West Midlands Mega!

Thursday 19th April 2012

With the mini-influx of Black-winged Stilts  into our country at the end of last week (with single birds in Dorset, Lincs and Rutland), it was hopeful that one might rock up in the region at some stage. My money was on Staffs last weekend, particularly after the Rutland bird took flight last Friday evening, but alas it went the wrong way and ended up in Lincolnshire instead.

I was buried in reports at work yesterday afternoon when I picked up my phone and saw the following text from Martyn:

'Mega 2 BW Stilts Clayhangar...........'

I think my response went something along the lines of *#£**#**%£!!!

I tried to carry on working and remain calm, but got increasingly agitated when eventually the iPhone notifications started to arrive (sort it out Birdguides!). It wasn't looking good with me 2 buses away from home (through rush-hour Brum) and Martyn also trapped at work and with other commitments to attend to.

These were too good a bird to miss locally though, so I managed to slip away about 4.00pm. Despite this, nail-biting traffic jams ensued and Martyn was also stuck on the motorway. Would we dip? Of course Martyn had seen the Croxall bird in 1991, but this would be a significant regional tick for me. It's fair to say I was rather tense.

Thankfully the journey from Great Barr to Pelsall was a far more straightforward jaunt. Wellies were in order (expensive ones for the welly connoisseurs, of course) and a swift but muddy trudge and scrambling a couple of barbed wire fences in an effort to catch up with the crowd.

Thankfully we arrived in time for about 10 minutes worth of crippling views of this pair of Black-winged Stilts (first West Midlands county record) as they fed on the swag. They soon took flight and were lost to view, although they did return before nightfall - see Clayhangar Blog for full details of yesterday's events.

The crowd reassembled to scan the islands of the main pool to see if the birds could be relocated - they weren't. Oystercatcher, 2 Common Tern and 2 Goosander were present.

Above images appear courtesy of Mark Rayment

A most enjoyable twitch and great to see so many familiar faces.

Signage of Spring

Saturday 14th April

Early morning at Croxall GP, signs of migration were at last underway with stuff beginning to appear despite the almost constant northerlies we’ve been having. A single Common Tern and a female Wheatear were notable arrivals and there was a very visable passage of hirundines, with large numbers of Sand Martin pushing through north, joined by smaller numbers of Swallow.

Wader ‘action’ however, was fairly predictable with 6 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, a Curlew feeding in the field and a couple of Redshank.

A Short-eared Owl livened the morning up as it emerged up from the small pits by the river. 2 Little Egret here too.

The next part of the day I cannot talk about, for it involves trespass, scarcities and suppression....
 

H&S warning - in a stark 1970's stylee

These days of course, you don't have to worry about children falling into quarries or gravel pits or electocuting themselves on pylons as they're all too busy sat at home stuffing their arteries with saturated fats and numbing their brains with playstation games.

Most notably, the sightings from that part of the day included a Ruff (presumaby male) and 2 more Wheatear.

On to the more legitimate site of Blithfield (provided you have a permit of course).

There was a stonking adult male Redstart feeding along hedgerows below the dam. Also a total of 4 Wheatear - 3 in fields below the dam and a further bird at the Beechtree Point.

Ten Acre Bay contained some less hard-hitting safety advice than that observed earlier...

A warning that was duly ignored by 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover and a year tick of Common Sandpiper. Paused for some photos here.

Oystercatcher

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Sheltering from the deluge in the Tad Bay hide we observed a large mass of hirunidines in the bay, including around 10 House Martin. Also of note here c20 Goldeneye, Shelduck and a Tree Sparrow.

Big news in the region on this day of course, was the Pallid Harrier that flew through Belvide observed by Steve Nuttal and a few others.

Easter Weekend Stuff

Had a trundle around Sutton Park on Good Friday morning, birding-lite. Main purpose really to get a bit of practice with my camera.

