Early migrants begin to hit the Midlands

Saturday 17th March 2012
Ok, got my PC back after a couple of days buried under dust sheets. So a bit of up dating to do. Yesterday was quite interesting, particularly Coton Pools where 2 Sand Martins were joined briefly by an early Swallow. The Swallow flew off east but the Sand Martins hung around being joined by 2 more just before I left. Also in the area were Cettis warbler, and Grey wagtail at the railway bridge Lea Marston and a singing Chiffchaff at the entrance to Whitacre Heath N.R. The Curlew remains at Kingsbury W.P. and there are still flocks of Lesser Redpoll and dwindling numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare at various locations.
Also visited Cannock chase again with much more success this time. Had a good walk round 2 areas. The weather was completely different in the two locations. One, warm and sunny the other cold and misty. Despite the weather managed to get good views of 3 Woodlark, and the same number of Crossbill, strangely all female. A Great grey Shrike was seen in pursuit of a small flock of Siskin, but bird of the day was a cracking male Brambling in almost complete breeding plummage feeding amongst Beechmast with Great tits and Chaffinch on the edge of a small car park. Alas no camera. On the way back popped into Legion Wood and Bentley Wood but a flock of 20C Lesser Redpolls were the only note worthy birds on view.