6th April 2010

Seeswood Pool

At least 20 Sand Martin 4+ Swallow on the pool this morning with Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler both heard! A txt from Tom Perrins had me rushing for the camera gear & making haste to Kingsbury WP where 2 Avocets had settled on Cliff pool (a much needed Warks tick (233) )

5th April 2010

After getting a report of a Lssr Whitethroat at Coton lakes decided to check it out(no sign) but Cettis Warbler (Heard) Chiffchaff,Willow Warbler,Sand Martin & Swallow seen carried on thru to Kingsbury Water Park with 1 Common Tern on Bodymoor Heath Water (New for the Yr) then a quick drive to Middleton Lakes & the long walk upto Basset North produced 1 Little Ringed Plover (New for the Yr) 3 Common Redshank & Oystercatcher

3rd April 2010

A quick walk up Seeswood Pool this morning produced 1 Swallow,1 Chiffchaff & male Goosander

2nd April 2010

After bein let down by Tricky with regards to goin for the Pallid Swift in Suffolk (he decided to go with Maddo!! Cheers Rich no more lifts for you mate) didnt really make sense to head down on me own.I decided to head over to Shustoke on the hunt for more summer migrants on arrival a Oystercatcher could be heard calling at the far end but not seen but White Wagtail & Yellow Wagtail were both welcome additions for the Yr also seen a single female Northern Wheatear working the far bank,hirrundine No's were well down on Y'day with prob only about 50 sand Martin & Swallows seen other birds seen of note 3 Common Buzzard,5 Gadwall & 2 Red-legged Partridge

1st April 2010

An unexpected day off due to a press breakdown at work gave me the chance to go for the Lesser Kestrel in Suffolk,with the alarm set for 3-30 am i was duly up but decided against it due to it being freezing outside with a strong NE wind so back to bed for a cpl of hrs walked the dog & had Blackcap singing at Kingswood woods (my 1st of the year)I then headed over to Shustoke Res & was greeted with several hundred Sand Martins with approx 100 Swallow & 1 House Martin (2 more yr ticks) carried on around & had a singing Willow Warbler (another 1st for the yr) not as exciting as a British tick in Suffolk but not a bad mornings birding with the added bonus that when i checked the bird news it was negative for the Kestrel

24th March 2010

A quick visit to Seeswood Pool this morning produced singing Chiffchaff & the male Goosander which is still present sitting out on one of the fishing stands

23rd March 2010

A call from John Judge alerted me to the fact a Bonxie (Great Skua) was at Draycote soon had me gathering my gear & picking up Tricky (Rich Dawkins) on the way,we arrived to find the bird virtually out in the centre but neverless still a good inland find & a much needed Warks tick for Tricky (My 2nd for Draycote) also seen were my 1st Sand Martins for the year (double figures)

21st March 2010

After a tip off from Tom (Perrins) that a Wheatear was at Blindpit Lane,Wishaw i decided to leave the decorating (6 weeks & still no nearer finishing) after about 20 mins the bird appeared on the footpath behind me a cracking male & my 1st migrant of the year,dropped into Coton Lakes on the way home with my 2nd migrant of the yr a Chiffchaff singing by the hide

21st February 2010

Having spent the last cpl of weeks renovating the house & then writing the car off ive not had a chance to really get out & about,however a quick check on Seeswood Pool this morning rewarded me with 3 Goosander(1m 2f)on the small patch of still open water also seen 1 Buzzard,1 Kingfisher & at least 60 Greylag Geese on the surrounding fields.

9th February 2010

Finally managed to find the will to do Seeswood pool this morning,after receiving this months British Birds with a cpl of photos of a ringed Common Sandpiper taken 2 yrs ago in it.It appears ive not missed much as the pool is still very muddy & water levels are still way to high,highlights being 3 Red-legged Partridge,5 Pochard a pristine male Goosander & at least 50 Greylag Geese in with the Canada flock

January 17th 2010

Short trip out today for the Bewick's Swans off the Bretford/Church Lawford Rd (A428)only 1 visible with the other 16 on the opposite side of the rd in the dip! so headed off back into the Grandborough valley for another crack at the Great Grey Shrike, the bird was showing well but just to distant for any photos,will have to try again prob Tues & hope it's 3rd time lucky?

10th January 2010

The chance of a Warks tick in the form of a Great Grey Shrike in the Grandborough Valley finally tempted me out for the 1st time in 3 wks a quick phone call to Dog for details on the bird & road conditions & i was on my way to pick Rich up 1/2 hr later & some fun driving down Hill rd (Skating rink) we pulled up behind several other birders cars & made the short yomp upto the assembled mini twitch! after about a 1/2 hr wait the call went up,showed well but distant but neverless a new Warks bird putting me on 232 for the county!! other birds seen upto 600 Linnet & female Merlin.
Dropped into Draycote on the way home for a few Year ticks with 2 Great Northern Divers & 3 ad Yellow Legged Gulls being the highlights

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)