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.