Saturday December 31st

Ladywalk NR
A Siberian Chiffchaff was along the entrance track today (Steve Cawthray).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: 54 Little Egrets roosted at the heronry and two Woodcocks were seen there. Earlier in the day 12 Egrets were in bushes at Hemlingford Water (Steven Pick)
Staffs: A Great White Egret was at Jubilee Wets today and the Scaup was still on the New Reedbed Pool.


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE......IF YOU FANCY MAKING A NEW RESOLUTION IN 2017 WHY NOT SEND IN YOUR RECORDS.......MORE RECORDS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AS THERE ARE VERY FEW REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS. 

Friday December 30th

Bodymoor Heath
50 Golden Plover were on fields opposite RSPB road on Bodymoor Heath Lane (Tom Perrins).

Hams Hall
The five Waxwings were seen in flight heading from BMW towards Edison Road, where there are pyracanthas behind the fence (Pete Sofley). Also the Siberian Chiffchaff was at the outfall around 1330hrs with five Common Chiffchaffs and two Raven were about (Dave Hutton).

Ladywalk NR
The Siberian Chiffchaff was looked for but not seen. The Bittern showed at 1315hrs and later at 1450hrs (Pete Sofley). Some excellent extra counts received Saturday were 356 Teal, 6 Pochard and 180 Lapwing over to the south (Sandy @Dumblederry !!).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: There are still ca. five Little Egrets roosting at Jubilee willows (Steven Pick). Ten Shelduck were on Jubilee and the Scaup is still on the New Reedbed Pool (Geoff Williams).

Thursday December 29th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Three Great White Egrets were on Mill Pool at 1525hrs after one was in Staffs at The Pigs earlier (Roy Smith).

Coton Lakes
Red-crested Pochard still (GAWilliams).

Hams Hall
A late report of five Waxwings at BMW, on the estate, has not yet been substantiated and there was certainly no sign between 3 and 4pm and very few berries there. Hopefully more information will become available. The Sainsbury's carpark must be the favourite for tomorrow (Birdguides info).
These birds have now been confirmed after further info received.

Some good came out of the above report with several roosts of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Redpolls in Holm Oaks along Canton Lane. A count was not possible as most had roosted already. Also Peregrine on the pylons.

Wednesday December 28th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The two Barnacle Geese still and three Great White Egrets were reported. News in today that there were still two Great White Egrets for 24th and 26th so ignore yesterdays comment (Roy Smith, Tom Perrins).

Broomey Croft
Still around 106 Goldfinches near Car Park (Wal).

Hams Hall 
The Siberian Chiffchaff was heard and seen at the outflow with four Common Chiffchaffs and nearby the Common Sandpiper and a further two Chiffchaffs along the river (John Harris).

Ladywalk NR
As suspected there does appear to be two Siberian Chiffchaffs in the area with a second bird within one hour of the outflow bird, along the entrance track with two Common Chiffchaffs. One was seen there on 24th too (John Harris).

 by Martin Weaver

Middleton RSPB
Warks: The record number of 56 Little Egrets was repeated tonight at the heronry (Steven Pick et al)
Staffs: Six Shelduck plus the hybrid, Peregrine, Barn Owl and four Stonechats (Steve Atkinson).

Water Orton
I can recommend the riverside walk from by Water Orton Pool towards Hams Hall, which has some of the least disturbed old habitats in the Tame Valley. There are several old wet meadows, small overgrown spinneys and good stands of bramble. Today Gadwall, Teal, Tufted & Mallard were in good numbers with 26 Goosanders, 37 Moorhens, five Litle Grebes, Green Sandpiper and four Grey Wagtails. Looks as good as anywhere for a Firecrest or Stonechats amongst others.

Tuesday December 27th

Alvecote
Warks: The two regular Great White Egrets are back in the area after five days with just the one. Also 2 Barnacle Geese today, with Canadas near Railway Pool (Roy Smith).

Hams Hall
The Siberian Chiffchaff remains near the outfall, though elusive and a Common Sandpiper again on the river there (Dave Hutton).

Kingsbury WP
Red-crested Pochard, 6 Goosanders, 43 Pochard and  Yellow-legged Gull (Tom Perrins).
80 Goldfinches at Broomey Croft (Wal).

Lea Marston Lake 1B
The drake Red-crested Pochard moved over from Swann Pool this afternoon (Mark Maddox). Also 4 Shelducks, Chiffchaff and Water Rail.

Middleton RSPB
Warks: 56 Little Egrets roosted in the heronry this evening, another new record total. Also 3 Stonechats on the Reserve, presumably in Staffs (Mike Pollard).

Monday December 26th

Hams Hall
A Siberian Chiffchaff was by the outfall today so could be a second bird, with Saturdays bird occupying the territory held last winter, along the entrance track for Ladywalk. Also by the outfall 5 Chiffchaffs and a Green Sandpiper (Dave Hutton).

Kingsbury WP
The Red-crested Pochard was on Swann Pool with Yellow-legged Gull and 4 Litle Egrets in the same area (Julian Allen).

Ladywalk NR
11 Goosanders, 4 Pochard and the Greylag flock now up to 24. Greylag is a good bird generally at the Reserve (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: 54 Little Egrets roosted in the heronry, another new record total (Steven Pick).

Sunday December 25th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Great White Egret and 13 Little Egrets at Gilman's Pool and a Cetti's Warbler at NW corner of Ralway Pool (Roy Smith).

🎅🎄🎅🎄Merry Christmas to all our readers and especially the birders that send in news, without whom there would be no Blog🎅🎄🎅🎄 From Tom & Steve........

Saturday December 24th

Ladywalk NR

A Siberian Chiffchaff was elusive along the entrance track today, heard calling too. A fairly typical arrival date in recent years along the river (John Harris).

Also Water Rail, 2 Little Egrets and 6 Pochard (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB

Warks: A Woodcock showed under the feeders with another over the south meadow and Tawny Owl calling from the wood

(Richard Walker).

Friday December 23rd

Middleton RSPB
Warks:  A new record of 52 little Egrets left the heronry roost this morning, 48 flew towards the Water Park, where good numbers are being seen at the south end, in particular (Steven Pick).

Steve has done his last pre-work Egret count and is going to have some lie-ins. Anyone care to take up the challenge over the holiday period?

Thursday December 22nd

Alvecote Pools
Warks: 2 Great White Egrets (1 Mill, 1 Gilman's) also 12 Little Egrets at Gilman's (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
A large flock of ca. 100 Siskin and Redpoll with a Shelduck, Little Egret and the odd Water Rail (Pete Lichfield).

Siskin by Pete Lichfield

Tuesday December 20th

Alvecote Pools
Two Great White Egrets still, on Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Hams Hall
A Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and, again, a poor total of two Chiffchaffs (John Harris).

Ladywalk NR
The Bittern was seen flying from B Pools into the main reedbed (Jeff Adams). Also 2 Peregrines on the pylons and yesterday the pair of Stonechats were still present.

Middleton RSPB
Warks: 29 Snipe were on Hall Lake and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported by the feeders (Geoff Williams).

Monday December 19th

Today four sites set off to count for the BTO WEBS day.

