31st January - Sightings

Kingsbury - Smew (redhead) Broomeycroft Pool on island (K Sargent)
Fisher's Mill - Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker in hedge between canal and river(Paul Harper)
Bassett South - 3 Smew (2m) on pool near river, 2 Little Egret (P Harper)
Bassett North - Stonechat, 3 Redshank, Goosander (P Harper)

30th January - Sightings

Jack Snipe - Kingsbury - Mark Smiles

Bassett South - 2 Smew (m,rh), 3 Pintail(2m,f), 2 Little Egret (TP, A Archer)
Bassett North - 3 Green Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 14 Shelduck (TP, A Archer)
Bodymoor - 4 Little Egret in ditch near Villa training ground (TP)
Kingsbury South - Goosander(f) Bodymoor Heath Water (TP)
Kingsbury - Barn Owl Richard's Meadow (A Archer) Jack Snipe Cliff Pool (M Smiles)

Yesterday's Glaucous Gull report may have referred to a pale Herring Gull. See here for discussion. The bird on Thursday was an undoubted Glauc.

29th January - Sightings

Bassett North - 2 Green Sandpiper on North Pit (K Sargent)
Ladywalk - Bittern, Mealy Redpoll (S Cawthray)
Fisher's Mill - Hen Harrier (Ringtail) reported independently by 2 birders between 3-4pm (per WJ Egmont) 2nd Win Glaucous Gull still (K Sargent)
Bassett South - Smew(m) (G Williams)
Middleton - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Mill Plantation near farm (G Williams)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TAME VALLEY BIRDING - 1 TODAY!!!

28th January - Sightings

Glaucous Gull - Fisher's Mill - Bob Duckhouse

Fisher's Mill - Glaucous Gull (2nd Win) till 2.15pm at least (J Mallinson et al). This is probably the bird seen intermittantly at Albert Lake, Leics this winter. Also Pintail (m) (G Williams)
Bassett North - 5 Redshank, 21 Golden Plover (G Williams)

27th January - Sightings

Kingsbury - No sign of Mealy redpolls in good search around area but 3 Lesser Redpoll(L Johnson)
Fisher's Mill - Pintail(m) (G Williams) 5 White-Fronted Geese over to North, 3 Little Egret, Yellow-Legged Gull (S Cawthray)
Bassett - 2 Pintail (2m) , 3 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 17 Shelduck (S Cawthray, G Williams)
Middleton - 6 small geese over Silt Pool (J Fincham per G Williams) Stand a good chance of being White-Fronts. Also 6 small geese seen in flight on 19th Jan.
Kingsbury South - Redhead Smew Hemlingford Water, Goosander, Yellow-Legged Gull(2nd Win) Bodymoor Heath Water (A Dean)
Dosthill - Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) on main lake (A Dean)

26th January - Sightings

White Fronted Geese - nr Kingsbury WP - 22nd Jan - Ken Mather

Bassett North - Grey Plover till 12pm then flew North, Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank(G Williams)
Fisher's Mill - Grey Plover flew in from South at 11am then later at Bassett North till 12pm. A further 2 Grey Plover flew in from south 12.45pm (G Williams) Also 2 Little Egret, Goosander (S Cawthray)
Kingsbury - 2 Mealy Redpoll with Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch along track at side of caravan park. Redhead Smew Cliff Pool. Barn Owl, Stonechat Richard's Meadow (S Cawthray, C Cook) Unconfirmed report of Great White Egret still (per S Cawthray)
Ladywalk - Blackcap still (C Cook) No sign of yesterday's reported Merlins but 2 Sparrowhawks around feeding station (Many Obs)

Late news for Friday 22nd January - 4 White-Fronted Geese from Bodymoor Heath Road in winter wheat fields south of M42 (K Mather per S Nuttall)

25th January - Sightings

Ladywalk - 2 Merlin (m,f) reported attacking feeding station (D Daniel et al) No sign of merlins this afternoon but 2 Lesser-Spotted Woodpeckers(pr) behind Sainsbury's Hide. Bittern roosted main reedbed. 2 Peregrines on Pylons (P Sofley et al)
Bassett North - Redshank (C Cook)
Bassett South - Goosander(f) (C Cook)
Fisher's Mill - 2 Little Egret (C Cook)
Kingsbury - Barn Owl Richard's Meadow, Smew (Redhead) Cliff Pool (W Egmont, C Cook)
Bodymoor - Redpoll flock still by canal (C Cook)

24th January - Sightings

Hams Hall - 2+ Chiffchaff, 8 Lesser Redpoll (C Cook)
Ladywalk - Blackcap in Car Park, Bittern, 2 Goosander from Sainsbury's Hide (C Cook)
Bodymoor - Redpoll flock still present including a paler bird (presumed Mealy) (C Cook) Looks like Bobby D saw some Mealies too - see here.

