30th April - Sightings

Nothing reported so far today

29th April - Sightings

Lea Marston - Greenshank Haunch Lane mid evening still (J Allen)
Kingsbury - Common Sand Cliff Pool (J Allen, TP)
Bassett North - Garganey (m) reported (per J Harris)

28th April - Sightings

Kingsbury - Bar Tailed Godwit Cliff Pool 1.45pm at least(M Smiles, J Oates et al) Also 2 Common Sandpipers, White Wagtail (L Johnson, M Smiles) Grasshopper Warbler Richard's Meadow early morning (M Smiles)
Bassett - Greenshank, Ruff, Dunlin, Hobby, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Grasshopper Wbr (J Oates et al) Hybrid Shelduck sp again (J Harris) This was last reported in February.
Fisher's Mill - Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) (P Hyde)
Lea Marston - Greenshank on Haunch Lane Floods (S Haynes et al)
Ladywalk - Peregrine (imm), Hobby, Common Sand (P Sofley)
Shustoke - Bar Tailed Godwit 40 flew high east c9.45am, Yellow Wag over (L Johnson)

27th April - Sightings

Bassett North - 2 Common Cranes circling 3.30 to 3.35pm then flew East (P Sofley, Bobby D). Also Whimbrel and Bar-Tailed Godwit through to South early afternoon. Greenshank, 2 Ruff, Hobby, 3 Yellow Wagtail North Pit area(P Sofley et al) 2 Ruff, 2 Wigeon (m,f) late evening (TP)
Bassett South - Short-Eared Owl, 2 Wheatear (J Harris)
Kingsbury - Common Sand Cliff Pool (Bobby D) Also Whimbrel briefly (per Bobby D) Grasshopper Warbler Richard's Meadow this evening (W Egmont)
Middleton - Wood Warbler in private area (J Harris)

All recent Barwit sightings have been of a moulting adult so could easily relate to the same bird. Where it spends most of its time is a mystery! Also of interest the two parties of two Ruff at Ladywalk and Bassett refer to different birds (per P Sofley)

26th April - Sightings

Ladywalk - 2 Ruff till c3.30pm when flushed by Sparrowhawk.
Bassett North - Avocet (TP et al) Ruff 2, Wigeon 2 (TP, J Allen et al)

Nearby 5 Whiskered Terns till early evening at Croxall seen to fly south along the river. Keep em peeled in the Tame Valley! A superb find by Martyn Yapp.

25th April - Sightings

Shustoke - Arctic Tern, Yellow Wag, Swift (L Johnson)
Ladywalk - 2 Ruff from Riverwalk Hide (S Cawthray et al)
Bassett North - 2 Greenshank, Dunlin early evening (TP, J Allen) 1 Greenshank, Bar-Tailed Godwit 8pm (S Cawthray)

24th April - Sightings

Coton - 2 Black Necked Grebes, Swift (Bobby D, L Johnson et al)
Shustoke - 2 Swift (LJohnson)
Bassett North - Bar Tailed Godwit (f), 7+ Black Tailed Godwit, Common Sand (J Allen et al) 2 Wheatear (K Donaghy)
Bassett South - Yellow-Legged Gull Ad (K Donaghy)
Fishers Mill - Iceland Gull (juv) over, Short-Eared Owl, Little Egret, 2 Black-Tailed Godwit (J Allen, S Cawthray)
Kingsbury - Cuckoo Richard's Meadow (J Harris)

23rd April - Sightings

Ladywalk - Cuckoo, Common Sand (Bobby D, L Johnson, S Cawthray)
Shustoke - Curlew (L Johnson)
Wishaw - 4 Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear (S Cawthray)
Fisher's Mill - Grasshopper Wbr, 6 Yellow Wag, 3 Little Egret (S Cathray)

22nd April - Sightings

Kingsbury - Common Sand Cliff Pool (K Sargent)
Bassett - Hobby (J Harris)
Middleton - 2 Raven (J Harris)
Ladywalk - Garganey(m) reported (per P Softly)

21st April - Sightings

Nothing Reported Today

Late News for 19th April - 2 Little Gulls Shustoke (D Galletly per L Johnson)

20th April - Sightings

Kingsbury - Med Gull 2nd Sum still, Common Sand, Goosander on Cliff Pool. Garden Warbler singing by Canal Pool (K Sargent, J Harris, Bobby D)
Dosthill NR - Med Gull ad still (M Priest, J Harris). This bird has a green colour ring.

