Tuesday March 21st

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Four Jack Snipe at Mill Pool with 12 Common Snipe (Bob Duckhouse).

Kingsbury WP
Four Egyptian Geese flew in at Cliffe Pool and four Goldeneyes (Bob Duckhouse).

"Lovely" image by Bob Duckhouse

Ladywalk NR
LRP, Barnacle, seven Goosander, four Greylag and Otter (Pete Lichfield, Pete Sofley).

Excitement at Ladywalk today

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: On Jubilee Wetlands, three Avocet, two Ringed Plover, one Little Ringed Plover, two Redshank and a Dunlin (Steve Pick).
Warks: Great White Egret in the roost with a possible second bird also present (Steve Pick). On Fisher's Mill, the pair of Garganey were present, but elusive (Richard Eyres).

Shustoke Res
Two Sand Martins, 12 Fieldfares over, two pairs of Nuthatch, Siskins (Pete Forbes).

Wishaw
West Mids: Possibly the same as yesterday, a Wheatear again (Carl Hiles).

Monday March 20th

Church Pool Covert
A Blackcap, possibly a UK wintering bird alongside three Chiffchaffs (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Two flocks of ten Sand Matins were seen at Fisher's Mill during the heavy rain this morning.

I sat in a hide for a few hours today hoping for some rain affected migrants but it was desperately uneventful.

LATE NEWS: On Saturday 18th, seven Egyptian Geese were reported at Tameside NR, Tamworth. Quite a large group hereabouts (Marion Parnell).

Sunday March 19th

Ladywalk NR
Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, three Oystercatchers, Redshank, Barnacle Goose, two Shelducks and six Pochards (Ben Eaton).

by Pete Lichfield

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: A pair of Garganeys, two Avocets, 2-7 Little Ringed Plovers, 2-6 Ringed Plovers, four Redshanks, three Oystercatchers (Arthur Bladon, Kevin Whiston et al).
Warks: Five Pochard and Goldeneye at Fisher's Mill. Great White Egret flew from the now favoured south meadow to Dosthill NR and then to roost at the heronry at 1803 hrs. 25 Little Egrets were roosting (Steve Pick).

The counts of ringed-type plovers differed between observers today so the above totals are best guesses.

Wishaw
West Mids: At last, a Wheatear. At top of Wiggins Hill Road (Dean Baker).

Ladywalk NR continue to fill their new Blog. Here is a link to Moths & Muntjacs

www.ladywalknature.wordpress.com/2017/03/19/mothing-muntjacs/

Saturday March 18th

Coton Lakes
Twenty plus Sand Martins this morning (Dave Hutton).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Four Avocets were around later this morning after three initially. The pair of Garganey and now three Little Ringed Plover were present, as well as four Redshanks, three Ringed Plovers and a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull. Great White Egret seen flying south, possibly towards the south meadow. This evening, Great White Egret at Dosthill NR and Barn Owl on reserve (Steve Atkinson, Kay Donaghy, Dave Hutton, Steve Pick, Tom Perrins et al).
Warks: Egyptian Goose and ten Oystercatchers at Dosthill Lake and 13 Sand Martins just north of Fisher's Mill (Steve Pick).

by Steve Atkinson

A singing Willow Warbler slightly off patch was an excellent date for the Region today and yesterdays Swallow still looks to be a very good first arrival date in the context of other records, or lack of them, much further south. Another Wheatear arrival today, a few miles to the east of the valley. Brambling records appear to be on a slight increase with presumed migrants moving through. Ten were reported to me today at three sites, again just outside the valley. The feeders at Middleton Hall should get odd birds in the next week or two.

Friday March 17th

Kingsbury WP
The first Swallow in our area accompanied 32 Sand Martins at Bodymoor Heath Water today and 30 plus Sand Martins were still there later this evening. Little Ringed and Ringed Plover were in the area (Alan Dean, Matthew Pollock). Four Oystercatchers were also in the area.

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Great White Egret in the southern meadow. Also Jack Snipe, 12 Common Snipe and LRP there (RSPB)
Staffs: Three Avocets have returned  from their usual early spring forays around the Region and were back on Jubilee Wetlands with a drake and then a pair of Garganeys (drake seen yesterday. Thanks for report, Gill Lovatt). Also a Ruff (RSPB).

Shustoke Res
Three Sand Martins a Pochard and eight Redpolls (Pete Forbes).

It takes a colder, windier day to turn up a few birds after the warm, sunny weather and today was a pretty typical late-March day. First Swallow date is early again. In 2016, Shustoke Res and Brandon Marsh recorded one on March 24th and then no more until 27th, with singles at Alvecote, Brandon and RSPB Middleton.

Thursday March 16th

Ladywalk NR
The Barnacle Goose, 130 Shoveler, nine Goosander (15 yesterday), a Red Kite over and last but least, a Ruddy Shelduck x Shelduck hybrid (Steve Cawthray et al).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Great White Egret roosted at 1833hrs, when 20 Little Egrets were also present (Steve Pick).

It seems as though Severn Trent are preparing to install Pay & Display at Shustoke Res. We shall see whether the irresponsible dog walkers ignore those notices too.

Wednesday March 15th

Alvecote Pools
A Redshank.

Ladywalk NR
Two Ruffs a Dunlin and a Barnacle Goose signalled some movement at least (Pete Lichfield). Also a female Pintail and eight Shelducks.

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Late news: Little Ringed Plover still, four Redshanks, Egyptian Goose and a Stonechat (Birdforum).

Chiffchaffs are increasingly widespread today in all habitats. Sand Martins continue to arrive but in clear warm weather they are often only seen early or towards dusk.