19th December 2009

Took the chance of a local trip to Long Lawford this morning looking for the Great White Egret no sign when we got there so decided to head over to Draycote Water where we were soon watching the drake Smew & 1 of the 2 Great Northern Divers present along the Farboro bank also 1 Dunlin showing well on Toft bank we then made our way around to Draycote bank for the Slavonian Grebe found by Colin Potter & Richard Mays (turned out to be a Black-necked Grebe, tut tut)also from Draycote bank the 2nd Great Northern Diver & 1 female Common Scoter

21st November 2009

Shustoke Res

After getting the call from Tom Perrins this morning letting me know the Great Northern Divers were still present I decided to get up & forget about my sleep till later (Nights last night) gave Rich Dawkins a call & we headed over, the Juv was showing in the corners to the left of the carpark then a call from Archie Archer to say the adult summer bird was showing well at the other end had us making our way down to try for a few shots!!

19th November 2009

Shustoke Res

2 txts (cheers Tom & John) in a matter of mins alerted me to the fact a juv Great Northern Diver was at Shustoke Res,Warks,with being on lates i wasnt overly fussed as we get them annually at Draycote but when Tom Perrins txt aagain to say a 2nd bird was present & was in near full summer plumage that was a different matter!! 20 mins later with the help of Steve Haynes & Lee Johnson (the finder) i was soon watching this cracking looking bird (No photos just hope it stays until the W/E)

15th November 2009

Headed over to Draycote Water again this morning with Rich (Tricky Dicky) Dawkins with the intention of getting some better shots of the drake Green-winged Teal (better shots obtained but still need to get the sun over my shoulder!!) other birds present Raven,Ruddy Duck,Goldeneye,Tufted Duck (numbers picking up again)4 Goosander & 1 Great Northern Diver (not seen by myself but deffo there!!)

12th November 2009

With not much about locally & the weather due to change i decided to head over to Draycote Water again whilst on my way a txt came thru from John Judge saying that a drake Green-winged Teal had been found in Toft (Yet another good find by Bob Hazell) The bird is probably last winters returning bird!! good views if not a little distant & into the sun not making it ideal for good pics

6th November 2009

Draycote Water,Warks

A call from John Judge (Draycote Recorder)had me gathering my camera gear & making haste to the water for a Purple Sandpiper (Rare in Warks!! 1st since 87 i believe? )& a Warks County bird for myself also present 5 Dunlin & 4 Shelduck

29th October 2009

Staines Moor,Surrey

Travelled down again today to see if I could obtain any photos with Rich Dawkins & John Liggins on arrival the bird popped up in the bushes not to far away on the N of the River enabling a few shots to be taken with my Sigmonster (300-800mm)with 2x converter on!! Well worth the 2nd visit the bird continued to show on & off for the next hour or so but somewhat more distant.

17th October 2009

Staines Moor,Surrey

found myself travelling South today for the Brown Shrike in Surrey with Rich Dawkins today good but distant views also 200+ Ring-necked Parakeets & 150+ Red Kites on the journey there & back the only spoil of the day was breaking down on the M25 (not recommended)

8th & 9th October 2009

2 mornings spent at Draycote Water with the Lesser Scaup giving superb views with other highlights being 3 Twite,fem Red-breasted Merganser,Black-necked Grebe,2 Rock Pipit,1 Yellow-legged Gull,4 Swallow & 5 Redwing

1st October 2009

Yet again i find myself back over at Draycote Water with the highlights being Yellow Wagtails (good No's) Rock Pipit & a ad eclipse drake Lesser Scaup (found by Bob Hazell)

20th September 2009

Draycote Water yet again with juv Ruff,1 Bar-tailed Godwit,Dunlin,Ringed Plover & Pectoral Sandpiper all still present

19th September 2009

Draycote Water again with 1 Juv Ruff,2 Ringed Plover,1 Bar-tailed Godwit & the Pectoral Sandpiper

14th September 2009

Draycote Water

A trip over to Draycote Water this morning straight from my Nightshift for the Pectoral Sandpiper,the bird was soon located in Toft along with 3 Dunlin & 1 Juv Ringed Plover

27th August 2009

Dozens of House Martin over the pool with a few Swallow mixed in. 95 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag and a flock of Goldfinch this afternoon.

Colin Green.

16th August 2009

A good mix of summer migrants at the pool this morning with 1 Spotted Flycatcher (at the back of the pool), 10+ Willow Warblers, 40+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows and 1 Swift. Other highlights were 1 Little Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 120+ Canada Geese.

Alan Ramsell

9th August 2009

A quick walk around the pool today produced at least 4 Reed Warbler several Willow Warbler,good numbers of both Swallow & House Martin,1 Kingfisher,1 Yellow Wagtail & 2 Common Buzzard

(Dave Hutton)

24th June 2009

1 Common Tern, several House Martin and Swallow, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting and 2 singing Reed Warbler were best of the bunch this evening.

Colin Green.

2nd June 2009

Quiet this evening. Reed Warblers calling from cover, a large family group of Blue Tit in trees at the end of the pool and a number of Wren and Reed Bunting were the best of the bunch. Only a couple House Martin above the pool.

Colin Green.

31st May 2009

The suprise bird of the morning was a Red Kite seen flying over Tower Farm heading south west towards Arley. It was fairly quiet around the pool with Swift, House Martin, Reed Warbler and Common Buzzard being the most noteworthy birds seen.


