Sunday April 30th

A good day in the Tame Valley. A blustery easterly or south-easterly wind resulted in the Valley scoring with a notable influx of waders and also enjoying the product of a national movement of Black Terns, with fewer, less widespread, numbers of Arctics too.

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Six Black-tailed Godwits, six Common Sandpipers, Wheatear, Common Tern (Jon Morgan).
This evening a first-winter Little Gull was on Railway Pool (Bob Duckhouse) and 17 Arctic Terns went NE through Mill Pool at 1825 hrs. Also two Ringed Plovers (Adam Archer).

Ladywalk NR
Nine Garden Warblers, Snipe, fledged Grey Wagtails (Nick Barlow, Pete Sofley). Dunlin, Ringed Plover and a minimum of four Whitethroats (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: The early birders scored with a Spotted Redshank until 0830 hrs only (Rob Strong) ; three Bar-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling, five Black-tailed Godwits, three Avocets, four Dunlin, eight Ringed Plovers, Whimbrel, a Pintail and two Arctic Terns were all new arrivals (Tom Perrins et al). Later, another Whimbrel flew through (Paul Hyde) and a Grey Plover was reported. Also Whinchat and Wheatear still.
Warks: Whimbrel at Fisher's Mill (Tom Perrins).

Shustoke Res
Eight Black Terns on arrival increased to nine around 1230hrs and they were still present early evening at least, with a fairly constant 30 Common Terns throughout (SMH). Two Arctic Terns passed straight through (Roland Hopkins). Also two Hobbies (Dave Hutton), Raven and two Common Sandpipers (SMH) and four Little Ringed Plovers (James Kenny).

Black Terns
I arrived at Shustoke for a third visit at 1950hrs and noted the Terns flying in a tight non-feeding group. They went back and forth at the east end of the Res before rising gradually to 5-700 feet and appeared to leave in a north-easterly direction. At all times the birds were closely packed and took ten minutes before finally disappearing into the dusk at 2010hrs. Migration in action.

Saturday April 29th

Alvecote Pools

Staffs: White Wagtail (Roy Smith).

Warks: Five Black-tailed Godwits, Whinchat, Redstart, Hobby, Arctic Tern (Tom Perrins).

Ladywalk NR

Dunlin (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB

Staffs: Arctic Tern and five Common Terns. Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat (John Mathers).

Shustoke Res

Seven Swifts, 15 Common Terns Common Sandpiper.

Friday April 28th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Three Whinchats, Redstart and four Black-tailed Godwits (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
A Marsh Harrier through at 1215 hrs (DAD et al).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Two pairs of Egyptian Geese, two Whinchats, Cuckoo (Karl Sargent).
Warks: A minimum of four Grasshopper Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat (Karl Sargent) An Osprey drifted south at Fisher's Mill at 1630hrs (RSPB).

Shustoke Res
15 Common Terns, two Common Sandpipers and two Swifts.

Wheatears continue to be seen in small numbers at most suitable sites with exceptional numbers at some paddocks, bean fields and potato fields at higher altitudes.

Thursday April 27th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The five Black-tailed Godwits are still present plua a Whinchat (Bob Duckhouse).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Garden Warbler, four Whinchats, Wheatear, three Yellow Wagtails, Arctic Tern, five Swifts, Egyptian Goose (various observers). Garden Warbler was present yesterday (Steve Cawthray).

by Paul Casey

Shustoke Reservoir
32 Common Terns, two Common Sandpipers, 300 Sand Martins

Wednesday April 26th

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: Four Common Sandpipers at Pigs (Roy Smith).
Warks: Five Black-tailed Godwits still (Bob Duckhouse).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Four Whinchats, two Wheatears, Hobby and some kind birders (Claire Workman, Kevin Whiston).

Shustoke Res
30 Common Terns, Swift, c.600 mixed hirundines, White Wagtail, two Wheatears (Pete Forbes).

