Migrants in the Tame valley

Lesser Whitethroat, Coton

The Camp

Friday 16th April 2010

Had a walk round Grendon common and across the fields to Merevale but no new migrants. Moved on to the Tame valley with a quick stop at Shustoke but no terns or hirundines. Intended to move to Coton but the car park gates were locked due to some unwelcomed migrants having set up camp on the rough ground just to the north of the car park. Moving on to the Water park I checked the southern pools for wagtails but yesterdays birds appeared to have moved on and so did I. First 'new' migrant was a Grasshopper warbler(132) in a different area of the Water park. It was reeling intermitantly and I was waiting and listening when along comes Ron Thomas on his bike. We chatted about this and that before we were joined by Steve Cawthray. We had a typically brief glimpse of the bird as we continued our conversation. Amongst other things Ron mentioned he had heard a Lesser Whitethroat in exactly the same spot I thought I'd heard one a week earlier. Anyway Steve and I went off to investigate. My route took me straight through the 'travellers' camp but there were no problems. I met up with Steve again and we soon picked up the song of the Lesser Whitethroat(133). The bird eventually showed reasonably well feeding in the Hawthorns towards the hide. As I walked back to the car via 'the camp' a couple of younsters were firing air guns into the trees, there were also more vehicles arriving. I think from an environmental point of view the sooner these people move on the better.

Blue headed Wagtail at Kingsbury.

Thursday 15th April 2010

I spent the morning doing, what is becoming, a regular walk from Merevale to Grendon Common which takes in a bit of old woodland, some new plantations, hilly farmland and bits of rough ground. Much of the farm fields were harrowed yesterday and a group of 4 White wagtails seemed to like the freshly worked soil but apart from the usual Willow warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcap no other migrants were seen. I did see a Grey Partridge though which was a surprise with so many Red legs in the area. My afternoon journey to Sutton had to be modified to take in Shustoke Res. Steve Cawthray had found an Arctic tern(130) and Tom Perrins had relayed the info on. After my visit to Sutton I popped in to Kingsbury Water Park to renew my annual permit. I decided to have a look at Bodymoor Heath and Hemlingford pools so see if there were any more Terns about. As soon as I got out of the car I saw a Yellow wagtail on the grassy bank near the waters edge. Another wagtail then appeared - with a bright blue head! The Blue headed wagtail was quite close and fortunately nobody was on the path it was close to. After watching the bird for a minute or so I started to make a few phone calls. As I made the calls I lost sight of the bird down the bank and with dog walkers appearing from both directions the wagtails disappeared. One yellow wagtail did come back to the shoreline but despite widening the search to the flood-meadow beyond the river there was no further sign. I was diappointed nobody else got to see the cracking little bird and even more disappointed I didnt have my camera with me.

Garganey at Alvecote Pools

Yellow wagtail, Draycote Water

Yellow wagtail

Jay, Brandon Marsh

Redshank, Brandon Marsh

Redshank, Draycote Water

Wednesday 14th April 2010

There was a strong easterly blow when I got to Draycote Water. No other birders were around so I headed for Toft passing the paddocks of rough ground and hedges where the reported Whinchat might be hanging out. No luck, but several Yellow wagtails were seen on the grassy banks. The Little gulls which had also been reported were out in the middle with a large number of Black headed gulls. I walked back and on towards Rainbow corner where I met Bob Hazel who confirmed the Whinchat sighting. After a bit of a chat I moved on to the inlet. Bob had seen a very confiding Redshank so there was a photo opportunity not to be missed. Its a shame the water levels have to be so high with wader passage about to start I doubt many species would be as tolerant as the Redshank.

I dropped in at Brandon Marsh after a Coffee and a chat with the Van man on the A45. Not much doing but it had now warmed up as the heavy cloud had been blown away. Highlight of the visit was getting to grips with a pair of Jays. A bird I've struggled to photograph in the past. The other thing I've noticed about Brandon, is its increasing popularity with people of a certain age. It still has a way to go to rival Garden centres as somewhere to go and have a nice cup of tea afterwards but its getting there.

