Friday January 13th

A bright day, although breezy, and a covering of snow after a night with temperatures around zero. Perhaps there will be some movements as a result.

Alvecote
Warks: I forgot to include that the two Barnacles were still in with Canadas on Monday 9th (Bob Duckhouse). Today, a Stonechat was near Railway Pool and it has been around for a week (Roy Smith).

Coton Lakes
A surprising find today was a second-winter Glaucous Gull, which was found by Alan Dean at 1509hrs, allowing me to get there in good light before it left with other Gulls. Fortunately it returned after 45 mins and was still present at dusk along with adult Mediterranean Gull, 268 Lesseer Black-backs, 114 Herring, 66 Common Gulls and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls.
Alan has commented that "although the eye appears dark, there is a small pink area at the extreme tip of the bill, while 'freckling' on the upperparts is uneven. These features, together with very creamy appearance in January, indicate a second-winter bird."

The Glauc by Alan Dean

This bird is the first at the Coton roost since two individuals in January 2011 and there was a bird at Fisher's Mill around the same time. After almost writing off this winter's Gull roost in Tuesday's Blog, we were very pleased to see this bird and will continue to do it with renewed enthusiasm in November/December.

Hams Hall
Two 'Siberian' Chiffchaffs were along the river today; the ringed bird was at the outfall and the other was still behind the Wincanton building. The snow and fall in temperatures resulted in 18 Common Chiffchaffs being between the outfall and the Ladywalk double gates. A Firecrest is now overdue (John Harris).

Ladywalk NR
The Redpoll sp on the 4th has not been seen again but an image of a bird elsewhere from Graham Catley on Twitter, and reproduced below is apparently a very good likeness (per Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Our man did the Egret roost and saw a Great White Egret and 34 Little Egrets at the Hall heronry (Steven Pick).

Wishaw: Golden Plover make a welcome return for Carl Hiles who estimated 297 amongst winter wheat at Wishaw Lane this morning.

Thursday January 12th

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret, three Stonechats, 45 Wigeon, 80 Teal and 30 Shovelor at Jubilee Wets and 102 Teal at North Pit.
Warks: Brambling at Gallows Brook, eight Bullfinch, 20 Siskin and 10 Redpoll. Fisher's Mill: 100 Golden Plover over and 21 Pochard, 35 Shovelor, ten Goldeneye (Katie Thorpe).

Wishaw
West Mids: Stonechat still (Carl Hiles).

Wednesday January 11th

Not much to report today after a blustery day

Shustoke Res
A Raven and a Jack Snipe nearby in a brief visit by Pete Forbes.

Wishaw
West Mids: The Stonechat is still present from yesterday (Carl Hiles).

Tuesday January 10th

Coton Lakes
A good grilling produced five Shelduck and a drake Pintail on the Lea Marston side. On the Coton Hall side, 56 Pochard, 105 Shovelor, Cetti's, Chiffchaff and Water Rail. The Gull roost has been poor this winter and continued to underwhelm today. The roost generally disperses in mid-January, so this winter is going to be one of the most disappointing we have seen; not entirely unexpected now that open landfill sites are no longer prevalent in the north of the county. The roost held 185 Lesser Black-backed, 110 Herring, two Great Black-backed, two Yellow-legged, 34 Common and ca.3000 Black-headed Gulls (Alan Dean).

Hams Hall
A total of 11 Common Chiffchaffs were between the outfall and Ladywalk double gates today. Also the ringed 'Siberian' Chiffchaff was at the outfall and a second bird was in thick riverside scrub behind the Wincanton building (John Harris). At Sainsbury's, 80 Redwing were on the pyracantha and they roosted in willows by the river (Pete Sofley).

by Pete Lichfield

Kingsbury WP (south end)
The usual adult Yellow-legged Gull remains on Bodymoor Heath Water and on past performance it will depart in the next couple of weeks. The Red-crested Pochard is on Swann Pool with five Goldeneye. Three Goosanders, 18 Little Egrets and 17 Lesser Redpolls were all in the same area (Alan Dean).