Herring, LBBG and BHG on Longmoor Pool

Herring Gulls (adult and 3rd cy) on Longmoor Pool

A Mipit in a tree - monster hind claw showing

Carrion Crow

Notable were 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Grey Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, a Swallow over Powell's Pool and singing Blackcap and Chiffy.

Saturday I met up with Martyn for a Staffs Day, however not before we perused a couple of ghetto birding sites once again. I’ll not say much on this matter, as birding around derelict buildings and canals is not everyone's cup of tea. We were slighty surprised to see a female Blackcap in Buddelia in the Jewellery Quarter, but then even more surprised to find a Willow Warbler in subsong at the side of a Digbeth canal. Also noted a pair of Grey Wagtail.

Later in the morning we arrived at Radford Meadows, where the Common Crane showed well, but fairly distantly, providing me with a regional tick. Very occasional Cranes are recorded passing through the region, but a twitchable Crane in Staffs is a very good bird. This Crane arrived on 5^th April and is presumably the same bird that was at Kingswood earlier that week. At the time of writing the bird is still present. Also here an elusive pair of Garganey that only provided one all too brief swim-past view and a Wheatear.

Staffordshire Crane - image courstey Martyn Yapp http://www.theregionaltick.blogspot.co.uk/

Elusive Garganoids - image coutesy Martyn Yapp http://www.theregionaltick.blogspot.co.uk/

The temptation of Ring Ouzel on Berry Hill was all too much and we were soon on the road to this Stoke-on-Trent migration hotspot. Two had been reported here this morning, but this remaining single male was more than enough. We enjoyed fine views although the bird was at one point needlessly flushed from its favoured slope by some pretty clueless birders who saw fit to walk through it. This is a great spot for migrating birds, however there was nothing else around of any note, everything else (including that mornings Wheatears) had apparently all passed through.

The day ended with a visit to Gailey Reservoir. Noted here 13 Swallows, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Reed Bunting and 3 Little Grebe.

Easter Sunday and Monday I spent some time around south Warwickshire haunts Draycote Water and BrandonMarsh.

At Brandon Marsh, waders included 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher and 15+ Common Snipe. Hirundines were now in large numbers and these included 3 House Martin, c20 Swallow and larger numbers of Sand Martin.

A Willow Tit was noted and Blackcaps, Chiffys and Willow Warblers and Cetti’s Warbler could all be heard belting out song all around the reserve. There was also an early Reed Warbler in the Gorse Pool reedbed, which gave occasional subsong but did not show. Water Rail was also heard. 10 Common Gull were on the reserve on Sunday.

Willow Warbler - image courtesy Mark Rayment

Some Coot violence was witnessed from Carlton Hide, when a Coot tried to disturb a female on the nest. Her mate returned quick as a shot and proceeded to attempt to drown the infiltrator, grabbing it from from the back of it's neck. Facinating, but brutal bit of bird behaviour there.

Draycote, as it has done in previous years provided me with first sightings of Yellow Wagtail with single birds on Farnborough Bank on the 8^th and one in Toft Bay on the 9^th. 2 Little Ringed Plover and a lone female Goldeneye were also in Toft. The rainy stormy conditions produced 2 Arctic Terns in the middle of the res with around 200 Black-headed Gulls and 20 or so Common Gull. Also provided a thorough soaking to finish off the weekend with.

Great Crested Grebe

Somerset & Gloucestershire

Saturday 1^st April

Down to Somerset and Gloucestershire with fellow West Mids region bloggers Martyn and Richard. A few quality birds tempting us to make the journey down the M5.

First we visited the 2 Long-billed Dowitchers at Meare Heath on the Somerset Levels. We arrived around 8.00am and were instantly furnished us with very good scope views of the two Dowitchers (lifer 286). 

Image courtesy of Richard Powell - http://localbirdingforlocalpeople.blogspot.co.uk

The same lagoon also contained a Great White Egret, Bittern, 4 Ruff, 23 Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank. Spring migrants included a singing Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler was also heard. Blackcap & Chiffy firmly established just about everywhere now. Bitterns booming and Cetti’s belting out from the reedbed behind us. Not at all a bad way to start the day.

