Warwickshire November Sightings

I've taken on compiling the Warwickshire sightings for Bird Watching following a suggestion from Jon Bowley  as he's tied up with his time at the moment. My first efforts are published in the January edition which is out now.If you do have any sightings please drop me a note on email or via Twitter.

Highlights: Great White Egrets were seen at Salford Priors GP (1^st) and Corley (15^th). A Lapland Bunting flew over Burton Dassett Hills (5^th) and a Woodlark over Brailes Hill (6^th).

Brandon Marsh:  Sightings included two Stonechat, four Goldeneye, a Little Egret (6^th), two Mandarin (20^th), a Woodcock, two Dunlin, two Water Rail, 42 Wigeon and a flock of 50+ Lesser Redpoll.

Dassett Hills District: Sightings included at least two Merlins and two Peregines in the area, up to 500 Golden Plover at Northend and 350 at Fenny Compton, a late White Wagtail at Fenny Compton (to 17^th) and a Snow Bunting there (25^th). A Cetti’s Warbler was at Wormleighton Res and a Corn Bunting at Farnborough. Winter thrushes included 2000 Redwing at Wormleighton Res and 1500 at Fenny Compton, with 1000 Fieldfare at both, but few Brambling seen. 

Draycote: Sightings included four Red-crested Pochard, two Scaup, a Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, four Knot, a Common Sandpiper, a Caspian and eight Yellow-legged Gulls, Short-eared Owl, Rock Pipit and late House Martin.

Salford Priors GP:  Records included 31 Little Grebe, 19 Wigeon, 23 Gadwall, 160 Teal, 270 Mallard, Pintail, 22 Shoveler, 16 Pochard, a Scaup (from 28^th), 94 Tufted Duck, two Goldeneye, Peregrine, 12 Water Rails, Ringed Plover (2^nd), 125 Golden Plover, Jack snipe, 70 Common Snipe, four Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, two Yellow-legged Gulls, 120 Skylarks, 140 Meadow Pipits, Cetti’s Warbler (2^nd), two Chiffchaffs and a Willow Tit.

Tame Valley: Ladywalk NR hosted a Shag, Merlin, three Peregrines, 16 Water Rails, Woodcock and Siberian Chiffchaff. Two Whooper Swans flew over Middleton and four Little Egrets were in the area. Two Scaup and a Pintail were at Coton, with single Scaup at Fisher’s Mill, Kingsbury and Shustoke. A Bittern was at Fisher’s Mill, while Shustoke also held a Shag, five Red-crested Pochard and a Common Sandpiper. Nearby Wishaw had a Merlin and 14 Grey Partridge.

Other sites: Two long-staying Ospreys remained at Clifton Lakes Fishery. Morton Bagot hosted two Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin and several Stonechats. Nearby Spernall recorded a Ringed Ouzel twice. Earlswood Lakes recorded Mandarin Duck, Red Kite and Mediterranean Gull. Jack Snipe were at Lighthorne Quarry (two) and Alvecote. A flock of 700 Stock Doves was notable at Grandborough.