30th April - Sightings

RSPB - Osprey early afternoon Also Whinchat, Black-Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, 5+ Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 4 Wigeon, 8 Swift (P Forbes et al)

29th April - Sightings

RSPB - 2 Whinchat (m,f), Black-Tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, Hobby Jubilee Wetlands. Wheatear, 2 Goosander North Pit (S Pick et al)
Ladywalk - Whinchat, Wheatear, Cuckoo, 2 Yellow Wagtail (S Cawthray et al)
Kingsbury South - 12 swift, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Common Tern Hemlingford Water (S Cawthray)

28th April - Sightings

Whinchat - Gaz Robinson

RSPB - 3 Whinchat (2m,f) all day (J Oliver et al) This evening Whimbrel through, Black-Tailed Godwit, 8 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper (A Archer)
Shustoke - c10 Common Sandpiper (P Forbes)
Ladywalk - Whinchat(f) from 'B' Hide (J & J Morris)

27th April - Sightings

RSPB - 5 Whimbrel , Black-Tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker around reserve. 2 Garganey Fisher's Mill (pr) (P Forbes, D Roberts, TP et al) The Whimbrel and Godwit had gone this evening.
Ladywalk - Mandarin , Dunlin, 2 Goosander, 2 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 32 Gadwall (per P Sofley) Garganey reported on 26/04 (per logbook)
Shustoke - 6 Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo (D Hutton)

26th April - Sightings

Tamworth - Cuckoo flew over Woodlands Road c1.20pm. This shows the merits of hanging out washing! (TP)
RSPB - 2 Garganey (pr) still Fisher's Mil. 10 Dunlin Jubilee/North Pit (J Allen)
Shustoke - 7 Common Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin (P Forbes)
Kingsbury South - 13 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail Mill Meadow (S Pick)

25th April - Sightings

RSPB - Curlew Sandpiper still Jubilee Wetland but no further sign since early morning. Also 3 Dunlin. 2 Garganey(pr) Fisher;s Mill. Hobby reported (S Pick et al)

24th April - Sightings

Curlew Sandpiper - Gaz Robinson

RSPB - Curlew Sandpiper still. Also 3 Wheatear (J Morgan et al)

23rd April - Sightings

RSPB - Curlew Sandpiper Jubilee Wetlands from bench. Also Cuckoo (S Cawthray et al) The Curlew Sandpiper is presumably the bird from Tuesday.
Kingsbury South - Whinchat Mill Meadow near bridge to Church. Also 12 Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat (Bobby D et al)

22nd April - Sightings

Whimbrel - Steve Pick

RSPB - 2 Whimbrel, Greenshank Jubilee Wetlands. 6+ Grasshopper Warbler (K Sargent et al)
Shustoke - Arctic Tern (S Cawthray)
Ladywalk - 3 Green Sandpiper, Curlew, 4 Snipe, 3 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 30 House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat (per P Sofley)

21st April - Sightings

Shustoke - Greenshank briefly this morning (P Forbes)
RSPB - Curlew Sandpiper till 6.50pm but not later (D Baker et al) 5+ Grasshopper Warbler this evening. Also 2 Green Sandpiper, Goosander (TP)
Kingsbury South - 7 Yellow Wagtail Mill Meadow (S Cawthray)
Ladywalk - 3 Grasshopper Warbler (S Cawthray) Also Cuckoo (P Lichfield)
Wishaw - Wheatear (D Baker)
Whitacre Heath - Red Kite over village (K & L Wimbush)

The Curlew Sandpiper seems to have been present all day but went unreported until late afternoon which is a shame.

20th April - Sightings

Whinchat - Mark Priest

RSPB - Lesser Whitethroat, Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker, Avocet (D Hutton) Whinchat(m) (M Priest)

Middleton Lakes Waders

Below is a list of waders recorded at Middleton Lakes. Those marked with a * were only recorded before the RSPB started managing the site. Additionally a Kentish Plover was seen in the 1970s on a now filled in pit between Kingsbury Water Park and the reserve.

1. Black-winged Stilt 
2. Avocet 
3. Oystercatcher 
4. Pacific Golden Plover 
5. Golden Plover
6. Grey Plover 
7. Lapwing 
8. Little Ringed Plover
9. Ringed Plover
10. Whimbrel
11. Curlew
12. Black-tailed Godwit
13. Bar-tailed Godwit
14. Turnstone
15. Knot
16. Ruff 
17. Broad-billed Sandpiper *
18. Curlew Sandpiper
19. Temminck's Stint
20. Sanderling
21. Dunlin
22. Little Stint
23. White-rumped Sandpiper
24. Least Sandpiper *
25. Pectoral Sandpiper
26. Common Sandpiper
27. Green Sandpiper
28. Spotted Redshank
29. Greenshank
30. Wood Sandpiper
31. Redshank
32. Jack Snipe
33. Woodcock
34. Snipe
35. Red-Necked Phalarope *
36. Grey Phalarope