19th April - Sightings

Kingsbury - Hen Harrier (m) flew east over Kingsbury at 9.30am (per RBA) Also seen over Canal Pool (R Jones per J Harris) Med Gull 2nd Sum, Common Sand, Reed Warbler Cliff Pool (TP, J Allen)
Dosthill NR - Med Gull ad ( per RBA)

18th April - Sightings

Kingsbury - Little Gull (ad), Common Sand Canal Pool, Med Gull 2nd Sum Cliff Pool (per J Harris)
Kingsbury South - Little Gull 2 ads (M Priest)
Bassett - Ad female Marsh Harrier through North at 8:45 a.m, also Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sand. (J Harris)
Dosthill NR - Cuckoo, Whimbrel f/o heading south over Dosthill lake (J Harris)
Fisher's Mill - Lesser Whitethroat (J Harris)

17th April - Sightings

Arctic Tern - Kingsbury - L Johnson

Little Gull - Kingsbury - L Johnson

Kingsbury South - 10+ Arctic Tern, Little Gull Ad Hemlingford Water late morning (S Haynes et al) The Little Gull commutes to other waters. Brambling (f) along causeway (P Softly) This evening 14+ Little Gull (all ads) and 20+ Arctic Terns (TP, J Allen)
Shustoke - 2 Yellow Wags (L Johnson)
Ladywalk - Male Garganey Crake Corner (P Softly)
Coton - Lesser Whitethroat (P Softly)
Kingsbury - Med Gull 2nd Sum still Cliff Pool (L Johnson)
Bassett North - Avocet 7.15pm at least on North Pit (J Fincham, TP, J Allen) Also Grasshopper Warbler (J Fincham) 2nd Sum Marsh Harrier Through, Peregrine, Common Sand, Dunlin, 2 Arctic Tern, 5 Common Tern, Snipe, Yellow Wagtail (per J Harris)
Alvecote - Arctic Tern (A Archer)

Late News for Yesterday:

Kingsbury - SE Owl Richard's meadow, Dunlin, Common Sand Cliff Pool (S Cawthray)

16th April - Sightings

Coton - Lesser Whitethroat singing by hide (L Johnson)

15th April - Sightings

Coton - Kittiwake (or Common Gull), Arctic Tern (Bobby D) 1+ Arctic tern still early afternoon (S Cawthray) 3+ Arctic Terns mid afternoon (A Archer)
Shustoke - Kittiwake ad (S Cawthray) Possibly Coton bird? 2nd Sum Common Gull this afternoon (S Haynes et al). See Bob the Birder site for info.
Kingsbury South - 2 Arctic Tern Bodymoor Heath Water (S Cawthray)
Alvecote - 3 Arctic Terns through (A Archer)

None of the above present this evening (MO). Part of a movement throughout Midlands.

Wishaw - 2 Wheatear Blindpit Lane (J Harris)
Ladywalk - Mealy Redpoll on feeders (J Harris)
Kingsbury - Med Gull 2nd Sum still Cliff Pool (Bobby D et al)

14th April - Sightings

BN Grebe - Lea Marston (D Hutton)

"Mealy" type Redpoll - Whitacre Heath NR (D Hutton)

Dosthill NR - Little Gull ad, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler (per RBA, per J Harris)
Kingsbury - Med Gull 2nd Sum still Cliff Pool (TP, Bobby D et al). Little Egret, 7 Common Tern (K Sargent) Osprey reported over this morning (per Bobby D) Whitethroat, Wheatear Richard's Meadow (per J Harris)
Whitacre Heath NR - 2 "Mealy" type Redpoll with 20+ Lessers from Hide (D Hutton, TP, Bobby D et al)
Lea Marston - 1+ BN Grebe still on Lake 1A (Bobby D et al) Whitethroat at old Quarry (per J Harris)
Kingsbury Link - Wheatear (Bobby D)
Wishaw - Wheatear Blndpit Lane (J Gallety)
Ladywalk - 2 Mealy Redpoll from Sainsbury's Hide with 20+ Lessers (J Gallety, P Softly)
Coton - Sedge Warbler (J Gallety)
Bassett South - Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Yellow Wags over (per J Harris)
Bassett North - 3 Dunlin (per J Harris)
Fisher's Mill - Reed Warbler (per J Harris)

13th April - Sightings

Lea Marston Lake 1A - Black Necked Grebe 4 summer plumage ( J Allen T Perrins et al )
KWP Cliff Pool- Med Gull 2nd summer ( RBA )
Drayton Bassett - 5 Wigeon, Whitethroat ( J Allen )
Whitacre Heath NR - 2 Mealy Redpoll with 40+ Lessers from hide (per RBA)


I am back from my hols now, so news can be sent to me again. Many thanks to Julian for keeping the blog up to date. Cheers Tom.