Alvecote and Shustoke were counted yesterday, with some disturbance to Shustoke through the boats. The total counts for each site were as follows and this excludes Gulls, mainly roosting at Coton later in the day, Little Egrets are just included for the Middleton heronry and the Cormorants which roosted at Ladywalk and Kingsbury WP. Therefore, for example, Cormorants counted away from Ladywalk and Kingsbury in the day are excluded:

Alvecote             578
Coton/Lea Marston 2006
Kingsbury WP        1610
Ladywalk                 930
Middleton RSPB      992
Shustoke Res            228

A total of around 7400 birds were counted in our recording area, which is down on last month and Geese, Golden Plover and Gadwall in particular are down.

The main counts are:
Mallard          680 (Middleton 185, Alvecote 125, Ladywalk 123)
Wigeon          325  (Kingsbury 133)
Teal                341 (Middleton 135, Ladywalk 81)
Red-crested Pochard (1 at Swann Pool)
Gadwall         479 (Kingsbury 194, Coton 104)
Pintail                1 (Lea Marston)
Shovelor        318 (Lea Marston 201)
Shelduck         8   (Lea Marston 1, Middleton 7)
Coot              2163 (Coton 1,196, Kingsbury 439)
Moorhen        123  ( (Ladywalk 36)
Tufted Duck 1489 (Coton 910, Middleton 201)
Pochard          183 ( Coton 97)
Scaup               ( 1 at Middleton)
Goldeneye        35 (Middleton 25, Kingsbury 10)
Cormorant      249 (Ladywalk 188, Kingsbury 61)

Other bits and pieces
45 Little Egrets left the heronry roost this morning and all but 5 flew towards Kingsbury WP (Steven Pick). During the WEBS count 26 were seen at Hemlingford Water, the model boat pool and at Coton.

Alvecote
Warks: 2 Great White Egrets on Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Coton
132 Lapwings, Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs.

Kingsbury WP
278 Lapwings on Cliffe Pool.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 46 Golden Plovers and a Great White Egret were on Jubilee wetland.

Thanks to WEBS counters Dean Baker, Ben Eaton, Pete Sofley, Bob Duckhouse, Adam Archer, SMH and  RSPB.

Sunday December 18th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: 2 Great White Egrets, 10 Little Egrets and 2 Stonechats (Bob Duckhouse).

Kingsbury WP
Bodymoor Heath: Water: Yellow-legged Gull still
Hemlingford Water: 21 Little Egrets (Tom Perrins)

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret, 8 Shelduck and the hybrid.
Warks: 41 Little Egrets roosted at the heronry and 14 Pochard were on Fisher's Mill (all Steven Pick).

Saturday December 17th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret, Ruff, 7 Shelduck, the hybrid Shelduck, 5 Goldeneye and 4 Stonechats on Jubilee wetland this morning. The GWE later moved to Dosthill NR (Steve Atkinson).

Friday December 16th

Ladywalk NR
A Barn Owl was seen early, along the river (Matt Sanders).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: The heronry roost held a new Warwickshire Little Egret record total this morning as 49 were counted. All except 7 flew to the south, towards the Water Park, including a flock of 19 (Steven Pick). 4 Goosanders were on the river.
Staffs: A Great White Egret roosted at the willows with 8 Little Egrets. Also 4 drake Pintails , a Ruff and just 2 Golden Plovers on Jubilee wetland (Steven Pick, Geoff Williams).

( A new Staffordshire Little Egret record count was made on October 2nd 2016, when 43 were in the roost at Jubilee wetland and five were seen flying south there too (Steven Pick).

Thursday December 15th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Two Great White Egrets still at Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Kingsbury WP
Swann Pool: The Red-crested Pochard is still present and 8 Goldeneye . Eighteen Little Egrets were counted at Hemlingford and the model boat pool (Alan Dean).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Barn Owl and Stonechat on south meadow.
Staffs: 100 Lapwings, 50 Shovelor, 60 Teal and 7 Shelduck on Jubilee wetland (RSPB).

Wednesday December 14th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A Great White Egret remains on Jubilee Wetlands. Also 7 Shelduck, the hybrid Ruddy type, 3 Goosanders, 215 Lapwings, a Stonechat, 3 Raven and a Chiffchaff (Steve Atkinson).

Tuesday December 13th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Two Great White Egrets and 9 Little Egrets at Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
A Great White Egret was seen briefly this morning (Steve Cawthray). Also a Little Egret, Shelduck, the pair of Stonechats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2+ Cetti's, Water Rails, Peregrine, Marsh Tit (Ben Eaton, SMH).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Woodcock in view on ground along the hedge at Canal Meadow (RSPB).

(The Red-crested Pochard at Kingsbury WP was on a small pool near the model boating lake on Sunday 11th still)

Monday December 12th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret, Pintail, 150 Golden Plovers and 2 Stonechats (Geoff Williams).

Sunday December 11th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret on Gilman's Pool (Tom Perrins).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Seven Shelduck with the Ruddy type hybrid and a Goosander. The roost in the willows at Jubilee held 17 Little Egrets (Steven Pick). Three Chiffchaffs were on the west side of Dosthill NR (Richard Walker).

Saturday December 10th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret, still on Mill Pool presumably, plus another reported too.

Ladywalk NR
300 Teal and the pair of Stonechats (Pete Sofley, Kim Thompson).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 6 Shelducks, 14 Goldeneye, a  Pintail and a Willow Tit (Geoff Williams).

Friday December 9th

Kingsbury WP
Willow Tit at Otter Pool and 200 Redwing, 250 Wigeon on Cliffe Pool (Steve Cawthray).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A Jack Snipe to left of The Lookout hide this morning. Also Shelduck, 100 Lapwing, 12 Goldeneyes.
Warks: Five Goldeneyes on Fisher's Mill (RSPB).

Thursday December 8th

Ladywalk NR
Two Little Egrets roosted and three more flew south along the Blythe at dusk.

Middleton RSPB
Warks: The heronry Egret roost held 37 Little last evening and 32 were observed leaving this morning. Only seven roosted at Jubilee willows tonight and a Barn Owl was seen hunting both sides of the county boundary.
No Great White Egrets appear to have roosted the past two evenings (Steven Pick).
Staffs: Two Jack Snipes showed to the left of The Lookout hide (RSPB).

Wednesday December 7th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The Great White Egret, or at least one of them, still present today. First found in August, it has been present now for very nearly four months. 3 Stonechats still, assumed to be in Warks for recording purposes (Roy Smith).

photo by Bob Duckhouse back in August

Coleshill- River Blythe

A pair of Stonechats were seemingly new in.

Ladywalk NR

A minimum of 300 Redwings were present early today having roosted overnight. Also a Woodcock (Dave Clifton, Pete Sofley). The Bittern showed for 30mins at 1310hrs with 18 Greylags (Ken Bentley). 

Tuesday December 6th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Twenty Goldeneyes was an excellent count at Dosthill NR in the foggy coditions today. Also a drake Pintail there (RSPB).

Interesting news from Ladywalk concerns a recovery of a ringed female Cetti's Warbler. Ringed as a nestling three years ago, the bird was recovered at Rutland Water, Leics on October 26th (per Dave Clifton & Pete Sofley).

Cetti's Warbler by Pete Lichfield

Monday December 5th

Alvecote Pools
Two Great White Egrets but county recording area not known.

Ladywalk NR
Bittern again 1355hrs and the pair of Stonechats. Around ten Snipe enjoyed the new water levels (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Thirty four Little Egrets left the heronry this morning; 30 went south towards the Water park (Steven Pick).