Next, Chew Valley Lake. The long-staying Spotted Sandpiper was being a bit of a pain, having just wandered into the far corner along with a Green Sandpiper and becoming totally hidden from view. We proceeded to the dam area where we watched a female Long-tailed Duck, as it associated with Tufted Ducks. Here also a Raven over and a Gypo Goose. Sand Martins were noted with around 10 here, and high above Herriot's Bridge a ball of seemigly hundreds of hirundines were in the air.

Back at Herriot’s Bridge the Spotted Sand still did not seem to be playing ball, but thankfully it soon flew from the far corner onto some rocky islands where at last decent scope views were obtained. The bird had some subtle spotting to it’s flanks.

LBBG at Chew Valley Lake

 The final portion of the day was spent in Gloucestershire. After a quick look for a Cattle Egret that we didn’t see at Lydney, we were all anxious to connect with the Bonaparte’s Gull at Newham, on the bank of the Severn. Although we had just missed the bird, it was only across the road feeding in a field with Black-headed Gulls and was commuting between the mudflat and it’s feeding field. We all had excellent and prolonged views of this diminutive gull, my personal favourite bird of the day. 

Bonaparte's Gull at Newnham, Glos

  

We finished off with a curry, such has become the tradition. Maybe I should introduce a ‘curry corner’ to this blog?

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.

Otmoor, Foxcote and a Suburban Surprise

Otmoor RSPB

Visited Oxfordshire over the weekend and spent a fair bit of time exploring Otmoor RSPB. A place with potential, however many species here could well be in trouble given the current low water levels, particularly if this warm dry spell continues.

Still a bit early in Spring for most migrants, however up to 10 Chiffchaffs were singing, a Little Ringed Plover was new in on Sunday and 4 Redshank were present. Also noted were 2 Little Egrets, Marsh Tit, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Great Spotted Woodpecker. A fairly predictable selection of dabbling ducks were present; alas scanning through these failed to produce a Garganey. There was no shortage of Red Kites, nonetheless always stunning birds to see. Up to 6 in the air with over 10 Buzzards at one stage on Sunday. Also Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

However, the most impressive sight by far was the large numbers of amorous toads, including a ball of 20 or more toads locked in a mating frenzy in the ditch and also smaller groups getting jiggy just about anywhere and everywhere around the approach to the reserve.

Filthy dirty toads - image courtesy of Mark Rayment

Toad porn

 The feeding station offered some dude photo opportunities.

Chaffinch

Dunnock

Foxcote Reservoir, Buckinghamshire

The second time I have visited Foxcote. I twitched my first ever Ring-necked Duck here in 2008...memories. The only Aythya present on Sunday however, were a number of Tufties, including a slightly dodgy, hybridy looking female and a few Pochard. I do like this place though and the hide affords good views of the reservoir.

Noted here: 6 Goldeneye, a solitary Oystercatcher, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Gull, 6 LBBG, 1 1^st-w GBBG, Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail and Bullfinch.

Wherever possible from now on, I will try to include hyperlinks to information on places I have visited.

Suburban Birding

This was the first thing I saw on Monday morning when I drew back the curtains.

To say I was surprised was an understatement, the gardens here in this part of Great Barr in Brum are completely cut off from any farmland and surrounded by roads. I rushed to fetch my camera, mainly to ensure I hadn’t gone mad. The Red-legged Partridge had scarpered down the garden upon seeing me, but then fed happily for the next 20 minutes or so, eventually wandering close enough for me to get a reasonable record shot through the window. Not a bad garden tick at all and a nice surprise to begin the working week.

Yellow-browed warbler in Worcester

Sunday 11th March 

Warndon, Worcestershire

The third time I've twitched suburbia in the last month. This time the bird on offer was a Yellow-browed Warbler, which was first reported Saturday morning. This would be a regional tick for me.