Tuesday April 25th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Three Whinchats, White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail (Simon Rose). Five Black-tailed Godwit in the evening (per Adam Archer)

by Simon Rose

Ladywalk NR
Three Cuckoos, Common Sandpiper and 11 Common Terns through (Pete Sofley)

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Four Whinchats and two Wheatears at North end of Reserve (RSPB). Whimbrel and 11 Black-tailed Godwits (Staffs Bird News). Five Dunlin (Steve Pick).

Shustoke Res
33 Common Terns plus Swift this afternoon. Also Little Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail (Steve Pick et al).

Wishaw
A total of five Wheatears (Carl Hiles).

Monday April 24th

Ladywalk NR
Hobby, eight House Martins, two Cuckoos, five Whitethroats, six Sedge Warblers, two Garden Warblers, two Shovelers, six Teal (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Another Osprey was seen today over the river.
Staffs: 12 Black-tailed Godwits, six Dunlins and four Common Sandpipers on Jubilee wetland. Five Wheatears at North Pit (Dave Hutton, RSPB). Two Whinchats (Mark Priest).
Warks: Two Egyptian geese, 12 Oystercatchers (Geoff Williams).

Shustoke Res
Five Swifts, 200 Sand Martins, 200 Swallows and odd House Martins. 15 Common Terns, two Arctic Terns and fledged Grey Wagtails (Pete Forbes, Dave Hutton, SMH).

Wishaw
Warks: A total of 12 Wheatears, three Yellow Wagtails and Peregrine (Pete Forbes).

Wheatears
25-30 were spread across paddocks and rough areas in North Warks today.

Sunday April 23rd

Ladywalk NR
Two Cuckoos, Ringed Plover, pair Linnet and a male Wigeon (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 12 Black-tailed Godwits, five Dunlins, two Common Sandpipers, Cuckoo (Tom Perrins, Dave Hutton)
Warks: Black Tern (Julian Allen), Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat (Tom Perrins).

Wishaw
Warks: Whinchat, Wheatear (Pete Forbes).

Friday April 21st

Ladywalk NR

Cuckoo, White Wagtail, five Goosanders (Pete Lichfield).

by Pete Lichfield

Middleton RSPB

Staffs: 47 Black-tailed Godwits, two Dunlins, Common Sand and a few House Martins (Steve Atkinson)

Shustoke Res

17 Common Terns, two House Martins (Kevin Whiston).

Saturday April 22nd

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Grasshopper Warbler.

Ladywalk NR
Cuckoo and Common Sandpiper (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 45 islandica Black-tailed Godwits, two Dunlins (Adam Archer).

Shustoke 
Three Swifts over village (Kevin Whiston).

Thursday April 20th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Common Sandpiper and two Wheatears (Bob Duckhouse).

Middleton RSPB

Pretty, pretty, pretty Good
Dave Hutton

Staffs: Sixty two Black-tailed Godwits were on Jubilee Wetlands this morning (Steve Pick), with 86 and then 93 this evening (Edward O'Connor). This follows an extraordinary 557 at Rutland Water (Leics) yesterday and 49 at Grimley (Worcs) this morning. The Green-winged Teal was reported as present, but briefly. Also Dunlin and Common Sand.
Warks: Swift over Fisher's Mill (Pete Forbes).

by Steve Pick

Shustoke Res
13 Common Terns and a Common Sandpiper (Kevin Whiston).

Wednesday April 19th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret on Railway Pool, Teal and Redstart Mill Pool area and Osprey reported over (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
Three Otters on view today from Hide B. Also Grasshopper Warbler (Pete Sofley, J&J Morris). A Cuckoo again, from Hide B (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Green-winged Teal flew in to West scrape early afternoon. Also three Black-tailed Godwits (Dave Hutton).

by Dave Hutton

Also Wheatear by East screen, two Grasshopper Warblers and two Egyptian Geese (Steve Atkinson). Two Green Sandpipers flew north (John Harris).

by Bob Duckhouse

Tuesday April 18th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Green-winged Teal : a drake on West Scrape early evening (Edward O'Connor). This species has been seen in the past three years in Staffs. Also two Whimbrels which flew south at 0730hrs. Five Black-tailed Godwits and two Common Sandpipers (RSPB). Greenshank on Jubilee (Karl Sargent).
Warks: An Osprey flew over Fisher's Mill into Staffs this morning (Pete Forbes).

