Marsh Lane Melodious Warbler

I was cycling around the Cotswolds on Thursday afternoon when a Melodious Warbler was reported close to Marsh Lane Nature Reserve near Hampton-in-Arden. With sports taxi duties to complete I had to try and get out of work early on Friday to make the twenty mile journey from the Black Country.

Parking up was easier than expected and the walk was probably about 1k. As I approached the small collection of birders I could hear the bird calling from a shrub close to the patch. Despite the bird being reported as difficult to locate it showed brilliantly.

The distinctive warbler had a very strong beak and a yellow buff breast. It sang from high up on the scrub & vegitation but occasionally dropped down to feed.

Just need to find one of these beauties at the gravel pits now. Great bird for a Friday afternoon and a lifer to boot !

Bonaparte's Gull kickstarts May

I all most fell off my chair at work on Thursday lunchtime when I saw a Bonapartes Gull had been reported at Marsh Lane, Warwickshire. Needless to say I was faster out the office door than a dog out the traps to make the 40 minute journey round the M5 and M42. However the postcode I had for the reserve was completely wrong and I must have spend a frustrated hour driving round in circles.

You can imagine my frustration when arriving the Warden informed me the bird had flown off site. I was determined to still enjoy the reserve so I headed down the paths after duly paying my £4 permit charge. 

While settling back enjoying the Common Terns I spotted the Bonaparte Gull on the far side of the Tern island. He then flew even closer allowing some great views. Whilst very much looking like a Black-headed Gull at first sight you could easily see the almost charcoal colour of the birds hood and black beak. I managed to watched the bird for about an hour before he took off to feed again but did not return. I'm sure there was plenty of birders trying to find the bird among their Black-headed Gull roosts later in the evening.

Life on a Thursday afternoon……………..superb.