23rd January - Sightings

Bodymoor - 2 Mealy Redpolls with c50 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Goldfinch in alders from Canal Towpath by first lock North of Bodymoor Heath bridge (P Sofley, TP, J Allen)
Bassett North - 2 Green Sandpiper in flooded field by canal next to Debbie's Day Boats (TP)
Kingsbury - Smew (Redhead) Cliff Pool (P Sofley)
Bassett South - Pintail(m) (P Sofley)

22nd January - Sightings

Bittern - Ladywalk - Ken Mather

Ladywalk - Bittern showing well from Sainsbury's Hide (S Cawthray et al) First report here since 6th January. Also Little Egret, Tawny Owl, 2 Shelduck, Goosander (S cawthray)
Wishaw - 12+ Grey Partridge behind Kennels on Blindpit Lane (L Johnson, C Cook)
Shustoke - 10 Goosander (L Johnson)

19th January - Sightings

Bassett South - Smew (m), 2 Goosander, Little Egret (L Johnson)
Dosthill - Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) (L Johnson)
Kingsbury - 2 Red-Crested Pochard (pr) still Canal Pool (L Johnson) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (along path between Broomey Croft and Cliff Pools); 3 Goosander (1 male, 2 female) (on Cliff Pool) (A Anscomb)
Wishaw - 16 Grey Partridge Blindpit Lane (behind Kennels) (A Anscomb)
Hams Hall - 2 Green Sandpiper (A Anscomb)

18th January - Sghtings

Red-Crested Pochard - Kingsbury - Karl Sargent

Kingsbury - 2 Red-Crested Pochard Cliff Pool (K Sargent) Smew (m) Otter Pool (per K Sargent)
Middleton - Little Egret on Hall Lake (K Sargent)
Coton - 6 Pintail (4 M, 2 F) (P Satch)

17th January - Sightings

Redshank - Tamworth - Roger Henderson

Tamworth - GREAT-WHITE EGRET on flooded lakes at back of Coton Football Ground, Fazeley (R Henderson) Described by Roger as " huge, Grey Heron size or even a bit bigger maybe, brilliantly white, with very long neck and bright yellow bill. It flew off upstream so somebody could have seen it on the RSPB Reserve Middleton or around Dosthill?" No doubt the bird seen around Christmas in the valley.

Also 7 Goosander, 12 Shelduck here. Green Sandpiper, Redshank on flooded meadow back of housing estate by Tameside Nature Reserve (R Henderson)

Ladywalk - Blackcap, Woodcock, 3 Goosander (per Birdforum, Dudebirding)
Kingsbury - Little Egret (per Dudebirding)
Coton - 2 Red-Crested Pochard (Hughie King)

16th January - Sightings

Ladywalk - Mealy Redpoll near Sainsbury's Hide, Blackcap in Car Park still (A Archer)
Hams Hall - 4 Chiffchaff, Peregrine (A Archer)
Coton - 2 Goosander (Many Obs)
Tamworth - Green Sandpiper, Blackcap by feeding Station at Tameside NR (R Henderson)

15th January - Sightings

Blackcap - Ladywalk - Chris Cook

Red-Crested Pochard - Curdworth - Chris Cook

Coton - Mediterranean Gull(ad) in roost (J Allen, A Dean) Also 5+ Smew (3m) still though mobile (A Dean et al)
Dosthill NR - Bittern at north end still, Little Egret (J Allen) General access only along public footpaths.
Dosthill - Mediterranean Gull(ad), Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) on main lake (A Dean) Same as Coton.
Ladywalk - Blackcap still (C Cook)
Hams Hall - 5 Chiffchaff by Outfall (C Cook)
Curdworth - 5 Red-Crested Pochard (2M, 3F) either side of A446 bridge on river Tame (C Cook) 3 present yesterday. These are part of a big influx into the midlands. These are presumably birds frozen out of the large feral population in the Cotswold Water Park (Gloucs/Wilts). Access directions below (per C Cook)


Parking is available off the main A446 travelling S just after the dual carriageway ends but it's a bit dodgy.There is a large apron of concrete in a gateway S of outflow but N of the river.It is safer to turn right towards W/O at the lights turn round somewhere then retrace steps so can turn left into the parking area.You then have to walk S over the bridge to drop down onto the footpath past concrete block and on under the M42 road bridge.Start looking from the under the M42 bridge stealthily and walk till can see a small tree on near bank right at rivers edge that has 3 slim trunks.Both pairs were within this stretch.Note they can be sitting on bank at times

14th January - Sightings

Coton - 2 Smew (1m) (J Allen)
Ladywalk - Blackcap, Tawny Owl (J Allen)

13th January - Sightings

Lea Marston - Bittern over low towards Coton at c1pm. Also Redshank (P Sofley)
Coton - 4 Smew (1m), Caspian Gull(ad), 2 Yellow-Legged Gulls(ad) roosted, Cetti's Warbler (J Allen)