Shustoke Res
13 Common Terns, two Egyptian Geese (Steve Pick).

Monday April 17th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The male Redstart is still in the area known as The Dingles (David Taylor). Great White Egret still and a Swift (Roy Smith).

Kingsbury WP
Hemlingford area: 11 terns, including at least one Arctic, two Yellow Wagtails, and Sedge Warbler (Matthew Pollock).

Ladywalk NR
Great White Egret flew from the north and left south-east mid-afternoon. Also Cuckoo, upto five Goosanders and three Teal (several observers). Five Willow Warblers off the Reserve (Kevin Whiston). Late news of a Red Kite on April 9th (Anthony Butcher).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Three Whimbrels mid-morning (Geoff Williams). Also three Dunlins, three Black-tailed Godwits, three Common Sandpipers, four Yellow Wagtails. A passage group of eight Redshanks were on North Pit (Steve Pick). Three Grasshopper Warblers and five Swifts (RSPB).
Warks: Lesser Whitethroat at Fisher's Mill (Geoff Williams) Also Common Sandpiper and two Grasshopper Warblers.

Shustoke Res
15 Common Terns, 200 Swallows, 200 Sand Martins and 10 House Martins (SMH).

A suspicious character was observed and photographed at Middleton this evening, seemingly engaged in obsessive and close observation of breeding birds. Details have been sent to the appropriate authorities and other local Reserves. It is possible that he was on site last week too when similar behaviour noted.

DO NOT TWEET or FACEBOOK ABOUT RARE OR LOCALLY SCARCE BREEDING BIRDS  - PLEASE

Sunday April 16th

Alvecote Pools

Warks: Great White Egret on Mill Pool and Redstart nearby (Adam Archer). Also, Wheatear.

Dosthill Lake
Egyptian Goose, nine Oysercatchers and Common Tern.

Ladywalk NR
A surprise find today was a male Pied Flycatcher near Hide B (Pete Sofley). One of only a handful in the UK today, this was the second Reserve bird in two years after a female on April 30th and May 1st last year. Warks saw birds at an unprecedented, of late, six sites in Spring 2016. Also, four Common Sandpipers, Yellow & White Wagtail and a Whitethroat.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Four Black-tailed Godwits and a Curlew
Warks: A drake Garganey at Fisher's Mill (Dave Hutton).

Pied Flycatchers

I wrote in 2014 that there were "no records again (in Warks) and that there were only seven records in the past five years". Similarly I gave the Kiss of Death to Greenshank records and after taking them out of a tabulated summary that year, there was a good series of records in 2015. Hence, I would like to think I am able to give the Kiss of Life to certain species and confidently predict another record Spring for Pied Flys. As always "Look to the Hills" for the best return.

Weather

A predicted north-easterly airflow, with overcast and cool conditions tomorrow might result in larger numbers of hirundines and the odd Little Gull or Arctic Tern, or maybe not.

Saturday April 15th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret and Common Sandpiper (Roy Smith).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Four Black-tailed Godwits and four Dunlin. Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers (Steve Pick).
Warks: Two Egyptian Geese on Dosthill Lake (Geoff Williams). Three Garganey (two drakes) still at Fisher's Mill (Steve Pick et al). Also Osprey north at 1210hrs (Ken Summers) and two Pochards. In the heronry, four Little Egrets.

Friday April 14th

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: A Great White Egret still at The Pigs (Adam Archer).

Bodymoor Heath
Two Wheatears, two Yellow Wagtails and a Corn Bunting over (RSPB).

Kingsbury WP
Three Common Terns, two Yellow Wagtails and 20 Pied wagtails (Matthew Pollock).

