Mercian Birding: January 2021

Monday 4 January 2021

4th January

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Mill Plantation] (B Eaton, M Smiles).

Sunday 3 January 2021

3rd January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - drake Pintail, 6 Chiffchaff, Common Gull, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Goosander, 2 Little Egret, 6 Mandarin (C Waring).

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Mill Plantation] (M Pollock).

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 10 Common Gull, Great Egret [Jubilee].

Drayton Bassett - Jack Snipe, Peregrine, c210 Golden Plover (M Smiles).

Shustoke Res - Goldeneye, 13 Goosander (P Forbes).

Curdworth - 15 Redpoll (P Forbes)

Saturday 2 January 2021

2nd January

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (G Briddick), 7 Siskin [Mill Plantation]

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Marsh Harrier, 8 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 5 Goldeneye (+5 waterski lake), 3 Pochard, 4 Goosander, 5 Snipe, 2 Great Egret, Common Gull, 3 Stonechat, 2 Egyptian Geese (M Smiles, S Atkinson).

Tamworth [Borrowpit Pool] - Great Egret, 2 Common Gull (S Allison).

Friday 1 January 2021

1st January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 4 Chiffchaff, Common Gull over, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Goosander, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, 4 Mandarin, Peregrine, Stonechat (C Waring). Merlin (m), Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff plus 3 Sibe Type - 75 species seen (P Softley).

Middleton Village - c40 Golden Plover [near Green Man Pub] (D Baker)

Bodymoor Heath - 32 Golden Plover (T Perrins)
RSPB Middleton - drake Pintail (S Berghoff), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Great Egret, 4 Goldeneye, 5 Goosander, 2 Pochard, 10 Siskin, 6 Redpoll, 2 Egyptian Geese, 6 Snipe, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Water Rail (D Corfield).

Wishaw - 2 Stonechat [Blindpit Ln] (T Perrins).

Drayton Bassett - Brambling (M Smiles).

Happy New Year - Thanks again for all your sightings from last year. Much appreciated. Sorry the blog hasn't been updated for much of the year but following lockdown I struggled to find the enthusiasm. Slowly I'm now working backwards such that we have a complete record for the year.

The RSPB Middleton year total finished on 158 but I may have missed a few. This was 1 more than the previous year with the winners and losers when compared to 2019 as follows:-

Additions Omissions

Barnacle Goose Black Tern

Broad-billed Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper

Glossy Ibis Little Gull

Green-winged Teal Little Stint

Red-necked Phalarope Osprey

Hawfinch Redstart

Marsh Tit Rock Pipit

Pallid Harrier Smew

Red-breasted Merganser Temmincks Stint

Rose-ringed Parakeet Tree Pipit

Short-eared Owl Water Pipit

White-fronted Goose

News

27/02/2020 - RSPB Middleton 2020 Year list up to date - Anyone seen Grey Wag, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Siskin or Chiffchaff.

14/09/18 - The RSPB Middleton total now stands at 165 although there is some debate around Siberian Chiffchaff being removed. Also beneath the list are the totals from the 19 reserves that took part in the 2018 West Midlands All-day Birdrace. A big thanks to Phil Andrews for organising and collating the scores and thanks to everyone who took part.

08/05/2018 - Thanks to everyone who took part in the West Midlands all day bird race both at RSPB Middleton and the other 15 reserves across the region. The final totals are as follows curtesy of Phil Andrews. Marsh Harrier was added to the Middleton list during the race and Marsh Tit the day after taking the yearly total to 151.

Middleton Lakes 95
Ladywalk 93
Sandwell 84
Belvide 83
Marsh Lane 81
Chasewater 79
Upton Warren 78
Salford Priors 76
Grimley 76
Whitemoor Haye 70
Morton Bagot 68
Earlswood 64
Sutton Park 58
Evesham 57
Saxon Mill 55
Trittiford 42

01/05/2018 - The end of April Middleton yearly total finished at 147. Lets hope we add a few more from this Saturday's bird race - Perhaps Whinchat, Sanderling or even Purple Sandpiper.