19th April - Sightings

Garganey - Fisher's Mill and Wheatear - Wishaw (Gareth Robinson)

RSPB - No sign of Black-Winged Stilts today. They appear to have relocated to Cheshire. But 3 Garganey (2m,f) Fisher's Mill. Garganey(m) Jubilee Wetlands. Garganey(m) North Pit. Also 3 Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Wheatear, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Arctic Tern through (A Archer et al) Whinchat(m) between 2 screens on electric fence (J Allen)
Kingsbury South - 3+ Yellow Wagtail Mill Meadow. 50+ House Martin, 2 Swift, 7 Common Tern Bodymoor Heath Water (TP)
Kingsbury - 9 Common Tern Cliff Pool. Redstart(f), 2 Grasshopper Warbler Richard's Meadow (A Archer et al)
Shustoke - 4 Swift (M Palmer)
Ladywalk - 7 Little Egret (per P Sofley)
Wishaw - 3 Wheatear Blindpit Lane (G Robinson)

18th April - Sightings

Black-Winged Stilt - Mark Priest (upper) and Dave Hutton

RSPB - **2 BLACK-WINGED STILT ** Jubilee Wetlands mid evening at least. They are a pair and were first on Fisher's Mill c9.25am but then moved to Jubilee (R Davis et al) The only previous record in the Tame was from Alvecote in 1987. The last ones in Staffs were in 1995.

Also Garganey(m) still Fisher's Mill. 3 Avocet, 2 Green Sandpiper Jubilee Wetlands. 2 Goosander North Pit. 4 Grasshopper Warbler, 4+ Reed Warbler around reserve (Many Obs) Red Kite over (K Thorpe, F Mosey) Marsh Harrier(fem) over to North Late Afternoon (M Yapp)

Alvecote - Arctic Tern Mill Pool (A Archer)
Whitacre Heath - Hobby over village (K wimbush)
Coton - Garden Warbler near where hide used to be (D Hutton)

17th April - Sightings

RSPB - Garganey(m) still North Pit (per Staffs Birding) A pair have been seen recently (per RSPB) Arctic Tern North Pit (G Williams) In evening Garganey(m) Fisher's Mill. Also 2 Avocet, 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-Tailed Godwit around reserve (J Allen, S Pick et al)
Wishaw - Whinchat Hempit Lane by farm (D Baker)

16th April - Sightings

RSPB - Green Sandpiper Southern Meadow. 3 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, Whitethroat Jubilee Wetlands (TP) Also 2 Avocet (G Williams)
Wishaw - 2 Wheatear Blindpit Lane (D Baker)
Ladywalk - Garden Warbler in car park area (S Cawthray)

15th April - Sightings

RSPB - Whimbrel Jubilee Wetlands till mid-evening at least. Also Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail (K Thorpe et al) Curlew early evening. Also Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler (D Hutton)
Lea Marston - 2 Green Sandpiper from Railway Bridge. Common Sandpiper on river (M Pollock)
Coton - possible acredula Willow Warbler near brick building by road bridge. Also 2 Whitethroat (D Hutton)

14th April - Sightings

Kingsbury South - 9+ Yellow Wagtail, c30 Pied Wagtail Mill Field (TP) Fulvous Whistling Duck Bodymoor Heath Water (L Davis)
RSPB - Greenshank, Common Sandpiper North Pit. Also Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin around reserve (G Williams et al) Garganey still reported (per J Gallety)
Shustoke - 5 Common Sandpiper (S Cawthray)
Tamworth - Wheatear Amington near Amington Hall Farm (S Allison)
Wishaw - 2 Wheatear (S Cawthray)

13th April - Sightings

RSPB - Garganey(m) North Pit (G Williams) Also Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, 2 Goosander, 2 Avocet, 9 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper around reserve. Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker still around Heronry Wood area (G Williams, K Thorpe et al)
Lea Marston - Green Sandpiper from railway bridge (TP)
Ladywalk - c100 Sand Martin, House Martin, 2 Reed Warbler, White Wagtail, 26 Shoveler, 34 Teal, 44 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 5 Goosander (per P Sofley)

12th April - Sightings

Kingsbury South - 12 Common Tern, 50+ Sand Martin Hemlingford Water. 6 Yellow Wagtail, 41 Pied Wagtail Mill Meadow (M Pollock, S Haynes)
Ladywalk - Green Sandpiper, 5 Little Egret, 2 Wigeon, 8 Goosander (P Lichfield)
RSPB - 2 Avocet, 2 Dunlin (S Pick)

