Friday March 31st

Alvecote Pools
Warks: A Great White Egret has returned to Gilman's Pool (Roy Smith).

Coton Lakes
Six Blackcaps, 25 Sand Martins and a Goosander (Alan Dean).

Kingsbury WP
Two Goosanders, two Shelducks, eight Sand Martins, Willow Warbler and Willow Tit (Alan Dean). Along the canal from the Dog & Doublet the Greenland White-fronted Goose is still consorting with Canadas and is said to be "extremely tame" at present.

Ladywalk NR
At least four Willow Warblers, Green Sandpiper , two Little Ringed Plovers and six Lapwings (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Two Great White Egrets were on Jubilee Wets this morning and two Willow Warblers by the river. Two Avocets , "many Sand Martins and a few Swallows" (RSPB).
Warks: Three Garganeys still at Fisher's Mill (Rob Williams, J & P Fincham). Swallow at farm.

Mmmm, Nice !
by Mark Priest

Thursday March 30th

Ladywalk NR
Willow Warbler and two Blackcaps were fresh arrivals. An Egyptian Goose still present (Ken Bentley).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: A Firecrest was present in bramble by the canal at Fisher's Mill at around 10.00am (RSPB). The Great White Egret was at south meadow and three Garganeys were still on Fisher's Mill Pit as well as 20 Sand Martins (Karl Sargent, RSPB).

from Twitter - image by Bob Cooper

Staffs: A pair of Pintails were on North Pit (RSPB).

Shustoke Res
Blackcap singing was new in. Also 50 Sand Martins (Pete Forbes). 100 Sand Martins at 18.00hrs (Kevin Whiston).


Yesterday's wandering Great White Egret was also seen at the R Blythe bridge along the Shustoke Road at around 14.00hrs.(Pete Forbes)

Wednesday March 29th

Alvecote Pools
Swallow (Bob Duckhouse).

Ladywalk NR
85 Shovelers, two Oystercatchers and a brief Great White Egret, which flew downstream at 1415hrs after 15mins on site (Pete Lichfield). Great White Egret is still scarce in the county away from Middleton Lakes and it seems another one has passed me by.

by Pete Lichfield

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Three Blackcaps and many Chiffchaffs in the wood. Three Garganeys on Fisher's Mill - two drakes  (Steve Atkinson).
Staffs: 100 Sand Martins were present this morning, with three Little Ringed Plovers and three Redshanks (Steve Atkinson). Also, thanks to J & P Fincham.

Shustoke Res
Five Little Gulls (three adults, two first-summer) were present , generally feeding at c.200 feet, at 1500hrs at least (SMH et al). Six Little Gulls later (Steve Cawthray). Six singing Chiffchaffs around the reservoir.

Tuesday March 28th

The gentle easterly with poor visibility remained overnight but by mid-morning at least, the reported wind is south-west. Continued easterlies could have prompted a repeat of yesterday's minor Little Gull event across the Midlands and maybe the odd Avocet too.
Nearby sites saw good numbers of Sand Martins with the onset of rain at 1630hrs (eg. 70 at Marsh Lane NR).

Ladywalk NR
Curlew and two Oystercatchers still, along with good numbers of Shoveler (150). Wigeon and Teal numbers are falling fast (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Warks: Two Great White Egrets were in the heronry this evening (Steve Pick).

Shustoke Res
The Little Gull was not seen mid-morning but was present earlier (Steve Cawthray). Little Gulls in particular often flycatch much higher over the reservoir and drop down periodically. A Swallow and c.30 Sand Martins were present at 10.30am (Pete Forbes). At 1915hrs, 40 Sand Martins and two Goosanders (Kevin Whiston).

Monday March 27th

A cloudy morning, with poor visibility and a gentle breeze, mainly from the east, produced a small number of Little Gulls across many of the Midlands counties. First thing rather more Sand Martins than of late were evident.

Ladywalk NR
Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, and c.180 Shoveler, of which 160 were males (Pete Lichfield).

by Pete Lichfield

Shustoke Res
A cloudy morning resulted in the best arrival so far of Sand Martins; c.60 present and the two Shelducks. Later, a Little Gull, Goosander and Little Ringed Plover and in the village, a Wheatear (Pete Forbes).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Two Egyptian Geese, five LRP, four Redshanks, Dunlin and White Wagtail (Birdforum).
Warks: Great White Egret, the pair of Garganeys still and Blackcap (Bob Duckhouse et al).

Sunday March 26th

Ladywalk NR
A Siberian Chiffchaff singing near the old Hide D by the old fishing pools this morning. I'm guessing it's been in the area since the last records, earlier this year (Dave Hutton). Also today three Egyptian Geese, 150 Shoveler, 13 Goosanders, seven Shelducks and Curlew (Pete Lichfield).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: Two Great White Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, four Redshanks and a Little Ringed Plover seems to be a bit of a clear out from the past few days (Karl Sargent, Steve Pick).

Shustoke Res
Two Shelducks this morning (Pete Forbes).

Saturday March 25th

Ladywalk NR
Two Egyptian Geese which flew north, Curlew, eight Goosanders, four Shelducks. On the river a Common Sandpiper near Car Park (Kevin Whiston).

Middleton RSPB
Staffs: The Garganey, at Fisher's Mill first thing, were on West Scrape (Birdguides). Also, despite no sign in the morning, Black-tailed Godwit (s) reported. A Great White Egret was still present (Mark Priest).

Warks Great White by Mark Priest

Warks: Two Great White Egrets left the heronry this morning. One was photographed by the south meadow. Pair of Garganeys still on Fisher's Mill (Tom Perrins). Blackcaps were heard by the farm and at south meadow (Geoff A Williams et al).