As I prepared to leave I picked up a strange message about flocks of birds falling out of the sky at Alvecote. If any one of the species was still there it was worth a go. So off we go and sets about scanning the various pools. On Teal pool were a pair of LRP and a Green Sandpiper but on Railway pool was a pair a Garganey(128), one of my favourite birds of the Spring.

Birds reported so far this year in Wawickshire now total - 152

If the birds wont come to me........

Ring Ouzel - Beacon Hill, Leics.

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Monday 12th April 2010

Been trying to keep off the beaten track over the last few days. While Ive managed to keep away from the great hoards I've also been successful in avoiding birds. I think a Common Sandpiper at Alvecote was the best I could come up with. Believe me I've been greatly tempted to go out of County for Hoopoe, Tree pipit and Ring Ouzel but I'll keep looking for that North Warks. Redstart.

Tuesday 13th April 2010

After a quick and fruitless walk around Merevale I finally gave into temptation and decided I needed a refresher course on what a Ring Ouzel looked like. I was loosing faith in ever finding one in Warks. If they weren't turning up at Napton they probably wouldn't be found at all. I dont doubt there are Ring Ouzel even now on some unwatched hillside in South Warks but we'll never know. With the price of fuel continueing to rise it will take something a bit special for me to visit the deep south. So off to my second county, Leicestershire, home of Pork pies and good Rugby. Indeed it was only a short drive to Beacon Hill. It was again a very pleasant day and as the info on the pager was very accurate it wasnt too difficult to locate the field and indeed the bird which was feeding about 60 metres away. I took a few snaps and then had a wander. I was looking for Tree pipits but only found a few Meadow pipits.

Warwickshire hits 150

Lapwing, Brandon Marsh

Early Thorn, Garden

Friday 9th April 2010

No Im not commenting on Warwickshire's batting performance against Yorkshire in the County Championship, rather the number of birds reported in the County so far this year. Personally, like Warks. batsmen I had a poor day yesterday only adding the Brandon Marsh Ringed Plover (127) to my year list and wasting valuable drinking time looking for a Common Redstart reported late in the day at Kingsbury. When I eventually did get a pint, it too was disappointing paticularly as the previous night's ale had been 'Bong on' to quote one of my Tap room colleagues.

Staying local

Thursday 6th April

Birding was limited today so I took myself off to an area of farmland near the Merevale estate near Atherstone. I parked at St Mary's church and followed various footpaths around Baxterley and Grendon keeping to the higher ground. I wasnt too optimistic about finding migrants after such a clear night but almost straight away I came across a male Wheatear. Unfortunately that was as good as it got but it was such a beautiful day it didnt matter so much. Willow warblers were everywhere making the most of the sunshine. Other birds seen on the 3 hour walk included Goldcrest, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Great spotted and Green Woodpecker. The biggest surprise though was 4 Little ringed plover on a tiny patch of waste ground.

Migration in the Tame Valley

Blackcap - nr. Fishers Mill

Blackcap

Sparrowhawk - Coton

Chiffchaff

Jay

Little Gull - Shustoke

Little gull - Shustoke

Little Gull

Wednesday 7th April 2010

A text from Pete Forbes got me moving rather earlier than I anticipated when I woke to early morning rain. A Little Gull (125) at Shustoke was a good start to the day though and with several Willow warblers (126) in song around the reservoir and a White wagtail and single House Martin the prospects of finding other birds was good. At Cliff pool Kingsbury there were 3 Common Sandpipers and a walk along the canal to the Fishers Mill area produced at least 6 singing Blackcap and many Chiffchaff. Fishers Mill itself was very quiet. At Coton the hide had been vandalised but still useable, a male Sparrowhawk showed well albeit briefly while I was there.