Ladywalk NR
Two Common Sandpipers, two Shelduck, Water Rail, Tawny Owl (Claire Workman).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A possible hybrid Mediterranean x Black-headed Gull is on North Pit. Three Dunlin and four Blacl-tailed Godwits on Jubillee Wets (Karl Sargent).

Wishaw
West Mids: Three Wheatears plus three White Wagtails (Dean Baker, Carl Hiles).

Thursday April 13th

Ladywalk NR
Great White Egret flew through at 1325hrs plus a Common Sandpiper (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Five Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, a second-summer Mediterranean Gull, Yellow & White Wagtail (RSPB).

Shustoke Res
Six Common Terns again (Kevin Whiston).

Wishaw
West Mids: Two Yellow & three White Wagtails (Carl Hiles).

Wednesday April 12th

Ladywalk NR
Six terns over this evening, presumably Common, heading back up the valley from Shustoke. Egyptian Goose, Common Sandpiper and Wheatear today (per Pete Lichfield).

 by Pete Lichfield

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret , five Black-tailed Godwits.
Warks: Grasshopper Warbler at Fisher's Mill (RSPB).

Wishaw
West Mids: Two Yellow Wagtails, four White Wagtails and two Wheatears (Matthew Pollock).
Warks: Two White Wagtails, two Grey Partridge (Chris Doyle).

Tuesday April 11th

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: Great White Egret at Pigs Pool still (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
The first Reserve Reed Warbler now in with a drake Pochard on B Pools (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: I've added a late record of Great White Egret for Sunday, the first for a while.
An Osprey flew north over both counties at 18.10hrs this evening (Arthur Warden). Eight Black-tailed Godwits earlier.

Right place at right time by Arthur Warden

Warks: Three Garganeys on Fisher's Mill again. Whitethroat on south meadow.

Wishaw
West Mids: "Several" White Wagtails (Geoff Williams) and two Yellow Wagtails (Carl Hiles). Seven Wheatears, five White Wagtails, 29 Linnets (Steve Cawthray).

Monday April 10th

Kingsbury WP
Three Yellow Wagtails on the meadow by Church. 500 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows at Hemlingford.

Ladywalk NR
Four Black-tailed Godwits flew over seemingly without pausing (J&J Morris). Still a Common Snipe present.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: The above group of four Black-tailed Godwits were seen at Jubilee Wetlands later (Mark Priest).

Shustoke Res
Six Common Terns late afternoon (Kevin Whiston et al).

Wishaw
West Mids: Four Wheatears by the pylon on Wishaw Lane (Carl Hiles).

Wheatears are present in good numbers at present but as usual the best chance of finding a few is to aim for higher ground and check ploughed potato fields or set a side stubbly fields. The small paddocks and sheep pasture which circle Shustoke Res will also hold birds.

Sunday April 9th

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: Great White Egret still.
Warks: Garganey still on Mill Pool, also Little Egret and eight Shelducks (Bob Duckhouse).

Ladywalk NR
A pair of Mediterranean Gulls was a great record for the Reserve, possibly a first (Ben Eaton).

Middleton RSPB
Seven Black-tailed Godwits, three Egyptian Geese and Wheatear (Adam Archer).

Warks: This evening a Sandwich Tern was found on the Silt Pool, reflecting other records today elsewhere in the Region (Julian Allen).
Staffs: Two Goldeneye and a Great White Egret on Dosthill NR (John & Pauline).

Saturday April 8th

Ladywalk NR
Otter and Redshank. 500 Black-headed Gulls (Ken Bentley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Black-tailed Godwit still, with Willow Warbler nearby.
Warks: Drake Garganey at Fisher's Mill with Reed Warbler and Blackcap there (Steve Atkinson).

Friday April 7th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Great White Egret was at Mill Pool and Railway Pool this morning with the Garganey still present & three Swallows  (Bob Duckhouse, Jon Morgan, Roy Smith).
Staffs: Two Peregrines, Raven, Great White Egret (Bob Duckhouse).

