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.