Alan Ramsell

23rd May 2009

1 Little Owl and Reed Warbler calling from low willow.
Otherwise very quiet this morning.

Colin Green.

5th May 2009

Fairly quiet this evening. 2 Common Tern. Plenty of Swift and House Martin with the odd Sand Martin and Swallow mixed in.

Colin Green.

1st May 2009

1 Little Owl in tree near to farm. 2 Common Tern, 1 Grey Wagtail on dam, House Martins, Sand Martins, 1 Common Buzzard on fencepost at back of pool and 1 Reed Warbler in undergrowth.

Colin Green.

30th April 2009

This morning on the pool the 2 Common terns still present,Swallows,House & Sand Martins,1st singing Reed Warbler of the year & Common Sandpiper off the wall (late return this year) also seen 1 Common Buzzard & Siskin over

(D.Hutton)

29th April 2009

A quick visit this evening produced Swallow,House Martin & Sand Martins,1 Grey Wagtail & the 1st Common Terns of the year with 2 on the dead trunks

(D.Hutton)

28th April 2009

Afternoon visit.
7 male and 3 female Tufted Duck. 3 Little Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Swallow and 2 Jay.

Colin Green.

24th April 2009

Quiet this afternoon. 2 Grey Wagtail on the dam, 4 male and 2 female Tufted Duck, 2 Swallow and 1 Little Owl in trees at back of pool.

Colin Green.

22nd April 2009

Morning visit. 4 Little Owl. 2 in tree near to farm and two in nest hole. 1 Lesser BB Gull and 1 Reed Bunting.

Colin Green.

22nd April 2009

A quick visit this evening produced 1 Chiffchaff,1 Willow Warbler,my 1st Garden Warbler of the year in the hedgerow at the backend also 3 Swallow over


(D.Hutton)

21st April 2009

PM visit. Grey and Pied Wagtail on the dam. Several Swallow and House Martin, GS Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff at the back of the pool.

Colin Green.

12th April 2009

20+ Swallows, 10+ House Martins, pair Grey Wagtail at the dam and 1 Yellowhammer singing in field at the rear of the pool. No warblers at the pool this morning but 2 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff were singing in nearby Arbury Woods.

(Alan Ramsell)

This evening on the pool 17 Swallow,4 House Martin,the 1st Sedge Warbler of the year,2 Siskin over,21 Fieldfare in trees at the back of the pool

(Edit Alan Chiffchaff is 1 word not 2!! Iv'e changed it AGAIN)

(D.Hutton,R.Dawkins)

9th April 2009

My first visit to the pool this year produced
10 Sand Martin,10 Swallow at least 5 House Martin & 1 Yellow Wagtail dropped in between showers it came over the point and landed in the field opposite also while sitting under the oak tree a Mouse came along the path and sat within 3ft of me before running past and into a hole under the same tree.

(R.Dawkins)

7th April 2009

Visible migration on the pool this evening with 7 Swallow & 1 House Martin also Chiffchaff still singing (Present since 4th)


(D.Hutton)

5th April 2009

A mix of winter and summer migrants this morning with 11 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler,female Gadwall on the pool and 3 Lapwings and 2 Yellowhammers nearby.


(A.Ramsell)

31st March 2009

Still no migrants on the pool but the Little Owl is back at a favoured nest site, 3+ Yellowhammer singing,7 Greylag Geese,20+ Tufted Duck

(D.Hutton)

LATE NEWS

2 Oystercatchers for a while in the corner from the fishermans carpark!!

(G.Cooper)

29th March 2009

Still no summer migrants but one male Shoveler on the pool, 2 Lapwings and 1 Little Owl seen. Plenty of 'mad March' hares also seen.

Alan Ramsell

20th March 2009

Finally managed to make it up to my local patch for once this morning!! No sign of any migrants yet but it can't be long now!! birds seen 3 Yellowhammer,2 Stock Dove,2 Fieldfare,1 Skylark & a flock of mixed finces inc 20+ Lesser Redpoll (inc at least 2 stunning males) 1 Siskin & 15 Goldfinch

(D.Hutton)

10th February 2009

With the pool & fields thawing out the pool is high & very muddy so wasn't intending to go near for a few wks until a phone call from Mike Whale alerted me to the fact a Pair of Goosander were on the pool (not annual & normally only redheads) so a good find by Mike & worth getting muddy for other birds present inc 1 Cormorant,5 Common Gull & a mixed flock of Canada & Greylag goose

(D.Hutton)

3rd February 2009

Very quiet on the pool not really sure why must be something to do with all the snow over the past 24hrs!! only birds of note were 20+ Fieldfare & Redwing feeding at the back of the pool also Yellowhammer over,1 Meadow Pipit feeding on a mole hill,5 Common Gull,1 Lssr Blk Backed Gull,35 Greylag Geese & 20+ Tufted Duck

(D.Hutton)

4th January 2009

The last few weeks on the pool have been poor hence no reports,despite the pool being frozen over this morning there was a good amount of gulls on the ice consisting of 6 Lssr Blk Backed Gull, 200+ Blk Headed Gull, 50+ Common Gull (good count for the pool) 1 m Wigeon, 30+ Canada Geese, 20+ Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 1 m Sparrowhawk over, 2 Bullfinch at the back end of the pool, Siskin & Yellowhammer over + 7 Fieldfare

(D.Hutton)