Kingsbury WP
Two Yellow Wagtails and 14 Pied Wagtails on Kingsbury Meadow (Matthew Pollock).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Black-tailed Godwit and Garganey (RSPB).


Rare Breeding Birds

Many birders do not realise the rarity of some of the species we sometimes take for granted in the Tame Valley. These species are generally in decline in the UK and can suffer disturbamce from birders, often unintentionally, but also through ignorance of their status and rarity.

If a species is frequently seen in the Tame Valley it almost without exception does not mean that there are similar populations elsewhere in the county. In the case of Willow Tit and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker the county population can be counted on less than the fingers of two hands. Please protect the few that remain.

I would, therefore, like to draw notice to the link below, which highlights the species most at risk. These species are reported to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel by the county recorders, to whom records should be sent, in confidence.

 http://www.rbbp.org.uk/rbbp-species-list-full.htm

Thursday April 6th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A drake Garganey was on Railway Pool today (Roy Smith)

Kingsbury WP
A Great White Egret on Otter Pool and the Greenland White-front is on Cliffe Pool (Steve Cawthray).

Wednesday April 5th

Ladywalk NR
A Great White Egret spent some time on both main pools before leaving firstly to the south and then to north (J & J Morris et al).

Tuesday April 4th

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: Two Great White Egrets were on Pigs Pool today.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Nine Shelducks, two Egyptian geese.
Warks: Pair of Garganey still (Chris Vaghela).

Shustoke Res
Two Common Terns and two Shelducks (Pete Forbes).

Monday April 3rd

Kingsbury WP
A Common Tern on Hemlingford and 20 Pied Wagtails on the meadow (Matthew Pollock).

Ladywalk NR
Five Egyptian Geese, including the Shustoke four, two pairs of Goosanders, Curlew, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Oystercatchers (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A male Wheatear by the north pit. Garganey on Jubilee Wetlands with Ringed Plover and two Little Ringed Plovers. Sedge Warbler still by the screens (Karl Sargent et al).
Warks: Two Garganeys remain on Fisher's Mill (Karl Sargent).

by Mark Priest

Shustoke Res
Four Egyptian Geese, Common Tern and Oystercatcher. 100 Sand Martin and a Swallow in the evening (Pete Forbes).

Sunday April 2nd

Kingsbury WP
Common Tern at Hemlingford (following on from one at Marsh Lane NR yesterday) plus a Swallow (Dave Hutton).

Ladywalk NR
An early Common Whitethroat was across the river today. The average first arrival in the WMBC Region is currently April 7th. Also, five Blackcap, seven Willow Warblers, three Swallows, 67 Shoveler, 12 Wigeon, 17 Teal (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Three Garganeys still (John Mathers).
Staffs: Four Little Ringed Plovers (John Mathers).
Other reports not assigned to a county, Scaup, and Sedge Warbler.

Shustoke Res
Probably a site first was the magnificent two Egyptian Geese flying over today. Also two Shelducks (Pete Forbes).

Rare breeding birds will not be advertised on this Blog and we would urge folk to not tweet about them or discuss them in hides etc. There are many active eggers in the Coventry area, especially, and we would not wish to put these, already threatened species, into further decline. Please think very carefully about publishing information and photographs on social media.

Saturday April 1st

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Two Great White Egrets on Mill Pool, six Swallows and a House Martin (Adam Archer). Redshank  (Bob Duckhouse).

Bodymoor Heath
275 Fieldfares by Dog & Doublet and Greenland White-fronted Goose near Water Park entrance but mobile (Dave Hutton).

Coton Lakes
Ten Swallows, five Willow Warblers, four Blackcaps and "hundreds of Sand Martins" (Dave Hutton).

Kingsbury WP
c.500 Sand Martins, three Swallows, three Blackcaps and two Willow Warblers (Dave Hutton).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Sedge Warbler near East screen (RSPB).
Warks: Three Garganeys still on Fisher's Mill with a female Goldeneye (Dave Hutton).

Shustoke Res
100 Sand Martins and four Swallows (Pete Forbes).