Sunday December 4th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Great White Egret on Mill Pool again (Tom Perrins et al).

Coton Lakes
191 Pochard, Red-crested Pochard and 10 Goosanders were on Lake 2B and Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler (Julian Allen, SMH).

Ladywalk NR
Bittern showed in the main reedbed at 1400hrs with 16 Goosanders and the pair of Stonechats still (Pete Lichfield & Richard Powell).

Photo- P Lichfield

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret again on Jubilee Wetland, the hybrid Ruddy Shelduck, 2 Shelducks, 9 Goldeneyes (Steve Atkinson et al). A Willow Tit was at the south end of Dosthill NR (Richard Walker). The GWE roosted at 1620hrs, having come in from the south (Steven Pick).

Shustoke Res
There were 106 Pochard today, almost simultaneous with the Coton count, which is a pleasing minimum of 297 birds in the Valley. Also 124 Tufted, 138 Coot and a Goldeneye.

Goosanders: At last a few more about today after generally fewer birds this winter.

Saturday December 3rd

Kingsbury WP
The drake Red-crested Pochard on Swann Pool again (Tom Perrins).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A Great White Egret on Jubilee Wetlands, with 400 mobile Golden Plovers, 2 Shelduck, Goldeneye, 42 Cormorants and two Stonechats also in the area (Steve Atkinson et al).

By Steve Atkinson

Friday December 2nd

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: A Great White Egret was on Pigs pool.
Warks: A Great White Egret, 4 Little Egrets, 94 Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 2 Shelduck and 2 Snipe (Bob Duckhouse).

Ladywalk NR
Bittern 1345-1410hrs plus the pair of Stonechats and a Green sandpiper (Ben Eaton).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 75 Golden Plover were on Jubilee and a Willow Tit on east side of Dosthill NR (Geoff Williams). Eighteen Little Egrets roosted in the willows and a Great White Egret joined them at 1636hrs (Steven Pick).

Thursday December 1st

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: A Great White Egret on Pigs Pool with two more reported but not allotted to a county for recording purposes (Roy Smith).

Kingsbury WP
ca.16 Little Egrets were on the model boat pool islands this morning (Tony Hyde).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A Ruddy Shelduck type hybrid is on Jubilee Wetland and was also seen yesterday.
Warks: A Short-eared Owl was over the south meadow area again.

Ladywalk NR
The Bittern showed in front of the main reedbed at 1350hrs (Ken Bentley, Pete Lichfield).

Wednesday November 30th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Great White Egret on Mill Pool
Staffs: Another Great White Egret on Pigs Pool (Roy Smith).

Edison Road / River Tame
There were just 3 Chiffchaffs along the river even with the recent drop in temperature.

Kingsbury WP
A Short-eared Owl was over Richard's Meadow and a Jack Snipe and Dunlin on Cliffe Pool (Steve Cawthray).152 Teal counted from Skan Hide (Wal Egmont).
Swann Pool: Red-crested Pochard then flew towards Coton (Birdguides).

Ladywalk NR
The Bittern showed from Riverwalk Hide at 1410hrs (Pete Sofley). The 2 long-staying Stonechats are still present (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: This morning 26 Little Egrets left the heronry roost and almost all flew towards the Water Park. Together with last nights count at Jubilee Willows it seems that ca.49 birds are roosting in the Valley, a similar total to that present in October (Steven Pick). 3 Water rails were at the feeders.
This evening a Barn Owl quartered Fisher's Mill and The New Reedbed area from about 1630hrs and Water Rails and Cetti's were very vocal on both sides of the river. Well after dark a possible Short-eared Owl was seen at Fisher's Mill (Steve Atkinson & SMH).
Staffs: 15 Little Egrets roosted this evening at Jubilee Willows (Steve Atkinson et al). Also on Jubilee, 6 Shelduck was a good November count with 6 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander and 5 Stonechats. A Great White Egret was on North Pit (RSPB).

Shustoke Res
2 Goosanders and 75 Pochard.

Wishaw
278 Golden Plover straddled the county boundaries today (Carl "GP" Hiles).

Tuesday November 29th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: 2 Great White Egrets, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and a Black Swan (Roy Smith).

Coton Lake
A drake Red-crested Pochard found after a cold night but sticking to the very edges amongst the bushes, so maybe present previously (Tim Lowe). Also 193 Pochards, 76 Shovelors, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs and Water Rail.

Kingsbury WP
Skan Hide: At dusk, 136 Teal, 13 Snipe, 4 Goldeneye (Walter J Egmont).
Swann Pool: 4 Goldeneye.

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Short-eared Owl again hunting on the south meadow and maybe present yesterday too. Nearby a Barn Owl hunted Dosthill bund.
Staffs: 23 Little Egrets roosted at Jubilee willows, joined by a Great White Egret at 1638hrs. Also a second Barn Owl at Jubilee and 6 Goldeneyes on Dosthill NR (All records Steven Pick).
Also, 3 Shelduck and on 27th, a Willow Tit was at Dosthill NR (Geoff Williams).

Monday November 28th

Blythe Valley, Coleshill
A Red Kite was high over the Shustoke area at midday.

Coton Lakes
The Red-crested Pochard recorded on 29th was first seen today (late news from Tim Lowe).

Shustoke Res
65 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye.

Sunday November 27th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: At least one Great White Egret today on Teal Pool. Three were reported (Roy Smith)

Ladywalk NR
A Stonechat along the river plus 2 Water Rails, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Pochard (Kevin Whiston).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: The willows at Jubilee were again the favoured roosting sight for the Little Egrets in calm conditions this evening. 26 roosted there so it would be interesting too to know the score for the heronry. Also, 2 Dunlins and only 10 Golden Plover this evening (Steven Pick).
Earlier, 600 Golden Plovers were present (Chris Doyle).

A ringtail Hen Harrier flew north towards our recording area at Marsh Lane NR, at around 1130hrs.

Postscript: Blythe Valley, Coleshill
It seems as though the ringtail Hen Harrier did enter our recording area as a 'possible' ringtail was seen flying north in the Coleshill/Maxstoke area at ca1045hrs. Given the time differences, if this was the same bird, it may have spent some time in the valley (Richard King).
Post-postscript: Apparently the Marsh Lane sighting was 1015hrs so the timing at Maxstoke ties in well with a bird simply moving north.

Saturday November 26th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret on Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Amington
Great White Egret, 1 south over at 1246hrs (Tom Perrins).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Short-eared Owl hunting in the South meadow with a Stonechat there. A Woodcock by the farm and ca.500 Golden Plovers on Jubilee (RSPB).
Staffs: A Great White Egret plus 3 Dunlins and a Chiffchaff (Geoff Williams).

Wishaw
Warks: A Peregrine was on the pylons and ca. 600 Golden Plover were seen flighting over the M42 corridor with very small numbers joining them from the Wishaw direction.

There has been some discussion recently about the protracted stay of a Wood Sandpiper at Blithfield Res (Staffs). A bird arrived there this autumn and looked set to over-winter but left after 65 days on November 23rd.
In the Tame Valley, we had a bird which did over-winter and was thought at the time to be the first recorded occurrence of such an event in the UK. A bird arrived on October 30th 1982 and remained until May 3rd 1983. It frequented the old gravel pits, which contained numerous small islands, with shallow pools in between, at Coton and on the now-named Swann Pool, KWP.

A similarly rare event occurred in the same area when a Spotted Redshank arrived on December 27th 1980, remaining until April 25th 1981.

