Urban Quest & Tame Valley

The day began with a little ghetto birding. No reason, nothing at all to see, well unless...

I will attempt a post soon about Black Redstart and why this is such an iconic bird for me, but for now please read Martyn Yapp’s mission statement. I would add that whilst some of the traditional sites have been smartened up beyond Black Redstarts taste, other areas are falling into disrepair and there is just so much suitable habitat within the West Midlands conurbation. The truth is out there...

Whitacre Heath, Warwickshire

From urban squalor on to rural Warwickshire in search of another scarce breeder. A single male Lesser spotted Woodpecker has been reported from Whitacre Heath NR, even in the last few weeks, alas not today. Noted were 15 or more singing Chiffchaff, a Willow Tit and both Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker.

Shustoke Reservoir

The fine drake Scaup was still in residence, today on the small fishing pool at the back, along with c60 Tufted Ducks and the odd Pochard.

Drake Scaup - image courtesy Kevin Groocock www.diaryofabirdingmedic.blogspot.co.uk

Also of note at Shustoke, the first Swallow of the year, always a welcome moment of any birding year. Other signs of spring were evident, including 2 Great Crested Grebes locked in a weed dance and the now omnipresent singing Chiffys. A further 57 Great Crested Grebe were on the east side of the res. It was nice to meet Birding Medic Kevin Groocock

Nearby c20 Sand Martin were noted from Broomey Croft at Kingsbury WP.

Coton

Coton was a bit hard work really. Of note only a Redshank and 3 singing Blackcap.

Middleton RSPB

Finally, a trudge around Middleton RSPB. Trudge is probably the right word. A place with lots of potential and yet the RSPB don’t seem to have found the funds to quite finish off the ambitious project they began. Funny that, they don’t seem to struggle with finding money to build eyesores on the north Norfolk landscape...

A hide would actually be welcome here. But just a nice, solid, wooden one please, that can actually be used for birding.

Oh yes, birding - noted were 2 Oystercatcher, Little Ringed and Ringed Plover, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Redshank and 3 Hares.

Time to go home and prepare for a Sunday twitchathon.