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.

Bank holiday Birding

Sanderling, Draycote Water

Sanderling

Sanderling

Juvenile Ringed Plover

Dunlin

Monday 30th August 2010

Only managed a quick look at Mill pool, Alvecote yesterday in between the showers. Apologies to Dave Gray for not going to see his Kentish plover at Eyebrook Res. but had a few commitments or I would have done. Not much doing at Alvecote except a decent flock of House Martin and 6 Common Swift.

Today with a bit more time available Jan and I went for a walk round Draycote Water before the crowds, or so we thought. There was at least 1 Little Egret in Toft and at least 4 Common Sandpiper. The flock of Hirundines seems to be building up with at least 3 Swifts with them. Around the back on the hilly bit either side of Biggin Bay we were hit by a wave of cyclists. Not actually hit but there were a few near misses. Most cyclists are sensible but you also get some prats who think they're in an Olympic final. There will be a nasty accident one of these days, mark my words. Anyway we survived around to Hensborough bank where there were a few waders attracting a bit of a crowd: Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, and 2 Turnstone. As we left the reservoir there was a queue of car waiting to come in. Most with bikes attached so gawd knows what it would be like later on. Best get to a pub.

Redstart near Caldecote

Common Restart, Caldecote bushes

Lesser Whitethroat

Common Redstart

Common Redstart

Sunday 29th August 2010

Just a few record shots of the Caldecote Common Redstart taken yesterday there was also a Lesser Whitethroat but no sign of any other Migrant species.

Waders at Draycote Water

Knot, Draycote Water

Knot

Knot

Black tailed Godwit with Redshank

Common tern on parade

Northern Wheatear

Whimbrel, one of two over the reservoir

Little Egret

Ringed Plover

Friday 27th August 2010

Went to Draycote Water on an impulse today which is the way most of my decision making works. I just thought that the Tame valley could well be flooded so opted to head east. It worked out well. About 100 House Martins were flying over the Country Park as I arrived. I walked round in an anticlockwise direction but Farborough and Toft banks had nothing except Pied Wagtails and 3 Little Egrets in the Gray's Barn area. There had been a juv. Turnstone and a couple of Dunlin earlier but no sign now. I met Francoise round the back, so to speak, who told me there was a Black tailed Godwit with some Redshank in Biggin Bay and sure enough when I got to Biggin Bay there they were. At the valve tower were 8 Common terns who posed for photos on the walkway. As walked up Draycote Bank I could see a group of what looked like birders in the distance, a fairly scruffy looking lot so chances were they were birders. As I approached they were obviously focussing their attention on something on the shoreline close to the Dam wall. I recognised Bob Hazel and was met with the words, no, not the usual greeting but, 'It's a Knot'. You beauty. Having just missed the previous bird at Draycote this Knot (164)was a very welcome addition to my County year list.

On Barn bank a single Wheatear was very confiding. As I rounded Rainbow corner I could hear the distinctive call of a Whimbrel, looking up a pair of Whimbrel were flying overhead calling continuously. They did a couple of circuits of Rainbow before disappearing in the direction of Toft bay. I waved furiously to Bob and his friend who were some way off but luckily they saw me and were able to get onto the birds. It was turning out to be quite a good day for waders but I wasn't quite finished. In the pools along Hensborough Bank Dave Hutton was watching a Ringed Plover and three juvenile Little ringed Plover. If you added the three Common Sandpipers dotted around the place it had been good wader day. I had another look along Farborough bank and saw 8 Yellow wagtails this time but again no sign of the Turnstone. So back to the car for a delicious, if belated lunch of Scotch egg, Crisps and plum.

A rainy day

26th August 2010

With strong winds and persistant rain conditions seemed perfect for a bit of training for a forthcoming visit to the Shetland Isles. So with wellies, waterproof, flat 'at and misted up bins I set off to walk a section of the Coventry Canal between Nuneaton and Atherstone. On route I checked out the Common Redstart site, a single juvenile was still there but apart from a few Swallows flying at grass height no other migrant species were seen. The only other birdlife of note were two 50+ mixed finch flocks, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Linnet in canalside fields and a single Tree Sparrow.

The Caldecote Walk

The Bushes - a likely spot for migrant birds next to the Coventry canal.

Chiffchaff, one of several migrants in the Bushes.

Common Buzzard, a familiar sight throughout Warwickshire

Leafy North Warwickshire

Caldecote, from the Coventry canal

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Spurred on by an innate drive to find more local birds and the fact that Jan was 'doing lunch' with her fitness friends at home I decided I had to go out. Somewhere, anywhere. Actually Jan's friends are all very nice and excellent company but...

Anyway I set off to do Coleshill and Shustoke but only got as far as Caldecote ( I think flexibility is important in Birding). The walk I usually do was good for Spring migrants so hopefully it would be equally good in the fall (I slipped that in for our American cousins). There are 5 areas along the walk.

The Sheep fields and Flood meadows: Swallows and House Martins gathering overhead with 2 Swift and a few Linnets at ground level.

The Bean fields: 12 Yellow Wagtails, Skylark

The Bushes - an area of short grass with scattered Hawthorn bushes. At last, one of the birds I'd always hoped to find here, a Common Redstart. ( I'll keep looking for the Wryneck) There were also a handful of Chiffchaff, a single Willow warbler and a juv. Whitethroat.

The Canal, nothing of note

The Stables, ditto

Having recieved a text from Steve Haynes saying that he had recently seen a variety of Migrants on the hills near Austrey on the Leicestershire border, I thought it might be worth a quick look before the persistant rain, forecast for the afternoon, arrived. In the event I only saw a Hobby but I really needed to give it more time. Again like Grendon it would be a spot worth keeping an eye on.