We got on to the bird quite quickly, as it was fly catching in silver birch in the ex-Worcs recorder’s garden. The Yellow-browed Warbler was then lost for about 30 minutes, but we were keen to get further views. It was eventually relocated along the cycle path, as it worked along the hedgerow very quickly.  A female Blackcap was also here.

At the time of writing the bird is still present. Well worth the trip into Worcs if you havent already been.

Next up, a spot of raptor watching at an elevated spot above the Wyre. Quite a bit of time was invested in this, but it was perhaps still a little chilly for anything really good. Birds noted up to 20 Buzzard, 3 Sparrowhawk and a Raven.

Trimpley Reservoir

It was now 1:00pm, not an ideal time of day to be looking for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. But it was worth a go. Or maybe not.

The usual Mandarins were on the river, providing a reliable but plastic year tick. At least 3 pairs were noted. Better were a party of 6 Goosander. I do love a nice sawbill.

Also noted 2 Marsh Tits and Nuthatch. Great (but no Lesser) Pecker calling. 7 Great Crested Grebes on the reservoir.

Also a sighting of this...

Severn Valley Railway - Image by Martyn Yapp

Upton Warren

Last stop of the day. I was a regular here at one time and cut my birding teeth here to some extent. I was therefore quite saddened really that it seems to be going through a bit of a dry patch and certain species have been lost to the reserve.

Only 4 Avocet were on The Flashes (apparently the earlier numbers had moved off quickly perhaps due to a lack of food). Also 3 Oystercatcher, 2 pairs of Bullfinch,  30 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing and a Treecreeper.  A first winter Herring Gull and 2 LBBG were on the Moors Pool. Many Reed Bunting and a GS Woody visited the feeders.

Ochruros meets Ochruros

Some regional birding was in order this weekend. One county simply won’t do for a number of West Midlands birders; hence ‘the region’ – the quad county area of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands as covered by West Midland Bird Club. These four landlocked counties can be hard work at times, but our region can also be very rewarding and holds some surprisingly diverse bird life.

Saturday 10^th March – Staffordshire

Upper Longdon, Cannock Chase

A Staffs day with Martyn Yapp which began at Upper Longdon, a new part of The Chase to me. We located the Great Grey Shrike in the valley before long and followed it back up to its favourite stump where we got great views and some poor record shots.

This Shrike is one of two birds that have wintered in the county. There were also a good variety of other birds on offer – a male Stonechat, Crossbill and Redpoll over, Reed Bunting, a nice flock of around 30 Brambling feeding in the larch on the opposite side of the road, Siskin, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

Blithfield Reservoir

Here we joined forces with Richard Powell, who had just partaken in the Blithfield WeBS count.

It will not come as a great surprise to anyone to learn that I’m quite fond of Black Redstarts. Phoenicurus ochruros (hence the title of this blog) is my most favouritist bird and I was keen to get it on my year list.

The immature male Black Redstart (present since 17^th December) was around the dam tower and it sang a little from here. It was a mobile bird and we feasted our eyes on the little beauty again around the sailing club. This pleased me greatly.

Well nothing else could really compete with that, but other birds noted here included a flock of c60 Wigeon in 10 acre Bay, 23 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron on the sewage works, Grey Wagtail heard calling and a 1^st winter Great Black-backed Gull.

1st winter GBBG - photo coutesy of Martyn Yapp

 

Branston Gravel Pits

On to Branston where a Staffs mini wader passage was occurring with 1 Knot, 4 Ruff, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Green Sandpiper and 2 Redshank. Also here a pair of Pintail, an immature White-fronted Goose, 22 Golden Plover, 19 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, Shelduck and Little Grebe. We also encountered a number of other birders here (unusual for a Staffs GP).