12th April - Sightings

Lea Marston Lake 1A - Black Necked Grebe 4 summer plumage ( J Allen et al )
Ladywalk - Marsh Harrier went through mid morning ( RBA )
KWP Cliff Pool - Med Gull 2nd summer ( J Allen)
Drayten Basset - 2 + Little Egret , Whitethroat J Allen M Yapp )

11th April- Sightings

Lea Marston Lake1A - Black Necked Grebe 4 in summer plumage ( J Allen et al )
Drayten Basset North End - Black Tailed Godwit , Curlew , Little Egret , Raven , 20 Lesser Redpoll over, adult Yellow L Gull , 3 White Wags & 3 Yellow Wags ( J Allen S Haynes )
Shustoke - Sandwich Tern flew in from the west @ 6.40 then flew off to the north @ 7.10 , 2 White Wags, possible Mealy Redpoll along stream briefly ( L Johnson )
KWP Cliff Pool- 2nd summer Med Gull ( J Allen )
KWP - Merlin high over north end of park @3.00pm then flew south ( S Haynes )
Ladywalk - 2 Mealy Redpoll at the feeders also Cettis Warbler ( B Eaton

10th April - Sightings

Lea Marston Lake 1a - Black Necked Grebe 4 in summer plumage ( P Sofley . JAllen et al )
Drayten Basset North Pit - Black Tailed Godwit , Common Sand , Little Egret , White Wag ( J Allen , M Inskip )
Whitacre Heath - Reed Warbler , Mealy Redpoll, 24 Lesser Redpoll ( P Sofley , J Harris )
KWP Cliff Pool- Med Gull 2nd summer , Green Sand , Common Sand , 11 Common Tern ( J Allen , J Harris )
KWP South Section - 2 Common Tern ( J Allen )
Ladywalk - Lesser Spoted Woodpecker track behind hide D ( C Chilton)

9th April- Sightings

KWP Cliff pool - Med Gull 2nd Summer ( B Duckhouse , J Harris )
Drayten Basset North Pit - Black Tailed Godwit , Green Sand , 2 Yellow Wag , 4 White Wag ( J Harris)
Lea Marston Lake 1a - 2 Black Necked Grebe summer Plumage 18.30 ( N Sweatman )

8th April - Sightings

Fishers Mill- Garganey pair 10.30 then flushed by work party , this evening 2 Little Egret ( J Fincham , J Allen )
KWP Cliff Pool- Black Tailed Godwit, Common Sand , 2 Common Tern , 2nd summer Med Gull
White Wagtail ( L Johnson , S Cawthray , C Cook & B Duckhouse )
Coleshill Quarry - 2 Goosander , Green Sand , male Wheatear ( WMBC )
Ladywalk - Brambling & 2 Lesser Redpoll (WMBC)

7th April - Sightings

Drayten Bassett North Pit- Iceland Gull juv , Black Tailed Godwit , Dunlin , Common Tern ,Yellow Wagtail , Green Sand on a pit nearby ( J Mallinson , J Harris )
Wihtacre Heath - Osprey flew north over Station Road at 11.20 ( RBA )
Wishaw - 3 Wheatear Blind Pit Lane by bee hive's ( J Mallinson )

6th April - Sightings

Drayten Bassett North Pit - Iceland Gull juv , Black Tailed Godwit ( M Priest )
Ladywaik - White Wagtail +12 Pied Wagtail on B Pools , 1 Mealy Redpoll with flock of 40 Lesser Redpoll in poplars ( S Cawthray )
Drayten Bassett South - Willow Warbler ( J Fincham )
Whitacre Heath - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( C Cook )

5th April - Sightings

Middleton - 2 Raven , Blackcap , No sign of Cattle Egret today ( J Allen , P Forbes )
Fishers mill/Drayten Bassett South - 2 Little Egret ( J Allen , P Forbes )
Drayten Basset North Pit-Black Tailed Godwit ( J Allen )
Whitacre Heath - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( RBA )

4th April - Sightings

Middleton - Cattle Egret Still present this morning at 7.00 in field by the farm , also reported still present mid afternoon but no sign this evening ( RBA J Allen )
Fishers Mill - 2 Little Egrets ( J Allen )

3rd April - Sightings

Middleton - Cattle Egret By entrance in cattle field agian on off all day (RBA )
Ladywalk - Brambling male at feeders , 3 Oystercatchers ( K Donaghy )

2nd April - Sightings

Middleton - Cattle Egret In cattle field /lake area ,also commuting to field behind trees at back of lake on off all day , Green Sand ( many observers )
Drayten Bassett - Iceland Gull juv this morning , Black Tailed Godwit on North Pit ( J Harris , P Hyde & M Inskip)
KWP Main Entrance - Little Egret in ploughed field by entrance ( WMBC )
Shustoke - Curlew over , Swallow , Sand Martin & Blackcap ( L Johnson )

1st April - Sightings

Middleton- Cattle Egret In field between main entrance & lake with Highland Cattle at 6.10 pm , then later at back of main lake perched in a dead tree till 7.15 pm then flew towards farm presumably to roost, also Green Sand ( K Sargent et al )
Drayten Bassett North Pit - Black Tailed Godwit ( K Sargent , J Harris )
Fishers Mill - Iceland Gull juv( K Sargent, G Williams)