The Tame Valley gravel pits were in their prime at this time and the growth of vegetation over the intervening 35 plus years has lessened their attraction to wading species as is the case with every gravel pit complex.

Friday November 25th

Coton Lakes
76 Pochard, 2 Little Egrets and a Water Rail.

Ladywalk NR
29 Golden Plover flew over, a notable record at the locality, possibly reflecting the presence still of a recent flock at Maxstoke (Steve Cawthray).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A Great White Egret came in from the south and roosted in Jubilee willows at 1624hrs, with 17 Little Egrets there too.
Also ca.200 Golden Plovers, ca.200 Lapwings, 5 Dunlins, 5 Snipe and a Chiffchaff. On North Pit, a pair of Pintails (Steven Pick & Geoff Williams).
ca. 600 Golden Plovers were on Jubilee at 1600hrs (John Whitehurst).

Thursday November 24th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret on Gilman's Pool.
Staffs: Great White Egret near The Pigs (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
A Short-eared Owl this evening, hunting along the river (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Goldeneye; 8 on Dosthill NR and 4 on Jubilee. 3 male Pintails on North Pit. Also a Stonechat, 4 Goosanders, 100 Golden Plovers and Cetti's Warbler in the Staffs pits. Only 11 Little Egrets went to roost at Jubilee Wetlands this evening.
Warks: Early today, 24 Little Egrets left the heronry roost at Middleton Hall. 60 Fieldfares, a Cetti's and a Siskin in the Fisher's Mill area later
(All info from RSPB, Steve Atkinson & Steven Pick).

In 1981 a drake Falcated Duck was present at this time on Hemlingford Water, KWP. It appeared amongst an obvious arrival of Wigeon on October 25th and remained until December 6th. The arrival with Wigeon has been recorded previously for this possible admission to the BOU list and this individual was widely twitched at the time. In those days that meant a few people from Norfolk made the effort.This species could still be admitted to the British list making this one of the best birds ever in the Tame Valley.

Wednesday November 23rd

Kingsbury WP
A gathering of ca.35 Little Egrets on one of the islands at Hemlingford Water at 0700hrs yesterday may indicate a new roost site but none were seen there this evening. Original info from the Rangers.

Tuesday November 22nd

Widespread flooding in the Tame Valley has affected access to many parts of the Ladywalk and RSPB reserves. However, the flooding at Middleton RSPB moved the Great White Egrets, amongst other species, into Warks (which was nice !).

Alvecote Pools
2 Great White Egrets flew in to Mill Pool at around 1445 hrs (Bob Duckhouse).

Ladywalk NR
2 Dunlin briefly plus Marsh & Willow Tits, a Chiffchaff and 12 Siskins. The Bittern remained after the flooding and fed near the recently cut reeds until roosting at 1601hrs on the edge of the sluice channel in the same area (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: The south meadow area was partially flooded today and attracted 2 Great White Egrets and 4 Little Egrets with around 50 dabbling ducks and 100 Black-headed Gulls. Water Rails and Cetti's Warbler (2) were vocal. The egrets and the Black-headed Gulls were foraging until 1635 hrs when pretty much dark, so clearly a good food source there. The Little Egrets appeared to fly off in the direction of the heronry roost whereas the remaining Great White flew to the Jubilee willows. At Fisher's Mill, ca.2000 Starlings roosted in the reeds at the north end and 2-3 Cetti's called at dusk (Steven Pick & SMH).
Staffs: 200 Golden Plover and 100 Lapwing were presumably in Staffs (per Birdforum).

Great White Egrets
The four Warwickshire GWE today were observed simultaneously and this may constitute the first definite record of four within the county at the same time.

Monday November 21st

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret again, often on Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret, 200 Golden Plovers, 10 Snipe and a Goldeneye.
Warks: 5 Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe on south meadow (Katie Thorpe).

Sunday November 20th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret still and a Little Egret (Roy Smith).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret roosted in the willows with 16 Little Egrets at 1626hrs. A Barn Owl too which also hunted Fisher's Mill in Warks (Steve Atkinson).
Warks: A Great White Egret was reported on the south meadow (per Geoff Williams).

Shustoke Res
The wintering Common Sandpiper still present (Pete Forbes).

Saturday November 19th

Coton Lakes
150 Pochard and 3 Goosanders (Tom Perrins).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret still plus 4 Stonechats (Steve Atkinson). The GWEgret roosted in the willows at 1610hrs after spending time on the river and Dosthill NR (Steven Pick). Willow Tit at Dosthill NR .
Warks: 2 Stonechat at the south meadow (Geoff Williams).

Whitacre Heath NR
Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail and Woodcock. 500 Jackdaws over near dusk, presumably to roost at nearby Sych Wood.

Friday November 18th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The Great White Egret still and 2 Chiffchaffs (Roy Smith).

Freasley
At least 2 Waxwings today. Freasley is just off the M42 to Picadilly/Kingsbury road (per Birdguides).

Kingsbury WP
Swann Pool area:  There are good numbers of Gadwall here and at Mill Pool and also on the Coton side of the Kingsbury Rd. Around 270 are present and Swann Pool also held 7 Goldeneye.
Swann Pool is worthy of checking and has held species like Black-necked Grebe before and up to 18 Smew in 1998 and 1999.

Ladywalk NR
The Bittern again with 2 Green Sands, 5 Goosander and a Little Egret (J&J Morris).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 44 Golden Plover, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Shelduck and 35 Little Egrets roosting at Jubilee Willows (Karl Sargent & Steve Pick).

Thursday November 17th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The Great White Egret still on Mill Pool.

Ladywalk NR
Three Otters were seen close in to the main reedbed on Main Pool (per DRCAVFC on twitter).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Only 10 Little Egrets left the heronry roost this morning (Steven Pick). A Waxwing was seen briefly by the farm mid-morning (per RSPB).

Wednesday November 16th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The Great White Egret was still on Mill Pool and a second flew north at 1440hrs (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
Various observers failed to see the Bittern in a combined time of some five hours. 223 Teal were present plus a Woodcock, several small flocks of Redpolls and the odd Siskin.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A Great White Egret was on Dosthill NR. Also, on the main reserve, 3 Shelduck, 6 Goldeneye, Peregrine and a pair of Stonechat.
There were no Little Egrets in the willows at Jubilee Wetlands up to 1545hrs this afternoon (per Steve Atkinson). Perhaps the heronry roost is now the preferred site, as in previous years from mid-November.

Tuesday November 15th

Alvecote Pools
The Great White Egret has reappeared today (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
Bittern again in main reedbed showing well at 1130hrs at least. Also 6 Snipe, 28 Lapwing, 80 Fieldfare, 40 Redpoll, 40 Goldfinch & 5 Grey Wagtails (J & J Morris et al).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret still (per Steven Pick).

Shustoke Res
200 Golden Plovers over, possibly went down in the Maxstoke area, where a similar number have been present recently. Around 90 Pochard still present (Pete Forbes).

Monday November 14th

Alvecote Pools
No sign of the Great White Egret today (Roy Smith).

Middleton RSPB
The Great White Egret was on Jubilee Pools and also as part of WEBS, 700 Golden Plover and 170 Lapwing were counted. A Peregrine was not helping the count (Steve Cawthray).