Wader action in Staffs - image coutesy of Richard Powell

Croxall GP

Another Gravel Pit, which can be very good at times, but sadly very quiet today. The only birds of note were c15 Goldeneye, 3 Oystercatcher, 7 Redshank and a single Snipe.

On the way home we quickly checked the field at Whitemoor Haye. The most interesting thing seen here were people trying to land flying machines in windy conditions and making a right pigs ear of it. Not many birds of note apart from a feeding Mute Swan herd, c60 Golden Plover and 2 Fieldfare.

Catch Up Post #1 - Hants and Dorset Weekend

Sat 25^th February

Calshot, Hampshire

Today was to be a day of filthy dirty twitching and it began here in this Hampshire suburb. News of the Spanish Sparrow first broke on 9^th January, however a small number of hybrid sparrows residing in the area prove the bird has clearly already enjoyed at least one breeding season here.

Seeing this bird is not difficult at all, provided you look at the right time of day (the bird usually shows first thing and then mid-afternoon). Arriving on site early we had the bird showing very well at close range within a few minutes.

 Spanish sparrow - lifer no 282

However that there was some evidence that the locals were beginning to find birders a little tiresome...

 

Hawkhill Inclosure

Sparrow sorted before breakfast; next stop was just a few miles away for the Dark-eyed Junco in the New Forest.

Unfortunately this bird was not nearly as accommodating as the Sparrow and a lengthy wait ensued. Common Crossbills showed well in bare trees. Siskin, Coal Tit and Goldcrest were noted, Great Spot drummed, Green Woody called, a couple of Buzzards thermalled, an endless stream of Reed Bunting and Chaffinch visited the feeding station, a tumbleweed drifted across  the scene, but Junco still not come. 

Because of the sporadic nature of this Junco’s previous appearances I was fast losing faith that it would show. Around 12 Dartford Warblers nearby provided a welcome change of scenery and a year tick. A couple of Stonechat were also present in the gorse.

The Dark-eyed Junco did eventually appear after 2.00pm, frustratingly at first feeding in the undergrowth, but eventually revealling itself properly on it's favoured log (lifer 283).

Following Junco viewing we went back for seconds on the Sparrow which showed once again and could be seen and heard belting out Spanish chirpings from deep within the hedge, although this was sadly no good for further photographs. At least one of the male sparrow hybrids was also noted.

Sunday 26th February

Portland Harbour

A scan of the harbour water revealed an impressive 10 or so Black-necked Grebes, 1 Slavonian Grebe, Great-crested Grebe and around 20 Red-breasted Merganser. Could not see a Red-necked Grebe which had been previously reported.

Following this, there was a visit to Portland Bird Observatory, which was quiet on the bird front but it was great to meet the warden and check out the place as I will be staying here soon. Great bookshop here too.

Radipole RSPB

The main target bird was Glossy Ibis, which I’m embarrassed to say was still missing from my list. As part of the recent influx, one had been knocking around here but had been elusive and continued to be elusive (i.e. invisible) throughout our visit, despite some sustained watching from the North Hide.

This is a great little reserve to visit though, although being so central to Weymouth it can be rather busy with non-birding folk and general dudeyness. Nonetheless birds noted here included 2 Iceland Gulls (1^st & 2^nd winter), 6 Med Gulls, 2 Stonechat, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, 2 Kingfisher excavating a nest hole, Cetti’s warbler, Water Rail, c20 Snipe and Sparrowhawk.

 Iceland Gull

Tufted Duck, often overlooked, were very obliging in some nice sunlight...

Swineham GP

Another chance of Glossy Ibis here and this bird was on show immediately from the private road. Tart out of the way - lifer 284. I  have to admit I enjoyed watching this bird far more than I’d anticipated. Iridescent sheen showed up well in the afternoon sun, not that this is at all evident in my photo...

Notice the Glossy Ibis was wearing bling – a cream coloured ring reading 3T7, indicating that it was ringed in Donana and spent some time in Devon before coming to Dorset.

A most enjoyable three tick weekend.