14th May - Sightings

Shustoke - Black Tern, 2 Ringed Plovers (D Hutton)
Bassett North - Spoonbill ad still this morning (P Hyde per J Oates) but not present 11am. Also today up to 5 Sanderling, 2 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, 4 Grey plover (1 first summer bird early morning, 2 this afternoon then flew off, New bird this evening then flew off. All different to yesterday), Whimbrel through, 2 Common Sands, 25+ Dunlin, 15+ Ringed Plover (J Oates, J Harris, K Sargent, A Archer, TP, M Priest et al). These are maximum counts with numbers varying considerably through the day in a heavy passage.
Fisher's Mill - 2 Garganey (m,f) still, YL Gull (ad) still (J Oates) Whimbrel North this morning (P Hyde)
Ladywalk - Spoonbill reported landing 1.25pm by 3 Observers (per P Sofley)
Alvecote - Spoonbill reported late morning (P Burton per J Harris)
Middleton - Hybrid Shelduck sp on Hall Lake (TP)

13th May - Sightings

Spoonbill - Alvecote (Adam Archer)

Alvecote - Spoonbill ad till 7.05pm when flushed by dog walkers (per A Archer et al)
Kingsbury - Turnstone, Dunlin, Common Sand Cliff Pool (K Sargent, J Harris) Avocet this evening 8.05pm - 8.25pm only (presumed Bassett bird), Sanderling, Turnstone (WJ Egmont)
Bassett North - Spoonbill ad flew in 7.21pm till 8.20pm at least (TP, M Yapp et al). Also this evening Avocet (till 7.45pm only), 3 Grey Plover (until flushed by Spoonbill!), 5 Sanderling, Greenshank, 5 Redshank, Turnstone, 15+ Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, Med Gull ad (TP, J Harris, M Yapp et al)
Fisher's Mill - 3 Grey Plover late evening (M Yapp). Same as Bassett.

12th May - Sightings

Bassett North - Med Gull(ad) still Spoonbill Pit, 3 Ringed Plover North Pit (TP)

11th May - Sightings

Kingsbury - Common Sand Cliff Pool (K Sargent, J Harris)
Fisher's Mill - 2 Garganey again (m,f) (K Sargent)
Bassett North - Med Gull (ad) Spoonbill Pit, Greenshank, Dunlin (per J Harris)

10th May - Sightings

Bassett North - White Wagtail, 9 Dunlin, 11+ Ringed Plover, Med Gull(ad), Greenshank (TP, J Allen, et al)
Fisher's Mill - Wheatear(m) still

More info on yesterday's barnacle on the Ivel Ringing Group Blog. See here

Barnacle Origins

Have received this prompt reply from Errol Newman about the Barnacle. It is indeed a Bedfordshire bird which usually spends the mid-winter at Slimbridge with one or two others.


Recapture History

N 4 24/07/05 MA near Roxton, Bedfordshire

S 4 Sighted (R) 02/04/07 Coate Water, Swindon (121 km, SW, 1 yr 252days)

S 4 Sighted 25/05/07 Cassington GP, Oxfordshire (80 km, WSW, 1 yr 305days)

S 4 Sighted (R) 02/11/07 EN WWT New Grounds, Gloucestershire (151 km, WSW, 2 yrs
101days)

S 6 Sighted 09/05/09 ANO Drayton Bassett pits, Staffordshire (107 km, WNW, 3 yrs 289days)

9th May - Sightings

Bassett North - 3 Barnacle Geese (TP, J Allen et al). One of these birds is colour ringed on right leg (Red ring, white letters 'BP' with white line). This would appear to have been rung in Bedfordshire (see here). Details will be sent off. Also 18 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, Med Gull (ad), Teal, 4 Shoveler (TP, J Allen et al) Greenshank (M Yapp)
Fisher's Mill - 2 Garganey(m,f) still, Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, YL Gull (ad), Wheatear (MO)
Kingsbury - 2 Common Sand (TP, J Allen)
Ladywalk - Little Egret (WMBC)
Wishaw - 6 Wheatear (G Williams)

Of interest an aberrant swift has been in the valley the last two days at least, showing a prominent white belly.