Ladywalk NR
Peregrine, ca.100 Teal and 50 Wigeon (Pete Lichfield) 25 Stock Doves roosted with the Cormorants (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Great White Egret on Jubilee Wetlands (RSPB).

Wishaw
West Mids: A Stonechat was at the bottom of Wishaw Lane nr the playing field (Carl Hiles).

Monday January 9th

It appears that the weather scuppered any chance of birding today as after trawling the usual blogs, Twitter and internet sites I haven't come across much news. Apart from the following:

Ladywalk NR

18 Little Grebes roosted in the calm waters at the junction of the Blythe and Tame and 18 Meadow Pipits were on the marsh (Pete Sofley).

Shustoke Res

After a remarkable absence recently a Great Crested Grebe has returned with 14 Little Grebes, 47 Pochard and 91 Tufted Ducks (Pete Forbes).

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFFS

I know that several people tried to get the Chiffchaffs at the weekend, with varying levels of success. To keep the Blog topical, Alan Dean has again offered some images and comment - Thank you, Alan.

Comparison of 'Siberian Chiffchaff' type with 'fulvescens traits and Common Chiffchaff of nominate form collybita.
Note generally tristis-like grey-brown upperparts and off-white underparts of 'fulvescens' bird, lacking the overall more-colourful, olive and yellow appearance of collybita.
However, the 'fulvescens' bird also has pronounced yellowish-olive fringes to remiges, rectrices, coverts and lower scapulars plus a yellow tinge above the eye.

LAPLAND BUNTINGS

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the discovery of three, increasing to four, Lapland Buntings, at the now-named Richard's Meadow at Kingsbury WP. On January 8th 1978 and until February 26th, when two remained, these birds were enjoyed as part of a mixed flock of 250 Yellowhammers and up to 150  Reed Buntings. Something there for you to dream about....

Incidentally for many years I gave no thought as to how Richard's Meadow came to be named, only recently discovering it is simply named after Richard White, who grazes sheep there from time to time. Richard lives on the A5 at Grendon and runs a very conservation friendly farm there.

Sunday January 8th

Hams Hall
Much milder weather today and yesterday but Common Chiffchaffs still in good numbers. 12 were present at the outfall and a Siberian Chiffchaff (unringed) was with them (Carl Hiles, Dave Hutton).

Ladywalk NR
120 Teal, 30 Shovelor, 6 Pochard, 25 Wigeon, two Little Egrets and a Cetti's Warbler, photographed below by Pete Lichfield at Hide B.

Middleton RSPB
Strangely only one bird was present today, a Great White Egret on Jubilee (Kevin Whiston et al).

Water Orton
Nine Goosanders and a Green Sandpiper along the river (Dean Baker).

Saturday January 7th

Alvecote Pools:
Warks: At Mill Pool, 13 Goosanders and 11 Shelducks (Tom Perrins).

Dosthill
A flock of 30 Waxwings was reported on Twitter at 1510hrs. No idea whereabouts.

Hams Hall.
Common Chiffchaffs are really being drawn to the easy feeding along the Tame. At the end of 2016 we had four or five but today the maximum count was 14 and these were just between the outfall and the first bridge over the river - no doubt there were others further downstream. Also a Common Sandpiper there (Dave Hutton, Kevin Whiston). A 'Siberian' Chiffchaff was also seen in the area (Kevin Whiston).

Ladywalk NR
Frozen pools presumably still as Duck numbers very low: Two Shelduck and six Pochard being the best. Plus a Marsh Tit (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Great White Egret flew south towards Kingsbury WP early on but was thought to have returned, with two present in Staffs later. Three may have been present but foggy conditions prevented confirmation (Steve Atkinson).
A minimum of 58 Little Egrets roosted at the heronry tonight; however, as ca.30 arrived together and from all directions this count could well be beaten as they leave in the morning (Steven Pick).