16/04/2018 - Middleton total rapidly moves onto 131 with the spring arrivals and Greenshank this morning. On the Warbler front we are now just waiting for Whitethroat and Garden Warbler unless something exotic drops in.

04/04/2018 - At the end of March the RSPB Middleton yearly total reached 115 and already Yellow Wagtail and Blackcap have been added this month. Willow will be next, possibly tomorrow, followed by the other 6 Warblers shortly after. Keep a look out for passage Osprey although the Black-Headed Gulls will alert you to their presence unless like today they are mobbing a fly by Bittern instead.

26/03/2018 - As the end of the month approaches the yearly total stands at 114 with Siberian Chiffchaff from yesterday. We've therefore only added 8 in March but still the possibility of Garganey, Swallow and Blackcap in the next 5 days.

04/03/2018 - The yearly total reached 106 by the end of Feb and already 2 more have been added - Green Sandpiper on the 1st and Dunlin yesterday. Next it will be Sand Martins which were already here this time last year. I expect we will get one by the end of the week.

03/02/2018 - Tawny Owl & Jack Snipe were both seen last week so monthly and yearly total is 102 and not 100 as I previously reported. Full list below.

26/01/2018 - The yearly total moves onto 99 with Ringed Plover. Will we hit 100 before the end of the month.

21/01/2018 - Competition Time. I’m trying to accelerate the onset of spring with this competition after that miserable weekend. Nothing difficult just predict the date of the first returning Avocet to RSPB Middleton. No prize just bragging rights and you can be Nostradamus for the day. In chronological order Avocets have turned up over the last 4 years on 30th March, 26th March, 6th March and again last Year on the 6th March. In contrast the Avocets at Upton Warren are now into their 15th breeding year and over this period have progressively arrived earlier. Back in 2003 it was the 17th March but last year it was the 18th of February with an earlier date of 10th recorded in 2016. Using the information above plus your skill and judgement please select your predicted date and I’ll put your name against it in the competition box under the year list below. I’m not sure how many people will enter, probably just me, but I’ve split each day up into am & pm so please state this with your selected date. First come first served and if your slot is taken I’ll move you into the nearest available. You can also have dates outside those already shown. Email or DM me at the links above.

16/01/2018 - Patchwork Challenge 2018 year lists went live today. Check out the league tables particularly the Midlands here - http://www.patchworkchallenge.com/

A few familiar names in there including Claire (Dickens Heath), John (Upton Warren) and of course the current leader Katie Thorpe the RSPB Middleton Warden. I've been in and raided her list and added 6 to the Middleton year total below.

12/01/2018 – The Middleton year list below has been put on this blog as a bit of fun and to encourage more sightings, especially some of the commoner species that get overlooked. It is not the official RSPB list for the reserve, if one actually exists and nor is it used for any other recording or reporting purposes. As far as I’m aware the sightings on this blog are accurate but rely on people’s honesty and experience. Last night the “fun” stopped when it appears I was accused publically, via Twitter, of cheating with the list below but also the tweet referenced the biannual Bird Race. If I get any more grief about what to include on the year list then I’ll remove it. We are also now looking for an honest person to collate the Bird Race scores this spring if anyone is interested.

07/01/2018 - By popular demand (well 2 people) the Middleton year list below is now in alphabetical order. This should help identify some of the common species that are still missing. Of note is Linnet, Mistle Thrush and Cetti's Warbler. I've heard the latter all round the reserve but would prefer an actual sighting.

01/01/2018 - The RSPB Middleton 2017 year list finished at 163 (compiled by Geoff Williams). I've added a scrollable 2018 list underneath the Twitter feed below. Hopefully this will encourage more people to report their sightings. I appreciate that some of you don't submit due to fear of ridicule so if you wish to remain anonymous then let me know in the email or DM and your wishes will be respected. Thanks for everyone's input who's contributed over the last 3 months and here's to a Mega 2018 in the valley. I also must thank Tom Perrins for his excellent work over the last 9 years with TVB and his continued support. Happy New Year.

29/12/17 - With Starling numbers at Belvide now c.40,000 then I was hoping for some recent increase at Middleton but unfortunately it's been stagnant at around just 250 birds for several weeks now.