Further news on the Little Egret roost comes from Steven Pick who saw 7 go in to the Middleton Hall heronry tonight. Presumably the majority of birds remain on Jubilee Wetland. WJ Egmont confirms that any egrets present on Cliffe Pool recently have been flying off towards the heronry to roost.

NOVEMBER WEBS COUNT

Yesterday full counts were made at Coton Lakes, Kingsbury WP, Ladywalk NR and at Shustoke Res. Disturbance was high with various boating activities but birds seemed relatively settled and count accuracy was good. Today the RSPB reserve was counted as well as Dosthill Lake.

Rather than do a list for each site I thought a Valley total would be more meaningful. All the individual counts have been entered on BTO WEBS database and also on BIRDTRACK for the WMBC Report.

The overall number of birds present was a staggering 7,938, with the highlights as follows:

• Greylag Goose  270
• Canada Goose   459
• Great Crested Grebe 96
• Little Grebe  63
• Gadwall  769
• Teal         476
• Shovelor  227
• Wigeon    353
• Mallard    417
• Tufted Duck 1035
• Pochard  164
• Coot       2113
• Moorhen 135
• Lapwing  327
• Golden Plover  700

Some of the key sites are Coton with 1206 Coots and 649 Tufted Duck; the small pits either side of Kingsbury Road held 308 Gadwall, Ladywalk had 228 Teal and RSPB held 870 Golden Plover and Lapwings.

Thanks are due to the RSPB volunteers, Dean Baker, Steve Cawthray & Ben Eaton.

Sunday November 13th

Coton Lakes
A Crossbill flew over at midday (also heard by Dave Hutton) and 2 Scaup were on the back pool (Lake2B). The Scaup were asleep but one was clearly a new bird in the Valley, being a drake showing lots of grey on the back. A Yellow-legged Gull was present briefly at midday (Dave Hutton, Donna Mallon). A Green Sandpiper was on the inflow concreted area.

Ladywalk NR
A Marsh Harrier at 10am with Bittern still showing well and a Crossbill over at 1415 hrs. Also 2 Woodcock (Steve Cawthray). 2 Stonechats , Green Sand and 5 Water Rails. 4 Little Egrets roosted so we may have three roosts in the Valley at present (Ben Eaton).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret still, 3 Shelduck and 70+ Golden Plover (Karl Sargent).
Warks: Woodcock over carpark (phoenixbirder on Twitter).

Shustoke Res
Common Sandpiper still (Dean Baker).

Full WEBS details to follow but highlights were over 1,700 Coot and a minimum of 550 Gadwall. RSPB count to come tomorrow.

Saturday November 12th

Alvecote Pools
The Great White Egret and a Ruff today (Roy Smith).

Kingsbury WP
Hemlingford Water The first-winter male Scaup still present with 22 Pochard and 7 Goldeneye (Tom Perrins).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 2 Great White Egret, a Knot, 4 Dunlin, 260 Golden Plover, 3 Shelduck , 5 Goldeneye and a Stonechat (Steve Atkinson et al).

The egret roost was accurately counted this evening by Steven Pick, stationed on the Dosthill Lake bund. Similar to last evening only 25 roosted in the willows at east end of Jubilee and the day-feeding Great White roosted there at 1626 hrs. A second Great White Egret came off the pools to the north and headed towards the heronry at Middleton Hall at 1603 hrs. The roost there may be picking up the rest of the ca. 40 Little Egrets now......Thanks Steven

Wishaw
585 Golden Plover. This is the best count of the winter thus far (Carl Hiles).

Today is a good day in the Valley and over the years has produced 2-3 Bearded Tits at Ladywalk (1978), a three week staying Red-necked Grebe at Dosthill Lake (1995) and a Long-tailed Duck at Shustoke (1988). In 1978, I highlighted 13 Gadwall as noteworthy; how times have changed.

Friday November 11th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: 3 Pintail. A Great White Egret was still present yesterday, 10th (Roy Smith).

Kingsbury WP
Hemlingford Water: A first-winter drake Scaup, which appears slightly more advanced than the elusive Shustoke bird. 22 Great Crested Grebes.
Swann Pool: 103 Gadwall and a Black Swan.
Broomey Croft: 94 Wigeon.

Ladywalk NR
The Bittern was in the main reedbed again, viewed from Riverwalk hide. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was by the beehives and Woodcock, Tawny Owl, Redshank and a Brambling (per Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: The roost of Little Egret was rather slow this evening and only around 20 came in before light faded. At least one Great White Egret came in too and this bird was seen during the day also. Also on Jubliee Wetlands 3 Pintail were present with a flock of Golden Plover and a Barn Owl. Around 5 Water Rail and 3 Cetti's called at dusk around the New Reedbed Pool.

Shustoke Res
55 Pochard, 2 Redshank still and the Common Sandpiper (Dave Hutton). Unfortunately water was being pumped in from the river, after the recent rain.

Wishaw
493 Golden Plovers were counted (Carl Hiles).

Thursday November 10th

Ladywalk NR
At 0900hrs a Bittern was at Crake Corner. The first of this winter period it showed on and off throughout the morning (Steve Cawthray et al). Also 75+ Shovelor, 2 Goosander, 2 Pochard, Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 2 Great White Egret flew north from Jubilee Wetland at 1135 hrs; one was thought to have returned to Dosthill NR shortly after. 3 Shelduck, 4 Goldeneye, 5 Dunlin, 35 Golden Plover, 4 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Cetti's warblers were also present (Steve Atkinson).

Shustoke Res
2 Redshanks and 43 Pochard (Bob Duckhouse).

On this day in 1985 the Region experienced a small influx of Skuas, after much larger numbers on the East coast the same day. Pomarines were seen at Chasewater and Sheepwash Urban Park and three Arctics were seen at Blithfield. In the Tame Valley I was completely bamboozled when a flyby Pomarine was closely followed by an Arctic at Coton Lakes. This was so unexpected at the time I could only guess at the identities as it was so brief and, therefore, the records were not submitted as 100% certain. Observers at Ladywalk NR told me that all the birds on the reserve took to the air just after the time of the Arctic, which headed their way.

Wednesday November 9th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: 2 Great White Egrets and 4 Stonechats (Roy Smith)

Ladywalk NR
Overnight flooding has brought water levels back up to more normal winter levels. 5 Goosander, 34 Mute Swans, Green Sandpiper, Woodcock and a Brambling were present (Pete Sofley).

Shustoke Res
The rain, and further north and east, snow, assisted in the arrival of a Knot and a Redshank. The former is a real rarity here and the latter very unusual at this time of year. The Knot could not be found late am.

Knot by Steve H

Also today 91 Tufted Duck, 29 Pochard, 88 Coot, 7 Goldeneye, the Common Sandpiper (which may be the regular wintering bird), 52 Lapwings and 50 Goldfinch (the small pool alders).    

Wishaw
525 Golden Plover and 10 Fieldfare (Carl Hiles).    

On November 9th 1986 a Hawfinch was in Church Pool Covert at Lea Marston. This wood is overlooked by most birders and can be visited with a WMBC permit. Its frontage to the Tame and a stream and small pool provide some interesting opportunities for adding woodland species in this part of the Valley.    

I would like to thank Dean Baker who has agreed to survey Shustoke Res for the monthly WEBS count. Any volunteers for Alvecote and Kingsbury WP please get in touch                                                                          

Tuesday November 8th

Kingsbury WP
Coot 163, Shovelor 48, Teal 25, Wigeon 72, Gadwall 180, Goldeneye 7. The majority of the Gadwall were again on Swann Pool.

