Tuesday March 7th

Ladywalk NR
Female Pintail still on B Pool and Marsh Tit (Pete Lichfield et al).

Monday March 6th

Ladywalk NR
A brief visit to one hide produced four Shelducks, two Oystercatchers and around 13 Cormorants on nests.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A single Avocet arrived back to Jubilee Wetlands on the same date as last year apparently. Also four Oystercatchers, two Stonechats (J & P Fincham & RSPB).
Warks: A Great White Egret roosted in the heronry at 1820 hrs. Starlings were up to 1,200 at the Silt Bed with two Sparrowhawks in attendance (Steve Pick).

Sunday March 5th

Alvecote Pools
Staffs: Oystercatcher at The Pigs.
Warks: Great White Egret . Two Stonechats at Railway Pool plus Chiffchaff (Roy Smith).

Bodymoor Heath Lane
The geese were fewer in number until mid-afternoon by which time they were distant and facing away. Thus no sign of the Greenland White-front.

Shustoke Res
65 Pochard and 93 Tufted Duck on fishing pool (Dave Hutton).

Saturday March 4th

Alvecote
Warks: Yesterdays flurry of excitement regarding Cattle Egrets subsided early today with three or four Little Egrets seen feeding with cattle near Teal Pool.

Bodymoor Heath Lane
The Greenland White-front was feeding on winter wheat opposite the Water Park with other geese today (Tom Perrins).

Ladywalk NR
Continuing the fine run of Stonechat passage, seven were seen either side of the river at north end. Also, Pintail, 217 Wigeon, 92 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, eight Goosander, five Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers, four Siskin (Pete Sofley).

Some late news for February: 16th Merlin (DAD), Bittern on 20th, 24th and 28th. Jack Snipe on 21st.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Seven Cetti's counted plus four Stonechats, four Oystercatchers and a Great White Egret (Steve Atkinson et al). Egyptian Goose still at north end (Tom Perrins).
Warks: Stonechat and Cetti's Warbler at Fisher's Mill (Steve Atkinson). The Great White Egret was in the heronry roost at 1809hrs plus at least 40 Little Egrets (Steven Pick).

958 Starlings by Steven Pick

At the Silt Pool the Starling roost was captured beautifully, as above, by Steven Pick.


Some of you were requesting details about Walter J Eley's funeral so a reminder that the service will be at Nuneaton Crematorium on Monday at 12 noon. Also, afterwards, a get together is now confirmed at Oakridge Golf Club near Ansley roundabout on the Arley Rd, CV10 9PH.

Friday February 3rd

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret, the first returning Redshank, five Oystercatchers and 90 Teal (RSPB).

Wishaw
West Mids: The regular Stonechat was on the muck heap (Carl Hiles).

by Carl Hiles

Thursday March 2nd

Ladywalk NR
Slightly ahead of my prediction three Sand Martins flew through today, being five or so days ahead of recent annual arrival dates in the county. I will check this better when I can access my records (Pete Sofley).

Wishaw area
West Mids: 110 Golden Plovers were over fields behind Asda at Minworth (Carl Hiles).

Wednesday March 1st

Ladywalk NR
Bittern again at B Pools and Main Pool. Also pair Pintail, eight Goosanders, six Pochard, a pair of Peregrines and four singing Chiffchaffs (Pete Sofley).

RSPB Middleton
Staffs: Great White Egret on Jubilee (John Osborne). Also four Oystercatchers and a really good 21 Shelducks (Steve Atkinson).
Warks: The best news for a while was the presence of at least one Bearded Tits on Fisher's Mill today. A female was seen at both ends of the reed bed after being flushed by a work party but Katie says there was definitely another bird too. Also a Dunlin flew over there (RSPB). A Stonechat and a Raven were in the same area (Steve Atkinson).

Whitacre Heath NR
Two male Stonechats from the Flash Hide (Paul Casey).