12th January - Sightings

Coton - 7 Smew (inc 3m) still, 3 Yellow-Legged Gull(ads) roosted(L Johnson et al)
Dosthill NR - Bittern still (per J Allen) Non-permit holders should stick to public footpaths.
Hams Hall - 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Goosander, Peregrine, 4+ Chiffchaff (P Forbes, K Wimbush)
Ladywalk - Blackcap, Chiffchaff in Car Park (P Forbes, K Wimbush, L Johnson)

11th January - Sightings

Coton - up to 6 Smew (2m,4rh) (J Mallinson et al). Caspian Gull(ad), Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) in roost (A Dean, J Allen et al) Also Water Rail, Cettis Warbler (Many Obs)
Hams Hall - 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper but no sign of Mandarin today(Many Obs)
Ladywalk - Peregrine, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff in Carpark (P Sofley)
Wishaw - 14 Grey Partridge Blindpit Lane by Beehives (J Mallinson)

10th January - Sightings

Smew - Coton - Lee Johnson

Coton - 5 Smew (2ad m, 3 Redheads), 5 Goosander, 2 Yellow-Legged Gulls(ads) in roost (L Johnson) The Smew were feeding very close in to the hide as can be seen by Lee's Excellent picture above.
Hams Hall - 2 Mandarin(m,f) on river between sewage outfall and Ladywalk car park. Also 2 Peregrine (Dean Baker)
Ladywalk - Blackcap in car park (D Baker)

9th January - Sightings

Ladywalk - Merlin (m) still, Brambling, Woodcock, Green Sandpiper (M Yapp, P Sofley)
Hams Hall - 4 Green Sand, Common Sand by Outfall (M Yapp et al)
Bassett North - 3 Goosander, c50 Goldeneye on river (TP) c250 Greylag, 300 Canada Geese in field by canal south of Fazeley(TP)
Dosthill - c200 Goldfinch, 10 Lesser Redpoll on old tip (TP)
Coton - Caspian Gull(ad), Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) in roost (J Allen, K Wimbush, P Forbes) 2 Smew (redheads) then flew to back pool, Little Egret (J Allen)

8th January - Sightings

Water Rail - Tamworth - Mark Priest

Goosanders - Tamworth - Mark Priest

Bittern - Dosthill NR - Mark Priest (Taken on Monday 4th January)

Ladywalk - Merlin (m), 3 Woodcock (per P Sofley)
Coton - Caspian Gull(ad) in roost (A Dean) Also Woodcock, Cetti's Warbler (A Dean)
Tamworth - 40+ Goosander on River Tame at Ladybridge (Tamworth Castle Grounds) (M Priest) 2 Water Rail on stream in front of snowdome (M Priest)

7th January - Sightings

Bassett North - Little Egret (J Allen)
Ladywalk - Brambling (Bobby D)

6th January - Sightings

Ladywalk - Bittern, Peregrine, Woodcock, 3 Goosander (S Cawthray)
Bassett North - Merlin(ad m), Peregrine (J Allen)
Coton - Little Egret (P Sofley)

5th January - Sightings

Ladywalk - Bittern, Tawny Owl still (J Allen)
Bassett North - Redshank, Merlin(ad m) again (J Allen)
Coton - Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) in roost (J Allen)

4th January - Sightings

Dosthill NR - 2 Bittern (A Dean et al)
Coton - Caspian Gull (2nd Win), Yellow-Legged Gull(ad) in roost. Also Goosander, Cetti's Warbler (A Dean)
Ladywalk - 2 Bittern, 2 Woodcock (P Sofley)
Lea Marston - 2 Woodcock (P Sofley)

3rd January - Sightings

Bittern - Ladywalk - Adam Archer

Ladywalk - 2 Bittern still. 1 on 'B' Pool, 1 on Main Pool (Many Obs)
Bassett North - Smew (ad m), 2 Stonechat (G Williams per C Cook)
Coton - 3+ Goosander (C Cook)
Kingsbury - 2 Pink-Footed Goose over Richard's Meadow 10.35am (RBA)

2nd January - Sightings

Ladywalk - 2 Bittern still (J Allen et al)

1st January - Sightings

Ladywalk - Bittern showing all day on ice (S Cawthray, L Johnson et al) Also Woodcock, Tawny Owl, Marsh and Willow Tits (S Cawthray)
Hams Hall - Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 6 Chiffchaff (S Cawthray)
Fisher's Mill - Merlin (m), Little Egret, Redshank, 2 Stonechat, Barn Owl (S Cawthray)
Coton - Cetti's Warbler, Golden Plover (S Cawthray)
Wishaw - 30 Golden Plover (S Cawthray)
Kingsbury - 2 Pink-Footed Goose on Broomey Croft Pool on ice c10.00am and then flew north (John Clark per J Harris)
Bassett North - 2+ Goosander (J Harris, J Fincham)
Dosthill NR - 1 probably 2 Bittern (J Harris, J Fincham et al)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL TAME VALLEY BIRDERS!