Ladywalk NR
4 Water Rails at B Hide and a Peregrine over. Also 4 Brambling were at the feeders (and on 5th) and 8 Bullfinch and 3 Chiffchaffs also today (Pete Sofley). 20 Lesser Redpoll and 28 Fieldfare were near the Carpark (John Harris).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 2 Dunlin.

Wishaw
Golden Plover 367, a further increase in numbers (Carl Hiles).

This weekend is the monthly Wildfowl count (WEBS) which has been organised by the BTO since 1947. We now have regular counters at RSPB Middleton, Coton Lakes, Dosthill Lake and Ladywalk NR but Shustoke Res and Kingsbury WP are currently not being counted as part of the scheme. I forgot to enquire about Alvecote Pools ! If you would like to help, please get in touch for further guidance. It's good to put something back and it is only once a month. Thanks.

Monday November 7th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Marsh Harrier drifted north at Railway Pool. The Great White Egret was still on Mill Pool.
Staffs: A Woodcock was at The Orchard (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Marsh Tits. 2 Stonechat (near Bittern hide) and 2 Chiffchaffs (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A female Marsh Harrier was seen over Dosthill NR (Mark Priest) and at North Pit, flying towards the A5 road (RSPB on Twitter). Also 30+ Little Egrets roosted at Jubilee willows by 1630hrs (RSPB Twitter) and 5 Dunlins were also seen.
Warks: 1,200 Starlings roosted at Fisher's Mill.

Shustoke Res
90 Cormorants, 1 Common Sandpiper, a Little Egret and 3 Goldeneye plus "the usual suspects" (uncounted)  (Pete Forbes).

Wishaw
Golden Plovers are increasing here, although on several fields; a total of 224 were counted with 92 Lapwing and a Raven (Carl Hiles).

Marsh Harrier records have been much more frequent this year in our Region (WMBC recording area). At RSPB Middleton especially, there have been numerous sightings and in August, they were often seen daily. One observer witnessed three different birds together with a probable fourth also present that day. This weekend's birds extend this impressive year for the species.

Marsh Harrier today (Mark Priest)

Today sees the anniversary of a very unusual arrival but don't look too hard for a repeat. A female Eider was found late into the afternoon, at Lea Marston on Nov 7th 1993. It was still present the next day right up by the concrete dredging plant at the south end. There have been no other records in the Tame Valley to my knowledge.

Sunday November 6th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret on east side of North Pit this morning with 3 Stonechat, 2 Shelduck and 4 Dunlin on Jubilee Wetlands (Karl Sargent).
Later, two Great White Egrets roosted in the willows on the east side of Jubilee Wetlands, with 40 Little Egrets. In addition to this morning's birds 60 Golden Plovers were also present (Steven Pick)
Warks: ca.1000 Starling roosted at Fisher's Mill  (Steven Pick) and in the South Meadow a Harrier sp was briefly seen above the hedge line as observed from the Cliffe Pool hide at KWP. It flushed a Jack Snipe before disappearing (Steve Cawthray).

Saturday November 5th

Coton Lakes
COOTS are taking full advantage of a food source and 1105 were present today with many more presumably underwater at the time of the count. In the current century, the only sites in our Region to exceed today's count are Aqualate Mere (Staffs) and occasionally Draycote Water (Warks).
Also, surface feeders are tending to gather on Lake 1B where there must be a shallow strip caused by silting up. 52 Mallard were present here. Also one Goosander,  Cetti's Warbler and just one Chiffchaff.

Kingsbury WP
Along the Canal,  Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (per RSPB sightings board)
Swann Pool , Coot 74, Goldeneye 8, Gadwall 74 and a Black Swan.

Ladywalk NR
Cormorant 118 (Steven Pick)

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Marsh Harrier was seen, presumably from the entrance road, near the AVFC training ground (per sightings board-no further details) If you saw this bird please get in touch to enable the record to be formally published in the WMBC Report. Thanks.
Also Cetti's Warbler at the Silt Pool and at Fisher's Mill.
Staffs: Four Dunlin and a Stonechat were the only noteworthy reports. A report of 4 Knot probably related to the Dunlins

Shustoke Res
Scaup , Goldeneye 1, Pochard 57, Tufted 57.

Friday November 4th

Alvecote Pools

Warks: Great White Egret still at Mill Pool (present since Aug 7th per Roy Smith)

Staffs:  The near resident Mute x Whooper Swan hybrid again.

Hams Hall 

Only one Chiffchaff along the Tame. Very quiet.

Ladywalk NR

Still good numbers of Shovelor(120plus) but a count not possible.

Three Cetti's Warblers at dusk with two Marsh Tit, One Chiffchaff at Angling Pools but no sign of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker there after two recent (early morning) records. 

Middleton RSPB

Warks: Barn Owl (also going into Staffs), Water Rail.

Staffs; Golden Plover 68, Dunlin 6, Little Egret 27, Starling ca. 2,000, Stonechat 2  (All records from Steven Pick).

Shustoke Res

Scaup ; the immature male was with the Pochard off the carpark. This is the same bird as seen previously but it is certainly elusive and may be commuting to Coton Lakes with the sizeable flock of Pochard.

Pochard : 61 today reflects the increasing attraction of this species to the site, which often holds more birds now than the usual stronghold at nearby Coton Lakes.

Also Common Sandpiper and three Grey Wagtails. A Kingfisher is frequently showing within photo range on rocks by the carpark and for the first time in a while there is a small muddy fringe, just waiting for a Purple Sandpiper or maybe just a Dunlin.

Wishaw

Warks: 50 Skylark and a Raven (Chris Doyle on Twitter).

Thursday November 3

Shustoke
20 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye. No sign of Mergansers since Tuesday.
News for November 2nd.....  a Common Sandpiper was on the sailing club shoreline (John Harris)

Coleshill GP
Chiffchaff . There is no obvious standing water here now.

Alvecote Pools (Warks)
Short-eared Owl, Stonechat (Roy Smith)


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10th October - Sightings

Alvecote - 3 Great-White Egret Mill Pool. One of these flew South at 1.10pm. Also 10 Pintail, 3 Stonechat (R Smith)
Ladywalk - Stonechat, 8 Skylark, 6 Grey Wagtail, 3 Goosander, Pintail, Peregrine (P Sofley)

9th October - Sightings

Kingsbury - Willow Tit Broomey Croft (P Sofley) Short-Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Great-White Egret, 5 Water Rail along canal in evening (S Cawthray)
Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, 11 Pintail (A Archer)
RSPB - Great-White Egret Dosthill NR. 4 Stonechat Jubilee Wetlands (S Atkinson et al)

8th October - Sightings

RSPB - Brambling Feeders (S Pick et al) Wood Sandpiper reported (per RBA)
Kingsbury - Wryneck reported Broomey Croft cottages (J Whitehurst, C Moore)
Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, 7 Pintail, 7 Common Gull, 4 Stonechat (R Smith)

7th October - Sightings

RSPB - Rock Pipit flew West 8.30am. Also plenty of Redwing, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. Water Rail Feeders. Great-White Egret, 300+ Wigeon on site. Short-Eared Owl North Pit (K Thorpe et al)
Shustoke - Common Sandpiper, 117 Cormorant, 53 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, Stonechat, Rock Pipit over (D Hutton)

