January Warwickshire Sightings

Draycote Drake Smew

Highlight: A juvenile Kumlien’s Gull was in the Draycote gull roost (13^th-17^th) and was also seen at Bubbenhall during the day.  

Brandon Marsh:  Sightings included five Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, three Goldeneye, Bittern, Little Egret, Water Rail, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Woodcock , two Barn Owl, Marsh and Willow Tits, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and a flock of 40 mixed Redpolls and Siskins.

Dassett Hills District: Single Merlins were noted at Bishops Itchington and Wormleighton, but Lapwings were unusually scarce and Golden Plover almost absent from the area. Farnborough Park held 25 Wigeon and two Gadwall. Knightcote had 31 Snipe, three Barn Owls, two Willow Tits and 12 Tree Sparrows. Wormleighton Res had up to four Goosander, Woodcock, Willow Tit, 40 Tree Sparrows and 55 Yellowhammers. A mixed flock of 100 Chaffinches and 380 Linnets was at Hodnell.

Draycote Water: Sightings included a Pink-footed and two White-fronted Geese, six Shelduck, two Pintail, Red-crested Pochard, 49 Pochard, two Common Scoter, 41 Goldeneye, 37 Goosander, Smew, 270 Great Crested and 63 Little Grebes, five Little Egrets, Peregrine, Merlin, Water Rail, 50 Golden Plover, Barn Owl, Willow Tit, three Chiffchaffs and 33 Tree Sparrows. In addition to the Kumlien’s Gull, the roost contained a Mediterranean Gull, five Yellow-legged Gulls, at least four different Caspian Gulls, an Iceland Gull (5^th) and Glaucous Gull (15^th and 20^th).

Salford Priors GP: Records included 17 Gadwall, 95 Teal, 11 Pochard, 83 Tufted Duck, Scaup (to 4^th), 60 Golden Plover, 15 Jack Snipe, 34 Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Water Rail and up to 3000 Woodpigeons.

Tame Valley:  At Hams Hall ten Chiffchaffs were joined by two Siberian Chiffchaffs and a Green Sandpiper. Wishaw sightings included ten Grey Partridge, Merlin, 700 Golden Plover, 32 Skylark, 200 Fieldfare and five Corn Buntings. Shustoke reported Red-crested Pochard, Scaup, Common Sandpiper and Jack Snipe. Red-crested Pochards also visited Dosthill and Lea Marston. Kingsbury recorded 352 Shoveler, seven Goldeneye, two Goosander, 15 Little Egret, Yellow-Legged Gull, two Barn Owl, Jack Snipe and Stonechat.

Other sites: Earlswood Lakes hosted 22 Goosander, a Water Rail, Peregrine, two Great Black-backed Gulls and two Ravens. Morton Bagot held 25 Common and eight Jack Snipe, Barn Owl, two Stonechat, 17 Redpolls and 238 Linnets.

Charlecote reported Merlin, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper and two overwintering Stonechats. Lighthorne Quarry had Jack Snipe, 36 Common Snipe and Chiffchaff, with seven Goosander, Mediterranean Gull and Chiffchaff at Chesterton. A Jack Snipe was at Alvecote.

Neil Duggan, Matt Griffiths and Jon Bowley (07850 759 334 / 07815 675090)