21/12/17 - If like me you've not yet connected with a Hawfinch from the recent influx, then Berkswell (CV7 7BJ) seems to be the best local place. 6 Birds present today.

21/11/17 - Tree Sparrow reported at RSPB Middleton again today via BirdTrack - can anyone confirm?

17/11/17 - Still 9 Little Egret in the riverside roost tonight with 2 Great White Egrets. That makes approx 65 LE's on the reserve.

12/11/17 - Of the 18 Little Egret on the reserve tonight only 9 roosted riverside, the rest headed towards the Heronry. Not be long before they are all in the Heronry.

08/11/17 - On my last 2 visits to RSPB Middleton I've been returning to the Waterski centre car park and noticed someone illuminating Southern Meadow with a powerful torch/lamp from a position on the flood bank footpath. If this is you then please refrain from this activity. I assume you are looking for Owls and not something more dubious - all you will do is disrupt their hunting and drive them out the area.

07/11/17 - There does not appear to be a Little Egret roost on Hemlingford Water KWP so possibly just a pre/post roost gathering. The 20 or so birds there tonight left in small groups just before dusk heading North West in the general direction of the Heronry at Middleton. The KWP record stands at 43 on Otter Pool 20/10/15 so 5 more needed Tony H.

04/11/17 - Arrived in SKAN hide KWP late afternoon over looking a very busy Cliff Pool. Picked out Goldeneye and 2 Goosander and then started counting the numerous Little Egret. Got as far as 12 and for the second successive Saturday shooting started on the adjacent Tame Lagoon. This completely cleared Cliff & Otter Pool with not a single bird remaining. 2 GWE were also flushed from Otter Pool and headed North. I assume they are shooting ducks due to the sporadic firing. Pointless having a nature reserve here now as just providing cannon fodder for them. WCC have also just spent a lot of time, effort and money on Cliff Pool for little return if this is to continue. Final bit of moaning - the Otter Pool Cormorant roost is no more as a result with ZERO birds tonight.

31/10/17 - Great White Egret was reluctant to roost on Otter Pool tonight and waited on the "S" Cliff Pool until well after dark. Something has happened in the park as only 2 Cormorants roosted compared to the usual 60+. There was shooting on the adjacent Tame Lagoon at the weekend so could be a result of that.

23/10/17 - A few links have been added below, one being the Birdforum RSPB Middleton thread. If you've not used it before then the link will take you to page 1. Use the tab near the top of that page to take you to "Last>>" which are the most recent posts. If you run a local blog and would like a link adding then please let me know.

Starlings Murmurated for about 3/4 of an hour tonight and forced into contorted shapes by 2 Sparrowhawks.

22/10/17 - Little Egret roost number much lower than last week with some now heading to the Heronry instead. The Riverside roost is very exposed and last night's wind was probably too much for some of them. Starling numbers continue to increase but no real murmuration with birds gathering in trees to the West of the canal and then virtually going straight into the reeds in several groups. Will try for a proper count tomorrow.

15/10/17 - Starlings are again roosting on Fishers Mill. Numbers increasing rapidly from 200 on the 10th to 1034 tonight. Let's hope it doesn't fizzle out like last year.

14/10/17 - RSPB Middleton yearly total now stands at 159 with today's Hawfinch. Thanks to Geoff Williams for keeping count.

07/10/17 - Kingsbury Water Park Cliff Pool undergoing a bit of rejuvenation at the moment. One island and West side water edge has had vegetation removed and surface scraped. Plenty of mud - bring on the waders. Just single Common Sandpiper currently.

