Tuesday January 31st

Ladywalk NR
A Bittern was seen again at B Hide but was mobile and elusive and not seen after around 1300 hrs (Ben Eaton, Ken Bentley). Also another Oystercatcher after the one at Alvecote yesterday, Shelduck and five Pochard.

Middleton RSPB

Staffs:  Great White Egret was on Jubilee Wetlands with c.300 Golden Plovers (Martin Whalley).

Monday January 30th - Other Sightings

Alvecote Pools
Warks: An early Oystercatcher was near Railway Pool and the regular Great White Egret was on Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Ladywalk NR
Ten Grey Herons, one Little Egret, female Pintail and seven Goosander (per Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Great White Egret left the heronry roost at 0718hrs and flew south. Also 53 Little Egrets left the roost, with half staying to feed on the paddock between the wood and the farm; quite a sight I would imagine and pretty unique in the county (Steven Pick).

Monday January 30th - Bittern at Ladywalk NR

A Bittern showed well at Ladywalk NR today and Pete Lichfield was on hand to capture some fine images as shown below. It is thought that two birds are now present.

These photos are from B Hide and visitors should approach very quietly to avoid flushing the bird, which is close enough to see and hear your arrival. Please show permits and car stickers and if the hide becomes full please allow space for others if you have seen the bird well. Thank you.

Sunday January 29th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret still at Gilman's Pool and c.400 Lapwings nearby (Roy Smith).

Hams Hall
A 'Siberian' Chiffchaff (unringed) showing fulvescens traits was with eight Common Chiffchaffs around the outflow with Peregrine and Raven nearby. The classic tristis which was at the outflow has maybe moved on (Simon Rose).

by Simon Rose

Ladywalk
The Bittern showed from Riverwalk Hide at 1228hrs (Steven Pick)

Wishaw
West Mids: 64 Golden Plover were off Wishaw Lane (Dean Baker).

Saturday January 28th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: Great White Egret and 17 Goosanders (Tom Perrins)

Ladywalk NR
Three Goosanders, four Shelducks, 50 Teal, two Little Egrets (Pete Lichfield). A freshly dead Goosander seen today, looks like a probable Peregrine kill (Pete Sofley).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: 270 Greylags and seven Shelducks (Karl Sargent).
Warks: 52 Little Egrets roosted at the heronry (Steven Pick).

Friday January 27th

Alvecote Pools
Warks: The two Barnacles are still with the Canadas and the Great White Egret was on Gilman's with 12 Little Egret and five Goosanders (Simon Rose).

Coton Lake
The roost held the adult Mediterranean Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 86 Lesser Black-backed, 28 Herrings and 72 Common Gulls. Also Chiffchaff and a Water Rail. On the Lea Marston side: five Shelduck and a female Pintail (Alan Dean).

Hams Hall
A 'Siberian' Chiffchaff was heard and seen down from the Edison Rd bridge and four Chiffchaffs were seen, with one more on the Ladywalk entrance track (John Harris).

Kingsbury WP
Adult Yellow-legged Gull still, 215 Shoveler, two Goosanders and four Goldeneye (Alan Dean).

Thursday January 26th

Alvecote Pools
Warks:  A Great White Egret was still on Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).


Ladywalk NR

by Bob Duckhouse

Middleton RSPB
A Shoveler count today resulted in 203 on the whole site. 61 at Fisher's Mill and the remainder in Staffs (Katie Thorpe).