Paul & Lynne, from Evesham, joined me on Saturday for a spring walk around Grimley on the banks of the River Severn. The weather couldn’t have been better for the duration of the walk. We recorded 62 species during the four mile circuit of which the highlights were a Cattle Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Red Kite and nice selection of Warblers including the first Reed & Sedge, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Cetti’s. We rounded off a wonderful morning with a coffee & a slice of home made lemon cake.
I was back on the boundary in the afternoon to witness an easy 10 wicket win. I had my normal walk around the church yard where I finally took my first couple of butterfly photographs of the year. When back in my seat a couple of Orange-tips bombed past taking me to a measly six butterflies for the year. I'm so looking forward to some time off in May.
As well as flogging the gravel pits to bits whilst being on leave I visited a number of local habitats to observe the returning migrants.
I started off at Grimley on my way to
the Birders Store in Worcester to upgrade my telescope. There has been
some good passage of Yellow Wagtails but I had to cope with a single
among the cattle in the distance. I also noted a Common Sandpiper,
5 Redshank & Dunlin. There were big numbers of Sand Martins feeding
above the main pit. I always enjoy to have a yomp around Studley along the river. The sunshine made it very pleasant. Best bird was
a Little Owl, a Little Egret and my first brood of Mallard. On the
evening Mark and I headed out to Dorsington where we caught up with a
Short-eared Owl. I visited the Wyre Forest twice. The second visit was more productive in terms of birds as the female migrants had also arrived. I was shocked to hear a Wood Warbler, I thought this could be another week away. Observations included a Grey
Wagtail, 3 Redstart, many Tree Pipits (most I'd ever seen there, Cuckoo
and 3 Pied Flycatchers looking for suitable nest boxes.
On
Easter Sunday, I walked Bredon Hill with the family. With limited
viewing due to time I was really pleased to find 2 Whinchat perched high
which were my first of the year. Other sightings included 2 Ring Ouzel,
3 Willow Warbler, many Tree Pipits, Common & Lesser Whitethroats.
On my final day off we headed to West Midland Bird Club's Ladywalk Nature Reserve (thankfully no combination exit
issues this time) where star attraction was a Wood Sandpiper. On
entering the hide we were told that the Wood Sandpiper had gone into the
reeds and not been seen for 30 minutes. It took me five minutes to find
the bird on the edge of one of the islands ! I recorded my first Garden Warbler of the year and also noted Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroats & Sand Martins.
Not a great deal happening at the pits. With some decent birds around Worcestershire we were certainly hoping for a change from the normal. Sightings & counts from last week included :- 22/11 (CL MC) - 2 Goosander, 6 Pochard, 10 Shoveler, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper & 3 Snipe. 24/11 (ND) - 2 Wigeon, 6 Pochard, 20 Shoveler, 40 Lapwing, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 170 Fieldfare, 200 Starling, 30 Meadow Pipits, 15 Skylark & Green Sandpiper. 25/11 (ND) - 7 Pochard, 86 Teal, 23 Black-head Gull, Common Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & Green Sandpiper. On Monday I decided on a change of scenery and headed over the river to Grimley. First stop was Holt Fleet where my target species was flushed twice within the same visit. On arrival I was pleased to see the first two winter drake Smew still on the fishing pool only for a dog walker to flush them, thankfully they moved onto nearby Sling Pool. After scoping them at distance I walked along the road to try and take a few shots through the trees. This was going quite well until a birder walked straight down the pool with no field craft flushing the ducks. Some people just can't help themselves. I then headed down to Grimley where I caught up with Brian Stretch who had earlier had a Siberian Chiffchaff, only 3 Commons during my time before we headed up to Wagon Wheel where the American Wigeon showed very well for us. Also present were 160+ Wigeon, Little Egret & a Common Sandpiper. Two nice bonus year ticks on a quality morning. I'm already planning next year with two trips already booked to Dorset & Spurn.
Egret grabbing insects from where Cattle had been walking
Nice size comparison
Cheeky Stonechat
All three in shot
Arty shot
Perched up
Early morning on the causeway
Riverside
Opted for a change of scenery on Saturday as both Mrs D and I fancied a decent walk with some nice habitat. After weighing up a few options we headed to Grimley. To be honest, on all previous visits I have only really visited the Camp Lane pit or the Wagaon Wheel pits and not explored anywhere else. The cold temperature of night had caused a blanket of fog so it took a while for it to lift into the stunning day it actually became. With the fog making viewing difficult we headed east towards the river. To the field just off the lane I found two Stonechats flying around catching insects off the top of the reeds. After checking the Wagon Wheel pits we followed a tip by local birder "Patch" to where the recently seen Cattle Egret had been seen. Sadly no luck here except a Buzzard sat perched picked out by Mrs D. We then headed south along the river where the walking was stunning. More Buzzards, Kestrel & three Mistle Thrushes were all noted. I'd certainly do this walk again as it was a real unexpected surprise. Patch then text us saying the Great White Egret earlier seen was back on the main pit but quickly moved off again before we arrived. On the plus side the Stonechat had now risen to three and were showing very well.
After a recharge for lunch I was determined to see the Cattle Egret that was finally found in the Wagon Wheel Cattle field. Only downside the field of cows included a sizeable Bull that looked like it was chewing a bumble bee. I duly kept my distance as I tried to take some record images. Cattle Egret are the latest species to colonise after Little Egret, Great White Egret & Spoonbills. There was a influx in the winter of 2007/8 which led to the first youngster being raised in Somerset in 2008.
As I left there was a female Goldeneye on the same pit which was a nice addition to round up an excellent days birding.
With a few ongoing access issues at the pits I've managed to get in some bonus visits to the fantastic Upton Warren. Water levels at the Flashes are terribly low, so much so I'd never seen so much dried mud. I couldn't even muster a Green or Common Sandpiper. I did however find a Garden Warbler opposite the Flashes steps. With little to report I headed round to the Moors where I had much better luck with 3 Little Egrets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Snipe, 183 Lapwing, 3 Pochard, 2 Sand Martin, Swallow, Water Rail, Sparrowhawk & 3 Buzzard.
On Saturday I helped out with the alldayer but there really wasn't any movement. Thankfully I did chip in by recording a Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, Treecreeper, 2 Goldcrests & a Jay. Other sightings included a Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Wigeon, Cettis & 2 Little Egret. The final day score was 81 species. The previous week I visited Grimley for what seemed at the time as a genuine Marbled Duck. Whilst there has never been an accepted record on the british list this duck looked to have a strong credentials. Hopes some what disappeared when another Marbled Duck was found in Worcester with many presuming both were part of an escaped collection.
