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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