported in Warwickshire so far this year = 188

New bird in the Bushes

Spotted Flycatcher, near Caldecote

Spotted Flycatcher

Reed warbler

Reed warbler

Common Redstart

Thursday 2nd September 2010

With limited time today it was a quick look round the 'Caldecote bushes'. Yesterday's Common Redstart was still present and the Reed warblers were also still there. What was surprising was that the Reed warblers were still feeding young. I had assumed that the 2 birds I saw the other day were migrating, being well away from 'normal' Reed warbler habitat. Does this species migrate as family or part family groups or had they just moved away from some local breeding area alongside a canal or small pond for some reason?

While I was watching the Redstart a Spotted Flycatcher suddenly appeared in the same Hawthorn bush. Another first for me in what is becoming a miniture migration hotspot.

Supermarket Dash

Curlew Sandpiper, moulting adult - Draycote Water

Curlew Sandpiper

Redstart, Caldecote bushes earlier in the day

Curlew Sandpiper with Dunlin

Juvenile Ringed Plover

Confrontation in the Bath

Curlew Sandpiper, Draycote Water

Dunlin in flight

Wednesday 1st September 2010

Stayed local yesterday and this morning with walks round Caldecote and Burton Hastings, very little to blog about yesterday, but today was quite a different story with new birds in 'the bushes' on the Caldecote walk. The first birds had me puzzled, a pair of probable Reed warblers but I wasnt sure and didnt have my camera with me, or a note book and pencil ! I needed a second opinion and Steve Haynes was only too pleased to come over and confirm they were Reed warblers. We also found a new Redstart, a smart adult male. Other birds seen in the area included, Whitethroat, Swift, Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail, Sparrowhawk and Great spotted Woodpecker.

Dont you just hate it when somebody at the self check-out at the supermarket starts talking on the mobile phone. I know I would but this time it was me taking a call from Dennis Woodward. He'd heard that there were 4 Curlew Sandpipers at Draycote Water. Cheers Dennis, that was my afternoon sorted out if I could get this checkout finished. I struggle with Mono-tasking so unlike many women I know I cant talk on the phone and complete some other task without making a complete cock-up of it.

Anyway, eventually I gets to Draycote Water and ticks Curlew Sandpiper (165) for the year. I have to say Draycote was at its best. Bathed in warm sunshine, hardly a breath of wind and hardy another soul around. To top it all a variety of waders to watch, appreciate and photograph. In addition to the Curlew Sands. there were Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Ruff. Great stuff.