Iceland Gull becomes pits latest addition

Iceland Gull taken in Birmingham last year

The monthly WeBS count had to be left to just Jon as my dose Chinese/Aussie flu has still left me with a chest infection I can't shake off. Typically Jon added a new bird to our site list when he picked up a 1st year Iceland Gull flying low over the main pit with Herring & Lesser Black-backs. It's a species he has been keen to add to sightings during his 16 years of going there. A cracking record. 

Other sightings included 4 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorants, 6 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swans, 320 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall, 140 Teal, 37 Shoveler (site record), 3 Pochard, 65 Tufted Duck, 101 Coot, 3 Golden Plover, a Snipe, 4 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 24 Meadow Pipits, 1500 Rooks, 1000 Jackdaw.

Chris Lane added a Jay, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, a Siskin, 2 Shelduck, 13 Wigeon & 450 Lapwing on Friday.

At the south of the pits Andy had a male Crossbill in his garden taking us up to 75 for the year with some regular species still missing including Goosander, Little Egret, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Peregrine, all Owls, Water Rail, Kingfisher & Jay ! Hopefully better health & weather will see us pick those up in coming weeks.