RSPB Middleton 2020 Year List

158. Arctic Tern
157. Avocet (M Smiles)
156. Barn Owl
155. Barnacle Goose
154. Bar-tailed Godwit
153. Bittern (D Corfield)
152. Blackbird
151. Blackcap
150. Black-headed Gull
149. Black-tailed Godwit (D Corfield)
148. Blue Tit
147. Brambling
146. Broad-billed Sandpiper
145. Bullfinch
144. Buzzard
143. Canada Goose
142. Carrion Crow
141. Cattle Egret
140. Cetti's Warbler
139. Chaffinch
138. Chiffchaff
137. Coal Tit
136. Collared Dove (S Atkinson)
135. Common Gull
134. Common Sandpiper
133. Common Tern
132. Coot
131. Cormorant
130. Cuckoo
129. Curlew (M Smiles/D Corfield)
128. Dunlin
127. Dunnock
126. Egyptian Goose
125. Feral Pigeon
124. Fieldfare
123. Gadwall
122. Garden Warbler
121. Garganey
120. Glossy Ibis (M Smiles)
119. Goldcrest
118. Golden Plover (J Owen)
117. Goldeneye
116. Goldfinch
115. Goosander
114. Grasshopper Warbler
113. Great Black-Backed Gull
112. Great Crested Grebe
111. Great Spotted Woodpecker
110. Great Tit
109. Great White Egret
108. Green Sandpiper
107. Green Woodpecker
106. Greenfinch (S Atkinson)
105. Greenshank
104. Green-winged Teal
103. Grey Heron
102. Red-necked Phalarope (RSPB)
101. Grey Plover
100. Grey Wagtail (B Valentine)
99. Greylag Goose
98. Hawfinch (RSPB)
97. Hen Harrier (S Atkinson)
96. Herring Gull
95. Hobby
94. House Martin
93. House Sparrow
92. Jack Snipe (RSPB)
91. Jackdaw
90. Jay (S Atkinson)
89. Kestrel
88. Kingfisher (S Atkinson)
87. Kittiwake (M Smiles)
86. Knot
85. Lapwing
84. Lesser Black-backed Gull
83. Lesser Redpoll (D Corfield)
82. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (D Corfield))
81. Lesser Whitethroat
80. Linnet
79. Little Egret
78. Little Grebe
77. Little Ringed Plover
76. Little Tern (M Smiles)
75. Long-tailed Tit
74. Magpie
73. Mallard
72. Mandarin (M Smiles)
71. Marsh Harrier
70. Marsh Tit (D Corfield)
69. Meadow Pipit (S Atkinson)
68. Mediterranean Gull (S Atkinson)
67. Merlin (G A Williams)
66. Mistle Thrush (S Atkinson)
65. Moorhen
64. Mute Swan
63. Nuthatch
62. Oystercatcher (R Walker)
61. Pallid Harrier (M Smiles)
60. Peregrine (R Walker)
59. Pheasant
58. Pied Wagtail
57. Pink-footed Goose (M Smiles)
56. Pintail
55. Pochard
54. Raven (S Atkinson)
53. Red Kite (D Corfield)
52. Red-breasted Merganser (M Smiles)
51. Redshank (M Smiles , M Scott)
50. Redwing (S Atkinson)
49. Reed Bunting
48. Reed Warbler
47. Ring Ouzel
46. Ringed Plover (G A Williams)
45. Robin
44. Rook
43. Rose-ringed Parakeet (R Walker)
42. Ruff
41. Sand Martin (D Corfield)
40. Sanderling
39. Sedge Warbler
38. Shelduck
37. Short-eared Owl (M Durkin)
36. Shoveler
35. Siskin (S Cawthray)
34. Skylark (B Valentine)
33. Snipe (S Atkinson)
32. Song Thrush
31. Sparrowhawk
30. Spotted Flycatcher (D Corfield)
29. Spotted Redshank (M Smiles)
28. Starling
27. Stock Dove
26. Stonechat
25. Swallow
24. Swift
23. Tawny Owl (R Walker)
22. Teal
21. Treecreeper
20. Tufted Duck
19. Turnstone
18. Water Rail
17. Wheatear
16. Whimbrel
15. Whinchat
14. White-fronted Goose (S Atkinson)
13. Whitethroat
12. Whooper Swan
11. Wigeon
10. Willow Tit (D Corfield)
9. Willow Warbler
8. Wood Sandpiper
7. Woodcock (RSPB)
6. Woodpigeon
5. Wren
4. Wryneck (M Smiles)
3. Yellow Wagtail
2. Yellowhammer (M Smiles)
1. Yellow-legged Gull (S Cawthray)