Two for the price of one

Lesser Scaup, Draycote Water

Yellow wagtail

Ruff with Dunlin

Thursday 30th Sept. 2010

It had to be the Big pond today. I was determined to get the Lesser Scaup in the bag if it took all day. In the event I found it straight away in exactly the same place it was reported yesterday. It wasn't completely straight foward though as when I arrived at Draycote Water it was shrouded in heavy mist. As I walked round to Hensborough bank the mist lifted. Most of the Duck were reasonably close to the shore and it didn't take too long to pick out the Lesser Scaup (169). There were also a few waders round the overflow channel: 7 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin. A Ruff also put in an appearance later in the day. I met up with Richard Mays and we noted a significant number of Skylarks flying over.

On Farborough and Toft banks there were a number of Yellow wagtails still a few Meadow pipits and 2 Rock pipits (170).

No. of species reported in Warwickshire in 2010 = 192

Visit to the Little Pond

Northern Wheatear, Shustoke Res.

Northern Wheatear

Wednesday 28th Sept. 2010

Visited Shustoke Res.(Little Pond) as opposed to (Big Pond) Draycote Water today. Birding time was limited to having a quick shuffty at somewhere in the Tame valley and I was on route when I got a call from Steve Cawthray saying there were a number of Little gulls at Shustoke. I joined Steve to watch the 8 Little gulls (2Adults and 6 1w). We were joined by Steve Haynes and speculated on what other pelagic species might appear in the increasingly heavy rain. In the event we didnt see any pelagic birds but were joined by a rather bedraggled and confiding Northern Wheatear. For once I didn't have my trusty 40D to hand to record the Wheatear. Steve suggested using a camera with his scope. A technique, I must admit I'd never used before and amazingly it worked, at least a better than nothing image with a strangely mystical quality. I cant remember which scope I used but as I would need an hydraulic lift to get anywhere near Steve H's eyepiece it was probably Steve C's.

Tales of the Water Park

Tuesday 28th Sept. 2010

With migration getting into full swing and lots of goodies turning up on the East coast. I thought I'd opt for the peace and tranquility of North Warwickshire. It was a pretty dull overcast day and didnt inspire much confidence in finding any interesting birds. I tried most of my the usual haunts between Nuneaton and Fisher's mill but it was just flat for want of a better word. I think Willow tit(Broomey Croft), Goldcrest(Legion Wood), and Grey Wagtail(Shustoke) were the best I could come up with. Peace and quiet is all very well but there is a limit.

Anyway I have a bit of a tale to tell. In an ironic twist of fate an incident ocurred at Kingsbury involving an untethered dog and a lady riding a a bicycle around Canal pool. The fact that both the riding of dogs and bicycles not on leads are strictly prohibited in the Nature reserve gives rise to the irony. To continue, there was, shall we say a coming together. The net result of which led to the women being thrown into the pool. Fortunately, the commotion aroused an assistant warden( an endangered species in these parts) from his hibernation under a nearby hide. However, the warden was unable to help until he had put on his waterproof gloves, wellies with steel toe caps, high visability jacket and ear protectors. He still wasnt happy as he'd just been on a health and safety course and both the colour of the water and its slightly fishy smell were outside acceptable limits. Anyway the warden and the women cyclist lived to tell the tale and the dog was told he was a naughty boy in a firm voice. This tale was inspired by actual events.

County Year listing gets tough

Monday 27th Sept. 2010

Tiree or Draycote Water? Northern Parula or the possibility of seeing a Lesser Scaup ? No contest really. I passed up the chance of a trip to Argyll today so that I could stand in the rain at Draycote Water and look at Tufted Ducks all afternoon. I did see a Grey wagtail and a couple of Ringed plover but I cant say it was one of my more memorable visits to Draycote. I was pleased for Tony Shepherd though who texted me to say the Northern Parula was in the bag. Good on yer mate, 'Who dares wins' but Im not going to beat myself up about it. I'm more concerned about the Bonxie someone saw in Toft Bay. I spent most of the afternoon in Toft and didnt see a thing. Thats 2 good County year birds missed in as many days.

Invisible migration

Saturday 25th Sept. 2010

A strange day started with an early trip to Draycote water to look for the Lesser Scaup reported the previous day. It is presumed to be the returning bird from last year arriving within a few days of last year's arrival date. Whatever, I didnt see it. I met up with the Blurred Birder anxious to gain a tactical advantage over rival regional year lister Julian Allen. The gamble almost paid off with Julian heading for Worcestershire to clean up on Pec. Sand. and Lapland Bunting. In the event despite checking most of the Tufties and the western side of the res, and the experienced eye of Draycote recorder John Judge we came up with nothing. There was clearly a good deal of migration going on with Yellow wagtails and Meadow pipits on the banks and the sound of Skylarks moving high overhead. Walking back to the centre we saw a Peregrine overhead and as we passed the Sailing club on our way to Rainbow corner we had a message from JJ saying there was a juvenile Gannet flying over the Country Park. Martyn and I were right next to the Country Park but with no view, being right under the trees. By the time we could get a view the bird had flown off down the valley completely ignoring the reservoir. What a sickner, if we had been anywhere else on the res we would probably have seen it. Anyway my birding time was up as I was due for a stint ( I wish) of Dog sitting. That wasnt the end of the tribulations though. News that an American Flycatcher had been found in Norfolk triggered the usual reaction of panic and feined indifference. On the basis that nobody knew what the hell it was and I wouldn't get to Blakeney point by dusk and I'd seen Alder Flycatcher the previous year anyway I almost relaxed. Almost. Further news that it may be a completely different species started the whole sorry dilemma again. A couple of pints at the tap didnt help. I made some tentative enquires and when Tony Shepherd offered me a lift the decision was made. There was still a final twist to what had been a day of missed chances. Further doubt had been cast on the identity of the Flycatcher and those who purport to know about such things had come to the conclusion that it was probably an Alder Flycatcher. So the trip was aborted, Lets just hope the Villa come up with a win this afternoon.
Would you Adam and eve it, Northern Parula on Tiree. Here we go again. Watch this space!

Black tern still at Kingsbury W.P.

Black tern, Kingsbury W.P.

Friday 24th Sept. 2010

Fantastic lightning storm over North Warks yesterday evening. Stood outside the Church End Brewery for some time after my usual Thursday night pint watching the show. Unfortunately the days birding hadn't provided the same highlights! Visited a good number of localish venues hoping for a migrant or two but very little found. Chiffchaffs here and there, dwindling numbers of Swallows on the move and a couple of terns. An Arctic tern that flew through Coton lakes and the lingering Black tern, now spending most of its time on Broomey Croft pool, Kingsbury.

Influx of Black Terns in the Midlands

Black tern, Mill pool, Alvecote

Black tern

Black tern

Wednesday 22nd Sept. 2010

Disaster I've lost the thing a me jig off me camera. Its the dial off the programme selector knob whats gawn. Could mean the end of blogging as we know it. A blog without photos is like ..... I'll get back to you on that one. I havent a clue what camera settings I'm on, so I'm struggling. Even resorted to looking in the manual. Fat lot of good that did but I'll give it another go when I can keep my eyes open.

Had a go at photographing the Black terns at Mill pool this evening but struggled. Still it was nice to see a good flock feeding over the water. I counted 31 birds just before 6.00pm and there have been sizable counts on other Midlands reservoirs.

No of species reported in Warks. so far this year = 190