11th April - Sightings

Kingsbury South - 2 Common Tern (D Hutton) In afternoon up 11 Common Tern. Also 30 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow (TP, J Allen)
Tamworth - Redstart Moor Lane, Amington near Football pitches (S Allison, P Malys) Still present in afternoon with another bird calling but not seen (S Allison)
RSPB - 2 Avocet, Dunlin  (Sum Plum), White Wagtail, 2 Common Tern Jubilee Wetlands. Wheatear North Pit (D Hutton  et al) 3 House Martin Fisher's Mill (S Atkinson) Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker by fram (J Allen)
Ladywalk - 2+ Reed Warbler, Curlew, 2 Snipe, 9 Little Egret, 5 Goosander, Marsh Tit (P Lichfield et al)
Kingsbury - Common Sandpiper Canal Pool still. 8 Snipe Cliff Pool (W Eley)

10th April - Sightings

Whitacre Heath - Marsh Harrier (sub adult Male) over village 11:10hrs (K Wimbush)
Shustoke - Red Kite over (S Haynes)
Coton - 8 singing Willow Warbler (S Haynes)
Ladywalk - Ringed Plover, 2 LRP, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 7 Little Egret, 3 Goosander (P Lichfield et al)
RSPB - Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker still vocal around Heronry Wood area. 2 Avocet, Black-Tailed Godwit on reserve (K Thorpe)

9th April - Sightings

RSPB - Whimbrel till mid afternoon at least but not in evening (P Forbes et al) Also 2 Avocet, Curlew, Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 5 LRP, 4 Redshank, 17 Snipe, 2 Pochard, 2 Wheatear, Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker (TP et al) Sedge Warbler reported (per noticeboard)
Kingsbury South - Little Gull (1st Win) still Hemlingford Water (Bobby D)
Kingsbury - Common Sandpiper Canal Pool (Bobby D)
Coton - 3 Willow Warbler (D Baker, Bobby D)
Ladywalk - 8 Little Egret, 10 Goosander, Willow Warbler, 3 LRP, 4 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, 5 Snipe, 200+ Shoveler (per P Sofley)


The All-Day Spring bird count will take place on Saturday 25th April. Middleton has a friendly competition against other Midlands reserves to see which reserve can record the most species.

8th April - Sightings

RSPB - 3 Avocet still Jubilee Wetlands. Also 6 LRP, 6 Ringed Plover, Black-Tailed Godwit, Common Tern. Lesser Spotted woodpecker still in Heronry Wood. 200 Sand Martin roosted Silt Pool (K Thorpe)
Kingsbury South - 2 Little Gull (2nd Win, 1st Win) still (per Birdguides) 
Ladywalk - 4 Little Egret, 2 LRP, 2 Redshank, 3 Snipe, Blackcap (per P Sofley)

7th April - Sightings

RSPB - 3 Avocet still North Pit (K Thorpe)

6th April - Sightings

Kingsbury South - 1 Little Gull Hemlingford Water (per Birdguides)
RSPB -  3 Avocet reported with just 2 again in afternoon. Also 2 Black-Tailed Godwit still and Dunlin, 2 Curlew, Ringed Plover, 8 Redshank, 3 Goosander, Pochard (J Allen et al)
Ladywalk - Bittern in flight from Riverwalk Hide 12:30pm (Steve Arkell) Also Green Sandpiper, Curlew, 8 Goosander, 2 Sand Martin, Swallow, 2 Blackcap (per P Sofley)

5th April - Sightings

Kingsbury South - 2 Little Gull (1st Win, 2nd Win) Swann Pool/Hemlingford Water though mobile (D Hutton et al)
RSPB - 2 Avocet, 2 Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Mediterranean Gull(ads), 2 LRP, Ringed Plover, Curlew, 9+ Redshank, 6 Little Egret, 2 Pintail, 8 Goosander, Pochard(m), Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow (G Williams, TP, J Allen, K Sargent et al)
Shustoke - 2 LRP (D Hutton)

4th April - Sightings

Kingsbury South - Little Gull (2nd win) Swann Pool (TP)
RSPB - Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker again in heronry wood/farm paddock. Regularly calling and drumming and showing on and off. Do not enter wood (Many Obs) Also 2 Pintail and usual waders on reserve (J Allen et al)
Coton - Chiffchaff sp (mixed singer) back again. Also House Martin, 13 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin (D Hutton, D Mallon)
Kingsbury - Jack Snipe Cliff Pool (S Cawthray)

2nd April - Sightings

RSPB - Willow Warbler Silt Pool. Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker behind Farm. Also LRP, 6 Redshank, 2 Pintail, Peregrine (S Cawthray et al)

1st April - Sightings

Ladywalk - Marsh Harrier flew south (S Cawthray) Also Stonechat, Curlew, 3 Redshank, 4 Snipe, Mandarin, 30 Sand Martin, Swallow (Many Obs)
Coton - 2 Swallow (S Haynes)
Alvecote - report of Nordic Jackdaw on Warks side (per S Haynes)

31st March - Sightings

Ladywalk - Mandarin, 10 Goosander, 94 Shoveler, 53 Teal, 2 Curlew, Redshank, 5 Snipe, many Sand Martin (per P Sofley)