6th October - Sightings

RSPB - Great-White Egret North Pit (M Whalley, S Wood)
Drayton Bassett - 5 Grey Partridge Portleys Lane (S Wood)

5th October - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, 7 Pintail, 4 Stonechat Mill Pool (R Smith)
Shustoke - Rock Pipit (colour ringed - possibly Norwegian) (S Haynes)
Ladywalk - Hobby, 10+ Chiffchaff (P Sofley)

4th October - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Stonechat, 2 Great-White Egret, 8 Pintail, 2 Common Gull Mill/Teal Pools (J Morgan, R Smith)
Ladywalk - Rock Pipit over towards Shustoke 3.40pm. Also 20 Redwing, Siskin, Redpoll, 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Goosander (P Sofley)
RSPB - Short-Eared Owl (per K Thorpe)

3rd October - Sightings

RSPB - Great-White Egret, 42 Little Egret, Redwings over, 20+ Golden Plover (K Thorpe)
Ladywalk - Willow Tit, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper (P Lichfield)

2nd October - Sightings

Coton - Willow Tit by embankment by A4097 (D Hutton)
Ladywalk - Common Sandpiper (P Lichfield)
RSPB - Great-White Egret roosted. Also 48 Little Egret - 43 Roosted by River and 5 flew South. 5 Pintail Jubilee Wetlands (S Pick)

1st October - Sightings

Alvecote - Great-White Egret, 9 Pintail, Black-Tailed Godwit, 10 Snipe Mill Pool (A Archer)

30th September - Sightings

RSPB - Woodcock, Jack Snipe, 13 Golden Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, Pintail Great-White Egret Jubilee Wetlands (K Thorpe, S Pick) Peregrine Dosthill NR (S Atkinson)
Wishaw - 6 Grey Partridge, Wheatear (C Hiles)
Alvecote - Great-White Egret Decoy Pool (Staffs). Great-White Egret, Pintail, Black-Tailed Godwit Mill Pool (R Smith)
Ladywalk - Osprey over "B" Pool to East 5.15pm (P Sofley)

This blog won't be updated for a week. Follow twitter for news.

29th September - Sightings

Alvecote - Great-White Egret, 7 Pintail Mill Pool. Black-Tailed Godwit Teal Pool. Marsh Harrier reported (photos inconclusive) (R Smith)
RSPB - 3 Hobby, Peregrine, Great-White Egret Jubilee/North Pit (K Thorpe)
Ladywalk - Hobby (P Lichfield)

28th September - Sightings

Wishaw - 2 Wheatear Wishaw Lane (C Hiles)
Alvecote - 2 Stonechat, Great-White Egret, Black-Tailed Godwit, 20 Siskin Teal/Mill Pool (R Smith)
Ladywalk - Hobby, 60 Swallow, 40 House Martin, Marsh Tit (P Sofley)

27th September - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret Mill/Teal Pools. Dunlin Mill Pool (S Pick)
Wishaw - 2 Wheatear Wishaw Lane (C Hiles)
RSPB - 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Snipe, Ringed Plover, Siskin (G Williams)
Ladywalk - 100 House Martin, Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, Hobby (per P Sofley)

26th September - Sightings

Tamworth - Wheatear Amington Fields (TP)
Shustoke - 100 House Martin, 80 Shoveler (P Forbes)

25th September - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, Black-Tailed Godwit Teal/Mill Pool (D Hutton) Great-White Egret Pretty Pigs Pool (per Staffs Birding)
Wishaw - Wheatear Wishaw Lane (C Hiles)
Whiteacre Heath NR - 2 Green Sandpiper, Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker (J Wesson)
RSPB - 2 Stonechat Jubilee Wetlands. 27 Little Egret around reserve. Green Sandpiper, c300 Wigeon Dosthill NR (S Pick)

24th September - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, 2 Pintail (7 reported), Black-Tailed Godwit Mill/Teal Pool (TP et al)
RSPB - 3 Dunlin, Golden Plover, Pintail Jubilee Wetlands. 900+ Wigeon, 20 Little Egret Dosthill NR (S Pick)

23rd September - Sightings

Alvecote - 3 Great-White Egret - 2 Mill/Teal Pool, 1 Pretty Pigs Pool (Staffs) (R Smith et al) Also Black-Tailed Godwit, 3 Pintail Mill Pool (Bobby D)
Wishaw - 2 Stonechat (fem/imm) Blindpit Lane (P Bateman)

22nd September - SIghtings

Wishaw - Wheatear Wishaw Lane (C Hiles)
Alvecote - 4 Pintail, 2 Great-White Egret, Stonechat (new bird) Mill Pool area (R Smith)
RSPB - Spotted Flycatcher Farm (P Forbes)
Ladywalk - Sedge Warbler, Hobby, Pintail, 30+ Wigeon (P Sofley)

21st September - Sightings

RSPB - 2 Greenshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin Jubilee Wetlands. 2 Goosander River. 2 Green Sandpiper Hall Lake. 22 Little Egret roosted on East Side (S Atkinson, S Pick)
Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, Black-Tailed Godwit, Stonechat Mill Pool area (R Smith)
Ladywalk - 2 Pintail, 107 Gadwall, 78 Teal, 18 Wigeon, 2 Hobby, 2 Peregrine,Tawny Owl (P Sofley)

20th September - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, Black-Tailed Godwit (Bobby D et al)
Ladywalk - Pintail, 149 Teal, 62 Shoveler, 100 Wigeon, 56 Gadwall ,3 Snipe, 17 Lapwing, Hobby (P Lichfield et al)
RSPB - 3 Dunlin, Golden Plover, Pintail, 18 Little Egret on Jubilee Wetlands. Great White Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper North Pit. Green Sandpiper Hall Lake (S Pick)

19th September - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret, Pintail (R Smith)
RSPB - 323 Wigeon, 126 Teal, 284 Mallard, 106 Shoveler, 167 Coot, 139 Lapwing, 148 Gadwall, 110 Tufted Duck, 11 Snipe, 5 Golden Plover, 5 Dunlin, 9 Little Grebe, 8 Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Great-White Egret (RSPB)

18th September - Sightings

Alvecote - 2 Great-White Egret Mill Pool (R Smith et al) Red Kite over to SW later afternoon (A Archer, J Allen)
RSPB - Great-White Egret, Marsh Harrier, 15 Pintail, 124+ Wigeon, Whinchat North Pit. 4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler, Hobby Jubilee Wetlands. 12 Goosander River (D Hutton, TP et al)
Ladywalk - 59 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 121 Teal, 119 Mallard, 68 Gadwall, 52 Shoveler, 18 Wigeon (B Eaton)
Dosthill - 13 Goosander (fem types) on Tame at Dosthill Park (J Whitehurst)

17th September - Sightings

RSPB - 2 Great-White Egret (S Atkinson et al) Also Whinchat, Peregrine, 3 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Goosander, Pintail,Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail Jubilee Wetlands. Green Sandpiper, Dunlin North Pit. 2 Green Sandpiper Hall Lake. Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker Farm (S Atkinson, J Allen et al)
Alvecote - Great-White Egret still Mill Pool (Many Obs) Different bird to those at Middleton.

