Migration begins

Sunday 19th March 2017

The end of last week saw a definite movement of birds across the area. A male Blackcap appeared in the garden briefly and  visits to the Tame valley produced 8 Sand Martins at Bodymoor Heath Water,Kingsbury and a pair of Garganey on the Jubilee wetlands at Middleton Lakes RSPB. On a walk 'up the hill' at Mancetter, nr Atherstone there was a female Stonechat waiting at the top.

Stonechat, Merevale

A quiet spell

Monday 13th March 2017

The previous week saw visits to several local sites with the hope of finding early migrants but with no success. I had to resort to a bit of out of County Birding for an 'interesting' bird. which came in the form of a Bonapart's Gull at Swithland Reservoir.   Much more satisfying though was  the sight a male Merlin hunting near Warton, N.Warks. The Merlin flew across a large stubble field at some 4 feet above the ground presumably trying to flush a Pipit or Lark. Having failed it then tried a second technique by just sitting in a hedge for some time.

Distant view of the Merlin

There were few other birds around though. In fact there were more Hares than small birds in the area. There were a couple of Partridges flying away which I couldn't ID but that was about it. I would have to make do with the Merlin.

Hares

Hare

Lying low

Back on the Mancetter patch today the highlight on 'the hill' was a Stoat running along in the shadow of a hedge, presumably trying to avoid being spotted by one of the 5 Common Buzzards circling over the fields adjacent to the Quarry. No Ravens up though.

New week - new birds

Monday 20th February 2017
After a pretty inactive weekend I felt the need for a bit of a walk. Leaving the car at Broomey Croft I took the tow path to Drayton Bassett. The walk was pretty uneventful I'd seen a couple of Oystercatchers on the pontoons at Broomey Croft but not much else.

Oystercatchers

As I walked north along the canal there wasn't a great deal to see except a couple of tit flocks. As I approached the north end of the Middleton lakes reserve small flocks of geese were flying off the reserve landing in the field next to the canal. There was a good chance the Greenland Whitefront I'd come to see would be amongst them. It was.

Greenland Whitefronted Goose

Greenland Whitefronted Goose

' That was the week that was'

Wednesday 15th February 2017

A rather quiet period but there have been a few highlights over the last few days. Namely Waxwings at Wolston, Jack Snipe at Alvecote, amazing views of Lesser spotted Woodpecker coming to a friends garden feeders and good views of 1w Scaup at Draycote Water. Otherwise visits to regular sites: Brandon, Caldecote and Mancetter have been largely fruitless.

Lesser spotted Woodpecker

Red necked Grebe

Scaup, Draycote Water

Another day at Kingsbury/Middleton Lakes

Tuesday 7th February 2017

A no camera day today. Didn't need it really although a Kingfisher did pose for me along the canal at Kingsbury. It was one of two I saw today. Lovely day to be out and about and I tried to make the most of it, after checking Coton I went to the Water Park which, with so much work going on, looks more and more like a City Park. I continued along the canal to Middleton lakes. Very few birds anywhere. Yesterday at least there was a large flock of Golden plover and a Ringed plover, today no sign.  So I trudged back dragging my Wellies through the mud. Highlight of the day was probably my first Butterfly of the year, a Peacock at Coton.

Yesterday's Ringed Plover, at Middleton Lakes RSPB

Bittern encounter

Thursday 2nd February 2017

A day for Blogging and sorting out paperwork with the prospect of a couple of beers with my pals later. As far as the Blog is concerned yesterday was a busy birding day. I visited the new hide at Coton. I felt I had to wedge the door open to avoid being picked up by a crane, put on a passing freight train and ending up at Felixstowe docks and put on a container ship heading for the far East. Not much to report birdwise though apart from ducks I saw a Chiffchaff and not much else. At Ladywalk the rain was just starting to stop as I made my way to the hides. I decided on B first which proved a good decision. There was barely a breath of wind and a twitching reed stem got my attention, probably a Coot or a Dabchick but I stayed focussed on the area. More twitches but no sign of any birds whatsoever. Maybe it was a large fish? No there was moment above the water and a few distinctly marked feathers could be made out. It was the Bittern, at very close range. Magic. The bird eventually moved to the back of the reeds and took off flying an almost complete circuit of the pools before disappearing into the main Reedbed.
I moved on to Wishaw but very few birds were seen. there were a few Golden Plover keeping low in the crops but apart from Skylarks that was about it.

Bittern, Ladywalk N.R.

Bittern