Big Autumn needed to secure Europa league place in Patchwork Challenge

 Bee Orchid

 Litte Ringed Plover (Pophills)

 Red Kite

Turtle Dove

Bottom Lagoon

Patch Challenge Midland Table

As the May Midlands Patchwork table was issued our first Kingfisher of the year was recorded by Paul and I during our midweek visit. Another valuable point as we try and keep pace with local rivals Earlswood.Our cheeky 3 pointer Pectoral Sandpiper should hopefully help us on June totals.

Sunday saw the Green Sandpipers increase to six whilst there were a notable increase in House Martins. LRP's were still mobile around the site but I still haven't seen any young. The high number of predators is probably the reason for this rather than suitable habitat. 

One of the local Turtle Dove allowed some super views from a distance before taking flight and a Cuckoo was still present in the dead trees along the A46. Surprise of the morning was three Red Kite that were drifting towards Hilliers as I drove home. It looked like 2 adult birds and a juvenile. 

Spring bingers pick up pace

Peregrine looking for afternoon snack

Redstart location

White Wagtail

The pace picked up last week at the Salford Priors Gravel Pits with 67 species recorded over my three visits. Thursday saw we watching the Peregrine on the look out for an afternoon snack whilst the flock of Linnets were feeding in the Old Workings. A Great Crested Grebe was on Pophills pit whilst the first Blackcap of year was singing in front of me on the edge of the plantation.

Two weekend visits brought further new arrivals. My find of the weekend was undoubtedly a Common Redstart I found in the bottom meadow. The bird was sitting up in the hedgerow  before diving for cover when spotting me. Jon then managed to re-locate the bird but it was very difficult to get a digiscope image due to the wind and distance. 

On the main pit a White Wagtail graced the east shore whilst elsewhere there was a Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and a Dunlin (also appeared on Pophills).

We flushed a male Wheatear on the viewing area of Snipe meadow whilst a Redshank and two Little Ringed Plover joined the regular Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. Our site Jack Snipe was in it's normal spot, perhaps it's last appearance before heading to its breeding grounds.

Other migrants included 17 House Martins and two Willow Warblers. 

Great start to March at Salford Priors

Little Owl

Can you see me

Tree top watching me

Stonechat

Gravel Pit selfie

Three Oystercatchers

Greenfinch

Great Crested Grebes

This weekends double shift of birding at the Gravel Pits was rewarded with some great finds. So often us birders walk miles having to settle for just the local birds but I left genuinely pleased after both morning sessions.

Saturday

I started off by walking the Pophills field where there were 11 Snipe, a single Jack Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 2 Skylarks and number of Meadow Pipits moving through. The Common Buzzard was sat on top of the Pophills Barn whilst on the Pophills Pit the Common Sandpiper was in the corner and a single Shelduck on the island. A Song Thrush sat in the hedge that split the field and pit.

As I reached the main pit two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the spit but the find of the day was a male Stonechat feeding along the edges of the pit. This is the first Stonechat I've found at the pits. They used to be resident until the habit started to be destroyed.

As I crossed the pits I got an amazing view of a male Peregrine chasing a Snipe which ended up with a close escape for the Snipe, on this occasion any way. 15 Linnets flew over as I walked on the bunds whist Teal numbers seemed to have dropped again.

As I walked along the back pools two Green Sandpiper took off and flew round the hidden pools where the Teal have been residing.

Sunday

A started my Sunday walk by exploring the areas east of the main pits. After a good deal of searching in recent months I finally located the tree where a pair of Little Owl had made their home. I'd had a couple of recent sightings so I was particularly pleased when I could see one of birds looking straight at me from the side of the tree. I couldn't resist watching the Owl go about his business for a good forty minutes before heading down to the main pits.

Two Great Crested Grebe had moved in and were swimming around the end of the pit with the Canada Geese. There was a pair last year but they moved on sadly, lets hope they hang around this year to breed. The pair of Oystercatchers were joined by one of last year juveniles and all three were busy on the island feeding.

Other Sunday sightings observed by myself and Jon included:- six Shelduck, two Buzzard, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, male Stonechat on top of the bunds by the bypass pools,  Peregrine, Pochard, three Shoveler, Green and Common Sandpiper, Jack snipe, 27 Snipe, 21 Cormorants, 128 Greylags, two Grey Wagtail, 92 Teal and at least seven Water Rails. 

With us now into March I will be hoping for find a Wheatear, Sand Martin, Little Ringed Plover whilst Willow Warblers are due at the end of the month closely followed by the Cuckoo.