16th September - Sightings

RSPB -  Great White Egret, 100+ Wigeon North Pit. 2 Pintail, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (S Pick) Great-White Egret Hall Lake 7.00am (K Thorpe)
Alvecote - Great-White Egret just North of play area (R Smith)
Ladywalk - 7 Bar-Tailed Godwit 1pm for a few minutes. Also 100 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 12 WIgeon (P Lichfield)

15th September - Sightings

RSPB - Pintail, Great White Egret, Golden Plover over, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper (probably new bird) 5 Dunlin, Whinchat Jubilee Wetlands/North Pit. Hobby Farm  (G Williams et al) 2 Sedge Warbler reported on site (per Twitter)

14th September - Sightings

RSPB - 2 Great-White Egret, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (K Thorpe et al)
Alvecote - 2 Whinchat, Hobby (Bobby D)

13th September - Sightings

RSPB - Great-White Egret, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 25 Wigeon, 12 Little Egret, Hobby, 5 Ringed Plover, LRP, 2 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin Jubilee Wetlands (G Williams et al)
Tamworth - Great-White Egret Amington at Moor Lane early am (M Scott)
Alvecote - Great-White Egret Mill Pool. Whinchat Teal Pool. 2 Spotted Flycatcher Orchard (R Smith)
Ladywalk- Dunlin, 120 Teal, 48 Shoveler, 7 Wigeon. 45 Gadwall, 16 Buzzard, Peregrine (P Sofley)

12th September - Sightings

Alvecote - Great-White Egret still Mill Pool (Many Obs) Spotted Flycatcher Orchard (R Smith)
Shustoke - 2 Black Tern, Little Gull, Ruff, Common Sandpiper (P Forbes, S Haynes)
Ladywalk - 2 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat at North End (P Sofley)
RSPB - 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, LRP, 2 Hobby, 35 Wigeon (per twitter)

11th September - Sightings

Shustoke - Little Gull, Ruff, Wheatear (P Forbes)
RSPB - Osprey over to South late morning (K Sargent et al) Also 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Garganey, 2 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, LRP, 2 Barn Owl (S Pick et al) Willow Tit (A Archer)
Alvecote - Great-White Egret again. Also 2 Whinchat, Redstart Teal Pool. Spotted Flycatcher Orchard (R Smith)
Ladywalk - Dunlin, Hobby, 36 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon (P Lichfield)

10th September - Sightings

RSPB - 17 Bar-Tailed Godwit flew over Jubilee Wetlands to the North c4pm (D Hutton, D Mallon) Also 3 Garganey, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 8 Ringed Plover, LRP, Black-Tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Sedge Warbler, Barn Owl Jubilee Wetlands. 5 Green Sandpiper North Pit. Garganey, Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper Hall Lake. Spotted Flycatcher Farm (T Hollier, TP, D Hutton et al)
Alvecote - 3 Whinchat Teal Pool (R Smith)
Shustoke - Little Gull, Common Sandpiper (P Forbes)

9th September - Sightings

Whitacre Heath NR - Osprey over 10.26 (S Cawthray)
RSPB - 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 3 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 LRP, Garganey, Yellow Wagtail Jubilee Wetlands (K Thorpe)
Alvecote - 2 Whinchat Teal Pool (R Smith)

8th September - Sightings

Curlew Sandpipers - Mark Priest

RSPB - 2 Curlew Sandpiper Jubilee Wetlands (per RBA) 2 Arctic Tern (juvs) in evening Jubilee Wetlands (TP, J Allen) Also Little Stint, 2 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, LRP, Common Tern(juv), 2 Garganey, 4 Shelduck Jubilee Wetlands (TP et al) Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper Hall Lake (TP)
Ladywalk - 109 Teal, 6 Wigeon, 78 Shoveler, 94 Gadwall, Dunlin, 3 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 19 Lapwing, White Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail (per P Sofley)

7th September - Sightings

RSPB - Little Stint, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 LRP Jubilee Wetlands. Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper North Pit. 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper Hall Lake (S Atkinson et al)
Alvecote - 3 Whinchat Teal Pool (R Smith)
Whitacre Heath NR - 6 Green Sandpiper (J Wesson)

6th September - Sightings

RSPB - Bittern flew to roost Fisher's Mill 7.50pm (TP, S Pick) Turnstone Jubilee Wetlands (K Sargent et al) Also Spotted Flycatcher Farm. Little Stint, Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, LRP, Garganey Jubilee Wetlands. Green Sandpiper Hall Lake (Many Obs)
Alvecote - Redstart Laundry Lane (R Smith)

5th September - Sightings

Little Stint - Mark Priest

RSPB - Little Stint, Marsh Harrier, Garganey, 4 Ruff, Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, LRP, 5 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Wheatear Jubilee Wetlands (Many Obs) 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper Hall Lake (TP) Marsh Harrier Fisher's Mill (K Thorpe)
Alvecote - Whinchat still (Bobby D)
Ladywalk - Dunlin (per P Sofley)

4th September - Sightings

Whinchat - Paul Casey

RSPB - Little Stint Jubilee Wetlands (@AndrewH98097400) Whinchat (P Casey) Also Wheatear, 5 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, LRP, Marsh Harrier, Hobby (C Doyle et al)
Alvecote - Great-White Egret still (D Hutton)
Whitacre Heath NR - 6 Green Sandpiper, Hobby (J Wesson)

3rd September - Middleton Lakes RSPB species list

1 Barn Owl
2 Blackbird
3 Blackcap
4 Black-headed Gull
5 Black-tailed Godwit
6 Blue Tit
7 Bullfinch
8 Buzzard
9 Canada Goose
10 Carrion Crow
11 Cetti's Warbler
12 Chaffinch
13 Chiffchaff
14 Coal Tit
15 Collared Dove
16 Common Sandpiper
17 Coot
18 Cormorant
19 Dunlin
20 Dunnock
21 Feral Pigeon
22 Gadwall
23 Garden Warbler
24 Garganey
25 Goldcrest
26 Goldfinch
27 Great Crested Grebe
28 Great Spotted Woodpecker
29 Great Tit
30 Green Sandpiper
31 Green Woodpecker
32 Greenfinch
33 Grey Heron
34 Grey Wagtail
35 Greylag Goose
36 Herring Gull
37 Hobby
38 House Martin
39 House Sparrow
40 Jackdaw
41 Jay
42 Kestrel
43 Kingfisher
44 Lapwing
45 Lesser Black-backed Gull
46 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
47 Lesser Whitethroat
48 Linnet
49 Little Egret
50 Little Grebe
51 Little Ringed Plover
52 Long-tailed Tit
53 Magpie
54 Mallard
55 Marsh Harrier
56 Meadow Pipit
57 Moorhen
58 Mute Swan
59 Nuthatch
60 Pheasant
61 Pied Wagtail
62 Pochard
63 Raven
64 Reed Bunting
65 Reed Warbler
66 Ringed Plover
67 Robin
68 Rook
69 Ruff
70 Sand Martin
71 Sedge Warbler
72 Shoveler
73 Skylark
74 Snipe
75 Song Thrush
76 Sparrowhawk
77 Spotted Flycatcher
78 Starling
79 Stock Dove
80 Swallow
81 Swift
82 Tawny Owl
83 Teal
84 Treecreeper
85 Tufted Duck
86 Water Rail
87 Whitethroat
88 Wigeon
89 Willow Warbler
90 Wood Pigeon
91 Wren
92 Yellow Wagtail
93 Yellowhammer
94 Red-crested Pochard
95 Tree Pipit
96 Golden Plover
97 Goosander